The brief, bright candle of her life was about to burn out, and I didn’t even know it. One winter’s day, when she was out playing in the snow with Mr. Roke-Green’s three daughters, a milk cow wandered past, dragging a frayed rope and crying to be milked, her angry pink udders swollen and swaying....
“This one!” I breathed, holding up a beautiful, fringed butter yellow shawl embroidered in bright, vivid colours with a bountiful variety of flowers, fruits, birds, and animals. “She will like this one—I’m certain of it!” I nodded decisively and folded the shawl carefully. “Wrap it and have it se...