clotelle(有色女英雄)-第5章
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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…
layers； assembled in the kitchen； where the events of the week were fully
discussed and commented upon。 It was on a Sunday evening； in the
month of June； that there was a party at Mr。 Wilson's house； and；
according to custom in the Southern States； the ladies had their maid…
servants with them。 Tea had been served in 〃the house；〃 and the servants；
including the strangers； had taken their seats at the table in the kitchen。
Sam； being a 〃single gentleman；〃 was unusually attentive to the 〃ladies〃
on this occasion。 He seldom let a day pass without spending an hour or
two in combing and brushing his 〃har。〃 He had an idea that fresh butter
was better for his hair than any other kind of grease； and therefore on
churning days half a pound of butter had always to be taken out before it
was salted。 When he wished to appear to great advantage； he would grease
his face to make it 〃shiny。〃 Therefore； on the evening of the party； when
all the servants were at the table； Sam cut a big figure。 There he sat； with
his wool well combed and buttered； face nicely greased； and his ruffles
extending five or six inches from his bosom。 The parson in his drawing…
room did not make a more imposing appearance than did his servant on
this occasion。
〃I jis bin had my fortune tole last Sunday night；〃 said Sam； while
helping one of the girls。
〃Indeed！〃 cried half a dozen voices。
〃Yes；〃 continued he； 〃Aunt Winny tole me I's to hab de prettiest yallah
gal in de town； and dat I's to be free！〃
All eyes were immediately turned toward Sally Johnson； who was
seated near Sam。
〃I 'specs I see somebody blush at dat remark；〃 said Alfred。
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〃Pass dem pancakes an' 'lasses up dis way； Mr。 Alf。； and none ob your
'sinuwashuns here；〃 rejoined Sam。
〃Dat reminds me；〃 said Agnes； 〃dat Dorcas Simpson is gwine to git
married。〃
〃Who to； I want to know？〃 inquired Peter。
〃To one of Mr。 Darby's field…hands；〃 answered Agnes。
〃I should tink dat gal wouldn't frow herseff away in dat ar way；〃 said
Sally。 〃She's good lookin' 'nough to git a house…servant； and not hab to put
up wid a field…nigger。
〃Yes；〃 said Sam； 〃dat's a werry unsensible remark ob yourn； Miss
Sally。 I admires your judgment werry much； I 'sures you。 Dar's plenty ob
susceptible an' well…dressed house…serbants dat a gal ob her looks can git
widout takin' up wid dem common darkies。〃
The evening's entertainment concluded by Sam's relating a little of his
own experience while with his first master； in old Kentucky。 This master
was a doctor； and had a large practice among his neighbors； doctoring both
masters and slaves。 When Sam was about fifteen years old； his master
set him to grinding up ointment and making pills。 As the young student
grew older and became more practised in his profession； his services were
of more importance to the doctor。 The physician having a good business；
and a large number of his patients being slaves； the most of whom had to
call on the doctor when ill；he put Sam to bleeding； pulling teeth； and
administering medicine to the slaves。 Sam soon acquired the name among
the slaves of the 〃Black Doctor。〃 With this appellation he was delighted；
and no regular physician could have put on more airs than did the black
doctor when his services were required。 In bleeding； he must have more
bandages； and would rub and smack the arm more than the doctor would
have thought of。
Sam was once seen taking out a tooth for one of his patients； and
nothing appeared more amusing。 He got the poor fellow down on his
back； and then getting astride of his chest； he applied the turnkeys and
pulled away for dear life。 Unfortunately； he had got hold of the wrong
tooth； and the poor man screamed as loud as he could； but it was to no
purpose； for Sam had him fast； and after a pretty severe tussle out came
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the sound grinder。 The young doctor now saw his mistake； but consoled
himself with the thought that as the wrong tooth was out of the way； there
was more room to get at the right one。
Bleeding and a dose of calomel were always considered indispensable
by the 〃old boss；〃 and as a matter of course； Sa
