Virginia Swem Edmonds
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Nellie Stonebridge has been a sickly child most of her young life. Her mother's troubled personal life and questionalble past has left most of her personal relationships full of doubt. Nellie loves to write and her passion is poetry. In her writing she immortalizes the world around her and opens her heart as to how she feels about her life and the many things that are happening as the Civil War rages miles from their home. Home is a secluded farm in a very remote area along the James River. It is perceived as more of a prison by her mother. Nellie eventually manages to leave home with her friend Carrie. They go in search of her brother, Daniel, who is rumored to be in a Richmond hospital. It seems Nellie's mother is not the person her father married so long ago. William, Nellie's father can never seem to pinpoint exactly what causes Eleanor's strange behavior. Eventually he decides it best to leave home again, blindly hoping that when he returns all will be well with the farm. Historically accurate events are related throughout the manuscript. A local flavor has been included which hopefully will add an extra element of excitement to all who share Nellie's experiences. Nellie's poetry, her thoughts on life and love will cause readers to exalt in the unbelievable endurance and glory to be found in a single human spirit. Finally, one hundred years into the future Nellie's journal is found along with her remains. It seems Nellie will be remembered after all.
Virginia Swem Edmonds, known to her family and friends as 'Jeni,' lives in Pace, Florida. A Headstone for Nellie was started over four years ago but due to unforseen circumstances all data was lost, including many other stories, but she loves the motto, 'Never, Never, Never give up.' Her imagination is the center for most of her stories, and she hopes to have many more published in the future. She is a proud member of the First United Methodist Church in Milton, Florida, and also is a member of the Milton Garden Club, Dogwood circle. She loves to garden and especially enjoys spending time with her family. She is a cancer survivor and proudly attributes her strength to getting through it all is this one belief...'In God We Must Trust.'
Waiting for Jesus..."Carrie, do you suppose that God lets negras through the pearly gates?"
"Child, you ask the oddest questions. How would I know? I ain't dead yet, and if I were, I ain't planning on coming back to tell you about it, the Lord looks at all of us with the same eyes."
"How could you possibly know that? I think he would take you and Otis. You and he look like you were born to be together."
"Love has nothing to do with what a couple looks like."
"Oh, I beg to differ with you Carrie. Papa had a cousin that married the ugliest woman I ever did see. She had a pair of teeth that could bite through hickory and on her best day she could scare the claws off a polecat."
"He must have loved her for what she shone from her heart," Carrie replied.
Nellie shrugged her shoulders. "No, I think it had something to do with her papa shoving a rifle up his back side. He fell in love with her real quick after that. He told papa that he liked putting a feed sack over her head, now, why would any woman want to wear a feed sack over their head?"
Carrie had to turn away.
Nellie pulled on Carrie's dress and asked her, "Why are you shaking Carrie? Are you having some kind of fit?"
Carrie composed herself and turned around. "So you think that Otis and I belong together, do you?"
"Yes, some people have the ability to look at other people and just know they are going to be together. Mama told me this so I know it is true. She said she knew her and papa were going to be together when they first met. You and Otis belong together. I cannot imagine you being in Heaven without him. I have a question I need you to answer Carrie."
"Goodness, child, you have us in Heaven already? I would like to live on this earth a little longer if you don't mind. What happened to marriage? What do you need to ask me child?"
"...I have heard voices many times and when I went to look out the window I did not see anyone. And another thing, many times there has been hams and preserves missing out of the root cellar and smoke house. Would you happen to know anything about why that is? If you die before I do Carrie, do you want a headstone?"
"Child that is something I have never thought about. I do not stand around waiting for Jesus to take me, but I hope I go quickly. Peel those potatoes girl, and quit trying to match me up with Otis and as for missing food, well, sometimes I give it away to others less fortunate. Please, we must not talk about this ever again, promise me? You must have heard something else."
"...I understand. One more question please."
"Goodness, child, what is it?"
"Have you ever heard anyone say 'Am I not a man and a brother?"
"...would you read a poem for me first?"
Nellie returned from her bedroom and began to read from her journal.
'the voices were soft as they echoed to my ears,
'as were the foot prints that were left, and frozen tears,
'my eyes were quite taken by there dismay,
'as they ventured to the ghost house for only a day,
'but soon they would sleep, and leave for a far,
'and wander from the South,
'forward to the North star.'
Nellie closed the journal softly and smiled at Carrie. "Is that good?"
Carrie put her hand on Nellie's forehead. Nellie fell forward into Carrie's arms. "Lord, child, you are burning up!"
