Monday, May 30, 2011

Hitty - Her First Hundred Years - Mother Culture CD talk



Hitty - Her First Hundred Years

Have you ever read the charming story of Hitty – Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field? Before I give you my review, however, may I show you my doll?




It is an antique doll. She wears her original hand sewn muslin gown, has a petticoat and pantalettes edged in cotton lace. 





I was quite surprised and delighted the day I received her as a housewarming gift. She is the same doll, with the sweet face, that I had regularly admired on the shelf of one of my sister-in-law’s glass display cabinets. My sister-in-law is a doll collector. She buys and sells. I never dreamed that the plain, early American looking doll with the sweet face, would one day be presented to me.


I’ve named her Helen after my great-grandmother. Helen’s hair is of flax and was skillfully refurbished by my sister-in-law’s steady hand. Helen wears her long hair like Dora does in my stories. 


Decorating this post are a few of the dolls from my sister-in-law’s collection. (She wishes to be unnamed.) Her dolls are dressed in a fashion that matches their lavish Victorian beginnings.

Not long ago I read the children’s book, Hitty – Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field. (You might have spotted it in the basket of a February post.) My daughters read it silently in their girlhood. I never had. I liked the story so much I wrote a review of it for Christian Book Distributors. Here is a sneak preview.


Hitty, unlike the dolls you see here, is whittled out of mountain-ash wood by a peddler in Maine sometime during early 19th century. The story is her autobiography. But a girl doesn’t have to have a special interest in dolls to be enthralled by Hitty. Her adventures are what she will find so interesting. And there are a lot of them. Settings change dramatically.


Near the beginning of her doll’s life she is carried aboard a whaling vessel in the arms of the daughter of the sea caption, is shipwrecked, marooned on a south sea island, recovered, then dropped for lost in India, picked up by a snake charmer and purchased by a missionary family. (Phew.) She returns to America, lives with Quakers in Philadelphia (where this time her new dress is gray) and meets John Greenleaf Whittier during the War Between the States. After being forgotten in a dark attic stuffed between the cushions of an old sofa, she is shipped to New York City with the furniture. Here, in the arms of another little girl she meets Charles Dickens on the streets of New York.


With suspense the story continues as Hitty is stolen, hidden away, given away and thrown away. Yet amid her tumbles and travels she is always happy when admired and when a new dress lovingly takes the place of an older shabby one.



Written in 1929 before the popularity of television author Rachel Field does a beautiful job describing the geographical and historical settings in words . . the words of a doll who takes courage, even when she doesn’t feel so brave, in life’s uncertain circumstances.

Newberry Award Winner for ages 10 up.

Gail Wilson Designs of New Hampshire makes a replica of the little doll Hitty for sale. Early American clothes, furniture, even a tiny cross stitch sampler for Hitty, are also available, as are kits.  





The wild blackberry brambles are blooming at the edge of our woods. This was my cue to photograph Lessons at Blackberry Inn amidst a setting of white blackberry flowers. Being pricked by a thorn I still managed to take a somewhat interesting picture. 


I hope with home school lessons coming to a close that you will set aside a little leisure for yourself, to read whatever interests you. I trust it will be something refreshing to grow-by. I like to hear what you are reading. 

Thanks for visiting,
Karen Andreola 

11 comments:

  1. Dear Karen,

    Not only will I read what brings me pleasure, but I am now beginning my life long passion - sewing!

    Have a blessed week.

    Maria.

    PS: Thank you for sharing your beautiful Hydrangeas in the last picture :-D

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  2. Dear Karen, How my girls have enjoyed this book! I read it to them from my Grandmother's copy of this book. Your pictures of your doll inspired me to add my porcelain doll to my new bookcase from my Grandmother's front room. She is nestled with Cousin Louine's tea set. I am sure Louine and Grandmother both enjoyed Hitty!

    Thanks for sharing.
    Cheryl

    PS We also enjoyed reading Holling C. Holling's Seabird with similiar sorts of adventure and world-wide travel.

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  3. I must get this book for my daughters! It sounds like a wonderful book!

    Deanna

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  4. I would like to say thank you for encouraging me to (only if for 10-20 minutes) read something for pleasure. The book now is Pocketful of Pinecones and next I hope to read a book I have never read before a Jane Austen "Sense and Sensibility".
    Continue having beautiful memories with your grandchildren, you are a blessing to them.
    Thank you again
    Jessica

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  5. In the last month, I've read or started to read several books (I lay the books down and my family finds them and starts to read them.) Our homeschool studies led us to read, "The Hiding Place", which led to "God's Smuggler" - Brother Andrew, leading to "Tramp for the Lord". A Moms' co-op book club had me reading "Heaven is for Real" and most recently "Daring to Live on the Edge" by Loren Cunningham. On my summer list is to reread a well worn copy of "Pocketful of Pinecones" for nature study and how to keep curiosity alive inspiration, which is definitely not a problem with my Jared. :)

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  6. Hitty is one of my favorites from elementary school. I found "her" in the library one day!

    I just finished reading a book about China, tea, and Robert Fortune (the man who smuggled tea plants and seeds out of China and into India). I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    I usually read on the front porch in the mornings. However, we are in the middle of a cicada infestation. We are all looking forward to the demise of the cicadas. I actually heard children playing outside the other day. Such a hopeful sound for those of us who have been bombarded with cicada chirrs and resonances for the past month or so.

    Happy reading!

    Susan

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  7. Oh, Karen,
    I received the Mother Culture CD in the mail today and I was alone in the car and was able to listen and what a blessing! I laughed and cried. What a delight to hear the voice that goes with the smile. And you were right(from my note)it is conviction. Thank you

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  8. I have never heard of "Hitty". Thank you for the introduction. Right now I'm reading your book "A Charlotte Mason Companion." I am also reading "Humility" by C.J. Mahaney and "The Word of God" by Tom Harmon. I'm looking forward to reading something a bit more adventurous this summer.

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  9. Karen,

    Delighted to discover you write a blog.
    Wonderful to know you're enjoying the pleasure of grand-babies!

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  10. I have never read the story of Hitty, but it sounds like a delightful story. It sounds like a fun story to even share with a boy considering all of her adventures and what a great way to teach some geography. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Dear Ladies,
    Rereading your comments this morning was a pleasure. (I always read them at least twice).
    Karen

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