Chapters 9 and 10
I had to stay out in the barn with Horace; He said it wasn't that bad. There were horse blankets that
you could roll up in. They kept you pretty warm even in the worst weather. I
was to help out with the livestock and cleaning, and anything else there was to
do. I’d get my room and board and maybe a few pennies too, after all I wasn't a
slave I was a free women. How was I supposed to keep Horace from finding out I was
a girl unless I slept in my clothes? Horace
was a problem, he would come into the loft strip off his clothes like nothing, I
would try to move the blankets around a little so I didn't see anything. Just about
the time the British were driving the Americans out of New York a terrible fire
occurred and 500 houses burnt down. And they were already in a short supply of
houses. All of the houses left over with just chimneys and maybe a brick wall
turned into little tents. This place was called Canvas Town. Horace says most
everyone in Canvas town is black. Horace and I went to Canvas town and were
walking and all the streets were filled with Garbage and mud. Horace says the mud
could have dead bodies pushed down in it, you could step on them and you would
never know. As we were walking we saw a big black man sitting on a broken brick
wall smoking a pipe, and admiring the view. He had a scar on his chin his nose
was busted over, and half his teeth were missing. He looked mighty rough. “’Scuse
me sir” I said, “I’m looking for a pretty for my ma” I said. She ain't here
there ain't no mothers in Canvas Town” He said.
She said “don’t mind him, who’s your ma?” “Lucy Freeman is her name”, I said.
She said, “I seen your Ma”. “Now you
listen” she said, “you come back tonight, and bring me a couple coppers for my medicine,
and I’ll see what I can do, now run before he catches you” she said. So me and Horace
ran back. That night Horace and I got some coppers and went to Canvas town. We couldn't find which house was hers. Then finally as we were walking we thought
we found it so I stuck my lantern in there and she was sleeping so I went in.
Horace handed me my lantern once I got in there. I knelled over her and shook
her by the shoulder. She didn't wake up; she just sort of rattled there. I
figured she was drunk, which worried me because then she might not remember
about Ma. So I gave her cheek a little pat, just a little slap, and when I did I
realized her face was cold. My stomach jumped. I didn't want to touch her no
more, but I had to , Just in case she was still alive and could be saved. So I laid
my hand on her face, she was stone cold dead. So I jumped out the window hole
and my lantern went out. “She’s dead Horace” I whispered. Then we ran for it.
Horace
and I decided to write a letter to my aunt and uncle so they would know I was
alive. So he started to write, “Dear Aunt Betsy, I’m living down here in N.Y
with Mr. Fraunces. I’m all right, and in good health. I have looked for Ma but
don’t find her anywhere. If you know where she is write Mr. Fraunces, Love
Willy” the whole time I wanted to write more, But Horace was complaining about
his wrist. He says he hurt it while brushing the horses earlier that day. So Horace and I went and delivered the letter
to be sent. After that we went and collected hay from a farmer across the field. After we filled our wagon with hay he fed us
cider and Biscuits, then as we were pushing the wagon up the river bank, we got
all sweaty. And Horace decided the we should go for a swim. So I told him I was going to go look
for grapes in the field, and I don’t know how to swim, and I have a cold. So I ended
up going and picking grapes and eating them. As I was doing that I realized it’s been a
long time so I went and found Horace and he started to climb up the river back
and he was naked so I started running and he started chasing after me. So finally
I stopped and tried not to look at his face, then he’s like “Willy what’s
wrong? You have been acting different today. So I told him I was a girl, and he
ran away and put his clothes on. Then after that we didn't talk much he said I should
of told him I was a girl.
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