Beautifully Dead
Chapter 08
Thomas’ Diary Entry
September 25, 1859
It was a beautiful Sabbath day. The Lord hath blessed us with rays of sunshine and a gentle breeze that carried the sweet fragrance of early spring blossoms. It felt so invigorating to walk in, but if I am being honest with myself, it was more likely Eleanor’s company that rejuvenated me so.
Every time I see her beings me such joy.
Eleanor and I were afforded the precious opportunity to spend time together after the morning service had concluded. As we strolled, our footsteps fell into a comfortable rhythm, allowing our conversation to flow with the ease of the nearby stream.
Each word exchanged between us seemed a gift, a chance to better understand the soul that God had, in His infinite wisdom, placed upon my path.
During our walk, Eleanor inquired about my presence in an area where I was not particularly welcome.
I explained to her about Father's grave illness with the consumption, and how this trial had called me home despite the circumstances. She was surprised that I had even been permitted to come to this region at all.
I shared with her how Bishop Williams had known my father since they were young, and he had arranged everything for my return—even writing a letter to my seminary explaining the situation.
When Eleanor wondered about any concerns I might have regarding continuing seminary work in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, I assured her that our beliefs beyond the matter of slavery remain the same.
I emphasized that spreading the gospel holds greater importance than whatever whispers might circulate from presence here as the tensions grow in both the South and our Methodist circles.
I reflected on how not long ago, I would have traveled to this region without hesitation, though now both my family at home and Bishop Williams expressed grave concerns for my safety. As a precaution, I carry the Bishop's letter with me always, should any difficulties arise.
I fear that soon enough a letter might not be enough, and any kind of cross-regional connection may soon become impossible.
Eleanor seemed to appreciate the value of my connection to Bishop Williams. I affirmed this sentiment, acknowledging what a good man he truly is.
I kept to myself how deeply the Bishop's steadfast faith and dedication to God's word influenced my decision to pursue the ministry, perhaps saving such personal revelations for another day, should the Lord bless me with more of these precious walks with Eleanor, however potentially forbidden they perhaps are.
She is such a rare soul. It is evident that the Lord's hand was present in our meeting. I believe she was the answer to my prayers of comfort when I needed it most.
I pray He continues to guide our paths, perhaps even bringing them closer together in the days to come.
Author’s Notes:
Writing a story based on real events can be a fascinating journey, filled with both ups and downs.
On the positive side, you'll uncover countless sources of inspiration. However, the downside is that you might develop a storyline, thinking your research is solid, only to find out later that you may have been mistaken after more digging.
That's exactly what happened in this chapter.
We expected to delve deeper into Thomas and his seminary exchange, only to discover that the Methodist Church might not have had such exchanges at that time.
So, what did we do?
You just read our solution: we made his father ill and turned Bishop Williams into an old family friend who facilitated his presence there.
Is this entirely accurate? Honestly, we're not 100% sure. (Morgan says yes)
As far as we can tell, something like this could have been feasible during that period.
In truth, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it opened up a range of possibilities for our plot, we hadn't yet considered…
© 2025 E.M. di V. - writing as Morgan A. Drake & Joe Gillis. All rights reserved.« Previous | Next »