Civil Boundaries

Bertram,

I's finelee can reeds and writes juss like u. Presdent Leenkun Lincon free us last yeer and plan ta free the hole nashun in due time. bless him tender hart. no mo hidin outs behind dat cow patch when i's git sic of it all. I's can be sic and tyrrd rite where I's wants ta!

rememba when we's use ta be a playin in mastas gardin, like two, sillee chickins with they heads cut off? we's dont no the furst thang about what luv is. too nieve. but I's do no now dat I's did luv u, Bertram. I's still do!

its ben so lonesum wit out u here. I's cant go a day wit out yo hansum face poppin up in the mind, wunderin where u is at. I's can nevva fogive yo papa fo chasin u away. no sir! he was awful mad dat we is free. cant tells us what ta do no mo. when we's walk away, dat face of hims turnt redder than one of dem cardnols ... dem red berds up there in the skys.

the townfolk was havin a hissee too! dey all dont no what to do! sum slaves agree ta stay wit dey mastas as long as dey git munee fo all dey hard work. its ben crazee round here, but I's keepin my head up.

I's need ta tell ya sumtin, Bertram... I's name her Harmony for all dem times when i’s finds myself dreemin about a betta life. she is yo little gurl! I's no cos I’s nevva play in the gardin wit no one else.

her preshush self just turnt foteen munts old! I’s wish u cud haf seent her take her first steps. now, she think she can git away, smilin like I's cant ketch her.

she was born just in time for mama ta see her. mama held her so tite, I's thot she wud scueez nevva lets her go. but mama ben sic fo a long time. the day our grayshush lord brot Harmony in to dis world, mama cry herself to sleep dat night—happee tears. but she nevva did woken up. the lord sent fo her dat day, Bertram. ended all her pane and sufferin. I's wud cry rite now if dem tears woodent go and mess up dis letta up.

life aint go be any ezee from now on, but at leest we's free. Ima do my bestest and gits me a job in town. I's dont no what to do, but I's excitit!

ben a yeer sense u write us to lets us no u’s okay. how is u doin now? I's dident no hows to writes u back ta tells ya I's got yo letta... I's hope and prays u git dis. wherevva maryland is, my mind say its a big ole fancee city where ritch folk lives. pleese writes me back. I's do mis you.

Olivia.

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Olivia, my dear.

I hope you can emagine the excitemint I had ta open up yo letter. After I read it, the 25-year-old man in me cried like a sproutin teeths baby. Happy tears, like you said about yo mama, Clemintine.

Im so sorry she done gone ta Heaven. She was a strong woman, the only slave with the iron backbone ta evva talk back ta my papa. And she done it in style when she knew he was wrong. Made me laff. Papa knew she had betta brains than him. Dats why he kept her, didnt sell her when the chance come round. You is just as strong like her...

Me?... A father?... Dats the bestest news a man and his foolish pride can evva git. I bet Harmony is mo beautiful than dat garden we spent time in. I cant wait to see her, and you! But I can nevva come back ta Virginia ta live. Papa wont evva fogive me, called me bad words. Called me a nigga lovah! I pushed him ta the ground reel hard and spat in his face and kick dirt on him. I was mad. He told me ta pack up my belongins and nevva come back! I done did just dat! I had to be strong! I nevva wanted ta leeve you there, but I had no choosin! You cud have been killt out there with no ownah ta ya name...

I gots me a new life here in Maryland. Im finaly prowd, Olivia. Im makin sumthin out of myself. I can awnestely troofuly thank Mr. Amos Wilson fo showin me hows ta run a bizness. He say dat one day, Ima make a reel good carpenter and be rich like him! I made two hundred and fotee eight dollars and sixty two cent last munt. Mo than I evva did workin for papa.

I hate ta ask ya, and i know dat you say you love me. Dats why I'm askin you and Harmony ta come here with me. I want ta see her grow up in ta evree part of her life...You can git a job here! I will show you what ta do! And we's can talk about bein a famly! Dats what makes me so mad when I think about it. A man can love any gal he wants ta... No matta what culah we are, the culah we bleed is all the same. We breethe the same air. We all live on dis god given earth fo one reeson— ta finds usself sumbody to make a life wit.

Ima git sum time away from work soon ta saddle up fo a ride down there. I wants you ta say yes. I dont care what peeple thinks about a white man courtin a black woman. Evree time I see you, its like im lookin at the britest angel up there on dem clouds. You aint like no one else, Olivia.… There aint no prospecs here in Maryland, excep dem floosies and gold-diggas. I aint got no gold to dig! Hell, I aint even got a shovel!

The last thang I gotsta say is dat the lord meant for us to find each uhthah. You make me happy, Olivia. I hope I make you happy too!

And if you ever see my papa, you tell him I said he can kiss my lily white ass all the way from here to Californee!

-Bertram