英语天堂-第85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！


“We　don’t　want　to　be　no　freer　than　we　are。　We’s　allers　had　all　we　wanted。　We　don’t　want　to　leave　de　ole　place；　and　Mas’r　and　Missis；　and　de　rest！”
“My　good　friends；”　said　George；　as　soon　as　he　could　get　a　silence；　“there’ll　be　no　need　for　you　to　leave　me。　The　place　wants　as　many　hands　to　work　it　as　it　did　before。　We　need　the　same　about　the　house　that　we　did　before。　But；　you　are　now　free　men　and　free　women。　I　shall　pay　you　wages　for　your　work；　such　as　we　shall　agree　on。　The　advantage　is；　that　in　case　of　my　getting　in　debt；　or　dying；—things　that　might　happen；—you　cannot　now　be　taken　up　and　sold。　I　expect　to　carry　on　the　estate；　and　to　teach　you　what；　perhaps；　it　will　take　you　some　time　to　learn；—how　to　use　the　rights　I　give　you　as　free　men　and　women。　I　expect　you　to　be　good；　and　willing　to　learn；　and　I　trust　in　God　that　I　shall　be　faithful；　and　willing　to　teach。　And　now；　my　friends；　look　up；　and　thank　God　for　the　blessing　of　freedom。”
An　aged；　partriarchal　negro；　who　had　grown　gray　and　blind　on　the　estate；　now　rose；　and；　lifting　his　trembling　hand　said；　“Let　us　give　thanks　unto　the　Lord！”　As　all　kneeled　by　one　consent；　a　more　touching　and　hearty　Te　Deum　never　ascended　to　heaven；　though　borne　on　the　peal　of　organ；　bell　and　cannon；　than　came　from　that　honest　old　heart。
On　rising；　another　struck　up　a　Methodist　hymn；　of　which　the　burden　was；
“The　year　of　Jubilee　is　come；—
Return；　ye　ransomed　sinners；　home。”
“One　thing　more；”　said　George；　as　he　stopped　the　congratulations　of　the　throng；　“you　all　remember　our　good　old　Uncle　Tom？”
George　here　gave　a　short　narration　of　the　scene　of　his　death；　and　of　his　loving　farewell　to　all　on　the　place；　and　added；
“It　was　on　his　grave；　my　friends；　that　I　resolved；　before　God；　that　I　would　never　own　another　slave；　while　it　was　possible　to　free　him；　that　nobody；　through　me；　should　ever　run　the　risk　of　being　parted　from　home　and　friends；　and　dying　on　a　lonely　plantation；　as　he　died。　So；　when　you　rejoice　in　your　freedom；　think　that　you　owe　it　to　that　good　old　soul；　and　pay　it　back　in　kindness　to　his　wife　and　children。　Think　of　your　freedom；　every　time　you　see　Uncle　Tom’s　Cabin；　and　let　it　be　a　memorial　to　put　you　all　in　mind　to　follow　in　his　steps；　and　be　honest　and　faithful　and　Christian　as　he　was。”
Chapter　45
Concluding　Remarks
The　writer　has　often　been　inquired　of；　by　correspondents　from　different　parts　of　the　country；　whether　this　narrative　is　a　true　one；　and　to　these　inquiries　she　will　give　one　general　answer。
The　separate　incidents　that　compose　the　narrative　are；　to　a　very　great　extent；　authentic；　ocomurring；　many　of　them；　either　under　her　own　observation；　or　that　of　her　personal　friends。　She　or　her　friends　have　observed　characters　the　counterpart　of　almost　all　that　are　here　introduced；　and　many　of　the　sayings　are　word　for　word　as　heard　herself；　or　reported　to　her。
The　personal　appearance　of　Eliza；　the　character　ascribed　to　her；　are　sketches　drawn　from　life。　The　incorruptible　fidelity；　piety　and　honesty；　of　Uncle　Tom；　had　more　than　one　development；　to　her　personal　knowledge。　Some　of　the　most　deeply　tragic　and　romantic；　some　of　the　most　terrible　incidents；　have　also　their　paralle　in　reality。　The　incident　of　the　mother’s　crossing　the　Ohio　river　on　the　ice　is　a　well…known　fact。　The　story　of　“old　Prue；”　in　the　second　volume；　was　an　incident　that　fell　under　the　personal　observation　of　a　brother　of　the　writer；　then　collecting…clerk　to　a　large　mercantile　house；　in　New　Orleans。　From　the　same　source　was　derived　the　character　of　the　planter　Legree。　Of　him　her　brother　thus　wrote；　speaking　of　visiting　his　plantation；　on　a　collecting　tour；　“He　actually　made　me　feel　of　his　fist；　which　was　like　a　blacksmith’s　hammer；　or　a　nodule　of　iron；　telling　me　that　it　was　‘calloused　with　knocking　down　niggers。’　When　I　left　the　plantation；　I　drew　a　long　breath；　and　felt　as　if　I　had　escaped　from　an　ogre’s　den。”
That　the　tragical　fate　of　Tom；　also；　has　too　many　times　had　its　parallel；　there　are　living　witnesses；　all　over　our　land；　to　testify。　Let　it　be　remembered　that　in　all　southern　states　it　is　a　principle　of　jurisprudence　that　no　person　of　colored　lineage　can　testify　in　a　suit　against　a　white；　and　it　will　be　easy　to　see　that　such　a　case　may　ocomur；　wherever　there　is　a　man　whose　passions　outweigh　his　interests；　and　a　slave　who　has　manhood　or　principle　enough　to　resist　his　will。　There　is；　actually；　nothing　to　protect　the　slave’s　life；　but　the　character　of　the　master。　Facts　too　shocking　to　be　contemplated　ocomasionally　force　their　way　to　the　public　ear；　and　the　comment　that　one　often　hears　made　on　them　is　more　shocking　than　the　thing　itself。　It　is　said；　“Very　likely　such　cases　may　now　and　then　ocomur；　but　they　are　no　sample　of　general　practice。”　If　the　laws　of　New　England　were　so　arranged　that　a　master　could　now　and　then　torture　an　apprentice　to　death；　would　it　be　received　with　equal　composure？　Would　it　be　said；　“These　cases　are　rare；　and　no　samples　of　general　practice”？　This　injustice　is　an　inherent　one　in　the　slave　system；—it　cannot　exist　without　it。
The　public　and　shameless　sale　of　beautiful　mulatto　and　quadroon　girls　has　acquired　a　notoriety；　from　the　incidents　following　the　capture　of　the　Pearl。　We　extract　the　following　from　the　speech　of　Hon。　Horace　Mann；　one　of　the　legal　counsel　for　the　defendants　in　that　case。　He　says：　“In　that　company　of　seventy…six　persons；　who　attempted；　in　1848；　to　escape　from　the　District　of　Columbia　in　the　schooner　Pearl；　and　whose　officers　I　assisted　in　defending；　there　were　several　young　and　healthy　girls；　who　had　those　peculiar　attractions　of　form　and　feature　which　connoisseurs　prize　so　highly。　Elizabeth　Russel　was　one　of　them。　She　immediately　fell　into　the　slave…trader’s　fangs；　and　was　doomed　for　the　New　Orleans　market。　The　hearts　of　those　that　saw　her　were　touched　with　pity　for　her　fate。　They　offered　eighteen　hundred　dollars　to　redeem　her；　and　some　there　were　who　offered　to　give；　that　would　not　have　much　left　after　the　gift；　but　the　fiend　of　a　slave…trader　was　inexorable。　She　was　despatched　to　New　Orleans；　but；　when　about　half　way　there；　God　had　mercy　on　her；　and　smote　her　with　death。　There　were　two　girls　named　Edmundson　in　the　same　company。　When　about　to　be　sent　to　the　same　market；　an　older　sister　went　to　the　shambles；　to　plead　with　the　wretch　who　owned　them；　for　the　love　of　God；　to　spare　his　victims。　He　bantered　her；　telling　what　fine　dresses　and　fine　furniture　they　would　have。　‘Yes；’　she　said；　‘that　may　do　very　well　in　this　life；　but　what　will　become　of　them　in　the　next？’　They　too　were　sent　to　New　Orleans；　but　were　afterwards　redeemed；　at　an　enormous　ransom；　and　brought　back。”　Is　it　not　plain；　from　this；　that　the　histories　of　Emmeline　and　Cassy　may　have　many　counterparts？
Justice；　too；　obliges　the　author　to　state　that　the　fairness　of　mind　and　generosity　attributed　to　St。　Clare　are　not　without　a　parallel；　as　the　following　anecdote　will　show。　A　few　years　since；　a　young　southern　gentleman　was　in　Cincinnati；　with　a　favorite　servant；　who　had　been　his　personal　attendant　from　a　boy。　The　young　man　took　advantage　of　this　opportunity　to　secure　his　own　freedom；　and　fled　to　the　protection　of　a　Quaker；　who　was　quite　noted　in　affairs　of　this　kind。　The　owner　was　exceedingly　indignant。　He　had　always　treated　the　slave　with　such　indulgence；　and　his　confidence　in　his　affection　was　such；　that　he　believed　he　must　have　been　practised　upon　to　induce　him　to　revolt　from　him。　He　visited　the　Quaker；　in　high　anger；　but；　being　possessed　of　uncommon　candor　and　fairness；　was　soon　quieted　by　his　arguments　and　representations。　It　was　a　side　of　the　subject　which　he　never　had　heard；—never　had　thought　on；　and　he　immediately　told　the　Quaker　that；　if　his　slave　would；　to　his　own　face；　say　that　it　was　his　desire　to　be　free；　he　would　liberate　him。　An　interview　was　forthwith　procured；　and　Nathan　was　asked　by　his　young　master　whether　he　had　ever　had　any　reason　to　complain　of　his　treatment；　in　any　respect。
“No；　Mas’r；”　said　Nathan；　“you’ve　always　been　good　to　me。”
“Well；　then；　why　do　you　want　to　leave　me？”
“Mas’r　may　die；　and　then　who　get　me？—I’d　rather　be　a　free　man。”
After　some　deliberation；　the　young　master　replied；　“Nathan；　in　your　place；　I　think　I　should　feel　very　much　so；　myself。　You　are　free。”
He　immediately　made　him　out　free　papers；　deposited　a　sum　of　money　in　the　hands　of　the　Quaker；　to　be　judiciously　used　in　assisting　him　to　start　in　life；　and　left　a　very　sensible　and　kind　letter　of　advice　to　the　young　man。　That　letter　was　for　some　time　in　the　writer’s　hands。
The　author　hopes　she　has　done　justice　to　that　nobility；　generosity；　and　humanity；　which　in　many　cases　characterize　individuals　at　the；　South。　Such　instances　save　us　from　utter　despair　of　our　kind。　But；　she　asks　any　person；　who　knows　the　world；　are　such　characters　common；　anywhere？
For　many　years　of　her　life；　the　author　avoided　all　reading　upon　or　allusion　to　the　subject　of　slavery；　considering　it　as　too　painful　to　be　inquired　into；　and　one　which　advancing　light　and　civlization　would　certainly　live　down。　But；　since　the　legislative　act　of　1850；　when　she　heard；　with　perfect　surprise　and　consternation；　Christian　and　humane　people　actually　recommending　the　remanding　escaped　fugitives　into　slavery；　as　a　duty　binding　on　good　citizens；—when　she　heard；　on　all　hands；　from　kind；　compassionate　and　estimable　people；　in　the　free　states　of　the　North；　deliberations　and　discussions　as　to　what　Christian　duty　could　be　on　this　head；—she　could　only　think；　These　men　and　Christians　cannot　know　what　slavery　is；　if　they　did；　such　a　question　could　never　be　open　for　discussion。　And　from　this　arose　a　desire　to　exhibit　it　in　a　living　dramatic　reality。　She　has　endeavored　to　show　it　fairly；　in　its　best　and　its　worst　phases。　In　its　best　aspect；　she　has；　perhaps；　been　sucomessful；　but；　oh！　who　shall　say　what　yet　remains　untold　in　that　valley　and　shadow　of　death；　that　lies　the　other　side？
To　you；　generous；　noble…minded　men　and　women；　of　the　South；—you；　whose　virtue；　and　magnanimity　and　purity　of　character；　are　the　greater　for　the　severer　trial　it　has　encountered；—to　you　is　her　appeal。　Have　you　not；　in　your　own　secret　souls；　in　your　own　private　conversings；　felt　that　there　are　woes　and　evils；　in　this　acomursed　system；　far　beyond　what　are　here　shadowed；　or　can　be　shadowed？　Can　it　be　otherwise？　Is　man　ever　a　creature　to　be　trusted　with　wholly　irresponsible　power？　And　does　not　the　slave　system；　by　denying　the　slave　all　legal　right　of　testimony；　make　every　individual　owner　an　irresponsible　despot？　Can　anybody　fall　to　make　the　inference　what　the　practical　result　will　be？　If　there　is；　as　we　admit；　a　public　sentiment　among　you；　men　of　honor；　justice　and　humanity；　is　there　not　also　another　kind　of　public　sentiment　among　the　ruffian；　the　brutal　and　debased？　And　cannot　the　ruffian；　the　brutal；　the　debased；　by　slave　law；　own　just　as　many　slaves　as　the　best　and　purest？　Are　the　honorable；　the　just；　the　high…minded　and　compassionate；　the　majority　anywhere　in　this　world？
The　slave…trade　is　now；　by　American　law；　considered　as　piracy。　But　a　slave…trade；　as　systematic　as　ever　was　carried　on　on　the　coast　of　Africa；　is　an　inevitable　attendant　and　result　of　American　slavery。　And　its　heart…break　and　its　horrors；　can　they　be　told？
The　writer　has　given　only　a　faint　shadow；　a　dim　picture；　of　the　anguish　and　despair　that　are；　at　this　very　moment；　riving　thousands　of　hearts；　shattering　thousands　of　families；　and　driving　a　helpless　and　sensitive　race　to　frenzy　and　despair。　There　are　those　living　who　know　the　mothers　whom　this　acomursed　traffic　has　driven　to　the　murder　of　their　children；　and　themselves　seeking　in　death　a　shelter　from　woes　more　dreaded　than　death。　Nothing　of　tragedy　can　be　written；　can　be　spoken；　can　be　conceived；　that　equals　the　frightful　reality　of　scenes　daily　and　hourly　acting　on　our　shores；　beneath　the　shadow　of　American　law；　and　the　shadow　of　the　cross　of　Christ。
And　now；　men　and　women　of　America；　is　this　a　thing　to　be　trifled　with；　apologized　for；　and　passed　over　in　silence？　Farmers　of　Massachusetts；　of　New　Hampshire；　of　Vermont；　of　Connecticut；　who　read　this　book　by　the　blaze　of　your　winter…evening　fire；—strong…hearted；　generous　sailors　and　ship…owners　of　Maine；—is　this　a　thing　for　you　to　countenance　and　encourage？　Brave　and　generous　men　of　New　York；　farmers　of　rich　and　joyous　Ohio；　and　ye　of　the　wide　prairie　states；—answer；　is　this　a　thing　for　you　to　protect　and　countenance？　And　you；　mothers　of　America；—you　who　have　learned；　by　the　cradles　of　your　own　children；　to　love　and　feel　for　all　mankind；—by　the　sacred　love　you　bear　your　child；　by　your　joy　in　his　beautiful；　spotless　infancy；　by　the　motherly　pity　and　tenderness　with　which　you　guide　his　growing　years；　by　the　anxieties　of　his　education；　by　the　prayers　you　breathe　for　his　soul’s　eternal　good；—I　beseech　you；　pity　the　mother　who　has　all　your　affections；　and　not　one　legal　right　to　protect；　guide；　or　educate；　the　child　of　her　bosom！　By　the　sick　hour　of　your　child；　by　those　dying　eyes；　which　you　can　never　forget；　by　those　last　cries；　that　wrung　your　heart　when　you　could　neither　help　nor　save；　by　the　desolation　of　that　empty　cradle；　that　silent　nursery；—I　beseech　you；　pity　those　mothers　that　are　constantly　made　childless　by　the　American　slave…trade！　And　say；　mothers　of　America；　is　this　a　thing　to　be　defended；　sympathized　with；　passed　over　in　silence？
Do　you　say　that　the　people　of　the　free　state　have　nothing　to　do　with　it；　and　can　do　nothing？　Would　to　God　this　were　true！　But　it　is　not　true。　The　people　of　the　free　states　have　defended；　encouraged；　and　participated；　and　are　more　guilty　for　it；　before　God；　than　the　South；　in　that　they　have　not　the　apology　of　education　or　custom。
If　the　mothers　of　the　free　states　had　all　felt　as　they　should；　in　times　past；　the　sons　of　the　free　states　would　not　have　been　the　holders；　and；　proverbially；　the　hardest　masters　of　slaves；　the　sons　of　the　free　states　would　not　have　connived　at　the　extension　of　slavery；　in　our　national　body；　the　sons　of　the　free　states　would　not；　as　they　do；　trade　the　souls　and　bodies　of　men　as　an　equivalent　to　money；　in　their　mercantile　dealings。　There　are　multitudes　of　slaves　temporarily　owned；　and　sold　again；　by　merchants　in　northern　cities；　and　shall　the　whole　guilt　or　obloquy　of　slavery　fall　only　on　the　South？
Northern　men；　northern　mothers；　northern　Christians；　have　something　more　to　do　than　denounce　their　brethren　at　the　South；　they　have　to　look　to　the　evil　among　themselves。
But；　what　can　any　individual　do？　Of　that；　every　individual　can　judge。　There　is　one　thing　that　every　individual　can　do；—they　can　see　to　it　that　they　feel　right。　An　atmosphere　of　sympathetic　influence　encircles　every　human　being；　and　the　man　or　woman　who　feels　strongly；　healthily　and　justly；　on　the　great　interests　of　humanity；　is　a　constant　benefactor　to　the　human　race。　See；　then；　to　your　sympathies　in　this　matter！　Are　they　in　harmony　with　the　sympathies　of　Christ？　or　are　they　swayed　and　perverted　by　the　sophistries　of　worldly　policy？
Christian　men　and　women　of　the　North！　still　further；—you　have　another　power；　you　can　pray！　Do　you　believe　in　prayer？　or　has　it　become　an　indistinct　apostolic　tradition？　You　pray　for　the　heathen　abroad；　pray　also　for　the　heathen　at　home。　And　pray　for　those　distressed　Christians　whose　whole　chance　of　religious　improvement　is　an　a