displease the new master, and there were words which led to
misunderstandings. The unpleasantness came to an outburst when
Armstrong decided to administer corporal punishment to sheridan, the
dreamer, who was slower to accomplish obedience than most of the boys
had learned to be. As the whipping was being administered and the cries
of the frightened ten year old roused the neighborhood, Uncle Bill,
taking his life in his hands, appeared at the wood shed door. "Scuse me,
sir, Mr. Armstrong, but us ain't never whup that there chile. Them
others needs it once in a while, but not Sherd, no sir, not him."
Armstrong was as stunned as if cold water had been dashed into his face.
A slave--dared speak to a white man--and in reprimand? He turned loose
the frightened Sheridan who fled to his mother's room shouting
terror-stricken, "He's gointer kill Uncle Bill--he's gointer kill
him--please don't let him--"
Whitley threw down the halter he was about to slip over the horses nose
and ran for the scene of the terrifying fracas, followed on his heels by
Vol, and Joe. Mr. Armstrong was failing the air with a plank trying to
decapitate the impudent slave. Uncle Bill, ashen and shaken, but unhurt
was thrust behind him as Whitley waded into the middle--grabbing the
wrist of the angry step-father.
"We must come to a definate understanding, Cousin Cavitt," Whitley said
quietly as he released the older man. "You will never strike Uncle Bill
so long as any of the three of us boys of Andrew Cavitt lives, do you
understand sir?"
"You impudent whelp, how do you dare---" Cavitt Armstrong was sputtering
with rage--but seeing himself outnumbered by three strapping younger
men, subsided. "Explain yourself, young man. I am the master of this
house now."
Mother owns this place, she bought it with our father's money and with
her own judicious use of it, and you are free to live here since she has
seen fit to marry you, but our father required of Uncle Bill that he
raise us right--that he stand in place of a guardian for our good and
the family well-being--and never has he been guilty of betraying that
trust and faith my father had in him. I am sorry this happened, but
henceforth you will attend to your own business and leave Uncle Bill
alone. There will be no flogging of the little brothers unless Mother
directs it. She manages to handle all of us without undue physical
punishment, sir, and we respect and try to obey her."
Some time after the incident of Sheridan's whipping by his step-father,
Volney, Josephus, Sheridan, James and Frank Cavitt rented and moved to
the Moore farm, 3 miles northwest of Wheelock, taking with them the
slaves inherited from their father's estate. Whit never left his
mother's home, hoping to act as a buffer between the step-father and the
baby brother William.
Mrs. Charity Meadows who lived near their farm, owned a saddle mare
which was rated a a public nuisance. When it was not in use it was
turned on the unfenced range, wearing a bell that it might be more
easily located when needed. It often jumped into the fields and
depredated the growing crops. The Cavitt boys, being the nearest
neighbors, were favored with more frequent visits from the horse. Each
time when she was delivered to her owners the request was made that the
mare be kept in the lot or her lead be tied down to her forefoot if she
was to be turned on the range again.
Thin patience finally became more threadbare. Upon the nag's next
visit, Volney Cavitt quietly drove her into their horse lot, caught her
and tied her to a tree, the cut a dozen hickory switches, long and
stout, which were beaten and whacked on the bark of a tree nearby untill
each one was worn to a frazzle at the small end. These were plaited
into the mare's mane and tail so thoroughly they would not drop out. He
then rumpled and roughed the hair on the mare's back and sides and lead
her down the road, increasing his speed to a gallop as he neared the
house where Mrs. Meadows could hear the loud rattle of the bell and
realize something unusual was going on. When near the house,
--
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The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched.
It must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
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Last Blue Promise...Poetry and Links to All my Web Sites
http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/meath/45/index.html
OR
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Bistro/6720/index.html
...It is in silence where music lies...
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Listowner CARRINGTON and CAVITT surnames
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