by Michael Ross
“All right,” said David. “We’ve been to a party. Franklin and Mabel here have to catch a steamboat, and we’ve come all the way from Red River. That’s our story if we’re stopped. Anthony?” David addressed the man in hiding, “you must stay hidden, and quiet. All our lives depend on it. Whatever you do, don’t panic.”
The wagon reversed, going north toward Paris. The horses moved at a surprisingly fast trot for nighttime. They moved through the pleasant summer night, seeing no one on the road until just before Paris. A lone horseman came out from the shadows, holding up a lantern, and bid them to halt.
David repeated their story. Franklin said something about pressing business from the Red River ironworks. The horseman looked curiously at the ladies but seemed almost bored, waving them on.
After a few minutes, they stopped at the back of the Methodist Church. Mabel and Franklin got down and stood guard. David moved boxes and extracted their passenger, ushering him into the church. Albinia didn’t see who received him.
On the way back to Lexington, David told her that the man Anthony had come all the way from Louisiana on his own, had been hiding out in the fields for months trying to make contact with the Railroad to cross over north.
They dropped her off with her costumes at the dress shop. Albinia found an empty trunk to stow the clothes in, changed back to her normal appearance, and walked to Katy’s house, letting herself in the back door. She would tell them she’d worked until nearly dawn, which was not far from the truth. She sank into bed, excited but bone weary.
✳ ✳ ✳
Julia got Will to drive her to town the next morning. She wanted to visit a church friend and do a little shopping. She was also curious about Albinia. Why was her sister staying in town so much? Goodness knows there was enough work to do on the farm.
She went to the dress shop, but the door was locked. Albinia was not there yet. She thought that odd. She went round to Katy’s house and found Albinia at table, just finishing breakfast.
“Julia! What brings you here?”
“And I might ask why you weren’t home, and nor at the shop, at nine in the morning?”
“I wasn’t aware I needed to report to you,” Albinia said crossly.
“Ma was expecting you. You really should send word if your plans change.”
“And you really shouldn’t be so bossy, meddling in everyone’s business. If Ma needs me, she knows how to tell me. Besides, the shop is flooded with work right now. I simply don’t have time to go back and forth every day. You know my wages help keep the farm afloat,” she said pointedly.
Julia sniffed. “All the same, you should let people know. I’ll be in town until noon, then Will is driving me home. His teacher is sick today, so no school. You’d be welcome to ride home with us.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll stay in town again tonight,” she said, with a glance at Katy. “Assuming that’s all right.”
“Always welcome here,” said Katy. “It’s so nice to have another girl to talk to. Unless you’ll be out late again.”
“Out late?” inquired Julia.
“Oh, just working at the shop late. I told you—there’s so much work right now.”
Julia eyed her sister suspiciously but said nothing.
✳ ✳ ✳
Julia looked around town, mostly window shopping. She bought a few grocery items for her mother and walked past the freight office toward the livery to meet Will. She almost bumped into Hiram Johannsen, who was leaving the freight office.
“Miss Crump! How delightful to see you again! May I carry those for you?” said Hiram, referring to the groceries in her arms.
Julia felt flustered but intrigued. Why did this gentle giant keep noticing her?
“Why, thank you, Mr. Johannsen. That would be most helpful. I’m just going to the livery to meet my brother.”
“If I may say so, your outfit is very becoming. Do you come to town often, Miss Crump?”
“Oh, usually once a week or so.”
“Then perhaps I will see you again. I’m in town for business. I often have to go up to the river, but our offices here in Lexington need frequent attention.”
He put her parcels in the wagon, tipped his hat, and left her to wait for Will. Julia felt flattered, but could not account for his attention. What could he see in a poor farm girl like her?
JOHN BROWN’S BODY
October 1859
Julia was on her hands and knees in the garden, harvesting pole beans and beets. She was wearing a patched slightly ragged work dress. Her hair flew in wisps in all directions as she worked. Her hands were muddy, caked with dirt. She heard Rustler barking, and assumed he was after a squirrel. As she worked, she mused about Hiram. Lately, he seemed to be everywhere when she went to town. He was at church, the general store, the livery. She wondered if this was coincidence or design. Was he really trying to see her?
Looking up, her father approached on the wagon. That must be what made Rustler bark. When he got down from the wagon, he walked toward her.
“Julia, I was in town, and this big fella came up to me, said he was a friend of yours. Some kinda foreigner, I reckon. Told me he’d met you at the Dorsey’s barn dance last spring. He handed me a letter for you. Anything I should know about?” Robert asked quizzically.
Julia was startled. She stood, absently wiping the mud from her hands onto the work dress. “No, Pa, I don’t think so. It must have been Hiram Johannsen. I’ve bumped into him a lot lately, in town. We did meet at the barn dance. His family is apparently a rich shipping family on the river, steamboats. He seems nice enough.”
“Guess you’d better take the letter, see what he says.”
Julia accepted the envelope and saw the formal address to Miss Julia Crump. She turned it over and broke the seal. Hands trembling a little, she opened it. Why would Hiram write to her, unless…. She began to read.
October 20, 1859
Dear Miss Crump,
I hope we have advanced far enough in our friendship that I may presume to write to you. I want you to know how fondly I think of you, and look forward to our meetings. Dare I hope that you feel the same? Your beauty and refined behavior have captured me. I often struggle to find words—English is still difficult for me. I very much want to spend more time with you. If you approve, I would like to speak to you and your father about calling on you. I apologize for this being so sudden, but I fear that the recent events in Harper’s Ferry will bring our country closer to war. I will join the home guard formed by the governor, and fight for the United States if need be. I love this country. I wish to be more certain of your affections, before war comes, and let you know of mine. I will speak to your father, and await your answer at church on Sunday. I hope to become the happiest of men.
Your servant and dear friend,
Hiram Johannsen
Julia was speechless. She turned pale, then red. What would her father think? What was he talking about, Harper’s Ferry? For that matter, what did she think herself?
“Well?” said Robert.
“I ... I ... Here—you read it.”
Robert scanned the unfamiliar hand, but had no trouble making out the text. “Looks like you got yerself a beau. If’n you want him, that is. Do you?”
“Yes. No—I don’t know! He’s a nice fellow, but I don’t know that much about him. What’s he talking about, events in Harper’s Ferry?”
“I’m surprised you didn’t hear—whole town’s talking about it. Got some folks pretty riled up. This fella John Brown, he tried to start a slave revolt up in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. He tried to capture a federal arsenal. Problem was, for him leastways, hardly any slaves joined the revolt. He got captured, gonna be on trial soon. Lotsa folks fearing the slaves will all revolt, kill them in their beds. Got the slavers and abolitionists at each other’s throats, more’n usual.”
“I’m sorry that happened, but I don’t see how that affects us.”
“Thing is, lotsa folks saying the Yankees g
onna come free the slaves, by force. The governor wants to be neutral. He’s forming a Home Guard, a militia, to defend the state. Sounds like Hiram aims to join. I plan to. Not gonna let a bunch of outsiders come in and have a war on my farm.”
“So you’d fight with the slavers?”
“Didn’t say that. I’m hoping no fighting comes at all. I agree with the governor, stay neutral. Hiram, he’s going with the Union. If it comes to it, likely I will too.”
“But Pa….”
“Don’t worry your head about it. Now, what about this beau?”
“He’s a gentleman. He’s rich. I always wanted to marry off the farm, you know that.”
“More to a husband than how much money he’s got. Sounds like he might be goin’ off to war. Can you handle that? And more important, do you think you could love him?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
“Well, then, I guess the question is, do you want to find out? I can ask around, find out about his family. That’s always important. Only you can decide if you want to spend time with him. Maybe even the rest of your life.”
Julia wrinkled her forehead in thought and prayer. “Yes, Pa, I believe I should try. I am twenty-one. Most girls are married by my age. I am no great beauty. We aren’t rich. If I turn down such a nice young man, I may not get another chance. In another few years, I will be a confirmed old maid. This way, I may yet have a chance at love and my dreams. Though I can’t say I understand why Hiram would be interested in me. There must be other girls of his social class prettier and more polished than me.”
Robert smiled. “Don’t sell yourself short, Julia. I’ve always thought you were destined for better things. You may just find love and a whole new life open in front of you.”
“But how can I possibly wait until Sunday? I’ll be a nervous wreck!”
✳ ✳ ✳
The following Sunday was rainy and windy. Julia fretted about getting her shoes muddy, or her dress. She agonized over fixing her hair—how should it look? What if Hiram did not come? What if he changed his mind?! Now that Julia had made up her mind to allow the courtship, she was deathly afraid of losing it. She looked in the tiny cracked hand mirror, trying to see more of herself in it. She was too fat, and too tan, she thought. She didn’t look like a refined lady. What should she do? What should she say? She’d never seen a play, and didn’t know a thing about acting. Maybe now was the time to try, though. Perhaps she could make Hiram believe she knew more of the refined social circles than she actually did. Now she wished she had accepted Lucy Clay’s invitation to attend their ball last year with her sister, instead of declining for lack of a decent dress.
Wrapped in a rain slicker, her shoes wrapped in feedbags, she sat on a wooden box in the back of the wagon with Albinia. Her pa sat in front, driving, with her mother beside him. Even after a few months, Will still had bouts of stomach flu. Today he was too ill to attend church. During these spells, Jenny came twice each week with Dr. Simpson. Seems she wasn’t the only one with beau prospects. Who would have thought it? Her little brother! As they jounced down the road to town, Julia tried to take her mind off the upcoming meeting with Hiram by analyzing her sister. Albinia was strange lately, detached. When Julia tried to talk to her about Hiram’s letter, Binia had just smiled and congratulated her. She exhibited no curiosity, and acted almost disinterested, far away. Julia wondered if she were disguising some secret beau. Albinia just sat there, almost limp, staring into the rain. Julia noticed that she looked tired and worn. They used to talk and laugh on the way to church. Perhaps she was imagining it. Maybe it was just the dreary weather. Drat the rain! Why did it have to be so awful on such an important day?
Julia sat in the pew with her parents and scanned the church for Hiram. He had to be there! Finally she spied him, up front on the left. He was too big to miss! But who was the woman with him? It was too far away to tell—Julia could only see the bonnet and the back of a dress. Uncertainty clawed at her. Surely he could not be sitting with another girl, on a day like today!
Julia went through the hymns, responses from the liturgy, and prayers with mechanical distraction. She just could not really pay attention to Reverend Breckinridge’s hour-long sermon. She strained so much to gain a glimpse of the woman seated next to Hiram that it earned her a reproving glance from her mother. She usually enjoyed the hymns, but today could not wait for the final amen. After it came, she was impatient with her mother, wanting her to wrap up her conversations so they could move out to the churchyard, where Hiram was sure to find her. The rain stopped.
Once outside, Julia tried to politely greet people, yet not engage anyone in conversation, lest Hiram fear approaching her. Finally, he was coming. Julia managed to signal her father to come over as well. At first, she was too short to see the person with Hiram, only that she too was coming. When they got closer, relief flooded her as she realized the woman with him must be an older relative. Julia sized her up, noticing her gray and blonde hair, blue eyes, and a few wrinkles, with a white bonnet. Her long gray dress with white collar seemed old-fashioned. She walked steadily, as though with hidden strength.
Hiram spoke first. “Good afternoon, Miss Crump. I trust you are well?”
Julia hesitated, getting herself under control, then said, “Yes, yes, Mr. Johannsen. I am quite well.”
“May I present my mother, Mrs. Kirsten Johannsen?”
Julia curtsied and offered her hand. “I’m delighted to meet you, Mrs. Johannsen. I did not know Mr. Johannsen had family here.”
“Pleased to meet you also,” offered Kirsten. “I have heard Hiram talk of nothing else lately. I’m just visiting, from Cincinnati.”
Hiram cleared his throat nervously. “Did ... did you receive my letter from earlier this week, Miss Crump?”
Robert chuckled as Julia blushed. “Indeed she did,” he answered for her.
Julia was flustered but managed, “Yes, Mr. Johannsen. I did. I must say it was a pleasant surprise. I’ve discussed it with my father.”
Hiram shuffled his feet and looked at Robert inquiringly.
Robert said, “I hope you won’t mind, Mrs. Johannsen, but I checked on your family. Seems you Johannsens have a solid reputation on the river. You’ve been in the country about twenty years?”
“Yes, that is right, Mr. Crump. We sailed to Philadelphia from Stockholm, after leaving our home in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1839. My husband could not come today due to business concerns. We have been fortunate to start a steamboat company, and have some modest success. My husband thinks the country will grow westward, and his company will grow with it. He sees a great future in steam.”
“Well, that’s mighty smart, ma’am. Your son here’s asked to keep company with my daughter. I see no reason why not. Though this trouble with the slaves may cause some problems. I hear Hiram is planning to join the militia?”
Hiram spoke up. “Yes, Mr. Crump. I love this country. In Sweden, we could barely hope to have a farm. But here, we have many opportunities. If there is war, I want to defend my country.”
Robert nodded. “I respect that, Mr. Johannsen. I plan to join the militia myself.”
Hiram beamed. “Then we are agreed?”
Robert chuckled. “Well, you just might want to take Julia into account. But as far as I’m concerned, yes, you two can keep company if you want.”
Hiram turned to Julia. “Miss Crump, I would be honored if you would consent to my courting you.”
Julia smiled. “And I would be honored to know you better, sir. I hope that we may spend many happy hours together.”
Kirsten added, “I shall be glad to know you better also, Miss Crump. Perhaps you will consider spending some part of the Christmas holidays with us in Cincinnati?”
Inwardly excited, Julia calmly responded, “With pleasure, Mrs. Johannsen.”
Julia thought Hiram looked as giddy as she was.
“Would you and your family join us at the hotel restaurant for lunch, Mr. Crump? It would b
e our pleasure to treat you, as a celebration.”
“Don’t see why not,” said Robert. “I’ll see if I can round up the other ladies.”
✳ ✳ ✳
Will recovered strength slowly after his bouts of stomach flu. In two weeks, he felt able to stand, walk, and drive the oxen again. His stomach stabilized. He ate constantly, voraciously. He dug into his schoolwork with renewed fervor, determined to catch up, particularly on the Greek grammar. He drove into town feeling the fall chill and beckoning winter as November began. He stopped at the livery and unhitched the oxen for the day. He spied the livery owner, who was also the blacksmith.
“Hey, George! Good to see you.”
“Will, good to see you up and around. I hear you’ve been poorly.”
“Ah, just a stomach thing. Doing well now. Heard you helped out my sister awhile back.”
“Sister? Which one?”
“Albinia of course. Julia hates riding with these oxen. Heard you fixed a shoe awhile back.”
“You musta heard wrong. But it’s been awhile ... let me see … Albinia was here, sure enough. But she just dropped off the oxen and picked ‘em up next morning. She and that feller she was with.”
“Joe Breckinridge?”
“Naw, wasn’t Joe. He picked ‘em up for her. But seems I recollect a different feller was with her the night before. Can’t remember everything. Too long ago. Whole town’s in an uproar over the John Brown revolt in Virginia. I hear they sent troops to put it down. Trial just finished, John Brown gonna get hisself hung.”
“Hmm. Well, anyway, thanks for lookin’ out for the oxen. I got to get to class. See you tonight.”
Will walked from the livery to class. He tried to conjugate his Greek verbs, but the conversation with the blacksmith kept intruding in his thoughts. The oxen had not thrown a shoe. He hadn’t been well enough to pursue it. But why would Albinia lie? Who was the other fellow?
