Read Online Where the Broken Heart Still Beats by Carolyn Meyer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Carolyn Meyer
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Perhaps she could take Lucy with her when she went back. Not as a captive—she would ask Peta Nocona to see that she was not harmed, that she would be safely returned to her family (Sinty-ann could imagine Hair Beneath His Nose coming after them, shooting his gun, killing everyone in sight, as he had done at the attack on their camp). Then Lucy would understand, and she would be able to explain to Anna and Uncle and the others why Sinty-ann must remain there with her People, and not here with strangers who claimed to be her family.
But then she discarded that idea. Lucy's parents would never allow such a thing. Besides, Lucy might not be able to survive such a trip. She was a white girl, after all, not strong, not like the People. Not like her.
Chapter Eleven
From Lucy's journal, May 15, 1861
It pleases me to write that Cynthia Ann seems truly to be keeping her promise to return to our language and customs. Grandfather's bargain that she can go back to her tribe for a visit if she does these things must have brought about this change. We can see that she is trying very hard and with great success.
She is less cooperative about Prairie Flower, though, believing, I suppose, that it is important for the child to learn Comanche ways. She may be right (no one else here would agree with me), because although the little girl is quite pretty, she does look Indian, and Mama says she may not be accepted by white society. Nevertheless, I do concede that we cannot let her continue in her heathenish ways, no matter whether she looks Indian or white.
Nearly every day now Mrs. Bigelow or Mrs. Brown or Mrs. Raymond comes by to drill the two of them in their Edible verses. Prairie Flower is only beginning to talk, but she sits obediently by her mother's side while Cynthia Ann repeats the verses, mimicking the ladies. They are working on the Beatitudes—"the Blesseds," as Papa calls them. I especially think of Cynthia Ann when I hear the second one, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted," for I am sure the poor thing does still mourn for her husband and sons. I am not certain she understands the words they want her to repeat over and over until she can say them from memory, but Mama insists that just
saying
the words is good for her and will soften her heart.
What I do not have the courage to tell Cynthia Ann is that no matter how many Bible verses she learns, she may not be able to visit her people for some time. We have learned that we are now engaged in a civil war, the South against the North. It was Jedediah who brought the news.
As Grandfather has explained it, when we were in Austin, Texas voted to join the other Southern states to form the Confederacy and has seceded from the Union. Jedediah has warned us that federal troops have been withdrawn from Fort Cooper as well as other frontier forts, and there is no one left to help fight the Indians. We are on our own now and, he says, in great danger. Also according to Jed, fighting has already begun in South Carolina, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor.
Martha spends much time weeping, for although Jed has not said so, she is afraid that he will go off to fight. We all pray that this war will end quickly.
Chapter Twelve
Sinty-ann rose from her buffalo robe spread on the cabin floor, and, to humor Anna, poured water from a pitcher into a basin kept out on the gallery, washed her face and hands with a bit of soap, and dried them on a clean blue cloth. This was the kind of thing that seemed so important to this white family and meant nothing at all to her.
The People rarely bathed, although after her monthly period a woman always immersed herself in a river or creek to take away her uncleanness, even in the winter when the water was frozen over and she had to break through the ice. Strangely, this was not something these white women did. They seemed to have no customs regarding their women's blood.
A woman of the People stayed in a separate tipi during those
But then she discarded that idea. Lucy's parents would never allow such a thing. Besides, Lucy might not be able to survive such a trip. She was a white girl, after all, not strong, not like the People. Not like her.
Chapter Eleven
From Lucy's journal, May 15, 1861
It pleases me to write that Cynthia Ann seems truly to be keeping her promise to return to our language and customs. Grandfather's bargain that she can go back to her tribe for a visit if she does these things must have brought about this change. We can see that she is trying very hard and with great success.
She is less cooperative about Prairie Flower, though, believing, I suppose, that it is important for the child to learn Comanche ways. She may be right (no one else here would agree with me), because although the little girl is quite pretty, she does look Indian, and Mama says she may not be accepted by white society. Nevertheless, I do concede that we cannot let her continue in her heathenish ways, no matter whether she looks Indian or white.
Nearly every day now Mrs. Bigelow or Mrs. Brown or Mrs. Raymond comes by to drill the two of them in their Edible verses. Prairie Flower is only beginning to talk, but she sits obediently by her mother's side while Cynthia Ann repeats the verses, mimicking the ladies. They are working on the Beatitudes—"the Blesseds," as Papa calls them. I especially think of Cynthia Ann when I hear the second one, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted," for I am sure the poor thing does still mourn for her husband and sons. I am not certain she understands the words they want her to repeat over and over until she can say them from memory, but Mama insists that just
saying
the words is good for her and will soften her heart.
What I do not have the courage to tell Cynthia Ann is that no matter how many Bible verses she learns, she may not be able to visit her people for some time. We have learned that we are now engaged in a civil war, the South against the North. It was Jedediah who brought the news.
As Grandfather has explained it, when we were in Austin, Texas voted to join the other Southern states to form the Confederacy and has seceded from the Union. Jedediah has warned us that federal troops have been withdrawn from Fort Cooper as well as other frontier forts, and there is no one left to help fight the Indians. We are on our own now and, he says, in great danger. Also according to Jed, fighting has already begun in South Carolina, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor.
Martha spends much time weeping, for although Jed has not said so, she is afraid that he will go off to fight. We all pray that this war will end quickly.
Chapter Twelve
Sinty-ann rose from her buffalo robe spread on the cabin floor, and, to humor Anna, poured water from a pitcher into a basin kept out on the gallery, washed her face and hands with a bit of soap, and dried them on a clean blue cloth. This was the kind of thing that seemed so important to this white family and meant nothing at all to her.
The People rarely bathed, although after her monthly period a woman always immersed herself in a river or creek to take away her uncleanness, even in the winter when the water was frozen over and she had to break through the ice. Strangely, this was not something these white women did. They seemed to have no customs regarding their women's blood.
A woman of the People stayed in a separate tipi during those
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