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Mrs. Richardson
Lois Burdoo is a poor Black widow in Jaffrey who lives with her five children, including Polly and Moses. She receives charity from the town—and Amos Fortune—to support her and her children after her husband’s death, but she fails find a livelihood for herself or to ensure that her children attend school or take care of themselves. She provides a contrast to the hardworking Amos and Violet, proving by negative example how important hard work and self-reliance are.
Lois Burdoo Quotes in Amos Fortune, Free Man
The Amos Fortune, Free Man quotes below are all either spoken by Lois Burdoo or refer to Lois Burdoo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 8: Amos on the Mountain Quotes
“I’m not wanting Lois Burdoo to live in hardship but I’m thinking you’ve got a right to live in dignity.”
“But Violet—” he began.
While the words were strong within her she knew she must speak them. “With all the help the town gave her she never made herself any better,” Violet insisted. “The children are getting older. They’re the ones to help and help themselves too. You’ll do more for them all by giving work to the boys than by giving money to Lois.”
“But Violet—”
She would not listen to him until she had had her say. “There’s a fire that burns fast the more fuel goes on it and that’s shiftlessness,” Violet said stoutly. “Lois is a shiftless woman and money is just so much fuel to her fire.”
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Chapter 9: Auctioned for Freedom Quotes
The town had again been helping Lois Burdoo with firewood and foodstuffs. But no matter what help she received she never seemed to be able to rise above her wretched lot. The children went to school in tatters, and even when given new clothes they would appear the next day with them dirty and torn. They could not seem to keep from falling down or tearing themselves on briar bushes.
After years of ineffective help, the town felt that it could not bolster Lois Burdoo any longer. She was given warning that the two oldest children would be put up to Public Vendue on the thirty first day of December. Vendues were auctions at which townspeople could bid for the privilege of affording care to the indigent.
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Lois Burdoo Character Timeline in Amos Fortune, Free Man
The timeline below shows where the character Lois Burdoo appears in Amos Fortune, Free Man. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 7: Hard Work Fills the Iron Kettle 1781–1789
...the Burdoo family in the years after Moses Burdoo, Sr. dies, leaving behind a wife, Lois, and five children including Polly and Moses. But while Amos hopes to share his good...
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...tells his tale, the children huddle around, Violet’s eyes fill with tears of gratitude, and Lois’s eyes fill with tears of grief. 1000
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Finally, Amos sends the children outside while he and Violet talk with Lois. Life was hard for the Burdoos even when Moses, Sr. was alive, but it’s worse...
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Chapter 8: Amos on the Mountain
...always longed to own a piece of land in Jaffrey, and the pivotal visit to Lois Burdoo and her family happens just as he’s about to make an offer on a...
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...go to her grave before allowing Amos to give it to a “no-account woman” like Lois. He accuses her of stealing his money, and she angrily asks him how many times...
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...reiterates his faith in his ability to make enough money to bring both his plans—helping Lois and buying land—to fruition. But Violet worries that the years he has left to enjoy...
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...for himself. But he has no land to leave for them when he dies. Still, Lois’s predicament moves him. Amos feels that he’s worked hard for his money and that Violet...
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Chapter 9: Auctioned for Freedom
...more he pities those who live on charity. No matter how much help she receives, Lois never seems able to better herself; even her children waste away the gifts of clothing...
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...of the impending auction to her family, Amos can barely believe it. He worries that Lois’s daughter Polly won’t be able to stand the hard work her patron will demand. But...
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...town. Amos’s presence surprises everyone since he usually holds himself above such morally questionable practices. Lois sits in a corner, sobbing, and her distress increases when the tavernkeeper bids four pounds...
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...up. But Polly has a comfortable time with the Fortune family. Despite her dislike for Lois, Violet treats Polly kindly and Celyndia considers her like a sister. But despite a professed...
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