Papa Joe

Posted by notestowomen on July 14, 2017

August 12, 1952. It was a date she would never forget. It was the day she buried the man who had been a father to her for over twenty years. It seemed so surreal. Papa Joe was gone. She stood there alone in her grief, shivering although it was a hot and muggy day.

She stared at the ground where Papa Joe lay. The tears rolled down her cheeks as she cradled his worn Bible, remembering how he used to read it to her when she was a child. When her parents had died he took her in and raised her as his own. She had grown to love the old man as if he were her very own blood. Many of the townspeople had a problem with the widower raising a black girl and didn’t hide their displeasure but Papa Joe ignored them. His business began to suffer. Papa Joe was a tailor. He knew that business would pick up again if he got rid of Cassandra but he refused to do so. Even if he went bankrupt, he would never part with her. He vowed that only death would separate them.

It was Papa Joe whom she shared her dreams with. It was Papa Joe who comforted her when she went home crying because of the racial slurs and taunts. Papa Joe was the only one who knew that she loved a man she had no right to love. She had known Dr. Baker since she was a child. He used to stop by and see Papa Joe. He was always kind to her and brought her treats. As she grew older, the visits became more frequent. Papa Joe was no fool. He could see that feelings were developing between them and he warned her, “You and the doctor have to be careful, Cassie. This town will not take kindly to a relationship between a black girl and a white man.”

One night when Dr. Baker visited, Papa Joe excused himself and went to his room. As soon as they were alone, the doctor took Cassandra into his arms and kissed her. “I have wanted to do that all day,” he whispered when he raised his head to gaze down into her face. “I know that there is a considerable age difference between us but I love you, Cassandra. I tried to stay away when I realized that I had fallen in love with you but I couldn’t. I had to see you.”

“I love you too.”

“I’m leaving for Paris in three weeks and I would like you to come with me.”

“Paris?” she exclaimed. “Why there?”

“I have always wanted to go there and set up a practice. My mother was French and your family was from Haiti. So the language won’t be a barrier for us.”

“I can’t go to Paris with you, Robert.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t leave Papa Joe. He has been so good to me.”

“Joe would want you to be happy and you won’t be as long as you remain in this town.”

“I can’t be happy knowing that he is here all alone.” She could see the distress on Robert’s face and she reached up and touched his face. “I love you for wanting to take me away with you, but I can’t. I hope you understand.”

“I do,” he sighed. “Well, I better be going. Please say goodnight to Joe for me.” They kissed and then she walked with him to the door.

“Goodbye, Cassandra. Write me and let me know how you are doing.” He gave her a piece of paper with an address on it. She took it. After a lingering look, he was gone–perhaps out of her life for good.

That was three months ago. They had exchanged letters since and when Papa Joe died, she had written and told Robert. She stood now at the grave, the tears falling. Papa Joe had left the house to her and all the money he earned from his tailoring. She had the money locked away in a box. She didn’t want to go back to the empty house.

She had no idea of how long she stood there but the biting cold prompted her to start making her way back to the house. She had just reached the front porch when she saw a car pull up and Robert got out. He walked over to her and taking her arm he led her up the steps. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it on time for the funeral,” he apologized as she unlocked the door and they went inside.

Once inside and the door was shut, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She sobbed, letting out the pent up grief that had closed around her heart like a fist. Robert stood there, holding her until the sobs subsided and then ceased.

When she was spent from all that crying, Robert took her over to the sofa and sat her down. “Joe wrote me this note,” he said, handing it to her. “I think you should read it.”

She wiped away the tears before she reached for the note. Frowning, she slowly unfolded the paper and read it. Dear Robert, I know that you love my Cassie and that you wanted to take her away from this cursed place. If I know my dear girl she will not want to leave me. She feels a sense of obligation to stay and take care of me as I have taken care of her all these years. I don’t want to be a burden to her. She is young and deserves to live her life. There’s no future for her here. I know that she loves you and that it broke her heart to be separated from you. She thought I wasn’t aware, but I could see the unhappiness in her sweet face and I could hear her crying in the night. She had sacrificed her chance for happiness for me. I haven’t told her but I don’t have much longer to live. When I pass on, which should be any time soon, please come and take Cassie away from here. Take her to Paris where you and she will be free to love each other. She can use the money from the sale of the house to pay for her fare. I am sorry that I won’t be there for your wedding but know that I wish you both all the happiness in the world. Please take good care of my precious girl.

Yours sincerely,

Joe

Fresh tears fell. “I had no idea that he was dying. He was tired more but I just thought that it was to do with age. I am thankful that I was here for him.”

“Now, you can get on with your life. We have his blessing. Let me take you to Paris.” He reached out and took her hands in his. “Cassandra, I want to marry you. Let me take you to Paris.”

She nodded. “I will go to Paris with you,” she said. Her life here was over. There was nothing to keep her here. Her future was with Robert now. She would sell this house filled with so many wonderful memories and leave this town which had been the source of her unhappiness. Yes, she will go to Paris and marry the man she loved.

crying african american woman in the 1950s

The Attention

Posted by notestowomen on June 26, 2017

Rose could feel the townspeople watching her and Victor Ashdown as they left the local church. It was raining and Victor was holding the umbrella over her.

The tongues had been wagging since they showed up for the Sunday morning service. No doubt they were wondering why Victor Ashdown was there with Rose instead of his grandmother, Lady Ashdown.

Rose was the elder woman’s companion. She had placed to an ad in the newspaper and received a reply. After providing references which were satisfactory, she was accepted to the post and a week later she was on her way to Langley Hall. It was the first time she had left the society of London and her friends to come to the countryside. She fell in love with Langley Hall the moment she saw it. The stunning, historic home surrounded by lush and idyllic countryside with its romantic interior of wood paneling and ornate chandeliers took her breath away. Her family cottage seemed dull compared to this splendid home. And the room she occupied was very charming.

Lady Ashdown was very amiable and Rose soon developed a deep affection for her. Life at Langley Hall was pleasant. Then she met Victor whom she found to be very agreeable, engaging and irresistible. When she was not engaged by his grandmother, they spent time together in the garden where they had stimulating conversations. It was only a matter of time before they fell in love. Of course, it was no surprise to Lady Ashdown who raised no objections. Victor went to London to see her father who gave his consent. Rose had written several letters, telling her family about him.

“Good morning, Miss Haversham,” the greeting brought her back to the present and she met the curious gaze of Mrs. Lambton. The older woman’s eyes were sharp with curiosity as she looked first at Rose and then at Victor.

Rose feigned a smile. Busybody. She thought. “Good morning, Mrs. Lambton.” And she continued walking, giving the woman no opportunity to engage her in any further dialogue. “Horrible woman,” she muttered under her breath.

Victor seemed amused rather than annoyed at the attention they were getting. “They will have plenty to talk about when you and I get married,” he said.

“Yes, indeed. It will be quite the story–Victor Ashdown marries a city girl when he should have married a girl from Darbyshire.”

“I am marrying the girl I love and that’s that. Let’s not talk about this anymore. We have more important matters to talk about.”

“Such as?”

“Such as where would you like to go for your honeymoon?”

Rose smiled, her eyes sparkled as she met his gaze. “You’re right, where we honeymoon is of great importance.”

victorian couple walking in the rain

Source: Victorian Contexts; Country Living

The Truth

Posted by notestowomen on June 22, 2017

“What are you doing?” she asked him, agitated.

“I am going to turn the pages for you,” he said.

She was sitting at the piano about to play something

while her aunt and her visitors were sitting in the drawing-

room having tea. “I can manage,” she told him.

“Please, Helen. I haven’t been alone with you for

days and you have been avoiding me.”

“Have I?” she began to play and for the next

few moments, no words were exchanged

between them. He turned the pages, his eyes

never leaving her face. How she managed to

concentrate with him being so near, she had

no idea.

The last note she struck was accompanied

by applause and compliments on her playing

and then the conversation resumed.

“You know you have been avoiding me,” he

insisted. “Why, Helen?”

She looked at him in frustration. “You know

why, Jonathan.”

“All I know is that we love each other and

avoiding me isn’t going to change that.”

“Please don’t say that.”

“It’s the truth.”

“We’re not supposed to love each other.”

“But we do. Come for a walk with me. I

need to be alone with you.”

“I can’t. I’m–I’m not feeling well.” She

did feel a little warm.

“Liar” he interjected. He reached in his

breast pocket and took out a folded

sheet of paper. He slipped it over to

her.

She stared at it, not taking it up. “What

is it?”

“A poem.”

“Another one? Jonathan, you have to

stop writing me poems and letters.”

She had them hidden away in her

drawer and at night before she went

to bed, she read them, even though

it tortured her to do so.

“It captures the feelings that I want

so badly to express. I will leave you

now. If you change your mind, I will

be in the gazebo. It promises to be a

beautiful night.” He walked away.

She sat there for a while, staring

at the sheet of paper and then she

picked it up, her fingers trembling.

She slowly unfolded it and read

the bold letters scrawled across

the lines. Her heart breaking as

she read the words. She pressed

the page against her chest and

closed her eyes.

“Are you all right?” the sound of

her aunt’s voice jolted her and

she got up hastily from the piano,

the sheet of paper slipped from her

fingers and fell on the carpet.

“I have a headache,” she said, “Please

excuse me, Aunt Cora.”

“Wait,” her aunt called, frowning, but

Helen had left the room. Aunt Cora stood

there for a moment, pensive and then

she bent down and picked up the paper

which Helen had dropped. She glanced at

it and then she folded it and slipped it into her pocket.

The clock struck eleven. Helen sat by the window, looking

out of the window. It was a beautiful night. The moon cast its

light on the courtyard below. Was he still out there in the

gazebo or had he retired? What was he doing?

Should she have gone for the walk? She knew why

she didn’t dare be alone with him. The last time they

were alone together, they almost got carried away.

She had to practically run away. After that she

vowed never to be alone with him again.

A knock on the door brought her out of her

reverie. She turned to see her aunt in the

doorway. “Aunt Cora.” She moved away from

the window.

“I hope I am not disturbing you, Dear.”

Helen shook her head. “No, you’re not. I

couldn’t sleep. I have been sitting at the

window watching the moon.”

“I have something that belongs to you.” She

handed Helen the poem.

Helen blushed as she took it, feeling embarrassed.

Aunt Cora motioned for them to sit by

the window. “I think it’s about time that

I told you the truth about your father,”

she said.

Helen was startled. “My father?”

“Yes. My brother John was not your

father, Helen. Your real father was

a close friend of John’s. Your mother

died in childbirth and your father

raised you. When you were three

he died in a riding accident. When

John learned this unfortunate news

he brought you home as you had no

other living relatives. He raised you

as his own daughter and he adored

you. You were his life.”

Helen was crying now. “I adored

him too,” she said. “I miss him. There’s so

much I want to talk to him about.”

Aunt Cora patted her hands. “Yes, I imagine there is.”

“What were my parents like?”

“They were very good people. I met your

father. He was a delightful man. He

doted on you.”

There was a pregnant pause as Helen tried

to digest the news she had just received. “So

this means that Jonathan and I aren’t cousins.”

Aunt Cora nodded. “That’s right. And that’s why

I had to tell you the truth about your background.

I had noticed the way you and my son behaved

around each other. And seeing you together

tonight convinced me that you are in love with

each other. So, my Dear, there’s nothing to stop

you and he from being together.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

Aunt Cora shook her head. “I will leave you to it.”

“Do I still call you Aunt Cora?”

“Oh yes, you do.” The older woman hugged

her tightly. “Now, try to get some sleep.”

Helen smiled, “Goodnight, Aunt Cora.”

“Goodnight, Dear.”

Helen turned to look out the window. The

truth about her parentage turned out

to be her greatest blessing. Now she and

Jonathan were free to love each other

without feeling guilty and ashamed. Tomorrow

she would tell him. Tomorrow couldn’t come

soon enough.

Girl on piano

Literacy Saved Her Paycheck

Posted by notestowomen on November 28, 2015

Literacy brings an incredible freedom to women in South Asia; helping them to take care of their families, not be cheated at the marketplace, and be able to read the Bible for themselves – Gospel for Asia

As an avid reader, I can’t imagine not being able to read. It is one of my favorite things to do. I loved reading since I was a child. It led to my other favorite thing–writing. Being able to read and write can really make a difference. You can read books, study the Bible, write letters, read recipes, directions, the labels on products in the grocery store and write checks. These are things that most of us can do but in South Asia, more than 30% of the women are unable to because of illiteracy.

Imagine that you are illiterate and have no opportunity for an education. Imagine the struggles you face as you try to make ends meet while your husband spends your earnings on alcohol. This was Dayita’s reality. She came from a village where few girls received an education. Being illiterate left her with very few options. She began sewing clothing to ease her family’s financial situation. Her husband Kaamil deposited her earnings in the bank but she was horrified when she found out that he was withdrawing her money so that he could buy alcohol. Desperate, Dayita found someone to help her to open her own bank account but managing it proved to be very difficult because she couldn’t read or write. She was unable to fill out the deposit and withdrawal forms. She had to rely on others to help her.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble – Psalm 46:1

God saw that Dayita needed help and He intervened. He sent Ashna and Neha, believers from the local Women’s Fellowship to start a literacy class in Dayita’s area. Dayita began attending the sessions because she was determined to keep her hard-earned money safe. To her surprise, Kaamil supported her. Ashna taught two hour classes on reading and writing from a Bible based curriculum. Within two months, Dayita could read and write enough to fill out her bank forms. She is able to deposit and withdraw money on her own now. She is able to get around because she can read the names of buses and bus stations. Thanks to the ministry of Ashna and Neha, Dayita is learning about Jesus and starting to believe in Him.

Thanks be to God, who sees all and knows all and is every ready to help those who are in need, Dayita can enjoy the freedom that literacy brings. Knowing how to read and write, she doesn’t have to depend on others for help. She can go to the bank and do a transaction any time she wants. She can travel without worrying about getting lost. She can also enjoy the freedom that knowing Jesus brings.

If you are interested in helping other women like Dayita, find out how at this link. Help to free the women of South Asia from the yoke of illiteracy.

Source: Gospel for Asia

Women’s Literacy = Women’s Liberty

Posted by notestowomen on September 8, 2015

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, an essential complement to investments in roads, dams, clinics and factories. Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right…. Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”
― Kofi Annan

Tuesday, September 8, 2015 was an important day for lots of parents and their children. It was an important day for my family. It was my son’s first day back to school. This year he will be in grade 2 . It was wonderful seeing parents and their kids filing into the school. The halls were crowded and noisy as we squeezed our way to the gym where the children were to line up before heading to the auditorium for the greeting and morning prayer. As I looked at the children in their uniforms, I thought of how what a blessing it is to be able to go to school.

September 8 was an important day for another reason. It was International Literacy Day, a day first proclaimed as such on November 17, 1965 by UNESCO. It was first celebrated in 1966 and its objective has always been to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. The theme for this year was Literacy and Sustainable Societies and the Day marked the 50th anniversary of the World Congress of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy. It is a day when the world is reminded of how important learning is.

International Literacy Day gives children and communities a chance to rediscover the joys of reading while raising awareness for those without access to education.

Can you imagine being a mother and unable to read your child’s school report or help him with his homework because you can’t read or write? What if you couldn’t read the Bible or a bedtime story to your child or a Mother’s Day or birthday card? Sadly, there are women in South Asia who can’t read or write. Can you believe that over 30% of Asian women are illiterate? In fact, more than one out of every three women in Asia are illiterate!

There is hope, thanks to Gospel for Asia’s Literacy Program. Through literacy classes held by GFA supported local Women’s Fellowships, women are learning how to read, write, do basic math, some of life’s most basic lessons, and, most importantly, they are learning how to read and study God’s Word on their own. What a joy it must be to be able to read about a loving God and a Savior who gave His life for them. And better yet, they can read to their children.

So women volunteered to teach literacy classes to other women. The program expanded into several states and two countries, so a standardized curriculum was developed.

In this day and age, it is hard to believe that there are so many people who still cannot read or write. Last year, Gospel for Asia supported the work of missionaries who saw International Literacy Day as an opportunity to raise awareness of the value of women’s literacy and to share the Gospel.

I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure – Psalm 119:162

Do you want to bring hope to women by helping to make it possible for them to read and study God’s Word? Find out how you can do so here. Reading and writing are basic necessities of life that everyone should have. Women who learn how to read, write and do basic Math will be able to provide for their families. You will be helping a woman to keep her children safe because she can read the warning labels or from being cheated at the marketplace because she knows basic Math. Think of how different your life would be if you couldn’t read your Bible, recipes, emails or letters. Then think of the freedom you enjoy from being literate and how you can help to liberate these women too.

Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century we must harness the energy and creativity of all our citizens – President Bill Clinton on International Literacy Day, September 8th 1994

Sources: Gospel for Asia, International Literacy Day, UNESCO

Fanny Kemble

Posted by notestowomen on July 10, 2015

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good – Thomas J. Watson

I never heard of Fanny Kemble until I recently read a devotion, The Unlikely in Our Daily Bread which mentions her work as an Abolitionist. She was a British actress in the 19th century who married Pierce Butler, an American fan. Fanny didn’t know that he was soon to inherit two plantations. Had she known, most probably she would not have married him. Little did she know that she would soon be fighting her own civil war.

Fanny Kemble was born in England in 1809 into a prominent family of actors. Although she was very accomplished in her acting, it was not her true love. Writing was her passion and throughout her she would write plays, journals, poetry, letters and memoirs. Her most famous authorship would be that of Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation which many consider to be the closest, most detailed account of the harsh conditions of plantation slavery.

Fanny was a strong, spirited woman with no formal training in acting but she managed to captivate audiences. She had what were considered to be masculine traits: she was independent, physically strong and highly intelligent. She was talented, spoke French fluently and was accomplished in music. She embraced life and enjoyed exercise, specifically riding. To her the best way to was to break “my neck off the back of my horse at a full gallop on a fine day”. This reminds me of my former boss whose wish was to die being mauled to death by a polar bear. Whatever happened to wanting to die peacefully in one’s sleep?

Fanny met her future husband Pierce when she and her father went on a two-year theatre tour in America. It wasn’t her desire to experience life in America but she did it to please her father. She was well received by the Americans and captured the ardent attention of Pierce Butler, a man born into wealthy and prominent family from Philadelphia. His grandfather was Revolutionary War veteran Major Pierce Butler. Major Butler was a U.S. Senator from South Carolina and the author of the Constitution’s fugitive slave clause. He owned two plantations in Georgia, one was on St. Simon’s Island where sea-island cotton was grown and the other was on Butler Island where rice was grown. One day, his grandson would inherit this mass fortune, making history as one of the largest slaveholders in the nation.

Pierce, infatuated with Fanny, followed her while she toured and she fell in love with this charming and attentive man. She married him as a way of escaping life in the theatre which was beset with her family’s unstable financial future. She was marrying into wealth but didn’t find out what the source of that wealth was until after they got married.

It was a marriage that was doomed from the beginning. She believed that he would always be devoted to her and he believed that he could control her. And their differences on slavery did not help matters. He thought he could get her to see the benefits of the institution while she thought she could get him to free his slaves. When she tried to publish an antislavery treatise she had written, Pierce forbade her to do so. After he and his brother John inherited the Georgia plantations, Fanny wanted to see the plantation and begged but Pierce to take her with him but he refused. Then in December of 1838 he took her and their two daughters and their Irish nurse to Butler Island. Nothing could have prepared Fanny for what she witnessed at this place. Inspite of the beautiful surroundings, she could not escape the ugly presence of slavery. She said, “I should like the wild savage loneliness of the far away existence extremely if it were not for the one small item of the slavery.”

Fanny and Pierce clashed over their views of slavery and their marriage began to deteriorate. In 1845 Fanny left Pierce and children and returned to England where she resumed her stage career. Pierce sued for divorce, claiming that she had “willfully, maliciously, and without due cause, deserted him on September 11, 1845”. Three years later, on April 7, 1848, he filed for divorce. Fanny returned to America to defend herself against his charges and after a long and painful court battle, the divorce was granted a year later with Pierce having full custody of the girls. Fanny was allowed to spend two months very summer with them and receive $1500 yearly in alimony.

While Fanny was able to support herself in the U.S. and Europe with her Shakespearean readings, Pierce fell into financial ruin, gambling away his fortune. He ended up in huge debt which led to the selling of the mansion in Philadelphia and the liquidation of other properties. Unfortunately, this was not enough so the trustees turned their focus on the property in Georgia where the slaves were. This led to the largest single sale of human beings in United States history and the event known as “the weeping time” as slaves were separated from their families.

After the war Pierce and his daughter Frances returned to Butler Island where he arranged for former slaves to work for him as sharecroppers. He later contracted malaria and died. Fanny moved to Philadelphia where she continued to perform dramatic readings. She travelled and published her journals. On January 15, 1893, Fanny died peacefully in London.

Notes to Women want to acknowledge this woman who spoke out against an institution and practice which violated the rights of people based on their race. Moved with compassion and a sense of decency, Fanny set out to reform the plantations. She set up a hostel and nursery for those in need and paid the slaves who personally tended to her. She improved the hygiene of the slave children by rewarding cleanliness with small prizes. Her critics saw her efforts at reform as foolish and sided with her husband but we applaud Fanny for the stance she took against slavery and her resolve to do what she could to help the slaves and for raising awareness through her firsthand observations. If you are interested in reading about her experiences, you can read them in her diary here.

In Fanny’s eyes, acquiring wealth from the forced labor and enslavement of others is unconscionable. She was convinced that slavery was wrong and inhumane and refused to be silenced on the matter. She stuck to her convictions and today, her journal continues to be a primary source of education on the reality of slavery.

[On disagreeing with her husband about his slave-holding:] I cannot give my conscience into the keeping of another human being or submit the actions dictated by my conscience to their will.

I have sometimes been haunted with the idea that it was an imperative duty, knowing what I know, and having seen what I have seen, to do all that lies in my power to show the dangers and the evils of this frightful institution.

In the north we could not hope to keep the worst and poorest servant for a single day in the wretched discomfort in which our negro servants are forced habitually to live.

I said I thought female labour of the sort exacted from these slaves, and corporal chastisement such as they endure, must be abhorrent to any manly or humane man.

The Southern newspapers, with their advertisements of negro sales and personal descriptions of fugitive slaves, supply details of misery that it would be difficult for imagination to exceed. Scorn, derision, insult, menace – the handcuff, the last – the tearing away of children from parents, of husbands from wives – the weary trudging in droves along the common highways, the labor of body, the despair of mind, the sickness of heart – these are the realities which belong to the system, and form the rule, rather that the exception, in the slave’s experience.

A good many causes tend to make good masters and mistresses quite as rare as good servants…. The large and rapid fortunes by which vulgar and ignorant people become possessed of splendid houses, splendidly furnished, do not, of course, give them the feelings and manners of gentle folks, or in any way really raise them above the servants they employ, who are quite aware of this fact, and that the possession of wealth is literally the only superiority their employers have over them.

Though the Negroes are fed, clothed, and housed, and though the Irish peasant is starved, naked, and roofless, the bare name of freemen-the lordship over his own person, the power to choose and will-are blessings beyond food, raiment, or shelter; possessing which, the want of every comfort of life is yet more tolerable than their fullest enjoyment without them.

When marriage is what it ought to be, it is indeed the very happiest condition of existence.