Read Online Douglass’ Women by Jewell Parker Rhodes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jewell Parker Rhodes
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men nodded again, and Mister Quincy stepped forward, whispering dryly, “Prepare for blessings. You are entering a sanctified union. A holy state deemed by God.”
I thought Northerners must truly feel sorry for slavery. It be a revelation to me, a new thought like a Bible miracle. Still, I wished my desires for a wedding were taken into account.
I felt real sorrow but, then, I plucked up. I not my mother’s daughter for nothing. This weakness of mine ain’t no real trouble. I was still marrying. I still carried a child. I still had good news to tell to Freddy, in private, in our wedding bed. I put my hand in his.
I felt light as water. In the mirror, Freddy and me seemed frozen. Surrounded by strange men. Miz Ruggles, the only one with a smile. Freddy strained to fit my ring. We were married. He kissed me on both cheeks.
Miz Ruggles’s maid served wine. My first taste. Bubbles rested on my tongue.
Freddy held up his hands. “Friends, thank you all for your good care of me. These weeks, months, waiting for Anna have been filled with trials and tribulations. But, also, filled with joy knowing that decent people abound in the North. Thank you. From a most grateful heart.”
The men clapped and Miz Ruggles beamed.
I took a bite of the pound cake, thinking it ain’t as good as I could make it. Later, I thought I’ll make another cake. Maybe even send Miz Ruggles my recipe. Freddy could teach me how to write it.
Looking up at my husband, at the men clapping him on the back, wishing him well, I thought, “Amazing.” North, way better than Baltimore. In the North, slaves made miracles. I’d been blessed with a good husband.
“We must not tarry here,” say Freddy.
With a quick flurry, I was off on another journey. Quincy and Garrison planned to drive us to a place called New Bedford. Miz Ruggles murmured, “There is a cottage. A new home waiting you.” I wanted to hug her but I just smiled, and said, “Thank you,” as polite as I know how. She be still white; I, still black. African.
In the carriage, Freddy said, “Miss Ruggles likes you. She is a good friend of the Negroes. You did well, Anna.” He squeezed my hand.
I closed my eyes and slept. I caught fever. Four days and three nights, I was sick with fever and dreaming. I rememberposting houses and Freddy’s hands smoothing my brow. I remember seeing tops of trees, some with red and yellow leaves, others just thrusting sticks in the blue sky. At night, I glanced at stars, sparkling in and out like tiny miracles. I dreamed my baby swimming in a wide sea, bones made a net beneath her. She’d not drown.
I dreamed I was in a deep bucket of cool water and a strong, tender arm was cradling me upright while a sponge dripped water down my shoulders, my breasts. Someone wiped my face.
I’m never sick. But I’d be always for this feeling. It reminded me of Mam loving me, yet I knew it wasn’t Mam. I was safe in hands strong enough to hold a woman grown.
I pressed my head deeper into the seat cushions. Or maybe it be Freddy’s shoulder?
I did not wake ’til we arrived at our new home.
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Sleep, Anna. We are in our own home now.”
I stirred, waking from heavy sleep. Waking cool, without fever. I felt strangely refreshed. Like my body had renewed itself. Been born again. I remembered little of our travels, yet here I was laying on soft feather down with Freddy’s face a breath away from mine, and him saying, “Sleep.”
I stretched my hand, stroked his chin, murmuring, “I’d rather be with you.”
“We’ve a hard day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Nothing hard if you here.”
Freddy kissed me lightly on the lips. Then he chuckled, and I was surprised, for I’d never heard him laugh. Never heard the richness in his joy.
“Are you well?”
“Yes.” I blushed. “Thank you for your care of me.”
He felt my brow. “I was worried for you.” Then he bent his head lower; I could see his eyes intent. “We
I thought Northerners must truly feel sorry for slavery. It be a revelation to me, a new thought like a Bible miracle. Still, I wished my desires for a wedding were taken into account.
I felt real sorrow but, then, I plucked up. I not my mother’s daughter for nothing. This weakness of mine ain’t no real trouble. I was still marrying. I still carried a child. I still had good news to tell to Freddy, in private, in our wedding bed. I put my hand in his.
I felt light as water. In the mirror, Freddy and me seemed frozen. Surrounded by strange men. Miz Ruggles, the only one with a smile. Freddy strained to fit my ring. We were married. He kissed me on both cheeks.
Miz Ruggles’s maid served wine. My first taste. Bubbles rested on my tongue.
Freddy held up his hands. “Friends, thank you all for your good care of me. These weeks, months, waiting for Anna have been filled with trials and tribulations. But, also, filled with joy knowing that decent people abound in the North. Thank you. From a most grateful heart.”
The men clapped and Miz Ruggles beamed.
I took a bite of the pound cake, thinking it ain’t as good as I could make it. Later, I thought I’ll make another cake. Maybe even send Miz Ruggles my recipe. Freddy could teach me how to write it.
Looking up at my husband, at the men clapping him on the back, wishing him well, I thought, “Amazing.” North, way better than Baltimore. In the North, slaves made miracles. I’d been blessed with a good husband.
“We must not tarry here,” say Freddy.
With a quick flurry, I was off on another journey. Quincy and Garrison planned to drive us to a place called New Bedford. Miz Ruggles murmured, “There is a cottage. A new home waiting you.” I wanted to hug her but I just smiled, and said, “Thank you,” as polite as I know how. She be still white; I, still black. African.
In the carriage, Freddy said, “Miss Ruggles likes you. She is a good friend of the Negroes. You did well, Anna.” He squeezed my hand.
I closed my eyes and slept. I caught fever. Four days and three nights, I was sick with fever and dreaming. I rememberposting houses and Freddy’s hands smoothing my brow. I remember seeing tops of trees, some with red and yellow leaves, others just thrusting sticks in the blue sky. At night, I glanced at stars, sparkling in and out like tiny miracles. I dreamed my baby swimming in a wide sea, bones made a net beneath her. She’d not drown.
I dreamed I was in a deep bucket of cool water and a strong, tender arm was cradling me upright while a sponge dripped water down my shoulders, my breasts. Someone wiped my face.
I’m never sick. But I’d be always for this feeling. It reminded me of Mam loving me, yet I knew it wasn’t Mam. I was safe in hands strong enough to hold a woman grown.
I pressed my head deeper into the seat cushions. Or maybe it be Freddy’s shoulder?
I did not wake ’til we arrived at our new home.
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Sleep, Anna. We are in our own home now.”
I stirred, waking from heavy sleep. Waking cool, without fever. I felt strangely refreshed. Like my body had renewed itself. Been born again. I remembered little of our travels, yet here I was laying on soft feather down with Freddy’s face a breath away from mine, and him saying, “Sleep.”
I stretched my hand, stroked his chin, murmuring, “I’d rather be with you.”
“We’ve a hard day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Nothing hard if you here.”
Freddy kissed me lightly on the lips. Then he chuckled, and I was surprised, for I’d never heard him laugh. Never heard the richness in his joy.
“Are you well?”
“Yes.” I blushed. “Thank you for your care of me.”
He felt my brow. “I was worried for you.” Then he bent his head lower; I could see his eyes intent. “We
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