英语天堂-第36部分

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d　on　his　back　and　shoulders；　has　been　branded　in　his　right　hand　with　the　letter　H。
“I　will　give　four　hundred　dollars　for　him　alive；　and　the　same　sum　for　satisfactory　proof　that　he　has　been　killed。”
The　old　gentleman　read　this　advertisement　from　end　to　end　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　he　were　studying　it。
The　long…legged　veteran；　who　had　been　besieging　the　fire…iron；　as　before　related；　now　took　down　his　cumbrous　length；　and　rearing　aloft　his　tall　form；　walked　up　to　the　advertisement　and　very　deliberately　spit　a　full　discharge　of　tobacomo…juice　on　it。
“There’s　my　mind　upon　that！”　said　he；　briefly；　and　sat　down　again。
“Why；　now；　stranger；　what’s　that　for？”　said　mine　host。
“I’d　do　it　all　the　same　to　the　writer　of　that　ar　paper；　if　he　was　here；”　said　the　long　man；　coolly　resuming　his　old　employment　of　cutting　tobacomo。　“Any　man　that　owns　a　boy　like　that；　and　can’t　find　any　better　way　o’　treating　on　him；　deserves　to　lose　him。　Such　papers　as　these　is　a　shame　to　Kentucky；　that’s　my　mind　right　out；　if　anybody　wants　to　know！”
“Well；　now；　that’s　a　fact；”　said　mine　host；　as　he　made　an　entry　in　his　book。
“I’ve　got　a　gang　of　boys；　sir；”　said　the　long　man；　resuming　his　attack　on　the　fire…irons；　“and　I　jest　tells　’em—‘Boys；’　says　I；—‘run　now！　dig！　put！　jest　when　ye　want　to！　I　never　shall　come　to　look　after　you！’　That’s　the　way　I　keep　mine。　Let　’em　know　they　are　free　to　run　any　time；　and　it　jest　breaks　up　their　wanting　to。　More　’n　all；　I’ve　got　free　papers　for　’em　all　recorded；　in　case　I　gets　keeled　up　any　o’　these　times；　and　they　know　it；　and　I　tell　ye；　stranger；　there　an’t　a　fellow　in　our　parts　gets　more　out　of　his　niggers　than　I　do。　Why；　my　boys　have　been　to　Cincinnati；　with　five　hundred　dollars’　worth　of　colts；　and　brought　me　back　the　money；　all　straight；　time　and　agin。　It　stands　to　reason　they　should。　Treat　’em　like　dogs；　and　you’ll　have　dogs’　works　and　dogs’　actions。　Treat　’em　like　men；　and　you’ll　have　men’s　works。”　And　the　honest　drover；　in　his　warmth；　endorsed　this　moral　sentiment　by　firing　a　perfect　feu　de　joi　at　the　fireplace。
“I　think　you’re　altogether　right；　friend；”　said　Mr。　Wilson；　“and　this　boy　described　here　is　a　fine　fellow—no　mistake　about　that。　He　worked　for　me　some　half…dozen　years　in　my　bagging　factory；　and　he　was　my　best　hand；　sir。　He　is　an　ingenious　fellow；　too：　he　invented　a　machine　for　the　cleaning　of　hemp—a　really　valuable　affair；　it’s　gone　into　use　in　several　factories。　His　master　holds　the　patent　of　it。”
“I’ll　warrant　ye；”　said　the　drover；　“holds　it　and　makes　money　out　of　it；　and　then　turns　round　and　brands　the　boy　in　his　right　hand。　If　I　had　a　fair　chance；　I’d　mark　him；　I　reckon　so　that　he’d　carry　it　one　while。”
“These　yer　knowin’　boys　is　allers　aggravatin’　and　sarcy；”　said　a　coarse…looking　fellow；　from　the　other　side　of　the　room；　“that’s　why　they　gets　cut　up　and　marked　so。　If　they　behaved　themselves；　they　wouldn’t。”
“That　is　to　say；　the　Lord　made　’em　men；　and　it’s　a　hard　squeeze　gettin　’em　down　into　beasts；”　said　the　drover；　dryly。
“Bright　niggers　isn’t　no　kind　of　’vantage　to　their　masters；”　continued　the　other；　well　entrenched；　in　a　coarse；　unconscious　obtuseness；　from　the　contempt　of　his　opponent；　“what’s　the　use　o’　talents　and　them　things；　if　you　can’t　get　the　use　on　’em　yourself？　Why；　all　the　use　they　make　on　’t　is　to　get　round　you。　I’ve　had　one　or　two　of　these　fellers；　and　I　jest　sold　’em　down　river。　I　knew　I’d　got　to　lose　’em；　first　or　last；　if　I　didn’t。”
“Better　send　orders　up　to　the　Lord；　to　make　you　a　set；　and　leave　out　their　souls　entirely；”　said　the　drover。
Here　the　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　approach　of　a　small　one…horse　buggy　to　the　inn。　It　had　a　genteel　appearance；　and　a　well…dressed；　gentlemanly　man　sat　on　the　seat；　with　a　colored　servant　driving。
The　whole　party　examined　the　new　comer　with　the　interest　with　which　a　set　of　loafers　in　a　rainy　day　usually　examine　every　newcomer。　He　was　very　tall；　with　a　dark；　Spanish　complexion；　fine；　expressive　black　eyes；　and　close…curling　hair；　also　of　a　glossy　blackness。　His　well…formed　aquiline　nose；　straight　thin　lips；　and　the　admirable　contour　of　his　finely…formed　limbs；　impressed　the　whole　company　instantly　with　the　idea　of　something　uncommon。　He　walked　easily　in　among　the　company；　and　with　a　nod　indicated　to　his　waiter　where　to　place　his　trunk；　bowed　to　the　company；　and；　with　his　hat　in　his　hand；　walked　up　leisurely　to　the　bar；　and　gave　in　his　name　as　Henry　Butter；　Oaklands；　Shelby　County。　Turning；　with　an　indifferent　air；　he　sauntered　up　to　the　advertisement；　and　read　it　over。
“Jim；”　he　said　to　his　man；　“seems　to　me　we　met　a　boy　something　like　this；　up　at　Beman’s；　didn’t　we？”
“Yes；　Mas’r；　said　Jim；　“only　I　an’t　sure　about　the　hand。”
“Well；　I　didn’t　look；　of　course；”　said　the　stranger　with　a　careless　yawn。　Then　walking　up　to　the　landlord；　he　desired　him　to　furnish　him　with　a　private　apartment；　as　he　had　some　writing　to　do　immediately。
The　landlord　was　all　obsequious；　and　a　relay　of　about　seven　negroes；　old　and　young；　male　and　female；　little　and　big；　were　soon　whizzing　about；　like　a　covey　of　partridges；　bustling；　hurrying；　treading　on　each　other’s　toes；　and　tumbling　over　each　other；　in　their　zeal　to　get　Mas’r’s　room　ready；　while　he　seated　himself　easily　on　a　chair　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　entered　into　conversation　with　the　man　who　sat　next　to　him。
The　manufacturer；　Mr。　Wilson；　from　the　time　of　the　entrance　of　the　stranger；　had　regarded　him　with　an　air　of　disturbed　and　uneasy　curiosity。　He　seemed　to　himself　to　have　met　and　been　acquainted　with　him　somewhere；　but　he　could　not　recollect。　Every　few　moments；　when　the　man　spoke；　or　moved；　or　smiled；　he　would　start　and　fix　his　eyes　on　him；　and　then　suddenly　withdraw　them；　as　the　bright；　dark　eyes　met　his　with　such　unconcerned　coolness。　At　last；　a　sudden　recollection　seemed　to　flash　upon　him；　for　he　stared　at　the　stranger　with　such　an　air　of　blank　amazement　and　alarm；　that　he　walked　up　to　him。
“Mr。　Wilson；　I　think；”　said　he；　in　a　tone　of　recognition；　and　extending　his　hand。　“I　beg　your　pardon；　I　didn’t　recollect　you　before。　I　see　you　remember　me；—Mr。　Butler；　of　Oaklands；　Shelby　County。”
“Ye—yes—yes；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Wilson；　like　one　speaking　in　a　dream。
Just　then　a　negro　boy　entered；　and　announced　that　Mas’r’s　room　was　ready。
“Jim；　see　to　the　trunks；”　said　the　gentleman；　negligently；　then　addressing　himself　to　Mr。　Wilson；　he　added—“I　should　like　to　have　a　few　moments’　conversation　with　you　on　business；　in　my　room；　if　you　please。”
Mr。　Wilson　followed　him；　as　one　who　walks　in　his　sleep；　and　they　proceeded　to　a　large　upper　chamber；　where　a　new…made　fire　was　crackling；　and　various　servants　flying　about；　putting　finishing　touches　to　the　arrangements。
When　all　was　done；　and　the　servants　departed；　the　young　man　deliberately　locked　the　door；　and　putting　the　key　in　his　pocket；　faced　about；　and　folding　his　arms　on　his　bosom；　looked　Mr。　Wilson　full　in　the　face。
“George！”　said　Mr。　Wilson。
“Yes；　George；”　said　the　young　man。
“I　couldn’t　have　thought　it！”
“I　am　pretty　well　disguised；　I　fancy；”　said　the　young　man；　with　a　smile。　“A　little　walnut　bark　has　made　my　yellow　skin　a　genteel　brown；　and　I’ve　dyed　my　hair　black；　so　you　see　I　don’t　answer　to　the　advertisement　at　all。”
“O；　George！　but　this　is　a　dangerous　game　you　are　playing。　I　could　not　have　advised　you　to　it。”
“I　can　do　it　on　my　own　responsibility；”　said　George；　with　the　same　proud　smile。
We　remark；　en　passant；　that　George　was；　by　his　father’s　side；　of　white　descent。　His　mother　was　one　of　those　unfortunates　of　her　race；　marked　out　by　personal　beauty　to　be　the　slave　of　the　passions　of　her　possessor；　and　the　mother　of　children　who　may　never　know　a　father。　From　one　of　the　proudest　families　in　Kentucky　he　had　inherited　a　set　of　fine　European　features；　and　a　high；　indomitable　spirit。　From　his　mother　he　had　received　only　a　slight　mulatto　tinge；　amply　compensated　by　its　acomompanying　rich；　dark　eye。　A　slight　change　in　the　tint　of　the　skin　and　the　color　of　his　hair　had　metamorphosed　him　into　the　Spanish…looking　fellow　he　then　appeared；　and　as　gracefulness　of　movement　and　gentlemanly　manners　had　always　been　perfectly　natural　to　him；　he　found　no　difficulty　in　playing　the　bold　part　he　had　adopted—that　of　a　gentleman　travelling　with　his　domestic。
Mr。　Wilson；　a　good…natured　but　extremely　fidgety　and　cautious　old　gentleman；　ambled　up　and　down　the　room；　appearing；　as　John　Bunyan　hath　it；　“much　tumbled　up　and　down　in　his　mind；”　and　divided　between　his　wish　to　help　George；　and　a　certain　confused　notion　of　maintaining　law　and　order：　so；　as　he　shambled　about；　he　delivered　himself　as　follows：
“Well；　George；　I　s’pose　you’re　running　away—leaving　your　lawful　master；　George—（I　don’t　wonder　at　it）—at　the　same　time；　I’m　sorry；　George；—yes；　decidedly—I　think　I　must　say　that；　George—it’s　my　duty　to　tell　you　so。”
“Why　are　you　sorry；　sir？”　said　George；　calmly。
“Why；　to　see　you；　as　it　were；　setting　yourself　in　opposition　to　the　laws　of　your　country。”
“My　country！”　said　George；　with　a　strong　and　bitter　emphasis；　“what　country　have　I；　but　the　grave；—and　I　wish　to　God　that　I　was　laid　there！”
“Why；　George；　no—no—it　won’t　do；　this　way　of　talking　is　wicked—unscriptural。　George；　you’ve　got　a　hard　master—in　fact；　he　is—well　he　conducts　himself　reprehensibly—I　can’t　pretend　to　defend　him。　But　you　know　how　the　angel　commanded　Hagar　to　return　to　her　mistress；　and　submit　herself　under　the　hand；1　and　the　apostle　sent　back　Onesimus　to　his　master。”2
“Don’t　e　Bible　at　me　that　way；　Mr。　Wilson；”　said　George；　with　a　flashing　eye；　“don’t！　for　my　wife　is　a　Christian；　and　I　mean　to　be；　if　ever　I　get　to　where　I　can；　but　to　e　Bible　to　a　fellow　in　my　circumstances；　is　enough　to　make　him　give　it　up　altogether。　I　appeal　to　God　Almighty；—I’m　willing　to　go　with　the　case　to　Him；　and　ask　Him　if　I　do　wrong　to　seek　my　freedom。”
“These　feelings　are　quite　natural；　George；”　said　the　good…natured　man；　blowing　his　nose。　“Yes；　they’re　natural；　but　it　is　my　duty　not　to　encourage　’em　in　you。　Yes；　my　boy；　I’m　sorry　for　you；　now；　it’s　a　bad　case—very　bad；　but　the　apostle　says；　‘Let　everyone　abide　in　the　condition　in　which　he　is　called。’　We　must　all　submit　to　the　indications　of　Providence；　George；—don’t　you　see？”
George　stood　with　his　head　drawn　back；　his　arms　folded　tightly　over　his　broad　breast；　and　a　bitter　smile　curling　his　lips。
“I　wonder；　Mr。　Wilson；　if　the　Indians　should　come　and　take　you　a　prisoner　away　from　your　wife　and　children；　and　want　to　keep　you　all　your　life　hoeing　corn　for　them；　if　you’d　think　it　your　duty　to　abide　in　the　condition　in　which　you　were　called。　I　rather　think　that　you’d　think　the　first　stray　horse　you　could　find　an　indication　of　Providence—shouldn’t　you？”
The　little　old　gentleman　stared　with　both　eyes　at　this　illustration　of　the　case；　but；　though　not　much　of　a　reasoner；　he　had　the　sense　in　which　some　logicians　on　this　particular　subject　do　not　excel；—that　of　saying　nothing；　where　nothing　could　be　said。　So；　as　he　stood　carefully　stroking　his　umbrella；　and　folding　and　patting　down　all　the　creases　in　it；　he　proceeded　on　with　his　exhortations　in　a　general　way。
“You　see；　George；　you　know；　now；　I　always　have　stood　your　friend；　and　whatever　I’ve　said；　I’ve　said　for　your　good。　Now；　here；　it　seems　to　me；　you’re　running　an　awful　risk。　You　can’t　hope　to　carry　it　out。　If　you’re　taken；　it　will　be　worse　with　you　than　ever；　they’ll　only　abuse　you；　and　half　kill　you；　and　sell　you　down　the　river。”
“Mr。　Wilson；　I　know　all　this；”　said　George。　“I　do　run　a　risk；　but—”　he　threw　open　his　overcoat；　and　showed　two　pistols　and　a　bowie…knife。　“There！”　he　said；　“I’m　ready　for　’em！　Down　south　I　never　will　go。
No！　if　it　comes　to　that；　I　can　earn　myself　at　least　six　feet　of　free　soil；—the　first　and　last　I　shall　ever　own　in　Kentucky！”
“Why；　George；　this　state　of　mind　is　awful；　it’s　getting　really　desperate　George。　I’m　concerned。　Going　to　break　the　laws　of　your　country！”
“My　country　again！　Mr。　Wilson；　you　have　a　country；　but　what　country　have　I；　or　any　one　like　me；　born　of　slave　mothers？　What　laws　are　there　for　us？　We　don’t　make　them；—we　don’t　consent　to　them；—we　have　nothing　to　do　with　them；　all　they　do　for　us　is　to　crush　us；　and　keep　us　down。　Haven’t　I　heard　your　Fourth…of…July　speeches？　Don’t　you　tell　us　all；　once　a　year；　that　governments　derive　their　just　power　from　the　consent　of　the　governed？　Can’t　a　fellow　think；　that　hears　such　things？　Can’t　he　put　this　and　that　together；　and　see　what　it　comes　to？”
Mr。　Wilson’s　mind　was　one　of　those　that　may　not　unaptly　be　represented　by　a　bale　of　cotton；—downy；　soft；　benevolently　fuzzy　and　confused。　He　really　pitied　George　with　all　his　heart；　and　had　a　sort　of　dim　and　cloudy　perception　of　the　style　of　feeling　that　agitated　him；　but　he　deemed　it　his　duty　to　go　on　talking　good　to　him；　with　infinite　pertinacity。
“George；　this　is　bad。　I　must　tell　you；　you　know；　as　a　friend；　you’d　better　not　be　meddling　with　such　notions；　they　are　bad；　George；　very　bad；　for　boys　in　your　condition；—very；”　and　Mr。　Wilson　sat　down　to　a　table；　and　began　nervously　chewing　the　handle　of　his　umbrella。
“See　here；　now；　Mr。　Wilson；”　said　George；　coming　up　and　sitting　himself　determinately　down　in　front　of　him；　“look　at　me；　now。　Don’t　I　sit　before　you；　every　way；　just　as　much　a　man　as　you　are？　Look　at　my　face；—look　at　my　hands；—look　at　my　body；”　and　the　young　man　drew　himself　up　proudly；　“why　am　I　not　a　man；　as　much　as　anybody？　Well；　Mr。　Wilson；　hear　what　I　can　tell　you。　I　had　a　father—one　of　your　Kentucky　gentlemen—who　didn’t　think　enough　of　me　to　keep　me　from　being　sold　with　his　dogs　and　horses；　to　satisfy　the　estate；　when　he　died。　I　saw　my　mother　put　up　at　sheriff’s　sale；　with　her　seven　children。　They　were　sold　before　her　eyes；　one　by　one；　all　to　different　masters；　and　I　was　the　youngest。　She　came　and　kneeled　down　before　old　Mas’r；　and　begged　him　to　buy　her　with　me；　that　she　might　have　at　least　one　child　with　her；　and　he　kicked　her　away　with　his　heavy　boot。　I　saw　him　do　it；　and　the　last　that　I　heard　was　her　moans　and　screams；　when　I　was　tied　to　his　horse’s　neck；　to　be　carried　off　to　his　place。”
“Well；　then？”
“My　master　traded　with　one　of　the　men；　and　bought　my　oldest　sister。　She　was　a　pious；　good　girl；—a　member　of　the　Baptist　church；—and　as　handsome　as　my　poor　mother　had　been。　She　was　well　brought　up；　and　had　good　manners。　At　first；　I　was　glad　she　was　bought；　for　I　had　one　friend　near　me。　I　was　soon　sorry　for　it。　Sir；　I　have　stood　at　the　door　and　heard　her　whipped；　when　it　seemed　as　if　every　blow　cut　into　my　naked　heart；　and　I　couldn’t　do　anything　to　help　her；　and　she　was　whipped；　sir；　for　wanting　to　live　a　decent　Christian　life；　such　as　your　laws　give　no　slave　girl　a　right　to　live；　and　at　last　I　saw　her　chained　with　a　trader’s　gang；　to　be　sent　to　market　in　Orleans；—sent　there　for　nothing　else　but　that；—and　that’s　the　last　I　know　of　her。　Well；　I　grew　up；—long　years　and　years；—no　father；　no　mother；　no　sister；　not　a　living　soul　that　cared　for　me　more　than　a　dog；　nothing　but　whipping；　scolding；　starving。　Why；　sir；　I’ve　been　so　hungry　that　I　have　been　glad　to　take　the　bones　they　threw　to　their　dogs；　and　yet；　when　I　was　a　little　fellow；　and　laid　awak