01.3-CHAPTER I In Which the Reader Is Introduced to a Man of Humanity part3-mt

CHAPTER I

In Which the Reader Is Introduced to a Man of Humanity part3

Perhaps the mildestform of the system of slavery is to be seen in the State of Kentucky. Thegeneral prevalence of agricultural pursuits of a quiet and gradual nature, notrequiring those periodic seasons of hurry and pressure that are called for inthe business of more southern districts, makes the task of the negro a morehealthful and reasonable one; while the master, content with a more gradualstyle of acquisition, has not those temptations to hardheartedness which alwaysovercome frail human nature when the prospect of sudden and rapid gain isweighed in the balance, with no heavier counterpoise than the interests of thehelpless and unprotected.

Whoever visits someestates there, and witnesses the good-humored indulgence of some masters andmistresses, and the affectionate loyalty of some slaves, might be tempted todream the oft-fabled poetic legend of a patriarchal institution, and all that;but over and above the scene there broods a portentous shadow—the shadow of law .So long as the law considers all these human beings, with beating hearts andliving affections, only as so many things belonging to amaster,—so long as the failure, or misfortune, orimprudence, or death of the kindest owner, may cause them any day to exchange alife of kind protection and indulgence for one of hopeless misery and toil,—so long it is impossible to make anything beautiful or desirable inthe best regulated administration of slavery.

Mr. Shelby was afair average kind of man, good-natured and kindly, and disposed to easyindulgence of those around him, and there had never been a lack of anything whichmight contribute to the physical comfort of the negroes on his estate. He had,however, speculated largely and quite loosely; had involved himself deeply, andhis notes to a large amount had come into the hands of Haley; and this smallpiece of information is the key to the preceding conversation.

Now, it had sohappened that, in approaching the door, Eliza had caught enough of theconversation to know that a trader was making offers to her master forsomebody.

She would gladlyhave stopped at the door to listen, as she came out; but her mistress just thencalling, she was obliged to hasten away.

Still she thoughtshe heard the trader make an offer for her boy;—could she be mistaken? Her heartswelled and throbbed, and she involuntarily strained him so tight that thelittle fellow looked up into her face in astonishment.

"Eliza, girl,what ails you today?" said her mistress, when Eliza had upset thewash-pitcher, knocked down the workstand, and finally was abstractedly offeringher mistress a long nightgown in place of the silk dress she had ordered her tobring from the wardrobe.

Eliza started."O, missis!" she said, raising her eyes; then, bursting into tears,she sat down in a chair, and began sobbing.

"Why, Elizachild, what ails you?" said her mistress.

"O! missis,missis," said Eliza, "there's been a trader talking with master inthe parlor! I heard him."

"Well, sillychild, suppose there has."

"O,missis, do you suppose mas'r would sell my Harry?" Andthe poor creature threw herself into a chair, and sobbed convulsively.

"Sell him! No,you foolish girl! You know your master never deals with those southern traders,and never means to sell any of his servants, as long as they behave well. Why,you silly child, who do you think would want to buy your Harry? Do you thinkall the world are set on him as you are, you goosie? Come, cheer up, and hookmy dress. There now, put my back hair up in that pretty braid you learnt theother day, and don't go listening at doors any more."

"Well, but,missis, you never would give your consent—to—to—"

"Nonsense,child! to be sure, I shouldn't. What do you talk so for? I would as soon haveone of my own children sold. But really, Eliza, you are getting altogether tooproud of that little fellow. A man can't put his nose into the door, but youthink he must be coming to buy him."

Reassured by hermistress' confident tone, Eliza proceeded nimbly and adroitly with her toilet,laughing at her own fears, as she proceeded.

Mrs. Shelby was awoman of high class, both intellectually and morally. To that naturalmagnanimity and generosity of mind which one often marks as characteristic ofthe women of Kentucky, she added high moral and religious sensibility andprinciple, carried out with great energy and ability into practical results.Her husband, who made no professions to any particular religious character,nevertheless reverenced and respected the consistency of hers, and stood,perhaps, a little in awe of her opinion. Certain it was that he gave herunlimited scope in all her benevolent efforts for the comfort, instruction, andimprovement of her servants, though he never took any decided part in themhimself. In fact, if not exactly a believer in the doctrine of the efficiencyof the extra good works of saints, he really seemed somehow or other to fancythat his wife had piety and benevolence enough for two—to indulge a shadowyexpectation of getting into heaven through her superabundance of qualities towhich he made no particular pretension.

The heaviest loadon his mind, after his conversation with the trader, lay in the foreseennecessity of breaking to his wife the arrangement contemplated,—meeting theimportunities and opposition which he knew he should have reason to encounter.

Mrs. Shelby, beingentirely ignorant of her husband's embarrassments, and knowing only the generalkindliness of his temper, had been quite sincere in the entire incredulity withwhich she had met Eliza's suspicions. In fact, she dismissed the matter fromher mind, without a second thought; and being occupied in preparations for anevening visit, it passed out of her thoughts entirely.