clotelle(有色女英雄)-第17节
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his daughter from the hands of his mother…in…law。
When this news reached Mrs。 Miller； through her daughter； she
became furious with rage； and calling Clotelle into her room； stripped her
shoulders bare and flogged her in the presence of Gertrude。
It was nearly a week after the poor girl had been so severely whipped
and for no cause whatever； that her father learned on the circumstance
through one of the servants。 With a degree of boldness unusual for him；
he immediately went to his mother…in…law and demanded his child。 But it
was too late；she was gone。 To what place she had been sent no one
could tell； and Mrs。 Miller refused to give any information whatever
relative to the girl。
It was then that Linwood felt deepest the evil of the institution under
which he was living； for he knew that his daughter would be exposed to all
the vices prevalent in that part of the country where marriage is not
recognized in connection with that class。
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CHAPTER XVIII
A SLAVE…HUNTING PARSON
IT was a delightful evening after a cloudless day； with the setting sun
reflecting his golden rays on the surrounding hills which were covered
with a beautiful greensward； and the luxuriant verdure that forms the
constant garb of the tropics； that the steamer Columbia ran into the dock at
Natchez； and began unloading the cargo； taking in passengers and making
ready to proceed on her voyage to New Orleans。 The plank connecting the
boat with the shore had scarcely been secured in its place； when a good…
looking man about fifty years of age； with a white neck…tie； and a pair of
gold…rimmed glasses on； was seen hurrying on board the vessel。 Just at
that moment could be seen a stout man with his face fitted with the small…
pox； making his way up to the above…mentioned gentleman。
〃How do you do； my dear sir？ this is Mr。 Wilson； I believe；〃 said the
short man； at the same time taking from his mouth a large chew of tobacco；
and throwing it down on the ship's deck。
〃You have the advantage of me； sir；〃 replied the tall man。
〃Why； don't you know me？ My name is Jennings； I sold you a
splendid negro woman some years ago。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 answered the Natchez man。 〃I remember you now； for the
woman died in a few months； and I never got the worth of my money out
of her。〃
〃I could not help that；〃 returned the slave…trader； 〃she was as sound as
a roach when I sold her to you。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 replied the parson； 〃I know she was； but now I want a
young girl； fit for house use；one that will do to wait on a lady。〃
〃I am your man；〃 said Jennings； 〃just follow me；〃 continued he； 〃and I
will show you the fairest little critter you ever saw。〃 And the two passed to
the stern of the boat to where the trader had between fifty and sixty slaves；
the greater portion being women。
〃There；〃 said Jennings； as a beautiful young woman shrunk back with
modesty。 〃There； sir； is the very gal that was made for you。 If she had
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been made to your order； she could not have suited you better。〃
〃Indeed； sir； is not that young woman white？〃 inquired the parson。
〃Oh； no； sir； she is no whiter than you see！〃
〃But is she a slave？〃 asked the preacher。
〃Yes；〃 said the trader； 〃I bought her in Richmond； and she comes from
an excellent family。 She was raised by Squire Miller； and her mistress
was one of the most pious ladies in that city； I may say； she was the salt of
the earth； as the ministers say。〃
〃But she resembles in some respect Agnes； the woman I bought from
you；〃 said Mr。 Wilson。 As he said the name of Agnes； the young woman
started as if she had been struck。 Her pulse seemed to quicken； but her
face alternately flushed and turned pale； and tears trembled upon her
eyelids。 It was a name she had heard her mother mention； and it brought to
her memory those days；those happy days； when she was so loved and
caressed。 This young woman was Clotelle； the granddaughter of Agnes。
The preacher； on learning the fact； purchased her； and took her home；
feeling that his daughter Georgiana would prize her very highly。 Clotelle
found in Georgiana more a sister than a mistress； who； unknown to her
father； taught the slave…girl how to read； and did much toward improving
and refining Clotelle's manners； for her own sake。 Like her mother fond of
flowers； the 〃Virginia Maid；〃 as she was sometimes called； spent many of
her leisure hours in the garden。 Beside the flowers which sprang up from
the fertility of soil unplanted and unattended； there was the heliotrope；
sweet…pea； and cup…rose； transplanted from the island of Cuba。 In her
new home Clotelle found herself saluted on all sides by the fragrance of
the magnolia。 When she went with her young mistress to the Poplar Farm；
as she sometimes did； nature's wild luxuriance greeted her； wherever she
cast her eyes。
The rustling citron； lime； and orange； shady mango with its fruits of
gold； and the palmetto's umbrageous beauty； all welcomed the child of
sorrow。 When at the farm； Huckelby； the overseer； kept his eye on
Clotelle if within sight of her； for he knew she was a slave； and no doubt
hoped that she might some day fall into his hands。 But she shrank from his
looks as she would have done from the charm of the rattlesnake。 The
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negro…driver always tried to insinuate himself into the good opinion of
Georgiana and the company that she brought。 Knowing that Miss Wilson
at heart hated slavery； he was ever trying to show that the slaves under his
charge were happy and contented。 One day； when Georgiana and some of
her Connecticut friends were there； the overseer called all the slaves up to
the 〃great house；〃 and set some of the young ones to dancing。 After
awhile whiskey was brought in and a dram given to each slave； in return
for which they were expected to give a toast； or sing a short piece of his
own composition； when it came to Jack's turn he said；
〃The big bee flies high； the little bee makes the honey： the black folks
make the cotton； and the white folks gets the money。〃
Of course； the overseer was not at all elated with the sentiment
contained in Jack's toast。 Mr。 Wilson had lately purchased a young man
to assist about the house and to act as coachman。 This slave； whose
name was Jerome； was of pure African origin； was perfectly black； very
fine…looking； tall； slim； and erect as any one could possibly be。 His
features were not bad； lips thin； nose prominent； hands and feet small。 His
brilliant black eyes lighted up his whole countenance。 His hair； which was
nearly straight； hung in curls upon his lofty brow。 George Combe or
Fowler would have selected his head for a model。 He was brave and
daring； strong in person； fiery in spirit； yet kind and true in his affections；
earnest in his doctrines。 Clotelle had been at the parson's but a few weeks
when it was observed that a mutual feeling had grown up between her and
Jerome。 As time rolled on； they became more and more attached to each
other。 After satisfying herself that these two really loved； Georgiana
advised their marriage。 But Jerome contemplated his escape at some
future day； and therefore feared that if married it might militate against it。
He hoped； also； to be able to get Clotelle away too； and it was this hope
that kept him from trying to escape by himself。 Dante did not more love
his Beatrice； Swift his Stella； Waller his Saccharissa； Goldsmith his
Jessamy bride； or Burns his Mary； than did Jerome his Clotelle。 Unknown
to her father； Miss Wilson could permit these two slaves to enjoy more
privileges than any of the other servants。
