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Category Archives: Excerpts

Snippets of the Story

In America . . .

In America we do not swear allegiance to the President or to the Land. We swear before Almighty God to support and defend our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, for it is that document which makes us Americans. My husband is the Father of that Constitution, and that makes me its Mother. So, [...]

Chinese New Year

9 February 1815 Corsair Flagship Yorktown Atlantic Seaboard “Happy New Year, Madam!” Wang smiled at Dolley’s puzzled expression. “Chinese New Year begins with the second new-moon day following the winter solstice. Today is the start of Year 4513, the Year of the Wood and Pig.” “Wood and Pig?” asked Dolley. “The elemental force and animal [...]

The Execution – Book Excerpt

16 October, 1814 Camp Corwin, Tennessee   Aaron spoke to the prisoners.  “Gentlemen, you are guilty of treason, murder, and innumerable other crimes. The sentence is immediate execution.  “He caught Dolley’s eye.  “Do you still want to . . . ?” Dolley nodded and bowed her head in prayer.  Please, Lord, give me strength.  Let [...]

The Catastrophe – 13 July 1804

This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Prologue - The Awakening

13 July, 1804 Presidential Mansion, Washington City   She sat at the table, planning the menu for next week’s dinner. One hundred guests, most  of them Federalists, including the head of their delegation, Alexander Hamilton. Alex and Jemmy had been close friends, had coauthored the Federalist Papers during the Constitutional Convention, but had grown apart [...]

The Mirror – 19 December 1793

This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Prologue - The Awakening

19 December, 1793 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania What am I supposed to do? Her eyes burned with tears of frustration. James, her brother-in-law, had again ignored her request for the accounting documents from her late husband’s business, of which James had been the book keeper. Without the documents she could not settle the estate, and she needed [...]

The Ritual – 19 December 1801

This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Prologue - The Awakening

19 December, 1801 Presidential Mansion, Washington City She burst through the doors of the Presidential Mansion, face burning with embarrassment and tears of frustration, swirling past the startled guests in the foyer, past a clutter of servants in the hallway, and into the room Mr Jefferson had set aside for her and Jemmy.  She slammed [...]

The Lesson – 5 December 1793

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Prologue - The Awakening

5 December, 1793 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   “Have you ever watched a duel?” He regarded her.  She was serious. “Yes, once. Several years ago.” “What was it like?” He wondered what prompted this line of questioning. She was a Quaker, morally opposed to violence of any kind, even in self defense. She was also in her [...]