Withrow Plantation
In some ways Ella felt she had come home. Workman hired by her
Father had cleared all remaining rubble. The walls and floors were up. The
stairway once again loomed high over thier heads.
There was still work to be done. As the wagons were unpacked the
lovely old house seemed to give a sigh of relief and come back to life. Of
cousre there were some empty spaces. But Ella knew over time they
would be filled in just by every day living.
The Irish staff refused to live in the slaves quarters. They had always
lived in the house and weren't sure there wasn't an insult in the air.
The third floor was made into servants quarters. There was still room
for attic storage at the opposite end.
Ella didin't argue with this. For herself she would rather not travel four
flights of steps ar night to get to the privy. And surely not carrying a
chamber pot.
They were endlessly busy. They found the chandelier over the staircase
could be lowered by pulleys in the attic for cleaning. Ella and the maids spent
an entire afternoon making the crystal sparkle.
Chris Larabee helped unload but his main souce of interest were the horses
brought from the east. They were a welcome addition to the stock. The
steers were put to pasture and homes were found for the new chickens in the
chicken coops.
Ella and Todd were assembling a large birdbath when Todd said,"oh,no,"
I hoped we would be spared some of this."
Ella followed his gaze and saw Negroes walking up the road obviously coming
to the front of the house. One was Daisy and the other was Bluebell. They were
both wearing dresses that belonged to her. They dared to approach the front
entrance!
She spoke to Lewis the tall Irish butler,"Send them around the back of the house,
I will see them in my office." She smiled to herself thinking that now she of all
people had an office.
The was a slight arguement at the front door then the two women stamping their feet
like children passed the office window.
Lewis brought them to her door. Ella was sitting at her desk and turned slightly. She
did not invite them to be seated.
She allowed her eyes to rake over them before speaking. "What may I do for you?"
Daisy stiffened her back,"we needs work."
"Surely you cannot think after what happened here that we would hire you?" "After
all of the death and bloodshed brought on by the slaves of this plantation, well I
don't know where you got the nerve to come here at all."
She refused to make comment on the gowns they were wearing. When you were
killing people, stealing and setting fires you should have thought about the day when
there would be no handout for you.." "You will leave this property immediately."
Ella had no raised her voice. The very quietness of that voice gave both Negro women
heartfelt fear. They left by the back entrance and Ella could see them on the road toward
town.
She rose from the desk and went to her room. She dressed in a white blouse and split
skirt riding habit. She planned to ride astride. She took one of the gun and the holster
her Father had bought and put it on. She used a long piece of rawhide to strap the gun down.
She called down the staircase to Lewis. He sent a small boy(son of one of the maids) running
to the barn. Gallant Night was to be saddled immediately. Mistress Ella was going riding.
Ella placed a long split coat over her clothing and buttoned it so the gun could not be
seen. She felt the old Ella slide into place in her soul as she walked from the house to the
stables.
One of the stablehands was holding Gallant Night for her. She greeted him pleasantly and
used the upping block to mount the big stallion. She rode quietly and peacefully from the
paddocks.
There was about a two and a half hour walk to town so she figured the women were about
thirty to forty-five minutes ahead of her. She could see the Taylor boys working in the
fields. They had been bushwhackers they would understand.
She spurred the big stallion to a full gallop. Pulling him to a quick halt after she had passed
the women.
"Did you think you would get away with it?" "Killing and burning my kin and my family home?"
Daisy sneered,"We's free and we do what we want, and we goes where we want."
Ella slowly un buttoned the duster and pulled the gun."Feel free to go to hell." She fired the
pistol four times never missing her mark.
The Taylor boys came running and looked first at the bodies and then at the woman holding
the gun. Gordon Taylor put his thumb on her lips and made the sign of the cross. Davey
did the same.
"We'll take care of this,"Davey said.
Not another words was spoken. The gun was back in its holster and within a half hour, after
a brisk ride in the fresh air. The Mistress in Residence of Withrow was home.
Withrow Plantation
In some ways Ella felt she had come home. Workman hired by her
Father had cleared all remaining rubble. The walls and floors were up. The
stairway once again loomed high over thier heads.
There was still work to be done. As the wagons were unpacked the
lovely old house seemed to give a sigh of relief and come back to life. Of
cousre there were some empty spaces. But Ella knew over time they
would be filled in just by every day living.
The Irish staff refused to live in the slaves quarters. They had always
lived in the house and weren't sure there wasn't an insult in the air.
The third floor was made into servants quarters. There was still room
for attic storage at the opposite end.
Ella didin't argue with this. For herself she would rather not travel four
flights of steps ar night to get to the privy. And surely not carrying a
chamber pot.
They were endlessly busy. They found the chandelier over the staircase
could be lowered by pulleys in the attic for cleaning. Ella and the maids spent
an entire afternoon making the crystal sparkle.
Chris Larabee helped unload but his main souce of interest were the horses
brought from the east. They were a welcome addition to the stock. The
steers were put to pasture and homes were found for the new chickens in the
chicken coops.
Ella and Todd were assembling a large birdbath when Todd said,"oh,no,"
I hoped we would be spared some of this."
Ella followed his gaze and saw Negroes walking up the road obviously coming
to the front of the house. One was Daisy and the other was Bluebell. They were
both wearing dresses that belonged to her. They dared to approach the front
entrance!
She spoke to Lewis the tall Irish butler,"Send them around the back of the house,
I will see them in my office." She smiled to herself thinking that now she of all
people had an office.
The was a slight arguement at the front door then the two women stamping their feet
like children passed the office window.
Lewis brought them to her door. Ella was sitting at her desk and turned slightly. She
did not invite them to be seated.
She allowed her eyes to rake over them before speaking. "What may I do for you?"
Daisy stiffened her back,"we needs work."
"Surely you cannot think after what happened here that we would hire you?" "After
all of the death and bloodshed brought on by the slaves of this plantation, well I
don't know where you got the nerve to come here at all."
She refused to make comment on the gowns they were wearing. When you were
killing people, stealing and setting fires you should have thought about the day when
there would be no handout for you.." "You will leave this property immediately."
Ella had no raised her voice. The very quietness of that voice gave both Negro women
heartfelt fear. They left by the back entrance and Ella could see them on the road toward
town.
She rose from the desk and went to her room. She dressed in a white blouse and split
skirt riding habit. She planned to ride astride. She took one of the gun and the holster
her Father had bought and put it on. She used a long piece of rawhide to strap the gun down.
She called down the staircase to Lewis. He sent a small boy(son of one of the maids) running
to the barn. Gallant Night was to be saddled immediately. Mistress Ella was going riding.
Ella placed a long split coat over her clothing and buttoned it so the gun could not be
seen. She felt the old Ella slide into place in her soul as she walked from the house to the
stables.
One of the stablehands was holding Gallant Night for her. She greeted him pleasantly and
used the upping block to mount the big stallion. She rode quietly and peacefully from the
paddocks.
There was about a two and a half hour walk to town so she figured the women were about
thirty to forty-five minutes ahead of her. She could see the Taylor boys working in the
fields. They had been bushwhackers they would understand.
She spurred the big stallion to a full gallop. Pulling him to a quick halt after she had passed
the women.
"Did you think you would get away with it?" "Killing and burning my kin and my family home?"
Daisy sneered,"We's free and we do what we want, and we goes where we want."
Ella slowly un buttoned the duster and pulled the gun."Feel free to go to hell." She fired the
pistol four times never missing her mark.
The Taylor boys came running and looked first at the bodies and then at the woman holding
the gun. Gordon Taylor put his thumb on her lips and made the sign of the cross. Davey
did the same.
"We'll take care of this,"Davey said.
Not another words was spoken. The gun was back in its holster and within a half hour, after
a brisk ride in the fresh air. The Mistress in Residence of Withrow was home.
Withrow Plantation
In some ways Ella felt she had come home. Workman hired by her
Father had cleared all remaining rubble. The walls and floors were up. The
stairway once again loomed high over thier heads.
There was still work to be done. As the wagons were unpacked the
lovely old house seemed to give a sigh of relief and come back to life. Of
cousre there were some empty spaces. But Ella knew over time they
would be filled in just by every day living.
The Irish staff refused to live in the slaves quarters. They had always
lived in the house and weren't sure there wasn't an insult in the air.
The third floor was made into servants quarters. There was still room
for attic storage at the opposite end.
Ella didin't argue with this. For herself she would rather not travel four
flights of steps ar night to get to the privy. And surely not carrying a
chamber pot.
They were endlessly busy. They found the chandelier over the staircase
could be lowered by pulleys in the attic for cleaning. Ella and the maids spent
an entire afternoon making the crystal sparkle.
Chris Larabee helped unload but his main souce of interest were the horses
brought from the east. They were a welcome addition to the stock. The
steers were put to pasture and homes were found for the new chickens in the
chicken coops.
Ella and Todd were assembling a large birdbath when Todd said,"oh,no,"
I hoped we would be spared some of this."
Ella followed his gaze and saw Negroes walking up the road obviously coming
to the front of the house. One was Daisy and the other was Bluebell. They were
both wearing dresses that belonged to her. They dared to approach the front
entrance!
She spoke to Lewis the tall Irish butler,"Send them around the back of the house,
I will see them in my office." She smiled to herself thinking that now she of all
people had an office.
The was a slight arguement at the front door then the two women stamping their feet
like children passed the office window.
Lewis brought them to her door. Ella was sitting at her desk and turned slightly. She
did not invite them to be seated.
She allowed her eyes to rake over them before speaking. "What may I do for you?"
Daisy stiffened her back,"we needs work."
"Surely you cannot think after what happened here that we would hire you?" "After
all of the death and bloodshed brought on by the slaves of this plantation, well I
don't know where you got the nerve to come here at all."
She refused to make comment on the gowns they were wearing. When you were
killing people, stealing and setting fires you should have thought about the day when
there would be no handout for you.." "You will leave this property immediately."
Ella had no raised her voice. The very quietness of that voice gave both Negro women
heartfelt fear. They left by the back entrance and Ella could see them on the road toward
town.
She rose from the desk and went to her room. She dressed in a white blouse and split
skirt riding habit. She planned to ride astride. She took one of the gun and the holster
her Father had bought and put it on. She used a long piece of rawhide to strap the gun down.
She called down the staircase to Lewis. He sent a small boy(son of one of the maids) running
to the barn. Gallant Night was to be saddled immediately. Mistress Ella was going riding.
Ella placed a long split coat over her clothing and buttoned it so the gun could not be
seen. She felt the old Ella slide into place in her soul as she walked from the house to the
stables.
One of the stablehands was holding Gallant Night for her. She greeted him pleasantly and
used the upping block to mount the big stallion. She rode quietly and peacefully from the
paddocks.
There was about a two and a half hour walk to town so she figured the women were about
thirty to forty-five minutes ahead of her. She could see the Taylor boys working in the
fields. They had been bushwhackers they would understand.
She spurred the big stallion to a full gallop. Pulling him to a quick halt after she had passed
the women.
"Did you think you would get away with it?" "Killing and burning my kin and my family home?"
Daisy sneered,"We's free and we do what we want, and we goes where we want."
Ella slowly un buttoned the duster and pulled the gun."Feel free to go to hell." She fired the
pistol four times never missing her mark.
The Taylor boys came running and looked first at the bodies and then at the woman holding
the gun. Gordon Taylor put his thumb on her lips and made the sign of the
cross. Davey
did the same.
"We'll take care of this,"Davey said.
Not another words was spoken. The gun was back in its holster and within a half hour, after
a brisk ride in the fresh air. The Mistress in Residence of Withrow was home.