The Garies and Their Friends

Even though Emily goes by Mrs. Garie, she and Mr. Garie are not officially married, as it is illegal in Georgia. Now that they are in Pennsylvania, where it is legal, Mr. Garie writes to a clergyman named Dr. Blackly asking him to perform the ceremony. Mrs. Garie is delighted with the news. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis agree to be the witnesses. However, on the day of the ceremony, Dr. Blackly is dismayed to discover that Mrs. Garie is Black and refuses to perform the rites. They send for another minister, Father Banks, who marries the couple. That night, Mrs. Garie says that it is time to send Clarence to school (which was illegal in Georgia). They decide to send his sister, Emily, as well.

The servants at Mrs. Bird’s home in Warmouth are unhappy that she has brought a Black child to live there. A maid, Betsey, and the gardener, Alfred, refuse to eat with him, although another maid, Eliza, protests. They assume that Mrs. Bird has brought him there to do chores. The gardener tells Charlie to shine his shoes. Mrs. Bird is annoyed when she returns home and sees him shining the gardener’s shoes. She chastises the staff and pointedly eats breakfast with Charlie.