Американские боги

           TheSea-MaidenlandedatNorfolkinVirginia,andEssie’sindenturewasboughtbya"smallplanter,"atobaccofarmernamedJohnRichardson,forhiswifehaddiedofthechildbirthfeveraweekaftergivingbirthtohisdaughter,andhehadneedofawetnurseandamaidofallworkuponhissmallholding.

           SoEssie’sbabyboy,whomshecalledAnthony,after,shesaid,herlatehusbandhisfather(knowingtherewasnonetheretocontradicther,andperhapsshehadknownanAnthonyonce),suckedatEssie’sbreastalongsideofPhyllidaRichardson,andheremployer’schildalwaysgotfirstsuck,soshegrewintoahealthychild,tallandstrong,whileEssie’ssongrewweakandricketyonwhatwasleft.

           Andalongwiththemilk,thechildrenastheygrewdrankEssie’stales:oftheknockersandtheblue-capswholivedownthemines;oftheBucca,thetrickiestspiritoftheland,muchmoredangerousthantheredheaded,snub-nosedpiskies,forwhomthefirstfishofthecatchwasalwaysleftupontheshingle,andforwhomafresh-bakedloafofbreadwasleftinthefield,atreapingtime,toensureafineharvest;shetoldthemoftheapple-treemen-oldappletreeswhotalkedwhentheyhadamind,andwhoneededtobeplacatedwiththefirstciderofthecrop,whichwaspouredontotheirrootsastheyearturned,iftheyweretogiveyouafinecropforthenextyear.Shetoldthem,inhermellifluousCornishdrawl,whichtreestheyshouldbewaryof,intheoldrhyme:

           Elm,hedobrood

           Andoak,hedohate,

           Butthewillow-mangoeswalking,

           Ifyoustaysoutlate.