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“Granted；” said the young man； “but； in my opinion； it is you considerate； humane men； that are responsible for all the brutality and outrage wrought by these wretches； because； if it were not for your sanction and influence； the whole system could not keep foothold for an hour。 If there were no planters except such as that one；” said he； pointing with his finger to Legree； who stood with his back to them； “the whole thing would go down like a millstone。 It is your respectability and humanity that licenses and protects his brutality。”
“You certainly have a high opinion of my good nature；” said the planter； smiling； “but I advise you not to talk quite so loud； as there are people on board the boat who might not be quite so tolerant to opinion as I am。 You had better wait till I get up to my plantation； and there you may abuse us all； quite at your leisure。”
The young gentleman colored and smiled； and the two were soon busy in a game of backgammon。 Meanwhile； another conversation was going on in the lower part of the boat； between Emmeline and the mulatto woman with whom she was confined。 As was natural； they were exchanging with each other some particulars of their history。
“Who did you belong to？” said Emmeline。
“Well； my Mas’r was Mr。 Ellis；—lived on Levee…street。 P’raps you’ve seen the house。”
“Was he good to you？” said Emmeline。
“Mostly； till he tuk sick。 He’s lain sick； off and on； more than six months； and been orful oneasy。 ’Pears like he warnt willin’ to have nobody rest； day or night； and got so curous； there couldn’t nobody suit him。 ’Pears like he just grew crosser； every day； kep me up nights till I got farly beat out； and couldn’t keep awake no longer； and cause I got to sleep； one night； Lors； he talk so orful to me； and he tell me he’d sell me to just the hardest master he could find； and he’d promised me my freedom； too； when he died。”
“Had you any friends？” said Emmeline。
“Yes； my husband；—he’s a blacksmith。 Mas’r gen’ly hired him out。 They took me off so quick； I didn’t even have time to see him； and I’s got four children。 O； dear me！” said the woman； covering her face with her hands。
It is a natural impulse； in every one； when they hear a tale of distress； to think of something to say by way of consolation。 Emmeline wanted to say something； but she could not think of anything to say。 What was there to be said？ As by a common consent； they both avoided； with fear and dread； all mention of the horrible man who was now their master。
True； there is religious trust for even the darkest hour。 The mulatto woman was a member of the Methodist church； and had an unenlightened but very sincere spirit of piety。 Emmeline had been educated much more intelligently；—taught to read and write； and diligently instructed in the Bible； by the care of a faithful and pious mistress； yet； would it not try the faith of the firmest Christian； to find themselves abandoned； apparently； of God； in the grasp of ruthless violence？ How much more must it shake the faith of Christ’s poor little ones； weak in knowledge and tender in years！
The boat moved on；—freighted with its weight of sorrow；—up the red； muddy； turbid current； through the abrupt tortuous windings of the Red river； and sad eyes gazed wearily on the steep red…clay banks； as they glided by in dreary sameness。 At last the boat stopped at a small town； and Legree； with his party； disembarked。
Chapter 32
Dark Places
“The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations Of cruelty。”1
Trailing wearily behind a rude wagon； and over a ruder road； Tom and his associates faced onward。
In the wagon was seated Simon Legree and the two women； still fettered together； were stowed away with some baggage in the back part of it； and the whole company were seeking Legree’s plantation； which lay a good distance off。
It was a wild； forsaken road； now winding through dreary pine barrens； where the wind whispered mournfully； and now over log causeways； through long cypress swamps； the doleful trees rising out of the slimy； spongy ground； hung with long wreaths of funeral black moss； while ever and anon the loathsome form of the mocassin snake might be seen sliding among broken stumps and shattered branches that lay here and there； rotting in the water。
It is disconsolate enough； this riding； to the stranger； who； with well…filled pocket and well…appointed horse； threads the lonely way on some errand of business； but wilder； drearier； to the man enthralled； whom every weary step bears further from all that man loves and prays for。
So one should have thought； that witnessed the sunken and dejected expression on those dark faces； the wistful； patient weariness with which those sad eyes rested on object after object that passed them in their sad journey。
Simon rode on； however； apparently well pleased； ocomasionally pulling away at a flask of spirit； which he kept in his pocket。
“I say； you！” he said； as he turned back and caught a glance at the dispirited faces behind him。 “Strike up a song； boys；—come！”
The men looked at each other； and the “come” was repeated； with a smart crack of the whip which the driver carried in his hands。 Tom began a Methodist hymn。
“Jerusalem； my happy home；
Name ever dear to me！
When shall my sorrows have an end；
Thy joys when shall—”2
“Shut up； you black cuss！” roared Legree； “did ye think I wanted any o’ yer infernal old Methodism？ I say； tune up； now； something real rowdy；—quick！”
One of the other men struck up one of those unmeaning songs； common among the slaves。
“Mas’r see’d me cotch a coon；
High boys； high！
He laughed to split；—d’ye see the moon；
Ho！ ho！ ho！ boys； ho！
Ho！ yo！ hi—e！ oh！”
The singer appeared to make up the song to his own pleasure； generally hitting on rhyme； without much attempt at reason； and the party took up the chorus； at intervals；
“Ho！ ho！ ho！ boys； ho！
High—e—oh！ high—e—oh！”
It was sung very boisterouly； and with a forced attempt at merriment； but no wail of despair； no words of impassioned prayer； could have had such a depth of woe in them as the wild notes of the chorus。 As if the poor； dumb heart； threatened；—prisoned；—took refuge in that inarticulate sanctuary of music； and found there a language in which to breathe its prayer to God！ There was a prayer in it； which Simon could not hear。 He only heard the boys singing noisily； and was well pleased； he was making them “keep up their spirits。”
“Well； my little dear；” said he； turning to Emmeline； and laying his hand on her shoulder； “we’re almost home！”
When Legree scolded and stormed； Emmeline was terrified； but when he laid his hand on her； and spoke as he now did； she felt as if she had rather he would strike her。 The expression of his eyes made her soul sick； and her flesh creep。 Involuntarily she clung closer to the mulatto woman by her side； as if she were her mother。
“You didn’t ever wear ear…rings；” he said； taking hold of her small ear with his coarse fingers。
“No； Mas’r！” said Emmeline； trembling and looking down。
“Well； I’ll give you a pair； when we get home； if you’re a good girl。 You needn’t be so frightened； I don’t mean to make you work very hard。 You’ll have fine times with me； and live like a lady；—only be a good girl。”
Legree had been drinking to that degree that he was inclining to be very gracious； and it was about this time that the enclosures of the plantation rose to view。 The estate had formerly belonged to a gentleman of opulence and taste； who had bestowed some considerable attention to the adornment of his grounds。 Having died insolvent； it had been purchased； at a bargain； by Legree； who used it； as he did everything else； merely as an implement for money…making。 The place had that ragged； forlorn appearance； which is always produced by the evidence that the care of the former owner has been left to go to utter decay。
What was once a smooth…shaven lawn before the house； dotted here and there with ornamental shrubs； was now covered with frowsy tangled grass； with horseposts set up； here and there； in it； where the turf was stamped away； and the ground littered with broken pails； cobs of corn； and other sloven