On June 17th the family took me with them to
Auburndale. But in spite of the kindness of Mrs. Kimball and the
colored nurse, I grew very homesick for the South, and would often
look in the direction of my old home and cry.
The washing, a kind of work I knew nothing about, was given to me;
but I could not do it, and it was finally given over to a hired woman.
I had to do the ironing of the fancy clothing for Mrs. Kimball and the
children.
About five or six weeks after my arrival, Mrs. Kimball and the
children went to the White Mountains for the summer, and I had more
leisure. Mr. Kimball went up to the mountains every Saturday night, to
stay with his family over Sunday; but he and his father-in-law were at
home other nights, and I had to have dinner for them.
To keep away the homesickness and loneliness as much as possible, I
made acquaintance with the hired girl across the street.
One morning I climbed up into the cherry tree that grew between Mr.
Kimball's yard and the yard of his next-door neighbor, Mr. Roberts. I
was thinking of the South, and as I picked the cherries, I sang a
Southern song. Mr. Roberts heard me, and gave me a dollar for the
song.
By agreement, Mrs. Kimball was to give me three dollars and a half a
week, instead of four, until the difference amounted to my fare from
the South; after that, I was to have four dollars.
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