英语天堂-第34部分

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the　door。
“Why；　this　is　an　uncommon　handsome　un；”　he　said　to　the　senator。　“Ah；　well；　handsome　uns　has　the　greatest　cause　to　run；　sometimes；　if　they　has　any　kind　o’　feelin；　such　as　decent　women　should。　I　know　all　about　that。”
The　senator；　in　a　few　words；　briefly　explained　Eliza’s　history。
“O！　ou！　aw！　now；　I　want　to　know？”　said　the　good　man；　pitifully；　“sho！　now　sho！　That’s　natur　now；　poor　crittur！　hunted　down　now　like　a　deer；—hunted　down；　jest　for　havin’　natural　feelin’s；　and　doin’　what　no　kind　o’　mother　could　help　a　doin’！　I　tell　ye　what；　these　yer　things　make　me　come　the　nighest　to　swearin’；　now；　o’　most　anything；”　said　honest　John；　as　he　wiped　his　eyes　with　the　back　of　a　great；　freckled；　yellow　hand。　“I　tell　yer　what；　stranger；　it　was　years　and　years　before　I’d　jine　the　church；　’cause　the　ministers　round　in　our　parts　used　to　preach　that　the　Bible　went　in　for　these　ere　cuttings　up；—and　I　couldn’t　be　up　to　’em　with　their　Greek　and　Hebrew；　and　so　I　took　up　agin　’em；　Bible　and　all。　I　never　jined　the　church　till　I　found　a　minister　that　was　up　to　’em　all　in　Greek　and　all　that；　and　he　said　right　the　contrary；　and　then　I　took　right　hold；　and　jined　the　church；—I　did　now；　fact；”　said　John；　who　had　been　all　this　time　uncorking　some　very　frisky　bottled　cider；　which　at　this　juncture　he　presented。
“Ye’d　better　jest　put　up　here；　now；　till　daylight；”　said　he；　heartily；　“and　I’ll　call　up　the　old　woman；　and　have　a　bed　got　ready　for　you　in　no　time。”
“Thank　you；　my　good　friend；”　said　the　senator；　“I　must　be　along；　to　take　the　night　stage　for　Columbus。”
“Ah！　well；　then；　if　you　must；　I’ll　go　a　piece　with　you；　and　show　you　a　cross　road　that　will　take　you　there　better　than　the　road　you　came　on。　That　road’s　mighty　bad。”
John　equipped　himself；　and；　with　a　lantern　in　hand；　was　soon　seen　guiding　the　senator’s　carriage　towards　a　road　that　ran　down　in　a　hollow；　back　of　his　dwelling。　When　they　parted；　the　senator　put　into　his　hand　a　ten…dollar　bill。
“It’s　for　her；”　he　said；　briefly。
“Ay；　ay；”　said　John；　with　equal　conciseness。
They　shook　hands；　and　parted。
Chapter　10
The　Property　Is　Carried　Off
The　February　morning　looked　gray　and　drizzling　through　the　window　of　Uncle　Tom’s　cabin。　It　looked　on　downcast　faces；　the　images　of　mournful　hearts。　The　little　table　stood　out　before　the　fire；　covered　with　an　ironing…cloth；　a　coarse　but　clean　shirt　or　two；　fresh　from　the　iron；　hung　on　the　back　of　a　chair　by　the　fire；　and　Aunt　Chloe　had　another　spread　out　before　her　on　the　table。　Carefully　she　rubbed　and　ironed　every　fold　and　every　hem；　with　the　most　scrupulous　exactness；　every　now　and　then　raising　her　hand　to　her　face　to　wipe　off　the　tears　that　were　coursing　down　her　cheeks。
Tom　sat　by；　with　his　Testament　open　on　his　knee；　and　his　head　leaning　upon　his　hand；—but　neither　spoke。　It　was　yet　early；　and　the　children　lay　all　asleep　together　in　their　little　rude　trundle…bed。
Tom；　who　had；　to　the　full；　the　gentle；　domestic　heart；　which　woe　for　them！　has　been　a　peculiar　characteristic　of　his　unhappy　race；　got　up　and　walked　silently　to　look　at　his　children。
“It’s　the　last　time；”　he　said。
Aunt　Chloe　did　not　answer；　only　rubbed　away　over　and　over　on　the　coarse　shirt；　already　as　smooth　as　hands　could　make　it；　and　finally　setting　her　iron　suddenly　down　with　a　despairing　plunge；　she　sat　down　to　the　table；　and　“lifted　up　her　voice　and　wept。”
“S’pose　we　must　be　resigned；　but　oh　Lord！　how　ken　I？　If　I　know’d　anything　whar　you　’s　goin’；　or　how　they’d　sarve　you！　Missis　says　she’ll　try　and　’deem　ye；　in　a　year　or　two；　but　Lor！　nobody　never　comes　up　that　goes　down　thar！　They　kills　’em！　I’ve　hearn　’em　tell　how　dey　works　’em　up　on　dem　ar　plantations。”
“There’ll　be　the　same　God　there；　Chloe；　that　there　is　here。”
“Well；”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　“s’pose　dere　will；　but　de　Lord　lets　drefful　things　happen；　sometimes。　I　don’t　seem　to　get　no　comfort　dat　way。”
“I’m　in　the　Lord’s　hands；”　said　Tom；　“nothin’　can　go　no　furder　than　he　lets　it；—and　thar’s　one　thing　I　can　thank　him　for。　It’s　me　that’s　sold　and　going　down；　and　not　you　nur　the　chil’en。　Here　you’re　safe；—what　comes　will　come　only　on　me；　and　the　Lord；　he’ll　help　me；—I　know　he　will。”
Ah；　brave；　manly　heart；—smothering　thine　own　sorrow；　to　comfort　thy　beloved　ones！　Tom　spoke　with　a　thick　utterance；　and　with　a　bitter　choking　in　his　throat；—but　he　spoke　brave　and　strong。
“Let’s　think　on　our　marcies！”　he　added；　tremulously；　as　if　he　was　quite　sure　he　needed　to　think　on　them　very　hard　indeed。
“Marcies！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　“don’t　see　no　marcy　in　’t！　’tan’t　right！　tan’t　right　it　should　be　so！　Mas’r　never　ought　ter　left　it　so　that　ye　could　be　took　for　his　debts。　Ye’ve　arnt　him　all　he　gets　for　ye；　twice　over。　He　owed　ye　yer　freedom；　and　ought　ter　gin　’t　to　yer　years　ago。　Mebbe　he　can’t　help　himself　now；　but　I　feel　it’s　wrong。　Nothing　can’t　beat　that　ar　out　o’　me。　Sich　a　faithful　crittur　as　ye’ve　been；—and　allers　sot　his　business　’fore　yer　own　every　way；—and　reckoned　on　him　more　than　yer　own　wife　and　chil’en！　Them　as　sells　heart’s　love　and　heart’s　blood；　to　get　out　thar　scrapes；　de　Lord’ll　be　up　to　’em！”
“Chloe！　now；　if　ye　love　me；　ye　won’t　talk　so；　when　perhaps　jest　the　last　time　we’ll　ever　have　together！　And　I’ll　tell　ye；　Chloe；　it　goes　agin　me　to　hear　one　word　agin　Mas’r。　Wan’t　he　put　in　my　arms　a　baby？—it’s　natur　I　should　think　a　heap　of　him。　And　he　couldn’t　be　spected　to　think　so　much　of　poor　Tom。　Mas’rs　is　used　to　havin’　all　these　yer　things　done　for　’em；　and　nat’lly　they　don’t　think　so　much　on　’t。　They　can’t　be　spected　to；　no　way。　Set　him　’longside　of　other　Mas’rs—who’s　had　the　treatment　and　livin’　I’ve　had？　And　he　never　would　have　let　this　yer　come　on　me；　if　he　could　have　seed　it　aforehand。　I　know　he　wouldn’t。”
“Wal；　any　way；　thar’s　wrong　about　it　somewhar；”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　in　whom　a　stubborn　sense　of　justice　was　a　predominant　trait；　“I　can’t　jest　make　out　whar　’t　is；　but　thar’s　wrong　somewhar；　I’m　clar　o’　that。”
“Yer　ought　ter　look　up　to　the　Lord　above—he’s　above　all—thar　don’t　a　sparrow　fall　without　him。”
“It　don’t　seem　to　comfort　me；　but　I　spect　it　orter；”　said　Aunt　Chloe。　“But　dar’s　no　use　talkin’；　I’ll　jes　wet　up　de　corn…cake；　and　get　ye　one　good　breakfast；　’cause　nobody　knows　when　you’ll　get　another。”
In　order　to　appreciate　the　sufferings　of　the　negroes　sold　south；　it　must　be　remembered　that　all　the　instinctive　affections　of　that　race　are　peculiarly　strong。　Their　local　attachments　are　very　abiding。　They　are　not　naturally　daring　and　enterprising；　but　home…loving　and　affectionate。　Add　to　this　all　the　terrors　with　which　ignorance　invests　the　unknown；　and　add　to　this；　again；　that　selling　to　the　south　is　set　before　the　negro　from　childhood　as　the　last　severity　of　punishment。　The　threat　that　terrifies　more　than　whipping　or　torture　of　any　kind　is　the　threat　of　being　sent　down　river。　We　have　ourselves　heard　this　feeling　expressed　by　them；　and　seen　the　unaffected　horror　with　which　they　will　sit　in　their　gossipping　hours；　and　tell　frightful　stories　of　that　“down　river；”　which　to　them　is
“That　undiscovered　country；　from　whose　bourn
No　traveller　returns。”1
A　missionary　figure　among　the　fugitives　in　Canada　told　us　that　many　of　the　fugitives　confessed　themselves　to　have　escaped　from　comparatively　kind　masters；　and　that　they　were　induced　to　brave　the　perils　of　escape；　in　almost　every　case；　by　the　desperate　horror　with　which　they　regarded　being　sold　south；—a　doom　which　was　hanging　either　over　themselves　or　their　husbands；　their　wives　or　children。　This　nerves　the　African；　naturally　patient；　timid　and　unenterprising；　with　heroic　courage；　and　leads　him　to　suffer　hunger；　cold；　pain；　the　perils　of　the　wilderness；　and　the　more　dread　penalties　of　recapture。
The　simple　morning　meal　now　smoked　on　the　table；　for　Mrs。　Shelby　had　excused　Aunt　Chloe’s　attendance　at　the　great　house　that　morning。　The　poor　soul　had　expended　all　her　little　energies　on　this　farewell　feast；—had　killed　and　dressed　her　choicest　chicken；　and　prepared　her　corn…cake　with　scrupulous　exactness；　just　to　her　husband’s　taste；　and　brought　out　certain　mysterious　jars　on　the　mantel…piece；　some　preserves　that　were　never　produced　except　on　extreme　ocomasions。
“Lor；　Pete；”　said　Mose；　triumphantly；　“han’t　we　got　a　buster　of　a　breakfast！”　at　the　same　time　catching　at　a　fragment　of　the　chicken。
Aunt　Chloe　gave　him　a　sudden　box　on　the　ear。　“Thar　now！　crowing　over　the　last　breakfast　yer　poor　daddy’s　gwine　to　have　to　home！”
“O；　Chloe！”　said　Tom；　gently。
“Wal；　I　can’t　help　it；”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　hiding　her　face　in　her　apron；　“I　’s　so　tossed　about　it；　it　makes　me　act　ugly。”
The　boys　stood　quite　still；　looking　first　at　their　father　and　then　at　their　mother；　while　the　baby；　climbing　up　her　clothes；　began　an　imperious；　commanding　cry。
“Thar！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　wiping　her　eyes　and　taking　up　the　baby；　“now　I’s　done；　I　hope；—now　do　eat　something。　This　yer’s　my　nicest　chicken。　Thar；　boys；　ye　shall　have　some；　poor　critturs！　Yer　mammy’s　been　cross　to　yer。”
The　boys　needed　no　second　invitation；　and　went　in　with　great　zeal　for　the　eatables；　and　it　was　well　they　did　so；　as　otherwise　there　would　have　been　very　little　performed　to　any　purpose　by　the　party。
“Now；”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　bustling　about　after　breakfast；　“I　must　put　up　yer　clothes。　Jest　like　as　not；　he’ll　take　’em　all　away。　I　know　thar　ways—mean　as　dirt；　they　is！　Wal；　now；　yer　flannels　for　rhumatis　is　in　this　corner；　so　be　careful；　’cause　there　won’t　nobody　make　ye　no　more。　Then　here’s　yer　old　shirts；　and　these　yer　is　new　ones。　I　toed　off　these　yer　stockings　last　night；　and　put　de　ball　in　’em　to　mend　with。　But　Lor！　who’ll　ever　mend　for　ye？”　and　Aunt　Chloe；　again　overcome；　laid　her　head　on　the　box　side；　and　sobbed。　“To　think　on　’t！　no　crittur　to　do　for　ye；　sick　or　well！　I　don’t　railly　think　I　ought　ter　be　good　now！”
The　boys；　having　eaten　everything　there　was　on　the　breakfast…table；　began　now　to　take　some　thought　of　the　case；　and；　seeing　their　mother　crying；　and　their　father　looking　very　sad；　began　to　whimper　and　put　their　hands　to　their　eyes。　Uncle　Tom　had　the　baby　on　his　knee；　and　was　letting　her　enjoy　herself　to　the　utmost　extent；　scratching　his　face　and　pulling　his　hair；　and　ocomasionally　breaking　out　into　clamorous　explosions　of　delight；　evidently　arising　out　of　her　own　internal　reflections。
“Ay；　crow　away；　poor　crittur！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　ye’ll　have　to　come　to　it；　too！　ye’ll　live　to　see　yer　husband　sold；　or　mebbe　be　sold　yerself；　and　these　yer　boys；　they’s　to　be　sold；　I　s’pose；　too；　jest　like　as　not；　when　dey　gets　good　for　somethin’；　an’t　no　use　in　niggers　havin’　nothin’！”
Here　one　of　the　boys　called　out；　“Thar’s　Missis　a…comin’　in！”
“She　can’t　do　no　good；　what’s　she　coming　for？”　said　Aunt　Chloe。
Mrs。　Shelby　entered。　Aunt　Chloe　set　a　chair　for　her　in　a　manner　decidedly　gruff　and　crusty。　She　did　not　seem　to　notice　either　the　action　or　the　manner。　She　looked　pale　and　anxious。
“Tom；”　she　said；　“I　come　to—”　and　stopping　suddenly；　and　regarding　the　silent　group；　she　sat　down　in　the　chair；　and；　covering　her　face　with　her　handkerchief；　began　to　sob。
“Lor；　now；　Missis；　don’t—don’t！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　bursting　out　in　her　turn；　and　for　a　few　moments　they　all　wept　in　company。　And　in　those　tears　they　all　shed　together；　the　high　and　the　lowly；　melted　away　all　the　heart…burnings　and　anger　of　the　oppressed。　O；　ye　who　visit　the　distressed；　do　ye　know　that　everything　your　money　can　buy；　given　with　a　cold；　averted　face；　is　not　worth　one　honest　tear　shed　in　real　sympathy？
“My　good　fellow；”　said　Mrs。　Shelby；　“I　can’t　give　you　anything　to　do　you　any　good。　If　I　give　you　money；　it　will　only　be　taken　from　you。　But　I　tell　you　solemnly；　and　before　God；　that　I　will　keep　trace　of　you；　and　bring　you　back　as　soon　as　I　can　command　the　money；—and；　till　then；　trust　in　God！”
Here　the　boys　called　out　that　Mas’r　Haley　was　coming；　and　then　an　unceremonious　kick　pushed　open　the　door。　Haley　stood　there　in　very　ill　humor；　having　ridden　hard　the　night　before；　and　being　not　at　all　pacified　by　his　ill　sucomess　in　recapturing　his　prey。
“Come；”　said　he；　“ye　nigger；　ye’r　ready？　Servant；　ma’am！”　said　he；　taking　off　his　hat；　as　he　saw　Mrs。　Shelby。
Aunt　Chloe　shut　and　corded　the　box；　and；　getting　up；　looked　gruffly　on　the　trader；　her　tears　seeming　suddenly　turned　to　sparks　of　fire。
Tom　rose　up　meekly；　to　follow　his　new　master；　and　raised　up　his　heavy　box　on　his　shoulder。　His　wife　took　the　baby　in　her　arms　to　go　with　him　to　the　wagon；　and　the　children；　still　crying；　trailed　on　behind。
Mrs。　Shelby；　walking　up　to　the　trader；　detained　him　for　a　few　moments；　talking　with　him　in　an　earnest　manner；　and　while　she　was　thus　talking；　the　whole　family　party　proceeded　to　a　wagon；　that　stood　ready　harnessed　at　the　door。　A　crowd　of　all　the　old　and　young　hands　on　the　place　stood　gathered　around　it；　to　bid　farewell　to　their　old　associate。　Tom　had　been　looked　up　to；　both　as　a　head　servant　and　a　Christian　teacher；　by　all　the　place；　and　there　was　much　honest　sympathy　and　grief　about　him；　particularly　among　the　women。
“Why；　Chloe；　you　bar　it　better　’n　we　do！”　said　one　of　the　women；　who　had　been　weeping　freely；　noticing　the　gloomy　calmness　with　which　Aunt　Chloe　stood　by　the　wagon。
“I’s　done　my　tears！”　she　said；　looking　grimly　at　the　trader；　who　was　coming　up。　“I　does　not　feel　to　cry　’fore　dat　ar　old　limb；　no　how！”
“Get　in！”　said　Haley　to　Tom；　as　he　strode　through　the　crowd　of　servants；　who　looked　at　him　with　lowering　brows。
Tom　got　in；　and　Haley；　drawing　out　from　under　the　wagon　seat　a　heavy　pair　of　shackles；　made　them　fast　around　each　ankle。
A　smothered　groan　of　indignation　ran　through　the　whole　circle；　and　Mrs。　Shelby　spoke　from　the　verandah；—“Mr。　Haley；　I　assure　you　that　precaution　is　entirely　unnecessary。”
“Don’　know；　ma’am；　I’ve　lost　one　five　hundred　dollars　from　this　yer　place；　and　I　can’t　afford　to　run　no　more　risks。”
“What　else　could　she　spect　on　him？”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　indignantly；　while　the　two　boys；　who　now　seemed　to　comprehend　at　once　their　father’s　destiny；　clung　to　her　gown；　sobbing　and　groaning　vehemently。
“I’m　sorry；”　said　Tom；　“that　Mas’r　George　happened　to　be　away。”
George　had　gone　to　spend　two　or　three　days　with　a　companion　on　a　neighboring　estate；　and　having　departed　early　in　the　morning；　before　Tom’s　misfortune　had　been　made　public；　had　left　without　hearing　of　it。
“Give　my　love　to　Mas’r　George；”　he　said；　earnestly。
Haley　whipped　up　the　horse；　and；　with　a　steady；　mournful　look；　fixed　to　the　last　on　the　old　place；　Tom　was　whirled　away。
Mr。　Shelby　at　this　time　was　not　at　home。　He　had　sold　Tom　under　the　spur　of　a　driving　necessity；　to　get　out　of　the　power　of　a　man　whom　he　dreaded；—and　his　first　feeling；　after　the　consummation　of　the　bargain；　had　been　that　of　relief。　But　his　wife’s　expostulations　awoke　his　half…slumbering　regrets；　and　Tom’s　manly　disinterestedness　increased　the　unpleasantness　of　his　feelings。　It　was　in　vain　that　he　said　to　himself　that　he　had　a　right　to　do　it；—that　everybody　did　it；—and　that　some　did　it　without　even　the　excuse　of　necessity；—he　could　not　satisfy　his　own　feelings；　and　that　he　might　not　witness　the　unpleasant　scenes　of　the　consummation；　he　had　gone　on　a　short　business　tour　up　t