英语天堂-第28章

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　admiration。　Her　dress　was　of　the　neatest　possible　fit；　and　set　off　to　advantage　her　finely　moulded　shape；—a　delicately　formed　hand　and　a　trim　foot　and　ankle　were　items　of　appearance　that　did　not　escape　the　quick　eye　of　the　trader；　well　used　to　run　up　at　a　glance　the　points　of　a　fine　female　article。
“Well；　Eliza？”　said　her　master；　as　she　stopped　and　looked　hesitatingly　at　him。
“I　was　looking　for　Harry；　please；　sir；”　and　the　boy　bounded　toward　her；　showing　his　spoils；　which　he　had　gathered　in　the　skirt　of　his　robe。
“Well；　take　him　away　then；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　and　hastily　she　withdrew；　carrying　the　child　on　her　arm。
“By　Jupiter；”　said　the　trader；　turning　to　him　in　admiration；　“there’s　an　article；　now！　You　might　make　your　fortune　on　that　ar　gal　in　Orleans；　any　day。　I’ve　seen　over　a　thousand；　in　my　day；　paid　down　for　gals　not　a　bit　handsomer。”
“I　don’t　want　to　make　my　fortune　on　her；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　dryly；　and；　seeking　to　turn　the　conversation；　he　uncorked　a　bottle　of　fresh　wine；　and　asked　his　companion’s　opinion　of　it。
“Capital；　sir；—first　chop！”　said　the　trader；　then　turning；　and　slapping　his　hand　familiarly　on　Shelby’s　shoulder；　he　added—
“Come；　how　will　you　trade　about　the　gal？—what　shall　I　say　for　her—what’ll　you　take？”
“Mr。　Haley；　she　is　not　to　be　sold；”　said　Shelby。　“My　wife　would　not　part　with　her　for　her　weight　in　gold。”
“Ay；　ay！　women　always　say　such　things；　cause　they　ha’nt　no　sort　of　calculation。　Just　show　’em　how　many　watches；　feathers；　and　trinkets；　one’s　weight　in　gold　would　buy；　and　that　alters　the　case；　I　reckon。”
“I　tell　you；　Haley；　this　must　not　be　spoken　of；　I　say　no；　and　I　mean　no；”　said　Shelby；　decidedly。
“Well；　you’ll　let　me　have　the　boy；　though；”　said　the　trader；　“you　must　own　I’ve　come　down　pretty　handsomely　for　him。”
“What　on　earth　can　you　want　with　the　child？”　said　Shelby。
“Why；　I’ve　got　a　friend　that’s　going　into　this　yer　branch　of　the　business—wants　to　buy　up　handsome　boys　to　raise　for　the　market。　Fancy　articles　entirely—sell　for　waiters；　and　so　on；　to　rich　’uns；　that　can　pay　for　handsome　’uns。　It　sets　off　one　of　yer　great　places—a　real　handsome　boy　to　open　door；　wait；　and　tend。　They　fetch　a　good　sum；　and　this　little　devil　is　such　a　comical；　musical　concern；　he’s　just　the　article！’
“I　would　rather　not　sell　him；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　thoughtfully；　“the　fact　is；　sir；　I’m　a　humane　man；　and　I　hate　to　take　the　boy　from　his　mother；　sir。”
“O；　you　do？—La！　yes—something　of　that　ar　natur。　I　understand；　perfectly。　It　is　mighty　onpleasant　getting　on　with　women；　sometimes；　I　al’ays　hates　these　yer　screechin；’　screamin’　times。　They　are　mighty　onpleasant；　but；　as　I　manages　business；　I　generally　avoids　’em；　sir。　Now；　what　if　you　get　the　girl　off　for　a　day；　or　a　week；　or　so；　then　the　thing’s　done　quietly；—all　over　before　she　comes　home。　Your　wife　might　get　her　some　ear…rings；　or　a　new　gown；　or　some　such　truck；　to　make　up　with　her。”
“I’m　afraid　not。”
“Lor　bless　ye；　yes！　These　critters　ain’t　like　white　folks；　you　know；　they　gets　over　things；　only　manage　right。　Now；　they　say；”　said　Haley；　assuming　a　candid　and　confidential　air；　“that　this　kind　o’　trade　is　hardening　to　the　feelings；　but　I　never　found　it　so。　Fact　is；　I　never　could　do　things　up　the　way　some　fellers　manage　the　business。　I’ve　seen　’em　as　would　pull　a　woman’s　child　out　of　her　arms；　and　set　him　up　to　sell；　and　she　screechin’　like　mad　all　the　time；—very　bad　policy—damages　the　article—makes　’em　quite　unfit　for　service　sometimes。　I　knew　a　real　handsome　gal　once；　in　Orleans；　as　was　entirely　ruined　by　this　sort　o’　handling。　The　fellow　that　was　trading　for　her　didn’t　want　her　baby；　and　she　was　one　of　your　real　high　sort；　when　her　blood　was　up。　I　tell　you；　she　squeezed　up　her　child　in　her　arms；　and　talked；　and　went　on　real　awful。　It　kinder　makes　my　blood　run　cold　to　think　of　’t；　and　when　they　carried　off　the　child；　and　locked　her　up；　she　jest　went　ravin’　mad；　and　died　in　a　week。　Clear　waste；　sir；　of　a　thousand　dollars；　just　for　want　of　management；—there’s　where　’t　is。　It’s　always　best　to　do　the　humane　thing；　sir；　that’s　been　my　experience。”　And　the　trader　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　and　folded　his　arm；　with　an　air　of　virtuous　decision；　apparently　considering　himself　a　second　Wilberforce。
The　subject　appeared　to　interest　the　gentleman　deeply；　for　while　Mr。　Shelby　was　thoughtfully　peeling　an　orange；　Haley　broke　out　afresh；　with　becoming　diffidence；　but　as　if　actually　driven　by　the　force　of　truth　to　say　a　few　words　more。
“It　don’t　look　well；　now；　for　a　feller　to　be　praisin’　himself；　but　I　say　it　jest　because　it’s　the　truth。　I　believe　I’m　reckoned　to　bring　in　about　the　finest　droves　of　niggers　that　is　brought　in；—at　least；　I’ve　been　told　so；　if　I　have　once；　I　reckon　I　have　a　hundred　times；—all　in　good　case；—fat　and　likely；　and　I　lose　as　few　as　any　man　in　the　business。　And　I　lays　it　all　to　my　management；　sir；　and　humanity；　sir；　I　may　say；　is　the　great　pillar　of　my　management。”
Mr。　Shelby　did　not　know　what　to　say；　and　so　he　said；　“Indeed！”
“Now；　I’ve　been　laughed　at　for　my　notions；　sir；　and　I’ve　been　talked　to。　They　an’t　pop’lar；　and　they　an’t　common；　but　I　stuck　to　’em；　sir；　I’ve　stuck　to　’em；　and　realized　well　on　’em；　yes；　sir；　they　have　paid　their　passage；　I　may　say；”　and　the　trader　laughed　at　his　joke。
There　was　something　so　piquant　and　original　in　these　elucidations　of　humanity；　that　Mr。　Shelby　could　not　help　laughing　in　company。　Perhaps　you　laugh　too；　dear　reader；　but　you　know　humanity　comes　out　in　a　variety　of　strange　forms　now…a…days；　and　there　is　no　end　to　the　odd　things　that　humane　people　will　say　and　do。
Mr。　Shelby’s　laugh　encouraged　the　trader　to　proceed。
“It’s　strange；　now；　but　I　never　could　beat　this　into　people’s　heads。　Now；　there　was　Tom　Loker；　my　old　partner；　down　in　Natchez；　he　was　a　clever　fellow；　Tom　was；　only　the　very　devil　with　niggers；—on　principle　’t　was；　you　see；　for　a　better　hearted　feller　never　broke　bread；　’t　was　his　system；　sir。　I　used　to　talk　to　Tom。　‘Why；　Tom；’　I　used　to　say；　‘when　your　gals　takes　on　and　cry；　what’s　the　use　o’　crackin　on’　em　over　the　head；　and　knockin’　on　’em　round？　It’s　ridiculous；’　says　I；　‘and　don’t　do　no　sort　o’　good。　Why；　I　don’t　see　no　harm　in　their　cryin’；’　says　I；　‘it’s　natur；’　says　I；　‘and　if　natur　can’t　blow　off　one　way；　it　will　another。　Besides；　Tom；’　says　I；　‘it　jest　spiles　your　gals；　they　get　sickly；　and　down　in　the　mouth；　and　sometimes　they　gets　ugly；—particular　yallow　gals　do；—and　it’s　the　devil　and　all　gettin’　on　’em　broke　in。　Now；’　says　I；　‘why　can’t　you　kinder　coax　’em　up；　and　speak　’em　fair？　Depend　on　it；　Tom；　a　little　humanity；　thrown　in　along；　goes　a　heap　further　than　all　your　jawin’　and　crackin’；　and　it　pays　better；’　says　I；　‘depend　on　’t。’　But　Tom　couldn’t　get　the　hang　on　’t；　and　he　spiled　so　many　for　me；　that　I　had　to　break　off　with　him；　though　he　was　a　good…hearted　fellow；　and　as　fair　a　business　hand　as　is　goin’”
“And　do　you　find　your　ways　of　managing　do　the　business　better　than　Tom’s？”　said　Mr。　Shelby。
“Why；　yes；　sir；　I　may　say　so。　You　see；　when　I　any　ways　can；　I　takes　a　leetle　care　about　the　onpleasant　parts；　like　selling　young　uns　and　that；—get　the　gals　out　of　the　way—out　of　sight；　out　of　mind；　you　know；—and　when　it’s　clean　done；　and　can’t　be　helped；　they　naturally　gets　used　to　it。　’Tan’t；　you　know；　as　if　it　was　white　folks；　that’s　brought；up　in　the　way　of　’spectin’　to　keep　their　children　and　wives；　and　all　that。　Niggers；　you　know；　that’s　fetched　up　properly；　ha’n’t　no　kind　of　’spectations　of　no　kind；　so　all　these　things　comes　easier。”
“I’m　afraid　mine　are　not　properly　brought　up；　then；”　said　Mr。　Shelby。
“S’pose　not；　you　Kentucky　folks　spile　your　niggers。　You　mean　well　by　’em；　but　’tan’t　no　real　kindness；　arter　all。　Now；　a　nigger；　you　see；　what’s　got　to　be　hacked　and　tumbled　round　the　world；　and　sold　to　Tom；　and　Dick；　and　the　Lord　knows　who；　’tan’t　no　kindness　to　be　givin’　on　him　notions　and　expectations；　and　bringin’　on　him　up　too　well；　for　the　rough　and　tumble　comes　all　the　harder　on　him　arter。　Now；　I　venture　to　say；　your　niggers　would　be　quite　chop…fallen　in　a　place　where　some　of　your　plantation　niggers　would　be　singing　and　whooping　like　all　possessed。　Every　man；　you　know；　Mr。　Shelby；　naturally　thinks　well　of　his　own　ways；　and　I　think　I　treat　niggers　just　about　as　well　as　it’s　ever　worth　while　to　treat　’em。”
“It’s　a　happy　thing　to　be　satisfied；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　with　a　slight　shrug；　and　some　perceptible　feelings　of　a　disagreeable　nature。
“Well；”　said　Haley；　after　they　had　both　silently　picked　their　nuts　for　a　season；　“what　do　you　say？”
“I’ll　think　the　matter　over；　and　talk　with　my　wife；”　said　Mr。　Shelby。　“Meantime；　Haley；　if　you　want　the　matter　carried　on　in　the　quiet　way　you　speak　of；　you’d　best　not　let　your　business　in　this　neighborhood　be　known。　It　will　get　out　among　my　boys；　and　it　will　not　be　a　particularly　quiet　business　getting　away　any　of　my　fellows；　if　they　know　it；　I’ll　promise　you。”
“O！　certainly；　by　all　means；　mum！　of　course。　But　I’ll　tell　you。　I’m　in　a　devil　of　a　hurry；　and　shall　want　to　know；　as　soon　as　possible；　what　I　may　depend　on；”　said　he；　rising　and　putting　on　his　overcoat。
“Well；　call　up　this　evening；　between　six　and　seven；　and　you　shall　have　my　answer；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　and　the　trader　bowed　himself　out　of　the　apartment。
“I’d　like　to　have　been　able　to　kick　the　fellow　down　the　steps；”　said　he　to　himself；　as　he　saw　the　door　fairly　closed；　“with　his　impudent　assurance；　but　he　knows　how　much　he　has　me　at　advantage。　If　anybody　had　ever　said　to　me　that　I　should　sell　Tom　down　south　to　one　of　those　rascally　traders；　I　should　have　said；　‘Is　thy　servant　a　dog；　that　he　should　do　this　thing？’　And　now　it　must　come；　for　aught　I　see。　And　Eliza’s　child；　too！　I　know　that　I　shall　have　some　fuss　with　wife　about　that；　and；　for　that　matter；　about　Tom；　too。　So　much　for　being　in　debt；—heigho！　The　fellow　sees　his　advantage；　and　means　to　push　it。”
Perhaps　the　mildest　form　of　the　system　of　slavery　is　to　be　seen　in　the　State　of　Kentucky。　The　general　prevalence　of　agricultural　pursuits　of　a　quiet　and　gradual　nature；　not　requiring　those　periodic　seasons　of　hurry　and　pressure　that　are　called　for　in　the　business　of　more　southern　districts；　makes　the　task　of　the　negro　a　more　healthful　and　reasonable　one；　while　the　master；　content　with　a　more　gradual　style　of　acquisition；　has　not　those　temptations　to　hardheartedness　which　always　overcome　frail　human　nature　when　the　prospect　of　sudden　and　rapid　gain　is　weighed　in　the　balance；　with　no　heavier　counterpoise　than　the　interests　of　the　helpless　and　unprotected。
Whoever　visits　some　estates　there；　and　witnesses　the　good…humored　indulgence　of　some　masters　and　mistresses；　and　the　affectionate　loyalty　of　some　slaves；　might　be　tempted　to　dream　the　oft…fabled　poetic　legend　of　a　patriarchal　institution；　and　all　that；　but　over　and　above　the　scene　there　broods　a　portentous　shadow—the　shadow　of　law。　So　long　as　the　law　considers　all　these　human　beings；　with　beating　hearts　and　living　affections；　only　as　so　many　things　belonging　to　a　master；—so　long　as　the　failure；　or　misfortune；　or　imprudence；　or　death　of　the　kindest　owner；　may　cause　t