The Emancipators

By Ellouise Smith

After a tragic boating accident kills the owners of a plantation in the post?Civil War South, their four-year-old daughter, Ellen, is left orphaned. At the reading of the will, black couple Will and Hannah, whose family has lived and worked on the Mitchell plantation for generations, are shocked to learn they have inherited the land and the trusted charge of raising Ellen. Will and Hannah are humbled by the trust the Mitchells had in them, but terrified of the future without their guidance.

Despite protests from white landowners, Will and Hannah raise Ellen to adulthood along with their own daughter, Bea. The two young girls grow up without noticing the difference in the color of their skin. They are like sisters-sharing dolls, making mud pies, and picking cotton with the field hands.

The girls' differences become more apparent as they reach maturity and their friendship is tested. But Ellen and Bea cling to the strength of Will and Hannah to see them through the trials and tribulations, eventually finding their own happiness through love, marriage, and family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 27, 2007
• ISBN: 9780595870257

Ellouise Smith

Ellouise Smith is the youngest of thirteen children. As a rancher?s wife, she raised her own two children. She is also a loving grandmother and great-grandmother. Her stories and oil paintings are largely inspired by her own childhood memories and her children?s childhoods. Smith resides in Caldwell, Texas.

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Copyright © 2007 by Ellouise Smith

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-0-595-42694-2 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-595-87025-7 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Preface

Like a stubborn mule, I must write whatever enters my mind. Hoping if some consider this controversial, then they will remember what most of us learned as a small child: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Chapter 1

To the middle aged couple the land was already a part of them before the inheritance. They still felt as though they were dreaming, that they would awaken soon. The two of them had been reared here while their parents were still slaves. Although, slavery wasn’t the way to describe the conditions under which their parents and later the two of them lived and worked. Their master had not driven them while they toiled in the fields. He condescended to join them in all phases of chores. Consequently, on occasions he would invite them to go along on outings as though they were guests. It was on one of these picnics that the tragic accident occurred. One beautiful clear spring day Mr. Charles Mitchell, his lovely wife Elizabeth and their four year old daughter Ellen climbed into the buckboard with Will driving. They were going down the river to go for a canoe ride and to spend the day just loafing. Will always put in a fishing line or two, but never had much luck. When he was lucky enough to catch one, he would dress it and cook it on the spot, which made delicious eating. Hannah had to stay home because she had earlier observed that hers and Will’s child had a slight temperature. She was so depressed because the child wanted to go so badly. Bea was Will and Hannah’s only child and she loved to play with Ellen Mitchell. They were so near the same age that they could always find some way to entertain themselves. They had never noticed the difference in the color of their skin.

Will, Hannah and Bea lived in quarters shadowed by the huge old plantation home where the Mitchells lived. There was no barrier or fence to separate the children. Hannah had the two underfoot all day in the big house as she went about her chores of cooking and cleaning. Hannah, Will and Elizabeth Stone Mitchell had grown up here just as Ellen and Bea were. Elizabeth had inherited the plantation after the demise of her parents. Hannah was a large, beautiful girl. She and Will had married at an early age.

Ellen was a friendly, free hearted child and shared her toys very generously with Bea. When she offered her prettiest doll to Bea to play with, Bea’s eyes lit up like a light. Bea’s Mama believed in discipline. She must ask permission before accepting anything from Ellen. So the two children grew up this way, practically in the same house.

It was late evening when Will came staggering into the house carrying little Ellen, limp and dripping wet, in his arms. He was making a moaning sound and praying simultaneously. Oh Lord, why didn’t I look up the riva sooner? God let Missy Ellen live. Hannah dropped the stick of wood that she had started to put in the cook stove. She had already started to bake pies for Mr. Mitchell’s supper. He loved fresh apple pies with thick cream from the top of the milk. The apples were just recently picked from the apple orchard the day before. The orchard was the pride of the family. It had been planted by Elizabeth’s father years ago. There was a variety of fruit trees with luscious fruit several times through the year. Everyone got their share of the harvest.

Will, Will what on earth has happened? He didn’t even know that she had spoken to him. He carried the child up the stairs still making guttural sounds and no sense at all to Hannah. She followed him and watched as he placed Ellen very gently in her bed. Then he sat down and sobbed and sobbed. Finally, when his tears had subsided, he opened his eyes and looked at Hannah blankly. They is dead, dead I tell you!

Will, what in the world do you mean?

Mr. Charles and Mrs. Elizabeth. Their boat turned over. He said pointing to Ellen, She’s all thas left. He grabbed his head and rocked back and forth. My Lord, my Lord why couldn’t I find them? Hannah wanted to go into hysterics too, but she knew that she had to be calm. She literally lifted Will out of the chair. Come now, let’s get a cup of coffee down in the kitchen and let Ellen sleep. She had already removed Ellen’s wet clothing and now she tucked the covers around her. She guided Will out of the room and down the stairs. He was like a blind man he was in such shock. Hannah poured him a cup of strong black coffee. She turned and raced back up the stairs to check on Ellen. She lifted Ellen’s head to place a pillow in a more comfortable position. As she did, Ellen’s lids fluttered open. Oh, it’s you Hannah. I had a bad dream. I dreamed that I was in a boat with Mommy and Daddy and all at once something banged underneath our boat. The boat tilted and rocked and finally turned over. Then you woke me. Hannah sat down close beside her and hugged her tightly. Now, she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They streamed down her face as she tried desperately to hide them. Hannah, there’s no need to cry. It was only a dream.

Oh, don’t worry your pretty little head about old Hannah crying ‘cause I cry all the time. Too, I been working fast this day. Goodbye now, you go back to sleep. Then when you wake again, Hannah will come back up to talk to you.

Ellen smiled sleepily as she shut her eyes. Hannah tiptoed out of the room. Once out of Ellen’s hearing, she went racing down to the kitchen to check on Will. He was still sitting and staring. She began talking very calmly to him. Will, did you say they went up the river? Now tell me what you can remember. Will looked at her like she wasn’t there. Will! Their boat turned over you said?

Huh, oh yeah! They went a long way up the riva so Missy could see the pretty flowers along the bank. I guess I must have dozed off sittin’ there hol-din’ my line. All of a sudden, I was wide awake like a scream woke me. I was all propped up there on a big tree root, just right to see up the riva when I opened my eyes. There was their boat bottom side up and Missy Ellen fastened to the side somehow. I guess by a sharp edge on the boat. Sometime her head was up and sometime down under the water. I couldn’t run the side of the riva ‘cause of the brush and briars. So, I jumped in and started swimmin’. I was so slow I thought Missy would drown before I could get to her. It was the good Lord’s work how the riva was bringing her to me real fast. As the boat swept by me I grabbed the end and pulled until I got hold of Missy. She was full of water and seemed like she would never breathe again. Guess it wasn’t as long as it seemed. Is she all right?

Yes, I put a pile of cover on to keep her warm. But, you better go change your clothes and fetch the doctor just to be sure.

Sure Hannah, right now. Why didn’t I do that before?

He quickly changed his clothing and went racing out to the barn. Being in such a rush, he didn’t take time to put a saddle on the horse. He jumped on the horse’s bare back and went racing down the road as fast as he could goad the horse by whipping him with the end of the bridle reins.

Hannah sat down at the table and began to think of the things to be done. How would Ellen take the bad news? How could she ever tell her that her mommy and daddy would never come back? As she sat there, her thoughts returned to years gone by when she herself had grown up here as Bea was growing up now. Hannah thought of how her mama used to scold her and Elizabeth in those days. Mama said they were always under foot.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ellen Mitchell, formerly Elizabeth Ellen Stone, was a well bred lady known to neighbors and friends as Beth. She was kind, gentle and understanding. Nothing seemed to perturb her, certainly not to provoke her to anger.

Hannah’s mother died when she was sixteen and by that time, she had learned most of the housekeeping duties. She stepped naturally into her mother’s position as housekeeper and cook. There were many problems for a young girl trying to run a household smoothly. Elizabeth was a year younger than Hannah. She often laughed with Hannah at her frustrations, never at her. She pitched in as though it were her duty when Hannah needed help. Hannah was grieving like one of her own family had perished. She made trip after trip to look in on Ellen. She would peek in the door to make sure she wouldn’t awaken there all alone.

When the doctor arrived, he went into the room as quietly as he could. He called softly, Ellen, Ellen, your old Doc is here, honey. Her eyes fluttered open. Oh, I am so tired, Doc. Why are you here?

I just came by to see my favorite Mitchell. You take this pill now and rest. I will be back tomorrow. Before she could answer, she had fallen asleep. Doc told Hannah not to worry, that she was exhausted and would soon be fine. She is young and you know the endurance of youth.

Once outside Ellen’s room, Doc took a long look at Will and then Hannah. Doc began, I’ve sent men to the river to recover the bodies. But, you two have a much more pressing problem. Ellen’s kin will have to be notified. Perhaps it would be best if they tell Ellen as soon as possible, about her parents I mean. Will and Hannah were looking at each other so questionably that he thought they had not understood. Both began shaking their heads. We don’t know any kinfolks Doc. Doc Jones looked perplexed and thoughtful.

Well in that case, some close friend.

Yes sir, Mr. Doc, they got lots of friends. When you gets back to town, would you please tell Mr. and Mrs. Bradley? We sure would appreciate it sir. If they could come out, we sure would be grateful, Will replied. We can pay you now, Doc, if you would like for us to.

No Will, I haven’t done much good I’m afraid. You and Hannah do the best that you can until morning. I’ll see you two again then.

Oh we will sir and you be careful driving back into town. Good night, sir.

Before morning, the yard was buzzing with neighborly voices. They spoke in quiet hushed tones for fear Ellen would wake up. They were people from near and far for the Mitchells were loved and respected by all that knew them.

The bodies were recovered and carried into town. The accident was investigated. The report stated that the boat had become ensnared in a roll of barbed wire that had somehow caused the boat to capsize. The couple had been caught in this entanglement. Ellen had been so light; they thought that she had been saved by being thrown clear as the boat went over. Her clothing was caught on the side of the boat.

Some of the neighbors left, while others stayed to be with the child when she would have to hear the sad news.

Oh, Hannah what will we do now? Who will raise Missy? Will asked Hannah through tears that were about to fall.

Will, I had been so wrapped up in thinking about telling her about her parents that I just hadn’t given that question a thought, replied Hannah.

For a long while the couple sat silent in thought. All at once, Hannah startled Will by blurting out, I’ve got it! I’ve got the answer!

What do you mean, Hannah?

The answer to our question. We can stay here just like we are and see that Missy Ellen is properly cared for, Hannah exalted. Her face had such a serene look that Will hesitated momentarily before answering her. She looked so relieved; he thought a while before pointing out to Hannah that it would never do. He said, Hannah, Hannah how you do carry on. You know perfectly well that white folks won’t allow us to do it.

So Hannah fell silent again, engrossed in her thoughts. Slowly each one arose and trudged off to their cabin behind the big house. All of a sudden, as if each had the same thought, they burst out of the house and up to Ellen’s room running like they were going to a fire. When they had reached the top of the stairs, they stopped and stood staring at each other. They had realized no one was in there except little Ellen. The friends were waiting there on the porch. Hannah said, Will, Bea is feeling better. Would you please make a pallet for her in the kitchen, so I can keep an eye on the both of them? I will sit right here on the stairs until Miss Ellen arouses. Only once did Ellen cry out and immediately Hannah was by her bedside. She patted Ellen gently until her sobbing had subsided. As they kept vigil throughout the long night, the one thought uppermost in their minds was the dreaded tomorrow when Ellen must learn the truth. And now that day had arrived. They were greatly relieved to see Mr. and Mrs. Bradley arrive early.

They walked slowly and quietly up to Ellen’s room, each fearful of having to tell her, not quite knowing how to break the awful news. How would she take it? They had no children of their own. Mrs. Bradley had always coddled Ellen like she was her own. Ellen loved the two in turn. As they walked into the room, Ellen stirred, opened her eyes and with a wild whoop of, Yea, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, threw back the covers. She rushed into Mrs. Bradley’s arms as she often did. Squeezing her tightly at first and then very slowly releasing her, she looked up in Mrs. Bradley’s face. They realize then that being far advanced for a four year old, she knew what had happened. She looked searchingly into Mrs. Bradley’s face and said, Mommy and Daddy aren’t coming back home, are they? Mrs. Bradley said, "No, Ellen they aren’t, darling, but thank