Aunt Wheatley was in want of a domestic. 

The captain feared of her dropping off his hands, without emolument, by death. 

She began to write classically influenced poetry. 

Phillis became a curiosity outside the circle of home--clergymen, literati, and members of the socially elite. 

Members of the socially elite visited to marvel at her talents. 

The pampered young slave girl was a miracle. 

However, she remained frail and prone to ill health. 

To bolster her strength, doctors prescribed a London sojourn. 

This coincidentally happened at the same time as the publication date of her book of poetry. 

Phillis was the object of intense and mostly favorable scrutiny.