What To Keep by Mary Schramski

Author:Mary Schramski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2005-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Magnolia Hall

October 1861

Oh, my good Lord! Magnolia Hall is filled with trouble. Charity finally confessed what is wrong with her. We were sewing on the veranda, and suddenly she burst into tears, cried so hard I though she might choke. Now I know why she has been acting like a hurt animal. I am beside myself with rage and anger, and it is all mixed together like a boiling stew.

Charity is with child!

I know these things happen, yet I am worried James will not let Charity stay with me. Charity told me the father is a field hand, but every time I ask her who, she lowers her eyes and mumbles a name I do not understand. Deep in my heart I know she is hiding something.

Oh, my good Lord, James would surely try to rid Charity of the baby and if he does not, he’ll send her to the fields.

What am I to do? I must keep myself calm and think. I asked Charity if she has told any of the other servants. Through her tears she said that I am the only person she has confided in.

Most times when a house servant is with child, she is sent out to the fields before the baby is born. I can’t stop thinking. Charity seems so broken. I must not think too much, but I wonder when she became friendly with another servant. She is with me most days and nights.

Charity whispered over and over that she hates the baby. At first I did, too, because of all the turmoil it will cause. I asked her what she did to entice the field hand. She looked at me as if I were the devil and cried more. For the first time since we’ve been at Magnolia Hall, I grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard, told her she had to take her medicine, be a mother. She fell into a heap on the floor and I thought she had died.

Suddenly I realized what I had done and my heart broke into a thousand pieces for her. And for the unborn child—I truly believe a darky’s baby has a soul just like any other child, although some would argue with me.

And tonight I have come to the conclusion that I will make James Alexander understand that no matter what, Charity has to stay with me.

Then we can be happy and continue the way we are. I have rehearsed my story. That Charity has become fond of one of the field workers—that they have an affection for each other and they have been wed in the darky way, by jumping over a broom. James will be angry that he was not consulted first, so I will tell him straight away that she is with child. Time will soften his anger and I will beg that Charity stay at the house, have her baby here so our child will have a playmate. And I will pray about this diligently.

Many times these past few days, I wonder why I am so joyful about my child and poor Charity faces so much grief.

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