The three friends passed an uneasy and sleepless night, and dawn broke on the next day. Two Rivers walked outside to build a fire, and Jacob brought out food to cook their breakfast. Cassius soon appeared in the portal to their cabin with his hat in his hands and the downcast eyes of a slave. He spoke in low and muted tones.
“Suhs, I’s be powerful thankful to y’all, what with saving my life and all. And I’s shore would appreciate it if you lets me stay heah fo’ a while. I’s ain’t no lazy man, I’s works fo’ my keep.”
Jacob beamed a wide and disarming smile towards his new friend, and gestured towards a place by the fire. “Please, come and break bread with us friend. It is a joy to have you here. I am the Reverend Jacob Channing.”
Cassius eagerly accepted the hand proffered him and gave it a hearty twohanded pumping. “Well it shore do be a joy to meet you too, Rev’rund. I’s called Cassius.”
Not one to be unfriendly despite his few words and cool demeanor, Two Rivers offered his hand in friendship as well. “I am called Two Rivers.”Cassius’ exuberance continued unabated. “Well I’s shorely be delighted to meet you as well suh.”
Jacob continued to beam at his new-found friend. “There is no need to sir us
34 Brother Cassius, we work for a living. You are on free soil now, all men are equals here.”
Somewhat confused but absolutely overjoyed to hear that he had reached his destination, Cassius gave his whole-hearted consent. “Yes suh, uh, I mean yes Rev’rund Channing.”
Jacob could not help but laugh despite himself. “It’s just Jacob, or Brother Jacob if you must insist on formality.”“Oh, uh, shore thing Brother Jacob.”
Jacob gave a low chuckle and continued. “That will do. It is good that the Lord of the harvest has sent us another pair of hands, for we have much work to do. We are building a church on this land, and we would be delighted to have your help.”
Again Cassius bubbled over with joy. “Oh I’d be powerful honored to help you build yore church, Brother Jacob. I’s always been a praying man, ever since my mamma teach me how when I’s just be a little boy.”
The three men sat by the fire and broke bread together and took joy in one another’s fellowship. After the fire was smothered they gathered their tools and went forth into the forest for the day’s woodcutting. But on this day Jacob and Two Rivers brought along a couple of extra tools. Two Rivers walked along with an axe in one hand and his shotgun in the other. Jacob checked the condition of his pistol and stuffed in into the small of his back. Ever the good shepherd, Reverend Channing was ready to fight off the wolves.
They reached the forest and the day’s work began. Cassius soon fell into the familiar rhythms of work and began to sing while at his labor as he was accustomed to doing.
“Oh it’s a hundred and ten, a hundred and ten in the sha-a-ade. Comin’ wa-ay down, Father won’t you carry me?”Jacob smiled at the man’s apparent enthusiasm. “I do believe that I have never seen a man take so much joy in his work before.”
Suddenly taken by self-consciousness, Cassius smiled meekly and looked down. “Well, I’s never really taken joy in mah work befo’. I’s only work so’s I’s don’t get whipped, so I’s only work just hard enough not to get whipped. I’s only sing to take mah mind off it. But this here work be diff’rent. This don’t be fo’ no mean old man, this here be the Lord’s work. That do be a joy fo’ me, it shorely do.”
Jacob grinned from ear to ear. “Precisely, you have spoken truth Brother Cassius. When one labors for the fruits of the Spirit, then the Spirit of joy grows in a man’s heart. And one’s hand will work that much swifter, for his work is not for the glory of any man but for God. Truly one should work with joy for those things that bring him joy.”
Cassius nodded his agreement. “Amen.”Jacob realized that the Spirit had sent him another friend from whom he could learn a great many things. Cassius taught Jacob the spirituals his folk worked to, and Jacob taught Cassius the hymns of his church. Two Rivers held his peace, as Two Rivers was a man who held his peace. But as he worked quietly he too wore a smile on his face for the fist time in a long time. Their songs echoed from the trees and sounded throughout the forest as three men took joy in the work of their hands.
