Amos Fortune, Free Man

by

Elizabeth Yates

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Violet is Amos Fortune’s third wife and the mother of Celyndia, whom Amos adopts as his own daughter. When she meets Amos, James Baldwin is her enslaver. Like Amos, Violet is a hardworking Christian woman who strives to use her freedom responsibly. She expresses faith in God despite her fears over moving to Jaffrey, and she brings flowers with her as a reminder of how God faithfully fulfills his promises. In Jaffrey, she helps Amos establish his new tannery and earns money for the family by spinning and weaving. Her attitude and actions oppose those of Lois Burdoo, whom Violet disrespects for not working to support the Burdoo children after their father’s death.

Violet Quotes in Amos Fortune, Free Man

The Amos Fortune, Free Man quotes below are all either spoken by Violet or refer to Violet . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Freedom and Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1: Africa 1725 Quotes

At-mun, the young prince, was tall and powerfully built, though he had seen no more than fifteen summers. He carried his head high and his eyes flashed. Ath-mun, the twelve year old princess, smiled shyly at her tribespeople, then turned to whisper in her father’s ear. She leaned against him, hoping to hide the deformed leg that—but for her father’s love—would have caused her to have been drowned as an infant. Only the sacrifice of the imperfect to the God of Life could assure protection for the perfect. But the chief had gone against his tribal code and sacrificed his favorite dog to keep his infant daughter and thus far the God of Life had wreaked no vengeance on him. The At-mun-shi were as pagan as all the tribes in Africa, but they were peaceable and they were, as well, intense in their love of freedom.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Ath-mun, Lydia , Lily
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: Journey to Keene 1779 Quotes

“What he wants all those fine clothes is hard to see,” he said aloud to himself. “They caught his fancy like a child’s. But that’s what they are, those black people, nothing but children. It’s a good think for them the whites took them over.”

In retracing his way, Amos […] faced the mountain he was leaving behind and he talked to it as a man might to a friend.

“I’ll be back,” he said. “Just you wait there, you old mountain, and we’ll soon be talking together every day.” Then he lifted his gaze a little higher and looked skyward. “Thank You kindly, Lord, for the sign You gave me back there in Keene, and thank You for all my fine clothes. Violet’s going to be mighty proud when she sees me in them, but I’ll keep them for our wedding day—her freedom day, so help me Lord.”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Samuel George (speaker), Violet
Related Symbols: Monadnock Mountain
Page Number: 89-90
Explanation and Analysis:

Celyndia came running back to them as the bird flew off across the meadow, dipping to the grass, then soaring to a bush’s height, balancing itself against the wind as it pursued some pattern of its own.

“Why’nt you go on fluttering after the flutterling, child?” Violet asked.

“’Cause he flew over that field and we can’t go there.”

“The world is yours, Celyndia,” Amos said quietly. “Don’t you remember what I told you last night? You’re as free as birds in the air.”

A smile started to part Celyndia’s full lips, but before it had its way the lips began to quiver and the large dark eyes filled with tears […]

“Let her alone, Violet,” Amos said as he patted Celyndia’s heaving shoulders, “some things are too wonderful even for a child, and freedom’s one of them.”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Violet (speaker), Celyndia (speaker)
Related Symbols: Birds
Page Number: 91-92
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: The Arrival at Jaffrey Quotes

Violet would not trust in the back of the cart her treasured plants—the root of lilac, the japonica seedling, the lily-of-the-valley pips, her yellow tea rose. She had heard stories of people going off to live wilderness lives in the great country that had one edge on the Atlantic and reached no one knew how far. And she had been fearful until Amos read to hear from the Bible that the wilderness would blossom like the rose; then she had felt less fearful. But Violet had her own feeling about the Bible words. Though she could not read them for herself she knew that there must be a willingness in the heart of man to work with them. So she saw to it that she had with her a bit of loveliness that she might help in the blossoming of their wilderness.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Celyndia
Related Symbols: Flowers
Page Number: 95-96
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7: Hard Work Fills the Iron Kettle 1781–1789 Quotes

However, by the second year when people came to their call for their leather and paid Amos Fortune in cash or kind, his stock of supplies increased and he added another room to the cabin and more comfort to their living. The iron kettle that stood half-hidden in the ashes of the hearth and held the Fortune savings began to be musical with the coins that were collecting in it. Amos did not know how long it would be before the contents of the kettle would be sufficient for him to buy his own piece of land. His soul might long for heaven but his heart longed for cleared fields and a wider brook […]. And a plot of earth near the house where Violet’s flowers might grow freely. He said little about his dream but he nourished it in his heart as the best place for a dream to grow.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet
Related Symbols: Flowers
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:

Always [Violet] thought of him as climbing some mountain in his mind, like that great one to the west on which his eyes would dwell so often and from which he seemed to derive something that was even more than strength.

“Monadnock says it will be good weather today,” Amos would announce on a morning when the mountain stood clear against the sky.

“Monadnock says we’d best not leave any leather out for there’ll be a storm before night,” he would say when a veil of cloud like the thinnest gauze capped the mountain’s crest.

He knew its moods and he talked to it as a friend, and the mountain never failed him.

“That’s a long name […],” Celyndia said one day. “What does it mean, Papa Amos […]?”

“[…] they say in the Indian language it means ‘the Mountain that stands alone.’”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Celyndia (speaker), Violet
Related Symbols: Monadnock Mountain
Page Number: 115
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8: Amos on the Mountain Quotes

“I’m not wanting Lois Burdoo to live in hardship but I’m thinking you’ve got a right to live in dignity.”

“But Violet—” he began.

While the words were strong within her she knew she must speak them. “With all the help the town gave her she never made herself any better,” Violet insisted. “The children are getting older. They’re the ones to help and help themselves too. You’ll do more for them all by giving work to the boys than by giving money to Lois.”

“But Violet—”

She would not listen to him until she had had her say. “There’s a fire that burns fast the more fuel goes on it and that’s shiftlessness,” Violet said stoutly. “Lois is a shiftless woman and money is just so much fuel to her fire.”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Violet (speaker), Lois Burdoo, Polly Burdoo, Moses Burdoo
Page Number: 135-136
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9: Auctioned for Freedom Quotes

Jaffrey had a Social Library and Amos became a member of it. He read its books during the winter when tanning operations were somewhat in abeyance and discussed them with the citizens of the town. He was always well informed for he subscribed to a newspaper. His store of information, matched with his ready wit, gave him opinions that were often sought after. He was their fellow citizen, Amos Fortune, and more often than not the prefix “Mr.” dignified his name. He had won his way to equality by work well done and a life well lived. But his own life was no guarantee for the lives of those who were dear to him. Celyndia, now sixteen, had many friends among the white children. But there were times when she was made to feel uneasy at school because of her color and her different ways.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Celyndia
Page Number: 148-149
Explanation and Analysis:

The town had again been helping Lois Burdoo with firewood and foodstuffs. But no matter what help she received she never seemed to be able to rise above her wretched lot. The children went to school in tatters, and even when given new clothes they would appear the next day with them dirty and torn. They could not seem to keep from falling down or tearing themselves on briar bushes.

After years of ineffective help, the town felt that it could not bolster Lois Burdoo any longer. She was given warning that the two oldest children would be put up to Public Vendue on the thirty first day of December. Vendues were auctions at which townspeople could bid for the privilege of affording care to the indigent.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Lois Burdoo, Polly Burdoo, Moses Burdoo
Page Number: 150
Explanation and Analysis:

One night in early November Polly asked Amos to help her sit up. He put his arms around her and held her up. She was so light that he felt if he held a flower on its stalk it could be no heavier. She held out her hands, resting her right hand in Violet’s that were worn and coarse with the care she had given others, and her left hand in Celyndia’s that were supple and strong. Her eyes she kept on Amos. Peace dwelt in her face, a smile hovered over her lips, and for the first time she seemed to be seeing clearly those who were close to her. Her gaze that had always been so far away had come near at last. A small shudder passed over her body. She sat up very straight for a moment, even without the aid of Amos’ arms; then she fell back into his arms.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Celyndia, Polly Burdoo, Moses Burdoo
Related Symbols: Flowers
Page Number: 159-160
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10: Evergreen Years 1794–1801 Quotes

From the day Amos had begun to live in freedom, his life had been a series of curious accomplishments known in their richness and wonder only to him. Lily, Lydia, Violet, Celyndia—they stood like milestones along his way and behind them all was Ath-mun. Amos held her always in the tender loveliness of her twelve years, and because of her need to be cared for and his longing for her to be cherished, he had dedicated himself to helpless folk. It was Ath-mun who had been the fount of freedom to those others, Amos thought, as he reached back into memory for the beloved sister; he had acted for her and so he would account to her even when they met together at the Jordan.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Ath-mun, Celyndia, Lydia , Lily
Page Number: 168-169
Explanation and Analysis:

Amos unwrapped a handkerchief in which he had put the rest of the money in the stone crock—two hundred and forty-three dollars in all […]. Deacon Spofford noted the among and wrote after it “for the school.” Then, quill poised in hand, he looked across the table at Amos. “And will you say what should be done with it?” he asked.

Amos answered, “The town shall use the money in any way it sees fit to educate its sons and daughters.”

“I have heard that those in your care have not always fared well at the school,” Deacon Spofford said as if he were asking for forgiveness of Amos Fortune.

“That is why I give the money to the school,” Amos replied as he rose to leave.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Deacon Spofford (speaker), Violet , Celyndia, Celia Copeland, Charlie Toothaker
Page Number: 179-180
Explanation and Analysis:
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Amos Fortune, Free Man PDF

Violet Quotes in Amos Fortune, Free Man

The Amos Fortune, Free Man quotes below are all either spoken by Violet or refer to Violet . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Freedom and Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1: Africa 1725 Quotes

At-mun, the young prince, was tall and powerfully built, though he had seen no more than fifteen summers. He carried his head high and his eyes flashed. Ath-mun, the twelve year old princess, smiled shyly at her tribespeople, then turned to whisper in her father’s ear. She leaned against him, hoping to hide the deformed leg that—but for her father’s love—would have caused her to have been drowned as an infant. Only the sacrifice of the imperfect to the God of Life could assure protection for the perfect. But the chief had gone against his tribal code and sacrificed his favorite dog to keep his infant daughter and thus far the God of Life had wreaked no vengeance on him. The At-mun-shi were as pagan as all the tribes in Africa, but they were peaceable and they were, as well, intense in their love of freedom.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Ath-mun, Lydia , Lily
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: Journey to Keene 1779 Quotes

“What he wants all those fine clothes is hard to see,” he said aloud to himself. “They caught his fancy like a child’s. But that’s what they are, those black people, nothing but children. It’s a good think for them the whites took them over.”

In retracing his way, Amos […] faced the mountain he was leaving behind and he talked to it as a man might to a friend.

“I’ll be back,” he said. “Just you wait there, you old mountain, and we’ll soon be talking together every day.” Then he lifted his gaze a little higher and looked skyward. “Thank You kindly, Lord, for the sign You gave me back there in Keene, and thank You for all my fine clothes. Violet’s going to be mighty proud when she sees me in them, but I’ll keep them for our wedding day—her freedom day, so help me Lord.”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Samuel George (speaker), Violet
Related Symbols: Monadnock Mountain
Page Number: 89-90
Explanation and Analysis:

Celyndia came running back to them as the bird flew off across the meadow, dipping to the grass, then soaring to a bush’s height, balancing itself against the wind as it pursued some pattern of its own.

“Why’nt you go on fluttering after the flutterling, child?” Violet asked.

“’Cause he flew over that field and we can’t go there.”

“The world is yours, Celyndia,” Amos said quietly. “Don’t you remember what I told you last night? You’re as free as birds in the air.”

A smile started to part Celyndia’s full lips, but before it had its way the lips began to quiver and the large dark eyes filled with tears […]

“Let her alone, Violet,” Amos said as he patted Celyndia’s heaving shoulders, “some things are too wonderful even for a child, and freedom’s one of them.”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Violet (speaker), Celyndia (speaker)
Related Symbols: Birds
Page Number: 91-92
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: The Arrival at Jaffrey Quotes

Violet would not trust in the back of the cart her treasured plants—the root of lilac, the japonica seedling, the lily-of-the-valley pips, her yellow tea rose. She had heard stories of people going off to live wilderness lives in the great country that had one edge on the Atlantic and reached no one knew how far. And she had been fearful until Amos read to hear from the Bible that the wilderness would blossom like the rose; then she had felt less fearful. But Violet had her own feeling about the Bible words. Though she could not read them for herself she knew that there must be a willingness in the heart of man to work with them. So she saw to it that she had with her a bit of loveliness that she might help in the blossoming of their wilderness.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Celyndia
Related Symbols: Flowers
Page Number: 95-96
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7: Hard Work Fills the Iron Kettle 1781–1789 Quotes

However, by the second year when people came to their call for their leather and paid Amos Fortune in cash or kind, his stock of supplies increased and he added another room to the cabin and more comfort to their living. The iron kettle that stood half-hidden in the ashes of the hearth and held the Fortune savings began to be musical with the coins that were collecting in it. Amos did not know how long it would be before the contents of the kettle would be sufficient for him to buy his own piece of land. His soul might long for heaven but his heart longed for cleared fields and a wider brook […]. And a plot of earth near the house where Violet’s flowers might grow freely. He said little about his dream but he nourished it in his heart as the best place for a dream to grow.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet
Related Symbols: Flowers
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:

Always [Violet] thought of him as climbing some mountain in his mind, like that great one to the west on which his eyes would dwell so often and from which he seemed to derive something that was even more than strength.

“Monadnock says it will be good weather today,” Amos would announce on a morning when the mountain stood clear against the sky.

“Monadnock says we’d best not leave any leather out for there’ll be a storm before night,” he would say when a veil of cloud like the thinnest gauze capped the mountain’s crest.

He knew its moods and he talked to it as a friend, and the mountain never failed him.

“That’s a long name […],” Celyndia said one day. “What does it mean, Papa Amos […]?”

“[…] they say in the Indian language it means ‘the Mountain that stands alone.’”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Celyndia (speaker), Violet
Related Symbols: Monadnock Mountain
Page Number: 115
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8: Amos on the Mountain Quotes

“I’m not wanting Lois Burdoo to live in hardship but I’m thinking you’ve got a right to live in dignity.”

“But Violet—” he began.

While the words were strong within her she knew she must speak them. “With all the help the town gave her she never made herself any better,” Violet insisted. “The children are getting older. They’re the ones to help and help themselves too. You’ll do more for them all by giving work to the boys than by giving money to Lois.”

“But Violet—”

She would not listen to him until she had had her say. “There’s a fire that burns fast the more fuel goes on it and that’s shiftlessness,” Violet said stoutly. “Lois is a shiftless woman and money is just so much fuel to her fire.”

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Violet (speaker), Lois Burdoo, Polly Burdoo, Moses Burdoo
Page Number: 135-136
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9: Auctioned for Freedom Quotes

Jaffrey had a Social Library and Amos became a member of it. He read its books during the winter when tanning operations were somewhat in abeyance and discussed them with the citizens of the town. He was always well informed for he subscribed to a newspaper. His store of information, matched with his ready wit, gave him opinions that were often sought after. He was their fellow citizen, Amos Fortune, and more often than not the prefix “Mr.” dignified his name. He had won his way to equality by work well done and a life well lived. But his own life was no guarantee for the lives of those who were dear to him. Celyndia, now sixteen, had many friends among the white children. But there were times when she was made to feel uneasy at school because of her color and her different ways.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Celyndia
Page Number: 148-149
Explanation and Analysis:

The town had again been helping Lois Burdoo with firewood and foodstuffs. But no matter what help she received she never seemed to be able to rise above her wretched lot. The children went to school in tatters, and even when given new clothes they would appear the next day with them dirty and torn. They could not seem to keep from falling down or tearing themselves on briar bushes.

After years of ineffective help, the town felt that it could not bolster Lois Burdoo any longer. She was given warning that the two oldest children would be put up to Public Vendue on the thirty first day of December. Vendues were auctions at which townspeople could bid for the privilege of affording care to the indigent.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Lois Burdoo, Polly Burdoo, Moses Burdoo
Page Number: 150
Explanation and Analysis:

One night in early November Polly asked Amos to help her sit up. He put his arms around her and held her up. She was so light that he felt if he held a flower on its stalk it could be no heavier. She held out her hands, resting her right hand in Violet’s that were worn and coarse with the care she had given others, and her left hand in Celyndia’s that were supple and strong. Her eyes she kept on Amos. Peace dwelt in her face, a smile hovered over her lips, and for the first time she seemed to be seeing clearly those who were close to her. Her gaze that had always been so far away had come near at last. A small shudder passed over her body. She sat up very straight for a moment, even without the aid of Amos’ arms; then she fell back into his arms.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Celyndia, Polly Burdoo, Moses Burdoo
Related Symbols: Flowers
Page Number: 159-160
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10: Evergreen Years 1794–1801 Quotes

From the day Amos had begun to live in freedom, his life had been a series of curious accomplishments known in their richness and wonder only to him. Lily, Lydia, Violet, Celyndia—they stood like milestones along his way and behind them all was Ath-mun. Amos held her always in the tender loveliness of her twelve years, and because of her need to be cared for and his longing for her to be cherished, he had dedicated himself to helpless folk. It was Ath-mun who had been the fount of freedom to those others, Amos thought, as he reached back into memory for the beloved sister; he had acted for her and so he would account to her even when they met together at the Jordan.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun), Violet , Ath-mun, Celyndia, Lydia , Lily
Page Number: 168-169
Explanation and Analysis:

Amos unwrapped a handkerchief in which he had put the rest of the money in the stone crock—two hundred and forty-three dollars in all […]. Deacon Spofford noted the among and wrote after it “for the school.” Then, quill poised in hand, he looked across the table at Amos. “And will you say what should be done with it?” he asked.

Amos answered, “The town shall use the money in any way it sees fit to educate its sons and daughters.”

“I have heard that those in your care have not always fared well at the school,” Deacon Spofford said as if he were asking for forgiveness of Amos Fortune.

“That is why I give the money to the school,” Amos replied as he rose to leave.

Related Characters: Amos Fortune (At-mun) (speaker), Deacon Spofford (speaker), Violet , Celyndia, Celia Copeland, Charlie Toothaker
Page Number: 179-180
Explanation and Analysis: