clotelle(有色女英雄)-第5节
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woman who sat on one of the benches。
〃Because I left my man behind。〃
〃Oh； if I buy you； I will furnish you with a better man than you left。
I've got lots of young bucks on my farm。〃
〃I don't want and never will have another man；〃 replied the woman。
〃What's you name？〃 asked a man in a straw hat of a tall negro who
stood with his arms folded across his breast； leaning against the wall。
〃My name is Aaron； sar。〃
〃How old are you？〃
〃Twenty…five。〃
〃Where were you raised？〃
〃In old Virginny； sar。〃
〃How many men have owned you？〃
〃Four。〃
〃Do you enjoy good health？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
〃How long did you live with your first owner？〃
〃Twenty years。〃
〃Did you ever run away？〃
〃No； sar。〃
〃Did you ever strike your master？〃
〃No； sar。〃
〃Were you ever whipped much？〃
〃No； sar； I s'pose I didn't desarve it； sar。〃
〃How long did you live with your second master？〃
〃Ten years； sar。〃
〃Have you a good appetite？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
〃Can you eat your allowance？〃
〃Yes； sar；when I can get it。〃
〃Where were you employed in Virginia？〃
〃I worked de tobacker fiel'。〃
〃In the tobacco field； eh？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
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〃How old did you say you was？〃
〃Twenty…five； sar； nex' sweet…'tater…diggin' time。〃
〃I am a cotton…planter； and if I buy you； you will have to work in the
cotton…field。 My men pick one hundred and fifty pounds a day； and the
women one hundred and forty pounds； and those who fail to perform their
task receive five stripes for each pound that is wanting。 Now； do you
think you could keep up with the rest of the hands？〃
〃I don't know； sar； but I 'specs I'd have to。〃
〃How long did you live with your third master？〃
〃Three years； sar。〃
〃Why； that makes you thirty…three。 I thought you told me you were
only twenty…five？〃
Aaron now looked first at the planter； then at the trader； and seemed
perfectly bewildered。 He had forgotten the lesson given him by Pompey
relative to his age； and the planter's circuitous questionsdoubtless to find
out the slave's real age had thrown the negro off his guard。
〃I must see you back； so as to know how much you have been
whipped； before I think of buying。〃
Pompey； who had been standing by during the examination； thought
that his services were now required； and； stepping forth with a degree of
officiousness； said to Aaron；
〃Don't you hear de gemman tell you he wants to 'zamin you。 Cum；
unharness yo'seff； ole boy； and don't be standin' dar。〃
Aaron was soon examined； and pronounced 〃sound；〃 yet the
conflicting statement about his age was not satisfactory。
Fortunately for Marion； she was spared the pain of undergoing such an
examination。 Mr。 Cardney； a teller in one of the banks； had just been
married； and wanted a maid…servant for his wife； and； passing through the
market in the early part of the day； was pleased with the young slave's
appearance； and his dwelling the quadroon found a much better home than
often falls to the lot of a slave sold in the New Orleans market。
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CHAPTER VII
THE SLAVE…HOLDING PARSON
THE Rev。 James Wilson was a native of the State of Connecticut；
where he was educated for the ministry in the Methodist persuasion。 His
father was a strict follower of John Wesley； and spared no pains in his
son's education； with the hope that he would one day be as renowned as
the leader of his sect。 James had scarcely finished his education at New
Haven； when he was invited by an uncle； then on a visit to his father； to
spend a few months at Natchez in Mississippi。 Young Wilson accepted
his uncle's invitation； and accompanied him to the South。 Few young men；
and especially clergymen； going fresh from college to the South； but are
looked upon as geniuses in a small way； and who are not invited to all the
parties in the neighborhood。 Mr。 Wilson was not an exception to this rule。
The society into which he was thrown； on his arrival at Natchez； was too
brilliant for him not to be captivated by it； and； as might have been
expected； he succeeded in captivating a plantation with seventy slaves if
not the heart of the lady to whom it belonged。
Added to this； he became a popular preacher； and had a large
congregation with a snug salary。 Like other planters； Mr。 Wilson
confided the care of his farm to Ned Huckelby； an overseer of high
reputation in his way。
The Poplar Farm； as it was called； was situated in a beautiful valley；
nine miles from Natchez； and near the Mississippi River。 The once
unshorn face of nature had given way； and the farm now blossomed with a
splendid harvest。 The neat cottage stood in a grove； where Lombardy
poplars lift their tops almost to prop the skies； where the willow； locust；
and horse…chestnut trees spread forth their branches； and flowers never
ceased to blossom。
This was the parson's country residence； where the family spent only
two months during the year。 His town residence was a fine villa； seated
on the brow of a hill； at the edge of the city。
It was in the kitchen of this house that Agnes found her new home。 Mr。
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Wilson was every inch a democrat； and early resolved that 〃his people；〃 as
he called his slaves； should be well…fed and not over…worked； and therefore
laid down the law and gospel to the overseer as well as to the slaves。 〃It is
my wish；〃 said he to Mr。 Carlingham； an old school…fellow who was
spending a few days with him；〃It is my wish that a new system be
adopted on the plantations in this State。 I believe that the sons of Ham
should have the gospel； and I intend that mine shall have it。 The gospel is
calculated to make mankind better and none should be without it。〃
〃What say you；〃 said Carlingham； 〃about the right of man to his
liberty？〃
〃Now； Carlingham； you have begun to harp again about men's rights。 I
really wish that you could see this matter as I do。〃
〃I regret that I cannot see eye to eye with you；〃 said Carlingham。 〃I am
a disciple of Rousseau； and have for years made the rights of man my
study； and I must confess to you that I see no difference between white and
black； as it regards liberty。〃
〃Now； my dear Carlingham； would you really have the negroes enjoy
the same rights as ourselves？〃
〃I would most certainly。 Look at our great Declaration of
Independence！ look even at the Constitution of our own Connecticut； and
see what is said in these about liberty。〃 〃I regard all this talk about rights
as mere humbug。 The Bible is older than the Declaration of Independence；
and there I take my stand。〃
A long discussion followed； in which both gentlemen put forth their
peculiar ideas with much warmth of feeling。
During this conversation； there was another person in the room； seated
by the window； who； although at work； embroidering a fine collar； paid
minute attention to what was said。 This was Georgiana； the only daughter
of the parson； who had but just returned from Connecticut； where she had
finished her education。 She had had the opportunity of contrasting the
spirit of Christianity and liberty in New England with that of slavery in her
native State； and had learned to feel deeply for the injured negro。
Georgiana was in her nineteenth year； and had been much benefited by
her residence of five years at the North。 Her form was tall and graceful；
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her features regular and well…defined； and her complexion w
