09.02.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:53 am by Linda
The blacks seemed hesitant
until Big Daddy stepped out
behind Agnes.
“I believe my daughter
had asked you to do
something so please
get it done as quickly
as possible. I, myself,
would love for Sam
to be here.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. John,
we would do anything
for Miz Agnes but we
did not want to anger you.”
“Young man, the only thing
that would anger me
is to not take my Agnes’s
wishes seriously so run along
and do as she said.”
“Agnes,I must return
to our guests
inside. I fear you have
confused them with
your actions,
However, it should make
for lively debates.”
You are, indeed, my child.”
Agnes was overwhelmed
 with joy.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 6:49 am by Linda
Miz Agnes had opened the doors
leading out from the big hall.
As the young blacks apologized
for being there,
she stopped them.
“I want you to go
retrieve the cotton baskets
from the shed and bring
them here for seats.
Ezekial, please bring Sam
up to listen to the music
if he is able. Tillie will
bring the food for your
party and you will be
able to share in Big
Daddy’s homecoming.
I’m sure he will be glad
to see all of you.”
Agnes is pleased
That Mr. Proctor is
at a loss for words
as she hears
Big Daddy say,
“That’s my Agnes.”
Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:42 am by Linda
Agnes found Tillie
and asked her to
have Nell and the other
black ladies in the kitchen
to come to the hall.
“Miz, Agnes, are you sure
that it is not too soon
to put the food away?
Even if it is late ,
the party doesn’t
seem ready to end.
Do you wish us
to put more ice around it?”
Agnes laughed.
“Tillie, you always
try to second guess
me. I think that is
why I love you so.”
“I ask,now, for you
to put the leftover food
on platters, if it is not already,
and please make sure
only the silver is used
and bring it to me.”
“Miz Agnes, I have
 checked the banquet table
and it seems to be adequate
for the evening left.”
“Is that right! Then bring
that food also
to the west portico.”
Tillie was confused
but again, she knew
Agnes was up to something.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 6:37 am by Linda
As the evening wanes,
Agnes hopes for a dance
with her father yet
he has been conversing
with Velma’s Father
for the last while.
“Mr. Proctor, if you don’t mind
I would like to steal Big Daddy
away just for a short dance.”
“If you please, Agnes.
We were just discussing
your handling of Ashland
but I believe we are through.”
Â
Agnes sensed there was
more that she needed to know.
“Please do tell. The dance
can wait. I would love to hear
of your talk.”
Mr. Proctor said, ” With
your permission, sir?”
“By all means, I think
Agnes should know
your opinion on the
running of Ashland
in my absence.”
Agnes noticed the grin
on Big Daddy’s face
that meant he found humour
in what she was about to hear.
Mr. Proctor cleared his throat,
as if he were unsure
of how to begin.
“Well, Young Agnes, I was
talking of the leniency to
which you have given
the slaves.
I feel it sets a bad
precedence for the other
plantation owners.
Even though your school
and church have done
quite well, I do
not think it wise to
have a negro in charge.”
“If you speak of
Tomas, sir, I think you will
find that he has done
a most admiral job. Should I
hold his skin colour
against him?”
“My point, Miz Agnes,
 is that you give too
much leeway to their kind.
A prime example is
all the brown faces
now peering in the windowsÂ
as if they were part of your party.
If it were me, I would
 have my foreman
return them to their cabins
and there would be no supper
for them tonight.”
“Thank you, sir, for
your thoughts.
I shall attend to them
this moment if you
would be so kind
as to excuse me.”
Permalink
08.31.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:43 am by Linda
Tillie, you have done
> a wonderful job tonight.
> I don’t believe any party
> could be better.”
>
> “Thank you, Agnes,
> but you did as much.
> As long as Big Daddy
> is happy.
> I noticed Mr. Ethan
> is having a good time
> also. What a handsome
>Â white man he is.”
>
> “Why, Tillie, you sound
> almost smitten
> with the man, although
> I must agree.
> Handsome and charming
> perfectly describes our house-
> guest.”
>
> “Tillie giggled, “I don’t think
> I am the only one.”
>
> ‘Nonsense, Tillie, I was just
> agreeing with you.”
>
> “I know, Miz Agnes,
>Â but I was speaking
> of Velma Proctor,
> who seems to have
> taken a liking to him,
> as they have danced
> most of the night.”
>
> “I have been too busy
> to notice, Tillie,
> as you should have been.
>Â Now I must get back
> to our guests.”
>
> Agnes did not want Tillie
> to know that she ,indeed,
> had noticed.
>
> Surely, she was not feeling
> a moment of jealousy.
> Velma had always flirted
> with the men folk
> but never settled on one.
>
> Yet, Agnes wondered .
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Posted in Uncategorized at 5:38 am by Linda
There was such an arrival of
> big Daddy’s friends that
> Agnes feared the great hall
> would burst at the seams
> if even one more person
> came.
>
> There had not been
> that many people at Ashland
> since the ill-fated wedding.
>
> Agnes watched with joy as
> Big Daddy greeted everyone.
> He seemed his old self as
> he welcomed each one to
> his home.
>
>
> Agnes could tell
> that he made
> each of them feel almost
> like the guest of honor
> instead of himself.
> And she marveled at the
> grandness of the man
> she loved so.
>
> “It is amazing how your Father
> commands the room
> with his presence, Miz Agnes.
> I don’t believe I have ever
> felt such love and respect
> in one place for
> anyone before.”
>
> “That is very kind of you,
> Ethan, but I do agree.
> My world is complete
> when he is here.”
>
> “I believe his to be also,
> Agnes.”
Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:34 am by Linda
Agnes, I am afraid this talk
>has upset you. Please take my hankerchief.
> If you wish, we can continue
> at another time.”
>
> “No, I am fine. Thank you .
> I find your tale fascinating
> and wish to hear more,
> if you would be so kind.”
>
> Agnes watched as Ethan
> stood and walked to the
> edge of the stoop.
>
> ” I can see why my mother
> fell in love with this place
> when she was here.
> There is a magnificence
> yet a peace, unlike
> other places I’ve been.
> Charleston is a beautiful
> city and I loved it there,
> but I see what she meant
> about this land being God’s
> choice.”
>
> “And that, sir, is what brought
> you here?”
>
> As Ethan turned to face her,
> she could see ,by moonlight,
> the excitement in his blue eyes.
>
> “Yes, Agnes, I want to feel
> that power of the land
> that John Jacob and my mother
> spoke of. Surely you know
> what I mean? You have to
> have felt the same or you could
> not have done all that you
> did for Ashland.”
>
> Agnes could only nod
> as she was taken aback
> by his intensity.
>
> “I was left quite a sum of money
> by my Aunt Sarah and
> with your Father’s help,
> I have purchased the Flemington
> plantation to the East for my mother
> and myself. It isn’t of the size
> of Ashland but quite a beautiful spot
> in itself. There were no relatives
> to inherit when Captain Flemington
> died so the state sold the property
> along with his servants to the
> highest bidder. With some restoration,
and after lessons, I hope to learn
> here on being a gentleman farmer. I
> will send for my mother.”
>
> “That, Miz Agnes, is why I am at Ashland
Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:31 am by Linda
 ”Miz Agnes, you are very kind
>Â to your slaves. Why is that?”
>
> “I see no reason not to be, as
> they are very kind to me.
> I also choose to not think
> of them as slaves, but
> friends and companions.
> Enough about me, please
> tell me more about youself.”
>
> “About all I can tell you
> is that I was away at school
> when my mother requested
> my return after Sarah passed.
> I had been studying law.
> It seemed Sarah had amassed
> quite a few holdings but was not
> the best record keeper.
> Your Father was given
> the task of sorting through
> her many papers and dividing
> her property accordingly.
> My mother thought my learning
> might be of help to him.”
>
> ” I see. Is that the reason
>Â Big Daddy was away so long?”
>
> “Mostly, I suppose. He did go
> through a period of grief
> and did not seem himself for
> quite sometime. I realized that
> not only was his pain for Sarah
> but his Lady Jane also. It was
> as if his heart had been broken
> twice.”
>
> Agnes had to hold back her
> tears yet she needed
> to hear more.
>
> ‘I missed him terribly
> and hate to hear of him
> in such pain and so far away.’
>
> “Be assured, Miz Agnes, you
> were never out of his thoughts.
> He spoke of you daily. I
> believe you to be the reason
> he felt he must get the job finished
> and get back to Ashland.”
>
> With that said, Agnes felt a tear
> fall down her face.
Permalink
08.17.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:09 am by Linda
Miz Agnes . 48
Current mood: 
curious
Category: Writing and Poetry
“Sir, you were right. I don’t believe
I have ever tasted better fried chicken.
Tillie is to be commended.”
“Thank you , Ethan. I suggest
we move into the parlor
for a nightcap, then I must retire
for it has been a long day.”
Agnes is worried that Big Daddy
had overextended himself
on his first day home.
Yet, she still had questions
that were not answered,
as very little conversation
took place over dinner.
“Sir, please do not feel
you must entertain me
as you have already been
too gracious in allowing
my stay at Ashland.”
‘Ethan is right, you will need
to rest for your party tomorrow.
I will see that your guest
is taken care of for the evening.”
“Perhaps, Ethan,
we could continue our talk
on the veranda and let
Big Daddy relax.”
“Splendid idea, Agnes. I wish
 you to know each other better
and I will see you at breakfast.
By the way, young man,
Tillie’s biscuits are also the best.”
Agnes would prefer to talk with
her father but, first things first.
She needs to know more
of this young man.
Permalink
08.15.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:50 am by Linda
“Agnes, that is uncanny. Ethan and I
were just discussing the same earlier.
 He feels as if tobacco might do well also. It is as if the two of you
are
of like mind.”
” That is amazing, Big Daddy.
Perhaps this is a good time
for Ethan to tell me what
brings him to Ashland and why
our crops are of interest to him.”
” It is a short story, Miz Agnes,
but I would be happy to share it
with you.
Your father’s intended, Sarah,
 was my aunt.
Her sister, Violet, is my mother.
Unfortunately, I was away
at school when the accident
happened but managed to return
for her funeral.
That is where I met your father.”
“It was a terrible tragedy
and a most horrid day
for everyone. You have
my sympathy.”
Agnes felt a slight tinge
of remorse as she, herself,
had not given much thought
to Sarah’s death. She remained
bitter that it had taken Big Daddy
away for so long.
“Please do go on, Ethan.
I would like to hear why that
brought you to Ashland.”
“Agnes,dear, it is time
for dinner. You and Ethan
can talk at the table or later.
Come, my boy, you have
never had fried chicken
as good as Tillie’s.”
Agnes couldn’t help
 but feel resentment
even as Ethan offered
her his arm.
She wondered if
Big Daddy had truly
wanted a son.
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