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diff --git a/6058.txt b/6058.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..468208a --- /dev/null +++ b/6058.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17717 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bricks Without Straw, by Albion W. Tourgee + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Bricks Without Straw + +Author: Albion W. Tourgee + +Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6058] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on November 6, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW *** + + + + +Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + +BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW + +_A Novel_ + +BY + +ALBION W. TOURGEE, LL.D., + +LATE JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA + + + + + + +THIS VOLUME I GRATEFULLY DEDICATE TO + +My Wife; + +TO WHOSE UNFLINCHING COURAGE, UNFALTERING FAITH, UNFAILING CHEER, +AND STEADFAST LOVE, I OWE MORE THAN MANY VOLUMES MIGHT DECLARE. + + + + + + +TRANSLATION: + + + +[_From an ancient Egyptian Papyrus-Roll, recently discovered._] + +It came to pass that when Pharaoh had made an end of giving +commandment that the children of Israel should deliver the daily +tale of bricks, but should not be furnished with any straw wherewith +to make them, but should instead go into the fields and gather +such stubble as might be left therein, that Neoncapos, the king's +jester, laughed. + +And when he was asked whereat he laughed, he answered, At the king's +order. + +And thereupon he laughed the more. + +Then was Pharaoh, the king, exceeding wroth, and he gave commandment +that an owl be given to Neoncapos, the king's jester, and that he +be set forth without the gate of the king's palace, and that he be +forbidden to return, or to speak to any in all the land, save only +unto the owl which had been given him, until such time as the bird +should answer and tell him what he should say. + +Then they that stood about the king, and all who saw Neoncapos, +cried out, What a fool's errand is this! So that the saying remains +even unto this day. + +Nevertheless, upon the next day came Neoncapos again into the +presence of Pharaoh, the king. + +Then was Pharaoh greatly astonished, and he said, How is this? Hath +the bird spoken? + +And Neoncapos, the king's jester, bowed himself unto the earth, +and said, He hath, my lord. + +Then was Pharaoh, the king, filled with amazement, and said, Tell +me what he hath said unto thee. + +And Neoncapos raised himself before the king, and answered him, +and said: + +As I went out upon the errand whereunto thou hadst sent me forth, +I remembered thy commandment to obey it. And I spake only unto +the bird which thou gavest me, and said unto him: + +There was a certain great king which held a people in bondage, and +set over them task-masters, and required of them all the bricks +that they could make, man for man, and day by day; + +For the king was in great haste seeking to build a palace which +should be greater and nobler than any in the world, and should +remain to himself and his children a testimony of his glory forever. + +And it came to pass, at length, that the king gave commandment that +no more straw should be given unto them that made the bricks, but +that they should still deliver the tale which had been aforetime +required of them. + +And thereupon the king's jester laughed. + +Because he said to himself, If the laborers have not straw wherewith +to attemper the clay, but only stubble and chaff gathered from +the fields, will not the bricks be ill-made and lack strength and +symmetry of form, so that the wall made thereof will not be true +and strong, or fitly joined together? For the lack of a little +straw it may be that the palace of the great king will fall upon +him and all his people that dwell therein. Thereupon the king was +wroth with his fool, and his countenance was changed, and he spake +harshly unto him, and-- + +It matters not what thou saidst unto the bird, said the king. What +did the bird say unto thee? + +The bird, said Neoncapos, bowing himself low before the king, the +bird, my lord, looked at me in great amaze, and cried again and +again, in an exceeding loud voice: _Who! Who-o! Who-o-o!_ + +Then was Pharaoh exceeding wroth, and his anger burned within him, +and he commanded that the fool should be taken and bound with cords, +and cast into prison, while he should consider of a fit punishment +for his impudent words. + +NOTE.-A script attached to this manuscript, evidently of later +date, informs us that the fool escaped the penalty of his folly by +the disaster at the Red Sea. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + + I. TRI-NOMINATE + II. THE FONT + III. THE JUNONIAN RITE + IV. MARS MEDDLES + V. NUNC PRO TUNC + VI. THE TOGA VIRILIS + VII. DAMON AND PYTHIAS + VIII. A FRIENDLY PROLOGUE + IX. A BRUISED REED + X. AN EXPRESS TRUST + XI. RED WING + XII. ON THE WAY AY TO JERICHO + XIII. NEGOTIATING A TREATY + XIV. BORN OF THE STORM + XV. TO HIM AND HIS HEIRS FOREVER + XVI. A CHILD OF THE HILLS + XVII. GOOD-MORROW AND FAREWELL + XVIII. "PRIME WRAPPERS," + XIX. THE SHADOW OF THE FLAG, + XX. PHANTASMAGORIA, + XXI. A CHILD-MAN + XXII. HOW THE FALLOW WAS SEEDED + XXIII. AN OFFERING OF FIRST-FRUITS + XXIV. A BLACK DBMOCRITUS + XXV. A DOUBLE-HEADED ARGUMENT + XXVI. TAKEN AT HIS WORD + XXVII. MOSES IN THE SUNSHINE + XXVIII. IN THE PATH OF THE STORM + XXIX. LIKE AND UNLIKE + XXX. AN UNBIDDEN GUEST + XXXI. A LIFE FOR A LIFE + XXXII. A VOICE FROM THE DARKNESS + XXXIII. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION + XXXIV. THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW + XXXV. A PARTICULAR TENANCY LAPSES + XXXVI. THE BEACON-LIGHT OF LOVE + XXXVII. THE "BEST FRIENDS" REVEAL THEMSELVES +XXXVIII. "THE ROSE ABOVE THE MOULD," + XXXIX. WHAT THE MIST HID + XL. DAWNING + XLI. Q. E. D. + XLII. THROUGH A CLOUD-RIFT + XLIII. A GLAD GOOD-BY + XLIV. PUTTING THIS AND THAT TOGETHER + XLV. ANOTHER OX GORED + XLVI. BACKWARD AND FORWARD + XLVII. BREASTING THE TORRENT + XLVIII. THE PRICE OF HONOR + XLIX. HIGHLY RESOLVED + L. FACE ANSWERETH UNTO FACE + LI. HOW SLEEP THE BRAVE? + LII. REDEEMED OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE + LIII. IN THE CYCLONE + LIV. A BOLT OUT OF THE CLOUD + LV. AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER + LVI. SOME OLD LETTERS + LVII. A SWEET AND BITTER FRUITAGE + LVIII. COMING TO THE FRONT + LIX. THE SHUTTLECOCK OF FATE + LX. THE EXODIAN + LXI. WHAT SHALL THE END BE? + LXII. How? + + + + + + +BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +TRI-NOMINATE. + + +"Wal, I 'clar, now, jes de quarest ting ob 'bout all dis matter +o' freedom is de way dat it sloshes roun' de names 'mong us cullud +folks. H'yer I lib ober on de Hyco twenty year er mo'--nobody but +ole Marse Potem an' de Lor', an' p'raps de Debble beside, know +'zackly how long it mout hev been--an' didn't hev but one name in +all dat yer time. An' I didn't hev no use for no mo' neither, kase +dat wuz de one ole Mahs'r gib me hisself, an' nobody on de libbin' +yairth nebber hed no sech name afo' an' nebber like to agin. Dat +wuz allers de way ub ole Mahs'r's names. Dey used ter say dat he +an' de Debble made 'em up togedder while he wuz dribin' roun' in dat +ole gig 'twixt de diff'ent plantations--on de Dan an' de Ro'noke, +an' all 'bout whar de ole cuss could fine a piece o' cheap lan", +dat would do ter raise niggers on an' pay for bringin' up, at de +same time. He was a powerful smart man in his day, wuz ole Kunnel +Potem Desmit; but he speshully did beat anythin' a findin' names +fer niggers. I reckon now, ef he'd 'a hed forty thousan' cullud +folks, men an' wimmen, dar wouldn't ha' been no two on 'em hevin' +de same name. Dat's what folks used ter say 'bout him, ennyhow. +Dey sed he used ter say ez how he wasn't gwine ter hey his niggers +mixed up wid nobody else's namin', an' he wouldn't no mo' 'low ob +one black feller callin' ob anudder by enny nickname ner nothin' +ub dat kine, on one o' his plantations, dan he would ob his takin' +a mule, nary bit. Dey du say dat when he used ter buy a boy er +gal de berry fust ting he wuz gwine ter du wuz jes ter hev 'em up +an' gib 'em a new name, out 'n out, an' a clean suit ob close ter +'member it by; an' den, jes by way ob a little 'freshment, he used +ter make de oberseer gib 'em ten er twenty good licks, jes ter make +sure ob der fergittin' de ole un dat dey'd hed afo'. Dat's what +my mammy sed, an' she allers 'clar'd dat tow'rd de las' she nebber +could 'member what she was at de fus' no more'n ef she hed'nt been +de same gal. + +"All he wanted ter know 'bout a nigger wuz jes his name, an' dey +say he could tell straight away when an' whar he wuz born, whar +he'd done lived, an' all 'bout him. He war a powerful man in der +way ob names, shore. Some on 'em wuz right quare, but den agin +mos' all on 'em wuz right good, an' it war powerful handy hevin' no +two on 'em alike. I've heard tell dat a heap o' folks wuz a takin' +up wid his notion, an' I reckon dat ef de s'rrender hed only stood +off long 'nuff dar wouldn't 'a been nary two niggers in de whole +State hevin' de same names. Dat _would_ hev been handy, all +roun'! + +"When dat come, though, old Mahs'r's plan warn't nowhar. Lor' bress +my soul, how de names did come a-brilin' roun'! I'd done got kinder +used ter mine, hevin' bed it so long an' nebber knowin' myself by +any udder, so't I didn't like ter change. 'Sides dat, I couldn't +see no use. I'd allers got 'long well 'nuff wid it--all on'y jes +once, an' dat ar wuz so long ago I'd nigh about forgot it. Dat +showed what a debblish cute plan dat uv ole Mahs'r's was, though. + +"Lemme see, dat er wuz de fus er secon' year atter I wuz a plow-boy. +Hit wuz right in de height ob de season, an' Marse War'--dat was de +oberseer--he sent me to der Cou't House ob an ebenin' to do some +sort ob arrant for him. When I was a comin' home, jes about an hour +ob sun, I rides up wid a sort o' hard-favored man in a gig, an' he +looks at me an' at de hoss, when I goes ter ride by, mighty sharp +like; an' fust I knows he axes me my name; an' I tole him. An' den +he axes whar I lib; an' I tole him, "On de Knapp-o'-Reeds plantation." +Den he say, + +"'Who you b'long to, ennyhow, boy?' + +"An' I tole him 'Ole Marse Potem Desmit, sah'--jes so like. + +"Den he sez 'Who's a oberseein' dar now?' + +"An' I sez, 'Marse Si War', sah?' + +"Den he sez, 'An' how do all de ban's on Knapp-o Reeds git 'long +wid ole Marse Potem an' Marse Si War'?' + +"An' I sez, 'Oh, we gits 'long tol'able well wid Marse War', sah.' + +"An' he sez, 'How yer likes old Marse Potem?' + +"An' I sez, jes fool like, 'We don't like him at all, sah.' + +"An' he sez, 'Why?' + +"An' I sez, 'Dunno sah.' + +"An' he sez, 'Don't he feed?' + +"An' I sez, 'Tol'able, I spose.' + +"An' he sez, 'Whip much?' + +"An' I sez, 'Mighty little, sah.' + +"An' he sez, 'Work hard?' + +"An' I sez, 'Yes, moderate, sah.' "An' he sez, 'Eber seed him?' + +"An' I sez, 'Not ez I knows on, sah.' + +"An' he sez, 'What for don't yer like him, den?' + +"An' I sez, 'Dunno, on'y jes' kase he's sech a gran' rascal.' + +"Den he larf fit ter kill, an' say, 'Dat's so, dat's so, boy.' Den +he take out his pencil an' write a word er two on a slip o' paper +an' say, + +"'H'yer, boy, yer gibs dat ter Marse Si War', soon ez yer gits +home. D'yer heah?' + +"I tole him, 'Yes, sah,' an' comes on home an' gibs dat ter Marse +Si. Quick ez he look at it he say, 'Whar you git dat, boy? 'An' when +I tole him he sez, 'You know who dat is? Dat's old Potem Desmit! +What you say to him, you little fool?' + +"Den I tell Marse War' all 'bout it, an' he lay down in de yard +an' larf fit ter kill. All de same he gib me twenty licks 'cordin' +ter de orders on dat little dam bit o' paper. An' I nebber tink o' +dat widout cussin', sence. + +"Dat ar, now am de only time I ebber fault my name. Now what I +want ter change it fer, er what I want ob enny mo'? I don't want +'em. An' I tell 'em so, ebbery time too, but dey 'jes fo'ce em on +me like, an' what'll I do'bout it, I dunno. H'yer I'se got--lemme +see--one--two--tree! Fo' God, I don' know how many names I hez got! +I'm dod-dinged now ef I know who I be ennyhow. Ef ennybody ax me +I'd jes hev ter go back ter ole Mahs'r's name an' stop, kase I swar +I wouldn't know which ob de udders ter pick an' chuse from. + +"I specs its all 'long o' freedom, though I can't see why a free +nigger needs enny mo' name dan the same one hed in ole slave times. +Mus' be, though. I mind now dat all de pore white folks hez got +some two tree names, but I allus thought dat wuz 'coz dey hedn't +nuffin' else ter call dere can. Must be a free feller needs mo' +name, somehow. Ef I keep on I reckon I'll git enuff atter a while. +H'yer it's gwine on two year only sence de s'rrender, an' I'se got +tree ob 'em sartain!" + +The speaker was a colored man, standing before his log-house in +the evening of a day in June. His wife was the only listener to +the monologue. He had been examining a paper which was sealed and +stamped with official formality, and which had started him upon +the train of thought he had pursued. The question he was trying in +vain to answer was only the simplest and easiest of the thousand +strange queries which freedom had so recently propounded to him +and his race. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE FONT. + + +Knapp-of-reeds was the name of a plantation which was one of the +numerous possessions of P. Desmit, Colonel and Esquire, of the +county of Horsford, in the northernmost of those States which good +Queen Caroline was fortunate enough to have designated as memorials +of her existence. The plantation was just upon that wavy line which +separates the cotton region of the east from the tobacco belt that +sweeps down the pleasant ranges of the Piedmont region, east of +the Blue Appalachians. Or, to speak more correctly, the plantation +was in that indeterminate belt which neither of the great staples +could claim exclusively as its own--that delectable land where every +conceivable product of the temperate zone grows, if not in its +rankest luxuriance, at least in perfection and abundance. Tobacco +on the hillsides, corn upon the wide bottoms, cotton on the gray +uplands, and wheat, oats, fruits, and grasses everywhere. Five +hundred acres of hill and bottom, forest and field, with what was +termed the Island, consisting of a hundred more, which had never been +overflowed in the century of cultivation it had known, constituted +a snug and valuable plantation. It had been the seat of an old +family once, but extravagant living and neglect of its resources +had compelled its sale, and it had passed into the hands of its +present owner, of whose vast possessions it formed an insignificant +part. + +Colonel Desmit was one of the men who applied purely business +principles to the opportunities which the South afforded in the +olden time, following everything to its logical conclusion, and +measuring every opportunity by its money value. He was not of an +ancient family. Indeed, the paternal line stopped short with his +own father, and the maternal one could only show one more link, +and then became lost in malodorous tradition which hung about an +old mud-daubed log-cabin on the most poverty-stricken portion of +Nubbin Ridge. + +There was a rumor that the father had a left-handed kinship with +the Brutons, a family of great note in the public annals of the +State. He certainly showed qualities which tended to confirm this +tradition, and abilities which entitled him to be considered the +peer of the best of that family, whose later generations were by +no means the equals of former ones. Untiring and unscrupulous, Mr. +Peter Smith rose from the position of a nameless son of an unknown +father, to be as overseer for one of the wealthiest proprietors of +that region, and finally, by a not unusual turn of fortune's wheel, +became the owner of a large part of his employer's estates. Thrifty +in all things, he married in middle life, so well as nearly to +double the fortune then acquired, and before his death had become +one of the wealthiest men in his county. He was always hampered by +a lack of education. He could read little and write less. In his +later days he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and was chosen +one of the County Court, or "Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions," +as it was technically called. These honors were so pleasant to +him that he determined to give his only son a name which should +commemorate this event. The boy was, therefore, christened after the +opening words of his commission of the peace, and grew to manhood +bearing the name Potestatem Dedimus [Footnote: Potestatem dedimus: +"We give thee power, etc." The initial words of the clause conferring +jurisdiction upon officers, in the old forms of judicial commissions. +This name is fact, not fancy.] Smith. This son was educated +with care--the shrewd father feeling his own need--but was early +instilled with his father's greed for gain, and the necessity for +unusual exertion if he would achieve equal position with the old +families who were to be his rivals. + +The young man proved a worthy disciple of his father. He married, +it is true, without enhancing his fortune; but he secured what was +worth almost as much for the promotion of his purposes as if he +had doubled his belongings. Aware of the ill-effects of so recent a +bar sinister in his armorial bearings, he sought in marriage Miss +Bertha Bellamy, of Belleville, in the State of Virginia, who +united in her azure veins at least a few drops of the blood of all +the first families of that fine-bred aristocracy, from Pocahontas's +days until her own. The _role_ of the gentleman had been +too much for the male line of the Bellamys to sustain. Horses and +hounds and cards and high living had gradually eaten down their +once magnificent patrimony, until pride and good blood and poverty +were the only dowry that the females could command. Miss Bertha, +having already arrived at the age of discretion, found that to match +this against the wealth of young Potestatem Dedimus Smith was as +well as she could hope to do, and accepted him upon condition that +the vulgar _Smith_ should be changed to some less democratic +name. + +The one paternal and two maternal ancestors had not made the very +common surname peculiarly sacred to the young man, so the point was +yielded; and by considerable persistency on the part of the young +wife, "P. D. SMITH" was transformed without much trouble into "P. +DESMIT," before the administrator had concluded the settlement of +his father's estate. + +The vigor with which the young man devoted himself to affairs and +the remarkable success which soon began to attend his exertions +diverted attention from the name, and before he had reached middle +life he was known over almost half the State as "Colonel Desmit," +"Old Desmit," or "Potem Desmit," according to the degree of familiarity +or respect desired to be displayed. Hardly anybody remembered and +none alluded to the fact that the millionaire of Horsford was only +two removes from old Sal Smith of Nubbin Ridge. On the other hand +the rumor that he was in some mysterious manner remotely akin to +the Brutons was industriously circulated by the younger members of +that high-bred house, and even "the Judge," who was of about the +same age as Colonel Desmit, had been heard more than once to call +him "Cousin." These things affected Colonel Desmit but little. He +had set himself to improve his father's teachings and grow rich. He +seemed to have the true Midas touch. He added acre to acre, slave +to slave, business to business, until his possessions were scattered +from the mountains to the sea, and especially extended on both sides +the border line in the Piedmont region where he had been bred. It +embraced every form of business known to the community of which +he was a part, from the cattle ranges of the extreme west to the +fisheries of the farthest east. He made his possessions a sort of +self-supporting commonwealth in themselves. The cotton which he +grew on his eastern farms was manufactured at his own factory, and +distributed to his various plantations to be made into clothing +for his slaves. Wheat and corn and meat, raised upon some of his +plantations, supplied others devoted to non-edible staples. The +tobacco grown on the Hyco and other plantations in that belt was +manufactured at his own establishment, supplied his eastern laborers +and those which wrought in the pine woods to the southward at the +production of naval supplies. He had realized the dream of his own +life and the aspiration of his father, the overseer, and had become +one of the wealthiest men in the State. But he attended to all this +himself. Every overseer knew that he was liable any day or night +to receive a visit from the untiring owner of all this wealth, who +would require an instant accounting for every bit of the property +under his charge. Not only the presence and condition of every +slave, mule, horse or other piece of stock must be accounted for, +but the manner of its employment stated. He was an inflexible +disciplinarian, who gave few orders, hated instructions, and only +asked results. It was his custom to place an agent in charge of a +business without directions, except to make it pay. His only care +was to see that his property did not depreciate, and that the course +adopted by the agent was one likely to produce good results. So +long as this was the case he was satisfied. He never interfered, +made no suggestions, found no fault. As soon as he became dissatisfied +the agent was removed and another substituted. This was done without +words or controversy, and it was a well-known rule that a man once +discharged from such a trust could never enter his employ again. +For an overseer to be dismissed by Colonel Desmit was to forfeit +all chance for employment in that region, since it was looked upon +as a certificate either of incapacity or untrustworthiness. + +Colonel Desmit was especially careful in regard to his slaves. +His father had early shown him that no branch of business was, or +could be, half so profitable as the rearing of slaves for market. + +"A healthy slave woman," the thrifty father had been accustomed +to say, "will yield a thousand per cent upon her value, while +she needs less care and involves less risk than any other species +of property." The son, with a broader knowledge, had carried his +father's instructions to more accurate and scientific results. He +found that the segregation of large numbers of slaves upon a single +plantation was not favorable either to the most rapid multiplication +or economy of sustenance. He had carefully determined the fact +that plantations of moderate extent, upon the high, well-watered +uplands of the Piedmont belt, were the most advantageous locations +that could be found for the rearing of slaves. Such plantations, +largely worked by female slaves, could be made to return a small +profit on the entire investment, without at all taking into account +the increase of the human stock. This was, therefore, so much +added profit. From careful study and observation he had deduced +a specific formulary by which he measured the rate of gain. With +a well-selected force, two thirds of which should be females, he +calculated that with proper care such plantations could be made to +pay, year by year, an interest of five per cent on the first cost, +and, in addition, double the value of the working force every eight +years. This conclusion he had arrived at from scientific study of +the rates of mortality and increase, and in settling upon it he +had cautiously left a large margin for contingencies. He was not +accustomed to talk about his business, but when questioned as to +his uniform success and remarkable prosperity, always attributed it +to a system which he had inexorably followed, and which had never +failed to return to him at least twenty per cent. per annum upon +every dollar he had invested. + +So confident was he in regard to the success of this plan that he +became a large but systematic borrower of money at the legal rate +of six per cent, taking care that his maturing liabilities should, +at no time, exceed a certain proportion of his available estate. +By this means his wealth increased with marvelous rapidity. + +The success of his system depended, however, entirely upon the care +bestowed upon his slaves. They were never neglected. Though he had +so many that of hundreds of them he did not know even the faces, he +gave the closest attention to their hygienic condition, especially +that of the women, who were encouraged by every means to bear children. +It was a sure passport to favor with the master and the overseer: +tasks were lightened; more abundant food provided; greater liberty +enjoyed; and on the birth of a child a present of some sort was +certain to be given the mother. + +The one book which Colonel Desmit never permitted anybody else to +keep or see was the register of his slaves. He had invented for +himself an elaborate system by which in a moment he could ascertain +every element of the value of each of his more than a thousand slaves +at the date of his last visitation or report. When an overseer was +put in charge of a plantation he was given a list of the slaves +assigned to it, by name and number, and was required to report +every month the condition of each slave during the month previous, +as to health and temper, and also the labor in which the same had +been employed each day. It was only as to the condition of the slaves +that the owner gave explicit directions to his head-men. "Mighty +few people know how to take care of a nigger," he was wont to say; +and as he made the race a study and looked to them for his profits, +he was attentive to their condition. + +Among the requirements of his system was one that each slave born +upon his plantations should be named only by himself; and this was +done only on personal inspection. Upon a visit to a plantation, +therefore, one of his special duties always was to inspect, name, +and register all slave children who had been born to his estate +since his previous visitation. + +It was in the summer of 1840 that a traveler drove into the grove +in front of the house at Knapp-of-Reeds, in the middle of a June +afternoon, and uttered the usual halloo. He was answered after a +moment's delay by a colored woman, who came out from the kitchen +and exclaimed, + +"Who's dah?" + +It was evident at once that visitors were not frequent at +Knapp-of-Reeds. + +"Where's Mr. Ware?" asked the stranger. + +"He's done gone out in de new-ground terbacker, long wid de han's," +answered the woman. + +"Where is the new-ground this year?" repeated the questioner. +"Jes' down on the p'int 'twixt de branch an' de Hyco," she replied. + +"Anybody you can send for him?" + +"Wal, thar mout be some shaver dat's big enough to go, but Marse +War's dat keerful ter please Marse Desmit dat he takes 'em all +outen de field afore dey can well toddle," said the woman doubtfully. + +"Well, come and take my horse," said he, as he began to descend +from his gig, "and send for Mr. Ware to come up at once." + +The woman came forward doubtfully and took the horse by the bit, +while the traveler alighted. No sooner did he turn fully toward +her than her face lighted up with a smile, and she said, + +"Wal, dar, ef dat a'n't Marse Desmit hisself, I do believe! How +d'ye do, Mahs'r?" and the woman dropped a courtesy. + +"I'm very well, thank ye, Lorency, an' glad to see you looking so +peart," he responded pleasantly. "How's Mr. Ware and the people? +All well, I hope." + +"All tol'able, Mahs'r, thank ye." + +"Well, tie the horse, and get me some dinner, gal. I haven't eaten +since I left home." + +"La sakes!" said the woman in a tone of commiseration, though she +had no idea whether it was twenty or forty miles he had driven +since his breakfast. + +The man who sat upon the porch and waited for the coming of +Mr. Silas Ware, his overseer, was in the prime of life, of florid +complexion, rugged habit, short stubbly hair--thick and bristling, +that stood close and even on his round, heavy head from a little +way above the beetling brows well down upon the bull-like neck which +joined but hardly separated the massive head and herculean trunk. +This hair, now almost white, had been a yellowish red, a hue which +still showed in the eyebrows and in the stiff beard which was allowed +to grow beneath the angle of his massive jaw, the rest of his face +being clean shaven. The eyes were deep-sunk and of a clear, cold +blue. His mouth broad, with firm, solid lips. Dogged resolution, +unconquerable will, cold-blooded selfishness, and a keen hog-cunning +showed in his face, while his short, stout form--massive but not +fleshy--betrayed a capacity to endure fatigue which few men could +rival. + +"How d'ye, Mr. Ware?" he said as that worthy came striding in from +the new-ground nervously chewing a mouthful of home-made twist, +which he had replenished several times since leaving the field, +without taking the precaution to provide stowage for the quantity +he was taking aboard. + +"How d'ye, Colonel?" said Ware uneasily. + +"Reckon you hardly expected me to day?" continued Desmit, watching +him closely. "No, I dare say not. They hardly ever do. Fact is, I +rarely ever know myself long enough before to send word." + +He laughed heartily, for his propensity for dropping in unawares +upon his agents was so well known that he enjoyed their confusion +almost as much as he valued the surprise as a means of ascertaining +their attention to his interests. Ware was one of his most trusted +lieutenants, however, and everything that he had ever seen or +heard satisfied him of the man's faithfulness. So he made haste to +relieve him from embarrassment, for the tall, awkward, shambling +fellow was perfectly overwhelmed. + +"It's a long time since I've been to see you, Mr. Ware--almost +a year. There's mighty few men I'd let run a plantation that long +without looking after them. Your reports have been very correct, +and the returns of your work very satisfactory. I hope the stock +and hands are in good condition?" + +"I must say, Colonel Desmit," responded Ware, gathering confidence, +"though perhaps I oughtn't ter say it myself, that I've never seen +'em lookin' better. 'Pears like everything hez been jest about ez +favorable fer hands an' stock ez one could wish. The spring's work +didn't seem ter worry the stock a mite, an' when the new feed come +on there was plenty on't, an' the very best quality. So they shed +off ez fine ez ever you see ennything in yer life, an' hev jest +been a doin' the work in the crop without turnin' a hair." + +"Glad to hear it, Mr. Ware," said Desmit encouragingly. + +"And the hands," continued Ware, "have jest been in prime condition. +We lost Horion, as I reported to you in--lemme see, February, I +reckon--along o' rheumatism which he done cotch a runnin' away from +that Navigation Company that you told me to send him to work for." + +"Yes, I know. You told him to come home if they took him into +Virginia, as I directed, I suppose." + +"Certainly, sir," said Ware; "an' ez near ez I can learn they took +him off way down below Weldon somewheres, an' he lit out to come +home jest at the time of the February 'fresh.' He had to steal +his way afoot, and was might'ly used up when he got here, and died +some little time afterward." + +"Yes. The company will have to pay a good price for him. Wasn't a +better nor sounder nigger on the river," said Desmit. + +"That ther warn't," replied Ware. "The rest has all been well. +Lorency had a bad time over her baby, but she's 'round again as +peart as ever." "So I see. And the crops?" + +"The best I've ever seed sence I've been here, Colonel. Never had +such a stand of terbacker, and the corn looks prime. Knapp-of-Reeds +has been doin' better 'n' better ever sence I've knowed it; but +she's jest outdoin' herself this year." + +"Haven't you got anything to drink, Ware?" + +"I beg your _parding_, Colonel; I was that flustered I done +forgot my manners altogether," said Ware apologetically. "I hev +got a drap of apple that they say is right good for this region, +and a trifle of corn that ain't nothing to brag on, though it does +for the country right well." + +Ware set out the liquor with a bowl of sugar from his sideboard as +he spoke, and called to the kitchen for a glass and water. + +"That makes me think," said Desmit. "Here, you Lorency, bring me +that portmanty from the gig." + +When it was brought he unlocked it and took out a bottle, which he +first held up to the light and gazed tenderly through, then drew +the cork and smelled of its contents, shook his head knowingly, +and then handed it to Ware, who went through the same performance +very solemnly. + +"Here, gal," said Desmit sharply, "bring us another tumbler. Now, +Mr. Ware," said he unctuously when it had been brought, "allow me, +sir, to offer you some brandy which is thirty-five years old--pure +French brandy, sir. Put it in my portmanty specially for you, and +like to have forgot it at the last. Just try it, man." + +Ware poured himself a dram, and swallowed it with a gravity which +would have done honor to a more solemn occasion, after bowing low +to his principal and saying earnestly, "Colonel, your very good +health." + +"And now," said Desmit, "have the hands and stock brought up while +I eat my dinner, if you please. I have a smart bit of travel before +me yet to-day." + +The overseer's horn was at Ware's lips in a moment, and before the +master had finished his dinner every man, woman, and child on the +plantation was in the yard, and every mule and horse was in the +barn-lot ready to be brought out for his inspection. + +The great man sat on the back porch, and, calling up the slaves one +by one, addressed some remark to each, gave every elder a quarter +and every youngster a dime, until he came to the women. The first +of these was Lorency, the strapping cook, who had improved the time +since her master's coming to make herself gay with her newest gown +and a flaming new turban. She came forward pertly, with a young +babe upon her arm. + +"Well, Lorency, Mr. Ware says you have made me a present since I +was here?" + +"Yah! yah! Marse Desmit, dat I hab! Jes' de finest little nigger +boy yer ebber sot eyes on. Jes' you look at him now," she continued, +holding up her brighteyed pickaninny. "Ebber you see de beat ub +dat? Reg'lar ten pound, an' wuff two hundred dollars dis bressed +minnit." + +"Is that it, Lorency?" said Desmit, pointing to the child. "Who +ever saw such a thunder-cloud?" + +There was a boisterous laugh at the master's joke from the assembled +crowd. Nothing abashed, the good-natured mother replied, with ready +wit, + +"Dat so, Marse Kunnel. He's _brack_, he is. None ob yer bleached +out yaller sort of coffee-cullud nigger 'bout _him_. De rale +ole giniwine kind, dat a coal make a white mark on. Yah I yah! what +yer gwine ter name him, Mahs'r? Gib him a good name, now, none o' +yer common mean ones, but jes' der bes' one yer got in yer book;" +for Colonel Desmit was writing in a heavy clasped book which rested +on a light stand beside him. + +"What is it, Mahs'r?" + +"Nimbus," replied the master. + +"Wh--what?" asked the mother. "Say dat agin', won't yer, Mahs'r?" + +"Nimbus--_Nimbus_," repeated Desmit. + +"Wal, I swan ter gracious!" exclaimed the mother. "Ef dat don't +beat! H'yer! little--what's yer name? Jes' ax yer Mahs'r fer a +silver dollar ter pay yer fer hevin' ter tote dat er name 'roun' +ez long ez yer lives." + +She held the child toward its godfather and owner as she spoke, amid +a roar of laughter from her fellow-servants. Desmit good-naturedly +threw a dollar into the child's lap, for which Lorency courtesied, +and then held out her hand. + +"What do you want now, gal?" asked Desmit. + +"Yer a'n't a gwine ter take sech a present ez dis from a pore cullud +gal an' not so much ez giv' her someting ter remember hit by, is +yer?" she asked with arch persistency. + +"There, there," said he laughing, as he gave her another dollar. +"Go on, or I shan't have a cent left." + +"All right, Marse Kunnel. Thank ye, Mahs'r," she said, as she walked +off in triumph. + +"Oh, hold on," said Desmit; "how old is it, Lorency?" + +"Jes' sebben weeks ole dis bressed day, Mahs'r," said the proud +mother as she vanished into the kitchen to boast of her good-fortune +in getting two silver dollars out of Marse Desmit instead of the one +customarily given by him on such occasions. And so the record +was made up in the brass-clasped book of Colonel Potestatem Desmit, +the only baptismal register of the colored man who twenty-six +years afterward was wondering at the names which were seeking him +against his will. + +_697--Nimbus--of Lorency--Male--April 24th, 1840--Sound--Knapp-of-Reeds._ + +It was a queer baptismal entry, but a slave needed no more--indeed +did not need that. It was not given for his sake, but only for the +convenience of his godfather should the chattel ever seek to run +away, or should it become desirable to exchange him for some other +form of value. There was nothing harsh or brutal or degraded about +it. Mr. Desmit was doing, in a business way, what the law not only +allowed but encouraged him to do, and doing it because it paid. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE JUNONIAN RITE. + + +"Marse Desmit?" + +"Well?" + +"Ef yer please, Mahs'r, I wants ter marry?" + +"The devil you do!" + +"Yes, sah, if you please, sah." + +"What's your name?" + +"Nimbus." + +"So: you're the curer at Knapp-of-Reeds, I believe?" + +"Yes, sah." "That last crop was well done. Mr. Ware says you're +one of the best hands he has ever known." + +"Thank ye, Mahs'r," with a bow and scrape. + +"What's the gal's name?" + +"Lugena, sah." + +"Yes, Vicey's gal--smart gal, too. Well, as I've about concluded to +keep you both--if you behave yourselves, that is, as well as you've +been doing--I don't know as there's any reason why you shouldn't +take up with her." + +"Thank ye, Mahs'r," very humbly, but very joyfully. + +The speakers were the black baby whom Desmit had christened Nimbus, +grown straight and strong, and just turning his first score on the +scale of life, and Colonel Desmit, grown a little older, a little +grayer, a little fuller, and a great deal richer--if only the small +cloud of war just rising on the horizon would blow over and leave +his possessions intact. He believed it would, but he was a wise +man and a cautious one, and he did not mean to be caught napping +if it did not. + +Nimbus had come from Knapp-of-Reeds to a plantation twenty miles +away, upon a pass from Mr. Ware, on the errand his conversation +disclosed. He was a fine figure of a man despite his ebon hue, +and the master, looking at him, very naturally noted his straight, +strong back, square shoulders, full, round neck, and shapely, +well-balanced head. His face was rather heavy--grave, it would +have been called if he had been white--and his whole figure and +appearance showed an earnest and thoughtful temperament. He was as +far from that volatile type which, through the mimicry of burnt-cork +minstrels and the exaggerations of caricaturists, as well as the +works of less disinterested portrayers of the race, have come to +represent the negro to the unfamiliar mind, as the typical Englishman +is from the Punch-and-Judy figures which amuse him. The slave Nimbus +in a white skin would have been considered a man of great physical +power and endurance, earnest purpose, and quiet, self-reliant +character. Such, in truth, he was. Except the whipping he had +received when but a lad, by his master's orders, no blow had ever +been struck him. Indeed, blows were rarely stricken on the plantations +of Colonel Desmit; for while he required work, obedience, and +discipline, he also fed well and clothed warmly, and allowed no +overseer to use the lash for his own gratification, or except for +good cause. It was well known that nothing would more surely secure +dismissal from his service than the free use of the whip. Not that +he thought there was anything wrong or inhuman about the whipping-post, +but it was entirely contrary to his policy. To keep a slave +comfortable, healthy, and good-natured, according to Colonel Desmit's +notion, was to increase his value, and thereby add to his owner's +wealth. He knew that Nimbus was a very valuable slave. He had +always been attentive to his tasks, was a prime favorite with his +overseer, and had already acquired the reputation of being one of the +most expert and trusty men that the whole region could furnish, for +a tobacco crop. Every step in the process of growing and curing--from +the preparation of the seed-bed to the burning of the coal-pit, +and gauging the heat required in the mud-daubed barn for different +kinds of leaf and in every stage of cure--was perfectly familiar +to him, and he could always be trusted to see that it was properly +and opportunely done. This fact, together with his quiet and contented +disposition, added very greatly to his value. The master regarded +him, therefore, with great satisfaction. He was willing to gratify +him in any reasonable way, and so, after some rough jokes at his +expense, wrote out his marriage-license in these words, in pencil, +on the blank leaf of a notebook: + +MR. WARE: Nimbus and Lugena want to take up with each other. You +have a pretty full force now, but I have decided to keep them and +sell some of the old ones--say Vicey and Lorency. Neither have had +any children for several years, and are yet strong, healthy women, +who will bring nearly as much as the girl Lugena. I shall make +up a gang to go South in charge of Winburn next week. You may send +them over to Louisburg on Monday. You had better give Nimbus the +empty house near the tobacco-barn. We need a trusty man there. +Respectfully, P. DESMIT. + +So Nimbus went home happy, and on the Saturday night following, in +accordance with this authority, with much mirth and clamor, and with +the half-barbarous and half-Christian ceremony--which the law did +not recognize; which bound neither parties, nor master nor stranger; +which gave Nimbus no rights and Lugena no privileges; which neither +sanctified the union nor protected its offspring--the slave "boy" +and "gal" "took up with each other," and began that farce which +the victims of slavery were allowed to call "marriage." The sole +purpose of permitting it was to raise children. The offspring were +sometimes called "families," even in grave legal works; but there +was no more of the family right of protection, duty of sustenance +and care, or any other of the sacred elements which make the family +a type of heaven, than attends the propagation of any other species +of animate property. When its purpose had been served, the voice +of the master effected instant divorce. So, on the Monday morning +thereafter the mothers of the so-called bride and groom, widowed +by the inexorable demands of the master's interests, left husband +and children, and those fair fields which represented all that they +knew of the paradise which we call home, and with tears and groans +started for that living tomb, the ever-devouring and insatiable +"far South." + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +MARS MEDDLES. + + +LOUISBURG, January 10, 1864. + +MR. SILAS WARE: + +DEAR SIR: In ten days I have to furnish twenty hands to work on +fortifications for the Confederate Government. I have tried every +plan I could devise to avoid doing so, but can put it off no longer. +I anticipated this long ago, and exchanged all the men I could +possibly spare for women, thinking that would relieve me, but it +makes no difference. They apportion the levy upon the number of +slaves. I shall have to furnish more pretty soon. The trouble is +to know who to send. I am afraid every devil of them will run away, +but have concluded that if I send Nimbus as a sort of headman of the +gang, he may be able to bring them through. He is a very faithful +fellow, with none of the fool-notions niggers sometimes get, I +think. In fact, he is too dull to have such notions. At the same +time he has a good deal of influence over the others. If you agree +with this idea, send him to me at once. Respectfully, P. DESMIT. + +In accordance with this order Nimbus was sent on to have another +interview with his master. The latter's wishes were explained, +and he was asked if he could fulfil them. "Dunno," he answered +stolidly. + +"Are you willing to try?" + +"S'pect I hev ter, ennyhow, ef yer say so." + +"Now, Nimbus, haven't I always been a good master to you?" +reproachfully. + +No answer. + +"Haven't I been kind to you always?" + +"Yer made Marse War' gib me twenty licks once." + +"Well, weren't you saucy, Nimbus? Wouldn't you have done that to +a nigger that called you a 'grand rascal' to your face?" + +"S'pecs I would, Mahs'r." + +"Of course you would. You know that very well. You've too much +sense to remember that against me now. Besides, if you are not +willing to do this I shall have to sell you South to keep you out +of the hands of the Yanks." + +Mr, Desmit knew how to manage "niggers," and full well understood +the terrors of being "sold South." He saw his advantage in the +flush of apprehension which, before he had ceased speaking, made +the jetty face before him absolutely ashen with terror. + +"Don't do dat, Marse Desmit, ef _you_ please! Don't do dat er +wid Nimbus! Mind now, Mahs'r, I'se got a wife an' babies." + +"So you have, and I know you don't want to leave them." + +"No more I don't, Mahs'r," earnestly. + +"And you need not if you'll do as I want you to. See here, Nimbus, +if you'll do this I will promise that you and your family never +shall be separated, and I'll give you fifty dollars now and a +hundred dollars when you come back, if you'll just keep those other +fool-niggers from trying--mind' I say _trying_--to run away and +so getting shot. There's no such thing as getting to the Yankees, +and it would be a heap worse for them if they did, but you know +they _are_ such fools they might try it and get killed--which +would serve them right, only I should have to bear the loss." + +"All right, Mahs'r, I do the best I can," said Nimbus. + +"That's right," said the master. + +"Here are fifty dollars," and he handed him a Confederate bill of +that denomination (gold value at that time, $3.21). + +Mr. Desmit did not feel entirely satisfied when Nimbus and his +twenty fellow-servants went off upon the train to work for the +Confederacy. However, he had done all he could except to warn the +guards to be very careful, which he did not neglect to do. + +Just forty days afterward a ragged, splashed and torn young ebony +Samson lifted the flap of a Federal officer's tent upon one of the +coast islands, stole silently in, and when he saw the officer's +eyes fixed upon him. asked, + +"Want ary boy, Mahs'r?" + +The tone, as well as the form of speech, showed a new-comer. The +officer knew that none of the colored men who had been upon the +island any length of time would have ventured into his presence +unannounced, or have made such an inquiry. + +"Where did you come from?" he asked. + +"Ober to der mainlan'," was the composed answer. + +"How did you get here?" + +"Come in a boat." + +"Run away?" + +"S'pose so." + +"Where did you live?" + +"Up de kentry--Horsford County." + +"How did you come down here?" "Ben wukkin' on de bres'wuks." + +"The dickens you have!" + +"Yes, sah." + +"How did you get a boat, then?" + +"Jes' tuk it--dry so." + +"Anybody with you?" + +"No, Mahs'r." + +"And you came across the Sound alone in an open boat?" + +"Yes, Mahs'r; an' fru' de swamp widout any boat." + +"I should say so," laughed the officer, glancing at his clothes. +"What did you come here for?" + +"Jes'--_kase_." + +"Didn't they tell you you'd be worse off with the Yankees than you +were with them?" + +"Yes, sah." + +"Didn't you believe them?" + +"Dunno, sah." + +"What do you want to do?" + +"Anything." + +"Fight the rebs?" + +"Wal, I kin du it." + +"What's your name?" + +"Nimbus." + +"Nimbus? Good name--ha! ha: what else?" + +"Nuffin' else." + +"Nothing else? What was your old master's name?" + +"Desmit--Potem Desmit." + +"Well, then, that's yours, ain't it--your surname--Nimbus Desmit?" + +"Reckon not, Mahs'r." + +"No? Why not?" + +"Same reason his name ain't Nimbus, I s'pose." + +"Well," said the officer, laughing, "there may be something in +that; but a soldier must have two names. Suppose I call you George +Nimbus?" + +"Yer kin call me jes' what yer choose, sah; but my name's Nimbus +all the same. No Gawge Nimbus, nor ennything Nimbus, nor Nimbus +ennything--jes' Nimbus; so. Nigger got no use fer two names, nohow." + +The officer, perceiving that it was useless to argue the matter +further, added his name to the muster-roll of a regiment, and +he was duly sworn into the service of the United States as George +Nimbus, of Company C, of the---Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, +and was counted one of the quota which the town of Great Barringham, +in the valley of the Housatuck, was required to furnish to complete +the pending call for troops to put down rebellion. By virtue of +this fact, the said George Nimbus became entitled to the sum of +four hundred dollars bounty money offered by said town to such as +should give themselves to complete its quota of "the boys in blue," +in addition to his pay and bounty from the Government. So, if it +forced on him a new name, the service of freedom was not altogether +without compensatory advantages. + +Thus the slave Nimbus was transformed into the "contraband" George +Nimbus, and became not only a soldier of fortune, but also the +representative of a patriotic citizen of Great Barringham, who served +his country by proxy, in the person of said contraband, faithfully +and well until the end of the war, when the South fell--stricken +at last most fatally by the dark hands which she had manacled, +and overcome by their aid whose manhood she had refused to +acknowledge. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +NUNC PRO TUNC. + + +The first step in the progress from the prison-house of bondage +to the citadel of liberty was a strange one. The war was over. The +struggle for autonomy and the inviolability of slavery, on the part +of the South, was ended, and fate had decided against them. With +this arbitrament of war fell also the institution which had been +its cause. Slavery was abolished--by proclamation, by national +enactment, by constitutional amendment--ay, by the sterner logic +which forbade a nation to place shackles again upon hands which +had been raised in her defence, which had fought for her life and +at her request. So the slave was a slave no more. No other man +could claim his service or restrain his volition. He might go or +come, work or play, so far as his late master was concerned. + +But that was all. He could not contract, testify, marry or give +in marriage. He had neither property, knowledge, right, or power. +The whole four millions did not possess that number of dollars +or of dollars' worth. Whatever they had acquired in slavery was +the master's, unless he had expressly made himself a trustee for +their benefit. Regarded from the legal standpoint it was, indeed, +a strange position in which they were. A race despised, degraded, +penniless, ignorant, houseless, homeless, fatherless, childless, +nameless. Husband or wife there was not one in four millions. +Not a child might call upon a father for aid, and no man of them +all might lift his hand in a daughter's defence. Uncle and aunt +and cousin, home, family--none of these words had any place in +the freedman's vocabulary. Right he had, in the abstract; in the +concrete, none. Justice would not hear his voice. The law was still +color-blinded by the past. + +The fruit of slavery--its first ripe harvest, gathered with swords +and bloody bayonets, was before the nation which looked ignorantly +on the fruits of the deliverance it had wrought. The North did not +comprehend its work; the South could not comprehend its fate. The +unbound slave looked to the future in dull, wondering hope. + +The first step in advance was taken neither by the nation nor by the +freedmen. It was prompted by the voice of conscience, long hushed +and hidden in the master's breast. It was the protest of Christianity +and morality against that which it had witnessed with complacency +for many a generation. All at once it was perceived to be a great +enormity that four millions of Christian people, in a Christian +land, should dwell together without marriage rite or family tie. +While they were slaves, the fact that they might be bought and sold +had hidden this evil from the eye of morality, which had looked +unabashed upon the unlicensed freedom of the quarters and the +enormities of the barracoon. Now all at once it was shocked beyond +expression at the domestic relations of the freedmen. + +So they made haste in the first legislative assemblies that met in +the various States, after the turmoil of war had ceased, to provide +and enact: + +I. That all those who had sustained to each other the relation of +husband and wife in the days of slavery, might, upon application +to an officer named in each county, be registered as such husband +and wife. + +2. That all who did not so register within a certain time should +be liable to indictment, if the relation continued thereafter. + +3. That the effect of such registration should be to constitute such +parties husband and wife, as of the date of their first assumption +of marital relations. + +4. That for every such couple registered the officer should be +entitled to receive the sum of one half-dollar from the parties +registered. + +There was a grim humor about this marriage of a race by wholesale, +millions at a time, and _nunc pro tunc;_ but especially quaint +was the idea of requiring each freed-man, who had just been torn, +as it were naked, from the master's arms, to pay a snug fee for +the simple privilege of entering upon that relation which the law +had rigorously withheld from him until that moment. It was a strange +remedy for a long-hidden and stubbornly denied disease, and many +strange scenes were enacted in accordance with the provisions of +this statute. Many an aged couple, whose children had been lost in +the obscure abysses of slavery, or had gone before them into the +spirit land, old and feeble and gray-haired, wrought with patience +day after day to earn at once their living and the money for this +fee, and when they had procured it walked a score of miles in order +that they might be "registered," and, for the brief period that +remained to them of life, know that the law had sanctioned the +relation which years of love and suffering had sanctified. It was +the first act of freedom, the first step of legal recognition or +manly responsibility! It was a proud hour and a proud fact for the +race which had so long been bowed in thralldom and forbidden even +the most common though the holiest of God's ordinances. What the +law had taken little by little, as the science of Christian slavery +grew up under the brutality of our legal progress, the law returned +in bulk. It was the first seal which was put on the slave's +manhood--the first step upward from the brutishness of another's +possession to the glory of independence. The race felt its importance +as did no one else at that time. By hundreds and thousands they +crowded the places appointed, to accept the honor offered to their +posterity, and thereby unwittingly conferred undying honor upon +themselves. Few indeed were the unworthy ones who evaded the sacred +responsibility thus laid upon them, and left their offspring to +remain under the badge of shame. When carefully looked at it was +but a scant cure, and threw the responsibility of illegitimacy +where it did not belong, but it was a mighty step nevertheless. +The distance from zero to unity is always infinity. + +The county clerk in and for the county of Horsford sat behind +the low wooden railing which he had been compelled to put across +his office to protect him from the too near approach of those who +crowded to this fountain of rehabilitating honor that had recently +been opened therein. Unused to anything beyond the plantation on +which they had been reared, the temple of justice was as strange +to their feet, and the ways and forms of ordinary business as +marvelous to their minds as the etiquette of the king's palace to +a peasant who has only looked from afar upon its pinnacled roof. +The recent statute had imposed upon the clerk a labor of no little +difficulty because of this very ignorance on the part of those whom +he was required to serve; but he was well rewarded. The clerk was +a man of portly presence, given to his ease, who smoked a long-stemmed +pipe as he sat beside a table which, in addition to his papers and +writing materials, held a bucket of water on which floated a clean +gourd, in easy reach of his hand. + +"Be you the clerk, sail?" said a straight young colored man, whose +clothing had a hint of the soldier in it, as well as his respectful +but unusually collected bearing. + +"Yes," said the clerk, just glancing up, but not intermitting his +work; "what do you want?" + +"If you please, sah, we wants to be married, Lugena and me." + +"_Registered_, you mean, I suppose?" + +"No, we don't, sah; we means _married_." + +"I can't marry you. You'll have to get a license and be married by +a magistrate or a minister." + +"But I heard der was a law---" + +"Have you been living together as man and wife?" + +"Oh, yes, sah; dat we hab, dis smart while." + +"Then you want to be registered. This is the place. Got a +half-dollar?" + +"Yes, sah?" + +"Let's have it." + +The colored man took out some bills, and with much difficulty +endeavored to make a selection; finally, handing one doubtfully +toward the clerk, he asked, + +"Is dat a one-dollah, sah?" + +"No, that is a five, but I can change it." + +"No, I'se got it h'yer," said the other hastily, as he dove again +into his pockets, brought out some pieces of fractional currency and +handed them one by one to the officer until he said he had enough. + +"Well," said the clerk as he took up his pen and prepared to fill +out the blank, "what is your name?" + +"My name's Nimbus, sah." + +"Nimbus what?" + +"Nimbus nuffin', sah; jes' Nimbus." "But you must have another +name?" + +"No I hain't. Jes' wore dat fer twenty-odd years, an' nebber hed +no udder." + +"Who do you work for?" + +"Wuk for myself, sah." + +"Well, on whose land do you work?" + +"Wuks on my own, sah. Oh, I libs at home an' boa'ds at de same +place, I does. An' my name's Nimbus, jes' straight along, widout +any tail ner handle." + +"What was your old master's name?" + +"Desmit--Colonel Potem Desmit." + +"I might have known that," said the clerk laughingly, "from the +durned outlandish name. Well, Desmit is your surname, then, ain't +it?" + +"No'taint, Mister. What right I got ter his name? He nebber gib +it ter me no more'n he did ter you er Lugena h'yer." + +"Pshaw, I can't stop to argue with you. Here's your certificate." + +"Will you please read it, sah? I hain't got no larnin'. Ef you +please, sah." + +The clerk, knowing it to be the quickest way to get rid of them, +read rapidly over the certificate that Nimbus and Lugena Desmit had +been duly registered as husband and wife, under the provisions of +an ordinance of the Convention ratified on the---day of---, 1865. + +"So you's done put in dat name--Desmit?" + +"Oh, I just had to, Nimbus. The fact is, a man can't be married +according to law without two names." + +"So hit appears; but ain't it quare dat I should hev ole Mahs'r's +name widout his gibbin' it ter me, ner my axin' fer it, Mister?" + +"It may be, but that's the way, you see." + +"So hit seems. 'Pears like I'm boun' ter hev mo' names 'n I knows +what ter do wid, jes' kase I's free. But de chillen--yer hain't +sed nary word about dem, Mister." + +"Oh, I've nothing to do with them." + +"But, see h'yer, Mister, ain't de law a doin dis ter make dem lawful +chillen?" + +"Certainly." + +"An' how's de law ter know which is de lawful chillen ef hit ain't +on dat ar paper?" + +"Sure enough," said the clerk, with amusement. "That would have +been a good idea, but, you see, Nimbus, the law didn't go that +far." + +"Wal, hit ought ter hev gone dat fur. Now, Mister Clerk, couldn't +you jes' put dat on dis yer paper, jes' ter "commodate me, yer +know." + +"Perhaps so," good-naturedly, taking back the certificate; "what +do you want me to write?" + +"Wal, yer see, dese yer is our chillen. Dis yer boy Lone--Axylone, +Marse Desmit called him, but we calls him Lone for short--he's +gwine on fo'; dis yer gal Wicey, she's two past; and dis little +brack cuss Lugena's a-holdin' on, we call Cap'n, kase he bosses +all on us--he's nigh 'bout a year; an' dat's all." + +The clerk entered the names and ages of the children on the back +of the paper, with a short certificate that they were present, +and were acknowledged as the children, and the only ones, of the +parties named in the instrument. + +And so the slave Nimbus was transformed, first into the "contraband" +and mercenary soldier _George Nimbus_, and then by marriage +into _Nimbus Desmit_. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE TOGA VIRILIS. + + +But the transformations of the slave were not yet ended. The time +came when he was permitted to become a citizen. For two years he +had led an inchoate, nondescript sort of existence: free without +power or right; neither slave nor freeman; neither property nor +citizen. He had been, meanwhile, a bone of contention between the +Provisional Governments of the States and the military power which +controlled them. The so-called State Governments dragged him toward +the whipping-post and the Black Codes and serfdom. They denied +him his oath, fastened him to the land, compelled him to hire by +the year, required the respectfulness of the old slave "Mahs'r" +and "Missus," made his employer liable for his taxes, and allowed +recoupment therefor; limited his avocations and restricted his +opportunities. These would substitute serfdom for chattelism. + +On the other hand the Freedman's Bureau acted as his guardian and +friend, looked after his interests in contracts, prohibited the +law's barbarity, and insisted stubbornly that the freedman was +a man, and must be treated as such. It needed only the robe of +citizenship, it was thought, to enable him safely to dispense with +the one of these agencies and defy the other. So the negro was +transformed into a citizen, a voter, a political factor, by act of +Congress, with the aid and assistance of the military power. + +A great crowd had gathered at the little town of Melton, which was +one of the chief places of the county of Horsford, for the people +had been duly notified by official advertisement that on this day +the board of registration appointed by the commander of the military +district in which Horsford County was situated would convene there, +to take and record the names, and pass upon the qualifications, +of all who desired to become voters of the new body politic which +was to be erected therein, or of the old one which was to be +reconstructed and rehabilitated out of the ruins which war had +left. + +The first provision of the law was that every member of such board +of registration should be able to take what was known in those +days as the "iron-clad oath," that is, an oath that he had never +engaged in, aided, or abetted any rebellion against the Government +of the United States. Men who could do this were exceedingly +difficult to find in some sections. Of course there were abundance +of colored men who could take this oath, but not one in a thousand +of them could read or write. The military commander determined, +however, to select in every registration district one of the most +intelligent of this class, in order that he might look after the +interests of his race, now for the first time to take part in any +public or political movement. This would greatly increase the +labors of the other members of the board, yet was thought not only +just but necessary. As the labor of recording the voters of a county +was no light one, especially as the lists had to be made out in +triplicate, it was necessary to have some clerical ability on the +board. These facts often made the composition of these boards +somewhat heterogeneous and peculiar. The one which was to register +the voters of Horsford consisted of a little old white man, who had +not enough of stamina or character to have done or said anything +in aid of rebellion, and who, if he had done the very best he knew, +ought yet to have been held guiltless of evil accomplished. In his +younger days he had been an overseer, but in his later years had +risen to the dignity of a landowner and the possession of one or +two slaves. He wrestled with the mysteries of the printed page with +a sad seriousness which made one regret his inability to remember +what was at the top until he had arrived at the bottom. Writing +was a still more solemn business with him, but he was a brave man +and would cheerfully undertake to transcribe a list of names, which +he well knew that anything less than eternity would be too short +to allow him to complete. He was a small, thin-haired, squeaky-voiced +bachelor of fifty, and as full of good intentions as the road to +perdition. If Tommy Glass ever did any evil it would not only be +without intent but from sheer accident. + +With Tommy was associated an old colored man, one of those known +in that region as "old-issue free-niggers." Old Pharaoh Ray was a +venerable man. He had learned to read before the Constitution of +1835 deprived the free-negro of his vote, and had read a little +since. He wore an amazing pair of brass-mounted spectacles. His +head was surmounted by a mass of snowy hair, and he was of erect +and powerful figure despite the fact that he boasted a life of more +than eighty years. He read about as fast and committed to memory +more easily than his white associate, Glass. In writing they were +about a match; Pharaoh wrote his name much more legibly than Glass +could, but Glass accomplished the task in about three fourths of +the time required by Pharaoh. + +The third member of the board was Captain Theron Pardee, a young +man who had served in the Federal army and afterward settled +in an adjoining county. He was the chairman. He did the writing, +questioning, and deciding, and as each voter had to be sworn he +utilized his two associates by requiring them to administer the +oaths and--look wise. The colored man in about two weeks learned +these oaths so that he could repeat them. The white man did not +commit the brief formulas in the four weeks they were on duty. + +The good people of Melton were greatly outraged that this composite +board should presume to come and pass upon the qualifications of +its people as voters under the act of Congress, and indeed it was +a most ludicrous affair. The more they contemplated the outrage +that was being done to them, by decreeing that none should vote +who had once taken an oath to support the Government of the United +States and afterward aided the rebellion, the angrier they grew, +until finally they declared that the registration should not +be held. Then there were some sharp words between the ex-Federal +soldier and the objectors. As no house could be procured for the +purpose, he proposed to hold the registration on the porch of the +hotel where he stopped, but the landlord objected. Then he proposed to +hold it on the sidewalk under a big tree, but the town authorities +declared against it. However, he was proceeding there, when +an influential citizen kindly came forward and offered the use +of certain property under his control. There was some clamor, but +the gentleman did not flinch. Thither they adjourned, and the work +went busily on. Among others who came to be enrolled as citizens +was our old friend Nimbus. + +"Where do you live?" asked the late Northern soldier sharply, as +Nimbus came up in. his turn in the long line of those waiting for +the same purpose. + +"Down ter Red Wing, sah?" + +"Where's that?" + +"Oh, right down h'yer on Hyco, sah." + +"In this county?" + +"Oh, bless yer, yes, Mister, should tink hit was. Hit's not above +five or six miles out from h'yer." + +"How old are you?" + +"Wal, now, I don't know dat, not edzactly." + +"How old do you think--twenty-one?" + +"Oh, la, yes; more nor dat, Cap'." + +"Born where?" + +"Right h'yer in Horsford, sah." + +"What is your name?" + +"Nimbus." + +"Nimbus what?" asked the officer, looking up. + +"Nimbus nothin', sah; jes' straight along Nimbus." + +"Well, but--" said the officer, looking puzzled, "you must have +some sort of surname." + +"No, sah, jes' one; nigger no use for two names." + +"Yah! yah! yah!" echoed the dusky crowd behind him. "You's jes' +right dah, you is! Niggah mighty little use fer heap o' names. Jes' +like a mule--one name does him, an' mighty well off ef he's 'lowed +ter keep dat." + +"His name's Desmit," said a white man, the sheriff of the county, +who stood leaning over the railing; "used to belong to old Potem +Desmit, over to Louisburg. Mighty good nigger, too. I s'pec' ole +man Desmit felt about as bad at losing him as ary one he had." + +"Powerful good hand in terbacker," said Mr. Glass, who was himself an +expert in "yaller leaf." "Ther' wasn't no better ennywhar' round." + +"I knows all about him," said another. "Seed a man offer old Desmit +eighteen hundred dollars for him afore the war--State money--but +he wouldn't tech it. Reckon he wishes he had now." + +"Yes," said the sheriff, "he's the best curer in the county. Commands +almost any price in the season, but is powerful independent, and +gittin' right sassy. Listen at him now?" + +"They say your name is Desmit--Nimbus Desmit," said the officer; +"is that so?" + +"No, tain't." + +"Wasn't that your old master's name?" asked the sheriff roughly. + +"Co'se it war," was the reply. + +"Well, then, ain't it yours too?" + +"No, it ain't." + +"Well, you just ask the gentleman if that ain't so," said the +sheriff, motioning to the chairman of the board. + +"Well," said that officer, with a peculiar smile, "I do not know +that there is any law compelling a freedman to adopt his former +master's name. He is without name in the law, a pure _nullius +filius_--nobody's son. As a slave he had but one name. +He _could_ have no surname, because he had no family. He +was arraigned, tried, and executed as 'Jim' or 'Bill' or 'Tom.' +The volumes of the reports are full of such cases, as The State +_vs._ 'Dick' or 'Sam.' The Roman custom was for the freedman +to take the name of some friend, benefactor, or patron. I do not +see why the American freedman has not a right to choose his own +surname." + +"That is not the custom here," said the sheriff, with some chagrin, +he having begun the controversy. + +"Very true," replied the chairman; "the custom--and a very proper +and almost necessary one it seems--is to call the freedman by a +former master's name. This distinguishes individuals. But when the +freedman refuses to acknowledge the master's name as his, who can +impose it on him? We are directed to register the names of parties, +and while we might have the right to refuse one whom we found +attempting to register under a false name, yet we have no power +to make names for those applying. Indeed, if this man insists that +he has but one name, we must, for what I can see, register him by +that alone." + +His associates looked wise, and nodded acquiescence in the views +thus expressed. + +"Den dat's what I chuse," said the would-be voter. "My name's +Nimbus--noffin' mo'." + +"But I should advise you to take another name to save trouble +when you come to vote," said the chairman. His associates nodded +solemnly again. + +"Wal, now, Marse Cap'n, you jes' see h'yer. I don't want ter carry +nobody's name widout his leave. S'pose I take ole Marse War's name +ober dar?" + +"You can take any one you choose. I shall write down the one you +give me." + +"Is you willin', Marse War'?" + +"I've nothing to do with it, Nimbus," said Ware; "fix your own +name." + +"Wal sah," said Nimbus, "I reckon I'll take dat ef I must hev enny +mo' name. Yer see he wuz my ole oberseer, Mahs'r, an' wuz powerful +good ter me, tu. I'd a heap ruther hev his name than Marse Desmit's; +but I don't _want_ no name but Nimbus, nohow. + +"All right," said the chairman, as he made the entry. "Ware it is +then." + +As there might be a poll held at Red Wing, where Nimbus lived, he +was given a certificate showing that _Nimbus Ware_ had been +duly registered as an elector of the county of Horsford and for +the precinct of Red Wing. + +Then the newly-named Nimbus was solemnly sworn by the patriarchal +Pharaoh to bear true faith and allegiance to the government of the +United States, and to uphold its constitution and the laws passed +in conformity therewith; and thereby the recent slave became a +component factor of the national life, a full-fledged citizen of +the American Republic. + +As he passed out, the sheriff said to those about him, in a low +tone, + +"There'll be trouble with that nigger yet. He's too sassy. You'll +see." + +"How so?" asked the chairman. "I thought you said he was industrious, +thrifty, and honest." + +"Oh, yes," was the reply, "there ain't a nigger in the county got +a better character for honesty and hard work than he, but he's too +important--has got the big head, as we call it." + +"I don't understand what you mean," said the chairman. + +"Why he ain't respectful," said the other. "Talks as independent +as if he was a white man." + +"Well, he has as much right to talk independently as a white man. +He is just as free," said the chairman sharply. + +"Yes; but he ain't white," said the sheriff doggedly, "and our +people won't stand a nigger's puttin' on such airs. Why, Captain," +he continued in a tone which showed that he felt that the fact he +was about to announce must carry conviction even to the incredulous +heart of the Yankee officer. "You just ought to see his place down +at Red Wing. Damned if he ain't better fixed up than lots of white +men in the county. He's got a good house, and a terbacker-barn, +and a church, and a nigger school-house, and stock, and one of +the finest crops of terbacker in the county. Oh, I tell you, he's +cutting a wide swath, he is." "You don't tell me," said the +chairman with interest. "I am glad to hear it. There appears to +be good stuff in the fellow. He seems to have his own ideas about +things, too." + +"Yes, that's the trouble," responded the sheriff. "Our people +ain't used to that and won't stand it. He's putting on altogether +too much style for a nigger." + +"Pshaw," said the chairman, "if there were more like him it would +be better for everybody. A man like him is worth something for +an example. If all the race were of his stamp there would be more +hope." + +"The devil!" returned the sheriff, with a sneering laugh, "if they +were all like him, a white man couldn't live in the country. They'd +be so damned sassy and important that we'd have to kill the last +one of 'em to have any peace." + +"Fie, sheriff," laughed the chairman good-naturedly; "you seem to +be vexed at the poor fellow for his thrift, and because he is doing +well." + +"I am a white man, sir; and I don't like to see niggers gittin' +above us. Them's my sentiments," was the reply. "And that's the +way our people feel." + +There was a half-suppressed murmur of applause among the group of +white men at this. The chairman responded, + +"No doubt, and yet I believe you are wrong. Now, I can't help +liking the fellow for his sturdy manhood. He may be a trifle too +positive, but it is a good fault. I think he has the elements of +a good citizen, and I can't understand why you feel so toward him." + +There were some appreciative and good-natured cries of "Dar now," +"Listen at him," "Now you're talkin'," from the colored men at this +reply. + +"Oh, that's because you're a Yankee," said the sheriff, with +commiserating scorn. "You don't think, now, that it's any harm to +talk that way before niggers and set them against the white people +either, I suppose?" + +The chairman burst into a hearty laugh, as he replied, + +"No, indeed, I don't. If you call that setting the blacks against +the whites, the sooner they are by the ears the better. If you +are so thin-skinned that you can't allow a colored man to think, +talk, act, and prosper like a man, the sooner you get over your +squeamishness the better. For me, I am interested in this Nimbus. +We have to go to Red Wing and report on it as a place for holding +a poll and I am bound to see more of him." + +"Oh, you'll see enough of him if you go there, never fear," was +the reply. + +There was a laugh from the white men about the sheriff, a sort +of cheer from the colored men in waiting, and the business of the +board went on without further reference to the new-made citizen. + +The slave who had been transformed into a "contraband" and +mustered as a soldier under one name, married under another, and +now enfranchised under a third, returned to his home to meditate +upon his transformations--as we found him doing in our first chapter. + +The reason for these metamorphoses, and their consequences, might +well puzzle a wiser head than that of the many-named but unlettered +Nimbus. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +DAMON AND PYTHIAS. + + +After his soliloquy in regard to his numerous names, as given in our +first chapter, Nimbus turned away from the gate near which he had +been standing, crossed the yard in front of his house, and entered +a small cabin which stood near it. + +"Dar! 'Liab," he said, as he entered and handed the paper which he +had been examining to the person addressed, "I reckon I'se free +now. I feel ez ef I wuz 'bout half free, ennyhow. I wuz a sojer, +an' fought fer freedom. I've got my house an' bit o' lan', wife, +chillen, crap, an' stock, an' it's all mine. An' now I'se done been +registered, an' when de 'lection comes off, kin vote jes' ez hard +an' ez well an' ez often ez ole Marse Desmit. I hain't felt free +afore--leastways I hain't felt right certain on't; but now I reckon +I'se all right, fact an' truth. What you tinks on't, 'Liab?" + +The person addressed was sitting on a low seat under the one window +which was cut into the west side of the snugly-built log cabin. The +heavy wooden shutter swung back over the bench. On the other side +of the room was a low cot, and a single splint-bottomed chair stood +against the open door. The house contained no other furniture. + +The bench which he occupied was a queer compound of table, desk, +and work-bench. It had the leathern seat of a shoemaker's bench, +except that it was larger and wider. As the occupant sat with his +back to the window, on his left were the shallow boxes of a shoemaker's +bench, and along its edge the awls and other tools of that craft +were stuck in leather loops secured by tacks, as is the custom of +the crispin the world over. On the right was a table whose edge +was several inches above the seat, and on which were some books, +writing materials, a slate, a bundle of letters tied together with +a piece of shoe-thread, and some newspapers and pamphlets scattered +about in a manner which showed at a glance that the owner was +unaccustomed to their care, but which is yet quite indescribable. +On the wall above this table, but within easy reach of the sitter's +hand, hung a couple of narrow hanging shelves, on which a few books +were neatly arranged. One lay open on the table, with a shoemaker's +last placed across it to prevent its closing. + +Eliab was already busily engaged in reading the certificate which +Nimbus had given him. The sun, now near its setting, shone in at +the open door and fell upon him as he read. He was a man apparently +about the age of Nimbus--younger rather than older--having a fine +countenance, almost white, but with just enough of brown in its +sallow paleness to suggest the idea of colored blood, in a region +where all degrees of admixture were by no means rare. A splendid +head of black hair waved above his broad, full forehead, and an +intensely black silky beard and mustache framed the lower portion +of his face most fittingly. His eyes were soft and womanly, though +there was a patient boldness about their great brown pupils and a +directness of gaze which suited well the bearded face beneath. The +lines of suffering were deeply cut upon the thoughtful brow and +around the liquid eyes, and showed in the mobile workings of the +broad mouth, half shaded by the dark mustache. The face was not +a handsome one, but there was a serious and earnest calmness about +it which gave it an unmistakable nobility of expression and prompted +one to look more closely at the man and his surroundings. + +The shoulders were broad and square, the chest was full, the figure +erect, and the head finely poised. He was dressed with unusual +neatness for one of his race and surroundings, at the time of which +we write. One comprehended at a glance that this worker and learner +was also deformed. There was that in his surroundings which showed +that he was not as other men. The individuality of weakness and +suffering had left its indelible stamp upon the habitation which +he occupied. Yet so erect and self-helping in appearance was the +figure on the cobbler's bench that one for a moment failed to note +in what the affliction consisted. Upon closer observation he saw +that the lower limbs were sharply flexed and drawn to the leftward, +so that the right foot rested on its side under the left thigh. +This inclined the body somewhat to the right, so that the right +arm rested naturally upon the table for support when not employed. +These limbs, especially below the knees, were shrunken and distorted. +The shoe of the right foot whose upturned sole rested on the left +leg just above the ankle, was many sizes too small for a development +harmonious with the trunk. + +Nimbus sat down in the splint-bottomed chair by the door and fanned +himself with his dingy hat while the other read. + +"How is dis, Nimbus? What does dis mean? _Nimbus Ware?_ +Where did you get dat name?" he asked at length, raising his eyes +and looking in pained surprise toward the new voter. + +"Now, Bre'er 'Liab, don't talk dat 'ere way ter Nimbus, ef +yo please. Don't do it now. Yer knows I can't help it. Ebberybody +want ter call me by ole Mahs'r's name, an' dat I can't abide nohow; +an' when I kicks 'bout it, dey jes gib me some odder one, Dey all +seems ter tink I'se boun' ter hev two names, though I hain't got +no manner o' right ter but one." + +"But how did you come to have dis one--Ware?" persisted Eliab. + +"Wal, you see, Bre'er 'Liab, de boss man at der registerin' he +ax me fer my las' name, an' I tell him I hadn't got none, jes so. +Den Sheriff Gleason, he put in his oar, jes ez he allus does, an' +he say my name wuz _Desmit,_ atter ole Mahs'r. Dat made me +mad, an' I 'spute him, an' sez I, 'I won't hev no sech name'. Den +de boss man, he shet up Marse Gleason purty smart like, and _he_ +sed I'd a right ter enny name I chose ter carry, kase nobody hadn't +enny sort o' right ter fasten enny name at all on ter me 'cept +myself. But he sed I'd better hev two, kase most other folks hed +'em. So I axed Marse Si War' ef he'd lend me his name jes fer de +'casion, yer know, an' he sed he hadn't no 'jection ter it. So I +tole der boss man ter put it down, an' I reckon dar 'tis." + +"Yes, here it is, sure 'nough, Nimbus; but didn't you promise me +you wouldn't have so many names?" + +"Co'se I did; an' I did try, but they all 'llowed I got ter have +two names whe'er er no." + +"Then why didn't you take your old mahs'r's name, like de rest, +and not have all dis trouble?" + +"Now, 'Liab, yer knows thet I won't nebber do dat." + +"But why not, Nimbus?" + +"Kase I ain't a-gwine ter brand my chillen wid no sech slave-mark! +Nebber! You hear dat, 'Liab? I hain't got no ill-will gin Marse +Desmit, not a mite--only 'bout dat ar lickin, an' dat ain't nuffin +now; but I ain't gwine ter war his name ner giv it ter my chillen +ter mind 'em dat der daddy wuz jes anudder man's critter one time. +I tell you I can't do hit, nohow; an' I _won't,_ Bre'er 'Liab. +I don't hate Marse Desmit, but I does hate slavery--dat what made +me his--worse'n a pilot hates a rattlesnake; an' I hate everyting +dat 'minds me on't, I do!" + +The black Samson had risen in his excitement and now sat down upon +the bench by the other. + +"I don't blame you for dat, Nimbus, but--" + +"I don't want to heah no 'buts' 'bout it, an' I won't." + +"But the chillen, Nimbus. You don't want dem to be different from +others and have no surname?" + +"Dat's a fac', 'Liab," said Nimbus, springing to his feet. "I +nebber t'ought o' dat. Dey must hev a name, an' I mus' hev one ter +gib 'em, but how's I gwine ter git one? Dar's nobody's got enny right +ter gib me one, an' ef I choose one dis week what's ter hender my +takin' ob anudder nex week?" + +"Perhaps nothing," answered 'Liab, "but yourself. You must not do +it." + +"Pshaw, now," said Nimbus, "' what sort o' way is dat ter hev +things? I tell ye what orter been done, 'Liab; when de law married +us all, jes out of han' like, it orter hev named us too. Hit mout +hev been done, jes ez well's not. Dar's old Mahs'r now, he'd hev +named all de niggas in de county in a week, easy. An' dey'd been +good names, too." + +"But you'd have bucked at it ef he had," said 'Liab, good-naturedly. + +"No I wouldn't, 'Liab. I hain't got nuffin 'gin ole Mahrs'r. He +war good enough ter me--good 'nuff. I only hate what _made_ +him 'Old Mahs'r,' an' dat I does hate. Oh, my God, how I does hate +it, Liab! I hates de berry groun' dat a slave's wukked on! I do, +I swar! When I wuz a-comin' home to-day an' seed de gullies 'long +der way, hit jes made me cuss, kase dey wuz dar a-testifyin' ob de +ole time when a man war a critter--a dog--a nuffin!" + +"Now you oughtn't to say dat, Nimbus. Just think of me. Warn't you +better off as a slave than I am free?" + +"No, I warn't. I'd ruther be a hundred times wuss off ner you, an' +free, than ez strong as I am an' a slave." + +"But think how much more freedom is worth to you. Here you are a +voter, and I--" + +"Bre'er 'Liab," exclaimed Nimbus, starting suddenly up, "what for +you no speak 'bout dat afore. Swar to God I nebber tink on't--not +a word, till dis bressed minit. Why didn't yer say nuffin' 'bout +bein' registered yo'self, eh? Yer knowed I'd a tuk yer ef I hed +ter tote ye on my back, which I wouldn't. I wouldn't gone a step +widout yer ef I'd only a t'ought. Yer knows I wouldn't." + +"Course I does, Nimbus, but I didn't want ter make ye no trouble, +nor take the mule out of the crap," answered 'Liab apologetically. + +"Damn de crap!" said Nimbus impetuously. + +"Don't; don't swear, Nimbus, if you please." + +"Can't help it, 'Liab, when you turn fool an' treat me dat 'ere +way. I'd swar at ye ef yer wuz in de pulpit an' dat come ober me, +jes at de fust. Yer knows Nimbus better ner dat. Now see heah, 'Liab +Hill, yer's gwine ter go an' be registered termorrer, jes ez sure +ez termorrer comes. Here we thick-headed dunces hez been up dar +to-day a-takin' de oath an' makin' bleve we's full grown men, an' +here's you, dat knows more nor a ten-acre lot full on us, a lyin' +here an' habin' no chance at all." + +"But you want to get de barn full, and can't afford to spend any +more time," protested 'Liab. + +"Nebber you min' 'bout de barn. Dat's Nimbus' business, an" he'll +take keer on't. Let him alone fer dat. Yis, honey, I'se comin' +d'reckly!" he shouted, as his wife called him from his own cabin. + +"Now Bre'er 'Liab, yer comes ter supper wid us. Lugena's jes' a +callin' on't." + +"Oh, don't, Nimbus," said the other, shrinking away. "I can't! You +jes send one of the chillen in with it, as usual." + +"No yer don't," said Nimbus; "yer's been a scoldin' an' abusin' me +all dis yer time, an' now I'se gwine ter hab my way fer a little +while." + +He went to the door and called: + +"Gena! _Oh,_ Gena!" and as his wife did not answer, he said to +one of his children, "_Oh,_ Axylone, jes run inter de kitchen, +son, an' tell yer ma ter put on anudder plate, fer Bre'er 'Liab's +comin' ober ter take a bite wid us." + +Eliab kept on protesting, but it was in vain. Nimbus bent over him +as tenderly as a mother over the cradle of her first-born, clasped +his arms about him, and lifting him from the bench bore him away +to his own house. + +With an unconscious movement, which was evidently acquired by long +experience, the afflicted man cast one arm over Nimbus' shoulder, +put the other around him, and leaning across the stalwart breast +of his friend so evenly distributed his weight that the other bore +him with ease. Entering his own house, Nimbus placed his burden in +the chair at the head of the table, while he himself took his seat +on one of the wooden benches at the side. + +"I jes brought Bre'er 'Liab in ter supper, honey," said he to +his wife; "kase I see'd he war gettin' inter de dumps like, an' I +'llowed yer'd chirk him up a bit ef yer jes hed him over h'yer a +while." + +"Shan't do it," said the bright-eyed woman saucily. + +"Kase why?" queried her husband. + +"Kase Bre'er 'Liab don't come oftener. Dat's why." + +"Dar, now, jes see what yer done git fer being so contrary-like, +will yer?" said the master to his guest. H'yer, you Axylone," +he continued to his eldest born, " fo'd up yer han's while Bre'er +'Liab ax de blessin'. You, too, Capting," shaking his finger at +a roll of animated blackness on the end of the seat opposite. + +"Now, Bre'er 'Liab." + +The little black fingers were interlocked, the close-clipped, kinky +heads were bowed upon them; the master of the house bent reverently +over his plate; the plump young wife crossed her hands demurely +on the bright handle of the big coffee-pot by which she stood, and +"Bre'er 'Liab," clasping his slender fingers, uplifted his eyes +and hands to heaven, and uttered a grace which grew into a prayer. +His voice was full of thankfulness, and tears crept from under his +trembling lids. + +The setting sun, which looked in upon the peaceful scene, no doubt +flickered and giggled with laughter as he sank to his evening couch +with the thought, "How quick these 'sassy' free-niggers do put on +airs like white folks!" + +In the tobacco-field on the hillside back of his house, Nimbus and +his wife, Lugena, wrought in the light of the full moon nearly all +the night which followed, and early on the morrow Nimbus harnessed +his mule into his canvas-covered wagon, in which, upon a bed +of straw, reclined his friend Eliab Hill, and drove again to the +place of registration. On arriving there he took his friend in his +arms, carried him in and sat him on the railing before the Board. +Clasping the blanket close about his deformed extremities the +cripple leaned upon his friend's shoulder and answered the necessary +questions with calmness and precision. + +"There's a pair for you, captain," said Gleason, nodding good-naturedly +toward Nimbus as he bore his helpless charge again to the wagon. + +"Is he white?" asked the officer, with a puzzled look. + +"White?" exclaimed Sheriff Gleason, with a laugh. "No, indeed! He's +a nigger preacher who lives with Nimbus down at Red Wing. They're +great cronies--always together. I expect he's at the bottom of all +the black nigger's perversity, though he always seems as smooth +and respectful as you please. He's a deep one. I 'llow he does +all the scheming, and just makes Nimbus a cat's-paw to do his work. +I don't know much about him, though. He hardly ever talks with +anybody." + +"He seems a very remarkable man," said the officer. + +"Oh, he is," said the sheriff. "Even in slave times he was a very +influential man among the niggers, and since freedom he and Nimbus +together rule the whole settlement. I don't suppose there are ten +white men in the county who could control, square out and out, as +many votes as these two will have in hand when they once get to +voting." + +"Was he a slave? What is his history?" + +"I don't exactly know," answered the sheriff. "He is quite a young +man, and somehow I never happened to hear of him till some time +during the war. Then he was a sort of prophet among them, and while +he did a power of praying for you Yanks, he always counselled the +colored people to be civil and patient, and not try to run away or +go to cutting up, but just to wait till the end came. He was just +right, too, and his course quieted the white folks down here on the +river, where there was a big slave population, more than a little." + +"I should like to know more of him," said the chairman. + +"All right," said Gleason, looking around. "If Hesden Le Moyne +is here, I'll get him to tell you all about him, at noon. If he is +not here then, he will come in before night, I'm certain." + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A FRIENDLY PROLOGUE. + + +As they went from the place of registration to their dinner at the +hotel, the sheriff, walking beside the chairman, said: "I spoke +to Le Moyne about that negro fellow, Eliab Hill, and he says he's +very willing to tell you all he knows about him; but, as there are +some private matters connected with the story, he prefers to come +to your room after dinner, rather than speak of it more publicly." + +"I am sure I shall be much obliged to him if he will do so," said +Pardee. + +"You will find him one of the very finest men you ever met, I'm +thinking," continued Gleason. "His father, Casaubon Le Moyne, was +very much of a gentleman. He came from Virginia, and was akin +to the Le Moynes of South Carolina, one of the best of those old +French families that brag so much of their Huguenot blood. I never +believed in it myself, but they are a mighty elegant family; no +doubt of that. I've got the notion that they were not as well off +as they might be. Perhaps the family got too big for the estate. +That would happen with these old families, you know; but they were +as high-toned and honorable as if their fore-bears had been kings. +Not proud, I don't mean--not a bit of that--but high-spirited and +hot-tempered. + +"His mother was a Richards--Hester Richards--the daughter of old +man Jeems Richards. The family was a mighty rich one; used to own +all up and down the river on both sides, from Red Wing to Mulberry +Hill, where Hesden now lives. Richards had a big family of boys and +only one gal, who was the youngest. The boys was all rather tough +customers, I've heard say, taking after their father, who was about +as hard a man to get along with as was ever in this country. He +came from up North somewhere about 1790, when everybody thought this +pea-vine country was a sort of new Garden of Eden. He was a well +educated and capable man, but had a terrible temper. He let the +boys go to the devil their own way, just selling off a plantation +now and then and paying their debts. He had so much land that +it was a good thing for him to get rid of it. But he doted on the +gal, and sent her off to school and travelled with her and give her +every sort of advantage. She was a beauty, and as sweet and good +as she was pretty. How she come to marry Casaubon Le Moyne nobody +ever knew; but it's just my opinion that it was because they loved +each other, and nothing else. They certainly were the best matched +couple that I ever saw. They had but one child--this young man +Hesden. His mother was always an invalid after his birth; in fact +hasn't walked a step since that time. She was a very remarkable +woman. though, and in spite of her sickness took charge of her +son's education and fitted him for college all by herself. The +boy grew up sorter quiet like, probably on account of being in his +mother's sick room so much; but there wasn't anything soft about +him, after all. + +"The old man Casaubon was a Unioner--the strongest kind. Mighty few +of them in this county, which was one of the largest slave-holding +counties in the State. It never had anything but a big Democratic +majority in it, in the old times. I think the old man Le Moyne, run +for the Legislature here some seven times befo're he was elected, +and then it was only on his personal popularity. That was the only +time the county ever had a Whig representative even. When the war +came on, the old man was right down sick. I do believe he saw +the end from the beginning. I've heard him tell things almost to +a fraction jest as they came out afterward. Well, the young man +Hesden, he had his father's notions, of course, but he was pluck. +He couldn't have been a Le Moyne, or a Richards either, without +that. I remember, not long after the war begun--perhaps in the +second year, before the conscription came on, anyhow--he came into +town riding of a black colt that he had raised. I don't think it +had been backed more than a few times, and it was just as fine as +a fiddle. I've had some fine horses myself, and believe I know what +goes to make up a good nag, but I've never seen one that suited my +notion as well as that black. Le Moyne had taken a heap of pains +with him. A lot of folks gathered 'round and was admiring the +beast, and asking questions about his pedigree and the like, when +all at once a big, lubberly fellow named Timlow--Jay Timlow--said +it was a great pity that such a fine nag should belong to a Union +man an' a traitor to his country. You know, captain, that's what +we called Union men in them days. He hadn't more'n got the words +out of his mouth afore Hesden hit him. I'd no idea he could +strike such a blow. Timlow was forty pounds heavier than he, but +it staggered him back four or five steps, and Le Moyne follered +him up, hitting just about as fast as he could straighten his arm, +till he dropped. The queerest thing about it was that the horse +follered right along, and when Timlow come down with his face all +battered up, and Le Moyne wheeled about and started over to the +Court House, the horse kept on follerin' him up to the very steps. +Le Moyne went into the Court House and stayed about ten minutes. +Then he came out and walked straight across the square to where +the crowd was around Timlow, who had been washing the blood off +his face at the pump. Le Moyne was as white as a sheet, and Timlow +was jest a-cussing his level best about what he would do when he +sot eyes on him again. I thought there might be more trouble, and +I told Timlow to hush his mouth--I was a deputy then--and then I +told Le Moyne he mustn't come any nearer. He was only a few yards +away, with a paper in his hand, and that horse just behind him. He +stopped when I called him, and said: + +"'You needn't fear my coming for any further difficulty, gentlemen. +I merely want to say'--and he held up the paper--' that I have +enlisted in the army of the Confederate States, and taken this horse +to ride--given him to the Government. And I want to say further, +that if Jay Timlow wants to do any fighting, and will go and enlist, +I'll furnish him a horse, too.' + +"With that he jumped on his horse and rode away, followed by a +big cheer, while Jay Timlow stood on the pump platform sopping his +head with his handkerchief, his eyes as big as saucers, as they say, +from surprise. We were all surprised, for that matter. As soon as +we got over that a little we began to rally Timlow over the outcome of +his little fracas. There wasn't no such timber in him as in young +Le Moyne, of course--a big beefy fellow--but he couldn't stand +that, and almost before we had got well started he put on his hat, +looked round at the crowd a minute, and said, 'Damned if I don't do +it!' He marched straight over to the Court House and did it, too. + +"Le Moyne stood up to his bargain, and they both went out in the +same company a few days afterward. They became great friends, and +they do say the Confederacy had mighty few better soldiers than +those two boys. Le Moyne was offered promotion time and again, but +he wouldn't take it. He said he didn't like war, didn't believe +in it, and didn't want no responsibility only for himself. Just +about the last fighting they had over about Appomattox--perhaps +the very day before the Surrender--he lost that horse and his +left arm a-fighting over that same Jay Timlow, who had got a ball +in the leg, and Le Moyne was trying to keep him out of the hands +of you Yanks. + +"He got back after a while, and has been living with his mother on +the old plantation ever since. He married a cousin just before he +went into the service--more to have somebody to leave with his ma +than because he wanted a wife, folks said. The old man, Colonel +Casaubon, died during the war. He never seemed like himself after +the boy went into the army. I saw him once or twice, and I never +did see such a change in any man. Le Moyne's wife died, too. She +left a little boy, who with Le Moyne and his ma are all that's left +of the family. I don't reckon there ever was a man thought more +of his mother, or had a mother more worth setting store by, than +Hesden Le Moyne." They had reached the hotel when this account +was concluded, and after dinner the sheriff came to the captain's +room and introduced a slender young man in neatly fitting jeans, +with blue eyes, a dark brown beard, and an empty coat-sleeve, as +Mr. Hesden Le Moyne. + +He put his felt hat under the stump of his left arm and extended +his right hand as he said simply: + +"The sheriff said you wished to see me about Eliab Hill." + +"I did," was the response; "but after what he has told me, I desired +to see you much more for yourself." + +The sheriff withdrew, leaving them alone together, and they fell +to talking of army life at once, as old soldiers always will, each +trying to locate the other in the strife which they had passed +through on opposite sides. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A BRUISED REED. + + +"Eliab Hill," said Le Moyne, when they came at length to the subject +in relation to which the interview had been solicited, "was born +the slave of Potem Desmit, on his plantation Knapp-of-Reeds, in +the lower part of the county. His mother was a very likely woman, +considerable darker than he, but still not more than a quadroon, I +should say. She was brought from Colonel Desmit's home plantation +to Knapp-of-Reeds some little time before her child was born. It +was her first child, I believe, and her last one. She was a very +slender woman, and though not especially unhealthy, yet never +strong, being inclined to consumption, of which she finally died. +Of course his paternity is unknown, though rumor has not been silent +in regard to it. It is said that a stubborn refusal on his mother's +part to reveal it led Colonel Desmit, in one of his whimsical +moods, to give the boy the name he bears. However, he was as bright +a child as ever frolicked about a plantation till he was some +five or six years old. His mother had been a house-servant before +she was sent to Knapp-of-Reeds, and being really a supernumerary +there, my father hired her a year or two afterward as a nurse for +my mother, who has long been an invalid, as you may be aware." + +His listener nodded assent, and he went on: + +"Her child was left at Knapp-of-Reeds, but Saturday nights it +was brought over to stay the Sunday with her, usually by this boy +Nimbus, who was two or three years older than he. The first I remember +of his misfortune was one Saturday, when Nimbus brought him over +in a gunny-sack, on his back. It was not a great way, hardly half +a mile, but I remember thinking that it was a pretty smart tug for +the little black rascal. I was not more than a year or two older +than he, myself, and not nearly so strong. + +"It seems that something had happened to the boy, I never knew +exactly what--seems to me it was a cold resulting from some exposure, +which settled in his legs, as they say, producing rheumatism or +something of that kind--so that he could not walk or hardly stand +up. The boy Nimbus had almost the sole charge of him during the +week, and of course he lacked for intelligent treatment. In fact, +I doubt if Desmit's overseer knew anything about it until it +was too late to do any good. He was a bright, cheerful child, and +Nimbus was the same dogged, quiet thing he is now. So it went on, +until his mother, Moniloe, found that he had lost all use of his +legs. They were curled up at one side, as you saw them, and while +his body has developed well they have grown but little in comparison. + +"Moniloe made a great outcry over the child, to whom she was much +attached, and finally wrought upon my father and mother to buy +herself and her crippled boy. Colonel Desmit, on whom the burden +of his maintenance would fall, and who saw no method of making him +self-supporting, was willing to sell the mother on very moderate +terms if my father would take the child and guarantee his support. +This was done, and they both became my father's property. Neither +forgot to be grateful. The woman was my mother's faithful nurse +until after the war, when she died, and I have never been able to +fill her place completely, since. I think Eliab learned his letters, +and perhaps to read a little, from me. He was almost always in my +mother's room, being brought in and set down upon a sheepskin on +one side the fireplace in the morning by his mammy. My mother had +great sympathy with his misfortune, the more, I suppose, because +of her own very similar affliction. She used to teach him to sew +and knit, and finally, despite the law, began to encourage him to +read. The neighbors, coming in and finding him with a book in his +hands, began to complain of it, and my father, in order to silence +all such murmurs, manumitted him square out and gave bonds for his +support, as the law required. + +"As he grew older he remained more and more in his mother's cabin, +in one corner of which she had a little elevated platform made for +him. He could crawl around the room by means of his hands, and had +great skill in clambering about by their aid. When he was about +fifteen a shoemaker came to the house to do our plantation work. +Eliab watched him closely all the first day; on the second desired +to help, and before the month had passed was as good a shoemaker +as his teacher. From that time he worked steadily at the trade, +and managed very greatly to reduce the cost of his support. + +"He was a strange boy, and he and this fellow Nimbus were always +together except when prevented by the latter's tasks. A thousand +times I have known Nimbus to come over long after dark and leave +before daylight, in order to stay with his friend over night. Not +unfrequently he would carry him home upon his back and keep him for +several days at Knapp-of-Reeds, where both were prime favorites, as +they were with us also. As they grew older this attachment became +stronger. Many's the time I have passed there and seen Nimbus working +in the tobacco and Eliab with his hammers and lasts pounding away +under a tree near by. Having learned to read, the man was anxious +to know more. For a time he was indulged, but as the hot times just +preceding the war came on, it became indiscreet for him to be seen +with a book. + +"While he was still very young he began to preach, and his +ministrations were peculiarly prudent and sensible. His influence +with his people, even before emancipation, was very great, and +has been increased by his correct and manly conduct since. I regard +him, sir, as one of the most useful men in the community. + +"For some reason, I have never known exactly what, he became anxious +to leave my house soon after Nimbus' return from the army, although +I had offered him the free use of the little shop where he and his +mother had lived, as long as he desired. He and Nimbus, by some hook +or crook, managed to buy the place at Red Wing. It was a perfectly +barren piney old-field then, and not thought of any account except +for the timber there was on it. It happened to be at the crossing +of two roads, and upon a high sandy ridge, which was thought to be +too poor to raise peas on. The man who sold it to them--their old +master Potem Desmit--no doubt thought he was getting two or three +prices for it; but it has turned out one of the best tobacco +farms in the county. It is between two very rich sections, and in +a country having a very large colored population, perhaps the largest +in the county, working the river plantations on one side and the +creek bottoms on the other. I have heard that Nimbus takes great +credit to himself for his sagacity in foreseeing the capabilities +of Red Wing. If he really did detect its value at that time, it +shows a very fine judgment and accounts for his prosperity since. +Eliab Hill affirms this to be true, but most people think he does +the planning for the whole settlement. Nimbus has done extremely +well, however. He has sold off, I should judge, nearly half his +land, in small parcels, has worked hard, and had excellent crops. +I should not wonder, if his present crop comes off well and the +market holds on, if before Christmas he were worth as many thousands +as he had hundreds the day he bought that piney old-field. It +don't take much tobacco at a dollar a pound, which his last crop +brought, lugs and all, to make a man that does his own work and +works his own land right well off. He's had good luck, has worked +hard, and has either managed well or been well advised; it don't +matter which. + +"He has gathered a good crowd around him too, sober, hard-working +men; and most of them have done well too. So that it has become +quite a flourishing little settlement. I suppose there are some +fifty or sixty families live there. They have a church, which +they use for a school-house, and it is by a great deal the best +school-house in the county too. Of course they got' outside help, +some from the Bureau, I reckon, and more perhaps from some charitable +association. I should think the church or school-house must have +cost fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars. They have a splendid +school. Two ladies from the North are teaching there--real ladies, +I should judge, too." + +The listener smiled at this indorsement. + +"I see," said Le Moyne, "it amuses you that I should qualify my +words in that manner. It seems unneccessary to you." + +"Entirely so." + +"Well, it may be; but I assure you, sir, we find it hard to believe +that any one who will come down here and teach niggers is of very +much account at home." + +"They are generally of the very cream of our Northern life," +said the other. "I know at this very time the daughters of several +prominent clergymen, of two college professors, of a wealthy merchant, +of a leading manufacturer, and of several wealthy farmers, who are +teaching in these schools. It is missionary work, you see--just +as much as going to Siam or China. I have never known a more +accomplished, devoted, or thoroughly worthy class of ladies, and +do not doubt that these you speak of, well deserve your praise +without qualification." + +"Well, it may be," said the other dubiously; "but it is hard for +us to understand, you know. Now, they live in a little old house, +which they have fixed up with flowers and one thing and another +till it is very attractive--on the outside, at least. I know nothing +about the inside since their occupancy. It was a notable place in +the old time, but had quite run down before they came. I don't +suppose they see a white person once a month to speak to them, unless +indeed some of the officers come over from the post at Boyleston, +now and then. I am sure that no lady would think of visiting them +or admitting them to her house. I know a few gentlemen who have +visited the school just out of curiosity. Indeed, I have ridden +over once myself, and I must say it is well worth seeing. I should +say there were three or four hundred scholars, of all ages, sizes, +and colors--black, brown, white apparently, and all shades of what +we used to call 'ginger-cake.' These two ladies and the man Eliab +teach them. It is perfectly wonderful how they do get on. You ought +to see it." + +"I certainly shall," said Pardee, "as a special duty calls me there. +How would it do for a polling-place?" + +"There ought to be one there, but I should be afraid of trouble," +answered Le Moyne seriously. + +"Name me one or two good men for poll-holders, and I will risk any +disorder." + +"Well, there is Eliab. He's a good man if there ever was one, and +capable too." + +"How about Nimbus?" + +"He's a good man too, honest as the day is long, hard-headed and +determined, but he can't read or write." + +"That is strange." + +"It _is_ strange, but one of the teachers was telling me so +when I was there. I think he has got so that he can sign his first +name--his only one, he insists--but that is all, and he cannot read +a word." + +"I should have thought he would have been one of the first to learn +that much at least." + +"So should I. He is the best man of affairs among them all--has +good judgment and sense, and is always trying to do something to +get on. He says he is 'too busy to get larnin', an' leaves that +and preachin' to Bre'er' 'Liab.'" "Do they keep up their former +intimacy?" + +"Keep it up? 'Liab lives in Nimbus' lot, has his meals from his +table, and is toted about by Nimbus just the same as if they were +still boys. Nimbus seems to think more of him than he would of a +brother--than he does of his brothers, for he has two whom he seems +to care nothing about. His wife and children are just as devoted +to the cripple as Nimbus, and 'Liab, on his part, seems to think as +much of them as if they were his own. They get along first-rate, +and are prospering finely, but I am afraid they will have trouble +yet." + +"Why so?" + +"Oh, well, I don't know; they are niggers, you see, and our people +are not used to such things." + +"I hope your apprehensions are groundless." + +"Well, I hope so too." + +The officer looked at his watch and remarked that he must return +to his duty, and after thanking his companion for a pleasant hour, +and being invited to call at Mulberry Hill whenever occasion might +serve, the two men parted, each with pleasant impressions of the +other. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN EXPRESS TRUST. + + +Fortunately for Nimbus, he had received scarcely anything of his +pay while in the service, and none of the bounty-money due him, +until some months after the surrender, when he was discharged at +a post near his old home. On the next day it happened that there +was a sale of some of the transportation at this post, and through +the co-operation of one of his officers he was enabled to buy a +good mule with saddle and bridle for a song, and by means of these +reached home on the day after. He was so proud of his new acquisition +that he could not be induced to remain a single day with his former +comrades. He had hardly more than assured himself of the safety of +his wife and children before he went to visit his old friend and +playmate, Eliab Hill. He found that worthy in a state of great +depression. + +"You see," he explained to his friend, "Mister Le Moyne" (with a +slight emphasis on the title) "bery kindly offered me de use ob dis +cabin's long as I might want it, and has furnished me with nearly +all I have had since the S'rrender. While my mother lived and he +had her services and a well-stocked plantation and plenty ob hands, +I didn't hab no fear o' being a burden to him. I knew he would get +good pay fer my support, fer I did de shoemakin' fer his people, +and made a good many clo'es fer dem too. Thanks to Miss Hester's +care, I had learned to use my needle, as you know, an' could do +common tailorin' as well as shoemakin'. I got very little fer my +wuk but Confederate money and provisions, which my mother always +insisted that Mr. Le Moyne should have the benefit on, as he had +given me my freedom and was under bond for my support. + +"Since de S'rrender, t'ough dere is plenty ob wuk nobody has any +money. Mr. Le Moyne is just as bad off as anybody, an' has', to go +in debt fer his supplies. His slaves was freed, his wife is dead, +he has nobody to wait on Miss Hester, only as he hires a nuss; his +little boy is to take keer on, an' he with only one arm an' jest a +bare plantation with scarcely any stock left to him. It comes hard +fer me to eat his bread and owe him so much when I can't do nothin' +fer him in return. I know he don't mind it, an' b'lieve he would +feel hurt if he knew how I feel about it; but I can't help it, +Nimbus--I can't, no way." + +"Oh, yer mustn't feel that 'ere way, Bre'er 'Liab," said his friend. +"Co'se it's hard fer you jes now, an' may be a little rough on Marse +Moyne. But yer mus' member dat atter a little our folks 'll hev +money. White folks got ter have wuk done; nebber do it theirselves; +you know dat; an' ef we does it now we's boun' ter hev pay fer it. +An' when we gits money, you gits wuk. Jes' let Marse Moyne wait +till de crap comes off, an' den yer'll make it all squar wid him. +I tell yer what, 'Liab, it's gwine ter be great times fer us niggers, +now we's free. Yer sees dat mule out dar?" he asked, pointing to +a sleek bay animal which he had tied to the rack in front of the +house when he rode up. + +"Yes, o' course I do," said the other, with very little interest +in his voice. + +"Likely critter, ain't it?" asked Nimbus, with a peculiar tone. + +"Certain. Whose is it?" + +"Wal, now, dat's jes edzackly de question I wuz gwine ter ax of +you. Whose yer spose 'tis?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. One o' Mr. Ware's?" + +"I should tink not, honey; not edzackly now. Dat ar mule b'longs +ter _me_--Nimbus! D'yer h'yer dat, 'Liab?" + +"No! Yer don't tell me? Bless de Lord, Nimbus, yer's a fortunit +man. Yer fortin's made, Nimbus. All yer's got ter do is ter wuk fer +a livin' de rest of this year, an' then put in a crap of terbacker +next year, an' keep gwine on a wukkin' an' savin', an' yer fortin's +made. Ther ain't no reason why yer shouldn't be rich afore yer's +fifty. Bless the Lord, Nimbus, I'se that glad for you dat I can't +find no words fer it." + +The cripple stretched out both hands to his stalwart friend, and +the tears which ran down his cheeks attested the sincerity of his +words. Nimbus took his outstretched hands, held them in his own a +moment, then went to the door, looked carefully about, came back +again, and with some embarrassment said, + +"An' dat ain't all, Bre'er 'Liab. Jes' you look dar." + +As he spoke Nimbus took an envelope from the inside pocket of his +soldier jacket and laid it on the bench where the other sat. 'Liab +looked up in surprise, but in obedience to a gesture from Nimbus +opened it and counted the contents. + +"Mos' five hundred dollars!" he said at length, in amazement. "Dis +yours too, Bre'er Nimbus?" + +"Co'se it is. Didn't I tell yer dar wuz a good time comin'?" + +"Bre'er Nimbus," said Eliab solemnly, "you gib me your word you +git all dis money honestly?" + +"Co'se I did. Yer don't s'pose Nimbus am a-gwine ter turn thief at +dis day, does yer?" + +"How you get it?" asked Eliab sternly. + +"How I git it?" answered the other indignantly. "You see dem +clo'es? Hain't I been a-sojerin' nigh onter two year now? Hain't +I hed pay an' bounty, an' rations too? One time I wuz cut off from +de regiment, an' 'ported missin' nigh bout fo' months afo' I managed +ter git over ter Port R'yal an' 'port fer duty, an' dey gib me money +fer rations all dat time. Tell yer, 'Liab, it all counts up. I'se +spent a heap 'sides dat." + +Still Eliab looked incredulous. + +"You see dat _dis_charge?" said Nimbus, pulling the document +from his pocket. "You jes look at what de paymaster writ on dat, +ef yer don't b'lieve Nimbus hez hed any luck. 'Sides dat, I'se got +de dockyments h'yer ter show jes whar an' how I got dat mule." + +The care which had been exercised by his officer in providing +Nimbus with the written evidence of his ownership of the mule was +by no means needless. According to the common law, the possession +of personal property is _prima facie_ evidence of its ownership; +but in those early days, before the nation undertook to spread +the aegis of equality over him, such was not the rule in the case +of the freedman. Those first legislatures, elected only by the +high-minded land-owners of the South, who knew the African, his +needs and wants, as no one else could know them, and who have always +proclaimed themselves his truest friends, enacted with especial +care that he should not "hold nor own nor have any rights of property +in any horse, mule, hog, cow, steer, or other stock," unless the +same was attested by a bill of sale or other instrument of writing +executed by the former owner. It was well for Nimbus that he was +armed with his "dockyments." + +Eliab Hill took the papers handed him by Nimbus, and read, slowly +and with evident difficulty; but as he mastered line after line +the look of incredulity vanished, and a glow of solemn joy spread +over his face. It was the first positive testimony of actual +freedom--the first fruits of self-seeking, self-helping manhood +on the part of his race which had come into the secluded country +region and gladdened the heart of the stricken prophet and adviser. + +With a sudden jerk he threw himself off his low bench, and burying +his head upon it poured forth a prayer of gratitude for this evidence +of prayer fulfilled. His voice was full of tears, and when he said +"Amen," and Nimbus rose from his knees and put forth his hand to +help him as he scrambled upon his bench, the cripple caught the +hand and pressed it close, as he said: + +"Bress God, Nimbus, I'se seen de time often an' often 'nough when +I'se hed ter ax de Lor' ter keep me from a-envyin' an' grudgin' de +white folks all de good chances dey hed in dis world; but now I'se +got ter fight agin' covetin' anudder nigga's luck. Bress de Lor', +Nimbus, I'se gladder, I do b'lieve, fer what's come ter you dan yer +be yerself. It'll do you a power of good--you an' yours--but what +good wud it do if a poor crippled feller like me hed it? Not a +bit. Jes' git him bread an' meat, Nimbus, dat's all. Oh, de Lord +knows what he's 'bout, Nimbus. Mind you dat. He didn't give you +all dat money fer nothing, an' yer'll hev ter 'count fer it, dat +you will; mighty close too, 'kase he keeps his books right. Yer must +see ter dat, Bre'er Nimbus." The exhortation was earnestly given, +and was enforced with tears and soft strokings of the dark strong +hand which he still clasped in his soft and slender ones. + +"Now don't you go ter sayin' nuffin' o' dat kind, ole feller. I'se +been a-tinkin' ebber sence I got dat money dat it's jes ez much +'Liab's ez'tis mine. Ef it hadn't been fer you I'd nebber knowed +'nough ter go ober to de Yanks, when ole Mahs'r send me down ter +wuk on de fo'tifications, an' so I neber git it at all. So now, +yer see, Bre'er 'Liab, _you's_ gwine ter keep dat 'ere money. +I don't feel half safe wid it nohow, till we find out jes what +we wants ter do wid it. I 'lows dat we'd better buy a plantation +somewheres. Den I kin wuk it, yer know, an' you kin hev a shop, +an' so we kin go cahoots, an' git along right smart. Yer see, ef +we do dat, we allers hez a livin', anyhow, an' der ain't no such +thing ez spendin' an' losin' what we've got." + +There was great demurrer on the part of the afflicted friend, but +he finally consented to become his old crony's banker. He insisted, +however, on giving him a very formal and peculiarly worded receipt +for the money and papers which he received from him. Considering +that they had to learn the very rudiments of business, Eliab Hill +was altogether right in insisting upon a scrupulous observance of +what he deemed "the form of sound words." + +In speaking of the son of his former owner as "Mister," Eliab Hill +meant to display nothing of arrogance or disrespect. The titles +"Master" and "Missus," were the badges of slavery and inferiority. +Against their use the mind of the freedman rebelled as instinctively +as the dominant race insisted on its continuance. The "Black +Codes" of 1865, the only legislative acts of the South since the +war which were not affected in any way by national power or Northern +sentiment, made it incumbent on the freedman, whom it sought to +continue in serfdom, to use this form of address, and denounced +its neglect as disrespectful to the "Master" or "Mistress." When +these laws ceased to be operative, the custom of the white race +generally was still to demand the observance of the form, and this +demand tended to embitter the dislike of the freedmen for it. At +first, almost the entire race refused. After a while the habit of +generations began to assert itself. While the more intelligent and +better educated of the original stock discarded its use entirely, +the others, and the children who had grown up since emancipation, +came to use it almost interchangeably with the ordinary form of +address. Thus Eliab Hill, always nervously alive to the fact of +freedom, never allowed the words to pass his lips after the Surrender, +except when talking with Mrs. Le Moyne, to whose kindness he owed +so much-in early years. On the other hand, Nimbus, with an equal +aversion to everything connected with slavery, but without the +same mental activity, sometimes dropped into the old familiar habit. +He would have died rather than use the word at another's dictation +or as a badge of inferiority, but the habit was too strong for one +of his grade of intellect to break away from at once. Since the +success of the old slaveholding element of the South in subverting +the governments based on the equality of political right and power, +this form of address has become again almost universal except in +the cities and large towns. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +RED WING. + + +Situated on the sandy, undulating chain of low, wooded hills +which separated the waters of two tributaries of the Roanoke, at +the point where the "big road" from the West crossed the country +road which ran northward along the crest of the ridge, as if in +search of dry footing between the rich valleys on either hand, was +the place known as Red Wing. The "big road" had been a thoroughfare +from the West in the old days before steam diverted the ways of +traffic from the trails which the wild beasts had pursued. It led +through the mountain gaps, by devious ways but by easy grades, +along the banks of the water-courses and across the shallowest +fords down to the rich lowlands of the East. It was said that the +buffalo, in forgotten ages, had marked out this way to the ever-verdant +reed-pastures of the then unwooded East; that afterward the Indians +had followed his lead, and, as the season served, had fished upon +the waters of Currituck or hunted amid the romantic ruggedness +of the Blue Appalachians. It was known that the earlier settlers +along the Smoky Range and on the Piedmont foot-hills had used this +thoroughfare to take the stock and produce of their farms down to +the great plantations of the East, where cotton was king, and to +the turpentine orchards of the South Atlantic shore line. + +At the crossing of these roads was situated a single house, which +had been known for generations, far and near, as the Red Wing +Ordinary. In the old colonial days it had no doubt been a house +of entertainment for man and beast. Tradition, very well based and +universally accepted, declared that along these roads had marched +and countermarched the hostile forces of the Revolutionary period. +Greene and Cornwallis had dragged their weary columns over the +tenacious clay of this region, past the very door of the low-eaved +house, built up of heavy logs at first and covered afterward with +fat-pine siding, which had itself grown brown and dark with age. +It was said that the British regulars had stacked their arms around +the trunk of the monster white-oak that stretched its great arms +out over the low dark house, which seemed to be creeping nearer +and nearer to its mighty trunk for protection, until of late years +the spreading branches had dropped their store of glossy acorns and +embossed cups even on the farther slope of its mossy roof, a good +twenty yards away from the scarred and rugged bole. "Two decks +and a passage"--two moderate-sized rooms with a wide open pass-way +between, and a low dark porch running along the front--constituted +all that was left of a once well-known place of public refreshment. +At each end a stone chimney, yellowish gray and of a massiveness +now wonderful to behold, rose above the gable like a shattered tower +above the salient of some old fortress. The windows still retained +the little square panes and curious glazing of a century ago. Below +it, fifty yards away to the eastward, a bold spring burst out of +the granite rock, spread deep and still and cool over its white +sandy bottom, in the stone-walled inclosure where it was confined +(over half of which stood the ample milk-house), and then gurgling +along the stony outlet ran away over the ripple-marked sands of +its worn channel, to join the waters of the creek a mile away. + +It was said that in the olden time there had been sheds and out-buildings, +and perhaps some tributary houses for the use of lodgers, all of +which belonged to and constituted a part of the Ordinary. Two things +had deprived it of its former glory. The mart-way had changed even +before the iron horse charged across the old routes, scorning their +pretty curves and dashing in an almost direct line from mountain +to sea. Increasing population had opened new routes, which diverted +the traffic and were preferred to the old way by travelers. Besides +this, there had been a feud between the owner of the Ordinary and +the rich proprietor whose outspread acres encircled on every side +the few thin roods which were attached to the hostel, and when the +owner thereof died and the property, in the course of administration, +was put upon the market, the rich neighbor bought it, despoiled +it of all its accessories, and left only the one building of two +rooms below and two above, a kitchen and a log stable, with crib +attached, upon the site of the Ordinary which had vexed him so +long. The others were all cleared away, and even the little opening +around the Ordinary was turned out to grow up in pines and black-jacks, +all but an acre or two of garden-plot behind the house. The sign +was removed, and the overseer of Colonel Walter Greer, the new +owner, was installed in the house, which thenceforth lost entirely +its character as an inn. + +In the old days, before the use of artificial heat in the curing +of tobacco, the heavy, coarse fibre which grew upon rich, loamy +bottom lands or on dark clayey hillsides was chiefly prized by the +grower and purchaser of that staple. The light sandy uplands, thin +and gray, bearing only stunted pines or a light growth of chestnut +and clustering chinquapins, interspersed with sour-wood, while +here and there a dogwood or a white-coated, white-hearted hickory +grew, stubborn and lone, were not at all valued as tobacco lands. +The light silky variety of that staple was entirely unknown, and +even after its discovery was for a longtime unprized, and its habitat +and peculiar characteristics little understood. It is only since +the war of Rebellion that its excellence has been fully appreciated +and its superiority established. The timber on this land was of no +value except as wood and for house-logs. Of the standard timber +tree of the region, the oak, there was barely enough to fence it, +should that ever be thought desirable. Corn, the great staple of +the region next to tobacco, could hardly be "hired" to grow upon +the "droughty" soil of the ridge, and its yield of the smaller +grains, though much better, was not sufficient to tempt the owner +of the rich lands adjacent to undertake its cultivation. This land +itself, he thought, was only good "to hold the world together" or +make a "wet-weather road" between the rich tracts on either hand. +Indeed, it was a common saying in that region that it was "too poor +even to raise a disturbance upon." + +To the westward of the road running north and south there had once +been an open field of some thirty or forty acres, where the wagoners +were wont to camp and the drovers to picket their stock in the +halcyon days of the old hostelry. It had been the muster-ground +of the militia too, and there were men yet alive, at the time of +which we write, whose fathers had mustered with the county forces +on that ground. When it was "turned out," however, and the Ordinary +ceased to be a place of entertainment, the pines shot up, almost +as thick as grass-blades in a meadow, over its whole expanse. It +is strange how they came there. Only black-jacks and the lighter +decidua which cover such sandy ridges had grown there before, but +after these were cleared away by the hand of man and the plow for +a few years had tickled the thin soil, when nature again resumed +her sway, she sent a countless army of evergreens, of mysterious +origin, to take and hold this desecrated portion of her domain. They +sprang up between the corn-rows before the stalks had disappeared +from sight; they shot through the charred embers of the deserted +camp-fire; everywhere, under the shade of each deciduous bush, +protected by the shadow of the rank weeds which sprang up where +the stock had fed, the young pines grew, and protected others, and +shot slimly up, until their dense growth shut out the sunlight and +choked the lately protecting shrubbery. Then they grew larger, and +the weaker ones were overtopped by the stronger and shut out from +the sunlight and starved to death, and their mouldering fragments +mingled with the carpet of cones and needles which became thicker +and thicker under their shade, until at the beginning of the war a +solid, dark mass of pines fit for house-logs, and many even larger, +stood upon the old muster-field, and constituted the chief value +of the tract of two hundred acres which lay along the west side +of the plantation of which it formed a part. It was this tract +that Nimbus selected as the most advantageous location for himself +and his friend which he could find in that region. He rightly +judged that the general estimate of its poverty would incline the +owner to part with a considerable tract at a very moderate price, +especially if he were in need of ready money, as Colonel Desmit +was then reputed to be, on account of the losses he had sustained +by the results of the war. His own idea of its value differed +materially from this, and he was thoroughly convinced that, in the +near future, it would be justified. He was cautious about stating +the grounds of this belief even to Eliab, having the natural fear +of one unaccustomed to business that some other person would get +wind of his idea and step into his Bethesda while he, himself, +waited for the troubling of the waters. + +He felt himself quite incompetent to conduct the purchase, even +with Eliab's assistance, and in casting about for some white man +whom they could trust to act as their agent, they could think of +no one but Hesden Le Moyne. It was agreed, therefore, that Eliab +should broach the matter to him, but he was expressly cautioned +by Nimbus to give him no hint of the particular reasons which led +them to prefer this particular tract or of their means of payment, +until he had thoroughly sounded him in regard to the plan itself. +This Eliab did, and that gentleman, while approving the plan of +buying a plantation, if they were able, utterly condemned the idea +of purchasing a tract so notoriously worthless, and refused to have +anything to do with so wild a scheme. Eliab, greatly discouraged, +reported this fact to his friend and urged the abandonment of the +plan. Nimbus, however, was stubborn and declared that "if Marse +Hesden would not act for him he would go to Louisburg and buy it +of Marse Desmit himself." + +"Dar ain't no use o' talkin', 'Liab," said he. "You an' Marse +Hesden knows a heap more'n I does 'bout most things; dar ain't no +doubt 'bout dat 'an nobody knows it better'n I does. But what Nimbus +knows, he _knows_, an' dat's de eend on't. Nobody don't know +it any better. Now, I don't know nuffin' 'bout books an' de scripter +an' sech-like, only what I gits second-hand--no more'n you does +'bout sojerin', fer instance. But I tell ye what, 'Liab, I does +know 'bout terbacker, an' I knows _all_ about it, too. I kin +jes' gib you an' Marse Hesden, an' aheap mo' jes like you uns, +odds on dat, an' beat ye all holler ebbery time. What I don't know +'bout dat ar' crap dar ain't no sort ob use a tryin' to tell me. +I got what I knows de reg'lar ole-fashioned way, like small-pox, +jes by 'sposure, an' I tell yer 'Liab, hit beats any sort ob +'noculation all ter rags. Now, I tell _you_, 'Liab Hill, dat +ar' trac' ob lan' 'bout dat ole Or'nery is jes' de berry place we +wants, an' I'm boun' ter hev it, ef it takes a leg. Now you heah +dat, don't yer?" + +Eliab saw that it was useless for him to combat this determination. +He knew the ruggedness of his friend's character and had long ago +learned, that he could only be turned from a course, once fixed +upon in his own mind, by presenting some view of the matter which +had not occurred to him before. He had great confidence in Mr. +Le Moyne's judgment--almost as much as in Nimbus', despite his +admiration for his herculean comrade--so he induced his friend to +promise that nothing more should be done about the matter until he +could have an opportunity to examine the premises, with which he +was not as familiar as he would like to be, before it was altogether +decided. To this Nimbus readily consented, and soon afterwards +he borrowed a wagon and took Eliab, one pleasant day in the early +fall, to spy out their new Canaan. When they had driven around +and seen as much of it as they could well examine from the vehicle, +Nimbus drove to a point on the east-and-west road just opposite +the western part of the pine growth, where a sandy hill sloped +gradually to the northward and a little spring burst out of it and +trickled across the road. + +"Dar," he said, waving his hand toward the slope; "dar is whar +I wants my house, right 'longside ob dat ar spring, wid a good +terbacker barn up on de hill dar." + +"Why, what do yer want ter lib dar fer?" asked the other in +surprise, as he peered over the side of the wagon, in which he sat +upon a thick bed of fodder which Nimbus had spread over the bottom +for his comfort. + +"Kase dat ar side-hill am twenty-five acres ob de best terbacker +groun' in Ho'sford County." + +"Yer don't say so, Nimbus?" + +"Dat's jes what I do say, 'Liab, an' dat's de main reason what's +made me so stubborn 'bout buyin' dis berry track of lan'. Pears ter +me it's jes made fer us. It's all good terbacker lan', most on't +de berry best. It's easy clar'd off an' easy wukked. De 'backer +growed on dis yer lan' an' cured wid coal made outen dem ar pines +will be jes es yaller ez gold an' as fine ez silk, 'Liab. I knows; +I'se been a watchin' right smart, an' long ago, when I used ter +pass by here, when dey fust begun ter vally de yaller terbacker, I +used ter wonder dat some pore white man like Marse War', dat knowed +how ter raise an' cure terbacker, didn't buy de ole place an' wuk +for demselves, 'stead ob overseein' fer somebody else. It's quar +dey nebber t'ought on't. It allers seemed ter me dat I wouldn't ax +fer nothin' better." + +"But what yer gwine ter do wid de ole house?" asked Eliab. + +"Wal, Bre'er Liab," said Nimbus with a queer grimace, "I kinder +'llowed dat I'd ler you hab dat ar ter do wid jes 'bout ez yer +like." + +"Oh, Bre'er Nimbus, yer don't mean dat now?" + +"Don't I? wal, you jes see ef I don't. I'se gwine ter lib right +h'yer, an' ef yer don't occupy dat ole Red Wing Or'nery I'm durned +ef it don't rot down. Yer heah dat man? Dar don't nobody else lib +in it, shuah." + +Eliab was very thoughtful and silent, listening to Nimbus' comments +and plans until finally, as they sat on the porch of the old house +eating their "snack," he said, + +"Nimbus, dar's a heap ob cullud folks libbin' jes one way an' +anudder from dis yer Red Wing cross-roads." + +"Co'se dey is, an' dat's de berry reason I'se sot my heart on yer +habbin' a shop right h'yer. Yer shore ter git de wuk ob de whole +country roun', an' der's mo' cullud folks right up an' down de +creek an' de ribber h'yer dan ennywhar hereabouts dat I knows on." + +"But, Nimbus--" said he, hesitatingly. + +"Yis, 'Liab, I hears ye." + +"Couldn't we hab a church here?" + +"Now yer's _talkin'_," exclaimed Nimbus. "Swar ter God, it's +quare I nebber tink ob dat, now. An' you de minister? Now yer +_is_ talkin', shuah! Why de debble I nebber tink ob dat afo'? +Yer see dem big pines dar, straight ez a arrer an' nigh 'bout +de same size from top ter bottom? What yer s'pose dem fer, 'Liab? +Dunno? I should tink not. House logs fer de church, 'Liab. Make +it jes ez big ez yer wants. Dar 'tis. Only gib me some few shingles +an' a flo', an' dar yer hev jes ez good a church ez de 'postles +ebber hed ter preach in." + +"An' de school, Nimbus?" timidly. + +"Shuah 'nough. Why I nebber tink ob dat afo'? An' you de teacher! +Now you is talkin', 'Liab, _certain_ shuah! Dat's jes de +ting, jes what we wants an' hez got ter hev. Plenty o' scholars +h'yer-abouts, an' de church fer a school-house an' Bre'er 'Liab +fer de teacher! 'Clar fer it, Bre'er'Liab, you hez got ahead-piece, +dat's a fac'. Now I nebber tink of all dat togedder. Mout hev +come bimeby, little to a time, but not all to wonst like, as 'tis +wid you. Lord, how plain I sees it all now! De church an' school-house +up dar on de knoll; Nimbus' house jes about a hundred yards furder +on, 'cross de road; an' on de side ob de hill de 'backer-barn; you +a teachin' an' a preachin' an' Nimbus makin' terbacker, an' Gena +a-takin' comfort on de porch, an' de young uns gittin' larnin'! +Wh-o-o-p! Bre'er 'Liab, yer's a great man, shuah!" + +Nimbus caught him in his strong arms and whirled him about in a +frenzy of joy. When he sat him down Eliab said quietly: + +"We must get somebody else to teach for a while. 'Liab don't know +'nough ter do dat ar. I'll go to school wid de chillen an' learn +'nough ter do it bimeby. P'raps dis what dey call de 'Bureau' mout +start a school here ef you should ax 'em, Nimbus. Yer know dey'd +be mighty willin' ter 'blige a soldier, who'd been a fightin' fer +'em, ez you hev." + +"I don't a know about dat ar, Bre'er'Liab, but leastaways we can't +do no more'n make de trial, anyhow." + +After this visit, Eliab withdrew all opposition, not without doubt, +but hoping for the best, and trusting, prayerfully, that his friend's +sanguine expectations might be justified by the result. So it was +determined that Nimbus should make the purchase, if possible, and +that the old Ordinary, which had been abandoned as a hostel on +the highway to the Eastern market, be made a New Inn upon the road +which the Freedman must now take, and which should lead to liberty +and light. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ON THE WAY TO JERICHO. + + +Colonel Desmit's devotion to the idea that slave property was more +profitable than any other, and the system by which he had counted +on almost limitless gain thereby, was not only overthrown by the +universal emancipation which attended the issue of the war, but +certain unlocked for contingencies placed him upon the very verge +of bankruptcy. The location of his interests in different places, +which he had been accustomed, during the struggle, to look upon +as a most fortunate prevision, resulted most disastrously. As the +war progressed, it came about that those regions which were at +first generally regarded as the most secure from hostile invasion +became the scene of the most devastating operations. + +The military foresight of the Confederate leaders long before led +them to believe that the struggle would be concluded, or would +at least reach its climax, in the Piedmont region. From the coast +to the mountains the Confederacy spanned, at this point, only two +hundred miles. The country was open, accessible from three points +upon the coast, at which lodgment was early made or might have been +obtained, and only one flank of the forces marching thence toward +the heart of the Confederacy could be assailed. It was early +apprehended by them that armies marching from the coast of North +Carolina, one column along the course of the Cape Fear and another +from Newberne, within fair supporting distance and converging +toward the center of the State, would constitute the most dangerous +movement that could be made against the Confederacy, since it would +cut it in twain if successful; and, in order to defeat it, the Army +of Virginia would have to be withdrawn from its field of operations +and a force advancing in its track from the James would be enabled +to co-operate with the columns previously mentioned. It is +instructive to note that, upon the other side, the untrained instinct +of President Lincoln was always turning in the same direction. +In perusing the field of operations his finger would always stray +to the eastern coast of North Carolina as the vital point, and +no persuasions could induce him to give up the apparently useless +foothold which we kept there for more than three years without +material advantage. It was a matter of constant surprise to the +Confederate military authorities that this course was not adopted, +and the final result showed the wisdom of their premonition. + +Among others, Colonel Desmit had obtained an inkling of this idea, +and instead of concentrating all his destructible property in +the region of his home, where, as it resulted, it would have been +comparatively secure, he pitched upon the "piney-woods" region to +the south-eastward, as the place of greatest safety. + +He had rightly estimated that cotton and naval stores would, on +account of the rigorous blockade and their limited production in +other countries, be the most valuable products to hold when the +period of war should end. With these ideas he had invested largely +in both, and in and about a great factory at the falls of a chief +tributary of the Pedee, he had stored his cotton; and in the heart +of that sombre-shadowed stretch of soughing pines which lies between +the Cape Fear and the Yadkin he had hidden his vast accumulation +of pitch, turpentine, and resin. Both were in the very track of +Sherman's ruthless legions. First the factory and the thousands of +bales carefully placed in store near by were given to the flames. +Potestatem Desmit had heard of their danger, and had ridden post-haste +across the rugged region to the northward in the vain hope that +his presence might somehow avert disaster. From the top of a rocky +mountain twenty miles away he had witnessed the conflagration, and +needed not to be told of his loss. Turning his horse's head to the +eastward, at a country-crossing near at hand, he struck out with +unabated resolution to reach the depot of his naval stores before +the arrival of the troops, in order that he might interpose for their +preservation. He had quite determined to risk the consequences of +capture in their behalf, being now fully convinced of the downfall +of the Confederacy. + +During the ensuing night he arrived at his destination, where he +found everything in confusion and affright. It was a vast collection +of most valuable stores. For two years they had been accumulating. +It was one of the sheet-anchors which the prudent and far-seeing +Potestatem Desmit had thrown out to windward in anticipation of a +coming storm. For half a mile along the bank of the little stream +which was just wide enough to float a loaded batteau, the barrels +of resin and pitch and turpentine were piled, tier upon tier, +hundreds and thousands upon thousands of them. Potestatem Desmit +looked at them and shuddered at the desolation which a single +torch would produce in an instant. He felt that the chances were +desperate, and he had half a mind to apply the torch himself and +at least deprive the approaching horde of the savage pleasure of +destroying his substance. But he had great confidence in himself, +his own powers of persuasion and diplomacy. He would try them once +more, and would not fail to make them serve for all they might be +worth, to save this hoarded treasure. + +It was barely daylight the next morning when he was awakened by the +cry, "The Yanks are coming!" He had but a moment to question the +frightened messenger, who pressed on, terror-stricken, in the very +road which he might have known would be the path of the advancing +enemy, instead of riding two miles into the heart of the boundless +pine forest which stretched on either hand, where he would have +been as safe from capture as if he had been in the center of the +pyramid of Cheops. + +Potestatem Desmit had his carriage geared up, and went coolly forth +to meet the invaders. He had heard much of their savage ferocity, +and was by no means ignorant of the danger which he ran in thus going +voluntarily into their clutches. Nevertheless he did not falter. +He had great reliance in his personal presence. So he dressed with +care, and arrayed in clean linen and a suit of the finest broadcloth, +then exceedingly rare in the Confederacy, and with his snowy hair +and beard, his high hat, his hands crossed over a gold-headed +cane, and gold-mounted glasses upon his nose, he set out upon his +mission. The night before he had prudently removed from the place +every drop of spirits except a small demi-john of old peach-brandy, +which he put under the seat of his carriage, intending therewith to +regale the highest official whom he should succeed in approaching, +even though it should be the dreaded Sherman himself. + +He had proceeded perhaps half a mile, when his carriage was all at +once surrounded by a motley crew of curiously dressed but well-armed +ruffians, whose very appearance disgusted and alarmed him. With oaths +and threats the lumbering chariot, which represented in itself no +little of respectability, was stopped. The appearance of such a +vehicle upon the sandy road of the pine woods coming directly toward +the advancing column struck the "bummers" with surprise. They made +a thousand inquiries of the frightened driver, and were about to +remove and appropriate the sleek span of carriage-horses when the +occupant of the carriage, opening the window, thrust out his head, +and with a face flaming with indignation ordered them to desist, +bestowing upon them a volley of epithets, beginning with "rascals" +and running as far into the language of abuse as his somewhat heated +imagination could carry him. + +"Hello, Bill," said the bummer who was unfastening the right-wheeler, +as he looked back and saw the red face framed in a circlet of +white hair and beard. "Just look at this old sunflower, will you? +I guess the old bird must think he commands this brigade. Ha! ha! +ha! I say, old fellow, when did you leave the ark?" + +"And was Noah and his family well when you bid 'em good-by?" queried +another. + +This levity and ridicule were too much for Colonel P. Desmit +to endure. He leaned out of the carriage window, and shaking his +gold-headed cane at the mirthful marauders denounced them in language +fearful in its impotent wrath. + +"Take me to General Sherman, you rascals! I want to see the general!" +he yelled over and over again. + +"The hell you do! Well, now, mister, don't you know that the General +is too nervous to see company to-day? He's just sent us on ahead +a bit to say to strangers that he's compelled to refuse all visitors +to-day. He gits that way sometimes, does 'Old Bill,' so ye mustn't +think hard of him, at all." + +"Take me to the general, you plundering pirates!" vociferated the +enraged Colonel. "I'll see if a country gentleman travelling in his +own carriage along the highway is to be robbed and abused in this +manner!" "Robbed, did he say?" queried one, with the unmistakable +brogue of an Irishman. "Faith, it must be the gintleman has somethin' +very important along wid him in the carriage, that he's gittin' so +excited about; and its meself that'll not see the gintleman imposed +upon, sure." This with a wink at his comrades. Then to the occupant +of the carriage: "What did yer honor say might be yer name, now? +It's very partickler the General is about insthructin' us ter ax +the names of thim that's wantin' an' inthroduction to him, ye know?" + +The solemnity of this address half deceived the irate Southron, +and he answered with dignity, "Desmit--Colonel Potestatem Desmit, +of Horsford County, sir." + +"Ah, d'ye hear that, b'ys? Faith, it's a kurnel it is ye've been +a shtoppin' here upon the highway! Shure it may be he's a goin' to +the Gineral wid a flag of thruce, belike." + +"I do wish to treat with the General," said Desmit, thinking he +saw a chance to put in a favorable word. + +"An' d'ye hear that, b'ys? Shure the gintleman wants to thrate the +Gineral. Faith it'll be right glad the auld b'y'll be of a dhrap +of somethin' good down here in the pine woods." + +"Can I see the General, gentlemen?" asked Desmit, with a growing +feeling that he had taken the wrong course to accomplish his end. +The crowd of "bummers" constantly grew larger. They were mounted +upon horses and mules, jacks and jennets, and one of them had put +a "McClellan saddle" and a gag-bit upon one of the black polled cattle +which abound in that region, and which ambled easily and briskly +along with his rider's feet just brushing the low "poverty-pines" +which grew by the roadside. They wore all sorts of clothing. The +blue and the gray were already peacefully intermixed in the garments +of most of them. The most grotesque variety prevailed especially +in their head-gear, which culminated in the case of one who wore a +long, barrel-shaped, slatted sun-bonnet made out of spotted calico. +They were boisterous and even amusing, had they not been well +armed and apparently without fear or reverence for any authority or +individual. For the present, the Irishman was evidently in command, +by virtue of his witty tongue. + +"Can ye see the Gineral, Kurnel?" said he, with the utmost apparent +deference; "av coorse ye can, sir, only it'll be necessary for you +to lave your carriage an' the horses and the nagur here in the care +of these gintlemen, while I takes ye to the Gineral mesilf." + +"Why can I not drive on?" + +"Why can't ye dhrive? Is it a Kurnel ye is, an' don't know that? +Shure the cavalry an' the arthillery an' the caysons an' one thing +an' another of that kind would soon crush a chayriot like that to +flinders, ye know." + +"I cannot leave my carriage," said Desmit. + +"Mein Gott, shust hear him now I" said a voice on the other side, +which caused Desmit to turn with a start. A bearded German, with a +pair of myoptic glasses adding their glare to the peculiar intensity +of the short-sighted gaze, had climbed upon the opposite wheel +during his conversation with Pat, and leaning half through the +window was scanning carefully the inside of the carriage. He had +already one hand on the demijohn of peach-brandy upon which the +owner's hopes so much depended. Potetsatem Desmit was no coward, +and his gold-headed cane made the acquaintance of the Dutchman's +poll before he had time to utter a word of protestation. + +It was all over in a minute, then. There was a rush and a scramble. +The old man was dragged out of his carriage, fighting manfully +but vainly. Twenty hands laid hold upon him. The gold-headed cane +vanished; the gold-mounted glasses disappeared; his watch leaped +from his pocket, and the chain was soon dangling at the fob of one +of the still laughing marauders. Then one insisted that his hat +was unbecoming for a colonel, and a battered and dirty infantry +cap with a half-obliterated corps badge and regimental number was +jammed down on his gray hairs; he was required to remove his coat, +and then another took a fancy to his vest. The one who took his +coat gave him in exchange a very ragged, greasy, and altogether +disgusting cavalry jacket, much too short, and not large enough to +button. The carriage was almost torn in pieces in the search for +treasure. Swords and bayonets were thrust through the panelling; the +cushions were ripped open, the cover torn off, and every possible +hiding-place examined. Then thinking it must be about his person, +they compelled him to take off his boots and stockings. In their +stead a pair of almost soleless shoes were thrown him by one who +appropriated the boots. + +Meantime the Irishman had distributed the contents of the demijohn, +after having filled his own canteen. Then there was great hilarity. +The taste of the "colonel" was loudly applauded; his health was +drunk, and it was finally decided to move on with him in charge. +The "bummer" who rode the polled ox had, in the mean time, shifted +his saddle to one of the carriage-horses, and kindly offered the +steer to the "colonel." One who had come upon foot had already +mounted the other horse. The driver performed a last service for +his master, now pale, trembling, and tearful at the insults and +atrocities he was called on to undergo, by spreading one of the carriage +cushions over the animal's back and helping the queerly-habited +potentate to mount his insignificant steed. It was better than +marching through the hot sand on foot, however. + +When they reached the little hamlet which had grown up around his +collection of turpentine distilleries they saw a strange sight. +The road which bore still further to the southward was full of +blue-coated soldiers, who marched along with the peculiar swinging +gait which marked the army that "went down to the sea." Beyond the +low bridge, under a clump of pines which had been spared for shade, +stood a group of horsemen, one of whom read a slip of paper, or +rather shouted its contents to the soldiery as they passed, while +he flourished the paper above his head. Instantly the column was +in an uproar. Caps were thrown into the air, voices grew hoarse +with shouting; frantic gesticulation, tearful eyes and laughter, +yells, inane antics, queer combinations of sacrilegious oaths and +absurd embraces were everywhere to be seen and heard. + +"Who is that?" asked Desmit of the Irishman, near whom he had kept, +pointing to the leading man of the group under the tree. + +"Faith, Kurnel, that is Gineral-----. Would ye like an inthroduction, +Kurnel?" + +"Yes, yes," said Desmit impatiently. + +"Thin come wid me. Shure I'll give ye one, an' tell him ye sint +him a dhrink of auld pache to cilebrate the good news with. Come +along, thin!" + +Just as they stepped upon the bridge Desmit heard a lank Hoosier +ask, + +"What is in them bar'ls?" + +And some one answered, + +"Turpentine." + +"Hooray!" said the first. "A bonfire!" "Hurry! hurry!" Desmit +cried to his guide. + +"Come on thin, auld gintleman. It's mesilf that'll not go back on +a man that furnishes a good dhram for so joyful an occasion." + +They dismounted, and, pressing their way through the surging mass +on the bridge, approached the group under the pines. + +"Gineral," said the Irishman, taking off the silk hat which Desmit +had worn and waving it in the air; "Gineral, I have the honor +to inthroduce to ye anl auld gintleman--one av the vera furst +families--that's come out to mate ye, an' begs that ye'll taste jest +a dhrap av the finest auld pache that ivver ran over yer tongue, +jist ter cilebrate this vera joyful occasion," + +He waved his hat toward Desmit, and handed up his canteen at once. +The act was full of the audacity of his race, but the news had +overthrown all sense of discipline. The officer even lifted the +canteen to his lips, and no doubt finding Pat's assertion as to its +quality to be true allowed a reasonable quantity of its aromatic +contents to glide down his throat, and then handed it to one of +his companions. + +"General! General!" shrieked Desmit in desperation, as he rushed +forward. + +"What do you want, sir?" said the officer sternly. + +There was a rush, a crackle, and a still louder shout. + +Both turned and saw a tongue of red flame with a black, sooty tip +leap suddenly skyward. The great mass of naval stores was fired, +and no power on earth could save a barrel of them now. Desmit +staggered to the nearest tree, and faint and trembling watched the +flame. How it raged! How the barrels burst and the liquid flame +poured over the ground and into the river! Still it burned! The whole +earth seemed aflame! How the black billows of heavy smoke poured +upward, hiding the day! The wind shifted and swept the smoke-wave +over above the crowding, hustling, shouting column. It began to rain, +but under the mass of heavy smoke the group at the pines stood dry. + +And still, out of the two openings in the dark pines upon the +other side of the stream, poured the two blue-clad, steel-crowned +columns! Still the staff officer shouted the glad tidings, +"_Lee--surrendered--unconditionally_.'" Still waved aloft the +dispatch! Still the boundless forests rang with shouts! Still the +fierce flame raged, and from the column which had gone into the +forest beyond came back the solemn chant, which sounded at that +moment like the fateful voice of an avenging angel; + +"John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave; His soul is +marching on!" + +One who looked upon the scene thinks of it always when he reads of +the last great day--the boundless flame--the fervent heat--the +shouts--the thousands like the sands of the sea--all are not to be +forgotten until the likeness merges into the dread reality! + +The Irishman touched Desmit as he leaned against the pine. + +"War that yours, misther?" he asked, not unkindly. + +Desmit nodded affirmatively. + +"Here," said the other, extending his canteen. "There's a drink +left. Take it." + +Desmit took it with a trembling hand, and drained it to the last +drop. + +"That's right," said the Irishman sympathetically. "I'm right +sorry for ye, misther, that I am; but don't ye nivver give up heart. +There's more turpentine where that come from, and this thing's over +now. I couldn't find yer bull for ye, mister, but here's a mule. +Ye'd better jest take him and git away from here before this row's +over. Nobody'll miss ye now." + +Two weeks afterward a queerly clad figure rode up to the elegant +mansion of Colonel Potestatem Desmit, overlooking the pleasant +town of Louisburg in the county of Horsford, and found a party of +Federal officers lounging upon his wide porches and making merry +after war's alarums! + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +NEGOTIATING A TREATY. + + +Not only did Colonel Desmit lose his cotton and naval stores; but +the funds which he had invested, with cautious foresight, in the +bonds of the State and the issues of its banks, were also made +worthless by the result of the war. Contrary to the expectations +of the most prudent and far-seeing, the bonds issued by the States +in rebellion during the period of war, were declared to be attaint +with treason, and by the supreme power of the land were forbidden +to be paid. In addition to this he found himself what was properly +termed "land-poor." The numerous small plantations which he had +acquired in different parts of the country, in pursuance of his +original and inherited design of acquiring wealth by slave-culture, +though intrinsically very valuable, were just at this time +in the highest degree unavailable. All lands had depreciated to a +considerable extent, but the high price of cotton had tempted many +Northern settlers and capitalists into that belt of country where +this staple had been most successfully raised, and their purchases, +as well as the continued high price of the staple, had kept up the +prices of cotton-lands far beyond all others. + +Then, too, the lack of ready money throughout the country and the +general indebtedness made an absolute dearth of buyers. In the four +years of war there had been no collections. The courts had been +debarred from judgment and execution. The sheriff had been without +process, the lawyer without fees, the creditor without his money. +Few indeed had taken advantage of this state of affairs to pay +debts. Money had been as plenty as the forest leaves in autumn, +and almost as valueless. The creditor had not desired to realize +on his securities, and few debtors had cared to relieve themselves. +There had come to be a sort of general belief that when the war +ended there would be a jubilee for all debtors--that each one would +hold what he had, and that a promise to pay would no more trouble +or make afraid even the most timid soul. So that when the courts +came to be unchained and the torrent of judgments and executions +poured forth under their seals, the whole country was flooded with +bankruptcy. Almost nobody could pay. A few, by deft use of present +advantages, gathered means to discharge their own liabilities and +take advantage of the failure of others to do so. Yet they were +few indeed. On every court-house the advertisements of sale covered +the panels of the door and overflowed upon the walls. Thousands +of homesteads, aye, hundreds of thousands of homes--millions of +acres--were sold almost for a song--frequently less than a shilling +an acre, generally less than a dollar. + +Colonel Desmit had not been an exception to these rules. He had +not paid the obligations maturing during the war simply because he +knew he could not be compelled to do so. Instead of that, he had +invested his surplus in lands, cotton, and naval stores. Now the +evil day was not far off, as he knew, and he had little to meet it. +Nevertheless he made a brave effort. The ruggedness of the disowned +family of Smiths and the chicanery inherited from the gnarly-headed +and subtle-minded old judge came to his rescue, and he determined +not to fail without a fight. He shingled himself with deeds of +trust and sales under fraudulent judgments or friendly liens, to +delay if they did not avert calamity. Then he set himself at work +to effect sales. He soon swallowed his wrath and appealed to the +North--the enemy to whom he owed all his calamities, as he thought. +He sent flaming circulars to bleak New England health-exhibits to +the smitten of consumption, painting the advantages of climate, +soil, and society--did all in his power to induce immigrants to +come and buy, in order that he might beat off poverty and failure +and open disgrace. He made a brave fight, but it had never occurred +to him to sell an acre to a colored man when he was accosted by +Nimbus, who, still wearing some part of his uniform, came, over to +negotiate with him for the purchase of Red Wing. + +All these untoward events had not made the master of Knapp-of-Reeds +peculiarly amiable, or kindly disposed toward any whom he deemed +in the remotest manner responsible for his loss. For two classes +he could not find words sufficient to express his loathing--namely, +Yankees and Secessionists. To the former directly and to the latter +indirectly he attributed all his ills. The colored man he hated as +a man, as bitterly as he had before highly prized him as a slave. +At the outset of the war he had been openly blamed for his coolness +toward the cause of the Confederacy. Then, for a time, he had +acquiesced in what was done--had "gone with his State," as it was +then expressed--and still later, when convinced of the hopelessness of +the struggle, he had advocated peace measures; to save his property +at all hazards, some said; because he was at heart a Unionist, +others declared So, he had come to regard himself as well disposed +toward the Union, and even had convinced himself that he had +suffered persecution for righteousness' sake, when, in truth, his +"Unionism" was only an investment made to avoid loss. + +These things, however, tended to embitter him all the more against +all those persons and events in any manner connected with his +misfortunes. It was in such a mood and under such circumstances, +that word was brought to Mr. Desmit in his private library, that "a +nigger" wanted to see him. The servant did not know his name, what +he wanted, or where he came from. She could only say that he had +ridden there on a "right peart mule" and was a "right smart-looking +boy." She was ordered to bring him in, and Nimbus stood before his +master for the first time since he had been sent down the country +to work on fortifications intended to prevent the realization of +his race's long-delayed vision of freedom. He came with his hat +in his hand, saying respectfully, + +"How d'ye, Marse Desmit?" + +"Is that you, Nimbus? Get right out of here! I don't want any such +grand rascal nigger in my house." + +"But, Marse Desrnit," began the colored man, greatly flurried by +this rude greeting. + +"I don't want any 'buts.' Damn you, I've had enough of all such +cattle. What are you here for, anyhow? Why don't you go back to +the Yankees that you ran away to? I suppose you want I should feed +you, clothe you, support you, as I've been doing for your lazy +wife and children ever since the surrender. I shan't do it a day +longer--not a day! D'ye hear? Get off from my land before the sun +goes down to-morrow or I'll have the overseer set his dogs on you." + +"All right," said Nimbus coolly; "jes yer pay my wife what's due +her and we'll leave ez soon ez yer please." + +"Due her? You damned black rascal, do you stand there and tell me +I owe her anything?" + +Strangely enough, the colored man did not quail. His army life had +taught him to stand his ground, even against a white man, and he +had not yet learned how necessary it was to unlearn the lesson of +liberty and assume again the role of the slave. The white man was +astounded. Here was a "sassy nigger" indeed! This was what freedom +did for them! + +"Her papers dat you gib her at de hirin', Marse Potem," said Nimbus, +"says dat yer shall pay her fo' dollars a month an' rations. She's +hed de rations all reg'lar, Marse Desrnit; dat's all right, but +not a dollar ob de money." + +"You lie, you black rascal!" said Desmit excitedly; "she's drawn +every cent of it!" + +"Wal," said Nimbus, "ef dat's what yer say, we'll hev ter let de +'Bureau' settle it." + +"What, sir? You rascal, do you threaten me with the 'Bureau'?" +shouted Desmit, starting toward him in a rage, and aiming a blow +at him with the heavy walking-stick he carried. + +"Don't do dat, Marse Desmit," cried the colored man; "don't do +dat!" + +There was a dangerous gleam in his eye, but the white man did not +heed the warning. His blow fell not on the colored man's head, but +on his upraised arm, and the next moment the cane was wrested from +his hands, and the recent slave stood over his former master as he +lay upon the floor, where he had fallen or been thrown, and said: + +"Don't yer try dat, Marse Desmit; I won't bar it--dat I won't, from +no man, black ner white. I'se been a sojer sence I was a slave, an' +ther don't no man hit me a lick jes cos I'm black enny mo'. Yer's +an' ole man, Marse Desmit, an' yer wuz a good 'nough marster ter +me in the ole times, but yer mustn't try ter beat a free man. I +don't want ter hurt yer, but yer mustn't do dat!" + +"Then get out of here instantly," said Desmit, rising and pointing +toward the door. + +"All right, Marse," said Nimbus, stooping for his hat; "'tain't +no use fer ye to be so mad, though. I jes come fer to make a trade +wid ye." + +"Get out of here, you damned, treacherous, ungrateful, black rascal. +I wish every one of your whole race had the small-pox! Get out!" + +As Nimbus turned to go, he continued: + +"And get your damned lazy tribe off from my plantation before +to-morrow night, if you don't want the dogs put on them, too!" + +"I ain't afeard o' yer dogs," said Nimbus, as he went down the +hall, and, mounting his mule, rode away. + +With every step his wrath increased. It was well for Potestatem +Desmit that he was not present to feel the anger of the black giant +whom he had enraged. Once or twice he turned back, gesticulating +fiercely and trembling with rage. Then he seemed to think better +of it, and, turning his mule into the town a mile off his road, +he lodged a complaint against his old master, with the officer of +the "Bureau," and then rode quietly home, satisfied to "let de law +take its course," as he said. He was glad that there was a law for +him--a law that put him on the level with his old master--and +meditated gratefully, as he rode home, on what the nation had +wrought in his behalf since the time when "Marse Desmit" had sent +him along that very road with an order to "Marse Ware" to give +him "twenty lashes well laid on." The silly fellow thought that +thenceforth he was going to have a "white man's chance in life." +He did not know that in our free American Government, while the +Federal power can lawfully and properly ordain and establish the +theoretical rights of its citizens, it has no legal power to support +and maintain those rights against the encroachment of any of the +States, since in those matters the State is sovereign, and the part +is greater than the whole. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BORN OF THE STORM. + + +Perhaps there was never any more galling and hated badge of defeat +imposed upon a conquered people than the "Bureau of Freedmen, +Refugees, and Abandoned Lands," a branch of the Federal executive +power which grew out of the necessities of the struggle to put +down rebellion, and to which, little by little, came to be referred +very many of those matters which could by no means be neglected, +but which did not properly fall within the purview of any other +branch of military administration. It is known, in these latter +days, simply as the Freedmen's Bureau, and thought to have been +a terrible engine of oppression and terror and infamy, because of +the denunciations which the former slave-owners heaped upon it, +and the usually accepted idea that the mismanaged and malodorous +Freedmen's Savings Bank was, somehow or other, an outgrowth and +exponent of this institution. The poor thing is dead now, and, like +dead humanity, the good it did has been interred with its bones. +It has been buried, with curses deep and bitter for its funeral +obsequies. Its officers have been loaded with infamy. Even its +wonderful results have been hidden from the sight of man, and its +history blackened with shame and hate. It is one of the curious +indices of public feeling that the North listened, at first, with +good-natured indifference to the virulent diatribes of the recently +conquered people in regard to this institution; after a time wonder +succeeded to indifference; until finally, while it was still an +active branch of the public service, wondering credulity succeeded, +and its name became synonymous with disgrace; so that now there +is hardly a corner of the land in which a man can be found brave +enough to confess that he wore the uniform and performed the duties +of an agent of the "Freedmen's Bureau." The thorough subserviency +of Northern sentiment to the domination of that masterly will +which characterized "the South" of the old regime was never better +illustrated. "Curse me this people!" said the Southern Balak--of +the Abolitionist first, of the Bureau-Officer next, and then of +the Carpet-Bagger. The Northern Balaam hemmed and paltered, and +then--_cursed the children of his loins_! + +Of the freedmen, our recent allies in war, the grateful and devoted +friends, of the nation which had opened for them the gateway of the +future, not one of the whole four millions had a word to utter in +reproach of this branch of the service, in which they were particularly +interested. Strangely enough, too, none of those Union men of +the South, who had been refugees during the war or friends of that +Union after its close, joined in the complaints and denunciations +which were visited on this institution and its agents. Neither did +the teachers of colored schools, nor the officers and agents of +those charitable and missionary associations of the North, whose +especial work and purpose was the elevation and enlightenment of +the colored man, see fit to unite in that torrent of detraction +which swept over the country in regard to the "Bureau" and its +agents. But then, it may be that none of these classes were able +to judge truly and impartially of its character and works! They may +have been prepossessed in its favor to an extent which prevented +a fair and honest determination in regard to it. + +Certain it is that those who stood upon the other side--those who +instituted and carried on rebellion, or the greater part of them, +and every one of those who opposed reconstruction, who fought to +the last moment the enfranchisement of the black; every one who +denied the right of the nation to emancipate the slave; every one +who clamored for the payment of the State debts contracted during +the war; all of those who proposed and imposed the famous "black +codes,"--every one of these classes and every man of each class avowed +himself unable to find words to express the infamy, corruption, and +oppression which characterized the administration of that climacteric +outrage upon a brave, generous, overwhelmed but unconquered +--forgiving but not to be forgiven, people. + +They felt themselves to have been in all things utterly innocent +and guileless. The luck of war had been terribly against them, they +considered, but the right remained with them. They were virtuous. +Their opponents had not only been the aggressors at the outset, +but had shown themselves little better than savages by the manner +in which they had conducted the war; and, to crown the infamy of +their character, had imposed upon "the South" at its close that +most nefarious of all detestable forms of oppressive degradation, +"the Bureau." Their orators grew magniloquent over its tyrannical +oppression; the Southern press overflowed with that marvellous +exuberance of diatribe of which they are the acknowledged masters--to +all of which the complaisant North gave a ready and subservient +concurrence, until the very name reeked in the public mind with +infamous associations and degrading ideas. + +A few men tried to stem the torrent. Some who had been in its service +even dared to insist that they had not thereby rendered themselves +infamous and unworthy. The nation listened for a time with kindly +pity to their indignant protests, and then buried the troublesome +and persistent clamorers in the silence of calm but considerate +disbelief. They were quietly allowed to sink into the charitable +grave of unquestioning oblivion. It was not any personal attaint +which befouled their names and blasted their public prospects, but +simply the fact that they had obeyed the nation's behest and done +a work assigned to them by the country's rulers. Thus it came to +pass that in one third of the country it was an ineffaceable brand +of shame to have been at any time an agent or officer of this +Bureau, and throughout the rest of the country it was accounted a +fair ground for suspicion. In it all, the conquering element was +simply the obedient indicator which recorded and proclaimed the +sentiment and wish of the conquered. The words of the enemy were +always regarded as being stamped with the mint-mark of truth and +verity, while the declarations of our allies accounted so apparently +false and spurious as to be unworthy of consideration, even when +attested by svvorn witnesses and written in blood upon a page of +history tear blotted and stained with savage deeds. All this was +perfectly natural, however, and arose, almost unavoidably, from +the circumstances under which the institution was created and the +duties which it was called upon to discharge. It may not be amiss +to consider again the circumstances under which it came to exist. + +This is how this institution had its origin: As the war to put down +rebellion progressed and our armies advanced farther and farther +into the heart of the Confederacy, the most devoted and malignant +adherents of the Confederate cause abandoned their homes and +all that they could not easily take with them, and fled within +the Confederate lines. Those white people who were adverse to the +Confederate cause, or at least lukewarm in its support, spurred +by the rigors of conscription and the dangers of proscription and +imprisonment, took their lives in their hands, left their homes, +and fled by every available road to the shelter of the Federal +forces. Those who had no homes--the slaves--either deserted by their +owners or fancying they saw in that direction a glimmer of possible +freedom, swarmed in flank and rear of every blue-clad column which +invaded the Confederacy, by thousands and tens of thousands. They +fled as the Israelites did from the bondage of Egypt, with that +sort of instinctive terror which has in all ages led individuals, +peoples, and races to flee from the scene of oppression. The whites +who came to us were called "refugees," and the blacks at first +"contrabands," and after January 1, 1863, "freedmen." Of course +they had to be taken care of. The "refugee" brought nothing with +him; the freedrnan had nothing to bring. The abandoned lands of +the Confederates were, in many cases, susceptible of being used +to employ and supply these needy classes who came to us for aid +and sustenance. It was to do this that the Freedmen's Bureau was +created. + +Its mission was twofold--to extend the helping hand to the needy +who without such aid must have perished by disease and want, +and to reduce the expenses of such charity by the cultivation and +utilization of abandoned lands. It was both a business and a missionary +enterprise. This was its work and mission until the war ended. Its +"agents" were chosen from among the wounded veteran officers of +our army, or were detached from active service by reason of their +supposed fitness on account of character or attainments. Almost +every one of them had won honor with the loss of limb or of health; +all had the indorsement and earnest approval of men high in command +of our armies, who had personal knowledge of their character and +believed in their fitness. This renders it all the more remarkable +that these men should so soon and so universally, as was stoutly +alleged and weakly believed, have become thieves and vagabonds +--corrupters of the blacks and oppressors of the whites. It only +shows how altogether impossible it is to foresee the consequences +of any important social or political movement upon the lives and +characters of those exposed to its influences. + +When the war ended there were four millions of men, women, and +children without homes, houses, lands, money, food, knowledge, law, +right, family, friends, or possibility for self-support. All these +the Bureau adopted. They constituted a vast family of foundlings, +whose care was a most difficult and delicate matter, but there was +not one among them all who complained of the treatment they received. + +It is somewhat strange, too, that the officers of this Branch of +the service should have all misbehaved in exactly the same manner. +Their acts of oppression and outrage were always perpetrated +in defence of some supposed right of a defenceless and friendless +race, overwhelmed with poverty--the bondmen of ignorance--who had +no money with which to corrupt, no art with which to beguile, and +no power with which to overawe these representatives of authority. +For the first time in the history of mankind, the corrupt and +unprincipled agents of undefined power became the servants, friends, +protectors, agents, and promoters of the poor and weak and the +oppressors of the rich, the strong, the learned, and the astute. + +It may be said that this view cannot be true; that thousands +of men selected from the officers of our citizen-soldiery by the +unanswerable certificate of disabling wounds and the added prestige +of their commander's recommendation, a class of men in physical, +intellectual and moral power and attainments far superior to the +average of the American people--it may be said that such could not +have become all at once infamously bad; and, if they did suffer such +transformation, would have oppressed the blacks at the instigation +of the whites, who were willing and able to pay well for such +subversion of authority, and not the reverse. This would seem to +be true, but we are not now dealing with speculations, but with +facts! We know that they did become such a pest because at the South +they were likened to the plagues of Egypt, and the North reiterated +and affirmed this cry and condoled with the victims of the oppression +with much show of penitence, and an unappeasable wrath toward the +instruments of the iniquity. Thus the voice of the people--that +voice which is but another form of the voice of God--proclaimed +these facts to the world, so that they must thenceforth be held +indisputable and true beyond the utmost temerity of scepticism. +The _facts_ remain. The puzzling _why_, let whosoever will endeavor +to elucidate. + +Perhaps the most outrageous and debasing of all the acts of the +Bureau, in the eyes of those who love to term themselves "the South," +was the fact that its officers and agents, first of all, allowed +the colored man to be sworn in opposition to and in contradiction +of the word of a white man. + +That this should be exasperating and degrading to the Southern +white man was most natural and reasonable. The very corner-stone +of Southern legislation and jurisprudence for more than a hundred +years was based upon this idea: the negro can have no rights, and +can testify as to no rights or wrongs, as against a white man. So +that the master might take his slave with him when he committed +murder or did any other act in contravention of law or right, +and that slave was like the mute eunuch of the seraglio, silent +and voiceless before the law. Indeed, the law had done for the +slave-owner, with infinitely more of mercy and kindness, what the +mutilators of the upper Nile were wont to do for the keepers of +the harems of Cairo and Constantinople--provided them with slaves +who should see and hear and serve, but should never testify of +what they saw and knew. To reverse this rule, grown ancient and +venerable by the practice of generations, to open the mouths which +had so long been sealed, was only less infamous and dangerous than +to accord credence to the words they might utter. To do both was +to "turn back the tide of time," indeed, and it passed the power +of language to portray the anger, disgust, and degradation which +it produced in the Southern mind. To be summoned before the officer +of the Bureau, confronted with a negro who denied his most solemn +averments, and was protected in doing so by the officer who, +perhaps, showed the bias of the oppressor by believing the negro +instead of the gentleman, was unquestionably, to the Southerner, +the most degrading ordeal he could by any possibility be called +upon to pass through. + +From this it will be understood that Colonel Desmit passed a most +uneasy night after Nimbus had left his house. He had been summoned +before the Bureau! He had expected it. Hardly had he given way +to his petulant anger when he recognized the folly of his course. +The demeanor of the colored man had been so "sassy" and aggravating, +however, that no one could have resisted his wrath, he was sure. +Indeed, now that he came to look back at it, he wondered that +he had been so considerate. He was amazed that he had not shot +the impudent rascal on the spot instead of striking him with his +walking-stick, which he was very confident was the worst that could +be urged against him. However, that was enough, for he remembered +with horror that, not long before, this same Bureau officer had +actually imprisoned a most respectable and correct man for having +whipped a "nigger" at work in his crop, who had been "too sassy" +to be tolerated by any gentleman. + +So it was with much trepidation that the old man went into the town +the next morning, secured the services of a lawyer, and prepared +for his trial before the "Bureau." Nimbus was intercepted as he +came into town with his wife, and an attempt made to induce him to +withdraw the prosecution, but that high-minded litigant would hear +nothing of the proposed compromise. He had put his hand to the plow +and would not look back. He had appealed to the law--"the Bureau" +and only "the Bureau" should decide it. So Colonel Desmit and his +lawyer asked a few hours' delay and prepared themselves to resist +and disprove the charge of assault upon Nimbus. The lawyer once +proposed to examine the papers in the case, but Desmit said that +was useless--the boy was no liar, though they must make him out +one if they could. So, at the time appointed, with his lawyer +and train of witnesses, he went before "the Bureau," and there met +Nimbus and his wife, Lugena. + +"The Bureau" wore the uniform of a captain of United States infantry, +and was a man about forty-five years of age, grave and serious of +look, with an empty sleeve folded decorously over his breast. His +calm blue eyes, pale, refined face, and serious air gave him the +appearance of a minister rather than a ruthless oppressor, but his +reputation for cruelty among certain people was as well established +as that of Jeffreys. He greeted Mr. Desmit and his attorney with +somewhat constrained politeness, and when they were seated proceeded +to read the complaint, which simply recited that Colonel Desmit, +having employed Lugena, the wife of complainant, at a given rate +per month, had failed to make payment, and had finally, without +cause, ordered her off his premises. + +"Is that all?" asked the lawyer. + +"That is all," answered the officer. + +"Has no other complaint been lodged against Colonel Desmit?" + +"None." + +"We cannot--that is--we did not expect this," said the attorney, +and then after a whispered consultation with his client, he added, +"We are quite willing to make this matter right. We had entirely +misunderstood the nature of the complaint." + +"Have you any further complaint to make against Colonel Desmit?" +asked the officer, of Nimbus. + +"No," said that worthy, doubtfully. "He was pretty brash wid me, +an' 'llowed ter hit me wid a stick; but he didn't--at least not ter +speak on--so I don't make no 'count ob dat. 'Twas jes dis matter +ob Lugeny's wuk dat made me bring him h'yer--nuffin' else." + +"When did this matter of the stick occur?" asked the officer. + +"On'y jes yeste'day, sah." + +"Where was it?" + +"Up ter Marse Potem's, sah. In his house." + +"How did it happen?" + +"Wal, you see, sah, I went up dar ter see ef I could buy a track +ob lan" from him, an'--" + +"What!" exclaimed Desmit, in astonishment. "You didn't say a word +to me about land." + +"No more I didn't," answered Nimbus, "kase yer didn't gib me no +chance ter say a word 'bout it. 'Peared like de fus sight on me +made yer mad, an' den yer jes feathered away on me, spite ob all I +could do er say. Yer see, sah," to the officer, "I'd made a bit ob +money in de wah, an' wanted ter see ef I could buy a bit ob pore +lan' ob Marse Desmit--a track jes good fer nothin on'y fer a nigga +ter starve on--but afore I could git to dat Marse Desmit got so +uproarous-like dat I clean fergot what'twas I cum fer." + +"There was evidently a misunderstanding," said the attorney. + +"I should think so," said the officer, dryly. "You say you have no +complaint to make about that affair?" he added to Nimbus. "No," +said he; "'twan't a tingob any 'count, nohow. I can't make out +what'twas made Marse Potem so fractious anyhow. I reckon, as he says, +dar must hev ben some mistake about it. Ef he'll fix up dis matter +wid Lugena, I hain't no mo' complaint, an' I'se mighty sorry 'bout +dat, kase Marse Desmit hab allus been mighty kin' ter me--all 'cept +dis time an' once afo'." + +"There's the money for the woman," said the attorney, laying some +bills on the officer's table; "and I may say that my client greatly +regrets the unfortunate misunderstanding with one of the best of +his old slaves. He desires me to say that the woman's services have +been entirely satisfactory, and that she can keep right on under +the contract, if she desires." + +So that was settled. The officer discharged Colonel Desmit, commended +Nimbus for the sensible view he had taken of the quarrel, and the +parties gave way for other matters which awaited the officer's +attention. + +This would not seem to have been so very oppressive, but anything +growing out of the war which had resulted so disastrously for him +was hateful to Colonel Desmit, and we should not wonder if his +grandchildren told over, with burning cheeks, the story of the +affront which was offered to their ancestor in haling him before +that infamous tribunal, "the Bureau," to answer a charge preferred +by a "nigger." + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +TO HIM AND HIS HEIRS FOREVER. + + +After leaving the office of "the Bureau," the parties repaired +to that of the lawyer, and the trade for the land which had been +so inopportunely forestalled by Colonel Desmit's hasty temper was +entered upon in earnest. That gentleman's financial condition was +such as to render the three or four hundred dollars of ready money +which Nimbus could pay by no means undesirable, while the property +itself seemed of so little value as to be regarded almost as an +incumbrance to the plantation of which it was a part. Such was its +well-established reputation for poverty of soil that Desmit had +no idea that the purchaser would ever be able to meet one of his +notes for the balance of the purchase money, and he looked forward +to resuming the control of the property at no distant day, somewhat +improved by the betterments which occupancy and attempted use would +compel the purchaser to make. He regarded the cash to be paid in +hand as just so much money accidentally found in his pathway, for +which, in no event, was he to render any _quid pro quo_. But +of this he said nothing. It was not his business to look after the +interests of a "sassy nigger." In fact, he felt that the money was +in a sense due to him on account of the scurvy trick that Nimbus +had played him, in deserting to the Yankees after agreeing to look +after his "niggers" on the breast-works, although, as the event +proved, his master would have gained nothing by his remaining. So +the former master and slave met on the level of barter and sale, +and gave and took in the conflict of trade. + +Except the small tract just about the old hostel, which has +already been mentioned, the plantation, which included Red Wing, +was descended from an ancestor of the Richards family, who had come +from the North about the close of the Revolution and "entered" an +immense tract in this section. It had, however, passed out of the +family by purchase, and about the beginning of the war of Rebellion +a life estate therein was held by its occupant, while the reversion +belonged to certain parties in Indiana by virtue of the will of a +common ancestor. This life-tenant's necessities compelled him to +relinquish his estate, which was bought by Colonel Desmit, during +the second year of the war, together with the fee which he had +acquired in the tract belonging to the old Ordinary, not because he +wanted the land about Red Wing, but because the plantation to which +it was attached was a good one, and he could buy it on reasonable +terms for Confederate currency. He expected to treat with the +Indiana heirs and obtain their respective interests in the fee, +which no doubt he would have been able to acquire very cheaply but +for the intevening accident of war, as the life-tenant was yet of +middle age and the succession consequently of little probable value +to living reversioners. This, however, he had not done; but as his +deed from the life-tenant was in form an exclusive and unlimited +conveyance, it had been quite forgotten that the will of his +grandfather limited it to a life estate. So when Nimbus and his +friend and counsellor, Eliab Hill, sought to negotiate the purchase +of Red Wing, no mention was made of that fact; neither was it +alluded to when they came again to conclude the purchase, nor when +instructions were given to Colonel Desmit's lawyer to prepare the +necessary papers. + +The trade was soon brought to an apparently happy conclusion. Nimbus +bought two hundred acres at a price of eight hundred dollars, paying +one half the price agreed upon in cash, and for the balance gave +three notes of equal amounts, one maturing each year thereafter, and +received from Colonel Uesmit a bond for title to the whole tract, +with full covenants of warranty and seizin. Colonel Desmit accounted +the notes of little value; Nimbus prized the bond for title above +any patent of nobility. Before the first note fell due all had +been discharged, and the bond for title was exchanged for a deed +in fee, duly executed. So the recent slave, who had but lately been +the subject of barter and sale, was clothed with the rights of a +proprietor. + +According to the former law, the slave was a sort of chattel-real. +Without being attached to the land, he was transferable from one +owner to another only by deed or will. In some States he descended +as realty, in others as personalty, while in others still, he +constituted a separate kind of heritable estate, which was especially +provided for in the canons of descent and statutes regulating +administration. There was even then of record in the county of +Horsford a deed of sale, bearing the hand and seal of P, Desmit, +and executed little more than a year previously, conveying to one +Peyton Winburn "all the right, title, and interest of said Desmit, +in and to a certain runaway negro boy named Nimbus." The said +Winburn was a speculator in slaves who had long been the agent of +Desmit in marketing his human crop, and who, in the very last hours +of the Confederacy, was willing to risk a few dollars on the result. +As he well stated it to himself, it was only staking one form +of loss against another. He paid Confederate money for a runaway +negro. If the Confederacy failed, the negro would be free; but then, +too, the money would be worthless. So with grim humor he said to +himself that he was only changing the form of his risk and could +not possibly lose by the result. Thus, by implication of law, +the recent _subject_ of transfer by deed was elevated to the +dignity of being a _party_ thereto. The very instrument of +his bondage became thereby the sceptre of his power. It was only an +incident of freedom, but the difference it measured was infinite. +No wonder the former slave tiembled with elation as he received +this emblem of autonomy, or that there was a look of gloom on the +face of the former master as he delivered the carefully-enrolled deed, +made complete by his hand and seal, and attested by his attorney. +It was the first time the one had felt the dignity of proprietorship, +or the other had known the shame of fraud. The one thought of the +bright future which lay before his children, to whom he dedicated +Red Wing at that moment in his heart, in terms more solemn than the +legal phrases in which Potestatem Desmit had guaranteed to them the +estate in fee therein. The other thought of the far-away Indiana +reversioners, of whose rights none knew aught save himself--himself +and Walter Greer, who had gone away to the wilds of Texas, and +might never be heard of any more. It was the first time he had +ever committed a deliberate fraud, and when he handed the freedman +the deed and said sadly, "I never expected to come down to this," +those who heard him thought he meant his low estate, and pitied his +misfortunes. He smiled meaningly and turned hastily away, when +Nimbus, forgetting his own elation, said, in tones of earnest +feeling: + +"I declar, Marse Desmit, I'se sorry fer you--I is dat; an' I hopes +yer'll come outen dis yer trouble a heap better nor yer's lookin' +for." + +Then they separated--the one to treasure his apples of Sodom, the +other to nourish the memory of his shame. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A CHILD OF THE HILLS. + + +"Come at once; Oscar very low." + +This was the dispatch which an awkward telegraph messenger handed +to the principal teacher of "No. 5," one soft September day of +1866. He waited upon the rough stone step, while she, standing in +the doorway, read it again and again, or seemed to do so, as if she +could not make out the import of the few simple words it contained. + +'No 5' was a school-house in one of the townships of Bankshire +County, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In it were taught +the children, within school age, of one of those little hamlets +which have crept up the valleys of the White Mountains, toled on +and on, year after year, farther and farther up the little rivulets +that dash down the mountain slopes, by the rumble and clatter of +newly-erected machinery. + +These mountain streams are the magic handiwork of the nymphs and +fays who for ages have lain hidden in the springs that burst out +into little lakes upon the birch-crowned summits, and come rushing +and tumbling down the rocky defiles to join the waters of the +Housatuck. School-house No. 5 was thriftily placed on a bit of +refractory land just opposite the junction of two streams which had +their rise in two lakelets miles away from each other--one lying +under the shadow of Pixey Mountain, and the other hidden among the +wooded hills of Birket. They were called "ponds," but are, in truth, +great springs, in whose icy coldness the mountain trout delight. +Back of the school-house, which, indeed, was half built into it, +was a sharp, rocky hillside; across the road which ran before it +was a placid pond, bordered on the farther side by a dark fringe of +evergreens that lay between it and the-wide expanse of white-armed +birches and flaming maples, now beginning to feel the autumn's +breath, on the rugged mountain-side above. A little to the left +was the narrow gorge through which one of the streams discharged, +its bottom studded with ponds and mills, and its sharp sides flecked +with the little white-painted homes of well-to-do operatives; to +the right and left along the other branch and the course of the +united streams, the rumble of water-wheels, the puff of laboring +engines, and the groan of tortured machinery never ceased. +Machine-shops and cotton-factories, bagging-mills and box-mills, +and wrapping-mills, and print-mills, and fine-paper-mills, and +even mills for the making of those filmy creations of marvellous +texture and wonderful durability which become the representatives of +value in the form of bank-notes, were crowded into the narrow gorges. +The water was fouled with chemic combinations from source to mouth. +For miles up and down one hardly got a breath of air untainted with +the fumes of chemicals. Bales of rags, loads of straw, packages +of woody pulp, boxes of ultramarine dye, pipes leading from the +distant mountain springs, and, above all, the rumble and the groaning +of the beating-engines told to every sense that this was one of +the great hillside centres of paper-manufacture in New England. +The elegant residences of the owners were romantically situated +on some half-isolated promonotory around which the stream sweeps, +embowered with maples and begirt with willows at its base; or +nestled away in some nook, moss-lined and hemlock-shaded, which +marks where some spring brook bubbles down its brief career to the +larger stream; or in some plateau upon the other side, backed by a +scraggly old orchard, and hidden among great groves of rock-maples +which the careful husbandman spared a hundred years ago for a +"sugar-bush," little dreaming that the nabobs of the rushing streams +would build homesteads beneath their shade. And all along, here +and there, wherever a house could find a foothold or the native +ruggedness be forced to yield one lodgment, houses and shops +and crowded tenements stood thick. It was a busy and a populous +village, full of wealth and not barren of poverty, stretched along +the rushing tributary for more than a mile, and then branching with +its constituent forks up into the mountain gorges. + +In the very centre of this busy whirl of life stood the little +white two-story school-house, flanked on one side by the dwelling +of a mill-owner, and on the other by a boarding-house; and just +below it, across the street, a machine-shop, and a little cottage +of cased logs, with minute-paned windows, and a stone chimney +which was built before the Revolution by the first inhabitant of +the little valley. A little to the left of the school-house was a +great granite boulder, rising almost to its eaves, which had been +loosened from the mountain-side two miles up the gorge when the +dam at the mouth of the pond gave way years before in a freshet, +and brought down and left, by the respectful torrent almost at the +threshold of the temple of knowledge. + +Such was the scene the Indian summer sun looked down upon, while +the teacher stood gazing fixedly at the message which she held. +Curious faces peered out of the windows and through the door, +which she left ajar when she came into the hall. She took no note +of this infraction of discipline. "Any answer, ma'arn?" The +messenger-boy shifts his weight awkwardly upon the other foot, as +he asks, but receives no reply. + +For two years Mollie Ainslie, with her assistants, had dispensed +the sweets of knowledge at "No. 5," to the children of the little +hamlet. The hazy morning light revealed a small, lithe figure, +scarcely taller than the messenger-boy that stood before her; +a fair, white face; calm, gray eyes; hair with a glint of golden +brown, which waved and rippled about a low, broad brow, and was +gathered in a great shining coil behind; and a mouth clear-cut and +firm, but now drawn and quivering with deep emotion. The comely head +was finely poised upon the slender neck, and in the whole figure +there was an air of self-reliance and power that accorded well with +the position which she held. A simple gray dress, with a bright +ribbon at the throat and a bunch of autumn flowers carelessly tucked +into the belt which circled the trim waist, completed the picture +framed in the doorway of the white school-house. She stood, with +eyes fastened on the paper which she held in one hand, while the +other pressed a pencil-head against her cheek, unmindful of the +curious glances that were fixed upon her from within, until the +messenger-boy had twice repeated his customary question: + +"Any answer, ma'am?" + +She reached forth her hand, slowly and without reply. The boy looked +up and saw that she was gazing far beyond him and had a strained, +fixed look in her eyes. + +"Want a blank?" he asked, in a tone of unconscious sympathy. + +She did not answer, but as he put his pad of blanks into her +outstretched hand she drew it back and wrote, in a slow and absent +manner, a message in these words: + +"To CAPTAIN OSCAR AINSLIE, Boyleston, Va. + +"Coming. + +"MOLLIE." + +"Collect?" asked the boy. + +"No!" + +She inquired, and paid the charges in the same unheeding way. The +messenger departed with a wistful glance at the dry, pained eyes +which heeded him not. With a look of dumb entreaty at the overhanging +mountain and misty, Indian summer sky, and a half perceptible shiver +of dread, Mollie Ainslie turned and entered again the school-room. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +GOOD-MORROW AND FAREWELL. + + +A week afterward, Mollie Ainslie stood beside the bed of her only +brother and watched the sharp, short struggle which he made with +their hereditary enemy, consumption. Weakened by wounds and exposure, +he was but ill-prepared to resist the advances of the insidious +foe, and when she reached his side she saw that the hope, even of +delay, was gone. So she took her place, and with ready hand, brave +heart, and steady purpose, brightened his pathway to the tomb. + +Oscar and Mollie Ainslie were the oniy children of a New England +clergyman whose life had lasted long enough, and whose means had +been sufficient, with the closest economy, to educate them both +according to the rigorous standards of the region in which they were +born. Until the son entered college they had studied together, +and the sister was almost as well prepared for the university course +as the brother when they were separated. Then she stepped out of +the race, and determined, though scarcely more than a child, to +become herself a bread-winner, in order that her father's meager +salary might be able to meet the drain of her brother's college +expenses. She did this not only without murmuring, but with +actual pleasure. Her ambition, which was boundless, centered upon +her brother. She identified herself with him, and cheerfully gave +up every advantage, in order that his opportunities might be more +complete. To Oscar these sacrifices on his sister's part were +very galling. He felt the wisdom of the course pursued toward him +by his family, and was compelled to accede in silence to prevent +the disappointment which his refusal would bring. Yet it was the +keenest trial for him to think of accepting his sister's earnings, +and only the conviction that to do so was the quickest and surest +way to relieve her of the burden of self-support, induced him to +submit to such an arrangement. + +Hardly had he entered upon his college course when the war of +Rebellion came on, and Oscar Ainslie saw in the patriotic excitement +and the promise of stirring events a way out of a situation whose +fetters were too heavy for him to bear by reason of their very +tenderness. He was among the first, therefore, to enlist, happy +thereby to forestall his sister's determination to engage in teaching, +for his sake. His father was grieved at the son's abandonment of +his projected career, but his heart was too patriotic to object. +So he gave the bright-eyed young soldier his blessing as he bade +him good-by, standing there before him, strong and trim, in his +close-fitting cavalry uniform. He knew that Oscar's heart beat high +with hope, and he would not check it, though he felt sure that they +looked into each other's eyes for the last time. When his own were +glazing over with the ghastly grave-light, more than two years +afterward, they were gladdened by the announcement which came +throbbing along the wires and made bright the whole printed page +from which he read: "Private Oscar Ainslie, promoted to a Captaincy +for gallant conduct on the field of Gettysburg." Upon this he rallied +his fading energies, and waited for a week upon the very brink of +the chill river, that he might hear, before he crossed over, from +the young soldier himself, how this honor was won. When he had +learned this he fell asleep, and not long after, the faithful wife +who had shared his toils and sacrifices heard the ceaseless cry +of his lonely spirit, and was gathered again to his arms upon the +shore where beauty fadeth not forever. + +The little homestead upon the rocky hillside overlooking the village +was all that was left to the brother and sister; but it was more +than the latter could enjoy alone, so she fled away and entered +upon the vocation in which we found her engaged. Meantime her +brother had risen in. rank, and at the close of the war had been +transferred to the regular army as a reward of distinguished merit. +Then his hereditary foe had laid siege to his weakened frame, and +a brother officer had telegraphed to the sister in the Bankshire +hills the first warning of the coming end. + +It was a month after her arrival at Boyleston, when her brother, +overcoming the infatuation which usually attends that disease, saw +that the end was near and made provision respecting it. + +"Sis," he said, calling her by the pet name of their childhood, +"what day of the month is it?" + +"The thirteenth, Oscar--your birthday," she replied briskly. "Don't +you see that I have been out and gathered leaves and flowers to +decorate your room, in honor of the event?" + +Her lap was full of autumn leaves-maple and gum, flaming and +variegated, brown oak of various shapes and shades, golden hickory, +the open burrs of the chintuapin, pine cones, and the dun scraggly +balls of the black-gum, some glowing bunches of the flame-bush, +with their wealth of bursting red beries, and a full-laden branch +of the black-haw. + +The bright October sun shone through the open window upon her as +she arranged them with deft fingers, contrasting the various hues +with loving skill, and weaving ornaments for different points in +the bare room of the little country hotel where her brother lay. +He watched her awhile in silence, and then said sadly, + +"Yes, my last birthday." + +Her lips trembled, and her head drooped lower over her lap, but +she would not let him see her agitation. So she simply said, + +"Do not say that, Oscar." + +"No," he replied, "I ought not to say so. I should have said, my +last earthly birthday. Sit closer, Sis, where I can see you better. +I want to talk to you." + +"Do you know," he continued, as she came and sat upon his bedside, +spreading her many-hued treasures over the white coverlet, "that +I meant to have been at home to-day?" + +"And are you not?" she asked cheerfully. "Am I not with you?" + +"True, Sis, and you are my home now; but, after all, I did want to +see the old New England hills once more. One yearns for familiar +scenes after years of war. I meant to have gone back and brought +you here, away from the cold winters that sting, and bite, and +kill. I hoped that, after rest, I might recover strength, and that +you might, here escape the shadow which has fastened upon me." + +"Have you seen my horse, Midnight?" he asked, after a fit of +coughing, followed by a dreamy silence. + +"Yes." + +"How do you like him?" + +"He is a magnificent creature." + +"Would he let you approach him?" + +"I had no trouble in doing so." + +None?" He's very vicious, too. Everybody has had trouble with him. +Do you think you could ride him?" + +"I have ridden him every day for two weeks." + +"Ah! that is how you have kept so fresh." Then, after a pause, "Do +you know how I got him?" + +"I heard that he was captured." + +"Yes, in the very last fight before the surrender at Appomattox. +I was with Sheridan, you know. We were pursuing the retreating +columns--had been pressing them hotly ever since the break at +Petersburg--on the rear and on both flanks, fighting, worrying, +and watching all the time. On the last day, when the retreat had +become a rout, as it seemed, a stand was made by a body of cavalry +just on the crest of a smoothly-sloping hill. Not anticipating +serious resistance, we did not wait for the artillery to come up +and dislodge them, but deploying a brigade we rode on, jesting and +gay, expecting to see them disperse when we came within range and +join the rabble beyond. We were mistaken. Just when we got within +easy charging distance, down they came, pell-mell, as dashing a +body of dirty veterans as I ever saw. The attack was so unexpected +that for a time we were swept off our feet and fairly carried +backward with surprise. Then we rallied, and there was a sharp, +short struggle. The enemy retreated, and we pressed after them. The +man that rode this horse seemed to have selected me as his mark. +He rode straight at me from the first. He was a fine, manly-looking +fellow, and our swords were about the last that were crossed in the +struggle. We had a sharp tussle for a while. I think he must have +been struck by a chance shot. At least he was unseated just about +the time my own horse was shot under me. Looking around amid the +confusion I saw this horse without a rider. I was in mortal terror +of being trampled by the shifting squadrons and did not delay, but +sprang into the saddle and gave him the spur. When the Confederate +bugles sounded the retreat I had a terrible struggle to keep him +from obeying orders and carrying me away into their lines. After +that, however, I had no trouble with him. But he is not kind to +strangers, as a rule. I meant to have taken him home to you," he +added, sadly. "You will have him now, and will prize him for my +sake, will you not, Sis?" + +"You know, Oscar, that everything you have ever loved or used will +be held sacred," she answered tearfully. + +"Yes, I know," he rejoined. "Sis, I wish you would make me a +promise." + +"You know I will." + +"Well, then, do not go back to our old home this winter, nor the +next, nor--but I will not impose terms upon you. Stay as long as +you can content yourself in this region. I am afraid for you. I +know you are stronger and have less of the consumptive taint about +you than I, but I am afraid. You would have worked for me when I +was in college, and I have worked only for you, since that time. +All that I have saved--and I have saved all I could, for I knew +that my time was not long--is yours. I have some money on deposit, +some bonds, and a few articles of personal property--among the +latter, Midnight. All these are yours. It will leave you comfortable +for a time at least. Now, dear, promise that I shall be buried and +remain in the cemetery the Government is making for the soldiers +who fell in those last battles. Somehow, I think it will keep +you here, in order that you may be near me, and save you from the +disease which is devouring my life." + +A week afterward his companions followed, with rever ed arms, +the funereally-caparisoned Midnight to the grounds of the National +Cemetery, and fired a salute over a new-made grave. + +Nimbus, taking with him his helpless friend, had appealed, soon +after his purchase, to the officer of the Bureau for aid in erecting +a school-house at Red Wing. By him he had been referred to one +of those charitable associations, through whose benign agency the +great-hearted North poured its free bounty into the South immediately +upon the cessation of strife. + +Perhaps there has been no grander thing in our history than the eager +generosity with which the Christian men and women of the North gave +and wrought, to bring the boon of knowledge to the recently-enslaved. +As the North gave, willingly and freely, men and millions to save +the nation from disruption, so, when peace came, it gave other brave +men and braver women, and other unstinted millions to strengthen +the hands which generations of slavery had left feeble and inept. +Not only the colored, but the white also, were the recipients of +this bounty. The Queen City of the Confederacy, the proud capital +of the commonwealth of Virginia, saw the strange spectacle of her +own white children gathered, for the first time, into free public +schools which were supported by Northern charity, and taught +by noble women with whom her high-bred Christian dames and dainty +maidens would not deign to associate. The civilization of the +North in the very hour of victory threw aside the cartridge-box, +and appealed at once to the contribution-box to heal the ravages of +war. At the door of every church throughout the North, the appeal +was posted for aid to open the eyes of the blind whose limbs had +just been unshackled; and the worshipper, as he gave thanks for +his rescued land, brought also an offering to aid in curing the +ignorance which slavery had produced. + +It was the noblest spectacle that Christian civilization has ever +witnessed--thousands of schools organized in the country of a +vanquished foe, almost before the smoke of battle had cleared away, +free to the poorest of her citizens, supported by the charity, and +taught by kindly-hearted daughters of a quick-forgiving enemy. The +instinct of our liberty-loving people taught them that light must +go with liberty, knowledge with power, to give either permanence or +value. Thousands of white-souled angels of peace, the tenderly-reared +and highly-cultured daughters of many a Northern home, came into +the smitten land to do good to its poorest and weakest. Even to +this day, two score of schools and colleges remain, the glorious +mementoes of this enlightened bounty and Christian magnanimity. + +And how did the white brothers and sisters of these messengers of +a matchless benevolence receive them? Ah, God! how sad that history +should be compelled to make up so dark a record--abuse, contumely, +violence! Christian tongues befouled with calumny! Christian lips +blistered with falsehood! Christian hearts overflowing with hate! +Christian, pens reeking with ridicule because other Christians +sought to do their needy fellows good! No wonder that faith grew +weak and unbelief ran riot through all the land when men looked +upon the spectacle! The present may excuse, for charity is kind; +but the future is inexorable and writes its judgments with a pen +hard-nibbed! But let us not anticipate. In thousands of Northern +homes still live to testify these devoted sisters and daughters, +now grown matronly. They are scattered through every state, almost +in every hamlet of the North, while other thousands have gone, +with the sad truth carved deep upon their souls, to testify in that +court where "the action lies in its true nature." + +Nimbus found men even more ready to assist than he and his fellows +were to be aided. He himself gave the land and the timbers; the +benevolent association to whom he had appealed furnished the other +materials required; the colored men gave the major part of the labor, +and, in less than a year from the time the purchase was made, the +house was ready for the school, and the old hostelry prepared for +the teachers that had been promised. + +So it was that, when Nimbus came to the officer in charge at +Boyleston and begged that a teacher might be sent to Red Wing, and +met the reply that because of the great demand they had none to +send, Mollie Ainslie, hearing of the request, with her load of sorrow +yet heavy on her lonely heart, said, "Here am I; take me." She +thought it a holy work. It was, to her simple heart, a love-offering +to the memory of him who had given his life to secure the freedom +of the race she was asked to aid in lifting up. The gentle child +felt called of God to do missionary work for a weak and struggling +people. She thought she felt the divine commandment which rested +on the Nazarene. She did not stop to consider of the "impropriety" +of her course. She did not even know that there was any impropriety +in it. She thought her heart had heard the trumpet-call of duty, +and, like Joan of Arc, though it took her among camps and dangers, +she would not flinch. So Nimbus returned happy; an officer was sent +to examine the location and report. Mollie, mounted upon Midnight, +accompanied him. Of course, this fact and her unbounded delight +at the quaint beauty of Red Wing was no part of the reason why +Lieutenant Hamilton made a most glowing report on the location; +but it was owing to that report that the officer at the head of the +"Bureau" in that district, the department-commander, and finally +the head of the Bureau, General Howard himself, indorsed the scheme +most warmly and aided it most liberally. So that soon afterward +the building was furnished as a school-house, Mollie Ainslie, with +Lucy Ellison, an old schoolmate, as her assistant, was installed +at the old hostlery, and bore sway in the school of three hundred +dusky pupils which assembled daily at Red Wing. Midnight was given +royal quarters in the old log-stable, which had been re-covered +and almost rebuilt for his especial delectation, the great square +stall, with its bed of dry oak leaves, in which he stood knee-deep, +being sufficient to satisfy even Miss Mollie's fastidious demands +for the comfort of her petted steed After a time Eliab Hill, to +whose suggestion the whole plan was due, became also an assistant +instructor. + +Mollie Ainslie did not at all realize the nature of the task she +had undertaken, or the burden of infamy and shame which a Christian +people would heap upon her because of this kindly-meant work done +in their midst! + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +"PRIME WRAPPERS." + + +It was more than a year afterward. Quite a little village had grown +up around the church and school-house at Red Wing, inhabited by +colored men who had been attracted thither by the novelty of one +of their own members being a proprietor. Encouraged by his example, +one and another had bought parcels of his domain, until its size was +materially reduced though its value was proportionately enhanced. +Those who settled here were mostly mechanics--carpenters and +masons--who worked here and there as they could find employment, +a blacksmith who wrought for himself, and some farm laborers who +dreaded the yearly system of hire as too nearly allied to the slave +regime, and so worked by the day upon the neighboring plantations. +One or two bought somewhat larger tracts, intending to imitate the +course of Nimbus and raise the fine tobacco for which the locality +was already celebrated. All had built cheap log-houses, but their +lots were well fenced and their "truck-patches" clean and thrifty, +and the little hamlet was far from being unattractive, set as it +was in the midst of the green forests which belted it about. From +the plantations on either side, the children flocked to the school. +So that when the registering officer and the sheriff rode into +the settlement, a few days after the registration at Melton, it +presented a thriving and busy spectacle. + +Upon the hillside, back of his house, Nimbus, his wife, and two +men whom he had employed were engaged in cutting the tobacco which +waved--crinkled and rank, with light ygjlowish spots showing here +and there upon the great leaves--a billow of green in the autumn +wind. The new-comers halted and watched the process for a moment +as they rode up to the barn, while the sheriff explained to the +unfamiliar Northman: + +"This is the first cutting, as it is called. They only take out the +ripest this time, and leave the rest for another cutting, a week +or two later. You see, he goes through there," pointing to Nimbus, +"and picks out the ripe, yellow-looking plants. Then he sets his +knife in at the top of the stalk where it has been broken off to +prevent its running up to seed, and splits it down almost to the +ground; then he cuts the stalk off below the split, and it is ready +to be hung on the thin narrow strips of oak, which you see stuck +up here and there, where the cutting has been done. They generally +put from seven to ten plants on a stick, according to the size +of the plants; so that the number of sticks makes a very accurate +measure of the size of the crop, and an experienced hand can tell +within a few pounds the weight of any bulk of tobacco by simply +counting the sticks." + +They rode up to the barn and found it already half full of tobacco. +Nimbus came and showed the officer how the sticks were laid upon +beams placed at proper intervals, the split plants hanging tops +downward, close together, but not touching each other. The upper +portions of the barn were first filled and then the lower tiers, +until the tobacco hung within two or three feet of the bottom. The +barn itself was made of logs, the interstices closely chinked and +daubed with clay, so as to make it almost air-tight. Around the +building on the inside ran a large stone flue, like a chimney laid +on the ground. Outside was a huge pile of wood and a liberal supply +of charcoal. Nimbus thus described the process of curing: "Yer +see, Capting, we fills de barn chock full, an' then shets it up fer +a day or two, 'cording ter de weather, sometimes wid a slow fire +an' sometimes wid none, till it begins ter sweat--git moist, yer +know. Den we knows it's in order ter begin de curin', an' we puts +on mo' fire, an' mo,' an' mo', till de whole house gits hot an' de +leaves begins ter hev a ha'sh, rough feel about de edges, an' now +an' den one begins ter yaller up. Den we raises de heat jes ze fast +ez we kin an' not fire de barn. Some folks uses de flues alone +an' some de coal alone, but I mostly 'pends on de flues wid a few +heaps of coal jes here an' dar 'bout de flo', at sech a time, kase +eberyting 'pends on a even reg'lar heat dat you kin manage good. +Den you keeps watch on it mighty close an' don't let it git too hot +nor yet fail ter be hot 'nough, but jes so ez ter keep it yallerin' +up nicely. When de leaves is crisp an' light so dat dey rustles +roun' in de drafts like dead leaves in the fall, yer know, it's +cured; an' all yer's got ter du den is ter dry out de stems an' +stalks. Dat's got ter be done, tho,' kase ef yer leaves enny bit +ob it green an' sappy-like, fust ting yer knows when it comes in +order--dat is, gits damp an' soft--de green runs outen de stems +down inter de leaves an' jes streaks 'em all ober, or p'raps it +turns de fine yaller leaf a dull greenish brown. So yer's got ter +keep up yer fire till every stalk an' stem'll crack like a pipe-stem +ez soon ez yer bends 'em up. Den yer lets de fire go down an' opens +der do' fer it ter come in order, so't yer kin bulk it down." + +"What do you mean by 'bulking it down'?" + +"Put it in bulk, like dis yer," said he, pointing to a pile of sticks +laid crosswise of each other with the plants still on them, and +carefully covered to keep out the weather. "Yer see," he continued, +"dis answers two pu'poses; fust yergits yer barn empty an' uses it +again. Den de weather don't git in ter signify, yer know, an' so +it don't come inter order any more an' color up wid de wet; dat +is, 'less yer leaves it too long or de wedder is mighty damp." + +"Oh, he knows," said the sheriff, with a ring of pride in his +voice. "Nimbus was raised in a tobacco-field, and knows as much +as anybody about it. How did your first barn cure up, Nimbus?" + +"Right bright and even, sah," answered the colored man, as he +thrust his hand under the boards spread over the bulk near which he +stood, and drew out a few leaves, which he smoothed out carefully +and handed to his visitors. "I got it down in tol'able fa'r order, +too, alter de rain t'odder evenin'. Dunno ez I ebber handled a +barn thet, take it all round, 'haved better er come out fa'rer in +my life--mighty good color an' desp'ut few lugs. Yer see, I got it +cut jes de right time, an' de weather couldn't hev ben better ef +I'd hed it made ter order." + +The sheriff stretched a leaf to its utmost width, held it up to +the sunshine, crumpled it between his great palms, held it to his +face and drew a long breath through it, rubbed the edges between thumb +and finger, pinched the stem with his thumb-nail till it broke in +half a dozen places, and remarked with enthusiasm, to the Northern +man, who stood rubbing and smelling of the sample he held, in +awkward imitation of one whom he recognized as a connoisseur: + +"That's prime terbacker, Captain. If it runs like that through +the bulk and nothing happens to it before it gets to the warehouse, +it'll bring a dollar a pound, easy. You don't often see such +terbacker any year, much less such a one as this has been. Didn't +it ripen mighty uneven, Nimbus?" "Jest about ez it oughter--a +little 'arlier on the hilltop an' dry places 'long de sides, an' +den gradwally down ter de moister places. Dar wa'n't much ob dat +pesky spotted ripenin' up--jes a plant h'yer an' anodder dar, all +in 'mong de green, but jest about a good barnfull in tollable +fa'r patches, an' den anodder comin' right on atter it. I'll hev +it full agin an' fire up by to-morrer evenin'." + +"Do you hang it right up after cutting?" asked the officer. + +"Wal, we mout do so. Tain't no hurt ter do it dat er way, only it +handles better ter let it hang on de sticks a while an' git sorter +wilted--don't break de leaves off ner mash 'em up so much loadin' +an" unloadin', yer know," answered Nimbus. + +"How much have you got here?" asked the sheriff, casting his eye +over the field; "forty thousand?" + +"Wal," said Nimbus, "I made up sixty thousand hills, but I hed ter +re-set some on 'em. I s'pose it'll run somewhere between fifty an' +sixty thousand." + +"A right good crop," said the sheriff. "I doubt if any man in the +county has got a better, take it all 'round." + +"I don't reckon ther's one wukked enny harder fer what he's got," +said the colored man quietly. + +"No, I'll guarantee ther hain't," said the other, laughing. "Nobody +ever accused you of being lazy, Nimbus. They only fault you fer +being too peart." + +"All 'cause I wants my own, an' wuks fer it, an' axes nobody enny +odds, but only a fa'r show--a white man's chance ter git along," +responded Nimbus, with a touch of defiance in his tone. + +"Well, well," said the sheriff good-naturedly, "I won't never fault +ye for that, but they do say you're the only man, white er black, +that ever got ahead of Potem Desmit in a trade yet. How's that, +Nimbus?" + +"I paid him all he axed," said the colored man, evidently flattered +by this tribute to his judgment as to the value of Red Wing. "Kase +white folks won't see good fine-terbacker lan' when dey walks ober +it, tain't my fault, is it?" + +"No more tain't, Nimbus; but don't yer s'pose yer Marse Potem's +smartly worried over it?" + +"La, no, I reckon not. He don't 'pear ter be, ennyhow. He war by +here when I was curin' up dis barn, an' stopped in an' looked at +it, an' axed a power ob questions, an' got Lugena ter bring him out +some buttermilk an' a corn pone. Den he went up an' sot an hour +in de school an' sed ez how he war mighty proud ter see one of his +ole nigga's gittin' on dat er way." + +"Wal, now, that was kind of him, wasn't it?" + +"Dat it war, sah, an' hit done us all a power ob good, too. Hev +you ebber ben ter de school, Mr. Sheriff? No? wal, yer oughter; +an' you, too, Capting. Dar's a little Yankee woman, Miss Mollie +Ainslie, a runnin' ob it, dat do beat all curration fer managin' +tings. I'd nebber'd got long so h'yer, not by no means, ez I hez, +but fer her advice--her'n an' 'Liab's, gentlemen. Dar she am now," +he added, as a slight figure, mounted on a powerful black horse, +and dressed in a dark riding-habit, with a black plume hanging from +a low-crowned felt hat, came out of the woods below and cantered +easily along the road a hundred yards away, toward the school-house. +The visitors watched her curiously, and expressed a desire to visit +the school. Nimbus said that if they would walk on slowly he would +go by the house and get his coat and overtake them before they +reached the school-house. As they walked along the sheriff said, + +"Did you notice the horse that Yankee schoolmarm rode?" + +"I noticed that it was a very fine one," was the reply. + +"I should think it was. I haven't seen a horse in an age that +reminded me so much of the one I was telling you about that Hesden +Le Moyne used to have. He is fuller and heavier, but if I was not +afraid of making Hesden mad I would rig him about a nigger-teacher's +riding his horse around the country. Of course it's not the same, +but it would be a good joke, only Hesden Le Moyne is not exactly +the man one wants to start a joke on." + +When they arrived at the school-house they found that Mollie +Ainslie had changed her habit and was now standing by the desk on +the platform in the main room, clad in a neat half-mourning dress, +well adapted to the work of the school-room, quiet and composed, +tapping her bell to reduce to order the many-hued crowd of scholars of +all ages and sizes who were settling into their places preparatory +to the morning roll-call. Nimbus took his visitors up the broad aisle, +through an avenue of staring eyes, and introduced them awkwardly, +but proudly, to the self-collected little figure on the platform. +She in turn presented to them her assistant, Miss Lucy Ellison, +a blushing, peach-cheeked little Northern beauty, and Eliab Hill, +now advanced to the dignity of an assistant also, who sat near her +on the platform. The sheriff nodded awkwardly to the ladies, as +if doubtful how much deference it would do to display, said, "How +d'ye, 'Liab?" to the crippled colored man, laid his saddle-bags on +the floor, and took the chair assigned to him. The Northern man +greeted the young ladies with apparent pleasure and profound respect, +shook hands with the colored man, calling him "Mister" Hill, and +before sitting down looked out on the crowded school with evident +surprise. + +Before proceeding with the roll-call Miss Ainslie took the large +Bible which lay upon her desk, and approaching the gentlemen said: + +"It is our custom every morning to read a portion of the Scripture +and offer prayer. We should be glad if either of you would conduct +these exercises for us." + +Both declined, the sheriff with some confusion, and the other +remarking that he desired to see the school going on as if he were +not present, in order that he might the better observe its exercises. + +Miss Ainslie returned to her desk, called the roll of a portion +of the scholars, and then each of her assistants called the names +of those assigned to their charge. A selection from the Scripture +was next read by the preceptress, a hymn sung under her lead with +great spirit and correctness, and then Eliab Hill, clasping his +hands, said, "Let us pray." The whole school knelt, the ladies +bowed their heads upon the desk, and Eliab offered an appropriate +prayer, in which the strangers were not forgotten, but were each +kindly and fitly commended to the Divine care. Then there was an +impromptu examination of the school. Each of the teachers heard a +class recite, there was more singing, with other agreeable exercises, +and it was noon before the visitors thought of departing. Then they +were invited to dine with the lady teachers at the old Ordinary, +and would have declined, on the ground that they must go on to the +next precinct, but Nimbus, who had been absent for an hour, now +appeared and brought word that the table was spread on the porch +under the great oak, and their horses already cared for; so that +excuse would evidently be useless. The sheriff was very uneasy, +but the other seemed by no means displeased at the delay. However, +the former recovered when he saw the abundant repast, and told many +amusing stories of the old hostel. At length he said: + +"That is a fine horse you rode this morning, Miss Ainslie. May I +ask to whom it belongs?" + +"To me, of course," replied the lady, in some surprise. + +"I did not know," replied the sheriff, slightly confused. "Have +you owned him long?" + +"Nearly two years, she answered." + +"Indeed? Somehow I can't get it out of my head that I have seen him +before, while I am quite sure I never had the pleasure of meeting +you until to-day." + +"Quite likely," she answered; "Nimbus sometimes rides him into +Melton for the mail." + +"No," said he, shaking his head, "that is not it. But, no matter, +he's a fine horse, and if you leave here or wish to sell him at +any time, I hope you will rememher and give me a first chance." + +He was astonished at the result of his harmless proposal. + +"Sir," said the little lady, her gray eyes filling and her voice +choking with emotion, "that was my only brother's favorite horse. +He rode him in the army, and gave him to me when he died. No money +could buy him under any circumstances." + +"Beg pardon," said the sheriff; "I had no idea--I--ah--" + +To relieve his embarrassment the officer brought forward the special +object of his visit by stating that it was thought desirable to +establish a voting precinct at Red Wing for the coming election, +if a suitable place to hold the election could be found, and asked +if the school-house could be obtained for that purpose. A lively +conversation ensued, in which both gentlemen set forth the advantages +of the location to the voters of that section. Miss Ellison seemed +to favor it, but the little lady who was in charge only asked +questions and looked thoughtful. When at length her opinion was +directly asked, she said: + +"I had heard of this proposal through both Mr. Hill and Nimbus, and +I must say I quite agree with the view taken by the former. If it +were necessary in order to secure the exercise of their rights by +the colored men I would not object; but I cannot see that it is. +It would, of course, direct even more attention to our school, and +I do not think the feeling toward us among our white neighbors is +any too kindly now. We have received no serious ill-treatment, it +is true, but this is the first time any white person has ventured +into our house. I don't think that anything should be done to excite +unnecessary antipathy which might interfere with what I must consider +the most important element of the colored man's development, the +opportunity for education." + +"Why, they hold the League meetings there, don't they?" asked the +sheriff, with a twinkle which questioned her sincerity. + +"Certainly," she answered calmly. "At least I gave them leave to +do so, and have no doubt they do. I consider that necessary. The +colored men should be encouraged to consider and discuss political +affairs and decide in regard to them from their own standpoint. +The League gives them this opportunity. It seems to be a quiet +and orderly gathering. They are all colored men of the same way of +thought, in the main, and it is carried on entirely by them; at +least, such is the case here, and I consider the practice which it +gives in the discussion of public affairs and the conduct of public +assemblies as a most valuable training for the adults who will +never have a chance to learn otherwise." + +"I think Nimbus is in favor of having the election here," said +Captain Pardee. + +"No doubt," she replied. "So are they all, and they have been very +pressing in their importunity--all except Mr. Hill. They are proud +of their school and the building, which is the joint product of +their own labor and the helpfulness of Northern friends, and are +anxious for every opportunity to display their unexpected prosperity. +It is very natural, but I think unwise." + +"Nimbus owns the land, don't he?" asked the sheriff. + +"No, He gave that for school and church purposes, and, except that +they have a right to use it on the Sabbath, it is in my charge as +the principal teacher here," she replied, wilh dignity. + +"And you do not desire the election held here?" asked Captain +Pardee. + +"I am sorry to discommode the voters around here, white or black, +but I would not balance a day's time or a day's walk against the +more important interests of this school to the colored people. They +can walk ten miles to vote, if need be, but no exertion of theirs +could replace even the building and its furniture, let alone the +school which it shelters." + +"That is very true," said the officer, thoughtfully. + +So the project was abandoned, and Melton remained the nearest +polling-place to Red Wing. + +As they rode away the two representatives of antipodal thought +discussed the scenes they had witnessed that day, which were equally +new to them both, and naturally enough drew from them entirely +different conclusions. The Northern man enthusiastically prophesied +the rapid rise and miraculous development of the colored race +under the impetus of free schools and free thought. The Southern +man only saw in it a prospect of more "sassy niggers," like Nimbus, +who was "a good enough nigger, but mighty aggravating to the white +folks." + +With regard to the teachers, he ventured only this comment: + +"Captain, it's a mighty pity them gals are teaching a nigger school. +They're too likely for such work--too likely by half." + +The man whom he addressed only gave a low, quiet laugh at this +remark, which the other found it difficult to interpret. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE SHADOW OF THE FLAG. + + +As soon as it became known that the plan of having a polling-place +at Red Wing had been abandoned, there was an almost universal +expression of discontent among the colored people. Never before had +the authority or wisdom of the teachers been questioned. The purity +of their motives and the devotion they had displayed in advancing +every interest of those to whom they had come as the missionaries +of light and freedom, had hitherto protected them from all jealousy +or suspicion on the part of the beneficiaries of their devotion. +Mollie Ainslie had readily and naturally fallen into the habit +of controlling and directing almost everything about her, simply +because she had been accustomed to self-control and self-direction, +and was by nature quick to decide and resolute to act. Conscious +of her own rectitude, and fully realizing the dangers which might +result from the experiment proposed, she had had no hesitation +about withholding her consent, without which the school-house could +not be used, and had not deemed it necessary to consult the general +wish of the villagers in regard to it. Eliab Hill had approved her +action, and she had briefly spoken of it to Nimbus--that was all. + +Now, the people of Red Wing, with Nimbus at their head, had set +their hearts upon having the election held there. The idea was +flattering to their importance, a recognition of their manhood +and political co-ordination which was naturally and peculiarly +gratifying. So they murmured and growled, and the discontent grew +louder and deeper until, on the second day thereafter, Nimbus, with +two or three other denizens of Red Wing, came, with gloomy, sullen +faces, to the school-house at the hour for dismissal, to hold an +interview with Miss Ainslie on the subject. She knew their errand, +and received them with that cool reserve which so well became her +determined face and slight, erect figure. When they had stated +their desire, and more than half indicated their determination to +have the election held there at all hazards, she said briefly, + +"I have not the slightest objection." + +"Dar now," said Nimbus exultingly; "I 'llowed dar mus' be somethin' +wrong 'bout it. They kep' tellin' me that you 'posed it, an' tole +de Capting dat it couldn't never be held here wid your consent +while you wuz in de school." + +"So I did." + +"You don't say? an' now yer's changed yer mind." + +"I have not changed my mind at all." "No? Den what made you say +yer hadn't no 'jections, just now." + +"Because I have not. It is a free country. You say you are determined +to have the election here, I am fully convinced that it would do +harm. Yet you have a right to provide a place, and hold it here, +if you desire. That I do not question, and shall not attempt +to prevent; only, the day that you determine to do so I shall +pack up my trunk, ride over to Boyleston, deliver the keys to the +superintendent, and let him do as he chooses about the matter." + +"Yer don't mean ter say yer'd go an' leave us fer good, does yer, +Miss Mollie?" asked Nimbus in surprise. + +"Certainly," was the reply; "when the people have once lost confidence +in me, and I am required to give up my own deliberate judgment to +a whimsical desire for parade, I can do no more good here, and will +leave at once." + +"Sho, now, dat won't do at all--no more it won't," responded Nimbus. +"Ef yer feel's dat er way 'bout it, der ain't no mo' use a-talkin'. +Dere's gwine ter be nary 'lection h'yer ef it really troubles you +ladies dat 'er way." + +So it was decided, and once again there was peace. + +To compensate themselves for this forbearance, however, it was +suggested that the colored voters of Red Wing and vicinity should +meet at the church on the morning of election and march in a body +to the polls with music and banners, in order most appropriately and +significantly to commemorate their first exercise of the electoral +privilege. To this Miss Ainslie saw no serious objection, and +in order fully to conciliate Nimbus, who might yet feel himself +aggrieved by her previous decision, she tendered him the loan of +her horse on the occasion, he having been elected marshal. + +From that time until the day of the election there was considerable +excitement. There were a number of political harangues made in +the neighborhood; the League met several times; the colored men +appeared anxious and important about the new charge committed to +their care; the white people were angry, sullen, and depressed. +The school at Red Wing went peaceably on, interrupted only by the +excitement attendant upon the preparations making for the expected +parade. + +Almost every night, after work was over, the colored people would +gather in the little hamlet and march to the music of a drum and +fife, and under the command of Nimbus, whose service in the army +had made him a tolerable proficient in such tactical movements as +pertained to the "school of the company." Very often, until well +past midnight the fife and drum, the words of command, and the +rumble of marching feet could be heard in the little village. The +white people in the country around about began to talk about "the +niggers arming and drilling," saying that they intended to "seize +the polls on election day;" "rise up and murder the whites;" "burn +all the houses along the river;" and a thousand other absurd and +incredible things which seemed to fill the air, to grow and multiply +like baleful spores, without apparent cause. As a consequence +of this there grew up a feeling of apprehension among the colored +men also. They feared that these things were said simply to make a +ready and convenient excuse for violence which was to be perpetrated +upon them in order to prevent the exercise of their legal rights. + +So there were whisperings and apprehension and high resolve upon +both sides. The colored men, conscious of their own rectitude, were +either unaware of the real light in which their innocent parade was +regarded by their white neighbors, or else laughed at the feeling +as insincere and groundless. The whites, having been for generations +firm believers in the imminency of servile insurrections; devoutly +crediting the tradition that the last words of George Washington, +words of wisdom and warning, were, "Never trust a nigger with a gun;" +and accustomed to chafe each other into a fever heat of excitement +over any matter of public interest, were ready to give credence +to any report--all the more easily because of its absurdity. On +the other hand, the colored people, hearing these rumors, said to +themselves that it was simply a device to prevent them from voting, +or to give color and excuse for a conflict at the polls. + +There is no doubt that both were partly right and partly wrong. +While the parade was at first intended simply as a display, it came +to be the occasion of preparation for an expected attack, and as +the rumors grew more wild and absurd, so did each side grow more +earnest and sincere. The colored men determined to exercise their +rights openly and boldly, and the white men were as fully determined +that at any exhibition of "impudence" on the part of the "niggers" +they would teach them a lesson they would not soon forget. + +None of this came to the ears of Mollie Ainslie. Nevertheless she +had a sort of indefinite foreboding of evil to come out of it, and +wished that she had exerted her influence to prevent the parade. + +On the morning of the election day a motley crowd collected at an +early hour at Red Wing. It was noticeable that every one carried +a heavy stick, though there was no other show of arms among them. +Some of them, no doubt, had pistols, but there were no guns in the +crowd. They seemed excited and alarmed. A few notes from the fife, +however, banished all irresolution, and before eight o'clock two +hundred men gathered from the country round marched away toward +Melton, with a national flag heading the column, in front of which +rode Eliab Hill in the carryall belonging to Nimbus. With them +went a crowd of women and children, numbering as many more, all +anxious to witness the first exercise of elective power by their +race, only just delivered from the bonds of slavery. The fife +screeched, the drum rattled; laughter and jests and high cheer +prevailed among them all. As they marched on, now and then a white +man rode past them, silent and sullen, evidently enraged at the +display which was being made by the new voters. As they drew nearer +to the town it became evident that the air was surcharged with +trouble. Nimbus sent back Miss Ainslie's horse, saying that he was +afraid it might get hurt. The boy that took it innocently repeated +this remark to his teacher. + +Within the town there was great excitement. A young man who had passed +Red Wing while the men were assembling had spurred into Melton and +reported with great excitement that the "niggers" were collecting +at the church and Nimbus was giving out arms and ammunition; that +they were boasting of what they would do if any of their votes were +refused; that they had all their plans laid to meet negroes from +other localities at Melton, get up a row, kill all the white men, +burn the town, and then ravish the white women. This formula of +horrors is one so familiar to the Southern tongue that it runs off +quite unconsciously whenever there is any excitement in the air +about the "sassy niggers." It is the "form of sound words," which +is never forgotten. Its effect upon the Southern white man is +magical. It moves him as the red rag does a mad bull. It takes away +all sense and leaves only an abiding desire to kill. + +So this rumor awakened great excitement as it flew from lip to lip. +Few questioned its verity, and most of those who heard felt bound +in conscience to add somewhat to it as they passed it on to the +next listener. Each one that came in afterward was questioned +eagerly upon the hypothesis of a negro insurrection having already +taken shape. "How many are there?" "Who is at the head of it?" +"How are they armed?" "What did they say?" were some of the queries +which overwhelmed every new comer. It never seemed to strike any +one as strange that if the colored men had any hostile intent they +should let these solitary horsemen pass them unmolested. The fever +spread. Revolvers were flourished and shot-guns loaded; excited +crowds gathered here and there, and nearly everybody in the +town sauntered carelessly toward the bridge across which Nimbus' +gayly-decked column must enter the town. A few young men rode out +to reconnoitre, and every few minutes one would come dashing back +upon a reeking steed, revolver in hand, his mouth full of strange +oaths and his eyes flaming with excitement. + +It was one of these that precipitated the result. The flag which +waved over the head of the advancing column had been visible from +the town for some time as now and then it passed over the successive +ridges to the eastward. The sound of fife and drum had become more +and more distinct, and a great portion of the white male population, +together with those who had come in to the election from the +surrounding country, had gathered about the bridge spanning the swift +river which flowed between Melton and the hosts of the barbarous +and bloodthirsty "niggers" of the Red Wing country. Several of +the young scouts had ridden close up to the column with tantalizing +shouts and insulting gestures and then dashed back to recount their +own audacity; until, just as the Stars and Stripes began to show +over the last gullied hill, one of them, desirous of outdoing his +comrades in bravado, drew his revolver, flourished it over his head, +and cast a shower of insulting epithets upon the colored pilgrims +to the shrine of ballatorial power. He was answered from the dusky +crowd with words as foul as his own. Such insult was not to be +endured. Instantly his pistol was raised, there was a flash, a puff +of fleecy smoke, a shriek from amid the crowd. + +At once all was confusion. Oaths, cries, pistol-shots, and a shower +of rocks filled the air as the young man turned and spurred back +to the town. In a moment the long covered-bridge was manned by +a well-armed crowd, while others were seen running toward it. The +town was in an uproar. + +The officers of election had left the polls, and in front of the +bridge could be seen Hesden Le Moyne and the burly sheriff striving +to keep back the angry crowd of white men. On the hill the colored +men, for a moment struck with amazement, were now arming with stones, +in dead earnest, uttering loud cries of vengeance for one of their +number who, wounded and affrighted, lay groaning and writhing by +the roadside. They outnumbered the whites very greatly, but the +latter excelled them in arms, in training, and in position. Still, +such was their exasperation at what seemed to them a wanton and +unprovoked attack, that they were preparing to charge upon the +bridge without delay. Nimbus especially was frantic with rage. + +"It's the flag!" he shouted; "the damned rebels are firing on the +flag!" He strode back and forth, waving an old cavalry sabre +which he had brought to mark his importance as marshal of the day, +and calling on his followers to stand by him and they would "clean +out the murderous crowd." A few pistol shots which were fired from +about the bridge but fell far short, added to their excitement and +desperation. + +Just as they were about to rush down the hillside, Mollie Ainslie, +with a white set face, mounted on her black horse, dashed in front +of them, and cried, + +"Halt!" + +Eliab Hill had long been imploring them with upraised hands to be +calm and listen to reason, but his voice was unheeded or unheard +in the wild uproar. The sight of the woman, however, whom all of +them regarded so highly, reining in her restive horse and commanding +silence, arrested the action of all. But Nimbus, now raging like a +mad lion, strode up to her, waving his sword and cursing fearfully +in his wild wrath, and said hoarsely: + +"You git out o' de way, Miss Mollie! We all tinks a heap ob you, +but yer hain't got no place h'yer! De time's come for _men_ +now, an' dis is men's wuk, an' we's gwine ter du it, too! D'yer +see dat man dar, a-bleedin' an' a-groanin'? Blood's been shed! We's +been fired into kase we wuz gwine ter exercise our rights like men +under de flag ob our kentry, peaceable, an' quiet, an' disturbin' +nobody! 'Fore God, Miss Mollie, ef we's men an' fit ter hev enny +rights, we won't stan' dat! We'll hev blood fer blood! Dat's what +we means! You jes git outen de way!" he added imperiously. "We'll +settle dis yer matter ourselves!" He reached out his hand as he +spoke to take her horse by the bit. + +"Stand back!" cried the brave girl. "Don't you touch him, sir!" She +urged her horse forward, and Nimbus, awed by her intensity, slowly +retreated before her, until she was but a pace or two in front of +the line which stretched across the road. Then leaning forward, +she said, + +"Nimbus, give me your sword!" + +"What you wants ob dat, Miss Mollie?" he asked in surprise. + +"No matter; hand it to me!" + +He took it by the blade, and held the heavy basket-hilt toward her. +She clasped her small white fingers around the rough, shark-skin +handle and raised it over her head as naturally as a veteran leader +desiring to command attention, and said: + +"Now, Nimbus, and the rest of you, you all know that I am your +friend. My brother was a soldier, and fought for your liberty on +this very horse. I have never advised you except for your good, and +you know I never will. If it is right and best for you to right now, +I will not hinder you. Nay, I will say God-speed, and for aught I +know fight with you. I am no coward, if I am a woman. You know what +I have risked already for your good. Now tell me what has happened, +and what this means." + +There was a cheer at this, and fifty excited voices began the +story. + +"Stop! stop!'" she cried. "Keep silent, all of you, and let Mr. +Hill tell it alone. He was here in front and saw it all." + +Thereupon she rode up beside the carry-all, which was now in the +middle of the throng, and listened gravely while Eliab told the +whole story of the march from Red Wing, There was a buzz when he +had ended, which she stilled by a word and a wave of the hand, and +then turning to Nimbus she said: + +"Nimbus, I appoint you to keep order in this crowd until my return. +Do not let any man, woman, or child move forward or back, whatever +may occur. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, ma'am, I hears; but whar you gwine, Miss Mollie?" + +"Into the town." + +"No yer don't, Miss Mollie," said he, stepping before her. "Dey'll +kill you, shore." + +"No matter. I am going. You provoked this affray by your foolish +love of display, and it must be settled now, or it will be a matter +of constant trouble hereafter." + +"But, Miss Mollie--" + +"Not a word! You have been a soldier and should obey orders. Here +is your sword. Take it, and keep order here. Examine that poor +fellow's wound, and I will go and get a doctor for him." + +She handed Nimbus his sword and turned her horse toward the bridge. +Then a wail of distress arose from the crowd. The women begged her +not to go, with tears. She turned in her saddle, shook her head, +and raised her hand to show her displeasure at this. Then she took +a handkerchief from her pocket and half waving it as she proceeded, +went toward the bridge. + +"Well, I swear," said the sheriff; "if that are gal ain't coming +in with a flag of truce. She's pluck, anyhow. You ought to give +her three cheers, boys." + +The scene which had been enacted on the hill had been closely watched +from the bridge and the town, and Mollie's conduct had been pretty +well interpreted though her words could not be heard. The nerve which +she had exhibited had excited universal comment, and it needed no +second invitation to bring off every hat and send up, in her honor, +the shrill yell with which our soldiers became familiar during the +war. + +Recognizing this, her pale face became suffused with blushes, and +she put her handkerchief to her lips to hide their tremulousness as +she came nearer. She ran her eyes quickly along the line of strange +faces, until they fell upon the sheriff, by whom stood Hesden Le +Moyne. She rode straight to them and said, + +"Oh, Mr. Sheriff--" + +Then she broke down, and dropping the rein on her horse's neck, +she pressed her handkerchief to her face and wept. Her slight frame +shook with sobs. The men looked at her with surprise and pity. +There was even a huskiness in the sheriff's voice as he said, + +"Miss Ainslie--I--I beg your pardon, ma'am-but--" + +She removed the handkerchief, but the tears were still running down +her face as she said, glancing round the circle of sympathizing +faces: + +"Do stop this, gentlemen. It's all a mistake. I know it must be a +mistake!" + +"We couldn't help it, ma'am," said one impulsive youth, putting in +before the elders had time to speak; "the niggers was marching on +the town here. Did you suppose we was going to sit still and let +them burn and ravage without opposition? Oh, we haven't got so low +as that, if the Yankees did outnumber us. Not yet!" + +There was a sneering tone in his voice which did more than sympathy +could, to restore her equanimity. So she said, with a hint of a +smile on her yet tearful face, + +"The worst thing those poor fellows meant to do, gentlemen, was +to make a parade over their new-found privileges--march up to the +polls, vote, and march home again. They are just like a crowd of +boys over a drum and fife, as you know. They carefully excluded +from the line all who were not voters, and I had them arranged so +that their names would come alphabetically, thinking it might be +handier for the officers; though I don't know anything about how an +election is conducted," she added, with an ingenuous blush. "It's +all my fault, gentlemen! I did not think any trouble could come +of it, or I would not have allowed it for a moment. I thought it +would be better for them to come in order, vote, and go home than +to have them scattered about the town and perhaps getting into +trouble." + +"So 'twould," said the sheriff. "Been a first-rate thing if we'd +all understood it--first-rate." + +"Oh, I'm so sorry, gentlemen--so sorry, and I'm afraid one man is +killed. Would one of you be kind enough to go for a doctor?" + +"Here is one," said several voices, as a young man stepped forward +and raised his hat respectfully. + +"I will go and see him," he said. + +He walked on up the hill alone. + +"Well, ma'am," said the sheriff, "what do you think should be done +now?" + +"If you would only let these people come in and vote, gentlemen. +They will return at once, and I would answer with my life for +their good behavior. I think it was all a misunderstanding." + +"Certainly--certainly, ma'am," said the sheriff. "No doubt about +it." + +She turned her horse and was about to ride back up the hill, but +Hesden Le Moyne, taking off his hat, said: + +"Gentlemen, I think we owe a great deal to the bravery of this +young lady. I have no doubt but all she says is literally true. +Yet we like to have got into trouble which might have been very +serious in its consequences, nay, perhaps has already resulted +seriously. But for her timely arrival, good sense, and courage there +would have been more bloodshed; our town would have been disgraced, +troops posted among us, and perhaps lives taken in retaliation. +Now, considering all this, I move a vote of thanks to the lady, +and that we all pledge ourselves to take no notice of these people, +but let them come in and vote and go out, without interruption. +All that are in favor of that say Aye!" + +Every man waved his hat, there was a storm of "ayes," and then the +old rebel yell again, as, bowing and blushing with pleasure, Mollie +turned and rode up the hill. + +There also matters had assumed a more cheerful aspect by reason of +her cordial reception at the bridge, and the report of the surgeon +that the man's wound, though quite troublesome, was by no means +serious. She told in a few words what had occurred, explained the +mistake, reminded them that such a display would naturally prove +very exasperating to persons situated as the others were, counselled +moderation and quietness of demeanor, and told them to re-form +their ranks and go forward, quietly vote, and return. A rousing +cheer greeted her words. Eliab Hill uttered a devout prayer +of thankfulness. Nimbus blunderingly said it was all his fault, +"though he didn't mean no harm," and then suggested that the flag +and music should be left there in charge of some of the boys, +which was approved. The wounded man was put into the carry-all by +the side of Eliab, and they started down the hill. The sheriff, who +was waiting at the bridge, called out for them to bring the flag +along and have the music strike up. + +So, with flying colors and rattling drum-beat, the voters of Red +Wing marched to the polls; the people of Melton looked good-naturedly +on; the young hot-bloods joked the dusky citizen, and bestowed +extravagant encomiums on the plucky girl who had saved them from +so much threatened trouble; and Mollie Ainslie rode home with a hot, +flushed face, and was put to bed by her co-laborer, the victim of +a raging headache. + +"I declare, Mollie Ainslie," said Lucy, "you are the queerest girl I +ever saw. I believe you would ride that horse into a den of lions, +and then faint because you were not eaten up. I could never do what +you have done--never in the world--but if did I wouldn't get sick +because it was all over." + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PHANTASMAGORIA. + + +The day after the election a colored lad rode up to the school-house, +delivered a letter for Miss Ainslie to one of the scholars, and +rode away. The letter was written in an even, delicate hand, which +was yet full of feminine strength, and read as follows: + +"MISS AINSLIE: + +"My son Hesden has told me of your courage in preventing what must +otherwise have resulted in a most terrible conflict yesterday, and +I feel it to be my duty, in behalf of many ladies whose husbands and +sons were present on that occasion, to express to you our gratitude. +It is seldom that such opportunity presents itself to our sex, and +still more seldom that we are able to improve it when presented. +Your courage in exerting the power you have over the peculiar people +toward whom you hold such important relations, commands my utmost +admiration. It is a matter of the utmost congratulation to the good +people of Horsford that one of such courage and prudence occupies +the position which you hold. I am afraid that the people whom you +are teaching can never be made to understand and appreciate the +position into which they have been thrust by the terrible events +of the past few years. I am sure, however, that you will do all +in your power to secure that result, and most earnestly pray for +your success. Could I leave my house I should do myself the pleasure +to visit your school and express my gratitude in person. As it is, +I can only send the good wishes of a weak old woman, who, though +once a slave-mistress, was most sincerely rejoiced at the down-fall +of a system she had always regarded with regret, despite the +humiliation it brought to her countrymen. + +"HESTER LE MOYNE." + +This was the first word of commendation which had been received +from any Southern white woman, and the two lonely teachers were +greatly cheered by it. When we come to analyze its sentences there +seems to be a sort of patronizing coolness in it, hardly calculated +to awaken enthusiasm. The young girls who had given themselves +to what they deemed a missionary work of peculiar urgency and +sacredness, did not stop to read between the lines, however, but +perused with tears of joy this first epistle from one of their own +sex in that strange country where they had been treated as leprous +outcasts by all the families who belonged to the race of which +they were unconscious ornaments. They jumped to the conclusion that +a new day was dawning, and that henceforth they would have that +companionship and sympathy which they felt that they deserved from +the Christian women by whom they were surrounded. + +"What a dear, good old lady she must be!" exclaimed the pretty +and gushing Lucy Ellison. "I should like to kiss her for that sweet +letter." + +So they took heart of grace, talked with the old "Mammy" who had +charge of their household arrangements about the gentle invalid +woman, whom she had served as a slave, and pronounced "jes de +bestest woman in de worl', nex' to my young ladies," and then they +went on with their work with renewed zeal. + +Two other results followed this affair, which tended greatly to +relieve the monotony of their lives. A good many gentlemen called +in to see the school, most of them young men who were anxious for +a sight of the brave lady who had it in charge, and others merely +desirous to see the pretty Yankee "nigger teachers." Many would, no +doubt, have become more intimate with them, but there was something +in the terms of respectful equality on which they associated with +their pupils, and especially with their co-worker, Eliab Hill, which +they could not abide or understand. The fame of the adventure had +extended even beyond the county, however, and raised them very +greatly in the esteem of all the people. + +Miss Ainslie soon noticed that the gentlemen she met in her rides, +instead of passing her with a rude or impudent stare began to greet +her with polite respect. Besides this, some of the officers of +the post at Boyleston, hearing of the gallant conduct of their +country-woman, rode over to pay their respects, and brought back +such glowing reports of the beauty and refinement of the teachers +at Red Wing that the distance could not prevent others of the garrison +from following their example; and the old Ordinary thereafter +witnessed many a pleasant gathering under the grand old oak which +shaded it. Both of the teachers found admirers in the gallant +company, and it soon became known that Lucy Ellison would leave +her present situation erelong to brighten the life of a young +lieutenant. It was rumored, too, that another uniform covered the +sad heart of a cavalier who asked an exchange into a regiment on +frontier duty, because Mollie Ainslie had failed to respond favorably +to his passionate addresses. + +So they taught, read, sang, wandered along the wood-paths in +search of new beauties to charm their Northern eyes; rode together +whenever Lucy could be persuaded to mount Nimbus' mule, which, despite +its hybrid nature, was an excellent saddle-beast; entertained with +unaffected pleasure the officers who came to cheer their loneliness; +and under the care of their faithful old "Mammy" and the oversight +of a kind-hearted, serious-faced Superintendent, who never missed +Red Wing in his monthly rounds, they kept their oddly transformed +home bright and cheerful, their hearts light and pure, and their +faith clear, daily thanking God that they were permitted to do what +they thought to be His will. + +All of their experiences were not so pleasant. By their own sex +they were still regarded with that calm, unobserving indifference +with which the modern lady treats the sister who stands without +the pale of reputable society. So far as the "ladies" of Horsford +were concerned, the "nigger teachers" at Red Wing stood on the plane +of the courtesan--they were _seen_ but not _known._ The +recognition which they received from the gentlemen of Southern +birth had in it not a little of the shame-faced curiosity which +characterizes the intercourse of men with women whose reputations +have been questioned but not entirely destroyed. They were treated +with apparent respect, in the school-room, upon the highway, or +at the market, by men who would not think of recognizing them when +in the company of their mothers, sisters, or wives. Such treatment +would have been too galling to be borne had it not been that the +spotless-minded girls were all too pure to realize its significance. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +A CHILD-MAN. + + +Eliab Hill had from the first greatly interested the teachers +at Red Wing. The necessities of the school and the desire of the +charitable Board having it in charge, to accustom the colored people +to see those of their own race trusted and advanced, had induced +them to employ him as an assistant teacher, even before he was +really competent for such service. It is true he was given charge +of only the most rudimentary work, but that fact, while it inspired +his ambition, showed him also the need of improvement and made him +a most diligent student. + +Lucy Ellison, as being the most expert in housewifely accomplishments, +had naturally taken charge of the domestic arrangements at the +Ordinary, and as a consequence had cast a larger share of the +school duties upon her "superior officer," as she delighted to call +Mollie Ainslie. This division of labor suited well the characteristics +of both. To plan, direct, and manage the school came as naturally +and easily to the stirring Yankee "school-marm" as did the ordering +of their little household to the New York farmer's daughter. Among +the extra duties thus devolved upon the former was the supervision +and direction of the studies of Eliab Hill. As he could not +consistently with the requisite discipline be included in any of the +regular classes that had been formed, and his affliction prevented +him from coming to them in the evening for private instruction, +she arranged to teach him at the school-house after school hours. +So that every day she remained after the school was dismissed to +give him an hour's instruction. His careful attention and rapid +progress amply repaid her for this sacrifice, and she looked +forward with much pleasure to the time when, after her departure, +he should be able to conduct the school with credit to himself and +profit to his fellows. + +Then, for the first time, she realized how great is the momentum +which centuries of intelligence and freedom give to the mind of +the learner--how unconscious is the acquisition of the great bulk +of that knowledge which goes to make up the Caucasian manhood of +the nineteenth century. + +Eliab's desire to acquire was insatiable, his application was +tireless, but what he achieved seemed always to lack a certain +flavor of completeness. It was without that substratum of general +intelligence which the free white student has partly inherited and +partly acquired by observation and experience, without the labor +or the consciousness of study. The whole world of life, business, +society, was a sealed book to him, which no other hand might open +for him; while the field of literature was but a bright tangled +thicket before him. + +That unconscious familiarity with the past which is as the +small-change of daily thought to us was a strange currency to his +mind. He had, indeed, the key to the value of each piece, and could, +with difficulty, determine its power when used by another, but he +did not give or receive the currency with instinctive readiness. +Two things had made him clearly the intellectual superior of his +fellows--the advantages of his early years by which he learned to +read, and the habit of meditation which the solitude of his stricken +life induced. This had made him a thinker, a philosopher far more +profound than his general attainments would naturally produce. With +the super-sensitiveness which always characterizes the afflicted, +also, he had become a most acute and subtle observer of the human +countenance, and read its infinite variety of expression with +ease and certainty. In two things he might be said to be profoundly +versed--the spirit of the Scriptures, and the workings of the +human heart. With regard to these his powers of expression were +commensurate with his knowledge. The Psalms of David were more +comprehensible to him than the simplest formulas of arithmetic. + +Mollie Ainslie was not unfrequently amazed at this inequality of +nature in her favorite pupil. On one side he seemed a full-grown +man of grand proportions; on the other, a pigmy-child. She had heard +him pour forth torrents of eloquence on the Sabbath, and felt the +force of a nature exceptionally rich and strong in its conception +of religious truths and human needs, only to find him on the +morrow floundering hopelessly in the mire of rudimentary science, +or getting, by repeated perusals, but an imperfect idea of some +author's words, which it seemed to her he ought to have grasped +at a glance. + +He had always been a man of thought, and now for two years he had +been studying after the manner of the schools, and his tasks were +yet but rudimentary. It is true, he had read much and had learned +not a little in a thousand directions which he did not appreciate, +but yet he was discouraged and despondent, and it is no wonder that +he was so. The mountain which stood in his pathway could not be +climbed over nor passed by, but pebble by pebble and grain by grain +must be removed, until a broad, smooth highway showed instead. And +all this he must do before he could comprehend the works of those +writers whose pages glow with light to _our_ eyes from the +very first. He read and re-read these, and groped his way to their +meaning with doubt and difficulty. + +Being a woman, Mollie Ainslie was not speculative. She could not +solve this problem of strength and weakness. In power of thought, +breadth of reasoning, and keenness of analysis she felt that +he was her master; in knowledge--the power of acquiring and using +scientific facts--she could but laugh at his weakness. It puzzled +her. She wondered at it; but she had never sought to assign a reason +for it. It remained for the learner himself to do this. One day, +after weeks of despondency, he changed places with his teacher +during the hour devoted to his lessons, and taught her why it was +that he, Eliab Hill, with all his desire to learn and his ceaseless +application to his tasks, yet made so little progress in the +acquisition of knowledge. + +"It ain't so much the words, Miss Mollie," he said, as he threw +down a book in which he had asked her to explain some passage she +had never read before, but the meaning of which came to her at a +glance--"it ain't so much the words as it is the ideas that trouble +me. These men who write seem to think and feel differently from +those I have known. I can learn the words, but when I have them +all right I am by no means sure that I know just what they mean," +"Why, you must," said the positive little Yankee woman; "when one +has the words and knows the meaning of all of them, he cannot help +knowing what the writer means." + +"Perhaps I do not put it as I should," said he sadly. "What I want +to say is, that there are thoughts and bearings that I can never +gather from books alone. They come to you, Miss Ainslie, and to +those like you, from those who were before you in the world, and +from things about you. It is the part of knowledge that can't be +put into books. Now I have none of that. My people cannot give +it to me. I catch a sight of it here and there. Now and then, +a conversation I heard years ago between some white men will come +up and make plain something that I am puzzling over, but it is not +easy for me to learn." + +"I do not think I understand you," she replied; "but if I do, I +am sure you are mistaken. How can you know the meanings of words, +and yet not apprehend the thought conveyed?" + +"I do not know _how_," he replied. "I only know that while +thought seems to come from the printed page to your mind like +a flash of light, to mine it only comes with difficulty and after +many readings, though I may know every word. For instance," he +continued, taking up a voiume of Tennyson which lay upon her table, +"take any passage. Here is one: 'Tears, idle tears, I know not what +they mean!' I have no doubt that brings a distinct idea to your +mind." + +"Yes," she replied, hesitatingly; "I never thought of it before, +but I think it does." + +"Well, it does not to mine. I cannot make out what is meant by +'idle' tears, nor whether the author means to say that he does not +know what 'tears' mean, or only 'idle' tears, or whether he does +not understand such a display of grief because it _is_ idle." + +"Might he not have meant any or all of these?" she asked. + +"That is it," he replied. "I want to know what he _did_ mean. +Of course, if I knew all about his life and ways, and the like, +I could tell pretty fully his meaning. You know them because his +thoughts are your thoughts, his life has been your life. You belong +to the same race and class. I am cut off from this, and can only +stumble slowly along the path of knowledge." + +Thus the simple-minded colored man, taught to meditate by the +solitude which his affliction enforced upon him, speculated in +regard to the _leges non scripta_ which control the action of +the human mind and condition its progress. + +"What has put you in this strange mood, Eliab?" asked the teacher +wonderingly. + +His face flushed, and the mobile mouth twitched with emotion as +he glanced earnestly toward her, and then, with an air of sudden +resolution, said: + +"Well, you see, that matter of the election--you took it all in +in a minute, when the horse came back. You knew the white folks +would feel aggravated by that procession, and there would be +trouble. Now, I never thought of that. I just thought it was nice +to be free, and have our own music and march under that dear old +flag to do the work of free men and citizens. That was all." + +"But Nimbus thought of it, and that was why he sent back the horse," +she answered. + +"Not at all. He only thought they might pester the horse to plague +him, and the horse might get away and be hurt. We didn't, none of +us, think what the white folks would feel, because we didn't know. +You did." + +"But why should this affect you?" + +"Just because it shows that education is something more that I +had thought--something so large and difficult that one of my age, +raised as I have been, can only get a taste of it at the best." + +"Well, what then? You are not discouraged?" + +"Not for myself--no. The pleasure of learning is reward enough to +me. But my people, Miss Mollie, I must think of them. I am only +a poor withered branch. They are the straight young tree. I must +think of them and not of Eliab. You have taught me--this affair, +everything, teaches me--that they can only be made free by knowledge. +I begin to see that the law can only give us an opportunity to make +ourselves freemen. Liberty must be earned; it cannot be given." + +"That is very true," said the practical girl, whose mind recognized +at once the fact which she had never formulated to herself. But +as she looked into his face, working with intense feeling and so +lighted with the glory of a noble purpose as to make her forget +the stricken frame to which it was chained, she was puzzled at what +seemed inconsequence in his words. So she added, wonderingly, "But +I don't see why this should depress you. Only think how much you +have done toward the end you have in view. Just think what you have +accomplished--what strides you have made toward a full and complete +manhood. You ought to be proud rather than discouraged." + +"Ah!" said he, "that has been for myself, Miss Mollie, not for my +people. What am I to my race? Aye," he continued, with a glance +at his withered limbs, "to the least one of them not--not--" He +covered his face with his hands and bowed his head in the self-abasement +which hopeless affliction so often brings. + +"Eliab," said the teacher soothingly, as if her pupil were a child +instead of a man older than herself, "you should not give way to +such thoughts. You should rise above them, and by using the powers +you have, become an honor to your race." + +"No, Miss Mollie," he replied, with a sigh, as he raised his head +and gazed into her face earnestly. "There ain't nothing in this +world for me to look forward to only to help my people. I am only +the dust on the Lord's chariot-wheels--only the dust, which must be +brushed out of the way in order that their glory may shine forth. +And that," he continued impetuously, paying no attention to her +gesture of remonstrance, "is what I wanted to speak to you about +this evening. It is hard to say, but I must say it--must say it +now. I have been taking too much of your time and attention, Miss +Mollie." + +"I am sure, Mr. Hill--" she began, in some confusion. + +"Yes, I have," he went on impetuously, while his face flushed hotly. +"It is the young and strong only who can enter into the Canaan the +Lord has put before our people. I thought for a while that we were +just standing on the banks of Jordan--that the promised land was +right over yon, and the waters piled up like a wall, so that even +poor weak 'Liab might cross over. But I see plainer now. We're +only just past the Red Sea, just coming into the wildnerness, and +if I can only get a glimpse from Horeb, wid my old eyes by and by, +'Liab 'll be satisfied. It'll be enough, an' more'n enough, for +him. He can only help the young ones--the lambs of the flock--a +little, mighty little, p'raps, but it's all there is for him to +do." "Why, Eliab--" began the astonished teacher again. + +"Don't! don't! Miss Mollie, if you please," he cried, with a look +of pain. "I'se done tried--I hez, Miss Mollie. God only knows how +I'se tried! But it ain't no use--no use," he continued, with a fierce +gesture, and relapsing unconsciously into the rougher dialect that +he had been training himself to avoid. "I can't do it, an' there's +no use a-tryin'. There ain't nothin' good for me in this worl'--not +in this worl'. It's hard to give it up, Miss Mollie--harder'n you'll +ever dream; but I hain't blind. I knows the brand is on me. It's +on my tongue now, that forgets all I've learned jes ez soon ez the +time of trial comes." + +He seemed wild with excitement as he leaned forward on the table +toward her, and accompanied his words with that eloquence of +gesticulation which only the hands that are tied to crippled forms +acquire. He paused suddenly, bowed his head upon his crossed arms, +and his frame shook with sobs. She rose, and would have come around +the table to him. Raising his head quickly, he cried almost fiercely: + +"Don't! don't! don't come nigh me, Miss Mollie! I'm going to do +a hard thing, almost too hard for me. I'm going to get off the +chariot-wheel--out of the light of the glory--out of the way of the +young and the strong! Them that's got to fight the Lord's battles +must have the training, and not them that's bound to fall in +the wilderness. The time is precious--precious, and must not be +wasted. You can't afford to spend so much of it on me! The Lord +can't afford ter hev ye, Miss Mollie! I must step aside, an' I'se +gwine ter do it now. If yer's enny time an' strength ter spar' +more'n yer givin' day by day in the school, I want yer should +give it to--to--Winnie an' 'Thusa--they're bright girls, that have +studied hard, and are young and strong. It is through such as them +that we must come up--our people, I mean. I want you to give them +my hour, Miss Mollie--_my_ hour! Don't say you won't do it!" +he cried, seeing a gesture of dissent. "Don't say it! You must do +it! Promise me, Miss Mollie--for my sake! for--promise me--now--quick! +afore I gets too weak to ask it!" + +"Why, certainly, Eliab," she said, in amazement, while she half +shrank from him as if in terror. "I will do it if you desire it so +much. But you should not get so excited. Calm yourself! I am sure +I don't see why you should take such a course; but, as you say, +they are two bright girls and will make good teachers, which are +much needed." + +"Thank God! thank God!" cried the cripple, as his head fell again +upon his arms. After a moment he half raised it and said, weakly, + +"Will you please call Nimbus, Miss Mollie? I must go home now. And +please, Miss Mollie, don't think hard of 'Liab--don't, Miss Mollie," +he said humbly. + +"Why should I?" she asked in surprise. "You have acted nobly, though +I cannot think you have done wisely. You are nervous now. You may +think differently hereafter. If you do, you have only to say so. +I will call Nimbus. Good-by!" + +She took her hat and gloves and went down the aisle. Happening +to turn near the door to replace a book her dress had brushed from +a desk, she saw him gazing after her with a look that haunted her +memory long afterward. + +As the door closed behind her he slid from his chair and bowed his +head upon it, crying out in a voice of tearful agony, "Thank God! +thank God!" again and again, while his unfinished form shook with +hysteric sobs. "And _she_ said I was not wise!" he half +laughed, as the tears ran down his face and he resumed his invocation +of thankfulness. Thus Nimbus found him and carried him home with +his wonted tenderness, soothing him like a babe, and wondering what +had occurred to discompose his usually sedate and cheerful friend. + +"I declare, Lucy," said Mollie Ainslie that evening, to her co-worker, +over their cosy tea, "I don't believe I shall ever get to understand +these people. There is that Eliab Hill, who was getting along +so nicely, has concluded to give up his studies. I believe he is +half crazy anyhow. He raved about it, and glared at me so that I +was half frightened out of my wits. I wonder why it is that cripples +are always so queer, anyhow?" + +She would have been still more amazed if she had known that from +that day Eliab Hill devoted himself to his studies with a redoubled +energy, which more than made up for the loss of his teacher's aid. +Had she herself been less a child she would have seen that he whom +she had treated as such was, in truth, a man of rare strength. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +HOW THE FALLOW WAS SEEDED. + + +The time had come when the influences so long at work, the seed +which the past had sown in the minds and hearts of races, must at +length bear fruit. The period of actual reconstruction had passed, +and independent, self-regulating States had taken the place +of Military Districts and Provisional Governments. The people of +the South began, little by little, to realize that they held their +future in their own hands--that the supervising and restraining +power of the General Government had been withdrawn. The colored +race, yet dazed with the new light of liberty, were divided between +exultation and fear. They were like a child taking his first +steps--full of joy at the last accomplished, full of terror at the +one which was before. + +The state of mind of the Southern white man, with reference to the +freedman and his exaltation to the privilege of citizenship is +one which cannot be too frequently analyzed or too closely kept in +mind by one who desires fully to apprehend the events which have +since occurred, and the social and political structure of the South +at this time. + +As a rule, the Southern man had been a kind master to his slaves. +Conscious cruelty was the exception. The real evils of the system +were those which arose from its _un_-conscious barbarism--the +natural and inevitable results of holding human beings as chattels, +without right, the power of self-defence or protestation--dumb +driven brutes, deprived of all volition or hope, subservient to +another's will, and bereft of every motive for self-improvement +as well as every opportunity to rise. The effect of this upon the +dominant race was to fix in their minds, with the strength of an +absorbing passion, the idea of their own innate and unimpeachable +superiority, of the unalterable inferiority of the slave-race, of the +infinite distance between the two, and of the depth of debasement +implied by placing the two races, in any respect, on the same +level. The Southern mind had no antipathy to the negro in a menial +or servile relation. On the contrary, it was generally kind and +considerate of him, as such. It regarded him almost precisely as +other people look upon other species of animate property, except +that it conceded to him the possession of human passions, appetites, +and motives. As a farmer likes to turn a favorite horse into a +fine pasture, watch his antics, and see him roll and feed and run; +as he pats and caresses him when he takes him out, and delights +himself in the enjoyment of the faithful beast--just so the slave-owner +took pleasure in the slave's comfort, looked with approval upon his +enjoyment of the domestic relation, and desired to see him sleek +and hearty, and physically well content. + +It was only _as a man_ that the white regarded the black with +aversion; and, in that point of view, the antipathy was all the +more intensely bitter since he considered the claim to manhood an +intrusion upon the sacred and exclusive rights of his own race. This +feeling was greatly strengthened by the course of legislation and +legal construction, both national and State. Many of the subtlest +exertions of American intellect were those which traced and defined +the line of demarcation, until there was built up between the races, +_considered as men_, a wall of separation as high as heaven +and as deep as hell. + +It may not be amiss to cite some few examples of this, which will +serve at once to illustrate the feeling itself, and to show the +steps in its progress. + +1. It was held by our highest judicial tribunal that the phrase "we +the people," in the Declaration of Independence, did not include +slaves, who were excluded from the inherent rights recited therein +and accounted divine and inalienable, embracing, of course, the +right of self-government, which rested on the others as substantial +premises. + +2. The right or privilege, whichever it may be, of intermarriage +with the dominant race was prohibited to the African in all the +States, both free and slave, and, for all legal purposes, that man +was accounted "colored" who had one-sixteenth of African blood. + +3. The common-law right of self-defence was gradually reduced by +legal subtlety, in the slave States, until only the merest shred +remained to the African, while the lightest word of disobedience or +gesture of disrespect from him, justified an assault on the part +of the white man. + +4. Early in the present century it was made a crime in all the +States of the South to teach a slave to read, the free blacks were +disfranchised, and the most stringent restraining statutes extended +over them, including the prohibition of public assembly, even for +divine worship, unless a white man were present. + +5. Emancipation was not allowed except by decree of a court +of record after tedious formality and the assumption of onerous +responsibilities on the part of the master; and it was absolutely +forbidden to be done by testament. + +6. As indicative of the fact that this antipathy was directed against +the colored man as a free agent, a man, solely, may be cited the +well-known fact of the enormous admixture of the races by illicit +commerce at the South, and the further fact that this was, in very +large measure, consequent upon the conduct of the most refined +and cultivated elements of Southern life. As a thing, an animal, a +mere existence, or as the servant of his desire and instrument of +his advancement, the Southern Caucasian had no antipathy to the +colored race. As one to serve, to nurse, to minister to his will +and pleasure, he appreciated and approved of the African to the +utmost extent. + +7. Every exercise of manly right, sentiment, or inclination, on the +part of the negro, was rigorously repressed. To attempt to escape +was a capital crime if repeated once or twice; to urge others to +escape was also capitally punishable; to learn to read, to claim +the rights of property, to speak insolently, to meet for prayer +without the sanction of the white man's presence, were all offences +against the law; and in this case, as in most others, the law was +an index as well as the source of a public sentiment, which grew +step by step with its progress in unconscious barbarity. + +8. Perhaps the best possible indication of the force of this +sentiment, in its ripened and intensest state, is afforded by the +course of the Confederate Government in regard to the proposal that +it should arm the slaves. In the very crisis of the struggle, when +the passions of the combatants were at fever heat, this proposition +was made. There was no serious question as to the efficiency or +faithfulness of the slaves. The masters did not doubt that, if +armed, with the promise of freedom extended to them, they would +prove most effective allies, and would secure to the Confederacy +that autonomy which few thoughtful men at that time believed it +possible to achieve by any other means. Such was the intensity of +this sentiment, however, that it was admitted to be impossible to +hold the Southern soldiery in the field should this measure be +adopted. So that the Confederacy, rather than surrender a tithe +of its prejudice against the negro _as a man_, rather than +owe its life to him, serving in the capacity of a soldier, chose +to suffer defeat and overthrow. The African might raise the food, +build the breastworks, and do aught of menial service or mere +manual labor required for the support of the Confederacy, without +objection or demurrer on the part of any; but they would rather +surrender all that they had fought so long and so bravely to secure, +rather than admit, even by inference, his equal manhood or his +fitness for the duty and the danger of a soldier's life. It was a +grand stubborness, a magnificent adherence to an adopted and declared +principle, which loses nothing of its grandeur from the fact that +we may believe the principle to have been erroneous. + +9. Another very striking and peculiar illustration of this sentiment +is the fact that one of the most earnest advocates of the abolition of +slavery, and a type of its Southern opponents, the author of "The +Impending Crisis"--a book which did more than any other to crystallize +and confirm the sentiment awakened at the North by "Uncle Tom's +Cabin"--was perhaps more bitterly averse to the freedom, citizenship, +and coexistence of the African with the Caucasian than any man that +has ever written on the subject. He differed from his slaveholding +neighbors only in this: _they_ approved the African as a menial, +but abominated him as a self-controlling man; _he_ abhorred +him in both relations. With _them,_ the prejudice of race +made the negro hateful only when he trenched on the sacred domain +of their superior and self-controlling manhood; with _him,_ +hatred of the race overleaped the conventional relation and included +the African wherever found, however employed, or in whatsoever +relation considered. His horror of the black far overtopped his +ancient antipathy to the slave. The fact that he is an exception, +and that the extravagant rhodomontades of "Nojoque" are neither +indorsed nor believed by any considerable number of the Southern +people, confirms most powerfully this analysis of their temper +toward the African. + +10. Still another signal instance of its accuracy is the striking +fact that one of the hottest political struggles since the war +arose out of the proposition to give the colored man the right to +testify, in courts of justice, against a white man. The objection +was not bottomed on any desire to deprive the colored man of +his legal rights, but had its root in the idea that it would be a +degradation of the white man to allow the colored man to take the +witness-stand and traverse the oath of a Caucasian. + +Now, as it relates to our story:--That this most intense and vital +sentiment should find expression whenever the repressive power of +the conquering people was removed was most natural; that it would +be fanned into a white heat by the freedman's enfranchisement was +beyond cavil; and that Red Wing should escape such manifestations +of the general abhorrence of the work of development there going +on was not to be expected, even by its most sanguine friend. + +Although the conduct of the teachers at Red Wing had been such as +to awaken the respect of all, yet there were two things which made +the place peculiarly odious. One was the influence of Eliab Hill +with his people in all parts of the county, which had very greatly +increased since he had ceased to be a pupil, in appearance, and +had betaken himself more than ever to solitude and study. The other +was the continued prosperity and rugged independence of Nimbus, +who was regarded as a peculiarly "sassy nigger." To the malign +influence of these two was attributed every difference of opinion +between employer and employee, and every impropriety of conduct on +the part of the freedmen of Horsford. Eliab was regarded as a wicked +spirit who devised evil continually, and Nimbus as his willing +familiar, who executed his purpose with ceaseless diligence. So Red +Wing was looked upon with distrust, and its two leading characters, +unconsciously to themselves, became marked men, upon whom rested +the suspicion and aversion of a whole community. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AN OFFERING OF FIRST-FRUITS. + + +An election was impending for members of the Legislature, and +there was great excitement in the county of Horsford. Of white +Republicans there were not above a half dozen who were openly known +as such. There were two or three others who were regarded with +some suspicion by their neighbors, among whom was Hesden Le Moyne. +Since he had acted as a judge of election at the time of the +adoption of the Constitution, he had never been heard to express +any opinion upon political matters. He was known to have voted for +that Constitution, and when questioned as to his reasons for such +a course, had arrogantly answered, + +"Simply because I saw fit to do so." + +His interrogator had not seen fit to inquire further. Hesden Le +Moyne was not a man with whom one wished to provoke a controversy. +His unwillingness to submit to be catechised was generally accepted +as a proof positive of his "Radical" views. He had been an adviser +of Nimbus, his colored playmate, in the purchase of the Red Wing +property, his interest in Eliab Hill had not slackened since that +worthy cast in his lot with Nimbus, and he did not hesitate to +commend the work of the school. He had several times attended +the examinations there, had become known to the teachers, and took +an active interest in the movement there going on. What his personal +views were in regard to the very peculiar state of affairs by which +he was surrounded he had never found it necessary to declare. He +attended quietly to the work of his plantation, tenderly cared for +his invalid mother, and watched the growth of his little son with +the seemingly settled conviction that his care was due to them +rather than to the public. His counsel and assistance were still +freely sought in private matters by the inhabitants of the little +village of Red Wing, and neither was ever refused where he saw that +it might do good. He was accounted by them a friend, but not a +partisan, and none of them had ever discussed any political questions +with him, except Eliab Hill, who had more than once talked with +him upon the important problem of the future of that race to which +the unfortunate cripple was so slightly akin and yet so closely +allied. + +There was a large majority of colored men in the county, and one +of the candidates for the Legislature was a colored man. While +elections were under the military control there had been no serious +attempt to overcome this majority, but now it was decided that the +county should be "redeemed," which is the favorite name in that +section of the country for an unlawful subversion of a majority. +So the battle was joined, and the conflict waged hot and fierce. +That negroes--no matter how numerous they might be--should rule, +should bear sway and control in the county of Horsford, was +a thought not by any means to be endured. It was a blow on every +white cheek--an insult to every Caucasian heart. Men cursed wildly +when they thought of it. Women taunted them with cowardice for +permitting it. It was the one controlling and consuming thought of +the hour. + +On the other hand, the colored people felt that it was necessary +for them to assert their newly-acquired rights if they expected to +retain them. So that both parties were influenced by the strongest +considerations which could possibly affect their action. + +Red Wing was one of the points around which this contest raged the +hottest. Although it had never become a polling precinct, and was +a place of no mercantile importance, it was yet the center from +which radiated the spirit that animated the colored men of the most +populous district in the county. It was their place of meeting and +conference. Accustomed to regard their race as peculiarly dependent +upon the Divine aid because of the lowly position they had so long +occupied, they had become habituated to associate political and +religious interests. The helplessness of servitude left no room +for hope except through the trustfulness of faith. The generation +which saw slavery swept away, and they who have heard the tale of +deliverance from the lips of those who had been slaves, will never +cease to trace the hand of God visibly manifested in the events +culminating in liberty, or to regard the future of the freed race +as under the direct control of the Divine Being. For this reason +the political and religious interests and emotions of this people +are quite inseparable. Wherever they meet to worship, there they +will meet to consult of their plans, hopes, and progress, as at once +a distinct race and a part of the American people. Their religion +is tinged with political thought, and their political thought shaped +by religious conviction. + +In this respect the colored race in America are the true children +of the Covenanters and the Puritans. Their faith is of the same +unquestioning type, which no disappointment or delay can daunt, +and their view of personal duty and obligation in regard to it is +not less intense than that which led men to sing psalms and utter +praises on board the storm-bound "Mayflower." The most English of +all English attributes has, by a strange transmutation, become the +leading element in the character of the Africo-American. The same +mixed motive of religious duty toward posterity and devotion to +political liberty which peopled the bleak hills of New England and +the fertile lands of Canaan with peoples fleeing from bondage and +oppression, may yet cover the North with dusky fugitives from the +spirit and the situs of slavery. + +From time to time there had been political meetings held at the +church or school-house, composed mainly of colored men, though now +and then a little knot of white men would come in and watch their +proceedings, sometimes from curiosity, and sometimes from spleen. +Heretofore, however, there had been no more serious interruption +than some sneering remarks and derisive laughter. The colored men +felt that it was their own domain, and showed much more boldness than +they would ever manifest on other occasions. During this campaign, +however, it was determined to have a grand rally, speeches, and a +barbecue at Red Wing. The colored inhabitants of that section were +put upon their mettle. Several sheep and pigs were roasted, rude +tables were spread under the trees, and all arrangements made for +a great occasion. + +At an early hour of the day when it was announced that the meeting +would be held, groups of colored people of all ages and both sexes +began to assemble. They were all talking earnestly as they came, +for some matter of unusual interest seemed to have usurped for +the moment their accustomed lightness and jollity of demeanor. +Nimbus, as the most prosperous and substantial colored man of +the region, had always maintained a decided leadership among them, +all the more from the fact that he had sought thereby to obtain +no advantage for himself. Though a most ardent supporter of that +party with which he deemed the interests of his race inseparably +allied, he had never taken a very active part in politics, and had +persistently refused to be put forward for any official position, +although frequently urged to allow himself to be named a candidate. + +"No," he would always say; "I hain't got no larnin' an' not much +sense. Besides, I'se got all I kin manage, an' more too, a-takin' +keer o' dis yer farm. Dat's what I'm good fer. I kin manage terbacker, +an' I'd ruther hev a good plantation an' run it myself, than all +the offices in the worl'. I'se jes fit fer dat, an' I ain't fit +fer nuffin' else." + +His success proved the justice of his estimate, and the more he +prospered the stronger was his hold upon his people. Of course, +there were some who envied him his good-fortune, but such was his +good-nature and readiness to render all the assistance in his +power that this dangerous leaven did not spread. "Bre'er Nimbus" was +still the heart and life of the community which had its center at +Red Wing. His impetuosity was well tempered by the subtle caution +of Eliab Hill, without whose advice he seldom acted in any important +matter. + +The relations between these two men had continued singularly close, +although of late Eliab had been more independent of his friend's +assistance than formerly; for, at the suggestion of the teachers, +his parishioners had contributed little sums--a dime, a quarter, +and a few a half-dollar apiece--to get him one of those wheeled +chairs which are worked by the hands, and by means of which the +infirm are frequently enabled to move about without other aid. It +was the first time they had ever given anything to a minister of +their own, and it was hard for those who had to support families +upon a pittance which in other parts of the country would mean +starvation; yet so many had hastened to give, that the "go-cart," +as it was generally called, proved a vehicle of marvelous luxury +and finish to the unaccustomed eyes of these rude children of the +plantation. + +In this chair Eliab was able to transport himself to and from the +school-room, and even considerable distances among his people. +This had brought him into nearer relations with them, and it was +largely owing to his influence that, after Northern benevolence +began to restrict its gifts and to condition its benevolence upon +the exercise of a self-help which should provide for a moiety of +the expense, the school still continued full and prosperous, and +the services of Miss Ainslie were retained for another year--the +last she intended to give to the missionary work which accident +had thrust upon her young life. Already her heart was pining for +the brightness and kindly cheer of the green-clad hills from which +she had been exiled so long, and the friends whose hearts and arms +would welcome her again to her childhood's home. + +On the morning of the barbecue Nimbus and his household were astir +betimes. Upon him devolved the chief burden of the entertainment +which was to be spread before his neighbors. There was an abundance +of willing hands, but few who could do much toward providing +the requisite material. His premises had undergone little change +beyond the wide, cool, latticed walk which now led from his house +to the kitchen, and thence to "Uncle 'Liab's" house, over which +Virginia-creepers and honeysuckle were already clambering in the +furious haste which that quick-growing clime inspires in vegetation. +A porch had also been added to his own house, up the posts and +along the eaves of which the wisteria was clambering, while its +pendulous, lilac flower-stems hung thick below. A few fruit-trees +were planted here and there, and the oaks, which he had topped and +shortened back when he cut away the forest for his house-lot, had +put out new and dense heads of dark-green foliage that gave to the +humble home a look of dignity and repose hardly to be matched by +more ornate and costly structures. Upon the north side the corn +grew rank and thick up to the very walls of the mud-daubed gable, +softening its rudeness and giving a charm even to the bare logs +of which it was formed. Lugena had grown full and matronly, had +added two to her brood of lusty children, and showed what even a +brief period of happiness and prosperity would do for her race as +she bustled about in neat apparel with a look of supreme content +on her countenance. + +Long before the first comers from the country around had made their +appearance, the preparations were completed, the morning meal +cleared away, the table set in the latticed passage for the dinner +of the most honored guests, the children made tidy, and Nimbus, +magnificently attired in clean shirt, white pants and vest, a +black alpaca coat and a new Panama hat, was ready to welcome the +expected arrivals. + +Eliab, too, made tidy by the loving care of his friends, was early +mounted in his hand-carriage, and propelling himself here and there to +meet the first comers. The barbecue was roasting under the charge +of an experienced cook; the tables were arranged, and the speakers' +stand at the back of the school-house in the grove was in the hands +of the decorators. All was mirth and happiness. The freedmen were +about to offer oblations to liberty--a sacrifice of the first-fruits +of freedom. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A BLACK DEMOCRITUS. + + +"_I say_, Bre'er Nimbus!" cried a voice from the midst of a +group of those first arriving, "how yer do dis mornin'? Hope yer's +well, Squar', you an' all de family." + +The speaker was a slender, loose-jointed young man, somewhat shabbily +attired, with a shapeless narrow-brimmed felt hat in his hand, who +was bowing and scraping with a mock solemnity to the dignitary of +Red Wing, while his eyes sparkled with fun and his comrades roared +at his comic gestures. + +"Is dat you, Berry?" said Nimbus, turning, with a smile. "How yer +do, Berry? Glad ter see ye well," nodding familiarly to the others +and extending his hand. + +"Thank ye, sah. You do me proud," said the jester, sidling towards +him and bowing to the crowd with serio-comic gravity. "Ladies an' +gemmen, yer jes takes notice, ef yer please, dat I ain't stuck +up--not a mite, I ain't, ef I _is_ pore. I'se not ashamed ter +shake hands wid Mr. Squar' Nimbus--Desmit--War'. I stan's by him +whatever his name, an' no matter how many he's got, ef it's more'n +he's got fingers an' toes." He bowed low with a solemn wave of his +grimy hat, as he shook the proffered hand, amid the laughter of +his audience, with whom he seemed to be a prime favorite. + +"Glad ter know it, Berry," said Nimbus, shaking the other's hand +warmly, while his face glowed with evident pleasure. "How's all +gittin' on wid ye, ennyhow?" + +"Gittin' on, Bre'er Nimbus?" replied Berry, striking an attitude. +"Gittin' on, did yer say? Lor' bress yer soul, yer nebber seed +de beat--nebber. Ef yer ebber pegs out h'yer at Red Wing, Bre'er +Nimbus, all yer's got ter du is jes ter come up on de Kentry Line +whar folks _libs._ Jes you look o' dar, will yer?" he continued, +extending a slender arm ending in a skinny hand, the widely parted +fingers of which seemed like talons, while the upturned palm was +worn smooth and was of a yellowish, pallid white about the fingers' +ends. "Jes see de 'fec's ob high libbin' on a nigger. Dar's muscle +fer ye. All you needs, Bre'er Nimbus, is jest a few weeks ob good +feed! Come up dar now an' wuk a farm on sheers, an' let Marse +Sykes 'llowance ye, an' yer'll come out like me an' git some good +clothes, too! Greatest place ter start up a run-down nigger yer +ever seed. Jes' look at me, now. When I went dar I didn't hev a +rag ter my back--nary a rag, an' now jes see how I'se covered wid +'em!" + +There was a laugh from the crowd in which Berry joined heartily, +rolling his eyes and contorting his limbs so as to show in the +completest manner the striking contrast between his lank, stringy, +meanly-clad frame and the full, round, well-clothed form of Nimbus. + +When the laughter had subsided he struck in again, with the art of +an accomplished tease, and sidling still closer to the magnate of +Red Wing, he said, with a queer assumption of familiarity: + +"An' how is yer good lady, Missus Lugena, an' all de babies, Squar'? +They tell me you're gittin' on right smart an' think of settin' up +yer kerridge putty soon. Jes' ez soon ez yer git it ready, Sally +an' me's a-comin' over ter christen it. We's cousins, yer know, +Squar', leastways, Sally an' Lugena's allus said ter be kin on the +father's side--the white side ob de family, yer know. Yer wouldn't +go back on yer relations, would yer, Nimbus? We ain't proud, not a +bit proud, Bre'er Nimbus, an' yer ain't a gwine ter forgit us, is +yer? Yah, yah, yah!" + +There was a tinge of earnestness in this good-natured banter, but +it was instantly dissipated by Nimbus's reply: + +"Not a bit of it, cousin Berry. Lugena charged me dis berry mornin', +jes ez soon ez I seed you an' Sally, ter invite ye ter help eat +her big dinner to-day. Whar' is Sally?" + +"Dar now," said Berry, "dat's jes what I done tole Sally, now. She's +got a notion, kase you's rich yer's got stuck up, you an' Lugena. +But I tole her, sez I, 'Nimbus ain't dat ar sort of a chile, Nimbus +hain't. He's been a heap luckier nor de rest of us, but he ain't +got de big-head, nary bit.' Dat's what I say, an' durn me ef I +don't b'lieve it too, I does. We's been hevin' purty hard times, +Sally an' me hez. Nebber did hev much luck, yer know--'cept for +chillen. Yah, yah! An' jes' dar we's hed a trifle more'n we 'zackly +keered about. Might hev spared a few an' got along jest ez well, +'cordin' ter my notion. Den de ole woman's been kinder peaked this +summer, an' some two or free ob de babies hez been right poorly, +an' Sal--wal, she got a leettle fretted, kase yer know we both +wuks purty hard an' don't seem ter git ahead a morsel. So she got +her back up, an' sez she ter me dis mornin': 'Berry,' sez she, 'I +ain't a gwine ter go near cousin Nimbus', I ain't, kase I hain't +got no fine clo'es, ner no chicken-fixing ter take ter de barbecue +nuther.' So she's done stop up ter Bob Mosely's wid de baby, an' I +t'ought I'd jes come down an' spy out de lan' an' see which on us +wuz right. Dat's de fac' truf, Bre'er Nimbus, an' no lyin". Yah, +yah!" + +"Sho, sho, Berry," replied Nimbus, reproachfully; "what makes Sally +sech a big fool? She oughter be ashamed ter treat her ole fren's +dat ar way." + +"Now yer talkin', Bre'er Nimbus, dat you is! But la sakes! Bre'er +Nimbus, dat ar gal hain't got no pride. Why yer wouldn't b'lieve +hit, but she ain't even 'shamed of Berry--fac'! Yah, yah! What yer +tinks ob dat now?" + +"Why, co'se she ain't," said Nimbus. "Don't see how she could be. +Yer always jes dat peart an' jolly dat nobody couldn't git put out +wid yer." + +"Tink so, Bre'er Nimbus? Wal, now, I'shures ye dat yer couldn't +be wuss mistaken ef yer'd tried. On'y jes' dis mornin' Marse Sykes +got put out wid me jes de wus kind." + +"How's dat, Berry?" + +"Wal, yer see, I'se been a wukkin' fer him ebber sence de s'rrender +jes de same ez afore, only dat he pays me an' I owes him. He pays +me in sto' orders, an' it 'pears like I owes him mo' an' mo' ebbery +time we settles up. Didn't use ter be so when we lied de Bureau, +kase den Marse Sykes' 'count didn't use ter be so big; but dese +las' two year sence de Bureau done gone, bress God, I gits nex' +ter nuffin' ez we goes 'long, an' hez less 'n nuffin' atterwards." + +"What wages d'ye git?" asked Nimbus. + +"Marse Sykes, he sez I gits eight dollahs a month, myself, an' +Sally she gits fo'; an' den we hez tree pounds o' meat apiece an' +a peck o' meal, each on us, ebbery week. We could git along right +peart on dat--we an' de chillens, six on 'em--wid jes' a drop o' +coffee now an' agin, yer know; but yer see, Sally, she's a leetle +onsartin an' can't allus wuk, an' it 'pears like it takes all ob my +wuk ter pay fer her rations when she don't wuk. I dunno how 'tis, +but dat's de way Marse Sykes figgers it out," + +"Yer mus' buy a heap ob fine clo'es," said one of the bystanders. + +"'Wall, ef I does, I leaves 'em ter home fer fear ob wearin' 'em +out, don't I?" said Berry, glancing at his dilapidated costume. +"Dat's what's de matter. I'se bad 'nough off, but yer jest orter +see dem chillen! Dey war's brak ebbery day jes' like a minister, +yer knows--not sto' clo'es dough, oh, no! home-made all de time! +Mostly bar'-skins, yer know! Yah, yah!" + +"An' yer don't drink, nuther," said one whose words and appearance +clearly showed that he regarded it as a matter of surprise that +any one should not. + +"'Ceptin' only de Christmas an' when some feller treats," responded +Berry. + +"P'raps he makes it outen de holidays," said a third. + +"Dar's whar my boss sloshes it on ter me. Clar ef I don't hev more +holidays than dar is wuk-days, 'cordin 'ter his 'count." + +"Holidays!" said Berry; "dat's what's de matter. Hain't hed but +jes tree holidays 'cep' de Chris'mas weeks, in all dat time. So, +I 'llowed I'd take one an' come ter dis yer meetin'. Wal, 'long de +fust ob de week, I make bold ter tell him so, an' ebber sence dat +'pears like he's gwine ter hu't hisself, he's been so mad. I'se +done tried not ter notice it, kase I'se dat solemn-like myself, yer +knows, I couldn't 'ford ter take on no mo' ob dat kind; but every +day or two he's been a lettin' slip somethin' 'bout niggas gaddin' +roun', yer know." + +"That was mean," said Nimbus, "kase ef yer is allus laughin' an' +hollerin' roun', I'm boun' ter say dar ain't no stiddier han' in +de county at enny sort ob wuk." + +"Jes' so. Much obleeged ter ye, Squar', fer dat. Same ter yeself +'tu. Howsomever, _he_ didn't make no sech remark, not ez +I heerd on, an' dis mornin' bright an' airly, he comed roun' an' +axes me didn't I want ter take de carry-all and go ter Lewyburg; +an' when I 'llowed dat I didn't keer tu, not jes to-day, yer know, +he axed me, was I comin' h'yer ter dis yer meetin', an' when I +'llowed I was, he jes' got up an' rar'd. Yah, yah! how he did make +de turf fly, all by hissef, kase I wur a whistlin' 'Ole Jim Crow' +an' some other nice psalm-tunes, jes' ter keep myself from larfin' +in his face! Till finally he sez, sez he, 'Berry Lawson, ef yer +goes ter dat er Radikil meetin', yer needn't never come back ter +my plantation no mo'. Yer can't stay h'yer no longer--' jes so. +Den I made bold ter ax him how our little 'count stood, kase we's +been livin' mighty close fer a while, in hopes ter git a mite ahead +so's ter sen' de two oldes' chillen ter school h'yer, 'gin winter. +An' den sez he, 'Count be damned!'--jes so; 'don't yer know hit's +in de papers dat ef yer don't 'bey me an' wuk obedient ter my +wishes, yer don't git nary cent, nohow at all?' I tole him I didn't +know dat ar, and didn't reckon he did. Den he out wid de paper an' +read it ober ter me, an' shure 'nough, dar 'tis, dough I'll swar +I nebber heerd nothin' on't afo'. Nebber hed no sech ting in de +papers when de Bureau man drawed 'em up, dat's shuah." + +"How de debble yer come ter sign sech a paper, Berry?" said Nimbus. + +"Dod burned ef I know, Cousin Nimbus. Jes kase I don' know no better, +I s'pose. How I gwine ter know what's in dat paper, hey? Does you +read all de papers yer signs, Squar' Nimbus? Not much, I reckons; +but den you keeps de minister right h'yer ter han' tu read 'em for +ye. Can't all ob us afford dat, Bre'er Nimbus." + +"Yah, yah, dat's so!" "Good for _you,_ Berry!" from the crowd. + +"Wal, yer orter hev a guardian--all on us ought, for dat matter," +said Nimbus; "but I don't s'pose dere's ary man in de country dat +would sign sech a paper ef he know'd it, an' nobody but Granville +Sykes that would hev thought of sech a dodge." + +"It's jes so in mine," said one of the bystanders. "And in mine;" +"an' mine," added one and another. + +"And has any one else offered to turn men off for comin' here?" +asked Nimbus. + +To his surprise, he learned that two thirds the men in the crowd +had been thus threatened. + +"Jes let 'em try it!" he exclaimed, angrily. "Dey dassent do it, +nohow. They'll find out dat a man can't be imposed on allus, ef he +_is_ pore an' black. Dat dey will! I'se only jes a pore man, +but I hain't enny sech mean cuss ez to stan' roun' an' see my race +an' kin put on in dat ar way, I hain't." + +"All right, Cousin Nimbus, ef Marse Sykes turns me outen house an' +home, I knows right whar I comes ter, now." + +"Co'se yer do," said Nimbus, proudly. "Yer jes comes ter me an' I +takes keer on ye. I needs anudder han' in de crap, ennyhow." + +"Now, Cousin Nimbus, yer ain't in airnest, is yer? Yer don't +mean dat, pop-suah, does yer now?" asked Berry anxiously. "Dat +I does, Cousin Berry! dat I does!" was the hearty response. + +"Whoop, hurrah!" cried Berry, throwing up his hat, turning +a hand-spring, and catching the hat as it came down. "Whar's dat +Sally Ann? H'yeah, you fellers, clar away dar an' let me come at +her. H'yer I goes now, I jes tole her dis yer bressed mornin' dat +it tuk a fool fer luck. Hi-yah!" he cried, executing a sommersault, +and diving through the crowd he ran away. As he started off, he +saw his wife walking along the road toward Nimbus' house by the +side of Eliab Hill in his rolling-chair. Berry dashed back into +the circle where Nimbus was engaged in earnest conversation with +the crowd in relation to the threats which had been made to them +by their employers. + +"H'yer, Cousin Nimbus," he cried, "I done fergot ter thank ye, +I was dat dar' flustered by good luck, yer know. I'se a t'ousan' +times obleeged ter ye, Bre'er Nimbus, jes' a t'ousan' times, an' +h'yer's Sally Ann, right outside on de road h'yer, she'll be powerful +glad ter hear on't. I'd jes ez lief wuk fer you as a white man, +Bre'er Nimbus. I ain't proud, I ain't! Yah! yah!" + +He dragged Nimbus through the crowd to intercept his wife, crying +out as soon as they came near: + +"H'yer, you Sally Ann, what yer tinks now? H'yer's Bre'er Nimbus +sez dat ef dat ole cuss, Marse Sykes, should happen ter turn us off, +he's jest a gwine ter take us in bag an' baggage, traps, chillen +and calamities, an' gib us de bes' de house affo'ds, an' wuk in de +crap besides. What yer say now, you Sally Ann, ain't yer 'shamed +fer what yer sed 'bout Bre'er Nimbus only dis yere mornin'?" + +"Dat I be, Cousin Nimbus," said Sally, turning a comely but careworn +face toward Nimbus, and extending her hand with a smile. "Bre'er +'Liab was jest a-tellin' me what a fool I was ter ever feel so +toward jes de bes' man in de kentry, ez he sez." + +"An' I be damned ef he ain't right, too," chimed in Berry. + +"Sho, you Berry. Ain't yer'shamed now--usin' cuss-words afore de +minister!" said Sally. + +"Beg yer parding, Bre'er Hill," said Berry, taking off his hat, +and bowing with mock solemnity to that worthy. "Hit's been sech a +long time sence Sunday come ter our house dat I nigh 'bout forgot +my 'ligion." + +"An' yer manners too," said Sally briskly, turning from her +conversation with Nimbus. + +"Jes so, Bre'er Hill, but yer see I was dat ar flustered by my +ole woman takin' on so 'bout dat ar sneakin' cuss ob a Marse Sykes +a turnin' on us off, dat I hardly knowed which from todder, an' +when Cousin Nimbus 'greed ter take me up jes de minnit he dropped +me down, hit kinder tuk me off my whoopendickilar, yer know." + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +A DOUBLE-HEADED ARGUMENT. + + +The attempt to prevent the attendance of voters at the meeting, +showing as it did a preconcerted purpose and design on the part +of the employers to use their power as such, to overcome their +political opponents, was the cause of great indignation at the +meeting, and gave occasion for some flights of oratory which would +have fallen upon dull ears but for the potent truth on which they +were based. Even the cool and cautious Eliab Hill could not restrain +himself from an allusion to the sufferings of his people when he +was raised upon the platform, still sitting in his rolling-chair, +and with clasped hands and reverent face asked God's blessing upon +the meeting about to be held. + +Especially angry was our friend Nimbus about this attempt to +deprive his race of the reasonable privileges of a citizen. Perhaps +the fact that he was himself a proprietor and employer rendered him +still more jealous of the rights of his less fortunate neighbors. +The very immunity which he had from any such danger no doubt +emboldened him to express his indignation more strongly, and after +the regular speeches had been made he mounted the platform and made +a vigorous harangue upon the necessity of maintaining the rights +which had been conferred upon them by the chances of war. + +"We's got ter take keer ob ourselves," said he. "De guv'ment hez +been doin' a heap for us. It's gin us ourselves, our wives, our +chillen, an' a chance ter du fer ourselves an' fer dem; an' now +we's got ter du it. Ef we don't stan' togedder an' keep de white +folks from a-takin' away what we's got, we nebber gits no mo'. +In fac', we jes goes back'ards instead o' forrards till yer can't +tell de difference twixt a free nigger an' a rale ole time slave. +Dat's my 'pinion, an' I say now's de time ter begin--jes when dey +begins. Ef a man turns off ary single one fer comin' ter dis meetin' +evr'y han' dat is ter wuk for him oughter leave him to once an' +nary colored man ought ter do a stroke ob wuk fer him till he +takes 'em back." + +Loud cheers greeted this announcement, but one old white-headed man +arose and begged leave to ask him a question, which being granted, +he said: + +"Now, feller citizens, I'se been a listenin' ter all dat's been +said here to-day, an' I'm jest ez good a 'Publikin ez enny ub de +speakers. Yer all knows dat. But I can't fer de life ob me see how +we's gwine ter carry out sech advice. Ef we leave one man, how's +we gwine ter git wuk wid anodder? An' ef we does, ain't it jest a +shiftin' ub han's? Does it make ary difference--at least enough +ter speak on--whether a white man hez his wuk done by one nigger +er another?" + +"But," said Nimbus, hotly, "we oughtn't ter _none_ on us wuk +fer him." + +"Then," said the old man, "what's we ter do fer a libbin'? Here's +half er two thirds ob dis crowd likely ter be turned off afore +to-morrer night. Now what's yer gwine ter do 'bout it? We's got +ter lib an' so's our wives an' chillens? How's we gwine ter s'port +dem widout home or wuk?" + +"Let them git wuk wid somebody else, that's all," said Nimbus. + +"Yes, Bre'er Nimbus, but who's a-gwine ter s'port 'em while we's +waitin' fer de white folks ter back down, I wants ter know?" + +"I will," said Nimbus, proudly. + +"I hain't no manner ob doubt," said the other, "dat Bre'er Nimbus'll +do de berry bes' dat he can in sech a case, but he must 'member +dat he's only one and we's a great many. He's been mighty fortinit +an' I'se mighty glad ter know it; but jes s'pose ebbery man in de +county dat hires a han' should turn him off kase he comes ter dis +meetin' an' goes ter 'lection, what could Bre'er Nimbus du towards +a feedin' on us? Ob co'se, dey's got ter hev wuk in de crop, but +you mus' member dat when de 'lection comes off de crap's all laid +by, an' der ain't no mo' pressin' need fer wuk fer months ter come. +Now, how's we gwine ter lib during dat time? Whar's we gwine ter +lib? De white folks kin stan' it--dey's got all dey wants--but +we can't. Now, what's we gwine ter do? Jest ez long ez de guv'ment +stood by us an' seed dat we hed a fa'r show, we could stan' by de +guv'ment. I'se jest ez good a 'Publikin ez ennybody h'yer, yer all +knows dat; but I hain't a gwine ter buck agin impossibles, I ain't. +I'se got a sick wife an' five chillen. I ain't a gwine ter bring +'em nex' do' ter starvation 'less I sees some use in it. Now, I +don't see no use in dis h'yer notion, not a bit. Ef de white folks +hez made up der minds--an' hit seems ter me dey hez--dat cullu'd +folks shan't vote 'less dey votes wid dem, we mout jest ez well +gib up fust as las'!" + +"Nebber! nebber, by God!" cried Nimbus, striding across the +platform, his hands clenched and the veins showing full and round +on neck and brow. The cry was echoed by nearly all present. Shouts, +and cheers, and groans, and hisses rose up in an indistinguishable +roar. + +"Put him out! Down wid him!" with other and fiercer cries, greeted +the old man's ears. + +Those around him began to jostle and crowd upon him. Already violent +hands were upon him, when Eliab Hill dashed up the inclined plane +which had been made for his convenience, and, whirling himself +to the side of Nimbus, said, as he pointed with flaming face and +imperious gesture to the hustling and boisterous crowd about the +old man, + +"Stop that!" + +In an instant Nimbus was in the midst of the swaying crowd, his +strong arms dashing right and left until he stood beside the now +terrified remonstrant. + +"Dar, dar, boys, no mo' ob dat," he cried, as he pushed the howling +mass this way and that. "Jes you listen ter Bre'er 'Liab. Don't +yer see he's a talkin' to yer?" he said, pointing to the platform +where Eliab sat with upraised hand, demanding silence. + +When silence was at last obtained he spoke with more earnestness and +power than was his wont, pleading for moderation and thoughtfulness +for each other, and a careful consideration of their surroundings. + +"There is too much truth," he said, "in all that has been said +here to-day. Brother Nimbus is right in saying that we must guard +our rights and privileges most carefully, if we would not lose +them. The other brother is right, too, in saying that but few of +us can exercise those privileges if the white men stand together +and refuse employment to those who persist in voting against +them. It is a terrible question, fellow-citizens, and one that it +is hard to deal with. Every man should do his duty and vote, and +act as a citizen whenever called upon to do so, for the sake of +his race in the future. We should not be weakly and easily driven +from what has been gained for us. We may have to suffer--perhaps +to fight and die; but our lives are nothing to the inheritance we +may leave our children. + +"At the same time we should not grow impatient with our brethren +who cannot walk with us in this way. I believe that we shall win +from this contest the supreme seal of our race's freedom. It may +not come in our time, but it will be set on the foreheads of our +children. At all events, we must work together, aid each other, +comfort each other, stand by each other. God has taught us patience +by generations of suffering and waiting, and by the light which +came afterwards. We should not doubt Him now. Let us face our +danger like men; overcome it if we may, and if not, bow to the force +of the storm and gather strength, rooting ourselves deep and wide +while it blows, in order that we may rise erect and free when it +shall have passed. + +"But above all things there must be no disagreement. The colored +people must stand or fall together. Those who have been as fortunate +as our Brother Nimbus may breast the tempest, and we must all +struggle on and up to stand beside them. It will not do to weakly +yield or rashly fight. Remember that our people are on trial, and +more than mortal wisdom is required of us by those who have stood +our friends. Let us show them that we are men, not only in courage +to do and dare, but also to wait and suffer. Let the young and +strong, and those who have few children, who have their own homes +or a few months' provision, let them bid defiance to those who +would oppress us; but let us not require those to join us who are +not able or willing to take the worst that may come. Remember that +while others have given us freedom, we must work and struggle and +wait for liberty--that liberty which gives as well as receives, +self-supporting, self-protecting, holding the present and looking +to the future with confidence. We must be as free of the employer +as we are of the master--free of the white people as they are of +us. It will be a long, hard struggle, longer and harder than we +have known perhaps; but as God lives, we shall triumph if we do but +persevere with wisdom and patience, and trust in Him who brought us +up out of the Egypt of bondage and set before our eyes the Canaan +of liberty." + +The effect of this address was the very opposite of what Eliab had +intended. His impassioned references to their imperilled liberty, +together with his evident apprehension of even greater danger than +was then apparent, accorded so poorly with his halting counsel +for moderation that it had the effect to arouse the minds of his +hearers to resist such aggression even at every risk. So decided +was this feeling that the man whom Nimbus had just rescued from +the rudeness of those about him and who had been forgotten during +the remarks of the minister, now broke forth and swinging his hat +about his head, shouted: + +"Three cheers for 'Liab Hill! an' I tells yer what, brudderin', +dat ef dis yer is ter be a fight fer takin' keer ob de freedom we's +got, I'se in fer it as fur ez ennybody. We must save the crap +that's been made, ef we don't pitch ary other one in our day at +all. Them's my notions, an' I'll stan' by 'em--er die by 'em ef +wust comes ter wust." + +Then there was a storm of applause, some ringing resolutions were +adopted, and the meeting adjourned to discuss the barbecue and talk +patriotism with each other. + +There was much clamor and boasting. The candidates, in accordance +with a time-honored custom in that region, had come prepared to +treat, and knowing that no liquor could be bought at Red Wing, had +brought a liberal supply, which was freely distributed among the +voters. + +On account of the large majority of colored voters in this country, +no attempt had previously been made to influence them in this +manner, so that they were greatly excited by this threat of coercion. +Of course, they talked very loud, and many boasts were made, as +to what they would do if the white people persisted in the course +indicated. There was not one, however, who in his drunkest moment +threatened aught against their white neighbors unless they were +unjustly debarred the rights which the law conferred upon them. +They wanted "a white man's chance." That was all. + +There was no such resolution passed, but it was generally noised +abroad that the meeting had resolved that any planter who discharged +a hand for attending that meeting would have the privilege of +cutting and curing his tobacco without help. As this was the chief +crop of the region, and one admitting of no delay in its harvesting +and curing, it was thought that this would prove a sufficient +guaranty of fair treatment. However, a committee was appointed +to look after this matter, and the day which had seemed to dawn so +inauspiciously left the colored voters of that region more united +and determined than they had ever been before. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +TAKEN AT HIS WORD + + +It was past midnight of the day succeeding the meeting, when +Nimbus was awakened by a call at his front gate. Opening the door +he called out: + +"Who's dar?" + +"Nobody but jes we uns, Bre'er Nimbus," replied the unmistakable +voice of Berry. "H'yer we is, bag an' baggage, traps an' calamities, +jest ez I tole yer. Call off yer dogs, ef yer please, an' come an' +'scort us in as yer promised. H'yer we is--Sally an' me an' Bob +an' Mariar an' Bill an' Jim an' Sally junior--an' fo' God I can't +get fru de roll-call alone. Sally, you jest interduce Cousin Nimbus +ter de rest ob dis family, will yer?" + +Sure enough, on coming to the gate, Nimbus found Berry and Sally +there with their numerous progeny, several bundles of clothing and +a few household wares. + +"Why, what does dis mean, Berry?" he asked. + +"Mean? Yah, yah!" said the mercurial Berry. "Wal now, ain't dat +cool? H'yer he axes me ter come ter his house jest ez soon ez ever +Marse Granville routs us offen his plantation, an' ez soon's ever +we comes he wants ter know what it means! How's dat fer cousinin', +eh? Now don't yer cry, Sally Ann. Jes yer wait till I tell Cousin +Nimbus de circumstanshuels an' see ef he don't ax us inside de +gate." + +"Oh, Cousin Nimbus," said Sally, weeping piteously, "don't yer +go ter fault us now--don't please. Hit warn't our fault at all; +leastways we didn't mean it so. I did tell Berry he'd better stay +an' du what Marse Sykes wanted him ter, 'stead of comin' tu der +meetin', an' my mind misgive me all day kase he didn't. But I didn't +look for no sech bad luck as we've hed." + +"Come in, come in, gal," said Nimbus, soothingly, as he opened the +gate, "an' we'll talk it all ober in de mornin'." + +"Oh, der ain't nuffin' mo' to be told, Squar'," said Berry, "on'y +when we done got home we foun' dis yer truck outdoors in the road, +an' dechillen at a neighbor's cryin' like de mischief. De house +was locked up an' nailed up besides. I went down ter Marse Sykes' +an' seed him, atter a gret while, but he jes sed he didn't know +nothin' 'bout it, only he wanted the house fer somebody ez 'ud wuk +when he tole 'em tu, instead ub gaddin' roun' ter p'litcal meetins; +an' ez my little traps happened ter be in de way he'd jes sot'em +inter de big-road, so dey'd be handy when I come ter load 'em on +ter take away. So we jes take de lightest on 'em an' de chillen an' +corned on ter take up quarters wid you cordin' ter de 'rangement +we made yesterday." + +"Dat's all right; jes right," said Nimbus; "but I don't understand +it quite. Do yer mean ter say dat Marse Sykes turn you uns offen +his plantation while you'se all away, jes kase yer come ter de +meetin' yesterday?" + +"Nuffin' else in de libbin yairth. Jes put us out an' lock de do' +an' nailed up de winders, an' lef de tings in de big-road." + +"But didn't yer leave the house locked when you came here?" + +"Nary bit. Nebber lock de do' at all. Got no lock, ner key, ner +nuffin' ter steal ub enny account ef enny body should want ter +break in. So what I lock de do' fer? Jes lef de chillen wid one ob +de neighbors, drawed do' tu, an' comes on. Dat's all." + +"An' he goes in an' takes de tings out? We'll hab de law ob him; +dat we will, Berry. De law'll fotch him, pop sure. Dey can't treat +a free man dat 'ere way no mo', specially sence de constooshunel +'mendments. Dat dey can't." + +So Berry became an inmate of Castle Nimbus, and the next day that +worthy proprietor went over to Louisburg to lay the matter before +Captain Pardee, who was now a practising lawyer in that city. He +returned at night and found Berry outside the gate with a banjo +which he accounted among the most precious of his belongings, +entertaining a numerous auditory with choice selections from an +extensive repertory. + +Berry was a consummate mimic as well as an excellent singer, and +his fellows were never tired either of his drolleries or his songs. +Few escaped his mimicry, and nothing was too sacred for his wit. +When Nimbus first came in sight, he was convulsing his hearers by +imitating a well-known colored minister of the county, giving out +a hymn in the most pompous manner. + +"De congregashun will now rise an' sing, ef yer please, the free +hundred an' ferty-ferd _hime._" Thereupon he began to sing: + + + "Sinner-mans will yer go + To de high lans' o' Hebben, + Whar de sto'ms nebber blow + An' de mild summer's gibben? + Will yer go? will yer go? + Will yer go, sinner-mans? + Oh, say. sinner-mans, will yer go?" + + +Then, seeing Nimbus approach, he changed at once to a political +song. + + + "De brack man's gittin' awful rich + The people seems ter fear, + Alt'ough he 'pears to git in debt + A little ebbery year. + Ob co'se he gits de biggest kind + Ob wages ebbery day, + But when he comes to settle up + Dey dwindles all away. + + "Den jes fork up de little tax + Dat's laid upon de poll. + It's jes de tax de state exac's + Fer habben ob a soul!" + + "Yer got no lan', yer got no cash, + Yer only got some debts; + Yer couldn't take de bankrupt law + 'Cos ye hain't got no 'assets.' + De chillen dey mus' hev dere bread; + De mudder's gettin' ole, + So darkey, you mus' skirmish roun' + An' pay up on yer poll." + + "Den jes fork up de little tax, etc. + + "Yer know's yer's wuked dis many a year. + To buy de land for 'Marster,' + An' now yer orter pay de tax + So't he kin hold it faster. + He wuks one acre 'n ebbery ten, + De odders idle stan'; + So pay de tax upon _yo're_ poll + An' take it off _his_ lan'. + + "Den jes fork up de little tax, etc. + + "Oh! dat's de song dat some folks sing! + Say, how d'y'e like de soun'? + Dey say de pore man orter pay + For walkin' on de groun"! + When cullud men was slaves, yer know', + 'Twas drefful hard to tax 'em; + But jes de minnit dat dey's free, + God save us! how dey wax 'em! + + "Den jes fork up de little tax, etc." + +"What you know 'bout poll-tax, Berry?" asked Nimbus, good-naturedly, +when the song was ended. "Yer hain't turned politician, hez yer?" + +"What I know 'bout poll-tax, Squar' Nimbus? Dat what yer ax? Gad! +I knows all 'bout 'em, dat I do, from who tied de dog loose. Who'se +a better right, I'd like ter know? I'se paid it, an' ole Marse +Sykes hes paid it for me; an' den I'se hed ter pay him de tax an' +half a dollah for 'tendin' ter de biznis for me. An' den, one time +I'se been 'dicted for not payin' it, an' Marse Sykes tuk it up, +an' I hed ter wuk out de tax an' de costs besides. Den I'se hed ter +wuk de road ebbery yeah some eight er ten days, an' den wuk nigh +'bout ez many more fer my grub while I wuz at it. Oh, I knows 'bout +poll-tax, I does! Dar can't nobody tell a nigger wid five er six +chillen an' a sick wife, dat's a wukkin' by de yeah an' a gettin' +his pay in ole clo'es an' orders--dar can't nobody teach _him_ +nothin' 'bout poll-tax, honey!" There was a laugh at this which +showed that his listeners agreed fully with the views he had +expressed. + +The efforts to so arrange taxation as to impose as large a burden +as possible upon the colored man, immediately after his emancipation, +were very numerous and not unfrequently extremely subtle. The Black +Codes, which were adopted by the legislatures first convened under +what has gone into history as the "Johnsonian" plan of reconstruction, +were models of ingenious subterfuge. Among those which survived +this period was the absurd notion of a somewhat onerous poll-tax. +That a man who had been deprived of every benefit of government +and of all means of self-support or acquisition, should at once be +made the subject of taxation, and that a failure to list and pay +such tax should be made an indictable offense, savored somewhat of +the ludicrous. It seemed like taxing the privilege of poverty. + +Indeed, the poor men of the South, including the recent slaves, +were in effect compelled to pay a double poll-tax. The roads +of that section are supported solely by the labor of those living +along their course. The land is not taxed, as in other parts of +the country, for the support of those highways the passability of +which gives it value; but the poor man who travels over it only on +foot must give as much of his labor as may be requisite to maintain +it. This generally amounts to a period ranging from six to ten +days of work per annum. In addition to this, he is required to pay +a poll-tax, generally about two dollars a year, which is equivalent +to at least one fourth of a month's pay. During both these periods +he must board himself. + +So it may safely be estimated that the average taxes paid by a +colored man equals one half or two thirds of a month's wages, even +when he has not a cent of property, and only maintains his family +by a constant miracle of effort which would be impossible but +for the harsh training which slavery gave and which is one of the +beneficent results of that institution. If he refuses to work the +road, or to pay or list the poll-tax, he may be indicted, fined, +and his labor sold to the highest bidder, precisely as in the old +slave-times, to discharge the fine and pay the tax and costs of +prosecution. There is a grim humor about all this which did not fail +to strike the colored man and induce him to remark its absurdity, +even when he did not formulate its actual character. + +A thousand things tend to enhance this absurdity and seeming +oppression which the imagination of the thoughtful reader will +readily supply. One is the self evident advantage which this state +of things gives to the landowners. By it they are enabled to hold +large tracts of land, only a small portion of which is cultivated +or used in any manner. By refusing to sell on reasonable terms and +in small parcels, they compel the freedmen to accept the alternative +of enormous rents and oppressive terms, since starvation is the +only other that remains to them. + +The men who framed these laws were experts in legislation and adepts +in political economy. It would perhaps be well for countries which +are to-day wrestling with the question: "What shall we do with our +poor?" to consider what was the answer the South made to this same +inquiry. There were four millions of people who owned no property. +They were not worth a dollar apiece. Of lands, tenements and +hereditaments they had none. Life, muscle, time, and the clothes +that conceal nakedness were their only estate. But they were rich +in "days' works." They had been raised to work and liked it. They +were accustomed to lose _all_ their earnings, and could be +relied on to endure being robbed of a part, and hardly know that +they were the subject of a new experiment in governmental ways +and means. So, the dominant class simply taxed the possibilities +of the freedman's future, and lest he should by any means fail to +recognize the soundness of this demand for tribute and neglect to +regard it as a righteous exemplification of the Word, which declares +that "from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which +he hath," they frugally provided: + +1. That the ignorant or inept citizen neglecting to list his poll +for taxation should be liable to indictment and fine for such +refusal or neglect. + +2. That if unable to pay such tax and fine and the costs of prosecution, +he should be imprisoned and his labor sold to the highest bidder +until this claim of the State upon his poverty should be fully +redeemed. + +3. That the employer should be liable to pay the personal taxes of +his employees, and might recoup himself from any wages due to said +hirelings or to become due. + +4. To add a further safeguard, in many instances they made the +exercise of the elective franchise dependent upon the payment of +such tax. + +Should the effete monarchies of the Old World ever deign to glance +at our civil polity, they will learn that taxation is the only sure +and certain cure for pauperism, and we may soon look for their +political economists to render thanks to the "friends" of the +former slave for this discovery of a specific for the most ancient +of governmental ills! + +The song that has been given shows one of the views which a race +having little knowledge of political economy took of this somewhat +peculiar but perhaps necessary measure of governmental finance. + +The group broke up soon after Nimbus arrived, and Berry, following +him upon the porch said, as he laid his banjo in the window: + +"Wal, an' what did de Cap'n say 'bout my case 'gin Marse Granville +Sykes?" + +"He said you could indict him, an' hev him fined by de court ef he +turned yer off on 'count ob yer perlitical principles." + +"Bully fer de Cap'n!" said Berry, "dat's what I'll do, straight +away. Yah, yah! won't dat er be fun, jes makin' ole Mahs'r trot up +ter de lick-log fer meanness ter a nigger? Whoop! h'yer she goes!" +and spreading his hands he made "a cart-wheel" and rolled on his +outstretched hands and feet half way to the gate, and then turned +a handspring back again, to show his approval of the advice given +by the attorney. + +"An' he says," continued Nimbus, who had looked seriously on at +his kinsman's antics, "dat yer can sue him an' git yer wages fer de +whole year, ef yer kin show dat he put yer off widout good reason." + +"Der ain't no mite ob trouble 'bout dat ar, nary mite," said Berry, +confidently. "You knows what sort uv a wuk-hand I is in de crap, +Bre'er Nimbus?" + +"Yes, I knows dat," was the reply; "but de cap'n sez dat it mout +take two or tree year ter git dese cases fru de court, an' dar +must, of co'se, be a heap ob cost an' trouble 'bout 'em." + +"An' he's right tu', Bre'er Nimbus," said Berry seriously. + +"Dat's so, Berry," answered Nimbus, "an' on account ob dat, an' der +fac' dat yer hain't got no money an' can't afford ter resk de wages +dat yer family needs ter lib on, an' 'cause 'twould make smart ob +feelin' an' yer don't stan' well fer a fa'r show afore de court +an' jury, kase of yer color, _he_ sez yer'd better jes thank +de Lo'd fer gittin' off ez well ez yer hev, an' try ter look out +fer breakers in de futur. He sez ez how it's all wrong an' hard +an' mean an' all dat, but he sez, tu, dat yer ain't in no sort ob +fix ter make a fight on't wid Marse Sykes. Now, what _you_ +think, Berry?" + +The person addressed twirled his narrow-brimmed felt hat upon his +finger for a time and then said, looking suddenly up at the other: + +"Uncle Nimbus, Berry's right smart ob a fool, but damn me ef I +don't b'lieve de Cap'n's in de right on't. What you say, now?" + +Nimbus had seated himself and was looking toward the darkening west +with a gloomy brow. After a moment's silence he said: + +"I'se mighty feared yer both right, Bre'er Berry. But it certain +ar' a mighty easy way ter git wuk fer nothin', jes ter wait till +de crap's laid by an' den run a man off kase he happens ter go ter +a political meetin'! 'Pears like tain't _much_ more freedom +dan we hed in ole slave-times." + +"Did it ebber'ccur ter you. Uncle Nimbus," said Berry, very +thoughtfully, "dat dis yer ting _freedom_ waz a durn curus +affair fer we cullud people, ennyhow?" + +"Did it ever? Wal, now, I should tink it hed, an' hit 'ccurs ter +me now dat it's growin' quarer an' quarer ebbery day. Though I'se +had less on't ter bear an' puzzle over than a-most enny on ye, +dat I hez, I don't know whar it'll wuk out. 'Liab sez de Lord's a +doin' His own wuk in His own way, which I 'specs is true; but hit's +a big job, an' He's got a quare way ob gittin' at it, an' seems +ter be a-takin' His own time fer it, tu. Dat's my notion." + +It was no doubt childish for these two simple-minded colored men +to take this gloomy view of their surroundings and their future. +They should have realized that the fact that their privileges were +insecure and their rights indefensible was their own misfortune, +perhaps even their fault. They should have remembered that the +susceptibilities of that race among whom their lot had been cast by +the compulsion of a strange providence, were such as to be greatly +irritated by anything like a manly and independent exercise of +rights by those who had been so long accounted merely a superior +sort of cattle. They should not have been at all surprised to find +their race helpless and hopeless before the trained and organized +power of the whites, controlled by the instinct of generations and +animated by the sting of defeat. + +All this should have been clear and plain to them, and they should +have looked with philosophic calmness on the abstract rights which +the Nation had conferred and solemnly guaranteed to them, instead +of troubling themselves about the concrete wrongs they fancied +they endured. Why should Berry Lawson care enough about attending +a political meeting to risk provoking his employer's displeasure +by so doing; or why, after being discharged, should he feel angry +at the man who had merely enforced the words of his own contract? +He was a free man; he signed the contract, and the courts were open +to him as they were to others, if he was wronged. What reason was +there for complaint or apprehension, on his part? + +Yet many a wiser head than that of Berry Lawson, or even that of +his more fortunate kinsman, the many-named Nimbus, has been sorely +puzzled to understand how ignorance and poverty and inexperience +should maintain the right, preserve and protect themselves against +opposing wisdom, wealth and malicious skill, according to the +spirit and tenor of the Reconstruction Acts. But it is a problem +which ought to trouble no one, since it has been enacted and provided +by the Nation that all such persons shall have all the rights and +privileges of citizens. That should suffice. + +However, the master-key to the feeling which these colored men +noted and probed in their quiet evening talk was proclaimed aloud +by the county newspaper which, commenting on the meeting at Red Wing +and the dismissal of a large number of colored people who attended +it in opposition to the wish of their employers, said: + +"Our people are willing that the colored man should have all his +rights of _person_ and of _property_; we desire to promote his +_material_ welfare; but when he urges his claim to political right, +he offers a flagrant insult to the white race. We have no sympathy +to waste on negro-politicians or those who sympathize with and +encourage them." [Footnote: Taken from the Patriot-Democrat, +Clinton, La., Oct 1876.] + +The people of Horsford county had borne a great deal from +negro-domination. New men had come into office by means of colored +votes, and the old set to whom office had become a sort of perquisite +were deprived thereby of this inherited right. The very presence +of Nimbus and a few more who like him were prosperous, though in a +less degree, had been a constant menace to the peace of a community +which looked with peculiar jealousy upon the colored man in his +new estate. This might have been endured with no evil results had +their prosperity been attended with that humility which should +characterize a race so lately lifted from servitude to liberty. It +was the "impudent" assertion of their "rights" that so aggravated +and enraged the people among whom they dwelt. It was not so much +the fact of their having valuable possessions, and being entitled +to pay for their labor, that was deemed such an outrage on the part +of the colored race, but that they should openly and offensively +use those possessions to assert those rights and continually hold +language which only "white men" had a right to use. This was more +than a community, educated as the Southerners had been, could be +expected peaceably to endure. + +As a farmer, a champion tobacco-grower and curer, as the most +prosperous man of his race in that section, Horsford was not without +a certain pride in Nimbus; but when he asserted the right of his +people to attend a political meeting without let or hindrance, +losing only from their wages as hirelings the price of the time +thus absent, he was at once marked down as a "dangerous" man. And +when it was noised abroad that he had proposed that all the colored +men of the county should band together to protect themselves against +this evil, as he chose to regard it, he was at once branded not +only as "dangerous" but as a "desperate" and "pestiferous" nigger, +instead of being considered merely "sassy," as theretofore. + +So this meeting and its results had the effect to make Nimbus far +more active in political matters than he had ever been before, since +he honestly believed that their rights could only be conserved by +their political co-operation. To secure this he travelled about +the country all the time he could spare from his crop, visiting the +different plantations and urging his political friends to stand +firm and not be coaxed or driven away from the performance of +their political duty. By this means he became very "obnoxious" to +the "best people" of Horsford, and precipitated a catastrophe that +might easily have been avoided had he been willing to enjoy his own +good fortune, instead of clamoring about the collective rights of +his race. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +MOTES IN THE SUNSHINE. + + +Mollie Ainslie's third year of teacher's life was drawing near its +close. She had promised her brother to remain at the South during +that time in order that she might escape the perils of their native +climate. She was of vigorous constitution but of slight build, and +he dreaded lest the inherited scourge should take an ineradicable +hold upon her system. She had passed her school-girl life with safety; +but he rightly judged that a few years in the genial climate where +she then was would do very much toward enabling her to resist the +approaches of disease. + +The work in which she had been engaged had demanded all her energies +and commanded all her devotion. Commencing with the simplest of +rudimentary training she had carried some of her pupils along until +a fair English education had been achieved. One of these pupils +had already taken the place vacated a few months before by Lucy +Ellison, since which time Mollie had occupied alone the north +rooms of the old hostelry--a colored family who occupied the other +portion serving as protectors, and bringing her meals to her own +apartments. A friend had spent a portion of this time with her, a +schoolmate whose failing health attested the wisdom of the condition +her dying brother had imposed in regard to herself. As the warm +weather approached this friend had returned to her New England +home, and Mollie Ainslie found herself counting the days when she +might also take her flight. + +Her work had not grown uninteresting, nor had she lost any of her +zeal for the unfortunate race she had striven to uplift; but her +heart was sick of the terrible isolation that her position forced +upon her. She had never once thought of making companions, in +the ordinary sense, of those for whom she labored. They had been +so entirely foreign to her early life that, while she labored +unremittingly for their advancement and entertained for many of +them the most affectionate regard, there was never any inclination +to that friendly intimacy which would have been sure to arise if +her pupils had been of the same race as herself. She recognized +their right most fully to careful and polite consideration; she +had striven to cultivate among them gentility of deportment; but +she had longed with a hungry yearning for friendly white faces, +and the warm hands and hearts of friendly associates. + +Her chief recreation in this impalpable loneliness--this Chillon +of the heart in which she had been bound so long--was in daily +rides upon her horse, Midnight. Even in her New England home she +had been passionately fond of a horse, and while at school had been +carefully trained in horsemanship, being a prime favorite with the +old French riding-master who had charge of that branch of education +in the seminary of her native town. Midnight, coming to her from +the dying hand of her only brother, had been to her a sacred trust +and a pet of priceless value. All her pride and care had centered +upon him, and never had horse received more devoted attention. As +a result, horse and rider had become very deeply attached to each +other. Each knew and appreciated the other's good qualities and +varying moods. For many months the petted animal had shown none +of that savageness with which his owner had before been compelled +occasionally to struggle. He had grown sleek and round, but had +lost his viciousness, so far as she was concerned, and obeyed her +lightest word and gesture with a readiness that had made him a subject +of comment in the country around, where the "Yankee school-marm" +and her black horse had become somewhat noted. + +There was one road that had always been a favorite with the horse +from the very first. Whenever he struck that he pressed steadily +forward, turning neither to the right or left until he came to a +rocky ford five miles below, which his rider had never permitted +him to cross, but from which he was always turned back with +difficulty--at first with a troublesome display of temper, and at +the last, with evident reluctance. + +It was in one of her most lonely moods, soon after the incidents +we have just narrated, that Mollie Ainslie set out on one of her +customary rides. In addition to the depression which was incident +to her own situation, she was also not a little disturbed by the +untoward occurrences affecting those for whom she had labored so +long. She had never speculated much in regard to the future of the +freedmen, because she had considered it as assured. Growing to +womanhood in the glare of patriotic warfare, she had the utmost +faith in her country's honor and power. To her undiscriminating +mind the mere fact that this honor and power were pledged to the +protection and elevation of the negro had been an all-sufficient +guarantee of the accomplishment of that pledge. In fact, to her +mind, it had taken on the reality and certainty of a fact already +accomplished. She had looked forward to their prosperity as an +event not to be doubted. In her view Nimbus and Eliab Hill were +but feeble types of what the race would "in a few brief years" +accomplish for itself. She believed that the prejudice that prevailed +against the autonomy of the colored people would be suppressed, +or prevented from harmful action by the national power, until the +development of the blacks should have shown them to be of such +value in the community that the old-time antipathy would find itself +without food to exist upon longer. + +She had looked always upon the rosy side, because to her the country +for which her brother and his fellows had fought and died was the +fairest and brightest thing upon earth. There might be spots upon +the sun's face, but none were possible upon her country's escutcheon. +So she had dreamed and had fondly pictured herself as doing both a +patriot's and a Christian's duty in the work in which she had been +engaged. She felt less of anger and apprehension with regard to +the bitter and scornful whites than of pity and contempt for them, +because they could not appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the +Nation of which they were an unwilling part, and of the future +that lay just before. She regarded all there had been of violence +and hate as the mere puerile spitefulness of a subjugated people. +She had never analyzed their condition or dreamed that they would +ever be recognized as a power which might prove dangerous either +to the freedman's rights or to the Nation itself. + +The recent events had opened her eyes. She found that, unknown to +herself, knowledge had forced itself upon her mind. As by a flash +the fact stood revealed to her consciousness that the colored man +stood alone. The Nation had withdrawn its arm. The flag still waved +over him, but it was only as a symbol of sovereignty renounced--of +power discarded. Naked privileges had been conferred, but the right +to enforce their recognition had been abandoned. The weakness and +poverty of the recent slave was pitted alone and unaided against the +wealth and power and knowledge of the master. It was a revelation +of her own thought to herself, and she was stunned and crushed by +it. + +She was no statesman, and did not comprehend anything of those +grand policies whose requirements over-balance all considerations +of individual right--in comparison with which races and nations +are but sands upon the shore of Time. She little realized how grand +a necessity lay at the back of that movement which seemed to her +so heartless and inexcusable. She knew, of course, vaguely and +weakly, that the Fathers made a Constitution on which our government +was based. She did not quite understand its nature, which was very +strange, since she had often heard it expounded, and as a matter +of duty had read with care several of those books which tell us +all about it. + +She had heard it called by various names in her far New England +home by men whom she loved and venerated, and whose wisdom and +patriotism she could not doubt. They had called it "a matchless +inspiration" and "a mass of compromises;" "the charter of liberty" +and "a league with Hell;" "the tocsin of liberty" and "the manacle +of the slave." She felt quite sure that nobler-minded, braver-hearted +men than those who used these words had never lived, yet she could +not understand the thing of which they spoke so positively and so +passionately. She did not question the wisdom or the patriotism of +the Fathers who had propounded this enigma. She thought they did +the best they knew, and knew the best that was at that time to be +known. + +She had never _quite_ believed them to be inspired, and she +was sure they had no models to work after. Greece and Rome were +not republics in the sense of our day, and in their expanded growth +did not profess to be, at any time; Switzerland and San Marino +were too limited in extent to afford any valuable examples; Venice +while professedly a republic had been as unique and inimitable as +her own island home. Then there were a few experiments here and +there, tentative movements barren of results, and that was all that +the civilized world had to offer of practical knowledge of democracy +at that time. Beyond this were the speculations of philosophers +and the dreams of poets. Or perhaps the terms should be reversed, +for the dreams were oft-times more real and consistent than the +lucubrations. From these she did not doubt that our ancient sages +took all the wisdom they could gather and commingled it with the +riper knowledge of their own harsh experience. + +But yet she could not worship the outcome. She knew that Franklin +was a great man and had studied electricity very profoundly, for +his day; but there are ten thousand unnoted operators to-day who +know more of its properties, power and management than he ever +dreamed of. She did not know but it might be so with regard to free +government. The silly creature did not know that while the world +moves in all things else, it stands still or goes backward in +governmental affairs. She never once thought that while in science +and religion humanity is making stupendous strides, in government +as in art, it turns ever to the model of the antique and approves +the wisdom only of the ancient. + +So it was that she understood nothing of the sacredness of right +which attaches to that impalpable and indestructible thing, a State +of the American Union--that immortal product of mortal wisdom, that +creature which is greater than its creator, that part which is more +than the whole, that servant which is lord and master also. If she +had been given to metaphysical researches, she would have found +much pleasure in tracing the queer involutions of that network of +wisdom that our forefathers devised, which their sons have labored +to explain, and of which the sword had already cut some of the +more difficult knots. Not being a statesman or a philosopher, she +could only wonder and grow sad in contemplating the future that +she saw impending over those for whom she had labored so long. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +IN THE PATH OF THE STORM. + + +While Mollie Ainslie thought of these things with foreboding, her +steed had turned down his favorite road, and was pressing onward +with that persistency which characterizes an intelligent horse having +a definite aim in view. The clouds were gathering behind her, but +she did not notice them. The horse pressed on and on. Closer and +closer came the storm. The road grew dark amid the clustering oaks +which overhung its course. The thunder rolled in the distance and +puffs of wind tossed the heavy-leafed branches as though the trees +begged for mercy from the relentless blast. A blinding flash, a +fierce, sharp peal, near at hand, awoke her from her reverie. The +horse broke into a quick gallop, and glancing back she saw a wall +of black cloud, flame-lighted and reverberant, and felt the cold +breath of the summer storm come sweeping down upon her as she sped +away. + +She saw that it would be useless to turn back. Long before she +could reach any shelter in that direction she would be drenched. +She knew she was approaching the river, but remembering that she +had noticed some fine-looking houses just on the other side, she +decided that she would let the horse have his own way, and apply at +one of these for shelter. She was sure that no one would deny her +that in the face of such a tornado as was raging behind her. The +horse flew along as if a winged thing. The spirit of the storm seemed +to have entered into him, or else the thunder's voice awakened +memories of the field of battle, and for once his rider found +herself powerless to restrain his speed or direct his course. He +laid back his ears, and with a short, sharp neigh dashed onward +with a wild tremor of joy at the mad race with wind and storm. +The swaying tree-tops waved them on with wild gesticulations. The +lightning and the thunder added wings to the flying steed. + +Just before reaching the river bank they had to pass through +a stretch of tall pines, whose dark heads were swaying to and fro +until they almost met above the narrow road, making it so dark +below that the black horse grew dim in the shadow, while the gaunt +trunks creaked and groaned and the leaves hissed and sobbed as the +wind swept through them. The resinous fragrance mingled with the +clayey breath of the pursuing storm. The ghost-like trunks stood +out against the lightning flashes like bars before the path of flame. +She no longer tried to control her horse. Between the flashes, his +iron feet filled the rocky road with sparks of fire. He reached +the ford and dashed knee-deep into the dark, swift stream, casting +a cool spray around him before he checked his speed. Then he halted +for an instant, tossed his head as if to give the breeze a chance +to creep beneath his flowing mane, cast a quick glance back at +his rider, and throwing out his muzzle uttered a long, loud neigh +that seemed like a joyful hail, and pressed on with quick, careful +steps, picking his way along the ledge of out-cropping granite which +constituted the ford, as if traversing a well-remembered causeway. + +The water grew deeper and darker; the rider reached down and +gathered up her dark habit and drew her feet up close beneath her. +The current grew swifter. The water climbed the horse's polished +limbs. It touched his flanks and foamed and dashed about his rugged +breast. Still he picked his way among the rocks with eager haste, +neighing again and again, the joy-ringing neighs of the home-coming +steed. The surging water rose about his massive shoulders and the +rider drew herself still closer up on the saddle, clinging to bow +and mane and giving him the rein, confident in his prowess and +intelligence, wondering at his eagerness, yet anxious for his footing +in the dashing current. The wind lifted the spray and dashed it +about her. The black cloud above was fringed with forked lightning +and resonant with swift-succeeding peals of thunder. The big drops +began to fall hissing into the gurgling waters. Now and then they +splashed on her hands and face and shot through her close-fitting +habit like icy bolts. The brim of the low felt hat she wore and +its dark plume were blown about her face. Casting a hurried glance +backward, she saw the grayish-white storm-sheet come rushing over +the sloping expanse of surging pines, and heard its dull heavy roar +over the rattle of the aerial artillery which echoed and re-echoed +above her. + +And now the wind shifted, first to one point and then to another. +Now it swept down the narrow valley through which the stream ran; +now it dashed the water in her face, and anon it seemed about +to toss her from her seat and hurl her over her horse's head. She +knew that the fierce storm would strike her before she could reach +any place of shelter. The wild excitement of a struggle with the +elements flamed up in her face and lighted her eyes with joy. She +might have been a viking's daughter as her fair hair blew over her +flushed face, while she patted her good steed and laughed aloud +for very glee at the thought of conflict with the wild masterful +storm and the cool gurgling rapid which her horse breasted so +gallantly. + +There was a touch of fun, too, in the laugh, and in the arch +gleaming of her eyes, as she thought of the odd figure which she +made, perched thus upon the saddle in mid-river, blown and tossed by +the wind, and fleeing from the storm. Her rides were the interludes +of her isolated life, and this storm was a part of the fun. +She enjoyed it as the vigorous pleasure-seeker always enjoys the +simulation of danger. + +The water shoaled rapidly as they neared the farther shore. The +black horse mounted swiftly to the bank, still pressing on with +unabated eagerness. She leaned over and caught up the stirrup, +thrust her foot into it, regained her seat and seized the reins, +as with a shake and a neigh he struck into a long easy gallop. + +"Go!" she said, as she shook the reins. The horse flew swiftly along +while she swayed lightly from side to side as he rose and fell with +great sinewy strides. She felt him bound and quiver beneath her, +but his steps were as though the black, corded limbs were springs +of steel. Her pride in the noble animal she rode overcame her fear +of the storm, which followed swifter than they fled. She looked +eagerly for a by-path leading to some farm-house, but the swift-settling +darkness of the summer night hid them from her eager glance, if +any there were. Half a mile from the ford, and the storm over-took +them--a wall of wind-driven rain, which dashed and roared about +them, drenching the rider to the skin in an instant. In a moment +the red-clay road became the bed of a murky torrent. The horse's +hoofs, which an instant before echoed on the hard-beaten track, +splashed now in the soft mud and threw the turbid drops over her +dripping habit and into her storm-washed face. A quarter of a mile +more, and the cold streams poured down her back and chilled her +slight frame to the marrow. Her hands were numb and could scarce +cling to the dripping reins. Tears came into her eyes despite +herself. Still the wild cloud-burst hurled its swift torrents of +icy rain upon them. She could scarcely see her horse's head, through +the gray, chilly storm-sheet. + +"Whoa! whoa, Midnight!" she cried, in tremulous tones through her +chattering teeth and white, trembling lips. All her gay exultant +courage had been drenched and chilled out of her. She tried to +check his stride with a loose convulsive clutch at the reins as she +peered about with blinded eyes for a place of shelter. The horse +shook his head with angry impatience, neighed again, clasped the bit +in his strong teeth, stretched his neck still further and covered +the slippery ground with still swifter strides. A hundred yards +more and he turned into a narrow lane at the right, between two +swaying oaks, so quickly as almost to unseat his praticed rider, +and with neigh after neigh dashed down to a great, rambling, old +farm-house just visible under the trees at the foot of the lane, +two hundred yards away. The way was rough and the descent sharp, +but the horse did not slacken his speed. She knew it was useless to +attempt to check him, and only clung to the saddle pale with fear +as he neared the high gate which closed its course. As he rose with +a grand lift to take the leap she closed her eyes in terror. Easy +and swift as a bird's flight was the leap with which the strong-limbed +horse cleared the high palings and lighted on the soft springy turf +within; another bound or two and she heard a sharp, strong voice +which rang above the storm with a tone of command that betrayed no +doubt of obedience: + +"Whoa, Satan! Stand, sir!" + +The fierce horse stopped instantly. Mollie Ainslie was thrown heavily +forward, clasped by a strong arm and borne upon the piazza. When +she opened her eyes she saw the torrents pouring from the eaves, +the rain beating itself into spray upon the ground without, the +black horse steaming and quivering at the steps of the porch, and +Hesden Le Moyne gazing anxiously down into her face. The water +dripped from her garments and ran across the porch. She shook as +if in an ague-fit. She could not answer the earnest inquiries that +fell from his lips. She felt him chafing her chill, numbed hands, +and then the world was dark, and she knew no more of the kindly +care which was bestowed upon her. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +LIKE AND UNLIKE. + + +When she awoke to consciousness she was lying on a bed in an apartment +which was a strange compound of sitting- and sleeping-room. The +bed stood in a capacious alcove which seemed to have been built +on as an afterthought. The three sides were windows, in the outer +of which were tastefully arranged numerous flowering plants, some +of which had clambered up to the ceiling and hung in graceful +festoons above the bed. The window-shades were so arranged as to +be worked by cords, which hung within easy reach of one lying there. +The night had not fully come, but a lamp was burning at the side +of the bed yet beyond its head-board, so that its rays lit up the +windows and the green trailing vines, but did not fall upon the +bed. In an invalid's chair drawn near the bedside, a lady well past +the middle age but with a face of singular sweetness and refinement +was watching and directing the efforts which were being made for +the resuscitation of the fainting girl by two servant women, who +were busily engaged in chafing her hands and making warm applications +to her chilled limbs. + +As she opened her eyes they took in all these things, but she could +not at once remember what had happened or where she was, This sweet +vision of a home interior was so different from the low, heavy-beamed +rooms and little diamond-paned windows of the Ordinary, even after +all her attempts to make it cosy, that she seemed to have awakened +in fairy land. She wondered dully why she had never trained ivies +and Madeira vines over those dark beams, and blushed at the thought +that so simple a device had never occurred to her. She lay motionless +until she had recalled the incidents of the day. She had recognized +Mr. Le Moyne at once, and she knew by instinct that the graceful +lady who sat beside her was she who had written her the only word +of sympathy or appreciation she had ever received from one of her +own sex in the South. She was anxious for a better view and turned +toward her. + +"Ah, here are you, my dear!" said a soft, low voice, as the light +fell upon her opened eyes. "Move me up a little, Maggie," to one +of the servants." We are glad to see you coming around again. Don't +move, dear," she continued, as she laid her thin soft hand upon the +plump one of the reclining girl." You are among friends. The storm +and the ride were too much for you, and you fainted for a little +while. That is all. There is no trouble now. You weren't hurt, were +you?" she asked anxiously. + +"No," said the other, wonderingly. + +"We are glad of that," was the reply. "You are exhausted, of course, +but if you do not get cold you will soon be all right. Maggie," +she continued, to the servant, "tell Mr. Hesden to bring in that +hot toddy now. He had better put the juice of a lemon it it, too. +Miss Ainslie may not be accustomed to taking it. I am Mrs. Le Moyne, +I forgot to say," she added, turning to her unintended guest, "and +Hesden, that is my son, tells me that you are Miss Ainslie, the +brave young teacher at Red Wing whom I have long wished to see. I +am really glad that chance, or Hesden's old war horse Satan, brought +you here, or I am afraid I should never have had that pleasure. +This is Hesden," she continued, nodding toward him as he entered +with a small silver waiter on which was a steaming pitcher and +a delicate glass. "He has been my nurse so long that he thinks no +one can prepare a draught for a sick person so well as he, and I +assure you that I quite agree with his notion. You have met before, +I believe. Just take a good dose of this toddy and you will be +better directly. You got a terrible drenching, and I was afraid +you would have a congestive chill when they brought you in here as +white as a sheet with your teeth chattering like castanets." + +Hesden Le Moyne filled the glass with the steaming decoction and +held the salver toward her. She took it and tried to drink. + +"Hand me the waiter, Hesden," said his mother, reprovingly, "and +raise her head. Don't you see that Miss Ainslie cannot drink lying +there. I never saw you so stupid, my son. I shall have to grow +worse again soon to keep you from getting out of practice entirely." + +Thus reproached, Hesden Le Moyne put his arm hesitatingly beneath +the pillow, raised the flushed face upon it and supported the young +lady while she quaffed the hot drink. Then he laid her easily down, +smoothed the pillow with a soft instinctive movement, poured out +a glass of the toddy which he offered to his mother, and then, +handing the waiter to the servant, leaned over his mother with a +caressing movement and said: + +"You must look out, little mother. Too much excitement will not +do for you. You must not let Miss Ainslie's unexpected call disturb +you." + +"No indeed, Hesden," she said, as she looked up at him gratefully, +"I feel really glad of any accident that could bring her under our +roof, now that I am satisfied that she is to experience no harm +from her stormy ride. She will be all right presently, and we will +have supper served here as usual. You may tell Laura that she need +be in no haste." + +Having thus dismissed her son she turned to her guest and said: + +"I have been an invalid so long that our household is all ordered +with regard to that fact. I am seldom able to be taken out to dinner, +and we have got into the habit of having a late supper here, just +Hesden, his little boy, and I, and to-night we will have the table +set by the bedside and you will join us." + +The sudden faint was over; the toddy had sent the blood tingling +through the young girl's veins. The _role_ of the invalid was +an unaccustomed one for her to play, and the thought of supping +in bed was peculiarly distasteful to her self-helping Northern +training. It was not long before she began to manifest impatience. + +"Are you in pain, dear?" asked the good lady, noticing with the +keen eye of the habitual invalid her restive movements. + +"No, indeed," was the reply. "I am not at all sick. It was only +a little faint. Really, Mrs. Le Moyne, I would rather get up than +lie here." + +"Oh, lie still," said the elder lady, cheerfully. "The room hardly +looks natural unless the bed is occupied. Besides," she added +with a light laugh, "you will afford me an excellent opportunity +to study effects. You seem to me very like what I must have been +when I was first compelled to abandon active life. You are very +nearly the same size and of much the same complexion and cast of +features. You will pardon an old lady for saying it, I am sure. Lest +you should not, I shall be compelled to add that I was considered +something of a beauty when I was young. Now, you shall give me +an idea of how I have looked in all the long years that couch has +been my home. I assure you I shall watch you very critically, for +it has been my pride to make my invalid life as pleasant to myself +and as little disagreeable to others as I could. Knowing that I +could never be anything else, I devised every plan I could to make +myself contented and to become at least endurable to my family." + +"Everyone knows how well you have succeeded, Mrs, Le Moyne," said +the young girl. "It must indeed have been a sad and burdened life, +and it seems to me that you have contrived to make your sick room +a perfect paradise." "Yes, yes," said the other, sadly, "it is +beautiful. Those who loved me have been very indulgent and very +considerate, too. Not only every idea of my own has been carried +into effect, but they have planned for me, too. That alcove was +an idea of my husband's. I think that the sunlight pouring in at +those windows has done more to prolong my life than anything else. +I did not think, when thirty years ago I took to my bed, that I +should have survived him so long--so long--almost eight years. He +was considerably older than I, but I never looked to outlive him, +never. + +"That lamp-stand and little book-rack," she continued, with +the garrulity of the invalid when discoursing of his own affairs, +"were Hesden's notions, as were many other things in the room. The +flowers I had brought in, one by one, to satisfy my hunger for the +world without. In the winter I have many more. Hesden makes the +room a perfect conservatory, then. They have come to be very dear +to me, as you may well suppose. That ivy now, over the foot of the +bed, I have watched it from a little slip not a finger high. It is +twenty-seven years old." + +So she would have run on, no one knows to what length, had not the +servant entered to set the table for supper. Under her mistress' +directions she was about to place it beside the bed, when the young +girl sprang into a sitting posture and with flaming cheeks cried +out: + +"Please, Mrs. Le Moyne, I had rather not lie here. I am quite +well--just as well as ever, and I wish you would let me get up." + +"But how can you, dear?" was the reply. "Your clothes are drying +in the kitchen. They were completely drenched." + +"Sure enough," answered Miss Ainslie. "I had forgotten that." She +laid herself down resignedly as the invalid said: + +"If Hesden's presence would annoy you, he shall not come. I only +thought it might be pleasanter for you not to be confined to the +conversation of a crippled old woman. Besides, it is his habit, and +I hardly know what he would do if he had to eat his supper elsewhere." + +"Oh, certainly, I would not wish to disturb your usual arrangement," +answered Mollie, "but--" she began, and then stoppd with some signs +of confusion. + +"But what, my dear?" asked the elder lady, briskly. "Do you mean +that you are not accustomed as I am to invalidism, and hardly like +the notion of supping in bed as an introduction to strangers? Well, +I dare say it would be annoying, and if you think you are quite +well enough to sit up, I reckon something better may be arranged." + +"I assure you, Mrs. Le Moyne," said the other, "that I am quite +well, but pray do not let me make you any trouble." + +"Oh, no trouble at all, dear; only you will have to wear one of +my gowns now many years old. I thought they were very pretty then, +I assure you. I should be very glad to see them worn again. There +are few who could wear them at all; but I think they would both fit +and suit you. You are like enough to me to be my daughter. Here, +you Maggie!" + +She called the servant, and gave some directions which resulted in +her bringing in several dresses of an ancient pattern but exquisite +texture, and laying them upon the bed. + +"You will have to appear in full dress, my dear, for I have no +other gowns that would be at all becoming," said Mrs. Le Moyne. + +"How very beautiful!" said the girl sitting up in the bed, gazing +at the dainty silks and examining their quaint patterns. "But +really, Mrs. Le Moyne--" + +"Now, please oblige me by making no more objections," interrupted +that lady. "Indeed," she added, shaking her finger threateningly +at her guest, "I will not listen to any more. The fit has seized +me now to have you sit opposite me at the table. It will be like +facing. my own youth; for now that I look at you more closely, +you seem wonderfully like me. Don't you think so, Maggie?" + +"'Deed I do," said the servant, "an' dat's jes what Laura was a +sayin' ter me when we done fotch de young lady in here in a faint. +She sez ter me, sez she, 'Maggie, ebber you see anybody look so +much like de Mistis made young again?'" + +"Hush, Maggie," said her mistress, gaily; "don't you see how the +young lady is blushing, while it is the poor, faded woman here in +the chair who ought to blush at such a compliment?" + +And indeed the bright flushed face with its crown of soft golden +hair escaped from its customary bondage, tossing in sunny tendrils +about the delicate brow and rippling in waves of light over her +shoulders, was a picture which any woman past the middle life might +well blush and sigh to recognize as the counterpart of her youth. +The two women looked at each other and both laughed at the admiration +each saw in the other's glance. + +"Well," said Mollie, as she sank smilingly on her pillow, "I see +I must submit. You will have your own way." + +She raised her arm above' her head and toyed with a leaf of the +ivy which hung in graceful festoons about the head-board. As she +did so the loose-sleeved wrapper which had been flung about her +when her own drenched clothing was removed, fell down almost to +her shoulder and revealed to the beauty-worshipping watcher by the +bedside an arm of faultless outline, slender, pink-tinged, plump +and soft. When she had toyed lazily for a moment with the ivy, she +dropped her arm listlessly down upon the bed. It fell upon one of +the dresses which lay beside her. + +"Ah, thank you!" exclaimed Mrs. Le Moyne. + +"You have relieved me greatly. I was trying to decide which +one I wanted you to wear, when your arm dropped across that pale, +straw-colored silk, with the vine border around the corsage and the +clambering roses running down the front. That is the one you must +wear. I never wore it but once, and the occasion is one I shall +always like to recall." + +There was a gleeful time in the invalid's room while the fair girl +was being habited in the garments of a by-gone generation, and when +Hesden Le Moyne and his boy Hildreth were admitted to the hearty +evening meal, two women who seemed like counterparts sat opposite +each other at the sparkling board--the one habited in black silk +with short waist, a low, square bodice with a mass of tender lawn +showing about the fair slender neck, puffed at the shoulders with +straight, close sleeves reaching to the wrists, around which peeped +some rows of soft white lace; the white hair combed in puffs beside +the brow, clustering above its pinky softness and falling in a +silvery cataract upon the neck. The style of the other's dress was +the same, save that the shoulders were uncovered, and except for +the narrow puff which seemed but a continuation on either side, of +the daintily-edged bodice, the arm hung pink and fair over the amber +satin, uncovered and unadorned save at the wrist, where a narrow +circlet of gold clung light and close about it. Her hair was dressed +in the same manner as the elder lady's, and differed only in its +golden sheen. The customary lamp had been banished, and colored +wax-candles, brought from some forgotten receptacle, burned in the +quaint old candelabra with which the mantels of the house had long +been decorated. + +The one-armed veteran of thirty gazed in wonder at this unaccustomed +brightness. If he needed to gaze long and earnestly at the +fair creature who sat over against his mother, to determine the +resemblances which had been noted between the permanent and the +temporary invalid, who shall blame him for so doing? + +Little Hildreth in his six-year-old wonderment was less judicial, +or at least required less time and inquiry to decide, for he cried +out even before an introduction could be given, + +"Oh, papa, see, I've got a new, young grandma." + +It was a gay party at that country supper-table, and four happier +people could hardly have gone afterward into the parlor where the +invalid allowed herself to be wheeled by her son in special honor +of their unintended guest. + +Miss Ainslie was soon seated at the piano which Hesden had kept in +tune more for the pleasure of occasional guests than his own. It +was three years since she had touched one, but the little organ, +which some Northern benefactor had given to the church and school +at Red Wing, had served to prevent her fingers from losing all +their skill, and in a few minutes their wonted cunning returned. +She had been carefully trained and had by nature rare musical gifts. +The circumstances of the day had given a wonderful exhilaration to +her mind and thought. She seemed to have taken a leaf out of Paradise +and bound it among the dingy pages of her dull and monotonous life. +Every thing about her was so quaint and rare, the clothes she wore +so rich and fantastic, that she could not control her fancy. Every +musical fantasy that had ever crept into her brain seemed to be +trooping along its galleries in a mad gallop as her fair fingers +flew over the time-stained keys. The little boy stood clinging to +her skirt in silent wonder, his fair, sensitive face working, and +his eyes distended, with delighted amazement. + +The evening came to an end at last, and when the servant went with +her in her quaint attire, lighting her up the winding stairway +from the broad hall to the great airy room above, with its yawning +fireplace cheery with the dying embers of a fire built hours ago +to drive out the dampness, and its two high-posted beds standing +there in lofty dignity, the little Yankee school marm could hardly +realize what madcap freaks she had perpetrated since she bounded +over the gate at the foot of the lane leading from the highway down +to Mulberry Hill, the ancestral home of the Richards family. + +As she sat smiling and blushing over the memory of what she had +done and said in those delicious hours, a servant tapped at the +door and announced that Master Hildreth, whom she bore in her arms +and whose chubby fists were stuck into his eyes, was crying most +disconsolately lest he should lose his "new grandma" while he slept. +She had brought him, therefore, to inquire whether he might occupy +one of the beds in the young lady's room. Mollie had not seen for +so many years a child that she could fondle and caress, that it +was with unbounded delight that she took the little fellow from +his nurse's arms, laid him on the bed and coaxed his eyes to slumber. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +AN UNBIDDEN GUEST. + + +When the morning dawned the boy awoke with hot cheeks and bloodshot +eyes, moaning and restless, and would only be quiet when pillowed +in the arms of his new-found friend. A physician who was called +pronounced his ailment to be scarlet-fever. He soon became delirious, +and his fretful moans for his "new grandma" were so piteous that +Miss Ainslie could not make up her mind to leave him. She stayed +by his bed-side all day, saying nothing of returning to Red Wing, +until late in the afternoon a messenger came from there to inquire +after her, having traced her by inquiry among several who had seen +her during the storm, as well as by the report that had gone out +from the servants of her presence at Mulberry Hill. + +When Hesden Le Moyne came to inform her of the messenger's arrival, +he found her sitting by his son's bedside, fanning his fevered brow, +as she had done the entire day. He gazed at them both in silence +a moment before making known his errand. Then he took the fan from +her hand and informed her of the messenger's arrival. His voice +sounded strangely, and as she looked up at him she saw his face +working with emotion. She cast down her eyes quickly. She could +not tell why. All at once she felt that this quiet, maimed veteran +of a lost cause was not to her as other men. Perhaps her heart +was made soft by the strange occurrences of the few hours she had +passed beneath his mother's roof. However that may be, she was +suddenly conscious of a feeling she had never known before. Her +cheeks burned as she listened to his low, quiet tones. The tears +seemed determined to force themselves beneath her downcast lids, +but her heart bounded with a strange undefined joy. + +She rose to go and see the messenger. The sick boy moaned and +murmured her name. She stole a glance at the father, and saw his +eyes filled with a look of mingled tenderness and pain. She walked +to the door. As she opened it the restless sufferer called for her +again. She went out and closed it quickly after her. At the head +of the stairs she paused, and pressed her hand to her heart while +she breathed quick and her face burned. She raised her other hand +and pushed back a stray lock or two as if to cool her forehead. She +stood a moment irresolute; glanced back at the door of the room she +had left, with a half frightened look; placed a foot on the first +stair, and paused again. Then she turned suddenly back with a +scared resolute look in her gray eyes, opened the door and glided +swiftly to the bedside. Hesden Le Moyne's face was buried in the +pillow. She stood over him a moment, her bosom heaving with short, +quick sighs. She reached out her hand as if she would touch him, +but drew it quickly back. Then she spoke, quietly but with great +effort, looking only at the little sufferer. + +"Mr. Le Moyne?" He raised his head quickly and a flush of joy swept +over his face. She did not see it, at least she was not looking at +him, but she knew it. "Would you like me to--to stay--until--until +this is over?" + +He started, and the look of joy deepened in his face. He raised his +hand but let it fall again upon the pillow, as he answered humbly +and tenderly, + +"If you please, Miss Ainslie." She put her hand upon the bed, in +order to seem more at ease, as she replied, with a face which she +knew was all aflame, + +"Very well. I will remain for--the present." + +He bent his head and kissed her hand. She drew it quickly away and +added in a tone of explanation: + +"It would hardly be right to go back among so many children after +such exposure." So quick is love to find excuse. She called it +duty, nor ever thought of giving it a tenderer name. + +He made no answer. So easy is it for the fond heart to be jealous +of a new-found treasure. + +She waited a moment, and then went out and wrote a note to Eliab +Hill. Then she went into the room of the invalid mother. How sweet +she looked, reclining on the bed in the pretty alcove, doing penance +for her unwonted pleasure of the night before! The excited girl +longed to throw her arms about her neck and weep. It seemed to her +that she had never seen any one so lovely and loveable. She went +to the bedside and took the slender hand extended toward her, + +"So," said Mrs. Le Moyne, "I hear they have sent for you to go back +to Red Wing. I am sorry, for you have given us great pleasure; but +I am afraid you will have only sad memories of Mulberry Hill. It +is too bad! Poor Hildreth had taken such a liking to you, too. I +am sure I don't blame him, for I am as much in love with you as an +invalid can be with any one but herself. Hesden will have a hard +time alone in this great house with two sick people on his hands." + +"I shall not go back to Red Wing to-day." + +"Indeed?" + +"No, I do not think it would be right to endanger so many by exposure +to the disease." "Oh," carelessly; "but I am afraid yon may take +it yourself." + +"I hope not. I am very well and strong. Besides, Hildreth calls +for me as soon as I leave him for a moment." + +"Poor little fellow! It is pitiable to know that I can do nothing +for him." + +"I will do what I can, Mrs. Le Moyne." + +"But you must not expose yourself in caring for a strange child, +my dear. It will not do to be too unselfish." + +"I cannot leave him, Mrs. Le Moyne." + +She left the room quickly and returned to her place at the sufferer's +bedside. Hesden Le Moyne rose as she approached. She took the fan +from his hand and sat down in the chair he had occupied. He stood +silent a moment, looking down upon her as she fanned the uneasy +sleeper, and then quietly left the room. + +"What a dear, tender-hearted thing she is!" said Mrs. Le Moyne to +herself after she had gone. "So lady-like and refined too. How +can such a girl think of associating with niggers and teaching a +nigger school? Such a pity she is not one of our people. She would +be just adorable then. Don't you think so, Hesden?" she said aloud +as her son entered. Having been informed of the subject of her +cogitations, Mr. Hesden Le Moyne replied, somewhat absently and +irrelevantly, as she thought, yet very warmly, + +"Miss Ainslie is a very remarkable woman." + +He passed into the hall, and his mother, looking after him, said, + +"Poor fellow! he has a heap of trouble." And then it struck her +that her son's language was not only peculiar but amusing. "A +remarkable woman!" She laughed to herself as she thought of it. A +little, brown-haired, bright-eyed, fair-skinned chit, pretty and +plucky, and accomplished no doubt, but not at all "remarkable." +She had no style nor pride. Yankee women never had. And no family +of course, or she would not teach a colored school. "Remarkable!" +It was about the only thing Miss Ainslie was not and could not +be. It was very kind of her to stay and nurse Hildreth, though she +only did that out of consideration for the colored brats under her +charge at Red Wing. Nevertheless she was glad and gratified that +she did so. She was a very capable girl, no doubt of that, and she +would feel much safer about Hildreth because of her care. It was +just in her line. She was like all Yankee women--just a better class +of housemaids. This one was very accomplished. She had played +the piano exquisitely and had acted the lady to perfection in last +night's masquerade. But Hesden must be crazy to call her remarkable. +She chuckled lightly as she determined to rally him upon it, when +she saw him next. When that time came, the good lady had quite +forgotten her resolve. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +A LIFE FOR A LIFE. + + +It was a time of struggle at Mulberry Hill. Love and death fought +for the life of little Hildreth Le Moyne. The father and the "new +grandma" watched over him most assiduously; the servants were untiring +in their exertions; the physician's skill was not lacking, but +yet none could foresee the result. The invalid below sent frequent +inquiries. First one and then the other stole away to ask her some +question or bring her tidings in regard to the lad in whose life +was bound up the hope of two old families. + +One morning, while the child was still very sick, when Miss +Ainslie awoke after the brief sleep which had been all the rest +she had allowed herself from her self-imposed task, her head seemed +strangely light. There was a roaring in her ears as if a cataract +were playing about them. Her limbs ached, and every movement seemed +unusually difficult--almost painful. She walked across the room +and looked dully into the mirror on her dressing-case, resting her +hands on the top of the high old-fashioned furniture as she did +so. She was only able to note that her eyes looked heavy and her +face flushed and swollen, when a sharp pain shot through her frame, +her sight grew dim, the room spun round and round. She could only +crawl back and clamber with difficulty upon the high-posted bed, +where the servant found her fevered and unconscious when she came +an hour later to awaken her for breakfast. The struggle that had +been waged around the bed of the young child was now renewed by +that of his self-constituted nurse. Weeks passed away before it was +over, and ere that time the music of little feet had ceased about +the ancient mansion, and the stroke to pride and love had rendered +the invalid grand-mother still more an invalid. + +The child had been her hope and pride as its mother had been her +favorite. By a strange contrariety the sunny-faced little mother +had set herself to accomplish her son's union with the tall, dark, +and haughty cousin, who had expired in giving birth to little +Hildreth. There was nothing of spontaneity and no display of +conjugal affection on the part of the young husband or his wife; +but during the absence of her son, the invalid was well cared for +and entertained by the wife, whom she came to love with an intensity +second only to that she lavished on her son. In the offspring of +these two her heart had been wrapped up from the hour of his birth. +She had dreamed out for him a life full of great actualities, +and had even reproached Hesden for his apathy in regard to public +affairs during the stirring scenes enacting around them, urging +him to take part in them for his son's sake. + +She was a woman of great ambition. At first this had centered in her +son, and she had even rejoiced when he went into the army, though +he was earnestly opposed to the war, in the hope that it might +bring him rank and fame. When these did not come, and he returned +to her a simple private, with a bitterer hate for war and a sturdier +dislike for the causes which had culminated in the struggle than +he had when it began, she had despaired of her dream ever being +realized through him, but had fondly believed that the son of the +daughter-in-law she had so admired and loved would unite his father's +sterling qualities with his mother's pride and love of praise, and +so fulfill her desire that the family name should be made famous +by some one descended from herself. This hope was destroyed by the +death of the fair, bright child whom she loved so intensely, and +she felt a double grief in consequence. In her sorrow, she had +entirely secluded herself, seeing no one but her nurse and, once +or twice, her son. The sick girl in the room above was somehow +unpleasantly connected with her grief, and received no real sympathy +in her illness. There was even something of jealousy in the mind +of the confirmed invalid, when she remembered the remarkable manner +in which the child had been attracted toward the new-comer, as well +as the fact that she had nursed him so faithfully that his last +words were a moan for his "new grandma," while his real grandmother +lay useless and forgotten in her dim-shadowed room below. + +Besides, it was with a feeling of envy that she recognized the fact +that, for the first time in his life, her son was more absorbed +in another's welfare than in her own. The chronic ailment of the +mother had no doubt become so much a thing of habit in his life that +it failed to impress him as it should, while the illness of the +young girl, having, as he believed, been incurred by her voluntary +attendance upon his son inspired him with a feeling of responsibility +that would not otherwise have existed. Something had occurred, +too, which had aroused a feeling upon his part which is often very +close akin to a tenderer one. As soon as he had learned of her +illness, he had endeavored to induce some of his female relatives +to come and attend her, but they had all flatly refused. They +would come and care for the child, they said; they would even send +the "Yankee school-marm" flowers, and make delicacies to tempt her +appetite, but they would not demean themselves by waiting upon a +sick "nigger teacher." They did not fear the contagion; indeed they +would have come to take care of little Hildreth but that they did +not care to meet his Yankee nurse. They even blamed Hesden for +allowing her to come beneath his roof, and intimated that she had +brought contagion with her. + +He was angry at their injustice and prejudice. He had known of its +existence, but it never before seemed so hateful. Somehow he could +not rid himself of two thoughts: one was of the fairy creature +whose song and laughter and bird-like grace and gaiety, as she +masqueraded in the quaint dress of olden time, had made the dull +old mansion bright as a dream of Paradise for a single night. It +had seemed to him, then, that nothing so bright and pure had ever +flitted through the somber apartments of the gray old mansion. He +remembered the delight of his boy--that boy whom he loved more than +he had ever loved any one, unless it were his invalid mother--and +he could not forget the same slight form, with serious shadowed face +and earnest eyes moving softly about the sick-room of the child, +her eyes full of sorrowful anxiety as if the life she sought to +save were part of her own being. He wondered that any one could +think of her as a stranger. It was true she had come from the North +and was engaged in a despised avocation, but even that she had +glorified and exalted by her purity and courage until his fastidious +lady mother herself had been compelled to utter words of praise. +So his heart grew sore and his face flushed hot with wrath when +his cousins sneered at this lily which had been blighted by the +fevered breath of his son. + +They tauntingly advised him to send to Red Wing and get some of +her "nigger" pupils to attend upon her. Much to their surprise he +did so, and two quiet, gentle, deft-handed watchers came, who by +day and by night sat by her bedside, gladly endeavoring to repay +the debt they owed to the faithful teacher. But this did not seem +to relieve Mr. Le Moyne of anxiety. He came often and watched the +flushed face, heard the labored breathing, and listened with pained +heart to the unmeaning murmurs which fell from her lips--the echoes +of that desert dreamland through which fever drags its unconscious +victims. He heard his own name and that of the fast-failing sufferer +in the adjoining room linked in sorrowful phrase by the stammering +tongue. Even in the midst of his sorrow it brought him a thrill of +joy. And when his fear became fact, and he mourned the young life +no love could save, his visits to the sick-room of her who had +been his co-watcher by his child's bedside became more frequent. +He would not be denied the privilege until the crisis came, and +reason resumed her sway. Then he came no more, but every day sent +some token of remembrance. + +Mrs. Le Moyne had noted this solicitude, and with the jealousy of +the confirmed invalid grudged the sick girl the slightest of the +thoughtful attentions that she alone had been accustomed to receive. +She did not dream that her son, Hesden Le Moyne, cared anything for +the little Yankee chit except upon broadly humanitarian grounds, +or perhaps from gratitude for her kindly attention to his son; but +even this fretted her. As time went on, she came more and more to +dislike her and to wish that she had never come beneath their roof. +So the days flew by, grew into weeks, and Mollie Ainslie was still +at Mulberry Hill, while important events weve happening at Red +Wing. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +A VOICE FROM THE DARKNESS. + + +It was two weeks after Miss Ainslie's involuntary flight from Red +Wing that Nimbus, when he arose one morning, found a large pine +board hung across his gateway. It was perhaps six feet long and +some eighteen or twenty inches wide in the widest part, smoothly +planed upon one side and shaped like a coffin lid. A hole had been +bored in either end, near the upper corner, and through each of +these a stout cord had been passed and tied into a loop, which, +being slipped over a paling, one on each side the gate, left the +board swinging before it so as effectually to bar its opening unless +the board were first removed. + +The attention of Nimbus was first directed to it by a neighbor-woman +who, stopping in front of the gate, called out to him in great +excitement, as he sat with Berry Lawson on his porch waiting for +his breakfast: + +"Oh, Bre'er Nimbus, what in de libbin' yairth is dis h'yer on your +gate? La sakes, but de Kluckers is after you now, shore 'nough!" + +"Why, what's de matter wid yer, Cynthy?" said Nimbus, cheerfully. +"Yer hain't seen no ghosteses nor nuffin', bez ye?" + +"Ghosteses, did yer say?" answered the excited woman. "Jes yer +come an' look, an' ef yer don't say hit wuss ner ghosteses, yer +may count Cynthy a fool. Dat's all." + +Berry started down to the gate, Nimbus following him, carelessly. + +"Why, hello, Bre'er Nimbus! Yer shore hez got a signboard cross de +passway. Jes look a' dat now! What yer 'spect it mout be, cousin?" +said Berry, stopping short and pointing to the board hung on the +fence. + +"'Clar, I dunno," said Nimbus, as he strode forward and leaned over +the fence to get a sight of the other side of the board. "'Spec' +it must be some of dem Ku Kluck's work, ez Cynthy says." + +After examining it a moment, he directed Berry to lift up the +other end, and together they carried it to the house of Eliab Hill, +where its grotesque characters were interpreted, so far as he was +able to translate them, as well as the purport of a warning letter +fastened on the board by means of a large pocket-knife thrust +through it, and left sticking in the soft wood. + +Upon the head of the coffin-shaped board was roughly drawn, in +black paint, a skull and cross-bones and, underneath them, the +words "Eliab Hill and Nimbus Desmit," and below these still, the +mystic cabala, "K.K.K," a formulary at which, just at that time, +a great part of the nation was laughing as a capital illustration +of American humor. It was accounted simply a piece of grotesquerie +intended to frighten the ignorant and superstitious negro. + +The old claim of the South, that the colored man could be controlled +and induced to labor only by the lash or its equivalent, had many +believers still, even among the most earnest opponents of slavery, +and not a few of these even laughed good-naturedly at the grotesque +pictures in illustrated journals of shadowy beings in horrible +masks and terrified negroes cowering in the darkness with eyes +distended, hair rising in kinky tufts upon their heads, and teeth +showing white from ear to ear, evidently clattering like castanets. +It was wonderfully funny to far-away readers, and it made uproarious +mirth in the aristocratic homes of the South. From the banks of +the Rio Grande to the waters of the Potomac, the lordly Southron +laughed over his glass, laughed on the train, laughed in the street, +and laughed under his black cowl of weirdly decorated muslin--not +so much at the victims of the terrible Klan, as at the silly North +which was shaking its sides at the mask he wore. It was an era of +fun. Everybody laughed. The street gamins imitated the _Kluck,_ +which gave name to the Klan. It was one of the funniest things the +world had ever known. + +The Yankee--Brother Jonathan--had long been noted as a droll. +A grin was as much a part of his stock apparel as tow breeches +or a palm-leaf hat. The negro, too, had from time immemorial been +portrayed upon the stage and in fiction as an irrepressible and +inimitably farcical fellow. But the "Southern gentleman" was a +man of different kidney from either of these. A sardonic dignity +hedged him about with peculiar sacredness. He was chivalrous and +baronial in his instincts, surroundings, and characteristics. He +was nervous, excitable, and bloodthirsty. He would "pluck up drowned +honor by the locks" and make a target of everyone who laughed. He +hunted, fought, gambled, made much of his ancestors, hated niggers, +despised Yankees, and swore and swaggered on all occasions. That was +the way he was pictured in the ancient days. He laughed--sometimes--not +often, and then somewhat sarcastically--but he did not make +himself ridiculous. His _amour propre_ was most intense. He +appreciated fun, but did not care that it should be at his expense. +He was grave, irritable and splenetic; but never comical. A braggart, +a rough-rider, an aristocrat; but never a masquerader. That was +the old-time idea. + +Yet so had the war and the lapse of half a decade changed this +people that in one State forty thousand men, in another thirty, in +others more and in others less, banded together with solemn oaths +and bloody ceremonies, just to go up and down the earth in the +bright moonlight, and play upon the superstitious fears of the poor +ignorant and undeveloped people around them. They became a race +of jesters, moonlight masqueraders, personators of the dead. They +instituted clubs and paraded by hundreds, the trained cavalry of +a ghostly army organized into companies, battalions, divisions, +departments, having at their head the "Grand Wizard of the Empire." +It was all in sport--a great jest, or at the worst designed only +to induce the colored man to work somewhat more industriously from +apprehension of ghostly displeasure. It was a funny thing--the +gravest, most saturnine, and self-conscious people on the globe +making themselves ridiculous, ghostly masqueraders by the hundred +thousand! The world which had lately wept with sympathy for +the misfortunes of the "Lost Cause," was suddenly convulsed with +merriment at the midnight antics of its chivalric defenders. The +most vaunted race of warriors seized the cap and bells and stole +also the plaudits showered upon the fool. Grave statesmen, reverend +divines, legislators, judges, lawyers, generals, merchants, planters, +all who could muster a good horse, as it would seem, joined the +jolly cavalcade and rollicked through the moonlight nights, merely +to make fun for their conquerors by playing on the superstitious +fear of the sable allies of the Northmen. Never before was such +good-natured complaisance, such untiring effort to please. So the +North laughed, the South chuckled, and the world wondered. + +But the little knot of colored men and women who stood around Eliab +Hill while he drew out the knife which was thrust through the paper +into the coffin-shaped board laid across the front of his "go-cart," +and with trembling lips read the message it contained--these silly +creatures did not laugh. They did not even smile, and a joke which +Berry attempted, fell flat as a jest made at a funeral. + +There is something very aggravating about the tendency of this race +to laugh at the wrong time, and to persist in being disconsolate +when every one can see that they ought to dance. Generation after +generation of these perverse creatures in the good old days of +slavery would insist on going in search of the North Pole under the +most discouraging circumstances. On foot and alone, without money +or script or food or clothing; without guide or chart or compass; +without arms or friends; in the teeth of the law and of nature, +they gave themselves to the night, the frost, and all the dangers +that beset their path, only to seek what they did not want! + +We know there was never a happier, more contented, light-hearted, +and exuberant people on the earth than the Africo-American slave! He +had all that man could reasonably desire--and more too! Well-fed, +well-clothed, luxuriously housed, protected from disease with watchful +care, sharing the delights of an unrivalled climate, relieved of +all anxiety as to the future of his off-spring, without fear of +want, defiant of poverty, undisturbed by the bickerings of society +or heartburnings of politics, regardless of rank or station, wealth, +kindred, or descent, it must be admitted that, from an earthly point +of view, his estate was as near Elysian as the mind can conceive. +Besides all this, he had the Gospel preached unto him--for nothing; +and the law kindly secured him against being misled by false +doctrines, by providing that the Bread of Life should never be +broken to him unless some reputable Caucasian were present to vouch +for its quality and assume all responsibility as to its genuineness! + +That a race thus carefully nourished, protected, and guarded from +error as well as evil should be happy, was just as natural as that +the sun should shine. That they were happy only lunatics could doubt. +All their masters said so. They even raved when it was denied. The +ministers of the Gospel--those grave and reverend men who ministered +unto them in holy things, who led their careless souls, blindfolded +and trustful, along the straight and narrow way--all declared +before high Heaven that they were happy, almost too happy, for +their spiritual good. Politicians, and parties, and newspapers; +those who lived among them and those who went and learned all about +them from the most intelligent and high-toned of their Caucasian +fellow-beings--nigh about everybody, in fact--declared, affirmed, +and swore that they were at the very utmost verge of human happiness! +Yet even under these circumstances the perverse creatures _would_ +run away. Indeed, to run away seemed to be a characteristic of +the race like their black skin and kinkling hair! It would have +seemed, to an uninformed on-looker, that they actually desired to +escape from the paternal institution which had thrown around their +lives all these blissful and beatifying circumstances. But we know +it was not so. It was only the inherent perversity of the race! + +Again, when the war was ended and they were thrown upon the cold +charity of an unfriendly world, naked, poor, nameless, and homeless, +without the sheltering and protecting care of that master who had +ever before been to them the incarnation of a kindly Providence +--at that moment when, by all the rules which govern Caucasian human +nature, their eyes should have been red with regretful tears, and +their hearts overburdened with sorrow, these addled-pated children +of Africa, moved and instigated by the perverse devil of inherent +contrariness, were grinning from ear to ear with exasperating +exultation, or bowed in still more exasperating devotion, were +rendering thanks to God for the calamity that had befallen them! + +So, too, when the best people of the whole South masqueraded +for their special benefit, they stupidly or stubbornly failed and +refused to reward their "best friends" for the entertainment provided +for them, at infinite pains and regardless of expense, even with +the poor meed of approving cachinnation. They ought to have been +amused; they no doubt were amused; indeed, it is morally impossible +that they should not have been amused--but they would not laugh! +Well may the Caucasian of the South say of the ebony brother whom +he has so long befriended and striven to amuse: "I have piped unto +you, and you have not danced!" + +So Eliab read, to a circle whose cheeks were gray with pallor, and +whose eyes glanced quickly at each other with affright, these words + +"ELIAB HILL AND NIMBUS DESMIT: You've been warned twice, and it +hain't done no good. This is your last chance. If you don't git +up and git out of here inside of ten days, the buzzards will have +a bait that's been right scarce since the war. The white folks is +going to rule Horsford, and sassy niggers must look out. We're not +going to have any such San Domingo hole as Red Wing in it, neither. +Now just sell off and pack up and git clear off and out of the +country before we come again, which will be just as soon as the +moon gits in the left quarter, and has three stars in her lower +horn. If you're here then you'll both need coffins, and that boy +Berry Lawson that you coaxed away from his employer will hang with +you. + +"Remember! _Remember!_ REMEMBER! + +"By order of the Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two Night Hawks, +and in the presence of all the Ghouls, on the fifth night of the +sixth Dark Moon! + +"K.K.K." + +Hardly had he finished reading this when a letter was brought to +him which had been found on the porch of the old Ordinary. It was +addressed to "MISS MOLLIE AINSLIE, Nigger Teacher at Red Wing," but +as it was indorsed "K.K.K." Eliab felt no compunctions in opening +it in her absence. It read: + +"MISS AINSLIE: We hain't got no spite against you and don't mean +you no harm; but the white folks owns this country, and is going +to rule it, and we can't stand no such nigger-equality schools as +you are running at Red Wing. It's got to stop, and you'd better +pick up and go back North where you come from, and that quick, if +you want to keep out of trouble. Remember! + +"By order of the Grand Cyclops of the Den and his Ghouls, K.K.K." + +"P.S. We don't mean to hurt you. We don't make no war on women and +children as the Yankees did, but we mean what we say--git out! And +don't come back here any more neither!" + +The rumor of the mysterious Klan and its terrible doings had +been in the air for many months. From other States, and even from +adjoining counties, had come to their ears the wail of its victims. +But so preponderating was the colored population of Horsford, and +so dependent upon their labor was its prosperity, that they had +entertained little fear of its coming among them. Two or three +times before, Nimbus and Eliab had received warnings and had even +taken some precautions in regard to defense; but they did not +consider the matter of sufficient moment to require them to make +it public. Indeed, they were inclined to think that as there had +been no acts of violence in the county, these warnings were merely +the acts of mischievous youngsters who desired to frighten them into +a display of fear. This seemed to be a more serious demonstration, +but they were not yet prepared to give full credence to the threat +conveyed in so fantastic a manner. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. + + +"Wal, dey manage to fotch Berry inter it widout sending him a letter +all to hissef, alter all," said that worthy, when Eliab, with pale +lips, but a firm voice, had finished reading the paper. "Ben done +'spectin' dat, all de time sence I come h'yer, Cousin Nimbus. I'se +been a-hearin' 'bout dese Klu Kluckers dis smart while now, ober +yer in Pocatel and Hanson counties, an' I 'spected Marse Sykes'd +be a-puttin' 'em on ter me jest ez soon as dey got ober here. He +hed no idear, yer know, but what I'd hev ter go back an' wuk fer +jes what I could git; an sence I hain't he's mad about it, dat's +all. What yer gwine ter do 'bout it, Nimbus?" + +"I'se gwine ter stay right h'yer an' fight it out, I is," said +Nimbus, doggedly. 'I'se fout fer de right ter live in peace on +my own lan' once, an' I kin fight for it agin. Ef de Ku Kluckers +wants ter try an' whip Nimbus, jes let 'em come on," he said, +bringing down his clenched right hand upon the board which was +upheld by his left, with such force that it was split from end to +end. + +"Hi! you take keer dar, Cousin Nimbus," said Berry, hopping out +of the way of the falling board with an antic gesture. "Fust you +know, yer hurt yer han' actin' dat er way. What YOU gwine ter do +'bout dis yer matter, Uncle 'Liab?" he continued, turning to the +preacher. + +The man addressed was still gazing on the threatening letter. His +left hand wandered over his dark beard, but his face was full of +an unwavering light as he replied: + +"The Lord called me to my work; He has opened many a door before +me and taken me through many trials. He has written, 'I will be +with thee alway, even unto the end.' Bless His holy Name! Hitherto, +when evil has come I have waited on Him. I may not do a man's part +like you, my brother," he continued, laying his hand on Nimbus' +knotted arm and gazing admiringly upon his giant frame," but I can +stand and wait, right here, for the Lord's will to be done; and here +I will stay--here with my people. Thank the Lord, if I am unable to +fight I am also unable to fly. He knew what a poor, weak creature +I was, and He has taken care of that. I shall stay, let others do +as they may. What are you going to do, Brother Berry? You are in +the same danger with Nimbus and me." + +"Wal, Bre'er 'Liab," replied Berry," I hab jes 'bout made up MY min' +ter run fer it. Yer see, I'se jes a bit differently sarcumstanced +from what either o' you 'uns is. Dar's Nimbus now, he's been in de +wah an' knows all 'bout de fightin' business; an' you's a preacher +an' knows all der is ob de prayin' trade. But I never was wuth +nothin' ob any account at either. It's de feet ez hez allers stood +by me," he added, executing a double-shuffle on the plank walk +where he stood; "an' I 'llows ter stan' by dem, an' light outen +here, afore dem ar Kluckers comes roun' fer an answer ter dat ar +letter. Dat's my notion, Bre'er 'Liab." + +"Yer don't mean yer gwine ter run away on de 'count ob dese yer Ku +Kluckers, does yer, Berry?" said Nimbus, angrily. + +"Dat's jes 'zackly what I do mean, Cousin Nimbus--no mistake 'bout +dat," answered Berry, bowing towards Nimbus with a great show of +mock politeness. "What else did yer tink Berry mean, hey? Didn't +my words 'spress demselves cl'ar? Yer know, cousin, dat I'se not +one ob de fightin' kine. Nebber hed but one fight in my life, an' +den dar wuz jes de wuss whipped nigger you ebber seed. Yer see dem +sinners, eh?" rolling up his sleeve and showing a round, close-corded +arm. "Oh, I'se some when I gits started, I is. All whip-cord +an' chain-lightnin', whoop! I'll bet a harf dollar now, an borrer +de money from Bre'er Nimbus h'yer ter pay it, dat I kin turn more +han'-springs an' offener an' longer nor ary man in dis crowd. Oh, +I'se some an' more too, I is, an' don't yer fergit it. 'Bout dat +fight?" he continued to a questioner, "oh, yes, dat was one ob de +mos' 'markable fights dar's ever been in Ho'sford county. Yer see +'twuz all along uv Ben Slade an' me. Lor' bress yer, how we did +fight! 'Pears ter me dat it must hev been nigh 'bout harf a day +we wuz at it." + +"But you didn't lick Ben, did you, Berry?" asked one of the bystanders +in surprise. + +"Lick him? Yer jes' orter see de corn I wollered down 'long wid +dat nigga'! Dar must hev been close on ter harf an acre on't." + +"But he's a heap bigger'n you, Berry, ez stout ez a bull an' one ob +de bes' fighters ebber on de hill at Louisburg. Yer jest romancin' +now, Berry," said Nimbus, incredulously. + +"Oh, but yer don't understan' it, cousin," said Berry. "Yer see I +played fer de _under holt_--an' got it, dat I did. Lor'! how +dat ar Ben did thrash de groun' wid me! Ole Mahs'r lost a heap +ob corn on 'count dat ar fight! But I hung on ter him, an' nebber +would hev let him go till now, ef--ef somebody hedn't pulled me +out from under him!" + +There was a roar of laughter at this, in which Berry joined heartily, +and as it began to die out he continued: "Dat's de only fight +I ebber hed, an' I don't want no mo'. I'se a peaceable man, an' +don't want ter hurt nobody. Ef de Kluckers wants ter come whar I +is, an' gibs me sech a perlite notice ez dat ter quit, I'se gwine +ter git out widout axin' no imper'ent questions 'bout who was +dar fust. An' I'se gwine ter keep gittin' tu--jest' ez fur an' ez +fast ez dey axes me ter move on, ez long ez de road's cut out an' +I don't come ter no jumpin'-off place. Ef dey don't approve of Berry +Lawson a stayin' roun' h'yer, he's jes' a gwine West ter grow up +wid der kentry." + +"I'd sooner be dead than be sech a limber-jinted coward!" said +Nimbus. "I'm sorry I ebber tuk ye in atter Marse Sykes hed put yer +out in de big road, dat I am." There was a murmur of approval, and +he added: "An' ef yer hed enny place ter go ter, yer shouldn't stay +in my house nary 'nother minit." + +"Now, Cousin Nimbus," said Berry, soberly, "dar hain't nary bit +ob use ob enny sech talk ter me. Berry arns his libbin' ef he does +hab his joke now an' agin." + +"Oh, no doubt o' dat," said Nimbus. "Ther ain't no better han' in +enny crop dan Berry Lawson. I've said dat often an' over." + +"Den yer jes take back dem hard words yer spoke 'bout Berry, won't +yer now, Cousin Nimbus?" said Berry, sidling up to him and looking +very much as if he intended to give the lie to his own account of +his fighting proclivities. + +"No, I won't," said Nimbus, positively. "I do say dat any man ez +runs away kase de Ku Kluck tries ter scar him off is a damn coward, +'n I don't care who he calls his name neither." + +"Wal, now, Cousin Nimbus," said Berry, his eyes flashing and his +whole appearance falsifying his previous poltroonery, "dar's two +sides ter dat ar question. I hain't nebber been a sojer like you, +cousin, an' it's a fac' dat I don't keer ter be; but I du say ez +how I'd be ez willin' ter stan' up an' fight fer de rights we's got +ez enny man dat ebber's trod de sile ennywhere's 'bout Red Wing, ef +I thought ez how 'twould do de least bit ob good. But I tell yer, +gemmen, hit won't do enny good, not de least bit, an' I knows it. +I'se seen de Ku Kluckers, gemmen, an' I knows who some on 'em is, +an' I knows dat when sech men takes hold ob sech a matter wid only +pore niggers on de udder side, dar ain't no chance fer de niggers. +I'se seen 'em, an' I _knows_." + +"When?" "Whar?" "Tell us 'bout it, Berry!" came up from all sides +in the crowd which had collected until now almost all the inhabitants +of Red Wing and its vicinity were there. + +"Oh, 'tain't nuffin'," said he, nonchalantly. "What Berry says, +ain't no 'count, nohow." + +"Yes, tell us 'bout it," said Nimbus, in a conciliatory tone. + +"Wal, ef _you_ wants ter hear, I'll tell it," said Berry, +condescendingly. "Yer mind some tree er fo' weeks ago I went ter +Bre'er Rufe's, ober in Hanson county, on a Friday night, an' didn't +git back till a Monday mornin'?" + +"Sartin," said Nimbus, gravely. + +"Wal, 'twas along o' dis yer business dat I went thar. I know'd +yer'd got one er two warnin's sence I'd come yere wid yer, an' I +'llowed it were on account ob me, kase dem ar Sykeses is monstrous bad +folks when dey gits mad, an' ole Marse Granville, he war powerful +mad at me findin' a home here wid my own relations. So, I tole Sally +Ann all 'bout it, an' I sez to her, 'Sally,' sez I, 'I don't want +ter make Nimbus no sort o' trouble, I don't, kase he's stood up ter +us like a man. Now, ef dey should take a notion ter trouble Bre'er +Nimbus, hit mout do him a heap of harm, kase he's got so much truck +'round him here ter lose.' So we made it up dat I was ter go ter +Bre'er Rufe Paterson's, ober in Hanson county an' see ef we couldn't +find a place ter lib dar, so's not ter be baitin' de hawks on ter +you, Cousin Nimbus." + +"Now you, Berry," said Nimbus, extending his hand heartily, "what +for yer no tell me dis afore?" + +"Jes kase 'twas no use," answered Berry. "Wall, yer know, I left +h'yer 'bout two hours ob de sun, an' I pushes on right peart, kase +it's a smart step ober ter Rufe's, ennyhow, an' I wanted ter see +him an' git back ter help Nimbus in de crap ob a Monday. Sally hed +fixed me up a bite o' bread an' a piece o' meat, an' I 'llowed I'd +jes stop in some piney ole-field when I got tired, eat my snack, +go ter sleep, an' start fresh afo' daylight in de mornin' for de +rest ob de way. I'd been a wukkin' right peart in de new-ground dat +day, an' when I got ter dat pine thicket jes past de spring by de +Brook's place, 'twixt de Haw Ribber an' Stony Fork, 'long 'bout +nine o'clock I reckon, I wuz dat done out dat I jes takes a drink +at de spring, eats a bite o' bread an' meat, hunts a close place +under de pines, an' goes ter sleep right away. + +"Yer knows dar's a smart open place dar, whar dey used ter hev de +ole muster-ground. 'Twas de time ob de full moon, an' when I woke +up a-hearin' somethin', an' kind o' peeped out under de pine bushes, +I t'ought at fust dat it was de ghostesses ob de ole chaps dat hed +come back ter muster dar, sure 'nough. Dey warn't more'n ten steps +away from me, an' de boss man, he sot wid his back to me in dat +rock place what dey calls de Lubber's Cheer. De hosses was tied all +round ter de bushes, an' one ob 'em warn't more'n tree steps from +me, nohow. I heard 'em talk jest ez plain ez you can hear me, an' +I know'd right smart ob de voices, tu; but, la sakes! yer couldn't +make out which from t'odder wid dem tings dey hed on, all ober der +heads, an' way down to der feet." + +"What did they say?" asked Eliab Hill. + +"Wal, Bre'er 'Liab, dey sed a heap, but de upshot on't all was dat +de white folks hed jes made up dar min's ter run dis kentry, spite +ob ebbery ting. Dey sed dat dey wuz all fixed up in ebbery county +from ole Virginny clean ter Texas, an' dey wuz gwine ter teach de +niggers dere place agin, ef dey hed ter kill a few in each county +an' hang 'em up fer scarecrows--jes dat 'ere way. Dey wa'n't no +spring chickens, nuther. Dar wur Sheriff Gleason. He sed he'd corned +over ter let 'em know how they was gittin' on in Ho'sford. He sed +dat ebbery white man in de county 'cept about ten or twelve was +inter it, an' dey wuz a gwine ter clean out nigger rule h'yer, +_shore_. He sed de fust big thing they got on hand wuz ter +break up dis buzzard-roost h'yer at Red Wing, an' he 'llowed dat +wouldn't be no hard wuk kase dey'd got some pretty tough tings on +Nimbus an" 'Liab both. + +"Dey wuz all good men, I seed de hosses, when dey mounted ter go +'way. I tell ye dey wuz good 'uns! No pore-white trash dar; no lame +hosses ner blind mules ner wukked down crap-critters, Jes sleek +gentlemen's hosses, all on 'em. + +"Wal, dey went off atter an hour er two, an' I lay dar jes in a +puffick lather o' sweat. I was dat dar skeered, I couldn't sleep +no mo' dat ar night, an' I darsn't walk on afore day kase I wuz +afeared o' meetin' some on 'em. So I lay, an' t'ought dis ting all +ober, an' I tell ye, fellers, 'tain't no use. 'Spose all de white +men in Ho'sford is agin us, what's we gwine ter do? We can't lib. +Lots o' niggers can't lib a week widout wuk from some white man. +'Sides dat, dey's got de bosses an' de guns, an' de 'sperience; an' +what we got? Jes nuffin'. Der ain't no mo' use o' fightin' dan ob +tryin' ter butt down 'simmons off a foot-an'-a-half tree wid yer +head. It don't make no sort o' matter 'bout our rights. Co'se we'se +got a _right_ ter vote, an' hold meetin's, an' be like white +folks; but we can't do it ef dey's a mind ter stop us. An' dey +_is_--dat berry ting! + +"Nimbus sez he's gwine ter fight, an' 'Liab sez he's gwine ter +pray. Dat's all right, but it won't do nobody else enny good nor +them nuther. Dat's my notion. What good did fightin' er prayin' +either used ter do in ole slave times? Nary bit. An' dey's got +us jest about ez close ez dey hed us den, only de halter-chain's +a leetle mite longer, dat's all. All dey's got ter do is jes ter +shorten up on de rope an' it brings us in, all de same ez ever. +Dat's my notion. So I'se gwine ter move on ebbery time dey axes me +tu; kase why, I can't help it. Berry'll git enough ter eat most +ennywhar, an' dat's 'bout all he 'spects in dis worl'. It's a leetle +better dan de ole slave times, an' ef it keeps on a-growin' better +'n better, gineration atter gineration, p'raps some of Berry's +kinfolks'll git ter hev a white man's chance some time." + +Berry's experience was listened to with profound interest, but +his conclusions were not received with favor. There seemed to be +a general conviction that the colored race was to be put on trial, +and that it must show its manhood by defending itself and maintaining +its rights against all odds. His idea of running away was voted +a cowardly and unworthy one, and the plan advocated by Nimbus and +Eliab, to stay and fight it out or take whatever consequences might +result, was accepted as the true one to be adopted by men having +such responsibility as rested upon them, as the first generation +of free-men in the American history of their race. + +So, Nimbus and his friends made ready to fight by holding a meeting +in the church, agreeing upon signals, taking account of their +arms, and making provision to get ammunition. Berry prepared for +his exodus by going again to his brother Rufus' house and engaging +to work on a neighboring plantation, and some two weeks afterward +he borrowed Nimbus' mule and carry-all and removed his family also. +As a sort of safeguard on this last journey, he borrowed from Eliab +Hill a repeating Spencer carbine, which a Federal soldier had left +at the cabin of that worthy, soon after the downfall of the Confederacy. +He was probably one of those men who determined to return home as +soon as they were convinced that the fighting was over. Sherman's +army, where desertion had been unknown during the war, lost thousands +of men in this manner between the scene of Johnston's surrender and +the Grand Review at Washington, which ended the spectacular events +of the war. Eliab had preserved this carbine very carefully, not +regarding it as his own, but ready to surrender it to the owner or +to any proper authority when demanded. It was useless without the +proper ammunition, and as this seemed to be a peculiar emergency, +he allowed Berry to take it on condition that he should stop at +Boyleston and get a supply of cartridges. Eliab had never fired +a gun in his life, but he believed in defending his rights, and +thought it well to be ready to resist unlawful violence should it +be offered. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW. + + +A few days after the events narrated in the last two chapters, the +sheriff presented himself at Red Wing. There was a keen, shrewd +look in the cold, gray eyes under the overhanging brows, as he tied +his horse to the rack near the church, and taking his saddle-bags +on his arm, crossed the road toward the residence of Nimbus and +Eliab Hill. + +Red Wing had always been a remarkably peaceful and quiet settlement. +Acting under the advice of Miss Ainslie and Eliab, Nimbus had parted +with none of his possessions except upon terms which prevented the +sale of spirituous liquors there. This was not on account of any +"fanatical" prejudice in favor of temperance, since the Squire of +Red Wing was himself not exactly averse to an occasional dram; but +he readily perceived that if such sale could be prohibited in the +little village the chances for peace and order would be greatly +improved. He recognized the fact that those characters that were +most likely to assemble around a bar-room were not the most likely +to be valuable residents of the settlement. Besides the condition +in his own deeds, therefore, he had secured through the members +of the Legislature from his county the passage of an act forever +prohibiting the sale of spirituous liquors within one mile of the +school-house at Red Wing. Just without this limit several little +shanties had been erected where chivalric white men doled out liquor +to the hard-working colored men of Red Wing. It was an easy and an +honorable business and they did not feel degraded by contact with +the freedmen across the bar. The superior race did not feel itself +debased by selling bad whisky at an extravagant price to the poor, +thirsty Africans who went by the "shebangs" to and from their daily +toil. But Nimbus and the law would not allow the nearer approach +of such influences. + +By these means, with the active co-operation of the teachers, Red +Wing had been kept so peaceful, that the officers of the law rarely +had occasion to appear within its limits, save to collect the fiscal +dues from its citizens. + +It was with not a little surprise, therefore, that Nimbus saw the +stalwart sheriff coming towards him where he was at work upon the +hillside back of his house, "worming" and "topping" a field of +tobacco which gave promise of a magnificent yield. + +"Mornin', Nimbus," said the officer, as he drew near, and turning +partially around glanced critically over the field and furtively +at the little group of buildings below. "A fine stand of terbacker +you've got--mighty even, good growth. Don't think I've seen quite +as good-looking a crap this year. There's old man George Price up +about Rouseville, he's got a mighty fine crap--always does have, you +know. I saw it yesterday and didn't think anything could be better, +but your's does beat it, that's sure. It's evener and brighter, +and a trifle heavier growth, too. I told him that if anybody in +the county could equal it you were the man; but I had no idea you +could beat it. This is powerful good land for terbacker, certain." + +"'Tain't so much the land," said Nimbus, standing up to his arm-pits +in the rank-leaved crop above which his bare black arms glistened +in the hot summer sun, "as 'tis the keer on't. Powerful few folks +is willin' ter give the keer it takes ter grow an' cure a fine +crop o' terbacker. Ther ain't a minit from the time yer plant the +seed-bed till ye sell the leaf, that ye kin take yer finger offen +it widout resk ob losin' all yer wuk." + +"That's so," responded the sheriff, "but the land has a heap to do +with it, after all." + +"Ob co'se," said Nimbus, as he broke a sucker into short pieces +between his thumb and finger, "yer's got ter hab de sile; but ther's +a heap mo' jes ez good terbacker lan' ez dis, ef people only hed +the patience ter wuk it ez I do mine." + +"Wal, now, there's not so much like this," said the sheriff, +sharply, "and you don't think so, neither. You wouldn't take a big +price for your two hundred acres here now." He watched the other's +countenance sharply as he spoke, but the training of slavery made +the face of the black Ajax simply Sphinx-like in its inscrutability. + +"Wal, I don't know," said Nimbus, slowly, "I mout and then again +I moutn't, yer know. Ther'd be a good many pints ter think over +besides the quality of the sile afore I'd want ter say 'yes' er +'no' to an offer ob dat kind." + +"That's what I thought," said the sheriff. "You are nicely fixed +here, and I don't blame you. I had some little business with you, +and I'm glad I come to-day and caught ye in your terbacker. It's +powerful fine." + +"Business wid me?" asked Nimbus in surprise. "What is it?" + +"Oh, I don't know," said the officer, lightly, as he put on his +spectacles, opened his saddle-bags and took out some papers. "Some +of these lawyers have got after you, I suppose, thinking you're +getting along too peart. Let me see," he continued, shuffling over +the papers in his hand. "Here's a summons in a civil action--the +old man, Granville Sykes, against Nimbus Desmit and Eliab Hill. +Where is 'Liab? I must see him, too. Here's your copy," he continued, +handing Nimbus the paper and marking the date of service on the +original in pencil with the careless promptitude of the well-trained +official. + +Nimbus looked at the paper which was handed him in undisguised +astonishment. + +"What is dis ting, anyhow, Marse Sheriff?" he asked. + +"That? Why, that is a summons. Can't you read it? Here, let me take +it." + +He read over the legal formulary requiring Nimbus to be and appear +at the court house in Louisburg on the sixth Monday after the second +Monday in August, to answer the demand of the plaintiff against him, +and concluding with the threat that in default of such appearance +judgment would be entered up against him. + +"You see, you've got to come and answer old man Granville's +complaint, and after that you will have a trial. You'll have to +get a lawyer, and I expect there'll be smart of fuss about it before +it's over. But you can afford it; a man as well fixed as you, that +makes such terbacker as this, can afford to pay a lawyer right +smart. I've no doubt the old man will get tired of it before you +do; but, after all, law is the most uncertain thing in the world." + +"What does it mean? Has he sued me?" asked Nimbus. + +"Sued you? I should rather think he had--for a thousand dollars +damages too. That is you and 'Liab, between you." + +"But what for? I don't owe him anythin' an' never did." + +"Oh, that's nothing. He says you've damaged him. I've forgot what +it's about. Let me see. Oh, yes, I remember now. He says you and +'Liab enticed away his servant--what's his name? that limber-jinted, +whistlin' feller you've had working for you for a spell." + +"What, Berry?" + +"That's it, Berry--Berry Lawson, That's the very chap. Well, old +Granville says you coaxed him to leave his employ, and he's after +you under the statute." + +"But it's a lie--every word on't! I nebber axed Berry ter leave +him, an' hed no notion he was a gwine ter do it till Marse Sykes +throwed him out in de big road." + +"Wal, wal, I don't know nothing about that, I'm sure. He says you +did, you say you didn't. I s'pose it'll take a court and jury to +decide betwixt ye. It's none of my concern. Oh, yes," he continued, +"I like to have forgot it, but here's a _capias_ for you, +too--you and 'Liab again. It seems there's a bill of indictment +against you. I presume it's the same matter. I must have a bond on +this for your appearance, so you'd better come on down to 'Liab's +house with me. I'll take you for him, and him for you, as sureties. +I don't suppose 'Liab'll be apt to run away, eh, and you're worth +enough for both." + +"What's this all about?" asked Nimbus. + +"Well, I suppose the old man Sykes got ye indicted under the statute +making it a misdemeanor, punishable with fine and imprisonment, +to coax, hire, or seduce away one's niggers after he's hired 'em. +Just the same question as the other, only this is an indictment +and that's a civil action--an action under the code, as they call +it, since you Radicals tinkered over the law. One is for the damage +to old man Sykes, and the other because it's a crime to coax off +or harbor any one's hirelings." + +"Is dat de law, Mister Sheriff?" + +"Oh, yes, that's the law, fast enough. No trouble about that. Didn't +know it, did you? Thought you could go and take a man's "hands" +right out from under his nose, and not get into trouble about it, +didn't ye?" + +"I t'ought dat when a man was free anudder could hire him widout +axin' leave of his marster. Dat's what I t'ought freedom meant." + +"Oh, not exactly; there's lots of freedom lyin' round loose, but +it don't allow a man to hire another man's hands, nor give them +aid and comfort by harboring and feeding them when they break their +contracts and run away. I reckon the old man's got you, Nimbus. If +one hook don't catch, the other will. You've been harborin' the +cuss, if you didn't entice him away, and that's just the same." + +"Ef you mean by harborin' that I tuk my wife's kinsman in when +ole Marse Sykes turned his family out in de big road like a damned +ole rascal--" + +"Hold on, Nimbus!" said the sheriff, with a dangerous light in +his cold gray eyes; "you'd better not talk like that about a white +gentleman." + +"Whose ter hender my talkin', I'd like ter know? Hain't I jes' de +same right ter talk ez you er Marse Sykes, an' wouldn't you call +me a damn rascal ef I'd done ez he did? Ain't I ez free ez he is?" + +"You ain't white!" hissed the sheriff. + +"No, an' it seems I ain't free, nuther!" was the hot reply." H'yer +t'other night some damn scoundrels--I'specs they wuz white, too, +an' yer may tell 'em from me dat I called 'em jes what I did--come +an' hung a board 'fore my gate threatening ter kill me an' 'Liab +kase we's 'too sassy,' so they sed. Now, 'Liab Hill ner me nebber +disturb nobody, an' nebber do nothin' only jes stan' up for our +own rights, respectful and peaceable-like; but we hain't ter be +run down in no sech way, I'se a free man, an' ef I think a man's +a gran' rascal I'se gwine ter _say_ so, whether he's black er +white; an' ef enny on 'em comes ter Ku Klux me I'll put a bullet +t'rough dem! I will, by God! Ef I breaks the law I'll take the +consequences like a man, but I'll be damned ef ennybody shall Ku +Kluck me without somebody's goin' 'long with me, when I drops outen +dis world! Dat much I'se sot on!" + +The sheriff did not answer, only to say, "Careful, careful! There's +them that would give you a high limb if they heard you talk like +that." + +They went together to the house. The required bonds were given, +and the sheriff started off with a chuckle. He had hardly passed +out of sight when he checked his horse, returned, and calling Nimbus +to the gate, said to him in a low tone: + +"See here, Nimbus, if you should ever get in the notion of selling +this place, remember and let me have the first chance." + +"All right, Marse Gleason." + +"And see here, these little papers I've served to-day--you needn't +have any trouble about them in that case. You understand," with +a wink. + +"Dunno ez I does, Marse Sheriff," stolidly. + +"Oh, well, if you sell to me, I'll take care of them, that's all." + +"An' ef I don't?" + +"Oh, well, in that case, you must look out for yourself." + +He wheeled his horse and rode off with a mocking laugh. + +Nimbus returned to the porch of Eliab's house where the preacher +sat thoughtfully scanning the summons and _capias_. + +"What you tink ob dis ting, 'Liab?" + +"It is part of a plan to break you up, Nimbus," was the reply. + +"Dar ain't no sort ob doubt 'bout that, 'Liab," answered Nimbus, +doggedly, "an' dat ole Sheriff Gleason's jes' at de bottom ob it, +I do b'lieve. But I ain't ter be druv off wid law-suits ner Ku +Kluckers. I'se jest a gwine ter git a lawyer an' fight it out, dat +I am." + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +A PARTICULAR TENANCY LAPSES. + + +The second day after the visit of the sheriff, Nimbus was sitting +on his porch after his day's work when there was a call at his +gate. + +"Who's dar?" he cried, starting up and gazing through an opening +in the honeysuckle which clambered up to the eaves and shut in +the porch with a wall of fragrant green. Seeing one of his white +neighbors, he went out to the gate, and after the usual salutations +was greeted with these words: + +"I hear you's gwine to sell out an' leave, Nimbus?" + +"How'd ye hear dat?" + +"Wal, Sheriff Gleason's a' been tellin' of it 'round, and ther +ain't no other talk 'round the country only that." + +"What 'ud I sell out an' leave for? Ain't I well 'nough off whar +I is?" + +"The sheriff says you an' 'Liab Hill has been gittin' into some +trouble with the law, and that the Ku Klux has got after you too, +so that if you don't leave you're likely to go to States prison or +have a whippin' or hangin' bee at your house afore you know it." + +"Jes let 'em come," said Nimbus, angrily--"Ku Kluckers or sheriffs, +it don't make no difference which. I reckon it's all 'bout one +an' de same ennyhow. It's a damn shame too. Dar, when de 'lection +come las' time we put Marse Gleason in agin, kase we hadn't nary +white man in de county dat was fitten for it an' could give de +bond; an' of co'se dere couldn't no cullu'd man give it. An' jes +kase we let him hev it an' he's feared we mout change our minds +now, here he is a runnin' 'roun' ter Ku Klux meetin's an' a tryin' +ter stir up de bery ole debble, jes ter keep us cullu'd people from +hevin' our rights. He can't do it wid me, dat's shore. I hain't done +nuffin' an' I won't run. Ef I'd a-done ennythin' I'd run, kase I +don't b'lieve more'n ennybody else in a, man's stayin' ter let de +law git a holt on him; but when I hain't done nary ting, ther ain't +nobody ez kin drive me outen my tracks." + +"But the Ku Klux mout _lift_ ye outen 'em," said the other +with a weak attempt at wit. + +"Jes let 'em try it once!" said Nimbus, excitedly. "I'se purty +well prepared for 'em now, an' atter tomorrer I'll be jes ready +for 'em. I'se gwine ter Louisburg to-morrer, an' I 'llow that +atter I come back they won't keer ter meddle wid Nimbus. Tell yer +what, Mister Dossey, I bought dis place from ole Marse Desmit, +an' paid for it, ebbery cent; an' I swar I ain't a gwine ter let +no man drive me offen it--nary foot. An' ef de Ku Klux comes, I's +jest a gwine ter kill de las' one I gits a chance at. Now, you min' +what I say, Mister Dossey, kase I means ebbery word on't." + +The white man cowered before the other's energy. He was of that +class who were once denominated "poor whites." The war taught him +that he was as good a man to stop bullets as one that was gentler +bred, and during that straggle which the non-slaveholders fought +at the beck and in the interest of the slaveholding aristocracy, +he had learned more of manhood than he had ever known before. In the +old days his father had been an overseer on a plantation adjoining +Knapp-of-Reeds, and as a boy he had that acquaintance with Nimbus +which every white boy had with the neighboring colored lads--they +hunted and fished together and were as near cronies as their color +would allow. Since the war he had bought a place and by steady +work had accumulated some money. His plantation was on the river +and abutted on the eastern side with the property of Nimbus. After +a moment's silence he said: + +"That reminds me of what I heard to-day. Your old Marse Potem is +dead." + +"Yer don't say, now!" + +"Yes--died yesterday and will be buried to-morrow." + +"La, sakes! An' how's he lef ole Missus an' de gals, I wonder?" + +"Mighty pore I'm afraid. They say he's been mighty bad off lately, +an' what he's got won't more'n half pay his debts. I reckon the +widder an' chillen'll hev ter 'homestead it' the rest of their +lives." + +"Yer don't tink so? Wal, I do declar', hit's too bad. Ez rich ez he +was, an' now ter come down ter be ez pore ez Nimbus--p'raps poorer!" + +"It's mighty hard, that's sure. It was all along of the wah that +left everybody pore in this country, just as it made all the Yankees +rich with bonds and sech-like." + +"Sho'! what's de use ob bein' a fool? 'Twan't de wah dat made Marse +Desmit pore. 'Twuz dat ar damn fool business ob slavery afo' de +wah dat wound him up. Ef he'd never been a 'speculator' an' hadn't +tried to grow rich a raisin' men an' wimmen for market he'd a been +richer'n ever he was, when he died." + +"Oh, you're mistaken 'bout that, Nimbus. The wah ruined us all." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" roared Nimbus, derisively. "What de wah ebber take +from you, Mister Dossey, only jes yer oberseer's whip? An' dat wur +de berry best ting ebber happen ter ye, kase it sot yer to wuk an' +put yer in de way ob makin' money for yerself. It was hard on sech +ez ole Mahs'r, dat's a fac, even ef 'twas mostly his own fault; but +it was worth a million ter sech ez you. You 'uns gained mo' by de +outcome ob de wah, right away, dan we cullu'd folks'll ebber git, +I'm afeared." + +"Yer may be right," said Dawsey, laughing, and with a touch of +pride in his tone. "I've done pretty well since the wah. An' that +brings me back to what I come over for. I thought I'd ax, if ye +should git in a notion of selling, what yer'd take fer yer place +here?" + +"I hain't no idea uv selling, Mister Dossey, an' hain't no notion +uv hevin' any 'nuther. You an' ebberybody else mout jest ez well +larn, fust ez las', dat I shan't never sell only jes ter make money. +Ef I put a price on Red Wing it'll be a big one; kase it ain't done +growing yet, an' I might jest ez well stay h'yr an' grow ez ter go +West an' grow up wid de kentry, ez dat fool Berry Lawson's allers +tellin' about." + +"Wal, that's all right, only ef you ever want ter sell, reasonable-like, +yer know who to come to for your money. Good-night!" + +The man was gathering up his reins when Nimbus said: + +"When did yer say ole Mahsr's funeral was gwine ter be?" + +"To-morrow afternoon at four o'clock, I heerd." + +"Thank ye. I'se 'bout made up my mind ter go ter Louisburg to-morrer, +stay ter dat funeral, an' come back nex' day. Seems ter me ole +Mahs'r'd be kind o' glad ter see Nimbus at his funeral, fer all I +wan't no gret fav'rite o' his'n. He wa'nt sich a bad marster, an' +atter I bought Red Wing he use ter come ober ebbery now an' agin, +an' gib me a heap ob advice 'bout fixin' on it up. I allus listened +at him, tu, kase ef ennybody ever knowed nex' do' ter ebberyting, +dat ar man wuz ole Marse Potem. I'se sorry he's dead, I is; an' +I'se mighty sorry for ole Missus an' de gals. An' I'se a gwine ter +go ter dat er funeral an' see him laid away, ef it do take anudder +day outen de crap; dat I is, shore. + +"An' that 'minds me," said the white man, "that I heard at the same +time, that Walter Greer, who used to own the plantation afore yer +Marse Desmit bought it, died sometime lately, 'way out in Texas. +It's quare, ain't it, that they should both go nigh about the same +time. Good-night." + +The "poor-white" neighbor rode away, little dreaming that the +colored man had estimated him aright, and accounted him only an +emissary of his foes, nor did he comprehend the importance of the +information he had given. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +THE BEACON-LIGHT OF LOVE. + + +Mollie Ainslie had been absent from Red Wing more than a month. +It was nearly midnight. The gibbous moon hung over the western +tree-tops. There was not a sound to be heard in the little hamlet, +but strangely draped figures might have been seen moving about +in the open glades of the piney woods which skirted Red Wing upon +the west. + +One after another they stole across the open space between the +church and the pine grove, in its rear, until a half-dozen had +collected in its shadow. One mounted on another's shoulders and +tried one of the windows. It yielded to his touch and he raised +it without difficulty. He entered and another after him. Then two +or three strange-looking packages were handed up to them from the +outside. There was a whispered discussion, and then the parties +within were heard moving cautiously about and a strong benzoic +odor came from the upraised window. Now and then a sharp metallic +clang was heard from within. At length the two that had entered +returned to the window. There was a whispered consultation with +those upon the outside. One of these crept carefully to the corner +and gave a long low whistle. It was answered after a moment's +interval, first from one direction and then from another, until +every part of the little hamlet resounded with short quick answers. +Then the man at the corner of the church crept back and whispered, + +"All right!" + +One of the parties inside came out upon the window-sill and dropped +lightly to the ground. The other mounted upon the window-sill, and +turned round upon his knees; there was a gleam of light within the +building, a flicker and a hiss, and then with a mighty roar the +flame swept through it as if following the trail of some combustible. +Here and there it surged, down the aisles and over the desks, white +and clear, showing in sharpest silhouette every curve and angle +of building and furniture. + +The group at the window stood gazing within for a moment, the light +playing on their faces and making them seem ghastly and pale by +the reflection; then they crept hastily back into the shadow of +the wood--all but one, who, clad in the horribly grotesque habit +of the Ku Klux Klan, stood at the detached bell-tower, and when +the flames burst forth from the windows solemnly tolled the bell +until driven from his post by the heat. + +One had hardly time to think, before the massive structure of dried +pitch-pine which northern charity had erected in the foolish hope +of benefiting the freedmen, where the young teachers had labored +with such devotion, and where so many of the despised race had laid +the foundation of a knowledge that they vainly hoped might lift +them up into the perfect light of freedom, was a solid spire of +sheeted flame. + +By its ghastly glare, in various parts of the village were to be +seen groups and single armed sentries, clad in black gowns which +fell to their very feet, spire-pointed caps, grotesquely marked and +reaching far above the head, while from the base a flowing masque +depended over the face and fell down upon the shoulders, hiding +all the outlines of the figure. + +The little village was taken completely by surprise. It had been +agreed that the ringing of the church bell should be the signal +for assembling at the church with such arms as they had to resist +the Ku Klux. It had not been thought that the danger would be imminent +until about the expiration of the time named in the notice; so +that the watch which had been determined upon had not been strictly +kept, and on this night had been especially lax on one of the roads +leading into the little hamlet. + +At the first stroke of the bell all the villagers were awake, and +from half-opened doors and windows they took in the scene which +the light of the moon and the glare of the crackling fire revealed. +Then dusky-skinned forms stole hastily away into the shadows of the +houses and fences, and through the rank-growing corn of the little +truck-patches, to the woods and fields in the rear. There were +some who since the warning had not slept at home at all, but had +occupied little leafy shelters in the bush and half-hid burrows +on the hillside. On the eyes of all these gleamed the blaze of the +burning church, and each one felt, as he had never realized before, +the strength of that mysterious band which was just putting forth +its power to overturn and nullify a system of laws that sought to +clothe an inferior and servile race with the rights and privileges +theretofore exercised solely by the dominant one. + +Among those who looked upon this scene was Eliab Hill. Sitting upon +his bench he gazed through the low window of his little cottage, the +flame lighting up his pale face and his eyes distended with terror. +His clasped hands rested on the window-sill and his upturned eyes +evidently sought for strength from heaven to enable him manfully +to perform the part he had declared his determination to enact. +What he saw was this: + +A company of masked men seemed to spring out of the ground around +the house of Nimbus, and, at a whistle from one of their number, +began swiftly to close in upon it. There was a quick rush and the +door was burst open. There were screams and blows, angry words, +and protestations within. After a moment a light shot up and died +quickly out again--one of the party had struck a match. Eliab +heard the men cursing Lugena, and ordering her to make up a light +on the hearth. Then there were more blows, and the light shone upon +the window. There were rough inquiries for the owner, and Eliab +thanked God that his faithful friend was far away from the danger +and devastation of that night. He wondered, dully, what would +be his thought when he should return on the morrow, and mark the +destruction wrought in his absence, and tried to paint his rage. + +While he thought of these things the neighboring house was ransacked +from top to bottom. He heard the men cursing because their search +was fruitless. They brought out the wife, Lugena, and two of her +children, and coaxed and threatened them without avail. A few blows +were struck, but the wife and children stoutly maintained that the +husband and father was absent, attending his old master's funeral, +at Louisburg. The yellow light of the blazing church shone on +the house, and made fantastic shadows all around. The lurid glare +lighted up their faces and pictured their terror. They were almost +without clothing. Eliab noticed that the hand that clasped Lugena's +black arm below the band of the chemise was white and delicate. + +The wife and children were crying and moaning in terror and pain. +Oaths and blows were intermingled with questions in disguised +voices, and gasping broken answers. Blood was running down the +face of the wife. The younger children were screaming in the house. +Children and women were shrieking in every direction as they fled +to the shelter of the surrounding woods. The flame roared and +crackled as it licked the resin from the pine logs of the church +and leaped aloft. It shone upon the glittering needles of the +surrounding pines, lighted up the ripening tobacco on the hillside, +sparkled in the dewy leaves of the honeysuckle which clambered over +the freedman's house and hid the staring moon with its columns of +black smoke. + +The search for Nimbus proving unavailing--they scarcely seemed to +expect to find him--they began to inquire of the terror-stricken +woman the whereabouts of his friend. + +"Where is 'Liab Hill?" asked the man who held her arm. + +"What have you done with that snivelling hop-toad minister?" queried +another. + +"Speak, damn you! and see that you tell the truth," said a third, +as he struck her over the bare shoulders with a stick. + +"Oh! don't! don't!" shrieked the poor woman as she writhed in agony. +"I'll tell! I will, gentlemens--I will--I will! Oh, my God! don't! +_don't!_" she cried, as she leaped wildly about, tearing +the one garment away in her efforts to avoid the blows which fell +thick and fast on every part of her person, now fully exposed in +the bright light. + +"Speak, then!" said the man who held the goad. "Out with it! Tell +where you've hid him!" + +"He ain't--here, gentlemen! He--he--don't--stay here no mo'." + +Again the blows came thick and fast. She fell upon the ground and +rolled in the dust to avoid them. Her round black limbs glistened +in the yellow light as she writhed from side to side. + +"Here I am--here!" came a wild, shrill shriek from Eliab's cabin. + +Casting a glance towards it, one of the men saw a blanched and +pallid face pressed against the window and lighted by the blazing +church--the face of him who was wont to minister there to the people +who did not know their own "best friends!" + +"There he is!"--"Bring the damn rascal out!"--"He's the one we +want, anyhow!" + +These and numerous other shouts of similar character, beat upon +the ears of the terrified watcher, as the crowd of masked marauders +rushed towards the little cabin which had been his home ever since +Red Wing had passed into the possession of its present owner. It +was the first building erected under the new proprietorship, and +was substantially built of pine logs. The one low window and the +door in front were the only openings cut through the solidly-framed +logs. The door was fastened with a heavy wooden bar which reached +across the entire shutter and was held in place by strong iron +staples driven into the heavy door-posts. Above, it was strongly +ceiled, but under the eaves were large openings made by the thick +poles which had been used for rafters. If the owner had been capable +of defense he could hardly have had a castle better adapted for a +desperate and successful struggle than this. + +Eliab Hill knew this, and for a moment his face flushed as he saw +the crowd rush towards him, with the vain wish that he might fight +for his life and for his race. He had fully made up his mind to +die at his post. He was not a brave man in one sense of the word. +A cripple never is. Compelled to acknowledge the physical superiority +of others, year after year, he comes at length to regard his own +inferiority as a matter of course, and never thinks of any movement +which partakes of the aggressive. Eliab Hill had procured the +strong bar and heavy staples for his door when first warned by the +Klan, but he had never concocted any scheme of defense. He thought +vaguely, as he saw them coming towards him in the bright moonlight +and in the brighter glow of the burning sanctuary, that with a +good repeating arm he might not only sell his life dearly, but even +repel the attack. It would be a proud thing if he might do so. He +was sorry he had not thought of it before. He remembered the Spencer +carbine which he had given a few days before to Berry Lawson to +clean and repair, and to obtain cartridges of the proper calibre, +in order that it might be used by some one in the defense of Red +Wing. Berry had not yet returned. He had never thought of using it +himself, until that moment when he saw his enemies advancing upon +him with wild cries, and heard the roar of the flaming church. He +was not a hero. On the contrary, he believed himself a coward. + +He was brave enough in suffering, but his courage was like that +of a woman. He was able and willing to endure the most terrible +evils, but he did not think of doing brave things or achieving great +acts. His courage was not aggressive. He could be killed, but did +not think of killing. Not that he was averse to taking life in +self-defense, but he had been so long the creature of another's +will in the matter of locomotion that it did not occur to him to +do otherwise than say: "Do with me as thou wilt. I am bound hand +and foot. I cannot fight, but I can die." + +He shrank from acute pain with that peculiar terror which the +confirmed invalid always exhibits, perhaps because he realizes its +horror more than those who are usually exempt from its pangs. + +As he pressed his face close to the flame-lighted pane, and watched +the group of grotesquely disguised men rushing toward his door, +his eyes were full of wild terror and his face twitched, while +his lips trembled and grew pale under the dark mustache. There was +a rush against the door, but it did not yield. Another and another; +but the heavy bar and strong staples held it fast. Then his name +was called, but he did not answer. Drawing his head quickly from +the window, he closed the heavy wooden shutter, which fitted closely +into the frame on the inside, and fastened it with a bar like that +upon the door. Hardly had he done so when a blow shattered the +window. Something was thrust in and passed around the opening, +trying here and there to force open the shutter, but in vain. Then +it was pressed against the bottom, just where the shutter rested +on the window-sill. There was an instant's silence save that Eliab +Hill heard a click which he thought was caused by the cocking of +a revolver, and threw himself quickly down upon his bench. There +was a sharp explosion, a jarring crash as the ball tore through +the woodwork, and hurtling across the room buried itself in the +opposite wall. Then there were several shots fired at the door. One +man found a little hole in the chinking, between two of the logs, +and putting his revolver through, fired again and again, sending +spits of hot flame and sharp spiteful reverberations through the +darkness of the cabin. + +Eliab Hill watched all this with fixed, staring eyes and teeth set, +but did not move or speak. He scrambled off the bench, and crawled, +in his queer tri-pedal fashion, to the cot, crept into it, and with +hands clasped, sat bolt upright on the pillow. He set his back +against the wall, and, facing the door, waited for the end. He +wished that some of the bullets that were fired might pierce his +heart. He even prayed that his doom might come sharp and swift--that +he might be saved from torture--might be spared the lash. He only +feared lest his manhood should fail him in the presence of impending +suffering. + +There came a rush against the door with some heavy timber. +He guessed that it was the log from the hitching rack in front of +Nimbus' house. But the strong bar did not yield. They called out +his name again, and assured him that if he did not undo the door +they would fire the house. A strange look of relief, even of joy, +passed over his face as he heard this declaration. He clasped his +hands across his breast as he sat upon the bed, and his lips moved +in prayer. He was not afraid to die, but he was afraid that he might +not be strong enough to endure all the pain that might be caused by +torture, without betraying his suffering or debasing his manhood. +He felt very weak and was glad to know that fire and smoke would +hide his groans and tears. + +While he waited for the hissing of the flame the blows of an axe +resounded on the door. It was wielded by stalwart hands, and ere +long the glare from without shone through the double planking. + +"Hello, 'Liab--'Liab Hill!" cried a voice at the opening which +seemed to the quiet listener within strangely like that of Sheriff +Gleason. "Damn me, boys, if I don't believe you've killed the nigger, +shooting in there. Hadn't we better just set the cabin afire and +let it burn?" + +"Put in your hand and see if you can't lift the bar," said another. +"I'd like to know whether the scoundrel is dead or alive. Besides +that, I don't fancy this burning houses. I don't object to hanging +a sassy nigger, or anything of that kind, but burning a house is +a different matter. That's almost too mean for a white man to do. +It's kind of a nigger business, to my notion." + +"For instance!" said another, with a laugh, pointing to the blazing +church. + +"Oh, damn it!" said the former, "that's another thing. A damn nigger +school-house ain't of no more account than a brush-pile, anyhow." + +A hand was thrust through' the opening and the bar lifted from +one socket and drawn out of the other. Then the door flew open and +a half dozen men rushed into the room. The foremost fell over the +rolling chair which had been left near the door, and the others in +turn fell over him. + +"What the hell!" cried one. "Here, bring the light here. What is +this thing anyhow?" + +The light was brought, and the voice continued: "Damned if it ain't +the critter's go-cart. Here kick the damn thing out--smash it up! +Such things ain't made for niggers to ride on, anyhow. He won't +need it any more--not after we have got through with him." + +"That he won't!" said another, as the invalid's chair which had +first given Eliab Hill power to move himself about was kicked out +of the door and broken into pieces with blows of the axe. + +Eliab Hill felt as if a part of his life was already destroyed. +He groaned for the fate of this inseparable companion of all his +independent existence. It had grown dearer to him than he knew. +It hurt him, even then, to hear the coarse, grim jests which were +uttered as its finely-wrought frame cracked beneath the blows of the +axe, and its luxurious belongings were rent and torn by the hands +that would soon rend and tear its owner. He had come to look upon +the insensate machine with a passionate regard. While it seemed +like tearing away his limbs to take it from him, yet there was +a feeling of separate animate existence about it which one never +feels towards his own members. He had petted and polished and cared +for this strong, pretty, and easily worked combination of levers +and springs and wheels that had served him so faithfully, until it +seemed to his fancy like an old and valued friend. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE "BEST FRIENDS" REVEAL THEMSELVES. + + +"Bring alight!" shouted the leader. One of the men rushed into the +house of Nimbus, and snatched a flaming brand from the hearth. As +he ran with it out of the front door, he did not see a giant form +which leaped from the waving corn and sprang into the back door. +The black foot was bare and made no sound as it fell upon the +threshold. He did not see the black, furious face or the right +arm, bared above the elbow, which snatched a saber from the top of +a cupboard. He did not see the glaring, murderous eyes that peered +through the vine-leaves as he rushed, with his flaming brand aloft, +out of the house to the hut of Eliab. As he readied the door the +light fell upon the preacher, who sat upon the bed. The fear of +death had passed away--even the fear of suffering was gone. His +lips moved in prayer, the forgiving words mingling with the curses +of his assailants: "O God, my help and my shield!" ("_Here +he is, God damn him._") "Forgive them, Father--" ("_I've got +him._") "They know not---a--h!" + +A long, shrill shriek--the voice of a man overborne by mortal +agony--sounded above the clamor of curses, and above the roar +of the blazing church. There was a fall upon the cabin floor--the +grating sound of a body swiftly drawn along its surface--and one of +the masked marauders rushed out dragging by the foot the preacher +of the Gospel of Peace. The withered leg was straightened. The +weakened sinews were torn asunder, and as his captor dragged him +out into the light and flung the burden away, the limb dropped, +lax and nerveless, to the ground. Then there were blows and kicks +and curses from the crowd, which rushed upon him. In the midst, +one held aloft a blazing brand. Groans and fragments of prayer came +up through the din. [Footnote: Those who are interested in such +matters may find some curiously exact parallels of the characters +and incidents of this chapter testified to under oath in the "Report +of the Committee on Ku-Klux Outrages in the Southern States." The +facts are of no special interest, however, except as illustrations +of the underlying spirit and cause of this strange epidemic of +violence.] + +All at once there was a roar as of a desert lion bursting from its +lair. They looked and saw a huge black form leap from the porch of +the other house and bound toward them. He was on them in a minute. +There was the swish of a saber swung by a practiced hand, and the +high-peaked mask of the leader bent over the hissing blade, and was +stripped away, leaving a pale, affrighted face glaring stupidly at +the ebon angel of wrath in the luried fire-light. A fearful oath +came through the white, strong teeth, which showed hard-set below the +moustache. Again the saber whistled round the head of the avenger. +There was a shriek of mortal agony, and one of the masqueraders +fell. The others shrunk back. One fired a shot. The man with the +torch stood for the moment as though transfixed, with the glaring +light still held aloft. Then, with his revolver, he aimed a close, +sure shot at the dusky giant whom he watched. + +Suddenly he saw a woman's naked figure, that seemed to rise from +the ground. There was a gleam of steel, and then down through mask +and flesh and bone crashed the axe which had fallen by the door +step, and the blood spurted upon Lugena's unclothed form and into +the face of the prostrate Eliab, as the holder of the torch fell +beside him. Then the others gave way, and the two black forms +pursued. There were some wild shots fired back, as they fled toward +the wood beyond the road. + +Then from its depths came a flash and a roar. A ball went shrieking +by them and flew away into the darkness beyond. Another, and another +and another! It was not the sharp, short crack of the revolver, but +the fierce angry challenge of the rifle. They had heard it before +upon the battle-field, and terror lent them wings as they fled. +The hurtling missiles flew here and there, wherever a masked form +could be seen, and pursued their fleeing shadows into the wood, +glancing from tree to tree, cutting through spine and branch and +splintering bole, until the last echo of their footsteps had died +away. + +Then all was still, except the roar of the burning church and the +solemn soughing of the pines, as the rising west wind rustled their +branches. + +Nimbus and his wife stood listening in the shade of a low oak, +between the scene of conflict and the highway. No sound of the +flying enemy could be heard. + +"Nimbus! _Oh_, Nimbus!" the words came in a strained, low +whisper from the unclad figure at his side. + +"Wal, 'Gena?" + +"Is you hurt, honey?" + +"Nary bit. How should I be? They run away ez quick ez I come. Did +they 'buse you, 'Gena?" + +"None of enny 'count," she answered, cautiously, for fear of raising +his anger to a point beyond control--"only jest a tryin' ter make +me tell whar you was--you an' 'Liab." + +"Whar's yer clo'es, honey?" + +"In de house, dar, only what I tore, getting away from 'em." "An' +de chillen?" + +"Dey's run out an' hid somewheres. Dey scattered like young +pa'tridges." + +"Dey's been hunted like 'em too, eh?" + +He lays his hand in caution upon the bare shoulder next him, and +they both crouch closer in the shadow and listen. All is quiet, +except groans and stertorous breathing near the cabin. + +"It's one of them damned villains. Let me settle him!" said Nimbus. + +"Don't, don't!" cried Lugena, as she threw her arms about his neck. +"Please don't, honey!" + +"P'raps it's Bre'er 'Liab! Let me go!" he said, hastily. + +Cautiously they started back through the strip of yellow light which +lay between them and the cabin of Eliab. They could not believe +that their persecutors were indeed gone. Nimbus's hand still clutched +the saber, and Lugena had picked up the axe which she had dropped. + +The groaning came indeed from Eliab. He had partially recovered +from the unconsciousness which had come over him while undergoing +torture, and with returning animation had come the sense of acute +suffering from the injuries he had received. + +"Bre'er 'Liab!" whispered Nimbus, bending over him. + +"Is that you, Nimbus?" asked the stricken man in surprise. "How do +you come to be here?" + +"Jes tuk it inter my head ter come home atter de funeril, an' done +got here jest in time ter take a han' in what was gwine on." + +"Is the church all burned down, Nimbus?" + +"De ruf hez all fell in. De sides 'll burn a long while yet. Dey'se +logs, yer know." + +"Did 'Gena get away, Nimbus?" + +"Here I is, Bre'er 'Liab." + +"Is anybody hurt?" + +"Not ez we knows on, 'cept two dat's lyin' on de groun' right h'yer +by ye," said Nimbus. + +"Dead?" asked 'Liab, with a shudder. He tried to raise himself up +but sank back with a groan. + +"Oh, Bre'er 'Liab! Bre'er 'Liab!" cried Nimbus, his distress +overcoming his fear, "is you hurt bad? My God!" he continued, as +he raised his friend's head and saw that he had lapsed again into +insensibility, "my God! 'Gena, he's dead!" + +He withdrew the hand he had placed under the shoulders of the +prostrate man. It was covered with blood. + +"Sh--sh! You hear dat, Nimbus?" asked Lugena, in a choked whisper, +as she started up and peered toward the road. "Oh, Nimbus, run! +run! Do, honey, do! Dar dey comes! Dey'll kill you, shore!" + +She caught her husband by the arm, and endeavored to drag him into +the shadow of the cabin. + +"I can't leave Bre'er 'Liab," said Nimbus, doggedly. + +"Yer can't help him. Yer'll jes stay an' be killed ye'self! Dar +now, listen at dat!" cried the trembling woman. + +The sound to which she referred was that of hurried footfalls in +the road beyond their house. Nimbus heard it, and stooping over +his insensible friend, raised him in his arms and dashed around +the cabin into the rank-growing corn beyond. His wife followed for +a few steps, still carrying the axe. Then she turned and peered +through the corn-rows, determined to cover her husband's retreat +should danger threaten him from that direction. After waiting +awhile and hearing nothing more, she concluded to go to the house, +get some clothing, and endeavor to rally her scattered brood. + +Stealing softly up to the back door--the fire had died out upon +the hearth--she entered cautiously, and after glancing through the +shaded porch began to dress. She had donned her clothing and taken +up her shoes preparatory to going back to the shelter of the +cornfield, when she thought she heard a stealthy footstep on the +porch. Her heart stood still with terror. She listened breathlessly. +It came again. There was no doubt of it now--a slow, stealthy step! +A board creaked, and then all was still. Again! Thank God it was +a _bare_ foot! Her heart took hope. She stole to the open door +and peeped out. There, in the half shadow of the flame-lit porch, +she saw Berry Lawson stealing toward her. She almost screamed for +joy. Stepping into the doorway she whispered, + +"Berry!" + +"Is dat you, 'Gena?" whispered that worthy, tiptoeing hastily +forward and stepping into the shadow within the room. "How'd yer +manage ter live t'rough dis yer night, 'Gena? An' whar's Nimbus +an' de chillen?" + +These questions being hastily answered, Lugena began to inquire in +regard to his presence there. + +"Whar I come from? Jes got back from Bre'er Rufe's house. Druv at +night jes ter save de mornin' ter walk back in. Lef' Sally an' de +chillen dar all right. When I come putty nigh ter Red Wing I sees +de light o' de fire, an' presently I sez to myself, sez I, 'Berry, +dat ain't no common fire, now. Ain't many houses in the kentry +roun' make sech a fire ez dat. Dat mus' be de church, Berry.' Den +I members 'bout de Ku Kluckers, an' I sez ter myself agin, sez I, +'Berry, dem rascals hez come ter Red Wing an' is raisin' de debble +dar now, jes dere own way.' Den I runs de mule and de carryall +inter de woods, 'bout a mile down de road, an' I takes out Bre'er +'Liab's gun, dat I'd borrered fer company, yer know, an' hed got +some cattridges fer, ober at Lewyburg, an' I comes on ter take a +han' in--ef dar wa'n't no danger, yer know, honey. + +"When I gits ober in de woods, dar, I heah de wust sort ob hullabaloo +ober h'yer 'bout whar Bre'er 'Liab's house was--hollerin' an' +screamin' an' cussin' an' fightin'. I couldn't make it all out, +but I'llowed dat Nimbus wuz a-habbin' a hell ob a time, an' ef I +wuz gwine ter do anyting, dat wuz about de right time fer me ter +put in. So I rested dis yer ole gal," patting the carbine in his +hand, "agin a tree an' jes slung a bullet squar ober dere heads. +Ye see, I dassent shoot too low, fer fear ob hurtin' some of my +fren's. 'D'ye heah dat shot, 'Gena? Lord! how de ole gal did holler. +'Pears like I nebber hear a cannon sound so big. De Ku Kluckers +'peared ter hear it too, fer dey comed squar outen h'yer inter +de big road. Den I opened up an' let her bark at 'em ez long ez I +could see a shadder ter pull trigger on. Wonder ef I hurt enny on +'em. D'yer know, 'Gena, wuz enny on 'em killed?" + +"Dar's two on 'em a layin' out dar by 'Liab's house," said the +woman. + +"Yer don't say so!" said Berry with a start. "La, sakes! what's +dat?" he continued, breathlessly, as a strange sound was heard in +the direction indicated. They stole out upon the porch, and as +they peered through the clustering wine-leaves a ghastly spectacle +presented itself to their eyes. + +One of the prostrate forms had risen and was groping around on +its hands and knees, uttering a strange moaning sound. Presently +it staggered to its feet, and after some vain efforts seized the +mask, the long flowing cape attached to which fell down upon the +shoulders, and tore it away. The pale, distorted face with a bloody +channel down the middle was turned inquiringly this way and that. +The man put his hand to his forehead as if to collect his thoughts. +Then he tried to utter a cry; the jaw moved, but only unintelligible +sounds were heard. + +Lugena heard the click of the gun-lock, and turning, laid her hand +on Berry, as she said, + +"Don't shoot! 'Tain't no use!" + +"Yer right, it ain't," said Berry with chattering teeth. "Who +ebber seed a man walkin' 'roun' wid his head split wide open afo'?" + +The figure staggered on, looked a moment at the house, turned toward +the burning church, and then, seeming to recall what had happened, +at once assumed a stealthy demeanor, and, still staggering as it +went, crept off toward the gate, out of which it passed and went +unsteadily off down the road. + +"Dar ain't no sort of use o' his dodgin' 'round," said Berry, as +the footsteps died away. "De berry debble'd gib him de road, enny +time." + +As he spoke, a whistle sounded down the road. Berry and Lugena +instantly sought shelter in the corn. Crouching low between the +rows, they saw four men come cautiously into the yard, examine the +prostrate man that remained, and bear him off between them, using +for a stretcher the pieces of the coffin-shaped board which had +been hung upon the gate two weeks before. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +"THE ROSE ABOVE THE MOULD." + + +The convalescence of Mollie Ainslie was very rapid, and a few days +after the crisis of her disease her attendants were able to return +to their homes at Red Wing. Great was the rejoicing there over +the recovery of their favorite teacher. The school had been greatly +crippled by her absence and showed, even in that brief period, how +much was due to her ability and skill. Everybody was clamorous for +her immediate return--everybody except Eliab Hill, who after an +almost sleepless night sent a letter begging her not to return for +a considerable time. + +It was a strangely earnest letter for one of its apparent import. +The writer dwelt at considerable length upon the insidious and +treacherous character of the disease from which she was recovering. +He grew eloquent as he detailed all that the people of Red Wing +owed to her exertions in their behalf, and told how, year after +year, without any vacation, she had labored for them. He showed that +this must have been a strain upon her vital energies, and pointed +out the danger of relapse should she resume her duties before she +had fully recovered. He begged her, therefore, to remain at Mulberry +Hill at least a month longer; and, to support his request, informed +her that with the advice and consent of the Superintendent he had +dismissed the school until that time. He took especial pains, too, +to prevent the report of the threatened difficulty from coming +to her ears. This was the more easily accomplished from the fact +that those who had apprehended trouble were afraid of being deemed +cowardly if they acknowledged their belief. So, while the greater +number of the men in the little hamlet were accustomed to sleep in +the neighboring thickets, in order to be out of harm's way should +the Ku Klux come to make good their decree, very little was said, +even among themselves, about the threatened attack. + +In utter unconsciousness, therefore, of the fate that brooded +over those in whom she took so deep an interest, Mollie abandoned +herself to the restful delights of convalescence. She soon found +herself able to visit the room of the confirmed invalid below, and +though she seemed to detect a sort of coolness in her manner she +did not dream of associating the change with herself. She attributed +it entirely to the sore affliction which had fallen upon the +household since her arrival, and which, she charitably reasoned, +her own recovery must revive in their minds in full force. So she +pardoned the fair, frail invalid who, reclining languidly upon +the couch, asked as to her health and congratulated her in cool, +set phrases upon her recovery. + +Such was not the case, however, with her host. There were tears in +his eyes when he met her on the landing for the first time after +she left her sick-bed. She knew they were for the little Hildreth +whom she had nursed and whom her presence recalled. And yet there +was a gleam in his eyes which was not altogether of sorrow. She, +too, mourned for the sweet child whom she had learned to love, and +her eyes responded to the tender challenge with copious tears. Yet +her own feelings were not entirely sad. She did not know why. She +did not stop to analyze or reason. She only gave him her hand--how +thin and white it was compared with the first time he had seen her +and had noted its soft plumpness! + +Their lips quivered so that they could not speak. He held her hand +and assisted the servant in leading her into the parlor. She was +still so weak that they had to lay her on the sofa. Hesden Le Moyne +bent over her for a little while, and then hurried away. He had not +said a word, and both had wept; yet, as she closed her eyes after +he had gone she was vaguely conscious that she had never been so +happy before in her life. So the days wore on, quietly and swiftly, +full of a tender sorrow tempered with an undefined joy. Day by +day she grew stronger and brighter, needing less of assistance but +receiving even more of attention from the stricken father of her +late charge. + +"You have not asked about Satan," said Mr. Le Moyne suddenly one +day. + +"Why should I?" she replied, with an arch look. "If that personage +will be equally forgetful of me I am sure I shall be very glad." + +"Oh, I mean your horse--Midnight, as you call him," laughed Hesden. + +"So I supposed," she replied. "I have a dim notion that you applied +that eipthet to him on the night of my arrival. Your mother, too, +said something about 'Satan,' that night, which I remember puzzled +me very greatly at the moment, but I was too much flustered to ask +about it just then. Thinking of it afterward, I concluded that she +intended to refer to my black-skinned pet. But why do you give him +that name?" + +"Because that was the first name he ever knew," answered Hesden, +with an amused smile. + +"The first name he ever knew? I don't understand you," she replied. +"My brother captured him at Appomattox, or near there, and named +him Midnight, and Midnight he has been ever since." + +"Very true," said Hesden, "but he was Satan before that, and very +well earned this name, in his young days." "In his young days?" +she asked, turning towards him in surprise. "Did you know him then?" + +"Very well, indeed," he replied, smiling at her eagerness. "He was +raised on this plantation and never knew any other master than me +until that day at Rouse's Bridge." + +"Why, that is the very place my brother captured him. I remember +the name now that you mention it!" she exclaimed. + +"Is it anything surprising," said he, "that the day I lost him +should be the day he captured him?" + +"No--not exactly--but then"--she paused in confusion as she glanced +at the empty sleeve which was pinned across his breast. + +"Yes," said he, noticing her look, "I lost that there," pointing +to the empty sleeve as he spoke; "and though it was a sore loss to +a young man who prided himself somewhat on his physical activity, +I believe I mourned the horse more than I did the arm." + +"But my brother--" she began with a frightened look into his face. + +"Well, he must have been in my immediate vicinity, for Satan was the +best-trained horse in the squadron. Even after I was dismounted, +he would not have failed to keep his place in the ranks when the +retreat was sounded, unless an unusually good horseman were on his +back." + +"My brother said he had as hard a struggle with him then as he had +with his rider before," she said, looking shyly up. + +"Indeed! I am obliged to him," he responded with a smile. "The +commendation of an enemy is always pleasant to a soldier." + +"Oh, he said you were terribly bloodthirsty and rode at him as +if nothing would satisfy you but his life," she said, with great +eagerness. + +"Very likely," he answered, lightly. "I have some reputation for +directness of purpose, and that was a moment of desperation. We +did not know whether we should come back or not, and did not care. +We knew that the end was very near, and few of us wished to outlive +it. Not that we cared so much--many of us at least--for the cause +we fought for; but we dreaded the humiliation of surrender and the +stigma of defeat. We felt the disgrace to our people with a keenness +that no one can appreciate who has not been in like circumstances. +I was opposed to the war myself, but I would rather have died than +have lived to see the surrender." + +"It must have been hard," she said, softly. + +"Hard!" he exclaimed. "I should think it was! But then," he +added, his brow suddenly clearing, "next to the fact of surrender +I dreaded the loss of my horse. I even contemplated shooting him +to prevent his falling into the hands of the enemy." + +"My brother thought you were rather anxious to throw away your own +life," she said, musingly. + +"No," he answered, "just indifferent. I wonder if I saw him at +all." + +"Oh, you must, for you-" she began eagerly, but stopped in confusion. + +"Well, what did I do? Nothing very bad, I hope?" he asked. + +"Well, you left an ugly scar on a very smooth forehead, if you +call that bad, sir," she said, archly. + +"Indeed! Of course I do," was the reply, but his tone indicated +that he was thinking less of the atrocity which she had laid to +his charge than of the events of that last day of battle. "Let me +see," said he, musingly. "I had a sharp turn with a fellow on a +gray horse. He was a slender, fair-haired man"--looking down at +the figure on the sofa behind which he stood as if to note if there +were any resemblance. "He was tall, as tall as I am, I should say, +and I thought--I was of the impression--that he was of higher rank +than a captain. He was somewhat in advance of his line and right in +my path. I remember thinking, as I crossed swords with him that +if--if we were both killed, the odds would be in favor of our +side. He must have been a colonel at least, or I was mistaken in +his shoulder-straps." + +"My brother was a colonel of volunteers," she said, quietly. "He was +only a captain, however, after his transfer to the regular army." + +"Indeed!" said he with new interest. "What was he like?" + +For answer Mollie put her hand to her throat, and opening a gold +locket which she wore, held up the case so far as the chain would +allow while Hesden bent over to look at it. His face was very near +her own, and she noted the eagerness with which he scanned the +picture. + +"Yes, that is the man!" he said at length, with something like a +sigh. "I hope I did not injure him seriously." + +"Only his beauty," she replied, pleasantly. + +"Of which, judging from what I see," he said saucily, letting his +eyes wander from the miniature to her face, "he could afford to +lose a good deal and yet not suffer by comparison with others." + +It was a bold, blunt compliment, yet it was uttered with evident +sincerity; but she had turned the locket so that she could see the +likeness and did not catch the double meaning of his words. So she +only answered calmly and earnestly, "He was a good brother." + +A shadow passed over his face as he noticed her inattention to +his compliment, but he added heartily, + +"And a gallant one. I am glad that my horse fell into his hands." + +She looked at him and said, + +"You were very fond of your horse?" + +"Yes, indeed!" he answered. "He was a great pet before we went into +the service, and my constant companion for nearly three years of +that struggle. But come out on the porch, and let me show you some +of the tricks I taught him, and you will not only understand how I +prized him, but will appreciate his sagacity more than you do now." + +He assisted her to a rocking-chair upon the porch, and, bidding a +servant to bring out the horse, said: + +"You must remember that I have but one arm and have not seen him, +until lately, at least, for five years. + +"Poor old fellow!" he added, as he went down the steps of the +porch, and told the servant to turn him loose. He called him up with +a snap of his thumb and finger as he entered the yard and patted +his head which was stretched out to receive the caress. "Poor +fellow! he is not so young as he was then, though he has had good +care. The gray hairs are beginning to show on his muzzle, and I can +detect, though no one else might notice them, the wrinkles coming +about his eyes. Let me see, you are only nine years old, though,--nine +past. But it's the war that tells--tells on horses just as well as +men. You ought to be credited with about five years for what you +went through then, old fellow. And a man--Do you know, Miss Mollie," +he said, breaking suddenly off--"that a man who was in that war, +even if he did not get a shot, discounted his life about ten years? +It was the wear and tear of the struggle. We are different from +other nations. We have no professional soldiers--at least none to +speak of. To such, war is merely a business and peace an interlude. +There is no mental strain in their case. But in our war we were +all volunteers. Every man, on both sides, went into the army with +the fate of a nation resting on his shoulders, and because he felt +the burden of responsibility. It was that which killed--killed +and weakened--more than shot and shell and frost and heat together. +And then--what came afterward?" + +He turned towards her as he spoke, his hand still resting on +the neck of the horse which was rubbing against him and playfully +nipping at him with his teeth, in manifestation of his delight. + +Her face had settled into firm, hard lines. She seemed to be +looking beyond him, and the gray coldness which we saw about her +face when she read the telegram in the far-away Bankshire hills, +settled on cheek and brow again, as she slowly repeated, as though +unconscious of their meaning, the lines: + + +"In the world's broad field of battle, +In the bivouac of Life, +Be not like dumb, driven cattle! +Be a hero in the strife!" + + +Hesden Le Moyne gazed at her a moment in confused wonder. Then +he turned to the horse and made him perform various tricks at his +bidding. He made him back away from him as far as he chose by the +motion of his hand, and then, by reversing the gesture, brought him +bounding back again. The horse lifted either foot at his instance, +lay down, rolled over, stood upon his hind feet, and finally knelt +upon the edge of the porch in obeisance to his mistress, who sat +looking, although in a preoccupied manner, at all that was done. +Hesden Le Moyne was surprised and somewhat disappointed at her lack +of enthusiasm over what he thought would give her so much pleasure. +She thanked him absently when it was over, and retired to her own +room. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +WHAT THE MIST HID. + + +The darkness was already giving way to the gray light of a misty +morning following the attack on Red Wing. The mocking birds, one +after another, were responding to each other's calls, at first +sleepily and unwillingly, as though the imprisoned melody compelled +expression, and then, thoroughly aroused and perched upon the +highest dew-laden branches swaying and tossing beneath them, they +poured forth their rival orisons. Other sounds of rising day were +coming through the mist that still hung over the land, shutting out +the brightness which was marching from the eastward. The crowing of +cocks, the neighing of horses, and the lowing of cattle resounded +from hill to hill across the wide bottom-lands and up and down the +river upon either hand. Nature was waking from slumber--not to the +full, boisterous wakefulness which greets the broad day, but the +half-consciousness with which the sluggard turns himself for the +light, sweet sleep of the summer morning. + +There was a tap at the open window that stood at the head of Hesden +Le Moyne's bed. His room was across the hall from his mother's, +and upon the same floor. It had been his room from childhood. The +window opened upon the wide, low porch which ran along three sides +of the great rambling house. Hesden heard the tap, but it only +served to send his half-awakened fancy on a fantastic trip through +dreamland. Again came the low, inquiring tap, this time upon the +headboard of the old mahogany bedstead. He thought it was one of +the servants coming for orders about the day's labors. He wondered, +vaguely and dully, what could be wanted. Perhaps they would go +away if he did not move. Again it came, cautious and low, but firm +and imperative, made by the nail of one finger struck sharply and +regularly against the polished headboard. It was a summons and +a command for silence at once. Hesden raised himself quickly and +looked toward the window. The outline of a human figure showed +dimly against the gray darkness beyond. + +"Who's there?"--in a low, quiet voice, as though caution had been +distinctly enjoined. + +"Marse Hesden!"--a low whisper, full of suppressed excitement. + +"You, Nimbus?" said Le Moyne, as he stepped quickly out of bed and +approached the window. "What's the matter?" + +"Marse Hesden," whispered the colored man, laying a hand trembling +with excitement on his shoulder as he came near, "is yer a friend +ter 'Liab Hill?" + +"Of course I am; you know that"--in an impatient undertone. + +"Sh--sh! Marse Hesden, don't make no noise, please," whispered +Nimbus. "I don't mean ter ax ef yer's jes got nothin' agin' him, +but is yer that kind ob a friend ez 'll stan' by him in trouble?" + +"What do you mean, Nimbus?" asked Hesden in surprise. + +"Will yer come wid me, Marse Hesden--slip on yer clo'es an' come +wid me, jist a minnit?" Hesden did not think of denying this +request. It was evident that something of grave importance had +occurred. Hardly a moment had elapsed before he stepped cautiously +out upon the porch and followed Nimbus. The latter led the way +quickly toward a spring which burst out of the hillside fifty yards +away from the house, at the foot of a giant oak. Lying in the shadow +of this tree and reclining against its base, lay Eliab Hill, his +pallid face showing through the darkness like the face of the dead. + +A few words served to tell Hesden Le Moyne what the reader already +knows. + +"I brought him here, Marse Hesden, kase ther ain't no place else +dat he'd be safe whar he could be tuk keer on. Dem ar Kluckers is +bound ter kill him ef dey kin. He's got ter be hid an' tuk keer +on till he's well--ef he ever gits well at all." + +"Why, you don't think he's hurt--not seriously, do you?" + +"Hurt, man!" said Nimbus, impatiently. "Dar ain't much difference +atwixt him an' a dead man, now. + +"Good God! Nimbus, you don't mean that. He seems to sleep well," +said Hesden, bending over the prostrate form. + +"Sleep! Marse Hesden, I'se kerried him tree miles sence he's been +a-sleepin' like dat; an' de blood's been a runnin' down on my hans +an' a-breakin' my holt ebbery now an' den, tu!" + +"Why, Nimbus, what is this you tell me? Was any one else hurt?" + +"Wal, dar's a couple o' white men a-layin' mighty quiet dar, afo' +'Liab's house." + +Hesden shuddered. The time he had dreaded had come! The smouldering +passion of the South had burst forth at last! For years--ever since +the war-prejudice and passion, the sense of insult and oppression +had been growing thicker and blacker all over the South. Thunders +had rolled over the land. Lightnings had fringed its edges. The +country had heard, but had not heeded. The nation had looked on with +smiling face, and declared the sunshine undimmed. It had taken no +note of exasperation and prejudice. It had unconsciously trampled +under foot the passionate pride of a conquered people. It had scorned +and despised a sentiment more deeply inwrought than that of caste +in the Hindoo breast. + +The South believed, honestly believed, in its innate superiority over +all other races and peoples. It did not doubt, has never doubted, +that, man for man, it was braver, stronger, better than the North. +Its men were "gentlemen"--grander, nobler beings than the North +ever knew. Their women were "ladies"--gentle, refined, ethereal +beings, passion and devotion wrapped in forms of ethereal mould, +and surrounded by an impalpable effulgence which distinguished them +from all others of the sex throughout the world. Whatever was of +the South was superlative. To be Southern-born was to be _prima +facie_ better than other men. So the self-love of every man +was enlisted in this sentiment. To praise the South was to praise +himself; to boast of its valor was to advertise his own intrepidity; +to extol its women was to enhance the glory of his own achievements +in the lists of love; to vaunt its chivalry was to avouch his own +honor; to laud its greatness was to extol himself. He measured +himself with his Northern compeer, and decided without hesitation +in his own favor. + +The South, he felt, was unquestionably greater than the North in +all those things which were most excellent, and was only overtopped +by it in those things which were the mere result of numbers. +Outnumbered on the field of battle, the South had been degraded and +insulted by a sordid and low-minded conqueror, in the very hour of +victory. Outnumbered at the ballot-box, it had still dictated the +policy of the Nation. The Southern white man naturally compared +himself with his Northern brother. For comparison between himself +and the African--the recent slave, the scarcely human anthropoid--he +found no ground. Only contrast was possible there. To have these +made co-equal rulers with him, seated beside him on the throne +of popular sovereignty, merely, as he honestly thought, for the +gratification of an unmanly spite against a fallen foe, aroused +every feeling of exasperation and revenge which a people always +restive of restraint could feel. + +It was not from hatred to the negro, but to destroy his political +power and restore again their own insulted and debased supremacy +that such things were done as have been related. It was to show +the conqueror that the bonds in which the sleeping Samson had been +bound were green withes which he scornfully snapped asunder in his +first waking moment. Pride the most overweening, and a prejudice of +caste the most intense and ineradicable, stimulated by the chagrin +of defeat and inflamed by the sense of injustice and oppression--both +these lay at the bottom of the acts by which the rule of the majorities +established by reconstructionary legislation were overthrown. It +was these things that so blinded the eyes of a whole people that +they called this bloody masquerading, this midnight warfare upon +the weak, this era of unutterable horror, "redeeming the South!" + +There was no good man, no honest man, no Christian man of the South +who for an instant claimed that it was right to kill, maim, beat, +wound and ill-treat the black man, either in his old or his new +estate. He did not regard these acts as done to another _man_, +a compeer, but only as acts of cruelty to an inferior so infinitely +removed from himself as to forbid any comparison of rights or +feelings. It was not right to do evil to a "nigger;" but it was +infinitely less wrong than to do it unto one of their own color. +These men did not consider such acts as right in themselves, but +only as right in view of their comparative importance and necessity, +and the unspeakable inferiority of their victims. + +For generations the South had regarded the uprising of the black, +the assertion of his manhood and autonomy, as the _ultima thule_ +of possible evil. San Domingo and hell were twin horrors in their +minds, with the odds, however, in favor of San Domingo. To prevent +negro domination anything was justifiable. It was a choice of evils, +where on one side was placed an evil which they had been taught +to believe, and did believe, infinitely outweighed and overmatched +all other evils in enormity. Anything, said these men in their +hearts; anything, they said to each other; anything, they cried +aloud to the world, was better, is better, must be better, than +negro rule, than African domination. + +Now, by negro rule _they_ meant the exercise of authority by +a majority of citizens of African descent, or a majority of which +they constituted any considerable factor. The white man who acted +with the negro in any relation of political co-ordination was deemed +even worse than the African himself. If he became a leader, he was +anathematized for self-seeking. If he only co-operated with his +ballot, he was denounced as a coward. In any event he was certain +to be deemed a betrayer of his race, a renegade and an outcast. +Hesden Le Moyne was a Southern white man. All that has just been +written was essential truth to him. It was a part of his nature. +He was as proud as the proudest of his fellows. The sting of defeat +still rankled in his heart. The sense of infinite distance between +his race and that unfortunate race whom he pitied so sincerely, to +whose future he looked forward with so much apprehension, was as +distinct and palpable to him as to any one of his compeers. The +thousandth part of a drop of the blood of the despised race degraded, +in his mind, the unfortunate possessor. + +He had inherited a dread of the ultimate results of slavery. He +wished--it had been accounted sensible in his family to wish--that +slavery had never existed. Having existed, they never thought of +favoring its extinction. They thought it corrupting and demoralizing +to the white race. They felt that it was separating them, year by +year, farther and farther from that independent self-relying manhood, +which had built up American institutions and American prosperity. +They feared the fruit of this demoralization. _For the sake of the +white man_, they wished that the black had never been enslaved. +As to the blacks--they did not question the righteousness of their +enslavement. They did not care whether it were right or wrong. They +simply did not consider them at all. When the war left them free, +they simply said, "Poor fellows!" as they would of a dog without a +master. When the blacks were entrusted with the ballot, they said +again, "Poor fellows!" regarding them as the blameless instrument +by which a bigoted and revengeful North sought to degrade and humiliate a +foe overwhelmed only by the accident of numbers; the colored race +being to these Northern people like the cat with whose paw the monkey +dragged his chestnuts from the fire. Hesden had only wondered what +the effect of these things would be upon "the South;" meaning by +"the South" that regnant class to which his family belonged--a +part of which, by a queer synecdoche, stood for the whole. + +His love for his old battle-steed, and his curious interest in its +new possessor, had led him to consider the experiment at Red Wing +with some care. His pride and interest in Eliab as a former slave +of his family had still further fixed his attention and awakened +his thought. And, finally, his acquaintance with Mollie Ainslie +had led him unconsciously to sympathize with the object of her +constant care and devotion. + +So, while he stood there beside the stricken man, whose breath +came stertorous and slow, he was in that condition of mind of all +others most perilous to the Southern man--he had begun to _doubt_: +to doubt the infallibility of his hereditary notions; to doubt the +super-excellence of Southern manhood, and the infinite superiority +of Southern womanhood; to doubt the incapacity of the negro for +self-maintenance and civilization; to doubt, in short, all those +dogmas which constitute the differential characteristics of "the +Southern man." He had gone so far--a terrible distance to one +of his origin--as to admit the possibility of error. He had begun +to question--God forgive him, if it seemed like sacrilege--he had +begun to question whether the South might not have been wrong--might +not still be wrong--wrong in the principle and practice of slavery, +wrong in the theory and fact of secession and rebellion, wrong in +the hypothesis of hate on the part of the conquerors, wrong in the +assumption of exceptional and unapproachable excellence. + +The future was as misty as the gray morning. + + + +CHAPTER XL + +DAWNING. + + +Hesden Le Moyne stood with Nimbus under the great low-branching +oak, in the chill morning, and listened to the labored breathing +of the man for the sake of whose humanity his father had braved +public opinion in the old slave-era, which already seemed centuries +away in the dim past. The training of his life, the conditions +of his growth, bore fruit in that moment. He pitied the outraged +victim, he was shocked at the barbarity of his fellows; but there +was no sense of injustice, no feeling of sacred rights trampled +on and ignored in the person of the sufferer. He remembered when +he had played with Eliab beside his mother's hearth; when he had +varied the monotony of study by teaching the crippled slave-boy +the tasks he himself was required to perform. The tenderness of +old associations sprang up in his mind and he felt himself affronted +in the person of the protege of his family. He disliked cruelty; +he hated cowardice; and he felt that Eliab Hill had been the victim +of a cruel and cowardly assault. He remembered how faithfully +this man's mother had nursed his own. Above all, the sentiment of +comradeship awoke. This man who had been his playfellow had been +brutally treated because of his weakness. He would not see him +bullied. He would stand by him to the death. + +"The cowards!" he hissed through his teeth. "Bring him in, Nimbus, +quick! They needn't expect me to countenance such brutality as +this!" + +"Marse Hesden," said the black Samson who had stood, silently +watching the white playmate of his boyhood, while the latter +recovered himself from the sort of stupor into which the revelation +he had heard had thrown him, "God bress yer fer dem words! I 'llowed +yer'd stan' by 'Liab. Dat's why I fotched him h'yer." + +"Of course I would, and by you too, Nimbus." + +"No, Marse Hesden, dat wouldn't do no sort o' good. Nimbus hez jes +got ter cut an' run fer it. I 'specs them ar dat's a lyin' dar in +front ob 'Liab's do' ain't like ter do no mo' troublin'; an' yer +knows, Marse Hesden, 'twouldn't nebber be safe fer a cullu'd man +dat's done dat ar ter try an' lib h'yerabouts no mo'!" + +"But you did it in defense of life. You had a right to do it, +Nimbus." + +"Dar ain't no doubt o' dat, Marse Hesden, but I'se larned dat +de right ter du a ting an' de doin' on't is two mighty diff'rent +tings, when it's a cullu'd man ez does it. I hed a right ter buy +a plantation an' raise terbacker; an' 'Liab hed a right ter teach +an' preach; an' we both hed a right ter vote for ennybody we had +a mind ter choose. An' so we did; an' dat's all we done, tu. An' +now h'yer's what's come on't, Marse Hesden." + +Nimbus pointed to the bruised creature before them as he spoke, +and his tones sounded like an arraignment. + +"I am afraid you are right, Nimbus," said the white man, with a +sense of self-abasement he had never thought to feel before one of +the inferior race. "But bring him in, we must not waste time here." + +"Dat's a fac'," said Nimbus, with a glance at the East. "'Tain't +more'n 'bout a hour till sun-up, an' I mustn't be seen hereabouts +atter dat. Dey'll be a lookin' atter me, an' 'twon't be safe fer +Nimbus ter be no whar 'cept in de mos' lonesome places. But whar's +ye gwine ter put 'Liab, Marse Hesden?" + +"In the house--anywhere, only be quick about it. Don't let him +die here!" said Hesden, bending over the prostrate man and passing +a hand over his forehead with a shudder. + +"But whar'bouts in de house yer gwine ter put him, Marse Hesden?" + +"Anywhere, man--in my room, if nowhere else. Come, take hold +here!" was Hesden's impatient rejoinder as he put his one hand +under Eliab's head and strove to raise him up. + +"Dat won't do, Marse Hesden," said Nimbus, solemnly. 'Liab had a +heap better go back ter de woods an' chance it wid Nimbus, dan be +in your room." + +"Why so?" + +"Why? Kase yer knows dat de men what done disting ain't a-gwine ter +let him lib ef dey once knows whar he's ter be found. He's de one +dey wuz atter, jest ez much ez Nimbus, an' p'raps a leetle more, +dough yer knows ther ain't a mite o' harm in him, an' nebber +was, But dat don't matter. Deytinks dat he keeps de cullu'd folks +togedder, an' makes' em stan' up for dere rights, an' dat's why dey +went fer him. 'Sides dat, ef he didn't hurt none on 'em dey know +he seed an' heerd 'em, an' so'll be afeared ter let up on him on +dat account." + +"I'd like to see the men that would take him out of my house!" said +Le Moyne, indignantly. + +"Dar'd jes be two men killed instead ob one, ef yer should," said +the other, dryly. + +"Perhaps you're right," said Le Moyne, thoughtfully. "The men who +did this will do anything. But where _shall_ we put him? He +can't lie here." + +"Marse Hesden, does yer mind de loft ober de ole dinin'-room, whar +we all used ter play ob a Sunday?" + +"Of course, I've got my tobacco bulked down there now," was the +answer. "Dat's de place, Marse Hesden!" + +"But there's no way to get in there except by a ladder," said +Hesden. + +"So much de better. You gits de ladder, an' I brings 'Liab." + +In a few minutes Eliab was lying on some blankets, hastily thrown +over a bulk of leaf tobacco, in the loft over the old dining-room +at Mulberry Hill, and Hesden Le Moyne was busy bathing his face, +examining his wounds, and endeavoring to restore him to consciousness. + +Nimbus waited only to hear his report that the wounds, though numerous +and severe, were not such as would be likely to prove fatal. There +were several cuts and bruises about the head; a shot had struck the +arm, which had caused the loss of blood; and the weakened tendons +of the cramped and unused legs had been torn asunder. These were +all the injuries Le Moyne could find. Nimbus dropped upon his knees, +and threw his arms about the neck of his friend at this report, +and burst into tears. + +"God bress yer, 'Liab! God bress yer!" he sobbed. + +"Nimbus can't do no mo' fer ye, an' don't 'llow he'll nebber see +ye no mo'--no mo' in dis world! Good-by, 'Liab, good-by! Yer don't +know Nimbus's gwine away, does yer? God bress yer, p'raps it's +better so--better so!" + +He kissed again and again the pale forehead, from which the dark +hair had been brushed back by repeated bathings. Then rising and +turning away his head, he extended his hand to Le Moyne and said: + +"Good-bye, Marse Hesden! God bress yer! Take good keer o' 'Liab, +Mahs'r, an'--an'--ef he gits round agin, don't let him try ter +stay h'yrabouts--don't, please! 'Tain't no use! See ef yer can't +git him ter go ter de Norf, er somewhar. Oh, my God!" he exclaimed, +suddenly, as the memory of his care of the stricken friend came +suddenly upon him, "my God! what'll he ebber do widout Nimbus ter +keer fer him?" + +His voice was drowned in sobs and his grip on the hand of the white +man was like the clasp of a vice. + +"Don't go, Nimbus, don't!" pleaded Hesden. + +"I must, Marse Hesden," said he, repressing his sobs. "l'se got +ter see what's come o' 'Gena an' de rest, an' it's best fer both. +Good-by! God bress yer! Ef he comes tu, ax him sometimes ter pray +for Nimbus. But'tain't no use--no use--fer he'll do it without +axin'. Good-by!" + +He opened the wooden shutter, ran down the ladder, and disappeared, +as the misty morning gave way to the full and perfect day. + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +Q. E. D. + + +As Mollie Ainslie grew stronger day by day, her kind host had done +all in his power to aid her convalescence by offering pleasing +attentions and cheerful surroundings. As soon as she was able to +ride, she had been lifted carefully into the saddle, and under his +watchful supervision had made, each day, longer and longer rides, +until, for some days preceding the events of the last few chapters, +her strength had so fully returned that they had ridden several +miles. The flush of health had returned to her cheeks, and the +sleep that followed her exercise was restful and refreshing. + +Already she talked of returning to Red Wing, and, but for the +thoughtfulness of Eliab Hill in dismissing the school for a month +during her illness, would have been present at the terrible scenes +enacted there. She only lingered because she was not quite recovered, +and because there was a charm about the old plantation, which she +had never found elsewhere. A new light had come into her life. +She loved Hesden Le Moyne, and Hesden Le Moyne loved the Yankee +school-marm. No word of love had been spoken. No caress had been +offered. A pall hung over the household, in the gloom of which the +lips might not utter words of endearment. But the eyes spoke; and +they greeted each other with kisses of liquid light when their +glances met. Flushed cheeks and tones spoke more than words. She +waited for his coming anxiously. He was restive and uneasy when +away. The peace which each one brought to the other's heart was +the sure witness of well-grounded love. She had never asked herself +where was the beginning or what would be the end. She had never +said to herself, "I love him;" but his presence brought peace, and +in her innocence she rested there as in an undisturbed haven. + +As for him--he saw and trembled. He could not shut his eyes to +her love or his own. He did not wish to do so. And yet, brave man +as he was, he trembled at the thought. Hesden Le Moyne was proud. +He knew that Mollie Ainslie was as proud as himself. He had the +prejudices of his people and class, and he knew also that she had +the convictions of that part of the country where she had been +reared. He knew that she would never share his prejudices; he had +no idea that he would ever share her convictions. He wished that +she had never taught a "nigger school"--not for his own sake, he +said to himself, with a flush of shame, but for hers. How could she +face sneers? How could he endure insults upon his love? How could +he ask her to come where sneers and insults awaited her? Love +had set himself a hard task. He had set before him this problem: +"New England Puritanism and Southern Prejudice; how shall they be +reconciled?" For the solution of this question, there were given on +one side a maiden who would have plucked out her heart and trampled +it under her feet, rather than surrender one tenet in her creed of +righteousness; and on the other side a man who had fought for a cause +he did not approve rather than be taunted with having espoused one +of the fundamental principles of her belief. To laugh at locksmiths +was an easy thing compared with the reading of this riddle! + +On the morning when Eliab was brought to Mulberry Hill, Mrs. +Le Moyne and Mollie breakfasted together alone in the room of the +former. Both were troubled at the absence of the master of the +house. + +"I cannot see why he does not come," said Mrs. Le Moyne. "He is +the soul of punctuality, and is never absent from a meal when about +home. He sent in word by Laura early this morning that he would not +be at breakfast, and that we should not wait for him, but gave no +sort of reason. I don't understand it." + +"I hope he is not sick. You don't think he has the fever, do you?" +said Mollie, with evident anxiety. + +The elder woman glanced keenly at her as she replied in a careless +tone: + +"Oh, no indeed. You have no occasion for anxiety. I told Laura to +take him a cup of coffee and a roll in his room, but she says he +is not there. I suppose something about the plantation requires his +attention. It is very kind of you, I am sure; but I have no doubt +he is quite well." + +There was something in the tone as well as the words which cut +the young girl to the heart. She could not tell what it was. She +did not dream that it was aimed at herself. She only knew that +it sounded harsh and cold, and unkind. Her heart was very tender. +Sickness and love had thrown her off her guard against sneers +and hardness. It did not once occur to her that the keen-sighted +invalid, whose life was bound up in her son's life, had looked into +the heart which had never yet syllabled the love which filled it, +and hated what she saw. She did not deem it possible that there +should be aught but kindly feeling for her in the household she +had all but died to serve. Moreover, she had loved the delicate +invalid ever since she had received a letter from her hand. She +had always been accustomed to that unconscious equality of common +right and mutual courtesy that prevails so widely at the North, and +had never thought of construing the letter as one of patronizing +approval. She had counted it a friendly commendation, not only of +herself, but of her work. This woman she had long pictured to herself +as one that rose above the prejudice by which she was surrounded. +She who, in the old times, had bravely taught Eliab Hill to read +in defiance of the law, would surely approve of a work like hers. + +So thought the silly girl, not knowing that the gentle invalid had +taught Eliab Hill the little that he knew before emancipation more +to show her defiance of meddling objectors, than for the good of +the boy. In fact, she had had no idea of benefiting him, other than +by furnishing him a means of amusement in the enforced solitude of +his affliction. Mollie did not consider that Hester Le Moyne was +a Southern woman, and as such, while she might admire courage and +accomplishments in a woman of Northern birth, always did so with +a mental reservation in favor of her own class. When, however, one +came from the North to teach the negroes, in order that they might +overpower and rule the whites, which she devoutly believed to be +the sole purpose of the colored educational movement, no matter +under what specious guise of charity it might be done, she could +not go even so far as that. + +Yet, if such a one came to her, overwhelmed by stress of weather, +she would give her shelter; if she were ill she would minister +unto her; for these were Christian duties. If she were fair and +bright, and brave, she would delight to entertain her; for that +was a part of the hospitality of which the South boasted. There was +something enjoyable, too, in parading the riches of a well-stocked +wardrobe and the lavish splendors of an old Southern home to one +who, she believed, had never seen such magnificence before; for +the belief that poverty and poor fare are the common lot of the +country folks at the North is one of the fallacies commonly held +by all classes at the South. As slavery, which was the universal +criterion of wealth and culture at the South, did not prevail at +all at the North, they unconsciously and naturally came to associate +self-help with degradation, and likened the Northern farmer to +the poor white "cropper." Where social rank was measured by the +length of the serving train, it was not strange that the Northern +self-helper should be despised and his complacent assumption of +equal gentility scorned. + +So Mrs. Le Moyne had admired the courage of Mollie Ainslie before +she saw her; she had been charmed with her beauty and artless grace +on the first night of her stay at Mulberry Hill, and had felt obliged +to her for her care of the little Hildreth; but she had not once +thought of considering her the peer of the Richardses and the Le +Moynes, or as standing upon the same social plane as herself. She +was, no doubt, good and honest and brave, very well educated and +accomplished, but by no means a lady in _her_ sense of the +word. Mrs. Le Moyne's feeling toward the Northern school-teacher +was very like that which the English gentry express when they use +the word "person." There is no discredit in the term. The individual +referred to may be the incarnation of every grace and virtue, only +he is of a lower degree in the social scale. He is of another grade. + +Entertaining such feelings toward Mollie, it was no wonder that +Mrs. Le Moyne was not pleased to see the anxious interest that +young lady freely exhibited in the health of her son. + +On the other hand, the young New England girl never suspected the +existence of such sentiments. Conscious of intellectual and moral +equality with her hostess, she did not imagine that there could +be anything of patronage, or anything less than friendly sympathy +and approval, in the welcome she had received at Mulberry Hill. +This house had seemed to her like a new home. The exile which she +had undergone at Red Wing had unfitted her for the close analysis +of such pleasing associations. Therefore, the undertone in Mrs. +Le Moyne's remarks came upon her like a blow from an unseen hand. +She felt hurt and humbled, but she could not exactly tell why. Her +heart grew suddenly heavy. Her eyes filled with tears. She dallied +a little while with coffee and toast, declined the dainties pressed +upon her with scrupulous courtesy, and presently, excusing her lack +of appetite, fled away to her room and wept. + +"I must be nervous this morning," she said to herself smilingly, +as she dried her eyes and prepared for her customary morning ride. +On going down stairs she found a servant in waiting with her horse +ready saddled, who said: "Mornin', Miss Mollie. Marse Hesden said +ez how I was ter tell yer dat he was dat busy dis mornin' dat he +couldn't go ter ride wid yer to-day, nohow. I wuz ter gib yer his +compliments, all de same, an' say he hopes yer'll hev a pleasant +ride, an' he wants ter see yer when yer gits back. He's powerful +sorry he can't go." + +"Tell Mr. Le Moyne it is not a matter of any consequence at all, +Charley," she answered pleasantly. + +"Yer couldn't never make Marse Hesden b'lieve dat ar, no way in de +world," said Charles, with deft flattery, as he lifted her into the +saddle. Then, glancing quickly around, he said in a low, earnest +voice: "Hez ye heerd from Red Wing lately, Miss Mollie?" + +"Not for a day or two. Why?" she asked, glancing quickly down at +him. + +"Oh, nuffin', only I wuz afeared dar'd been somethin' bad a gwine +on dar, right lately." + +"What do you mean, Charles?" she asked, bending down and speaking +anxiously. + +"Don't say nuffin' 'bout it, Miss Mollie--dey don't know nuffin' +'bout it in h'yer," nodding toward the house, "but de Ku Kluckers +was dar las' night." + +"You don't mean it, Charles?" + +"Dat's what I hear," he answered doggedly. + +"Anybody hurt?" she asked anxiously. + +"I don't know dat, Miss Mollie. Dat's all I hear--jes dat dey'd +been dar." + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THROUGH A CLOUD-RIFT. + + +It was with a heavy heart that Mollie Ainslie passed out of the +gate and rode along the lane toward the highway. The autumn sun +shone bright, and the trees were just beginning to put on the gay +trappings in which they are wont to welcome wintry death. Yet, +somehow, everything seemed suddenly to have grown dark and dull. +Her poor weak brain was overwhelmed and dazed by the incongruity of +the life she was leaving with that to which she was going back--for +she had no hesitation in deciding as to the course she ought to +pursue. + +She did not need to question as to what had been done or suffered. +If there was any trouble, actual or impending, affecting those she +had served, her place was with them. They would look to her for +guidance and counsel. She would not fail them. She did not once +think of danger, nor did she dream that by doing as she proposed +she was severing herself entirely from the pleasant life at the +fine old country seat which had been so eventful. + +She did, indeed, think of Hesden. She always thought of him of late. +Everything, whether of joy or of sorrow, seemed somehow connected +with him. She thought of him--not as going away from him, or as +putting him out of her life, but as deserving his approval by her +act. "He will miss me when he finds that I do not return. Perhaps +he will be alarmed," she said to herself, as she cantered easily +toward the ford. "But then, if he hears what has happened, he will +know where I have gone and will approve my going. Perhaps he will +be afraid for me, and then he will--" Her heart seemed to stop +beating! All its bright current flew into her face. The boundless +beatitude of love burst on her all at once. She had obeyed its +dictates and tasted its bliss for days and weeks, quite unconscious +of the rapture which filled her soul. Now, it came like a great +wave of light that overspread the earth and covered with a halo +all that was in it. How bright upon the instant was everything! +The sunshine was a beating, pulsing ether animated with love! The +trees, the fields, the yellow-breasted lark, pouring forth his autumn +lay, the swallows, glancing in the golden sunshine and weaving in +and out on billowy wing the endless dance with which they hie them +southward ere the winter comes--everything she saw or heard was +eloquent with look and tones of love! The grand old horse that +carried her so easily, how strange and how delightful was this +double ownership, which yet was only one! Hers? Hesden's? Hesden's +because hers, for--ah, glowing cheek! ah, bounding heart! how sweet +the dear confession, breathed--nay told unspokenly--to autumn sky +and air, to field and wood and bird and beast, to nature's boundless +heart--_she_ was but Hesden's! The altar and the idol of his +love! Oh, how its incense thrilled her soul and intoxicated every +sense! There was no doubt, no fear, no breath of shame! He would +come and ask, and she--would give? No! no! no! She could not give, +but she would tell, with word and look and swift embrace, how she +_had_ given--ah! given all--and knew it not! Oh, fairer than +the opened heaven is earth illumined with love! + +As she dreamed, her horse's swift feet consumed the way. She reached +the river--a silver billow between emerald banks, to-day! Almost +unheedingly she crossed the ford, just smiling, rapt in her vision, +as memory brought back the darkness of her former crossing! Then +she swept on, through the dark, over-arching pines, their odor +mingling with the incense of love which filled her heart. She had +forgotten Red Wing and all that pertained to it. The new song her +lips had been taught to sing had made thin and weak every melody +of the past, Shall care cumber the heart of the bride? She knew +vaguely that she was going to Red Wing. She recognized the road, +but it seemed glorified since she travelled it before. Once, she +thought she heard her name called. The tone was full of beseeching. +She smiled, for she thought that love had cheated her, and syllabled +the cry of that heart which would not be still until she came again. +She did not see the dark, pleading face which gazed after her as +her horse bore her swiftly beyond his ken. + +On and on, easily, softly! She knows she is approaching her journey's +end, but the glamour of love enthralls her senses yet. The last +valley is passed. She ascends the last hill. Before her is Red +Wing, bright and peaceful as Paradise before the spoiler came. She +has forgotten the story which the hostler told. The sight of the +little village but heightens her rapture. She almost greets it +with a shout, as she gives her horse the rein and dashes down the +little street. How her face glows! The wind toys with stray tresses +of her hair! How dull and amazed the people seem whom she greets +so gayly! Still on! Around the angle of the wood she turns--and +comes upon the smouldering church! + +Ah, how the visions melt! What a cry of agony goes up from her +white lips! How pale her cheeks grow as she drops the rein from +her nerveless fingers! The observant horse needs no words to check +his swift career. The scene of desolation stops him in an instant. +He stretches out his head and looks with staring eyes upon the +ruin. He snuffs with distended nostrils the smoke that rises from +the burning. + +The villagers gather around. She answers every inquiry with low +moans. Gently they lead her horse under the shadow of the great +oak before the old Ordinary. Very tenderly she is lifted down and +borne to the large-armed rocker on the porch, which the weeping, +trembling old "mammy" has loaded with pillows to receive her. + +All day long she heard the timid tread of dusky feet and listened +to the tale of woe and fear. Old and young, those whom she had +counselled, and those whom she had taught, alike sought her presence +and advice. Lugena came, and showed her scarred form; brought her +beaten children, and told her tale of sorrow. The past was black +enough, but the shadow of a greater fear hung over the little +hamlet. They feared for themselves and also for her. They begged +her to go back to Mr. Le Moyne's. She smiled and shook her head +with a soft light in her eyes. She would not go back until the king +came and entreated her. But she knew that would be very soon. So +she roused herself to comfort and advise, and when the sun went +down, she was once more the little Mollie Ainslie of the Bankshire +hills, only fairer and ruddier and sweeter than ever before, as she +sat upon the porch and watched with dewy, love-lit eyes the road +which led to Mulberry Hill. + +The shadows came. The night fell; the stars came out; the moon +arose--he came not. Stealthy footsteps came and went. Faithful hearts +whispered words of warning with trembling lips. She did not fear. +Her heart was sick. She had not once dreamed that Hesden would +fail to seek her out, or that he would allow her to pass one hour +of darkness in this scene of horror. She almost began to wish the +night might be a counterpart of that which had gone before. She +took out her brother's heavy revolver, loaded every chamber, laid +it on the table beside her chair, and sat, sleepless but dry-eyed, +until the morning. + +The days went by. Hesden did not come, and sent no word. He was +but five miles away; he knew how she loved him; yet the grave was +not more voiceless! She hoped--a little--even after that first +night. She pictured possibilities which she hoped might be true. Then +the tones of the mother's voice came back to her--the unexplained +absence--the unfulfilled engagement--and doubt was changed to +certainty! She did not weep or moan or pine. The Yankee girl had no +base metal in her make. She folded up her vision of love and laid +it away, embalmed in the fragrance of her own purity, in the inmost +recess of her heart of hearts. The rack could not have wrung from +her a whisper of her one day in Paradise. She was simply Mollie +Ainslie, the teacher of the colored school at Red Wing, once +more; quiet, cool, and practical, giving herself day by day, with +increased devotion, to the people whom she had served so faithfully +before her brief translation. + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +A GLAD GOOD-BY. + + +A few days after her departure from Mulberry Hill, Mollie Ainslie +wrote to Mrs. Le Moyne: + +"MY DEAR MADAM: You have no doubt heard of the terrible events which +have occurred at Red Wing. I had an intimation of trouble just as +I set out on my ride, but had no idea of the horror which awaited +me upon my arrival here, made all the more fearful by contrast with +your pleasant home. + +"I cannot at such a time leave the people with whom I have labored +so long, especially as their only other trusted adviser, the +preacher, Eliab Hill, is missing. With the utmost exertion we have +been able to learn nothing of him or of Nimbus since the night of +the fire. There is no doubt that they are dead. Of course, there +is great excitement, and I have had a very anxious time. I am glad +to say, however, that my health continues to improve. I left some +articles scattered about in the room I occupied, which I would be +pleased if you would have a servant collect and give to the bearer. + +"With the best wishes for the happiness of yourself and Mr. Hesden, +and with pleasant memories of your delightful home, I remain, + +"Yours very truly, + +"MOLLIE AINSLIE." + +To this she received the following reply: + +"Miss MOLLIE AINSLIE: I very much regret the unfortunate events +which occasioned your hasty departure from Mulberry Hill. It is +greatly to be hoped that all occasion for such violence will soon +pass away. It is a great calamity that the colored people cannot be +made to see that their old masters and mistresses are their best +friends, and induced to follow their advice and leadership, instead +of going after strangers and ignorant persons of their own color, +or low-down white men, who only wish to use them for their own +advantage. I am very sorry for Eliab and the others, but I must say +I think they have brought it all on themselves. I am told they have +been mighty impudent and obstreperous, until really the people in +the neighborhood did not feel safe, expecting every day that their +houses or barns would be burned down, or their wives or daughters +insulted, or perhaps worse, by the lazy, saucy crowd they had +gathered about them. "Eliab was a good boy, but I never did like +that fellow Nimbus. He was that stubborn and headstrong, even in +his young days, that I can believe anything of him. Then he was in +the Yankee army during the war, you know, and I have no doubt that +he is a desperate character. I learn he has been indicted once or +twice, and the general belief is that he set the church on fire, +and, with a crowd of his understrappers, fixed up to represent Ku +Klux, attacked his own house, abused his wife and took Eliab off +and killed him, in order to make the North believe that the people +of Horsford are only a set of savages, and so get the Government +to send soldiers here to carry the election, in order that a +filthy negro and a low-down, dirty, no-account poor-white man may +_mis_represent this grand old county in the Legislature again. + +"I declare, Miss Ainslie, I don't see how you endure such things. +You seemed while here very much of a lady, for one in your sphere +of life, and I cannot understand how you can reconcile it with your +conscience to encourage and live with such a terrible gang. + +"My son has been very busy since you left. He did not find time +to inquire for you yesterday, and seemed annoyed that you had not +apprised him of your intention to leave. I suppose he is afraid that +his old horse might be injured if there should be more trouble at +Red Wing. + +"Yours truly, + +"HESTER RICHARDS LE MOYNE." + +"P.S.--I understand that they are going to hunt the fellow Nimbus +with dogs to-morrow. I hope they will catch him and hang him to +the nearest tree. I have no doubt he killed poor Eliab, and did all +the rest of the bad things laid to his charge. He is a desperate +negro, and I don't see how you can stand up for him. I hope you +will let the people of the North know the truth of this affair, and +make them understand that Southern gentlemen are not such savages +and brutes as they are represented." + +The letter was full of arrows designed to pierce her breast; +but Mollie Ainslie did not feel one of them. After what she had +suffered, no ungenerous flings from such a source could cause her +any pain. On the contrary, it was an object of interest to her, +in that it disclosed how deep down in the heart of the highest and +best, as well as the lowest and meanest, was that prejudice which +had originally instigated such acts as had been perpetrated at Red +Wing. The credulous animosity displayed by this woman to whom she +had looked for sympathy and encouragement in what she deemed a holy +work, revealed to her for the first time how deep and impassable +was the channel which time had cut between the people of the North +and those of the South. + +She did not lose her respect or regard for Mrs. Le Moyne. She did +not even see that any word which had been written was intended +to stab her, as a woman. She only saw that the prejudice-blinded +eyes had led a good, kind heart to endorse and excuse cruelty and +outrage. The letter saddened but did not enrage her. She saw and +pitied the pride of the sick lady whom she had learned to love in +fancy too well to regard with anger on account of what was but the +natural result of her life and training. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +PUTTING THIS AND THAT TOGETHER. + + +After Mollie had read the letter of Mrs. Le Moyne, it struck her +as a curious thing that she should write to her of the hunt which +was to be made after Nimbus, and the great excitement which there +was in regard to him. Knowing that Mrs. Le Moyne and Hesden were +both kindly disposed toward Eliab, and the latter, as she believed, +toward Nimbus also, it occurred to her that this might be intended +as a warning, given on the hypothesis that those parties were in +hiding and not dead. + +At the same time, also, it flashed upon her mind that Lugena had +not seemed so utterly cast down as might naturally be expected of +a widow so suddenly and sadly bereaved. She knew something of the +secretive powers of the colored race. She knew that in the old slave +times one of the men now living in the little village had remained +a hidden runaway for months, within five miles of his master's house, +only his wife knowing his hiding-place. She knew how thousands +of these people had been faithful to our soldiers escaping from +Confederate prisons during the war, and she felt that a secret +affecting their own liberty, or the liberty of one acting or +suffering in their behalf, might be given into the keeping of the +whole race without danger of revelation. She remembered that amid +all the clamorous grief of others, while Lugena had mourned and +wept over the burning of the church and the scenes of blood and +horror, she had exhibited little of that poignant and overwhelming +grief or unappeasable anger which she would have expected, under +the circumstances, from one of her temperament. She concluded, +therefore, that the woman might have some knowledge in regard to the +fate of her husband, Eliab, and Berry, which she had not deemed it +prudent to reveal. With this thought in mind, she sent for Lugena +and asked if she had heard that they were going to hunt for her +husband with dogs. + +"Yes, Miss Mollie, I'se heerd on't," was the reply, "but nebber you +mind. Ef Nimbus is alive, dey'll nebber git him in no sech way ez +dat, an' dey knows it. 'Sides dat, it's tree days ago, an' Nimbus +ain't no sech fool ez ter stay round dat long, jes ter be cotched +now. I'se glad ter hear it, dough, kase it shows ter me dat +dey hain't killed him, but wants ter skeer him off, an' git him +outen de kentry. De sheriff--not de high-sheriff, but one ob his +understrappers--wuz up ter our house to-day, a-purtendin' ter hunt +atter Nimbus. I didn't put no reliance in dat, but somehow I can't +make out cla'r how dey could hev got away with him an' Berry an' +'Liab, all on 'em, atter de fight h'yer, an' not left no trace nor +sign on' em nowhar. + +"Now, I tell yer what's my notion, Miss Mollie," she added, +approaching closer, and speaking in a whisper; "I'se done a heap +o' tinkin' on dis yer matter, an' dis is de way I'se done figgered +it out. I don't keer ter let on 'bout it, an' mebbe you kin see +furder inter it nor I kin, but I'se jes made up my min' dat Nimbus +is all right somewhars. I don't know whar, but it's somewhar not +fur from 'Liab--dat yer may be shore on, honey. Now, yer see, Miss +Mollie, dar's two or tree tings makes me tink so. In de fus' place, +yer know, I see dat feller, Berry, atter all dis ting wuz ober, +an' talked wid him an' told him dat Nimbus lef all right, an' dat +he tuk 'Liab wid him, an' dat Bre'er 'Liab wuz mighty bad hurt. +Wal, atter I told him dat, an' he'd helped me hunt up de chillens +dat wuz scattered in de co'n, an' 'bout one place an' anudder, +Berry he 'llows dat he'll go an' try ter fin' Nimbus an' 'Liab. +So he goes off fru de co'n wid dat ar won'ful gun dat jes keeps on +a-shootin' widout ary load. + +"Atter a while I heahs him ober in de woods a-whistlin' an' a-carryin' +on like a mockin'-bird, ez you'se heerd de quar critter du many a +time." Mollie nodded affirmatively, and Lugena went on: "I couldn't +help but laugh den, dough I wuz nigh about skeered ter death, ter +tink what a mighty cute trick it wuz. I knowed he wuz a callin' +Nimbus an' dat Nimbus 'ud know it, tu, jest ez soon ez he heerd it; +but yer know ennybody dat hadn't heerd it over an offen, wouldn't +nebber tink dat it warn't a mocker waked up by de light, or jes +mockin' a cat-bird an' rain-crow, an' de like, in his dreams, ez +dey say dey does when de moon shines, yer know." + +Mollie smiled at the quaint conceit, so well justified by the fact +she had herself often observed. Lugena continued: + +"I tell yer, Miss Mollie, dat ar Berry's a right cute nigga, fer +all dey say 'bout him. He ain't stiddy, like Nimbus, yer know, ner +pious like 'Liab--dat is not ter hurt, yer know--but he sartin hab +got a heap ob sense, fer all dat." + +"It was certainly a very shrewd thing, but I don't see what it has +to do with the fate of Nimbus," said Mollie. "I don't wish to seem +to discourage you, but I am quite certain, myself, that we shall +never see Nimbus or Eliab again." + +"Oh, yer can't discourage _me_, Miss Mollie," answered +the colored woman bravely. "I jes knows, er ez good ez knows, dat +Nimbus is all right yit awhile. Now I tells yer, honey, what dis +yer's got ter du wid it. Yer see, it must ha' been nigh about a +half-hour atter Nimbus left afore Berry went off; jes dat er way +I tole yer "bout." + +"Well?" said Mollie, inquiringly. + +"Wal," continued Lugena, "don't yer see? Dar hain't been nary word +heard from neither one o' dem boys sence." + +"Well?" said Mollie, knitting her brows in perplexity. + +"_Don't_ yer see, Miss Mollie," said the woman impatiently, +"dat dey couldn't hab got 'em bofe togedder, 'cept Berry had found +Nimbus fust?" + +"Well?" + +"_Wal!_ Don't yer see dar would hev been a--a--_terrible_ +fight afore dem two niggas would hev gin up Bre'er 'Liab, let alone +derselves? Yer must 'member dat dey had dat ar gun. Sakes-a-massy! +Miss Mollie, yer orter hev hearn it dat night. 'Peared ter me yer +could hab heard it clar' roun' de yairth, ef it _is_ round, +ez yer say 'tis. Now, somebody--some cullu'd body--would have been +shore ter heah dat gun ef dar'd been a fight." + +"I had not thought of that, Lugena," said Mollie. + +"Co'se yer hadn't, honey; an' dere's sunthin' else yer didn't link +ob, nuther, kase yer didn't know it," said Lugena. "Yer min' dat +boy Berry, he'd done borrered our mule, jest afo' dat, ter take +Sally an' de chillen an' what few duds dey hez down inter Hanson +County, whar his brudder Rufe libs, an' whar dey's gwine ter libbin' +tu. Dar didn't nobody 'spect him ter git back till de nex' day, +any more'n Nimbus; an' it war jes kinder accidental-like dat either +on 'em got h'yer dat night. Now, Miss Mollie, what yer s'pose hez +come ob dat ar mule an' carryall? Dat's de question." + +"I'm sure I don't know, 'Gena, said Mollie thoughtfully. "Ner +I don't know, nuther," was the response; "but it's jes my notion +dat whar dey is, right dar yer'll fin' Nimbus an' Berry, an' not +fur off from dem yer'll find Bre'er 'Liab." + +"You may be right," said her listener, musingly. + +"I'se pretty shore on't, honey. Yer see when dat ar under-sheriff +come ter day an' had look all 'round fer Nimbus, he sed, finally, +sez he, 'I'se got a'tachment'--dat's what he call it, Miss +Mollie--a'tachment 'gin de property, or sunthin' o' dat kine. I +didn't know nary ting 'bout it, but I spunked up an' tole him ebbery +ting in de house dar was mine. He argyfied 'bout it a right smart +while, an' finally sed dar wan't nuffin' dar ob no 'count, ennyhow. +Den he inquired 'bout de mule an' de carryall, an' atter dat he +went out an' levelled on de crap." + +"Did what?" asked Mollie. + +"Levelled on de crap, Miss, dat's what he said, least-a-ways. Den +he called fer de key ob de 'backer-barn, an' I tole him 'twan't +nowheres 'bout de house--good reason too, kase Nimbus allus do carry +dat key in his breeches pocket, 'long wid his money an' terbacker. +So he takes de axe an' goes up ter de barn, an' I goes 'long wid +him ter see what he's gwine ter du. Den he breaks de staple an' +opens de do'. Now, Miss Mollie, 'twan't but a week er two ago, of +a Sunday atternoon, Nimbus an' I wuz in dar lookin' roun', an' dar +wuz a right smart bulk o' fine terbacker dar--some two er tree-hundred +poun's on't. Now when de sheriff went in, dar wa'n't more'n four +or five ban's ob 'backer scattered 'long 'twixt whar de pile had +been an' de do'. Yah! yah! I couldn't help laughin' right out, +though I wuz dat mad dat I couldn't hardly see, kase I knowed ter +once how 'twas. D'yer see _now_, Miss Mollie?" "I confess +I do not," answered the teacher. + +"No? Wal, whar yer 'spose dat 'backer gone ter, hey?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. Where do you think?" + +"What I tink become ob dat 'backer? Wal, Miss Mollie, I tink Nimbus +an' Berry put dat 'backer in dat carryall, an' den put Bre'er 'Liab +in on dat 'backer, an' jes druv off somewhar--'Gena don't know +whar, but dat 'backer 'll take 'em a long way wid dat ar mule an' +carryall. It's all right, Miss Mollie, it's all right wid Nimbus. +'Gena ain't feared. She knows her ole man too well fer dat! + +"Yer know he runned away once afo' in de ole slave times. He didn't +say nary word ter me 'bout gwine ober ter de Yanks, an' de folks +all tole me dat I nebber'd see him no mo'. But I knowed Nimbus, +an' shore 'nough, atter 'bout two year, back he come! An' dat's de +way it'll be dis time--atter de trouble's ober, he'll come back. +But dat ain't what worries me now, Miss Mollie," continued Lugena. +"Co'se I'd like ter know jes whar Nimbus is, but I know he's all +right. I'se a heap fearder 'bout Bre'er 'Liab, fer I 'llow it's jes +which an' t'other ef we ever sees him again. But what troubles me +now, Miss Mollie, is 'bout myseff." + +"About yourself?" asked Mollie, in surprise. + +"'Bout me an' my chillens, Miss Mollie," was the reply. + +"Why, how is that, 'Gena?" + +"Wal yer see, dar's dat ar 'tachment matter. I don't understan' +it, nohow." + +"Nor I either," said Mollie. + +"P'raps yer could make out sunthin' 'bout it from dese yer," said +the colored woman, drawing a mass of crumpled papers from her +pocket. + +Mollie smoothed them out upon the table beside her, and began her +examination by reading the endorsements. The first was entitled, +"_Peyton Winburn v. Nimbus Desmit_, et al. _Action for the +recovery of real estate. Summons._" The next was endorsed, +"_Copy of Complaint_," and another, "_Affidavit and Order +of Attachment against Non-Resident or Absconding Debtor._" + +"What's dat, Miss Mollie?" asked Lugena, eagerly, as the last title +was read. "Dat's what dat ar sheriff man said my Nimbus was--a +non--_non_--what, Miss Mollie? I tole him 'twan't no sech +ting; but la sakes! I didn't know nothing in de worl' 'bout it. +I jes 'llowed dat 'twas sunthin' mighty mean, an' I knowed dat I +couldn't be very fur wrong nohow, ef I jes contraried ebbery word +what he said. What does it mean, Miss Mollie?" + +"It just means," said Mollie, "that Nimbus owes somebody--this Mr. +Winburn, I judge, and--" + +"It's a lie! A clar, straight-out lie!" interrupted Lugena. "Nimbus +don't owe nobody nary cent--not nary cent, Miss Mollie! Tole me +dat hisself jest a little time ago." + +"Yes, but this man _claims_ he owes him--swears so, in fact; +and that he has run away or hidden to keep from paying it," said +Mollie. "He swears he is a non-resident--don't live here, you +know; lives out of the State somewhere." + +"An' Peyton Winburn swars ter dat?" asked the woman, eagerly. + +"Yes, certainly." + +"Didn't I tell yer dat Nimbus was safe, Miss Mollie?" she cried, +springing from her chair. "Don't yer see how dey cotch derselves? +Ef der's ennybody on de green yairth dat knows all 'bout dis +Ku Kluckin' it's Peyton Winburn, and dat ar Sheriff Gleason. Now, +don't yer know dat ef he was dead dey wouldn't be a suin' on him +an' a swearin' he'd run away?" + +"I'm sure I don't know, but it would seem so," responded Mollie. + +"Seem so! it's boun' ter be so, honey," said the colored woman, +positively. + +"I don't know, I'm sure," said Mollie. "It's a matter I don't +understand. I think I had better take these papers over to Captain +Pardee, and see what ought to be done about them. I am afraid there +is an attempt to rob you of all your husband has acquired, while +he is away." + +"Dat's what I'se afeared on," said the other. "An' it wuz what Nimbus +'spected from de fust ob dis h'yer Ku Kluck matter. Dear me, what +ebber will I do, I dunno--I dunno!" The poor woman threw her apron +over her head and began to weep. + +"Don't be discouraged, 'Gena," said Mollie, soothingly. "I'll +stand by you and get Mr. Pardee to look after the matter for you." + +"T'ank ye, Miss Mollie, t'ank ye. But I'se afeared it won't do +no good. Dey's boun' ter break us up, an' dey'll do it, sooner or +later! It's all of a piece--a Ku Kluckin' by night, and a-suin' by +day. 'Tain't no use, t'ain't no use! Dey'll hab dere will fust er +last, one way er anudder, shore!" + +Without uncovering her head, the sobbing woman turned and walked +out of the room, across the porch and down the path to the gate. + +"Not if I can help it!" said the little Yankee woman, as she +smoothed down her hair, shut her mouth close, and turned to make +a more thorough perusal of the papers Lugena had left with her. +Hardly had she finished when she was astonished by Lugena's rushing +into the room and exclaiming, as she threw herself on her knees: + +"Oh, Miss Mollie, I done forgot--I was dat ar flustered 'bout de +'tachment an' de like, dat I done forgot what I want ter tell yer +most ob all. Yer know, Miss Mollie, dem men dat got hurt dat ar +night--de Ku Kluckers, two on 'em, one I 'llow, killed out-an'-out, +an' de todder dat bad cut--oh, my God!" she cried with a shudder, +"I nebber see de likes--no nebber, Miss Mollie. All down his +face--from his forehead ter his chin, an' dat too--yes, an' his +breast-bone, too--looked like dat wuz all split open an' a-bleedin'! +Oh, it war horrible, horrible, Miss Mollie!" + +The woman buried her face in the teacher's lap as if she would shut +out the fearful spectacle. + +"There, there," said Mollie, soothingly, as she placed a hand upon +her head. "You must not think of it. You must try and forget the +horrors of that night." + +"Don't yer know, Miss Mollie, dat dem Ku Kluckers ain't a-gwine +ter let de one ez done dat lib roun' h'yer, ner ennywhar else dat +dey can come at 'em, world widout end?" + +"Well, I thought you were sure that Nimbus was safe?" + +"Nimbus?" said the woman in surprise, uncovering her face and looking +up. "Nimbus? 'Twan't him, Miss Mollie, 'twan't him. I 'llows it +mout hev been him dat hurt de one dat 'peared ter hev been killed +straight out; but it was _me_ dat cut de odder one, Miss +Mollie." + +"You?" cried Mollie, in surprise, instinctively drawing back. +"You?" + +"Yes'm," said Lugena, humbly, recognizing the repulse. "Me--wid +de axe! I hope yer don't fault me fer it, Miss Mollie." + +"Blame you? no indeed, 'Gena!" was the reply. "Only it startled +me to hear you say so. You did entirely right to defend yourself +and Nimbus. You should not let that trouble you for a moment." + +"No, Miss Mollie, but don't yer know dat de Ku Kluckers ain't +a-gwine ter fergit it?" + +"Heavens!" said the Yankee girl, springing up from her chair in +uncontrollable excitement. "You don't think they would hurt you--a +woman?" + +"Dat didn't save me from bein' stripped an' beat, did it?" + +"Too true, too true!" moaned the teacher, as she walked back and +forth wringing her hands. "Poor child! What can you do?--what can +you do?" + +"Dat's what I want ter know, Miss Mollie," said the woman. "I dassent +sleep ter home at night, an' don't feel safe ary hour in de day. +Dem folks won't fergit, an' 'Gena won't nebber be safe ennywhar +dat dey kin come, night ner day. What will I do, Miss Mollie, what +will I do? Yer knows Nimbus 'll 'llow fer 'Gena ter take keer ob +herself an' de chillen an' de plantation, till he comes back, er +sends fer me, an' I dassent stay, not 'nudder day, Miss Mollie! +What'll I do? What'll I do?" + +There was silence in the little room for a few moments, as +the young teacher walked back and forth across the floor, and the +colored woman sat and gazed in stupid hopelessness up into her +face. Presently she stopped, and, looking down upon Lugena, said +with impetuous fervor: + +"You shall not stay, Lugena! You shall not stay! Can you stand it +a few nights more?" + +"Oh, yes, I kin stan' it, 'cause I'se got ter. I'se been sleepin' +in de woods ebber sence, an' kin keep on at it; but I knows whar +it'll end, an' so der you, Miss Mollie." + +"No, it shall not, 'Gena. You are right. It is not safe for you to +stay. Just hide yourself a few nights more, till I can look after +things for you here, and I will take you away to the North, where +there are no Ku Klux!" + +"Yer don't mean it, Miss Mollie!" + +"Indeed I do." + +"An' de chillen?" + +"They shall go too." + +"God bress yer, Miss Mollie! God bress yer!" + +With moans and sobs, the torrent of her tears burst forth, as the +poor woman fell prone upon the floor, and catching the hem of the +teacher's robe, kissed it again and again, in a transport of joy. + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +ANOTHER OX GORED. + + +There was a caller who begged to see Mr. Le Moyne for a few minutes. +Descending to the sitting-room, Hesden found there Mr. Jordan +Jackson, who was the white candidate for the Legislature upon the +same ticket with a colored man who had left the county in fright +immediately after the raid upon Red Wing. Hesden was somewhat +surprised at this call, for although he had known Mr. Jackson from +boyhood, yet there had never been more than a passing acquaintance +between them. It is true, Mr Jackson was a neighbor, living only +two or three miles from Mulberry Hill; but he belonged to such an +entirely different class of society that their knowledge of each +other had never ripened into anything like familiarity. + +Mr. Jackson was what used to be termed a poor man. He and his father +before him, as Hesden knew, had lived on a little, poor plantation, +surrounded by wealthy neighbors. They owned no slaves, and lived, +scantily on the products of the farm worked by themselves. The +present occupant was about Hesden's own age. There being no free +schools in that county, and his father having been unable, perhaps +not even desiring, to educate him otherwise, he had grown up almost +entirely illiterate. He had learned to sign his name, and only +by strenuous exertions, after his arrival at manhood, had become +able, with difficulty, to spell out words from the printed page +and to write an ordinary letter in strangely-tangled hieroglyphics, +in a spelling which would do credit to a phonetic reformer. He +had entered the army, probably because he could not do otherwise, +and being of stalwart build, and having great endurance and native +courage, before the struggle was over had risen, despite his +disadvantages of birth and education, to a lieutenancy. + +This experience had been of advantage to him in more ways than one. +Chief among these had been the opening of his eyes to the fact that +he himself, although a poor man, and the scion of a poor family, +was, in all the manly requisites that go to make up a soldier, +always the equal, and very often the superior, of his aristocratic +neighbors. Little by little, the self-respect which had been +ground out of him and his family by generations of that condition +of inferiority which the common-liver, the self-helper of the South, +was forced to endure under the old slave _regime_, began to +grow up in his heart. He began to feel himself a man, and prized +the rank-marks on his collar as the certificate and endorsement of +his manhood. As this feeling developed, he began to consider the +relations between himself, his family, and others like them, and +the rich neighbors by whom they were surrounded and looked down +upon. And more and more, as he did so, the feeling grew upon him +that he and his class had been wronged, cheated--"put upon," he +phrased it--in all the past. They had been the "chinking" between +the "mud" of slavery and the "house-logs" of aristocracy in the +social structure of the South--a little better than the mud because +of the same grain and nature as the logs; but useless and nameless +except as in relation to both. He felt the bitter truth of that +stinging aphorism which was current among the privates of the +Confederate army, which characterized the war of Rebellion as "the +poor man's war and the rich man's fight." + +So, when the war was over, Lieutenant Jordan Jackson did not return +easily and contentedly to the niche in the social life of his native +region to which he had been born and bred. He found the habit of +leadership and command very pleasant, and he determined that he +would rise in the scale of Horsford society as he had risen in the +army, simply because he was brave and strong. He knew that to do +this he must acquire wealth, and looking about, he saw opportunities +open before him which others had not noticed. Almost before the smoke +of battle had cleared away, Jordan Jackson had opened trade with +the invaders, and had made himself a prime favorite in the Federal +camps. He coined money in those days of transition. Fortunately, +he had been too poor to be in debt when the war broke out. He was +independently poor, because beyond the range of credit. + +He had lost nothing, for he had nothing but the few poor acres of +his homestead to lose. + +So he started fair, and before the period of reconstruction began +he had by thrifty management accumulated quite a competency. He +had bought several plantations whose aristocratic owners could no +longer keep their grip upon half-worked lands, had opened a little +store, and monopolized a considerable trade. Looking at affairs as +they stood at that time, Jordan Jackson said to himself that the +opportunity for him and his class had come. He had a profound +respect for the power and authority of the Government of the United +States, _because_ it had put down the Rebellion. He had been +two or three times at the North, and was astounded at its collective +greatness. He said that the colored man and the poor-whites of +the South ought to put themselves on the side of this great, busy +North, which had opened the way of liberty and progress before them, +and establish free schools and free thought and free labor in the +fair, crippled, South-land. He thought he saw a great and fair future +looming up before his country. He freely gave expression to these +ideas, and, as he traded very largely with the colored people, soon +came to be regarded by them as a leader, and by "the good people +of Horsford" as a low-down white nigger, for whom no epithet was +too vile. + +Nevertheless, he grew in wealth, for he attended to his business +himself, early and late. He answered raillery with raillery, +curses with cursing, and abuse with defiance. He was elected to +conventions and Legislatures, where he did many foolish, some bad, +and a few wise things in the way of legislation. He knew what he +wanted--it was light, liberty, education, and a "fair hack" for +all men. How to get it he did not know. + +He had been warned a thousand times that he must abandon this way +of life. The natural rulers of the county felt that if they could +neutralize his influence and that which went out from Red Wing, they +could prevent the exercise of ballatorial power by a considerable +portion of the majority, and by that means "redeem" the county. + +They did not wish to hurt Jordan Jackson. He was a good enough man. +His father had been an honest man, and an old citizen. Nobody knew +a word against his wife or her family, except that they had been +poor. The people who had given their hearts to the Confederate +cause, remembered too, at first, his gallant service; but that had +all been wiped out from their minds by his subsequent "treachery." +Even after the attack on Red Wing, he had been warned by his friends +to desist. + +One morning, he had found on the door of his store a paper containing +the following words, written inside a little sketch of a coffin: + +[Illustration: JORDAN JACKSON, If you don't get out of here in +three days, you will go to the bone yard. K.K.K.] + +He had answered this by a defiant, ill-spelled notice, pasted just +beside it, in which he announced himself as always ready to meet any +crowd of "cowards and villains who were ashamed of their own faces, +at any time, night or day." His card was English prose of a most +vigorous type, interspersed with so much of illiterate profanity as +to satisfy any good citizen that the best people of Horsford were +quite right in regarding him as a most desperate and dangerous +man--one of those whose influence upon the colored people was to +array them against the whites, and unless promptly put down, bring +about a war of races--which the white people were determined never +to have in Horsford, if they had to kill every Radical in the county +in order to live in peace with their former slaves, whom they had +always nourished with paternal affection and still regarded with +a most tender care. + +This man met Hesden as the latter came out upon the porch, and with +a flushed face and a peculiar twitching about his mouth, asked if +he could see him in private for a moment. + +Hesden led the way to his own room. Jackson then, having first shut +the door, cautiously said: + +"You know me, Mr. Le Moyne?" + +"Certainly, Jackson." + +"An' you knew my father before me?" + +"Of course. I knew old man Billy Jackson very well in my young +days." + +"Did you ever know anything mean or disreputable about him?" + +"No, certainly not; he was a very correct man, so far as I ever +heard." + +"Poor but honest?"--with a sneer. + +"Well, yes; a poor man, but a very correct man." + +"Well, did you ever know anything disreputable about _me?_" +keenly. + +"Well--why--Mr. Jackson--you--" stammered Hesden, much confused. + +"Out with it!" angrily. "I'm a Radical?" + +"Yes--and--you know, your political course has rendered you very +unpopular." + +"Of course! A man has no right to his own political opinions." + +"Well, but you know, Mr. Jackson, yours have been so peculiar +and so obnoxious to our best people. Besides, you have expressed +them so boldly and defiantly. I do not think our people have any +ill-feeling against you, personally; but you cannot wonder that +so great a change as we have had should excite many of them very +greatly. You should not be so violent, Mr. Jackson." + +"Violent--Hell! You'd better go and preach peace to Eliab Hill. +Poor fellow! I don't reckon the man lives who ever heard him say +a harsh thing to any one. He was always that mild I used to wonder +the Lord didn't take him long ago. Nigger as he was, and cripple +as he was, I'd ruther had his religion than that of all the mean, +hypocritical, murdering aristocrats in Horsford." + +"But, Mr. Jackson, you should not speak in that way of our best +citizens." + +"Oh, the devil! I know--but that is no matter, Mr. Le Moyne. I +didn't come to argue with you. Did you ever hear anything agin' me +outside of my politics?" + +"I don't know that I ever did." + +"If you were in a tight place, would you have confidence in Jordan +Jackson as a friend?" + +"You know I have reason to remember that," said Hesden, with feeling. +"You helped me when I could not help myself. It's not every man +that would care about his horse carrying double when he was running +away from the Yanks." + +"Ah! you remember that, then?" with a touch of pride in his voice. + +"Yes, indeed! Jackson," said Hesden, warmly. + +"Well, would you do me a good turn to pay for that?" + +"Certainly--anything that--" hesitating. + +"Oh, damn it, man, don't strain yourself! I didn't ask any questions +when I helped you!" + +"Mr. Jackson," said Hesden, with dignity, "I merely wished to say +that I do not care at this time to embroil myself in politics. You +know I have an old mother who is very feeble. I have long regretted +that affairs are in the condition that they are in, and have wondered +if something could not be done. Theoretically, you are right and +those who are with you. Practically, the matter is very embarrassing. +But I do not hesitate to say, Mr. Jackson, that those who commit +such outrages as that perpetrated at Red Wing disgrace the name +of gentleman, the county, and State, the age we live in, and the +religion we profess. That I _will_ say." + +"And that's quite enough, Mr. Le Moyne. All I wanted was to ask +you to act as my trustee." + +"Your trustee in what?" + +"There is a deed I have just executed conveying everything I have +to you, and I want you to sell it off and dispose of it the best +you can, and send me the money." + +"_Send_ it to you?" + +"Yes, I'm going away." + +"Going away? Why? You are not in debt?" + +"I don't owe a hundred dollars." + +"Then why are you doing this? I don't understand." + +"Mr. Le Moyne," said Jackson, coming close to him and speaking in +a low intense tone, "I was _whipped_ last night!" + +"Whipped!" + +"Yes." + +"By whom?" + +"By my own neighbors, in the sight of my wife and daughter!" + +"By the Ku Klux?" + +"That's what they call themselves." + +"My God, it cannot be!" + +"Cannot?" The man's face twitched nervously, as, dropping his hat, +he threw off his light coat and, opening his shirt-collar and +turning away his head, showed his shoulder covered with wales, +still raw and bleeding. + +"My God!" cried Hesden, as he put up his hand and started back in +horror. "And you a white man?" + +"Yes, Mr. Le Moyne," said Jackson, turning his face, burning with +shame and indignation, toward his high-bred neighbor, "and the +only reason this was done--the only thing agin me--is that I was +honestly in favor of giving to the colored man the rights which +the law of the land says he shall have, like other men. When the +war was over, Mr. Le Moyne, I didn't 'give up,' as all you rich +folks talked about doing, and try to put up with what was to come +afterward. I hadn't lost nothing by the war, but, on the contrary, +had gained what I had no chance to git in any other way. So I +jest looked things square in the face and made up my mind that it +was a good thing for me, and all such as me, that the damned old +Confederacy was dead. And the more I thought on't the more I couldn't +help seein' and believin' that it was right and fair to free the +niggers and let them have a fair show and a white man's chance--votin' +and all. That's what I call a fair hack, and I swear, Mr. Le Moyne, +I don't know how it may seem to you, but to my mind any man that +ain't willing to let any other man have that, is a damn coward! +I'm as white as anybody, and hain't no more reason to stand up for +niggers than any of the rest of the white people--no, nor half as +much as most of 'em, for, as fur as I know, I hain't got no relations +among 'em. But I do say that if the white folks of the South can't +stand up to a fair fight with the niggers at the polls, without +cuttin', and murderin', and burnin', and shootin', and whippin', +and Ku Kluxin', and cheatin', and swindlin', they are a damned +no-'count people, and don't deserve no sort of show in the world--no +more than a mean, sneakin', venomous moccasin-snake--there!" + +"But you don't think--" Hesden began. + +"Think? Damn it, I _know_!" broke in Jackson. "They said if +I would quit standin' up for the niggers, they'd let me off, even +after they'd got me stripped and hung up. I wouldn't do it! I didn't +believe then they'd cut me up this way; but they did! An' now I'm +goin'. I'd stay an' fight, but 'tain't no use; an' I couldn't look +a man in the eye who I thought tuk a hand in that whippin' without +killin' him. I've got to go, Le Moyne," he said with clenched fists, +"or I shall commit murder before the sun goes down." + +"Where are you going?" + +"God knows! Somewhere where the world's free and the earth's fresh, +and where it's no crime to have been born poor or to uphold and +maintain the laws of the land." + +"I'm sorry, Jackson, but I don't blame you. You can't live here in +peace, and you are wise to go," said Hesden, extending his hand. + +"Will you be my trustee?" + +"Yes." + +"God bless you!" + +The angry, crushed, and outraged man broke into tears as he shook +the hand he held. + +There was an hour or two of close consultation, and then Hesden Le +Moyne looked thoughtfully after this earnest and well-meaning man, +who was compelled to flee from the land for which he had fought, +simply because he had adopted the policy and principles which the +conquering power had thrust into the fundamental law, and endeavored +to carry them out in good faith. Like the fugitive from slavery in +the olden time, he had started toward the North Pole on the quest +for liberty. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +BACKWARD AND FORWARD. + + +The task which Hesden Le Moyne undertook when he assumed the care and +protection of Eliab Hill, was no trivial one, as he well understood. + +He realized as fully as did Nimbus the necessity of absolute +concealment, for he was well aware that the blaze of excitement +which would sweep over Horsford, when the events that had occurred +at Red Wing should become known, would spare no one who should harbor +or conceal any of the recognized leaders of the colored men. He +knew that not only that organization which had just shown its +existence in the county, but the vast majority of all the white +inhabitants as well, would look upon this affair as indubitable +evidence of the irrepressible conflict of races, in which they all +believed most devoutly. + +He had looked forward to this time with great apprehension. +Although he had scrupulously refrained from active participation +in political life, it was not from any lack of interest in the +political situation of the country. He had not only the ordinary +instinct of the educated Southern man for political thought--an +instinct which makes every man in that section first of all things +a partisan, and constitutes politics the first and most important +business of life--but besides this general interest in public +affairs he had also an inherited bias of hostility to the right +of secession, as well as to its policy. His father had been what +was termed a "Douglas Democrat," and the son had absorbed his views. +With that belief in a father's infallibility which is so general +in that part of the country, Hesden, despite his own part in the +war and the chagrin which defeat had brought, had looked only for +evil results to come out of the present struggle, which he believed +to have been uselessly precipitated. + +It was in this state of mind that he had watched the new phase of +the "irrepressible conflict" which supervened upon the downfall of +the Rebellion In so doing, he had arrived at the following conclusions: + +1. That it was a most fortunate and providential thing that +the Confederacy had failed. He had begun to realize the wisdom +of Washington when he referred to the dogma of "State rights" as +"that bantling--I like to have said _that monster._" + +2. That the emancipation of the slaves would ultimately prove +advantageous to the white man, + +3. That it was the part of honorable men fairly and honestly to carry +out and give effect to all the conditions, expressed and implied, +on which power, representation, and autonomy were restored to the +recently rebellious States. This he believed to be a personal duty, +and a failure so to do he regarded as a disgrace to every man in +any way contributing to it, especially if he had been a soldier +and had shared the defeat of which these conditions were a consequence. + +4. He did not regard either the war or the legislation known as +reconstructionary as having in any manner affected the natural +relation of the races. In the old times he had never felt or believed +that the slave was inherently endowed with the same rights as the +master; and he did not see how the results of war could enhance +his natural rights. He did not believe that the colored man had an +inherent right to freedom or to self-government. Whatever right +of that kind he might now have was simply by the free grace of the +conqueror. He had a right to the fruit of his own labor, to the +care, protection, and service of his own children, to the society +and comfort of his wife, to the protection of his own person, to +marriage, the ballot, possessory capacity, and all those things +which distinguish the citizen from the chattel--not because of +his manhood, nor because of inherent co-equality of right with the +white man; but simply because the national legislation gave it to +him as a condition precedent of statal rehabilitation. + +These may seem to the Northern reader very narrow views; and so they +are, as compared with those that underlay the spirit of resistance +to rebellion, and the fever heat for human rights, which was the +animating principle in the hearts of the people when they endorsed +and approved those amendments which were the basis of reconstructionary +legislation. It should be remembered, however, that even these views +were infinitely in advance of the ideas generally entertained by +his white fellow-citizens of the South. Nearly all of them regarded +these matters in a very different light; and most naturally, too, +as any one may understand who will lemember what had gone before, +and will keep in mind that defeat does not mean a new birth, and +that warfare leaves _men_ unchanged by its results, whatever +may be its effects on nations and societies. + +They regretted the downfall of the Confederacy as the triumph of +a lower and baser civilization--the ascendency of a false idea and +an act of unrighteous and unjustifiable subversion. To their minds +it was a forcible denial of their rights, and, to a large portion +of them, a dishonorable violation of that contract or treaty upon +which the Federal Union was based, and by which the right for which +they fought had, according to their construction, been assured. As +viewed by them, the result of the war had not changed these facts, +nor justified the infraction of the rights of the South. + +In the popular phrase of that day, they "accepted the situation"--which +to _their_ minds, simply meant that they would not fight any +more for independent existence. The North understood it to mean +that they would accept cheerfully and in good faith any terms +and conditions which might be imposed upon them as a condition of +rehabilitation. + +The masses of the Southern whites regarded the emancipation of +the negro simply as an arbitrary exercise of power, intended as +a punishment for the act of attempted secession--which act, while +many believed it to have been impolitic, few believed to be in +conflict with the true theory of our government. They considered +the freeing of the slave merely a piece of wanton spite, inspired, +in great measure, by sheer envy of Southern superiority, in part +by angry hate because of the troubles, perils, and losses of the +war, and, in a very small degree, by honest though absurd fanaticism. +They did not believe that it was done for the sake of the slave, +to secure his liberty or to establish his rights; but they believed +most devoutly that it was done solely and purposely to injure +the master, to punish the rebel, and to still further cripple and +impoverish the South. It was, to them, an unwarrantable measure of +unrighteous retribution inspired by the lowest and basest motives. + +But if, to the mass of Southern white men, emancipation was a +measure born of malicious spite in the breast of the North, what +should they say of that which followed--the _enfranchisement_ +of the black? It was a gratuitous insult--a causeless infamy! It +was intended to humiliate, without even the mean motive of advantage +to be derived. They did not for a moment believe--they do not +believe to-day--that the negro was enfranchised for his own sake, +or because the North believed that he was entitled to self-government, +or was fit for self-government; but simply and solely because it +was hoped thereby to degrade, overawe, and render powerless the +white element of the Southern populations. They thought it a fraud +in itself, by which the North pretended to give back to the South +her place in the nation; but instead, gave her only a debased and +degraded co-ordination with a race despised beyond the power of +words to express. + +This anger seemed--and still seems to the Northern mind--useless, +absurd, and ridiculous. It appears to us as groundless and almost +as laughable as the frantic and impotent rage of the Chinaman who +has lost his sacred queue by the hand of the Christian spoiler. +To the Northern mind the cause is entirely incommensurate with the +anger displayed. One is inclined to ask, with a laugh, "Well, what +of it?" Perhaps there is not a single Northern resident of the +South who has not more than once offended some personal friend by +smiling in his face while he raged, with white lips and glaring +eyes, about this culminating ignominy. Yet it was sadly real to +them. In comparison with this, all other evils seemed light and +trivial, and whatever tended to prevent it, was deemed fair and +just. For this reason, the Southerners felt themselves not only +justified, but imperatively called upon, in every way and manner, +to resist and annul all legislation having this end in view. +Regarding it as inherently fraudulent, malicious, and violent, they +felt no compunctions in defeating its operation by counter-fraud +and violence. + +It was thus that the elements of reconstruction affected the hearts +and heads of most of the Southern whites. To admit that they were +honest in holding such views as they did is only to give them the +benefit of a presumption which, when applied to the acts and motives +of whole peoples, becomes irrefutable. A mob may be wrong-headed, +but it is always right-hearted. What it does may be infamous, but +underlying its acts is always the sting of a great evil or the hope +of a great good. + +Thus it was, too, that to the subtler mind and less selfish heart +of Hesden Le Moyne, every attempt to nullify the effect or evade +the operation of the Reconstruction laws was tinged with the idea +of personal dishonor. To his understanding, the terms of surrender +were, not merely that he would not again fight for a separate +governmental existence, but, also, that he would submit to such +changes in the national polity as the conquering majority might +deem necessary and desirable as conditions precedent to restored +power; and would honestly and fairly, as an honorable man and a +brave soldier, carry out those laws either to successful fruition +or to fair and legitimate repeal. + +He was not animated by any thought of advantage to himself or to +his class to arise from such ideas. Unlike Jordan Jackson, and men +of his type, there was nothing which his class could gain thereby, +except a share in the ultimate glory and success of an enlarged and +solidified nation. The self-abnegation which he had learned from +three years of duty as a private soldier and almost a lifetime +of patient attendance upon a loved but exacting invalid, inclined +to him to study the movements of society and the world, without +especial reference to himself, or the narrow circle of his family +or class. To his mind, _honor_--that honor which he accounted +the dearest birthright his native South had given--required that +from and after the day of his surrender he should seek and desire, +not the gratification of revenge nor the display of prejudice, +but the success and glory of the great republic. He felt that the +American Nation had become greater and more glorious by the very +act of overcoming rebellion. He recognized that the initial right +or wrong of that struggle, whatever it might have been, should be +subordinated in all minds to the result--an individual Nation. It +was a greater and a grander thing to be an American than to have +been a Confederate! It was more honorable and knightly to be true +in letter and in spirit to every law of his reunited land than to +make the woes of the past an excuse for the wrongs of the present. +He felt all the more scrupulous in regard to this, because those +measures were not altogether such as he would have adopted, nor +such as he could yet believe would prove immediately successful. He +thought that every Southern man should see to it especially that, +if any element of reconstruction failed, it should not be on account +of any lack of honest, sincere and hearty co-operation on his part. + +It was for this reason that he had taken such interest in the +experiment that was going on at Red Wing in educating the colored +people. He did not at first believe at all in the capacity of the +negro for culture, progress, self-support, or self-government; but +he believed that the experiment, having been determined on by the +nation, should be fairly and honestly carried out and its success +or failure completely demonstrated. He admitted frankly that, if +they had such capacity, they undoubtedly had the right to use it; +because he believed the right inherent and inalienable with any +race or people having the capacity. He considered that it was only +the lack of co-ordinate capacity that made the Africans unfit to +exercise co-ordinate power with individuals of the white race. + +He thought they should be encouraged by every means to develop +what was in them, and readily admitted that, should the experiment +succeed and all distinction of civil right and political power be +successfully abolished, the strength and glory of the nation would +be wonderfully enhanced. His partiality for the two chief promoters +of the experiment at Red Wing had greatly increased his interest in +the result, which had by no means been diminished by his acquaintance +with Mollie Ainslie. + +It was not, however, until he bent over his unconscious charge in +the stillness of the morning, made an examination of the wounds of +his old playmate by the flickering light of the lamp, and undertook +the process of resuscitation and cure, that he began to realize +how his ancient prejudice was giving way before the light of what +he could not but regard as truth. The application of some simple +remedies soon restored Eliab to consciousness, but he found that +the other injuries were so serious as to demand immediate surgical +attendance, and would require considerable time for their cure. + +His first idea had been to keep Eliab's presence at his house +entirely concealed; but as soon as he realized the extent of his +injuries, he saw that this would be impossible, and concluded that +the safer way would be to entrust the secret to those servants +who were employed "about the lot," which includes, upon a Southern +plantation, all who are not regularly engaged in the crop. He felt +the more willing to do this because of the attachment felt for the +sweet-tempered but deformed minister at Red Wing by all of his +race in the county. He carefully impressed upon the two women +and Charles, the stable-boy, the necessity of the utmost caution +in regard to the matter, and arranged with them to care for his +patient by turns, so as never to leave him alone. He sent to the +post at Boyleston for a surgeon, whose coming chanced not to be +noticed by the neighbors, as he arrived just after dark and went +away before daylight to return to his duty. A comfortable cot was +arranged for the wounded man, and, to make the care of him less +onerous, as well as to avoid the remark which continual use of +the ladder would be sure to excite, Charles was directed to cut a +doorway through the other gable of the old house into one of the +rooms in a newer part. Charles was one of those men found on almost +every plantation, who can "turn a hand to almost anything." In +a short time he had arranged a door from the chamber above "Marse +Hesden's room," and the task of nursing the stricken man back to +life and such health as he might thereafter have, was carried on +by the faithful band of watchers in the dim light of the old attic +and amid the spicy odor of the "bulks" of tobacco, which was stored +there awaiting a favorable market. + +Hesden was so occupied with fhis care that it was not until the +next day that he became aware of Mollie's absence. As she had gone +without preparation or farewell, he rightly judged that it was her +intention to return. At first, he thought he would go at once to +Red Wing and assure himself of her safety, but a moment's consideration +showed him not only that this was probably unnecessary, but also +that to do so would attract attention, and perhaps reveal the +hiding-place of Eliab. Besides, he felt confident that she would +not be molested, and thought it quite as well that she should not +be at Mulberry Hill for a few days, until the excitement had somewhat +worn away. + +On the next day, Eliab inquired so pitifully for both Miss Mollie +and Nimbus, that Hesden, although he knew it was a half-delirious +anxiety, had sent Charles on an errand to a plantation in that +vicinity, with directions to learn all he could of affairs there, +if possible without communicating directly with Miss Ainslie. + +This he did, and reported everything quiet--Nimbus and Berry not +heard from; Eliab supposed to have been killed; the colored people +greatly alarmed; and "Miss Mollie a-comfortin' an encouragin' on +'em night an' day." + +Together with this anxiety came the trust confided to Hesden by +Jordan Jackson, and the new, and at first somewhat arduous, duties +imposed thereby. In the discharge of these he was brought into +communication with a great many of the best people of the county, +and did not hesitate to express his opinion freely as to the outrage +at Red Wing. He was several times warned to be prudent, but he +answered all warnings so firmly, and yet with so much feeling, that +he was undisturbed. He stood so high, and had led so pure a life, +that he could even be allowed to entertain obnoxious sentiments +without personal danger, so long as he did not attempt to reduce +them to practice or attempt to secure for colored people the rights +to which he thought them entitled. However, a great deal of remark +was occasioned by the fact of his having become trustee for the +fugitive Radical, and he was freely charged with having disgraced +and degraded himself and his family by taking the part of a "renegade, +Radical white nigger," like Jackson. This duty took him from home +during the day in a direction away from Red Wing, and a part of each +night he sat by the bedside of Eliab. So that more than a week had +passed, during which he had found opportunity to take but three +meals with his mother, and had not yet been able to visit Red Wing. + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +BREASTING THE TORRENT. + + +To make up for the sudden loss of society occasioned by the +simultaneous departure of Mollie and the unusual engrossment of +Hesden in business matters of pressing moment, as he had informed +her, Mrs. Le Moyne had sent for one of the sisters of her son's +deceased wife, Miss Hetty Lomax, to come and visit her. It was to +this young lady that Hesden had appealed when the young teacher was +suddenly stricken down in his house, and who had so rudely refused. +Learning that the object of her antipathy was no longer there, +Miss Hetty came and made herself very entertaining to the invalid +by detailing to her all the horrors, real and imagined, of the +past few days. Day by day she was in the invalid's room, and it was +from her that Mrs. Le Moyne had learned all that was contained in +her letter to Mollie concerning the public feeling and excitement. +A week had elapsed, when Miss Hetty one day appeared with a most +interesting budget of news, the recital of which seemed greatly to +excite Mrs. Le Moyne. At first she listened with incredulity and +resentment; then conviction seemed to force itself upon her mind, +and anger succeeded to astonishment. Calling her serving woman, +she asked impetuously: + +"Maggie, is your Master Hesden about the house?" + +"Really now mistis," said the girl in some confusion, "I can't +edsackly tell. He war, de las' time I seed him; but then he mout +hev gone out sence dat, yer know." + +"Where was he then?" + +"He war in his room, ma'am, wid a strange gemmen." + +"Yes," added the mistress, in a significant tone, "he seems to have +a great deal of strange company lately." + +The girl glanced at her quickly as she arranged the bed-clothing, +and the young lady who sat in the easy chair chuckled knowingly. + +So the woman answered artfully, but with seeming innocence: + +"La, mistis, it certain am quare how you finds out t'ings. 'Pears +like a mouse can't stir 'bout de house, but you hears it quicker +nor de cat." + +It was deft flattery, and the pleased mistress swallowed the bait +with a smile. + +"I always try to know what is going on in my own house," she +responded, complacently. + +"Should t'ink yer did," said the colored woman, gazing at her in +admiring wonder. "I don't 'llow dar's ennybody come inter dis yer +house in one while, dat yer didn't know all 'bout 'em widout settin' +eyes on 'em. I wouldn't be at all s'prised, dat I wouldn't," said +she to the young lady, "ter find dat she knows whose h'yer now, +an' whose been h'yer ebbery day sence Marse Hesden's been so busy. +La! she's a woman--she's got a headpiece, she hab!" + +"Yes," said the invalid; "I know that that odious scallawag, Jordan +Jackson, has been here and has been shut up with my son, consulting +and planning the Lord knows what, here in this very house of mine. +Pretty business for a Le Moyne and a Richards to be in! You all +thought you'd keep it from me; but you couldn't." + +"La, sakes!" said the girl, with a look of relief, "yer mustn't say +_me_. _I_ didn't never try ter keep it. I know'd yer'd find it out." + +"When do you say you saw him?" + +"I jes disremembers now what time it war. Some time dis mornin' +though. It mout hev been some two--free hours ago." + +"Who was the gentleman with him--I hope he was a _gentleman?_" + +"Oh la, ma'am, dat he war--right smart ob one, I should jedge, +though I nebber seen his face afo' in my born days." + +"And don't know his name?" + +"Not de fust letter ob it, mistis." + +Maggie might well say that, since none of the letters of the alphabet +were known to her; but when she conveyed the idea that she did not +know the name of the visitor, it was certainly a stretch of the +truth; but then she did not know as "Marse Hesden" would care about +his mother knowing the name of his visitor, and she had no idea of +betraying anything which concerned him against his wish. So in order +to be perfectly safe, she deemed it best to deceive her mistress. + +"Tell your Master Hesden I wish to see him immediately, Maggie," +said Mrs. Le Moyne, imperiously. + +"Yes'm," said the girl, as she left the room to perform her errand. + +There was a broad grin upon her face as she crossed the passage +and knocked at the door of Hesden's room, thinking how she had +flattered her mistress into a revelation of her own ignorance. She +was demure enough, however, when Hesden himself opened the door +and inquired what she wished. + +"Please, sah, de mistis tole me ter ax yer ter come inter her room, +right away." + +"Anything the matter, Maggie?" + +"Nuffin', only jes she wants ter talk wid yer 'bout sunthin', I +reckon." + +"Who is with her?" + +"Miss Hetty." + +"Yes"--musingly. + +"An' de mistis 'pears powerfully put out 'bout sunthin' or udder," +volunteered the girl. + +"Yes," repeated Hesden, absently. "Well. Maggie, say to my mother +that I am very closely engaged, and I hope she will please excuse +me for a few hours." + +The girl returned and delivered her message. + +"What!" exclaimed the sick woman, in amazement. "He must have turned +Radical sure enough, to send me such an answer as that! Maggie," +she continued, with severe dignity, "you must be mistaken. Return +and tell my son that I am sure you are mistaken." + +"Oh, dar ain't no mistake 'bout it, mistis. Dem's de berry words +Marse Hesden said, shore." + +"Do as I bade you, Maggie," said the mistress, quietly. + +"Oh, certain, mistis, certain--only dar ain't no mistake," said the +woman, as she returned with the message she was charged to deliver. + +"Did you ever see such a change?" asked Mrs. Le Moyne of her +companion as soon as the door was closed upon the servant. "There +never was a time before when Hesden did not come the instant I +called, no matter upon what he might be engaged." + +"Yes," said the other, laughingly, "I used to tell Julia that it +would make me awfully jealous to have a husband jump up and leave +me to go and pet his mother before the honeymoon was over." + +"Poor Julia!" sighed the invalid. "Hesden never appreciated +her--never. He didn't feel her loss as I did." + +"I should think not," replied the sister-in-law, sharply. "But he +might at least have had regard enough for her memory not to have +flirted so outrageously with that Yankee school-marm." + +"What do you mean, Hetty!" said Mrs. Le Moyne, severely. "Please +remember that it is my son of whom you are speaking." + +"Oh, yes," said Miss Hetty, sharply, "we have been speaking of him +all along, and--" + +The door from the hall was opened quickly, and Hesden looking in, +said pleasantly, + +"I hope you are not suffering, mother?" + +"Not more than usual, Hesden," said Mrs. Le Moyne, "but I wish to +see you very particularly, my son." + +"I am very busy, mother, on a most important matter; but you know +I will always make everything give way for you." + +So saying, he stepped into the room and stood awaiting his mother's +pleasure, after bowing somewhat formally to the younger lady. + +"What are these reports I hear about you, Hesden?" asked his mother, +with some show of anger. + +"I beg your pardon, little mother," said Hesden smiling; "but was +it to make this inquiry you called me from my business?" + +"Yes, indeed," was the reply; "I should like to know what there +could be of more importance to you than such slanderous reports as +Cousin Hetty tells me are being circulated about you." + +"I have no doubt they are interesting if Cousin Hetty brings them," +said Hesden; "but you will please excuse me now, as I have matters +of more importance to attend to." + +He bowed, and would have passed out, but the good lady cried out +almost with a shriek, + +"But Hesden! Hesden! Hetty says that--that--that they say--you--are +a--a Radical!" + +She started from her pillows, and leaned forward with one white +hand uplifted, as she waited his reply. + +He turned back instantly, stepped quickly to the bedside, and put +his one arm caressingly about her as he said earnestly, "I am afraid, +mother, if one speaks of things which have occurred in Horsford +during the past few days as a man of honor ought, he must expect +to be called bad names." + +"But Hesden--you are not--do tell me, my son," said his mother, in +a tone of entreaty, "that you are _not_ one of those horrid +Radicals!" + +"There, there; do not excite yourself, mother. I will explain +everything to you this evening," said he, soothingly. + +"But you are not a Radical?" she cried, catching his hand. + +"I am a man of honor, always," he replied, proudly. + +"Then you cannot be a Radical," she said, with a happy smile. + +"But he is--he is!" exclaimed the younger lady, starting forward +with flushed cheeks and pointing a trembling finger at his face, +as if she had detected a guilty culprit. "He is!" she repeated. +"Deny it if you dare, Hesden Le Moyne!" + +"Indeed, Miss Hetty," said Hesden, turning upon her with dignified +severity. "May I inquire who constituted you either my judge or my +accuser." + +"Oh fie! Hesden," said his mother. "Isn't Hetty one of the family?" + +"And has every Richards and Le Moyne on the planet a right to +challenge my opinions?" asked Hesden. + +"Certainly!" said his mother, with much energy, while her pale face +flushed, and her upraised hand trembled--"certainly they have, my +son, if they think you are about to disgrace those names. But do +deny it! Do tell me you are not a Radical!" she pleaded. + +"But suppose I were?" he asked, thoughtfully. + +"I would disown you! I would disinherit you!" shrieked the excited +woman, shrinking away from his arm as if there were contagion +in the touch. "Remember, sir," she continued threateningly, "that +Mulberry Hill is still mine, and it shall never go to a Radical--never!" + +"There, there, mother; do not excite yourself unnecessarily," said +Hesden. "It is quite possible that both these matters are beyond +either your control or mine." + +"Why, what do you mean?" + +"I simply mean that circumstances over which we have no control +have formed my opinions, and others over which we have as little +control may affect the ownership of this plantation." + +"Why--what in the world! Hesden, are you mad? You know that it is +mine by the will of my father! Who or what could interfere with +my right?" + +"I sincerely hope that no one may," answered Hesden; "but I shall +be able to tell you more about these matters after dinner, when I +promise that you shall know all, without any reservation." + +There had been a calm, almost sorrowful, demeanor about Hesden during +this conversation, which had held the excited women unconsciously +in check. They were so astonished at the coolness of his manner +and the matter-of-fact sincerity of his tones that they were quite +unable to express the indignation and abhorrence they both felt +that his language merited. Now, however, as he moved toward the +door, the younger lady was no longer able to restrain herself, + +"I knew it was so!" she said. "That miserable nigger-teacher wasn't +here for nothing! The mean, low hussy! I should think he would +have been ashamed to bring her here anyhow--under his mother's very +nose!" + +Hesden had almost reached the door of the room when these words +fell upon his ear. He turned and strode across the room until he +stood face to face with his mother once more. There was no lack +of excitement about him now. His face was pale as death, his eyes +blazed, and his voice trembled. + +"Mother," said he, "I have often told you that I would never bring +to you a wife whom you did not approve. I hope never to do so; but +I wish to say one thing: Miss Ainslie is a pure and lovely woman. +None of us have ever known her superior. She is worthy of any man's +devotion. I would not have said this but for what has been spoken +here. But now I say, that if I ever hear that anyone having a +single drop of our blood in her veins has spoken ill of her--ay, +or if her name is linked with mine in any slighting manner, even +by the breath of public rumor--I will make her my wife if she will +accept my hand, whatever your wishes. And further, if any one speaks +slightingly of her, I will resent it as if she were my wife, so +help me God!" + +He turned upon his heel, and strode out of the room. + +He had not once looked or spoken to the lady whose words had given +the offense. The mother and cousin were overwhelmed with astonishment +at the intensity of the usually quiet and complaisant Hesden. Miss +Hetty soon made excuses for returning to her home, and Mrs. Le Moyne +waited in dull wonder for the revelation which the evening was to +bring. It seemed to her as if the world had lost its bearings and +everything must be afloat, now that Hesden had been so transformed +as to speak thus harshly to the mother for whom his devotion had +become proverbial all the country around. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +THE PRICE OF HONOR. + + +When Hesden came to his mother's room that night, his countenance +wore an unusually sad and thoughtful expression. His mother had +not yet recovered from the shock of the morning's interview. The +more she thought of it, the less she could understand either his +language or his manner. That he would once think of allying himself +in political thought with those who were trying to degrade and +humiliate their people by putting them upon a level with the negro, +she did not for a moment believe, despite what he had said. Neither +did she imagine, even then, that he had any feeling for Mollie +Ainslie other than mere gratitude for the service she had rendered, +but supposed that his outburst was owing merely to anger at the +slighting language used toward her by Cousin Hetty. Yet she felt +a dim premonition of something dreadful about to happen, and was +ill at ease during the evening meal. When it was over, the table +cleared, and the servant had retired, Hesden sat quiet for a long +time, and then said, slowly and tenderly: + +"Mother, I am very sorry that all these sad things should come up +at this time--so soon after our loss. I know your heart, as well +as mine, is sore, and I wish you to be sure that I have not, and +cannot have, one unkind thought of you. Do not cry," he added, +as he saw the tears pouring down her face, which was turned to him +with a look of helpless woe upon it--"do not cry, little mother, +for we shall both of us have need of all our strength." + +"Oh, Hesden," she moaned, "if you only would not--" + +"Please do not interrupt me," he said, checking her with a motion +of his hand; "I have a long story to tell, and after that we will +speak of what now troubles you. But first, I wish to ask you some +questions. Did you ever hear of such a person as Edna Richards?" + +"Edna Richards--Edna Richards?" said Mrs. Le Moyne, wiping away +her tears and speaking between her sobs. "It seems as if I had, +but--I--I can't remember, my son. I am so weak and nervous." + +"Calm yourself, little mother; perhaps it will come to your mind +if I ask you some other questions. Our grandfather, James Richards, +came here from Pennsylvania, did he not?" + +"Certainly, from about Lancaster. He always promised to take me +to see our relatives there, but he never did. You know, son, I was +his youngest child, and he was well past fifty when I was born. So +he was an old man when I was grown up, and could not travel very +much. He took me to the North twice, but each time, before we got +around to our Pennsylvania friends, he was so tired out that he +had to come straight home." + +"Did you ever know anything about his family there?" + +"Not much--nothing except what he told me in his last days. He used +to talk about them a great deal then, but there was something that +seemed to grieve and trouble him so much that I always did all I +could to draw his mind away from the subject. Especially was this +the case after the boys, your uncles, died. They led rough lives, +and it hurt him terribly." + +"Do you know whether he ever corresponded with any of our relatives +at the North?" + +"I think not. I am sure he did not after I was grown. He often +spoke of it, but I am afraid there was some family trouble or +disagreement which kept him from doing so. I remember in his last +years he used frequently to speak of a cousin to whom he seemed to +have been very much attached. He had the same name as father, who +used to call him 'Red Jim.'" + +"Was he then alive?" + +"I suppose so--at least when father last heard from him. I think +he lived in Massachusetts. Let me see, what was the name of the +town. I don't remember," after a pause. + +"Was it Marblehead?" asked the son, with some eagerness. + +"That's it, dear--Marblehead. How funny that you should strike upon +the very name?" + +"You think he never wrote?" + +"Oh, I am sure not. He mourned about it, every now and then, to +the very last." + +"Was my grandfather a bachelor when he came here?" + +"Of course, and quite an old bachelor, too. I think he was about +thirty when he married your grandmother in 1794." + +"She was a Lomax--Margaret Lomax, I believe?' + +"Yes; that's how we come to be akin to all the Lomax connection." + +"Just so. You are sure he had never married before?" + +"Sure? Why, yes, certainly. How could he? Why, Hesden, what _do_ +you mean? Why do you ask all these questions? You do not--you +cannot--Oh, Hesden!" she exclaimed, leaning forward and trembling +with apprehension. + +"Be calm, mother. I am not asking these questions without good +cause," he answered, very gravely. + +After a moment, when she had recovered herself a little, he continued, +holding toward her a slip of paper, as he asked: + +"Did you ever see that signature before?" + +His mother took the paper, and, having wiped her glasses, adjusted +them carefully and glanced at the paper. As she did so a cry burst +from her lips, and she said, + +"Oh, Hesden, Hesden, where did you get it? Oh, dear! oh, dear!" + +"Why, mother, what is it?" cried Hesden in alarm, springing up and +going quickly to her side. + +"That--that horrid thing, Hesden! Where _did_ you get it? Do +you know it was that which made that terrible quarrel between your +grandfather and Uncle John, when he struck him that--that last +night, before John's body was found in the river. He was drowned +crossing the ford, you know. I don't know what it was all about; +but there was a terrible quarrel, and John wrote that on a sheet of +paper and held it before your grandfather's face and said something +to him--I don't know what. I was only a little girl then, but, ah +me! I remember it as if it was but yesterday. And then father struck +him with his cane. John fell as if he were dead. I was looking in +at the window, not thinking any harm, and saw it all. I thought +he had killed John, and ran away, determined not to tell. I never +breathed a lisp of it before, son, and nobody ever knew of that +quarrel, only your grandfather and me. I know it troubled him +greatly after John died. Oh, I can see that awful paper, as John +held it up to the light, as plain as this one in my hand now." + +The slip of paper which she held contained only the following +apparently unintelligible scrawl: + +"And you never saw it but once?" asked Hesden, thoughtfully. + +"Never but once before to-night, dear." + +"It was not Uncle John's usual signature, then?" + +"No, indeed. Is it a signature? She glanced curiously at the paper +while Hesden pointed out the letters, + +"That is what I take it to be, at least," he said. "Sure enough," +said Mrs. Le Moyne, "and that might stand for John Richards or +James Richards. It might be Uncle John or your grandfather, either, +child." "True, but grandfather always wrote his name plainly, +J. RICHARDS. I have seen a thousand of his signatures, I reckon. +Besides, Uncle John was not alive in 1790." + +"Of course not. But what has that to do with the matter? What does +it all mean anyhow? There must be some horrid secret about it, I +am sure." + +"I do not know what it means, mother, but I am determined to find +out. That is what I have been at all day, and I will not stop until +I know all about it." + +"But how did you come to find it? What makes you think there is +anything to be known about it?" + +"This is the way it occurred, mother. The other day it became necessary +to cut a door from the chamber over my room into the attic of the +old kitchen, where I have been storing the tobacco. You know the +part containing the dining-room was the original house, and was +at first built of hewed logs. It was, in fact, two houses, with a +double chimney in the middle. Afterward, the two parts were made +into one, the rude stairs torn away, and the whole thing ceiled +within and covered with thick pine siding without. In cutting +through this, Charles found between two of the old logs and next +to the chinking put in on each side to keep the wall flush and +smooth, a pocketbook, carefully tied up in a piece of coarse linen, +and containing a yellow, dingy paper, which, although creased and +soiled, was still clearly legible. The writing was of that heavy +round character which marked the legal hand of the old time, and +the ink, though its color had somewhat changed by time, seemed to +show by contrast with the dull hue of the page even more clearly +than it could have done when first written. The paper proved to be a +will, drawn up in legal form and signed with the peculiar scrawl +of which you hold a tracing. It purported to have been made +and published in December, 1789, at Lancaster, in the State of +Pennsylvania, and to have been witnessed by James Adiger and Johan +Welliker of that town." + +"How very strange!" exclaimed Mrs. Le Moyne. "I suppose it must +have been the will of your grandfather's father." + +"That was what first occurred to me," answered Hesden, "but on +closer inspection it proved to be the will of James Richards, as +stated in the caption, of Marblehead, in the State of Massachusetts, +giving and bequeathing all of his estate, both real and personal, +after some slight bequests, to his beloved wife Edna, except--" + +"Stop, my son," said Mrs. Le Moyne, quickly, "I remember now. Edna +was the name of the wife of father's cousin James--"Red Jim," he +called him. It was about writing to _her_ he was always talking +toward the last. So I suppose he must have been dead." + +"I had come to much the same conclusion," said Hesden, "though I +never heard that grandfather had a cousin James until to-night. I +should never have thought any more of the document, however, except +as an old relic, if it had not gone on to bequeath particularly +'my estate in Carolina to my beloved daughter, Alice E., when she +shall arrive at the age of eighteen years,' and to provide for the +succession in case of her death prior to that time." + +"That is strange," said Mrs. Le Moyne. "I never knew that we had +any relatives in the State upon that side." + +"That is what I thought," said the son. "I wondered where the estate +was which had belonged to this James Richards, who was not our +ancestor, and, looking further, I found it described with considerable +particlarity. It was called Stillwater, and was said to be located +on the waters of the Hyco, in Williams County." + +"But the Hyco is not in Williams County," said his listener. + +"No, mother, but it was then," he replied. "You know that county +has been many times subdivided." + +"Yes, I had forgotten that," she said. "But what then?" + +"It went on," contined Hesden, "to say that he held this land by +virtue of a grant from the State which was recorded in Registry of +Deeds in Williams County, in Book A, page 391." + +"It is an easy matter to find where it was, then, I suppose," said +the mother. + +"I have already done that," he replied, "and that is the strange +and unpleasant part of what I had to tell you." + +"I do hope," she said, smiling, "that you have not made us out +cousins of any low-down family." + +"As to that I cannot tell, mother; but I am afraid I have found +something discreditable in our own family history." + +"Oh, I hope not, Hesden," she said, plaintively. "It is +so unpleasant to look back upon one's ancestors and not feel that +they were strictly honorable. Don't tell me, please. I had rather +not hear it." + +"I wish you might not," said he; "but the fact which you referred +to to-day--that you are, under the will of my grandfather, the +owner of Mulberry Hill, makes it necessary that you should." + +"Please, Hesden, don't mention that. I was angry then. Please forget +it. What can that have to do with this horrid matter?" + +"It has this to do with it, mother," he replied. "The boundaries of +that grant, as shown by the record, are identical with the record +of the grant under which our grandfather claimed the estate of +which this is a part, and which is one of the first entered upon +the records of Horsford County." + +"What do you say, Hesden? I don't understand you," said his mother, +anxiously. + +"Simply that the land bequeathed in this will of J. Richards, +is the same as that afterward claimed and held by my grandfather, +James Richards, and in part now belonging to you." + +"It cannot be, Hesden, it cannot be! There must be some mistake!" +she exclaimed, impatiently. + +"I wish there were," he answered, "but I fear there is not. The +will names as executor, 'my beloved cousin James Richards, of the +borough of Lancaster, in the State of Pennsylvania.' I presume +this to have been my grandfather. I have had the records of both +counties searched and find no record of any administration upon +this will." + +"You do not think a Richards could have been so dishonorable as to +rob his cousin's orphans?" + +"Alas! mother, I only know that we have always claimed title under +that very grant. The grant itself is among your papers in my desk, +and is dated in 1789. I have always understood that grandfather +married soon after coming here." + +"Oh, yes, dear," was the reply, "I have heard mother tell of it a +hundred times." + +"And that was in 1794?" + +"Yes, yes; but he might have been here before, child." + +"That is true, and I hope it may all turn out to have been only a +strange mistake." + +"But if it does not, Hesden?" said his mother, after a moment's +thought. "What do you mean to do?" + +"I mean first to go to the bottom of this matter and discover the +truth." + +"And then--if--if there was--anything wrong?" + +"Then the wrong must be righted." + +"But that--why, Hesden, it might turn us out of doors! It might +make us beggars!" + +"We should at least be honest ones." + +"But Hesden, think of me--think--" she began. + +"So I will, little mother, of you and for you till the last hour of +your life or of mine. But mother, I would rather you should leave +all and suffer all, and that we should both die of starvation, than +that we should live bounteously on the fruit of another's wrong." +He bent over her and kissed her tenderly again and again. "Never +fear, mother," he said, "we may lose all else by the acts of others, +but we can only lose honor by our own. I would give my life for +you or to save your honor." + +She looked proudly upon him, and reached up her thin white hand to +caress his face, as she said with overflowing eyes: + +"You are right, my son! If others of our name have done wrong, there +is all the more need that we should do right and atone for it." + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +HIGHLY RESOLVED. + + +Mollie Ainslie had made all her preparations to leave Red Wing. +She had investigated the grounds of the suit brought by Winburn +against Nimbus and others. Indeed, she found herself named among +the "others," as well as all those who had purchased from Nimbus +or were living on the tract by virtue of license from him. Captain +Pardee had soon informed her that the title of Nimbus was, in fact, +only a life-estate, which had fallen in by the death of the life +tenant, while Winburn claimed to have bought up the interests of +the reversioners. He intimated that it was possible that Winburn +had done this while acting as the agent of Colonel Desmit, but this +was probably not susceptible of proof, on account of the death of +Desmit. He only stated it as a conjecture at best. + +At the same time, he informed her that the small tract about the +old ordinary, which had come to Nimbus by purchase, and which was +all that she occupied, was not included in the life-estate, but +was held in fee by Walter Greer. She had therefore instructed him +to defend for her upon Nimbus's title, more for the sake of asserting +his right than on account of the value of the premises. The suit +was for possession and damages for detention and injury of the +property, and an attachment had been taken out against Nimbus's +property, on the claim for damages, as a non-resident debtor. As +there seemed to be no good ground for defense on the part of those +who had purchased under Nimbus, the attorney advised that resistance +to the suit would be useless. Thus they lost at once the labor of +their whole life of freedom, and were compelled to begin again where +slavery had left them. This, taken in connection with the burning +of the church, the breaking up of the school, and the absence of +Eliab and Nimbus, had made the once happy and busy little village +most desolate and forlorn. + +The days which Mollie Ainslie had passed in the old hostel since +she left Mulberry Hill had been days of sorrow. Tears and moans +and tales of anxious fear had been in her ears continually. All +over the county, the process of "redemption" was being carried on. +The very air was full of horrors. Men with bleeding backs, women +with scarred and mutilated forms, came to her to seek advice and +consolation. Night after night, devoted men, who did not dare to +sleep in their own homes, kept watch around her, in order that her +slumbers might be undisturbed. It seemed as if all law had been +forgotten, and only a secret Klan had power in the land. She did +not dare, brave as she was, to ride alone outside of the little +village. She did not really think she would be harmed, yet she +trembled when the night came, and every crackling twig sent her +heart into her mouth in fear lest the chivalric masqueraders should +come to fulfil their vague threats against herself. But her heart +bled for the people she had served, and whom she saw bowed down +under the burden of a terrible, haunting fear. + +If she failed to make due allowance for that savageness of nature +which generations of slavery are sure to beget in the master, let us +not blame her. She was only a woman, and saw only what was before +her. She did not see how the past injected itself into the present, and +gave it tone and color. She reasoned only from what met her sight. +It is not strange that she felt bitterly toward those who had +committed such seemingly vandal acts. No wonder she spoke bitterly, +wrote hard things to her Northern friends, and denied the civilization +and Christianity of those who could harry, oppress, and destroy +the poor, the ignorant, and the weak. It is not surprising that +she sneered at the "Southern Gentleman," or that she wrote him down +in very black characters in the book and volume of her memory. She +was not a philosopher nor a politician, and she had never speculated +on the question as to how near of kin virtue and vice may be. +She had never considered how narrow a space it is that very often +divides the hero from the criminal, the patriot from the assassin, +the gentleman from the ruffian, the Christian saint from the +red-handed savage. Her heart was hot with wrath and her tongue +was tipped with bitterness. + +For the first time she blushed at the thought of her native land. +That the great, free, unmatched Republic should permit these things, +should shut its eyes and turn its back upon its helpless allies in +their hour of peril, was a most astounding and benumbing fact to +her mind. What she had loved with all that tenacity of devotion +which every Northern heart has for the flag and the country, was +covered with ignominy by these late events. She blushed with shame +as she thought of the weak, vacillating nation which had given the +promise of freedom to the ears of four millions of weak but trustful +allies, and broken it to their hearts. She knew that the country +had appealed to them in its hour of mortal agony, and they had +answered with their blood. She knew that again it had appealed to +them for aid to write the golden words of Freedom in its Constitution, +words before unwritten, in order that they might not be continued +in slavery, and they had heard and answered by their votes; and then, +while the world still echoed with boastings of these achievements, +it had taken away the protecting hand and said to those whose hearts +were full of hate, "Stay not thine hand." + +She thought, too, that the men who did these things--the midnight +masqueraders--were rebels still in their hearts. She called them +so in hers at least--enemies of the country, striving dishonorably +to subvert its laws. She did not keep in mind that to every Southern +man and woman, save those whom the national act brought forth to +civil life, the Nation is a thing remote and secondary. To them +the State is first, and always so far first as to make the country +a dim, distant cloud, to be watched with suspicion or aversion as +a something hostile to their State or section. The Northern mind +thinks of the Nation first. The love of country centers there. +His pride in his native State is as a part of the whole. As +a _Northerner_, he has no feeling at all. He never speaks +of his section except awkwardly, and when reference to it is made +absolutely necessary by circumstances. He may be from the East or +the West or the Middle, from Maine or Minnesota, but he is first +of all things an American. Mollie thought that the result of the +war--defeat and destruction--ought to have made the white people +of the South just such Americans. In fact it never occurred to her +simple heart but that they had always been such. In truth, she did +not conceive that they could have been otherwise. She had never +dreamed that there were any Americans with whom it was not the +first and ever-present thought that they _were_ Americans. + +She might have known, if she had thought so far, that in that +mystically-bounded region known as "the South," the people were +first of all "Southerners;" next "Georgians," or "Virginians," or +whatever it might be; and last and lowest in the scale of political +being, "Americans." She might have known this had she but noted +how the word "Southern" leaps into prominence as soon as the old +"Mason and Dixon's line" is crossed. There are "Southern" hotels +and "Southern" railroads, "Southern" steamboats, "Southern" +stage-coaches, "Southern" express companies, "Southern" books, +"Southern" newspapers, "Southern" patent-medicines, "Southern" +churches, "Southern" manners, "Southern" gentlemen, "Southern" +ladies, "Southern" restaurants, "Southern" bar-rooms, "Southern" +whisky, "Southern" gambling-hells, "Southern" principles, "Southern" +_everything!_ Big or little, good or bad, everything that courts +popularity, patronage or applause, makes haste to brand itself as +distinctively and especially "Southern." + +Then she might have remembered that in all the North--the great, +busy, bustling, over-confident, giantly Great-heart of the +continent--there is not to be found a single "Northern" hotel, +steamer, railway, stage-coach, bar-room, restaurant, school, +university, school-book, or any other "Northern" institution. The +word "Northern" is no master-key to patronage or approval. There is +no "Northern" clannishness, and no distinctive "Northern" sentiment +that prides itself on being such. The "Northern" man may be "Eastern" +or "Western." He may be "Knickerbocker," "Pennamite," "Buckeye," +or "Hoosier;" but above all things, and first of all things in his +allegiance and his citizenship, he is an American. The "Southern" +man is proud of the Nation chiefly because it contains his section +and State; the "Northern" man is proud of his section and State +chiefly because it is a part of the Nation. + +But Mollie Ainslie did not stop to think of these differences, or +of the bias which habit gives to the noblest mind; and so her heart +was full of wrath and much bitterness. She had forgiven coldness, +neglect, and aspersion of herself, but she could not forgive +brutality and violence toward the weak and helpless. She saw the +futility of hope of aid from the Nation that had deserted its allies. +She felt, on the other hand, the folly of expecting any change in a +people steeped in intolerance and gloating in the triumph of lawless +violence over obnoxious law. She thought she saw that there was but +little hope for that people for whom she had toiled so faithfully +to grow to the full stature of the free man in the region where +they had been slaves. She was short-sighted and impatient, but she +was earnest and intense. She had done much thinking in the sorrowful +days just past, and had made up her mind that whatsoever others +might do, she, Mollie Ainslie, would do her duty. + +The path seemed plain to her. She had been, as it seemed to her, +mysteriously led, step by step, along the way of life, always with +blindfolded eyes and feet that sought not to go in the way they +were constrained to take. Her father and mother dead, her brother's +illness brought her to the South; there his wish detained her; +a seeming chance brought her to Red Wing; duties and cares had +multiplied with her capacity; the cup of love, after one sweet +draught, had been dashed from her lips; desolation and destruction +had come upon the scene of her labors, impoverishment and woe upon +those with whom she had been associated, and a hopeless fate upon +all the race to which they belonged in the land wherein they were +born. + +She did not propose to change these things. She did not aspire to +set on foot any great movement or do any great deed, but she felt +that she was able to succor a few of the oppressed race. Those who +most needed help and best deserved it, among the denizens of Red +Wing, she determined to aid in going to a region where thought at +least was free. It seemed to her altogether providential that at +this time she had still, altogether untouched, the few thousands +which Oscar had given her of his army earnings, and also the little +homestead on the Massachusetts hills, toward which a little town +had been rapidly growing during the years of unwonted prosperity +succeeding the war, until now its value was greatly increased from +what it was but a few years before. She found she was quite an +heiress when she came to take an inventory of her estate, and made +up her mind that she would use this estate to carry out her new +idea. She did not yet know the how or the where, but she had got it +into her simple brain that somewhere and somehow this money might +be invested so as to afford a harbor of refuge for these poor +colored people, and still not leave herself unprovided for. She +had not arranged the method, but she had fully determined on the +undertaking. + +This was the thought of Mollie Ainslie as she sat in her room at the +old ordinary, one afternoon, nearly two weeks after her departure +from the Le Moyne mansion. She had quite given up all thought of +seeing Hesden again. She did not rave or moan over her disappointment. +It had been a sharp and bitter experience when she waked out of +the one sweet dream of her life. She saw that it _was_ but a +dream, foolish and wild; but she had no idea of dying of a broken +heart. Indeed, she did not know that her heart _was_ broken. +She had loved a man whom she had fancied as brave and gentle as +she could desire her other self to be. She had neither proffered +her love to him nor concealed it. She was not ashamed that she +loved nor ashamed that he should know it, as she believed he did. +She thought he must have known it, even though she did not herself +realize it at the time. If he had been that ideal man whom she +loved, he would have come before, claimed her love, and declared +his own. That man could never have let her go alone into desolation +and danger without following at once to inquire after her. It +was not that she needed his protection, but she had desired--nay, +expected as a certainty--that he would come and proffer it. The +ideal of her love would have done so. If Hesden Le Moyne had come +then, she would have given her life into his keeping forever after, +without the reservation of a thought. That he did not come only +showed that he was not her ideal, not the one she had loved, but +only the dim likeness of that one. It was so much the worse for Mr. +Hesden Le Moyne, but none the worse for Mollie Ainslie. She still +loved her ideal, but knew now that it was only an ideal. + +Thus she mused, although less explicitly, as the autumn afternoon +drew to its close. She watched the sun sinking to his rest, and +reflected that she would see him set but once more over the pines +that skirted Red Wing. There was but little more to be done--a +few things to pack up, a few sad farewells to be said, and then +she would turn her face towards the new life she had set her heart +upon. + +There was a step upon the path. She heard her own name spoken and +heard the reply of the colored woman, who was sitting on the porch. +Her heart stopped beating as the footsteps approached her door. She +thought her face flushed burning red, but in reality it was of a +hard, pallid gray as she looked up and saw Hesden Le Moyne standing +in the doorway. + + + +CHAPTER L. + +FACE ANSWERETH TO FACE. + + +"How do you do, Miss Mollie?" + +She caught her breath as she heard his ringing, tone and noted his +expectant air. Oh, if he had only come before! If he had not left +her to face alone--he knew not what peril! But he had done so, and +she could not forget it. So she went forward, and, extending her +hand, took his without a throb as she said, demurely, + +"I am very well, Mr. Le Moyne. How are you, and how have you left +all at home?" + +She led the way back to the table and pointed to a chair opposite +her own as she spoke. + +Hesden Le Moyne had grown to love Mollie Ainslie almost as +unconsciously as she had given her heart to him. The loss of his +son had been a sore affliction. While he had known no passionate +love for his cousin-wife, he yet had had the utmost respect for her, +and had never dreamed that there were in his heart deeper depths +of love still unexplored. After her death, his mother and his child +seemed easily and naturally to fill his heart. He had admired Mollie +Ainslie from the first. His attention had been first particularly +directed to her accomplishments and attractions by the casual +conversation with Pardee in reference to her, and by the fact that +the horse she rode was his old favorite. He had watched her at +first critically, then admiringly, and finally with an unconscious +yearning which he did not define. + +The incident of the storm and the bright picture she made in his +somewhat somber home had opened his eyes as to his real feelings. +At the same time had come the knowledge that there was a wide gulf +between them, but he would have bridged it long before now had it +not been for his affliction, which, while it drew him nearer to the +object of his devotion than he had ever been before, also raised an +imperative barrier against words of love. Then the time of trial +came. He found himself likely to be stripped of all hope of wealth, +and he had been goaded into declaring to others his love for Mollie, +although he had never whispered a word of it to her. + +Since that time, however, despite his somewhat dismal prospects, +he had allowed his fancy greater play. He had permitted himself +to dream that some time and somehow he might be permitted to call +Mollie Ainslie his wife. She seemed so near to him! There was such +a calm in her presence! + +He had never doubted that his passion was reciprocated. He thought +that he had looked down into her heart through the soft, gray eyes, +and seen himself. She had never manifested any consciousness of +love, but in those dear days at the Hill she had seemed to come +so close to him that he thought of her love as a matter of course, +as much so as if it had been already plighted. He felt too that +her instinct had been as keen as his own, and that she must have +discovered the love he had taken no pains to conceal. But the +events which had occurred since she went to Red Wing had to his +mind forbidden any further expression of this feeling. For her +sake as well as for his own honor it must be put aside. He had no +wish to conceal or deny it. The fact that he must give her up was +the hardest element of the sacrifice which the newly discovered +will might require at his hands. + +So he had come to tell her all, and he hoped that she would see +where honor led him, and would hold him excused from saying, "I +love you. Will you be my wife?" He believed that she would, and +that they would part without distrust and with unabated esteem for +each other. Never, until this moment, had he thought otherwise. +Perhaps he was not without hope still, but it was not such as could +be allowed to control his action. He could not say now why it was; +he could not tell what was lacking, but somehow there seemed to +have been a change. She was so far away--so intangible. It was the +same lithe form, the same bright face, the same pleasant voice; but +the life, the soul, seemed to have gone out of the familiar presence. + +He sat and watched her keenly, wonderingly, as they chatted for a +moment of his mother. Then he said: + +"We have had strange happenings at Mulberry Hill since you left +us, Miss Mollie." + +"You don't tell me!" she said laughingly. "I cannot conceive such +a thing possible. Dear me! How strange to think of anything out of +the common happening there!" + +The tone and the laugh hurt him. + +"Indeed," said he, gravely, "except for that I should have made my +appearance here long ago." + +"You are very kind. And I assure you, I am grateful that you did +not entirely forget me." Her tone was mocking, but her look was so +guileless as almost to make him disbelieve his ears. + +"I assure you, Miss Mollie," said he, earnestly, "you do me +injustice. I was so closely engaged that I was not even aware of +your departure until the second day afterward." + +He meant this to show how serious were the matters which claimed +his attention. To him it was the strongest possible proof of their +urgency. But she remembered her exultant ride to Red Wing, and said +to-herself, "And he did not think of me for two whole days!" As +she listened to his voice, her heart had been growing soft despite +her; but it was hard enough now. So she smiled artlessly, and +said: + +"Only two days? Why, Mr. Le Moyne, I thought it was two weeks. That +was how I excused you. Charles said you were too busy to ride with +me; your mother wrote that you were too busy to ask after me; and +I supposed you had been too busy to think of me, ever since." + +"Now, Miss Mollie," said he, in a tone of earnest remonstrance, +"please do not speak in that way. Things of the utmost importance +have occurred, and I came over this evening to tell you of them. +You, perhaps, think that I have been neglectful." + +"I had no right to demand anything from Mr. Le Moyne." + +"Yes, you had, Miss Ainslie," said he, rising and going around the +table until he stood close beside her. "You know that only the +most pressing necessity could excuse me for allowing you to leave +my house unattended." + +"That is the way I went there," she interrupted, as she looked up +at him, laughing saucily. + +"But that was before you had, at my request, risked your life +in behalf of my child. Let us not hide the truth, Miss Ainslie. +We can never go back to the relation of mere acquaintanceship we +held before that night. If you had gone away the next morning it +might have been different, but every hour afterward increased my +obligations to you. I came here to tell you why I had seemed to +neglect them. Will you allow me to do so?" + +"It is quite needless, because there is no obligation--none in the +least--unless it be to you for generous hospitality and care and +a pleasant respite from tedious duty." + +"Why do you say that? You cannot think it is so," he said, +impetuously. "You know it was my duty to have attended you hither, +to have offered my services in that trying time, and by my presence +and counsel saved you such annoyance as I might. You know that I +could not have been unaware of this duty, and you dare not deny that +you expected me to follow you very speedily after your departure." + +"Mr. Le Moyne," she said, rising, with flushed cheeks and flashing +eyes, "you have no right to address such language to me! It was +bad enough to leave me to face danger and trouble and horror alone; +but not so bad as to come here and say such things. But I am not +ashamed to let you know that you are right. I _did_ expect +you, Hesden Le Moyne. As I came along the road and thought of the +terrors which the night might bring, I said to myself that before +the sun went down you would be here, and would counsel and protect +the girl who had not shrunk from danger when you asked her to face +it, and who had come to look upon you as the type of chivalry. +Because I thought you better and braver and nobler than you are, I +am not ashamed to confess what I expected. I know it was foolish. +I might have known better. I might have known that the man who +would fight for a cause he hated rather than be sneered at by his +neighbors, would not care to face public scorn for the sake of a +'nigger-teacher'--no matter what his obligations to her." + +She stood before him with quivering nostrils and flashing eyes. He +staggered back, raising his hand to check the torrent of her wrath. + +"Don't, Miss Ainslie, don't!" he said, in confused surprise. + +"Oh, yes!" she continued bitterly, "you no doubt feel very much +surprised that a 'Yankee nigger-teacher' should dare to resent such +conduct. You thought you could come to me, now that the danger and +excitement have subsided, and resume the relations we held before. +I know you and despise you, Hesden Le Moyne! I have more respect +for one of those who made Red Wing a scene of horror and destruction +than for you. Is that enough, sir? Do you understand me now?" +"Oh, entirely, Miss Ainslie," said Hesden, in a quick, husky tone, +taking his hat from the table as he spoke. "But in justice to +myself I must be allowed to state some facts which, though perhaps +not sufficient, in your opinion, to justify my conduct, will I hope +show you that you have misjudged me in part. Will you hear me?" + +"Oh, yes, I will hear anything," she said, as she sat down. "Though +nothing can be said that will restore the past." + +"Unfortunately, I am aware of that. There is one thing, however, +that I prize even more than that, and that is my honor. Do not +take the trouble to sneer. Say, what I _call_ my honor, if +it pleases you better, and I will not leave a stain upon that, even +in your mind, if I can help it." + +"Yes, I hear," she said, as he paused a moment. "Your _honor_, +I believe you said." + +"Yes, Miss Ainslie," he replied with dignity; "my honor requires +that I should say to you now what I had felt forbidden to say +before--that, however exalted the opinion you may have formed of +me, it could not have equalled that which I cherished for you--not +for what you did, but for what you were--and this feeling, whatever +you may think, is still unchanged." + +Mollie started with amazement. Her face, which had been pale, was +all aflame as she glanced up at Hesden with a frightened look, +while he went on. + +"I do not believe that you would intentionally be unjust. So, if +you will permit me, I will ask you one question. If you knew that +on the day of your departure, and for several succeeding days, a +human life was absolutely dependent upon my care and watchfulness, +would you consider me excusable for failure to learn of your +unannounced departure, or for not immediately following you hither +on learning that fact?" He paused, evidently expecting a reply. + +"Surely, Mr. Le Moyne," she said, looking up at him in wide-eyed +wonder, "you know I would." + +"And would you believe my word if I assured you that this was the +fact?" + +"Of course I would." + +"I am very glad. Such was the case; and that alone prevented my +following you and insisting on your immediate return." + +"I did not know your mother had been so ill," she said, with some +contrition in her voice. + +"It was not my mother. I am sorry, but I cannot tell you now who +it was. You will know all about it some time. And more than that," +he continued, "on the fourth day after you had gone, one who had +saved my life in battle came and asked me to acknowledge my debt by +performing an important service for him, which has required nearly +all my time since that." + +"Oh, Mr. Le Moyne!" she said, as the tears came into her eyes, +"please forgive my anger and injustice." + +"I have nothing to forgive," he said. "You were not unjust--only +ignorant of the facts, and your anger was but natural." + +"Yet I should have known better. I should have trusted you more," +said she, sobbing. + +"Well, do not mind it," he said, soothingly. "But if my explanation +is thus far sufficient, will you allow me to sit down while I tell +you the rest? The story is a somewhat long one." + +"Oh, pray do, Mr. Le Moyne. Excuse my rudeness as well as my anger. +Please be seated and let me take your hat." + +She took the hat and laid it on a table at the side of the room, +and then returned and listened to his story. He told her all that +he had told his mother the night before, explaining such things as +he thought she might not fully understand. Then he showed her the +pocket-book and the will, which he had brought with him for that +purpose. + +At first she listened to what he said with a constrained and +embarrassed air. He had not proceeded far, however, before she began +to manifest a lively interest in his words. She leaned forward and +gazed into his face with an absorbed earnestness that awakened his +surprise. Two or three times she reached out her hand, and her +lips moved, as though she would interrupt him. He stopped; but, +without speaking, she nodded for him to go on. When he handed her +the pocket-book and the will, she took them with a trembling hand +and examined them with the utmost care. The student-lamp had been +lighted before his story was ended. Her face was in the soft light +which came through the porcelain shade, but her hands were in the +circle of bright light that escaped beneath it. He noticed that +they trembled so that they could scarcely hold the paper she was +trying to read. He asked if he should not read it for her. She +handed him the will, but kept the pocketbook tightly clasped in +both hands, with the rude scrawl, + +MARBLEHEAD, MASS., + +in full view. She listened nervously to the reading, never once +looking up. When he had finished, she said, + +"And you say the land mentioned there is the plantation you now +occupy?" + +"It embraces my mother's plantation and much more. Indeed, this +very plantation of Red Wing, except the little tract around the +house here, is a part of it. The Red Wing Ordinary tract is mentioned +as one of those which adjoins it upon the west. This is the west +line, and the house at Mulberry Hill is very near the eastern edge. +It is a narrow tract, running down on this side the river until it +comes to the big bend near the ford, which it crosses, and keeps +on to the eastward. + +"It is a large belt, though I do not suppose it was then of any +great value--perhaps not worth more than a shilling an acre. It is +almost impossible to realize how cheap land was in this region at +that time. A man of moderate wealth might have secured almost a +county. Especially was that the case with men who bought up what +was termed "Land Scrip" at depreciated rates, and then entered +lands and paid for them with it at par." + +"Was that the way this was bought?" she asked. + +"I cannot tell," he replied. "I immediately employed Mr. Pardee +to look the matter up, and it seems from the records that an entry +had been made some time before, by one Paul Cresson, which was by +him assigned to James Richards. I am inclined to think that it was +a part of the Crown grant to Lord Granville, which had not been +alienated before the Revolution, and of which the State claimed the +fee afterward by reason of his adhesion to the Crown. The question +of the right of such alien enemies to hold under Crown grants was +not then determined, and I suppose the lands were rated very low +by reason of this uncertainty in the title." + +"Do you think--that--that this will is genuine?" she asked, with +her white fingers knotted about the brown old pocket-book. + +"I have no doubt about its proving to be genuine. That is evident +upon its face. I hope there may be something to show that my +grandfather did not act dishonorably," he replied. + +"But suppose--suppose there should not be; what would be the effect?" + +"Legally, Mr. Pardee says, there is little chance that any valid +claim can be set up under it. The probabilities are, he says, that +the lapse of time will bar any such claim. He also says that it +is quite possible that the devisee may have died before coming of +age to take under the will, and the widow, also, before that time; +in which case, under the terms of the will, it would have fallen +to my grandfather." + +"You are not likely to lose by it then, in any event?" + +"If it should prove that there are living heirs whose claims are +not barred by time, then, of course, they will hold, not only our +plantation, but also the whole tract. In that case, I shall make +it the business of my life to acquire enough to reimburse those +who have purchased of my grandfather, and who will lose by this +discovery." + +"But you are not bound to do that?" she asked, in surprise. + +"Not legally. Neither are we bound to give up the plantation if the +heir is legally estopped. But I think, and my mother agrees with +me, that if heirs are found who cannot recover the land by reason +of the lapse of time, even then, honor requires the surrender of +what we hold." + +"And you would give up your home?" + +"I should gladly do so, if I might thereby right a wrong committed +by an ancestor." + +"But your mother, Hesden, what of her?" + +"She would rather die than do a dishonorable thing." + +"Yes--yes; but--you know--" + +"Yes, I know that she is old and an invalid, and that I am young +and--and unfortunate; but I will find a way to maintain her without +keeping what we had never any right to hold." + +"You have never known the hardship of self-support!" she said. + +"I shall soon learn," he answered, with a shrug. + +She sprang up and walked quickly across the room. Her hands were +clasped in front of her, the backs upward and the nails digging +into the white flesh. Hesden wondered a little at her excitement. + +"Thank God! thank God!" she exclaimed at last, as she sank again +into her chair, and pressed her clasped hands over her eyes. + +"Why do you say that?" he asked, curiously. + +"Because you--because I--I hardly know," she stammered. + +She looked at him a moment, her face flushing and paling by turns, +and stretching out her hand to him suddenly across the table, she +said, looking him squarely in the face: + +"Hesden Le Moyne, you are a brave man!" + +He took the hand in his own and pressed it to his lips, which +trembled as they touched it. + +"Miss Mollie," he said, tenderly, "will you forgive my not coming +before?" + +"If you will pardon my lack of faith in you." + +"You see," he said, "that my duty for the present is to my mother +and the name I bear. + +"And mine," she answered, "is to the poor people whose wrongs I +have witnessed." + +"What do you mean?" he asked. + +"I mean that I will give myself to the task of finding a refuge for +those who have suffered such terrible evils as we have witnessed +here at Red Wing." + +"You will leave here, then?" + +"In a day or two." + +"To return--when?" + +"Never." + +Their hands were still clasped across the narrow table. He looked +into her eyes, and saw only calm, unflinching resolution. It piqued +his self-love that she should be so unmoved. Warmly as he really +loved her, self-sacrificing as he felt himself to be in giving +her up, he could not yet rid himself of the thought of her Northern +birth, and felt annoyed that she should excel him in the gentle +quality of self control. He had no idea that he would ever meet +her again. He had made up his mind to leave her out of his life +forever, though he could not cast her out of his heart. And yet, +although he had no right to expect it, he somehow felt disappointed +that she showed no more regret. He had not quite looked for her to +be so calm, and he was almost annoyed by it; so dropping her hand, +he said, weakly, + +"Shall I never see you again?" + +"Perhaps"--quietly. + +"When?" + +"When you are willing to acknowledge yourself proud of me because +of the work in which I have been engaged! Hesden Le Moyne," +she continued, rising, and standing before him, "you are a brave +man and a proud one. You are so brave that you would not hesitate +to acknowledge your regard for me, despite the fact that I am a +'nigger-teacher.' It is a noble act, and I honor you for it. But +I am as proud as you, and have good reason to be, as you will know +some day; and I say to you that I would not prize any man's esteem +which coupled itself with an apology for the work in which I have +been engaged. I count that work my highest honor, and am more +jealous of its renown than of even my own good name. When you can +say to me, 'I am as proud of your work as of my own honor--so proud +that I wish it to be known of all men, and that all men should know +that I approve,' then you may come to me. Till then, farewell!" + +She held out her hand. He pressed it an instant, took his hat from +the table, and went out into the night, dazed and blinded by the +brightness he had left behind. + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +HOW SLEEP THE BRAVE? + + +Two days afterward, Mollie Ainslie took the train for the North, +accompanied by Lugena and her children. At the same time went +Captain Pardee, under instructions from Hesden Le Moyne to verify +the will, discover who the testator really was, and then ascertain +whether he had any living heirs. + +To Mollie Ainslie the departure was a sad farewell to a life which +she had entered upon so full of abounding hope and charity, so +full of love for God and man, that she could not believe that all +her bright hopes had withered and only ashes remained. The way was +dark. The path was hedged up. The South was "redeemed." + +The poor, ignorant white man had been unable to perceive that +liberty for the slave meant elevation to him also. The poor, +ignorant colored man had shown himself, as might well have been +anticipated, unable to cope with intelligence, wealth, and the subtle +power of the best trained political intellects of the nation; and +it was not strange. They were all alone, and their allies were +either as poor and weak as themselves, or were handicapped with the +brand of Northern birth. These were their allies--not from choice, +but from necessity. Few, indeed, were there of the highest and the +best of those who had fought the nation in war as they had fought +against the tide of liberty before the war began--who would accept +the terms on which the nation gave re-established and greatly-increased +power to the States of the South. + +So there were ignorance and poverty and a hated race upon one side, +and, upon the other, intelligence, wealth, and pride. The former +_outnumbered_ the latter; but the latter, as compared with the +former, were a Grecian phalanx matched against a scattered horde +of Scythian bowmen. The Nation gave the jewel of liberty into the +hands of the former, armed them with the weapons of self-government, +and said: "Ye are many; protect what ye have received." Then it +took away its hand, turned away its eyes, closed its ears to every +cry of protest or of agony, and said: "We will not aid you nor +protect you. Though you are ignorant, from you will we demand +the works of wisdom. Though you are weak, great things shall be +required at your hands." Like the ancient taskmaster, the Nation +said: "_There shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver +the tale of bricks._" + +But, alas! they were weak and inept. The weapon they had received +was two-edged. Sometimes they cut themselves; again they caught it +by the blade, and those with whom they fought seized the hilt and +made terrible slaughter. Then, too, they were not always wise--which +was a sore fault, but not their own. Nor were they always brave, +or true--which was another grievous fault; but was it to be believed +that one hour of liberty would efface the scars of generations of +slavery? Ah! well might they cry unto the Nation, as did Israel +unto Pharaoh: "Theree is no straw given unto thy servants, and they +say to us, 'Make brick': and behold thy servants are beaten; but +the fault is in thine own people." They had simply demonstrated +that in the years of Grace of the nineteenth century liberty could +not be maintained nor prosperity achieved by ignorance and poverty, +any more than in the days of Moses adobe bricks could be made without +straw. The Nation gave the power of the South into the hands of +ignorance and poverty and inexperience, and then demanded of them +the fruit of intelligence, the strength of riches, and the skill of +experience. It put before a keen-eyed and unscrupulous minority--a +minority proud, aggressive, turbulent, arrogant, and scornful +of all things save their own will and pleasure--the temptation to +enhance their power by seizing that held by the trembling hands +of simple-minded and unskilled guardians. What wonder that it was +ravished from their care? + +Mollie Ainslie thought of these things with some bitterness. She +did not doubt the outcome. Her faith in truth and liberty, and +her proud confidence in the ultimate destiny of the grand Nation +whose past she had worshiped from childhood, were too strong to +permit that. She believed that some time in the future light would +come out of the darkness; but between then and the present was a +great gulf, whose depth of horror no man knew, in which the people +to serve whom she had given herself must sink and suffer--she +could not tell how long. For them there was no hope. + +She did not, indeed, look for a continuance of the horrors which +then prevailed. She knew that when the incentive was removed the +acts would cease. There would be peace, because there would no +longer be any need for violence. But she was sure there would be +no real freedom, no equality of right, no certainty of justice. +She did not care who ruled, but she knew that this people--she +felt almost like calling them her people--needed the incentive of +liberty, the inspiriting rivalry of open and fair competition, to +enable them to rise. Ay, to prevent them from sinking lower and +lower. She greatly feared that the words of a journal which gloried +in all that had been done toward abbreviating and annulling the +powers, rights, and opportunities of the recent slaves might yet +become verities if these people were deprived of such incentives. +She remembered how deeply-rooted in the Southern mind was the idea +that slavery was a social necessity. She did not believe, as so +many had insisted, that it was founded merely in greed. She believed +that it was with sincere conviction that a leading journal had +declared: "The evils of free society are insufferable. Free society +must fail and give way to a _class society_--a social system +old as the world, universal as man." + +She knew that the leader of a would-be nation had declared: "A +thousand must die as slaves or paupers in order that one gentleman +may live. Yet they are cheap to any nation, even at that price." + +So she feared that the victors in the _post-bellum_ strife +which was raging around her would succeed, for a time at least, in +establishing this ideal "class society." While the Nation slumbered +in indifference, she feared that these men, still full of the spirit +of slavery, in the very name of law and order, under the pretense +of decency and justice, would re-bind those whose feet had just +begun to tread the path of liberty with shackles only less onerous +than those which had been dashed from their limbs by red-handed +war. As she thought of these things she read the following words +from the pen of one who had carefully watched the process of +"redemption," and had noted its results and tendency--not bitterly +and angrily, as she had done, but coolly and approvingly: + +"We would like to engrave a prophecy on stone, to be read of generations +in the future. The Negro, in these [the Southern] States, will be +slave again or cease to be. His sole refuge from extinction will +be in slavery to the white man." [Footnote: Out of the numerous +declarations of this conviction which have been made by the +Southern press every year since the war, I have selected one from +the _Meridian (Miss.) Mercury_ of July 31st, 1880. I have done +this simply to show that the sentiment is not yet dead.] + +She remembered to have heard a great man say, on a memorable +occasion, that "the forms of law have always been the graves of buried +liberties." She feared that, under the "forms" of _subverted_ +laws, the liberties of a helpless people would indeed be buried. +She had little care for the Nation. It was of those she had served +and whose future she regarded with such engrossing interest that she +thought. She did not dream of remedying the evil. That was beyond +her power. She only thought she might save some from its scath. To +that she devoted herself. + +The day before, she had visited the cemetery where her brother's +ashes reposed. She had long ago put a neat monument over his grave, +and had herself supplemented the national appropriation for its +care. It was a beautiful inclosure, walled with stone, verdant +with soft turf, and ornamented with rare shrubbery. Across it ran +a little stream, with green banks sloping either way. A single great +elm drooped over its bubbling waters. A pleasant drive ran with +easy grade and graceful curves down one low hill and up another. +The iron gate opened upon a dusty highway. Beside it stood the +keeper's neat brick lodge. In front, and a little to the right, +lay a sleepy Southern town half hidden in embowering trees. Across +the little ravine within the cemetery, upon the level plateau, were +the graves, marked, in some cases, by little square white monuments +of polished marble, on which was but the single word, "Unknown." A +few bore the names of those who slept below. But on one side there +were five long mounds, stretching away, side by side, as wide as +the graves were long, and as long as four score graves. Smoothly +rounded from end to end, without a break or a sign, they seemed a +fit emblem of silence. Where they began, a granite pillar rose high, +decked with symbols of glory interspersed with emblems of mourning. +Cannon, battered and grim, the worn-out dogs of war, gaped with +silent jaws up at the silent sky. No name was carved on base or +capital, nor on the marble shield upon the shaft. Only, "Sacred to +the memory of the unknown heroes who died--." + +How quick the memory fills out the rest! There had been a military +prison of the Confederacy just over the hill yonder, where the +corn now grew so rank and thick. Twelve thousand men died there +and were thrown into those long trenches where are now heaped-up +mounds that look like giants' graves--not buried one by one, with +coffin, shroud, and funeral rite, but one upon another heaped and +piled, until the yawning pit would hold no more. No name was kept, +no grave was marked, but in each trench was heaped one undistinguishable +mass of dead humanity! + +Mollie Ainslie, when she had bidden farewell to her brother's grave, +looked on these piled-up trenches, scanned the silent shaft, and +going into the keeper's office just at hand, read for herself the +mournful record: + + + Known 94 + Unknown 12,032 + ------ + Total 12,126 + Died in Prison 11,700 + + +As she wandered back to the town, she gleaned from what she had +seen a lesson of charity for the people toward whom her heart had +been full of hardness. + +"It was thus," she said to herself, "that they treated brave foemen +of their own race and people, who died, not on the battle-field, +but of lingering disease in crowded prison pens, in the midst of +pleasant homes and within hearing of the Sabbath chimes. None cared +enough to give to each a grave, put up a simple board to mark the +spot where love might come and weep--nay, not enough even to make +entry of the name of the dead some heart must mourn. And if they +did this to their dead foemen and kinsmen, their equals, why should +we wonder that they manifest equal barbarity toward the living +freedman--their recent slave, now suddenly exalted. _It is the +lesson and the fruitage of slavery!"_ + +And so she made excuse both for the barbarity of war and the +savagery which followed it by tracing both to their origin. She +did not believe that human nature changed in an hour, but that +centuries past bore fruit in centuries to come. She thought that +the former master must be healed by the slow medicament of time +before he could be able to recognize in all men the sanctity of +manhood; as well as that the freedman must be taught to know and +to defend his rights. + +When she left the cemetery, she mounted Midnight for a farewell +ride. The next morning, before he arose, Hesden Le Moyne heard the +neigh of his old war-horse, and, springing from his bed, he ran +out and found him hitched at his gate. A note was tied with a blue +ribbon to his jetty forelock. He removed it, and read: + +"I return your noble horse with many thanks for the long loan. May +I hope that he will be known henceforth only as Midnight? + +"MOLLIE." + +He thought he recognized the ribbon as one which he had often seen +encircling the neck of the writer, and foolishly treasured it upon +his heart as a keepsake. + +The train bore away the teacher, and with her the wife and children +who fled, not knowing their father's fate, and the lawyer who +sought an owner for an estate whose heir was too honorable to hold +it wrongfully. + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +REDEEMED OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE. + + +Three months passed peacefully away in Horsford. In the "redeemed" +county its "natural rulers" bore sway once more. The crops which +Nimbus had cultivated were harvested by a Receiver of the Court. +The families that dwelt at Red Wing awaited in sullen silence the +outcome of the suits which had been instituted. Of Nimbus and Eliab +not a word had been heard. Some thought they had been killed; others +that they had fled. The family of Berry Lawson had disappeared from +the new home which he had made near "Bre'er Rufe Patterson's," in +Hanson County. Some said that they had gone South; others that they +had gone East. "Bre'er Rufe" declared that he did not know where +they had gone. All he knew was that he was "ober dar ob a Saturday +night, an' dar dey was, Sally an' de chillen; an' den he went dar +agin ob a Monday mornin' arly, an' dar dey wasn't, nary one ob' +em." + +The excitement with regard to the will, and her fear that Hesden +was infected with the horrible virus of "Radicalism," had most +alarmingly prostrated the invalid of Mulberry Hill. For a long time +it was feared that her life of sufferirig was near its end. Hesden +did not leave home at all, except once or twice to attend to some +business as the trustee for the fugitive Jackson. Cousin Hetty had +become a regular inmate of the house. All the invalid's affection +for her dead daughter-in-law seemed to have been transferred to +Hetty Lomax. No one could serve her so well. Even Hesden's attentions +were less grateful. She spoke freely of the time when she should +see Hetty in her sister's place, the mistress of Mulberry Hill. +She had given up all fear of the property being claimed by others, +since she had heard how small were the chances of discovering an +heir whose claims were not barred; and though she had consented +to forego her legal rights, she trusted that a way would be found +to satisfy any who might be discovered. At any rate, she was sure +that her promise would not bind her successor, and, with the usual +stubbornness of the chronic invalid, she determined that the estate +should not pass out of the family. In any event, she did not expect +to live until the finding of an heir, should there chance to be +one. + +One of the good citizens of the county began to show himself in +public for the first time since the raid on Red Wing. An ugly scar +stretched from his forehead down along his nose and across his +lips and chin. At the least excitement it became red and angry, +and gave him at all times a ghastly and malevolent appearance. He +was a great hero with the best citizens; was _feted_, admired, +and praised; and was at once made a deputy sheriff under the new +_regime_. Another most worthy citizen, the superintendent of +a Sabbath-school, and altogether one of the most estimable citizens +of the county, had been so seriously affected with a malignant +brain-fever since that bloody night that he had not yet left his +bed. + +The colored men, most of whom from a foolish apprehension had +slept in the woods until the election, now began to perceive that +the nights were wholesome, and remained in their cabins. They seemed +sullen and discontented, and sometimes whispered among themselves +of ill-usage and unfair treatment; but they were not noisy +and clamorous, as they had been before the work of "redemption." +It was especially noted that they were much more respectful and +complaisant to their superiors than they had been at any time since +the Surrender. The old time "Marse" was now almost universally used, +and few "niggers" presumed to speak to a white man in the country +districts without removing their hats. In the towns the improvement +was not so perceptible. The "sassy" ones seemed to take courage +from their numbers, and there they were still sometimes "boisterous" +and "obstreperous." On the whole, however, the result seemed eminently +satisfactory, with a prospect of growing better every day. Labor +was more manageable, and there were much fewer appeals to the law +by lazy, impudent, and dissatisfied laborers. The master's word was +rarely disputed upon the day of settlement, and there was every +prospect of reviving hope and continued prosperity on the part of men +who worked their plantations by proxy, and who had been previously +very greatly annoyed and discouraged by the persistent clamor of +their "hands" for payment. + +There had been some ill-natured criticism of the course of Hesden +Le Moyne. It was said that he had made some very imprudent remarks, +both in regard to the treatment of Jordan Jackson and the affair +at Red Wing. There were some, indeed, who openly declared that he +had upheld and encouraged the niggers at Red Wing in their insolent +and outrageous course, and had used language unworthy of a "Southern +gentleman" concerning those patriotic men who had felt called upon, +for the protection of their homes and property, to administer the +somewhat severe lesson which had no doubt nipped disorder in the +bud, saved them from the war of races which had imminently impended, +and brought "redemption" to the county. Several of Hesden's personal +friends called upon him and remonstrated with him upon his course. +Many thought he should be "visited," and "Radicalism in the county +stamped out" at once, root and branch. He received warning from the +Klan to the effect that he was considered a dangerous character, and +must change his tone and take heed to his footsteps. As, however, +his inclination to the dangerous doctrines was generally attributed +in a great measure to his unfortunate infatuation for the little +"nigger-teacher," it was hoped that her absence would effect a +cure. Especially was this opinion entertained when it became known +that his mother was bitterly opposed to his course, and was fully +determined to root the seeds of "Radicalism" from his mind. His +attachment for her was well known, and it was generally believed +that she might be trusted to turn him from the error of his ways, +particularly as she was the owner of Red Wing, and had freely +declared her intention not to leave him a foot of it unless he +abandoned his absurd and vicious notions. Hesden himself, though +he went abroad but little, saw that his friends had grown cool and +that his enemies had greatly multiplied. + +This was the situation of affairs in the good County of Horsford +when, one bright morning in December--the morning of "that day +whereon our Saviour's birth is celebrate"--Hesden Le Moyne rode to +the depot nearest to his home, purchased two tickets to a Northern +city, and, when the morning train came in, assisted his "boy" +Charles to lift from a covered wagon which stood near by, the weak +and pallid form of the long-lost "nigger preacher," Eliab Hill, +and place him upon the train. It was noticed by the loungers about +the depot that Hesden carried but half concealed a navy revolver +which seemed to have seen service. There was some excitement in +the little crowd over the reappearance of Eliab Hill, but he was +not interfered with. In fact, the cars moved off so quickly after +he was first seen that there was no time to recover from the surprise +produced by the unexpected apparition. It was not until the smoke +of the engine had disappeared in the distance that the wrath of +the bystanders clothed itself in words. + +Then the air reeked with expletives. What ought to have been done +was discussed with great freedom. An excited crowd gathered around +Charles as he was preparing to return home, and plied him with +questions. His ignorance was phenomenal, but the look of stupefied +wonder with which he regarded his questioners confirmed his words. +It was not until he had proceeded a mile on his homeward way, with +Midnight in leading behind the tail-board, that, having satisfied +himself that there was no one within hearing, by peeping from +beneath the canvas covering of the wagon, both before and behind, +he tied the reins to one of the bows which upheld the cover, +abandoned the mule to his own guidance, and throwing himself upon +the mattress on which Eliab had lain, gave vent to roars of laughter. + +"Yah, yah, yah!" he cried, as the tears rolled down his black face. +"It du take Marse Hesden to wax dem fellers! Dar he war, jest ez +cool an' keerless ez yer please, a'standin' roun' an' waitin' fer +de train an' payin' no 'tention at all ter me an' de wagon by de +platform, dar. Swar, but I war skeered nigh 'bout ter death, till +I got dar an' seed him so quiet and keerless; an' Bre'er 'Liab, he +war jest a-prayin' all de time--but dat's no wonder. Den, when de +train whistle, Marse Hesden turn quick an' sharp an' I seed him gib +dat ole pistol a jerk roun' in front, an' he come back an' sed, +jest ez cool an' quiet, 'Now, Charles!' I declar' it stiddied me up +jes ter hear him, an' den up comes Bre'er 'Liab in my arms. Marse +Hesden helps a bit an' goes fru de crowd wid his mouf shet like a +steel trap. We takes him on de cars. All aboard! _Whoo-oop--puff, +puff!_ Off she goes! an' dat crowd stan's dar a-cussin' all +curration an' demselves to boot! Yah, yah, yah! 'Rah for Marse +Hesden!" + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +IN THE CYCLONE. + + +Then the storm burst. Every possible story was set afloat. The more +absurd it seemed the more generally was it credited. Men talked +and women chattered of nothing but Hesden Le Moyne, his infamous +"negro-loving Radicalism," his infatuation with the "Yankee +school-marm," the anger of his mother, his ill-treatment of his +cousin, Hetty Lomax; his hiding of the "nigger preacher" in the loft +of the dining-room, his alliance with the Red Wing desperadoes to +"burn every white house on that side of the river"--in short, his +treachery, his hypocrisy, his infamy. + +On the street, in the stores, at the churches--wherever men met--this +was the one unfailing theme of conversation. None but those who have +seen a Southern community excited over one subject or one man can +imagine how much can be said about a little matter. The newspapers +of that and the adjoining counties were full of it. Colored men +were catechized in regard to it. His friends vied with his enemies +in vituperation, lest they should be suspected of a like offense. +He was accounted a monster by many, and an enemy by all who had been +his former associates, and, strangely enough, was at once looked +upon as a friend and ally by every colored man, and by the few +white men of the county who secretly or silently held with the +"Radicals." It was the baptism of fire which every Southern man +must face who presumes to differ from his fellows upon political +questions. + +Nothing that he had previously done or said or been could excuse or +palliate his conduct. The fact that he was of a good family only +rendered his alliance with "niggers" against his own race and +class the more infamous. The fact that he was a man of substantial +means, and had sought no office or aggrandizement by the votes of +colored men, made his offence the more heinous, because he could +not even plead the poor excuse of self-interest. The fact that he +had served the Confederacy well, and bore on his person the indubitable +proof of gallant conduct on the field of battle, was a still further +aggravation of his act, because it marked him as a renegade and +a traitor to the cause for which he had fought. Compared with a +Northern Republican he was accounted far more infamous, because of +his desertion of his family, friends, comrades, and "the cause of +the South"--a vague something which no man can define, but which +"fires the Southern heart" with wonderful facility. Comparison +with the negro was still more to his disadvantage, since he had +"sinned against light and knowledge," while they did not even know +their own "best friends." And so the tide of detraction ebbed and +flowed while Hesden was absent, his destination unknown, his return +a matter of conjecture, and his purpose a mystery. + +The most generally-accepted theory was that he had gone to Washington +for the purpose of maliciously misrepresenting and maligning the good +people of Horsford, in order to secure the stationing of soldiers +in that vicinity, and their aid in arresting and bringing to trial, +for various offences against the peace and persons of the colored +people, some of the leading citizens of the county. In support of +this they cited his intimate relations with Jordan Jackson, as well +as with Nimbus and Eliab. It was soon reported that Jackson had +met him at Washington; that Nimbus Desmit had also arrived there; +that the whole party had been closeted with this and that leading +"Radical"; and that the poor, stricken, down-trodden South--the +land fairest and richest and poorest and most peaceful and most +chivalric, the most submissive and the most defiant; in short, the +most contradictory in its self-conferred superlatives--that this +land of antipodal excellences must now look for new forms of tyranny +and new measures of oppression. + +The secrecy which had been preserved for three months in regard to +Eliab's place of concealment made a most profound impression upon +Hesden's neighbors of the County of Horsford. They spoke of it in +low, horrified tones, which showed that they felt deeply in regard +to it. It was ascertained that no one in his family knew of the +presence of Eliab until the morning of his removal. Miss Hetty +made haste to declare that in her two months and more of attendance +upon the invalid she had never dreamed of such a thing. The servants +stoutly denied all knowledge of it, except Charles, who could not +get out of having cut the door through into the other room. It was +believed that Hesden had himself taken all the care of the injured +man, whose condition was not at all understood. How badly he had +been hurt, or in what manner, none could tell. Many visited the +house to view the place of concealment. Only the closed doors could +be seen, for Hesden had taken the key with him. Some suggested +that Nimbus was still concealed there, and several advised Mrs. +Le Moyne to get some one to go into the room. However, as no one +volunteered to go, nothing came of this advice. It was rumored, +too, that Hesden had brought into the county several detectives, who +had stolen into the hearts of the unsuspecting people of Horsford, +and had gone Northward loaded down with information that would make +trouble for some of the "best men." + +It was generally believed that the old attic over the dining-room +had long been a place where "Radicals" had been wont to meet in +solemn conclave to "plot against the whites." A thousand things +were remembered which confirmed this view. It was here that Hesden +had harbored the detectives, as Rahab had hidden the spies. It was +quite evident that he had for a long time been an emissary of the +Government at Washington, and no one could guess what tales of +outrage he might not fabricate in order to glut his appetite for +inhuman revenge. The Southern man is always self-conscious. He +thinks the world has him in its eye, and that he about fills the +eye. This does not result from comparative depreciation of others +so much as from a habit of magnifying his own image. He always poses +for effect. He walks, talks, and acts "as if he felt the eyes of +Europe on his tail," almost as much as the peacock. + +There are times, however, when even he does not care to be seen, and +it was observed that about this time there were a goodly number of +the citizens of Horsford who modestly retired from the public gaze, +some of them even going into remote States with some precipitation +and an apparent desire to remain for a time unknown. It was even +rumored that Hesden was with Nimbus, disguised as a negro, in the +attack made on the Klan during the raid on Red Wing, and that, by +means of the detectives, he had discovered every man engaged in +that patriotic affair, as well as those concerned in others of like +character. The disappearance of these men was, of course, in no +way connected with this rumor. Since the "Southern people" have +become the great jesters of the world, their conduct is not at all +to be judged by the ordinary rules of cause and effect as applied +to human action. It might have been mere buffoonery, quite as well +as modesty, that possessed some of the "best citizens of Horsford" +with an irrepressible desire to view the Falls of Niagara from the +Canadian side in mid-winter. There is no accounting for the acts +of a nation of masqueraders! + +But perhaps the most generally-accepted version of Hesden's journey +was that he had run away to espouse Mollie Ainslie. To her was +traced his whole bias toward the colored population and "Radical" +principles. Nothing evil was said of her character. She was admitted to +be as good as anybody of her class could be--intelligent, bigoted, +plucky, pretty, and malicious. It was a great pity that a man +belonging to a good family should become infatuated by one in her +station. He could never bring her home, and she would never give +up her "nigger-equality notions." She had already dragged him down +to what he was. Such a man as he, it was strenuously asserted, would +not degrade himself to stand up for such a man as Jordan Jackson +or to associate with "niggers," without some powerful extraneous +influence. That influence was Mollie Ainslie, who, having inveigled +him into "Radicalism," had now drawn him after her into the North +and matrimony. + +But nowhere did the conduct of Hesden cause more intense or +conflicting feelings than at Mulberry Hill. His achievement in +succoring, hiding, and finally rescuing Eliab Hill was a source of +never-ending wonder, applause, and mirth in the kitchen. But Miss +Hetty could not find words to express her anger and chagrin. Without +being at all forward or immodest, she had desired to succeed her +dead sister in the good graces of Hesden Le Moyne, as well as in +the position of mistress of the Hill. It was a very natural and +proper feeling. They were cousins, had always been neighbors, and +Hesden's mother had encouraged the idea, almost from the time of +his first wife's death. It was no wonder that she was jealous of +the Yankee school-marm. Love is keen-eyed, and she really loved +her cousin. She had become satisfied, during her stay at the Hill, +that he was deeply attached to Mollie Ainslie, and knew him too well +to hope that he would change; and such a conviction was, of course, +not pleasant to her vanity. But when she was convinced that he had +degraded himself and her by espousing "Radicalism" and associating +with "niggers," her wrath knew no bounds. It seemed an especial +insult to her that the man whom she had honored with her affection +should have so demeaned himself. + +Mrs. Le Moyne was at first astonished, then grieved, and finally +angry. She especially sympathized with Hetty, the wreck of whose +hope she saw in this revelation. If Mollie Ainslie had been "one +of our people," instead of "a Northern nigger school-teacher," +there would have been nothing so very bad about it. He had never +professed any especial regard or tenderness for Miss Hetty, and +had never given her any reason to expect a nearer relation than she +had always sustained toward him. Mollie was good enough in her way, +bright and pretty and--but faugh! the idea! She would not believe +it! Hesden was not and could not be a "Radical." He might have +sheltered Eliab--ought to have done so; that she _would_ say. +He had been a slave of the family, and had a right to look to her +son for protection. But to be a "Radical!" She would not believe +it. There was no use in talking to her. She remained stubbornly +silent after she had gotten to the conclusive denial: "He could +not do it!" + +Nevertheless, she thought it well to use her power while she had any. +If he was indeed a "Radical," she would never forgive him--never! +So she determined to make her will. A man learned in the law was +brought to the Hill, and Hester Le Moyne, in due form, by her last +will and testament devised the plantation to her beloved son Hesden +Le Moyne, and her affectionate cousin Hetty Lomax, jointly, and +to their heirs forever, on condition that the said devisees should +intermarry with each other within one year from the death of the +devisor; and in case either of the said devisees should refuse to +intermarry with the other, then the part of such devisee was to +go to the other, who should thereafter hold the fee in severalty, +free of all claim from the other. + +The New York and Boston papers contained, day after day, this +"personal:" + +"The heirs of James Richards, deceased, formerly of Marblehead, +Massachusetts, will learn something to their advantage by addressing +Theron Pardee, care of James & Jones, Attorneys, at No. -- Broadway, +N. Y." + +Mrs. Le Moyne was well aware of this, and also remembered her +promise to surrender the estate, should an heir be found. But that +promise had been made under the influence of Hesden's ardent zeal +for the right, and she found by indirection many excuses for avoiding +its performance. "Of course," she said to herself, "if heirs should +be found in my lifetime, I would revoke this testament; but it is +not right that I should bind those who come after me for all time +to yield to his Quixotic notions. Besides, why should I be juster +than the law? This property has been in the family for a long time, +and ought to remain there." + +Her anger at Hesden burned very fiercely, and she even talked of +refusing to see him, should he return, as she had no real doubt he +would. The excitement, however, prostrated her as usual, and her +anger turned into querulous complainings as she grew weaker. + +The return of Hesden, hardly a week after his departure, brought +him to face this tide of vituperation at its flood. All that had +been said and written and done in regard to himself came forthwith +to his knowledge. He was amazed, astounded for a time, at the +revelation. He had not expected it. He had expected anger, and was +prepared to meet it with forbearance and gentleness; but he was not +prepared for detraction and calumny and insult. He had not been so +very much surprised at the odium which had been heaped upon Jordan +Jackson. He belonged to that class of white people at the South +to whom the better class owed little duty or regard. It was not so +strange that they should slander that man. He could understand, +too, how it was that they attributed to the colored people such +incredible depravity, such capacity for evil, such impossible +designs, as well as the reason why they invented for every Northern +man that came among them with ideas different from their own a +fictitious past, reeking with infamy. + +He could sympathize in some degree with all of this. He had not +thought, himself, that it was altogether the proper thing for the +illiterate "poor-white" man, Jordan Jackson, to lead the negroes +of the county in political hostility to the whites. He had felt +naturally the distrust of the man of Northern birth which a century +of hostility and suspicion had bred in the air of the South. He had +grown up in it. He had been taught to regard the "Yankees" (which +meant all Northerners) as a distinct people--sometimes generous +and brave, but normally envious, mean, low-spirited, treacherous, +and malignant. He admitted the exceptions, but they only proved the +rule. As a class he considered them cold, calculating, selfish, +greedy of power and wealth, and regardless of the means by which +these were acquired. Above all things, he had been taught to regard +them as animated by hatred of the South. Knowing that this had been +his own bias, he could readily excuse his neighbors for the same. + +But in his own case it was different. _He_ was one of +themselves. They knew him to be brave, honorable, of good family, +of conservative instincts, fond of justice and fair play, and governed +in his actions only by the sincerest conviction. That they should +accuse him of every mean and low impossibility of act and motive, +and befoul his holiest purposes and thoughts, was to him a most +horrible thing. His anger grew hotter and hotter, as he listened +to each new tale of infamy which a week had sufficed to set afloat. +Then he heard his mother's reproaches, and saw that even her love +was not proof against a mere change of political sentiment on his +part. These things set him to thinking as he had never thought +before. The scales fell from his eyes, and from the kindly gentle +Southern man of knightly instincts and gallant achievements was +born--the "pestiferous Radical." He did not hesitate to avow his +conviction, and from that moment there was around him a wall of +fire. He had lost his rank, degraded his caste, and fallen from +his high estate. From and after that moment he was held unworthy +to wear the proud appellation, "A Southern Gentleman." + +However, as he took no active part in political life, and depended +in no degree upon the patronage or good will of his neighbors for +a livelihood, he felt the force of this feeling only in his social +relations. Unaware, as yet, of the disherison which his mother +had visited upon him in his absence, he continued to manage the +plantation and conduct all the business pertaining to it in his own +name, as he had done ever since the close of the war. At first he +entertained a hope that the feeling against him would die out. But +as time rolled on, and it continued still potent and virulent, he +came to analyze it more closely, judging his fellows by himself, +and saw that it was the natural fruit of that intolerance which +slavery made necessary--which was essential to its existence. Then +he no longer wondered at them, but at himself. It did not seem +strange that they should feel as they did, but rather that he should +so soon have escaped from the tyrannical bias of mental habit. He +saw that the struggle against it must be long and bitter, and he +determined not to yield his convictions to the prejudices of others. + +It was a strange thing. In one part of the country--and that the +greater in numbers, in wealth, in enterprise and vigor, in average +intelligence and intellectual achievements--the sentiments he had +espoused were professed and believed by a great party which prided +itself upon its intelligence, purity, respectability, and devotion +to principle. In two thirds of the country his sentiments were held +to be honorable, wise, and patriotic. Every act he had performed, +every principle he had reluctantly avowed, would there have +been applauded of all men. Nay, the people of that portion of the +country were unable to believe that any one could seriously deny +those principles. Yet in the other portion, where he lived, they +were esteemed an ineffaceable brand of shame, which no merit of a +spotless life could hide. + +The _Southern Clarion_, a newspaper of the County of Horsford, +in referring to his conduct, said: + +"Of all such an example should be made. Inaugurate social ostracism +against every white man who gives any support to the Radical Party. +Every true Southern man or woman should refuse to recognize as a +gentleman any man belonging to that party, or having any dealings +with it. Hesden Le Moyne has chosen to degrade an honored name. +He has elected to go with niggers, nigger teachers, and nigger +preachers; but let him forever be an outcast among the respectable +and high minded white people of Horsford, whom he has betrayed and +disgraced!" + +A week later, it contained another paragraph: + +"We understand that the purpose of Hesden Le Moyne in going to the +North was not entirely to stir up Northern prejudice and hostility +against our people. At least, that is what he claims. He only went, +we are informed he says, to take the half-monkey negro preacher +who calls himself Eliab Hill to a so-called college in the North to +complete his education. We shall no doubt soon have this misshapen, +malicious hypocrite paraded through the North as an evidence of +Southern barbarity. + +"The truth is, as we are credibly informed, that what injuries +he received on the night of the raid upon Red Wing were purely +accidental. There were some in the company, it seems, who were +disappointed at not finding the black desperado, Nimbus Desmit, who +was organizing his depraved followers to burn, kill, and ravish, +and proposed to administer a moderate whipping to the fellow Eliab, +who was really supposed to be at the bottom of all the other's +rascality. These few hot-heads burst in the door of his cabin, but +one of the oldest and coolest of the crowd rushed in and, at the +imminent risk of his own life, rescued him from them. In order to +bring him out into the light where he could be protected, he caught +the baboon-like creature by his foot, and he was somewhat injured +thereby. He is said to have been shot also, but we are assured +that not a shot was fired, except by some person with a repeating +rifle, who fired upon the company of white men from the woods beyond +the school-house. It is probable that some of these shots struck +the preacher, and it is generally believed that they were fired by +Hesden Le Moyne. Several who were there have expressed the opinion +that, from the manner in which the shooting was done, it must have +been by a man with one arm. However, Eliab will make a good Radical +show, and we shall have another dose of Puritanical, hypocritical +cant about Southern barbarity. Well, we can bear it. We have +got the power in Horsford, and we mean to hold it. Niggers and +nigger-worshippers must take care of themselves. This is a white +man's country, and white men are going to rule it, no matter whether +the North whines or not." + +The report given in this account of the purpose of Hesden's journey +to the North was the correct one. In the three months in which the +deformed man had been under his care, he had learned that a noble +soul and a rare mind were shut up in that crippled form, and had +determined to atone for his former coolness and doubt, as well as +mark his approval of the course of this hunted victim, by giving +him an opportunity to develop his powers. He accordingly placed him +in a Northern college, and became responsible for the expenses of +his education. + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +A BOLT OUT OF THE CLOUD. + + +A year had passed, and there had been no important change in the +relations of the personages of our story. The teacher and her +"obstreperous" pupils had disappeared from Horsford and had been +almost forgotten. Hesden, his mother, and Cousin Hetty still led +their accustomed life at Red Wing. Detraction had worn itself +out upon the former, for want of a new occasion. He was still made +to feel, in the little society which he saw, that he was a black +sheep in an otherwise spotless fold. He did not complain. He did +not account himself "ostracized," nor wonder at this treatment. +He saw how natural it was, how consistent with the training and +development his neighbors had received. He simply said to himself, +and to the few friends who still met him kindly, "I can do without +the society of others as long as they can do without mine. I can +wait. This thing must end some time--if not in my day, then afterward. +Our people must come out of it and rise above it. They must learn +that to be Americans is better than to be 'Southern.' Then they +will see that the interests and safety of the whole nation demand +the freedom and political co-equality of all." + +These same friends comforted him much as did those who argued with +the man of Uz. + +Mrs. Le Moyne's life had gone back to its old channel. Shut out +from the world, she saw only the fringes of the feeling that had +set so strongly against her son. Indeed, she received perhaps more +attention than usual in the way of calls and short visits, since +she was understood to have manifested a proper spirit of resentment +at his conduct. Hesden himself was almost the only one who did not +know of her will. It was thought, of course, that she was holding +it over him _in terrorem_. + +Yet he was just as tender and considerate of her as formerly, and +she was apparently just as fond of him. She had not yet given up +her plan of a matrimonial alliance for him with Cousin Hetty, but +that young lady herself had quite abandoned the notion. In the year +she had been at Mulberry Hill she had come to know Hesden better, +and to esteem him more highly than ever before. She knew that he +regarded her with none of the feeling his mother desired to see +between them, but they had become good friends, and after a short time +she was almost the only one of his relatives that had not allowed +his political views to sunder their social relations. Living in +the same house, it was of course impossible to maintain a constant +state of siege; but she had gone farther, and had held out a flag +of truce, and declared her conviction of the honesty of his views +and the honorableness of his _intention_. She did not think +as he did, but she had finally become willing to let him think for +himself. People said she was in love with Hesden, and that with +his mother's aid she would yet conquer his indifference. She did +not think so. She sighed when she confessed the fact to herself. +She did indeed hope that he had forgotten Mollie Ainslie. She could +never live to see her mistress at the dear old Hill! + +The term of the court was coming on at which the suits that had +been brought by Winburn against the occupants of Red Wing must be +tried. Many had left the place, and it was noticed that from all who +desired to leave, Theron Pardee had purchased, at the full value, +the titles which they held under Nimbus, and that they had all gone +off somewhere out West. Others had elected to remain, with a sort +of blind faith that all would come out right after a while, or from +mere disinclination to leave familiar scenes--that feeling which +is always so strong in the African race. + +It was at this time that Pardee came one day to Mulberry Hill and +announced his readiness to make report in the matter intrusted to +his charge concerning the will of J. Richards. + +"Well," said Hesden, "have you found the heirs?" + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Le Moyne," said Pardee; "I have assumed +a somewhat complicated relation to this matter, acting under the +spirit of my instructions, which makes it desirable, perhaps almost +necessary, that I should confer directly with the present owner of +this plantation, and that is--?" + +"My mother," said Hesden, as he paused. "I suppose it will be mine +some time," he continued laughing, "but I have no present interest +in it." + +"Yes," said the lawyer. "And is Mrs. Le Moyne's health such as to +permit her considering this matter now?" + +"Oh, I think so," said Hesden. "I will see her and ascertain." + +In a short time the attorney was ushered into the invalid's room, +where Mrs. Le Moyne, reclining on her beautifully decorated couch, +received him pleasantly, exclaiming, + +"You will see how badly off I am for company, Captain Pardee, when I +assure you that I am glad to see even a lawyer with such a bundle +of papers as you have brought. I have literally nobody but these two +children," glancing at Hesden and Hetty, "and I declare I believe +I am younger and more cheerful than either of them." + +"Your cheerfulness, madam," replied Pardee, "is an object of universal +remark and wonder. I sincerely trust that nothing in these papers +will at all affect your equanimity." + +"But what have you in that bundle, Captain?" she asked. "I assure +you that I am dying to know why you should insist on assailing a +sick woman with such a formidable array of documents." + +"Before proceeding to satisfy your very natural curiosity, madam," +answered Pardee, with a glance at Miss Hetty, "permit me to say +that my communication is of great moment to you as the owner of +this plantation, and to your son as your heir, and is of such a +character that you might desire to consider it carefully before it +should come to the knowledge of other parties." + +"Oh, never mind Cousin Hetty," said Mrs. Le Moyne quickly. "She +has just as much interest in the matter as any one." + +The lawyer glanced at Hesden, who hastened to say, "I am sure there +can be nothing of interest to me which I would not be willing that +my cousin should know." + +The young lady rose to go, but both Hesden and Mrs. Le Moyne +insisted on her remaining. + +"Certainly," said Pardee, "there can be no objection on my part. +I merely called your attention to the fact as a part of my duty as +your legal adviser." + +So Miss Hetty remained sitting upon the side of the bed, holding +one of the invalid's hands. Pardee seated himself at a small table +near the bed, and, having arranged his papers so that they would +be convenient for reference, began: + +"You will recollect, madam, that the task intrusted to me was +twofold: first, to verify this will found by your son and ascertain +whose testament it was, its validity or invalidity; and, in case It +was valid, its effect and force. Secondly, I was directed to make +all reasonable effort, in case of its validity being established, +to ascertain the existence of any one entitled to take under its +provisions. In this book," said he, holding up a small volume, "I +have kept a diary of all that I have done in regard to the matter, +with dates and places. It will give you in detail what I shall now +state briefly. + +"I went to Lancaster, where the will purports to have been executed, +and ascertained its genuineness by proving the signatures of the +attesting witnesses, and established also the fact of their death. +These affidavits'--holding up a bundle of papers--"show that I also +inquired as to the testator's identity; but I could learn nothing +except that the descendants of one of the witnesses who had bought +your ancestor's farm, upon his removal to the South, still had +his deed in possession. I copied it, and took a tracing of the +signature, which is identical with that which he subsequently used +--James Richards, written in a heavy and somewhat sloping hand, +for that time. I could learn nothing more in regard to him or his +family. + +"Proceeding then to Marblehead, I learned these facts. There were +two parties named James Richards. They were cousins; and in order +to distinguish them from each other they were called by the family +and neighbors, 'Red Jim' and 'Black Jim' respectively--the one +having red hair and blue eyes, and the other dark hair and black +eyes." + +"Yes," interrupted Mrs. Le Moyne, "I was the only blonde in my +family, and I have often heard my father say that I got it from some +ancestral strain, perhaps the Whidbys, and resembled his cousins." + +"Yes," answered Pardee, "a Whidby was a common ancestress of your +father and his cousin, 'Red Jim.' It is strange how family traits +reproduce themselves in widely-separated strains of blood." + +"Well," said Hesden, "did you connect him with this will?" + +"Most conclusively," was the reply. "In the first place, his wife's +name was Edna--Edna Goddard--before marriage, and he left an only +daughter, Alice. He was older than his cousin, 'Black Jim,' to +whom he was greatly attached. The latter removed to Lancaster, when +about twenty-five years of age, having inherited a considerable +estate in that vicinity. I had not thought of examining the record +of wills while in Lancaster, but on my return I went to the +Prothonotary's office, and verified this also. So there is no doubt +about the 'Black Jim' of the Marblehead family being your ancestor." + +"Stop! stop! Captain Pardee!" interrupted Mrs. Le Moyne quickly. +"Isn't Marblehead near Cape Cod?" + +"Yes, madam." + +"And Buzzard's Bay?" + +"Certainly." + +"No wonder," said she, laughing, "that you wanted Hetty to leave +before you opened your budget. Do pray run away, child, before +you hear any more to our discredit. Hesden, do please escort your +cousin out of the room," she added, in assumed distress. + +"No indeed," laughed Miss Hetty; "I am getting interested, and as +you would not let me go when I wished to, I have now determined to +stay till the last horror is revealed." + +"It is too late, mother," said Hesden ruefully; "fortunately, Cousin +Hetty is not attainted, except collaterally, thus far." + +"Well, go on, Captain," said Mrs. Le Moyne gayly. "What else? +Pray what was the family occupation--'calling' I believe they say +in New England. I suppose they had some calling, as they never have +any 'gentlemen' in that country." + +Pardee's face flushed hotly. He was born among the New Hampshire +hills himself. However, he answered calmly, but with a slight +emphasis, + +"They were seafaring men, madam." + +"Oh, my!" cried the invalid, clapping her hands. "Codfish! codfish! +I knew it, Hetty! I knew it! Why didn't you go out of the room +when I begged you to? Do you hear it, Hesden? That is where you get +your Radicalism from. My! my!" she laughed, almost hysterically, +"what a family! Codfish at one end and Radical at the other! 'And +the last state of that man was worse than the first!' What would +not the newspapers give to know that of you, Hesden?" + +She laughed until the tears came, and her auditors laughed with +her. Yet, despite her mirth, it was easy to detect the evidence of +strong feeling in her manner. She carried it off bravely, however, +and said, + +"But, perhaps, Captain Pardee, you can relieve us a little. Perhaps +they were not cod-fishers but mackerelers. I remember a song I +have heard my father sing, beginning, + +"When Jake came home from mack'reling, He sought his Sary Ann, And +found that she, the heartless thing, Had found another man!" + +"Do please say that they were mackerelers!" + +"I am sorry I cannot relieve your anxiety on that point," said +Pardee, but I can assure you they were a very respectable family." + +"No doubt, as families _go_ 'there," she answered, with some +bitterness. "They doubtless sold good fish, and gave a hundred +pounds for a quintal, or whatever it is they sell the filthy truck +by." + +"They were very successful and somewhat noted privateers during +the Revolution," said Pardee. + +"Worse and worse!" said Mrs. Le Moyne. Better they were fishermen +than pirates! I wonder if they didn't bring over niggers too?" + +"I should not be at all surprised," answered Pardee coolly. "This +'Red Jim' was master and owner of a vessel of some kind, and was +on his way back from Charleston, where it seems he had sold both +his vessel and cargo, when he executed this will." + +"But how do you know that it _is_ his will?" asked Hesden. + +"Oh, there is no doubt," said Pardee. "Being a shipmaster, his +signature was necessarily affixed to many papers. I have found not +less than twenty of these, all identical with the signature of the +will." + +"That would certainly seem to be conclusive," said Hesden. + +"Taken with other things, it is," answered Pardee. "Among other +things is a letter from your grandfather, which was found pasted +inside the cover of a Bible that belonged to Mrs. Edna Richards, in +regard to the death of her husband. In it he says that his cousin +visited him on his way home; went from there to Philadelphia, and +was taken sick; your grandfather was notified and went on, but death +had taken place before he arrived. The letter states that he had +but little money and no valuable papers except such as he sent. +Out of the money he had paid the funeral expenses, and would remit +the balance as soon as he could make an opportunity. The tradition +in 'Red Jim's' family is that he died of yellow fever in Philadelphia, +on his way home with the proceeds of his sale, and was robbed of +his money before the arrival of his cousin. No suspicion seems ever +to have fallen on "Black Jim." + +"Thank God for that!" ejaculated Hesden fervently. + +"I suppose you took care to awaken none," said Mrs. Le Moyne. + +"I spoke of it to but one person, to whom it became absolutely +necessary to reveal it. However, it is perfectly safe, and will go +no farther." + +"Well, did you find any descendants of this 'Red Jim' living?" +asked Mrs. Le Moyne. + +"One," answered Pardee. + +"Only one?" said she. "I declare. Hesden, the Richards family is +not numerous if it is strong." + +"Why do you say 'strong,' mother?" + +"Oh, codfish and Radicals, you know!" + +"Now, mother--" + +"Oh, if you hate to hear about it, why don't you quit the dirty +crowd and be a gentleman again. Or is it your new-found cousin you +feel so bad for? By the way, Captain, is it a boy or girl, and is +it old or young?" + +"It is a lady, madam, some twenty years of age or thereabout." + +"A lady? Well, I suppose that is what they call them there. Married +or single?" + +"Single." + +"What a pity you are getting so old, Hesden! You might make a match +and settle her claim in that way. Though I don't suppose she has +any in law." + +"On the contrary, madam," said Pardee, "her title is perfect. She +can recover not only this plantation but every rood of the original +tract." + +"You don't say!" exclaimed the invalid. "It would make her one of +the richest women in the State!" + +"Undoubtedly." + +"Oh, it cannot be, Captain Pardee!" exclaimed Miss Hetty. "It cannot +be!" + +"There can be no doubt about it," said Pardee. "She is the +great-grand-daughter of 'Red Jim,' and his only lineal descendant. +His daughter Alice, to whom this is bequeathed, married before +arriving at the age of eighteen, and died in wedlock, leaving an +only daughter, who also married before she became of age, and also +died in wedlock, leaving a son and daughter surviving. The son died +without heirs of his body, and only the daughter is left. There has +never been an hour when the action of the statute was not barred." + +"Have you seen her?" asked Mrs. Le Moyne. + +"Yes." + +"Does she know her good luck?" + +"She is fully informed of her rights." + +"Indeed? You told her, I suppose?" + +"I found her already aware of them." + +"Why, how could that be?" + +"I am sure I do not know," said Pardee, glancing sharply at Hesden. + +"What," said Hesden, with a start; "what did you say is the name +of the heir?" + +"I did not say," said Pardee coolly. Hesden sprang to his feet, +and going across the room stood gazing out of the window. + +"Why don't you tell us the name of the heir, Captain? You must +know we are dying to hear all about our new cousin," said Mrs. Le +Moyne bitterly. "Is she long or short, fat or lean, dark or fair? +Do tell us all about her?" + +"In appearance, madam," said Pardee carelessly, "I should say she +much resembled yourself at her age." + +"Oh, Captain, you flatter me, I'm sure," she answered, with just +a hint of a sneer. "Well, what is her name, and when does she wish +to take possession?" + +"Her name, madam, you must excuse me if I withhold for the present. +I am the bearer of a proposition of compromise from her, which, +if accepted, will, I hope, avoid all trouble. If not accepted, I +shall find myself under the necessity of asking to be relieved from +further responsibility in this matter." + +"Come here, Hesden," said his mother, "and hear what terms your +new cousin wants for Mulberry Hill. I hope we won't have to move +out till spring. It would be mighty bad to be out of doors all +winter. Go on, Captain Pardee, Hesden is ready now. This is what +comes of your silly idea about doing justice to some low-down Yankee. +It's a pity you hadn't sense enough to burn the will up. It would +have been better all round. The wealth will turn the girl's head, +and the loss of my home will kill me," she continued fiercely to +her son. + +"As to the young lady, you need have no fear," said Pardee. "She +is not one of the kind that lose their heads. + +"Ah, you seem to be quite an admirer of her?" + +"I am, madam." + +"If we do not accept her proposal, you will no doubt become her +attorney?" + +"I am such already." + +"You don't say so? Well, you are making good speed. I should think +you might have waited till you had dropped us before picking her +up. But then, it will be a good thing to be the attorney of such +an heiress, and we shall be poor indeed after she gets her own--as +you say it is." + +"Madam," said Pardee seriously, "I shall expect you to apologize +both to me and to my client when you have heard her proposition." + +"I shall be very likely to, Mr. Pardee," she said, with a dry +laugh. "I come of an apologetic race. Old Jim Richards was full +of apologies. He liked to have died of them, numberless times. But +what is your proposal?" + +"As I said," remarked Pardee, "my client--I beg pardon--the +great-grand-daughter of 'Red Jim' Richards, instructs me to say that +she does not desire to stain her family name or injure your feelings +by exposing the fraud of your ancestor, 'Black Jim' Richards. + +"What, sir!" said Mrs. Le Moyne sharply. "Fraud! You had better +measure your words, sir, when you speak of my father. Do you hear +that, Hesden? Have you lost all spirit since you became a Radical?" +she continued, while her eyes flashed angrily. + +"I am sorry to say that I do not see what milder term could be +used," said Hesden calmly. "Go on with your proposition, sir." + +"Well, as I said," continued the lawyer, "this young lady, desiring +to save the family name and your feelings from the shock of exposure, +has instructed me to say: First, that she does not wish to disturb +any of those rights which have been obtained by purchase from your +ancestor; and second, that she understands that there is a dispute +in regard to the title of a portion of it--the tract generally +known as Red Wing--neither of the parties claiming which have any +title as against her. She understands that the title held by Winburn +is technically good against that of the colored man, Nimbus Desmit, +providing hers is not set up. + +"Now she proposes that if you will satisfy Winburn and obtain a +quit-claim from him to Desmit, she will make a deed in fee to Mrs. +Le Moyne of the whole tract; and as you hold by inheritance from +one who purported to convey the fee, the title will thereafter be +estopped, and all rights held under the deeds of 'Black Jim' Richards +will be confirmed." + +"Well, what else?" asked Mrs. Le Moyne breathlessly, as he paused. + +"There is nothing more." + +"Nothing more! Why, does the girl propose to give away all this +magnificent property for nothing?" she asked in astonishment. + +"Absolutely nothing to her own comfort or advantage," answered the +attorney. + +"Well, now, that is kind--that is kind!" said the invalid. "I am +sorry for what I have said of her, Captain Pardee." + +"I thought you would be, madam," he replied. + +"You must attend to that Red Wing matter immediately, Hesden," she +said, thoughtfully. + +"You accept the proposal then?" asked Pardee. + +"Accept, man? Of course we do!" said Mrs. Le Moyne. + +"Stop, mother!" said Hesden. "You may accept for yourself, but not +for me. Is this woman able to give away such a fortune?" he asked +of Pardee. + +"She is not rich. She has been a teacher, and has some property--enough, +she insists, for comfort," was the answer. + +"If she had offered to sell, I would have bought at any possible +price, but I cannot take such a gift!" + +"Do you accept the terms?" asked Pardee of Mrs. Le Moyne. + +"I do," she answered doggedly, but with a face flushing with shame. + +"Then, madam, let me say that I have already shown the proofs in +confidence to Winburn's attorney. He agrees that they have no chance, +and is willing to sell the interest he represents for five hundred +dollars. That I have already paid, and have taken a quit-claim +to Desmit. Upon the payment of that, and my bill for services, I +stand ready to deliver to you the title." + +The whole amount was soon ascertained and a check given to Pardee +for the sum. Thereupon he handed over to Mrs. Le Moyne a deed in +fee-simple, duly executed, covering the entire tract, except that +about Red Wing, which was conveyed to Nimbus in a deed directly +to him. Mrs. Le Moyne unfolded the deed, and turning quickly to +the last page read the name of the donor: + +"MOLLIE AINSLIE!" + +"What!" she exclaimed, "not the little nigger teacher at Red Wing?" + +"The same, madam," said Pardee, with a smile and a bow. + +The announcement was too much for the long-excited invalid. She +fell back fainting upon her pillow, and while Cousin Hetty devoted +herself to restoring her relative to consciousness, Pardee gathered +up his papers and withdrew. Hesden followed him, presently, and +asked where Miss Ainslie was. + +"I am directed," said Pardee, "not to disclose her residence, but +will at any time forward any communication you may desire to make." + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. + + +The next day Mr. Pardee received a note from Mrs. Le Moyne, +requesting him to come to Mulberry Hill at his earliest convenience. +Being at the time disengaged, he returned with the messenger. Upon +being ushered again into the invalid's room, he found Miss Hetty +Lomax with a flushed face standing by the bedside. Both the ladies +greeted him with some appearance of embarrassment. + +"Cousin Hetty," said the invalid, "will you ask Hesden to come here +for a moment?" + +Miss Hetty left the room, and returned a moment afterward in company +with Hesden. + +"Hesden," said Mrs. Le Moyne, "were you in earnest in what you said +yesterday in regard to receiving any benefits under this deed?" + +"Certainly, mother," replied Hesden; "I could never consent to do +so." + +"Very well, my son," said the invalid; "you are perhaps right; but +I wish you to know that I had heretofore made my will, giving to +you and Cousin Hetty a joint interest in my estate. You know the +feeling which induced me to do so. I am in the confessional to-day, +and may as well admit that I was hasty and perhaps unjust in so +doing. In justice to Cousin Hetty I wish also to say--" + +"Oh, please, Mrs. Le Moyne," interrupted Hetty, blushing deeply. + +"Hush, my child," said the invalid tenderly; "I must be just to +you as well as to others. Hetty," she continued, turning her eyes +upon Hesden, who stood looking in wonder from one to the other, +"has long tried to persuade me to revoke that instrument. I have +at length determined to cancel and destroy it, and shall proceed +to make a new one, which I desire that both of you shall witness +when it has been drawn." + +Being thus dismissed, Hesden and his cousin withdrew, while +Pardee seated himself at the little table by the bedside, on which +writing materials had already been placed, and proceeded to receive +instructions and prepare the will as she directed. When it had been +completed and read over to her, she said, wearily, + +"That is right." + +The attorney called Hesden and his cousin, who, having witnessed +the will by her request, again withdrew. + +"Now Mr. Pardee," said Mrs. Le Moyne sadly, "I believe that I have +done my duty as well as Hesden has done his. It is hard, very hard, +for me to give up projects which I have cherished so long. As I +have constituted you my executor, I desire that you will keep this +will, and allow no person to know its contents unless directed by +me to do so, until my death." + +"Your wishes shall be strictly complied with, madam," said Pardee, +as he folded the instrument and placed it in his pocket. + +"I have still another favor to request of you, Mr. Pardee," she +said. "I have written this note to Miss Ainslie, which I wish you +to read and then transmit to her. No, no," she continued, as she +saw him about to seal the letter which she had given him, without +reading it; "you must read it. You know something of what it has +cost me to write it, and will be a better judge than I as to whether +it contains all that I should say." + +Thus adjured, Pardee opened the letter and read: + +"MULBERRY HILL Saturday, Oct. 8, 1871. + +"MY DEAR MISS AINSLIE: + +"Captain Pardee informed us yesterday of your nobly disinterested +action in regard to the estate rightfully belonging to you. Words +cannot express my gratitude for the consideration you have shown to +our feelings in thus shielding the memory of the dead. Mr. Pardee +will transmit to you with this the papers, showing that we have +complied with your request. Pardon me if I do not write as warmly +as I ought. One as old and proud as I cannot easily adapt herself +to so new and strange a role. I hope that time will enable me to +think more calmly and speak more freely of this matter. + +"Hoping you will forgive my constraint, and believe that it arises +from no lack of appreciation of your magnanimity, but only springs +from my own weakness; and asking your pardon for all unkindness of +thought, word, or act in the past, I remain, + +"Yours gratefully, + +"HESTER RICHARDS LE MOYNE." + +"My dear Mrs. Le Moyne," said Pardee, as he extended his hand and +grasped that of the suffering woman, "I am sure Miss Ainslie would +never require any such painful acknowledgment at your hands." + +"I know she would not," was the reply; "it is not she that requires it, +but myself--my honor, Mr. Pardee. You must not suppose, nor must +she believe, that the wife of a Le Moyne can forget the obligations +of justice, though her father may have unfortunately done so." + +"But I am sure it will cause her pain," said Pardee. + +"Would it cause her less were I to refuse what she has so delicately +given?" + +"No, indeed," said the attorney. + +"Then I see no other way." + +"Perhaps there is none," said Pardee thoughtfully. + +"You think I have said enough?" she asked. + +"You could not say more," was the reply. After a moment's pause +he continued, "Are you willing that I should give Miss Ainslie any +statement I may choose of this matter?" + +"I should prefer," she answered, "that nothing more be said; unless," +she added, with a smile, "you conceive that your duty imperatively +demands it." + +"And Hesden?" he began. + +"Pardon me, sir," she said, with dignity; "I will not conceal from +you that my son's course has given me great pain; indeed, you are +already aware of that fact. Since yesterday, I have for the first +time admitted to myself that in abandoning the cause of the Southern +people he has acted from a sense of duty. My own inclination, after +sober second thought," she added, as a slight flush overspread her +pale face, "would have been to refuse, as he has done, this bounty +from the hands of a stranger; more particularly from one in the +position which Miss Ainslie has occupied; but I feel also that her +unexpected delicacy demands the fullest recognition at our hands. +Hesden will take such course as his own sense of honor may dictate." + +"Am I at liberty to inform him of the nature of the testament which +you have made?" + +"I prefer not." + +"Well," said Pardee, "if there is nothing more to be done I will +bid you good-evening, hoping that time may yet bring a pleasant +result out of these painful circumstances." + +After the lawyer had retired, Mrs. Le Moyne summoned her son to +her bedside and said, + +"I hope you will forgive me, Hesden, for all--" + +"Stop, mother," said he, playfully laying his hand over her mouth; +"I can listen to no such language from you. When I was a boy you +used to stop my confessions of wrong-doing with a kiss; how much +more ought silence to be sufficient between us now." + +He knelt by her side and pressed his lips to hers. + +"Oh, my son, my son!" said the weeping woman, as she pushed back +the hair above his forehead and looked into his eyes; "only give +your mother time--you know it is so hard--so hard. I am trying, +Hesden; and you must be very kind to me, very gentle. It will not +be for long, but we must be alone--all alone--as we were before all +these things came about. Only," she added sobbingly, "only little +Hildreth is not here now." + +"Believe me, mother," said he, and the tears fell upon the gentle +face over which he bent, "I will do nothing to cause you pain. My +opinions I cannot renounce, because I believe them right." + +"I know, I know, my son," she said; "but it is so hard--so hard--to +think that we must lose the place which we have always held in the +esteem of--all those about us." + +There was silence for a time, and then she continued, "Hetty thinks +it is best--that--that she--should--not remain here longer at this +time. She is perhaps right, my son. You must not blame her for +anything that has occurred; indeed--indeed she is not at fault. In +fact," she added, "she has done much toward showing me my duty. Of +course it is hard for her, as it is for me, to be under obligations +to--to--such a one as Miss Ainslie. It is very hard to believe that +she could have done as she has without some--some unworthy motive." + +"Mother!" said Hesden earnestly, raising his head and gazing +reproachfully at her. + +"Don't--don't, my son! I am trying--believe me, I am trying; but +it is so hard. Why should she give up all this for our sakes?" + +"Not for ours mother--not for ours alone; for her own as well." + +"Oh, my son, what does she know of family pride?" + +"Mother," said he gravely, "she is prouder than we ever were. +Oh, I _know_ it,"--seeing the look of incredulity upon her +face;--"prouder than any Richards or Le Moyne that ever lived; only +it is a different kind of pride. She would _starve_, mother," +he continued impetuously; "she would work her fingers to the bone +rather than touch one penny of that estate." + +"Oh, why--why, Hesden, should she do that? Just to shield my father's +name?" + +"Not alone for that," said Hesden. "Partly to show that she can +give you pride for pride, mother." + +"Do you think so, Hesden?" + +"I am sure of it." + +"Will you promise me one thing?" + +"Whatever you shall ask." + +"Do not write to her, nor in any way communicate with her, except +at my request." + +"As you wish." + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +SOME OLD LETTERS. + + +I. + +"RED WING, Saturday, Feb. 15, 1873. + +"MISS MOLLIE AINSLIE: + +"I avail myself of your kind permission to address you a letter +through Captain Pardee, to whom I will forward this to-morrow. I +would have written to you before, because I knew you must be anxious +to learn how things are at this place, where you labored so long; +but I was very busy--and, to tell you the truth, I felt somewhat hurt +that you should withhold from me for so long a time the knowledge +even of where you were. It is true, I have known that you were +somewhere in Kansas; but I could see no reason why you should not +wish it to be known exactly where; nor can I now. I was so foolish +as to think, at first, that it was because you did not wish the +people where you now live to know that you had ever been a teacher +in a colored school. + +"When I returned here, however, and learned something of your +kindness to our people--how you had saved the property of my dear +lost brother Nimbus, and provided for his wife and children, and +the wife and children of poor Berry, and so many others of those +who once lived at Red Wing; and when I heard Captain Pardee read +one of your letters to our people, saying that you had not forgotten +us, I was ashamed that I had ever had such a thought. I know that +you must have some good reason, and will never seek to know more +than you may choose to tell me in regard to it. You may think it +strange that I should have had this feeling at all; but you must +remember that people afflicted as I am become very sensitive--morbid, +perhaps--and are very apt to be influenced by mere imagination +rather than by reason. + +"After completing my course at the college, for which I can never +be sufficiently grateful to Mr. Hesden, I thought at first that I +would write to you and see if I could not obtain work among some +of my people in the West. Before I concluded to do so, however, the +President of the college showed me a letter asking him to recommend +some one for a colored school in one of the Northern States. He said +he would be willing to recommend me for that position. Of course +I felt very grateful to him, and very proud of the confidence +he showed in my poor ability. Before I had accepted, however, I +received a letter from Mr. Hesden, saying that he had rebuilt the +school-house at Red Wing, that the same kind people who furnished +it before had furnished it again, and that he wished the school +to be re-opened, and desired me to come back and teach here. At +first I thought I could not come; for the memory of that terrible +night--the last night that I was here--came before me whenever I +thought of it; and I was so weak as to think I could not ever come +here again. Then I thought of Mr. Hesden, and all that he had done +for me, and felt that I would be making a very bad return for his +kindness should I refuse any request he might make. So I came, +and am very glad that I did. + +"It does not seem like the old Red Wing, Miss Mollie. There are +not near so many people here, and the school is small in comparison +with what it used to be. Somehow the life and hope seem to have +gone out of our people, and they do not look forward to the future +with that confident expectation which they used to have. It reminds +me very much of the dull, plodding hopelessness of the old slave +time. It is true, they are no longer subject to the terrible +cruelties which were for a while visited upon them; but they feel, +as they did in the old time, that their rights are withheld from +them, and they see no hope of regaining them. With their own poverty +and ignorance and the prejudices of the white people to contend +with, it does indeed seem a hopeless task for them to attempt to +be anything more, or anything better, than they are now. I am even +surprised that they do not go backward instead of forward under +the difficulties they have to encounter. + +"I am learning to be more charitable than I used to be, Miss Mollie, +or ever would have been had I not returned here. It seems to me +now that the white people are not so much to be blamed for what has +been done and suffered since the war, as pitied for that prejudice +which has made them unconsciously almost as much _slaves_ as +my people were before the war. I see, too, that these things cannot +be remedied at once. It will be a long, sad time of waiting, which +I fear our people will not endure as well as they did the tiresome +waiting for freedom. I used to think that the law could give us our +rights and make us free. I now see, more clearly than ever before, +that we must not only make _ourselves_ free, but must overcome +all that prejudice which slavery created against our race in the +hearts of the white people. It is a long way to look ahead, and I +don't wonder that so many despair of its ever being accomplished. +I know it can only be done through the attainment of knowledge and +the power which that gives. + +"I do not blame for giving way to despair those who are laboring +for a mere pittance, and perhaps not receiving that; who have wives +and children to support, and see their children growing up as poor +and ignorant as themselves. If I were one of those, Miss Mollie, +and whole and sound, I wouldn't stay in this country another day. +I would go somewhere where my children would have a chance to learn +what it is to be free, whatever hardship I might have to face in +doing so, for their sake. But I know that they cannot go--at least +not all of them, nor many of them; and I think the Lord has dealt +with me as he has in order that I might be willing to stay here +and help them, and share with them the blessed knowledge which kind +friends have given to me. + +"Mr. Hesden comes over to see the school very often, and is very +much interested in it. I have been over to Mulberry Hill once, +and saw the dear old 'Mistress.' She has failed a great deal, Miss +Mollie, and it does seem as if her life of pain was drawing to an +end. She was very kind to me, asked all about my studies, how I was +getting on, and inquired very kindly of you. She seemed very much +surprised when I told her that I did not know where you were, only +that you were in the West. It is no wonder that she looks worn and +troubled, for Mr. Hesden has certainly had a hard time. I do not +think it is as bad now as it has been, and some of the white people, +even, say that he has been badly treated. But, Miss Mollie, you +can't imagine the abuse he has had to suffer because he befriended +me, and is what they call a 'Radical.' + +"There is one thing that I cannot understand. I can see why the +white people of the South should be so angry about colored people +being allowed to vote. I can understand, too, why they should abuse +Mr. Hesden, and the few like him, because they wish to see the +colored people have their rights and become capable of exercising +them. It is because they have always believed that we are an inferior +race, and think that the attempt to elevate us is intended to drag +them down. But I cannot see why the people of the _North_ should +think so ill of such men as Mr. Hesden. It would be a disgrace for +any man there to say that he was opposed to the colored man having +the rights of a citizen, or having a fair show in any manner. But +they seem to think that if a man living at the South advocates +those rights, or says a word in our favor, he is a low-down, mean +man. If we had a few men like Mr, Hesden in every county, I think +it would soon be better; but if it takes as long to get each one +as it has to get him, I am afraid a good many generations will live +and die before that good time will come. + +"I meant to have said more about the school, Miss Mollie; but I +have written so much that I will wait until the next time for that. +Hoping that you will have time to write to me, I remain + +"Your very grateful pupil, + +"ELIAB HILL." + + +II. + +"MULBERRY HILL, Wednesday, March 5, 1873. + +"Miss MOLLIE AINSLIE: + +"Through the kindness of our good friend, Captain Pardee, I send +you this letter, together with an instrument, the date of which +you will observe is the same as that of my former letter. You will +see that I have regarded myself only as a trustee and a beneficiary, +during life, of your self-denying generosity. The day after I +received your gift, I gave the plantation back to you, reserving +only the pleasing privilege of holding it as my own while I lived. +The opportunity which I then hoped might some time come has now +arrived. I can write to you now without constraint or bitterness. +My pride has not gone; but I am proud of you, as a relative proud +as myself, and far braver and more resolute than I have ever been. + +"My end is near, and I am anxious to see you once more. The dear +old plantation is just putting on its spring garment of beauty. +Will you not come and look upon your gift in its glory, and gladden +the heart of an old woman whose eyes long to look upon your face +before they see the brightness of the upper world? + +"Come, and let me say to the people of Horsford that you are one +of us--a Richards worthier than the worthiest they have known! + +"Yours, with sincerest love, + +"HESTER RICHARDS LE MOYNE. + +"P. S.--I ought to say that, although Hesden is one of the witnesses +to my will, he knows nothing of its contents. He does not know +that I have written to you, but I am sure he will be glad to see +you. + +"H. R. LE M." + + +III. + +Mrs. Le Moyne received the following letter in reply: "March 15, +1873. + +"MY DEAR MRS. LE MOYNB: + +"Your letter gave me far greater pleasure than you can imagine. +But you give me much more credit for doing what I did than I have +any right to receive. While I know that I would do the same now, +to give you pleasure and save you pain, as readily as I did it then +from a worse motive, I must confess to you that I did it, almost +solely I fear, to show you that a Yankee girl, even though a teacher +of a colored school, could be as proud as a Southern lady. I did it +to humiliate _you._ Please forgive me; but it is true, and I +cannot bear to receive your praise for what really deserves censure. +I have been ashamed of myself very many times for this unworthy +motive for an act which was in itself a good one, but which I am +glad to have done, even so unworthily. + +"I thank you for your love, which I hope I may better deserve +hereafter. I inclose the paper which you sent me, and hope you +will destroy it at once. I could not take the property you have so +kindly devised to me, and you can readily see what trouble I should +have in bestowing it where it should descend as an inheritance. + +"Do not think that I need it at all. I had a few thousands which +I invested in the great West when I left the South, three years +ago, in order to aid those poor colored people at Red Wing, whose +sufferings appealed so strongly to my sympathies. By good fortune +a railroad has come near me, a town has been built up near by and +grown into a city, as in a moment, so that my venture has been +blessed; and though I have given away some, the remainder has +increased in value until I feel myself almost rich. My life has +been very pleasant, and I hope not altogether useless to others. +"I am sorry that I cannot do as you wish. I know that you will +believe that I do not now act from any un-worthy motive, of from +any lack of appreciation of your kindness, or doubt of your sincerity. +Thanking you again for your kind words and hearty though undeserved +praises, I remain, + +"Yours very truly, + +"MOLLIE AINSLIE." + +"Hesden," said Mrs. Le Moyne to her son, as he sat by her bedside +while she read this letter, "will you not write to Miss Ainslie?" + +"What!" said he, looking up from his book in surprise. "Do you mean +it?" + +"Indeed I do, my son," she answered, with a glance of tenderness. +"I tried to prepare you a surprise, and wrote for her to come and +visit us; but she will not come at my request. I am afraid you are +the only one who can overcome her stubbornness. + +"I fear that I should have no better success," he answered. + +Nevertheless, he went to his desk, and, laying out some paper, he +placed upon it, to hold it in place while he wrote, a great black +hoof with a silver shoe, bearing on the band about its crown the +word "Midnight." After many attempts he wrote as follows: + +"Miss MOLLIE AINSLIE: + +"Will you permit me to come and see you, upon the conditions imposed +when I saw you last? + +"HESDEN LE MOYNE." + + +IV. + +While Hesden waited for an answer to this letter, which had been +forwarded through Captain Pardee, he received one from Jordan +Jackson. It was somewhat badly spelled, but he made it out to be +as follows: + +"EUPOLIA, KANSAS, Sunday, March 23, 1873. + +"MY DEAR LE MOYNE: + +"I have been intending to write to you for a long time, but have +been too busy. You never saw such a busy country as this. It just +took me off my legs when I first came out here. I thought I knew +what it meant to 'git up and git.' Nobody ever counted me hard to +start or slow to move, down in that country; but here--God bless +you, Le Moyne, I found I wasn't half awake! Work? Lord! Lord! how +these folks do work and tear around! It don't seem so very hard +either, because when they have anything to do they don't do nothing +else, and when have nothing to do they make a business of that, +too. + +"Then, they use all sorts of machinery, and never do anything by +hand-power that a horse can be made to do, in any possible way. +The horses do all the ploughing, sowing, hoeing, harvesting, and, +in fact, pretty much all the farm-work; while the man sits up on a +sulky-seat and fans himself with a palm-leaf hat. So that, according +to my reckoning, one man here counts for about as much as four in +our country. + +"I have moved from where I first settled, which was in a county +adjoining this. I found that my notion of just getting a plantation +to settle down on, where I could make a living and be out of harm's +way, wasn't the thing for this country, nohow. A man who comes +here must pitch in and count for all he's worth. It's a regular +ground-scuffle, open to all, and everybody choosing his own hold. +Morning, noon, and night the world is awake and alive; and if a +man isn't awake too, it tramps on right over him and wipes him out, +just as a stampeded buffalo herd goes over a hunter's camp. + +"Everybody is good-natured and in dead earnest. Every one that +comes is welcome, and no questions asked. Kin and kin-in-law don't +count worth a cuss. Nobody stops to ask where you come from, what's +your politics, or whether you've got any religion. They don't care, +if you only mean 'business.' They don't make no fuss over nobody. +There ain't much of what we call 'hospitality' at the South, making a +grand flourish and a big lay-out over anybody; but they just take +it, as a matter of course, that you are all right and square and +honest, and as good as anybody till you show up diferent. There +ain't any big folks nor any little ones. Of course, there are rich +folks and poor ones, but the poor are just as respectable as the +rich, feel just as big, and take up just as much of the road. There +ain't any crawling nor cringing here. Everybody stands up straight, +and don't give nor take any sass from anybody else. The West takes +right hold of every one that comes into it and makes him a part of +itself, instead of keeping him outside in the cold to all eternity, +as the South does the strangers who go there. + +"I don't know as you'd like it; but if any one who has been kept +down and put on, as poor men are at the South, can muster pluck +enough to get away and come here, he'll think he's been born over +again, or I'm mistaken. Nobody asks your politics. I don't reckon +anybody knew mine for a year. The fact is, we're all too busy to +fuss with our neighbors or cuss them about their opinions. I've +heard more politics in a country store in Horsford in a day than +I've heard here in Eupolia in a year--and we've got ten thousand +people here, too. I moved here last year, and am doing well. I +wouldn't go back and live in that d--d hornet's nest that I felt +so bad about leaving--not for the whole State, with a slice of the +next one throwed in. + +"I've meant to tell you, a half dozen times, about that little +Yankee gal that used to be at Red Wing; but I've been half afraid +to, for fear you would get mad about it. My wife said that when she +came away there was a heap of talk about you being sorter 'sweet' +on the 'nigger-school-marm.' I knew that she was sick at your house +when I was there, and so, putting the two together, I 'llowed that +for once there might be some truth in a Horsford rumor. I reckon it +must have been a lie, though; or else she 'kicked' you, which she +wouldn't stand a speck about doing, even if you were the President, +if you didn't come up to her notion. It's a mighty high notion, too, +let me tell you; and the man that gits up to it'll have to climb. +Bet your life on that! + +"But that's all no matter. I reckon you'll be glad to know how +she's gettin' on out here, anyhow. She come here not a great while +after I did; but, bless your stars, she wasn't as green as I, not +by any manner of means. She didn't want to hide out in a quiet +part of the country, where the world didn't turn around but once +in two days. No, sir! She was keen--just as keen as a razor-blade. +She run her eye over the map and got inside the railroad projects +somehow, blessed if I know how; and then she just went off fifty +miles out of the track others was taking, and bought up all the +land she could pay for, and got trusted for all the credit that +that brought her; and here she is now, with Eupolia building right +up on her land, and just a-busting up her quarter-sections into +city lots, day after day, till you can't rest. + +"Just think on't, Moyne! It's only three years ago and she was +teaching a nigger school, there in Red Wing; and now, God bless +you, here she is, just a queen in a city that wasn't nowhere then. +I tell you, she's a team! Just as proud as Lucifer, and as wide-awake +as a hornet in July. She beats anything I ever did see. She's given +away enough to make two or three, and I'll be hanged if it don't +seem to me that every cent she gives just brings her in a dollar. +The people here just worship her, as they have a good right to; but +she ain't a bit stuck up. She's got a whole lot of them Red Wing +niggers here, and has settled them down and put them to work, +and made them get on past all expectation. She just tells right +out about her having taught a nigger school down in Horsford, and +nobody seems to think a word on't. In fact, I b'lieve they rather +like her better for it. + +"I heard about her soon after she came here, but, to tell the truth, +I thought I was a little better than a 'nigger-teacher,' if I was +in Kansas. So I didn't mind anything about her till Eupolia began +to grow, and I came to think about going into trading again. Then +I came over, just to look around, you know. I went to see the little +lady, feeling mighty 'shamed, you may bet, and more than half of +the notion that she wouldn't care about owning that she'd ever seen +me before. But, Lord love you! I needn't have had any fear about +that. Nobody ever had a heartier welcome than she gave me, until +she found that I had been living only fifty miles away for a year +and hadn't let her know. Then she come down on me--Whew! I thought +there was going to be a blizzard, sure enough. + +"'Jordan Jackson,' said she, 'you just go home and bring that wife +and them children here, where they can see something and have a +rest.' + +"I had to do it, and they just took to staying in Eupolia here +nigh about all the time. So I thought I might as well come too; +and here I am, doing right well, and would be mighty glad to see +an old friend if you could make up your mind to come this way. We +are all well, and remember you as the kindest of all old friends +in our time of need. + +"I never wrote as long a letter as this before, and never 'llow to +do it again. + +"Your true friend, + +"JORDAN JACKSON." + + +V. + +In due time there came to Hesden Le Moyne an envelope, containing +only a quaintly-shaped card, which looked as if it had been cut +from the bark of a brown-birch tree. On one side was printed, in +delicate script characters, + + +"Miss Mollie Ainslie, +Eupolia, +Kansas." + + +On the other was written one word: "Come." + +A bride came to Mulberry Hill with the May roses, and when Mrs. +Le Moyne had kissed her who knelt beside her chair for a maternal +benison, she placed a hand on either burning cheek, and, holding the +face at arm's length, said, with that archness which never forsook +her, "What am I to do about the old plantation? Hesden refuses to +be my heir, and you refuse to be my devisee; must I give it to the +poor?" + +The summer bloomed and fruited; the autumn glowed and faded; and +peace and happiness dwelt at Red Wing. But when the Christmas +came, wreaths of _immortelles_ lay upon a coffin in "Mother's +Room," and Hesden and Mollie dropped their tears upon the sweet, +pale face within. + +So Hesden and Mollie dwelt at Red Wing. The heirs of "Red Jim" had +their own, and the children of "Black Jim" were not dispossessed. + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +A SWEET AND BITTER FRUITAGE. + + +The charms of the soft, luxurious climate were peculiarly grateful +to Mollie after the harshness of the Kansas winter and the sultry +summer winds that swept over the heated plains. There was something, +too, very pleasant in renewing her associations with that region +in a relation so different from that under which she had formerly +known it. As the teacher at Red Wing, her life had not been wholly +unpleasant; but that which had made it pleasant had proceeded +from herself and not from others. The associations which she then +formed had been those of kindly charity--the affection which one +has for the objects of sympathetic care. So far as the world in +which she now lived was concerned--the white world and white people +of Horsford--she had known nothing of them, nor they of her, but +as each had regarded the other as a curious study. Their life had +been shut out from her, and her life had been a matter that did not +interest them. She had wondered that they did not think and feel +as she did with regard to the colored people; and they, that any +one having a white skin and the form of woman should come a thousand +miles to become a servant of servants. The most charitable among +them had deemed her a fool; the less charitable, a monster. + +In the few points of contact which she had with them personally, +she had found them pleasant. In the few relations which they held +toward the colored people, and toward her as their friend, she had +found them brutal and hateful beyond her power to conceive. Then, +her life had been with those for whom she labored, so far as it +was in or of the South at all. They had been the objects of her +thought, her interest, and her care. Their wrongs had entered into +her life, and had been the motive of her removal to the West. Out +of these conditions, by a curious evolution, had grown a new life, +which she vainly tried to graft upon the old without apparent +disjointure. + +Now, by kinship and by marriage, she belonged to one of the most +respectable families of the region. It was true that Hesden. had +sullied his family name by becoming a Radical; but as he had never +sought official position, nor taken any active part in enforcing or +promulgating the opinions which he held; had, in fact, identified +himself with the party of odious principles only for the protection +of the victims of persecution or the assertion of the rights of +the weak--he was regarded with much more toleration and forbearance +than would otherwise have been displayed toward him. + +In addition to this, extravagant rumors came into the good county +of Horsford respecting the wealth which Mollie Ainslie had acquired, +and of the pluck and enterprise which she had displayed in the far +West. It was thought very characteristic of the brave young teacher +of Red Wing, only her courage was displayed there in a different +manner. So they took a sort of pride in her, as if she had been +one of themselves; and as they told to each other the story of her +success, they said, "Ah, I knew she would make her mark! Any girl +that had her pluck was too good to remain a nigger-teacher long. +It was lucky for Hesden, though. By George! he made his Radicalism +pay, didn't he? Well, well; as long as he don't trouble anybody, +I don't see why we should not be friends with him--if he _is_ +a Radical." So they determined that they would patronize and +encourage Hesden Le Moyne and his wife, in the hope that he might +be won back to his original excellence, and that she might be +charmed with the attractions of Southern society and forget the +bias of her Yankee origin. + +The occupants of Mulberry Hill, therefore, received much attention, +and before the death of Hesden's mother had become prime favorites +in the society of Horsford. It is true that now and then they met +with some exhibition of the spirit which had existed before, but +in the main their social life was pleasant; and, for a considerable +time, Hesden felt that he had quite regained his original status as +a "Southern gentleman," while Mollie wondered if it were possible +that the people whom she now met upon such pleasant terms were +those who had, by their acts of violence, painted upon her memory +such horrible and vivid pictures. She began to feel as if she had +done them wrong, and sought by every means in her power to identify +herself with their pleasures and their interests. + +At the same time, she did not forget those for whom she had before +labored, and who had shown for her such true and devoted friendship. +The school at Red Wing was an especial object of her care and +attention. Rarely did a week pass that her carriage did not show +itself in the little hamlet, and her bright face and cheerful tones +brought encouragement and hope to all that dwelt there. Having learned +from Hesden and Eliab the facts with regard to the disappearance of +Nimbus, she for a long time shared Lugena's faith in regard to her +husband, and had not yet given up hope that he was alive. Indeed, +she had taken measures to discover his whereabouts; but all these +had failed. Still, she would not abandon the hope that he would some +time reappear, knowing how difficult it was to trace one altogether +unnoted by any except his own race, who were not accustomed to be +careful or inquisitive with regard to the previous life of their +fellows. + +Acting as his trustee, not by any specific authority, but through +mere good-will, Hesden had managed the property, since the conclusion +of the Winburn suit, so as to yield a revenue, which Lugena had +carefully applied to secure a home in the West, in anticipation of +her husband's return. This had necessarily brought him into close +relations with the people of Red Wing, who had welcomed Mollie +with an interest half proprietary in its character. Was she not +_their_ Miss Mollie? Had she not lived in the old "Or'nary," +taught in their school, advised, encouraged, and helped them? They +flocked around her, each reminding her of his identity by recalling +some scene or incident of her past life, or saying, with evident +pride, "Miss Mollie, I was one of your scholars--I was." + +She did not repel their approaches, nor deny their claim to her +attention. She recognized it as a duty that she should still minister +to their wants, and do what she could for their elevation. And, +strangely enough, the good people of Horsford did not rebel nor cast +her off for so doing. The rich wife of Hesden Le Moyne, the queen +of the growing Kansas town, driving in her carriage to the colored +school-house, and sitting as lady patroness upon the platform, was +an entirely different personage, in their eyes, from the Yankee girl +who rode Midnight up and down the narrow streets, and who wielded +the pedagogic sceptre in the log school-house that Nimbus had built. +She could be allowed to patronize the colored school; indeed, they +rather admired her for doing so, and a few of them now and then went +with her, especially on occasions of public interest, and wondered +at the progress that had been made by that race whose capacity they +had always denied. + +Every autumn Hesden and Mollie went to visit her Kansas home, to +look after her interests there, help and advise her colored proteges, +breathe the free air, and gather into their lives something of the +busy, bustling spirit of the great North. The contrast did them +good. Hesden's ideas were made broader and fuller; her heart was +reinvigorated; and both returned to their Southern home full of +hope and aspiration for its future. + +So time wore on, and they almost forgot that they held their places +in the life which was about them by sufferance and not of right; +that they were allowed the privilege of associating with the "best +people of Horsford," not because they were of them, or entitled to +such privilege, but solely upon condition that they should submit +themselves willingly to its views, and do nothing or attempt nothing +to subvert its prejudices. + +Since the county had been "redeemed" it had been at peace. The vast +colored majority, once overcome, had been easily held in subjection. +There was no longer any violence, and little show of coercion, +so far as their political rights were concerned. At first it was +thought necessary to discourage the eagerness with which they sought +to exercise the elective franchise, by frequent reference to the +evils which had already resulted therefrom. Now and then, when +some ambitious colored man had endeavored to organize his people +and to secure political advancement through their suffrages, he +had been politely cautioned in regard to the danger, and the fate +which had overwhelmed others was gently recalled to his memory. +For a while, too, employers thought it necessary to exercise the +power which their relations with dependent laborers gave them, to +prevent the neglect of agricultural interests for the pursuit of +political knowledge, and especially to prevent absence from the +plantation upon the day of election. After a time, however, it +was found that such care was unnecessary. The laws of the State, +carefully revised by legislators wisely chosen for that purpose, +had taken the power from the irresponsible hands of the masses, and +placed it in the hands of the few, who had been wont to exercise +it in the olden time. + +That vicious idea which had first grown up on the inclement shores +of Massachusetts Bay, and had been nourished and protected and +spread abroad throughout the North and West as the richest heritage +which sterile New England could give to the states her sons had +planted; that outgrowth of absurd and fanatical ideas which had made +the North free, and whose absence had enabled the South to remain +"slave"--the township system, with its free discussion of all matters, +even of the most trivial interest to the inhabitants; that nursery +of political virtue and individual independence of character, +comporting, as it did, very badly with the social and political +ideas of the South--this system was swept away, or, if retained in +name, was deprived of all its characteristic elements. + +In the foolish fever of the reconstruction era this system had +been spread over the South as the safeguard of the new ideas and +new institutions then introduced. It was foolishly believed that +it would produce upon the soil of the South the same beneficent +results as had crowned its career at the North. So the counties were +subdivided into small self-governing communities, every resident +in which was entitled to a voice in the management of its domestic +interests. Trustees and school commissioners and justices of the +peace and constables were elected in these townships by the vote of +the inhabitants. The roads and bridges and other matters of municipal +finance were put directly under the control of the inhabitants of +these miniature boroughs. Massachusetts was superimposed upon South +Carolina. That system which had contributed more than all else to +the prosperity, freedom, and intelligence of the Northern community +was invoked by the political theorists of the reconstruction era +as a means of like improvement there. It did not seem a dangerous +experiment. One would naturally expect similar results from the +same system in different sections, even though it had not been +specifically calculated for both latitudes. Especially did this +view seem natural, when it was remembered that wherever the township +system had existed in any fullness or perfection, there slavery +had withered and died without the scath of war; that wherever in +all our bright land the township system had obtained a foothold +and reached mature development, there intelligence and prosperity +grew side by side; and that wherever this system had not prevailed, +slavery had grown rank and luxuriant, ignorance had settled upon +the people, and poverty had brought its gaunt hand to crush the +spirit of free men and establish the dominion of class. + +The astute politicians of the South saw at once the insane folly +of this project. They knew that the system adapted to New England, +the mainspring of Western prosperity, the safeguard of intelligence +and freedom at the North, could not be adapted to the social and +political elements of the South. They knew that the South had grown +up a peculiar people; that for its government, in the changed state +of affairs, must be devised a new and untried system of political +organization, assimilated in every possible respect to the institutions +which had formerly existed. It is true, those institutions and +that form of government had been designed especially to promote and +protect the interests of slavery and the power of caste. But they +believed that the mere fact of emancipation did not at all change +the necessary and essential relations between the various classes +of her population, so far as her future development and prosperity +were concerned. + +Therefore, immediately upon the "redemption" of these states from +the enforced and sporadic political ideas of the reconstruction +era, they set themselves earnestly at work to root out and destroy +all the pernicious elements of the township system, and to restore +that organization by which the South had formerly achieved power +and control in the national councils, had suppressed free thought +and free speech, had degraded labor, encouraged ignorance, +and established aristocracy. The first step in this measure of +counter-revolution and reform was to take from the inhabitants of +the township the power of electing the officers, and to greatly +curtail, where they did not destroy, the power of such officers. +It had been observed by these sagacious statesmen that in not a few +instances incapable men had been chosen to administer the laws, as +justices of the peace and as trustees of the various townships. Very +often, no doubt, it happened that there was no one of sufficient +capacity who would consent to act in such positions as the +representatives of the majority. Sometimes, perhaps, incompetent +and corrupt men had sought these places for their own advantage. +School commissioners may have been chosen who were themselves +unable to read. There may have been township trustees who had +never yet shown sufficient enterprise to become the owners of land, +and legislators whose knowledge of law had been chiefly gained by +frequent occupancy of the prisoner's dock. + +Such evils were not to be endured by a proud people, accustomed +not only to self-control, but to the control of others. They did +not stop to inquire whether there was more than one remedy for these +evils. The system itself was attainted with the odor of Puritanism. +It was communistic in its character, and struck at the very deepest +roots of the social and political organization which had previously +prevailed at the South. + +So it was changed. From and after that date it was solemnly enacted +that either the Governor of the State or the prevailing party in +the Legislature should appoint all the justices of the peace in +and for the various counties; that these in turn should appoint in +each of the subdivisions which had once been denominated townships, +or which had been clothed with the power of townships, school +commissioners and trustees, judges of election and registrars +of voters; and that in the various counties these chosen few, or +the State Executive in their stead, should appoint the boards of +commissioners, who were to control the county finances and have +direction of all municipal affairs. + +Of course, in this counter-revolution there was not any idea of +propagating or confirming the power of the political party instituting +it! It was done simply to protect the State against incompetent +officials! The people were not wise enough to govern themselves, +and could only become so by being wisely and beneficently governed +by others, as in the ante-bellum era. From it, however, by a _curious +accident_, resulted that complete control of the ballot and the +ballot-box by a dominant minority so frequently observed in those +states. Observe that the Legislature or the Executive appointed +the justices of the peace; they in turn met in solemn conclave, a +body of electors, taken wholly or in a great majority from the same +party, and chose the commissioners of the county. These, again, a +still more select body of electors, chose with the utmost care the +trustees of the townships, the judges of election, and the registrars +of voters. So that the utmost care was taken to secure entire +harmony throughout the state. It mattered not how great the majority +of the opposition in this county or in that; its governing officers +were invariably chosen from the body of the minority. + +By these means a _peculiar safeguard_ was also extended to +the ballot. All the inspectors throughout the state being appointed +by the same political power, were carefully chosen to secure the +results of good government. Either all or a majority of every +board were of the same political complexion, and, if need be, +the remaining members, placed there in order that there should be +no just ground of complaint upon the part of the opposition, were +unfitted by nature or education for the performance of their duty. +If not blind, they were usually profound strangers to the Cadmean +mystery. Thus the registration of voters and the elections were +carefully devised to secure for all time the beneficent results +of "redemption." It was found to be a very easy matter to allow +the freedman to indulge, without let or hindrance, his wonderful +eagerness for the exercise of ballotorial power, without injury to +the public good. + +From and after that time elections became simply a harmless amusement. +There was no longer any need of violence. The peaceful paths of +legislation were found much more pleasant and agreeable, as well +as less obnoxious to the moral feelings of that portion of mankind +who were so unfortunate as to dwell without the boundaries of these +states. + +In order, however, to secure entire immunity from trouble or +complaint, it was in many instances provided that the ballots should +be destroyed as soon as counted, and the inspectors were sworn to +execute this law. In other instances, it was provided, with tender +care for the rights of the citizen, that if by any chance there +should be found within the ballot-box at the close of an election +any excess of votes over and above the number the tally-sheet should +show to have exercised that privilege at that precinct, instead +of the whole result being corrupted, and the voice of the people +thereby stifled, one member of the board of inspectors should +be blindfolded, and in that condition should draw from the box so +many ballots as were in excess of the number of voters, and that +the result, whatever it might be, should be regarded and held as +the voice of the people. By this means formal fraud was avoided, +and the voice of the people declared free from all legal objection. +It is true that when the ticket was printed upon very thin paper, +in very small characters, and was very closely folded and the box +duly shaken, the smaller ballots found their way to the bottom, +while the larger ones remained upon the top; so that the blindfolded +inspector very naturally removed these and allowed the tissue ballots +to remain and be counted. It is true, also, that the actual will of +the majority thus voting was thus not unfrequently overwhelmingly +negatived. Yet this was the course prescribed by the law, and the +inspectors of elections were necessarily guiltless of fraud. + +So it had been in Horsford. The colored majority had voted when +they chose. The ballots had been carefully counted and the result +scrupulously ascertained and declared. Strangely enough, it was +found that, whatever the number of votes cast, the majorities were +quite different from those which the same voters had given in the +days before the "redemption," while there did not seem to have +been any great change in political sentiment. Perhaps half a dozen +colored voters in the county professed allegiance to the party +which they had formerly opposed; but in the main the same line still +separated the races. It was all, without question, the result of +wise and patriotic legislatioa! + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +COMING TO THE FRONT. + + +In an evil hour Hesden Le Moyne yielded to the solicitations of +those whom he had befriended, and whose rights he honestly believed +had been unlawfully subverted, and became a candidate in his county. +It had been so long since he had experienced the bitterness of +persecution on account of his political proclivities, and the social +relations of his family had been so pleasant, that he had almost +forgotten what he had once passed through; or rather, he had come +to believe that the time had gone by when such weapons would be +employed against one of his social grade. + +The years of silence which had been imposed on him by a desire +to avoid unnecessarily distressing his mother, had been years of +thought, perhaps the richer and riper from the fact that he had +refrained from active participation in political life. Like all +his class at the South, he was, if not a politician by instinct, +at least familiar from early boyhood with the subtle discussion of +political subjects which is ever heard at the table and the fireside +of the Southern gentleman. He had regarded the experiment of +reconstruction, as he believed, with calm, unprejudiced sincerity; +he had buried the past, and looked only to the future. It was not +for his own sake or interest that he became a candidate; he was +content always to be what he was--a quiet country gentleman. He +loved his home and his plantation; he thoroughly enjoyed the pursuits +of agriculture, and had no desire to be or do any great thing. His +mother's long illness had given him a love for a quiet life, his +books and his fireside; and it was only because he thought that +he could do something to reconcile the jarring factions and bring +harmony out of discord, and lead his people to see that The Nation +was greater and better than The South; that its interests and +prosperity were also their interest, their prosperity, and their +hope--that Hesden Le Moyne consented to forego the pleasant life +which he was leading and undertake a brief voyage upon the stormy +sea of politics. + +He did not expect that all would agree with him, but he believed +that they would listen to him without prejudice and without anger. +And he so fully believed in the conclusions he had arrived at that +he thought no reasonable man could resist their force or avoid +reaching a like result. His platform, as he called it, when he +came to announce himself as a candidate at the Court House on the +second day of the term of court, in accordance with immemorial +custom in that county, was simply one of plain common-sense. He +was not an office-holder or a politician. He did not come of an +office-holding family, nor did he seek position or emolument. He +offered himself for the suffrages of his fellow-citizens simply +because no other man among them seemed willing to stand forth and +advocate those principles which he believed to be right, expedient, +and patriotic. + +He was a white man, he said, and had the prejudices and feelings that +were common to the white people of the South. He had not believed +in the right or the policy of secession, in which he differed from +some of his neighbors; but when it came to the decision of that +question by force of arms he had yielded his conviction and stood +side by side upon the field of battle with the fiercest fire-eaters of +the land. No man could accuse him of being remiss in any duty which +he owed his State or section. But all that he insisted was past. +There was no longer any distinct sectional interest or principle to +be maintained. The sword had decided that, whether right or wrong +as an abstraction, the doctrine of secession should never be +practically asserted in the government. The result of the struggle +had been to establish, beyond a peradventure, what had before been +an unsettled question: that the Nation had the power and the will +to protect itself against any disintegrating movement. It might not +have decided what was the meaning of the Constitution, and so not +determined upon which side of this question lay the better reasoning; +but it had settled the practical fact. This decision he accepted; +he believed that they all accepted it--with only this difference, +perhaps, that he believed it rendered necessary a change in many +of the previous convictions of the Southern people. They had been +accustomed to call themselves Southern men; after that, Americans. +Hereafter it became their duty and their interest to be no longer +Southern men, but Americans only. + +"Having these views," he continued, "it is my sincere conviction +that we ought to accept, in spirit as well as in form, the results +of this struggle; not in part, but fully." The first result had +been the freeing in the slave. In the main he believed that had +been accepted, if not cheerfully, at least finally. The next had +been the enfranchisement of the colored man. This he insisted had +not been honestly accepted by the mass of the white people of the +South. Every means, lawful and unlawful, had been resorted to to +prevent the due operation of these laws. He did not speak of this +in anger or to blame. Knowing their prejudices and feelings, he +could well excuse what had been done; but he insisted that it was +not, and could not be, the part of an honest, brave and intelligent +people to nullify or evade any portion of the law of the land. +He did not mean that it was the duty of any man to submit without +opposition to a law which he believed to be wrong; but that opposition +should never be manifested by unlawful violence, unmanly evasion, +or cowardly fraud. + +He realized that, at first, anger might over-bear both patriotism +and honor, under the sting of what was regarded as unparalleled +wrong, insult, and outrage; but there had been time enough for anger +to cool, and for his people to look with calmness to the future +that lay before, and let its hopes and duties overbalance the +disappointments of the past. He freely admitted that had the question +of reconstruction been submitted to him for determination, he would +not have adopted the plan which had prevailed; but since it had +been adopted and become an integral part of the law of the land, +he believed that whoever sought to evade its fair and unhindered +operation placed himself in the position of a law-breaker. They +had the right, undoubtedly, by fair and open opposition to defeat +any party, and to secure the amendment or repeal of any law or +system of laws. But they had no right to resist law with violence, +or to evade law by fraud. + +The right of the colored man to exercise freely and openly his +elective franchise, without threat, intimidation, or fear, was the +same as that of the whitest man he addressed; and the violation of +that right, or the deprivation of that privilege, was, really an +assault upon the right and liberty of the white voter also. No +rights were safe unless the people had that regard for law which +would secure to the weakest and the humblest citizen the free and +untrammeled enjoyment and exercise of every privilege which the +law conferred. He characterized the laws that had been enacted +in regard to the conduct of elections and the selection of local +officers as unmanly and shuffling--an assertion of the right to +nullify national law by fraud, which the South had failed to maintain +by the sword, and had by her surrender virtually acknowledged +herself in honor bound to abandon. + +He did not believe, he would not believe, that his countrymen +of the South, his white fellow-citizens of the good old county of +Horsford, had fairly and honestly considered the position in which +recent events and legislation had placed them, not only before the +eyes of the country, but of the civilized world. It had always been +claimed, he said, that a white man is by nature, and not merely by +the adventitious circumstances of the past, innately and inherently, +and he would almost add infinitely, the superior of the colored +man. In intellectual culture, experience, habits of self-government +and command, this was unquestionably true. Whether it were true +as a natural and scientific fact was, perhaps, yet to be decided. +But could it be possible that a people, a race priding itself upon +its superiority, should be unwilling or afraid to see the experiment +fairly tried? "Have we," he asked, "so little confidence in +our moral and intellectual superiority that we dare not give the +colored man an equal right with us to exercise the privilege which +the Nation has conferred upon him? Are the white people of the +South so poor in intellectual resources that they must resort to +fraud or open violence to defeat the ignorant and weak colored man +of even the least of his law-given rights? + +"We claim," he continued, "that he is ignorant. It is true. Are we +afraid that he will grow wiser than we? We claim that he has not +the capacity to acquire or receive a like intellectual development +with ourselves. Are we afraid to give him a chance to do so? +Could not intelligence cope with ignorance without fraud? Boasting +that we could outrun our adversary, would we hamstring him at the +starting-post? It was accounted by all men, in all ages, an unmanly +thing to steal, and a yet more unmanly thing to steal from the weak; +so that it has passed into a proverb, 'Only a dog would steal the +blind man's dinner.' And yet," he said, "we are willing to steal +the vote of the ignorant, the blind, the helpless colored man!" + +It was not for the sake of the colored man, he said in conclusion, +that he appealed to them to pause and think. It was because the +honor, the nobility, the intelligence of the white man was being +degraded by the course which passion and resentment, and not reason +or patriotism, had dictated. He appealed to his hearers as _white +men_, not so much to give to the colored man the right to +express his sentiments at the ballot-box, as to regard that right +as sacred because it rested upon the law, which constituted the +foundation and safeguard of their own rights. He would not appeal +to them as Southern men, for he hoped the day was at hand when there +would no more be any such distinction. But he would appeal to them +as men--honest men, honorable men--and as American citizens, to +honor the law and thereby honor themselves. + +It had been said that the best and surest way to secure the repeal +of a bad law was first to secure its unhindered operation. Especially +was this true of a people who had boasted of unparalleled devotion +to principle, of unbounded honor, and of the highest chivalry. How +one of them, or all of them, could claim any of these attributes +of which they had so long boasted, and yet be privy to depriving +even a single colored man of the right which the Nation had given +him, or to making the exercise of that right a mockery, he could +not conceive; and he would not believe that they would do it when +once the scales of prejudice and resentment had fallen from their +eyes. If they had been wronged and outraged as a people, their +only fit revenge was to display a manhood and a magnanimity which +should attest the superiority upon which they prided themselves. + +This address was received by his white hearers with surprised silence; +by the colored men with half-appreciative cheers. They recognized +that the speaker was their friend, and in favor of their being +allowed the free exercise of the rights of citizenship. His white +auditors saw that he was assailing with some bitterness and earnest +indignation both their conduct and what they had been accustomed to +term their principles. There was no immediate display of hostility +or anger; and Hesden Le Moyne returned to his home full of hope +that the time was at hand for which he had so long yearned, when the +people of his native South should abandon the career of prejudice +and violence into which they had been betrayed by resentment and +passion. + +Early the next morning some of his friends waited upon him and adjured +him, for his own sake, for the sake of his family and friends, to +withdraw from the canvass. This he refused to do. He said that what +he advocated was the result of earnest conviction, and he should +always despise himself should he abandon the course he had calmly +decided to take. Whatever the result, he would continue to the end. +Then they cautiously intimated to him that his course was fraught +with personal danger. "What!" he cried, "do you expect me to flinch +at the thought of danger? I offered my life and gave an arm for a +cause in which I did not believe; shall I not brave as much in the +endeavor to serve my country in a manner which my mind and conscience +approve? I seek for difficulty with no one; but it may as well be +understood that Hesden Le Moyne does not turn in his tracks because +of any man's anger. I say to you plainly that I shall neither offer +personal insult nor submit to it in this canvass." + +His friends left him with heavy hearts, for they foreboded ill. +It was not many days before he found that the storm of detraction +and contumely through which he had once passed was but a gentle +shower compared with the tornado which now came down upon his head. +The newspapers overflowed with threat, denunciation, and abuse. +One of them declared: + +"The man who thinks that he can lead an opposition against the +organized Democracy of Horsford County is not only very presumptuous, +but extremely bold. Such a man will require a bodyguard of Democrats in +his canvass and a Gibraltar in his rear on the day of the election." + +Another said: + +"The Radical candidate would do well to take advice. The white men +of the State desire a peaceful summer and autumn. They are wearied +of heated political strife. If they are forced to vigorous action +it will be exceedingly vigorous, perhaps unpleasantly so. Those +who cause the trouble will suffer most from it. Bear that in mind, +persons colored and white-skinned. We reiterate our advice to the +reflective and argumentative Radical leader, to be careful how he +goes, and not stir up the animals too freely; they have teeth and +claws." + +Still another said: + +"Will our people suffer a covert danger to rankle in their midst +until it gains strength to burst into an open enemy? Will they +tamely submit while Hesden Le Moyne rallies the colored men to +his standard and hands over Horsford to the enemy? Will they stand +idly and supinely, and witness the consummation of such an infamous +conspiracy? No! a thousand times, No! Awake! stir up your clubs; +let the shout go up; put on your red shirts and let the ride begin. +Let the young men take the van, or we shall be sold into political +slavery." + +Another sounded the key-note of hostility in these words: + +"Every white man who dares to avow himself a Radical should be +promptly branded as the bitter and malignant enemy of the South; +every man who presumes to aspire to office through Republican votes +should be saturated with stench. As for the negroes, let them amuse +themselves, if they will, by voting the Radical ticket. We have +the count. We have a thousand good and true men in Horsford whose +brave ballots will be found equal to those of five thousand vile +Radicals." + +One of his opponents, in a most virulent speech, called attention +to the example of a celebrated Confederate general. "He, too," +said the impassioned orator, "served the Confederacy as bravely as +Hesden Le Moyne, and far more ably. But he became impregnated with +the virus of Radicalism; he abandoned and betrayed the cause for +which he fought; he deserted the Southern people in the hour of +need and joined their enemies. He was begged and implored not to +persevere in his course, but he drifted on and on, and floundered +deeper and deeper into the mire, until he landed fast in the slough +where he sticks to-day. And what has he gained? Scorn, ostracism, +odiurn, ill-will--worse than all, the contempt of the men who stood +by him in the shower of death and destruction. Let Hesden Le Moyne +take warning by his example." + +And so it went on, day after day. Personal affront was studiously +avoided, but in general terms he was held up to the scorn and +contempt of all honest men as a renegade and a traitor. Those who +had seemed his friends fell away from him; the home which had been +crowded with pleasant associates was desolate, or frequented only +by those who came to remonstrate or to threaten. He saw his mistake, +but he knew that anger was worse than useless. He did not seek to +enrage, but to convince. Failing in this, he simply performed the +duty which he had undertaken, as he said he would do it--fearlessly, +openly, and faithfully. + +The election came, and the result--was what he should have been +wise enough to foresee. Nevertheless, it was a great and grievous +disappointment to Hesden Le Moyne. Not that he cared about a seat +in the Legislature; but it was a demonstration to him that in his +estimate of the people of whom he had been so proud he had erred +upon the side of charity. He had believed them better than they had +shown themselves. The fair future which he had hoped was so near +at hand seemed more remote than ever. His hope for his people and +his State was crushed, and apprehension of unspeakable evil in the +future forced itself upon his heart. + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +THE SHUTTLECOCK OF FATE. + + +"Marse Hesden, Marse Hesden!" There was a timorous rap upon the +window of Hesden Le Moyne's sleeping-room in the middle of the night, +and, waking, he heard his name called in a low, cautious voice. + +"Who is there?" he asked. + +"Sh--sh! Don't talk so loud, Marse Hesden. Please come out h'yer +a minnit, won't yer?" + +The voice was evidently that of a colored man, and Hesden had no +apprehension or hesitancy in complying with the request. In fact, +his position as a recognized friend of the colored race had made +such appeals to his kindness and protection by no means unusual. +He rose at once, and stepped out upon the porch. He was absent for +a little while, and when he returned his voice was full of emotion +as he said to his wife, + +"Mollie, there is a man here who is hungry and weary. I do not wish +the servants to know of his presence. Can you get him something to +eat without making any stir?" + +"Why, what--" began Mollie. + +"It will be best not to stop for any questions," said Hesden +hurriedly, as he lighted a lamp and, pouring some liquor into a +glass, started to return. "Get whatever you can at once, and bring +it to the room above. I will go and make up a fire." + +Mollie rose, and, throwing on a wrapper, proceeded to comply with +her husband's request. But a few moments had elapsed when she went +up the stairs bearing a well-laden tray. Her slippered feet made +no noise, and when she reached the chamber-door she saw her husband +kneeling before the fire, which was just beginning to burn brightly. +The light shone also upon a colored man of powerful frame who sat +upon a chair a little way back, his hat upon the floor beside him, +his gray head inclined upon his breast, and his whole attitude +indicating exhaustion. + +"Here it is, Hesden," she said quietly, as she stepped into the +room. + +The colored man raised his head wearily as she spoke, and turned +toward her a gaunt face half hidden by a gray, scraggly beard. No +sooner did his eyes rest upon her than they opened wide in amazement. +He sprang from his chair, put his hand to his head, as if to assure +himself that he was not dreaming, and said, + +"What!--yer ain't--'fore God it must be--Miss Mollie!" + +"Oh, Nimbus!" cried Mollie, with a shriek. Her face was pale as +ashes, and she would have fallen had not Hesden sprang to her side +and supported her with his arm, while he said, + +"Hush! hush! You must not speak so loud. I did not expect you so +soon or I would have told you." + +The colored man fell upon his knees, and gazed in wonder on the +scene. + +"Oh, Marse Hesden!" he cried, "is it--can it be our Miss Mollie, +or has Nimbus gone clean crazy wid de rest ob his misfortins?" + +"No, indeed!" said Hesden. "It is really Miss Mollie, only I have +stolen her away from her old friends and made her mine." + +"There is no mistake about it, Nimbus," said Mollie, as she extended +her hand, which the colored man clasped in both his own and covered +with tears and kisses, while he said, between his sobs, + +"Tank God! T'ank God! Nimbus don't keer now! He ain't afeared ob +nuffin' no mo', now he's seen de little angel dat use ter watch +ober him, an' dat he's been a-dreamin' on all dese yeahs! Bress +God, she's alive! Dar ain't no need ter ax fer 'Gena ner de little +ones now; I knows dey's all right! Miss Mollie's done tuk keer o' +dem, else she wouldn't be h'yer now. Bress de Lord, I sees de deah +little lamb once mo'." + +"There, there!" said Mollie gently. "You must not talk any more +now. I have brought you something to eat. You are tired and hungry. +You must eat now. Everything is all right. 'Gena and the children +are well, and have been looking for you every day since you went +away." + +"Bress God! Bress God! I don't want nuffin' mo' !" said Nimbus. He +would have gone on, in a wild rhapsody of delight, but both Hesden +and Mollie interposed and compelled him to desist and eat. Ah! +it was a royal meal that the poor fugitive had spread before him. +Mollie brought some milk. A coffee-pot was placed upon the fire, +and while he ate they told him of some of the changes that had taken +place. When at length Hesden took him into the room where Eliab +had remained concealed so long, and closed the door and locked it +upon him, they could still hear the low tones of thankful prayer +coming from within. Hesden knocked upon the door to enjoin silence, +and they returned to their room, wondering at the Providence which +had justified the faith of the long-widowed colored wife. + +The next day Hesden went to the Court House to ascertain what +charges there were against Nimbus. He found there were none. The +old prosecution for seducing the laborers of Mr. Sykes had long ago +been discontinued. Strangely enough, no others had been instituted +against him. For some reason the law had not been appealed to to +avenge the injuries of the marauders who had devastated Red Wing. +On his return, Hesden came by way of Red Wing and brought Eliab +home with him. + +The meeting between the two old friends was very affecting. Since +the disappearance of Nimbus, Eliab had grown more self-reliant. His +two years and more of attendance at a Northern school had widened +and deepened his manhood as well as increased his knowledge, and +the charge of the school at Red Wing had completed the work there +begun. His self-consciousness had diminished, and it no longer +required the spur of intense excitement to make him forget his +affliction. His last injuries had made him even more helpless, when +separated from his rolling-chair, but his life had been too full +to enable him to dwell upon his weakness so constantly as formerly. + +In Nimbus there was a change even more apparent. Gray hairs, +a bowed form, a furrowed face, and that sort of furtive wildness +which characterizes the man long hunted by his enemies, had taken +the place of his former unfearing, bull-fronted ruggedness. His +spirit was broken. He no longer looked to the future with abounding +hope, careless of its dangers. + +"Yer's growed away from me, Bre'er 'Liab," he said at length, when +they had held each other's hands and looked into each other's faces +for a long time. "Yer wouldn't know how ter take a holt o' Nimbus +ter hev him tote yer roun', now. Yer's growed away from him--clean +away," he added sadly. + +"You, too, have changed, Brother Nimbus," said Eliab soothingly. + +"Yes, I'se changed, ob co'se; but not as you hez, Bre'er 'Liab. Dis +h'yer ole shell hez changed. Nimbus couldn't tote yer roun' like +he used. I'se hed a hard time--a hard time, 'Liab, an' I ain't +nuffin' like de man, I used ter be; but I hain't changed inside +like you hez. I'se jes de same ole Nimbus dat I allus wuz--jes +de same, only kinder broke down in sperrit, Bre'er 'Liab. I hain't +growed ez you hev. I hain't no mo' man dan I was den--not so much, +in fac'. I don't keer now no mo' 'bout what's a-gwine ter be. I'se +an' ole man, 'Liab--an' ole man, of I is young." + +That night he told his story to a breathless auditory. + +"Yes, Bre'er 'Liab, dar's a heap o' t'ings happened sence dat ar +mornin' I lef' you h'yer wid Marse Hesden. Yer see, I went back +fust whar I'd lef Berry, an' we tuk an' druv de mule an' carry-all +inter a big pine thicket, down by de ribber, an' dar we stays all +day mighty close; only once, when I went out by de road an' sees +Miss Mollie ridin' by. I calls out to her jest ez loudez I dared +to; but, la sakes! she didn't h'year me." + +"Was that you, Nimbus?" asked Mollie, turning from a bright-eyed +successor to little Hildreth, whom she had been proudly caressing. +"I thought I heard some one call me, but did not think of its being +you. I am so sorry! I stopped and looked, but could see nothing." + +"No, you didn't see me, Miss Mollie, but it done me a power o' +good ter see _you_. I knowed yer was gwine ter Red Wing, an' +yer'd take keer on an' advise dem ez wuz left dar. Wal, dat night +we went back an' got the 'backer out o' de barn. I tuk a look +roun' de house, an' went ter de smoke-house, an' got a ham of meat +an' some other t'ings. I 'llowed dat 'Gena'd know I'd been dar, +but didn't dare ter say nuffin' ter nobody, fer fear de sheriff's +folks mout be a watchin' roun'. I 'llowed dey'd hev out a warrant +for me, an' p'raps fer Berry too, on account o' what we'd done de +night afo'." + +"They never did," said Hesden. + +"Yer don't tell me!" exclaimed Nimbus, in surprise. + +"No. There has never been any criminal process against you, except +for enticing Berry away from old Granville Sykes," said Hesden. + +"Wal," responded Nimbus, "t'was all de same. I t'ought dey would. +De udder wuz 'nough, dough. Ef dey could once cotch me on dat, I +reckon dey could hev hung me fer nuffin', fer dat matter." + +"It was a very wise thing in you to leave the country," said Hesden. +"There is no doubt of that." + +"T'ank ye, Marse Hesden, t'ank ye," said Nimbus. "I'se glad ter +know I hain't been a fool allus, ef I is now. But now I t'inks on't, +Marse Hesden, I'd like ter know what come of dem men dat 'Gena an' +me put our marks on dat night." + +"One of them died a year or two afterward--was never well after +that night--and the other is here, alive and well, with a queer +seam down the middle of his face," said Hesden. + +"Died, yer say?" said Nimbus. "Wal, I'se right sorry, but he lived +a heap longer nor Bre'er 'Liab would, ef I hadn't come in jest +about dat time." + +"Yes, indeed," said Eliab, as he extended his hand to his old +friend. + +"Wal," continued Nimbus, "we went on ter Wellsboro, an' dar we +sold de 'backer. Den we kinder divided up. I tuk most o' de money +an' went on South, an' Berry tuk de mule an' carry-all an' started +fer his home in Hanson County. I tuk de cars an' went on, a-stoppin' +at one place an' anodder, an' a wukkin' a little h'yer an' dar, +but jest a-'spectin' ebbery minnit ter be gobbled up by a officer +an' brought back h'yer. I'd heard dat Texas wuz a good place fer +dem ter go ter dat didn't want nobody ter find 'em; so I sot out +ter go dar. When I got ez fur ez Fairfax, in Louisiana, I was tuk +down wid de fever, an' fer nigh 'bout six month I wa'ant ob no account +whatebber. An' who yer tink tuk keer ob me den, Marse Hesden?" + +"I am sure I don't know," was the reply. + +"No, yer wouldn't nebber guess," said Nimbus; "but twa'n't nobody +else but my old mammy, Lorency." + +"You don't say! Well, that was strange," said Hesden. + +"It was quare, Marse Hesden. She was gittin' on to be a old woman +den. She's dead sence. Yer see, she knowed me by my name, an' she +tuk keer on me, else I'd nebber been here ter tell on't. Atter I got +better like, she sorter persuaded me ter stay dar. I wuz powerful +homesick, an' wanted ter h'year from 'Gena an' de chillen, an' +ef I'd hed money 'nough left, I'd a come straight back h'yer; but +what with travellin' an' doctors' bills, an' de like, I hadn't nary +cent. Den I couldn't leave my ole mammy, nuther. She'd hed a hard +time sence de wah, a-wukkin' fer herself all alone, an' I wuz boun' +ter help her all I could. I got a man to write ter Miss Mollie; +but de letter come back sayin' she wa'n't h'yer no mo'. Den I got +him to write ter whar she'd been afo' she come South; but that come +back too." + +"Why did you not write to me?" said Hesden. + +"Wal," said Nimbus, with some confusion, "I wuz afeared ter do it, +Marse Hesden. I wuz afeared yer mout hev turned agin me. I dunno +why 'twuz, but I wuz mighty skeered ob enny white folks, 'ceptin' +Miss Mollie h'yer. So I made it up wid mammy, dat we should wuk +on till we'd got 'nough ter come back; an' den we'd come, an' I'd +stop at some place whar I wa'n't knowed, an' let her come h'yer +an' see how t'ings wuz. + +"I'd jest about got ter dat pint, when I hed anodder pull-back. Yer +see, dar wuz two men, both claimed ter be sheriff o' dat parish. +Dat was--let me see, dat was jes de tenth yeah atter de S'render, +fo' years alter I left h'yer. One on 'em, ez near ez I could make +out, was app'inted by de Guv'ner, an' t'odder by a man dat claimed +ter be Guv'ner. De fust one called on de cullu'd men ter help him +hold de Court House an' keep t'ings a-gwine on right; an' de t'odder, +he raised a little army an' come agin' us. I'd been a sojer, yer +know, an' I t'ought I wuz bound ter stan' up fer de guv'ment. So +I went in ter fight wid de rest. We t'rew up some bres'wuks, an' +when dey druv us outen dem we fell back inter de Court House. Den +dar come a boat load o' white folks down from Sweevepo't, an' we +hed a hard time a-fightin' on 'em. Lots ob us got killed, an' some +o' dem. We hadn't many guns ner much ammunition. It war powerful +hot, an' water wuz skeerce. + +"So, atter a while, we sent a flag o' truce, an' 'greed ter s'render +ebberyting, on condition dat dey wouldn't hurt us no mo'. Jest ez +quick ez we gib up dey tuk us all pris'ners. Dar was twenty-sebben +in de squad I wuz wid. 'Long a while atter dark, dey tuk us out +an' marched us off, wid a guard on each side. We hadn't gone more'n +two or t'ree hundred yards afo' de guard begun ter shoot at us. Dey +hit me in t'ree places, an' I fell down an' rolled inter a ditch +by de roadside, kinder under de weeds like. Atter a while I sorter +come ter myself an' crawled off fru de weeds ter de bushes. Nex' +day I got a chance ter send word ter mammy, an' she come an' nussed +me till we managed ter slip away from dar." + +"Poor Nimbus!" said Mollie, weeping. "You have had a hard time +indeed!" + +"Not so bad as de odders," was the reply. "Dar wuz only two on us +dat got away at all. The rest wuz all killed." + +"Yes," said Hesden, "I remember that affair. It was a horrible +thing. When will our Southern people learn wisdom!" + +"I dunno dat, Marse Hesden," said Nimbus, "but I do know dat de +cullu'd folks is larnin' enough ter git outen dat. You jes mark my +words, ef dese t'ings keep a-gwine on, niggers'll be skeerce in +dis kentry purty soon. We can't be worse off, go whar we will, an' +I jes count a cullu'd man a fool dat don't pole out an' git away +jest ez soon ez he finds a road cut out dat he kin trabbel on." + +"But that was three years ago, Nimbus," said Hesden. "Where have +you been since?" + +"Wal, yer see, atter dat," said Nimbus, "we wuz afeared ter stay +dar any mo'. So we went ober inter Miss'ippi, mammy an' me, an' +went ter wuk agin. I wasn't berry strong, but we wukked hard an' +libbed hard ter git money ter come back wid. Mammy wuz powerful +anxious ter git back h'yer afo' she died. We got along tollable-like, +till de cotting wuz about all picked, an' hadn't drawed no wages +at all, to speak on. Den, one day, de boss man on de plantation, +he picked a quarrel wid mammy 'bout de wuk, an' presently hit her +ober her ole gray head wid his cane. I couldn't stan' dat, nohow, +so I struck him, an' we hed a fight. I warn't nuffin' ter what I +war once, but dar war a power o' strength in me yet, ez he found +out. + +"Dey tuk me up an' carried me ter jail, an' when de court come on, +my ole mammy wuz dead; so I couldn't prove she war my mammy, an' +I don't 'llow 'twould hev made enny difference ef I had. The jury +said I war guilty, an' de judge fined me a hundred dollars an' de +costs, an' sed I wuz ter be hired out at auction ter pay de fine, +an' costs, an' sech like. So I wuz auctioned off, an' brought +twenty-five cents a day. 'Cordin' ter de law, I hed ter wuk two +days ter make up my keep fer ebbery one I lost. I war sick an' +low-sperrited, an' hadn't no heart ter wuk, so I lost a heap o' +days. Den I run away once or twice, but dey cotch me, an' brought +me back. So I kep' losin' time, an' didn't git clean away till 'bout +four months ago. Sence den I'se been wukkin' my way back, jes dat +skeery dat I dassent hardly walk de roads fer fear I'd be tuk up +agin. But I felt jes like my ole mammy dat wanted ter come back +h'yer ter die." + +"But you are not going to die," said Mollie, smiling through her +tears. "Your plantation is all right. We will send for 'Gena and +the children, and you and Eliab can live again at Red Wing and be +happy." + +"I don't want ter lib dar, Miss Mollie," said Nimbus. "I ain't +a-gwine ter die, ez you say; but I don't want ter lib h'yer, ner +don't want my chillen ter. I want 'em ter lib whar dey kin be free, +an' hev 'bout half a white man's chance, ennyhow." + +"But what about Red Wing?" asked Hesden. + +"I'd like ter see it once mo'," said the broken-hearted man, while +the tears ran down his face. "I 'llowed once that I'd hab a heap +o' comfort dar in my ole days. But dat's all passed an' gone, +now--passed an' gone! I'll tell yer what, Marse Hesden, I allus +'llowed fer Bre'er 'Liab ter hev half o' dat plantation. Now yer +jes makes out de papers an' let him hev de whole on't, an' I goes +ter Kansas wid 'Gena." + +"No, no, Nimbus," said Eliab; "I could not consent--" + +"Yes yer kin, 'Liab," said Nimbus quickly, with some of his old-time +arrogance. "Yer kin an' yer will. You kin use dat er trac' o' +lan' an' make it wuth sunthin' ter our people, an' I can't. So, yer +sees, I'll jes be a-doin' my sheer, an' I'll allus t'ink, when I +hears how yer's gittin' along an' a-doin' good, dat I'se a pardner +wid ye in de wuk o' gibbin' light ter our people, so dat dey'll +know how ter be free an' keep free forebber an' ebber. Amen!" + +The listeners echoed his "amen," and Eliab, flinging himself into +the arms of Nimbus, by whom he had been sitting, and whose hand +he had held during the entire narrative, buried his face upon his +breast and wept. + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +THE EXODIAN. + + +Hesden and Mollie were on their way homeward from Eupolia, where +they had inspected their property and had seen Nimbus united with +his family and settled for a new and more hopeful start in life. +They had reached that wonderful young city of seventy-seven hills +which faces toward free Kansas and reluctantly bears the ban which +slavery put upon Missouri. While they waited for their train in +the crowded depot in which the great ever-welcoming far West meets +and first shakes hands with ever-swarming East, they strolled about +among the shifting crowd. + +Soon they came upon a dusky group whose bags and bundles, variegated +attire, and unmistakable speech showed that they were a party of +those misguided creatures who were abandoning the delights of the +South for the untried horrors of a life upon the plains of Kansas. +These were of all ages, from the infant in arms to the decrepit +patriarch, and of every shade of color, from Saxon fairness with +blue eyes and brown hair to ebon blackness. They were telling +their stories to a circle of curious listeners. There was no lack +of variety of incident, but a wonderful similarity of motive assigned +for the exodus they had undertaken. + +There were ninety-four of them, and they came from five different +States--Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. They +had started without preconcert, and were unacquainted with each +other until they had collected into one body as the lines of travel +converged on the route to Kansas. A few of the younger ones said +that they had come because they had heard that Kansas was a country +where there was plenty of work and good wages, and where a colored +man could get pay for what he did. Others told strange tales +of injustice and privation. Some, in explanation of their evident +poverty, showed the contracts under which they had labored. Some +told of personal outrage, of rights withheld, and of law curiously +diverted from the ends of justice to the promotion of wrong. By far +the greater number of them, however, declared their purpose to be +to find a place where their children could grow up free, receive +education, and have "a white man's chance" in the struggle of life. +They did not expect ease or affluence themselves, but for their +offspring they craved liberty, knowledge, and a fair start. + +While Hesden and Mollie stood watching this group, with the interest +one always feels in that which reminds him of home, seeing in +these people the forerunners of a movement which promised to assume +astounding proportions in the near future, they were startled by +an exclamation from one of the party: + +"Wall, I declar'! Ef dar ain't Miss Mollie--an' 'fore God, Marse +Hesden, too!" Stumbling over the scattered bundles in his way, and +pushing aside those who stood around, Berry Lawson scrambled into +the presence of the travelers, bowing and scraping, and chuckling +with delight; a battered wool hat in one hand, a shocking assortment +of dilapidated clothing upon his person, but his face glowing with +honest good-nature, and his tones resonant of fun, as if care and +he had always been strangers. + +"How d'ye, Miss Mollie--sah'vent, Marse Hesden. I 'llow I must be +gittin' putty nigh ter de promised lan' when I sees you once mo'. +Yah, yah! Yer hain't done forgot Berry, I s'pose? Kase ef yer hez, +I'll jes hev ter whistle a chune ter call myself ter mind. Jes, +fer instance now, like dis h'yer." + +Then raising his hands and swaying his body in easy accompaniment, +he began to imitate the mocking-bird in his mimicry of his feathered +companions. He was very proud of this accomplishment, and his +performance soon drew attention from all parts of the crowded depot. +Noticing this, Hesden said, + +"There, there, Berry; that will do. There is no doubt as to your +identity. We both believe that nobody but Berry Lawson could do +that, and are very glad to see you." Mollie smiled assent. + +"T'ank ye, sah. Much obleeged fer de compliment. Hope I see yer +well, an' Miss Mollie de same. Yer do me proud, both on yer," said +Berry, bowing and scraping again, making a ball of his old hat, +sidling restlessly back and forth, and displaying all the limpsy +litheness of his figure, in his embarrassed attempts to show his +enjoyment. "'Pears like yer's trabblin' in company," he added, with +a glance at Mollie's hand resting on Hesden's arm. + +"Yes," said Hesden good-naturedly; "Miss Mollie is Mrs. Le Moyne +now." + +"Yer don't say!" said Berry, in surprise. "Der Lo'd an' der nation, +what will happen next? Miss Mollie an' Marse Hesden done married +an' a-meetin' up wid Berry out h'yer on de berry edge o' de kingdom! +Jest ez soon hab expected to a' seen de vanguard o' de resurrection. +Yer orter be mighty proud, Marse Hesden. We used ter t'ink, 'bout +Red Wing, dat dar wa'n't nary man dat ebber cast a shadder good +'nough fer Miss Mollie." + +"And so there isn't," said Hesden, laughing, "But we can't stand +here and talk all day. Where are you from?" + +"Whar's I frum? Ebbery place on de green yairth, Marse Hesden, +'ceptin' dis one, whar dey hez ter shoe de goats fer ter help 'em +climb de bluffs; an' please de Lo'd I'll be from h'yer jest es soon +ez de train come's 'long dat's 'boun' fer de happy land of Canaan.'" + +"We shall have to stop over, dear," said Hesden to his wife. +"There's no doing anything with Berry in the time we have between +the trains. Have you any baggage?" he asked of Berry, + +"Baggage? Dat I hab--a whole handkercher full o' clean clo'es--jest +ez soon ez dey's been washed, yer know. Yah, yah!" + +"Where are you going?" + +"Whar's I gwine? Gwine West, ter grow up wid de kentry, Marse +Hesden." "There, there, take your bundle and come along." + +"All right, Marse Hesden. Jest ez soon wuk fer you ez ennybody. +Good-by, folkses," said he, waving his hat to his late traveling +companions. "I'se mighty sorry to leave yer, but biz is biz, yer +know, an' I'se got a job. Wish yer good luck, all on yer. Jes let +'em know I'm on der way, will yer? + + Ef yo' gits dar afo' I do, + Jes tell 'em I'se a-comin' too," + +he sang, as he followed Hesden and Mollie out of the depot, amid +the laughter of the crowd which had gathered about them. Their +baggage was soon removed from the platform, and, with Berry on the +seat with the driver, they went to the hotel. Then, taking him down +the busy street that winds around between the sharp hills as though +it had crawled up, inch by inch, from the river-bottom below, Hesden +procured him some new clothes and a valise, which Berry persisted +in calling a "have'em-bag," and took him back to the hotel as his +servant. As Hesden started to his room, the rejuvenated fugitive +inquired, + +"Please, Marse Hesden, does yer know ennyt'ing what's a come ob--ob +my Sally an' de chillen. It's been a powerful time sence I seed +'em, Marse Hesden. I 'llow ter send fer 'em jest ez quick ez I +find whar dey is, an' gits de money, yer know." + +"They are all right, Berry. You may come to my room in half an +hour, and we will tell you all about them," answered Hesden. + +Hardly had he reached his room when he heard the footsteps of Berry +without. Going to the door he was met by Berry with the explanation, + +"Beg parding, Marse Hesden. I knowed 'twa'n't de time fer me ter +come yit, but somehow I'llowed it would git on pearter ef I wuz +somewhar nigh you an' Miss Mollie. I'se half afeared I'se ies been +dreamin' ennyhow." + +"Well, come in," said Hesden. Berry entered the room, and sat in +unwonted silence while Mollie and her husband told him what the +reader already knows about his family and friends. The poor fellow's +tears flowed freely, but he did not interrupt, save to ask now and +then a question. When they had concluded, he sat a while in silence, +and then said, + +"Bress de Lo'd! Berry won't nebber hab no mo' doubt 'bout de Lo'd +takin' keer ob ebberybody--speshully niggas an' fools. H'yer I'se +been a-feelin' mighty hard kase de Ole Marster 'llowed Berry ter +be boxed roun', h'yer an' dar, fus' dis way an' now dat, an' let +him be run off from his wife an' chillen dat he t'ought der couldn't +nobody take keer on but hissef; an' h'yer all de time de good Lo'd +hez been a-lookin' atter 'em an' a-nussin' 'em like little lambs, +widout my knowin' ennyt'ing about it, er even axin' fer him ter do +it. Berry!" he continued, speaking to himself, "yer's jest a gran' +rascal, an' desarve ter be whacked roun' an' go hungry fer--" + +"Berry," interrupted Mollie, "have you had your breakfast?" + +"Brekfas', Miss Mollie?" said Berry, "what Berry want ob any brekfas'? +Ain't what yer's been a-tellin' on him brekfas' an' dinner an' +supper ter him? Brekfas' don't matter ter him now. He's jes dat +full o' good t'ings dat he won't need no mo' for a week at de berry +least." + +"Tell the truth, Berry; when did you eat last?" + +"Wal, I 'clar, Miss Mollie, ef Berry don't make no mistake, he bed +a squar meal night afo' las', afo' we leave Saint Lewy. De yemergrant +train runs mighty slow, an' Berry wa'n't patronizin' none o' dem +cheap shops 'long de way--not much; yah, yah!" + +Hesden soon arranged to relieve his discomfort, and that night he +told them where he had been and what had befallen him in the mean +time. + +BERRY'S STORY. + +"Yer see, atter I lef Bre'er Nimbus, I went back down inter Hanson +County; but I wuz jes dat bad skeered dat I darn't show myse'f +in de daytime at all. So I jes' tuk Sally an' de chillen in de +carry-all dat Nimbus lent me wid de mule, an' started on furder down +east. 'Clar, I jes hev ter pay Nimbus fer dat mule an' carry-all, +de berry fus' money I gits out h'yer in Kansas. It certain war a +gret help ter Berry. Jest as long ez I hed dat tertrabbel wid, I +knowed I war safe; kase nobody wouldn't nebber'spect I was runnin' +away in dat sort ob style. Wal, I went way down east, an' denex' +spring went ter crappin' on sheers on a cotting plantation. Sally +'n' me we jes made up ourminds dat we wouldn't draw no rations +from de boss man. ner ax him fer ary cent ob money de whole yeah, +an' den, yer know, dar wouldn't be nary 'count agin us when de year +wuz ober. So Sally, she 'llowed dat she'd wuk fer de bread an' meat +an' take keer ob de chillen, wid de few days' help I might spar' +outen de crap. De boss man, he war boun' by de writin's ter feed +de mule. Dat's de way we sot in. + +"We got 'long mighty peart like till some time atter de crap wuz +laid by, 'long bout roastin'-ear-time. Den Sally tuk sick, an' de +fus' dat I knowed we wuz out o' meat. Sally wuz powerful sot agin +my goih' ter de boss man fer enny orders on destore, kase we knowed +how dat wukked afo'. Den I sez, 'See h'yer, Sally, I'se done got +it. Dar's dat piece ob corn dar, below de house, is jest a-gittin' +good fer roastin-yeahs, Now, we'll jes pick offen de outside rows, +an' I'll be dod-dinged ef we can't git 'long wid dat till de crap +comes off; an' I'll jes tell Maise Hooper--dat wuz de name o' de man +what owned de plantation--dat I'll take dem rows inter my sheer.' +So it went on fer a week er two, an' I t'ought I wuz jes gittin' on +like a quarter hoss. Sally wuz nigh 'bout well, an' 'llowed she'd +be ready ter go ter wuk de nex' week; when one mo'nin' I tuk the +basket an' went down ter pick some corn. Jest ez I'd got de basket +nigh 'bout full, who should start up dar, outen de bushes, on'y +jes Marse Hooper; an' he sez, mighty brisk-like, 'So? I 'llowed +I'd cotch yer 'fore I got fru! Stealin' corn, is yer?' + +"Den I jes larfed right out, an' sez I, 'Dat's de fus' time I ebber +heerd ob ennybody a-stealin' corn out ob his own field! Yah! yah!' +Jes so-like. 'Ain't dis yer my crap, Marse Hooper? Didn't I make +it, jest a-payin' ter you one third on't for de rent?' T'ought I +hed him, yer know. But, law sakes, he didn't hev no sech notion, +not much. So he sez, sez he: + +"'No yer don't! Dat mout a' done once, when de Radikils wuz in +power, but de legislatur las' winter dey made a diff'rent sort ob +a law, slightually. Dey sed dat ef a renter tuk away enny o' de +crap afo' it wuz all harvested an' diwided, widout de leave o' de +owner, got afo' hand, he was guilty o' stealin' '--larsininy, he +called it, but its all de same. An' he sed, sez he, 'Dar ain't no +use now, Berry Lawson. Yer's jes got yer choice. Yer kin jes git +up an' git, er else I hez yer 'dicted an' sent ter State prison +fer not less ner one year nor more'n twenty--dat's 'cordin' ter de +law.' "Den I begun ter be skeered-like, an' I sez, sez I, 'Arn't +yer gwine ter let me stay an' gether my crap?' + +"'Damn de crap,' sez he (axin' yer parding, Miss Mollie, fer usin' +cuss-words), 'I'll take keer o' de crap; don't yer be afeared o' +dat. Yer t'ought yer was damn smart, didn't yer, not takin' enny +store orders, an' a-tryin' to fo'ce me ter pay yer cash in de lump? +But now I'se got yer. Dis Lan'lo'd an' Tenant Act war made fer jes +sech cussed smart niggers ez you is.' + +"'Marse Hooper,' sez I, 'is dat de law?' + +"'Sartin,' sez he, 'jes you come long wid me ober ter Squar Tice's, +an' ef he don't say so I'll quit--dat's all.' + +"So we went ober ter Squar Tice's, an' he sed Marse Hooper war +right--dat it war stealin' all de same, even ef it war my own crap. +Den I seed dat Marse Hooper hed me close, an' I begun ter beg off, +kase I knowed it war a heap easier ter feed him soft corn dan ter +fight him in de law, when I wuz boun' ter git whipped. De Squar war +a good sort ob man, an' he kinder 'suaded Marse Hooper ter 'comp' +de matter wid me; an' dat's what we did finally. He gin me twenty +dollahs an' I signed away all my right ter de crap. Den he turned +in an' wanted ter hire me fer de nex yeah; but de Squar, he tuk +me out an' sed I'd better git away from dar, kase ennybody could +bring de matter up agin me an' git me put in de penitentiary fer +it, atter all dat hed been sed an' done. So we geared up, an' moved +on. Sally felt mighty bad, an' it did seem hard; but I tried ter +chirk her up, yer know, an' tole her dat, rough ez it war, it war +better nor we'd ebber done afo', kase we hed twenty dollahs an' +didn't owe nuffin'. + +"I 'llowed we'd git clean away dat time, an' we didn't stop till +we'd got inter anodder State." + +"Wal, dar I sot in ter wuk a cotting crap agin. Dis time I 'llowed +I'd jes take de odder way; an' so I tuk up all de orders on de +sto' dat de boss man would let me hev, kase I 'llowed ter git what +I could ez I went 'long, yer know. So, atter de cotting wuz all +picked, an' de 'counts all settled up, dar warn't only jest one +little bag ob lint a comin' ter Berry. I tuk dat inter de town one +Saturday in de ebenin', an' went roun' h'yer an' dar, a-tryin' ter +git de biggest price 'mong de buyers dat I could. + +"It happened dat I done forgot al 'bout it's comin' on late, an' +jest a little atter sun-down, I struck on a man dat offered me +'bout a cent a poun' more'n ennybody else hed done, an' I traded +wid him. Den I druv de mule roun', an' hed jes got de cotting out +ob de carry-all an' inter de sto', when, fust I knowed, 'long come +a p'liceman an' tuk me up for selling cotting atter sun-down. I +tole him dat it was my own cotting, what I'd done raised myself, +but he sed ez how it didn't make no sort of diff'rence at all. He +'clared dat de law sed ez how ennybody ez sold er offered fer sale +any cotting atter sundown an' afore sun-up, should be sent ter jail +jes de same ez ef he'd done stole it. Den I axed de man dat bought +de cotting ter gib it back ter me, but he wouldn't do dat, nohow, +nor de money for it nuther. So dey jes' toted me off ter jail. + +"I knowed der warn't no use in savin' nuffin' den. So when Sally +come in I tole her ter jes take dat ar mule an' carry-all an' sell +'em off jest ez quick ez she could, so dat nobody wouldn't git hold +ob dem. But when she tried ter do it, de boss man stopped her from +it, kase he hed a mortgage on 'em fer de contract; an' he sed ez +how I hedn't kep' my bargain kase I'd gone an' got put in jail afo' +de yeah was out. So she couldn't git no money ter pay a lawyer, +an' I don't s'pose 'twould hev done enny good ef she hed. I tole +her not ter mind no mo' 'bout me, but jes ter come back ter Red +Wing an' see ef Miss Mollie couldn't help her out enny, Yer see I +was jes shore dey'd put me in de chain-gang, an' I didn't want her +ner de chillen ter be whar dey'd see me a totin' 'roun' a ball an' +chain. + +"Shore 'nough, when de court come on, dey tried me an' fotch me in +guilty o' sellin' cotting alter sundown. De jedge, he lectured me +powerful fer a while, an' den he ax me what I'd got ter say 'bout +it. Dat's de way I understood him ter say, ennyhow. So, ez he wuz +dat kind ez ter ax me ter speak in meetin', I 'llowed twa'n't no +mo' dan polite fer me ter say a few words, yer know. I told him +squar out dat I t'ought 'twas a mighty quare law an' a mighty mean +one, too, dat put a man in de chain-gang jes kase he sold his own +cotting atter sundown, when dey let ennybody buy it an' not pay +fer it at all. I tole him dat dey let 'em sell whisky an' terbacker +an' calico and sto' clo'es an' ebbery t'ing dat a nigger hed ter buy, +jest all times o' day an' night; an' I jest bleeved dat de whole +t'ing war jest a white man's trick ter git niggas in de chain-gang. +Den de jedge he tried ter set down on me an' tole me ter stop, but +I wuz dat mad dat when I got a-gwine dar warn't no stoppin' me till +de sheriff he jes grabbed me by de scruff o' de neck, an' sot me +down jest ennyway--all in a heap, yer know. Den de jedge passed +sentence, yer know, an' he sed dat he gib me one year fer de stealin' +an' one year fer sassin' de Court. + +"So dey tuk me back ter jail, but, Lor' bress ye, dey didn't git +me inter de chain-gang, nohow. 'Fore de mo'nin' come I'd jes bid +good-by ter dat jail an' was a pintin' outen dat kentry, in my +weak way, ez de ministers say, jest ez fast ez I could git ober de +groun'. + +"Den I jes clean gib up. I couldn't take my back trac nowhar, fer +fear I'd be tuk up. I t'ought it all ober while I wuz a trabblin' +'long; an' I swar ter God, Marse Hesden, I jes did peg out ob all +hope. I couldn't go back ter Sallie an' de chillen, ner couldn't +do 'em enny good ef I did; ner I couldn't send fer dem ter come +ter me, kase I hedn't nuffin' ter fotch 'em wid. So I jes kinder +gin out, an' went a-sloshin' roun', not a-keerin' what I done er what +was ter come on me. I kep' a'sendin' letters ter Sally h'yer an' +dar, but, bress yer soul, I nebber heard nuffin' on 'em atterwards. +Den I t'ought I'd try an' git money ter go an' hunt 'em up, but it +was jes' ez it was afo'. I dunno how, but de harder I wuk de porer +I got, till finally I jes started off afoot an' alone ter go ter +Kansas; an' h'yer I is, ready ter grow up wid de kentry, Marse +Hesden, jest ez soon ez I gits ter Sally an' de chillen." + +"I'm glad you have not had any political trouble," said Hesden. + +"P'litical trouble?" said Berry. "Wal, Marse Hesden, yer knows dat +Berry is jes too good-natered ter do ennyt'ing but wuk an' larf, +an' do a little whistlin' an banjo-pickin' by way ob a change; but +I be dinged ef it don't 'pear ter me dat it's all p'litical trouble. +Who's Berry ebber hurt? What's he ebber done, I'd like ter know, +ter be debbled roun' dis yer way? I use ter vote, ob co'se. T'ought +I hed a right ter, an' dat it war my duty ter de kentry dat hed +gib me so much. But I don't do dat no mo'. Two year ago I quit dat +sort o' foolishness. What's de use? I see'd 'em count de votes, +Marse Hesden, an' den I knowed dar warn't no mo' use ob votin' gin +dat. Yer know, dey 'pints all de jedges ob de 'lection derselves, +an' so count de votes jest ez dey wants 'em. Dar in our precinct +war two right good white men, but dey 'pinted nary one o' dem +ter count de votes. Oh no, not ter speak on! Dey puts on de Board +a good-'nough old cullu'd man dat didn't know 'B' from a bull's +foot. Wal, our white men 'ranges de t'ing so dat dey counts our men +ez dey goes up ter de box an' dey gibs out de tickets dereselves. +Now, dar wuz six hundred an' odd ob our tickets went inter dat box. +Dat's shore. But dar wa'n't t'ree hundred come out. I pertended +ter be drunk, an' laid down by de chimbly whar dar was a peep-hole +inter dat room, an' seed dat countin' done. When dey fust opened +de box one on 'em sez, sez he, + +"'Lord God! what a lot o' votes!' Den dey all look an' 'llowed dar +war a heap mo' votes than dey'd got names. So they all turned in +ter count de votes. Dar wuz two kinds on 'em. One wuz little bits +ob slick, shiny fellers, and de odders jes common big ones. When +dey'd got 'em all counted they done some figurin,' an' sed dey'd +hev ter draw out 'bout t'ree hundred an' fifty votes. So dey put +'em all back in de box, all folded up jest ez dey wuz at de start, +an' den dey shuck it an' shuck it an' shuck it, till it seemed ter +me 'em little fellers wuz boun' ter slip fru de bottom. Den one +on 'em wuz blindfolded, an' he drew outen de box till he got out +de right number--mostly all on 'em de big tickets, mind ye, kase +dey wuz on top, yer know. Den dey count de rest an' make up de +papers, an' burns all de tickets. + +"Now what's de use o' votin' agin dat? I can't see what fer dey +put de tickets in de box at all. 'Tain't half ez fa'r ez a lottery +I seed one time in Melton; kase dar dey kep turnin' ober de wheel, +an' all de tickets hed a fa'r show. No, Marse Hesden, I nebber +does no mo' votin' till I t'inks dar's a leetle chance o' habbin' +my vote counted jest ez I drops it inter de box, 'long wid de rest. +I don't see no use in it." + +"You are quite right, Berry," said Hesden; "but what do _you_ +say is the reason you have come away from the South?" + +"Jest kase a poor man dat hain't got no larnin' is wuss off dar +dan a cat in hell widout claws; he can't fight ner he can't climb. +I'se wukked hard an' been honest ebber sence de S'render an' I hed +ter walk an' beg my rations ter git h'yer. [Footnote: The actual +words used by a colored man well-known to the writer in giving his +reason for joining the "exodus," in a conversation in the depot +at Kansas City, in February last.] Dat's de reason!" said Berry, +springing to his feet and speaking excitedly. + +"Yes, Berry, you have been unfortunate, but I know all are not so +badly off." + +"T'ank God fer dat!" said Berry. "Yer see I'd a' got' long well +'nough ef I'd hed a fa'r shake an' hed knowd' all 'bout de law, +er ef de law hadn't been made ter cotch jes sech ez me. I didn't +ebber 'spect nuffin' but jest a tollable libbin', only a bit ob +larnin, fer my chillen. I tried mighty hard, an' dis is jes what's +come on't. I don't pertend ter say what's de matter, but sunthin' +is wrong, or else sunthin' hez been wrong, an' dis that we hez +now is jest de fruits on't--I dunno which. I can't understand it, +nohow. I don't hate nobody, an' I don't know ez dar's enny way +out, but only jes ter wait an' wait ez we did in slave times fer +de good time ter come. I wuz jes dat tuckered out a-tryin,' dat I +t'ought I'd come out h'yer an' wait an' see ef I couldn't grow up +wid de kentry, yer know. Yah, yah!" + +The next morning the light-hearted exodian departed, with a ticket +for Eupolia and a note to his white fellow-fugitive from the evils +which a dark past has bequeathed to the South--Jordan Jackson, now +the agent of Hesden and Mollie in the management of their interests +at that place. Hesden and Mollie continued their homeward journey, +stopping for a few days in Washington on their way. + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +WHAT SHALL THE END BE? + + +Two men sat upon one of the benches in the shade of a spreading elm +in the shadow of the National Capitol, as the sun declined toward +his setting. They had been walking and talking as only earnest, +thoughtful men are wont to talk. They had forgotten each other and +themselves in the endeavor to forecast the future of the country +after a consideration of its past. + +One was tall, broad, and of full habit, with a clear blue eye, +high, noble forehead, and brown beard and hair just beginning +to be flecked with gray, and of a light complexion inclining to +floridness. He was a magnificent type of the Northern man. He had +been the shaper of his own destiny, and had risen to high position, +with the aid only of that self-reliant manhood which constitutes +the life and glory of the great free North. He was the child of +the North-west, but his ancestral roots struck deep into the rugged +hills of New England. The West had made him broader and fuller and +freer than the stock from which he sprang, without impairing his +earnestness of purpose or intensity of conviction. + +The other, more slender, dark, with something of sallowness in his +sedate features, with hair and beard of dark brown clinging close +to the finely-chiseled head and face, with an empty sleeve pinned +across his breast, showed more of litheness and subtlety, and +scarcely less of strength, than the one on whom he gazed, and was +an equally perfect type of the Southern-born American. The one was +the Honorable Washington Goodspeed, M.C., and the other was Hesden +Le Moyne. + +"Well, Mr. Le Moyne," said the former, after a long and thoughtful +pause, "is there any remedy for these things? Can the South and the +North ever be made one people in thought, spirit, and purpose? It +is evident that they have not been in the past; can they become +so in the future? Wisdom and patriotism have thus far developed no +cure for this evil; they seem, indeed, to have proved inadequate +to the elucidation of the problem. Have you any solution to offer?" + +"I think," replied Le Moyne, speaking slowly and thoughtfully, "that +there is a solution lying just at our hand, the very simplicity of +which, perhaps, has hitherto prevented us from fully appreciating +its effectiveness." + +"Ah!" said Goodspeed, with some eagerness, "and what may that be?" + +"Education!" was the reply. + +"Oh, yes," said the other, with a smile. "You have adopted, then, +the Fourth of July remedy for all national ills?" + +"If you mean by 'Fourth of July remedy,'" replied Hesdeu with some +tartness, "that it is an idea born of patriotic feeling alone, I +can most sincerely answer, Yes. You will please to recollect that +every bias of my mind and life has been toward the Southern view +of all things. I doubt if any man of the North can appreciate the +full force and effect of that bias upon the minds and hearts of +those exposed to its operation. When the war ended I had no reason +or motive for considering the question of rebuilding the national +prosperity and power upon a firmer and broader basis than before. +That was left entirely to you gentlemen of the North. It was not +until you, the representatives of the national power, had acted--ay, +it was not until your action had resulted in apparent failure--that +I began to consider this question at all. I did so without any +selfish bias or hope, beyond that which every man ought to have in +behalf of the Nation which he is a part, and in which he expects +his children to remain. So that I think I may safely say that my +idea of the remedy does spring from a patriotism as deep and earnest +as ever finds expression upon the national holiday." + +"Oh, I did not mean that," was the half-apologetic rejoinder; "I +did not mean to question your sincerity at all; but the truth is, +there has been so much impracticable theorizing upon this subject +that one who looks for results can scarcely restrain an expression +of impatience when that answer is dogmatically given to such an +inquiry." + +"Without entirely indorsing your view as to the impracticality +of what has been said and written upon this subject," answered Le +Moyne, "I must confess that I have never yet seen it formulated +in a manner entirely satisfactory to myself. For my part, I am +thoroughly satisfied that it is not only practicable, but is also +the sole practicable method of curing the ills of which we have +been speaking. It seems to me also perfectly apparent why the remedy +has not previously been applied--why the patriotism and wisdom of +the past has failed to hit upon this simple remedy." + +"Well, why was it?" + +"The difference between the North and the South before the war," +said Le Moyne, "was twofold; both the political and the social +organizations of the South were utterly different from those of the +North, and could not be harmonized with them. The characteristics +of the _social_ organization you, in common with the intelligent +masses of the North, no doubt comprehend as fully and clearly as is +possible for one who has not personally investigated its phenomena. +Your Northern social system was builded upon the idea of inherent +equality--that is, of equality and opportunity; so that the only +inequality which could exist was that which resulted from the +accident of wealth or difference of capacity in the individual. + +"The social system of the South was opposed to this in its very +elements. At the very outset it was based upon a wide distinction, +never overlooked or forgotten for a single moment. Under no +circumstances could a colored man, of whatever rank or grade of +intellectual power, in any respect, for a single instant overstep +the gulf which separated him from the Caucasian, however humble, +impoverished, or degraded the latter might be. This rendered easy +and natural the establishment of other social grades and ideas, +which tended to separate still farther the Northern from the Southern +social system. The very fact of the African being thus degraded +led, by natural association, to the degradation of those forms of +labor most frequently delegated to the slave. By this means free +labor became gradually to be considered more and more disreputable, +and self-support to be considered less and less honorable. The +necessities of slavery, as well as the constantly growing pride of +class, tended very rapidly toward the subversion of free thought +and free speech; so that, even with the white man of any and every +class, the right to hold and express opinions different from those +entertained by the bulk of the master-class with reference to all +those subjects related to the social system of the South soon came +to be questioned, and eventually utterly denied. All these facts the +North--that is, the Northern people, Northern statesmen, Northern +thinkers--have comprehended _as_ facts. Their influence and +bearings, I may be allowed to say, they have little understood, +because they have not sufficiently realized their influence upon +the minds of those subjected, generation after generation, to their +sway. + +"On the other hand, the wide difference between the _political_ +systems of the North and the South seems never to have affected the +Northern mind at all. The Northern statesmen and political writers +seem always to have proceeded upon the assumption that the removal +of slavery, the changing of the legal status of the African, +resulting in the withdrawal of one of the props which supported +the _social_ system of the South, would of itself overthrow +not only that system, but the political system which had grown up +along with it, and which was skillfully designed for its maintenance +and support. Of the absolute difference between the political +systems of the South and the North, and of the fact that the social +and political systems stood to each other in the mutual relation +of cause and effect, the North seems ever to have been profoundly +ignorant." + +"Well," said Mr. Goodspeed, "I must confess that I cannot understand +what difference there is, except what arose out of slavery." + +"The questien is not," said Le Moyne, "whether it _arose_ +out of slavery, but whether it would of necessity fall with the +extinction of slavery _as a legal status_. It is, perhaps, +impossible for any one to say exactly how much of the political +system of the South grew out of slavery, and how much of slavery +and its consequences were due to the Southern political system." + +"I do not catch your meaning," said Goodspeed. "Except for the +system of slavery and the exclusion of the blacks from the exercise +and enjoyment of poitical rights and privileges, I cannot see that +the political system of the South differed materially from that of +the North." + +"Precisely so," said Le Moyne. "Your inability to perceive my meaning +very clearly illustrates to my mind the fact which I am endeavoring +to impress upon you. If you will consider for a moment the history +of the country, you will observe that a system prevailed in the +nou-slaveholding States which was unknown, either in name or essential +attributes, throughout the slaveholding part of the country." + +"Yes?" said the other inquiringly. "What may that have been?" + +"In one word," said Le Moyne--"the 'township' system." + +"Oh, yes," laughed the Congressman lightly; "the Yankee town-meeting." + +"Exactly," responded Le Moyne; "yet I venture to say that the +presence and absence of the town-meeting--the township system or its +equivalent--in the North and in the South, constituted a difference +not less vital and important than that of slavery itself. In fact, +sir, I sincerely believe that it is to the township system that the +North owes the fact that it is not to-day as much slave territory +as the South was before the war." + +"What!" said the Northerner, with surprise, "you do not mean +to say that the North owes its freedom, its prosperity, and its +intelligence--the three things in which it differs from the South +most materially--entirely to the Yankee town-meeting?" + +"Perhaps not entirely," said Le Moyne; "but in the main I think +it does. And there are certain facts connected with our history +which I think, when you consider them carefully, will incline you +to the same belief." + +"Indeed; I should be glad to know them." + +"The first of these," continued Le Moyne, "is the fact that in +every state in which the township system really prevailed, slavery +was abolished without recourse to arms, without civil discord or +perceptible evil results. The next is that in the states in which +the township system did not prevail in fact as well as name, the +public school system did not exist, or had only a nominal existence; +and the proportion of illiteracy in those states as a consequence +was, _among the whites alone_, something like four times as +great as in those states in which the township system flourished. +And this, too, notwithstanding almost the entire bulk of the ignorant +immigration from the old world entered into the composition of +the Northern populations. And, thirdly, there resulted a difference +which I admit to be composite in its causes--that is, the difference +in average wealth. Leaving out of consideration the capital invested +in slaves, the _per capita_ valuation of the states having the +township system was something more than three times the average in +those where it was unknown." + +"But what reason can you give for this belief?" said Goodspeed. +"How do you connect with the consequences, which cannot be doubted, +the cause you assign? The differences between the South and the +North have hitherto been attributed entirely to slavery; why do +you say that they are in so great a measure due to differences of +political organization?" + +"I can very well see," was the reply, "that one reared as you were +should fail to understand at once the potency of the system which +has always been to you as much a matter of course as the atmosphere +by which you are surrounded. It was not until Harvey's time--indeed, +it was not until a much later period--that we knew in what way and +manner animal life was maintained by the inhalation of atmospheric +air. The fact of its necessity was apparent to every child, but how +it operated was unknown. I do not now profess to be able to give +all of those particulars which have made the township system, or +its equivalent, an essential concomitant of political equality, +and, as I think, the vital element of American liberty. But I can +illustrate it so that you will get the drift of my thought." + +"I should be glad if you would," said Goodspeed. + +"The township system," continued Le Moyne, "may, for the present +purpose, be denned to be the division of the entire territory of +the state into small municipalises, the inhabitants of which control +and manage for themselves, directly and immediately, their own +local affairs. Each township is in itself a miniature republic, +every citizen of which exercises in its affairs equal power with +every other citizen. Each of these miniature republics becomes a +constituent element of the higher representative republic--namely, +a county, which is itself a component of the still larger representative +republic, the State. It is patterned upon and no doubt grew out of +the less perfect borough systems of Europe, and those inchoate communes +of our Saxon forefathers which were denominated '_Hundreds_.' +It is the slow growth of centuries of political experience; the +ripe fruit of ages of liberty-seeking thought. + +"The township is the shield and nursery of individual freedom of +thought and action. The young citizen who has never dreamed of a +political career becomes interested in some local question affecting +his individual interests. A bridge is out of repair; a roadmaster +has failed to perform his duty; a constable has been remiss in his +office; a justice of the peace has failed to hold the scales with +even balance between rich and poor; a school has not been properly +cared for; the funds of the township have been squandered; or the +assumption of a liability is proposed by the township trustees, the +policy of which he doubts. He has the remedy in his own hands. He +goes to the township meeting, or he appears at the town-house upon +election day, and appeals to his own neighbors--those having like +interests with himself. He engages in the struggle, hand to hand +and foot to foot with his equals; he learns confidence in himself; +he begins to measure his own power, and fits himself for the higher +duties and responsibilities of statesmanship." + +"Well, well," laughed Goodspeed, "there is something in that. I +remember that iny first political experience was in trying to defeat +a supervisor who did not properly work the roads of his district; +but I had never thought that in so doing I was illustrating such +a doctrine as you have put forth." + +"No; the doctrine is not mine," said Le Moyne. "Others, and +especially that noted French political philosopher who so calmly +and faithfully investigated our political system--the author of +'Democracy in America'--clearly pointed out, many years ago, the +exceptional value of this institution, and attributed to it the +superior intelligence and prosperity of the North." + +"Then," was the good-natured reply, "your prescription for the +political regeneration of the South is the same as that which we +all laughed at as coming from Horace Greeley immediately upon the +downfall of the Confederacy--that the Government should send an +army of surveyors to the South to lay off the land in sections and +quarter-sections, establish parallel roads, and enforce topographic +uniformity upon the nation? + +"Not at all," said Le Moyne. "I think that the use of the +term 'township' in a _double_ sense has misled our political +thinkers in estimating its value. It is by no means necessary that +the township of the United States survey should be arbitrarily +established in every state. In fact, the township system really +finds its fullest development where such a land division does not +prevail, as in New England, Pennsylvania, and other states. It is +the _people_ that require to be laid off in townships, not +the land. Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, all have their lands laid +off in the parallelograms prescribed by the laws regulating United +States surveys; but their _people_ are not organized into +self-governing communes." + +"But was there no equivalent system of local self-government in +those states?" + +"No; and there is not to-day. In some cases there are lame +approaches to it; but in none of the former slave States were the +counties made up of self-governing subdivisions. The South is to-day +and always has been a stranger to local self-government. In many of +those states every justice of the peace, every school committeeman, +every inspector of elections is appointed by some central power in +the county, which is in turn itself appointed either by the Chief +Executive of the State or by the dominant party in the Legislature. +There may be the form of townships, but the differential characteristic +is lacking--the self-governing element of the township." + +"I don't know that I fully comprehend you," said Goodspeed. "Please +illustrate." + +"Well, take one state for an example, where the constitution +adopted during the reconstruction period introduced the township +system, and authorized the electors of each township to choose +their justices of the peace, constables, school-cominitteemen, and +other local officials. It permitted the people of the county to +choose a board of commissioners, who should administer the financial +matters of the county, and, in some instances, exeicise a limited +judicial authority. But now they have, in effect, returned to the +old system. The dominant party in the Legislature appoints every +justice of the peace in the state. The justices of the peace of +each county elect from their number the county commissioners; the +county commissioners appoint the school-committeemen, the roadmasters, +the registrars of election and the judges of election; so that +every local interest throughout the entire state is placed under +the immediate power and control of the dominant party, although +not a tenth part of the voters of any particular township or county +may belong to that party. In another state all this power, and even +more, is exercised by the Chief Executive; and in all of them you +will find that the county--or its equivalent, the parish--is the +smallest political unit having a municipal character." + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +HOW? + + +There was a moment of silence, after which the Northern man said +thoughtfully. + +"I think I understand your views, Mr. Le Moyne, and must admit that +both the facts and the deductions which you make from them are very +interesting, full of food for earnest reflection, and, for aught I +know, may fully bear out your view of their effects. Still, I cannot +see that your remedy for this state of affairs differs materially +in its practicability from that of the departed philosopher +of Chappaqua. He prescribed a division of the lands, while, if I +understand you, you would have the Government in some way prescribe +and control the municipal organisations of the people of the +various states. I cannot see what power the National Government +has, or any branch of it, which could effectuate that result." + +"It can only be done as it was done at the North," said Le Moyne +quietly. + +"Well, I declare!" said Goodspeed, with an outburst of laughter, +"your riddle grows worse and worse--more and more insoluble to +my mind. How, pray, was it done at the North? I always thought we +got it from colonial times. I am sure the New England town-meeting +came over in the Mayflower." + +"So it did!" responded Hesden, springing to his feet; "so it did; +it came over in the hearts of men who demanded, and were willing to +give up everything else to secure the right of local self-government. +The little colony upon the Mayflower was a township, and every man +of its passengers carried the seed of the ideal township system +in his heart." + +"Admitted, admitted, Mr. Le Moyne," said the other, smiling at his +earnestness. "But how shall we repeat the experiment? Would you +import men into every township of the South, in order that they +might carry the seeds of civil liberty with them, and build up the +township system there?" + +"By no means. I would make the men on the spot. I would so mold +the minds of every class of the Southern people that all should be +indoctrinated with the spirit of local self-government." + +"But how would you do it?" + +"With spelling-books!" answered Hesden sententiously. + +"There we are," laughed the other, "at the very point we started +from. Like the poet of the Western bar-room, you may well say, my +friend, 'And so I end as I did begin.'" + +"Yes," said Le Moyne, "we have considered the _desirability_ +of education, and you have continually cried, with good-natured +incredulity, 'How shall it be done?' Are you not making that inquiry +too soon?" + +"Not at all," said the Congressman earnestly; "I see how desirable +is the result, and I am willing to do anything in my power to +attain it, if there is any means by which it can be accomplished." + +"That is it," said Le Moyne; "you are _willing_; you recognize +that it would be a good thing; you wish it might be done; you have +no desire to stand in the way of its accomplishment. That is not +the spirit which achieves results. Nothing is accomplished by mere +assent. The American people must first be thoroughly satisfied +that it is a necessity. The French may shout over a red cap, and +overturn existing systems for a vague idea; but American conservatism +consists in doing nothing until it is absolutely necessary. We +never move until the fifty-ninth minute of the eleventh hour. + +"Only think of it! You fought a rebellion, based professedly upon +slavery as a corner-stone, for almost two years before you could +bring yourselves to disturb that corner-stone. You knew the structure +would fall if that were done; but the American people waited and +waited until every man was fully satisfied that there was no other +possible road to success. It is just so in this matter. I feel its +necessity. You do not.' + +"There I think you do me injustice," said Goodspeed, "I feel the +necessity of educating every citizen of the Republic, as well as +you." + +"No doubt, in a certain vague way," was the reply; "but you do not +feel it as the only safety to the Republic to-day; and I do." + +"I confess I do not see, as you seem to, the immediate advantage, +or the immediate danger, more than that which has always threatened +us," answered the Congressman. + +"This, after all, is the real danger, I think," said Le Moyne. +"The states containing only one third of the population of this +Union contain also more than two thirds of its entire illiteracy. +Twenty-five out of every hundred--one out of every four--of the +_white voters_ of the former slave states cannot read the +ballots which they cast; forty-five per cent of the entire voting +strength of those sixteen states are unable to read or write." + +"Well?" said the other calmly, seeing Le Moyne look at him as though +expecting him to show surprise. + +"_Well!_" said Le Moyne. "I declare your Northern phlegm is +past my comprehension.--'Well,' indeed! it seems to me as bad as +bad can be. Only think of it--only six per cent of intelligence +united with this illiterate vote makes a majority!" + +"Well?" was the response again, still inquiringly. + +"And that majority," continued Le Moyne, "would choose seventy-two +per cent of the electoral votes necessary to name a President of +the United States!" + +"Well," said the other, with grim humor, "they are not very likely +to do it at present, anyhow." + +"That is true," replied Le Moyne. "But there is still the other +danger, and the greater evil. That same forty-five per cent are of +course easily made the subjects of fraud or violence, and we face +this dilemma: they may either use their power wrongfully, or be +wrongfully deprived of the exercise of their ballotorial rights. +Either alternative is alike dangerous. If we suppose the illiterate +voter to be either misled or intimidated, or prevented from exercising +his judgment and his equality of right with others in the control +of our government, then we have the voice of this forty-five per +cent silenced--whether by intimidation or by fraud matters not. +Then a majority of the remaining fifty-four per cent, or, say, +twenty-eight per cent of one third of the population of the Nation +in a little more than one third of the States, might exercise +seventy-two per cent of the electoral power necessary to choose a +President, and a like proportion of the legislative power necessary +to enact laws. Will the time ever come, my friend, when it will +be safe to put in the way of any party such a temptation as is +presented by this opportunity to acquire power?" + +"No, no, no," said the Northern man, with impatience. "But what +can you do? Education will not make men honest, or patriotic, or +moral." + +"True enough," was the reply. "Nor will the knowledge of toxicology +prevent the physician from being a poisoner, or skill in handwriting +keep a man from becoming a forger. But the study of toxicology will +enable the physician to save life, and the study of handwriting is +a valuable means of preventing the results of wrongful acts. So, +while education does not make the voter honest, it enables him to +protect himself against the frauds of others, and not only increases +his power but inspires him to resist violence. So that, in the +aggregate, you Northerners are right in the boast which you make +that intelligence makes a people stronger and braver and freer." + +"So your remedy is--" began the other. + +"Not _my_ remedy, but the _only_ remedy, is to educate +the people until they shall be wise enough to know what they ought +to do, and brave enough and strong enough to do it." + +"Oh, that is all well enough, if it could be done," said Goodspeed. + +"Therefore it is," returned Hesden, "that it _must_ be done." + +"But _how?_" said the other querulously. "You know that the +Constitution gives the control of such matters entirely to the +States. The Nation cannot interfere with it. It is the duty of the +States to educate their citizens--a clear and imperative duty; +but if they will not do it the Nation cannot compel them." + +"Yes," said Hesden, "I know. For almost a century you said that +about slavery; and you have been trying to hunt a way of escape +from your enforced denial of it ever since. But as a matter of +fact, when you came to the last ditch and found no bridge across, +you simply made one. When it became an unavoidable question whether +the Union or slavery should live, you chose the Union. The choice +may come between the Union and ignorance; and if it does, I have +no fear as to which the people will choose. The doctrine of State +Rights is a beautiful thing to expatiate upon, but it has been the +root of nearly all the evil the country has suffered. However, +I believe that this remedy can at once be applied without serious +inconvenience from that source." + +"How?" asked the other; "that is what I want to know." + +"Understand me," said Le Moyne; "I do not consider the means +so important as the end. When the necessity is fully realized the +means will be discovered; but I believe that we hold the clue even +now in our hands." + +"Well, what is it?" was the impatient inquiry. + +"A fund of about a million dollars," said Le Moyne, "has already +been distributed to free public schools in the South, upon a system +which does not seriously interfere with the jealously-guarded +rights of those states." + +"You mean the Peabody Fund?" + +"Yes; I do refer to that act of unparalleled beneficence and +wisdom." + +"But that was not the act of the Nation." + +"Very true; but why should not the Nation distribute a like bounty +upon the same system? It is admitted, beyond serious controversy, +that the Nation may raise and appropriate funds for such purposes +among the different states, provided it be not for the exclusive +benefit of any in particular. It is perhaps past controversy that +the Government might distribute a fund to the different states +_in the proportion of illiteracy_. This, it is true, would +give greater amounts to certain states than to others, but only +greater in proportion to the evil to be remedied." + +"Yes," said the other; "but the experience of the Nation in +distributing lands and funds for educational purposes has not been +encouraging. The results have hardly been commensurate with the +investment." + +"That is true," said Hesden, "and this is why I instance the +Peabody Fund. That is not given into the hands of the officers of +the various states, but when a school is organized and fulfills +the requirements laid down for the distribution of that fund, in +regard to numbers and average attendance--in other words, is shown +to be an efficient institution of learning--then the managers of +the fund give to it a sum sufficient to defray a certain proportion +of its expenses." + +"And you think such a system might be applied to a Government +appropriation?" + +"Certainly. The amount to which the county, township, or school +district would be entitled might be easily ascertained, and +upon the organization and maintenance of a school complying with +the reasonable requirements of a well-drawn statute in regard to +attendance and instruction, such amount might be paid over." + +"Yes," was the reply, after a thoughtful pause; "but would not that +necessitate a National supervision of State schools?" + +"To a certain extent, yes. Yet there would be nothing compulsory +about it. It would only be such inspection as would be necessary +to determine whether the applicant had entitled himself to share +the Nation's bounty. Surely the Nation may condition its own +bounty." + +"But suppose these states should refuse to submit to such inspection, +or accept such appropriation?" + +"That is the point, exactly, to which I desire to bring your +attention," said Le Moyne. "Ignorance, unless biased by religious +bigotry, always clamors for knowledge. You could well count upon +the forty-five per cent of ignorant voters insisting upon the +reception of that bounty. The number of those that recognize the +necessity of instructing the ignorant voter, even in those states, +is hourly increasing, and but a brief time would elapse until +no party would dare to risk opposition to such a course. I doubt +whether any party would venture upon it, even now." + +"But are not its results too remote, Mr. Le Moyne, to make such a +measure of present interest in the cure of present evils?" + +"Not at all," answered Hesden. "By such a measure you bring the +purest men of the South into close and intimate relations with +the Government. You cut off the sap which nourishes the yet living +root of the State Rights dogma. You bring every man to feel as you +feel, that there is something greater and grander than his State +and section. Besides that, you draw the poison from the sting which +rankles deeper than you think. The Southern white man feels, and +justly feels, that the burden of educating the colored man ought +not to be laid upon the South alone. He says truly, 'The Nation +fostered and encouraged slavery; it gave it greater protection and +threw greater safeguards around it than any other kind of property; +it encouraged my ancestors and myself to invest the proceeds of +generations of care and skill and growth in slaves. When the war +ended it not only at one stroke dissipated all these accumulations, +but it also gave to these men the ballot, and would now drive me, +for my own protection, to provide for their education. This is +unjust and oppressive. I will not do it, nor consent that it shall +be done by my people or by our section alone.' To such a man--and +there are many thousands of them--such a measure would come as an +act of justice. It would be a grateful balm to his outraged feelings, +and would incline him to forget, much more readily than he otherwise +would, what he regards to be the injustice of emancipation. It will +lead him to consider whether he has not been wrong in supposing +that the emancipation and enfranchisement of the blacks proceeded +from a feeling of resentment, and was intended as a punishment +merely. It will incline him to consider whether the people of the +North, the controlling power of the Government at that time, did +not act from a better motive than he has given them credit for. +But even if this plan should meet with disapproval, instead of +approval, from the white voters of the South, it would still be +the true and wise policy for the Nation to pursue." + +"So you really think," said the Northerner dubiously, "that such +a measure would produce good results even in the present generation?" + +"Unquestionably," was the reply. "Perhaps the chief incentive to +the acts which have disgraced our civilization--which have made +the white people of the South almost a unit in opposing by every +means, lawful and unlawful, the course of the Government in +reconstruction, has been a deep and bitter conviction that hatred, +envy, and resentment against them on the part of the North, were +the motives which prompted those acts. Such a measure, planned upon +a liberal scale, would be a vindication of the manhood of the North; +an assertion of its sense of right as well as its determination to +develop at the South the same intelligence, the same freedom of +thought and action, the same equality of individual right, that +have made the North prosperous and free and strong, while the lack +of them has made the South poor and ignorant and weak." + +"Well, well," said the Congressman seriously, "you may be right. +I had never thought of it _quite_ in that light before. It is +worth thinking about, my friend; it is worth thinking about." + +"That it is!" said Le Moyne, joyfully extending his hand. "Think! +If you will only _think_--if the free people of the North will +only think of this matter, I have no fears but a solution will be +found. Mine may not be the right one. That is no matter. As I said, +the question of method is entirely subordinate to the result. But +let the people think, and they will think rightly. Don't think of +it as a politician in the little sense of that word, but in the great +one. Don't try to compel the Nation to accept your view or mine; +but spur the national thought by every possible means to consider +the evil, to demand its cure, and to devise a remedy." + +So, day by day, the "irrepressible conflict" is renewed. The Past +bequeaths to the Present its wondrous legacy of good and ill. Names +are changed, but truths remain. The soil which slavery claimed, +baptized with blood becomes the Promised Land of the freedman and +poor white. The late master wonders at the mockery of Fate. Ignorance +marvels at the power of Knowledge. Love overleaps the barriers of +prejudice, and Faith laughs at the Impossible. + + +"The world goes up and the world goes down, +The sunshine follows the rain; +And yesterday's sneer and yesterday's frown +Can never come over again." + + +On the trestle-board of the Present, Liberty forever sets before +the Future some new query. The Wise-man sweats drops of blood. +The Greatheart abides in his strength. The King makes commandment. +The Fool laughs. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW *** + +This file should be named 6058.txt or 6058.zip + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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