clotelle(有色女英雄)-第22章
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she could be bought； and let Jerome pay him in work。 With such a
prospect of future happiness in view； this injured descendent of outraged
and bleeding Africa went daily to his toil with an energy hitherto unknown
to him。 But oh； how vain are the hopes of man！
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CHAPTER XXVIII
FAREWELL TO AMERICA
THREE months had elapsed； from the time the fugitive commenced
work for Mr。 Streeter； when that gentleman returned from his Southern
research； and informed Jerome that Parson Wilson had sold Clotelle； and
that she had been sent to the New Orleans slave…market。
This intelligence fell with crushing weight upon the heart of Jerome；
and he now felt that the last chain which bound him to his native land was
severed。 He therefore determined to leave America forever。 His nearest
and dearest friends had often been flogged in his very presence； and he
had seen his mother sold to the negro…trader。 An only sister had been torn
from him by the soul…driver； he had himself been sold and resold； and
been compelled to submit to the most degrading and humiliating insults；
and now that the woman upon whom his heart doted； and without whom
life was a burden； had been taken away forever； he felt it a duty to hate all
mankind。
If there is one thing more than another calculated to make one hate and
detest American slavery； it is to witness the meetings between fugitives
and their friends in Canada。 Jerome had beheld some of these scenes。
The wife who； after years of separation； had escaped from her prison…
house and followed her husband had told her story to him。 He had seen the
newly…arrived wife rush into the arms of the husband； whose dark face she
had not looked upon for long； weary years。 Some told of how a sister had
been ill…used by the overseer； others of a husband's being whipped to
death for having attempted to protect his wife。 He had sat in the little log…
hut； by the fireside； and heard tales that caused his heart to bleed； and his
bosom swelled with just indignation when he though that there was no
remedy for such atrocious acts。 It was with such feelings that he informed
his employer that he should leave him at the expiration of a month。
In vain did Mr。 Streeter try to persuade Jerome to remain with him；
and late in the month of February； the latter found himself on board a
small vessel loaded with pine…lumber； descending the St。 Lawrence； bound
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for Liverpool。 The bark； though an old one； was； nevertheless； considered
seaworthy； and the fugitive was working his way out。 As the vessel left
the river and gained the open sea； the black man appeared to rejoice at the
prospect of leaving a country in which his right to manhood had been
denied him； and his happiness destroyed。
The wind was proudly swelling the white sails； and the little craft
plunging into the foaming waves； with the land fast receding in the
distance； when Jerome mounted a pile of lumber to take a last farewell of
his native land。 With tears glistening in his eyes； and with quivering lips；
he turned his gaze toward the shores that were fast fading in the dim
distance； and said；
〃Though forced from my native land by the tyrants of the South； I
hope I shall some day be able to return。 With all her faults； I love my
country still。〃
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CHAPTER XXIX
A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND
THE rain was falling on the dirty pavements of Liverpool as Jerome
left the vessel after her arrival。 Passing the custom…house； he took a cab；
and proceeded to Brown's Hotel； Clayton Square。
Finding no employment in Liverpool； Jerome determined to go into
the interior and seek for work。 He； therefore； called for his bill； and
made ready for his departure。 Although but four days at the Albion； he
found the hotel charges larger than he expected； but a stranger generally
counts on being 〃fleeced〃 in travelling through the Old World； and
especially in Great Britain。 After paying his bill； he was about leaving the
room； when one of the servants presented himself with a low bow； and
said；
〃Something for the waiter； sir？〃
〃I thought I had paid my bill；〃 replied the man； somewhat surprised at
this polite dun。
〃I am the waiter； sir； and gets only what strangers see fit to give me。〃
Taking from his pocket his nearly empty purse； Jerome handed the
man a half…crown； but he had hardly restored it to his pocket； before his
eye fell on another man in the waiting costume。
〃What do you want？〃 he asked。
〃Whatever your honor sees fit to give me； sir。 I am the tother waiter。〃
The purse was again taken from the pocket； and another half…crown
handed out。 Stepping out into the hall； he saw standing there a good…
looking woman； in a white apron； who made a very pretty courtesy。
〃What's your business？〃 he inquired。
〃I am the chambermaid； sir； and looks after the gentlemen's beds。〃
Out came the purse again； and was relieved of another half…crown；
whereupon another girl； with a fascinating smile； took the place of the one
who had just received her fee。
〃What do you want？〃 demanded the now half…angry Jerome。
〃Please； sir； I am the tother chambermaid。〃
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Finding it easier to give shillings than half…crowns； Jerome handed the
woman a shilling； and again restored his purse to his pocket； glad that
another woman was not to be seen。
Scarcely had he commenced congratulating himself； however； before
three men made their appearance； one after another。
〃What have *you* done for me？〃 he asked of the first。
〃I am the boots； sir。〃
The purse came out once more； and a shilling was deposited in the
servant's hand。
〃What do I owe you？〃 he inquired of the second。
〃I took your honor's letter to the post； yesterday； sir。〃
Another shilling left the purse。
〃In the name of the Lord； what am I indebted to you for？〃 demanded
Jerome； now entirely out of patience； turning to the last of the trio。
〃I told yer vership vot time it vas； this morning。〃
〃Well！〃 exclaimed the indignant man； 〃ask here who o'clock it is； and
you have got to pay for it。〃
He paid this last demand with a sixpence； regretting that he had not
commenced with sixpences instead of half…crowns。
Having cleared off all demands in the house； he started for the railway
station； but had scarcely reached the street； before he was accosted by an
old man with a broom in his hand； who； with an exceedingly low bow；
said；
〃I is here； yer lordship。〃
〃I did not send for you； what is your business？〃 demanded Jerome。
〃I is the man what opened your lordship's cab…door； when your
lordship came to the house on Monday last； and I know your honor won't
allow a poor man to starve。〃
Putting a sixpence in the old man's hand； Jerome once more started for
the depot。 Having obtained letters of introduction to persons in
Manchester； he found no difficulty in getting a situation in a large
manufacturing house there。 Although the salary was small； yet the
situation was a much better one than he had hoped to obtain。 His
compensation as out…door clerk enabled him to employ a man to teach him
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at night； and； by continued study and attention to business； he was soon
promoted。
After three years in his new home； Jerome was placed in a still higher
position； where his salary amounted to fifteen hundred dollars a year。 The
drinking； smoking； and other expensive habits； which the clerks usually
indulged in； he carefully avoided。
Being fond of poetry； he turned his attention to literature。 Johnson's
〃Lives of the Poets；〃 the writings of Dryden； Addison； Pope； Clarendon；
and other authors of celebrity； he read with attention。 The knowledge
which he thus picked up during his leisure hours gave him a great
advantage over the other clerks； and caused his employers to respect him
far more than any other in their establishment。 So eager was he to improve
the time that he determined to see how much he could read during the
unemployed time of night and morning； and his success was beyond his
expectations。
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CHAPTER XXX
NEW FRIENDS
BROKEN down in health； after ten years of close confinement in his
situation； Jerome resolved to give it up； and thereby release himself from
an employment which seemed calculated to send him to a premature
grave。
It was on a beautiful morning in summer that he started for Scotland；
having made up his mind to travel for his health。 After visiting Edinburgh
and Glasgow； he concluded to spend a few days in the old town of Perth；
with a friend whose acquaintance he had made in Manchester。 During
the second day of his stay in Perth； while crossing the main street； Jerome
saw a pony…chaise coming toward him with great speed。 A lady； who
appeared to be the only occupant of the vehicle； was using her
