June Lilly Quotes

“The flickering pine knot in the corner fireplace held blue flames. They had no warmth. There was loneliness and emptiness inside. When Mammy Sally came, the warmth would spark out in the fire, and the shadows would bring sleep.”

“The chain became a silver snake. It coiled over the ground, around the men, and up onto the back of their cart. It bit into a lock that held it fast.”

″‘Are you the slave of that tall man?’ she asked instead. ‘No,’ the boy said quickly, ‘I’m free. Mr. Fox pays me for stackin’ his wood.‘”

″‘There’s three things I want to say to you, child.’ Mammy drew Julilly close again. ‘Pray to the good Lord. Remember to be proud that you had a strong, fine Daddy and a Mammy that loves you... This is secret talk I’m tellin’ you now. Hold it quiet in your head and never let it out of your mouth. There’s a place the slaves been whisperin’ around called Canada. The law don’t allow no slavery there.‘”

“When he saw Julilly, his back straightened. Pulling a large, white handkerchief from his pocket, he waved it up and down- up and down- up and down- until it became a tiny speck and disappeared.”

“It was because Julilly was born in June and Mammy Sally liked lilies that she got her name. Most folk slurred the words together and they came out Julilly.”