by Jim Wetton
Lizzy coughed again and held her hands up to her chest. She wiped her lips with her handkerchief and tried to breathe in again. “There’s going to be so much pressure on your generation, Nellie. Even more so with Bonnie, Nancy Lee and Adeline’s generation. I just don’t know if Hannah, my great-grandmother, knew what it was that she was asking when she wrote to her Monroe daughters. Did she foresee the way society would change? Did she see the decay of morals and the art of generosity melt away before our very eyes?”
Nellie clasped her hand into Lizzy’s and leaned over to rest her head on Lizzy’s shoulders. Darkness was beginning to absorb the porch. The sound of crickets created a melody that was soothing to both women.
“Spent a number of days and evenings on a porch, I did,” Lizzy reflected.
“What was your favorite?” Nellie asked, her head still resting on her mother’s shoulder.
“Oh, I don’t know. There were so many,” Lizzy softly answered with a smile. “I think I’d still say that it was on the morning of my wedding. Forgive me if I’ve told you this story, but . . . .”
Nellie moaned fondly, knowing full well that she’d heard the story hundreds of times. She cuddled in closer to her mother and held her tight.
“It was only my father—your grandfather—and me. The porch was getting soaked but for some reason, we remained dry. I was worried that my wedding would be cancelled due to rain. We must have talked non-stop, the rain hitting the tin roof and the coffee brewing. Oh, we grew so close that day, just him and me.”
“Kind of like right now, Momma,” Nellie whispered. “Just you and me. We’re all that’s left, just you and me, sitting on a porch. No rain, just a bunch of crickets keeping us company.”
“That is so true, sweetheart.” Lizzy laughed softly. “It’s just like you and me, right now.”
After a few minutes of listening to the sound of crickets, Lizzy broke the silence. “I don’t think I could be more proud than I am right now or more at peace. I want you to know that, dear. Promise me you’ll raise your children and your grandchildren and God willing your great-grandchildren the way that you’ve been taught. The Monroe way. Can you promise me that, Nellie?”
“No, I can’t, Momma.”
Lizzy jerked up, causing Nellie to fall from under her neck. “What do you mean you can’t?”
“I’m saying that I need you to guide me and to love me. I’m not ready to do this alone, Momma. I’m not ready to say goodbye to you. Just not yet, OK? So, no, I can’t promise you that, not at this moment and not on this porch.”
“How about after we get to vote?” Lizzy snickered.
They sat in silence; the distant sound of a car down the street was the only distraction.
Finally, Nellie leaned forward and raised herself from Lizzy’s shoulder. She turned her face and looked at her mother. “OK, maybe after we get to vote, but you hear me, lady . . . AFTER we get to vote, WAY after.”
“So, we’ve got work to do, don’t we?” Lizzy said defiantly.
“Yes, we do.” Nellie laughed.
“Oh, and by the way, older and wiser adult as you are . . . ,” Lizzy said sarcastically.
“Oh, I’m afraid what’s coming next.” Nellie shied away.
“You never did tell me what kind of car you bought for yourself.”
“You got me, Momma. Yes, I too fell under the spell, but just for a moment.”
“And?”
“A 1920 Packard Six-Seater. They told me it was the best for grandchildren.”
“Sure. . . . Grandchildren. You look good in it, don’t you?” Lizzy asked with one eyebrow raised.
“Damn right!” Nellie said with a grin.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Hannah Gets to Vote
1920
RETURN TO NORMALCY
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WINNER WARREN G. HARDING ACCEPTED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, HARDING STATED: “AMERICA’S PRESENT NEEDS ARE NOT HEROICS, BUT HEALING. NOT NOSTRUMS, BUT NORMALCY. NOT REVOLUTION, BUT RESTORATION. WE NEED TO RETURN OUR COUNTRY TO NORMALCY AGAIN.”
SOME SAY THAT THE FINAL VOTES ACTUALLY WERE COMPILED IN THE SMOKE-FILLED BACK ROOMS OF THE CONVENTION, BUT NEVERTHELESS, AFTER THE 10TH BALLOT, HARDING WAS NOMINATED TO CARRY THE REPUBLICAN SEAT INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION AGAINST DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE JAMES M. COX AND HIS RUNNING MATE, SENATOR FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT OF NEW YORK.
HOT ON THE TICKET WAS THE LOOMING RATIFICATION OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION GIVING THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR ALL WOMEN. EARLY IN 1919 THE HOUSE HAD APPROVED THE AMENDMENT BY A VOTE OF 304-90 BUT IT WAS ONLY RECENTLY THAT THE SENATE APPROVED THE MEASURE WITH A VOTE OF 56-25. ONLY RATIFICATION OF THE STATES IS LEFT TO WIN OVER A MEASURE THAT HAS BEEN ON EVERYONE’S LIPS FOR THE PAST 125 YEARS. ABIGAIL ADAMS ONCE ENCOURAGED HER HUSBAND TO PUSH THE MEASURE THROUGH CONGRESS YET HIS EFFORTS NEVER MATERIALIZED AND HE TOLD HIS LOVING, YET DETERMINED WIFE THAT “NOW IS NOT THE TIME, ABIGAIL. NOW IS NOT THE TIME.”
WELL, THE TIME IS NOW AND WITH TENNESSEE RATIFYING THE AMENDMENT, THE TIME HAS DEFINITELY COME AS THE 19TH AMENDMENT IS NOW LAW. WOMEN OF ALL RACES, RELIGIONS AND ORIGINS HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO CAST THEIR VOTE. IT HAS BEEN A HARD-FOUGHT MEASURE DATING BACK TO ABIGAIL ADAMS, BUT MORE SO THROUGH THE DILIGENT EFFORTS OF THE LIKES OF LUCY STONE, SUSAN ANTHONY, AMELIA BLOOMER, ELIZABETH STANTON, SOJOURNER TRUTH, HARRIET TUBMAN AND ONE OF OUR OWN LOCAL WOMEN, MILLIE ELIZABETH MCKEEVER.
Well, imagine that. Why would any newspaper put me in with the likes of those esteemed women? Flattering, but not warranted by a long shot. They’re the ones who should be getting all the credit and credit is indeed worthy.
Lizzy placed the paper on the table, reached for her umbrella and headed out the front door. Once on the porch, she stopped and took in a deep breath. Another muggy day. Sure know why they call it the swamp, especially in August. Time to bring me home, Jesus, or at least get me out of this “sweatshop” of a town.
Lizzy opened up her umbrella to block the sun and proceeded up the walkway, enjoying her morning stroll to the mall. She detested the summer months, always had. But she still loved her walk, especially in the early mornings. The humidity of Washington’s summers was deplorable, but she could handle the early mornings as long as she was back inside and near a fan by mid-morning.
Her walks had always given her the chance to reflect and to plan. Now that the Nineteenth Amendment had passed into law, her planning days were coming to an end and the thought in some ways depressed her. Since the early days of the Civil War, she’d always had a cause to follow, a civil battle to fight. Now, after this last battle had been won, she wondered when, or if, another battle was going to surface. She was seventy-six years old and on this particular morning, she felt like ninety-six. Her walks in the past were brisk and quick, but today’s walk was slow. She kept watch for the next bench so she could rest and the thought ran through her like a message from heaven.
She eyed the upcoming bench with a sense of relief. A hawk landed but a few feet from where Lizzy wished to rest. Lizzy studied her newfound friend and thought for a moment as its eyes glared at her. She looked closer and could see that its feathers were frayed and it was in obvious discomfort. She wondered what could have happened to cause such damage. Lizzy noticed the size of the bird and chuckled when she remembered how Martin loved red-shouldered hawks while they lived in New York City. He’d always wished to see more of them but knew they were rare that far north compared to West Virginia. She recalled that he always favored the larger females with their wide wing span and beady eyes. You’re right, Martin; it’s a female. Wouldn’t have expected anything else, especially on a morning like this, right?
The hawk’s head fidgeted back and forth, always on alert to any incoming danger. Moments later, it quickly flew away, leaving Lizzy disappointed but its leaving granted her the luxury of sitting alone.
She adjusted the umbrella to her left to block the sun and sat. The view
made her smile.
The Washington Monument was not only Lizzy’s favorite monument, but it also symbolized memories of her own family. It was George Washington and her great-great-grandfather Jacob who founded its very existence and Lizzy would always feel closest to her past when she could see the tall obelisk structure. It was on this particular morning that she felt a deep calling to bring her life’s experiences to some kind of closure. Physically, she felt fine, but a nagging feeling in the back of her mind kept insisting that her time was nearing an end.
She smiled as an Eastern gray squirrel stopped just in front of her. Its head twitched back and forth looking for the safest place to scamper to, if needed. The hawk with the tattered feathers reappeared to Lizzy’s left. She eyed the squirrel, blinked twice before making a kee-aah sound that startled the squirrel into running away and also nearly knocking Lizzy off her bench. Regaining her balance, Lizzy stared at the bird, her eyes narrow with unknown anticipation. She tilted her head to one side, the two locked into a mental showdown. The bird blinked its eyes twice and made another raspy kee-aah sound that made Lizzy’s frown deepen. She shook her head and sighed heavily. She thought of all that she’d done over the past seventy odd years and looked at the bird to answer if she’d done enough.
“I’m the last of a generation, bird, the last of a generation.”
Lizzy leaned her head back and looked up to the sky. “I’m ready, God. I’m so very tired, worn and old. So, anytime you feel like it, don’t hesitate to make your move.”
She looked back to the hawk and it blinked again before flying away. She sighed heavily. Disappointed that her little feathered friend had abandoned her once again, she thought of the words she’d just spoken. I’m ready, God.
Am I?
Lizzy would never take any credit for the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment. She was far too humble to give any credit to herself when so many other women did far more than she had.
She was pleased. That she couldn’t deny. But, with the passing of law, also came the emptiness of what it was that she’d do next. She thought of her family, one by one. Lizzy realized that each of them was well taken care of, thanks to Martin’s investments. She thought of her only surviving child and could only hope that she’d find another soul mate who would keep her warm at night. The thought intrigued her as she admitted to herself that the very thought had never crossed her mind after losing her own husband back in ’93. Nellie will do what she deems best for her. She’s forty-six. I was forty-nine. I remarried a cause. What Nellie does is going to be up to her.
Lizzy thought of her grandchildren with a wide smile. Those children are going to keep Nellie busy for a while, especially Nancy Lee.
She thought of how each one of her grandchildren were so different. Bonnie, now the oldest since losing Hannah, was going to be the trendsetter. She was engrossed in the new culture of what folks were calling the “Roaring Twenties.”
Teddy was solid and rooted. He’d survived a war and was about to marry Adeline. When Lizzy thought of her grandson, she just smiled with pride knowing that he was going to be just fine, especially with Adeline by his side. Adeline, though not a blood relative, had a special spot in Lizzy’s heart ever since she’d lost her father in front of Lizzy’s home.
Nancy Lee was another story. Lizzy had always known her youngest grandchild to be an activist for a cause, but recently she questioned her methods to follow such causes. Lizzy knew she’d never cast the first stone in the wake of justice, but she’d often questioned Nancy Lee’s motives and repercussions from working for what she believed in.
“One daughter, one grandson and two granddaughters, three if you count Adeline,” Lizzy said out loud to no one. “My legacy!”
She pondered that thought as she gazed over the Potomac towards the Old Lee Plantation. “Oh, Martin, is that it? Is that what I will leave behind?”
“Faith, Family and Friends.”
“Yes, Papa, I hear you. Faith, Family and Friends. That’s what I’m leaving behind.”
The thought relieved her but it also caused her to question herself.
“Faith.”
Had she done enough to carry on what her Papa had taught her, what her grandfather was and what her great-grandfather realized just before he died?
“Faith.”
Lizzy leaned back and looked up to the sky and prayed. “Oh, God, please tell me that I’ve given my family the foundation they’ll need. Please give me comfort knowing that my children will seek You and will want to know You better.”
Lizzy shivered though the air was humid and hot. She opened up her eyes and looked to find that the hawk had reappeared and its arrival brought a smile to Lizzy’s face.
“Thank you, Jesus!”
* * * *
HARDING VS COX
THE VOTES WILL BE DRAWN TOMORROW AND THE COUNTRY WILL BEGIN A NEW ERA. THE DAYS OF ROOSEVELT, TAFT AND WILSON ARE NOW BEHIND US. IT IS TIME TO VOTE FOR THE ERA OF CHANGE; THE ERA FOR MEN “AND” WOMEN TO SUBMIT THEIR VOICES FOR DEMOCRACY.
“I bet tomorrow will be one of the most memorable days of your life, Nana,” Bonnie said as she sat next to Lizzy on the couch. “I know that I’m ecstatic over it!”
Lizzy looked over at her granddaughter and pondered what the young woman was indeed experiencing. She was but twenty-three and was one of a million other women who would be able to walk down a hall, up a street, or into an auditorium and place her vote for who it is that she wants to lead this country.
Lizzy was raw with emotions. The following day, November 2, 1920, would be the election. Unlike any other election in the history of the nation, this one would welcome the ballots cast by both men and women. Lizzy didn’t know what she wanted to do more, shout for joy or cry with relief.
“Who are you going to vote for, Nana?” asked a wide-eyed Bonnie. “I’m voting for Mr. Harding. He’s much cuter than that scruffy-looking Cox fellow.”
Lizzy shook her head and exhaled with a half frown. Oh, spare me, Lord. Is this where we’ve come?
The phone rang and Bonnie bounced to it in two steps. Lizzy looked over at her with no desire to get up.
“Hello?” Bonnie said as she picked up the receiver. “Oh, hello Momma, yes . . . no, she’s here. Want to talk to her? Oh, OK. What? Oh, yes, she’s as excited as the rest of us; you should just see her dancing around here. What? Ah, yes, I think; no, wait a second.”
Bonnie turned to Lizzy. “Nana? Momma wants to know if we can all meet here in the morning and go over to the polling booths together. She says that she’s still working on Edith Wilson, but not to hold our breath.”
“What, Momma?” Bonnie placed the earpiece back to her ear. “Sure you don’t just want to talk to her? She’s right here. Yes, she’s resting; I was just making up the dancing thing. She looks very relaxed and is actually smiling at this very moment. Aren’t you, Nana?”
Bonnie pulled the receiver from her ear and winked at Lizzy. “OK, I’ll tell her.”
She looked over to Lizzy. “Momma said that Adeline’s going to spend the night with us tonight and for you not to worry.”
Bonnie put the receiver back to her ear. “Yes, I’m back, Momma. Tomorrow? Here? First thing, right. Coffee? OK, I’ll ask her. Oh, Momma? Nancy Lee asked to come along and I told her that it would be fine.”
Lizzy could see Bonnie’s eyes narrow as she listened to Nellie on the phone.
“I know she can’t vote, but she just wants to be there with all us women. I think. . . .”
Lizzy muffled a laugh at Bonnie’s silence while Nellie talked.
“Really!?”
Lizzy tilted her head in wonder.
“Does Nana know?”
Lizzy’s frown deepened.
“Oh, sorry, no I won’t say a word. OK. Well, I’m gonna hang up now and I’ll tell Nana that we’ll all see her in the morning. Sound right? OK. Goodbye, Momma. Oh, Momma, I’ve just got to tell you. I’m just bouncing off the walls over here and probably wo
n’t stop until we’re at the ballot box, you know? I just know I won’t get a wink of sleep tonight. How about you? Momma? Momma?”
Lizzy laughed at Bonnie’s odd expression. “Sounds like your mother’s hung up the phone, dear. It seems your excitement just got the best of her.”
“I just don’t know how you do it, Nana,” Bonnie said with a girlish laugh. “For me, I, well I can’t get myself to sit still. It’s just so exciting! Wish the day would end and tomorrow would begin! I just need to do something, if you know what I mean!”
Lizzy’s eyes widened with joy as she tried to follow her granddaughter’s moves.
“I can’t stand it anymore; I think I’ll just go for a walk. Care to join me?” Bonnie asked.
Lizzy breathed in a laugh and slowly shook her head out of pure exhaustion. “No, child, you go. It looks as though it’ll do you some good to get some exercise.”
“OK, Nana. See you in the morning, OK?”
Lizzy just waved her hand in the air as she watched Bonnie scamper out the front door and down the street.
“Ahhhh, the peacefulness of it all finally returns. Yes, home sweet home once again.” Lizzy smiled as she fell back into her oversized cushioned chair, her head resting on the back. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Peace and quiet.
Lizzy’s thoughts, once she’d recovered from Bonnie’s exhilaration, traveled back to the time when she found Hannah’s diary. The scent of dried cedar somehow permeated the air around her. That day had been grim with the burial of her father, but the discovery of Hannah’s diary had given Lizzy a new challenge, one which she took on for nearly the next forty years. She thought of what she’d feel like tomorrow when she actually placed her ballot into the voting box. Would it be Hannah’s hand guiding her? Would the spirit of her own mother be with her? Would all the women in her life come down the aisle with her as she placed her vote in the box?