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diff --git a/4677-0.txt b/4677-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2d1cc62 --- /dev/null +++ b/4677-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,23296 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 4677 *** +OUR WORLD: + +OR, The Slaveholder's Daughter. + +"An honest tale speeds best being plainly told." + +NEW YORK AND AUBURN: + +1855. + + + + + + +PREFACE. + + + + + +IN presenting this work to the public, we are fully conscious of the +grave charges of misrepresenting society, and misconstruing facts, +which will be made by our friends of the South, and its very +peculiar institution; but earnestly do we enjoin all such champions +of "things as they are," to read and well digest what is here set +before them, believing that they will find the TRUTH even "stranger +than fiction." And, as an incentive to the noble exertions of those, +either North or South, who would rid our country of its "darkest, +foulest blot," we would say, that our attempt has been to give a +true picture of Southern society in its various aspects, and that, +in our judgment, the institution of Slavery is directly chargeable +with the various moral, social and political evils detailed in OUR +WORLD. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + + + +I. Marston's Plantation, +II. How a Night was spent on Marston's Plantation +III. Things not so bright as they seem +IV. An Unexpected Confession +V. The Marooning Party +VI. Another Scene in Southern Life +VII. "Buckra-Man very Uncertain," +VIII. A Cloud of Misfortune hangs over the Plantation +IX. Who is Safe against the Power? +X. Another Shade of the Picture, +XI. Mrs. Rosebrook's Project, +XII. Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy Changes his Business, +XIII. A Father tries to be a Father, +XIV. In which Extremes are Presented, +XV. A Scene of Many Lights, +XVI. Another Phase of the Picture, +XVII. Pleasant Dealings with Human Property, +XVIII. A not uncommon Scene slightly changed, +XIX. They are going to be Sold, +XX. Let us follow poor Human Nature to the Man Shambles, +XXI. A Father's Trials, +XXII. We Change with Fortune, +XXIII. The Vicissitudes of a Preacher, +XXIV. How we Manufacture Political Faith, +XXV. Mr. M'Fadden sees Shadows of the Future, +XXVI. How they stole the Preacher, +XXVII. Competition in Human Things, +XXVIII. The Pretty Children are to be Sold, +XXIX. Nature Shames Itself, +XXX. The Vision of Death is Past, +XXXI. A Friend is Woman, +XXXII. Marston in Prison, +XXXIII. Venders of Human Property are not Responsible for its + Mental Caprices, +XXXIV. A Common Incident shortly told, +XXXV. The Children are Improving, +XXXVI. Workings of the Slave System, +XXXVII. An Item in the Common Calendar, +XXXVIII. In which Regrets are shown of little Worth, +XXXIX. How we should all be Forgiving, +XL. Containing Various Matters, +XLI. Nicholas's Simple Story, +XLII. He would Deliver her from Bondage, +XLIII. Other Phases of the Subject, +XLIV. How Daddy Bob Departed, +XLV. How Slaveholders Fear each other, +XLVI. Southern Administration of Justice, +XLVII. Prosperity the Result of Justice, +XLVIII. In which the Fate of Franconia is seen, +XLIX. In which is a Sad Recognition, +L. In which a Dangerous Principle is Illustrated, +LI. A Continuation of the Last Chapter, +LII. In which are Pleasures and Disappointments, +LIII. A Familiar Scene, in which Pringle Blowers has Business, +LIV. In which are Discoveries and Pleasant Scenes, +LV. In which is a Happy Meeting, some Curious Facts Developed, + and Clotild History Disclosed, +LVI. In which a Plot is Disclosed, and the Man-Seller made to + Pay the Penalty of his Crimes, + + + + + + +OUR WORLD. + +CHAPTER I + +MARSTON'S PLANTATION. + + + + + +ON the left bank of the Ashly River, in the State of South Carolina, +and a few miles from its principal city, is a plantation once the +property of Hugh Marston. It was near this spot, the brave +Huguenots, fleeing religious and political persecution, founded +their first American colony-invoked Heaven to guard their +liberties-sought a refuge in a new world! And it was here the pious +Huguenot forgot his appeals to high heaven-forgot what had driven +him from his fatherland, and-unlike the pilgrim fathers who planted +their standard on "New England's happy shore,"-became the first to +oppress. It was here, against a fierce tyranny, the gallant +Yamassee, + +A tribe of faithful and heroic Indians. loyal to his professed +friend, struggled and died for his liberty. It was here the last +remnant of his tribe fought the fierce battle of right over might! +It was here, in this domain, destined to be the great and powerful +of nations-the asylum of an old world's shelter seeking poor, and +the proud embodiment of a people's sovereignty,-liberty was first +betrayed! It was here men deceived themselves, and freedom +proclaimers became freedom destroyers. And, too, it was here Spanish +cupidity, murderous in its search for gold, turned a deaf ear to +humanity's cries, slaughtered the friendly Indian, and drenched the +soil with his innocent blood. And it is here, at this moment, +slavery-fierce monster, threatening the peace of a happy people-runs +riot in all its savage vicissitudes, denying man his commonest +birthright. + +If history did but record the barbarous scenes yet enacted on the +banks of this lovely stream, the contrast with its calm surface +sweeping gently onward to mingle its waters with the great deep, +would be strange indeed. How mellowed by the calm beauty of a summer +evening, the one!-how stained with scenes of misery, torment, and +death, the other! + +Let us beg the reader to follow us back to the time when Marston is +found in possession of the plantation, and view it as it is when his +friends gather round him to enjoy his bounteous hospitality. + +We have ascended the Ashly on a bright spring morning, and are at a +jut covered with dark jungle, where the river, about twenty rods +wide, sweeps slowly round ;-flowering brakes, waving their tops to +and fro in the breeze, bedeck the river banks, and far in the +distance, on the left, opens the broad area of the plantation. As we +near it, a beautifully undulating slope presents itself, bounded on +its upper edge by a long line of sombre-looking pines. Again we +emerge beneath clustering foliage overhanging the river; and from +out this-sovereign of a southern clime-the wild azalia and fair +magnolia diffuse their fragrance to perfume the air. From the pine +ridge the slope recedes till it reaches a line of jungle, or hedge, +that separates it from the marshy bottom, extending to the river, +against which it is protected by a dyke. Most of the slope is under +a high state of cultivation, and on its upper edge is a newly +cleared patch of ground, which negroes are preparing for the +cotton-seed. + +Smoking piles burn here and there, burned stumps and trees point +their black peaks upward in the murky atmosphere, half-clad negroes +in coarse osnaburgs are busy among the smoke and fire: the scene +presents a smouldering volcano inhabited by semi-devils. Among the +sombre denizens are women, their only clothing being osnaburg +frocks, made loose at the neck and tied about the waist with a +string: with hoes they work upon the "top surface," gather charred +wood into piles, and waddle along as if time were a drug upon life. + +Far away to the right the young corn shoots its green sprouts in a +square plat, where a few negroes are quietly engaged at the first +hoeing. Being tasked, they work with system, and expect, if they +never receive, a share of the fruits. All love and respect Marston, +for he is generous and kind to them; but system in business is at +variance with his nature. His overseer, however, is just the +reverse: he is a sharp fellow, has an unbending will, is proud of +his office, and has long been reckoned among the very best in the +county. Full well he knows what sort of negro makes the best driver; +and where nature is ignorant of itself, the accomplishment is +valuable. That he watches Marston's welfare, no one doubts; that he +never forgets his own, is equally certain. From near mid-distance of +the slope we see him approaching on a bay-coloured horse. The sun's +rays are fiercely hot, and, though his features are browned and +haggard, he holds a huge umbrella in one hand and the inseparable +whip in the other. The former is his protector; the latter, his +sceptre. John Ryan, for such is his name, is a tall, athletic man, +whose very look excites terror. Some say he was born in Limerick, on +the Emerald Isle, and only left it because his proud spirit would +not succumb to the unbending rod England held over his poor bleeding +country. + +Running along the centre of the slope is a line of cotton-fields, in +which the young plants, sickly in spots, have reached a stage when +they require much nursing. Among them are men, women, and children, +crouched on the ground like so many sable spectres, picking and +pulling at the roots to give them strength. John Ryan has been +keeping a sharp eye on them. He will salute you with an air of +independence, tell you how he hated oppression and loved freedom, +and how, at the present day, he is a great democrat. Now, whether +John left his country for his country's good, is a question; but +certain it is he dearly delights to ply the lash,-to whip mankind +merely for amusement's sake. In a word, John has a good Irish heart +within him, and he always lays particular emphasis on the good, when +he tells us of its qualities; but let us rather charge to the State +that spare use he makes of its gentler parts. + +John Ryan, his face indicating tyranny stereotyped, has just been +placing drivers over each gang of workmen. How careful he was to +select a trustworthy negro, whose vanity he has excited, and who +views his position as dearly important. Our driver not unfrequently +is the monster tyrant of his circle; but whether from inclination to +serve the interests of his master, or a knowledge of the fierce +system that holds him alike abject, we know not. At times he is more +than obedient to his master's will. + +Excuse, reader, this distant view of the plantation at early spring, +and follow us back to the Ashly. Here we will still continue along +the river-bank, pass borders of thick jungle, flowering vines, and +rows of stately pines, their tops moaning in the wind,-and soon find +we have reached Marston's landing. This is situated at the +termination of an elevated plat extending from thence to the +mansion, nearly a mile distant. Three negroes lay basking on the +bank; they were sent to wait our coming. Tonio! Murel! Pompe!-they +ejaculate, calling one another, as we surprise them. They are +cheerful and polite, are dressed in striped shirts and trousers, +receive us with great suavity of manner, present master's +compliments, tell us with an air of welcome that master will be +"right glad" to see us, and conclude by making sundry inquiries +about our passage and our "Missuses." Pompe, the "most important +nigger" of the three, expresses great solicitude lest we get our +feet in the mud. Black as Afric's purest, and with a face of great +good nature, Pompe, in curious jargon, apologises for the bad state +of the landing, tells us he often reminds Mas'r how necessary it is +to have it look genteel. Pompe, more than master, is deeply +concerned lest the dignity of the plantation suffer. + +Planks and slabs are lain from the water's edge to the high ground +on the ridge, upon which we ascend to the crown, a piece of natural +soil rising into a beautiful convex of about six rods wide, +extending to the garden gate. We wend our way to the mansion, +leaving Pompe and his assistants in charge of our luggage, which +they will see safely landed. The ridge forms a level walk, +sequestered by long lines of huge oaks, their massive branches +forming an arch of foliage, with long trailing moss hanging like +mourning drapery to enhance its rural beauty. At the extreme of this +festooned walk the mansion is seen dwindling into an almost +imperceptible perspective. There is something grand and impressive +in the still arch above us-something which revives our sense of the +beauty of nature. Through the trunks of the trees, on our right and +left, extensive rice fields are seen stretching far into the +distance. The young blades are shooting above the surface of the +water, giving it the appearance of a frozen sheet clothed with +green, and protected from the river by a serpentine embankment. How +beautiful the expanse viewed from beneath these hoary-headed oaks! + +On the surface and along the banks of the river aligators are +sporting; moccason snakes twist their way along, and scouring +kingfishers croak in the balmy air. If a venerable rattlesnake warn +us we need not fear-being an honourable snake partaking of the old +southerner's affected chivalry;-he will not approach disguised;-no! +he will politely give us warning. But we have emerged from the mossy +walk and reached a slab fence, dilapidated and broken, which +encloses an area of an acre of ground, in the centre of which stands +the mansion: the area seems to have been a garden, which, in former +days, may have been cultivated with great care. At present it only +presents a few beds rank with weeds. We are told the gardener has +been dismissed in consideration of his more lucrative services in +the corn-field. That the place is not entirely neglected, we have +only to add that Marston's hogs are exercising an independent right +to till the soil according to their own system. The mansion is a +quadrangular building, about sixty feet long by fifty wide, built of +wood, two stories high, having upper and lower verandas. + +We pass the dilapidated gate, and reach it by a narrow passage +through the garden, on each side of which is a piece of antique +statuary, broken and defaced. Entering the lower veranda, we pace +the quadrangle, viewing innumerable cuttings and carvings upon the +posts: they are initials and full names, cut to please the vanity of +those anxious to leave the Marston family a memento. Again we arrive +at the back of the mansion where the quadrangle opens a courtyard +filled with broken vines, blackened cedars, and venerable-looking +leaks;-they were once much valued by the ancient and very +respectable Marston family. A few yards from the left wing of the +mansion are the "yard houses"-little, comely cabins, about twelve +feet by twenty, and proportionately high. One is the kitchen: it has +a dingy look, the smoke issuing from its chinks regardless of the +chimney; while from its door, sable denizens, ragged and greasy, and +straining their curious faces, issue forth. The polished black cook, +with her ample figure, is foaming with excitement, lest the feast +she is preparing for master's guests may fail to sustain her +celebrity. Conspicuous among these cabins are two presenting a much +neater appearance: they are brightly whitewashed, and the little +windows are decorated with flowering plants. Within them there is an +air of simple neatness and freshness we have seldom seen surpassed; +the meagre furniture seems to have been arranged by some careful +hand, and presents an air of cheerfulness in strange contrast with +the dingy cabins around. In each there is a neatly arranged bed, +spread over with a white cover, and by its side a piece of soft +carpet. It is from these we shall draw forth the principal +characters of our story. + +Upon a brick foundation, about twenty rods from the right wing of +the mansion, stands a wood cottage, occupied by the overseer. Mr. +John Ryan not being blessed with family, when Marston is not +honoured with company takes his meals at the mansion. In the +distance, to the left, is seen a long line of humble huts, standing +upon piles, and occupied by promiscuous negro families:--we say +promiscuous, for the marriage-tie is of little value to the master, +nor does it give forth specific claim to parentage. The sable +occupants are beings of uncertainty; their toil is for a life-time-a +weary waste of hope and disappointment. Yes! their dreary life is a +heritage, the conditions of which no man would share willingly. +Victors of husbandry, they share not of the spoils; nor is the sweat +of their brows repaid with justice. + +Near these cabins, mere specks in the distance, are two large sheds, +under which are primitive mills, wherein negroes grind corn for +their humble meal. Returning from the field at night, hungry and +fatigued, he who gets a turn at the mill first is the luckiest +fellow. Now that the workpeople are busily engaged on the +plantation, the cabins are in charge of two nurses, matronly-looking +old bodies, who are vainly endeavouring to keep in order numerous +growing specimens of the race too young to destroy a grub at the +root of a cotton plant. The task is indeed a difficult one, they +being as unruly as an excited Congress. They gambol round the door, +make pert faces at old mamma, and seem as happy as snakes in the +spring sun. Some are in a nude state, others have bits of frocks +covering hapless portions of their bodies; they are imps of mischief +personified, yet our heart bounds with sympathy for them. Alive with +comicality, they move us, almost unconsciously, to fondle them. And +yet we know not why we would fondle the sable "rascals." One knot is +larking on the grass, running, toddling, yelling, and hooting; +another, ankle-deep in mud, clench together and roll among the +ducks, work their clawy fingers through the tufts of each other's +crispy hair, and enjoy their childish sports with an air of genial +happiness; while a third sit in a circle beside an oak tree, playing +with "Dash," whose tail they pull without stint. "Dash" is the +faithful and favourite dog; he rather likes a saucy young "nigger," +and, while feeling himself equal to the very best in the clan, will +permit the small fry, without resenting the injury, to pull his +tail. + +It being "ration day," we must describe the serving, that being an +interesting phase of plantation life. Negroes have gathered into +motley groups around two weatherbeaten store-houses--the overseer +has retired to his apartment-when they wait the signal from the head +driver, who figures as master of ceremonies. One sings:---"Jim Crack +corn, an' I don't care, Fo'h mas'r's gone away! way! way!" Another +is croaking over the time he saved on his task, a third is trying to +play a trick with the driver (come the possum over him), and a third +unfolds the scheme by which the extra for whiskey and molasses was +raised. Presenting a sable pot pourri, they jibber and croak among +themselves, laugh and whistle, go through the antics of the +"break-down" dance, make the very air echo with the music of their +incomprehensible jargon. We are well nigh deafened by it, and yet it +excites our joy. We are amused and instructed; we laugh because they +laugh, our feelings vibrate with theirs, their quaint humour forces +itself into our very soul, and our sympathy glows with their happy +anticipations. The philosophy of their jargon is catching to our +senses; we listen that we may know their natures, and learn good +from their simplicity. He is a strange mortal who cannot learn +something from a fool! + +The happy moment has arrived: "Ho, boys!" is sounded,-the doors +open, the negroes stop their antics and their jargon; stores are +exposed, and with one dinning mutter all press into a half-circle at +the doors, in one of which stands the huge figure of Balam, the head +driver. He gives a scanning look at the circle of anxious faces; he +would have us think the importance of the plantation centred in his +glowing black face. There he stands-a measure in his hand-while +another driver, with an air of less dignity, cries out, with a +stentorian voice, the names of the heads of families, and the number +of children belonging thereto. Thus, one by one, the name being +announced in muddled accents, they step forward, and receive their +corn, or rice, as may be. In pans and pails they receive it, pass it +to the younger members of the family; with running and scampering, +they carry the coarse allotment to their cabin with seeming +cheerfulness. Marston, esteemed a good master, always gives bacon, +and to receive this the negroes will gather round the store a second +time. In this, the all-fascinating bacon is concealed, for which the +children evince more concern; their eyes begin to shine brighter, +their watchfulness becomes more intent. Presently a negro begins to +withdraw the meat, and as he commences action the jargon gets +louder, until we are deafened, and would fain move beyond it. Just +then, the important driver, with hand extended, commands,-"Order!" +at the very top of his loud voice. All is again still; the man +returns to his duty. The meat is somewhat oily and rancid, but Balam +cuts it as if it were choice and scarce. Another driver weighs it in +a pair of scales he holds in his hands; while still another, cutting +the same as before, throws it upon some chaff at the door, as if it +were a bone thrown to a hungry dog. How humbly the recipient picks +it up and carries it to his or her cabin! Not unfrequently the young +"imps" will scramble for it, string it upon skewers, and with great +nonchalance throw it over their shoulders, and walk off. If it bathe +their backs with grease so much more the comfort. Those little +necessaries which add so much to the negro's comfort, and of which +he is so fond, must be purchased with the result of his extra +energy. Even this allowance may serve the boasted hospitality; but +the impression that there is a pennyworth of generosity for every +pound of parsimony, forces itself upon us. On his little spot, by +moonlight or starlight, the negro must cultivate for himself, that +his family may enjoy a few of those fruits of which master has many. +How miserable is the man without a spark of generosity in his soul; +and how much more miserable the man who will not return good for +good's worth! To the negro, kindness is a mite inspiring the +impulses of a simple heart, and bringing forth great good. + +Let us again beg the reader to return with us to those conspicuous +cottages near the court-yard, and in which we will find several of +our characters. + +We cross the threshold of one, and are accosted by a female who, +speaking in musical accents, invites us to sit down. She has none of +Afric's blood in her veins;-no! her features are beautifully olive, +and the intonation of her voice discovers a different origin. Her +figure is tall and well-formed; she has delicately-formed hands and +feet, long, tapering fingers, well-rounded limbs, and an oval face, +shaded with melancholy. How reserved she seems, and yet how quickly +she moves her graceful figure! Now she places her right hand upon +her finely-arched forehead, parts the heavy folds of glossy hair +that hang carelessly over her brown shoulders, and with a +half-suppressed smile answers our salutation. We are welcome in her +humble cabin; but her dark, languishing eyes, so full of intensity, +watch us with irresistible suspicion. They are the symbols of her +inward soul; they speak through that melancholy pervading her +countenance! The deep purple of her cheek is softened by it, while +it adds to her face that calm beauty which moves the gentle of our +nature. How like a woman born to fill a loftier sphere than that to +which a cruel law subjects her, she seems! + +Neither a field nor a house servant, the uninitiated may be at a +loss to know what sphere on the plantation is her's? She is the +mother of Annette, a little girl of remarkable beauty, sitting at +her side, playing with her left hand. Annette is fair, has light +auburn hair-not the first tinge of her mother's olive invades her +features. Her little cheerful face is lit up with a smile, and while +toying with the rings on her mother's fingers, asks questions that +person does not seem inclined to answer. Vivacious and sprightly, +she chatters and lisps until we become eager for her history. "It's +only a child's history," some would say. But the mother displays so +much fondness for it; and yet we become more and more excited by the +strange manner in which she tries to suppress an outward display of +her feelings. At times she pats it gently on the head, runs her +hands through its hair, and twists the ends into tiny ringlets. + +In the next cabin we meet the shortish figure of a tawny female, +whose Indian features stand boldly out. Her high cheek bones, long +glossy black hair, and flashing eyes, are the indexes of her +pedigree. "My master says I am a slave:" in broken accents she +answers our question. As she sits in her chair near the fire-place +of bricks, a male issue of the mixed blood toddles round and round +her, tossing her long coarse hair every time he makes a circut. The +little boy is much fairer than the brawny daughter who seems his +mother. Playful, and even mischievous, he delights in pulling the +hair which curls over his head; and when the woman calls him he +answers with a childish heedlessness, and runs for the door. Reader! +this woman's name is Ellen Juvarna; she has youth on her side, and +though she retains the name of her ancient sire, is proud of being +master's mistress. She tells us how comfortable she is; how +Nicholas, for such is his name, resembles his father, how he loves +him, but how he fails to acknowledge him. A feud, with its +consequences, is kept up between the two cabins; and while she makes +many insinuations about her rival, tells us she knows her features +have few charms. Meanwhile, she assures us that neither good looks +nor sweet smiles make good mothers. "Nicholas!" she exclaims, "come +here; the gentlemen want to know all about papa." And, as she +extends her hand, the child answers the summons, runs across the +room, fondles his head in his mother's lap,-seems ashamed! + + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW A NIGHT WAS SPENT ON MARSTON'S PLANTATION. + + + + + +EARTH is mantled with richest verdure; far away to the west and +south of the mansion the scene stretches out in calm grandeur. The +sun sinks beneath glowing clouds that crimson the horizon and spread +refulgent shadows on the distant hills, as darkness slowly steals +its way on the mellow landscape. + +Motley groups of negroes are returned from the field, fires are +lighted in and about the cabins, and men mutter their curious jargon +while moving to prepare the coarse meal. Their anxious countenances +form a picture wild and deeply interesting. + +Entering Marston's mansion, we find its interior neater than its +weather-stained and paintless sides portended. Through the centre +runs a broad passage, and on the left and right are large parlours, +comfortably furnished, divided by folding doors of carved walnut. We +are ushered into the one on the right by a yellow servant, who, +neatly dressed in black, has prepared his politeness for the +occasion. With great suavity, accompanied by a figurative grin, he +informs us that master will pay his respects presently. Pieces of +singularly antique furniture are arranged round the room, of which, +he adds, master is proud indeed. Two plaster figures, standing in +dingy niches, he tells us are wonders of the white man's genius. In +his own random style he gives us an essay on the arts, adding a word +here and there to remind us of master's exquisite taste, and +anxiously waits our confirmation of what he says. + +A large open fire-place, with fancifully carved framework and +mantel-pieces, in Italian marble of polished blackness, upon which +stood massive silver candlesticks, in chased work, denotes the +ancient character of the mansion. It has many years been the home of +the ever-hospitable Marston family. + +In another part of the room is a mahogany side-board of antique +pattern, upon which stand sundry bottles and glasses, indicative of +Marston having entertained company in the morning. While we are +contemplating the furniture around us, and somewhat disappointed at +the want of taste displayed in its arrangement, the door opens, and +Sam, the yellow servant, bows Marston in with a gracious smile. It +is in the south where the polite part is played by the negro. Deacon +Rosebrook and Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy, a man of the world, +follow Marston into the room. Marston is rather tall of figure, +robust, and frank of countenance. A florid face, and an extremely +large nose bordering on the red, at times give him an aldermanic +air. He rubs his fingers through the short, sandy-coloured hair that +bristles over a low forehead (Tom, the barber, has just fritted it) +smiles, and introduces us to his friends. He is vain-vanity belongs +to the slave world-is sorry his eyes are grey, but adds an assurance +every now and then that his blood is of the very best stock. Lest a +doubt should hang upon our mind, he asserts, with great confidence, +that grey eyes indicate pure Norman birth. As for phrenology! he +never believed in a single bump, and cites his own contracted +forehead as the very strongest proof against the theory. Indeed, +there is nothing remarkable in our host's countenance, if we except +its floridness; but a blunt nose protruding over a wide mouth and +flat chin gives the contour of his face an expression not the most +prepossessing. He has been heard to say, "A man who didn't love +himself wasn't worth loving:" and, to show his belief in this +principle of nature, he adorns his face with thick red whiskers, not +the most pleasing to those unaccustomed to the hairy follies of a +fashionable southron. + +Times are prosperous; the plantation puts forth its bounties, and +Marston withholds nothing that can make time pass pleasantly with +those who honour him with a visit. He is dressed in an elaborately +cut black coat, with sweeping skirts, a white vest, fancy-coloured +pantaloons, and bright boots. About his neck is an enormous shirt +collar, turned carelessly over, and secured with a plain black +ribbon. Elder Praiseworthy is of lean figure, with sharp, craven +features. The people of the parish have a doubtful opinion of him. +Some say he will preach sermons setting forth the divine right of +slavery, or any other institution that has freedom for its foe, +provided always there is no lack of pay. As a divine, he is +particularly sensitive lest anything should be said disparagingly +against the institution he lends his aid to protect. That all +institutions founded in patriarchal usage are of God's creation, he +holds to be indisputable; and that working for their overthrow is a +great crime, as well as an unpardonable sin, he never had the +slightest doubt. He is careful of his clerical dress, which is of +smoothest black; and remembering how essential are gold-framed +spectacles, arranges and re-arranges his with greatest care. He is a +great admirer of large books with gilt edges and very expensive +bindings. They show to best advantage in the southern parlour +library, where books are rarely opened. To say the Elder is not a +man of great parts, is to circulate a libel of the first magnitude. +Indeed, he liked big books for their solidity; they reminded him of +great thoughts well preserved, and sound principles more firmly +established. At times he had thought they were like modern +democratic rights, linked to huge comprehending faculties, such as +was his good fortune to use when expounding state rights and federal +obligations. + +Deacon Rosebrook is a comely, fair-faced man, a moderate thinker, a +charitable Christian, a very good man, who lets his deeds of +kindness speak of him. He is not a politician-no! he is a better +quality of man, has filled higher stations. Nor is he of the +modernly pious-that is, as piety professes itself in our democratic +world, where men use it more as a necessary appliance to subdue the +mind than a means to improve civilization. But he was always +cautious in giving expression to his sentiments, knowing the +delicate sensibilities of those he had to deal with, and fearing +lest he might spring a democratic mine of very illiberal +indignation. + +"Come, gentlemen guests, you are as welcome as the showers," says +Marston, in a stentorious voice: "Be seated; you are at home under +my roof. Yes, the hospitality of my plantation is at your service." +The yellow man removes a table that stood in the centre of the room, +places chairs around it, and each takes his seat. + +"Pardon me, my dear Marston, you live with the comfort of a nabob. +Wealth seems to spring up on all sides," returns the Deacon, +good-naturedly. + +"And so I think," joins the Elder: "the pleasures of the plantation +are manifold, swimming along from day to day; but I fear there is +one thing our friend has not yet considered." + +"Pray what is that? Let us hear it; let us hear it. Perhaps it is +the very piety of nonsense," rejoined Marston, quickly. "Dead men +and devils are always haunting us." The Elder draws his spectacles +from his pocket, wipes them with his silk handkerchief, adjusts them +on his nose, and replies with some effort, "The Future." + +"Nothing more?" Marston inquires, quaintly: "Never contented; riches +all around us, favourable prospects for the next crop, prices stiff, +markets good, advices from abroad exciting. Let the future take care +of itself; you are like all preachers, Elder, borrowing darkness +when you can't see light." + +"The Elder, so full of allegory!" whispers the Deacon. "He means a +moral condition, which we all esteem as a source of riches laid up +in store for the future." + +"I discover; but it never troubles me while I take care of others. I +pray for my negro property-pray loudly and long. And then, their +piety is a charge of great magnitude; but when I need your +assistance in looking after it, be assured you will receive an extra +fee." + +"That's personal-personal, decidedly personal." + +"Quite the reverse," returns Marston, suddenly smiling, and, placing +his elbows on the table, rests his face on his hands. "Religion is +well in its place, good on simple minds; just the thing to keep +vassals in their places: that's why I pay to have it talked to my +property. Elder, I get the worth of my money in seeing the +excitement my fellows get into by hearing you preach that old +worn-out sermon. You've preached it to them so long, they have got +it by heart. Only impress the rascals that it's God's will they +should labour for a life, and they'll stick to it like Trojans: they +are just like pigs, sir." + +"You don't comprehend me, my friend Marston: I mean that you should +prepare-it's a rule applicable to all-to meet the terrible that may +come upon us at any moment." The Elder is fearful that he is not +quite explicit enough. He continues: "Well, there is something to be +considered;"-he is not quite certain that we should curtail the +pleasures of this life by binding ourselves with the dread of what +is to come. "Seems as if we owed a common duty to ourselves," he +ejaculates. + +The conversation became more exciting, Marston facetiously +attempting to be humorous at the Elder's expense: "It isn't the +pleasure, my dear fellow, it's the contentment. We were all born to +an end; and if that end be to labour through life for others, it +must be right. Everything is right that custom has established +right." + +"Marston, give us your hand, my friend. 'Twould do to plead so if we +had no enemies, but enemies are upon us, watching our movements +through partizans' eyes, full of fierceness, and evil to +misconstruct." + +"I care not," interrupts Marston. "My slaves are my property-I shall +do with them as it pleases me; no insinuations about morality, or I +shall mark you on an old score. Do you sound? Good Elders should be +good men; but they, as well as planters, have their frailties; it +would not do to tell them all, lest high heaven should cry out." +Marston points his finger, and laughs heartily. "I wish we had seven +lives to live, and they were all as happy as most of our planters +could desire to make them." + +The Elder understood the delicate hint, but desiring to avoid +placing himself in an awkward position before the Deacon, began to +change the conversation, criticising the merits of several old +pictures hung upon the walls. They were much valued by Marston, as +mementoes of his ancestry: of this the Elder attempted in vain to +make a point. During this conversation, so disguised in meaning, the +mulatto servant stood at the door waiting Marston's commands. Soon, +wine and refreshments were brought in, and spread out in old +plantation style. The company had scarcely filled glasses, when a +rap sounded at the hall door: a servant hastened to announce a +carriage; and in another minute was ushered into the room the +graceful figure of a young lady whose sweet and joyous countenance +bespoke the absence of care. She was followed by a genteelly-dressed +young man of straight person and placid features. + +"Oh! Franconia," said Marston, rising from his seat, grasping her +hand affectionately, and bestowing a kiss on her fair cheek, for it +was fair indeed. + +Taking her right hand in his left, he added, "My niece, gentlemen; +my brother's only daughter, and nearly spoiled with attentions." A +pleasant smile stole over her face, as gracefully she acknowledged +the compliment. In another minute three or four old negroes, moved +by the exuberance of their affection for her, gathered about her, +contending with anxious faces for the honour of seeing her +comfortable. + +"I love her!" continued Marston; "and, as well as she could a +father, she loves me, making time pass pleasantly with her +cheerfulness." She was the child of his affections; and as he spoke +his face glowed with animation. Scarce seventeen summers had bloomed +upon his fair niece, who, though well developed in form, was of a +delicate constitution, and had inherited that sensitiveness so +peculiar to the child of the South, especially she who has been +cradled in the nursery of ease and refinement. As she spoke, smiled, +and raised her jewelled fingers, the grace accompanying the words +was expressive of love and tenderness. Turning to the gentleman who +accompanied her, "My friend!" she added, simply, with a frolicsome +laugh. A dozen anxious black faces were now watching in the hall, +ready to scamper round her ere she made her appearance to say, "How +de'h!" to young Missus, and get a glimpse at her stranger friend. +After receiving a happy salute from the old servants, she re-enters +the room. "Uncle's always drinking wine when I come;-but Uncle +forgets me; he has not so much as once asked me to join him!" She +lays her hand on his arm playfully, smiles cunningly, points +reproachfully at the Elder, and takes a seat at her uncle's side. +The wine has seized the Elder's mind; he stares at her through his +spectacles, and holds his glass with his left hand. + +"Come, Dandy," said Marston, addressing himself to the mulatto +attendant, "bring a glass; she shall join us." The glass is brought, +Marston fills it, she bows, they drink to her and to the buoyant +spirits of the noble southern lady. "I don't admire the habit; but I +do like to please so," she whispers, and, excusing herself, skips +into the parlour on the right, where she is again beset by the old +servants, who rush to her, shake her hand, cling playfully to her +dress: some present various new-plucked flowers others are become +noisy with their chattering jargon. At length she is so beset with +the display of their affection as to be compelled to break away from +them, and call for Clotilda. "I must have Clotilda!" she says: "Tell +her to come soon, Dandy: she alone can arrange my dress." Thus +saying, she disappeared up a winding stair leading from the hall +into the second story. + +We were anxious to know who Clotilda was, and why Franconia should +summon her with so much solicitude. Presently a door opened: +Franconia appeared at the top of the stairs, her face glowing with +vivacity, her hair dishevelled waving in beautiful confusion, giving +a fascination to her person. "I do wish she would come, I do!" she +mutters, resting her hands upon the banisters, and looking intently +into the passage: "she thinks more of fussing over Annette's hair, +than she does about taking care of mine. Well, I won't get cross-I +won't! Poor Clotilda, I do like her; I can't help it; it is no more +than natural that she should evince so much solicitude for her +child: we would do the same." Scarcely had she uttered these words, +when the beautiful female we have described in the foregoing chapter +ran from her cabin, across the yard, into the mansion. "Where is +young Miss Franconia?" she inquires; looks hastily around, ascends +the stairs, greets Franconia with a fervent shake of the hand, +commences adjusting her hair. There is a marked similarity in their +countenances: it awakens our reflections. Had Clotilda exhibited +that exactness of toilet for which Franconia is become celebrated, +she would excel in her attractions. There was the same oval face, +the same arched brows; there was the same Grecian contour of +features, the same sharply lined nose; there was the same delicately +cut mouth, disclosing white, pearly teeth; the same eyes, now +glowing with sentiment, and again pensive, indicating thought and +tenderness; there was the same classically moulded bust, a shoulder +slightly converging, of beautiful olive, enriched by a dark mole. + +Clotilda would fain have kissed Franconia, but she dare not. +"Clotilda, you must take good care of me while I make my visit. Only +do my hair nicely, and I will see that Uncle gets a new dress for +you when he goes to the city. If Uncle would only get married, how +much happier it would be," says Franconia, looking at Clotilda the +while. + +"And me, too,-I would be happier!" Clotilda replies, resting her +arms on the back of Franconia's lolling chair, as her eyes assumed a +melancholy glare. She heaved a sigh. + +"You could not be happier than you are; you are well cared for; +Uncle will never see you want; but you must be cheerful when I come, +Clotilda,-you must! To see you unhappy makes me feel unhappy." + +"Cheerful!-its better said than felt. Can he or she be cheerful who +is forced to sin against God and himself? There is little to be +cheerful with, where the nature is not its own. Why should I be the +despised wretch at your Uncle's feet: did God, the great God, make +me a slave to his licentiousness?" + +"Suppress such feelings, Clotilda; do not let them get the better of +you. God ordains all things: it is well to abide by His will, for it +is sinful to be discontented, especially where everything is so well +provided. Why, Uncle has learned you to read, and even to write." + +"Ah! that's just what gave me light; through it I knew that I had a +life, and a soul beyond that, as valuable to me as yours is to you." + +"Be careful, Clotilda," she interrupts; "remember there is a wide +difference between us. Do not cross Uncle; he is kind, but he may +get a freak into his head, and sell you." + +Clotilda's cheeks brightened; she frowned at the word, and, giving +her black hair a toss from her shoulder, muttered, "To sell me!-Had +you measured the depth of pain in that word, Franconia, your lips +had never given it utterance. To sell me!-'tis that. The difference +is wide indeed, but the point is sharpest. Was it my mother who made +that point so sharp? It could not! a mother would not entail such +misery on her offspring. That name, so full of associations dear to +me-so full of a mother's love and tenderness,-could not reflect +pain. Nay; her affections were bestowed upon me,-I love to treasure +them, I do. To tell me that a mother would entail misery without an +end, is to tell me that the spirit of love is without good!" + +"Do not make yourself unhappy, Clotilda. Perhaps you are as well +with us as you would be elsewhere. Even at the free north, in happy +New England, ladies would not take the notice of you we do: many of +your class have died there, poor and wretched, among the most +miserable creatures ever born to a sad end. And you are not black-" + +"All is not truth that is told for such," Clotilda interrupts +Franconia. "If I were black, my life would have but one stream: now +it is terrible with uncertainty. As I am, my hopes and affections +are blasted." + +"Sit down, Clotilda," rejoins Franconia, quickly. + +Clotilda, having lavished her skill on Franconia's hair, seats +herself by her side. Franconia affectionately takes her tapering +hand and presses it with her jewelled fingers. "Remember, Clotilda," +she continues, "all the negroes on the plantation become unhappy at +seeing you fretful. It is well to seem happy, for its influence on +others. Uncle will always provide for Annette and you; and he is +kind. If he pays more attention to Ellen at times, take no notice of +it. Ellen Juvarna is Indian, moved to peculiarities by the instincts +of her race. Uncle is imprudent, I admit; but society is not with us +as it is elsewhere!" + +"I care not so much for myself," speaks the woman, in a desponding +voice; "it is Annette; and when you spoke of her you touched the +chord of all my troubles. I can endure the sin forced upon myself; +but, O heavens! how can I butcher my very thoughts with the unhappy +life that is before her? My poor mother's words haunt me. I know her +feelings now, because I can judge them by my own-can see how her +broken heart was crushed into the grave! She kissed my hand, and +said, 'Clotilda, my child, you are born to a cruel death. Give me +but a heart to meet my friends in judgment!'" + +The child with the flaxen hair, humming a tune, came scampering up +the stairs into the room. It recognises Franconia, and, with a +sportive laugh, runs to her and fondles in her lap; then, turning to +its mother, seems anxious to divide its affections between them. Its +features resembled Franconia's-the similarity was unmistakeable; and +although she fondled it, talked with it, and smoothed its little +locks, she resisted its attempts to climb on her knee: she was cold. + +"Mother says I look like you, and so does old Aunt Rachel, Miss +Franconia-they do," whispers the child, shyly, as it twisted its +fingers round the rings on Franconia's hand. Franconia blushed, +and cast an inquiring look at Clotilda. + +"You must not be naughty," she says; "those black imps you play with +around Aunt Rachel's cabin teach you wrong. You must be careful with +her, Clotilda; never allow her to such things to white people: she +may use such expressions before strangers,-which would be extremely +painful-" + +"It seems too plain: if there be no social sin, why fear the +degradation?" she quietly interrupts. "You cannot keep it from the +child. O, how I should like to know my strange history, +Franconia,-to know if it can be that I was born to such cruel +misfortunes, such bitter heart-achings, such gloomy forebodings. If +I were, then am I content with my lot." + +Franconia listened attentively, saw the anguish that was bursting +the bounds of the unhappy woman's feelings, and interrupted by +saying, "Speak of it no more, Clotilda. Take your child; go to your +cabin. I shall stay a few days: to-morrow I will visit you there." +As she spoke, she waved her hand, bid Clotilda good night, kissing +Annette as she was led down stairs. Now alone, she begins to +contemplate the subject more deeply. "It must be wrong," she says to +herself: "but few are brought to feel it who have the power to remove +it. The poor creature seems so unhappy; and my feelings are pained +when they tell me how much she looks like me--and it must be so; for +when she sat by my side, looking in the glass the portrait of +similarity touched my feelings deeply. 'Tis not the thing for Uncle +to live in this way. Here am I, loved and beloved, with the luxury +of wealth, and friends at my pleasure; I am caressed: she is but +born a wretch to serve my Uncle's vanity; and, too, were I to +reproach him, he would laugh at what he calls our folly, our sickly +sensitiveness; he would tell me of the pleasures of southern life, +southern scenery, southern chivalry, southern refinement;--yes, he +would tell me how it were best to credit the whole to southern +liberality of custom:--so it continues! There is a principle to be +served after all: he says we are not sent into the world to +excommune ourselves from its pleasures. This may be good logic, for +I own I don't believe with those who want the world screwed up into +a religious vice; but pleasure is divided into so many different +qualities, one hardly knows which suits best now-a-days. +Philosophers say we should avoid making pleasure of that which can +give pain to others; but philosophers say so many things, and give +so much advice that we never think of following. Uncle has a +standard of his own. I do, however, wish southern society would be +more circumspect, looking upon morality in its proper light. Its all +doubtful! doubtful! doubtful! There is Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy; +he preaches, preaches, preaches!--his preaching is to live, not to +die by. I do pity those poor negroes, who, notwithstanding their +impenetrable heads, are bored to death every Sunday with that +selfsame sermon. Such preaching, such strained effort, such +machinery to make men pious,--it's as soulless as a well. I don't +wonder the world has got to be so very wicked, when the wickedness +of the slavery church has become so sublime. And there's Uncle, +too,--he's been affected just in that way; hearing pious discourses +to uphold that which in his soul he knew to be the heaviest +wickedness the world groaned under, he has come to look upon +religion as if it were a commodity too stale for him. He sees the +minister of God's Word a mere machine of task, paid to do a certain +amount of talking to negroes, endeavouring to impress their simple +minds with the belief that it is God's will they should be slaves. +And this is all for necessity's sake!" In this musing mood she sits +rocking in her chair, until at length, overcome with the heat, she +reclines her head against the cushion, resigning herself to the +soothing embrace of sweet sleep. + +The moon's silver rays were playing on the calm surface of the +river, the foliage on its banks seemed bathed in quiet repose, the +gentle breeze, bearing its balmy odours, wafted through the arbour +of oaks, as if to fan her crimson cheeks; the azalia and magnolia +combined their fragrance, impregnating the dew falling over the +scene, as if to mantle it with beauty. She slept, a picture of +southern beauty; her auburn tresses in undulating richness playing +to and fro upon her swelling bosom,-how developed in all its +delicacy!-her sensitive nature made more lovely by the warmth and +generosity of her heart. Still she slept, her youthful mind +overflowing with joy and buoyancy: about her there was a ravishing +simplicity more than earthly: a blush upon her cheek became +deeper,-it was the blush of love flashing in a dream, that tells its +tale in nervous vibrations, adding enchantment to sleeping +voluptuousness;-and yet all was sacred, an envied object no rude +hand dare touch! + +Franconia had been educated at the north, in a land where--God bless +the name--Puritanism is not quite extinct; and through the force of +principles there inculcated had outgrown much of that feeling which +at the south admits to be right what is basely wrong. She hesitated +to reproach Marston with the bad effect of his life, but resolved on +endeavouring to enlist Clotilda's confidence, and learn how far her +degraded condition affected her feelings. She saw her with the same +proud spirit that burned in her own bosom; the same tenderness, the +same affection for her child, the same hopes and expectations for +the future, and its rewards. The question was, what could be done +for Clotilda? Was it better to reason with her,-to, if possible, +make her happy in her condition? Custom had sanctioned many +unrighteous inconsistencies: they were southern, nothing more! She +would intercede with her Uncle, she would have him sign free papers +for Clotilda and her child; she saw a relationship which the law +could not disguise, though it might crush out the natural +affections. With these thoughts passing in her mind, her imagination +wandered until she dropped into the sleep we have described. + +There she slept, the blushes suffusing her cheeks, until old Aunt +Rachel, puffing and blowing like an exhausting engine, entered the +room. Aunty is the pink of a plantation mother: she is as black as +the blackest, has a face embodying all the good-nature of the +plantation, boasts of her dimensions, which she says are six feet, +well as anybody proportioned. Her head is done up in a flashy +bandana, the points nicely crosslain, and extending an elaborate +distance beyond her ears, nearly covering the immense circular rings +that hang from them. Her gingham dress, starched just so, her +whitest white apron, never worn before missus come, sets her off to +great advantage. Aunty is a good piece of property-tells us how many +hundred dollars there is in her-feels that she has been promoted +because Mas'r told somebody he would not take a dollar less for her. +She can superintend the domestic affairs of the mansion just as well +as anybody. In one hand she bears a cup of orange-grove coffee, in +the other a fan, made of palmetto-leaves. + +"Gi'h-e-you!" she exclaimed. "If young missus aint nappin' just so +nice! I likes to cotch 'em just so;" and setting her tray upon a +stand, she views Franconia intently, and in the exuberance of her +feelings seats herself in front of her chair, fanning her with the +palmetto. The inquisitive and affectionate nature of the good old +slave was here presented in its purity. Nothing can be stronger, +nothing show the existence of happy associations more forcibly. The +old servant's attachment is proverbial,-his enthusiasm knows no +bounds,-Mas'r's comfort absorbs all his thoughts. Here, Aunt +Rachel's feelings rose beyond her power of restraint: she gazed on +her young missus with admiration, laughed, fanned her more and more; +then grasping her little jewelled hand, pressed it to her spacious +mouth and kissed it. "Young Missus! Franconia, I does lub ye so!" +she whispers. + +"Why, Aunt Rachel!" ejaculated Franconia, starting suddenly: "I am +glad you wakened me, for I dreamed of trouble: it made me +weak-nervous. Where is Clotilda?" And she stared vacantly round the +room, as if unconscious of her position. "Guess 'e aint 'bout +nowhere. Ye see, Miss, how she don't take no care on ye,-takes dis +child to stir up de old cook, when ye comes to see us." And stepping +to the stand she brings the salver; and in her excitement to serve +Missus, forgets that the coffee is cold. "Da'h he is; just as nice +as 'em get in de city. Rachel made 'em!" + +"I want Clotilda, Rachel; you must bring her to me. I was dreaming +of her and Annette; and she can tell dreams-" + +The old slave interrupts her. "If Miss Franconia hab had dream, 'e +bad, sartin. Old Mas'r spoil dat gal, Clotilda,-make her tink she +lady, anyhow. She mos' white, fo'h true; but aint no better den oder +nigger on de plantation," she returns. Franconia sips her coffee, +takes a waf from the plate as the old servant holds it before her, +and orders Dandy to summon Clotilda. + + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THINGS ARE NOT SO BRIGHT AS THEY SEEM. + + + + + +THE following morning broke forth bright and serene. Marston and his +guests, after passing a pleasant night, were early at breakfast. +When over, they joined him for a stroll over the plantation, to hear +him descant upon the prospects of the coming crop. Nothing could be +more certain, to his mind, than a bountiful harvest. The rice, +cotton, and corn grounds had been well prepared, the weather was +most favourable, he had plenty of help, a good overseer, and +faithful drivers. "We have plenty,-we live easy, you see, and our +people are contented," he says, directing his conversation to the +young Englishman, who was suspected of being Franconia's friend. "We +do things different from what you do in your country. Your +countrymen will not learn to grow cotton: they manufacture it, and +hence we are connected in firm bonds. Cotton connects many things, +even men's minds and souls. You would like to be a planter, I know +you would: who would not, seeing how we live? Here is the Elder, as +happy a fellow as you'll find in forty. He can be as jolly as an +Englishman over a good dinner: he can think with anybody, preach +with anybody!" Touching the Elder on the shoulder, he smiles, and +with an insinuating leer, smooths his beard. "I am at your service," +replies the Elder, folding his arms. + +"I pay him to preach for my nigger property,-I pay him to teach them +to be good. He preaches just as I wants him to. My boys think him a +little man, but a great divine. You would like to hear the Elder on +Sunday; he's funny then, and has a very funny sermon, which you may +get by heart without much exertion." The young man seems indifferent +to the conversation. He had not been taught to realise how easy it +was to bring religion into contempt. + +"Make no grave charges against me, Marston; you carry your practical +jokes a little too far, Sir. I am a quiet man, but the feelings of +quiet men may be disturbed." The Elder speaks moodily, as if +considering whether it were best to resent Marston's trifling +sarcasm. Deacon Rosebrook now interceded by saying, with unruffled +countenance, that the Elder had but one thing funny about him,-his +dignity on Sundays: that he was, at times, half inclined to believe +it the dignity of cogniac, instead of pious sentiment. + +"I preach my sermon,-who can do more?" the Elder rejoins, with +seeming concern for his honour. "I thought we came to view the +plantation?" + +"Yes, true; but our little repartee cannot stop our sight. You +preach your sermon, Elder,--that is, you preach what there is left +of it. It is one of the best-used sermons ever manufactured. It +would serve as a model for the most stale Oxonian. Do you think you +could write another like it? It has lasted seven years, and served +the means of propitiating the gospel on seven manors. Can they beat +that in your country?" says Marston, again turning to the young +Englishmam, and laughing at the Elder, who was deliberately taking +off his glasses to wipe the perspiration from his forehead. + +"Our ministers have a different way of patching up old sermons; but +I'm not quite sure about their mode of getting them," the young man +replies, takes Deacon Rosebrook's arm, and walks ahead. + +"The Elder must conform to the doctrines of the South; but they say +he bets at the race-course, which is not an uncommon thing for our +divines," rejoins the Deacon, facetiously. + +The Elder, becoming seriously inclined, thinks gentlemen had better +avoid personalities. Personalities are not tolerated in the South, +where gentlemen are removed far above common people, and protect +themselves by the code duello. He will expose Marston. + +Marston's good capon sides are proof against jokes. He may crack on, +that individual says. + +"My friend," interposed the Elder, "you desired me to preach to your +niggers in one style and for one purpose,-according to the rule of +labour and submission. Just such an one as your niggers would think +the right stripe, I preached, and it made your niggers wonder and +gape. I'll pledge you my religious faith I can preach a different-" + +"Oh! oh! oh! Elder," interrupted Marston, "pledge something +valuable." + +"To me, my faith is the most sacred thing in the world. I will-as I +was going to say-preach to your moulding and necessities. Pay for +it, and, on my word, it shall be in the cause of the South! With the +landmarks from my planter customers, I will follow to their liking," +continues Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy, not a smile on his hard +face. + +Deacon Rosebrook thinks it is well said. Pay is the great +desideratum in everything. The Elder, though not an uncommon +southern clergyman, is the most versatile preacher to be met with in +a day's walk. Having a wonderful opinion of nigger knowledge, he +preaches to it in accordance, receiving good pay and having no +objection to the wine. + +"Well, Gentlemen," Marston remarks, coolly, "I think the Elder has +borne our jokes well; we will now go and moisten our lips. The elder +likes my old Madeira-always passes the highest compliments upon it." +Having sallied about the plantation, we return to the mansion, where +Dandy, Enoch, and Sam-three well-dressed mulattoes-their hair +frizzed and their white aprons looking so bright, meet us at the +veranda, and bow us back into the parlour, as we bear our willing +testimony of the prospects of the crop. With scraping of feet, +grins, and bows, they welcome us back, smother us with compliments, +and seem overwilling to lavish their kindness. From the parlour they +bow us into a long room in the right wing, its walls being plain +boarded, and well ventilated with open seams. A table is spread with +substantial edibles,-such as ham, bacon, mutton, and fish. These +represent the southern planter's fare, to which he seldom adds those +pastry delicacies with which the New Englander is prone to decorate +his table. The party become seated as Franconia graces the festive +board with her presence, which, being an incentive of gallantry, +preserves the nicest decorum, smooths the conversation. The wine-cup +flows freely; the Elder dips deeply-as he declares it choice. +Temperance being unpopular in the south, it is little regarded at +Marston's mansion. As for Marston himself, he is merely preparing +the way to play facetious jokes on the Elder, whose arm he touches +every few minutes, reminding him how backward he is in replenishing +his glass. + +Not at all backward in such matters, the Elder fills up, asks the +pleasure of drinking his very good health, and empties the liquid +into the safest place nearest at hand. Repeated courses have their +effect; Marston is pleased, the Elder is mellow. With muddled +sensibilities his eyes glare wildly about the table, and at every +fresh invitation to drink he begs pardon for having neglected his +duty, fingers the ends of his cravat, and deposits another +glass,-certainly the very last. Franconia, perceiving her uncle's +motive, begs to be excused, and is escorted out of the room. Mr. +Praiseworthy, attempting to get a last glass of wine to his lips +without spilling, is quite surprised that the lady should leave. He +commences descanting on his own fierce enmity to infidelity and +catholicism. He would that everybody rose up and trampled them into +the dust; both are ruinous to negro property. + +Marston coolly suggests that the Elder is decidedly uncatholicised. + +"Elder," interrupted Deacon Rosebrook, touching him on the shoulder, +"you are modestly undone-that is, very respectably sold to your +wine." + +"Yes," rejoined Marston; "I would give an extra ten dollars to hear +him preach a sermon to my niggers at this moment." + +"Villainous inconsistency!" exclaimed the Elder, in an indistinct +voice, his eyes half closed, and the spectacles gradually falling +from his nose. "You are scandalising my excellent character, which +can't be replaced with gold." Making another attempt to raise a +glass of wine to his lips, as he concluded, he unconsciously let the +contents flow into his bosom, instead of his mouth. + +"Well, my opinion is, Elder, that if you get my nigger property into +heaven with your preaching, there'll be a chance for the likes of +me," said Marston, watching the Elder intently. It was now evident +the party were all becoming pretty deeply tinctured. Rosebrook +thought a minister of the gospel, to get in such a condition, and +then refer to religious matters, must have a soul empty to the very +core. There could be no better proof of how easily true religion +could be brought into contempt. The Elder foreclosed with the +spirit, considered himself unsafe in the chair, and was about to +relieve it, when Dandy caught him in his arms like a lifeless mass, +and carried him to a settee, upon which he spread him, like a +substance to be bleached in the sun. + +"Gentlemen! the Elder is completely unreverenced,-he is the most +versatile individual that ever wore black cloth. I reverence him for +his qualities," says Marston: then, turning to Maxwell, he +continued, "you must excuse this little joviality; it occurs but +seldom, and the southern people take it for what it is worth, +excusing, or forgetting its effects." + +"Don't speak of it-it's not unlike our English do at times-nor do +our ministers form exceptions; but they do such things under a +monster protection, without reckoning the effect," the Englishman +replied, looking round as if he missed the presence of Franconia. + +The Elder, soon in a profound sleep, was beset by swarms of +mosquitoes preying upon his haggard face, as if it were good food. +"He's a pretty picture," says Marston, looking upon the sleeping +Elder with a frown, and then working his fingers through his crispy +red hair. "A hard subject for the student's knife he'll make, won't +he?" To add to the comical appearance of the reverend gentleman, +Marston, rising from his seat, approached him, drew the spectacles +from his pocket, and placed them on the tip of his nose, adding +piquancy to his already indescribable physiognomy. + +"Don't you think this is carrying the joke a point too far?" asked +Deacon Rosebrook, who had been some time silently watching the +prostrate condition of Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy. + +Marston shrugs his shoulders, whispers a word or two in the ear of +his friend Maxwell, twirls his glass upon the table. He is somewhat +cautious how he gives an opinion on such matters, having previously +read one or two law books; but believes it does'nt portray all +things just right. He has studied ideal good-at least he tells us +so-if he never practises it; finally, he is constrained to admit +that this 'ere's all very well once in a while, but becomes +tiresome--especially when kept up as strong as the Elder does it. He +is free to confess that southern mankind is curiously constituted, +too often giving license to revelries, but condemning those who fall +by them. He feels quite right about the Elder's preaching being just +the chime for his nigger property; but, were he a professing +Christian, it would'nt suit him by fifty per cent. There is +something between the mind of a "nigger" and the mind of a white +man,--something he can't exactly analyse, though he is certain it is +wonderfully different; and though such preaching can do niggers no +harm, he would just as soon think of listening to Infidelity. +Painful as it was to acknowledge the fact, he only appeared at the +"Meet'n House" on Sundays for the looks of the thing, and in the +hope that it might have some influence with his nigger property. +Several times he had been heard to say it was mere +machine-preaching-made according to pattern, delivered according to +price, by persons whose heads and hearts had no sympathy with the +downcast. + +"There's my prime fellow Harry; a right good fellow, worth nine +hundred, nothing short, and he is a Christian in conscience. He has +got a kind of a notion into his head about being a divine. He +thinks, in the consequence of his black noddle, that he can preach +just as well as anybody; and, believe me, he can't read a letter in +the book,--at least, I don't see how he can. True, he has heard the +Elder's sermon so often that he has committed every word of it to +memory,--can say it off like a plantation song, and no mistake." Thus +Marston discoursed. And yet he declared that nobody could fool him +with the idea of "niggers" having souls: they were only mortal,--he +would produce abundant proof, if required. + +Deacon Rosebrook listened attentively to this part of Marston's +discourse. "The task of proving your theory would be rendered +difficult if you were to transcend upon the scale of blood," he +replied, getting up and spreading his handkerchief over the Elder's +face, to keep off the mosquitoes. + +"When our most learned divines and philosophers are the stringent +supporters of the principle, what should make the task difficult? +Nevertheless, I admit, if my fellow Harry could do the preaching for +our plantation, no objections would be interposed by me; on the +contrary, I could make a good speculation by it. Harry would be +worth two common niggers then. Nigger property, christianised, is +the most valuable of property. You may distinguish a christianised +nigger in a moment; and piety takes the stubborn out of their +composition better than all the cowhides you can employ; and, too, +it's a saving of time, considering that it subdues so much quicker," +says Marston, stretching back in his chair, as he orders Dandy to +bring Harry into his presence. He will tell them what he knows about +preaching, the Elder's sermon, and the Bible! + +Maxwell smiles at such singularly out of place remarks on religion. +They are not uncommon in the south, notwithstanding. + +A few minutes elapsed, when Dandy opened the door, and entered the +room, followed by a creature-a piece of property!-in which the right +of a soul had been disputed, not alone by Marston, but by southern +ministers and southern philosophers. The thing was very good- +looking, very black;-it had straight features, differing from the +common African, and stood very erect. We have said he differed from +the common African-we mean, as he is recognised through our +prejudices. His forehead was bold and well-developed-his hair short, +thick and crispy, eyes keen and piercing, cheeks regularly declining +into a well-shaped mouth and chin. Dejected and forlorn, the wretch +of chance stood before them, the fires of a burning soul glaring +forth from his quick, wandering eyes. "There!" exclaimed Marston. +"See that," pointing at his extremes; "he has foot enough for a +brick-maker, and a head equal to a deacon-no insinuation, my +friend," bowing to Deacon Rosebrook. "They say it takes a big head +to get into Congress; but I'm afraid, Harry, I'd never get there." + +The door again opened, and another clever-looking old negro, anxious +to say "how de do" to mas'r and his visitors, made his appearance, +bowing, and keeping time with his foot. "Oh, here's my old daddy-old +Daddy Bob, one of the best old niggers on the plantation; Harry and +Bob are my deacons. There,--stand there, Harry; tell these +gentlemen,--they are right glad to see you,--what you know about Elder +Praiseworthy's sermon, and what you can do in the way of preaching," +says Marston, laughing good-naturedly. + +"Rather a rough piece of property to make a preacher of," muttered +Maxwell. + +The poor fellow's feet were encrusted as hard as an alligator's +back; and there he stood, a picture upon which the sympathies of +Christendom were enlisted-a human object without the rights of man, +in a free republic. He held a red cap in his left hand, a pair of +coarse osnaburg trousers reached a few inches below his knees, and, +together with a ragged shirt of the same material, constituted his +covering. + +"You might have dressed yourself before you appeared before +gentlemen from abroad-at least, put on your new jacket," said +Marston. + +"Why, mas'r, t'ant de clothes. God neber make Christian wid'e his +clothes on;-den, mas'r, I gin' my new jacket to Daddy Bob. But neber +mind him, mas'r-you wants I to tell you what I tinks ob de Lor. I +tink great site ob the Bible, mas'r, but me don' tink much ob +Elder's sermon, mas'r." + +"How is that, Harry?" interrupted the deacon. + +"Why, Mas'r Deacon, ye sees how when ye preaches de good tings ob de +Lor', ye mus'nt 'dulge in 'e wicked tings on 'arth. A'h done want +say Mas'r Elder do dem tings-but 'e seem to me t' warn't right wen +'e join de wickedness ob de world, and preach so ebery Sunday. He +may know de varse, and de chapter, but 'e done preach what de Lor' +say, nohow." + +"Then you don't believe in a one-sided sermon, Harry?" returned the +deacon, while Marston and Maxwell sat enjoying the negro's simple +opinion of the Elder's sermon. + +"No, mas'r. What the Bible teach me is to lob de Lor'-be good +myself, and set example fo'h oders. I an't what big white Christian +say must be good, wen 'e neber practice him,--but I good in me heart +when me tink what de Lor' say be good. Why, mas'r, Elder preach dat +sarmon so many Sundays, dat a' forgot him three times, since me know +'im ebery word," said Harry; and his face began to fill with +animation and fervency. + +"Well, now, Harry, I think you are a little too severe on the +Elder's sermon; but if you know so much about it, give these +gentlemen a small portion of it, just to amuse them while the Elder +is taking a nap," said Marston. + +"Ay, mas'r, be nap dat way too often for pious man what say he lobe +de Lor'," replied Harry; and drawing himself into a tragic attitude, +making sundry gesticulations, and putting his hand to his forehead, +commenced with the opening portion of the Elder's sermon. "And it +was said-Servants obey your masters, for that is right in the sight +of the Lord," and with a style of native eloquence, and rich +cantation, he continued for about ten minutes, giving every word, +seriatim, of the Elder's sermon; and would have kept it up, in word +and action, to the end, had he not been stopped by Marston. All +seemed astonished at his power of memory. Maxwell begged that he +might be allowed to proceed. + +"He's a valuable fellow, that-eh?" said Marston. "He'll be worth +three-sixteenths of a rise on cotton to all the planters in the +neighbourhood, by-and-by. He's larned to read, somehow, on the +sly-isn't it so, Harry? come, talk up!" + +"Yes, mas'r, I larn dat when you sleepin'; do Lor' tell me his +spirit warn't in dat sarmon what de Elder preach,--dat me must sarch +de good book, and make me own tinking valuable. Mas'r tink ignorant +nigger lob him best, but t'ant so, mas'r. Good book make heart good, +and make nigger love de Lor', and love mas'r too." + +"I'll bet the rascal's got a Bible, or a Prayer-book, hid up +somewhere. He and old Daddy Bob are worse on religion than two old +coons on a fowl-yard," said Marston. Here old Aunt Rachel entered +the room to fuss around a little, and have a pleasant meeting with +mas'r's guests. Harry smiled at Marston's remark, and turned his +eyes upward, as much as to say, "a day will come when God's Word +will not thus be turned into ridicule!" + +"And he's made such a good old Christian of this dark sinner, Aunt +Rachel, that I wouldn't take two thousand dollars for her. I expect +she'll be turning preacher next, and going north to join the +abolitionists." + +"Mas'r," said Rachel, "'t wouldn't do to mind what you say. Neber +mind, you get old one ob dese days; den you don't make so much fun +ob old Rachel." + +"Shut up your corn-trap," Marston says, smiling; and turning to his +guests, continues-"You hear that, gentlemen; she talks just as she +pleases, directs my household as if she were governor." Again, Aunt +Rachel, summoning her dignity, retorts, + +"Not so, Mas'r Deacon, (turning to Deacon Rosebrook,) "'t won't +square t' believe all old Boss tell, dat it won't! Mas'r take care +ob de two cabins in de yard yonder, while I tends de big house." +Rachel was more than a match for Marston; she could beat him in +quick retort. The party, recognising Aunt Rachel's insinuation, +joined in a hearty laugh. The conversation was a little too pointed +for Marston, who, changing the subject, turned to Harry, saying, +"now, my old boy, we'll have a little more of your wisdom on +religious matters." Harry had been standing the while like a forlorn +image, with a red cap in his hand. + +"I can preach, mas'r; I can do dat, fo'h true," he replied quickly. +"But mas'r, nigger got to preach against his colour; Buckra tink +nigger preachin' ain't good, cus he black." + +"Never mind that, Harry," interrupts Marston: "We'll forget the +nigger, and listen just as if it were all white. Give us the very +best specimen of it. Daddy Bob, my old patriarch, must help you; and +after you get through, he must lift out by telling us all about the +time when General Washington landed in the city; and how the people +spread carpets, at the landing, for him to walk upon." The +entertainment was, in Marston's estimation, quite a recherch +concern: that his guests should be the better pleased, the venerable +old Daddy Bob, his head white with goodly years of toil, and full of +genuine negro humour, steps forward to perform his part. He makes +his best bows, his best scrapes, his best laughs; and says, "Bob +ready to do anything to please mas'r." He pulls the sleeves of his +jacket, looks vacantly at Harry, is proud to be in the presence of +mas'r's guests. He tells them he is a better nigger "den" Harry, +points to his extremes, which are decorated with a pair of new +russet broghans. + +"Daddy's worth his weight in gold," continues Marston, "and can do +as much work as any nigger on the plantation, if he is old." + +"No, no, mas'r; I ain't so good what I was. Bob can't tote so much +wid de hoe now. I work first-rate once, mas'r, but 'a done gone +now!" + +"Now, Bob, I want you to tell me the truth,--niggers will lie, but +you are an exception, Bob; and can tell the truth when there's no +bacon in the way." + +"Gih! Mas'r, I do dat sartin," replied Bob, laughing heartily, and +pulling up the little piece of shirt that peeped out above the +collar of his jacket. + +"How did Harry and you come by so much knowledge of the Bible? you +got one somewhere, hav'n't you?" enquired Marston, laconically. + +This was rather a "poser" on Bob; and, after stammering and mumbling +for some time-looking at Harry slyly, then at Marston, and again +dropping his eyes on the floor, he ejaculated, + +"Well, mas'r, 'spose I might as well own 'im. Harry and me got one, +for sartin!" + +"Ah, you black rascals, I knew you had one somewhere. Where did you +get it? That's some of Miss Franconia's doings." + +"Can't tell you, mas'r, whar I got him; but he don't stop my hoein' +corn, for' true." + +Franconia had observed Harry's tractableness, and heard him wish for +a Bible, that he might learn to read from it,--and she had secretly +supplied him with one. Two years Harry and Daddy Bob had spent hours +of the night in communion over it; the latter had learned to read +from it, the former had imbibed its great truths. The artless girl +had given it to them in confidence, knowing its consolatory +influences and that they, with a peculiar firmness in such cases, +would never betray her trust. Bob would not have refused his master +any other request; but he would never disclose the secret of Miss +Franconia giving it. + +"Well, my old faithful," said Marston, "we want you to put the sprit +into Harry; we want to hear a sample of his preaching. Now, Harry, +you can begin; give it big eloquence, none of the new fashion +preaching, give us the old plantation break-down style." + +The negro's countenance assumed a look indicative of more than his +lips dare speak. Looking upward pensively, he replied,--"Can't do +dat, mas'r; he ain't what do God justice; but there is something in +de text,--where shall I take 'em from?" + +"Ministers should choose their own; I always do," interrupted Deacon +Rosebrook. + +Daddy Bob, touching Harry on the arm, looks up innocently, +interposes his knowledge of Scripture. "D'ar, Harry, I tells you +what text to gin 'em. Gin 'em dat one from de fourt' chapter of +Ephes: dat one whar de Lor' say:--'Great mas'r led captivity captive, +and gin gifts unto men.' And whar he say, 'Till we come unto a unity +of the faith of the knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man, +unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; that we be +no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every +wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, +whereby they lay in wait to deceive.'" + +"And you tink dat 'll do,--eh, Daddy?" Harry replies, looking at the +old man, as if to say, were he anything but a slave he would follow +the advice. + +"Den, dars t' oder one, away 'long yonder, where 'e say in Isaiah, +fifty-eight chapter--'Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou +seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no +knowledge? Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with +the fist of wickedness." The old man seemed perfectly at home on +matters of Scripture; he had studied it in stolen moments. + +The young Englishman seemed surprised at such a show of talent. He +saw the humble position of the old man, his want of early +instruction, and his anxiety to be enlightened. "How singular!" he +ejaculated, "to hear property preach, and know so much of the Bible, +too! People in my country would open their eyes with surprise." The +young man had been educated in an atmosphere where religion was +prized-where it was held as a sacred element for the good of man. +His feelings were tenderly susceptible; the scene before him +awakened his better nature, struck deep into his mind. He viewed it +as a cruel mockery of Christianity, a torture of innocent nature, +for which man had no shame. He saw the struggling spirit of the old +negro contending against wrong,--his yearnings for the teachings of +Christianity, his solicitude for Marston's good. And he saw how man +had cut down the unoffending image of himself-how Christian +ministers had become the tyrant's hand-fellow in the work of +oppression. It incited him to resolution; a project sprung up in his +mind, which, from that day forward, as if it had been a new +discovery in the rights of man, he determined to carry out in +future, for the freedom of his fellows. + +Harry, in accordance with Bob's advice, chose the latter text. For +some minutes he expounded the power of divine inspiration, in his +simple but impressive manner, being several times interrupted by the +Deacon, who assumed the right of correcting his philosophy. At +length, Marston interrupted, reminding him that he had lost the +"plantation gauge." "You must preach according to the Elder's rule," +said he. + +With a submissive stare, Harry replied: "Mas'r, a man what lives +fo'h dis world only is a slave to himself; but God says, he dat +lives fo'h de world to come, is the light of life coming forth to +enjoy the pleasures of eternity;" and again he burst into a rhapsody +of eloquence, to the astonishment and admiration of Maxwell, and +even touching the feelings of Marston, who was seldom moved by such +displays. Seeing the man in the thing of merchandise, he inclined to +look upon him as a being worthy of immortality; and yet it seemed +next to impossible that he should bring his natural feelings to +realise the simple nobleness that stood before him,--the man beyond +the increase of dollars and cents in his person! The coloured +winter's hand leaned against the mantel-piece, watching the changes +in Marston's countenance, as Daddy stood at Harry's side, in +patriarchal muteness. A tear stealing down Maxwell's cheek told of +the sensation produced; while Marston, setting his elbow on the +table, supported his head in his hands, and listened. The Deacon, +good man that he was, filled his glass,--as if to say, "I don't stand +nigger preaching." As for the Elder, his pishes and painful +gurglings, while he slept, were a source of much annoyance. Awaking +suddenly-raising himself to a half-bent position-he rubs his little +eyes, adjusts his spectacles on his nose, stares at Harry with +surprise, and then, with quizzical demeanour, leaves us to infer +what sort of a protest he is about to enter. He, however, thinks it +better to say nothing. + +"Stop, Harry," says Marston, interrupting him in a point of his +discourse: then turning to his guests, he inquired, with a look of +ridicule, "Gentlemen, what have you got to say against such +preaching? Elder, you old snoring Christian, you have lost all the +best of it. Why didn't you wake up before?" + +"Verri-ly, truly! ah, indeed: you have been giving us a monkey-show +with your nigger, I suppose. I thought I'd lost nothing; you should +remember, Marston, there's a future," said the Elder, winking and +blinking sardonically. + +"Yes, old boosey," Marston replies, with an air of indifference, +"and you should remember there's a present, which you may lose your +way in. That venerable sermon won't keep you straight-" + +The Elder is extremely sensitive on this particular point-anything +but speak disparagingly of that sermon. It has been his stock in +trade for numerous years. He begs they will listen to him for a +minute, excuse this little trifling variation, charge it to the +susceptibility of his constitution. He is willing to admit there is +capital in his example which may be used for bad purposes, and says, +"Somehow, when I take a little, it don't seem to go right." Again he +gives a vacant look at his friends, gets up, resting his hands on +the table, endeavours to keep a perpendicular, but declares himself +so debilitated by his sleep that he must wait a little longer. +Sinking back upon the settee, he exclaims, "You had better send that +nigger to his cabin." This was carrying the amusement a little +beyond Marston's own "gauge," and it being declared time to adjourn, +preparations were made to take care of the Elder, who was soon +placed horizontally in a waggon and driven away for his home. "The +Elder is gone beyond himself, beyond everything," said Marston, as +they carried him out of the door. "You can go, Harry, I like your +preaching; bring it down to the right system for my property, and +I'll make a dollar or two out of it yet," he whispers, shaking his +head, as Harry, bowing submissively, leaves the door. + +Just as they were making preparations to retire, a carriage drove to +the gate, and in the next minute a dashing young fellow came rushing +into the house, apparently in great anxiety. He was followed by a +well-dressed man, whose countenance and sharp features, full of +sternness, indicated much mechanical study. He hesitated as the +young man advanced, took Marston by the hand, nervously, led him +aside, whispered something in his ear. Taking a few steps towards a +window, the intruder, for such he seemed, stood almost motionless, +with his eyes firmly and watchfully fixed upon them, a paper in his +right hand. "It is too often, Lorenzo; these things may prove +fatal," said Marston, giving an inquiring glance at the man, still +standing at the window. + +"I pledge you my honour, uncle, it shall be the last time," said the +young stranger. "Uncle, I have not forgotten your advice." Marston, +much excited, exhibited changes of countenance peculiar to a man +labouring under the effect of sudden disappointment. Apologising to +his guests, he dismissed them-with the exception of Maxwell-ordered +pen and ink, drew a chair to the table, and without asking the +stranger to be seated, signed his name to a paper. While this was +being done, the man who had waited in silence stepped to the door +and admitted two gentlemanly-looking men, who approached Marston and +authenticated the instrument. It was evident there was something of +deep importance associated with Marston's signature. No sooner had +his pen fulfilled the mission, than Lorenzo's face, which had just +before exhibited the most watchful anxiety, lighted up with joy, as +if it had dismantled its care for some new scene of worldly +prosperity. + + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AN UNEXPECTED CONFESSION. + + + + + +HAVING executed the document, Marston ordered one of the servants to +show Maxwell his room. The persons who had acted the part of +justices, authenticating the instrument, withdrew without further +conversation; while the person who had followed Lorenzo, for such +was the young man's name, remained as if requiring some further +negotiation with Marston. He approached the table sullenly, and with +one hand resting upon it, and the other adjusted in his vest, +deliberately waited the moment to interrupt the conversation. This +man, reader, is Marco Graspum, an immense dealer in human +flesh,--great in that dealing in the flesh and blood of mankind which +brings with it all the wickedness of the demon. It is almost +impossible to conceive the suddenness with which that species of +trade changes man into a craving creature, restless for the dross of +the world. There he was, the heartless dealer in human flesh, +dressed in the garb of a gentleman, and by many would have been +taken as such. Care and anxiety sat upon his countenance; he watched +the chances of the flesh market, stood ready to ensnare the careless +youth, to take advantage of the frailer portions of a Southerner's +noble nature. "A word or two with you, Mr. Marston," said he. + +"Sit down, Graspum, sit down," Marston rejoined, ordering Dandy to +give him a chair; which being done he seats himself in front of +Marston, and commences dilating upon his leniency. "You may take me +for an importune feller, in coming this time o'night, but the fact +is I've been-you know my feelings for helpin' +everybody-good-naturedly drawn into a very bad scrape with this +careless young nephew of yourn: he's a dashing devil, and you don't +know it, he is. But I've stood it so long that I was compelled to +make myself sure. This nephew of yourn," said he, turning to +Lorenzo, "thinks my money is made for his gambling propensities, and +if he has used your name improperly, you should have known of it +before." At this Lorenzo's fine open countenance assumed a glow of +indignation, and turning to his uncle, with a nervous tremor, he +said, "Uncle, he has led me into this trouble. You know not the +snares of city life; and were I to tell you him-this monster-yea, I +say monster, for he has drawn me into a snare like one who was +seeking to devour my life-that document, uncle, which he now holds +in his hand saves me from a shame and disgrace which I never could +have withstood before the world." + +"Ah! you are just like all gamblers: never consider yourself in the +light of bringing yourself into trouble. Take my advice, young man; +there is a step in a gambler's life to which it is dangerous to +descend, and if you have brought your father and uncle into trouble, +blame neither me nor my money," returned Graspum. + +"You do not say that there is forgery connected with this affair, do +you?" inquired Marston, grasping Lorenzo by the arm. + +"I wish it were otherwise, uncle," replied Lorenzo, leaning forward +upon the table and covering his face with his hands. "It was my +folly, and the flattery of this man, which have driven me to it," he +continued. + +"Oh! cursed inconsistency: and you have now fallen back upon the +last resource, to save a name that, once gone, cannot reinstate +itself. Tell me, Marco Graspum; are you not implicated in this +affair? Your name stands full of dark implications; are you not +following up one of those avenues through which you make so many +victims? What is the amount?" returned Marston. + +"You will know that to-morrow. He has given paper in your name to an +uncertain extent. You should have known this before. Your nephew has +been leading a reckless gambler's life-spending whatsoever money +came into his possession, and at length giving bills purporting to +be drawn by you and his father. You must now honour them, or +dishonour him. You see, I am straightforward in business: all my +transactions are conducted with promptness; but I must have what is +due to me. I have a purpose in all my transactions, and I pursue +them to the end. You know the purport of this document, Marston; +save yourself trouble, and do not allow me to call too often." Thus +saying, he took his hat and left the room. + +Uncle," said Lorenzo, as soon as Graspum had left, "I have been led +into difficulty. First led away by fashionable associations, into +the allurements with which our city is filled, from small vices I +have been hurried onward, step by step, deeper and deeper, until now +I have arrived at the dark abyss. Those who have watched me through +each sin, been my supposed friends, and hurried me onwards to this +sad climax, have proved my worst enemies. I have but just learned +the great virtue of human nature,--mistrust him who would make +pleasure of vice. I have ruined my father, and have involved you by +the very act which you have committed for my relief to-night. In my +vain struggle to relieve myself from the odium which must attach to +my transactions, I have only added to your sorrows. I cannot ask you +to forgive me, nor can I disclose all my errors-they are manifold." + +"This is an unexpected blow-one which I was not prepared to meet. I +am ready to save your honour, but there is something beyond this +which the voice of rumour will soon spread. You know our society, +and the strange manner in which it countenances certain things, yet +shuts out those who fall by them. But what is to be done? Although +we may discharge the obligation with Graspum, it does not follow +that he retains the stigma in his own breast. Tell me, Lorenzo, what +is the amount?" inquired Marston, anxiously. + +"My father has already discharged a secret debt of fourteen thousand +dollars for me, and there cannot be less than thirty thousand +remaining. Uncle, do not let it worry you; I will leave the country, +bear the stigma with me, and you can repudiate the obligation," said +he, pleading nervously, as he grasped his uncle's hand firmer and +firmer. + +Among the many vices of the south, spreading their corrupting +influence through the social body, that of gambling stands first. +Confined to no one grade of society, it may be found working ruin +among rich and poor, old and young. Labour being disreputable, one +class of men affect to consider themselves born gentlemen, while the +planter is ever ready to indulge his sons with some profession they +seldom practise, and which too often results in idleness and its +attendants. This, coupled to a want of proper society with which the +young may mix for social elevation, finds gratification in drinking +saloons, fashionable billiard rooms, and at the card table. In the +first, gentlemen of all professions meet and revel away the night in +suppers and wine. They must keep up appearances, or fall doubtful +visitors of these fashionable stepping-stones to ruin. Like a +furnace to devour its victims, the drinking saloon first opens its +gorgeous doors, and when the burning liquid has inflamed the mental +and physical man, soon hurries him onward into those fascinating +habitations where vice and voluptuousness mingle their degrading +powers. Once in these whirlpools of sin, the young man finds himself +borne away by every species of vicious allurement-his feelings +become unrestrained, until at length that last spark of filial +advice which had hovered round his consciousness dies out. When this +is gone, vice becomes the great charmer, and with its thousand +snares and resplendent workers never fails to hold out a hope with +each temptation; but while the victim now and then asks hope to be +his guardian, he seldom thinks how surely he is sinking faster and +faster to an irretrievable depth. + +Through this combination of snares-all having their life-springs in +slavery-Lorenzo brought ruin upon his father, and involved his +uncle. With an excellent education, a fine person, frank and gentle +demeanour, he made his way into the city, and soon attracted the +attention of those who affect to grace polished society. Had society +laid its restraints upon character and personal worth, it would have +been well for Lorenzo; but the neglect to found this moral +conservator only serves to increase the avenues to vice, and to +bring men from high places into the lowest moral scale. This is the +lamentable fault of southern society; and through the want of that +moral bulwark, so protective of society in the New England +States-personal worth-estates are squandered, families brought to +poverty, young men degraded, and persons once happy driven from +those homes they can only look back upon with pain and regret. The +associations of birth, education, and polished society-so much +valued by the southerner-all become as nothing when poverty sets its +seal upon the victim. + +And yet, among some classes in the south there exists a religious +sentiment apparently grateful; but what credit for sincerity shall +we accord to it when the result proves that no part of the +organisation itself works for the elevation of a degraded class? How +much this is to be regretted we leave to the reader's +discrimination. The want of a greater effort to make religious +influence predominant has been, and yet is, a source of great evil. +But let us continue our narrative, and beg the reader's indulgence +for having thus transgressed. + +Flattered and caressed among gay assemblages, Lorenzo soon found +himself drawn beyond their social pleasantries into deeper and more +alluring excitements. His frequent visits at the saloon and +gambling-tables did not detract, for a time, from the social +position society had conferred upon him. + +His parents, instead of restraining, fostered these associations, +prided themselves on his reception, providing means of maintaining +him in this style of living. Vanity and passion led him captive in +their gratifications; they were inseparable from the whirlpool of +confused society that triumphs at the south,--that leads the proud +heart writhing in the agony of its follies. He cast himself upon +this, like a frail thing upon a rapid stream, and--forgetting the +voyage was short--found his pleasures soon ended in the troubled +waters of misery and disgrace. + +There is no fundamental morality in the south, nor is education +invested with the material qualities of social good; in this it +differs from the north, against which it is fast building up a +political and social organisation totally at variance. Instead of +maintaining those great principles upon which the true foundation of +the republic stands, the south allows itself to run into a hyper- +aristocratic vagueness, coupled with an arbitrary determination to +perpetuate its follies for the guidance of the whole Union. And the +effect of this becomes still more dangerous, when it is attempted to +carry it out under the name of democracy,--American democracy! In +this manner it serves the despotic ends of European despots: they +point to the freest government in the world for examples of their +own absolutism, shield their autocracy beneath its democracy, and +with it annihilate the rights of the commoner. + +Heedlessly wending his way, the man of rank and station at one side, +the courtesan with his bland smiles at the other, Lorenzo had not +seen the black poniard that was to cut the cord of his downfall,--it +had remained gilded. He drank copious draughts at the house of +licentiousness, became infatuated with the soft music that leads the +way of the unwary, until at length, he, unconsciously at it were, +found himself in the midst of a clan who are forming a plot to put +the black seal upon his dishonour. Monto Graspum, his money playing +through the hands of his minions in the gambling rooms, had +professed to be his friend. He had watched his pliable nature, had +studied the resources of his parents, knew their kindness, felt sure +of his prey while abetting the downfall. Causing him to perpetrate +the crime, from time to time, he would incite him with prospects of +retrieve, guide his hand to consummate the crime again, and watch +the moment when he might reap the harvest of his own infamy. Thus, +when he had brought the young man to that last pitiless issue, where +the proud heart quickens with a sense of its wrongs-when the mind +recurs painfully to the past, imploring that forgiveness which seems +beyond the power of mankind to grant, he left him a poor outcast, +whose errors would be first condemned by his professed friends. That +which seemed worthy of praise was forgotten, his errors were +magnified; and the seducer made himself secure by crushing his +victim, compromising the respectability of his parents, making the +disgrace a forfeiture for life. + +Unexpected as the shock was to Marston, he bore it with seeming +coolness, as if dreading the appearance of the man who had taken +advantage of the moment to bring him under obligations, more than he +did the amount to be discharged. Arising from the table, he took +Lorenzo by the hand, saying:--"Veil your trouble, Lorenzo! Let the +past be forgotten, bury the stigma in your own bosom; let it be an +example to your feelings and your actions. Go not upon the world to +wrestle with its ingratitude; if you do, misfortune will befall +you-you will stumble through it the remainder of your life. With me, +I fear the very presence of the man who has found means of +engrafting his avarice upon our misfortunes; he deals with those in +his grasp like one who would cut the flesh and blood of mankind into +fragments of gain. Be firm, Lorenzo; be firm! Remember, it is not +the province of youth to despair; be manly-manliness even in crime +lends its virtue to the falling." At which he bid him good night, +and retired to rest. + +The young man, more pained at his uncle's kindness,--kindness +stronger in its effects than reproof,--still lingered, as if to watch +some change of expression on his uncle's countenance, as he left the +door. His face changed into pallid gloominess, and again, as if by +magic influence, filled with the impress of passion; it was despair +holding conflict with a bending spirit. He felt himself a criminal, +marked by the whispers of society; he might not hear the charges +against him, nor be within the sound of scandal's tongue, but he +would see it outlined in faces that once smiled at his seeming +prosperity. He would feel it in the cold hand that had welcomed +him,--that had warmly embraced him; his name would no longer be +respected. The circle of refined society that had kindly received +him, had made him one of its attractions, would now shun him as if +he were contagion. Beyond this he saw the fate that hovered over his +father's and his uncle's estates;-all the filial affection they had +bestowed upon him, blasted; the caresses of his beloved and +beautiful sister; the shame the exposure would bring upon her; the +knave who held him in his grasp, while dragging the last remnants of +their property away to appease dishonest demands, haunted him to +despair. And, yet, to sink under them-to leave all behind him and be +an outcast, homeless and friendless upon the world, where he could +only look back upon the familiar scenes of his boyhood with regret, +would be to carry a greater amount of anguish to his destiny. The +destroyer was upon him; his grasp was firm and painful. He might +live a life of rectitude; but his principles and affections would be +unfixed. It would be like an infectious robe encircling him,--a +disease which he never could eradicate, so that he might feel he was +not an empty vessel among honourable men. When men depicted their +villains, moving in the grateful spheres of life, he would be one of +their models; and though the thoughtlessness of youth had made him +the type haunting himself by day and night, the world never made a +distinction. Right and wrong were things that to him only murmured +in distrust; they would be blemishes exaggerated from simple error; +but the judgment of society would never overlook them. He must now +choose between a resolution to bear the consequences at home, or +turn his back upon all that had been near and dear to him,--be a +wanderer struggling with the eventful trials of life in a distant +land! Turning pale, as if frantic with the thought of what was +before him, the struggle to choose between the two extremes, and the +only seeming alternative, he grasped the candle that flickered +before him, gave a glance round the room, as if taking a last look +at each familiar object that met his eyes, and retired. + + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE MAROONING PARTY. + + + + + +A MAROONING pic-nic had been proposed and arranged by the young +beaux and belles of the neighbouring plantations. The day proposed +for the festive event was that following the disclosure of Lorenzo's +difficulties. Every negro on the plantation was agog long before +daylight: the morning ushered forth bright and balmy, with bustle +and confusion reigning throughout the plantation,--the rendezvous +being Marston's mansion, from which the gay party would be conveyed +in a barge, overspread with an awning, to a romantic spot, +overshaded with luxuriant pines, some ten miles up the stream. Here +gay ftes, mirth and joy, the mingling of happy spirits, were to +make the time pass pleasantly. The night passed without producing +any decision in Lorenzo's mind; and when he made his appearance on +the veranda an unusual thoughtfulness pervaded his countenance; all +his attempts to be joyous failed to conceal his trouble. Marston, +too, was moody and reserved even to coldness; that frank, happy, and +careless expression of a genial nature, which had so long marked him +in social gatherings, was departed. When Maxwell, the young +Englishman, with quiet demeanour, attempted to draw him into +conversation about the prospects of the day, his answers were +measured, cold, beyond his power of comprehending, yet inciting. + +To appreciate those pleasant scenes-those scenes so apparently +happy, at times adding a charm to plantation life-those innocent +merry-makings in spring time-one must live among them, be born to +the recreations of the soil. Not a negro on the plantation, old or +young, who does not think himself part and parcel of the scene-that +he is indispensably necessary to make Mas'r's enjoyment complete! In +this instance, the lawn, decked in resplendent verdure, the foliage +tinged by the mellow rays of the rising sun, presented a pastoral +loveliness that can only be appreciated by those who have +contemplated that soft beauty which pervades a southern landscape at +morning and evening. The arbour of old oaks, their branches twined +into a panoply of thick foliage, stretching from the mansion to the +landing, seemed like a sleeping battlement, its dark clusters +soaring above redolent brakes and spreading water-leaks. Beneath +their fretted branches hung the bedewed moss like a veil of +sparkling crystals, moving gently to and fro as if touched by some +unseen power. The rice fields, stretching far in the distance, +present the appearance of a mirror decked with shadows of fleecy +clouds, transparent and sublime. Around the cabins of the plantation +people-the human property-the dark sons and daughters of promiscuous +families-are in "heyday glee:" they laughed, chattered, contended, +and sported over the presence of the party;-the overseer had given +them an hour or two to see the party "gwine so;" and they were +overjoyed. Even the dogs, as if incited by an instinctive sense of +some gay scene in which they were to take part, joined their barking +with the jargon of the negroes, while the mules claimed a right to +do likewise. In the cabins near the mansion another scene of fixing, +fussing, toddling, chattering, running here and there with +sun-slouches, white aprons, fans, shades, baskets, and tin pans, +presented itself; any sort of vessel that would hold provender for +the day was being brought forth. Clotilda, her face more cheerful, +is dressed in a nice drab merino, a plain white stomacher, a little +collar neatly turned over: with her plain bodice, her white ruffles +round her wrists, she presents the embodiment of neatness. She is +pretty, very pretty; and yet her beauty has made her the worst +slave-a slave in the sight of Heaven and earth! Her large, meaning +eyes, glow beneath her arched brows, while her auburn hair, laid in +smooth folds over her ears and braided into a heavy circle at the +back of her head, gives her the fascinating beauty of a Norman +peasant. Annette plays around her, is dressed in her very best,--for +Marston is proud of the child's beauty, and nothing is withheld that +can gratify the ambition of the mother, so characteristic, to dress +with fantastic colours: the child gambols at her feet, views its +many-coloured dress, keeps asking various unanswerable questions +about Daddy Bob, Harry, and the pic-nic. Again it scrambles +pettishly, sings snatches of some merry plantation song, pulls its +braided hat about the floor, climbs upon the table to see what is in +the basket. + +Passing to the cabin of Ellen Juvarna, we see her in the same +confusion which seems to have beset the plantation: her dark, +piercing eyes, display more of that melancholy which marks +Clotilda's; nor does thoughtfulness pervade her countenance, and yet +there is the restlessness of an Indian about her,--she is Indian by +blood and birth; her look calls up all the sad associations of her +forefathers; her black glossy hair, in heavy folds, hangs carelessly +about her olive shoulders, contrasting strangely with the other. + +"And you, Nicholas! remember what your father will say: but you must +not call him such," she says, taking by the hand a child we have +described, who is impatient to join the gay group. + +"That ain't no harm, mother! Father always is fondling about me when +nobody's lookin'," the child answers, with a pertness indicating a +knowledge of his parentage rather in advance of his years. + +We pass to the kitchen,--a little, dingy cabin, presenting the most +indescribable portion of the scene, the smoke issuing from every +crevice. Here old Peggy, the cook,--an enveloped representative of +smoke and grease,--as if emerging from the regions of Vulcan, moves +her fat sides with the independence of a sovereign. In this +miniature smoke-pit she sweats and frets, runs to the door every few +minutes, adjusts the points of her flashy bandana, and takes a +wistful look at the movements without. Sal, Suke, Rose, and Beck, +young members of Peggy's family, are working at the top of their +energy among stew-pans, griddles, pots and pails, baskets, bottles +and jugs. Wafs, fritters, donjohns and hominy flap-jacks, fine +doused hams, savoury meats, ices, and fruit-cakes, are being +prepared and packed up for the occasion. Negro faces of every shade +seem full of interest and freshness, newly brightened for the +pleasures of the day. Now and then broke upon our ear that plaintive +melody with the words, "Down on the Old Plantation;" and again, "Jim +crack corn, an' I don't care, for Mas'r's gone away." Then came Aunt +Rachel, always persisting in her right to be master of ceremonies, +dressed in her Sunday bombazine, puffed and flounced, her gingham +apron so clean, her head "did up" with the flashiest bandana in her +wardrobe; it's just the colour for her taste-real yellow, red, and +blue, tied with that knot which is the height of plantation toilet: +there is as little restraint in her familiarity with the gentry of +the mansion as there is in her control over the denizens of the +kitchen. Even Dandy and Enoch, dressed in their best black coats, +white pantaloons, ruffled shirts, with collars endangering their +ears, hair crisped with an extra nicety, stand aside at her bidding. +The height of her ambition is to direct the affairs of the mansion: +sometimes she extends it to the overseer. The trait is amiably +exercised: she is the best nigger on the plantation, and Marston +allows her to indulge her feelings, while his guests laugh at her +native pomposity, so generously carried out in all her commands. She +is preparing an elegant breakfast, which "her friends" must partake +of before starting. Everything must be in her nicest: she runs from +the ante-room to the hall, and from thence to the yard, gathering +plates and dishes; she hurries Old Peggy the cook, and again scolds +the waiters. + +Daddy Bob and Harry have come into the yard to ask Marston's +permission to join the party as boatmen. They are in Aunt Rachel's +way, and she rushes past them, pushing them aside, and calling Mas'r +to come and attend to their wants. Marston comes forward, greets +them with a familiar shake of the hand, granting their request +without further ceremony. Breakfast is ready; but, anxious for the +amusement of the day, their appetites are despoiled. Franconia, more +lovely than ever, presenting that ease, elegance, and reserve of the +southern lady, makes her appearance in the hall, is escorted to the +table leaning on the arm of Maxwell. Delicacy, sensitiveness, +womanly character full of genial goodness, are traits with which the +true southern lady is blessed:--would she were blessed with another, +an energy to work for the good of the enslaved! Could she add that +to the poetry of her nature, how much greater would be her charm-how +much more fascinating that quiet current of thought with which she +seems blessed! There is a gentleness in her impulses--a pensiveness +in her smile--a softness in her emotions--a grace in her movements--an +ardent soul in her love! She is gay and lightsome in her youth; she +values her beauty, is capricious with her admirers, and yet becomes +the most affectionate mother; she can level her frowns, play with +the feelings, make her mercurial sympathy touching, knows the power +of her smiles: but once her feelings are enlisted, she is sincere +and ardent in her responses. If she cannot boast of the bright +carnatic cheek, she can swell the painter's ideal with her fine +features, her classic face, the glow of her impassioned eyes. But +she seldom carries this fresh picture into the ordinary years of +womanhood: the bloom enlivening her face is but transient; she loses +the freshness of girlhood, and in riper years, fades like a +sensitive flower, withering, unhappy with herself, unadmired by +others. + +Franconia sat at the table, a pensiveness pervading her countenance +that bespoke melancholy: as she glanced inquiringly round, her eyes +rested upon Lorenzo fixedly, as if she detected something in his +manner at variance with his natural deportment. She addressed him; +but his cold reply only excited her more: she resolved upon knowing +the cause ere they embarked. Breakfast was scarcely over before the +guests of the party from the neighbouring plantations began to +assemble in the veranda, leaving their servants in charge of the +viands grouped together upon the grass, under a clump of oaks a few +rods from the mansion. Soon the merry-makers, about forty in number, +old and young, their servants following, repaired to the landing, +where a long barge, surrounded by brakes and water-lilies, presented +another picture. + +"Him all straight, Mas'r-him all straight, jus so!" said Daddy Bob, +as he strode off ahead, singing "Dis is de way to de jim crack +corn." + +Servants of all ages and colour, mammies and daddies, young 'uns and +prime fellows,--"wenches" that had just become hand-maids,--brought +up the train, dancing, singing, hopping, laughing, and sporting: +some discuss the looks of their young mistresses, others are +criticising their dress. Arrived at the landing, Daddy Bob and +Harry, full of cares, are hurrying several prime fellows, giving +orders to subordinate boatmen about getting the substantial on +board,--the baskets of champagne, the demijohns, the sparkling +nectar. The young beaux and belles, mingling with their dark sons +and daughters of servitude, present a motley group indeed-a scene +from which the different issues of southern life may be faithfully +drawn. + +A band of five musicians, engaged to enliven the sports of the day +with their music, announce, "All on board!" and give the signal for +starting by striking up "Life on the Ocean Wave." Away they speed, +drawn by horses on the bank, amidst the waving of handkerchiefs, the +soft notes of the music reverberating over the pine-clad hills. +Smoothly and gently, onward they speed upon the still bosom of the +Ashly;-the deep, dark stream, its banks bedecked with blossoms and +richest verdure, is indeed enough to excite the romantic of one's +nature. Wild, yet serene with rural beauty, if ever sensations of +love steal upon us, it is while mingling in the simple +convivialities so expressive of southern life. On, on, the barge +moved, as lovers gathered together, the music dancing upon the +waters. Another party sing the waterman's merry song, still another +trail for lilies, and a third gather into the prow to test champagne +and ice, or regale with choice Havannas. Marston, and a few of the +older members, seated at midships, discuss the all-absorbing +question of State-rights; while the negroes are as merry as larks in +May, their deep jargon sounding high above the clarion notes of the +music. Now it subsides into stillness, broken only by the splashing +of an alligator, whose sports call forth a rapturous shout. + +After some three hours' sailing the barge nears a jut of rising +ground on the left bank. Close by it is a grove of noble old pines, +in the centre of which stands a dilapidated brick building, deserted +for some cause not set forth on the door: it is a pretty, shaded +retreat-a spot breathing of romance. To the right are broad lagoons +stretching far into the distance; their dark waters, beneath thick +cypress, presenting the appearance of an inundated grove. The +cypress-trees hang their tufted tops over the water's surface, +opening an area beneath studded with their trunks, like rude columns +supporting a panoply of foliage. + +The barge stops, the party land; the shrill music, still dancing +through the thick forest, re-echoes in soft chimes as it steals +back upon the scene. Another minute, and we hear the voices of Daddy +Bob and Harry, Dandy and Enoch: they are exchanging merry laughs, +shouting in great good-nature, directing the smaller fry, who are +fagging away at the larder, sucking the ice, and pocketing the +lemons. "Dat ain't just straight, nohow: got de tings ashore, an' ye +get 'e share whin de white folk done! Don' make 'e nigger ob +yourse'f, now, old Boss, doing the ting up so nice," Daddy says, +frowning on his minions. A vanguard have proceeded in advance to +take possession of the deserted house; while Aunt Rachel, with her +cortge of feminines, is fussing over "young missus." Here, a group +are adjusting their sun-shades; there, another are preparing their +fans and nets. Then they follow the train, Clotilda and Ellen +leading their young representatives by the hand, bringing up the +rear among a cluster of smaller fry. Taking peaceable possession of +the house, they commence to clear the rooms, the back ones being +reserved for the sumptuous collation which Rachel and her juniors +are preparing. The musicians are mustered,--the young belles and +beaux, and not a few old bachelors, gather into the front room, +commence the ftes with country dances, and conclude with the polka +and schottische. + +Rachel's department presents a bustling picture; she is master of +ceremonies, making her sombre minions move at her bidding, adjusting +the various dishes upon the table. None, not even the most favoured +guests, dare intrude themselves into her apartments until she +announces the completion of her tables, her readiness to receive +friends. And yet, amidst all this interest of character, this happy +pleasantry, this seeming contentment, there is one group pauses ere +it arrives at the house,--dare not enter. The distinction seems +undefinable to us; but they, poor wretches, feel it deeply. Shame +rankles deep, to their very heart's core. They doubt their position, +hesitate at the door, and, after several nervous attempts to enter, +fall back,--gather round a pine-tree, where they enjoy the day, +separated from the rest. There is a simplicity-a forlornness, about +this little group, which attracts our attention, excites our +sympathies, unbends our curiosity: we would relieve the burden it +labours under. They are Ellen Juvarna, Clotilda, and their children. +Socially, they are disowned; they are not allowed to join the +festivities with those in the dance, and their feelings revolt at +being compelled to associate with the negroes. They are as white as +many of the whitest, have the same outlines of interest upon their +faces; but their lives are sealed with the black seal of slavery. +Sensible of the injustice that has stripped them of their rights, +they value their whiteness; the blood of birth tinges their face, +and through it they find themselves mere dregs of human +kind,--objects of sensualism in its vilest associations. + +Maxwell has taken a deep interest in Clotilda; and the solicitude +she manifests for her child has drawn him still further in her +favour; he is determined to solve the mystery that shrouds her +history. Drawing near to them, he seats himself upon the ground at +their side, inquires why they did not come into the house. "There's +no place there for us,--none for me," Clotilda modestly replies, +holding down her head, placing her arm around Annette's waist. + +"You would enjoy it much better, and there is no restraint upon +anyone." + +"We know not why the day was not for us to enjoy as well as others; +but it is ordained so. Where life is a dreary pain, pleasure is no +recompense for disgrace enforced upon us. They tell us we are not +what God made us to be; but it is the worst torture to be told so. +There is nothing in it-it is the curse only that remains to enforce +wrong. Those who have gifts to enjoy life, and those who move to +make others happy, can enjoy their separate pleasures; our lives are +between the two, hence there is little pleasure for us," she +answered, her eyes moistening with tears. + +"If you will but come with me-" + +"Oh, I will go anywhere," she rejoined, quickly; "anywhere from +this; that I may know who I am-may bear my child with me-may lead a +virtuous life, instead of suffering the pangs of shame through a +life of unholy trouble." + +"She never knows when she's well off. If Marston was to hear her +talk in that way, I wouldn't stand in her shoes," interrupted Ellen, +with a significant air. + +Touched by this anxious reply, Maxwell determined to know more of +her feelings-to solve the anxiety that was hanging upon her mind, +and, if possible, to carry her beyond the power that held her and +her child in such an uncertain position. + +"I meant into the house," said he, observing that Ellen was not +inclined to favour Clotilda's feelings; and just at that moment the +shrill sounds of a bugle summoned the party to the collation. Here +another scene was enacted, which is beyond the power of pen to +describe. The tables, decorated with wild flowers, were spread with +meats of all descriptions,--fowl, game, pastry, and fruit, wines, and +cool drinks. Faces wearing the blandest smiles, grave matrons, and +cheerful planters,--all dressed in rustic style and neatness-gathered +around to partake of the feast, while servants were running hither +and thither to serve mas'r and missus with the choicest bits. +Toasts, compliments, and piquant squibs, follow the wine-cup. Then +came that picture of southern life which would be more worthy of +praise if it were carried out in the purity of motive:--as soon as +the party had finished, the older members, in their turn, set about +preparing a repast for the servants. This seemed to elate the +negroes, who sat down to their meal with great pomp, and were not +restrained in the free use of the choicest beverage. While this was +going on, Marston ordered Rachel to prepare fruit and pastry for +Ellen and Clotilda. "See to them; and they must have wine too," +whispered Marston. + +"I know's dat, old Boss," returned Rachel, with a knowing wink. + +After the collation, the party divided into different sections. Some +enjoyed the dance, others strolled through the pine-grove, +whispering tales of love. Anglers repaired to the deep pond in quest +of trout, but more likely to find water-snakes and snapping turtles. +Far in the distance, on the right, moving like fairy gondolas +through the cypress-covered lagoon, little barks skim the dark +surface. They move like spectres, carrying their fair freight, +fanned by the gentle breeze pregnant with the magnolia' sweet +perfume. The fair ones in those tiny barks are fishing; they move +from tree to tree trailing their lines to tempt the finny tribe +here, and there breaking the surface with their gambols. + +Lorenzo, as we have before informed the reader, exhibited signs of +melancholy during the day. So evident were they that Franconia's +sympathies became enlisted in his behalf, and even carried so far, +that Maxwell mistook her manner for indifference toward himself. +And, as if to confirm his apprehensions, no sooner had the collation +ended than she took Lorenzo's arm and retired to the remains of an +old mill, a few rods above the landing. It was a quiet, sequestered +spot-just such an one as would inspire the emotions of a sensitive +heart, recall the associations of childhood, and give life to our +pent-up enthusiasm. There they seated themselves, the one waiting +for the other to speak. + +"Tell me, Lorenzo," said Franconia, laying her hand on his arm, and +watching with nervous anxiety each change of his countenance, "why +are you not joyous? you are gloomy to-day. I speak as a sister-you +are nervous, faltering with trouble-" + +"Trouble!" he interrupted, raising his eyes, and accompanying an +affected indifference with a sigh. It is something he hesitates to +disclose. He has erred! his heart speaks, it is high-handed crime! +He looks upon her affectionately, a forced smile spreads itself over +his face. How forcibly it tells its tale. "Speak out," she +continues, tremulously: "I am a sister; a sister cannot betray a +brother's secrets." She removes her hand and lays it gently upon his +shoulder. + +Looking imploringly in her face for a few minutes, he replies as if +it were an effort of great magnitude. "Something you must not +know-nor must the world! Many things are buried in the secrets of +time that would make great commotion if the world knew them. It were +well they passed unknown, for the world is like a great stream with +a surface of busy life moving on its way above a troubled current, +lashing and foaming beneath, but only breaking here and there as if +to mark the smothered conflict. And yet with me it is nothing, a +moment of disappointment creeping into my contemplations, +transplanting them with melancholy-" + +"Something more!" interrupted Franconia, "something more; it is a +step beyond melancholy, more than disappointment. Uncle feels it +sensibly-it pains him, it wears upon him. I have seen it foremost in +his thoughts." Her anxiety increases, her soft meaning eyes look +upon him imploringly, she fondles him with a sister's tenderness, +the tears trickling down her cheeks as she beholds him downcast and +in sorrow. His reluctance to disclose the secret becomes more +painful to her. + +"You may know it soon enough," he replies. "I have erred, and my +errors have brought me to a sad brink. My friends-those who have +indulged my follies-have quickened the canker that will destroy +themselves. Indulgence too often hastens the cup of sorrow, and when +it poisons most, we are least conscious. It is an alluring charmer, +betraying in the gayest livery-" + +"Lorenzo," she interrupts, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Tell me +all; remember woman's influence-she can relieve others when she +cannot relieve herself. Make me your confidant--relieve your +feelings." + +"This night, Franconia, I shall bid a painful good-bye to those +familiar scenes which have surrounded my life,--to you, my sister, to +those faithful old friends of the plantation, Daddy Bob and Harry. +They have fondled me, protected me, played with me in my childhood, +led me to my boyish sports when all was bright and pleasant, when +the plantation had its merry scenes for slave and master. I must go +upon the world, mingle with strange life, make experience my +guardian. I have committed a crime-one which for ever disgraces the +honourable-" + +Crime, crime, crime! weighed itself in her mind. "And what of that?" +she rejoined, suddenly; "a sister can forgive a brother any crime; +and even a lover, if she love truly, can forget them in her +affections. Do not go upon the world; be a man above crime, above +the bar of scandal. Have confidence in yourself; do not let the +injustice overcome you. Once on the world a wanderer, remember the +untold tale of misery, speeding its victims to that death of +conscience burning unseen." + +"Nay, Franconia, you mean well; but you have not learned the world. +Take this as my advice, remember it when I am gone, and in years to +come you will acknowledge its truth--Fortune at the south rests on +an unsound foundation! We are lofty in feelings, but poor in +principle, poor in government,--poor in that which has built our +great republic. Uncertainty hangs over us at every step; but, +whatever befall you, stand firm through adversity. Never chide +others for the evils that may befall you; bear your burdens without +casting reflections on others,--it is nobler! Befriend those who have +no power to befriend themselves; and when the world forgets you, do +not forget yourself. There is no step of return for those who falter +in poverty. To-night I shall leave for the city; in a few days you +will know all." Thus saying, he conducted Franconia back to rejoin +the party, already making preparations to return. + +He gave her an insight of his troubles, in such a manner as to +create deep agitation; and, although satisfied that an event of more +than ordinary magnitude was at hand, she could not associate it with +the commission of crime. The day, spent with all the conviviality of +southern life, ended amidst the clang of merry voices, and soft +music: a gay group assembled at the bank, ready to return under the +cheering influence of music and moonlight. + +The bugle sounded,--the soft notes of "Home, sweet Home!" followed: +the party, forming into double file, gay and grotesque, marched +through the grove to the barge. Servants, old and young, were in +high glee; some joining in chorus with the music; some preparing the +barge, others strewing branches and flowers in the pathway, to the +delight of young "mas'r" and "missus,"-all singing. Aunt Rachel, +high above her minions in authority, is poised on the bank, giving +directions at the very top of her voice. Daddy Bob, Harry, and +Dandy-the latter named after "mas'r's" fleetest horse-are freighting +their young "missusses" in their arms to the boat, shielding their +feet from the damp. + +"Now, mas'r, Old Boss," Bob says, directing himself to Marston, +after completing his charge with the young ladies, "Jus' lef' 'um +tote, old mas'r safe da'? So 'e don' mus e' foot." And forthwith he +shoulders Marston, lands him like a bale of cotton on one of the +seats, much to the amusement of those on board, sending forth shouts +of applause. The party are on board; all is quiet for a minute; +again the music strikes up, the barge is gliding over the still +bosom of the fairy-like stream. + +The sun has just sunk into a fiery cloud that hangs its crimson +curtains high in the heavens, shedding refulgent beauty over the +dark jungle lining the river's banks. And then, twilight, as if +stealing its way across the hills, follows, softening the scene. +Soon it has gone, the landscape sleeps, tranquilly arched by the +serene vault of a southern sky. Everything seems peaceful, reposing, +and serene; the air breathes warm and balmy, distributing its +invigorating influence. The music has ceased, nothing but the ripple +of the water is heard; then the stars, like pearls suspended over +the dark surface, begin to glimmer and shine. Above all is the moon, +like a silver goddess, rising stealthily and shedding her pale light +upon the calm glow. + +Onward, onward, onward, over the still stream, winding its way to +the great deep, they move; and again the music echoes and re-echoes +through the forest, over the lawn; dying away in chimes that faintly +play around us. The sudden changes in the heavens,--monitor of things +divine,--call up in Lorenzo's feelings the reverses of fortune that +will soon take place on the plantation. He had never before +recognised the lesson conveyed by heavenly bodies; and such was the +effect at that moment that it proved a guardian to him in his future +career. + +It was near midnight when the barge reached the plantation. Fires +were lighted on the bank, negroes were here and there stretched upon +the ground, sleeping with such superlative comfort that it landed +ere they awoke. One by one the parties returned for their homes; +and, after shaking hands with Marston, taking an affectionate adieu +of Franconia (telling her he would call on the morrow), lisping a +kind word to the old negroes, Lorenzo ordered a horse, and left for +the city. He took leave of the plantation, of its dearest +associations, like one who had the conflict of battle before him, +and the light of friendship behind. + + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ANOTHER SCENE IN SOUTHERN LIFE. + + + + + +IN the city, a few miles from the plantation, a scene which too +often affords those degrading pictures that disgrace a free and +happy country, was being enacted. A low brick building, standing in +an area protected by a high fence, surmounted with spikes and other +dangerous projectiles, formed the place. The upper and lower windows +of this building were strongly secured with iron gratings, and +emitted the morbid air from cells scarcely large enough to contain +human beings of ordinary size. In the rear, a sort of triangular +area opened, along which was a line of low buildings, displaying +single and double cells. Some had iron rings in the floor; some had +rings in the walls; and, again, others had rings over head. Some of +these confines of misery-for here men's souls were goaded by the +avarice of our natures-were solitary; and at night, when the turmoil +of the day had ceased, human wailings and the clank of chains might +be heard breaking through the walls of this charnel-house. These +narrow confines were filled with living beings-beings with souls, +souls sold according to the privileges of a free and happy +country,--a country that fills us with admiration of its greatness. +It is here, O man, the tyrant sways his hand most! it is here the +flesh and blood of the same Maker, in chains of death, yearns for +freedom. + +We walk through the corridor, between narrow arches containing the +abodes of misery, while our ears drink the sad melancholy that +sounds in agitated throbs, made painful by the gloom and darkness. +Touching an iron latch, the door of a cell opens, cold and damp, as +if death sat upon its walls; but it discloses no part of the +inmate's person, and excites our sympathies still more. We know the +unfortunate is there,--we hear the murmuring, like a death-bell in +our ears; it is mingled with a dismal chaos of sound, piercing deep +into our feelings. It tells us in terror how gold blasts the very +soul of man-what a dark monster of cruelty he can become,--how he can +forget the grave, and think only of his living self,--how he can +strip reason of its right, making himself an animal with man for his +food. See the monster seeking only for the things that can serve him +on earth-see him stripping man of his best birth-right, see him the +raving fiend, unconscious of his hell-born practices, dissevering +the hope that by a fibre hangs over the ruins of those beings who +will stand in judgment against him. His soul, like their faces, will +be black, when theirs has been whitened for judgment in the world to +come! + +Ascending a few steps, leading into a centre building-where the +slave merchant is polished into respectability-we enter a small room +at the right hand. Several men, some having the appearance of +respectable merchants, some dressed in a coarse, red-mixed homespun, +others smoking cigars very leisurely, are seated at a table, upon +which are several bottles and tumblers. They drank every few +minutes, touched glasses, uttered the vilest imprecations. +Conspicuous among them is Marco Graspum: it is enough that we have +before introduced him to the reader at Marston's mansion. His dark +peering eyes glisten as he sits holding a glass of liquor in one +hand, and runs his fingers through his bristly hair with the other. +"The depths of trade are beyond some men," he says, striking his +hand on the table; then, catching up a paper, tears it into pieces. +"Only follow my directions; and there can be no missing your man," +he continued, addressing one who sat opposite to him; and who up to +that time had been puffing his cigar with great unconcern. His whole +energies seemed roused to action at the word. After keeping his eyes +fixed upon Graspum for more than a minute, he replied, at the same +time replenishing his cigar with a fresh one-- + +"Yee'h sees, Marco,--you'r just got to take that ar' say back, or +stand an all-fired chaffing. You don't scar' this 'un, on a point a' +business. If I hain't larned to put in the big pins, no fellow has. +When ye wants to 'sap' a tall 'un, like Marston, ye stands shy until +ye thinks he's right for pulling, and then ye'll make a muffin on +him, quicker. But, ye likes to have yer own way in gettin' round +things, so that a fellow can't stick a pinte to make a hundred or +two unless he weaves his way clean through the law-unless he +understands Mr. Justice, and puts a double blinder on his eye. +There's nothing like getting on the right side of a fellow what +knows how to get on the wrong side of the law; and seeing how I've +studied Mr. Justice a little bit better than he's studied his books, +I knows just what can be done with him when a feller's got chink in +his pocket. You can't buy 'em, sir, they're so modest; but you can +coax 'em at a mighty cheaper rate-you can do that!" "And ye can make +him feel as if law and his business warn't two and two," rejoined +Anthony Romescos, a lean, wiry man, whose small indescribable face, +very much sun-scorched, is covered with bright sandy hair, matted +and uncombed. His forehead is low, the hair grows nearly to his +eyebrows, profuse and red; his eyes wander and glisten with +desperation; he is a merciless character. Men fear him, dread him; +he sets the law at defiance, laughs when he is told he is the +cunningest rogue in the county. He owns to the fearful; says it has +served him through many a hard squeeze; but now that he finds law so +necessary to carry out villainy, he's taken to studying it himself. +His dress is of yellow cotton, of which he has a short roundabout +and loose pantaloons. His shirt bosom is open, the collar secured at +the neck with a short black ribbon; he is much bedaubed with +tobacco-juice, which he has deposited over his clothes for the want +of a more convenient place. A gray, slouch hat usually adorns his +head, which, in consequence of the thinking it does, needs a deal of +scratching. Reminding us how careful he is of his feet, he shows +them ensconced in a pair of Indian moccasins ornamented with +bead-work; and, as if we had not become fully conscious of his +power, he draws aside his roundabout, and there, beneath the waist +of his pantaloons, is a girdle, to which a large hunting-knife is +attached, some five inches of the handle protruding above the belt. +"Now, fellers, I tell ye what's what, ye'r point-up at bragin'; but +ye don't come square up to the line when there's anything to put +through what wants pluck. 'Tain't what a knowin' 'un like I can do; +it's just what he can larn to be with a little training in things +requiring spunk. I'm a going to have a square horse, or no horse; if +I don't, by the great Davy, I'll back out and do business on my own +account,--Anthony Romescos always makes his mark and then masters it. +If ye don't give Anthony a fair showin', he'll set up business on +his own account, and pocket the comins in. Now! thar's Dan Bengal +and his dogs; they can do a thing or two in the way of trade now and +then; but it requires the cunnin as well as the plucky part of a +feller. It makes a great go when they're combined, though,--they +ala's makes sure game and slap-up profit." + +"Hold a stave, Anthony," interrupted a grim-visaged individual who +had just filled his glass with whiskey, which he declared was only +to counteract the effect of what he had already taken. He begs they +will not think him half so stupid as he seems, says he is always +well behaved in genteel society, and is fully convinced from the +appearance of things that they are all gentlemen. He wears a +semi-bandittical garb, which, with his craven features, presents his +character in all its repulsiveness. "You needn't reckon on that +courage o' yourn, old fellow; this citizen can go two pins above it. +If you wants a showin', just name the mark. I've seed ye times +enough,--how ye would not stand ramrod when a nigger looked lightning +at ye. Twice I seed a nigger make ye show flum; and ye darn't make +the cussed critter toe the line trim up, nohow," he mumbles out, +dropping his tumbler on the table, spilling his liquor. They are +Graspum's "men;" they move as he directs-carry out his plans of +trade in human flesh. Through these promulgators of his plans, his +plots, his desperate games, he has become a mighty man of trade. +They are all his good fellows-they are worth their weight in gold; +but he can purchase their souls for any purpose, at any price! "Ah, +yes, I see-the best I can do don't satisfy. My good fellows, you are +plum up on business, do the square thing; but you're becomin' a +little too familiar. Doing the nigger business is one thing, and +choosing company's another. Remember, gentlemen, I hold a position +in society, I do," says Graspum, all the dignity of his dear self +glowing in his countenance. + +"I see! There's no spoilin' a gentleman what's got to be one by his +merits in trade. Thar's whar ye takes the shine out of us. Y'er +gentleman gives ye a right smart chance to walk into them ar' big +bugs what's careless,--don't think yer comin' it over 'em with a sort +o' dignity what don't 'tract no s'picion." rejoined Romescos, taking +up his hat, and placing it carelessly on his head, as if to assure +Graspum that he is no better than the rest. + +"Comprehend me, comprehend me, gentlemen! There can, and must be, +dignity in nigger trading; it can be made as honourable as any other +branch of business. For there is an intricacy about our business +requiring more dignity and ability than general folks know. You +fellers couldn't carry out the schemes, run the law down, keep your +finger on people's opinion, and them sort o' things, if I didn't +take a position in society what 'ud ensure puttin' ye straight +through. South's the place where position's worth somethin'; and +then, when we acts independent, and don't look as if we cared two +toss-ups, ah!" + +"I wonder you don't set up a dignity shop, and go to selling the +article;-might have it manufactured to sell down south." + +"Ah, Romescos," continued Graspum, "you may play the fool; but you +must play it wisely to make it profitable. Here, position puts law +at defiance!-here it puts croakers over humanity to rest-here, when +it has money, it makes lawyers talk round the points, get fat among +themselves, fills the old judge's head with anything; so that he +laughs and thinks he don't know nothin'. Listen to what I'm goin' to +say, because you'll all make somethin' out on't. I've just got the +dignity to do all; and with the coin to back her up, can safe every +chance. When you fellers get into a snarl running off a white 'un, +or a free nigger, I has to bring out the big talk to make it seem +how you didn't understand the thing. 'Tain't the putting the big on, +but it's the keepin' on it on. You'd laugh to see how I does it; +it's the way I keeps you out of limbo, though." + +We have said these men were Graspum's "men;" they are more-they are +a band of outlaws, who boast of living in a free country, where its +institutions may be turned into despotism. They carry on a system of +trade in human bodies; they stain the fairest spots of earth with +their crimes. They set law at defiance-they scoff at the depths of +hell that yawn for them,--the blackness of their villainy is known +only in heaven. Earth cares little for it; and those familiar with +the devices of dealers in human bodies shrink from the shame of +making them known to the world. There was a discontent in the party, +a clashing of interests, occasioned by the meagre manner in which +Graspum had divided the spoils of their degradation. He had set his +dignity and position in society at a much higher value than they +were willing to recognise,--especially when it was to share the +spoils in proportion. Dan Bengal, so called from his ferocity of +character, was a celebrated dog-trainer and negro-hunter, "was great +in doing the savager portion of negro business." This, Romescos +contended, did not require so much cunning as his branch of the +business-which was to find "loose places," where doubtful whites see +out remnants of the Indian race, and free negroes could be found +easy objects of prey; to lay plots, do the "sharp," carry out plans +for running all free rubbish down south, where they would sell for +something. + +"True! it's all true as sunshine," says Romescos; "we understand Mr. +Graspum inside and out. But ye ain't paid a dime to get me out of +any scrape. I was larned to nigger business afore I got into the +'tarnal thing; and when I just gits me eye on a nigger what nobody +don't own, I comes the sly over him-puts him through a course of +nigger diplomacy. The way he goes down to the Mississippi is a +caution to nigger property!" + +He has enlisted their attention, all eyes are set upon him, every +voice calls out to know his process. He begs they will drink round; +they fill their glasses, and demand that he will continue the +interest of his story. + +"My plans are worth a fortune to those who follow the business," he +says, giving his glass a twirl as he sets it upon the table, and +commences-- + +"Born 'cute, you see; trade comes natural. Afore a free 'un don't +know it, I has him bonded and tucked off for eight or nine hundred +dollars, slap-up, cash and all. And then, ye sees, it's worth +somethin' in knowin' who to sell such criturs too-so that the brute +don't git a chance to talk about it without getting his back +troubled. And then, it requires as much knowin' as a senator's got +just to fix things as smooth so nobody won't know it; and just like +ye can jingle the coin in yer pocket, for the nigger, what +everybody's wonderin' where he can be gone to. I tell ye what, it +takes some stameny to keep the price of a prime feller in your +pocket, and wonder along with the rest where the rascal can be. If +you'd just see Bob Osmand doe it up, you'd think his face was made +for a methodist deacon in camp meeting-time. The way he comes it +when he wants to prove a free nigger's a runaway, would beat all the +disciples of Blackstone between here and old Kentuck. And then, +Bob's any sort of a gentleman, what you don't get in town every day, +and wouldn't make a bad senator, if he'd bin in Congress when the +compromise was settled upon,--'cos he can reason right into just +nothin' at all. Ye see it ain't the feelings that makes a feller a +gentleman in our business, it's knowing the human natur o' things; +how to be a statesman, when ye meets the like, how to be a +gentleman, and talk polite things, and sich like; how to be a jolly +fellow, an' put the tall sayings into the things of life; and when +ye gets among the lawyers, to know all about the pintes of the law, +and how to cut off the corners, so they'll think ye're bin a parish +judge. And then, when ye comes before the squire, just to talk +dignity to him-tell him where the law is what he don't seem to +comprehend. You've got to make a right good feller of the squire by +sticking a fee under his vest-pocket when he don't obsarve it. And +then, ye know, when ye make the squire a right good feller, you must +keep him to the point; and when there's any swarin' to be done, he's +just as easily satisfied as the law. It's all business, you see; and +thar's just the same kind a thing in it; because profit rules +principle, and puts a right smart chance o' business into their +hands without troubling their consciences. But then, Bob ain't got +the cunnin' in him like I-nor he can't "rope-in on the sly,"-knock +down and drag out, and just tell a whole possee to come on, as I do. +And that's what ye don't seem to come at, Graspum," said Romescos, +again filling his glass, and drawing a long black pipe from his +pocket prepares it for a smoke. + +"Now, the trouble is, you all think you can carry out these matters +on your own hook; but it's no go, and you'll find it so. It's a +scheme that must have larger means at the head of it; and each man's +rights must be stipulated, and paid according to his own enterprise. +But this discontent is monstrous and injurious, and if continued +will prove unprofitable. You see, fellers, you've no responsibility, +and my position is your protection, and if you don't get rich you +must not charge the blame to me; and then just see how you live now +to what you did when ranging the piny woods and catching a stray +nigger here and there, what didn't hardly pay dog money. There's a +good deal in the sport of the thing, too; and ye know it amounts to +a good deal to do the gentleman and associate with big folks, who +puts the business into one's hands, by finding out who's got lean +purses and prime niggers," rejoined Graspum, very coolly. + +"Ah, yes; that's the way ye comes it over these haristocrats, by +doin' the modest. Now, Graspum, 'tain't no trouble to leak a sap +like that Lorenzo, and make his friends stand the blunt after we've +roped him into your fixings," replied Romescos. + +"No, no; not a bit of it," resounded several voices. "We do all the +dragwork with the niggers, and Graspum gets the tin." + +"But he pays for the drink. Come, none of this bickering; we must +agree upon business, and do the thing up brown under the old +system," interrupted another. + +"Hold! close that bread trap o' yourn," Romescos shouts at the top +of his voice. "You're only a green croaker from the piny woods, +where gophers crawl independent; you ain't seen life on the borders +of Texas. Fellers, I can whip any man in the crowd,--can maker the +best stump speech, can bring up the best logic; and can prove that +the best frightenin' man is the best man in the nigger business. +Now, if you wants a brief sketch of this child's history, ye can +have it." Here Romescos entered into an interesting account of +himself. He was the descendant of a good family, living in the city +of Charleston; his parents, when a youth, had encouraged his +propensities for bravery. Without protecting them with that medium +of education which assimilates courage with gentlemanly conduct, +carrying out the nobler impulses of our nature, they allowed him to +roam in that sphere which produces its ruffians. At the age of +fifteen he entered a counting-room, when his quick mercurial +temperament soon rendered him expert at its minor functions. Three +years had hardly elapsed when, in a moment of passion, he drew his +dirk, (a weapon he always carried) and, in making a plunge at his +antagonist, inflicted a wound in the breast of a near friend. The +wound was deep, and proved fatal. For this he was arraigned before a +jury, tried for his life. He proved the accident by an existing +friendship-he was honourably acquitted. His employer, after +reproaching him for his proceedings, again admitted him into his +employment. Such, however, was his inclination to display the +desperado, that before the expiration of another year he killed a +negro, shot two balls at one of his fellows, one of which was well +nigh proving fatal, and left the state. His recklessness, his +previous acts of malignity, his want of position, all left him +little hope of escaping the confines of a prison. Fleeing to parts +unknown, his absence relieved the neighbourhood of a responsibility. +For a time, he roamed among farmers and drovers in the mountains of +Tennessee; again he did menial labour, often forced to the direst +necessity to live. One day, when nearly famished, he met a +slave-driver, conducting his coffle towards the Mississippi, to whom +he proffered his services. The coarse driver readily accepted them; +they proceeded on together, and it was not long before they found +themselves fitting companions. The one was desperate-the other +traded in desperation. An ardent nature, full of courage and +adventure, was a valuable acquisition to the dealer, who found that +he had enlisted a youngster capable of relieving him of inflicting +that cruelty so necessary to his profession. With a passion for +inflicting torture, this youth could now gratify it upon those +unfortunate beings of merchandise who were being driven to the +shambles: he could gloat in the exercise of those natural +propensities which made the infliction of pain a pleasant +recreation. In the trade of human flesh all these cruel traits +became valuable; they enabled him to demand a good price for his +services. Initiated in all the mysteries of the trade, he was soon +entrusted with gangs of very considerable extent; then he made +purchases, laid plans to entrap free negroes, performed the various +intricacies of procuring affidavits with which to make slave +property out of free flesh. Nature was nature, and what was hard in +him soon became harder; he could crib "doubtful white stuff" that +was a nuisance among folks, and sell it for something he could put +in his pocket. In this way Romescos accumulated several hundred +dollars; but avarice increased, and with it his ferocity. It +belonged to the trade, a trade of wanton depravity. He became the +terror of those who assumed to look upon a negro's sufferings with +sympathy, scoffing at the finer feelings of mankind. Twice had his +rapacity been let loose-twice had it nearly brought him to the +gallows, or to the tribunal of Judge Lynch. And now, when completely +inured in the traffic of human flesh,--that traffic which transposes +man into a demon, his progress is checked for a while by a false +step. + +It was this; and this only to the deep disgrace of the freest and +happiest country on earth. A poor orphan girl, like many of her +class in our hospitable slave world, had been a mere cast-off upon +the community. She knew nothing of the world, was ignorant, could +neither read nor write,--something quite common in the south, but +seldom known in New England. Thus she became the associate of +depraved negroes, and again, served Romescos as a victim. Not +content with this, after becoming tired of her, he secured her in +the slave-pen of one of his fellow traders. Here he kept her for +several weeks, closely confined, feeding her with grits. Eventually +"running" her to Vicksburg, he found an accomplice to sign a bill of +sale, by which he sold her to a notorious planter, who carried her +into the interior. The wretched girl had qualities which the planter +saw might, with a little care, be made extremely valuable in the New +Orleans market,--one was natural beauty. She was not suitable +property for the agricultural department of either a cotton or sugar +plantation, nor was she "the stripe" to increase prime stock; hence +she must be prepared for the general market. When qualified +according to what the planter knew would suit the fancy market, she +was conveyed to New Orleans, a piece of property bright as the very +brightest, very handsome, not very intelligent,--just suited to the +wants of bidders. + +Here, at the shambles in the crescent city, she remained guarded, +and for several weeks was not allowed to go beyond the door-sill; +after which a sale was effected of her with the keeper of a brothel, +for the good price of thirteen hundred dollars. In this sink of +iniquity she remained nearly two years. Fearing the ulterior +consequences, she dared not assert her rights to freedom, she dared +not say she was born free in a free country. Her disappearance from +the village in which she had been reared caused some excitement; but +it soon reduced itself to a very trifling affair. Indeed, white +trash like this was considered little else than rubbish, not worth +bringing up respectably. And while suspicion pointed to Romescos, as +the person who could account for her mysterious disappearance, such +was the fear of his revenge that no one dared be the accuser. +Quietly matters rested, poor virtue was mean merchandise, had its +value, could be bought and sold-could be turned to various uses, +except enlisting the sympathies of those who study it as a market +commodity. A few days passed and all was hushed; no one enquired +about the poor orphan, Martha Johnson. In the hands of her creole +owner, who held her as a price for licentious purposes, she +associated with gentlemen of polite manners-of wealth and position. +Even this, though profane, had advantages, which she employed for +the best of purposes; she learned to read and to write,--to +assimilate her feelings with those of a higher class. Society had +degraded her, she had not degraded herself. One night, as the +promiscuous company gathered into the drawing-room, she recognised a +young man from her native village; the familiar face inspired her +with joy, her heart leaped with gladness; he had befriended her poor +mother-she knew he had kind feelings, and would be her friend once +her story was told. The moments passed painfully; she watched him +restlessly through the dance,--sat at his side. Still he did not +recognise her,--toilet had changed her for another being; but she had +courted self-respect rather than yielded to degradation. Again she +made signs to attract his attention; she passed and repassed him, +and failed. Have I thus changed, she thought to herself. + +At length she succeeded in attracting his attention; she drew him +aside, then to her chamber. In it she disclosed her touching +narrative, unfolded her sorrows, appealed to him with tears in her +eyes to procure her freedom and restore her to her rights. Her story +enlisted the better feelings of a man, while her self-respect, the +earnestness with which she pleaded her deliverance, and the +heartlessness of the act, strongly rebuked the levity of those who +had made her an orphan outcast in her own village. She was then in +the theatre of vice, surrounded by its allurements, consigned to its +degradation, a prey to libertinism-yet respecting herself. The +object of his visit among the denizens was changed to a higher +mission, a duty which he owed to his moral life,--to his own +manliness. He promised his mediation to better her eventful and +mysterious life, to be a friend to her; and nobly did he keep his +promise. On the following day he took measures for her rescue, and +though several attempts were made to wrest her from him, and the +mendacity of slave-dealers summoned to effect it, he had the +satisfaction of seeing her restored to her native village,--to +freedom, to respectability. + +We withhold the details of this too true transaction, lest we should +be classed among those who are endeavouring to create undue +excitement. The orphan girl we here refer to was married to a +respectable mechanic, who afterwards removed to Cincinnati, and with +his wife became much respected citizens. + +Proceedings were after some delay commenced against Romescos, +but,--we trust it was not through collusion with officials-he escaped +the merited punishment that would have been inflicted upon him by a +New England tribunal. Again he left the state, and during his +absence it is supposed he was engaged in nefarious practices with +the notorious Murrel, who carried rapine and death into the +unoffending villages of the far west. However, be this as it may, +little was known of him for several years, except in some desperate +encounter. The next step in his career of desperation known, was +joining a band of guerillos led by one of the most intrepid captains +that infested the borders of Mexico, during the internal warfare by +which her Texan provinces struggled for independence. Freebooters, +they espoused the Texan cause because it offered food for their +rapacity, and through it they became formidable and desperate foes +to the enemy. They were the terror of the ranchoes, the inhabitants +fled at their approach; their pillage, rapine, and slaughtering, +would stain the annals of barbarous Africa. They are buried, let us +hope for the name of a great nation, that they may remain beneath +the pale of oblivion. + +In their incursions, as mounted riflemen, they besieged villages, +slaughtered the inhabitants, plundered churches, and burned +dwellings; they carried off captive females, drove herds of cattle +to distant markets. Through the auspices of this band, as is now +well known, many young females were carried off and sold into +slavery, where they and their offspring yet remain. While pursuing +this nefarious course of life, Romescos accumulated more than twenty +thousand dollars; and yet,--though ferocity increased with the +daring of his profession,--there was one impulse of his nature, +deeply buried, directing his ambition. Amid the dangers of war, the +tumult of conflict, the passion for daring-this impulse kept alive +the associations of home,--it was love! In early life he had formed +an attachment for a beautiful young lady of his native town; it had +ripened with his years; the thoughts of her, and the hope of +regaining her love if he gained wealth, so worked upon his mind that +he resolved to abandon the life of a guerillo, and return home. +After an absence of fourteen years he found the object of his early +love,--that woman who had refused to requite his affection,--a widow, +having buried her husband, a gentleman of position, some months +previous. + +Romescos had money,--the man was not considered; he is not considered +where slavery spreads its vices to corrupt social life. He had been +careful to keep his business a profound secret, and pressing his +affections, soon found the object of his ambition keenly sensitive +to his advances. Rumour recounted his character with mystery and +suspicion; friends remonstrated, but in vain; they were united +despite all opposition, all appeals. For a time he seemed a better +man, the business he had followed harassed his mind, seeming to +haunt him, and poison his progress. He purchased a plantation on the +banks of the Santee; for once resolved to pursue an honest course, +to be a respectable citizen, and enjoy the quiet of home. + +A year passed: he might have enjoyed the felicity of domestic life, +the affections of a beautiful bride; but the change was too sudden +for his restless spirit. He was not made to enjoy the quiet of life, +the task stood before him like a mountain without a pass, he could +not wean himself from the vices of a marauder. He had abused the +free offerings of a free country, had set law at defiance; he had +dealt in human flesh, and the task of resistance was more than the +moral element in his nature could effect. Violations of human laws +were mere speculations to him; they had beguiled him, body and soul. +He had no apology for violating personal feeling; what cared he for +that small consideration, when the bodies of men, women, and +children could be sacrificed for that gold which would give him +position among the men of the south. If he carried off poor whites, +and sold them into slavery, he saw no enormity in the performance; +the law invested him with power he made absolute. Society was +chargeable with all his wrongs, with all his crimes, all his +enormities. He had repeatedly told it so, pointing for proof to that +literal observance of the rule by which man is made mere +merchandise. Society had continued in its pedantic folly, +disregarding legal rights, imposing no restraints on the holder of +human property, violating its spirit and pride by neglecting to +enforce the great principles of justice whereby we are bound to +protect the lives of those unjustly considered inferior beings. Thus +ends a sketch of what Romescos gave of his own career. + +We now find him associated with the desperadoes of slave-dealing, in +the scene we have presented. After Romescos had related what he +called the romance of his life,--intended, no doubt, to impress the +party with his power and intrepidity, and enable him to set a higher +value upon his services,--he lighted a pipe, threw his hat upon the +floor, commenced pacing up and down the room, as if labouring under +deep excitement. And while each one seemed watching him intently, a +loud knocking was heard at the door,--then the baying of +blood-hounds, the yelps of curs, mingling with the murmurs of those +poor wretches confined in the cells beneath. Then followed the +clanking of chains, cries, and wailings, startling and fearful. + +Dan Bengal sprang to the door, as if conscious of its import. A +voice demanded admittance; and as the door opened Bengal exclaimed, +"Halloo!-here's Nath Nimrod: what's the tune of the adventure?" + +A short, stout man entered, dressed in a coarse homespun hunting +dress, a profuse black beard and moustache nearly covering his face. +"I is'nt so bad a feller a'ter all-is I?" he says, rushing forward +into the centre of the room, followed by four huge hounds. They were +noble animals, had more instinctive gentleness than their masters, +displayed a knowledge of the importance of the prize they had just +gained. + +"Hurrah for Nath! hurrah! hurrah! hurrah, for Nath! You got him, +Nath-did'nt ye?" resounded from several tongues, and was followed by +a variety of expressions highly complimentary to his efficiency. + +Romescos, however, remained silent, pacing the floor unconcerned, +except in his own anxiety-as if nothing had occurred to disturb him. +Advancing to the table, the new visitor, his face glowing with +exultation, held forth, by the crispy hair, the blanched and bloody +head of an unfortunate negro who had paid the penalty of the State's +allowance for outlaws. "There: beat that, who can? Four hundred +dollars made since breakfast;" he cries out at the top of his voice. +They cast a measured look at the ghastly object, as if it were a +precious ornament, much valued for the price it would bring, +according to law. The demon expresses his joy, descants on his +expertness and skill, holds up his prize again, turns it round, +smiles upon it as his offering, then throws it into the fire place, +carelessly, like a piece of fuel. The dogs spring upon it, as if the +trophy was for their feast; but he repulses them; dogs are not so +bad after all-the canine is often the better of the two-the morsel +is too precious for canine dogs,--human dogs must devour it. "There +is nothing like a free country, nothing; and good business, when +it's well protected by law," says Nimrod, seating himself at the +table, filling a glass, bowing to his companions, drinking to the +health of his friends. He imagines himself the best fellow of the +lot. Taking Graspum by the hand, he says, "there is a clear hundred +for you, old patron!" pulls an Executive proclamation from his +pocket, and points to where it sets forth the amount of reward for +the outlaw-dead or alive. "I know'd whar the brute had his hole in +the swamp," he continues: "and I summed up the resolution to bring +him out. And then the gal o' Ginral Brinkle's, if I could pin her, +would be a clear fifty more, provided I could catch her without +damage, and twenty-five if the dogs havocked her shins. There was no +trouble in getting the fifty, seeing how my dogs were trained to the +point and call. Taste or no taste, they come square off at the word. +To see the critters trace a nigger, you'd think they had human in +them; they understands it so! But, I tell you what, it's one thing +to hunt a gal nigger, and another to run down an outlaw what has had +two or three years in the swamp. The catching him's not much, but +when ye have to slide the head off, all the pious in yer natur comes +right up to make yer feelings feel kind a' softish. However, the law +protects ye, and the game being only a nigger, different rules and +things govern one's feelings." + +Bengal interrupts by laconically insinuating-raising his moody face, +and winking at Graspum-that it was all moonshine to talk about +trouble in that kind of business; "It's the very highest of +exhilarating sport!" he concludes emphatically. + +"Dan!" returns the other, with a fierce stare, as he seizes the +bottle and is about to enjoy a glass of whisky uninvited; "let your +liquor stop your mouth. I set the whole pack upon the trail at +daylight, and in less than two hours they came upon him, bolted him, +and put him to the river. The leader nabbed him about half way +across, but the chap, instead of giving in, turned and fought like a +hero. Twice I thought he would whip the whole pack, but the way they +made the rags fly warn't nobody's business. Well, I just come up +with him as he plunged into the stream, lifts old sure mark, as +gives him about a dozen plugs; and then the old feller begged just +so, you'd thought he was a Christian pleadin' forgiveness at the +last moment. But, when I seizes him and gives him three or four +levellers with the butt of the rifle, ye never saw a sarpent plunge, +and struggle, and warp so. Says I, 'It's no use, old feller,--yer +might as well give her up;' and the way his eyes popped, just as if +he expected I war'nt goin to finish him. I tell ye, boys, it +required some spunk about then, for the critter got his claws upon +me with a death grip, and the dogs ripped him like an old corn +stalk, and would'nt keep off. And then there was no fracturin his +skull; and seeing how he was overpowering me, I just seizes him by +the throat and pops his head off quicker than a Chinese executioner." + +The author has given the language of the slave-hunter who related +the case personally. + +"Now, thar' war'nt so much in takin' the gal, cos jist when she seed +the dogs comin', the critter took to tree and gin right up: but when +I went to muzlin' on her, so she could'nt scream, then she gets +saucy; and I promised to gin her bricks,--which, fellers, I reckon +yer must take a hand in so the brute won't wake the neighbours; and +I'll do'e it afore I sleeps," said Nimrod, getting up from the table +and playfully touching Romescos upon the arm. "I see ye ain't +brightened to-day--Graspum's share don't seem to suit yer, old +feller; ah! ah!!" he continued. + +"Just put another ten per cent. upon the out-lining, and running +free 'uns, and I'll stand flint," said Romescos, seeming to be acted +upon by a sudden change of feelings, as he turned to Graspum, with a +look of anxiety. + +"Very well," returned Graspum. "Yer see, there's that Marston affair +to be brought to a point; and his affairs are just in such a fix +that he don't know what's what, nor who's who. Ther'll have to be +some tall swearing done in that case afore it's brought to the +hammer. That cunning of yours, Romescos, will just come into play in +this case. It'll be just the thing to do the crooked and get round +the legal points." Thus Graspum, with the dignity and assurance of a +gentleman, gave his opinion, drank with his companions, and withdrew +for the night. + +Romescos, Bengal, and Nimrod, soon after descended into the vaults +below, followed by a negro bearing a lantern. Here they unbolted one +of the cells, dragged forth a dejected-looking mulatto woman, her +rags scarcely covering her nakedness. The poor wretch, a child born +to degradation and torture, whose cries were heard in heaven, heaved +a deep sigh, then gave vent to a flood of tears. They told how deep +was her anguish, how she struggled against injustice, how sorrow was +burning her very soul. The outpourings of her feelings might have +aroused the sympathies of savage hearts; but the slave monsters were +unmoved. Humbleness, despair, and even death, sat upon her very +countenance; hope had fled her, left her a wreck for whom man had no +pity. And though her prayers ascended to heaven, the God of mercy +seemed to have abandoned her to her tormentors. She came forward +trembling and reluctantly, her countenance changed; she gave a +frowning look at her tormentors, wild and gloomy, shrank back into +the cell, the folds of straight, black hair hanging about her +shoulders. + +"Come out here!" Nimrod commands in an angry tone; then, seizing her +by the arm, dragged her forth, and jerked her prostrate on the +ground. Here, like as many fiends in human form, the rest fell upon +her, held her flat to the floor by the hands and feet, her face +downwards, while Nimrod, with a raw hide, inflicted thirty lashes on +her bare back. Her cries and groans, as she lay writhing, the flesh +hanging in quivering shreds, and lifting with the lash,--her appeals +for mercy, her prayers to heaven, her fainting moans as the agony of +her torture stung into her very soul, would have touched a heart of +stone. But, though her skin had not defiled her in the eyes of the +righteous, there was none to take pity on her, nor to break the +galling chains; no! the punishment was inflicted with the measured +coolness of men engaged in an every-day vocation. It was simply the +right which a democratic law gave men to become lawless, fierce in +the conspiracy of wrong, and where the legal excitement of +trafficking in the flesh and blood of one another sinks them +unconsciously into demons. + + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +"BUCKRA-MAN VERY UNCERTAIN." + + + + + +THE caption, a common saying among negroes at the south, had its +origin in a consciousness, on the part of the negro, of the many +liabilities to which his master's affairs are subject, and his own +dependence on the ulterior consequences. It carries with it a deep +significance, opens a field for reflection, comprehends the negro's +knowledge of his own uncertain state, his being a piece of property +the good or evil of which is effected by his master's caprices, the +binding force of the law that makes him merchandise. Nevertheless, +while the negro feels them in all their force, the master values +them only in an abstract light. Ask the negro whose master is kind +to him, if he would prefer his freedom and go north?-At first he +will hesitate, dilate upon his master's goodness, his affection for +him, the kindly feeling evinced for him by the family-they often +look upon him with a patriarchal tenderness-and, finally, he will +conclude by telling you he wishes master and missus would live for +ever. He tells you, in the very simplicity of his nature, that "Eve' +ting so unsartin! and mas'r don't know if he die when he gwine to." +That when he is dying he does not realise it; and though his +intention be good, death may blot out his desires, and he, the +dependent, being only a chattel, must sink into the uncertain stream +of slave-life. Marston's plantation might have been taken as an +illustration of the truth of this saying. Long had it been +considered one of eminent profit; his field slaves were well cared +for; his favourite house servants had every reasonable indulgence +granted them. And, too, Marston's mansion was the pleasant retreat +of many a neighbour, whose visits were welcomed by the kindly +attention he had taught his domestics to bestow. Marston's fault lay +in his belonging to that class of planters who repose too much +confidence in others. + +The morning following Lorenzo's departure ushered forth bright and +balmy. A quiet aspect reigned in and about the plantation, servants +moved sluggishly about, the incidents of the preceding night +oppressed Marston's mind; his feelings broke beyond his power of +restraint. Like contagion, the effect seized each member of his +household,--forcibly it spoke in word and action! Marston had +bestowed much care upon Lorenzo and Franconia; he had indulged and +idolised the latter, and given the former some good advice. But +advice without example seldom produces lasting good; in truth, +precept had the very worst effect upon Lorenzo,--it had proved his +ruin! His singular and mysterious departure might for a time be +excused,--even accounted for in some plausible manner, but suspicion +was a stealing monster that would play upon the deeply tinctured +surface, and soar above in disgrace. That the Rovero family were +among the first of the State would not be received as a palliation; +they had suffered reverses of fortune, and, with the addition of +Lorenzo's profligacy, which had been secretly drawing upon their +resources, were themselves well nigh in discredit. And now that this +sudden and unexpected reverse had befallen Marston, he could do +nothing for their relief. Involved, perplexed, and distrusted-with +ever-slaying suspicion staring him in the face-he was a victim +pursued by one who never failed to lay low his object. That man +moved with unerring method, could look around him upon the +destitution made by his avarice, without evincing a shadow of +sympathy. Yes! he was in the grasp of a living Shylock, whose soul, +worn out in the love of gold, had forgotten that there existed a +distinction between right and wrong. + +Surrounded by all these dark forebodings, Marston begins to reflect +on his past life. He sees that mercy which overlooks the sins of man +when repentance is pure; but his life is full of moral blemishes; he +has sinned against the innocent, against the God of forgiveness. The +inert of his nature is unfolding itself,--he has lived according to +the tolerated vices of society-he has done no more than the law gave +him a right to do! And yet, that very society, overlooking its own +wrongs, would now strip him of its associations. He lives in a State +where it is difficult to tell what society will approve or +reprobate; where a rich man may do with impunity what would consign +a poor man to the gallows. + +If we examine the many rencontres that take place in the south, +especially those proving fatal, we will find that the perpetrator, +if he be a rich man, invariably receives an "honourable acquittal." +Again, when the man of position shoots down his victim in the +streets of a city, he is esteemed brave; but a singular reversion +takes place if the rencontre be between poor men. It is then a +diabolical act, a murder, which nothing short of the gallows can +serve for punishment. The creatures whom he had made mere objects to +serve his sensuality were before him; he traced the gloomy history +of their unfortunate sires; he knew that Ellen and Clotilda were +born free. The cordon that had bound his feelings to the system of +slavery relaxed. For the first time, he saw that which he could not +recognise in his better nature-himself the medium of keeping human +beings in slavery who were the rightful heirs of freedom. The +blackness of the crime-its cruelty, its injustice-haunted him; they +were at that very moment held by Graspum's caprice. He might doom +the poor wretches to irretrievable slavery, to torture and death! +Then his mind wandered to Annette and Nicholas; he saw them of his +own flesh and blood; his natural affections bounded forth; how could +he disown them? The creations of love and right were upon him, +misfortune had unbound his sensations; his own offspring stood +before him clothed in trouble thick and dangerous. His follies have +entailed a life-rent of misery upon others; the fathomless depth of +the future opens its yawning jaws to swallow up those upon whom the +fondness of a father should have been bestowed for their moral and +physical good. + +As he sits contemplating this painful picture, Aunt Rachel enters +the room to inquire if Lorenzo breakfasts with them. "Why! old +mas'r, what ail ye dis mornin'? Ye don't seems nohow. Not a stripe +like what ye was yesterday; somethin' gi 'h de wrong way, and mas'r +done know what i' is," she mutters to herself, looking seriously at +Marston. + +"Nothing! old bustler; nothing that concerns you. Do not mention +Lorenzo's name again; he has gone on a journey. Send my old faithful +Daddy Bob to me." Rachel hastened to fulfil the command; soon +brought the old servant to the door. His countenance lighted up with +smiles as he stood at the doorway, bowing and scraping, working his +red cap in his hand. There stood the old man, a picture of +attachment. + +"Come in, Bob, come in!" Marston says, motioning his hand, "I wish +the world was as faithful as you are. You are worthy the indulgence +I have bestowed upon you; let me hope there is something better in +prospect for you. My life reproves me; and when I turn and review +its crooked path-when I behold each inconsistency chiding me-I +lament what I cannot recall." Taking the old man by the hand, the +tears glistening in his eyes, he looks upon him as a father would +his child. + +"In a short time, Bob, you shall be free to go where you please, on +the plantation or off it. But remember, Bob, you are old-you have +grown grey in faithfulness,--the good southerner is the true friend +of the negro! I mean he is the true friend of the negro, because he +has associated with him from childhood, assimilated with his +feelings, made his nature a study. He welcomes him without reserve, +approaches him without that sensitiveness and prejudice which the +northerner too often manifests towards him. You shall be free, Bob! +you shall be free!-free to go where you please; but you must remain +among southerners, southerners are your friends." + +"Yes, mas'r, 'im all just so good, if t'warn't dat I so old. Free +nigger, when 'e old, don't gwane to get along much. Old Bob tink on +dat mighty much, he do dat! Lef Bob free win 'e young, den 'e get +tru' de world like Buckra, only lef 'im de chance what Buckra hab. +Freedom ain't wof much ven old Bob worn out, mas'r; and Buckra what +sell nigger,--what make 'e trade on him, run 'im off sartin. He sell +old nigger what got five dollar wof' a work in 'e old bones. Mas'r +set 'um free, bad Buckra catch 'um, old Bob get used up afo' he know +nofin," quaintly replied the old man, seeming to have an instinctive +knowledge of the "nigger trade," but with so much attachment for his +master that he could not be induced to accept his freedom. + +"It's not the leaving me, Bob; you may be taken from me. You are +worth but little, 'tis true, and yet you may be sold from me to a +bad master. If the slave-dealers run you off, you can let me know, +and I will prosecute them," returned Marston. + +"Ah! mas'r; dat's just whar de blunt is-in de unsartainty! How I +gwane to let mas'r know, when mas'r no larn nigger to read," he +quickly responded. There is something in his simple remark that +Marston has never before condescended to contemplate,--something the +simple nature of the negro has just disclosed; it lies deeply rooted +at the foundation of all the wrongs of slavery. Education would be +valuable to the negro, especially in his old age; it would soften +his impulses rather than impair his attachment, unless the master be +a tyrant fearing the results of his own oppression. Marston, a good +master, had deprived the old man of the means of protecting himself +against the avarice of those who would snatch him from freedom, and +while his flesh and blood contained dollars and cents, sell him into +slavery. Freedom, under the best circumstances, could do him little +good in his old age; and yet, a knowledge of the wrong rankled deep +in Marston's feelings: he could relieve it only by giving Daddy Bob +and Harry their freedom if they would accept it. + +Relinquishing Daddy's hand, he commanded him to go and bring him +Annette and Nicholas. "Bring them," he says, "without the knowledge +of their mothers." Bob withdrew, hastened to the cabins in the yard +to fulfil the mission. Poor things, thought Marston; they are mine, +how can I disown them? Ah, there's the point to conquer-I cannot! It +is like the mad torrents of hell, stretched out before me to consume +my very soul, to bid me defiance. Misfortune is truly a great +purifier, a great regenerator of our moral being; but how can I make +the wrong right?-how can I live to hope for something beyond the +caprice of this alluring world? My frailties have stamped their +future with shame. + +Thus he mused as the children came scampering into the room. +Annette, her flaxen curls dangling about her neck, looking as tidy +and bright as the skill of Clotilda could make her, runs to Marston, +throws herself on his knee, fondles about his bosom, kisses his hand +again and again. She loves him,--she knows no other father. Nicholas, +more shy, moves slowly behind a chair, his fingers in his mouth the +while. Looking through its rounds wistfully, he shakes his head +enviously, moves the chair backwards and forwards, and is too +bashful to approach Annette's position. + +Marston has taken Annette in his arms, he caresses her; she twirls +her tiny fingers through his whiskers, as if to play with him in the +toying recognition of a father. He is deeply immersed in thought, +smooths her hair, walks to the glass with her in his arms, holds her +before it as if to detect his own features in the countenance of the +child. Resuming his seat, he sets her on one knee, calls Nicholas to +him, takes him on the other, and fondles them with an air of +kindness it had never before been their good fortune to receive at +his hands. He looked upon them again, and again caressed them, +parted their hair with his fingers. And as Annette would open her +eyes and gaze in his, with an air of sweetest acknowledgment, his +thoughts seemed contending with something fearful. He was in +trouble; he saw the enemy brooding over the future; he heaved a +sigh, a convulsive motion followed, a tear stealing down his cheek +told the tale of his reflections. + +"Now, Daddy;" he speaks, directing himself to old Bob, who stands at +the door surprised at Marston's singular movements, "you are my +confidant, what do you think the world-I mean the people about the +district, about the city-would say if they knew these were mine? You +know, Bob,--you must tell me straight out, do they look like me?-have +they features like mine?" he inquires with rapid utterance. + +"Mas'r, Bob don' like to say all he feels," meekly muttered the old +man. + +"There is the spot on which we lay the most unholy blot; and yet, it +recoils upon us when we least think. Unfortunate wretches bear them +unto us; yet we dare not make them our own; we blast their lives for +selfish ends, yield them to others, shield ourselves by a misnomer +called right! We sell the most interesting beings for a +price,--beings that should be nearest and dearest to our hearts." + +The old slave's eyes glistened with excitement; he looked on +astonished, as if some extraordinary scene had surprised him. As his +agitation subsided, he continued, "Mas'r, I bin watch 'im dis long +time. Reckon how nobody wouldn't take 'em fo'h nobody else's-fo'h +true! Dar ain't no spozin' bout 'em, 'e so right smart twarn't no +use to guise 'em: da'h just like old Boss. Mas'r, nigger watch dem +tings mighty close; more close den Buckra, cos' Buckra tink 'e all +right when nigger tink 'e all wrong." + +Marston is not quite content with this: he must needs put another +question to the old man. "You are sure there can be no mistaking +them for mine?" he rejoins, fixing his eyes upon the children with +an almost death-like stare, as Daddy leads them out of the room. The +door closes after them, he paces the room for a time, seats himself +in his chair again, and is soon absorbed in contemplation. "I must +do something for them-I must snatch them from the jaws of danger. +They are full of interest-they are mine; there is not a drop of +negro blood in their veins, and yet the world asks who are their +mothers, what is their history? Ah! yes; in that history lies the +canker that has eaten out the living springs of many lives. It is +that which cuts deepest. Had I known myself, done what I might have +done before it was too late, kindness would have its rewards; but I +am fettered, and the more I move the worse for them. Custom has laid +the foundation of wrong, the law protects it, and a free government +tolerates a law that shields iniquities blackening earth." In this +train of thought his mind wandered. He would send the children into +a free state, there to be educated; that they may live in the +enjoyment of those rights with which nature had blest them. The +obstacles of the law again stared him in the face; the wrong by +which they were first enslaved, now forgotten, had brought its +climax. + +Suddenly arousing from his reverie, he started to his feet, and +walking across the floor, exclaimed in an audible voice, "I will +surmount all difficulties,--I will recognise them as my children; I +will send them where they may become ornaments of society, instead +of living in shame and licentiousness. This is my resolve, and I +will carry it out, or die!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A CLOUD OF MISFORTUNE HANGS OVER THE PLANTATION. + + + + + +THE document Marston signed for Lorenzo-to release him from the +difficulties into which he had been drawn by Graspum-guaranteed the +holder against all loss. This, in the absence of Lorenzo, and under +such stranger circumstances, implied an amount which might be +increased according to the will of the man into whose hands he had +so unfortunately fallen. + +Nearly twelve months had now elapsed since the disclosure of the +crime. Maxwell, our young Englishman, had spent the time among the +neighbouring plantations; and failing to enlist more than friendly +considerations from Franconia, resolved to return to Bermuda and +join his family. He had, however, taken a deep interest in Clotilda +and Annette,--had gone to their apartment unobserved, and in secret +interviews listened to Clotilda's tale of trouble. Its recital +enlisted his sympathies; and being of an ardent and impressible +temper, he determined to carry out a design for her relief. He +realised her silent suffering,--saw how her degraded condition +wrangled with her noble feelings,--how the true character of a woman +loathed at being the slave of one who claimed her as his property. +And this, too, without the hope of redeeming herself, except by some +desperate effort. And, too, he saw but little difference between the +blood of Franconia and the blood of Clotilda; the same outline of +person was there,--her delicate countenance, finely moulded bust, +smoothly converging shoulders. There was the same Grecian cast of +face, the same soft, reflective eyes,--filling a smile with +sweetness, and again with deep-felt sorrow. The same sensitive +nature, ready to yield forth love and tenderness, or to press onward +the more impassioned affections, was visible in both. And yet, what +art had done for Franconia nature had replenished for Clotilda. But, +the servile hand was upon her, she crouched beneath its grasp; it +branded her life, and that of her child, with ignominy and death. + +During these interviews he would watch her emotions as she looked +upon her child; when she would clasp it to her bosom, weeping, until +from the slightest emotion her feelings would become frantic with +anguish. + +"And you, my child, a mother's hope when all other pleasures are +gone! Are you some day to be torn from me, and, like myself, sent to +writhe under the coarse hand of a slave-dealer, to be stung with +shame enforced while asking God's forgiveness? Sometimes I think it +cannot be so; I think it must all be a dream. But it is so, and we +might as well submit, say as little of the hardship as possible, and +think it's all as they tell us-according to God's will," she would +say, pressing the child closer and closer to her bosom, the +agitation of her feelings rising into convulsions as the tears +coursed down her cheeks. Then she would roll her soft eyes upwards, +her countenance filling with despair. The preservation of her child +was pictured in the depth of her imploring look. For a time her +emotions would recede into quiet,--she would smile placidly upon +Annette, forget the realities that had just swept her mind into such +a train of trouble. + +One night, as Maxwell entered her apartment, he found her kneeling +at her bed-side, supplicating in prayer. The word, "Oh, God; not me, +but my child-guide her through the perils that are before her, and +receive her into heaven at last," fell upon his ear. He paused, +gazed upon her as if some angel spirit had touched the tenderest +chord of his feelings-listened unmoved. A lovely woman, an +affectionate mother, the offspring of a noble race,--herself forced +by relentless injustice to become an instrument of +licentiousness-stood before him in all that can make woman an +ornament to her sex. What to Ellen Juvarna seemed the happiness of +her lot, was pain and remorse to Clotilda; and when she arose there +was a nervousness, a shrinking in her manner, betokening +apprehension. "It is not now; it is hereafter. And yet there is no +glimmer of hope!" she whispers, as she seats herself in a chair, +pulls the little curtain around the bed, and prepares to retire. + +The scene so worked upon Maxwell's feelings that he could withstand +the effect no longer; he approached her, held out his hand, greeted +her with a smile: "Clotilda, I am your friend," he whispers, "come, +sit down and tell me what troubles you!" + +"If what I say be told in confidence?" she replied, as if +questioning his advance. + +"You may trust me with any secret; I am ready to serve you, if it be +with my life!" + +Clasping her arms round her child, again she wept in silence. The +moment was propitious--the summer sun had just set beneath dark +foliage in the west, its refulgent curtains now fading into mellow +tints; night was closing rapidly over the scene, the serene moon +shone softly through the arbour into the little window at her +bedside. Again she took him by the hand, invited him to sit down at +her side, and, looking imploringly in his face, continued,--"If you +are a friend, you can be a friend in confidence, in purpose. I am a +slave! yes, a slave; there is much in the word, more than most men +are disposed to analyse. It may seem simple to you, but follow it to +its degraded depths-follow it to where it sows the seeds of sorrow, +and there you will find it spreading poison and death, uprooting all +that is good in nature. Worse than that, my child is a slave too. It +is that which makes the wrong more cruel, that mantles the polished +vice, that holds us in that fearful grasp by which we dare not seek +our rights. + +"My mother, ah! yes, my mother"-Clotilda shakes her head in sorrow. +"How strange that, by her misfortune, all, all, is misfortune for +ever! from one generation to another, sinking each life down, down, +down, into misery and woe. How oft she clasped my hand and whispered +in my ear: 'If we could but have our rights.' And she, my mother,--as +by that sacred name I called her-was fair; fairer than those who +held her for a hideous purpose, made her existence loathsome to +herself, who knew the right but forced the wrong. She once had +rights, but was stripped of them; and once in slavery who can ask +that right be done?" + +"What rights have you beyond these?" he interrupted, suddenly. +"There is mystery in what you have said, in what I have seen; +something I want to solve. The same ardent devotion, tenderness, +affection,--the same touching chasteness, that characterises +Franconia, assimilates in you. You are a slave, a menial-she is +courted and caressed by persons of rank and station. Heavens! here +is the curse confounding the flesh and blood of those in high +places, making slaves of their own kinsmen, crushing out the spirit +of life, rearing up those broken flowers whose heads droop with +shame. And you want your freedom?" + +"For my child first," she replied, quickly: "I rest my hopes of her +in the future." + +Maxwell hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating some plan for +her escape, ran his fingers through his hair again and again, then +rested his forehead in his hand, as the perspiration stood in heavy +drops upon it. "My child!" There was something inexpressibly +touching in the words of a mother ready to sacrifice her own +happiness for the freedom of her child. And yet an awful +responsibility hung over him; should he attempt to gain their +freedom, and fail in carrying out the project, notwithstanding he +was in a free country, the act might cost him his life. But there +was the mother, her pride beaming forth in every action, a wounded +spirit stung with the knowledge of being a slave, the remorse of her +suffering soul-the vicissitudes of that sin thus forced upon her. +The temptation became irresistible. + +"You are English!"-northerners and Englishmen know what liberty is. + +Negroes at the South have a very high opinion of Northern cleverness +in devising means of procuring their liberty. The Author here uses +the language employed by a slave girl who frequently implored aid to +devise some plan by which she would be enabled to make her escape. +Northerners could do great things for us, if they would but know us +as we are, study our feelings, cast aside selfish motives, and +sustain our rights!" Clotilda now commenced giving Maxwell a history +of her mother,--which, however, we must reserve for another chapter. +"And my mother gave me this!" she said, drawing from her pocket a +paper written over in Greek characters, but so defaced as to be +almost unintelligible. "Some day you will find a friend who will +secure your freedom through that," she would say. "But freedom-that +which is such a boon to us-is so much feared by others that you must +mark that friend cautiously, know him well, and be sure he will not +betray the liberty you attempt to gain." And she handed him the +defaced paper, telling him to put it in his pocket. + +"And where is your mother?" + +"There would be a store of balm in that, if I did but know. Her +beauty doomed her to a creature life, which, when she had worn out, +she was sold, as I may be, God knows how soon. Though far away from +me, she is my mother still, in all that recollection can make her; +her countenance seems like a wreath decorating our past +associations. Shrink not when I tell it, for few shrink at such +things now,--I saw her chained; I didn't think much of it then, for I +was too young. And she took me in her arms and kissed me, the tears +rolled down her cheeks; and she said-'Clotilda, Clotilda, farewell! +There is a world beyond this, a God who knows our hearts, who +records our sorrows;' and her image impressed me with feelings I +cannot banish. To look back upon it seems like a rough pilgrimage; +and then when I think of seeing her again my mind gets lost in +hopeless expectations"-- + +"You saw her chained?" interrupted Maxwell. + +"Yes, even chained with strong irons. It need not surprise you. +Slavery is a crime; and they chain the innocent lest the wrong +should break forth upon themselves." And she raised her hands to her +face, shook her head, and laid Annette in the little bed at the foot +of her own. + +What is it that in chaining a woman, whether she be black as ebony +or white as snow, degrades all the traits of the southerner's +character, which he would have the world think noble? It is fear! +The monster which the southerner sees by day, tolerates in his +silence, protects as part and parcel of a legal trade, only clothes +him with the disgrace that menials who make themselves mere fiends +are guilty of, Maxwell thought to himself. + +"I will set you free, if it cost my life!" he exclaimed. + +"Hush, hush!" rejoined Clotilda: "remember those wretches on the +plantation. They, through their ignorance, have learned to wield the +tyranny of petty power; they look upon us with suspicious eyes. They +know we are negroes (white negroes, who are despicable in their +eyes), and feeling that we are more favoured, their envy is excited. +They, with the hope of gaining favour, are first to disclose a +secret. Save my child first, and then save me"-- + +"I will save you first; rest assured, I will save you;" he +responded, shaking her hand, bidding her good night. On returning to +the mansion he found Marston seated at the table in the +drawing-room, in a meditative mood. Good night, my friend!" he +accosted him. + +"Ah, good night!" was the sudden response. + +"You seem cast down?" + +"No!-all's not as it seems with a man in trouble. How misfortune +quickens our sense of right! O! how it unfolds political and moral +wrongs! how it purges the understanding, and turns the good of our +natures to thoughts of justice. But when the power to correct is +beyond our reach we feel the wrong most painfully," Marston coldly +replied. + +"It never is too late to do good; my word for it, friend Marston, +good is always worth its services. I am young and may serve you yet; +rise above trouble, never let trifles trouble a man like you. The +world seems wagging pleasantly for you; everybody on the plantation +is happy; Lorenzo has gone into the world to distinguish himself; +grief should never lay its scalpel in your feelings. Remember the +motto-peace, pleasantry, and plenty; they are things which should +always dispel the foreshadowing of unhappiness," says Maxwell, +jocularly, taking a chair at Marston's request, and seating himself +by the table. + +Marston declares such consolation to be refreshing, but too easily +conceived to effect his purpose. The ripest fruits of vice often +produce the best moral reflections: he feels convinced of this +truth; but here the consequences are entailed upon others. The +degradation is sunk too deep for recovery by him,--his reflections +are only a burden to him. The principle that moves him to atone is +crushed by the very perplexity of the law that compels him to do +wrong. "There's what goads me," he says: "it is the system, the +forced condition making one man merchandise, and giving another +power to continue him as such." He arises from the table, his face +flushed with excitement, and in silence paces the room to and fro +for several minutes. Every now and then he watches at the +window,--looks out towards the river, and again at the pine-woods +forming a belt in the background, as if he expected some one from +that direction. The serene scene without, calm and beautiful, +contrasting with the perplexity that surrounded him within, +brought the reality of the change which must soon take place in his +affairs more vividly to his mind. + +"Your feelings have been stimulated and modified by education; they +are keenly sensitive to right,--to justice between man and man. Those +are the beautiful results of early instruction. New England +education! It founds a principle for doing good; it needs no +contingencies to rouse it to action. You can view slavery with the +unprejudiced eye of a philosopher. Listen to what I am about to say: +but a few months have passed since I thought myself a man of +affluence, and now nothing but the inroads of penury are upon me. +The cholera (that scourge of a southern plantation) is again +sweeping the district: I cannot expect to escape it, and I am in the +hands of a greater scourge than the cholera,--a slow death-broker. He +will take from you that which the cholera would not deign to touch: +he has no more conscience than a cotton-press," says Marston, +reclining back in his chair, and calling the negro waiter. + +The word conscience fell upon Maxwell's ear with strange effect. He +had esteemed Marston according to his habits-not a good test when +society is so remiss of its duties: he could not reconcile the touch +of conscience in such a person, nor could he realise the impulse +through which some sudden event was working a moral regeneration in +his mind. There was something he struggled to keep from notice. The +season had been unpropitious, bad crops had resulted; the cholera +made its appearance, swept off many of the best negroes, spread +consternation, nearly suspended discipline and labour. One by one +his negroes fell victims to its ravages, until it became +imperatively necessary to remove the remainder to the pine-woods. + +Families might be seen here and there making their little +preparations to leave for the hills: the direful scourge to them was +an evil spirit, sent as a visitation upon their bad deeds. This they +sincerely believe, coupling it with all the superstition their +ignorance gives rise to. A few miles from the mansion, among the +pines, rude camps are spread out, fires burn to absorb the malaria, +to war against mosquitoes, to cook the evening meal; while, up +lonely paths, ragged and forlorn-looking negroes are quietly +wending their way to take possession. The stranger might view this +forest bivouac as a picture of humble life pleasantly domiciled; but +it is one of those unfortunate scenes, fruitful of evil, which beset +the planter when he is least able to contend against them. Such +events develope the sin of an unrighteous institution, bring its +supporters to the portals of poverty, consign harmless hundreds to +the slave-marts. + +In this instance, however, we must give Marston credit for all that +was good in his intentions, and separate him from the system. +Repentance, however produced, is valuable for its example, and if +too late for present utility, seldom fails to have an ultimate +influence. Thus it was with Marston; and now that all these +inevitable disasters were upon him, he resolved to be a father to +Annette and Nicholas,--those unfortunates whom law and custom had +hitherto compelled him to disown. + +Drawing his chair close to Maxwell, he lighted a cigar, and resumed +the disclosure his feelings had apparently interrupted a few minutes +before. "Now, my good friend, all these things are upon me; there is +no escaping the issue. My people will soon be separated from me; my +old, faithful servants, Bob and Harry, will regret me, and if they +fall into the hands of a knave, will die thinking of the old +plantation. As for Harry, I have made him a preacher,--his knowledge +is wonderfully up on Scripture; he has demonstrated to me that +niggers are more than mortal, or transitory things. My conscience +was touched while listening to one of his sermons; and then, to +think how I had leased him to preach upon a neighbouring plantation, +just as a man would an ox to do a day's work! Planters paid me so +much per sermon, as if the gospel were merchandise, and he a mere +thing falsifying all my arguments against his knowledge of the Word +of God. Well, it makes me feel as if I were half buried in my own +degradation and blindness. And then, again, they are our property, +and are bestowed upon us by a legal-" + +"If that be wrong," interrupted Maxwell, "you have no excuse for +continuing it." + +"True! That's just what I was coming at. The evil in its broadest +expanse is there. We look calmly on the external objects of the +system without solving its internal grievances,--we build a right +upon the ruins of ancient wrongs, and we swathe our thoughts with +inconsistency that we may make the curse of a system invulnerable. +It is not that we cannot do good under a bad system, but that we +cannot ameliorate it, lest we weaken the foundation. And yet all +this seems as nothing when I recall a sin of greater magnitude-a sin +that is upon me-a hideous blot, goading my very soul, rising up +against me like a mountain, over which I can see no pass. Again the +impelling force of conscience incites me to make a desperate effort; +but conscience rebukes me for not preparing the way in time. I could +translate my feelings further, but, in doing so, the remedy seems +still further from me-" + +"Is it ever too late to try a remedy-to make an effort to surmount +great impediments-to render justice to those who have suffered from +such acts?" inquired Maxwell, interrupting Marston as he proceeded. + +"If I could do it without sacrificing my honour, without exposing +myself to the vengeance of the law. We are great sticklers for +constitutional law, while we care little for constitutional justice. +There is Clotilda; you see her, but you don't know her history: if +it were told it would resound through the broad expanse of our land. +Yes, it would disclose a wrong, perpetrated under the smiles of +liberty, against which the vengeance of high Heaven would be +invoked. I know the secret, and yet I dare not disclose it; the +curse handed down from her forefathers has been perpetuated by me. +She seems happy, and yet she is unhappy; the secret recesses of her +soul are poisoned. And what more natural? for, by some unlucky +incident, she has got an inkling of the foul means by which she was +made a slave. To him who knows the right, the wrong is most painful; +but I bought her of him whose trade it was to sell such flesh and +blood! And yet that does not relieve me from the curse: there's the +stain; it hangs upon me, it involves my inclinations, it gloats over +my downfall-" + +"You bought her!" again interrupts Maxwell. + +"True," rejoins the other, quickly, "'tis a trade well protected by +our democracy. Once bought, we cannot relieve ourselves by giving +them rights in conflict with the claims of creditors. Our will may +be good, but the will without the means falls hopeless. My heart +breaks under the knowledge that those children are mine. It is a sad +revelation to make,--sad in the eyes of heaven and earth. My +participation in wrong has proved sorrow to them: how can I look to +the pains and struggles they must endure in life, when stung with +the knowledge that I am the cause of it? I shall wither under the +torture of my own conscience. And there is even an interest about +them that makes my feelings bound joyfully when I recur them. Can it +be aught but the fruit of natural affection? I think not; and yet I +am compelled to disown them, and even to smother with falsehood the +rancour that might find a place in Franconia's bosom. Clotilda loves +Annette with a mother's fondness; but with all her fondness for her +child she dare not love me, nor I the child." + +Maxwell suggests that his not having bought the child would +certainly give him the right to control his own flesh and blood: but +he knows little of slave law, and less of its customs. He, however, +was anxious to draw from Marston full particulars of the secret that +would disclose Clotilda's history, over which the partial exposition +had thrown the charm of mystery. Several times he was on the eve of +proffering his services to relieve the burden working upon Marston's +mind; but his sympathies were enlisted toward the two unfortunate +women, for whom he was ready to render good service, to relieve them +and their children. Again, he remembered how singularly sensitive +Southerners were on matters concerning the peculiar institution, +especially when approached by persons from abroad. Perhaps it was a +plot laid by Marston to ascertain his feelings on the subject, or, +under that peculiar jealousy of Southerners who live in this manner, +he might have discovered his interview with Clotilda, and, in +forming a plan to thwart his project, adopted this singular course +for disarming apprehensions. + +At this stage of the proceedings a whispering noise was heard, as if +coming from another part of the room. They stopped at the moment, +looked round with surprise, but not seeing anything, resumed the +conversation. + +"Of whom did you purchase?" inquired Maxwell, anxiously. + +"One Silenus; a trader who trades in this quality of property only, +and has become rich by the traffic. He is associated with Anthony +Romescos, once a desperado on the Texan frontier. These two coveys +would sell their mossmates without a scruple, and think it no harm +so long as they turned a dime. They know every justice of the peace +from Texas to Fort M'Henry. Romescos is turned the desperado again, +shoots, kills, and otherwise commits fell deeds upon his neighbour's +negroes; he even threatens them with death when they approach him +for reparation. He snaps his fingers at law, lawyers, and judges: +slave law is moonshine to those who have no rights in common law-" + +"And he escapes? Then you institute laws, and substitute custom to +make them null. It is a poor apology for a namesake. But do you +assert that in the freest and happiest country-a country that boasts +the observance of its statute laws-a man is privileged to shoot, +maim, and torture a fellow-being, and that public opinion fails to +bring him to justice?" ejaculated Maxwell. + +"Yes," returns Marston, seriously; "it is no less shameful than +true. Three of my negroes has he killed very good-naturedly, and yet +I have no proof to convict him. Even were I to seek redress, it +would be against that prejudice which makes the rights of the +enslaved unpopular." + +The trouble exists in making the man merchandise, reducing him to an +abject being, without the protection of common law. Presently the +tears began to flow down Marston's cheeks, as he unbuttoned his +shirt-collar with an air of restlessness, approached a desk that +stood in one corner of the room, and drew from it a somewhat defaced +bill of sale. There was something connected with that bit of paper, +which, apart from anything else, seemed to harass him most. "But a +minute before you entered I looked upon that paper," he spoke, +throwing it upon the table, "and thought how much trouble it had +brought me, how through it I had left a curse upon innocent life. I +paid fifteen hundred dollars for the souls and bodies of those two +women, creatures of sense, delicacy, and tenderness. But I am not a +bad man, after all. No, there are worse men than me in the world." + +"Gather, gather, ye incubus of misfortune, bearing to me the light +of heaven, with which to see my sins. May it come to turn my heart +in the right way, to seek its retribution on the wrong!" Thus +concluding, Marston covers his face in his hands, and for several +minutes weeps like a child. Again rising from his seat, he throws +the paper on a table near an open window, and himself upon a couch +near by. + +Maxwell attempts to quiet him by drawing his attention from the +subject. There is little use, however,--it is a terrible +conflict,--the conflict of conscience awakening to a sense of its +errors; the fate of regrets when it is too late to make amends. + +While this was going on, a brawny hand reached into the window, and +quickly withdrew the paper from the table. Neither observed it. + +And at the moment, Marston ejaculated, "I will! I will! let it cost +what it may. I will do justice to Clotilda and her child,--to Ellen +and her child; I will free them, send them into a free country to be +educated." In his excitement he forgot the bill of sale. + +"Like enough you will!" responds a gruff voice; and a loud rap at +the hall-door followed. Dandy was summoned, opened the door, bowed +Romescos into the room. He pretends to be under the influence of +liquor, which he hopes will excuse his extraordinary familiarity at +such a late hour. Touching the hilt of his knife, he swaggers into +the presence of Marston, looks at him fixedly, impertinently demands +something to drink. He cares not what it be, waits for no ceremony, +tips the decanter, gulps his glass, and deliberately takes a seat. + +The reader will perhaps detect the object of his presence; but, +beyond that, there is something deep and desperate in the appearance +of the man, rendering his familiarity exceedingly disagreeable. That +he should present himself at such an untimely hour was strange, +beyond Marston's comprehension. It was, indeed, most inopportune; +but knowing him, he feared him. He could not treat him with +indifference,--there was his connection with Graspum, his power over +the poor servile whites; he must be courteous-so, summoning his +suavity, he orders Dandy to wait upon him. + +Romescos amuses himself with sundry rude expressions about the +etiquette of gentlemen,--their rights and associations,--the glorious +freedom of a glorious land. Not heeding Dandy's attention, he fills +another glass copiously, twirls it upon the table, eyes Marston, and +then Maxwell, playfully-drinks his beverage with the air of one +quite at home. + +"Marston, old feller," he says, winking at Maxwell, "things don't +jibe so straight as they use't-do they? I wants a stave o' +conversation on matters o' business with ye to-morrow. It's a smart +little property arrangement; but I ain't in the right fix just now; +I can't make the marks straight so we can understand two and two. Ye +take, don't ye? Somethin' touching a genteel business with your fast +young nephew, Lorenzo. Caution to the wise." Romescos, making +several vain attempts, rises, laughing with a half-independent air, +puts his slouch hat on his head, staggers to the door, makes passes +at Dandy, who waits his egress, and bidding them good night, +disappears. + + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WHO IS SAFE AGAINST THE POWER? + + + + + +THE cholera raging on Marston's plantation, had excited Graspum's +fears. His pecuniary interests were above every other +consideration-he knew no higher object than the accumulation of +wealth; and to ascertain the precise nature and extent of the malady +he had sent Romescos to reconnoitre. + +Returning to the long-room at Graspum's slave-pen, we must introduce +the reader to scenes which take place on the night following that +upon which Romescos secured the bill of sale at Marston's mansion. + +Around the table we have before described sit Graspum and some dozen +of his clan. Conspicuous among them is Dan Bengal, and Nath Nimrod, +whom we described as running into the room unceremoniously, holding +by the hair the head of a negro, and exulting over it as a prize of +much value. They are relating their adventures, speculating over the +prospects of trade, comparing notes on the result of making free +trash human property worth something! They all manifest the happiest +of feelings, have a language of their own, converse freely; at times +sprinkle their conversation with pointed oaths. They are conversant +with the business affairs of every planter in the State, know his +liabilities, the condition of his negroes, his hard cases, his bad +cases, his runaways, and his prime property. Their dilations on the +development of wenches, shades of colour, qualities of stock suited +to the various markets-from Richmond to New Orleans-disclose a +singular foresight into the article of poor human nature. + +"There's nothing like pushing our kind of business, specially whin +ye gits it where ye can push profitably," speaks Bengal, his fiery +red eyes glaring over the table as he droops his head sluggishly, +and, sipping his whiskey, lets it drip over his beard upon his +bosom; "if 't warn't for Anthony's cunnin' we'd have a pesky deal of +crooked law to stumble through afore we'd get them rich uns upset." + +My reader must know that southern law and justice for the poor +succumb to popular feeling in all slave atmospheres; and happy is +the fellow who can work his way through slavedom without being +dependent upon the one or brought under the influence of the other. + +Graspum, in reply to Bengal, feels that gentlemen in the "nigger +business" should respect themselves. He well knows there exists not +the best feeling in the world between them and the more exclusive +aristocracy, whose feelings must inevitably be modified to suit the +democratic spirit of the age. He himself enjoys that most refined +society, which he asserts to be strong proof of the manner in which +democracy is working its way to distinction. Our business, he says, +hath so many avenues that it has become positively necessary that +some of them should be guarded by men of honour, dignity, and +irreproachable conduct. Now, he has sent Anthony Romescos to do some +watching on the sly, at Marston's plantation; but there is nothing +dishonourable in that, inasmuch as the victim is safe in his claws. +Contented with these considerations, Graspum puffs his cigar very +composedly. From slave nature, slave-seeking adventures, and the +intricacies of the human-property-market, they turn to the +discussion of state rights, of freedom in its broadest and most +practical sense. And, upon the principle of the greatest despot +being foremost to discuss what really constitutes freedom, which, +however, he always argues in an abstract sense, Nimrod was loudest +and most lavish in his praises of a protective government--a +government that would grant great good justice to the white man +only. It matters little to Nimrod which is the greater nigger; he +believes in the straight principles of right in the white man. It is +not so much how justice is carried out when menial beings form a +glorious merchandise; but it is the true essence of liberty, giving +men power to keep society all straight, to practice liberty very +liberally. "Ye see, now, Graspum," he quaintly remarks, as he takes +up the candle to light his cigar, "whatever ye do is right, so long +as the law gives a feller a right to do it. 'Tisn't a bit o' use to +think how a man can be too nice in his feelings when a hundred or +two's to be made on nigger property what's delicate, t'aint! A +feller feels sore once in a while, a' cos his conscience is a little +touchy now and then; but it won't do to give way to it-conscience +don't bring cash. When ye launches out in the nigger-trading +business ye must feel vengeance agin the brutes, and think how it's +only trade; how it's perfectly legal-and how it's encouraged by the +Governor's proclamations. Human natur's human natur'; and when ye +can turn a penny at it, sink all the in'ard inclinations. Just let +the shiners slide in, it don't matter a tenpence where ye got 'em. +Trade's everything! you might as well talk about patriotism among +crowned heads,--about the chivalry of commerce: cash makes +consequence, and them's what makes gentlemen, south." + +They welcome the spirits, although it has already made them +soulless. The negro listens to a dialogue of singular import to +himself; his eyes glistened with interest, as one by one they +sported over the ignorance enforced upon the weak. One by one they +threw their slouch hats upon the floor, drew closer in conclave, +forming a grotesque picture of fiendish faces. "Now, gentlemen," +Graspum deigns to say, after a moment's pause, motioning to the +decanter, "pass it along round when ye gets a turn about." He fills +his glass and drinks, as if drink were a necessary accompaniment of +the project before them. "This case of Marston's is a regular +plumper; there's a spec to be made in that stock of stuff; and them +bright bits of his own-they look like him-'ll make right smart +fancy. Ther' developing just in the right sort of way to be valuable +for market." + +"There's movin' o' the shrewdest kind to be done there, Graspum! +Where's the dockerment what 'll make 'um property, eh?" interrupted +Nimrod, twisting the hair with which his face is covered into +fantastic points. + +"Oh, my good fellows, public opinion's the dockerment; with the +bright side of public opinion! Public opinion whispers about +Clotilda: it says she looks so much like that niece of Marston's, +that you couldn't tell them apart. And they are like two pins, +gentlemen; but then one's property and t'other's anything but +property. One will bring something substantial in the market: I +wouldn't say much about the other. But there's pride in the whole +family, and where it's got into the niggers it's worth a few extra +dollars. The Marstons and Roveros don't think much of we dealers +when they don't want our money; but when they do we are cousins of +the right stripe. However, these ere little aristocratic notions +don't mount to much; they are bin generous blood-mixers, and now +they may wince over it-" + +Graspum is interrupted again. Bengal has been analysing his logic, +and rises to dispute the logic of his arguments. He is ready to +stake his political faith, and all his common sense-of which he +never fails to boast-that mixing the blood of the two races destroys +the purity of the nigger, spiles the gauge of the market, detracts +from real plantation property, and will just upset the growin' of +young niggers. He is sure he knows just as much about the thing as +anybody else, has never missed his guess, although folks say he aint +no way clever at selection; and, rubbing his eyes after adjusting +the long black hair that hangs down over his shoulders, he folds his +arms with an independent air, and waits the rejoinder. + +The dingy room breathes thick of deleterious fumes; a gloom hangs +over their meditations, deep and treacherous: it excites fear, not +of the men, but of the horrors of their trade. A dim light hangs +suspended from the ceiling: even the sickly shade contrasts +strangely with their black purpose. + +"Variety of shade, my dear Bengal, is none of our business. If you +make a division you destroy the property and the principle. We don't +represent the South: if we did, my stars! how the abolitionists +would start up,--eh! Now, there's a right smart chance of big +aristocrat folks in the district, and they think something of their +niggers, and some are fools enough to think niggers have souls just +as white as we. That's where the thing don't strike our morals +alike. It's all right to let such folks represent us-that it is! It +tells down north." + +"I goes in for that! It puts a polished face on the brown side of +things. That's the way I puts it on when I gets among the big 'uns +on 'Change. I talks to one, shakes hands with another, touches my +hat to the president of the bank; and then them what don't know +thinks how I do a little in the taking a corner of notes line!" "In +the same sly way that directors of banks do," interrupts a voice, +sullenly and slow. It was long Joe Morphet, the constable's sponge, +who did a little in the line of nigger trailing, and now and then +acted as a contingent of Graspum. Joe had, silently and with great +attention, listened to their consultations, expecting to get a hook +on at some point where his services would play at a profit; but it +all seemed beyond his comprehension-amounted to nothing. + +"There's something in Joe, gentlemen! But our genteelest folks don't +alway do the genteelest things, arter all. Right-right! Joe's +right!" Graspum has suddenly comprehended Joe's logic, and brightens +up with the possession of a new idea, that at first was inclined to +get crosswise in his mind, which he has drilled in the minor details +of human nature rather than the political dignity of the state. +Joe's ideas are ranging over the necessity of keeping up a good +outside for the state; Graspum thinks only of keeping up the dignity +of himself. "Well, give in, fellers; Joe's right clever. He's got +head enough to get into Congress, and if polished up wouldn't make +the worst feller that ever was sent: he wouldn't, to my certain +knowledge. Joe's clever! What great men do with impunity little men +have no scruples in following; what the state tolerates, knaves may +play upon to their own advantage. To keep up the dignity of a slave +state, slave dealers must keep up dignity among themselves: the one +cannot live without the other. They must affect, and the state must +put on, the dignity; and northerners what aint gentlemen must be +taught to know that they aint gentlemen." This is the conclusion to +which Graspum has arrived on the maturest reflection of a few +minutes: it conforms with the opinion and dignity of +slaveocracy-must be right, else the glorious Union, with the +free-thinking north unfortunately attached, could never be +preserved. It's the nut of a glorious compact which the south only +must crack, and will crack. Graspum apologised for the thing having +escaped his memory so long. He remembered that southerners left no +stone unturned that could serve the policy of concentrating slave +power; and he remembered that it was equally necessary to keep an +eye to the feeling abroad. There were in America none but southern +nobles,--no affable gentlemen who could do the grace of polite +circles except themselves,--none who, through their bland manners, +could do more to repel the awful descriptions given of southern +society, nor who could not make strangers believe slaves were happy +mortals, happily created to live in all the happiness of slave life. +"There's nothing like putting our learned folks ahead-they're +polished down for the purpose, you see-and letting them represent us +when abroad; they puts a different sort of shine on things what our +institution makes profitable. They don't always set good examples at +home, but we can't control their tastes on small matters of that +kind: and then, what a valuable offset it is, just to have the power +of doing the free and easy gentleman, to be the brilliant companion, +to put on the smooth when you go among nobility what don't +understand the thing!" Graspum adds, with a cunning wink. + +"Pooh! pooh! such talk don't jingle. You can't separate our +aristocracy from mistress-keeping. It's a matter of romance with +them,--a matter of romance, gentlemen, that's all. The south couldn't +live without romance, she couldn't!" adds Nimrod, stretching back in +his chair. + +"And where did you get that broad idea from, Jakey? I kind o' likes +that sort of philosophy," adds another. + +"Philosophy! I reckon how there is deep and strong philosophy in +that ar; but ye can't calc'late much on't when ye haint talents to +bring it out. That point where the soul comes in is a puzzler on +Yankees; but it takes our editors and parsons to put the arguments +where the Yankees can't demolish them. Read the Richmond--, my +grandmother of the day, if ye want to see the philosophy of niggers, +and their souls. That editor is a philosopher; the world's got to +learn his philosophy. Just take that preacher from New Jersey, what +preaches in All Saints; if he don't prove niggers aint no souls I'm +a Dutchman, and dead at that! He gives 'em broadside logic, +gentlemen; and if he hadn't been raised north he wouldn't bin so up +on niggers when he cum south," was the quick rejoinder of our +knowing expounder, who, looking Graspum in the face, demanded to +know if he was not correct. Graspum thinks it better to waste no +more time in words, but to get at the particular piece of business +for which they have been called together. He is a man of money,--a +man of trade, ever willing to admit the philosophy of the +man-market, but don't see the difference of honour between the +aristocrat who sells his bits in the market, and the honourable +dealer who gets but a commission for selling them. And there's +something about the parson who, forgetting the sanctity of his +calling, sanctifies everything pertaining to slavery. Conscience, he +admits, is a wonderful thing fixed somewhere about the heart, and, +in spite of all he can do, will trouble it once in a while. +Marston-poor Marston!-he declares to be foolishly troubled with it, +and it makes him commit grievous errors. And then, there's no +understandin' it, because Marston has a funny way of keeping it +under such a knotty-looking exterior. Graspum declares he had +nothing to do with the breaking out of the cholera, is very sorry +for it,--only wants his own, just like any other honest man. He kind +o' likes Marston, admits he is a sort of good fellow in his way; +mighty careless though, wouldn't cheat anybody if he knew it, and +never gave half a minute's thinking about how uncertain the world +was. But the cholera-a dire disease among niggers-has broke out in +all the fury of its ravages; and it makes him think of his sick +niggers and paying his debts. "You see, gentlemen-we are all +gentlemen here," Graspum continues,--"a man must pay the penalty of +his folly once in a while. It's the fate of great men as well as +smaller ones; all are liable to it. That isn't the thing, though; it +don't do to be chicken-hearted afore niggers, nor when yer dealing +in niggers, nor in any kind o' business what ye want to make coin +at. Marston 'll stick on that point, he will; see if he don't. His +feelins' are troubling him: he knows I've got the assignment; and if +he don't put them ar' white 'uns of his in the schedule, I'll snap +him up for fraud,--I will-" + +The conversation is here interrupted by a loud rap at the door, +which is opened by the negro, who stands with his finger on the +latch. Romescos, in his slovenly garb, presents himself with an air +of self-assurance that marks the result of his enterprise. He is a +prominent feature in all Graspum's great operations; he is desperate +in serving his interests. Drawing a handkerchief from his pocket-it +is printed with the stars and stripes of freedom-he calls it a New +England rag, disdainfully denounces that area of unbelievers in +slaveocracy, wipes his blistered face with it, advances to the +table-every eye intently watching him-and pauses for breath. + +"What success, Anthony? Tell us quickly," Graspum demands, extending +his hand nervously. "Anthony never fails! It's a fool who fails in +our business," was the reply, delivered with great unconcern, and +responded to with unanimous applause. A warrior returned from +victory was Anthony,--a victory of villainy recorded in heaven, where +the rewards will, at some day, be measured out with a just but awful +retribution. + +The bosom of his shirt lays broadly open: one by one they shake his +hand, as he hastily unties the chequered cloth about his neck, pours +out his drink of whiskey, seats himself in a chair, and deliberately +places his feet upon the table. "Ther's nothin' like making a +triangle of oneself when ye wants to feel so ye can blow +comfortable," he says. "I done nothin' shorter than put all straight +at Marston's last night. It was science, ye see, gents; and I done +it up strictly according to science. A feller what aint cunnin', and +don't know the nice work o' the law, can't do nothin' in the way o' +science. It's just as you said"-addressing his remarks to Graspum,-- +"Marston's slackin' out his conscience because he sees how things +are goin' down hill with him. If that old hoss cholera don't clar +off the nigger property, I'm no prophet. It'll carry 'em into glory; +and glory, I reckon, isn't what you calls good pay, eh, Graspum? I +overheard his intentions: he sees the black page before him; it +troubles the chicken part of his heart. Feels mighty meek and gentle +all at once; and, it's no lie, he begins to see sin in what he has +done; and to make repentance good he's goin' to shove off that nabob +stock of his, so the creditors can't lay paws upon it. Ye got to +spring; Marston 'll get ahead of ye if he don't, old feller. This +child 'll show him how he can't cum some o' them things while Squire +Hobble and I'm on hand." Thus quaintly he speaks, pulling the bill +of sale from a side-pocket, throwing it upon the table with an air +of satisfaction amounting to exultation. "Take that ar; put it where +ye can put yer finger on't when the 'mergency comes." And he smiles +to see how gratefully and anxiously Graspum receives it, reviews it, +re-reviews it,--how it excites the joy of his nature. He has no soul +beyond the love of gold, and the system of his bloody trade. It was +that fatal instrument, great in the atmosphere of ungrateful law, +bending some of nature's noblest beneath its seal of crimes. "It's +from Silenus to Marston; rather old, but just the thing! Ah, you're +a valuable fellow, Anthony." Mr. Graspum manifests his approbation +by certain smiles, grimaces, and shakes of the hand, while word by +word he reads it, as if eagerly relishing its worth. "It's a little +thing for a great purpose; it'll tell a tale in its time;" and he +puts the precious scrip safely in his pocket, and rubbing his hands +together, declares "that deserves a bumper!" They fill up at +Graspum's request, drink with social cheers, followed by a song from +Nimrod, who pitches his tune to the words, "Come, landlord, fill the +flowing bowl." + +Nimrod finishes his song: Romescos takes the floor to tell a story +about the old judge what hung the nigger a'cos he didn't want to +spend his patience listening to the testimony, and adjourned the +court to go and take a drink at Sal Stiles's grocery. His +description of the court, its high jurisdiction, the dignity of the +squire what sits as judge, how he drinks the three +jurymen-freeholders-what are going to try a nigger, how they goes +out and takes three drinks when the case gets about half way +through, how the nigger winks and blinks when he sees the jury +drunk, and hears the judge say there's only two things he likes to +hang,--niggers and schoolmasters. But as it's no harm to kill +schoolmasters-speaking in a southern sense-so Romescos thinks the +squire who got the jury inebriated afore he sent the "nigger" to be +hung doesn't mean the least harm when he evinces an abhorrence to +the whole clan of schoolmaster trash. He turns to the old story of +doing everything by system; ends by describing his method of +drinking a whole jury. He has surprised Marston, got him on the hip, +where he can feather him or sciver him, and where things must be +done sly. Public opinion, he whispers, may set folks moving, and +then they'll all be down upon him like hawks after chickens. In his +mind, the feller what pulls first comes off first best-if the law +hounds are not too soon let loose! If they are, there will be a long +drag, a small cage for the flock, and very few birds with feathers +on. Romescos cares for nobody but the judge: he tells us how the +judge and he are right good cronies, and how it's telling a good +many dollars at the end of the year to keep on the best of terms +with him, always taking him to drink when they meet. The judge is a +wonderfully clever fellow, in Romescos' opinion; ranks among +first-class drinkers; can do most anything, from hanging a nigger to +clearing the fellow that killed the schoolmaster, and said he'd +clear a dozen in two two's, if they'd kill off ever so many of the +rubbish. It is well to make his favour a point of interest. The +company are become tired of this sort of cantation; they have heard +enough of high functionaries, know quite enough of judges:--such +things are in their line of business. Romescos must needs turn the +conversation. "Well, taking it how I can entertain ye to most +anything, I'll give ye a story on the secrets of how I used to run +off Ingin remnants of the old tribes. 'Taint but a few years ago, ye +know, when ther was a lot of Ingin and white, mixed stuff-some +called it beautiful-down in Beaufort district. It was temptin' +though, I reckon, and made a feller feel just as if he was runnin' +it off to sell, every time it come in his way. Ye see, most on't was +gal property, and that kind, ollers keeps the whole district in a +hubbub; everybody's offended, and there's so much delicacy about the +ladies what come in contact with it. Yes, gentlemen! the ladies-I +means the aristocracy's ladies-hate these copper-coloured Ingins as +they would female devils. It didn't do to offend the delicacy of our +ladies, ye see; so something must be done, but it was all for +charity's sake. Squire Hornblower and me fixes a plan a'tween us: it +was just the plan to do good for the town-we must always be kind, ye +know, and try to do good-and save the dear good ladies a great deal +of unnecessary pain. + +"Now, the squire had law larnin', and I had cunnin'; and both put +together made the thing work to a point. The scheme worked so nicely +that we put twelve out of fifteen of 'em right into pocket-money in +less than three years-" + +"Hold a second, Romescos; how did you play the game so adroitly, +when they were all members of families living in the town? You're a +remarkable fellow," Graspum interposes, stretching his arms, and +twisting his sturdy figure over the side of his chair. + +"That's what I was coming at. Ye see, whenever ye makes white trash +what ain't slaved a nuisance, you makes it mightily unpopular; and +when folks is unpopular the nuisance is easily removed, especially +when ye can get pay for removing it. The law will be as tame as a +mouse-nobody 'll say nothin'? Ingin and white rubbish is just +alike-one's worth as little as t'other. Both's only fit to sell, +sir!-worthless for any other purpose. Ye see, gentlemen, I'm +something of a philosopher, and has strong faith in the doctrine of +our popular governor, who believes it better to sell all poor whites +into slavery. 'Tain't a free country where ye don't have the right +to sell folks what don't provide for number one. I likes to hear our +big folks talk so"-Anthony's face brightens-"'cause it gives a +feller a chance for a free speculation in them lank, lean rascals; +and, too, it would stop their rifle-shooting and corn-stealing-" + +"You never try your hand at such hits-do you, Nathe?" Bengal +interrupts, his fore-finger poised on his nose. + +"Now, Dan," Anthony quaintly replies, "none o' yer pointed +insinuations. 'Twouldn't be much harm if the varmin would only keep +its mouth shut along the road. But when the critturs ar' got +schoolmaster gumption it's mighty apt to get a feller into a +tarnation snarl. Schoolmaster gumption makes d-d bad niggers; and +there's why I say it's best to hang schoolmasters. It's dangerous, +'cos it larns the critturs to writin' a scrawl now and then; and, +unless ye knows just how much talent he's got, and can whitewash him +yaller, it's plaguy ticklish. When the brutes have larnin', and can +write a little, they won't stay sold when ye sell 'em-that is, I +mean, white riff-raff stuff; they ain't a bit like niggers and +Ingins. And there's just as much difference a'tween the human natur +of a white nigger and a poverty-bloated white as there is a'twixt +philosophy and water-melons." + +"You're drawing a long bow, Anthony," interrupts Graspum, with a +suggestion that it were better to come to the point; and concludes +by saying: "We don't care sevenpence about the worthless whites all +over the State. They can't read nor write-except a few on 'em-and +everybody knows it wouldn't do to give them learning-that wouldn't +do! We want the way you cleared that nuisance out of Beaufort +district so quick-that's what we want to hear." + +"Well, ye'h sees, it took some keen play, some sly play, some +dignity, and some talent; but the best thing of the whole was the +squire's honour. He and me, ye see, joined partners--that is, he gets +places for 'em away out o' town--you understand--places where I keeps +a couple of the very best nags that ever stepped turf. And then he +puts on the soft sauder, an' is so friendly to the critturs--gets 'em +to come out with him to where he will make 'um nice house servants, +and such things. He is good at planin', as all justices is, and +would time it to arrive at midnight. I, havin' got a start, has all +ready to meet him; so when he gives me the papers, I makes a bolt at +full speed, and has 'um nowhere afore they knows it. And then, when +they sees who it is, it don't do to make a fuss about it--don't! And +then, they're so handsome, it ain't no trouble finding a market for +'em down Memphis way. It only takes forty-eight hours--the way things +is done up by steam--from the time I clears the line until Timothy +Portman signs the bond-that's five per cent. for him-and Ned Sturm +does the swearin', and they're sold for a slap-up price--sent to +where there's no muttering about it. That's one way we does it; and +then, there's another. But, all in all, there's a right smart lot of +other ways that will work their way into a talented mind. And when a +feller gets the hang on it, and knows lawyer gumption, he can do it +up smooth. You must strap 'em down, chain 'em, look vengeance at +'em; and now and then, when the varmin will squeal, spite of all the +thrashin' ye can give 'em, box 'em up like rats, and put yer horses +like Jehu until ye cl'ar the State. The more ye scars 'em the +better-make 'em as whist as mice, and ye can run 'em through the +rail-road, and sell 'um just as easy. + +"There was another way I used to do the thing-it was a sort of an +honourable way; but it used to take the talents of a senator to do +it up square, so the dignity didn't suffer. Then the gals got shy of +squire, 'cos them he got places for never cum back; and I know'd how +'twas best to leave two or three for a nest-egg. It was the way to +do, in case some green should raise a fuss. But connected with these +Ingin gals was one of the likleest yaller fellers that ever shined +on a stand. Thar' was about twelve hundred dollars in him, I saw it +just as straight, and felt it just as safe in my pocket; and then it +made a feller's eyes glisten afore it was got out of him. I tell you +what, boys, it's rather hard when ye comes to think on't." Anthony +pauses for a moment, sharpens his eloquence with another drop of +whiskey, and resumes his discourse. "The feller shined all outside, +but he hadn't head talents-though he was as cunnin' as a fox-and +every time the squire tried an experiment to get him out o'town, the +nigger would dodge like a wounded raccoon. 'Twarn't a bit of use for +the squire-so he just gin it up. Then I trys a hand, ye see, comes +the soft soap over him, in a Sam Slick kind of a way. I'se a private +gentleman, and gets the fellers round to call me a sort of an +aristocrat. Doing this 'ere makes me a nabob in the town-another +time I'm from New York, and has monstrous letters of introduction to +the squire. Then I goes among the niggers and comes it over their +stupid; tells 'em how I'm an abolitionist in a kind of secret +way-gets their confidence. And then I larns a right smart deal of +sayings from the Bible-a nigger's curious on Christianity, ye +see-and it makes him think ye belong to that school, sartin! All the +deviltry in his black natur' 'll cum out then; and he'll do just +what ye tells him. So, ye see, I just draws the pious over him, and +then-like all niggers-I gets him to jine in what he calculates to be +a nice little bit of roguery-running off." + +Graspum becomes interested in the fine qualities of the prospective +property, and must needs ask if he is bright and trim. + +"Bright! I reckon he warn't nothin' else in a money sense-brighter +nor most niggers, but mighty Inginy. Had the fierce of one and the +cunnin' of t'other. Tom Pridgeon and me has an understandin' about +the thing; and Tom's such a ripper for tradin' in nigger property-he +is about the only devil niggers can imagine; and they delight to +play tricks on Tom. Well, the nigger and me's good friends, right to +the point; a good trick is to be played off on Tom, who buys the +nigger in confidence; the nigger is to run off when he gets to +Savannah, and Tom is to be indicted for running off 'free niggers.' +I'se a great Christian, and joins heart and hand with the darkey; we +takes our walks together, reads together, prays together. And then +'tain't long afore I becomes just the best white man in his +estimation. Knowing when Tom makes up his gang, I proposes a walk in +the grove to the nigger. 'Thank ye, sir,' says he, in an Ingin kind +of way, and out we goes, sits down, talks pious, sings hymns, and +waits to see the rascally nigger-trader come along. Presently Tom +makes his appearance, with a right smart lot of extra prime +property. The nigger and me marches down the road just like master +and servant, and stops just when we meets Tom. You'd laughed to see +Tom and me do the stranger, 'Well, mister,' says I, 'how's trade in +your line?-there's mighty good prices for cotton just now; an' I +'spose 't keeps the market stiff up in your line!'" + +'Well, no,' says Tom: 'a feller can turn a good penny in the way o' +fancy articles, just now; but 'tain't the time for prime +plantation-stock. Planters are all buying, and breeders down +Virginia way won't give a feller a chance to make a shaving. It +drives a feller hard up, ye see, and forces more business in running +the free 'uns.' + +'Why, stranger! what on 'arth do you mean by that 'ar;-wouldn't ye +get straightened if you'd git catched at that business?' + +'Oh, nothing, nothing! I forgot what I was saying,' says Tom, just +as if he was scared at what he had let slip. + +'I say, trader, ye got the brightest assortment of property thar' I +seen for many a day: you don't call them gals slaves, do you? Down +where I cum from, our folks wouldn't know 'em from white folks.' I +tell you, boys, he had some bits that would o' made yer heart cum +straight up. + +'But I say, mister, I kind 'a like yer horse property-somehow he's +full blood,' says I. + +'Yes,' says Tom; 'he's one o' the best critturs to drive niggers +with that ye ever did see; and he's beat the best horse on the +Columbia course, twice.' + +'Well, now; seein' how I likes the animal, about how much do ye'h +set him at?' says I. + +'Well! can't part with the nag nohow; seems as if he knowed a +nigger, and understands the business right up.' + +'But, you see, I'se got a bit of nigger property here what ye'h +don't pick up every day for the Memphis trade,' says I, looking at +the feller, who played his part right up to the hilt. + +'Well, I don't mind strikin' a trade,' says Tom: 'but you see my +nag's worth a little risin' a thousand dollars.' + +'I don't doubt that, stranger,' says I: 'but ye'h sees this 'ar +piece of property o' mine is worth more 'an twelve hundred. You +don't come across such a looking chap every day. There's a spec. in +him, in any market down south,' says I; and I puts my hands on the +nigger and makes him show out, just as if Tom and me was striking +for a trade. So Tom examines him, as if he was green in nigger +business, and he and me strangers just come from t'other side of +moon shadows. + +'Well, now,' says Tom, 'it's mighty likely property, and seeing it's +you, jist name a trade.' + +'Put down the nag and two hundred dollars, and I'll sign the bill of +sale, for a swap.' And Tom plants down the dimes, and takes the +nigger. When Tom gets him to Savannah, he plunks him into jail, and +keeps him locked up in a cell until he is ready to start south. I +promises the nigger half of the spiles; but I slips an X + +Ten dollars. into his hand, and promises him the rest when he gets +back-when he does! And ye see how Tom just tryced him up to the +cross and put thirty-nine to his bare skin when he talked about +being free, in Savannah; and gagged him when he got his Ingin up. +Warn't that doing the thing up slick, fellers?" exclaimed Romescos, +chuckling over the sport. + +"It warn't nothing else. That's what I calls catching a nigger in +his own trap," said one. "That's sarvin' him right; I go for sellin' +all niggers and Ingins," said another. "Free niggers have no souls, +and are impediments to personal rights in a free country," said a +third. + +"Ye'h see, there's such an infernal lot of loose corners about our +business, that it takes a feller what has got a big head to do all +the things smooth, in a legal way; and it's so profitable all round +that it kind o' tempts a feller, once in a while, to do things he +don't feel just right in; but then a glass of old monongahela brings +ye'h all straight in yer feelins again, a'ter a few minutes," said +Romescos. + +"It's an amusing business; a man's got to have nerve and maxim, if +he wants to make a fortune at it. But-now, gentlemen, we'll take +another round," said Graspum, stopping short. "Anthony, tell us how +you work it when you want to run a free nigger down Maryland way." + +"There ain't no trouble about that," replied Romescos, quickly. "You +see," he continued, squinting his eye, and holding his glass between +his face and the light. "Shut out all hope first, and then prime +legal gentlemen along the road, and yer sartin to make safe +business. I has chaps what keeps their eye on all the free bits, and +makes good fellers with 'em; niggers think they'r the right stripe +friends; and then they gives 'em jobs once in a while, and tobacco, +and whiskey. So when I gets all fixed for a run, some on 'm gets the +nigger into a sly spot, and then we pounces upon him like a hawk on +a chicken-gags him, and screws him up in the chains, head and +feet,--boxes him up, too, and drives him like lightning until I meets +Tilman at the cross-roads; and then I just has a document + +"A forged bill of sale, all ready, which I gives to Till, and he +puts his nags in-a pair what can take the road from anything +about-and the way he drives, just to make the nigger forget where +he's going, and think he's riding in a balloon on his way to glory. +Just afore Til. gets to the boat, ye see, he takes the headchains +off-so the delicate-hearted passengers won't let their feelins get +kind-a out o' sorts. Once in a while the nigger makes a blubber +about being free, to the captain,--and if he's fool enough t' take +any notice on't then there's a fuss; but that's just the easiest +thing to get over, if ye only know the squire, and how to manage +him. You must know the pintes of the law, and ye must do the clean +thing in the 'tin' way with the squire; and then ye can cut 'em +right off by makin' t'other pintes make 'em mean nothing. Once in a +while t'll do to make the nigger a criminal, and then there's no +trouble in't, 'cos ye can ollers git the swearin' done cheap. Old +Captain Smith used to get himself into a scrape a heap o' times by +listenin' to free nigger stories, till he gets sick and would kick +every nigger what came to him about being free. He takes the law in +his hands with a nigger o' mine once, and hands him over to a city +policeman as soon as we lands. He didn't understand the thing, ye +see, and I jist puts an Ten dollars into the pole's hand, what he +takes the hint at. 'Now, ye'll take good care on the feller," says +I, giving him a wink. "And he just keeps broad off from the old +hard-faced mayor, and runs up to the squire's, who commits him on +his own committimus. Then I gets Bob Blanker to stand 'all right' +with the squire, who's got all the say in the matter, when it's done +so. I cuts like lightenin' on to far down Mississippi, and there +gets Sam Slang, just one o' the keenest fellers in that line, about. +Sam's a hotel-keeper all at once, and I gets him up afore the +Mississippi squire; and as Sam don't think much about the swearin' +and the squire ain't particular, so he makes a five: we proves +straight off how the crittur's Sam's runaway, gets the dockerment +and sends to Bob Blanker, who puts a blinder on the squire's eye, +and gets an order to the old jailor, who must give him up, when he +sees the squire's order. You see, it's larnin' the secret, that's +the thing, and the difference between common law and nigger law; and +the way to work the matter so the squire will have it all in his own +fingers, and don't let the old judge get a pick. Squire makes it +square, hands the nigger over to Bob, Bob puts fifty cuts on his +hide, makes him as clever as a kitten, and ships him off down south +afore he has time to wink. Then, ye sees, I goes back as independent +as a senator from Arkansas, and sues Captain Smith for damages in +detainin' the property, and I makes him pay a right round sum, what +larns him never to try that agin." + +Thus Romescos concludes the details of his nefarious trade, amid +cheers and bravos. The party are in ecstasies, evincing a singular +merriment at the issue. There is nothing like liberty--liberty to do +what you please, to turn freedom into barbarity! They gloat over the +privileges of a free country; and, as Romescos recounts each +proceeding,--tracing it into the lowest depths of human villainy, +they sing songs to right, justice, freedom-they praise the bounties +of a great country. How different is the picture below! Beneath this +plotting conclave, devising schemes to defraud human nature of its +rights, to bring poverty and disgrace upon happy families-all in +accordance with the law-are chained in narrow cells poor mortals, +hoping for an end to their dreary existence, pining under the weight +of pinions dashing their very souls into endless despair. A tale of +freedom is being told above, but their chains of death clank in +solemn music as the midnight revelry sports with the very agony of +their sorrows. Oh! who has made their lives a wanton jest?-can it be +the will of heaven, or is it the birthright of a downtrodden race? +They look for to-morrow, hope reverberates one happy thought, it may +bring some tidings of joy; but again they sink, as that endless +gloom rises before them. Hope fades from their feelings, from the +bleeding heart for which compassion is dead. The tyrant's heart is +of stone; what cares he for their supplications, their cries, their +pleadings to heaven; such things have no dollars for him! + +Arranging the preliminaries necessary for proceeding with Marston's +affairs, they agreed to the plans, received orders from Graspum in +reference to their proceedings on the following day, and retired to +their homes, singing praises to great good laws, and the freedom of +a free country. + + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ANOTHER SHADE OF THE PICTURE. + + + + + +WHILE the proceedings we have detailed in the foregoing chapter were +progressing at Graspum's slave-pen, a different phase of the system +was being discussed by several persons who had assembled at the +house of Deacon Rosebrook. Rumour had been busy spreading its +many-sided tales about Marston-his difficulties, his connection with +Graspum, his sudden downfall. All agreed that Marston was a +noble-minded fellow, generous to a fault-generous in his worst +errors; and, like many other southerners, who meant well, though +personally kind to his slaves, never set a good example in his own +person. Religion was indispensably necessary to preserve submission; +and, with a view to that end, he had made the Church a means of +producing it. + +Now, if the southerner resorted to the Church in the purity of +Christian motives, he would merit that praise which many are so +willing to bestow. Or, if Christianity were embraced by the +southerner with heartfelt purity and faith, it would undoubtedly +have a beneficial influence, elevate the character of the slave, +promote kindly feelings between him and his master, and ultimately +prove profitable to both. But where Christianity, used by +irreligious persons, whose very acts destroy the vitality of the +means, is made the medium of enforcing superstition, and of debasing +the mind of the person it degrades into submission, its application +becomes nothing less than criminal. It is criminal because it brings +true religion into contempt, perverts Christianity-makes it a +mockery, and gives to the degraded whites of the South a plea for +discarding its precepts. Religion-were it not used as a mechanical +agency-would elevate the degraded white population of the South; +they would, through its influence, become valuable citizens. + +These remarks have been forced upon us by observation. Frequently +have we lamented its application, and grieved that its holy mission +were made to serve the vilest purposes in a land of liberty, of +Christian love. Religion a means of degrading the masses-a +subservient agent! It is so, nevertheless; and men use it whose only +desire it is to make it serve a property interest-the interest of +making men, women, and children, more valuable in the market. God +ordained it for a higher purpose,--man applies it for his benefit in +the man-market. Hence, where the means for exercising the mind upon +the right is forbidden-where ignorance becomes the necessary part of +the maintenance of a system, and religion is applied to that end, it +becomes farcical; and while it must combine all the imperfections of +the performer, necessarily tends to confine the ignorance of those +it seeks to degrade, within the narrowest boundary. There are +different ways of destroying the rights of different classes; and as +many different ways, after they are destroyed, of wiping out the +knowledge of their ever having had rights. But, we regret to say, +that most resorted to by the South, in the face of civilisation, is +the Holy Scriptures, which are made the medium of blotting out all +knowledge of the rights a people once possessed. The wrong-doer thus +fears the result of natural laws; if they be allowed to produce +results through the cultivation of a slave's mind, such may prove +fatal to his immediate interests. And to maintain a system which is +based on force, the southern minister of the gospel is doubly +culpable in the sight of heaven; for while he stimulates ignorance +by degrading the man, he mystifies the Word of God, that he may +remain for ever and ever degraded. + +What a deplorable process of stealing-nay, gently taking away the +knowledge which an all-wise Providence has given to man as his +inheritance; how it reduces his natural immunities to sensual +misery! And, too, it forbids all legitimate influences that could +possibly give the menial a link to elevation, to the formation of a +society of his own. We would fain shrink from such a system of +debasing mankind-even more, from the hideous crimes of those who +would make Scripture the means to such an end. And yet, the Church +defender of slavery-the Christian little one-his neck-cloth as white +as the crimes he defends are black-must distinguish his arguments; +and that the world may not suspect his devotion, his honesty, his +serious intention, he points us to the many blessings of the +plantation-service. + +Heavenly divinity! Let us have faith in the little ones sent to +teach it; they tell us slavery enforces Christianity! The management +of ignorance under the direction of ministers of the gospel is +certainly becoming well-defined; while statesmen more energetically +legalise it. The one devises, the other carries out a law to make +man ignorant of everything but labour. But while the statesman +moulds the theory, the preacher manufactures Scripture texts, that +the menial may believe God has ordained him the pliable victim. + +Under the apparent necessity of the slave world, Marston had +regularly paid Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy for preaching to his +property on Sundays; and to the requisite end the good Elder felt +himself in duty bound to inculcate humility in all things that would +promote obedience to a master's will. Of course, one sermon was +quite sufficient; and this the credulous property had listened to +for more than three years. The effect was entirely satisfactory, the +result being that the honest property were really impressed with a +belief, that to evince Christian fortitude under suffering and +punishment was the best means of cleansing themselves of the sins +they were born to. This formality was misnamed Christianity--it was! +And through the force of this one sermon the Elder became indolent; +and indolence led him to its natural yoke-fellow-intemperance. His +indulgent mood, such as we have described him enjoying in a previous +chapter, became too frequent, leading to serious annoyances. They +had been especially serious for Marston, whom they placed in an +awkward situation before his property, and he resolved to tolerate +them no longer. Probably this resolution was hastened by the sudden +discovery of Harry's singular knowledge of Scripture; be that as it +may, the only difficulty in the way was to know if Harry could be so +trained, that he would preach the "right stripe" doctrine. This, +however, was soon settled, and Marston not only suspended his +engagement with the Elder, but entered into a contract with the +neighbouring planters, by the terms of which Harry will fill their +pulpit, and preach extempore--the Elder has brought written sermons +into contempt with Harry--at a stipulated price per Sunday. In this +new avocation-this leap from the plantation to the pulpit, Harry, as +a piece of property, became extremely valuable; while, through the +charm of his new black coat, he rose a great man in the estimation +of the common property. Here was a valuable incentive of submission, +a lesson for all bad niggers, a chance for them to improve under the +peculiar institution. It proved to niggerdom what a good nigger +could be if he only fear God and obey his master in all things. + +Here was proof that a nigger could be something more than a nigger, +in spite of southern philosophy. The Elder-good, pious man that he +was-found himself out of pocket and out of preaching. Thrown upon +the resources of his ingenuity, he had, in order to save the +dictates of his conscience, while taking advantage of the many +opportunities of making money afforded by the peculiar institution, +entered upon another branch of business, having for its object the +advancement of humanity. He resolved to go forth purchasing the sick +and the dying; to reclaim sinking humanity and make it marketable. + +But, before describing the vicissitudes through which Elder +Pemberton Praiseworthy passes in his new mission of humanity, we +must introduce the reader to the precincts of a neat little villa, +situated at the outskirts of the city of C--. It is a small cottage +surrounded with verandas and trellis-work, over which are creeping +numerous woodbines and multafloras, spreading their fragrant +blossoms, giving it an air of sequestered beauty. An arbour of +grapevines extends from a little portico at the front to a wicker +fence that separates the embankment of a well-arranged garden, in +which are pots of rare plants, beds and walks decorated with +flowers, presenting great care and taste. A few paces in the rear of +the cottage are several "negro cabins" nicely white-washed without, +and an air of cheerfulness and comfort reigning within. The house- +servants are trimly dressed; they look and act as if their thoughts +and affections were with "mas'r and missus." Their white aprons and +clean bright frocks-some bombazine, and some gingham-give them an +appearance of exactness, which, whether it be voluntary or force of +discipline, bears evidence of attention in the slave, and +encouragement on the part of the master. This is the Villa of Deacon +Rosebrook; they call him deacon, by courtesy; in the same sense that +Georgia majors and South Carolina generals are honoured with those +far-famed titles which so distinguish them when abroad. Perhaps we +should be doing the deacon no more than justice if we were to admit +that he had preached in very respectable spheres; but, feeling that +he was wanting in the purity of divine love-that he could not do +justice to his conscience while setting forth teachings he did not +follow, he laid the profession aside for the more genial +associations of plantation life. Indeed, he was what many called a +very easy backslider; and at times was recognised by the somewhat +singular soubriquet of Deacon Pious-proof. But he was kind to his +slaves, and had projected a system singularly at variance with that +of his neighbours-a system of mildness, amelioration, freedom. + +His plantation, a small one, some few miles from the Villa, +presented the same neatness and comfort, the same cheerfulness among +the negroes, and the same kindly feeling between master and slave, +which characterised the Villa. + +We enter a neatly-furnished parlour, where the deacon and a friend +are seated on a sofa; various pictures are suspended from the +wall,--everything betokens New England neatness. The old-fashioned +dog-irons and fender are polished to exquisite brightness, a +Brussels carpet spreads the floor, a bright surbase encircles the +room; upon the flossy hearth-rug lies crouched the little canine +pet, which Aunt Dolly has washed to snowy whiteness. Aunt Dolly +enters the room with a low curtsy, gently raises the poodle, then +lays him down as carefully as if he were an heir to the estate. +Master is happy, "missus" is happy, and Aunt Dolly is happy; and the +large bookcase, filled with well-selected volumes, adds to the air +of contentment everywhere apparent. In a niche stands a large +pier-table, upon which are sundry volumes with gilt edges, nets of +cross-work, porcelain ornaments, and card-cases inlaid with mosaic. +Antique tables with massive carved feet, in imitation of lions' +paws, chairs of curious patterns, reclines and ottomans of softest +material, and covered with satin damask, are arranged round the room +in harmony and good taste. + +"Now, Mr. Scranton," the deacon says to his friend, who is a tall, +prim, sedate-looking man, apparently about forty, "I pity Marston; I +pity him because he is a noble-hearted fellow. But, after all, this +whispering about the city may be only mother Rumour distributing her +false tales. Let us hope it is all rumour and scandal. Come, tell +me-what do you think of our negroes?" + +"Nigger character has not changed a bit in my mind, since I came +south. Inferior race of mortals, sir!-without principles, and fit +only for service and submission. A southern man knows their +composition, but it takes a northern to study the philosophy-it +does," replies Mr. Scranton, running his left hand over his +forehead, and then his right over the crown of his head, as if to +cover a bald spot with the scanty remnant of hair that projected +from the sides. + +The deacon smiles at the quaint reply. He knows Mr. Scranton's +northern tenacity, and begs to differ with him. "You are ultra, a +little ultra, in all things, Mr. Scranton. I fear it is that, +carried out in morals as well as politics, that is fast reducing our +system to degradation and tyranny. You northern gentlemen have a +sort of pedantic solicitude for our rights, but you underrate our +feelings upon the slavery question. I'm one among the few +southerners who hold what are considered strange views: we are +subjected to ridicule for our views; but it is only by those who see +nothing but servitude in the negro,--nothing but dollars and cents in +the institution of slavery." + +Mr. Scranton is struck with astonishment, interrupts the argument by +insisting upon the great superiority of the gentlemen whites, and +the Bible philosophy which he can bring to sustain his argument. + +"Stop one moment, my philosophic friend," the deacon interposes, +earnestly. "Upon that you northerners who come out here to sustain +the cause of slavery for the south, all make fools of yourselves. +This continual reasoning upon Bible philosophy has lost its life, +funeral dirges have been played over it, the instruments are worn +out. And yet, the subject of the philosophy lives,--he belies it with +his physical vigour and moral action. We doubt the sincerity of +northerners; we have reasons for so doing; they know little of the +negro, and care less. Instead of assisting southerners who are +inclined to do justice to the wretch-to be his friend-to improve his +condition-to protect him against a tyrant's wrong, you bring us into +contempt by your proclaiming virtue over the vice we acknowledge +belongs to the institution. We know its defects-we fear them; but, +in the name of heaven, do not defend them at the cost of virtue, +truth, honesty. Do not debase us by proclaiming its glories over our +heads;-do not take advantage of us by attempting to make wrong +right." The deacon's feelings have become earnest; his face glows +with animation. + +Mr. Scranton seems discomfited. "That's just like all you +southerners: you never appreciate anything we do for you. What is +the good of our love, if you always doubt it?" + +"Such love!" says the deacon, with a sarcastic curl on his lip. +"It's cotton-bag love, as full of self as a pressed bale-" + +"But, deacon; you're getting up on the question." + +"Up as high as northern sincerity is low. Nothing personal," is the +cool rejoinder. + +Mr. Scranton inquires very seriously-wishing it particularly to be +understood that he is not a fighting-man-if Deacon Rosebrook +considers all northerners white-washed, ready to deceive through the +dim shadows of self. The deacon's frank and manly opinion of +northern editors and preachers disturbs Scranton's serious +philosophy. "Cotton-bag love!" there's something in it, and contempt +at the bottom, he declares within himself. And he gives a serious +look, as much as to say-"go on." + +"I do! He who maketh right, what those most interested in know to be +wrong, cherishes a bad motive. When a philosopher teaches doctrines +that become doubtful in their ultraness, the weakness carries the +insincerity,--the effort becomes stagnant. Never sell yourself to any +class of evils for popularity's sake. If you attempt it you mistake +the end, and sell yourself to the obscurity of a political +trickster, flatttered by a few, believed by none." + +"Deacon! a little more moderate. Give us credit for the good we do. +Don't get excited, don't. These are ticklish times, and we +northerners are quick to observe-" + +"Yes, when it will turn a penny on a nigger or a bale of cotton." + +"Allow me; one minute if you please!" returned Scranton, with a +nasal twang peculiar to his class, as he began to work himself up +into a declamatory attitude. "You southerners don't understand what +a force them northern abolitionists are bringing against you; and +you know how slow you are to do things, and to let your property all +go to waste while you might make a good speculation on it. There's +just the difference of things: we study political economy so as to +apply it to trade and such like; you let things go to waste, just +thinking over it. And, you see, it's our nature to be restless and +searching out the best avenues for developing trade. Why, deacon, +your political philosophy would die out if the New Englander didn't +edit your papers and keep your nigger principles straight." + +"Nigger principles straight! Ah, indeed! Only another evidence of +that cotton bag love that has caused the banns of matrimony to be +published between tyrants who disgrace us and northern speculators. +The book-publisher-poor servile tool-fears to publish Mrs. Johnson's +book, lest it should contain something to offend Mrs. Colonel +Sportington, at the south. Mr. Stevens, the grocer, dare not put his +vote into the ballot-box for somebody, because he fears one of his +customers at the south will hear of it. Parson Munson dare not speak +what he thinks in a New England village, because Mrs. Bruce and +Deacon Donaldson have yearly interests in slaves at the south; and +old Mattock, the boot-maker, thinks it aint right for niggers to be +in church with white folks, and declares, if they do go, they should +sit away back in one corner, up stairs. He thinks about the +combination that brings wealth, old age, and the grave, into one +vortex,--feels little misgiving upon humanity, but loves the union, +and wants nothing said about niggers. We understand what it all +means, Mr. Scranton; and we can credit it for what it's worth, +without making any account for its sincerity and independence. I am +one among the few who go for educating the negroes, and in that +education to cultivate affections between slave and master, to make +encouragement perform the part of discipline, and inspire energy +through proper rewards." + +"What!-educate a nigger! These are pretty principles for a +southerner to maintain! Why, sir, if such doctrines were advocated +in the body politic they would be incendiary to southern +institutions. Just educate the niggers, and I wouldn't be an editor +in the south two days. You'd see me tramping, bag and baggage, for +the north, much as I dislike it! It would never do to educate such a +miserable set of wretches as they are. You may depend what I say is +true, sir. Their condition is perfectly hopeless at the north, and +the more you try to teach them, the greater nuisance they become." + +"Now, my good northern friend, not so fast, if you please; I can see +the evil of all this, and so can you, if you will but study the +negro's character a little deeper. The menial man who has passed +through generations of oppression, and whose life and soul are +blotted from the right of manhood, is sensitive of the power that +crushes him. He has been robbed of the means of elevating himself by +those who now accuse him of the crime of degradation: and, wherever +the chance is afforded him of elevation, as that increases so does a +tenacious knowledge of his rights; yet, he feels the prejudice that +cuts and slights him in his progress, that charges him with the +impudence of a negro, that calls his attempts to be a man mere +pompous foolery." + +"And it is so! To see a nigger setting himself up among white +folks-it's perfectly ridiculous!" + +"Mark me, Mr. Scranton: there's where you northerners mistake +yourselves. The negro seldom desires to mix with whites, and I hold +it better they should keep together; but that two races cannot live +together without the one enslaving the other is a fallacy popular +only with those who will not see the future, and obstinately refuse +to review the past. You must lessen your delicate sensibilities; and +when you make them less painful to the man of colour at the north, +believe me, the south will respond to the feeling. Experience has +changed my feelings,--experience has been my teacher. I have based +my new system upon experience; and its working justifies me in all I +have said. Let us set about extracting the poison from our +institutions, instead of losing ourselves in contemplating an +abstract theory for its government." + +"Remember, deacon, men are not all born to see alike. There are +rights and privileges belonging to the southerner: he holds the +trade in men right, and he would see the Union sundered to atoms +before he would permit the intervention of the federal government on +that subject," Mr. Scranton seriously remarks, placing his two +thumbs in the armpits of his vest, and assuming an air of +confidence, as if to say, "I shall outsouthern the southerner yet, I +shall." + +"That's just the point upon which all the villainy of our +institution rests: the simple word man!-man a progressive being; man +a chattel,--a thing upon which the sordid appetite of every wretch +may feed. Why cannot Africa give up men? She has been the victim of +Christendom-her flesh and blood have served its traffic, have +enriched its coffers, and even built its churches; but like a +ferocious wolf that preys upon the fold in spite of watchers, she +yet steals Afric's bleeding victims, and frowns upon them because +they are not white, nor live as white men live." + +"Mercy on me!" says Mr. Scranton, with a sigh, "you can't ameliorate +the system as it stands: that's out of the question. Begin to loosen +the props, and the whole fabric will tumble down. And then, niggers +won't be encouraged to work at a price for their labour; and how are +you going to get along in this climate, and with such an enormous +population of vagabonds?" + +"Remember, Mr. Scranton," ejaculated the deacon, "there's where you +mistake the man in the negro; and through these arguments, set forth +in your journal, we suffer. You must have contracted them by +association with bad slave-owners. Mark ye! the negro has been sunk +to the depths where we yet curse him; and is it right that we should +keep him cursed?-to say nothing of the semi-barbarous position in +which it finds our poor whites. He feels that his curse is for +life-time; his hopes vibrate with its knowledge, and through it he +falls from that holy inspiration that could make him a man, enjoying +manhood's rights. Would not our energy yield itself a sacrifice to +the same sacrificer? Had we been loaded with chains of tyranny, what +would have been our condition? Would not that passion which has led +the Saxon on to conquest, and spread his energy through the western +world, have yielded when he saw the last shadow of hope die out, and +realised that his degradation was for life-time? Would not the +yearnings of such a consummation have recoiled to blast every action +of the being who found himself a chattel? And yet this very chattel, +thus yoked in death, toils on in doubts and fears, in humbleness and +submission, with unrequited fortitude and affection. And still all +is doubted that he does, even crushed in the prejudice against his +colour!" + +"Well, deacon, you perfectly startle me, to hear a southerner talk +that way at the south. If you keep on, you'll soon have an abolition +society without sending north for it." + +"That's just what I want. I want our southerners to look upon the +matter properly, and to take such steps as will set us right in the +eyes of the world. Humanity is progressing with rapid +strides-slavery cannot exist before it! It must fall; and we should +prepare to meet it, and not be so ungrateful, at least, that we +cannot reflect upon its worth, and give merit to whom merit is due." +Thus were presented the north and south; the former loses her +interests in humanity by seeking to serve the political ends of the +latter. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +MRS. ROSEBROOK'S PROJECT. + + + + + +AT this juncture of the conversation, a sprightly, well-dressed +servant opens the parlour-door, announces missus! The deacon's good +lady enters. She is a perfect pattern of neatness,--a +finely-developed woman of more than ordinary height, with blonde +features, and a countenance as full of cheerfulness as a bright May +morning. She bows gracefully; her soft eyes kindle with intelligence +as she approaches Mr. Scranton, who rises with the coldness of an +iceberg. + +"Be seated, Mr. Scranton," she says, with a voice so full of +gentleness,--"be seated." Her form is well-rounded, her features +exquisite. Mr. Scranton views her seriously, as if he found +something of great interest in that marble forehead, those fine +features moulding a countenance full of soul, love, and sweetness. +Her dress is of plain black brocade, made high at the neck, where it +is secured with a small diamond pin, the front opening and +disclosing a lace stomacher set with undressed pearls. Rufflets and +diamond bracelets, of chaste workmanship, clasp her wrists; while +her light auburn hair, neatly laid in plain folds, and gathered into +a plait on the back of her head, where it is delicately secured with +gold and silver cord, forms a soft contrast. There is chasteness and +simplicity combined to represent character, sense, and refinement. +She is the mother of the plantation: old negroes call her mother, +young ones clamour with joy when she visits their abodes: her very +soul is in their wants; they look to her for guidance. Their +happiness is her pleasure, and by sharing the good fortune that has +followed them she has fostered the energy of their negroes, formed +them into families, encouraged their morality, impressed them with +the necessity of preserving family relations. Against the stern +mandates of the law, she has taught them to read the Bible, reading +and explaining it to them herself. Indeed, she has risen above the +law: she has taught the more tractable ones to write; she has +supplied the younger with little story-books, attractive and +containing good moral lessons. She rejoices over her system: it is +honest, kind, generous,--it will serve the future, and is not +unprofitable at present. It is different from that pursued by those +who would, through the instrumentality of bad laws, enforce +ignorance. Nay, to her there is something abhorrent in using the +Word of God as an excuse for the existence of slavery. Her system is +practicable, enlightening first, and then enforcing that which gives +encouragement to the inert faculties of our nature. Punishments were +scarcely known upon her plantation; the lash never used. Old and +young were made to feel themselves part and parcel of a family +compact, to know they had an interest in the crop, to gather hopes +for the future, to make home on the old plantation pleasant. There +was something refreshing in the pride and protection evinced in the +solicitation of this gentle creature for her negroes. In early life +she had listened to their fables, had mixed with them as children, +had enjoyed their hours of play, had studied their sympathies, and +entered with delight into the very soul of their jargon merriment. +She felt their wants, and knew their grievances; she had come +forward to be their protector, their mother! "Why, Mr. Scranton," +she exclaims, laughingly, in reply to that gentleman's remarks, as +she interrupted the conversation between him and the deacon, "we +would sooner suffer than sell one of our boys or girls-even if the +worst came to the worst. I know the value of family ties; I know how +to manage negroes. I would just as soon think of selling our +Matilda, I would! If some of you good northern folks could only see +how comfortable my negroes are!-" + +"Oh, yes!" interrupts the deacon, "she takes it all out of my hands; +I'm going to give her the reins altogether one of these days. She +has got a nice way of touching a negro's feelings so that anything +can be done with him: it tells largely at times." Mr. Scranton's +face becomes more serious; he doesn't seem to understand this new +"nigger philosophy." "Poor creatures!" the deacon continues, "how +wonderful is the power of encouragement;-how much may be done if +proper means are applied-" + +"The trouble is in the means," Mr. Scranton interposes, scratching +his head, as if ideas were scarce, and valuable for the distance +they had to be transported. + +Our good lady smiles. "I cannot help smiling, Mr. Scranton." She +speaks softly. "There are two things I want done-done quickly: I +want southern philosophers to consider, and I want southern ladies +to act-to put on energy-to take less care of themselves and more of +the poor negro!" She lays her hand gently upon Mr. Scranton's arm, +her soft blue eyes staring him in the face. "When they do this," she +continues, "all will be well. We can soon show the north how much +can be done without their assistance. I don't believe in women's +rights meetings,--not I; but I hold there should be some combination +of southern ladies, to take the moral elevation of the slave into +consideration,--to set about the work in good earnest, to see what +can be done. It's a monster work; but monster evils can be removed +if females will give their hands and hearts to the task. This +separating families to serve the interests of traders in human +beings must be stopped: females know the pains it inflicts on +suffering wretches; they are best suited to stop that heinous +offence in the sight of God and man. They must rise to the work; +they must devise means to stay the waste of fortune now progressing +through dissipation; and, above all other things, they must rise up +and drive these frightful slave-dealers from their doors." + +Mr. Scranton admits there is something in all this, but suggests +that it were better to let the future take care of itself; there's +no knowing what the future may do; and to let those who come in it +enjoy our labours "aint just the policy." He contends-willing to +admit how much the ladies could do if they would-it would not be +consistent with the times to put forth such experiments, especially +when there is so much opposition. "It wouldn't do!" he whispers. + +The deacon here interrupts Mr. Scranton, by stepping to the door and +ordering one of the servants to prepare refreshments. + +"'It must do! It won't do!' keeps us where we are, and where we are +always complaining that we never have done. You know I speak +frankly, Mr. Scranton-women may say what they please;-and let me +tell you, that when you do your duty it will do. Hard times never +were harder than when everybody thought them hard. We must infuse +principle into our poor people; we must make them earnest in +agricultural pursuits; we must elevate the character of labour; we +must encourage the mechanic, and give tone to his pursuits; and, +more than all, we must arrest the spread of conventional nonsense, +and develope our natural resources by establishing a system of paid +labour, and removing the odium which attaches itself to those who +pursue such avocations as the slave may be engaged in. My word for +it, Mr. Scranton, there's where the trouble lies. Nature has been +lavish in her good gifts to the south; but we must lend Nature a +helping hand,--we must be the women of the south for the south's +good; and we must break down those social barriers clogging our +progress. Nature wants good government to go along with her, to be +her handfellow in regeneration; but good government must give Nature +her rights. This done, slavery will cease to spread its loathsome +diseases through the body politic, virtue will be protected and +receive its rewards, and the buds of prosperity will be nourished +with energy and ripen into greatness." + +Mr. Scranton suggests that the nigger question was forced upon him, +and thinks it better to change the conversation. Mr. Scranton was +once in Congress, thinks a deal of his Congressional experience, and +declares, with great seriousness, that the nigger question will come +to something one of these days. "Ah! bless me, madam," he says, +adjusting his arms, "you talk-very-like-a-statesman. Southerners +better leave all this regenerating of slaves to you. But let me say, +whatever you may see in perspective, it's mighty dangerous when you +move such principles to practice. Mark me! you'll have to pull down +the iron walls of the south, make planters of different minds, drive +self out of mankind, and overthrow the northern speculator's +cotton-bag love. You've got a great work before you, my dear +madam,--a work that'll want an extended lease of your life-time. +Remember how hard it is to convince man of the wrong of anything +that's profitable. A paid system, even emancipation, would have been +a small affair in 1824 or 1827. Old niggers and prime fellows were +then of little value; now it is different. You may see the obstacle +to your project in the Nashville Convention or Georgia platform-" + +"Nashville Convention, indeed!" exclaims Mrs. Rosebrook, her face +infused with animation, and a curl of disdain on her lip. "Such +things! Mere happy illustrations of the folly of our political +affairs. The one was an exotic do-nothing got up by Mister +Wanting-to-say-something, who soon gets ashamed of his mission; the +other was a mixture of political log-rolling, got up by those who +wanted to tell the Union not to mind the Nashville Convention. What +a pity they did not tell the Union to be patient with us! We must +have no more Nashville Conventions; we must change Georgia platforms +for individual enterprise,--southern conventions for moral +regeneration. Give us these changes, and we shall show you what can +be done without the aid of the north." Several servants in tidy +dresses, their white aprons looking so clean, come bustling into the +room and invite missus and her guest into an airy ante-room, where a +table is bountifully spread with cake, fruit, fine old Madeira, and +lemonade. Mr. Scranton bows and asks "the pleasure;" Mrs. Rosebrook +acknowledgingly takes his arm, while the negroes bow and scrape as +they enter the room. Mr. Scranton stands a few moments gazing at the +set-out. "I hope Mr. Scranton will make himself quite at home," the +good lady interposes. Everything was so exquisitely arranged, so set +off with fresh-plucked flowers, as if some magic hand had just +touched the whole. + +"Now!" continued Mrs. Rosebrook, motioning her head as she points to +the table: "you'll admit my negroes can do something? Poor helpless +wretches, we say continually: perhaps they are worse when bad owners +can make the world look upon them through northern prejudice. They +are just like children; nobody gives them credit for being anything +else; and yet they can do much for our good. It would trouble some +persons to arrange a table so neatly; my boys did it all, you see!" +And she exults over the efficiency of her negroes, who stand at her +side acknowledging the compliment with broad grins. The deacon helps +Mr. Scranton, who commences stowing away the sweetmeats with great +gusto. "It is truly surprising what charming nigger property you +have got. They don't seem a bit like niggers" he concludes +deliberately taking a mouthful. Mrs. Rosebrook, pleased at the +honest remark, reminds him that the deacon carries out her views +most charmingly, that she studies negro character, and knows that by +stimulating it with little things she promotes good. She studies +character while the deacon studies politics. At the same time, she +rather ironically reminds Mr. Scranton that the deacon is not guilty +of reading any long-winded articles on "state rights and secession." +"Not he!" she says, laughingly; "you don't catch him with such +cast-iron material in his head. They call him pious-proof now and +then, but he's progress all over." + +Mr. Scranton, attentive to his appetite, draws a serious face, gives +a side glance, begs a negro to supply his plate anew, and reckons he +may soon make a new discovery in southern political economy. But he +fears Mrs. Rosebrook's plan will make a mongrel, the specific nature +of which it would be difficult to define in philosophy. Perhaps it +will not be acceptable to the north as a thinking people, nor will +it please the generosity of southern ladies. + +"There is where the trouble lies!" exclaimed the deacon, who had +until then yielded up the discussion to his good lady. "They look +upon our system with distrust, as if it were something they could +not understand." + +"I move we don't say another word about it, but take our part +quietly," says Mrs. Rosebrook, insinuating that Mr. Scranton had +better be left to take his refreshment comfortably; that he is a +little misanthropic; that he must be cheered up. "Come, my +boys"-directing her conversation to the negroes-"see that Mr. +Scranton is cared for. And you must summon Daddy; tell him to get +the carriage ready, to put on his best blue coat,--that we are going +to take Mr. Scranton over the plantation, to show him how things can +prosper when we ladies take a hand in the management." The negro +leaves to execute the order: Mr. Scranton remains mute, now and then +sipping his wine. He imagines himself in a small paradise, but +"hadn't the least idea how it was made such a place by niggers." +Why, they are just the smartest things in the shape of property that +could be started up. Regular dandy niggers, dressed up to "shine +so," they set him thinking there was something in his politics not +just straight. And then, there was so much intelligence, so much +politeness about the critters! Why, if it had not been for the +doctrines he had so long held, he would have felt bashful at his +want of ease and suavity,--things seldom taught in the New England +village where our pro-slavery advocate was born and educated. + +Presently servants are seen outside, running here and there, their +eyes glistening with anxiety, as if preparing for a May-day +festival. Old Dolly, the cook, shining with the importance of her +profession, stands her greasy portions in the kitchen door, scolds +away at old Dad, whose face smiles with good-nature as he fusses +over the carriage, wipes it, rubs it, and brushes it, every now and +then stopping to see if it will reflect his full black face. Little +woolly-headed urchins are toddling round old Maum Dolly, pulling the +folds of her frock, teasing for cakes and fritters. One, more expert +in mischief, has perched himself in an aperture over the door, +substituting himself for the old black hat with which it is usually +filled. Here, his face like a full moon in a cloud, he twists his +moving fingers into the ingeniously-tied knot of Dolly's bandana, +which he cunningly draws from her head. Ben and Loblolly, two minor +sprats of the race, are seated in the centre of the yard, contending +for the leaves of a picture-book, which, to appease their +characteristic inquisitiveness, they have dissected. Daddy has the +horses ready and the carriage waiting; and Uncle Bradshaw, the +coachman, and Csar, the likely fellow, wait at the door with as +much satisfaction expressed in their faces as if it were all for +them. Missus is not to be outdone in expertness: a few minutes ago +she was "snaring" Mr. Scranton with his own philosophy; now she is +ready to take her seat. + +"Missus! I wants t' go down yander wid ye, I doe," says Daddy, +approaching her with hand extended, and working his black face up +into a broad grin as he detects Mr. Scranton's awkwardness in +getting into the carriage. + +"Certainly, Daddy, certainly: you shall go. Daddy knows how to get +alongside of Aunt Rachel when he gets down on the plantation. He +knows where to get a good cup of coffee and a waff." And she pats +the old negro on the head as he clambers up on the box. "No, him +aint dat. Daddy want t' go wid missus-ya'h, ya! dat him, tis. Missus +want somebody down da'h what spry, so'e take care on 'em round de +old plantation. Takes my missus to know what nigger is," says Daddy, +taking off his cap, and bowing missus into the carriage. + +"Not one word for mas'r, eh, Daddy?" rejoins the deacon, looking +playfully at Daddy. "Why, Boss, you aint nofin whin missus about," +returns Daddy, tauntingly, as he buttons his grey coat, and tells +Bradshaw to "go ahead!" Away they go, galloping over the plain, +through the swamp, for the plantation,--that model experiment doubted +by so many. Major Sprag, the politician, and Judge Snow, the +statesman, had declared publicly it never would do any good. With +them it was not practical,--it gave negroes too much liberty; and +they declared the system must be kept within the narrowest sphere of +law, or it would be destroyed for ever. + +Onward the carriage bounded, and long before it reached the +plantation gate was espied by the negroes, who came sallying forth +from their white cabins, crying out at the top of their +voices-"Missus comin'! Missus comin! Da'h missus-dat she! I know'd +missus wa' comin' t' day!" and the music of their voices re-echoed +through the arbour of oaks that lined the road. Their tongues seemed +to have taken new impulse for the occasion. The dogs, at full run, +came barking to the gate; old daddies and mammas, with faces "all +over smiles," followed in the train. And they were dressed so +tidily, looked so cheerful, and gave such expressions of their +exuberant feelings, that Mr. Scranton seemed quite at a loss how to +account for it. He had never before witnessed such a mingling of +fondness for owners,--the welcome sounds of "God bless good missus!" +They were at variance with the misanthropic ideas he had imbibed at +the north. And then there was a regular retinue of the "small-fry +property" bringing up the rear, with curious faces, and making the +jargon more confounding with the music of their voices. They +toddled, screamed, and shouted, clustered around the gate, and +before Daddy had time to dismount, had it wide open, and were +contending for the palm of shaking missus by the hand "fust." + +The carriage drives to the plantation house, followed by the train +of moving darkness, flocking around it like as many devotees before +an object of superstitious worship. Mas'r is only a secondary +consideration, Missus is the angel of their thoughts; her kindness +and perseverance in their behalf has softened their +feelings--stimulated their energy. How touching is the fondness and +tenderness of these degraded mortals! They love their benefactor. +And, too, there is a lesson in it worthy the statesman's +consideration,--it shows a knowledge of right, and a deep sense of +gratitude for kindness bestowed. Mrs. Rosebrook alights from the +carriage, receives their warm congratulations, and, turning to Mr. +Scranton, touches him on the arm, and remarks:--"Now, here they are. +Poor old bodies,"--taking them by the hand in rotation-just like as +many children. "What do you think of them, Mr. Scranton? do you not +find a softening sympathy creeping upon you? I forgot, though, your +political responsibility! Ah! that is the point with statesmen. You +feel a touch of conscience once in a while, but cannot speak for +fear of the consequences." And she laughs heartily at Mr. Scranton, +who draws his face into a very serious length. "Pest the niggers!" +he says, as they gather at his feet, asking all sorts of importune +questions. + +"My good lady is a regular reformer, you see, Mr. Scranton," rejoins +the deacon, as he follows that gentleman into the hall. + +Mr. Scranton remarks, in reply, that such does not become caste, and +two pompous-looking servants set upon him brushing the dirt from +his clothes with great earnestness. The negroes understand Mr. +Scranton at a glance; he is an amiable stoic! + +Mrs. Rosebrook disappears for a few minutes, and returns minus her +bonnet and mantle. She delights to have the old and the young around +her,--to study their characters, to hear their stories, their +grievances, and to relieve their wants. "These little black imps," +she says, patting them on the head as they toddle around her, +"They're just as full of interest as their shiny black skins are +full of mischief;" and one after another, with hand extended, they +seek a recognition; and she takes them in her arms, fondling them +with the affection of a nurse. + +"Here's Toby, too; the little cunning rascal! He is as sleek as a +mole, a young coon," she ejaculates, stooping down and playfully +working her fingers over Toby's crispy hair, as he sits upon the +grass in front of the house, feasting on a huge sweet potato, with +which he has so bedaubed his face that it looks like a mask with the +terrific portrayed in the rolling of two immense white eyes. "And +here is Nichol Garvio!" and she turns to another, pats him on the +head, and shakes his hand. "We mean to make a great man of him, you +see,--he has head enough to make a Congress man; who knows but that +he'll get there when he grows up?" + +"Congress, happily, is beyond niggers," replies Mr. Scranton, +approving the lady: "Congress is pure yet!" Turning round, she +recommends Mr. Scranton to put his northern prejudices in his +pocket, where they will be safe when required for the purposes of +the south. "A nigger 's a nigger all over the world," rejoins Mr. +Scranton, significantly shrugging his shoulders and casting a +doubtful glance at the young type. + +"True! true!" she returns, giving Mr. Scranton a look of pity. "God +give us sight to see! We praise our forefathers-honest praise!-but +we forget what they did. They brought them here, poor wretches; +decoyed them, deceived them,--and now we wish them back at the very +time it would be impossible to live without them. How happy is the +mind that believes a 'nigger' must be a nigger for ever and ever; +and that we must do all in our power to keep him from being anything +else!" And her soft blue eyes glowed with sympathy; it was the soul +of a noble woman intent on doing good. She had stepped from the +darkness of a political error into the airy height of light and +love. + +Daddy and Bradshaw had taken care of the horses; the deacon greeted +his negroes as one by one they came to welcome him; and for each he +had a kind word, a joke, a shake of the hand, or an enquiry about +some missing member of a family. The scene presented an interesting +picture-the interest, policy, and good faith between master and +slave. No sooner were the horses cared for, than Daddy and Bradshaw +started for the "cabins," to say welcome to the old folks, "a heap +a' how de" to the gals, and tell de boys, down yander, in de tater +patch, dat Missus come. They must have their touching +congratulations, interchange the news of the city for the gossip of +the plantation, and drink the cup of tea Mamma makes for the +occasion. Soon the plantation is all agog; and the homely, but neat +cabins, swarm with negroes of all ages, bustling here and there, and +making preparations for the evening supper, which Aunt Peggy, the +cook, has been instructed to prepare in her very best style. + +The deacon joins his good lady, and, with Mr. Scranton, they prepare +to walk over and view the plantation. They are followed by a retinue +of old and young property, giving vent to their thoughts in +expressions of gratitude to Missus and Mas'r. A broad expanse of +rural beauty stretches towards the west, soft and enchanting. The +sun is sinking into the curtains of a refulgent cloud; its crimson +light casts a mellow shade over the broad landscape; the evening +breeze is wafting coolly over the foliage, a welcome relief to the +scorching heat of mid-day; the balmy atmosphere breathes sweetness +over the whole. To the north stands a clump of fine old oaks, high +above the distant "bottom," reflecting in all their richness the +warm tints of the setting sun. The leaves rustle as they pass along; +long lines of cotton plants, with their healthy blossoms, brighten +in the evening shade; the corn bends under its fruit; the potato +field looks fresh and luxuriant, and negroes are gathering from the +slip-beds supplies of market gardening. There is but one appearance +among the workers-cheerfulness! They welcome Mas'r as he passes +along; and again busily employ themselves, hoeing, weeding, and +working at the roots of vines in search of destructive insects. + +"My overseers are all black, every one! I would'nt have a white one; +they are mostly tyrants," says the deacon, looking at his fields, +exultingly. "And my overseers plan out the very best mode of +planting. They get through a heap of work, with a little kindness +and a little management. Those two things do a deal, Sir! Five years +ago, I projected this new system of managing negroes-or, rather my +lady planned it,--she is a great manager, you see,--and I adopted it. +You see how it has worked, Mr. Scranton." The deacon takes Mr. +Scranton by the arm, pointing over the broad expanse of cultivated +land, bending under the harvest. I make all my negroes marry when +they have arrived at a specific age; I assure them I never will sell +one unless he or she commits a heinous crime; and I never have. +There is a great deal in keeping faith with a negro; he is of +mankind, and moved by natural laws mentally and physically, and +feels deeply the want of what we rarely regard of much +consequence-confidence in his master's word. Wife encourages their +moral energy; I encourage their physical by filling their bellies +with as much corn and bacon as they can eat; and then I give them +five cents per day (the heads of families) to get those little +necessaries which are so essential to their comfort and +encouragement. I call it our paid-labour system; and I give them +tasks, too, and when they have finished them I allow a small stipend +for extra work. It's a small mite for a great end; and it's such an +encouragement with them that I get about thirty per cent. more work +done. And then I allow them to read just as much as they please-what +do I care about law? I don't want to live where learning to read is +dangerous to the State, I don't. Their learning to read never can +destroy their affections for me and wife; and kindness to them will +make them less dangerous in case of insurrection. It's not the +education we've got to fear; our fears increase with the knowledge +of our oppression. They know these things-they feel them; and if by +educating them one can cultivate their confidence, had we not better +do it with a view to contingencies? Now, as the result of our +system, we have promised to give all our negroes their freedom at +the expiration of ten years, and send such as wish to go, to +Liberia; but, I hold that they can do as much for us at home, work +for us if properly encouraged, and be good free citizens, obedient +to the laws of the State, serving the general good of a great +country." + +"Yes!" the good lady interposes; "I want to see those things carried +out; they will yet work for the regeneration of their own race. +Heaven will some day reward the hand that drags the cursed mantle +from off poor Africa; and Africa herself will breathe a prayer to +Heaven in grateful acknowledgment of the act that frees her from the +stain of being the world's bonded warehouse for human flesh and +blood." + +The deacon interrupts,--suggests "that it were better to move +practically; and that small streams may yet direct how a mountain +may be removed. Our Union is a great monument of what a Republic may +be,--a happy combination of life, freshness, and greatness, upon +which the Old World looks with distrust. The people have founded its +happiness-its greatness! God alone knows its destiny; crowned heads +would not weep over its downfall! It were better each citizen felt +his heart beating to the words-It is my country; cursed be the hand +raised to sever its members!" The lady tells Mr. Scranton that their +produce has increased every year; that last year they planted one +hundred and twenty acres with cotton, ninety with corn, forty with +sweet potatoes, as many more with slips and roots; and three acres +of water-melons for the boys, which they may eat or sell. She +assures him that by encouraging the pay system they get a double +profit, besides preparing the way for something that must come. + +"Come!" Mr. Scranton interrupts: "let the south be true to herself, +and there's no fear of that. But I confess, deacon, there is +something good as well as curious about your way of treating +niggers." And Mr. Scranton shakes his head, as if the practicability +yet remained the great obstacle in his mind. "Your niggers ain't +every body's," he concludes. + +"Try it, try it!" Mrs. Rosebrook rejoins: "Go home and propound +something that will relieve us from fear-something that will prepare +us for any crisis that may occur!" + +It was six o'clock, the plantation bell struck, and the cry sounded +"All hands quit work, and repair to supper!" Scarcely had the echoes +resounded over the woods when the labourers were seen scampering for +their cabins, in great glee. They jumped, danced, jostled one +another, and sang the cheering melodies, "Sally put da' hoe cake +down!" and "Down in Old Tennessee." + +Reaching their cabins they gathered into a conclave around Daddy and +Bradshaw, making the very air resound with their merry jargon. Such +a happy meeting-such social congratulations, pouring forth of the +heart's affections, warm and true,--it had never been before Mr. +Scranton's fortune to witness. Indeed, when he listened to the ready +flashes of dialogue accompanying their animation, and saw the +strange contortions of their fresh, shining faces, he began to +"reckon" there was something about niggers that might, by a process +not yet discovered, be turned into something. + +Old "Mammies" strive for the honour of having Daddy and Bradshaw sup +at their cabins, taunting each other on the spareness of their meal. +Fires are soon lit, the stew-pans brought into requisition, and the +smoke, curling upward among a myriad of mosquitoes, is dispersing +them like a band of unwelcome intruders; while the corn-mills rattle +and rumble, making the din and clatter more confounding. Daddy and +Bradshaw being "aristocratic darkies from the city"-caste being +tenaciously kept up among negroes-were, of course, recipients of the +choicest delicacies the plantation afforded, not excepting fresh +eggs poached, and possum. Bradshaw is particularly fond of ghost +stories; and as old Maum Nancy deals largely in this article, as +well as being the best believer in spectres on the plantation, he +concludes to sup with her, in her hospitable cabin, when she will +relate all that she has seen since she last saw him. Maum Nancy is +as black as a crow, has a rich store of tales on hand; she will +please the old man, more particularly when she tells him about the +very bad ghost seen about the mansion for more than "three weeks of +nights." He has got two sarpents' heads; Maum Nancy declares the +statement true, for uncle Enoch "seen him,"-he is a grey ghost-and +might a' knocked him over with his wattle, only he darn't lest he +should reek his vengeance at some unexpected moment. And then he was +the very worst kind of a ghost, for he stole all the chickens, not +even leaving the feathers. They said he had a tail like the thing +Mas'r Sluck whipped his "niggers" with. Bradshaw sups of Maum +Nancy's best, listening to her stories with great concern. The story +of the ghost with two heads startles him; his black picture, frame +fills with excitement; he has never before heard that ghosts were +guilty of predatory crimes. So enchained and excited is he with her +story, that the party at the house having finished supper, have made +preparations to leave for the city. A finger touches him on the +shoulder; he startles, recognises Daddy, who is in search of him, +and suddenly becomes conscious that his absence has caused great +anxiety. Daddy has found him quietly eating Maum Nancy's cakes, +while intently listening to the story about the ghost "what" steals +all her chickens. He is quite unconcerned about Mas'r, +Missus-anything but the ghost! He catches his cap, gives Nancy's +hand a warm shake, says God bless 'em, hastens for the mansion, +finds the carriage waiting at the door, for Mas'r and Missus, who +take their seats as he arrives. Bradshaw mounts the box again, and +away it rolls down the oak avenue. The happy party leave for home; +the plantation people are turned out en masse to say good bye to +Missus, and "hope Mas'r get safe home." Their greetings sound forth +as the carriage disappears in the distance; fainter and fainter the +good wish falls upon their ears. They are well on the road; Mr. +Scranton, who sits at the side of the good lady, on the back seat, +has not deigned to say a word: the evening grows dark, and his mind +seems correspondingly gloomy. "I tell you, I feel so pleased, so +overjoyed, and so happy when I visit the plantation, to see those +poor creatures so happy and so full of fondness! It's worth all the +riches to know that one is loved by the poor. Did you ever see such +happiness, Mr. Scranton?" Mrs. Rosebrook enquires, coolly. + +"It requires a great deal of thinking, a great deal of caution, a +great deal of political foresight, before answering such questions. +You'll pardon me, my dear madam, I know you will; I always speak +square on questions, you know. It's hard to reconcile oneself to +niggers being free." + +"Ah! yes-it's very amiable to think; but how much more praiseworthy +to act! If we southern ladies set ourselves about it we can do a +great deal; we can save the poor creatures being sold, like cows and +calves, in this free country. We must save ourselves from the moral +degradation that is upon us. What a pity Marston's friends did not +make an effort to change his course! If they had he would not now be +in the hands of that Graspum. We are surrounded by a world of +temptation; and yet our planters yield to them; they think +everything a certainty, forgetting that the moment they fall into +Graspum's hands they are gone." + +Mr. Scranton acknowledges he likes the look of things on the +plantation, but suggests that it will be considered an +innovation,--an innovation too dangerous to be considered. +Innovations are dangerous with him,--unpopular, cannot amount to much +practical good. He gives these insinuations merely as happy +expressions of his own profound opinion. The carriage approaches the +villa, which, seen from the distance, seems sleeping in the calm of +night. Mr. Scranton is like those among us who are always fearing, +but never make an effort to remove the cause; they, too, are +doggedly attached to political inconsistency, and, though at times +led to see the evil, never can be made to acknowledge the wrong. +They reach the garden gate; Mr. Scranton begs to be excused from +entering the Villa,--takes a formal leave of his friend, and wends +his way home, thinking. "There's something in it!" he says to +himself, as he passes the old bridge that separates the city from +the suburb. "It's not so much for the present as it is for the +hereafter. Nobody thinks of repairing this old bridge, and yet it +has been decaying under our eyes for years. Some day it will +suddenly fall,--a dozen people will be precipitated into the water +below, some killed; the city will then resound with lamentations; +every body knows it must take place one of these days, everybody is +to blame, but no special criminal can be found. There's something in +the comparison!" he says, looking over the old railing into the +water. And then his thoughts wandered to the plantation. There the +germs of an enlightened policy were growing up; the purity of a +noble woman's heart was spreading blessings among a downcast race, +cultivating their minds, raising them up to do good for themselves, +to reward the efforts of the benefactor. Her motto was:--Let us +through simple means seek the elevation of a class of beings whose +degradation has distracted the political wisdom of our happy +country, from its conquest to the present day. "There's something in +it," again mutters Mr. Scranton, as he enters his room, lights his +taper, and with his elbow resting on the table, his head supported +in his hand, sits musing over the subject. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ELDER PEMBERTON PRAISEWORTHY CHANGES HIS BUSINESS. + + + + + +LET us beg the reader's indulgence for a few moments, while we say +that Mr. Scranton belonged to that large class of servile flatterers +who too often come from the New England States-men, who, having no +direct interest in slaves, make no scruple of sacrificing their +independence that they may appear true to the south and slavery. +Such men not unfrequently do the political vampirism of the south +without receiving its thanks, but look for the respect of political +factions for being loudest supporters of inconsistency. They never +receive the thanks of the southerner; frequently and deservedly do +they sink into contempt! + +A few days after the visit to the plantation we have described in +the foregoing chapter, Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy, divested of his +pastoral occupation, and seriously anxious to keep up his friendly +associations with those who had taken a part in furthering the cause +of humanity, calls on his old acquaintance, Mrs. Rosebrook. He has +always found a welcome under her hospitable roof,--a good meal, over +which he could discourse the benefits he bestowed, through his +spiritual mission, upon a fallen race; never leaving without kindly +asking permission to offer up a prayer, in which he invoked the +mercy of the Supreme Ruler over all things. In this instance he +seems somewhat downcast, forlorn; he has changed his business; his +brown, lean face, small peering eyes, and low forehead, with bristly +black hair standing erect, give his features a careworn air. He +apologises for the unceremonious call, and says he always forgets +etiquette in his fervour to do good; to serve his fellow-creatures, +to be a Christian among the living, and serve the dying and the +dead-if such have wants--is his motto. And that his motives may not +be misconstrued he has come to report the peculiar phases of the +business he found it actually necessary to turn his hand to. That he +will gain a complete mastery over the devil he has not the fraction +of a doubt; and as he has always--deeming him less harmless than many +citizens of the south--had strong prejudices against that gentleman, +he now has strong expectations of carrying his point against him. +Elder Praiseworthy once heard a great statesman--who said singular +things as well in as out of Congress--say that he did'nt believe the +devil was a bad fellow after all; and that with a little more +schooling he might make a very useful gentleman to prevent +duelling--in a word, that there was no knowing how we'd get along at +the south without such an all-important personage. He has had +several spells of deep thinking on this point, which, though he +cannot exactly agree with it, he holds firmly to the belief that, so +far as it affects duelling, the devil should be one of the +principals, and he, being specially ordained, the great antagonist +to demolish him with his chosen weapon--humanity. + +"They tell me you have gone back into the world," says Mrs. +Rosebrook, as the waiter hands Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy a chair. +"It's only the duty of love, of Christian goodness, he humbly +replies, and takes his seat as Mrs. Rosebrook says-"pray be seated!" + +"I'm somewhat fatigued; but it's the fatigue of loving to do good," +he says, rubbing his hands very piously, and giving a look of great +ministerial seriousness at the good lady. We will omit several minor +portions of the Elder's cautious introduction of his humane +occupation, commencing where he sets forth the kind reasons for such +a virtuous policy. "You honestly think you are serving the Lord, do +you?" enquires the lady, as she takes her seat. + +The Elder evinces surprise at such a question. Hath he moved among +Christians so many years, ministering to spiritual wants, and yet +the purity of his motives be questioned? "Good madam! we must have +faith to believe. All that is meant well should be accepted in the +greatness of the intention. You will observe, I am neither a lawyer +nor a politician; I would'nt be for the world! We must always be +doing something for the good of others; and we must not forget, +whilst we are doing it, to serve the Allwise one; and while we are +effecting the good of one we are serving the designs of the other." +Thus emphatically spoke the Elder, fingering a book that lay on the +table. "I buy sick people, I save the dying, and I instruct them in +the ways of the Lord as soon as they are cured, and-" And here the +Elder suddenly stops. + +"Add, Mr. Praiseworthy, that when you have cured them, and +instructed them in the way of the Lord, you sell them!" interrupts +the lady, watching the sudden changes that pass over his craven +features. + +"I always get them good masters; I never fail in that. Nor do I +stand upon the profit-it's the humanity I takes into the balance." +He conceives good under the motley garb of his new mission. + +"Humanity-strange humanity, with self coiled beneath. Why, Mr. +Praiseworthy!" the lady starts from her seat, and speaks with +emphasis, "do you tell me that you have become a resurrection man, +standing at the platform of death, interposing with it for a +speculation?" + +"It's no uncommon business, Madam; hundreds follow it; some have got +rich at it." + +"Got rich at it!" Mrs. Rosebrook interrupts, as a sagacious looking +cat bounds on the table, much to the discomfiture of the Elder, who +jumps up in a great fright,--"What irresistible natures we have; may +heaven save us from the cravings of avarice!" + +The Elder very methodically puts the interrupting cat upon the +floor, and resumes his seat. "Why, bless us, good madam, we must +have something to keep our consciences clear; there's nothing like +living a straightforward life." + +"What a horrible inconsistency! Buying the sick and the dying. May +the dead not come in for a portion of your singular generosity? If +you can speculate in the dying why exclude the dead? the principle +would serve the same faith in Christianity. The heart that can +purchase the dying must be full of sad coldness, dragging the woes +and pains of mortality down to a tortuous death. Save us from the +feelings of speculation,--call them Christian, if you will,--that +makes man look upon a dying mortal, valuing but the dollars and +cents that are passing away with his life," she interrupts, giving +vent to her pent-up feelings. + +Mr. Praiseworthy suggests that the good lady does not comprehend the +virtue lying beneath his motives; that it takes a philosophical mind +to analyse the good that can be done to human nature, especially +poor black human nature. And he asserts, with great sincerity, that +saving the lives of those about to die miserable deaths is a +wonderful thing for the cause of humanity. Buying them saves their +hopeless lives; and if that isn't praiseworthy nothing can be, and +when the act is good the motive should not be questioned. + +"Do you save their lives for a Christian purpose, or is it lucre you +seek, Mr. Praiseworthy?" she enquires, giving the Elder a +significant look, and waiting for a reply. + +The Elder rises sedately, and walks across the room, considering his +reply. "The question's so kind of round about," he mutters, as she +continues:-- + +"Sick when you purchase, your Christianity consists in the art of +healing; but you sell them, and consequently save their lives for a +profit. There is no cholera in our plantation, thank God! you cannot +speculate on our sick. You outshine the London street Jews; they +deal in old clothes, you deal in human oddities, tottering +infirmity, sick negroes." Mrs. Rosebrook suggests that such a +business in a great and happy country should be consigned to its +grave-digger and executioner, or made to pay a killing income tax. + +The humane Elder views his clothes; they have become somewhat +threadbare since he entered upon his new profession. He, as may be +supposed, feels the force of the lady's remarks, and yet cannot +bring his mind to believe himself actuated by anything but a love to +do good. Kindness, he contends, was always the most inherent thing +in his nature: it is an insult to insinuate anything degrading +connected with his calling. And, too, there is another consolation +which soars above all,--it is legal, and there is a respectability +connected with all legal callings. + +"To be upright is my motto, madam," the Elder says, drawing his hand +modestly over his mouth, and again adjusting the tie of his white +neck-cloth. "I'm trying to save them, and a penny with them. You +see-the Lord forgive him!-my dear madam, Marston didn't do the clean +thing with me; and, the worst of all was, he made a preacher of that +nigger of his. The principle is a very bad one for nigger property +to contend for; and when their masters permit it, our profession is +upset; for, whenever a nigger becomes a preacher, he's sure to be a +profitable investment for his owner. There is where it injures us; +and we have no redress, because the nigger preacher is his master's +property, and his master can make him preach, or do what he pleases +with him," says Mr. Praiseworthy, becoming extremely serious. + +"Ah! yes,--self pinches the principles; I see where it is, Elder," +says the lady. "But you were indiscreet, given to taking at times; +and the boy Harry, proving himself quite as good at preaching, +destroyed your practice. I wish every negro knew as much of the +Bible as that boy Harry. There would be no fear of insurrections; it +would be the greatest blessing that ever befell the South. It would +make some of your Christians blush,--perhaps ashamed." + +"Ashamed! ashamed! a thing little used the way times are," he +mutters, fretting his fingers through his bristly hair, until it +stands erect like quills on a porcupine's back. This done, he +measuredly adjusts his glasses on the tip of his nose, giving his +tawny visage an appearance at once strange and indicative of all the +peculiarities of his peculiar character. "It wasn't that," he says, +"Marston did'nt get dissatisfied with my spiritual conditions; it +was the saving made by the negro's preaching. But, to my new +business, which so touches your sensitive feelings. If you will +honour me, my dear madam, with a visit at my hospital, I am certain +your impressions will change, and you will do justice to my +motives." + +"Indeed!" interrupts the lady, quickly, "nothing would give me more +gratification,--I esteem any person engaged in a laudable pursuit; +but if philanthropy be expressed through the frailties of +speculation,--especially where it is carried out in the buying and +selling of afflicted men and women,--I am willing to admit the age of +progress to have got ahead of me. However, Elder, I suppose you go +upon the principle of what is not lost to sin being gained to the +Lord: and if your sick property die pious, the knowledge of it is a +sufficient recompense for the loss." Thus saying, she readily +accepted the Elder's kind invitation, and, ordering a basket of +prepared nourishment, which, together with the carriage, was soon +ready, she accompanied him to his infirmary. They drove through +narrow lanes and streets lined with small dilapidated cottages, and +reached a wooden tenement near the suburb of the city of C--. It was +surrounded by a lattice fence, the approach being through a gate, on +which was inscribed, "Mr. Praiseworthy's Infirmary;" and immediately +below this, in small letters, was the significant notice, "Planters +having the cholera and other prevailing diseases upon their +plantations will please take notice that I am prepared to pay the +highest price for the infirm and other negroes attacked with the +disease. Offers will be made for the most doubtful cases!" + +"Elder Praiseworthy!" ejaculates the lady, starting back, and +stopping to read the strange sign. "'Offers will be made for the +most doubtful cases!'" she mutters, turning towards him with a look +of melancholy. "What thoughts, feelings, sentiments! That means, +that unto death you have a pecuniary interest in their bodies; and, +for a price, you will interpose between their owners and death. The +mind so grotesque as to conceive such a purpose should be +restrained, lest it trifle with life unconsciously." + +"You see," interrupts Mr. Praiseworthy, looking more serious than +ever, "It's the life saved to the nigger; he's grateful for it; and +if they ain't pious just then, it gives them time to consider, to +prepare themselves. My little per centage is small-it's a mean +commission; and if it were not for the satisfaction of knowing how +much good I do, it wouldn't begin to pay a professional gentleman." +As the Elder concludes his remarks, melancholy sounds are breaking +forth in frightful discord. From strange murmurings it rises into +loud wailings and implorings. "Take me, good Lord, to a world of +peace!" sounds in her ears, as they approach through a garden and +enter a door that opens into a long room, a store-house of human +infirmity, where moans, cries, and groans are made a medium of +traffic. The room, about thirty feet long and twenty wide, is +rough-boarded, contains three tiers of narrow berths, one above the +other, encircling its walls. Here and there on the floor are cots, +which Mr. Praiseworthy informs us are for those whose cases he would +not give much for. Black nurses are busily attending the sick +property; some are carrying bowls of gruel, others rubbing limbs and +quieting the cries of the frantic, and again supplying water to +quench thirst. On a round table that stands in the centre of the +room is a large medicine-chest, disclosing papers, pills, powders, +phials, and plasters, strewn about in great disorder. A bedlam of +ghastly faces presents itself,--dark, haggard, and frantic with the +pains of the malady preying upon the victims. One poor wretch +springs from his couch, crying, "Oh, death! death! come soon!" and +his features glare with terror. Again he utters a wild shriek, and +bounds round the room, looking madly at one and another, as if +chased by some furious animal. The figure of a female, whose +elongated body seems ready to sink under its disease, sits on a +little box in the corner, humming a dolorous air, and looking with +glassy eyes pensively around the room at those stretched in their +berths. For a few seconds she is quiet; then, contorting her face +into a deep scowl, she gives vent to the most violent bursts of +passion,--holds her long black hair above her head, assumes a tragic +attitude, threatens to distort it from the scalp. "That one's lost +her mind-she's fitty; but I think the devil has something to do with +her fits. And, though you wouldn't think it, she's just as harmless +as can be," Mr. Praiseworthy coolly remarks, looking at Mrs. +Rosebrook, hoping she will say something encouraging in reply. The +lady only replies by asking him if he purchased her from her owner? + +Mr. Praiseworthy responds in the affirmative, adding that she +doesn't seem to like it much. He, however, has strong hopes of +curing her mind, getting it "in fix" again, and making a good penny +on her. "She's a'most white, and, unfortunately, took a liking to a +young man down town. Marston owned her then, and, being a friend of +hers, wouldn't allow it, and it took away her senses; he thought her +malady incurable, and sold her to me for a little or nothing," he +continues, with great complacency. + +This poor broken flower of misfortune holds down her head as the +lady approaches, gives a look of melancholy expressive of shame and +remorse. "She's sensitive for a nigger, and the only one that has +said anything about being put among men," Mr. Praiseworthy remarks, +advancing a few steps, and then going from berth to berth, +descanting on the prospects of his sick, explaining their various +diseases, their improvements, and his doubts of the dying. The lady +watches all his movements, as if more intently interested in Mr. +Praiseworthy's strange character. "And here's one," he says, "I fear +I shall lose; and if I do, there's fifty dollars gone, slap!" and he +points to an emaciated yellow man, whose body is literally a crust +of sores, and whose painful implorings for water and nourishment are +deep and touching. + +"Poor wretch!" Mr. Praiseworthy exclaims, "I wish I'd never bought +him-it's pained my feelings so; but I did it to save his life when +he was most dead with the rheumatics, and was drawn up as crooked as +branch cord-wood. And then, after I had got the cinques out of him- +after nearly getting him straight for a 'prime fellow' (good care +did the thing), he took the water on the chest, and is grown out +like that." He points coolly to the sufferer's breast, which is +fearfully distended with disease; saying that, "as if that wasn't +enough, he took the lepors, and it's a squeak if they don't end +him." He pities the "crittur," but has done all he can for him, +which he would have done if he hadn't expected a copper for selling +him when cured. "So you see, madam," he reiterates, "it isn't all +profit. I paid a good price for the poor skeleton, have had all ny +trouble, and shall have no gain-except the recompense of feeling. +There was a time when I might have shared one hundred and fifty +dollars by him, but I felt humane towards him; didn't want him to +slide until he was a No. 1." Thus the Elder sets forth his own +goodness of heart. + +"Pray, what do you pay a head for them, Mr. Praiseworthy?" enquires +the lady, smoothing her hand over the feverish head of the poor +victim, as the carnatic of her cheek changed to pallid languor. +Pursuing her object with calmness, she determined not to display her +emotions until fully satisfied how far the Elder would go. + +"That, madam, depends on cases; cripples are not worth much. But, +now and then, we get a legless fellow what's sound in body, can get +round sprightly, and such like; and, seeing how we can make him +answer a sight of purposes, he'll bring something," he sedately +replies, with muscles unmoved. "Cases what doctors give up as 'done +gone,' we gets for ten and twenty dollars; cases not hanging under +other diseases, we give from thirty to fifty-and so on! Remember, +however, you must deduct thirty per cent. for death. At times, where +you would make two or three hundred dollars by curing one, and +saving his life, you lose three, sometimes half-a-dozen head." The +Elder consoles his feelings with the fact that it is not all profit, +looks highly gratified, puts a large cut of tobacco in his mouth, +thanks God that the common school-bill didn't pass in the +legislature, and that his business is more humane than people +generally admit. + +"How many have you in all?" + +"The number of head, I suppose? Well, there's about thirty sick, and +ten well ones what I sent to market last week. Did-n-'t-make-a-good +market, though," he drawls out. + +"You are alone in the business?" + +"Well, no; I've a partner-Jones; there's a good many phases in the +business, you see, and one can't get along. Jones was a +nigger-broker, and Jones and me went into partnership to do the +thing smooth up, on joint account. I does the curing, and he does +the selling, and we both turns a dollar or two-" + +"Oh, horrors!" interrupts the lady, looking at Mr. Praiseworthy +sarcastically. "Murder will out, men's sentiments will betray them, +selfishness will get above them all; ornament them as you will, +their ornaments will drop,--naked self will uncover herself and be +the deceiver." + +"Not at all!" the Elder exclaims, in his confidence. "The Lord's +will is in everything; without it we could not battle with the +devil; we relieve suffering humanity, and the end justifies the +means." + +"You should have left out the means: it is only the end you aim at." + +"That's like accusing Deacon Seabury of impious motives, because he +shaves notes at an illegal interest. It's worse-because what the law +makes legal the church should not make sinful." This is +Praiseworthy's philosophy, which he proclaims while forgetting the +existence of a law of conscience having higher claims than the +technicalities of statutes. We must look to that to modify our +selfishness, to strengthen our love for human laws when founded in +justice. + +"And who is this poor girl?" enquires Mrs. Rosebrook, stepping +softly forward, and taking her by the hand. + +"Marston's once; some Indian in her, they say. She's right fair +looks when she's herself. Marston's in trouble now, and the cholera +has made sad havoc of his niggers," Mr. Praiseworthy replies, +placing a chair, and motioning his hand for the lady to be seated. +The lady seats herself beside the girl,--takes her hand. + +"Yes, missus; God bless good missus. Ye don't know me now," mutters +the poor girl, raising her wild glassy eyes, as she parts the long +black hair from her forehead: "you don't know me; I'm changed so!" + +"My child, who has made you this wretch?" says the good lady, +pressing her tawny hand. + +My child!" she exclaims, with emphasis: "My child Nicholas,--my +child! Missus, save Nicholas; he is my child. Oh! do save him!" and, +as if terrified, she grasps tighter the lady's hand, while her +emotions swell into a frantic outburst of grief. "Nicholas, my +child!" she shrieks. + +"She will come to, soon: it's only one of her strange fits of +aberration. Sometimes I fling cold water over her; and, if it's very +cold, she soon comes to," Mr. Praiseworthy remarks, as he stands +unmoved, probably contemplating the goodness of a forgiving God. +What magic simplicity lies concealed in his nature; and yet it is +his trade, sanctioned by the law of a generous state. Let us bless +the land that has given us power to discover the depths to which +human nature can reduce itself, and what man can make himself when +human flesh and blood become mere things of traffic. + +"That gal's name is Ellen. I wish I knew all that has turned up at +Marston's," remarks the Elder. + +"Ellen!" ejaculates the lady, looking at her more intently, placing +her left hand under her chin. "Not Ellen Juvarna?" + +"Yes, good missus-the lady has distributed her nourishment among the +sick-that's my name," she says, raising her eyes with a look of +melancholy that tells the tale of her troubles. Again her feelings +subside into quiet; she seems in meditation. "I knowed you once, +good missus, but you don't know me now, I'm changed so!" she +whispers, the good lady holding her hand, as a tear courses down her +cheek-"I'm changed so!" she whispers, shaking her head. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A FATHER TRIES TO BE A FATHER. + + + + + +WE have conducted the reader through scenes perhaps unnecessary to +our narration, nevertheless associated with and appertaining to the +object of our work. And, in this sense, the reader cannot fail to +draw from them lessons developing the corrupting influences of a +body politic that gives one man power to sell another. They go to +prove how soon a man may forget himself,--how soon he may become a +demon in the practice of abominations, how soon he can reconcile +himself to things that outrage the most sacred ties of our social +being. And, too, consoling himself with the usages of society, +making it right, gives himself up to the most barbarous practices. + +When we left Marston in a former chapter, he had become sensible of +the wrong he so long assisted to inflict upon innocent and +defenceless persons; and, stung with remorse made painful by the +weight of misfortune, had avowed his object of saving his children. +Yet, strange as it may seem, so inured were his feelings to those +arbitrary customs which slave-owners are educated to view as +privileges guaranteed in the rights of a peculiar institution-the +rights of property in the being slave-that, although conscious of +his duty toward the children, no sooner had the mother of Nicholas +been attacked with cholera, than he sold her to the Elder Pemberton +Praiseworthy, in whose infirmary we have just left her. The Elder, +since his discharge from parochial life,--from ministering the +gospel, has transferred his mission to that of being the partner in +a firm, the ostensible business of which is purchasing the sick, the +living, and the dying. + +Do not blush, reader; you know not how elastic dealing in human kind +makes man's feelings. Gold is the beacon-light of avarice; for it +man will climb over a catacomb of the dead. In this instance the +very man-Marston-who, touched by misfortune, began to cherish a +father's natural feelings, could see nothing but property in the +mother, though he knew that mother to be born free. Perhaps it was +not without some compunction of feelings-perhaps it was done to +soften the separation at that moment so necessary to the +preservation of the children. But we must leave this phase of the +picture, and turn to another. + +Graspum had diligently watched Marston's affairs, and through the +cunning and perseverance of Romescos, carefully noted every movement +on the plantation. Each death from cholera was reported,--the change +in Marston's feelings observed and provided against,--every stage of +the crop carefully watched. Graspum, however, had secured himself in +the real estate, and gave little heed to the epidemic that was +carrying off the negro property. Finally, to pass over several +stages in the decline of Marston's affairs, the ravages of the +disease continued until but forty-three negroes, old and young, +were left on the old homestead. The culminating point had arrived. +He was in the grasp of Graspum, and nothing could save him from +utter ruin. It had lately been proved that the Rovero family, +instead of being rich, were extremely poor, their plantation having +long been under a mortgage, the holder of which was threatening +foreclosure. + +With Marston, an amount of promiscuous debts had accumulated so far +beyond his expectation that he was without means of discharging +them. His affairs became more and more confused, while the amount of +his liabilities remained a perfect obscurity to the community. +Rumour began to disseminate his troubles, suspicion summoned her +charges, and town-talk left little unadded; while those of his +creditors who had been least suspicious of his wealth and honour +became the most importunate applicants for their claims. At length, +driven by the pressure of the times, he calls Clotilda to him, and +tells her that he is resolved to send Annette and Nicholas into the +city, where they will remain in the care of a coloured woman, until +an opportunity offers of sending them to the north. He is fond of +Clotilda,--tells her of the excitement concerning his business +affairs, and impresses her with the necessity of preserving +calmness; it is requisite to the evasion of any ulterior consequence +that may be brought upon him. Every-thing hangs upon a thread-a +political thread, a lawful thread-a thread that holds the fate of +thirty, forty, or fifty human beings-that separates them from that +verge of uncertainty upon which a straw may turn the weal or woe of +their lives. "When I get them comfortably cared for, Clotilda, I +will send for you. Nicholas's mother has gone, but you shall be a +mother to them both," he says, looking upon her seriously, as if +contemplating the trouble before him in the attempt to rescue his +children. + +"You will not send Annette away without me?" she inquires, quickly, +falling on her knees at his side, and reiterating, "Don't send +Annette away without me,--don't, mas'r!" + +"The separation will only be for a few days. Annette shall be +educated-I care not for the laws of our free land against it-and +together you shall go where your parentage will not shame you,--where +you may ornament society," he replies, as Clotilda's face lights up +with satisfaction. With such an assurance-she does not comprehend +the tenour of his troubles-her freedom seems at hand: it excites her +to joy. Marston retires and she takes his seat, writes a note to +Maxwell, who is then in the city, relating what has transpired, and +concluding with a request that he will call and see her. + +A few days passed, and the two children were sent into the city and +placed in the charge of a free woman, with instructions to keep them +secreted for several weeks. This movement being discovered by +Romescos, was the first signal for an onset of creditors. Graspum, +always first to secure himself, in this instance compelled Marston +to succumb to his demands by threatening to disclose the crime +Lorenzo had committed. Forcing him to fulfil the obligation in the +bond, he took formal possession of the plantation. This increased +the suspicion of fraud; there was a mystery somewhere,--nobody could +solve it. Marston, even his former friends declared, was a swindler. +He could not be honestly indebted in so large an amount to Graspum; +nor could he be so connected with such persons without something +being wrong somewhere. Friends began to insinuate that they had been +misled; and not a few among those who had enjoyed his hospitality +were first inclined to scandalise his integrity. Graspum had +foreseen all this, and, with Romescos, who had purloined the bill of +sale, was prepared to do any amount of swearing. Marston is a victim +of circumstances; his proud spirit prompts him to preserve from +disgrace the name of his family, and thus he the more easily yielded +to the demands of the betrayer. Hence, Graspum, secure in his +ill-gotten booty, leaves his victim to struggle with those who come +after him. + +A few weeks pass over, and the equity of Graspum's claim is +questioned: his character for honour being doubted, gives rise to +much comment. The whole thing is denounced-proclaimed a concerted +movement to defraud the rightful creditors. And yet, knowing the +supremacy of money over law in a slave state, Graspum's power, the +revenge his followers inflict, and their desperate character, not +one dare come forward to test the validity of the debt. They know +and fear the fierce penalty: they are forced to fall back,--to seize +his person, his property, his personal effects. + +In this dilemma, Marston repairs to the city, attempts to make an +arrangement with his creditors, singularly fails; he can effect +nothing. Wherever he goes his salutation meets a cold, measured +response; whisper marks him a swindler. The knife stabs deep into +the already festered wound. Misfortune bears heavily upon a +sensitive mind; but accusation of wrong, when struggling under +trials, stabs deepest into the heart, and bears its victim suffering +to the very depths of despair. + +To add to this combination of misfortunes, on his return to the +plantation he found it deserted,--a sheriff's keeper guarding his +personal effects, his few remaining negroes seized upon and marched +into the city for the satisfaction of his debts. Clotilda has been +seized upon, manacled, driven to the city, committed to prison. +Another creditor has found out the hiding-place of the children; +directs the sheriff, who seizes upon them, like property of their +kind, and drags them to prison. Oh, that prison walls were made for +torturing the innocent! + +Marston is left poor upon the world; Ellen Juvarna is in the hands +of a resurrectionist; Nicholas-a bright boy he has grown-is within +the dark confines of a prison cell, along with Clotilda and Annette. +Melancholy broods over the plantation now. The act of justice,--the +right which Marston saw through wrong, and which he had intended to +carry out,--is now beyond his power. Stripped of those comforts he +had enjoyed, his offspring carried off as trophies of +avarice,--perhaps for sale to some ruffian who would set a price upon +their beauty,--he sits down, sick at heart, and weeps a child's +tears. The mansion, so long the scene of pleasure and hospitality, +is like a deserted barrack;-still, gloomy, cold, in the absence of +familiar faces. No servant comes to call him master,--Dandy and Enoch +are gone; and those familiar words, so significant of affection +between master and slave, "Glad to see ye home, mas'r," no longer +sounded in his ears. Even his overseer has become alarmed, and like +the rest levied for arrears of wages. + +There is nothing for Marston but to give up all,--to leave the home +of his childhood, his manhood, his happier days. He is suddenly +reminded that there is virtue in fortitude; and, as he gazes round +the room, the relics of happier days redouble his conviction of the +evil he has brought upon himself by straying from the paths of +rectitude. Indeed, so sudden was his fall from distinction, that the +scene around him seemed like a dream, from which he had just awoke +to question its precipitancy. "A sheriff is here now, and I am a +mere being of sufferance," he says, casting a moody glance around +the room, as if contemplating the dark prospect before him. A few +moments' pause, and he rises, walks to the window, looks out upon +the serene scene spread out before the mansion. There is the river, +on which he has spent so many pleasant hours, calmly winding its way +through deep green foliage mellowed by the moonlight. Its beauties +only remind him of the past. He walks away,--struggles to forget, to +look above his trials. He goes to the old side-board that has so +long given forth its cheer; that, too, is locked! "Locked to me!" he +says, attempting to open its doors. A sheriff's lock hangs upon +them. Accustomed to every indulgence, each check indicated a doubt +of his honour, wounding his feelings. The smaller the restraint the +deeper did it pierce his heart. While in this desponding mood, +vainly endeavouring to gain resolution to carry him through, a +gentle rap is heard at the door. Who can it be at this hour? he +questions to himself. No servant is near him; servants have all been +led into captivity for the satisfaction of debts. He approaches the +door and opens it himself, looking cautiously into the corridor. +There, crouched in a niche, alternately presenting fear and +joy,--fear lest he be seen by the enemy, and joy to see his +master,--is a dark figure with the familiar face of Daddy Bob,--Bob of +the old plantation. The old, faithful servant puts out his wrinkled +hand nervously, saying, "Oh, good mas'r!" He has looked up to +Marston with the same love that an affectionate child does to a kind +parent; he has enjoyed mas'r's warm welcome, nurtured his +confidence, had his say in directing the affairs of the plantation, +and watched the frailties that threatened it. + +"Why, Daddy Bob! Can it be you?" Marston says, modulating his voice, +as a change comes over his feelings. + +"Dis is me, mas'r; it is me," again says the old man. He is wet with +the night dew, but his heart is warm and affectionate. Marston +seizes his hand as if to return the old man's gratitude, and leads +him into the room, smiling. "Sit down, Bob, sit down!" he says, +handing him a chair. The old servant stands at the chair +hesitatingly, doubting his position. "Fear nothing, Bob; sit down. +You are my best friend," Marston continues. Bob takes a seat, lays +his cap quietly upon the floor, smiles to see old mas'r, but don't +feel just right because there's something wrong: he draws the laps +of his jacket together, covers the remnant of a shirt. "Mas'r, what +be da' gwine to do wid de old plantation? Tings, Bob reckon, b'nt +gwine straight," he speaks, looking at Marston shyly. The old slave +knew his master's heart, and had waited for him to unfold its +beatings; but the kind heart of the master yielded to the burden +that was upon it, and never more so than when moved by the strong +attachment evinced by the old man. There was mutual sympathy +pourtrayed in the tenderest emotions. The one was full of grief, +and, if touched by the word of a friend, would overflow; the other +was susceptible of kindness, knew something had befallen his master, +and was ready to present the best proofs of his attachment. + +"And how did you get here, my old faithful?" inquires Marston, +drawing nearer to him. + +"Well, mas'r, ye see, t'ant just so wid nigger what don' know how +tings is! But, Bob up t' dese tings. I sees Buckra, what look as if +he hab no rights on dis plantation, grab'n up all de folks. And +Lor,' mas'r, old Bob could'nt leave mas'r no how. An, den, when da' +begins to chain de folks up-da' chain up old Rachel, mas'r!-Old Bob +feel so de plantation war'nt no-whare; and him time t'be gwine. Da'h +an't gwine t' cotch old Bob, and carry 'm way from mas'r, so I jist +cum possum ober dem-stows away yander, down close in de old corn +crib,--" + +"And you eluded the sheriff to take care of me, did you, Daddy?" +interrupts Marston, and again takes the old man's hand. + +"Oh, mas'r, Bob ain't white, but 'is feeling get so fo' h mas'r, he +can't speak 'em," the old slave replies, pearls glistening in his +eyes. "My feelings feel so, I can't speak 'em!" And with a brother's +fondness he shakes his master's hand. + +We must beg the reader's indulgence here for the purpose of making a +few remarks upon the negro's power of observation. From the many +strange disquisitions that have been put forward on the mental +qualities of the man of colour-more particularly the African-few can +be selected which have not had for their object his +disqualification. His power of observation has been much +undervalued; but it has been chiefly by those who judge him by a +superficial scale, or from a selfish motive. In the position of mere +property, he is, of necessity, compelled to yield all claims to +mental elevation. And yet, forced to degradation, there are few +negroes on the plantation, or in the spheres of labour, who do not +note the rise and fall of their master's fortunes, study the nature +and prospects of the crop, make enquiries about the market, concoct +the best economy in managing lands, and consult among themselves as +to what would promote the interests of the whole. So far is this +carried out, that in many districts a rivalry for the largest amount +of crop on a given space is carried on among the slaves, who not +unfrequently "chafe" each other upon the superior wealth and talent +of their masters. It is a well-known fact, that John C. Calhoun's +slaves, in addition to being extremely fond of him, were proud and +boastful of his talent. + +Daddy Bob is an exemplification. The faithful old slave had become +sensible of something wrong on the plantation: he saw the sheriff +seizing upon the families, secreted himself in the corn crib, and +fled to the woods when they were out of sight. Here, sheltered by +the myrtle, he remained until midnight, intently watching the +mansion for signs of old mas'r. Suddenly a light glimmers from the +window; the old slave's feelings bound with joy; he feels it an +invitation for him to return, and, leaving his hiding-place, +approaches the house stealthily, and descries his master at the +window. Confidence returns, his joy is complete, his hopes have not +misled him. Hungry and wet, he has found his way back to master, +whose face at the window gladdens his heart,--carries him beyond the +bounds of caution. Hence the cordial greeting between the old slave +and his indulgent master. We hear the oft-expressed words-"Master! I +love ye, I do!" Marston gets a candle, lights the old man to a bed +in the attic, bids him good night, and retires. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +IN WHICH THE EXTREMES ARE PRESENTED. + + + + + +WHILE the gloomy prospect we have just presented hovered over +Marston's plantation, proceedings of no minor importance, and having +reference to this particular case, are going on in and about the +city. Maxwell, moved by Clotilda's implorings, had promised to gain +her freedom for her; but he knew the penalty, feared the result of a +failure, and had hesitated to make the attempt. The consequences +were upon him, he saw the want of prompt action, and regretted that +the time for carrying his resolution into effect had passed. The +result harassed him; he saw this daughter of misfortune, on her +bended knees, breathing a prayer to Omnipotence for the deliverance +of her child; he remembered her appeal to him, imploring him to +deliver her from the grasp of slavery, from that licentiousness +which the female slave is compelled to bear. He saw her confiding in +him as a deliverer,--the sight haunted him unto madness! Her child! +her child! Yes, that offspring in which her hopes were centered! For +it she pleaded and pleaded; for it she offered to sacrifice her own +happiness; for it she invoked the all-protecting hand. That child, +doomed to a life of chattel misery; to serve the lusts of modern +barbarism in a country where freedom and civilization sound praises +from ocean to ocean; to be obscured in the darkness and cruelty of +an institution in which justice is scoffed, where distress has no +listeners, and the trap-keepers of men's souls scorn to make honest +recompense while human flesh and blood are weighed in the scale of +dollars and cents! He trembles before the sad picture; remonstrances +and entreaties from him will be in vain; nor can he seize them and +carry them off. His life might be forfeited in the attempt, even +were they without prison walls. No! it is almost hopeless. In the +narrow confines of a securely grated cell, where thoughts and +anxieties waste the soul in disappointment, and where hopes only +come and go to spread time with grief, he could only see her and her +child as they suffered. The spectacle had no charm; and those who +carried them into captivity for the satisfaction of paltry debts +could not be made to divest themselves of the self in nature. Cries +and sobs were nothing,--such were poor stock for "niggers" to have; +pains and anxieties were at a discount, chivalry proclaimed its +rule, and nothing was thought well of that lessened the market value +of body and soul. Among great, generous, hospitable, and chivalrous +men, such things could only be weighed in the common scale of trade. + +Again, Maxwell remembered that Marston had unfolded his troubles to +him, and being a mere stranger the confidence warranted mutual +reciprocity. If it were merely an act dictated by the impulse of his +feelings at that moment, the secret was now laid broadly open. He +was father of the children, and, sensible of their critical +situation, the sting was goading him to their rescue. The question +was-would he interpose and declare them as such? Ah, he forgot it +was not the father's assertion,--it was the law. The crime of being +property was inherited from the mother. Acknowledging them his +children would neither satisfy law nor the creditors. What +honourable-we except the modernly chivalrous-man would see his +children jostled by the ruffian trader? What man, with feelings less +sensitive than iron, would see his child sold to the man-vender for +purposes so impious that heaven and earth frowned upon them? And yet +the scene was no uncommon one; slavery affords the medium, and men, +laying their hearts aside, make it serve their pockets. Those whom +it would insult to call less than gentlemen have covered their +scruples with the law, while consigning their own offspring to the +hand of an auctioneer. Man property is subvervient material,--woman +is even more; for where her virtue forms its tissues, and can be +sold, the issue is indeed deplorable. Again, where vice is made a +pleasure, and the offspring of it become a burden on our hands, +slavery affords the most convenient medium of getting rid of the +incumbrance. They sell it, perhaps profitably, and console +themselves with the happy recollection of what a great thing it is +to live in a free country, where one may get rid of such things +profitably. It may save our shame in the eyes of man, but God sees +all,--records the wrong! + +Thus Maxwell contemplated the prospects before him. At length he +resolved to visit Marston upon his plantation, impress him with the +necessity of asserting their freedom, in order to save them from +being sold with the effects of the estate. + +He visits Marston's mansion,--finds the picture sadly changed; his +generous friend, who has entertained him so hospitably, sits in a +little ante-chamber, pensively, as if something of importance has +absorbed his attention. No well-dressed servants welcome him with +their smiles and grimaces; no Franconia greets him with her +vivacity, her pleasing conversation, her frankness and fondness for +the old servants. No table is decked out with the viands of the +season-Marston's viands have turned into troubles,--loneliness reigns +throughout. It is night, and nothing but the dull sound of the +keeper's tread breaks the silence. His (Maxwell's) mission is a +delicate one. It may be construed as intrusive, he thinks. But its +importance outweighs the doubt, and, though he approaches with +caution, is received with that embrace of friendship which a +gentleman can claim as his own when he feels the justice of the +mission of him who approaches, even though its tenor be painful. +Maxwell hesitated for a few moments, looked silently upon the scene. +Trouble had already left its prints of sadness upon Marston's +countenance; the past, full of happy associations, floated in his +mind; the future--ah! that was--. Happily, at that moment, he had +been contemplating the means by which he could save Clotilda and the +children. He rises, approaches Maxwell, hands him a chair, listens +to his proposal. "If I can assist you, we will save them," concludes +Maxwell. + +"That," he replies, doubtingly, "my good friend, has engaged my +thoughts by night and day--has made me most uneasy. Misfortune likes +sympathy; your words are as soothing as praiseworthy. I will defend +my children if every creditor call me swindler. I will destroy the +infernal bill of sale,--I will crush the hell-born paper that gives +life to deeds so bloody,--I will free them from the shame!" Thus, his +feelings excited to the uttermost, he rises from his seat, +approaches a cupboard, draws forth the small trunk we have before +described, unlocks it. "That fatal document is here, I put it here, +I will destroy it now; I will save them through its destruction. +There shall be no evidence of Clotilda's mother being a slave, oh +no!" he mutters rapidly, running his fingers over packages, papers, +and documents. Again he glances vacantly over the whole file, +examining paper after paper, carefully. He looks in vain. It is not +there; there is no document so fatal. Sharper men have taken better +care of it. "It is not here!" he whispers, his countenance becoming +pallid and death-like. "Not here!"-and they will swear to suit their +purposes. Oaths are only worth what they bring in the market, among +slave dealers. But, who can have taken it?" he continues, looking +wildly at Maxwell. Consternation is pictured on his countenance; he +feels there is intrigue at work, and that the want of that paper +will prove fatal to his resolution. A man in trouble always confides +in others, sometimes those whom he would scarce have trusted before. +He throws the paper aside, takes a seat at Maxwell's side, grasps +him by the hand, saying, "My friend! save them! save them! save +them! Use what stratagem you please; make it the experiment of your +life. Consummate it, and a penitent's prayer will bless you! I see +the impending catastrophe-" + +"We may do without it; be quiet. Let your feelings calm. I have +consulted Franconia on the same subject. Woman can do much if she +will; and she has promised me she will. My knowledge of her womanly +nature tells me she will be true to Clotilda!" Maxwell speaks +assuringly, and his words seem as balm to a wounded spirit. + +The bill of sale was among the things intended for a more profitable +use. Marston has satisfied Graspum's claim; but he knew that slavery +deadened the sensibilities of men. Yet, could it have so deadened +Graspum's feeling that he would have been found in a plot against +him? No! he could not believe it. He would not look for foul play +from that quarter. It might have been mislaid-if lost, all the +better. A second thought, and he begins to quiet himself with the +belief that it had become extinct; that, there not being evidence to +prove them property, his word would be sufficient to procure their +release. Somewhat relieved of the force of parental anxiety-we can +call it by no other name-the troubled planter, with his troubles +inherited, promises Maxwell, who has postponed his departure that he +may aid in saving Clotilda and her child, that he will proceed +direct to the sheriff's office, give notice of their freedom to that +functionary, and forbid the sale. Upon this resolution they part for +the night, and on the following morning, Marston, sick at heart, +leaves for the city, hoping to make arrangements with his attorney, +who will serve notice of freedom with all the expense and legality +of form. + +The reader will excuse us for passing over many things of minor +importance which take place during the progress of arrangements +between Marston and the attorney, Mr. Dyson--commonly called Thomas +Dyson, Esq., wonderfully clever in the practice of slave law--and +proceeding to where we find the notice formally served. The document +forbids the sale of certain persons, physically and mentally +described, according to the nicest rules of law and tenour of trade; +and is, with the dignity of legal proceedings, served on the +honourable sheriff. We give a portion of it, for those who are not +informed on such curious matters: it runs thus:--"'The girl +Clotilda-aged 27 years; her child Annette-aged 7 years, and a +remarkable boy, Nicholas, 6 years old, all negroes, levied upon at +the suit of--, to satisfy a fi fa issued from the--, and set forth +to be the property of Hugh Marston of--, &c. &c.;'" as set forth in +the writ of attachment. Thus runs the curious law, based on +privilege, not principle. + +The document served on the sheriff, Marston resolved to remain a few +days in the city and watch its effect. The sheriff, who is seldom +supposed to evince sympathy in his duties, conforms with the +ordinary routine of law in nigger cases; and, in his turn, gives +notice to the plaintiff, who is required to enter security for the +purpose of testing the point of freedom. Freedom here is a slender +commodity; it can be sworn away for a small compensation. Mr. +Anthony Romescos has peculiar talent that way, and his services are +always in the market. The point, however, has not resolved itself +into that peculiar position where it must be either a matter of +compromise, or a question for the court and jury to decide. + +If Marston, now sensible of his position as father of the children, +will yield them a sacrifice to the man trader, it is in his power; +the creditors will make it their profit. Who, then, can solve the +perplexity for him? The custom of society, pointing the finger of +shame, denies him the right to acknowledge them his children. +Society has established the licentious wrong,--the law protects it, +custom enforces it. He can only proceed by declaring the mother to +be a free woman, and leaving the producing proof to convict her of +being slave property to the plaintiff. In doing this, his judgment +wars with his softer feelings. Custom--though it has nothing to give +him-is goading him with its advice; it tells him to abandon the +unfashionable, unpolite scheme. Natural laws have given birth to +natural feelings--natural affections are stronger than bad laws. They +burn with our nature,--they warm the gentle, inspire the noble, and +awake the daring that lies unmoved until it be called into action +for the rescue of those for whom our affections have taken life. + +Things had arrived at that particular point where law-lovers-we mean +lawyers-look on with happy consciences and pleasing expectations; +that is, they had arrived at that certain hinge of slave law the +turn of which sends men, women, and children, into the vortex of +slavery, where their hopes are for ever crushed. One day Marston had +strong hopes of saving them; but his hopes vanished on the next. The +fair creature, by him made a wretch, seemed before him, on her +bended knees, clasping his hand while imploring him to save her +child. The very thought would have doubly nerved him to action; and +yet, what mattered such action against the force of slavery +injustice? All his exertions, all his pleadings, all his +protestations, in a land where liberty boasts its greatness, would +sink to nothing under the power he had placed in their possession +for his overthrow. + +With this fatal scene before him, this indecision, he walked the +streets, resolving and re-resolving, weighing and re-weighing the +consequences, hoping without a chance for hope. He would be a father +as he has been a kind master; but the law says, no! no! Society +forbids right, the law crushes justice,--the justice of heaven! +Marston is like one driven from his home, from the scene of his +happy childhood, upon which he can now only look back to make the +present more painful. He has fallen from the full flow of pleasure +and wealth to the low ebb of poverty clothed in suspicion; he is +homeless, and fast becoming friendless. A few days after, as he +takes his morning walk, he is pointed to the painful fact, made +known through certain legal documents, posted at certain corners of +streets, that his "negro property" is advertised for sale by the +sheriff. He fears his legal notice has done little legal good, +except to the legal gentlemen who receive the costs. He retires to a +saloon, finds the morning paper, commences glancing over its legal +columns. The waiter is surprised to see him at that hour, is +ignorant of the war of trouble that is waging within him, knows him +only as a great man, a rice planter of wealth in negroes, treats him +with becoming civility, and enquires, with a polite bow, what he +will be served with. He wants nothing that will supply the physical +man. He has supped on trouble,--the following, painful as it is, will +serve him for breakfast; it meets his eye as he traces down the +column:--"SHERIFF'S SALE. + +"According to former notice, will be sold on the first Tuesday in +September next, between the usual hours of sale, before the Court +House door, in this city, the following property-to wit! + +"Three yoke of prime oxen, and four carts. + +"Seven horses; two of celebrated breed. + +"Twenty-two mules, together with sundry other effects as per +previous schedule, which will be produced at the sale, when the +property will be pointed out. The said being levied on as the +property of Hugh Marston, of--District, and sold to satisfy a fi +fa issued from the Superior Court, W. W. C--. + +"Also the following gang of negroes, many of whom have been +accustomed to the cultivation of cotton and rice. Said negroes are +very prime and orderly, having been well trained and fed, in +addition to enjoying the benefit of Christian teaching through a +Sunday-school worship on the plantation. + +"Dandy, and Enock (yellow), prime house servants. + +"Choate, and Cato, aged 29 and 32, coachman and blacksmith. + +"Harry, a prime fellow of remarkable sagacity, said to be very +pious, and has been very valuable as a preacher. + +"Seventeen prime field hands, ranging from 17 to 63 years old, +together with sundry children, set forth in the schedule. + +"Peggy, aged 23 years, an excellent cook, house servant-can do +almost any work, is faithful and strictly honest. + +"Rachel, one of the very best wenches in the County; has had charge +of the Manor for several years, is very motherly and well disposed, +and fully capable of taking charge of a plantation." + +The description of the negro property continues until it reaches the +last and most touching point, which Marston reads with tears +coursing down his cheeks. But, it is only trade, and it is +refreshing to see how much talent the auctionee-himself a +distinguished politician,--exhibits in displaying his bill. It is +that which has worked itself so deep into Marston's feelings. + +"Clotilda, a white negro, and her child Annette; together with +Nicholas--a bright boy," remarkably intelligent-six years old. "These +last," adds the list, "have been well brought up, with great care, +and are extremely promising and pleasant when speaking. The woman +has superior looks, is sometimes called beautiful, has finely +developed features, and is considered to be the handsomest bright +woman in the county." + +We acknowledge the italics to be ours. The list, displaying great +competency in the trade of human beings, concludes with warranting +them sound and healthy, informing all those in want of such property +of the wonderful opportunity of purchasing, and offering to +guarantee its qualities. The above being "levied on to satisfy three +fi fas," &c. &c. + +Poor Clotilda! her beauty has betrayed her: her mother was made a +slave, and she has inherited the sin which the enlightened of the +western world say shall be handed down from generation to generation +until time itself has an end. She is within the damp walls of a +narrow cell; the cold stones give forth their moisture to chill her +bleeding heart; the rust of oppression cuts into her very soul. The +warm sunlight of heaven, once so cheering, has now turned black and +cold to her. She sits in that cold confine, filled with sorrow, +hope, and expectation, awaiting her doom, like a culprit who +measures the chances of escape between him and the gallows. She +thinks of Marston. "He was a kind friend to me-he was a good +master," she says, little thinking that at that very moment he sits +in the saloon reading that southern death-warrant which dooms so +many to a life of woe. In it fathers were not mentioned-Marston's +feelings were spared that pain; mothers' tears, too, were omitted, +lest the sensitiveness of the fashionable world should be touched. +Pained, and sick at heart-stung by remorse at finding himself +without power to relieve Clotilda-he rises from his seat, and makes +arrangement to return to his plantation. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A SCENE OF MANY LIGHTS. + + + + + +WE must leave Marston wending his way for the old plantation, and +pass to another phase of this complicated affair. In doing this, we +must leave the reader to draw from his own imagination much that +must have transpired previous to the present incidents. + +The Rovero family-old and distinguished-had struggled against the +misfortunes brought upon them by their son Lorenzo. Deeply involved, +they had allowed their difficulties to go on till they had found +themselves living by the favour of courtesy and indulgence. Lorenzo +and Franconia were only children; and since the departure of the +former the latter had been the idol of their indulgence. She was, as +we have before said, delicate, sensitive, endowed with generous +impulses, and admired for her gentleness, grace, and vivacity. To +these she added firmness, and, when once resolved upon any object, +could not be moved from her purpose. Nor was she-as is the popular +fallacy of the South-susceptible to the influence of wealth. Her +love and tenderness soared above it; she prized wealth less than +moral worth. But she could not appease the pride of her parents with +her feelings. They, labouring under the influence of their reduced +fortunes, had favoured and insisted upon the advances of the very +wealthy Colonel M'Carstrow, a rice-planter, who had a few years +before inherited a large estate. The colonel is a sturdy specimen of +the Southern gentleman, which combines a singular mixture of +qualities, some of which are represented by a love of good living, +good drinking, good horse-racing, good gambling, and fast company. +He lives on the fat of the land, because the fat of the land was +made for him to enjoy. He has no particular objection to anybody in +the world, providing they believe in slavery, and live according to +his notions of a gentleman. His soul's delight is faro, which he +would not exchange for all the religion in the world; he has strong +doubts about the good of religion, which, he says, should be boxed +up with modern morality. + +Laying these things aside, however, he is anything but what would +have been properly selected as a partner for Franconia; and, while +she is only eighteen, he has turned the corner of his forty-third +year. In a word, his manners are unmodelled, his feelings coarse, +his associations of the worst kind; nor is he adapted to make the +happiness of domestic life lasting. He is one of those persons so +often met with, whose affections-if they may be supposed to have +any-are held in a sort of compromise between an incitement to love, +and their natural inclination to revel in voluptuous pleasures. The +two being antagonistic at times, the latter is sure to be the +stronger, and not unfrequently carries its victim into dissolute +extremes. Riches, however, will always weigh heavy in the scale; +their possession sways,--the charm of gold is precious and powerful. +And, too, the colonel had another attraction-very much esteemed +among slave-dealers and owners--he had a military title, though no +one knew how he came by it. + +Franconia must be the affianced bride of the supposed wealthy +Colonel M'Carstrow; so say her parents, who feel they are being +crushed out by misfortune. It is their desire; and, however +repulsive it may be to Franconia's feelings, she must accept the +man: she must forget his years, his habits, his associations, for +the wealth he can bring to the relief of the family. + +To add clat to the event, it is arranged that the nuptial ceremony +shall take place in the spacious old mansion of General P--, in the +city. General P--is a distant relation of the Rovero family. His +mansion is one of those noble old edifices, met here and there in +the South--especially in South Carolina-which strongly mark the +grandeur of their ancient occupants. It is a massive pile of marble, +of mixed style of Grecian and Doric architecture, with three stories +divided by projecting trellised arbours, and ornamented with fluted +columns surmounted with ingeniously-worked and sculptured capitals, +set off with grotesque figures. The front is ornamented with tablets +of bas-relief, variegated and chaste. These are bordered with +scroll-work, chases of flowers, graces, and historical designs. +Around the lower story, palisades and curvatures project here and +there between the divisions, forming bowers shaded by vines and +sweet-scented blossoms. These are diffusing their fragrance through +the spacious halls and corridors beneath. The stately old pile wears +a romantic appearance; but it has grown brown with decay, and stands +in dumb testimony of that taste and feeling which prevailed among +its British founders. The garden in which it stands, once rich with +the choicest flowers of every clime, now presents an area overgrown +with rank weeds, decaying hedges, dilapidated walks, and sickly +shrubbery. The hand that once nurtured this pretty scene of buds and +blossoms with so much care has passed away. Dull inertness now hangs +its lifeless festoons over the whole, from the vaulted hall to the +iron railing enclosing the whole. + +The day for consummating the nuptial ceremony has arrived; many +years have passed since the old mansion witnessed such a scene. The +gay, wealthy, and intelligent of the little fashionable world will +be here. The spell of loneliness in which the old walls have so long +slept will be broken. Sparkling jewels, bland smiles, the rich +decorations of former years, are to again enhance the scene. +Exhausted nature is to shake off its monotony, to be enlivened with +the happiness of a seemingly happy assemblage. A lovely bride is to +be showered with smiles, congratulations, tokens of love. Southern +gallantry will doff its cares, put on its smiling face. Whatever may +smoulder beneath, pleasure and gaiety will adorn the surface. + +Franconia sits in her spacious chamber. She is arrayed in flowing +nglig; a pensive smile invades her countenance; she supports her +head on her left hand, the jewels on her tiny fingers sparkling +though her hair. Everything round her bears evidence of comfort and +luxury; the gentle breeze, as it sweeps through the window to fan +her blushing cheek, is impregnated with sweetest odours. She +contemplates the meeting of him who is to be the partner of her +life; can she reconcile it? Nay, there is something forcing itself +against her will. Her bridesmaids,--young, gay, and +accomplished,--gather around her. The fierce conflict raging in her +bosom discloses itself; the attempt to cheer her up, under the +impression that it arises from want of vigour to buoy up her +sensitive system, fails. Again she seems labouring under excitement. + +"Franconia!" exclaims one, taking her by the hand, "is not the time +approaching?" + +"Time always approaches," she speaks: her mind has been wandering, +picturing the gloomy spectacle that presents itself in Clotilda's +cell. She moves her right hand slowly across her brow, casts an +enquiring glance around the room, then at those beside her, and +changes her position in the chair. "The time to have your toilet +prepared-the servants await you," is the reply. Franconia gathers +strength, sits erect in her chair, seems to have just resolved upon +something. A servant hastens into her presence bearing a +delicately-enveloped note. She breaks the seal, reads it and +re-reads it, holds it carelessly in her hand for a minute, then puts +it in her bosom. There is something important in the contents, +something she must keep secret. It is from Maxwell. Her friend +evinced some surprise, while waiting a reply as she read the letter. + +"No! not yet," she says, rising from her chair and sallying across +the room. "That which is forced upon me-ah! I cannot love him. To me +there is no loving wealth. Money may shelter; but it never moves +hearts to love truly. How I have struggled against it!" Again she +resumes her chair, weeps. Her tears gush from the parent +fountain-woman's heart. "My noble uncle in trouble, my dear brother +gone; yes! to where, and for what, I dare not think; and yet it has +preyed upon me through the struggle of pride against love. My father +may soon follow; but I am to be consigned to the arms of one whom it +would be folly to say I respect." + +Her friend, Miss Alice Latel, reminds her that it were well not to +let such melancholy wanderings trouble her. She suggests that the +colonel, being rich, will fill the place of father as well as +husband; that she will be surrounded by the pleasures which wealth +only can bring, and in this world what more can be desired? + +"Such fathers seldom make affectionate husbands; nor do I want the +father without the husband; his wealth would not make me respect +him." Franconia becomes excited, giving rapid utterance to her +language. "Can I suppress my melancholy-can I enjoy such pleasure, +and my dear Clotilda in a prison, looking through those galling +gratings? Can I be happy when the anguish of despair pierces deep +into her heart? No! oh, no! Never, while I think of her, can I +summon resolution to put on a bridal robe. Nay! I will not put them +on without her. I will not dissemble joy while she sinks in her +prison solitude!" + +"Can you mean that-at this hour?" enquires Miss Alice, looking upon +her with anxiety pictured in her face. One gives the other a look of +surprise. Miss Alice must needs call older counsel. + +"Yes!" replies Franconia, more calm; "even at this hour! It is never +too late to serve our sisters. Could I smile-could I seem happy, and +so many things to contemplate? We cannot disguise them now; we +cannot smother scandal with a silken mantle. Clotilda must be with +me. Negro as she is by law, she is no less dear to me. Nor can I +yield to those feelings so prominent in southern breasts,--I cannot +disclaim her rights, leave her the mere chattel subject of brute +force, and then ask forgiveness of heaven!" This declaration, made +in a positive tone, at once disclosed her resolution. We need not +tell the reader with what surprise it took the household; nor, when +she as suddenly went into a violent paroxysm of hysterics, the alarm +it spread. + +The quiet of the mansion has changed for uproar and confusion. +Servants are running here and there, getting in each other's way, +blocking the passages, and making the confusion more intense. +Colonel M'Carstrow is sent for, reaches the mansion in great +consternation, expects to find Franconia a corpse, for the negro +messenger told him such a crooked story, and seemed so frightened, +that he can't make anything straight of it-except that there is +something very alarming. + +She has been carried to one of the ante-chambers, reclines on a +couch of softest tapestry, a physician at one side, and Alice, +bathing her temples with aromatic liquid, on the other. She presents +a ravishing picture of delicacy, modesty, and simplicity,--of all +that is calmly beautiful in woman. "I can scarcely account for it; +but, she's coming to," says the man of medicine, looking on +mechanically. Her white bosom swells gently, like a newly-waked +zephyr playing among virgin leaves; while her eyes, like melancholy +stars, glimmer with the lustre of her soul. "Ah me!" she sighs, +raising her hand over her head and resting it upon the cushion, as +her auburn hair floats, calm and beautiful, down her pearly +shoulder. + +The colonel touches her hand; and, as if it had been too rudely, she +draws it to her side, then places it upon her bosom. Again raising +her eyes till they meet his, she blushes. It is the blush of +innocence, that brightens beneath the spirit of calm resolution. She +extends her hand again, slowly, and accepts his. "You will gratify +me-will you not?" she mutters, attempting to gain a recumbent +position. They raise her as she intimates a desire; she seems +herself again. + +"Whatever your wish may be, you have but to intimate it," replies +the colonel, kissing her hand. + +"Then, I want Clotilda. Go, bring her to me; she only can wait on +me; and I am fond of her. With her I shall be well soon; she will +dress me. Uncle will be happy, and we shall all be happy." + +"But," the colonel interrupts, suddenly, "where is she to be found?" + +"In the prison. You'll find her there!" There is little time to +lose,--a carriage is ordered, the colonel drives to the prison, and +there finds the object of Franconia's trouble. She, the two children +at her side, sits in a cell seven by five feet; the strong grasp of +slave power fears itself, its tyranny glares forth in the emaciated +appearance of its female victim. The cell is lighted through a small +aperture in the door, which hangs with heavy bolts and bars, as if +torturing the innocent served the power of injustice. The +prison-keeper led the way through a narrow passage between stone +walls. His tap on the door startles her; she moves from her +position, where she had been seated on a coarse blanket. It is all +they (the hospitable southern world, with its generous laws) can +afford her; she makes it a bed for three. A people less boastful of +hospitality may give her more. She holds a prayer-book in her hand, +and motions to the children as they crouch at her feet. + +"Come, girl! somebody's here to see you," says the keeper, looking +in at the aperture, as the sickly stench escapes from the dark +cavern-like place. + +Nervously, the poor victim approaches, lays her trembling hand on +the grating, gives a doubting glance at the stranger, seems +surprised, anxious to know the purport of his mission. + +"Am I wanted?" she enquires eagerly, as if fearing some rude dealer +has come-perhaps to examine her person, that he may be the better +able to judge of her market value. + +Notwithstanding the coldness of M'Carstrow's nature, his feelings +are moved by the womanly appearance of the wench, as he calls her, +when addressing the warden. There is something in the means by which +so fair a creature is reduced to merchandise he cannot altogether +reconcile. Were it not for what habit and education can do, it would +be repulsive to nature in its crudest state. But it is according to +law, that inhuman law which is tolerated in a free country. + +"I want you to go with me, and you will see your young missis," says +M'Carstrow, shrugging his shoulders. He is half inclined to let his +better feelings give way to sympathy. But custom and commerce forbid +it; they carry off the spoil, just as the sagacious pumpkin +philosopher of England admits slavery a great evil, while delivering +an essay for the purpose of ridiculing emancipation. + +M'Carstrow soon changes his feelings,--addresses himself to business. +"Are you in here for sale?" he enquires, attempting to whistle an +air, and preserve an unaffected appearance. + +The question touches a tender chord of her feelings; her bosom +swells with emotions of grief; he has wounded that sensitive chord +upon which the knowledge of her degradation hangs. She draws a +handkerchief from her pocket, wipes the tear that glistens in her +eye, clasps Annette in her arms-while Nicholas, frightened, hangs by +the skirts of her dress,--buries her face in her bosom, retires a few +steps, and again seats herself on the blanket. + +"The question is pending. If I'm right about it-and I believe I'm +generally so on such cases-it comes on before the next session, fall +term," says the gaoler, turning to M'Carstrow with a look of +wonderful importance. The gaoler, who, with his keys, lets loose the +anxieties of men, continues his learned remarks. "Notice has been +served how she's free. But that kind o' twisting things to make +slave property free never amounts to much, especially when a man +gets where they say Marston is! Anthony Romescos has been quizzing +about, and it don't take much to make such things property when he's +round." The man of keys again looks very wise, runs his hand deep +into the pocket of his coat, and says something about this being a +great country. + +"How much do you reckon her worth, my friend?" enquires M'Carstrow, +exchanging a significant glance. + +"Well, now you've got me. It's a point of judgment, you see. The +article's rather questionable-been spoiled. There's a doubt about +such property when you put it up, except a gentleman wants it; and +then, I reckon, it'll bring a smart price. There's this to be +considered, I reckon, though they haven't set a price on her yet, +she's excellent good looking; and the young un's a perfect cherry. +It'll bring a big heap one of these days." + +"We won't mind that, just now, gaoler," M'Carstrow says, very +complacently; "you'll let me have her tonight, and I'll return her +safe in the morning." + +"No, no," interposes Clotilda, mistaking M'Carstrow's object. She +crouches down on the blanket, as if shrinking from a deadly assault: +"let me remain, even in my cell." She draws the children to her +side. + +"Don't mistake me, my girl: I am a friend. I want you for Franconia +Rovero. She is fond of you, you know." + +"Franconia!" she exclaims with joy, starting to her feet at the +sound of the name. "I do know her, dear Franconia! I know her, I +love her, she loves me-I wish she was my mother. But she is to be +the angel of my freedom-" Here she suddenly stopped, as if she had +betrayed something. + +"We must lose no time," M'Carstrow says, informing her that +Franconia is that night to be his bride, and cannot be happy without +seeing her. + +"Bride! and cannot prepare without me," mutters the woman, seeming +to doubt the reality of his statement. A thought flashes in her +mind: "Franconia has not forgotten me; I will go and be Franconia's +friend." And with a child-like simplicity she takes Annette by the +hand, as if they were inseparable. "Can't Nicholas go, too?" she +inquires. + +"You must leave the child," is the cool reply. M'Carstrow attempts +to draw the heavy bolt that fastens the door. + +"Not so fast, if you please," the warden speaks. "I cannot permit +her to leave without an order from the sheriff." He puts his hand +against the door. + +"She will surely be returned in the morning; I'm good for a hundred +such pieces of property." + +"Can't help that," interrupts the gaoler, coolly. + +"But, there's my honour!" + +"An article gaolers better not deal in. It may be very good +commodity in some kinds of business-don't pay in ours; and then, +when this kind of property is in question, it won't do to show a +favour beyond the rule." + +M'Carstrow is in a sad dilemma. He must relieve himself through a +problem of law, which, at this late hour, brings matters to a +singular point. He believes Franconia suffers from a nervous +affection, as the doctors call it, and has fixed her mind upon the +only object of relief. He had made no preparation for such a +critical event; but there is no postponing the ceremony,--no +depriving her of the indulgence. Not a moment is to be lost: he sets +off, post-haste, for the sheriff's office. That functionary is well +known for his crude method of executing business; to ask a favour of +him would be like asking the sea to give up its dead. He is cold, +methodical, unmoveable; very much opposed to anything having the +appearance of an innovation upon his square rules of business. + +M'Carstrow finds him in just the mood to interpose all the frigid +peculiarities of his incomprehensible nature. The colonel has known +him by reputation; he knows him now through a different medium. +After listening to M'Carstrow's request, and comporting himself with +all imaginable dignity, he runs his fingers through his hair, looks +at M'Carstrow vacantly, and well nigh rouses his temper. M'Carstrow +feels, as southern gentlemen are wont to feel, that his position and +title are enough to ensure courtesy and a quick response. The man of +writs and summonses feels quite sure that the pomp of his office is +sufficient to offset all other distinctions. + +"Whar' d'ye say the gal was,--in my gaol?" the sheriff inquires, with +solemn earnestness, and drawling his words measuredly, as if the +whole affair was quite within his line of business. The sheriff has +the opportunity of making a nice little thing of it; the object to +be released will serve the profits of the profession. "Gittin' that +gal out yander ain't an easy thing now, 'taint! It'll cost ye 'bout +twenty dollars, sartin," he adds, turning over the leaves of his big +book, and running his finger down a scale of names. + +"I don't care if it costs a hundred! Give me an order for her +release!" M'Carstrow begins to understand Mr. Sheriff's composition, +and putting his hand into his pocket, draws forth a dwenty-dollar +gold piece, throws it upon the table. The effect is electric: it +smooths down the surface of Mr. Sheriff's nature,--brings out the +disposition to accommodate. The Sheriff's politeness now taxes +M'Carstrow's power to reciprocate. + +"Now, ye see, my friend," says Mr. Sheriff, in a quaint tone, +"there's three fi fas on that critter. Hold a minute!" He must needs +take a better glance; he runs his fingers over the page again, +mutters to himself, and then breaks out into a half-musical, +half-undefinable humming. "It's a snarled-up affair, the whole on't. +T'll take a plaguy cunnin' lawyer to take the shine out." The +sheriff pushes the piece of coin nearer the inkstand, into the +centre of the table. "I feel all over like accommodatin' ye," he +deigns to say; "but then t'll be so pestky crooked gettin' the thing +straight." He hesitates before the wonderful difficulty,--he can't +see his way straight through it. "Three fi fas! I believe I'm +correct; there's one principal one, however." + +"I pledge my honour for her return in the morning; and she shall be +all shined up with a new dress. Her presence is imperatively +necessary to-night," M'Carstrow remarks, becoming impatient. + +"Two fi fas!-well, the first look looked like three. But, the +principal one out of the way,--no matter." Mr. Sheriff becomes more +and more enlightened on the unenlightened difficulties of the law. +He remarks, touching M'Carstrow on the arm, with great seriousness +of countenance, "I sees how the knot's tied. Ye know, my functions +are turned t' most everything; and it makes a body see through a +thing just as straight as--. Pest on't! Ye see, it's mighty likely +property,--don't strike such every day. That gal 'll bring a big tick +in the market-" + +"Excuse me, my dear sir," M'Carstrow suddenly interrupts. +"Understand me, if you please. I want her for nothing that you +contemplate,--nothing, I pledge you my honour as a southern +gentleman!" + +"'Ah,--bless me! Well, but there's nothin' in that. I see! I see! I +see!" Mr. Sheriff brightens up, his very soul seems to expand with +legal tenacity. "Well, ye see, there's a question of property raised +about the gal, and her young 'un, too-nice young 'un 'tis; but it's +mighty easy tellin' whose it is. About the law matter, though, you +must get the consent of all the plaintiff's attorneys,--that's no +small job. Lawyers are devilish slippery, rough a feller amazingly, +once in a while; chance if ye don't have to get the critter valued +by a survey. Graspum, though's ollers on hand, is first best good at +that: can say her top price while ye'd say seven," says Mr. Sheriff, +maintaining his wise dignity, as he reminds M'Carstrow that his name +is Cur, commonly called Mr. Cur, sheriff of the county. It must not +be inferred that Mr. Cur has any of the canine qualities about him. +The hour for the ceremony is close at hand. M'Carstrow, satisfied +that rules of law are very arbitrary things in the hands of +officials-that such property is difficult to get out of the meshes +of legal technicality-that honour is neither marketable or +pledgeable in such cases, must move quickly: he seeks the very +conscientious attorneys, gets them together, pleads the necessity of +the case: a convention is arranged, Graspum will value the +property-as a weigher and gauger of human flesh. This done, +M'Carstrow signs a bond in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, +making himself responsible for the property. The instrument contains +a provision, that should any unforeseen disaster befall it, the +question of property will remain subject to the decision of Court. +Upon these conditions, M'Carstrow procures an order for her release. +He is careful, however, that nothing herein set forth shall affect +the suit already instituted. + +Love is an exhilarating medicine, moving and quickening the hearts +of old and young. M'Carstrow felt its influence sensibly, as he +hurried back to the prison-excited by the near approach of the +ceremony-with the all-important order. Bolts, bars, and malarious +walls, yield to it the pining captive whose presence will soothe +Franconia's feelings. + +Clotilda was no less elated at the hope of changing her prison for +the presence of her young mistress; and yet, the previous summons +had nearly unnerved her. She lingers at the grating, waiting +M'Carstrow's return. Time seems to linger, until her feelings are +nearly overwhelmed in suspense. Again, there is a mystery in the +mission of the stranger; she almost doubts his sincerity. It may be +one of those plots, so often laid by slave-traders, to separate her +from her child,--perhaps to run her where all hope of regaining +freedom will be for ever lost. One after another did these things +recur to her mind, only to make the burden of her troubles more +painful. + +Her child has eaten its crust, fallen into a deep sleep, and, its +little hands resting clasped on its bosom, lies calmly upon the +coarse blanket. She gazes upon it, as a mother only can gaze. There +is beauty in that sweet face; it is not valued for its loveliness, +its tenderness, its purity. How cursed that it is to be the prime +object of her disgrace! Thus contemplating, M'Carstrow appears at +the outer gate, is admitted into the prison, reaches the inner +grating, is received by the warden, who smiles generously. "I'm as +glad as anything! Hope you had a good time with his honour, Mr. +Cur?" he says, holding the big key in his hand, and leading the way +into the office. He takes his seat at a table, commences preparing +the big book. "Here is the entry," he says, with a smile of +satisfaction. "We'll soon straighten the thing now." Puts out his +hand for the order which M'Carstrow has been holding. "That's just +the little thing," he says, reading it word by word carefully, and +concluding with the remark that he has had a deal of trouble with +it. M'Carstrow places some pieces of silver in his hand; they turn +the man of keys into a subservient creature. He hastens to the cell, +M'Carstrow following,--draws the heavy bolts,--bids the prisoner come +forth. "Yes, come, girl; I've had a tough time to get you out of +that place: it holds its prey like lawyers' seals," rejoins +M'Carstrow. + +"Not without my child?" she inquires quickly. She stoops down and +kisses it. "My daughter,--my sweet child!" she mutters. + +"Till to-morrow. You must leave her for to-night." + +"If I must!" Again she kisses the child, adding, as she smoothed her +hand over Annette, and parted her hair, "Mother will return soon." +There was something so touching in the word mother, spoken while +leaning over a sleeping babe. Clotilda reaches the door, having kept +her eyes upon the child as she left her behind. A tremor comes over +her,--she reluctantly passes the threshold of the narrow arch; but +she breathes the fresh air of heaven,--feels as if her life had been +renewed. A mother's thoughts, a mother's anxieties, a mother's love, +veil her countenance. She turns to take a last look as the cold door +closes upon the dearest object of her life. How it grates upon its +hinges! her hopes seem for ever extinguished. + +The law is thus far satisfied-the legal gentlemen are satisfied, the +warden is not the least generous; and Mr. Cur feels that, while the +job was a very nice one, he has not transcended one jot of his +importance. Such is highly gratifying to all parties. Clotilda is +hurried into a carriage, driven at a rapid rate, and soon arrives at +the mansion. Here she is ushered into a chamber, arrayed in a new +dress, and conducted into the presence of Franconia. The meeting may +be more easily imagined than described. Their congratulations were +warm, affectionate, touching. Clotilda kisses Franconia's hand again +and again; Franconia, in turn, lays her hand upon Clotilda's +shoulder, and, with a look of commiseration, sets her eyes intently +upon her, as if she detects in her countenance those features she +cannot disown. She requests to be left alone with Clotilda for a +short time. Her friends withdraw. She discloses the difficulties +into which the family have suddenly fallen, the plan of escape she +has arranged, the hopes she entertains of her regaining her freedom. +"Public opinion and the state of our difficulties prompted this +course,--I prefer it to any other: follow my directions,--Maxwell has +everything prepared, and to-night will carry you off upon the broad +blue ocean of liberty. Enjoy that liberty, Clotilda,--be a +woman,--follow the path God has strewn for your happiness; above all, +let freedom be rewarded with your virtue, your example," says +Franconia, as she again places her arm round Clotilda's neck. + +"And leave my child, Franconia?" the other inquires, looking up +imploringly in Franconia's face. + +"To me," is the quick response. "I will be her guardian, her mother. +Get you beyond the grasp of slavery-get beyond its contaminating +breath, and I will be Annette's mother. When you are safely there, +when you can breathe the free air of liberty, write me, and she +shall meet you. Leave her to me; think of her only in my care, and +in my trust she will be happy. Meet Maxwell-he is your friend-at the +centre corridor; he will be there as soon as the ceremony commences; +he will have a pass from me; he will be your guide!" She overcomes +Clotilda's doubts, reasons away her pleadings for her child, gives +her a letter and small miniature (they are to be kept until she +reaches her destination of freedom), and commences preparing for the +ceremony. + +Night arrives, the old mansion brightens and resounds with the +bustle of preparation. Servants are moving about in great confusion. +Everything is in full dress; "yellow fellows," immersed in trim +black coats, nicely-cut pantaloons, white vests and gloves, +shirt-collars of extraordinary dimensions, and hair curiously +crimped, are standing at their places along the halls, ready for +reception. Another class, equally well dressed, are running to and +fro through the corridors in the despatch of business. Old mammas +have a new shine on their faces, their best "go to church" fixings +on their backs. Younger members of the same property species are +gaudily attired-some in silk, some in missus's slightly worn +cashmere. The colour of their faces grades from the purest ebony to +the palest olive. A curious philosophy may be drawn from the +mixture: it contrasts strangely with the flash and dazzle of their +fantastic dresses, their large circular ear-rings, their +curiously-tied bandanas, the large bow points of which lay crossed +on the tufts of their crimpy hair. The whole scene has an air of +bewitching strangeness. In another part of the mansion we find the +small figures of the estate, all agog, toddling and doddling, with +faces polished like black-balled shoes; they are as piquant and +interesting as their own admiration of the dress master has provided +them for the occasion. + +The darkness increases as the night advances. The arbour leading +from the great gate to the vaulted hall in the base of the mansion +is hung with lanterns of grotesque patterns, emitting light and +shade as variegated as the hues of the rainbow. The trees and +shrubbery in the arena, hung with fantastic lanterns, enliven the +picture-make it grand and imposing. It presents a fairy-like +perspective, with spectre lights hung here and there, their mellow +glows reflecting softly upon the luxuriant foliage. + +Entering the vaulted hall, its floor of antique tiles; frescoed +walls with well-executed mythological designs, jetting lights +flickering and dazzling through its arches, we find ourselves amidst +splendour unsurpassed in our land. At the termination of the great +hall a massive flight of spiral steps, of Egyptian marble, ascends +to the fourth story, forming a balcony at each, where ottomans are +placed, and from which a fine view of the curvature presents itself, +from whence those who have ascended may descry those ascending. On +the second story is a corridor, with moulded juttings and fretwork +overhead; these are hung with festoons of jasmines and other +delicate flowers, extending its whole length, and lighted by +globular lamps, the prismatic ornaments of which shed their soft +glows on the fixtures beneath. They invest it with the appearance of +a bower decorated with buds and blossoms. From this, on the right, a +spacious arched door, surmounted by a semi-circle of stained glass +containing devices of the Muses and other allegorical figures, leads +into an immense parlour, having a centre arch hung with heavy folds +of maroon coloured velvet overspread with lace. Look where you will, +the picture of former wealth and taste presents itself. Around the +walls hang costly paintings, by celebrated Italian masters; some are +portraits of the sovereigns of England, from that of Elizabeth to +George the Third. Brilliant lights jet forth from massive +chandeliers and girandoles, lighting up the long line of chaste +furniture beneath. The floor is spread with softest Turkey carpet; +groups of figures in marble, skilfully executed, form a curiously +arranged fire-place; Britannia's crest surmounting the whole. At +each end of the room stand chastely designed pieces of statuary of +heroes and heroines of past ages. Lounges, ottomans, reclines, and +couches, elaborately carved and upholstered, stand here and there in +all their antiqueness and grandeur. Pier-glasses, massive tables +inlaid with mosaic and pearl, are arranged along the sides, and +overhung with flowing tapestry that falls carelessly from the large +Doric windows. Over these windows are massive cornices, richly +designed and gilded. Quiet grandeur pervades the whole; even the +fairy-like dais that has been raised for the nuptial ceremony rests +upon four pieces of statuary, and is covered with crimson velvet set +with sparkling crystals. And while this spectacle presents but the +vanity of our nature, grand but not lasting, the sweet breath of +summer is wafting its balmy odours to refresh and give life to its +lifeless luxury. + +The gay cortge begins to assemble; the halls fill with guests; the +beauty, grace, and intelligence of this little fashionable world, +arrayed in its very best, will be here with its best face. Sparkling +diamonds and other precious stones, dazzling, will enhance the +gorgeous display. And yet, how much of folly's littleness does it +all present! All this costly drapery-all this show of worldly +voluptuousness-all this tempest of gaiety, is but the product of +pain and sorrow. The cheek that blushes in the gay circle, that fair +form born to revel in luxury, would not blush nor shrink to see a +naked wretch driven with the lash. Yea! we have said it was the +product of pain and sorrow; it is the force of oppression wringing +from ignorance and degradation the very dregs of its life. Men say, +what of that?-do we not live in a great good land of liberty? + +The young affianced,--dressed in a flowing skirt of white satin, with +richly embroidered train; a neat bodice of the same material, with +incisions of lace tipped with brilliants; sleeves tapering into neat +rufflets of lace clasped upon the wrist with diamond bracelets, a +stomacher of chastely worked lace with brilliants in the centre, +relieved by two rows of small unpolished pearls,--is ushered into the +parlour, followed by groomsmen and bridesmaids as chastely dressed. + +There is a striking contrast between the youth and delicacy of +Franconia, blushing modestly and in her calmness suppressing that +inert repugnance working in her mind, and the brusqueness of +M'Carstrow, who assumes the free and easy dash, hoping thereby to +lessen his years in the picture of himself. Clotilda, for the last +time, has arranged Franconia's hair, which lies in simple braids +across her polished brows, and folds upon the back, where it is +secured and set off with a garland of wild flowers. The hand that +laid it there, that arranged it so neatly, will never arrange it +again. As a last token of affection for her young mistress, Clotilda +has plucked a new-blown chiponique, white with crystal dew, and +surrounded it with tiny buds and orange blossoms: this, Franconia +holds in her left hand, the lace to which it is attached falling +like mist to the ground. + +Thus arrayed, they appear at the altar: the good man of modest cloth +takes his place, the ceremony commences; and as it proceeds, and the +solemn words fall upon her ear, "Those whom God hath joined together +let no man put asunder," she raises her eyes upwards, with a look of +melancholy, as tears, like pearls, glisten in her soft expressive +eyes. Her heart is moved with deeper emotion than this display of +southern galaxy can produce. The combination of circumstances that +has brought her to the altar, the decline of fortune, perhaps +disgrace, worked upon her mind. It is that which has consigned her +to the arms of one she cannot love, whose feelings and associations +she never can respect. Was she to be the ransom?-was she to atone +for the loss of family fortune, family pride, family inconsistency? +kept forcing itself upon her. There was no gladness in it-no +happiness. And there was the captive, the victim of foul slavery-so +foul that hell yearns for its abettors-whose deliverance she prayed +for with her earnest soul. She knew the oppressor's grasp-she had, +with womanly pride, come forward to relieve the wronged, and she had +become sensible of the ties binding her to Clotilda. Unlike too many +of her sex, she did not suppress her natural affections; she could +not see only the slave in a disowned sister; she acknowledged the +relationship, and hastened to free her, to send her beyond slavery's +grasp, into the glad embrace of freedom. + +The ceremony ends; the smiles and congratulations of friends, as +they gather round Franconia, shower upon her; she receives them +coldly, her heart has no love for them, it throbs with anxiety for +that slave whose liberty she has planned, and for whose safety she +invokes the all-protecting hand of heaven. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +ANOTHER PHASE OF THE PICTURE. + + + + + +WHILE the ceremony we have described in the foregoing chapter was +proceeding, Clotilda, yielding to the earnest request of Franconia, +dresses herself in garments she has provided, and awaits the +commencement of the scene. A little schooner from one of the Bahama +Islands lies moored in the harbour awaiting a fair wind to return. + +We need scarcely tell the reader that a plan of escape had been +previously arranged between Franconia and Maxwell; but why she took +so earnest a part in carrying it out, we must reserve for another +chapter. + +Maxwell had sought the captain of this schooner, found him of a +generous disposition, ready to act in behalf of freedom. Having soon +gained his confidence, and enlisted his good services, it took no +great amount of persuasion to do this, his feelings having already +been aroused against slavery, the giant arms of which, stretched out +between fear and injustice, had interfered with his rights. He had +seen it grasp the bones and sinews of those who were born in +freedom-he had seen men laugh at his appeals for justice-he had seen +one of his free-born British seamen manacled and dragged to prison +at noonday, merely because his skin was slightly coloured; he had +been compelled to pay tribute to keep alive the oppressor's power, +to compensate the villainy rogues practise upon honest men. + +"Yes!" says the captain, a sturdy son of the sea, in answer to +Maxwell; "bring her on board; and with a heart's best wishes, if I +don't land her free and safe in Old Bahama I'll never cross the gulf +stream again." And the mode of getting the boats ready was at once +arranged. + +The night was still and dark; picturesque illuminations in and +around the mansion glittered in contrast with the starry arch of +heaven; the soft south breeze fans to life the dark foliage that +clusters around-nature has clothed the scene with her beauties. +Clotilda-she has eagerly awaited the coming time-descends to the +balustrade in the rear of the mansion. Here she meets a band of +musicians; they have assembled to serenade, and wait the +benediction, a signal for which will be made from one of the +balconies. She fears they may recognise her, hesitates at the +entrance, paces backward and forward in the colonnade, and professes +to be awaiting some message from her mistress. Again scanning the +scene, she watches intently, keeping her eyes fixed in the direction +Franconia has suggested. "I was to meet Maxwell there!" works upon +her mind until she becomes nervous and agitated. "I was, and must +meet him there;" and she walks slowly back to the entrance, turns +and returns, watches until her soul has nearly sickened, at length +espies the joyous signal. Franconia did not deceive her. Oh, no! he +stands there in the glare of a lamp that hangs from a willow-tree. +She vaults over the path, grasps his hand with a sister's affection, +and simultaneously the soft swelling music of "Still so gently o'er +me stealing!" floats in the air, as dulcet and soul-stirring as ever +touched the fancy, or clothed with holy inspiration the still repose +of a southern landscape at midnight. But she is with Maxwell; they +have passed the serenaders,--liberty is the haven of her joy, it +gives her new hopes of the future. Those hopes dispel the regrets +that hover over her mind as she thinks of her child. + +For several minutes they stand together, listening to the music, and +watching the familiar faces of old friends as they come upon the +balcony in the second story. Southern life had its pleasant +associations-none would attempt to deny them; but the evil brooded +in the uncertainty that hung over the fate of millions, now yielding +indulgence to make life pleasant, then sinking them for ever in the +cruelties of a tyrant's power. It is the crushing out of the mind's +force,--the subduing the mental and physical man to make the chattel +complete,--the shutting out of all the succinct virtues that nurture +freedom, that incite us to improve the endowments of nature, that +proves the rankling poison. And this poison spreads its baneful +influence in and around good men's better desires. + +After watching in silence for a few moments, Clotilda gives vent to +her feelings. "I should like to see old Daddy Bob once more, I +should! And my poor Annette; she is celled to be sold, I'm afraid; +but I must yield to the kindness of Franconia. I have seen some +good times among the old folks on the plantation. And there's Aunt +Rachel,--a good creature after all,--and Harry. Well; I mustn't think +of these things; freedom is sweetest," she says. Maxwell suggests +that they move onward. The music dies away in the stillness, as they +turn from the scene to flee beyond the grasp of men who traffic in +human things called property,--not by a great constitution, but under +a constitution's freedom giving power. Would that a great and +glorious nation had not sold its freedom to the damning stain of +avarice! would that it had not perverted that holy word, for the +blessings of which generations have struggled in vain! would that it +had not substituted a freedom that mystifies a jurisprudence,--that +brings forth the strangest fruit of human passions,--that makes +prison walls and dreary cells death-beds of the innocent;-that +permits human beings to be born for the market, and judged by the +ripest wisdom! "Has God ordained such freedom lasting?" will force +itself upon us.-We must return to our humble adventurers. + +The fugitives reached the back gate, leading into a narrow lane, +from whence they cross into the main street. Clotilda has none of +the African about her; the most observing guardsman would not stop +her for a slave. They pass along unmolested; the guardsmen, some +mounted and some walking at a slow pace, bow politely. No one +demands a pass. They arrive in safety at a point about two miles +from the city, where the captain and his boat await them. No time is +lost in embarking: the little bark rides at anchor in the stream; +the boat quietly glides to her; they are safely on board. A few +minutes more, and the little craft moves seaward under the pressure +of a gentle breeze. There is no tragic pursuit of slave-hunters, no +tramp of horses to terrify the bleeding victim, no howlings of +ravenous bloodhounds,--nothing that would seem to make the issue +freedom or death. No! all is as still as a midsummer night in the +same clime. The woman--this daughter of slavery's vices--cherishes a +love for freedom; the hope of gaining it, and improving those +endowments nature has bestowed upon her, freshens her spirits and +gives her life to look forward without desponding. Maxwell is her +friend; he has witnessed the blighting power of slavery-not alone in +its workings upon the black man, but upon the lineal offspring of +freemen-and has resolved to work against its mighty arm. With him it +is the spontaneous action of a generous heart sympathising for the +wrongs inflicted upon the weak, and loving to see right respected. + +The fair Franconia, who has just been forced to accept the hand of a +mere charlatan, disclosed the secrets of her mind to him; it was she +who incited him to an act which might have sacrificed his freedom, +perhaps his life. But mankind is possessed of an innate feeling to +do good; and there is a charm added when the object to be served is +a fair creature about to be dragged into the miseries of slavery. +Even the rougher of our kind cannot resist it; and at times-we +except the servile opinion which slavery inflicts upon a people +through its profitable issues-prompts the ruffian to generous acts. + +The little bark, bound for the haven of freedom, sailed onward over +the blue waters, and when daylight dawned had crossed the bar +separating the harbour from the ocean. Clotilda ascends to the deck, +sits on the companion-seat, and in a pensive mood watches the fading +hills where slavery stains the fair name of freedom,--where +oppression rears its dark monuments to for ever torture and disgrace +a harmless race. She looks intently upon them, as one by one they +fade in the obscure horizon, seeming to recall the many +associations, pleasant and painful, through which she has passed. +She turns from the contemplation to the deep blue sea, and the +unclouded arch of heaven, as they spread out before her: they are +God's own, man cannot pollute them; they are like a picture of glory +inspiring her with emotions she cannot suppress. As the last dim +sight of land is lost in the distance, she waves a handkerchief, as +if to bid it adieu for ever; then looking at Maxwell, who sits by +her side, she says, with a sigh, "I am beyond it! Free,--yes, free! +But, have I not left a sufferer behind? There is my poor Annette, my +child; I will clasp her to my bosom,--I will love her more when I +meet her again. Good-bye, Franconia-dear Franconia! She will be a +mother to my little one; she will keep her word." Thus saying, she +casts a look upward, invokes heaven to be merciful to her +persecutors,--to protect her child,--to guard Franconia through life. +Tears stream down her cheeks as she waves her hand and retires to +the cabin. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +PLEASANT DEALINGS WITH HUMAN PROPERTY. + + + + + +WE must deal gently with our scenes; we must describe them without +exaggeration, and in rotation. While the scenes we have just +described were proceeding, another, of deeper import, and more +expressive of slavery's complicated combinations, was being enacted +in another part of the city. + +A raffle of ordinary character had been announced in the morning +papers,--we say ordinary, because it came within the ordinary +specification of trade, and violated neither statute law nor +municipal ordinance,--and the raffler, esteemed a great character in +the city, was no less celebrated for his taste in catering for the +amusement of his patrons. On this occasion, purporting to be a very +great one, the inducements held out were no less an incentive of +gambling propensities than an aim to serve licentious purposes. In a +word, it offered "all young connoisseurs of beauty a chance to +procure one of the finest-developed young wenches,--fair, bright, +perfectly brought up, young, chaste, and of most amiable +disposition, for a trifling sum." This was all straight in the way +of trade, in a free country; nobody should blush at it (some +maidens, reading the notice, might feel modestly inclined to), +because nobody could gainsay it. This is prize No. 1, prime-as set +down in the schedule-and the amount per toss being only a trifle, +persons in want of such prizes are respectfully informed of the fact +that only a few chances remain, which will command a premium before +candle-light. Prize No. 2 is a superior pony, of well-known +breed-here the pedigree is set forth; which advantage had not been +accorded to the human animal, lest certain members of the same stock +should blush-raised with great care and attention, and exactly +suited for a gentleman's jant or a lady's saddle-nag. Prize No. 3 is +a superior setter dog, who has also been well brought up, is from +good stock, is kind to children, who play with him when they please. +He knows niggers, is good to watch them, has been known to catch +runaways, to tear their shins wonderfully. Indeed, according to the +setting forth of the sagacious animal, he would seem to understand +slave-law quite well, and to be ready and willing to lend his aid +with dogs of a different species to enforce its provisions. The only +fault the brute has, if fault it may be called, is that he does not +understand the constitutionality of the fugitive slave law,--a law +destined to be exceedingly troublesome among a free people. Did the +sagacity of the animal thus extend to the sovereign law of the land +of the brave and free, he would bring a large price at the north, +where men are made to do what dogs most delight in at the south. + +The first prize, as set forth, is valued at seven hundred dollars: +the magnanimous gentleman who caters thus generously for his patrons +states the delicate prize to be worth fifty or a hundred dollars +more, and will, with a little more developing, be worth a great deal +more money. Hence, he hopes his patrons will duly appreciate +enterprising liberality. + +The second prize he considers generously low at two hundred dollars; +and the dog-the sagacious animal constituting the third prize-would +be a great bargain to anybody wanting such an animal, especially in +consideration of his propensity to catch negroes, at sixty dollars. +The trio of human and animal prizes produce no distinctive effect +upon the feelings of those who speculate in such property; with them +it is only a matter of gradation between dollars and cents. + +But, to be more off-handed in this generous undertaking, and in +consideration of the deep-felt sensibility and hospitality which +must always protect southern character, the chances will be +restricted to two hundred, at five dollars per chance. Money must be +paid in before friends can consider themselves stock-holders. It is +to be a happy time, in a happy country, where all are boasted happy. +The first lucky dog will get the human prize; the next lucky dog +will get the pony; the third will make a dog of himself by only +winning a dog. The fun of the thing, however, will be the great +attraction; men of steady habits are reminded of this. Older +gentlemen, having very nice taste for colour, but no particular +scruples about religion, and who seldom think morals worth much to +niggers, "because they aint got sense to appreciate such things," +are expected to be on hand. Those who know bright and fair niggers +were never made for anything under the sun but to gratify their own +desires, are expected to spread the good news, to set the young +aristocracy of the city all agog,--to start up a first-best +crowd,--have some tall drinking and first-rate amusement. Everybody +is expected to tell his friend, and his friend is expected to help +the generous man out with his generous scheme, and all are expected +to join in the "bender." Nobody must forget that the whole thing is +to come off at "Your House,"-an eating and drinking saloon, of great +capacity, kept by the very distinguished man, Mr. O'Brodereque. + +Mr. O'Brodereque, who always pledges his word upon the honour of a +southern gentleman-frequently asserting his greatness in the +political world, and wondering who could account for his not finding +his way into Congress, where talent like his would be brought out +for the protection of our south-has made no end of money by selling +a monstrous deal of very bad liquor to customers of all +grades,--niggers excepted. And, although his hair is well mixed with +the grey of many years, he declares the guilt of selling liquor to +niggers is not on his shoulders. It is owing to this clean state of +his character, that he has been able to maintain his aristocratic +position. "Yes, indeed," said one of his patrons, who, having fallen +in arrears, found himself undergoing the very disagreeable process +of being politely kicked into the street, "money makes a man big in +the south: big in niggers, big in politics, big with everything but +the way I'm big,--with an empty pocket. I don't care, though; he's +going up by the process that I'm coming down. There's philosophy in +that." It could not be denied that Mr. O'Brodereque-commonly called +General O'Brodereque-was very much looked up to by great people and +Bacchanalians,--men who pay court to appease the wondrous discontent +of the belly, to the total neglect of the back. Not a few swore, by +all their importance, a greater man never lived. He is, indeed, all +that can be desired to please the simple pretensions of a +free-thinking and free-acting southern people, who, having elevated +him to the office of alderman, declare him exactly the man to +develope its functions. A few of the old school aristocracy, who +still retain the bad left them by their English ancestry, having +long since forgotten the good, do sneer now and then at Mr. +Brodereque's pretensions. But, like all great men who have a great +object to carry out, he affects to frown such things down,--to remind +the perpetrators of such aristocratic sneers what a spare few they +are. He asserts, and with more truth than poetry, that any gentleman +having the capacity to deluge the old aristocracy with doubtful +wine, line his pockets while draining theirs-all the time making +them feel satisfied he imports the choicest-and who can keep on a +cheerful face the while, can fill an alderman's chair to a nicety. + +In addition to the above, Mr. O'Brodereque is one of those very +accommodating individuals who never fail to please their customers, +while inciting their vanity; and, at the same time, always secure a +good opinion for themselves. And, too, he was liberally inclined, +never refused tick, but always made it tell; by which well-devised +process, his patrons were continually becoming his humble servants, +ready to serve him at call. + +Always civil, and even obsequious at first, ready to condescend and +accommodate, he is equally prompt when matters require that peculiar +turn which southerners frequently find themselves turned into,--no +more tick and a turn out of doors. At times, Mr. O'Brodereque's +customers have the very unenviable consolation of knowing that a +small document called a mortgage of their real and personal property +remains in his hands, which he will very soon find it necessary to +foreclose. + +It is dark,--night has stolen upon us again,--the hour for the raffle +is at hand. The saloon, about a hundred and forty feet long by forty +wide, is brilliantly lighted for the occasion. The gas-lights throw +strange shadows upon the distemper painting with which the walls are +decorated. Hanging carelessly here and there are badly-daubed +paintings of battle scenes and heroic devices, alternated with +lithographic and badly-executed engravings of lustfully-exposed +females. Soon the saloon fills with a throng of variously-mixed +gentlemen. The gay, the grave, the old, and the young men of the +fashionable world, are present. Some affect the fast young man; +others seem mere speculators, attracted to the place for the purpose +of enjoying an hour, seeing the sight, and, it may be, taking a +throw for the "gal." The crowd presents a singular contrast of +beings. Some are dressed to the very extreme of fantastic fashion, +and would seem to have wasted their brains in devising colours for +their backs; others, aspiring to the seriously genteel, are +fashioned in very extravagant broadcloth; while a third group is +dressed in most niggardly attire, which sets very loosely. In +addition to this they wear very large black, white, and +grey-coloured felt hats, slouched over their heads; while their +nether garments, of red and brown linsey-woolsey, fit like +Falstaff's doublet on a whip stock. They seem proud of the grim +tufts of hair that, like the moss-grown clumps upon an old oak, +spread over their faces; and they move about in the grotesque crowd, +making their physiognomies increase its piquancy. + +The saloon is one of those places at the south where great men, +small men, men of different spheres and occupations, men in +prominently defined positions, men in doubtful calls of life, and +men most disreputably employed, most do congregate. At one end of +the saloon is a large oyster counter, behind which stand two +coloured men, with sauces, savories, and other mixtures at hand, +ready to serve customers who prefer the delicacy in its raw state. +Men are partaking without noting numbers. Mr. O'Brodereque has boys +serving who take very good care of the numbers. Extending along one +side of the saloon is an elaborately carved mahogany counter, with +panels of French white and gilt mouldings. This is surmounted with a +marble slab, upon which stand well-filled decanters, vases, and +salvers. Behind this counter, genteelly-dressed and polite +attendants are serving customers who stand along its side in a line, +treating in true southern style. The calling for drinks is a problem +for nice ears to solve, so varied are the sounds, so strange the +names: style, quantity, and mixture seemed without limit, set on in +various colours to flow and flood the spirits of the jovial. On the +opposite side of the saloon are rows of seats and arm-chairs, +interspersed with small tables, from which the beverage can be +imbibed more at ease. On the second story is the great "eating +saloon," with its various apartments, its curtained boxes, its +prim-looking waiters, its pier-glass walls. There is every +accommodation for belly theologians, who may discuss the choicest +viands of the season. + +The company are assembled,--the lower saloon is crowded; Mr. +O'Brodereque, with great dignity, mounts the stand,--a little table +standing at one end of the room. His face reddens, he gives several +delinquent coughs, looks round and smiles upon his motley patrons, +points a finger recognisingly at a wag in the corner, who has +addressed some remarks to him, puts his thumbs in the sleeve-holes +of his vest, throws back his coat-collar, puts himself in a defiant +attitude, and is ready to deliver himself of his speech. + +"A political speech from the General! Gentlemen, hats off, and give +your attention to Mr. General O'Brodereque's remarks!" resounds from +several voices. Mr. O'Brodereque is somewhat overcome, his friends +compliment him so: he stands, hesitating, as if he had lost the +opening part of his speech, like a statue on a molasses-cask. At +length he speaks. "If it was a great political question, gentlemen, +I'd get the twist of the thing,--I'd pitch into it, big! These little +things always trouble public men more than the important intricacies +of government do. You see, they are not comesurate,--that's it!" says +Mr. Brodereque, looking wondrously wise the while. After bowing, +smiling, and acknowledging the compliments of his generous customers +with prodigious grace, he merely announces to his friends--with +eloquence that defies imitation, and turns rhetoric into a +discordant exposition of his own important self--that, not having +examined the constitution for more nor three Sundays, they must, +upon the honour of a gentleman, excuse his political speech. "But, +gents," he says, "you all know how I trys to please ye in the way of +raffles and such things, and how I throws in the belly and stomach +fixins. Now, brighten up, ye men of taste"--Mr. Brodereque laughs +satisfactorily as he surveys his crowd--"I'm going to do the thing +up brown for ye,--to give ye a chance for a bit of bright property +what ye don't get every day; can't scare up such property only once +in a while. It'll make ye old fellers wink, some"--Mr. O'Brodereque +winks at several aged gentlemen, whose grey hair is figurative in +the crowd--"think about being young again. And, my friends below +thirty-my young friends--ah, ye rascals! I thought I'd play the tune +on the right string!"--he laughs, and puts his finger to his mouth +quizzically--"I likes to suit ye, and please ye: own her up, now,-- +don't I?" + +"Hurrah! for Brod,--Brod's a trump!" again resounds from a dozen +voices. + +They all agree to the remark that nobody can touch the great Mr. +O'Brodereque in getting up a nice bit of fun, amusing young men with +more money than mind, and being in the favour of aristocratic +gentlemen who think nothing of staking a couple of prime niggers on +a point of faro. + +Mr. O'Brodereque has been interrupted; he begs his friends will, for +a moment, cease their compliments and allow him to proceed. +"Gentlemen!" he continues, "the gal's what ye don't get every day; +and she's as choice as she's young; and she's as handsome as she's +young; and for this delicious young crittur throws are only five +dollars a piece." The sentimental southern gentleman has no +reference to the throes of anguish that are piercing the wounded +soul of the woman. + +"A gentleman what ain't got a five-dollar bill in his pocket better +not show his winkers in this crowd. After that, gentlemen, there's a +slap-up pony, and one of the knowinest dogs outside of a +court-house. Now,--gents! if this ain't some tall doings,--some of a +raffle, just take my boots and I'll put it for Texas. A chance for a +nigger gal-a pony-a dog; who on 'arth wants more, gentlemen?" Mr. +O'Brodereque again throws back his coat, shrugs his shoulders, wipes +the perspiration from his brow, and is about to descend from the +table. No, he won't come down just yet. He has struck a vein; his +friends are getting up a favourable excitement. + +"Bravo! bravo!-long may General Brodereque keep the hospitable Your +House! Who wouldn't give a vote for Brodereque at the next +election?" re-echoes through the room. + +"One more remark, gentlemen." Mr. Brodereque again wipes the +perspiration from his forehead, and orders a glass of water, to +loosen his oratorical organs. He drinks the water, seems to increase +in his own greatness; his red face glows redder, he makes a +theatrical gesticulation with his right hand, crumples his hair into +curious points, and proceeds:--"The lucky man what gets the gal prize +is to treat the crowd!" This is seconded and carried by acclamation, +without a dissenting voice. + +A murmuring noise, as of some one in trouble, is now heard at the +door: the crowd gives way: a beautiful mulatto girl, in a black silk +dress, with low waist and short sleeves, and morocco slippers on her +feet, is led in and placed upon the stand Mr. O'Brodereque has just +vacated. Her complexion is that of a swarthy Greek; her countenance +is moody and reflective; her feelings are stung with the poison of +her degraded position. This last step of her disgrace broods in the +melancholy of her face. Shame, pain, hope, and fear, combine to goad +her very soul. But it's all for a bit of fun, clearly legal; it's +all in accordance with society; misfortune is turned into a +plaything, that generous, good, and noble-hearted men may be amused. +Those who stand around her are extravagant with joy. After remaining +a few moments in silence, a mute victim of generous freedom, she +turns her head bashfully, covers her face with her hands. Her +feelings gush forth in a stream of tears; she cannot suppress them +longer. + +There is a touching beauty in her face, made more effective by the +deplorable condition to which she is reduced. Again she looks +upward, and covers her face with her hands; her soul seems merged in +supplication to the God who rules all things aright. He is a +forgiving God! Can he thus direct man's injustice to man, while this +poor broken flower thus withers under the bane? Sad, melancholy, +doomed! there is no hope, no joy for her. She weeps over her +degradation. + +"Stop that whimperin!" says a ruffianly bystander, who orders a +coloured boy to let down her hair. He obeys the summons; it falls in +thick, black, undulating tresses over her neck and shoulders. A few +moments more, and she resumes a calm appearance, looks resolutely +upon her auditors, with indignation and contempt pictured in her +countenance. + +"She'll soon get over that!" ejaculates another bystander, as he +smooths the long beard on his haggard face. "Strip her down!" The +request is no sooner made, than Mr. O'Brodereque mounts the stand to +perform the feat. "Great country this, gentlemen!" he speaks, taking +her by the shoulders. + +"All off! all off, general!" is the popular demand. + +The sensitive nature of the innocent girl recoils; she cringes from +his touch; she shudders, and vainly attempts to resist. She must +yield; the demand is imperative. Her dress falls at Mr. +O'Brodereque's touch. She stands before the gazing crowd, exposed to +the very thighs, holding the loose folds of her dress in her hands. +There is no sympathy for those moistened eyes; oh, no! it is a +luscious feast-puritans have no part in the sin-for those who, in +our land of love and liberty, buy and sell poor human nature, and +make it food for serving hell. + +Naked she stands for minutes; the assembled gentlemen have feasted +their eyes,--good men have played the part of their good natures. +General O'Brodereque, conscious of his dignity, orders her to be +taken down. The waiter performs the duty, and she is led out midst +the acclamations and plaudits of the crowd, who call for the raffle. + +Mr. O'Brodereque hopes gentlemen are satisfied with what they have +seen, and will pledge his honour that the pony and dog are quite as +sound and healthy as the wench whose portions they have had a chance +to shy; and for which-the extra sight-they should pay an extra +treat. This, however, his generosity will not allow him to stand +upon; and, seeing how time is precious, and the weather warm, he +hopes his friends will excuse the presence of the animals, take his +word of honour in consideration of the sight of the wench. + +"Now, gentlemen," he says, "the throws are soon to commence, and all +what ain't put down the tin better attend that ar' needful +arrangement, quicker!" + +As the general concludes this very significant invitation, Dan +Bengal, Anthony Romescos, and Nath Nimrod, enter together. Their +presence creates some little commotion, for Romescos is known to be +turbulent, and very uncertain when liquor flows freely, which is the +case at present. + +"I say, general!-old hoss! I takes all the chances what's left," +Romescos shouts at the top of his voice. His eyes glare with +anxiety,--his red, savage face, doubly sun-scorched, glows out as he +elbows his way through the crowd up to the desk, where sits a +corpulent clerk. "Beg your pardon, gentlemen: not so fast, if you +please!" he says, entering names in his ledger, receiving money, +"doing the polite of the establishment." + +Romescos's coat and nether clothing are torn in several places, a +hunting-belt girdles his waist; a bowie-knife (Sheffield make) +protrudes from his breast-pocket, his hair hangs in jagged tufts +over the collar of his coat, which, with the rough moccasons on his +feet, give him an air of fierce desperaton and recklessness. His +presence is evidently viewed with suspicion; he is a curious object +which the crowd are willing to give ample space to. + +"No, you don't take 'em all, neither!" says another, in a defiant +tone. The remaining "chances" are at once put up for sale; they +bring premiums, as one by one they are knocked down to the highest +bidders, some as much as fifty per cent. advance. Gentlemen are not +to know it, because Mr. O'Brodereque thinks his honour above +everything else; but the fact is, there is a collusion between +Romescos and the honourable Mr. O'Brodereque. The former is playing +his part to create a rivalry that will put dollars and cents into +the pocket of the latter. + +"Well!" exclaims Romescos, with great indifference, as soon as the +sale had concluded, "I've got seven throws, all lucky ones. I'll +take any man's bet for two hundred dollars that I gets the gal +prize." Nobody seems inclined to accept the challenge. A table is +set in the centre of the saloon, the dice are brought on, amidst a +jargon of noise and confusion; to this is added drinking, smoking, +swearing, and all kinds of small betting. + +The raffle commences; one by one the numbers are called. Romescos' +turn has come; all eyes are intently set upon him. He is celebrated +for tricks of his trade; he seldom repudiates the character, and +oftener prides in the name of a shrewd one, who can command a prize +for his sharp dealing. In a word, he has a peculiar faculty of +shielding the doubtful transactions of a class of men no less +dishonest, but more modest in point of reputation. + +Romescos spreads himself wonderfully, throws his dice, and exults +over the result. He has turned up three sixes at the first and +second throws, and two sixes and five at the third. + +"Beat that! who can?" he says. No one discovers that he has, by a +very dexterous movement, slipped a set of false dice into the box, +while O'Brodereque diverted attention at the moment by introducing +the pony into the saloon. + +We will pass over many things that occurred, and inform the reader +that Romescos won the first prize-the woman. The dog and pony prizes +were carried off by legitimate winners. This specific part of the +scene over, a band of negro minstrels are introduced, who strike up +their happy glees, the music giving new life to the revelry. Such a +medley of drinking, gambling, and carousing followed, as defies +description. What a happy thing it is to be free; they feel this,--it +it is a happy feeling! The sport lasts till the small hours of +morning advance. Romescos is seen leaving the saloon very quietly. + +"There!" says Mr. O'Brodereque exultingly, "he hasn't got so much of +a showing. That nigger gal ain't what she's cracked up to be!" and +he shakes his head knowingly, thrusts his hands deep into his +breeches pockets, smiles with an air of great consequence. + +"Where did ye raise the critter? devil of a feller ye be, +Brodereque!" says a young sprig, giving his hat a particular set on +the side of his head, and adjusting his eye-glass anew. "Ye ain't +gin her a name, in all the showin'," he continues, drawlingly. + +"That gal! She ain't worth so much, a'ter all. She's of Marston's +stock; Ellen Juvarna, I think they call her. She's only good for her +looks, in the animal way,--that's all!" + +"Hav'n't told where ye got her, yet," interrupts the sprig; "none of +yer crossin' corners, general." + +"Well, I started up that gal of Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy. She +takes it into her mind to get crazed now and then, and Marston had +to sell her; and the Elder bought her for a trifle, cured up her +thinkin'-trap, got her sound up for market, and I makes a strike +with the Elder, and gets her at a tall bargain." Mr. O'Brodereque +has lost none of his dignity, none of his honour, none of his hopes +of getting into Congress by the speculation. + +It is poor Ellen Juvarna; she has been cured for the market. She +might have said, and with truth,--"You don't know me now, so +wonderful are they who deal with my rights in this our world of +liberty!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A NOT UNCOMMON SCENE SLIGHTLY CHANGED. + + + + + +ROMESCOS, having withdrawn from the saloon while the excitement +raged highest, may be seen, with several others, seated at a table +in the upper room. They are in earnest consultation,--evidently +devising some plan for carrying out a deep-laid plot. + +"I have just called my friend, who will give us the particulars +about the constitutionality of the thing. Here he is. Mr. Scranton, +ye see, knows all about such intricacies; he is an editor! formerly +from the North," one of the party is particular to explain, as he +directs his conversation to Romescos. That gentleman of slave-cloth +only knows the part they call the rascality; he pays the gentlemen +of the learned law profession to shuffle him out of all the legal +intricacies that hang around his murderous deeds. He seems revolving +the thing over in his mind at the moment, makes no reply. The +gentleman turns to Mr. Scranton--the same methodical gentleman we +have described with the good Mrs. Rosebrook--hopes he will be good +enough to advise on the point in question. Mr. Scranton sits in all +the dignity of his serious philosophy, quite unmoved; his mind is +nearly distracted about all that is constitutionally right or +constitutionally wrong. He is bound to his own ways of thinking, and +would suffer martyrdom before his own conscientious scruples would +allow him to acknowledge a right superior to that constitution. As +for the humanity! that has nothing to do with the constitution, +nothing to do with the laws of the land, nothing to do with popular +government,--nothing to do with anything, and never should be taken +into consideration when the point at issue involved negro property. +The schedule of humanity would be a poor account at one's banker's. +Mr. Scranton begins to smooth his face, which seems to elongate like +a wet moon. "The question is, as I understand it, gentlemen, how far +the law will give you a right to convict and sell the woman in the +absence of papers and against the assertions of her owner, that she +is free? Now, gentlemen, in the absence of my law books, and without +the least scruple that I am legally right, for I'm seldom legally +wrong, having been many years secretary to a senator in Congress who +made it my particular duty to keep him posted on all points of the +constitution--he drawls out with the serious complacency of a London +beggar--I will just say that, whatever is legal must be just. Laws +are always founded in justice--that's logical, you see,--and I always +maintained it long 'afore I come south, long 'afore I knowed a thing +about 'nigger law.' The point, thus far, you see, gentlemen, I've +settled. Now then!" Mr. Scranton rests his elbow on the table, makes +many legal gesticulations with his finger; he, however, disclaims +all and every connection with the legal body, inasmuch as its +members have sunk very much in the scale of character, and will +require a deal of purifying ere he can call them brothers; but he +knows a thing or two of constitutional law, and thus proceeds: +"'Tain't a whit of matter about the woman, barring the dockerment's +all right. You only want to prove that Marston bought her, that's +all! As for the young scraps, why--supposing they are his-that won't +make a bit of difference; they are property for all that, subject to +legal restraints. Your claim will be valid against it. You may have +to play nicely over some intricate legal points. But, remember, +nigger law is wonderfully elastic; it requires superhuman wisdom to +unravel its social and political intricacies, and when I view it +through the horoscope of an indefinite future it makes my very head +ache. You may, however, let your claim revert to another, and +traverse the case until such time as you can procure reliable proof +to convict." Mr. Scranton asserts this as the force of his legal and +constitutional acumen. He addresses himself to a mercantile-looking +gentleman who sits at the opposite side of the table, attentively +listening. He is one of several of Marston's creditors, who sit at +the table; they have attached certain property, and having some +doubts of overthrowing Marston's plea of freedom, which he has +intimated his intention to enter, have called in the valuable aid of +Romescos. That indomitable individual, however, has more interests +than one to serve, and is playing his cards with great "diplomatic +skill." Indeed, he often remarks that his wonderful diplomatic skill +would have been a great acquisition to the federal government, +inasmuch as it would have facilitated all its Southern American +projects. + +The point in question at present, and which they must get over, in +order to prove the property, is made more difficult by the doubt in +which the origin of Clotilda has always been involved. Many are the +surmises about her parentage-many are the assertions that she is not +of negro extraction--she has no one feature indicating it--but no one +can positively assert where she came from; in a word, no one dare! +Hence is constituted the ground for fearing the issue of Marston's +notice of freedom. + +"Well! I'll own it puzzles my cunnin'; there's a way to get round +it-there is-but deuced if 'tain't too much for my noddle," Romescos +interposes, taking a little more whiskey, and seeming quite +indifferent about the whole affair. "Suppose-Marston-comes-forward! +yes, and brings somebody to swear as a kind a' sideways? That'll be +a poser in asserting their freedom; it'll saddle you creditors with +the burden of proof. There'll be the rub; and ye can't plead a right +to enjoin the schedule he files in bankruptcy unless ye show how +they were purchased by him. Perchance on some legal uncertainty it +might be done,--by your producing proof that he had made an +admission, anterior to the levy, of their being purchased by him," +Romescos continues, very wisely appealing to his learned and +constitutional friend, Mr. Scranton, who yields his assent by adding +that the remarks are very legal, and contain truths worth +considering, inasmuch as they involve great principles of popular +government. "I think our worthy friend has a clear idea of the +points," Mr. Scranton concludes. + +"One word more, gentlemen: a bit of advice what's worth a right +smart price to ye all"--here he parenthesises by saying he has great +sympathy for creditors in distress--"and ye must profit by it, for +yer own interests. As the case now stands, it's a game for lawyers +to play and get fat at. And, seein' how Marston's feelins are up in +a sort of tender way, he feels strong about savin' them young 'uns; +and ye, nor all the gentlemen of the lower place, can't make 'em +property, if he plays his game right;--he knows how to! ye'll only +make a fuss over the brutes, while the lawyers bag all the game +worth a dollar. Never see'd a nigger yet what raised a legal squall, +that didn't get used up in law leakins; lawyers are sainted pocket +masters! But--that kind a' stuff!--it takes a mighty deal of +cross-cornered swearing to turn it into property. The only way ye +can drive the peg in so the lawyers won't get hold on't, is by +sellin' out to old Graspum-Norman, I mean--he does up such business +as fine as a fiddle. Make the best strike with him ye can--he's as +tough as a knot on nigger trade!--and, if there's any making +property out on 'em, he's just the tinker to do it." + +They shake their heads doubtingly, as if questioning the policy of +the advice. Mr. Scranton, however, to whom all looked with great +solicitation, speaks up, and affirms the advice to be the wiser +course, as a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. + +"Oh, yes!" says Romescos, significantly, "you'll be safe then, and +free from responsibility; Graspum's a great fellow to buy risks; +but, seeing how he's not popular with juries, he may want to play +behind the scenes, continue to prosecute the case in the name of the +creditors,--that's all! Curious work, this making property out of +doubtful women. Sell out to them what understands the curious of the +things, clear yerselfs of the perplexin' risks--ye won't bag a bit of +the game, you won't. Saddle it on Norman; he knows the philosophy of +nigger trade, and can swim through a sea of legal perplexities in +nigger cases." Mr. Romescos never gave more serious advice in his +life; he finishes his whiskey, adjusts his hat slouchingly on his +head, bids them good night; and, in return for their thanks, assures +them that they are welcome. He withdraws; Mr. Scranton, after a +time, gets very muddled; so much so, that, when daylight appears, he +finds, to his utter astonishment, he has enjoyed a sweet sleep on +the floor, some of his quizzical friends having disfigured his face +very much after the fashion of a clown's. He modestly, and +mechanically, picks up his lethargic body, views his constitutional +self in the glass, and is much horrified, much disgusted with those +who perpetrated the freak. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE SOLD. + + + + + +SLOWLY we pass through the precious scenes, hoping our readers will +indulge us with their patience. + +Five days have passed since Clotilda's departure; her absence is +creating alarm. No one knows anything of her! a general search is +instituted, but the searchers search in vain. Maxwell has eluded +suspicion-Franconia no one for a moment suspects. Colonel +M'Carstrow-his mind, for the time, absorbed in the charms of his +young bride-gives little attention to the matter. He only knows that +he has signed a bond for fifteen hundred dollars, to indemnify the +sheriff, or creditors, in the event of loss; he reconciles himself +with the belief that she has been enticed into some of the +neighbouring bright houses, from which he can regain her in the +course of time. M'Carstrow knows little of Clotilda's real +character; and thus the matter rests a time. + +The sheriff,--important gentleman of an important office,--will give +himself no concern about the matter: the plaintiff's attorney +acknowledged the deed of release, which is quite enough for him. +Graspum, a perfect savan where human property was to be judged, had +decided that her square inches of human vitality were worth strong +fifteen hundred; that was all desirable for the sheriff-it would +leave margin enough to cover the cost. But M'Carstrow, when given +the bond, knew enough of nigger law to demand the insertion of a +clause leaving it subject to the question of property, which is to +be decided by the court. A high court this, where freemen sit +assembled to administer curious justice. What constitutional +inconsistencies hover over the monstrous judicial dignity of this +court,--this court having jurisdiction over the monetary value of +beings moulded after God's own image! It forms a happy jurisprudence +for those who view it for their selfish ends; it gains freedom +tyranny's license, gives birth to strange incongruities, clashing +between the right of property in man and all the viler passions of +our nature. It holds forth a jurisprudence that turns men into +hounds of hell, devouring one another, and dragging human nature +down into the very filth of earth. + +Marston's troubles keep increasing. All the preliminaries of law +necessary to a sale of the undisputed property have been gone +through; the day of its disposal has arrived. The children, Annette +and Nicholas, have remained in a cell, suffering under its malarious +atmosphere, anxiously awaiting their fate. Marston has had them +taught to read,--contrary to a generous law of a generous land,--and +at intervals they sit together pondering over little books he has +sent them. + +What are such little books to them? the unbending avarice of human +nature, fostered by slavery's power, is grappling at their +existence. There is no sympathy for them; it is crushed out by the +law which makes them chattels. Oh, no! sympathy, generosity, human +affections, have little to do with the transactions of slave +dealing; that belongs to commerce,--commerce has an unbending rule to +maintain while money is to be made by a legalised traffic. + +We must invite the reader to accompany us to the county gaol, on the +morning of sale. + +The "gang"-Marston's slaves-have been ordered to prepare themselves +for the market; the yard resounds with their jargon. Some are +arranging their little clothing, washing, "brightening up" their +faces to make the property show off in the market. Others are +preparing homony for breakfast; children, in ragged garments, are +toddling, running, playing, and sporting about the brick pavement; +the smallest are crouched at the feet of their mothers, as if +sharing the gloom or nonchalance of their feeling. Men are gathering +together the remnants of some cherished memento of the old +plantation; they had many a happy day upon it. Women view as things +of great worth the little trinkets with which good master, in former +days, rewarded their energy. They recall each happy association of +the cabin. Husbands, or such as should be husbands, look upon their +wives with solicitude; they feel it is to be the last day they will +meet together on earth. They may meet in heaven; there is no slavery +there. Mothers look upon their children only to feel the pangs of +sorrow more keenly; they know and feel that their offspring are born +for the market, not for the enjoyment of their affections. They may +be torn from them, and sold like sheep in the shambles. Happy, free +country! How fair, how beautiful the picture of constitutional +rights! how in keeping with every-day scenes of southern life! + +"I'ze gwine to be sold; you're gwint to be sold; we're all gwine to +be sold. Wonder what mas'r's gwine t'buy dis child," says Aunt +Rachel, arranging her best dress, making her face "shine just so." +Aunt Rachel endeavours to suit her feelings to the occasion, trims +her bandana about her head with exquisite taste, and lets the +bright-coloured points hang about her ears in great profusion. + +"Da'h 's a right smart heap o' dollar in dis old nigger, yet!-if +mas'r what gwine t'buy 'em know how't fotch um out; Mas'r must do +da'h clean ting wid dis child," Rachel says, as if exulting over the +value of her own person. She brushes and brushes, views and reviews +herself in a piece of mirror-several are waiting to borrow it-thinks +she is just right for market, asks herself what's the use of +fretting? It's a free country, with boundless hospitality-of the +southern stamp,--and why not submit to all freedom's dealings? Aunt +Rachel is something of a philosopher. + +"Aunte! da' would'nt gin much fo'h yer old pack a' bones if mas'r +what gwine to buy ye know'd ye like I. Ye' h'ant da property what +bring long price wid Buckra," replies Dandy, who views Aunt Rachel +rather suspiciously, seems inclined to relieve her conceit, and has +taken very good care that his own dimensions are trimmed up to the +highest point. + +"Dis nigger would'nt swop h'r carcas fo'h yourn. Dat she don't," +Rachel retorts. + +"Reckon how ye wouldn't, ah!" Dandy's face fills with indignation. +"Buckra what sting ye back wid de lash 'll buy ye old bag a' bones +fo'h down south; and when 'e get ye down da' he make ye fo'h a corn +grinder." Dandy is somewhat inflated with his rank among the +domestics; he is none of yer common niggers, has never associated +with black, field niggers, which he views as quite too common for +his aristocratic notions, has on his very best looks, his hair +combed with extraordinary care, his shirt collar dangerously +standing above his ears. He feels something better than nigger blood +in his composition, knows the ins and outs of nigger philosophy; he +knows it to be the very best kind of philosophy for a "nigger" to +put on a good appearance at the shambles. A dandy nigger is not +plantation stock,--hence he has "trimmed up," and hopes to find a +purchaser in want of his specific kind of property; it will save him +from that field-life so much dreaded. + +The property, in all its varied shades, comes rolling out from all +manner of places in and about the gaol, filling the yard. It is a +momentous occasion, the most momentous of their life-time. And yet +many seem indifferent about its consequences. They speak of the old +plantation, jeer each other about the value of themselves, offer +bets on the price they will bring, assert a superiority over each +other, and boast of belonging to some particular grade of the +property. Harry--we mean Harry the preacher--is busy getting his wife +and children ready for market. He evinces great affection for his +little ones, has helped his wife to arrange their apparel with so +much care. The uninitiated might imagine them going to church +instead of the man shambles. Indeed, so earnest are many good +divines in the promotion of slavery, that it would not be unbecoming +to form a connection between the southern church and the southern +man shambles. The material aid they now give each other for the +purpose of keeping up the man trade would be much facilitated. + +However, there is a chance of Harry being sold to a brother divine, +who by way of serving his good Lord and righteous master, may let +him out to preach, after the old way. Harry will then be serving his +brother in brotherly faith; that is, he will be his brother's +property, very profitable, strong in the faith with his dear divine +brother, to whom he will pay large tribute for the right to serve +the same God. + +Harry's emotions-he has been struggling to suppress them-have got +beyond his control; tears will now and then show themselves and +course down his cheeks. "Never mind, my good folks! it is something +to know that Jesus still guards us; still watches over us." He +speaks encouragingly to them. "The scourge of earth is man's wrongs, +the deathspring of injustice. We are made bearers of the burden; but +that very burden will be our passport into a brighter, a juster +world. Let us meekly bear it. Cheer up! arm yourselves with the +spirit of the Lord; it will give you fortitude to live out the long +journey of slave life. How we shall feel when, in heaven, we are +brought face to face with master, before the Lord Judge. Our rights +and his wrongs will then weigh in the balance of heavenly justice." +With these remarks, Harry counsels them to join him in prayer. He +kneels on the brick pavement of the yard, clasps his hands together +as they gather around him kneeling devotedly. Fervently he offers up +a prayer,--he invokes the God of heaven to look down upon them, to +bestow his mercy upon master, to incline his ways in the paths of +good; and to protect these, his unfortunate children, and guide them +through their separate wayfaring. The ardour, grotesqueness, and +devotion of this poor forlorn group, are painfully touching. How it +presents the portrait of an oppressed race! how sunk is the nature +that has thus degraded it! Under the painful burden of their sorrow +they yet manifest the purity of simple goodness. "Oh! Father in +heaven, hast thou thus ordained it to be so?" breaks forth from +Harry's lips, as the criminals, moved by the affecting picture, +gather upon the veranda, and stand attentive listeners. Their +attention seems rivetted to his words; the more vicious, as he looks +through grated bars upon them, whispers words of respect. + +Harry has scarcely concluded his prayer when the sheriff, +accompanied by several brokers (slave-dealers), comes rushing +through the transept into the yard. The sheriff is not rude; he +approaches Harry, tells him he is a good boy, has no objection to +his praying, and hopes a good master will buy him. He will do all he +can to further his interests, having heard a deal about his talents. +He says this with good-natured measure, and proceeds to take a +cursory view of the felons. While he is thus proceeding, the +gentlemen of trade who accompanied him are putting "the property" +through a series of examinations. + +"Property like this ye don't start up every day," says one. "Best +I'ze seen come from that ar' district. Give ye plenty corn, down +there, don't they, boys?" enjoins another, walking among them, and +every moment bringing the end of a small whip which he holds in his +right hand about their legs. This, the gentleman remarks, is merely +for the purpose-one of the phrases of the very honourable trade-of +testing their nimbleness. + +"Well!" replies a tall, lithe dealer, whose figure would seem to +have been moulded for chasing hogs through the swamp, "There's some +good bits among it; but it won't stand prime, as a lot!" The +gentleman, who seems to have a nicely balanced mind for judging the +human nature value of such things, is not quite sure that they have +been bacon fed. He continues his learned remarks. "Ye'h han't had +full tuck out, I reckon, boys?" he inquires of them, deliberately +examining the mouths and nostrils of several. The gentleman is very +cool in this little matter of trade; it is an essential element of +southern democracy; some say, nothing more! + +"Yes, Boss!" replies Enoch, one of the negroes; "Mas'r ollers good +t' e niggers, gin him bacon free times a week-sometimes mo' den +dat." Several voices chime in to affirm what Enoch says. + +"Ah, very good. Few planters in that district give their negroes +bacon; and an all corn-fed nigger won't last two years on a sugar +plantation," remarks one of the gentlemen dealers, as he smokes his +cigar with great nonchalance. + +While these quaint appendancies of the trade are proceeding, +Romescos and Graspum make their appearance. They have come to +forestall opinion, to make a few side-winded remarks. They are ready +to enter upon the disgusting business of examining property more +carefully, more scrupulously, more in private. The honourable +sheriff again joins the party. He orders that every accommodation be +afforded the gentlemen in their examinations of the property. Men, +women, and children-sorrowing property-are made to stand erect; to +gesticulate their arms; to expand their chests, to jump about like +jackals, and to perform sundry antics pleasing to the gentlemen +lookers-on. This is all very free, very democratic, very gentlemanly +in the way of trade,--very necessary to test the ingredient of the +valuable square inches of the property. What matters all this! the +honourable sheriff holds it no dishonour; modest gentlemen never +blush at it; the coarse dealer makes it his study,--he trades in +human nature; the happy democrat thinks it should have a +co-fellowship with southern hospitality-so long and loudly boasted. + +Those little necessary displays over, the honourable sheriff invites +his distinguished friends to "have a cigar round;" having satisfied +their taste in gymnastarising the property. Romescos, however, +thinks he has not quite satisfied his feelings; he is very dogged on +nigger flesh. The other gentlemen may smoke their cigars; Mr. +Romescos thinks he will enjoy the exercise of his skill in testing +the tenacity of negroes' chests; which he does by administering +heavy blows, which make them groan out now and then. Groans, +however, don't amount to much; they are only nigger groans. Again +Mr. Romescos applies the full force of his hands upon their ears; +then he will just pull them systematically. "Nice property!" he +says, telling the forbearing creatures not to mind the pain. + +Messrs. Graspum and Romescos will make a close inspection of a few +pieces. Here, several men and women are led into a basement cell, +under the veranda, and stript most rudely. No discrimination is +permitted. Happy freedom! What a boon is liberty! Mr. Romescos views +their nice firm bodies, and their ebony black skins, with great +skill and precaution; his object is to prove the disposition of the +articles,--strong evidence being absence of scars. He lays his bony +fingers on their left shoulders-they being compelled to stand in a +recumbent position-tracing their bodies to the hips and thighs. Here +the process ends. Mr. Romescos has satisfied his very nice judgment +on the solidity of the human-flesh-property-he has put their bodies +through other disgusting inspections-they belong to the trade-which +cannot be told here; but he finds clean skins, very smooth, without +scars or cuts, or dangerous diseases. He laughs exultingly, orders +the people to stow themselves in their clothes again, and relights +his cigar. "If it 'ant a tall lot!" he whispers to Graspum, and +gives him a significant touch with his elbow. "Bright-smooth as a +leather ninepence; han't had a lash-Marston was a fool, or his +niggers are angels, rather black, though-couldn't start up a scar on +their flesh. A little trimmin' down-it wants it, you see!-to make it +show off; must have it-eh! Graspum, old feller? It only wants a +little, though, and them dandy niggers, and that slap-up preacher, +will bring a smart price fixed up. Great institution! The preacher's +got knowin'; can discourse like a college-made deacon, and can +convert a whole plantation with his nigger eloquence. A nigger +preacher with Bible knowin, when it's smart, is right valuable when +ye want to keep the pious of a plantation straight. And then! when +the preacher 'ant got a notion a' runnin away in him." Romescos +crooks his finger upon Graspum's arm, whispers cautiously in his +ear. + +"There 'll be a sharp bidding for some of it; they 'll run up some +on the preacher. He 'll be a capital investment,--pay more than +thirty per cent. insinuates another gentleman-a small inquisitive +looking dealer in articles of the nigger line. When a planter's got +a big gang a' niggers, and is just fool enough to keep such a thing +for the special purpose of making pious valuable in 'um," Mr. +Romescos rejoins, shrugging his shoulders, rubbing his little hawk's +eyes, and looking seriously indifferent. Romescos gives wonderful +evidence of his "first best cunning propensities;" and here he +fancies he has pronounced an opinion that will be taken as profound. +He affects heedlessness of everything, is quite disinterested, and, +thrusting his hands deep into his pockets, assumes an air of dignity +that would not unbecome my Lord Chief Justice. + +"Let us see them two bits of disputed property,--where are they?" +inquires Graspum, turning half round, and addressing himself to the +gaoler. + +"In the close cells," is the quick reply,--"through the narrow vault, +up the stone passage, and on the right, in the arched cell." + +The gaoler-good, honest-hearted man-leads the way, through a chilly +vault, up the narrow passage, to the left wing of the building. The +air is pestiferous; warm and diseased, it fans us as we approach. +The gaoler puts his face to the grating, and in a guttural voice, +says, "You're wanted, young uns." They understand the summons; they +come forward as if released from torture to enjoy the pure air of +heaven. Confinement, dreary and damp, has worn deep into their +systems. + +Annette speaks feebly, looks pale and sickly. Her flaxen curls still +dangle prettily upon her shoulders. She expected her mother; that +mother has not come. The picture seems strange; she looks childishly +and vacantly round,--at the dealers, at Graspum, at the sheriff, at +the familiar faces of the old plantation people. She recognizes +Harry, and would fain leap into his arms. Nicholas, less moved by +what is going on around him, hangs reluctantly behind, holding by +the skirt of Annette's frock. He has lost that vivacity and pertness +so characteristic on the plantation. Happy picture of freedom's +love! Happy picture of immortalised injustice! Happy picture of +everything that is unhappy! How modest is the boast that we live to +be free; and that in our virtuous freedom a child's mother has been +sold for losing her mind: a faithful divine, strong with love for +his fellow divines, is to be sold for his faith; the child-the +daughter of the democrat-they say, will be sold from her democratic +father. The death-stinging enemy Washington and Jefferson sought to +slaughter-to lay ever dead at their feet, has risen to life again. +Annette's mother has fled to escape its poison. We must pause! we +must not discourse thus in our day, when the sordid web of trade is +being drawn over the land by King Cotton. + +The children, like all such doubtful stock, are considered very +fancy, very choice of their kind. It must be dressed in style to +suit nice eyes at the shambles. + +"Well! ye'r right interesting looking," says the sheriff--Messrs. +Graspum and Co. look upon them with great concern, now and then +interrupting with some observations upon their pedigree,--taking them +by the arms, and again rumpling their hair by rubbing his hands over +their heads. "Fix it up, trim; we must put them up along with the +rest to-day. It 'll make Marston--I pity the poor fellow--show his +hand on the question of their freedom. Mr. sheriff, being +sufficiently secured against harm, is quite indifferent about the +latent phases of the suit. He remarks, with great legal logic--we +mean legal slave logic--that Marston must object to the sale when the +children are on the stand. It is very pretty kind a' property, very +like Marston--will be as handsome as pictures when they grow up," he +says, ordering it put back to be got ready. + +"Why didn't my mother come?" the child whimpers, dewy tears +decorating her eyes. "Why won't she come back and take me to the +plantation again? I want her to come back; I've waited so long." As +she turns to follow the gaoler--Nicholas still holds her by the skirt +of her frock--her flaxen curls again wave to and fro upon her +shoulders, adding beauty to her childlike simplicity. "You'll grow +to be something, one of these days, won't ye, little dear?" says the +gaoler, taking her by the hand. She replies in those silent and +touching arguments of the soul; she raises her soft blue eyes, and +heaven fills them with tears, which she lifts her tiny hands to wipe +away. + +Nicholas tremblingly-he cannot understand the strange +movement-follows them through the vault; he looks up submissively, +and with instinctive sympathy commences a loud blubbering. "You're +going to be sold, little uns! but, don't roar about it; there's no +use in that," says the gaoler, inclining to sympathy. + +Nicholas does'nt comprehend it; he looks up to Annette, plaintively, +and, forgetting his own tears, says, in a whisper, "Don't cry, +Annette; they 'll let us go and see mother, and mother will be so +kind to us-." + +"It does seem a pity to sell ye, young 'uns; ye'r such nice +'uns,--have so much interestin' in yer little skins!" interrupts the +gaoler, suddenly. The man of keys could unfold a strange history of +misery, suffering, and death, if fear of popular opinion, +illustrated in popular liberty, did not seal his lips. He admits the +present to be + +We are narrating a scene related to us by the very gaoler we here +describe, and as nearly as possible in his own language. rather an +uncommon case, says it makes a body feel kind a' unhinged about the +heart, which heart, however rocky at times, will have its own way +when little children are sorrowing. "And then, to know their +parents! that's what tells deeper on a body's feeling,--it makes a +body look into the hereafter." The man of keys and shackles would be +a father, if the law did but let him. There is a monster power over +him, a power he dreads-it is the power of unbending democracy, moved +alone by fretful painstakers of their own freedom. + +"Poor little things! ye 'r most white, yes!-suddenly changing-just +as white as white need be. Property's property, though, all over the +world. What's sanctioned by the constitution, and protected by the +spirit and wisdom of Congress, must be right, and maintained," the +gaoler concludes. His heart is at war with his head; but the head +has the power, and he must protect the rights of an unrighteous +system. They have arrived at a flight of steps, up which they +ascend, and are soon lost in its windings. They are going to be +dressed for the market. + +The sheriff is in the yard, awaiting the preparation of the +property. Even he-iron-hearted, they say-gives them a look of +generous solicitude, as they pass out. He really feels there is a +point, no less in the scale of slave dealing, beyond which there is +something so repugnant that hell itself might frown upon it. "It's a +phase too hard, touches a body's conscience," he says, not observing +Romescos at his elbow. + +"Conscience!" interrupts Romescos, his eyes flashing like meteors of +red fire, "the article don't belong to the philosophy of our +business. Establish conscience-let us, gentlemen, give way to our +feelins, and trade in nigger property 'd be deader than Chatham's +statue, what was pulled through our streets by the neck. The great +obstacle, however, is only this-it is profitable in its way!" +Romescos cautiously attempts to shield this, but it will not do. + +The gaoler, protruding his head from a second-story window, like a +mop in a rain storm, enquires if it is requisite to dress the +children in their very best shine. It is evident he merely views +them as two bales of merchandise. + +The sheriff, angrily, says, "Yes! I told you that already. Make them +look as bright as two new pins." His honour has been contemplating +how they will be mere pins in the market,--pins to bolt the doors of +justice, pins to play men into Congress, pins to play men out of +Congress, pins to play a President into the White House. + +An old negress, one of the plantation nurses, is called into +service. She commences the process of preparing them for market. +They are nicely washed, dressed in clean clothes; they shine out as +bright and white as anybody's children. Their heads look so sleek, +their hair is so nicely combed, so nicely parted, so nicely curled. +The old slave loves them,--she loved their father. Her skill has been +lavished upon them,--they look as choice and interesting as the human +property of any democratic gentleman can be expected to do. Let us +be patriotic, let us be law-loving, patient law-abiding citizens, +loving that law of our free country which puts them under the +man-vender's hammer,--say our peace-abiding neighbours. + +The gaoler has not been long in getting Annette and Nicholas ready. +He brings them forward, so neatly and prettily dressed: he places +them among the "gang." But they are disputed property: hence all +that ingenuity which the system engenders for the advancement of +dealers is brought into use to defeat the attempt to assert their +freedom. Romescos declares it no difficult matter to do this: he has +the deadly weapon in his possession; he can work (shuffle) the debt +into Graspum's hands, and he can supply the proof to convict. By +this very desirable arrangement the thing may be made nicely +profitable. + +No sooner has Aunt Rachel seen the children in their neat and +familiar attire, than her feelings bound with joy,--she cannot longer +restrain them. She has watched Marston's moral delinquencies with +suspicion; but she loves the children none the less. And with honest +negro nature she runs to them, clasps them to her bosom, fondles +them, and kisses them like a fond mother. The happy associations of +the past, contrasted with their present unhappy condition, unbind +the fountain of her solicitude,--she pours it upon them, warm and +fervent. "Gwine t' sell ye, too! Mas'r, poor old Mas'r, would'nt +sell ye, no how! that he don't. But poor old Boss hab 'e trouble +now, God bless 'em," she says, again pressing Annette to her bosom, +nearer and nearer, with fondest, simplest, holiest affection. +Looking intently in the child's face, she laughs with the bounding +joy of her soul; then she smooths its hair with her brawny black +hands: they contrast strangely with the pure carnatic of the child's +cheek. + +"Lor! good Lor, Mas'r Buckra," aunt Rachel exclaims, "if eber de +Lor' smote 'e vengence on yeh, 't'll be fo' sellin' de likes o' +dese. Old Mas'r tinks much on 'em, fo' true. Gwine t' sell dem what +Mas'r be so fond on? Hard tellin' what Buckra don't sell win i' +makes money on him. Neber mind, children; de Lor' aint so unsartin +as white man. He,--da'h good Mas'r yonder in the clouds,--save ye yet; +he'll make white man gin ye back when de day o' judgment come." Aunt +Rachel has an instinctive knowledge of the errors, accidents, and +delays which have brought about this sad event,--she becomes absorbed +in their cares, as she loses sight of her own trouble. + +All ready for the market, they are chained together in pairs, men +and women, as if the wrongs they bore had made them untrustworthy. + +Romescos, ever employed in his favourite trade, is busily engaged +chaining up-assorting the pairs! One by one they quietly submit to +the proceeding, until he reaches Harry. That minister-of-the-gospel +piece of property thinks,--that is, is foolish enough to think,--his +nigger religion a sufficient guarantee against any inert propensity +to run away. "Now, good master, save my hands from irons, and my +heart from pain. Trust me, let me go unbound; my old Master trust me +wid 'is life-" + +"Halloo!" says Romescos, quickly interrupting, and beginning to +bristle with rage; "preach about old Master here you'll get the +tinglers, I reckon. Put 'em on-not a grunt-or you'll get thirty +more-yes, a collar on yer neck." Holding a heavy stick over the poor +victim's head, for several minutes with one hand, he rubs the other, +clenched, several times across his nose. Graspum interposes by +reminding the minister that it is for his interest to be very +careful how he makes any reply to white gentlemen. + +"Why, massa, I'ze the minister on de plantation. My old master +wouldn't sell-wouldn't do so wid me. Master knows I love God, am +honest and peaceable. Why chain the honest? why chain the peaceable? +why chain the innocent? They need no fetters, no poisoning shackles. +The guilty only fear the hand of retribution," says Harry, a curl of +contempt on his lip. He takes a step backwards as Romescos holds the +heavy irons before him. + +"You don't come nigger preacher over this ar' child; 't'ant what's +crack'd up to be. I larns niggers to preach different tunes. Don't +spoil prime stock for such nonsense-" + +"Master Sheriff will stand answerable for me," interrupts Harry, +turning to that honourable functionary, and claiming his protection. +That gentleman says it is rather out of his line to interfere. + +"Not a preacher trick, I say again-Romescos evinces signs of +increasing temper-ya' black theologin. Preachers can't put on such +dignity when they'r property." Preachers of colour must be doubly +humbled: they must be humble before God, humbled before King Cotton, +humbled before the king dealer, who will sell them for their +dollars' worth. Harry must do the bidding of his king master; his +monkey tricks won't shine with such a philosopher as Romescos. The +man of bones, blood, and flesh, can tell him to sell a nigger +preacher to his brother of the ministry, and make it very +profitable. He assures Harry, while holding the shackles in his +hands, that he may put on just as much of the preacher as he can +get, when he gets to the shambles, and hears the fives and tens +bidding on his black hide. + +Harry must submit; he does it with pain and reluctance. He is +chained to his wife-a favour suggested by the sheriff-with whom he +can walk the streets of a free country,--but they must be bound in +freedom's iron fellowship. The iron shackle clasps his wrist; the +lock ticks as Romescos turns the key: it vibrates to his very heart. +With a sigh he says, "Ours is a life of sorrow, streaming its dark +way along a dangerous path. It will ebb into the bright and +beautiful of heaven; that heaven wherein we put our trust-where our +hopes are strengthened. O! come the day when we shall be borne to +the realms of joy-joy celestial! There no unholy shade of +birth-unholy only to man-shall doom us; the colour of our skin will +not there be our misfortune-" + +"What!" quickly interrupts Romescos, "what's that?" The property +minister, thus circumstanced, must not show belligerent feelings. +Romescos simply, but very skilfully, draws his club; measures him an +unamiable blow on the head, fells him to the ground. The poor wretch +struggles a few moments, raises his manacled hands to his face as +his wife falls weeping upon his shuddering body. She supplicates +mercy at the hands of the ruffian-the ruffian torturer. "Quietly, +mas'r; my man 'ill go wid me," says the woman, interposing her hand +to prevent a second blow. + +Harry opens his eyes imploringly, casts a look of pity upon the man +standing over him. Romescos is in the attitude of dealing him +another blow. The wretch stays his hand. "Do with me as you please, +master; you are over me. My hope will be my protector when your +pleasure will have its reward." + +A second thought has struck Romescos; the nigger isn't so bad, after +all. "Well, reckon how nobody won't have no objection to ya'r +thinking just as ya'v mind to; but ya' can't talk ya'r own way, nor +ya' can't have ya'r own way with this child. A nigger what puts on +parson airs-if it is a progressive age nigger-musn't put on fast +notions to a white gentleman of my standing! If he does, we just +take 'em out on him by the process of a small quantity of first- +rate knockin down," says Romescos, amiably lending him a hand to get +up. Graspum and the honourable sheriff are measuredly pacing up and +down the yard, talking over affairs of state, and the singular +purity of their own southern democracy-that democracy which will +surely elect the next President. Stepping aside in one of his +sallies, Graspum, in a half whisper, reminds Romescos that, now the +nigger has shown symptoms of disobedience, he had better prove the +safety of the shackles. "Right! right! all right!" the man of chains +responds; he had forgot this very necessary piece of amusement. He +places both hands upon the shackles; grasps them firmly; places his +left foot against Harry's stomach; and then, uttering a fierce +imprecation, makes his victim pull with might and main while he +braces against him with full power. The victim, groaning under the +pain, begs for mercy. Mercy was not made for him. Freedom and mercy, +in this our land of greatness, have been betrayed. + +Harry, made willing property, is now placed by the side of his wife, +as four small children--the youngest not more than two years +old--cling at the skirts of her gown. The children are scarcely old +enough to chain; their strong affections for poor chained mother and +father are quite enough to guarantee against their running away. +Romescos, in his ample kindness, will allow them to toddle their way +to market. They are not dangerous property;--they have their +feelings, and will go to market to be sold, without running away. + +The gang is ready. The gaoler, nearly out of breath, congratulates +himself upon the manner of dispatching business at his +establishment. Romescos will put them through a few evolutions +before marching in the street; so, placing himself at their right, +and the gaoler at their left flank, they are made to march and +counter-march several times round the yard. This done, the generous +gaoler invites the gentlemen into his office: he has a good glass of +whiskey waiting their superior tastes. + +The ward gates are opened; the great gate is withdrawn; the +property, linked in iron fellowship,--the gentlemen having taken +their whiskey,--are all ready for the word, march! This significant +admonition the sheriff gives, and the property sets off in solemn +procession, like wanderers bound on a pilgrimage. Tramp, tramp, +tramp, their footsteps fall in dull tones as they sally forth, in +broken file, through the long aisles. Romescos is in high glee,--his +feelings bound with exultation, he marches along, twirling a stick +over his head. They are soon in the street, where he invites them to +strike up a lively song--"Jim crack corn, and I don't care, fo'h +Mas'r's gone away!" he shouts; and several strike up, the rest +joining in the old plantation chorus--"Away! away! away! Mas'r's +gone away." Thus, with jingling chorus and seemingly joyous hearts, +they march down to the man-market. The two children, Annette and +Nicholas, trail behind, in charge of the sheriff, whose better +feelings seem to be troubling him very much. Every now and then, as +they walk by his side, he casts a serious look at Annette, as if +conscience, speaking in deep pulsations, said it wasn't just right +to sell such an interesting little creature. Onward they marched, +his head and heart warring the while. "There's something about it +that does'nt seem to come just right in a fellow's feelins," keeps +working itself in his mind, until at length he mutters the words. It +is the natural will to do good, struggling against the privileges +which a government gives ungovernable men to do wrong. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +LET US FOLLOW POOR HUMAN NATURE TO THE MAN SHAMBLES. + + + + + +GENTLEMEN dealers in want of human property,--planters in want of a +few prime people,--brokers who have large transactions in such +articles,--and factors who, being rather sensitive of their dignity, +give to others the negotiation of their business,--are assembled in +and around the mart, a covered shed, somewhat resembling those used +by railroad companies for the storing of coarse merchandise. +Marston's negroes are to be sold. Suspicious circumstances are +connected with his sudden decline: rumour has sounded her +seven-tongued symbols upon it, and loud are the speculations. The +cholera has made mighty ravages; but the cholera could not have done +all. Graspum has grasped the plantation, quietly and adroitly, but +he has not raised the veil of mystery that hangs over the process. +There must be long explanations before the obdurate creditors are +satisfied. + +The irons have been removed from the property, who are crouched +round the stand-an elevated platform-in a forlorn group, where +sundry customers can scrutinize their proportions. Being little or +no fancy among it, the fast young gentlemen of the town, finding +nothing worthy their attention and taste, make a few cursory +observations, and slowly swagger out of the ring. The children are +wonderfully attractive and promising; they are generally admired by +the customers, who view them with suspicious glances. Annette's +clean white skin and fine features are remarkably promising,--much +valued as articles of merchandise,--and will, in time, pay good +interest. Her youth, however, saves her from present sacrifice,--it +thwarts that spirited competition which older property of the same +quality produces when about to be knocked down under the hammer of +freedom. + +It is a great day, a day of tribulation, with the once happy people +of Marston's plantation. No prayer is offered up for them, their +souls being only embodied in their market value. Prayers are not +known at the man shambles, though the hammer of the vender seals +with death the lives of many. No gentleman in modest black cares +aught for such death. The dealer will not pay the service fee! Good +master is no longer their protector; his familiar face, so buoyant +with joy and affection, has passed from them. No more will that +strong attachment manifest itself in their greetings. Fathers will +be fathers no longer-it is unlawful. Mothers cannot longer clasp +their children in their arms with warm affections. Children will no +longer cling around their mothers,--no longer fondle in that bosom +where once they toyed and joyed. + +The articles murmur among themselves, cast longing glances at each +other, meet the gaze of their purchasers, with pain and distrust +brooding over their countenances. They would seem to trace the +character-cruel or gentle-of each in his look. + +Was it that God ordained one man thus to doom another? No! the very +thought repulsed the plea. He never made one man's life to be sorrow +and fear-to be the basest object, upon which blighting strife for +gold fills the passions of tyrants. He never made man to be a dealer +in his own kind. He never made man after his own image to imprecate +the wrath of heaven by blackening earth with his foul deeds. He +never made man to blacken this fair portion of earth with storms of +contention, nor to overthrow the principles that gave it greatness. +He never made man to fill the cup that makes the grim oppressor +fierce in his triumphs over right. + +Come reader-come with us: let us look around the pale of these +common man shambles. Here a venerable father sits, a bale of +merchandise, moved with the quick pulsation of human senses. He +looks around him as the storm of resentment seems ready to burst +forth: his wrinkled brow and haggard face in vain ask for sympathy. +A little further on, and a mother leans over her child,--tremblingly +draws it to her side; presses it nearer and nearer to her bosom. +Near her, feeding a child with crumbs of bread, is a coarse negro, +whose rough exterior covers a good heart. He gives a glance of hate +and scorn at those who are soon to tear from him his nearest and +dearest. A gloomy ring of sullen faces encircle us: hope, fear, and +contempt are pictured in each countenance. Anxious to know its doom, +the pent-up soul burns madly within their breasts; no tears can +quench the fire-freedom only can extinguish it. But, what are such +things? mere trifles when the soul loves only gold. What are they to +men who buy such human trifles? who buy and sell mankind, with +feelings as unmoved as the virgin heart that knows no guilt? + +Various are the remarks made by those who are taking a cursory view +of the people; very learned in nigger nature are many; their sayings +evince great profoundness. A question seems to be the separating of +wenches from their young 'uns. This is soon settled. Graspum, who +has made his appearance, and is very quaintly and slowly making his +apprehensions known, informs the doubting spectators that Romescos, +being well skilled, will do that little affair right up for a mere +trifle. It takes him to bring the nonsense out of nigger wenches. +This statement being quite satisfactory, the gentlemen purchasers +are at rest on that point. + +The hour of sale has arrived,--the crier rings his bell, the +purchasers crowd up to the stand, the motley group of negroes take +the alarm, and seem inclined to close in towards a centre as the +vender mounts the stand. The bell, with the sharp clanking sound, +rings their funeral knell; they startle, as with terror; they listen +with subdued anxiety; they wait the result in painful suspense. How +little we would recognise the picture from abroad. The vender, an +amiable gentleman dressed in modest black, and whose cheerful +countenance, graced with the blandest smile, betokens the antipodes +of his inhuman traffic, holding his hat in his left hand, and a long +paper in his right, makes an obsequious bow to those who have +honoured him with their company. He views them for a few moments, +smiles, casts his eye over the paper again,--it sets forth age and +quality--and then at his marketable people. The invoice is complete; +the goods correspond exactly. The texture and quality have been +appraised by good judges. Being specified, he commences reading the +summons and writs, and concludes with other preliminaries of the +sale. + +"Now, gentlemen," says Mr. Forshou--for such is his name--as he +adjusts his hat, lays the document on the desk at his right hand, +pulls up the point of his shirt-collar, sets his neatly-trimmed +whiskers a point forward, and smooths his well-oiled hair: +"We-will-proceed-with-the-sale-of this lot of negroes, according to +the directions of the sheriff of the county. And if no restrictions +are imposed, gentlemen can make their selection of old or young to +suit their choice or necessities! Gentlemen, however, will be +expected to pay for separating." Mr. Forshou, by way of +interpolation, reminds his friends that, seeing many of his very +best customers present, he expects sharp and healthy bids. He will +further remind them (smiling and fretting his hands, as if to show +the number of diamond rings he can afford to wear), that the +property has been well raised, is well known, and ranges from the +brightest and most interesting, to the commonest black field hand. +"Yes, gentlemen," he adds, "by the fortune of this unfortunate sale +we can accommodate you with anything in the line of negro property. +We can sell you a Church and a preacher-a dance-house and a +fiddler-a cook and an oyster-shop. Anything! All sold for no fault; +and warranted as sound as a roach. The honourable sheriff will gives +titles-that functionary being present signifies his willingness-and +every man purchasing is expected to have his shiners ready, so that +he can plunk down cash in ten days. I need not recount the +circumstances under which this property is offered for sale; it is +enough to say that it is offered; but, let me say, gentlemen, to +enlarge upon it would be painful to my feelings. I will merely read +the schedule, and, after selling the people, put up the oxen, mules, +and farming utensils." Mr. Forshou, with easy contentment, takes up +the list and reads at the top of his voice. The names of heads of +families are announced one by one; they answer the call promptly. He +continues till he reaches Annette and Nicholas, and here he pauses +for a few moments, turning from the paper to them, as if he one +minute saw them on the paper and the next on the floor. "Here, +gentlemen," he ejaculates, in a half guttural voice-something he +could not account for touched his conscience at the moment-holding +the paper nearer his eye-glass, "there is two bits of property +bordering on the sublime. It dazzles-seems almost too interesting to +sell. It makes a feller's heart feel as if it warn't stuck in the +right place." Mr. Forshou casts another irresistible look at the +children; his countenance changes; he says he is very sensitive, and +shows it in his blushes. He might have saved his blushes for the +benefit of the State. The State is careful of its blushes; it has +none to sell-none to bestow on a child's sorrow! + +Annette returns his somewhat touching manifestation of remorse with +a childlike smile. + +"Well! I reckon how folks is gettin' tenderish, now a' days. Who'd +thought the major had such touchy kind a' feelins? Anything wrong +just about yer goggler?" interrupts Romescos, giving the vender a +quizzical look, and a "half-way wink." Then, setting his slouch hat +on an extra poise, he contorts his face into a dozen grimaces. "Keep +conscience down, and strike up trade," he says, very coolly, drawing +a large piece of tobacco from his breast-pocket and filling his +mouth to its utmost capacity. + +"Feelings are over all things," responds the sheriff, who stands by, +and will speak for the vender, who is less accustomed to speaking +for himself. "Feelings bring up recollections of things one never +thought of before,--of the happiest days of our happiest home. +'Tain't much, no, nothing at all, to sell regular black and coloured +property; but there's a sort of cross-grained mythology about the +business when it comes to selling such clear grain as this." + +The vender relieves the honourable sheriff from all further display +of sympathy, by saying that he feels the truth of all the honourable +and learned gentleman has said, "which has 'most made the inward +virtue of his heart come right up." He leans over the desk, extends +his hand, helps himself to a generous piece of Romescos' tobacco. + +Romescos rejoins in a subdued voice-"He thinks a man what loves +dimes like the major cannot be modest in nigger business, because +modesty ain't trade commodity. It cannot be; the man who thinks of +such nonsense should sell out-should go north and join the humane +society. Folks are all saints, he feels sure, down north yander; +wouldn't sell nigger property;--they only send south right smart +preachers to keep up the dignity of the institution; to do the +peculiar religion of the very peculiar institution. No objection to +that; nor hain't no objection to their feelin' bad about the poor +niggers, so long as they like our cash and take our cotton. That's +where the pin's drove in; while it hangs they wouldn't be bad +friends with us for the world." + +"You may, Mr. Romescos, suspend your remarks," says the vender, +looking indignant, as he thrusts his right hand into his bosom, and +attempts a word of introduction. + +Romescos must have his last word; he never says die while he has a +word at hand. "The major's love must be credited, gentlemen; he's a +modest auctioneer,--a gentleman what don't feel just right when white +property's for sale," he whispers, sarcastically. + +Another pause, then a hearty laughing, and the man commences to sell +his people. He has uttered but a few words, when Marston's attorney, +stepping into the centre of the ring, and near the vender, draws a +paper from his pocket, and commences reading in a loud tone. It is a +copy of the notice he had previously served on the sheriff, setting +forth in legal phraseology the freedom of the children, "And +therfo'h this is t' stay proceedings until further orders from the +honourable Court of Common Pleas," is audible at the conclusion. The +company are not much surprised. There is not much to be surprised +at, when slave law and common law come in contact. With Marston's +sudden decline and unfathomable connection with Graspum, there is +nothing left to make the reading of the notice interesting. + +"You hear this, gentlemen?" says the vender, biting his lips: "the +sale of this very interesting portion of this very interesting +property is objected to by the attorney for the defendant at law. +They must, therefore, be remanded to the custody of the sheriff, to +await the decision of court." That court of strange judgments! The +sheriff, that wonderful medium of slaveocratic power, comes forward, +muttering a word of consolation; he will take them away. He passes +them over to an attendant, who conducts them to their dark chilly +cells. + +"All right!" says Graspum, moving aside to let the children pass +out. "No more than might have been expected; it's no use, though. +Marston will settle that little affair in a very quiet way." He +gives the man-vender a look of approval; the very celebrated Mr. +Graspum has self-confidence enough for "six folks what don't deal +in niggers." A bystander touching him on the arm, he gives his head +a cunning shake, crooks his finger on his red nose. "Just a thing of +that kind," he whispers, making some very delicate legal +gesticulations with the fore-finger of his right hand in the palm of +his left; then, with great gravity, he discusses some very nice +points of nigger law. He is heard to say it will only be a waste of +time, and make some profitable rascality for the lawyers. He could +have settled the whole on't in seven minutes. "Better give them up +honourably, and let them be sold with the rest. Property's property +all over the world; and we must abide by the laws, or what's the +good of the constitution? To feel bad about one's own folly! The +idea of taking advantage of it at this late hour won't hold good in +law. How contemptibly silly! men feeling fatherly after they have +made property of their own children! Poor, conscientious fools, how +they whine at times, never thinking how they would let their +womanish feelings cheat their creditors. There's no honour in that." + +"Gentlemen!" interrupts the vender, "we have had enough discussion, +moral, legal, and otherwise. We will now have some selling." + +The honourable sheriff desires to say a word or two upon points not +yet advanced. "The sheriff! the sheriff!" is exclaimed by several +voices. He speaks, having first adjusted his spectacles, and +relieved himself of three troublesome coughs. "The institution-I +mean, gentlemen, the peculiar institution-must be preserved; we +cannot, must not, violate statutes to accommodate good-feeling +people. My friend Graspum is right, bob and sinker; we'd get +ourselves into an everlasting snarl, if we did. I am done!" The +sheriff withdraws his spectacles, places them very carefully in a +little case, wipes his mouth modestly, and walks away humming an +air. + +"Now, gentlemen," says the vender, bristling with renewed animation +"seeing how you've all recovered from a small shock of conscience, +we will commence the sale." + +Aunt Rachel is now placed upon the stand. Her huge person, cleanly +appearance-Auntie has got her bandana tied with exquisite knot-and +very motherly countenance excite general admiration, as on an +elevated stand she looms up before her audience. Mr. Forshou, the +very gentlemanly vender, taking up the paper, proceeds to describe +Aunt Rachel's qualities, according to the style and manner of a +celebrated race-horse. Auntie doesn't like this,--her dignity is +touched; she honours him with an angry frown. Then she appeals to +the amiable gentleman; "come, mas'r, sell 'um quick; don' hab no +nonsense wid dis child! Sell 'um to some mas'r what make I +housekeeper. Old mas'r,--good old Boss,--know I fus' rate at dat. Let +'um done gone, mas'r, fo'h soon." Rachel is decidedly opposed to +long drawn-out humbuggery. + +The bids now commence; Rachel, in mute anxiety, tremblingly watches +the lips they fall from. + +"Give you a first best title to this ar' old critter, gentlemen!" +says the vender, affecting much dignity, as he holds up his baton of +the trade in flesh. "Anybody wanting a good old mother on a +plantation where little niggers are raised will find the thing in +the old institution before you. The value is not so much in the size +of her, as in her glorious disposition." Aunt Rachel makes three or +four turns, like a peacock on a pedestal, to amuse her admirers. +Again, Mr. Wormlock intimates, in a tone that the vender may hear, +that she has some grit, for he sees it in her demeanour, which is +assuming the tragic. Her eyes, as she turns, rest upon the crispy +face of Romescos. She views him for a few moments-she fears he will +become her purchaser. Her lip curls with contempt, as she turns from +his gaze and recognises an old acquaintance, whom she at once +singles out, accosts and invites beseechingly to be her purchaser, +"to save her from dat man!" She points to Romescos. + +Her friend shakes his head unwillingly. Fearing he may become an +object of derision, he will not come forward. Poor old slave! +faithful from her childhood up, she has reached an age where few +find it profitable to listen to her supplications. The black veil of +slavery has shut out the past good of her life,--all her faithfulness +has gone for nothing; she has passed into that channel where only +the man-dealer seeks her for the few dollars worth of labour left in +a once powerful body. Oh! valuable remnant of a life, how soon it +may be exhausted-forgotten! + +Bidders have some doubts about the amount of labour she can yet +perform; and, after much manifest hesitancy, she is knocked down to +Romescos for the sum of two hundred and seventy dollars. "There! +'tain't a bad price for ye, nohow!" says the vender, laconically. +"Get down, old woman." Rachel moves to the steps, and is received by +Romescos, who, taking his purchase by the arm, very mechanically +sets it on one side. "Come, Auntie, we'll make a corn-cracker a' +you, until such time as we can put yer old bones in trim to send +south. Generousness, ye see, made me gin more nor ye war' worth-not +much work in ye when ye take it on the square;--but a feller what +understands the trimmin' a' niggers like I can do ye up young, and +put an honest face on while he's cheatin' some green chap with yer +old bones." Romescos, very clever in his profession, is not quite +sure that his newly-purchased property will "stay put." He turns +about suddenly, approaches Rachel-crouched in a corner-mumbling over +some incomprehensible jargon, evidently very much disturbed in her +feelings, saying, "I kind a' think I see devil in yer eye, old +woman." Rachel turns her head aside, but makes no answer. Mr. +Romescos will make everything certain; so, drawing a cord, similar +to a small sized clothes line, from his pocket, she holds up her +hands at his bidding: he winds it several times round her wrists, +then ties it securely. "The property's all safe now," he whispers, +and returns to attend the bidding arrangements. + +One by one-mothers, fathers, and single property, old and young, as +may be-are put upon the stand; sold for the various uses of manifest +democracy. Harry,--the thinking property, whose sense-keeping has +betrayed the philosophy of profound democracy,--is a preacher, and, +by the value of his theological capacity, attracts more than +ordinary attention. But his life has been a failure,--a mere +experiment in divinity struggling with the sensitive power of model +democracy. He now seems impatient to know that doom to which the +freedom of an enlightened age has consigned him. One minute some +cheering hope of his getting a good master presents itself in a +familiar face; then it turns away, and with it vanishes his hope. +Another comes forward, but it is merely to view his fine +proportions. + +Harry has feelings, and is strongly inclined to cling to the opinion +that those who know his character and talents, will be inclined to +purchase. Will they save him from the cruelties of ordinary +plantation life? + +"Now for the preacher!"-Mr. Forshou touches his hat, politely. +"Gentlemen purchasing, and wanting a church can be accommodated with +that article to-morrow. Come, boy, mount up here!" The preaching +article draws his steps reluctantly, gets up, and there stands,--a +black divine: anybody may look at him, anybody may examine him, +anybody may kick him; anybody may buy him, body, soul, and theology. +How pleasing, how charmingly liberal, is the democracy that grants +the sweet privilege of doing all these things! Harry has a few +simple requests to make, which his black sense might have told him +the democracy could not grant. He requests (referring to his +position as a minister of the gospel) that good master-the +vender-will sell him with his poor old woman, and that he do not +separate him from his dear children. In support of his appeal he +sets forth, in language that would be impressive were it from white +lips, that he wants to teach his little ones in the ways of the +Lord. "Do, mas'r! try sell us so we live together, where my heart +can feel and my eyes see my children," he concludes, pointing to his +children (living emblems of an oppressed race), who, with his +hapless wife, are brought forward and placed on the stand at his +feet. Harry (the vender pausing a moment) reaches out his hand (that +hand so feared and yet so harmless), and affectionately places it on +the head of his youngest child; then, taking it up, he places it in +the arms of his wife,--perhaps not long to be so,--who stands +trembling and sobbing at his side. Behold how picturesque is the +fruit of democracy! Three small children, clinging round the skirts +of a mother's garment, casting sly peeps at purchasers as if they +had an instinctive knowledge of their fate. They must be sold for +the satisfaction of sundry debts held by sundry democratic +creditors. How we affect to scorn the tyranny of Russia, because of +her serfdom! Would to God there were truth and virtue in the scorn! + +Mr. Forshou, the very sensitive and gentlemanly vender-he has +dropped the title of honourable, which was given him on account of +his having been a member of the State Senate-takes Harry by the +right hand, and leads him round, where, at the front of the tribune, +customers may have a much better opportunity of seeing for +themselves. + +"Yes! he's a swell-a right good fellow." Mr. Forshou turns to his +schedule, glancing his eye up and down. "I see; it's put down here +in the invoice: a minister-warranted sound in every respect. It does +seem to me, gentlemen, that here 's a right smart chance for a +planter who 'tends to the pious of his niggers, giving them a little +preaching once in a while. Now, let the generous move; shake your +dimes; let us turn a point, and see what can be done in the way of +selling the lot,--preacher, wife, and family. The boy, Harry, is a +preacher by nature; has by some unknown process tumbled into the +profession. He's a methodist, I reckon! But there's choice field +property in him; and his wife, one of the primest wenches in the +gang, never says die when there's plenty of cotton to pick. As for +the young uns, they are pure stock. You must remember, gentlemen, +preachers are not in the market every day; and when one's to be got +that'll preach the right stripe, there's no knowing the value of +him-" + +"We don't want so much of this," interrupts a voice in the crowd. + +"Rather anxious to buy the feller," Mr. Forshou replies, affecting +much indifference. He will say a few words more. "Think the matter +over, upon strict principles of political economy, and you'll find, +gentlemen, he's just the article for big planters. I am happy to see +the calm and serene faces of three of my friends of the clergy +present; will they not take an interest for a fellow-worker in a +righteous cause?" The vender smiles, seems inclined to jocularity, +to which the gentlemen in black are unwilling to submit. They have +not been moving among dealers, and examining a piece of property +here and there, with any sinecure motive. They view the vender's +remarks as exceedingly offensive, return a look of indignation, and +slowly, as if with wounded piety, walk away. The gentlemen in black +are most sensitive when any comparison is made between them and a +black brother. How horible shocked they seem, as, with white +neckerchiefs so modest, they look back as they merge from the mart +into the street! + +It is a question whether these sensitive divines were shocked at the +affectation and cold indifference manifested by legitimate dealers, +or at the vender's very impertinent remarks. We will not charge +aught against our brethren of the clergy: no, we will leave the +question open to the reader. We love them as good men who might +labour for a better cause; we will leave them valiant defenders of +southern chivalry, southern generosity, southern affability, and +southern injustice. To be offended at so small an affair as selling +a brother clergyman,--to make the insinuation that they are not +humane, cause of insult,--is, indeed, the very essence of absurdity. + +The vender makes a few side-motions with his thumbs, winks to +several of his customers, and gives a significant nod, as the +gentlemen in black pass out of the insulting establishment. "Well, +gentlemen, I'm sorry if I've offended anybody; but there's a +deep-rooted principle in what I've said, nor do I think it christian +for the clergy to clear out in that shape. However, God bless 'em; +let 'em go on their way rejoicing. Here's the boy-he turns and puts +his hand kindly on Harry's shoulder-and his wench, and his young +uns,--a minister and family, put down in the invoice as genuine +prime. Our worthy sheriff's a good judge of deacons-the sheriff-high +functionary-acknowledges the compliment by respectfully nodding-and +my opinion is that the boy'll make a good bishop yet: he only wants +an apron and a fair showing." He touches Harry under the chin, +laughing heartily the while. + +"Yes, master," replies Harry-he has little of the negro +accent-quieting his feelings; "what I larn is all from the Bible, +while master slept. Sell my old woman and little ones with me; my +heart is in their welfare-" + +"Don't trifle with the poor fellow's feelings; put him up and sell +him to the best advantage. There's nobody here that wants a preacher +and family. It's only depreciating the value of the property to sell +it in the lot," says Graspum, in a firm voice. He has been standing +as unmoved as a stoic, seeing nothing but property in the wretch of +a clergyman, whose natural affections, pictured in his imploring +looks, might have touched some tender chord of his feelings. + +After several attempts, it is found impossible to sell the minister +and his family in one lot. Hence, by the force of necessity, his +agonising beseechings pouring forth, he is put up like other single +bales of merchandise, and sold to Mr. M'Fadden, of A--district. The +minister brought eleven hundred dollars, ready money down! The +purchaser is a well-known planter; he has worked his way up in the +world, is a rigid disciplinarian, measuring the square inches of +labour in his property, and adapting the best process of bringing it +all out. + +"He's all I want," says M'Fadden, making a move outward, and edging +his way through the crowd. + +"A moment with my poor old woman, master, if you please?" says +Harry, turning round to his wife. + +"None of your black humbugging; there's wives enough on my place, +and a parson can have his choice out of fifty," returns M'Fadden, +dragging him along by the arm. The scene that here ensues is +harrowing in the extreme. The cries and sobs of children,--the +solicitude and affection of his poor wife, as she throws her arms +about her husband's neck,--his falling tears of sorrow, as one by one +he snatches up his children and kisses them,--are painfully touching. +It is the purest, simplest, holiest of love, gushing forth from +nature's fountain. It were well if we could but cherish its heavenly +worth. That woman, the degraded of a despised race, her arms round a +fond husband's neck, struggling with death-like grasp, and imploring +them not to take him from her. The men who have made him +merchandise,--who have trodden his race in the dust,--look on unmoved +as the unfeeling purchaser drags him from the embrace of all that is +near and dear to him on earth. Here, in this boasted freest country +the sun shines on-where freedom was bequeathed by our brave +forefathers,--where the complex tyranny of an old world was +overthrown,--such scenes violate no law. When will the glorious, the +happy day of their death come? When shall the land be free? + +M'Fadden, having paid the price of his clergyman, drags him to the +door. "Once more, master," mutters the victim, looking back with +fear and hope pictured on his imploring face. M'Fadden has no +patience with such useless implorings, and orders him to move along. +"I will see them once more!" the man exclaims, "I will! Good bye! +may Heaven bless you on earth, my little ones!-God will protect us +when we meet again!" The tears course down his cheeks. + +"None of that ar' kind of nonsense! Shut down yer tear-trap," says +M'Fadden, calling an attendant, and, drawing a pair of irons from +his pocket, placing them about Harry's hands. Mr. M'Fadden's +property shows signs of being somewhat belligerent: to obviate any +further nonsense, and to make short work of the thing, Mr. M'Fadden +calls in aid, throws his property on the ground, ties its legs with +a piece of rope, places it upon a drag, and orders it to be conveyed +to the depot, from whence it will be despatched by rail for a new +home. + +This little ceremony over, the wife and children (Romescos and +M'Fadden, not very good friends, were competitors for the preacher +property) are put up and sold to Romescos. That skilful and very +adroit gentleman is engaged to do the exciting business of +separating, which he is progressing with very coolly and cleverly. +The whole scene closes with selling the animal property and farming +utensils. Happy Christian brothers are they who would spread the +wings of their Christianity over such scenes! + + + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +A FATHER'S TRIALS. + + + + + +IF modern Christianity, as improved in our southern world-we mean +our world of slavery-had blushes, it might improve the use of them +were we to recount in detail the many painful incidents which the +improved and very christianly process of separating husbands from +wives, parents from children, brothers from sisters, and friends +from all the ties and associations the heart, gives birth to. +Negroes have tender sympathies, strong loves. Reader, we will save +your feelings,--we will not recount them; our aim is not to excite +undue feeling, but to relate every-day scenes. + +Days and weeks pass on drearily with Marston. Unhappy, forlorn, +driven to the last extremity by obdurate creditors, he waits the +tardy process of the law. He seldom appears in public; for those who +professed to be his best friends have become his coldest +acquaintances. But he has two friends left,--friends whose pure +friendship is like sweetest dew-drops: they are Franconia and Daddy +Bob. The rusty old servant is faithful, full of benevolence, +gratitude, and unshaken fidelity; the other is the generous woman, +in whose bosom beat the tender impulses of a noble soul. Those +impulses have been moved to action in defence of the innocent; they +never can be defeated. Bob is poor, abject, and old with toil. He +cares not to be free,--he wants mas'r free. But there yet remains +some value in Bob; and he has secreted himself, in hopes of escaping +the man-dealer, and sharing his earnings in the support of old +mas'r. Franconia is differently situated; yet she can only take +advantage of circumstances which yet depend upon the caprice of a +subtle-minded husband. Over both these friends of the unfortunate, +slavery has stretched its giant arms, confusing the social system, +uprooting the integrity of men, weakening respect for law, violating +the best precepts of nature, substituting passion for principle, +confounding reason, and enslaving public opinion. + +Under the above disorganising state of the social compact, the +children, known to be Marston's, are pursued as property belonging +to the bankrupt estate. When the law has made it such, it must be +sold in satisfaction of Marston's debts. + +Seven months have passed since they were shut up in a felon's cell. +They have been visited by Marston; he has been kind to them,--kind as +a father could be under such circumstances. Franconia has not +forgotten them: she sends many little things to lighten the gloom of +their confinement; but society closes her lips, and will frown upon +any disclosure she may make of their parentage. Were she to disclose +it to Colonel M'Carstrow, the effect would be doubtful: it might add +to the suspicious circumstances already excited against her +unfortunate uncle. The paramount question-whether they are hereafter +to be chattel slaves, or human beings with inalienable rights-must +be submitted to the decision of a judicial tribunal. It is by no +means an uncommon case, but very full of interest. It will merely be +interesting-not as involving any new question of law, nor presenting +new phases of southern jurisprudence-in showing what very notorious +dealers in human kind, and lawyers of great legal ability, can +morally and legally perform. It will show how great men figure in +the arena of legal degradation, how they unravel the mystery of +slave power. + +Graspum, professedly uninterested, has purchased the claims, and +will pursue the payment in the name of the original plaintiffs. With +Romescos's cunning aid, of course the trial will be a perfect farce, +the only exception being that the very profound Mr. Graspum will +exhibit a degree of great sincerity on his part. + +The sessions are sitting; the day for the trial of this important +case has arrived; the little dingy court-room is early crowded to +excess, but there is not much expression of anxiety. Men speak +lightly of the issue, as if some simple game were to be played. The +judge, a grave-looking gentleman of no ordinary mien, in whose full +countenance sternness is predominant in the well-displayed +estimation in which he holds his important self, walks measuredly +into court-the lacqueys of the law crying "Court! court!" to which +he bows-and takes his seat upon an elevated tribune. There is great +solemnity preserved at the opening: the sheriff, with well-ordained +costume and sword, sits at his honour's left, his deputy on the +right, and the very honourable clerk of the court just below, where +there can be no impediment during the process of feeding "the Court" +on very legal points of "nigger law." In truth, the solemnity of +this court, to those unacquainted with the tenor of legal +proceedings at the south, might have been misconstrued for something +more in keeping with justice. + +The legal gentlemen, most modest of face, are seated round the bar-a +semicircular railing dividing their dignity from the common +spectator-waiting the reading of the docket. The clerk takes his +time about that, and seems a great favourite with the spectators, +who applaud his rising. He reads, the sheriff crying "order! order!" +while the judge learnedly examines his notes. Some consultation +takes place between several of the attorneys, which is interlarded +with remarks from the judge, who, with seeming satisfaction to all +parties, orders the case of B. C. R. K. Marston's writ of replevin +to be called and proceeded with. "As there are three fi fas," says +the junior attorney for the defendants, a very lean strippling of +the law, just working his way up in the world, "I object to the +manner of procedure; the case only involves a question of law, and +should be submitted to the special decision of the Court. It is not +a matter for a jury to decide upon," he concludes. The judge has +listened to his remarks, objections, and disclaimers, with marked +attention; nevertheless, he is compelled to overrule them, and order +the case to proceed. Upon this it is agreed among the +attorneys-happy fellows, always ready to agree or disagree-that a +decision taken upon one fi fa shall be held as establishing a +decision for all the cases at issue. + +The children are now brought into Court, and seated near one of the +attorneys. Marston stands, almost motionless, a few steps back, +gazing upon them as intently and solicitously as if the issue were +life or death. Deacon Rosebrook, his good lady, and Franconia, have +been summoned as witnesses, and sit by the side of each other on a +bench within the bar. We hear a voice here and there among the crowd +of spectators expressing sympathy for the children; others say they +are only "niggers," and can't be aught else, if it be proved that +Marston bought the mother. And there is Mr. Scranton! He is well +seated among the gentlemen of the legal profession, for whom he has +a strong fellow feeling. He sits, unmoved, in his wonted moodiness; +now and then he gives the children a sly look of commiseration, as +if the screws of his feelings were unloosing. They-the little +property-look so interesting, so innocent, so worthy of being +something more than merchandise in a land of liberty, that Mr. +Scranton's heart has become irresistibly softened. It gets a few +degrees above Mr. Scranton's constitutional scruples. "Painful +affair this! What do you think of it, Mr. Scranton?" enquires a +member of the profession, touching his arm. + +"It is the fruit of Marston's weakness, you see!-don't feel just +straight, I reckon. Didn't understand the philosophy of the law, +neither; and finds himself pinched up by a sort of humanity that +won't pass for a legal tender in business-" + +"Ah! we cannot always look into the future," interrupts the +attorney. + +Mr. Scranton holds that whatever is constitutional must be right and +abidable; that one's feelings never should joggle our better +understanding when these little curiosities come in the way. He +admits, however, that they are strange attendants coming up once in +a while, like the fluctuations of an occult science. With him, the +constitution gives an indisputable right to overlook every outrage +upon natural law; and, while it exists in full force, though it may +strip one half the human race of rights, he has no right to complain +so long as it does not interfere with him. It strikes Mr. Scranton +that people who differ with him in opinion must have been educated +under the teaching of a bad philosophy. Great governments, he holds, +often nurture the greatest errors. It matters not how much they feel +their magnitude; often, the more they do, the least inclined are +they to correct them. Others fear the constitutional structure so +much, that they stand trembling lest the slightest correction totter +it to the ground. Great governments, too, are most likely to stand +on small points when these errors are pointed out. Mr. Scranton +declares, with great emphasis, that all these things are most +legally true, perfectly natural: they follow in man as well as +governments. + +With all due deference to Mr. Scranton's opinion, so much demanded +among his admiring neighbours, it must be said that he never could +bring his mind to understand the difference between natural +philosophy and his own constitutional scruples, and was very apt to +commit himself in argument, forgetting that the evil was in the +fruits of a bad system, bringing disgrace upon his countrymen, +corrupting the moral foundation of society, spreading vice around +the domestic fireside, and giving to base-minded men power to +speculate in the foulness of their own crimes. + +The case is opened by the attorney for the plaintiff, who makes a +great many direct and indirect remarks, and then calls witnesses. +"Marco Graspum!" the clerk exclaims. That gentleman comes forward, +takes his place, calmly, upon the witnesses' stand. At first he +affects to know but little; then suddenly remembers that he has +heard Marston call their mothers property. Further, he has heard +him, while extolling their qualities, state the purchase to have +been made of one Silenus, a trader. + +"He stated-be sure now!-to you, that he purchased them of one +Silenus, a trader?" interpolates the judge, raising his glasses, and +advancing his ear, with his hand raised at its side. + +Yes, yer honour!" "Please observe this testimony," rejoins the +attorney, quickly. He bows; says that is enough. The opposing +attorney has no question to put on cross-examination: he knows +Graspum too well. Being quite at home with the gentlemen of the +legal profession, they know his cool nonchalance never can be shaken +upon a point of testimony. + +"Any questions to put?" asks the legal opponent, with an air of +indifference. + +"No, nothing," is the reply. + +His brother of special pleas smiles, gives a cunning glance at +Graspum, and wipes his face with a very white handkerchief. He is +conscious of the character of his man; it saves all further trouble. +"When we know who we have to deal with, we know how to deal," he +mutters, as he sits down. + +Graspum retires from the stand, and takes his seat among the +witnesses. "We will now call Anthony Romescos," says the attorney. A +few minutes' pause, and that individual rolls out in all his +independence, takes his place on the stand. He goes through a long +series of questioning and cross-questioning, answers for which he +seems to have well studied. + +The whole amounts to nothing more than a corroboration of Graspum's +testimony. He has heard Marston call their mothers property: once, +he thinks, but would hesitate before pledging his honour, that +Marston offered to him the woman Clotilda. Yes; it was her! + +Considerable excitement is now apparent; the auditory whisper among +themselves, attorneys put their heads together, turn and turn over +the leaves of their statutes. His honour, the Court, looks wiser +still. Marston trembles and turns pale; his soul is pinioned between +hope and fear. Romescos has told something more than he knows, and +continues, at random, recounting a dozen or more irrelevant things. +The court, at length, deems it necessary to stop his voluntary +testimony, orders that he only answer such questions as are put to +him. + +"There's no harm in a feller tellin' what he knows, eh! judge?" +returns Romescos, dropping a quid of tobacco at his side, bowing +sarcastically to the judge, and drawing his face into a comical +picture. + +Mr. Romescos is told that he can stand aside. At this seemingly +acceptable announcement, he bristles his crispy red hair with his +fingers, shrugs his shoulders, winks at two or three of the jurymen, +pats Graspum on the shoulder as he passes him, and takes his seat. + +"We will close the case here, but reserve the right of introducing +further testimony, if necessary," says the learned and very +honourable counsel. + +The defence here rises, and states the means by which his client +intends to prove the freedom of the children; and concludes by +calling over the names of the witnesses. Franconia! Franconia! we +hear that name called; it sounds high above the others, and falls +upon our ear most mournfully. Franconia, that sweet creature of +grace and delicacy, brought into a court where the scales of +injustice are made to serve iniquity! + +Franconia's reserve and modesty put legal gentlemen's gallantry to +the test. One looks over the pages of his reports, another casts a +sly look as she sweeps by to take that place the basest of men has +just left. The interested spectators stretch their persons +anxiously, to get a look at the two pretty children, honourable and +legal gentlemen are straining their ability to reduce to property. +There stands the blushing woman, calm and beautiful, a virtuous +rebuke to curious spectators, mercenary slave dealers, the very +learned gentlemen of the bar, and his enthroned honour, the Court! +She will give testimony that makes nature frown at its own +degradation. Not far from Franconia sits the very constitutional Mr. +Scranton, casting side glances now and then. Our philosopher +certainly thinks, though he will not admit it, the chivalry is +overtaxing itself; there was no occasion for compelling so fair a +creature to come into court, and hear base testimony before a base +crowd,--to aid a base law in securing base ends. And then, just think +and blush, ye who have blushes to spare. + +"Will the learned gentleman proceed with the examination of this +witness?" says his honour, who, pen in hand, has been waiting +several minutes to take down her testimony. Court and audience, +without knowing why, have come to an unconscious pause. + +"Will the witness state to the court in what relation she stands to +the gentleman who defends title freedom of the children,--Mr. Hugh +Marston?" says the attorney, addressing his bland words to +Franconia, somewhat nervously. + +"He--he--he--is my--," she mutters, and stops. Her face turns pale; then +suddenly changes to glowing crimson. She rests her left hand on the +rail, while the judge, as if suddenly moved by a generous impulse, +suggests that the attorney pause a moment, until the deputy provides +a chair for the lady. She is quiet again. Calmly and modestly, as +her soft, meaning eyes wander over the scene before her, compelled +to encounter its piercing gaze, the crystal tears leave their wet +courses on her blushing cheeks. Her feelings are too delicate, too +sensitive, to withstand the sharp and deadly poison of liberty's +framework of black laws. She sees her uncle, so kind, so fond of her +and her absent brother; her eye meets his in kindred sympathy, +imagination wings its way through recollections of the past, draws +forth its pleasures with touching sensations, and fills the cup too +full. That cup is the fountain of the soul, from which trouble draws +its draughts. She watches her uncle as he turns toward the children; +she knows they are his; she feels how much he loves them. + +The attorney--the man of duty--is somewhat affected. "I have a duty to +perform," he says, looking at the court, at the witness, at the +children, at the very red-faced clerk, at the opposing counsel, and +anything within the precincts of the court-room. We see his lips +move; he hesitates, makes slight gesticulations, turns and turns a +volume of Blackstone with his hands, and mutters something we cannot +understand. The devil is doing battle with his heart-a heart bound +with the iron strings of the black law. At length, in broken +accents, we catch the following remarks, which the learned gentleman +thinks it necessary to make in order to save his gallantry:--"I am +sorry--extremely sorry, to see the witness, a lady so touchingly +sensitive, somewhat affected; but, nevertheless" (the gentleman bows +to the judge, and says the Court will understand his position!) "it +is one of those cases which the demands of the profession at times +find us engaged in. As such we are bound, morally, let me say, as +well as legally, to protect the interests of our clients. In doing +so, we are often compelled to encounter those delicate +irregularities to which the laws governing our peculiar institutions +are liable. I may say that they are so interwoven with our peculiar +institution, that to act in accordance with our duty makes it a +painful task to our feelings. We--I may appeal to the court for +corroboration--can scarcely pursue an analysation of these cases +without pain; I may say, remorse of conscience." Mr. Petterwester, +for such is his name, is evidently touched with that sense of shame +which the disclosures of the black system bring upon his profession. +This is aided by the fascinating appearance of the witness on the +stand. It is irresistible because it is at variance with those legal +proceedings, those horrors of southern jurisprudence, which he is +pressing for the benefit of his clients. Again he attempts to put +another question, but is seized with a tremor; he blushes, is +nervous and confused, casts a doubting look at the judge. That +functionary is indeed very grave--unmoved. The responsibility of the +peculiar institution sorely hardened the war of heart against head +that was waging among the learned gentlemen; but the institution +must be preserved, for its political power works wonders, and its +legal power is wondrously curious. "Please tell the court and jury +what you know about the relation in which these children stand to +the gentleman who asserts their freedom, dear madam? We will not +trouble you with questions; make a statement," says Mr. +Petterwester, with great sincerity of manner. Indeed, Mr. +Petterwester has been highly spoken of among the very oldest, most +respectable, and best kind of female society, for his gallantry. + +The brother opposite, a small gentleman, with an exceedingly +studious countenance, dressed in shining black, and a profusion of +glossy hair falling upon his shoulders, rises with great legal +calmness, and objects to the manner of procedure, describing it as +contrary to the well-established rules of the bar. The court +interpolates a few remarks, and then intimates that it very +seriously thinks gentlemen better waive the points,--better come to +an understanding to let the lady make her statements! Courtesy +entitles her, as a lady, to every respect and consideration. The +gentlemen, having whispered a few words together, bow assent to the +high functionary's intimation. + +Franconia proceeds. She asserts that Hugh Marston (pointing to him) +is her uncle; that she knows little or nothing of his business +affairs, cannot tell why her brother left the country so suddenly; +she knew Clotilda and Ellen Juvarna, mothers of the children. They +never were considered among the property of the plantation. Her +short story is told in touching tones. The learned and gallant +attorney, esteeming it indispensable, puts a question or two as to +whether anything was ever said about selling them in consequence of +certain jealousies. Before the brother can object, she answers them +evasively, and the testimony amounts to just no testimony at all. +The court, bowing respectfully, informs the lady she can get down +from the stand. + +The next witness called is Mrs. Rosebrook. This good and benevolent +lady is more resolute and determined. The gentlemen of the bar find +her quite clever enough for them. Approaching the stand with a firm +step, she takes her place as if determined upon rescuing the +children. Her answers come rather faster than is compatible with the +dignity of the learned gentlemen of the bar. She knows Marston, +knows Franconia, knows the old plantation, has spent many happy +hours upon it, is sorry to see the old proprietor reduced to this +state of things. She knows the two children,--dear creatures,--has +always had a kindly feeling for them; knew their poor mothers, has +befriended them since Marston's troubles began. She always-her +large, loving eyes glowing with the kindness of her soul-heard +Marston say they were just as free as people could be, and they +should be free, too! Some people did'nt look at the moral obligation +of the thing. Here, the good lady, blushing, draws the veil over her +face. There is something more she would like to disclose if modesty +did not forbid. + +"Nothing direct in such testimony, your honour will perceive!" says +Mr. Petterwester, directing himself to the judge. + +"Is there any question with regard to the father of the children?" +enquires his honour, again placing his hand to his ear and leaning +forward inquisitively. His honour suddenly forgot himself. + +"Ah, ha'h, he-em! The question, so buried under a mountain of +complexity, requires very nice legal discrimination to define it +properly. However, we must be governed by distinct pleadings, and I +think that, in this case, this specific question is not material; +nor do my brother colleagues of the Bench think it would be +advisable to establish such questions, lest they affect the moral +purity of the atmosphere we live in." + +"If your honour will permit it, I may say it will only be necessary +in this case to establish the fact of property existing in the +mothers. That will settle the whole question; fathers, as you are +aware, not being embraced in the law regulating this species of +property;" the learned gentleman instructs the court. + +His honour, rejoining with a few very grave and very legal remarks, +says they look very much alike, and are of one mother. He is a +little undecided, however, takes another good stare at them, and +then adds his glasses, that the affinity may be more clear. Turning +again to his book, he examines his pages, vacantly. A legal wag, who +has been watching the trial for mere amusement, whispering in the +ear of his brother, insinuates that the presiding functionary is +meditating some problem of speculation, and has forgotten the point +at issue. + +"No!" interrupts Mr. Petterwester, "your honour is curiously +labouring under an error; they have two mothers, both of the same +tenour in life--that is"--Mr. Petterwester corrects himself--"embodying +the same questions of property. The issue of the case now on is +taken as final over the rest." + +"Ah! bless me, now-I-rather-see-into it. The clerk will hand me +Cobb's Georgia Reports. A late case, curiously serious, there +recorded, may lead me to gather a parallel. Believe me, gentlemen, +my feelings are not so dead-his honour addresses himself to the bar +in general--that I cannot perceive it to be one of those very +delicate necessities of our law which so embarrasses the gallantry +of the profession at times--" + +"Yes! yer honour," the attorney for the defence suddenly interrupts, +"and which renders it no less a disgrace to drag ladies of high rank +into a court of this kind--." + +His honour can assure the learned gentleman that this court has very +high functions, and can administer justice equal to anything this +side of divine power,--his honour interrupts, indignantly. + +"The court misunderstood the counsel,--he had no reference to the +unquestioned high authority of the tribunal; it was only the +character of the trials brought before it. When, notwithstanding our +boasts of chivalry, delicate ladies are dragged before it in this +manner, they must not only endure the painful tenour of the +evidence, but submit to the insolence of men who would plunder +nature of its right--" + +"I shall claim the protection of the court against such +unprofessional imputations," his brother of the opposite interrupts, +rising and affecting an air of indignation. The court, quite +bewildered, turns a listening ear to his remarks--"Hopes the learned +gentlemen will not disgrace themselves." + +Order! order! order! demands the sheriff, making a flourish with his +sword. The spectators, rising on tip-toe, express their anxiety to +have the case proceed. They whisper, shake their heads, and are +heard to say that it will be utterly useless to attempt anything +against the testimony of Graspum and Romescos. Mr. Graspum, in the +fulness of his slavish and impudent pedantry, feeling secure in the +possession of his victims, sits within the bar, seeming to feel his +position elevated a few degrees above his highness the judge. + +"I do hope the interposition of this Court will not be necessary in +this case. Gentlemen of the learned profession should settle those +differences more like gentlemen," says his honour, looking down upon +his minions with a frown of contempt. + +"The matter is one entirely of a professional nature, yer honour!" +responds the scion of the law, quickly, first addressing himself to +the judge, and then to the jury. "If the testimony we have already +adduced--direct as it is--be not sufficient to establish the existence +of property in these children" (Romescos has just whispered +something in his ear) "we will produce other testimony of the most +conclusive character. However, we will yield all further +cross-questioning the ladies; and I now suggest that they be +relieved from the painful position of appearing before this court +again." + +Mrs. Rosebrook descends from the stand amidst murmurs and applause. +Some amount of legal tact now ensues; the attorney for the +prosecution displays an earnestness amounting to personal interest. + +Here the counsel for the defence steps forward, whispers to the +clerk, and gives notice that he shall call witnesses to impeach the +characters of Graspum and Romescos. These two high dignitaries, +sitting together, express the utmost surprise at such an +insinuation. The character of neither is sacred material, nor will +it stand even in a southern atmosphere. They have been pronounced +legally impure many years ago. + +Just at this juncture there is quite an excitement in the +court-room. Romescos, like a disfigured statue, rises from among his +legal friends and addresses the court on the independent principle. +"Well now, Squire, if ya'r goin' to play that ar' lawyer game on a +feller what don't understand the dodge, I'll just put a settler +on't; I'll put a settler on't what ya' won't get over. My word's my +honour; didn't come into this establishment to do swarin' cos I +wanted to; seein' how, when a feller's summoned by the Boss Squire, +he's got to walk up and tell the truth and nothin' shorter. I knows +ya' don't feel right about it; and it kind a hurts a feller's +feelins to make property of such nice young uns, especially when one +knows how nice they've been brought up. This aint the thing, though; +'taint the way to get along in the world; and seein' I'm a man of +honour, and wouldn't do a crooked thing nohow-" + +His honour the Sheriff, being somewhat impressed with the fact that +Mr. Romescos is rather transgressing the rules of the court, +interposes. His defence of his honour cannot longer be tolerated; +and yet, very much after the fashion of great outlaws, who, when +arraigned for their crimes, think themselves very badly used men, +Romescos has the most exalted opinion of himself; never for a moment +entertains a doubt of his own integrity. + +He reaches over the bar; places his lips to the attorney's ear; is +about to whisper something. That gentleman quickly draws back, as if +his presence were repulsive. Not the least offended, Romescos winks +significantly, crooks the fore-finger of his right hand, and +says-"something that'll put the stopper on." The legal gentleman +seems reconciled; listens attentively to the important information. +"All right! nothing more is needed," he says, rising from his seat, +and asking permission to introduce proof which will render it quite +unnecessary to proceed with anything that may have for its object +the impeachment of the witnesses. + +The attorney for the defence objects to this mode of procedure; and +the judge, having sustained the objections, orders the counsel to +proceed with his witnesses. Several persons, said to be of very high +standing, are now called. They successively depose that they would +not believe Romescos nor Graspum upon oath; notwithstanding, both +may be very honourable and respectable gentlemen. Thus invalidating +the testimony of these high functionaries of the peculiar +institution, the gentleman of the prosecution has an opportunity of +producing his conclusive proof. Romescos has been seen passing him a +very suspicious-looking document. + +All attention is now directed to the children; they sit pensively, +unconscious of the dread fate hanging over them. "What can this +testimony be?" rings in whispers about the court-room. Some deep +intrigue is going on; it is some unforeseen movement of the +slave-dealers, not comprehended by the spectators. Can the bon-fide +creditors be implicated? Even Mr. Scranton feels that his knowledge +of the philosophy of slave power is completely at fault. + +"Now, your honour, and gentlemen of the jury," says the gentleman of +the prosecution, "I am fully aware of the painful suspense in which +this case has kept the court, the jury, and the very respectable +persons I see assembled; but, notwithstanding the respectability and +well-known position of my clients and witnesses, the defence in this +case has succeeded in expunging the testimony, and compelling us to +bring forward such proof as cannot be impeached." Here the legal +gentleman draws from his pocket a stained and coloured paper, +saying, "Will the gentlemen of the jury be kind enough to minutely +examine that instrument." He passes it to the foreman. + +"What is the purport of the instrument?" his honour enquires. + +"The bill of sale, your honour." + +Foreman has examined it satisfactorily; passes it to several of his +fellows. All are satisfied. He returns it to the learned gentleman. +That very important and chivalrous individual throws it upon the +table with great self-confidence. + +His honour would like to scan over its details. It is passed to the +little fat clerk, and by that gentleman to his honour. "Very, +singularly strong!" his honour says, giving his head a very wise +shake. + +"When the court gets through," says the advocate for the defence, +rising and placing his hand on the clerk's desk. + +"The gentleman can examine," replies the court, passing it coldly to +the Sheriff, who politely forwards it. + +He turns it and turns it; reads it slowly; examines the dates +minutely. "How did the prosecution come in possession of this +document?" + +His brother of the law objects, "That's not an admissible question. +If the defence will institute an action against the parties for +unlawfully procuring it, we will take great pleasure in showing our +hands. It may be, however, well to say, that Mr. Marston and Mr. +Graspum have always been on the most friendly terms; but the former +gentleman forgot to take care of this very essential document," he +continues, taking it from the hand of his professional brother, and +turning toward the spectators, his countenance glowing with +exultation. The pride of his ambition is served. The profession has +honourably sustained itself through the wonderful abilities of this +learned brother, who, holding the paper in his hand, awaits the +gracious applause of the assembled spectators. There is some +applause, some murmuring, much whispering. + +The court, in coldly measured words, hopes the audience will evince +no excitement pro or con. + +Some persons declare the bill of sale a forgery,--that Romescos has +tried that very same trick twice before. Others say it matters but +little on that score,--that all the law in the country won't restrain +Graspum; if he sets at it in good earnest he can turn any sort of +people into property. A third whispers that the present order of +things must be changed, or nobody's children will be safe. Legal +gentlemen, not interested in the suit, shake their heads, and +successively whisper, "The prosecution never came by that bill of +sale honestly." Creditors, not parties to this suit, and brokers who +now and then do something in the trade of human beings, say, "If +this be the way Marston's going to play the dodge with his property, +we will see if there be not some more under the same shaded +protection." + +"Will the counsel for the defence permit his client to inspect this +instrument?" says the learned gentleman, passing it across the +table. + +Marston's face flushes with shame; he is overcome; he extends his +trembling hand and takes the fatal document. It is, to him, his +children's death-warrant. A cloud of darkness overshadows his hopes; +he would question the signature, but the signer, Silenus, is +dead,--as dead as the justice of the law by which the children are +being tried. And there is the bond attached to it! Again the thought +flashed through his mind, that he had sold Ellen Juvarna to Elder +Pemberton Praiseworthy. However much he might struggle to save his +children-however much a father's obligations might force themselves +upon him-however much he might acknowledge them the offspring of his +own body, they were property in the law-property in the hands of +Graspum; and, with the forethought of that honourable gentleman +opposed to him--as it evidently was--his efforts and pleadings would +not only prove futile, but tend to expose Lorenzo's crime. + +"The philosophy of the thing is coming out, just as I +said-precisely," ejaculates Mr. Scranton, raising his methodical +eyes, and whispering to a legal gentleman who sits at his right. + +"Serious philosophy, that embraces and sanctions the sale of such +lovely children,--making property of one's children against his +wishes! I'm a great Southern rights man, but this is shaving the +intermixture a little too close," rejoins the other, casting a +solicitous look at Marston, who has been intently and nervously +examining the bill of sale. + +"Any objections to make to it?" says the learned gentleman, bowing +politely and extending his hand, as he concludes by inquiring how it +happened, in the face of such an array of evidence, that he sold the +girl, Ellen Juvarna? + +"No objection, none!" is Marston's quick response. His head droops; +he wipes the tears from his eyes; he leaves the court in silence, +amid murmurs from the crowd. The female witnesses left before him; +it was well they did so. + +That this is the original bill of sale, from one Silenus to Hugh +Marston, has been fully established. However painful the issue, +nothing remained but to give the case to the jury. All is silent for +several minutes. The judge has rarely sat upon a case of this kind. +He sits unnerved, the pen in his hand refusing to write as his +thoughts wander into the wondrous vortex of the future of slavery. +But the spell has passed; his face shades with pallor as slowly he +rises to address the jury. He has but few words to say; they fall +like death-knells on the ears of his listeners. Some touching words +escape his hesitating lips; but duty, enforced by the iron rod of +slave power, demands him to sustain the laws of the land. He sets +forth the undisputed evidence contained in the bill of sale, the +unmistakeable bond, the singular and very high-handed attempt to +conceal it from the honest creditors, and the necessity of jurymen +restraining their sympathies for the children while performing a +duty to the laws of the land. Having thus made his brief address, he +sits down; the sheriff shoulders his tip-staff, and the august +twelve, with papers provided, are marched into the jury-room, as the +court orders that the case of Dunton v. Higgins be called. + +Five minutes have intervened; the clerk calling the case s +interrupted by a knocking at the jury-room door; he stops his +reading, the door is opened, and the sheriff conducts his twelve +gentlemen back to their seats. Not a whisper is heard; the stillness +of the tomb reigns over this high judicial scene. The sheriff +receives a packet of papers from the foreman's hands, and passes +them to the clerk. + +"Gentlemen of the jury will please stand up," says that very amiable +functionary. "Have you agreed on your verdict?" The foreman bows +assent. + +"Guilty or not guilty, gentlemen?" + +"Guilty," says the former, in tones like church-yard wailings: +"Guilty. I suppose that's the style we must render the verdict in?" +The foreman is at a loss to know what style of verdict is necessary. + +"Yes," returns the clerk, bowing; and the gentlemen of the jury well +complimented by the judge, are discharged until to-morrow. The +attorney for the defence made a noble, generous, and touching appeal +to the fatherly twelve; but his appeal fell like dull mist before +the majesty of slavery. Guilty! O heavens, that ever the innocent +should be made guilty of being born of a mother! That a mother-that +name so holy-should be stained with the crime of bearing her child +to criminal life! + +Two children, fair and beautiful, are judged by a jury of +twelve-perhaps all good and kind fathers, free and enlightened +citizens of a free and happy republic-guilty of the crime of being +born of a slave mother. Can this inquiring jury, this thinking +twelve, feel as fathers only can feel when their children are on the +precipice of danger? Could they but break over that seeming +invulnerable power of slavery which crushes humanity, freezes up the +souls of men, and makes the lives of millions but a blight of +misery, and behold with the honesty of the heart what a picture of +misery their voice "Guilty!" spreads before these unfortunate +children, how changed would be the result! + +A judge, endeared to his own children by the kindest affections, +feels no compunction of conscience while administering the law which +denies a father his own children-which commands those children to be +sold with the beasts of the field! Mark the slender cord upon which +the fate of these unfortunates turns; mark the suffering through +which they must pass. + +The hand on the clock's pale face marks four. His honour reminds +gentlemen of the bar that it is time to adjourn court. Court is +accordingly adjourned. The crowd disperse in silence. Gentlemen of +the legal profession are satisfied the majesty of the law has been +sustained. + +Hence the guilty children, scions of rights-loving democracy, like +two pieces of valuable merchandise judicially decreed upon, are led +back to prison, where they will await sale. Annette has caught the +sound of "Guilty!"-she mutters it while being taken home from the +court, in the arms of an old slave. May heaven forgive the guilt we +inherit from a mother, in this our land of freedom! + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +WE CHANGE WITH FORTUNE. + + + + + +BUT a few months have passed since the popularly called gallant +M'Carstrow led the fair Franconia to the hymeneal altar; and, now +that he has taken up his residence in the city, the excitement of +the honeymoon is waning, and he has betaken himself to his more +congenial associations. The beautiful Franconia for him had but +transient charms, which he now views as he would objects necessary +to the gratifications of his coarse passions. His feelings have not +been softened with those finer associations which make man the kind +patron of domestic life; nor is his mind capable of appreciating +that respect for a wife which makes her an ornament of her circle. +Saloons, race-courses, and nameless places, have superior +attractions for him: home is become but endurable. + +In truth, Franconia, compelled to marry in deference to fortune, +finds she is ensnared into misfortunes. M'Carstrow (Colonel by +courtesy) had fifteen hundred dollars, cash down, to pay for +Clotilda: this sad grievance excites his feelings, inasmuch as it +was all owing to his wife's whims, and the poverty of her relations. +The verdict of the jury, recently rendered, was to his mind a +strictly correct one; but he cannot forget the insane manner in +which the responsibility was fastened upon him, and the hard +cash-which might have made two handsome stakes on the turf-drawn +from his pocket. His wife's poverty-stricken relations he now +detests, and can tolerate them best when farthest away from him. But +Franconia does not forget that he is her husband; no, night after +night she sits at the window until midnight, waiting his return. +Feeble and weary with anxiety, she will despatch a negro on a +hopeless errand of search; he, true to his charge, returns with the +confidential intelligence of finding Mas'r in a place less reputable +than it is proper to mention. Such is our southern society,--very +hospitable in language, chivalrous in memory,--base in morals! Some- +times the gallant colonel deems it necessary to remain until +daylight, lest, in returning by night, the pavement may annoy his +understanding. Of this, however, he felt the world knew but little. +Now and then, merely to keep up the luxury of southern life, the +colonel finds it gratifying to his feelings, on returning home at +night, to order a bed to be made for him in one of the yard-houses, +in such manner as to give the deepest pain to his Franconia. Coarse +and dissolute, indifference follows, cold and cutting; she finds +herself a mere instrument of baser purpose in the hands of one she +knows only as a ruffian-she loathes! Thus driven under the burden of +trouble, she begins to express her unhappiness, to remonstrate +against his associations, to plead with him against his course of +life. He jeers at this, scouts such prudery, proclaims it far +beneath the dignity of his standing as a southern gentleman. + +The generous woman could have endured his dissipation-she might have +tolerated his licentiousness, but his arbitrary and very +uncalled-for remarks upon the misfortunes of her family are more +than she can bear. She has tried to respect him-love him she +cannot-and yet her sensitive nature recoils at the thought of being +attached to one whose feelings and associations are so at variance +with her own. Her impulsive spirit quails under the bitterness of +her lot; she sees the dreary waste of trouble before her only to +envy the happiness of those days of rural life spent on the old +plantation. That she should become fretful and unhappy is a natural +consequence. + +We must invite the reader to go with us to M'Carstrow's residence, +an old-fashioned wooden building, three stories high, with large +basement windows and doors, on the south side of King Street. It is +a wet, gloomy night, in the month of November,--the wind, fierce and +chilling, has just set in from the north-east; a drenching rain +begins to fall, the ships in the harbour ride ill at ease; the +sudden gusts of wind, sweeping through the narrow streets of the +city, lighted here and there by the sickly light of an old-fashioned +lamp, bespread the scene with drear. At a second-story window, +lighted by a taper burning on the sill, sits Franconia, alone, +waiting the return of M'Carstrow. M'Carstrow is enjoying his night +orgies! He cares neither for the pelting storm, the anxiety of his +wife, nor the sweets of home. + +A gust of wind shakes the house; the windows rattle their stormy +music; the cricket answers to the wailings of the gale as it gushes +through the crevices; Franconia's cares are borne to her husband. +Now the wind subsides,--a slow rap is heard at the hall door, in the +basement: a female servant, expecting her master, hastens to open +it. Her master is not there; the wind has extinguished the flaring +light; and the storm, sweeping through the sombre arch, spreads +noise and confusion. She runs to the kitchen, seizes the globular +lamp, and soon returns, frightened at the sight presented in the +door. Master is not there-it is the lean figure of a strange old +"nigger," whose weather-worn face, snowy with beard and wrinkled +with age, is lit up with gladness. He has a warm soul within him,--a +soul not unacceptable to heaven! The servant shrinks back,--she is +frightened at the strange sight of the strange old man. "Don' be +feared, good child; Bob ain't bad nigger," says the figure, in a +guttural whisper. + +"An't da'h fo'h notin good; who is ye'?" returns the girl, holding +the globular lamp before her shining black face. Cautiously she +makes a step or two forward, squinting at the sombre figure of the +old negro, as he stands trembling in the doorway. "Is my good young +Miss wid'n?" he enquires, in the same whispering voice, holding his +cap in his right hand. + +"Reckon how ye bes be gwine out a dat afo'h Miss come. Yer miss don' +lib in dis ouse." So saying, the girl is about to close the door in +the old man's face, for he is ragged and dejected, and has the +appearance of a "suspicious nigger without a master." + +"Don' talk so, good gal; ye don' know dis old man,--so hungry,--most +starved. I lub Miss Franconia. Tell she I'ze here," he says, in a +supplicating tone, as the girl, regaining confidence, scrutinises +him from head to foot with the aid of her lamp. + +The servant is about to request he will come inside that she may +shut out the storm. "Frankone knows old Daddy Bob,--dat she do!" he +reiterates, working his cap in his fingers. The familiar words have +caught Franconia's ear; she recognises the sound of the old man's +voice; she springs to her feet, as her heart gladdens with joy. She +bounds down the stairs, and to the door, grasps the old man's hand, +as a fond child warmly grasps the hand of a parent, and welcomes him +with the tenderness of a sister. "Poor-my poor old Daddy!" she says, +looking in his face so sweetly, so earnestly, "where have you come +from? who bought you? how did you escape?" she asks, in rapid +succession. Holding his hand, she leads him along the passage, as he +tells her. "Ah, missus, I sees hard times since old mas'r lef' de +plantation. Him an't how he was ven you dah." He views her, +curiously, from head to foot; kisses her hand; laughs with joy, as +he was wont to laugh on the old plantation. + +"Faithful as ever, Daddy? You found me out, and came to see me, +didn't you?" says Franconia, so kindly, leading him into a small +room on the left hand of the hall, where, after ordering some supper +for him, she begs he will tell her all about his wayfaring. It is +some minutes before Bob can get an opportunity to tell Franconia +that he is a fugitive, having escaped the iron grasp of the law to +stand true to old mas'r. At length he, in the enthusiastic boundings +of his heart, commences his story. + +"Nigger true, Miss Franconia"-he mumbles out-"on'e gib 'im chance to +be. Ye sees, Bob warn't gwine t' lef' old mas'r, nohow; so I gin +'ein da slip when'e come t' takes 'em fo'h sell-" + +"Then they didn't sell you, old Dad? That's good! that's good! And +Daddy's cold and wet?" she interrupts, anxiously, telling the +servant to get some dry clothes for him. + +"I is dat, Miss Frankone. Han't ad nofin t' eat dis most two days," +he returns, looking at her affectionately, with one of those simple +smiles, so true, so expressive. + +A supper is soon ready for Daddy, to which he sits down as if he +were about to renew all his former fondness and familiarity. "Seems +like old times, don 'un, Miss Frankone? Wish old mas'r war here, +too," says the old man, putting the bowl of coffee to his lips, and +casting a side-look at the servant. + +Franconia sits watching him intently, as if he were a child just +rescued from some impending danger. "Don't mention my poor uncle, +Daddy. He feels as much interest in you as I do; but the world don't +look upon him now as it once did-" + +"Neber mind: I gwine to work fo' old mas'r. It'll take dis old child +to see old mas'r all right," replies the old man, forgetting that he +is too old to take care of himself, properly. Bob finishes his +supper, rests his elbow on the table and his head in his hand, and +commences disclosing his troubles to Franconia. He tells her how he +secreted himself in the pine-woods,--how he wandered through swamps, +waded creeks, slept on trunks of trees, crept stealthily to the old +mansion at night, listened for mas'r's footsteps, and watched +beneath the veranda; and when he found he was not there, how he +turned and left the spot, his poor heart regretting. How his heart +beat as he passed the old familiar cabin, retracing his steps to +seek a shelter in the swamp; how, when he learned her residence, +famished with hunger, he wended his way into the city to seek her +out, knowing she would relieve his wants. + +"What vil da do wid me, spose da cotch me, Miss Frankone?" enquires +the old man, simply, looking down at his encrusted feet, and again +at his nether wardrobe, which he feels is not just the thing to +appear in before young missus. + +"They won't do anything cruel to you, Daddy. You are too old; your +grey hairs will protect you. Why, Daddy, you would not fetch a bid +if they found out who owned you, and put you up at auction +to-morrow," she says, with seeming unconsciousness. She little knew +how much the old man prided in his value,--how much he esteemed the +amount of good work he could do for master. He shakes his head, +looks doubtingly at her, as if questioning the sincerity of her +remark. + +"Just get Daddy Bob-he mutters-a badge, den 'e show missus how much +work in 'um." + +Franconia promises to comply with his request, and, with the aid of +a friend, will intercede for him, and procure for him a badge, that +he may display his energies for the benefit of old mas'r. This done, +she orders the servant to show him his bed in one of the "yard +houses;" bids the old man an affectionate good night, retires to her +room, and watches the return of her truant swain. + +There, seated in an arm-chair, she waits, and waits, and waits, hope +and anxiety recording time as it passes. The servant has seen Daddy +safe in his room, and joins her missus, where, by the force of +habit, she coils herself at her feet, and sleeps. She has not long +remained in this position when loud singing breaks upon her ear; +louder and louder it vibrates through the music of the storm, and +approaches. Now she distinctly recognises the sharp voice of +M'Carstrow, which is followed by loud rappings at the door of the +basement hall. M'Carstrow, impatiently, demands entrance. The +half-sleeping servant, startled at the noise, springs to her feet, +rubs her eyes, bounds down the stairs, seizes the globular lamp, and +proceeds to open the door. Franconia, a candle in her hand, waits at +the top of the stairs. She swings back the door, and there, +bespattered with mud, face bleeding and distorted, and eyes glassy, +stands the chivalrous M'Carstrow. He presents a sorry picture; +mutters, or half growls, some sharp imprecations; makes a grasp at +the girl, falls prostrate on the floor. Attempting to gain his +perpendicular, he staggers a few yards-the girl screaming with +fright-and groans as his face again confronts the tiles. To make the +matter still worse, three of his boon companions follow him, and, +almost in succession, pay their penance to the floor, in an +indescribable catacomb. + +"I tell you what, Colonel! if that nigger gal a' yourn don't stand +close with her blazer we'll get into an all-fired snarl," says one, +endeavouring to extricate himself and regain his upright. After +sundry ineffectual attempts, surging round the room in search of his +hat, which is being very unceremoniously transformed into a muff +beneath their entangled extremes, he turns over quietly, saying, +"There's something very strange about the floor of this +establishment,--it don't seem solid; 'pears how there's ups and downs +in it." They wriggle and twist in a curious pile; endeavour to bring +their knees out of "a fix"--to free themselves from the angles which +they are most unmathematically working on the floor. Working and +twisting,--now staggering, and again giving utterance to the coarsest +language,--one of the gentry--they belong to the sporting world-calls +loudly for the colonel's little 'oman. Regaining his feet, he makes +indelicate advances towards the female servant, who, nearly pale +with fright--a negro can look pale--runs to her mistress at the top +of the stairs. + +He misses the frightened maid, and seats himself on the lowest step +of the stairs. Here he delivers a sort of half-musical soliloquy, +like the following: "Gentlemen! this kind a' thing only happens at +times, and isn't just the square thing when yer straight; but--seein' +how southern life will be so--when a body get's crooked what's got a +wife what don't look to matters and things, and never comes to take +care on a body when he's done gone, he better shut up shop. Better +be lookin' round to see what he can scare up!" + +Franconia holds the flaring light over the stairs: pale and +death-like, she trembles with fear, every moment expecting to see +them ascend. + +"I see the colonel's 'oman! yander she is; she what was imposed on +him to save the poverty of her folks. The M'Carstrows know a thing +or two: her folks may crawl under the dignity of the name, but they +don't shell under the dignity of the money-they don't!" says a +stalwart companion, attempting to gain a position by the side of his +fellow on the steps. He gives a leering wink, contorts his face into +a dozen grimaces, stares vacantly round the hall (sliding himself +along on his hands and knees), his glassy eyes inflamed like balls +of fire. "It'll be all square soon," he growls out. + +The poor affrighted servant again attempts-having descended the +stairs-to relieve her master; but the crawling creature has regained +his feet. He springs upon her like a fiend, utters a fierce yell, +and, snatching the lamp from her hand, dashes it upon the tiles, +spreading the fractured pieces about the hall. Wringing herself from +his grasp, she leaves a portion of her dress in his bony hand, and +seeks shelter in a distant part of the hall. Holding up the fragment +as a trophy, he staggers from place to place, making hieroglyphics +on the wall with his fingers. His misty mind searches for some point +of egress. Confronting (rather uncomfortably) hat stands, tables, +porcelains, and other hall appurtenances, he at length shuffles his +way back to the stairs, where, as if doubting his bleered optics, he +stands some moments, swaying to and fro. His hat again falls from +his head, and his body, following, lays its lumbering length on the +stairs. Happy fraternity! how useful is that body! His companion, +laying his muddled head upon it, says it will serve for a pillow. +"E'ke-hum-spose 'tis so? I reckon how I'm some-ec! eke!-somewhere or +nowhere; aint we, Joe? It's a funny house, fellers," he continues to +soliloquise, laying his arm affectionately over his companion's +neck, and again yielding to the caprice of his nether limbs. + +The gentlemen will now enjoy a little refreshing sleep; to further +which enjoyment, they very coolly and unceremoniously commence a +pot-pourri of discordant snoring. This seems of grateful concord for +their boon companions, who-forming an equanimity of good feeling on +the floor-join in. + +The servant is but a slave, subject to her owner's will; she dare +not approach him while in such an uncertain condition. Franconia +cannot intercede, lest his companions, strangers to her, and having +the appearance of low-bred men, taking advantage of M'Carstrow's +besotted condition, make rude advances. M'Carstrow, snoring high +above his cares, will take his comfort upon the tiles. + +The servant is supplied with another candle, which, at Franconia's +bidding, she places in a niche of the hall. It will supply light to +the grotesque sleepers, whose lamp has gone out. + +Franconia has not forgotten that M'Carstrow is her husband; she has +not forgotten that she owes him a wife's debt of kindness. She +descends the stairs gently, leans over his besotted body, smooths +his feverish brow with her hand, and orders the servant to bring a +soft cushion; which done, she raises his head and places it +beneath-so gently, so carefully. Her loving heart seems swelling +with grief, as compassionately she gazes upon him; then, drawing a +cambric handkerchief from her bosom, spreads it so kindly over his +face. Woman! there is worth in that last little act. She leaves him +to enjoy his follies, but regrets their existence. Retiring to the +drawing-room, agitated and sleepless, she reclines on a lounge to +await the light of morning. Again the faithful servant, endeavouring +to appease her mistress's agitation, crouches upon the carpet, +resting her head on the ottoman at Franconia's feet. + +The morning dawns bright and sunny: Franconia has not slept. She has +passed the hours in watchfulness; has watched the negro sleeping, +while her thoughts were rivetted to the scene in the hall. She gets +up, paces the room from the couch to the window, and sits down again +undecided, unresolved. Taking Diana-such is the servant's name-by +the hand, she wakes her, and sends her into the hall to ascertain +the condition of the sleepers. The metamorphosed group, poisoning +the air with their reeking breath, are still enjoying the morbid +fruits of their bacchanalianism. Quietly, coolly, and promiscuously, +they lay as lovingly as fellows of the animal world could desire. + +The servant returns, shaking her head. "Missus, da'h lays yander, so +in all fixins dat no tellin' which most done gone. Mas'r seems done +gone, sartin!" says the servant, her face glowing with apprehension. + +The significant phrase alarms Franconia. She repairs to the hall, +and commences restoring the sleepers to consciousness. The gentlemen +are doggedly obstinate; they refuse to be disturbed. She recognises +the face of one whose business it is to reduce men to the last stage +of poverty. Her sensitive nature shudders at the sight, as she views +him with a curl of contempt on her lip. "Oh, +M'Carstrow,--M'Carstrow!" she whispers, and taking him by the hand, +shakes it violently. M'Carstrow, with countenance ghastly and +inflamed, begins to raise his sluggish head. He sees Franconia +pensively gazing in his face; and yet he enquires who it is that +disturbs the progress of his comforts. "Only me!" says the good +woman, soliciting him to leave his companions and accompany her. + +Oh, you, is it?" he replies, grumblingly, rising on his right elbow, +and rubbing his eyes with his left hand. Wildly and vacantly he +stares round the hall, as if aroused from a trance, and made +sensible of his condition. + +"Yes, me-simply me, who, lost to your affections, is made most +unhappy-" Franconia would proceed, but is interrupted by her +muddling swain. + +"Unhappy! unhappy!" says the man of southern chivalry, making sundry +irresistible nods. "Propagator of mischief, of evil contentions, of +peace annihilators. Ah! ah! ah! Thinking about the lustre of them +beggared relations. It always takes fools to make a fuss over small +things: an angel wouldn't make a discontented woman happy." +Franconia breaks out into a paroxysm of grief, so unfeeling is the +tone in which he addresses her. He is a southern gentleman,--happily +not of New England in his manners, not of New England in his +affections, not of New England in his domestic associations. He +thinks Franconia very silly, and scouts with derision the idea of +marrying a southern gentleman who likes enjoyment, and then making a +fuss about it. He thinks she had better shut up her +whimpering,--learn to be a good wife upon southern principles. + +"Husbands should be husbands, to claim a wife's respect; and they +should never forget that kindness makes good wives. Take away the +life springs of woman's love, and what is she? What is she with her +happiness gone, her pride touched, her prospects blasted? What +respect or love can she have for the man who degrades her to the +level of his own loathsome companions?" Franconia points to those +who lie upon the floor, repulsive, and reeking with the fumes of +dissipation. "There are your companions," she says. + +"Companions?" he returns, enquiringly. He looks round upon them with +surprise. "Who are those fellows you have got here?" he enquires, +angrily. + +"You brought them to your own home; that home you might make happy-" + +"Not a bit of it! They are some of your d-d disreputable relations." + +"My relations never violate the conduct of gentlemen." "No; but they +sponge on me. These my companions!" looking at them inquisitively. +"Oh, no! Don't let us talk about such things; I'ze got fifteen +hundred dollars and costs to pay for that nigger gal you were fool +enough to get into a fit about when we were married. That's what +I'ze got for my good-heartedness." M'Carstrow permits his very +gentlemanly southern self to get into a rage. He springs to his feet +suddenly, crosses and recrosses the hall like one frenzied with +excitement. Franconia is frightened, runs up the stairs, and into +her chamber, where, secreting herself, she fastens the door. He +looks wistfully after her, stamping his foot, but he will not +follow. Too much of a polished gentleman, he will merely amuse +himself by running over the gamut of his strongest imprecations. The +noise creates general alarm among his companions, who, gaining their +uprights, commence remonstrating with him on his rude conduct, as if +they were much superior beings. + +"Now, colonel, major,--or whatever they dubbed ye, in the way of a +title," says one, putting his hand to his hat with a swaggering bow; +"just stop that ar' sort a' nonsense, and pay over this 'ere little +affair afore we gets into polite etiquette and such things. When, to +make the expenses, ye comes into a place like ours, and runs up a +credit score,--when ye gets so lofty that ye can't tell fifty from +five, we puts a sealer on, so customers don't forget in the +morning." The modest gentleman presents to M'Carstrow's astonished +eyes a note for twenty-seven hundred dollars, with the genuine +signature. M'Carstrow takes it in his hand, stares at it, turns it +over and over. The signature is his; but he is undecided about the +manner of its getting there, and begins to give expression to some +doubt. + +The gentleman watches M'Carstrow very cautiously. "Straight! +colonel-he says-just turn out the shiners, or, to 'commodate, we'll +let ye off with a sprinkling of niggers." + +The colonel puts the fore-finger of his left hand to his lips, and, +with serious countenance, walks twice or thrice across the hall, as +if consulting his dignity: "Shell out the niggers first; we'll take +the dignity part a'ter," he concludes. + +"I demand to know how you came in my house," interrupts the colonel, +impatiently. He finds himself in very bad company; company southern +gentlemen never acknowledge by daylight. + +"We brought you here! Anything else you'd like to know?" is the +cool, sneering response. The gentleman will take a pinch of snuff; +he draws his fancy box from his pocket, gives the cover a polite rap +with his finger, invites the enraged M'Carstrow to "take." That +gentleman shakes his head,--declines. He is turning the whole affair +over in his head, seems taking it into serious consideration. +Seriously, he accepted their accommodation, and now finds himself +compelled to endure their painful presence. + +"I, I, I-m, rather in doubt," stammers M'Carstrow, fingering the +little obligation again, turning it over and over, rubbing his eyes, +applying his glass. He sees nothing in the signature to dispute. "I +must stop this kind of fishing," he says; "don't do. It 's just what +friend Scranton would call very bad philosophy. Gentlemen, suppose +you sit down; we'd better consider this matter a little. Han't got a +dime in the bank, just now." M'Carstrow is becoming more quiet, +takes a philosophical view of the matter, affects more suavity. +Calling loudly for the negro servant, that personage presents +herself, and is ordered to bring chairs to provide accommodation for +the gentlemen, in the hall. + +"Might just as well settle the matter in the parlour, colonel; +t'wont put you out a mite," the gambler suggests, with a laconic +air. He will not trouble M'Carstrow by waiting for his reply. No; he +leads the way, very coolly, asking no odds of etiquette; and, having +entered the apartment, invites his comrades to take seats. The +dignity and coolness with which the manouvre is executed takes +"Boss" M'Carstrow by surprise; makes him feel that he is merely a +dependent individual, whose presence there is not much need of. "I +tell you what it is, gents, I'ze shaved my accounts at the bank down +to the smallest figure, have! but there's an honourable +consideration about this matter; and, honour's honour, and I want to +discharge it somehow--niggers or cash!" The gentlemen's feelings +have smoothed down amazingly. M'Carstrow is entirely serious, and +willing to comply. + +The gentlemen have seated themselves in a triangle, with the "done +over" colonel in the centre. + +"Well, niggers will do just as well, provided they are sound, prime, +and put at prices so a feller can turn 'em into tin, quick," says +the gentleman, who elects himself spokesman of the party. + +"Keeps my property in tall condition, but won't shove it off under +market quotations, no how!" M'Carstrow interrupts, as the spokesman, +affecting the nonchalance of a newly-elected alderman, places his +feet upon the rich upholstery of a sofa close by. He would enjoy the +extremes of southern comfort. "Colonel, I wish you had a more +convenient place to spit," rejoins the gentleman. He will not +trouble the maid, however-he let's fly the noxious mixture, +promiscuously; it falls from his lips upon the soft hearth-rug. "It +will add another flower to the expensive thing," he says, very +coolly, elongating his figure a little more. He has relieved +himself, wondrously. M'Carstrow calls the servant, points to the +additional wreath on the hearth-rug! + +"All your nigger property as good-conditioned as that gal?" enquires +the gentleman, the others laughing at the nicety of his humour. +Rising from his seat very deliberately, he approaches the servant, +lays his hand upon her neck and shoulders. + +"Not quite so fast, my friend: d-n it, gentlemen, don't be rude. +That's coming the thing a little too familiar. There is a medium: +please direct your moist appropriations and your improper remarks in +their proper places." The girl, cringing beneath the ruffian's hand, +places the necessary receptacle at his feet. + +The gentleman is offended,--very much offended. He thinks it beneath +the expansion of his mind-to be standing on aristocratic nonsense! +"Spit boxes and nigger property ain't the thing to stand on about +haristocrats; just put down the dimes. Three bright niggers 'll do: +turn 'em out." + +"Three of my best niggers!" ejaculates the Colonel. + +"Nothin' shorter, Colonel." + +"Remember, gentlemen, the market price of such property. The demand +for cotton has made niggers worth their weight in gold, for any +purpose. Take the prosperity of our country into consideration, +gentlemen; remember the worth of prime men. The tip men of the +market are worth 1200 dollars." + +"Might as well lay that kind a' financerin aside, Colonel. What's +the use of living in a free country, where every man has a right to +make a penny when he can, and talk so? Now, 'pears to me t'aint no +use a' mincing the matter; we might a' leaked ye in for as many +thousands as hundreds. Seein' how ye was a good customer, we saved +ye on a small shot. Better put the niggers out: ownin' such a lot, +ye won't feel it! Give us three prime chaps; none a' yer old +sawbones what ye puts up at auction when ther' worked down to +nothin'." + +M'Carstrow's powers of reasoning are quite limited; and, finding +himself in one of those strange situations southern gentlemen so +often get into, and which not unfrequently prove as perplexing as +the workings of the peculiar institution itself, he seeks relief by +giving an order for three prime fellows. They will be delivered up, +at the plantation, on the following day, when the merchandise will +be duly made over, as per invoice. Everything is according to style +and honour; the gentlemen pledge their faith to be gentlemen, to +leave no dishonourable loop-hole for creeping out. And now, having +settled the little matter, they make M'Carstrow the very best of +bows, desire to be remembered to his woman, bid him good morning, +and leave. They will claim their property-three prime men-by the +justice of a "free-born democracy." + +M'Carstrow watches them from the house, moralising over his folly. +They have gone! He turns from the sight, ascends the stairs, and +repairs to meet his Franconia. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE VICISSITUDES OF A PREACHER. + + + + + +WE left Harry, the faithful servant, whose ministerial functions had +been employed in elevating the souls of Marston's property, being +separated from his wife and sold to Mr. M'Fadden. M'Fadden is a +gentleman--we do not impugn the name, in a southern sense--of that +class--very large class--who, finding the laws of their own country +too oppressive for their liberal thoughts, seek a republican's home +in ours. It is to such men, unhappily, the vices of slavery are +open. They grasp them, apply them to purposes most mercenary, most +vile. The most hardened of foreigners-that essence of degraded +outcasts,--may, under the privileges of slavery, turn human misery +into the means of making money. He has no true affiliations with the +people of the south, nor can he feel aught beyond a selfish interest +in the prosperity of the State; but he can be active in the work of +evil. With the foreigner--we speak from observation--affecting love +of liberty at home, it would seem, only makes him the greater tyrant +when slavery gives him power to execute its inhuman trusts. Mr. +Lawrence M'Fadden is one of this description of persons; he will +make a fortune in the South, and live a gentleman in the North-- +perhaps, at home on his own native Isle. Education he has none; +moral principle he never enjoyed,--never expects to. He is a tall, +athletic man, nearly six feet two inches in height, with extremely +broad, stooping shoulders, and always walks as if he were meditating +some speculation. His dress is usually of southern red-mixed +homespun,--a dress which he takes much pride in wearing, in +connection with a black brigand hat, which gives his broad face, +projecting cheek-bones, and blunt chin, a look of unmistakeable +sullenness. Add to this a low, narrow forehead, generally covered +with thick tufts of matted black hair, beneath which two savage eyes +incessantly glare, and, reader, you have the repulsive +personification of the man. Mr. M'Fadden has bought a preacher,--an +article with the very best kind of a soul,--which he would send to +his place in the country. Having just sent the article to the +rail-road, he stands in a neighbouring bar-room, surrounded by his +cronies, who are joining him in a social glass, discussing the +qualities of the article preacher. We are not favoured with the +point at issue; but we hear Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden say, with great +force,--"Preachers are only good property under certain +circumstances; and if them circumstances ain't just so, it won't do +to buy 'em. Old aristocrat rice planters may make a good thing or +two on 'em, because they can make 'em regulate the cummin' o' their +property, and make it understand what the Lord says about minding +their masters." For his-Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden's-own part, he +wouldn't give seven coppers for the thinking part of any property, +having no belief in that fashionable way of improving its value. "My +preacher has been nicely packed up and sent off in advance," he +says, wiping his mouth with his coat sleeve, and smacking his lips, +as he twirls his glass upon the zinc counter, shakes hands with his +friends-they congratulate him upon the good bargain in his +divine-and proceeds to the railroad dept. Harry has arrived nearly +two hours in advance,--delivered in good condition, as stated in a +receipt which he holds in his hand, and which purports to be from +the baggage-master. "Ah! here you are," says M'Fadden, taking the +paper from Harry's hand, as he enters the luggage-room. "Take good +care on ye,--I reckon I will!" He looks down upon him with an air of +satisfaction. The poor preacher-the soul-glowing property-is yet +chained, hand and foot. He sits upon the cold floor, those imploring +eyes swelling at the thought that freedom only awaits him in another +world. M'Fadden takes a little flask from his breast pocket, and, +with a motion of kindness, draws the cork, passes it to him. "It's +whiskey!" he says; "take a drop-do ye good, old feller." Quietly the +man passes it to his lips, and moistens his mouth. "No winking and +blinking-it's tip-top stuff," enjoins M'Fadden; "don't get it every +day." + +Mr. M'Fadden will take a little himself. "Glad to find ye here, all +straight!" he mutters, taking the flask from his mouth. He had +returned the receipt to his property; and, having gratified his +appetite a little, he begins to take a more perspective view of his +theological purchase. + +"Yes, master; I am here!" He again holds up his chained hands, drops +his face upon his knees; as much as to say, be sure I am all safe +and sound. + +Looking at the receipt again, and then at his preacher, "Guess +'hain't made a bad rap on ye' to-day!" he ejaculates, taking out his +pocket-book and laying away the precious paper as carefully as if it +were a hundred dollar note. "Should like to have bought your old +woman and young 'uns, but hadn't tin enough. And the way stock's up +now, ain't slow! Look up here, my old buck! just put on a face as +bright and smooth as a full moon-no sulkin'. Come along here." + +The manacled preacher turns upon his hands, gets up as best he +can-M'Fadden kindly assists by taking hold of his shoulder-and +follows his purchaser to the platform,--like a submissive animal +goaded to the very flesh, but chained, lest it make some show of +resentment. "Good heap o' work in ye', old chuck; had a master what +didn't understand bringing on't out, though!" mutters M'Fadden, as +he introduces Harry to the negro car, at the same time casting a +look of satisfaction at the brakeman standing at his left hand ready +to receive the freight. + +In the car-a dungeon-like box about ten feet square, the only +aperture for admitting light being a lattice of about eight inches +square, in the door-are three rough negro men and one woman, the +latter apparently about twenty years of age. + +"Got a tall chap here, boys! Make ye stand round some, in pickin' +time; and can preach, too." M'Fadden shakes his head exultingly! +"Can put in the big licks preachin'; and I'ze goin' t' let 'im, once +in a while. Goin' t' have good times on my place, boys--ha'h! Got a +jug of whiskey to have a fandango when ye gits home. Got it +somewhere, I knows." Mr. M'Fadden exults over the happy times his +boys have at home. He shakes himself all over, like a polar bear +just out of the water, and laughs heartily. He has delivered himself +of something that makes everybody else laugh; the mania has caught +upon his own subtle self. The negroes laugh in expressive +cadences, and shrug their shoulders as Mr. M'Fadden continues to +address them so sportively, so familiarly. Less initiated persons +might have formed very satisfactory opinions of his character. He +takes a peep under one of the seats, and with a rhapsody of laughter +draws forth a small jug. "You can't come the smuggle over me, boys! +I knew ye had a shot somewhere," he exclaims. At his bidding, the +woman hands him a gourd, from which he very deliberately helps +himself to a stout draught. + +"Sit down here!-Isaac, Abraham, Daniel, or whatever yer name is-Mr. +M'Fadden addresses himself to his preacher. Ye'll get yer share on't +when ye gits to my place." He sets the jug down, and passes the +gourd back, saying: "What a saucy hussy ye are!" slapping the +woman's black shoulder playfully. "Give him some-won't ye', boys?" +he concludes. + +Mr. M'Fadden (the cars are not yet ready to start, but the dept is +thronging with travellers, and the engine is puffing and snorting, +as the driver holds his hand on the throttle, and the stoker crams +with pitch pine knots the iron steed of fiery swiftness) will step +out and take the comfort of his cigar. He pats his preacher on the +shoulder, takes off his shackles, rubs his head with his hand, tells +the boys to keep an eye on him. "Yes, mas'r," they answer, in tones +of happy ignorance. The preacher must be jolly, keep on a bright +face, never mind the old gal and her young 'uns, and remember what a +chance he will have to get another. He can have two or more, if he +pleases; so says his very generous owner. + +Mr. M'Fadden shakes hands with his friends on the platform, smokes +his cigar leisurely, mingles with the crowd importantly, thinking +the while what an unalloyed paragon of amiability he is. Presently +the time-bell strikes its warning; the crowd of passengers rush for +the cars; the whistle shrieks; the exhaust gives forth its gruff +snorts, the connections clank, a jerk is felt, and onward +bounds-mighty in power, but controlled by a finger's slightest +touch-the iron steed, dragging its curious train of living +merchandise. + +M'Fadden again finds his way to the negroes' car, where, sitting +down in front of his property, he will take a bird's-eye view of it. +It is very fascinating to a man who loves the quality of such +articles as preachers. He will draw his seat somewhat closer to the +minister; his heart bounds with joy at the prime appearance of his +purchase. Reaching out his hand, he takes the cap from Harry's head, +throws it into the woman's lap; again rubs his hair into a friz. +Thus relieved of his pleasing emotions, he will pass into one of the +fashionable cars, and take his place among the aristocrats. + +"Boss mighty funny when 'e come t' town, and git just so 'e don't +see straight: wish 'e so good wen 'e out da'h on de plantation +yander," ejaculates one of the negroes, who answers to the name-Joe! +Joe seems to have charge of the rest; but he watches M'Fadden's +departure with a look of sullen hatred. + +"Hard old Boss on time-an't he, boys?" enquires Harry, as an +introduction to the conversation. + +"Won't take ye long t' find 'um out, I reckon! Git nigger on de +plantation 'e don't spa' him, nohow," rejoins another. + +"Lor', man, if ye ain't tough ye'll git used up in no time, wid +him!" the woman speaks up, sharply. Then, pulling her ragged skirts +around her, she casts a sympathising look at Harry, and, raising her +hand in a threatening attitude, and shaking it spitefully in the +direction M'Fadden has gone, says:--"If only had dat man, old Boss, +where 'um could revenge 'um, how a' would make 'um suffer! He don' +treat 'e nigger like 'e do 'e dog. If 'twarn't fo'h Buckra I'd cut +'e troat, sartin." This ominous expression, delivered with such +emphasis, satisfies Harry that he has got into the hands of a master +very unlike the kind and careless Marston. + +Onward the cars speed, with clanking music making din as they go. +One of the negroes will add something to change the monotony. +Fumbling beneath the seats for some minutes, he draws forth a little +bag, carefully unties it, and presents his favourite violin. Its +appearance gladdens the hearts of his comrades, who welcome it with +smiling faces and loud applause. The instrument is of the most +antique and original description. It has only two strings; but Simon +thinks wonders of it, and would not swap it for a world of modern +fiddles, what don't touch the heart with their music. He can bring +out tremendous wailings with these two strings; such as will set the +whole plantation dancing. He puts it through the process of tuning, +adding all the scientific motions and twists of an Italian +first-fiddling artiste. Simon will moisten its ears by spitting on +them, which he does, turning and twisting himself into the attitudes +of a pompous maestro. But now he has got it in what he considers the +very nick of tune; it makes his face glow with satisfaction. +"Jest-lef'-'um cum, Simon;--big and strong!" says Joe, beginning to +keep time by slapping his hands on his knees. And such a sawing, +such a scraping, as he inflicts, never machine of its kind, ancient +or modern, got before. Simon and his companions are in ecstasies; +but such cross-grained, such painful jingling of sounds! Its charm +is irresistible with the negro; he mustn't lose a note of the tune; +every creak is exhausted in a break-down dance, which the motion of +the "Jim Crow" car makes more grotesque by every now and then +jolting them into a huddle in one corner. + +Mr. M'Fadden has been told that his property are having a lively +time, and thinks he will leave his aristocratic friends, and go to +see it; here he is followed by several young gentlemen, anxious to +enjoy the hilarity of the scene. + +"All my property,--right prime, isn't it?" says M'Fadden, exultingly, +nudging one of the young men on the shoulder, as he, returning, +enters the car. The gentleman nods assent, sits down, and coolly +lights his cigar. "Good thing to have a fiddler on a plantation! I'd +rather have it than a preacher; keeps the boys together, and makes +'um a deal better contented," he adds, beginning to exhale the fumes +from his weed. + +"Yes!-and ye sees, fellers, how I'ze bought a parson, too. Can do +the thing up brown now, boys, I reckon," remarks the happy +politician, slapping his professional gentleman on the knee, and +laughing right heartily. + +Turning to Harry with a firm look, he informs the gentlemen that +"this critter's kind o got the sulks, a'cos Romescos-he hates +Romescos-has bought his wench and young 'uns. Take that out on him, +at my place," he adds. + +The dancing continues right merrily. One of the young gentlemen +would like to have the fiddler strike up "Down in Old Tennessee." +The tune is sounded forth with all that warmth of feeling the negro +only can add to the comical action of his body. + +"Clar' the way; let the boys have a good time," says Mr. Lawrence +M'Fadden, taking Harry by the arm and giving him a violent shake. He +commands him to join in, and have a jolly good tune with the rest on +'em. + +"Have no call for that, master. Let me act but the part of servant +to you." + +"Do you mean to come nigger sulks over this child?" interrupts +M'Fadden, impatiently, scowling his heavy eyebrows, and casting a +ferocious look at Harry. After ordering him to stow himself in a +corner, he gets the others upon the floor, and compels them to +shuffle what he calls a plantation "rip-her-up." The effect of this, +added to the singular positions into which they are frequently +thrown by the motion of the cars, affords infinite amusement. + +"You see, gentlemen, there's nothing like putting the springs of +life into property. Makes it worth fifty per cent. more; and then +ye'll get the hard knocks out to a better profit. Old southerners +spoil niggers, makin' so much on 'em; and soft-soapin' on 'em. That +bit o' property's bin spiled just so-he points to Harry, crouched in +the corner-And the critter thinks he can preach! Take that out on +him with a round turn, when I git to my place," he continues. + +Harry cares very little for M'Fadden's conversation; he sits as +quietly and peaceably as if it had been addressed to some other +negro. M'Fadden, that he may not be found wanting in his efforts to +amuse the young gentlemen, reaches out his hand to one of them, +takes his cigar from a case, lights it, and proceeds to keep time by +beating his hands on his knees. + +The train is approaching the crossing where Mr. M'Fadden will +discharge his property,--his human merchandise, and proceed with it +some eleven miles on the high road. The noise created by the +exuberance of feeling on the part of Mr. M'Fadden has attracted a +numerous assemblage of passengers to the "Jim Crow" car. The +conductor views this as violating the rules of the corporation; he +demands it shall be stopped. All is quiet for a time; they reach the +"crossing" about five o'clock P.M., where, to Mr. Lawrence +M'Fadden's great delight, he finds himself surrounded by a +promiscuous assembly of sovereign citizens, met to partake of the +hospitalities offered by the candidate for the Assembly, who, having +offered himself, expects the distinguished honour of being elected. +The assembled citizens will hear what the learned man's going to +talk about when he gets into the Assembly. + +As Mr. M'Fadden is a great politician, and a greater democrat-we +speak according to the southern acceptation-his presence is welcomed +with an enthusiastic burst of applause. Shout after shout makes the +very welkin ring, as his numerous friends gather round him, smile +solicitously, shake him warmly by the hand, honour him as the +peasantry honour the Lord of the Manor. + +The crossing-one of those points so well known in the south-is a +flat, wooded lawn, interspersed here and there with clumps of tall +pine-trees. It is generally dignified with a grocery, a justice's +office, and a tavern, where entertainment for man and beast may +always be had. An immense deal of judicial and political business +"is put through a process" at these strange places. The squire's +law-book is the oracle; all settlements must be made by it; all +important sayings drawn from it. The squire himself is scarcely less +an individual of mysterious importance; he draws settled facts from +his copious volume, and thus saves himself the trouble of analysing +them. Open it where he will, the whys and wherefores for every case +are never wanting. + +Our present crossing is a place of much importance, being where the +political effervescence of the state often concentrates. It will not +do, however, to analyse that concentration, lest the fungi that give +it life and power may seem to conflict with the safety of law and +order. On other occasions it might be taken for a place of rural +quiet, instead of those indescribable gatherings of the rotten +membranes of a bad political power. + +Here the justice's office is attached to the grocery, a little shop +in which all men may drink very deleterious liquor; and, in addition +to the tavern, which is the chief building-a quadrangular structure +raised a few feet from the ground on piles of the palmetto +tree-there is a small church, shingled and clapboarded, and having a +belfry with lattice-work sides. An upper and lower veranda surround +the tavern, affording gentlemen an opportunity to enjoy the shade. + +Several of Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden's friends meet him at the station, +and, as he receives his property, assist him in securing it with +irons preparatory to lodging it in a place of safe keeping. + +"Goin' t' make this chap a deacon on my place; can preach like +sixty. It'll save the trouble sendin' north for such trash as they +send us. Can make this feller truer on southern principles," says +M'Fadden, exultingly, addressing himself to his companions, looking +Harry smilingly in the face, and patting him on the shoulder. The +gentlemen view Harry with particular admiration, and remark upon his +fine points with the usual satisfaction of connoisseurs. Mr. +M'Fadden will secure his preacher, in iron fellowship, to the left +hand of the woman slave. + +"All right!" he says, as the irons are locked, and he marches his +property up to the tavern, where he meets mine host-a short, fat +man, with a very red and good-natured face, who always dresses in +brown clothes, smiles, and has an extra laugh for 'lection days-who +stands his consequential proportions in the entrance to the lower +veranda, and is receiving his customers with the blandest smiles. "I +thinks a right smart heap on ye, or I would'nt a' 'gin ye that gal +for a mate," continues M'Fadden, walking along, looking at Harry +earnestly, and, with an air of self-congratulation, ejecting a +quantity of tobacco-juice from his capacious mouth. "Mr. M'Fadden is +very, very welcome;" so says mine host, who would have him take a +social glass with his own dear self. + +Mr. M'Fadden must be excused until he has seen the place in which to +deposit his preacher and other property. + +"Ah, ha!"-mine host cants his ear, enquiringly;--"want grits for 'em, +I s'pose?" he returns, and his round fat face glows with +satisfaction. "Can suit you to a shavin'." + +"That's right, Colonel; I know'd ye could," ejaculates the other. +Mine host is much elated at hearing his title appended. Colonel +Frank Jones-such is mine host's name--never fought but one duel, and +that was the time when, being a delegate to the southern blowing-up +convention, lately holden in the secession city of Charleston, he +entered his name on the register of the Charleston Hotel--"Colonel +Frank Jones, Esq., of the South Carolina Dragoons;" beneath which an +impertinent wag scrawled-"Corporal James Henry Williamson M'Donal +Cudgo, Esq. of the same regiment." Colonel Frank Jones, Esq. took +this very gross insult in the highest kind of dudgeon, and forthwith +challenged the impertinent wag to settle the matter as became +gentlemen. The duel, however, ended quite as harmlessly as the +blowing-up convention of which Mr. Colonel Frank Jones was a +delegate, the seconds-thoughtless wretches-having forgot to put +bullets in the weapons. + +Our readers must excuse us for digressing a little. Mine host rubs +his hands, draws his mouth into a dozen different puckers, and then +cries out at the top of his voice, "Ho, boys, ho!" + +Three or four half-clad negroes come scampering into the room, ready +to answer the summons. "Take charge o' this property o' my friend's +here. Get 'em a good tuck out o' grits." + +"Can grind 'em themselves," interrupts M'Fadden, quickly. "About the +price, Colonel?" + +"That's all straight," spreading his hands with an accompanying nod +of satisfaction: "'commodate ye with a first-rate lock-up and the +grits at seven-pence a day." + +"No objection." Mr. M'Fadden is entirely satisfied. The waiters take +the gentleman's property in charge, and conduct it to a small +building, an appropriate habitation of hens and pigs. It was of +logs, rough hewn, without chinking; without floor to keep Mr. +M'Fadden's property from the ground, damp and cold. Unsuited as it +is to the reception of human beings, many planters of great opulence +have none better for their plantation people. It is about ten feet +high, seven broad, and eleven long. + +"Have a dandy time on't in here to-night," says Mr. M'Fadden, +addressing himself to Harry, as one of the waiters unlocks the door +and ushers the human property into its dreary abode. Mr. M'Fadden +will step inside, to take a bird's-eye view of the security of the +place. He entertains some doubts about the faith of his preacher, +however, and has half an inclination to turn round as he is about +making his exit. He will. Approaches Harry a second time; he feels +his pockets carefully, and suggests that he has some mischievous +weapon of liberty stowed away somewhere. He presses and presses his +hands to his skirts and bosom. And now he knew he was not mistaken, +for he feels something solid in the bosom of his shirt, which is not +his heart, although that thing makes a deuce of a fluttering. Mr. +M'Fadden's anxiety increases as he squeezes his hands over its +shapes, and watches the changes of Harry's countenance. "Book, +ha'h!" he exclaims, drawing the osnaburg tight over the square with +his left hand, while, with his right, he suddenly grasps Harry +firmly by the hair of the head, as if he has discovered an infernal +machine. "Book, ha'h!" + +"Pull it out, old buck. That's the worst o' learned niggers; puts +the very seven devils in their black heads, and makes 'em carry +their conceit right into nigger stubbornness, so ye have t' bring it +out by lashin' and botherin'. Can't stand such nigger nonsense +nohow." + +Harry has borne all very peaceably; but there is a time when even +the worm will turn. He draws forth the book,--it is the Bible, his +hope and comforter; he has treasured it near his heart-that heart +that beats loudly against the rocks of oppression. "What man can he +be who feareth the word of God, and says he is of his chosen? +Master, that's my Bible: can it do evil against righteousness? It is +the light my burdened spirit loves, my guide--" + +"Your spirit?" inquires M'Fadden, sullenly, interrupting Harry. "A +black spirit, ye' mean, ye' nigger of a preacher. I didn't buy that, +nor don't want it. 'Taint worth seven coppers in picking time. But I +tell ye, cuff, wouldn't mind lettin' on ye preach, if a feller can +make a spec good profit on't." The gentleman concludes, contracting +his eyebrows, and scowling at his property forbiddingly. + +"You'll let me have it again when I gets on the plantation, won't +ye, master?" inquires Harry, calmly. + +"Let you have it on the plantation?"-Mr. M'Fadden gives his preacher +a piercingly fierce look-"that's just where ye won't have 't. Have +any kind o' song-book ye' wants; only larn 'em to other niggers, so +they can put in the chorus once in a while. Now, old buck (I'm a man +o' genius, ye know), when niggers get larnin' the Bible out o' ther' +own heads, 't makes 'em sassy'r than ther's any calculatin' on. It +just puts the very d-l into property. Why, deacon," he addresses +himself to Harry with more complacency, "my old father-he was as +good a father as ever came from Dublin-said it was just the spilin' +on his children to larn 'em to read. See me, now! what larnin' I'ze +got; got it all don't know how: cum as nat'ral as daylight. I've got +the allfired'st sense ye ever did see; and it's common sense what +makes money. Yer don't think a feller what's got sense like me would +bother his head with larnin' in this ar' down south?" Mr. M'Fadden +exhibits great confidence in himself, and seems quite playful with +his preacher, whom he pats on the shoulder and shakes by the hand. +"I never read three chapters in that ar' book in my whole +life-wouldn't neither. Really, deacon, two-thirds of the people of +our State can't read a word out o' that book. As for larnin', I just +put me mind on the thing, and got the meanin' out on't sudden." + +Mr. M'Fadden's soothing consolation, that, as he has become such a +wonderful specimen of mankind without learning, Harry must be a very +dangerous implement of progress if allowed to go about the +plantation with a Bible in his pocket, seems strange in this our +Christian land. "Can fiddle just as much as yer mind t'," concludes +Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden, as he again shakes the hand of his preacher, +and proceeds to mingle with the political gathering, the Bible in +his pocket. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +HOW WE MANUFACTURE POLITICAL FAITH. + + + + + +MR. M'FADDEN enters the tavern, which presents one of those +grotesque scenes so peculiarly southern, almost impossible for the +reader to imagine, and scarcely less for pen to describe. In and +around the verandas are numerous armchairs, occupied by the +fashionable portion of the political material, who, dressed in +extreme profuseness, are displaying their extraordinary distinctions +in jewellery of heavy seals and long dangling chains. Some are young +men who have enjoyed the advantage of a liberal education, which +they now turn into the more genial duty of ornamenting themselves. +They have spent much time and many valuable cosmetics on their +heads, all of which is very satisfactorily repaid by the smoothness +of their hair. Their pleasure never penetrated beyond this; they ask +no more. + +They ask but little of the world, and are discussing the +all-important question, whether Colonel Mophany or General Vandart +will get the more votes at the polls. So they smoke and harangue, +and drink and swear, and with inimitable provincialisms fill up the +clattering music. There is a fascinating piquancy in the strange +slang and conversational intermixture. It is a great day at the +crossing; the political sediment has reduced all men to one grade, +one harmonious whole, niggers excepted. Spirits that cannot flow one +way must flow another. + +In an adjoining room sit the two candidates-gentlemen of high +distinction-for the votes of the sovereign people. Through those +sovereign rights they will satisfy their yearning desire to reach +the very high position of member of the general assembly. Anxiety is +pictured on their very countenances; it is the fruit of care when +men travel the road to distinction without finding it. They are well +dressed, and would be modest, if modesty were worth its having in +such an atmosphere. Indeed, they might have been taken for men with +other motives than those of gaining office by wallowing in a +political quagmire reeking with democratic filth. Courteous to each +other, they sit at a large table containing long slips of paper, +each candidate's sentiments printed thereon. As each voter--good +fellow that he is--enters the room, one or the other candidate +reaches out his hand to welcome him, and, as a sequel, hands him his +slip, making the politest bow. Much is said about the prospects of +the South, and much more that is very acceptable to those about to +do the drinking part of the scene. + +Both candidates are very ambitious men; both profess to be the +people's champion-the sovereign people-the dear people-the +noble-hearted people-the iron-handed, unbribable, unterrified +democracy-the people from whom all power springs. The +never-flinching, unterrified, irresistible democracy are smothered +with encomiums of praise, sounding from all parts of the room. Mr. +Lawrence M'Fadden is ushered into the room to the great joy of his +friends: being a very great man among the loyal voters, his +appearance produces great excitement. + +Several friends of the candidates, working for their favourites, are +making themselves very humble in their behalf. Although there is +little care for maintaining any fundamental principle of government +that does not serve his own pocket, Mr. M'Fadden can and will +control a large number of votes, do a deal of knocking down at the +polls, and bring up first-rate fighting men to do the keeping away +the opposite's constituents. Thus our man, who has lately been +bought as preacher, is most useful in this our little democratic +world. + +Some two or three hundred persons have collected near a clump of +trees on the lawn, and are divided into knots intermixed with +ruffian-looking desperadoes, dressed most coarsely and +fantastically. They are pitting their men, after the fashion of good +horses; then they boldly draw forth and expose the minor +delinquencies of opposing candidates. Among them are the "Saw- +piters," who affect an air of dignity, and scout the planter's offer +of work so long as a herring runs the river; the "piny woods-man," +of great independence while rabbits are found in the woods, and he +can wander over the barren unrestrained; and the "Wire-Grass-Men;" +and the Crackers, + +Singular species of gypsies, found throughout the State. who live +anywhere and everywhere, and whom the government delights to keep +in ignorance, while declaring it much better they were enslaved. The +State possesses many thousands of these people; but few of them can +read, while never having written a stroke in their lives is a boast. +Continually armed with double-barrel guns, to hunt the panting buck +is one of their sports; to torture a runaway negro is another; to +make free with a planter's corn field is the very best. The reader +may imagine this picture of lean, craven faces-unshaven and made +fiercely repulsive by their small, treacherous eyes, if he can. It +can only be seen in these our happy slave states of our happy Union. + +The time draws near when the candidates will come forward, address +the sovereign constituency, and declare their free and open +principles-their love of liberal governments, and their undying +affection for the great truths of democracy. The scene, as the time +approaches, becomes more and more animated. All are armed to the +teeth, with the symbol of honour--something so called--beneath their +coarse doublets, or in the waistbands of their pantaloons. The group +evinces so much excitement that belligerents are well nigh coming to +blows; in fact, peace is only preserved by the timely appearance of +the landlord, who proclaims that unless order be preserved until +after the candidates have addressed them, the next barrel of whiskey +will positively "not be tapped." He could not use a more effectual +argument. Mr. M'Fadden, who exercises great authority over the +minions under him, at this announcement mounts the top of an empty +whiskey barrel, and declares he will whip the "whole crowd," if they +do not cease to wage their political arguments. + +While the above cursory remarks and party sparrings are going on, +some forty negroes are seen busily employed preparing the +indispensable adjuncts of the occasion-the meats. Here, beneath the +clump of trees, a few yards from the grocery and justices' office, +the candidates' tables are being spread with cold meats, crackers, +bread and cheese, cigars, &c., &c. As soon as the gentlemen +candidates have delivered themselves of their sentiments, two +barrels of real "straight-back" whiskey will be added. + +"This is the way we puts our candidate through, down south, ye see, +fellers, voters: it's we what's the bone and siners o' the rights o' +the south. It's we what's got t' take the slow-coach politics out o' +the hands o' them ar' old harristocrats what don't think them ar' +northern abolitionists han't goin to do nothin. It's we, fellow +citizens, what puts southern-rights principles clean through; it's +we what puts them ar' old Union haristocrats, what spiles all the +nigger property, into the straight up way o' doing things! Now, +feller voters, free and independent citizens-freemen who have fought +for freedom,--you, whose old, grey-headed fathers died for freedom! +it takes you t' know what sort a thing freedom is; and how to enjoy +it so niggers can't take it away from you! I'ze lived north way, +know how it is! Yer jist the chaps to put niggers straight,--to vote +for my man, Colonel Mohpany," Mr. M'Fadden cries out at the very top +of his voice, as he comes rushing out of the tavern, edging his way +through the crowd, followed by the two candidates. The gentlemen +look anxiously good-natured; they walk together to the rostrum, +followed by a crowd, measuring their way to the assembly through the +darling affections of our free and independent voters. Gossamer +citizenship, this! + +As they reach the rostrum, a carriage is seen in the distance, +approaching in great haste. All attention being directed to it, the +first candidate, Colonel Mohpany, mounts the stump, places his right +hand in his bosom, and pauses as if to learn who it brings. To the +happy consolation of Mr. M'Fadden and his friends, it bears Mr. +Scranton the philosopher. Poor Mr. Scranton looks quite worn out +with anxiety; he has come all the way from the city, prepared with +the very best kind of a southern-rights speech, to relieve his +friend, General Vardant, who is not accustomed to public +declamation. The General is a cunning fellow, fears the stump +accomplishments of his antagonist, and has secured the valuable +services of philosopher Scranton. Mr. S. will tell the constituency, +in very logical phraseology,--making the language suit the sentiments +of his friends,--what principles must be maintained; how the General +depends upon the soundness of their judgment to sustain him; how +they are the bone and sinews of the great political power of the +South; how their hard, uncontrastable appearance, and their garments +of similar primitiveness, are emblematic of the iron firmness of +their democracy. Mr. Scranton will further assure them that their +democracy is founded on that very accommodating sort of freedom +which will be sure to keep all persons of doubtful colour in +slavery. + +Mr. Scranton arrives, receives the congratulations of his friends, +gets the negroes to brush him down,--for it is difficult to +distinguish him from a pillar of dust, save that we have his modest +eyes for assurances-takes a few glasses of moderate mixture, and +coolly collects his ideas. The mixture will bring out Mr. Scranton's +philosophical facts: and, now that he has got his face and beard +cleanly washed, he will proceed to the stand. Here he is received +with loud cheering; the gentleman is a great man, all the way from +the city. Sitting on a chair he is sorry was made at the north, he +exhibits a deal of method in taking from his pocket a long cedar +pencil, with which he will make notes of all Colonel Mohpany's loose +points. + +The reader, we feel assured, will excuse us for not following +Colonel Mohpany through his speech, so laudatory of the patriotism +of his friends, so much interrupted by applause. The warm manner in +which his conclusion is received assures him that he now is the most +popular man in the State. Mr. Scranton, armed with his usually +melancholy countenance, rises to the stump, makes his modestly +political bow, offers many impressive apologies for the unprepared +state in which he finds himself, informs his hearers that he appears +before them only as a substitute for his very intimate and +particular friend, General Vardant. He, too, has a wonderful +prolixity of compliments to bestow upon the free, the patriotic, the +independent voters of the very independent district. He tries to be +facetious; but his temperament will not admit of any +inconsistencies, not even in a political contest. No! he must be +serious; because the election of a candidate to so high an office is +a serious affair. So he will tell the "Saw-pit men" a great deal +about their noble sires; how they lived and died for liberty; how +the tombstones of immortality are emblazoned with the fame of their +glorious deeds. And he will tell these glorious squatters what +inalienable rights they possess; how they must be maintained; and +how they have always been first to maintain the principle of keeping +"niggers" in their places, and resisting those mischievous +propagators of northern villainy-abolitionists. He will tell the +deep-thinking saw-pit voters how it has been charged against them +that they were only independent once a year, and that was when +herrings run up the Santee river. Such a gross slander Mr. Scranton +declares to be the most impious. They were always independent; and, +if they were poor, and preferred to habit themselves in primitive +garbs, it was only because they preferred to be honest! This, Mr. +Scranton, the northern philosopher, asserts with great emphasis. +Yes! they are honest; and honest patriots are always better than +rich traitors. From the san-pit men, Mr. Scranton, his face +distended with eloquence, turns to his cracker and "wire-grass" +friends, upon whom he bestows most piercing compliments. Their lean +mules-the speaker laughs at his own wit-and pioneer waggons always +remind him of the good old times, when he was a boy, and everybody +was so honest it was unnecessary even to have such useless finery as +people put on at the present day. A word or two, very derogatory of +the anti-slavery people, is received with deafening applause. Of the +descendants of the Huguenots he says but little; they are few, rich, +and very unpopular in this part of the little sovereign state. And +he quite forgot to tell this unlettered mass of a sovereign +constituency the true cause of their poverty and degradation. Mr. +Scranton, however, in one particular point, which is a vital one to +the slave-ocracy, differs with the ungovernable Romescos,--he would +not burn all common schools, nor scout all such trash as +schoolmasters. + +In another part of Mr. Scranton's speech he enjoins them to be +staunch supporters of men known to be firm to the south, and who +would blow up every yankee who came south, and refused to declare +his sentiments to be for concession. "You!"-he points round him to +the grotesque crowd-"were first to take a stand and keep niggers +down; to keep them where they can't turn round and enslave you! +Great Britain, fell ercitizens,"-Mr. Scranton begins to wax warm; he +adjusts his coat sleeves, and draws himself into a tragic attitude +as he takes his tobacco from his mouth, seemingly unconscious of his +own enthusiasm-I say Great Britain-" A sudden interruption is +caused. Mr. Scranton's muddled quid, thrown with such violence, has +bedaubed the cheek of an admiring saw-pitter, whose mind was +completely absorbed in his eloquence. He was listening with +breathless suspense, and only saved its admission in his capacious +mouth by closing it a few seconds before. + +"Sarved him just right; keep on, Colonel!" exclaims Mr. M'Fadden. He +takes the man by the arm, pushes him aside, and makes a slight bow +to Mr. Scranton. He would have him go on. + +"Great Britain-feller citizens, I say-was first to commence the +warfare against nigger slavery; and now she is joining the north to +seek its permanent overthrow. She is a monster tyrant wherever she +sets her foot-I say! (Three cheers for that.) She contributed to +fasten the curse upon us; and now she wants to destroy us by taking +it away according to the measures of the northern +abolitionists-fanaticism! Whatever the old school southerner +neglects to do for the preservation of the peculiar institution, we +must do for him! And we, who have lived at the north, can, with your +independent support, put the whole thing through a course of +political crooks." Again Mr. Scranton pauses; surveys his assembly +of free and independent citizens. + +"That we can: I knows what fanatics down east be!" rejoins Mr. +M'Fadden, shaking his head very knowingly. He laughs with an air of +great satisfaction, as much as to say that, with such northern +philosophers to do the championism of slavery in the south, all the +commercial relations for which northern merchants are under so many +obligations to slave-labour, will be perfectly safe. But Mr. +Scranton has drawn out his speech to such an uncommon length, that +the loquacious M'Fadden is becoming decidedly wearied. His eyes +begin to glow languid, and the lids to close,--and now he nods assent +to all Mr. Scranton's sayings, which singularly attracts the +attention of that orator's hearers. The orator becomes very much +annoyed at this, suddenly stops-begs Mr. M'Fadden will postpone his +repose. This, from so great a man as Mr. Scranton, is accepted as +provokingly witty. Mr. M'Fadden laughs; and they all laugh. The +gentleman will continue his speech. + +"The South must come out; must establish free trade, direct +trade,--trade that will free her from her disreputable association +with the North. She can do it!" Mr. Scranton wipes his forehead with +his white pocket-handkerchief. + +"Ain't we deeply indebted to the North?" a voice in the crowd cries +out. + +"Well! what if we are? Can't we offset the debts on the principles +of war? Let it go against the injury of abolition excitements!" Mr. +Scranton makes a theatrical flourish with his right hand, and runs +the fingers of his left through his crispy hair, setting it on end +like quills on a porcupine's back. Three long and loud cheers +follow, and the gentleman is involuntarily compelled to laugh at his +own singular sayings. "The South must hold conventions; she must +enforce constitutional guarantees; she must plant herself in the +federal capital, and plead her cause at the bar of the world. She +will get a hearing there! And she must supplant that dangerous +engine of abolition, now waging war against our property, our +rights, our social system." Thus concluding, Mr. Scranton sits down, +very much fatigued from his mental effervescence, yet much lighter +from having relieved himself of his speech, amidst a storm of +applause. Such a throwing up of hats and slouches, such jostling, +abetting, and haranguing upon the merits of the candidates, their +speeches and their sentiments, never was heard or seen before. + +Mine host now mounts the stand to make the welcome announcement, +that, the speeches being over, the eating entertainments are ready. +He hopes the friends of the candidates will repair to the tables, +and help themselves without stint or restraint. As they are on the +point of rushing upon the tables, Colonel Mohpany suddenly jumps up, +and arrests the progress of the group by intimating that he has one +word more to say. That word is, his desire to inform the bone and +sinew of the constituency that his opponent belongs to a party which +once declared in the Assembly that they-the very men who stand +before him now-were a dangerous class unless reduced to slavery! The +Colonel has scarcely delivered himself of this very clever charge, +when the tables, a few yards distant, are surrounded by promiscuous +friends and foes, who help themselves after the fashion most +advantageous. All rules of etiquette are unceremoniously dispensed +with,--he who can secure most is the best diplomatist. Many find +their mouths so inadequate to the temptation of the feast, that they +improve on Mr. Scranton's philosophy by making good use of their +ample pockets. Believe us, reader, the entertainment is the +essential part of the candidate's political virtue, which must be +measured according to the extent of his cold meats and very bad +whiskey. + +To carry out the strength of General Vardant's principles, several +of his opponent's friends are busily employed in circulating a +report that his barrel of whiskey has been "brought on" only half +full. A grosser slander could not have been invented. But the report +gains circulation so fast, that his meats and drinks are +mischievously absorbed, and the demonstration of his unpopular +position begins to be manifest. The candidates, unflinching in their +efforts, mix with the medley, have the benefit of the full exercise +of free thought and action, hear various opinions upon "the Squire's +chances," and listen to the chiming of high-sounding compliments. +While this clanging of merry jargon is at its highest, as if by some +magic influence Romescos makes his appearance, and immediately +commences to pit sides with Mr. M'Fadden. With all Romescos' +outlawry, he is tenacious of his southern origin; and he will assert +its rights against Mr. M'Fadden, whom he declares to be no better +than a northern humbug, taking advantage of southern institutions. +To him all northerners are great vagabonds, having neither +principles nor humanity in their composition; he makes the assertion +emphatically, without fear or trembling; and he calls upon his +friends to sustain him, that he may maintain the rights of the +South. Those rights Romescos asserts, and re-asserts, can only be +preserved by southern men-not by sneaking northerners, who, with +their trade, pocket their souls. Northerners are great men for +whitewashing their faces with pretence! Romescos is received with +considerable clat. He declares, independently, that Mr. Scranton +too is no less a sheer humbug of the same stripe, and whose +humbugging propensities make him the humble servant of the south so +long as he can make a dollar by the bemeaning operation. His full +and unmeasured appreciation of all this northern-southern +independence is here given to the world for the world's good. And he +wants the world to particularly understand, that the old southerner +is the only independent man, the only true protector of humanity! + +Romescos' sudden appearance, and the bold stand he takes against Mr. +M'Fadden and his candidate, produce the utmost confusion; he being +unpopular with the saw-pit men, with whom he once exhibited +considerable dexterity in carrying off one of their number and +putting the seal of slavery on him, they take sides against him. It +is the Saw-pitters against Romescos and the Crackers. The spirits +have flowed, and now the gods of our political power sway to and fro +under most violent shocks. Many, being unable to keep a +perpendicular, are accusing each other of all sorts of misdeeds-of +the misdeeds of their ancestors-of the specific crimes they +committed-the punishments they suffered. From personalities of their +own time they descend forth into jeering each other on matters of +family frailty, setting what their just deserts would have entitled +them to receive. They continue in this strain of jargon for some +time, until at length it becomes evident the storm of war is fast +approaching a crisis. Mr. M'Fadden is mentally unprepared to meet +this crisis, which Romescos will make to suit himself; and to this +end the comical and somewhat tragical finale seems pretty well +understood by the candidates and a few of the "swell-ocracy," who +have assembled more to see the grand representation of physical +power on the part of these free and enlightened citizens, than to +partake of the feast or listen to the rhetoric of the speeches. In +order to get a good view of the scene they have ascended trees, +where, perched among their branches like so many jackals, they cheer +and urge on the sport, as the nobility of Spain applaud a favourite +champion of the ring. At length the opposing parties doff their hats +and coats, draw knives, make threatening grimaces, and twirl their +steel in the air: their desperation is earnest; they make an onset, +charging with the bravado of men determined to sacrifice life. The +very air resounds with their shouts of blasphemy; blood flows from +deep incisions of bowie-knives, garments are rent into shreds; and +men seem to have betaken themselves to personating the demons. + +Would that they were rational beings! would that they were men +capable of constituting a power to protect the liberty of principle +and the justice of law! Shout after shout goes up; tumult is +triumphant. Two fatal rencontres are announced, and Mr. Lawrence +M'Fadden is dangerously wounded; he has a cut in the abdomen. The +poor victims attract but little attention; such little trifling +affairs are very common, scarcely worth a word of commiseration. One +gentleman insinuates that the affair has been a desperately amusing +one; another very coolly adds, that this political feed has had much +more interest in it than any preceding one. + +The victims are rolled in blankets, and laid away in the corn-shed; +they will await the arrival of the coroner, who, the landlord says, +it will be no more than right to send for. They are only two dead +Crackers, however, and nobody doubts what the verdict will be. In +truth-and it must be told once in a while, even in our +atmosphere-the only loss is the two votes, which the candidate had +already secured with his meat and drink, and which have now, he +regrets, been returned to the box of death instead of his ballot. +Poor voters, now only fit to serve the vilest purpose! how degraded +in the scale of human nature is the being, only worth a suffrance at +elections, where votes cast from impulse control the balance of +power. Such beings are worth just nothing; they would not sell in +the market. The negro waiters say, "It don't make a bit of matter +how much white rubbish like this is killed, it won't fetch a bid in +the market; and when you sell it, it won't stay sold." + +"Lose I dat way, Cato, might jist as well take tousand dollar +straight out o' mas'r's pocket; but dese critters b'nt notin' +nohow," says old Daniel, one of the servants, who knows the value of +his own body quite well. Daniel exults as he looks upon the dead +bodies he is assisting to deposit in the corn-shed. + +Mr. M'Fadden is carefully borne into the tavern, where, after much +difficulty, he is got up stairs and laid on a very nice bed, spread +with snowy white linen. A physician is called, and his wound dressed +with all possible skill and attention. He is in great pain, however; +begs his friends to bestow all care upon him, and save no expense. + +Thus ends our political day. The process of making power to shape +the social and political weal of our State, closes. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +MR. M'FADDEN SEES SHADOWS IN THE FUTURE. + + + + + +NIGHT has quickly drawn its curtain over the scene. Mr. M'Fadden +lies on his bed, writhing under the pain of the poisoned wound. He +left his preacher locked up for the night in a cold hovel, and he +has secured the dangerous Bible, lest it lessen his value. Mr. +M'Fadden, however, feels that now his earthly career is fast closing +he must seek redemption. Hie has called in the aid of a physician, +who tells him there is great danger, and little hope unless his case +takes a favourable turn about midnight. The professional gentleman +merely suggests this, but the suggestion conveys an awful warning. +All the misdeeds of the past cloud before his eyes; they summon him +to make his peace with his Maker. He remembers what has been told +him about the quality of mercy,--the duration of hope in +redemption,--which he may secure by rendering justice to those he has +wronged. But now conscience wars with him; he sees the fierce +elements of retribution gathering their poisoned shafts about him; +he quails lest their points pierce his heart; and he sees the God of +right arraigning him at the bar of justice. There, that Dispenser of +all Good sits in his glory and omnipotence, listening while the +oppressed recites his sufferings: the oppressed there meets him face +to face, robed in that same garb of submission which he has +inflicted upon him on earth. His fevered brain gives out strange +warnings,--warnings in which he sees the angel of light unfolding the +long list of his injustice to his fellow man, and an angry God +passing the awful sentence. Writhing, turning, and contorting his +face, his very soul burns with the agony of despair. He grasps the +hand of his physician, who leans over his wounded body, and with +eyes distorted and glassy, stares wildly and frantically round the +room. Again, as if suffering inward torture, he springs from his +pillow, utters fierce imprecations against the visions that surround +him, grasps at them with his out-stretched fingers, motions his +hand backward and forward, and breaks out into violent paroxysms of +passion, as if struggling in the unyielding grasp of death. + +That physical power which has so long borne him up in his daily +pursuits yields to the wanderings of his haunted mind. He lays his +hand upon the physician's shoulder as his struggles now subside, +looks mournfully in his face, and rather mutters than speaks: +"Bring-bring-bring him here: I'll see him,--I must see him! I-I-I +took away the book; there's what makes the sting worse! And when I +close my eyes I see it burning fiercely-" + +"Who shall I bring?" interrupts the physician, mildly, endeavouring +to soothe his feelings by assuring him there is no danger, if he +will but remain calm. + +"Heaven is casting its thick vengeance round me; heaven is consuming +me with the fire of my own heart! How can I be calm, and my past +life vaulted with a glow of fire? The finger of Almighty God points +to that deed I did today. I deprived a wretch of his only hope: that +wretch can forgive me before heaven. Y-e-s, he can,--can speak for +me,--can intercede for me; he can sign my repentance, and save me +from the just vengeance of heaven. His-his-his-" + +"What?" the physician whispers, putting his ear to his mouth. "Be +calm." + +"Calm!" he mutters in return. + +"Neither fear death nor be frightened at its shadows-" + +"It's life, life, life I fear--not death!" he gurgles out. "Bring him +to me; there is the Bible. Oh! how could I have robbed him of it! +'Twas our folly--all folly--my folly!" Mr. M'Fadden had forgotten that +the bustle of current life was no excuse for his folly; that it +would be summed up against him in the day of trouble. He never for +once thought that the Bible and its teachings were as dear to slave +as master, and that its truths were equally consoling in the hour of +death. In life it strengthens man's hopes; could it have been thus +with M'Fadden before death placed its troubled sea before his eyes, +how happy he would have died in the Lord! + +The emphatic language, uttered in such supplicating tones, and so at +variance with his habits of life, naturally excited the feelings of +his physician, whose only solicitude had been evinced in his efforts +to save life,--to heal the wound. Never had he watched at a patient's +bed-side who had exhibited such convulsions of passion,--such fears +of death. + +Now struggling against a storm of convulsions, then subsiding into +sluggish writhings, accompanied with low moans, indicating more +mental disquietude than bodily pain. Again he is quiet; points to +his coat. + +The physician brings it forward and lays it upon the bed, where Mr. +M'Fadden can put his hand upon it. "It is there--in there!" he says, +turning on his left side, and with a solicitous look pointing to the +pockets of his coat. The professional gentleman does not understand +him. + +He half raises himself on his pillow, but sinks back fatigued, and +faintly whispers, "Oh, take it to him--to him! Give him the +comforter: bring him, poor fellow, to me, that his spirit may be my +comforter!" + +The physician understands, puts his hand into the pocket; draws +forth the little boon companion. It is the Bible, book of books; its +great truths have borne Harry through many trials,--he hopes it will +be his shield and buckler to carry him through many more. Its +associations are as dear to him as its teachings are consoling in +the days of tribulation. It is dear to him, because the promptings +of a noble-hearted woman secretly entrusted it to his care, in +violation of slavery's statutes. Its well-worn pages bear testimony +of the good service it has done. It was Franconia's gift-Franconia, +whose tender emotions made her the friend of the slave-made in the +kindness of woman's generous nature. The good example, when +contrasted with the fierce tenor of slavery's fears, is worthy many +followers. + +But men seldom profit by small examples, especially when great fears +are paramount. + +The physician, holding the good book in his hand, enquires if Mr. +M'Fadden would have him read from it? He has no answer to make, +turns his feverish face from it, closes his eyes, and compressing +his forehead with his hands, mutely shakes his head. A minute or two +passes in silence; he has re-considered the point,--answers, no! He +wants Harry brought to him, that he may acknowledge his crimes; that +he may quench the fire of unhappiness burning within him. "How +seldom we think of death while in life,--and how painful to see death +while gathering together the dross of this worldly chaos! Great, +great, great is the reward of the good, and mighty is the hand of +Omnipotence that, holding the record of our sins, warns us to +prepare." As Mr. M'Fadden utters these words, a coloured woman +enters the room to enquire if the patient wants nourishment. She +will wait at the door. + +The physician looks at the patient; the patient shakes his head and +whispers, "Only the boy. The boy I bought to-day." The Bible lays at +his side on the sheet. He points to it, again whispering, "The boy I +took it from!" + +The boy, the preacher, Mr. M'Fadden's purchase, can read; she will +know him by that; she must bring him from the shed, from his cold +bed of earth. That crime of slavery man wastes his energies to make +right, is wrong in the sight of heaven; our patient reads the +glaring testimony as the demons of his morbid fancy haunt him with +their damning terrors, their ghastly visages. + +"Go, woman, bring him!" he whispers again. + +Almost motionless the woman stands. She has seen the little book-she +knows it, and her eyes wander over the inscription on the cover. A +deep blush shadows her countenance; she fixes her piercing black +eyes upon it until they seem melting into sadness; with a delicacy +and reserve at variance with her menial condition, she approaches +the bed, lays her hand upon the book, and, while the physician's +attention is attracted in another direction, closes its pages, and +is about to depart. + +"Can you tell which one he wants, girl?" enquires the physician, in +a stern voice. + +"His name, I think, is Harry; and they say the poor thing can +preach; forgive me what I have done to him, oh Lord! It is the +weakness of man grasping the things of this world, to leave behind +for the world's nothingness," says Mr. M'Fadden, as the woman leaves +the room giving an affirmative reply. + +The presence of the Bible surprised the woman; she knew it as the +one much used by Harry, on Marston's plantation. It was Franconia's +gift! The associations of the name touched the chord upon which hung +the happiest incidents of her life. Retracing her steps down the +stairs, she seeks mine host of the tavern, makes known the demand, +and receives the keys of this man-pen of our land of liberty. +Lantern in hand, she soon reaches the door, unlocks it gently, as if +she expects the approach of some strange object, and fears a sudden +surprise. + +There the poor dejected wretches lay; nothing but earth's surface +for a bed,--no blanket to cover them. They have eaten their measure +of corn, and are sleeping; they sleep while chivalry revels! Harry +has drawn his hat partly over his face, and made a pillow of the +little bundle he carried under his arm. + +Passing from one to the other, the woman approaches him, as if to +see if she can recognise any familiar feature. She stoops over him, +passes the light along his body, from head to foot, and from foot to +head. "Can it be our Harry?" she mutters. "It can't be; master +wouldn't sell him." Her eyes glare with anxiety as they wander up +and down his sleeping figure. + +"Harry,--Harry,--Harry! which is Harry?" she demands. + +Scarcely has she lisped the words, when the sleeper starts to his +feet, and sets his eyes on the woman with a stare of wonderment. His +mind wanders-bewildered; is he back on the old plantation? That +cannot be; they would not thus provide for him there. "Back at the +old home! Oh, how glad I am: yes, my home is there, with good old +master. My poor old woman; I've nothing for her, nothing," he says, +extending his hand to the woman, and again, as his mind regains +itself, their glances become mutual; the sympathy of two old +associates gushes forth from the purest of fountains,--the oppressed +heart. + +"Harry-oh, Harry! is it you?" + +"Ellen! my good Ellen, my friend, and old master's friend!" is the +simultaneous salutation. + +"Sold you, too?" enquires Harry, embracing her with all the fervour +of a father who has regained his long-lost child. She throws her +arms about his neck, and clings to him, as he kisses, and kisses, +and kisses her olive brow. + +"My sale, Harry, was of little consequence; but why did they sell +you? (Her emotions have swollen into tears). You must tell me all, +to-night! You must tell me of my child, my Nicholas,--if master +cares for him, and how he looks, grows, and acts. Oh, how my heart +beats to have him at my side;--when, when will that day come! I would +have him with me, even if sold for the purpose." Tears gush down her +cheeks, as Harry, encircling her with his arm, whispers words of +consolation in her ear. + +"If we were always for this world, Ellen, our lot could not be +borne. But heaven has a recompense, which awaits us in the world to +come. Ellen!"-he holds her from him and looks intently in her +face-"masters are not to blame for our sufferings,--the law is the +sinner! Hope not, seek not for common justice, rights, privileges, +or anything else while we are merchandise among men who, to please +themselves, gamble with our souls and bodies. Take away that +injustice, Ellen, and men who now plead our unprofitableness would +hide their heads with shame. Make us men, and we will plead our own +cause; we will show to the world that we are men; black men, who can +be made men when they are not made merchandise." Ellen must tell him +what has brought her here, first! He notices sad changes in her +countenance, and feels anxious to listen to the recital of her +troubles. + +She cannot tell him now, and begs that he will not ask her, as the +recollection of them fills her heart with sorrow. She discloses the +object of her mission, will guide him to his new master, who, they +say, is going to die, and feels very bad about it. He was a +desperate man on his plantation, and has become the more contrite at +death's call. "I hope God will forgive him!" + +"He will!-He will! He is forgiving," interrupts Harry, hurriedly. + +Ellen reconnoitres the wearied bodies of the others as they lie +around. "Poor wretches! what can I do for them?" she says, holding +the lamp over them. She can do but little for them, poor girl. The +will is good, but the wherewith she hath not. Necessity is a hard +master; none know it better than the slave woman. She will take +Harry by the hand, and, retracing her steps, usher him into the +presence of the wounded man. Pressing his hand as she opens the +door, she bids him good night, and retires to her cabin. "Poor +Harry!" she says, with a sigh. + +The kind woman is Ellen Juvarna. She has passed another eventful +stage of her eventful life. Mine host, good fellow, bought her of +Mr. O'Brodereque, that's all! + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +HOW THEY STOLE THE PREACHER. + + + + + +THE scenes we have described in the foregoing chapter have not yet +been brought to a close. In and about the tavern may be seen groups +of men, in the last stage of muddled mellowness, the rank fumes of +bad liquor making the very air morbid. Conclaves of grotesque +figures are seated in the veranda and drinking-room, breaking the +midnight stillness with their stifled songs, their frenzied +congratulations, their political jargon; nothing of fatal +consequence would seem to have happened. + +"Did master send for me? You've risen from a rag shop, my man!" +interrupts the physician. + +"Master there-sorry to see him sick-owns me." Harry cast a subdued +look on the bed where lay his late purchaser. + +Harry's appearance is not the most prepossessing,--he might have been +taken for anything else but a minister of the gospel; though the +quick eye of the southerner readily detected those frank and manly +features which belong to a class of very dark men who exhibit +uncommon natural genius. + +At the sound of Harry's voice, M'Fadden makes an effort to raise +himself on his elbow. The loss of blood has so reduced his physical +power that his effort is unsuccessful. He sinks back, +prostrate,--requests the physician to assist him in turning over. He +will face his preacher. Putting out his hand, he embraces him +cordially,--motions him to be seated. + +The black preacher, that article of men merchandise, takes a seat at +the bed-side, while the man of medicine withdraws to the table. The +summons is as acceptable to Harry as it is strange to the physician, +who has never before witnessed so strange a scene of familiarity +between slave and master. All is silent for several minutes. Harry +looks at his master, as if questioning the motive for which he is +summoned into his presence; and still he can read the deep anxiety +playing upon M'Fadden's distorted countenance. At length, Harry, +feeling that his presence may be intrusive, breaks the silence by +enquiring if there is anything he can do for master. Mr. M'Fadden +whispers something, lays his trembling hand on Harry's, casts a +meaning glance at the physician, and seems to swoon. Returning to +his bed-side, the physician lays his hand upon the sick man's brow; +he will ascertain the state of his system. + +"Give-him-his-Bible," mutters the wounded man, pointing languidly to +the table. "Give it to him that he may ask God's blessing for me-for +me-for me,--" + +The doctor obeys his commands, and the wretch, heart bounding with +joy, receives back his inspiring companion. It is dear to him, and +with a smile of gratitude invading his countenance he returns +thanks. There is pleasure in that little book. "And now, Harry, my +boy," says M'Fadden, raising his hand to Harry's shoulder, and +looking imploringly in his face as he regains strength; "forgive +what I have done. I took from you that which was most dear to your +feelings; I took it from you when the wounds of your heart were +gushing with grief-" He makes an effort to say more, but his voice +fails; he will wait a few moments. + +The kind words touch Harry's feelings; tears glistening in his eyes +tell how he struggles to suppress the emotions of his heart. "Did +you mean my wife and children, master?" he enquires. + +M'Fadden, somewhat regaining strength, replies in the affirmative. +He acknowledges to have seen that the thing "warn't just right." His +imagination has been wandering through the regions of heaven, where, +he is fully satisfied, there is no objection to a black face. God +has made a great opening in his eyes and heart just now. He sees and +believes such things as he neither saw nor believed before; they +pass like clouds before his eyes, never, never to be erased from his +memory. Never before has he thought much about repentance; but now +that he sees heaven on one side and hell on the other, all that once +seemed right in bartering and selling the bodies and souls of men, +vanishes. There, high above all, is the vengeance of heaven written +in letters of blood, execrating such acts, and pointing to the +retribution. It is a burning consciousness of all the suffering he +has inflicted upon his negroes. Death, awful monitor! stares him in +the face; it holds the stern realities of truth and justice before +him; it tells him of the wrong,--points him to the right. The +unbending mandates of slave law, giving to man power to debase +himself with crimes the judicious dare not punish, are being +consumed before Omnipotence, the warning voice of which is calling +him to his last account. + +And now the wounded man is all condescension, hoping forgiveness! +His spirit has yielded to Almighty power; he no longer craves for +property in man; no, his coarse voice is subdued into softest +accents. He whispers "coloured man," as if the merchandise changed +as his thoughts are brought in contact with revelations of the +future. + +"Take the Bible, my good boy-take it, read it to me, before I die. +Read it, that it may convert my soul. If I have neglected myself on +earth, forgive me; receive my repentance, and let me be saved from +eternal misery. Read, my dear good boy,"-M'Fadden grasps his hand +tighter and tighter-"and let your voice be a warning to those who +never look beyond earth and earth's enjoyments." The physician +thinks his patient will get along until morning, and giving +directions to the attendants, leaves him. + +Harry has recovered from the surprise which so sudden a change of +circumstances produced, and has drawn from the patient the cause of +his suffering. He opens the restored Bible, and reads from it, to +Mr. M'Fadden's satisfaction. He reads from Job; the words producing +a deep effect upon the patient's mind. + +The wretched preacher, whose white soul is concealed beneath black +skin, has finished his reading. He will now address himself to his +master, in the following simple manner. + +"Master, it is one thing to die, and another to die happy. It is one +thing to be prepared to die, another to forget that we have to die, +to leave the world and its nothingness behind us. But you are not +going to die, not now. Master, the Lord will forgive you if you, +make your repentance durable. 'Tis only the fear of death that has +produced the change on your mind. Do, master! learn the Lord; be +just to we poor creatures, for the Lord now tells you it is not +right to buy and sell us." + +"Buy and sell you!" interrupts the frightened man, making an effort +to rise from his pillow; "that I never will, man nor woman. If God +spares my life, my people shall be liberated; I feel different on +that subject, now! The difference between the commerce of this world +and the glory of heaven brightens before me. I was an ignorant man +on all religious matters; I only wanted to be set right in the way +of the Lord,--that's all." Again he draws his face under the sheet, +writhing with the pain of his wound. + +"I wish everybody could see us as master does, about this time; for +surely God can touch the heart of the most hardened. But master +ain't going to die so soon as he thinks," mutters Harry, wiping the +sweat from his face, as he lays his left hand softly upon master's +arm. "God guide us in all coming time, and make us forget the +retribution that awaits our sins!" he concludes, with a smile +glowing on his countenance. + +The half spoken words catch upon the patient's ear. He starts +suddenly from his pillow, as if eager to receive some favourable +intelligence. "Don't you think my case dangerous, my boy? Do you +know how deep is the wound?" he enquires, his glassy eyes staring +intently at Harry. + +"It is all the same, master!" is the reply. + +"Give me your hand again"-M'Fadden grasps his hand and seems to +revive-"pray for me now; your prayers will be received into heaven, +they will serve me there!" + +"Ah, master," says Harry, kindly, interrupting him at this juncture, +"I feel more than ever like a christian. It does my heart good to +hear you talk so true, so kind. How different from yesterday! then I +was a poor slave, forced from my children, with nobody to speak a +kind word for me; everybody to reckon me as a good piece of property +only. I forgive you, master-I forgive you; God is a loving God, and +will forgive you also." The sick man is consoled; and, while his +preacher kneels at his bed-side, offering up a prayer imploring +forgiveness, he listens to the words as they fall like cooling drops +on his burning soul. The earnestness--the fervency and pathos of the +words, as they gush forth from the lips of a wretch, produce a still +deeper effect upon the wounded man. Nay, there is even a chord +loosened in his heart; he sobs audibly. "Live on earth so as to be +prepared for heaven; that when death knocks at the door you may +receive him as a welcome guest. But, master! you cannot meet our +Father in heaven while the sin of selling men clings to your +garments. Let your hair grow grey with justice, and God will reward +you," he concludes. + +"True, Harry; true!"--he lays his hand on the black man's shoulder, is +about to rise--"it is the truth plainly told, and nothing more." He +will have a glass of water to quench his thirst; Harry must bring it +to him, for there is consolation in his touch. Seized with another +pain, he grasps with his left hand the arm of his consoler, works +his fingers through his matted hair, breathes violently, contorts +his face haggardly, as if suffering acutely. Harry waits till the +spasm has subsided, then calls an attendant to watch the patient +while he goes to the well. This done he proceeds into the kitchen to +enquire for a vessel. Having entered that department as the clock +strikes two, he finds Ellen busily engaged preparing food for Mr. +M'Fadden's property, which is yet fast secured in the pen. Feeling +himself a little more at liberty to move about unrestrained, he +procures a vessel, fills it at the well, carries it to his master's +bed-side, sees him comfortably cared for, and returns to the +kitchen, where he will assist Ellen in her mission of goodness. + +The little pen is situated a few yards from the tavern, on the edge +of a clump of tall pines. + +Ellen has got ready the corn and bacon, and with Harry she proceeds +to the pen, where the property are still enjoying that inestimable +boon,--a deep sleep. + +"Always sleeping," he says, waking them one by one at the +announcement of corn and bacon. "Start up and get something good my +girl has prepared for you." He shakes them, while Ellen holds the +lantern. There is something piercing in the summons-meats are strong +arguments with the slave-they start from their slumbers, seize upon +the food, and swallow it with great relish. Harry and Ellen stand +smiling over the gusto with which they swallow their coarse meal. + +"You must be good boys to-night. Old master's sick; flat down on e' +back, and 'spects he's going to die, he does." Harry shakes his head +as he tells it to the astonished merchandise. "Had a great time at +the crossing to-day; killed two or three certain, and almost put +master on the plank." + +"'Twarn't no matter, nohow: nobody lose nofin if old Boss do die: +nigger on e' plantation don' put e' hat in mournin'," mutters the +negro woman, with an air of hatred. She has eaten her share of the +meal, shrugs her shoulders, and again stretches her valuable body on +the ground. + +"Uncle Sparton know'd old Boss warn't gwine t' be whar de debil +couldn't cotch 'em, so long as 'e tink. If dat old mas'r debil, what +white man talk 'bout so much, don' gib 'em big roasting win 'e git +'e dah, better hab no place wid fireins fo' such folks," speaks up +old Uncle Sparton, one of the negroes, whose face shines like a +black-balled boot. + +"Neber mind dat, Uncle Sparton; 'taint what ye say 'bout he. Ven +mas'r debil cotch old Boss 'e don't cotch no fool. Mas'r debil down +yander find old Boss too tuf fo' he business; he jus' like old hoss +what neber die," rejoins another. + +In a word, M'Fadden had told his negroes what a great democrat he +was-how he loved freedom and a free country-until their ideas of +freedom became strangely mystified; and they ventured to assert that +he would not find so free a country when the devil became his +keeper. "Mas'r tink 'e carry 'e plantation t' t'oder world wid him, +reckon," Uncle Sparton grumblingly concludes, joining the motley +conclave of property about to resume its repose. + +Ellen returns to the house. Harry will remain, and have a few words +more with the boys. A few minutes pass, and Ellen returns with an +armful of blankets, with which she covers the people carefully and +kindly. How full of goodness-how touching is the act! She has done +her part, and she returns to the house in advance of Harry, who +stops to take a parting good-night, and whisper a word of +consolation in their ears. He looks upon them as dear brothers in +distress, objects for whom he has a fellow sympathy. He leaves them +for the night; closes the door after him; locks it. He will return +to Ellen, and enjoy a mutual exchange of feeling. + +Scarcely has he left the door, when three persons, disguised, rush +upon him, muffle his head with a blanket, bind his hands and feet, +throw him bodily into a waggon, and drive away at a rapid speed. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +COMPETITION IN HUMAN THINGS. + + + + + +IT is enough to inform the reader that Romescos and Mr. M'Fadden +were not only rival bidders for this very desirable piece of +preaching property, but, being near neighbours, had become +inveterate enemies and fierce political opponents. The former, a +reckless trader in men, women, and children, was a daring, +unprincipled, and revengeful man, whose occupation seldom called him +to his plantation; while the latter was notorious as a hard master +and a cruel tyrant, who exacted a larger amount of labour from his +negroes than his fellow planters, and gave them less to eat. His +opinion was, that a peck of corn a week was quite enough for a +negro; and this was his systematic allowance;--but he otherwise +tempted the appetites of his property, by driving them, famished, to +the utmost verge of necessity. Thus driven to predatory acts in +order to sustain life, the advantages offered by Romescos' +swamp-generally well sprinkled with swine-were readily appropriated +to a very good use. + +Under covert of Romescos' absence, Mr. M'Fadden had no very +scrupulous objection to his negroes foraging the amply provided +swamp,--provided, however, they did the thing on the sly, were +careful whose porker they dispatched, and said nothing to him about +the eating. In fact, it was simply a matter of economy with Mr. +M'Fadden; and as Romescos had a great number of the obstinate +brutes, it saved the trouble of raising such undignified stock. +Finding, however, that neighbour M'Fadden, or his predatory +negroes-such they were called-were laying claim to more than a +generous share of their porkships, Romescos thought it high time to +put the thing down by a summary process. But what particularly +"riled" Romescos in this affair of the hogs was, that M'Fadden's +negroes were not content with catching them in an honourable way, +but would do it through the agency of nasty cur-dogs, which he +always had despised, and held as unfit even to hunt niggers with. +Several times had he expressed his willingness to permit a small +number of his grunters to be captured for the benefit of his +neighbour's half-starved negroes, provided, always, they were hunted +with honourable hound-dogs. He held such animals in high esteem, +while curs he looked upon with utter contempt; he likened the one to +the chivalrous old rice-planter, the other to a pettifogging +schoolmaster fit for nothing but to be despised and shot. With these +feelings he (Romescos) declared his intention to kill the very first +negro he caught in his swamp with cur-dogs; and he kept his word. +Lying in ambush, he would await their approach, and, when most +engaged in appropriating the porkers, rush from his hiding-place, +shoot the dogs, and then take a turn at the more exhilarating +business of shooting the negroes. He would, with all possible +calmness, command the frightened property to approach and partake of +his peculiar mixture, administered from his double-barrel gun. + +That the reader may better understand Romescos' process of curing +this malady of his neighbour's negroes, we will give it as related +by himself. It is a curious mode of dispatching negro property; the +reader, however, cannot fail to comprehend it. "Plantin' didn't suit +my notions o' gittin' rich, ye see, so I spec'lates in nigger +property, and makes a better thing on't. But there's philosophy +about the thing, and a body's got t' know the hang on't afore he can +twist it out profitably; so I keeps a sort of a plantation just to +make a swell; cos ye got to make a splash to be anybody down south. +Can't be a gentleman, ye see, 'cept ye plants cotton and rice; and +then a feller what's got a plantation in this kind of a way can be a +gentleman, and do so many other bits of trade to advantage. The +thing works like the handle of a pump; and then it makes a right +good place for raising young niggers, and gettin' old uns trimmed +up. With me, the worst thing is that old screwdriver, M'Fadden, what +don't care no more for the wear and tear of a nigger than nothin', +and drives 'em like as many steam-engines he thinks he can keep +going by feeding on saw-dust. He han't no conception o' nigger +constitution, and is just the worst sort of a chap that ever cum +south to get a fortune. Why, look right at his niggers: they look +like crows after corn-shuckin. Don't give 'em no meat, and the +critters must steal somethin' t' keep out o' the bone-yard. Well, I +argers the case with Mack, tells him how t'll be atween he and me on +this thing, and warns him that if he don't chunk more corn and +grease into his niggers, there 'll be a ruptous fuss. But he don't +stand on honour, as I does, especially when his property makes a +haul on my swamp of shoats. I an't home often; so the hogs suffer; +and Mack's niggers get the pork. This 'ere kind o' +business"--Romescos maintains the serious dignity of himself the +while--"don't go down nohow with me; so Mack and me just has a bit +of a good-natured quarrel; and from that we gets at daggers' points, +and I swears how I'll kill the first nigger o' his'n what steals +hogs o' mine. Wouldn't a cared a sous, mark ye, but it cum crossways +on a feller's feelins to think how the 'tarnal niggers had no more +sense than t' hunt hogs o' mine with cur-dogs: bin hounds, +honourable dogs, or respectable dogs what 'll do to hunt niggers +with, wouldn't a cared a toss about it; but-when-I-hears-a cur-dog +yelp, oh! hang me if it don't set my sensations all on pins, just as +somethin' was crucifyin' a feller. I warns and talks, and then +pleads like a lawyer what's got a bad case; but all to no end o' +reformin' Mack's morals,--feller han't got no sense o' reform in him. +So I sets my niggers on the scent-it gives 'em some fun-and swears +I'll kill a nigger for every hog he steals. This I concludes on; and +I never backs out when once I fixes a conclusion. + +"Hears the infernal cur-dog's yelp, yelp, yelp, down in the swamp; +then I creeps through the jungle so sly, lays low till the fellers +cum up, all jumpin'-pig ahead, then dogs, niggers follerin', puffin' +and blowin', eyes poppin' out, 'most out o' breath, just as if they +tasted the sparerib afore they'd got the critter. + +"Well, ye see, I know'd all the ins and outs of the law,--keeps +mighty shy about all the judicial quibbles on't,--never takes nobody +with me whose swearin' would stand muster in a court of law. All +right on that score (Romescos exults in his law proficiency). I +makes sure o' the dogs fust, ollers keepin' the double-barrel on the +right eye for the best nigger in the lot. It would make the +longest-faced deacon in the district laugh to see the fire flash out +o' the nigger's big black eyes, when he sees the cur drop, knowin' +how he'll get the next plugs souced into him. It's only natural, cos +it would frighten a feller what warn't used to it just to see what a +thunder-cloud of agitation the nigger screws his black face into. +And then he starts to run, and puts it like streaks o' cannon-balls +chased by express lightnin'. + +"'Stand still, ye thievin' varmint! hold up,--bring to a mooring: +take the mixture according to Gunter!' I shouts. The way the nigger +pulls up, begs, pleads, and says things what'll touch a feller's +tender feelins, aint no small kind of an institution. 'Twould just +make a man what had stretchy conscience think there was somethin' +crooked somewhere. 'Well, boys,' says I, feeling a little soft about +the stomach, 'seeing how it's yer Boss what don't feed ye, I'll be +kind o' good, and give ye a dose of the mixture in an honourable +way.' Then I loads t'other barrel, the feller's eyes flashin' +streaks of blue lightnin' all the time, lookin' at how I rams it +down, chunk! 'Now, boys,' says I, when the plugs +shot is all ready, 'there's system 'bout this ere thing a' +mine--t'aint killin' ye I wants,--don't care a copper about that +(there an't no music in that), but must make it bring the finances +out a' yer master's pocket. That's the place where he keeps all his +morals. Now, run twenty paces and I'll gin ye a fair chance! The +nigger understands me, ye see, and moves off, as if he expected a +thunderbolt at his heel, lookin' back and whining like a puppy +what's lost his mother. Just when he gets to an honourable +distance,--say twenty paces, according to fighting rule,--I draws up, +takes aim, and plumps the plugs into him. The way the critter jumps +reminds me of a circus rider vaultin' and turnin' sumersets. You'd +think he was inginrubber 'lectrified. A'ter all, I finds these +playin' doses don't do; they don't settle things on the square. So I +tries a little stronger mixture, which ends in killin' three o' +Mack's niggers right up smooth. But the best on't is that Mack finds +he han't no proof, goes right into it and kills three o' my prime +fat niggers: that makes us bad friends on every score. But he got a +nigger ahead o' me a'ter awhile, and I ware detarmined to straighten +accounts, if it was by stealin' the odds. Them ar's my principles, +and that's just the way I settles accounts with folks what don't do +the square thing in the way o' nigger property." + +Thus the two gentlemen lived in the terror of internal war; and +Romescos, seeing such a fine piece of property pass into the hands +of his antagonist, resolved on squaring accounts by stealing the +preacher,--an act Mr. M'Fadden least expected. + +The candidates' festival offered every facility for carrying this +singular coup-d'tat into effect. Hence, with the skilful assistance +of Nath. Nimrod, and Dan Bengal, Harry was very precipitately and +dexterously passed over to the chances of a new phase of slave life. + +Ellen waited patiently for Harry's return until it became evident +some ill-luck had befallen him. Lantern in hand, she proceeds to the +pen in search. No Harry is to be found there; Mr. M'Fadden's common +negroes only are there, and they sleep sweetly and soundly. What can +have befallen him? She conjectures many things, none of which are +the right. The lock is upon the door; all is still outside; no +traces of kidnapping can be found. She knows his faithfulness,-- +knows he would not desert his master unless some foul means had been +used to decoy him into trouble. She returns to the house and +acquaints her master. + +Straggling members, who had met to enjoy the generous political +banquet, and who still remain to see the night "through" with +appropriate honour, are apprised of the sudden disappearance of this +very valuable piece of property. They are ready for any turn of +excitement,--anything for "topping off" with a little amusement; and +to this end they immediately gather round mine host in a party of +pursuit. Romescos-he must make his innocence more imposing-has been +conspicuous during the night, at times expressing sympathy for Mr. +M'Fadden, and again assuring the company that he has known fifty +worse cases cured. In order to make this better understood, he will +pay the doctor's bill if M'Fadden dies. Mine host has no sooner +given the alarm than Romescos expresses superlative surprise. He was +standing in the centre of a conclave of men, whom he harangues on +the particular political points necessary for the candidates to +support in order to maintain the honour of the State; now he listens +to mine host as he recounts the strange absence of the preacher, +pauses and combs his long red beard with his fingers, looks +distrustfully, and then says, with a quaintness that disarmed +suspicion, "Nigger-like!-preacher or angel, nigger will be nigger! +The idea o' makin' the black rascals preachers, thinkin' they won't +run away! Now, fellers, that ar' chap's skulkin' about, not far off, +out among the pines; and here's my two dogs"-he points to his dogs, +stretched on the floor-"what'll scent him and bring him out afore +ten minutes! Don't say a word to Mack about it; don't let it 'scape +yer fly-trap, cos they say he's got a notion o' dying, and suddenly +changed his feelins 'bout nigger tradin'. There's no tellin' how it +would affect the old democrat if he felt he warnt goin' to slip his +breeze. This child"-Romescos refers to himself-"felt just as Mack +does more nor a dozen times, when Davy Jones looked as if he was +making slight advances: a feller soon gets straight again, +nevertheless. It's only the difference atween one's feelings about +makin' money when he's well, and thinkin' how he made it when he's +about to bid his friends good morning and leave town for awhile. +Anyhow, there aint no dodging now, fellers! We got to hunt up the +nigger afore daylight, so let us take a drop more and be moving." He +orders the landlord to set on the decanters,--they join in a social +glass, touch glasses to the recovery of the nigger, and then rush +out to the pursuit. Romescos heads the party. With dogs, horses, +guns, and all sorts of negro-hunting apparatus, they scour the +pinegrove, the swamp, and the heather. They make the pursuit of man +full of interest to those who are fond of the chase; they allow +their enthusiasm to bound in unison with the sharp baying of the +dogs. + +For more than two hours is this exhilarating sport kept up. It is +sweet music to their ears; they have been trained (educated) to the +fascination of a man-hunt, and dogs and men become wearied with the +useless search. + +Romescos declares the nigger is near at hand: he sees the dogs curl +down their noses; he must be somewhere in a hole or jungle of the +swamp, and, with more daylight and another dog or two, his +apprehension is certain. He makes a halt on the brow of a hill, and +addresses his fellow-hunters from the saddle. In his wisdom on +nigger nature he will advise a return to the tavern-for it is now +daylight-where they will spend another hour merrily, and then return +brightened to the pursuit. Acting on this advice, friends and +foes-both join as good fellows in the chase for a nigger-followed +his retreat as they had his advance. + +"No nigger preacher just about this circle, Major!" exclaims +Romescos, addressing mine host, as he puts his head into the +bar-room, on his return. "Feller's burrowed somewhere, like a coon: +catch him on the broad end of morning, or I'll hang up my old +double-barrel," he concludes, shaking his head, and ordering drink +for the party at his expense. + +The morning advanced, however, and nothing was to be seen of +Romescos: he vanished as suddenly from among them as Harry had from +the pen. Some little surprise is expressed by the knowing ones; they +whisper among themselves, while mine host reaches over the counter, +cants his head solicitously, and says:--"What's that, gentlemen?" + +In this dilemma they cannot inform mine host; they must continue the +useless chase without Romescos' valuable services. And here we must +leave mine host preparing further necessaries for capturing the lost +property, that he may restore it to its owner so soon as he shall +become convalescent, and turn to Harry. + +Like a well-stowed bale of merchandise, to be delivered at a stated +place within a specified time, he was rolled in bagging, and not +permitted to see the direction in which he was being driven. When +the pursuing party started from the crossing, Romescos took the lead +in order to draw it in an opposite direction, and keep the dogs from +the trail. This would allow the stolen clergyman to get beyond their +reach. When daylight broke upon the capturers they were nearly +twenty miles beyond the reach of the pursuers, approaching an inn by +the road side. The waggon suddenly stopped, and Harry found himself +being unrolled from his winding sheet by the hands of two strangers. +Lifting him to his feet, they took him from the waggon, loosed the +chains from his legs, led him into the house, and placed him in a +dark back room. Here, his head being uncovered, he looks upon his +captors with an air of confusion and distrust. "Ye know me too, I +reckon, old feller, don't ye?" enquires one of the men, with a +sardonic grin, as he lifts his hat with his left hand, and scratches +his head with his right. + +"Yes, mas'r; there's no mistakin on ye!" returns Harry, shaking his +head, as they release the chains from his hands. He at length +recognises the familiar faces of Dan Bengal and Nath. Nimrod. Both +have figured about Marston's plantation, in the purchase and sale of +negroes. + +"Ye had a jolly good ride, old feller, had'nt ye?" says Bengal, +exultingly, looking Harry in the face, shrugging his shoulders, and +putting out his hand to make his friendship. + +Harry has no reply to make; but rubs his face as if he is not quite +satisfied with his new apartment, and wants to know a little more of +the motive of the expedition. "Mas'r! I don't seem to know myself, +nor nothin'. Please tell me where I am going to, and who is to be my +master? It will relieve my double troubles," he says, casting an +enquiring look at Nimrod. + +"Shook up yer parson-thinkin' some, I reckon, did'nt it, old chap?" +returns Nimrod, laughing heartily, but making no further reply. He +thinks it was very much like riding in a railroad backwards. + +"Did my sick mas'r sell me to you?" again he enquires. + +"No business o' yourn, that ain't; yer nigger-knowin ought to tell +you how ye'd got into safe hands. We'll push along down south as +soon as ye gets some feed. Put on a straight face, and face the +music like a clever deacon, and we'll do the square in selling ye to +a Boss what 'll let ye preach now and then. (Nimrod becomes very +affectionate). Do the thing up righteous, and when yer sold there +'ll be a five-dollar shiner for yerself. (He pats him on the head, +and puts his arm over his shoulder.) Best t' have a little shot in a +body's own pocket; now, shut up yer black bread-trap, and don't go +makin a fuss about where yer goin' to: that's my business!" + +Harry pauses as if in contemplation; he is struggling against his +indignation excited by such remarks. He knew his old master's +weaknesses, enjoyed his indulgences; but he had never been made to +feel so acutely how degraded he could be as a mere article of trade. +It would have been some consolation to know which way he was +proceeding, and why he had been so suddenly snatched from his new +owner. Fate had not ordained this for him; oh no! He must resign +himself without making any further enquiries; he must be nothing +more than a nigger--happy nigger happily subdued! Seating himself +upon the floor, in a recumbent position, he drops his face on his +knees,--is humbled among the humblest. He is left alone for some +time, while his captors, retiring into an adjoining room, hold a +consultation. + +Breakfast is being prepared, and much conversation is kept up in an +inaudible tone of voice. Harry has an instinctive knowledge that it +is about him, for he hears the words, "Peter! Peter!" his name must +be transmogrified into "Peter!" In another minute he hears dishes +rattling on the table, and Bengal distinctly complimenting the +adjuncts, as he orders some for the nigger preacher. This excites +his anxiety; he feels like placing his ear at the keyhole,--doing a +little evesdropping. He is happily disappointed, however, for the +door opens, and a black boy bearing a dish of homony enters, and, +placing it before him, begs that he will help himself. Harry takes +the plate and sets it beside him, as the strange boy watches him +with an air of commiseration that enlists his confidence. "Ain't +da'h somefin mo' dat I can bring ye?" enquires the boy, pausing for +an answer. + +"Nothing,--nothing more!" + +Harry will venture to make some enquiries about the locality. "Do +you belong to master what live here?" He puts out his hand, takes +the other by the arm. + +"Hard tellin who I belongs to. Buckra man own 'em to-day; ain't +sartin if he own 'em to-morrow, dough. What country-born nigger is +you?" + +"Down country! My poor old master's gone, and now I'm goin'; but God +only knows where to. White man sell all old Boss's folks in a +string,--my old woman and children among the rest. My heart is with +them, God bless them!" + +"Reckon how ya' had a right good old Boss what larn ye somethin." +The boy listens to Harry with surprise. "Don't talk like dat down +dis a way; no country-born nigger put in larn'd wods so, nohow," +returns the boy, with a look of curious admiration. + +"But you harn't told me what place this is?" + +"Dis 'ouse! e' ant nowhare when Buckra bring nigger what he want to +sell, and don' want nobody to know whar e' bring him from. Dat man +what bring ye here be great Buckra. De 'h way he lash nigger whin e' +don do jist so!" The boy shakes his head with a warning air. + +"How did you get here? There must be roads leading in some +directions?" + +"Roads runnin' every which way, yand'r; and trou de woods anyway, +but mighty hard tellin whar he going to, he is. Mas'r Boss don lef +'e nigger know how 'e bring'um, nor how he takes 'um way. Guess da +'h gwine to run ye down country, so God bless you," says the boy, +shaking him by the hand, and taking leave. + +"Well! if I only knew which way I was going I should feel happy; +because I could then write to my old master, somewhere or somehow. +And I know my good friend Missus Rosebrook will buy me for her +plantation,--I know she will. She knows my feelings, and in her heart +wouldn't see me abused, she wouldn't! I wish I knew who my master +is, where I am, and to whom I'm going to be sold next. I think new +master has stolen me, thinking old master was going to die," Harry +mutters to himself, commencing his breakfast, but still applying his +listening faculties to the conversation in the next room. At length, +after a long pause, they seem to have finished breakfast and taken +up the further consideration of his sale. + +"I don't fear anything of the kind! Romescos is just the keenest +fellow that can be scared up this side of Baltimore. He never takes +a thing o' this stamp in hand but what he puts it through," says +Bengal, in a whispering tone. + +"True! the trouble's in his infernal preaching; that's the devil of +niggers having intelligence. Can do anything in our way with common +niggers what don't know nothin'; but when the critters can do +clergy, and preach, they'll be sending notes to somebody they know +as acquaintances. An intelligent nigger's a bad article when ye want +to play off in this way," replies the other, curtly. + +"Never mind," returns Bengal, "can't ollers transpose a nigger, as +easy as turnin' over a sixpence, specially when he don't have his +ideas brightened. Can't steer clar on't. Larnin's mighty dangerous +to our business, Nath.-better knock him on the head at once; better +end him and save a sight of trouble. It'll put a stopper on his +preaching, this pesks exercisin' his ideas." + +A third interrupts. "Thinks such a set of chicken-hearted fellows +won't do when it comes to cases of 'mergency like this. He will just +make clergyman Peter Somebody the deacon; and with this honorary +title he'll put him through to Major Wiley's plantation, when he'll +be all right down in old Mississippi. The Colonel and he, +understanding the thing, can settle it just as smooth as sunrise. +The curate is what we call a right clever fellow, would make the +tallest kind of a preacher, and pay first-rate per centage on +himself." Bengal refers to Harry. His remarks are, indeed, quite +applicable. "I've got the dockerment, ye see, all prepared; and +we'll put him through without a wink," he concludes, in a measured +tone of voice. + +The door of Harry's room opens, and the three enter together. "Had a +good breakfast, old feller, hain't ye?" says Nimrod, approaching +with hand extended, and patting him on the head with a child's +playfulness. "I kind o' likes the looks on ye" (a congratulatory +smile curls over his countenance), "old feller; and means to do the +square thing in the way o' gettin' on ye a good Boss. Put on the +Lazarus, and no nigger tricks on the road. I'm sorry to leave ye on +the excursion, but here's the gentleman what'll see ye through,--will +put ye through to old Mississip just as safe as if ye were a nugget +of gold." Nimrod introduces Harry to a short gentleman with a bald +head, and very smooth, red face. His dress is of brown homespun, a +garb which would seem peculiar to those who do the villainy of the +peculiar institution. The gentleman has a pair of handcuffs in his +left hand, with which he will make his pious merchandise safe. +Stepping forward, he places the forefinger of his right hand on the +preacher's forehead, and reads him a lesson which he must get firm +into his thinking shell. It is this. "Now, at this very time, yer +any kind of a nigger; but a'ter this ar' ye got to be a Tennessee +nigger, raised in a pious Tennessee family. And yer name is +Peter-Peter-Peter!-don't forget the Peter: yer a parson, and ought +t' keep the old apostle what preached in the marketplace in yer +noddle. Peter, ye see, is a pious name, and Harry isn't; so ye must +think Peter and sink Harry." + +"What do I want to change my name for? Old master give me that name +long time ago!" + +"None o' yer business; niggers ain't t' know the philosophy of such +things. No nigger tricks, now!" interrupts Bengal, quickly, drawing +his face into savage contortions. At this the gentleman in whose +charge he will proceed steps forward and places the manacles on +Harry's hands with the coolness and indifference of one executing +the commonest branch of his profession. Thus packed and baled for +export, he is hurried from the house into a two-horse waggon, and +driven off at full speed. Bengal watches the waggon as it rolls down +the highway and is lost in the distance. He laughs heartily, thinks +how safe he has got the preacher, and how much hard cash he will +bring. God speed the slave on his journey downward, we might add. + +It will be needless for us to trace them through the many incidents +of their journey; our purpose will be served when we state that his +new guardian landed him safely at the plantation of Major Wiley, on +the Tallahatchee River, Mississippi, on the evening of the fourth +day after their departure, having made a portion of their passage on +the steamer Ohio. By some process unknown to Harry he finds himself +duly ingratiated among the major's field hands, as nothing more than +plain Peter. He is far from the high-road, far from his friends, +without any prospect of communicating with his old master. The +major, in his way, seems a well-disposed sort of man, inclined to +"do right" by his negroes, and willing to afford them an opportunity +of employing their time after task, for their own benefit. And yet +it is evident that he must in some way be connected with Graspum and +his party, for there is a continual interchange of negroes to and +from his plantation. This, however, we must not analyse too closely, +but leave to the reader's own conjectures, inasmuch as Major Wiley +is a very distinguished gentleman, and confidently expects a very +prominent diplomatic appointment under the next administration. + +Harry, in a very quiet way, sets himself about gaining a knowledge +of his master's opinions on religion, as well as obtaining his +confidence by strict fidelity to his interests. So far does he +succeed, that in a short time he finds himself holding the +respectable and confidential office of master of stores. Then he +succeeds in inducing his master to hear him preach a sermon to his +negroes. The major is perfectly willing to allow him the full +exercise of his talents, and is moved to admiration at his fervency, +his aptitude, his knowledge of the Bible, and the worth there must +be in such a piece of clergy property. Master Wiley makes his man +the offer of purchasing his time, which Harry, under the alias of +Peter, accepts, and commences his mission of preaching on the +neighbouring plantations. + +Ardently and devoutedly does he pursue his mission of Christianity +among his fellow-bondmen; but he has reaped little of the harvest +to himself, his master having so increased the demand for his time +that he can scarcely save money enough to purchase clothes. At first +he was only required to pay six dollars a week; now, nothing less +than ten is received. It is a happy premium on profitable human +nature; and through it swings the strongest hinge of that cursed +institution which blasts alike master and slave. Major Wiley is very +chivalrous, very hospitable, and very eminent for his many +distinguished qualifications; but his very pious piece of property +must pay forty-seven per cent. annual tribute for the very +hospitable privilege of administering the Word of God to his brother +bondmen. Speak not of robed bishops robbing Christianity in a +foreign land, ye men who deal in men, and would rob nature of its +tombstone! Ye would rob the angels did their garments give forth +gold. + +The poor fellow's income, depending, in some measure, upon small +presents bestowed by the negroes to whom he preached, was scarcely +enough to bring him out at the end of the week, and to be thus +deprived of it seemed more than his spirits could bear. Again and +again had he appealed to his master for justice; but there was no +justice for him,--his appeals proved as fruitless as the wind, on his +master's callous sensibilities. Instead of exciting compassion, he +only drew upon him his master's prejudices; he was threatened with +being sold, if he resisted for a day the payment of wages for his +own body. Hence he saw but one alternative left-one hope, one smile +from a good woman, who might, and he felt would, deliver him; that +was in writing to his good friend, Mrs. Rosebrook, whose generous +heart he might touch through his appeals for mercy. And yet there +was another obstacle; the post-office might be ten miles off, and +his master having compelled him to take the name of Peter Wiley, how +was he to get a letter to her without the knowledge of his master? +Should his letter be intercepted, his master, a strict +disciplinarian, would not only sell him farther south, but inflict +the severest punishment. Nevertheless, there was one consolation +left; his exertions on behalf of the slaves, and his earnestness in +promoting the interests of their masters, had not passed unnoticed +with the daughter of a neighbouring planter (this lady has since +distinguished herself for sympathy with the slave), who became much +interested in his welfare. She had listened to his exhortations with +admiration; she had listened to his advice on religion, and become +his friend and confidant. She would invite him to her father's +house, sit for hours at his side, and listen with breathless +attention to his pathos, his display of natural genius. To her he +unfolded his deep and painful troubles; to her he looked for +consolation; she was the angel of light guiding him on his weary +way, cheering his drooping soul on its journey to heaven. To her he +disclosed how he had been called to the bedside of his dying master; +how, previously, he had been sold from his good old master, Marston, +his wife, his children; how he was mysteriously carried off and left +in the charge of his present master, who exacts all he can earn. + +The simple recital of his story excites the genial feelings of the +young lady; she knows some foul transaction is associated with his +transition, and at once tenders her services to release him. But she +must move cautiously, for even Harry's preaching is in direct +violation of the statutes; and were she found aiding in that which +would unfavourably affect the interests of his master she would be +subjected to serious consequences-perhaps be invited to spend a +short season at the sheriff's hotel, commonly called the county +gaol. However, there was virtue in the object to be served, and +feeling that whatever else she could do to relieve him would be +conferring a lasting benefit on a suffering mortal, she will brave +the attempt. + +"Tell me he is not a man, but a slave! tell me a being with such +faculties should be thus sunken beneath the amenities of freedom! +that man may barter almighty gifts for gold! trample his religion +into dust, and turn it into dollars and cents! What a mockery is +this against the justice of heaven! When this is done in this our +happy land of happy freedom, scoffers may make it their foot-ball, +and kings in their tyranny may point the finger of scorn at us, and +ask us for our honest men, our cherished freedom! + +"Woman can do something, if she will; let me see what I can do to +relieve this poor oppressed," she exclaims one day, after he has +consulted her on the best means of relief. "I will try." + +Woman knows the beatings of the heart; she can respond more quickly +to its pains and sorrows. Our youthful missionary will sit down and +write a letter to Mrs. Rosebrook-she will do something, the +atmosphere of slavery will hear of her yet-it will! + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE PRETTY CHILDREN ARE TO BE SOLD. + + + + + +HOW varied are the sources of human nature-how changing its tints +and glows-how immeasurable its uncertainties, and how obdurate the +will that can turn its tenderest threads into profitable +degradation! But what democrat can know himself a freeman when the +whitest blood makes good merchandise in the market? When the only +lineal stain on a mother's name for ever binds the chains, let no +man boast of liberty. The very voice re-echoes, oh, man, why be a +hypocrite! cans't thou not see the scorner looking from above? But +the oligarchy asks in tones so modest, so full of chivalrous +fascination, what hast thou to do with that? be no longer a fanatic. +So we will bear the warning-pass from it for the present. + +More than two years have passed; writs of error have been filed and +argued; the children have dragged out time in a prison-house. Is it +in freedom's land a prison was made for the innocent to waste in? So +it is, and may Heaven one day change the tenour! Excuse, reader, +this digression, and let us proceed with our narrative. + +The morning is clear and bright; Mrs. Rosebrook sits at the window +of her cheerful villa, watching the approach of the post-rider seen +in the distance, near a cluster of oaks that surround the entrance +of the arbour, at the north side of the garden. The scene spread out +before her is full of rural beauty, softened by the dew-decked +foliage, clothing the landscape with its clumps. As if some fairy +hand had spread a crystal mist about the calm of morning, and angels +were bedecking it with the richest tints of a rising sun at morn, +the picture sparkles with silvery life. There she sits, her soft +glowing eyes scanning the reposing scene, as her graceful form seems +infusing spirit into its silent loveliness. And then she speaks, as +if whispering a secret to the wafting air: "our happy union!" It +falls upon the ear like some angel voice speaking of things too +pure, too holy for the caprices of earth. She would be a type of +that calmness pervading the scene-that sweetness and repose which +seem mingling to work out some holy purpose; and yet there is a +touching sadness depicted in her face. + +"Two years have passed; how changed!" she exclaims, as if rousing +from a reverie: "I would not be surprised if he brought bad +tidings." + +The postman has reached the gate and delivered a letter, which the +servant quickly bears to her hand. She grasps it anxiously, as if +recognising the superscription; opens it nervously; reads the +contents. It is from Franconia, interceding with her in behalf of +her uncle and the two children, in the following manner:--"My +dearest Friend, + +"Can I appeal to one whose feelings are more ready to be enlisted in +a good cause? I think not. I wish now to enlist your feelings in +something that concerns myself. It is to save two interesting +children-who, though our eyes may at times be blinded to facts, I +cannot forget are nearly allied to me by birth and association-from +the grasp of slavery. Misfortune never comes alone; nor, in this +instance, need I recount ours to you. Of my own I will say but +little; the least is best. Into wedlock I have been sold to one it +were impossible for me to love; he cannot cherish the respect due to +my feelings. His associations are of the coarsest, and his heartless +treatment beyond my endurance. He subjects me to the meanest +grievances; makes my position more degraded than that of the slave +upon whom he gratifies his lusts. Had my parents saved me from such +a monster-I cannot call him less-they would have saved me many a +painful reflection. As for his riches-I know not whether they really +exist-they are destined only to serve his lowest passions. With him +misfortune is a crime; and I am made to suffer under his taunts +about the disappearance of my brother, the poverty of my parents. + +"You are well aware of the verdict of the jury, and the affirmation +of the Court of Appeal, upon those dear children. The decree orders +them to be sold in the market, for the benefit of my uncle's +creditors: this is the day, the fatal day, the sale takes place. Let +me beseech of you, as you have it in your power, to induce the +deacon to purchase them. O, save them from the fate that awaits +them! You know my uncle's errors; you know also his goodness of +heart; you can sympathise with him in his sudden downfall. Then the +affection he has for Annette is unbounded. No father could be more +dotingly fond of his legitimate child. But you know what our laws +are-what they force us to do against our better inclinations. +Annette's mother, poor wretch, has fled, and M'Carstrow charges me +with being accessory to her escape: I cannot, nor will I, deny it, +while my most ardent prayer invokes her future happiness. That she +has saved herself from a life of shame I cannot doubt; and if I have +failed to carry out a promise I made her before her departure-that +of rescuing her child-the satisfaction of knowing that she at least +is enjoying the reward of freedom partially repays my feelings. Let +me entreat you to repair to the city, and, at least, rescue Annette +from that life of shame and disgrace now pending over her-a shame +and disgrace no less black in the sight of heaven because society +tolerates it as among the common things of social life. + +"I am now almost heart-broken, and fear it will soon be my lot to be +driven from under the roof of Colonel M'Carstrow, which is no longer +a home, but a mere place of durance to me. It would be needless for +me here to recount his conduct. Were I differently constituted I +might tolerate his abuse, and accept a ruffian's recompense in +consideration of his wealth. + +"Go, my dear friend, save that child, + +"Is the prayer of your affectionate + +"FRANCONIA." + +Mrs. Rosebrook reads and re-reads the letter; then heaves a sigh as +she lays it upon the table at her side. As if discussing the matter +in her mind, her face resumes a contemplative seriousness. + +"And those children are to be sold in the market! Who won't they +sell, and sanctify the act? How can I relieve them? how can I be +their friend, for Franconia's sake? My husband is away on the +plantation, and I cannot brave the coarse slang of a slave mart; I +cannot mingle with those who there congregate. + +"And, too, there are so many such cases-bearing on their front the +fallacy of this our democracy-that however much one may have claims +over another, it were impossible to take one into consideration +without inciting a hundred to press their demands. In this sense, +then, the whole accursed system would have to be uprooted before the +remedy could be applied effectually. Notwithstanding, I will go; I +will go: I'll see what can be done in the city," says Mrs. +Rosebrook, bristling with animation. "Our ladies must have something +to arouse their energies; they all have a deep interest to serve, +and can do much:" she will summon resolution and brave all. Rising +from her seat, she paces the room several times, and then orders a +servant to command Uncle Bradshaw to get the carriage ready, and be +prepared for a drive into the city. + +Soon Bradshaw has got the carriage ready, and our good lady is on +the road, rolling away toward the city. As they approach a curvature +that winds round a wooded hill, Bradshaw intimates to "missus" that +he sees signs of a camp a short distance ahead. He sees smoke +curling upwards among the trees, and very soon the notes of a +long-metre tune fall softly on the ear, like the tinkling of distant +bells in the desert. Louder and louder, as they approach, the sounds +become more and more distinct. Then our good lady recognises the +familiar voice of Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy. This worthy +christian of the Southern Church is straining his musical organ to +its utmost capacity, in the hope there will be no doubt left on the +minds of those congregated around him as to his very sound piety. +The carriage rounds the curvature, and there, encamped in a grove of +pines by the road side, is our pious Elder, administering +consolation to his infirm property. Such people! they present one of +the most grotesque and indiscriminate spectacles ever eyes beheld. +The cholera has subsided; the Elder's greatest harvest time is gone; +few victims are to be found for the Elder's present purposes. Now he +is constrained to resort to the refuse of human property (those +afflicted with what are called ordinary diseases), to keep alive the +Christian motive of his unctuous business. To speak plainly, he must +content himself with the purchase of such infirmity as can be picked +up here and there about the country. + +A fire of pine knots blazes in the centre of a mound, and over it +hangs an iron kettle, on a straddle, filled with corn-grits. Around +this, and anxiously watching its boiling, are the lean figures of +negroes, with haggard and sickly faces, telling but too forcibly the +tale of their troubles. They watch and watch, mutter in grumbling +accents, stir the homony, and sit down again. Two large mule carts +stand in the shade of a pine tree, a few yards from the fire. A few +paces further on are the mules tethered, quietly grazing; while, +seated on a whiskey-keg, is the Elder, book in hand, giving out the +hymn to some ten or a dozen infirm negroes seated round him on the +ground. They have enjoyed much consolation by listening with +wondrous astonishment to the Elder's exhortations, and are now ready +to join their musical jargon to the words of a Watts's hymn. + +On arriving opposite the spot, our good lady requests Bradshaw to +stop; which done, the Elder recognises her, and suddenly adjourning +his spiritual exercises, advances to meet her, his emotions +expanding with enthusiastic joy. In his eagerness, with outstretched +hand, he comes sailing along, trips his toe in a vine, and plunges +head foremost into a broad ditch that separates the road from the +rising ground. + +The accident is very unfortunate at this moment; the Elder's +enthusiasm is somewhat cooled, nevertheless; but, as there is seldom +a large loss without a small gain, he finds himself strangely +bespattered from head to foot with the ingredients of a quagmire. + +"U'h! u'h! u'h! my dear madam, pardon me, I pray;--strange moment to +meet with a misfortune of this kind. But I was so glad to see you!" +he ejaculates, sensitively, making the best of his way out, brushing +his sleeves, and wiping his face with his never-failing India +handkerchief. He approaches the carriage, apologising for his +appearance. + +He hopes our lady will excuse him, having so far lost himself in his +enthusiasm, which, together with the fervency and devotion of the +spiritual exercises he was enjoying with his poor, helpless +property, made him quite careless of himself. Begging a thousand +pardons for presenting himself in such a predicament (his gallantry +is proverbially southern), he forgets that his hat and spectacles +have been dislodged by his precipitation into the ditch. + +The good lady reaches out her hand, as a smile curls over her face; +but Bradshaw must grin; and grin he does, in right good earnest. + +"Bless me, my dear Elder! what trade are you now engaged in?" she +enquires. + +"A little devotional exercises, my dear madam! We were enjoying them +with so much christian feeling that I was quite carried away, indeed +I was!" He rubs his fingers through his bristly hair, and then +downwards to his nasal organ, feeling for his devoted glasses. He is +surprised at their absence-makes another apology. He affirms, adding +his sacred honour, as all real southerners do, that he had begun to +feel justified in the belief that there never was a religion like +that preached by the good apostles, when such rural spots as this +(he points to his encampment) were chosen for its administration. +Everything round him made him feel so good, so much like the purest +christian of the olden time. He tells her, with great seriousness, +that we must serve God, and not forget poor human nature, never! To +the world he would seem labouring under the influence of those inert +convictions by which we strive to conceal our natural inclinations, +while drawing the flimsy curtain of "to do good" over the real +object. + +He winks and blinks, rubs his eyes, works his face into all the +angles and contortions it is capable of, and commences searching for +his hat and spectacles. Both are necessary adjuncts to his pious +appearance; without them there is that in the expression of his +countenance from which none can fail to draw an unfavourable opinion +of his real character. The haggard, care-worn face, browned to the +darkest tropical tints; the ceaseless leer of that small, piercing +eye, anxiety and agitation pervading the tout ensemble of the man, +will not be dissembled. Nay; those acute promontories of the face, +narrow and sharp, and that low, reclining forehead, and head covered +with bristly iron-grey hair, standing erect in rugged tufts, are too +strong an index of character for all the disguises Elder Pemberton +Praiseworthy can invent. + +"One minute, my dear madam," he exclaims, in his eagerness for the +lost ornaments of his face. + +"Never mind them, Elder; never mind them! In my eyes you are just as +well without them," she rejoins, an ironical smile invading her +countenance, and a curl of contempt on her lip. "But,--tell me what +are you doing here?" + +"Here! my dear madam? Doing good for mankind and the truth of +religion. I claim merit of the parish, for my pursuit is laudable, +and saves the parish much trouble," says the Elder, beginning to wax +warm in the goodness of his pursuit, before anyone has undertaken to +dispute him, or question the purity of his purpose. + +"Still speculating in infirmity; making a resurrection man of +yourself! You are death's strongest opponent; you fight the great +slayer for small dollars and cents." + +"Well, now," interrupts the Elder, with a serious smile, "I'd rather +face a Mexican army than a woman's insinuating questions,--in matters +of this kind! But it's business, ye see! according to law; and ye +can't get over that. There's no getting over the law; and he that +serveth the Lord, no matter how, deserveth recompense; my recompense +is in the amount of life I saves for the nigger." + +"That is not what I asked; you evade my questions, Elder! better +acknowledge honestly, for the sake of the country, where did you +pick up these poor wretches?" + +"I goes round the district, madam, and picks up a cripple here, and +a cancer case there, and a dropsy doubtful yonder; and then, some on +em's got diseases what don't get out until one comes to apply +medical skill. Shan't make much on these sort o' cases,--" + +The lady interrupts him, by bidding him good morning, and advising +him, whenever he affects to serve the Lord, to serve him honestly, +without a selfish motive. She leaves the Elder to his own +reflections, to carry his victim property to his charnel-house, +where, if he save life for the enjoyment of liberty, he may serve +the Lord to a good purpose. She leaves him to the care of the +christian church of the South,--the church of christian slavery, the +rules of which he so strictly follows. + +As our good lady moves quickly away toward the city, the Elder looks +up, imploringly, as if invoking the praise of heaven on his good +deeds. He is, indeed, astonished, that his dear friend, the lady, +should have made such a declaration so closely applied, so +insinuating. That such should have escaped her lips when she must +know that his very soul and intention are purity! "I never felt like +making a wish before now; and now I wishes I was, or that my father +had made me, a lawyer. I would defend my position in a legal sense +then! I don't like lawyers generally, I confess; the profession's +not as honourable as ours, and its members are a set of sharpers, +who would upset gospel and everything else for a small fee, they +would!" He concludes, as his eyes regrettingly wander after the +carriage. The words have moved him; there is something he wishes to +say, but can't just get the point he would arrive at. He turns away, +sad at heart, to his sadder scenes. "I know that my Redeemer +liveth," he sings. + +In the city a different piece is in progress of performance. Papers, +and all necessary preparations for procuring the smooth transfer of +the youthful property, are completed; customers have begun to gather +round the mart. Some are searching among the negroes sent to the +warehouse; others are inquiring where this property, advertised in +the morning journals, and so strongly commented upon, may be found. +They have been incited to examine, in consequence of the many +attractions set forth in the conditions of sale. + +There the two children sit, on a little seat near the vender's +tribune. Old Aunt Dina, at the prison, has dressed Annette so +neatly! Her white pinafore shines so brightly, is so neatly +arranged, and her silky auburn locks curl so prettily, in tiny +ringlets, over her shoulders; and then her round fair face looks so +sweetly, glows with such innocent curiosity, as her soft blue eyes, +deep with sparkling vivacity, wander over the strange scene. She +instinctively feels that she is the special object of some important +event. Laying her little hand gently upon the arm of an old slave +that sits by her side, she casts shy glances at those admirers who +stand round her and view her as a marketable article only. + +"Auntie, where are they going to take me?" the child inquires, with +a solicitous look, as she straightens the folds of her dress with +her little hands. + +"Gwine t' sell 'um," mumbles the old slave. "Lor', child, a'h wishes +ye wa'h mine; reckon da'h wouldn't sell ye. T'ant much to sell +nigger like I, nohow; but e' hurt my feelins just so 'twarnt right +t' sell de likes o' ye." The old slave, in return, lays her hand +upon Annette's head, and smooths her hair, as if solicitous of her +fate. "Sell ye, child-sell ye?" she concludes, shaking her head. + +"And what will they do with me and Nicholas when they get us sold?" +continues the child, turning to Nicholas and taking him by the arm. + +"Don' kno': perhaps save ye fo'h sinnin' agin de Lor'," is the old +slave's quick reply. She shakes her head doubtingly, and bursts into +tears, as she takes Annette in her arms, presses her to her bosom, +kisses and kisses her pure cheek. How heavenly is the affection of +that old slave--how it rebukes our Christian mockery! + +"Will they sell us where we can't see mother, auntie? I do want to +see mother so," says the child, looking up in the old slave's face. +There seemed something too pure, too holy, in the child's +simplicity, as it prattled about its mother, for such purposes as it +is about to be consigned to. "They do not sell white folks, auntie, +do they? My face is as white as anybody's; and Nicholas's aint +black. I do want to see mother so! when will she come back and take +care of me, auntie?" + +"Lor', child," interrupts the old negro, suppressing her emotions, +"no use to ax dem questions ven ye gwine t' market. Buckra right +smart at makin' nigger what bring cash." + +The child expresses a wish that auntie would take her back to the +old plantation, where master, as mother used to call him, wouldn't +let them sell her away off. And she shakes her head with an air of +unconscious pertness; tells the old negro not to cry for her. + +The cryer's bell sounds forth its muddling peals to summon the +customers; a grotesque mixture of men close round the stand. The old +slave, as if from instinct, again takes Annette in her arms, presses +and presses her to her bosom, looks compassionately in her face, and +smiles while a tear glistens in her eyes. She is inspired by the +beauty of the child; her heart bounds with affection for her tender +years; she loves her because she is lovely; and she smiles upon her +as a beautiful image of God's creation. But the old slave grieves +over her fate; her grief flows from the purity of the heart; she +knows not the rules of the slave church. + +Annette is born a child of sorrow in this our land of love and +liberty; she is a democrat's daughter, cursed by the inconsistencies +of that ever-praised democratic goodness. A child! nothing more than +an item of common trade. It is even so; but let not happy democracy +blush, for the child, being merchandise, has no claims to that law +of the soul which looks above the frigidity of slave statutes. What +generosity is there in this generous land? what impulses of nature +not quenched by force of public opinion, when the associations of a +child like this (we are picturing a true story), her birth and +blood, her clear complexion, the bright carnatic of her cheek, will +not save her from the mercenary grasp of dollars and cents? It was +the law; the law had made men demons, craving the bodies and souls +of their fellow men. It was the white man's charge to protect the +law and the constitution; and any manifestation of sympathy for this +child would be in violation of a system which cannot be ameliorated +without endangering the whole structure: hence the comments escaping +from purchasers are only such as might have been expressed by the +sporting man in his admiration of a finely proportioned animal. + +"What a sweet child!" says one, as they close round. + +"Make a woman when she grows up!" rejoins another, twirling his +cane, and giving his hat an extra set on the side of his head. + +"Take too long to keep it afore its valuable is developed; but it's +a picture of beauty. Face would do to take drawings from, it's so +full of delicate outlines," interposes a third. + +An old gentleman, with something of the ministerial in his +countenance, and who has been very earnestly watching them for some +time, thinks a great deal about the subject of slavery, and the +strange laws by which it is governed just at this moment. He says, +"One is inspired with a sort of admiration that unlocks the heart, +while gazing at such delicacy and child-like sweetness as is +expressed in the face of that child." He points his cane coldly at +Annette. "It causes a sort of reaction in one's sense of right, +socially and politically, when we see it mixed up with niggers and +black ruffians to be sold." + +"Must abide the laws, though," says a gentleman in black, on his +left. + +"Yes," returns our friend, quickly, "if such property could be saved +the hands of speculators"-- + +"Speculators! speculators!" rejoins the gentleman in black, knitting +his brows. + +"Yes; it's always the case in our society. The beauty of such +property makes it dangerous about a well-ordained man's house. Our +ladies, generally, have no sympathy with, and rather dislike its +ill-gotten tendencies. The piety of the south amounts to but little +in its influence on the slave population. The slave population +generates its own piety. There is black piety and white piety; but +the white piety effects little when it can dispose of poor black +piety just as it pleases; and there's no use in clipping the +branches off the tree while the root is diseased," concludes our +ministerial-looking gentleman, who might have been persuaded himself +to advance a bid, were he not so well versed in the tenour of +society that surrounded him. + +During the above ad interim at the shambles, our good lady, Mrs. +Rosebrook, is straining every nerve to induce a gentleman of her +acquaintance to repair to the mart, and purchase the children on her +account. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +NATURE SHAMES ITSELF. + + + + + +MRS. ROSEBROOK sits in Mrs. Pringle's parlour. Mrs. Pringle is +thought well of in the city of Charleston, where she resides, and +has done something towards establishing a church union for the +protection of orphan females. They must, however, be purely white, +and without slave or base blood in their veins, to entitle them to +admittance into its charitable precincts. This is upon the principle +that slave blood is not acceptable in the sight of Heaven; and that +allowing its admittance into this charitable earthly union would +only be a sad waste of time and Christian love. Mrs. Pringle, +however, feels a little softened to the good cause, and does hope +Mrs. Rosebrook may succeed at least in rescuing the little girl. She +has counselled Mr. Seabrook, commonly called Colonel Seabrook, a +very distinguished gentleman, who has a very distinguished opinion +of himself, having studied law to distinguish himself, and now and +then merely practises it for his own amusement. Mr. Seabrook never +gives an opinion, nor acts for his friends, unless every thing he +does be considered distinguished, and gratuitously rendered. + +"What will you do with such property, madam?" inquires the +gentleman, having listened profoundly to her request. + +"To save them from being sold into the hands of such men as Graspum +and Romescos; it's the only motive I have" she speaks, gently: "I +love the child; and her mother still loves her: I am a mother." + +"Remember, my dear lady, they are adjudged property by law; and all +that you can do for them won't save them, nor change the odour of +negro with which it has stamped them." + +"Of that I am already too well aware, Mr. Seabrook; and I know, too, +when once enslaved, how hard it is to unslave. Public sentiment is +the worst slave we have; unslave that, and the righteousness of +heaven will give us hearts to save ourselves from the +unrighteousness of our laws. + +"Go, Mr. Seabrook, purchase the children for me, and you will soon +see what ornaments of society I will make them!" + +"Ornaments to our society!" interrupts Mr. Seabrook, pausing for a +moment, as he places the fore-finger of his right hand upon his +upper lip. "That would be a pretty consummation-at the south! Make +ornaments of our society!" Mr. Seabrook turns the matter over and +over and over in his mind. "Of such things as have been pronounced +property by law! A pretty fix it would get our society into!" he +rejoins, with emphasis. Mr. Seabrook shakes his head doubtingly, and +then, taking three or four strides across the room, his hands well +down in his nether pockets, relieves himself of his positive +opinion. "Ah! ah! hem! my dear madam," he says, "if you undertake +the purchase of all that delicate kind of property-I mean the amount +total, as it is mixed up-your head'll grow grey afore you get all +the bills of sale paid up,--my word for it! That's my undisguised +opinion, backed up by all the pale-faced property about the city." + +"We will omit the opinion, Mr. Seabrook; such have kept our society +where it now is. I am resolved to have those children. If you +hesitate to act for me, I'll brave-" + +"Don't say that, my dear lady. Let me remind you that it ill becomes +a lady of the south to be seen at a slave-mart; more especially when +such delicate property is for sale. Persons might be present who did +not understand your motive, and would not only make rude advances, +but question the propriety of your proceedings. You would lose +caste, most surely." + +Mrs. Rosebrook cares little for Mr. Seabrook's very learned opinion, +knowing that learned opinions are not always the most sensible ones, +and is seen arranging her bonnet hastily in a manner betokening her +intention to make a bold front of it at the slave-mart. This is +rather too much for Mr. Seabrook, who sets great value on his +chivalrous virtues, and fearing they may suffer in the esteem of the +softer sex, suddenly proffers his kind interposition, becomes +extremely courteous, begs she will remain quiet, assuring her that +no stone that can further her wishes shall be left unturned. Mr. +Seabrook (frequently called the gallant colonel) makes one of his +very best bows, adjusts his hat with exquisite grace, and leaves to +exercise the wisest judgment and strictest faith at the man-market. + +"Such matters are exceedingly annoying to gentlemen of my standing," +says Mr. Seabrook, as deliberately he proceeds to the fulfilment of +his promise. He is a methodical gentleman, and having weighed the +matter well over in his legal mind, is deeply indebted to it for the +conclusion that Mrs. Rosebrook has got a very unsystematised +crotchet into her brain. "The exhibition of sympathy for +'niggers'-they're nothing else" says Mr. Seabrook-"much adds to that +popular prejudice which is already placing her in an extremely +delicate position." He will call to his aid some very nice legal +tact, and by that never-failing unction satisfy the good lady. + +When Mr. Seabrook enters the mart (our readers will remember that we +have already described it) he finds the children undergoing a very +minute examination at the hands of several slave-dealers. As Mr. +Forshou, the very polite man-seller, is despatching the rougher +quality of human merchandise, our hero advances to the children, +about whose father he asks them unanswerable questions. How +interesting the children look!-how like a picture of beauty +Annette's cherub face glows forth! Being seriously concerned about +the child, his countenance wears an air of deep thought. "Colonel, +what's your legal opinion of such pretty property?" enquires +Romescos, who advances to Mr. Seabrook, and, after a minute's +hesitation, takes the little girl in his arms, rudely kissing her as +she presses his face from her with her left hand, and poutingly +wipes her mouth with her right. + +"Pretty as a picture"-Romescos has set the child down-"but I +wouldn't give seven coppers for both; for, by my faith, such +property never does well." The gentleman shakes his head in return. +"It's a pity they're made it out nigger, though,--it's so handsome. +Sweet little creature, that child, I declare: her beauty would be +worth a fortune on the stage, when she grows up." + +Romescos touches Mr. Seabrook on the arm; remarks that such things +are only good for certain purposes; although one can make them pay +if they know how to trade in them. But it wants a man with a capable +conscience to do the business up profitably. "No chance o' your +biddin' on 'um, is there, colonel?" he enquires, with a significant +leer, folding his arms with the indifference of a field-marshal. +After a few minutes' pause, during which Mr. Seabrook seems +manufacturing an answer, he shrugs his shoulders, and takes a few +pleasing steps, as if moved to a waltzing humour. "Don't scare up +the like o' that gal-nigger every day," he adds. Again, as if moved +by some sudden idea, he approaches Annette, and placing his hand on +her head, continues: "If this ain't tumbling down a man's affairs by +the run! Why, colonel, 'taint more nor three years since old Hugh +Marston war looked on as the tallest planter on the Ashley; and he +thought just as much o' these young 'uns as if their mother had +belonged to one of the first families. Now-I pity the poor +fellow!-because he tried to save 'em from being sold as slaves, +they-his creditors-think he has got more property stowed away +somewhere. They're going to cell him, just to try his talent at +putting away things." + +The "prime fellows" and wenches of the darker and coarser quality +have all been disposed of; and the vender (the same gentlemanly man +we have described selling Marston's undisputed property) now orders +the children to be brought forward. Romescos, eagerly seizing them +by the arms, brings them forward through the crowd, places them upon +the stand, before the eager gaze of those assembled. Strangely +placed upon the strange block, the spectators close in again, +anxious to gain the best position for inspection: but little +children cannot stand the gaze of such an assemblage: no; Annette +turns toward Nicholas, and with a childish embrace throws her tiny +arms about his neck, buries her face on his bosom. The child of +misfortune seeks shelter from that shame of her condition, the +evidence of which is strengthened by the eager glances of those who +stand round the shambles, ready to purchase her fate. Even the +vender,--distinguished gentleman that he is, and very respectably +allied by marriage to one of the "first families,"-is moved with a +strange sense of wrong at finding himself in a position somewhat +repugnant to his feelings. He cannot suppress a blush that indicates +an innate sense of shame. + +"Here they are, gentlemen! let no man say I have not done my duty. +You have, surely, all seen the pedigree of these children set forth +in the morning papers; and, now that you have them before you, the +living specimen of their beauty will fully authenticate anything +therein set forth," the vender exclaims, affecting an appearance in +keeping with his trade. Notwithstanding this, there is a faltering +nervousness in his manner, betraying all his efforts at +dissimulation. He reads the invoice of human property to the +listening crowd, dilates on its specific qualities with powers of +elucidation that would do credit to any member of the learned +profession. This opinion is confirmed by Romescos, the associations +of whose trade have gained for him a very intimate acquaintance with +numerous gentlemen of that very honourable profession. + +"Now, gentlemen," continues the vender, "the honourable high sheriff +is anxious, and so am I-and it's no more than a feelin' of deserving +humanity, which every southern gentleman is proud to exercise-that +these children be sold to good, kind, and respectable owners; and +that they do not fall into the hands, as is generally the case, of +men who raise them up for infamous purposes. Gentlemen, I am +decidedly opposed to making licentiousness a means of profit." + +"That neither means you nor me," mutters Romescos, touching Mr. +Seabrook on the arm, shaking his head knowingly, and stepping aside +to Graspum, in whose ear he whispers a word. The very distinguished +Mr. Graspum has been intently listening to the outpouring of the +vender's simplicity. What sublime nonsense it seems to him! He +suggests that it would be much more effectual if it came from the +pulpit,--the southern pulpit! + +"Better sell 'um to some deacon's family," mutters a voice in the +crowd. + +"That's precisely what we should like, gentlemen; any bidder of that +description would get them on more favourable terms than a trader, +he would," he returns, quickly. The man of feeling, now wealthy from +the sale of human beings, hopes gentlemen will pardon his +nervousness on this occasion. He never felt the delicacy of his +profession so forcibly-never, until now! His countenance changes +with the emotions of his heart; he blushes as he looks upon the +human invoice, glances slily over the corner at the children, and +again at his customers. The culminating point of his profession has +arrived; its unholy character is making war upon his better +feelings. "I am not speaking ironically, gentlemen: any bidder of +the description I have named will get these children at a +satisfactory figure. Remember that, and that I am only acting in my +office for the honourable sheriff and the creditors," he concludes. + +"If that be the case," Mr. Seabrook thinks to himself, "it's quite +as well. Our good lady friend will be fully satisfied. She only +wants to see them in good hands: deacons are just the fellows." He +very politely steps aside, lights his choice habanero, and sends +forth its curling fumes as the bidding goes on. + +A person having the appearance of a country gentleman, who has been +some time watching the proceedings, is seen to approach Graspum: +this dignitary whispers something in his ear, and he leaves the +mart. + +"I say, squire!" exclaims Romescos, addressing himself to the +auctioneer, "do you assume the responsibility of making special +purchasers? perhaps you had better keep an eye to the law and the +creditors, you had!" (Romescos's little red face fires with +excitement.) "No objection t' yer sellin' the gal to deacons and +elders,--even to old Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy, who's always +singing, 'I know that my Redeemer cometh!' But the statutes give me +just as good a right to buy her, as any first-class deacon. I knows +law, and got lots o' lawyer friends." + +"The issue is painful enough, without any interposition from you, my +friend," rejoins the vender, interrupting Romescos in his +conversation. After a few minutes pause, during which time he has +been watching the faces of his customers, he adds: "Perhaps, seeing +how well mated they are, gentlemen will not let them be separated. +They have been raised together." + +"Certainly!" again interrupts Romescos, "it would be a pity to +separate them, 'cos it might touch somebody's heart." + +"Ah, that comes from Romescos; we may judge of its motive as we +please," rejoins the man of feeling, taking Annette by the arm and +leading her to the extreme edge of the stand. "Make us a bid, +gentlemen, for the pair. I can see in the looks of my customers that +nobody will be so hard-hearted as to separate them. What do you +offer? say it! Start them; don't be bashful, gentlemen!" + +"Rather cool for a hard-faced nigger-seller! Well, squire, say four +hundred dollars and the treats,--that is, sposin' ye don't double my +bid cos I isn't a deacon. Wants the boy t' make a general on when he +grows up; don't want the gal at all. Let the deacon here (he points +to the man who was seen whispering to Graspum) have her, if he +wants." The deacon, as Romescos calls him, edges his way through the +crowd up to the stand, and looks first at the vender and then at the +children. Turning his head aside, as if it may catch the ears of +several bystanders, Romescos whispers, "That's deacon Staggers, from +Pineville." + +"Like your bid; but I'm frank enough to say I don't want you to have +them, Romescos," interposes the auctioneer, with a smile. + +"Four hundred and fifty dollars!" is sounded by a second bidder. The +vender enquires, "For the two?" + +"Yes! the pair on 'em," is the quick reply. + +"Four hundred and fifty dollars!" re-echoes the man of feeling. +"What good democrats you are! Why, gentlemen, it's not half the +value of them. You must look upon this property in a social light; +then you will see its immense value. It's intelligent, civil, and +promisingly handsome; sold for no fault, and here you are hesitating +on a small bid. + +"Only four hundred and fifty dollars for such property, in this +enlightened nineteenth century!" + +"Trade will out, like murder. Squire wouldn't sell 'em to nobody but +a deacon a few minutes ago!" is heard coming from a voice in the +crowd. The vender again pauses, blushes, and contorts his face: he +cannot suppress the zest of his profession; it is uppermost in his +feelings. + +Romescos says it is one of the squire's unconscious mistakes. There +is no use of humbugging; why not let them run off to the highest +bidder? + +"The deacon has bid upon them; why not continue his advance?" says +Mr. Seabrook, who has been smoking his cigar the while. + +"Oh, well! seein' how it's the deacon, I won't stand agin his bid. +It's Deacon Staggers of Pineville; nobody doubts his generosity," +ejaculates Romescos, in a growling tone. The bids quicken,--soon +reach six hundred dollars. + +"Getting up pretty well, gentlemen! You must not estimate this +property upon their age: it's the likeliness and the promise." + +"Six hundred and twenty-five!" mutters the strange gentleman they +call Deacon Staggers from Pineville. + +"All right," rejoins Romescos; "just the man what ought to have 'em. +I motion every other bidder withdraw in deference to the deacon's +claim," rejoins Romescos, laughing. + +The clever vender gets down from the stand, views the young property +from every advantageous angle, dwells upon the bid, makes further +comments on its choiceness, and after considerable bantering, knocks +them down to-"What name, sir?" he enquires, staring at the stranger +vacantly. + +"Deacon Staggers," replies the man, with a broad grin. Romescos +motions him aside,--slips a piece of gold into his hand; it is the +price of his pretensions. + +The clerk enters his name in the sales book: "Deacon Staggers, of +Pineville, bought May 18th, 18-. + +"Two children, very likely: boy, prime child, darkish hair, round +figure, intelligent face, not downcast, and well outlined in limb. +Girl, very pretty, bluish eyes, flaxen hair, very fair and very +delicate. Price 625 dollars. Property of Hugh Marston, and sold per +order of the sheriff of the county, to satisfy two fi fas issued +from the Court of Common Pleas, &c. &c. &c." + +An attendant now steps forward, takes the children into his charge, +and leads them away. To where? The reader may surmise to the gaol. +No, reader, not to the gaol; to Marco Graspum's slave-pen,--to that +pent-up hell where the living are tortured unto death, and where +yearning souls are sold to sink! + +Thus are the beauties of this our democratic system illustrated in +two innocent children being consigned to the miseries of slave life +because a mother is supposed a slave: a father has acknowledged +them, and yet they are sold before his eyes. It is the majesty of +slave law, before which good men prostrate their love of +independence. Democracy says the majesty of that law must be carried +out; creditors must be satisfied, even though all that is generous +and noble in man should be crushed out, and the rights of free men +consigned to oblivion. A stout arm may yet rise up in a good cause; +democrats may stand ashamed of the inhuman traffic, and seek to +cover its poisoning head with artifices and pretences; but they +write only an obituary for the curse. + +"A quaint-faced, good-looking country deacon has bought them. Very +good; I can now go home, and relieve Mrs. Rosebrook's very generous +feelings," says the very distinguished Mr. Seabrook, shrugging his +shoulders, lighting a fresh cigar, and turning toward home with a +deliberate step, full of good tidings. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE VISION OF DEATH HAS PAST. + + + + + +MR. SEABROOK returns to the mansion, and consoles the anxious lady +by assuring her the children have been saved from the hands of +obnoxious traders-sold to a good, country deacon. He was so +delighted with their appearance that he could not keep from admiring +them, and does not wonder the good lady took so great an interest in +their welfare. He knows the ministerial-looking gentleman who bought +them is a kind master; he has an acute knowledge of human nature, +and judges from his looks. And he will further assure the good lady +that the auctioneer proved himself a gentleman-every inch of him! He +wouldn't take a single bid from a trader, not even from old Graspum +(he dreads to come in contact with such a brute as he is, when he +gets his eye on a good piece o' nigger property), with all his +money. As soon as he heard the name of a deacon among the bidders, +something in his heart forbade his bidding against him. + +"You were not as good as your word, Mr. Seabrook," says the good +lady, still holding Mr. Seabrook by the hand. "But, are you sure +there was no disguise about the sale?" + +"Not the least, madam!" interrupts Mr. Seabrook, emphatically. +"Bless me, madam, our people are too sensitive not to detect +anything of that kind; and too generous to allow it if they did +discover it. The children-my heart feels for them-are in the very +best hands; will be brought up just as pious and morally. Can't go +astray in the hands of a deacon-that's certain!" Mr. Seabrook rubs +his hands, twists his fingers in various ways, and gives utterance +to words of consolation, most blandly. The anxious lady seems +disappointed, but is forced to accept the assurance. + +We need scarcely tell the reader how intentionally Mr. Seabrook +contented himself with the deception practised at the mart, nor with +what freedom he made use of that blandest essence of southern +assurance,--extreme politeness, to deceive the lady. She, however, +had long been laudably engaged in behalf of a down-trodden race; and +her knowledge of the secret workings of an institution which could +only cover its monstrosity with sophistry and fraud impressed her +with the idea of some deception having been practised. She well knew +that Mr. Seabrook was one of those very contented gentlemen who have +strong faith in the present, and are willing to sacrifice the +future, if peace and plenty be secured to their hands. He had many +times been known to listen to the advice of his confidential slaves, +and even to yield to their caprices. And, too, he had been known to +decry the ill-treatment of slaves by brutal and inconsiderate +masters; but he never thinks it worth while to go beyond expressing +a sort of rain-water sympathy for the maltreated. With those traits +most prominent in his character, Annette and Nicholas were to him +mere merchandise; and whatever claims to freedom they might have, +through the acknowledgments of a father, he could give them no +consideration, inasmuch as the law was paramount, and the great +conservator of the south. + +Our worthy benefactress felt the force of the above, in his +reluctance to execute her commands, and the manner in which he +faltered when questioned about the purchase. Returning to her home, +weighing the circumstances, she resolves to devise some method of +ascertaining the true position of the children. "Women are not to be +outdone," she says to herself. + +We must again beg the reader's indulgence while accompanying us in a +retrograde necessary to the connection of our narrative. When we +left Mr. M'Fadden at the crossing, more than two years ago, he was +labouring under the excitement of a wound he greatly feared would +close the account of his mortal speculations. + +On the morning following that great political gathering, and during +the night Harry had so singularly disappeared, the tavern was rife +with conjectures. On the piazza and about the "bar-room" were a few +stupefied and half-insensible figures stretched upon benches, or +reclining in chairs, their coarse garments rent into tatters, and +their besotted faces resembling as many florid masks grouped +together to represent some demoniacal scene among the infernals; +others were sleeping soundly beside the tables, or on the lawn. With +filthy limbs bared, they snored with painful discord, in superlative +contempt of everything around. Another party, reeking with the fumes +of that poisonous drug upon which candidates for a people's favours +had built their high expectations, were leaning carelessly against +the rude counter of the "bar-room," casting wistful glances at the +fascinating bottles so securely locked within the lattice-work in +the corner. Oaths of touching horror are mingling with loud calls +for slave attendants, whose presence they wait to quench their +burning thirst. Reader! digest the moral. In this human menagerie-in +this sink of besotted degradation-lay the nucleus of a power by +which the greatest interests of state are controlled. + +A bedusted party of mounted men have returned from a second +ineffectual attempt to recover the lost preacher: the appearance of +responsibility haunts mine host. He assured Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden +that his property would be perfectly secure under the lock of the +corn-shed. And now his anxiety exhibits itself in the readiness +with which he supplies dogs, horses, guns, and such implements as +are necessary to hunt down an unfortunate minister of the gospel. +What makes the whole thing worse, was the report of M'Fadden having +had a good sleep and awaking much more comfortable; that there was +little chance of the fortunate issue of his death. In this, mine +host saw the liability increasing two-fold. + +He stands his important person, (hat off, face red with expectancy, +and hands thrust well down into his breeches pocket), on the top +step of the stairs leading to the veranda, and hears the +unfavourable report with sad discomfiture. "That's what comes of +making a preacher of a slave! Well! I've done all I can. It puts all +kinds of deviltry about runnin' away into their heads," he ventures +to assert, as he turns away, re-enters the "bar-room," and invites +all his friends to drink at his expense. + +"Mark what I say, now, Squire Jones. The quickest way to catch that +ar' nigger 's just to lay low and keep whist. He's a pious nigger; +and a nigger can't keep his pious a'tween his teeth, no more nor a +blackbird can his chattering. The feller 'll feel as if he wants to +redeem somebody; and seeing how 'tis so, if ye just watch close some +Sunday ye'll nab the fellow with his own pious bait. Can catch a +pious runaway nigger 'most any time; the brute never knows enough to +keep it to himself," says a flashily dressed gentleman, as he leaned +against the counter, squinted his eye with an air of ponderous +satisfaction, and twirled his tumbler round and round on the +counter. "'Pears to me," he continues, quizzically, "Squire, you've +got a lot o' mixed cracker material here, what it'll be hard to +manufactor to make dependable voters on, 'lection day:" he casts a +look at the medley of sleepers. + +"I wish the whole pack on 'em was sold into slavery, I do! They form +six-tenths of the voters in our state, and are more ignorant, and a +great deal worse citizens, than our slaves. Bl-'em, there is'nt one +in fifty can read or write, and they're impudenter than the +Governor." + +"Hush! hush! squire. 'Twon't do to talk so. There ain't men nowhere +stand on dignity like them fellers; they are the very +bone-and-siners of the unwashed, hard-fisted democracy. The way +they'd pull this old tavern down, if they heard reflections on their +honour, would be a caution to storms. But how's old iron-sided +M'Fadden this morning? Begins to think of his niggers, I reckon," +interrupts the gentleman; to which mine host shakes his head, +despondingly. Mine host wishes M'Fadden, nigger, candidates and all, +a very long distance from his place. + +"I s'pose he thinks old Death, with his grim visage, ain't going to +call for him just now. That's ollers the way with northerners, who +lives atween the hope of something above, and the love of makin' +money below: they never feel bad about the conscience, until old +Davy Jones, Esq., the gentleman with the horns and tail, takes them +by the nose, and says-'come!'" + +"I have struck an idea," says our worthy host, suddenly striking his +hand on the counter. "I will put up a poster. I will offer a big +reward. T'other property's all safe; there's only the preacher +missing." + +"Just the strike! Give us yer hand, squire!" The gentleman reaches +his hand across the counter, and smiles, while cordially embracing +mine host. "Make the reward about two hundred, so I can make a good +week's work for the dogs and me. Got the best pack in the parish; +one on 'em knows as much as most clergymen, he does!" he very +deliberately concludes, displaying a wonderful opinion of his own +nigger-catching philosophy. + +And Mr. Jones, such is mine host's name, immediately commenced +exercising his skill in composition on a large, poster, which with a +good hour's labour he completes, and posts upon the ceiling of the +"bar-room," just below an enormously illustrated Circus bill. + +"There! now's a chance of some enterprise and some sense. There's a +deuced nice sum to be made at that!" says Mr. Jones, emphatically, +as he stands a few steps back, and reads aloud the following sublime +outline of his genius:-- + +"GREAT INDUCEMENT FOR SPORTSMEN. Two Hundred Dollars Reward. + +"The above reward will be given anybody for the apprehension of the +nigger-boy, Harry, the property of Mr. M'Fadden. Said Harry +suddenly disappeared from these premises last night, while his +master was supposed to be dying. The boy's a well-developed nigger, +'ant sassy, got fine bold head and round face, and intelligent eye, +and 's about five feet eleven inches high, and equally proportionate +elsewhere. He's much giv'n to preachin', and most likely is secreted +in some of the surrounding swamps, where he will remain until +tempted to make his appearance on some plantation for the purpose of +exortin his feller niggers. He is well disposed, and is said to have +a good disposition, so that no person need fear to approach him for +capture. The above reward will be paid upon his delivery at any gaol +in the State, and a hundred and fifty dollars if delivered at any +gaol out of the State. + +"JETHRO JONES." + +"Just the instrument to bring him, Jethro!" intimates our +fashionable gent, quizzically, as he stands a few feet behind Mr. +Jones, making grimaces. Then, gazing intently at the bill for some +minutes, he runs his hands deep into his pockets, affects an air of +greatest satisfaction, and commences whistling a tune to aid in +suppressing a smile that is invading his countenance. "Wouldn't be +in that nigger's skin for a thousand or more dollars, I wouldn't!" +he continues, screeching in the loudest manner, and then shaking, +kicking, and rousing the half-animate occupants of the floor and +benches. "Come! get up here! Prize money ahead! Fine fun for a week. +Prize money ahead! wake up, ye jolly sleepers, loyal citizens, +independent voters-wake up, I say. Here's fun and frolic, plenty of +whiskey, and two hundred dollars reward for every mother's son of ye +what wants to hunt a nigger; and he's a preachin nigger at that! +Come; whose in for the frolic, ye hard-faced democracy that love to +vote for your country's good and a good cause?" After exerting +himself for some time, they begin to scramble up like so many +bewildered spectres of blackness, troubled to get light through the +means of their blurred faculties. + +"Who's dragging the life out o' me?" exclaims one, straining his +mottled eyes, extending his wearied limbs, gasping as if for breath; +then staggering to the counter. Finally, after much struggling, +staggering, expressing consternation, obscene jeering, blasphemous +oaths and filthy slang, they stand upright, and huddle around the +notice. The picture presented by their ragged garments, their +woebegone faces, and their drenched faculties, would, indeed, be +difficult to transfer to canvas. + +"Now, stare! stare! with all yer fire-stained eyes, ye clan of +motley vagrants-ye sovereign citizens of a sovereign state. Two +hundred dollars! aye, two hundred dollars for ye. Make plenty o' +work for yer dogs; knowin brutes they are. And ye'll get whiskey +enough to last the whole district more nor a year," says our worthy +Jones, standing before them, and pointing his finger at the notice. +They, as if doubting their own perceptibilities, draw nearer and +nearer, straining their eyes, while their bodies oscillate against +each other. + +Mine host tells them to consider the matter, and be prepared for +action, while he will proceed to M'Fadden's chamber and learn the +state of his health. + +He opens the sick man's chamber, and there, to his surprise, is the +invalid gentleman, deliberately taking his tea and toast. Mine host +congratulates him upon his appearance, extends his hand, takes a +seat by his bed-side. "I had fearful apprehensions about you, my +friend," he says. + +"So had I about myself. I thought I was going to slip it in right +earnest. My thoughts and feelins-how they wandered!" M'Fadden raises +his hand to his forehead, and slowly shakes his head. "I would'nt a' +given much for the chances, at one time; but the wound isn't so bad, +after all. My nigger property gets along all straight, I suppose?" +he enquires, coolly, rolling his eyes upwards with a look of serious +reflection. "Boy preacher never returned last night. It's all right, +though, I suppose?" again he enquired, looking mine host right in +the eye, as if he discovered some misgiving. His seriousness soon +begins to give place to anxiety. + +"That boy was a bad nigger," says mine host, in a half-whisper; "but +you must not let your property worry you, my friend." + +"Bad nigger!" interrupts the invalid. Mine host pauses for a moment, +while M'Fadden sets his eyes upon him with a piercing stare. + +"Not been cutting up nigger tricks?" he ejaculates, enquiringly, +about to spring from his couch with his usual nimbleness. Mine host +places his left hand upon his shoulder, and assures him there is no +cause of alarm. + +"Tell me if any thing's wrong about my property. Now do,--be candid:" +his eyes roll, anxiously. + +"All right-except the preacher; he's run away," mine host answers, +suggesting how much better it will be to take the matter cool, as he +is sure to be captured. + +"What! who-how? you don't say! My very choicest piece of property. +Well-well! who will believe in religion, after that? He came to my +sick chamber, the black vagabond did, and prayed as piously as a +white man. And it went right to my heart; and I felt that if I died +it would a' been the means o' savin my soul from all sorts of things +infernal," says the recovering M'Fadden. He, the black preacher, is +only a nigger after all; and his owner will have him back, or he'll +have his black hide-that he will! The sick man makes another effort +to rise, but is calmed into resignation through mine host's further +assurance that the property will be "all right" by the time he gets +well. + +"How cunning it was in the black vagrant! I shouldn't be a bit +surprised if he cleared straight for Massachusetts-Massachusetts +hates our State. Her abolitionists will ruin us yet, sure as the +world. We men of the South must do something on a grand scale to +protect our rights and our property. The merchants of the North will +help us; they are all interested in slave labour. Cotton is king; +and cotton can rule, if it will. Cotton can make friendship strong, +and political power great. + +"There's my cousin John, ye see; he lives north, but is married to a +woman south. He got her with seventeen mules and twenty-three +niggers. And there's brother Jake's daughter was married to a +planter out south what owns lots o' niggers. And there's good old +uncle Richard; he traded a long time with down south folks, made +heaps a money tradin niggers in a sly way, and never heard a word +said about slavery not being right, that he did'nt get into a deuce +of a fuss, and feel like fightin? Two of Simon Wattler's gals were +married down south, and all the family connections became down-south +in principle. And here's Judge Brooks out here, the very best +down-south Judge on the bench; he come from cousin Ephraim's +neighbourhood, down east. It's just this way things is snarled up +a'tween us and them ar' fellers down New England way. It keeps up +the strength of our peculiar institution, though. And southern +Editors! just look at them; why, Lord love yer soul! two thirds on' +em are imported from down-north way; and they make the very best +southern-principled men. I thought of that last night, when Mr. +Jones with the horns looked as if he would go with him. But, I'll +have that preachin vagrant, I'll have him!" says Mr. M'Fadden, +emphatically, seeming much more at rest about his departing affairs. +As the shadows of death fade from his sight into their proper +distance, worldly figures and property justice resume their wonted +possession of his thoughts. + +Again, as if suddenly seized with pain, he contorts his face, and +enquires in a half-whisper--"What if this wound should mortify? +would death follow quickly? I'm dubious yet!" + +Mine host approaches nearer his bed-side, takes his hand. M'Fadden, +with much apparent meekness, would know what he thought of his case? + +He is assured by the kind gentleman that he is entirely out of +danger-worth a whole parish of dead men. At the same time, mine host +insinuates that he will never do to fight duels until he learns to +die fashionably. + +M'Fadden smiles,--remembers how many men have been nearly killed and +yet escaped the undertaker,--seems to have regained strength, and +calls for a glass of whiskey and water. Not too strong! but, +reminding mine host of the excellent quality of his bitters, he +suggests that a little may better his case. + +"I didn't mean the wound," resuming his anxiety for the lost +preacher: "I meant the case of the runaway?" + +"Oh! oh! bless me! he will forget he is a runaway piece of property +in his anxiousness to put forth his spiritual inclinations. That's +what'll betray the scamp;--nigger will be nigger, you know! They +can't play the lawyer, nohow," mine host replies, with an assurance +of his ability to judge negro character. This is a new idea, coming +like the dew-drops of heaven to relieve his anxiety. The consoling +intelligence makes him feel more comfortable. + +The whiskey-and-bitters-most unpoetic drink-is brought to his +bed-side. He tremblingly carries it to his lips, sips and sips; +then, with one gulp, empties the glass. At this moment the pedantic +physician makes his appearance, scents the whiskey, gives a +favourable opinion of its application as a remedy in certain cases. +The prescription is not a bad one. Climate, and such a rusty +constitution as Mr. M'Fadden is blest with, renders a little +stimulant very necessary to keep up the one thing needful-courage! +The patient complains bitterly to the man of pills and powders; +tells a great many things about pains and fears. What a dreadful +thing if the consequence had proved fatal! He further thinks that it +was by the merest act of Providence, in such a desperate affray, he +had not been killed outright. A great many bad visions have haunted +him in his dreams, and he is very desirous of knowing what the man +of salts and senna thinks about the true interpretation of such. +About the time he was dreaming such dreams he was extremely anxious +to know how the spiritual character of slave-holders stood on the +records of heaven, and whether the fact of slave-owning would cause +the insertion of an item in the mortal warrant forming the exception +to a peaceful conclusion with the Father's forgiveness. He felt as +if he would surely die during the night past, and his mind became so +abstracted about what he had done in his life,--what was to come, how +negro property had been treated, how it should be treated,--that, +although he had opinions now and then widely-different, it had left +a problem which would take him all his life-time to solve,--if he +should live ever so long. And, too, there were these poor wretches +accidentally shot down at his side; his feelings couldn't withstand +the ghostly appearance of their corpses as he was carried past them, +perhaps to be buried n the same forlorn grave, the very next day. +All these things reflected their results through the morbidity of +Mr. M'Fadden's mind; but his last observation, showing how slender +is the cord between life and death, proved what was uppermost in his +mind. "You'll allow I'm an honest man? I have great faith in your +opinion, Doctor! And if I have been rather go-ahead with my niggers, +my virtue in business matters can't be sprung," he mutters. The +physician endeavours to calm his anxiety, by telling him he is a +perfect model of goodness,--a just, honest, fearless, and +enterprising planter; and that these attributes of our better nature +constitute such a balance in the scale as will give any gentleman +slaveholder very large claims to that spiritual proficiency +necessary for the world to come. + +Mr. M'Fadden acquiesces in the correctness of this remark, but +desires to inform the practitioner what a sad loss he has met with. +He is sure the gentleman will scarcely believe his word when he +tells him what it is. "I saw how ye felt downright affected when +that nigger o' mine prayed with so much that seemed like honesty and +christianity, last night," he says. + +"Yes," interrupts the man of medicine, "he was a wonderful nigger +that. I never heard such natural eloquence nor such pathos; he is a +wonder among niggers, he is! Extraordinary fellow for one raised up +on a plantation. Pity, almost, that such a clergyman should be a +slave." + +"You don't say so, Doctor, do you? Well! I've lost him just when I +wanted him most." + +"He is not dead?" enquires the physician, suddenly interrupting. He +had seen Mr. M'Fadden's courage fail at the approach of death, and +again recover quickly when the distance widened between that monitor +and himself, and could not suppress the smile stealing over his +countenance. + +"Dead! no indeed. Worse-he has run away!" Mr. M'Fadden quickly +retorted, clenching his right hand, and scowling. In another minute +he turns back the sheets, and, with returned strength, makes a +successful attempt to sit up in bed. "I don't know whether I'm +better or worse; but I think it would be all right if I warn't +worried so much about the loss of that preacher. I paid a tremendous +sum for him. And the worst of it is, my cousin deacon Stoner, of a +down-east church, holds a mortgage on my nigger stock, and he may +feel streaked when he hears of the loss;" Mr. M'Fadden concludes, +holding his side to the physician, who commences examining the +wound, which the enfeebled man says is very sore and must be dressed +cautiously, so that he may be enabled to get out and see to his +property. + +To the great surprise of all, the wound turns out to be merely a +slight cut, with no appearance of inflammation, and every prospect +of being cured through a further application of a very small bit of +dressing plaster. + +The physician smiled, mine host smiled; it was impossible to +suppress the risible faculties. The poor invalid is overpowered with +disappointment. His imagination had betrayed him into one of those +desperate, fearful, and indubitable brinks of death, upon which it +seems the first law of nature reminds us what is necessary to die +by. They laughed, and laughed, and laughed, till Mr. M'Fadden +suddenly changed countenance, and said it was no laughing +affair,--such things were not to be trifled with; men should be +thinking of more important matters. And he looked at the wound, run +his fingers over it gently, and rubbed it as if doubting the depth. + +"A little more whiskey would'nt hurt me, Doctor?" he enquires, +complacently, looking round the room distrustfully at those who were +enjoying the joke, more at his expense than he held to be in +accordance with strict rules of etiquette. + +"I'll admit, my worthy citizen, your case seemed to baffle my skill, +last night," the physician replies, jocosely. "Had I taken your +political enthusiasm into consideration,--and your readiness to +instruct an assemblage in the holy democracy of our south,--and your +hopes of making strong draughts do strong political work, I might +have saved my opiate, and administered to your case more in +accordance with the skilfully administered prescriptions of our +politicians. Notwithstanding, I am glad you are all right, and trust +that whenever you get your enthusiasm fired with bad brandy, or the +candidates' bad whiskey, you will not tax other people's feelings +with your own dying affairs; nor send for a 'nigger' preacher to +redeem your soul, who will run away when he thinks the job +completed." + +Mr. M'Fadden seemed not to comprehend the nature of his physician's +language, and after a few minutes pause he must needs enquire about +the weather? if a coroner's inquest has been held over the dead men? +what was its decision? was there any decision at all? and have they +been buried? Satisfied on all these points, he gets up, himself +again, complaining only of a little muddled giddiness about the +head, and a hip so sore that he scarcely could reconcile his mind to +place confidence in it. + +"Good by! good by!" says the physician, shaking him by the hand. +"Measure the stimulant carefully; and take good care of dumplin +dept No. 1, and you'll be all right very soon. You're a good +democrat, and you'll make as good a stump orator as ever took the +field." + +The man of medicine, laughing heartily within himself, descends the +stairs and reaches the bar-room, where are concentrated sundry of +the party we have before described. They make anxious enquiries +about Mr. M'Fadden,--how he seemed to "take it;" did he evince want +of pluck? had he courage enough to fight a duel? and could his vote +be taken afore he died? These, and many other questions of a like +nature, were put to the physician so fast, and with so many +invitations to drink "somethin'," that he gave a sweeping answer by +saying Mac had been more frightened than hurt; that the fear of +death having passed from before his eyes his mind had now centered +on the loss of his nigger preacher-a valuable piece of property that +had cost him no less than fifteen hundred dollars. And the worst of +it was, that the nigger had aggravatingly prayed for him when he +thought he was going to sink out into the arms of father death. + +So pressing were the invitations to drink, that our man of medicine +advanced to the counter, like a true gentleman of the south, and +with his glass filled with an aristocratic mixture, made one of his +politest bows, toasted the health of all free citizens, adding his +hope for the success of the favourite candidate. + +"Drink it with three cheers, standin'!" shouted a formidably +mustached figure, leaning against the counter with his left hand, +while his right was grasping the jug from which he was attempting in +vain to water his whiskey. To this the physic gentleman bows assent; +and they are given to the very echo. Taking his departure for the +city, as the sounds of cheering die away, he emerged from the front +door, as Mr. M'Fadden, unexpectedly as a ghost rising from the tomb, +made his entrance from the old staircase in the back. The +citizens-for of such is our assembly composed-are astonished and +perplexed. "Such a set of scapegoats as you are!" grumbles out the +debutant, as he stands before them like a disentombed spectre. With +open arms they approach him, congratulate him on his recovery, and +shower upon him many good wishes, and long and strong drinks. + +A few drinks more, and our hero is quite satisfied with his welcome. +His desire being intimated, mine host conducts himself to the +corn-shed, where he satisfies himself that his faithful property +(the preacher excepted) is all snugly safe. Happy property in the +hands of a prodigious democrat! happy republicanism that makes +freedom but a privilege! that makes a mockery of itself, and +enslaves the noblest blood of noble freemen! They were happy, the +victims of ignorance, contented with the freedom their country had +given them, bowing beneath the enslaving yoke of justice-boasting +democracy, and ready to be sold and shipped, with an invoice of +freight, at the beckon of an owner. + +Mr. M'Fadden questions the people concerning Harry's departure; but +they are as ignorant of his whereabouts as himself. They only +remember that he came to the shed at midnight, whispered some words +of consolation, and of his plain fare gave them to eat;--nothing +more. + +"Poor recompense for my goodness!" says Mr. M'Fadden, muttering some +indistinct words as he returns to the tavern, followed by a humorous +negro, making grimaces in satisfaction of "mas'r's" disappointment. +Now friends are gathered together, chuckling in great glee over the +large reward offered for the lost parson, for the capture of which +absconding article they have numerous horses, dogs, confidential +negroes, and a large supply of whiskey, with which very necessary +liquid they will themselves become dogs of one kine. The game to be +played is purely a democratic one; hence the clansmen are ready to +loosen their souls' love for the service. M'Fadden never before +witnessed such satisfactory proofs of his popularity; his tenderest +emotions are excited; he cannot express the fullness of his heart; +he bows, puts his hand to his heart, orders the balance of his +invoice sent to his plantation, mounts his horse, and rides off at +full gallop, followed by his friends. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +A FRIEND IS WOMAN. + + + + + +THE reader will again accompany us to the time when we find Annette +and Nicholas in the hands of Graspum, who will nurture them for +their increasing value. + +Merciless creditors have driven Marston from that home of so many +happy and hospitable associations, to seek shelter in the obscure +and humble chamber of a wretched building in the outskirts of the +city. Fortune can afford him but a small cot, two or three broken +chairs, an ordinary deal table, a large chest, which stands near the +fire-place, and a dressing-stand, for furniture. Here, obscured from +the society he had so long mingled with, he spends most of his time, +seldom venturing in public lest he may encounter those indomitable +gentlemen who would seem to love the following misfortune into its +last stage of distress. His worst enemy, however, is that source of +his misfortunes he cannot disclose; over it hangs the mystery he +must not solve! It enshrines him with guilt before public opinion; +by it his integrity lies dead; it is that which gives to mother +rumour the weapons with which to wield her keenest slanders. + +Having seized Marston's real estate, Graspum had no scruples about +swearing to the equity of his claim; nor were any of the creditors +willing to challenge an investigation; and thus, through fear of +such a formidable abettor, Marston laboured under the strongest, and +perhaps the most unjust imputations. But there was no limit to +Graspum's mercenary proceedings; for beyond involving Marston +through Lorenzo, he had secretly purchased many claims of the +creditors, and secured his money by a dexterous movement, with which +he reduced the innocent children to slavery. + +Reports have spread among the professedly knowing that Marston can +never have made away with all his property in so few years. And the +manner being so invisible, the charge becomes stronger. Thus, +labouring between the pain of misfortune and the want of means to +resent suspicion, his cheerless chamber is all he can now call his +home. But he has two good friends left-Franconia, and the old negro +Bob. Franconia has procured a municipal badge for Daddy; and, +through it (disguised) he seeks and obtains work at stowing cotton +on the wharfs. His earnings are small, but his soul is large, and +embued with attachment for his old master, with whom he will share +them. Day by day the old slave seems to share the feelings of his +master,--to exhibit a solicitous concern for his comfort. Earning his +dollars and twenty-five cents a day, he will return when the week +has ended, full of exultation, spread out his earnings with +childlike simplicity, take thirty cents a day for himself, and slip +the remainder into Marston's pocket. How happy he seems, as he +watches the changes of Marston's countenance, and restrains the +gushing forth of his feelings! + +It was on one of those nights upon which Daddy had received his +earnings, that Marston sat in his cheerless chamber, crouched over +the faint blaze of a few pieces of wood burning on the bricks of his +narrow fire-place, contemplating the eventful scenes of the few +years just passed. The more he contemplated the more it seemed like +a dream; his very head wearied with the interminable maze of his +difficulties. Further and further, as he contemplated, did it open +to his thoughts the strange social and political mystery of that +more strange institution for reducing mankind to the level of +brutes. And yet, democracy, apparently honest, held such inviolable +and just to its creed; which creed it would defend with a cordon of +steel. The dejected gentleman sighs, rests his head on his left +hand, and his elbow on the little table at his side. Without, the +weather is cold and damp; an incessant rain had pattered upon the +roof throughout the day, wild and murky clouds hang their dreary +festoons along the heavens, and swift scudding fleeces, driven by +fierce, murmuring winds, bespread the prospect with gloom that finds +its way into the recesses of the heart. + +"Who is worse than a slave!" sighs the rejected man, getting up and +looking out of his window into the dreary recesses of the narrow +lane. "If it be not a ruined planter I mistake the policy by which +we govern our institution! As the slave is born a subject being, so +is the planter a dependent being. We planters live in +disappointment, in fear, in unhappy uncertainty; and yet we make no +preparations for the result. Nay, we even content ourselves with +pleasantly contemplating what may come through the eventful issue of +political discord; and when it comes in earnest, we find ourselves +the most hapless of unfortunates. For myself, bereft of all I had +once,--even friends, I am but a forlorn object in the scale of weak +mankind! No man will trust me with his confidence,--scarce one knows +me but to harass me; I can give them no more, and yet I am suspected +of having more. It is so, and ever will be so. Such are the phases +of man's downfall, that few follow them to the facts, while rumour +rules supreme over misfortune. There may be a fountain of human pain +concealed beneath it; but few extend the hand to stay its +quickening. Nay, when all is gone, mammon cries, more! until body +and soul are crushed beneath the "more" of relentless self. + +"Few know the intricacies of our system; perhaps 'twere well, lest +our souls should not be safe within us. But, ah! my conscience +chides me here. And betwixt those feelings which once saw all things +right, but now through necessity beholds their grossest wrongs, +comes the pain of self-condemnation. It is a condemnation haunting +me unto death. Had I been ignorant of Clotilda's history, the +fiendish deed of those who wronged her in her childhood had not now +hung like a loathsome pestilence around my very garments. That which +the heart rebukes cannot be concealed; but we must be obedient to +the will that directs all things;--and if it be that we remain blind +in despotism until misfortune opens our eyes, let the cause of the +calamity be charged to those it belongs to," he concludes; and then, +after a few minutes' silence, he lights his taper, and sets it upon +the table. His care-worn countenance pales with melancholy; his hair +has whitened with tribulation; his demeanour denotes a man of tender +sensibility fast sinking into a physical wreck. A well-soiled book +lies on the table, beside which he takes his seat; he turns its +pages over and over carelessly, as if it were an indifferent +amusement to wile away the time. "They cannot enslave affection, nor +can they confine it within prison walls," he mutters. He has proof +in the faithfulness of Daddy, his old slave. And as he contemplates, +the words "she will be more than welcome to-night," escape his lips. +Simultaneously a gentle tapping is heard at the door. Slowly it +opens, and the figure of an old negro, bearing a basket on his arm, +enters. He is followed by the slender and graceful form of +Franconia, who approaches her uncle, hand extended, salutes him with +a kiss, seats herself at his side, says he must not be sad. Then she +silently gazes upon him for a few moments, as if touched by his +troubles, while the negro, having spread the contents of the basket +upon the chest, makes a humble bow, wishes mas'r and missus good +night, and withdraws. "There, uncle," she says, laying her hand +gently on his arm, "I didn't forget you, did I?" She couples the +word with a smile-a smile so sweet, so expressive of her soul's +goodness. "You are dear to me, uncle; yes, as dear as a father. How +could I forget that you have been a father to me? I have brought +these little things to make you comfortable,"-she points to the +edibles on the chest-"and I wish I were not tied to a slave, uncle, +for then I could do more. Twice, since my marriage to M'Carstrow, +have I had to protect myself from his ruffianism." + +"From his ruffianism!" interrupts Marston, quickly: "Can it be, my +child, that even a ruffian would dare exhibit his vileness toward +you?" + +"Even toward me, uncle. With reluctance I married him, and my only +regret is, that a slave's fate had not been mine ere the fruits of +that day fell upon me. Women like me make a feeble defence in the +world; and bad husbands are the shame of their sex," she returns, +her eyes brightening with animation, as she endeavours to calm the +excitement her remarks have given rise to: "Don't, pray don't mind +it, uncle," she concludes. + +"Such news had been anticipated; but I was cautious not to"-- + +"Never mind," she interrupts, suddenly coiling her delicate arm +round his neck, and impressing a kiss on his care-worn cheek. "Let +us forget these things; they are but the fruits of weak nature. It +were better to bear up under trouble than yield to trouble's +burdens: better far. Who knows but that it is all for the best?" She +rises, and, with seeming cheerfulness, proceeds to spread the little +table with the refreshing tokens of her friendship. Yielding to +necessity, the table is spread, and they sit down, with an +appearance of domestic quietness touchingly humble. + +"There is some pleasure, after all, in having a quiet spot where we +can sit down and forget our cares. Perhaps (all said and done) a man +may call himself prince of his own garret, when he can forget all +beyond it," says Marston affected to tears by Franconia's womanly +resignation. + +"Yes," returns Franconia, joyously, "it's a consolation to know that +we have people among us much worse off than we are. I confess, +though, I feel uneasy about our old slaves. Slavery's wrong, uncle; +and it's when one's reduced to such extremes as are presented in +this uninviting garret that we realise it the more forcibly. It +gives the poor wretches no chance of bettering their condition; and +if one exhibits ever so much talent over the other, there is no +chance left him to improve it. It is no recompense to the slave that +his talent only increases the price of the article to be sold. Look +what Harry would have been had he enjoyed freedom. Uncle, we forget +our best interests while pondering over the security of a bad +system. Would it not be better to cultivate the slave's affections, +rather than oppress his feelings?" Franconia has their cause at +heart-forgets her own. She is far removed from the cold speculations +of the south; she is free from mercenary motives; unstained by that +principle of logic which recognises only the man merchandise. No +will hath she to contrive ingenious apologies for the wrongs +inflicted upon a fallen race. Her words spring from the purest +sentiment of the soul; they contain a smarting rebuke of Marston's +former misdoings: but he cannot resent it, nor can he turn the tide +of his troubles against her noble generosity. + +They had eaten their humble supper of meats and bread, and coffee, +when Franconia hears a rap at the lower entrance, leading into the +street. Bearing the taper in her hand, she descends the stairs +quickly, and, opening the door, recognises the smiling face of Daddy +Bob. Daddy greets her as if he were surcharged with the very best +news for old mas'r and missus. He laughs in the exuberance of his +simplicity, and, with an air of fondness that would better become a +child, says, "Lor', young missus, how glad old Bob is to see ye! +Seems like long time since old man see'd Miss Frankone look so spry. +Got dat badge." The old man shows her his badge, exultingly. +"Missus, nobody know whose nigger I'm's, and old Bob arns a right +smart heap o' money to make mas'r comfortable." The old slave never +for once thinks of his own infirmities; no, his attachment for +master soars above every thing else; he thinks only in what way he +can relieve his necessities. Honest, faithful, and affectionate, the +associations of the past are uppermost in his mind; he forgets his +slavery in his love for master and the old plantation. Readily would +he lay down his life, could he, by so doing, lighten the troubles he +instinctively sees in the changes of master's position. The old +plantation and its people have been sold; and he, being among the +separated from earth's chosen, must save his infirm body lest some +man sell him for the worth thereof. Bob's face is white with beard, +and his coarse garments are much worn and ragged; but there is +something pleasing in the familiarity with which Franconia accepts +his brawny hand. How free from that cold advance, that measured +welcome, and that religious indifference, with which the would-be +friend of the slave, at the north, too often accepts the black man's +hand! There is something in the fervency with which she shakes his +wrinkled hand that speaks of the goodness of the heart; something +that touches the old slave's childlike nature. He smiles bashfully, +and says, "Glad t' see ye, missus; dat I is: 'spishilly ven ye takes +care on old mas'r." After receiving her salutation he follows her to +the chamber, across which he hastens to receive a welcome from old +mas'r. Marston warmly receives his hand, and motions him to be +seated on the chest near the fire-place. Bob takes his seat, keeping +his eye on mas'r the while. "Neber mind, mas'r," he says, "Big Mas'r +above be better dan Buckra. Da'h is somefin' what Buckra no sell +from ye, dat's a good heart. If old mas'r on'y keeps up he spirit, +de Lor' 'll carry un throu' 'e triblation," he continues; and, after +watching his master a few minutes, returns to Franconia, and resumes +his jargon. + +Franconia is the same fair creature Bob watched over when she +visited the plantation: her countenance wears the same air of +freshness and frankness; her words are of the same gentleness; she +seems as solicitous of his comfort as before. And yet a shadow of +sadness shrouds that vivacity which had made her the welcome guest +of the old slaves. He cannot resist those expressions which are ever +ready to lisp forth from the negro when his feelings are excited. +"Lor, missus, how old Bob's heart feels! Hah, ah! yah, yah! Looks so +good, and reminds old Bob how e' look down on dah Astley, yander. +But, dah somefin in dat ar face what make old nigger like I know +missus don't feel just right," he exclaims. + +The kind woman reads his thoughts in the glowing simplicity of his +wrinkled face. "It has been said that a dog was our last friend, +Bob: I now think a slave should have been added. Don't you think so, +uncle?" she enquires, looking at Marston, and, again taking the old +slave by the hand, awaits the reply. + +"We rarely appreciate their friendship until it be too late to +reward it," he replies, with an attempt to smile. + +"True, true! but the world is full of ingratitude,--very amiable +ingratitude. Never mind, Daddy; you must now tell me all about your +affairs, and what has happened since the night you surprised me at +our house; and you must tell me how you escaped M'Carstrow on the +morning of the disturbance," she enjoins. And while Bob relates his +story Franconia prepares his supper. Some cold ham, bread, and +coffee, are soon spread out before him. He will remove them to the +chest, near the fire-place. "Why, Missus Frankone," he says, "ye +sees how I'se so old now dat nobody tink I'se werf ownin; and so +nobody axes old Bob whose nigger he is. An't prime nigger, now; but +den a' good fo' work some, and get cash, so t' help old mas'r yander +(Bob points to old master). Likes t' make old master feel not so +bad." + +"Yes," rejoins Marston, "Bob's good to me. He makes his sleeping +apartments, when he comes, at the foot of my bed, and shares his +earnings with me every Saturday night. He's like an old clock that +can keep time as well as a new one, only wind it up with care." + +"Dat I is!" says Daddy, with an exulting nod of the head, as he, to +his own surprise, lets fall his cup. It was only the negro's +forgetfulness in the moment of excitement. Giving a wistful look at +Franconia, he commences picking up the pieces, and drawing his +week's earnings from a side pocket of his jacket. + +"Eat your supper, Daddy; never mind your money now" says Franconia, +laughing heartily: at which Bob regains confidence and resumes his +supper, keeping a watchful eye upon his old master the while. Every +now and then he will pause, cant his ear, and shake his head, as if +drinking in the tenour of the conversation between Franconia and her +uncle. Having concluded, he pulls out his money and spreads it upon +the chest. "Old Bob work hard fo' dat!" he says, with emphasis, +spreading a five-dollar bill and two dollars and fifty cents in +silver into divisions. "Dah!" he ejaculates, "dat old mas'r share, +and dis is dis child's." The old man looks proudly upon the coin, +and feels he is not so worthless, after all. "Now! who say old Bob +aint werf nofin?" he concludes, getting up, putting his share into +his pocket, and then, as if unobserved, slipping the balance into +Marston's. This done, he goes to the window, affects to be looking +out, and then resuming his seat upon the chest, commences humming a +familiar plantation tune, as if his pious feelings had been +superseded by the recollection of past scenes. + +"What, Daddy,--singing songs?" interrupts Franconia, looking at him +enquiringly. He stops as suddenly as he commenced, exchanges an +expressive look, and fain would question her sincerity. + +"Didn't mean 'um, missus," he returns, after a moment's hesitation, +"didn't mean 'um. Was thinkin 'bout somefin back'ards; down old +plantation times." + +"You had better forget them times, Bob." + +"Buckra won't sell dis old nigger,--will he, Miss Frankone?" he +enquires, resuming his wonted simplicity. + +"Sell you, Bob? You're a funny old man. Don't think your old +half-worn-out bones are going to save you. Money's the word: they'll +sell anything that will produce it,--dried up of age are no +exceptions. Keep out of Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy's way: whenever +you hear him singing, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he +shall come,' as he always does,--run! He lives on the sale of +infirmity, and your old age would be a capital thing for the +exercise of his genius. He will put you through a course of +regeneration, take the wrinkles smooth out of your face, dye those +old grey whiskers, and get a profit for his magic power of +transposing the age of negro property," she replied, gravely, while +Bob stares at her as if doubting his own security. + +"Why, missus!" he interposes, his face glowing with astonishment; +"Buckra don't be so smart dat he make old nigger young, be he?" + +"Traders can do anything with niggers that have got money in them, +as they say. Our distinguished people are sensitive of the crime, +but excuse themselves with apologies they cannot make cover the +shame." + +"Franke!" interrupts Marston, "spare the negro's feelings,--it may +have a bad effect." He touches her on the arm, and knits his brows +in caution. + +"How strange, to think that bad influence could come of such an +inoffensive old man! Truth, I know and feel, is powerfully painful +when brought home to the doors of our best people,--it cuts deep when +told in broad letters; but they make the matter worse by attempting +to enshrine the stains with their chivalry. We are a wondrous +people, uncle, and the world is just finding it out, to our shame. +We may find it out ourselves, by and by; perhaps pay the penalty +with sorrow. We look upon negroes as if they were dropped down from +some unaccountable origin,--intended to raise the world's cotton, +rice, and sugar, but never to get above the menial sphere we have +conditioned for them. Uncle, there is a mistake somewhere,--a mistake +sadly at variance with our democratic professions. Democracy needs +to reclaim its all-claiming principles of right and justice for the +down-trodden. And yet, while the negro generously submits to serve +us, we look upon him as an auspicious innovator, who never could +have been born to enjoy manhood, and was subjected to bear a black +face because God had marked him for servitude. Did God found an +aristocracy of colour, or make men to be governed by their +distinctive qualifications of colour relationship?" says Franconia, +her face resuming a flush of agitation. Touching Marston on the arm +with the fore-finger of her right hand, and giving a glance at Bob, +who listens attentively to the theme of conversation, she continues: +"Say no more of bad influence coming of slaves, when the corruptest +examples are set by those who hold them as such,--who crash their +hopes, blot out their mental faculties, and turn their bodies into +licentious merchandise that they may profit by its degradation! Show +me the humblest slave on your plantation, and, in comparison with +the slave-dealer, I will prove him a nobleman of God's kind,--of +God's image: his simple nature will be his clean passport into +heaven. The Father of Mercy will receive him there; he will forgive +the crimes enforced upon him by man; and that dark body on earth +will be recompensed in a world of light,--it will shine with the +brighter spirits of that realm of justice and love. Earth may bring +the slavetrader bounties; but heaven will reject the foul offering." +The good woman unfolds the tender emotions of her heart, as only +woman can. + +Bob listens, as if taking a deep interest in the force and +earnestness of young missus's language. He is swayed by her pathos, +and at length interposes his word. + +"Nigger ain't so good as white man" (he shakes his head, +philosophically). "White man sharp; puzzle nigger to find out what +'e don, know ven 'e mind t'." Thus saying, he takes a small hymn- +book from his pocket, and, Franconia setting the light beside him, +commences reading to himself by its dim glare. + +"Well! now, uncle, it's getting late, and I've a good way to go, and +the night's stormy; so I must prepare for home." Franconia gets up, +and evinces signs of withdrawing. She walks across the little +chamber three or four times, looks out of the window, strains her +sight into the gloomy prospect, and then, as if reluctant to leave +her uncle, again takes a seat by his side. Gently laying her left +hand upon his shoulder, she makes an effort at pleasantry, tells him +to keep up his resolution-to be of good cheer. + +"Remember, uncle," she says, calmly, "they tell us it is no disgrace +to be poor,--no shame to work to live; and yet poor people are +treated as criminals. For my own part, I would rather be poor and +happy than rich with a base husband; I have lived in New England, +know how to appreciate its domestic happiness. It was there +Puritanism founded true American liberty.--Puritanism yet lives, and +may be driven to action; but we must resign ourselves to the will of +an all-wise Providence." Thus concluding, she makes another attempt +to withdraw. + +"You must not leave me yet!" says Marston, grasping her hand firmly +in his. "Franke, I cannot part with you until I have disclosed what +I have been summoning resolution to suppress. I know your +attachment, Franconia; you have been more than dear to me. You have +known my feelings,--what they have already had to undergo." He +pauses. + +"Speak it, uncle, speak it! Keep nothing from me, nor make secrets +in fear of my feelings. Speak out,--I may relieve you!" she +interrupts, nervously: and again encircling her arm round his neck, +waits his reply, in breathless suspense. + +He falters for a moment, and then endeavours to regain his usual +coolness. "To-morrow, Franconia," he half mutters out, "to-morrow, +you may find me not so well situated," (here tears are seen +trickling down his cheeks) "and in a place where it will not become +your delicate nature to visit me." + +"Nay, uncle!" she stops him there; "I will visit you wherever you +may be-in a castle or a prison." + +The word prison has touched the tender chord upon which all his +troubles are strung. He sobs audibly; but they are only sobs of +regret, for which there is no recompense in this late hour. "And +would you follow me to a prison, Franconia?" he enquires, throwing +his arms about her neck, kissing her pure cheek with the fondness of +a father. + +"Yea, and share your sorrows within its cold walls. Do not yield to +melancholy, uncle,--you have friends left: if not, heaven will +prepare a place of rest for you; heaven shields the unfortunate at +last," rejoins the good woman, the pearly tears brightening in +mutual sympathy. + +"To-morrow, my child, you will find me the unhappy tenant of those +walls where man's discomfiture is complete." + +"Nay, uncle, nay! you are only allowing your melancholy forebodings +to get the better of you. Such men as Graspum-men who have stripped +families of their all-might take away your property, and leave you +as they have left my poor parents; but no one would be so heartless +as to drive you to the extreme of imprisonment. It is a foolish +result at best." Franconia's voice falters; she looks more and more +intently in her uncle's face, struggles to suppress her rising +emotions. She knows his frankness, she feels the pain of his +position; but, though the dreadful extreme seems scarcely possible, +there is that in his face conveying strong evidence of the truth of +his remark. + +"Do not weep, Franconia; spare your tears for a more worthy object: +such trials have been borne by better men than I. I am but the +merchandise of my creditors. There is, however, one thing which +haunts me to grief; could I have saved my children, the pain of my +position had been slight indeed." + +"Speak not of them, uncle," Franconia interrupts, "you cannot feel +the bitterness of their lot more than myself. I have saved a mother, +but have failed to execute my plan of saving them; and my heart +throbs with pain when I think that now it is beyond my power. Let me +not attempt to again excite in your bosom feelings which must ever +be harassing, for the evil only can work its destruction. To clip +the poisoning branches and not uproot the succouring trunk, is like +casting pearls into the waste of time. My heart will ever be with +the destinies of those children, my feelings bound in unison with +theirs; our hopes are the same, and if fortune should smile on me in +times to come I will keep my word-I will snatch them from the +devouring element of slavery." + +"Stop, my child!" speaks Marston, earnestly: "Remember you can do +little against the strong arm of the law, and still stronger arm of +public opinion. Lay aside your hopes of rescuing those children, +Franconia, and remember that while I am in prison I am the property +of my creditors, subject to their falsely conceived notions of my +affairs," he continues. "I cannot now make amends to the law of +nature," he adds, burying his face in his hand, weeping a child's +tears. + +Franconia looks solicitously upon her uncle, as he sorrows. She +would dry her tears to save his throbbing heart. Her noble +generosity and disinterestedness have carried her through many +trials since her marriage, but it fails to nerve her longer. Her's +is a single-hearted sincerity, dispensing its goodness for the +benefit of the needy; she suppresses her own troubles that she may +administer consolation to others. "The affection that refuses to +follow misfortune to its lowest step is weak indeed. If you go to +prison, Franconia will follow you there," she says, with touching +pathos, her musical voice adding strength to the resolution. Blended +with that soft angelic expression her eyes give forth, her calm +dignity and inspiring nobleness show how firm is that principle of +her nature never to abandon her old friend. + +The old negro, who had seemed absorbed in his sympathetic +reflections, gazes steadfastly at his old master, until his emotions +spring forth in kindest solicitude. Resistance is beyond his power. +"Neber mind, old mas'r," (he speaks in a devoted tone) "dar's better +days comin, bof fo' old Bob and mas'r. Tink 'um sees de day when de +old plantation jus so 't was wid mas'r and da' old folks." +Concluding in a subdued voice, he approaches Franconia, and seats +himself, book in hand, on the floor at her feet. Moved by his +earnestness, she lays her hand playfully upon his head, saying: +"Here is our truest friend, uncle!" + +"My own heart lubs Miss Frankone more den eber," he whispers in +return. How pure, how holy, is the simple recompense! It is nature's +only offering, all the slave can give; and he gives it in the bounty +of his soul. + +Marston's grief having subsided, he attempts to soothe Franconia's +feelings, by affecting an air of indifference. "What need I care, +after all? my resolution should be above it," he says, thrusting his +right hand into his breast pocket, and drawing out a folded paper, +which he throws upon the little table, and says, "There, Franconia, +my child! that contains the climax of my unlamented misfortunes; +read it: it will show you where my next abode will be-I may be at +peace there; and there is consolation at being at peace, even in a +cell." He passes the paper into her hand. + +With an expression of surprise she opens it, and glances over its +contents; then reads it word by word. "Do they expect to get +something from nothing?" she says, sarcastically. "It is one of +those soothsayers so valuable to men whose feelings are only with +money-to men who forget they cannot carry money to the graves; and +that no tribute is demanded on either road leading to the last abode +of man." + +"Stop there, my child! stop!" interrupts Marston. "I have given them +all, 'tis true; but suspicion is my persecutor-suspicion, and trying +to be a father to my own children!" + +"It is, indeed, a misfortune to be a father under such +circumstances, in such an atmosphere!" the good woman exclaims, +clasping her hands and looking upward, as if imploring the +forgiveness of Heaven. Tremblingly she held the paper in her hand, +until it fell upon the floor, as she, overcome, swooned in her +uncle's arms. + +She swooned! yes, she swooned. That friend upon whom her affections +had been concentrated was a prisoner. The paper was a bail writ, +demanding the body of the accused. The officer serving had been kind +enough to allow Marston his parole of honour until the next morning. +He granted this in accordance with Marston's request, that by the +lenity he might see Daddy Bob and Franconia once more. + +Lifting Franconia in his arms, her hair falling loosely down, +Marston lays her gently on the cot, and commences bathing her +temples. He has nothing but water to bathe them with,--nothing but +poverty's liquid. The old negro, frightened at the sudden change +that has come over his young missus, falls to rubbing and kissing +her hands,--he has no other aid to lend. Marston has drawn his chair +beside her, sits down upon it, unbuttons her stomacher, and +continues bathing and chafing her temples. How gently heaves that +bosom so full of fondness, how marble-like those features, how +pallid but touchingly beautiful that face! Love, affection, and +tenderness, there repose so calmly! All that once gave out so much +hope, so much joy, now withers before the blighting sting of +misfortune. "Poor child, how fondly she loves me!" says Marston, +placing his right arm under her head, and raising it gently. The +motion quickens her senses-she speaks; he kisses her pallid +cheek-kisses and kisses it. "Is it you uncle?" she whispers. She has +opened her eyes, stares at Marston, then wildly along the ceiling. +"Yes, I'm in uncle's arms; how good!" she continues, as if fatigued. +Reclining back on the pillow, she again rests her head upon his arm. +"I am at the mansion-how pleasant; let me rest, uncle; let me rest. +Send aunt Rachel to me." She raises her right hand and lays her arms +about Marston's neck, as anxiously he leans over her. How dear are +the associations of that old mansion! how sweet the thought of home! +how uppermost in her wandering mind the remembrance of those happy +days! + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +MARSTON IN PRISON. + + + + + +WHILE Franconia revives, let us beg the reader's indulgence for not +recounting the details thereof. The night continues dark and stormy, +but she must return to her own home,--she must soothe the excited +feelings of a dissolute and disregarding husband, who, no doubt, is +enjoying his night orgies, while she is administering consolation to +the downcast. "Ah! uncle," she says, about to take leave of him for +the night, "how with spirit the force of hope fortifies us; and yet +how seldom are our expectations realised through what we look +forward to! You now see the value of virtue; but when seen through +necessity, how vain the repentance. Nevertheless, let us profit by +the lesson before us; let us hope the issue may yet be favourable!" +Bob will see his young missus safe home-he will be her guide and +protector. So, preparing his cap, he buttons his jacket, laughs and +grins with joy, goes to the door, then to the fire-place, and to the +door again, where, keeping his left hand on the latch, and his right +holding the casement, he bows and scrapes, for "Missus comin." +Franconia arranges her dress as best she can, adjusts her bonnet, +embraces Marston, imprints a fond kiss on his cheek, reluctantly +relinquishes his hand, whispers a last word of consolation, and bids +him good night,--a gentle good night-in sorrow. + +She has gone, and the old slave is her guide, her human watch-dog. +Slowly Marston paces the silent chamber alone, giving vent to his +pent-up emotions. What may to-morrow bring forth? runs through his +wearied mind. It is but the sudden downfall of life, so inseparable +from the planter who rests his hopes on the abundance of his human +property. But the slave returns, and relieves him of his musings. He +has seen his young missus safe to her door; he has received her kind +word, and her good, good night! Entering the chamber with a smile, +he sets about clearing away the little things, and, when done, draws +his seat close to Marston, at the fire-place. As if quite at home +beside his old master, he eyes Marston intently for some time,--seems +studying his thoughts and fears. At length the old slave commences +disclosing his feelings. His well-worn bones are not worth a large +sum; nor are the merits of his worthy age saleable;--no! there is +nothing left but his feelings, those genuine virtues so happily +illustrated. Daddy Bob will stand by mas'r, as he expresses it, in +power or in prison. Kindness has excited all that vanity in Bob so +peculiar to the negro, and by which he prides himself in the prime +value of his person. There he sits-Marston's faithful friend, +contemplating his silence with a steady gaze, and then, giving his +jet-black face a double degree of seriousness, shrugs his shoulders, +significantly nods his head, and intimates that it will soon be time +to retire, by commencing to unboot master. + +"You seem in a hurry to get rid of me, Daddy! Want to get your own +cranium into a pine-knot sleep, eh?" says Marston, with an +encouraging smile, pulling the old slave's whiskers in a playful +manner. + +"No, Boss; 'tant dat," returns Bob, keeping on tugging at Marston's +boots until he has got them from his feet, and safely stowed away in +a corner. A gentle hint that he is all ready to relieve Marston of +his upper garments brings him to his feet, when Bob commences upon +him in right good earnest, and soon has him stowed away between the +sheets. "Bob neber likes to hurry old Boss, but den 'e kno' what's +on old Mas'r's feelins, an 'e kno' dat sleep make 'um forget 'um!" +rejoins Bob, in a half whisper that caught Marston's ear, as he +patted and fussed about his pillow, in order to make him as +comfortable as circumstances would admit. After this he extinguishes +the light, and, accustomed to a slave's bed, lumbers himself down on +the floor beside his master's cot. Thus, watchfully, he spends the +night. + +When morning dawned, Bob was in the full enjoyment of what the negro +so pertinently calls a long and strong sleep. He cannot resist its +soothing powers, nor will master disturb him in its enjoyment. +Before breakfast-time arrives, however, he arouses with a loud +guffaw, looks round the room vacantly, as if he were doubting the +presence of things about him. Rising to his knees, he rubs his eyes +languidly, yawns, and stretches his arms, scratches his head, and +suddenly gets a glimpse of old master, who is already dressed, and +sits by the window, his attention intently set upon some object +without. The old slave recognises the same chamber from which he +guided Franconia on the night before, and, after saluting mas'r, +sets about arranging the domestic affairs of the apartment, and +preparing the breakfast table, the breakfast being cooked at Aunt +Beckie's cabin, in the yard. Aunt Beckie had the distinguished +satisfaction of knowing Marston in his better days, and now esteems +it an honour to serve him, even in his poverty. Always happy to +inform her friends that she was brought up a first-rate pastry-cook, +she now adds, with great satisfaction, that she pays her owner, the +very Reverend Mr. Thomas Tippletony, the ever-pious rector of St. +Michael's, no end of money for her time, and makes a good profit at +her business beside. Notwithstanding she has a large family of +bright children to maintain in a respectable way, she hopes for a +continuance of their patronage, and will give the best terms her +limited means admit. She knows how very necessary it is for a +southern gentleman who would be anybody to keep up appearances, and, +with little means, to make a great display: hence she is very easy +in matters of payment. In Marston's case, she is extremely proud to +render him service,--to "do for him" as far as she can, and wait a +change for the better concerning any balance outstanding. + +Bob fetches the breakfast of coffee, fritters, homony, and bacon,--a +very good breakfast it is, considering the circumstances,--and +spreads the little rustic board with an air of comfort and neatness +complimentary to the old slave's taste. And, withal, the old man +cannot forego the inherent vanity of his nature, for he is, +unconsciously, performing all the ceremonies of attendance he has +seen Dandy and his satellites go through at the plantation mansion. +He fusses and grins, and praises and laughs, as he sets the dishes +down one by one, keeping a watchful eye on mas'r, as if to detect an +approval in his countenance. "Reckon 'ow dis old nigger can fix old +Boss up aristocratic breakfast like Dandy. Now, Boss-da'h he is!" he +says, whisking round the table, setting the cups just so, and +spreading himself with exultation. "Want to see master smile-laugh +some-like 'e used down on da'h old plantation!" he ejaculates, +emphatically, placing a chair at Marston's plate. This done, he +accompanies his best bow with a scrape of his right foot, spreads +his hands,--the gesture being the signal of readiness. Marston takes +his chair, as Bob affects the compound dignity of the very best +trained nigger, doing the distinguished in waiting. + +"A little less ceremony, my old faithful! the small follies of +etiquette ill become such a place as this. We must succumb to +circumstances: come, sit down, Bob; draw your bench to the chest, +and there eat your share, while I wait on myself," says Marston, +touching Bob on the arm. The words were no sooner uttered, than +Bob's countenance changed from the playful to the serious; he could +see nothing but dignity in master, no matter in what sphere he might +be placed. His simple nature recoils at the idea of dispensing with +the attention due from slave to master. Master's fallen fortunes, +and the cheerless character of the chamber, are nothing to Daddy- +master must keep up his dignity. + +"You need'nt look so serious, Daddy; it only gives an extra shade to +your face, already black enough for any immediate purpose!" says +Marston, turning round and smiling at the old slave's discomfiture. +To make amends, master takes a plate from the table, and gives Bob a +share of his homony and bacon. This is very pleasing to the old +slave, who regains his wonted earnestness, takes the plate politely +from his master's hand, retires with it to the chest, and keeps up a +regular fire of chit-chat while dispensing its contents. In this +humble apartment, master and slave-the former once opulent, and the +latter still warm with attachment for his friend-are happily +companioned. They finish their breakfast,--a long pause intervenes. +"I would I were beyond the bounds of this our south," says Marston, +breaking the silence, as he draws his chair and seats himself by the +window, where he can look out upon the dingy little houses in the +lane. + +The unhappy man feels the burden of a misspent life; he cannot +recall the past, nor make amends for its errors. But, withal, it is +some relief that he can disclose his feelings to the old man, his +slave. + +"Mas'r," interrupts the old slave, looking complacently in his face, +"Bob 'll fowler ye, and be de same old friend. I will walk behind +Miss Frankone." His simple nature seems warming into fervency. + +"Ah! old man," returns Marston, "if there be a wish (you may go +before me, though) I have on earth, it is that when I die our graves +may be side by side, with an epitaph to denote master, friend, and +faithful servant lie here." He takes the old man by the hand again, +as the tears drop from his cheeks. "A prison is but a grave to the +man of honourable feelings," he concludes. Thus disclosing his +feelings, a rap at the door announces a messenger. It is nine +o'clock, and immediately the sheriff, a gentlemanly-looking man, +wearing the insignia of office on his hat, walks in, and politely +intimates that, painful as may be the duty, he must request his +company to the county gaol, that place so accommodatingly prepared +for the reception of unfortunates. + +"Sorry for your misfortunes, sir! but we'll try to make you as +comfortable as we can in our place." The servitor of the law seems +to have some sympathy in him. "I have my duty to perform, you know, +sir; nevertheless, I have my opinion about imprisoning honest men +for debt: it's a poor satisfaction, sir. I'm only an officer, you +see, sir, not a law-maker-never want to be, sir. I very much dislike +to execute these kind of writs," says the man of the law, as, with +an expression of commiseration, he glances round the room, and then +at Daddy, who has made preparations for a sudden dodge, should such +an expedient be found necessary. + +"Nay, sheriff, think nothing of it; it's but a thing of common +life,--it may befall us all. I can be no exception to the rule, and +may console myself with the knowledge of companionship," replies +Marston, as coolly as if he were preparing for a journey of +pleasure. + +How true it is, that, concealed beneath the smallest things, there +is a consolation which necessity may bring out: how Providence has +suited it to our misfortunes! + +"There are a few things here-a very few-I should like to take to my +cell; perhaps I can send for them," he remarks, looking at the +officer, enquiringly. + +"My name is Martin-Captain Martin, they call me,"-returns that +functionary, politely. "If you accept my word of honour, I pledge it +they are taken care of, and sent to your apartments." + +"You mean my new lodging-house, or my new grave, I suppose," +interrupted Marston, jocosely, pointing out to Daddy the few +articles of bedding, chairs, and a window-curtain he desired +removed. Daddy has been pensively standing by the fire-place the +while, contemplating the scene. + +Marston soon announces his readiness to proceed; and, followed by +the old slave, the officer leads the way down the ricketty old +stairs to the street. "I's gwine t'see whar dey takes old mas'r, any +how, reckon I is," says the old slave, giving his head a significant +turn. + +"Now, sir," interrupts the officer, as they arrive at the bottom of +the stairs, "perhaps you have a delicacy about going through the +street with a sheriff; many men have: therefore I shall confide in +your honour, sir, and shall give you the privilege of proceeding to +the gaol as best suits your feelings. I never allow myself to follow +the will of creditors; if I did, my duties would be turned into a +system of tyranny, to gratify their feelings only. Now, you may take +a carriage, or walk; only meet me at the prison gate." + +"Thanks, thanks!" returns Marston, grateful for the officer's +kindness, "my crime is generosity; you need not fear me. My old +faithful here will guide me along." The officer bows assent, and +with a respectful wave of the hand they separate to pursue different +routes. + +Marston walks slowly along, Bob keeping pace close behind. He passes +many of his old acquaintances, who, in better times, would have +recognised him with a cordial embrace; at present they have scarcely +a nod to spare. Marston, however, is firm in his resolution, looks +not on one side nor the other, and reaches the prison-gate in good +time. The officer has reached it in advance, and waits him there. +They pause a few moments as Marston scans the frowning wall that +encloses the gloomy-looking old prison. "I am ready to go in," says +Marston; and just as they are about to enter the arched gate, the +old slave touches him on the arm, and says, "Mas'r, dat's no place +fo'h Bob. Can't stand seein' on ye locked up wid sich folks as in +dah!" Solicitously he looks in his master's face. The man of trouble +grasps firmly the old slave's hand, holds it in silence for some +minutes-the officer, moved by the touching scene, turns his head +away-as tears course down his cheeks. He has no words to speak the +emotions of his heart; he shakes the old man's hand affectionately, +attempts to whisper a word in his ear, but is too deeply affected. + +"Good by, mas'r: may God bless 'um! Ther's a place fo'h old mas'r +yet. I'll com t' see mas'r every night," says the old man, his words +flowing from the bounty of his heart. He turns away reluctantly, +draws his hand from Marston's, heaves a sigh, and repairs to his +labour. How precious was that labour of love, wherein the old slave +toils that he may share the proceeds with his master! + +As Marston and the sheriff disappear through the gate, and are about +to ascend the large stone steps leading to the portal in which is +situated the inner iron gate opening into the debtors' ward, the +sheriff made a halt, and, placing his arm in a friendly manner +through Marston's, enquires, "Anything I can do for you? If there +is, just name it. Pardon my remark, sir, but you will, in all +probability, take the benefit of the act; and, as no person seems +willing to sign your bail, I may do something to relieve your wants, +in my humble way." Marston shakes his head; the kindness impedes an +expression of his feelings. "A word of advice from me, however, may +not be without its effect, and I will give it you; it is this:--Your +earnestness to save those two children, and the singular manner in +which those slave drudges of Graspum produced the documentary +testimony showing them property, has created wondrous suspicion +about your affairs. I will here say, Graspum's no friend of yours; +in fact, he's a friend to nobody but himself; and even now, when +questioned on the manner of possessing all your real estate, he +gives out insinuations, which, instead of exonerating you, create a +still worse impression against you. His conversation on the matter +leaves the inference with your creditors that you have still more +property secreted. Hence, mark me! it behoves you to keep close +lips. Don't let your right hand know what your left does," continues +the officer, in a tone of friendliness. They ascend to the iron +gate, look through the grating. The officer, giving a whistle, rings +the bell by touching a spring in the right-hand wall. "My lot at +last!" exclaims Marston. "How many poor unfortunates have passed +this threshold-how many times the emotions of the heart have burst +forth on this spot-how many have here found a gloomy rest from their +importuners-how many have here whiled away precious time in a gloomy +cell, provided for the punishment of poverty!" The disowned man, for +such he is, struggles to retain his resolution; fain would he, +knowing the price of that resolution, repress those sensations +threatening to overwhelm him. + +The brusque gaoler appears at the iron gate; stands his burly figure +in the portal; nods recognition to the officer; swings back the iron +frame, as a number of motley prisoners gather into a semicircle in +the passage. "Go back, prisoners; don't stare so at every new +comer," says the gaoler, clearing the way with his hands extended. + +One or two of the locked-up recognise Marston. They lisp strange +remarks, drawn forth by his appearance in charge of an officer. "Big +as well as little fish bring up here," ejaculates one. + +"Where are his worshippers and his hospitable friends?" whispers +another. + +"There's not much hospitality for poverty," rejoins a third, +mutteringly. "Southern hospitality is unsound, shallow, and flimsy; +a little dazzling of observances to cover very bad facts. You are +sure to find a people who maintain the grossest errors in their +political system laying the greatest claims to benevolence and +principle-things to which they never had a right. The phantom of +hospitality draws the curtain over many a vice-it is a well-told +nothingness ornamenting the beggared system of your slavery; that's +my honest opinion," says a third, in a gruff voice, which indicates +that he has no very choice opinion of such generosity. "If they want +a specimen of true hospitality, they must go to New England; there +the poor man's offering stocks the garden of liberty, happiness, and +justice; and from them spring the living good of all," he concludes; +and folding his arms with an air of independence, walks up the long +passage running at right angles with the entrance portal, and +disappears in a cell on the left. + +"I knew him when he was great on the turf. He was very distinguished +then." "He'll be extinguished here," insinuates another, as he +protrudes his eager face over the shoulders of those who are again +crowding round the office-door, Marston and the officer having +entered following the gaoler. + +The sheriff passes the committimus to the man of keys; that +functionary takes his seat at a small desk, while Marston stands by +its side, watching the process of his prison reception, in silence. +The gaoler reads the commitment, draws a book deliberately from off +a side window, spreads it open on his desk, and commences humming an +air. "Pootty smart sums, eh!" he says, looking up at the sheriff, as +he holds a quill in his left hand, and feels with the fingers of his +right for a knife, which, he observes, he always keeps in his right +vest pocket. "We have a poor debtor's calendar for registering these +things. I do these things different from other gaolers, and it loses +me nothin'. I goes on the true principle, that 'tant right to put +criminals and debtors together; and if the state hasn't made +provision for keeping them in different cells, I makes a difference +on the books, and that's somethin'. Helps the feelins over the +smarting point," says the benevolent keeper of all such troublesome +persons as won't pay their debts;--as if the monstrous concentration +of his amiability, in keeping separate books for the criminal and +poverty-stricken gentlemen of his establishment, must be duly +appreciated. Marston, particularly, is requested to take the +initiative, he being the most aristocratic fish the gaoler has +caught in a long time. But the man has made his pen, and now he +registers Marston's name among the state's forlorn gentlemen, +commonly called poor debtors. They always confess themselves in +dependent circumstances. Endorsing the commitment, he returns it to +the sheriff, who will keep the original carefully filed away in his +own well-stocked department. The sheriff will bid his prisoner good +morning! having reminded the gaoler what good care it was desirable +to take of his guest; and, extending his hand and shaking that of +Marston warmly, takes his departure, whilst our gaoler leads Marston +into an almost empty cell, where he hopes he will find things +comfortable, and leaves him to contemplate upon the fallen fruit of +poverty. "Come to this, at last!" said Marston, entering the +cavern-like place. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +VENDERS OF HUMAN PROPERTY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS MENTAL + + + + +CAPRICES. + +READER! be patient with us, for our task is complex and tedious. We +have but one great object in view-that of showing a large number of +persons in the south, now held as slaves, who are by the laws of the +land, as well as the laws of nature, entitled to their freedom. +These people, for whom, in the name of justice and every offspring +of human right, we plead, were consigned to the bondage they now +endure through the unrighteous act of one whose name (instead of +being execrated by a nation jealous of its honour), a singular +species of southern historian has attempted to enshrine with fame. +Posterity, ignorant of his character, will find his name clothed +with a paragon's armour, while respecting the writer who so cleverly +with a pen obliterated his crimes. We have only feelings of pity for +the historian who discards truth thus to pollute paper with his +kindness; such debts due to friendship are badly paid at the shrine +of falsehood. No such debts do we owe; we shall perform our duty +fearlessly, avoiding dramatic effect, or aught else that may tend to +improperly excite the feelings of the benevolent. No one better +knows the defects of our social system-no one feels more forcibly +that much to be lamented fact of there being no human law extant not +liable to be evaded or weakened by the intrigues of designing +men;--we know of no power reposed in man the administration of which +is not susceptible of abuse, or being turned to means of oppression: +how much more exposed, then, must all these functions be where +slavery in its popular sway rides triumphant over the common law of +the land. Divine laws are with impunity disregarded and abused by +anointed teachers of divinity. Peculation, in sumptuous garb, and +with modern appliances, finds itself modestly-perhaps +unconsciously-gathering dross at the sacred altar. How saint-like in +semblance, and how unconscious of wrong, are ye bishops (holy ones, +scarce of earth, in holy lawn) in that land of freedom where the +slave's chains fall ere his foot pads its soil! how calmly resigned +the freemen who yield to the necessity of making strong the altar +with the sword of state! How, in the fulness of an expansive soul, +these little ones, in lawn so white, spurn the unsanctified +spoiler-themselves neck-deep in the very coffers of covetousness the +while! How to their christian spirit it seems ordained they should +see a people's ekeings serve their rolling in wealth and luxury! +and, yet, let no man question their walking in the ways of a meek +and lowly Saviour-that Redeemer of mankind whose seamless garb no +man purchaseth with the rights of his fellow. Complacently innocent +of themselves, they would have us join their flock and follow +them,--their pious eyes seeing only heavenly objects to be gained, +and their pure hearts beating in heavy throbs for the wicked turmoil +of our common world. Pardon us, brother of the flesh, say they, in +saintly whispers,--it is all for the Church and Christ. Boldly +fortified with sanctimony, they hurl back the shafts of reform, and +ask to live on sumptuously, as the only sought recompense for their +christian love. Pious infallibility! how blind, to see not the +crime! + +Reader! excuse the diversion, and accompany us while we retrace our +steps to where we left the loquacious Mr. M'Fadden, recovered from +the fear of death, which had been produced by whiskey in draughts +too strong. In company with a numerous party, he is just returning +from an unsuccessful search for his lost preacher. They have scoured +the lawns, delved the morasses, penetrated thick jungles of brakes, +driven the cypress swamps, and sent the hounds through places +seemingly impossible for human being to seclude himself, and where +only the veteran rattlesnake would seek to lay his viperous head. No +preacher have they found. They utter vile imprecations on his head, +pit him "a common nigger," declare he has just learned enough, in +his own crooked way, to be dubious property-good, if a man can keep +him at minister business. + +Mine host of the Inn feels assured, if he be hiding among the swamp +jungle, the snakes and alligators will certainly drive him out: an +indisputable fact this, inasmuch as alligators and snakes hate +niggers. M'Fadden affirms solemnly, that the day he bought that +clergyman was one of the unlucky days of his life; and he positively +regrets ever having been a politician, or troubling his head about +the southern-rights question. The party gather round the front +stoop, and are what is termed in southern parlance "tuckered out." +They are equally well satisfied of having done their duty to the +state and a good cause. Dogs, their tails drooping, sneak to their +kennels, horses reek with foam, the human dogs will "liquor" long +and strong. + +"Tisn't such prime stock, after all!" says M'Fadden, entering the +veranda, reeking with mud and perspiration: "after a third attempt +we had as well give it up." He shakes his head, and then strikes his +whip on the floor. "I'll stand shy about buying a preacher, another +time," he continues; like a man, much against his will, forced to +give up a prize. + +The crackers and wire-grass men (rude sons of the sand hills), take +the matter more philosophically,--probably under the impression that +to keep quiet will be to "bring the nigger out" where he may be +caught and the reward secured. Two hundred dollars is a sum for +which they would not scruple to sacrifice life; but they have three +gods-whiskey, ignorance, and idleness, any one of which can easily +gain a mastery over their faculties. + +Mr. M'Fadden requests that his friends will all come into the +bar-room-all jolly fellows; which, when done, he orders mine host to +supply as much "good strong stuff" as will warm up their spirits. +He, however, will first take a glass himself, that he may drink all +their very good healths. This compliment paid, he finds himself +pacing up and down, and across the room, now and then casting +suspicious glances at the notice of reward, as if questioning the +policy of offering so large an amount. But sundown is close upon +them, and as the bar-room begins to fill up again, each new-comer +anxiously enquires the result of the last search,--which only serves +to increase the disappointed gentleman's excitement. The affair has +been unnecessarily expensive, for, in addition to the loss of his +preacher, the price of whom is no very inconsiderable sum, he finds +a vexatious bill running up against him at the bar. The friendship +of those who have sympathised with him, and have joined him in the +exhilarating sport of man-hunting, must be repaid with swimming +drinks. Somewhat celebrated for economy, his friends are surprised +to find him, on this occasion, rather inclined to extend the +latitude of his liberality. His keen eye, however, soon detects, to +his sudden surprise, that the hunters are not alone enjoying his +liberality, but that every new comer, finding the drinks provided at +M'Fadden's expense, has no objection to join in drinking his health; +to which he would have no sort of an objection, but for the cost. +Like all men suffering from the effect of sudden loss, he begins to +consider the means of economising by which he may repay the loss of +the preacher. "I say, Squire!" he ejaculates, suddenly stopping +short in one of his walks, and beckoning mine host aside, "That +won't do, it won't! It's a coming too tough, I tell you!" he says, +shaking his head, and touching mine host significantly on the arm. +"A fellow what's lost his property in this shape don't feel like +drinkin everybody on whiskey what costs as much as your 'bright +eye.' You see, every feller what's comin in's 'takin' at my expense, +and claiming friendship on the strength on't. It don't pay, Squire! +just stop it, won't ye?" + +Mine host immediately directs the bar-keeper, with a sign and a +whisper:--"No more drinks at M'Fadden's score, 'cept to two or three +o' the most harristocratic." He must not announce the discontinuance +openly; it will insult the feelings of the friendly people, many of +whom anticipate a feast of drinks commensurate with their services +and Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden's distinguished position in political +life. Were they, the magnanimous people, informed of this sudden +shutting off of their supplies, the man who had just enjoyed their +flattering encomiums would suddenly find himself plentifully +showered with epithets a tyrant slave-dealer could scarcely endure. + +Calling mine host into a little room opening from the bar, he takes +him by the arm,--intimates his desire to have a consultation on the +state of his affairs, and the probable whereabouts of his +divine:--"You see, this is all the thanks I get for my kindness (he +spreads his hands and shrugs his shoulders.) A northern man may do +what he pleases for southern rights, and it's just the same; he +never gets any thanks for it. These sort o' fellers isn't to be +sneered at when a body wants to carry a political end," he adds, +touching mine host modestly on the shoulder, and giving him a +quizzing look, "but ye can't make 'um behave mannerly towards +respectable people, such as you and me is. But 'twould'nt do to give +'um edukation, for they'd just spile society-they would! Ain't my +ideas logical, now, squire?" Mr. M'Fadden's mind seems soaring away +among the generalities of state. + +"Well!" returns mine host, prefacing the importance of his opinion +with an imprecation, "I'm fixed a'tween two fires; so I can't say +what would be square policy in affairs of state. One has feelins +different on these things: I depends a deal on what our big folks +say in the way of setting examples. And, too, what can you expect +when this sort a ruff-scuff forms the means of raising their +political positions; but, they are customers of mine,--have made my +success in tavern-keeping!" he concludes, in an earnest whisper. + +"Now, squire!" M'Fadden places his hand in mine host's arm, and +looks at him seriously: "What 'bout that ar nigger preacher gittin +off so? No way t' find it out, eh squire?" M'Fadden enquires, with +great seriousness. + +"Can't tell how on earth the critter did the thing; looked like +peaceable property when he went to be locked up, did!" + +"I think somebody's responsible for him, squire?" interrupts +M'Fadden, watching the changes of the other's countenance: "seems +how I heard ye say ye'd take the risk-" + +"No,--no,--no!" rejoins the other, quickly; "that never will do. I +never receipt for nigger property, never hold myself responsible to +the customers, and never run any risks about their niggers. You +forget, my friend, that whatever shadow of a claim you had on me by +law was invalidated by your own act." + +"My own act?" interrupts the disappointed man. "How by my own act? +explain yourself!" suddenly allowing his feelings to become excited. + +"Sending for him to come to your bedside and pray for you. It was +when you thought Mr. Jones, the gentleman with the horns, stood over +you with a warrant in his hand," mine host whispers in his ear, +shrugging his shoulders, and giving his face a quizzical expression. +"You appreciated the mental of the property then; but now you view +it as a decided defect." + +The disappointed gentleman remains silent for a few moments. He is +deeply impressed with the anomaly of his case, but has not the +slightest objection to fasten the responsibility on somebody, never +for a moment supposing the law would interpose against the exercise +of his very best inclinations. He hopes God will bless him, says it +is always his luck; yet he cannot relinquish the idea of somebody +being responsible. He will know more about the preaching rascal's +departure. Turning to mine host of the inn: "But, you must have a +clue to him, somewhere?" he says, enquiringly. + +"There's my woman; can see if she knows anything about the nigger!" +returns mine host, complacently. Ellen Juvarna is brought into the +presence of the injured man, who interrogates her with great care; +but all her disclosures only tend to throw a greater degree of +mystery over the whole affair. At this, Mr. M'Fadden declares that +the policy he has always maintained with reference to education is +proved true with the preacher's running away. Nigger property should +never be perverted by learning; though, if you could separate the +nigger from the preaching part of the property, it might do some +good, for preaching was at times a good article to distribute among +certain slaves "what had keen instincts." At times, nevertheless, it +would make them run away. Ellen knew Harry as a good slave, a good +man, a good Christian, sound in his probity, not at all inclined to +be roguish,--as most niggers are--a little given to drink, but never +bad-tempered. Her honest opinion is that such a pattern of worthy +nature and moral firmness would not disgrace itself by running away, +unless induced by white "Buckra." She thinks she heard a lumbering +and shuffling somewhere about the pen, shortly after midnight. It +might have been wolves, however. To all this Mr. M'Fadden listens +with marked attention. Now and then he interposes a word, to gratify +some new idea swelling his brain. There is nothing satisfactory yet: +he turns the matter over and over in his mind, looks Ellen +steadfastly in the face, and watches the movement of every muscle. +"Ah!" he sighs, "nothing new developing." He dismissed the wench, +and turns to mine host of the inn. "Now, squire, (one minute mine +host is squire, and the next Mr. Jones) tell ye what 'tis; thar's +roguery goin on somewhere among them ar' fellers--them sharpers in +the city, I means! (he shakes his head knowingly, and buttons his +light sack-coat round him). That's a good gal, isn't she?" he +enquires, drawing his chair somewhat closer, his hard face assuming +great seriousness. + +Mine host gives an affirmative nod, and says, "Nothin shorter! Can +take her word on a turn of life or death. Tip top gal, that! Paid a +price for her what u'd make ye wink, I reckon." + +"That's just what I wanted to know," he interrupts, suddenly +grasping the hand of his friend. "Ye see how I'se a little of a +philosopher, a tall politician, and a major in the brigade down our +district,--I didn't get my law akermin for nothin; and now I jist +discovers how somebody-I mean some white somebody-has had a hand in +helpin that ar' nig' preacher to run off. Cus'd critters! never know +nothing till some white nigger fills their heads with roguery." + +"Say, my worthy M'Fadden," interrupts the publican, rising suddenly +from his seat, as if some new discovery had just broke forth in his +mind, "war'nt that boy sold under a warrant?" + +"Warranted-warranted-warranted sound in every particular? That he +was. Just think of this, squire; you're a knowin one. It takes you! +I never thought on't afore, and have had all my nervousness for +nothin. Warranted sound in every particular, means-" + +"A moment!" mine host interposes, suddenly: "there's a keen point of +law there; but it might be twisted to some account, if a body only +had the right sort of a lawyer to twist it." + +The perplexed man rejoins by hoping he may not be interrupted just +at this moment. He is just getting the point of it straight in his +mind. "You see," he says, "the thing begun to dissolve itself in my +philosophy, and by that I discovered the pint the whole thing stands +on. Its entirely metaphysical, though," he says, with a significant +shake of the head. He laughs at his discovery; his father, long +since, told him he was exceedingly clever. Quite a match for the +publican in all matters requiring a comprehensive mind, he declares +there are few lawyers his equal at penetrating into points. "He +warranted him in every particular," he mutters, as mine host, +watching his seriousness, endeavours to suppress a smile. M'Fadden +makes a most learned motion of the fore finger of the right hand, +which he presses firmly into the palm of his left, while contracting +his brows. He will soon essay forth the point of logic he wishes to +enforce. The property being a certain man endowed with preaching +propensities, soundness means the qualities of the man, mental as +well as physical; and running away being an unsound quality, the +auctioneer is responsible for all such contingencies. "I have him +there,--I have!" he holds up his hands exultingly, as he exclaims the +words; his face brightens with animation. Thrusting his hands into +his trowsers pockets he paces the room for several minutes, at a +rapid pace, as if his mind had been relieved of some deep study. "I +will go directly into the city, and there see what I can do with the +chap I bought that feller of. I think when I put the law points to +him, he'll shell out." + +Making some preliminary arrangements with Jones of the tavern, he +orders a horse to the door immediately, and in a few minutes more is +hastening on his way to the city. + +Arriving about noon-day, he makes his way through its busy +thoroughfares, and is soon in the presence of the auctioneer. There, +in wondrous dignity, sits the seller of bodies and souls, his +cushioned arm-chair presenting an air of opulence. How coolly that +pomp of his profession sits on the hard mask of his iron features, +beneath which lurks a contempt of shame! He is an important item in +the political hemisphere of the state, has an honourable position in +society (for he is high above the minion traders), joined the +Episcopal church not many months ago, and cautions Mr. M'Fadden +against the immorality of using profane language, which that +aggrieved individual allows to escape his lips ere he enters the +door. + +The office of our man of fame and fortune is thirty feet long by +twenty wide, and sixteen high. Its walls are brilliantly papered, +and painted with landscape designs; and from the centre of the +ceiling hangs a large chandelier, with ground-glass globes, on which +eagles of liberty are inscribed. Fine black-walnut desks, in chaste +carving, stand along its sides, at which genteelly-dressed clerks +are exhibiting great attention to business. An oil-cloth, with large +flowers painted on its surface, spreads the floor, while an air of +neatness reigns throughout the establishment singularly at variance +with the outer mart, where Mr. Forshou sells his men, women, and +little children. But its walls are hung with badly-executed +engravings, in frames of gilt. Of the distinguished vender's taste a +correct estimation may be drawn when we inform the reader that many +of these engravings represented nude females and celebrated +racehorses. + +"Excuse me, sir! I didn't mean it," Mr. M'Fadden says, in reply to +the gentleman's caution, approaching him as he sits in his elegant +chair, a few feet from the street door, luxuriantly enjoying a +choice regalia. "It's the little point of a very nasty habit that +hangs upon me yet. I does let out the swear once in a while, ye see; +but it's only when I gets a crook in my mind what won't come +straight." Thus M'Fadden introduces himself, surprised to find the +few very consistent oaths he has made use of not compatible with the +man-seller's pious business habits. He will be cautious the next +time; he will not permit such foul breath to escape and wound the +gentleman's very tender feelings. + +Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden addresses him as squire, and with studious +words informs him of the nigger preacher property he sold him having +actually run away! "Ye warranted him, ye know, squire!" he says, +discovering the object of his visit, then drawing a chair, and +seating himself in close proximity. + +"Can't help that-quality we never warrant!" coolly returns the +other, turning politely in his arm-chair, which works in a socket, +and directing a clerk at one of the desks to add six months' +interest to the item of three wenches sold at ten o'clock. + +"Don't talk that ar way, squire! I trades a deal in your line, and a +heap o' times, with you. Now we'll talk over the legal points." + +"Make them short, if you please!" + +"Well! ye warranted the nigger in every particular. There's the +advertisement; and there's no getting over that! Ye must do the +clean thing-no possumin-squire, or there 'll be a long lawsuit what +takes the tin. Honour's the word in our trade." He watches the +changes that are fast coming over the vender's countenance, folds +his arms, places his right foot over his left knee, and awaits a +reply. Interrupting the vender just as he is about to give his +opinion he draws from his pocket a copy of the paper containing +the advertisement, and places it in his hand: "If ye'll be good +enough to squint at it, ye'll see the hang o' my ideas," he says. + +"My friend," returns the vender, curtly, having glanced over the +paper, "save me and yourself any further annoyance. I could have +told you how far the property was warranted, before I read the +paper; and I remember making some very particular remarks when +selling that item in the invoice. A nigger's intelligence is often a +mere item of consideration in the amount he brings under the hammer; +but we never warrant the exercise or extension of it. Po'h, man! we +might just as well attempt to warrant a nigger's stealing, lying, +cunning, and all such 'cheating master' propensities. Some of them +are considered qualities of much value-especially by poor planters. +Warrant nigger property not to run away, eh! Oh! nothing could be +worse in our business." + +"A minute, squire!" interrupts the appealing Mr. M'Fadden, just as +the other is about to add a suspending clause to his remarks. "If +warrantin nigger proper sound in all partiklers is'nt warrantin it +not to run away, I'm no deacon! When a nigger's got run-away in him +he ain't sound property, no way ye can fix it. Ye may turn all the +law and philosophy yer mind to over in yer head, but it won't cum +common sense to me, that ye warrant a nigger's body part, and let +the head part go unwarranted. When ye sells a critter like that, ye +sells all his deviltry; and when ye warrants one ye warrants +t'other; that's the square rule o' my law and philosophy!" + +The vender puffs his weed very coolly the while; and then, calling a +negro servant, orders a chair upon which to comfortably place his +feet. "Are you through, my friend?" he enquires, laconically; and +being answered in the affirmative, proceeds-"I fear your philosophy +is common philosophy-not the philosophy upon which nigger law is +founded. You don't comprehend, my valued friend, that when we insert +that negro property will be warranted, we don't include the thinking +part; and, of course, running away belongs to that!" he would inform +all those curious on such matters. Having given this opinion for the +benefit of M'Fadden, and the rest of mankind interested in slavery, +he rises from his seat, elongates himself into a consequential posi- +tion, and stands biting his lips, and dangling his watch chain with +the fingers of his left hand. + +"Take ye up, there," the other suddenly interrupts, as if he has +drawn the point from his antagonist, and is prepared to sustain the +principle, having brought to his aid new ideas from the deepest +recesses of his logical mind. Grasping the vender firmly by the arm, +he looks him in the face, and reminds him that the runaway part of +niggers belongs to the heels, and not to the head. + +The vender exhibits some discomfiture, and, at the same time, a +decided unwillingness to become a disciple of such philosophy. Nor +is he pleased with the familiarity of his importuning customer, +whose arm he rejects with a repulsive air. + +There has evidently become a very nice and serious question, of +which Mr. M'Fadden is inclined to take a commonsense view. His +opponent, however, will not deviate from the strictest usages of +business. Business mentioned the mental qualities of the property, +but warranted only the physical,--hence the curious perplexity. + +While the point stands thus nicely poised between their logic, +Romescos rushes into the office, and, as if to surprise M'Fadden, +extends his hand, smiling and looking in his face gratefully, as if +the very soul of friendship incited him. "Mighty glad to see ye, old +Buck!" he ejaculates, "feared ye war going to kick out." + +The appalled man stands for a few seconds as unmoved as a statue; +and then, turning with a half-subdued smile, takes the hand of the +other, coldly. + +"Friends again! ain't we, old boy?" breaks forth from Romescos, who +continues shaking his hand, at the same time turning his head and +giving a significant wink to a clerk at one of the desks. "Politics +makes bad friends now and then, but I always thought well of you, +Mack! Now, neighbour, I'll make a bargain with you; we'll live as +good folks ought to after this," Romescos continues, laconically. +His advance is so strange that the other is at a loss to comprehend +its purport. He casts doubting glances at his wily antagonist, seems +considering how to appreciate the quality of such an unexpected +expression of friendship, and is half inclined to demand an earnest +of its sincerity. At the same time, and as the matter now stands, he +would fain give his considerate friend wide space, and remain within +a proper range of etiquette until his eyes behold the substantial. +He draws aside from Romescos, who says tremblingly: "Losing that +preacher, neighbour, was a hard case-warn't it? You wouldn't a' +catched this individual buyin' preachers-know too much about 'em, I +reckon! It's no use frettin, though; the two hundred dollars 'll +bring him. This child wouldn't want a profitabler day's work for his +hound dogs." Romescos winks at the vender, and makes grimaces over +M'Fadden's shoulder, as that gentleman turns and grumbles out,--"He +warranted him in every partikler; and running away is one of a +nigger's partiklers?" + +"My pertinacious friend!" exclaims the vender, turning suddenly +towards his dissatisfied customer, "seeing you are not disposed to +comprehend the necessities of my business, nor to respect my +position, I will have nothing further to say to you upon the +subject-not another word, now!" The dignified gentleman expresses +himself in peremptory tones. It is only the obtuseness of his innate +character becoming unnecessarily excited. + +Romescos interposes a word or two, by way of keeping up the zest; +for so he calls it. Things are getting crooked, according to his +notion of the dispute, but fightin' won't bring back the lost. +"'Spose ye leaves the settlin on't to me? There's nothing like +friendship in trade; and seeing how I am up in such matters, p'raps +I can smooth it down." + +"There's not much friendship about a loss of this kind; and he was +warranted sound in every particular!" returns the invincible man, +shaking his head, and affecting great seriousness of countenance. + +"Stop that harpin, I say!" the vender demands, drawing himself into +a pugnacious attitude; "your insinuations against my honour +aggravate me more and more." + +"Well! just as you say about it," is the cool rejoinder. "But you +'ll have to settle the case afore lawyer Sprouts, you will!" +Stupidly inclined to dog his opinions, the sensitive gentleman, +claiming to be much better versed in the mode of selling human +things, becomes fearfully enraged. M'Fadden contends purely upon +contingencies which may arise in the mental and physical +complications of property in man; and this the gentleman man-seller +cannot bear the reiteration of. + +"Romescos thinks it is at best but a perplexin snarl, requiring +gentlemen to keep very cool. To him they are both honourable men, +who should not quarrel over the very small item of one preacher. +"This warrantin' niggers' heads never amounts to anything,--it's just +like warrantin' their heels; and when one gets bad, isn't t'other +sure to be movin? Them's my sentiments, gratis!" Stepping a few feet +behind M'Fadden, Romescos rubs his hands in great anxiety, makes +curious signs to the clerks at the desk, and charges his mouth with +a fresh cut of tobacco. + +"Nobody bespoke your opinion," says the disconsolate M'Fadden, +turning quickly, in consequence of a sign he detected one of the +clerks making, and catching Romescos bestowing a grimace of no very +complimentary character, "Your presence and your opinion are, in my +estimation, things that may easily be dispensed with." + +"I say!" interrupts Romescos, his right hand in a threatening +attitude, "not quite so fast"-he drawls his words-"a gentleman don't +stand an insult o' that sort. Just draw them ar' words back, like a +yard of tape, or this individual 'll do a small amount of bruising +on that ar' profile, (he draws his hand backward and forward across +M'Fadden's face). 'Twon't do to go to church on Sundays with a +broken phiz?" His face reddens with anger, as he works his head into +a daring attitude, grates his teeth, again draws his fist across +M'Fadden's face; and at length rubs his nasal organ. + +"I understand you too well!" replies M'Fadden, with a curt twist of +his head. "A man of your cloth can't insult a gentleman like me; +you're lawless!" He moves towards the door, stepping sideways, +watching Romescos over his left shoulder. + +"I say!-Romescos takes his man by the arm-Come back here, and make a +gentleman's apology!" He lets go M'Fadden's arm and seizes him by +the collar violently, his face in a blaze of excitement. + +"Nigger killer!" ejaculates M'Fadden, "let go there!" He gives his +angry antagonist a determined look, as he, for a moment, looses his +hold. He pauses, as if contemplating his next move. + +The very amiable and gentlemanly man-vender thinks it time he +interposed for the purpose of reconciling matters. "Gentlemen! +gentlemen! respect me, if you do not respect yourselves. My office +is no place for such disgraceful broils as these; you must go +elsewhere." The modest gentleman, whose very distinguished family +connexions have done much to promote his interests, would have it +particularly understood that his office is an important place, used +only for the very distinguished business of selling men, women, and +little children. But Romescos is not so easily satisfied. He pushes +the amiable gentleman aside, calls Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden a tyrant +what kills niggers by the detestably mean process of starving them +to death. "A pretty feller he is to talk about nigger killin! And +just think what our state has come to when such fellers as him can +make votes for the next election!" says Romescos, addressing himself +to the vender. "The Irish influence is fast destroying the political +morality of the country." + +Turning to Mr. M'Fadden, who seems preparing for a display of his +combativeness, he adds, "Ye see, Mack, ye will lie, and lie crooked +too! and ye will steal, and steal dishonourably; and I can lick a +dozen on ye quicker nor chain lightnin? I can send the hol batch on +ye-rubbish as it is-to take supper t'other side of sundown." To be +equal with his adversary, Romescos is evidently preparing himself +for the reception of something more than words. Twice or thrice he +is seen to pass his right hand into the left breast pocket of his +sack, where commonly his shining steel is secreted. In another +moment he turns suddenly towards the vender, pushes him aside with +his left hand, and brings his right in close proximity with Mr. +M'Fadden's left listener. That individual exhibits signs of renewed +courage, to which he adds the significant warning: "Not quite so +close, if you please!" + +"As close as I sees fit!" returns the other, with a sardonic grin. +"Why don't you resent it?-a gentleman would!" + +Following the word, Mr. M'Fadden makes a pass at his antagonist, +which, he says, is only with the intention of keeping him at a +respectful distance. Scarcely has his arm passed when Romescos cries +out, "There! he has struck me! He has struck me again!" and deals +M'Fadden a blow with his clenched fist that fells him lumbering to +the floor. Simultaneously Romescos falls upon his prostrate victim, +and a desperate struggle ensues. + +The vender, whose sacred premises are thus disgraced, runs out to +call the police, while the clerks make an ineffectual attempt to +separate the combatants. Not a policeman is to be found. At night +they may be seen swarming the city, guarding the fears of a white +populace ever sensitive of black rebellion. + +Like an infuriated tiger, Romescos, nimble as a catamount, is fast +destroying every vestige of outline in his antagonist's face, +drenching it with blood, and adding ghastliness by the strangulation +he is endeavouring to effect. + +"Try-try-trying to-kill-me-eh? You-you mad brute!" gutters out the +struggling man, his eyes starting from the sockets like balls of +fire, while gore and saliva foam from his mouth and nostrils as if +his struggles are in death. + +"Kill ye-kill ye?" Romescos rejoins, the shaggy red hair falling in +tufts about his face, now burning with desperation: "it would be +killin' only a wretch whose death society calls for." + +At this, the struggling man, like one borne to energy by the last +throes of despair, gives a desperate spring, succeeds in turning his +antagonist, grasps him by the throat with his left hand, and from +his pocket fires a pistol with his right. The report alarms; the +shrill whistle calls to the rescue; but the ball has only taken +effect in the flesh of Romescos's right arm. Quick to the moment, +his arm dripping with gore from the wound, he draws his glittering +dirk, and plunges it, with unerring aim, into the breast of his +antagonist. The wounded man starts convulsively, as the other coolly +draws back the weapon, the blood gushing forth in a livid stream. +"Is not that in self-defence?" exclaims the bloody votary, turning +his haggard and enraged face to receive the approval of the +bystanders. The dying man, writhing under the grasp of his murderer, +utters a piercing shriek. "Murdered! I'm dying! Oh, heaven! is this +my last-last-last? Forgive me, Lord,--forgive me!" he gurgles; and +making another convulsive effort, wrings his body from under the +perpetrator of the foul deed. How tenacious of life is the dying +man! He grasps the leg of a desk, raises himself to his feet, and, +as if goaded with the thoughts of hell, in his last struggles +staggers to the door,--discharges a second shot, vaults, as it were, +into the street, and falls prostrate upon the pavement, surrounded +by a crowd of eager lookers-on. He is dead! The career of Mr. +M'Fadden is ended; his spirit is summoned for trial before a just +God. + +The murderer (perhaps we abuse the word, and should apply the more +southern, term of renconterist), sits in a chair, calling for water, +as a few among the crowd prepare to carry the dead body into +Graspum's slave-pen, a few squares below. + +Southern sensibility may call these scenes by whatever name it will; +we have no desire to change the appropriateness, nor to lessen the +moral tenor of southern society. It nurtures a frail democracy, and +from its bastard offspring we have a tyrant dying by the hand of a +tyrant, and the spoils of tyranny serving the good growth of the +Christian church. Money constructs opinions, pious as well as +political, and even changes the feelings of good men, who invoke +heaven's aid against the bondage of the souls of men. + +Romescos will not flee to escape the terrible award of earthly +justice. Nay, that, in our atmosphere of probity, would be +dishonourable; nor would it aid the purpose he seeks to gain. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +A COMMON INCIDENT SHORTLY TOLD. + + + + + +THE dead body of Mr. Lawrence M'Fadden, whose heart was strong with +love of southern democracy, lies upon two pine-boards, ghastly and +unshrouded, in a wretched slave-pen. Romescos, surrounded by +admiring friends, has found his way to the gaol, where, as is the +custom, he has delivered himself up to its keeper. He has spent a +good night in that ancient establishment, and on the following +morning finds his friends vastly increased. They have viewed him as +rather desperate now and then; but, knowing he is brave withal, have +"come to the rescue" on the present occasion. These frequent visits +he receives with wonderful coolness and deference, their meats and +drinks (so amply furnished to make his stay comfortable) being a +great Godsend to the gaoler, who, while they last, will spread a +princely table. + +Brien Moon, Esq.-better known as the good-natured coroner-has placed +a negro watchman over the body of the deceased, on which he proposes +to hold one of those curious ceremonies called inquests. Brien Moon, +Esq. is particularly fond of the ludicrous, is ever ready to +appreciate a good joke, and well known for his happy mode of +disposing of dead dogs and cats, which, with anonymous letters, are +in great numbers entrusted to his care by certain waggish gentlemen, +who desire he will "hold an inquest over the deceased, and not +forget the fees." It is said-the aristocracy, however, look upon the +charge with contempt-that Brien Moon, Esq. makes a small per centage +by selling those canine remains to the governor of the workhouse, +which very humane gentleman pays from his own pocket the means of +transferring them into giblet-pies for the inmates. It may be all +scandal about Mr. Moon making so large an amount from his office; +but it is nevertheless true that sad disclosures have of late been +made concerning the internal affairs of the workhouse. + +The hour of twelve has arrived; and since eight in the morning Mr. +Moon's time has been consumed in preliminaries necessary to the +organisation of a coroner's jury. The reader we know will excuse our +not entering into the minuti of the organisation. Eleven jurors +have answered the summons, but a twelfth seems difficult to procure. +John, the good Coroner's negro servant, has provided a sufficiency +of brandy and cigars, which, since the hour of eleven, have been +discussed without stint. The only objection our worthy disposer of +the dead has to this is, that some of his jurors, becoming very +mellow, may turn the inquest into a farce, with himself playing the +low-comedy part. The dead body, which lies covered with a sheet, is +fast becoming enveloped in smoke, while no one seems to have a +passing thought for it. Colonel Tom Edon,--who, they say, is not +colonel of any regiment, but has merely received the title from the +known fact of his being a hogdriver, which honourable profession is +distinguished by its colonels proceeding to market mounted, while +the captains walk,--merely wonders how much bad whiskey the dead 'un +consumed while he lived. + +"This won't do!" exclaims Brien Moon, Esq., and proceeds to the door +in the hope of catching something to make his mournful number +complete. He happens upon Mr. Jonas Academy, an honest cracker, from +Christ's parish, who visits the city on a little business. Jonas is +a person of great originality, is enclosed in loosely-setting +homespun, has a woe-begone countenance, and wears a large-brimmed +felt hat. He is just the person to make the number complete, and is +led in, unconscious of the object for which he finds himself a +captive. Mr. Brien Moon now becomes wondrous grave, mounts a barrel +at the head of the corpse, orders the negro to uncover the body, and +hopes gentlemen will take seats on the benches he has provided for +them, while he proceeds to administer the oath. Three or four yet +retain their cigars: he hopes gentlemen will suspend their smoking +during the inquest. Suddenly it is found that seven out of the +twelve can neither read nor write; and Mr. Jonas Academy makes known +the sad fact that he does not comprehend the nature of an oath, +never having taken such an article in his life. Five of the +gentlemen, who can read and write, are from New England; while Mr. +Jonas Academy declares poor folks in Christ's parish are not fools, +troubled with reading and writing knowledge. He has been told they +have a thing called a college at Columbia; but only haristocrats get +any good of it. In answer to a question from Mr. Moon, he is happy +to state that their parish is not pestered with a schoolmaster. +"Yes, they killed the one we had more nor two years ago, thank Good! +Han't bin trubl'd with one o' the critters since" he adds, with +unmoved nerves. The Coroner suggests that in a matter of expediency +like the present it may be well to explain the nature of an oath; +and, seeing that a man may not read and write, and yet comprehend +its sacredness, perhaps it would be as well to forego the letter of +the law. "Six used to do for this sort of a jury, but now law must +have twelve," says Mr. Moon. Numerous voices assent to this, and Mr. +Moon commences what he calls "an halucidation of the nature of an +oath." The jurors receive this with great satisfaction, take the +oath according to his directions, and after listening to the +statement of two competent witnesses, who know but very little about +the affair, are ready to render a verdict,--"that M'Fadden, the +deceased, came to his death by a stab in the left breast, inflicted +by a sharp instrument in the hand or hands of Anthony Romescos, +during an affray commonly called a rencontre, regarding which there +are many extenuating circumstances." To this verdict Mr. Moon +forthwith bows assent, directs the removal of the body, and invites +the gentlemen jurors to join him in another drink, which he does in +compliment to their distinguished services. The dead body will be +removed to the receiving vault, and Mr. Moon dismisses his jurors +with many bows and thanks; and nothing more. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE CHILDREN ARE IMPROVING. + + + + + +THREE years have rolled round, and wrought great changes in the +aspect of affairs. M'Fadden was buried on his plantation, Romescos +was bailed by Graspum, and took his trial at the sessions for +manslaughter. It was scarcely worth while to trouble a respectable +jury with the paltry case-and then, they were so frequent! We need +scarcely tell the reader that he was honourably acquitted, and borne +from the court amid great rejoicing. His crime was only that of +murder in self-defence; and, as two tyrants had met, the successful +had the advantage of public opinion, which in the slave world soars +high above law. Romescos being again on the world, making his +cleverness known, we must beg the reader's indulgence, and request +him to accompany us while we return to the children. + +Annette and Nicholas are, and have been since the sale, the property +of Graspum. They develope in size and beauty-two qualities very +essential in the man-market of our democratic world, the South. +Those beautiful features, intelligence, and reserve, are much +admired as merchandise; for southern souls are not lifted above this +grade of estimating coloured worth. Annette's cherub face, soft blue +eyes, clear complexion, and light auburn hair, add to the sweetness +of a countenance that education and care might make brilliant; and +yet, though reared on Marston's plantation, with unrestricted +indulgence, her childish heart seems an outpouring of native +goodness. She speaks of her mother with the affection of one of +maturer years; she grieves for her return, wonders why she is left +alone, remembers how kind that mother spoke to her when she said +good by, at the cell door. How sweet is the remembrance of a mother! +how it lingers, sparkling as a dewdrop, in a child's memory. Annette +feels the affliction, but is too young to divine the cause thereof. +She recalls the many happy plantation scenes; they are bright to her +yet! She prattles about Daddy Bob, Harry, Aunt Rachel, and old Sue, +now and then adding a solicitous question about Marston. But she +does not realise that he is her father; no, it was not her lot to +bestow a daughter's affection upon him, and she is yet too young to +comprehend the poison of slave power. Her childlike simplicity +affords a touching contrast to that melancholy injustice by which a +fair creature with hopes and virtues after God's moulding, pure and +holy, is made mere merchandise for the slave-market. + +Annette has learned to look upon Nicholas as a brother; but, like +herself, he is kept from those of his own colour by some, to him, +unintelligible agency. Strange reflections flit through her youthful +imagination, as she embraces him with a sister's fondness. How oft +she lays her little head upon his shoulder, encircles his neck with +her fair arm, and braids his raven hair with her tiny fingers! She +little thinks how fatal are those charms she bears bloomingly into +womanhood. + +But, if they alike increase in beauty as they increase in age, their +dispositions are as unlike as two opposites can be moulded. Nicholas +has inherited that petulant will, unbending determination, and +lurking love of avenging wrong, so peculiar to the Indian race. To +restlessness he adds distrust of those around him; and when +displeased, is not easily reconciled. He is, however, tractable, and +early evinced an aptitude for mechanical pursuits that would have +done credit to maturer years. Both have been at service, and during +the period have created no small degree of admiration-Annette for +her promising personal appearance, Nicholas for his precocious +display of talent. Both have earned their living; and now Nicholas +is arrived at an age when his genius attracts purchasers. + +Conspicuous among those who have been keeping an eye on the little +fellow, is Mr. Jonathan Grabguy, a master-builder, largely engaged +in rearing dwellings. His father was a builder, and his mother used +to help the workmen to make Venetian blinds. Fortune showered her +smiles upon their energies, and brought them negro property in great +abundance. Of this property they made much; the father of the +present Mr. Grabguy (who became a distinguished mayor of the city) +viewing it peculiarly profitable to use up his niggers in five +years. To this end he forced them to incessant toil, belabouring +them with a weapon of raw hide, to which he gave the singular +cognomen of "hell-fire." When extra punishment was-according to his +policy-necessary to bring out the "digs," he would lock them up in +his cage (a sort of grated sentry-box, large enough to retain the +body in an upright position), and when the duration of this +punishment was satisfactory to his feelings, he would administer a +counter quantity of stings with his "hell-fire" wattle. Indeed, the +elder Mr. Grabguy, who afterwards became "His Worship the Mayor," +was a wonderful disciplinarian, which very valuable traits of +character his son retains in all their purity. His acts deserve more +specific notice than we are at present able to give them, inasmuch +as by them the safety of a state is frequently endangered, as we +shall show in the climax. + +Our present Mr. Grabguy is a small man, somewhat slender of person, +about five feet seven inches high, who usually dresses in the +habiliments of a working man, and is remarkable for his quickness. +His features are dark and undefinable, marked with that +thoughtfulness which applies only to the getting of wordly goods. +His face is narrow and careworn, with piercing brown eyes, high +cheek bones, projecting nose and chin, low forehead, and greyish +hair, which he parts in the centre. These form the strongest index +to his stubborn character; nevertheless he hopes, ere long, to reach +the same distinguished position held by his venerable father, who, +peace to his ashes! is dead. + +"Now, good neighbour Graspum," says our Mr. Grabguy, as he stands in +Graspum's warehouse examining a few prime fellows, "I've got a small +amount to invest in stock, but I wants somethin' choice-say two or +three prime uns, handy at tools. I wants somethin' what 'll make +mechanics. Then I wants to buy," he continues, deliberately, "a few +smart young uns, what have heads with somethin' in 'um, that ye can +bring up to larn things. White mechanics, you see, are so +independent now-a-days, that you can't keep 'um under as you can +niggers. + +"I've bin thinkin' 'bout tryin' an experiment with nigger prentices; +and, if it goes, we can dispense with white mechanics entirely. My +word for it, they're only a great nuisance at best. When you put 'um +to work with niggers they don't feel right, and they have notions +that our society don't respect 'um because they must mix with the +black rascals in following their trades; and this works its way into +their feelings so, that the best on 'um from the north soon give +themselves up to the worst dissipation. Ah! our white mechanics are +poor wretches; there isn't twenty in the city you can depend on to +keep sober two days." + +"Well, sir," interrupts Graspum, with an air of great importance, +as, with serious countenance, he stands watching every change in Mr. +Grabguy's face, at intervals taking a cursory survey of his +merchandise, "can suit you to most anything in the line. You +understand my mode of trade, perfectly?" He touches Mr. Grabguy on +the arm, significantly, and waits the reply, which that gentleman +makes with a bow. "Well, if you do," he continues, "you know the +means and markets I have at my command. Can sell you young uns of +any age, prime uns of various qualities-from field hands down to +watch-makers, clergymen!" He always keeps a good supply on hand, and +has the very best means of supply. So Mr. Grabguy makes a purchase +of three prime men, whom he intends to transform into first-rate +mechanics. He declares he will not be troubled hereafter with those +very miserable white workmen he is constrained to import from the +north. They are foolish enough to think they are just as good as any +body, and can be gentlemen in their profession. They, poor fools! +mistake the south in their love of happy New England and its +society, as they call it. + +Having completed his bargain, he hesitates, as if there is something +more he would like to have. "Graspum!" he says, "What for trade? can +we strike for that imp o' yours at Mrs. Tuttlewill's?" Without +waiting for Graspum's reply, he adds-"That chap 's goin to make a +tall bit of property one of these days!" + +"Ought to," rejoins Graspum, stoically; "he's got right good stock +in him." The man of business gives his head a knowing shake, and +takes a fresh quid of tobacco. "Give that 'sprout' a chance in the +world, and he'll show his hand!" he adds. + +"That's what I wants," intimates our tradesman. He has had his eye +on the fellow, and knows he's got a head what 'll make the very best +kind of a workman. But it will be necessary to take the stubborn out +without injuring the "larning" part. Mr. Grabguy, with great +unconcern, merely suggests these trifling matters for the better +regulating of Mr. Graspum's price. + +"Can do that easy enough, if you only study the difference between a +nigger's hide and head. Can put welts on pretty strong, if you +understand the difference a'tween the too," intimates our man of +business, as he places his thumbs in his vest, and commences humming +a tune. Then he stops suddenly, and working his face into a very +learned contortion, continues-"Ye see, Grabguy, a man has to study +the human natur of a nigger just the same as he would a mule or a +machine. In truth, Grabguy, niggers are more like mules nor anything +else, 'cause the brute 'll do everything but what ye wants him to +do, afore he's subdued. You must break them when they are young. +About ten or a dozen welts, sir, well laid on when ye first begin, +and every time he don't toe the mark, will, in the course of a year, +make him as submissive as a spaniel-it will! The virtue of +submission is in the lash, it supples like seeds." + +"About the stock, Graspum: I don't quite agree with you about +that,--I never believed in blood, ye know. As far as this imp goes, I +have my doubts about the blood doin on him much good; seein' how it +kind o' comes across my mind that there's some Ingin in him. Now, if +my philosophy serves me right, Ingin blood makes slave property want +to run away (the speaker spreads himself with great nonchalance), +the very worst fault." + +"Poh! poh!-isn't a bit o' that about him. That imp 's from Marston's +estate, can't scare up nothin so promisin' in the way of likely +colour," Graspum interposes, with great assurance of manner. "You +didn't see the gal-did you?" he concludes. + +"I reckon I've taken a squint at both on 'em! Pretty fine and +likely. From the same bankrupt concern, I s'pose?" Mr. Grabguy looks +quite serious, and waits for a reply. + +"Yes-nothing less," Graspum replies, measuredly. "But won't it make +your eye water, neighbour Grabguy, one of these days! Bring a tall +price among some of our young bucks, eh!" He gives neighbour Grabguy +a significant touch on the arm, and that gentleman turns his head +and smiles. How quaintly modest! + +"By the by, talking of Marston, what has become of him? His affairs +seem to have died out in the general levity which the number of such +cases occasion. But I tell you what it is, Graspum," (he whispers, +accompanying the word with an insinuating look), "report implicates +you in that affair." + +"Me?-Me?-Me, Sir? God bless you! why, you really startle me. My +honour is above the world's scandal. Ah! if you only knew what I've +done for that man, Marston;--that cussed nephew of his came within a +feather of effecting my ruin. And there he lies, stubborn as a door- +plate, sweating out his obstinacy in gaol. Lord bless your soul, I'm +not to blame, you know!-I have done a world of things for him; but +he won't be advised." + +"His creditors think he has more money, and money being the upshot +of all his troubles, interposes the point of difficulty in the +present instance. I tell them he has no more money, but--I know not +why--they doubt the fact the more, and refuse to release him, on the +ground of my purchasing their claims at some ulterior period, as I +did those two fi fas when the right of freedom was being contested +in the children. But, you see, Grabguy, I'm a man of standing; and +no money would tempt me to have anything to do with another such +case. It was by a mere quirk of law, and the friendship of so many +eminent lawyers, that I secured that fifteen hundred dollars from +M'Carstrow for the gal what disappeared so mysteriously." + +"Graspum!" interrupts Mr. Grabguy, suddenly, accompanying his remark +with a laugh, "you're a good bit of a lawyer when it comes to the +cross-grained. You tell it all on one side, as lawyers do. I know +the risk you run in buying the fi fas on which those children were +attached!" Mr. Grabguy smiles, doubtingly, and shakes his head. + +"There are liabilities in everything," Graspum drawls out, +measuredly. "Pardon me, my friend, you never should found opinion on +suspicion. More than a dozen times have I solicited Marston to file +his schedule, and take the benefit of the act. However, with all my +advice and kindness to him, he will not move a finger towards his +own release. Like all our high-minded Southerners, he is ready to +maintain a sort of compound between dignity and distress, with which +he will gratify his feelings. It's all pride, sir-pride!-you may +depend upon it." (Graspum lays his hands together, and affects +wondrous charity). "I pity such men from the very bottom of my +heart, because it always makes me feel bad when I think what they +have been. Creditors, sir, are very unrelenting; and seldom think +that an honourable man would suffer the miseries of a prison rather +than undergo the pain of being arraigned before an open court, for +the exposition of his poverty. Sensitiveness often founds the charge +of wrong. The thing is much misunderstood; I know it, sir! Yes, sir! +My own feelings make me the best judge," continues Graspum, with a +most serious countenance. He feels he is a man of wonderful parts, +much abused by public opinion, and, though always trying to promote +public good, never credited for his many kind acts. + +Turning his head aside to relieve himself of a smile, Mr. Grabguy +admits that he is quite an abused man; and, setting aside small +matters, thinks it well to be guided by the good motto:--'retire +from business with plenty of money.' It may not subdue tongues, but +it will soften whispers. "Money," Mr. Grabguy intimates, "upon the +strength of his venerable father's experience, is a curious medium +of overcoming the ditchwork of society. In fact," he assures Graspum, +"that with plenty of shiners you may be just such a man as you +please; everybody will forget that you ever bought or sold a nigger, +and ten chances to one if you do not find yourself sloped off into +Congress, before you have had time to study the process of getting +there. But, enough of this, Graspum;--let us turn to trade matters. +What's the lowest shot ye'll take for that mellow mixture of Ingin +and aristocracy. Send up and bring him down: let us hear the lowest +dodge you'll let him slide at." + +Mr. Grabguy evinces an off-handedness in trade that is quite equal +to Graspum's keen tact. But Graspum has the faculty of preserving a +disinterested appearance singularly at variance with his object. + +A messenger is despatched, receipt in hand, for the boy Nicholas. +Mrs. Tuttlewell, a brusque body of some sixty years, and with +thirteen in a family, having had three husbands (all gentlemen of +the highest standing, and connected with first families), keeps a +stylish boarding-house, exclusively for the aristocracy, common +people not being competent to her style of living; and as nobody +could ever say one word against the Tuttlewell family, the present +head of the Tuttlewell house has become very fashionably +distinguished. The messenger's arrival is made known to Mrs. +Tuttlewell, who must duly consider the nature of the immediate +demand. She had reason to expect the services of the children would +have been at her command for some years to come. However, she must +make the very best of it; they are Graspum's property, and he can do +what he pleases with them. She suggests, with great politeness, that +the messenger take a seat in the lower veranda. Her house is located +in a most fashionable street, and none knew better than good lady +Tuttlewell herself the value of living up to a fashionable nicety; +for, where slavery exists, it is a trade to live. + +Both children have been "waiting on table," and, on hearing the +summons, repair to their cabin in the yard. Mrs. Tuttlewell, +reconsidering her former decision, thinks the messenger better +follow them, seeing that he is a nigger with kindly looks. "Uncle!" +says Annette, looking up at the old Negro, as he joins them: "Don't +you want me too?" + +"No," returns the man, coolly shaking his head. + +"I think they must be going to take us back to the old plantation, +where Daddy Bob used to sing so. Then I shall see mother-how I do +want to see her!" she exclaims, her little heart bounding with +ecstasy. Three years or more have passed since she prattled on her +mother's knee. + +The negro recognizes the child's simplicity. "I on'e wants dat +child; but da'h an't gwine t' lef ye out on da plantation, nohow!" +he says. + +"Not going to take us home!" she says, with a sigh. Nicholas moodily +submits himself to be prepared, as Annette, more vivacious, keeps +interposing with various enquiries. She would like to know where +they are going to take little Nicholas; and when they will let her +go and see Daddy Bob and mother? "Now, you can take me; I know you +can!" she says, looking up at the messenger, and taking his hand +pertly. + +"No-can't, little 'un! Mus' lef' 'um fo'h nuder time. You isn't +broder and sister-is ye?" + +"No!" quickly replies the little girl, swinging his hand playfully; +"but I want to go where he goes; I want to see mother when he does." + +"Well, den, little 'un (the negro sees he cannot overcome the +child's simplicity by any other means), dis child will come fo'h 'um +to-morrow-dat I will!" + +"And you'll bring Nicholas back-won't you?" she enquires, grasping +the messenger more firmly by the hand. + +"Sartin! no mistake 'bout dat, little 'uman." At this she takes +Nicholas by the hand, and retires to their little room in the cabin. +Here, like one of older years, she washes him, and dresses him, and +fusses over him. + +He is merely a child for sale; so she combs his little locks, puts +on his new osnaburgs, arranges his nice white collar about his neck, +and makes him look so prim. And then she ties a piece of black +ribbon about his neck, giving him the bright appearance of a +school-boy on examination-day. The little girl's feelings seem as +much elated as would be a mother's at the prospect of her child +gaining a medal of distinction. + +"Now, Nicholas!" she whispers, with touching simplicity, as she +views him from head to foot with a smile of exultation on her face, +"your mother never dressed you so neat. But I like you more and +more, Nicholas, because both our mothers are gone; and maybe we +shall never see 'um again." And she kisses him fondly,--tells him not +to stay long,--to tell her all he has seen and heard about mother, +when he returns. + +"I don't know, 'Nette, but 'pears to me we ain't like other +children-they don't have to be sold so often; and I don't seem to +have any father." + +"Neither do I; but Mrs. Tuttlewell says I mustn't mind that, because +there's thousands just like us. And then she says we ain't the same +kind o' white folks that she is; she says we are white, but niggers +for all that. I don't know how it is! I'm not like black folks, +because I'm just as white as any white folks," she rejoins, placing +her little arms round his neck and smoothing his hair with her left +hand. + +"I'll grow up, one o' these days." + +"And so will I," she speaks, boldly. + +"And I'm goin' to know where my mother's gone, and why I ain't as +good as other folks' white children," he rejoins sullenly, shaking +his head, and muttering away to himself. It is quite evident that +the many singular stages through which he is passing, serve only to +increase the stubborness of his nature. The only black +distinguishable in his features are his eyes and hair; and, as he +looks in the glass to confirm what he has said, Annette takes him by +the hand, tells him he must not mind, now; that if he is good he +shall see Franconia,--and mother, too, one of these days. He must not +be pettish, she remarks, holding him by the hand like a sister whose +heart glows with hope for a brother's welfare. She gives him in +charge of the messenger, saying, "Good by!" as she imprints a kiss +on his cheek, its olive hues changing into deep crimson. + +The negro answers her adieu with "Good by, little dear! God bless +'um!" Nay, the native goodness of his heart will not permit him to +leave her thus. He turns round, takes her in his arms, kisses and +kisses her fair cheek. It is the truth of an honest soul, expressed +with tears glistening in his eyes. Again taking Nicholas by the +hand, he hastens through the passage of Mrs. Tuttlewell's house +where, on emerging into the street, he is accosted by that very +fashionable lady, who desires to know if he has got the boy "all +right!" Being answered in the affirmative, she gives a very +dignified-"Glad of it," and desires her compliments to Mr. Graspum, +who she hopes will extend the same special regards to his family, +and retires to the quietude of her richly-furnished parlour. + +The gentleman dealer and his customer are waiting in the man +shambles, while the negro messenger with his boy article of trade +plod their way along through the busy streets. The negro looks on +his charge with a smile of congratulation. "Mas'r 'll laugh all over +'e clothes when he sees ye-dat he will!" he says, with an air of +exultation. + +"I'd like to know where I'm goin' to afore I go much further," +returns the boy, curtly, as he walks along, every few minutes asking +unanswerable questions of the negro. + +"Lor, child!" returns the negro, with a significant smile, "take ye +down to old massa what own 'um! Fo'h true!" + +"Own me!" mutters the child, surlily. "How can they own me without +owning my mother?--and I've no father." + +"White man great 'losipher; he know so much, dat nigger don't know +nofin," is the singularly significant answer. + +"But God didn't make me for a nigger,--did he?" + +"Don' know how dat is, child. 'Pears like old mas'r tink da' ain't +no God; and what he sees in yander good book lef 'um do just as 'e +mind to wid nigger. Sometimes Buckra sell nigger by de pound, just +like 'e sell pig; and den 'e say 't was wid de Lord's will." + +"If mas'r Lord be what Buckra say he be, dis child don' want t'be +'quainted wid 'um," he coolly dilates, as if he foresees the +mournful result of the child's bright endowments. + +The negro tries to quiet the child's apprehensions by telling him he +thinks "Buckra, what's waiting down in da'h office, gwine t' buy 'um +of old mas'r. Know dat Buckra he sharp feller. Get e' eye on ye, and +make up 'e mind what 'e gwine to give fo'h 'um, quicker!" says the +negro. + +Graspum has invited his customer, Mr. Grabguy, into his more +comfortable counting-room, where, as Nicholas is led in, they may be +found discussing the rights of the south, as guaranteed by the +federal constitution. The south claim rights independent of the +north; and those rights are to secede from the wrongs of the north +whenever she takes into her head the very simple notion of carrying +them out. Graspum, a man of great experience, whose keen sense of +justice is made keener by his sense of practical injustice,--thinks +the democracy of the south was never fully understood, and that the +most sure way of developing its great principles is by hanging every +northerner, whose abolition mania is fast absorbing the liberties of +the country at large. + +"That's the feller!" says Mr. Grabguy, as the negro leads Nicholas +into his presence, and orders him to keep his hands down while the +gentleman looks at him. "Stubborn sticks out some, though, I +reckon," Mr. Grabguy adds, rather enthusiastically. "Absalom! Isaac! +Joe! eh? what's your name?" + +"He's a trump!" interposes Graspum, rubbing his hands together, and +giving his head a significant shake. + +"Nicholas, they call me, master," answers the boy, pettishly. + +Mr. Grabguy takes him by the arms, feels his muscle with great care +and caution, tries the elasticity of his body by lifting him from +the floor by his two ears. This is too much, which the child +announces with loud screams. "Stuff! out and out," says Mr. Grabguy, +patting him on the back, in a kind sort of way. At the same time he +gives a look of satisfaction at Graspum. + +"Everything a man wants, in that yaller skin," returns that +methodical tradesman, with a gracious nod. + +"Black lightnin' eyes-long wiry black hair, a skin full of Ingin +devil, and a face full of stubborn," Mr. Grabguy discourses, as he +contemplates the article before him. + +"Well, now, about the lowest figure for him?" he continues, again +looking at Graspum, and waiting his reply. That gentleman, drawing +his right hand across his mouth, relieves it of the virtueless +deposit, and supplies it with a fresh quid. + +"Sit down, neighbour Grabguy," he says, placing a chair beside him. +They both sit down; the negro attendant stands a few feet behind +them: the boy may walk a line backward and forward. "Say the word! +You know I'll have a deal o' trouble afore breaking the feller in," +Grabguy exclaims, impatiently. + +Graspum is invoking his philosophy. He will gauge the point of value +according to the coming prospect and Mr. Grabguy's wants. "Well, +now, seeing it's you, and taking the large amount of negro property +I have sold to your distinguished father into consideration-I hope +to sell forty thousand niggers yet, before I die-he should bring six +hundred." Graspum lays his left hand modestly on Mr. Grabguy's right +arm, as that gentleman rather starts with surprise. "Take the +extraordinary qualities into consideration, my friend; he's got a +head what's worth two hundred dollars more nor a common nigger,--that +is, if you be going to turn it into knowledge profit. But that +wasn't just what I was going to say" (Graspum becomes profound, as +he spreads himself back in his chair). "I was going to say, I'd let +you-you mustn't whisper it, though-have him for five hundred and +twenty; and he's as cheap at that as bull-dogs at five dollars." + +Grabguy shakes his head: he thinks the price rather beyond his mark. +He, however, has no objection to chalking on the figure; and as both +are good democrats, they will split the difference. + +Graspum, smiling, touches his customer significantly with his elbow. +"I never do business after that model," he says. "Speaking of +bull-dogs, why, Lord bless your soul, Sam Beals and me traded +t'other day: I gin him a young five-year old nigger for his hound, +and two hundred dollars to boot. Can't go five hundred and twenty +for that imp, nohow! Could o' got a prime nigger for that, two years +ago." + +"Wouldn't lower a fraction! He's extraordinary prime, and'll +increase fifty dollars a year every year for ten years or more." + +Mr. Grabguy can't help that: he is merely in search of an article +capable of being turned into a mechanic, or professional +man,--anything to suit the exigencies of a free country, in which +such things are sold. And as it will require much time to get the +article to a point where it'll be sure to turn the pennies back, +perhaps he'd as well let it alone: so he turns the matter over in +his head. And yet, there is a certain something about the "young +imp" that really fascinates him; his keen eye, and deep sense of +nigger natur' value, detect the wonderful promise the article holds +forth. + +"Not one cent lower would I take for that chap. In fact, I almost +feel like recanting now," says Graspum, by way of breaking the +monotony. + +"Well, I'll bid you good day," says the other, in return, affecting +preparation to leave. He puts out his hand to Graspum, and with a +serious look desires to know if that be the lowest figure. + +"Fact! Don't care 'bout selling at that. Couldn't have a better +investment than to keep him!" + +Mr. Grabguy considers and reconsiders the matter over in his mind; +paces up and down the floor several times, commences humming a tune, +steps to the door, looks up and down the street, and says, "Well, +I'll be moving homeward, I will." + +"Like yer custom, that I do; but then, knowing what I can do with +the fellow, I feels stiff about letting him go," interposes Graspum, +with great indifference, following to the door, with hands extended. + +This is rather too insinuating for Mr. Grabguy. Never did piece of +property loom up so brightly, so physically and intellectually +valuable. He will return to the table. Taking his seat again, he +draws forth a piece of paper, and with his pencil commences figuring +upon it. He wants to get at the cost of free and slave labour, and +the relative advantages of the one over the other. After a deal of +multiplying and subtracting, he gives it up in despair. The fine +proportions of the youth before him distract his very brain with +contemplation. He won't bother another minute; figures are only +confusions: so far as using them to compute the relative value of +free and slave labour, they are enough to make one's head ache. +"Would ye like to go with me, boy? Give ye enough to eat, but make +ye toe the mark!" He looks at Nicholas, and waits a reply. + +"Don't matter!" is the boy's answer. "Seems as if nobody cared for +me; and so I don't care for nobody." + +"That's enough," he interrupts, turning to Graspum: "there's a +showing of grit in that, eh?" + +"Soon take it out," rejoins that methodical gentleman. "Anyhow, I've +a mind to try the fellow, Graspum. I feel the risk I run; but I +don't mind-it's neck or nothin here in the south! Ye'll take a long +note, s'pose? Good, ye know!" + +Graspum motions his head and works his lips, half affirmatively. + +"Good as old gold, ye knows that," insinuates Mr. Grabguy. + +"Yes, but notes aint cash; and our banks are shut down as tight as +steel traps. At all events make it bankable, and add the interest +for six months. It's against my rules of business, though," returns +Graspum, with great financial emphasis. + +After considerably more very nice exhibitions of business tact, it +is agreed that Mr. Grabguy takes the "imp" at five hundred and +twenty dollars, for which Graspum accepts his note at six months, +with interest. Mr. Grabguy's paper is good, and Graspum considers it +equal to cash, less the interest. The "imp" is now left in charge of +the negro, while the two gentlemen retire to the private +counting-room, where they will settle the preliminaries. + +A grave-looking gentleman at a large desk is ordered to make the +entry of sale; as the initiate of which he takes a ponderous ledger +from the case, and, with great coolness, opens its large leaves. +"Nicholas, I think his name is?" he ejaculates, turning to Graspum, +who, unconcernedly, has resumed his seat in the great arm-chair. + +"Yes; but I suppose it must be Nicholas Grabguy, now," returns +Graspum, bowing to his book-keeper, and then turning to Mr. Grabguy. + +"One minute, if you please!" rejoins that gentlemen, as the sedate +book-keeper turns to his page of N's in the index. Mr. Grabguy will +consider that very important point for a few seconds. + +"Better drop the Marston, as things are. A good many high feeling +connections of that family remain; and to continue the name might be +to give pain." This, Graspum says, he only puts out as a suggestion. + +"Enter him as you say, gentlemen," interposes the clerk, who will +mend his pen while waiting their pleasure. + +Mr. Grabguy runs his right hand several times across his forehead, +and after a breathless pause, thinks it as well not to connect his +distinguished name with that of the nigger,--not just at this moment! +Being his property, and associating with his business and people, +that will naturally follow. "Just enter him, and make out the bill +of sale describing him as the boy Nicholas," he adds. + +"Boy Nicholas!" reiterates the book-keeper, and straight-way enters +his name, amount fetched, to whom sold, and general description, on +his files. In a few minutes more-Graspum, in his chair of state, is +regretting having sold so quick,--Mr. Grabguy is handed his bill of +sale, duly made out. At the same time, that sedate official places +the note for the amount into Graspum's hands. Graspum examines it +minutely, while Mr. Grabguy surveys the bill of sale. "Mr. Benson, +my clerk here, does these things up according to legal tenour; he, +let me inform you, was brought up at the law business, and was +rather celebrated once; but the profession won't pay a man of his +ability," remarks Graspum, with an "all right!" as he lays the note +of hand down for Mr. Grabguy's signature. + +Mr. Benson smiles in reply, and adjusts the very stiffly starched +corners of his ponderous shirt collar, which he desires to keep well +closed around his chin. "An honourable man, that's true, sir, can't +live honestly by the law, now-a-days," he concludes, with measured +sedateness. He will now get his bill-book, in which to make a record +of the piece of paper taken in exchange for the human 'imp.' + +"Clap your name across the face!" demands Graspum; and Grabguy +seizes a pen, and quickly consummates the bargain by inscribing his +name, passing it to Mr. Benson, and, in return, receiving the bill +of sale, which he places in his breast pocket. He will not trouble +Mr. Benson any further; but, if he will supply a small piece of +paper, Mr. Grabguy will very kindly give the imp an order, and send +him to his workshop. + +"Will the gentleman be kind enough to help himself," says Mr. +Benson, passing a quire upon the table at which Mr. Grabguy sits. + +"I'll trim that chap into a first-rate mechanic," says Mr. Grabguy, +as he writes,--"I have bought the bearer, Nicholas, a promising chap, +as you will see. Take him into the shop and set him at something, if +it is only turning the grindstone; as I hav'nt made up my mind +exactly about what branch to set him at. He's got temper-you'll see +that in a minute, and will want some breakin in, if I don't calklate +'rong." This Mr. Grabguy envelopes, and directs to his master +mechanic. When all things are arranged to his satisfaction, Nicholas +is again brought into his presence, receives an admonition, is told +what he may expect if he displays his bad temper, is presented with +the note, and despatched, with sundry directions, to seek his way +alone, to his late purchaser's workshop. + +"Come, boy! ain't you going to say 'good-by' to me 'afore you go? I +hav'nt been a bad master to you," says Graspum, putting out his +hand. + +"Yes, master," mutters the child, turning about ere he reaches the +door. He advances towards Graspum, puts out his little hand; and in +saying "good by, master," there is so much childish simplicity in +his manner that it touches the tender chord embalmed within that +iron frame. "Be a good little fellow!" he says, his emotions rising. +How strong are the workings of nature when brought in contact with +unnatural laws! The monster who has made the child wretched--who has +for ever blasted its hopes, shakes it by the hand, and says--"good +by, little 'un!" as it leaves the door to seek the home of a new +purchaser. How strange the thoughts invading that child's mind, as, +a slave for life, it plods its way through the busy thoroughfares! +Forcibly the happy incidents of the past are recalled; they are +touching reclections-sweets in the dark void of a slave's life; but +to him no way-marks, to measure the happy home embalmed therein, are +left. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +WORKINGS OF THE SLAVE SYSTEM. + + + + + +DEMOCRACY! thy trumpet voice for liberty is ever ringing in our +ears; but thy strange workings defame thee. Thou art rampant in love +of the "popular cause," crushing of that which secures liberty to +all; and, whilst thou art great at demolishing structures, building +firm foundations seems beyond thee, for thereto thou forgetteth to +lay the cornerstone well on the solid rock of principle. And, too, +we love thee when thou art moved and governed by justice; we hate +thee when thou showest thyself a sycophant to make a mad mob serve a +pestilential ambition. Like a young giant thou graspest power; but, +when in thy hands, it becomes a means of serving the baser ends of +factious demagogues. Hypocrite! With breath of poison thou hast sung +thy songs to liberty while making it a stepping-stone to injustice; +nor hast thou ever ceased to wage a tyrant's war against the rights +of man. Thou wearest false robes; thou blasphemest against heaven, +that thy strength in wrong may be secure-yea, we fear thy end is +fast coming badly, for thou art the bastard offspring of +Republicanism so purely planted in our land. Clamour and the lash +are thy sceptres, and, like a viper seeking its prey, thou charmest +with one and goadeth men's souls with the other. Having worked thy +way through our simple narrative, show us what thou hast done. A +father hast thou driven within the humid wall of a prison, because +he would repent and acknowledge his child. Bolts and bars, in such +cases, are democracy's safeguards; but thou hast bound with heavy +chains the being who would rise in the world, and go forth healing +the sick and preaching God's word. Even hast thou turned the hearts +of men into stone, and made them weep at the wrong thou gavest them +power to inflict. That bond which God gave to man, and charged him +to keep sacred, thou hast sundered for the sake of gold,--thereby +levelling man with the brutes of the field. Thou hast sent two +beautiful children to linger in the wickedness of slavery,--to die +stained with its infamy! Thou hast robbed many a fair one of her +virtue, stolen many a charm; but thy foulest crime is, that thou +drivest mothers and fathers from the land of their birth to seek +shelter on foreign soil. Would to God thou could'st see thyself as +thou art,--make thy teachings known in truth and justice,--cease to +mock thyself in the eyes of foreign tyrants, nor longer serve +despots who would make thee the shield of their ill-gotten power! + +Within those malarious prison walls, where fast decays a father who +sought to save from slavery's death the offspring he loved, will be +found a poor, dejected negro, sitting at the bedside of the +oppressed man, administering to his wants. His friendship is true +unto death,--the oppressed man is his angel, he will serve him at +the sacrifice of life and liberty. He is your true republican, the +friend of the oppressed! Your lessons of democracy, so swelling, so +boastfully arrayed for a world's good, have no place in his +soul,--goodness alone directs his examples of republicanism. But we +must not be over venturous in calling democracy to account, lest we +offend the gods of power and progress. We will, to save ourselves, +return to our narrative. + +Marston, yet in gaol, stubbornly refuses to take the benefit of the +act,--commonly called the poor debtor's act. He has a faithful friend +in Daddy Bob, who has kept his ownership concealed, and, with the +assistance of Franconia, still relieves his necessities. Rumour, +however, strongly whispers that Colonel M'Carstrow is fast gambling +away his property, keeping the worst of company, and leading the +life of a debauchee,--which sorely grieves his noble-hearted wife. In +fact, Mrs. Templeton, who is chief gossip-monger of the city, +declares that he is more than ruined, and that his once beautiful +wife must seek support at something. + +An honest jury of twelve free and enlightened citizens, before the +honourable court of Sessions, have declared Romescos honourably +acquitted of the charge of murder, the fatal blow being given in +commendable self-defence. + +The reader will remember that in a former chapter we left the stolen +clergyman (no thanks to his white face and whiter necked brethren of +the profession), on the banks of the Mississippi, where, having +purchased his time of his owner, he is not only a very profitable +investment to that gentleman, but of great service on the +neighbouring plantations. Earnest in doing good for his fellow +bondmen, his efforts have enlisted for him the sympathy of a +generous-hearted young lady, the daughter of a neighbouring planter. +Many times had he recounted Mrs. Rosebrook's friendship for him to +her, and by its influence succeeded in opening the desired +communication. Mrs. Rosebrook had received and promptly answered all +his fair friend's letters: the answers contained good news for +Harry; she knew him well, and would at once set about inducing her +husband to purchase him. But here again his profession interposed a +difficulty, inasmuch as its enhancing the value of the property to +so great an extent would make his master reluctant to part with him. +However, as nothing could be more expressive of domestic attachment +than the manner in which the Rosebrooks studied each other's +feelings for the purpose of giving a more complete happiness, our +good lady had but to make known her wish, and the deacon stood ready +to execute it. In the present case he was but too glad of the +opportunity of gratifying her feelings, having had the purchase of a +clergyman in contemplation for some months back. He sought Harry +out, and, after bartering (the planter setting forth what a deal of +money he had made by his clergyman) succeeded in purchasing him for +fourteen hundred dollars, the gentleman producing legalised papers +of his purchase, and giving the same. As for his running away, there +is no evidence to prove that; nor will Harry's pious word be taken +in law to disclose the kidnapping. M'Fadden is dead,--his estate has +long since been administered upon; Romescos murdered the proof, and +swept away the dangerous contingency. + +Here, then, we find Harry-we must pass over the incidents of his +return back in the old district-about to administer the Gospel to +the negroes on the Rosebrook estates. He is the same good, +generous-hearted black man he was years ago. But he has worked hard, +paid his master a deal of money for his time, and laid up but little +for himself. His clothes, too, are somewhat shabby, which, in the +estimation of the Rosebrook negroes-who are notoriously aristocratic +in their notions-is some detriment to his ministerial character. At +the same time, they are not quite sure that Harry Marston, as he +must now be called, will preach to please their peculiar mode of +thinking. Master and missus have given them an interest in their +labour; and, having laid by a little money in missus's savings bank, +they are all looking forward to the time when they will have gained +their freedom, according to the promises held out. With these +incitements of renewed energy they work cheerfully, take a deep +interest in the amount of crop produced, and have a worthy regard +for their own moral condition. And as they will now pay tribute for +the support of a minister of the Gospel, his respectability is a +particular object of their watchfulness. Thus, Harry's first +appearance on the plantation, shabbily dressed, is viewed with +distrust. Uncle Bradshaw, and old Bill, the coachman, and Aunt +Sophy, and Sophy's two gals, and their husbands, are heard in +serious conclave to say that "It won't do!" A clergy gentleman, with +no better clothes than that newcomer wears, can't preach good and +strong, nohow! Dad Daniel is heard to say. Bradshaw shakes his white +head, and says he's goin' to have a short talk with master about it. +Something must be done to reconcile the matter. + +Franconia and good Mrs. Rosebrook are not so exacting: the latter +has received him with a warm welcome, while the former, her heart +bounding with joy on hearing of his return, hastened into his +presence, and with the affection of a child shook, and shook, and +shook his hand, as he fell on his knees and kissed hers. "Poor +Harry!" she says, "how I have longed to see you, and your poor wife +and children!" + +"Ah, Franconia, my young missus, it is for them my soul fears." + +"But we have found out where they are," she interrupts. + +"Where they are!" he reiterates. + +"Indeed we have!" Franconia makes a significant motion with her +head. + +"It's true, Harry; and we'll see what can be done to get them back, +one of these days," adds Mrs. Rosebrook, her soul-glowing eyes +affirming the truth of her assertion. They have come out to spend +the day at the plantation, and a happy day it is for those whose +hearts they gladden with their kind words. How happy would be our +south-how desolate the mania for abolition--if such a comity of good +feeling between master and slaves existed on every plantation! And +there is nothing to hinder such happy results of kindness. + +"When that day comes, missus,--that day my good old woman and me will +be together again,--how happy I shall be! Seems as if the regaining +that one object would complete my earthly desires. And my +children,--how much I have felt for them, and how little I have +said!" returns Harry, as, seated in the veranda of the plantation +mansion, the two ladies near him are watching his rising emotions. + +"Never mind, Harry," rejoins Franconia; "it will all be well, one of +these days. You, as well as uncle, must bear with trouble. It is a +world of trouble and trial." She draws her chair nearer him, and +listens to his narrative of being carried off,--his endeavours to +please his strange master down in Mississippi,--the curious manner in +which his name was changed,--the sum he was compelled to pay for his +time, and the good he effected while pursuing the object of his +mission on the neighbouring plantations. Hope carried him through +every trial,--hope prepared his heart for the time of his +delivery,--hope filled his soul with gratitude to his Maker, and +hope, which ever held its light of freedom before him, inspired him +with that prayer he so thankfully bestowed on the head of his +benefactor, whose presence was as the light of love borne to him on +angels' wings. + +Moved to tears by his recital of past struggles, and the expression +of natural goodness exhibited in the resignation with which he bore +them, ever praying and trusting to Him who guides our course in +life, Franconia in turn commenced relating the misfortunes that had +befallen her uncle. She tells him how her uncle has been reduced to +poverty through Lorenzo's folly, and Graspum, the negro dealer's +undiscoverable mode of ensnaring the unwary. He has been importuned, +harassed, subjected to every degradation and shame, scouted by +society for attempting to save those beautiful children, Annette and +Nicholas, from the snares of slavery. And he now welters in a +debtor's prison, with few save his old faithful Daddy Bob for +friends. + +"Master, and my old companion, Daddy Bob!" exclaims Harry, +interrupting her at the moment. + +"Yes: Daddy takes care of him in his prison cell." + +"How often old Bob's expressive face has looked upon me in my +dreams! how often he has occupied my thoughts by day!" + +"Goodness belongs to him by nature." + +"And master is in prison; but Daddy is still his friend and +faithful! Well, my heart sorrows for master: I know his proud heart +bleeds under the burden," he says, shaking his head sorrowfully. +There is more sympathy concealed beneath that black exterior than +words can express. He will go and see master; he will comfort him +within his prison walls; he will rejoin Daddy Bob, and be master's +friend once more. Mrs. Rosebrook, he is sure, will grant him any +privilege in her power. That good lady is forthwith solicited, and +grants Harry permission to go into the city any day it suits his +convenience-except Sunday, when his services are required for the +good of the people on the plantation. Harry is delighted with this +token of her goodness, and appoints a day when he will meet Miss +Franconia,--as he yet calls her,--and go see old master and Daddy. How +glowing is that honest heart, as it warms with ecstasy at the +thought of seeing "old master," even though he be degraded within +prison walls! + +While this conversation is going on in the veranda, sundry aged +members of negro families--aunties and mammies--are passing backwards +and forwards in front of the house, casting curious glances at the +affection exhibited for the new preacher by "Miss Franconia." The +effect is a sort of reconciliation of the highly aristocratic +objections they at first interposed against his reception. "Mus' be +somebody bigger dan common nigger preacher; wudn't cotch Miss +Frankone spoken wid 'um if 'um warn't," says Dad Timothy's Jane, who +is Uncle Absalom's wife, and, in addition to having six coal-black +children, as fat and sleek as beavers, is the wise woman of the +cabins, around whom all the old veteran mammies gather for +explanations upon most important subjects. In this instance she is +surrounded by six or seven grave worthies, whose comical faces add +great piquancy to the conclave. Grandmumma Dorothy, who declares +that she is grandmother to she don't know how much little growing-up +property, will venture every grey hair in her head-which is as white +as the snows of Nova Scotia-that he knows a deal o' things about the +gospel, or he wouldn't have missus for such a close acquaintance. +"But his shirt ain't just da'h fashon fo'h a 'spectable minister ob +de gospel," she concludes, with profound wisdom evinced in her +measured nod. + +Aunt Betsy, than whose face none is blacker, or more comically +moulded, will say her word; but she is very profound withal. "Reckon +how tain't de clo' what make e' de preacher tink good" (Aunty's lip +hangs seriously low the while). "Lef missus send some calico fum +town, and dis old woman son fix 'um into shirt fo'h him," she says, +with great assurance of her sincerity. + +Harry-Mister Harry, as he is to be called by the people-finds +himself comfortably at home; the only drawback, if such it may be +called, existing in the unwillingness exhibited on the part of one +of the overseers to his being provided with apartments in the +basement of the house instead of one of the cabins. This, however, +is, by a few conciliatory words from Mrs. Rosebrook, settled to the +satisfaction of all. Harry has supper provided for him in one of the +little rooms downstairs, which he is to make his Study, and into +which he retires for the night. + +When daylight has departed, and the very air seems hanging in +stillness over the plantation, a great whispering is heard in Dad +Daniel's cabin-the head quarters, where grave matters of state, or +questions affecting the moral or physical interests of the +plantation, are discussed, and Dad Daniel's opinion held as most +learned-the importance of which over the other cabins is denoted by +three windows, one just above the door being usually filled with +moss or an old black hat. Singular enough, on approaching the cabin +it is discovered that Daniel has convoked a senate of his sable +brethren, to whom he is proposing a measure of great importance. +"Da'h new precher, gemen! is one ob yer own colur-no more Buckra +what on'e gib dat one sarmon,--tank God fo'h dat!-and dat colour +geman, my children, ye must look up to fo'h de word from de good +book. Now, my bredren, 'tis posin' on ye dat ye make dat geman +'spectable. I poses den, dat we, bredren, puts in a mite apiece, and +gib dat ar' geman new suit ob fus' bes'clof', so 'e preach fresh and +clean," Dad Daniel is heard to say. And this proposition is carried +out on the following morning, when Daddy Daniel-his white wool so +cleanly washed, and his face glowing with great +good-nature-accompanied by a conclave of his sable companions, +presents himself in the front veranda, and demands to see "missus." +That all-conciliating personage is ever ready to receive +deputations, and on making her appearance, and receiving the usual +salutations from her people, receives from the hand of that +venerable prime minister, Daddy Daniel, a purse containing twelve +dollars and fifty cents. It is the amount of a voluntary +contribution-a gift for the new preacher. "Missus" is requested, +after adding her portion, to expend it in a suit of best black for +the newcomer, whom they would like to see, and say "how de, to." + +Missus receives this noble expression of their gratitude with thanks +and kind words. Harry is summoned to the veranda, where, on making +his appearance, he is introduced to Dad Daniel, who, in return, +escorts him down on the plazza where numbers of the people have +assembled to receive him. Here, with wondrous ceremony, Dad Daniel +doing the polite rather strong, he is introduced to all the +important people of the plantation. And such a shaking of hands, +earnest congratulations, happy "how des," bows, and joyous laughs, +as follow, place the scene so expressive of happiness beyond the +power of pen to describe. Then he is led away, followed by a train +of curious faces, to see Dad Daniel's neatly-arranged cabin; after +which he will see plantation church, and successively the people's +cabins. To-morrow evening, at early dusk, it is said, according to +invitation and arrangement, he will sup on the green with his sable +brethren, old and young, and spice up the evening's entertainment +with an exhortation; Dad Daniel, as is his custom, performing the +duties of deacon. + +Let us pass over this scene, and-Harry having ingratiated himself +with the plantation people, who are ready to give him their +distinguished consideration-ask the reader to follow us through the +description of another, which took place a few days after. + +Our clergyman has delivered to his sable flock his first sermon, +which Dad Daniel and his compatriots pronounce great and good,--just +what a sermon should be. Such pathos they never heard before; the +enthusiasm and fervency with which it was delivered inspires +delight; they want no more earnestness of soul than the fervency +with which his gesticulations accompanied the words; and now he has +obtained a furlough that he may go into the city and console his old +master. A thrill of commiseration seizes him as he contemplates his +once joyous master now in prison; but, misgivings being useless, +onward he goes. And he will see old Bob, recall the happy incidents +of the past, when time went smoothly on. + +He reaches the city, having tarried a while at missus's villa, and +seeks M'Carstrow's residence, at the door of which he is met by +Franconia, who receives him gratefully, and orders a servant to show +him into the recess of the hall, where he will wait until such time +as she is ready to accompany him to the county prison. M'Carstrow +has recently removed into plainer tenements: some whisper that +necessity compelled it, and that the "large shot" gamblers have +shorn him down to the lowest imaginable scale of living. Be this as +it may, certain it is that he has not looked within the doors of his +own house for more than a week: report says he is enjoying himself +in a fashionable house, to the inmates of which he is familiarly +known. He certainly leads his beautiful wife anything but a pleasant +or happy life. Soon Franconia is ready, and onward wending her way +for the gaol, closely followed by Harry. She would have no objection +to his walking by her side, but custom (intolerant interposer) will +not permit it. They pass through busy thoroughfares and narrow +streets into the suburbs, and have reached the prison outer gate, on +the right hand of which, and just above a brass knob, are the +significant words, "Ring the bell." + +"What a place to put master in!" says Harry, in a half whisper, +turning to Franconia, as he pulls the brass handle and listens for +the dull tinkling of the bell within. He starts at the muffled +summons, and sighs as he hears the heavy tread of the officer, +advancing through the corridor to challenge his presence. The man +advances, and has reached the inner iron gate, situated in a narrow, +vaulted arch in the main building. A clanking and clicking sound is +heard, and the iron door swings back: a thick-set man, with features +of iron, advances to the stoop, down the steps, and to the gate. +"What's here now?" he growls, rather than speaks, looking sternly at +the coloured man, as he thrusts his left hand deep into his side +pocket, while holding the key of the inner door in his right. + +"Visitor," returns Franconia, modestly. + +"Who does the nigger want to see?" he enquires, with pertinacity in +keeping with his profession. + +"His old master!" is the quick reply. + +"You both? I guess I know what it is,--you want to see Marston: he +used to be a rice-planter, but's now in the debtor's ward for a +swimming lot of debts. Well, s'pose I must let you in: got a lot o' +things, I s'pose?" he says, looking wickedly through the bars as he +springs the bolts, and swings back the gate. "I beg yer pardon a +dozen times! but I didn't recognise ye on the outer side," continues +the official, becoming suddenly servile. He makes a low bow as he +recognises Franconia-motions his hand for them to walk ahead. They +reach the steps leading to the inner gate, and ascending, soon are +in the vaulted passage. + +If they will allow him, the polite official will unlock the grated +door. Stepping before Franconia, who, as the clanking of the locks +grate on her ear, is seized with sensations she cannot describe, he +inserts the heavy key. She turns to Harry, her face pallid as +marble, and lays her tremulous hand on his arm, as if to relieve the +nervousness with which she is seized. Click! click! sounds forth: +again the door creaks on its hinges, and they are in the confines of +the prison. A narrow vaulted arch, its stone walls moistened with +pestilential malaria, leads into a small vestibule, on the right +hand of which stretched a narrow aisle lined on both sides with +cells. Damp and pestiferous, a hollow gloominess seems to pervade +the place, as if it were a pest-house for torturing the living. +Even the air breathes of disease,--a stench, as of dead men buried in +its vaults, darts its poison deep into the system. It is this, +coupled with the mind's discontent, that commits its ravages upon +the poor prisoner,--that sends him pale and haggard to a soon- +forgotten grave. + +"Last door on the right,--you know, mum," says the official: "boy +will follow, lightly: whist! whist!" + +"I know, to my sorrow," is her reply, delivered in a whisper. Ah! +her emotions are too tender for prison walls; they are yielding +tears from the fountain of her very soul. + +"He's sick: walk softly, and don't think of the prisoners. Knock at +the door afore enterin'," says a staid-looking warden, emerging +from a small door on the left hand of the vestibule. + +"Zist! zist!" returns the other, pointing with the forefinger of his +right hand down the aisle, and, placing his left, gently, on +Franconia's shoulder, motioning her to move on. + +Slowly, her handkerchief to her face, she obeys the sign, and is +moving down the corridor, now encountering anxious eyes peering +through the narrow grating of huge black doors. And then a faint, +dolorous sound strikes on their listening ears. They pause for a +moment,--listen again! It becomes clearer and clearer; and they +advance with anxious curiosity. "It's Daddy Bob's voice," whispers +Harry; "but how distant it sounds! + +"Even that murmurs in his confinement," returns Franconia. + +"How, like a thing of life, it recalls the past-the past of +happiness!" says Harry, as they reach the cell door, and, +tremulously, hesitate for a few moments. + +"Listen again!" continues Harry. The sound having ceased a moment or +two, again commences, and the word "There's a place for old mas'r +yet, And de Lord will see him dar," are distinctly audible. "How the +old man battles for his good master!" returns Harry, as Franconia +taps gently on the door. The wooden trap over the grating is closed; +bolts hang carelessly from their staples; and yet, though the door +is secured with a hook on the inside, disease and death breathe +their morbid fumes through the scarce perceptible crevices. A +whispering-"Come in!" is heard in reply to the tap upon the door, +which slowly opens, and the face of old Bob, bathed in grief, +protrudes round the frame. "Oh, missus-missus-missus-God give good +missus spirit!" he exclaims, seizing Franconia fervently by the +hand, and looking in her face imploringly. A fotid stench pervaded +the atmosphere of the gloomy cell; it is death spreading its humid +malaria. "Good old master is g-g-g-gone!" mutters the negro, in +half-choked accents. + +With a wild shriek, the noble woman rushes to the side of his prison +cot, seizes his blanched hand that hangs carelessly over the iron +frame, grasps his head frantically, and draws it to her bosom, as +the last gurgle of life bids adieu to the prostrate body. He is +dead! + +The old slave has watched over him, shared his sorrows and his +crust, has sung a last song to his departing spirit. How truthful +was that picture of the dying master and his slave! The old man, +struggling against the infirmities of age, had escaped the hands of +the man-seller, served his master with but one object-his soul's +love-and relieved his necessities, until death, ending his troubles, +left no more to relieve. Now, distracted between joy at meeting +Harry, and sorrow for the death of master, the poor old man is lost +in the confusion of his feelings. After saluting Franconia, he +turned to Harry, threw his arms around his neck, buried his head in +his bosom, and wept like a child. "Home-home again,--my Harry! but +too late to see mas'r," he says, as the fountains of his soul give +out their streams. + +"We must all go where master has gone," returns Harry, as he, more +calm, fondles the old man, and endeavours to reconcile his feelings. +"Sit there, my old friend-sit there; and remember that God called +master away. I must go to his bed-side," whispers Harry, seating the +old man on a block of wood near the foot of the cot, where he pours +forth the earnest of his grief. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +AN ITEM IN THE COMMON CALENDAR. + + + + + +THUS painfully has Marston paid his debtors. Around his lifeless +body may spring to life those sympathies which were dead while he +lived; but deplorings fall useless on dead men. There is one +consideration, however, which must always be taken into account; it +is, that while sympathy for the living may cost something, sympathy +for the dead is cheap indeed, and always to be had. How simply plain +is the dead man's cell! In this humid space, ten by sixteen feet, +and arched over-head, is a bucket of water, with a tin cup at the +side, a prison tub in one corner, two wooden chairs, a little deal +stand, (off which the prisoner ate his meals), and his trunk of +clothing. The sheriff, insisting that it was his rule to make no +distinction of persons, allowed prison cot and prison matress to +which, by the kind permission of the warden, Franconia added sheets +and a coverlit. Upon this, in a corner at the right, and opposite a +spacious fire-place, in which are two bricks supporting a small iron +kettle, lies the once opulent planter,--now with eyes glassy and +discoloured, a ghastly corpse. His house once was famous for its +princely hospitality,--the prison cot is not now his bequest: but it +is all the world has left him on which to yield up his life. "Oh, +uncle! uncle! uncle!" exclaims Franconia, who has been bathing his +contorted face with her tears, "would that God had taken me +too-buried our troubles in one grave! There is no trouble in that +world to which he has gone: joy, virtue, and peace, reign triumphant +there," she speaks, sighing, as she raises her bosom from off the +dead man. Harry has touched her on the shoulder with his left hand, +and is holding the dead man's with his right: he seems in deep +contemplation. His mind is absorbed in the melancholy scene; but, +though his affection is deep, he has no tears to shed at this +moment. No; he will draw a chair for Franconia, and seat her near +the head of the cot, for the fountains of her grief have overflown. +Discoloured and contorted, what a ghastly picture the dead man's +face presents! Glassy, and with vacant glare, those eyes, strange in +death, seem wildly staring upward from earth. How unnatural those +sunken cheeks--those lips wet with the excrement of black vomit--that +throat reddened with the pestilential poison! "Call a warden, +Daddy!" says Harry; "he has died of black vomit, I think." And he +lays the dead body square upon the cot, turns the sheets from off +the shoulders, unbuttons the collar of its shirt. "How changed! I +never would have known master; but I can see something of him left +yet." Harry remains some minutes looking upon the face of the +departed, as if tracing some long lost feature. And then he takes +his hands-it's master's hand, he says-and places them gently to his +sides, closes his glassy eyes, wipes his mouth and nostrils, puts +his ear to the dead man's mouth, as if doubting the all-slayer's +possession of the body, and with his right hand parts the matted +hair from off the cold brow. What a step between the cares of the +world and the peace of death! Harry smooths, and smooths, and +smooths his forehead with his hand; until at length his feelings get +the better of his resolution; he will wipe the dewy tears from his +eyes. "Don't weep, Miss Franconia,--don't weep! master is happy with +Jesus,--happier than all the plantations and slaves of the world +could make him" he says, turning to her as she sits weeping, her +elbow resting on the cot, and her face buried in her handkerchief. + +"Bad job this here!" exclaims the warden, as he comes lumbering into +the cell, his face flushed with anxiety. "This yaller-fever beats +everything: but he hasn't been well for some time," he continues, +advancing to the bed-side, looking on the deceased for a few +minutes, and then, as if it were a part of his profession to look on +dead men, says: "How strange to die out so soon!" + +"He was a good master," rejoins Harry. + +"He wasn't your master-Was he?" enquires the gaoler, in gruff +accents. + +"Once he was." + +"But, did you see him die, boy?" + +"Thank God, I did not." + +"And this stupid old nigger hadn't sense to call me!" (he turns +threateningly to Bob): "Well,--must 'a drop'd off like the snuff of +a tallow candle!" + +Daddy knew master was a poor man now;--calling would have availed +nothing; gaolers are bad friends of poverty. + +"Could you not have sent for me, good man?" enquires Franconia, her +weeping eyes turning upon the warden, who says, by way of answering +her question, "We must have him out o' here." + +"I said mas'r was sicker den ye s'posed, yesterday; nor ye didn't +notice 'um!" interposes Bob, giving a significant look at the +warden, and again at Franconia. + +"What a shame, in this our land of boasted hospitality! He died +neglected in a prison cell!" + +"Truth is, ma'am," interrupts the warden, who, suddenly becoming +conscious that it is polite to be courteous to ladies wherever they +may be met, uncovers, and holds his hat in his hand,--"we are sorely +tried with black-vomit cases; no provision is made for them, and +they die on our hands afore we know it, just like sheep with the +rot. It gives us a great deal of trouble;--you may depend it does, +ma'am; and not a cent extra pay do we get for it. For my own part, +I've become quite at home to dead men and prisoners. My name is-you +have no doubt heard of me before-John Lafayette Flewellen: my +situation was once, madam, that of a distinguished road contractor; +and then they run me for the democratic senator from our district, +and I lost all my money without getting the office-and here I am +now, pestered with sick men and dead prisoners. And the very worst +is that ye can't please nobody; but if anything is wanted, ma'am, +just call for me: John Lafayette Flewellen's my name, ma'am." The +man of nerve, with curious indifference, is about to turn away,--to +leave the mourning party to themselves, merely remarking, as he +takes his hand from that of the corpse, that his limbs are becoming +fridgid, fast. + +"Stay-a-moment,--warden," says Franconia, sobbing: "When was he +seized with the fever?" + +"Day afore yesterday, ma'am; but he didn't complain until yesterday. +That he was in a dangerous way I'm sure I'd no idea." The warden +shrugs his shoulders, and spreads his hands. "My eyes, ma'am, but he +drank strongly of late! Perhaps that, combined with the fever, +helped slide him off?" + +"Ah! yes,--it was something else-it was grief! His troubles were his +destroyer." She wipes her eyes, and, with a look of commiseration, +turns from the man whose business it is to look coldly upon +unfortunate dead men. + +"There was the things you sent him, ma'am; and he got his gaol +allowance, and some gruel. The law wouldn't allow us to do more for +him,--no, it wouldn't!" He shakes his head in confirmation. + +"I wanted old mas'r to let 'um bring doctor; but he said no! he +would meet de doctor what cured all diseases in another world," +interrupts old Bob, as he draws his seat close to the foot of the +cot, and, with his shining face of grief, gazes on the pale features +of his beloved master. + +"Let him lie as he is, till the coroner comes," says the warden, +retiring slowly, and drawing the heavy door after him. + +The humble picture was no less an expression of goodness, than proof +of the cruel severity of the law. The news of death soon brought +curious debtors into the long aisle, while sorrow and sympathy might +be read on every face. But he was gone, and with him his wants and +grievances. A physician was called in, but he could not recall life, +and, after making a few very learned and unintelligible remarks on +the appearance of the body, took his departure, saying that they +must not grieve-that it was the way all flesh would go. "He, no +doubt, died of the black vomit, hastened by the want of care," he +concluded, as he left the cell. + +"Want of care!" rejoins Franconia, again giving vent to her +feelings. How deeply did the arrow dart into the recesses of her +already wounded heart! + +Mr. Moon, the methodical coroner, was not long repairing to the +spot. He felt, and felt, and felt the dead man's limbs, asked a few +questions, bared the cold breast, ordered the body to be +straightened a little, viewed it from several angles, and said an +inquest was unnecessary. It would reveal no new facts, and, as so +many were dying of the same disease, could give no more relief to +his friends. Concerning his death, no one could doubt the cause +being black vomit. With a frigid attempt at consolation for +Franconia, he will withdraw. He has not been long gone, when the +warden, a sheet over his left arm, again makes his appearance; he +passes the sheet to Harry, with a request that he will wind the dead +debtor up in it. + +Franconia, sobbing, rises from her seat, opens a window at the head +of the cot (the dead will not escape through the iron grating), and +paces the floor, while Harry and Daddy sponge the body, lay it +carefully down, and fold it in the winding-sheet. "Poor master,--God +has taken him; but how I shall miss him! I've spent happy days wid +'im in dis place, I have!" says Bob, as they lay his head on the +hard pillow. He gazes upon him with affection,--and says "Mas'r 'll +want no more clothes." + +And now night is fast drawing its dark mantle over the scene,--the +refulgent shadows of the setting sun play through the grated window +into the gloomy cell: how like a spirit of goodness sent from on +high to lighten the sorrows of the downcast, seems the light. A +faint ray plays its soft tints on that face now pallid in death; how +it inspires our thoughts of heaven! Franconia watches, and watches, +as fainter and fainter it fades away, like an angel sent for the +spirit taking its departure. "Farewell!" she whispers, as darkness +shuts out the last mellow glimmer: "Come sombre night, and spread +thy stillness!" + +The warden, moved by the spark of generosity his soul possesses, has +brought some cologne, and silently places it in Franconia's hands. +She advances to the cot, seats herself near the head of her dear +departed, encircles his head with her left arm, and with her white +'kerchief bathes his face with the liquid, Harry holding the vessel +in his hand, at her request. A candle sheds its sickly light upon +the humid walls; faintly it discloses the face of Daddy Bob, +immersed in tears, watching intently over the foot of the cot. +"Missus Frankone is alw's kind to mas'r!" + +"I loved uncle because his heart was good," returns Franconia. + +"'Tis dat, missus. How kindly old mas'r, long time ago, used to say, +'Good mornin', Bob! Daddy, mas'r lubs you!" + +How firmly the happy recollection of these kind words is sealed in +the old man's memory. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +IN WHICH REGRETS ARE SHOWN OF LITTLE WORTH. + + + + + +THE reader may remember, that we, in the early part of our +narrative, made some slight mention of the Rovero family, of which +Franconia and Lorenzo were the only surviving children. They, too, +had been distinguished as belonging to a class of opulent planters; +but, having been reduced to poverty by the same nefarious process +through which we have traced Marston's decline, and which we shall +more fully disclose in the sequel, had gathered together the +remnants of a once extensive property, and with the proceeds +migrated to a western province of Mexico, where, for many years, +though not with much success, Rovero pursued a mining speculation. +They lived in a humble manner; Mrs. Rovero, Marston's sister-and of +whom we have a type in the character of her daughter, +Franconia-discarded all unnecessary appurtenances of living, and +looked forward to the time when they would be enabled to retrieve +their fortunes and return to their native district to spend the +future of their days on the old homestead. More than four years, +however, had passed since any tidings had been received of them by +Franconia; and it was strongly surmised that they had fallen victims +to the savage incursions of marauding parties, who were at that time +devastating the country, and scattering its defenceless inhabitants +homeless over the western shores of central America. So strong had +this impression found place in Franconia's mind that she had given +up all hopes of again meeting them. As for M'Carstrow's friends, +they had never taken any interest in her welfare, viewing her +marriage with the distinguished colonel as a mere catch on the part +of her parents, whose only motive was to secure themselves the +protection of a name, and, perhaps, the means of sustaining +themselves above the rank disclosure of their real poverty. To keep +"above board" is everything in the south; and the family not +distinguished soon finds itself well nigh extinguished. Hence that +ever tenacious clinging to pretensions, sounding of important names, +and maintenance of absurd fallacies,--all having for their end the +drawing a curtain over that real state of poverty there existing. +Indeed, it was no secret that even the M'Carstrow family (counting +itself among the very few really distinguished families of the +state, and notorious for the contempt in which they affected to hold +all common people), had mortgaged their plantation and all its +negroes for much more than their worth in ordinary times. As for +tradesmen's bills, there were any quantity outstanding, without the +shadow of a prospect of their being paid, notwithstanding +importuners had frequently intimated that a place called the gaol +was not far distant, and that the squire's office was within a +stone's throw of "the corner." Colonel M'Carstrow, reports say, had +some years ago got a deal of money by an unexplainable hocus pocus, +but it was well nigh gone in gambling, and now he was keeping +brothel society and rioting away his life faster than the +race-horses he had formerly kept on the course could run. + +Hospitality hides itself when friends are needy; and it will be seen +here that Franconia had few friends-we mean friends in need. The +Rosebrook family formed an exception. The good deacon, and his ever +generous lady, had remained Franconia's firmest friends; but so +large and complicated were the demands against Marston, and so gross +the charges of dishonour--suspicion said he fraudulently made over +his property to Graspum-that they dared not interpose for his +relief; nor would Marston himself have permitted it. The question +now was, what was to be done with the dead body? + +We left Franconia bathing its face, and smoothing the hair across +its temples with her hand. She cannot bury the body from her own +home:--no! M'Carstow will not permit that. She cannot consign it to +the commissioners for the better regulation of the "poor house,"-her +feelings repulse the thought. One thought lightens her cares; she +will straightway proceed to Mrs. Rosebrook's villa,--she will herself +be the bearer of the mournful intelligence; while Harry will watch +over the remains of the departed, until Daddy, who must be her guide +through the city, shall return. "I will go to prepare the next +resting-place for uncle," says Franconia, as if nerving herself to +carry out the resolution. + +"With your permission, missus," returns Harry, touching her on the +arm, and pointing through the grated window into the gloomy yard. +"Years since-before I passed through a tribulation worse than +death-when we were going to be sold in the market, I called my +brothers and sisters of the plantation together, and in that yard +invoked heaven to be merciful to its fallen. I was sold on that day; +but heaven has been merciful to me; heaven has guided me through +many weary pilgrimages, and brought me here to-night; and its +protecting hand will yet restore me my wife and little ones. Let us +pray to-night; let us be grateful to Him who seeth the fallen in his +tribulation, but prepareth a place for him in a better world. Let us +pray and hope," he continued: and they knelt at the side of the +humble cot on which lay the departed, while he devoutly and +fervently invoked the Giver of all Good to forgive the oppressor, to +guide the oppressed, to make man feel there is a world beyond this, +to strengthen the resolution of that fair one who is thus sorely +afflicted, to give the old man who weeps at the feet of the departed +new hope for the world to come,--and to receive that warm spirit +which has just left the cold body into his realms of bliss. + +What of roughness there was in his manner is softened by simplicity +and truthfulness. The roughest lips may breathe the purest prayer. +At the conclusion, Franconia and Daddy leave for Mrs. Rosebrook's +villa, while Harry, remaining to watch over the remains, draws his +chair to the stand, and reads by the murky light. + +"I won't be long; take care of old mas'r," says Daddy, as he leaves +the cell, solicitously looking back into the cavern-like place. + +It is past ten when they reach the house of Mrs. Rosebrook, the +inmates of which have retired, and are sleeping. Everything is quiet +in and about the enclosure; the luxuriant foliage bespreading a lawn +extending far away to the westward, seems refreshing itself with dew +that sparkles beneath the starlight heavens, now arched like a +crystal mist hung with diamond lights. The distant watchdog's bark +re-echoes faintly over the broad lagoon, to the east; a cricket's +chirrup sounds beneath the woodbine arbour; a moody guardsman, +mounted on his lean steed, and armed for danger, paces his slow way +along: he it is that breaks the stillness while guarding the fears +of a watchful community, who know liberty, but crush with steel the +love thereof. + +A rap soon brings to the door the trim figure of a mulatto servant. +He conveys the name of the visitor to his "missus," who, surprised +at the untimely hour Franconia seeks her, loses no time in reaching +the ante-room, into which she has been conducted. + +Daddy has taken his seat in the hall, and recognises "missus" as she +approaches; but as she puts out her hand to salute him, she +recognises trouble seated on his countenance. "Young missus in +da'h," he says, pointing to the ante-room while rubbing his eyes. + +"But you must tell me what trouble has befallen you," she returns, +as quickly, in her dishabille, she drops his hand and starts back. + +"Missus know 'um all,--missus da'h." Again he points, and she hastens +into the ante-room, when, grasping Franconia by the hand, she stares +at her with breathless anxiety expressed in her face. A pause ensues +in which both seem bewildered. At length Franconia breaks the +silence. "Uncle is gone!" she exclaims, following the words with a +flow of tears. + +"Gone!" reiterates the generous-hearted woman, encircling +Franconia's neck with her left arm, and drawing her fondly to her +bosom. + +"Yes,--dead!" she continues, sobbing audibly. There is something +touching in the words,--something which recalls the dearest +associations of the past, and touches the fountains of the heart. It +is the soft tone in which they are uttered,--it gives new life to old +images. So forcibly are they called up, that the good woman has no +power to resist her violent emotions: gently she guides Franconia to +the sofa, seats her upon its soft cushion, and attempts to console +her wrecked spirit. + +The men-servants are called up,--told to be prepared for orders. One +of them recognises Daddy, and, inviting him into the pantry, would +give him food, Trouble has wasted the old man's appetite; he thinks +of master, but has no will to eat. No; he will see missus, and +proceed back to the prison, there join Harry, and watch over all +that is mortal of master. He thanks Abraham for what he gave him, +declines the coat he would kindly lend him to keep out the chill, +seeks the presence of his mistress (she has become more reconciled), +says, "God bless 'um!" bids her good night, and sallies forth. + +Mrs. Rosebrook listens to the recital of the melancholy scene with +astonishment and awe. "How death grapples for us!" she exclaims, her +soft, soul-beaming eyes glaring with surprise. "How it cuts its way +with edge unseen. Be calm, be calm, Franconia; you have nobly done +your part,--nobly! Whatever the pecuniary misfortunes,--whatever the +secret cause of his downfall, you have played the woman to the very +end. You have illustrated the purest of true affection; would it had +repaid you better. Before daylight-negroes are, in consequence of +their superstition, unwilling to remove the dead at midnight-I will +have the body removed here,--buried from my house." The good woman +did not disclose to Franconia that her husband was from home, making +an effort to purchase Harry's wife and children from their present +owner. But she will do all she can,--the best can do no more. + +At the gaol a different scene is presented. Harry, alone with the +dead man, waits Daddy's return. Each tap of the bell awakes a new +hope, soon to be disappointed. The clock strikes eleven: no Daddy +returns. The gates are shut: Harry must wile away the night, in this +tomb-like abode, with the dead. What stillness pervades the cell; +how mournfully calm in death sleeps the departed! The watcher has +read himself to sleep; his taper, like life on its way, has nearly +shed out its pale light; the hot breath of summer breathes balmy +through the lattice bars; mosquitoes sing their torturous tunes +while seeking for the dead man's blood; lizards, with diamond eyes, +crawl upon the wall, waiting their ration: but death, less +inexorable than creditors, sits pale king over all. The palace and +the cell are alike to him; the sharp edge of his unseen sword spares +neither the king in his purple robe, nor the starving beggar who +seeks a crust at his palace gate,--of all places the worst. + +As morning dawns, and soft fleeting clouds tinge the heavens with +light, four negroes may be seen sitting at the prison gate, a litter +by their side, now and then casting silent glances upward, as if +contemplating the sombre wall that frowns above their heads, +enclosing the prison. The guard, armed to the teeth, have passed and +repassed them, challenged and received their answer, and as often +examined their passes. They-the negroes-have come for a dead man. +Guardmen get no fees of dead men,--the law has no more demands to +serve: they wish the boys much joy with their booty, and pass on. + +Six o'clock arrives; the first bell rings; locks, bolts, and bars +clank in ungrateful medley; rumbling voices are heard within the +hollow-sounding aisles; whispers from above chime ominously with the +dull shuffle rumbling from below. "Seven more cases,--how it rages!" +grumbles a monotonous voice, and the gate opens at the warden's +touch. "Who's here?" he demands, with stern countenance unchanged, +as he shrugs his formidable shoulders. "I see, (he continues, +quickly), you have come for the dead debtor. Glad of it, my good +fellow; this is the place to make dead men of debtors. Brought an +order, I s'pose?" Saying "follow me," he turns about, hastens to the +vestibule, receives the order from the hand of Duncan, the chief +negro, reads it with grave attention, supposes it is all straight, +and is about to show him the cell where the body lays, and which he +is only too glad to release. "Hold a moment!" Mr. Winterflint--such +is his name--says. Heaven knows he wants to get rid of the dead +debtor; but the laws are so curious, creditors are so obdurate, and +sheriffs have such a crooked way of doing straight things, that he +is in the very bad position of not knowing what to do. Some document +from the sheriff may be necessary; perhaps the creditors must agree +to the compromise. He forgets that inexorable Death, as he is +vulgarly styled, has forced a compromise: creditors must now credit +"by decease." Upon this point, however, he must be satisfied by his +superior. He now wishes Mr. Brien Moon would evince more exactness +in holding inquests, and less anxiety for the fees. Mr. Winterflint +depends not on his own decisions, where the laws relating to debtors +are so absurdly mystical. "Rest here, boy," he says; "I won't be a +minute or two,--must do the thing straight." He seeks the presence of +that extremely high functionary, the gaoler (high indeed wherever +slavery rules), who, having weighed the points with great legal +impartiality, gives it as his most distinguished opinion that no +order of release from the high sheriff is requisite to satisfy the +creditors of his death: take care of the order sent, and make a note +of the niggers who take him away, concludes that highly important +gentleman, as comfortably his head reclines on soft pillow. To this +end was Mr. Moon's certificate essential. + +Mr. Winterflint returns; enquires who owns the boys. + +"Mas'r Rosebrook's niggers," Duncan replies, firmly; "but Missus +send da order." + +"Sure of that, now? Good niggers them of Rosebrook's: wouldn't a' +gin it to nobody else's niggers. Follow me-zist, zist!" he says, +crooking his finger at the other three, and scowling, as Duncan +relieves their timidity by advancing. They move slowly and +noiselessly up the aisle, the humid atmosphere of which, pregnant +with death, sickens as it steals into the very blood. "In +there-zist! make no noise; the dead debtor lies there," whispers the +warden, laying his left hand upon Duncan's shoulder, and, the +forefinger of his right extended, pointing toward the last cell on +the left. "Door's open; not locked, I meant. Left it unsecured last +night. Rap afore ye go in, though." At the methodical warden's +bidding Duncan proceeds, his foot falling lightly on the floor. +Reaching the door, he places his right hand on the swinging bolt, +and for a few seconds seems listening. He hears the muffled sound of +a footfall pacing the floor, and then a muttering as of voices in +secret communion, or dying echoes from the tomb. He has not mistaken +the cell; its crevices give forth odours pergnant of proof. Two +successive raps bring Harry to the door: they are admitted to the +presence of the dead. One by one Harry receives them by the hand, +but he must needs be told why Daddy is not with them. They know not. +He ate a morsel, and left late last night, says one of the negroes. +Harry is astonished at this singular intelligence: Daddy Bob never +before was known to commit an act of unfaithfulness; he was true to +Marston in life,--strange that he should desert him in death. +"Mas'r's death-bed wasn't much at last," says Duncan, as they gather +round the cot, and, with curious faces, mingle their more curious +remarks. Harry draws back the white handkerchief which Franconia had +spread over the face of the corpse, as the negroes start back +affrighted. As of nervous contortion, the ghastly face presents an +awful picture. Swollen, discoloured, and contracted, no one outline +of that once cheerful countenance can be traced. "Don't look much +like Mas'r Marston used to look; times must a' changed mightily +since he used to look so happy at home," mutters Duncan, shaking his +head, and telling the others not to be "fear'd; dead men can't hurt +nobody." + +"Died penniless;--but e' war good on e' own plantation," rejoins +another. "One ting be sartin 'bout nigger-he know how he die wen 'e +time cum; Mas'r don know how 'e gwine to die!" + +Having seen enough of the melancholy finale, they spread the litter +in the aisle, as the warden enters the cell to facilitate the dead +debtor's exit. Harry again covers the face, and prepares to roll the +body in a coverlit brought by Duncan. "I kind of liked him-he was so +gentlemanly-has been with us so long, and did'nt seem like a +prisoner. He was very quiet, and always civil when spoken to," +interposes the warden, as, assisting the second shrouding, he +presses the hand of the corpse in his own. + +Now he is ready; they place his cold body on the litter; a few +listless prisoners stand their sickly figures along the passage, +watch him slowly borne to the iron gate in the arched vault. +Death-less inexorable than creditors-has signed his release, thrown +back prison bolts and bars, wrested him from the grasp of human +laws, and now mocks at creditors, annuls fi fas, bids the dead +debtor make his exit. Death pays no gaol fees; it makes that bequest +to creditors; but it reserves the keys of heaven for another +purpose. "One ration less," says the warden, who, closing the grated +door, casts a lingering look after the humble procession, bearing +away the remains of our departed. + +With Harry as the only follower, they proceed along, through +suburban streets, and soon reach the house of that generous woman. A +minister of the gospel awaits his coming; the good man's words are +consoling, but he cannot remodel the past for the advantage of the +dead. Soon the body is placed in a "ready-made coffin," and the good +man offers up the last funeral rites; he can do no more than invoke +the great protector to receive the departed into his bosom. + +"How the troubles of this world rise up before me! Oh! uncle! uncle! +how I could part with the world and bury my troubles in the same +grave!" exclaims Franconia, as, the ceremony having ended, they bear +the body away to its last resting-place; and, in a paroxysm of +grief, she shrieks and falls swooning to the floor. + +In a neatly inclosed plat, a short distance from the Rosebrook +Villa, and near the bank of a meandering rivulet, overhung with +mourning willows and clustering vines, they lay him to rest. The +world gave the fallen man nothing but a prison-cell wherein to +stretch his dying body; a woman gives him a sequestered grave, and +nature spreads it with her loveliest offering. It is the last +resting-place of the Rosebrook family, which their negroes, +partaking of that contentment so characteristic of the family, have +planted with flowers they nurture with tenderest care. There is +something touching in the calm beauty of the spot; something +breathing of rural contentment. It is something to be buried in a +pretty grave-to be mourned by a slave-to be loved by the untutored. +How abject the slave, and yet how true his affection! how dear his +requiem over a departed friend! "God bless master-receive his +spirit!" is heard mingling with the music of the gentle breeze, as +Harry, sitting at the head of the grave, looks upward to heaven, +while earth covers from sight the mortal relics of a once kind +master. + +It has been a day of sadness at the villa-a day of mourning and +tribulation. How different the scene in the city! There, men whisper +strange regrets. Sympathy is let loose, and is expanding itself to +an unusual degree. Who was there that did not know Marston's +generous, gushing soul! Who was there that would not have stretched +forth the helping hand, had they known his truly abject condition! +Who that was not, and had not been twenty times, on the very brink +of wresting him from the useless tyranny of his obdurate creditors! +Who that had not waited from day to day, with purse-strings open, +ready to pour forth the unmistakeable tokens of friendship! How many +were only restrained from doing good-from giving vent to the +fountains of their hospitality-through fear of being contaminated +with that scandal rumour had thrown around his decline! Over his +death hath sprung to life that curious fabric of living generosity, +so ready to bespread a grave with unneeded bounties,--so emblematic +of how many false mourners hath the dead. But Graspum would have all +such expressions shrink beneath his glowing goodness. With honied +words he tells the tale of his own honesty: his business intercourse +with the deceased was in character most generous. Many a good turn +did Marston receive at his hands; long had he been his faithful and +unwearied friend. Fierce are the words with which he would execrate +the tyrant creditors; yea, he would heap condign punishment on their +obdurate heads. Time after time did he tell them the fallen man was +penniless; how strange, then, that they tortured him to death within +prison walls. He would sweep away such vengeance, bury it with his +curses, and make obsolete such laws as give one man power to gratify +his passion on another. His burning, surging anger can find no +relief; nor can he tolerate such antiquated debtor laws: to him they +are the very essence of barbarism, tainting that enlightened +civilisation so long implanted by the State, so well maintained by +the people. It is on those ennobling virtues of state, he says, the +cherished doctrines of our democracy are founded. Graspum is, +indeed, a well-developed type of our modern democracy, the flimsy +fabric of which is well represented in the gasconade of the above +outpouring philanthropy. + +And now, as again the crimson clouds of evening soften into golden +hues-as the sun, like a fiery chariot, sinks beneath the western +landscape, and still night spreads her shadowy mantle down the +distant hills, and over the broad lagoon to the north-two sable +figures may be seen patting, sodding, and bespreading with +fresh-plucked flowers the new grave. As the rippling brook gives out +its silvery music, and earth seems drinking of the misty dew, that, +like a bridal veil, spreads over its verdant hillocks, they whisper +their requiem of regret, and mould the grave so carefully. "It's +mas'r's last," says one, smoothing the cone with his hands. + +"We will plant the tree now," returns the other, bringing forward a +young clustering pine, which he places at the head of the grave, and +on which he cuts the significant epitaph-"Good master lies here!" + +Duncan and Harry have paid their last tribute. "He is at peace with +this world," says the latter, as, at the gate, he turns to take a +last look over the paling. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +HOW WE SHOULD ALL BE FORGIVING. + + + + + +LET us forget the scenes of the foregoing chapters, and turn to +something of pleasanter hue. In the meantime, let us freely +acknowledge that we live in a land-our democratic south, we +mean-where sumptuous living and abject misery present their boldest +outlines,--where the ignorance of the many is excused by the polished +education of a very few,--where autocracy sways its lash with +bitterest absolutism,--where menial life lies prostrate at the feet +of injustice, and despairingly appeals to heaven for succour,--where +feasts and funerals rival each other,--and when pestilence, like a +glutton, sends its victims to the graveyard most, the ball-room +glitters brightest with its galaxy. Even here, where clamour cries +aloud for popular government, men's souls are most crushed-not with +legal right, but by popular will! And yet, from out all this +incongruous substance, there seems a genial spirit working itself +upon the surface, and making good its influence; and it is to that +influence we should award the credit due. That genial spirit is the +good master's protection; we would it were wider exercised for the +good of all. But we must return to our narrative. + +The Rosebrook Villa has assumed its usual cheerfulness; but while +pestilence makes sad havoc among the inhabitants of the city, gaiety +is equally rampant. In a word, even the many funeral trains which +pass along every day begin to wear a sort of cheerfulness, in +consequence of which, it is rumoured, the aristocracy-we mean those +who have money to spend-have made up their minds not to depart for +the springs yet awhile. As for Franconia, finding she could no +longer endure M'Carstrow's dissolute habits, and having been told by +that very distinguished gentleman, but unamiable husband, that he +despised the whole tribe of her poor relations, she has retired to +private boarding, where, with the five dollars a week, he, in the +outpouring of his southern generosity, allows her, she subsists +plainly but comfortably. It is, indeed, a paltry pittance, which the +M'Carstrow family will excuse to the public with the greatness of +their name. + +Harry has returned to the plantation, where the people have +smothered him in a new suit of black. Already has he preached three +sermons in it, which said sermons are declared wonderful proofs of +his biblical knowledge. Even Daddy Daniel, who expended fourteen +picayunes in a new pair of spectacles, with which to hear the new +parson more distinctly, pronounces the preaching prodigious. He is +vehement in his exultation, lavishes his praise without stint; and +as his black face glows with happiness, thanks missus for her great +goodness in thus providing for their spiritual welfare. The +Rosebrook "niggers" were always extremely respectable and well +ordered in their moral condition; but now they seem invested with a +new impulse for working out their own good; and by the advice of +missus, whom every sable son and daughter loves most dearly, Daddy +Daniel has arranged a system of evening prayer meetings, which will +be held in the little church, twice a week. And, too, there prevails +a strong desire for an evening gathering now and then, at which the +young shiners may be instructed how to grow. A curiously democratic +law, however, offers a fierce impediment to this; and Daddy Daniel +shakes his head, and aunt Peggy makes a belligerent muttering when +told such gatherings cannot take place without endangering the +state's rights. It is, nevertheless, decided that Kate, and Nan, and +Dorothy, and Webster, and Clay, and such like young folks, may go to +"settings up" and funerals, but strictly abstain from all +fandangoes. Dad Daniel and his brother deacons cannot countenance +such fiddling and dancing, such break-downs, and shoutings, and +whirlings, and flouncing and frilling, and gay ribboning, as +generally make up the evening's merriment at these fandangoes, so +prevalent on neighbouring plantations about Christmas time. "Da don' +mount to no good!" Daniel says, with a broad guffaw. "Nigger what +spect t' git hi' way up in da world bes lef dem tings." And so one +or two more screws are to be worked up for the better regulation of +the machinery of the plantation. As for Master Rosebrook-why, he +wouldn't sell a nigger for a world of money; and he doesn't care how +much they learn; the more the better, provided they learn on the +sly. They are all to be freed at a certain time, and although +freedom is sweet, without learning they might make bad use of it. +But master has had a noble object in view for some days past, and +which, after encountering many difficulties, he has succeeded in +carrying out to the great joy of all parties concerned. + +One day, as the people were all busily engaged on the plantation, +Bradshaw's familiar figure presents itself at the house, and demands +to see Harry. He has great good news, but don't want to tell him +"nofin" till he arrives at the Villa. "Ah, good man" (Bradshaw's +face beams good tidings, as he approaches Harry, and delivers a +note) "mas'r specs ye down da' wid no time loss." Bradshaw rubs his +hands, and grins, and bows, his face seeming two shades blacker than +ever, but no less cheerful. + +"Master wants me to preach somewhere, next Sunday,--I know he does," +says Harry, reading the note, which requests him to come immediately +into the city. He will prepare to obey the summons, Dan and Sprat +meanwhile taking good care of the horse and carriage, while Bradshaw +makes a friendly visit to a few of the more distinguished cabins, +and says "how de" to venerable aunties, who spread their best fare +before him, and, with grave ceremony, invite him in to refresh +before taking his return journey into the city; and Maum Betsy packs +up six of her real smart made sweet cakes for the parson and +Bradshaw to eat along the road. Betsy is in a strange state of +bewilderment to know why master wants to take the new parson away +just now, when he's so happy, and is only satisfied when assured +that he will be safely returned to-morrow. A signal is made for Dad +Daniel, who hastens to the cabin in time to see everything properly +arranged for the parson's departure, and say: "God bless 'um,--good +by!" + +"Now, what can master want with me?" enquires Harry, as, on the +road, they roll away towards the city. + +Bradshaw cracks his whip, and with a significant smile looks Harry +in the face, and returns: "Don' ax dis child no mo' sich question. +Old mas'r and me neber break secret. Tell ye dis, do'h! Old mas'r do +good ting, sartin." + +"You know, but won't tell me, eh?" rejoins Harry, his manly face +wearing a solicitous look. Bradshaw shakes his head, and adds a +cunning wink in reply. + +It is three o'clock when they arrive at the Villa, where, without +reserve, missus extends her hand, and gives him a cordial +welcome,--tells him Franconia has been waiting to see him with great +patience, and has got a present for him. Franconia comes rushing +into the hall, and is so glad to see him; but her countenance wears +an air of sadness, which does not escape his notice-she is not the +beautiful creature she was years ago, care has sadly worn upon those +rounded features. But master is there, and he looks happy and +cheerful; and there is something about the house servants, as they +gather round him to have their say, which looks of suspiciously good +omen. He cannot divine what it is; his first suspicions being +aroused by missus saying Franconia had been waiting to see him. + +"We must not call him Harry any longer-it doesn't become his +profession: now that he is Elder of my plantation flock, he must, +from this time, be called Elder!" says Rosebrook, touching him on +the arm with the right hand. And the two ladies joined in, that it +must be so. "Go into the parlour, ladies; I must say a word or two +to the Elder," continued Rosebrook, taking Harry by the arm, and +pacing through the hall into the conservatory at the back of the +house. Here, after ordering Harry to be seated, he recounts his plan +of emancipation, which, so far, has worked admirably, and, at the +time proposed, will, without doubt or danger, produce the hoped-for +result. "You, my good man," he says, "can be a useful instrument in +furthering my ends; I want you to be that instrument!" His negroes +have all an interest in their labour, which interest is preserved +for them in missus's savings-bank; and at a given time they are to +have their freedom, but to remain on the plantation if they choose, +at a stipulated rate of wages. Indeed, so strongly impressed with +the good results of his proposed system is Rosebrook, that he long +since scouted that contemptible fallacy, which must have had its +origin in the very dregs of selfishness, that the two races can only +live in proximity by one enslaving the other. Justice to each other, +he holds, will solve the problem of their living together; but, +between the oppressor and the oppressed, a volcano that may at any +day send forth its devouring flame, smoulders. Rosebrook knows +goodness always deserves its reward; and Harry assures him he never +will violate the trust. Having said thus much, he rises from his +chair, takes Harry by the arm, and leading him to the door of the +conservatory, points him to a passage leading to the right, and +says: "In there!-proceed into that passage, enter a door, first door +on the left, and then you will find something you may consider your +own." + +Harry hesitated for a moment, watched master's countenance +doubtingly, as if questioning the singular command. + +"Fear not! nobody will hurt you," continues Rosebrook. + +"Master never had a bad intention," thinks Harry; "I know he would +not harm me; and then missus is so good." Slowly and nervously he +proceeds, and on reaching the door hears a familiar "come in" +answering his nervous rap. The door opened into a neat little room, +with carpet and chairs, a mahogany bureau and prints, all so neatly +arranged, and wearing such an air of cleanliness. No sooner has he +advanced beyond the threshold than the emaciated figure of a black +sister vaults into his arms, crying, "Oh Harry! Harry! Harry!-my +dear husband!" She throws her arms about his neck, and kisses, and +kisses him, and buries her tears of joy in his bosom. How she pours +out her soul's love!-how, in rapturous embraces, her black impulses +give out the purest affection! + +"And you!-you!-you!-my own dear Jane! Is it you? Has God commanded +us to meet once more, to be happy once more, to live as heaven hath +ordained us to live?" he returns, as fervently and affectionately he +holds her in his arms, and returns her token of love. "Never! never! +I forget you, never! By night and by day I have prayed the +protecting hand of Providence to guide you through life's trials. +How my heart has yearned to meet you in heaven! happy am I we have +met once more on earth; yea, my soul leaps with joy. Forgive them, +Father, forgive them who separate us on earth, for heaven makes the +anointed!" And while they embrace thus fondly, their tears mingling +with joy, children, recognising a returned father as he entered the +door, are clinging at his feet beseechingly. He is their father;--how +like children they love! "Sam, Sue, and Beckie, too!" he says, as +one by one he takes them in his arms and kisses them. But there are +two more, sombre and strange. He had caught the fourth in his arms, +unconsciously. "Ah, Jane!" he exclaims, turning toward her, his face +filled with grief and chagrin, "they are not of me, Jane!" He still +holds the little innocent by the hand, as nervously he waits her +reply. It is not guilt, but shame, with which she returns an answer. + +"It was not my sin, Harry! It was him that forced me to live with +another,--that lashed me when I refused, and, bleeding, made me obey +the will," she returns, looking at him imploringly. Virtue is weaker +than the lash; none feel it more than the slave. She loved Harry, +she followed him with her thoughts; but it was the Christian that +reduced her to the level of the brute. Laying her coloured hand upon +his shoulder, she besought his forgiveness, as God was forgiving. + +"Why should I not forgive thee, Jane? I would not chide thee, for no +sin is on thy garments. Injustice gave master the right to sell +thee, to make of thee what he pleased. Heaven made thy soul +purest,--man thy body an outcast for the unrighteous to feast upon. +How could I withhold forgiveness, Jane? I will be a father to them, +a husband to thee; for what thou hast been compelled to do is right, +in the land we live in." So saying, he again embraces her, wipes the +tears from her eyes, and comforts her. How sweet is forgiveness! It +freshens like the dew of morning on the drooping plant; it +strengthens the weary spirit, it steals into the desponding soul, +and wakes to life new hopes of bliss,--to the slave it is sweet +indeed! + +"I will kiss them, too," he ejaculates, taking them in his arms with +the embrace of a fond father,--which simple expression of love they +return with prattling. They know not the trials of their parents; +how blessed to know them not! + +And now they gather the children around them, and seat themselves on +a little settee near the window, where Harry, overjoyed at meeting +his dear ones once more, fondles them and listens to Jane, as with +her left arm round his neck she discloses the sad tale of her +tribulation. Let us beg the reader to excuse the recital; there is +nothing fascinating in it, nor would we call forth the modest +blushes of our generous south. A few words of the woman's story, +however, we cannot omit; and we trust the forgiving will pardon +their insertion. She tells Harry she was not separated from her +children; but that Romescos, having well considered her worth, sold +her with her "young uns" to the Rev. Peter--, who had a small +plantation down in Christ's Parish. The reverend gentleman, being +born and educated to the degrading socialities of democratic states, +always says he is not to blame for "using" the rights the law gives +him; nor does he forget to express sundry regrets that he cannot see +as preachers at the north see. As for money, he thinks preachers +have just as good a right to get it as gentlemen of any other +honourable profession. Now and then he preaches to niggers; and for +telling them how they must live in the fear of the Lord, be obedient +to their master, and pay for redemption by the sweat of their brows, +he adds to his pile of coin. But he is strongly of the opinion that +niggers are inferior "brutes" of the human species, and in +furtherance of this opinion (so popular in the whole south) he +expects them to live a week on a peck of corn. As for Jane-we must +excuse the reverend gentleman, because of his faith in southern +principles-he compelled her to live with the man Absalom ere she had +been two days on his plantation, and by the same Absalom she had two +children, which materially increased the cash value of the Reverend +Peter--'s slave property. Indeed, so well is the reverend gentleman +known for his foul play, that it has been thrown up to him in open +court-by wicked planters who never had the fear of God before their +eyes-that he more than half starved his niggers, and charged them +toll for grinding their corn in his mill. Though the Reverend Peter +--never failed to assure his friends and acquaintances of his +generosity (a noble quality which had long been worthily maintained +by the ancient family to which he belonged), the light of one +generous act had never found its way to the public. In truth, so +elastically did his reverend conscientiousness expand when he +learned the strange motive which prompted Rosebrook to purchase Jane +and her little ones, that he sorely regretted he had not put two +hundred dollars more on the price of the lot. Fortunately Jane was +much worn down by grief and toil, and was viewed by the reverend +gentleman as a piece of property he would rather like to dispose of +to the best advantage, lest she should suddenly make a void in his +dollars and cents by sliding into some out of the way grave-yard. +But Rosebrook, duly appreciating the unchristian qualities of our +worthy one's generosity, kept his motive a profound secret until the +negociation was completed. Now that it had become known that the +Reverend Peter--(who dresses in blackest black, most +sanctimoniously cut, whitest neckcloth wedded to his holy neck, and +face so simply serious) assures Rosebrook he has got good +people,--they are valuably promising-he will pray for them, that the +future may prosper their wayfaring. He cannot, however, part with +the good man without admonishing him how dangerous it is to give +unto "niggers" the advantage of a superior position. + +Reader, let us hope the clergy of the south will take heed lest by +permitting their brethren to be sold and stolen in this manner they +bring the profession into contempt. Let us hope the southern church +will not much longer continue to bring pure Christianity into +disgrace by serving ends so vile that heaven and earth frowns upon +them; for false is the voice raised in sanctimony to heaven for +power to make a footstool of a fallen race! + + + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +CONTAINING VARIOUS MATTERS. + + + + + +GREAT regularity prevails on the Rosebrook plantation, and cheering +are the prospects held out to those who toil thereon. Mrs. Rosebrook +has dressed Jane (Harry's wife) in a nice new calico, which, with +her feet encased in shining calf-skin shoes, and her head done up in +a bandana, with spots of great brightness, shows her lean figure to +good advantage. Like a good wife, happy with her own dear husband, +she pours forth the emotions of a grateful heart, and feels that the +world-not so bad after all-has something good in store for her. And +then Harry looks even better than he did on Master Marston's +plantation; and, with their little ones-sable types of their +parents-dressed so neatly, they must be happy. And now that they are +duly installed at the plantation, where Harry pursues his duties as +father of the flock, and Jane lends her cheering voice and helping +hand to make comfort in the various cabins complete-and with Dad +Daniel's assurance that the people won't go astray-we must leave +them for a time, and beg the reader's indulgence while following us +through another phase of the children's history. + +A slave is but a slave--an article subject to all the fluctuations of +trade--a mere item in the scale of traffic, and reduced to serving +the ends of avarice or licentiousness. This is a consequence +inseparable from his sale. It matters not whether the blood of the +noblest patriot course in his veins, his hair be of flaxen +brightness, his eyes of azure blue, his skin of Norman whiteness, +and his features classic,--he can be no more than a slave, and as +such must yield to the debasing influences of an institution that +crushes and curses wherever it exists. In proof of this, we find the +bright eyes of our little Annette, glowing with kindliest love, +failing to thaw the frozen souls of man-dealers. Nay, bright eyes +only lend their aid to the law that debases her life. She has become +valuable only as a finely and delicately developed woman, whose +appearance in the market will produce sharp bidding, and a deal of +dollars and cents. Graspum never lost an opportunity of trimming up +these nice pieces of female property, making the money invested in +them turn the largest premium, and satisfying his customers that, so +far as dealing in the brightest kind of fancy stock was concerned, +he is not a jot behind the most careful selecter in the Charleston +market. Major John Bowling--who is very distinguished, having +descended from the very ancient family of that name, and is highly +thought of by the aristocracy--has made the selection of such +merchandise his particular branch of study for more than fourteen +years. In consequence of the major's supposed taste, his pen was +hitherto most frequented by gentlemen and connoisseur; but now +Graspum assures all respectable people, gentlemen of acknowledged +taste, and young men who are cultivating their way up in the world, +that his selections are second to none; of this he will produce +sufficient proof, provided customers will make him a call and look +into the area of his fold. The fold itself is most uninviting (it +is, he assures us, owing to his determination to carry out the faith +of his plain democracy); nevertheless, it contains the white, +beautiful, and voluptuous,--all for sale. In fact--the truth must be +told--Mr. Graspum assures the world that he firmly believes there is +a sort of human nature extant--he is troubled sometimes to know just +where the line breaks off--which never by any possibility could have +been intended for any thing but the other to traffic in-to turn into +the most dollars and cents. In proof of this principle he kept +Annette until she had well nigh merged into womanhood, or until such +time as she became a choice marketable article, with eyes worth so +much; nose, mouth, so much; pretty auburn hair, worth so much; and +fine rounded figure--with all its fascinating appurtenances--worth so +much;--the whole amounting to so much; to be sold for so much, the +nice little profit being chalked down on the credit side of his +formidable ledger, in which stands recorded against his little soul +(he knows will get to heaven) the sale of ten thousand black souls, +which will shine in brightness when his is refused admittance to the +portal above. + +Having arrived at the point most marketable, he sells her to Mr. +Gurdoin Choicewest, who pays no less a sum than sixteen hundred +dollars in hard cash for the unyielding beauty-money advanced to him +by his dear papa, who had no objection to his having a pretty +coloured girl, provided Madam Choicewest-most indulgent mother she +was, too-gave her consent; and she said she was willing, provided-; +and now, notwithstanding she was his own, insisted on the +preservation of her virtue, or death. Awful dilemma, this! To lash +her will be useless; and the few kicks she has already received have +not yet begun to thaw her frozen determination. Such an unyielding +thing is quite useless for the purpose for which young Choicewest +purchased her. What must be done with her? The older Choicewest is +consulted, and gives it as his decided opinion that there is one of +two things the younger Choicewest must do with this dear piece of +property he has so unfortunately got on his hands,--he must sell her, +or tie her up every day and pump her with cold water, say fifteen +minutes at a time. Pumping niggers, the elder Mr. Choicewest +remarks, with the coolness of an Austrian diplomatist, has a +wondrous effect upon them; "it makes 'em give in when nothing else +will." He once had four prime fellows, who, in stubbornness, seemed +a match for Mr. Beelzebub himself. He lashed them, and he burned +them, and he clipped their ears; and then he stretched them on +planks, thinking they would cry "give in" afore the sockets of their +joints were drawn out; but it was all to no purpose, they were as +unyielding as granite. + +About that time there was a celebrated manager of negroes keeping +the prison. This clever functionary had a peculiar way of bringing +the stubbornness out of them; so he consigned the four unbending +rascals to his skill. And this very valuable and very skilful +gaol-keeper had a large window in his establishment, with iron bars +running perpendicular; to the inside of which he would strap the +four stubborn rascals, with their faces scientifically arranged +between the bars, to prevent the moving of a muscle. Thus caged, +their black heads bound to the grating, the scientific gaoler, who +was something of a humourist withal, would enjoy a nice bit of fun +at seeing the more favoured prisoners (with his kind permission) +exercise their dexterity in throwing peas at the faces of the +bounden. How he would laugh-how the pea-punishing prisoners would +enjoy it-how the fast bound niggers, foaming with rage and maddened +to desperation, would bellow, as their very eyeballs darted fire and +blood! What grand fun it was! bull-baiting sank into a mere shadow +beside it. The former was measuredly passive, because the bull only +roared, and pitched, and tossed; whereas here the sport was made +more exhilarating by expressions of vengeance or implorings. And +then, as a change of pastime, the skilful gaoler would demand a +cessation of the pea hostilities, and enjoin the commencement of the +water war; which said war was carried out by supplying about a dozen +prisoners with as many buckets, which they would fill with great +alacrity, and, in succession, throw the contents with great force +over the unyielding, from the outside. The effect of this on naked +men, bound with chains to iron bars, may be imagined; but the older +Choicewest declares it was a cure. It brought steel out of the +"rascals," and made them as submissive as shoe-strings. Sometimes +the jolly prisoners would make the bath so strong, that the niggers +would seem completely drowned when released; but then they'd soon +come to with a jolly good rolling, a little hartshorn applied to +their nostrils, and the like of that. About a dozen times putting +through the pea and water process cured them. + +So says the very respectable Mr. Choicewest, with great dignity of +manners, as he seriously advises the younger Choicewest to try a +little quantity of the same sort on his now useless female purchase. +Lady Choicewest must, however, be consulted on this point, as she is +very particular about the mode in which all females about her +establishment are chastised. Indeed, Lady Choicewest is much +concerned about the only male, heir of the family, to whom she looks +forward for very distinguished results to the family name. The +family (Lady Choicewest always assures those whom she graciously +condescends to admit into the fashionable precincts of her small but +very select circle), descended from the very ancient and chivalric +house of that name, whose celebrated estate was in Warwickshire, +England; and, in proof of this, my Lady Choicewest invariably points +to a sad daub, illustrative of some incomprehensible object, +suspended over the antique mantelpiece. With methodical grace, and +dignity which frowns with superlative contempt upon every thing very +vulgar--for she says "she sublimely detests them very low creatures +what are never brought up to manners at the north, and are worse +than haystacks to larn civility"--my lady solicits a near inspection +of this wonderful hieroglyphic, which she tells us is the family +arms,--an ancient and choice bit of art she would not part with for +the world. If her friends evince any want of perception in tracing +the many deeds of valour it heralds, on behalf of the noble family +of which she is an undisputed descendant, my lady will at once enter +upon the task of instruction; and with the beautiful fore-finger of +her right hand, always jewelled with great brilliancy, will she +satisfactorily enlighten the stupid on the fame of the ancient +Choicewest family, thereon inscribed. With no ordinary design on the +credulity of her friends, Lady Choicewest has several times strongly +intimated that she was not quite sure that one or two of her +ancestors in the male line of the family were not reigning dukes as +far down as the noble reign of the ignoble Oliver Cromwell! The +question, nevertheless, is whether the honour of the ancient +Choicewest family descended from Mr. or Mrs. Choicewest. The vulgar +mass have been known to say (smilingly) that Lady Choicewest's name +was Brown, the father of which very ancient family sold herrings and +small pigs at a little stand in the market: this, however, was a +very long time ago, and, as my lady is known to be troubled with an +exceedingly crooked memory, persons better acquainted with her are +more ready to accept the oblivious excuse. + +Taking all these things into consideration, my Lady Choicewest is +exceedingly cautious lest young Gourdoin Choicewest should do aught +to dishonour the family name; and on this strange perplexity in +which her much indulged son is placed being referred to her, she +gives it as her most decided opinion that the wench, if as obstinate +as described, had better be sold to the highest bidder-the sooner +the better. My lady lays great emphasis on "the sooner the better." +That something will be lost she has not the slightest doubt; but +then it were better to lose a little in the price of the stubborn +wretch, than to have her always creating disturbance about the +genteel premises. In furtherance of this-my lady's mandate-Annette +is sold to Mr. Blackmore Blackett for the nice round sum of fifteen +hundred dollars. Gourdoin Choicewest hates to part with the beauty, +grieves and regrets,--she is so charmingly fascinating. "Must let her +slide, though; critter won't do at all as I wants her to," he lisps, +regretting the serious loss of the dollars. His friend Blackmore +Blackett, however, is a gentleman, and therefore he would not +deceive him in the wench: hence he makes the reduction, because he +finds her decidedly faulty. Had Blackmore Blackett been a regular +flesh trader, he would not have scrupled to take him in. As it is, +gentlemen must always be gentlemen among themselves. Blackett, a +gentleman of fortune, who lives at his ease in the city, and has the +very finest taste for female beauty, was left, most unfortunately, a +widower with four lovely daughters, any one of which may be +considered a belle not to be rung by gentlemen of ordinary rank or +vulgar pretension. In fact, the Blackett girls are considered very +fine specimens of beauty, are much admired in society, and expect +ere long, on the clear merit of polish, to rank equal with the first +aristocracy of the place. + +Mr. Blackmore Blackett esteems himself an extremely lucky fellow in +having so advantageously procured such a nice piece of property,--so +suited to his taste. Her price, when compared with her singularly +valuable charms, is a mere nothing; and, too, all his fashionable +friends will congratulate him upon his good fortune. But as +disappointments will come, so Mr. Blackmore Blackett finds he has +got something not quite so valuable as anticipated; however, being +something of a philosopher, he will improve upon the course pursued +by the younger Choicewest: he makes his first advances with great +caution; whispers words of tenderness in her ear; tells her his +happy jewel for life she must be. Remembering her mother, she turns +a deaf ear to Mr. Blackett's pleadings. The very cabin which he has +provided for her in the yard reminds her of that familiar domicile +on Marston's plantation. Neither by soft pleadings, nor threatenings +of sale to plantation life, nor terrors of the lash, can he soften +the creature's sympathies, so that the flesh may succumb. When he +whispered soft words and made fascinating promises, she would shake +her head and move from him; when he threatened, she would plead her +abject position; when he resorted to force, she would struggle with +him, making the issue her virtue or death. Once she paid the penalty +of her struggles with a broken wrist, which she shows us more in +sorrow than anger. Annette is beautiful but delicate; has soft eyes +beaming with the fulness of a great soul; but they were sold, +once,--now, sympathy for her is dead. The law gives her no protection +for her virtue; the ruffian may violate it, and Heaven only can +shelter it with forgiveness. As for Blackett, he has no forgiveness +in his temperament,--passion soars highest with him; he would slay +with violent hands the minion who dared oppose its triumph. + +About this time, Mr. Blackett, much to his surprise, finds a storm +of mischief brewing about his domestic domain. The Miss Blacketts, +dashing beauties, have had it come to their ears over and over again +that all the young men about the city say Annette Mazatlin (as she +is now called) is far more beautiful than any one of the Blacketts. +This is quite enough to kindle the elements of a female war. In the +south nothing can spread the war of jealousy and vanity with such +undying rage as comparing slave beauty with that of the more +favoured of the sexes. A firman of the strongest kind is now issued +from the portfolio of the Miss Blacketts, forbidding the wretched +girl entering the house; and storms of abuse are plentifully and +very cheaply lavished on her head, ere she puts it outside the +cabin. She was a nasty, impudent hussy; the very worst of all kind +of creatures to have about a respectable mansion,--enough to shock +respectable people! The worst of it was, that the miserable white +nigger thought she was handsome, and a lot of young, silly-headed +men flattered her vanity by telling the fool she was prettier than +the Blacketts themselves,--so said the very accomplished Miss +Blacketts. And if ever domicile was becoming too warm for man to +live in, in consequence of female indignation, that one was Mr. +Blackmore Blackett's. It was not so much that the father had +purchased this beautiful creature to serve fiendish purposes. Oh +no!-that was a thing of every-day occurrence,--something excusable in +any respectable man's family. It was beauty rivalling, fierce and +jealous of its compliments. Again, the wretch-found incorrigible, +and useless for the purpose purchased-is sold. Poor, luckless +maiden! she might add, as she passed through the hands of so many +purchasers. This time, however, she is less valuable from having +fractured her left wrist, deformity being always taken into account +when such property is up at the flesh shambles. But Mr. Blackmore +Blackett has a delicacy about putting her up under the hammer just +now, inasmuch as he could not say she was sold for no fault; while +the disfigured wrist might lead to suspicious remarks concerning his +treatment of her. Another extremely unfortunate circumstance was its +getting all about the city that she was a cold, soulless thing, who +declared that sooner than yield to be the abject wretch men sought +to make her, she would die that only death. She had but one life, +and it were better to yield that up virtuously than die degraded. +Graspum, then, is the only safe channel in which to dispose of the +like. That functionary assures Mr. Blackmore Blackett that the girl +is beautiful, delicate, and an exceedingly sweet creature yet! but +that during the four months she has depreciated more than fifty per +cent in value. His remarks may be considered out of place, but they +are none the less true, for it is ascertained, on private +examination, that sundry stripes have been laid about her bare +loins. Gurdoin Choicewest declared to his mother that he never for +once had laid violent hands on the obstinate wench; Mr. Blackmore +Blackett stood ready to lay his hand on the Bible, and lift his eyes +to heaven for proof of his innocence; but a record of the +infliction, indelible of blood, remained there to tell its sad +tale,--to shame, if shame had aught in slavery whereon to make itself +known. Notwithstanding this bold denial, it is found that Mr. +Blackmore Blackett did on two occasions strip her and secure her +hands and feet to the bed-post, where he put on "about six at a +time," remarkably "gently." He admired her symmetrical form, her +fine, white, soft, smooth skin-her voluptuous limbs, so beautifully +and delicately developed; and then there was so much gushing +sweetness, mingled with grief, in her face, as she cast her soft +glances upon him, and implored him to end her existence, or save her +such shame! Such, he says, laconically, completely disarmed him, and +he only switched her a few times. + +"She's not worth a dot more than a thousand dollars. I couldn't give +it for her, because I couldn't make it out on her. The fact is, +she'll get a bad name by passing through so many hands-a deuced bad +name!" says Graspum, whose commercial language is politically cold. +"And then there's her broken wrist-doubtful! doubtful! doubtful! +what I can do with her. For a plantation she isn't worth seven +coppers, and sempstresses and housemaids of her kind are looked on +suspiciously. It's only with great nicety of skill ye can work such +property to advantage," he continues, viewing her in one of Mr. +Blackmore Blackett's ante-rooms. + +The upshot of the matter is, that Mr. Blackmore Blackett accepts the +offer, and Graspum, having again taken the damaged property under +his charge, sends it back to his pen. As an offset for the broken +wrist, she has three new dresses, two of which were presented by the +younger Choicewest, and one by the generous Blackmore Blackett. + +Poor Annette! she leaves for her home in the slave-pen, sad at +heart, and in tears. "My mother! Oh, that I had a mother to love me, +to say Annette so kindly,--to share with me my heart's bitter +anguish. How I could love Nicholas, now that there is no mother to +love me!" she mutters as she sobs, wending her way to that place of +earthly torment. How different are the feelings of the oppressor. He +drinks a social glass of wine with his friend Blackett, lights his +cigar most fashionably, bids him a polite good morning, and +intimates that a cheque for the amount of the purchase will be ready +any time he may be pleased to call. And now he wends his way +homeward, little imagining what good fortune awaits him at the pen +to which he has despatched his purchase. + +Annette has reached the pen, in which she sits, pensively, holding +her bonnet by the strings, the heavy folds of her light auburn hair +hanging dishevelled over her shoulders. Melancholy indeed she is, +for she has passed an ordeal of unholy brutality. Near her sits one +Pringle Blowers, a man of coarse habits, who resides on his +rice-plantation, a few miles from the city, into which he frequently +comes, much to the annoyance of quietly disposed citizens and +guardsmen, who are not unfrequently called upon to preserve the +peace he threatens to disturb. Dearly does he love his legitimate +brandy, and dearly does it make him pay for the insane frolics it +incites him to perpetrate, to the profit of certain saloons, and +danger of persons. Madman under the influence of his favourite +drink, a strange pride besets his faculties, which is only appeased +with the demolition of glass and men's faces. For this strange +amusement he has become famous and feared; and as the light of his +own besotted countenance makes its appearance, citizens generally +are not inclined to interpose any obstacle to the exercise of his +belligerent propensities. + +Here he sits, viewing Annette with excited scrutiny. Never before +has he seen anything so pretty, so bright, so fascinating-all +clothed with a halo of modesty-for sale in the market. The nigger is +completely absorbed in the beauty, he mutters to himself: and yet +she must be a nigger or she would not be here. That she is an +article of sale, then, there can be no doubt. "Van, yer the nicest +gal I've seen! Reckon how Grasp. paid a tall shot for ye, eh?" he +says, in the exuberance of his fascinated soul. He will draw nearer +to her, toss her undulating hair, playfully, and with seeming +unconsciousness draw his brawny hand across her bosom. "Didn't mean +it!" he exclaims, contorting his broad red face, as she puts out her +hand, presses him from her, and disdains his second attempt. "Pluck, +I reckon! needn't put on mouths, though, when a feller's only +quizzin." He shrugs his great round shoulders, and rolls his wicked +eyes. + +"I am not for you, man!" she interrupts: "I would scorn you, were I +not enslaved," she continues, a curl of contempt on her lip, as her +very soul kindles with grief. Rising quickly from his side she +walked across the pen, and seated herself on the opposite side. Here +she casts a frowning look upon him, as if loathing his very +presence. This, Mr. Pringle Blowers don't altogether like: slaves +have no right to look loathingly on white people. His flushed face +glows red with excitement; he runs his brawny fingers through the +tufted mats of short curly hair that stand almost erect on his head, +draws his capacious jaws into a singular angle, and makes a hideous +grimace. + +The terrified girl has no answer to make; she is a forlorn outcast +of democracy's rule. He takes the black ribbon from round his neck, +bares his bosom more broadly than before, throws the plaid sack in +which he is dressed from off him, and leaping as it were across the +room, seizes her in his arms. "Kisses are cheap, I reckon, and a +feller what don't have enough on 'em 's a fool," he ejaculates, as +with a desperate struggle she bounds from his grasp, seizes the +knife from a negro's hand as she passes him, and is about to plunge +the shining steel into her breast. "Oh, mother, mother!-what have I +done?-is not God my Saviour?-has he forsaken me?-left me a prey to +those who seek my life?" + +"I settle those things," said a voice in the rear, and immediately a +hand grasped her arm, and the knife fell carelessly upon the floor. +It was Graspum; the sudden surprise overcame her; she sank back in +his arms, and swooned. "She swoons,--how limber, how lifeless she +seems!" says Graspum, as with great coolness he calls a negro +attendant, orders him to remove her to the grass plat, and bathe her +well with cold water. "A good dowsing of water is the cure for +fainting niggers," he concludes. + +The black man takes her in his arms, and with great kindness, lays +her on the plat, bathes her temples, loosens her dress, and with his +rough hand manipulates her arms. How soft and silky they seem to his +touch! "Him hard to slave ye, miss," he says, laying his hand upon +her temples, gently, as with commiseration he looks intently on her +pallid features. + +"Now, Blowers," says Graspum, as soon as they are by themselves, +"what in the name of the Gentiles have you been up to?" + +"Wal-can't say its nothin, a'cos that wouldn't do. But, ye see, the +critter made my mouth water so; there was no standin on't! And I +wanted to be civil, and she wouldn't,--and I went t' fumlin with her +hair what looked so inviting, as there was no resistin on't, and she +looked just as sassy as sixty; and to stun the whole, when I only +wanted to kiss them ar' temptin lips, the fool was going to kill +herself. It wasn't how I cared two buttons about it; but then the +feelin just came over me at the time," he answers, shaking his huge +sides, giving Graspum a significant wink, and laughing heartily. + +"Never at a loss, I see!" returns the other, nodding his head, +pertinently: "If I didn't know ye, Blowers, that might go down +without sticking." + +"Ye don't tell where ye raised that critter, eh?" he interrupts, +inquisitively, pointing his thumb over his right shoulder, and +crooking his finger, comically. + +"Raised her with shiners-lots on 'em!" he rejoins, pushing Mr. +Pringle Blowers in the stomach, playfully, with his forefinger. + +"Graspum! yer a wicked 'un." + +"Suit ye, kind 'a-eh, Blowers?" he rejoins, enquiringly, maintaining +great gravity of manner as he watches each change of Blowers' +countenance. + +Blowers laughs in reply. His laugh has something sardonic in it, +seeming more vicious as he opens his great wicked mouth, and +displays an ugly row of coloured teeth. + +"Sit down, Blowers, sit down!" says Graspum, motioning his hand, +with a studied politeness. The two gentlemen take seats side by +side, on a wooden bench, stretched across the centre of the pen, for +negroes to sit upon. "As I live, Blowers, thar ain't another +individual like you in the county. You can whip a file of common +guardsmen, put the Mayor's court through a course of affronts, +frighten all the females out of the fashionable houses, treat a +regiment of volunteers, drink a bar-room dry-" + +"Compliments thick, long and strong," interposes Blowers, winking +and wiping his mouth. "Can elect half the members of the assembly!" +he concludes. + +"True! nevertheless," rejoins Graspum, "a great man cannot be +flattered-compliments are his by merit! And the city knows you're a +man of exquisite taste." + +Blowers interrupts with a loud laugh, as he suggests the propriety +of seeing the "gal get round again." + +"Not so fast, Blowers; not so fast!" Graspum ejaculates, as Blowers +is about to rise from his seat and follow Annette. + +"Well, now!" returns Blowers, remaining seated, "Might just as well +come square to the mark,--ye want to sell me that wench?" + +"Truth's truth!" he replies. "Blowers is the man who's got the gold +to do it." + +"Name yer price; and no rounding the corners!" exclaims Blowers, his +countenance quickening with animation. He takes Graspum by the arm +with his left hand, turns him half round, and waits for a reply. + +Seeing it's Blowers, (the keen business man replies, in an off-hand +manner), who's a trump in his way, and don't care for a few dollars, +he'll take seventeen hundred for her, tin down; not a fraction less! +He will have no bantering, inasmuch as his friends all know that he +has but one price for niggers, from which it is no use to seek a +discount. Mr. Blowers, generally a good judge of such articles, +would like one more view at it before fully making up his mind. +Graspum calls "Oh, boy!" and the negro making his appearance, says: +"Dat gal 'um all right agin; went mos asleep, but am right as +parched pen now." + +"Have her coming," he returns, facing Blowers. "Nothing the matter +with that gal," he exclaims, touching his elbow. "It is merely one of +her flimsy fits; she hasn't quite come to maturity." + +Slowly the negro leads her, weeping (Graspum says they will cry-it's +natural!) into the presence of the far-famed and much-feared Mr. +Pringle Blowers. Her hair hangs carelessly about her neck and +shoulders, the open incision of her dress discloses a neatly worked +stomacher; how sweetly glows the melancholy that broods over her +countenance! "I'll take her-I'll take her!" exclaims Blowers, in +spasmodic ecstasy. + +"I know'd you would; I'll suit you to a charm," rejoins the man of +trade, laconically, as the negro steps a few feet backward, and +watches the process. "Considers it a trade," is the reply of +Blowers, as he orders his waggon to be brought to the door. + +"Oh! master, master! save me-save me! and let me die in peace. +Don't, good master, don't sell me again!" Thus saying she falls on +her knees at Graspum's feet, and with hands uplifted beseeches him +to save her from the hands of a man whose very sight she loathes. +She reads the man's character in his face; she knows too well the +hellish purpose for which he buys her. Bitter, bitter, are the tears +of anguish she sheds at his feet, deep and piercing are her +bemoanings. Again her soft, sorrowing eyes wander in prayer to +heaven: as Graspum is a husband, a brother, and a father,--whose +children are yet in the world's travel of uncertainty, she beseeches +him to save her from that man. + +"Don't be mad, girl," he says, pushing her hand from him. + +"Frightened, eh? Make ye love me, yet! Why, gal, ye never had such a +master in the world as I'll be to ye. I lay I makes a lady on ye, +and lets ye have it all yer own way, afore a fortnight," he rejoins, +spreading his brawny arms over her, as she, in an attitude of +fright, vaults from beneath them, and, uttering a faint cry, glides +crouching into a corner of the pen. There is no protection for her +now; her weepings and implorings fall harmless on the slavedealer's +ears; heaven will protect her when earth knows her no more! + +"There's two can play a game like that, gal!" exclaims Blowers. +"Rough play like that don't do with this ere citizen. Can just take +the vixen out on a dozen on ye as what don't know what's good for +'em." Blowers is evidently allowing his temper to get the better of +him. He stands a few feet from her, makes grim his florid face, +gesticulates his hands, and daringly advances toward her as the +negro announces the arrival of his waggon. + +"You must go with him, girl; stop working yourself into a fever; +stop it, I say," interposes Graspum, peremptorily. "The waggon! the +waggon! the waggon! to carry me away, away;--never, never to return +and see my mother?" she exclaims, as well nigh in convulsions she +shrieks, when Blowers grasps her in his arms (Graspum saying, be +gentle, Blowers), drags her to the door, and by force thrusts her +into the waggon, stifling her cries as on the road they drive +quickly away. As the last faint wail dies away, and the vehicle +bearing its victim disappears in the distance, we think how sweet is +liberty, how prone to injustice is man, how crushing of right are +democracy's base practices. + +"Does seem kind of hard; but it's a righteous good sale. Shouldn't +wonder if she played the same game on him she did with t'other two +fools. Get her back then, and sell her over again. Well! come now; +there's no great loss without-some-small-gain!" says Graspum, as, +standing his prominent figure in the door of his man pen, he watches +the woman pass out of sight, thrusts his hands deep into his +breeches pockets, and commences humming an air for his own special +amusement. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +NICHOLAS'S SIMPLE STORY. + + + + + +THE reader will remember that we left Nicholas seeking his way to +Mr. Grabguy's workshop, situated in the outskirts of the city. And +we must here inform him that considerable change in the social +position of the younger Grabguy family has taken place since we left +them, which is some years ago. The elder Grabguy, who, it will be +remembered, was very distinguished as his Worship the Mayor of the +City (that also was some years ago), has departed this life, leaving +the present principal of the Grabguy family a large portion of his +estate, which, being mostly of "nigger property," requires some +little transforming before it can be made to suit his more extended +business arrangements. This material addition to the already well- +reputed estate of Mr. Grabguy warrants his admittance into very +respectable, and, some say, rather distinguished society. Indeed, it +is more than whispered, that when the question of admitting Mr. and +Mrs. Grabguy to the membership of a very select circle, the saintly +cognomen of which is as indefinable as its system of selecting +members, or the angles presented by the nasal organs of a few ladies +when anything short of the very first families are proposed, there +were seven very fashionable ladies for, and only three against. The +greatest antagonist the Grabguys have to getting into the embrace of +this very select circle is Mrs. Chief Justice Pimpkins, a matronly +body of some fifty summers, who declares there can be no judge in +the world so clever as her own dear Pimpkins, and that society was +becoming so vulgar and coarse, and so many low people-whose English +was as hopefully bad as could be, and who never spoke when they +didn't impugn her risible nerves-were intruding themselves upon its +polished sanctity, that she felt more and more every day the +necessity of withdrawing entirely from it, and enjoying her own +exclusively distinguished self. In the case of Grabguy's admittance +to the St. Cecilia, my Lady Pimpkins-she is commonly called Lady +Chief Justice Pimpkins-had two most formidable black balls; the +first because Mrs. Grabguy's father was a bread-baker, and the +second that the present Grabguy could not be considered a gentleman +while he continued in mechanical business. Another serious objection +Mrs. Pimpkins would merely suggest as a preventive;--such people +were ill suited to mix with titled and other distinguished society! +But, Grabguy, to make up for the vexatious rejection, has got to be +an alderman, which is a step upward in the scale of his father's +attained distinction. There is nothing more natural, then, than that +Grabguy should seek his way up in the world, with the best means at +his hands; it is a worthy trait of human nature, and is as natural +to the slave. In this instance-when master and slave are both +incited to a noble purpose-Grabguy is a wealthy alderman, and +Nicholas-the whiter of the two-his abject slave. The master, a man +of meagre mind, and exceedingly avaricious, would make himself +distinguished in society; the slave, a mercurial being of +impassioned temper, whose mind is quickened by a sense of the +injustice that robs him of his rights, seeks only freedom and what +may follow in its order. + +Let us again introduce the reader to Nicholas, as his manly figure, +marked with impressive features, stands before us, in Grabguy's +workshop. Tall, and finely formed, he has grown to manhood, +retaining all the quick fiery impulses of his race. Those black eyes +wandering irresistibly, that curl of contempt that sits upon his +lip, that stare of revenge that scowls beneath those heavy eyebrows, +and that hate of wrong that ever and anon pervades the whole, tell +how burns in his heart the elements of a will that would brave death +for its rights-that would bear unmoved the oppressor's lash-that +would embrace death rather than yield to perfidy. He tells us-"I +came here, sold-so they said-by God's will. Well. I thought to +myself, isn't this strange, that a curious God-they tell me he loves +everybody-should sell me? It all seemed like a misty waste to me. I +remembered home-I learned to read, myself-I remembered mother, I +loved her, but she left me, and I have never seen her since. I loved +her, dear mother! I did love her; but they said she was gone far +away, and I musn't mind if I never see'd her again. It seemed hard +and strange, but I had to put up with it, for they said I never had +a father, and my mother had no right to me" (his piercing black eyes +glare, as fervently he says, mother!). "I thought, at last, it was +true, for everybody had a right to call me nigger,--a blasted white +nigger, a nigger as wouldn't be worth nothing. And then they used to +kick me, and cuff me, and lash me; and if nigger was nigger I was +worse than a nigger, because every black nigger was laughing at me, +and telling me what a fool of a white nigger I was;--that white +niggers was nobody, could be nobody, and was never intended for +nobody, as nobody knew where white niggers come from. But I didn't +believe all this; it warn't sensible. Something said-Nicholas! +you're just as good as anybody: learn to read, write, and cypher, +and you'll be something yet. And this something-I couldn't tell what +it was, nor could I describe it-seemed irresistible in its power to +carry me to be that somebody it prompted in my feelings. I was +white, and when I looked at myself I knew I wasn't a nigger; and +feeling that everybody could be somebody, I began to look forward to +the time when I should rise above the burden of misfortune that +seemed bearing me down into the earth. And then, Franconia, like a +sister, used to come to me, and say so many kind things to me that I +felt relieved, and resolved to go forward. Then I lost sight of +Franconia, and saw nobody I knew but Annette; and she seemed so +pretty, and loved me so affectionately. How long it seems since I +have seen her! She dressed me so nicely, and parted my hair, and +kissed me so kindly; and said good-by, when I left her, so in +regret, I never can forget it. And it was then they said I was sold. +Mr. Graspum said he owned me, and owning me was equal to doing what +he pleased with me. Then I went home to Mr. Grabguy's; and they said +Mr. Grabguy owned me just as he owned his great big dog they called +a democratic bull-dog, the foreman said he paid a democratic +ten-dollar gold piece for. They used to say the only difference +between me and the dog was, that the dog could go where he pleased +without being lashed, and I couldn't. And the dog always got enough +to eat, and seemed a great favourite with everybody, whereas I got +only more kicks than cucumbers, didn't seem liked by anybody, and if +I got enough to eat I had nobody to thank but good old Margery, the +cook, who was kind to me now and then, and used to say-"I like you, +Nicholas!" And that used to make me feel so happy! Old Margery was +coal-black; but I didn't care for that,--the knowledge of somebody +loving you is enough to light up the happy of life, and make the +heart feel contented. In this manner my thoughts went here and there +and everywhere; and the truth is, I had so many thoughts, that I got +completely bewildered in thinking how I was to better myself, and be +like other folks. Mr. Grabguy seemed kind to me at first,--said he +would make a great mechanic of me, and give me a chance to buy +myself. I didn't know what this "buy myself" meant, at first. But I +soon found out-he tells us he must speak with caution-that I must +pay so many hundred dollars afore I could be like other folks. The +kindness Mr. Grabguy at first exhibited for me didn't last long; he +soon began to kick me, and cuff me, and swear at me. And it 'pear'd +to me as if I never could please anybody, and so my feelings got so +embittered I didn't know what to do. I was put into the shop among +the men, and one said Nigger, here! and another said, Nigger, get +there!-and they all seemed not to be inclined to help me along. And +then I would get in a passion: but that never made things better. +The foreman now and then said a kind word to me; and whenever he +did, it made my heart feel so good that I seemed a new being with +brighter hopes. Well, Mr. Grabguy put me to turning the grindstone, +first; and from turning the grindstone-the men used to throw water +in my face when they ground their chisels, and their plane irons, +and axes and adzes-I was learned to saw, and to plain boards, and +then to mortice and frame, and make mouldings, and window-sashes, +and door-frames. When I could do all these, master used to say I was +bound to make a great workman, and, laughingly, would say I was the +most valuable property he ever owned. About this time I began to +find out how it was that the other white folks owned themselves and +master owned me; but then, if I said anything about it, master might +tie me up and lash me as he used to do; and so I remained quiet, but +kept up a thinking. By and by I got perfect at the carpenter's +trade, and I learned engineering; and when I had got engineering +perfect, I took a fancy for making stucco work and images. And +people said I learned wondrously fast, and was the best workman far +or near. Seeing these things, people used to be coming to me, and +talking to me about my value, and then end by wanting me to make +them specimens of stucco. I seemed liked by everybody who came to +see me, and good people had a kind word for me; but Mr. Grabguy was +very strict, and wouldn't allow me to do anything without his +permission. People said my work was perfect, and master said I was a +perfect piece of property; and it used to pain deep into my heart +when master spoke so. Well! I got to be a man, and when the foreman +got drunk master used to put me in his place. And after a while I +got to be foreman altogether: but I was a slave, they said, and men +wouldn't follow my directions when master was away; they all +acknowledged that I was a good workman, but said a nigger never +should be allowed to direct and order white people. That made my +very blood boil, as I grew older, because I was whiter than many of +them. However, submit was the word; and I bore up and trusted to +heaven for deliverance, hoping the day would come soon when its will +would be carried out. With my knowledge of mechanics increased a +love of learning, which almost amounted to a passion. They said it +was against the law for a nigger to read; but I was raised so far +above black niggers that I didn't mind what the law said: so I got +'Pilgrim's Progress,' and the Bible, and 'Young's Night Thoughts,' +and from them I learned great truths: they gave me new hopes, +refreshed my weary soul, and made me like a new-clothed being ready +to soar above the injustice of this life. Oh, how I read them at +night, and re-read them in the morning, and every time found +something new in them, something that suited my case! Through the +sentiments imbibed from them I saw freedom hanging out its light of +love, fascinating me, and inciting me to make a death struggle to +gain it. + +"One day, as I was thinking of my hard fate, and how I did all the +work and master got all the money for it-and how I had to live and +how he lived, master came in-looking good-natured. He approached +me, shook hands with me, said I was worth my weight in gold; and +then asked me how I would like to be free. I told him I would jump +for joy, would sing praises, and be glad all the day long. + +"'Aint you contented where you are, Nicholas?' he enquired. I told +him I didn't dislike him; but freedom was sweetest. 'Give me a +chance of my freedom, master, and yet you may know me as a man,' +says I, feeling that to be free was to be among the living; to be a +slave was to be among the moving dead. To this he said, he always +had liked me, was proud of me, had unbounded confidence in my +directions over the men, and always felt safe when he went from home +leaving things in my charge. 'In this view of the case, Nicholas,' +he says, 'I have come to the conclusion,--and it's Mrs. Grabguy's +conclusion, too,--to let you work evenings, on overtime, for +yourself. You can earn a deal of money that way, if you please; just +save it up, and let me keep it for you, and in consideration of your +faithfulness I will set you free whenever you get a thousand dollars +to put into my hands. Now that's generous-I want to do the straight +thing, and so Mrs. Grabguy wants to do the straight thing; and what +money you save you can put in Mrs. Grabguy's hands for safe keeping. +She's a noble-minded woman, and 'll take good care of it.' This was +to me like entering upon a new life of hope and joy. How my heart +yearned for the coming day, when I should be free like other folks! +I worked and struggled by night and day; and good Mr. Simons +befriended me, and procured me many little orders, which I executed, +and for which I got good pay. All my own earnings I put into Mrs. +Grabguy's hands; and she told me she would keep it for me, safe, +till I got enough to buy my freedom. My confidence in these +assurances was undivided. I looked upon Mrs. Grabguy as a friend and +mother; and good Mr. Simons, who was poor but honest, did many kind +things to help me out. When I got one hundred dollars in missus' +hands I jumped for joy; with it I seemed to have got over the first +difficult step in the great mountain. Then missus said I must take +Jerushe for my wife. I didn't like Jerushe at first--she was almost +black; but missus said we were both slaves; hence, that could be no +objection. As missus's order was equally as positive as master's, +there was no alternative but to obey it, and Jerushe became my wife. +We were lawfully married, and missus made a nice little party for +us, and Jerushe loved me, and was kind to me, and her solicitude for +my welfare soon made me repay her love. I pitied her condition, and +she seemed to pity mine; and I soon forgot that she was black, and +we lived happily together, and had two children, which missus said +were hers. It was hard to reconcile this, and yet it was so, by law +as well as social right. But then missus was kind to Jerushe, and +let her buy her time at four dollars a week, which, having learned +to make dresses, she could pay and have a small surplus to lay by +every week. Jerushe knew I was struggling for freedom, and she would +help me to buy that freedom, knowing that, if I was free, I would +return her kindness, and struggle to make her free, and our children +free. + +"Years rolled on,--we had placed nearly five hundred dollars in +missus's hands: but how vain were the hopes that had borne us +through so many privations for the accumulation of this portion of +our price of freedom! Master has sold my children,--yes, sold them! +He will not tell me where nor to whom. Missus will neither see nor +hear me; and master threatens to sell me to New Orleans if I resent +his act. To what tribunal can I appeal for justice? Shut from the +laws of my native land, what justice is there for the slave where +injustice makes its law oppression? Master may sell me, but he +cannot vanquish the spirit God has given me; never, never, will I +yield to his nefarious designs. I have but one life to yield up a +sacrifice for right-I care not to live for wrong!" Thus he speaks, +as his frenzied soul burns with indignation. His soul's love was +freedom; he asked but justice to achieve it. Sick at heart he has +thrown up that zeal for his master's welfare which bore him onward, +summoned his determination to resist to the last-to die rather than +again confront the dreary waste of a slave's life. Grabguy has +forfeited the amount deposited by Nicholas as part of the price of +his freedom,--betrayed his confidence. + +He tells us his simple story, as the workmen, with fear on their +countenances, move heedlessly about the room. As he concludes, +Grabguy, with sullen countenance, enters the great door at the end +of the building; he is followed by three men in official garbs, two +of whom bear manacles in their hands. Nicholas's dark eye flashes +upon them, and with an instinctive knowledge of their errand, he +seizes a broad axe, salutes them, and, defiantly, cautions their +advance. Grabguy heeds not; and as the aggrieved man slowly retreats +backward to protect himself with the wall, still keeping his eye set +on Grabguy, two negroes make a sudden spring upon him from behind, +fetter his arms as the officers rush forward, bind him hand and +foot, and drag him to the door, regardless of his cries for mercy: +they bind him to a dray, and drive through the streets to the slave +pen of Graspum. We hear his pleading voice, as his ruffian captors, +their prey secure, disappear among the busy crowd. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +HE WOULD DELIVER HER FROM BONDAGE. + + + + + +ABOUT twelve o'clock of a hazy night, in the month of November, and +while Annette, in the hands of Mr. Pringle Blowers, with death-like +tenacity refuses to yield to his vile purposes, a little +taunt-rigged schooner may be seen stealing her way through the grey +mist into Charleston inner harbour. Like a mysterious messenger, she +advances noiselessly, gibes her half-dimmed sails, rounds to a short +distance from an old fort that stands on a ridge of flats extending +into the sea, drops her anchor, and furls her sails. We hear the +rumble of the chain, and "aye, aye!" sound on the still air, like +the murmur of voices in the clouds. A pause is followed by the sharp +sound of voices echoing through the hollow mist; then she rides like +a thing of life reposing on the polished water, her masts half +obscured in mist, looming high above, like a spectre in gauze +shroud. The sound dies away, and dimly we see the figure of a man +pacing the deck from fore-shroud to taffrail. Now and then he stops +at the wheel, casts sundry glances about the horizon, as if to catch +a recognition of some point of land near by, and walks again. Now he +places his body against the spokes, leans forward, and compares the +"lay" of the land with points of compass. He will reach his hand +into the binnacle, to note the compass with his finger, and wait its +traversing motion. Apparently satisfied, he moves his slow way along +again; now folding his arms, as if in deep study, then locking his +hands behind him, and drooping his head. He paces and paces for an +hour, retires below, and all is still. + +Early on the following morning, a man of middle stature, genteelly +dressed, may be seen leaving the craft in a boat, which, rowed by +two seamen, soon reaches a wharf, upon the landing slip of which he +disembarks. He looks pale, and his countenance wears a placidness +indicating a mind absorbed in reflection. With a carpet-bag in his +right hand does he ascend the steps to the crown of the wharf, as +the boat returns to the mysterious-looking craft. Standing on the +capsill for a few minutes, his blue eyes wander over the scene, as +if to detect some familiar object. The warehouses along the wharfs +wear a dingy, neglected air; immense piles of cotton bales stand +under slender sheds erected here and there along the line of +buildings which form a curvature declining to the east and west. +Again, open spaces are strewn with bales of cotton waiting its turn +through the press (a large building near by, from which steam is +issuing in successive puffings and roarings); from which compressed +bales emerge out of the lower story, followed by a dozen half-naked +negroes, who, half-bent, trundle it onward into piles, or on board +ships. Far above these is spread out a semicircle of dwellings, +having a gloomy and irregular appearance, devoid of that freshness +and brightness which so distinguish every New England city. The +bustle of the day is just commencing, and the half-mantled ships, +lying unmoved at the wharfs, give out signs of activity. The new +comer is about to move on up the wharf, when suddenly he is accosted +by a negro, who, in ragged garb, touches his hat politely, and says, +with a smile, "Yer sarvant, mas'r!" + +"Your name, my boy?" returns the man, in a kind tone of voice. The +negro, thrusting his hands deep into the pockets of his old sack +coat, seems contemplating an answer. He has had several names, both +surname and Christian; names are but of little value to a slave. +"Pompe they once called me, but da' calls me Bill now," he answers, +eyeing the stranger, suspiciously. "Pompe, Pompe! I've heard that +name: how familiar it sounds!" the stranger says to himself. + +"One mas'r call me Turtle Tom," rejoins the negro, scratching his +head the while. + +"Turtle Tom!" reiterates the stranger. "Had you no other name +coupled with Pompe, when that was the name by which you were +recognised?" + +The negro will not wait his finishing the sentence. He says he had +good old mas'r's name; but good old mas'r-"so dey tells"-dead and +gone long time ago. "His name was Marston; and dat war dis child's +name den, God bless 'um!" he answers the stranger. + +"Marston, who lived on the banks of the Ashley?" again he enquires, +as his face crimsons with excitement. + +"Dat war my mas'r; and dem war good old times when I lived dar," +returns the negro, significantly nodding his head. + +"Then you are the first man I have met, the first I want to see," +exclaimed the stranger, grasping the negro by the hand, and, much to +his surprise, shaking it heartily. + +"'Taint Lorenzo," returns the negro, contemplating the stranger with +astonishment. + +The stranger is not Lorenzo, but he has heard much of him. What +happy recollections its familiar sound recalls: how it strengthens +his hopes of success in his mission. The negro tells him he is a +labourer on the wharf, and cannot leave to conduct him to an hotel; +he will, however, direct the stranger to a comfortable abode in +Church Street. It is quiet and unostentatious, but will serve his +purpose. Placing a piece of money in the negro's hand, he assures +him that he is his friend-has much need of his services-will pay him +well for their employment. He has equally aroused the negro's +curiosity; and, were it nothing more than satisfying that, he would +be faithful to his promise to call the same night at seven o'clock. +Precisely at that hour the negro will fulfil his engagement. The +stranger wends his way to Church Street, and up a narrow alley, on +the left hand side, finds comfortable apartments, as directed. Here +he makes his toilet, and sallies out to reconnoitre the city. +Meanwhile the little craft is entered at the custom-house as a +fruiter, bound from New Providence to New York, and put in for a +harbour. There is something suspicious about a fruiter putting in +for a harbour at this season, and many curious glances are cast upon +the little captain as he bows to the truth of his entry before the +deputy collector. + +The stranger has spent the day in viewing the city, and at +nightfall, the negro, true to his engagement, presents his sable +figure at his lodgings. A servant having shown him up stairs, he is +ushered into his presence, where, seeming bewildered, he looks about +inquiringly, as if doubting the object for which he has been +summoned. Abjectly he holds his tattered cap in his hand, and +tremblingly inquires what master wants with him. + +"Have confidence, my good fellow," the stranger speaks, with a +smile; "my mission is love and peace." He places a chair beside a +small table in the centre of the room; bids the negro sit down, +which he does with some hesitation. The room is small; it contains a +table, bureau, washstand, bed, and four chairs, which, together with +a few small prints hanging from the dingy walls, and a square piece +of carpet in the centre of the room, constitute its furniture. "You +know Marston's plantation-know it as it was when Marston resided +thereon, do you?" enquires the stranger, seating himself beside the +negro, who evidently is not used to this sort of familiarity. + +"Know 'um well, dat I does," answers the negro, quickly, as if the +question had recalled scenes of the past. + +"And you know the people, too, I suppose?" + +"Da'h people!" ejaculates the negro, with a rhapsody of enthusiasm; +"reckon I does." + +"Will you recount them." + +The negro, commencing with old master, recounts the names of Miss +Franconia, Clotilda, Ellen, Aunt Rachel, old Daddy Bob, and Harry. + +"It is enough," says the stranger, "they are all familiar names." + +"Did you know my good old master?" interrupts the negro, suddenly, +as if detecting some familiar feature in the stranger's countenance. + +"No," he replies, measuredly; "but his name has sounded in my ears a +thousand times. Tell me where are the children, Annette and +Nicholas? and where may I find Franconia?" + +The negro shakes his head, and remains silent for a few minutes. At +length he raises his hand, and in a half-whisper says, "Gone, gone, +gone; sold and scattered, good mas'r. Habn't see dem child dis many +a day: reckon da'h done gone down south." He hesitates suddenly, as +if calling something to memory; and then, placing his left hand on +the stranger's right arm, as he rubs his left across his forehead, +stammers out-"Mas'r, mas'r, I reckon dis child do know somefin 'bout +Miss Frankone. Anyhow, mas'r (ye knows I'se nigger do'h, and don't +keep up 'quaintance a'ter mas'r sell um), can put ye straight 'bout +Missus Rosebrook's house, and reckon how dat lady can put ye +straight on Miss Frankone's where'bout." It is what the stranger +wants. He has heard of Mrs. Rosebrook before; she will give him the +information he seeks; so, turning again to the negro, he tells him +that, for a few days at least, he shall require his presence at the +same hour in the evening: tonight he must conduct him to Mrs. +Rosebrook's sequestered villa. + +The watch-tower bell of the guard-house sounds forth nine o'clock. +The soldier-like sentinel, pacing with loaded musket, and armed with +sharpest steel, cries out in hoarse accents, "All's well!" The bell +is summoning all negroes to their habitations: our guide, Bill, +informs the stranger that he must have a "pass" from a white man +before he can venture into the street. "Mas'r may write 'um," he +says, knowing that it matters but little from whom it comes, so long +as the writer be a white man. The pass is written; the negro +partakes of refreshment that has been prepared for him at the +stranger's request, and they are wending their way through the city. +They pass between rows of massive buildings, many of which have an +antique appearance, and bear strong signs of neglect; but their +unique style of architecture denotes the taste of the time in which +they were erected. Some are distinguished by heavy stone colonnades, +others by verandas of fret-work, with large gothic windows standing +in bold outline. Gloomy-looking guard-houses, from which numerous +armed men are issuing forth for the night's duty,--patrolling figures +with white cross belts, and armed with batons, standing at corners +of streets, or moving along with heavy tread on the uneven +side-walk,--give the city an air of military importance. The love of +freedom is dangerous in this democratic world; liberty is simply a +privilege. Again the stranger and his guide (the negro) emerge into +narrow lanes, and pass along between rows of small dwellings +inhabited by negroes; but at every turn they encounter mounted +soldiery, riding two abreast, heavily armed. "Democracy, boast not +of thy privileges! tell no man thou governest with equal justice!" +said the stranger to himself, as the gas-light shed its flickers +upon this military array formed to suppress liberty. + +They have reached the outskirts of the city, and are approaching a +pretty villa, which the negro, who has been explaining the nature +and duties of this formidable display of citizen soldiery, points +to, as the peaceful home of the Rosebrook family. Brighter and +brighter, as they approach, glares the bright light of a window in +the north front. "I wish Mas'r Rosebrook owned me," says the negro, +stopping at the garden gate, and viewing the pretty enclosure ere he +opens it. "If ebery mas'r and missus war as kind as da'h is, dar +wouldn't be no need o' dem guard-houses and dem guardmen wid dar +savage steel," he continues, opening the gate gently, and motioning +the stranger to walk in. Noiselessly he advances up the brick walk +to the hall entrance, and rings the bell. A well-dressed negro man +soon makes his appearance, receives him politely, as the guide +retires, and ushers him into a sumptuously furnished parlour. The +Rosebrook negroes quickly recognise a gentleman, and detecting it in +the bearing of the stranger they treat him as such. Mrs. Rosebrook, +followed by her husband, soon makes her appearance, saluting the +stranger with her usual suavity. "I have come, madam," he says, "on +a strange mission. With you I make no secret of it; should I be +successful it will remove the grief and anxiety of one who has for +years mourned the fate of her on whom all her affections seem to +have centred. If you will but read this it will save the further +recital of my mission." Thus saying, he drew a letter from his +pocket, presented it, and watched her countenance as line by line +she read it, and, with tears glistening in her eyes, passed it to +her husband. + +"I am, good sir, heartily glad your mission is thus laudable. Be at +home, and while you are in the city let our home be yours. Franconia +is here with us to-night; the child you search after is also with +us, and it was but to-day we learned the cruelties to which she has +been subjected during the last few years. Indeed, her fate had been +kept concealed from us until a few weeks ago, and to-day, having +escaped the brutal designs of a ruffian, she fled to us for +protection, and is now concealed under our roof-" + +"Yes, poor wretch-it is too true!" rejoins Rosebrook. "But something +must be done as quickly as possible, for if Pringle Blowers regains +her she will be subjected to tortures her frame is too delicate to +bear up under. There must be no time lost, not a day!" he says, as +Mrs. Rosebrook quickly leaves the room to convey the news to +Franconia, who, with Annette, is in an adjoining apartment. + +Like a hunted deer, Annette's fears were excited on hearing the +stranger enter; Franconia is endeavoring to quiet them. The poor +slave fears the ruffian's pursuit, trembles at each foot-fall upon +the door-sill, and piteously turns to her old friend for protection. +Blowers, maddened with disappointment, would rather sacrifice her to +infamy than sell her for money to a good master. The price of a +pretty slave is no object with this boasting democrat,--the +gratification of his carnal desires soars supreme. Rosebrook knows +this, as the abject woman does to her sorrow. + +As Rosebrook and the stranger sit conversing upon the object of his +mission, and the best way to effect it, this good woman returns +leading by the arm a delicately-formed girl, whose blonde +countenance is shadowed with an air of melancholy which rather adds +to her charms than detracts from her beauty. The stranger's eye +rests upon her,--quickly he recognises Clotilda's features, +Clotilda's form, and gentleness; but she is fairer than Clotilda, +has blue eyes, and almost golden hair. She hesitates as her eyes +meet the stranger's. "Do not fear, my child," speaks Franconia, +whose slender figure follows her into the room. Assured that the +stranger is her friend, she is introduced to him, and modestly takes +her seat on a chair by the window. The stranger's name is Maxwell, +and on hearing it announced Franconia anticipated the pleasure of +meeting with her old friend, through whose agency she effected +Clotilda's escape. Advancing towards him with extended hand, she +looks enquiringly in his face, saying, "Am I mistaken?" She shakes +her head, doubtingly. "No! it is not my friend Maxwell," she +continues. + +"No!" rejoins the stranger; "he is my cousin: by his directions I +have come here. I have brought a letter from his wife Clotilda, +whose dear deliverer you were; and whose thoughts now daily recur to +you, to your love and kindness to her, with undying brightness." +"Ah!" interrupts Franconia, welcoming him with a fervent heart, "I +knew Clotilda would never forget Annette; I knew she would remember +me; I knew her ardent soul would give forth its measure of +gratitude. Happy am I that you have come-though years have rolled by +since I gave up all hopes of the joyous consummation-to relieve this +sorrowing child," she says, running to Annette, and with tears of +joy in her eyes, exclaiming, "My child! my child! you 'll yet be +saved. The ruffian who tortured you to-day will torture you no +more-no more!" And she kisses the sorrowing girl's cheek, as tears +of sympathy gush into her eyes. + +Rosebrook handed Franconia the letter, which she read as her face +brightened with joy. "Good Clotilda! how happy she must be! How +generous, how kind, how true dear Maxwell was to her; and they are +living together so comfortably, and have such a nice family growing +up; but she wants her slave child! A slave mother never forgets her +slave offspring!" she exclaims, with enthusiastic delight, as she +reads and re-reads the letter. Back she paces to Annette, lays her +right arm gently over her shoulder, and pats her cheek with her left +hand: "Annette will see her mother, yet. There is an all-protecting +hand guiding us through every ill of life. Be of good cheer, my +child; never despond while there is a hope left; bury the horrors of +the past in the brighter prospect of the future." And leading her to +the table she seats her by her side and reads the letter aloud, as +with joy the forlorn girl's feelings bound forth. We need scarcely +tell the reader that Clotilda's letter was read in listening +silence, and ran thus:--"Nassau, New Providence, "October 24, 18-. +"My Dear Franconia, + +"My thoughts have never ceased to recur to you, nor to my dear +Annette. You were a mother and a deliverer to me; I know-though I +have not received a word in reply to any of my letters-you have been +a mother to my child. As you know, I dare not write as much as I +would, lest this letter fall into the hands of those whose interest +it is to perpetuate our enslavement. I hope you are happy with a +good husband, as I am. Years have rolled by since we parted, and +many have been the scenes and changes through which I have passed, +but they were all pleasant changes, each for brighter and happier +prospects. I was married to him who, with you, effected my escape, a +few weeks after landing at Harbour Island. Since then we have +resided in Nassau, where my husband, who loves me dearly, pursues an +extensive and lucrative business, and we both move in the best +society of the place. We have a pretty family of three children, the +oldest nine years old, and the youngest five. How my heart would +leap with joy if I thought you would accept an invitation to come +and see me, to spend a few weeks with me, and see yourself how +comfortable and happy a slave may be! Perhaps I should not say +happy, for I never can be truly happy without my Annette. Something +haunts my mind whenever I recur to her,--which is every day. And then +I have written so many letters to which no answers have been +returned; but, a whispering angel, as if to console me, says, +Franconia will be her mother, and you will yet see her. + +"The gentleman who bears this letter is my husband's cousin. He has +all my husband's generosity of character, and will seek you for the +purpose of finding Annette, and bearing her safely to me. He has +proffered his services, and sworn to carry out his object; and being +on his way to New York for the purpose of entering into business +with his uncle now in that city, will touch at Charleston, for the +object herein stated. Further his object, my dear Franconia, and +that heaven will reward the hand that in mercy helps the enslaved, +"Is the prayer of your grateful "CLOTILDA MAXWELL." + +"I knew mother would never forget me; I knew she would come back to +me, would be kind to me, as she used to be, and save me from such +cruelty as I have suffered. Several times have I resolved on putting +an end to my unhappy existence, but as often did something say to +me, 'live hoping-there is a better day coming.' God guides, governs, +and raises up the weary soul," says Annette, in touching accents, as +Franconia finished reading the letter. + +While this conversation is progressing, and the plan of getting +Annette out of the city being devised, a nice supper, at Mrs. +Rosebrook's request, is being prepared in the adjoining room. To +this the stranger is invited, and all sit down in a happy circle. +Franconia seems invested with new life; Annette forgets for the time +her troubles; Mrs. Rosebrook, who does the honours of the table, +wishes every ill-used slave could find means of escaping into +freedom; and Deacon Rosebrook says he will join heart and hand in +getting the forlorn girl free from her base purchaser. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +OTHER PHASES OF THE SUBJECT. + + + + + +WE must leave to the reader's imagination much that transpired at +the Rosebrook Villa during the night above mentioned, and ask him to +accompany us on the following morning, when curious placards may be +seen posted here and there at corners of streets and other +conspicuous places about the city. Mr. Pringle Blowers has lost a +beautiful female slave, whose fair hair, beautiful complexion, deep +blue eyes, delicate features, and charming promise, is in large type +and blackest printer's ink set forth most glowingly. Had Mr. Pringle +Blowers been a poet instead of a chivalric rice-planter, he might +have emblazoned his loss in sentimental rhyme. But Pringle Blowers +says poets always make fools of themselves; and, although the south +is a sweet and sunny land, he is happy indeed that it is troubled +with none of the miscreants. He owned niggers innumerable; but they +were only common stock, all of whom he could have lost without +feeling any more than ordinary disappointment at the loss of their +worth in money. For this one, however, he had a kind of undefined +love, which moved his heart most indescribably. Disappointed in the +gratification of his desires, he is mortified and maddened to +desperation. Why should a slave he had invested so much money in, +and felt so like making a lady of, and never would have thought of +setting at field labour, run away? He only wanted her for the most +aristocratic purpose the south can provide for a beautiful slave. +Hence Mr. Pringle Blowers, through the medium of his knowledge of +letters, puts forward his placard-a copy of which he inserts in all +the most respectable morning journals-in which the fair outlines of +his lost woman are simply set forth. He will give three hundred +dollars for her apprehension, fifty dollars more for proof to +convict any person of harbouring her, and an additional sum for +lodging her in any gaol in the country. This large reward Mr. +Pringle Blowers will pay in hard cash; and he has no doubt the +offering will be quite enough to excite the hunting propensities of +fashionable young gentlemen, as well as inveterate negro hunters. +Beside this, negro hunting being rather a democratic sport than +otherwise, Mr. Pringle Blowers reconciles his feelings with the fact +of these sports being uncommonly successful. + +The reader will naturally conclude that the offer of this large +reward produced some sensation in and about the city. People stopped +along the streets, read the curious hand-bill, smiled, and made +various remarks. Ladies, always curious to know what is prominent +among the current events of the day, sent servants to ascertain what +so attractive the posters contained. It was, indeed, a regular bit +of self-enjoyed fun for them; for the ladies had all heard of +Pringle Blowers, and that a female slave for whose capture he would +give three hundred dollars had run away from him they were heartily +glad to learn. + +The day-police were equally happy to hear of the loss, and anxious +to make the capture. In this position it was doubly necessary to be +cautious in proceeding to effect the escape of the fair girl. If +discovered in the act the stranger might be subjected to a series of +inprisonments that would sacrifice his life. Again, he might be +assassinated by some disguised hand; or, if an infuriated mob were +let loose upon him, no police interference could save his life. As +suspicion is ever on the point of giving out its dangerous caprices +where a community live fearing one another, so the stranger became +sensible of the shafts of suspicion that might at any moment be +darted at him. Despatching his schooner on her voyage, he continued +for several days walking about the city, as if indifferent to what +was passing. He read the curious poster in which was offered the +goodly reward for the apprehension of a lost slave, affected great +coolness, and even ignorance of the mode by which such articles were +recovered. + +Fortunate was it for the stranger that he despatched the schooner +without the prize he intended to carry off, for no sooner had she +got under way and begun to move down the harbour, than she was +boarded by four men, who, producing their authority, searched her +from stem to stern. Such were their suspicions, that they would not +be satisfied until they had opened a few boxes and bales that were +stowed away in the hold. This done, the schooner was permitted to +continue her voyage, and the stranger, unmolested, continues his +walks about the city. A few days pass and the excitement has calmed +down. Pringle Blowers, although chagrined at the loss of his +valuable piece of woman property, resolves to wait the issue with +patience and forbearance. If she, fool like, has made away with +herself, he cannot bring her to life; if she be carried off by +villainous kidnappers, they must eventually suffer the consequences. +Her beauty will expose their plots. He will absorb his usual +requirement of spirit, keep the nerve up, and never despond of +regaining her while his reward of three hundred dollars stands +before a money-loving public. He would rather have lost two dozen +common niggers than this one he set so much by, intended to make so +much of, and upon whom he had set his very heart, soul, and burning +passions. But there is no profit in grief, no use in giving way to +disappointment. Philosophers bear disappointments with fortitude; he +must be a philosopher, keep a sharp look out and not despair. + +How different is the scene presented at Rosebrook's Villa! There, +Annette is seen, prepared to take her departure. Dressed in male +attire, with frock coat and trousers setting so neatly, dress boots, +white vest, and brightly arranged shirt-bosom, she is the type of +perfection of a youthful southron. Franconia has expended her skill +in completing the fair girl's toilet, when Mrs. Rosebrook places a +pair of green spectacles over her eyes, bids her look in the glass, +and tells her she will pass for a planter's son among a million. + +"Nobody will know me, now," she answers, viewing herself in the +mirror. Her neat setting suit, Panama hat, and green spectacles, +give a peculiar air to her lithe figure. And though her emotions are +well nigh ready to give forth tears, she cannot suppress a smile at +the singular transformation of her person. + +"It'll take sharper eyes than policemen's to discover the disguise," +says Rosebrook, who, having ordered a carriage to the door, enters +the room and takes her kindly by the hand. "Keep up a good heart; +don't despond, my child, and the chances are that you'll be +safe-you'll be in Wilmington to-morrow morning" he continues: then, +turning to Franconia, who will accompany her to that place, he +awaits her pleasure. "I am ready!" returns that generous woman, as, +arrayed in her travelling dress, she takes Annette by the hand, and +is about to proceed to the gate where the carriage waits. Mrs. +Rosebrook must take one more fond parting. Laying her right arm over +her shoulder, and pressing her to her bosom, she kisses and kisses +her fair cheek, bids her remember that God alone is her protector, +her guide to a happy future. In freedom may she live to freedom's +God; in slavery, hope ever, and trust in his mercy! With this +admonition, the excited girl, trembling, leaves the Villa, leaning +on Franconia's arm. Bradshaw has the carriage at the door, piled +with sundry boxes and portmanteaus, giving it the appearance of a +gentleman's travelling equipage. He has orders to drive to the +steam-boat landing, where the young invalid planter will embark for +New York via Wilmington and the land route. Soon they have taken +their seats, and with Rosebrook's good-natured face shining beside +Bradshaw, on the front seat, they say their happy adieu! and bound +over the road for the steamer. + +It is now within fifteen minutes of the starting time. The wharf +presents a bustling scene: carriages and coaches are arriving with +eager-looking passengers, who, fearing they are a little behind +time, stare about as if bewildered, scold heedless drivers, point +out heir baggage to awkward porters who run to and fro with trunks +and boxes on their heads, and then nervously seek the ticket-office, +where they procure the piece of paper that insures them through to +New York. Albeit, finding they have quite time enough on their +hands, they escort their female voyagers on board, and loiter about +in the way of every one else, enjoying that excitement in others +which they have fortunately passed through. Here and there about the +wharf, leaning their head carelessly over black piles, are +sly-looking policemen, who scan every voyager with a searching eye. +They are incog., but the initiated recognise them at a glance. The +restless leer of that lynx eye discovers their object; anything, +from a runaway nigger to a houseless debtor, is to them acceptable +prey. Atween decks of the steamer, secured at the end of the wharf, +another scene of bustle and confusion presents itself. A passenger +is not quite sure his baggage is all on board, and must needs waste +his breath in oaths at the dumb porter, who works at his utmost +strength, under the direction of Mr. Mate, whose important figure is +poised on the wharf. Another wants to "lay over" at Richmond, and is +using most abusive language to a mulatto waiter, who has put his +trunk on one side of the boat and carpet bag on the other. A third, +a fussy old lady with two rosy-faced daughters she is, against her +southern principles, taking to the north to be educated, is making a +piteous lamentation over the remains of two bonnets-just from the +hands of the milliner-hopelessly smashed in her bandbox. The +careless porter set it on a pile of baggage, from where it tottled +over under the feet of an astonished gentleman, who endeavours to +soothe the good lady's feelings with courteous apologies. On the +upper deck, heeding no one, but now and then affecting to read a +newspaper, as passengers pace to and fro, is the stranger, seated on +one of the side seats. The engineer moves his valve now and then, +the cross-head ascends, the steam hisses below, the condenser +rumbles, the steam from the funnel roars furiously forth, spreading +its scalding vapour through the air. Again, the man, almost +imperceptibly touches the iron rod with his finger, the magic +monster again moves its piston downward, the wheels make a turn, the +massive vessel surges upon her lines, as if eager to press forward +on her course. Another gentle touch, and, obeying the summons, the +motive power is still; the man subjects the monster with his little +finger. He has stopped her near the centre, where, with a slight +touch, he can turn back or forward. Again, he lifts a small key, and +the steam, with a deafening roar, issues from the escape: he is +venting his chest. Simultaneously the second bell sounds forth its +clanking medley: two minutes more, and the snake-like craft will be +buffeting the waves, on her daily errand. As passengers begin to +muster on board, their friends clustering round the capsill of the +wharf, obstructing the way, the sturdy figure of Mr. Pringle Blowers +may be seen behind a spile near the capsill, his sharp, peering eyes +scanning the ship from fore to aft. He is not sure she will get off +by this route; common sense tells him that, but there exists a +prompting something underneath common sense telling him it's money +saved to keep a sharp look-out. And this he does merely to gratify +that inert something, knowing at the same time that, having no +money, no person will supply her, and she must be concealed in the +swamps, where only "niggers" will relieve her necessities. At this +moment Rosebrook's carriage may be seen driving to the ticket office +at the head of the wharf, where Rosebrook, with great coolness, gets +out, steps within the railing, and procures the tickets in his own +name. Again taking his seat, the mate, who stands on the capsill of +the wharf, now and then casting a glance up, cries out, "Another +carriage coming!" Bradshaw cracks his whip, and the horses dash down +the wharf, scatter the people who have gathered to see the boat off, +as a dozen black porters, at the mate's command, rush round the +carriage, seize the baggage, and hurry it on board. Rosebrook, +fearing his friends will lose their passage, begs people to clear +the gangway, and almost runs on board, his fugitive charge clinging +to his arms. The captain stands at the gangway, and recognising the +late comer, makes one of his blandest bows: he will send a steward +to show them a good state-room. "Keep close till the boat leaves, +and remember there is a world before you," Rosebrook says, shaking +Annette by the hand, as she returns, "God bless good master!" They +are safe in the state-room: he kisses Franconia's cheek, shuts the +door, and, hurrying back, regains the wharf just as the last bell +strikes, and the gangway is being carried on board. + +"Not going along with us, eh?" ejaculates the captain, as, from the +capsill, Rosebrook looks round to bid him good-by. + +"Not to-day" (he returns, laconically). "Take good care of my +friends; the young invalid from Lousiana in particular." Just then +he catches the stranger's eye, and, with a significant motion of his +fingers, says, "All safe!" With a nod of recognition the stranger +makes his adieu; the fastenings are cast away, the faint tinkle of a +bell is heard amid the roar of steam; the man at the valves touches +the throttle bar; up mounts the piston rod-down it surges again; the +revolving wheels rustle the water; the huge craft moves backward +easy, and then ahead; a clanking noise denotes the connections are +"hooked on," and onward she bounds over the sea. How leaps with joy +that heart yearning for freedom, as the words "She's away!" gladden +Annette's very soul! Her enraptured feelings gush forth in prayer to +her deliverers; it is as a new spring of life, infusing its +refreshing waters into desert sands. She seems a new being, with +hope, joy, and happiness brightening the future for her. But, alas! +how vain are hopes,--how uncertain the future! + +Rosebrook watched the steaming craft as she crosses the bar, and +dwindles out of sight. "Thou art safe, poor slave," he says to +himself, as she passes from view behind the distant peak. + +Something touches him on the shoulder as he returns to his carriage. +"Ah! this you, Pringle Blowers?" he exclaims, turning round +suddenly, as the full face of that important personage presented +itself. "Been seeing some friends off to--?" + +"No," replies Blowers, with seeming indifference. He is just shying +round,--keeping an eye out for a smart kind of "a gal," lost last +week. + +"Quite a misfortune, that, Blowers! God bless me, I'm sorry," +returns Rosebrook, dryly. Rosebrook invites him to get in and ride a +short distance. Blowers has not the slightest objection; seats his +square frame on the left side of the carriage. "Those were clever +posters you put out for the apprehension of that girl, Blowers!" + +"Took some genius, I reckon," interrupts Blowers, with broad laugh. + +"They say she was very handsome, and, if it be true, I hope you may +get her, Blowers," continues Rosebrook, naively. + +The disappointed man shakes his head, touches the other on the arm, +and says, "Nothing is more sure!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +HOW DADDY BOB DEPARTED. + + + + + +LET us again beg the indulgence of the reader, while we go back to +the night when Marston was found dead in his cell, and when that old +negro, whose eventful history we shall here close, sat by his +bed-side, unconscious that the spirit of master had winged its way +to another world. Bob, faithful unto death, remained his lone +watcher. Disguising his ownership, he has toiled from day to day +that the fruits thereof might relieve master's necessities; and he +had shared them with the flowing goodness of a simple heart. In a +malarious cell, how happy was he to make his bed on the cold plank +beside his master's cot, where he might watch over his declining +spirit. Kindness was his by nature,--no cruel law could rob his heart +of its treasure: he would follow master to the grave, and lavish it +upon the soil that covered him. + +Having accompanied Franconia to the Rosebrook Villa, he will return +to the prison and join Harry, alone watching over the dead. The city +clock strikes the hour of eleven as he leaves the outer gate, and +turns into the broad road leading to the city. The scene before him +is vamped in still darkness; a murky light now and then sheds its +glimmers across the broad road; and as he hurries onward, +contemplating the sad spectacle presented in the prison, happy +incidents of old plantation life mingle their associations with his +thoughts. He muses to himself, and then, as if bewildered, commences +humming his favourite tune-"There's a place for old mas'r yet, when +all 'um dead and gone!" His soul is free from suspicion: he fears +not the savage guardsman's coming; the pure kindliness of his heart +is his shield. How often has he scanned this same scene,--paced this +same road on his master's errands! How death has changed the +circumstances of this his nightly errand! Far away to the east, on +his left, the broad landscape seems black and ominous; before him, +the sleeping city spreads its panorama, broken and sombre, beneath +heavy clouds; the fretted towers on the massive prison frown dimly +through the mist to the right, from which a low marshy expanse +dwindles into the dark horizon. And ever and anon the forked +lightning courses its way through the heavens, now tinging the +sombre scene with mellow light, then closing it in deeper darkness. + +Onward the old man wends his way. If he be shut out from the prison, +he will find shelter at Jane's cabin near by, from whence he may +reach the cell early next morning. Presently the dull tramp of +horses breaks upon his ear,--the sound sharpening as they advance. +Through the dimming haze he sees two mounted guardsmen advancing: +the murmuring sound of their conversation floats onward through the +air,--their side arms rattle ominously. Now their white cross belts +are disclosed; their stalwart figures loom out. Nearer and nearer +they approach: as the old man, trembling with fear, remembers he is +without a pass, a gruff voice cries out, "Stop there!" + +"A prowling nigger!" rejoins another, in a voice scarcely less +hoarse. The old man halts in the light of a lamp, as the right-hand +guard rides up, and demands his pass. + +"Whose nigger are you?" again demands the first voice. "Your pass, +or come with us!" + +The old man has no pass; he will go to his master, dead in the +county prison! + +Guardsmen will hear neither falsehoods nor pleading. He doesn't know +"whose nigger he is! he is a runaway without home or master," says +the left-hand guardsman, as he draws his baton from beneath his +coat, and with savage grimace makes a threatening gesture. Again he +poises it over the old man's head, as he, with hand uplifted, +supplicates mercy. "Nobody's nigger, and without a pass!" he +grumbles out, still motioning his baton. + +"He says his master is in gaol; that's enough! Stop, now, no more +such nonsense!" rejoins the other, as the old man is about to +explain. "Not another word." He is good prey, made and provided by +the sovereign law of the state. Placing him between their horses, +they conduct him in silence forward to the guard-house. He is a +harmless captive, in a world where democracy with babbling tongue +boasts of equal justice. "A prowler!" exclaims one of the guards- +men, as, dismounting in front of the massive building, with frowning +facade of stone, they disappear, leading the old man within its +great doors, as the glaring gas-light reflects upon his withered +features. + +"Found prowling on the neck, sir!" says the right-hand guardsman, +addressing himself to the captain, a portly-looking man in a +military suit, who, with affected importance, casts a look of +suspicion at the old man. "Have seen you before, I think?" he +enquires. + +"Reckon so, mas'r; but neber in dis place," replies Bob, in +half-subdued accents. + +You are nobody's nigger, give a false account of yourself, and have +no home, I hear," interrupts the captain, at the same time ordering +a clerkly-looking individual who sits at a desk near an iron railing +enclosing a tribune, to make the entry in his book. + +"Your name?" demands the clerk. + +"Bob!" + +"Without owner, or home?" + +"My master's cell was my home." + +"That won't do, my man!" interrupts the portly-looking captain. "Mr. +Clerk" (directing himself to that functionary) "you must enter +him-nobody's nigger, without home or master." And as such he is +entered upon that high record of a sovereign state-the guard-house +calendar. If this record were carried before the just tribunal of +heaven, how foul of crime, injustice, and wrong, would its pages be +found! The faithful old man has laboured under an assumed ownership. +His badge, procured for him through the intercession of Franconia, +shows him as the property of Mr. Henry Frazer. That gentleman is +many hundred miles away: the old man, ignorant of the barbarous +intricacy of the law, feels it to his sorrow. The production of the +badge, and the statement, though asserting that Miss Franconia is +his friend, show a discrepancy. His statement has no truth for +guardsmen; his poor frame is yet worth something, but his oath has +no value in law: hence he must march into a cold cell, and there +remain till morning. + +Before that high functionary, the mayor-whose judgments the Russian +Czar might blush to acknowledge or affirm,--he is arraigned at ten +o'clock on the following morning. He has plenty of accusers,--no one +to plead the justice of his case. A plain story he would tell, did +the law and his honour grant the boon. The fatal badge shows him the +property of Mr. Henry Frazer: Mr. Henry Frazer is nowhere to be +found, and the statement that master was in prison tends to increase +the suspicions against him. Against this increasing force of proof, +the old man begs his honour will send to the prison, where master +will be found,--dead! In his love of clemency that functionary yields +to the request. There looks something harmless about the old negro, +something that warms his honour's legal coldness. An officer is +despatched, and soon returns with a description that corresponds +with the old man's. "He waited on Marston, made Marston's cell his +home; but, your honour-and I have the assurance of the gaoler-he was +not Marston's nigger; all that man's niggers were sold for the +benefit of his creditors." So says the official, returning to his +august master with cringing servility. His honour, in the fulness of +his wisdom, and with every regard for legal straightforwardness (his +honour searched into the profoundest depths of the "nigger statutes" +while learning the tailoring trade, which he now pursues with great +success), is now doubly satisfied that the negro before him is a +vagabond-perhaps, and he is more than half inclined to believe he +is, the very marauder who has been committing so many depredations +about the city. With a profound admonition, wisdom glowing from his +very countenance the while, he orders him twenty-nine paddles on his +bare posteriors,--is sorry the law does not give him power to extend +the number. And with compliments for the lucky fellows who have thus +timely relieved the public of such a dangerous outlaw, his honour +orders him to be taken away to that prison-house where even-handed +democracy has erected a place for torturing the souls of men who +love liberty. + +He will get the stripes-large, democratic stripes,--generously laid +on. How much more he will get remains for a proud state, in its +sovereign littleness, to provide. His honour, feeling his duties +toward the state discharged, and his precautionary measures for the +protection of the people fully exemplified in this awful judgment, +orders one of the officers to summon Mr. Ford Fosdick, a +distinguished gentleman of the state's own, who, he is quite sure, +will not neglect her more important interests. Bob has no interests +in this world, nor doth he murmur that he hath not eaten bread for +fourteen hours. Kindliness yet lingers in his withered face as he +goes forth, yields submission to a state's lnjustice, and bares his +back before he eats. + +"Return him after administering the dressing," says his honour, +directing his remarks to the official about to lead his victim away. +That functionary, half turning, replies with a polite bow. + +The reader, we feel assured, will excuse a description of this +unsavoury dressing, beautifully administered on behalf of a +republican state that makes it a means of crushing out the love of +liberty. Bob has received his dressing and returned; but he has no +tears to shed for democrats who thus degrade him. + +Mr. Ford Fosdick, a gentleman of the learned profession, very +straight of person, and most bland of manners, is what may be called +escheator in ordinary to the state. Keeping a sharp eye on her +interests, he has anticipated the commands of his august master, +presents his polite person very unexpectedly in his honour's +court-room. Fosdick, in addition to an excellent reputation for +being the very best gentleman "nigger grabber" the state ever had, +is well thought of in fashionable circles, having fought two duels +of the most desperate character. He is of middle stature, with a +face finely oval, and to which are added features of much softness, +altogether giving him more the appearance of a well-ordained divine, +than the medium of those high functions by which the state's +"grab-all" of homeless negroes distinguishes himself. If the state +tolerated an ignominy, Ford Fosdick--between whom there exists a +mutual partnership--found in it an apology for the part he played; +for--let no man blush when we tell it--the sum total for which +friendless, homeless, and ownerless negroes sold for in the market +was equally divided between them. Generous as was this +copartnership, there were few well-disposed persons independent +enough to sanction it; while here and there an outspoken voice said +it was paying a premium for edging Fosdick's already sharp appetite +for apprehending the wretched, who--God save the state's +honour!--having no means of protecting themselves, would be sold for +the sovereign interests of his own pocket, instead of the peace of +the dear people, of which the state was ever jealous. Mr. Fosdick is +present,--thanks his honour the mayor: he thinks he has seen the +negro before; that he is a prowler not a doubt can exist. Quite +indifferent as to his own interests, he says the city is literally +beset with such vermin: in his own mind, however, he has not a doubt +but that something handsome will be realised from the sale of the +old fellow. There is now a most fearful case in the city,--a negro +belonging to Mr. Grabguy has become mad with disobedience: they have +chained him to the floor, but he sets everything at defiance, +threatens the lives of all who come near him,--says he will die or be +free. Against this there is little hope for old Bob; his crooked +story will not suit the high considerations of these amiable +worthies of state: he must be siezed and dragged to the workhouse, +there to await the result. It is a profitable morning's work for Mr. +Ford Fosdick, who makes a large note in his ledger, and will soon +carry out a very acceptable item on behalf of his dear self. So, +while Bob eats his corn-grits in a cell, and his heart beats high +with purity, Mr. Ford Fosdick revels in luxury he thinks not +ill-gotten. + +Due notice, in accordance with the statutes, is given to all persons +whomsoever may claim a piece of property answering the description +of Daddy Bob, as herein set forth. Weeks pass, but no one comes to +claim Bob. In the eyes of an ignoble law he is a cast out, homeless +upon the world; and as such must be sold. He is put up at the +man-shambles, and, by order of Mr. Ford Fosdick, sold to Mr. Cordes +Kemp for the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, one half of which +sum is the state's own, the other Mr. Ford Fosdick's. Mr. Cordes +Kemp had seen Bob working about the wharf, and learned that the old +man was of more value than his outward appearance indicated, +inasmuch as he was a good carpenter; which we have not before +informed the reader. But Bob had never been accustomed to a cruel +master: such Cordes Kemp was to the fullest extent of the term. A +few months passed, and Bob became heartily sick of his new master, +who gave him little to eat, and had nearly ended his life with +labour and the lash. Finding he could no longer stand such +treatment, he fled to the swamp; and for two years did he make his +home among the morasses and hillocks, now making his bed by the +trunk of a fallen tree, then seeking shelter in a temporary camp +built with the axe he carried away with him. At times he was forced +to make food of roots, nuts, and such wild fruit as the woods +afforded; and as the ravens found food, so the outcast man did not +suffer while an all-wise Providence watched over him. And then he +found a kind friend in old Jerushe-Aunt Jerushe, as she was commonly +called, who lived on a plantation a few miles from his hiding-place, +and met him at night, and shared her coarse meal with him. Jerushe's +heart was full of kindness; she would have given him more, but for +the want thereof. Full two years did even-handed democracy drive the +old man homeless to seek a shelter among the poisonous reptiles of +the morass. Mr. Cordes Kemp must regain his property, and to that +generous end he puts forth the following extremely southern +proclamation, which may be found in all respectable morning +journals, on posters hung at the "Rough and Ready," at "Your House," +and at "Our House":-- + +"SEVENTY-FIVE (75) DOLLARS REWARD is offered for the delivery of my +old negro carpenter man named BOB, in gaol in Charleston, within a +month from this date. The said BOB is a complete carpenter, about +sixty-five years of age, has a fine, full, good-natured face, +knock-kneed, bald-headed, and ran away about two years ago: he is +thought to be harboured in Charleston or James' Island. He was +bought of Mr. Ford Fosdick, on behalf of the state. June 28,-- +CORDES KEMP." + +Mr. Cordes Kemp, sorely grieved at the loss of so venerable and +valuable a piece of property,--and which he bought of the state, for +the rights of which he is a great champion,--will give the above sum +in hard cash to the clever fellow who will secure it within a +prison, so he may get it. If this cannot be done, he will declare +him an outlaw, offer a premium for the old man's head, and, with the +bleeding trophy, demand the premium paid by the state. However, +seventy-five dollars is no mean offer for so old a negro, and as the +said negro cannot be a fast runner, the difficulty of catching him +will not be very great, while the sport will be much more exciting. +Romescos and Dan Bengal keep a sharp look-out for all such little +chances of making money; and as their dogs are considered the very +best and savagest in the country, they feel certain they will be +able to deliver the article over to Mr. Kemp in a very few days. + +A few days after the appearance of Mr. Cordes Kemp's proclamation, +these two worthies may be seen riding along the Camden Road, a sandy +level, with little to indicate its tortuous course save a beaten and +irregular path through a forest of stately pines. Their +reddish-coloured home-spun clothes, set loosely, and their large, +felt hats, slouching over their bearded faces, give their figures a +brigand-like appearance which excites apprehension. They are heavily +armed with rifles, revolvers, and bowie-knives; and as their horses +move along at a quick walk, the riders may be heard keeping up an +animated discussion on matters of state policy. The state and its +policy is a matter of deep interest to slave-dealer and +slave-hunter; none discuss them with more pertinacity. And as every +great measure is supposed to have some bearing, directly or +indirectly, on the right of one class to enslave the other, a +never-ceasing political jar is kept up by these worthies, and too +often finds its way into the public acts of men who should be far +removed above their selfishness. + +The horse on which Romescos rides, a sprightly dark-bay, seeming to +have an instinctive knowledge of his master's pursuit, pricks his +ears erect, and keeps his head turning from one side to the other, +as if watching the approach of some object in the forest. A few +paces ahead are seven fierce hounds, now scenting about the ground, +then scampering through the trees, and again, quickly obeying the +call, return to the horses. Not a bark is heard, not a growl escapes +them! Nothing could be under more explicit subjection-not even those +northern dogs who pollute their own free soil by making it a forest, +where the souls of men are humbled, and where, willing allies of the +sport, they desecrate that holy sentence, "Our Pilgrim Fathers!" + +Presently the lean figure of a man is seen advancing from a thicket +in the distance. Rifle in hand he advances a few paces, leans +against the trunk of a pine tree, relieves his shoulders of a +well-filled haversack, and supports his arms on the stock of his +weapon, the muzzle of which he sets in the ground. He will wait the +horsemen's coming. With lightning quickness the hounds start +suddenly, prick up their ears, make a bound forward. "Hold there!" +exclaims Romescos, at the same time directing Bengal's attention to +the figure far away to the right. His horse shies, an imprecation +quickly follows; the dogs as suddenly obey the word, and crouch back +to await another signal. + +"Nothing, I reckon!" returns Bengal, coolly, as the figure in the +distance is seen with smoking fusee lighting a cigar. + +Romescos thinks he is a gentleman returning from hunting in the big +swamp, to the north. He has a kind of presentiment, nevertheless, +that some lucky prize will turn up before sunset. + +"Well, strangers, what luck to day?" enquires the hunter, as they +run up their horses. At the same time he gracefully raises a +delicate hand, relieves his mouth of the cigar, twists a well- +trimmed mustache, and lifts his hunting-cap from off his head, +disclosing a finely-chiselled face. + +"Not a shy!" replies Romescos, taking a cigar from his side pocket, +and motioning his hand: the hunter politely extends his habanna, +with which he communicates a light to his own. It is well nigh +noon-day, and at the hunter's invitation do they dismount, seat +themselves at the foot of the tree, and regale with bread, cheese, +and brandy, he draws from his haversack. + +"Thought ye'd got game in that," remarks Bengal, measuredly. Ho has +scoured the woods, but found little game of the kind he hunts. "Our +game is of a different species: you, I take it, hunt niggers, I'm in +search of birds." + +"Would have no objection to a stray deer or two!" is the reply, as +he passes his horn and flask to Romescos, who helps himself to a +dose of the liquid, which, he says, smacking his lips, is not bad to +take. + +"Especially when yer on a hunting excursion!" rejoins Bengal. + +"Now," says the gentleman hunter, quietly resuming his cigar, "as +you do not hunt my game, nor I yours, I think I can give you a scent +that may prove profitable." + +"Where away?" interrupts Bengal. Romescos respects the stranger-he +has dignity concealed beneath his hunting garb, which the quick eye +recognised as it flashed upon him. He gives Bengal a significant +wink, the meaning of which he instinctively understands-"Don't be +rude,--he belongs to one of the first families!" + +The stranger lays his left hand on Romescos' arm, and with the fore +finger of his right hand pointing to the south-west, says, "My +plantation is nine miles in that direction. I left it this morning, +early. In crossing an inlet of the Pedee, I discovered white smoke, +far ahead, curling upward through the trees, and expanding itself in +the clear blue atmosphere. Feeling sure it indicated the haunt of +runaways, I approached it stealthily, and had almost unconsciously +come upon a negro, who, suddenly springing from his hiding-place, +ran to the water's edge, plunged in, and swam to a little island a +few yards in the stream. It did not become me to pursue him, so I +passed on heedlessly, lest he might have companions, who would set +upon me, and make me an easy prey to their revengeful feelings." As +each word fell from the stranger's lips, Romescos and his companion +became irresistibly excited. + +Again repeating the directions, which the stranger did with great +precision, they drank a parting social glass: the mounted huntsmen +thanked the pedestrian for his valuable information, gave him a warm +shake of the hand, and, as he arranged his haversack, rode off at +full gallop in the direction indicated. The dogs, cunning brutes, +trained to the state's brutality, mutely kept in advance. "In luck +yet!" exclaims Bengal, as they rode onward, in high glee, +anticipating the valuable game about to fall into their hands. + +"Ho! dogs-and back!" shrieked Romescos, at the top of his shrill +voice, his sandy hair hanging in tufts over his little reddened +face, now glowing with excitement. Instantly the dogs started off +through the thicket, and after making a circle of about a mile, +returned with heads up, and eyes fiercely flashing. Trailing in a +semicircle ahead they seemed eager for another command. + +"Better keep them back," mutters Bengal; and as Romescos gives the +word,--"Come back!" they form a trail behind. + +Now white fleecy clouds begin to obscure the sun; then it disappears +in a murky haze, and is no longer their guide. After two hours' +riding they find a wrong turn has led them far away from their +course, and to avoid retracing their steps they make a short cut +through the thicket. In another hour they have reached the bank of +the stream they sought. Dogs, horses, and men, together drink of its +limpid waters, and proceed onward. They have yet several miles of +travel before reaching the spot designated by the strange hunter; +and seeking their way along the bank is a slow and tedious process. +The prize-that human outcast, who has no home where democracy +rules,--is the all-absorbing object of their pursuit; money is the +god of their hellish purpose. + +It is near night-fall, when they, somewhat wearied of the day's +ride, halt on a little slope that extends into the river, and from +which a long view of its course above opens out. It seems a quiet, +inviting spot, and so sequestered that Bengal suggests it be made a +resting-place for the night. + +"Not a whisper," says Romescos, who, having dismounted, is nervously +watching some object in the distance. It is a pretty spot, clothed +in softest verdure. How suddenly the quick eye of Romescos +discovered the white smoke curling above the green foliage! "See! +see!" he whispers again, motioning his hand behind, as Bengal +stretches his neck, and looks eagerly in the same direction. "Close +dogs-close!" he demands, and the dogs crouch back, and coil their +sleek bodies at the horses' feet. There, little more than a mile +ahead, the treacherous smoke curls lazily upward, spreading a white +haze in the blue atmosphere. Daddy Bob has a rude camp there. A few +branches serve for a covering, the bare moss is his bed; the fires +of his heart would warm it, were nothing more at hand! Near by is +the island on which he seeks refuge when the enemy approaches; and +from this lone spot-his home for more than two years-has he sent +forth many a fervent prayer, beseeching Almighty God to be his +shield and his deliverer. It was but yesterday he saw Jerushe, who +shared with him her corn-cakes, which, when she does not meet him at +his accustomed spot, she places at the foot of a marked tree. Bob +had added a few chips to his night fire, (his defence against +tormenting mosquitoes), and made his moss bed. Having tamed an owl +and a squirrel, they now make his rude camp their home, and share +his crumbs. The squirrel nestles above his head, as the owl, moping +about the camp entrance, suddenly hoots a warning and flutters its +way into the thicket. Starting to his feet with surprise-the +squirrel chirping at the sudden commotion-the tramp of horses breaks +fearfully upon the old man's ear; bewildered he bounds from the +camp. Two water oaks stand a few feet from its entrance, and through +them he descries his pursuers bearing down upon him at full speed, +the dogs making the very forest echo with their savage yelps. They +are close upon him; the island is his only refuge! Suddenly he leaps +to the bank, plunges into the stream, and with death-like struggles +gains the opposite shore, where he climbs a cedar, as the dogs, +eager with savage pursuit, follow in his wake, and are well nigh +seizing his extremities ere they cleared their vicious spring. The +two horsemen vault to the spot from whence the old man plunged into +the water; and while the dogs make hideous ravings beneath the tree, +they sit upon their horses, consulting, as the old man, from the +tree top, looks piteously over the scene. Life has few charms for +him; death would not be unwelcome. + +The tedious journey, and disappointment at seeing the old man's +resolution, has excited Romescos' ire. "He's an old rack-not worth +much, but he doesn't seem like Kemp's old saw-horse," Romescos +remarks to Bengal, as his hawk eye scans the old man perched among +the cedar branches. They are not more than forty yards apart, and +within speaking distance. Bengal, less excited, thinks it better to +secure the old "coon" without letting the dogs taste of him. + +"They'll only hold him with a firm grip, when he dismounts, and swim +him safe back," grumblingly returns Romescos. "Now! old +nig"-Romescos shouts at the top of his voice, directing himself to +the old man-"just trot back here-come along!" + +The old man shakes his head, and raises his hands, as if pleading +for mercy. + +"You won't, eh?" returns the angry man, raising his rifle in an +attitude of preparation. Bengal reminds Romescos that his horse is +not accustomed to firing from the saddle. + +"I will larn him, then," is the reply. + +"Mas'r," says Bob, putting out his hand and uncovering his bald +head, "I can harm no white man. Let me live where 'um is, and die +where 'um is." + +"None o' that ar kind o' nigger talk;--just put it back here, or +ye'll get a plug or two out o' this long Bill." (He points to his +rifle.) "Ye'll come down out of that-by heavens you will!" + +"Wing him; don't shoot the fool!" suggests Bengal, as the old man, +pleading with his pursuers, winds his body half round the tree. +Tick! tick! went the cock of Romescos' rifle; he levelled it to his +eye,--a sharp whistling report rung through the air, and the body of +the old man, shot through the heart, lumbered to the earth, as a +deadly shriek sounds high above the echoes over the distant +landscape-"M'as'r in heaven take 'um and have mercy on 'um!" gurgles +on the air: his body writhes convulsively-the devouring dogs spring +savagely upon the ration-all is over with the old slave! + +Instantly with the report of the rifle, Romescos' horse darts, +vaults toward the oaks, halts suddenly, and, ere he has time to +grasp the reins, throws him headlong against one of their trunks. An +oath escapes his lips as from the saddle he lifted; not a word more +did he lisp, but sank on the ground a corpse. His boon companion, +forgetting the dogs in their banquet of flesh, quickly dismounts, +seizes the body in his arms, the head hanging carelessly from the +shoulders: a few quivering shrugs, and all is over. "Neck broken, +and dead!" ejaculates the affrighted companion, resting the dead +hunter's back against his left knee, and with his right hand across +the breast, moving the head to and fro as if to make sure life has +left. + +"Poor Anthony,--it's a bad end; but the state should bury him with +honours; he ware the best 'un at this kind o' business the state +ever had," mutters Bengal, glancing revengefully toward the island, +where his democratic dogs are busy in the work of destruction. Then +he stretches the lifeless body on the ground, crosses those hands +full of blood and treachery, draws a handkerchief from his pocket, +spreads it over the ghastly face fast discolouring, as the riderless +horse, as if by instinct, bounds back to the spot and suddenly halts +over his dead master, where he frets the ground with his hoof, and, +with nostrils extended, scents along the body. Having done this, as +if in sorrow, he will rest on the ground beside him; slowly he +lumbers his body down, his head and neck circled toward that of the +lifeless ruffian on the ground. + +The disconsolate hunter here leaves his useless companion, swims the +stream, recalls the gory-mouthed dogs, looks with satisfaction on +the body of the torn slave. "You're settled for," says Bengal, as +with his right foot he kicks together the distended and torn limbs. +"Not all loss, yet!" he adds, a glow of satisfaction infusing his +face. With the ghastly head for proof, he will apply for, and +perhaps obtain, the state's reward for the despatch of outlaws; and +with the gory trophy he returns across the limpid stream to his +hapless companion, who, having watched over during the night, he +will convey into the city to-morrow morning. Over his body the very +humorous Mr. Brien Moon will hold one of those ceremonies called +inquests, for which, fourteen dollars and forty cents being paid +into his own pocket, he will order the valueless flesh under the +sod, handsomely treating with cigars and drinks those who honour him +with their presence. + +In the old man's camp, a hatchet, a few bits of corn-bread, (old +Jerushe's gift), and two fresh caught fish, are found; they +constituted his earthly store. But he was happy, for his heart's +impulses beat high above the conflict of a State's wrongs. That +spirit so pure has winged its way to another and better world, +where, with that of the monster who wronged nature while making +cruelty his pastime, it will appear before a just God, who sits in +glory and judgeth justly. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +HOW SLAVEHOLDERS FEAR EACH OTHER. + + + + + +THE reader will please remember that we left Nicholas, maddened to +distraction at the perfidy of which Grabguy makes him the victim, +chained to an iron ring in the centre of Graspum's slave pen. In +addition to this very popular mode of subduing souls that love +liberty, his wife and children are sold from him, the ekings of his +toil, so carefully laid up as the boon of his freedom, are +confiscated, and the wrong-doer now seeks to cover his character by +proclaiming to a public without sympathy that no such convention +existed, no such object entertained. Grabguy is a man of position, +and lady Grabguy moves well in society no way vulgar; but the slave +(the more honourable of the two) hath no voice-he is nothing in the +democratic world. Of his origin he knows not; and yet the sting +pierces deeper into his burning heart, as he feels that, would +justice but listen to his tale, freedom had not been a stranger. No +voice in law, no common right of commoners, no power to appeal to +the judiciary of his own country, hath he. Overpowered, chained, his +very soul tortured with the lash, he still proclaims his +resolution-"death or justice!" He will no longer work for him who +has stripped away his rights, and while affecting honesty, would +crush him bleeding into the earth. + +Grabguy will counsel an expedient wherewith further to conceal his +perfidy; and to that end, with seeming honesty lady Grabguy would +have her fashionable neighbours believe sincere, he will ship the +oppressed man to New Orleans, there to be sold.-"Notwithstanding, he +is an extremely valuable nigger," he says, affecting superlative +indifference. + +"I'd rather sell him for a song than he should disturb the peace of +the city thus." To New Orleans Mr. Grabguy sends his unsubdued +property; but that the threatened sale is only a feint to more +effectually dissolve the contract and forfeit the money paid as part +of his freedom, he soon becomes fully sensible. Doubly incensed at +such conduct the fire of his determination burns more fiercely; if +no justice for him be made manifest on earth his spirit is consoled +with the knowledge of a reward in heaven. Having tortured for months +the unyielding man, Grabguy, with blandest professions of kindness, +commands that the lacerated servant be brought back to his domicile. +Here, with offers of kindness, and sundry pretexts of his sincerity, +the master will pledge his honour to keep faith with his slave. The +defrauded wretch knows but too well how little confidence he can +place in such promises; to such promises does he turn a deaf ear. +Grabguy, if serious, must give him back his wife, his children, and +his hard earnings, in which the joyous hope of gaining freedom was +centred: that hope had carried him through many trials. Sad is the +dilemma in which Mr. Grabguy finds himself placed; simple justice to +the man would have long since settled the question. + +And now Nicholas is a second time sent to Graspum's pen, where +living men are chained to rings of fierce iron for loving freedom +and their country. For twenty-two days and nights is he chained to +that floor where his soul had before been tortured. Threats of being +returned to New Orleans again ring their leaden music in his ears; +but they have no terrors for him; his indignant spirit has battled +with torture and vanquished its smart--he will defend himself unto +death rather than be made the object of a sham sale. A vessel for +New Orleans waits in the harbour a fair wind for sailing. On board +of her Mr. Grabguy will carry out his resolve; and to which end the +reader will please accompany us to a small cell in Graspum's pen, +about fourteen by sixteen feet, and seven in height--in the centre +of which is chained to a ring that man, once so manly of figure, +whose features are now worn down by sorrow or distorted by +torture,--as three policemen enter to carry out the order of +shipment. The heavy chain and shackle with which his left foot is +secured yield to him a circuit of some four feet. As the officials +advance his face brightens up with animation; his spirit resumes its +fiery action, and with a flashing knife, no one knows by whom +provided, he bids them advance no further. + +"You must go to the whipping-post, my good fellow! I know it's kind +of hard; but obey orders we must. Ye see, I've gin ye good advice, +time and agin; but ye won't take it, and so ye must abide the +consequences," says one of the officials, who advances before the +others, and addresses himself to the chained man. + +"I'll go to a whipping-post no more!" exclaims Nicholas, his angry +spirit flashing in his face, as in an attitude of defence he presses +his right hand into his bosom, and frowns defiantly upon the +intruders. + +"My name is Monsel, an officer! Not a word of disobedience," returns +the officer, in a peremptory voice. + +Another suggests that he had better be throated at once. But the +chained victim of democracy's rule warns them against advancing +another step. "Either must die if you advance. I have counselled +death, and will lay my prostrate body on the cold floor rather than +be taken from this cell to the whipping-post. It is far better to +die defending my right, than to yield my life under the lash! I +appeal to you, officers of the state, protectors of the peace, men +who love their right as life's boons!" The men hesitate, whisper +among themselves, seem at a loss as to what course to pursue. "You +are setting the laws of the state at defiance, my good fellow!" +rejoins Monsel. + +"I care not for the law of the state! Its laws for me are founded in +wrong, exercised with injustice!" Turning towards the door, Mr. +Monsel despatches his fellow-officers for a reinforcement. That +there will be a desperate struggle he has no doubt. The man's +gestures show him fully armed; and he is stark mad. During the +interim, Mr. Monsel will hold a parley with the boy. He finds, +however, that a few smooth words will not subdue him. One of the +officials has a rope in his hand, with which he would make a lasso, +and, throwing it over his head, secure him an easy captive. Mr. +Monsel will not hear of such a cowardly process. He is a wiry man, +with stunted features, and has become enured to the perils of negro +catching. Hand to hand he has had many an encounter with the brutes, +and always came off victor; never did he fail to serve the interests +of the state, nor to protect the property of his client. With a sort +of bravado he makes another advance. The city esteems him for the +valuable services he has rendered its safety; why should he shrink +in this emergency? + +Our southern readers, in a certain state, will readily recognise the +scene we here describe. The chained man, drawing his shining steel +from his bosom, says, "You take me not from here, alive." Mr. +Monsel's face becomes pale, while Nicholas's flashes angry scowls; +an irresistible nervousness seizes him,--for a moment he hesitates, +turns half round to see if his companions stand firm. They are close +behind, ready for the spring, like sharp-eyed catamounts; while +around the door anxious visitors crowd their curious faces. The +officers second in command file off to the right and left, draw +their revolvers, and present them in the attitude of firing. "Use +that knife, and you fall!" exclaims one, with a fearful imprecation. +At the next moment he fires, as Monsel rushes upon the chained man, +followed by half a dozen officials. An agonising shriek is heard, +and Monsel, in guttural accents, mutters, "I am a murdered man-he +has murdered me! Oh, my God,--he has murdered me!" Nicholas has +plunged the knife into the fleshy part of Monsel's right arm; and +while the bloody weapon, wrested from his hand, lies on the floor, +an official drags the wounded man from his grasp. As some rise, +others fall upon him like infuriated animals, and but for the timely +presence of Grabguy and Graspum would have despatched him like a +bullock chained to a stake. The presence of these important +personages produces a cessation of hostilities; but the victim, +disarmed, lies prostrate on the ground, a writhing and distorted +body, tortured beyond his strength of endurance. A circle where the +struggle ensued is wet with blood, in which Nicholas bathes his poor +writhing body until it becomes one crimson mass. + +All attention is now directed to the wounded man, who, it is found, +although he has bled freely of good red blood, is neither fatally +nor seriously wounded. It is merely a flesh wound in the arm, such +as young gentlemen of the south frequently inflict upon each other +for the purpose of sustaining their character for bravery. But the +oppressed slave has raised his hand against a white man,--he must pay +the penalty with his life; he no longer can live to keep peaceful +citizens in fear and trembling. Prostrate on the floor, the victors +gather round him again, as Graspum stoops down and unlocks the +shackle from his leg. "It's the Ingin, you see: the very devil +wouldn't subdue it, and when once its revenge breaks out you might +just as well try to govern a sweeping tornado," Graspum remarks, +coolly, as he calls a negro attendant, and orders the body to be +drawn from out the puddle of disfiguring gore. Languidly that poor +bosom heaves, his eyes half close, and his motionless lips pale as +death. + +"Had I know'd it when I bargained for him, he would never have +pested me in this way, never! But he looked so likely, and had such +a quick insight of things,--Ingin's Ingin, though!" says Grabguy. + +"The very look might have told you that, my dear fellow; I sold him +to you with your eyes open, and, of course, expected you to be the +judge," interrupts Graspum, his countenance assuming great +commercial seriousness. + +Mr. Grabguy politely says, he meant no insinuations. "Come, +Nicholas! I told you this would be the end on't," he continues, +stooping down and taking him by the shoulders, with an air of +commiseration. + +The bruised body, as if suddenly inspired with new life, raises +itself half up, and with eyes opening, gazes vacantly at those +around, at its own hands besmeared with gore; then, with a curl of +contempt on his lip, at the shackle just released from his limb-"Ah, +well, it's ended here; this is the last of me, no doubt," he +murmurs, and makes another attempt to rise. + +"Don't move from where you are!" commands an official, setting his +hand firmly against his right shoulder, and pressing him back. He +has got the infective crimson on his hands, chafes them one against +the other, perpendicularly, as Nicholas looks at him doubtingly. +"It's all over--I'll not harm you; take me to a slaughter-house if +you will,--I care not," he says, still keeping his eye on the +official. + +Grabguy, somewhat moved at the sight, would confirm his +harmlessness. "You'll give up now, won't you?" he enquires, and +before Nicholas has time to answer, turns to the official, saying, +"Yes, I know'd he would!" + +The official bows his head significantly, but begs to inform Mr. +Grabguy, that the negro, having violated the most sacred law of the +state, is no longer under his care. He is a prisoner, and must, as +the law directs, answer for the heinous crime just committed. Mr. +Grabguy, if he please, may forward his demand to the state +department, and by yielding all claim to his criminal property, +receive its award-two hundred round dollars, or thereabouts. + +"Stand back, gentlemen-stand back, I say!" commands the officer, as +the crowd from the outside come pressing in, the news of the +struggle having circulated through the city with lightning speed. +Rumour, ever ready to spread its fears in a slave state, reported an +insurrection, and many were they who armed themselves to the very +teeth. + +The officer, in answer to a question why he does not take the man +away, says he has sent for means to secure him. He had scarcely +given out the acceptable information, when an official, followed by +a negro man, bearing cords over his right arm, makes his appearance. +The oppressed man seems subdued, and as they make the first knot +with the cord they wind about his neck, he says, sarcastically, +"'Twouldn't be much to hang a slave! Now round my hands. Now, with a +half hitch, take my legs!" thus mocking, as it were, while they +twist the cords about his yielding limbs. Now they draw his head to +his knees, and his hands to his feet, forming a curve of his +disabled body. "How I bend to your strong ropes, your strong laws, +and your still stronger wills! You make good slip-nooses, and better +bows of human bodies," he says, mildly, shaking his head +contemptuously. The official, with a brutal kick, reminds him that +there will be no joking when he swings by the neck, which he +certainly will, to the great delight of many. + +"I welcome the reality,--by heaven I do, for only in heaven is there +justice for me!" With these words falling from his lips, four negro +men seize the body, bear it to the door: an excited crowd having +assembled, place it upon a common dray, amid shouts and furious +imprecations of "D--him, kill him at once!" Soon the dray rolls +speedily away for the county prison, followed by the crowd, who +utter a medley of yells and groans, as it disappears within the +great gates, bearing its captive to a cell of torture. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +SOUTHERN ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. + + + + + +IT is just a week since Nicholas committed the heinous offence of +wounding officer Monsel in the arm. That distinguished personage, +having been well cared for, is-to use a common phrase-about again, +as fresh as ever. With Nicholas the case is very different. His +bruised and lacerated body, confined in an unhealthy cell, has +received little care. Suspicion of treachery has been raised against +him; his name has become a terror throughout the city; and all his +bad qualities have been magnified five-fold, while not a person can +be found to say a word in praise of his good. That he always had +some secret villainy in view no one for a moment doubts; that he +intended to raise an insurrection among the blacks every one is +quite sure; and that confession of all his forelaid evil designs may +be extorted from him, the cruellest means have been resorted to. + +The day upon which the trial is to take place has arrived. On the +south side of Broad Street there stands a small wooden building, the +boarding discoloured and decayed, looking as if it had been +accidentally dropped between the walls of two brick buildings +standing at its sides. In addition, it has the appearance of one +side having been set at a higher elevation than the other for some +purpose of convenience known only to its occupants. About fifteen +feet high, its front possesses a plain door, painted green, two +small windows much covered with dust, and a round port-hole over the +door. A sheet of tin, tacked above the door, contains, in broad +yellow letters, the significant names of "Fetter and Felsh, +Attorneys at Law." Again, on a board about the size of a shingle, +hanging from a nail at the right side of the door, is "Jabez Fetter, +Magistrate." By these unmistakeable signs we feel assured of its +being the department where the legal firm of Fetter and Felsh do +their customers-that is, where they dispose of an immense amount of +legal filth for which the state pays very acceptable fees. Squire +Fetter, as he is usually called, is extremely tall and well-formed, +and, though straight of person, very crooked in morals. With an oval +and ruddy face, nicely trimmed whiskers, soft blue eyes, tolerably +good teeth, he is considered rather a handsome man. But (to use a +vulgar phrase) he is death on night orgies and nigger trials. He may +be seen any day of the week, about twelve o'clock, standing his long +figure in the door of his legal domicile, his hat touching the sill, +looking up and then down the street, as if waiting the arrival of a +victim upon whom to pronounce one of his awful judgments. Felsh is a +different species of person, being a short, stunted man, with a +flat, inexpressive face. He has very much the appearance of a man +who had been clumsily thrown together for any purpose future +circumstances might require. Between these worthies and one Hanz Von +Vickeinsteighner there has long existed a business connection, which +is now being transferred into a fraternity of good fellowship. Hanz +Von Vickeinsteighner keeps a small grocery, a few doors below: that +is, Von, in a place scarcely large enough to turn his fat sides +without coming in contact with the counter, sells onions, +lager-beer, and whiskey; the last-named article is sure to be very +bad, inasmuch as his customers are principally negroes. Von is +considered a very clever fellow, never a very bad citizen, and +always on terms of politeness with a great many squires, and other +members of the legal profession. A perfect picture of the +good-natured Dutchman is Von, as seen standing his square sides in +his doorway, stripped to his sleeves, his red cap tipped aside, a +crooked grin on his broad fat face, and his hands thrust beneath a +white apron into his nether pockets. Von has a great relish for +squires and police officers, esteems them the salt of all good, nor +ever charges them a cent for his best-brewed lager-beer. There is, +however, a small matter of business in the way, which Von, being +rather a sharp logician, thinks it quite as well to reconcile with +beer. The picture is complete, when of a morning, some exciting +negro case being about to be brought forward, Fetter and Von may be +seen, as before described, standing importantly easy in their +respective doors; while Felsh paces up and down the side-walk, +seemingly in deep study. On these occasions it is generally said Von +makes the criminal "niggers," Felsh orders them caught and brought +before Fletter, and Fetter passes awful judgment upon them. Now and +then, Felsh will prosecute on behalf of the state, for which that +generous embodiment of bad law is debtor the fees. + +The city clock has struck twelve; Fetter stands in his doorway, his +countenance wearing an air of great seriousness. Felsh saunters at +the outside, now and then making some legal remark on a point of the +negro statutes, and at every turn casting his bleared eye up the +street. Presently, Nicholas is seen, his hands pinioned, and a heavy +chain about his neck, approaching between two officials. A crowd +follows; among it are several patriotic persons who evince an +inclination to wrest him from the officials, that they may, +according to Judge Lynch's much-used privileges, wreak their +vengeance in a summary manner. "The boy Nicholas is to be tried to- +day!" has rung through the city: curious lookers-on begin to +assemble round the squire's office, and Hanz Von Vickeinsteighner is +in great good humour at the prospect of a profitable day at his +counter. + +"Bring the criminal in!" says Squire Fetter, turning into his office +as Nicholas is led in,--still bearing the marks of rough usage. Rows +of board seats stretch across the little nook, which is about +sixteen feet wide by twenty long, the floor seeming on the verge of +giving way under its professional burden. The plaster hangs in +broken flakes from the walls, which are exceedingly dingy, and +decorated with festoons of melancholy cobwebs. At the farther end is +an antique book-case of pine slats, on which are promiscuously +thrown sundry venerable-looking works on law, papers, writs, +specimens of minerals, branches of coral, aligators' teeth, several +ship's blocks, and a bit of damaged fishing-tackle. This is Felsh's +repository of antique collections; what many of them have to do with +his rough pursuit of the learned profession we leave to the reader's +discrimination. It has been intimated by several waggishly-inclined +gentlemen, that a valuable record of all the disobedient "niggers" +Fetter had condemned to be hung might be found among this confused +collection of antiquities. A deal table, covered with a varnished +cloth, standing on the right side of the room, and beside which a +ponderous arm-chair is raised a few inches, forms Fetter's tribune. +Hanging from the wall, close behind this, is a powder-horn and +flask, several old swords, a military hat somewhat broken, and +sundry other indescribable things, enough to make one's head ache to +contemplate. + +The office is become crowded to excess, the prisoner (his hands +unpinioned, but the heavy chain still about his neck!) is placed in +a wooden box fronting the squire's table, as a constable is ordered +to close the court. It is quite evident that Fetter has been taking +a little too much on the previous night; but, being a "first-rate +drinker," his friends find an apology in the arduousness of his +legal duties. In answer to a question from Felsh, who has been +looking at the prisoner somewhat compassionately, the serving +constable says two of the jury of "freeholders" he has summoned have +not yet made their appearance. Fetter, who was about to take his +seat in the great chair, and open court, politely draws forth his +watch, and after addressing a few words to the persons present, on +the necessity of keeping order in a court with such high functions, +whispers a few words in Felsh's ear, holding his hand to his mouth +the while. + +"Maintain order in court!" says Fetter, nodding his head to the +official; "we will return in five minutes." Soon they are seen +passing into Von's crooked establishment, where, joined by a number +of very fashionable friends, they "take" of the "hardware" he keeps +in a sly place under the counter, in a special bottle for his +special customers. Having taken several special glasses, Fetter is +much annoyed at sundry remarks made by his friends, who press round +him, seeming anxious to instruct him on intricate points of the +"nigger statutes." One hopes he will not let the nigger off without +a jolly good hanging; another will bet his life Felsh takes care of +that small item, for then his claim on the state treasury will be +doubled. And now, Fetter finding that Felsh, having imbibed rather +freely of the liquid, hath somewhat diminished his brilliant +faculties, will take him by the arm and return into court. With all +the innate dignity of great jurists they enter their sanctum of +justice, as the usher exclaims, "Court! Court!-hats off and cigars +out!" + +"Jury are present?" enquires Fetter, with great gravity, bowing to +one side and then to the other, as he resumes his seat on the +tribune. + +"Present, yer 'oner;" the officer answers in a deep, gruff voice, as +he steps forward and places a volume of the revised statutes before +that high jurist. Fetter moves the book to his left, where Felsh has +taken his seat. With placid countenance and softest accents, Fetter +orders the prisoner at the bar to stand up while our constable calls +the names of the jurymen. + +Our victim of democracy's even-handed justice obeys the summons, +rising as his dark eyes flash angrily, and that hatred wrong which +lurks in his bosom seems kindling anew. "James M'Neilty! Terrance +M'Quade! Harry Johanna! Baldwin Dobson! Patrick Henessy! Be dad and +I have um all now, yer 'oner," ejaculates the official, exultingly, +as one by one the "nigger jurymen" respond to the call and take +their seats on a wooden slab at the right of his Honour, squire +Fetter. "You are, I may be sure, gentlemen, freeholders?" enquires +his honour, with a mechanical bow. They answer simultaneously in the +affirmative, and then, forming in a half circle, lay their hands on +a volume of Byron, which Fetter makes do for a Bible, and subscribe +to the sacred oath Felsh administers. By the Giver of all Good will +they return a verdict according to the evidence and the facts. +"Gentlemen will take their seats" (the officer must preserve order +in the court!) "the prisoner may also sit down," says Felsh, the +words falling from his lips with great gravity, as, opening the +revised statutes, he rises to address the jury. + +"Gentlemen of the Jury!"-suddenly hesitates for a moment-"the solemn +duties which you are now called upon to perform" (at this moment +Terrance M'Quade draws a small bottle from his pocket, and after +helping himself to a portion of its contents passes it to his +fellows, much to the surprise of the learned Felsh, who hopes such +indecorum will cease) "and they are duties which you owe to the +safety of the state as well as to the protection of your own +families, are much enhanced by the superior mental condition of the +criminal before you." Here Mr. Felsh calls for a volume of Prince's +Digest, from which he instructs the jury upon several important +points of the law made and provided for making the striking a white +person by a slave or person of colour a capital offence. "Your +honour, too, will see the case to which I refer-'State and +Prudence!'" The learned gentleman extends the book, that his august +eyes may have a near view. + +"Your word is quite sufficient, Mr. Felsh," returns Fetter, his eyes +half closed, as he waves his hand, adding that he is perfectly +posted on the case cited. "Page 499, I think you said?" he +continues, placing his thumbs in his waistcoat armlets, with an air +of indifference. + +"Yes, your honour," rejoins Felsh, with a polite bow. His honour, +ordering a glass of water mixed with a little brandy, Mr. Felsh +continues:--"The case, gentlemen, before you, is that of the 'State +v. Nicholas.' This case, gentlemen, and the committal of the heinous +crime for which he stands arraigned before you, has excited no small +amount of interest in the city. It is one of those peculiar cases +where intelligence creeps into the property interest of our noble +institution-the institution of slavery-makes the property restless, +disobedient to the will and commands of the master, disaffected to +the slave population, and dangerous to the peace and the progress of +the community. Now, gentlemen" (his honour has dropped into a +moderate nap-Mr. Felsh pauses for a moment, and touches him gently +on the shoulder, as he suddenly resumes his wonted attention, much +to the amusement of those assembled) "you will be told by the +witnesses we shall here produce, that the culprit is an exceedingly +intelligent and valuable piece of property, and as such might, even +now, be made extremely valuable to his master"--Mr. Grabguy is in +court, watching his interests!-"who paid a large sum for him, and +was more than anxious to place him at the head of his manufacturing +establishment, which office he was fully capable of filling. Now, +gentlemen-his honour will please observe this point-much as I may +consider the heavy loss the master will suffer by the conviction of +the prisoner, and which will doubtless be felt severely by him, I +cannot help impressing upon you the necessity of overlooking the +individual loss to the master, maintaining the law, and preserving +the peace of the community and stability of our noble institution. +That the state will only allow the master two hundred dollars for +his valuable slave you have nothing to do with-you must sink that +from your minds, listen to the testimony, and form your verdict in +accordance with that and the law. That he is a dangerous slave, has +long maintained a disobedience towards his owner, set the +authorities at defiance, attempted to create an insurrection, and +made a dangerous assault on a white man-which constitutes a capital +offence-we shall now call witnesses to prove." The learned gentleman +having finished his opening for the prosecution, sits down. After a +moment's pause, he orders an attendant to bring something "to +take"-"Similar to the squire's!" he ejaculates, hoarsely. + +"Gentlemen!" says his honour, as if seized with the recollection of +some important appointment, the time for which was close at hand, +drawing out his watch, "Call witnesses as fast as possible! The +evidence in this case, I reckon, is so direct and positive, that the +case can be very summarily despatched." + +"I think so, too! yer 'oner," interrupts Terrance M'Quade, starting +from his seat among the five jurors. Terrance has had what in vulgar +parlance is termed a "tough time" with several of his own stubborn +negroes; and having already heard a deal about this very bad case, +is prepared to proclaim him fit only to be hanged. His honour +reminds Terrance that such remarks from a juror are neither strictly +legal nor in place. + +The first witness called is Toby, a slave of Terrance M'Quade, who +has worked in the same shop with Nicholas. Toby heard him say he got +his larnin' when he was young,--that his heart burned for his +freedom-that he knew he was no slave by right-that some day would +see him a great man; that if all those poor wretches now in slavery +knew as much as he did, they would rise up, have their liberties, +and proclaim justice without appealing to heaven for it!-" + +"I said all that, and more!" interrupted the criminal bondman, +rising quickly to his feet, and surveying those around him with a +frown of contempt. + +"Silence! sit down!" resounds from the officer. + +He will sit down, but they cannot quench the fires of his soul; they +may deny him the commonest right of his manhood, but they cannot +take from him the knowledge that God gave him those rights; they may +mock with derision the firm mien with which he disputes the power of +his oppressors, and their unjust laws, but they cannot make him less +than a man in his own feelings! + +His honour, squire Fetter, reminds him that it were better he said +nothing, sit down,--or be punished instanter. Turning to Felsh, who +is sipping his quencher, he enquires what that gentleman means to +prove by the witness Toby? + +"His intention to raise an insurrection, yer honour!" Felsh, setting +his glass aside, quickly responds, wiping his lips as he adds, "It +is essentially necessary, yer honour!" + +His honour, leaning forward, places the fore-finger of his right +hand to his lip, and making a very learned gesture, says, "Toby has +said enough to establish that point." + +The next witness is Mr. Brien Calligan, a criminal in the prison, +who for his good behaviour has been promoted to the honourable post +of under-warden. Mr. Brien Calligan testifies that the prisoner, +while in prison, confined in a cell under his supervision, admitted +that he intended to kill Mr. Monsel when he inflicted the wound. He +must qualify this statement, however, by saying that the prisoner +added he was altogether beside himself with rage. + +Grabguy, who has been intently watching the proceedings, suddenly +springs to his feet. He would like to know if that admission was not +extorted from the culprit by cruelty! + +Mr. Brien Calligan pauses a moment, looks innocently at the court, +as one of the jurors suggests that quite enough evidence has already +been put in to warrant a conviction. It's a pity to hang such +valuable property; but, being bent on disturbing the peace of the +community, what else can be done? + +His honour listens with great concern to the juror's remarks, but +suggests that Mr. Grabguy had better not interrupt the court with +questions. That he has an indirect interest in the issue of the +suit, not a doubt exists, but if he be not satisfied with the +witness's statement, he has his remedy in the court of appeals, +where, upon the ground of testimony having been elicited by coercion +or cruelty, a new trial will probably be granted. + +Mr. Grabguy would merely suggest to his honour that although +sentencing a negro to be hung may be a matter of small consequence +to him, yet his position in society gives him a right to be heard +with proper respect. Aware that he does not move in that exclusively +aristocratic sphere of society awarded to lawyers in general, he is +no less entitled to respect, and being a man of honour, and an +alderman as well, he shall always insist on that respect. + +"Order, order!" demand a dozen voices. His honour's face flashing +with indignation, he seizes the statutes, and rising to his feet, is +about to throw them with unerring aim at the unhandsome head of the +municipal functionary. A commotion here ensues. Felsh is esteemed +not a bad fighting man; and rising almost simultaneously, his face +like a full moon peeping through a rain cloud, attempts to pacify +his colleague, Fetter. The court is foaming with excitement; Mr. +Felsh is excited, the jury are excited to take a little more drink, +the constables are excited, the audience are excited to amusement; +Messrs. Fetter and Felsh's court rocks with excitement: the only +unexcited person present is the criminal, who looks calmly on, as if +contemplating with horror the debased condition of those in whose +hands an unjust law has placed his life. + +As the uproar and confusion die away, and the court resumes its +dignity, Mr. Grabguy, again asserting his position of a gentleman, +says he is not ashamed to declare his conviction to be, that his +honour is not in a fit state to try a "nigger" of his: in fact, the +truth must be told, he would not have him sit in judgment upon his +spaniel. + +At this most unwarranted declaration Fetter rises from his judicial +chair, his feelings burning with rage, and bounds over the table at +Grabguy, prostrating his brother Felsh, tables, benches, chairs, and +everything else in his way,--making the confusion complete. Several +gentlemen interpose between Fetter; but before he can reach Grabguy, +who is no small man in physical strength--which he has developed by +fighting his way "through many a crowd" on election days-that +municipal dignitary is ejected, sans ceremonie, into the street. + +"Justice to me! My honest rights, for which I laboured when he gave +me no bread, would have saved him his compunction of conscience: I +wanted nothing more," says Nicholas, raising the side of his coarse +jacket, and wiping the sweat from his brow. + +"Silence there!" demands an official, pointing his tipstaff, and +punching him on the shoulder. + +Grabguy goes to his home, considering and reconsidering his own +course. His heart repeats the admonition, "Thou art the wrong-doer, +Grabguy!" It haunts his very soul; it lays bare the sources from +whence the slave's troubles flow; places the seal of aggression on +the state. It is a question with him, whether the state, through its +laws, or Messrs. Fetter and Felsh, through the justice meted out at +their court, play the baser part. + +A crowd of anxious persons have gathered about the door, making the +very air resound with their shouts of derision. Hans Von +Vickeinsteighner, his fat good-natured face shining like a pumpkin +on a puncheon, and his red cap dangling above the motley faces of +the crowd, moves glibly about, and says they are having a right +jolly good time at the law business within. + +Fetter, again taking his seat, apologises to the jury, to the +persons present, and to his learned brother, Felsh. He is very sorry +for this ebullition of passion; but they may be assured it was +called forth by the gross insult offered to all present. "Continue +the witnesses as fast as possible," he concludes, with a methodical +bow. + +Mr. Monsel steps forward: he relates the fierce attempt made upon +his life; has no doubt the prisoner meant to kill him, and raise an +insurrection. "It is quite enough; Mr. Monsel may stand down," +interposes Felsh, with an air of dignity. + +Paul Vampton, an intelligent negro, next bears testimony. The +criminal at the bar (Paul does not believe he has a drop of negro +blood in his veins) more than once told him his wife and children +were sold from him, his rights stripped from him, the hopes of +gaining his freedom for ever gone. Having nothing to live for, he +coveted death, because it was more honourable to die in defence of +justice, than live the crawling slave of a tyrant's rule. + +"I feel constrained to stop the case, gentlemen of the jury," +interposes his honour, rising from his seat. "The evidence already +adduced is more than sufficient to establish the conviction." + +A juror at Terrance M'Quade's right, touches that gentleman on the +shoulder: he had just cooled away into a nice sleep: "I think so, +too, yer 'oner," rejoins Terrance, in half bewilderment, starting +nervously and rubbing his eyes. + +A few mumbled words from his honour serve as a charge to the jury. +They know the law, and have the evidence before them. "I see not, +gentlemen, how you can render a verdict other than guilty; but that, +let me here say, I shall leave to your more mature deliberation." +With these concluding remarks his honour sips his mixture, and sits +down. + +Gentlemen of the jury rise from their seats, and form into a circle; +Mr. Felsh coolly turns over the leaves of the statutes; the audience +mutter to themselves; the prisoner stares vacantly over the scene, +as if heedless of the issue. + +"Guilty! it's that we've made it; and the divil a thing else we +could make out of it," exclaims Terrance M'Quade, as they, after the +mature length of two minutes' consultation, turn and face his +honour. They pause for a reply. + +"Stand up, prisoner!" + +"Hats off during the sentence!" rejoins a constable. + +"Guilty." His honour rises to his feet with ponderous dignity to +pronounce the awful sentence. "Gentlemen, I must needs compliment +your verdict; you could have come to no other." His honour bows +gracefully to the jury, reminds gentlemen present of the solemn +occasion, and will hear what the prisoner has to say for himself. + +An angry frown pervades the prisoner's face. He has nothing to say. +Burning tears course down his cheeks; but they are not tears of +contrition,--Oh, no! he has no such tears to shed. Firmly and +resolutely he says, "Guilty! guilty! yes, I am guilty-guilty by the +guilty laws of a guilty land. You are powerful-I am weak; you have +might-I have right. Mine is not a chosen part. Guilty on earth, my +soul will be innocent in heaven; and before a just judge will my +cause be proclaimed, before a holy tribunal my verdict received, and +by angels my soul be enrolled among the righteous. Your earthly law +seals my lips; your black judgment-enough to make heaven frown and +earth tremble, fearing justice-crushes the man; but you cannot judge +the spirit. In fear and trembling your wrongs will travel broken +paths-give no man rest. I am guilty with you; I am innocent in +heaven. He who judgeth all things right, receives the innocent soul +into his bosom; and He will offer repentance to him who takes the +innocent life." He pauses, as his eye, with intense stare, rests +upon his honour. + +"You are through?" enquires his honour, raising his eyebrows. + +"In this court of justice," firmly replies the prisoner. + +"Order in the court!" is echoed from several voices. + +"Nicholas-Nicholas Grabguy! the offence for which you stand +convicted is one for which I might, according to the laws of the +land, pronounce a more awful sentence than the one now resolved +upon. But the advanced and enlightened spirit of the age calls for a +more humane manner of taking life and inflicting punishments. Never +before has it been my lot to pass sentence-although I have +pronounced the awful benediction on very many-on so valuable and +intelligent a slave. I regret your master's loss as much as I +sympathise with your condition; and yet I deplore the hardened and +defiant spirit you yet evince. And permit me here to say, that while +you manifest such an unyielding spirit there is no hope of pardon. +Nicholas! you have been tried before a tribunal of the land, by the +laws of your state, and found guilty by a tribunal of competent men. +Nothing is now left for me but to pass sentence upon you in +accordance with the law. The sentence of the court is, that you be +taken hence to the prison from whence you came, and on this day +week, at twelve o'clock, from thence to the gallows erected in the +yard thereof, and there and then be hanged by the neck until you are +dead; and may the Lord have mercy on your soul!" + +His honour, concluding nervously, orders the jury to be dismissed, +and the court adjourned. + +How burns the inward hate of the oppressed culprit, as mutely, his +hands pinioned, and the heavy chain about his neck, he is led away +to his prison-house, followed by a deriding crowd. "Come that happy +day, when men will cease to make their wrong fire my very blood!" he +says, firmly marching to the place of death. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +PROSPERITY THE RESULT OF JUSTICE. + + + + + +TEN years have rolled into the past since the Rosebrook family-moved +by a sense of right to enquire into the errors of a bad system of +labour-resolved to try the working of a new scheme. There was to be +no cutting, nor lashing, nor abusing with overburdening tasks. +Education was to regulate the feelings, kindness to expand the +sympathies, and justice to bind the affections and stimulate +advancement. There were only some fifty negroes on the Rosebrook +plantation, but its fame for raising great crops had resounded far +and wide. Some planters said it "astonished everything," considering +how much the Rosebrooks indulged their slaves. With a third less in +number of hands, did they raise more and better cotton than their +neighbours; and then everything was so neat and bright about the +plantation, and everybody looked so cheerful and sprightly. When +Rosebrook's cotton was sent into the market, factors said it was +characteristic of his systemised negroes; and when his negroes +rolled into the city, as they did on holidays, all brightened up +with new clothes, everybody said-There were Rosebrook's dandy, fat, +and saucy "niggers." And then the wise prophets, who had all along +predicted that Rosebrook's project would never amount to much, said +it was all owing to his lady, who was worth her weight in gold at +managing negroes. And she did conceive the project, too; and her +helping hand was felt like a quickening spring, giving new life to +the physical being. That the influence might not be lost upon others +of her sex in the same sphere of life, she was ever reasoning upon +the result of female sympathy. She felt that, were it exercised +properly, it could raise up the menial slave, awaken his inert +energies, give him those moral guides which elevate his passive +nature, and regenerate that manhood which provides for its own good. + +They had promised their people that all children born at and after a +given date should be free; that all those over sixty should be +nominally free, the only restriction being the conditions imposed by +the state law; that slaves under fifteen years of age, and able to +do plantation work, should, during the ten years prescribed, be +allowed for their extra labour at a given rate, and expected to have +the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars set to their credit; that +all prime people should be required to work a given number of hours, +as per task, for master, beyond which they would be allotted a +"patch" for cultivation, the products of which were entrusted to +Rosebrook for sale, and the proceeds placed in missus' savings bank +to their credit. The people had all fulfilled the required +conditions ere the ten years expired; and a good round sum for extra +earnings was found in the bank. The Rosebrooks kept faith with their +slaves; and the happy result is, that Rosebrook, in addition to the +moral security he has founded for the good of his people-and which +security is a boon of protection between master and slave-has been +doubly repaid by the difference in amount of product, the result of +encouragement incited by his enlightened system. The family were +bound in affection to their slaves; and the compact has given forth +its peaceful products for a good end. Each slave being paid for his +or her labour, there is no decline of energy, no disaffection, no +clashing of interests, no petulant disobedience. Rosebrook finds his +system the much better of the two. It has relieved him of a deal of +care; he gets more work for less money; he laughs at his neighbours, +who fail to raise as much cotton with double the number of negroes; +and he knows that his negroes love instead of fear him. And yet, +notwithstanding the proof he has produced, the whole district of +planters look upon him with suspicion, consider him rather a +dangerous innovator, and say, that while his foolish system cannot +be other than precarious to the welfare of the state, time will +prove it a monster fallacy. + +A happy moment was it when the time rolled round, and the morning of +the day upon which Rosebrook would proclaim the freedom of his +people broke serenely forth. The cabins looked bright and airy, were +sanded and whitewashed, and, surrounded by their neatly attired +inhabitants, presented a picturesque appearance. It was to be a +great gala-day, and the bright morning atmosphere seemed propitious +of the event. Daddy Daniel had got a new set of shiny brass buttons +put on his long blue coat, and an extremely broad white cravat for +his neck. Daniel was a sort of lawgiver for the plantation, and sat +in judgment over all cases brought before him, with great gravity of +manner. As to his judgments, they were always pronounced with +wondrous solemnity, and in accordance with what he conceived to be +the most direct process of administering even-handed justice. Daddy +was neither a democrat nor an unjust judge. Believing that it were +better to forgive than inflict undue punishments, he would rather +shame the transgressor, dismiss him with a firm admonition to do +better, and bid him go, transgress no more! + +Harry had prepared a new sermon for the eventful day; and with it he +was to make his happy flock remember the duty which they would +henceforth owe to those who had been their kind protectors, as well +as the promoters of that system which would result in happier days. +How vivid of happiness was that scene presented in the plantation +church, where master and missus, surrounded by their faithful old +slaves, who, with a patriarchal attachment, seemed to view them with +reverence, sat listening to the fervent discourse of that once +wretched slave, now, by kindness, made a man! Deep, soul-stirring, +and affecting to tears, were the words of prayer with which that +devout negro invoked the all-protecting hand of Almighty God, that +he would guide master and slave through the troubles of this earthly +stage, and receive them into his bosom. How in contrast with that +waging of passion, and every element of evil that has its source in +injustice, so rife of plantation life, was the picture here +presented! + +The service ended, Rosebrook addresses a few remarks to his people; +after which they gather around him and pour forth their gratitude in +genial sentiments. Old and young have a "Heaven save master!" for +Rosebrook, and a "God bless missus!" for his noble-hearted lady, to +whom they cling, shaking her hand with warmest affection. + +How enviable to her sex is the position of that woman who labours +for the fallen, and whose heart yields its kindred sympathy for the +oppressed! + +After congratulations and tokens of affection had been exchanged, +master, missus, and the people-for such they now were-repaired to +the green in front of the plantation mansion, where a sumptuous +collation was spread out, to which all sat down in one harmonious +circle. Then the festivities of the day-a 4th of July in +miniature-ended with a gathering at Dad Daniel's cabin, where he +profoundly laid down a system of rules for the future observance of +the people. + +Six months have passed under the new rgime; and Rosebrook, feeling +that to require labour of his people for a sum much beneath its +value must in time become a source from which evil results would +flow, awarded them a just and adequate remuneration, and finds it +work well. Harry had not been included among those who were enrolled +as candidates for the enjoyment offered by the new system; but +missus as well as master had confidentially promised him he should +be free before many years, and with his family, if he desired, sent +to Liberia, to work for the enlightenment of his fellow Africans. +Harry was not altogether satisfied that the greater amount of labour +to be done by him for the unfortunate of his race was beyond the +southern democratic states of America; and, with this doubt +instinctively before him, he was not restless for the consummation. + +Some three months after the introduction of the new state of +affairs, Dad Daniel was observed to have something weighing heavily +on his mind. At times he was seen consulting seriously with Harry; +but of the purport of these consultations no one, except themselves, +was made acquainted. That very many venerable uncles and aunts were +curious to know Daddy's secret contemplations was equally evident. +At length Daniel called a meeting of his more aged and sagacious +brethren, and with sage face made known his cherished project. +Absalom and Uncle Cato listened with breathless suspense as the sage +sayings fell from his lips. His brethren had all felt the sweet +pleasures of justice, right, freedom, and kindness. "Well, den, +broderin, is't 'um right in de sight ob de Lord, dat ye forgets dat +broder what done so much fo'h ye body and ye soul too?" + +"No, No! dat tisn't!" interrupted a dozen voices. + +"Well, den!-I know'd, broderin, ye hab got da' bright spirit in ye, +and wouldn't say 'twas!" Daniel continues, making a gesture with his +left hand, as he raises the spectacles from his eyes with his right, +and in his fervency lets them speed across the room. Daniel is only +made conscious of his ecstasy when his broken eyes are returned to +him. Turning to his brethren, he makes one of his very best +apologies, and continues-"Dis ar poposition I'se gwine to put! And +dat is, dat all ye broderin ere present put up somefin ob he arnin, +and wid dat somefin, and what mas'r gib, too, we sarve dat geman +what preach the gospel dat do 'em good wid 'e freedom for sef and +family. Tain't right in de sight ob de Lor, nohow, to have preacher +slave and congration free: I tell ye dat, my broderin, tain't!" With +these sage remarks, Daddy Daniel concluded his proposition, leaned +his body forward, spread his hands, and, his wrinkled face filled +with comicality, waited the unanimous response which sounded forth +in rapturous medley. Each one was to put in his mite, the preacher +was to have a fund made up for him, which was to be placed in the +hands of missus, and when sufficiently large (master will add his +mite) be handed over for the freedom of the clergyman and his +family. But missus, ever generous and watchful of their interests, +had learned their intentions, and forestalled their kindness by +herself setting them free, and leaving it to their own discretion to +go where they will. There were many good men at the south-men whose +care of their slaves constituted a bond of good faith; but they +failed to carry out means for protecting the slave against the +mendacity of the tyrant. None more than Harry had felt how +implicated was the state for giving great power to tyrant +democracy-that democracy giving him no common right under the laws +of the land, unless, indeed, he could change his skin. Ardently as +he was attached to the plantation and its people-much as he loved +good master and missus, he would prefer a home in happy New England, +a peaceful life among its liberty-loving people. To this end the +Rosebrooks provided him with money, sent him to the land he had +longed to live in. In Connecticut he has a neat and comfortable +home, far from the cares of slave life; no bloodhounds seek him +there, no cruel slave-dealer haunts his dreams. An intelligent +family have grown up around him; their smiles make him happy; they +welcome him as a father who will no more be torn from them and sold +in a democratic slave mart. And, too, Harry is a hearty worker in +the cause of freedom, preaches the gospel, and is the inventor of a +system of education by which he hopes to elevate the fallen of his +race. He has visited foreign lands, been listened to by dukes and +nobles, and enlisted the sympathies of the lofty in the cause of the +lowly. And while his appeals on behalf of his race are fervent and +fiery, his expositions of the wrongs of slavery are equally fierce; +but he is not ungrateful to the good master, whom he would elevate +high above the cruel laws he is born and educated to observe. With +gratitude and affection does he recur to the generous Rosebrooks; he +would hold them forth as an example to the slave world, and emblazon +their works on the pages of history, as proof of what can be done. +Bright in his eventful life, was the day, when, about to take his +departure from the slave world, he bid the Rosebrooks a long, long +good by. He vividly remembers how hope seemed lighting up the +prospect before him-how good missus shook his hand so motherly-how +kindly she spoke to Jane, and how fondly she patted his little ones +on the head. "The Rosebrooks," says our restored clergyman, "have +nothing to fear save the laws of the state, which may one day make +tyrranny crumble beneath its own burden." + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +IN WHICH THE FATE OF FRANCONIA IS SEEN. + + + + + +THE reader may remember that in a former chapter we left Annette and +Franconia, in company of the stranger, on board the steamer for +Wilmington, swiftly gliding on her course. Four bells struck as the +surging craft cleared the headlands and shaped her course. The +slender invalid, so neat of figure, and whose dress exhibited so +much good taste, has been suddenly transformed into a delicate girl +of some seventeen summers. As night spreads its shadows over the +briny scene, and the steaming craft surges onward over rolling +swells, this delicate girl may be seen emerging from her cabin +confines, leaning on Franconia's arm as she approaches the promenade +deck. Her fawn-coloured dress, setting as neatly as it is +chastefully cut, displays a rounded form nicely compact; and, +together with a drawn bonnet of green silk, simply arranged, and +adding to her fair oval face an air of peculiar delicacy, present +her with personal attractions of no ordinary character. And then her +soft blue eyes, and her almost golden hair, hanging in thick wavy +folds over her carnatic cheeks, add to the symmetry of her features +that sweetness which makes modesty more fascinating. And though she +has been but a slave, there is a glow of gentleness pervading her +countenance, over which a playful smile now sheds a glow of +vivacity, as if awakening within her bosom new hopes of the future. + +The suddenness with which they embarked served to confuse and dispel +all traces of recognition; and even the stranger, as they advanced +toward him, hesitated ere he greeted Annette and extended his hand. +But they soon joined in conversation, promenaded and mingled with +the passengers. Cautious not to enter the main cabin, they remained, +supperless, on the upper deck, until near midnight. That social +prejudice which acts like a crushing weight upon the slave's mind +was no longer to deaden her faculties; no, she seemed like a new +being, as, with childish simplicity, her soul bounded forth in +rhapsody of praise and thankfulness. Holding Franconia by the hand, +she would kiss her, fondle her head on her bosom, and continue to +recount the pleasure she anticipated when meeting her long-lost +mother. "They'll sell me no more, Franconia, will they?" she would +exclaim, looking enquiringly in her face. + +"No, my poor child; you won't be worth selling in a land of +freedom!" Franconia would answer, jocosely. After charging Maxwell +to be a father and a brother to the fugitive girl,--to remember that +a double duty was to be performed in his guardianship over the being +who had just escaped from slavery, they retired below, and on the +following morning found themselves safely landed at Wilmington, +where, after remaining about six hours, Franconia bid Annette and +Maxwell adieu! saw them on their way to New York, and returned to +Charleston by the same steamer. + +On reaching her home, she was overjoyed at finding a letter from her +parents, who, as set forth, had many years resided on the west coast +of Mexico, and had amassed a considerable fortune through a +connection with some mining operations. Lorenzo, on the first +discovery of gold in California, having joined a marauding party who +were traversing that country, was amongst the earliest who enriched +themselves from its bountiful yield. They gave up their wild +pursuits, and with energy and prudence stored-up their diggings, and +resolved to lead a new life. With the result of one year's digging, +Lorenzo repaired to San Francisco, entered upon a lucrative +business, increased his fortune, and soon became a leading man of +the place. The hope that at some day he would have means wherewith +to return home, wipe away the stain which blotted his character, and +relieve his parents from the troubles into which his follies had +brought them, seemed like a guiding star ever before him. And then +there was his generous-hearted uncle in the hands of Graspum,--that +man who never lost an opportunity of enriching himself while +distressing others. And now, by one of those singularities of +fortune which give persons long separated a key to each other's +wayfaring, Lorenzo had found out the residence of his parents on the +west coast of Mexico. Yes; he was with them, enjoying the comforts +of their domicile, at the date of their letter. How happy they would +be to see their Franconia, to have her with them, and once more +enjoy their social re-unions so pleasantly given on brother +Marston's plantation! Numberless were the letters they had written +her, but not an answer to one had been received. This had been to +them a source of great misgiving; and as a last resource they had +sent this letter enclosed to a friend, through whose kindness it +reached her. + +The happy intelligence brought by this letter so overjoyed Franconia +that she could with difficulty restrain her feelings. Tears of +gladness coursed down her cheeks, as she rested her head on Mrs. +Rosebrook's bosom, saying, "Oh, how happy I am! Sweet is the +forgiveness which awaits us,--strong is the hope that through +darkness carries us into brighter prospects of the future." Her +parents were yet alive-happy and prosperous; her brother, again an +honourable man, and regretting that error which cost him many a +tear, was with them. How inscrutable was the will of an all-wise +Providence: but how just! To be ever sanguine, and hope for the +best, is a passion none should be ashamed of, she thought. Thus +elated in spirits she could not resist the temptation of seeking +them out, and enjoying the comforts of their parental roof. + +But we must here inform the reader that M'Carstrow no longer acted +the part of a husband towards Franconia. His conduct as a debauchee +had driven her to seek shelter under the roof of Rosebrook's +cottage, while he, a degraded libertine, having wasted his living +among cast-out gamblers, mingled only with their despicable society. +Stripped of all arts and disguises, and presented in its best form, +the result of Franconia's marriage with Colonel M'Carstrow was but +one of those very many unhappy connections so characteristic of +southern life. + +Provided with funds which the generous Rosebrooks kindly furnished +her, a fortnight after the receipt of her father's letter found her +embarked on board a steamer bound for the Isthmus, from whence she +would seek her parents overland. With earnest resolution she had +taken a fond leave of the Rosebrooks, and bid adieu to that home and +its associations so dear to her childhood; and with God and happy +associations her guide and her protector, was bounding over the sea. +For three days the gallant ship sped swiftly onward, and the +passengers, among whom she made many friends, seemed to enjoy +themselves with one accord, mingling together for various +amusements, spreading their social influence for the good of all, +and, with elated spirits at the bright prospect, anticipating a +speedy voyage. All was bright, calm, and cheering-the monster +machines working smoothly, pressing the leviathan forward with +curling brine at her bows, until the afternoon of the fourth day, +when the wind in sharp gusts from the south-west, and the sudden +falling of the barometer, admonished the mariner of the approaching +heavy weather. At sunset a heavy bank in the west hung its +foreboding festoons along the horizon, while light, fleecy clouds +gathered over the heavens, and scudded swiftly into the east. +Steadily the wind increased, the sea became restless, and the sharp +chops thundering at the weather bow, veering the ship from her +course, rendering it necessary to keep her head a point nearer the +westward, betokened a gale. To leeward were the Bahamas, their +dangerous banks spreading awe among the passengers, and exciting the +fears of the more timid. On the starboard bow was Key West, with its +threatening and deceptive reefs, but far enough ahead to be out of +danger. At midnight, the wind, which had increased to a gale, howled +in threatening fierceness. Overhead, the leaden clouds hung low +their massive folds, and thick spray buried the decks and rigging; +beneath, the angry ocean spread out in resistless waves of +phosphorous light, and the gallant craft surged to and fro like a +thing of life on a plain of rolling fire. Now she yields to the +monster wave threatening her bow, over another she rides proudly, +and to a third her engines slowly rumble round, as with half-buried +deck she careens to its force. The man at the wheel, whose head we +see near a glimmering light at the stern, watches anxiously for the +word of command, and when received, executes it with quickness. An +intruding sea has driven the look-out from the knight-heads to a +post at the funnel, where, near the foremast, he clings with +tenacious grip. Near him is the first officer, a veteran seaman, who +has seen some twenty years' service, receiving orders from the +captain, who stands at the weather quarter. Noiselessly the men +proceed to execute their duties. There is not that bustle nor +display of seamanship, in preparing a steamer for encountering a +gale, so necessary in a sailing-ship; and all, save the angry +elements, move cautiously on. The engineer, in obedience to the +captain's orders, has slowed his engines. The ship can make but +little headway against the fierce sea; but still, obedient to her +command, it is thought better to maintain power just sufficient to +keep her head to the sea. The captain says it is necessary, as well +to ease her working as not to strain her machinery. He is supposed +the better judge, and to his counsel all give ear. Now and then a +more resolute passenger shoots from no one knows where, holds +struggling by the jerking shroud, and, wrapt in his storm cloak, his +amazed eyes, watching the scudding elements overhead, peer out upon +the raging sea: then he mutters, "What an awful sight! how madly +grand with briny light!" How sublimely terrific are the elements +here combined to wage war against the craft he thought safe from +their thunders! She is but a pigmy in their devouring sweep, a +feeble prey at their mercy. The starboard wheel rumbles as it turns +far out of water; the larboard is buried in a deep sea the ship +careens into. Through the fierce drear he sees the black funnel +vomiting its fiery vapour high aloft; he hears the chain braces +strain and creak in its support; he is jerked from his grasp, +becomes alarmed for his safety, and suddenly disappears. In the +cabin he tells his fellow voyagers how the storm rages fearfully: +but it needed not his word to confirm the fact: the sudden lurching, +creaking of panel-work, swinging to and fro of lamps, sliding from +larboard to starboard of furniture, the thumping of the sea against +the ship's sides, prostrate passengers made helpless by sea +sickness, uncouched and distributed about the floor, moaning +females, making those not ill sick with their wailings, timid +passengers in piteous accents making their lamentations in state +rooms, the half frightened waiter struggling timidly along, and the +wind's mournful music as it plays through the shrouds, tell the tale +but too forcibly. Hope, fear, and prayer, mingle in curious discord +on board this seemingly forlorn ship on an angry sea. Franconia lies +prostrate in her narrow berth, now bracing against the panels, then +startled by an angry sea striking at her pillow, like death with his +warning mallet announcing, "but sixteen inches separate us!" + +Daylight dawns forth, much to the relief of mariners and passengers; +but neither the wind nor the sea have lessened their fierceness. +Slowly and steadily the engines work on; the good ship looks +defiantly at each threatening sea, as it sweeps along irresistibly; +the yards have been sent down, the topmasts are struck and housed; +everything that can render her easy in a sea has been stowed to the +snuggest compass; but the broad ocean is spread out a sheet of +raging foam. The drenched captain, his whiskers matted with saline, +and his face glowing and flushed (he has stood the deck all night), +may be seen in the main cabin, cheering and dispelling the fears of +his passengers. The storm cannot last-the wind will soon lull-the +sea at meridian will be as calm as any mill-pond-he has seen a +thousand worse gales; so says the mariner, who will pledge his +prophecy on his twenty years' experience. But in this one instance +his prophecy failed, for at noon the gale had increased to a +hurricane, the ship laboured fearfully, the engines strained and +worked unsteadily, while the sea at intervals made a breach of the +deck. At two o'clock a more gloomy spectacle presented itself; and +despondency seemed to have seized all on board, as a sharp, +cone-like sea boarded the ship abaft, carried away the quarter-boats +from the starboard davys, and started several stancheons. Scarcely +was the work of destruction complete, when the condenser of the +larboard engine gave out, rendering the machine useless, and +spreading dismay among the passengers. Thus, dragging the wheel in +so fearful a sea strained the ship more and more, and rendered her +almost unmanageable. Again a heavy, clanking noise was heard, the +steam rumbled from the funnel, thick vapour escaped from the +hatchways, the starboard engine stopped, and consternation reigned +triumphant, as a man in oily fustian approached the captain and +announced both engines disabled. The unmanageable monster now rolled +and surged at the sweep of each succeeding sea, which threatened to +engulph her in its sway. A piece of canvas is set in the main +rigging, and her helm put hard down, in the hope of keeping her head +to the wind. But she obeys not its direction. Suddenly she yaws off +into the trough of the sea, lurches broad on, and ere she regains +her way, a fierce sea sweeps the house from the decks, carrying +those within it into a watery grave. Shrieks and moans, for a +moment, mingle their painful discord with the murmuring wind, and +all is buried in the roar of the elements. By bracing the fore-yard +hard-a-starboard the unwieldy wreck is got before the wind; but the +smoke-funnel has followed the house, and so complete is the work of +demolition that it is with difficulty she can be kept afloat. Those +who were in the main, or lower cabin, startled at the sudden crash +which had removed the house above, and leaving the passages open, +exposing them to the rushing water that invaded their state-rooms, +seek the deck, where a more dismal sight is presented in the +fragments of wreck spread from knight-head to taffrail. The anxious +captain, having descended from the upper deck a few minutes before +the dire calamity, is saved to his passengers, with whom and his men +he labours to make safe what remains of his noble ship. Now more at +ease in the sea, with canvas brought from the store-rooms, are the +hatches and companions battened down, the splintered stancheons +cleared away, and extra pumps prepared for clearing the water fast +gaining in the lower hold. Lumbering moves the heavy mass over the +mounting surge; but a serious leak having sprung in the bow, +consternation and alarm seem on the point of adding to the sources +of danger. "Coolness is our safeguard," says the captain. Indeed, +the exercise of that all-important virtue when destruction threatens +would have saved thousands from watery graves. + +His admonition was heeded,--all worked cheerfully, and for some time +the water was kept within bounds of subjection. As night approached +the sea became calmer, a bright streak gleamed along the western +horizon; hearts that had sorrowed gladdened with joy, as the murky +clouds overhead chased quickly into the east and dissolved, and the +blue arch of heaven-hung with pearly stars of hope-shed its peaceful +glows over the murmuring sea. + +Again the night was passed in incessant labour of pumping and +clearing up the dismantled hull; but when daylight appeared, the +wind having veered and increased, the sea ran in short swells, +rocking the unwieldly hull, and fearfully straining every timber in +its frame. The leak now increased rapidly, as also did the water in +the hold, now beyond their exertions to clear. At ten o'clock all +hopes of keeping the wreck afloat had disappeared; and the last +alternative of a watery grave, or launching upon the broad ocean, +presented its stern terms for their acceptance. A council decided to +adopt the latter, when, as the hulk began to settle in the sea, and +with no little danger of swamping, boats were launched, supplied +with such stores as were at hand, the passengers and crew embarked, +and the frail barks sent away with their hapless freight to seek a +haven of safety. The leviathan hulk soon disappeared from sight. +Franconia, with twenty-five fellow unfortunates, five of whom were +females, had embarked in the mate's boat, which now shaped her +course for Nassau, the wind having veered into the north-west, and +that seeming the nearest and most available point. The clothing they +stood in was all they saved; but with that readiness to protect the +female, so characteristic and noble of the sailor, the mate and his +men lightened the sufferings of the women by giving them a portion +of their own: incasing them with their jackets and fearnoughts, they +would shield them from the night chill. For five days were +sufferings endured without a murmur that can only be appreciated by +those who have passed through shipwreck, or, tossed upon the ocean +in an open boat, been left to stare in the face grim hunger and +death. At noonday they sighted land ahead; and as each eager eye +strained for the welcome sight, it seemed rising from the ocean in a +dim line of haze. Slowly, as they neared, did it come bolder and +bolder to view, until it shone out a long belt of white panoramic +banks. Low, and to the unpractised eye deceptive of distance, the +mate pronounced it not many miles off, and, the wind freshening +fair, kept the little bark steadily on her course, hoping thereby to +gain it before night came on: but the sun sank in a heavy cloud when +yet some four miles intervened. Distinctly they saw a cluster of +houses on a projecting point nearly ahead; but not a sail was off +shore, to which the increasing wind was driving them with great +violence. + +And now that object which had been sighted with so much welcome in +the morning-that had cheered many a drooping heart, and seemed a +haven of safety, threatened their destruction. The water shoaled; +the sea broke and surged in sharp cones; the little craft tippled +and yawed confusedly; the counter eddies twirled and whirled in +foaming concaves; and leaden clouds again hung their threatening +festoons over the awful sea. To lay her head to the sea was +impracticable-an attempt to "lay-to" under the little sail would be +madness; onward she rode, hurrying to an inevitable fate. Away she +swept through the white crests, as the wind murmured and the sea +roared, and the anxious countenance of the mate, still guiding the +craft with a steady hand, seemed masked in watchfulness. His hand +remained firm to the helm, his eyes peered into the black prospect +ahead: but not a word did he utter. + +It was near ten o'clock, when a noise as of thunder rolling in the +distance, and re-echoing in booming accents, broke fearfully upon +their ears. The sea, every moment threatening to engulph the little +craft, to sweep its freight of human beings into eternity, and to +seal for ever all traces of their fate, was now the lesser enemy. +Not a word had escaped the lips of a being on board for several +minutes; all seemed resigned to whatever fate Providence awarded. + +"The beach roars, Mr. Slade-" + +The mate interrupted before the seaman in the sheets had time to +finish his sentence: "I have not been deaf to the breakers; but +there is no hope for us but upon the beach; and may heaven save us +there! Passengers, be calm! let me enjoin you to remain firm to your +places, and, if it be God's will that we strike, the curling surf +may be our deliverer. If it carry you to the sand in its sweep, +press quickly and resolutely forward, lest it drag you back in its +grasp, and bury you beneath its angry surge. Be firm, and hope for +the best!" he said, with great firmness. The man who first spoke sat +near Franconia, and during the five days they had been in the boat +exhibited great sympathy and kindness of heart. He had served her +with food, and, though a common sailor, displayed those traits of +tenderness for the suffering which it were well if those in higher +spheres of life did but imitate. As the mate ceased speaking, the +man took his pilot coat from his shoulder and placed it about +Franconia's, saying, "I will save this lady, or die with her in the +very same sea." + +"That's well done, Mr. Higgins!" (for such was the man's name). "Let +the hardiest not forget the females who have shown so much fortitude +under trying circumstances; let the strong not forget the weak, but +all save who can," returned the mate, as he scanned through the +stormy elements ahead, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the +point. + +Drenched with the briny spray that swept over the little bark, never +did woman exhibit fortitude more resolute. Franconia thanked the man +for his solicitude, laid her hand nervously upon his arm, and, +through the dark, watched his countenance as if her fate was in its +changes. + +The din and murmur of the surf now rose high above the wail of the +sea. Fearful and gloomy, a fretted shore stood out before them, +extending from a bold jut on the starboard hand away into the +darkness on the left. Beneath it the angry surf beat and lashed +against the beach in a sheet of white foam, roaring in dismal +cadences. + +"Hadn't you better put her broad on, Mr. Slade?" enquired the young +seaman, peering along the line of surf that bordered the shore with +its deluging bank. + +"Ask no questions!" returned the mate, in a firm voice: "Act to the +moment, when she strikes-I will act until then." At the moment a +terrific rumbling broke forth; the din of elements seemed in battle +conflict; the little bark, as if by some unforeseen force, swept +through the lashing surge, over a high curling wave, and with a +fearful crash lay buried in the boiling sand. Agonising shrieks +sounded amid the rage of elements; and then fainter and fainter they +died away on the wind's murmurs. Another moment, and the young +sailor might have been seen, Franconia's slender form in his arms, +struggling against the devouring surf; but how vain against the +fierce monster were his noble efforts! The receding surge swept them +far from the shore, and buried them in its folds,--a watery grave +received the fair form of one whose life of love had been spotless, +just, and holy. The white wave was her winding-sheet,--the wind sang +a requiem over her watery grave,--and a just God received her spirit, +and enthroned it high among the angels. + +Of the twenty-seven who embarked in the little craft, but two gained +the beach, where they stood drenched and forlorn, as if +contemplating the raging surf that had but a minute before swallowed +up their fellow voyagers. The boat had driven on a flat sandy beach +some two miles from the point on which stood the cluster of +dwellings before described; and from which two bright lights +glimmered, like beacons to guide the forlorn mariner. For them, the +escaped men-one a passenger, the other a seaman-shaped their course, +wet, and sad at heart. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +IN WHICH IS A SAD RECOGNITION. + + + + + +THE mate did not mistake his position, for the jut of land we +described in the last chapter is but a few hours' ride from Nassau, +and the houses are inhabited by wreckers. With desponding hearts did +our unfortunates approach one of the rude cabins, from the window of +which a faint light glimmered, and hesitate at the door, as if +doubting the reception they were about to receive. The roaring of +the beach, and the sharp whistling of the wind, as in clouds it +scattered the sand through the air, drowned what sound might +otherwise be heard from within. "This cabin seems deserted," says +one, as he taps on the door a second time. "No, that cannot be!" +returns the other, peering through a small window into the +barrack-like room. It was from this window the light shone, and, +being a bleak November night, a wood fire blazed on the great +hearth, shedding its lurid glows over everything around. It is the +pale, saline light of wreckwood. A large binnacle lamp, of copper, +hung from the centre of the ceiling, its murky light mingling in +curious contrast to the pale shadows of the wreckwood fire. Rude +chains, and chests, and boxes, and ropes, and canvas, and broken +bolts of copper, and pieces of valuable wood, and various nautical +relics-all indicating the trade of shipwreck, lie or stand +promiscuously about the room; while in the centre is a table +surrounded by chairs, some of which are turned aside, as if the +occupants had just left. Again, there may be seen hanging from the +unplastered walls numerous teeth of fish, bones and jaws of sharks, +fins and flukes of curious species, heads of the Floridian +mamalukes, and preserved dolphins-all is interspersed here and there +with coloured prints, illustrative of Jack's leaving or returning to +his favourite Mary, with a lingering farewell or fond embrace. + +Louder and louder, assured of some living being within they knock at +the door, until a hoarse voice rather roars than speaks-"Aye, aye! +hold hard a bit! I'se bearin' a hand!" The sound came as if from the +clouds, for not a living being was visible. A pause followed; then +suddenly a pair of dingy legs and feet descended from a small +opening above the window, which, until that moment, had escaped +their notice. The sight was, indeed, not the most encouraging to +weak nerves. Clumsily lowered the legs, the feet making a ladder of +cleets of wood nailed to the window, until the burly figure of the +wrecker, encased with red shirt and blue trousers, stood out full to +view. Over his head stood bristly hair in jagged tufts; and as he +drew his brawny hand over the broad disc of his sun-scorched face, +winking and twisting his eyes in the glare, there stood boldly +outlined on his features the index of his profession. He shrugged +his shoulders, gathered his nether garments quickly about him, +paused as if half confused and half overjoyed, then ran to the +fire-place, threw into a heap the charred wood with a long wooden +poker, and sought the door, saying--"Avast heavin a bit, Tom!" Having +removed a wooden bar, he stands in the opening, braving out the +storm. "A screachin nor'easter this, Tom--what'r ye sighted away, +eh!" he concludes. He is--to use a vulgar term--aghast with surprise. +It was Tom Dasher's watch to-night; but no Tom stands before him. +"Hallo!--From whence came you?" he enquires of the stranger, with an +air of anxious surprise. He bids them come in, for the wind carries +the sand rushing into his domicile. + +"We are shipwrecked men in distress," says the passenger--the +wrecker, with an air of kindness, motioning them to sit down: "Our +party have been swallowed up in the surf a short distance below, and +we are the only survivors here seeking shelter." + +"Zounds you say--God be merciful!" interrupts the hardy wrecker, ere +the stranger had time to finish his sentence. "It was Tom's look-out +to-night. Its ollers the way wi' him--he gits turned in, and sleeps +as niver a body see'd, and when time comes to unbunk himself, one +disn't know whether 'ts wind or Tom's snoarin cracks hardest. Well, +well,--God help us! Think ye now, if wife and I, didn't, in a half +sort of dream, fancy folks murmuring and crying on the beach about +twelve, say. But the wind and the surf kept up such a piping, and +Tom said ther war nought a sight at sundown." With a warm expression +of good intention did our hardy host set about the preparing +something to cheer their drooping spirits. "Be at home there wi' +me," says he; "and if things b'nt as fine as they might be, remember +we're poor folks, and have many a hard knock on the reefs for what +we drag out. Excuse the bits o' things ye may see about; and wife +'ll be down in a fip and do the vary best she can fo'h ye." He had a +warm heart concealed beneath that rough exterior; he had long +followed the daring profession, seen much suffering, lightened many +a sorrowing heart. Bustling about among old boxes and bags, he soon +drew forth a lot of blankets and quilts, which he spread upon the +broad brick hearth, at the same time keeping up a series of +questions they found difficult to answer, so rapidly were they put. +They had indeed fallen into the hands of a good Samaritan, who would +dress their wounds with his best balms. + +"An' now I tak it ye must be famished; so my old woman must get up +an' help mak ye comfortable," says he, bringing forth a black +tea-kettle, and filling it from a pail that stood on a shelf near +the fire-frame. He will hang it on the fire. He had no need of +calling the good dame; for as suddenly as mysteriously does the +chubby figure of a motherly-looking female of some forty years shoot +from the before described opening, and greeting the strangers with a +hearty welcome, set about preparing something to relieve their +exhaustion. A gentle smile pervades her little red face, so simply +expressive; her peaked cap shines so brightly in contrast with the +black ribbon with which she secures it under her mole-bedecked chin; +and her short homespun frock sets so comely, showing her thick knit +stockings, and her feet well protected in calfskin laces, with heels +a trooper might not despise; and then, she spreads her little table +with a heartiness that adds its value to simple goodness,--her +invitingly clean cups and saucers, and knives and forks, as she +spreads them, look so cheerful. The kettle begins to sing, and the +steam fumes from the spout, and the hardy wrecker brings his bottle +of old Jamaica, and his sugar; and such a bowl of hot punch was +never made before. "Come now," he says, "ye're in my little place; +the wrecker as don't make the distressed comfortable aneath his ruf +'s a disgrace to the craft." And now he hands each a mug of steaming +punch, which they welcomely receive, a glow of satisfaction +bespreading his face, telling with what sincerity he gives it. Ere +they commenced sipping, the good dame brought pilot bread and set it +before them; and while she returned to preparing her supper the +wrecker draws his wooden seat by their side, and with ears attentive +listens to the passenger as he recites the disaster. + +"Only two out of twenty-seven saved-a sorry place that gulf!" he +exclaims; "you bear away, wife. Ah, many a good body's bones, too, +have whitened the beach beside us; many 's the bold fellow has been +dashed upon it to die unknown," he continues, with serious face. +"And war ner onny wemen amang ye, good man?" interposes the good +dame. + +"Seven; they have all passed into eternity!" rejoins the seaman, +who, till then, had been a mute looker-on. + +"Poor souls! how they mun' 'ave suffered!" she sighs, shaking her +head, and leaning against the great fire frame, as her eyes fill +with tears. The wrecker must needs acquaint Tom Dasher, bring him to +his aid, and, though the storm yet rages, go search the beating surf +where roll the unfortunates. Nay, the good dame will herself execute +the errand of mercy, while he supplies the strangers with dry +clothes; she will bring Tom hither. She fears not the tempest while +her soul warms to do good; she will comfort the distressed who seek +shelter under her roof. With the best his rough wardrobe affords +does the wrecker clothe them, while his good wife, getting Tom up, +relates her story, and hastens back with him to her domicile. Tom is +an intrepid seafarer, has spent some seven years wrecking, saved +many a life from the grasp of the grand Bahama, and laid up a good +bit of money lest some stormy day may overtake him and make the wife +a widow. + +"This is a hard case, Stores!" says Tom, addressing himself to our +wrecker, as with sharp, hairy face, and keen black eyes, his +countenance assumes great seriousness. Giving his sou'-wester a +cant back on his head, running his left hand deep into the pocket of +his pea-jacket, and supplying his mouth with tobacco from his right, +he stands his tall figure carelessly before the fire, and in a +contemplative mood remains silent for a few minutes. + +"Aye, but somethin' mun' be done, Tom," says the first wrecker, +breaking silence. + +"Yes; as my name is Tom Dasher, there must. We must go to the beach, +and see what it's turned up,--what there is to be seen, an' the like +o' that." Then, turning to the strangers, he continued, "Pity yer +skipper hadn't a headed her two points further suthard, rounded the +point just above here a bit, and made a lee under the bend. Our +craft lies there now,--as snug as Tompkins' wife in her chamber!" + +"Yes, but, Tom! ye dinna think as the poor folks could know all +things," speaks up the woman, as Tom was about to add a few items +more, merely to give the strangers some evidence of his skill. + +"Aye, aye,--all right; I didn't get the balance on't just then," +returned Tom, nodding his head with an air of satisfaction. + +A nice supper of broiled fish, and toast, and tea, and hot rum +punch-of which Tom helped himself without stint-was set out, the +strangers invited to draw up, and all partook of the plain but +cheering fare. As daylight was fast approaching, the two wreckers +dispatched their meal before the others, and sought the spot on the +beach described as where the fatal wreck took place, while the good +dame put the shipwrecked to sleep in the attic, and covered them +with her warmest rugs and blankets. + +Not a vestige of the wreck was to be seen-not a fragment to mark the +spot where but a few hours before twenty-five souls were hurried +into eternity. They stood and stood, scanning over the angry ocean +into the gloom: nothing save the wail of the wind and the sea's roar +greeted their ears. Tom Dasher thinks either they have been borne +out into the fathomless caves, or the men are knaves with false +stories in their mouths. + +Stores,--for such is our good man's name-turning from the spot, says +daylight will disclose a different scene; with the wind as it is the +bodies will be drawn into the eddy on the point, and thrown ashore +by the under-current, for burial. "Poor creatures! there's no help +for them now;" he adds, sighing, as they wend their way back to the +cabin, where the good dame waits their coming. Their search was in +vain; having no news to bring her, she must be contented until +morning. If the bodies wash ashore, the good woman of the Humane +Society will come down from the town, and see them decently buried. +Stores has several times spoken of this good woman; were she a +ministering angel he could not speak of her name with more +reverence. For years, he tells us, has she been a harbinger of good, +ever relieving the sick and needy, cheering the downcast, protecting +the unfortunate. Her name has become a symbol of compassion; she +mingles with the richest and the poorest, and none know her but to +love and esteem her. "And she, too, is an American lady!" Stores +says, exultingly. And to judge from his praise, we should say, if +her many noble deeds were recorded on fair marble, it would not add +one jot to that impression of her goodness made on the hearts of the +people among whom she lives. + +"Ah, man! she's a good woman, and everybody loves and looks up to +her. And she's worth loving, too, because she's so kind," adds the +good dame, significantly canting her head. + +Daylight was now breaking in the east, and as there seemed no chance +of making a search on the bank that day, such was the fierceness of +the wind, the two men drank again of the punch, spread their +blankets before the fire, lay their hardy figures down, and were +soon in a profound sleep. The woman, more watchful, coiled herself +in a corner of the room on some sail-cloth, but did not sleep. + +At ten o'clock they were aroused by the neighbours, who, in great +anxiety, had come to inform them of an event they were already +conscious of,--adding, however, as an evidence of what had taken +place, that sixteen male and three female bodies, borne to the rips +at the point, had been thrown upon the shore. The denizens of the +point were indeed in a state of excitement; a messenger had been +sent into the town for the coroner, which said functionary soon +spread the news about, creating no little commotion among the +inhabitants, many of whom repaired to the scene of the disaster. + +When it became known that two witnesses to the dire misfortune had +been spared to tell the tale, and were now at Stores' house, the +excitement calmed into sympathy. The wrecker's little village +resounded with curious enquiries, and few were they who would be +satisfied without a recital of the sad tale by the rescued men. + +Carefully they brought the dead bodies from the shore, and laid them +in an untenanted house, to await the coroner's order. Among them was +the slender form of Franconia, the dark dress in which she was clad +but little torn, and the rings yet remaining on her fingers. "How +with fortitude she bore the suffering!" said the rescued passenger, +gazing on her blanched features as they laid her on the floor: the +wrecker's wife covered her with a white sheet, and spread a pillow +carefully beneath her head. + +"Yes!" returns the unfortunate seaman, who stood by his side, "she +seemed of great goodness and gentleness. She said nothing, bore +everything without a murmur; she was Higgins' pet; and I'll lay he +died trying to save her, for never a braver fellow than Jack Higgins +stood trick at a wheel." + +The coroner arrives as the last corpse is brought from the sand: he +holds his brief inquest, orders them buried, and retires. Soon, +three ladies-Stores' wife tells us they are of the Humane +Society-make their appearance in search of the deceased. They enter +Stores' house, greet his good dame familiarly, and remain seated +while she relates what has happened. One of the three is tall and +stately of figure, and dressed with that quiet taste so becoming a +lady. And while to the less observing eye no visible superiority +over the others is discernible, it is evident they view her in such +a light, always yielding to her counsels. Beneath a silk bonnet +trimmed with great neatness, is disclosed a finely oval face, +glowing with features of much regularity, large dark eyes of great +softness, and silky hair, laid in heavy wavy folds across a +beautifully arched brow-to which is added a sweet smile that ever +and anon plays over her slightly olive countenance. There, boldly +outlined, is the unmistakeable guide to a frank and gentle nature. +For several minutes does she listen to the honest woman's recital of +the sad event, which is suspended by the passenger making his +appearance. The wrecker's wife introduces him by motioning her hand, +and saying, "This is the kind lady of whose goodness I spoke so last +night." Anxiously does she gather from the stranger each and every +incident of the voyage: this done, she will go to the house where +lay the dead, our good Dame Stores leading the way, talking from the +very honesty of her heart the while. In a small dilapidated dwelling +on the bleak sands, the dead lay. Children and old men linger about +the door,--now they make strange mutterings, and walk away, as if in +fear. Our messengers of mercy have entered the abode of the dead. +The wrecker's wife says, "They are to be buried to-morrow, ma'am;" +while the lady, with singular firmness, glances her eye along the +row of male bodies, counting them one by one. She has brought +shrouds, in which to bury them like Christians. + +"Them three females is here, ma'am," says Dame Stores, touching the +lady on the elbow, as she proceeds to uncover the bodies. The +passenger did, indeed, tell our Lady of Mercy there was one handsome +lady from Carolina. One by one she views their blanched and besanded +features. + +"A bonny figure that, mum; I lay she's bin a handsome in her day," +with honest simplicity remarks Dame Stores, as, bent over the +lifeless body of Franconia, she turns back the sheet, carefully. +"Yes," is the quick reply: the philanthropic woman's keen eye scans +along the body from head to foot. Dame Stores will part the silken +hair from off that cold brow, and smooth it with her hand. Suddenly +our lady's eyes dart forth anxiety; she recognises some familiar +feature, and trembles. The rescued seaman had been quietly viewing +the bodies, as if to distinguish their different persons, when a +wrecker, who had assisted in removing the bodies, entered the room +and approached him, "Ah!" exclaims the seaman, suddenly, "yonder's +poor Jack Higgins." He points to a besanded body at the right, the +arms torn and bent partly over the breast, adding, "Jack had a good +heart, he had." Turning half round, the wrecker replies, "That 'un +had this 'un fast grappled in his arms; it was a time afore we got +'um apart." + +"Was it this body?" enquires the lady, looking at the lifeless form +before her. He says, "That same, ma'am; an' it looked as if he had +tried to save the slender woman." He points to the body which Dame +Stores has just uncovered. The good lady kneels over the body: her +face suddenly becomes pale; her lips purple and quiver; she seems +sinking with nervous excitement, as tremulously she seizes the +blanched hand in her own. Cold and frigid, it will not yield to her +touch "That face-those brows, those pearly teeth, those lips so +delicate,--those hands,--those deathless emblems! how like Franconia +they seem," she ejaculates frantically, the bystanders looking on +with surprise. "And are they not my Franconia's-my dear +deliverer's?" she continues. She smooths the cold hands, and chafes +them in her own. The rings thereon were a present from Marston. +"Those features like unto chiselled marble are hers; I am not +deceived: no! oh no! it cannot be a dream" (in sorrow she shakes her +head as the tears begin to moisten her cheeks), "she received my +letter, and was on her way seeking me." Again she smooths and +smooths her left hand over those pallid cheeks, her right still +pressing the cold hand of the corpse, as her emotions burst forth in +agonising sobs. + +The wrecker's wife loosens the dress from about deceased's +neck-bares that bosom once so fair and beautiful. A small locket, +attached to a plain black necklace, lies upon it, like a moat on a +snowy surface. Nervously does the good woman grasp it, and opening +it behold a miniature of Marston, a facsimile of which is in her own +possession. "Somethin' more 'ere, mum," says Dame Stores, drawing +from beneath a lace stomacher the lap of her chemise, on which is +written in indelible ink-"Franconia M'Carstrow." The doubt no longer +lent its aid to hope; the lady's sorrowing heart can no longer +withstand the shock. Weeping tears of anguish, she says, "May the +God of all goodness preserve her pure spirit, for it is my +Franconia! she who was my saviour; she it was who snatched me from +death, and put my feet on the dry land of freedom, and gave me-ah, +me!" she shrieked,--and fell swooning over the lifeless body, ere +Dame Stores had time to clasp her in her arms. + +My reader can scarcely have failed to recognise in this messenger of +mercy,--this good woman who had so ennobled herself by seeking the +sufferer and relieving his wants, and who makes light the cares of +the lowly, the person of that slave-mother, Clotilda. Having drank +of the bitterness of slavery, she the more earnestly cheers the +desponding. That lifeless form, once so bright of beauty, so buoyant +of heart and joyous of spirit, is Franconia; she it was who +delivered the slave-mother from the yoke of bondage, set her feet on +freedom's heights, and on her head invoked its genial blessings. Her +soul had yearned for the slave's good; she had been a mother to +Annette, and dared snatch her from him who made the slave a +wretch,--democracy his boast! It was Franconia who placed the +miniature of Marston about Clotilda's neck on the night she effected +her escape,--bid her God speed into freedom. All that once so +abounded in goodness now lies cold in death. Eternity has closed her +lips with its strong seal,--no longer shall her soul be harassed with +the wrongs of a slave world: no! her pure spirit has ascended among +the angels. + +We will not longer pain the reader's feelings with details of this +sad recognition, but inform him that the body was removed to +Clotilda's peaceful habitation, from whence, with becoming ceremony, +it was buried on the following day. A small marble tablet, standing +in a sequestered churchyard near the outskirts of Nassau, and on +which the traveller may read these simple words:--"Franconia, my +friend, lies here!" over which, in a circle, is chiseled the figure +of an angel descending, and beneath, "How happy in Heaven are the +Good!" marks the spot where her ashes rest in peace. + + + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +IN WHICH A DANGEROUS PRINCIPLE IS ILLUSTRATED. + + + + + +SHOULD the sagacious reader be disappointed in our hero Nicholas, +who, instead of being represented as a model of disinterestedness, +perilling his life to save others, sacrificing his own interests for +the cause of liberty, and wasting on hardened mankind all those +amiable qualities which belong only to angels, but with which heroes +are generally invested for the happy purpose of pleasing the lover +of romance, has evinced little else than an unbending will, he will +find a palliation in that condition of life to which his oppressors +have forced him to submit. Had Nicholas enjoyed his liberty, many +incidents of a purely disinterested character might have been +recorded to his fame, for indeed he had noble traits. That we have +not put fiery words into his mouth, with which to execrate the +tyrant, while invoking the vengeance of heaven-and, too, that we are +guilty of the crime of thus suddenly transferring him from boyhood +to manhood, nor have hanged him to please the envious and +vicious,--will find excuse with the indulgent reader, who will be +kind enough to consider that it is our business to relate facts as +they are, to the performance of which-unthankful though it may be-we +have drawn from the abundance of material placed in our hand by the +southern world. We may misname characters and transpose scenes, but +southern manners and customs we have transcribed from nature, to +which stern book we have religiously adhered. And, too (if the +reader will pardon the digression), though we never have agreed with +our very best admirers of the gallows, some of whom hold it a means +of correcting morals-nor, are yet ready to yield assent to the +opinions of the many, so popularly laid down in favour of what we +consider a medium of very unwholesome influence, we readily admit +the existence of many persons who have well merited a very good +hanging. But, were the same rules of evidence admissible in a court +of law when a thief is on trial, applied against the practice of +"publicly hanging," there would be little difficulty in convicting +it of inciting to crime. Not only does the problem of complex +philosophy-the reader may make the philosophy to suit his +taste-presented in the contrariety of scenes on and about the +gallows offer something irreconcileable to ordinary minds, but gives +to the humorous large means with which to feast their love of the +ludicrous. On the scaffold of destruction, our good brothers of the +clergy would, pointing to the "awful example," assure the motley +assembly gathered beneath, that he hath purified that soul, which +will surely be accepted in heaven; but, he can in no wise condescend +to let it, still directing the flesh, live on the less pure platform +of earth. With eager eyes, the mass beneath him, their morbid +appetites curiously distended, heed not the good admonition; nay, +the curious wait in breathless suspense the launching a human being +into eternity; the vicious are busy in crime the while; the heedless +make gay the holiday. Sum up the invention and perpetration of crime +beneath the gallows on one of those singular gala-days, and the +culprit expiating his guilt at the rope's end, as an "awful +warning," will indeed have disclosed a shallow mockery. Taking this +view of the hanging question, though we would deprive no man of his +enjoyment, we deem it highly improper that our hero should die by +any other means than that which the chivalrous sons of the south +declared "actually necessary." + +But before proceeding further with Nicholas, it may be proper here +to state that Annette and the stranger, in whose hands we left her, +have arrived safe at New York. Maxwell-for such is his name-is with +his uncle engaged in a lucrative commercial business; while Annette, +for reasons we shall hereafter explain, instead of forthwith seeking +the arms of an affectionate mother, is being educated at a female +seminary in a village situated on the left bank of the Hudson River. + +In returning to Nicholas, the reader will remember that Grabguy was +something of a philosopher, the all-important functions of which +medium he invoked on the occasion of his ejectment from Fetter's +court, for an interference which might at that moment have been +taken as evidence of repentance. The truth, however, was, that +Grabguy, in the exercise of his philosophy, found the cash value of +his slave about to be obliterated by the carrying out of Fetter's +awful sentence. Here there rose that strange complexity which the +physical action and mental force of slave property, acting in +contrariety, so often produce. The physical of the slave was very +valuable, and could be made to yield; but the mental being all +powerful to oppose, completely annulled the monetary worth. But by +allowing the lacerations to heal, sending him to New Orleans, and +making a positive sale, some thousand or twelve hundred dollars +might be saved; whereas, did Fetter's judgment take effect, Mr. +Grabguy must content himself with the state's more humble award of +two hundred dollars, less the trouble of getting. In this democratic +perplexity did our economical alderman find himself placed, when, +again invoking his philosophy-not in virtue of any sympathetic +admonition, for sympathy was not of Grabguy-he soon found means of +protecting his interests. To this end he sought and obtained an +order from the Court of Appeals, which grave judiciary, after duly +considering the evidence on which the criminal was convicted before +Fetter's tribunal, was of opinion that evidence had been improperly +extorted by cruelty; and, in accordance with that opinion, ordered a +new trial, which said trial would be dististinguished above that at +Fetter's court by being presided over by a judicial magistrate. This +distinguished functionary, the judicial magistrate, who generally +hears the appeals from Fetter's court, is a man of the name of +Fairweather Fuddle, a clever wag, whose great good-nature is only +equalled by the rotundity of his person, which is not a bad +portraiture of our much-abused Sir John Falstaff, as represented by +the heavy men of our country theatres. Now, to enter upon an +analysis of the vast difference between Fetter's court in ordinary, +and Fuddle's court in judiciary, would require the aid of more +philosophy than we are capable of summoning; nor would the sagacious +reader be enlightened thereby, inasmuch as the learned of our own +atmosphere have spent much study on the question without arriving at +any favourable result. Very low people, and intelligent negroes-- +whose simple mode of solving difficult problems frequently produces +results nearest the truth--do say without fear or trembling that the +distinction between these great courts exists in the fact of Justice +Fuddle drinking the more perfect brandy. Now, whether the quality of +brandy has anything to do with the purity of ideas, the character of +the judiciary, or the tempering of the sentences, we will leave to +the reader's discrimination; but true it is, that, while Fetter's +judgments are always for the state, Fuddle leans to mercy and the +master's interests. Again, were Fuddle to evince that partiality for +the gallows which has become a trait of character with his legal +brother, it would avail him nothing, inasmuch as by confirming +Fetter's judgments the fees would alike remain that gentleman's. If, +then, the reader reason on the philosophy of self-interest, he may +find the fees, which are in no wise small, founding the great +distinction between the courts of Messrs. Fuddle and Fetter; for by +reversing Fetter's judgments fees accrue to Fuddle's own court, and +belong to his own well-lined pocket; whereas, did he confirm them, +not one cent of fees could he claim. The state should without delay +remedy this great wrong, and give its judicial gentlemen a fair +chance of proving their judgments well founded in contrariety. We +should not, forsooth, forget to mention that Fuddle, in his love of +decorum--though he scarce ever sat in judgment without absorbing his +punch the while--never permitted in his forum the use of those +knock-down arguments which were always a prelude to Fetter's +judgments. + +Before Fuddle's court, then, Grabguy has succeeded in getting a +hearing for his convicted property, still mentally obstinate. Not +the least doubt has he of procuring a judgment tempered by mercy; +for, having well drunk Fuddle on the previous night, and improved +the opportunity for completely winning his distinguished +consideration, he has not the slightest apprehension of being many +months deprived of his property merely to satisfy injured justice. +And, too, the evidence upon which Nicholas was convicted in Fetter's +court, of an attempt to create an insurrection--the most fatal +charge against him--was so imperfect that the means of overthrowing +it can be purchased of any of the attendant constables for a mere +trifle,--oaths with such fellows being worth about sixty-two and a +half cents each. + +If the reader will be pleased to fancy the trial before Fetter's +tribunal--before described--with the knock-down arguments omitted, he +will have a pretty clear idea of that now proceeding before +Fuddle's; and having such will excuse our entering into details. +Having heard the case with most, learned patience, the virtue of +which has been well sustained by goodly potions of Paul and Brown's +perfect "London Dock," Fuddle, with grave deportment, receives from +the hands of the clerical-looking clerk-a broken-down gentleman of +great legal ability-the charge he is about to make the jury. +"Gentlemen," he says, "I might, without any detriment to perfect +impunity, place the very highest encomiums on the capabilities +displayed in the seriousness you have given to this all-important +case, in which the state has such deep and constitutional interests; +but that I need not do here. The state having placed in my +possession such responsible functions, no one more than me can feel +the importance of the position; and which position has always been +made the judicial medium of equity and mercy. I hold moderation to +be the essential part of the judiciary, gentlemen! And here I would +say" (Fuddle directs himself to his gentlemanly five) "and your +intelligence will bear me out in the statement, that the trial below +seems to have been in error from beginning to end. I say +this-understand, gentlemen!--with all deference to my learned +brother, Fetter, whose judgments, in the exercise of the powers in +me invested, and with that respect for legal equity by which this +court is distinguished, it has become me so often to reverse. On the +charge of creating an insurrection--rather an absurdity, by the +way--you must discharge the prisoner, there being no valid proof; +whereas the charge of maiming or raising his hand to a white man, +though clearly proved, and according to the statutes a capital +offence, could not in the spirit of mercy which now prevails in our +judiciary--and, here, let me say, which is emulated by that high +state of civilisation for which the people of this state are +distinguished--be carried rigidly into effect. There is only this one +point, then, of maiming a white gentleman, with intention--Ah! yes (a +pause) the intention the court thinks it as well not to mind! open +to you for a conviction. Upon this point you will render your +verdict, guilty; only adding a recommendation to the mercy of the +court." With this admonition, our august Mr. Fuddle, his face +glowing in importance, sits down to his mixture of Paul and Brown's +best. A few moments' pause--during which Fetter enters looking very +anxious--and the jury have made up their verdict, which they submit +on a slip of paper to the clerk, who in turn presents it to Fuddle. +That functionary being busily engaged with his punch, is made +conscious of the document waiting his pleasure by the audience +bursting into a roar of laughter at the comical picture presented in +the earnestness with which he regards his punch-some of which is +streaming into his bosom-and disregards the paper held for some +minutes in the clerk's hand, which is in close proximity with his +nasal organ. Starting suddenly, he lets the goblet fall to the +floor, his face flushing like a broad moon in harvest-time, takes +the paper in his fingers with a bow, making three of the same nature +to his audience, as Fetter looks over the circular railing in front +of the dock, his face wearing a facetious smile. "Nigger boy will +clear away the break,--prisoner at the bar will stand up for the +sentence, and the attending constable will reduce order!" speaks +Fuddle, relieving his pocket of a red kerchief with which he will +wipe his capacious mouth. These requests being complied with, he +continues-having adjusted his glasses most learnedly-making a +gesture with his right hand--"I hold in my hand the solemn verdict of +an intelligent jury, who, after worthy and most mature deliberation, +find the prisoner at the bar, Nicholas Grabguy, guilty of the +heinous offence of raising his hand to a white man, whom he severely +maimed with a sharp-edged tool; and the jury in their wisdom, +recognising the fact of their verdict involving capital punishment, +have, in the exercise of that enlightened spirit which is +inseparable from our age, recommended him to the mercy of this +court, and, in the discretion of that power in me invested, I shall +now pronounce sentence. Prepare, then, ye lovers of civilisation, +ye friends of humanity, ye who would temper the laws of our land of +freedom to the circumstance of offences--prepare, I say, to have your +ears and hearts made glad over the swelling sound of this most +enlightened sentence of a court, where judgments are tempered with +mercy." Our hero, a chain hanging loosely from his left arm, stands +forward in the dock, his manly deportment evincing a stern +resolution to meet his fate unsubdued. Fuddle continues:--"There is +no appeal from this court!" (he forgot the court of a brighter +world) "and a reversing the decision of the court below, I sentence +the prisoner to four years' imprisonment with hard labour, two +months' solitary confinement in each year, and thirty blows with the +paddle, on the first day of each month until the expiration of the +sentence." Such, reader, was Fuddle's merciful sentence upon one +whose only crime was a love of freedom and justice. Nicholas bowed +to the sentence; Mr. Grabguy expressed surprise, but no further +appeal on earth was open to him; Squire Fetter laughed immeasurably; +and the officer led his victim away to the place of durance vile. + +To this prison, then, must we go with our hero. In this magnificent +establishment, its princely exterior seeming like a modern fort with +frowning bastions, are some four hundred souls for sale and +punishment. Among them Nicholas is initiated, having, for the time +being, received his first installment of blows, and takes his first +lesson in the act of breaking stone, which profession is exclusively +reserved for criminals of his class. Among the notable characters +connected with this establishment is Philip Fladge, the wily +superintendent, whose power over the criminals is next to absolute. +Nicholas has been under Philip's guardianship but a few months, when +it is found that he may be turned into an investment which will +require only the outlay of kindness and amelioration on his part to +become extremely profitable. Forthwith a convention is entered into, +the high contracting parties being Nicholas and himself. Mr. Fladge +stipulates on his part that the said Nicholas, condemned by +Fairweather Fuddle's court to such punishments as are set forth in +the calendar, shall be exempt from all such punishments, have the +free use of the yard, comfortable apartments to live in, and be +invested with a sort of foremanship over his fellow criminals; in +consideration of which it is stipulated on the part of Nicholas that +he do work at the more desirable profession of stucco-making, +together with the execution of orders for sculpture, the proceeds of +which were to be considered the property of Fladge, he allowing the +generous stipend of one shilling a week to the artist. Here, then, +Mr. Fladge becomes sensible of the fact that some good always come +of great evils, for indeed his criminal was so far roving a mine of +wealth that he only hoped it might be his fortune to receive many +more such enemies of the state: he cared not whether they came from +Fetter or Fuddle's court. With sense enough to keep his +heart-burnings well stored away in his own bosom, Nicholas soon +became a sort of privileged character. But if he said little, he +felt much; nor did he fail to occupy every leisure moment in +inciting his brother bondmen to a love of freedom. So far had he +gained complete control over their feelings, that scarce two months +of his sentence had expired ere they would have followed his lead to +death or freedom. + +Among those human souls stored for sale was one Sal Stiles, an olive +wench of great beauty, and daughter of one of the very first +families. This Sal Stiles, who was indeed one of the most charming +creatures to look upon, had cousins whom the little world of +Charleston viewed as great belles; but these said belles were never +known to ring out a word in favour of poor Sal, who was, forsooth, +only what-in our vulgar parlance-is called a well-conditioned and +very marketable woman. Considering, then, that Nicholas had been +separated by Grabguy from his wife and children, the indulgent +reader, we feel assured, will excuse our hero for falling +passionately in love with this woman. That it was stipulated in the +convention between himself and Fladge, he should take her unto +himself, we are not justified in asserting; nevertheless, that that +functionary encouraged the passion rather than prevented their +meetings is a fact our little world will not pretend to deny. + + + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +A CONTINUATION OF THE LAST CHAPTER. + + + + + +A YEAR and two months have rolled by, since Nicholas, a convict, +took up his abode within the frowning walls of a prison: thus much +of Fuddle's merciful sentence has he served out. In the dreary hours +of night, fast secured in his granite cell, has he cherished, and +even in his dreams contemplated, the means of escaping into that +freedom for which his soul yearns. But, dearly does he love Sal +Stiles, to whose keeping he confides the secret of his ambition; +several times might he, having secured the confidence of Fladge, +have effected his own escape; but the admonitions of a faithful +heart bid him not leave her behind in slavery. To that admonition of +his bosom did he yield, and resolve never to leave her until he +secured her freedom. A few days after he had disclosed to her his +resolution, the tall figure of Guy Grantham, a broker of slaves by +profession, appeared in the prison yard, for the purpose of carrying +away the woman, whom he had sold for the Washington market, where +her charms would indeed be of much value during the session, when +congress-men most do riot. Already were the inseparable chains about +her hands, and the miserable woman, about to be led away, bathed in +grief. Nicholas, in his studies, had just finished a piece of +scroll-work for Mrs. Fladge, as a companion approached him in great +haste, and whispered the word of trouble-"they're taking her +away"-in his ear. Quick as lightning did the anger of his very soul +break forth like a tempest: he rushed from his place of labour, +vaulted as it were to the guard gate, seized the woman as she +stepped on the threshold in her exit, drew her back with great +force, and in a defiant attitude, drawing a long stiletto from his +belt, placed himself between her and her destroyer. "Foes of the +innocent, your chains were not made for this woman; never shall you +bear her from this; not, at least, while I have arm to defend her, +and a soul that cares not for your vengeance!" spake he, with +curling contempt on his lip, as his adversaries stood aghast with +fear and trembling. "Nay!-do not advance one step, or by the God of +justice I make ye feel the length of this steel!" he continued, as +Grantham nervously motioned an attempt to advance. Holding the woman +with his left hand pressed backward, he brandished his stiletto in +the faces of his opponents with his right. This was rebellion in its +most legal acceptation, and would have justified the summary process +Grantham was about adopting for the disposal of the instigator, at +whose head he levelled his revolver, and, without effect, snapped +two caps, as Nicholas bared his bosom with the taunt--"Coward, +shoot!" Mr. Fladge, who was now made sensible of the error his +indulgence had committed, could not permit Grantham the happy +display of his bravery; no, he has called to his aid some ten +subguardsmen, and addressing the resolute Grantham, bids him lay +aside his weapon. Albeit he confesses his surprise at such strange +insolence and interference; but, being responsible for the life, +thinks it well to hold a parley before taking it. Forsooth his words +fall useless on the ears of Nicholas, as defiantly he encircles the +woman's waist with his left arm, bears her away to the block, dashes +the chains from her hands, and, spurning the honied words of Fladge, +hurls them in the air, crying: "You have murdered the flesh;--would +you chain the soul?" As he spoke, the guard, having ascended the +watch tower, rings out the first alarm peal. "Dogs of savage might! +ring your alarms; I care not," he continued, casting a sardonic +glance at the tower as the sound died away on his ear. His pursuers +now made a rush upon him, but ere they had secured him he seized a +heavy bludgeon, and repelling their attack, found some hundred of +his companions, armed with stone hammers, rallying in his defence. +Seeing this formidable force thus suddenly come to his rescue, Mr. +Fladge and his force were compelled to fall back before the advance. +Gallantly did Nicholas lead on his sable band, as the woman sought +refuge in one of the cells, Mr. Fladge and his posse retreating into +the guard-house. Nicholas, now in full possession of the citadel, +and with consternation and confusion triumphant within the walls, +found it somewhat difficult to restrain his forces from taking +possession of the guardhouse, and putting to death those who had +sought shelter therein. Calmly but firmly did he appeal to them, and +beseech them not to commit an outrage against life. As he had placed +himself between the woman and her pursuers, so did he place himself +before a file of his sable companions, who, with battle hammers +extended, rushed for the great gates, as the second alarm rung out +its solemn peal. Counselling his compatriots to stand firm, he +gathered them together in the centre of the square, and addressed +them in a fervent tone, the purport of which was, that having thus +suddenly and unexpectedly become plunged into what would be viewed +by the laws of the land as insurrection, they must stand on the +defensive, and remember it were better to die in defence of right +than live under the ignorance and sorrow of slavery. + +While our hero-whose singular exploit we have divested of that +dramatic effect presented in the original-addressed his forlorn band +in the area of the prison, strange indeed was the scene of confusion +presenting along the streets of the city. The alarm peals had not +died ineffectual on the air, for as a messenger was despatched to +warn the civil authorities of the sad dilemma at the prison, the +great bell of St. Michael's church answered the warning peal with +two loud rings; and simultaneously the city re-echoed the report of +a bloody insurrection. On the long line of wharfs half circling the +city, stood men aghast with fright; to the west all was quiet about +the battery; to the south, the long rampart of dark moving pines +that bordered on that side the calm surface of a harbour of +unsurpassed beauty, seemed sleeping in its wonted peacefulness; to +the east, as if rising from the sea to mar the beauty of the scene, +stood fort Sumpter's sombre bastions, still and quiet like a monster +reposing; while retracing along the north side of the harbour, no +sign of trouble flutters from Fort Moultrie or Castle Pinkney-no, +their savage embrasures are closed, and peace hangs in mists over +their dark walls. The feud is in the city of democrats, wherein +there are few who know not the nature of the warning peal; nor, +indeed, act on such occasions like a world in fear, waiting but the +tap of the watchman's baton ere it rushes to bloodshed. + +In the busy portion of the city have men gathered at the corners of +the street to hold confused controversy; with anxious countenances +and most earnest gesticulations do they discuss the most certain +means of safety. Ladies, in fright, speedily seek their homes, now +asking questions of a passerby, whose intense excitement has carried +off his power of speech, then shunning every luckless negro who +chances in their way. The rumour of an insurrection, however falsely +founded, turns every negro (of skin there is no distinction) into an +enemy; whilst the second sound of the alarm peal makes him a bloody +votary, who it needs but the booming of the cannon ere he be put to +the sword. Guardsmen, with side-arms and cross-belts, are eager and +confused, moving to and fro with heavy tread; merchants and men of +more easy professions hasten from their labours, seek their homes, +prepare weapons for the conflict, and endeavour to soothe the fears +of their excited families, beseeching protection. That a deadly +struggle is near at hand no one doubts, for men have gathered on the +house-tops to watch the moving mass, bearing on its face the +unmistakeable evidence of fear and anxiety, as it sweeps along the +streets. Now the grotesque group is bespotted with forms half +dressed in military garb; then a dark platoon of savage faces and +ragged figures brings up the rear; and quickly catching the sound +"To the Workhouse!" onward it presses to the scene of tumult. +Firemen in curious habiliment, and half-accoutred artillerymen, at +the alarm peal's call are rallying to their stations, as if some +devouring element, about to break over the city, demanded their +strongest arm; while eager and confused heads, protruded from green, +masking shutters, and in terror, would know whither lies the scene +of the outbreak. Alarm has beset the little world, which now moves a +medley of fear and trembling. + +The clock in St. Michael's tall spire has just struck two, as, in +the arena of the prison, Nicholas is seen, halted in front of his +little band, calmly awaiting the advance of his adversaries, who, +fearing to open the great gates, have scaled the long line of wall +on the north side. Suddenly the sound of an imploring voice breaks +upon his ear, and his left hand is firmly grasped, as starting with +surprise he turns and beholds the slave woman, her hair hanging +loosely over her shoulders, and her face bathed in tears. With +simple but earnest words does she admonish him against his fatal +resolution. Fast, and in the bitter anguish of her soul, fall her +implorings; she would have him yield and save his life, that she may +love him still. Her words would melt his resolution, had he not +taken the rash step. "In my soul do I love thee, woman!" he says, +raising her gently to her feet, and imprinting a kiss upon her olive +brow; "but rather would I die a hero than live a crawling slave: +nay, I will love thee in heaven!" The woman has drawn his attention +from his adversaries, when, in that which seems a propitious moment, +they rush down from the walls, and ere a cry from his band warn him +of the danger, have well nigh surprised and secured him. With two +shots of a revolver pierced through the fleshy part of his left arm, +does he bound from the grasp of his pursuers, rally his men, and +charge upon the miscreants with undaunted courage. Short but deadly +is the struggle that here ensues; far, indeed, shrieks and horrid +groans rend the very air; but the miscreants are driven back from +whence they came, leaving on the ground five dead bodies to atone +for treble the number dead of our hero's band. In the savage +conflict did the woman receive a fatal bullet, and now lies writhing +in the agonies of death (a victim of oppression in a land of +liberty) at our hero's feet. Not a moment is there to spare, that he +may soothe her dying agonies, for a thundering at the great gates is +heard, the bristling of fire-arms falls upon his ear, and the drums +of the military without beat to the charge. Simultaneously the great +gates swing back, a solid body of citizen soldiery, ready to rush +in, is disclosed, and our hero, as if by instinct moved to rashness, +cries aloud to his forces, who, following his lead, dash recklessly +into the soldiery, scatter it in amazement, and sweep triumphantly +into the street. The first line of soldiery did not yield to the +impetuous charge without effect, for seven dead bodies, strewn +between the portals of the gate, account for the sharp report of +their rifles. Wild with rage, and not knowing whither to go, or for +what object they have rushed from the bounds of their prison house, +our forlorn band, still flourishing their battle hammers, have +scarcely reached the second line of military, stationed, in war +order, a few squares from the prison, when our hero and nine of his +forlorn band fall pierced through the hearts with rifle bullets. Our +Nicholas has a sudden end; he dies, muttering, "My cause was only +justice!" as twenty democratic bayonets cut into shreds his +quivering body. Oh, Grabguy! thou wilt one day be made to atone for +this thy guilt. Justice to thy slave had saved the city its +foreboding of horror, and us the recital of a bloody tragedy we +would spare the feelings of our readers by ending here. + +Having informed the reader that Ellen Juvarna was mother of +Nicholas, whom she bore unto Marston, we will now draw aside the +veil, that he may know her real origin and be the better prepared to +appreciate the fate of her child. This name, then, was a fictitious +one, which she had been compelled to take by Romescos, who stole her +from her father, Neamathla, a Creek Indian. In 1820, this brave +warrior ruled chief of the Mickasookees, a tribe of brave Indians +settled on the borders of the lake of that name, in Florida. Old in +deeds of valour, Neamathla sank into the grave in the happy belief +that his daughter, the long-lost Nasarge, had been carried into +captivity by chiefs of a hostile tribe, in whose chivalrous spirit +she would find protection, and religious respect for her caste. +Could that proud spirit have condescended to suppose her languishing +in the hands of mercenary slave-dealers, his tomahawk had been first +dipped in the blood of the miscreant, to avenge the foul deed. From +Romescos, Nasarge, who had scarce seen her twelve summers, passed +into the hands of one Silenus, who sold her to Marston, for that +purpose a fair slave seems born to in our democratic world. + +And now again must we beg the indulgence of the reader, while we +turn to the counter-scene of this chapter. The influence of that +consternation which had spread throughout the city, was not long in +finding its way to the citadel, a massive fort commanding the city +from the east. On the plat in front are three brass field-pieces, +which a few artillery-men have wheeled out, loaded, and made ready +to belch forth that awful signal, which the initiated translate +thus:--"Proceed to the massacre! Dip deep your knives in the heart +of every negro!" + +Certain alarm bells are rung in case of an insurrection of the +negroes, which, if accompanied by the firing of three guns at the +citadel, is the signal for an onslaught of the whites. The author, +on asking a gentleman why he exhibited so much fear, or why he +deemed it necessary to put to the sword his faithful servants, +answered,--"Slaves, no matter of what colour, sympathise with each +other in their general condition of slavery. I could not, then, +leave my family to the caprice of their feelings, while I sought the +scene of action to aid in suppressing the outbreak." At the +alarm-bell's first tap were the guns made ready-at the second peal +were matchlocks lighted-and nervous men waited in breathless +suspense the third and last signal peal from the Guard Tower. But, +in a moment that had nearly proved fatal to thousands, and as the +crash of musketry echoed in the air, a confused gunner applied the +match: two vivid flashes issued from the cannon, their peals booming +successively over the city. It was at that moment, citizens who had +sought in their domiciles the better protection of their families +might be seen in the tragic attitude of holding savage pistols and +glistening daggers at the breasts of their terrified but faithful +servants,--those, perhaps, whose only crime was sincerity, and an +earnest attachment to master's interests. The booming of a third +cannon, and they had fallen, victims of fear, at the feet of their +deluded victors. Happily, an act of heroism (which we would record +to the fame of the hero) saved the city that bloody climax we sicken +while contemplating. Ere the third gun belched its order of death, a +mounted officer, sensible of the result that gun would produce, +dashed before its angry mouth, and at the top of his voice cried +out-"In Heaven's name, lay your matchlock down: save the city!" Then +galloping to the trail, the gunner standing motionless at the +intrepid sight, he snatched the fiery torch from his hand, and +dismounting, quenched it on the ground. Thus did he save the city +that awful massacre the misdirected laws of a democratic state would +have been accountable for to civilisation and the world. + + + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +IN WHICH ARE PLEASURES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. + + + + + +IN a former chapter of this narrative, have we described our fair +fugitive, Annette, as possessing charms of no ordinary kind; indeed, +she was fair and beautiful, and even in the slave world was by many +called the lovely blonde. In a word, to have been deeply enamoured +of her would have reflected the highest credit on the taste and +sentiment of any gallant gentleman. Seeming strange would it be, +then, if the stranger to whose care we confided her (and hereafter +to be called Montague, that being his Christian name) should render +himself liable to the charge of stupidity did these attractions not +make a deep impression on his heart. And here we would not have the +reader lay so grave a charge at his door; for, be it known, ye who +are not insensible to love's electric force, that scarce had they +reached New York, ere Montague began to look upon Annette with that +species of compassion which so often, in the workings of nature's +mystery, turns the sympathies of the heart into purest love. The +misery or happiness of this poor girl he viewed as dependent on +himself: this, forsooth, was strengthened by the sad recital of her +struggles, which caused his sympathies to flow in mutual fellowship +with her sorrows. As he esteemed her gentleness, so was he enamoured +of her charms; but her sorrows carried the captive arrow into his +bosom, where she fastened it with holding forth that wrist broken in +defence of her virtue: nay, more, he could not refrain a caress, as +in the simplicity of her heart she looked in his face smilingly, and +said she would he were the father of her future in this life. But, +when did not slavery interpose its barbarous obstacles?-when did it +not claim for itself the interests of federal power, and the +nation's indulgence?-when did it not regard with coldest +indifference the good or ill of all beyond its own limits? The slave +world loves itself; but, though self-love may now and then give out +a degree of virtue, slavery has none to lead those beyond its own +atmosphere. To avoid, then, the terrors to which, even on the free +soil of the north, a fugitive slave is constantly liable, as also +that serpent-like prejudice--for into the puritanic regions of New +England, forsooth, does slavery spread its more refined objections +to colour--which makes the manners of one class cold and icy, while +acting like a dagger in the hearts of the other, was it necessary to +change her name. How many of my fair readers, then, will recur to +and recognise in the lovely Sylvia De Lacy--whose vivacity made them +joyous in their school days, and whose charms all envied-the person +of Annette Mazatlin. Nothing could be more true than that the pretty +blonde, Sylvia De Lacy, who passed at school as the daughter of a +rich Bahamian, was but the humble slave of our worthy wag, Mr. +Pringle Blowers. But we beg the reader to remember that, as Sylvia +De Lacy, with her many gallant admirers, she is a far different +person from Annette the slave. + +Clotilda is made acquainted with the steps Montague has taken in +behalf of his charge, as also of a further intention he will carry +out at the expiration of two years; which said intention is neither +more nor less than the making Sylvia De Lacy his bride ere her +school days have ended. In the earnestness of a heart teeming of +joy, does Clotilda respond to the disclosures she is pleased to term +glad tidings. Oft and fervently has she invoked the All-protecting +hand to save her child from the licentious snares of slavery; and +now that she is rescued, her soul can rest satisfied. How her heart +rejoices to learn that her slave child will hereafter be happy in +this life! ever will she pray that peace and prosperity reward their +virtues. Her own prospects brighten with the thought that she may, +ere long, see them under her own comfortable roof, and bestow a +mother's love on the head of her long-lost child. + +And now my reader will please to suppose these two years of +school-days passed-that nuptial ceremony in which so many mingled +their congratulations, and showered blandest smiles upon the fair +bride, celebrated in a princely mansion not far from the +aristocratic Union Square of New York-and our happy couple launched +upon that path of matrimony some facetious old gentlemen have been +pleased to describe as so crooked that others fear to journey upon +it. They were indeed a happy couple, with each future prospect +golden of fortune's sunshine. Did we describe in detail the reign of +happiness portended on the bright day of that nuptial ceremony, how +many would recognise the gay figures of those who enlivened the +scene-how deceptive would seem the fair face of events-how obscured +would be presented the life of a slave in this our world of +freedom-how false that democracy so boastful of its even-handed +rule! + +Two years have rolled into the past, since Montague led the fair +Sylvia to the altar. Pringle Blowers has pocketed the loss of his +beauty, the happy couple have lost all thought of slavery, and a +little responsibility coming in due time adds to make their +happiness complete. Now the house to which Montague was connected in +New York had an agent in New Orleans; which agent was his brother. +In the course of time, then, and as the avenues of business +expanded, was it deemed necessary to establish a branch house at +Memphis, the affairs of which it was agreed should be conducted by +Montague. To this new scene of life my reader will please suppose +our happy couple, having journeyed by railroad to Cincinnatti, and +with hearts gladdened of hope for the future, now gliding down that +river of gorgeous banks, on board the good steamer bearing its name. +As our young mother again enters the atmosphere of slavery, +misgivings force themselves irresistibly upon her feelings. The very +face of nature wears a sluggish air; the fresh, bright offspring of +northern energy, so forcibly illustrated in the many cheerful +looking villages here and there dotting its free soil, is nowhere to +be seen,--society again puts forth its blighting distinctions: there +is the man-owner's iron deportment contrasting with the abjectness +of his slave: forcibly does the change recall scenes of the past. +But, with the certain satisfaction that no one will recognize the +slave in her, do those misgivings give way to the happier +contemplation of her new home affording the means of extending a +succouring hand to some poor mortal, suffering in that condition of +life through which she herself has passed. + +After a pleasant passage, then, do we find them comfortably settled +in Memphis, that city of notorious character, where the venerable +Lynch presides judge over all state cases, and administers summary +justice according to the most independent of bar rules. Montague +pursues the ordinary routine of a flourishing business, and moves +among the very best society of the little fashionable world; with +which his Sylvia, being the fair belle of the place, is not only a +great favourite, but much sought after and caressed. Gentle as a +slave, so was she an affectionate mother and dutiful wife. Some +twelve months passed pleasantly at their new home, when there came +to the city a Jew of the name of Salamons Finch. This Finch, who was +"runner" to a commercial firm in the city of Charleston (he was lank +of person, with sallow, craven features), knew Annette when but a +child. Indeed, he was a clerk of Graspum when that gentleman sold +the fair slave to Gurdoin Choicewest; in addition to which he had +apartments at Lady Tuttlewell's most fashionable house, where the +little doll-like thing used to be so sprightly in waiting at table. +The quick eye of this harpy, as may readily be supposed, was not +long in detecting the person of Annette the slave in our fair +mother; which grand discovery he as soon communicated to Montague, +pluming himself a generous fellow for being first to disclose what +he supposed a valuable secret. Indeed, such was the force of +association on this fellow, that he could not bring his mind to +believe such a match possible, unless the fair fugitive (of the +circumstances of whose escape he was well posted) had, by the +exercise of strategy, imposed herself on the gentleman. The reader +may easily picture to himself the contempt in which Montague held +the fellow's generous expos; but he as readily became sensible of +the nature of the recognition, and of its placing him in a dangerous +position. At first he thought of sending his wife and child +immediately to her mother, in Nassau; but having intimations from +the fellow that the matter might be reconciled with golden eagles, +he chose rather to adopt that plan of procuring peace and quietness. +With a goodly number of these gold eagles, then, did he from time to +time purchase the knave's secrecy; but, with that singular +propensity so characteristic of the race, was he soon found making +improper advances to the wife of the man whose money he received for +keeping secret her early history. This so exasperated Montague, that +in addition to sealing the fellow's lips with the gold coin, he +threatened his back with stripes of the raw hide, in payment of his +insolence. Albeit, nothing but the fear of exposure, the +consequences of which must prove fatal, caused him to bear with pain +the insult while withholding payment of this well-merited debt. With +keen instincts, and a somewhat cultivated taste for the beautiful, +Finch might with becoming modesty have pleaded them in extenuation +of his conduct; but the truth was, he almost unconsciously found +himself deeply enamoured of the fair woman, without being able to +look upon her as a being elevated above that menial sphere his +vulgar mind conditioned for her when in slavery. Here, then, the +reader will more readily conceive than we can describe the grievous +annoyances our otherwise happy couple were subjected to; nor, if a +freeman's blood course in his veins, can he fail to picture the +punishment it so dearly merited. However, it came to pass that in +the course of a few months this fellow disappeared suddenly, and +nearly at the same time was Montague summoned to New Orleans to +direct some complicated affairs of his brother, who lay a victim to +that fearful scourge which so often devastates that city of balmy +breezes. After due preparations for an absence of some two months, +Montague set out on his journey; but had not been forty-eight hours +gone, when Finch again made his appearance, and taking advantage of +a husband's absence, pressed his advances with grossest insult, +threatening at the same time to convey information of the discovery +to Pringle Blowers. Successively did these importunities fail to +effect Mr. Finch's purpose; but he was of an indomitable temper, and +had strong faith in that maxim of his race, which may be transcribed +thus:--"If one effort fail you, try another." To carry out this +principle, then, did Finch draw from the cunning inventive of his +brain a plan which he could not doubt for a moment would be +successful. The reader may blush while we record the fact, of Finch, +deeming a partner necessary to the gaining his purpose, finding a +willing accomplice in one of Montague's clerks, to whom he disclosed +the secret of the fair woman being nothing more than a fugitive +slave, whose shame they would share if the plan proved successful. +This ingenious plan, so old that none but a fellow of this stamp +would have adopted it, was nothing more than the intercepting by the +aid of the clerk all Montague's letters to his wife. By this they +came in possession of the nature of his family affairs; and after +permitting the receipt of two letters by Sylvia, possessed +themselves of her answers that they might be the better able to +carry out the evil of their scheme. After sufficient time had +passed, did Sylvia receive a letter, duly posted at New Orleans, +purporting to have been written by a clerk in the employ of the +firm, and informing her, having acknowledged becomingly the receipt +of her letter, that Montague had been seized with the epidemic, and +now lay in a precarious state. Much concerned was she at the painful +intelligence; but she almost as soon found consolation in the +assurances of the clerk who brought her the letter, and, to +strengthen his own cause, told her he had seen a captain just +arrived up, who had met her husband a day after the date of the +letter, quite well. Indeed, this was necessary to that functionary's +next move, for he was the conspirator of Finch, and the author of +the letter which had caused so much sadness to the woman who now +sought his advice. In suspense did the anxious woman wait the coming +tidings of her affectionate husband: alas! in a few days was the sad +news of his death by the fatal scourge brought to her in an envelope +with broad black border and appropriate seal. Overwhelmed with +grief, the good woman read the letter, describing her Montague to +have died happy, as the conspirator looked on with indifference. The +confidential clerk of the firm had again performed a painful and +unexpected duty. The good man died, said he, invoking a blessing on +the head of his child, and asking heaven to protect his wife; to +which he would add, that the affairs of the house were in the worst +possible condition, there not being assets to pay a fraction of the +debts. And here we would beg the reader to use his imagination, and +save us the description of much that followed. Not all their threats +nor persuasions, however, could induce her to yield to their +designs; defiantly did she repulse the advances of the crawling +Finch; nobly did she spurn his persuasions; firmly did she, heedless +of his threat to acquaint Pringle Blowers of her whereabouts, bid +him be gone from her door. The fellow did go, grievously +disappointed; and, whether from malice or mercenary motives we will +not charge, sought and obtained from Pringle Blowers, in exchange +for his valuable discovery, a promise of the original reward. +Shudder not, reader, while we tell it! It was not many days ere the +notorious Blowers set out for Memphis, recovered his lost property, +who, like a lamb panting in the grasp of a pursuing wolf, was, with +her young child, dragged back, a wretch, into the melancholy waste +of slavery. Long and loudly was the grand discovery resounded +through the little world of Memphis; not in sympathy for the slave, +for many hearts were made glad with joy over what the fashionable +were pleased to term a fortunate disclosure and a happy removal. +Many very grave gentlemen said the miscreant who dared impose a +slave on society, well merited punishment at the hands of the +venerable Lynch,--a judge of that city whose celebrity is almost +world wide. + + + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +A FAMILIAR SCENE, IN WHICH PRINGLE BLOWERS HAS BUSINESS. + + + + + +OF a bright morning, not many days after Pringle Blowers returned +with his fair slave to Charleston (which said slave he would not +sell for gold), there sat on a little bench at the entrance gate of +the "upper workhouse," the brusque figure of a man, whose coarse and +firmly knit frame, to which were added hard and weather-stained +features, indicated his having seen some fifty summers. But, if he +was brusque of figure and coarse of deportment, he had a good soft +heart in the right place; nor did he fail to exercise its virtues +while pursuing the duties of a repulsive profession; albeit, he was +keeper of the establishment, and superintended all punishments. +Leisurely he smoked of a black pipe; and with shirt sleeves rolled +up, a grey felt hat almost covering his dark, flashing eyes, and his +arms easily folded, did he seem contemplating the calm loveliness of +morning. Now he exhaled the curling fume, then scanned away over the +bright landscape to the east, and again cast curious glances up and +down the broad road stretching in front of his prison to the north +and south. It was not long before a carriage and pair appeared on +the hill to the south, advancing at a slow pace towards the city. +The keeper's keen eye rested upon it intently, as it neared, bearing +in a back seat what seemed to be a lady fine of figure and +deportment; while on the front drove a figure of great rotundity, +the broad, full face shining out like a ripe pumpkin in a sun +shower. "It's Pringle Blowers, I do believe in my soul! but it's +seeming strange how he's got a lady to ride with him," mused the +man, who, still watching the approach, had quite forgotten the +escape of the fair slave. The man was not mistaken, for as he +touched his hat, on the carriage arriving opposite the gate, it +halted, and there, sure enough, was our valiant democrat, who, +placing his whip in the socket, crooked his finger and beckoned the +keeper. "Broadman!" said he, (for that was the man's name) "I'ze a +bit of something in your way of business this morning." The honest +functionary, with seeming surprise, again touching his hat as he +approached the vehicle, replied: "Your servant, sir!" Blowers +motioned his hand to the woman, whose tears were now, to Broadman's +surprise, seen coursing down her pale cheeks. To use a vulgar +phrase, Broadman was entirely "taken aback" by the singularity of +Blowers' manner; for the woman, whose dress and deportment the +honest man conceived to be nothing less than that of a lady of one +of the "first families," obeying the motion, began to descend from +the carriage. "Now, Broadman," continued Blowers, arranging his +reins, and with clumsy air making his descent over the fore wheels, +"take that 'ar wench o' mine, and, by the State's custom, give her +the extent of the law, well laid on." + +The author here writes the incident as given by the prison-keeper. +The man hesitated, as if doubting his senses; rather would he have +been courteous to what he still viewed as a lady, than extend his +rude hand to lead her away. + +"Pardon me, Sir! but you cannot mean what you say," nervously spoke +the man, as in doubt he exchanged glances first with the fair woman +and then with Blowers. "I means just what I says," returned that +gentleman, peremptorily; "you'ze hearn o' that 'un afore. She's a +nigger o' mine, what runned away more nor six years ago; come, do +the job for her, and no fussing over't." "Nigger!" interrupted the +man, in surprise. "Yes!" rejoined Blowers, emphasising his assurance +with oaths, of which he had a never-failing supply, "that's the +cussed white nigger what's gin me all the bother. The whiter niggers +is, the more devil's in em; and that ar' one's got devil enough for +a whole plantation; 'tisn't the licks I cares about, but it's the +humblin' on her feelings by being punished in the workhouse!" The +man of duty was now brought to his senses, when, seeing Blowers was +inclined to relieve his anger on what he was pleased to consider the +stupidity of a keeper, he took the weeping but resolute woman by the +arm, and called a negro attendant, into whose charge he handed her, +with an order to "put her in the slings." Soon she disappeared +within the gate, following the mulatto man. And here we will again +spare the reader's feelings, by omitting much that followed. Blowers +and Broadman follow the hapless woman, as she proceeds through a +narrow passage leading to the punishment room, and when about half +way to that place of torture, a small, square door opens on the +right, into a dingy office, the keeper says is where he keeps his +accounts with the State, which derives a large revenue from the +punishments. Into this does the worthy man invite his patron, whom +he would have be seated while the criminal is got "all right" in the +slings. Fain would Blowers go and attend the business himself; but +Broadman saying "that cannot be," he draws from his pocket a small +flask, and, seemingly contented, invites him to join in "somethin" +he says is the very choicest. Broadman has no objection to +encouraging this evidence of good feeling, which he will take +advantage of to introduce the dialogue that follows. "Good sir," +says he, "you will pardon what I am about to say, for indeed I feel +the weakness of my position when addressing you, fortune having made +a wide distinction between us; but judge me not because I am coarse +of flesh, nor have polished manners, for I have a heart that feels +for the unfortunate." Here Blowers interrupted the keeper by saying +he would hear no chicken-hearted interpositions. "Remember, keeper," +he added, "you must not presume on the small familiarity I have +condescended to admit in drinking with you. I hold no controversies +with prison-keepers (again he gulps his brandy) or their subs; being +a servant of the state, I order you to give that wench the extent of +the law. She shall disclose the secret of her escape, or I'll have +her life; I'm a man what won't stand no nonsense, I am!" The keeper, +rejoining, hopes he will pardon the seeming presumption; but, +forsooth, notwithstanding necessity has driven him to seek a +livelihood in his repulsive occupation, there is a duty of the heart +he cannot betray, though the bread of his maintenance be taken from +him. Blowers again assumes his dignity, rises from his seat, scowls +significantly at the keeper, and says he will go put through the +business with his own hands. "Good friend," says Broadman, arresting +Blowers' progress, "by the state's ruling you are my patron; +nevertheless, within these walls I am master, and whatever you may +bring here for punishment shall have the benefit of my discretion. I +loathe the law that forces me to, in such cases, overrule the admo- +nitions of my heart. I, sir, am low of this world,--good! but, in +regret do I say it, I have by a slave mother two fair daughters, who +in the very core of my heart I love; nor would I, imitating the +baser examples of our aristocracy, sell them hapless outcasts for +life." Here Blowers again interrupted by allowing his passion to +manifest itself in a few very fashionable oaths; to which he added, +that he (pacing the room several times) would no longer give ear to +such nonsense from a man of Broadman's position,--which was neither +socially nor politically grand. "No doubt, good sir, my humble and +somewhat repulsive calling does not meet your distinguished +consideration; but I am, nevertheless, a man. And what I was about +to say-I hope you will grant me a hearing-was, that having these two +daughters-poverty only prevents my purchasing them-has made me +sensible of these slaves having delicate textures. The unhappy +possession of these daughters has caused me to reflect-to study +constitutions, and their capacity to endure punishments. The woman +it has pleased you to bring here for chastisement, I take it, is not +coarse of flesh; but is one of those unfortunates whom kindness +might reform, while the lash never fails to destroy. Why, then, not +consider her in the light of a friendless wretch, whom it were +better to save, than sink in shame? One word more and I am done" +(Blowers was about to cut short the conversation); "the extent of +the law being nothing less than twenty blows of the paddle, is most +severe punishment for a woman of fine flesh to withstand on her +naked loins. Nor, let me say-and here I speak from twelve years' +experience-can the lady-I beg pardon, the slave you bring me!-bear +these blows: no, my lips never spoke truer when I say she'll quiver +and sink in spasms ere the second blow is laid on." Here-some twenty +minutes having passed since the fair slave was led into the +punishment room-Blowers cut short the conversation which had failed +to thaw his resolution, by saying Broadman had bored his ears in +spinning out his long song, and if he were unwilling to fulfil the +duties of his office, such should be reported to the authorities, +who would not permit workhouse-keepers so to modify their ordnances +that black and white niggers have different punishments. "Nay, sir!" +says the honest man, with an air of earnestness, as he rises from +his seat; "follow me, and with the reality will I prove the truth of +my words." Here he proceeds to that place of torments, the +punishment-room, followed by Blowers; who says, with singular +indifference-"Can do the job in five minutes; then I'll leave her +with you for two, three, or four days or so. Then if she's civilly +humbled down, I'll send my nigger fellow, Joe, with an order for +her. Joe'll be the fellow's name; now, mind that: but you know my +Joe, I reckon?" The keeper led the way, but made no reply; for +indeed he knew nothing of his Joe, there being innumerable niggers +of that name. As the men left the little office, and were sauntering +up the passage, our worthy friend Rosebrook might be seen entering +in search of Broadman; when, discovering Blowers in his company, and +hearing the significant words, he shot into a niche, unobserved by +them, and calling a negro attendant, learned the nature of his +visit. And here it becomes necessary that we discover to the reader +the fact of Rosebrook having been apprised of the forlorn woman's +return, and her perilous position in the hands of Pringle Blowers; +and, further, that the communication was effected by the negro man +Pompe, who we have before described in connection with Montague at +the time of his landing from the witch-like schooner. This Pompe was +sold to Blowers but a few months before Annette's recovery, and +acting upon the force of that sympathy which exists among fellow +slaves of a plantation, soon renewed old acquaintance, gained her +confidence, and, cunningly eluding the owner's watchfulness, +conveyed for her a letter to the Rosebrooks. In truth, Pompe had an +inveterate hatred of Blowers, and under the incitement would not +have hesitated to stake his life in defence of the fair woman. Now, +the exacting reader may question Rosebrook's intrepidity in not +proceeding at once to the rescue of the victim; but when we say that +he was ignorant of the positive order given the keeper, and only +caught distinctly the words-"I'll send my nigger fellow, Joe, with +an order for her!" they may discover an excuse for his hastily +withdrawing from the establishment. Indeed, that my reader may +withhold his censure, it may be well to add that he did this in +order to devise more strategical means of effecting her escape. + +And now, ye who have nerves-let them not be shaken; let not your +emotions rise, ye who have souls, and love the blessings of liberty; +let not mothers nor fathers weep over democracy's wrongs; nor let +man charge us with picturing the horrors of a black romance when we +introduce the spectacle in the room of punishments: such, be it +known, is not our business, nor would we trifle unjustly with the +errors of society; but, if chivalry have blushes, we do not object +to their being used here. The keeper, followed by Blowers, enters a +small room at the further end of the passage. It is some sixteen +feet long by twelve wide, and proportionately high of ceiling. The +pale light of a tallow candle, suspended from the ceiling by a wire, +and from which large flakes of the melted grease lay cone-like on +the pine floor, discloses the gloom, and discovers hanging from the +walls, grim with smoke, sundry curious caps, cords, leathern cats, +and the more improved paddles of wood, with flat blades. The very +gloom of the place might excite the timid; but the reflection of how +many tortures it has been the scene, and the mysterious stillness +pervading its singularly decorated walls, add still more to increase +apprehension. A plank, some two feet wide, and raised a few inches, +stretches across the floor, and is secured at each end with cleets. +About midway of this are ropes securing the victim's feet; and +through the dim light is disclosed the half nude body of our fair +girl, suspended by the wrists, which are clasped in bands of cord, +that, being further secured to a pulley block, is hauled taut by a +tackle. Suddenly the wretched woman gives vent to her feelings, and +in paroxysms of grief sways her poor body to and fro, imploring +mercy! "Nay, master! think that I am a woman-that I have a heart to +feel and bleed; that I am a mother and a wife, though a slave. Let +your deeds be done quickly, or end me and save me this shame!" she +supplicates, as the bitter, burning anguish of her goaded soul gives +out its flood of sorrow. Chivalry, forsooth, lies cold and +unmoved-Blowers has no relish for such inconsistency;--such whinings, +he says, will not serve southern principles. The mulatto attendant +has secured the fall, and stands a few feet behind Blowers and the +keeper, as that functionary says, laying his coarse hands on the +woman's loins, "How silky!" The mulatto man shakes his head, +revengefully, making a grimace, as Broadman, having selected the +smallest paddle (reminding us of the curious sympathy now budding +between the autocratic knout and democratic lash) again addresses +Blowers. "I doubt, sir," he says, "if the woman stand a blow. +Necessity 's a hard master, sir; and in this very act is the test +more trying than I have ever known it. I dissemble myself when I see +a wretch of fine flesh-a woman with tender senses, in distress, and +I am made the instrument of adding to her suffering. Indeed, sir, +when I contemplate the cause of such wretchedness, and the poverty +forcing me to remain in this situation, no imagination can represent +the horror of my feelings." + +"We have no demand on your feelings, my man! we want your duty-what +the state put you here to perform," interrupted Blowers, placing his +thumbs in his vest, and making a step backward. Another second, and +the attendant lighted a hand-lamp,--a sharp, slapping blow was heard, +a death-like shriek followed; the flesh quivered and contracted into +a discoloured and inflamed pustule; the body writhed a few seconds +in convulsive spasms; a low moaning followed, and that fair form +hung swooning in the slings, as the keeper, in fright, cried out, at +the top of his voice, to the attendant--"Lower away the fall!" As if +the fiend had not yet gratified his passion, no sooner was the +seemingly lifeless body lowered clumsily to the floor, than he +grasped the weapon from Broadman's hand, and like a tiger seeking +its banquet of flesh, was about to administer a second blow. But +Broadman had a good heart, the admonitions of which soared high +above the state's mandate: seizing Blowers in his arms, he ejected +him from the door, ran back to the prostrate woman, released her +bruised limbs from the fastenings, gathered her to his arms; and +with nervous hands and anxious face did he draw from his pocket the +well-timed hartshorn, by the application of which he sought to +restore her, as the mulatto man stood by, bathing her temples with +cold water. "Ah! shame on the thing called a man who could abuse a +sweet creature of fine flesh, like thee! it's not many has such a +pretty sweet face," says Broadman, with an air of compassion, +resting her shoulder against his bended knee as he encircles it with +his left arm, and looks upon the pale features, tears glistening in +his honest eyes. We might say with Broadman--"It's not the finest, +nor the polished of flesh, that hath the softest hearts." But, +reader, having performed our duty, let us drop the curtain over this +sad but true scene; and when you have conjectured the third and +fourth acts of the drama, join with us in hoping the chivalry of our +State may yet awake to a sense of its position, that, when we again +raise it, a pleasanter prospect may be presented. + + + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +IN WHICH ARE DISCOVERIES AND PLEASANT SCENES. + + + + + +ST. PATRICK'S night closed the day on which the scenes of the +foregoing chapter were enacted; and that patron saint being of +aristocratic descent, which caused him to be held in high esteem by +our "very first families," than among whom better admirers could +nowhere be found, his anniversary was sure to be celebrated with +much feasting and drinking. But while this homage to the good saint +made glad the hearts of thousands-while the city seemed radiant of +joy, and reeling men from Hibernia's gorgeous hall found in him an +excuse for their revelries--there sat in the box of a caf, situated +on the west side of Meeting Street, two men who seemed to have a +deeper interest at heart than that of the Saint's joy on his road to +paradise. The one was a shortish man, coarse of figure, and whose +browned features and figured hands bespoke him a sailor; the other +was delicate of figure, with pale, careworn countenance and nervous +demeanour. Upon the marble slab, on which they rested their elbows, +sat a bottle of old Madeira, from which they sipped leisurely, now +and then modulating their conversation into whispers. Then the man +of brown features spoke out more at ease, as if they had concluded +the preliminaries of some important business. + +"Well, well,--now isn't that strange?" said he, sighing as he spread +his brawny hands upon the white marble. "Natur's a curious mystery, +though" (he looked intently at the other): "why, more nor twenty +years have rolled over since I did that bit of a good turn, and here +I is the very same old Jack Hardweather, skipper of the Maggy Bell. +But for all that--and I'd have folks know it!--the Maggy's as trim a +little craft as ever lay to on a sou'-easter; and she can show as +clean a pair of heels as any other--barring her old top timbers +complain now and then--to the best cutter as ever shook Uncle Sam's +rags." His hard features softened, as in the earnest of his heart he +spoke. He extended his hand across the table, grasping firmly that +of his nervous friend, and continued--"And it was no other witch +than the taunt Maggy Bell that landed that good woman safe on the +free sands of old Bahama!" The Maggy, he tells the other, is now at +the wharf, where the good wife, Molly Hardweather, keeps ship while +the boys take a turn ashore. + +"There's always a wise provision to relieve one's feelings when +sorrow comes unexpectedly," returns the nervous man, his hand +trembling as he draws forth the money to pay the waiter who answered +his call. + +"Yes!" quickly rejoined the other, "but keep up a good heart, like a +sailor hard upon a lee shore, and all 'll be bright and sunny in a +day or two. And now we'll just make a tack down the bay-street-and +sight the Maggy. There's a small drop of somethin' in the locker, +that'll help to keep up yer spirits, I reckon--a body's spirits has +to be tautened now and then, as ye do a bobstay,--and the wife (she's +a good sort of a body, though I say it) will do the best she can in +her hard way to make ye less troubled at heart. Molly Hardweather +has had some hard ups and downs in life, knows well the cares of a +mother, and has had twins twice; yes"-adds the hardy seafarer-"we +arn't polished folks, nor high of blood, but we've got hearts, and +as every true heart hates slavery, so do we, though we are forced to +dissemble our real feelings for the sake of peace in the trade." +Here the delicate man took the sailor's arm, and sallied out to seek +the little Maggy Bell, the former saying the meeting was as strange +as grateful to his very soul. Down Market Street, shaded in +darkness, they wended their way, and after reaching the wharf, +passed along between long lines of cotton bales, piled eight and ten +feet high, to the end, where lay motionless the pretty Maggy Bell, +as clipper-like a craft as ever spread canvas. The light from the +cabin shed its faint gleams over the quarter-deck, as Hardweather +halted on the capsill, and with a sailor's pride run his quick black +eye along her pirate-like hull, then aloft along the rigging. +Exultingly, he says, "She is the sauciest witch that ever faced sea +or showed a clean pair of heels. The Maggy Bell!"-he pats his friend +on the shoulder-"why, sir, she has-just between ourselves now-slided +many a poor slave off into freedom; but folks here don't think it of +me. Now, if I reckon right"-he bites his tobacco, and extends it to +the stranger-"and I believe I do, it's twenty years since the Maggy, +of one dark night, skimmed it by that point, with Fort Pinkney on +it, yonder, that good creature on board." He points to the murky +mass, scarce visible in the distance, to the east. "And now she's +one of the noblest women that ever broke bread to the poor; and +she's right comfortable off, now,--alwa's has a smile, and a kind +word, and something good for old Jack Hardweather whenever she sees +him. Lord bless yer soul!"-here he shakes his head earnestly, and +says he never was a lubber-"Jack Hardweather didn't care about the +soft shot for his locker; it was my heart that felt the kindness. +Indeed, it always jumps and jerks like a bobstay in a head sea, when +I meets her. And then, when I thinks how 'twas me done the good +turn, and no thanks to nobody! You hearn of me 'afore, eh" (he turns +to his companion, who measuredly answers in the affirmative). "Well, +then, my name's Skipper Jack Hardweather, known all along the coast; +but, seeing how the world and navigation's got shortened down, they +call me old Jack Splitwater. I suppose it's by the way of +convenience, and so neither wife nor me have a bit of objection." +Here the conversation was interrupted by the good wife's round, +cheery face shooting suddenly from out the companion-way, and +enjoining our friend Jack to come away aboard, her high peaked cap +shining like snow on a dark surface. The truth was, that Splitwater, +as he was styled, had become so much absorbed in excitement as to +forget the length of his yarn. "Come away, now!" says the good wife, +"everybody's left the Maggy to-night; and ther's na knowin' what 'd +a' become 'un her if a'h hadn't looked right sharp, for ther' wer' a +muckle ship a'mast run her dune; an' if she just had, the Maggy wad +na mar bene seen!" The good wife shakes her head; her rich Scotch +tongue sounding on the still air, as with apprehension her chubby +face shines in the light of the candle she holds before it with her +right hand. Skipper Splitwater will see his friend on board, he +says, as they follow her down the companion-ladder. "Wife thinks as +much of the Maggy-and would, I believe in my soul, cry her life out +if anything happened till her: wife's a good body aboard a ship, and +can take a trick at the wheel just as well as Harry Span the mate." +Skipper Splitwater leads the way into a little dingy cabin, a +partition running athwart ships dividing it into two apartments; the +former being where Skipper Hardweather "sleeps his crew" and cooks +his mess, the sternmost where he receives his friends. This latter +place, into which he conducts the nervous man, is lumbered with +boxes, chests, charts, camp-seats, log lines, and rusty quadrants, +and sundry marine relics which only the inveterate coaster could +conceive a use for. But the good wife Molly, whose canny face bears +the wrinkles of some forty summers, and whose round, short figure is +so simply set off with bright plaid frock and apron of gingham +check, in taste well adapted to her humble position, is as clean and +tidy as ever was picture of mine Vrow Vardenstein. Nevertheless,--we +know the reader will join us in the sentiment-that which gave the +air of domestic happiness a completeness hitherto unnoticed, was a +wee responsibility, as seen sprawling and kicking goodnaturedly on +the white pillow of the starboard berth, where its two peering eyes +shone forth as bright as new-polished pearls. The little darling is +just a year old, Dame Hardweather tells us; it's a twin,--the other +died, and, she knows full well, has gone to heaven. Here she takes +the little cherub in her lap, and having made her best courtesy as +Hardweather introduces her to his nervous friend, seats herself on +the locker, and commences suckling it, while he points to the very +place on the larboard side where Clotilda-"Ah! I just caught the +name," he says,--used to sit and sorrow for her child. "And then," +he continues, "on the quarter-deck she'd go and give such longing +looks back, like as if she wanted to see it; and when she couldn't, +she'd turn away and sigh so. And this, Molly," he continues, "is the +self-same child my friend here, who I am as happy to meet as a body +can be, wants me to carry off from these wolves of slavery; and if I +don't, then my name's not Jack Splitwater!" So saying, he bustles +about, tells the nervous man he must excuse the want of finery, that +he has been a hard coaster for God knows how many years, and the +little place is all he can afford; for indeed he is poor, but +expects a better place one of these days. Then he draws forth from a +little nook in the stern locker a bottle, which he says contains +pure stuff, and of which he invites his visitor to partake, that he +may keep up a good heart, still hoping for the best. The nervous man +declines his kind invitation,--he has too much at heart, and the +sight of the child so reminds him of his own now blighted in +slavery. The good woman now becoming deeply concerned, Hardweather +must needs recount the story, and explain the strange man's +troubles, which he does in simple language; but, as the yarn is +somewhat long, the reader must excuse our not transcribing it here. +With anxious face and listening ears did the woman absorb every +word; and when the earnest skipper concluded with grasping firmly +the man's hand, and saying-"Just you scheme the strategy, and if I +don't carry it out my name aint Jack Hardweather!" would she fain +have had him go on. "Lack a day, good man!" she rejoined, fondling +closer to her bosom the little suckling; "get ye the wee bairn and +bring it hither, and I'll mak it t'uther twin-na body'll kno't! and +da ye ken hoo ye may mak the bonny wife sik a body that nane but +foxes wad ken her. Just mak her a brae young sailor, and the Maggy +Bell 'll do the rest on't." Hardweather here interrupted Molly's +suggestion which was, indeed, most fortunate, and albeit supplied +the initiative to the strategy afterwards adopted-for slavery opens +wide the field of strategy-by reminding the stranger that she had a +long Scotch head. The night had now well advanced; the stranger +shook the woman's hand firmly, and bade her good night, as a tear +gushed into his eyes. The scene was indeed simple, but touching. The +hard mariner will accompany his friend to the wharf; and then as he +again turns on the capsill, he cannot bid him good night without +adding a few words more in praise of the little Maggy Bell, whose +name is inscribed in gilt letters upon the flash-board of her stern. +Holding his hand, he says: "Now, keep the heart up right! and in a +day or two we'll have all aboard, and be in the stream waiting for a +fair breeze-then the Maggy 'll play her part. Bless yer soul! the +little craft and me's coasted down the coast nobody knows how many +years; and she knows every nook, creek, reef, and point, just as +well as I does. Just give her a double-reefed mainsail, and the lug +of a standing jib, and in my soul I believe she'd make the passage +without compass, chart, or a hand aboard. By the word of an old +sailor, such a craft is the Maggy Bell. And when the Spanish and +English and French all got mixed up about who owned Florida, the +Maggy and me's coasted along them keys when, blowing a screecher, +them Ingins' balls flew so, a body had to hold the hair on his head; +but never a bit did the Maggy mind it." The stranger's heart was too +full of cares to respond to the generous man's simplicity; shaking +his hand fervently, he bid him good night, and disappeared up the +wharf. + +We apprehend little difficulty to the reader in discovering the +person of Montague in our nervous man, who, in the absence of +intelligence from his wife, was led to suspect some foul play. Nor +were his suspicions unfounded; for, on returning to Memphis, which +he did in great haste, he found his home desolate, his wife and +child borne back into slavery, and himself threatened with Lynch +law. The grief which threatened to overwhelm him at finding those he +so dearly loved hurled back into bondage, was not enough to appease +a community tenacious of its colour. No! he must leave his business, +until the arrival of some one from New York, to the clerk who so +perfidiously betrayed him. With sickened heart, then, does he-only +too glad to escape the fury of an unreasoning mob-seek that place of +bondage into which the captives have been carried; nay, more, he +left the excited little world (reporting his destination to be New +York) fully resolved to rescue them at the hazard of his life, and +for ever leave the country. Scarcely necessary then, will it be for +us to inform the reader, that, having sought out the Rosebrooks, he +has counselled their advice, and joined them in devising means of +relief. Blowers had declared, on his sacred honour, he would not +sell the captives for their weight in gold. + +Rosebrook had no sooner received Annette's letter from the hand of +Pompe than he repaired to Blowers' plantation-as well to sound that +gentleman's disposition to sell his captives, as a necessary +precaution against the dangers he had incurred through his +participation in the fair girl's escape; for albeit the disclosure +might be extorted from her by cruelty. But Blowers was too much of a +gentleman to condescend to sell his captive; nor would he listen to +arguments in her behalf. Nevertheless, we will not underrate +Blowers' character, that the reader may suppose him devoid of +compassion; for-be it recorded to his fame-he did, on the morning +following that on which the punishment we have described in the +foregoing chapter took place, send the child, whose long and +piercing cries he could no longer endure, to the arms of its poor +disconsolate mother, whom he hoped would take good care of it. + +Now, let not the reader restrain his fancy, but imagine, if he can, +Pringle Blowers' disappointment and state of perturbation, when, +three days after the punishment, he presented himself at Broadman's +establishment, and was informed by that functionary that the fair +mother was non est. With honest face did Broadman assert his +ignorance of wrong. That he had not betrayed his duty he would +satisfy the enraged man, by producing the very order on which he +delivered them to Joe! "Yes, Joe was his name!" continues the honest +man; "and he asserted his ownership, and told a straightforward +story, and didn't look roguish." He passes the order over to +Blowers, who, having examined it very cautiously, says: "Forgery, +forgery!-'tis, by the Eternal!" Turning his fat sides, he approaches +the window, and by the light reads each successive word. It is +written in a scrawl precisely like his own; but, forsooth, it cannot +be his. However, deeming it little becoming a man of his standing to +parley with Broadman, he quickly makes his exit, and, like a +locomotive at half speed, exhausting his perturbation the while, +does he seek his way into the city, where he discovers his loss to +the police. We have in another part of our history described Blowers +as something of a wag; indeed, waggery was not the least trait in +his curious character, nor was he at all cautious in the exercise of +it; and, upon the principle that those who give must take, did he +render himself a fit object for those who indulge in that sort of +pastime to level their wit upon. On this occasion, Blowers had not +spent many hours in the city ere he had all its convenient corners +very fantastically decorated with large blue placards, whereon was +inscribed the loss of his valuable woman, and the offer of the +increased sum of four hundred dollars for her apprehension. The +placards were wonderful curiosities, and very characteristic of +Blowers, who in this instance excited no small amount of merriment +among the city wags, each of whom cracked a joke at his expense. Now +it was not that those waggish spirits said of his placard things +exceedingly annoying to his sensitive feelings, but that every prig +made him the butt of his borrowed wit. One quizzed him with want of +gallantry,--another told him what the ladies said of his oss,--a third +pitied him, but hoped he might get back his property; and then, Tom +Span, the dandy lawyer, laconically told him that to love a fair +slave was a business he must learn over again; and Sprout, the +cotton-broker, said there was a law against ornamenting the city +with blue placards and type of such uncommon size. In this +interminable perplexity, and to avoid the last-named difficulty, did +he invoke the genius of the "bill-sticker," who obliterated the blue +placards by covering them over with brown ones, the performance of +which, Blowers himself superintended. This made the matter still +worse, for with jocose smile did every wag say he had hung the city +in mourning for his loss; which singular proceeding the ladies had +one and all solemnly protested against. Now, Blowers regard for the +ladies was proverbial; nor will it disparage his character to say +that no one was more sensitive of their opinions concerning himself. +In this unhappy position, then, which he might have avoided had he +exercised more calmly his philosophy, did his perturbation get the +better of him;--an object of ridicule for every wag, and in +ill-favour with the very first ladies, never was perplexed man's +temper so near the exploding point of high pressure. And here, +forsooth, disgusted within the whole city, nor at all pleased with +the result of his inventive genius, he sought relief in strong +drinks and a week of dissipation; in which sad condition we must +leave him to the reader's sympathy. + +As some of our fair readers may be a little prudish, or exacting of +character, and as we are peculiarly sensitive of the reputation some +of the characters embodied in this history should bear to the very +end, we deem it prudent here not to disclose the nature of the +little forgery which was perpetrated at Blowers' expense, nor the +means by which it was so cleverly carried out, to the release of the +fair captives, who must now be got out of the city. Should we, in +the performance of this very desirable duty, fail to please the +reader's taste for hair-breadth escapes, unnatural heroism, and +sublime disinterestedness, an excuse may be found in our lack of +soul to appreciate those virtues of romance. We have no taste for +breathless suspenses, no love of terror: we deal not in tragedy, nor +traffic in dramatic effects. But as the simplest strategy is often +the most successful of results, so did it prove in this particular +case; for, be it known, that on the morning of the twenty-fourth of +March,--, was Molly Hardweather's suggestion adopted and +effectually carried out, to the gratification of sundry interested +persons. Calm and bright was that morning; Charleston harbour and +its pretty banks seemed radiant of loveliness: the phantom-like +Maggy Bell, with mainsail and jib spread motionless in the air, +swung gently at anchor midway the stream; and Dame Hardweather sat +in the dingy cabin, her little chubby face beaming contentment as +she nursed the "t'other twin." The brusque figure of old Jack, +immersed in watchfulness, paced to and fro the Maggy's deck; and in +the city as trim a young sailor as ever served signal halliards on +board man-o'-war, might be seen, his canvas bag slung over his +shoulder, carelessly plodding along through the busy street, for the +landing at the market slip. Soon the Maggy's flying jib was run up, +then the foresail followed and hung loose by the throat. Near the +wheel, as if in contemplation, sat Montague, while Hardweather +continued his pacing, now glancing aloft, then to seaward, as if +invoking Boreas' all-welcome aid, and again watching intently in the +direction of the slip. A few minutes more and a boat glided from the +wharf, and rowed away for the little craft, which it soon reached, +and on board of which the young sailor flung his bag, clambered over +the rail, and seemed happy, as old Jack put out his brawny hand, +saying: "Come youngster, bear a hand now, and set about brightening +up the coppers!" We need not here discover the hearts that leaped +with joy just then; we need not describe the anxiety that found +relief when the young sailor set foot on the Maggy's deck; nor need +we describe those eyes on shore that in tears watched the slender +form as it disappeared from sight. Just then a breeze wafted from +the north, the anchor was hove up, the sails trimmed home, and +slowly seaward moved the little bark. As she drifted rather than +sailed past Fort Pinkney, two burly officials, as is the custom, +boarded to search for hapless fugitives; but, having great +confidence in the honesty of Skipper Splitwater, who never failed to +give them of his best cheer, they drank a pleasant passage to him, +made a cursory search, a note of the names of all on board (Jack +saying Tom Bolt was the young sailor's), and left quite satisfied. +Indeed, there was nothing to excite their suspicions, for the good +dame sat nursing the "twa twins," nor left aught to discover the +discrepancy between their ages, if we except a pair of little red +feet that dangled out from beneath the fringe of a plaid shawl. And +the young sailor, who it is hardly necessary to inform the reader is +Annette, was busy with his cooking. And now the little craft, free +upon the wave, increased her speed as her topsails spread out, and +glided swiftly seaward, heaven tempering the winds to her well-worn +sails. God speed the Maggy Bell as she vaults over the sea; and may +she never want water under keel, slaves to carry into freedom, or a +good Dame Hardweather to make cheerful the little cabin! say we. + +And now, reader, join us in taking a fond farewell of the +Rosebrooks, who have so nobly played their part, to the shame of +those who stubbornly refuse to profit by their example. They played +no inactive part in the final escape; but discretion forbids our +disclosing its minuti. They sought to give unto others that liquid +of life to which they owed their own prosperity and happiness; nor +did selfish motive incite them to action. No; they sought peace and +prosperity for the state; they would bind in lasting fellowship that +union so mighty of states, which the world with mingled admiration +and distrust watches; which in kindred compact must be mightier, +which divided must fall! And while taking leave of them, hoping +their future may be brightened with joys-and, too, though it may not +comport with the interests of our southern friends, that their +inventive genius may never want objects upon which to illustrate +itself so happily-let us not forget to shake old Jack Hardweather +warmly by the hand, invoking for him many fair winds and profitable +voyages. A big heart enamelled of "coarse flesh" is his; but with +his warm functions he has done much good; may he be rich in heaven's +rewards, for he is poor in earth's! + + + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +IN WHICH IS A HAPPY MEETING, SOME CURIOUS FACTS DEVELOPED, AND +CLOTILDA'S HISTORY DISCLOSED. + + + + + +IT was seven days after the sailing of the Maggy Bell, as described +in the foregoing chapter, that Montague was seen sitting in the +comfortably furnished parlour of a neat cottage in the suburbs of +Nassau. The coal fire burned brightly in a polished grate; the +carpets and rugs, and lolling mats, indicated of care and comfort; +the tabbied furniture and chastely worked ottomans, and sofas, and +chairs, and inlaid workstands, seem bright of regularity and taste; +and the window curtains of lace and damask, and the scroll cornices +from which they flowingly hung, and the little landscape paintings +that hung upon the satin-papered walls, and the soft light that +issued from two girandoles on the mantel-piece of figured marble, +all lent their cheering aid to make complete the radiant picture of +a happy home. But Montague sat nervous with anxiety. "Mother won't +be a minute!" said a pert little fellow of some seven summers, who +played with his hands as he sat on the sofa, and asked questions his +emotions forbid answering. On an ottoman near the cheerful fire, +sat, with happy faces, the prettily dressed figures of a boy and +girl, older in age than the first; while by the side of Montague sat +Maxwell, whose manly countenance we transcribed in the early part of +our narrative, and to whom Montague had in part related the sad +events of the four months past, as he heaved a sigh, saying, "How +happy must he die who careth for the slave!" Ere the words had +escaped his lips, the door opened, and the graceful form of a +beautiful woman entered, her finely oval but pensive face made more +expressive by the olive that shaded it, and those deep soul-like +eyes that now sparkled in gentleness, and again flashed with +apprehension. Nervously she paused and set her eyes with intense +stare on Montague; then vaulted into his arms and embraced him, +crying, "Is not my Annette here?" as a tear stole down her cheeks. +Her quick eye detected trouble in his deportment; she grasped his +left hand firmly in her right, and with quivering frame besought him +to keep her no longer in the agony of suspense. "Why thus suddenly +have you come? ah!-you disclose a deep-rooted trouble in not +forewarning me! tell me all and relieve my feelings!" she +ejaculated, in broken accents. "I was driven from that country +because I loved nature and obeyed its laws. My very soul loved its +greatness, and would have done battle for its glories-yea, I loved +it for the many blessings it hath for the favoured; but one dark +stain on its bright escutcheon so betrayed justice, that no home was +there for me-none for the wife I had married in lawful wedlock." +Here the woman, in agonising throbs, interrupted him by enquiring +why he said there was no home for the wife he had married in lawful +wedlock-was not the land of the puritans free? "Nay!" he answered, +in a measured tone, shaking his head, "it is bestained not with +their crimes-for dearly do they love justice and regard the rights +of man-but with the dark deeds of the man-seller, who, heedless of +their feelings, and despising their moral rectitude, would make +solitary those happy homes that brighten in greatness over its +soil." Again, frantic of anxiety, did the woman interrupt him: +"Heavens!-she is not dragged back into slavery?" she enquired, her +emotions rising beyond her power of restraint, as she drew bitter +pangs from painful truths. With countenance bathed in trouble did +Montague return her solicitous glance, and speak. "Into slavery" he +muttered, in half choked accents "was she hurled back." He had not +finished the sentence ere anxiety burst its bounds, and the anxious +woman shrieked, and fell swooning in his arms. Even yet her olive +face was beautefully pale. The cheerful parlour now rung with +confusion, servants bustled about in fright, the youthful family +shrieked in fear, the father sought to restore the fond mother, as +Montague chafed her right hand in his. Let us leave to the reader's +conjecture a scene his fancy may depict better than we can describe, +and pass to one more pleasant of results. Some half an hour had +transpired, when, as if in strange bewilderment, Clotilda opened her +eyes and seemed conscious of her position. A deep crimson shaded her +olive cheeks, as in luxurious ease she lay upon the couch, her +flushed face and her thick wavy hair, so prettily parted over her +classic brow, curiously contrasting with the snow-white pillow on +which it rested. A pale and emaciated girl sat beside her, smoothing +her brow with her left hand, laying the right gently on the almost +motionless bosom, kissing the crimsoning cheek, and lisping rather +than speaking, "Mother, mother, oh mother!-it's only me." And then +the wet courses on her cheeks told how the fountain of her soul had +overflown. Calmly and vacantly the woman gazed on the fair girl, +with whom she had been left alone. Then she raised her left hand to +her brow, sighed, and seemed sinking into a tranquil sleep. "Mother! +mother! I am once more with my mother!" again ejaculates the fair +girl, sobbing audibly; "do you not know me, mother?" Clotilda +started as if suddenly surprised. "Do I dream?" she muttered, +raising herself on her elbow, as her great soft eyes wandered about +the room. She would know who called her mother. "'Tis me," said the +fair girl, returning her glances, "do you not know your Annette-your +slave child?" Indeed the fair girl was not of that bright +countenance she had anticipated meeting, for though the punishment +had little soiled her flesh the dagger of disgrace had cut deep into +her heart, and spread its poison over her soul. "This my Annette!" +exclaimed Clotilda, throwing her arms about the fair girl's neck, +drawing her frantically to her bosom, and bathing her cheeks with +her tears of joy. "Yes, yes, 'tis my long-lost child; 'tis she for +whom my soul has longed-God has been merciful, rescued her from the +yawning death of slavery, and given her back to her mother! Oh, no, +I do not dream-it is my child,--my Annette!" she continued. Long and +affectionately did they mingle their tears and kisses. And now a +fond mother's joy seemed complete, a child's sorrow ended, and a +happy family were made happier. Again the family gathered into the +room, where, as of one accord, they poured out their affectionate +congratulations. One after another were the children enjoined to +greet Annette, kiss her, and call her sister. To them the meeting +was as strange as to the parents it was radiant of joy. "Mother!" +said the little boy, as he took Annette by the hand and called her +sister, and kissed her as she kissed him, "was you married before +you was married to father?" The affectionate mother had no answer to +make; she might have found one in the ignominy of the slave world. +And now, when the measure of joy seemed full-when the bitterness of +the past dwindled away like a dream, and when the future like a +beacon hung out its light of promise,--Clotilda drew from a small +workstand a discoloured paper written over in Greek characters, +scarce intelligible. "Annette!" said she, "my mother gave me this +when last I saw her. The chains were then about her hands, and she +was about to be led away to the far south slave market: by it did I +discover my history." Here she unfolded its defaced pages, lifted +her eyes upwards invokingly, and continued--"To speak the crimes of +great men is to hazard an oblivion for yourself, to bring upon you +the indifference of the multitude; but great men are often greatest +in crime-for so it proved with those who completed my mother's +destruction. Give ear, then, ye grave senators, and if ye have +hearts of fathers, lend them! listen, ye queen mothers of my +country, whose sons and daughters are yet travelling the world's +uncertainties! listen, ye fathers, who have souls above Mammon's +golden grasp, and sons in whom ye put your trust! listen, ye +brothers, whose pride brightens in a sister's virtue! listen, ye +sisters, who enjoy paternal affections, and feel that one day you +may grace a country's social life! listen, ye philanthropists, ye +men of the world, who love your country, and whose hearts yearn for +its liberties-ye men sensitive of our great Republic's honour, nor +seek to traffic in the small gains of power when larger ones await +you; and, above all, lend your hearts, ye brothers of the clergy in +the slave church, and give ear while I tell who I am, and pray ye, +as ye love the soul of woman, to seek out those who, like unto what +I was, now wither in slavery. My grandfather's name was Iznard +Maldonard, a Minorcan, who in the year 1767 (some four years after +Florida was by the king of Spain ceded to Great Britain) emigrated +with one Dr. Turnbull-whose name has since shone on the pages of +history-to that land of sunshine and promise; for, indeed, Florida +is the Italy of America. In that year did numerous of the English +aristocracy conceive plans as various as inconsistent for the +population and improvement of the colony. With a worthy motive did +Lord Rolle draw from the purlieus of London [Footnote: See Williams' +History of Florida, page 188.] State Papers, three hundred wretched +females, whose condition he would better by reforming and making aid +in founding settlements. This his lordship found no easy task; but +the climate relieved him of the perplexity he had brought upon +himself, for to it did they all fall victims in a very short time. +But Turnbull, with motive less commendable, obtained a grant of his +government, and, for the sum of four hundred pounds, (being then in +the Peleponnesus) was the governor of Modon bribed into a permission +to convey sundry Greek families to Florida, for colonization. +Returning from Modon with a number of families, he touched at the +islands of Corsica and Minorca, added another vessel to his fleet, +and increased the number of his settlers to fifteen hundred. With +exciting promises did he decoy them to his land of Egypt, which +proved a bondage to his shame. He would give them lands, free +passages, good provisions and clothing; but none of these promises +did he keep. A long passage of four months found many victims to its +hardships, and those who arrived safe were emaciated by sickness. +Into the interior were these taken; and there they founded a +settlement called New Smyrna, the land for which-some sixty thousand +acres-was granted by the governor of Florida. Faithfully and +earnestly did they labour for the promised reward, and in less than +five years had more than three thousand acres of land in the highest +state of cultivation; but, as Turnbull's prosperity increased, so +did the demon avarice; and men, women, and children, were reduced to +the most abject slavery. Tasks greater than they could perform were +assigned them, and a few Italians and negroes made overseers and +drivers. For food the labourers were allotted seven quarts of corn +per week. Many who had lived in affluence in their own country were +compelled to wear osnaburgs, and go bare-foot through the year. More +than nine years were those valuable settlers kept in this state of +slavery, the cruelties inflicted upon them surpassing in enormity +those which so stigmatised the savage Spaniards of St. Domingo. +Drivers were compelled to beat and lacerate those who had not +performed their tasks; many were left naked, tied all night to +trees, that mosquitoes might suck their blood, and the suffering +wretches become swollen from torture. Some, to end their troubles, +wandered off, and died of starvation in the forest, and, including +the natural increase, less than six hundred souls were left at the +end of nine years. But, be it known to those whose hearts and ears I +have before invoked, that many children of these unfortunate parents +were fair and beautiful, which valuable charms singularly excited +the cupidity of the tyrant, who betook himself to selling them for +purposes most infamous. A child overhearing the conversation of +three English gentlemen who made an excursion to the settlement, and +being quick of ear, conveyed the purport of it to his mother, who, +in the night, summoned a council of her confidants to concoct the +means of gaining more intelligence. The boy heard the visitors, who +stood in the great mansion, which was of stone, say, "Did the +wretches know their rights they had not suffered such enormities of +slavery." It was resolved that three ask for long tasks, under the +pretext of gaining time to catch turtle on the coast; but having +gained the desired time, they set off for St. Augustine, which they +reached, after swimming rivers and delving almost impenetrable +morasses. They sought the attorney-general of the province, Mr. +Younge,--I speak his name with reverence-and with an earnest zeal +did he espouse the cause of this betrayed people. At that time, +Governor Grant-since strongly suspected of being concerned with +Turnbull in the slavery of the Greeks and Minorcans-had just been +superseded by Tonyn, who now had it in his power to rebuke a tyrant, +and render justice to a long-injured people. Again, on the return of +the envoys, who bore good tidings, did they meet in secret, and +choose one Pallicier, a Greek, their leader. This man had been +master mechanic of the mansion. With wooden spears were the men +armed and formed into two lines, the women, children, and old men in +the centre; and thus did they set off from the place of bondage to +seek freedom. In vain did the tyrant-whose name democracy has +enshrined with its glories-pursue them, and exhaust persuasion to +procure their return. For three days did they wander the woods, +delve morasses, and swim rivers, ere they reached the haven of St. +Augustine, where, being provided with provisions, their case was +tried, and, albeit, though Turnbull interposed all the perfidy +wealth could purchase, their fredeom established. But alas! not so +well was it with those fair daughters whom the tyrant sold slaves to +a life of infamy, and for whose offspring, now in the bitterness of +bondage, do we plead. Scores of these female children were sold by +the tyrant; but either the people were drunk of joy over their own +liberty, and forgot to demand the return of their children, or the +good Younge felt forcibly his weakness to bring to justice the rich +and great-for the law is weak where slavery makes men great-so as to +make him disgorge the ill-gotten treasure he might have concealed, +but the proof of which nothing was easier than to obliterate. + +"Maldonard, then, was my grandfather; and, with my grandmother and +three children, was of those who suffered the cruelties I have +detailed. Two of his children were girls, fair and beautiful, whom +the tyrant, under the pretext of bettering their condition in +another colony, sold away into slavery. One was my dear mother." +Here tears coursed down the woman's cheeks. "And she, though I blush +to tell it, was sold to Rovero, who was indeed my father as well as +Franconia's. But I was years older than Franconia-I visit her grave +by day, and dream of her by night;--nor was it strange that she +should trace the cause of similarity in our features. Forsooth, it +was that singular discovery-of which I was long ignorant-coupled +with the virtues of a great soul, that incited her to effect my +escape. Rovero, ere he married Franconia's mother, sold Sylvia +Maldonard, who was my mother; and may angels bring glad tidings of +her spirit! Yes, true is it that my poor mother was sold to one +Silenus, of whom Marston bought my body while heaven guarded the +soul: but here would I drop the curtain over the scene, for +Maldonard is dead; and in the grave of his Italian wife, ere he +gained his freedom, was he buried." Here again the fond mother, as +she concluded, lifted her eyes invokingly, fondled her long-lost +child to her bosom,--smiled upon her, kissed her, and was happy. + + + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +IN WHICH A PLOT IS DISCLOSED, AND THE MAN-SELLER MADE TO PAY THE +PENALTY OF HIS CRIMES. + + + + + +WHILE the scenes which we have detailed in the foregoing chapter +were being enacted at Nassau, there stood in the portico of a +massive dwelling, fronting what in Charleston is called the "Battery +Promenade," the tall and stately figure of a man, wrapped in a +costly black cloak, the folds of which lay carelessly about his neck +and shoulders. For some minutes did he stand, hesitating, and +watching up and down the broad walk in front. The gas-light overhead +shed its glare upon the freestone walls-for the night was dark-and, +as he turned, discovered the fine features of a frank and open +countenance, to which the flashing of two great intelligent eyes, a +long silvery beard, and a flowing moustache, all shaded by the broad +brim of a black felt hat, lent their aid to make impressive. Closer +he muffled his face in the folds of his cloak, and spoke. "Time!" +said he, in a voice musical and clear, "hath worn little on his +great mansion; like his heart, it is of good stone." The mansion, +indeed, was of princely front, with chiselled faade and great doric +windows of deep fluted mouldings, grand in outline. Now a small hand +stole from beneath his cloak, rapped gently upon the carved door of +black walnut, and rang the bell. Soon the door swung open, and a +negro in a black coat, white vest, and handkerchief of great +stiffness, and nether garments of flashy stripes, politely bowed him +into a hall of great splendour. Rows of statuary stood in alcoves +along its sides; the walls dazzled with bright coloured paintings in +massive gilt frames; highly coloured and badly blended mythological +designs spread along the ceiling: the figure of a female, with +pearly tears gushing from her eyes, as on bended knee she besought +mercy of the winged angel perched above her, stood beside the broad +stairway at the further end of the hall-strangely emblematical of +the many thousand souls the man-seller had made weep in the +bitterness of slavery; the softest rugs and costly Turkey carpets, +with which its floor was spread, yielded lightly to the footfall, as +the jetting lights of a great chandelier shed refulgence over the +whole: indeed, what there lacked of taste was made up with air of +opulence. The negro exhibited some surprise at the stranger's dress +and manner, for he affected ease and indifference. "Is your master +at leisure?" said he. "Business, or a friend?" inquired the negro, +making one of his best bows, and drawing back his left foot. "Both," +was the quick reply. "I, boy, am a gentleman!" "I sees dat, mas'r," +rejoined the boy, accompanying his answer with another bow, and +requesting the stranger's name, as he motioned him into a spacious +drawing-room on the right, still more gorgeously furnished. + +"My name is Major Blank: your master knows my name: I would see him +quickly!" again spoke the stranger, as the boy promptly disappeared +to make the announcement. The heavy satin-damask curtains, of finest +texture, that adorned the windows; the fresco-paintings of the +walls; the elaborate gilding that here and there in bad taste +relieved the cornices; the massive pictures that hung in +gauze-covered frames upon the walls; the chastely designed carpets, +and lolls, and rugs, with which the floor gave out its brilliancy; +the costly tapestry of the curiously carved furniture that stood +here and there about the room; and the soft light of a curiously +constructed chandelier, suspended from the left hand of an angel in +bronze, the said angel having its wings pinioned to the ceiling, its +body in the attitude of descending, and its right hand gracefully +raised above the globe, spreading its prismatic glows over the +whole, did indeed make the scene resplendent of luxury. The man +carelessly seated himself at a table that stood in the centre of the +room, threw the hat he had declined yielding to the negro on the +floor beside him, rested the elbow of his left arm on the table, and +his head in his hand, as with the fingers of his right hand did he +fret the long silvery beard that bedecked his chin, and contemplate +with eager gaze the scene around him. "Yea, the man-seller hath, +with his spoils of greed, gotten him a gorgeous mansion; even he +liveth like a prince, his head resteth more in peace, and because he +hath great wealth of crime men seek to honour him. The rich criminal +hath few to fear; but hard is the fate of him who hath not the +wherewith to be aught but a poor one!" he muttered to himself, as +the door opened, and the well-rounded figure of Graspum whisked into +the room. The negro bowed politely, and closed the door after him, +as the stranger's eye flashed upon his old acquaintance, who, +bedecked somewhat extravagantly, and with a forced smile on his +subtle countenance, advanced rubbing his hands one over the other, +making several methodical bows, to which the stranger rose, as he +said, "Most happy am I to see you, Major! Major Blake, I believe, I +have the pleasure of receiving?" Here the stranger interpolated by +saying his name was not Blake, but Blank: the other apologised, said +he was just entertaining a small but very select circle of friends; +nevertheless, always chose to follow the maxim of "business before +pleasure." Again he bustled about, worked his fingers with a +mechanical air, frisked them through his hair, with which he covered +the bald surface of his head, kept his little keen eyes leering +apprehensively on what he deemed a ripe customer, whom he bid keep +his seat. To an invitation to lay off his cloak the stranger replied +that it was of no consequence. "A planter just locating, if I may be +permitted to suggest?" enquired Graspum, taking his seat on the +opposite side of the table. "No!" returned the other, emphatically; +"but I have some special business in your line." The man of +business, his face reddening of anxiety, rose quickly from his seat, +advanced to what seemed a rosewood cabinet elaborately carved, but +which was in reality an iron safe encased with ornamental wood, and +from it drew forth a tin case, saying, as he returned and set it +upon the table, "Lots from one to five were sold yesterday at almost +fabulous prices-never was the demand for prime people better; but we +have Lots (here he began to disgorge invoices) six, seven, eight, +and nine left; all containing the primest of people! Yes, sir, let +me assure you, the very choicest of the market." He would have the +customer examine the invoices himself, and in the morning the live +stock may be seen at his yard. "You cherish no evil in your breast, +in opposition to the command of Him who reproved the wrong of +malice; but you still cling to the sale of men, which you conceive +no harm, eh, Graspum?" returned the stranger, knitting his brows, as +a curl of fierce hatred set upon his lip. With an air of surprise +did Graspum hesitate for a moment, and then, with a measured smile, +said, "Why, Lord bless you! it would be a dishonour for a man of my +celebrity in business to let a day escape without a sale; within the +last ten days I have sold a thousand people, or more,--provided you +throw in the old ones!" Here he again frisked his fingers, and +leaned back in his chair, as his face resumed an air of +satisfaction. The stranger interrupted as the man-seller was about +to enquire the number and texture of the people he desired. +"Graspum," said he, with significant firmness, setting his eyes upon +him with intense stare,--"I want neither your men, nor your women, +nor your little children; but, have you a record of souls you have +sunk in the bitterness of slavery in that box"-here the stranger +paused, and pointed at the box on the table-"keep it until you knock +for admittance at the gates of eternity." It was not until this +moment that he could bring his mind, which had been absorbed in the +mysteries of man-selling, to regard the stranger in any other light +than that of a customer. "Pardon me, sir!" said he, somewhat +nervously, "but you speak with great familiarity." The stranger +would not be considered intrusive. "Then you have forgotten me, +Graspum?" exclaimed the man, with an ominous laugh. As if deeply +offended at such familiarity, the man-seller shook his head +rebukingly, and replied by saying he had an advantage of him not +comprehensible. "Then have you sent my dearest relatives to an +untimely grave, driven me from the home of my childhood, and made a +hundred wretches swim a sea of sorrow; and yet you do not know me?" +Indeed, the charges here recounted would have least served to aid +the recognition, for they belonged only to one case among many +scores that might have been enumerated. He shook his head in reply. +For a minute did they,--the stranger scowling sarcastically upon his +adversary (for such he now was),--gaze upon each other, until +Graspum's eyes drooped and his face turned pale. "I have seen you; +but at this moment cannot place you," he replied, drawing back his +chair a pace. "It were well had you never known me!" was the +stranger's rejoinder, spoken in significant accents, as he +deliberately drew from beneath his cloak a revolver, which he laid +on the table, warning his adversary that it were well he move +cautiously. Graspum affects not to comprehend such importune +demeanor, or conjecture what has brought him hither. Trembling in +fright, and immersed in the sweat of his cowardice, he would +proclaim aloud his apprehension; to which medium of salvation he +makes an attempt to reach the door. But the stranger is too quick +for him: "Calm your fears, Graspum," he says; "act not the child, +but meet the consequences like a hero: strange is it, that you, who +have sold twenty thousand souls, should shrink at the yielding up of +one life!" concludes he, placing his back firmly against the door, +and commanding Graspum to resume his seat. Having locked the door +and placed the key in his pocket, he paced twice or thrice up and +down the floor, seemingly in deep contemplation, and heaved a sigh. +"Graspum!" he ejaculated, suddenly turning towards that terrified +gentleman; "in that same iron chest have you another box, the same +containing papers which are to me of more value than all your +invoices of souls. Go! bring it hither!" Tremblingly did the +man-seller obey the command, drew from the chest an antiquated box, +and placed it hesitatingly upon the table. "I will get the key, if +you will kindly permit me," he said, bowing, as the sweat fell from +his chin upon the carpet. The stranger says it wants no key; he +breaks it open with his hands. "You have long stored it with goodly +papers; let us see of what they are made," said he. Here Graspum +commenced drawing forth package after package of papers, the +inscriptions on which were eagerly observed by the stranger's keen +eye. At length there came out a package of letters, superscribed in +the stranger's own hand, and directed to Hugh Marston. "How came you +by these?" enquired the stranger, grasping them quickly: "Ah, +Graspum, I have heard all! Never mind,--continue!" he resumed. +Presently there came forth a package addressed to "Franconia +M'Carstrow," some of which the stranger recognised as superscribed +by his mother, others by Clotilda, for she could write when a slave. +Graspum would put this last aside; but in an angry tone did the +stranger demand it, as his passion had well nigh got the better of +his resolution. "How the deep and damning infamy discovers itself! +Ah, Graspum, for the dross of this world hast thou betrayed the +innocent. Through thine emissaries has thus intercepted these +letters, and felt safe in thy guilt. And still you know not who I +am?" Indeed, the man-seller was too much beside himself with terror +to have recognised even a near friend. "My name is Lorenzo,--he who +more than twenty years ago you beguiled into crime. There is +concealed beneath those papers a bond that bears on its face the +secret of the many sorrows brought upon my family." "Lorenzo!" +interrupted Graspum, as he let fall a package of papers, and sat +aghast and trembling. "Yes," replied the other, "you cannot mistake +me, though time hath laid a heavy hand upon my brow. Now is your +infamy complete!" Here the stranger drew forth the identical bond we +have described in the early part of our history, as being signed by +Marston, at his mansion, on the night previous to Lorenzo's +departure. Bidding the man-seller move not an inch, he spread the +document before him, and commanded him to read the contents. This he +had not resolution to do. "Graspum!" spoke Lorenzo, his countenance +flushed in passion; "you can see, if you cannot read; look ye upon +the words of that paper (here he traced the lines with the +forefinger of his right hand as he stood over the wretched +miscreant) and tell me if it be honourable to spare the life of one +who would commit so foul a deed. On the night you consummated my +shame, forced me to relieve you by procuring my uncle's signature to +a document not then filled up, or made complete, how little did I +conjecture the germs of villainy so deep in your heart as to betray +the confidence I reposed in you. You, in your avarice, changed the +tenor of that instrument, made the amount more than double that +which I had injudiciously become indebted to you, and transcribed it +in the instrument, in legal phraseology, which you made a +death-warrant to my nearest and dearest relatives. Read it, +miscreant! read it! Read on it sixty-two thousand dollars, the cause +of your anxiety to hurry me out of the city into a foreign land. I +returned to seek a sister, to relieve my uncle, to live an +honourable man on that home so dear in my boyhood, so bright of that +which was pleasant in the past, to make glad the hearts of my aged +parents, and to receive the sweet forgiveness of those who honoured +me when fortune smiled; but you have left me none of these +boons-nay, you would have me again wander an outcast upon the +world!" And now, as the miscreant fell tremblingly on his knees, and +beseeching that mercy which he had denied so many, Lorenzo's frenzy +surmounted all his resolution. With agitated hand he seized his +revolver, saying, "I will go hence stained with a miscreant's +blood." Another moment, and the loud shriek of the man-seller echoed +forth, the sharp report of a pistol rung ominously through the +mansion; and quivering to the ground fell dead a wretch who had +tortured ten thousand souls, as Lorenzo disappeared and was seen no +more. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 4677 *** |