Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

               Chapter 6
   
         From the crime Hester Prynne
      committed, came a child.  She named it
      Pearl because it came at a great
      expense.
         Pearl was an outcast like her mother. 
      Her absence from other children
      coupled with the knowledge her mother
      had done something wrong caused her
      to have a peculiar behavior.  She
      danced around in an elfish manner. 
      Sometimes she threw flowers at the
      Scarlet Letter or reached out to touch
      it; somehow aware of its meaning.
         Hester feared Pearl might be
      possessed, carry a demon in her, or be a
      witch.  Pearl would throw rocks and
      mutter phases which almost made her
      sound like a witch when surrounded by
      children.  Hester had to reassure herself
      Pearl was normal by telling Pearl, "Thy
      Heavenly Father sent thee."