英语天堂-第31部分

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ome　to　the　river；　and　thar　was　the　current　running　ten　feet　wide　by　the　shore；　and　over　t’　other　side　ice　a　sawin’　and　a　jiggling　up　and　down；　kinder　as　’t　were　a　great　island。　We　come　right　behind　her；　and　I　thought　my　soul　he’d　got　her　sure　enough；—when　she　gin　sich　a　screech　as　I　never　hearn；　and　thar　she　was；　clar　over　t’　other　side　of　the　current；　on　the　ice；　and　then　on　she　went；　a　screeching　and　a　jumpin’；—the　ice　went　crack！　c’wallop！　cracking！　chunk！　and　she　a　boundin’　like　a　buck！　Lord；　the　spring　that　ar　gal’s　got　in　her　an’t　common；　I’m　o’　’pinion。”
Mrs。　Shelby　sat　perfectly　silent；　pale　with　excitement；　while　Sam　told　his　story。
“God　be　praised；　she　isn’t　dead！”　she　said；　“but　where　is　the　poor　child　now？”
“De　Lord　will　pervide；”　said　Sam；　rolling　up　his　eyes　piously。　“As　I’ve　been　a　sayin’；　dis　yer　’s　a　providence　and　no　mistake；　as　Missis　has　allers　been　a　instructin’　on　us。　Thar’s　allers　instruments　ris　up　to　do　de　Lord’s　will。　Now；　if　’t　hadn’t　been　for　me　today；　she’d　a　been　took　a　dozen　times。　Warn’t　it　I　started　off　de　hosses；　dis　yer　morning’　and　kept　’em　chasin’　till　nigh　dinner　time？　And　didn’t　I　car　Mas’r　Haley　night　five　miles　out　of　de　road；　dis　evening；　or　else　he’d　a　come　up　with　Lizy　as　easy　as　a　dog　arter　a　coon。　These　yer　’s　all　providences。”
“They　are　a　kind　of　providences　that　you’ll　have　to　be　pretty　sparing　of；　Master　Sam。　I　allow　no　such　practices　with　gentlemen　on　my　place；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　with　as　much　sternness　as　he　could　command；　under　the　circumstances。
Now；　there　is　no　more　use　in　making　believe　be　angry　with　a　negro　than　with　a　child；　both　instinctively　see　the　true　state　of　the　case；　through　all　attempts　to　affect　the　contrary；　and　Sam　was　in　no　wise　disheartened　by　this　rebuke；　though　he　assumed　an　air　of　doleful　gravity；　and　stood　with　the　corners　of　his　mouth　lowered　in　most　penitential　style。
“Mas’r　quite　right；—quite；　it　was　ugly　on　me；—there’s　no　disputin’　that　ar；　and　of　course　Mas’r　and　Missis　wouldn’t　encourage　no　such　works。　I’m　sensible　of　dat　ar；　but　a　poor　nigger　like　me　’s　’mazin’　tempted　to　act　ugly　sometimes；　when　fellers　will　cut　up　such　shines　as　dat　ar　Mas’r　Haley；　he　an’t　no　gen’l’man　no　way；　anybody’s　been　raised　as　I’ve　been　can’t　help　a　seein’　dat　ar。”
“Well；　Sam；”　said　Mrs。　Shelby；　“as　you　appear　to　have　a　proper　sense　of　your　errors；　you　may　go　now　and　tell　Aunt　Chloe　she　may　get　you　some　of　that　cold　ham　that　was　left　of　dinner　today。　You　and　Andy　must　be　hungry。”
“Missis　is　a　heap　too　good　for　us；”　said　Sam；　making　his　bow　with　alacrity；　and　departing。
It　will　be　perceived；　as　has　been　before　intimated；　that　Master　Sam　had　a　native　talent　that　might；　undoubtedly；　have　raised　him　to　eminence　in　political　life；—a　talent　of　making　capital　out　of　everything　that　turned　up；　to　be　invested　for　his　own　especial　praise　and　glory；　and　having　done　up　his　piety　and　humility；　as　he　trusted；　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　parlor；　he　clapped　his　palm…leaf　on　his　head；　with　a　sort　of　rakish；　free…and…easy　air；　and　proceeded　to　the　dominions　of　Aunt　Chloe；　with　the　intention　of　flourishing　largely　in　the　kitchen。
“I’ll　speechify　these　yer　niggers；”　said　Sam　to　himself；　“now　I’ve　got　a　chance。　Lord；　I’ll　reel　it　off　to　make　’em　stare！”
It　must　be　observed　that　one　of　Sam’s　especial　delights　had　been　to　ride　in　attendance　on　his　master　to　all　kinds　of　political　gatherings；　where；　roosted　on　some　rail　fence；　or　perched　aloft　in　some　tree；　he　would　sit　watching　the　orators；　with　the　greatest　apparent　gusto；　and　then；　descending　among　the　various　brethren　of　his　own　color；　assembled　on　the　same　errand；　he　would　edify　and　delight　them　with　the　most　ludicrous　burlesques　and　imitations；　all　delivered　with　the　most　imperturbable　earnestness　and　solemnity；　and　though　the　auditors　immediately　about　him　were　generally　of　his　own　color；　it　not　unfrequently　happened　that　they　were　fringed　pretty　deeply　with　those　of　a　fairer　complexion；　who　listened；　laughing　and　winking；　to　Sam’s　great　self…congratulation。　In　fact；　Sam　considered　oratory　as　his　vocation；　and　never　let　slip　an　opportunity　of　magnifying　his　office。
Now；　between　Sam　and　Aunt　Chloe　there　had　existed；　from　ancient　times；　a　sort　of　chronic　feud；　or　rather　a　decided　coolness；　but；　as　Sam　was　meditating　something　in　the　provision　department；　as　the　necessary　and　obvious　foundation　of　his　operations；　he　determined；　on　the　present　ocomasion；　to　be　eminently　conciliatory；　for　he　well　knew　that　although　“Missis’　orders”　would　undoubtedly　be　followed　to　the　letter；　yet　he　should　gain　a　considerable　deal　by　enlisting　the　spirit　also。　He　therefore　appeared　before　Aunt　Chloe　with　a　touchingly　subdued；　resigned　expression；　like　one　who　has　suffered　immeasurable　hardships　in　behalf　of　a　persecuted　fellow…creature；—enlarged　upon　the　fact　that　Missis　had　directed　him　to　come　to　Aunt　Chloe　for　whatever　might　be　wanting　to　make　up　the　balance　in　his　solids　and　fluids；—and　thus　unequivocally　acknowledged　her　right　and　supremacy　in　the　cooking　department；　and　all　thereto　pertaining。
The　thing　took　acomordingly。　No　poor；　simple；　virtuous　body　was　ever　cajoled　by　the　attentions　of　an　electioneering　politician　with　more　ease　than　Aunt　Chloe　was　won　over　by　Master　Sam’s　suavities；　and　if　he　had　been　the　prodigal　son　himself；　he　could　not　have　been　overwhelmed　with　more　maternal　bountifulness；　and　he　soon　found　himself　seated；　happy　and　glorious；　over　a　large　tin　pan；　containing　a　sort　of　olla　podrida　of　all　that　had　appeared　on　the　table　for　two　or　three　days　past。　Savory　morsels　of　ham；　golden　blocks　of　corn…cake；　fragments　of　pie　of　every　conceivable　mathematical　figure；　chicken　wings；　gizzards；　and　drumsticks；　all　appeared　in　picturesque　confusion；　and　Sam；　as　monarch　of　all　he　surveyed；　sat　with　his　palm…leaf　cocked　rejoicingly　to　one　side；　and　patronizing　Andy　at　his　right　hand。
The　kitchen　was　full　of　all　his　compeers；　who　had　hurried　and　crowded　in；　from　the　various　cabins；　to　hear　the　termination　of　the　day’s　exploits。　Now　was　Sam’s　hour　of　glory。　The　story　of　the　day　was　rehearsed；　with　all　kinds　of　ornament　and　varnishing　which　might　be　necessary　to　heighten　its　effect；　for　Sam；　like　some　of　our　fashionable　dilettanti；　never　allowed　a　story　to　lose　any　of　its　gilding　by　passing　through　his　hands。　Roars　of　laughter　attended　the　narration；　and　were　taken　up　and　prolonged　by　all　the　smaller　fry；　who　were　lying；　in　any　quantity；　about　on　the　floor；　or　perched　in　every　corner。　In　the　height　of　the　uproar　and　laughter；　Sam；　however；　preserved　an　immovable　gravity；　only　from　time　to　time　rolling　his　eyes　up；　and　giving　his　auditors　divers　inexpressibly　droll　glances；　without　departing　from　the　sententious　elevation　of　his　oratory。
“Yer　see；　fellow…countrymen；”　said　Sam；　elevating　a　turkey’s　leg；　with　energy；　“yer　see；　now　what　dis　yer　chile　’s　up　ter；　for　fendin’　yer　all；—yes；　all　on　yer。　For　him　as　tries　to　get　one　o’　our　people　is　as　good　as　tryin’　to　get　all；　yer　see　the　principle　’s　de　same；—dat　ar’s　clar。　And　any　one　o’　these　yer　drivers　that　comes　smelling　round　arter　any　our　people；　why；　he’s　got　me　in　his　way；　I’m　the　feller　he’s　got　to　set　in　with；—I’m　the　feller　for　yer　all　to　come　to；　bredren；—I’ll　stand　up　for　yer　rights；—I’ll　fend　’em　to　the　last　breath！”
“Why；　but　Sam；　yer　telled　me；　only　this　mornin’；　that　you’d　help　this　yer　Mas’r　to　cotch　Lizy；　seems　to　me　yer　talk　don’t　hang　together；”　said　Andy。
“I　tell　you　now；　Andy；”　said　Sam；　with　awful　superiority；　“don’t　yer　be　a　talkin’　’bout　what　yer　don’t　know　nothin’　on；　boys　like　you；　Andy；　means　well；　but　they　can’t　be　spected　to　collusitate　the　great　principles　of　action。”
Andy　looked　rebuked；　particularly　by　the　hard　word　collusitate；　which　most　of　the　youngerly　members　of　the　company　seemed　to　consider　as　a　settler　in　the　case；　while　Sam　proceeded。
“Dat　ar　was　conscience；　Andy；　when　I　thought　of　gwine　arter　Lizy；　I　railly　spected　Mas’r　was　sot　dat　way。　When　I　found　Missis　was　sot　the　contrar；　dat　ar　was　conscience　more　yet；—cause　fellers　allers　gets　more　by　stickin’　to　Missis’　side；—so　yer　see　I　’s　persistent　either　way；　and　sticks　up　to　conscience；　and　holds　on　to　principles。　Yes；　principles；”　said　Sam；　giving　an　enthusiastic　toss　to　a　chicken’s　neck；—“what’s　principles　good　for；　if　we　isn’t　persistent；　I　wanter　know？　Thar；　Andy；　you　may　have　dat　ar　bone；—tan’t　picked　quite　clean。”
Sam’s　audience　hanging　on　his　words　with　open　mouth；　he　could　not　but　proceed。
“Dis　yer　matter　’bout　persistence；　feller…niggers；”　said　Sam；　with　the　air　of　one　entering　into　an　abstruse　subject；　“dis　yer　’sistency　’s　a　thing　what　an’t　seed　into　very　clar；　by　most　anybody。　Now；　yer　see；　when　a　feller　stands　up　for　a　thing　one　day　and　night；　de　contrar　de　next；　folks　ses　（and　nat’rally　enough　dey　ses）；　why　he　an’t　persistent；—hand　me　dat　ar　bit　o’　corn…cake；　Andy。　But　let’s　look　inter　it。　I　hope　the　gen’lmen　and　der　fair　sex　will　scuse　my　usin’　an　or’nary　sort　o’　’parison。　Here！　I’m　a　trying　to　get　top　o’　der　hay。　Wal；　I　puts　up　my　larder　dis　yer　side；　’tan’t　no　go；—den；　cause　I　don’t　try　dere　no　more；　but　puts　my　larder　right　de　contrar　side；　an’t　I　persistent？　I’m　persistent　in　wantin’　to　get　up　which　ary　side　my　larder　is；　don’t　you　see；　all　on　yer？”
“It’s　the　only　thing　ye　ever　was　persistent　in；　Lord　knows！”　muttered　Aunt　Chloe；　who　was　getting　rather　restive；　the　merriment　of　the　evening　being　to　her　somewhat　after　the　Scripture　comparison；—like　“vinegar　upon　nitre。”
“Yes；　indeed！”　said　Sam；　rising；　full　of　supper　and　glory；　for　a　closing　effort。　“Yes；　my　feller…citizens　and　ladies　of　de　other　sex　in　general；　I　has　principles；—I’m　proud　to　’oon　’em；—they　’s　perquisite　to　dese　yer　times；　and　ter　all　times。　I　has　principles；　and　I　sticks　to　’em　like　forty；—jest　anything　that　I　thinks　is　principle；　I　goes　in　to　’t；—I　wouldn’t　mind　if　dey　burnt　me　’live；—I’d　walk　right　up　to　de　stake；　I　would；　and　say；　here　I　comes　to　shed　my　last　blood　fur　my　principles；　fur　my　country；　fur　de　gen’l　interests　of　society。”
“Well；”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　“one　o’　yer　principles　will　have　to　be　to　get　to　bed　some　time　tonight；　and　not　be　a　keepin’　everybody　up　till　mornin’；　now；　every　one　of　you　young　uns　that　don’t　want　to　be　cracked；　had　better　be　scase；　mighty　sudden。”
“Niggers！　all　on　yer；”　said　Sam；　waving　his　palm…leaf　with　benignity；　“I　give　yer　my　blessin’；　go　to　bed　now；　and　be　good　boys。”
And；　with　this　pathetic　benediction；　the　assembly　dispersed。
Chapter　9
In　Which　It　Appears　That　a　Senator　Is　But　a　Man
The　light　of　the　cheerful　fire　shone　on　the　rug　and　carpet　of　a　cosey　parlor；　and　glittered　on　the　sides　of　the　tea…cups　and　well…brightened　tea…pot；　as　Senator　Bird　was　drawing　off　his　boots；　preparatory　to　inserting　his　feet　in　a　pair　of　new　handsome　slippers；　which　his　wife　had　been　working　for　him　while　away　on　his　senatorial　tour。　Mrs。　Bird；　looking　the　very　picture　of　delight；　was　superintending　the　arrangements　of　the　table；　ever　and　anon　mingling　admonitory　remarks　to　a　number　of　frolicsome　juveniles；　who　were　effervescing　in　all　those　modes　of　untold　gambol　and　mischief　that　have　astonished　mothers　ever　since　the　flood。
“Tom；　let　the　door…knob　alone；—there’s　a　man！　Mary！　Mary！　don’t　pull　the　cat’s　tail；—poor　pussy！　Jim；　you　mustn’t　climb　on　that　table；—no；　no！—You　don’t　know；　my　dear；　what　a　surprise　it　is　to　us　all；　to　see　you　here　tonight！”　said　she；　at　last；　when　she　found　a　space　to　say　something　to　her　husband。
“Yes；　yes；　I　thought　I’d　just　make　a　run　down；　spend　the　night；　and　have　a　little　comfort　at　home。　I’m　tired　to　death；　and　my　head　aches！”
Mrs。　Bird　cast　a　glance　at　a　camphor…bottle；　which　stood　in　the　half…open　closet；　and　appeared　to　meditate　an　approach　to　it；　but　her　husband　interposed。
“No；　no；　Mary；　no　doctoring！　a　cup　of　your　good　hot　tea；　and　some　of　our　good　home　living；　is　what　I　want。　It’s　a　tiresome　business；　this　legislating！”
And　the　senator　smiled；　as　if　he　rather　liked　the　idea　of　considering　himself　a　sacrifice　to　his　country。
“Well；”　said　his　wife；　after　the　business　of　the　tea…table　was　getting　rather　slack；　“and　what　have　they　been　doing　in　the　Senate？”
Now；　it　was　a　very　unusual　thing　for　gentle　little　Mrs。　Bird　ever　to　trouble　her　head　with　what　was　going　on　in　the　house　of　the　state；　very　wisely　considering　that　she　had　enough　to　do　to　mind　her　own。　Mr。　Bird；　therefore；　opened　his　eyes　in　surprise；　and　said；
“Not　very　much　of　importance。”
“Well；　but　is　it　true　that　they　have　been　passing　a　law　forbidding　people　to　give　meat　and　drink　to　those　poor　colored　folks　that　come　along？　I　heard　they　were　talking　of　some　such　law；　but　I　didn’t　think　any　Christian　legislature　would　pass　it！”
“Why；　Mary；　you　are　getting　to　be　a　politician；　all　at　once。”
“No；　nonsense！　I　wouldn’t　give　a　fip　for　all　your　politics；　generally；　but　I　think　this　is　something　downright　cruel　and　unchristian。　I　hope；　my　dear；　no　such　law　has　been　passed。”
“There　has　been　a　law　passed　forbidding　people　to　help　off　the　slaves　that　come　over　from　Kentucky；　my　dear；　so　much　of　that　thing　has　been　done　by　these　reckless　Abolitionists；　that　our　brethren　in　Kentucky　are　very　strongly　excited；　and　it　seems　necessary；　and　no　more　than　Christian　and　kind；　that　something　should　be　done　by　our　state　to　quiet　the　excitement。”
“And　what　is　the　law？　It　don’t　forbid　us　to　shelter　those　poor　creatures　a　night；　does　it；　and　to　give　’em　something　comfortable　to　eat；　and　a　few　old　clothes；　and　send　them　quietly　about　their　business？”
“Why；　yes；　my　dear；　that　would　be　aiding　and　abetting；　you　know。”
Mrs。　Bird　was　a　timid；　blushing　little　woman；　of　about　four　feet　in　height；　and　with　mild　blue　eyes；　and　a　peach…blow　complexion；　and　the　gentlest；　sweetest　voice　in　the　world；—as　for　courage；　a　moderate…sized　cock…turkey　had　been　known　to　put　her　to　rout　at　the　very　first　gobble；　and　a　stout　house…dog；　of　moderate　capacity；　would　bring　her　into　subjection　merely　by　a　show　of　his　teeth。　Her　husband　and　children　were　her　entire　world；　and　in　these　she　ruled　more　by　entreaty　and　persuasion　than　by　command　or　argument。　There　was　only　one　thing　that　was　capable　of　arousing　her；　and　that　provocation　came　in　on　the　side　of　her　unusually　gentle　and　sympathetic　nature；—anything　in　the　shape　of　cruelty　would　throw　her　into　a　passion；　which　was　the　more　alarming　and　inexplicable　in　proportion　to　the　general　softness　of　her　nature。　Generally　the　most　indulgent　and　easy　to　be　entreated　of　all　mothers；　still　her　boys　had　a　very　reverent　remembrance　of　a　most　vehement　chastisement　she　once　bestowed　on　them；　because　she　found　them　leagued　with　several　graceless　boys　of　the　neighborhood；　stoning　a　defenceless　kitten。
“I’ll　tell　you　what；”　Master　Bill　used　to　say；　“I　was　scared　that　time。　Mother　came　at　me　so　that　I　thought　she　was　crazy；　and　I　was　whipped　and　tumbled　off　to　bed；　without　any　supper；　before　I　could　get　over　wondering　what　had　come　about；　and；　after　that；　I　heard　mother　crying　outside　the　door；　which　made　me　feel　worse　than　all　the　rest。　I’ll　tell　you　what；”　he’d　say；　“we　boys　never　stoned　another　kitten！”
On　the　present　ocomasion；　Mrs。　Bird　rose　quickly；　with　very