Life at sea could often be monotonous. Between meals, academic lessons and bed, there was usually ample time for Laura to do handiwork with her Mother. Helen worked on her patchwork quilt. She inspired Laura to knit, making toilet cushions from worsted they had brought from home and they sewed and mended clothing as needed.

"I made what was called a log cabin quilt, did some fancy work and read a good deal, so the time seemed to pass quickly," recalled Helen. Indeed, both Laura and Prescott made good use of their time, learning to love their story books as her very first journal entry indicated, "...I have read two story books...."

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Martha's Vineyard Museum