Американские боги
Chapter 4
Withinayear,shewasdeliveredofanotherchild,anotherboy,butasblondashisfatherandhishalfsister,andtheynamedhimJohn,afterhisfather.
ThethreechildrenwenttothelocalchurchtohearthetravelingpreacheronSundays,andtheywenttothelittleschooltolearntheirlettersandtheirnumberswiththechildrenoftheothersmallfanners;whileEssiealsomadesuretheyknewthemysteriesofthepiskies,whichwerethemostimportantmysteriestherewere:redheadedmen,witheyesandclothesasgreenasariverandturned-upnoses,funny,squintingmenwhowould,iftheygotamindto,turnyouandtwistyouandleadyououtofyourway,unlessyouhadsaltinyourpocket,oralittlebread.Whenthechildrenwentofftoschool,theyeachofthemcarriedalittlesaltinonepocket,alittlebreadintheother,theoldsymbolsoflifeandtheearth,tomakesuretheycamesafelyhomeoncemore,andtheyalwaysdid.
ThechildrengrewinthelushVirginiahills,grewtallandstrong(althoughAnthony,herfirstson,wasalwaysweaker,paler,morepronetodiseaseandbadairs)andtheRichardsonswerehappy;andEssielovedherhusbandasbestshecould.TheyhadbeenmarriedadecadewhenJohnRichardsondevelopedatoothachesobaditmadehimfallfromhishorse.Theytookhimtothenearesttown,wherehistoothwaspulled;butitwastoolate,andthebloodpoisoningcarriedhimoff,black-facedandgroaning,andtheyburiedhimbeneathhisfavoritewillowtree.
