CHAPTER XLI
The Young Master part1
Two days after, ayoung man drove a light wagon up through the avenue of China trees, and,throwing the reins hastily on the horse's neck, sprang out and inquired for theowner of the place.
It was GeorgeShelby; and, to show how he came to be there, we must go back in our story.
The letter of MissOphelia to Mrs. Shelby had, by some unfortunate accident, been detained, for amonth or two, at some remote post-office, before it reached its destination;and, of course, before it was received, Tom was already lost to view among thedistant swamps of the Red River.
Mrs. Shelby readthe intelligence with the deepest concern; but any immediate action upon it wasan impossibility. She was then in attendance on the sick-bed of her husband,who lay delirious in the crisis of a fever. Master George Shelby, who, in theinterval, had changed from a boy to a tall young man, was her constant andfaithful assistant, and her only reliance in superintending his father'saffairs. Miss Ophelia had taken the precaution to send them the name of thelawyer who did business for the St. Clares; and the most that, in theemergency, could be done, was to address a letter of inquiry to him. The suddendeath of Mr. Shelby, a few days after, brought, of course, an absorbingpressure of other interests, for a season.
Mr. Shelby showedhis confidence in his wife's ability, by appointing her sole executrix upon hisestates; and thus immediately a large and complicated amount of business wasbrought upon her hands.
Mrs. Shelby, withcharacteristic energy, applied herself to the work of straightening theentangled web of affairs; and she and George were for some time occupied withcollecting and examining accounts, selling property and settling debts; forMrs. Shelby was determined that everything should be brought into tangible andrecognizable shape, let the consequences to her prove what they might. In themean time, they received a letter from the lawyer to whom Miss Ophelia hadreferred them, saying that he knew nothing of the matter; that the man was soldat a public auction, and that, beyond receiving the money, he knew nothing ofthe affair.
Neither George norMrs. Shelby could be easy at this result; and, accordingly, some six monthsafter, the latter, having business for his mother, down the river, resolved tovisit New Orleans, in person, and push his inquiries, in hopes of discoveringTom's whereabouts, and restoring him.
After some monthsof unsuccessful search, by the merest accident, George fell in with a man, inNew Orleans, who happened to be possessed of the desired information; and withhis money in his pocket, our hero took steamboat for Red River, resolving tofind out and re-purchase his old friend.
He was soonintroduced into the house, where he found Legree in the sitting-room.
Legree received thestranger with a kind of surly hospitality,
"Iunderstand," said the young man, "that you bought, in New Orleans, aboy, named Tom. He used to be on my father's place, and I came to see if Icouldn't buy him back."
Legree's brow grewdark, and he broke out, passionately: "Yes, I did buy such a fellow,—and a h—l of a bargain I had of it, too! The most rebellious, saucy,impudent dog! Set up my niggers to run away; got off two gals, worth eighthundred or a thousand apiece. He owned to that, and, when I bid him tell mewhere they was, he up and said he knew, but he wouldn't tell; and stood to it,though I gave him the cussedest flogging I ever gave nigger yet. I b'lieve he'strying to die; but I don't know as he'll make it out."
"Where ishe?" said George, impetuously. "Let me see him." The cheeks ofthe young man were crimson, and his eyes flashed fire; but he prudently saidnothing, as yet.
"He's in datar shed," said a little fellow, who stood holding George's horse.
Legree kicked theboy, and swore at him; but George, without saying another word, turned andstrode to the spot.
Tom had been lyingtwo days since the fatal night, not suffering, for every nerve of suffering wasblunted and destroyed. He lay, for the most part, in a quiet stupor; for thelaws of a powerful and well-knit frame would not at once release the imprisonedspirit. By stealth, there had been there, in the darkness of the night, poordesolated creatures, who stole from their scanty hours' rest, that they mightrepay to him some of those ministrations of love in which he had always been soabundant. Truly, those poor disciples had little to give,—only the cup of coldwater; but it was given with full hearts.
Tears had fallen onthat honest, insensible face,—tears of late repentance in the poor, ignorant heathen, whom hisdying love and patience had awakened to repentance, and bitter prayers,breathed over him to a late-found Saviour, of whom they scarce knew more thanthe name, but whom the yearning ignorant heart of man never implores in vain.
Cassy, who hadglided out of her place of concealment, and, by overhearing, learned thesacrifice that had been made for her and Emmeline, had been there, the nightbefore, defying the danger of detection; and, moved by the last few words whichthe affectionate soul had yet strength to breathe, the long winter of despair,the ice of years, had given way, and the dark, despairing woman had wept andprayed.
When George enteredthe shed, he felt his head giddy and his heart sick.
"Is itpossible,—isit possible?" said he, kneeling down by him. "Uncle Tom, my poor,poor old friend!"
Something in thevoice penetrated to the ear of the dying. He moved his head gently, smiled, andsaid,
"Jesus canmake a dying-bed
Feel soft as down pillows are."
Tears which didhonor to his manly heart fell from the young man's eyes, as he bent over hispoor friend.
"O, dear UncleTom! do wake,—dospeak once more! Look up! Here's Mas'r George,—your ownlittle Mas'r George. Don't you know me?"
"Mas'rGeorge!" said Tom, opening his eyes, and speaking in a feeble voice;"Mas'r George!" He looked bewildered.
Slowly the ideaseemed to fill his soul; and the vacant eye became fixed and brightened, thewhole face lighted up, the hard hands clasped, and tears ran down the cheeks.
"Bless theLord! it is,—itis,—it's all I wanted! They haven't forgot me. It warmsmy soul; it does my heart good! Now I shall die content! Bless the Lord, on mysoul!"
"You shan'tdie! you mustn't die, nor think of it! I've come to buy you,and take you home," said George, with impetuous vehemence.
"O, Mas'rGeorge, ye're too late. The Lord's bought me, and is going to take me home,—and I long to go.Heaven is better than Kintuck."
"O, don't die!It'll kill me!—it'llbreak my heart to think what you've suffered,—and lyingin this old shed, here! Poor, poor fellow!"
"Don't call mepoor fellow!" said Tom, solemnly, "I have been poorfellow; but that's all past and gone, now. I'm right in the door, going intoglory! O, Mas'r George! Heaven has come! I've got the victory!—the Lord Jesus hasgiven it to me! Glory be to His name!"
George wasawe-struck at the force, the vehemence, the power, with which these brokensentences were uttered. He sat gazing in silence.
Tom grasped hishand, and continued,—"Yemustn't, now, tell Chloe, poor soul! how ye found me;—'twould be so drefful to her. Only tell her ye found me going into glory; andthat I couldn't stay for no one. And tell her the Lord's stood by me everywhereand al'ays, and made everything light and easy. And oh, the poor chil'en, andthe baby;—my old heart's been most broke for 'em, timeand agin! Tell 'em all to follow me—follow me! Give mylove to Mas'r, and dear good Missis, and everybody in the place! Ye don't know!'Pears like I loves 'em all! I loves every creature everywhar!—it's nothing but love! O, Mas'r George! what athing 't is to be a Christian!"
用户评论