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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Flash / Mini / Very Short
- Published: 09/07/2021
Laudanum Downfall
Born 1955, F, from Lovelock, Nevada, United StatesIn 1899 James William Jennings gave his children away to Christian Church people. ten year old Florence Rosette was given in marriage To a man her fathers age. Florence and her sister Ollie had husbands. They would be cared for and in time they would be happy.
Her papa was sending Annie, Mattie, and Lilly to live with other family members. The decision was made and there was nothing Rosette could say or do to persuade her papa differently.
Her Papa was convinced the older children were mature enough and educated enough to make it on their own. The girls were schooled until they could read and write, and do simple math. girls, women, didn't require education. They would marry and their husbands would provide for them.
Edmond ( Eddie ) was fourteen and the oldest . William Pettis (Pet), who was thirteen, they were men. His sons were educated, as he had been, fast and to the University level . His boys were educated to the best of his ability.
Within a week her papa surrendered Annie, Mattie, and Lilly to the custody of various Aunties and uncles. Her family was scattered by the winds.
As a dutiful daughter she stepped from beloved protected daughter into an uncertain future.
A colored woman followed Florence to the door . "Miss Florence, excuse me, Mrs. Holly." Rosey, don't you feet none, all of this is temporary, just like the wind, it's here today and it's gone tomorrow.
Florence smiled, Precious, the slaves were emancipated in 1865.
Honey child, Mississippi hasn't signed Mr. Lincoln's proclamation. I don't think they ever will. Your Papa and I were two years old when Mister Lincoln said all slaves were forever free
ma'am I was never a slave. Only, a black child in a white family. I don't expect you to understand but, your papa and I were raised as brother and sister not master and slave.
The secret Mister Jennings and Precious kept was his growing addiction to the drug Laudanum. Laudanum was controlling his thoughts and actions. Giving up his family , that wasn't the man she lovingly called brother. That was the tincture in that bottle.
Precious, refrained from questioning Mister Jennings. He was too fragile for the harsh words raging in her heart and mind. Jimmy Jennings had made a serious immoral decision. And, before she returned home to her family Jimmy would undo the evil he'd done.
Every day Precious chose to remain by the side of James Jennings .In the worst of times, she spent her time rearing him. She bathed him, she dressed him. To the outside world, James William Jennings was an aristocratic honorable gentleman. Precious would not tarnish that reputation. She owed that respect to Mister Edmund and Miss Elizabeth Cheeseborough. She owed that respect to Miss Nancy Hennis.
Five times daily she prayed reminding God Jimmy Jennings needs his children. He doesn't know it yet, but he needs all of his children. And those little girls they especially need their Papa. Please with my help, make it happen. God, Let me help you restore this family.
She spent time coaxing him, pleading with him, and begging him to cooperate with her and Florence, his daughter. She and Rose spent time on their knees in prayer for the person they loved. The man he once was and the man he'd be again.
Precious was frequently hit . Sometimes, he beat her with the razor strap. Each time Precious would scream and cry " Get mad ! Hit me again ! Don't let the Demons win. It isn't you doing this, it is the Devil and the illness. Jimmy Jennings fight back. Fight for the seven lives you and Nancy brought into this world.
She shouted " Fight back you lazy half breed. The Demons and pits of Hell can't have you. You're going to return to your sons and daughters. James Jennings, you're going to be a parent. It is what Nancy and I demand of you.it is the example of your mother Elizabeth Cheeseborough and your own Papa.
In her limited spare time Precious made the effort to locate each of the children. She witnessed the physical and sexual abuse the girls endured. Precious was powerless to interfere. She was a black woman and a stranger. She could cry with the babies and she cried every time.
Jimmy couldn't have done worse by his children if he'd put them on the Orphan Train himself. What was he thinking ? He wasn't thinking, the Laudanum was thinking for him.
If Miss Nancy could see, if she could know what her own kin were doing to her innocent babies she'd be driven to murder. Thankfully she couldn't see, she didn't know.
Jimmy Jennings was going to recover. He would man up and correct the wrong he was doing.
Precious strengthened her determination Mister James William Jennings would renew His legal and moral obligation to his children. His children had every right to be in their home with their Papa. She would not have it any other way.
One year later, Precious was dividing her time between Mister Jennings who was well on the road to recovery and Florence. Florence was giving birth. She needed Precious to be her midwife. A duty she willingly carried out.
Laudanum Downfall(Martha Hume)
In 1899 James William Jennings gave his children away to Christian Church people. ten year old Florence Rosette was given in marriage To a man her fathers age. Florence and her sister Ollie had husbands. They would be cared for and in time they would be happy.
Her papa was sending Annie, Mattie, and Lilly to live with other family members. The decision was made and there was nothing Rosette could say or do to persuade her papa differently.
Her Papa was convinced the older children were mature enough and educated enough to make it on their own. The girls were schooled until they could read and write, and do simple math. girls, women, didn't require education. They would marry and their husbands would provide for them.
Edmond ( Eddie ) was fourteen and the oldest . William Pettis (Pet), who was thirteen, they were men. His sons were educated, as he had been, fast and to the University level . His boys were educated to the best of his ability.
Within a week her papa surrendered Annie, Mattie, and Lilly to the custody of various Aunties and uncles. Her family was scattered by the winds.
As a dutiful daughter she stepped from beloved protected daughter into an uncertain future.
A colored woman followed Florence to the door . "Miss Florence, excuse me, Mrs. Holly." Rosey, don't you feet none, all of this is temporary, just like the wind, it's here today and it's gone tomorrow.
Florence smiled, Precious, the slaves were emancipated in 1865.
Honey child, Mississippi hasn't signed Mr. Lincoln's proclamation. I don't think they ever will. Your Papa and I were two years old when Mister Lincoln said all slaves were forever free
ma'am I was never a slave. Only, a black child in a white family. I don't expect you to understand but, your papa and I were raised as brother and sister not master and slave.
The secret Mister Jennings and Precious kept was his growing addiction to the drug Laudanum. Laudanum was controlling his thoughts and actions. Giving up his family , that wasn't the man she lovingly called brother. That was the tincture in that bottle.
Precious, refrained from questioning Mister Jennings. He was too fragile for the harsh words raging in her heart and mind. Jimmy Jennings had made a serious immoral decision. And, before she returned home to her family Jimmy would undo the evil he'd done.
Every day Precious chose to remain by the side of James Jennings .In the worst of times, she spent her time rearing him. She bathed him, she dressed him. To the outside world, James William Jennings was an aristocratic honorable gentleman. Precious would not tarnish that reputation. She owed that respect to Mister Edmund and Miss Elizabeth Cheeseborough. She owed that respect to Miss Nancy Hennis.
Five times daily she prayed reminding God Jimmy Jennings needs his children. He doesn't know it yet, but he needs all of his children. And those little girls they especially need their Papa. Please with my help, make it happen. God, Let me help you restore this family.
She spent time coaxing him, pleading with him, and begging him to cooperate with her and Florence, his daughter. She and Rose spent time on their knees in prayer for the person they loved. The man he once was and the man he'd be again.
Precious was frequently hit . Sometimes, he beat her with the razor strap. Each time Precious would scream and cry " Get mad ! Hit me again ! Don't let the Demons win. It isn't you doing this, it is the Devil and the illness. Jimmy Jennings fight back. Fight for the seven lives you and Nancy brought into this world.
She shouted " Fight back you lazy half breed. The Demons and pits of Hell can't have you. You're going to return to your sons and daughters. James Jennings, you're going to be a parent. It is what Nancy and I demand of you.it is the example of your mother Elizabeth Cheeseborough and your own Papa.
In her limited spare time Precious made the effort to locate each of the children. She witnessed the physical and sexual abuse the girls endured. Precious was powerless to interfere. She was a black woman and a stranger. She could cry with the babies and she cried every time.
Jimmy couldn't have done worse by his children if he'd put them on the Orphan Train himself. What was he thinking ? He wasn't thinking, the Laudanum was thinking for him.
If Miss Nancy could see, if she could know what her own kin were doing to her innocent babies she'd be driven to murder. Thankfully she couldn't see, she didn't know.
Jimmy Jennings was going to recover. He would man up and correct the wrong he was doing.
Precious strengthened her determination Mister James William Jennings would renew His legal and moral obligation to his children. His children had every right to be in their home with their Papa. She would not have it any other way.
One year later, Precious was dividing her time between Mister Jennings who was well on the road to recovery and Florence. Florence was giving birth. She needed Precious to be her midwife. A duty she willingly carried out.
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