Summary

In Chapter 5, Lamentations focused on a doe and her fawn to quell her fears (47). Feeling “excellent in her joints,” a happiness overcame her (47). After more wandering, she came upon a stone into which “a story of the mute and furious struggle that had taken place” there was inscribed (48).

When morning came, Lamentations found her way “into the trees” and lit a fire (49). In her half-sleep, she drifted into memories. She remembered the mistress finding her at “the parish poorhouse” (51). Appalled that Lamentations’ mother could have given birth to her “in such a filthy place” and left her “there to die,” the mistress took Lamentations in (51). Lamentations’ mother was a prostitute and her father’s identity was unknown. However, while traveling to the new world on the Blessing years later, Lamentations noticed people who looked like her (51).

Although everyone on the Blessing was fitful...