running a thousand miles for freedom-第7章

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cannot　properly　be　called　English　or　African；　but　a　corruption　of　the　two。

The　shrewd　son　of　African　parents　to　whom　I　referred　said　to　me；　〃Say；　brudder；　way　you　come　from；　and　which　side　you　goin　day　wid　dat　ar　little　don　up　buckra〃　（white　man）？

I　replied；　〃To　Philadelphia。〃

〃What！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　astonishment；　〃to　Philumadelphy？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

〃By　squash！　　I　wish　I　was　going　wid　you！　　I　hears　um　say　dat　dare's　no　slaves　way　over　in　dem　parts；　is　um　so？〃

I　quietly　said；　〃I　have　heard　the　same　thing。〃

〃Well；〃　continued　he；　as　he　threw　down　the　boot　and　brush；　and；　placing　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　strutted　across　the　floor　with　an　air　of　independence〃Gorra　Mighty；　dem　is　de　parts　for　Pompey；　and　I　hope　when　you　get　dare　you　will　stay；　and　nebber　follow　dat　buckra　back　to　dis　hot　quarter　no　more；　let　him　be　eber　so　good。〃

I　thanked　him；　and　just　as　I　took　the　boots　up　and　started　off；　he　caught　my　hand　between　his　two；　and　gave　it　a　hearty　shake；　and；　with　tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks；　said：

〃God　bless　you；　broder；　and　may　de　Lord　be　wid　you。　　When　you　gets　de　freedom；　and　sitin　under　your　own　wine　and　fig…tree；　don't　forget　to　pray　for　poor　Pompey。〃

I　was　afraid　to　say　much　to　him；　but　I　shall　never　forget　his　earnest　request；　nor　fail　to　do　what　little　I　can　to　release　the　millions　of　unhappy　bondmen；　of　whom　he　was　one。

At　the　proper　time　my　master　had　the　poultices　placed　on；　came　down；　and　seated　himself　at　a　table　in　a　very　brilliant　dining…room；　to　have　his　dinner。　I　had　to　have　something　at　the　same　time；　in　order　to　be　ready　for　the　boat；　so　they　gave　me　my　dinner　in　an　old　broken　plate；　with　a　rusty　knife　and　fork；　and　said；　〃Here；　boy；　you　go　in　the　kitchen。〃　　I　took　it　and　went　out；　but　did　not　stay　more　than　a　few　minutes；　because　I　was　in　a　great　hurry　to　get　back　to　see　how　the　invalid　was　getting　on。　　On　arriving　I　found　two　or　three　servants　waiting　on　him；　but　as　he　did　not　feel　able　to　make　a　very　hearty　dinner；　he　soon　finished；　paid　the　bill；　and　gave　the　servants　each　a　trifle；　which　caused　one　of　them　to　say　to　me；　〃Your　massa　is　a　big　bug〃meaning　a　gentleman　of　distinction　〃he　is　the　greatest　gentleman　dat　has　been　dis　way　for　dis　six　months。〃　　I　said；　〃Yes；　he　is　some　pumpkins；〃　meaning　the　same　as　〃big　bug。〃

When　we　left　Macon；　it　was　our　intention　to　take　a　steamer　at　Charleston　through　to　Phila…　delphia；　but　on　arriving　there　we　found　that　the　vessels　did　not　run　during　the　winter；　and　I　have　no　doubt　it　was　well　for　us　they　did　not；　for　on　the　very　last　voyage　the　steamer　made　that　we　intended　to　go　by；　a　fugitive　was　discovered　secreted　on　board；　and　sent　back　to　slavery。　　However；　as　we　had　also　heard　of　the　Overland　Mail　Route；　we　were　all　right。　　So　I　ordered　a　fly　to　the　door；　had　the　luggage　placed　on；　we　got　in；　and　drove　down　to　the　Custom…house　Office；　which　was　near　the　wharf　where　we　had　to　obtain　tickets；　to　take　a　steamer　for　Wilmington；　North　Carolina。　　When　we　reached　the　building；　I　helped　my　master　into　the　office；　which　was　crowded　with　passengers。　He　asked　for　a　ticket　for　himself　and　one　for　his　slave　to　Philadelphia。　　This　caused　the　prin…　cipal　officera　very　mean…looking；　cheese…coloured　fellow；　who　was　sitting　thereto　look　up　at　us　very　suspiciously；　and　in　a　fierce　tone　of　voice　he　said　to　me；　〃Boy；　do　you　belong　to　that　gentleman？〃　I　quickly　replied；　〃Yes；　sir〃　（which　was　quite　correct）。　　The　tickets　were　handed　out；　and　as　my　master　was　paying　for　them　the　chief　man　said　to　him；　〃I　wish　you　to　register　your　name　here；　sir；　and　also　the　name　of　your　nigger；　and　pay　a　dollar　duty　on　him。〃

My　master　paid　the　dollar；　and　pointing　to　the　hand　that　was　in　the　poultice；　requested　the　officer　to　register　his　name　for　him。　　This　seemed　to　offend　the　〃high…bred〃　South　Carolinian。　　He　jumped　up；　shaking　his　head；　and；　cramming　his　hands　almost　through　the　bottom　of　his　trousers　pockets；　with　a　slave…bullying　air；　said；　〃I　shan't　do　it。〃

This　attracted　the　attention　of　all　the　passengers。　Just　then　the　young　military　officer　with　whom　my　master　travelled　and　conversed　on　the　steamer　from　Savannah　stepped　in；　somewhat　the　worse　for　brandy；　he　shook　hands　with　my　master；　and　pre…　tended　to　know　all　about　him。　　He　said；　〃I　know　his　kin　（friends）　like　a　book；〃　and　as　the　officer　was　known　in　Charleston；　and　was　going　to　stop　there　with　friends；　the　recognition　was　very　much　in　my　master's　favor。

The　captain　of　the　steamer；　a　good…looking；　jovial　fellow；　seeing　that　the　gentleman　appeared　to　know　my　master；　and　perhaps　not　wishing　to　lose　us　as　passengers；　said　in　an　off…hand　sailor…like　manner；　〃I　will　register　the　gentleman's　name；　and　take　the　responsibility　upon　myself。〃　　He　asked　my　master's　name。　　He　said；　〃William　Johnson。〃　　The　names　were　put　down；　I　think；　〃Mr。　Johnson　and　slave。〃　　The　captain　said；　〃It's　all　right　now；　Mr。　Johnson。〃　　He　thanked　him　kindly；　and　the　young　officer　begged　my　master　to　go　with　him；　and　have　something　to　drink　and　a　cigar；　but　as　he　had　not　acquired　these　accomplishments；　he　excused　him…　self；　and　we　went　on　board　and　came　off　to　Wil…　mington；　North　Carolina。　　When　the　gentleman　finds　out　his　mistake；　he　will；　I　have　no　doubt；　be　careful　in　future　not　to　pretend　to　have　an　intimate　acquaintance　with　an　entire　stranger。　　During　the　voyage　the　captain　said；　〃It　was　rather　sharp　shooting　this　morning；　Mr。　Johnson。　　It　was　not　out　of　any　disrespect　to　you；　sir；　but　they　make　it　a　rule　to　be　very　strict　at　Charleston。　　I　have　known　families　to　be　detained　there　with　their　slaves　till　reliable　information　could　be　received　respecting　them。　　If　they　were　not　very　careful；　any　dd　abolitionist　might　take　off　a　lot　of　valuable　niggers。〃

My　master　said；　〃I　suppose　so；〃　and　thanked　him　again　for　helping　him　over　the　difficulty。

We　reached　Wilmington　the　next　morning；　and　took　the　train　for　Richmond；　Virginia。　　I　have　stated　that　the　American　railway　carriages　（or　cars；　as　they　are　called）；　are　constructed　differently　to　those　in　England。　　At　one　end　of　some　of　them；　in　the　South；　there　is　a　little　apartment　with　a　couch　on　both　sides　for　the　convenience　of　families　and　invalids；　and　as　they　thought　my　master　was　very　poorly；　he　was　allowed　to　enter　one　of　these　apartments　at　Petersburg；　Virginia；　where　an　old　gentleman　and　two　handsome　young　ladies；　his　daughters；　also　got　in；　and　took　seats　in　the　same　carriage。　　But　before　the　train　started；　the　gentle…　man　stepped　into　my　car；　and　questioned　me　respect…　ing　my　master。　　He　wished　to　know　what　was　the　matter　with　him；　where　he　was　from；　and　where　he　was　going。　　I　told　him　where　he　came　from；　and　said　that　he　was　suffering　from　a　complication　of　complaints；　and　was　going　to　Philadelphia；　where　he　thought　he　could　get　more　suitable　advice　than　in　Georgia。

The　gentleman　said　my　master　could　obtain　the　very　best　advice　in　Philadelphia。　　Which　turned　out　to　be　quite　correct；　though　he　did　not　receive　it　from　physicians；　but　from　kind　abolitionists　who　understood　his　case　much　better。　　The　gentleman　also　said；　〃I　reckon　your　master's　father　hasn't　any　more　such　faithful　and　smart　boys　as　you。〃　　〃O；　yes；　sir；　he　has；〃　I　replied；　〃lots　on　'em。〃　　Which　was　literally　true。　　This　seemed　all　he　wished　to　know。　　He　thanked　me；　gave　me　a　ten…cent　piece；　and　requested　me　to　be　attentive　to　my　good　master。　　I　promised　that　I　would　do　so；　and　have　ever　since　endeavoured　to　keep　my　pledge。　　During　the　gentleman's　absence；　the　ladies　and　my　master　had　a　little　cosy　chat。　　But　on　his　return；　he　said；　〃You　seem　to　be　very　much　afflicted；　sir。〃　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　the　gentleman　in　the　poultices。　〃What　seems　to　be　the　matter　with　you；　sir；　may　I　be　allowed　to　ask？〃　　〃Inflammatory　rheumatism；　sir。〃　　〃Oh！　that　is　very　bad；　sir；〃　said　the　kind　gentleman：　〃I　can　sympathise　with　you；　for　I　know　from　bitter　experience　what　the　rheumatism　is。〃　If　he　did；　he　knew　a　good　deal　more　than　Mr。　Johnson。

The　gentleman　thought　my　master　would　feel　better　if　he　would　lie　down　and　rest　himself；　and　as　he　was　anxious　to　avoid　conversation；　he　at　once　acted　upon　this　suggestion。　　The　ladies　politely　rose；　took　their　extra　shawls；　and　made　a　nice　pillow　for　the　invalid's　head。　　My　master　wore　a　fashionable　cloth　cloak；　which　they　took　and　covered　him　comfortably　on　the　couch。　　After　he　had　been　lying　a　little　while　the　ladies；　I　suppose；　thought　he　was　asleep；　so　one　of　them　gave　a　long　sigh；　and　said；　in　a　quiet　fascinating　tone；　〃Papa；　he　seems　to　be　a　very　nice　young　gentleman。〃　　But　before　papa　could　speak；　the　other　lady　quickly　said；　〃Oh！　dear　me；　I　never　felt　so　much　for　a　gentleman　in　my　life！〃　　To　use　an　American　expression；　〃they　fell　in　love　with　the　wrong　chap。〃

After　my　master　had　been　lying　a　little　while　he　got　up；　the　gentleman　assisted　him　in　getting　on　his　cloak；　the　ladies　took　their　shawls；　and　soon　they　were　all　seated。　　They　then　insisted　upon　Mr。　Johnson　taking　some　of　their　refreshments；　which　of　course　he　did；　out　of　courtesy　to　the　ladies。　All　went　on　enjoying　themselves　until　they　reached　Richmond；　where　the　ladies　and　their　father　left　the　train。　　But；　before　doing　so；　the　good　old　Virginian　gentleman；　who　appeared　to　be　much　pleased　with　my　master；　presented　him　with　a　recipe；　which　he　said　was　a　perfect　cure　for　the　inflammatory　rheumatism。　　But　the　invalid　not　being　able　to　read　it；　and　fearing　he　should　hold　it　upside　down　in　pretending　to　do　so；　thanked　the　donor　kindly；　and　placed　it　in　his　waistcoat　pocket。　My　master's　new　friend　also　gave　him　his　card；　and　requested　him　the　next　time　he　travelled　that　way　to　do　him　the　kindness　to　call；　adding；　〃I　shall　be　pleased　to　see　you；　and　so　will　my　daughters。〃　Mr。　Johnson　expressed　his　gratitude　for　the　prof…　fered　hospitality；　and　said　he　should　feel　glad　to　call　on　his　return。　　I　have　not　the　slightest　doubt　that　he　will　fulfil　the　promise　whenever　that　return　takes　place。　　After　changing　trains　we　went　on　a　little　beyond　Fredericksburg；　and　took　a　steamer　to　Washington。

At　Richmond；　a　stout　elderly　lady；　whose　whole　demeanour　indicated　that　she　belonged　（as　Mrs。　Stowe's　Aunt　Chloe　expresses　it）　to　one　of　the　〃firstest　families；〃　stepped　into　the　carriage；　and　took　a　seat　near　my　master。　　Seeing　me　passing　quickly　along　the　platform；　she　sprang　up　as　if　taken　by　a　fit；　and　exclaimed；　〃Bless　my　soul！　there　goes　my　nigger；　Ned！〃

My　master　said；　〃No；　that　is　my　boy。〃

The　lady　paid　no　attention　to　this；　she　poked　her　head　out　of　the　window；　and　bawled　to　me；　〃You　Ned；　come　to　me；　sir；　you　runaway　rascal！〃

On　my　looking　round　she　drew　her　head　in；　and　said　to　my　master；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　I　was　sure　it　was　my　nigger；　I　never　in　my　life　saw　two　black　pigs　more　alike　than　your　boy　and　my　Ned。〃

After　the　disappointed　lady　had　resumed　her　seat；　and　the　train　had　moved　off；　she　closed　her　eyes；　slightly　raising　her　hands；　and　in　a　sanctified　tone　said　to　my　master；　〃Oh！　I　hope；　sir；　your　boy　will　not　turn　out　to　be　so　worthless　as　my　Ned　has。　　Oh！　I　was　as　kind　to　him　as　if　he　had　been　my　own　son。　　Oh！　sir；　it　grieves　me　very　much　to　think　that　after　all　I　did　for　him　he　should　go　off　without　having　any　cause　whatever。〃

〃When　did　he　leave　you？〃　asked　Mr。　Johnson。

〃About　eighteen　months　ago；　and　I　have　never　seen