Rebel Heart: (Swept Away) Of Life and Love during the American Civil War

He was there first for her

That unforgettable time 

It was a cold and gusty night for April, 1859. Jenny didn't sleep well, up listening to the wind howling through the trees. Eyes closed, she heard her father's voice. "Jenny, you have to get up for school!"

She liked school. Usually she looked forward to going. Especially since her one room school teacher assigned her a seat next to Daniel. Since then, she always looked forward to going.

She quickly got dressed, and looked outside. Snow! Snow in April! Only an inch or so, not enough that everyone would stay home. She made herself breakfast, as she usually did, for her father and brothers were always up and already onto doing farm chores.

Her father stepped in for a moment to say, "Jenny, dress warm. That wind today will blow right through you if you're not prepared."

She looked up and saw him already going back out the door. "I will, Daddy."

Finished now with her quick breakfast she waited, peering out the small window at the door. Soon, along came Sarah, her best friend, bending against the wind. Quickly putting on her warm coat and heavy scarf, she walked out.

"What a day," she said to her, after swinging back their yard fence to join Sarah.

"Yeah. On a day like today, wish we didn't have to go."

They continued together on the snow swept road toward the one room school house. Normally, they had plenty to say to each other, but today they kept their heads down and leaned forward against the wind. By the time they got there, both girls were tired and cold.

Opening the door, they found most of the class already there. They weren't in their seats yet, and everyone was standing around talking about everything, especially the nasty weather. The room was actually hot. Miss Evans had a big fire going in the potbelly stove. She rang the bell, and the students settled into their assigned seats. The young ones, those five and older sat on the floor in front.

Jenny too, took her seat on the benches along the back walls where all the older students sat. Daniel sat down next to her, said "Hi," and immediately began talking to Samantha, the girl on his right. Jenny looked at her. She was older by two or three years, and she was always well dressed. She even had a house slave who attended to her hair. No one would say that the girl wasn't attractive.

She glanced at Daniel. Full head of medium dark hair that curled up around his ears, the masculine stubble that adorned the side of his face, dark eyes that somehow always surprised her whenever he looked her way, and an infectious smile that most always seemed to her to have a bit of playfulness. Jenny regretted it was Samantha who got most of his attention.

  Jenny turned her head around to be able to listen to Miss Evans who was now addressing the class. As she looked at her, she began to feel dizzy, her breathing was shallow, and her view of the teacher seemed to be fading in and out. The heat of the potbelly stove began to seem oppressive. She closed her eyes, and then she was gone.

She didn't know how long she was out, but when she opened her eyes, it was Daniel whom she saw first. He hovered over her, a look of concern on his face. She heard him tell the others, "Move back, let her breathe." She looked deep into his eyes and smiled weakly up at him.

"Jenny, are you OK?" he asked.

Still lying on the floor, she looked to her right and left and saw Miss Evans and all the students peering down at her. "I guess so," she answered.

"Let me help you up," he said. With his one hand at her back and the other holding her arm she stood up. Then, she immediately sat down on the bench. Everyone still kept looking at her curiously so she said, "I think I'm going to be alright now."

Miss Evans came and standing over her said, "Are you sure, Jenny? I can get someone from nearby to drive you back home."

"Thank you, Miss Evans. I think I'm better now. If I could just have a big drink of cool water."

Daniel was quick to bring the bucket of water and the cup from which all the students drank. "Here, Jenny," he said.

She drank from the cup attached by a thin rope to the handle of the bucket. Then she dipped it in for another drink. Handing it back to Daniel she said to him and to Miss Evans, "Thank you. I feel better already."

School continued that day as usual, and after she ate the lunch she had brought from home, she felt almost as good as ever.

That was two years ago.  Since that day, Jenny and Daniel had become friends. She knew he cared about her and was glad that she didn't have any more fainting spells. School was over for them both, but they would meet, sometimes when he was on his way in his horse and buggy, or occasionally in town. Oh, she had become good at hiding her true feelings for him. But she could dream. After all, only three things stood in her way. She was seventeen going on eighteen and he was three years older. The American civil war was beginning. Worst of all, someone else was first in his mind. Jenny felt sure he was making the wrong choice. Somehow, she was going to prove it to him. He liked her, she knew that. The thing is, he still thought of her as a girl, and she had become a woman. A woman who would do almost anything to make him hers.

Bucket for water:  It's true. You can see it at some historical sites. Water was brought up by lowering the bucket into a well or by means of a pump. One cup was shared by all the students. Class size in the one room school houses varied. Average was probably fifteen or twenty. Older students often helped the younger ones.