Second Daughter by Mildred Pitts; Walter Read Free Book Online

walked just behind Brom with her eyes down, looking not like the Bett who lately had been in control. But when Brom placed her hand in Josiah’s, she stood tall and the cloth on her head made her look regal. Brom placed an X for his signature and Bett placed an X for hers, and the contract was signed. Everybody cheered. She was now Bett Freeman.
    Josiah’s friends invited everyone to eat. There was so much food: venison, quail, and mutton. The table overflowed with apples, berries, cakes, and vegetables from Josiah’s garden and the wild greens that were to be found in many places. The master, John, Jane, and Mary shared the food. Soon afterward they left. I was glad that Hannah and her mother had not come. The two were very much alike.
    I was so excited I couldn’t eat. And I was also still worried. What would happen to me when Bett was not there to remind the mistress that kindness goes a long way? The drummers and musicians were playing and people were dancing and I was still not free of my fear. Bett came to me and said, “ Mijn zusje, why are you not happy for me?”
    â€œI am happy for you. I’m scared. What will happen to me? Will Mistress let me live with you?”
    â€œMistress will not let me live out here with my husband. I will be there every day. On Saturdays maybe I will leave when my work is done and return on Mondays in time to begin my day. You’ll be fine. Now eat and have a good time. This is my wedding day.”
    Everyone was singing and clapping their hands when considerable excitement burst forth as a medium-height, muscular, very black man came into the yard. He hugged Nance, and out of respect for the elderly said, “Yaaye, how good to see you.”
    â€œGrippy, how yuh ever git heah from so far?” she said as she hugged him to her bosom.
    â€œBy boat, by chair, but mostly by foot. But seeing you and my friend, Josiah, in the midst of this celebration makes it worth every mile walked. My friend”—he turned to Josiah—“introduce me to the bride.”
    â€œWho is he?” I asked Nance.
    â€œAgrippa Hull, a free man. His ma and pa wuz free. He works fuh a man who cares li’l for the po’, less for slaves, but gies Agrippa respec’ ’long wid pay.”
    The men were laughing at the jokes Agrippa immediately began to tell. “Yes, we went to hear Lemuel Haynes, this fine educated minister, at the church …”
    â€œWho is ‘we,’ Grippy?” one of them asked.
    â€œMy boss and I. Now, you know Lemuel is a mulatto. When it was all over, the boss asked, ‘Well, how’d you like the nigger preaching?’ I said, ‘Sir, he was half black and half white; I liked my half, how did you like yours?’” Everybody laughed.
    â€œWhat’s happening out there in the world?” With that question we all became quiet and attentive.
    â€œSome old, some new. The king’s men are really getting more riled up with these people around here not wanting to pay their taxes.”
    â€œThere are some angry farmers around here, too,” Josiah said.
    Grippy said, “In Boston, March fifth of this year, about fifty or sixty men, most of them sailors, were led by this brother of ours, Crispus Attucks, from Dock Square to the British garrison in King Street.”
    â€œAgainst the king?” one of the men asked.
    â€œYou could call it that,” Grippy answered. “They protested when the British attacked a young lad. The British fired on them, killing five. Crispus was the first to fall. Things have been boiling ever since. I’ll not be surprised if the Colonials go to war.”
    The questions and the conversation became more and more lively, the men arguing back and forth about the possibility of freedom and on whose side they would fight if there was a war.
    â€œI’d fight for the king against the masters,” Brom said.
    â€œFight for the king?”