英语天堂-第32部分

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皐e　boys　never　stoned　another　kitten！”
On　the　present　ocomasion；　Mrs。　Bird　rose　quickly；　with　very　red　cheeks；　which　quite　improved　her　general　appearance；　and　walked　up　to　her　husband；　with　quite　a　resolute　air；　and　said；　in　a　determined　tone；
“Now；　John；　I　want　to　know　if　you　think　such　a　law　as　that　is　right　and　Christian？”
“You　won’t　shoot　me；　now；　Mary；　if　I　say　I　do！”
“I　never　could　have　thought　it　of　you；　John；　you　didn’t　vote　for　it？”
“Even　so；　my　fair　politician。”
“You　ought　to　be　ashamed；　John！　Poor；　homeless；　houseless　creatures！　It’s　a　shameful；　wicked；　abominable　law；　and　I’ll　break　it；　for　one；　the　first　time　I　get　a　chance；　and　I　hope　I　shall　have　a　chance；　I　do！　Things　have　got　to　a　pretty　pass；　if　a　woman　can’t　give　a　warm　supper　and　a　bed　to　poor；　starving　creatures；　just　because　they　are　slaves；　and　have　been　abused　and　oppressed　all　their　lives；　poor　things！”
“But；　Mary；　just　listen　to　me。　Your　feelings　are　all　quite　right；　dear；　and　interesting；　and　I　love　you　for　them；　but；　then；　dear；　we　mustn’t　suffer　our　feelings　to　run　away　with　our　judgment；　you　must　consider　it’s　a　matter　of　private　feeling；—there　are　great　public　interests　involved；—there　is　such　a　state　of　public　agitation　rising；　that　we　must　put　aside　our　private　feelings。”
“Now；　John；　I　don’t　know　anything　about　politics；　but　I　can　read　my　Bible；　and　there　I　see　that　I　must　feed　the　hungry；　clothe　the　naked；　and　comfort　the　desolate；　and　that　Bible　I　mean　to　follow。”
“But　in　cases　where　your　doing　so　would　involve　a　great　public　evil—”
“Obeying　God　never　brings　on　public　evils。　I　know　it　can’t。　It’s　always　safest；　all　round；　to　do　as　He　bids　us。
“Now；　listen　to　me；　Mary；　and　I　can　state　to　you　a　very　clear　argument；　to　show—”
“O；　nonsense；　John！　you　can　talk　all　night；　but　you　wouldn’t　do　it。　I　put　it　to　you；　John；—would　you　now　turn　away　a　poor；　shivering；　hungry　creature　from　your　door；　because　he　was　a　runaway？　Would　you；　now？”
Now；　if　the　truth　must　be　told；　our　senator　had　the　misfortune　to　be　a　man　who　had　a　particularly　humane　and　acomessible　nature；　and　turning　away　anybody　that　was　in　trouble　never　had　been　his　forte；　and　what　was　worse　for　him　in　this　particular　pinch　of　the　argument　was；　that　his　wife　knew　it；　and；　of　course　was　making　an　assault　on　rather　an　indefensible　point。　So　he　had　recourse　to　the　usual　means　of　gaining　time　for　such　cases　made　and　provided；　he　said　“ahem；”　and　coughed　several　times；　took　out　his　pocket…handkerchief；　and　began　to　wipe　his　glasses。　Mrs。　Bird；　seeing　the　defenceless　condition　of　the　enemy’s　territory；　had　no　more　conscience　than　to　push　her　advantage。
“I　should　like　to　see　you　doing　that；　John—I　really　should！　Turning　a　woman　out　of　doors　in　a　snowstorm；　for　instance；　or　may　be　you’d　take　her　up　and　put　her　in　jail；　wouldn’t　you？　You　would　make　a　great　hand　at　that！”
“Of　course；　it　would　be　a　very　painful　duty；”　began　Mr。　Bird；　in　a　moderate　tone。
“Duty；　John！　don’t　use　that　word！　You　know　it　isn’t　a　duty—it　can’t　be　a　duty！　If　folks　want　to　keep　their　slaves　from　running　away；　let　’em　treat　’em　well；—that’s　my　doctrine。　If　I　had　slaves　（as　I　hope　I　never　shall　have）；　I’d　risk　their　wanting　to　run　away　from　me；　or　you　either；　John。　I　tell　you　folks　don’t　run　away　when　they　are　happy；　and　when　they　do　run；　poor　creatures！　they　suffer　enough　with　cold　and　hunger　and　fear；　without　everybody’s　turning　against　them；　and；　law　or　no　law；　I　never　will；　so　help　me　God！”
“Mary！　Mary！　My　dear；　let　me　reason　with　you。”
“I　hate　reasoning；　John；—especially　reasoning　on　such　subjects。　There’s　a　way　you　political　folks　have　of　coming　round　and　round　a　plain　right　thing；　and　you　don’t　believe　in　it　yourselves；　when　it　comes　to　practice。　I　know　you　well　enough；　John。　You　don’t　believe　it’s　right　any　more　than　I　do；　and　you　wouldn’t　do　it　any　sooner　than　I。”
At　this　critical　juncture；　old　Cudjoe；　the　black　man…of…all…work；　put　his　head　in　at　the　door；　and　wished　“Missis　would　come　into　the　kitchen；”　and　our　senator；　tolerably　relieved；　looked　after　his　little　wife　with　a　whimsical　mixture　of　amusement　and　vexation；　and；　seating　himself　in　the　arm…chair；　began　to　read　the　papers。
After　a　moment；　his　wife’s　voice　was　heard　at　the　door；　in　a　quick；　earnest　tone；—“John！　John！　I　do　wish　you’d　come　here；　a　moment。”
He　laid　down　his　paper；　and　went　into　the　kitchen；　and　started；　quite　amazed　at　the　sight　that　presented　itself：—A　young　and　slender　woman；　with　garments　torn　and　frozen；　with　one　shoe　gone；　and　the　stocking　torn　away　from　the　cut　and　bleeding　foot；　was　laid　back　in　a　deadly　swoon　upon　two　chairs。　There　was　the　impress　of　the　despised　race　on　her　face；　yet　none　could　help　feeling　its　mournful　and　pathetic　beauty；　while　its　stony　sharpness；　its　cold；　fixed；　deathly　aspect；　struck　a　solemn　chill　over　him。　He　drew　his　breath　short；　and　stood　in　silence。　His　wife；　and　their　only　colored　domestic；　old　Aunt　Dinah；　were　busily　engaged　in　restorative　measures；　while　old　Cudjoe　had　got　the　boy　on　his　knee；　and　was　busy　pulling　off　his　shoes　and　stockings；　and　chafing　his　little　cold　feet。
“Sure；　now；　if　she　an’t　a　sight　to　behold！”　said　old　Dinah；　compassionately；　“’pears　like　’t　was　the　heat　that　made　her　faint。　She　was　tol’able　peart　when　she　cum　in；　and　asked　if　she　couldn’t　warm　herself　here　a　spell；　and　I　was　just　a…askin’　her　where　she　cum　from；　and　she　fainted　right　down。　Never　done　much　hard　work；　guess；　by　the　looks　of　her　hands。”
“Poor　creature！”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　compassionately；　as　the　woman　slowly　unclosed　her　large；　dark　eyes；　and　looked　vacantly　at　her。　Suddenly　an　expression　of　agony　crossed　her　face；　and　she　sprang　up；　saying；　“O；　my　Harry！　Have　they　got　him？”
The　boy；　at　this；　jumped　from　Cudjoe’s　knee；　and　running　to　her　side　put　up　his　arms。　“O；　he’s　here！　he’s　here！”　she　exclaimed。
“O；　ma’am！”　said　she；　wildly；　to　Mrs。　Bird；　“do　protect　us！　don’t　let　them　get　him！”
“Nobody　shall　hurt　you　here；　poor　woman；”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　encouragingly。　“You　are　safe；　don’t　be　afraid。”
“God　bless　you！”　said　the　woman；　covering　her　face　and　sobbing；　while　the　little　boy；　seeing　her　crying；　tried　to　get　into　her　lap。
With　many　gentle　and　womanly　offices；　which　none　knew　better　how　to　render　than　Mrs。　Bird；　the　poor　woman　was；　in　time；　rendered　more　calm。　A　temporary　bed　was　provided　for　her　on　the　settle；　near　the　fire；　and；　after　a　short　time；　she　fell　into　a　heavy　slumber；　with　the　child；　who　seemed　no　less　weary；　soundly　sleeping　on　her　arm；　for　the　mother　resisted；　with　nervous　anxiety；　the　kindest　attempts　to　take　him　from　her；　and；　even　in　sleep；　her　arm　encircled　him　with　an　unrelaxing　clasp；　as　if　she　could　not　even　then　be　beguiled　of　her　vigilant　hold。
Mr。　and　Mrs。　Bird　had　gone　back　to　the　parlor；　where；　strange　as　it　may　appear；　no　reference　was　made；　on　either　side；　to　the　preceding　conversation；　but　Mrs。　Bird　busied　herself　with　her　knitting…work；　and　Mr。　Bird　pretended　to　be　reading　the　paper。
“I　wonder　who　and　what　she　is！”　said　Mr。　Bird；　at　last；　as　he　laid　it　down。
“When　she　wakes　up　and　feels　a　little　rested；　we　will　see；”　said　Mrs。　Bird。
“I　say；　wife！”　said　Mr。　Bird　after　musing　in　silence　over　his　newspaper。
“Well；　dear！”
“She　couldn’t　wear　one　of　your　gowns；　could　she；　by　any　letting　down；　or　such　matter？　She　seems　to　be　rather　larger　than　you　are。”
A　quite　perceptible　smile　glimmered　on　Mrs。　Bird’s　face；　as　she　answered；　“We’ll　see。”
Another　pause；　and　Mr。　Bird　again　broke　out；
“I　say；　wife！”
“Well！　What　now？”
“Why；　there’s　that　old　bombazin　cloak；　that　you　keep　on　purpose　to　put　over　me　when　I　take　my　afternoon’s　nap；　you　might　as　well　give　her　that；—she　needs　clothes。”
At　this　instant；　Dinah　looked　in　to　say　that　the　woman　was　awake；　and　wanted　to　see　Missis。
Mr。　and　Mrs。　Bird　went　into　the　kitchen；　followed　by　the　two　eldest　boys；　the　smaller　fry　having；　by　this　time；　been　safely　disposed　of　in　bed。
The　woman　was　now　sitting　up　on　the　settle；　by　the　fire。　She　was　looking　steadily　into　the　blaze；　with　a　calm；　heart…broken　expression；　very　different　from　her　former　agitated　wildness。
“Did　you　want　me？”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　in　gentle　tones。　“I　hope　you　feel　better　now；　poor　woman！”
A　long…drawn；　shivering　sigh　was　the　only　answer；　but　she　lifted　her　dark　eyes；　and　fixed　them　on　her　with　such　a　forlorn　and　imploring　expression；　that　the　tears　came　into　the　little　woman’s　eyes。
“You　needn’t　be　afraid　of　anything；　we　are　friends　here；　poor　woman！　Tell　me　where　you　came　from；　and　what　you　want；”　said　she。
“I　came　from　Kentucky；”　said　the　woman。
“When？”　said　Mr。　Bird；　taking　up　the　interogatory。
“Tonight。”
“How　did　you　come？”
“I　crossed　on　the　ice。”
“Crossed　on　the　ice！”　said　every　one　present。
“Yes；”　said　the　woman；　slowly；　“I　did。　God　helping　me；　I　crossed　on　the　ice；　for　they　were　behind　me—right　behind—and　there　was　no　other　way！”
“Law；　Missis；”　said　Cudjoe；　“the　ice　is　all　in　broken…up　blocks；　a　swinging　and　a　tetering　up　and　down　in　the　water！”
“I　know　it　was—I　know　it！”　said　she；　wildly；　“but　I　did　it！　I　wouldn’t　have　thought　I　could；—I　didn’t　think　I　should　get　over；　but　I　didn’t　care！　I　could　but　die；　if　I　didn’t。　The　Lord　helped　me；　nobody　knows　how　much　the　Lord　can　help　’em；　till　they　try；”　said　the　woman；　with　a　flashing　eye。
“Were　you　a　slave？”　said　Mr。　Bird。
“Yes；　sir；　I　belonged　to　a　man　in　Kentucky。”
“Was　he　unkind　to　you？”
“No；　sir；　he　was　a　good　master。”
“And　was　your　mistress　unkind　to　you？”
“No；　sir—no！　my　mistress　was　always　good　to　me。”
“What　could　induce　you　to　leave　a　good　home；　then；　and　run　away；　and　go　through　such　dangers？”
The　woman　looked　up　at　Mrs。　Bird；　with　a　keen；　scrutinizing　glance；　and　it　did　not　escape　her　that　she　was　dressed　in　deep　mourning。
“Ma’am；”　she　said；　suddenly；　“have　you　ever　lost　a　child？”
The　question　was　unexpected；　and　it　was　thrust　on　a　new　wound；　for　it　was　only　a　month　since　a　darling　child　of　the　family　had　been　laid　in　the　grave。
Mr。　Bird　turned　around　and　walked　to　the　window；　and　Mrs。　Bird　burst　into　tears；　but；　recovering　her　voice；　she　said；
“Why　do　you　ask　that？　I　have　lost　a　little　one。”
“Then　you　will　feel　for　me。　I　have　lost　two；　one　after　another；—left　’em　buried　there　when　I　came　away；　and　I　had　only　this　one　left。　I　never　slept　a　night　without　him；　he　was　all　I　had。　He　was　my　comfort　and　pride；　day　and　night；　and；　ma’am；　they　were　going　to　take　him　away　from　me；—to　sell　him；—sell　him　down　south；　ma’am；　to　go　all　alone；—a　baby　that　had　never　been　away　from　his　mother　in　his　life！　I　couldn’t　stand　it；　ma’am。　I　knew　I　never　should　be　good　for　anything；　if　they　did；　and　when　I　knew　the　papers　the　papers　were　signed；　and　he　was　sold；　I　took　him　and　came　off　in　the　night；　and　they　chased　me；—the　man　that　bought　him；　and　some　of　Mas’r’s　folks；—and　they　were　coming　down　right　behind　me；　and　I　heard　’em。　I　jumped　right　on　to　the　ice；　and　how　I　got　across；　I　don’t　know；—but；　first　I　knew；　a　man　was　helping　me　up　the　bank。”
The　woman　did　not　sob　nor　weep。　She　had　gone　to　a　place　where　tears　are　dry；　but　every　one　around　her　was；　in　some　way　characteristic　of　themselves；　showing　signs　of　hearty　sympathy。
The　two　little　boys；　after　a　desperate　rummaging　in　their　pockets；　in　search　of　those　pocket…handkerchiefs　which　mothers　know　are　never　to　be　found　there；　had　thrown　themselves　disconsolately　into　the　skirts　of　their　mother’s　gown；　where　they　were　sobbing；　and　wiping　their　eyes　and　noses；　to　their　hearts’　content；—Mrs。　Bird　had　her　face　fairly　hidden　in　her　pocket…handkerchief；　and　old　Dinah；　with　tears　streaming　down　her　black；　honest　face；　was　ejaculating；　“Lord　have　mercy　on　us！”　with　all　the　fervor　of　a　camp…meeting；—while　old　Cudjoe；　rubbing　his　eyes　very　hard　with　his　cuffs；　and　making　a　most　uncommon　variety　of　wry　faces；　ocomasionally　responded　in　the　same　key；　with　great　fervor。　Our　senator　was　a　statesman；　and　of　course　could　not　be　expected　to　cry；　like　other　mortals；　and　so　he　turned　his　back　to　the　company；　and　looked　out　of　the　window；　and　seemed　particularly　busy　in　clearing　his　throat　and　wiping　his　spectacle…glasses；　ocomasionally　blowing　his　nose　in　a　manner　that　was　calculated　to　excite　suspicion；　had　any　one　been　in　a　state　to　observe　critically。
“How　came　you　to　tell　me　you　had　a　kind　master？”　he　suddenly　exclaimed；　gulping　down　very　resolutely　some　kind　of　rising　in　his　throat；　and　turning　suddenly　round　upon　the　woman。
“Because　he　was　a　kind　master；　I’ll　say　that　of　him；　any　way；—and　my　mistress　was　kind；　but　they　couldn’t　help　themselves。　They　were　owing　money；　and　there　was　some　way；　I　can’t　tell　how；　that　a　man　had　a　hold　on　them；　and　they　were　obliged　to　give　him　his　will。　I　listened；　and　heard　him　telling　mistress　that；　and　she　begging　and　pleading　for　me；—and　he　told　her　he　couldn’t　help　himself；　and　that　the　papers　were　all　drawn；—and　then　it　was　I　took　him　and　left　my　home；　and　came　away。　I　knew　’t　was　no　use　of　my　trying　to　live；　if　they　did　it；　for　’t　’pears　like　this　child　is　all　I　have。”
“Have　you　no　husband？”
“Yes；　but　he　belongs　to　another　man。　His　master　is　real　hard　to　him；　and　won’t　let　him　come　to　see　me；　hardly　ever；　and　he’s　grown　harder　and　harder　upon　us；　and　he　threatens　to　sell　him　down　south；—it’s　like　I’ll　never　see　him　again！”
The　quiet　tone　in　which　the　woman　pronounced　these　words　might　have　led　a　superficial　observer　to　think　that　she　was　entirely　apathetic；　but　there　was　a　calm；　settled　depth　of　anguish　in　her　large；　dark　eye；　that　spoke　of　something　far　otherwise。
“And　where　do　you　mean　to　go；　my　poor　woman？”　said　Mrs。　Bird。
“To　Canada；　if　I　only　knew　where　that　was。　Is　it　very　far　off；　is　Canada？”　said　she；　looking　up；　with　a　simple；　confiding　air；　to　Mrs。　Bird’s　face。
“Poor　thing！”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　involuntarily。
“Is　’t　a　very　great　way　off；　think？”　said　the　woman；　earnestly。
“Much　further　than　you　think；　poor　child！”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　“but　we　will　try　to　think　what　can　be　done　for　you。　Here；　Dinah；　make　her　up　a　bed　in　your　own　room；　close　by　the　kitchen；　and　I’ll　think　what　to　do　for　her　in　the　morning。　Meanwhile；　never　fear；　poor　woman；　put　your　trust　in　God；　he　will　protect　you。”
Mrs。　Bird　and　her　husband　reentered　the　parlor。　She　sat　down　in　her　little　rocking…chair　before　the　fire；　swaying　thoughtfully　to　and　fro。　Mr。　Bird　strode　up　and　down　the　room；　grumbling　to　himself；　“Pish！　pshaw！　confounded　awkward　business！”　At　length；　striding　up　to　his　wife；　he　said；
“I　say；　wife；　she’ll　have　to　get　away　from　here；　this　very　night。　That　fellow　will　be　down　on　the　scent　bright　and　early　tomorrow　morning：　if　’t　was　only　the　woman；　she　could　lie　quiet　till　it　was　over；　but　that　little　chap　can’t　be　kept　still　by　a　troop　of　horse　and　foot；　I’ll　warrant　me；　he’ll　bring　it　all　out；　popping　his　head　out　of　some　window　or　door。　A　pretty　kettle　of　fish　it　would　be　for　me；　too；　to　be　caught　with　them　both　here；　just　now！　No；　they’ll　have　to　be　got　off　tonight。”
“Tonight！　How　is　it　possible？—where　to？”
“Well；　I　know　pretty　well　where　to；”　said　the　senator；　beginning　to　put　on　his　boots；　with　a　reflective　air；　and；　stopping　when　his　leg　was　half　in；　he　embraced　his　knee　with　both　hands；　and