Mollys businesses were doing well. As a matter of fact everything seemed to be going right for Molly and her family until Percy told her that he had become an active abolitionist.
"Lord help me, Lord Help us all," was her response to Percy when he told her of his feelings. "I've got one son who is bringing the slaves in to sell them and another who is trying to set them all free."
"What do you mean Mama?" Percy exclaimed.
"It's your brother, Barnaby. He just brought in a whole slough of Negroes that he is selling to the highest bidders. He keeps them at Rob's farm over at Potato Creek. I've told him that I will not have a son of mine dealing in human flesh. He is going to have to get out of that evil business or Ill not let him stay in my home any longer."
"I'll talk to him Mama. It's a sin against God, and a sin against all mankind. He aught to know that. I'll go and tell him right away. But you know that my brother is money-hungry, and money has a voice that speaks louder than I could ever talk."
----------
"My brother, I've got to talk to you." Percy said as he approached the card table where Barnaby was sitting with four other men.
"Make it fast, because this is a real hot game." Barnaby said, somewhat irritated that his brother was interrupting the prospects of a good hand.
"I can't talk here. We need to go outside. "
"Why, Yes you can. Talk is free. See I'm talking, you're talking. Tell me what you want and be on your way." Barnaby told him without looking up from the cards he was holding.
Percy slapped at the cards in Barnaby's hand scattering them on the table and floor."
One of the men at the table frowned at Barnaby. "Are you gonna let that darky-loving brother of your's do that to you?"
Barnaby seized the man by the shirt-front lifting him out of his chair. "You keep your comments to yourself. If there is going to be any name calling about my brother, I'll do it my self. Now you pick up my cards and you'll see that I've got you beat with my pair of queens. I'll be back for the pot I won after I settle this matter with my brother."
Grabbing Percy by the arm, Barnaby half led, half pushed his brother toward the back of the saloon.
"Don't you ever interfere with my card games again." He told him in a forceful tone of voice.
"Barnaby. Do you realize what you are doing? You are going against everything our father taught us about human beings. My Daddy would be thrashing in his grave if he knew that you are buying and selling slaves.
"Oh that's it? I thought it was something really important." Barnaby spit into the dust on the floor. "Percy, this is my business and this is my life. You ain't gonna change it with all your high sounding words about human rights. It's a business just like anything else. Those Africans are right out of the jungle. I'm offering them a new life here in America. Why brother. They are eating corn bread and side meat and gravy now where all they used to eat were berries and roots, and grasshoppers. They will learn a trade and be useful. That's when they start to become human beings. History will show that the slave agents in this country are doing a great service to humanity. These Negroes might be distressed for the moment; but in the end they will have opportunities they can never get in the jungles of Africa. They ought to gather themselves around their little fetish idol god and give it thanks that they've been given a chance to start a new life in this great land of ours."
"Barnaby. You don't ....." Percy didn't get any farther before Barnaby grabbed him and slammed him against the grimy wall of the room. Through gritted teeth he said. "Little Brother. I know that you just got back from taking that runaway up North. It's easy to see that you think that it was one of the greatest things you have ever done. I saw the gleam in your eyes like you just shook hands with the Lord himself. But let me tell you one thing, my sanctimonious little brother, don't you mess around with my Negroes, cause if you try to help one of my properties run away, I'll kill you dead. Even if you are my brother, I'll kill you dead."
|