A saved life.

“Come here Isaac,’’ the old man called, “come and let me talk to you. This family thrives on hardship. God sees us through. I hope my story builds your faith.”

“I never told you my story because you never have the time, but you should listen. I was 20 years old. My master had just sold the girl I wanted to marry. My heart left my body that day. The man who bought her took off all her clothes and just stared at her while Esther she stood still in the hot Barbados sun. Her face looked as though she had died. There was no expression on her face she did not look sad she did not look angry she just looked dead. I was expected to work while this was happening. My master owned a huge sugar cane plantation. There were many sugarcane plantations in Barbados. Barbados was known as Sugar Island.

I learned that they were taking Esther to England. How would she survive? Some slaves were brought from England to work in Barbados, and they felt blessed to be living in a warm country after the cold and rainy weather of England. All I could think of was how to get to England. Esther glowed. Her skin was like polished velvet. She was kind and happy. When she spoke, it was like breeze on your hot face. I could not survive without her!

Her new master had just gotten married and wanted a girl to help his wife. My master exchanged Esther for 5 x 100 lbs. bags of sugar crystals. Would you believe they used sugar to buy my girl? That was the currency in 1906. I kept seeing all that sugar washed away in a flood. Could that be the equivalent of a human being?

I know you won't believe me, but I was a big fella, 6 feet 6 inches and broad across the shoulders. I was expected to and did the work of seven men. I cut cane from 4:00 AM in the morning up to noon when the sun was hot. I played an old saxophone my master brought from France.

I found it in the garbage and learned to play it on my own. Before my father died, he told me that I had a good ear for music. I guess that means when I hear a song, I could play it quickly on the saxophone. I never learned to read music.

The saxophone became my great passion after Esther was gone. One night, while I was sleeping four men just as big as I was, came, beat me in the head, and tied me like a hog. They stole me from my master, my mother, my family, and my life. They stuffed a cloth in my mouth and carried me to a ship in the harbor. I got sick, I lost weight and I did not see the sun for more than a month. They took me to England. I could not believe these guys brought me to England.

I didn't know I was in England for weeks. I think the starvation and the sickness while I was on the hold of the ship took my senses. When I learned I was in England, all I could think about was Esther. Maybe God brought me to Esther. Instead, they sold me to a man in Belfast, Ireland. He was building a huge ship they called the Titanic. There were crowds of men there. The ship was the biggest thing I have ever seen. It was bigger than the plantation houses I worked in. It was close to 900 feet long and about 100 feet wide. There was no justice on the ship. The section for the rich had private bathrooms in each room plus swimming pools. The section for the poor had just 2 bathtubs to service over 600 persons! I felt sick while I was building this ship. The construction lasted 3 years.

God smiled on me that year 1912. There was a christening on the ship and among the ladies who were going on the boat for the party, I saw the most beautiful creature on earth holding two babies. It was my Esther. Boy, she looked like a dream. I did not have the courage to call her. My clothing was in tatters.

They made me work in the engine room. The Titanic was just circling the harbor for the christening party. She looked like a cupcake. That whole night I kept thinking about what I would say to her.

It did not matter; I spent the night in the engine room. She was upstairs at the party, and I was a dirty coal shoveler.

The next day I wondered where I could find her, but God was on my side. I was living in Ireland, and she was in England. Two weeks after the party, my master told me we were going to England. God was smiling with me. England was filled with millions of people, and I despaired of ever finding her. I was standing outside a store waiting for my master. I prayed like grandma taught me. I opened my eyes; I heard children’s laughter. A woman with two kids passed me with a basket. There was my queen, your grandmother Esther. I called her several times, but she did not look or answer me. I finally called my name Jacob, she spun around so fast.

That day, my master was going to sell me to the captain of the Titanic and the ship was about to sail from South Hampton England. I would be working in the engine room. The thought made me remember what life was like in the hold. I would die.

Another man offered more money for me, and I was sold to him. He was buying slaves and freeing them. Two weeks later he bought Esther from her master. We got married the same day the Titanic sailed, April 10th, 1912. My life was saved, and my joy abounded that I found my wife and we were free. We later learned of the tragedy.

Esther and I have different memories of the Titanic. The day she sailed is the day we married. We have celebrated 65 happy years together she is still the most beautiful girl.

I took care of my wife by playing the saxophone in clubs. No more building and no more engine rooms. Your Navy officer girl will come home to you. Pray and wait for God to answer as he did for me.”