英语天堂-第78部分

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e　word　lost　its　power；　or　could　the　failing　eye　and　weary　sense　no　longer　answer　to　the　touch　of　that　mighty　inspiration？　Heavily　sighing；　he　put　it　in　his　pocket。　A　coarse　laugh　roused　him；　he　looked　up；—Legree　was　standing　opposite　to　him。
“Well；　old　boy；”　he　said；　“you　find　your　religion　don’t　work；　it　seems！　I　thought　I　should　get　that　through　your　wool；　at　last！”
The　cruel　taunt　was　more　than　hunger　and　cold　and　nakedness。　Tom　was　silent。
“You　were　a　fool；”　said　Legree；　“for　I　meant　to　do　well　by　you；　when　I　bought　you。　You　might　have　been　better　off　than　Sambo；　or　Quimbo　either；　and　had　easy　times；　and；　instead　of　getting　cut　up　and　thrashed；　every　day　or　two；　ye　might　have　had　liberty　to　lord　it　round；　and　cut　up　the　other　niggers；　and　ye　might　have　had；　now　and　then；　a　good　warming　of　whiskey　punch。　Come；　Tom；　don’t　you　think　you’d　better　be　reasonable？—heave　that　ar　old　pack　of　trash　in　the　fire；　and　join　my　church！”
“The　Lord　forbid！”　said　Tom；　fervently。
“You　see　the　Lord　an’t　going　to　help　you；　if　he　had　been；　he　wouldn’t　have　let　me　get　you！　This　yer　religion　is　all　a　mess　of　lying　trumpery；　Tom。　I　know　all　about　it。　Ye’d　better　hold　to　me；　I’m　somebody；　and　can　do　something！”
“No；　Mas’r；”　said　Tom；　“I’ll　hold　on。　The　Lord　may　help　me；　or　not　help；　but　I’ll　hold　to　him；　and　believe　him　to　the　last！”
“The　more　fool　you！”　said　Legree；　spitting　scornfully　at　him；　and　spurning　him　with　his　foot。　“Never　mind；　I’ll　chase　you　down；　yet；　and　bring　you　under；—you’ll　see！”　and　Legree　turned　away。
When　a　heavy　weight　presses　the　soul　to　the　lowest　level　at　which　endurance　is　possible；　there　is　an　instant　and　desperate　effort　of　every　physical　and　moral　nerve　to　throw　off　the　weight；　and　hence　the　heaviest　anguish　often　precedes　a　return　tide　of　joy　and　courage。　So　was　it　now　with　Tom。　The　atheistic　taunts　of　his　cruel　master　sunk　his　before　dejected　soul　to　the　lowest　ebb；　and；　though　the　hand　of　faith　still　held　to　the　eternal　rock；　it　was　a　numb；　despairing　grasp。　Tom　sat；　like　one　stunned；　at　the　fire。　Suddenly　everything　around　him　seemed　to　fade；　and　a　vision　rose　before　him　of　one　crowned　with　thorns；　buffeted　and　bleeding。　Tom　gazed；　in　awe　and　wonder；　at　the　majestic　patience　of　the　face；　the　deep；　pathetic　eyes　thrilled　him　to　his　inmost　heart；　his　soul　woke；　as；　with　floods　of　emotion；　he　stretched　out　his　hands　and　fell　upon　his　knees；—when；　gradually；　the　vision　changed：　the　sharp　thorns　became　rays　of　glory；　and；　in　splendor　inconceivable；　he　saw　that　same　face　bending　compassionately　towards　him；　and　a　voice　said；　“He　that　overcometh　shall　sit　down　with　me　on　my　throne；　even　as　I　also　overcome；　and　am　set　down　with　my　Father　on　his　throne。”
How　long　Tom　lay　there；　he　knew　not。　When　he　came　to　himself；　the　fire　was　gone　out；　his　clothes　were　wet　with　the　chill　and　drenching　dews；　but　the　dread　soul…crisis　was　past；　and；　in　the　joy　that　filled　him；　he　no　longer　felt　hunger；　cold；　degradation；　disappointment；　wretchedness。　From　his　deepest　soul；　he　that　hour　loosed　and　parted　from　every　hope　in　life　that　now　is；　and　offered　his　own　will　an　unquestioning　sacrifice　to　the　Infinite。　Tom　looked　up　to　the　silent；　ever…living　stars；—types　of　the　angelic　hosts　who　ever　look　down　on　man；　and　the　solitude　of　the　night　rung　with　the　triumphant　words　of　a　hymn；　which　he　had　sung　often　in　happier　days；　but　never　with　such　feeling　as　now：
“The　earth　shall　be　dissolved　like　snow；
　　　　The　sun　shall　cease　to　shine；
But　God；　who　called　me　here　below；
　　　　Shall　be　forever　mine。
“And　when　this　mortal　life　shall　fail；
　　　　And　flesh　and　sense　shall　cease；
I　shall　possess　within　the　veil
　　　　A　life　of　joy　and　peace。
“When　we’ve　been　there　ten　thousand　years；
　　　　Bright　shining　like　the　sun；
We’ve　no　less　days　to　sing　God’s　praise
　　　　Than　when　we　first　begun。”
Those　who　have　been　familiar　with　the　religious　histories　of　the　slave　population　know　that　relations　like　what　we　have　narrated　are　very　common　among　them。　We　have　heard　some　from　their　own　lips；　of　a　very　touching　and　affecting　character。　The　psychologist　tells　us　of　a　state；　in　which　the　affections　and　images　of　the　mind　become　so　dominant　and　overpowering；　that　they　press　into　their　service　the　outward　imagining。　Who　shall　measure　what　an　all…pervading　Spirit　may　do　with　these　capabilities　of　our　mortality；　or　the　ways　in　which　He　may　encourage　the　desponding　souls　of　the　desolate？　If　the　poor　forgotten　slave　believes　that　Jesus　hath　appeared　and　spoken　to　him；　who　shall　contradict　him？　Did　He　not　say　that　his；　mission；　in　all　ages；　was　to　bind　up　the　broken…hearted；　and　set　at　liberty　them　that　are　bruised？
When　the　dim　gray　of　dawn　woke　the　slumberers　to　go　forth　to　the　field；　there　was　among　those　tattered　and　shivering　wretches　one　who　walked　with　an　exultant　tread；　for　firmer　than　the　ground　he　trod　on　was　his　strong　faith　in　Almighty；　eternal　love。　Ah；　Legree；　try　all　your　forces　now！　Utmost　agony；　woe；　degradation；　want；　and　loss　of　all　things；　shall　only　hasten　on　the　process　by　which　he　shall　be　made　a　king　and　a　priest　unto　God！
From　this　time；　an　inviolable　sphere　of　peace　encompassed　the　lowly　heart　of　the　oppressed　one；—an　ever…present　Saviour　hallowed　it　as　a　temple。　Past　now　the　bleeding　of　earthly　regrets；　past　its　fluctuations　of　hope；　and　fear；　and　desire；　the　human　will；　bent；　and　bleeding；　and　struggling　long；　was　now　entirely　merged　in　the　Divine。　So　short　now　seemed　the　remaining　voyage　of　life；—so　near；　so　vivid；　seemed　eternal　blessedness；—that　life’s　uttermost　woes　fell　from　him　unharming。
All　noticed　the　change　in　his　appearance。　Cheerfulness　and　alertness　seemed　to　return　to　him；　and　a　quietness　which　no　insult　or　injury　could　ruffle　seemed　to　possess　him。
“What　the　devil’s　got　into　Tom？”　Legree　said　to　Sambo。　“A　while　ago　he　was　all　down　in　the　mouth；　and　now　he’s　peart　as　a　cricket。”
“Dunno；　Mas’r；　gwine　to　run　off；　mebbe。”
“Like　to　see　him　try　that；”　said　Legree；　with　a　savage　grin；　“wouldn’t　we；　Sambo？”
“Guess　we　would！　Haw！　haw！　ho！”　said　the　sooty　gnome；　laughing　obsequiously。　“Lord；　de　fun！　To　see　him　stickin’　in　de　mud；—chasin’　and　tarin’　through　de　bushes；　dogs　a　holdin’　on　to　him！　Lord；　I　laughed　fit　to　split；　dat　ar　time　we　cotched　Molly。　I　thought　they’d　a　had　her　all　stripped　up　afore　I　could　get　’em　off。　She　car’s　de　marks　o’　dat　ar　spree　yet。”
“I　reckon　she　will；　to　her　grave；”　said　Legree。　“But　now；　Sambo；　you　look　sharp。　If　the　nigger’s　got　anything　of　this　sort　going；　trip　him　up。”
“Mas’r；　let　me　lone　for　dat；”　said　Sambo；　“I’ll　tree　de　coon。　Ho；　ho；　ho！”
This　was　spoken　as　Legree　was　getting　on　his　horse；　to　go　to　the　neighboring　town。　That　night；　as　he　was　returning；　he　thought　he　would　turn　his　horse　and　ride　round　the　quarters；　and　see　if　all　was　safe。
It　was　a　superb　moonlight　night；　and　the　shadows　of　the　graceful　China　trees　lay　minutely　pencilled　on　the　turf　below；　and　there　was　that　transparent　stillness　in　the　air　which　it　seems　almost　unholy　to　disturb。　Legree　was　a　little　distance　from　the　quarters；　when　he　heard　the　voice　of　some　one　singing。　It　was　not　a　usual　sound　there；　and　he　paused　to　listen。　A　musical　tenor　voice　sang；
“When　I　can　read　my　title　clear
To　mansions　in　the　skies；
I’ll　bid　farewell　to　every　fear；
And　wipe　my　weeping　eyes
“Should　earth　against　my　soul　engage；
And　hellish　darts　be　hurled；
Then　I　can　smile　at　Satan’s　rage；
And　face　a　frowning　world。
“Let　cares　like　a　wild　deluge　come；
And　storms　of　sorrow　fall；
May　I　but　safely　reach　my　home；
My　god；　my　Heaven；　my　All。”2
“So　ho！”　said　Legree　to　himself；　“he　thinks　so；　does　he？　How　I　hate　these　cursed　Methodist　hymns！　Here；　you　nigger；”　said　he；　coming　suddenly　out　upon　Tom；　and　raising　his　riding…whip；　“how　dare　you　be　gettin’　up　this　yer　row；　when　you　ought　to　be　in　bed？　Shut　yer　old　black　gash；　and　get　along　in　with　you！”
“Yes；　Mas’r；”　said　Tom；　with　ready　cheerfulness；　as　he　rose　to　to　in。
Legree　was　provoked　beyond　measure　by　Tom’s　evident　happiness；　and　riding　up　to　him；　belabored　him　over　his　head　and　shoulders。
“There；　you　dog；”　he　said；　“see　if　you’ll　feel　so　comfortable；　after　that！”
But　the　blows　fell　now　only　on　the　outer　man；　and　not；　as　before；　on　the　heart。　Tom　stood　perfectly　submissive；　and　yet　Legree　could　not　hide　from　himself　that　his　power　over　his　bond　thrall　was　somehow　gone。　And；　as　Tom　disappeared　in　his　cabin；　and　he　wheeled　his　horse　suddenly　round；　there　passed　through　his　mind　one　of　those　vivid　flashes　that　often　send　the　lightning　of　conscience　across　the　dark　and　wicked　soul。　He　understood　full　well　that　it　was　God　who　was　standing　between　him　and　his　victim；　and　he　blasphemed　him。　That　submissive　and　silent　man；　whom　taunts；　nor　threats；　nor　stripes；　nor　cruelties；　could　disturb；　roused　a　voice　within　him；　such　as　of　old　his　Master　roused　in　the　demoniac　soul；　saying；　“What　have　we　to　do　with　thee；　thou　Jesus　of　Nazareth？—art　thou　come　to　torment　us　before　the　time？”
Tom’s　whole　soul　overflowed　with　compassion　and　sympathy　for　the　poor　wretches　by　whom　he　was　surrounded。　To　him　it　seemed　as　if　his　life…sorrows　were　now　over；　and　as　if；　out　of　that　strange　treasury　of　peace　and　joy；　with　which　he　had　been　endowed　from　above；　he　longed　to　pour　out　something　for　the　relief　of　their　woes。　It　is　true；　opportunities　were　scanty；　but；　on　the　way　to　the　fields；　and　back　again；　and　during　the　hours　of　labor；　chances　fell　in　his　way　of　extending　a　helping…hand　to　the　weary；　the　disheartened　and　discouraged。　The　poor；　worn…down；　brutalized　creatures；　at　first；　could　scarce　comprehend　this；　but；　when　it　was　continued　week　after　week；　and　month　after　month；　it　began　to　awaken　long…silent　chords　in　their　benumbed　hearts。　Gradually　and　imperceptibly　the　strange；　silent；　patient　man；　who　was　ready　to　bear　every　one’s　burden；　and　sought　help　from　none；—who　stood　aside　for　all；　and　came　last；　and　took　least；　yet　was　foremost　to　share　his　little　all　with　any　who　needed；—the　man　who；　in　cold　nights；　would　give　up　his　tattered　blanket　to　add　to　the　comfort　of　some　woman　who　shivered　with　sickness；　and　who　filled　the　baskets　of　the　weaker　ones　in　the　field；　at　the　terrible　risk　of　coming　short　in　his　own　measure；—and　who；　though　pursued　with　unrelenting　cruelty　by　their　common　tyrant；　never　joined　in　uttering　a　word　of　reviling　or　cursing；—this　man；　at　last；　began　to　have　a　strange　power　over　them；　and；　when　the　more　pressing　season　was　past；　and　they　were　allowed　again　their　Sundays　for　their　own　use；　many　would　gather　together　to　hear　from　him　of　Jesus。　They　would　gladly　have　met　to　hear；　and　pray；　and　sing；　in　some　place；　together；　but　Legree　would　not　permit　it；　and　more　than　once　broke　up　such　attempts；　with　oaths　and　brutal　execrations；—so　that　the　blessed　news　had　to　circulate　from　individual　to　individual。　Yet　who　can　speak　the　simple　joy　with　which　some　of　those　poor　outcasts；　to　whom　life　was　a　joyless　journey　to　a　dark　unknown；　heard　of　a　compassionate　Redeemer　and　a　heavenly　home？　It　is　the　statement　of　missionaries；　that；　of　all　races　of　the　earth；　none　have　received　the　Gospel　with　such　eager　docility　as　the　African。　The　principle　of　reliance　and　unquestioning　faith；　which　is　its　foundation；　is　more　a　native　element　in　this　race　than　any　other；　and　it　has　often　been　found　among　them；　that　a　stray　seed　of　truth；　borne　on　some　breeze　of　acomident　into　hearts　the　most　ignorant；　has　sprung　up　into　fruit；　whose　abundance　has　shamed　that　of　higher　and　more　skilful　culture。
The　poor　mulatto　woman；　whose　simple　faith　had　been　well…nigh　crushed　and　overwhelmed；　by　the　avalanche　of　cruelty　and　wrong　which　had　fallen　upon　her；　felt　her　soul　raised　up　by　the　hymns　and　passages　of　Holy　Writ；　which　this　lowly　missionary　breathed　into　her　ear　in　intervals；　as　they　were　going　to　and　returning　from　work；　and　even　the　half…crazed　and　wandering　mind　of　Cassy　was　soothed　and　calmed　by　his　simple　and　unobtrusive　influences。
Stung　to　madness　and　despair　by　the　crushing　agonies　of　a　life；　Cassy　had　often　resolved　in　her　soul　an　hour　of　retribution；　when　her　hand　should　avenge　on　her　oppressor　all　the　injustice　and　cruelty　to　which　she　had　been　witness；　or　which　she　had　in　her　own　person　suffered。
One　night；　after　all　in　Tom’s　cabin　were　sunk　in　sleep；　he　was　suddenly　aroused　by　seeing　her　face　at　the　hole　between　the　logs；　that　served　for　a　window。　She　made　a　silent　gesture　for　him　to　come　out。
Tom　came　out　the　door。　It　was　between　one　and　two　o’clock　at　night；—broad；　calm；　still　moonlight。　Tom　remarked；　as　the　light　of　the　moon　fell　upon　Cassy’s　large；　black　eyes；　that　there　was　a　wild　and　peculiar　glare　in　them；　unlike　their　wonted　fixed　despair。
“Come　here；　Father　Tom；”　she　said；　laying　her　small　hand　on　his　wrist；　and　drawing　him　forward　with　a　force　as　if　the　hand　were　of　steel；　“come　here；—I’ve　news　for　you。”
“What；　Misse　Cassy？”　said　Tom；　anxiously。
“Tom；　wouldn’t　you　like　your　liberty？”
“I　shall　have　it；　Misse；　in　God’s　time；”　said　Tom。　“Ay；　but　you　may　have　it　tonight；”　said　Cassy；　with　a　flash　of　sudden　energy。　“Come　on。”
Tom　hesitated。
“Come！”　said　she；　in　a　whisper；　fixing　her　black　eyes　on　him。　“Come　along！　He’s　asleep—sound。　I　put　enough　into　his　brandy　to　keep　him　so。　I　wish　I’d　had　more；—I　shouldn’t　have　wanted　you。　But　come；　the　back　door　is　unlocked；　there’s　an　axe　there；　I　put　it　there；—his　room　door　is　open；　I’ll　show　you　the　way。
I’d　a　done　it　myself；　only　my　arms　are　so　weak。　Come　along！”
“Not　for　ten　thousand　worlds；　Misse！”　said　Tom；　firmly；　stopping　and　holding　her　back；　as　she　was　pressing　forward。
“But　think　of　all　these　poor　creatures；”　said　Cassy。　“We　might　set　them　all　free；　and　go　somewhere　in　the　swamps；　and　find　an　island；　and　live　by　ourselves；　I’ve　heard　of　its　being　done。　Any　life　is　better　than　this。”
“No！”　said　Tom；　firmly。　“No！　good　never　comes　of　wickedness。　I’d　sooner　chop　my　right　hand　off！”
“Then　I　shall　do　it；”　said　Cassy；　turning。
“O；　Misse　Cassy！”　said　Tom；　throwing　himself　before　her；　“for　the　dear　Lord’s　sake　that　died　for　ye；　don’t　sell　your　precious　soul　to　the　devil；　that　way！　Nothing　but　evil　will　come　of　it。　The　Lord　hasn’t　called　us　to　wrath。　We　must　suffer；　and　wait　his　time。”
“Wait！”　said　Cassy。　“Haven’t　I　waited？—waited　till　my　head　is　dizzy　and　my　heart　sick？　What　has　he　made　me　suffer？　What　has　he　made　hundreds　of　poor　creatures　suffer？　Isn’t　he　wringing　the　life…blood　out　of　you？　I’m　called　on；　they　call　me！　His　time’s　come；　and　I’ll　have　his　heart’s　blood！”
“No；　no；　no！”　said　Tom；　holding　her　small　hands；　which　were　clenched　with　spasmodic　violence。　“No；　ye　poor；　lost　soul；　that　ye　mustn’t　do。　The　dear；　blessed　Lord　never　shed　no　blood　but　his　own；　and　that　he　poured　out　for　us　when　we　was　enemies。　Lord；　help　us　to　follow　his　steps；　and　love　our　enemies。”
“Love！”　said　Cassy；　with　a　fierce　glare；　“love　such　enemies！　It　isn’t　in　flesh　and　blood。”
“No；　Misse；　it　isn’t；”　said　Tom；　looking　up；　“but　He　gives　it　to　us；　and　that’s　the　victory。　When　we　can　love　and　pray　over　all　and　through　all；　the　battle’s　past；　and　the　victory’s　come；—glory　be　to　God！”　And；　with　streaming　eyes　and　choking　voice；　the　black　man　looked　up　to　heaven。
And　this；　oh　Africa！　latest　cal