英语天堂-第84部分

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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　good　looks　of　the　latter　won　the　affection　of　the　first　mate　of　the　vessel；　and；　shortly　after　entering　the　port；　she　became　his　wife。
George　remained　four　years　at　a　French　university；　and；　applying　himself　with　an　unintermitted　zeal；　obtained　a　very　thorough　education。
Political　troubles　in　France；　at　last；　led　the　family　again　to　seek　an　asylum　in　this　country。
George’s　feelings　and　views；　as　an　educated　man；　may　be　best　expressed　in　a　letter　to　one　of　his　friends。
“I　feel　somewhat　at　a　loss；　as　to　my　future　course。　True；　as　you　have　said　to　me；　I　might　mingle　in　the　circles　of　the　whites；　in　this　country；　my　shade　of　color　is　so　slight；　and　that　of　my　wife　and　family　scarce　perceptible。　Well；　perhaps；　on　sufferance；　I　might。　But；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　have　no　wish　to。
“My　sympathies　are　not　for　my　father’s　race；　but　for　my　mother’s。　To　him　I　was　no　more　than　a　fine　dog　or　horse：　to　my　poor　heart…broken　mother　I　was　a　child；　and；　though　I　never　saw　her；　after　the　cruel　sale　that　separated　us；　till　she　died；　yet　I　know　she　always　loved　me　dearly。　I　know　it　by　my　own　heart。　When　I　think　of　all　she　suffered；　of　my　own　early　sufferings；　of　the　distresses　and　struggles　of　my　heroic　wife；　of　my　sister；　sold　in　the　New　Orleans　slave…market；—though　I　hope　to　have　no　unchristian　sentiments；　yet　I　may　be　excused　for　saying；　I　have　no　wish　to　pass　for　an　American；　or　to　identify　myself　with　them。
“It　is　with　the　oppressed；　enslaved　African　race　that　I　cast　in　my　lot；　and；　if　I　wished　anything；　I　would　wish　myself　two　shades　darker；　rather　than　one　lighter。
“The　desire　and　yearning　of　my　soul　is　for　an　African　nationality。　I　want　a　people　that　shall　have　a　tangible；　separate　existence　of　its　own；　and　where　am　I　to　look　for　it？　Not　in　Hayti；　for　in　Hayti　they　had　nothing　to　start　with。　A　stream　cannot　rise　above　its　fountain。　The　race　that　formed　the　character　of　the　Haytiens　was　a　worn…out；　effeminate　one；　and；　of　course；　the　subject　race　will　be　centuries　in　rising　to　anything。
“Where；　then；　shall　I　look？　On　the　shores　of　Africa　I　see　a　republic；—a　republic　formed　of　picked　men；　who；　by　energy　and　self…educating　force；　have；　in　many　cases；　individually；　raised　themselves　above　a　condition　of　slavery。　Having　gone　through　a　preparatory　stage　of　feebleness；　this　republic　has；　at　last；　become　an　acknowledged　nation　on　the　face　of　the　earth；—acknowledged　by　both　France　and　England。　There　it　is　my　wish　to　go；　and　find　myself　a　people。
“I　am　aware；　now；　that　I　shall　have　you　all　against　me；　but；　before　you　strike；　hear　me。　During　my　stay　in　France；　I　have　followed　up；　with　intense　interest；　the　history　of　my　people　in　America。　I　have　noted　the　struggle　between　abolitionist　and　colonizationist；　and　have　received　some　impressions；　as　a　distant　spectator；　which　could　never　have　ocomurred　to　me　as　a　participator。
“I　grant　that　this　Liberia　may　have　subserved　all　sorts　of　purposes；　by　being　played　off；　in　the　hands　of　our　oppressors；　against　us。　Doubtless　the　scheme　may　have　been　used；　in　unjustifiable　ways；　as　a　means　of　retarding　our　emancipation。　But　the　question　to　me　is；　Is　there　not　a　God　above　all　man’s　schemes？　May　He　not　have　over…ruled　their　designs；　and　founded　for　us　a　nation　by　them？
“In　these　days；　a　nation　is　born　in　a　day。　A　nation　starts；　now；　with　all　the　great　problems　of　republican　life　and　civilization　wrought　out　to　its　hand；—it　has　not　to　discover；　but　only　to　apply。　Let　us；　then；　all　take　hold　together；　with　all　our　might；　and　see　what　we　can　do　with　this　new　enterprise；　and　the　whole　splendid　continent　of　Africa　opens　before　us　and　our　children。　Our　nation　shall　roll　the　tide　of　civilization　and　Christianity　along　its　shores；　and　plant　there　mighty　republics；　that；　growing　with　the　rapidity　of　tropical　vegetation；　shall　be　for　all　coming　ages。
“Do　you　say　that　I　am　deserting　my　enslaved　brethren？　I　think　not。　If　I　forget　them　one　hour；　one　moment　of　my　life；　so　may　God　forget　me！　But；　what　can　I　do　for　them；　here？　Can　I　break　their　chains？　No；　not　as　an　individual；　but；　let　me　go　and　form　part　of　a　nation；　which　shall　have　a　voice　in　the　councils　of　nations；　and　then　we　can　speak。　A　nation　has　a　right　to　argue；　remonstrate；　implore；　and　present　the　cause　of　its　race；—which　an　individual　has　not。
“If　Europe　ever　becomes　a　grand　council　of　free　nations；—as　I　trust　in　God　it　will；—if；　there；　serfdom；　and　all　unjust　and　oppressive　social　inequalities；　are　done　away；　and　if　they；　as　France　and　England　have　done；　acknowledge　our　position；—then；　in　the　great　congress　of　nations；　we　will　make　our　appeal；　and　present　the　cause　of　our　enslaved　and　suffering　race；　and　it　cannot　be　that　free；　enlightened　America　will　not　then　desire　to　wipe　from　her　escutcheon　that　bar　sinister　which　disgraces　her　among　nations；　and　is　as　truly　a　curse　to　her　as　to　the　enslaved。
“But；　you　will　tell　me；　our　race　have　equal　rights　to　mingle　in　the　American　republic　as　the　Irishman；　the　German；　the　Swede。　Granted；　they　have。　We　ought　to　be　free　to　meet　and　mingle；—to　rise　by　our　individual　worth；　without　any　consideration　of　caste　or　color；　and　they　who　deny　us　this　right　are　false　to　their　own　professed　principles　of　human　equality。　We　ought；　in　particular；　to　be　allowed　here。　We　have　more　than　the　rights　of　common　men；—we　have　the　claim　of　an　injured　race　for　reparation。　But；　then；　I　do　not　want　it；　I　want　a　country；　a　nation；　of　my　own。　I　think　that　the　African　race　has　peculiarities；　yet　to　be　unfolded　in　the　light　of　civilization　and　Christianity；　which；　if　not　the　same　with　those　of　the　Anglo…Saxon；　may　prove　to　be；　morally；　of　even　a　higher　type。
“To　the　Anglo…Saxon　race　has　been　intrusted　the　destinies　of　the　world；　during　its　pioneer　period　of　struggle　and　conflict。　To　that　mission　its　stern；　inflexible；　energetic　elements；　were　well　adapted；　but；　as　a　Christian；　I　look　for　another　era　to　arise。　On　its　borders　I　trust　we　stand；　and　the　throes　that　now　convulse　the　nations　are；　to　my　hope；　but　the　birth…pangs　of　an　hour　of　universal　peace　and　brotherhood。
“I　trust　that　the　development　of　Africa　is　to　be　essentially　a　Christian　one。　If　not　a　dominant　and　commanding　race；　they　are；　at　least；　an　affectionate；　magnanimous；　and　forgiving　one。　Having　been　called　in　the　furnace　of　injustice　and　oppression；　they　have　need　to　bind　closer　to　their　hearts　that　sublime　doctrine　of　love　and　forgiveness；　through　which　alone　they　are　to　conquer；　which　it　is　to　be　their　mission　to　spread　over　the　continent　of　Africa。
“In　myself；　I　confess；　I　am　feeble　for　this；—full　half　the　blood　in　my　veins　is　the　hot　and　hasty　Saxon；　but　I　have　an　eloquent　preacher　of　the　Gospel　ever　by　my　side；　in　the　person　of　my　beautiful　wife。　When　I　wander；　her　gentler　spirit　ever　restores　me；　and　keeps　before　my　eyes　the　Christian　calling　and　mission　of　our　race。　As　a　Christian　patriot；　as　a　teacher　of　Christianity；　I　go　to　my　country；—my　chosen；　my　glorious　Africa！—and　to　her；　in　my　heart；　I　sometimes　apply　those　splendid　words　of　prophecy：　‘Whereas　thou　hast　been　forsaken　and　hated；　so　that　no　man　went　through　thee；　I　will　make　thee　an　eternal　excellence；　a　joy　of　many　generations！’
“You　will　call　me　an　enthusiast：　you　will　tell　me　that　I　have　not　well　considered　what　I　am　undertaking。　But　I　have　considered；　and　counted　the　cost。　I　go　to　Liberia；　not　as　an　Elysium　of　romance；　but　as　to　a　field　of　work。　I　expect　to　work　with　both　hands；—to　work　hard；　to　work　against　all　sorts　of　difficulties　and　discouragements；　and　to　work　till　I　die。　This　is　what　I　go　for；　and　in　this　I　am　quite　sure　I　shall　not　be　disappointed。
“Whatever　you　may　think　of　my　determination；　do　not　divorce　me　from　your　confidence；　and　think　that；　in　whatever　I　do；　I　act　with　a　heart　wholly　given　to　my　people。
“George　Harris。”
George；　with　his　wife；　children；　sister　and　mother；　embarked　for　Africa；　some　few　weeks　after。　If　we　are　not　mistaken；　the　world　will　yet　hear　from　him　there。
Of　our　other　characters　we　have　nothing　very　particular　to　write；　except　a　word　relating　to　Miss　Ophelia　and　Topsy；　and　a　farewell　chapter；　which　we　shall　dedicate　to　George　Shelby。
Miss　Ophelia　took　Topsy　home　to　Vermont　with　her；　much　to　the　surprise　of　the　grave　deliberative　body　whom　a　New　Englander　recognizes　under　the　term　“Our　folks。”　“Our　folks；”　at　first；　thought　it　an　odd　and　unnecessary　addition　to　their　well…trained　domestic　establishment；　but；　so　thoroughly　efficient　was　Miss　Ophelia　in　her　conscientious　endeavor　to　do　her　duty　by　her　eleve；　that　the　child　rapidly　grew　in　grace　and　in　favor　with　the　family　and　neighborhood。　At　the　age　of　womanhood；　she　was；　by　her　own　request；　baptized；　and　became　a　member　of　the　Christian　church　in　the　place；　and　showed　so　much　intelligence；　activity　and　zeal；　and　desire　to　do　good　in　the　world；　that　she　was　at　last　recommended；　and　approved　as　a　missionary　to　one　of　the　stations　in　Africa；　and　we　have　heard　that　the　same　activity　and　ingenuity　which；　when　a　child；　made　her　so　multiform　and　restless　in　her　developments；　is　now　employed；　in　a　safer　and　wholesomer　manner；　in　teaching　the　children　of　her　own　country。
P。S。—It　will　be　a　satisfaction　to　some　mother；　also；　to　state；　that　some　inquiries；　which　were　set　on　foot　by　Madame　de　Thoux；　have　resulted　recently　in　the　discovery　of　Cassy’s　son。　Being　a　young　man　of　energy；　he　had　escaped；　some　years　before　his　mother；　and　been　received　and　educated　by　friends　of　the　oppressed　in　the　north。　He　will　soon　follow　his　family　to　Africa。
Chapter　44
The　Liberator
George　Shelby　had　written　to　his　mother　merely　a　line；　stating　the　day　that　she　might　expect　him　home。　Of　the　death　scene　of　his　old　friend　he　had　not　the　heart　to　write。　He　had　tried　several　times；　and　only　sucomeeded　in　half　choking　himself；　and　invariably　finished　by　tearing　up　the　paper；　wiping　his　eyes；　and　rushing　somewhere　to　get　quiet。
There　was　a　pleased　bustle　all　though　the　Shelby　mansion；　that　day；　in　expectation　of　the　arrival　of　young　Mas’r　George。
Mrs。　Shelby　was　seated　in　her　comfortable　parlor；　where　a　cheerful　hickory　fire　was　dispelling　the　chill　of　the　late　autumn　evening。　A　supper…table；　glittering　with　plate　and　cut　glass；　was　set　out；　on　whose　arrangements　our　former　friend；　old　Chloe；　was　presiding。
Arrayed　in　a　new　calico　dress；　with　clean；　white　apron；　and　high；　well…starched　turban；　her　black　polished　face　glowing　with　satisfaction；　she　lingered；　with　needless　punctiliousness；　around　the　arrangements　of　the　table；　merely　as　an　excuse　for　talking　a　little　to　her　mistress。
“Laws；　now！　won’t　it　look　natural　to　him？”　she　said。　“Thar；—I　set　his　plate　just　whar　he　likes　it；round　by　the　fire。　Mas’r　George　allers　wants　de　warm　seat。　O；　go　way！—why　didn’t　Sally　get　out　de　best　tea…pot；—de　little　new　one；　Mas’r　George　got　for　Missis；　Christmas？　I’ll　have　it　out！　And　Missis　has　heard　from　Mas’r　George？”　she　said；　inquiringly。
“Yes；　Chloe；　but　only　a　line；　just　to　say　he　would　be　home　tonight；　if　he　could；—that’s　all。”
“Didn’t　say　nothin’　’bout　my　old　man；　s’pose？”　said　Chloe；　still　fidgeting　with　the　tea…cups。
“No；　he　didn’t。　He　did　not　speak　of　anything；　Chloe。　He　said　he　would　tell　all；　when　he　got　home。”
“Jes　like　Mas’r　George；—he’s　allers　so　ferce　for　tellin’　everything　hisself。　I　allers　minded　dat　ar　in　Mas’r　George。　Don’t　see；　for　my　part；　how　white　people　gen’lly　can　bar　to　hev　to　write　things　much　as　they　do；　writin’　’s　such　slow；　oneasy　kind　o’　work。”
Mrs。　Shelby　smiled。
“I’m　a　thinkin’　my　old　man　won’t　know　de　boys　and　de　baby。　Lor’！　she’s　de　biggest　gal；　now；—good　she　is；　too；　and　peart；　Polly　is。　She’s　out　to　the　house；　now；　watchin’　de　hoe…cake。　I　’s　got　jist　de　very　pattern　my　old　man　liked　so　much；　a　bakin’。　Jist　sich　as　I　gin　him　the　mornin’　he　was　took　off。　Lord　bless　us！　how　I　felt；　dat　ar　morning！”
Mrs。　Shelby　sighed；　and　felt　a　heavy　weight　on　her　heart；　at　this　allusion。　She　had　felt　uneasy；　ever　since　she　received　her　son’s　letter；　lest　something　should　prove　to　be　hidden　behind　the　veil　of　silence　which　he　had　drawn。
“Missis　has　got　dem　bills？”　said　Chloe；　anxiously。
“Yes；　Chloe。”
“’Cause　I　wants　to　show　my　old　man　dem　very　bills　de　perfectioner　gave　me。　‘And；’　say　he；　‘Chloe；　I　wish　you’d　stay　longer。’　‘Thank　you；　Mas’r；’　says　I；　‘I　would；　only　my　old　man’s　coming　home；　and　Missis；—she　can’t　do　without　me　no　longer。’　There’s　jist　what　I　telled　him。　Berry　nice　man；　dat　Mas’r　Jones　was。”
Chloe　had　pertinaciously　insisted　that　the　very　bills　in　which　her　wages　had　been　paid　should　be　preserved；　to　show　her　husband；　in　memorial　of　her　capability。　And　Mrs。　Shelby　had　readily　consented　to　humor　her　in　the　request。
“He　won’t　know　Polly；—my　old　man　won’t。　Laws；　it’s　five　year　since　they　tuck　him！　She　was　a　baby　den；—couldn’t　but　jist　stand。　Remember　how　tickled　he　used　to　be；　cause　she　would　keep　a　fallin’　over；　when　she　sot　out　to　walk。　Laws　a　me！”
The　rattling　of　wheels　now　was　heard。
“Mas’r　George！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　starting　to　the　window。
Mrs。　Shelby　ran　to　the　entry　door；　and　was　folded　in　the　arms　of　her　son。　Aunt　Chloe　stood　anxiously　straining　her　eyes　out　into　the　darkness。
“O；　poor　Aunt　Chloe！”　said　George；　stopping　compassionately；　and　taking　her　hard；　black　hand　between　both　his；　“I’d　have　given　all　my　fortune　to　have　brought　him　with　me；　but　he’s　gone　to　a　better　country。”
There　was　a　passionate　exclamation　from　Mrs。　Shelby；　but　Aunt　Chloe　said　nothing。
The　party　entered　the　supper…room。　The　money；　of　which　Chloe　was　so　proud；　was　still　lying　on　the　table。
“Thar；”　said　she；　gathering　it　up；　and　holding　it；　with　a　trembling　hand；　to　her　mistress；　“don’t　never　want　to　see　nor　hear　on　’t　again。　Jist　as　I　knew　’t　would　be；—sold；　and　murdered　on　dem　ar’　old　plantations！”
Chloe　turned；　and　was　walking　proudly　out　of　the　room。　Mrs。　Shelby　followed　her　softly；　and　took　one　of　her　hands；　drew　her　down　into　a　chair；　and　sat　down　by　her。
“My　poor；　good　Chloe！”　said　she。
Chloe　leaned　her　head　on　her　mistress’　shoulder；　and　sobbed　out；　“O　Missis！　’scuse　me；　my　heart’s　broke；—dat’s　all！”
“I　know　it　is；”　said　Mrs。　Shelby；　as　her　tears　fell　fast；　“and　I　cannot　heal　it；　but　Jesus　can。　He　healeth　the　broken　hearted；　and　bindeth　up　their　wounds。”
There　was　a　silence　for　some　time；　and　all　wept　together。　At　last；　George；　sitting　down　beside　the　mourner；　took　her　hand；　and；　with　simple　pathos；　repeated　the　triumphant　scene　of　her　husband’s　death；　and　his　last　messages　of　love。
About　a　month　after　this；　one　morning；　all　the　servants　of　the　Shelby　estate　were　convened　together　in　the　great　hall　that　ran　through　the　house；　to　hear　a　few　words　from　their　young　master。
To　the　surprise　of　all；　he　appeared　among　them　with　a　bundle　of　papers　in　his　hand；　containing　a　certificate　of　freedom　to　every　one　on　the　place；　which　he　read　sucomessively；　and　presented；　amid　the　sobs　and　tears　and　shouts　of　all　present。
Many；　however；　pressed　around　him；　earnestly　begging　him　not　to　send　them　away；　and；　with　anxious　faces；　tendering　back　their　free　papers。
“We　don’t　want　to　be　no　freer　than　we　are。　We’s　allers　had　all　we　wanted。　We　don’t　want　to　leave