clotelle(有色女英雄)-第10章
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！
hurry。〃
As she spoke； the old woman's eyes rolled； her lips quivered； and she
looked like a very fury。
〃I will have nothing to do with her； if you whip her； Mrs。 Miller；〃 said
the slave…trader。 〃Niggers ain't worth half so much in the market with their
backs newly scarred；〃 continued he； as the overseer commenced his
preparations for executing Mrs。 Miller's orders。
Clotelle here took her father's walking…stick； which was lying on the
back of the sofa where he had left it； and； raising it； said；
〃If you bad people touch my mother； I will strike you。〃
They looked at the child with astonishment； and her extreme you；
wonderful beauty； and uncommon courage； seemed for a moment to shake
their purpose。 The manner and language of this child were alike beyond
her years； and under other circumstances would have gained for her the
approbation of those present。
〃Oh； Henry； Henry！〃 exclaimed Isabella； wringing her hands。
〃You need not call on him； hussy； you will never see him again；〃 said
Mrs。 Miller。
〃What！ is he dead？〃 inquired the heart…stricken woman。
It was then that she forgot her own situation； thinking only of the man
she loved。 Never having been called to endure any kind of abusive
treatment； Isabella was not fitted to sustain herself against the brutality of
44
… Page 45…
CLOTELLE
Mrs。 Miller； much less the combined ferociousness of the old woman and
the overseer too。 Suffice it to say； that instead of whipping Isabella； Mrs。
Miller transferred her to the negro…speculator； who took her immediately
to his slave…pen。 The unfeeling old woman would not permit Isabella to
take more than a single change of her clothing； remarking to Jennings；
〃I sold you the wench； you know；not her clothes。〃
The injured； friendless； and unprotected Isabella fainted as she saw her
child struggling to release herself from the arms of old Mrs。 Miller； and as
the wretch boxed the poor child's ears。
After leaving directions as to how Isabella's furniture and other effects
should be disposed of； Mrs。 Miller took Clotelle into her carriage and
drove home。 There was not even color enough about the child to make it
appear that a single drop of African blood flowed through its blue veins。
Considerable sensation was created in the kitchen among the servants
when the carriage drove up； and Clotelle entered the house。
〃Jes' like Massa Henry fur all de worl'；〃 said Dinah； as she caught a
glimpse of the child through the window。
〃Wondah whose brat dat ar' dat missis bringin' home wid her？〃 said
Jane； as she put the ice in the pitchers for dinner。 〃I warrant it's some poor
white nigger somebody bin givin' her。〃
The child was white。 What should be done to make it look like other
negroes； was the question which Mrs。 Miller asked herself。 The callous…
hearted old woman bit her nether lip； as she viewed that child； standing
before her； with her long； dark ringlets clustering over her alabaster brow
and neck。
〃Take this little nigger and cut her hair close to her head；〃 said the
mistress to Jane； as the latter answered the bell。
Clotelle screamed； as she felt the scissors grating over her head； and
saw those curls that her mother thought so much of falling upon the floor。
A roar of laughter burst from the servants； as Jane led the child
through the kitchen； with the hair cut so short that the naked scalp could
be plainly seen。
〃'Gins to look like nigger； now；〃 said Dinah； with her mouth upon a
grin。
45
… Page 46…
CLOTELLE
The mistress smiled； as the shorn child reentered the room； but there
was something more needed。 The child was white； and that was a great
objection。 However； she hit upon a plan to remedy this which seemed
feasible。 The day was excessively warm。 Not a single cloud floated over
the blue vault of heaven； not a breath of wind seemed moving； and the
earth was parched by the broiling sun。 Even the bees had stopped
humming； and the butterflies had hid themselves under the broad leaves of
the burdock。 Without a morsel of dinner； the poor child was put in the
garden； and set to weeding it； her arms； neck； and head completely bare。
Unaccustomed to toil； Clotelle wept as she exerted herself in pulling up
the weeds。 Old Dinah； the cook； was a unfeeling as her mistress； and she
was pleased to see the child made to work in the hot sun。
〃Dat white nigger'll soon be brack enuff if missis keeps her workin' out
dar；〃 she said； as she wiped the perspiration from her sooty brow。
Dinah was the mother of thirteen children； all of whom bad been taken
from her when young； and this； no doubt； did much to harden her feelings；
and make her hate all white persons。
The burning sun poured its rays on the face of the friendless child until
she sank down in the corner of the garden； and was actually broiled to
sleep。
〃Dat little nigger ain't workin' a bit； missus；〃 said Dinah to Mrs。 Miller；
as the latter entered the kitchen。
〃She's lying in the sun seasoning； she will work the better by and by；〃
replied the mistress。
〃Dese white niggers always tink dey seff good as white folks；〃 said the
cook。
〃Yes； but we will teach them better； won't we； Dinah？〃 rejoined Mrs。
Miller。
〃Yes； missus；〃 replied Dinah； 〃I don't like dese merlatter niggers； no
how。 Dey always want to set dey seff up for sumfin' big。〃 With this
remark the old cook gave one of her coarse laughs； and continued：
〃Missis understands human nature； don't she？ Ah！ if she ain't a whole team
and de ole gray mare to boot； den Dinah don't know nuffin'。〃
Of course； the mistress was out of the kitchen before these last remarks
46
… Page 47…
CLOTELLE
were made。
It was with the deepest humiliation that Henry learned from one of his
own slaves the treatment which his child was receiving at the hands of his
relentless mother…in…law。
The scorching sun had the desired effect； for in less than a fortnight；
Clotelle could scarcely have been recognized as the same child。 Often was
she seen to weep； and heard to call on her mother。
Mrs。 Miller； when at church on Sabbath； usually； on warm days； took
Nancy； one of her servants； in her pew； and this girl had to fan her mistress
during service。 Unaccustomed to such a soft and pleasant seat； the servant
would very soon become sleepy and begin to nod。 Sometimes she would
go fast asleep； which annoyed the mistress exceedingly。 But Mrs。 Miller
had nimble fingers； and on them sharp nails； and； with an energetic pinch
upon the bare arms of the poor girl； she would arouse the daughter of
Africa from her pleasant dreams。 But there was no one of Mrs。 Miller's
servants who received so much punishment as old Uncle Tony。
Fond of her greenhouse； and often in the garden； she was ever at the
old gardener's heels。 Uncle Tony was very religious； and； whenever his
mistress flogged him； he invariably gave her a religious exhortation。
Although unable to read； he； nevertheless； had on his tongue's end portions
of Scripture which he could use at any moment。 In one end of the
greenhouse was Uncle Tony's sleeping room； and those who happened in
that vicinity； between nine and ten at night； could hear the old man
offering up his thanksgiving to God for his protection during the day。
Uncle Tony； however； took great pride； when he thought that any of the
whites were within hearing； to dwell； in his prayer； on his own goodness
and the unfitness of others to die。 Often was he heard to say； 〃O Lord； thou
knowest that the white folks are not Christians； but the black people are
God's own children。〃 But if Tony thought that his old mistress was within
the sound of his voice； he launched out into deeper water。
It was； therefore； on a sweet night； when the bright stars were looking
out with a joyous sheen； that Mark and two of the other boys passed the
greenhouse； and heard Uncle Tony in his devotions。
〃Let's have a little fun；〃 said the mischievous Marcus to his young
47
… Page 48…
CLOTELLE
companions。 〃I will make Uncle Tony believe that I am old mistress； and
he'll give us an extra touch in his prayer。〃 Mark immediately commenced
talking in a strain of voice resembling； as well as he could； Mrs。 Miller；
and at once Tony was heard to say in a loud voice； 〃O Lord； thou knowest
that the white people are not fit to die； but； as for old Tony； whenever the
angel of the Lord comes； he's ready。〃 At that moment； Mark tapped
lightly on the door。 〃Who's dar？〃 thundered old Tony。 Mark made no
reply。 The old man commenced and went through with the same remarks
addressed to the Lord； when Mark again knocked at the door。 〃Who dat
dar？〃 asked Uncle Tony； with a somewhat agitated countenance and
trembling voice。 Still Mark would not reply。 Again Tony took up the
thread of his discourse； and said； 〃O Lord； thou knowest as well as I do
that dese white folks are not prepared to die； but here is old Tony； when de
angel of de Lord comes； he's ready to go to heaven。〃 Mark once more
knocked on the door。 〃Who dat dar？〃 thundered Tony at the top of his
voice。
〃De angel of de Lord；〃 replied Mark； in a somewhat suppressed and
sepulchral voice。
〃What de angel of de Lord want here？〃 inquired Tony； as if much
frightened。
〃He's come for poor old Tony； to take him out of the world；〃 replied
Mark； in the same strange voice。
〃Dat nigger ain't here； he die tree weeks ago；〃 responded Tony； in a
still more agitated and frightened tone。 Mark and his companions made
