MYSTERY OF ROANOKE; CHAPTER 14: MYSTERIOUS LETTER IS A SURPRISE TO EVERYONE (LAST OF 14 PARTS)

THE STORY SO FAR: It is Christmas morning. The previous night, on Christmas Eve, Melissa, Brian and Amy all did their part to light the way for the 1858 escape planned by John -- who stepped back in time -- and his family. Brian saw John's memorial stone disappear, which meant he survived the river journey, but one question remains: Did the family make it to freedom?

Christmas morning came wrapped in a blanket of cold, soft, gray clouds, which had rolled in after midnight. A light snow lay on the ground.

The first thing Melissa and Brian heard were the happy voices of their parents, who came into their rooms to wake them. Slowly, as if in a dream, the children rose and rubbed their eyes. They had both slept soundly, after being up so late the night before.

"I can't believe you two are the last ones up," said their mother with a laugh. "It's nine o'clock already. Usually you're up before dawn on Christmas morning!"

"You must have been up very late talking," said their father as he ruffled Brian's hair.

"Brian, are you feeling better?" asked his mother. She placed her palm on his forehead. "You don't have a fever."

"Uh, yes, Mom, I'm much better," Brian said. He stretched his aching arms and back. His muscles felt sore from his late-night adventure on the river.

At dinner the previous night, the twins' parents said that that they would be in Roanoke by New Year's Day. The farm was sold and they had nearly finished packing. Brian and Melissa had already packed up most of their things when they left in the fall, so they declined when their parents asked if they wanted to return to say good-bye to the farm.

"We've already said good-bye," said Brian.

"Yes, it would be too hard," added Melissa. "And we'll stay here to keep Grandma and Grandpa company." Neither one of them hinted that there were other reasons they wanted to stay at Belle Vie through the Christmas break.

When they saw the puzzled looks on their parents' faces, Brian quickly said, "Just knowing our family will be back together is the best Christmas present of all."

"Well, okay," said their father. "But I don't understand what you'll do to keep yourselves busy. Maybe you'll get ahead on your school work."

"Let's go see what's under the tree, shall we?" said Grandma this morning, and they went in to open gifts. Both twins got some wonderful things: a swim-club membership, several books, and some tools for Brian, and art supplies, piano music and a kit for building a small village for Melissa. And a telescope to share. Under the tree the twins had two presents waiting for Amy: a chemistry set and a tape of Bach music.

Then Grandpa said, "Children, I have a surprise for you. Come with me." They all went into the library and Grandpa opened the big oak file cabinet. From the back of the top drawer he removed a small wooden box that looked familiar. It was John's box.

"This cabinet is where we keep all the important documents about this old place," he said. "And other things." Just then the doorbell rang. It was Amy, who brought in an armful of gifts for them.

Grandpa said, "Merry Christmas, Amy! I was just about to give the kids some very special presents."

From the box he withdrew a small, leather-bound Bible and handed it to Brian.

"This belonged to someone who lived here once, a young slave named John," he said. "Be careful, it's very fragile. But we want you to have it. Since you're so fond of books and all."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Brian said, trying not to sound alarmed. "Where did you find this?"

Grandma said, "Actually, I found the box sitting on top of the piano when I came down here this morning. We hoped you hadn't put it there. We wanted it to be a surprise."

"I didn't put it there," Brian said. He looked at Melissa. She shook her head.

"That Bible was lost for years," Grandpa said. "We were delighted to see it again."

Brian saw a pale green ribbon marking a certain place. He knew even without opening it what he would read there. "Thank you so much," he said, and clutched it to his chest.

"And for you, young lady," Grandpa said to Melissa, "I have something that belonged to Miss Elizabeth herself. I think you can make good use of it."

He handed her a brittle sheaf of sheet music. Across the top it said "Sheep May Safely Graze, Cantata No. 208" by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Melissa could barely breathe. "Thank you," she whispered. "I love this song."

"Elizabeth did too, from what I understand," said Grandma. "She thought of it as an anti-slavery song. She wrote about it in her diary." As Grandpa turned to put the empty box away, his fingers touched the secret panel in the bottom. He tipped the box up to look inside and an old envelope floated to the floor.

"What's this?" he said." I never saw this before."

It was addressed in a flowing script to "Miss Elizabeth O'Donnell, Belle Vie Plantation, Big Lick, Virginia." "Hmm. It's never been opened." He gently broke the red wax seal and lifted the flap of the envelope. Carefully he withdrew the crisp letter that was folded inside. He read aloud:

December 30, 1858

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dear Mistress O'Donnell,

Happy holidays to you and your family.

I want to thank you for the hospitality I received at your home recently. My family and I passed through during the Christmas holidays, and we were met with much kindness there. We were hungry and cold and were given food and shelter. Please pass on to your cook, Miss Bess, my sincere gratitude for the food she spared for us. And to the slaves on your property, for their warmth, especially the kind Joseph. And to Rev. Baxter and his wife, many thanks for their friendliness.

But most of all, please thank the three fine children I met at Belle Vie. To Melissa, Brian, and Amy, my family and I send our thanks and respect. I would like them to know that we will seek to help others in the same manner that they helped us.

With best wishes for happiness in the new year and always,

John Moses and family.

Melissa, Brian, and Amy all stared at each other, speechless.

Grandpa scratched his head as he examined the letter. "Well, isn't that something? There were children here with the same names as yours," he said. "And Amy, too. They must have been visiting, because those names aren't in the records. Except for you two, of course."

The twins looked around. Everyone was quiet. Faithful wandered in and sat at Brian's feet.

Grandpa said, "What a surprising Christmas. Such strange things have happened. This letter. And the Bible showing up after all this time. And late last night --" He stopped. "The TV news said there were reports of a strange-looking sky, after the snow started to fall. A few people said they saw snow and stars at the same time. But nobody at the station could verify it." He paused. "When I got up to let Faithful out, I saw it, too."

"Oh, my," said Grandma, who had been asleep and had not seen it. "That sounds lovely."

"It was beautiful," said Grandpa. His thoughts seemed to be far away.

Grandma stood up. "Maybe it was a Christmas mystery," she said as she patted him on the shoulder. "Goodness, look at the time. It's almost noon. Shall we eat lunch?" She led the way into the kitchen.

The three children stayed behind for a moment. "They made it!" Brian whispered. "He said he would tell us, and he did!"

Faithful leaned against Brian's leg and gazed up at him with sad eyes. "He's gone, old boy," Brian said as he stroked the dog's soft head. Brian felt tears coming to his eyes. "And he never got his Bible in that box. I forgot to give it to him. I only gave him the map."

"Maybe he wanted you to have it, Brian," Melissa said. "It was his only possession." Her own eyes filled with tears. "John Moses," she said. "I'm going to miss him. And Miss Elizabeth, too." She knew that she would never hear the piano playing by itself again. And that she would not smell the scent of lilacs left behind.

Amy said, "Yes, but now they're happy."

* * *

Later, as they all ate pumpkin pie, Grandma said, "I know this house hasn't felt like home to you kids, but we really would like you all to live here. Are you getting used to it?" Brian said, "We are now." Melissa nodded, her mouth full and smiling.

"Look!" Grandpa said. He pointed out the window. "It's snowing again. A Christmas snow is good luck, did you know that?"

The children grabbed their coats and raced out into the falling snow.

"I'm glad you're going to stay in this house," Amy said. "I wanted some friends next door."

"We did, too," Brian said. "We asked for a friend and we got three -- John, Miss Elizabeth, and you, Amy." He turned and looked back at the old brick mansion. "You know, it looks different to me all of a sudden," he said.

"The windows don't look sad any more," said Melissa, as she caught fluffy snowflakes in her mittens. "Maybe Belle Vie got a beautiful life after all!"

They all stood there, laughing, while the snow glittered around them like stars.

THE END