Crossing Read Free Page B

and many of their cousins, D.H. Hill and Isabella decided to take a large party to Lexington to celebrate.
    Without fanfare, Thomas escorted Anna to the festivites. They watched the fireworks and the immaculate artillery performances by the VMI cadets. As the merriments were winding down, he turned to her and said, “Although I realize it might be forward of me, I have a gift for you. Would it be too presumptuous to ask you to receive it?”
    “Not at all, sir,” she answered, blushing in spite of herself. She took his arm and he led her to his horse, which was in the institute’s stables.
    Out of his saddlebag he drew a brown-wrapped parcel. He handed it to her, then closed his hands over both of hers as she grasped it. “I would very much prefer if you would keep it until you go home and then unwrap it,” he said quietly.
    “Of—of course, Major Jackson,” she answered. “Certainly. I thank you very much, and I’m sure that it is a gift I shall cherish.”
    “I hope so.” He led her back to her family.
    They returned home, the Hills and Barringers and Anna back to Col Alto, Thomas Jackson back to Junkin Home.
    Anna did not open her gift that night. She was tired and slightly drained, and she thought that whatever it was, she would appreciate it much more when she felt well and energetic. And she had the most curious feeling about the gift—great anticipation on the one hand and a sort of dread that it would be disappointing on the other. Though she was extremely curious, she still could not bring herself to open the gift. She told herself that she could deal with the emotion—whichever extreme it was—if she were at home.
    The next day was July 5, the day they were to return back home to North Carolina. Anna had packed the brown-wrapped parcel tightly and securely in her trunk, between her brown velvet day dress and her green velvet evening dress. Major Thomas Jackson did not come to the railroad station to see them off, as he had said his good-byes the night before.
    The next day at Cottage Home in North Carolina, Anna finally summoned the courage to open her package. It was Major Jackson, his daguerreotype from that December. There was no note attached. To her, he looked very handsome, and his light blue eyes had a hint of sadness in them. But they seemed to look forward, to new days, instead of the grief of the last year. She was extremely happy with her gift and treasured it, though she kept it in a bureau drawer because she felt it would be too much anticipation of the future to keep it displayed by her bedside.
    On that same evening, July 6, she received a telegram. Major Thomas Jackson had written to tell her that he was gone to Europe, on a grand tour including Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, England, and Scotland. He hoped that she would be amenable to him corresponding with her. A few days later she began receiving his letters, which she answered immediately.
    Once he wrote in more flowery language than she had ever heard him use:
    I would advise you never to name my European trip to me unless you are blest with a superabundance of patience, as its very mention is calculated to bring up with it an almost inexhaustible assemblage of grand and beautiful associations…
.
    Anna wrote back that she did, indeed, possess much patience.
    He returned in October. His letters had grown steadily more personal and even showed some affection. So though Anna expressed surprise, she wasn’t really shocked when he shambled up on his horse, unannounced, to call at Cottage Home. After visiting with her family, Thomas asked if he might speak to Anna alone.
    There were many endearments expressed, although neither Anna nor Thomas recorded all of them. On one knee, holding her hand and looking up at her with a forgotten warmth and hope in his eyes, he asked, “Miss Anna, would you do me the greatest honor and consent to become my wife?”
    “I will,” she answered with tears in her eyes. “And sir, you