Spake As a Dragon

by Larry Edward Hunt

  ANOTHER TREE

  William you know what today is, don’t you?” Asked Malinda to her son, “I remember what you and Thomas Henry did this time last year.”

  “Ah, Mother, Christmas Eve, I thought you would have forgotten about us using Blaze to drag in the Christmas tree,” William said shaking his head.

  “Well, mothers seldom forget what their errant sons do, young man, but it’s time once again to get the tree; however, this year since you taught Thomas Henry the wrong way to get the tree last year, I thought you and he could take Blaze and go find us another one that we can put up tonight. You think you and Thomas Henry can do that?”

  “Oh yes Mother, me and Tom Henry...”

  “Thomas Henry and I...” Corrected Malinda.

  “Right, Tom Henry and I have already spied the most wonderful tree. We know exactly where it is and we’ll have it back here in no time. Come on Tom Henry; go get the axe, rope and Blaze, it’s Christmas Eve!

  CHRISTMAS 1865

  “The tree is beautiful boys, you were correct it is the perfect tree. Now everyone join in and let’s get it decorated.”

  Standing back to admire the finished Christmas tree Malinda said almost as thought she were speaking a thought out loud, “I was hoping last Christmas that this year we would all be together as a family once again, but alas, it is not going to happen. At least the War is finally over and thousands of other families got their loved ones home.” Turning to all those assembled she added, “Children, I am sorry since this is another Christmas without presents. It makes me as sad as I know it does you. You used to look forward to this season with all the gifts.”

  Mattie Ann, standing in the back says, “Mother, play the Christmas carols once again – that is present enough.”

  Malinda begins to play:

  “Hark

  the herald angels sing,

  Glory to the newborn King!

  Peace on earth and mercy mild

  God and sinners reconciled.

  Joyful, all ye nations rise

  Join the triumph of the skies

  With the angelic host proclaim:

  "Christ is born in Bethlehem."

  Hark! The herald angels sing

  "Glory to the newborn King!"

  Turning around to face her family Malinda says, “Children I hope and pray times will get better.”

  “Mother,” says Mattie Ann, “We know times are hard and we do not need Christmas presents, but the whole family worked hard to get you a present,” saying this she handed the present to her mother.

  “What! You children had no money, what in the world have you all done!” Opening the wrappings she sees a hand embroidered sampler that she reads aloud:

  She is a wise woman who does not grieve for the things, which she has not, but rejoices for those, which she has had:

  THE SCARBURG FAMILY

  Robert Steven, Little Paul, Cecelia and Lester, Luke and Catherine, Matthew and Kim, Margaret, William, Isaac, Stephen, Thomas Henry, Mattie Ann, Elizabeth,

  Isaac and Linda Lou, Sary, Jed and Jefferson

  Christmas

  In the year of our Lord One Thousand Eighteen Sixty-Five

  The tears were flowing from Malinda’s eyes she did not even attempt to suppress them. They were tears of joy. Joy that she had such a wonderful family. Finally, she says, “ How? How did you all do this – it is beautiful.”

  “Well,” said Mattie Ann, “me and Lizzie did most of the needlework and the boys made the frame. Of course, Ora Lee got the thread and Sary got the needles, everyone worked on it when you were not around.”

  “I do believe this is the best Christmas present I have ever received.”

  “Hey,” said Lizzie, “Look outside, it is beginning to snow!”

  The rest of the evening they sang carols ate popcorn balls made with sorghum syrup and drank hot sassafras tea. If only Robert had been there to celebrate with them.

  THE KNOCK

  During the night the snow had continued to fall, by morning the ground was covered with at least eight inches and the wind was howling around the eves of the house. Sary was already up putting the finishing touches on the Christmas turkey before sticking it into the oven. She peeked out the kitchen window and watched the wind whipping the snow around. ‘My,’ she thought, ‘glad I’m not out in this here blizzard.’ She could hear the door flapping on the hayloft at the barn. ‘Got’s to git them boys to go fetch them pups and brang’em up here to this warm fire.’ She had already chunked up the fire in the sitting room and old Kentucky Lead had found himself a nice toasty spot lying nearby.

  It was approaching daylight on Christmas day everyone but Sary was still asleep snuggled up warmly in his or her bed.

  Thump! Thump! Thump! Someone was pounding on the front door. Sleep still in his eyes; Sam, who had been sleeping on a pallet by the fire, goes to see who could be making this confounded noise so early in the morning. Standing on the porch was Jethro, the foreman at Scarburg Mill.

  “Sorry to wake you so early Mr. Sam, but this here feller comes ridin’ through this morning and he says to me, sez he, ‘ you know any folks hereabouts named Scarburg?’ I sez to him, “I shore do,” and he gives me this here. Sez he, ‘get this to them right away.’” Jethro sticks out his hand, which contains a paper that appears to be a letter.

  Sam takes the letter, invites Jethro in to get warm, but Jethro says he must return home to his family, it is after all Christmas day he says.

  Sam shuts the door walks over close to the fireplace throws another log on and turns the letter over. It is addressed to:

  Mrs. Malinda Scarburg

  Scarlettsville, South Carolina

  Running up the stairs, he bursts into Malinda’s bedroom, yelling, “Mizz Malinda! Mizz Malinda! There’s a letter for you.”

  Still half asleep she answers, “What Sam? A letter you say, well bring it here.”

  Malinda tears the seal from the letter and begins to read, she places her hand to her mouth as she continues, “Oh no! This cannot be true, surely it cannot be!”

  By now the rest of the household is awake and standing in the bedroom as Malinda reads the letter. William is the first to speak, “What is it Mother, bad news? Who could be writing you a letter?”

  “Listen everyone, this letter is from your Father. Well, actually it is from a gentleman named Dr. William Mayo who lives in Rochester, Minnesota. He states in this letter that Robert was alive in March of this year and was in a prisoner of war camp at a place called Point Lookout, Maryland.

  Mr. Mayo says he was a Captain with the Union army and knew Robert and they had become friends. The Captain left Point Lookout in late March and believed Robert was going to be exchanged fairly soon thereafter. He says he remembered Robert talking of Scarlettsville and the Scarburg Mill and thought maybe some of Robert’s family still lived nearby, so he posted this letter to Scarlettsville in the hope we would receive it.

  He goes ahead and says if Robert got released he would have been taken by boat up the James River to a place called City Point, Virginia. He said City Point was a large Union supply depot during the War, and they maintained a big hospital there. The hospital cared for both Union and Confederates. He says Robert was in pretty bad shape in March and this Doctor is just hoping he made it to City Point’s hospital. He thinks it will take the Union a while to move the supplies from the docks and warehouses at City Point and many of the wounded would not be able to be moved very soon either.

  If Robert has not returned home, he thinks there is a chance that Robert could still be alive and possibly could be in that hospital! He finally ends with a sad note saying for me not to get my hopes up too much, it could be in all likelihood that Robert never made it to City Point and if he did they might not have been able to save him. Doctor Mayo said the last time he spoke to Robert before leaving Point Lookout, Robert had asked him to promise that he would write me and tell us where he was. The doctor just wanted me to know he had kept his promis
e and he knew we wanted to know what had happened to Robert.”

  Turning the letter over to its front Malinda said, “This is splendid information, isn’t it? But there is some bad news - this letter was posted nearly four months ago!”

  For a moment complete silence envelops the room – is was as if no one dared to breathe finally little Lizzie speaks, “Mama does this mean my Papa is coming home?”

  “Baby,” said Malinda, “I don’t know for sure, but maybe!”

  “Mama, when I say my prayers at night I ask God to let Papa come home, and Mama Sary says Gods answers our prayers.”

  Malinda looked at her baby girl and thought, ‘the mind of a child is full of bliss, and the reality of this old world is foreign. She will never give up hope, and I can’t bear to tell her the truth that her Father is probably never coming home.’

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  CHANGE OF PLANS

  Everyone gathered in the parlor.

  William, Isaac, Stephen and Tom Henry had trudged through the blizzard to the barn. Sary had given them some sage advice as they were putting on their coats, “Now boys y’alls be real careful, this blizzard is a mighty one. Y’all stick close to one another.” To the boys this wasn’t dangerous it was a grand adventure. After a round or two of snowball fights and throwing Tom Henry into the biggest snow drift they could find, they returned covered from head to foot in the snow but with all of Kentucky Lead’s pups.

  Christmas had almost been forgotten, except for the smell of the turkey gobbler Sary had roasting in the oven, as Malinda began to talk, everyone formed a circle around her, “Now the plan of yesterday, as you now know, has been changed. Sam, you and Nate cannot leave Monday and go to find the gold in Kentucky. Our first priority must be Robert and City Point, Virginia. I believe, in all my heart he is still alive and we must go to him.”

  “What about Matthew and the soldiers false legs?” Asked William.

  “All in due time William, right now I need something too, a husband and a father to all you children. Once we find Robert the

  creek of gold will still be there and we can pan the gold for Matthew and Mark.”

  “Mother, may I have a say?” Asked William.

  “Of course son, everyone speaks their minds, we are a family and that includes you too Sary.”

  “All right, here is my suggestion – let me and Sam return to Kentuck. He knows where the gold creek is located. We will pan a couple of bags of gold and go on up to Pennsylvania to help out Matthew and Mr. Holmes. Luke, you and Nate take the wagon to that hospital in Virginia. Isaac has been helping Sam at the Mill, so he and Stephen can take over there. Mother you Sary, Catherine and Ora Lee stay here and keep the rest of the family safe. We will all be fine, Sam and I know how to use the Colts and Henrys, and we can carry the pass that President Davis gave Luke just in case we happen upon some Rebs that believe the War is still going on.”

  “No, William you and Sam are too young to be going that far alone. It is not safe.”

  “Mother, since this War started there is no one young anymore. Youth disappeared with that first cannon shot at Fort Sumter in April of ’61. This War has made us much older than our years, Sam and I will be fine, I’m telling you.”

  Sary speaks up, “I’m agin it! Don’t none of y’all leave this place. Mr. Robert will come home if he is alive, if he ain’t then y’all haulin’ yer selves all the way up there will be fer naught. I sez jest let it play out and we will see what happens. We is all safe livin’ here.”

  “You make the most reasonable sense Sary, but this isn’t the time to be reasonable. You’re right William – you and Sam head out just as soon as the snow melts, and Luke you and Nate take the wagon and start to Virginia. One way or the other we must find out about your father.”

  Luke answers, “We will Mother, but Nate and I can make considerable more time on horseback than with the wagon. If we find Father and he is unable to ride, I’ll figure something out at that time.” Looking at Sary, “You think your bird might be about ready to eat?”

  “Yes sir, Mr. Luke I’m shore that old gobbler is ready for this Christmas dinner,” with a far away look as though she remembered Christmases past she adds, “This Christmas of... 1865.”

  BACK TO KENTUCKY

  It has taken the snow almost a week to melt, but now mounted on their horses in the front yard are William, Sam, Luke and Nate.

  The rest of the family stands on the front porch as Malinda says, “You know I don’t have to say it, but I will – you all be safe and come back home to us.”

  “Good-bye Mother,” said William, “We are taking Kentucky Lead with us, I believe he would like to see his home once again too.” He and Sam spur their horses and begin their ride back to the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky.

  Reaching down from his horse Luke holds Catherine’s face in his hands and gives her one last kiss. “You and Mother take care of the family, I will come back! Always remember, I love you.” Riding out of the yard Nate and Luke turns one last time and wave their hats as they ride out of sight.

  Luke and Nate are about three days riding north when sitting around a roaring campfire Luke asks, “Darn, if it isn’t about as cold as I have seen in quite a while, you doing okay Nate?”

  “Nah, I mean yeah, I’m okay Luke, I’m jezt sittin’ here thanking ‘bout my place in North Carolinny. How fer is it once we gets into that state?”

  “Well,” says Luke, “we should be crossing the line into North Carolina sometime tomorrow, your farm is about a two-day ride to the east. Why? You thinking you might want to go see your old place?”

  “Yeah, Luke that’s what I been thanking.”

  “I’ll tell you what Nate, that’s about a four or five day detour, two going and two coming back, but I’ll promise you this Nate, whether we find Father or not on the way back we’re going to ride over to your place and check it out, what do you think?”

  “Thanks, Luke, that makes me feel a lot better. I know there ain’t nothin’ there now, but I’d like to see fer myself. I’d like to see that Elsa and Nate Junior got a proper burial place.”

  “Not to worry Nate, I totally understand – we’ll go find your place on the way back. We will make sure they have been put away nicely.”

  This same night almost two hundred miles due west William and Sam had made camp for the night on the banks of the Tennessee River. They had left South Carolina, made their way through the Smokey Mountains and were now on the outskirts of Knoxville, Tennessee. In a few more days, they should be in the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky. So far, the trip had been un-eventful, which was most desirable for the two of them.

  Four days later Sam said to William, “William look yonder, off to the northwest see that blue smoke – that ain’t smoke William thems the Cumberlands. We’ll be at the farm tomorrow or no later than the next for sure. I hope the farmhouse is still there.”

  Sam was right. Late in the afternoon of the second day they arrived at the gate leading to Sam’s place. From the road, they could see the farmhouse was still standing. Sam could wait no longer, “Come on William,” he said spurring his horse into a gallop. William followed close behind.

  Entering the yard, everything seems to be in place, but overgrown with weeds and grass of the past fall. The barn is still there and up on the hillside above the house Sam could see the markers for his father and mother’s graves.

  Once inside, the house appears to be just as it had been left. The furniture is covered with dust and one of the windowpanes is broken, but all in all, it is in pretty good shape. “Let’s get a fire going Sam, I’m freezing.”

  Sam, William and Kentuck sit warming themselves when William mentions the outlaw’s horses. “Sam, those horses should still be over in the back pasture. I think we need to go round up a couple of those fresh ponies to ride into the mountains and get started in a couple of days. I’ll wager they will be glad to see some human faces.”

  “William it is going to be a while
before we will be able to venture into those hills, and we will not be riding horses.”

  “What?” Exclaimed William. “I thought we would be able to go in a couple of days, and you’re saying with no horses? What am I missing Sam?”

  “Snow! You’re missing the snow. These mountains will have at least two to three feet of snow on them for another month or so.”

  “Now wait Sam. We don’t have another month or so, we need to be finding that creek now. Times a wasting.”

  “William the only way to get into the mountains this time of the year is with snowshoes, and yeah, I’ve got some, but traipsing up and down these old mountains on them things will kill a feller.”

  “Okay, okay, I understand Sam, but figuring by the map how far do you think it is to that gold filled creek?”

  “From here I’m saying about eight or ten miles.”

  “Eight or ten miles, why Sam that ain’t nothing.”

  “You ever walked in a pair of snowshoes William?”

  “No!”

  “Then you’re nothing is really going to be something.”

  “It can’t be that bad, lets head out in a couple of days after we’ve rested up some.”

  “William if you think walkin’ ten miles over these mountains in snowshoes isn’t bad, I’m here to tell you - you’re really gonna need that rest!”

  DEATH AT PETERSBURG

  Back on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains Nate is inquiring how much further do they have to go? Luke answers, “Nate we have been in Virginia for the past couple of days, I reckon we should be in Petersburg tomorrow and Richmond is just a hop-skip-and-jump from there. We should be to our destination a few days later, no more than a week I reckon. What’s wrong Nate, you’re rump got saddle sores?”