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11 She could remember little about crossing the Atlantic,
and even less about her African homeland. She was just
shedding her front teeth when John Wheatley bought her
on the Boston docks as a servant for his wife, Susanna.
They christened their new slave Phillis, the name of the
ship on which she arrived.
12 She remembered the strangeness of the Boston house
that became her home. Her first winter was so very cold
and awful. She survived only by the kindness of her
masters, especially the Wheatleys’ twins, Nathaniel and
Mary, who eagerly shared their lessons with the young
slave girl. They taught her not just English but also Latin
and Greek. Soon Phillis spent more time on her studies
than on serving her mistress.
13 As she began to read poetry, glorious sonnets had
inspired her to try her own hand at writing. And soon she
was reciting her poems to the Wheatleys’ friends.
homeland Someone’s homeland is
the place where he or she was born.
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