Clara and the Hoodoo Man

Bessie starts to get sick with a fever and a sore throat Bessie says she is seeing snakes on the floor and everywhere, the fever has taking her along making her imagine things. She is moaning she is saying things that she thinks she is seeing. Momma tells Clara to grab some spring water, Clara is week and scared. When she came in with the water she wets rags down and covers Bessie with them. Bessie still murmuring things with moans in a whisper. Momma tells Clara that the hoodoo man has done this to Bessie. She says to Clara they should have never talked to the Hoodoo man. They get the White doctor to come and see Bessie The white Doctor says that Bessie has Mountain Fever. Clara went to Old Sugar and he told her of a medicine you have to get A pot of warm Hot water and willow twigs boil it and then have Bessie lay in it like a bath it will make her better, Clara went and did this and it made Bessie better.

I read this book while taking a Children's Literature class. The story is great! The author really kept me attention. I was continually wondering if the Hoodoo Man used hoodoo on little Bessie, or if Bessie got sick because of Clara taking her into the mountains. The language Elizabeth Partridge used to describe the state little Bessie was in when she was sick with fever really captivated me. I recommend this book for all children and adults to read.