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more under control. “We already know it’s going to be bad.”
    “Yes, it’s bad. Once a black has been designated a criminal, they can be hired out as convicts for labor — either to the plantations or for public works projects,” Matthew said flatly, only his eyes showing his disgust as he struggled to control his voice.
    “So they have just reinstated a new kind of slavery,” Rose said, horror and bitterness lacing her words.
    “It looks that way,” Matthew admitted sadly as he exchanged a long look with Robert, their years of friendship making words unnecessary for communication. It had taken many years for them to be on the same side in regard to slavery. He knew they both felt terrible for the freed slaves — he also knew they could only imagine what it was truly like for them.
    “Read some of them,” June said, edging closer to Simon, as if her husband’s presence would protect her from the harshness. “The happiest day of my life was when Moses set me free from the plantation. I aim to live with my husband and raise my little boy in freedom. We have to know what we’re up against.”
    Matthew sighed and held up the papers. “This is written in typical legal mumbo jumbo, but I’m going to read it just as it is in the Mississippi Constitution. This section is in regard to the vagrancy laws…”
     
    That all freedmen, free negroes and mulattoes in this State, over the age of eighteen years, found on the second Monday in January, 1866 or thereafter, without lawful employment or business, or found unlawfully assembling themselves together, either in the day or nighttime, and all white persons so assembling themselves with freedmen, free negroes or mulattoes, or usually associating with freedmen, free negroes or mulattoes, on terms of equality, or living in adultery or fornication with a freed woman, free negro or mulatto, shall be deemed vagrants, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in a sum not exceeding, in the case of a freedman, free negro, or mulatto, fifty dollars, and a white man two hundred dollars, and imprisoned, at the discretion of the court, the free negro not exceeding ten days, and the white man not exceeding six months.
     
    “So they’re even punishing sympathetic whites,” Jeremy said after a stark silence filled the room for long moments. “They’re covering their bases.”
    “Just like they did with the Fugitive Slave Act,” Abby said with disgust. “I’ve had almost two weeks to absorb this, and it’s still just as horrifying as the first time I heard it!”
    “I done come a long way with all of Rose’s schooling, and I almost be able to read, but I’ll admit I not be sure what you just read, Mister Matthew,” Annie said slowly. “Could you put that into plain English for me?”
    “Of course, Annie,” Matthew replied. “Don’t feel badly. Most educated people have a hard time understanding this convoluted language,” he said with a smile. “It’s basically saying that a black person can be detained for any number of reasons, put into prison, and then hired out to local plantation owners as labor to pay off the fines they can’t afford to pay. If a white person tries to help them, they will go to prison or have to pay a big fine.”
    “That be for any black person, or just the ones that used to be slaves?” Polly asked keenly.
    “I’m afraid it means any black person,” Matthew answered honestly. “The days of things being better for blacks who were free before emancipation may have ended. I don’t believe anyone will make a distinction.”
    “That’s the reason we left Maryland,” Gabe said angrily. “They were wantin’ to take Clint and Amber and force them into labor by taking away our custody. We left our home to get away from that. Now you’re telling me the entire South is going to be like that?” His voice was twisted with disbelief.
    Matthew just looked at him, knowing there was nothing he could say to ease the anguish in Gabe’s