Hallelujah

conclusion

by Norman A. Rubin

Table of Contents
Part 4 appears
in this issue.

Moses led the mule hitched to a covered wagon filled with baggage and all sorts of goods onto the ferry. He too moved carefully and with the strength of his muscled arms gripping the harness he directed the animal properly. As he labored his broad face beamed at his woman sitting high on the wooden seat like an African princess. And the curve to her lithe body was a coming sign of fulfillment.

From the signal of the ferryman to the trek on the long road the small party made their way to that cattle town in that border state. At the setting of the sun they reached the town’s borders. They made their way through the dusty streets till they came to a fine two-storey dwelling set on the slope of small hillock. There Jeb called a halt to his horse. Lily’s eyes brightened as the sight of such a fine house. It was broad beamed and fronted with brick and topped with a gabled roof. The polished oak door and the wide clear glass windows were signs of welcome and comfort.

“D’ye like it,” Jeb spoke softly to her, “Fair price I paid for it as I got a bit of beds, tables, chairs and other stuff. The neighbors about here are good people and willing to lend a hand.”

Jeb didn’t have a chance to continue when he heard the gurgling of his son as Lily enclosed the threesome in joy. “Oh Jeb you don’ made me the happiest gel’ in the whole wide world!”

A moment of two of happiness ensued before Jeb called for the group to gather up their things and move into the house. Jeb Stuart jumped from the buggy and took his son from Lily’s arms and helped her to alight. Then he led her along the path to the front door, which he unlocked. But before they were able to look within three women appeared with filled jars and crocks. There was a smile of welcome on their lips.

From that day forward they had settled in proper-like and within time called their near neighbors with the word friend. Moses and his handsome woman had two comfortable rooms at the back of the kitchen and they were most pleased. All and all the settling was quite smooth to all.

Jeb in meantime found his call at ‘trading’, namely in shipping cattle that was driven by yelling cowboys to the stockades near the rail line. An elder buyer needed a younger partner, and a deal was offered, which Jeb accepted. And with the instruction from the older man, the young man became adept within a short period to cattle buying and shipping herds to the eastern markets.

Life went on its smooth pace for Jeb and Lily without a care except for the dark clouds gathering in the distance. Still the trader had to think of the unborn and the attention to the health of Lily, even to Maddy. A good doctor was in attendance and he afforded the necessary care to both women.

Moses with the strength of his tall muscled body took in the maintenance of the dwelling and its grounds, while his Maddy saw to the cooking and cleaning in the fine house. Yet, they were not looked on as servants but as companions to Lily and Jeb that lived together in harmony.

Two years passed in contentment. During that time it saw the birth of little Sarah followed by Maddy’s birthing of a fine little boy, Jason by name; all attended by the good doctor. Nursing time was joy as the two mothers felt the suckling of infant mouths; together they sat in the comfort of the nursery as they gossiped on this and that.

At in the cool of many evenings candlelight shone in brilliance as Jeb and Lily entertained in style. Do si do’ as the guitars and banjos strummed and fiddles scraped to the rhythm of reels and square dances. Happy voices were heard in song and skipping feet clodhopped in dance.

The dining table was always set for many guests and the invited enjoyed Lily’s homespun hospitality and Maddy’s delicious recipes; and by tradition Moses and Maddy were treated as guests at the table set for the Sabbath.

Many a tired trail boss found his comfort in their spare room. The liquor cabinet was never locked, much to the enjoyment of the guest who took a nip or two without questioning. Never a word was said when their guests took to a bit of gambling or womanizing at the tavern as long as they shut the door of the house tightly upon their return.

Profits rose in the marketing of cattle as the demand for meat by a warring nation that increased as the dark clouds blackened the horizons. Jeb’s investment in cattle ‘trading’ proved lucrative and he learned of investment in that windy city in the east, and when attended it added to his earnings.

* * *

Yet for Jeb and Lily and the rest of good citizens of the cattle the march of boots and the roar of cannon could be heard, even at a distance. Despite their convictions, the turmoil came to them in the notice of raids to smaller settlements and the sight of dark-skinned former slaves on the run. Jeb and Lily, like their good neighbors, sheltered the survivors from the raids and offered a link to the Underground Railroad.

Then the conflict reared its ugly head and it came to the confines of the town. It was in the guise of a bunch of renegades under the leadership of a scoundrel by the name of Contrel. He dressed in the gray of a general and he commanded his motley band in a similar fashion. Evil he was and his greedy eyes seen through a bearded face looked upon the town to be sacked and looted and its women to be stripped and enjoyed by his men.

The dawn of that early spring morning was disturbed by the sound of drumming by hundreds of hooves. The riders, under a cloud of dust, were in the sight of a few of the townspeople and an alarm was called. A raid was not suspected and the good citizens of the town were not prepared to meet the demanding challenge.

Jeb Stuart and his partner heard the tumult but were helpless as the stockades were far from the borders of the town. Despite their futility the two men took to their horses and rode swiftly towards the coming danger.

The cloud of dust neared and the lusty shouting of men, mixed with the thunder of hooves and the shooting of six-shooters frightened all resistance. Those who took up the battle in front of the horde were gunned downed without mercy.

Yet when the entered the streets of the town a blast of shotgun pellets sprayed the front riders. Another shotgun blast pained the horses and they stampeded. Lily handed the empty shotgun to Maddy who charged it with filled shells, while she fired off round after round with Jeb’s spare six-shooter; a few shots were true and men fell from their horses. Maddy handed the loaded shotgun to her and Lily let off another two rounds of spraying pellets. The two women looked from the second storey of the brick dwelling on the sloping hill and were comforted by the sight of angry and wounded men and milling horses.

“Put another couple of shells in the shotgun. Two more blasts can convince them to skedaddle from here!”

“Yes ma'am, will do.”

At the thunder of the repeated blasts the women saw that the town had organized a large posse and were charging the raiders. Lily’s last look at the retreating renegades was the sight of the angry head of a gray uniformed officer who raised a fisted hand that promised his revenge. But his promise was not kept as a bullet from a Winchester sharpshooter found its mark.

Jeb returned quickly to his home after the battle to see to his wife Lily. As he walked the path to the front door he was greeted by the sight of the body of Moses who still gripped the pitchfork in defense. Jeb, in sadness, entered his home and called to wife and to Maddy. His tearful embrace of his wife was with blessing, but the screaming cries of the African princess tore through the air with its despair.

“Too much misery be here,” commented Jeb to his beloved after the funeral of their friend Moses and six of their neighbors and friends, “time to wipe the tears from our eyes and carry on!”

The couple then embraced Maddy and held tightly to her shaking body. Jeb told the princess, “You and your blessed son Jason will never be without roof over yer heads. Never! This be your home fer ever.”

* * *

Jeb Stuart was tall and sturdy in the saddle as he worked day by day together with his hired hands in herding the cattle to the cattle trains at the loading platforms. It was hoop and holler work in driving frightened animals from the stockades to the waiting freight cars. The labour of the days was clouded with churning dust and the air fouled with the odour of sweating animals. Needed rest came only when the cattle was secured in the locked wheeled pens.

The demand by northern states for beef for the table and leather for craftsmen increased after the turmoil of the war years and the reconstruction that followed. The partnership grew in size and in profit that increased with rights of stockade in that windy city.

The size and profit of Jeb’s family also increased in proportion in the ensuing years. His lovely Lily now a bit plump in body was full in the belly with their fourth child. Johnny, their little boy of six was quite a mischievous little devil tangling in the feet of grownups when he was not at his lessons. While his sister Sarah knew of dolls and Doctor Jason, Maddy’s boy attended to the toy’s illness. And there was the sound of gurgling and cooing as an infant boy nearing his first year lay in his crib; a fine child christened with the name of Jeb’s father David.

The sound of ‘Mamie, Mamie’ could be heard as the children followed Jeb’s mother about the house. “Mamie, Mamie, tell us a story,” were the cries. The good woman, now grey in years and upright in stance had joined Jeb and his family upon the notice of unification of kin. Mamie was pleased for the company of Jeb, Lily and their children; she showed her contentment in the gift of her love and attention.

But there was sadness in Jeb Stuart’s sight as he watched the sorrowful movements of Maddy. She had loved her man deeply and his death was an eternal mournful burden to her soul. She carried on daily, attentive to her duties, without a care or concern. Maddy turned from a stately African Princess to a wilting flower.

Still daily life had to carry on with its mixture of happiness and sorrow. Jeb Stuart, despite his affection for Maddy, his needs to his family and ‘trading’ was his immediate concern. It was first on his mind towards the increased profits and gains to his life.

Jeb’s attention was disturbed when another situation arose. The mixed sounds of ‘free land for farming’ and of the words ‘gold in them thar hills’ had resounded, and wagon trains by the score headed towards the richness of that western state along the Pacific coast. Prairie schooners passed through the town, stopping for rest and supplies. The thundering hooves of the herds of wild beasts on the prairie lands were then only a whisper and the need of smoked and salt beef was the demand.

It didn’t take long for Jeb and his partner to set up curing factory. Workers were plentiful in the guise of drifting ex-slaves; a fair wage was offered and they set up a shantytown on the outskirts to house their families.

Tongue licking smell of smoking meat wafted in the air far from the center of town. Leather hides were salted and tanned and later to be sold to bootmakers for boots, harnesses, travelling kits and holdalls. Practically nothing was left to waste with bone ground to feed and the entrails turned into cooked delicacies enjoyed by the freemen.

* * *

The demand for cattle on the hoof increased in the passing days. The partners realized the need and it was agreed that Jeb to travel to the panhandle and have a confab with the ranchers to drive more of their herds to their stockades.

A railroad to the Lone Star State was only in drawings on the draftman’s board, so Jeb had to hitch up a covered springed wagon pulled by two bays to make the long grueling trip. All that was necessary from clothes, camping gear to provisions was carefully stowed in back.

“Be careful me love,” were the parting words of his Lily to him after she planted affectionate kisses on his lips.

“No need t’worry,” was his last phrase as Jeb urged the horses forward. Lily was assured not only by the words, but also by the sight of loyal half-breed guide armed with a trusty Winchester and a sharp tomahawk in readiness.

The trek along the dusty trails and the crossing of streams was uneventful, simply long pacing with stops in shaded groves for mid-meals and nightly camping. After a few hard days on the trail a rancher’s house was spotted. A knock on the door answered with hospitality for Jeb and for the needs of his guide.

Afterwards a large town in the state was reached and Jeb looked forward to a bath and rest in a soft mattress, but the sign on the hotel read ‘no injuns allowed’. So Jeb joined with his guide at the stables for a quick cold wash and the bed of hay for his rest.

The halfbreed rightfully understood the needs of Jeb for the comfort of drink in the company of his fellow men. He dismissed the trader’s insistence of spending the night in his company and in the harsh words of his tongue called, “Take-um fire water - savvy!” The Indian chuckled in grunts as he heard Jeb’s footsteps rushing to one of the town’s saloons.

On the way to his refreshment Jeb noticed a small crowd gathered around a small half-covered schooner wagon set up like stage. Two tarred torches lit up the scene on the back on the wagon.

Before the trader was able to discern the notice on a sign along the wooden boards a stocky Negro, fierce in his countenance, and dressed like hoodoo voodoo sprung on the makeshift stage. The dark-skinned chap, painted and feathered, hooted in hoarse chanting and shuffled his heavy feet.

Before long the Afro was signalled to halt his theatrics. From the covered end of the wagon a spindly figure draped in black clothes and topped with a battered beaver appeared...

“Uncle Ebenezer, Uncle Ebenezer,” Jeb called out lustily.

Silence reigned as the scarecrow of a man peered with the quint of eyes through the dusk of the day toward the call of his name. Well, it didn’t take long for Ebenezer to jump from the wagon and to embrace the trader. With tears to his eyes he cried out...

“Jeb, Jeb Stuart, me boy. It’s been so many years...”