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

"Promise?" she asked him

Chapter Five

Weeks passed. It was Saturday evening. Chores done, supper made and pans and dishes cleaned up. Removing her apron and brushing her hair, Jenny looked forward to going to Sarah's house. There, they had fun. Saying goodbye to her Pa, she slipped out the front gate, and pranced merrily down the lane the short distance to her house.

Arriving quickly, she noticed a fancy carriage parked in front, and wondered who their company might be. She hoped she wouldn't be intruding. Coming up to the door, she knocked two times and went in without waiting to be let in. She was a regular there, so there was no need to be formal about it.

When she entered, she immediately saw who was visiting. Rex, the banker's son.

"Hi Jenny," said Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, Sarah's parents, nodded their greeting to her as well. "You're just in time. Rex brought his fiddle, and we're going to sing along with him."

"Yes, join us, Jenny," said her mother. "You have such a lovely voice."

Jenny looked at Rex, who with his fiddle in one hand and his bow in the other was ready to play. He was impeccably dressed, dark, wavy hair, with a white, ruffled shirt, partially covered by a grey vest, dark pants, and shiny low cut shoes. He smiled at her, and asked them all, "Are we ready?"

Rex began playing, a song they all knew. As he played, he sang, in a deeper voice than Jenny had expected, and the four of them joined in.

(Stephen Foster song, 1848)

"I come from Alabama with my Banjo on my knee-

I'm goin' to Louisiana my true love for to see.

It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry;

The sun so hot I froze to death-Susanna don't you cry.

Chorus:

Oh! Susanna, do not cry for me;

I come from Alabama, with my banjo on my knee.

I had a dream the other night, when everything was still;

I thought I saw Susanna dear, a comin' down the hill.

The buckwheat cake was in her mouth, a tear was in her eye,

I says, "I've coming from the South"-Susanna don't you cry.

Chorus:

Oh! Susanna, do not cry for me;

I come from Alabama, with my Banjo on my knee."

They all enjoyed the music, and when they had finished the song, both Jenny and Sarah clapped. Rex was an excellent fiddler.

Jenny immediately had a song she would love Rex to play, but as she was a guest, she waited for someone in the family to make a suggestion. She was glad when Sarah asked, "Rex, do you know Jeannie? Jeannie with the light brown hair?"

"Sure do," he answered.

Jenny smiled. It was one of her favorite songs, and she knew every word by heart. A sad song, really. Rex brought the bow up to his fiddle, ready to start.

(By Stephen Foster, 1854)

"I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair

Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air

I see her tripping where the bright streams play

Happy as the daisies that dance on her way.

Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour