Back in the 18th and 19th centuries there were in some homes what was known as the mourning door. Usually situated near the parlor, this door would allow for a cart to back up to it and a casket to be slid out right onto the cart. In this picture to the right you can see a 1720 house behind an old stone wall, with center chimney, rare window panes, overhang and side coffin door.
This is a story of a woman and her husband, Tom, who move into an old home. They find out about this extra door attached to the side of their house which has no steps leading to it, but rather has an abrupt ledge. The woman, unfortunately, cannot get pregnant but rather spends her time thinking about the baby that might be. She begins to discover "baby" parts that she sews back together. At the end of the story she exits the house through the mourning door to bury the baby. A very moving and powerful story about life and death.
No comments:
Post a Comment