英语天堂-第37部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　glad　to　take　the　bones　they　threw　to　their　dogs；　and　yet；　when　I　was　a　little　fellow；　and　laid　awake　whole　nights　and　cried；　it　wasn’t　the　hunger；　it　wasn’t　the　whipping；　I　cried　for。　No；　sir；　it　was　for　my　mother　and　my　sisters；—it　was　because　I　hadn’t　a　friend　to　love　me　on　earth。　I　never　knew　what　peace　or　comfort　was。　I　never　had　a　kind　word　spoken　to　me　till　I　came　to　work　in　your　factory。　Mr。　Wilson；　you　treated　me　well；　you　encouraged　me　to　do　well；　and　to　learn　to　read　and　write；　and　to　try　to　make　something　of　myself；　and　God　knows　how　grateful　I　am　for　it。　Then；　sir；　I　found　my　wife；　you’ve　seen　her；—you　know　how　beautiful　she　is。　When　I　found　she　loved　me；　when　I　married　her；　I　scarcely　could　believe　I　was　alive；　I　was　so　happy；　and；　sir；　she　is　as　good　as　she　is　beautiful。　But　now　what？　Why；　now　comes　my　master；　takes　me　right　away　from　my　work；　and　my　friends；　and　all　I　like；　and　grinds　me　down　into　the　very　dirt！　And　why？　Because；　he　says；　I　forgot　who　I　was；　he　says；　to　teach　me　that　I　am　only　a　nigger！　After　all；　and　last　of　all；　he　comes　between　me　and　my　wife；　and　says　I　shall　give　her　up；　and　live　with　another　woman。　And　all　this　your　laws　give　him　power　to　do；　in　spite　of　God　or　man。　Mr。　Wilson；　look　at　it！　There　isn’t　one　of　all　these　things；　that　have　broken　the　hearts　of　my　mother　and　my　sister；　and　my　wife　and　myself；　but　your　laws　allow；　and　give　every　man　power　to　do；　in　Kentucky；　and　none　can　say　to　him　nay！　Do　you　call　these　the　laws　of　my　country？　Sir；　I　haven’t　any　country；　anymore　than　I　have　any　father。　But　I’m　going　to　have　one。　I　don’t　want　anything　of　your　country；　except　to　be　let　alone；—to　go　peaceably　out　of　it；　and　when　I　get　to　Canada；　where　the　laws　will　own　me　and　protect　me；　that　shall　be　my　country；　and　its　laws　I　will　obey。　But　if　any　man　tries　to　stop　me；　let　him　take　care；　for　I　am　desperate。　I’ll　fight　for　my　liberty　to　the　last　breath　I　breathe。　You　say　your　fathers　did　it；　if　it　was　right　for　them；　it　is　right　for　me！”
This　speech；　delivered　partly　while　sitting　at　the　table；　and　partly　walking　up　and　down　the　room；—delivered　with　tears；　and　flashing　eyes；　and　despairing　gestures；—was　altogether　too　much　for　the　good…natured　old　body　to　whom　it　was　addressed；　who　had　pulled　out　a　great　yellow　silk　pocket…handkerchief；　and　was　mopping　up　his　face　with　great　energy。
“Blast　’em　all！”　he　suddenly　broke　out。　“Haven’t　I　always　said　so—the　infernal　old　cusses！　I　hope　I　an’t　swearing；　now。　Well！　go　ahead；　George；　go　ahead；　but　be　careful；　my　boy；　don’t　shoot　anybody；　George；　unless—well—you’d　better　not　shoot；　I　reckon；　at　least；　I　wouldn’t　hit　anybody；　you　know。　Where　is　your　wife；　George？”　he　added；　as　he　nervously　rose；　and　began　walking　the　room。
“Gone；　sir　gone；　with　her　child　in　her　arms；　the　Lord　only　knows　where；—gone　after　the　north　star；　and　when　we　ever　meet；　or　whether　we　meet　at　all　in　this　world；　no　creature　can　tell。”
“Is　it　possible！　astonishing！　from　such　a　kind　family？”
“Kind　families　get　in　debt；　and　the　laws　of　our　country　allow　them　to　sell　the　child　out　of　its　mother’s　bosom　to　pay　its　master’s　debts；”　said　George；　bitterly。
“Well；　well；”　said　the　honest　old　man；　fumbling　in　his　pocket：　“I　s’pose；　perhaps；　I　an’t　following　my　judgment；—hang　it；　I　won’t　follow　my　judgment！”　he　added；　suddenly；　“so　here；　George；”　and；　taking　out　a　roll　of　bills　from　his　pocket…book；　he　offered　them　to　George。
“No；　my　kind；　good　sir！”　said　George；　“you’ve　done　a　great　deal　for　me；　and　this　might　get　you　into　trouble。　I　have　money　enough；　I　hope；　to　take　me　as　far　as　I　need　it。”
“No；　but　you　must；　George。　Money　is　a　great　help　everywhere；—can’t　have　too　much；　if　you　get　it　honestly。　Take　it；—do　take　it；　now；—do；　my　boy！”
“On　condition；　sir；　that　I　may　repay　it　at　some　future　time；　I　will；”　said　George；　taking　up　the　money。
“And　now；　George；　how　long　are　you　going　to　travel　in　this　way？—not　long　or　far；　I　hope。　It’s　well　carried　on；　but　too　bold。　And　this　black　fellow；—who　is　he？”
“A　true　fellow；　who　went　to　Canada　more　than　a　year　ago。　He　heard；　after　he　got　there；　that　his　master　was　so　angry　at　him　for　going　off　that　he　had　whipped　his　poor　old　mother；　and　he　has　come　all　the　way　back　to　comfort　her；　and　get　a　chance　to　get　her　away。”
“Has　he　got　her？”
“Not　yet；　he　has　been　hanging　about　the　place；　and　found　no　chance　yet。　Meanwhile；　he　is　going　with　me　as　far　as　Ohio；　to　put　me　among　friends　that　helped　him；　and　then　he　will　come　back　after　her。
“Dangerous；　very　dangerous！”　said　the　old　man。
George　drew　himself　up；　and　smiled　disdainfully。
The　old　gentleman　eyed　him　from　head　to　foot；　with　a　sort　of　innocent　wonder。
“George；　something　has　brought　you　out　wonderfully。　You　hold　up　your　head；　and　speak　and　move　like　another　man；”　said　Mr。　Wilson。
“Because　I’m　a　freeman！”　said　George；　proudly。　“Yes；　sir；　I’ve　said　Mas’r　for　the　last　time　to　any　man。　I’m　free！”
“Take　care！　You　are　not　sure；—you　may　be　taken。”
“All　men　are　free　and　equal　in　the　grave；　if　it　comes　to　that；　Mr。　Wilson；”　said　George。
“I’m　perfectly　dumb…founded　with　your　boldness！”　said　Mr。　Wilson；—“to　come　right　here　to　the　nearest　tavern！”
“Mr。　Wilson；　it　is　so　bold；　and　this　tavern　is　so　near；　that　they　will　never　think　of　it；　they　will　look　for　me　on　ahead；　and　you　yourself　wouldn’t　know　me。　Jim’s　master　don’t　live　in　this　county；　he　isn’t　known　in　these　parts。　Besides；　he　is　given　up；　nobody　is　looking　after　him；　and　nobody　will　take　me　up　from　the　advertisement；　I　think。”
“But　the　mark　in　your　hand？”
George　drew　off　his　glove；　and　showed　a　newly…healed　scar　in　his　hand。
“That　is　a　parting　proof　of　Mr。　Harris’　regard；”　he　said；　scornfully。　“A　fortnight　ago；　he　took　it　into　his　head　to　give　it　to　me；　because　he　said　he　believed　I　should　try　to　get　away　one　of　these　days。　Looks　interesting；　doesn’t　it？”　he　said；　drawing　his　glove　on　again。
“I　declare；　my　very　blood　runs　cold　when　I　think　of　it；—your　condition　and　your　risks！”　said　Mr。　Wilson。
“Mine　has　run　cold　a　good　many　years；　Mr。　Wilson；　at　present；　it’s　about　up　to　the　boiling　point；”　said　George。
“Well；　my　good　sir；”　continued　George；　after　a　few　moments’　silence；　“I　saw　you　knew　me；　I　thought　I’d　just　have　this　talk　with　you；　lest　your　surprised　looks　should　bring　me　out。　I　leave　early　tomorrow　morning；　before　daylight；　by　tomorrow　night　I　hope　to　sleep　safe　in　Ohio。　I　shall　travel　by　daylight；　stop　at　the　best　hotels；　go　to　the　dinner…tables　with　the　lords　of　the　land。　So；　good…by；　sir；　if　you　hear　that　I’m　taken；　you　may　know　that　I’m　dead！”
George　stood　up　like　a　rock；　and　put　out　his　hand　with　the　air　of　a　prince。　The　friendly　little　old　man　shook　it　heartily；　and　after　a　little　shower　of　caution；　he　took　his　umbrella；　and　fumbled　his　way　out　of　the　room。
George　stood　thoughtfully　looking　at　the　door；　as　the　old　man　closed　it。　A　thought　seemed　to　flash　across　his　mind。　He　hastily　stepped　to　it；　and　opening　it；　said；
“Mr。　Wilson；　one　word　more。”
The　old　gentleman　entered　again；　and　George；　as　before；　locked　the　door；　and　then　stood　for　a　few　moments　looking　on　the　floor；　irresolutely。　At　last；　raising　his　head　with　a　sudden　effort—“Mr。　Wilson；　you　have　shown　yourself　a　Christian　in　your　treatment　of　me；—I　want　to　ask　one　last　deed　of　Christian　kindness　of　you。”
“Well；　George。”
“Well；　sir；—what　you　said　was　true。　I　am　running　a　dreadful　risk。　There　isn’t；　on　earth；　a　living　soul　to　care　if　I　die；”　he　added；　drawing　his　breath　hard；　and　speaking　with　a　great　effort；—“I　shall　be　kicked　out　and　buried　like　a　dog；　and　nobody’ll　think　of　it　a　day　after；—only　my　poor　wife！　Poor　soul！　she’ll　mourn　and　grieve；　and　if　you’d　only　contrive；　Mr。　Wilson；　to　send　this　little　pin　to　her。　She　gave　it　to　me　for　a　Christmas　present；　poor　child！　Give　it　to　her；　and　tell　her　I　loved　her　to　the　last。　Will　you？　Will　you？”　he　added；　earnestly。
“Yes；　certainly—poor　fellow！”　said　the　old　gentleman；　taking　the　pin；　with　watery　eyes；　and　a　melancholy　quiver　in　his　voice。
“Tell　her　one　thing；”　said　George；　“it’s　my　last　wish；　if　she　can　get　to　Canada；　to　go　there。　No　matter　how　kind　her　mistress　is；—no　matter　how　much　she　loves　her　home；　beg　her　not　to　go　back；—for　slavery　always　ends　in　misery。　Tell　her　to　bring　up　our　boy　a　free　man；　and　then　he　won’t　suffer　as　I　have。　Tell　her　this；　Mr。　Wilson；　will　you？”
“Yes；　George。　I’ll　tell　her；　but　I　trust　you　won’t　die；　take　heart；—you’re　a　brave　fellow。　Trust　in　the　Lord；　George。　I　wish　in　my　heart　you　were　safe　through；　though；—that’s　what　I　do。”
“Is　there　a　God　to　trust　in？”　said　George；　in　such　a　tone　of　bitter　despair　as　arrested　the　old　gentleman’s　words。　“O；　I’ve　seen　things　all　my　life　that　have　made　me　feel　that　there　can’t　be　a　God。　You　Christians　don’t　know　how　these　things　look　to　us。　There’s　a　God　for　you；　but　is　there　any　for　us？”
“O；　now；　don’t—don’t；　my　boy！”　said　the　old　man；　almost　sobbing　as　he　spoke；　“don’t　feel　so！　There　is—there　is；　clouds　and　darkness　are　around　about　him；　but　righteousness　and　judgment　are　the　habitation　of　his　throne。　There’s　a　God；　George；—believe　it；　trust　in　Him；　and　I’m　sure　He’ll　help　you。　Everything　will　be　set　right；—if　not　in　this　life；　in　another。”
The　real　piety　and　benevolence　of　the　simple　old　man　invested　him　with　a　temporary　dignity　and　authority；　as　he　spoke。　George　stopped　his　distracted　walk　up　and　down　the　room；　stood　thoughtfully　a　moment；　and　then　said；　quietly；
“Thank　you　for　saying　that；　my　good　friend；　I’ll　think　of　that。”
1　Gen。　16。　The　angel　bade　the　pregnant　Hagar　return　to　her　mistress　Sarai；　even　though　Sarai　had　dealt　harshly　with　her。
2　Phil。　1：10。　Onesimus　went　back　to　his　master　to　become　no　longer　a　servant　but　a　“brother　beloved。”
Chapter　12
Select　Incident　of　Lawful　Trade
“In　Ramah　there　was　a　voice　heard；—weeping；　and　lamentation；　and　great　mourning；　Rachel　weeping　for　her　children；　and　would　not　be　comforted。”1
Mr。　Haley　and　Tom　jogged　onward　in　their　wagon；　each；　for　a　time；　absorbed　in　his　own　reflections。　Now；　the　reflections　of　two　men　sitting　side　by　side　are　a　curious　thing；—seated　on　the　same　seat；　having　the　same　eyes；　ears；　hands　and　organs　of　all　sorts；　and　having　pass　before　their　eyes　the　same　objects；—it　is　wonderful　what　a　variety　we　shall　find　in　these　same　reflections！
As；　for　example；　Mr。　Haley：　he　thought　first　of　Tom’s　length；　and　breadth；　and　height；　and　what　he　would　sell　for；　if　he　was　kept　fat　and　in　good　case　till　he　got　him　into　market。　He　thought　of　how　he　should　make　out　his　gang；　he　thought　of　the　respective　market　value　of　certain　supposititious　men　and　women　and　children　who　were　to　compose　it；　and　other　kindred　topics　of　the　business；　then　he　thought　of　himself；　and　how　humane　he　was；　that　whereas　other　men　chained　their　“niggers”　hand　and　foot　both；　he　only　put　fetters　on　the　feet；　and　left　Tom　the　use　of　his　hands；　as　long　as　he　behaved　well；　and　he　sighed　to　think　how　ungrateful　human　nature　was；　so　that　there　was　even　room　to　doubt　whether　Tom　appreciated　his　mercies。　He　had　been　taken　in　so　by　“niggers”　whom　he　had　favored；　but　still　he　was　astonished　to　consider　how　good…natured　he　yet　remained！
As　to　Tom；　he　was　thinking　over　some　words　of　an　unfashionable　old　book；　which　kept　running　through　his　head；　again　and　again；　as　follows：　“We　have　here　no　continuing　city；　but　we　seek　one　to　come；　wherefore　God　himself　is　not　ashamed　to　be　called　our　God；　for　he　hath　prepared　for　us　a　city。”　These　words　of　an　ancient　volume；　got　up　principally　by　“ignorant　and　unlearned　men；”　have；　through　all　time；　kept　up；　somehow；　a　strange　sort　of　power　over　the　minds　of　poor；　simple　fellows；　like　Tom。　They　stir　up　the　soul　from　its　depths；　and　rouse；　as　with　trumpet　call；　courage；　energy；　and　enthusiasm；　where　before　was　only　the　blackness　of　despair。
Mr。　Haley　pulled　out　of　his　pocket　sundry　newspapers；　and　began　looking　over　their　advertisements；　with　absorbed　interest。　He　was　not　a　remarkably　fluent　reader；　and　was　in　the　habit　of　reading　in　a　sort　of　recitative　half…aloud；　by　way　of　calling　in　his　ears　to　verify　the　deductions　of　his　eyes。　In　this　tone　he　slowly　recited　the　following　paragraph：
“Executor’s　Sale；—Negroes！—Agreeably　to　order　of　court；　will　be　sold；　on　Tuesday；　February　20；　before　the　Court…house　door；　in　the　town　of　Washington；　Kentucky；　the　following　negroes：　Hagar；　aged　60；　John；　aged　30；　Ben；　aged　21；　Saul；　aged　25；　Albert；　aged　14。　Sold　for　the　benefit　of　the　creditors　and　heirs　of　the　estate　of　Jesse　Blutchford；
Samuel　Morris；　Thomas　Flint；　Executors。”
“This　yer　I　must　look　at；”　said　he　to　Tom；　for　want　of　somebody　else　to　talk　to。
“Ye　see；　I’m　going　to　get　up　a　prime　gang　to　take　down　with　ye；　Tom；　it’ll　make　it　sociable　and　pleasant　like；—good　company　will；　ye　know。　We　must　drive　right　to　Washington　first　and　foremost；　and　then　I’ll　clap　you　into　jail；　while　I　does　the　business。”
Tom　received　this　agreeable　intelligence　quite　meekly；　simply　wondering；　in　his　own　heart；　how　many　of　these　doomed　men　had　wives　and　children；　and　whether　they　would　feel　as　he　did　about　leaving　them。　It　is　to　be　confessed；　too；　that　the　naive；　off…hand　information　that　he　was　to　be　thrown　into　jail　by　no　means　produced　an　agreeable　impression　on　a　poor　fellow　who　had　always　prided　himself　on　a　strictly　honest　and　upright　course　of　life。　Yes；　Tom；　we　must　confess　it；　was　rather　proud　of　his　honesty；　poor　fellow；—not　having　very　much　else　to　be　proud　of；—if　he　had　belonged　to　some　of　the　higher　walks　of　society；　he；　perhaps；　would　never　have　been　reduced　to　such　straits。　However；　the　day　wore　on；　and　the　evening　saw　Haley　and　Tom　comfortably　acomommodated　in　Washington；—the　one　in　a　tavern；　and　the　other　in　a　jail。
About　eleven　o’clock　the　next　day；　a　mixed　throng　was　gathered　around　the　court…house　steps；—smoking；　chewing；　spitting；　swearing；　and　conversing；　acomording　to　their　respective　tastes　and　turns；—waiting　for　the　auction　to　commence。　The　men　and　women　to　be　sold　sat　in　a　group　apart；　talking　in　a　low　tone　to　each　other。　The　woman　who　had　been　advertised　by　the　name　of　Hagar　was　a　regular　African　in　feature　and　figure。　She　might　have　been　sixty；　but　was　older　than　that　by　hard　work　and　disease；　was　partially　blind；　and　somewhat　crippled　with　rheumatism。　By　her　side　stood　her　only　remaining　son；　Albert；　a　bright…looking　little　fellow　of　fourteen　years。　The　boy　was　the　only　survivor　of　a　large　family；　who　had　been　sucomessively　sold　away　from　her　to　a　southern　market。　The　mother　held　on　to　him　with　both　her　shaking　hands；　and　eyed　with　intense　trepidation　every　one　who　walked　up　to　examine　him。
“Don’t　be　feard；　Aunt　Hagar；”　said　the　oldest　of　the　men；　“I　spoke　to　Mas’r　Thomas　’bout　it；　and　he　thought　he　might　manage　to　sell　you　in　a　lot　both　together。”
“Dey　needn’t　call　me　worn　out　yet；”　said　she；　lifting　her　shaking　hands。　“I　can　cook　yet；　and　scrub；　and　scour；—I’m　wuth　a　buying；　if　I　do　come　cheap；—tell　em　dat　ar；—you　tell　em；”　she　added；　earnestly。
Haley　here　forced　his　way　into　the　group；　walked　up　to　the　old　man；　pulled　his　mouth　open　and　looked　in；　felt　of　his　teeth；　made　him　stand　and　straighten　himself；　bend　his　back；　and　perform　various　evolutions　to　show　his　muscles；　and　then　pas