running a thousand miles for freedom-第11章
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thing for the niggers； on my own account； for they are a great deal more trouble than they are worth； I sometimes wish that there was not one of them in the world； for the un… grateful wretches are always running away。 I have lost no less than ten since my poor husband died。 It's ruinous； sir！〃
〃But as you are well provided for； I suppose you do not feel the loss very much；〃 said the pas… senger。
〃I don't feel it at all；〃 haughtily continued the good soul； 〃but that is no reason why property should be squandered。 If my son and myself had the money for those valuable niggers； just see what a great deal of good we could do for the poor； and in sending missionaries abroad to the poor heathen； who have never heard the name of our blessed Re… deemer。 My dear son who is a good Christian minis… ter has advised me not to worry and send my soul to hell for the sake of niggers； but to sell every blessed one of them for what they will fetch； and go and live in peace with him in New York。 This I have concluded to do。 I have just been to Rich… mond and made arrangements with my agent to make clean work of the forty that are left。〃
〃Your son being a good Christian minister；〃 said the gentleman； 〃It's strange he did not advise you to let the poor negroes have their liberty and go North。〃
〃It's not at all strange； sir； it's not at all strange。 My son knows what's best for the nig… gers； he has always told me that they were much better off than the free niggers in the North。 In fact； I don't believe there are any white labouring people in the world who are as well off as the slaves。〃
〃You are quite mistaken； madam；〃 said the young man。 〃For instance； my own widowed mother； before she died； emancipated all her slaves； and sent them to Ohio； where they are getting along well。 I saw several of them last summer myself。〃
〃Well；〃 replied the lady； 〃freedom may do for your ma's niggers； but it will never do for mine； and； plague them； they shall never have it； that is the word； with the bark on it。〃
〃If freedom will not do for your slaves；〃 replied the passenger； 〃I have no doubt your Ned and the other nine negroes will find out their mistake； and return to their old home。
〃Blast them！〃 exclaimed the old lady； with great emphasis； 〃if I ever get them； I will cook their infernal hash； and tan their accursed black hides well for them！ God forgive me；〃 added the old soul； 〃the niggers will make me lose all my religion！〃
By this time the lady had reached her destination。 The gentleman got out at the next station beyond。 As soon as she was gone； the young Southerner said to my master； 〃What a dd shame it is for that old whining hypocritical humbug to cheat the poor negroes out of their liberty！ If she has religion； may the devil prevent me from ever being converted！〃
For the purpose of somewhat disguising myself； I bought and wore a very good second…hand white beaver； an article which I had never indulged in before。 So just before we arrived at Washington； an uncouth planter； who had been watching me very closely； said to my master； 〃I reckon； stranger； you are 'SPILING' that ere nigger of yourn； by letting him wear such a devilish fine hat。 Just look at the quality on it； the President couldn't wear a better。 I should just like to go and kick it overboard。〃 His friend touched him； and said； 〃Don't speak so to a gentleman。〃 〃Why not？〃 exclaimed the fellow。 He grated his short teeth； which appeared to be nearly worn away by the incessant chewing of tobacco； and said； 〃It always makes me itch all over； from head to toe； to get hold of every dd nigger I see dressed like a white man。 Washington is run away with SPILED and free niggers。 If I had my way I would sell every dd rascal of 'em way down South； where the devil would be whipped out on 'em。〃
This man's fierce manner made my master feel rather nervous； and therefore he thought the less he said the better； so he walked off without making any reply。 In a few minutes we were landed at Washington； where we took a conveyance and hurried off to the train for Baltimore。
We left our cottage on Wednesday morning； the 21st of December； 1848； and arrived at Baltimore； Saturday evening； the 24th （Christmas Eve）。 Baltimore was the last slave port of any note at which we stopped。
On arriving there we felt more anxious than ever； because we knew not what that last dark night would bring forth。 It is true we were near the goal； but our poor hearts were still as if tossed at sea； and； as there was another great and dangerous bar to pass； we were afraid our liberties would be wrecked； and； like the ill…fated Royal Charter； go down for ever just off the place we longed to reach。
They are particularly watchful at Baltimore to prevent slaves from escaping into Pennsylvania； which is a free State。 After I had seen my master into one of the best carriages； and was just about to step into mine； an officer； a full…blooded Yankee of the lower order； saw me。 He came quickly up； and； tapping me on the shoulder； said in his un… mistakable native twang； together with no little dis… play of his authority； 〃Where are you going； boy？〃 〃To Philadelphia； sir；〃 I humbly replied。 〃Well； what are you going there for？〃 〃I am travelling with my master； who is in the next carriage； sir。〃 〃Well； I calculate you had better get him out； and be mighty quick about it； because the train will soon be starting。 It is against my rules to let any man take a slave past here； unless he can satisfy them in the office that he has a right to take him along。〃
The officer then passed on and left me standing upon the platform； with my anxious heart apparently palpitating in the throat。 At first I scarcely knew which way to turn。 But it soon occurred to me that the good God； who had been with us thus far； would not forsake us at the eleventh hour。 So with renewed hope I stepped into my master's carriage； to inform him of the difficulty。 I found him sitting at the farther end； quite alone。 As soon as he looked up and saw me； he smiled。 I also tried to wear a cheerful countenance； in order to break the shock of the sad news。 I knew what made him smile。 He was aware that if we were fortunate we should reach our destination at five o'clock the next morning； and this made it the more painful to com… municate what the officer had said； but； as there was no time to lose； I went up to him and asked him how he felt。 He said 〃Much better；〃 and that he thanked God we were getting on so nicely。 I then said we were not getting on quite so well as we had anticipated。 He anxiously and quickly asked what was the matter。 I told him。 He started as if struck by lightning； and exclaimed； 〃Good Heavens！ William； is it possible that we are； after all； doomed to hopeless bondage？〃 I could say nothing； my heart was too full to speak； for at first I did not know what to do。 However we knew it would never do to turn back to the 〃City of Destruction；〃 like Bunyan's Mistrust and Timorous； because they saw lions in the narrow way after ascending the hill Difficulty； but press on； like noble Christian and Hopeful； to the great city in which dwelt a few 〃shining ones。〃 So； after a few moments； I did all I could to encourage my companion； and we stepped out and made for the office； but how or where my master obtained sufficient courage to face the tyrants who had power to blast all we held dear； heaven only knows！ Queen Elizabeth could not have been more terror…stricken； on being forced to land at the traitors' gate leading to the Tower； than we were on entering that office。 We felt that our very existence was at stake； and that we must either sink or swim。 But； as God was our present and mighty helper in this as well as in all former trials； we were able to keep our heads up and press forwards。
On entering the room we found the principal man； to whom my master said； 〃Do you wish to see me； sir？〃 〃Yes；〃 said this eagle…eyed officer； and he added； 〃It is against our rules； sir； to allow any person to take a slave out of Baltimore into Philadelphia； unless he can satisfy us that he has a right to take him along。〃 〃Why is that？〃 asked my master； with more firmness than could be expected。 〃Because； sir；〃 continued
