Once Upon A Time On A Plantation

By Nancy Rhyne

Set prior to the Civil War, these tales reveal the mysteries, legends, and dangers of plantation life in the Deep South. The stories center on the friendship of two twelve-year-old boys and were inspired by the actual events at South Carolina's grand Hampton Plantation.

A daring, mischievous boy, Cart is the son of the plantation owner and is anxious to become a man. His best friend, Will, is the son of slaves and lives in the caretaker's house on the plantation with his family.

Together with their puppy and pet deer, the boys set out to explore the plantation. Among their adventures, Cart and Will boldly protect a rice crop from hurricane damage, eagerly learn the mysterious powers of a beetle bracelet, and narrowly escape an alligator's jaws when their boat tips over. In this world of suspense and delight, the boys strengthen their friendship and acquire an understanding of plantation life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 30, 1988
• ISBN: 9781455609963

Book preview

THE ALLIGATOR

Why Do People call your papa 'King Robert'?" dark-skinned Will asked his friend, Cartrette Middleton.

Twelve-year-old Cartrette jabbed a thumb toward the mansion in a clearing in the trees. See that big house with the white columns?

And the big rooms? Will added.

Well, Papa owns that house, and this plantation, and lots of other things. And he has lots of land, some on the river and some on the Atlantic Ocean. People call him 'King Robert' because he owns such a big plantation. He's not a real king.

But you don't call him 'King Robert.' Will said.

No. He's Papa, Cart answered. 'King Robert' is a nickname. Papa's real name is Robert Middleton.

Well, your father has all of that stuff, Will answered, but my father doesn't have much of anything. How come you're my best friend?

Because I like you best of all the people here on Midcliffe plantation, Cart explained. And besides that, we were born the same year. We're the same age. Cart looked toward the forest and creek, trying to decide on something that would be exciting to do.

My mammy says you're white and I'm black and you might not like me forever and ever.

Cart turned back to Will. I'll always like you best of all. In my whole life I'll always like you best. Don't ever forget that.

I won't, Will answered.

Know what happened this morning? Cart asked.

What?

Well, that big black alligator in the creek, the animal we call Brute, ate up one of my mother's roosters. Boy, she's mad at Brute! She wants Papa to kill him, but I begged her not to have Brute killed.

Will thought about that. We couldn't have all that fun if they killed Brute. Do you think they'll really kill him?

I don't know. He ate a pig one night, and now my mother's rooster. He's not behaving as he should. That alligator's in trouble!

Let's go see if we can spot him, Will said.

I'll beat you to the creek, Cart answered, taking off in a run. Bijou, his dog, caught up with him and ran beside him. Come on, Bijou. Let's beat Will.

Will ran as fast as he could and finally caught up with Cart and Bijou. They raced neck-and-neck and arrived at the bluff overlooking Chapel Creek. Cart ruffled the hair on Bijou's head, and the dog's eyes, within pinkish rims, danced. He wagged his tail.

Will was breathing heavily from running so fast. Do you see Brute?

Cart eyed the black cypress water. Tree limbs were hanging over the water, and some cypress trees grew in the creek. It looked dark, although above the trees the sun was shining. I'm looking. Sometimes Brute is hard to see.

Just at that moment, Will saw the shiny, slick black spots that seemed to be floating on the water. There he is! Just under the surface. See his back?

That's him, Cart answered. He's sly. Just floating along, waiting. He doesn't know we can see him.

He looks like a log, Will said, "He must be trying to trick us into thinking his is a log. Will picked up a stick and threw it into the water. Brute! Get away from here!"

Don't do that! Cart scolded. My father said not ever to annoy an alligator or a wild hog. They'll sometimes come at you. They could eat you up!

Uh-oh, Will said. That stick didn't come close to Brute, and I'm glad.

It's getting late, Cart said. Almost suppertime. I'm going home. Come on, Bijou.

I've got to go home, too, Will answered. Will I see you tomorrow?

Sure. You see me every day. Come after breakfast, and I may have some good news.

Like what?

Papa said next year, when I'm thirteen, he's going to get me a gun. My mother is angry about that. She says I'm too young, but Papa says I have to learn the ways of the plantation and how to take care of myself.

Oh, boy! I hope you get a gun. We'll put the boat in the creek, and if anything starts to get us we'll shoot, Will exclaimed.

I don't know if Papa will get me a gun or not. I'm trying to talk him into it, although it's against my mother's wishes.

Will ran toward the caretaker's house, where he lived with his parents and baby sister. See you tomorrow, he called back. He looked forward to every day as there were so many wonderful things to do and places to explore on the plantation.

Sleep tight, Cart called. Bijou barked.

Cart and Bijou ran up to the white-columned porch where Mr. and Mrs. Middleton were sitting. They enjoyed sitting on the porch in May, when the cool air came in from the ocean and pushed the heat away. Cartrette, I know you must be ready for your supper, Mrs. Middleton said. And you too, Bijou. The dog ran over to her, and she patted his head. Let's go inside.

As Cart and his father took their seats at the dining room table, Mrs. Middleton took a small plate and filled it with meat and vegetables. Come on, Bijou, she said, leaving the room. Bijou ran at her heels, for he knew that she had his supper on the plate. And he knew his usual place to have his meals was in the pantry. Mrs. Middleton put the plate on the floor of the pantry, and Bijou began lapping the food.

Each night at supper, the Middletons ate leftovers from lunch, and their beverage was buttermilk. The grownups had coffee for breakfast and lunch, but everybody drank buttermilk at supper.

Cart turned up his glass of buttermilk and drank deeply, for he was thirsty and tired. When he put the glass back on the table, there was a white mustache on his upper lip. His mother motioned for him to remove it with a napkin. She passed to him a platter of sliced ham, a bowl of rice (they ate rice every day for rice was produced on the plantation), and tomatoes and cabbage.

Cart ate all that he desired, but before he was ready for dessert, Bijou had finished his meal and was standing by Cart's chair. The dog wagged his tail as he licked his lips.

Sit! Cart commanded.

The dog curled up near Cart's feet.

After a dessert of orange marmalade spread on thick slices of bread, Cart and Bijou went to the drawing room. Before long, Cart's eyes were heavy and he could hardly keep them open. Bijou was already asleep, on a rug near the hearth.

It's time for bed, you two, Mrs. Middleton said. Cart pulled himself up and yawned. Come on, Bijou, he said, sleepily. Mrs. Middleton walked with Cart and Bijou up the winding stairway, and when they reached the bedroom at the top of the stairs, Cart put on his pajamas and climbed into the tall tester bed. It was a high bed and had a canopy of lace, draping over the high posts. Bijou settled down on a rug on the floor. As always, Mrs. Middleton folded back a corner of the rug, and Bijou wiggled himself into the fold. Before Mrs. Middleton left the room, Cart and Bijou were sound asleep.

Back downstairs, she talked with her husband about some of the dangers of the plantation.

Cart's just a little boy, Robert. I think you should caution him not to go so close to Chapel Creek and the alligator. In fact, I think it's time to do away with Brute. We don't know which farm animal he'll eat next.

You know, Mr. Middleton answered, all plantations have a certain amount of danger. There are canebrake rattlesnakes, and some of the alligators walk up the bank of the creek and come rather close to the house. Evidence of that is that Brute came close enough to eat a rooster and pig. But I grew up here and learned early how to take care of myself. I think my son should do the same.

Well I don't want to hear any more talk of a gun, Mrs. Middleton snapped. Cart's too young and it's dangerous. Don't promise him a gun for his next birthday.

I had my own gun before I was his age. I want to teach Cart to draw a bead with his gun, and by the time he's sixteen, he'll bring down a deer with a set of antlers that will decorate the walls of our library.

All of this worries me, Mrs. Middleton said. Danger lurks everywhere on a remote plantation like this.

The plantation consisted of a large tract of land that extended from the Waccamaw River in South Carolina to the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the property was in marshland, where crabs, shrimp, oysters, and nearly every conceivable kind of shorebird lived. Then there were the forbidding woods. Huge oak trees, draped in Spanish moss, darkened the land on the brightest days. And there were the pine woods, where pine needles crackled under your feet when you walked. The cedar grove was eerie and dense. Wild hogs, turkeys, and herds of deer made their home in the forests.

Besides the forests, there were rivers and lagoons that were the haunts of dozens of huge alligators, and many species of snakes. One had to be constantly on the alert to keep away from ugly hazards. Yet, this land was the perfect place for boys to have a good time. There was never a shortage of places to explore, although Cart and Will had been cautioned to keep a safe distance from Brute and sometimes from the Old Wagon Road, if Mr. Middleton knew wild hogs were running there. Cart had also been told to stay away from that out-of-the-way chapel where a ghost rang the bell in the tower. But Cart and Will never saw the peril in playing in the woods or near the creek. They believed that Mrs. Middleton just got her dander up for no reason at all.

The next morning Will and Cart went back to Chapel Creek to see if they could spot Brute. They again had some free time to go off in search of adventure, although on certain days Cart studied with a tutor, a young man from Scotland who lived with his wife on the plantation. Will didn't study with them, but he listened as Cart tried to explain the lessons to him later. Will and the other blacks on the plantation regularly attended the Sunday religious service, where Cart's tutor would teach the catechism. The Middletons were members of an Episcopal church near Pawleys Island, but they sometimes came to these services too.

Today Cart and Will could play at the creek. When they reached