The Mockingbird's Ballad

Tennessee's new governor, General J. C. Brown, has some sense. He's a neighbor of yours from over Pulaski, isn't he? Did you know he worked like the dickens to keep Tenn. out of the war? Then when it left the Union, he was a mighty fine field officer for us.

I know 'The Parson' Brownlow and his crowd were a trial for you in Tenn., but he's safe in the senate now, up with those Washington yahoos. I'm wishing J. N. good fortune if he tries his hand at his own business. Folks need wagons and carriages and with all his silliness he's a good fellow. Make a great salesman. Never shirked his duty that I knew and sure served me good. He defended us - he, the general and I - several times when the dance got dicey.

Brewton is a busy lumber and railroad community. The main movers, the Campbells, are from a prominent New England family who came over thirty years ago and have built up quite a fortune in business. The current patriarch, James Peabody Campbell, made it quite clear when I arrived that he preferred a Yankee Universalist preacher rather than me. 'Mr.' Campbell said as we finished the first meeting, 'Well said, Sir, well said.' I was delighted with his remark. Vanity goeth before the fall, you know.

I hope to be back your way in six weeks, maybe by the first of spring, March 20. Tommorrow I take the Mobile - Ohio RR to Quitman, Miss. I'll rent a mount to explore the wilderness south of there. I'm searching for Universalists south of there in Jones County. Bro. Burrus says that that part of Jeff Davis' Mississippi is as different in geography and culture as can be, like east Tennessee and north Alabama hill country. Davis' delta and the Piney Woods see and experience the world mightily differently. Bro. Burrus told me of some folks down in 'Free' Jones County I need to meet with, Herringtons and Mauldins especially. After that I hope to spend a couple weeks in Mobile and then back to Birmingham on my way home to you.

My best regards and warm wishes, Solon"

He reread his letter before addressing and posting it. The closing required reconsidering. Those last words, "on my way home to you", expressed feelings that had not been available to him for his face to face reckoning. There they stood - free, real and right. And he had signed, "Solon". With that he had exposed his heart, but it felt safe and good. "Well, well," he softly said to himself. He mailed the letter as written.