I Tought My Sould Would Rise And Fly

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you didn't know your age or even your birthday? If you didn't have a family? If you were unable to speak or run? For the past twelve or thirteen years, these are the questions that have disturbed the little house slave, Patsy. She arrived at the Davis Hall Plantation as a infant - sick, motherless, and close to death. "I don't know who my mother or father is. No one has ever told me my history. I wonder if either one had a bad leg like me, or if people called them slow. I wonder sometimes if I ever had a mother or father-maybe God spit me out and I got this bad leg when I fell to the ground." Patsy has developed a way of compensating for her problems, however: She has learned to read and write. Now she can write through her pen. After the Civil War ends and slavery is abolished, Patsy believes Master Davis's promise to pay the former house slaves, as well as his pledge to share the crops and land with the field hands, and his guarantee of a school for the children of his plantation. But gradually her faith erodes as unfulfilled promises fall apart. And even though Patsy is handicapped, she trudges along, growing stronger and working harder. Day by day, Patsy accepts new chores, first from Cook, who teaches her to knead the dough for biscuits and gingerbread, then later from Ruth who teaches her the responsibilities of housekeeper and laundress. But Patsy has a skill that only she can provide to her fellow freed men and women, a skill that can nurture their souls and hearts.
When the Master ignores his promise to establish a school, and the Freedmen's Bureau cannot provide a teacher because of increasing violence and intolerance, Patsy steps in. She teaches her students the way she saw the Master's niece and nephew being taught. Soon, several of the boys and girls can recite their letters and read their names. Even the old people who sit and listen to the lessons begin to recognize letters. When the adults gather in the evenings for their Union League meetings, Patsy reads the newspaper for them. Soon, she is known to all as the Little Teacher and adopts the new name of Phillis Frederick, in honor of the famous African American slaves Phillis Wheatley and Frederick Douglass.

P.S I copied some info. form the author.