Send Judah First by Brian Johnson

Author:Brian Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, slave, slavery, black history, abolition, african american history, slavery fiction, slave book, slavery novel
Publisher: Hidden Shelf Publishing House

* * * *

Marcus was born in August of 1817, Judah somewhere in her early twenties. It was still hard to imagine herself as a mother to three boys. As a child, she had envisioned someday marrying Dinka and raising a family. Judah loved her children . . . they just deserved better.

* * * *

In the fall, it was time to prepare Belle Grove for the holidays, family arriving from many directions. James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and the brother of Isaac’s first wife, Nelly, visited during Thanksgiving.

At the listening post on the first day of President Madison’s visit, Judah overheard Master Hite talking with his former brother-in-law.

“So, Mr. President, how are things over at Montpelier?”

“Everything is just fine, Isaac. Life is so different now that I’m finally out of Washington. Eight years. I think Dolley misses it more than I do.”

“How is Dolley?”

“Oh, fretting her fiftieth birthday next May. Hah, I hit that milestone fifteen years ago.”

“I’m 59 now,” laughed Master Hite. “I’d love to be that young again.”

“See, I guess this is why we both have young wives.”

They both laughed, Judah unamused at their good fortune.

“I do miss your sister, James,” said Master Hite, the conversation turning somber.

“What’s it been, fifteen years? I miss her too, Isaac.”

“Nelly was my most amiable wife, the dearest object of my affection,” said Master Hite in a slow, somber voice. “She submitted to her fate with a resignation and fortitude indicative of an innocent and virtuous mind. We were married and deeply in love for twenty supremely happy years. I can truly say she always appeared to be as dear to me as my own soul. I prayed for her to be healed, but the Lord took her to be with Him.”

“Amen,” said Madison.

There was a lengthy pause. Perhaps both were drinking some of the Master Hite’s favorite whiskey.

“What’s happening in the tobacco business?” asked Master Hite.

“Not much for me, I’m afraid,” said Madison. “I went into the White House a much richer man than I am today. Not only has the price of tobacco been plummeting, but I can only tell you the farm was badly mismanaged while I was away. Got a lot of work to do, but I do love Orange County, so we’ll figure it out.”

Another pause.

“But, Isaac, your place seems to be thriving.”

“More than 7,000 acres of grain and livestock with a sawmill, distillery, gristmill, and general store.”

“How have your crops fared?” asked Madison.

“We have been extremely seasonable, sometimes with an excess of rain falling in torrents. One summer it considerably injured our wheat. But the prospects of corn I never knew more promising.”

“Well, Isaac, you’ve certainly been successful enough to maintain a strong population of slaves.”

“Over 150 at this time, Mr. President, but it all started with the gift from your father back in 1783. When Nelly and I married, my father deeded us 483 acres and yours afforded us fifteen slaves. Of course, most of them are dead and buried, but their sons and daughters serve us still.

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