英语天堂-第83部分

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Cassy　kept　her　room　and　bed；　on　pretext　of　illness；　during　the　whole　time　they　were　on　Red　river；　and　was　waited　on；　with　obsequious　devotion；　by　her　attendant。
When　they　arrived　at　the　Mississippi　river；　George；　having　learned　that　the　course　of　the　strange　lady　was　upward；　like　his　own；　proposed　to　take　a　state…room　for　her　on　the　same　boat　with　himself；—good…naturedly　compassionating　her　feeble　health；　and　desirous　to　do　what　he　could　to　assist　her。
Behold；　therefore；　the　whole　party　safely　transferred　to　the　good　steamer　Cincinnati；　and　sweeping　up　the　river　under　a　powerful　head　of　steam。
Cassy’s　health　was　much　better。　She　sat　upon　the　guards；　came　to　the　table；　and　was　remarked　upon　in　the　boat　as　a　lady　that　must　have　been　very　handsome。
From　the　moment　that　George　got　the　first　glimpse　of　her　face；　he　was　troubled　with　one　of　those　fleeting　and　indefinite　likenesses；　which　almost　every　body　can　remember；　and　has　been；　at　times；　perplexed　with。　He　could　not　keep　himself　from　looking　at　her；　and　watchin　her　perpetually。　At　table；　or　sitting　at　her　state…room　door；　still　she　would　encounter　the　young　man’s　eyes　fixed　on　her；　and　politely　withdrawn；　when　she　showed；　by　her　countenance；　that　she　was　sensible　to　the　observation。
Cassy　became　uneasy。　She　began　to　think　that　he　suspected　something；　and　finally　resolved　to　throw　herself　entirely　on　his　generosity；　and　intrusted　him　with　her　whole　history。
George　was　heartily　disposed　to　sympathize　with　any　one　who　had　escaped　from　Legree’s　plantation；—a　place　that　he　could　not　remember　or　speak　of　with　patience；—and；　with　the　courageous　disregard　of　consequences　which　is　characteristic　of　his　age　and　state；　he　assured　her　that　he　would　do　all　in　his　power　to　protect　and　bring　them　through。
The　next　state…room　to　Cassy’s　was　ocomupied　by　a　French　lady；　named　De　Thoux；　who　was　acomompanied　by　a　fine　little　daughter；　a　child　of　some　twelve　summers。
This　lady；　having　gathered；　from　George’s　conversation；　that　he　was　from　Kentucky；　seemed　evidently　disposed　to　cultivate　his　acquaintance；　in　which　design　she　was　seconded　by　the　graces　of　her　little　girl；　who　was　about　as　pretty　a　plaything　as　ever　diverted　the　weariness　of　a　fortnight’s　trip　on　a　steamboat。
George’s　chair　was　often　placed　at　her　state…room　door；　and　Cassy；　as　she　sat　upon　the　guards；　could　hear　their　conversation。
Madame　de　Thoux　was　very　minute　in　her　inquiries　as　to　Kentucky；　where　she　said　she　had　resided　in　a　former　period　of　her　life。　George　discovered；　to　his　surprise；　that　her　former　residence　must　have　been　in　his　own　vicinity；　and　her　inquiries　showed　a　knowledge　of　people　and　things　in　his　vicinity；　that　was　perfectly　surprising　to　him。
“Do　you　know；”　said　Madame　de　Thoux　to　him；　one　day；　“of　any　man；　in　your　neighborhood；　of　the　name　of　Harris？”
“There　is　an　old　fellow；　of　that　name；　lives　not　far　from　my　father’s　place；”　said　George。　“We　never　have　had　much　intercourse　with　him；　though。”
“He　is　a　large　slave…owner；　I　believe；”　said　Madame　de　Thoux；　with　a　manner　which　seemed　to　betray　more　interest　than　she　was　exactly　willing　to　show。
“He　is；”　said　George；　looking　rather　surprised　at　her　manner。
“Did　you　ever　know　of　his　having—perhaps；　you　may　have　heard　of　his　having　a　mulatto　boy；　named　George？”
“O；　certainly；—George　Harris；—I　know　him　well；　he　married　a　servant　of　my　mother’s；　but　has　escaped；　now；　to　Canada。”
“He　has？”　said　Madame　de　Thoux；　quickly。　“Thank　God！”
George　looked　a　surprised　inquiry；　but　said　nothing。
Madame　de　Thoux　leaned　her　head　on　her　hand；　and　burst　into　tears。
“He　is　my　brother；”　she　said。
“Madame！”　said　George；　with　a　strong　acoment　of　surprise。
“Yes；”　said　Madame　de　Thoux；　lifting　her　head；　proudly；　and　wiping　her　tears；　“Mr。　Shelby；　George　Harris　is　my　brother！”
“I　am　perfectly　astonished；”　said　George；　pushing　back　his　chair　a　pace　or　two；　and　looking　at　Madame　de　Thoux。
“I　was　sold　to　the　South　when　he　was　a　boy；”　said　she。　“I　was　bought　by　a　good　and　generous　man。　He　took　me　with　him　to　the　West　Indies；　set　me　free；　and　married　me。　It　is　but　lately　that　he　died；　and　I　was　going　up　to　Kentucky；　to　see　if　I　could　find　and　redeem　my　brother。”
“I　heard　him　speak　of　a　sister　Emily；　that　was　sold　South；”　said　George。
“Yes；　indeed！　I　am　the　one；”　said　Madame　de　Thoux；—“tell　me　what　sort　of　a—”
“A　very　fine　young　man；”　said　George；　“notwithstanding　the　curse　of　slavery　that　lay　on　him。　He　sustained　a　first　rate　character；　both　for　intelligence　and　principle。　I　know；　you　see；”　he　said；　“because　he　married　in　our　family。”
“What　sort　of　a　girl？”　said　Madame　de　Thoux；　eagerly。
“A　treasure；”　said　George；　“a　beautiful；　intelligent；　amiable　girl。　Very　pious。　My　mother　had　brought　her　up；　and　trained　her　as　carefully；　almost；　as　a　daughter。　She　could　read　and　write；　embroider　and　sew；　beautifully；　and　was　a　beautiful　singer。”
“Was　she　born　in　your　house？”　said　Madame　de　Thoux。
“No。　Father　bought　her　once；　in　one　of　his　trips　to　New　Orleans；　and　brought　her　up　as　a　present　to　mother。　She　was　about　eight　or　nine　years　old；　then。　Father　would　never　tell　mother　what　he　gave　for　her；　but；　the　other　day；　in　looking　over　his　old　papers；　we　came　across　the　bill　of　sale。　He　paid　an　extravagant　sum　for　her；　to　be　sure。　I　suppose；　on　acomount　of　her　extraordinary　beauty。”
George　sat　with　his　back　to　Cassy；　and　did　not　see　the　absorbed　expression　of　her　countenance；　as　he　was　giving　these　details。
At　this　point　in　the　story；　she　touched　his　arm；　and；　with　a　face　perfectly　white　with　interest；　said；　“Do　you　know　the　names　of　the　people　he　bought　her　of？”
“A　man　of　the　name　of　Simmons；　I　think；　was　the　principal　in　the　transaction。　At　least；　I　think　that　was　the　name　on　the　bill　of　sale。”
“O；　my　God！”　said　Cassy；　and　fell　insensible　on　the　floor　of　the　cabin。
George　was　wide　awake　now；　and　so　was　Madame　de　Thoux。　Though　neither　of　them　could　conjecture　what　was　the　cause　of　Cassy’s　fainting；　still　they　made　all　the　tumult　which　is　proper　in　such　cases；—George　upsetting　a　wash…pitcher；　and　breaking　two　tumblers；　in　the　warmth　of　his　humanity；　and　various　ladies　in　the　cabin；　hearing　that　somebody　had　fainted；　crowded　the　state…room　door；　and　kept　out　all　the　air　they　possibly　could；　so　that；　on　the　whole；　everything　was　done　that　could　be　expected。
Poor　Cassy！　when　she　recovered；　turned　her　face　to　the　wall；　and　wept　and　sobbed　like　a　child；—perhaps；　mother；　you　can　tell　what　she　was　thinking　of！　Perhaps　you　cannot；—but　she　felt　as　sure；　in　that　hour；　that　God　had　had　mercy　on　her；　and　that　she　should　see　her　daughter；—as　she　did；　months　afterwards；—when—but　we　anticipate。
1　Hamlet；　Act　I；　scene　1；　lines　115…116
Chapter　43
Results
The　rest　of　our　story　is　soon　told。　George　Shelby；　interested；　as　any　other　young　man　might　be；　by　the　romance　of　the　incident；　no　less　than　by　feelings　of　humanity；　was　at　the　pains　to　send　to　Cassy　the　bill　of　sale　of　Eliza；　whose　date　and　name　all　corresponded　with　her　own　knowledge　of　facts；　and　felt　no　doubt　upon　her　mind　as　to　the　identity　of　her　child。　It　remained　now　only　for　her　to　trace　out　the　path　of　the　fugitives。
Madame　de　Thoux　and　she；　thus　drawn　together　by　the　singular　coincidence　of　their　fortunes；　proceeded　immediately　to　Canada；　and　began　a　tour　of　inquiry　among　the　stations；　where　the　numerous　fugitives　from　slavery　are　located。　At　Amherstberg　they　found　the　missionary　with　whom　George　and　Eliza　had　taken　shelter；　on　their　first　arrival　in　Canada；　and　through　him　were　enabled　to　trace　the　family　to　Montreal。
George　and　Eliza　had　now　been　five　years　free。　George　had　found　constant　ocomupation　in　the　shop　of　a　worthy　machinist；　where　he　had　been　earning　a　competent　support　for　his　family；　which；　in　the　mean　time；　had　been　increased　by　the　addition　of　another　daughter。
Little　Harry—a　fine　bright　boy—had　been　put　to　a　good　school；　and　was　making　rapid　proficiency　in　knowledge。
The　worthy　pastor　of　the　station；　in　Amherstberg；　where　George　had　first　landed；　was　so　much　interested　in　the　statements　of　Madame　de　Thoux　and　Cassy；　that　he　yielded　to　the　solicitations　of　the　former；　to　acomompany　them　to　Montreal；　in　their　search；—she　bearing　all　the　expense　of　the　expedition。
The　scene　now　changes　to　a　small；　neat　tenement；　in　the　outskirts　of　Montreal；　the　time；　evening。　A　cheerful　fire　blazes　on　the　hearth；　a　tea…table；　covered　with　a　snowy　cloth；　stands　prepared　for　the　evening　meal。　In　one　corner　of　the　room　was　a　table　covered　with　a　green　cloth；　where　was　an　open　writing…desk；　pens；　paper；　and　over　it　a　shelf　of　well…selected　books。
This　was　George’s　study。　The　same　zeal　for　self…improvement；　which　led　him　to　steal　the　much　coveted　arts　of　reading　and　writing；　amid　all　the　toil　and　discouragements　of　his　early　life；　still　led　him　to　devote　all　his　leisure　time　to　self…cultivation。
At　this　present　time；　he　is　seated　at　the　table；　making　notes　from　a　volume　of　the　family　library　he　has　been　reading。
“Come；　George；”　says　Eliza；　“you’ve　been　gone　all　day。　Do　put　down　that　book；　and　let’s　talk；　while　I’m　getting　tea；—do。”
And　little　Eliza　seconds　the　effort；　by　toddling　up　to　her　father；　and　trying　to　pull　the　book　out　of　his　hand；　and　install　herself　on　his　knee　as　a　substitute。
“O；　you　little　witch！”　says　George；　yielding；　as；　in　such　circumstances；　man　always　must。
“That’s　right；”　says　Eliza；　as　she　begins　to　cut　a　loaf　of　bread。　A　little　older　she　looks；　her　form　a　little　fuller；　her　air　more　matronly　than　of　yore；　but　evidently　contented　and　happy　as　woman　need　be。
“Harry；　my　boy；　how　did　you　come　on　in　that　sum；　today？”　says　George；　as　he　laid　his　land　on　his　son’s　head。
Harry　has　lost　his　long　curls；　but　he　can　never　lose　those　eyes　and　eyelashes；　and　that　fine；　bold　brow；　that　flushes　with　triumph；　as　he　answers；　“I　did　it；　every　bit　of　it；　myself；　father；　and　nobody　helped　me！”
“That’s　right；”　says　his　father；　“depend　on　yourself；　my　son。　You　have　a　better　chance　than　ever　your　poor　father　had。”
At　this　moment；　there　is　a　rap　at　the　door；　and　Eliza　goes　and　opens　it。　The　delighted—“Why！　this　you？”—calls　up　her　husband；　and　the　good　pastor　of　Amherstberg　is　welcomed。　There　are　two　more　women　with　him；　and　Eliza　asks　them　to　sit　down。
Now；　if　the　truth　must　be　told；　the　honest　pastor　had　arranged　a　little　programme；　acomording　to　which　this　affair　was　to　develop　itself；　and；　on　the　way　up；　all　had　very　cautiously　and　prudently　exhorted　each　other　not　to　let　things　out；　except　acomording　to　previous　arrangement。
What　was　the　good　man’s　consternation；　therefore；　just　as　he　had　motioned　to　the　ladies　to　be　seated；　and　was　taking　out　his　pocket…handkerchief　to　wipe　his　mouth；　so　as　to　proceed　to　his　introductory　speech　in　good　order；　when　Madame　de　Thoux　upset　the　whole　plan；　by　throwing　her　arms　around　George’s　neck；　and　letting　all　out　at　once；　by　saying；　“O；　George！　don’t　you　know　me？　I’m　your　sister　Emily。”
Cassy　had　seated　herself　more　composedly；　and　would　have　carried　on　her　part　very　well；　had　not　little　Eliza　suddenly　appeared　before　her　in　exact　shape　and　form；　every　outline　and　curl；　just　as　her　daughter　was　when　she　saw　her　last。　The　little　thing　peered　up　in　her　face；　and　Cassy　caught　her　up　in　her　arms；　pressed　her　to　her　bosom；　saying；　what；　at　the　moment　she　really　believed；　“Darling；　I’m　your　mother！”
In　fact；　it　was　a　troublesome　matter　to　do　up　exactly　in　proper　order；　but　the　good　pastor；　at　last；　sucomeeded　in　getting　everybody　quiet；　and　delivering　the　speech　with　which　he　had　intended　to　open　the　exercises；　and　in　which；　at　last；　he　sucomeeded　so　well；　that　his　whole　audience　were　sobbing　about　him　in　a　manner　that　ought　to　satisfy　any　orator；　ancient　or　modern。
They　knelt　together；　and　the　good　man　prayed；—for　there　are　some　feelings　so　agitated　and　tumultuous；　that　they　can　find　rest　only　by　being　poured　into　the　bosom　of　Almighty　love；—and　then；　rising　up；　the　new…found　family　embraced　each　other；　with　a　holy　trust　in　Him；　who　from　such　peril　and　dangers；　and　by　such　unknown　ways；　had　brought　them　together。
The　note…book　of　a　missionary；　among　the　Canadian　fugitives；　contains　truth　stranger　than　fiction。　How　can　it　be　otherwise；　when　a　system　prevails　which　whirls　families　and　scatters　their　members；　as　the　wind　whirls　and　scatters　the　leaves　of　autumn？　These　shores　of　refuge；　like　the　eternal　shore；　often　unite　again；　in　glad　communion；　hearts　that　for　long　years　have　mourned　each　other　as　lost。　And　affecting　beyond　expression　is　the　earnestness　with　which　every　new　arrival　among　them　is　met；　if；　perchance；　it　may　bring　tidings　of　mother；　sister；　child　or　wife；　still　lost　to　view　in　the　shadows　of　slavery。
Deeds　of　heroism　are　wrought　here　more　than　those　of　romance；　when　defying　torture；　and　braving　death　itself；　the　fugitive　voluntarily　threads　his　way　back　to　the　terrors　and　perils　of　that　dark　land；　that　he　may　bring　out　his　sister；　or　mother；　or　wife。
One　young　man；　of　whom　a　missionary　has　told　us；　twice　re…captured；　and　suffering　shameful　stripes　for　his　heroism；　had　escaped　again；　and；　in　a　letter　which　we　heard　read；　tells　his　friends　that　he　is　going　back　a　third　time；　that　he　may；　at　last；　bring　away　his　sister。　My　good　sir；　is　this　man　a　hero；　or　a　criminal？　Would　not　you　do　as　much　for　your　sister？　And　can　you　blame　him？
But；　to　return　to　our　friends；　whom　we　left　wiping　their　eyes；　and　recovering　themselves　from　too　great　and　sudden　a　joy。　They　are　now　seated　around　the　social　board；　and　are　getting　decidedly　companionable；　only　that　Cassy；　who　keeps　little　Eliza　on　her　lap；　ocomasionally　squeezes　the　little　thing；　in　a　manner　that　rather　astonishes　her；　and　obstinately　refuses　to　have　her　mouth　stuffed　with　cake　to　the　extent　the　little　one　desires；—alleging；　what　the　child　rather　wonders　at；　that　she　has　got　something　better　than　cake；　and　doesn’t　want　it。
And；　indeed；　in　two　or　three　days；　such　a　change　has　passed　over　Cassy；　that　our　readers　would　scarcely　know　her。　The　despairing；　haggard　expression　of　her　face　had　given　way　to　one　of　gentle　trust。　She　seemed　to　sink；　at　once；　into　the　bosom　of　the　family；　and　take　the　little　ones　into　her　heart；　as　something　for　which　it　long　had　waited。　Indeed；　her　love　seemed　to　flow　more　naturally　to　the　little　Eliza　than　to　her　own　daughter；　for　she　was　the　exact　image　and　body　of　the　child　whom　she　had　lost。　The　little　one　was　a　flowery　bond　between　mother　and　daughter；　through　whom　grew　up　acquaintanceship　and　affection。　Eliza’s　steady；　consistent　piety；　regulated　by　the　constant　reading　of　the　sacred　word；　made　her　a　proper　guide　for　the　shattered　and　wearied　mind　of　her　mother。　Cassy　yielded　at　once；　and　with　her　whole　soul；　to　every　good　influence；　and　became　a　devout　and　tender　Christian。
After　a　day　or　two；　Madame　de　Thoux　told　her　brother　more　particularly　of　her　affairs。　The　death　of　her　husband　had　left　her　an　ample　fortune；　which　she　generously　offered　to　share　with　the　family。　When　she　asked　George　what　way　she　could　best　apply　it　for　him；　he　answered；　“Give　me　an　education；　Emily；　that　has　always　been　my　heart’s　desire。　Then；　I　can　do　all　the　rest。”
On　mature　deliberation；　it　was　decided　that　the　whole　family　should　go；　for　some　years；　to　France；　whither　they　sailed；　carrying　Emmeline　with　them。
The