Return to Tinnin. Jasper S. Lee

where they might settle down.

      They walked the short streets, carrying their suitcases. They looked around for a boarding house or other place to stay or to work. The didn't see much that appealed to them or that they could afford. They were getting anxious. Particularly Ellen was nervous in this new place with strange ways of doings things. Jasper could sense that Ellen was uneasy; he gave her a hug, said "I love you," and assured her that everything would work out.

      As they walked, they came upon a couple of mercantile stores, a saloon, and a couple of churches. One of the churches was a Methodist Episcopal, and the other was a Presbyterian. The thought quickly came to their minds about the importance of the Presbyterian Church in Brandon, Mississippi, in helping them get to know each other. Ellen reminded Jasper of where they first met and began to fall in love. Jasper was quick to respond, "Yes, that was a great place to me." The steps of the Presbyterian Church were a spot to sit briefly, rest from their walking, and contemplate.

      Ellen remembered one of the sing-along songs from the evening they first met: "The Yellow Rose of Texas." She started trying to sing it, and Jasper sort of joined in. Yes, that song helped bring them closer together now that they were in Texas! But, they had not seen a yellow rose!

      For the first time since marriage, Ellen began to think back to her family. She had never been away more than a night at a time. She remembered Ma and Pa. She remembered her sisters and brothers. And, she couldn't forget Bummer, who once notified her that Jasper had arrived in Tinnin. But she didn't have long to let her mind wander. The couple had things to do.

      The conversation turned to the role of church in their lives. Ellen said she and her family had sometimes gone to Mason Chapel in Tinnin. It was small and had an itinerant Methodist Episcopal preacher. Mostly, not much went on since Preacher Hoyle had died of a heart attack after fright from Union troops on Easter Sunday of last year. She stated that her family had a large Bible in which important dates and events were recorded. But, they seldom read from it and seldom had prayer other than a blessing before Sunday dinner. Ellen did say that she was christened as a small girl by the preacher at Mason Chapel. She continued, "I think that involved sprinkling a few drops of water on my head. How about you, Jasper?"

      Jasper didn't have much to say about church. He said he had seen a few preachers. He said he once went to a brush arbor revival and was scared by the preacher's message of "burning in hell." He said it "sounded hot and bad" to him. He said that when the folks were singing and the preacher was begging people to come forward and "accept Jesus Christ as savior," he went down to the front. He said the preacher shook his hand and said a brief prayer. The preacher said Jasper would be baptized at the local creek by immersion. Jasper said, "I asked him what that meant. He said dunking me under the water." That scared him. Jasper continued that he "left that town before baptism." Maybe some day he would be baptized. He never learned who Jesus Christ was, either. It would take some explaining to make a "believer" out of him. But, that didn't matter to Ellen. She was with the man of her dreams. She knew that their love was more than being about going to church and the like.

      It was time to walk some more. They had a good conversation on the steps of the church. It would probably serve as a foundation for future church endeavors of Ellen and Jasper and any children they might have. In general, they were in agreement on the role of church in their lives. They tried to accept Pa's explanation that the definition of sin varies with the situation and who is involved but that one should always attempt to do what is right and moral. Treat others as you would like to be treated. They would affiliate in some way with a church once they had found a place for settling down. They had little idea about the church and preacher that lay ahead in their lives.

      Finally, as night was approaching, they came upon the Witherspoon Hotel and its saloon. The saloon had its own name, Spoon Saloon, and was often known locally as "The Spoon." The hotel wasn't new nor fancy at all, but a room was available at a rate they could afford. Jasper paid $1.50 for three nights. Since Ellen and Jasper didn't drink (with their limited money, they couldn't afford to), the presence of a saloon didn't seem important.

      There was one more thing Ellen wanted to do: write a letter to Mrs. Cornweller in Vicksburg. She wanted to thank her for befriending them by allowing the couple to stay in her home, but mostly she wanted to cheer her up. Mrs. Cornweller had seemed so down on life and her ability to survive. That night in their room at the Witherspoon, with the light of a flickering lamp, Ellen wrote a letter for mailing the next day. She wanted to help Mrs. Cornweller feel better and adjust to life after the Civil War. Though she didn't say so in the letter, she really wanted to set Mrs. Cornweller straight on slavery; that could be something for another time as it would probably aggravate her at this time of grieving in the death of her husband. Maybe, in the back of her mind, Ellen really wanted to write her parents and tell them where she was, but she did not do so, because the joining of her and Jasper had created a family divide.

      Ellen and Jasper could now relax a bit after their trip from Vicksburg. But, serious relaxation would be a tad difficult and elusive. They had a future to plan and realize. And, they had to face the challenges of getting through tomorrow, the next day, and the days afterward.