by Zina Abbott
“Aha! I knew there was a reason I always hold my bed over Christmas break, even when I leave to visit family. You can put her in the room next to mine, Mrs. Chilton, especially if she’s pretty. I’ll be back a week before classes start. I’ll be happy to show her around.”
“Mind your manners, James. I’ll allow none of that kind of talk, not even in jest. You, for one, ought to know I keep one downstairs room on the other side of the kitchen for up to two female students. Just as a reminder to you all since the last two ladies who roomed with me graduated last spring, none of my male renters are allowed in my kitchen or beyond. You know to use the front door only. The kitchen door leading to the garden area is strictly for my use and that of any women in residence who wish to take the air in peace. None of you have any business in the south yard of my property.”
“I was just teasing, Mrs. Chilton. I’ll show her proper respect when she comes.”
“I expect nothing less, James.” Drusilla raised her voice. “I expect nothing less of all of you.”
Avery watched her turn to face each of the four students in turn to make sure they all understood her.
Thomas Bennett, who rarely said anything at the table although his eye movements revealed he carefully listened to everything said, nodded.
James sighed dramatically. “Yes, ma’am. However, a man can’t help but hope a woman living within the same home as him is pleasing to look at. I’ve been at Oberlin long enough I’ve come to suspect some of these women come here intending to find a husband. Not that I want to be considered a candidate for the position, you understand.”
“Let us not speculate on that, gentlemen.” Mrs. Chilton spoke with an air of finality.
Avery agreed with his landlady that the student’s remarks were inappropriate, spoken at the supper table as they were. Privately, he agreed with much of what James said. He had heard enough talk from among the male professors to know many women not only went home with degrees, they also left college engaged to a fellow student. The natural science instructor married a student who was also one of the two female students to whom Mrs. Chilton referred. He knew Oberlin’s mission statement favored regarding women and minority students as being equal to, if not superior to, most of the male students in academic ability. However, like James, he also held the belief women students tended to marry either before they graduated or shortly after. The money and time spent on educating them for a higher-level profession ended up going to waste.
“Maybe she’s ugly and knows she better figure out a way to support herself by being a school teacher, or something.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Avery caught Mrs. Chilton’s glance directed Martin’s way. “Enough, Mr. Case! One more word and you may excuse yourself before dessert is served. A man who judges a woman by her appearance is severely lacking in character.”
“Where’s she from, Mrs. Chilton. Can you tell us that?”
Avery eyed Jonathon who had posed the question. Could he not wait until she arrived and ask her himself?
“I do not wish to discuss her. I’ll let her tell you about herself once she arrives. The only thing I will say since I’m sure you will figure it out by the way she speaks is she is from farther south—Missouri, in fact.”
Silence blanketed the room.
Martin leaned forward like he might rise from his chair. “She’s from a Southern state? Doesn’t she know what goes on around here? If her family owns slaves, she’ll never make it.” He sat back and mumbled as he turned his face away from Mrs. Chilton. “I’ll see to it.”
Avery heard the threat spoken softly even though he knew Martin did not intend for it to be heard. He had heard rumors Martin worked with the abolitionists at Oberlin who helped runaway slaves escape across Lake Erie to Canada. Out of consideration for his landlady, Avery spoke up in an effort to diffuse a situation that could turn volatile. “If I’m not mistaken, some of you have not yet taken your courses in the Constitution or American history of the Nineteenth Century. Missouri is a border state. Although it allows for slavery, there are many Missourians who do not favor slavery. There is no need to pass judgment until we learn her stand on the issue.”
Mrs. Chilton cleared her throat. “She also mentioned her family originally came from Pennsylvania, gentlemen. I suggest we think on that. She would not have applied to Oberlin unless she is comfortable with the idea of living in the north where there is no slavery. If you will excuse me, I’ll bring out our dessert and serve it.”
Avery rose and stepped behind Mrs. Chilton’s chair to help her scoot it back from the table. He resumed his seat only to hear Martin mutter under his breath.
“Unless they don’t allow women to attend college in the South.”
“Last I heard, Baylor in Texas enrolls women students.” The words were out before Avery realized he spoke. He should not have allowed Martin to get to him, no matter how much the hot-tempered eighteen-year-old had been an irritation to Avery since he rented his room from Mrs. Chilton.
More than ever, Avery wished he could move to a house of his own in January. This new female student from Missouri was bound to stir up contention at Mrs. Chilton’s place.
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Chapter 9
~o0o~
Boonville, Missouri – middle December, 1858
V irginia looked up from scattering chicken feed in the coop as, with a lantern in one hand and a stack of pulp newsprint in the other, Jefferson intercepted her.
“Here. Let me take that bucket. I’m returning the newspapers and journals you loaned to me to read. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
After exchanging the bucket for the papers, Virginia stepped to the side with the intention of walking past Jefferson and returning to the house. When he moved to block her, she stopped and waited patiently in the growing darkness of evening as her brother’s gaze bore into hers.
“Our mother’s maiden name was Wellington.”
“I know.”
“Your initials are V. A.”
Virginia smiled. “Last time I checked, yes, they are.”
“I read two articles by V. A. Wellington. That’s you. I’d like to say, I can’t believe it, but I can.” Jefferson shook his head in frustration. “You know, Virginia, if some of these good old boys here in Missouri—not to mention other states—ever found out who wrote those pieces—especially the one before last—your life would be forfeit. If they ever found out the author was a woman, and they learned it was you…”
“I know.”
“They would show you no mercy, if for no other reason than to make an example of you to warn other women.”
“That is why you must not say anything.”
And the publisher of this Heartland Monthly is willing to put a woman at risk by publishing articles that can be viewed as extremely controversial?”
“Mr. Porter, the publisher, does not know I am a woman. He believes I am a man. The irony is, Jefferson, I did not take sides with one region or the other in the article to which you refer. My stance is, it is wrong for both sides to move to Kansas for the sole purpose of manipulating the vote regarding whether to make it a free state or a slave state. That issue should be decided by those who move there because their primary motive is not political but to seek a better life for themselves and their families.”
“You know that is not how the men of this state who have strong feelings about preserving slavery will view it. Believe me, Sidney and I have found ourselves in uncomfortable situations more than once when confronted regarding our stand.”
“I know. It seems that it is human nature for people, once they develop a passionate belief in something, to lose much of their ability to reason. Tolerance of the views of others becomes the first casualty.”
Jefferson closed his eyes while he sucked in a deep breath. He opened them only to stare at Virginia with a forceful expression she recognized as one where he did not intend to a
llow for any dispute. “You are the one who will become a casualty, Virginia. I need to get you out of Missouri. There is no way I will leave you behind in either Boonville or Columbia and risk someone discovering you wrote those articles.”
“I appreciate your concern, Jefferson, but it is up to me.”
“I know, I know. You are of age. I am still your brother. I could not live with myself if you were seriously injured over this. We are going to town tomorrow so you can send a telegram to that college telling them you will start the winter term.” Jefferson paused as he looked off into the distance as if thinking.
“We? I will not have you ordering me around, Jefferson.”
Wearing a determined expression, Jefferson faced Virginia once more. “Yes, we.” I will not have you traveling that far by yourself, so don’t even argue with me about it. We need travel money. This isn’t the best time of year to sell cattle, but rather than feed our whole herd over the winter, I’ll tell Sidney we’ll sell a few head. I’ll tell him I need some of the money to see you to the college, but I won’t tell him why you are going at this time. I’ll also ask around about the best way to get you to Ohio this time of year.”
Virginia sighed in resignation. If she were honest with herself, she had not looked forward to traveling by herself. “I have that figured out.”
Jefferson grunted in resignation. “Of course, you do.”
“Jefferson, I already wrote the college and told them I am coming up there in January. I have been corresponding with a Mrs. Chilton about a room. I need to send her the required deposit and first month’s rent. I already planned to leave after Christmas.”
Jefferson shook his head in disbelief. “When were you planning to tell us? I thought you intended to stay here until next fall.”
“I did consider it. However, after thinking over everything you’ve said, I decided you were right about it being difficult for me to secure employment around here. I came to the conclusion the Midwest might be a more progressive place for a single woman to live and find work. After all, there are at least nine co-educational colleges in the north, predominantly in the Midwest. That tells me something.”
“I’m not sure that will mean you will have an easy time of it up there, Virginia. I like to think in many ways we have held onto our Pennsylvania roots. There is no denying, though, we sound like Missourians when we speak. Have you considered that?”
Virginia hesitated. No, that was one thing she had not considered. “I don’t think that will prove to be insurmountable. I must admit, it will be a relief if you truly are willing to escort me. I must withdraw my money from the bank in Columbia, and I did not look forward to transporting it that entire distance by myself. I planned to depart from there and take the steamboat up to St. Joseph. The railroad is supposed to reach that city by next year. We would not need to travel far by coach to reach a station and board a train.”
“We might find a better route without going up the river.”
Virginia reached up and fingered her locket. “I planned from the start to travel by way of St. Joseph, Jefferson. I understand there is a jeweler there. He deals in lockets. He’s originally from Bavaria. I plan to sell Mama’s locket and gold ring with the opal to help cover some of my expenses.”
Jefferson shook his head and spoke with an incredulous tone. “You plan to sell our mother’s locket? That was the one memento she left to you.”
“Yes, and I am grateful Papa honored her wishes and wrote it in his will so when she also passed, I received her jewelry. It’s not like I want to sell the locket.” She looked up until her gaze met his. “Perhaps…I don’t know if they even do this, but perhaps I can ask him to give me a little less than what the locket is worth in exchange for his agreement to hold it for a year without putting it up for sale. That might give me time to earn the money to buy it back. As for the ring, it is supposed to be quality gold. I hope he will give me a good price for it.”
“Why? Those are your heritage, Virginia.”
“You have just agreed to sell some cattle to help finance our travel. In addition, you plan to leave your family behind for weeks to escort me there. I cannot expect you to make all the sacrifices.”
“You are also my family, Virginia.”
Uncomfortable at hearing the tone of caring in her brother’s voice, Virginia blinked back tears. “I…I know that, Jefferson. I truly do appreciate all you have done by taking me in after Mama died.”
“Of course, Virginia. What kind of brother would I be if I hadn’t? Now, what about clothing? Do you have sufficient for the next year or two?”
Virginia suppressed a chuckle. Trust Jefferson to focus on the practical considerations. “Yes. I don’t have a great selection, but my wardrobe is adequate. Other than church, I do not plan to attend many social activities.”
“All right. That’s settled.” Jefferson expelled a breath of relief. “I’ll be the first to admit taking you back in the summer would make for easier traveling. However, I think it best to get you up north sooner rather than later. That way, too, I can focus on our move to Salina as soon as the weather allows. We have to vacate the farm and turn it over to the new owners the first of April, anyway, whether the rivers are in flood stage or not.”
“I appreciate you doing this, Jefferson.” Virginia felt a sense of relief when Jefferson smiled as he turned to walk towards the house. Although he now willingly planned to help her reach Oberlin so she could fulfill her dream of attending college, he could have been surly and disagreeable about the situation. Since he held the lantern, Virginia walked next to him to stay within the glow of light.
“How long have you been paid for writing your articles, Virginia?”
Virginia closed her eyes, reluctant to answer. “Since I was eighteen.”
“Then, you were not of age when you started.”
Virginia stopped and hung her head. If she must have this conversation—if she must admit to her unlawful behavior, she preferred to do so away from the house so the rest of the family could not overhear it. “I know as my court-appointed guardian, you had the legal right to all my earnings, to do with them as you chose. I’m sure you would have appreciated having the extra funds to invest in the farm. I hid my income from you for two reasons. First, I was afraid if you knew what I was doing, you would have forced me to stop.”
“You’re right about that. I would not have granted you permission. I am still trying to accept the reality a woman—my sister—wrote articles of that nature and was able to get them published. Women have enough to do at home without trying to invade the sphere of men like that.”
Virginia fought down her rising anger that even her own family would curtail her to what society deemed acceptable for women. Basically, women must limit themselves to home and family concerns and be subservient to men. “The other reason was because I knew it would take years for me to accumulate enough to be able to afford college. I could not face waiting until I was twenty-one to even begin being able to legally keep my own earnings. I would end up being a very old student—far older than the average person who enters college.”
“You have a very negative view of men, don’t you, Virginia?”
“I have an extremely negative view of the laws written by men regarding women, denying us so many legal rights.”
“The laws are written to protect women.”
Virginia responded with a rude snort. “That is the rhetoric. I believe the real reason constraints are placed on women is because men in power prefer to dominate and control. They use the laws devised by other men of like mind to do so. As for my views of men themselves, it depends on the individual man. Believe me, Brother. I hold nothing against you or Sidney. I know you would have considered receiving and choosing how to spend my earnings as your due because of the law and custom, not because you wished to steal from me.”
“Steal from you? Virginia, those laws were established to recognize that families must work together as a single unit…”
&nbs
p; A sharp edge to her voice, Virginia cut him off. “Yes, controlled by the father, husband or guardian without regard to the wishes of the women or children in their families. Do you think I do not know about Mr. McLaren who waits for his daughter on the days she collects her teacher’s pay so he can take it all to spend at the local tavern? And, what of his so-called united family? His wife and children stay home and go hungry for want of food.”
“That is the exception, Virginia.”
“It happens more often than you wish to admit. Sadie McLaren should be allowed to control her earnings. If nothing else, she could use her money to buy food for her family.”
“Sadie McLaren should get married and out from under her father’s control. If not, things will continue as they are.”
“No. Control shifts to the husband. She could no longer teach, because the school board would let her go. That would not help provide for the rest of her family.” Virginia drew a deep, calming breath. “I know as our family has grown, the demands on the farm has become greater. That is why I have always seen to it I contributed my fair share, or more, of the needed labor. That is another reason I decided to save towards being able to leave and remove the burden of my care from you.”
“I do not consider you a burden.”
“Still, I have been a dependent. You and Sidney have managed well, so I saw no need to turn over my earnings to support what is clearly your farm. As for my personal expenses…” Virginia paused with a sigh. “I know it was not right to expect you to pay for my things when I earn my own money. I dared not let you know about my writing, so I did not pay you before. I will now. I have kept track of my expenses.”
Jefferson mumbled. “Of course, you have.”
Virginia glanced at her brother to gauge his level of anger. Although he did not appear happy, neither was he furious. She forged ahead, wishing to get the matter settled. “Most of them I have covered using money earned cleaning and sewing clothes for Mrs. Smith before she died. Now that you know about my other income, I will reimburse you for the fabric for my dark blue gown, my new boots, supplies for Christmas gifts year before last, plus the possibles bag and the short-bladed knife you purchased in Bonner Springs for me.”
