Introduction

Set against the turmoil of post Civil War America, Sweet Song tells a tender, raw and provocative story of Leon, the mixed race son of a white landowner and a black house servant. Leon, who is raised black but an outcast from both cultures, finds himself suddenly on his own—and passing for white. Searching for his place in the dynamic, violent world of 19th century Pennsylvania, he encounters a gang of dispossessed thieves, mill workers, saloonkeepers, musicians, businessmen, thugs, freedom loving idealists and malevolent racists—a vivid panorama from America’s multifarious past. He endures hardship and makes passionate connections, all the while wrestling with his divided heritage in a world where honesty, even with his friends, might prove fatal. This archetypal American story of self-discovery will stay with the reader for a very long time.

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Excerpt

They were a noisy bunch while they were happy, telling stories as they cooked and ate.

Perhaps it was the lowering of the sun, the filling of their stomachs, or only that they ran out of happy stories, but as darkness approached a depressing and sorrowful tone came over their conversations.

"The war kilt my brothers and most of me cousins. Right aside me," Jesse said. "I seed a hole the size of my thumb push into he forehead, then blood flow out matchin' his heart beat. I remember thinkin' he was scared 'cause of how fast the pulsin' blood pushed out." Jesse shook his head as if he were trying to shake the memory out of himself. "The loudness of war make you deaf to music. You ears juss ring like the after-sound of a church bell, but war ain't no church except that it send more people to heaven."

After Jesse fell silent, Buddy said that he lost a brother, too. "But I weren't there to see it."

"You don' know much about loss like that, do you?" Cracker-Jack said to Leon.

Bob gave Cracker-Jack a cold, hard stare. "His pappy shot."

"Shot fer runnin'. And we don know why exactly," Cracker-Jack said.

"Maybe we don want to know," Jesse said.

Bob poked at the fire and sparks burst into the air. "Maybe it not our business."

"We been travelin' together, don't that make it our business?" Cracker-Jack said.

Leon kept quiet and eventually Big Josh spoke up. "We ain't been honest neither."

Cracker-Jack shot him a mean look and the others paused long enough for Leon to realize he didn't know them as well as he had thought. Leon ignored them, staring into the fire as though he hadn't heard Big Josh. Leon's heartbeat quickened. He heard something rustle a short distance away in the woods. His burlap was drying near where he hid his book, knife, and revolver. He adjusted his legs, which were getting sore from being in the same position for a long time.

Big Josh stood up and kicked stones and dirt onto the fire making it spit sparks into the darkness.

"Sit down Josh," Jesse said.

"I kilt that man and you all knows it. We liein' all the time. We liein' to ourselves, makin' up stories of lifes we wanted, not the ones we got." Big Josh peered down at Leon. "Boy, we all runnin'."

"That's it!" Cracker Jack stood up too, now, and the restlessness of the others became an active and wild animal rummaging through their camp.

"I not stoppin'," Big Josh said.

"Damn-dip god-dammity," Bob said under his breath.

"I hated that man. He treat me bad and when his head under that wagon hub, I kick it off the post. I seed his ears squirt blood and one eye push out and land in the dirt. I run and not stop 'til I run into these crim'nals."

"Criminals?" Cracker-Jack yelled.

"Don't never hate a man, boy, 'cause sure enough you kill him. Big Josh finished speaking, then nodded toward Cracker-Jack who had never finished his assault.

Cracker-Jack waited for Josh to sit, then glanced around. "I kilt seven men."

Leon slid back from the fire. He glanced to judge how close he sat from the revolver.

"But they all soldiers." Cracker-Jack pounded his own chest. "I kilt them cause they kilt my family. It was right I kilt them."

Big Josh continued to stare at the man.

Cracker-Jack spit. "I so filled wit noise and anger and fear." He closed his eyes. When he spoke again he whispered. "I start loadin' and shootin' at anybody I sees." He lowered his head and walked from camp into the darkness.

Bob poked Leon with a toe and when Leon jumped, Bob whispered, "He shoot he own son." After a moment, Bob said, "You know, boy, what you try to hide is always there. It never go away. Sooner or later it boil up and make a blister everyone can see."

Leon felt his face flush and his eyes fill with tears. He clenched his teeth and sat still. The killing talk brought unwanted memories of his escape. The men scared him. He had crossed the river. His life was supposed to change. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. What’s going on between Leon and Bess and why? How does it affect Bess’ relationship with Big Leon? With Martha?
2. What’s Martha’s relationship with Leon and the family? What’s her role in the family? How does she feel about Big Leon? About Bess?
3. Do you get the feeling that in another time and place Bess and Mr. Carpenter would have a different relationship?
4. After Mr. Carpenter’s son dies, why does he want Leon to take his son’s place? What might be behind this choice?
5. Why is Hillary so interested in Leon? What is she acting out?
6. What is the significance of Leon’s time with the roamers? Why does he change his name?
7. What does singing do for Leon? How does it affect his life?
8. What do you think Hugh’s secret is? Why can’t he tell Leon?
9. What is it about Jenny that makes Leon want to tell the truth?
10. Is the ending satisfying? Has Leon’s adventure been resolved satisfactorily?

Weblinks

»	Author Terry Persun's official web site
»	Read the book for free on the publisher's web site
»	Author magazine interview with Terry Persun

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