Riddles
Part 7/13
A goddess Johnny.
There are more.
This ain't the one?
There are two and two more.
Riddler.
House of riddles Gus.
Why we’re here.
I think so too.
We talked of Betsey and the men in her life.
Jeff and James.
What of Varina?
Loaded question Yank.
How did Varina and Betsey meet?
Mississippi.
Betsey running was their ending I imagine.
It was.
What does the record say about their beginning?
Betsey is just always there.
When did Varina and Jeff meet?
Married in 1845.
Taylors Johnny, did Varina own slaves?
No.
Have money?
No.
Land?
No.
What then?
Intellect.
Jeff was married before … to a Taylor.
Sarah Taylor.
Daughter of the future President Zachary Taylor, right Johnny?
Who threatened to hang his former son-in-law for treason.
Hot potato!?
In the spring of 1850.
Taylor died that summer.
Some say Jeff did it.
Proven?
Not yet Gus.
Interesting.
Wonderment Varina was at President Taylor’s deathbed.
Doing what?
Comforting her friend Margaret, the grieving First Lady, Jeff’s former mother-in-law.
Where’s Betsey Reb?
Someone was at Varina's beck and call?
Betsey.
Someone rode in the carriage with Varina?
Betsey, or whoever was in the servant slave role, acted as an aide-de-camp.
Jeff became US Secretary of War in 1853 Gus.
Varina was cabinet level.
So too Betsey.
And Varina had full access to DC.
From 1850 until ‘61 Yank.
And there stands Betsey.
Betsey was there when Varina had her first child.
Endearing.
Betsey was there when the same child died of sudden illness two years later.
Consoling.
Crying too.
Crying too.
Wonderment Yank.
That's a riddle, ain't it.
How would Betsey feel toward Varina?
*Next up: 8 June (part 8/13) The Return of We the People: Betsey.
Posted by Bryan W. Brickner
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