"Me? We-well, sir, what have I done?" Terry gave a hearty laugh.
"Nothin, James, nothin! You means de end of my journey, and, brother, freedom! At last! At last" Seeing the confusion in the boy's face, he quickly explained.
"Lemme shed a little light on dis. I's from de South, ya know. I's been sents here by my master. His name's Master Charles. He saved me froms a terr'ble man who was 'apposed ta be mine master whens I's just a tot. He's also a No'thener. But I tells you 'bout him later. What I brings here's a message. My master was alfo' rich. 'E calls me to his bedside, and 'e says, 'Terrance, I's is sure proud o' you.' Dens' 'e 'ands me 'dis." Terry pulled out a crumpled little paper from his pocket, then unfolded it as if it were made of gold. He read, stumbling over the words,
"I her-her-e-by give Terrance Williams per-perm-is-i-on... permission to go free. But I ask dat 'e tell Francis Truman 'dis before 'e may go..."Terry haded the backside of the note to James. In beautiful handwriting, it read;
It is my will that I, Charles Smith, give the rest of the Smith Fortune to Francis Truman. I ask him to reside to my home in Mississippi to collect the money which is rightfully his.
James was stunned. Money? For his father? A fortune?
His thoughts were interrupted by a large hand on his back.
"James, good fortune 'as come yo' way. Can I ask where ta find yo' Pa?" James beckoned for Terry to follow him, but his head was spinning with excitement.
-By Junior 12 years old
No comments:
Post a Comment