Slave Girl (14 page)

Monday (I hope)

Just when you get to thinking that times can’t get no worse, something else happens. The weather’s like that, too – fooled us into believing spring was almost
here, but it snowed again today, all day.

While I was dusting Mas’ Henley’s study, I come across a paper that say he was selling Spicy to a man named Mobile, Alabama. They are coming for her on Tuesday-week.

Spicy and Hince say they won’t be separated – rather be dead first. Talk like that makes a cold chill go up my back.

“What we gon’ do?” Spicy asked me, right pitiful-like. “You the one had the idea that saved Mr Harms. Can’t you think of a way to help me and Hince?”

There are abolitionists and conductors on the underground railroad who want to help us – but we aine got time to wait on them. This time, we got to do it ourselves. We got to make an
’scape plan.

Saturday

I was reading Spicy’s Bible when I turned to a page where somebody had written, “My baby girl was born on February 28, 1844.”

I showed it to Spicy. “Mama must’a wrote that in the Bible,” she say, touching the words with her fingers. “She could read and write like you, Clotee.”

“Like you, too, Spicy. You done learned how to write your name and lots of words. With a little more practicing you’ll be writing real good.”

“My mama wanted to name me Rose,” Spicy said.

I wrote in Spicy’s Bible, Spicy’s real name is Rose.

“Do you believe that everything in the Bible is true?” I asked. She nodded. “I wrote your real name in your Bible. The name your mama wanted you to be called. ROSE. From now on
you are Rose.”

Shortly after midnight, Sunday morning

There is a terrible thunderstorm raging outside. We had to call off the run. But we have to go no later than tomorrow.

Monday

I put my plan to work at first light. We dressed Spicy as a boy slave. I gave her a bundle. “It’s our quilt,” I told her. “You should keep it.” She
didn’t have time to fuss with me about it.

Hince looks so much like a white man, we dressed him in one of Mas’ Henley old suits I sneaked out of the attic. “I aine never had on a suit of clothes before,” he said. We
tucked Spicy’s Bible under his arm. “You look like a for-real preaching man,” said Aunt Tee, hugging them both and giving them a biscuit and water for a day.

Time to go. “You know what to do, now?”

Just as we planned, we slipped down to the barn, Hince mounted Big Can. Being very careful not to make a sound, I eased them through the woods, past the cemetery, toward the river. I had already
done my hugging and farewelling, so I just watched them ride downstream along the bank until they was out of sight.

I slipped back on the other side of the orchards, into the cabin where Aunt Tee and I sat holding each other until dawn. By then I had stopped trembling.

Tuesday

Hince and Spicy wasn’t missed until the Campbelles come for Hince on Monday. Mas’ Henley crashed into Aunt Tee’s cabin, wanting us to tell him where Hince and
Spicy had gone.

Aunt Tee stayed calm. “We don’t know a thing ’bout that. We all went to sleep together and when we woke up same as you, they was gone.”

“I don’t believe a word, you’re saying. I don’t trust any of you,” he shouted and carried on.

The Campbelles didn’t seem too upset. “We’ll take Canterbury’s Watch, then.” But when they went to get the horse it, too, was gone. Then the Campbelles say that
Mas’ Henley was trying to cheat them. They say they was gon’ take him to court.

Mas’ Henley went to talking fast. “I’ll pay you for your losses,” he said, adding, “and for whatever inconven – (whatever that big word was) I may have caused
you.”

“Cash,” said Silas Campbelle. “No marker.”

Long ’bout that time, the slavers come for Spicy. “The boy and gal have run away,” Mas’ Henley told them. He had to pay the slavers back their money for Spicy.

I was beside myself with joy – joy in the morning. Serves him good. William and Miz Lilly came out on the porch. People from the Quarters were also gathering to see what was going on. Miz
Lilly swooned, but nobody bothered to catch her when she fainted.

Mas’ Henley and Waith set out to find Spicy and Hince but they are long gone. I was as happy as Daniel and David all in one.

Next day

I studied the sun today. It’s different. I feel that winter is almost over. We will have more cold days, but the bitter times are over. We’ve made it through –
in more ways than one.

Next day

Mas’ Henley come back after a search saying he had found and killed both Spicy and Hince. He showed no proof. Besides, where was Big Can? If he’d really caught them,
he’d have brought back the horse, for sure. I don’t believe him. I won’t believe him. Spicy and Hince made it. If they hadn’t, I’d feel it.

Day later

The Dark of the Moon is coming. It will be time for me to make my run to freedom. I should be happy. I’m an abolitionist and I want to end slavery. I can’t do that
being a slave on a plantation. Can I?

Later

Mr Harms says there’s no conductor on the Underground Railroad here at Belmont. If this station closes, what will happen to the runaways coming through here? Some might
get caught. Some might get drowned like Rufus, Aggie, Wook and Baby Noah. But if they had somebody here to help them – to show them the way…

Later

This station can’t close.

Dark of the moon

A moonless night is scary, ’specially in the woods when it’s cloudy.

I sang the Underground Railroad song – the one Mr Harms said to signal him with.

Mr Harms met me as planned, rising up out of the darkness like a ghost. I felt better when I saw the runaways huddled together, fearing what was behind, fearing what was in
front of them.

“Spicy and Hince aine going,” I say, telling him how I’d helped them to get away.

“I’ve heard ’bout their getaway.” Mr Harms already knew about it?

“Have you heard if they safe?” My heart was pounding from wondering and worrying. I rather know a bad thing than to not know it.

“Our conductors tell me Spicy and Hince are in northern waters on their way to Canada. Where’d you come up with such a good idea?” he asked, smiling.

It seemed easy enough to me. Hince passed as a white man, travelling with his slave. When they got to Richmond, Hince sold Canterbury’s Watch – to a kind man who will give Can a good
home. I had made out the papers to show the horse had been sold to Hince Henley, a cousin of Mas’ Henley’s. I’d copied his signature, too.

Hince used the money to buy tickets on the first steamship heading north, just like I told him.

“Some of our people who were on the boat said Hince had won a large amount of money gambling with a group of wealthy young men who found him quite charming.” I can just see him now,
teasing, smiling. They never suspected he was a runaway slave.

“Now it’s time to get you out of here, Clotee,” said Mr Harms.

“Have you found a person to be the conductor here at Belmont?”

“No we haven’t.”

“I’m not going with you, now. I want to stay here and be a conductor on the Underground Railroad at this station.”

Next night

I didn’t sleep last night and when I did it was fitful. Had I done the right thing? I kept seeing Mama’s face. She was smiling and that made me feel better.

Mr Harms made me promise to meet him at the river again tonight. I did.

“It is too dangerous for you to be a conductor,” said Mr Harms. “You’re just a child.”

“I’m young, sir, all due respect, but I’m not a child,” I told him. “I’m an abolitionist. And I’m needed. Anyway, it was my idea that saved you from the
sheriff. It was my plan that got Spicy and Hince away. I can do it.”

“Oh, I have no doubt that you’re up to the job,” said Mr Harms. “You are a remarkable young lady, and I’m proud of you. But don’t you want to be
free?”

I had talked this over with myself long and hard, so I knew what I felt. “Yes sir, I want to be free. But most of all I want slavery to end for everybody. I read in one of your papers that
it’s not right for anybody to be slaves. So, that’s why I want to stay – to make an end to slavery.”

Mr Harms looked surprised and pleased. “You have a better understanding of freedom than most people do,” said Mr Harms. It was my time to look surprised. “Freedom is about
making choices and learning from them,” he said. “You’ve made the choice to stay here. The conductor’s job is yours as long as you want it. But remember,” he added,
“the first sign of trouble you must get out of here. Promise?” I promised.

April 1860

I haven’t written in a long time … one month, maybe. Since I’m not in the Big House, it’s hard for me to get paper to add to my diary. But I can scratch
in the dirt, and I do. Practising and teaching others.

William is going off to school in Missouri, and Miz Lilly is trying to die, because it aine Overton. I got a feeling that boy was really ’fected by Mr Harms, more than anybody will ever
know – other than me. Who knows, William might end up being an abolitionist. Now wouldn’t that take the cake?

Mas’ Henley finally got tired of eating Eva Mae’s bad cooking. He sent her back to the fields, then brought in a new cook from New Orleans. Uses lots of peppers. Nobody will ever be
as good as Aunt Tee at cooking fried chicken and whipped potatoes. And he knows it.

Miz Lilly has made Missy her pet. Missy don’t speak and never comes to the Quarters not even to see her mama. Missy wears all kinds of pretty dresses but she can’t be too happy
– not living under Miz Lilly day after day.

Aunt Tee is busy all the time – picking wild greens, making potions, birthing babies – and helping me make plans for runaways. A group will be passing through Belmont in a few
days.

Full moon, April, 1860

Aunt Tee sang the signal –

A group of three runaways found their way to the Belmont station tonight. One of them was a girl about ten. She was so scared. I pressed Little Bit in her hand. “She will
keep you company,” I said. The girl managed a weak smile. I had their passes written. Aunt Tee had their food and water ready.

Soon, a man dressed in black rowed up to the bank, making not a splash with his oars. “Come quickly.” He was my partner, but we’d never talked or seen each other. Safer that
way. He sounded like a foreigner. “See you next time,” he said. I never saw his face. Quickly and quietly the runaways got in the boat and rowed away. I don’t think I took a
breath until they were out of sight.

Sitting here next to Aunt Tee in the cabin I feel good about staying for now. One day I’ll see the Philadelphia, the New York and the Boston. Maybe I’ll make my own run for freedom
next year – or maybe the next. Until then I have plenty of work to do.

Next day

I have just enough paper and berry ink to write one more time.

The morning bell will ring soon and I’ll have to go to the fields. There’s time to write a few words. I have decided to begin with F-R-E-E-D-O-M. Freedom. I let the memory pictures
take shape in my mind. Mr Harms is safe and able to go on with his work. Hince and Spicy are free and together. I remembered the little girl I’d helped the night before and I smiled. My doll
Little Bit would be free before me. Freedom. I remembered what Mr Harms had said about choices. I looked at the letters more closely. For the first time freedom showed me a clear picture.

A picture of me.

Into March

We are turning the ground for the new crop – back-breaking work. I’m not as afraid as I once was. I don’t let my fear stop me from my work. I’ve started
teaching a few trusted slaves to write. It’s scary, because I know if they are ever really put to a hard test, they will probably turn me in. But I can’t worry about that now. If I
don’t teach them, who will?

Miz Lilly has put me in the fields. I’m happy here, because I’m making more and more choices. I see why Spicy wanted to be out here, away from Miz Lilly and Mas’ Henley who are
mean as ever. So is Waith.

Since Spicy and Hince ran away, Waith’s been very hard on us. We try not to give him reasons to beat us, but he still finds them. When it’s time for me to teach school or when
it’s time for a runaway, we know how to handle Waith. See, he took a liking to Aunt Tee’s root tea, so we just put a little sleeping herb in Waith’s tea. He never knows the
difference.

Sunday

Without us even noticing it, spring has pushed up everywhere. Easter came and went. We will celebrate Aunt Tee’s birthday.

The orchards bloomed weeks ago. No late frost got them, so we’ll have a good crop of apples this year. Uncle Heb’s garden is in bloom. Mas’ Henley finally realized how much
work it takes to keep Belmont grounds looking beautiful.

During the summer of 1939, when Clotee Henley was 92 years old, she was interviewed by Lucille Avery, a student at Fisk University, which is in Nashville, Tennessee. Miss
Avery, along with many other writers, had been hired by the government to visit aging slaves and record their stories. Clotee’s story first appeared in the
Virginia Chronicle
, summer
1940.

Miss Avery visited Clotee at her home in Hampton, Virginia. And for over two months, Clotee shared her diaries, photos and papers. From Miss Avery’s research, we know that Clotee served as
a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping over 150 slaves get to freedom, and as a spy for the Union Army from 1862 – 1865. She was awarded a commendation by General Ulysses S Grant
for her valour.

During the war however, life at Belmont changed forever. Briley Waith was at Fort Sumter with Edmund Ruffin, Sr, who fired the first shot. Mas’ Henley lost an arm at the battle of
Fredericksburg, and Miz Lilly went mad when Yankees camped on Belmont grounds and turned the Big House into a Union hospital. Aunt Tee used all her knowledge of roots and herbs to save the lives of
soldiers, even when army doctors snickered and called it voodoo. They stopped laughing when she saved more lives than they did. Sadly, Aunt Tee died of cholera on Christmas Day 1864, months before
the war ended. She was buried beside Uncle Heb in the plantation cemetery. When Missy’s mama died, she ran off and later married a Buffalo Soldier out West.