It is almost 4:30. I have been up since 3:30. "H", woke me up in his whiny voice. I let him out and stumbled too the kitchen. there I promptly stepped in a mess. I desperately wish he had woke me up at 3:00. So with that cleaned up I am going to try to settle some words down upon this page and see if for one more day I can make something come together. Oh yes cool and damp outside.
We bought this house five years ago. To my delight I discovered the first time we looked at it, there were two red Maples in the front yard. Not a tree one in the backyard. But I love Red Maples so I was satisfied. I do not know at what age I realized my great love for trees. Maybe I just have always known. I joke I must have been a squirrel in a previous life because I love trees so much. Oh yes and I am a nut. But trees to me are one of God's greatest creations.
I have a swing under one Red maple and when the weather allows I sit in what I call my green room. As the two trees reach across the walk and make a wonderful canopy over me. It's wonderful. The two trees sit across the walk from each other. The walk runs from the gate to the porch. Even when there is no leafs on the trees the branches reach out to each other, as if they are holding hands. When the leafs are in bloom they totally intertwine across the walk, as if embracing. It is beautiful. I began to wonder if somehow in a another time they had been lovers? One morning as I set under the trees about 6:00 am and drank my coffee , the wind slightly blowing I swear I could hear a name being whispered. Only a name,"Sarah," I closed my eyes and heard another voice whisper back,"Saul," And that is how I started to discover the story of Saul and Sarah. I would like to share it with you.
Saul and Sarah lived back in around 1840. She was the daughter of a Minster in their small town. She was sixteen. Saul lived in the back of a stable. He was sixteen too. They met and fell in love but had to be very secret and keep it from everyone. You see Sarah was white and Saul was black. Of course you know that was strictly taboo back then. A black man caught with a white woman would be hanged. But their love so strong they couldn't stay away from each other. So everyday down by the river they met, under the Red Maple tree. Talking how someday they would run away together and find a place that would let them be together. Knowing in their hearts that there was probably not a place like that at all.
One day a nearby farmer saw them, it had only been a matter of time. He rode to town, went straight to the Minster's house and told him. They gathered a group of men and rode towards the river. Never, not one of them doubting what they were about to do.
They swarmed about them. Sarah's Father forcing her into the buggy. She struggled, she screamed. The men wrestled Saul to the ground. He reached out his hand to Sarah. "I love you Sarah ," he yelled. As loud as he could because the rope was already tightening around his neck. You could hear her scream as her Father dragged her away. "I will always love you Saul, always."
She went to her room. She stayed there crying for two days. Her sobs ripping through her body so hard that even her Father had to leave the house as not to hear her cry. All the time telling himself that God had wanted them to do the deed they had done. On the morning of the third day Sarah arose at the first crack of dawn. She dressed, hurrying into the kitchen she went to her Mother's pantry. At the back of the very top shelf she took down a small bottle and put it in the pocket of her dress. She made her way to the river.
All the way there she kept saying his name, over and over. The picture of the rope being put around his neck, burning into her mind. Once there she fell upon the ground sobbing. She caressed the tree and slipping her hand into her pocket she pulled out the bottle. Taking off the lid she raised it to her lips. When Sarah opened her eyes she was standing, looking down at her body. She turned quickly as Saul came up and embraced her. "Come Sarah,we'll find the perfect place to be together. Where no one can separate us again.
So holding hands they started out on their journey, to find a spot, a place that could be their own And hate and prejudiced would never separate them again. One day they saw a cart of Red Maple saplings. New trees to be planted, they followed along. Saul watched and then as he saw them planting two close together, he said. "This is it Sarah, we can be here together." She smiled, at peace as long as she was with her love. Her only love. So their spirits settled into the trees and there they have been for all these years.
If you would come and look at my trees when they are in bloom with their green leafs intertwinging with each other. You would know this story has to be true. They are not like the other tree's in the neighborhood. They have found their home. They are Saul and Sarah. And as I sit under my tree'ss I smile. I know in my heart they know I know their story. I smile and tell them they are welcome here.
So that's my little tale. Almost everything causes a little story in my head. Of course we know its only a tale, not any of it true. Of course there has been many Saul and Sarah stories over the years. Just with different names. As long as people hate because of the color of ones skin, there will always be stories like this one. Many things have changed today. People have finally become more open minded and more accepting, but even today not everyone. And of course you know in every fiction story runs at least a border line of truth. At least there is in mine. So just maybe there really was a Saul and Sarah. We'll never know for sure.
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