Miners Camp: February 26, 1893
Birmingham, Alabama
By Pat Collins
Chapter 2
The Death
The leaves were swirling gently down around their feet, as they stood solemnly by the rough hewn box on the edge of the deep hole that had been dug to hold it. There was a gentle cool breeze, with the sharpness of autumn in it. The colors of the leaves and trees were so pretty, Haywood thought, as he stood holding his Papa’s trembling hand. He had never seen his daddy cry before. He wished he could do something to make him stop crying. There was a large crowd of people gathered around them, all in their cleanest, best clothes. Many of the women in the crowd were weeping and holding their small children close. As he looked around at the people, he saw many of his papa’s family there. There were papa’s three sisters Huldy (who Huldy Jane had been named for), Louisa Harris, and Loucinda Harris, and their families. Uncle Richard, and Uncle Calvin were there, too.
Mama was asleep in the box. He knew that because he had seen Daddy, Jim, Uncle Sol, and the preacher put her in it while she was sleeping. They told him that she was going to sleep for a while and when she woke up she would be in heaven. Haywood knew that mama would like it in heaven, because she use to read to him from her book called the Bible, and would describe a beautiful and wonderful place to him. A place where there was no sickness or sorrow or pain. A place where her Mama and Daddy were waiting for her.
Haywood wished this service would end soon. He was hungry and these shoes were hurting his feet. He hated shoes. He wanted to get those shoes off and go barefoot, and feel the soft dirt between his toes. There was all kinds of good food at home waiting, covered up on the table and in the pie cabinet. Huldy had stayed up late last night cooking to get it all ready, and many women from the church had brought food to the house. He could not wait to get a big slice of that pineapple pie that was sitting on the windowsill, cooling. Huldy Jane knew just how to make him happy.
With a full stomach and old Blue lying beside him, he drifted off to sleep. He dreamed of Mama, angels, and large crowds of people with no faces. He heard voices as he began to wake up. Were all the people from the funeral still here? He listened closely, only hearing the familiar voices of Papa and his sister, Huldy Jane. They were talking about him. As he listened there was a tug at his heart. They were planning his move to live with his sister. Papa said he did not know how he could raise a young son by himself, what with all the work to be done there around the house. His job in the coal mines often kept him out until well after dark. That was just no way for a four year old boy to live, and it was not safe.
Haywood was sure going to miss old Blue sleeping with him or else lying on the floor beside his and Papa’s bed. He had gotten to sleep with Papa ever since Mama had went to sleep and was put in the box. Maybe Papa would bring Blue with him to visit sometime.
To be continued.
Published U.S. Legacies Dec 2005
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