"This is Samantha my mother's pet goose." "Mama loves her just like one of the family." "But I hate that bird." "And she hates me." "She's mean and sneaky." "And full of tricks." "It seems every First Day morning when we're ready to go to Meeting and I got on my best Sunday clothes..." "Samantha!" "Thee old hisser!" "I'll blow thee up with a cannon!" "Some day I'll drown thee, thee old squawker!" "Little Jess!" "What is thee saying, child?" "Samantha tried to bite my legs off." "Next time, I'll throw her down the well." "Here, Samantha." "See, Little Jess?" "Speak to her kindly." "She'll not bite thee." "She's a pure pet, Samantha is." "She's a snake on stilts!" "I'll put her on the chopping block and chop her head off." "Hush, hush!" "Let's have no more talk of killing." "Run upstairs now and fetch thy brother and sister." "We'll be late for Meeting." "Blackberry pie?" "Yes, blackberry pie." "No need to stick thy finger in it to find out." "No dilly-dallying!" "Go fetch Mattie and Josh." "Well perhaps." "Well!" "This afternoon?" "All right!" "What's thee talking to thyself for?" "I'm not talking to myself." "Who's thee talking to then?" "I don't see nobody." "Thee knows what happens to eavesdroppers?" "Their ears get long as a hound dog's!" "Mama says to hurry." "I am, but I have to finish my toilet-tee." "What's a toilet-tee?" "Thee wouldn't know about it because thee doesn't wash." "Please leave my boudoir." ""Please leave my boudoir. "" "Does thee..." "Does thee think I'm pretty?" "Thee's not ugly." "I guess thee's pretty for a girl." "Well, thank thee!" "Thee's welcome." "Powie!" "I got Jeff Davis!" "Powie!" "I got old Stonewall Jackson!" "Powie!" "I got old Little Jess Birdwell!" "Meet the real Stonewall Jackson and thee won't feel so feisty." "Get up." "What would thee do if thee met Old Stonewall?" "Mama said not to talk about the war." "Mama said for thee to hurry up." "She's the preacher." "Meeting can't start till she's there." "And anyway, Caleb Cope and me are riding our horses to Meeting." "Thee old long arms!" "Look!" "Pa's warming up Red Rover." "Where?" "How a horse can look so fast and move so slow beats me." "Thee can hitch him up, Enoch." "You got him nice and warm this morning." "Whoa, Mildred!" "Hello there." "Guess I'm lost." "Must have got on the wrong road." "My!" "Quite a looker, that horse." "He's a looker, all right." "Maybe you can help me." "I'm trying to find that Methodist church." "Thy first turn's at the crossroads." "Bear right for three miles." "Is thee preaching there this morning?" " Who's preaching there?" " Thee?" " Who?" " Thee." "Me?" "That's a dandy!" "Son, I'm not a man of the cloth." "I sell organs." "Now, what in thunderation is all this thee-ing and thou-ing about?" "Bible talk to honor the Sabbath?" "No, we talk that way weekdays too." "Excuse me, but it sounds mighty queer." "Who's "we"?" "Quakers." "Quakers!" "Have you folks got a church around here?" "Yes, we call it a Meeting House." "It's just beyond the Methodist Church." "Hast thou an organ in thine Meeting House, friend?" "We don't hold with music playing." "What, no organ?" "Dear me!" "Why, a church without an organ is like a tree without a bird." "Wait till I talk to that minister of yours." "He'll never be content until he buys an organ." "I wish thee luck with the preacher." "That's three miles over, take the main road, turn right." "I got it." "Thank you." "Thee." "Get up!" "Now look, Mildred there is a horse!" " I'm going by Caleb's, Pa." " All right, son." "Red Rover, that man paid thee a compliment." "If he only knew." "Listen, Red, just don't slow down when thee hears Sam Jordan coming behind us and, by sugar, we'll stay out in front today." " Thee say something, Jess?" " I was just soothing Red Rover." "If thee talked as much to the Almighty as thee does to that horse thee might stand more squarely in the light." "Sounds like thy sermon's already begun, Eliza." "Why, Jess!" "I thought thee liked my preaching." "Now, Eliza, thee has the prettiest pulpit voice I ever heard." "And thee says the truest words." "Especially during Silent Meeting?" "And this morning, thee looks like a girl." "Where's Little Jess?" "Mattie!" "I'm coming, Mama." "Made the stockade in the nick of time." " Goodbye, folks." " Goodbye, Enoch." "Good luck, Mr. Birdwell." "Why does Enoch wish thee good luck every First Day morning?" "I guess it's because he..." "He wishes me luck!" "Hey, Papa, look!" "It's thy friend, Sam Jordon, Jess." "No need to look." "I can feel him." "Gard's with him!" "Mattie, Little Jess, stop craning thy necks at the Jordans." "It isn't seemly." "Yes, Mama." "Sure are a-coming." "Thee's not urging thy horse?" "Not urging." "Just encouraging a mite." "Come on, Red Rover!" "Sit down!" "Come on, Prince!" "Come on, lazybones!" "Come on, Prince!" "Good boy!" "What's gotten into thee?" "Morning, Mattie." "Morning, Eliza." "Good morning, Jess." " Come on, Papa!" " Come on, Prince!" "Come back, come back!" "Mama!" "Little Jess, let go!" "Come on, Prince!" "Gard winked at Mattie." "He did not!" "I saw him." "Gard wouldn't do such a vulgar thing!" "I hope nobody saw us." "Me too." "I want to come to Meeting with nothing in my heart but peace and love." "Thee gives me a pain." "One eternal day" "There, God the Son Forever reigns" "And scatters night away" "Filled with delight My raptured soul" "Would here no longer stay" "Though Jordan's waves around me roll" "Fearless I'd launch away" "Last week I had my 80th birthday." "And I'd like to bear witness to Proverbs." "First chapter 33rd verse." ""Who so harkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil. "" "Amen, Emma." "Amen." "I ask the prayers of everyone here to help me be less worldly less concerned about my appearance to mind my tongue and especially have the strength not to wear earrings." "I've never spoken in Meeting before but I feel so happy this morning I'd like to share my happiness with everyone in the whole world." "And to thank our Heavenly Father." "God is love!" " Is this it?" " Yes, sir." "Won't thee come in, friend?" "Thank you." "You're the minister of this meeting?" "I am." "One of them." "My name is Major Harvey." " Won't thee sit down, friend?" " Thank you, no." "I've had the duty placed upon me of speaking to you Quakers about the war." "It is a matter much on our minds and in our prayers." "But your men don't fight in it." "Some have." "But you do not encourage them." "We do not encourage them." "Ma'am, the Union has endured two years of bloody civil war." "Thousands have given their lives in battle to free our country from slavery." "We are opposed to slavery." "But we do not believe it right to kill one man to free another." "Ma'am, it's not going to be a question of fighting for freedom or a principle but of protecting our own towns, our own homes, from attack." "Would you men stand by while others die to protect you?" "You look like a boy who could give a good account of himself." "I've been tempted to fight." "I guess the Good Lord knows why." "I mean, sometimes I get the sinful wish to get into a scrap." "So I got to watch myself closer than most people." "So I'll just stay away from the war." "Because if I ever got into it, I'd be a goner." "And you, son?" "Are you ready to put up with looting and killing without lifting a finger?" "Are you afraid to fight?" "I don't know." "Here, at last, is an honest answer." "I don't wish to offend but how many of you are hiding behind your church to save your skins?" "Is it right to let others fight for you?" "To protect your lives and your property?" "Why don't you speak up?" "I'll speak up." "Nothing could ever induce me to bear arms against my fellow man." "Burn my house!" "Destroy my crops!" "Attack my family!" "And I declare to all especially to thee, Josh Birdwell, wavering in thy convictions nothing can move me to violence!" "Nothing!" "It seems Friend Purdy has already been moved to considerable violence." "I misdoubt any of us here could say with surety what we would do in case of attack." "I have my doubts as to the strength of thy convictions too." "I have my own doubts." "I've often asked myself what I would do if I saw my family endangered my wife and children threatened." "If the test comes, all I can say is I hope and pray I can be an instrument of the Lord." "That test is coming." "It may well be so, friend." "Let us pray that the will of God be revealed to us and we be given the strength and grace to follow His will." "Lord let Thy children partake of Thy love and the love of all men rendering not evil for evil, nor violence for violence done." "Let swords be changed into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks and children of peace learn war no more forever." "Eliza, what does thee like about that shifty-eyed bird?" "Why, Jess!" "She marches along so lordly-like." "Marched real lordly through two pecks of young strawberries this morning." " Hello, Gard." " Hello, Josh." " You home on leave?" " Got a week's furlough." "Hello, Little Jess, Mrs. Birdwell." "Hello, Mr. Birdwell." "I came over to apologize about that little brush last Sunday." "It wasn't my idea." "We know that." "Jess is going to get a nice slow horse that doesn't have any racing ideas." "Did thee shoot any rebs?" "What are they like?" "They're just people like us." "But did thee shoot any?" "Let's have no more talk of war and killing." "I'm sorry, ma'am." " Come in and set." " Thank you." "You folks going to the fair?" "I used to like the fair but it's come to be no place for us." "They've got some fine exhibits." "Needlework, livestock, poultry." "And geese." "Eliza, it might be just the place to pick us up a nice slow horse." "Thee go, Jess." "The fair's come to have so many sideshows, freaks, dancing..." "Dancing?" "What does thee know about dancing?" "She knows a thing or two." "Did Mama ever dance?" "That was 20 years ago." "Twenty years exactly, come October." "I was courting her." "But did Mama dance?" "No, child." "She was tempted to lift a foot, but she married me instead." "Did thee propose then and there?" "Dinner's ready." "Stay and eat with us?" "Thank you, ma'am." "I'd be pleased to." "What about the fair?" " Come on, Josh, Jess." " Can we go, Papa?" "There's no point in putting temptation in the children's paths." "We'd resist it." "We'd resist it as well as thee did." "Why can't we go?" "She'll never let us go." "Mama's so straight-laced!" "Maybe I can loosen up a few laces." "Isn't it ghastly, ladies and gentlemen?" "Isn't it horrible?" "This shining blade, with the razor-edged blade will pass through his mouth, through his throat into his very vitals!" "And here we have Flame-o the Human Volcano!" "Do not deprive your children of this educational act." "Let's get away from here." " I promised Caleb I'd meet him." " Mattie, look at the quilting with me." "Thee wants to see quilts, Josh wants to meet Caleb, and I want to see livestock." "Let's meet over here by the harvesting machine in one hour." "Thee stay with me." "Oh, Josh." "There's a rock exhibit I think thee and Caleb might find edifying." " Rocks?" " Come along." "I'm hungry." "I want some candy." "Thee's had thy breakfast." "Come along." "I'm thirsty." "You shoot that squirrel down three times, you get a beautiful prize." "It's a hit!" "How's that?" "Got him." "Howdy, Mr. Birdwell." "Say, you're an old squirrel-shooter." "I'll treat you." "Give that man a rifle." "Another marksman here." "That squirrel sits so still he makes me nervous." "Never mind the comments, just hit..." "He did hit the squirrel!" "Where's Mattie?" "They're over by the quilting booth." "See you later." "Thanks, Gard." "Folks, the man's about to shoot..." "He hit it again!" "Thee wait right here." "You won yourself one of these beautiful prizes here." "One of these beautiful pri..." "One of these beautiful prizes." "Them prizes was made and manufactured by Pierre of Paris, France." "You heard of him?" "I ain't either." "The man's having a hard time to make up his mind here." "For Eliza?" " No, thanks." " Wait!" "You won it fair and square." "I insist you take them, friend." "There!" "Pair of garters for your wife to wear!" "Or your sweetheart!" "Just as soon as you get out of mourning." "Come on." "I want to show you something." "How about a demonstration?" "I'd just be delighted." "Delighted." "Step right in, gentlemen." "Nothing would please me more." "Low bridge." "Well, Mr. Birdwell, come right in." "Gentlemen, welcome to my organatorium." "Just make yourself at home." "A temple of temptations, full of instruments of the devil." "Gentlemen, I'd like you to take a look at this magnificent instrument." "Now, isn't that a beauty?" "Just as smooth as silk, and as fine as frog's hair." "I'll pay two to one if you guess the shell which contains the pea." "Take your chin off the board." "You'll tip it." "As you see, there's nothing here, nothing here." "The pea's there, and I put the shell over it." "Now, we move the shells." "Watch very closely." "Now where is the elusive little pea?" "Boy will you go away?" "Forty-eight reeds, plus the tuba miraballis." "How many stops?" "So you know organs!" "It has eight stops and this vox humana." "Cries like a baby, sighs like a woman." "I'm partial to music, but I'm a Quaker and they're against music." "The Quaker!" "Why, certainly I remember distinctly." "Thee, thy, thou..." "Of course." "But I want you to know, sir, I honor your prejudices convictions." "Boys, let me tell you there are two kinds of music just the same as there are two kinds of women:" "The uplifting kind and the..." "Now, here." "You take the banjo." "Now, there." "There is an instrument that stirs up a man's worst passions." "Speech!" "Speech, ma'am!" "Thank thee kindly." "Watch very closely." "We go again." "Beware of the owl Who's waiting to howl" "Especially beware of the crow" "Of the crow" "Oh, fellows!" "By George!" "That was wonderful!" "This is that rare silver process." "You see the fine workmanship of Professor Grady." "He is the foremost..." "Now where is the little pea?" "Thank you, madam." "Thank you!" "Everything's back to normal now." "Now, just a minute." "Place your fingers there." "That's it." "Now pump." "Wonderful!" "Why, Friend Birdwell, you've got a real touch." "A real, natural-born touch." "Ice-cold lemonade here!" "Who'll have a cold drink?" "Has thee forgotten thyself?" "I'm to blame." "Mattie didn't want to dance." "I made her." "Let's look for thy father." "It's my last day of furlough." "I mean, I was hoping that Mattie could stay with me for a while." "Gardiner, thy duties as a soldier and Mattie's as a Quaker lie far apart." "God bless thee, Gard." "Come along." "Goodbye." "That's a mighty fine fight." "A mighty fine fight!" "Here's your coat." "All right, men." "Now's your chance to get the Billy Goat." "Who'd like to give me a silver dollar?" "Is there one man..." "Caleb Cope!" "He can throw the Billy Goat!" " Which one is that?" " There." "You mean the Quaker man here?" "Come on in here, Quaker man!" "Thee shouldn't fight." "This ain't fighting." "This is just friendly wrestling." "Go get him, Quaker!" "All right, gentlemen!" "May the best man win." "Let's go!" " Did I hurt you?" " What's wrong with you?" "You didn't hurt me." "Let's go." "No, thanks." "Come on." "Let's go." "What's the matter with you?" "The Quaker boy quit!" " Why didn't you kiss him?" " Quitter!" "Quitter!" "Hold on." "I want to talk to you." "Leave him alone." "It's against his principle to fight." "Losing a bet's against my principles." "I think you're in with the boss." " No, sir." " So why'd you stop?" " He's a Quaker." " Shut up!" "Who wants to hear you?" " Let them alone!" "These boys believe..." " I know." "They believe in loving their neighbor." "I'm their neighbor." "Do you still love me?" "I feel sorry for thee, friend." "Thee feels sorry for me?" "Don't let him talk to you that way." "Milk sop!" "If thee wants to hit someone, friend, hit me." "It'll be a pleasure." "I'll take a whack at him." "You want to fight?" "You aren't showing me nothing." "What's the matter, Quaker boy?" " What's the trouble, friend?" " Another friend!" "Thee needs cooling off." "My hat!" " Let me up!" " Thee not thirsty, friend?" "Is thee having an altercation?" "Okay, let's break it up." "Come on." "Fighting!" "Dancing!" "Gambling!" "Wrestling!" "And..." " Sleeve-holders." " Sleeve-holders?" "I never saw sleeve-holders like that." "They're from Pierre, in Paris." "Listen, thee dirty..." "But Mama, he took my hat." "It'll be a pretty day." "Be hot the other side of the Ohio though." "I wish thee didn't have to make this trip." "It's too close to the war to be safe." "Now, Eliza, I have to see my customers this time of the year." "Leave Josh at home then." "He's so young to be exposed to danger." "Thee can't keep him tied to thy apron strings." "This trip will be good for him." "Horse is hitched, bags stowed away, we're off!" "Let's go!" "Is thee so anxious to leave home?" "I want to see Ohio." "I'll miss thee." "Come on, Pa!" "Take good care of Josh." "God bless and keep thee." "Jess, see if thee can't get rid of that horse." " Afternoon." " Howdy!" "Man of the house around?" "Ain't no man in this house since Pa died." "And Mrs. Hudsp..." "Hudspeth?" "Ma's here." "Couple of men to see you!" "Men!" "Men?" "Ma's coming!" "Hi!" "Hello." " Mrs. Hudspeth?" " That's me." "I'm Jess Birdwell." "I have first-class nursery stock for sale." " What kind?" " Everything in orchard fruits." "If thee likes apple trees, there's Maiden's Blush, Ramblos and Winesaps." "In the berry line, there's raspberries, gooseberries and the like." " This your boy?" " This is Joshua." "Meet my girls." "This is Opal, Ruby, she's my baby, and Pearl." "Gems, every one of them!" "Girls, meet Joshua." "Back!" "Don't overdo it, girls." "Come in the house." "Let's talk business in comfort." "Sit down, son." "They won't bite you." "Menfolks are so scarce here, the girls get carried away at the sight of one." "But I keep telling them, "Easy does it. "" "Ain't that right?" "As a Quaker, I've always been against violence, Mrs. Hudspeth." "A Quaker, huh?" "I guessed as much from the way you talk." "All that thee-ing and thy-ing." "If I put my mind to it, I can say you or yours if it suits thee." "No, sir." ""Pleased to meet thee." "Are these thy daughters?"" "Prettiest talk I ever heard." "Makes me feel kind of romantic." "Come sit down." "Let's talk business back here." "You been on the road long?" "About ten days." "Heading home tomorrow." "See any rebel raiders?" "Everything peaceful all the way." "I hope you're right." "What if them ruffians come thieving with nobody on the farm but four defenseless women?" "I shudder to think of it." "Now, about that nursery stock..." "First look at my south 40 and tell me what orchard stock would be best there." "Opal!" "Go hitch up Lady." "We'll drive my mare." "Give your animal a rest." "We can bed you down for the night." "That's very kind." " But..." " Oh, now, no buts!" "Glad to have some men around for a change." "Ruby." "Go lay out some clean bedding, will you?" "All right, Ma." "Get going." "Pearl, take care of Josh while we're gone." "Now, you just set right back here." "I don't want to be a bother." "You ain't no bother." "Sure is a nice place thee has here." "Want a smoke?" "I don't smoke." "Want a drink?" "I don't drink either." "Thee have one." "Not unless you do." "Is this a Narragansett Pacer?" "You know that breed?" "Thee's a favored woman." "That mare ain't got but one real fault." "She won't be passed." " Won't be passed?" " No, sir!" "What's the fault in that?" "I've got three marriageable daughters." "A man ain't got any heart for courting a girl he can't catch up with let alone pass." "It shouldn't be hard to find a horse willing to be passed." "Hello, Abigail!" "That's old Whiskey Pete." "He ain't drawed a sober breath in 30 years." "Fool's always trying to race somebody." "Old drunk!" "Why don't thee let her out?" "Don't fight her." "Let her go!" "I'm going to learn this consarned mare she's got to be passed!" "Put my hat on!" "Pull it down!" "Not that far!" "What are you doing?" "It's all right." "Easy, Lady." "Easy." "Sorry, I kind of overreached myself, grabbing the reins thataway." "Don't apologize." "For a man, it's suitable to beat another man in a race on a public road." "Do you ever think about getting thy girls a horse a mite more maidenly-acting?" "I've thought of it." "You've got a stylish animal." "Red Rover's a looker, all right." "Got racing notions?" "Not that he can't pick up his heels a bit." "But racing's a thing he's got no stomach for." "You wouldn't consider a trade, I reckon." "I don't know." "A strong-minded animal like this can be a plaguey nuisance." "A forceful man like yourself could learn her better in no time." "If you's a mind to." "Seems a likely exchange." "Then let's shake on it." "Don't leave it hanging." "A handsome young drummer Came by in the spring" "With beautiful laces" "In cases" "I'm sorry, she said" "I can't buy anything" "'Tis love that I need" "More than laces" "Won't you marry me" "Marry me" "Up to the altar please carry me" "Give me combs for my curls Made of silver and pearls" "And a two-penny bridal bouquet" "Say" "Hurry up" "Hurry up" "Hitch that old horse to the surrey up" "And I'll vow to be true To no one but you" "So marry me, marry me, do" "Dear Lady, The handsome young drummer replied" "The whole situation's bewildering" "Last winter the cough" "Carried off my poor bride" "If you want to take care" "Of six children" "Come and marry me" "Marry me" "Pack your valises and marry me" "They're coming!" "They're coming!" "I'm glad to have thee home." " Thee'll break my ribs!" " I'll get the bags." "I'm glad thee's back." "I've missed thee." "I've missed thee." "Come, thee must be hungry." " Where's Mattie?" " She'll be back soon." "Where'd thee get this horse?" "Thee kept thy word." "Thee got rid of Red Rover." "Glad to see you." "Is this horse well?" "There's nothing to fear on that score." "She's not much to look at." "But if thee doesn't mind that..." "Mind!" "This is the very horse I've been praying for." "A good, plain animal that won't fill every man on the pike with racing ideas." "Lady'll discourage racing ideas, I promise thee." "Come in." "Thee must be starved." "We haven't had a good meal since we left." "I'll be in in a minute." "I'll help thee unhitch, Enoch." "This looks like the place." "Hello, there!" "Good evening." "Certainly is good to see you again." "Here we are." "Good evening." "You know, it is certainly a pleasure to see you." "This is a joy I've been waiting for." "I offer you my salutations, my felicitations and my congratulations." "What for?" "Why, ma'am, this organ." "The world's finest!" "You've got a treat coming to you." "Just hold your breath." "Now look at that." "Isn't that a beauty?" "Genuine walnut." "Not an inch of unornamented wood in the entire cabinet." "Good evening, Brother Birdwell!" "Hello, there." "There must be some mistake." "This gentleman says thee's mixed up with this musical instrument." ""Mixed" is scarcely the word for it." "It's gone beyond courting to marriage." "Your husband..." "Thy husband is now the proud and lucky owner of a Payson and Clarke." "This organ." "This substitute on earth for choiring angels." "Father Birdwell, why keep the lady in suspense?" "You just give me a hand and we'll get it inside." "We must step delicately." "My wife is a Quaker minister." "You may know all about Quaker ministers, but I know women." "What a woman wants is a good, firm hand and a strong voice." "Not Eliza." "Wait until you hear your husband when he seats himself at this console." "You know, you are married to an artist." "I forbid thee to have this instrument!" ""Forbid"?" "For thy own sake, I forbid." "When thee asks or suggests I'm like putty in thy hands." "But when thee forbids, thee is barking up the wrong tree." " Come on, Quigley." " I don't know what's come over thee." "Bringing a thing like this here." "And me a recorded minister!" "Thee order that instrument back to where it came from." "I bought it and I'm going to keep it." "I don't know what's come over thee." "I'm warning thee if thee takes that instrument into the house, I go out." "Make thy choice." "Thee can have that instrument or thy wife." "But both thee cannot have!" "Come on, help me get it in." "Will thee please fetch my shawl and my Bible?" "What does thee plan to do?" "If that thing goes into the house I go to the barn!" "The barn?" "Did thee have something to say to me?" "Well, Jess!" "Come on, Quigley!" "Will thee see if there is anything thy mother needs?" "Stop it!" "Will thee please stop playing?" "Go sit over there." "Why?" "I don't know why." "Just sit." "Evening, Jess." "Come in, Sam." "Just felt like visiting." " Evening, children." " Evening, Mr. Jordan." "I heard you had a new horse." "Like to get a look at it." "It's kind of late." "Is this horse an early sleeper?" "Oh well, anytime." " How're you?" " Fine, thank thee." "Fine." "How's Eliza?" "Mama's fine." "How does thee know?" "She away from home?" "Thee might say so." "Church work?" "Thee could call it that." "Mother needs another comforter." "That oat straw goes right through her blanket." "Hello, Mr. Jordan." "Hello, Josh." "Straw?" "Blanket?" "Thee may as well know it." "Eliza has taken up residence in the barn." "The barn?" "We had a slight difference of opinion." "Papa bought this and Mama won't stay in the house with it." "Excuse me." "I feel kind of responsible for this." "Let me take care of it for you." "Thanks very much." "I think I can take care of it myself." "Anything you say." "Good night, children." "Goodnight, Sam." "Goodnight, Jess." "Good night, everybody." "Upstairs to bed, all of thee." "May I come in?" "Evening's cooling off a bit, isn't it?" "I find it very pleasant." "So do I." "And thee promises to put the organ up in the attic right away?" "Best place in the world for it." "The best place is back at the organ factory." "Second best." "And no playing on First Day." " Or when visitors are here." " Never." "Let's go back there sometime." "Soon." "It's Sam Jordon!" "Morning, Sam!" "What's thee doing around so early?" "What do you mean "early"?" "It's 6:30." "Where's Eliza?" "Still in the barn?" "The barn?" "You're getting rid of the organ." "Well, how'd you bring her around?" "Reasoned with her." "Just reasoned with her." "Want to see my new mare?" "That's what I come over for." "Here she is." "Over here." "What does thee think of her?" ""Reasoned" with her?" ""Just reasoned with her. "" "Look her over." "You traded Red Rover for this?" "I got a little to boot." "A little?" "For this crow bait?" "The mare's name is Lady." "Lady!" "What's so funny?" "Excuse me." "It's just the rift between the name and the looks." "What is she?" "Half buffalo?" "She's half Narragansett Pacer." "Which half?" "I never laid eyes on a beast of such dimensions!" "What's this?" "Why aren't we taking the surrey?" "Enoch says the surrey's missing a hub nut." "Hub nut?" "Lost?" "I didn't say "lost", ma'am." "It's just missing." "There's no room for the children." "That's right." "They must stay home." "They can have their Meeting in the parlor." "Thee too." "I suppose thee's right." "No nonsense!" "Thank thee." "Wouldn't surprise me a bit." "God speed." "What does he mean, "God speed"?" "He means good luck." "With this rickety rig we'll need it." "Something wrong?" "I don't know." "I thought I better take a look." " What is it?" " Nothing that I could see." "Come on!" "Here comes Sam." "I wonder how a man church-bound can have his mind so set on speed." "I don't." "Slow down!" "Now, Prince!" "Come on, Prince!" "Giddap, boy!" "What's the matter with you?" "Easy, Lady." "Easy." "Come on, Prince!" "Can't thee slow her down?" "I'm trying to." "Look at this." "Josh, you ain't forgot that cow's going to calf tonight?" "Call me when it's time." "Look at this one." "Hello, Mr. Birdwell." "Gard, come in." " Back from the war?" " Yes." "It's good to see you." "How are you?" "Thee wounded?" "Good evening, Mrs. Birdwell." "Thee's wounded." " It's nothing." " Was it a cannon?" "No, Little Jess." "It was just a rebel bullet." "Did it bleed a lot?" "Did thee win a medal?" "That'll do, Little Jess." "Won't thee sit down?" "Thank you." "Thee didn't say a word about it in thy letter." "Letter?" "I didn't want to worry you." " When did thee get home?" " This afternoon." "I heard about that little race this morning." "Was Sam surprised?" "Surprised?" "He was overcome." "The Elders!" "The Ministry and Oversight Committee from our church." "Paying us a call." "Go on up to bed." "Do as I say." "Wait." "Good evening, Griffith." "Friend Cope, Amos, come in." "Good evening, Friend Cope." "Griffith." "Good evening, Amos." "Won't thee sit down?" "Natives." "Very educational." "So I started over the wall and the next thing I knew, I was flat on my back." "What does it feel like getting shot?" "Being kicked by a mule." "Did thee kill anybody?" "I did a lot of shooting." "Thee won't go back now thee's wounded?" "Not right away." "With the reb cavalry heading this way I'm assigned to organize the home guard." "Would they let me in the home guard?" "Well, they need men." "Gard doesn't want to talk about the war." "Does thee, Gard?" "No, Mattie." "If I went to Vernon..." "We'll talk tomorrow." "All right." "We've got an organ!" "An organ?" "In your house?" "What'd your mother say about that?" "She made us put it up in the attic." "And what of thy son, Friend Birdwell?" "Has thee give him proper guidance?" "With the help of God, our children must make their own choices." "So before we talk any more of war or blame shall we seek wisdom and strength in prayer?" "Let us pray." "Watch thy head." "Must be the wind coming up." "Could be." "Today's acted like a weather breeder." "Friend, thee's got a squeaky door upstairs." "My house needs attention." "And my soul needs repair!" "Friends, let us lift our hearts in prayer." "Father in heaven, Creator of all good things Author of harmony from birdsong to thunder roll restore harmony in our lives." "Amen." "Amen to that." "Behold thy servant who has strayed from righteousness." "Behold thy unworthy creature whose head was turned by the ways of the flesh." "Forgive him for racing on First Day and forgetting that the road to glory is a slow road." " And let not my sins rest upon my children." "Above all, spare my wife, Eliza." "And I pray that she shall find, in her kind and loving heart, the grace and mercy to forgive me my grievous shortcomings." "In the name of Adam who ate the forbidden fruit, of Abraham whose sin was jealousy, in the name of Moses, who lost the Promised Land in the name of David who of David who hankered after that which was forbidden in the name of Jeptha, Jeremiah, Obediah Jonah Micah Habakkuk and Malachi and Malachi..." "Thee has been an instrument of the Lord this night." "Thy prayer carried me so near to heaven's gates I thought I heard the choiring of angel voices and the playing of heavenly harps." "Thy prayer has answered our questions." "Thy flesh may be weak, Jess Birdwell but thy spirit is as strong as thy voice." "Amen." "Amen to that." "Thank thee for paying us this call, Friend." "I'll play the melody up here." " Ready?" " All right." "Sounds like a duet." "Duet?" "Gard?" "Leave them be." "Mighty quiet up there." "What does thee suppose they're doing?" "Silent prayer?" "Like this?" "What's thee doing?" "Has thee forgotten we have company?" "Don't thee care what people think?" "It's all my fault." "I think we ought to go to bed and let the young folks have the parlor." "Good night, children." "Good night, Mrs. Birdwell." "Goodnight, Mattie." "Goodnight, Gard." "Thee ever see anything prettier, Enoch?" "No." "Except for a little human baby." "Does thee have any children?" "Leastwise I did." "I don't know where they are now." "Let's get him up." "It sure wanted to live, didn't it?" "He'll live now, all right." "Wonder what it feels like to die." "Just stopping breathing, I reckon." "Just going to sleep." "I reckon." "I got orders to report to the home guard." "I came to say goodbye." "Could I see Mattie?" "She and Little Jess are down by the swing." "Thank you, ma'am." "Dance?" "No, I couldn't." "Oh, well, if you insist." "What?" "Thee's doing it again." "Talking to thyself." "I'm not talking to myself." "Is thee talking to Gard Jordon?" "He's so brave." "Heck!" "If he's so "brave" why didn't he win some medals?" "Who cares about medals anyway?" "Gard has a proud and learned face." "A face to remember." "His eyes are the color of the sky in the summer." "It pleasures me just to see him walk." "He walks just like anybody else." "Hello, little Jess." "How'd you like to have the bullet they took out of my arm?" "It's wrong to take bribes." "It's not a bribe." "It's a gift." "Thanks." "You want a polliwog?" "No, thanks." "Go on, now." "Scoot!" "I'm going because I want to." " Come on out." "I want to talk to you." " I can't." "I'm barefooted." "What's wrong with that?" "I'm too big a girl to run around barefooted." "It mortifies me, thee seeing me so unlady-like." "Look, I'll shut my eyes and I'll pretend you have shoes on." "Come on." "Or I'll wade in!" "I've got to talk to you." "Come on out, please." "I'm really nice, you know." "I've got a nice walk." "And eyes the color of the sky." "Thee heard?" "Thee heard!" "Thee eavesdropped!" "Thee thinks I set my cap for thee!" "No, wait!" "Wait!" "Please wait!" "I was only joking." "I never want to see thee again!" "Mattie, wait!" "Good evening, Mr. Birdwell." "Getting ready to leave us again?" "Yes, sir." "And I'm reporting to the home guard tonight." "I came to say goodbye." "Come on down." "This is no way to treat a guest." "Would thee please ask him to excuse me?" "I hurt her feelings." "It's the last thing I wanted to do." "I know how that is." "I was clumsy." "With women it's hard not to be sometimes." "The rebs are coming!" "Morgan's Raiders have crossed the Ohio." "1500 horsemen burning and pillaging." "They're 30 miles from Vernon." "This time tomorrow they'll be here!" "No need to shout." " Did thee see their patrols?" " No, but I saw what they've done." "Barns burned, houses looted." "Go towards Vernon and see for thyself." "Did you see the militia?" "They want every man who can carry a gun." "They figure to make a stand at Vernon." "Papa, our farm is going to be overrun for sure!" "That's probably true." "You're on the south side of the river." "You better take your family into the woods tomorrow till the rebs have gone." "This is our home." "This is where we'll stay." "Mr. Birdwell, the Raiders don't draw a line between soldiers and civilians." "They're the toughest Confederate troops, and there's no telling what they'll do." "If they're going to come they're going to come, like fire or flood." "If it's the Lord's will, there's nothing we can do." "There's something I can do." "Have you got an extra gun?" "Why, sure, Enoch." "I hate to cross you like this." "Don't seem grateful." "You folks have been mighty kind to me." "But you see, sir, a runaway slave like me I wouldn't stand a chance with those men." "So if they're going to catch me I'm going down fighting." "Thee's free." "Free to choose." "So am I." "Thee can saddle up Tommy." "Thank you." "I'll go with thee." "Without asking us, son?" "There's no need to go now." "Morning's soon enough." "I'll be in Vernon." "I'll meet thee there." "Better talk it over with your folks." "Tell Mattie goodbye." "Tell her when I get back, I hope to say better what I was trying to tell her." "God bless thee." "It's true." "It's true." "Everything thee heard is true!" "Thy walk does pleasure me." "Thy eyes are like summer." "Thee does have a proud, learned face." "My sweet." "My dear, sweet, precious girl." "I love you." "I love thee." "I do love thee!" "Martha True Birdwell when I come back will you marry me?" "Will you be my wedded wife forever and ever?" "Gardiner Jordan I will be thy wedded wife forever and ever." "Sit down." "Thee'll feel better after thee eats." "I'm not hungry." "Might make thee a little calmer." "And a little more courteous to thy mother." "Calm?" "Thee asks me to be calm when the whole of Vernon's getting ready to fight." "And Morgan's men may break in here at any minute." "Father, thee knows we must fight." "If thee has a sword in thy heart, son thee must pull it out and use it." "But there's no sword in my heart." "No man is my enemy." "Any man who kills innocent people is my enemy." "My mortal enemy." "Thee's seen bad things today." "Thee's upset." "We've got more than we need here." "It's high time we shared it." "If thee gives all thee's got to the enemy, thy friends will go hungry." "What's good about that?" "Thee wants to go out and fight, give thy life for what thee believes." "Any of us here I'm sure is ready to do that." "But that's not what thee'll be asked to do." "What thee'll be asked to do now is to kill." "I know that." "I'll kill if I have to." "Thou shalt not kill." "Mother, I hate fighting." "I don't want to die." "I don't know if I could kill anyone if I tried." "But I have to try so long as other people have to." "No, Eliza." "Don't let him go." "Don't thee care about his living or dying?" "I'm just his father not his conscience." "A man's life ain't worth beans except he lives up to his own conscience." "I've got to give Josh that chance." "Forever and forever and forever." "Tucking thee in again." "How many times does thee think I've done that?" "I don't know." "I understand thy being carried away." "But our ways are ways of peace." "And thee loves peaceful ways." "I do." "If thee turns thy back on everything I've taught thee and prayed for thee turns thy back on me." "No, Mother, not on thee." "Yes, son." "On me." "But I have to do what's right." "Thee will, son." "God will give thee the strength." "Dear God in heaven, watch over Joshua." "Make him a witness for the peace on earth for which Thy Son died." "In His name do I ask it." "Amen." "Before thee sleeps, promise me thee'll pray." "I promise." "Good night, son." "I have faith in thee." "Thee promised to pray." "I prayed." "Goodbye, Father." "Goodbye, son." "God bless thee." "My boy!" "God keep thee." "Company, halt!" "This is the only shallow spot." "They have to cross here." "All right, men." "Dismount!" "Come on, then." "Hurry!" "Spread out!" "Find cover!" "Get those horses out of sight!" "Fast!" "Jam a log between those trees!" "Get something solid in front of you." "That won't stop a bullet." "You hold your gun that tight, by the time the rebs get here your trigger finger will be numb." "Who gave that rebel yell?" "I did, sir." "Do it again and I'll shoot you!" "And the same goes for any other man here!" "Chopping wood?" "We burn wood every winter, Purdy." "Pretty soon thee'll have no house to burn wood in." "Some of Morgan's thieving men burnt my barn stole my horses and cleaned out my smokehouse." "I'm sorry to hear that." "Thee is welcome to anything I've got." "No, thanks." "If thee wants to help pick up a gun and fight the same as I'm doing." "I'm not ready to do that." "What does thee aim to do?" "Sit here and turn the other cheek?" "That's what I aim to do if I can." "Thee's got to face the fact that wartime calls for another kind of thinking." "Your thinking may have changed, but you haven't." "Last week, you told my son he'd go to hell for fighting." "This week you tell Jess to fight." "Whatever's right for Purdy's got to be right for everybody else?" "If you're so hell-bent to fight, get going!" "If it's peace thee wants, Jess Birdwell, thee won't get it chopping wood." "Did they hurt thy place?" "No, Jess." "Just thought I'd ride toward the river, see how the boys are getting on." "One more man at the fort won't make a hoot of difference." "If there's any fighting to be done, I'll do it for both of us." "I'd like to see someone hold out for a better way of settling things." "They're coming!" "What was that all about?" "Get down." "You'll find out sooner than you think." "Fire!" "It's Lady!" "Look, Papa!" "Is Josh hurt?" "Bring Lady to the house." "Jess, no!" "Little Jess, thee's the man on the place now." "IKill a Johnny Reb for me." "Never talk that way about a man's life." "Mama, look!" "They're rebs, they're rebs!" "Gentlemen!" "Gentlemen!" "Would thee like some food?" "There's meat in the smokehouse by the barn." "Right." "Stevens, get those chickens!" "I'll get all them chickens." "Fresh vegetables and fruit and more meat are in the spring house there." "Buster, Clem, go get it." "You bet, boss." "Cooked food's in the kitchen." "If thee and thy men will please follow me." "Yes, ma'am!" "Take these horses!" "Boys, give me a hand." "Roast goose tonight." "Go get him, Buster." "Peach pie!" "It's rattlesnake pie." "Best rattlesnake pie I ever tasted." "Stop it!" "Let her go!" "Let her go!" "Stop it!" "Let her go!" "Let her go!" "Stop!" "Samantha's a pet!" "She's a pure pet!" "I wish I'd knowed that sooner." "Much obliged, ma'am." "Thank you very kindly, lady." "Feel much better." "Mount up!" "Boys, there's enough food here to feed us for a whole week!" "Thanks for the chickens!" "I raised my hand in anger." "I struck." "What a whacking!" "If thy father ever knew..." "Thee must never tell him." "Never!" "Whoa, Black Prince." "Sam, what happ...?" "Reb Bushwhacker." "He took Black Prince." "I found him." "Head for war and get mixed up with horse thieves." "I was training Black Prince to beat you." "Thee can beat me, Sam." "Thee can beat me any day in the week." "You finally admit it." "Tell him when you see him." "I'll tell him." "I'll tell him." "Now, go on." "Go on, git!" "I'll not harm thee." "Thank God I found thee." "He's not very old." "I killed him." "Thee did what thee had to do." "I must get thee home." "I heard thee playing on the Lord's Day..." "Let me look at thee." "Stand still." "Let me see if thee is in order for Meeting." "Stay on the porch and keep clean!" "I don't need any help, thank thee." "But it pleasures me to help thee, son." "Do I pass inspection?" "Yes, Jess." "Thee'll pass." "My Bible." "Come on, Samantha." "Come on, pet." "What's come over that bird?" "Little Jess has stopped being mean to her, that's all." "That's all, huh?" "Samantha's the one that was mean." "Till that reb..." "Thee's not my boss!" "Hush up, thee!" "A reb grabbed Saman..." "And he was wringing her neck..." "Mama whacked him over the head with a broom until he let..." "Until he let her go." "Mama?" "Whacked a reb?" "She sure did!" "With that broom." "By sugar, that's news!" "Looks like thee needs a new broom." "Why, Jess?" "This one's seen lots of service." "I tried to stop him." "She shook it out of me." "Come on, veterans." "Good morning, Enoch."