sketches new and old-第35部分

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their　dismal　effects；　and　all　that　time　I　sat　pitying　them。　　One　or　two
of　the　youngest　and　least　dilapidated　among　them　inquired　about　midnight
trains　on　the　railways；　but　the　rest　seemed　unacquainted　with　that　mode
of　travel；　and　merely　asked　about　common　public　roads　to　various　towns
and　cities；　some　of　which　are　not　on　the　map　now；；　and　vanished　from　it
and　from　the　earth　as　much　as　thirty　years　ago；　and　some　few　of　them
never　had　existed　anywhere　but　on　maps；　and　private　ones　in　real…estate
agencies　at　that。　　And　they　asked　about　the　condition　of　the　cemeteries
in　these　towns　and　cities；　and　about　the　reputation　the　citizens　bore　as
to　reverence　for　the　dead。

This　whole　matter　interested　me　deeply；　and　likewise　compelled　my
sympathy　for　these　homeless　ones。　　And　it　all　seeming　real；　and　I　not
knowing　it　was　a　dream；　I　mentioned　to　one　shrouded　wanderer　an　idea　that
had　entered　my　head　to　publish　an　account　of　this　curious　and　very
sorrowful　exodus；　but　said　also　that　I　could　not　describe　it　truthfully；
and　just　as　it　occurred；　without　seeming　to　trifle　with　a　grave　subject
and　exhibit　an　irreverence　for　the　dead　that　would　shock　and　distress
their　surviving　friends。　　But　this　bland　and　stately　remnant　of　a　former
citizen　leaned　him　far　over　my　gate　and　whispered　in　my　ear；　and　said：

〃Do　not　let　that　disturb　you。　　The　community　that　can　stand　such
graveyards　as　those　we　are　emigrating　from　can　stand　anything　a　body　can
say　about　the　neglected　and　forsaken　dead　that　lie　in　them。〃

At　that　very　moment　a　cock　crowed；　and　the　weird　procession　vanished　and
left　not　a　shred　or　a　bone　behind。　　I　awoke；　and　found　myself　lying　with
my　head　out　of　the　bed　and　〃sagging〃　downward　considerablya　position
favorable　to　dreaming　dreams　with　morals　in　them；　maybe；　but　not　poetry。

NOTE。The　reader　is　assured　that　if　the　cemeteries　in　his　town　are　kept
in　good　order；　this　Dream　is　not　leveled　at　his　town　at　all；　but　is
leveled　particularly　and　venomously　at　the　next　town。






A　TRUE　STORY

REPEATED　WORD　FOR　WORD　AS　I　HEARD　IT　＇Written　about　1876＇

It　was　summer…time；　and　twilight。　　We　were　sitting　on　the　porch　of　the
farmhouse；　on　the　summit　of　the　hill；　and　〃Aunt　Rachel〃　was　sitting
respectfully　below　our　level；　on　the　steps…for　she　was　our　Servant；　and
colored。　　She　was　of　mighty　frame　and　stature；　she　was　sixty　years　old；
but　her　eye　was　undimmed　and　her　strength　unabated。　　She　was　a　cheerful；
hearty　soul；　and　it　was　no　more　trouble　for　her　to　laugh　than　it　is　for　a
bird　to　sing。　　She　was　under　fire　now；　as　usual　when　the　day　was　done。
That　is　to　say；　she　was　being　chaffed　without　mercy；　and　was　enjoying　it。
She　would　let　off　peal　after　of　laughter；　and　then　sit　with　her　face　in
her　hands　and　shake　with　throes　of　enjoyment　which　she　could　no　longer
get　breath　enough　to　express。　　It　such　a　moment　as　this　a　thought
occurred　to　me；　and　I　said：

〃Aunt　Rachel；　how　is　it　that　you've　lived　sixty　years　and　never　had　any
trouble？〃

She　stopped　quaking。　　She　paused；　and　there　was　moment　of　silence。　　She
turned　her　face　over　her　shoulder　toward　me；　and　said；　without　even　a
smile　her　voice：

〃Misto　C…；　is　you　in　'arnest？〃

It　surprised　me　a　good　deal；　and　it　sobered　my　manner　and　my　speech；　too。
I　said：

〃Why；　I　thoughtthat　is；　I　meantwhy；　you　can't　have　had　any　trouble。
I've　never　heard　you　sigh；　and　never　seen　your　eye　when　there　wasn't　a
laugh　in　it。〃

She　faced　fairly　around　now；　and　was　full　earnestness。

〃Has　I　had　any　trouble？　Misto　C…；　I's　gwyne　to　tell　you；　den　I　leave
it　to　you。　　I　was　bawn　down　'mongst　de　slaves；　I　knows　all　'bout　slavery；
'case　I　ben　one　of　'em　my　own　se'f。　　Well　sah；　my　ole　mandat's　my
husban'he　was　lov　an'　kind　to　me；　jist　as　kind　as　you　is　to　yo'　own
wife。　　An'　we　had　chil'enseven　chil'enan'　loved　dem　chil'en　jist　de
same　as　you　loves　yo'　chil'en。　　Dey　was　black；　but　de　Lord　can't　make
chil'en　so　black　but　what　dey　mother　loves　'em　an'　wouldn't　give　'em　up；
no；　not　for　anything　dat's　in　dis　whole　world。

〃Well；　sah；　I　was　raised　in　ole　Fo'ginny；　but　mother　she　was　raised　in
Maryland；　an'　my　souls　she　was　turrible　when　she'd　git　started！　　My　lan！
but　she'd　make　de　fur　fly！　　When　she'd　git　into　dem　tantrums；　she　always
had　one　word　dat　she　said。　　She'd　straighten　herse'f　up　an'　put　her　fists
in　her　hips　an'　say；　'I　want　you　to　understan'　dat　I　wa'n't　bawn　in　the
mash　to　be　fool'　by　trash！　　I's　one　o'　de　ole　Blue　Hen's　Chickens；　I　is！'
'Ca'se　you　see；　dat's　what　folks　dat's　bawn　in　Maryland　calls　deyselves；
an'　dey's　proud　of　it。　　Well；　dat　was　her　word。　　I　don't　ever　forgit　it；
beca'se　she　said　it　so　much；　an'　beca'se　she　said　it　one　day　when　my
little　Henry　tore　his　wris'　awful；　and　most　busted　'is　head；　right　up　at
de　top　of　his　forehead；　an'　de　niggers　didn't　fly　aroun'　fas'　enough　to
'tend　to　him。　　An'　when　dey　talk'　back　at　her；　she　up　an'　she　says；
'Look…a…heah！'　she　says；　'I　want　you　niggers　to　understan'　dat　I　wa'n't
bawn　in　de　mash　be　fool'　by　trash！　I's　one　o'　de　ole　Blue　Hen's　chickens；
I　is！'　an'　den　she　clar'　dat　kitchen　an'　bandage'　up　de　chile　herse'f。
So　I　says　dat　word；　too；　when　I's　riled。

〃Well；　bymeby　my　ole　mistis　say　she's　broke；　an　she　got　to　sell　all　de
niggers　on　de　place。　　An'　when　I　heah　dat　dey　gwyne　to　sell　us　all　off　at
oction　in　Richmon'；　oh；　de　good　gracious！　I　know　what　dat　mean！〃

Aunt　Rachel　had　gradually　risen；　while　she　warmed　to　her　subject；　and　now
she　towered　above　us；　black　against　the　stars。

〃Dey　put　chains　on　us　an'　put　us　on　a　stan'　as　high　as　dis　po'chtwenty
foot　high…an'　all　de　people　stood　aroun'；　crowds　'an'　crowds。　　An'　dey'd
come　up　dah　an'　look　at　us　all　roun'；　an'　squeeze　our　arm；　an'　make　us
git　up　an'　walk；　an'　den　say；　Dis　one　too　ole；'　or　'Dis　one　lame；'　or
'Dis　one　don't　'mount　to　much。'　An'　dey　sole　my　ole　man；　an'　took　him
away；　an'　dey　begin　to　sell　my　chil'en　an'　take　dem　away；　an'　I　begin　to
cry；　an'　de　man　say；　'Shet　up　yo'　damn　blubberin'；'　an'　hit　me　on　de　mouf
wid　his　han'。　　An'　when　de　las'　one　was　gone　but　my　little　Henry；　I　grab'
him　clost　up　to　my　breas'　so；　an'　I　ris　up　an'　says；　'You　sha'nt　take　him
away；'　I　says；　'I'll　kill　de　man　dat　tetch　him！'　I　says。　　But　my　little
Henry　whisper　an'　say　'I　gwyne　to　run　away；　an'　den　I　work　an'　buy　yo'
freedom'　Oh；　bless　de　chile；　he　always　so　good！　　But　dey　got　himdey　got
him；　de　men　did；　but　I　took　and　tear　de　clo'es　mos'　off　of　'em　an'　beat
'em　over　de　head　wid　my　chain；　an'　dey　give　it　to　me　too；　but　I　didn't
mine　dat。

'Well；　dah　was　my　ole　man　gone；　an'　all　my　chil'en；　all　my　seven　chil'en
an'　six　of　'em　I　hain't　set　eyes　on　ag'in　to　dis　day；　an'　dat's
twenty…two　year　ago　las'　Easter。　　De　man　dat　bought　me　b'long'　in
Newbern；　an'　he　took　me　dah。　　Well；　bymeby　de　years　roll　on　an'　de　waw
come。　　My　marster　he　was　a　Confedrit　colonel；　an'　I　was　his　family's
cook。　　So　when　de　Unions　took　dat　town　dey　all　run　away　an'　lef'　me　all
by　myse'f　wid　de　other　niggers　in　dat　mons'us　big　house。　　So　de　big　Union
officers　move　in　dah；　an'　dey　ask　me　would　I　cook　for　dem。　　'Lord　bless
you；'　says　I；　'dat　what　I's　for。'

〃Dey　wa'n't　no　small…fry　officers；　mine　you；　de　was　de　biggest　dey　is；
an'　de　way　dey　made　dem　sojers　mosey　roun'！　　De　Gen'l　he　tole　me　to　boss
dat　kitchen；　an'　he　say；　'If　anybody　come　meddlin'　wid　you；　you　jist　make
'em　walk　chalk；　don't　you　be　afeared；'　he　say；　'you's　'mong　frens　now。'

〃Well；　I　thinks　to　myse'f；　if　my　little　Henry　ever　got　a　chance　to　run
away；　he'd　make　to　de　Norf；　o'　course。　　So　one　day　I　comes　in　dah　whar　de
big　officers　was；　in　de　parlor；　an'　I　drops　a　kurtchy；　so；　an'　I　up　an'
tole　'em　'bout　my　Henry；　dey　a…listenin'　to　my　troubles　jist　de　same　as
if　I　was　white　folks；　an'　I　says；　'What　I　come　for　is　beca'se　if　he　got
away　and　got　up　Norf　whar　you　gemmen　comes　from；　you　might　'a'　seen　him；
maybe；　an'　could　tell　me　so　as　I　could　fine　him　ag'in；　he　was　very
little；　an'　he　had　a　sk…yar　on　his　lef'　wris'　an'　at　de　top　of　his
forehead。'　Den　dey　look　mournful；　an'　de　Gen'l　says；　'How　long　sence　you
los'　him？'　an'　I　say；　'Thirteen　year。　　　Den　de　Gen'l　say；　'He　wouldn't　be
little　no　mo'　nowhe's　a　man！'

〃I　never　thought　o'　dat　befo'！　　He　was　only　dat　little　feller　to　me　yit。
I　never　thought　'bout　him　growin'　up　an'　bein'　big。　　But　I　see　it　den。
None　o'　de　gemmen　had　run　acrost　him；　so　dey　couldn't　do　nothin'　for　me。
But　all　dat　time；　do'　I　didn't　know　it；　my　Henry　was　run　off　to　de　Norf；
years　an'　years；　an'　he　was　a　barber；　too；　an'　worked　for　hisse'f。　　An'
bymeby；　when　de　waw　come　he　ups　an'　he　says：　'I's　done　barberin'；'　he
says；　'I's　gwyne　to　fine　my　ole　mammy；　less'n　she's　dead。'　　So　he　sole
out　an'　went　to　whar　dey　was　recruitin'；　an'　hired　hisse'f　out　to　de
colonel　for　his　servant　an'　den　he　went　all　froo　de　battles　everywhah；
huntin'　for　his　ole　mammy；　yes；　indeedy；　he'd　hire　to　fust　one　officer
an'　den　another；　tell　he'd　ransacked　de　whole　Souf；　but　you　see　I　didn't
know　nuffin　'bout　dis。　　How　was　I　gwyne　to　know　it？

〃Well；　one　night　we　had　a　big　sojer　ball；　de　sojers　dah　at　Newbern　was
always　havin'　balls　an'　carryin'　on。　　Dey　had　'em　in　my　kitchen；　heaps　o'
times；　'ca'se　it　was　so　big。　　Mine　you；　I　was　down　on　sich　doin's；
beca'se　my　place　was　wid　de　officers；　an'　it　rasp　me　to　have　dem　common
sojers　cavortin'　roun'　in　my　kitchen　like　dat。　　But　I　alway'　stood　aroun'
an　kep'　things　straight；　I　did；　an'　sometimes　dey'd　git　my　dander　up；　an'
den　I'd　make　'em　clar　dat　kitchen　mine　I　tell　you！

〃Well；　one　nightit　was　a　Friday　nightdey　comes　a　whole　platoon　f'm　a
nigger　ridgment　da　was　on　guard　at　de　housede　house　was　head　quarters；
you　know…an'　den　I　was　jist　a…bilin'　mad？　　I　was　jist　a…boomin'！　　I
swelled　aroun'；　an　swelled　aroun'；　I　jist　was　a…itchin'　for　'em　to　do
somefin　for　to　start　me。　　An'　dey　was　a…waltzin'　an　a　dancin'！　my　but　dey
was　havin'　a　time！　an　I　jist　a…swellin'　an'　a…swellin'　up！　　Pooty　soon；
'long　comes　sich　a　spruce　young　nigger　a…sailin'　down　de　room　wid　a
yaller　wench　roun'　de　wais'；　an'　roun　an'　roun'　an　roun'　dey　went；　enough
to　make　a　body　drunk　to　look　at　'em；　an'　when　dey　got　abreas'　o'　me；　dey
went　to　kin'　o'　balancin'　aroun'　fust　on　one　leg　an'　den　on　t'other；　an'
smilin'　at　my　big　red　tur