Becoming Americans Read Online Free PDF

drip juices. Sitting over hot coals by the fire, a large pot on legs held a boiling broth of dried corn and herbs, while in a covered saucepan a simmering secret awaited the end of their meal. Drusilla had the boys bring her baskets of the oysters they had stepped around in the water, and when the time came to eat their meal, she brushed away a dying pile of coals that lay beside the fire and uncovered a shallow hole she'd dug and lined with seaweed, covered with the oysters, then covered again with seaweed, finally covering all of that with hot coals.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â They ate till they could eat no more, laughing and talking, occasionally one or all would fall silent, remembering Mistress Harper, then resume the eating and laughing. When they were finished, Drusilla placed two pieces of bread on the trenchers each two of them shared, and lifted the top off of the saucepan. The aroma was like nothing they'd known. The new hen had contributed the egg, but Drusilla had collected the hickory nuts and she'd found the honey in the tulip tree. Evelyn started crying, then stopped, smiling with anticipation. Drusilla ladled her sweet sauce over the bread, and there was silence.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â The next noon, as Billy, Edward, and Richard sat on their new pier chewing on the remnants of the venison and talking over and over the last night's meal, Brinson Barnes's boat rounded the spit of land and sailed into Pine Haven towing the canoe with Opeechcot riding proudly. The boat sat very low in the water, and the three of them knew there was work ahead.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â The sail was lowered and the boat drifted to the pier. Billy caught the line and secured the boat. Francis stepped onto the pier and vigorously shifted his weight, checking the pier's strength. He smiled, pleased with their work, and told them so. James Barnes had returned with the mass of weatherboards he'd split, and greeted his friends as if it had been much longer than the six weeks since they'd seen each other last. They were surprised at how healthy he looked— though he'd gotten dark—and he admitted to the same surprise at their appearances. After a few tankards of beer, they returned to unload the boat.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Brinson Barnes had remained at his plantation, allowing Francis Harper the use of his boat in gathering supplies. Harper wanted to be swift in returning the boat, so he and his crew worked hard and quickly to unload the timber and to stack it in a convenient location. His first instruction was for them to cover the seasoned wood and prevent it from getting wet.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Harper and Opeechcot retired early that evening and, by the time the others were awake, Francis and the Indian were gone. Opeechcot was directing him to a plantation on the Piankatank River where there was a source of brick.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Late the next night, Francis and Opeechcot sailed back into Pine Haven, guided by the light of Drusilla's constant fire. A full moon lit the little pier and the two men secured the boat themselves, as Harper shouted to awaken everybody. Drusilla joined the line of men who passed the bricks one to the other into a neat pile on the high shore. Evelyn cracked nuts for them to eat while they worked, and filled and refilled their tankards with beer.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â As the sun rose from the Bay, making the water glisten and waking shore birds to rustle in the marsh, the boat was emptied and Harper announced to Edward and Richard that they would go with him back up the Piankatank for the second load. The old Indian could rest. He promised the boys that if they reached the plantation on the Piankatank, and could load the boat this afternoon, they'd have the entire next day, Saturday, for play and sleep. On Sunday, they would go to church. Harper was concerned that there'd been no funeral service for his wife, and he was beginning to worry that the authorities might become