Amelia E. Barr
All the Days of My Life: An Autobiography
The Red Leaves of a Human Heart
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4057664563736
Table of Contents
CHAPTER III WHERE DRUIDS AND GIANTS DWELT
CHAPTER IV AT RIPON AND THE ISLE OF MAN
CHAPTER IX THE HOME MADE DESOLATE
CHAPTER X PASSENGERS FOR NEW YORK
CHAPTER XI FROM CHICAGO TO TEXAS
CHAPTER XII A PLEASANT JOURNEY
CHAPTER XIV THE BEGINNING OF STRIFE
CHAPTER XV THE BREAK-UP OF THE CONFEDERACY
CHAPTER XVI THE TERROR BY NIGHT AND BY DAY
CHAPTER XVII THE NEVER-COMING-BACK CALLED DEATH
CHAPTER XVIII I GO TO NEW YORK
CHAPTER XIX THE BEGINNINGS OF A NEW LIFE
CHAPTER XXI THUS RUNS THE WORLD AWAY
CHAPTER XXII THE LATEST GOSPEL: KNOW THY WORK AND DO IT
CHAPTER XXIII THE GODS SELL US ALL GOOD THINGS FOR LABOR
CHAPTER XXV DREAMING AND WORKING
CHAPTER XXVI THE VERDICT OF LIFE
APPENDIX I HUDDLESTON LORDS OF MILLOM
APPENDIX II BOOKS PUBLISHED BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
APPENDIX III BOOKS PUBLISHED BY OTHER PUBLISHERS
21
“He said something about Mrs. Peacock.”
“What is Mrs. Peacock doing here?”
“She is hired to help, but I think she never leaves her chair. Ann sniffed, and told Father, Mrs. Peacock had all she could do to take care of Mrs. Peacock. Then Father walked away, and Ann talked to herself, as she always does, when she is angry.”
This conversation and much that followed I remember well, not all of it, perhaps, but its spirit and the very words used. It occurred in the garden which was in gorgeous August bloom, full of splendid dahlias and holly-hocks, and August lilies. I have never seen such holly-hocks since. We called them rose-mallows then which is I think a prettier name. The house door stood open, and the rooms were all so still and empty. There was a bee buzzing outside, and the girl Agnes singing a Methodist hymn in the kitchen, but the sounds seemed far away, and our little shoes sounded very noisy on the stairway.
I soon had my head on my mother’s breast, and felt her kisses on my cheek. She asked me if I had a happy visit, but she did not take as much interest in my relations as I expected; she was so anxious to show me the new baby, and to tell me it was a boy, and called after his father’s brother. I was jealous and unhappy, but Mother looked so proud and pleased I did not like to say anything disagreeable, so I kissed Mother and the boy again, and then went to the children’s room and had a good cry in Ann Oddy’s arms.
“Ann,” I said, “girls are of no account;” and she answered, “No, honey, and women don’t signify much either. It is a pity for us both. I have been fit to drop with work ever since you went away, Amelia, and who cares? If any man had done what I have done, there would be two men holding him up by this time.”
“Ann, why do men get so much more praise than women, and why are they so much more thought of?”
“God only knows child,” she answered. “Men have made out, that only they can run the world. It’s in about as bad a state as it well can be, but they are proud of their work. What I say is, that a race of good women would have done 22 something with the old concern by this time. Men are a poor lot. I should think thou would want something to eat.”
I told her I was