Jane wondered when her thumb would grow as long as she would
             other fingers (Wise, 17). A later letter from Mary carried the grave news
             that Jane was struck with Typhoid fever and tuberculosis of the spine. This
             left her dark, curly hair straight and her body fragile and emaciated. Jane
             loved her family but was especially attached to her father. She was often
             found trying to be just like her father by rubbing things on her fingers to
             get a "mill thumb" like her father had.
             ...