by Hannah Yu
The story of Caroline Fredrick
Part One
As the train sped along back to Richmond, Caroline Fredrick looked out at the war ravaged land. Why had it come to war? She looked down at the letters in her hands, the letters that told her she had lost everything. Everything! Her home, her plantations and her slaves, the love of her life and all their seven beautiful children--all of it was gone, stolen from her by the war. Then she corrected herself. She hadn’t lost everything. She still had her youngest child and the child she she carried in her womb. One thought filled her mind. Why had God made it so that she had lost her family, slaves, plantations, and her husband’s slaves and plantation? Anger at God filled Caroline to the point where she found it hard to breathe.
“Momma?” asked a small voice. She looked down at her little boy and immediately her anger left at the scared and anxious look in his eyes.
“What is it Joel?” she said softly.
“Where are we going to live?”
“With grandfather and grandmother for now.” She held him in her arms and sang him to sleep. Then the doubt, anger, grief, confusion, and unbelief returned in two fold. If God is a god of love and peace, why had He allowed the war to happen? Why had He caused her husband to be killed in action and six of her children to die of scarlet fever? Why had He allowed her to lose everything? She didn’t have answers to all the questions running around in her mind. One thing she was sure of. She would work and restore all three of her homes. She had never agreed with slavery and she was glad that all the slaves were free. Maybe she could hire them to work the fields and care for the houses. She would plan carefully and succeed. With all these different thoughts running through her head, Caroline fell into an exhausted sleep as the train sped towards Louisiana.
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A week later Caroline stared in shock at the devastation she saw at her home. She looked at her father, Mr. Charles Naylor, and asked, “Is there any hope of being able to restore our home to its former glory?”
Mr. Naylor looked down at her and gave a sad smile. “There’s a chance that it can be done. But it might take years. Especially if you want to restore your other properties as well.” She looked out over the once beautiful home and plantation and a spasm of anger gripped her. She clenched her teeth and said,
“If it means I have to steal to restore all my properties then I’ll do it.”
Her father looked at her in shock and disbelief and Caroline realized what she had said. Instantly remorse filled her at the sight of the pain, shock, and disbelief in his eyes. Mr. Naylor wondered at what could’ve prompted her to say such a thing. But the next instant he shrugged it off, attributing it to stress, grief, and exhaustion.
“Well, Caroline. I suggest we go home now. You’re looking tired and in your condition we can’t be too careful.”
“Yes Papa.” she responded. But he could tell that in her mind she was somewhere else, as they got back into the carriage. On the ride back to her parents home, Caroline wondered and worried. Does father know about my secret? What if he does? How do I explain to him why I did it? Then a rebuking thought came to her. You didn’t do it once. You’ve done it many times. In vain she tried to stifle her conscience’s constant reprimands. She settled back on the carriage cushions. She had to have a way to get the money she needed to rebuild and restore all three plantations.
“But what could I do being five months pregnant and mother to a seven year old?” she wondered quietly. Mr. Naylor seemed to read her thoughts and to have heard what she had said. “Carrie dear. You could always make things to sell. And, my dear, I’m willing to help you financially,” he said, with a tender, fatherly smile. Caroline smiled back.
“Thank you father. I’ll think on it. Right now, just allowing Joel and me to live with you and mother is enough.”
“Very well. Try to take a little nap my child. You look worn out.”
She closed her eyes and quite quickly fell asleep. Mr. Naylor took this time to study his child. Caroline was tall, about five foot nine, slender, graceful, lithe, and delicate looking, but strong and hardy. Her dark brown hair fell long and thick to the middle of her back, and if she left it down it was very wavy. Caroline’s ocean blue eyes were framed by long brown eyelashes that twinkled when she was laughing, sparkled when smiling, and looked like a storm tossed ocean when angry or sad. Her skin was a light olive color which was set off nicely by the dark blue dress that she was wearing with the white lace trim. He smiled. Caroline was the spitting image of her mother. He sighed. The war had taxed them all, but it seemed to have taxed Caroline the most heavily.
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Ten years later Mr. and Mrs. Naylor drove up to Ivy Lane, fully restored and running like it had been before Edward left to fight. As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the front veranda, a young man, 17 years of age, came running out.
“Grandfather! Grandmother! Thank goodness you’ve come.”
Mrs. Naylor got out of the carriage as she cried, “Joel! Is everything alright?”
“No ma’am. Robert has diphtheria. He’s been confined to the east wing and Molly’s been moved to the room next to mine.”
Mr Naylor got out as his wife started up the veranda steps. “Is it a bad case Joel?”
The lad’s brow furrowed. “The doctor said that it might become worse over the next few days, sir.”
Mr. Naylor stroked his graying beard. “Does he have the anti-toxin?”
“He’s waiting for a shipment of it to arrive.” As they walked into the house a little girl, nine years of age, came walking quickly out of the drawing room.
“Joel. Momma says that she needs to talk with you.”
“All right, Molly. Look who came with me.”
Molly looked behind him and ran to give her grandparents a hug as Joel went up the stairs two at a time.
Inside Caroline’s room, Dr. James Swanson finished packing up his bag.
“I’m very sorry Mrs. Fredrick. It will be three to four days before the shipment comes in. We just have to hope and pray up till then.”
A tearful Caroline looked up at him. “Thank you Dr. Swanson. Is there anyone else that might have the anti-toxin?”
He thought a moment, then said, “The Ku Klux Klan does. But I don’t deal with them. If a patient of mine were to get it from them, well, that’s a different story.”
“What do you mean?”
“I myself won’t have anything to do with the Klan. But if I have patients that do, that’s their business and I will continue to care for them.”
Caroline’s mind was whirling with a thousand different thoughts. “Thank you for explaining, Doctor.”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Fredrick. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Shaking herself and drying her eyes, Caroline stood up and held out her hand. “Thank you again, Dr. Swanson. Joel will show you out.”
Dr. Swanson took her hand and then hugged her. “Remember, my dear girl. The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. He always gives us hope, strength, and peace for all times. I’ll be praying.” He left the room then, silently greeting Joel who was standing outside the door.
“Sir. How is Robert?”
“Very ill Joel. Pray, and pray hard.”
“Yes sir.”
Back in the room Caroline’s mind was whirling. The Klan has the anti-toxin? How could I get some from them? Then another thought came to her. Where will I get the money to pay the doctor’s bills?
A knock on the door brought her out of her reverie
“Come in.”
Joel poked his head in. “Mother, Molly said you wanted to talk to me.”
“Yes son. Come and sit here. The doctor has informed me that the shipment of anti-toxin won’t arrive for another three or four days. Pray for your brother Joel, and that the Lord would have mercy and not take him from us. I can’t lose another child!”
Joel looked a little shocked. “Could Robbie really die so quickly?”
“Yes son. Promise me that you’ll pray for him.”
“Yes Mother. Of course. Is there anything else?”
Caroline sighed. “I don’t know how we’ll pay Dr. Swanson. The crops haven’t been gathered in, we still need to sell the lace and the other things. And--and--”
There she broke down and started to weep. Joel stood up, went over to her, and gathered her up in his arms.
“It’s going to be all right Mother. I’m going to the other plantations to see how everything’s going and then I’ll go to the city to ship off our goods and collect payments.” Caroline began to calm down. “When are you leaving?”
“Right after dinner.”
Drying her eyes and kissing her son on the cheek, she gave him a small smile and said, “Be safe.”
Joel smiled back, got up and went to the door. “I will.”
After he left the room, Caroline prepared herself to go out. Then she summoned Chloe to come and watch over Robert while she was gone. A plan to save her child had come to her.
Part Two
A little boy, about eight years old, ran into the parlor of a small cottage about ten miles north of Ivy Lane. “Papa! A rich person’s coming to the house.”
Jed Northrup, former owner and master of The Rosewoods plantation stepped out of the kitchen and into the parlor.
“It’s alright Joseph. It’s only Mrs. Fredrick. You go on and help your sister in the kitchen now.” Jed was a muscular man, about six foot two, had light brown hair and a beard to match, gray eyes, a quiet voice, deep and melodious, with a good reputation. He was a good, gentle, and loving father to his two children, who cared kindly for everyone around him, and made a good living at the lumber mill.
Jed came down the front steps and helped Caroline to alight from her carriage. “Well Carrie! It is a surprise to find you here. What can I do for you?”
Caroline looked around her nervously. “Is there a place we can talk undisturbed?”
Jed looked concerned. “Yes. Right this way.” He led her to the back of the house where his office was. Once they were inside and seated he asked,
“What’s bothering you?”
“Oh Jed,” she cried, “Robert’s ill with diphtheria, Dr. Swanson is waiting for a shipment of the anti-toxin, I don’t have enough money to pay for all of our expenses, and I need some help.”
Jed stroked his beard. “There’s more you want to tell me. I’m listening.”
Caroline took a deep breath. “Dr. Swanson told me that the KKK has anti-toxin but he won’t have anything to do with them. But he said if his patients deal with them, that’s their business and he won’t have a problem and will continue caring for the patient.” Jed thought he began to see where Caroline was going but he wasn’t sure. Why is she telling me all of this?
“Carrie, what does this have to do with me?”
Caroline looked him in the eyes. “Are you a member of the Klan, Jed?”
He stared back in shock. “Good heavens! No, I’m not.”
“Do you know of anyone that is?”
Jed sighed. So she means to deal with the KKK. She must be desperate.
“Yes, Carrie. I do. Arthur Blake, of The Pines, is the leader around here. Even though I’m not part of it, Arthur let it slip around me. They’re having a meeting at his home tonight at nine o’clock.”
Caroline stood up and quickly hugged him. “Thank you Jed. Now I can save my boy.”
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That night Arthur Blake was getting the back parlor ready for the meeting when a servant opened the door.
“Massar. Der’s a woman at deh door. She mighty insistent ‘bout talkin’ with yu.”
“Alright Moses. Show her in.”
Moses closed the door and came back a few minutes later with Caroline. After he had showed her in he left the room.
“Why, Caroline Fredrick! What on earth brings you here?”
“I need your help, Arthur. Robert’s ill with diphtheria and I learned that the Klan has some jars of the anti-toxin. I also need money to pay for the doctor’s expenses.”
Arthur rubbed his chin. He was of average height, had black hair with gray streaks and a mustache the same color as his hair, and dark brown eyes.
“What are you willing to do for the Klan to gain the medicine and money? And how did you find out what I’m with them?” She sank to a chair and removed her bonnet.
“I went to Jed Northrup and asked about the Klan. He told me what I needed to know. I’m willing to do anything for ya’ll just as long as I get the medicine and money.” Arthur stared into the fire contemplating what Caroline had just. So Jed gave me away? Well, she’s desperate and he wouldn’t have said anything if she wasn’t. Now what can she do for us? Let me see….
He turned around and faced her.
“Caroline, would you be willing to steal guns and ammunition, make the KKK costumes for a few of the boys, and provide some of them with food?”
Caroline was quiet for several minutes. Why am I doing this? She thought. A Christian would never do something like this. Yet, now that I think about it, I’ve never truly been a Christian.
“I am quite willing to do all you’ve asked, Arthur, and more if need be.”
He smiled and held out his hand. “Very well Caroline. It’s settled. Because your son is ill now, I’ll give the medicine and some of the money to you ahead of time. You will be paid gradually as each thing is done.”
She took his hand and they shook on it. Then he went over to the desk in the corner of the room, sat down, and wrote out a check and a list on piece of paper. Then he went over to a closed door, opened it, and took out a glass jar full of an orange-yellow liquid.
“Here is the anti-toxin, the check to the bank, and a list of how many guns, costumes, and how much food we’ll need.” Caroline took the papers and medicine, stood up, put her bonnet back on, and held out her hand.
“Thank you Arthur. You won’t be sorry.”
He took her hand in his, bowed, and responded, “You’re very welcome.”
After a few more instructions she left and a little later that evening, started on her first night of thievery for the Klu Klux Klan.
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Several months later, Robert paced outside of his mother’s bedroom door. A hand touched his shoulder and he turned around.
“Oh Joel! Is Momma any better?”
Joel shook his head. “A little, my lad, but she keeps asking for the pastor. Dr. Swanson doesn’t want me to leave her side for long, so would you go and get Pastor Jamison please?”
Robert began to look really worried. “Momma never wants to see Pastor Jamison though! Does she think she’s going to die?”
“I don’t really know Robbie mi’lad. Will you go for him?” Robert took a deep breath and then let it out again.
“Yes Joel. I will.”
A few minutes later, a gray pony could be seen galloping down the road towards the minister’s home. In her room, Caroline tossed and turned fretfully in her sleep. Haunted by all the sinful things she had done in her life in her dreams, she continually called out for Pastor Jamison. She woke once or twice to see his face hovering over hers but she never remained awake for more than a minute or two. Weeks passed in this pattern with Joel, Robert, Molly, Mr. and Mrs. Naylor, and Pastor Jamison taking turns by her bedside as the fever and disease raged through her body. One cannot count all the prayers that were uttered for her to recover.
One day, six months after she became ill, Caroline fell into a deep and restful sleep. Dr. Swanson came and checked her and pronounced her out of danger's way.
“She will make a slow but steady recovery. She might be confined to her bed for several months or years. There’s no telling.”
The family and minister offered up heartfelt prayers of thankfulness to the Lord for His mercy in sparing Caroline. Two months later, when she was strong enough to talk without becoming short of breath and while lying down, she asked,
“Father. Would you send for Pastor Jamison, please? I need to talk with him.”
Mr. Naylor looked up from his newspaper in surprise. “I don’t understand Carrie. You never want to see Pastor Jamison.”
Caroline took a deep breath and then let it out. “I need to talk with him about something Father. Please don’t ask me what.”
He nodded, got up, and rang for a servant. When the servant came, Mr. Naylor said, “Abraham, saddle a horse and go and fetch Pastor Jamison.”
“Yes sah.” Abraham left and Caroline went to sleep. About an hour later the pastor entered the room expecting to find her asleep but instead found her awake and staring at the wall.
“Mrs. Fredrick?”
She started and looked quickly in his direction. “You came!” she cried.
Pastor Jamison smiled, went over to the bedside, and sat down.
“Your father said you wanted to talk with me alone. I’m here to listen, comfort, encourage, pray, and help you.”
Caroline drew a deep sobbing breath as tears began to form in her eyes. She told how when she was a little girl she had stolen a necklace she had wanted and that she had lied about it, and as she grew older it became easier to steal and then lie. “I said I was a Christian, but I never was. The worst of it is, I stole money to rebuild my homes, and guns, ammunition, food, and medicine for the Klu Klux Klan. All because Robert was sick with diphtheria and they had the anti-toxin.” Here she broke down weeping as if her heart would break.
Pastor Jamison was silent for a moment and then he took his Bible out, turned to Luke 15:1-7 and read,
“Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He told them this parable saying, ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’
“Caroline, if you are truly repentant, and you ask God, He will forgive you, wash you clean, and make you His. Is that what you want to do?”
Caroline calmed down some and answered, “Yes, I do.”
Then she closed her eyes and prayed, “Lord, I know that you see everything and that you’ve seen all the sins and crimes I’ve committed. I am coming to You now to repent and to ask that you cleanse me with your Son’s blood and that you’ll make me yours. Have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.”
Part Three
Fifteen years later, Caroline’s up and about. But she is no longer stealing from others to meet her own needs. She has repaid everyone that she had stolen from in full, right down to the jeweler she had stolen the necklace from when she was a little girl.
Now she is happy, God-fearing, and a loving mother and grandmother. Joel is a handsome thirty-three year old now, married to Jed Northrup’s lovely thirty year old daughter, Elsie. They have six children and are expecting their seventh. He’s a successful lawyer and takes good care of his family and loves the Lord.
Robert is a dashing twenty-five year old now. He loves the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength and is making a comfortable living by writing and selling music and helping his mother run all three plantations. He lives at home and is a dutiful son and a doting uncle.
Molly is a beautiful twenty-five year old and is married to a handsome and very successful lumber mill owner by the name of Jacob Williams. They have three children and are expecting their fourth.
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Three years later Caroline stood waving goodbye to a carriage that held her son Robert and his new wife, her new daughter, Lily Adams Fredrick. She sighed and turned around to go back inside.
When had he grown? It was just yesterday that I held him in my arms. Now he’s a grown man. Tears welled up into her eyes as she entered her room and sat down at her desk. Covering her face, she cried some, then pulled out her journal and made an entry about the day. She smiled and turned back to an area that had one stanza in it. She read it out loud:
“Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, Son of God and Son of man, Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.”
Caroline chewed on her pencil and thought over the last several months. She and her family, children, grandchildren, and her parents, had gone up north for the spring and summer and had spent a lot of their time exploring the meadows and woods. That was it! She began writing.
“Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the blooming garb of spring, Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing.”
She smiled wistfully and closed her journal. Maybe I’ll show the poem to Robbie when I’m done with it. He might turn it into a song.
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Caroline was sitting on the veranda writing another stanza to her poem when a shadow fell across her. She quickly closed her journal and looked up to see her eldest grandson, Joel’s eldest, Titus looking at her.
“Did you hear grandmother?”
“Hear what love?” He sat down on the chair next that was next to hers.
“About the war and all.”
Caroline sighed. It was 1916 and the Great War had been going on for two years now. Joseph, Joel’s second son, had been living in England and had gone off to fight with the English army. They expected news that he had been killed, taken prisoner, or was seriously wounded every day. Molly’s second son, Gilbert, had gone off to the war to be a field doctor. Caroline was worried about them but she continually took her worries back to God.
“No, Titus. What news is there?”
He took a deep breath and held one of her hands gently. “Joseph is well and sends his love but he says the conditions and fighting get worse as each day passes. Gilbert says the same but he sends happy tidings as well. He’s married one of the field nurses, so he isn’t alone. Now for my news.”
She looked at her thirty-four year old grandson with a look of fear and wondering in her old eyes. He looked back at her and wondered aloud, “How did you go from a gorgeous young woman to a beautiful, old, gray haired grandmother?”
She laughed and swatted his hand gently. “Mind your manners young man. What did you want to tell me?”
Titus cleared his throat and said, “Since I’m an ordained minister, I’ve been asked to go over to our boys that are fighting--to be a source of comfort and encouragement.”
He looked at her face to see what her reaction would be. For Caroline, this was the hardest news she’d been told. She closed her eyes and prayed inwardly, “Lord, I trust him into your care. Please bring him back to me.”
Opening her eyes, she smiled at Titus. “Go with the Lord and be strong. Come back to us.” He sighed with relief and kissed the top of her head.
“Goodbye grandmother. I love you.” She squeezed his hand and shooed him away saying, “Go on with you. Make our boys peaceful.”
After he had left, she cried as she rocked. Oh Lord! Bring him back to us. Bring Joseph and Gilbert back to us. Please Lord. Please.
Then she dried her eyes, re-opened her journal, and looked at what she had written. Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, Son of God and Son of man, Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown. Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the blooming garb of spring, Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, Fairer still the moonlight.
What else can I write? She rubbed her head. This war is worrying me to death. She closed the journal and went inside.
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Two years later an old lady surrounded by her family waited on the platform at the train station for the 2 o’clock train. As the train steamed up, one of the older men in the group looked down at her.
“Are you alright Mother? I can always take you back to the car.”
Caroline, an old woman of eighty-nine, looked up at her son Robert. “No Robert. I’m fine.” The train stopped and three men and a woman got off. They caught sight of the group and smiles broke over their faces at the sight of their family. Then they saw Caroline and one of the men gave a cry.
“Grandmother!”
Caroline’s eyes filled with tears as they rushed over and smothered her with hugs and kisses. Thank you Lord for bringing them back to us. Thank you Lord.
After they were done greeting everyone and Gilbert had introduced his wife, Coleen Smith Williams, to everyone, Caroline looked at Joseph and asked,
“Joseph. What happened to your left arm?”
The rest of the family looked at him while he answered, “I had to get it taken off because of some shrapnel in it that caused an infection. The ironic part is that Gilbert was the one that did the operation.”
A few people chuckled while others expressed their sympathy. Later that evening, Caroline pulled out her journal and turned back to the page with her poem on it. Taking out her pencil she began to write where she had left off last. And all the twinkling starry host, Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, Than all the angels heaven can boast. Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and forever more be Thine!
Epilogue
One year after the close of the war, Caroline died in her sleep at the age of ninety. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were filled with joy that she was with her Lord and Savior. Five days later she was laid to rest beside her husband, Edward J. Fredrick, and her children Mary, Walter, Amelia, Reuben, Wilhem, and Elizabeth. On her tombstone were engraved these words:
Caroline E. Naylor Fredrick
June 5, 1829 - November 11, 1919
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Luke 15:7
~Fairest Lord Jesus~
Years later her son, Robert, found her journal with the poem and her confession in it. He immediately sat down and wrote music to go with the words. A week later, Caroline’s poem that was turned into a hymn, Fairest Lord Jesus, was sung in the church she had attended since she was a little girl.
The End
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