Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/125

 seldom coming in contact with people other than those in the small coterie about them. They were children of the wild, well versed in woodcraft. They understood the character of the soil, of animals and birds. In their legends and folklore stories they interpreted the quaint tales of the wild things about them. And Linda was interested in every story she heard. Most of her education had been derived from legend. She had never attended school but her mother had taught her to read and write. As time went on she read every book that she could get her hands on. There were not many. Few of the Gullahs had a library that numbered more than two or three books. But these she read over and over again until she knew them by heart. Her favorite was a volume of Mr. Lincoln's speeches. There were no books procurable anywhere that could teach her simple, forceful English more beautifully. How she thrilled every time she read his Gettysburg Address.

Her father had taught her to sing. He was the most indolent, merriest chap that ever