running a thousand miles for freedom-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


with　a　couch　on　both　sides　for　the　convenience　of　families　and　invalids；　and　as　they　thought　my　master　was　very　poorly；　he　was　allowed　to　enter　one　of　these　apartments　at　Petersburg；　Virginia；　where　an　old　gentleman　and　two　handsome　young　ladies；　his　daughters；　also　got　in；　and　took　seats　in　the　same　carriage。　　But　before　the　train　started；　the　gentle…　man　stepped　into　my　car；　and　questioned　me　respect…　ing　my　master。　　He　wished　to　know　what　was　the　matter　with　him；　where　he　was　from；　and　where　he　was　going。　　I　told　him　where　he　came　from；　and　said　that　he　was　suffering　from　a　complication　of　complaints；　and　was　going　to　Philadelphia；　where　he　thought　he　could　get　more　suitable　advice　than　in　Georgia。

The　gentleman　said　my　master　could　obtain　the　very　best　advice　in　Philadelphia。　　Which　turned　out　to　be　quite　correct；　though　he　did　not　receive　it　from　physicians；　but　from　kind　abolitionists　who　understood　his　case　much　better。　　The　gentleman　also　said；　〃I　reckon　your　master's　father　hasn't　any　more　such　faithful　and　smart　boys　as　you。〃　　〃O；　yes；　sir；　he　has；〃　I　replied；　〃lots　on　'em。〃　　Which　was　literally　true。　　This　seemed　all　he　wished　to　know。　　He　thanked　me；　gave　me　a　ten…cent　piece；　and　requested　me　to　be　attentive　to　my　good　master。　　I　promised　that　I　would　do　so；　and　have　ever　since　endeavoured　to　keep　my　pledge。　　During　the　gentleman's　absence；　the　ladies　and　my　master　had　a　little　cosy　chat。　　But　on　his　return；　he　said；　〃You　seem　to　be　very　much　afflicted；　sir。〃　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　the　gentleman　in　the　poultices。　〃What　seems　to　be　the　matter　with　you；　sir；　may　I　be　allowed　to　ask？〃　　〃Inflammatory　rheumatism；　sir。〃　　〃Oh！　that　is　very　bad；　sir；〃　said　the　kind　gentleman：　〃I　can　sympathise　with　you；　for　I　know　from　bitter　experience　what　the　rheumatism　is。〃　If　he　did；　he　knew　a　good　deal　more　than　Mr。　Johnson。

The　gentleman　thought　my　master　would　feel　better　if　he　would　lie　down　and　rest　himself；　and　as　he　was　anxious　to　avoid　conversation；　he　at　once　acted　upon　this　suggestion。　　The　ladies　politely　rose；　took　their　extra　shawls；　and　made　a　nice　pillow　for　the　invalid's　head。　　My　master　wore　a　fashionable　cloth　cloak；　which　they　took　and　covered　him　comfortably　on　the　couch。　　After　he　had　been　lying　a　little　while　the　ladies；　I　suppose；　thought　he　was　asleep；　so　one　of　them　gave　a　long　sigh；　and　said；　in　a　quiet　fascinating　tone；　〃Papa；　he　seems　to　be　a　very　nice　young　gentleman。〃　　But　before　papa　could　speak；　the　other　lady　quickly　said；　〃Oh！　dear　me；　I　never　felt　so　much　for　a　gentleman　in　my　life！〃　　To　use　an　American　expression；　〃they　fell　in　love　with　the　wrong　chap。〃

After　my　master　had　been　lying　a　little　while　he　got　up；　the　gentleman　assisted　him　in　getting　on　his　cloak；　the　ladies　took　their　shawls；　and　soon　they　were　all　seated。　　They　then　insisted　upon　Mr。　Johnson　taking　some　of　their　refreshments；　which　of　course　he　did；　out　of　courtesy　to　the　ladies。　All　went　on　enjoying　themselves　until　they　reached　Richmond；　where　the　ladies　and　their　father　left　the　train。　　But；　before　doing　so；　the　good　old　Virginian　gentleman；　who　appeared　to　be　much　pleased　with　my　master；　presented　him　with　a　recipe；　which　he　said　was　a　perfect　cure　for　the　inflammatory　rheumatism。　　But　the　invalid　not　being　able　to　read　it；　and　fearing　he　should　hold　it　upside　down　in　pretending　to　do　so；　thanked　the　donor　kindly；　and　placed　it　in　his　waistcoat　pocket。　My　master's　new　friend　also　gave　him　his　card；　and　requested　him　the　next　time　he　travelled　that　way　to　do　him　the　kindness　to　call；　adding；　〃I　shall　be　pleased　to　see　you；　and　so　will　my　daughters。〃　Mr。　Johnson　expressed　his　gratitude　for　the　prof…　fered　hospitality；　and　said　he　should　feel　glad　to　call　on　his　return。　　I　have　not　the　slightest　doubt　that　he　will　fulfil　the　promise　whenever　that　return　takes　place。　　After　changing　trains　we　went　on　a　little　beyond　Fredericksburg；　and　took　a　steamer　to　Washington。

At　Richmond；　a　stout　elderly　lady；　whose　whole　demeanour　indicated　that　she　belonged　（as　Mrs。　Stowe's　Aunt　Chloe　expresses　it）　to　one　of　the　〃firstest　families；〃　stepped　into　the　carriage；　and　took　a　seat　near　my　master。　　Seeing　me　passing　quickly　along　the　platform；　she　sprang　up　as　if　taken　by　a　fit；　and　exclaimed；　〃Bless　my　soul！　there　goes　my　nigger；　Ned！〃

My　master　said；　〃No；　that　is　my　boy。〃

The　lady　paid　no　attention　to　this；　she　poked　her　head　out　of　the　window；　and　bawled　to　me；　〃You　Ned；　come　to　me；　sir；　you　runaway　rascal！〃

On　my　looking　round　she　drew　her　head　in；　and　said　to　my　master；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　I　was　sure　it　was　my　nigger；　I　never　in　my　life　saw　two　black　pigs　more　alike　than　your　boy　and　my　Ned。〃

After　the　disappointed　lady　had　resumed　her　seat；　and　the　train　had　moved　off；　she　closed　her　eyes；　slightly　raising　her　hands；　and　in　a　sanctified　tone　said　to　my　master；　〃Oh！　I　hope；　sir；　your　boy　will　not　turn　out　to　be　so　worthless　as　my　Ned　has。　　Oh！　I　was　as　kind　to　him　as　if　he　had　been　my　own　son。　　Oh！　sir；　it　grieves　me　very　much　to　think　that　after　all　I　did　for　him　he　should　go　off　without　having　any　cause　whatever。〃

〃When　did　he　leave　you？〃　asked　Mr。　Johnson。

〃About　eighteen　months　ago；　and　I　have　never　seen　hair　or　hide　of　him　since。〃

〃Did　he　have　a　wife？〃　enquired　a　very　respect…　able…looking　young　gentleman；　who　was　sitting　near　my　master　and　opposite　to　the　lady。

〃No；　sir；　not　when　he　left；　though　he　did　have　one　a　little　before　that。　　She　was　very　unlike　him；　she　was　as　good　and　as　faithful　a　nigger　as　any　one　need　wish　to　have。　　But；　poor　thing！　she　became　so　ill；　that　she　was　unable　to　do　much　work；　so　I　thought　it　would　be　best　to　sell　her；　to　go　to　New　Orleans；　where　the　climate　is　nice　and　warm。〃

〃I　suppose　she　was　very　glad　to　go　South　for　the　restoration　of　her　health？〃　said　the　gentleman。

〃No；　she　was　not；〃　replied　the　lady；　〃for　niggers　never　know　what　is　best　for　them。　　She　took　on　a　great　deal　about　leaving　Ned　and　the　little　nigger；　but；　as　she　was　so　weakly；　I　let　her　go。〃

〃Was　she　good…looking？〃　asked　the　young　pas…　senger；　who　was　evidently　not　of　the　same　opinion　as　the　talkative　lady；　and　therefore　wished　her　to　tell　all　she　knew。

〃Yes；　she　was　very　handsome；　and　much　whiter　than　I　am；　and　therefore　will　have　no　trouble　in　getting　another　husband。　　I　am　sure　I　wish　her　well。　　I　asked　the　speculator　who　bought　her　to　sell　her　to　a　good　master。　　Poor　thing！　she　has　my　prayers；　and　I　know　she　prays　for　me。　　She　was　a　good　Christian；　and　always　used　to　pray　for　my　soul。　　It　was　through　her　earliest　prayers；〃　con…　tinued　the　lady；　〃that　I　was　first　led　to　seek　for…　giveness　of　my　sins；　before　I　was　converted　at　the　great　camp…meeting。〃

This　caused　the　lady　to　snuffle　and　to　draw　from　her　pocket　a　richly　embroidered　handkerchief；　and　apply　it　to　the　corner　of　her　eyes。　　But　my　master　could　not　see　that　it　was　at　all　soiled。

The　silence　which　prevailed　for　a　few　moments　was　broken　by　the　gentleman's　saying；　〃As　your　'July'　was　such　a　very　good　girl；　and　had　served　you　so　faithfully　before　she　lost　her　health；　don't　you　think　it　would　have　been　better　to　have　eman…　cipated　her？〃

〃No；　indeed　I　do　not！〃　scornfully　exclaimed　the　lady；　as　she　impatiently　crammed　the　fine　handkerchief　into　a　little　work…bag。　　〃I　have　no　patience　with　people　who　set　niggers　at　liberty。　　It　is　the　very　worst　thing　you　can　do　for　them。　　My　dear　husband　just　before　he　died　willed　all　his　niggers　free。　　But　I　and　all　our　friends　knew　very　well　that　he　was　too　good　a　man　to　have　ever　thought　of　doing　such　an　unkind　and　foolish　thing；　had　he　been　in　his　right　mind；　and；　therefore　we　had　the　will　altered　as　it　should　have　been　in　the　first　place。〃

〃Did　you　mean；　madam；〃　asked　my　master；　〃that　willing　the　slaves　free　was　unjust　to　yourself；　or　unkind　to　them？〃

〃I　mean　that　it　was　decidedly　unkind　to　the　servants　themselves。　　It　always　seems　to　me　such　a　cruel　thing　to　turn　niggers　loose　to　shift　for　themselves；　when　there　are　so　many　good　masters　to　take　care　of　them。　　As　for　myself；〃　continued　the　considerate　lady；　〃I　thank　the　Lord　my　dear　husband　left　me　and　my　son　well　provided　for。　Therefore　I　care　nothing　for　the　niggers；　on　my　own　account；　for　they　are　a　great　deal　more　trouble　than　they　are　worth；　I　sometimes　wish　that　there　was　not　one　of　them　in　the　world；　for　the　un…　grateful　wretches　are　always　running　away。　　I　have　lost　no　less　than　ten　since　my　poor　husband　died。　It's　ruinous；　sir！〃

〃But　as　you　are　well　provided　for；　I　suppose　you　do　not　feel　the　loss　very　much；〃　said　the　pas…　senger。

〃I　don't　feel　it　at　all；〃　haughtily　continued　the　good　soul；　〃but　that　is　no　reason　why　property　should　be　squandered。　　If　my　son　and　myself　had　the　money　for　those　valuable　niggers；　just　see　what　a　great　deal　of　good　we　could　do　for　the　poor；　and　in　sending　missionaries　abroad　to　the　poor　heathen；　who　have　never　heard　the　name　of　our　blessed　Re…　deemer。　　My　dear　son　who　is　a　good　Christian　minis…　ter　has　advised　me　not　to　worry　and　send　my　soul　to　hell　for　the　sake　of　niggers；　but　to　sell　every　blessed　one　of　them　for　what　they　will　fetch；　and　go　and　live　in　peace　with　him　in　New　York。　　This　I　have　concluded　to　do。　　I　have　just　been　to　Rich…　mond　and　made　arrangements　with　my　agent　to　make　clean　work　of　the