Sally of Monticello: Founding Mother the story continues...

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Thomas told me today—Monday, 8th of October, 1821—he’sbeen borrowing from his overseer, Edmund Bacon. The occasion forhis admission was to announce Mr. Bacon would be quitting at somepoint in the coming season. Thomas was taking anticipated departureof the man very hard.To keep a daily watch on the progress of university construction,he often sent Mr. Bacon, who obliged Thomas’s every whim.Over the fifteen or so years of his service I’ve had a few franktalks with our overseer. At first he didn’t know what to make of me,who I was in relation to Thomas, accepting others’ stories about theorigin of my children. He wasn’t here for all the commotion Mr.Callender’s articles had caused.After we established better communication, I learned Mr. Baconwas growing guardedly jealous of Jefferson Randolph’s dominanceover Thomas’s lands. He’d begun to feel superfluous. He also knewbetter than most the dire financial situation engulfing us. I wasconfident that was part of his motivation to remove to Kentucky.More than once the overseer expressed doubts of youngJefferson’s intelligence, noting Thomas’s grandson seemed to needhelp writing a simple report or letter. He’s had no issues with theyoung man’s character, however, and was frankly disgusted with howMr. Randolph treated his son.Mr. Bacon’s faithful and efficient service helped balance thedisappointment Thomas has expressed concerning Mr. Randolph’sdeficiencies as a provider for his large family. The impending loss ofequilibrium from the overseer’s leaving was one more reasonThomas’s spirit seemed so crushed today.Did he know that Mr. Randolph, in one of his raging fits ofmadness, actually stoned young Jefferson? If he knew, it wasn’t theresult of my telling, for I’ve feared that Thomas—old as he is—wouldchase after Randolph to thrash him, or worse. He knew the man canedJefferson as a boy and formed a seething disgust if not hatred at thattime.Mr. Bacon came to know of my relationship with the Master. Hewould have had to be blind not to see it through all his years atMonticello. He showed me a great deal of respect, and I was going tomiss that. Had he not feared incurring Martha’s displeasure, we mighthave become good friends. But we maintained a proper distancemarked by mutual high regard.When Wilson Cary Nicholas died a year ago, sealing Thomas’sresponsibility to pay his loans, Mr. Bacon was the one who buried Mr.Nicholas. He then confronted creditors who were certain Nicholas hadfaked his death to avoid paying his obligations.Were it not for the university project in which Mr. Bacon hasbeen of enormous help, Thomas would surely fail in body and spirit.He was so engrossed in bringing to life the University of Virginia thatthe planning and building of the place have become critical to his ownsurvival. His daily attentions kept his heart pumping blood and hislungs taking air.My own relationship with Thomas has entered a phase I wouldbest describe as “resigned,” perhaps a peculiar label. I was past beingfrightened by what may come should the banks foreclose on Thomas’sproperties—even this house—and take possession of mortgagedslaves. If we were to sink, we should do so with as much courage aswe could muster.I was also resigned to Thomas’s aging, though he was back tooccasional riding of his favorite steed, Eagle. He could still get abouton foot, provided he was cautious. We were no longer having wildcopulation, but we still slept together as often as possible and engagedin small releases.We took joy in the sight of each other—each comfortable withthe other’s habits, touches, sounds, and odors.I’d sooner die than try to endure without Thomas, the only manI’ve ever loved. By his standards I was a young woman, but I didn’tshare his perspective. By my own reckoning I felt as though I wasaging more rapidly now. I didn’t expect to outlive him by much.My duty was to keep him alive as long as possible so that hemay accomplish everything he can.And when my dreamer has created all of which he’s capable,safeguarding the rest of us to the best of his ability and satisfying whathe saw as his life’s purpose, it would end for both of us—I hopedplacidly.