The Signature of All Things

In January 1800, Alma Whittaker is born to Beatrix and Henry Whittaker. The narrator notes the reactions of the people around her. Her Dutch-born mother, Beatrix, hopes she will be “sensible and intelligent” (1). Hanneke de Groot, their Dutch housekeeper, foresees more work. The young maid who assists at the birth also says a blessing for the baby, though the girl will be fired the next day. To celebrate, her father, Henry, harvests a pineapple from his specially designed greenhouses and shares it among the household. Henry admires Alma as “his tendency in life was to admire without reservation everything he made” (3).

While waiting for Alma to grow enough to be of interest, the narrator describes how Henry Whittaker, the richest man in Philadelphia, first came by his wealth. Henry was born in London, England, in 1760 to poor parents who already had many children. His father worked at Kew Gardens and was famous for saving the king’s favorite apple tree. The narrator describes how Henry learns his father’s trade but despises his father’s lack of ambition, instead admiring Sir Joseph Banks, a botanical explorer who has traveled the world and is the new superintendent of Kew Gardens.