clotelle(有色女英雄)-第14章
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was pleased to see the child made to work in the hot sun。
〃Dat white nigger'll soon be brack enuff if missis keeps her workin' out
dar；〃 she said； as she wiped the perspiration from her sooty brow。
Dinah was the mother of thirteen children； all of whom bad been taken
from her when young； and this； no doubt； did much to harden her feelings；
and make her hate all white persons。
The burning sun poured its rays on the face of the friendless child until
she sank down in the corner of the garden； and was actually broiled to
sleep。
〃Dat little nigger ain't workin' a bit； missus；〃 said Dinah to Mrs。 Miller；
as the latter entered the kitchen。
〃She's lying in the sun seasoning； she will work the better by and by；〃
replied the mistress。
〃Dese white niggers always tink dey seff good as white folks；〃 said the
cook。
〃Yes； but we will teach them better； won't we； Dinah？〃 rejoined Mrs。
Miller。
〃Yes； missus；〃 replied Dinah； 〃I don't like dese merlatter niggers； no
how。 Dey always want to set dey seff up for sumfin' big。〃 With this
remark the old cook gave one of her coarse laughs； and continued：
〃Missis understands human nature； don't she？ Ah！ if she ain't a whole team
and de ole gray mare to boot； den Dinah don't know nuffin'。〃
Of course； the mistress was out of the kitchen before these last remarks
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were made。
It was with the deepest humiliation that Henry learned from one of his
own slaves the treatment which his child was receiving at the hands of his
relentless mother…in…law。
The scorching sun had the desired effect； for in less than a fortnight；
Clotelle could scarcely have been recognized as the same child。 Often was
she seen to weep； and heard to call on her mother。
Mrs。 Miller； when at church on Sabbath； usually； on warm days； took
Nancy； one of her servants； in her pew； and this girl had to fan her mistress
during service。 Unaccustomed to such a soft and pleasant seat； the servant
would very soon become sleepy and begin to nod。 Sometimes she would
go fast asleep； which annoyed the mistress exceedingly。 But Mrs。 Miller
had nimble fingers； and on them sharp nails； and； with an energetic pinch
upon the bare arms of the poor girl； she would arouse the daughter of
Africa from her pleasant dreams。 But there was no one of Mrs。 Miller's
servants who received so much punishment as old Uncle Tony。
Fond of her greenhouse； and often in the garden； she was ever at the
old gardener's heels。 Uncle Tony was very religious； and； whenever his
mistress flogged him； he invariably gave her a religious exhortation。
Although unable to read； he； nevertheless； had on his tongue's end portions
of Scripture which he could use at any moment。 In one end of the
greenhouse was Uncle Tony's sleeping room； and those who happened in
that vicinity； between nine and ten at night； could hear the old man
offering up his thanksgiving to God for his protection during the day。
Uncle Tony； however； took great pride； when he thought that any of the
whites were within hearing； to dwell； in his prayer； on his own goodness
and the unfitness of others to die。 Often was he heard to say； 〃O Lord； thou
knowest that the white folks are not Christians； but the black people are
God's own children。〃 But if Tony thought that his old mistress was within
the sound of his voice； he launched out into deeper water。
It was； therefore； on a sweet night； when the bright stars were looking
out with a joyous sheen； that Mark and two of the other boys passed the
greenhouse； and heard Uncle Tony in his devotions。
〃Let's have a little fun；〃 said the mischievous Marcus to his young
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companions。 〃I will make Uncle Tony believe that I am old mistress； and
he'll give us an extra touch in his prayer。〃 Mark immediately commenced
talking in a strain of voice resembling； as well as he could； Mrs。 Miller；
and at once Tony was heard to say in a loud voice； 〃O Lord； thou knowest
that the white people are not fit to die； but； as for old Tony； whenever the
angel of the Lord comes； he's ready。〃 At that moment； Mark tapped
lightly on the door。 〃Who's dar？〃 thundered old Tony。 Mark made no
reply。 The old man commenced and went through with the same remarks
addressed to the Lord； when Mark again knocked at the door。 〃Who dat
dar？〃 asked Uncle Tony； with a somewhat agitated countenance and
trembling voice。 Still Mark would not reply。 Again Tony took up the
thread of his discourse； and said； 〃O Lord； thou knowest as well as I do
that dese white folks are not prepared to die； but here is old Tony； when de
angel of de Lord comes； he's ready to go to heaven。〃 Mark once more
knocked on the door。 〃Who dat dar？〃 thundered Tony at the top of his
voice。
〃De angel of de Lord；〃 replied Mark； in a somewhat suppressed and
sepulchral voice。
〃What de angel of de Lord want here？〃 inquired Tony； as if much
frightened。
〃He's come for poor old Tony； to take him out of the world；〃 replied
Mark； in the same strange voice。
〃Dat nigger ain't here； he die tree weeks ago；〃 responded Tony； in a
still more agitated and frightened tone。 Mark and his companions made
the welkin ring with their shouts at the old man's answer。 Uncle Tony
hearing them； and finding that he had been imposed upon； opened his door；
came out with stick in hand； and said； 〃Is dat you； Mr。 Mark？ you imp； if I
can get to you I'll larn you how to come here wid your nonsense。〃
Mark and his companions left the garden； feeling satisfied that Uncle
Tony was not as ready to go with 〃de angel of de Lord〃 as he would have
others believe。
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CHAPTER XIV
THE PRISON
WHILE poor little Clotelle was being kicked about by Mrs。 Miller；
on account of her relationship to her son…in…law； Isabella was passing
lonely hours in the county jail； the place to which Jennings had removed
her for safe…keeping； after purchasing her from Mrs。 Miller。 Incarcerated
in one of the iron…barred rooms of that dismal place； those dark； glowing
eyes； lofty brow； and graceful form wilted down like a plucked rose under
a noonday sun； while deep in her heart's ambrosial cells was the most
anguishing distress。
Vulgar curiosity is always in search of its victims； and Jennings' boast
that he had such a ladylike and beautiful woman in his possession brought
numbers to the prison who begged of the jailer the privilege of seeing the
slave…trader's prize。 Many who saw her were melted to tears at the pitiful
sight； and were struck with admiration at her intelligence； and； when she
spoke of her child； they must have been convinced that a mother's sorrow
can be conceived by none but a mother's heart。 The warbling of birds in
the green bowers of bliss； which she occasionally heard； brought no
tidings of gladness to her。 Their joy fell cold upon her heart； and seemed
like bitter mockery。 They reminded her
