英语天堂-第30部分

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Chapter　1
In　Which　the　Reader　Is　Introduced　to　a　Man　of　Humanity
Late　in　the　afternoon　of　a　chilly　day　in　February；　two　gentlemen　were　sitting　alone　over　their　wine；　in　a　well…furnished　dining　parlor；　in　the　town　of　P——；　in　Kentucky。　There　were　no　servants　present；　and　the　gentlemen；　with　chairs　closely　approaching；　seemed　to　be　discussing　some　subject　with　great　earnestness。
For　convenience　sake；　we　have　said；　hitherto；　two　gentlemen。　One　of　the　parties；　however；　when　critically　examined；　did　not　seem；　strictly　speaking；　to　come　under　the　species。　He　was　a　short；　thick…set　man；　with　coarse；　commonplace　features；　and　that　swaggering　air　of　pretension　which　marks　a　low　man　who　is　trying　to　elbow　his　way　upward　in　the　world。　He　was　much　over…dressed；　in　a　gaudy　vest　of　many　colors；　a　blue　neckerchief；　bedropped　gayly　with　yellow　spots；　and　arranged　with　a　flaunting　tie；　quite　in　keeping　with　the　general　air　of　the　man。　His　hands；　large　and　coarse；　were　plentifully　bedecked　with　rings；　and　he　wore　a　heavy　gold　watch…chain；　with　a　bundle　of　seals　of　portentous　size；　and　a　great　variety　of　colors；　attached　to　it；—which；　in　the　ardor　of　conversation；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　flourishing　and　jingling　with　evident　satisfaction。　His　conversation　was　in　free　and　easy　defiance　of　Murray’s　Grammar；1　and　was　garnished　at　convenient　intervals　with　various　profane　expressions；　which　not　even　the　desire　to　be　graphic　in　our　acomount　shall　induce　us　to　transcribe。
His　companion；　Mr。　Shelby；　had　the　appearance　of　a　gentleman；　and　the　arrrangements　of　the　house；　and　the　general　air　of　the　housekeeping；　indicated　easy；　and　even　opulent　circumstances。　As　we　before　stated；　the　two　were　in　the　midst　of　an　earnest　conversation。
“That　is　the　way　I　should　arrange　the　matter；”　said　Mr。　Shelby。
“I　can’t　make　trade　that　way—I　positively　can’t；　Mr。　Shelby；”　said　the　other；　holding　up　a　glass　of　wine　between　his　eye　and　the　light。
“Why；　the　fact　is；　Haley；　Tom　is　an　uncommon　fellow；　he　is　certainly　worth　that　sum　anywhere；—steady；　honest；　capable；　manages　my　whole　farm　like　a　clock。”
“You　mean　honest；　as　niggers　go；”　said　Haley；　helping　himself　to　a　glass　of　brandy。
“No；　I　mean；　really；　Tom　is　a　good；　steady；　sensible；　pious　fellow。　He　got　religion　at　a　camp…meeting；　four　years　ago；　and　I　believe　he　really　did　get　it。　I’ve　trusted　him；　since　then；　with　everything　I　have；—money；　house；　horses；—and　let　him　come　and　go　round　the　country；　and　I　always　found　him　true　and　square　in　everything。”
“Some　folks　don’t　believe　there　is　pious　niggers　Shelby；”　said　Haley；　with　a　candid　flourish　of　his　hand；　“but　I　do。　I　had　a　fellow；　now；　in　this　yer　last　lot　I　took　to　Orleans—’t　was　as　good　as　a　meetin；　now；　really；　to　hear　that　critter　pray；　and　he　was　quite　gentle　and　quiet　like。　He　fetched　me　a　good　sum；　too；　for　I　bought　him　cheap　of　a　man　that　was　’bliged　to　sell　out；　so　I　realized　six　hundred　on　him。　Yes；　I　consider　religion　a　valeyable　thing　in　a　nigger；　when　it’s　the　genuine　article；　and　no　mistake。”
“Well；　Tom’s　got　the　real　article；　if　ever　a　fellow　had；”　rejoined　the　other。　“Why；　last　fall；　I　let　him　go　to　Cincinnati　alone；　to　do　business　for　me；　and　bring　home　five　hundred　dollars。　‘Tom；’　says　I　to　him；　‘I　trust　you；　because　I　think　you’re　a　Christian—I　know　you　wouldn’t　cheat。’　Tom　comes　back；　sure　enough；　I　knew　he　would。　Some　low　fellows；　they　say；　said　to　him—Tom；　why　don’t　you　make　tracks　for　Canada？’　‘Ah；　master　trusted　me；　and　I　couldn’t；’—they　told　me　about　it。　I　am　sorry　to　part　with　Tom；　I　must　say。　You　ought　to　let　him　cover　the　whole　balance　of　the　debt；　and　you　would；　Haley；　if　you　had　any　conscience。”
“Well；　I’ve　got　just　as　much　conscience　as　any　man　in　business　can　afford　to　keep；—just　a　little；　you　know；　to　swear　by；　as　’t　were；”　said　the　trader；　jocularly；　“and；　then；　I’m　ready　to　do　anything　in　reason　to　’blige　friends；　but　this　yer；　you　see；　is　a　leetle　too　hard　on　a　fellow—a　leetle　too　hard。”　The　trader　sighed　contemplatively；　and　poured　out　some　more　brandy。
“Well；　then；　Haley；　how　will　you　trade？”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　after　an　uneasy　interval　of　silence。
“Well；　haven’t　you　a　boy　or　gal　that　you　could　throw　in　with　Tom？”
“Hum！—none　that　I　could　well　spare；　to　tell　the　truth；　it’s　only　hard　necessity　makes　me　willing　to　sell　at　all。　I　don’t　like　parting　with　any　of　my　hands；　that’s　a　fact。”
Here　the　door　opened；　and　a　small　quadroon　boy；　between　four　and　five　years　of　age；　entered　the　room。　There　was　something　in　his　appearance　remarkably　beautiful　and　engaging。　His　black　hair；　fine　as　floss　silk；　hung　in　glossy　curls　about　his　round；　dimpled　face；　while　a　pair　of　large　dark　eyes；　full　of　fire　and　softness；　looked　out　from　beneath　the　rich；　long　lashes；　as　he　peered　curiously　into　the　apartment。　A　gay　robe　of　scarlet　and　yellow　plaid；　carefully　made　and　neatly　fitted；　set　off　to　advantage　the　dark　and　rich　style　of　his　beauty；　and　a　certain　comic　air　of　assurance；　blended　with　bashfulness；　showed　that　he　had　been　not　unused　to　being　petted　and　noticed　by　his　master。
“Hulloa；　Jim　Crow！”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　whistling；　and　snapping　a　bunch　of　raisins　towards　him；　“pick　that　up；　now！”
The　child　scampered；　with　all　his　little　strength；　after　the　prize；　while　his　master　laughed。
“Come　here；　Jim　Crow；”　said　he。　The　child　came　up；　and　the　master　patted　the　curly　head；　and　chucked　him　under　the　chin。
“Now；　Jim；　show　this　gentleman　how　you　can　dance　and　sing。”　The　boy　commenced　one　of　those　wild；　grotesque　songs　common　among　the　negroes；　in　a　rich；　clear　voice；　acomompanying　his　singing　with　many　comic　evolutions　of　the　hands；　feet；　and　whole　body；　all　in　perfect　time　to　the　music。
“Bravo！”　said　Haley；　throwing　him　a　quarter　of　an　orange。
“Now；　Jim；　walk　like　old　Uncle　Cudjoe；　when　he　has　the　rheumatism；”　said　his　master。
Instantly　the　flexible　limbs　of　the　child　assumed　the　appearance　of　deformity　and　distortion；　as；　with　his　back　humped　up；　and　his　master’s　stick　in　his　hand；　he　hobbled　about　the　room；　his　childish　face　drawn　into　a　doleful　pucker；　and　spitting　from　right　to　left；　in　imitation　of　an　old　man。
Both　gentlemen　laughed　uproariously。
“Now；　Jim；”　said　his　master；　“show　us　how　old　Elder　Robbins　leads　the　psalm。”　The　boy　drew　his　chubby　face　down　to　a　formidable　length；　and　commenced　toning　a　psalm　tune　through　his　nose；　with　imperturbable　gravity。
“Hurrah！　bravo！　what　a　young　’un！”　said　Haley；　“that　chap’s　a　case；　I’ll　promise。　Tell　you　what；”　said　he；　suddenly　clapping　his　hand　on　Mr。　Shelby’s　shoulder；　“fling　in　that　chap；　and　I’ll　settle　the　business—I　will。　Come；　now；　if　that　ain’t　doing　the　thing　up　about　the　rightest！”
At　this　moment；　the　door　was　pushed　gently　open；　and　a　young　quadroon　woman；　apparently　about　twenty…five；　entered　the　room。
There　needed　only　a　glance　from　the　child　to　her；　to　identify　her　as　its　mother。　There　was　the　same　rich；　full；　dark　eye；　with　its　long　lashes；　the　same　ripples　of　silky　black　hair。　The　brown　of　her　complexion　gave　way　on　the　cheek　to　a　perceptible　flush；　which　deepened　as　she　saw　the　gaze　of　the　strange　man　fixed　upon　her　in　bold　and　undisguised　admiration。　Her　dress　was　of　the　neatest　possible　fit；　and　set　off　to　advantage　her　finely　moulded　shape；—a　delicately　formed　hand　and　a　trim　foot　and　ankle　were　items　of　appearance　that　did　not　escape　the　quick　eye　of　the　trader；　well　used　to　run　up　at　a　glance　the　points　of　a　fine　female　article。
“Well；　Eliza？”　said　her　master；　as　she　stopped　and　looked　hesitatingly　at　him。
“I　was　looking　for　Harry；　please；　sir；”　and　the　boy　bounded　toward　her；　showing　his　spoils；　which　he　had　gathered　in　the　skirt　of　his　robe。
“Well；　take　him　away　then；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　and　hastily　she　withdrew；　carrying　the　child　on　her　arm。
“By　Jupiter；”　said　the　trader；　turning　to　him　in　admiration；　“there’s　an　article；　now！　You　might　make　your　fortune　on　that　ar　gal　in　Orleans；　any　day。　I’ve　seen　over　a　thousand；　in　my　day；　paid　down　for　gals　not　a　bit　handsomer。”
“I　don’t　want　to　make　my　fortune　on　her；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　dryly；　and；　seeking　to　turn　the　conversation；　he　uncorked　a　bottle　of　fresh　wine；　and　asked　his　companion’s　opinion　of　it。
“Capital；　sir；—first　chop！”　said　the　trader；　then　turning；　and　slapping　his　hand　familiarly　on　Shelby’s　shoulder；　he　added—
“Come；　how　will　you　trade　about　the　gal？—what　shall　I　say　for　her—what’ll　you　take？”
“Mr。　Haley；　she　is　not　to　be　sold；”　said　Shelby。　“My　wife　would　not　part　with　her　for　her　weight　in　gold。”
“Ay；　ay！　women　always　say　such　things；　cause　they　ha’nt　no　sort　of　calculation。　Just　show　’em　how　many　watches；　feathers；　and　trinkets；　one’s　weight　in　gold　would　buy；　and　that　alters　the　case；　I　reckon。”
“I　tell　you；　Haley；　this　must　not　be　spoken　of；　I　say　no；　and　I　mean　no；”　said　Shelby；　decidedly。
“Well；　you’ll　let　me　have　the　boy；　though；”　said　the　trader；　“you　must　own　I’ve　come　down　pretty　handsomely　for　him。”
“What　on　earth　can　you　want　with　the　child？”　said　Shelby。
“Why；　I’ve　got　a　friend　that’s　going　into　this　yer　branch　of　the　business—wants　to　buy　up　handsome　boys　to　raise　for　the　market。　Fancy　articles　entirely—sell　for　waiters；　and　so　on；　to　rich　’uns；　that　can　pay　for　handsome　’uns。　It　sets　off　one　of　yer　great　places—a　real　handsome　boy　to　open　door；　wait；　and　tend。　They　fetch　a　good　sum；　and　this　little　devil　is　such　a　comical；　musical　concern；　he’s　just　the　article！’
“I　would　rather　not　sell　him；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　thoughtfully；　“the　fact　is；　sir；　I’m　a　humane　man；　and　I　hate　to　take　the　boy　from　his　mother；　sir。”
“O；　you　do？—La！　yes—something　of　that　ar　natur。　I　understand；　perfectly。　It　is　mighty　onpleasant　getting　on　with　women；　sometimes；　I　al’ays　hates　these　yer　screechin；’　screamin’　times。　They　are　mighty　onpleasant；　but；　as　I　manages　business；　I　generally　avoids　’em；　sir。　Now；　what　if　you　get　the　girl　off　for　a　day；　or　a　week；　or　so；　then　the　thing’s　done　quietly；—all　over　before　she　comes　home。　Your　wife　might　get　her　some　ear…rings；　or　a　new　gown；　or　some　such　truck；　to　make　up　with　her。”
“I’m　afraid　not。”
“Lor　bless　ye；　yes！　These　critters　ain’t　like　white　folks；　you　know；　they　gets　over　things；　only　manage　rig