Read Online Forever and Forever (Historical Proper Romance) by Josi S. Kilpack - Free Book Online
Authors: Josi S. Kilpack
Tags: Fiction
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government, for instance. If the American population had a greater percentage of educated minds, how might the influence and advancement of our culture increase? And for what reason should we base that advancement only on the male mind?
“England is educating more and more women all the time, and with a new queen taking the throne in coming years, I expect there will be even greater emphasis on equal opportunity between the sexes. America could do as much without a queen and truly put into place our ideals of allowing men and women to rise above circumstances of birth through effort.”
He paused to glance her way. “I shall agree that your situation is unique when compared to the countless women toiling day-to-day in America, but I see a great future ahead of us all if we will give women the equal chance to seek the potential of their minds as you have been able to—and allow minds such as yours to expand themselves even more through higher education. The future generations that would be benefited by educated women raising children is, in and of itself, impossible to measure.”
Fanny stared at him, only vaguely realizing that at some point they had stopped walking and stood facing one another on the sidewalk. She was shocked at his passion for this topic while also being invigorated by it. Not only did he see great potential in women, but he saw it specifically in her. “You do not agree with Mr. Jefferson that a woman lacks the mental ability to learn as men do?”
Mr. Longfellow chuckled and shook his head. “Not in the least. Do you feel that your mental ability is less than, for instance, Tom’s?”
She was silenced again. Did she agree that Tom was superior to her in intellect? He was more educated, having studied law at Harvard. But Mr. Longfellow knew that. He was not asking after formal education but mental ability. Having never considered such a thing made it impossible for Fanny to answer with only a moment’s notice.
She was reminded of some facts, however. Tom did not read as Fanny did, and they often had conversations regarding history and philosophy where she felt she could best him—despite that fact that her formal education had ended years earlier than his. Did that not speak to equal ability to learn?
Tom would never agree to such a thing—she was certain of that—nor any man of her acquaintance. Except, perhaps, Mr. Longfellow, who was watching her as though he could read her thoughts.
Before she could form an appropriate answer, Mr. Longfellow asked another question. “Might I ask you, Miss Fanny, who taught you to read?”
“I attended school,” Fanny said. “As any other girl of my station is able.”
“Yes, until the age of ten or twelve, I expect.” He raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Fanny nodded, slightly embarrassed since he obviously saw that as lacking, but she did not take offense. How could she when he was paying her, and her sex as a whole, such a compliment of potential?
“And before that, who taught you your letters? Who taught you to read those first words?”
“My mother,” Fanny said, feeling the warm prick of her heart that she always felt when she thought of her mother who had loved her family and spent so many years ill. Fanny had clear memories of lying beside Mama in bed and listening to her mother’s voice say the letters and sounds of a word then waiting for Fanny to repeat it. The memory was so vivid that she could smell the lavender of her mother’s perfume and feel the softness of the sheets and blankets tangled around her restless feet.
“As did mine,” Mr. Longfellow said with a nod. “I had schooling beginning when I was three years old, but it was on my mother’s lap that I was first read to, and it was to my mother’s ear that I first sounded out the words she wrote down on the slate for me to learn. My mother took the Protestant principles of educating one’s children quite seriously and was herself a well-read woman. I am not
“England is educating more and more women all the time, and with a new queen taking the throne in coming years, I expect there will be even greater emphasis on equal opportunity between the sexes. America could do as much without a queen and truly put into place our ideals of allowing men and women to rise above circumstances of birth through effort.”
He paused to glance her way. “I shall agree that your situation is unique when compared to the countless women toiling day-to-day in America, but I see a great future ahead of us all if we will give women the equal chance to seek the potential of their minds as you have been able to—and allow minds such as yours to expand themselves even more through higher education. The future generations that would be benefited by educated women raising children is, in and of itself, impossible to measure.”
Fanny stared at him, only vaguely realizing that at some point they had stopped walking and stood facing one another on the sidewalk. She was shocked at his passion for this topic while also being invigorated by it. Not only did he see great potential in women, but he saw it specifically in her. “You do not agree with Mr. Jefferson that a woman lacks the mental ability to learn as men do?”
Mr. Longfellow chuckled and shook his head. “Not in the least. Do you feel that your mental ability is less than, for instance, Tom’s?”
She was silenced again. Did she agree that Tom was superior to her in intellect? He was more educated, having studied law at Harvard. But Mr. Longfellow knew that. He was not asking after formal education but mental ability. Having never considered such a thing made it impossible for Fanny to answer with only a moment’s notice.
She was reminded of some facts, however. Tom did not read as Fanny did, and they often had conversations regarding history and philosophy where she felt she could best him—despite that fact that her formal education had ended years earlier than his. Did that not speak to equal ability to learn?
Tom would never agree to such a thing—she was certain of that—nor any man of her acquaintance. Except, perhaps, Mr. Longfellow, who was watching her as though he could read her thoughts.
Before she could form an appropriate answer, Mr. Longfellow asked another question. “Might I ask you, Miss Fanny, who taught you to read?”
“I attended school,” Fanny said. “As any other girl of my station is able.”
“Yes, until the age of ten or twelve, I expect.” He raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Fanny nodded, slightly embarrassed since he obviously saw that as lacking, but she did not take offense. How could she when he was paying her, and her sex as a whole, such a compliment of potential?
“And before that, who taught you your letters? Who taught you to read those first words?”
“My mother,” Fanny said, feeling the warm prick of her heart that she always felt when she thought of her mother who had loved her family and spent so many years ill. Fanny had clear memories of lying beside Mama in bed and listening to her mother’s voice say the letters and sounds of a word then waiting for Fanny to repeat it. The memory was so vivid that she could smell the lavender of her mother’s perfume and feel the softness of the sheets and blankets tangled around her restless feet.
“As did mine,” Mr. Longfellow said with a nod. “I had schooling beginning when I was three years old, but it was on my mother’s lap that I was first read to, and it was to my mother’s ear that I first sounded out the words she wrote down on the slate for me to learn. My mother took the Protestant principles of educating one’s children quite seriously and was herself a well-read woman. I am not
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