Freedom's Call by Douglas Cornelius

Author:Douglas Cornelius
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CrossLink Publishing
Published: 2020-02-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Several days later Brady sat with Charlotte in the office listening intently as Mr. Lovejoy tried to bring focus to their efforts in light of the recent setbacks. His arms waved, conveying an extra bit of unleashed emotion.

“We will continue to be primarily a religious newspaper promoting missionary work and personal repentance.” The man’s round face somehow appeared gaunt on this day, his full lips pressed flat. Even the fluffy wave of hair at the front top of his head lacked its normal buoyancy. “I have some additional financial backing in that regard. But that does not mean I’ll remain silent when it comes to slavery. It is an awful evil and sin. In addition, under no circumstances will I give up the right of conscience, the freedom of opinion, and freedom of the press.”

“But sir?” Char scooted to the edge of her chair. “Are we not missing a key ingredient—a press?” Her big black shoes planted firmly on the floor, she tapped a pencil against a notepad.

“For the time being, the good people at the Alton Telegraph have agreed to print the Observer for us. Bless them. A new press is due in September.”

“I do wonder about your family.” Charlotte smoothed her cotton skirt over her knees—a simple affordable skirt not nearly as nice as some she sewed. She folded her hands on her lap. “How’s Celia Ann holding up under all this?”

“Amazingly well, considering her health problems. She’s never whispered a hint of discontent at all the hardships we’ve had to endure.” He reached to twist his wedding ring around his finger. “Despite people shunning and hating me, she has devotedly stuck by my side, clinging to me more closely than ever. What a strong woman. What a blessing God has provided to me!”

“Very impressive. It’s just too bad so many people around here are not receptive to your antislavery message,” Brady said. He tried to picture a map of Illinois in his mind. “Maybe we need to move farther north?”

“I’m in no mood to move again.” Mr. Lovejoy jutted out his jaw and pursed his lips, the resolve in his sparkling eyes now appearing as hard as diamonds. “We’ve got to make it work here.” His chest heaved, then contracted. Like a dog protecting its territory, his muscles seemed coiled at the ready for the fight.

Brady rubbed his throbbing temples, drawing a deep breath. “It doesn’t help when pastors, like the one at my uncle’s church, say slavery was in the Bible, so it must be OK.”

“He and others like him are misguided, son.” Mr. Lovejoy pressed his lips together and looked each of them squarely in the eye. “There’s a difference between providing servitude for a period of time for a fee, like in biblical days, and the slavery of today. Modern slavery is chattel slavery where people are deemed possessions that can be bought and sold. As a possession, they can be treated any way the owner sees fit.”

“But a lot of owners treat their slaves quite well,” Brady responded.

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