clotelle(有色女英雄)-第32节
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condition in which she had found him。 When able to converse； without
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danger of a relapse； he told Clotelle of his fruitless efforts to obtain a clew
to her whereabouts after old Mrs。 Miller had sold her to the slave…trader。 In
answer to his daughter's inquiries about his family affairs up to the time
that he left America； he said；
〃I blamed my wife for your being sold and sent away； for I thought she
and her mother were acting in collusion； But I afterwards found that I had
blamed her wrongfully。 Poor woman！ she knew that I loved your mother；
and feeling herself forsaken； she grew melancholy and died in a decline
three years ago。〃
Here both father and daughter wept at the thought of other days。 When
they had recovered their composure； Mr。 Linwood went on again：
〃Old Mrs。 Miller；〃 said he； 〃after the death of Gertrude； aware that she
had contributed much toward her unhappiness； took to the free use of
intoxicating drinks； and became the most brutal creature that ever lived。
She whipped her slaves without the slightest provocation； and seemed to
take delight in inventing new tortures with which to punish them。 One
night last winter； after having flogged one of her slaves nearly to death；
she returned to her room； and by some means the bedding took fire； and
the house was in flames before any one was awakened。 There was no one
in the building at the time but the old woman and the slaves； and although
the latter might have saved their mistress； they made no attempt to do so。
Thus； after a frightful career of many years； this hard…hearted woman died
a most miserable death； unlamented by a single person。〃
Clotelle wiped the tears from her eyes； as her father finished this story；
for； although Mrs。 Miller had been her greatest enemy； she regretted to
learn that her end had been such a sad one。
〃My peace of mind destroyed；〃 resumed the father； 〃and broken down
in health； my physician advised me to travel； with the hope of recruiting
myself； and I sailed from New York two months ago。〃
Being brought up in America； and having all the prejudice against
color which characterizes his white fellow…countrymen； Mr。 Linwood very
much regretted that his daughter； although herself tinctured with African
blood； should have married a black man； and he did not fail to express to
her his dislike of her husband's complexion。
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〃I married him；〃 said Clotelle； 〃because I loved him。 Why should the
white man be esteemed as better than the black？ I find no difference in
men on account of their complexion。 One of the cardinal principles of
Christianity and freedom is the equality and brotherhood of man。〃
Every day Mr。 Linwood became more and more familiar with Jerome；
and eventually they were on the most intimate terms。
Fifteen days from the time that Clotelle was introduced into her
father's room； they left Ferney for Geneva。 Many were the excursions
Clotelle made under the shadows of Mont Blanc； and with her husband
and father for companions； she was now in the enjoyment of pleasures
hitherto unknown。
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CHAPTER XXXV
THE FATHER'S RESOLVE
AWARE that her father was still a slave…owner； Clotelle determined
to use all her persuasive power to induce him to set them free； and in this
effort she found a substantial supporter in her husband。
〃I have always treated my slaves well；〃 said Mr。 Linwood to Jerome；
as the latter expressed his abhorrence of the system； 〃and my neighbors；
too； are generally good men； for slavery in Virginia is not like slavery in
the other States；〃 continued the proud son of the Old Dominion。 〃Their
right to be free； Mr。 Linwood；〃 said Jerome； 〃is taken from them； and they
have no security for their comfort； but the humanity and generosity of men；
who have been trained to regard them not as brethren； but as mere
property。 Humanity and generosity are； at best； but poor guaranties for
the protection of those who cannot assert their rights； and over whom law
throws no protection。〃
It was with pleasure that Clotelle obtained from her father a promise
that he would liberate all his slaves on his return to Richmond。 In a
beautiful little villa； situated in a pleasant spot； fringed with hoary rocks
and thick dark woods； within sight of the deep blue waters of Lake Leman；
Mr。 Linwood； his daughter； and her husband； took up their residence for a
short time。 For more than three weeks； this little party spent their time in
visiting the birth…place of Rousseau； and the former abodes of Byron；
Gibbon； Voltaire； De Stael； Shelley； and other literary characters。
We can scarcely contemplate a visit to a more historic and interesting
place than Geneva and its vicinity。 Here； Calvin； that great luminary in
the Church； lived and ruled for years； here； Voltaire； the mighty genius；
who laid the foundation of the French Revolution； and who boasted；
〃When I shake my wig； I powder the whole republic；〃 governed in the
higher walks of life。
Fame is generally the recompense； not of the living； but of the dead；
not always do they reap and gather in the harvest who sow the seed； the
flame of its altar is too often kindled from the ashes of the great。 A
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distinguished critic has beautifully said； 〃The sound which the stream of
high thought； carried down to future ages； makes； as it flows deep；
distant； murmuring ever more； like the waters of the mighty ocean。〃 No
reputation can be called great that will no endure this test。 The
distinguished men who had lived in Geneva transfused their spirit； by their
writings； into the spirit of other lovers of literature and everything that
treated of great authors。 Jerome and Clotelle lingered long in and about
the haunts of Geneva and Lake Leman。
An autumn sun sent down her bright rays； and bathed every object in
her glorious light； as Clotelle； accompanied by her husband and father set
out one fine morning on her return home to France。 Throughout the whole
route； Mr。 Linwood saw by the deference paid to Jerome； whose black
complexion excited astonishment in those who met him； that there was no
hatred to the man in Europe； on account of his color； that what is called
prejudice against color is the offspring of the institution of slavery； and he
felt ashamed of his own countrymen； when he thought of the complexion
as distinctions； made in the United States； and resolved to dedicate the
remainder of his life to the eradication of this unrepublican and unchristian
feeling from the land of his birth； on his return home。
After a stay of four weeks at Dunkirk； the home of the Fletchers； Mr。
Linwood set out for America； with the full determination of freeing his
slaves； and settling them in one of the Northern States； and then to return
to France to end his days in the society of his beloved daughter。
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CHAPTER XXXVI
THE RETURN HOME
THE first gun fired at the American Flag； on the 12th of April； 1861；
at Fort Sumter； reverberated all over Europe； and was hailed with joy by
the crowned heads of the Old World； who hated republican institutions；
and who thought they saw； in this act of treason； the downfall of the great
American experiment。 Most citizens； however； of the United States； who
were then sojourning abroad； hastened home to take part in the struggle；
some to side with the rebels； others to take their stand with the friends of
liberty。 Among the latter； none came with swifter steps or more zeal than
Jerome and Clotelle F
