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

Mary Anning's Curiosity — page 4 — the cleanest Today he was proudly showing off his two prized shires Ace and Abby were draft horses able to pull felled trees or wagons weighted with full barrels Their coal black coats gleamed and their shaggy stockings were as white as the chalky cliffs of Dover Lord Henley's groom had braided ribbons into their tails and manes The pair stood patiently as people admired and petted them Mary wanted to pet the horses too so Lizzie brought her closer As the child reached out thunder rumbled The sound echoed around the cliffs of Lyme Bay Jagged lightning split the sky and a torrential rain fell People ran for cover Lizzie held Mary close as she raced for a tree where two women were sheltering We Il wait out the storm wee one said Lizzie Suddenly a blinding light flashed overhead Lightning struck the tree and the three women fell down dead Lizzie's hair was scorched and her entire right side charred In death's grip she rigidly clasped Mary to her chest Then just as suddenly the storm clouds blew out to sea People ran over to the tree to see if they could help Dr Fairwell was among them He saw at once that the three women were dead and that the child was unmarked by the lightning Could she still be alive Was it possible Dr Fairwell pried the infant from Lizzie s arms then put his fingers to her throat He felt a faint pulse Astonished he cried Her heart still

Mary Anning's Curiosity — page 5 — Dr Fairwell carried Mary to the Anning home down by the seawall in Cockmoile Square Concerned friends and neighbors followed the doctor They were heartsick to think that Molly and Richard might lose yet another child Molly prepared a basin of warm water Dr Fairwell slowly lowered the lifeless child into the calming bath He gently rubbed her arms and legs while Molly and Richard looked on helplessly Mary's eyelids fluttered as slowly her eyes opened People in Lyme Regis talked of that day for years They called Mary Anning a miracle child any were in awe of her Others wouldn't have anything to do with her because they believed she must be the devil s own to have survived such a powerful lightning strike one that had killed three grown WOMEN Certainly Mary was never the same again She'd been a dull and sickly baby lacking in curiosity or spark of any kind But after the strike Mary grew bright and lively Lightning it seemed had startled her brain into

Mary Anning's Curiosity — page 6 — PART ONE Hard Times

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