Twenty-Five, Mr. Houck Comes A-Calling

Twenty-Five

Mr. Houck comes a-calling

28 May 1824

It seems that my sister Nan is being courted.  The stern young man from our meetings is Mr. Joseph Houck, an earnest sort, who takes these meetings more seriously than even Reverend Terry.  I rarely see him smile, except, perhaps, while in the company of my sister Nancy.

Since that second meeting one week and two days ago, when the gentleman and Mr. DuBois escorted us home, Mr. Houck has ever been a constant presence in our midst. 

He first appeared Saturday afternoon last on the pretense of bringing a Bible verse for Nancy to consider.  She invited him to tea, whereupon he, Nan, Mother, Patsy, and I sat in the parlour for ages to hear him expound.  I was most happy when Mother politely told Mr. Houck that we had chores to attend to whereupon she, on the behalf of us all, begged leave.  Mr. Houck, however, was so intent on his verse and its meaning that he seemed not to hear.

Mother entreated a second time, at which point Mr. Houck asked no one in particular if he might come again the next day.  To this, Mother agreed, having glanced at Nan who nodded in the affirmative.

Sunday arrived, and here I must take care to explain.  It seems that the Methodists hold a service on Sundays beginning at half past eleven.  Those in attendance bring to the affair a simple dish or two that they have prepared, and with all the dishes set out on the Terrys serving table, those present partake of a fine meal.  This meal, I understand, lasts about half an hour, and is followed by a service of hymns, readings, and a sermon.  Perhaps it is three o'clock in the afternoon when this is completed.  It is at that time that the whites and most of the slaves in attendance depart.

And here I must further explain.  Mr. Terry is continuing a practice that was common in Charleston, that whites and slaves attend worship together, intermingled to some extent.  Susie has been in attendance at these services since the time they were instituted at the Terrys, and I had supposed that the service was for Negroes only.  We learned otherwise when we attended our first Wednesday night meeting.

Nan and I were entreated to attend services the following Sunday, but we politely declined, citing our weekly visit with my Elmore cousins and their parents.  Again we were invited at the following Wednesday night's meeting to continue our Methodist connections the following Sunday.   I replied for the both of us that we would consider it, but that we see our cousins most regularly.

Upon leaving the Terrys with Mr. DuBois and Mr. Houck, it appears that my sister, out of my hearing perhaps because I was engrossed with Mr. DuBois, told Mr. Houck that she, for one, planned to attend the Sunday services.  Attend on said day she did, being excused from the cousinly excursion.  Nan being twenty, Mother decided that perhaps it was time that my sister could freely choose to attend such an event. 

I suspect that Mother was not of a mind to have two women of our somewhat advanced ages (and here, I am being sarcastic, because some women do go many years without a suitor!) remaining at home forever.  She had seen the interest in Nan that Mr. Houck was giving, and she was not going to let an opportunity elude her, or Nan, any further.   A church service was as good a place as any to court.

The rest of us proceeded to my cousins' place that Sunday, seeing said cousins, and Aunt and Uncle.  We returned at five o'clock in the afternoon to find Mr. Houck keeping company with my sister.  Nothing improper is implied here, as one of the house servants was present nearby at all times, and the parlour door remained open. 

Mother was pleased, as was Nan, given the blush in her cheeks and the twinkle in her eye.  I, however, was not.  For how can such a man as Mr. Houck be worthy of my sister?  Must she be entreated to spend so much time with the first gentleman to pay her attention?

On this last point, I suppose that I should admit that Nan has attracted some attention before, but this is the first time a gentleman has called on repeated occasions.

I rather imagine the two of them were engaged in a pleasant discussion of some scripture, and I could not be more disinterested.