The Dawn of an Era

[Dear Aunt Susan and Uncle Holin,

Mr. Fast, sorry for the trouble of delivering this for me.

Martin and I are doing well. Martin found steady work as a Tavern hand, still close to me. The owner knows Mr. Fast, so you needn't worry. The Tavern pays one Silver Coin a week, with a raise to come. I know you and Uncle Holin have always loved Martin in your quiet way. I think he'll save the money and bring it home to you.

I live in an attic next to the tavern, above a spinning mill. Every day, the creak of the spinning wheels reminds me of you, though you've never spun yarn. Uncle Holin was always the one who mended our clothes.

Breeze City has filled me with ideas. I'm improving the spinning wheel, and once I succeed, it will spin yarn several times faster than it does now. I plan to call it the Susan Spinning Machine, to thank you for helping me. By the time you receive this letter, many people should already know its name.

Now, here's what Martin wants to say to you:

That girl Lenna is so pretty. If I give her all my money and wait on her hand and foot like Uncle Holin does, will she become my wife? Annan, what are you writing? A message for home? Who's Aunt Susan?

That was Martin's message for you.

Don't worry about us. Once I've taken care of things here in Breeze City, Martin and I will come home to visit.]

Annan slipped the letter into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and gave it to Soluman Copperbeard. She would pass it to Mr. Fast the next time she delivered wine to Pinglin Town.

As for why he had called it the Susan Spinning