Description

History consists mainly of the milestones, the
turning points of time. What are often lost in the fray are the details.
Thankfully for those who have a hunger for history, books like Sisters,
Seeds, and Cedars exist to fill in some of the gaps of history.
The book contains letters from two sisters, Cornelia and Clara. Originally
from Alabama, Clara moves on to Arkansas, while Cornelia stays where her roots
are. Clara eventually puts down roots of her own, and the sisters' continue to
converse through letter writing for their entire lives.
The letters span the generations and provide insight into everyday life
between 1850-1928. Without them, it might not be known that "a dewlarkie
is most likely a slang word of the period for a beau." The letters also
provide details of the effects of the Civil War on the citizens of the South.
As the sisters recover from the war, they must adjust to their new lives,
filled with carpetbaggers and sharecroppers.
While it may be impossible to know all the details of history, letters that
have survived and have been preserved in a book like Sisters, Seeds,
& Cedars paint a more complete picture of events that have shaped
the world and families alike.
Sarah Moseley Fountain is a native Arkansan dedicated to Arkansas
literature, history, and culture. She lives in Conway, Arkansas.