Mary Anning's Curiosity

Mary Anning's Curiosity — page 3
Long Ago in Lyme Regis More than two hundred years ago a traveling fair came to the seaside town of Lyme Regis on the south coast of England People left their tasks to go see horses jumping and riders performing stunts Molly Anning expecting a child asked her friend Elizabeth Haskings to take her fifteen month old baby Mary for the afternoon The child was cranky with teething troubles and Molly hoped the horse show might distract and amuse her She ll have a good day assured Lizzie cuddling Mary TH make sure of that The pair waved goodbye and set off crossing the bridge over the river that ran through town Walking on this humid August day was draining and Lizzie stopped often to catch her breath and wipe her brow Carrying the slight child wasn't difficult but the heat was heavy Lizzie saw dark storm clouds brewing overhead Hope the rain doesn't ruin our day pet she said The field at the edge of town overflowed with men women children horses and dogs Lizzie spotted Lord Henry Hoste Henley who lived at Colway Manor and owned most of the surrounding land His hat was always the tallest and his boots