THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. SARAH BOLTED FROM A DEEP sleep and shivered in the frigid cold of February. The loud rapping on the thin wooden door awakened her. Her feet stuck to the frost on the floor as she ran to the narrow window and pulled back the heavy canvas sheeting. She blinked hard at the sight of Colonel Septimus Black and wondered what he wanted with them at this early hour. She grabbed a stiff, blue dress, petticoat and apron from a hook and dressed quickly. After washing her face in a basin of icy water, she rolled her hair up with a long ribbon and tied a kerchief over it. She hurried to the kitchen where Grandmother was folding laundry.
Gossip about the single colonel poured through Birchtown like warm syrup. He had his admirers and, of course, his critics. Some said because of his refusal to stand up for the indentured servants when they sought his help in challenging the laws in Roseway that he sold out the Birchtowners. More than a few accused him of cheating them out of their rations. There were those who said he liked the young girls a little too much. Others thought him more of a peacock, strutting about, showing off because he was the newly named Birchtown magistrate and because he had a nice home and garden.
Grandmother insisted he was just getting his rightful due, not unlike white folks. She dismissed the bitter gossips, saying they should feel proud that one of their own was doing so well. As head of the Black Pioneer Company, the colonel helped find work for the skilled tradesmen — the caulkers, carpenters, rope-makers, sailmakers, boat builders, millers, shoemakers, tailors, gardeners, cooks and others — by supporting the proposals from the military and magistrates of Roseway to create work. He drew up petitions to get their land surveyed. He distributed food and clothing and often kept them from a whipping by sending petitions for compassion to the magistrates.
“Oh yes. These folks can pull you down quicker than a jackal can wrestle an antelope to the ground. Oh my, calling the poor man a traitor to his race, saying he be supporting the white folks, all for trying to raise himself and us up out of the squalor. Lord, they should look at themselves. The desperate riff raff would all steal a louse from a dog’s back, if no one be looking.” Not that Grandmother supported stealing, but she hated the gossip of sinners. She looked at him and flashed a kindly smile. After all, to sweeten the pie, he was single and book smart, just the young man for Sarah, in her estimation.
Colonel Black bit into a small flat piece of skillet cake served on one of the good plates. Sarah sat opposite, understanding she was to be seen and not heard. She had summed him up as cold hearted at the indentures’ meeting months earlier, but she liked the tea-brown skin, the freshly shaved face and the crisp Pioneer jacket that bore neither a stain nor a tear.
“So glad you come by, Mister,” Lydia said. “We don’t get much company out here.” Her face was all smiles and her voice was sweet butter.
“Why thank you, Ma’am. I heard the news about your son. I understand that they are holding him for the murder of Mr. MacLeod. Can this be true?”
“Yes, it is. I hope you know that Fortune did not kill Mr. MacLeod. He’s a good man.”
“He is that. As you know, he served in one of the units I commanded. He was a good soldier. I will use my influence, Ma’am, to petition the court on his behalf. I cannot promise that it will do any good, but I can try. Justice is a cruel master most of the time.”
“I hope my boy gets justice. That’s all I want.”
“It’s all we can hope for,” he said. He leaned back from the table and smiled. “I meant to come by earlier, to tell you folks about the new school.”
“New school?”
“Yes Ma’am. Our children need to be educated. So few of us can read and write. I believe an education can help us find our rightful place. The associates of the Late Dr. Thomas Bray, a Church of England charity, have provided us with a free school. As long as the aid comes, we can keep the school going.”
Sarah listened carefully to his moving words. They were soft and charming. He was a talker, just like the people said.
Lydia said, “I wish I had some learning. I got papers I would like to be able to read myself.”
“Well, Ma’am, there is not much I can do for you, but the children …”
The colonel watched Lydia move to the fire pit, wondering if the old woman understood what he was saying. She came with the teapot a second time.
“There is a lot of work ahead of us. The promises the British made to us must be honoured. There are laws here that need to be changed. We must demand to be equal citizens in this colony. The war is not over, Ma’am. It’s just that now we must arm ourselves with words instead of weapons.”
Goose bumps dotted Sarah’s arms. She knew what wanting to read had brought the slaves who dared to defy the law on the plantation. Was the colonel insane to suggest former slaves should get an education? Maybe folks would be too scared to consider such a thing. She shook her head. The very idea of going to school seemed unnatural.
“It sounds impossible, but this is not a dream. Mr. Winterbottom of the Bray Associates has assured me that they are determined to educate Negroes in America and the Bahamas. His members have been hard at work soliciting money and supplies. I am proud to say that we are now ready to begin this mission right here in Birchtown.”
Unable to hold her tongue, Sarah stood up and said, “It’s hard to believe we are to be encouraged to get an education.”
Colonel Black patted his mouth and continued, “You are not alone in thinking this, Sarah. It’s taken me some time to convince the community that this is a good thing.”
Lydia spoke up, “The old ways have a charm on us. Yes, they do.” She scratched her head, for she was thinking of how the past held a grip on her. “Mister, are you looking to see if Sarah can go to school?”
“The students must be aged five to eleven, so she does not qualify as a student. By the way, how old a girl is she?” He cast his steely eyes on Sarah, taking in the full length of her where she stood by the window.
“Seventeen,” Sarah answered softly, feeling uncomfortable when the colonel’s gaze lingered.
“Sarah didn’t get much schooling, Mister, only what her mama taught her.” Lydia paused before continuing. “But she’s a smart girl, just as quick as a whip. She can read a little and counts her numbers off. As for me, I can count to ten.”
“Well now,” the colonel said. “Perhaps, Sarah, you might assist me with instructing the younger children.”
“She’s indentured, but maybe we could work something out,” Lydia said.
“It would be a shame, Ma’am, for her to miss this chance to learn and grow.”
“Yes, yes. It would be a blessing.” Lydia laid back her head and chuckled as her chins rolled like waves. “More molasses cake and tea, Mister?”
“No thank you. I was not expecting cake in these hard times.”
Sarah smiled. What if education could make a difference? Being a servant held little promise for one so independent. She had not thought about teaching. It seemed like a good beginning.
Colonel Black said, “Education is a key. There is no telling what you can do once you learn to read and write. They are necessary tools.”
Sarah could not argue with that, but she was not thoroughly convinced. She said, “Do you think an education will make us full citizens of the colony, Colonel Black?”
“I can say that it allows me to have a better life than most. Being a Negro, well I am a long way from being equal. The law and attitudes limit me. That is why I fight for education. With education, we can fight against those things and hopefully it will bring about change. It has brought respect in some quarters and a steady income.” He looked down and his eyes squeezed together. “My position as an overseer has caused some in Birchtown to resent me. If the people backed me, I could do more.”
“Let them talk. This learning … it’s a good thing.”
When Sarah returned to the table, Colonel Black took her hand, and gently rolling his fingers around in hers, he said, “No need to worry, Sarah. You are right to be concerned about how this will affect our relationship with the white community. Sure people have fears and rightly so, but this is progress and some folks cannot handle change. They will fight back any way they can.”
Sarah slipped her hand from his. What Colonel Black said was beginning to make sense and her doubt softened.
“There is always an angry mob of men roaming about looking to destroy things and cause trouble. However, don’t forget to look at the kind folks who have no part in all the violence. Education is a good thing. The school will soon be ready.”
“Hallelujah. This place needs something besides another meeting house.”
“Yes, Ma’am. It’s a joyful day. Will you give your consent for Sarah to work with me?”
“I sure will. I never thought this day would come. The folks up in Glory must be rolling in their feather beds. Oh Lord, I cannot believe slaves will be getting learning with the white folks’ blessing.”
Colonel Black extended his hand to Lydia. He put his arms around Sarah and said, “I will see you in five days. There will be a small sum of money each month for your efforts.”
Grandmother stood at the window and watched as he drove away. “Look at that,” she grinned. “That mister. He has a new carriage and a shiny, black gelding. This learning, I know you’re afraid and so am I, but don’t you live your life bowing down, staying in the shadows, all bottled up, like I have. You go to that school and learn all you can.” She placed her hand on Sarah’s face and stroked it gently. “You be a bird. Soar high and as far as you can and I’ll be right here looking on.”