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with the table, leaving dark triangular
spots. The larger the spot the more unappetizing I
considered the utensil. Mary, knowing of
this weakness and learning that I was to eat lunch at the
Fields, told me very firmly, as we were starting off for school,
"The Fields have black forks and spoons — and Victoria'll make you eat
with them."
Victoria was the Fields' nurse. She was very strict, and the
children always toed the mark in her presence. I was scared to death of
her, and this little send-off upset me so badly that I considered
backing out of my invitation. How relieved I was to find the Field
cutlery brighter and much less worn than ours !
Birthday parties at the Fields were events to look forward to.
There was always a magician who could produce a rabbit from a silk hat
or a bantam rooster from a chafing dish, and he held his young audience
spellbound for the better part of an hour. After the
show we would get Erlund to play the piano for us. He showed
great promise as a musician and amazed his contempor-aries with his
dexterity at the keyboard. Although I envied him I could never force
myself to take my lessons seriously. Miss Upham, my music teacher, came
to our house once a week to instruct me, and whenever my mother was away
at lesson time I would sneak off into the woods and hide. My poor
teacher, after waiting for a reasonable period, would go home. When I
saw her walking down the driveway I considered it safe to emerge from
my hiding place and continue with whatever I was doing before
the interruption.
I do not look back at Pigeon
Hill School with any great feeling of pleasure. A number of
insignificant episodes come to mind, |
