The time passes slowly, but uneventfully, as Dana waits for the birth of the child she hopes is Hagar. She goes on helping Rufus and his mother and begins to keep a journal in shorthand so Rufus cannot read it. Finally, one of her secretarial classes comes in handy! She tries husking corn with the field hands, who seem to be making a party of it. Rufus has given them whiskey to help it along. One of the men, huge and muscular, declares that it's too bad she is already spoken for, and Rufus comes out to play at the hero for giving them the whiskey and food. They praise him while he's there, and when he leaves, they make gross jokes about him. Dana realizes that they like him, hold him in contempt, and fear him all at the same time.
At Christmas, there is another party and three marriages. Instead of
jumping the broom, Rufus actually brings in a magistrate to marry the
couples. He asks Dana if she wants to jump the broom. To which Dana asks
what he would do if she did. He replies that he would sell the man she
wanted to marry. It's a warning to Dana.......
Alice's new baby is a girl. She and Rufus name her Hagar. It's the most
beautiful name Dana has ever heard. The names of Alice's children are
symbolic of the freedom Dana longs for as much as Alice does. So Dana
is elated, but even though she now knows her family line is safe, there
is still danger to her personally. She is still not......
Dana plans to stay on the plantation herself until Alice leaves just to find out whether she makes it. In the meantime, she talks Rufus into allowing her to teach Nigel's two older sons as well as Joe. She is surprised how much the boys love to learn. Rufus' neighbors warn him about educating his slaves. Even the Methodist minister is concerned that it will make them disobedient. Alice is waiting patiently, using discretion about her desire to run, and feeling guilty, because she is finally beginning to have some feeling for Rufus.
Dana is approached one day in the cookhouse by Sam Jones, the large black slave who had admired her at the parties. He doesn't want to court her. He just wants her to teach his brother and sister. She can't agree then and there and tells him not to approach her again. He asks her if she really wants to be with.......
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Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
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