How does one make the transition from being an independent vendor of vintage clothes Islandwide to being a living history presenter handing out free, home-brewed teas to passers-by in St. George's?

In Colleen (Nahlijah) Williams' case, it is because her friend Kenita Furbert, who is assistant to the director of the Bermuda Project, saw her potential and persuaded her to accept the job of impersonating Mariana Steed-Hill, better known as Marm Hill, a lady who lived from 1792-1897.

By her own admission, Mrs. Williams was a shy person who had never done anything remotely like that before, but Miss Furbert recognised that she had a special personality and instinctively knew she would be perfect for the role. And so it has proved.

"When Kenita called and told me about the job I thought, 'I don't know anyone who has ever had a job like that, and I never dreamed that I would be the person to be offered a job like that so I'll take it'," Mrs. Williams says.

"And do you know what? It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has freed me up and made me see that I don't have to limit myself. I can do anything. You just can't imagine how wonderful that is."

To be sure, the friendly Bermudian is proving a big hit with everyone who catches her performances in front of St. George's Town Hall between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. She appears in period costume designed by Mrs. Liz Campbell, and relates the story of Mariana (Marm Hill) Steed-Hill, billed as "a legend in her day, and famous for having the first lunch cart, which operated out of St. George's, where she catered to the sailors during the American Civil War".

Mrs. Steed-Hill was born to freed black slaves, Margaret and Christopher Steede of Bailey's Bay, and married boat builder Benjamin Hill. They had 18 children, 11 of whom grew to adulthood, and she also adopted two children.

Mrs. Steed-Hill and her children farmed the Hill acres, and she shipped onions to the West Indies. At nearly 70 she rose, as always, at dawn to load baskets of foodstuffs, kegs of home-brewed drinks, and coffee and cocoa, as well as iron pots, onto her donkey cart which she then took to the town square in St. George's as a travelling restaurant. As a result, she is credited with operating the first lunch cart in Bermuda. An extraordinary business woman who also paved the way and made it possible for women to prosper and be independent, she died at age 105.

Mrs. Williams slips into the role of Marm Hill as easily as if it were a second skin. In fact, so comfortable has she become in it that she now adds ad libs to the original script. Some visitors, and particularly those off the cruise ships, have become so taken with her charming personality that they have remained near her all day, chatting and learning about Bermuda, its people and customs.

"I have made friends from all over the world. It really is amazing." she says. "They tell me where they are from, about their kids, whatever; and when they leave they say, 'See you next year'. Before this I wasn't very talkative, now I have no problem. I have come right out of my shell. In fact, it was one of my goals to be more vocal and with this job I had no other choice. It really has been a blessing."

The recent visit by US travel writers was very special, she says.

"They had a ball with me. They shot pictures of me for about 90 minutes straight. That was tiring, but at least I got to see what being a model was like. And not a negative word was said. As a matter of fact, I have never heard anyone say anything negative, which is really good."

Preparation for each day begins the night before when Mrs. Williams brews up five flavours of teas from fresh lemon grass, hibiscus, ginger and peppermint, all of which she gathers from around her neighbourhood, as well as lemon peel. The cooled teas are then stored in large glass jars, which she takes down to her cart in the morning, along with ice, ladles and cups. As for the little push cart itself, Mrs. Williams declares herself tickled pink with the design, which was custom made by Tekle Merit out of basic wood and cycle wheels.

"The moment I saw it I fell in love with it. It is just so special," she says.

Acknowledging that her tea flavours are different, Mrs. Williams says that while some visitors are initially reluctant to taste them, she soon convinces them to try "just a sip", and more often than not they end up saying "oh, that's nice" and asking for more.

"The fact that it's free helps," she laughs. "I tell them all the time, 'Don't pass up anything that's free'."

As she is ladling the tea into the cups she tells people Marm's story.

"I say, 'I have lived in Bermuda during the 18th and 19th centuries, and I was 105 when I passed.' In fact, I say that so often through the day that when I go home I tell my family, 'You know what? I am taking Marm's vibe with me and I'm going to live to 105, making things happen, being active'."

Happily married to Diop, a man she calls "my blessing and my love," the willowy Mrs. Williams is the mother of three children aged two to 11 who she says enjoy watching her perform.

"My family have been very, very supportive," she says proudly.

When Mrs. Williams' day on the Square is finished, she returns home to prepare dinner and generally tend to her family. It is only when they are in bed that she begins brewing the teas for the next day.

Amazed at her metamorphosis from a shy chrysalis into a bright and chatty butterfly, Mrs. Williams says she still cannot believe her luck - or her popularity.

"Visitors love me, I'm a star down there," she bubbles. "I have made friends with the shopkeepers on the Square, and I even have people who come down and say they have learned of my presence from others. The word has spread, and people are even coming down from Dockyard and making a point of seeing me."

Such statements are not an expression of ego. Rather, Mrs. Williams is simply an honest person who is thrilled to be sharing some of Bermuda's folklore and culture with anyone who will listen. She is a firm believer in The Bermuda Project, and is delighted to be part of its living history programme.

"One really special thing about my job is that a lot of the older Bermudians are coming down just to sit and watch the tourists. They tell me a lot about how things were in the old days, which is very pleasant because I have always wanted to learn about Bermuda history. In fact, I didn't know anything about St. George's before I started. I'm from Warwick!"

As for the future, Mrs. Williams says she will continue in her role until the season ends on November 2, and hopes to be reinstated when similar Bermuda Project activities resume in the Spring. In the meantime, she will return to selling vintage clothes.