Американские боги
Chapter 4
Butheartbrokenornot,theyneededamanaboutthefarm,andsoPhyllidamarriedHarrySoames,aship’scarpenterbyprofession,whohadtiredoftheseaandwhodreamedofalifeonlandonafarmliketheLincolnshirefarmuponwhichhehadgrownup.AndalthoughtheRichardsons’farmwaslittleenoughlikethat,HarrySoamesfoundcorrespondencesenoughtomakehimhappy.FivechildrenwereborntoPhyllidaandHarry,threeofwhomlived.
ThewidowRichardsonmissedhersons,andshemissedherhusband,althoughhewasnowlittlemorethanamemoryofafairmanwhotreatedherkindly.Phyllida’schildrenwouldcometoEssiefortales,andshewouldtellthemoftheBlackDogoftheMoors,andofRaw-HeadandBloody-Bones,ortheAppleTreeMan,buttheywerenotinterested;theyonlywantedtalesofJack-JackuptheBeanstalk,orJackGiant-killer,orJackandhisCatandtheKing.Shelovedthosechildrenasiftheywereherownfleshandblood,althoughsometimesshewouldcallthembythenamesofthoselongdead.
ItwasMay,andshetookherchairoutintothekitchengardentopickpeasandtoshucktheminthesunlight,foreveninthelushheatofVirginiathecoldhadenteredherbonesasthefrosthadenteredherhair,andalittlewarmthwasafinething.
