Slavery And Gratitude
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
Jenica has a ring and a photograph that are more precious to her than gold. She has had the photograph copied so her four children each have one. Jenica doesn't want them to forget what took place between the person in the picture and Jenica's great-great-grandmother, Lydia.
Lydia, born in 1845, was a servant in Mrs. Hale's home. She was dedicated to the Hale family and never spoke a harsh word against them.
Lydia was very soft-spoken and she was one of very few slaves who could read. Mrs. Hale had given her a Bible when she learned how well Lydia could read. Mrs. Hale had a live-in nanny for her seven children and Lydia and the nanny were secret friends. The nanny was white and Lydia knew she could never acknowledge her friend out in the open. Jenica wishes she knew the nanny's name.
But Jenica knows Mrs. Hale's name. Mrs. Hale was apparently very good to her servants and was sympathetic to the marches calling for the abolition of slavery, much to her husband's chagrin. Her husband was a horse trader and had three stables full of beautiful Arabians. He needed his slaves.
Mrs. Hale needed her slaves too, but she was much softer of character. She suspected Lydia and the nanny were good friends and gave them many opportunities to have time together. Lydia was in charge of the nursery and children's wing of the home.
Lydia had been Mrs. Hale's slave for thirteen years when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Lydia was 21. It took four more years until slavery was abolished and Lydia was told she was free to leave.
But Lydia didn't want to go. She loved Mrs. Hale, the nanny, and her life on the horse ranch. Lydia was allowed to stay although she was paid for her service. Jenica doesn't know much more after that, but her great-great-grandmother was allowed to raise a family on the grounds. Her days were long serving Mrs. Hale, and her evenings were spent caring for her husband and five children.
Mrs. Hale once gave Lydia a photograph of herself. It is the photograph that has been handed down for generations to Jenica. The faith and love of Lydia and Mrs. Hale has been repeated carefully. Lydia wanted her children and grandchildren to know the story.
Lydia was 43 when Mrs. Hale contracted a fever. The fever was terrible: it had already taken the lives of two of Lydia's children and Lydia was afraid her beloved mistress was going to die.
Lydia came to care for Mrs. Hale against doctor's orders: Mrs. Hale's fever was contagious. Still, Lydia wanted to care for her in her last days. Mrs. Hale gave Lydia a ring: a ring that was given to Mrs. Hale by her mother on her fifteenth birthday. It was a large blue sapphire with three diamonds on each side, set in gold. It is said that Lydia looked at it every night but never wore it. It was just too precious to her.
It is a beautiful ring and Jenica treasures it very much. Lydia's mistress did die, but not before she blessed Lydia. She gave her thanks to Lydia for her unequivocal devotion. Lydia had truly been a blessing to Mrs. Hale.
Lydia, born in 1845, was a servant in Mrs. Hale's home. She was dedicated to the Hale family and never spoke a harsh word against them.
Lydia was very soft-spoken and she was one of very few slaves who could read. Mrs. Hale had given her a Bible when she learned how well Lydia could read. Mrs. Hale had a live-in nanny for her seven children and Lydia and the nanny were secret friends. The nanny was white and Lydia knew she could never acknowledge her friend out in the open. Jenica wishes she knew the nanny's name.
But Jenica knows Mrs. Hale's name. Mrs. Hale was apparently very good to her servants and was sympathetic to the marches calling for the abolition of slavery, much to her husband's chagrin. Her husband was a horse trader and had three stables full of beautiful Arabians. He needed his slaves.
Mrs. Hale needed her slaves too, but she was much softer of character. She suspected Lydia and the nanny were good friends and gave them many opportunities to have time together. Lydia was in charge of the nursery and children's wing of the home.
Lydia had been Mrs. Hale's slave for thirteen years when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Lydia was 21. It took four more years until slavery was abolished and Lydia was told she was free to leave.
But Lydia didn't want to go. She loved Mrs. Hale, the nanny, and her life on the horse ranch. Lydia was allowed to stay although she was paid for her service. Jenica doesn't know much more after that, but her great-great-grandmother was allowed to raise a family on the grounds. Her days were long serving Mrs. Hale, and her evenings were spent caring for her husband and five children.
Mrs. Hale once gave Lydia a photograph of herself. It is the photograph that has been handed down for generations to Jenica. The faith and love of Lydia and Mrs. Hale has been repeated carefully. Lydia wanted her children and grandchildren to know the story.
Lydia was 43 when Mrs. Hale contracted a fever. The fever was terrible: it had already taken the lives of two of Lydia's children and Lydia was afraid her beloved mistress was going to die.
Lydia came to care for Mrs. Hale against doctor's orders: Mrs. Hale's fever was contagious. Still, Lydia wanted to care for her in her last days. Mrs. Hale gave Lydia a ring: a ring that was given to Mrs. Hale by her mother on her fifteenth birthday. It was a large blue sapphire with three diamonds on each side, set in gold. It is said that Lydia looked at it every night but never wore it. It was just too precious to her.
It is a beautiful ring and Jenica treasures it very much. Lydia's mistress did die, but not before she blessed Lydia. She gave her thanks to Lydia for her unequivocal devotion. Lydia had truly been a blessing to Mrs. Hale.
