Elizabeth

We saw Elizabeth as one of the Spirit People.  She was the adopted daughter of Charon and Calley, the mother of mankind.

Elizabeth appears first bringing a basket to a hungry son with an exemplary Gift from 'mama' (Mother) , who is a synonym for God.  These gifts occur throughout the story.  The author was certainly familiar with "every good and perfect thing come from God" (James 1:17).

Elizabeth, like other 'spirit people' is not bound by time or space the way most of us mortals are.  She has the habit of suddenly appearing at any particular time and at the most unlikely place.

Her character is revealed further at pages 51ff as a fiddler and singer, and when she brings towel and soap for Bard's birth she says "We're all dead, don't you know? We are only real when we are in the Music."

Elizabeth is pointing out to us what we all should know, that we're capable of living eternally, a very Blakean idea, although I don't know where the author got it.

Drop down now  to page 91ff; here we meet Lizbet, not a 'spirit person' but a 'gray person'; she mentions 'Mama', but it's not Elizabeth's mama: "Mama wants to know what's your name, Boy".  This Mamas food is not like Calley's food.  And her gift is a rock in the back of his head.

You may find Elizabeth again before you get to the end of the story.