Dear Austin by Elvira Woodruff

Author:Elvira Woodruff [Woodruff, Elvira]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-55553-3
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 1998-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

Your brother, Levi

P.S. For getting home after dark, I received the punishment of having to pluck chickens for the quilting-bee supper. “Ain't folks tired of eating chicken all the time?” I groaned on hearing about it. But Miss Amelia showed no mercy. I can taste those chicken feathers in my mouth already.

August 20, 1853

Dear Austin,

Do you know how just when you think things aren't so good they suddenly turn worse than you could ever have imagined? That's how things are here. I was feeling put upon, what with all my plucking to do, when not two days later something far worse happened.

Darcy has disappeared! Kidnapped, we fear! And oh, Austin, it is all my fault.

Henry Fenton and his brother Will were in their orchard picking worms off the peaches -when they saw Darcy pass by on her way home. Two men driving a green wagon pulled up alongside her, and Henry watched as Darcy climbed up into the wagon and drove off. That was the last time anyone saw her. They found one of her yellow ribbons on the road, but she never showed up at her house for supper that night.

Winston and Jupiter came by our place looking for her. Winston was frantic with worry, as the slave catchers had rented a wagon and some horses from Charlie the blacksmith. Charlie only has one wagon that he rents out, and it is painted green.

Even though it was well after dark, Miss Amelia put on her bonnet and left in the wagon with Winston and Jupiter for Preacher Tully's place. She said that the preacher might have heard something. I don't know why she figured the preacher would know about it. I guess maybe it has something to do with his knowing so many people from church. As it turned out, Preacher Tully had heard some news — but it was all bad.

It seems that Mrs. Nolan, who sells butter to the preacher, also sells butter to some folks in town. One of her customers is Mrs. Simpson, and it was from Mrs. Simpson that she heard all about the slave catchers and that they were heading for North Carolina. Mrs. Simpson bragged to Mrs. Nolan that she had offered to do what she could to help the slave catchers “rid the area of riffraff.” Although Mrs. Simpson didn't know anything about the two men they were hunting, she did tell them about a young girl. She told them the times that girl passed her house on her way into and out of town. She was telling them about Darcy!

So you can see why I am responsible, Austin. It was my idea for Darcy to visit Mrs. Simpson s window last month. If Darcy hadn't been there and Mrs. Simpson hadn't gotten so riled up, she might never have even thought to tell the slave catchers about Darcy at all. Winston and the preacher have left to look for her.

I keep remembering that day Possum and I -were at Miller's

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