Reincarnations of Rose

Chapter 12 Tessie Virginia, USA 1804-1847 Journal Entry 11 I see the time period of my next incarnation. The state of Virginia in this new nation is lush and green, with an abundance of water and fertile soil. The citizens are committed to slavery as a way of life and cannot imagine how things would get done without a free workforce for the well to do plantation owners. Desire for freedom was not as much of an issue for most of the slaves as was the desire to avoid the cruelty of heavy-handed slave owners. That type of slave owner was more common than the nurturing kind, who treated their slaves with the same kindness that they extended to their work animals. The girl was born a slave, one of at least a dozen children who slept where they could find a bare spot on the cabin floor. She was given no name and simply called “girl” along with other girls who lived in the cabin. She did not know which of the adults in the cabin were her own parents, or which of the children were her own brothers and sisters. The philosophy of the slaves on their plantation was that they were simply tools to be used by their white masters, and it was pointless to assign names to their offspring or to become too attached. At age 10 the girl was said to be too frail for picking cotton and hoeing vegetables, so she was introduced to the woman in charge of the wash house who gave her the name “Tessie”. Tessie’s regular assignment was to draw water from the well and haul it in large buckets to where it was needed. In addition, she was to wash clothes outdoors in a huge iron pot, hang them to dry, rescue them from the lines when they were dry, then fold or iron every piece and put them away. Her favorite thing to do was the ironing. It was done in the big kitchen with “smoothing irons” which were heated in an open fireplace, then kept warm on top of the iron cook stove. She made it a point to become an expert “presser” so that all the ladies and gentlemen of the house insisted that she be the one to iron their clothing. She felt good about herself, and she enjoyed cooperating with her superiors. Through her many hours spent in the kitchen, she became friendly with the housekeepers and cooks and felt less alone than she had in the cabin or in the wash room. When she was 14 Tessie was auctioned off as an expert presser and cooperative worker with a sweet, agreeable personality. “This one is eager to please if you know what I mean,” said the auctioneer, raising his eyebrows in a suggestive smile. You can train her in whatever household duties you want her to have. She’s not very big, but she’s well shaped,” he concluded. With that remark, he caught her garment at the neck and tore it from her body. Tessie stood shivering from humiliation and fear, her naked body exposed to the onlookers. The bidding began. Only three plantation owners were interested in buying her. Others were after strong men and women to work in the fields. An argument arose between two of the bidders and the third one stepped up to join in. They began pushing each other, and a fight broke out. The third bidder beat both of the other two unconscious, then made his final bid. “Sold!” announced the auctioneer, who then escorted her off the platform. Her new owner had purchased three new slaves at the auction, and during the ride to their plantation he sat beside his driver while she sat huddled in the back of the wagon with the others. She had no idea what to expect, and she missed her friends in the kitchen of the old place. When they arrived at the plantation, her new owner stepped down from the wagon. “Everybody out,” he said in a loud jovial voice. “This is your new home. I’m your new daddy, and you are my new children. Mind me without question, and I will be good to you. Disobey me, lie to me, trick me or act disrespectful and you will get a beating with no food for 24 hours. If you do it too many times, I will sell you to the meanest plantation owner I can find.” “Tessie, you come with me. The others get back in the wagon and go to the bunkhouses.” Nobody moved. Stepping up to the girl, he grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her toward him gently. “You’re my Tessie,” he said, “And I am Peter Cunningham.” Tessie felt pleased to hear him say her name and she liked him from the start because he left nothing to guesswork. He gave the rules right away and she was eager to receive her list of responsibilities. As she followed Peter Cunningham into his southern mansion she felt a sense of belonging. He had said, “You are mine.” It is interesting to see that some opportunities and situations repeat themselves due to unfinished business or unresolved feelings, whether positive or negative. In my many incarnations there seems to be a pattern of eventually leaving an ongoing situation to seek more knowledge in pursuit of a passionate purpose that I hold in mind. I get a feeling that some of the people in my current life are those with whom I had unfinished business from former incarnations. Though their appearance is different, their vibrations and character are familiar. For example, Jahu, Nathanial and Mark seem to be the same soul. It appears that after other relationships and lives apart we reconnected to continue our work and our love story Too bad I have not attracted such a companion in this incarnation, but there is still time. I see the time period of my next incarnation. The state of Virginia in this new nation is lush and green, with an abundance of water and fertile soil. The citizens are committed to slavery as a way of life and cannot imagine how things would get done without a free workforce for the well to do plantation owners. Desire for freedom was not as much of an issue for most of the slaves as was the desire to avoid the cruelty of heavy-handed slave owners. That type of slave owner was more common than the nurturing kind, who treated their slaves with the same kindness that they extended to their work animals. The girl was born a slave, one of at least a dozen children who slept where they could find a bare spot on the cabin floor. She was given no name and simply called “girl” along with other girls who lived in the cabin. She did not know which of the adults in the cabin were her own parents, or which of the children were her own brothers and sisters. The philosophy of the slaves on their plantation was that they were simply tools to be used by their white masters, and it was pointless to assign names to their offspring or to become too attached. At age 10 the girl was said to be too frail for picking cotton and hoeing vegetables, so she was introduced to the woman in charge of the wash house who gave her the name “Tessie”. Tessie’s regular assignment was to draw water from the well and haul it in large buckets to where it was needed. In addition, she was to wash clothes outdoors in a huge iron pot, hang them to dry, rescue them from the lines when they were dry, then fold or iron every piece and put them away. Her favorite thing to do was the ironing. It was done in the big kitchen with “smoothing irons” which were heated in an open fireplace, then kept warm on top of the iron cook stove. She made it a point to become an expert “presser” so that all the ladies and gentlemen of the house insisted that she be the one to iron their clothing. She felt good about herself, and she enjoyed cooperating with her superiors. Through her many hours spent in the kitchen, she became friendly with the housekeepers and cooks and felt less alone than she had in the cabin or in the wash room. When she was 14 Tessie was auctioned off as an expert presser and cooperative worker with a sweet, agreeable personality.