The Past

When I say the past I do not mean my own past but rather a past I cannot imagine having lived. What if, say, I was born in the 1800's where would I be now. Yes now I would be dead it having been thousands of years ago but would I be in the history books or in journals? Would I be remembered? And what was life like for me? Was I rich or was i poor? was I smart or was a dim-witted?

I can imagine my life when if I was born in the 1800s. Life was hard but I did not want for food. I was quick in thought but quicker still in action. I was a governess in an average home or perhaps a rich one but I prefer to think the children I taught were neither rich nor poor. Which is to say they were middle upper class instead of being upper upper class. I was treated kindly and wanted for little but The Master of the house was brutal. He was strong willed and drank on occasion and when he did drink he became angry. He threw things and hit things and had such a temper. Though he did not drink often when he did I was around and took the brunt of his anger. Many a time I thought to leave but I did not because I knew that, if I left, I would hunger and thirst- something I knew I just could not have.

My pupil was a young man by the name of John until he turned 10 and then it was John and his sister Elizabeth. Young John was very smart he caught on to the lessons quickly though his penmanship was poor, well enough though well enough. I had the most trouble with Elizabeth. She was much like her father (only she didn't need the influence of wine) She threw to many fits I do not know how i survived. But she was indeed beautiful. No more than 5 foot two with long curly brown hair. and blue eyes. She had the most beautiful blue eyes. A beautiful, stunning creature. It was no wonder her father and mother doted on her.

I sincerely doubt that I ever would marry. Though who knows. maybe after I left my post as a governess. after scrimping and saving everything I could I would leave the Masters home and become a school teacher in a distant village. Or perhaps I would be on an errand one evening and I would meet someone, someone who would persuade me to leave my post and marry. And perhaps I would have children. many children. though some of them would be taken away from me by miscarriages and still births. I would be sad and depressed as each of my children passed away one by one. until one day. One day I would bear a child and then another and another. Each of my children would be well provided for and well taught. They would be happy and so would I though I would have to work hard for it to be so. Then one day I would die and on my headstone it would read " a loving mother, wife, and teacher" and that would have been the end of me. a quaint life though a happy one.

That would have been a very interesting life. But not one I was destined to live. instead i live in the 21st century. and life is, well, life is interesting.

Goodnight