Jack: Book One in the Trilogy, the Battle Begins

"Get it over Misters!" Part 43

"Are you through, Mr. Stone and Mr. Foster? I think we all are getting a little weary in listening to this fairy tale," said Master Whittemore.

"Ain't no fairy tale Master Whittemore sir," said Jack, "but it was all written down just like I said it and in a little book called a pamphlet so it has to be true. There is just one more chapter that I wrote down in my notes," said Jack. "And you said I'd have as much time as I needed and so we need more time master."

"Get it over with misters in the next five minutes," ordered master.

"Okay sir, we'll move right to the end after John Andrew Jackson escaped. It goes like this..."

I cleared my throat and continued reading Jack's somewhat illegible notes which I had made more readable with my cross-outs and side notations:

"Since my escape I have saved about one thousand dollars of my own earnings, for the purpose of purchasing my relatives. I was in correspondence with some gentlemen in America, through my friend the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, for that purpose, when the present war interrupted and broke up my hopes and plans. If this war obviates the necessity of buying my people, by freeing the negroes, (as I hope and pray to God it will, and as I believe it will) I shall then, if God pleases, devote my money in building a Chapel in Canada, for escaped slaves; or wherever my old fellow- labourers are located. Though "absent in he body," my whole heart is with my fellow-sufferers in that horrible bondage; and I will exert myself until the last of my relatives is released. On one occasion I saw my brother Ephraim tied up and blindfolded with his own shirt, and beaten with fifty lashes before his own wife and children, by a wretch named Sam Cooper, because he was falsely accused of having stolen a yard of bagging. Fathers! think of being tied up and stripped before your wife and children, and beaten severely for nothing at all; and then think that it is a daily, nay, hourly, occurrence in the Slave States of America, and you will begin to have some idea of what American slavery is. But to proceed with my life. Just as I was beginning to be settled at Salem, that most atrocious of all laws, the "Fugitive Slave Law," was passed, and I was compelled to flee in disguise from a comfortable home, a comfortable situation, and good wages, to take refuge in Canada. I may mention, that during my flight from Salem to Canada, I met with a very sincere friend and helper, who gave me a refuge during the night, and set me on my way. Her name was Mrs. Beecher Stowe. She took me in and fed me, and gave me some clothes and five dollars. She also inspected my back, which is covered with scars which I shall carry with me to the grave. She listened with great interest to my story, and sympathized with me when I told her how long I had been parted from my wife Louisa and my daughter Jenny, and perhaps, forever. I was obliged to proceed, however, and finally arrived in safety at St. John's, where I met my present wife, to whom I was married lawfully, and who was also an escaped slave from North Carolina. I stayed there some time and followed the trade of whitewasher, and at last I embarked for England."

When I finished reading, the students cheered wildly and applauded. Master stared at us coldly and tried to smile.

"You see, master's been lyin' to you all these months."

"Nonsense!" cried Whittemore.

"He lies," Jack said, "cuz he never mentions the story we just read. You wouldn't want your family broken up and sold off to some cruel lady or man who beats you all the time or kills someone close to you just cuz they feel like it. But you also need to remember that John was helped out on his road to freedom by some good-hearted white people. Some care and don't see things like master sees 'em. The times are a'changin' here in the south. It's time we woke up to see what misery we're causin' others. This is what master should be teachin.' I'm a'gonna promise you right here and now that I'll never set foot again in this place 'til master starts telling us the truth. Bye kiddies," Jack said. He then walked out of the little school house for the last time.