clotelle(有色女英雄)-第5部分
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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 was illuminated
by the freshness of youth； beauty； and health。
The daughter differed from both the father and visitor upon the subject
which they had been discussing； and as soon as an opportunity offered；
she gave it as her opinion that the Bible was both the bulwark of
Christianity and of liberty。 With a smile she said；
〃Of course； papa will overlook my difference with him； for although I
am a native of the South； I am by education and sympathy a Northerner。〃
Mr。 Wilson laughed； appearing rather pleased than otherwise at the
manner in which his daughter had expressed herself。 From this Georgiana
took courage and continued；
〃'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself。' This single passage of
Scripture should cause us to have respect for the rights of the slave。 True
Christian love is of an enlarged and disinterested nature。 It loves all who
love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity； without regard to color or
condition。〃
〃Georgiana； my dear； you are an abolitionist；your talk is fanaticism！〃
said Mr。 Wilson； in rather a sharp tone； but the subdued look of the girl
and the presence of Carlingham caused him to soften his language。
Mr。 Wilson having lost his wife by consumption； and Georgiana being
his only child； he loved her too dearly to say more； even if he felt disposed。
A silence followed this exhortation from the young Christian； but her
remarks had done a noble work。 The father's heart was touched； and the
sceptic； for the first time； was viewing Christianity in its true light。
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CHAPTER VIII
A NIGHT IN THE PARSON'S KITCHEN
BESIDES Agnes； whom Mr。 Wilson had purchased from the slave…
trader； Jennings； he kept a number of house…servants。 The chief one of
these was Sam； who must be regarded as second only to the parson
himself。 If a dinner…party was in contemplation； or any company was to be
invited； after all the arrangements had been talked over by the minister and
his daughter； Sam was sure to be consulted on the subject by 〃Miss
Georgy；〃 as Miss Wilson was called by all the servants。 If furniture；
crockery； or anything was to be purchased； Sam felt that he had been
slighted if his opinion was not asked。 As to the marketing； he did it all。
He sat at the head of the servants' table in the kitchen； and was master of
the ceremonies。 A single look from him was enough to silence any
conversation or noise among the servants in the kitchen or in any other
part of the premises。
There is in the Southern States a great amount of prejudice in regard to
color； even among the negroes themselves。 The nearer the negro or
mulatto approaches to the white； the more he seems to feel his superiority
over those of a darker hue。 This is no doubt the result of the prejudice that
exists on the part of the whites against both the mulattoes and the blacks。
Sam was originally from Kentucky； and through the instrumentality of
one of his young masters； whom he had to take to school； he had learned
to read so as to be well understood； and； owing to that fact； was considered
a prodigy； not only among his own master's slaves； but also among those
of the town who knew him。 Sam had a great wish to follow in the
footsteps of his master and be a poet； and was therefore often heard
singing doggerels of his own composition。
But there was one drawback to Sam； and that was his color。 He was
one of the blackest of his race。 This he evidently regarded as a great
misfortune； but he endeavored to make up for it in dress。 Mr。 Wilson kept
his house…servants well dressed； and as for Sam； he was seldom seen
except in a ruffled shirt。 Indeed； the washerwoman feared him more than
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any one else in the house。
Agnes had been inaugurated chief of the kitchen department； and had a
general supervision of the household affairs。 Alfred； the coachman； Peter；
and Hetty made up the remainder of the house…servants。 Besides these； Mr。
Wilson owned eight slaves who were masons。 These worked in the city。
Being mechanics； they were let out to greater advantage than to keep them
on the farm。
Every Sunday evening； Mr。 Wilson's servants； including the brick…
