DUNDEE'

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

 In our nation’s history, a little girl was born into slavery.
 Her parents named her
 "Dundee'."

  Her father & mother, married over a year now, 
were the youngest family among the "Andrews" slaves.
 The plantation had been passed down thru the generations of the Andrew's family.
 Dundee's folks lived in the row of log shanty homes behind "Cedar Grove," plantation.
  Dundee's father "Jacob" was respected because of his strong body, and mind. 
Her mother "Jane" was sweet, shy, and very pretty.

 Dundee was the firstborn. She was perfect in every little detail. 
“Jane, this is the prettiest baby I ever did see, said Nettie, Jane’s grandmother, 
as she wrapped the tiny baby girl in a little quilt made of snippets.
 “Can a new Papa see his child, so early in the morning?”
  Jacob picked her up in his big strong arms.
 All the folks gathered round to see baby Dundee,'
 as they prayed a blessing over her.

Master Andrews was elderly, so his son Charles controlled the affairs of "Cedar Grove."
 It just so happened that Charles Andrews and his wife Anne also had a new baby girl, 
born on the same day as Dundee'. A firstborn southern belle, they named "Pearl."

Pearl was born at Cedar Grove, and Dundee' was born in a slave shanty.

Pearl was beautiful, with big blue eyes, golden curls, and chubby pink cheeks. 
She was tenderhearted, and fun loving, but very lonely with only grownups to play with.
 Thank goodness for Dixie girl, her doggy, but she needed playmates too. 

“What is the matter Pearl?” Anne asked.
 She could see Pearl looking around for something to do.
 “Mama, I just wish I had a friend.”

 “Come on sweetie, let’s go upstairs to your room, and have a tea party with Molly dolly.
 Her bedroom was fit for a princess, with a wardrobe full of exquisite dresses. 
A doll hutch with French & German made beauties,
 along with little doll trunks for the cloths.
 A large doll house, a rocking horse, & ballerina music box sat in the corner. 
 As Pearl along with her mother sat down at the table & chairs,
 Pearl began to set the table with her porcelain dishes all the way from England.
 “Where’s England Mama?” Anne went to the bookshelf,
 and began to read a story about kings & queens from England to her daughter.
 Before Anne knew it, Pearl had climbed upon her ruffled canopy bed and fallen fast asleep.
 Naptime, thought Anne, pulling a down filled silk comforter over Pearl, tucking her in.

The next day was so pleasant, Pearl played outside. 
“Hey girl, where are you going?”  Dixie girl was running way on up the creek, 
with Pearl chasing behind to bring her back home.
 Maybe it’s a bunny rabbit she's after, thought Pearl,
 as she came round the bend to spy her doggy playing with a little girl. 
It was Dundee' giving her corncob dolly a bath as Dixie girl sat watching her.
 Pearl didn't make a sound, but turned and raced back to the house,
 up the stairs, and to her room.

 After finding Molly dolly, she rushed back down to the creek.

Dundee' was amazed, when a little girl came skipping up to make friends. "Hey"!
 "My name is Pearl." "What's your name?" "Will you be my Best Friend?"
 "I sure will" said Dundee', barely getting a word in.

This is the day they met, making mud pies, bathing dolls, playing with Dixie girl. 
As time passed they played almost everyday at this spot by the creek.

 “Dundee', guess what happens next Friday?"
"What Pearl?" 
"My birthday, that's what."
 "Oh me oh my Pearl."
 "My birthday is next Friday too." said Dundee'. 
"Our birthday's are on the same day,
 we are the same age, born in the same place."
 "We are not only best friends, but Sisters!"
 “Can you believe it?”

The Birthday finally came on Friday.
 That morning Pearl took one of her many dolls down from the hutch in her room, 
to give as a birthday gift to Dundee'. 

She placed the lovely doll in a pink satin shoe box, lined in soft silk velvet. 
Wrapping the box in birthday paper, finishing with a pink baby rose from the garden.
She placed it on the top, under the fancy bow she had tied around it.

 While her mother was busy preparing her big party she rushed to the creek. 
Dundee' was already there.

With the package hid behind her back, Pearl shouted, 
"I have a secret!"
 "What"? 
 "Tell me!" 
"Please?" Dundee' asked. 
"It's a PRESENT for you," giggled Pearl,
 bringing the gift out from behind her.
 "What's a Present?"asked Dundee'. 
 "It is a gift!”
 "You never had a gift before Dundee'?"
 "Nope, but it sure is pretty," said Dundee' as she held the gift.
 Pearl put the rose in Dundee's hair.

 “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Pearl!"

 "This is a fine ribbon and pretty papered box!"
 "And a rosebud too!”
"Hurry and open it," laughed Pearl.
”How?"
 "Take the paper & bow off," said Pearl. 
"Oh!" whispered Dundee,
 carefully removing the paper, 
a pink satin box was revealed.

 "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Pearl!"

 "This is a pink box. I love pink," said Dundee.' 
"Take the lid off," laughed Pearl.
  "Oh" said Dundee', again very carefully lifting the satin lid.
 Dundee' could hardly believe her eyes.
 There in the box, lay the most beautiful doll she had ever seen.
She was speechless!

 "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Pearl,"

 "Hurry and take her out of the box," exclaimed Pearl.
 As Dundee' gingerly lifted her doll up & out of the box, 
she hugged her gift, and Pearl at the same time.
  A tear ran down her cheek.

 " I feel bad cause I don't have a present for you Pearl."
 "You didn't know Dundee', you can next birthday."
 The little friends played until they heard Pearl's papa calling her. 
"I must go."
 "We are going on a short trip to grandmother Gracie's plantation, after the party."
" See you in 3 days."

Later that afternoon, while Jacob & Jane were out in the field working, 
Dundee' took her doll home.
 She dug a hole under her mattress, lined the hole with the wrapping paper, 
and placed the doll inside its box.
 She then hid it in the hole, covering it all with the mattress.
 She did not want to get Pearl in trouble.

 That evening as she prayed, she praised God for such a friend as Pearl.
 As she slept she dreamed of her doll, as Dixie girl scratched on the shanty door.

While they were sleeping, 
one of the slaves took a bridle and escaped on one of the horses. 
That next morning, the overseer discovered what had happened.

 As he searched the shanty homes, he finally came to "Jacobs" house.
He turned each mattress, one by one. 
Pulling up Dundee's mattress he found the little hole. In an instant he removed the box.
 "What is this?" He took the lid off and saw the French doll.
 "Did you steal this from Cedar Grove, Jacob?" 
"Maybe for Dundee'?"
 No one spoke.

As Dundee' trembled, he looked at her & asked "why are you shaking?"
 “Well I reckon little girl, you took it while they’re away!" he accused. 
 Dundee' knew if she tried to explain, 
"Pearl" might be punished,
 so she said not a word in her own defense….

 Like Jesus.

Dundee' was then marched to the whipping post, 
where her hands were tightly bound around it.
 Now she would be whipped to show the slaves what happens if you steal.

 Still she kept silent….

 Like Jesus.

Jacob wanted, with all his body, soul, and spirit, to stop this horrible man.
 He knew if he tried Dundee' would be  hurt even more. 
He knew they would be separated, never seeing each other again. 
I must have courage for Dundee' and Jane, he thought, as he silently prayed.

Along with Dundee's family, the slaves were forced to watch.

Like the angels…. watched Jesus.

The mean man began to beat Dundee' on her back, with the whip….

 Like Jesus.

As she screamed "Jacob" turned his head, he couldn't stand to see her suffer….

Like the Father.

Still, she never said a word. Finally the whipping stopped.

 "Now let that be a lesson to you!" said the accuser….
like the devil.

Dundee' was taken off the post….

 Like Jesus from the cross.

Her papa laid her on the bed; her mama dressed her wounds….

 Like Mary.

Little Dundee' lay still, and on the 3rd day all her strength returned…. 

Like Jesus.

Pearl returned home that same 3rd day, so excited to play with Dundee'.
 As she unpacked her new treasures, she was shocked to see Dundee's doll
 back on the shelf in her bedroom.

"Papa Papa," shouted Pearl, as Charles came running from across the hall. 
"Pearl honey, what has upset you so?"
 "Papa, this doll, this very doll is not mine anymore."
 "I gave it away to my best forever friend, Dundee'." 
"You see, her birthday is the same day as mine."
 "We are the same age, from the same place." 
"I gave the dolly to her 3 days ago on our birthday."
 "Why is she back in my room, and not with Dundee'?"

"Oh no, Oh know!" 
"What cruelty has been allowed to happen, because of my indifference."
 “I should not have hired such a man."
"What have I done?"
 "I hope it's not to late," said Charles,
 as he and Pearl raced down the stairs,
 out the door to the slave quarters.
.

Jane was braiding Dundee’s hair, when the door burst open. 
Pearl ran to Dundee' and gently hugged her.
 Both girls were sobbing.
 "Dundee', did you get a whipping?"
 "It's alright Pearl."
 "No it is not," said Pearl,
 thru the tears. 
"I thought you might be in big trouble, if they knew about us," cried Dundee'.

 As the "sisters" talked, the mystery was solved.

Charles knew he would never be the same again.
 All the prejudice melted away.

Dundee's actions were .... 
Like Jesus.

Pearl placed the doll back where she belonged, in Dundee's arms.
 From this day on, Dundee' felt "free" to openly be a sister to Pearl. 
Everything changed at “Cedar Grove” that very day!

Freedom.

 And they lived happily as Best Friends Forever......

With 
 Jesus!

Written by Cheryl Harwell Bailey
 Easter 1975

"Raggedy Ann," aka Cheryl Ann Bailey
Telling the story "Dundee" in 1978
 Delaware, U.S.A.