英语天堂-第22部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


mordingly；　the　manufacturer　and　all　hands　concerned　were　astounded　when　he　suddenly　demanded　George’s　wages；　and　announced　his　intention　of　taking　him　home。
“But；　Mr。　Harris；”　remonstrated　the　manufacturer；　“isn’t　this　rather　sudden？”
“What　if　it　is？—isn’t　the　man　mine？”
“We　would　be　willing；　sir；　to　increase　the　rate　of　compensation。”
“No　object　at　all；　sir。　I　don’t　need　to　hire　any　of　my　hands　out；　unless　I’ve　a　mind　to。”
“But；　sir；　he　seems　peculiarly　adapted　to　this　business。”
“Dare　say　he　may　be；　never　was　much　adapted　to　anything　that　I　set　him　about；　I’ll　be　bound。”
“But　only　think　of　his　inventing　this　machine；”　interposed　one　of　the　workmen；　rather　unluckily。
“O　yes！　a　machine　for　saving　work；　is　it？　He’d　invent　that；　I’ll　be　bound；　let　a　nigger　alone　for　that；　any　time。　They　are　all　labor…saving　machines　themselves；　every　one　of　’em。　No；　he　shall　tramp！”
George　had　stood　like　one　transfixed；　at　hearing　his　doom　thus　suddenly　pronounced　by　a　power　that　he　knew　was　irresistible。　He　folded　his　arms；　tightly　pressed　in　his　lips；　but　a　whole　volcano　of　bitter　feelings　burned　in　his　bosom；　and　sent　streams　of　fire　through　his　veins。　He　breathed　short；　and　his　large　dark　eyes　flashed　like　live　coals；　and　he　might　have　broken　out　into　some　dangerous　ebullition；　had　not　the　kindly　manufacturer　touched　him　on　the　arm；　and　said；　in　a　low　tone；
“Give　way；　George；　go　with　him　for　the　present。　We’ll　try　to　help　you；　yet。”
The　tyrant　observed　the　whisper；　and　conjectured　its　import；　though　he　could　not　hear　what　was　said；　and　he　inwardly　strengthened　himself　in　his　determination　to　keep　the　power　he　possessed　over　his　victim。
George　was　taken　home；　and　put　to　the　meanest　drudgery　of　the　farm。　He　had　been　able　to　repress　every　disrespectful　word；　but　the　flashing　eye；　the　gloomy　and　troubled　brow；　were　part　of　a　natural　language　that　could　not　be　repressed；—indubitable　signs；　which　showed　too　plainly　that　the　man　could　not　become　a　thing。
It　was　during　the　happy　period　of　his　employment　in　the　factory　that　George　had　seen　and　married　his　wife。　During　that　period；—being　much　trusted　and　favored　by　his　employer；—he　had　free　liberty　to　come　and　go　at　discretion。　The　marriage　was　highly　approved　of　by　Mrs。　Shelby；　who；　with　a　little　womanly　complacency　in　match…making；　felt　pleased　to　unite　her　handsome　favorite　with　one　of　her　own　class　who　seemed　in　every　way　suited　to　her；　and　so　they　were　married　in　her　mistress’　great　parlor；　and　her　mistress　herself　adorned　the　bride’s　beautiful　hair　with　orange…blossoms；　and　threw　over　it　the　bridal　veil；　which　certainly　could　scarce　have　rested　on　a　fairer　head；　and　there　was　no　lack　of　white　gloves；　and　cake　and　wine；—of　admiring　guests　to　praise　the　bride’s　beauty；　and　her　mistress’　indulgence　and　liberality。　For　a　year　or　two　Eliza　saw　her　husband　frequently；　and　there　was　nothing　to　interrupt　their　happiness；　except　the　loss　of　two　infant　children；　to　whom　she　was　passionately　attached；　and　whom　she　mourned　with　a　grief　so　intense　as　to　call　for　gentle　remonstrance　from　her　mistress；　who　sought；　with　maternal　anxiety；　to　direct　her　naturally　passionate　feelings　within　the　bounds　of　reason　and　religion。
After　the　birth　of　little　Harry；　however；　she　had　gradually　become　tranquillized　and　settled；　and　every　bleeding　tie　and　throbbing　nerve；　once　more　entwined　with　that　little　life；　seemed　to　become　sound　and　healthful；　and　Eliza　was　a　happy　woman　up　to　the　time　that　her　husband　was　rudely　torn　from　his　kind　employer；　and　brought　under　the　iron　sway　of　his　legal　owner。
The　manufacturer；　true　to　his　word；　visited　Mr。　Harris　a　week　or　two　after　George　had　been　taken　away；　when；　as　he　hoped；　the　heat　of　the　ocomasion　had　passed　away；　and　tried　every　possible　inducement　to　lead　him　to　restore　him　to　his　former　employment。
“You　needn’t　trouble　yourself　to　talk　any　longer；”　said　he；　doggedly；　“I　know　my　own　business；　sir。”
“I　did　not　presume　to　interfere　with　it；　sir。　I　only　thought　that　you　might　think　it　for　your　interest　to　let　your　man　to　us　on　the　terms　proposed。”
“O；　I　understand　the　matter　well　enough。　I　saw　your　winking　and　whispering；　the　day　I　took　him　out　of　the　factory；　but　you　don’t　come　it　over　me　that　way。　It’s　a　free　country；　sir；　the　man’s　mine；　and　I　do　what　I　please　with　him；—that’s　it！”
And　so　fell　George’s　last　hope；—nothing　before　him　but　a　life　of　toil　and　drudgery；　rendered　more　bitter　by　every　little　smarting　vexation　and　indignity　which　tyrannical　ingenuity　could　devise。
A　very　humane　jurist　once　said；　The　worst　use　you　can　put　a　man　to　is　to　hang　him。　No；　there　is　another　use　that　a　man　can　be　put　to　that　is　WORSE！
1　A　machine　of　this　description　was　really　the　invention　of　a　young　colored　man　in　Kentucky。　＇Mrs。　Stowe’s　note。＇
Chapter　3
The　Husband　and　Father
Mrs。　Shelby　had　gone　on　her　visit；　and　Eliza　stood　in　the　verandah；　rather　dejectedly　looking　after　the　retreating　carriage；　when　a　hand　was　laid　on　her　shoulder。　She　turned；　and　a　bright　smile　lighted　up　her　fine　eyes。
“George；　is　it　you？　How　you　frightened　me！　Well；　I　am　so　glad　you　’s　come！　Missis　is　gone　to　spend　the　afternoon；　so　come　into　my　little　room；　and　we’ll　have　the　time　all　to　ourselves。”
Saying　this；　she　drew　him　into　a　neat　little　apartment　opening　on　the　verandah；　where　she　generally　sat　at　her　sewing；　within　call　of　her　mistress。
“How　glad　I　am！—why　don’t　you　smile？—and　look　at　Harry—how　he　grows。”　The　boy　stood　shyly　regarding　his　father　through　his　curls；　holding　close　to　the　skirts　of　his　mother’s　dress。　“Isn’t　he　beautiful？”　said　Eliza；　lifting　his　long　curls　and　kissing　him。
“I　wish　he’d　never　been　born！”　said　George；　bitterly。　“I　wish　I’d　never　been　born　myself！”
Surprised　and　frightened；　Eliza　sat　down；　leaned　her　head　on　her　husband’s　shoulder；　and　burst　into　tears。
“There　now；　Eliza；　it’s　too　bad　for　me　to　make　you　feel　so；　poor　girl！”　said　he；　fondly；　“it’s　too　bad：　O；　how　I　wish　you　never　had　seen　me—you　might　have　been　happy！”
“George！　George！　how　can　you　talk　so？　What　dreadful　thing　has　happened；　or　is　going　to　happen？　I’m　sure　we’ve　been　very　happy；　till　lately。”
“So　we　have；　dear；”　said　George。　Then　drawing　his　child　on　his　knee；　he　gazed　intently　on　his　glorious　dark　eyes；　and　passed　his　hands　through　his　long　curls。
“Just　like　you；　Eliza；　and　you　are　the　handsomest　woman　I　ever　saw；　and　the　best　one　I　ever　wish　to　see；　but；　oh；　I　wish　I’d　never　seen　you；　nor　you　me！”
“O；　George；　how　can　you！”
“Yes；　Eliza；　it’s　all　misery；　misery；　misery！　My　life　is　bitter　as　wormwood；　the　very　life　is　burning　out　of　me。　I’m　a　poor；　miserable；　forlorn　drudge；　I　shall　only　drag　you　down　with　me；　that’s　all。　What’s　the　use　of　our　trying　to　do　anything；　trying　to　know　anything；　trying　to　be　anything？　What’s　the　use　of　living？　I　wish　I　was　dead！”
“O；　now；　dear　George；　that　is　really　wicked！　I　know　how　you　feel　about　losing　your　place　in　the　factory；　and　you　have　a　hard　master；　but　pray　be　patient；　and　perhaps　something—”
“Patient！”　said　he；　interrupting　her；　“haven’t　I　been　patient？　Did　I　say　a　word　when　he　came　and　took　me　away；　for　no　earthly　reason；　from　the　place　where　everybody　was　kind　to　me？　I’d　paid　him　truly　every　cent　of　my　earnings；—and　they　all　say　I　worked　well。”
“Well；　it　is　dreadful；”　said　Eliza；　“but；　after　all；　he　is　your　master；　you　know。”
“My　master！　and　who　made　him　my　master？　That’s　what　I　think　of—what　right　has　he　to　me？　I’m　a　man　as　much　as　he　is。　I’m　a　better　man　than　he　is。　I　know　more　about　business　than　he　does；　I　am　a　better　manager　than　he　is；　I　can　read　better　than　he　can；　I　can　write　a　better　hand；—and　I’ve　learned　it　all　myself；　and　no　thanks　to　him；—I’ve　learned　it　in　spite　of　him；　and　now　what　right　has　he　to　make　a　dray…horse　of　me？—to　take　me　from　things　I　can　do；　and　do　better　than　he　can；　and　put　me　to　work　that　any　horse　can　do？　He　tries　to　do　it；　he　says　he’ll　bring　me　down　and　humble　me；　and　he　puts　me　to　just　the　hardest；　meanest　and　dirtiest　work；　on　purpose！”
“O；　George！　George！　you　frighten　me！　Why；　I　never　heard　you　talk　so；　I’m　afraid　you’ll　do　something　dreadful。　I　don’t　wonder　at　your　feelings；　at　all；　but　oh；　do　be　careful—do；　do—for　my　sake—for　Harry’s！”
“I　have　been　careful；　and　I　have　been　patient；　but　it’s　growing　worse　and　worse；　flesh　and　blood　can’t　bear　it　any　longer；—every　chance　he　can　get　to　insult　and　torment　me；　he　takes。　I　thought　I　could　do　my　work　well；　and　keep　on　quiet；　and　have　some　time　to　read　and　learn　out　of　work　hours；　but　the　more　he　see　I　can　do；　the　more　he　loads　on。　He　says　that　though　I　don’t　say　anything；　he　sees　I’ve　got　the　devil　in　me；　and　he　means　to　bring　it　out；　and　one　of　these　days　it　will　come　out　in　a　way　that　he　won’t　like；　or　I’m　mistaken！”
“O　dear！　what　shall　we　do？”　said　Eliza；　mournfully。
“It　was　only　yesterday；”　said　George；　“as　I　was　busy　loading　stones　into　a　cart；　that　young　Mas’r　Tom　stood　there；　slashing　his　whip　so　near　the　horse　that　the　creature　was　frightened。　I　asked　him　to　stop；　as　pleasant　as　I　could；—he　just　kept　right　on。　I　begged　him　again；　and　then　he　turned　on　me；　and　began　striking　me。　I　held　his　hand；　and　then　he　screamed　and　kicked　and　ran　to　his　father；　and　told　him　that　I　was　fighting　him。　He　came　in　a　rage；　and　said　he’d　teach　me　who　was　my　master；　and　he　tied　me　to　a　tree；　and　cut　switches　for　young　master；　and　told　him　that　he　might　whip　me　till　he　was　tired；—and　he　did　do　it！　If　I　don’t　make　him　remember　it；　some　time！”　and　the　brow　of　the　young　man　grew　dark；　and　his　eyes　burned　with　an　expression　that　made　his　young　wife　tremble。　“Who　made　this　man　my　master？　That’s　what　I　want　to　know！”　he　said。
“Well；”　said　Eliza；　mournfully；　“I　always　thought　that　I　must　obey　my　master　and　mistress；　or　I　couldn’t　be　a　Christian。”
“There　is　some　sense　in　it；　in　your　case；　they　have　brought　you　up　like　a　child；　fed　you；　clothed　you；　indulged　you；　and　taught　you；　so　that　you　have　a　good　education；　that　is　some　reason　why　they　should　claim　you。　But　I　have　been　kicked　and　cuffed　and　sworn　at；　and　at　the　best　only　let　alone；　and　what　do　I　owe？　I’ve　paid　for　all　my　keeping　a　hundred　times　over。　I　won’t　bear　it。　No；　I　won’t！”　he　said；　clenching　his　hand　with　a　fierce　frown。
Eliza　trembled；　and　was　silent。　She　had　never　seen　her　husband　in　this　mood　before；　and　her　gentle　system　of　ethics　seemed　to　bend　like　a　reed　in　the　surges　of　such　passions。
“You　know　poor　little　Carlo；　that　you　gave　me；”　added　George；　“the　creature　has　been　about　all　the　comfort　that　I’ve　had。　He　has　slept　with　me　nights；　and　followed　me　around　days；　and　kind　o’　looked　at　me　as　if　he　understood　how　I　felt。　Well；　the　other　day　I　was　just　feeding　him　with　a　few　old　scraps　I　picked　up　by　the　kitchen　door；　and　Mas’r　came　along；　and　said　I　was　feeding　him　up　at　his　expense；　and　that　he　couldn’t　afford　to　have　every　nigger　keeping　his　dog；　and　ordered　me　to　tie　a　stone　to　his　neck　and　throw　him　in　the　pond。”
“O；　George；　you　didn’t　do　it！”
“Do　it？　not　I！—but　he　did。　Mas’r　and　Tom　pelted　the　poor　drowning　creature　with　stones。　Poor　thing！　he　looked　at　me　so　mournful；　as　if　he　wondered　why　I　didn’t　save　him。　I　had　to　take　a　flogging　because　I　wouldn’t　do　it　myself。　I　don’t　care。　Mas’r　will　find　out　that　I’m　one　that　whipping　won’t　tame。　My　day　will　come　yet；　if　he　don’t　look　out。”
“What　are　you　going　to　do？　O；　George；　don’t　do　anything　wicked；　if　you　only　trust　in　God；　and　try　to　do　right；　he’ll　deliver　you。”
“I　an’t　a　Christian　like　you；　Eliza；　my　heart’s　full　of　bitterness；　I　can’t　trust　in　God。　Why　does　he　let　things　be　so？”
“O；　George；　we　must　have　faith。　Mistress　says　that　when　all　things　go　wrong　to　us；　we　must　believe　that　God　is　doing　the　very　best。”
“That’s　easy　to　say　for　people　that　are　sitting　on　their　sofas　and　riding　in　their　carriages；　but　let　’em　be　where　I　am；　I　guess　it　would　come　some　harder。　I　wish　I　could　be　good；　but　my　heart　burns；　and　can’t　be　reconciled；　anyhow。　You　couldn’t　in　my　place；—you　can’t　now；　if　I　tell　you　all　I’ve　got　to　say。　You　don’t　know　the　whole　yet。”
“What　can　be　coming　now？”
“Well；　lately　Mas’r　has　been　saying　that　he　was　a　fool　to　let　me　marry　off　the　place；　that　he　hates　Mr。　Shelby　and　all　his　tribe；　because　they　are　proud；　and　hold　their　heads　up　above　him；　and　that　I’ve　got　proud　notions　from　you；　and　he　says　he　won’t　let　me　come　here　any　more；　and　that　I　shall　take　a　wife　and　settle　down　on　his　place。　At　first　he　only　scolded　and　grumbled　these　things；　but　yesterday　he　told　me　that　I　should　take　Mina　for　a　wife；　and　settle　down　in　a　cabin　with　her；　or　he　would　sell　me　down　river。”
“Why—but　you　were　married　to　me；　by　the　minister；　as　much　as　if　you’d　been　a　white　man！”　said　Eliza；　simply。
“Don’t　you　know　a　slave　can’t　be　married？　There　is　no　law　in　this　country　for　that；　I　can’t　hold　you　for　my　wife；　if　he　chooses　to　part　us。　That’s　why　I　wish　I’d　never　seen　you；—why　I　wish　I’d　never　been　born；　it　would　have　been　better　for　us　both；—it　would　have　been　better　for　this　poor　child　if　he　had　never　been　born。　All　this　may　happen　to　him　yet！”
“O；　but　master　is　so　kind！”
“Yes；　but　who　knows？—he　may　die—and　then　he　may　be　sold　to　nobody　knows　who。　What　pleasure　is　it　that　he　is　handsome；　and　smart；　and　bright？　I　tell　you；　Eliza；　that　a　sword　will　pierce　through　your　soul　for　every　good　and　pleasant　thing　your　child　is　or　has；　it　will　make　him　worth　too　much　for　you　to　keep。”
The　words　smote　heavily　on　Eliza’s　heart；　the　vision　of　the　trader　came　before　her　eyes；　and；　as　if　some　one　had　struck　her　a　deadly　blow；　she　turned　pale　and　gasped　for　breath。　She　looked　nervously　out　on　the　verandah；　where　the　boy；　tired　of　the　grave　conversation；　had　retired；　and　where　he　was　riding　triumphantly　up　and　down　on　Mr。　Shelby’s　walking…stick。　She　would　have　spoken　to　tell　her　husband　her　fears；　but　checked　herself。
“No；　no；—he　has　enough　to　bear；　poor　fellow！”　she　thought。　“No；　I　won’t　tell　him；　besides；　it　an’t　true；　Missis　never　deceives　us。”
“So；　Eliza；　my　girl；”　said　the　husband；　mournfully；　“bear　up；　now；　and　good…by；　for　I’m　going。”
“Going；　George！　Going　where？”
“To　Canada；”　said　he；　straightening　himself　up；　and　when　I’m　there；　I’ll　buy　you；　that’s　all　the　hope　that’s　left　us。　You　have　a　kind　master；　that　won’t　refuse　to　sell　you。　I’ll　buy　you　and　the　boy；—God　helping　me；　I　will！”
“O；　dreadful！　if　you　should　be　taken？”
“I　won’t　be　taken；　Eliza；　I’ll　die　first！　I’ll　be　free；　or　I’ll　die！”
“You　won’t　kill　yourself！”
“No　need　of　that。　They　will　kill　me；　fast　enough；　they　never　will　get　me　down　the　river　alive！”
“O；　George；　for　my　sake；　do　be　careful！　Don’t　do　anything　wicked；　don’t　lay　hands　on　yourself；　or　anybody　else！　You　are　tempted　too　much—too　much；　but　don’t—go　you　must—but　go　carefully；　prudently；　pray　God　to　help　you。”
“Well；　then；　Eliza；　hear　my　plan。　Mas’r　took　it　into　his　head　to　send　me　right　by　here；　with　a　note　to　Mr。　Symmes；　that　lives　a　mile　past。　I　believe　he　expected　I　should　come　here　to　tell　you　what　I　have。　It　would　please　him；　if　he　thought　it　would　aggravate　‘Shelby’s　folks；’　as　he　calls　’em。　I’m　going　home　quite　resigned；　you　understand；　as　if　all　was　over。　I’ve　got　s