MD3PAD 511-513

[Toby G Levy]

        Chapter 53 begins on page 511 with a lengthy quotation from
Wicks' book of undelivered sermons.  It concerns the importance of doubt
to faith.

        Following the quote there begins a lengthy extract from the
Ghastly Fop, although there is indication that we have left the
narrative of the story of Mason and Dixon other than the fact that they
are nowhere to be found over the next 25 pages.

        The focus is upon a young woman in a family that settled in
eastern Pennsylvania.

vw#113: vendue - A public sale; an auction.

        She is alone in her house one afternoon. Men dressed in Indian
clothes came and took her away into the forest. The further they went
from her house, the more sure she was that they did not intend to kill
her.  When they got the the Susquehanna river, there were boats waiting
for them.  They were not Indian canoes, but "battoes" which as described
on http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/art/kalm.html appear to be large
rowboats. She later learned that they were built from wood that grew
only in Illinois.

        They crossed the river in the boats and commenced walking again.
She was not bound nor abused. She was only required to walk with them
deep into Indian country. There are great flocks of birds in the sky,
including many snowy owls.  Early snow makes an appearance.

        Finally they reach a vast body of water, which is clearly
supposed to be Lake Erie. They board canoes and head toward the horizon.

Toby