For new readers to this story, I linked Chapter 1. Chapters 2 - 4 are linked under September, 5 - 10 under October, 11 - 18 under November, 19 - 27 under December, 28 - 34 under January 2019, and 35 - 38 under February.
Destination Hope – Book 5 – Reconciliation
A Novel By:
Charles J. Patricoff
Copyright © 2014 by Charles J. Patricoff. All rights reserved.
Chapter 39
Settled
The late-evening sun set slowly behind the western Tennessee hills. The sky turned a beautiful mixture of pink, orange, blue and white. The deep green foliage of a new summer accented the hills in the distance; yet, within minutes these brilliant hues would slowly fade from distinctiveness as the dark night gained advantage. Oaks, maples, birch, elm and cottonwood trees, set against the creeping, shape-changing upper atmosphere, created an artistic landscape for the observer’s appreciation.
With a few more months of hard labor, the people of Franklin, Tennessee would harvest their crops, just as new souls responded to Nathaniel Graham’s weekly sermons. As a recognized community leader, he guided his neighbors beyond their past desires for independence, concentrated their energy and resources on rebuilding their town and their lives, and helped them become reconciled to their reborn nation of liberty as they reconciled their souls to God. Nathaniel continued to teach their responsibility to grow in God’s grace, and learn to depend on and trust in Christ. The Almighty would unfold their future—like a tree bearing fruit—if they would choose to abide in Jesus, use the gifts He had invested in them, and follow His Spirit of hope.
Father, son, and their old dog exited the knee-high cornfield and William asked, “Do you think folks will ever stop asking about the mayor and his men?”
Nathaniel glanced back toward the center of the field and formulated an answer. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Son. The jury concluded that we acted in self-defense, so the matter is settled for all time. If I were you, I’d worry about your recital tonight. Are you ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go on.”
“Now?”
“Uh-huh, I want to hear it.”
William looked at his father with admiring eyes, came to an appropriate attention, and started:
“In Congress, July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies of the thirteen United States of America.
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
If William had noticed, he would have seen his proud father mouthing the words along with him.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
“Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain...”
William paused for clarification. “That was King George the Third, right Pa?”
“Yes, son, you are correct.”
William nodded and repeated the last phrase:
“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”
Nathaniel held up his hand indicating a halt to the oral dissertation. “You can skip over the twenty-seven grievances; but don’t forget to recite them.”
“Yes, sir.” William’s eyes searched the sky as if he read the rest of the document in an instant. He resumed reciting the last dramatic paragraphs of Thomas Jefferson’s, near-sacred foundational words:
“In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act, which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
“Nor, have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnum—”
William stumbled on the long, less than familiar term.
Nathaniel intervened. “Magnanimity.”
As father, son, and panting dog sauntered past the family plot, William asked, “Pa, what does,” he struggled with the pronunciation, “magnanimity mean?”
“I believe Mr. Jefferson intended the idea of generosity of spirit in this passage.”
“Kind of like when you say, God wants us to treat each other with kindness?”
“I think that’s correct.”
William took a few more quiet strides. “I think that makes sense.”
As a good father, Nathaniel asked, “Do you remember where you left off?”
“Yes sir.” William continued:
“We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity…”
Anticipating his son’s next question, Nathaniel said, “It means a relationship based on descent from the same ancestor—not by marriage.”
“Like me and mother?”
“Yes.” Nathaniel swallowed. I wonder just how much he understands. But before Nathaniel could formulate a question, William continued:
“We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
“We therefore, the representatives of the united States of America, in general congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent States, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do. And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
William took a deep breath, “How was that Pa?”
The surrounding beauty helped inspire the gratefulness filling Nathaniel’s heart. “Excellent, son, I am proud of you. Say it like that tonight at the celebration, and son…”
“Yes Pa.”
“Don’t ever forget to rely on Divine Providence.”
“Yes sir,” William said confidently.
“Good boy.” He patted William’s back.
As Nathaniel gazed at the scene before him, he remembered the strange dream he had where he confessed he wanted his own farm and family. He smiled. Then he smelled the thickening, musty air, and recognized the heat might be so strong; he and William may have to draw water from the creek to keep their crops from withering.
Eleanor came out of the house drying her hands on her apron. She strolled at an easy, casual pace as if taking stock of the blessings surrounding her, too. She reached a conversational distance from the two men in her life and let them know that she served supper. “Dear, you, William, and Bailey need to come in now, before our dinner turns cold.”
Nathaniel turned his gaze from the sky and let Eleanor into his thoughts. “I don’t know why Almighty God let me live and took such a great leader from us.”
Eleanor moved closer. “Well, many in the church and town think you are a great leader, too.” She winked. “And I happen to agree with them. Your voice in Nashville has helped keep Tennessee from suffering the same fate as all other former Confederate States. I hear the Federal occupiers are crueler than our lost local authorities.” Eleanor glanced at their lush cornfield, then gazed at her husband. “I, for one, am very glad you’re still here. Where would I be, where would we be if you and I never met?” Eleanor smiled at Nathaniel and stroked her slightly extended lower abdomen.
Nathaniel returned her smile. “I don’t know the answer to that neither.”
Eleanor corrected, “It’s either, dear.”
“Neither, either, it’s all the same to me.” Nathaniel smirked.
“Well, it should matter a great deal to you, dear. What would our parishioners think if you butchered the English language from the pulpit each Sunday morning?”
“Oh, they won’t mind.” Nathaniel patted Bailey on his squared, graying head. “Will they, boy?”
Bailey panted.
“William, go on now, wash up and get ready for dinner, while I have a word with your mother.”
William obeyed without question. “Come on, Bailey.”
Bailey stopped panting, tilted his head and bolted after his smaller master.
As boy and dog neared the house, Nathaniel said, “But you know, Ellie, it still bothers me. I can’t help but wonder what our country would be like right now. I mean, I think the entire nation would have been better served if God would have let him live; better yet, if He would have intervened and prevented that terrible night altogether. I suppose it’s an ageless question.”
“What is, dear?”
Nathaniel raised his eyes toward the not-too-distant hills. “Why won’t God violate our free will? Why won’t He stop someone from committing purposeful sin and unspeakable evil?” He stared at his bride. “Yet, I can’t tell you how many times He has saved me from acting foolishly. I guess we will never know in this life why God chooses to intervene in some of the affairs of mankind and leave others alone.”
“I’ve often thought about it too, dear. You remember, I told you I had the privilege of meeting him long ago, before the war. No one thought much of Lincoln then. I never really knew him, but my father thought that he was a good and honest man. If not for him, I am confident, my brother Paul would be gone, too.”
“You know I’ve spent hours studying things he wrote. I’m convinced he was sent by God to lead our nation. I didn’t think that ten years ago. Like so many, I became certain he appeared as the devil incarnate. I’m sorry I believed a lie. His murder was a terrible loss for us all.”
“Well, I’m sure God has His reasons for taking him when He did,” Eleanor said. “Maybe the war was not punishment enough for our many national sins.” She rubbed her husband’s back. “Honey, please don’t beat yourself up anymore. All is forgiven, and as far as I’m concerned, you’ve taught William well. I believe he knows our rights come from God—that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are inseparable documents, and Lincoln led us back to a reconciled nation and left us two great speeches, the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural, to help us remember if we begin to lose our way again. William is well prepared to carry the light of God’s liberty forward to his children. He knows he must choose to follow God, no matter what, even if this great country rejects God. Most of all, he is prepared to enter our Lord’s Kingdom. For that, I can never thank you enough. Nate, in my eyes, you are a good man.”
The question still haunted him. He muttered in a weak attempt to expose it to cleansing light: “Ain’t it something what one bullet can do?”
“What dear?” Eleanor asked. She shook her head as if her husband remained some great mystery. “What’s that got to do with what I just said?”
“It’s something a soldier once said to me.” Nathaniel repeated with stronger clarity, ‘Ain’t it something what one bullet can do?’ That seems like ages ago.” Then he completed his thought: “One bullet changed the course of American history.”
Nathaniel reached down to the ground picked up the well-chewed leather baseball lying by his right foot. He had finished stitching it back together earlier that morning. It now felt soggy and it smelled like the inside of Bailey’s mouth. “Dayenu.”
“What dear?”
Nathaniel looked at his bride and repeated each syllable. “Day-eh-new is a Hebrew word Professor Jonah Benjamin shared with me—something he learned about the Passover celebration. The word means, ‘it is enough.’” Smiling Nathaniel said, “God has so blessed my life. If He never does another thing for me, He has already done more than enough.” He pulled Eleanor close and gave her a gentle hug and kiss.
After they released, Nathaniel turned Bailey’s toy between his thumb and fingers for a moment, looked at it, and then threw it as hard and as far as he could. It disappeared into the thick woods at the west end of their farmhouse’s clearing.
Bailey must have caught sight of it while lapping at the water pouring out of the pump as William stroked its handle. William let the rusting metal bar slam into its shut-off position. Nathaniel, Eleanor, and William watched Bailey run as hard and as fast as his legs could carry him. Then the widening, eight-year-old, happy, black Labrador barked as he disappeared into the thick underbrush.
Thanks for reading. It's not over, yet.
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