Source:  Short Story: ”The Lady in Black” by Eleanor H. Porter

Text = http://www1.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/Short-Story-The-Lady-in-Black-by-Eleanor-H-Porter-93806354.html

MP3 = http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/learningenglish/dalet/se-as-the-lady-in-black-15-may-10.Mp3

Eleanor Emily Hodgman was born in Littleton, New Hampshire, on December 19, 1868, the daughter of Llewella French (née Woolson) and Francis Fletcher Hodgman.She was trained as a singer, attending the New England Conservatory for several years.

In 1892 she married John Lyman Porter and relocated to Massachusetts, after which she began writing and publishing her short stories and, later, novels. She died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 21, 1920, and was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Porter wrote mainly children's literature, adventure stories, and romance fiction. Her most famous novel is Pollyanna (1913), followed by a sequel, Pollyanna Grows Up (1915).

Her adult novels include The Turn of the Tide (1908), The Road to Understanding (1917), Oh Money! Money! (1918), Dawn (1919), Keith's Dark Tower (1919)

Mary Marie (1920) and Sister Sue (1921); her short-story collections include Across the Years (c. 1919), Money, Love and Kate (1923), and Little Pardner (1926).

Porter achieved considerable commercial success: Pollyanna ranked eighth among best-selling novels in the United States during 1913, second during 1914, and fourth during 1915 (with 47 printings between 1915 and 1920); Just David ranked third in 1916; The Road to Understanding ranked fourth in 1917; and Oh Money! Money! ranked fifth in 1918.

The summary of the story

There was a mother, named Helen, who always wore black. She was mourning over the loss of her daughter. She was so sad, that she refused to care about her son and husband. Instead, she was mad that her husband and son could still smile and play together after the death of the daughter and ran to see her daughter's grave.

When she was there, she met a woman, placing flowers on another grave near her daughter's grave. She talked to her and found out that she was not the mother of the young boy in the grave. She was only his nurse. She cared for his grave because no one was left to care.

Helen asked why, the lady said that the mother of the boy was so sad that she forgot about her husband and daughter. She died, and her husband followed after her. The daughter left to find a place where she could find happiness, since she didn't get one on that house.

Hearing the story, the Lady in Black shivered. She was scared. She hurried back home and cried. Time passed, and she no longer walked down the stairs slowly. She wore a white dress and a white flower on her head, despite having trace of tears on her face. She heard her son called her, and she embraced little Bobby in her arms.

Character Analysis

Character's Appearance: The Lady in Black looked at them with serious eyes and her mouth hardened at the corners.

Character's words:

*''Boddy, Boddy'' she cried out, is a release of unreasoning sadness, ''Go away! Go away! I want to be alone- alone!''

*''So, you see, that's why I come and put flowers here. It's for her. There's no one else now to care'', she sighed, rising to her feet.