Американские боги

           ThewidowRichardsonwasleftthefarmtomanageuntilRichardson’stwochildrenwereofage:shemanagedtheindenturedservantsandtheslaves,andbroughtinthetobaccocrop,yearin,yearout;shepouredciderontherootsoftheappletreesonNewYear’sEve,andplacedaloafofnew-bakedbreadinthefieldsatharvesttime,andshealwaysleftasaucerofmilkatthebackdoor.Thefarmflourished,andthewidowRichardsongainedareputationasahardbargainer,butonewhosecropwasalwaysgood,andwhoneversoldshoddyforbettermerchandise.

           Soallwentwellforanothertenyears;butafterthatwasabadyear,forAnthony,herson,slewJohnnie,hishalfbrother,inafuriousquarreloverthefutureofthefarmandthedispositionofPhyllida’shand;andsomesaidhehadnotmeanttokillhisbrother,andthatitwasafoolishblowthatstrucktoodeep,andsomesaidotherwise.Anthonyfled,leavingEssietoburyheryoungestsonbesidehisfather.Now,somesaidAnthonyfledtoBoston,andsomesaidhewentsouth,andhismotherwasoftheopinionthathehadtakenshiptoEngland,toenlistinGeorge’sarmyandfighttherebelScots.Butwithbothsonsgonethefarmwasanemptyplace,andasadone,andPhyllidapinedandplainedasifherhearthadbeenbroken,whilenothingthatherstepmothercouldsayordowouldputasmilebackonherlipsagain.