Character Sketch: Maum Sally

Maum Sally was the wise, caring freed servant who worked for the Fabray family. She had worked for them for many years, having been trusted with Madeline's care from an early age. She always had Madeline's best interests at heart, and she developed a very close relationship with her.

Maum Sally made her first appearance very early in the story. She and Madeline were both in a carriage, going along at a fast rate of speed, on their way to Resolute, when their carriage overturned. Orry showed up and helped the ladies in getting out of the carriage. Even this early in the story, it was clear that Madeline and Maum Sally shared a close relationship, more like two very good friends, or even family members, than like mistress and servant. Both were concerned that the other get out of the carriage safely, and this was just a hint as to what good friends they were.

When Orry offered to take Madeline to Resolute, and return with fresh horses, Madeline quickly accepted. Out of earshot of Orry, though, Maum Sally wisely cautioned her against going with someone she didn't know. Apparently Maum Sally's opinion carried quite a lot of weight with Madeline, or she wouldn't have offered her advice. Nonetheless, Madeline reassured Maum Sally that it would be okay for her to go with Orry. It is apparent as they rode away that Maum Sally was a little bit worried for Madeline's safety, yet she stayed back with the carriage, where she could be of help.

Maum Sally consistently looked out for Madeline's wellbeing. She made sure that Madeline got the letters from Orry as soon as they arrived. As a good friend would, Maum Sally listened as Madeline read the letters aloud. She was clearly happy for her. However, when the letters stopped arriving, Maum Sally tried to prepare her for the possibility that Orry had lost interest. Maum Sally had reservations about Orry's intentions, and she did not want Madeline to be hurt. She told her that young men are always making promises they were never going to keep.

Later in the miniseries, when Orry returned from the Mexican War, Maum Sally discouraged Madeline from making contact with Orry, knowing that it was not in her best interests. Despite Madeline feeling that Orry needed her, Maum Sally let her know that is one thing that she must not do.

Later, however, Orry arrived at Resolute, and Madeline became very eager to see him. She asked Maum Sally to take a note to him. Maum Sally reluctantly agreed, knowing it probably would get Madeline in trouble. She was torn between wanting to please Madeline and knowing that it might turn out badly if she did see Orry.

One scene that showed a great deal about how Madeline's family trusted Maum Sally was right after the death of Nicholas Fabray, Madeline's father. After Nicholas confided to Madeline that her mother was part-black, Maum Sally comforted her, and it was apparent that she had known the truth about Madeline's mother all along. She told her that her parents had never wanted anyone to know about the mother's black background and that's the way it always was. Maum Sally also told her that she had worried, when Madeline was little, that someone would find out, but they never did. She warned Madeline about the dangers of ever revealing the secret. If Justin ever found found out, she told Madeline, he would do great harm to her, even kill her.

The incident which best showed how much Maum Sally cared about Madeline was when she risked her life for her. When Justin had cruelly locked up Madeline, Maum Sally came with a key to get her out. She had to have known the dangers in doing such a thing. As it turned out, Justin did catch Maum Sally in the act of trying to free Madeline, and, in a very sad scene, hit her very hard, knocking her down the stairs, where she died instantly. Sadly, there was nothing that Madeline could do. As she heard the commotion on the other side of the door, she cried bitterly, saying, "I'm sorry, Maum Sally."