Chapter III
I should probably tell you a little about myself before we go any farther with the storytelling. You see I am the building at the corner of Franklyn & Rhodes, and the stories I want to share with you are the stories of the people who have been part of me and had it change their lives - and mine as well.
I’m sure it sounds ridiculous to you that I have a life. Granted, it is nothing like human life. Rather, it is more an awareness of what is going on in and around me. Many buildings are aware to some extent actually, but I am one of the oldest. The kids around here respect that though that wasn’t always the case. But I am getting ahead of myself. You’ll hear all about that in due time.
As I said I have been here for a very long time and it has made me appreciate a lot, both about myself and about the world around me. Humans are quite fascinating to study. But there I go getting off-track again. I was going to tell you about myself, wasn’t I?
The records state that I was begun in the year 1785. Jacob Henry drew the concept for my existence, then hired a few craftsmen to bring his vision to life though I am positive he never knew just exactly how true that became.
There was weather to be worked around, but in the spring of 1786 Jacob and Patrick broke ground on what was to become a historic building though none of us had any concept of that then. They simply wanted a place to be proud in which to do business.
My foundation was created from the oak trees that were so plentiful then. They were split and fitted together tightly with mortar on their rounded sides to hold them in place on the ground, and smooth wooden pegs to bind the planed sides that made up the floor of the ground level.
It took four men almost six weeks just to lay the floor properly, but their patience and hard work is the reason I am still standing today. Because let’s face it, if your foundation is weak, the rest of you is just going to crumble into dust.
Enough philosophizing. This story is long enough without me following every wild tangent I get started on.
Once the foundation was finished, six brick masons came in and began to build the walls up. I am crafted from almost half a million handmade bricks. Insulation was of course unheard of then so my walls are double bricked. That factor alone has saved my life from complete destruction a couple times, but we’ll get to that eventually.
Not much of the original leaded glass is left though I do have several panes of it in a few of the third story windows. Most of my glass is the modern stuff - impact-resistant, tinted, shatterproof. In some ways I prefer the leaded glass. There’s a sense of history and craftsmanship associated with it that the new glass will never have. But in fairness, the new stuff is much more practical for this day and age.
I still have my original front doors though they are quite a bit worse for the wear than when they were first hewn. They hold some interesting memories upon them though... inside and out.
I’ve actually held up very well, considering my age and the things that have happened within my lifetime here. Much of me is original. The bits of me that aren’t are improvements that make me more compatible with modern society. My space has been used and changed and rearranged for several different purposes over the years. I have modern plumbing, electricity, a phone line and a wireless network... the last the results of some of my later tenants, but we’ll get to them in due course as well.
The first big change for me came in February of 1824.
Even though my outside was good sturdy brick, my interior was mostly wood and lots of paper. All the records and documents of that time were of paper and parchment and by then, most of the third floor was dedicated to their storage.
************
That February day was very cold and stormy, and the light coming in from the windows was nil. Edgar took his lit candle upstairs and set it near the stack of papers that he’d come upstairs to file. Nathan called him and he left the candle where he’d placed it and moved to the top of the stairs, then rapidly moved down the stairs to help Nathan with the load he was trying to manage. It took three trips to get the books moved from the first to the second floor before they were finished.
They stopped to rest a minute and then the call for lunch was given, and Nathan and Edgar joined their compatriots. It was the smell of smoke that alerted them and by the time they started upstairs, the third floor was engulfed in flames and it was burning down to the second level.
************
Quickly a fire brigade was assembled, but the damage was done. The third story was a total loss and a good portion of the second level was destroyed. Even the ground floor suffered some smoke and water damage, and though it dismayed them to do so, Martin’s boys and their sons acknowledged that it was going to take a lot of renovation to restore the building back to its origin.
They found a temporary solution by moving into two small offices in the courthouse. Then they hired some skilled workmen to come fix the destruction that the fire had caused. They were given a six to eight month estimate for the work to get done, and the barristers offices moved to the courthouse for the time being.
It was mid-March when the last load of records moved to the courthouse and the workmen moved in to begin renovations. That was when I made the acquaintance of Malcolm and Abe.
************
The first major project was to gut the building. The ground level flooring, the windows and the walls were to remain. Everything else would need to be ripped out and either be restored or be replaced. It was going to be quite a job, but Malcolm looked forward to the hard work since it would put him closer to realizing his own dream.
Malcolm was a young man of sixteen, and he knew this job would be steady enough that he would be able to put some money aside and maybe let him travel west a bit. He had dreams of blue skies and wide-open spaces and a place of his own.
The first few days they spent with heavy hammers and axes, slowly knocking out the burned area. They had to take special care with the third floor so it wasn’t until the fifth day that Malcolm literally stumbled across the small urchin hidden in a small space at the back of the second floor.
From the looks of things, the boy had been hiding out there at least a little while, and when his eyes met Malcolm’s he tried to bolt. He didn’t make it very far. Malcolm was big, but he was quick and agile, and he caught the youngster around the middle and clapped a hand over his mouth before he could scream.
“Hush, Boy! I’m not gonna hurt ya.” He set the boy on his feet but held him firmly. “I’m gonna take my hand away and let ya go, but if you holler or run, I’ll thrash the daylights outta ya. Got it?”
Brown eyes met blue and the brown eyes held unshed tears as the boy nodded solemnly. “Yessir,” he whispered.
Malcolm chuckled. “I’m no sir, Boy. M’name’s Malcolm. What’s yers?”
“A... Abraham... but I goes by Abe.”
“Well, Abe, whatcha doing here? This is no place for a boy to be playing. Ya should be in school.”
“I weren’t playin’ sir. I’s been living here since the place burnt.”
“Living here? Where’s your folks, Boy?”
“Dunno ‘bout my pa. He runned off ‘fore I was borned, I think.” Now the tears slid silently down his face. “My ma died a few weeks ago. I... I couldn’t stay there. I... I....”
“It’s all right, Abe,” Malcolm said compassionately. “You don’t have to say nothing else.” Malcolm looked closely at the boy and wondered if he was a runaway slave. Abe had dark eyes and hair and a deep skin tone. Malcolm decided he needed to know before he introduced the boy to his pa and his uncle. “You a runaway slave, Boy?”
Fire lit in the dark brown eyes, and the child stood to his full four and a half foot height. “No! Me and ma was never slaves.”
Malcolm waited for more, but nothing was forthcoming. The boy didn’t act like he had anything to hide so the older youth shrugged his broad shoulders. He would have spoken then, but a voice calling his name stopped his words.
“Malcolm! Somethin’ wrong back there, Son? I been calling you for the past five minutes. Get out here - it’s time for dinner break.”
“Uncle Caleb, can you get Pa and c’mere for a minute? I got a little, um... problem.”
Caleb grunted. Malcolm didn’t ask for much and was a hard worker. Must be some problem if he was asking for help.
When Hiram and Caleb stepped into the back room, they stopped short. There sat Malcolm talking quietly to a boy of about nine who was frantically trying to get away. ”Whatcha got there, Son?”
Malcolm finally grabbed the boy by the shirt and held him tightly. “This here’s my friend Abe, Pa. I was hoping you and Uncle Caleb could give me a hand.”
Caleb chuckled. “Looks like you got a pretty good hold on him already. Whatcha need us for?”
“Let me go! LET ME GO!!!! Ya can’t keep me here! Ya can’t make me do nothin’!!” He started swinging small fists in Malcolm’s direction. Malcolm just held Abe by the top of his head, and let him swing until the fight went out of him. When he dropped to the floor in exhaustion Malcolm knelt down next to him.
“You ready to listen now, Abe?”
Abe had his arms curled around his legs and his head buried in his arms. He looked at Malcolm. “You jus’ wanna talk?”
“Yep. I got an idea that I think you’ll like. And if ya don’t, ya can walk out if here as free as ya were before I found ya. You won’t be able to stay here no more though.”
“All right, let’s hear it. I gots nothin’ ta lose.”
Hiram and Caleb stood back quietly watching Malcolm. They were both pretty sure of what he was up to and knew he wanted them there for backup. They’d always stressed education and hard work to all their children, and Malcolm, the youngest of the lot, seemed to have learned it the best. He spent most of his free time reading anything he could get his hands on.
“Well how’d ya like a place to stay and three squares a day?”
Abe looked at him suspiciously. “What’s the catch? Ain’t nothin’ free.”
“Yer right about that. It’ll cost ya. Ya gotta go to school everyday, and you’ll have to do some chores around the homestead. If Pa and Uncle Caleb agree, ya can work with us on Saturdays, and earn ya a bit of spending money. Whaddya think?”
Tears welled up in the big brown eyes again. “Ya’d... ya’d let me go ta school? I can learn ta read an’ write an’ figure stuff?”
“Would ya like that?”
“Would I? I wanted ta learn, but Ma couldn’t teach me. I’d work so hard fer the chance.”
Hiram stepped up and laid a big hand gently on the boy’s thin shoulder. “You boys c’mon out and let’s have some vittles, and we’ll see what we can do to make this work out.”
Abe’s smile was bright enough to light up the whole room.
That afternoon Abe stuck to Malcolm like glue. He was right there carrying out burnt pieces and odds and ends as Malcolm loosened them. Hiram and Caleb were both impressed with his work and the fact that he didn’t shirk the hard stuff.
“Abe, tomorrow’s Saturday, and Ma’ll need to take ya to the general store to git ya some new things. But once that’s done, you c’mon over and help me, all right?”
“I c’n do that.” Abe hesitated. “Malcolm, ya sure yer mama’s not gonna mind me coming home with you?”
“Abe, if my ma found out I didn’t bring ya home, she’d tan my hide. You’ll see... ma’ll adopt ya, and we’ll be brothers.”
Abe grinned at that. “I always wanted a brother.” He looked up at Malcolm. “Ya think we can go fishin’ together when it gets warmer?”
Malcolm chuckled. “I think you can count on that, Little Brother.”
************
I heard about the next bit because Malcolm and Abe talked about it the next day.
************
If Sarah was surprised when Hiram and Malcolm walked through the door with a new member of the family, she didn’t let it show. Instead she welcomed him warmly and clucked over him like a mother hen.
It was a different experience for Abe. Though he knew his ma had loved him, she’d worked so hard to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table that there hadn’t been time or energy for much else. On rare days, they would get a few minutes to sit and talk and his ma would run her fingers through his hair and tell him a little about her people, but she never said much.
Sarah on the other hand, talked to him more in his first few minutes in her home than he’d heard his own ma speak in a month. He was a little overwhelmed and Malcolm came to his rescue.
“Ma, maybe I should show Abe to our room, and then we got chores to do before supper.”
“Malcolm, he just got here and you’re putting him to work? For shame!” Sarah probably would have continued her scolding, but Abe stepped up to her with a smile.
“It’s okay, Miz Sarah. Mr. Hi said I’d be doin’ chores ‘cause there are things the men in the family gots ta take care of. An’ he said we could go fishin’ sometimes an’ I’ll get ta go ta school and....”
Sarah smiled softly and placed a hand on his shoulder. “All right then, Son. You and the rest of the men go care for the animals and such. I’ll have yer dinner on the table by the time ya’ll get done and cleaned up.”
Big brown eyes widened in a soot-streaked, dirty face, and he swallowed hard. “Cleaned?”
Malcolm laughed. “It’s all right, Abe. Clean’s not that bad. May even help ya get a girl one day.”
Sarah’s eyes widened as she realized how grown her youngest had become, but Abe scrunched his face in distaste. “Girls?! Why’d I want one a those?”
Sarah put her hands on her hips. “I’ll have you know I was a girl once, young man!” Hiram wisely covered his mouth to keep the laughter from escaping. Abe turned and looked fully at Sarah.
“Oh, not you, ma’am. Yer a Ma, an’ that makes all the diff’r’nce.”
“C’mon, boys,” Hiram said. “Let’s get the chores done so we can eat, ‘cause something smells really good.”
************
I probably should have told you this earlier, but you know at my age the details sometimes escape me until later. Anyway, the village this had been in 1789 had grown considerably, and by 1824 was a small town. There were three mercantiles, the schoolhouse, two banks, two churches, a hotel and restaurant, a livery stable, the mill, three saloons, and of course, the barrister building.
The new growth put one of the new mercantiles next door so I had a first row seat for what happened that next day. It was a Saturday and busy because that was the day all the womenfolk tended to come to town to gossip and shop... though they’d never acknowledge the first. That was what caused all the problems though.
***********
The Trent family rode into town together that morning, and Hiram let Sarah and Abe off at the front of the mercantile before driving the team and wagon around the corner to the back of the barrister building. They were early and Sarah and Abe took a seat on one of the benches outside the mercantile waiting for Mr. Thomas Brown to open the doors for the day’s business.
Sarah noticed a few odd looks cast her direction from some of the younger women who were slowly making their way into the town, but she didn’t worry much about it. She didn’t make the trip into town every week except for church on Sunday so she wasn’t privy to a lot of the gossip that made its rounds during the week. Before she could begin to wonder about the strange looks, Mr. Brown opened his doors.
“Good morning, Mrs. Trent. And who is this?”
Sarah put an arm around Abraham’s shoulders and proudly introduced him. “This is the newest member of our family, Mr. Brown. This is Abraham.”
Abe looked completely different from the dirty urchin that Malcolm had found the day before. He was clean, and his hair had been neatly trimmed and combed. The clothes he had on were hand-me-downs from Malcolm, but they were clean and pressed. Thomas Brown extended his hand to the boy.
“Hello, Abraham. It is nice to make your acquaintance.”
Abe regarded him solemnly for a long moment before finding what he was searching for and hesitantly extending his hand. “’Lo,” he said quietly. Thomas smiled at Abe before turning his attention back to Sarah.
“What can I do for ya, Mrs. Trent?”
“Well, Mr. Brown, Abe here needs some new clothes and such... both for school and for working around the farm and such. So I need to look at your material.”
Thomas nodded his understanding. He was a giant of a man, but his kind nature had made him a favorite in the town. Now he handed a stick of candy to Abe who accepted it with wide, delighted eyes, and motioned them to the back of the store where bolts of fabric rested in a shelf on one wall. Sarah motioned Abe to a barrel, and he took a seat.
Thomas moved behind the counter and waited for Sarah to make her selections. Just then several women entered the front door. He greeted them then turned back to Sarah.
“If you’d like to wait on them, Mr. Brown, I’m gonna be here a few minutes, I think.”
Thomas looked doubtful. “Ya sure, Mrs. Trent? It may take a bit.”
Sarah smiled. “That’s fine. It’ll give me a chance to figure out just what I want.”
The merchant nodded and moved back to the front of the store, leaving Sarah and Abe alone to study the different fabrics and patterns. Abe tried not to show his excitement at something so ‘girly’, but Sarah saw his eyes light up on one or two pieces, and she made special note of those. Two of the younger women wandered back to where Sarah and Abe were and started whispering to one another. Finally the bolder of the two stepped toward Sarah and motioned negligently towards Abe.
“He shouldn’t be in here, Sarah. We don’t associate with his kind.”
Now Sarah O’Grady Trent was small of stature, but the red highlights in her blonde hair held true to her fiery temper and somewhat tempestuous nature. The sparks that flew from her blue eyes were enough to forewarn of the coming storm, but her voice was calm enough when she turned to look the young woman in the eye.
“And what kind would that be, Eliza? A child, perhaps? Or maybe you object to the fact that he’s a boy? Hmm? What exactly do you not like?”
Abraham stood quietly, his eyes wide at Sarah’s vehemence. His mother had always kept to herself and been non-confrontational on the rare occasion she had ever ventured into town.
Eliza’s face went red, an interesting combination of anger and embarrassment. “His mother was an Indian,” she muttered.
“Yes, and...?”
“And we don’t associate with his kind.”
“I see. And what part of your Christianity allows for that kind of hatred and prejudice, Eliza? Show me in the Bible where it says thou shalt.” Sarah was pointing at Eliza, subtly backing her away from Abraham and towards the front of the store.
“You can’t treat me like that! I’m an upstanding woman in this community.”
“Then maybe you need to broaden your horizons. Abe is my son now, and that is all you need to remember.”
In frustration Eliza stamped her foot and turned to Thomas. “Are you gonna let her treat me like this, Mr. Brown? My husband does a good bit of business with you.”
“Mrs. Whittstone, your husband’s business here has nothing to do with your attitude. Abe didn’t do anything to you, and he certainly doesn’t deserve your ridicule.”
“Well, I NEVER!!! I’ll be speaking to my husband about this! I’m sure we can find someone else who will appreciate our business.”
Thomas Brown didn’t even bat an eye. “You do that, Mrs. Whittstone. I’m sure Henry will be anxious to hear about your behavior today.”
For the first time in her life, Eliza Whittstone was speechless. Without another word she flounced out the door red-faced. She waited for her cronies, but no one followed her out. “You can’t tell me you approve of this,” she said to the four women who remained.
“I may not be happy with Mr. Brown’s decision to allow an Indian into his store, but it is his store, Eliza. It’s a free country, and if that’s what he wants to do, it’s his business. But your behavior toward a child... that’s where I’m having a problem with this.”
“He’s a child, Aimee. What difference does it make?”
“Exactly, Eliza... he’s a child who has done nothing to you except be born with a different skin color. Maybe you need to figure out why that bothers you so much.”
“He’ll be an adult one day and then you’ll sound just like I do. I’m just honest enough to speak up about it now.” Then Eliza spun on her heel and walked briskly down the street.
The four women who remained looked shame-faced at her remarks. They looked at Abe who’d sat wide-eyed and quiet through the entire exchange. Sarah stood by his side, waiting to see what they would do.
Aimee took a deep breath and walked to Sarah. “I’m sorry, Sarah... Abe,” she said quietly, reaching out a tentative hand and placing it on Abe’s shoulder. “Eliza’s right about a lot of what she said, but maybe... well, maybe we can change that just a little.” She looked around. “Now I think we all have some shopping to finish. Will we see you in church tomorrow?”
Sarah nodded. “Good,” was all Aimee said, but she gave Abe’s shoulder a light squeeze. Then she moved back into the grocery area, leaving Sarah and Abe alone among the dry goods.
The murmur of the woman shopping was mere background noise when Sarah and Abe turned back to selecting fabric. “I’m proud of you, Abe. Ya didn’t let that woman upset ya.”
He shrugged. “Why she so mad?”
“Well, Son... sometimes people are taught things when they’re little that they can’t seem to get around when they grow up. You just keep on reacting the way you did, and it’ll all work out in the end.” He looked confused, and she stroked his hair. “I’ll explain it to ya later. Let’s get this material so’s I can get home and start sewing. You gonna go help Hiram and Malcolm today?”
The dark eyes shone and he smiled. “Yes’m. Mr. Hi said I’d git spendin’ money. An’ Malcolm’s promised ta help me with m’letters and stuff.”
“All right then. Why don’t you run along next door and ask Hiram to bring the wagon ‘round? I think we’re about ready to go.”
Abe nodded and started for the door, but he was stopped by Henry Whittstone’s voice. “You there, Boy. You the Indian my wife told me about?”
Abe stood frozen in place, his eye wide and round. Thomas Brown stepped up beside him. “Is there a problem, Henry?”
“Nope. I’m sorry Eliza caused you a problem. I dunno if she’ll be back in, but I will.”
“Glad to hear it, Henry, ‘cause the boy didn’t do nothing to nobody.” He looked down at Abe. “G’wan, Son. I think Miz Sarah’s waitin’ for you to go get Hiram.”
Abe ran out the door, and into the burnt-out brick building next door. “Mr. Hi, Mr. Hi... Miz Sarah’s waitin’ fer ya.”
“All right, Son. You wanna stay here and work or ya gonna go home with Mama?”
“C’n I stay?”
“Yep. Go find Malcolm. He’ll help ya get started.”
************
The church was right across from me and the school was beside it, and even now the church and I still communicate regularly. But after what happened in the general store the day before, we were all anxious to see what would happen in the next few days.
************
Sunday brought a new set of challenges. There was a definite division in the congregation though Sarah was pleased to see that the majority of the people present were still cordial and friendly. Several folks made it a point to speak to the Trent family and welcome Abe. Several others made it a point not to. And with that the battle lines were drawn.
When church was over Sarah went over to the schoolmarm. “Miss Masters, do you have a minute?”
“Certainly, Mrs. Trent,” the young woman replied. “What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to talk to you about Abe’s schooling. Is it gonna cause a problem for ya?”
Mary Masters looked at the floor and blushed faintly. “I’ll be honest with you, Mrs. Trent. It might have at one time in the not so distant past.” Now she looked right into Sarah’s blue eyes. “But I have learned recently that some things just aren’t that important.”
Sarah looked into the brown eyes and wondered what secrets the young woman had. “So you won’t have a problem teaching him?”
“No ma’am. But you may want to teach him at home, at least at first.” Sarah cocked her head in question. “I don’t want him to be embarrassed or uncomfortable, and he hasn’t had any schooling yet, correct?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Neither do I, and most of the beginning students are several years younger than him. It’s a bad position for him to be in, especially at his age.”
Sarah smiled at Mary’s thoughtfulness and caring. “Good idea, Miss Masters. Thank you.”
************
The next bit is guesswork, but it is based on what happened in the days and weeks that followed.
************
That evening after Hiram and Sarah retired to bed, Sarah told her husband about the talk she’d had with the teacher.
“I think she’s right, Hi. We need to teach him at home first. I don’t want him to get discouraged and quit.”
Hiram wrapped his arms around his bride of almost thirty years. “Why not let Malcolm teach him? I think they would both enjoy that, and Abe’d be liable to learn more.”
Sarah thought about that. “You wanna take him away from work?”
“Hmm. Not really. I just think Abe might learn better from him. He trusts Malcolm. Let me think on it. We’ll come up with something.”
Chapter IV
Monday morning brought the start of a new routine that would last into the fall when both the renovations were well underway and the new school year began.
************
“All right, Abe. I want ya to find a corner down here where you’ll be comfortable. Maybe by the winda. Ya get settled in to start yer letters and if ya need help, just holler. Me ‘n Malcolm’ll be upstairs working. He got ya started a little bit last night, didn’t he?”
“Yessir. An’ I already knows my numbers.”
“Good work, Son. You get started, and we’ll be over to check on you soon.”
Abe nodded and was soon engrossed in the letters Malcolm had carefully traced onto paper the night before. He had a small slate and a piece of chalk and was tentatively trying to copy the letters on the slate. Malcolm watched, seeing Abe’s frustration grow as he struggled to hold the chalk. He put down his tools and walked back to where Abe sat.
“Trouble, Little Brother?” Malcolm took a seat beside the boy. “Here,” he said, wrapping his hand around the smaller one. “It takes a little bit of practice, but you’ll get it. Yer doin’ good. Helps that ya got big hands and long fingers.” He smiled. “Least that’s what Ma always told me, and Ma’s never lied to me so....”
Abe held out his hands, looking at them for the first time. He examined them carefully front and back, then grabbed Malcolm’s hands to study them. He opened Malcolm’s palm, stretching his own smaller hand against it. Abe’s hand was smaller, but he could see the similarities in the way they were shaped. Abe looked up at Malcolm with a look akin to adoration. Malcolm smiled and took his hand again. “C’mon. Let’s try again.”
The boys spent the morning with Malcolm guiding Abe’s movements with his hand. Hiram was almost loath to interrupt them for dinner and they looked up in surprise when he called their names.
Malcolm scrambled to his feet, mentally cursing himself for losing track of time. He’d only meant to take a minute. “I’m sorry, Pa. I didn’t mean....”
“Don’t worry ‘bout it, Boy. You got Abe off to a good start and that’s important. Ya’ll can just hustle a little more this afternoon to make up for it.”
“Thanks, Pa.”
“Thanks, Mr. Hi.”
The boys spoke simultaneously, and Hiram smiled just the tiniest bit. “Hmph,” he gruffed. “Now c’mon and let’s eat. We still got lots to do today.”
************
The first few weeks fell into a pattern. Malcolm sat with Abe every morning as he mastered each letter. Eventually Abe was comfortable holding the chalk and his writing improved. So Malcolm went back to his labors, only working with Abe when he asked for help.
They spent lunch working on reading and recognition. Then in the afternoons, they helped Hiram and Caleb clear out more of the burned debris from the building. Abe was growing in body as well as in mind and evenings were spent working on sums.
After a month or so Abe moved up to reading from the first primers, and he got so engrossed in this new skill that he sometimes lost track of the time and where he was. Hiram got frustrated on more than one occasion trying to get Abe’s attention, but he was secretly very pleased. The boy had a sharp mind and reminded him a great deal of Malcolm when he’d been younger.
Finally all the debris was cleared out, and construction work could begin. Every morning Abe would find himself a corner, get out his slate and work on his writing for a while. Then he’d take out his primer and read ‘til lunch. Many was the time he’d run across a word he’d never seen and he’d go run and find Malcolm. Always Malcolm would stop whatever he was doing and help Abe work through the word, then explain to him just what the new word meant.
The days were warm now, and Abe sat outside in the mornings to do his schoolwork. It wasn’t always easy to focus - the sun was warm; the birds were singing; and the river beckoned in sparkling splendor. But he enjoyed what he was learning, and he found the mornings passing swiftly with new discoveries.
Caleb and Hiram were rebuilding the interior of the building. It was Malcolm’s job to come behind them and create beautiful, lasting patterns in the cabinets, staircases and moldings. Abe found it fascinating to watch the shapes and patterns come to life under Malcolm’s gifted hands. He so desired to be able to do the same, but he was unable to handle the tools properly. Malcolm tried to show him the basics, but Abe was awkward and uncertain, and it showed in the way he handled the tools. Finally Hiram took pity on both boys and took Abe aside.
“Abe, Son... I know yer tryin’, but we need to let Malcolm do this. He’s been doin’ this since he was knee-high to a grasshopper and it’s somethin’ that takes a lot of time and patience to master. If ya want to learn, he can try teachin’ ya in the evenin’s when yer schoolwork is done.”
“But....”
“No, Son. Malcolm’s work is detailed and time consuming and he can’t be teachin’ you and doin’ his best work at the same time. Do ya understand?”
“Yessir,” Abe answered softly, head dropping to his chest.
“I do have somethin’ else you could be learnin’ how to do.” Hiram smiled. “Couple things actually.”
Deep brown eyes peered up at him. “Really?”
“Yep. You ready to try somethin’ new?”
“Yessir!” The eyes were now eager and glowed with anticipation.
“All right... hard or easy first?”
Abe thought about it a moment. “Hard.”
Hiram smiled. “I figured you’d say that. C’mon then, Boy, and I’ll teach ya the Trent family secret to making perfect staircase spindles.”
Abe followed Hiram out the back and around to the portico on one side. There was a small machine off to one side that Abe had not noticed before, and Caleb sat there now pumping his legs industriously. He face was red and wet with sweat, but his focus was taken up by the slim bit of wood in his hand.
Abe stared in fascination as the wood slowly began to take shape and form. For long minutes Caleb manipulated the wood until he was satisfied that it was the contour he needed. Then he placed it into a small wooden box next to him and stood.
“Whaddya think there, Boy? Think you might like to try it?”
Abe looked up at Hiram. “C’n... can I, Mr. Hi?”
“Yep... have a seat and let’s get ya started.”
Caleb made it look simple, but Abe found out pretty quickly it wasn’t. There was a rhythm between the legs and the hands that Abe had difficulty mastering, but he kept on and there was a noticeable improvement in his work even in the two hours he sat there.
“All right, Son,” Hiram finally said. “Let’s take a break and go do some of the easy work.”
Abe sighed in relief. His legs were killing him, and his arms weren’t far behind. Then he smiled. He’d learned something new and felt a sense of satisfaction. His smile grew even broader when Hiram grabbed a couple of the cane poles leaning against the wall and walked the short distance to the river.
They sat in silence for a while, each managing to bring in a good-sized fish. Then Hiram turned to Abe. “How’s your schoolin’ comin’ ‘long there, Abe? Ya doin’ okay?”
“Oh, yes sir. I like it a lot. Malcolm’s a real good teacher.”
“Well, ya know school starts back next week and Mama is gonna be expectin’ ya to go.”
“Do I hafta, Mr. Hi? I like working here, and I’m learning a lot.”
“I know ya are, son, but ya gotta go to school. Ya might make some friends yer own age, and Miss Masters is better able to teach you than Malcolm. Besides, we’ll be done with this building in another month or two. A lot of what we got left is finish work.”
“Like the spindles?”
“Yeah, and like what Malcolm is doing. We’ll be done before he is. Good thing too, since we gotta help get the garden in and tighten things up for the comin’ winter.”
“Do I get ta help with that too?”
“Well, ya helped plant it. I figure you can help get it in some, anyway. Besides, it don’t cost nothin’ for ya to know how to do it. But ya gotta go to school first.”
“All right, Mr. Hi. I’ll do m’best.”
“I know ya will, Son. Ya remind me a lot of Malcolm when he was a young pup.”
“Really?” Abe’s eyes shone brightly. Malcolm was his own personal hero, and Hiram couldn’t have paid him a higher compliment if he’d been aiming.
************
School started, and Abe was a very industrious student. Malcolm had tutored him very well, and he was more than able to keep up in the classroom. For the most part the other students left him alone though he was involved in his share of scraps. Still by and large, he stayed out of trouble and settled into his studies with vigor.
They shared lunch every day on the brick steps and every afternoon, Abe left the schoolhouse, and ran across the road to see what new things Malcolm had created during the day. Malcolm always took a break when Abe came over, and they’d sit out on the bank for a few minutes and just chat. Abe liked that time of day the best. Then he’d run home to help Sarah.
As winter approached, Malcolm’s work was drawing to a close. The McGee bothers were ecstatic about the beautiful quality workmanship that had gone into the rebuilding of their offices and couldn’t wait to get moved back in.
On Malcolm’s last day of work, Abe came over to share lunch with him one more time.
“Hey, Malcolm?”
“Yep,” the older boy answered around a bite of sandwich.
“Whatcha gonna do now, I mean now that yer work here is done?” Abe munched his own sandwich and watched Malcolm’s face carefully. Malcolm chewed slowly and thoughtfully, then shrugged his shoulders.
“I dunno. I can always find more work to do round town, I guess.”
“That whatcha wanna do?”
Malcolm sat very still, thinking. “I’d like to head west... explore a little bit,” he said softly. “I feel so crowded here sometimes.”
“Miz Sarah’d miss ya something awful.”
“I know,” Malcolm nodded.
“So would I,” the younger boy said softly. “I like havin’ an older brother.”
Malcolm mussed Abe’s hair affectionately. “I kinda like bein’ one too, but some days I just wanna see what lies down the road.”
They were quiet for a while after that just eating their lunches and breathing in the cold, fresh air. Then Malcolm shrugged again. “I dunno. I’m not going anywhere yet. I gotta help Pa get wood in at home first, and I really don’t wanna be travelin’ in the winter. This spring maybe... we’ll see.” He looked at Abe. “How’s school? Ya liking it?”
Abe nodded enthusiastically. “Yep. Miz Masters is a good teacher, and most of the kids leave me ‘lone now.”
Malcolm scowled. “You still havin’ trouble?”
“Nuh uh,” Abe answered, shaking his head vigorously while he tried to swallow. “Uh uh,” he said again. “There’s one or two that actually talks to me now.”
“Well, that’s good. And yer likin’ yer studies?”
“Yep,” Abe answered thoughtfully, then went quiet.
Malcolm turned and looked at him. “Whatcha thinkin’ ‘bout?”
“I was just thinkin’... I’d like to study medicine.”
Malcolm’s eyes shone, and he grinned from ear to ear. “I think that is... that’s wonderful, Abe. I bet Ma ‘n Pa’ll be proud to hear that.”
“Ya don’t think they’ll think me pre... pre... ya don’t think they’ll think I’m asking too much fer a half-breed?”
Malcolm’s eyes blazed. “When have they EVER treated you...?” He broke off before his fury overrode his sense especially when Abe’s eyes flew open and he scooted back in reaction. “I’m sorry, Abe, but ya know better than to think that.”
Tears filled the younger boy’s eyes. “I know, Malcolm. I’s... I’m sorry. I just know how lots of people are, and I didn’t wanna pre... pre....”
“Presume?”
“Yeah, presume nothin’. It’s prob’ly nothin’ but a dream.”
“You hang onto your dreams, Abe. Ya never know what might happen.”
************
Malcolm didn’t leave the following spring. The McGee boys had been quite prolific in their praise of his skill, and he had more work than he could do. That made Abe happy; it meant the older boy would stick around that much longer.
Finally though, on a warm April day more than two years after the fire, Malcolm packed his bags and left town. He walked Abe to school that morning and they said goodbye outside the schoolhouse. It was very touching.
Abe was only a head shorter than Malcolm, but still whip-thin compared to Malcolm’s bulk. They embraced for a long moment before Malcolm tousled the dark head and began walking down the road. Just before he reached the bend in the road, he turned and waved to Abe who still stood at the schoolhouse door watching him leave.
The next few years saw a lot of changes in both the community and in Abe. He became a runner for Mr. Brown’s mercantile, and eventually most of the community accepted him as part of them. More and more buildings sprang up, and Abe grew from boyhood into manhood.
Malcolm wrote faithfully, and on the days that a letter arrived, Thomas Brown always let Abe go home early, and he left out on a run. Most of the letters were addressed to Sarah though Abe did get a few just for himself. Those he sat down and read immediately.
At the age of fifteen he was done with the one room schoolhouse and in the fall was on his way to medical school. Malcolm had faithfully sent money back to Sarah, confiding Abe’s dream to them and his desire to help make it a reality.
Six years later, Abe returned home a full-fledged doctor and set up practice in the building that had once housed the old one-room schoolhouse. It gave me a first row seat for a lot, but two events stand out in my mind as particularly memorable.
************
The mill stood at the bend of both river and road, and it was there that Henry Whittstone carried on his daily business. The years had been kind to the man, and he had continued to prosper. His three sons took care of a majority of the physical labor though he did get out in the woods at least once a week. Otherwise he contented himself with ensuring orders were filled properly and bills were paid.
On this particular Wednesday morning, he was behind his desk when his youngest daughter came running into office crying and calling out to him. “Papa! Papa, come quick! It’s Mama!”
Henry was on his feet and out the door before his daughter had finished speaking. He ran next door into his home, stopping when he found Eliza passed out on the kitchen floor. “Go hitch up the wagon, Girl!” he said, kneeling to scoop his wife into his arms. The wagon pulled up before he could stand, and his elder daughter sat at the reins. He raced down the steps and sat on the wagon bed, Eliza still cradled in his arms.
“Git us to Doc Abe’s, Betsy.”
“But....”
“G’wan, Girl! He’s the closest!”
The young woman nodded and slapped the reins on the horses’ rumps. Abe’s office was only two blocks away and within moments they were pulling up to his front door with a clatter. He’d heard the rumpus coming down the street but was busy talking to a young mother whose baby was colicky. When the outer door of his office slammed open however, his attention immediately turned to the man who filled the doorway, then to the woman cradled in his arms.
“Bring her on back, Henry,” Abe said authoritatively. “Lay her down,” he further instructed, watching the man tenderly ease his burden onto the small bed. “Now would you like to wait out front while I examine her?”
“Can I wait in here, Doc?”
Abe motioned to a chair in the corner and began a thorough examination of the woman who lay before him. Halfway through his exam Eliza’s eyes opened and she gasped. Abe laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It’s all right, Mrs. Whittstone. You collapsed and your husband brought you to my office. He’s right here, ma’am,” he reassured her. Eliza knew she’d never been fair to Abe and found it an ironic twist of poetic justice that now her life probably rested in his hands. She simply nodded, then moaned when the motion sent pain through her head. “Just lay still, ma’am. We’ll take good care of you.”
As it happened, Abe was able to take care of Eliza Whittstone, earning her trust in a way neither of them had ever anticipated. And his treatment of her in light of her years of unfairness to him merely raised the respect people felt for him.
Abe spent the next year watching his practice grow and flourish and surprisingly, falling in love with Betsy Whittstone. They became acquainted during Eliza’s convalesce, and it was actually with Eliza’s encouragement and blessing that Abe spoke to Henry about courting their older daughter.
************
The wedding was a lovely affair, and Sarah and Hiram sat proudly on the groom’s side and watched as their youngest committed himself to his bride. The only dark spot in their joy was the fact that Malcolm was missing.
It had been eleven years since he’d left, and although they still heard from him his letters had decreased in frequency greatly over the last ten months. It was the cause of some concern for both Sarah and Abe though neither mentioned it for fear of upsetting the other. It was on their minds often however.
************
When Abe had decided to open a practice in town, he and Hiram had renovated the old school building and added a living area to the back. It was a cozy space, and many of his patients appreciated the hominess of his office area.
They’d added two stories behind the original brick building, and a small porch overlooking the tiny yard and stable area that had been left to the schoolyard as the town began to grow up around it. Betsy had spent some considerable time before they’d married turning the backyard into a lush garden area, and now they spent their evenings together sitting on the back porch that overlooked the yard simply absorbing the peace and enjoying one another’s company. Being newlyweds they were far more focused on one another than the world around them and were sitting in the swing together necking when a deep voice from the shadows disturbed their little paradise.
“Didn’t yer Mama teach ya any better manners than that, Boy? Sittin’ out here in dark makin’ out with a pretty young lady! Ya got some nerve!”
Abe eased Betsy from his lap and stood, pushing her behind himself. “You presume too much, sir, to come into our home and speak so. Now show yourself like a man or leave like the coward you are.”
The chuckling that came out of the shadows startled them and Abe held himself rigid, waiting for the man to step forward. When he did Abe went limp with relief, then threw himself down the stairs and into Malcolm’s arms with a shout of laughter.
They stood in the circle of light for a long moment laughing and shaking hands, spouting what amounted to nonsense at one another in their haste to reacquaint themselves with one another. Finally Abe took Malcolm by the arm and led him up the steps grinning broadly.
“Betsy dearest, allow me to present my long lost older brother Malcolm. Brother, this beautiful woman is my bride, Betsy.”
Betsy overcame her natural shyness, knowing from listening to Abe just how important the older man was in his life. “How do you do, Malcolm? Abe has told me so much about you.” She extended her hands, and he clasped them gently.
“I’m sorry if I startled you, Miss Betsy. I didn’t realize my little brother was an old married man.”
“It’s okay, Malcolm,” she said softly. “Welcome to the family. It’s good to have you home.”
“It’s very good to be here,” Malcolm replied, looking around in sincere appreciation. “It’s lovely.”
“Thank you. Won’t you come in?”
The language was very formal and somewhat stilted, but it was more the awkwardness of getting to know one another as opposed to mistrust or dislike. Abe decided to break the ice and wrapped an arm around Betsy’s shoulders and linking his other with Malcolm’s.
“Yeah, c’mon in. I wanna hear about your travels and we’ll have some coffee. Does Ma Sarah know you’re back?”
“Nope. I thought I’d stop by and see the doc first.”
Betsy moved ahead of the two men into the house to prepare coffee and cake. Malcolm, even through the bulk of muscle he still carried, seemed thinner than he should have been for a man his size. So while the coffee was heating, she fixed the older man a plate of supper and set it in front him before moving to stand beside Abe. Malcolm looked at the plate then smiled up at Abe. “Yer a very lucky man, Little Brother. Thank ya, Miss Betsy. Been a long time since I had home cookin’.”
There was a sadness in his eyes that made Abe reach out and cover his hand in comfort. “Well, we’re glad to have you home,” was what he said though the questions hovered on the tip of his tongue. “Are you gonna stick around a while?”
Malcolm chewed thoughtfully then swallowed before answering. “I think so. Time for me to settle down here.”
“Well,” Betsy’s soft voice spoke. “You are welcome to stay here with us for as long as you’d like to.”
Malcolm shook his head vehemently even as Abe agreed with his wife. “No, ma’am. You two are newlyweds. Ya don’t need an old bachelor hangin’ round. Don’t worry....” he added with a smile. “With this kinda cookin’, I’ll be over here a lot more than ya’ll will wanna see me.”
“Never happen, Brother. I especially know very well just how much I owe you.”
“Ya don’t owe me a damn thing, Abe,” ferociously. “Ya’ve earned everythin’ ya’ve ever gotten. Don’t belittle yer own efforts.”
“I wasn’t, Malcolm. But I know that you were a big part of my success and I want you to know I will always, always be indebted to you for giving me the chance to follow my dream.”
Malcolm sat quietly, tears in the corners of his eyes. He cleared his throat. “I’m glad ya made good on the opportunity, Abe. If ya’ll will excuse me for a minute....”
Malcolm rose from his seat and moved to the back porch so quickly it took Abe and Betsy a moment to catch up. Betsy turned in her husband’s arms and ran her hands through his thick, dark hair. “Go to him, Beloved,” she said. “He carries a heavy burden.”
Abe nuzzled her belly then looked into her dark eyes. “How do you know?”
Betsy put a finger on his nose and smiled sadly. “He has sad eyes. Now go on. He needs some time to talk to you alone, I think. I’ll bring fresh coffee out to ya’ll in a bit.”
Abe walked out onto the back porch, sitting down on the steps next to Malcolm without a word, waiting until Malcolm was ready to talk. Betsy never did find out what they talked about that night, but she knew there were tears involved. And when all was said and done, Malcolm walked back into the house with a lighter step and a genuine smile.
************
Malcolm settled back into town and many were the times he and Abe would sneak an hour or two to go fishing out back. He rejoined his father and Uncle Caleb in the family business and eventually took it over when Hiram decided he was ready to spend the rest of his days farming with Sarah.
Abe’s practice continued to grow and flourish, and he and Betsy had six beautiful healthy children. Malcolm took great pleasure in spoiling his nieces and nephews and it made folks talk. Most wondered why he didn’t settle down and have a brood of his own. I have my own suspicions on that account, but they will keep for another time.
It was good to see the strength of their friendship and to know that time and distance hadn’t diminished it. And it was better to know that when tragedy struck them both, they turned to each other and their friendship for comfort.
Humans are an interesting species. When Hiram died in a field accident, Malcolm comforted Abe who felt guilty for not having gotten there in time. When Sarah died in her sleep a few months later, both boys grieved the loss together.
They weren’t family born to each other, but in the end - when it counted - they were family of the best kind. And I was better for having known them both as were all who knew them. Without trying they changed minds and hearts and attitudes just a little and paved the way for better times to come.
It would take a while though because war was coming and it would tear the nation apart with its ugliness.
Part 3
I should probably tell you a little about myself before we go any farther with the storytelling. You see I am the building at the corner of Franklyn & Rhodes, and the stories I want to share with you are the stories of the people who have been part of me and had it change their lives - and mine as well.
I’m sure it sounds ridiculous to you that I have a life. Granted, it is nothing like human life. Rather, it is more an awareness of what is going on in and around me. Many buildings are aware to some extent actually, but I am one of the oldest. The kids around here respect that though that wasn’t always the case. But I am getting ahead of myself. You’ll hear all about that in due time.
As I said I have been here for a very long time and it has made me appreciate a lot, both about myself and about the world around me. Humans are quite fascinating to study. But there I go getting off-track again. I was going to tell you about myself, wasn’t I?
The records state that I was begun in the year 1785. Jacob Henry drew the concept for my existence, then hired a few craftsmen to bring his vision to life though I am positive he never knew just exactly how true that became.
There was weather to be worked around, but in the spring of 1786 Jacob and Patrick broke ground on what was to become a historic building though none of us had any concept of that then. They simply wanted a place to be proud in which to do business.
My foundation was created from the oak trees that were so plentiful then. They were split and fitted together tightly with mortar on their rounded sides to hold them in place on the ground, and smooth wooden pegs to bind the planed sides that made up the floor of the ground level.
It took four men almost six weeks just to lay the floor properly, but their patience and hard work is the reason I am still standing today. Because let’s face it, if your foundation is weak, the rest of you is just going to crumble into dust.
Enough philosophizing. This story is long enough without me following every wild tangent I get started on.
Once the foundation was finished, six brick masons came in and began to build the walls up. I am crafted from almost half a million handmade bricks. Insulation was of course unheard of then so my walls are double bricked. That factor alone has saved my life from complete destruction a couple times, but we’ll get to that eventually.
Not much of the original leaded glass is left though I do have several panes of it in a few of the third story windows. Most of my glass is the modern stuff - impact-resistant, tinted, shatterproof. In some ways I prefer the leaded glass. There’s a sense of history and craftsmanship associated with it that the new glass will never have. But in fairness, the new stuff is much more practical for this day and age.
I still have my original front doors though they are quite a bit worse for the wear than when they were first hewn. They hold some interesting memories upon them though... inside and out.
I’ve actually held up very well, considering my age and the things that have happened within my lifetime here. Much of me is original. The bits of me that aren’t are improvements that make me more compatible with modern society. My space has been used and changed and rearranged for several different purposes over the years. I have modern plumbing, electricity, a phone line and a wireless network... the last the results of some of my later tenants, but we’ll get to them in due course as well.
The first big change for me came in February of 1824.
Even though my outside was good sturdy brick, my interior was mostly wood and lots of paper. All the records and documents of that time were of paper and parchment and by then, most of the third floor was dedicated to their storage.
************
That February day was very cold and stormy, and the light coming in from the windows was nil. Edgar took his lit candle upstairs and set it near the stack of papers that he’d come upstairs to file. Nathan called him and he left the candle where he’d placed it and moved to the top of the stairs, then rapidly moved down the stairs to help Nathan with the load he was trying to manage. It took three trips to get the books moved from the first to the second floor before they were finished.
They stopped to rest a minute and then the call for lunch was given, and Nathan and Edgar joined their compatriots. It was the smell of smoke that alerted them and by the time they started upstairs, the third floor was engulfed in flames and it was burning down to the second level.
************
Quickly a fire brigade was assembled, but the damage was done. The third story was a total loss and a good portion of the second level was destroyed. Even the ground floor suffered some smoke and water damage, and though it dismayed them to do so, Martin’s boys and their sons acknowledged that it was going to take a lot of renovation to restore the building back to its origin.
They found a temporary solution by moving into two small offices in the courthouse. Then they hired some skilled workmen to come fix the destruction that the fire had caused. They were given a six to eight month estimate for the work to get done, and the barristers offices moved to the courthouse for the time being.
It was mid-March when the last load of records moved to the courthouse and the workmen moved in to begin renovations. That was when I made the acquaintance of Malcolm and Abe.
************
The first major project was to gut the building. The ground level flooring, the windows and the walls were to remain. Everything else would need to be ripped out and either be restored or be replaced. It was going to be quite a job, but Malcolm looked forward to the hard work since it would put him closer to realizing his own dream.
Malcolm was a young man of sixteen, and he knew this job would be steady enough that he would be able to put some money aside and maybe let him travel west a bit. He had dreams of blue skies and wide-open spaces and a place of his own.
The first few days they spent with heavy hammers and axes, slowly knocking out the burned area. They had to take special care with the third floor so it wasn’t until the fifth day that Malcolm literally stumbled across the small urchin hidden in a small space at the back of the second floor.
From the looks of things, the boy had been hiding out there at least a little while, and when his eyes met Malcolm’s he tried to bolt. He didn’t make it very far. Malcolm was big, but he was quick and agile, and he caught the youngster around the middle and clapped a hand over his mouth before he could scream.
“Hush, Boy! I’m not gonna hurt ya.” He set the boy on his feet but held him firmly. “I’m gonna take my hand away and let ya go, but if you holler or run, I’ll thrash the daylights outta ya. Got it?”
Brown eyes met blue and the brown eyes held unshed tears as the boy nodded solemnly. “Yessir,” he whispered.
Malcolm chuckled. “I’m no sir, Boy. M’name’s Malcolm. What’s yers?”
“A... Abraham... but I goes by Abe.”
“Well, Abe, whatcha doing here? This is no place for a boy to be playing. Ya should be in school.”
“I weren’t playin’ sir. I’s been living here since the place burnt.”
“Living here? Where’s your folks, Boy?”
“Dunno ‘bout my pa. He runned off ‘fore I was borned, I think.” Now the tears slid silently down his face. “My ma died a few weeks ago. I... I couldn’t stay there. I... I....”
“It’s all right, Abe,” Malcolm said compassionately. “You don’t have to say nothing else.” Malcolm looked closely at the boy and wondered if he was a runaway slave. Abe had dark eyes and hair and a deep skin tone. Malcolm decided he needed to know before he introduced the boy to his pa and his uncle. “You a runaway slave, Boy?”
Fire lit in the dark brown eyes, and the child stood to his full four and a half foot height. “No! Me and ma was never slaves.”
Malcolm waited for more, but nothing was forthcoming. The boy didn’t act like he had anything to hide so the older youth shrugged his broad shoulders. He would have spoken then, but a voice calling his name stopped his words.
“Malcolm! Somethin’ wrong back there, Son? I been calling you for the past five minutes. Get out here - it’s time for dinner break.”
“Uncle Caleb, can you get Pa and c’mere for a minute? I got a little, um... problem.”
Caleb grunted. Malcolm didn’t ask for much and was a hard worker. Must be some problem if he was asking for help.
When Hiram and Caleb stepped into the back room, they stopped short. There sat Malcolm talking quietly to a boy of about nine who was frantically trying to get away. ”Whatcha got there, Son?”
Malcolm finally grabbed the boy by the shirt and held him tightly. “This here’s my friend Abe, Pa. I was hoping you and Uncle Caleb could give me a hand.”
Caleb chuckled. “Looks like you got a pretty good hold on him already. Whatcha need us for?”
“Let me go! LET ME GO!!!! Ya can’t keep me here! Ya can’t make me do nothin’!!” He started swinging small fists in Malcolm’s direction. Malcolm just held Abe by the top of his head, and let him swing until the fight went out of him. When he dropped to the floor in exhaustion Malcolm knelt down next to him.
“You ready to listen now, Abe?”
Abe had his arms curled around his legs and his head buried in his arms. He looked at Malcolm. “You jus’ wanna talk?”
“Yep. I got an idea that I think you’ll like. And if ya don’t, ya can walk out if here as free as ya were before I found ya. You won’t be able to stay here no more though.”
“All right, let’s hear it. I gots nothin’ ta lose.”
Hiram and Caleb stood back quietly watching Malcolm. They were both pretty sure of what he was up to and knew he wanted them there for backup. They’d always stressed education and hard work to all their children, and Malcolm, the youngest of the lot, seemed to have learned it the best. He spent most of his free time reading anything he could get his hands on.
“Well how’d ya like a place to stay and three squares a day?”
Abe looked at him suspiciously. “What’s the catch? Ain’t nothin’ free.”
“Yer right about that. It’ll cost ya. Ya gotta go to school everyday, and you’ll have to do some chores around the homestead. If Pa and Uncle Caleb agree, ya can work with us on Saturdays, and earn ya a bit of spending money. Whaddya think?”
Tears welled up in the big brown eyes again. “Ya’d... ya’d let me go ta school? I can learn ta read an’ write an’ figure stuff?”
“Would ya like that?”
“Would I? I wanted ta learn, but Ma couldn’t teach me. I’d work so hard fer the chance.”
Hiram stepped up and laid a big hand gently on the boy’s thin shoulder. “You boys c’mon out and let’s have some vittles, and we’ll see what we can do to make this work out.”
Abe’s smile was bright enough to light up the whole room.
That afternoon Abe stuck to Malcolm like glue. He was right there carrying out burnt pieces and odds and ends as Malcolm loosened them. Hiram and Caleb were both impressed with his work and the fact that he didn’t shirk the hard stuff.
“Abe, tomorrow’s Saturday, and Ma’ll need to take ya to the general store to git ya some new things. But once that’s done, you c’mon over and help me, all right?”
“I c’n do that.” Abe hesitated. “Malcolm, ya sure yer mama’s not gonna mind me coming home with you?”
“Abe, if my ma found out I didn’t bring ya home, she’d tan my hide. You’ll see... ma’ll adopt ya, and we’ll be brothers.”
Abe grinned at that. “I always wanted a brother.” He looked up at Malcolm. “Ya think we can go fishin’ together when it gets warmer?”
Malcolm chuckled. “I think you can count on that, Little Brother.”
************
I heard about the next bit because Malcolm and Abe talked about it the next day.
************
If Sarah was surprised when Hiram and Malcolm walked through the door with a new member of the family, she didn’t let it show. Instead she welcomed him warmly and clucked over him like a mother hen.
It was a different experience for Abe. Though he knew his ma had loved him, she’d worked so hard to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table that there hadn’t been time or energy for much else. On rare days, they would get a few minutes to sit and talk and his ma would run her fingers through his hair and tell him a little about her people, but she never said much.
Sarah on the other hand, talked to him more in his first few minutes in her home than he’d heard his own ma speak in a month. He was a little overwhelmed and Malcolm came to his rescue.
“Ma, maybe I should show Abe to our room, and then we got chores to do before supper.”
“Malcolm, he just got here and you’re putting him to work? For shame!” Sarah probably would have continued her scolding, but Abe stepped up to her with a smile.
“It’s okay, Miz Sarah. Mr. Hi said I’d be doin’ chores ‘cause there are things the men in the family gots ta take care of. An’ he said we could go fishin’ sometimes an’ I’ll get ta go ta school and....”
Sarah smiled softly and placed a hand on his shoulder. “All right then, Son. You and the rest of the men go care for the animals and such. I’ll have yer dinner on the table by the time ya’ll get done and cleaned up.”
Big brown eyes widened in a soot-streaked, dirty face, and he swallowed hard. “Cleaned?”
Malcolm laughed. “It’s all right, Abe. Clean’s not that bad. May even help ya get a girl one day.”
Sarah’s eyes widened as she realized how grown her youngest had become, but Abe scrunched his face in distaste. “Girls?! Why’d I want one a those?”
Sarah put her hands on her hips. “I’ll have you know I was a girl once, young man!” Hiram wisely covered his mouth to keep the laughter from escaping. Abe turned and looked fully at Sarah.
“Oh, not you, ma’am. Yer a Ma, an’ that makes all the diff’r’nce.”
“C’mon, boys,” Hiram said. “Let’s get the chores done so we can eat, ‘cause something smells really good.”
************
I probably should have told you this earlier, but you know at my age the details sometimes escape me until later. Anyway, the village this had been in 1789 had grown considerably, and by 1824 was a small town. There were three mercantiles, the schoolhouse, two banks, two churches, a hotel and restaurant, a livery stable, the mill, three saloons, and of course, the barrister building.
The new growth put one of the new mercantiles next door so I had a first row seat for what happened that next day. It was a Saturday and busy because that was the day all the womenfolk tended to come to town to gossip and shop... though they’d never acknowledge the first. That was what caused all the problems though.
***********
The Trent family rode into town together that morning, and Hiram let Sarah and Abe off at the front of the mercantile before driving the team and wagon around the corner to the back of the barrister building. They were early and Sarah and Abe took a seat on one of the benches outside the mercantile waiting for Mr. Thomas Brown to open the doors for the day’s business.
Sarah noticed a few odd looks cast her direction from some of the younger women who were slowly making their way into the town, but she didn’t worry much about it. She didn’t make the trip into town every week except for church on Sunday so she wasn’t privy to a lot of the gossip that made its rounds during the week. Before she could begin to wonder about the strange looks, Mr. Brown opened his doors.
“Good morning, Mrs. Trent. And who is this?”
Sarah put an arm around Abraham’s shoulders and proudly introduced him. “This is the newest member of our family, Mr. Brown. This is Abraham.”
Abe looked completely different from the dirty urchin that Malcolm had found the day before. He was clean, and his hair had been neatly trimmed and combed. The clothes he had on were hand-me-downs from Malcolm, but they were clean and pressed. Thomas Brown extended his hand to the boy.
“Hello, Abraham. It is nice to make your acquaintance.”
Abe regarded him solemnly for a long moment before finding what he was searching for and hesitantly extending his hand. “’Lo,” he said quietly. Thomas smiled at Abe before turning his attention back to Sarah.
“What can I do for ya, Mrs. Trent?”
“Well, Mr. Brown, Abe here needs some new clothes and such... both for school and for working around the farm and such. So I need to look at your material.”
Thomas nodded his understanding. He was a giant of a man, but his kind nature had made him a favorite in the town. Now he handed a stick of candy to Abe who accepted it with wide, delighted eyes, and motioned them to the back of the store where bolts of fabric rested in a shelf on one wall. Sarah motioned Abe to a barrel, and he took a seat.
Thomas moved behind the counter and waited for Sarah to make her selections. Just then several women entered the front door. He greeted them then turned back to Sarah.
“If you’d like to wait on them, Mr. Brown, I’m gonna be here a few minutes, I think.”
Thomas looked doubtful. “Ya sure, Mrs. Trent? It may take a bit.”
Sarah smiled. “That’s fine. It’ll give me a chance to figure out just what I want.”
The merchant nodded and moved back to the front of the store, leaving Sarah and Abe alone to study the different fabrics and patterns. Abe tried not to show his excitement at something so ‘girly’, but Sarah saw his eyes light up on one or two pieces, and she made special note of those. Two of the younger women wandered back to where Sarah and Abe were and started whispering to one another. Finally the bolder of the two stepped toward Sarah and motioned negligently towards Abe.
“He shouldn’t be in here, Sarah. We don’t associate with his kind.”
Now Sarah O’Grady Trent was small of stature, but the red highlights in her blonde hair held true to her fiery temper and somewhat tempestuous nature. The sparks that flew from her blue eyes were enough to forewarn of the coming storm, but her voice was calm enough when she turned to look the young woman in the eye.
“And what kind would that be, Eliza? A child, perhaps? Or maybe you object to the fact that he’s a boy? Hmm? What exactly do you not like?”
Abraham stood quietly, his eyes wide at Sarah’s vehemence. His mother had always kept to herself and been non-confrontational on the rare occasion she had ever ventured into town.
Eliza’s face went red, an interesting combination of anger and embarrassment. “His mother was an Indian,” she muttered.
“Yes, and...?”
“And we don’t associate with his kind.”
“I see. And what part of your Christianity allows for that kind of hatred and prejudice, Eliza? Show me in the Bible where it says thou shalt.” Sarah was pointing at Eliza, subtly backing her away from Abraham and towards the front of the store.
“You can’t treat me like that! I’m an upstanding woman in this community.”
“Then maybe you need to broaden your horizons. Abe is my son now, and that is all you need to remember.”
In frustration Eliza stamped her foot and turned to Thomas. “Are you gonna let her treat me like this, Mr. Brown? My husband does a good bit of business with you.”
“Mrs. Whittstone, your husband’s business here has nothing to do with your attitude. Abe didn’t do anything to you, and he certainly doesn’t deserve your ridicule.”
“Well, I NEVER!!! I’ll be speaking to my husband about this! I’m sure we can find someone else who will appreciate our business.”
Thomas Brown didn’t even bat an eye. “You do that, Mrs. Whittstone. I’m sure Henry will be anxious to hear about your behavior today.”
For the first time in her life, Eliza Whittstone was speechless. Without another word she flounced out the door red-faced. She waited for her cronies, but no one followed her out. “You can’t tell me you approve of this,” she said to the four women who remained.
“I may not be happy with Mr. Brown’s decision to allow an Indian into his store, but it is his store, Eliza. It’s a free country, and if that’s what he wants to do, it’s his business. But your behavior toward a child... that’s where I’m having a problem with this.”
“He’s a child, Aimee. What difference does it make?”
“Exactly, Eliza... he’s a child who has done nothing to you except be born with a different skin color. Maybe you need to figure out why that bothers you so much.”
“He’ll be an adult one day and then you’ll sound just like I do. I’m just honest enough to speak up about it now.” Then Eliza spun on her heel and walked briskly down the street.
The four women who remained looked shame-faced at her remarks. They looked at Abe who’d sat wide-eyed and quiet through the entire exchange. Sarah stood by his side, waiting to see what they would do.
Aimee took a deep breath and walked to Sarah. “I’m sorry, Sarah... Abe,” she said quietly, reaching out a tentative hand and placing it on Abe’s shoulder. “Eliza’s right about a lot of what she said, but maybe... well, maybe we can change that just a little.” She looked around. “Now I think we all have some shopping to finish. Will we see you in church tomorrow?”
Sarah nodded. “Good,” was all Aimee said, but she gave Abe’s shoulder a light squeeze. Then she moved back into the grocery area, leaving Sarah and Abe alone among the dry goods.
The murmur of the woman shopping was mere background noise when Sarah and Abe turned back to selecting fabric. “I’m proud of you, Abe. Ya didn’t let that woman upset ya.”
He shrugged. “Why she so mad?”
“Well, Son... sometimes people are taught things when they’re little that they can’t seem to get around when they grow up. You just keep on reacting the way you did, and it’ll all work out in the end.” He looked confused, and she stroked his hair. “I’ll explain it to ya later. Let’s get this material so’s I can get home and start sewing. You gonna go help Hiram and Malcolm today?”
The dark eyes shone and he smiled. “Yes’m. Mr. Hi said I’d git spendin’ money. An’ Malcolm’s promised ta help me with m’letters and stuff.”
“All right then. Why don’t you run along next door and ask Hiram to bring the wagon ‘round? I think we’re about ready to go.”
Abe nodded and started for the door, but he was stopped by Henry Whittstone’s voice. “You there, Boy. You the Indian my wife told me about?”
Abe stood frozen in place, his eye wide and round. Thomas Brown stepped up beside him. “Is there a problem, Henry?”
“Nope. I’m sorry Eliza caused you a problem. I dunno if she’ll be back in, but I will.”
“Glad to hear it, Henry, ‘cause the boy didn’t do nothing to nobody.” He looked down at Abe. “G’wan, Son. I think Miz Sarah’s waitin’ for you to go get Hiram.”
Abe ran out the door, and into the burnt-out brick building next door. “Mr. Hi, Mr. Hi... Miz Sarah’s waitin’ fer ya.”
“All right, Son. You wanna stay here and work or ya gonna go home with Mama?”
“C’n I stay?”
“Yep. Go find Malcolm. He’ll help ya get started.”
************
The church was right across from me and the school was beside it, and even now the church and I still communicate regularly. But after what happened in the general store the day before, we were all anxious to see what would happen in the next few days.
************
Sunday brought a new set of challenges. There was a definite division in the congregation though Sarah was pleased to see that the majority of the people present were still cordial and friendly. Several folks made it a point to speak to the Trent family and welcome Abe. Several others made it a point not to. And with that the battle lines were drawn.
When church was over Sarah went over to the schoolmarm. “Miss Masters, do you have a minute?”
“Certainly, Mrs. Trent,” the young woman replied. “What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to talk to you about Abe’s schooling. Is it gonna cause a problem for ya?”
Mary Masters looked at the floor and blushed faintly. “I’ll be honest with you, Mrs. Trent. It might have at one time in the not so distant past.” Now she looked right into Sarah’s blue eyes. “But I have learned recently that some things just aren’t that important.”
Sarah looked into the brown eyes and wondered what secrets the young woman had. “So you won’t have a problem teaching him?”
“No ma’am. But you may want to teach him at home, at least at first.” Sarah cocked her head in question. “I don’t want him to be embarrassed or uncomfortable, and he hasn’t had any schooling yet, correct?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Neither do I, and most of the beginning students are several years younger than him. It’s a bad position for him to be in, especially at his age.”
Sarah smiled at Mary’s thoughtfulness and caring. “Good idea, Miss Masters. Thank you.”
************
The next bit is guesswork, but it is based on what happened in the days and weeks that followed.
************
That evening after Hiram and Sarah retired to bed, Sarah told her husband about the talk she’d had with the teacher.
“I think she’s right, Hi. We need to teach him at home first. I don’t want him to get discouraged and quit.”
Hiram wrapped his arms around his bride of almost thirty years. “Why not let Malcolm teach him? I think they would both enjoy that, and Abe’d be liable to learn more.”
Sarah thought about that. “You wanna take him away from work?”
“Hmm. Not really. I just think Abe might learn better from him. He trusts Malcolm. Let me think on it. We’ll come up with something.”
Chapter IV
Monday morning brought the start of a new routine that would last into the fall when both the renovations were well underway and the new school year began.
************
“All right, Abe. I want ya to find a corner down here where you’ll be comfortable. Maybe by the winda. Ya get settled in to start yer letters and if ya need help, just holler. Me ‘n Malcolm’ll be upstairs working. He got ya started a little bit last night, didn’t he?”
“Yessir. An’ I already knows my numbers.”
“Good work, Son. You get started, and we’ll be over to check on you soon.”
Abe nodded and was soon engrossed in the letters Malcolm had carefully traced onto paper the night before. He had a small slate and a piece of chalk and was tentatively trying to copy the letters on the slate. Malcolm watched, seeing Abe’s frustration grow as he struggled to hold the chalk. He put down his tools and walked back to where Abe sat.
“Trouble, Little Brother?” Malcolm took a seat beside the boy. “Here,” he said, wrapping his hand around the smaller one. “It takes a little bit of practice, but you’ll get it. Yer doin’ good. Helps that ya got big hands and long fingers.” He smiled. “Least that’s what Ma always told me, and Ma’s never lied to me so....”
Abe held out his hands, looking at them for the first time. He examined them carefully front and back, then grabbed Malcolm’s hands to study them. He opened Malcolm’s palm, stretching his own smaller hand against it. Abe’s hand was smaller, but he could see the similarities in the way they were shaped. Abe looked up at Malcolm with a look akin to adoration. Malcolm smiled and took his hand again. “C’mon. Let’s try again.”
The boys spent the morning with Malcolm guiding Abe’s movements with his hand. Hiram was almost loath to interrupt them for dinner and they looked up in surprise when he called their names.
Malcolm scrambled to his feet, mentally cursing himself for losing track of time. He’d only meant to take a minute. “I’m sorry, Pa. I didn’t mean....”
“Don’t worry ‘bout it, Boy. You got Abe off to a good start and that’s important. Ya’ll can just hustle a little more this afternoon to make up for it.”
“Thanks, Pa.”
“Thanks, Mr. Hi.”
The boys spoke simultaneously, and Hiram smiled just the tiniest bit. “Hmph,” he gruffed. “Now c’mon and let’s eat. We still got lots to do today.”
************
The first few weeks fell into a pattern. Malcolm sat with Abe every morning as he mastered each letter. Eventually Abe was comfortable holding the chalk and his writing improved. So Malcolm went back to his labors, only working with Abe when he asked for help.
They spent lunch working on reading and recognition. Then in the afternoons, they helped Hiram and Caleb clear out more of the burned debris from the building. Abe was growing in body as well as in mind and evenings were spent working on sums.
After a month or so Abe moved up to reading from the first primers, and he got so engrossed in this new skill that he sometimes lost track of the time and where he was. Hiram got frustrated on more than one occasion trying to get Abe’s attention, but he was secretly very pleased. The boy had a sharp mind and reminded him a great deal of Malcolm when he’d been younger.
Finally all the debris was cleared out, and construction work could begin. Every morning Abe would find himself a corner, get out his slate and work on his writing for a while. Then he’d take out his primer and read ‘til lunch. Many was the time he’d run across a word he’d never seen and he’d go run and find Malcolm. Always Malcolm would stop whatever he was doing and help Abe work through the word, then explain to him just what the new word meant.
The days were warm now, and Abe sat outside in the mornings to do his schoolwork. It wasn’t always easy to focus - the sun was warm; the birds were singing; and the river beckoned in sparkling splendor. But he enjoyed what he was learning, and he found the mornings passing swiftly with new discoveries.
Caleb and Hiram were rebuilding the interior of the building. It was Malcolm’s job to come behind them and create beautiful, lasting patterns in the cabinets, staircases and moldings. Abe found it fascinating to watch the shapes and patterns come to life under Malcolm’s gifted hands. He so desired to be able to do the same, but he was unable to handle the tools properly. Malcolm tried to show him the basics, but Abe was awkward and uncertain, and it showed in the way he handled the tools. Finally Hiram took pity on both boys and took Abe aside.
“Abe, Son... I know yer tryin’, but we need to let Malcolm do this. He’s been doin’ this since he was knee-high to a grasshopper and it’s somethin’ that takes a lot of time and patience to master. If ya want to learn, he can try teachin’ ya in the evenin’s when yer schoolwork is done.”
“But....”
“No, Son. Malcolm’s work is detailed and time consuming and he can’t be teachin’ you and doin’ his best work at the same time. Do ya understand?”
“Yessir,” Abe answered softly, head dropping to his chest.
“I do have somethin’ else you could be learnin’ how to do.” Hiram smiled. “Couple things actually.”
Deep brown eyes peered up at him. “Really?”
“Yep. You ready to try somethin’ new?”
“Yessir!” The eyes were now eager and glowed with anticipation.
“All right... hard or easy first?”
Abe thought about it a moment. “Hard.”
Hiram smiled. “I figured you’d say that. C’mon then, Boy, and I’ll teach ya the Trent family secret to making perfect staircase spindles.”
Abe followed Hiram out the back and around to the portico on one side. There was a small machine off to one side that Abe had not noticed before, and Caleb sat there now pumping his legs industriously. He face was red and wet with sweat, but his focus was taken up by the slim bit of wood in his hand.
Abe stared in fascination as the wood slowly began to take shape and form. For long minutes Caleb manipulated the wood until he was satisfied that it was the contour he needed. Then he placed it into a small wooden box next to him and stood.
“Whaddya think there, Boy? Think you might like to try it?”
Abe looked up at Hiram. “C’n... can I, Mr. Hi?”
“Yep... have a seat and let’s get ya started.”
Caleb made it look simple, but Abe found out pretty quickly it wasn’t. There was a rhythm between the legs and the hands that Abe had difficulty mastering, but he kept on and there was a noticeable improvement in his work even in the two hours he sat there.
“All right, Son,” Hiram finally said. “Let’s take a break and go do some of the easy work.”
Abe sighed in relief. His legs were killing him, and his arms weren’t far behind. Then he smiled. He’d learned something new and felt a sense of satisfaction. His smile grew even broader when Hiram grabbed a couple of the cane poles leaning against the wall and walked the short distance to the river.
They sat in silence for a while, each managing to bring in a good-sized fish. Then Hiram turned to Abe. “How’s your schoolin’ comin’ ‘long there, Abe? Ya doin’ okay?”
“Oh, yes sir. I like it a lot. Malcolm’s a real good teacher.”
“Well, ya know school starts back next week and Mama is gonna be expectin’ ya to go.”
“Do I hafta, Mr. Hi? I like working here, and I’m learning a lot.”
“I know ya are, son, but ya gotta go to school. Ya might make some friends yer own age, and Miss Masters is better able to teach you than Malcolm. Besides, we’ll be done with this building in another month or two. A lot of what we got left is finish work.”
“Like the spindles?”
“Yeah, and like what Malcolm is doing. We’ll be done before he is. Good thing too, since we gotta help get the garden in and tighten things up for the comin’ winter.”
“Do I get ta help with that too?”
“Well, ya helped plant it. I figure you can help get it in some, anyway. Besides, it don’t cost nothin’ for ya to know how to do it. But ya gotta go to school first.”
“All right, Mr. Hi. I’ll do m’best.”
“I know ya will, Son. Ya remind me a lot of Malcolm when he was a young pup.”
“Really?” Abe’s eyes shone brightly. Malcolm was his own personal hero, and Hiram couldn’t have paid him a higher compliment if he’d been aiming.
************
School started, and Abe was a very industrious student. Malcolm had tutored him very well, and he was more than able to keep up in the classroom. For the most part the other students left him alone though he was involved in his share of scraps. Still by and large, he stayed out of trouble and settled into his studies with vigor.
They shared lunch every day on the brick steps and every afternoon, Abe left the schoolhouse, and ran across the road to see what new things Malcolm had created during the day. Malcolm always took a break when Abe came over, and they’d sit out on the bank for a few minutes and just chat. Abe liked that time of day the best. Then he’d run home to help Sarah.
As winter approached, Malcolm’s work was drawing to a close. The McGee bothers were ecstatic about the beautiful quality workmanship that had gone into the rebuilding of their offices and couldn’t wait to get moved back in.
On Malcolm’s last day of work, Abe came over to share lunch with him one more time.
“Hey, Malcolm?”
“Yep,” the older boy answered around a bite of sandwich.
“Whatcha gonna do now, I mean now that yer work here is done?” Abe munched his own sandwich and watched Malcolm’s face carefully. Malcolm chewed slowly and thoughtfully, then shrugged his shoulders.
“I dunno. I can always find more work to do round town, I guess.”
“That whatcha wanna do?”
Malcolm sat very still, thinking. “I’d like to head west... explore a little bit,” he said softly. “I feel so crowded here sometimes.”
“Miz Sarah’d miss ya something awful.”
“I know,” Malcolm nodded.
“So would I,” the younger boy said softly. “I like havin’ an older brother.”
Malcolm mussed Abe’s hair affectionately. “I kinda like bein’ one too, but some days I just wanna see what lies down the road.”
They were quiet for a while after that just eating their lunches and breathing in the cold, fresh air. Then Malcolm shrugged again. “I dunno. I’m not going anywhere yet. I gotta help Pa get wood in at home first, and I really don’t wanna be travelin’ in the winter. This spring maybe... we’ll see.” He looked at Abe. “How’s school? Ya liking it?”
Abe nodded enthusiastically. “Yep. Miz Masters is a good teacher, and most of the kids leave me ‘lone now.”
Malcolm scowled. “You still havin’ trouble?”
“Nuh uh,” Abe answered, shaking his head vigorously while he tried to swallow. “Uh uh,” he said again. “There’s one or two that actually talks to me now.”
“Well, that’s good. And yer likin’ yer studies?”
“Yep,” Abe answered thoughtfully, then went quiet.
Malcolm turned and looked at him. “Whatcha thinkin’ ‘bout?”
“I was just thinkin’... I’d like to study medicine.”
Malcolm’s eyes shone, and he grinned from ear to ear. “I think that is... that’s wonderful, Abe. I bet Ma ‘n Pa’ll be proud to hear that.”
“Ya don’t think they’ll think me pre... pre... ya don’t think they’ll think I’m asking too much fer a half-breed?”
Malcolm’s eyes blazed. “When have they EVER treated you...?” He broke off before his fury overrode his sense especially when Abe’s eyes flew open and he scooted back in reaction. “I’m sorry, Abe, but ya know better than to think that.”
Tears filled the younger boy’s eyes. “I know, Malcolm. I’s... I’m sorry. I just know how lots of people are, and I didn’t wanna pre... pre....”
“Presume?”
“Yeah, presume nothin’. It’s prob’ly nothin’ but a dream.”
“You hang onto your dreams, Abe. Ya never know what might happen.”
************
Malcolm didn’t leave the following spring. The McGee boys had been quite prolific in their praise of his skill, and he had more work than he could do. That made Abe happy; it meant the older boy would stick around that much longer.
Finally though, on a warm April day more than two years after the fire, Malcolm packed his bags and left town. He walked Abe to school that morning and they said goodbye outside the schoolhouse. It was very touching.
Abe was only a head shorter than Malcolm, but still whip-thin compared to Malcolm’s bulk. They embraced for a long moment before Malcolm tousled the dark head and began walking down the road. Just before he reached the bend in the road, he turned and waved to Abe who still stood at the schoolhouse door watching him leave.
The next few years saw a lot of changes in both the community and in Abe. He became a runner for Mr. Brown’s mercantile, and eventually most of the community accepted him as part of them. More and more buildings sprang up, and Abe grew from boyhood into manhood.
Malcolm wrote faithfully, and on the days that a letter arrived, Thomas Brown always let Abe go home early, and he left out on a run. Most of the letters were addressed to Sarah though Abe did get a few just for himself. Those he sat down and read immediately.
At the age of fifteen he was done with the one room schoolhouse and in the fall was on his way to medical school. Malcolm had faithfully sent money back to Sarah, confiding Abe’s dream to them and his desire to help make it a reality.
Six years later, Abe returned home a full-fledged doctor and set up practice in the building that had once housed the old one-room schoolhouse. It gave me a first row seat for a lot, but two events stand out in my mind as particularly memorable.
************
The mill stood at the bend of both river and road, and it was there that Henry Whittstone carried on his daily business. The years had been kind to the man, and he had continued to prosper. His three sons took care of a majority of the physical labor though he did get out in the woods at least once a week. Otherwise he contented himself with ensuring orders were filled properly and bills were paid.
On this particular Wednesday morning, he was behind his desk when his youngest daughter came running into office crying and calling out to him. “Papa! Papa, come quick! It’s Mama!”
Henry was on his feet and out the door before his daughter had finished speaking. He ran next door into his home, stopping when he found Eliza passed out on the kitchen floor. “Go hitch up the wagon, Girl!” he said, kneeling to scoop his wife into his arms. The wagon pulled up before he could stand, and his elder daughter sat at the reins. He raced down the steps and sat on the wagon bed, Eliza still cradled in his arms.
“Git us to Doc Abe’s, Betsy.”
“But....”
“G’wan, Girl! He’s the closest!”
The young woman nodded and slapped the reins on the horses’ rumps. Abe’s office was only two blocks away and within moments they were pulling up to his front door with a clatter. He’d heard the rumpus coming down the street but was busy talking to a young mother whose baby was colicky. When the outer door of his office slammed open however, his attention immediately turned to the man who filled the doorway, then to the woman cradled in his arms.
“Bring her on back, Henry,” Abe said authoritatively. “Lay her down,” he further instructed, watching the man tenderly ease his burden onto the small bed. “Now would you like to wait out front while I examine her?”
“Can I wait in here, Doc?”
Abe motioned to a chair in the corner and began a thorough examination of the woman who lay before him. Halfway through his exam Eliza’s eyes opened and she gasped. Abe laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It’s all right, Mrs. Whittstone. You collapsed and your husband brought you to my office. He’s right here, ma’am,” he reassured her. Eliza knew she’d never been fair to Abe and found it an ironic twist of poetic justice that now her life probably rested in his hands. She simply nodded, then moaned when the motion sent pain through her head. “Just lay still, ma’am. We’ll take good care of you.”
As it happened, Abe was able to take care of Eliza Whittstone, earning her trust in a way neither of them had ever anticipated. And his treatment of her in light of her years of unfairness to him merely raised the respect people felt for him.
Abe spent the next year watching his practice grow and flourish and surprisingly, falling in love with Betsy Whittstone. They became acquainted during Eliza’s convalesce, and it was actually with Eliza’s encouragement and blessing that Abe spoke to Henry about courting their older daughter.
************
The wedding was a lovely affair, and Sarah and Hiram sat proudly on the groom’s side and watched as their youngest committed himself to his bride. The only dark spot in their joy was the fact that Malcolm was missing.
It had been eleven years since he’d left, and although they still heard from him his letters had decreased in frequency greatly over the last ten months. It was the cause of some concern for both Sarah and Abe though neither mentioned it for fear of upsetting the other. It was on their minds often however.
************
When Abe had decided to open a practice in town, he and Hiram had renovated the old school building and added a living area to the back. It was a cozy space, and many of his patients appreciated the hominess of his office area.
They’d added two stories behind the original brick building, and a small porch overlooking the tiny yard and stable area that had been left to the schoolyard as the town began to grow up around it. Betsy had spent some considerable time before they’d married turning the backyard into a lush garden area, and now they spent their evenings together sitting on the back porch that overlooked the yard simply absorbing the peace and enjoying one another’s company. Being newlyweds they were far more focused on one another than the world around them and were sitting in the swing together necking when a deep voice from the shadows disturbed their little paradise.
“Didn’t yer Mama teach ya any better manners than that, Boy? Sittin’ out here in dark makin’ out with a pretty young lady! Ya got some nerve!”
Abe eased Betsy from his lap and stood, pushing her behind himself. “You presume too much, sir, to come into our home and speak so. Now show yourself like a man or leave like the coward you are.”
The chuckling that came out of the shadows startled them and Abe held himself rigid, waiting for the man to step forward. When he did Abe went limp with relief, then threw himself down the stairs and into Malcolm’s arms with a shout of laughter.
They stood in the circle of light for a long moment laughing and shaking hands, spouting what amounted to nonsense at one another in their haste to reacquaint themselves with one another. Finally Abe took Malcolm by the arm and led him up the steps grinning broadly.
“Betsy dearest, allow me to present my long lost older brother Malcolm. Brother, this beautiful woman is my bride, Betsy.”
Betsy overcame her natural shyness, knowing from listening to Abe just how important the older man was in his life. “How do you do, Malcolm? Abe has told me so much about you.” She extended her hands, and he clasped them gently.
“I’m sorry if I startled you, Miss Betsy. I didn’t realize my little brother was an old married man.”
“It’s okay, Malcolm,” she said softly. “Welcome to the family. It’s good to have you home.”
“It’s very good to be here,” Malcolm replied, looking around in sincere appreciation. “It’s lovely.”
“Thank you. Won’t you come in?”
The language was very formal and somewhat stilted, but it was more the awkwardness of getting to know one another as opposed to mistrust or dislike. Abe decided to break the ice and wrapped an arm around Betsy’s shoulders and linking his other with Malcolm’s.
“Yeah, c’mon in. I wanna hear about your travels and we’ll have some coffee. Does Ma Sarah know you’re back?”
“Nope. I thought I’d stop by and see the doc first.”
Betsy moved ahead of the two men into the house to prepare coffee and cake. Malcolm, even through the bulk of muscle he still carried, seemed thinner than he should have been for a man his size. So while the coffee was heating, she fixed the older man a plate of supper and set it in front him before moving to stand beside Abe. Malcolm looked at the plate then smiled up at Abe. “Yer a very lucky man, Little Brother. Thank ya, Miss Betsy. Been a long time since I had home cookin’.”
There was a sadness in his eyes that made Abe reach out and cover his hand in comfort. “Well, we’re glad to have you home,” was what he said though the questions hovered on the tip of his tongue. “Are you gonna stick around a while?”
Malcolm chewed thoughtfully then swallowed before answering. “I think so. Time for me to settle down here.”
“Well,” Betsy’s soft voice spoke. “You are welcome to stay here with us for as long as you’d like to.”
Malcolm shook his head vehemently even as Abe agreed with his wife. “No, ma’am. You two are newlyweds. Ya don’t need an old bachelor hangin’ round. Don’t worry....” he added with a smile. “With this kinda cookin’, I’ll be over here a lot more than ya’ll will wanna see me.”
“Never happen, Brother. I especially know very well just how much I owe you.”
“Ya don’t owe me a damn thing, Abe,” ferociously. “Ya’ve earned everythin’ ya’ve ever gotten. Don’t belittle yer own efforts.”
“I wasn’t, Malcolm. But I know that you were a big part of my success and I want you to know I will always, always be indebted to you for giving me the chance to follow my dream.”
Malcolm sat quietly, tears in the corners of his eyes. He cleared his throat. “I’m glad ya made good on the opportunity, Abe. If ya’ll will excuse me for a minute....”
Malcolm rose from his seat and moved to the back porch so quickly it took Abe and Betsy a moment to catch up. Betsy turned in her husband’s arms and ran her hands through his thick, dark hair. “Go to him, Beloved,” she said. “He carries a heavy burden.”
Abe nuzzled her belly then looked into her dark eyes. “How do you know?”
Betsy put a finger on his nose and smiled sadly. “He has sad eyes. Now go on. He needs some time to talk to you alone, I think. I’ll bring fresh coffee out to ya’ll in a bit.”
Abe walked out onto the back porch, sitting down on the steps next to Malcolm without a word, waiting until Malcolm was ready to talk. Betsy never did find out what they talked about that night, but she knew there were tears involved. And when all was said and done, Malcolm walked back into the house with a lighter step and a genuine smile.
************
Malcolm settled back into town and many were the times he and Abe would sneak an hour or two to go fishing out back. He rejoined his father and Uncle Caleb in the family business and eventually took it over when Hiram decided he was ready to spend the rest of his days farming with Sarah.
Abe’s practice continued to grow and flourish, and he and Betsy had six beautiful healthy children. Malcolm took great pleasure in spoiling his nieces and nephews and it made folks talk. Most wondered why he didn’t settle down and have a brood of his own. I have my own suspicions on that account, but they will keep for another time.
It was good to see the strength of their friendship and to know that time and distance hadn’t diminished it. And it was better to know that when tragedy struck them both, they turned to each other and their friendship for comfort.
Humans are an interesting species. When Hiram died in a field accident, Malcolm comforted Abe who felt guilty for not having gotten there in time. When Sarah died in her sleep a few months later, both boys grieved the loss together.
They weren’t family born to each other, but in the end - when it counted - they were family of the best kind. And I was better for having known them both as were all who knew them. Without trying they changed minds and hearts and attitudes just a little and paved the way for better times to come.
It would take a while though because war was coming and it would tear the nation apart with its ugliness.
Part 3
