diff --git a/src/edit.rs b/src/edit.rs
index d4056c3..42b3e62 100644
--- a/src/edit.rs
+++ b/src/edit.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
+    history::History,
     input::{self, ControlCharacter, Escape},
     log::*,
     output,
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ impl Editor {
 
     /// reads one command from the editor. This function blocks until the user has entered an
     /// entire command.
-    pub fn read_command(&mut self) -> Result<Option<String>> {
+    pub fn read_command(&mut self, _history: &mut History) -> Result<Option<String>> {
         use input::Event::*;
 
         loop {
diff --git a/src/history.rs b/src/history.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7ce8bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/history.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+pub struct History {}
+
+impl History {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {}
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/input.rs b/src/input.rs
index ae8efb9..01705a1 100644
--- a/src/input.rs
+++ b/src/input.rs
@@ -239,6 +239,8 @@ impl Reader {
             let c = as_escape_character(&record).ok_or(InputError::BadEscapeSequence)?;
             if let Some(escape) = self.escapes.step(c) {
                 return Ok(escape);
+            } else {
+                return Ok(Escape::Empty);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -416,7 +418,7 @@ impl EscapeNode {
 impl EscapeCursor {
     fn step(&mut self, c: char) -> Option<Escape> {
         debug!("step: {c}");
-        let child = self.target.child(c).unwrap();
+        let child = self.target.child(c)?;
         match child.as_ref() {
             EscapeNode::Terminal { v, .. } => {
                 self.reset();
diff --git a/src/interactive.rs b/src/interactive.rs
index dfd3b7e..c4760bd 100644
--- a/src/interactive.rs
+++ b/src/interactive.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
     edit,
+    history::History,
     log::*,
     output,
     run::{self, Eval},
@@ -39,10 +40,12 @@ impl Session {
             stderr: self.stderr.clone(),
             state: &mut state,
         };
+        let mut history = History::new();
+
         info!("» shell session start --------");
         loop {
             self.editor.show_prompt()?;
-            let text = match self.editor.read_command()? {
+            let text = match self.editor.read_command(&mut history)? {
                 Some(text) => text,
                 None => break,
             };
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index e7a5c75..5c636a4 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ mod lex;
 /// a real primitive line editor
 mod edit;
 
+mod history;
+
 /// logging configuration
 mod log;
 
diff --git a/src/parse.rs b/src/parse.rs
index b6db748..52104e7 100644
--- a/src/parse.rs
+++ b/src/parse.rs
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ fn next_id() -> usize {
 /// within a parse tree. The cursor helps with the ownership structure: so long as there is a
 /// cursor to any node on the tree, the tree remains in memory. Once there are no cursors pointed
 /// at the tree, it is dropped.
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Cursor {
     pub target: Rc<Node>,
     root: Rc<Node>,
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ impl Cursor {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// moves the cursor up to the root of the tree in place
     pub fn up_to_root(&mut self) {
         self.goto(Rc::clone(&self.root));
     }
@@ -174,6 +175,22 @@ impl Cursor {
         Rc::clone(&self.root)
     }
 
+    fn text_tree(&self) -> String {
+        let mut p = self.clone();
+        p.up_to_root();
+        let mut buf = String::new();
+        self.text_tree_helper(0, &mut buf);
+        buf
+    }
+
+    fn text_tree_helper(&self, depth: u32, mut buf: &mut String) {
+        let line = format!("{:?}\n", self.value());
+        *buf = buf.to_owned() + &line;
+        for child in self.iter_children() {
+            child.text_tree_helper(depth + 1, &mut buf);
+        }
+    }
+
     fn goto(&mut self, next: Rc<Node>) {
         self.prev = self.target.id;
         self.target = next;