Part 1 Chapter 1.docx

1、Part 1 Chapter 1Part 1 Chapter 1 Late in the afternoon of a chilly day in February, two gentlemen were sitting alone over their wine, in a well-furnished dining parlor, in the town of P-, in Kentucky. There were no servants present, and the gentlemen, with chairs closely approaching, seemed to be di

2、scussing some subject with great earnestness. For convenience sake, we have said, hitherto, two _gentlemen_. One of the parties, however, when critically examined, did not seem, strictly speaking, to come under the species. He was a short, thick-set man, with coarse, commonplace features, and that s

3、waggering air of pretension which marks a low man who is trying to elbow his way upward in the world. He was much over-dressed, in a gaudy vest of many colors, a blue neckerchief, bedropped gayly with yellow spots, and arranged with a flaunting tie, quite in keeping with the general air of the man.

4、His hands, large and coarse, were plentifully bedecked with rings; and he wore a heavy gold watch-chain, with a bundle of seals of portentous size, and a great variety of colors, attached to it,-which, in the ardor of conversation, he was in the habit of flourishing and jingling with evident satisfa

5、ction. His conversation was in free and easy defiance of Murrays Grammar,1 and was garnished at convenient intervals with various profane expressions, which not even the desire to be graphic in our account shall induce us to transcribe.1 English Grammar (1795), by Lindley Murray (1745-1826), the mos

6、t authoritative American grammarian of his day.His companion, Mr. Shelby, had the appearance of a gentleman; and the arrrangements of the house, and the general air of the housekeeping, indicated easy, and even opulent circumstances. As we before stated, the two were in the midst of an earnest conve

7、rsation.That is the way I should arrange the matter, said Mr. Shelby.I cant make trade that way-I positively cant, Mr. Shelby, said the other, holding up a glass of wine between his eye and the light.Why, the fact is, Haley, Tom is an uncommon fellow; he is certainly worth that sum anywhere,-steady,

8、 honest, capable, manages my whole farm like a clock.You mean honest, as niggers go, said Haley, helping himself to a glass of brandy.No; I mean, really, Tom is a good, steady, sensible, pious fellow. He got religion at a camp-meeting, four years ago; and I believe he really _did_ get it. Ive truste

9、d him, since then, with everything I have,-money, house, horses,-and let him come and go round the country; and I always found him true and square in everything.Some folks dont believe there is pious niggers Shelby, said Haley, with a candid flourish of his hand, but _I do_. I had a fellow, now, in

10、this yer last lot I took to Orleans-t was as good as a meetin, now, really, to hear that critter pray; and he was quite gentle and quiet like. He fetched me a good sum, too, for I bought him cheap of a man that was bliged to sell out; so I realized six hundred on him. Yes, I consider religion a vale

11、yable thing in a nigger, when its the genuine article, and no mistake.Well, Toms got the real article, if ever a fellow had, rejoined the other. Why, last fall, I let him go to Cincinnati alone, to do business for me, and bring home five hundred dollars. Tom, says I to him, I trust you, because I th

12、ink youre a Christian-I know you wouldnt cheat. Tom comes back, sure enough; I knew he would. Some low fellows, they say, said to him-Tom, why dont you make tracks for Canada? Ah, master trusted me, and I couldnt,-they told me about it. I am sorry to part with Tom, I must say. You ought to let him c

13、over the whole balance of the debt; and you would, Haley, if you had any conscience.Well, Ive got just as much conscience as any man in business can afford to keep,-just a little, you know, to swear by, as t were, said the trader, jocularly; and, then, Im ready to do anything in reason to blige frie

14、nds; but this yer, you see, is a leetle too hard on a fellow-a leetle too hard. The trader sighed contemplatively, and poured out some more brandy.Well, then, Haley, how will you trade? said Mr. Shelby, after an uneasy interval of silence.Well, havent you a boy or gal that you could throw in with To

15、m?Hum!-none that I could well spare; to tell the truth, its only hard necessity makes me willing to sell at all. I dont like parting with any of my hands, thats a fact.Here the door opened, and a small quadroon boy, between four and five years of age, entered the room. There was something in his app

16、earance remarkably beautiful and engaging. His black hair, fine as floss silk, hung in glossy curls about his round, dimpled face, while a pair of large dark eyes, full of fire and softness, looked out from beneath the rich, long lashes, as he peered curiously into the apartment. A gay robe of scarl

17、et and yellow plaid, carefully made and neatly fitted, set off to advantage the dark and rich style of his beauty; and a certain comic air of assurance, blended with bashfulness, showed that he had been not unused to being petted and noticed by his master.Hulloa, Jim Crow! said Mr. Shelby, whistling

18、, and snapping a bunch of raisins towards him, pick that up, now!The child scampered, with all his little strength, after the prize, while his master laughed.Come here, Jim Crow, said he. The child came up, and the master patted the curly head, and chucked him under the chin.Now, Jim, show this gent

19、leman how you can dance and sing. The boy commenced one of those wild, grotesque songs common among the negroes, in a rich, clear voice, accompanying his singing with many comic evolutions of the hands, feet, and whole body, all in perfect time to the music.Bravo! said Haley, throwing him a quarter

20、of an orange.Now, Jim, walk like old Uncle Cudjoe, when he has the rheumatism, said his master.Instantly the flexible limbs of the child assumed the appearance of deformity and distortion, as, with his back humped up, and his masters stick in his hand, he hobbled about the room, his childish face dr

21、awn into a doleful pucker, and spitting from right to left, in imitation of an old man.Both gentlemen laughed uproariously.Now, Jim, said his master, show us how old Elder Robbins leads the psalm. The boy drew his chubby face down to a formidable length, and commenced toning a psalm tune through his

22、 nose, with imperturbable gravity.Hurrah! bravo! what a young un! said Haley; that chaps a case, Ill promise. Tell you what, said he, suddenly clapping his hand on Mr. Shelbys shoulder, fling in that chap, and Ill settle the business-I will. Come, now, if that aint doing the thing up about the right

23、est!At this moment, the door was pushed gently open, and a young quadroon woman, apparently about twenty-five, entered the room.There needed only a glance from the child to her, to identify her as its mother. There was the same rich, full, dark eye, with its long lashes; the same ripples of silky bl

24、ack hair. The brown of her complexion gave way on the cheek to a perceptible flush, which deepened as she saw the gaze of the strange man fixed upon her in bold and undisguised admiration. Her dress was of the neatest possible fit, and set off to advantage her finely moulded shape;-a delicately form

25、ed 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 bo

26、y 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, theres an article, now! You might make your fortune o

27、n that ar gal in Orleans, any day. Ive seen over a thousand, in my day, paid down for gals not a bit handsomer.I dont 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 companions opinion of it.Capital, sir

28、,-first chop! said the trader; then turning, and slapping his hand familiarly on Shelbys shoulder, he added-Come, how will you trade about the gal?-what shall I say for her-whatll 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! w

29、omen always say such things, cause they hant no sort of calculation. Just show em how many watches, feathers, and trinkets, ones 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, youll l

30、et me have the boy, though, said the trader; you must own Ive come down pretty handsomely for him.What on earth can you want with the child? said Shelby.Why, Ive got a friend thats going into this yer branch of the business-wants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Fancy articles entire

31、ly-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, hes just the article!I would rather not sell him, said Mr

32、. Shelby, thoughtfully; the fact is, sir, Im 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 alays 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