英语天堂-第98章

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ine　to　camp　down；　and　sleep　while　I　ken。”
The　women　went　off　to　their　cabins；　and　Tom　sat　alone；　by　the　smouldering　fire；　that　flickered　up　redly　in　his　face。
The　silver；　fair…browed　moon　rose　in　the　purple　sky；　and　looked　down；　calm　and　silent；　as　God　looks　on　the　scene　of　misery　and　oppression；—looked　calmly　on　the　lone　black　man；　as　he　sat；　with　his　arms　folded；　and　his　Bible　on　his　knee。
“Is　God　Here？”　Ah；　how　is　it　possible　for　the　untaught　heart　to　keep　its　faith；　unswerving；　in　the　face　of　dire　misrule；　and　palpable；　unrebuked　injustice？　In　that　simple　heart　waged　a　fierce　conflict；　the　crushing　sense　of　wrong；　the　foreshadowing；　of　a　whole　life　of　future　misery；　the　wreck　of　all　past　hopes；　mournfully　tossing　in　the　soul’s　sight；　like　dead　corpses　of　wife；　and　child；　and　friend；　rising　from　the　dark　wave；　and　surging　in　the　face　of　the　half…drowned　mariner！　Ah；　was　it　easy　here　to　believe　and　hold　fast　the　great　password　of　Christian　faith；　that　“God　IS；　and　is　the　REWARDER　of　them　that　diligently　seek　Him”？
Tom　rose；　disconsolate；　and　stumbled　into　the　cabin　that　had　been　allotted　to　him。　The　floor　was　already　strewn　with　weary　sleepers；　and　the　foul　air　of　the　place　almost　repelled　him；　but　the　heavy　night…dews　were　chill；　and　his　limbs　weary；　and；　wrapping　about　him　a　tattered　blanket；　which　formed　his　only　bed…clothing；　he　stretched　himself　in　the　straw　and　fell　asleep。
In　dreams；　a　gentle　voice　came　over　his　ear；　he　was　sitting　on　the　mossy　seat　in　the　garden　by　Lake　Pontchartrain；　and　Eva；　with　her　serious　eyes　bent　downward；　was　reading　to　him　from　the　Bible；　and　he　heard　her　read。
“When　thou　passest　through　the　waters；　I　will　be　with　thee；　and　the　rivers　they　shall　not　overflow　thee；　when　thou　walkest　through　the　fire；　thou　shalt　not　be　burned；　neither　shall　the　flame　kindle　upon　thee；　for　I　am　the　Lord　thy　God；　the　Holy　One　of　Israel；　thy　Saviour。”
Gradually　the　words　seemed　to　melt　and　fade；　as　in　a　divine　music；　the　child　raised　her　deep　eyes；　and　fixed　them　lovingly　on　him；　and　rays　of　warmth　and　comfort　seemed　to　go　from　them　to　his　heart；　and；　as　if　wafted　on　the　music；　she　seemed　to　rise　on　shining　wings；　from　which　flakes　and　spangles　of　gold　fell　off　like　stars；　and　she　was　gone。
Tom　woke。　Was　it　a　dream？　Let　it　pass　for　one。　But　who　shall　say　that　that　sweet　young　spirit；　which　in　life　so　yearned　to　comfort　and　console　the　distressed；　was　forbidden　of　God　to　assume　this　ministry　after　death？
It　is　a　beautiful　belief；
　　　　That　ever　round　our　head
　　　　Are　hovering；　on　angel　wings；
The　spirits　of　the　dead。
1　Ps。　74：20。
2　“Jerusalem；　my　happy　home；”　anonymous　hymn　dating　from　the　latter　part　of　the　sixteenth　century；　sung　to　the　tune　of　“St。　Stephen。”　Words　derive　from　St。　Augustine’s　Meditations。
Chapter　33
Cassy
“And　behold；　the　tears　of　such　as　were　oppressed；　and　they　had　no　comforter；　and　on　the　side　of　their　oppressors　there　was　power；　but　they　had　no　comforter。”—Ecoml。　4：1
It　took　but　a　short　time　to　familiarize　Tom　with　all　that　was　to　be　hoped　or　feared　in　his　new　way　of　life。　He　was　an　expert　and　efficient　workman　in　whatever　he　undertook；　and　was；　both　from　habit　and　principle；　prompt　and　faithful。　Quiet　and　peaceable　in　his　disposition；　he　hoped；　by　unremitting　diligence；　to　avert　from　himself　at　least　a　portion　of　the　evils　of　his　condition。　He　saw　enough　of　abuse　and　misery　to　make　him　sick　and　weary；　but　he　determined　to　toil　on；　with　religious　patience；　committing　himself　to　Him　that　judgeth　righteously；　not　without　hope　that　some　way　of　escape　might　yet　be　opened　to　him。
Legree　took　a　silent　note　of　Tom’s　availability。　He　rated　him　as　a　first…class　hand；　and　yet　he　felt　a　secret　dislike　to　him；—the　native　antipathy　of　bad　to　good。　He　saw；　plainly；　that　when；　as　was　often　the　case；　his　violence　and　brutality　fell　on　the　helpless；　Tom　took　notice　of　it；　for；　so　subtle　is　the　atmosphere　of　opinion；　that　it　will　make　itself　felt；　without　words；　and　the　opinion　even　of　a　slave　may　annoy　a　master。　Tom　in　various　ways　manifested　a　tenderness　of　feeling；　a　commiseration　for　his　fellow…sufferers；　strange　and　new　to　them；　which　was　watched　with　a　jealous　eye　by　Legree。　He　had　purchased　Tom　with　a　view　of　eventually　making　him　a　sort　of　overseer；　with　whom　he　might；　at　times；　intrust　his　affairs；　in　short　absences；　and；　in　his　view；　the　first；　second；　and　third　requisite　for　that　place；　was　hardness。　Legree　made　up　his　mind；　that；　as　Tom　was　not　hard　to　his　hand；　he　would　harden　him　forthwith；　and　some　few　weeks　after　Tom　had　been　on　the　place；　he　determined　to　commence　the　process。
One　morning；　when　the　hands　were　mustered　for　the　field；　Tom　noticed；　with　surprise；　a　new　comer　among　them；　whose　appearance　excited　his　attention。　It　was　a　woman；　tall　and　slenderly　formed；　with　remarkably　delicate　hands　and　feet；　and　dressed　in　neat　and　respectable　garments。　By　the　appearance　of　her　face；　she　might　have　been　between　thirty…five　and　forty；　and　it　was　a　face　that；　once　seen；　could　never　be　forgotten；—one　of　those　that；　at　a　glance；　seem　to　convey　to　us　an　idea　of　a　wild；　painful；　and　romantic　history。　Her　forehead　was　high；　and　her　eyebrows　marked　with　beautiful　clearness。　Her　straight；　well…formed　nose；　her　finely…cut　mouth；　and　the　graceful　contour　of　her　head　and　neck；　showed　that　she　must　once　have　been　beautiful；　but　her　face　was　deeply　wrinkled　with　lines　of　pain；　and　of　proud　and　bitter　endurance。　Her　complexion　was　sallow　and　unhealthy；　her　cheeks　thin；　her　features　sharp；　and　her　whole　form　emaciated。　But　her　eye　was　the　most　remarkable　feature；—so　large；　so　heavily　black；　overshadowed　by　long　lashes　of　equal　darkness；　and　so　wildly；　mournfully　despairing。　There　was　a　fierce　pride　and　defiance　in　every　line　of　her　face；　in　every　curve　of　the　flexible　lip；　in　every　motion　of　her　body；　but　in　her　eye　was　a　deep；　settled　night　of　anguish；—an　expression　so　hopeless　and　unchanging　as　to　contrast　fearfully　with　the　scorn　and　pride　expressed　by　her　whole　demeanor。
Where　she　came　from；　or　who　she　was；　Tom　did　not　know。　The　first　he　did　know；　she　was　walking　by　his　side；　erect　and　proud；　in　the　dim　gray　of　the　dawn。　To　the　gang；　however；　she　was　known；　for　there　was　much　looking　and　turning　of　heads；　and　a　smothered　yet　apparent　exultation　among　the　miserable；　ragged；　half…starved　creatures　by　whom　she　was　surrounded。
“Got　to　come　to　it；　at　last；—grad　of　it！”　said　one。
“He！　he！　he！”　said　another；　“you’ll　know　how　good　it　is；　Misse！”
“We’ll　see　her　work！”
“Wonder　if　she’ll　get　a　cutting　up；　at　night；　like　the　rest　of　us！”
“I’d　be　glad　to　see　her　down　for　a　flogging；　I’ll　bound！”　said　another。
The　woman　took　no　notice　of　these　taunts；　but　walked　on；　with　the　same　expression　of　angry　scorn；　as　if　she　heard　nothing。　Tom　had　always　lived　among　refined；　and　cultivated　people；　and　he　felt　intuitively；　from　her　air　and　bearing；　that　she　belonged　to　that　class；　but　how　or　why　she　could　be　fallen　to　those　degrading　circumstances；　he　could　not　tell。　The　women　neither　looked　at　him　nor　spoke　to　him；　though；　all　the　way　to　the　field；　she　kept　close　at　his　side。
Tom　was　soon　busy　at　his　work；　but；　as　the　woman　was　at　no　great　distance　from　him；　he　often　glanced　an　eye　to　her；　at　her　work。　He　saw；　at　a　glance；　that　a　native　adroitness　and　handiness　made　the　task　to　her　an　easier　one　than　it　proved　to　many。　She　picked　very　fast　and　very　clean；　and　with　an　air　of　scorn；　as　if　she　despised　both　the　work　and　the　disgrace　and　humiliation　of　the　circumstances　in　which　she　was　placed。
In　the　course　of　the　day；　Tom　was　working　near　the　mulatto　woman　who　had　been　bought　in　the　same　lot　with　himself。　She　was　evidently　in　a　condition　of　great　suffering；　and　Tom　often　heard　her　praying；　as　she　wavered　and　trembled；　and　seemed　about　to　fall　down。　Tom　silently　as　he　came　near　to　her；　transferred　several　handfuls　of　cotton　from　his　own　sack　to　hers。
“O；　don’t；　don’t！”　said　the　woman；　looking　surprised；　“it’ll　get　you　into　trouble。”
Just　then　Sambo　came　up。　He　seemed　to　have　a　special　spite　against　this　woman；　and；　flourishing　his　whip；　said；　in　brutal；　guttural　tones；　“What　dis　yer；　Luce；—foolin’　a’”　and；　with　the　word；　kicking　the　woman　with　his　heavy　cowhide　shoe；　he　struck　Tom　across　the　face　with　his　whip。
Tom　silently　resumed　his　task；　but　the　woman；　before　at　the　last　point　of　exhaustion；　fainted。
“I’ll　bring　her　to！”　said　the　driver；　with　a　brutal　grin。　“I’ll　give　her　something　better　than　camphire！”　and；　taking　a　pin　from　his　coat…sleeve；　he　buried　it　to　the　head　in　her　flesh。　The　woman　groaned；　and　half　rose。　“Get　up；　you　beast；　and　work；　will　yer；　or　I’ll　show　yer　a　trick　more！”
The　woman　seemed　stimulated；　for　a　few　moments；　to　an　unnatural　strength；　and　worked　with　desperate　eagerness。
“See　that　you　keep　to　dat　ar；”　said　the　man；　“or　yer’ll　wish　yer’s　dead　tonight；　I　reckin！”
“That　I　do　now！”　Tom　heard　her　say；　and　again　he　heard　her　say；　“O；　Lord；　how　long！　O；　Lord；　why　don’t　you　help　us？”
At　the　risk　of　all　that　he　might　suffer；　Tom　came　forward　again；　and　put　all　the　cotton　in　his　sack　into　the　woman’s。
“O；　you　mustn’t！　you　donno　what　they’ll　do　to　ye！”　said　the　woman。
“I　can　bar　it！”　said　Tom；　“better　’n　you；”　and　he　was　at　his　place　again。　It　passed　in　a　moment。
Suddenly；　the　stranger　woman　whom　we　have　described；　and　who　had；　in　the　course　of　her　work；　come　near　enough　to　hear　Tom’s　last　words；　raised　her　heavy　black　eyes；　and　fixed　them；　for　a　second；　on　him；　then；　taking　a　quantity　of　cotton　from　her　basket；　she　placed　it　in　his。
“You　know　nothing　about　this　place；”　she　said；　“or　you　wouldn’t　have　done　that。　When　you’ve　been　here　a　month；　you’ll　be　done　helping　anybody；　you’ll　find　it　hard　enough　to　take　care　of　your　own　skin！”
“The　Lord　forbid；　Missis！”　said　Tom；　using　instinctively　to　his　field　companion　the　respectful　form　proper　to　the　high　bred　with　whom　he　had　lived。
“The　Lord　never　visits　these　parts；”　said　the　woman；　bitterly；　as　she　went　nimbly　forward　with　her　work；　and　again　the　scornful　smile　curled　her　lips。
But　the　action　of　the　woman　had　been　seen　by　the　driver；　across　the　field；　and；　flourishing　his　whip；　he　came　up　to　her。
“What！　what！”　he　said　to　the　woman；　with　an　air　of　triumph；　“You　a　foolin’？　Go　along！　yer　under　me　now；—mind　yourself；　or　yer’ll　cotch　it！”
A　glance　like　sheet…lightning　suddenly　flashed　from　those　black　eyes；　and；　facing　about；　with　quivering　lip　and　dilated　nostrils；　she　drew　herself　up；　and　fixed　a　glance；　blazing　with　rage　and　scorn；　on　the　driver。
“Dog！”　she　said；　“touch　me；　if　you　dare！　I’ve　power　enough；　yet；　to　have　you　torn　by　the　dogs；　burnt　alive；　cut　to　inches！　I’ve　only　to　say　the　word！”
“What　de　devil　you　here　for；　den？”　said　the　man；　evidently　cowed；　and　sullenly　retreating　a　step　or　two。　“Didn’t　mean　no　harm；　Misse　Cassy！”
“Keep　your　distance；　then！”　said　the　woman。　And；　in　truth；　the　man　seemed　greatly　inclined　to　attend　to　something　at　the　other　end　of　the　field；　and　started　off　in　quick　time。
The　woman　suddenly　turned　to　her　work；　and　labored　with　a　despatch　that　was　perfectly　astonishing　to　Tom。　She　seemed　to　work　by　magic。　Before　the　day　was　through；　her　basket　was　filled；　crowded　down；　and　piled；　and　she　had　sever