英语天堂-第35部分

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ght　not　witness　the　unpleasant　scenes　of　the　consummation；　he　had　gone　on　a　short　business　tour　up　the　country；　hoping　that　all　would　be　over　before　he　returned。
Tom　and　Haley　rattled　on　along　the　dusty　road；　whirling　past　every　old　familiar　spot；　until　the　bounds　of　the　estate　were　fairly　passed；　and　they　found　themselves　out　on　the　open　pike。　After　they　had　ridden　about　a　mile；　Haley　suddenly　drew　up　at　the　door　of　a　blacksmith’s　shop；　when；　taking　out　with　him　a　pair　of　handcuffs；　he　stepped　into　the　shop；　to　have　a　little　alteration　in　them。
“These　yer　’s　a　little　too　small　for　his　build；”　said　Haley；　showing　the　fetters；　and　pointing　out　to　Tom。
“Lor！　now；　if　thar　an’t　Shelby’s　Tom。　He　han’t　sold　him；　now？”　said　the　smith。
“Yes；　he　has；”　said　Haley。
“Now；　ye　don’t！　well；　reely；”　said　the　smith；　“who’d　a　thought　it！　Why；　ye　needn’t　go　to　fetterin’　him　up　this　yer　way。　He’s　the　faithfullest；　best　crittur—”
“Yes；　yes；”　said　Haley；　“but　your　good　fellers　are　just　the　critturs　to　want　ter　run　off。　Them　stupid　ones；　as　doesn’t　care　whar　they　go；　and　shifless；　drunken　ones；　as　don’t　care　for　nothin’；　they’ll　stick　by；　and　like　as　not　be　rather　pleased　to　be　toted　round；　but　these　yer　prime　fellers；　they　hates　it　like　sin。　No　way　but　to　fetter　’em；　got　legs；—they’ll　use　’em；—no　mistake。”
“Well；”　said　the　smith；　feeling　among　his　tools；　“them　plantations　down　thar；　stranger；　an’t　jest　the　place　a　Kentuck　nigger　wants　to　go　to；　they　dies　thar　tol’able　fast；　don’t　they？”
“Wal；　yes；　tol’able　fast；　ther　dying　is；　what　with　the　’climating　and　one　thing　and　another；　they　dies　so　as　to　keep　the　market　up　pretty　brisk；”　said　Haley。
“Wal；　now；　a　feller　can’t　help　thinkin’　it’s　a　mighty　pity　to　have　a　nice；　quiet；　likely　feller；　as　good　un　as　Tom　is；　go　down　to　be　fairly　ground　up　on　one　of　them　ar　sugar　plantations。”
“Wal；　he’s　got　a　fa’r　chance。　I　promised　to　do　well　by　him。　I’ll　get　him　in　house…servant　in　some　good　old　family；　and　then；　if　he　stands　the　fever　and　’climating；　he’ll　have　a　berth　good　as　any　nigger　ought　ter　ask　for。”
“He　leaves　his　wife　and　chil’en　up　here；　s’pose？”
“Yes；　but　he’ll　get　another　thar。　Lord；　thar’s　women　enough　everywhar；”　said　Haley。
Tom　was　sitting　very　mournfully　on　the　outside　of　the　shop　while　this　conversation　was　going　on。　Suddenly　he　heard　the　quick；　short　click　of　a　horse’s　hoof　behind　him；　and；　before　he　could　fairly　awake　from　his　surprise；　young　Master　George　sprang　into　the　wagon；　threw　his　arms　tumultuously　round　his　neck；　and　was　sobbing　and　scolding　with　energy。
“I　declare；　it’s　real　mean！　I　don’t　care　what　they　say；　any　of　’em！　It’s　a　nasty；　mean　shame！　If　I　was　a　man；　they　shouldn’t　do　it；—they　should　not；　so！”　said　George；　with　a　kind　of　subdued　howl。
“O！　Mas’r　George！　this　does　me　good！”　said　Tom。　“I　couldn’t　bar　to　go　off　without　seein’　ye！　It　does　me　real　good；　ye　can’t　tell！”　Here　Tom　made　some　movement　of　his　feet；　and　George’s　eye　fell　on　the　fetters。
“What　a　shame！”　he　exclaimed；　lifting　his　hands。　“I’ll　knock　that　old　fellow　down—I　will！”
“No　you　won’t；　Mas’r　George；　and　you　must　not　talk　so　loud。　It　won’t　help　me　any；　to　anger　him。”
“Well；　I　won’t；　then；　for　your　sake；　but　only　to　think　of　it—isn’t　it　a　shame？　They　never　sent　for　me；　nor　sent　me　any　word；　and；　if　it　hadn’t　been　for　Tom　Lincon；　I　shouldn’t　have　heard　it。　I　tell　you；　I　blew　’em　up　well；　all　of　’em；　at　home！”
“That　ar　wasn’t　right；　I’m　’feard；　Mas’r　George。”
“Can’t　help　it！　I　say　it’s　a　shame！　Look　here；　Uncle　Tom；”　said　he；　turning　his　back　to　the　shop；　and　speaking　in　a　mysterious　tone；　“I’ve　brought　you　my　dollar！”
“O！　I　couldn’t　think　o’　takin’　on　’t；　Mas’r　George；　no　ways　in　the　world！”　said　Tom；　quite　moved。
“But　you　shall　take　it！”　said　George；　“look　here—I　told　Aunt　Chloe　I’d　do　it；　and　she　advised　me　just　to　make　a　hole　in　it；　and　put　a　string　through；　so　you　could　hang　it　round　your　neck；　and　keep　it　out　of　sight；　else　this　mean　scamp　would　take　it　away。　I　tell　ye；　Tom；　I　want　to　blow　him　up！　it　would　do　me　good！”
“No；　don’t　Mas’r　George；　for　it　won’t　do　me　any　good。”
“Well；　I　won’t；　for　your　sake；”　said　George；　busily　tying　his　dollar　round　Tom’s　neck；　“but　there；　now；　button　your　coat　tight　over　it；　and　keep　it；　and　remember；　every　time　you　see　it；　that　I’ll　come　down　after　you；　and　bring　you　back。　Aunt　Chloe　and　I　have　been　talking　about　it。　I　told　her　not　to　fear；　I’ll　see　to　it；　and　I’ll　tease　father’s　life　out；　if　he　don’t　do　it。”
“O！　Mas’r　George；　ye　mustn’t　talk　so　’bout　yer　father！”
“Lor；　Uncle　Tom；　I　don’t　mean　anything　bad。”
“And　now；　Mas’r　George；”　said　Tom；　“ye　must　be　a　good　boy；　’member　how　many　hearts　is　sot　on　ye。　Al’ays　keep　close　to　yer　mother。　Don’t　be　gettin’　into　any　of　them　foolish　ways　boys　has　of　gettin’　too　big　to　mind　their　mothers。　Tell　ye　what；　Mas’r　George；　the　Lord　gives　good　many　things　twice　over；　but　he　don’t　give　ye　a　mother　but　once。　Ye’ll　never　see　sich　another　woman；　Mas’r　George；　if　ye　live　to　be　a　hundred　years　old。　So；　now；　you　hold　on　to　her；　and　grow　up；　and　be　a　comfort　to　her；　thar’s　my　own　good　boy；—you　will　now；　won’t　ye？”
“Yes；　I　will；　Uncle　Tom；”　said　George　seriously。
“And　be　careful　of　yer　speaking；　Mas’r　George。　Young　boys；　when　they　comes　to　your　age；　is　wilful；　sometimes—it　is　natur　they　should　be。　But　real　gentlemen；　such　as　I　hopes　you’ll　be；　never　lets　fall　on　words　that　isn’t　’spectful　to　thar　parents。　Ye　an’t　’fended；　Mas’r　George？”
“No；　indeed；　Uncle　Tom；　you　always　did　give　me　good　advice。”
“I’s　older；　ye　know；”　said　Tom；　stroking　the　boy’s　fine；　curly　head　with　his　large；　strong　hand；　but　speaking　in　a　voice　as　tender　as　a　woman’s；　“and　I　sees　all　that’s　bound　up　in　you。　O；　Mas’r　George；　you　has　everything；—l’arnin’；　privileges；　readin’；　writin’；—and　you’ll　grow　up　to　be　a　great；　learned；　good　man　and　all　the　people　on　the　place　and　your　mother　and　father’ll　be　so　proud　on　ye！　Be　a　good　Mas’r；　like　yer　father；　and　be　a　Christian；　like　yer　mother。　’Member　yer　Creator　in　the　days　o’　yer　youth；　Mas’r　George。”
“I’ll　be　real　good；　Uncle　Tom；　I　tell　you；”　said　George。　“I’m　going　to　be　a　first…rater；　and　don’t　you　be　discouraged。　I’ll　have　you　back　to　the　place；　yet。　As　I　told　Aunt　Chloe　this　morning；　I’ll　build　our　house　all　over；　and　you　shall　have　a　room　for　a　parlor　with　a　carpet　on　it；　when　I’m　a　man。　O；　you’ll　have　good　times　yet！”
Haley　now　came　to　the　door；　with　the　handcuffs　in　his　hands。
“Look　here；　now；　Mister；”　said　George；　with　an　air　of　great　superiority；　as　he　got　out；　“I　shall　let　father　and　mother　know　how　you　treat　Uncle　Tom！”
“You’re　welcome；”　said　the　trader。
“I　should　think　you’d　be　ashamed　to　spend　all　your　life　buying　men　and　women；　and　chaining　them；　like　cattle！　I　should　think　you’d　feel　mean！”　said　George。
“So　long　as　your　grand　folks　wants　to　buy　men　and　women；　I’m　as　good　as　they　is；”　said　Haley；　“’tan’t　any　meaner　sellin’　on　’em；　that　’t　is　buyin’！”
“I’ll　never　do　either；　when　I’m　a　man；”　said　George；　“I’m　ashamed；　this　day；　that　I’m　a　Kentuckian。　I　always　was　proud　of　it　before；”　and　George　sat　very　straight　on　his　horse；　and　looked　round　with　an　air；　as　if　he　expected　the　state　would　be　impressed　with　his　opinion。
“Well；　good…by；　Uncle　Tom；　keep　a　stiff　upper　lip；”　said　George。
“Good…by；　Mas’r　George；”　said　Tom；　looking　fondly　and　admiringly　at　him。　“God　Almighty　bless　you！　Ah！　Kentucky　han’t　got　many　like　you！”　he　said；　in　the　fulness　of　his　heart；　as　the　frank；　boyish　face　was　lost　to　his　view。　Away　he　went；　and　Tom　looked；　till　the　clatter　of　his　horse’s　heels　died　away；　the　last　sound　or　sight　of　his　home。　But　over　his　heart　there　seemed　to　be　a　warm　spot；　where　those　young　hands　had　placed　that　precious　dollar。　Tom　put　up　his　hand；　and　held　it　close　to　his　heart。
“Now；　I　tell　ye　what；　Tom；”　said　Haley；　as　he　came　up　to　the　wagon；　and　threw　in　the　handcuffs；　“I　mean　to　start　fa’r　with　ye；　as　I　gen’ally　do　with　my　niggers；　and　I’ll　tell　ye　now；　to　begin　with；　you　treat　me　fa’r；　and　I’ll　treat　you　fa’r；　I　an’t　never　hard　on　my　niggers。　Calculates　to　do　the　best　for　’em　I　can。　Now；　ye　see；　you’d　better　jest　settle　down　comfortable；　and　not　be　tryin’　no　tricks；　because　nigger’s　tricks　of　all　sorts　I’m　up　to；　and　it’s　no　use。　If　niggers　is　quiet；　and　don’t　try　to　get　off；　they　has　good　times　with　me；　and　if　they　don’t；　why；　it’s　thar　fault；　and　not　mine。”
Tom　assured　Haley　that　he　had　no　present　intentions　of　running　off。　In　fact；　the　exhortation　seemed　rather　a　superfluous　one　to　a　man　with　a　great　pair　of　iron　fetters　on　his　feet。　But　Mr。　Haley　had　got　in　the　habit　of　commencing　his　relations　with　his　stock　with　little　exhortations　of　this　nature；　calculated；　as　he　deemed；　to　inspire　cheerfulness　and　confidence；　and　prevent　the　necessity　of　any　unpleasant　scenes。
And　here；　for　the　present；　we　take　our　leave　of　Tom；　to　pursue　the　fortunes　of　other　characters　in　our　story。
1　A　slightly　inacomurate　ation　from　Hamlet；　Act　III；　scene　I；　lines　369…370。
Chapter　11
In　Which　Property　Gets　into　an　Improper　State　of　Mind
It　was　late　in　a　drizzly　afternoon　that　a　traveler　alighted　at　the　door　of　a　small　country　hotel；　in　the　village　of　N——；　in　Kentucky。　In　the　barroom　he　found　assembled　quite　a　miscellaneous　company；　whom　stress　of　weather　had　driven　to　harbor；　and　the　place　presented　the　usual　scenery　of　such　reunions。　Great；　tall；　raw…boned　Kentuckians；　attired　in　hunting…shirts；　and　trailing　their　loose　joints　over　a　vast　extent　of　territory；　with　the　easy　lounge　peculiar　to　the　race；—rifles　stacked　away　in　the　corner；　shot…pouches；　game…bags；　hunting…dogs；　and　little　negroes；　all　rolled　together　in　the　corners；—were　the　characteristic　features　in　the　picture。　At　each　end　of　the　fireplace　sat　a　long…legged　gentleman；　with　his　chair　tipped　back；　his　hat　on　his　head；　and　the　heels　of　his　muddy　boots　reposing　sublimely　on　the　mantel…piece；—a　position；　we　will　inform　our　readers；　decidedly　favorable　to　the　turn　of　reflection　incident　to　western　taverns；　where　travellers　exhibit　a　decided　preference　for　this　particular　mode　of　elevating　their　understandings。
Mine　host；　who　stood　behind　the　bar；　like　most　of　his　country　men；　was　great　of　stature；　good…natured　and　loose…jointed；　with　an　enormous　shock　of　hair　on　his　head；　and　a　great　tall　hat　on　the　top　of　that。
In　fact；　everybody　in　the　room　bore　on　his　head　this　characteristic　emblem　of　man’s　sovereignty；　whether　it　were　felt　hat；　palm…leaf；　greasy　beaver；　or　fine　new　chapeau；　there　it　reposed　with　true　republican　independence。　In　truth；　it　appeared　to　be　the　characteristic　mark　of　every　individual。　Some　wore　them　tipped　rakishly　to　one　side—these　were　your　men　of　humor；　jolly；　free…and…easy　dogs；　some　had　them　jammed　independently　down　over　their　noses—these　were　your　hard　characters；　thorough　men；　who；　when　they　wore　their　hats；　wanted　to　wear　them；　and　to　wear　them　just　as　they　had　a　mind　to；　there　were　those　who　had　them　set　far　over　back—wide…awake　men；　who　wanted　a　clear　prospect；　while　careless　men；　who　did　not　know；　or　care；　how　their　hats　sat；　had　them　shaking　about　in　all　directions。　The　various　hats；　in　fact；　were　quite　a　Shakespearean　study。
Divers　negroes；　in　very　free…and…easy　pantaloons；　and　with　no　redundancy　in　the　shirt　line；　were　scuttling　about；　hither　and　thither；　without　bringing　to　pass　any　very　particular　results；　except　expressing　a　generic　willingness　to　turn　over　everything　in　creation　generally　for　the　benefit　of　Mas’r　and　his　guests。　Add　to　this　picture　a　jolly；　crackling；　rollicking　fire；　going　rejoicingly　up　a　great　wide　chimney；—the　outer　door　and　every　window　being　set　wide　open；　and　the　calico　window…curtain　flopping　and　snapping　in　a　good　stiff　breeze　of　damp　raw　air；—and　you　have　an　idea　of　the　jollities　of　a　Kentucky　tavern。
Your　Kentuckian　of　the　present　day　is　a　good　illustration　of　the　doctrine　of　transmitted　instincts　and　pecularities。　His　fathers　were　mighty　hunters；—men　who　lived　in　the　woods；　and　slept　under　the　free；　open　heavens；　with　the　stars　to　hold　their　candles；　and　their　descendant　to　this　day　always　acts　as　if　the　house　were　his　camp；—wears　his　hat　at　all　hours；　tumbles　himself　about；　and　puts　his　heels　on　the　tops　of　chairs　or　mantelpieces；　just　as　his　father　rolled　on　the　green　sward；　and　put　his　upon　trees　and　logs；—keeps　all　the　windows　and　doors　open；　winter　and　summer；　that　he　may　get　air　enough　for　his　great　lungs；—calls　everybody　“stranger；”　with　nonchalant　bonhommie；　and　is　altogether　the　frankest；　easiest；　most　jovial　creature　living。
Into　such　an　assembly　of　the　free　and　easy　our　traveller　entered。　He　was　a　short；　thick…set　man；　carefully　dressed；　with　a　round；　good…natured　countenance；　and　something　rather　fussy　and　particular　in　his　appearance。　He　was　very　careful　of　his　valise　and　umbrella；　bringing　them　in　with　his　own　hands；　and　resisting；　pertinaciously；　all　offers　from　the　various　servants　to　relieve　him　of　them。　He　looked　round　the　barroom　with　rather　an　anxious　air；　and；　retreating　with　his　valuables　to　the　warmest　corner；　disposed　them　under　his　chair；　sat　down；　and　looked　rather　apprehensively　up　at　the　worthy　whose　heels　illustrated　the　end　of　the　mantel…piece；　who　was　spitting　from　right　to　left；　with　a　courage　and　energy　rather　alarming　to　gentlemen　of　weak　nerves　and　particular　habits。
“I　say；　stranger；　how　are　ye？”　said　the　aforesaid　gentleman；　firing　an　honorary　salute　of　tobacomo…juice　in　the　direction　of　the　new　arrival。
“Well；　I　reckon；”　was　the　reply　of　the　other；　as　he　dodged；　with　some　alarm；　the　threatening　honor。
“Any　news？”　said　the　respondent；　taking　out　a　strip　of　tobacomo　and　a　large　hunting…knife　from　his　pocket。
“Not　that　I　know　of；”　said　the　man。
“Chaw？”　said　the　first　speaker；　handing　the　old　gentleman　a　bit　of　his　tobacomo；　with　a　decidedly　brotherly　air。
“No；　thank　ye—it　don’t　agree　with　me；”　said　the　little　man；　edging　off。
“Don’t；　eh？”　said　the　other；　easily；　and　stowing　away　the　morsel　in　his　own　mouth；　in　order　to　keep　up　the　supply　of　tobacomo…juice；　for　the　general　benefit　of　society。
The　old　gentleman　uniformly　gave　a　little　start　whenever　his　long…sided　brother　fired　in　his　direction；　and　this　being　observed　by　his　companion；　he　very　good…naturedly　turned　his　artillery　to　another　quarter；　and　proceeded　to　storm　one　of　the　fire…irons　with　a　degree　of　military　talent　fully　sufficient　to　take　a　city。
“What’s　that？”　said　the　old　gentleman；　observing　some　of　the　company　formed　in　a　group　around　a　large　handbill。
“Nigger　advertised！”　said　one　of　the　company；　briefly。
Mr。　Wilson；　for　that　was　the　old　gentleman’s　name；　rose　up；　and；　after　carefully　adjusting　his　valise　and　umbrella；　proceeded　deliberately　to　take　out　his　spectacles　and　fix　them　on　his　nose；　and；　this　operation　being　performed；　read　as　follows：
“Ran　away　from　the　subscriber；　my　mulatto　boy；　George。　Said　George　six　feet　in　height；　a　very　light　mulatto；　brown　curly　hair；　is　very　intelligent；　speaks　handsomely；　can　read　and　write；　will　probably　try　to　pass　for　a　white　man；　is　deeply　scarred　on　his　back　and　shoulders；　has　been　branded　in　his　right　hand　with　the　letter　H。
“I　will　give　fo