The Wedding Gift (20 page)
Authors: Marlen Suyapa Bodden
“What do you think?”
“It’s pretty, Mr. Adams.”
He wrapped it in heavy paper and tied it with a string. My mother paid him.
“Sarah, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m certain that you’re curious about me. I have been a tailor since I began learning at my father’s knee when I was six years old. Our master permitted my father to sew clothing for the gentlemen and ladies in the vicinity and to keep a portion of his earnings. My father worked seven days a week, for his master and for himself, and eventually, he saved enough to buy his freedom. He opened this shop and earned money to buy my mother and me. The three of us worked to buy my four younger brothers and sisters. A schoolteacher who was a member of our church taught me how to read and write.
“Now, you cannot repeat anything that I am going to tell you, Sarah, not even to your husband or sister, not at this time. Please remember that, if you tell anyone any part of what we discuss today, all our lives could be at risk.
“The pastor of my church, the First Methodist Church, is the Reverend Townsend, a young man who was educated in a divinity school in the North. His life has been threatened because he once preached from the pulpit that all men should be free, even though he never said publicly that slavery should be abolished. When away from the pulpit, however, that is another matter. For years, since the current preacher’s father was alive, a group of church members have been trying to help bondsmen flee. Miss Emmeline’s husband was one of the first people we assisted, but all have been caught and returned to slavery. But we have not abandoned our mission. You are here because your mother sent us word that Miss Allen is going to be married early next month and not in two years, as we expected.”
“Why is that important to you and how did my mother notify you, Mr. Adams?”
“It is better that you do not know how we found out, but as you know, slaves leave plantations for legitimate reasons. Now, the Cromwell plantation in Talladega has long been of interest to us. It is known to be the most brutal of any in these parts. The overseers there rule with impunity and have even killed slaves. As a result, slaves are more likely to attempt to escape from there than from other plantations. When your mother learned that you and your husband are going to Talladega with your mistress, she asked me to speak with you.
“Your mother’s first concern is your well-being. Mr. Cromwell, the son, is known as a decadent gentleman who has no purpose in life other than to pursue…physical pleasures. He has a particular fondness for mulatto girls. Now, your husband, I understand, is a coachman, and knows many regions in a number of states. You and he could benefit from our assistance. If your new master seeks to make you his…well, to force you into an arrangement against your will, you and your husband may summon the courage to avail yourselves of an opportunity to escape should it arise. However, if you decide that you do not want to attempt such a drastic and perilous measure, you could be of assistance to us by being our eyes and ears and relaying information to us.”
I looked at my mother. Her brow was furrowed.
“Sir, it has always been my dream to escape, but what about my mother and sister and her family? Could you help them?”
“Sarah, you know we couldn’t run away. I’m too old and… scared, and Belle has those children. But if one of my children got away, Lord, I’d be happy. And Sarah, if any of us could do it, it’s you,” my mother said.
“I don’t know, Mr. Adams. It’s one thing to dream about escape, but it’s another to try to do it. And I would never see my family again,” I said.
“Sarah, I understand the difficulty and danger of making such an attempt, but some slaves would rather surrender their lives than continue to live in captivity. You will have to ask yourself, if the opportunity presents itself, which group you fit into.”
“That is true. At least I don’t have to make the decision now.”
“Miss Emmeline, may I speak alone with Sarah?”
My mother moved to the front of the shop, and Mr. Adams whispered, “Sarah, do you know how to read and write?”
“Sir?”
“Sarah, I can tell by the way you speak that you have had book learning. I will not reveal your answer to anyone, not even your mother.”
“Yes, sir, I do; and I know my numbers too.”
“This is welcome news. You will be of even greater help to us…and to yourself. When you get to Talladega, someone will make himself known to you.”
We went to my mother. “Miss Emmeline, we should conclude so that you will be on your way before the curfew bell in the square rings. Sarah, we may not have another opportunity to see each other again before you leave. Godspeed, and may the Lord bless you.”
Mr. Adams shook our hands and we joined the driver at the meeting place. In the wagon, my mother told me that she needed to speak with me in her cabin after supper. When we arrived at the main gate in Allen Estates, an overseer asked us why it had taken us so long to return.
“Sir, they said they had to do something else and they left me waiting by myself at the square,” the driver said.
“Oh, what else did you have to do?”
My mother pointed at the package from Mr. Adams. “Sir, we had to go to the tailor. He made my daughter a dress to take to Talladega.”
I went to my mother’s cabin after supper.
“Mama, I was thinking about everything that Mr. Adams said, but, Mama, when I think about all the things that could go wrong, I don’t feel as brave as I used to. And, Mama, I would never see you and Belle and the children again.”
“Baby, listen. It’s not like something is going to happen right now. It ain’t like we know you’re really going to get the chance. But, Sarah, I mean it. If one day you do get the chance, I want you to take it. Look, even if you couldn’t make it to the North, you could go to some big place where they have more of us that is free than here. When I went to New York with Mr. Allen, I talked to some people who was free and worked at the hotel. I didn’t find out too much, people is always afraid of talking, but they did say there’s people up there trying to end slavery. And, Sarah, I’ve been saving money for you from the things I make and sell in town. I got it in the lock box. The dress we got from Mr. Adams is for you. Listen, I’m going to sew pockets above the hem inside the dress. Mr. Adams told me to do this. I’m going to put money in the pockets. Don’t wear the dress until you need to. If anybody ask you about it, say I made it for you to wear for something special.”
“Oh, Mama. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, baby. But listen, there’s something else very important I need to talk to you about. I finally got Mr. Allen to…to say he’s going to free Belle and the children and me when he dies.”
“Really, Mama? Really?”
“Yes, baby. That’s what he said. He said he changed the papers with the lawyer. But baby, this is why I want you to run if you can. He said…he said that he can’t free you because you’re about to belong to Mr. Cromwell.”
“Oh, Mama, I care more about you, Belle, and the children than about myself. I just hope that Mr. Allen was telling you the truth about changing the papers. Oh, and Mama, what about Zeke? Did he say anything about freeing him?”
“No, and you can’t say nothing to Belle. I ain’t talked to her about it yet.”
“Mama, do you think Mr. Allen would write it down for you? So when he dies, you and Belle can show the paper to prove it’s true?”
“I don’t think so, baby. I think he might say I didn’t trust him if I asked him that.”
“But you don’t.”
She laughed. “No, I don’t, but I try not to show it.”
“Mama, if he’s serious about freeing you, he’ll put it down on a piece of paper. You can show the paper to Mr. Adams to read it to you to make sure that’s what it really says.”
“But what if it don’t say he’s going to free us. I can’t tell him I got somebody to read it to me.”
“That’s true, but wouldn’t you rather know if he’s telling the truth?”
“All right. I’ll do it, but I’m going to have to find the right time, maybe after the wedding.”
“No, Mama. Now, before the wedding. I want us to take the paper to Mr. Adams before I go to Talladega.”
“Oh, Sarah.”
“Please, Mama. Do it for me and for Belle. You’ll feel better telling her if it’s true, and, Mama, you can tell her where to find the paper if, God forbid, something happens to you before he dies. And you can tell him that it’s not him you don’t trust, but Mrs. Allen. You can say, what if, after he dies, she tries to change the papers to say he didn’t free you?”
“I’ll ask him, but I can’t promise you I can make him do it.”
About a week later, Mama asked me to go to her cabin. She closed the shutters and locked the door. She lifted the hem of a dress that was hanging in the cabinet and gently took out a piece of paper from a pocket. My heart beat fast and my lungs tightened. She handed the paper to me.
“What do it say?”
“Ma’am?”
“Read it to me and stop your foolishness, girl. Just because I ain’t got book learning don’t mean I’m feebleminded. Read it to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
To All to Whom These Presents May Come:
I, Cornelius Francis Allen, Esquire, being of sound mind and body, hereby set my seal and declare that it is my wish that, upon my death, in accordance with the codicil to my last will and testament, executed by me on the 23rd day of December 1853, my slaves Emmeline Allen and Belle Allen, and all of Belle Allen’s present and future issue, shall be freed.
My mother and I said nothing for several minutes.
“Give me back the paper, I’m going to put it back in the pocket, and I’m going to tell Belle where it is.”
“Mama, I can’t believe it, but it’s there in writing. I wish he had freed you now, but I know that we should be grateful for this, at least. Mama, how did you know I learned to…?”
“Shush. It’s a crime, what she did in teaching you, and I hope I can pay her back one day. Don’t talk about it. Isaac don’t know, do he?”
“No, ma’am. He’s afraid of doing anything that would get him in any kind of trouble. I don’t think he’ll want to run if we get the opportunity. I may have to go alone.”
THE NIGHT WE CONFESSED TO MY HUSBAND THAT Clarissa was expecting, I was afraid that he was going to continue his punishment. I told Sarah that she must not leave Clarissa’s bedroom. Emmeline’s remedy calmed my daughter, who was trembling after her father struck and choked her, and I stayed with her until she went to sleep. Then I read and wrote until four in the morning. When he did not appear, I rested.