how a night was spent on marston's plantation
earth is mantled with richest verdure; far away to the west and south of the mansion the scene stretches out in calm grandeur. the sun sinks beneath glowing clouds that crimson the horizon and spread refulgent shadows on the distant hills, as darkness slowly steals its way on the mellow landscape.
motley groups of negroes are returned from the field, fires are lighted in and about the cabins, and men mutter their curious jargon while moving to prepare the coarse meal. their anxious countenances form a picture wild and deeply interesting.
entering marston's mansion, we find its interior neater than its weather-stained and paintless sides portended. through the centre runs a broad passage, and on the left and right are large parlours, comfortably furnished, divided by folding doors of carved walnut. we are ushered into the one on the right by a yellow servant, who, neatly dressed in black, has prepared his politeness for the occasion. with great suavity, accompanied by a figurative grin, he informs us that master will pay his respects presently. pieces of singularly antique furniture are arranged round the room, of which, he adds, master is proud indeed. two plaster figures, standing in dingy niches, he tells us are wonders of the white man's genius. in his own random style he gives us an essay on the arts, adding a word here and there to remind us of master's exquisite taste, and anxiously waits our confirmation of what he says.
a large open fire-place, with fancifully carved framework and mantel-pieces, in italian marble of polished blackness, upon which stood massive silver candlesticks, in chased work, denotes the ancient character of the mansion. it has many years been the home of the ever-hospitable marston family.
in another part of the room is a mahogany side-board of antique pattern, upon which stand sundry bottles and glasses, indicative of marston having entertained company in the morning. while we are contemplating the furniture around us, and somewhat disappointed at the want of taste displayed in its arrangement, the door opens, and sam, the yellow servant, bows marston in with a gracious smile. it is in the south where the polite part is played by the negro. deacon rosebrook and elder pemberton praiseworthy, a man of the world, follow marston into the room. marston is rather tall of figure, robust, and frank of countenance. a florid face, and an extremely large nose bordering on the red, at times give him an aldermanic air. he rubs his fingers through the short, sandy-coloured hair that bristles over a low forehead (tom, the barber, has just fritted it) smiles, and introduces us to his friends. he is vain-vanity belongs to the slave world-is sorry his eyes are grey, but adds an assurance every now and then that his blood is of the very best stock. lest a doubt should hang upon our mind, he asserts, with great confidence, that grey eyes indicate pure norman birth. as for phrenology! he never believed in a single bump, and cites his own contracted forehead as the very strongest proof against the theory. indeed, there is nothing remarkable in our host's countenance, if we except its floridness; but a blunt nose protruding over a wide mouth and flat chin gives the contour of his face an expression not the most prepossessing. he has been heard to say, "a man who didn't love himself wasn't worth loving:" and, to show his belief in this principle of nature, he adorns his face with thick red whiskers, not the most pleasing to those unaccustomed to the hairy follies of a fashionable southron.
times are prosperous; the plantation puts forth its bounties, and marston withholds nothing that can make time pass pleasantly with those who honour him with a visit. he is dressed in an elaborately cut black coat, with sweeping skirts, a white vest, fancy-coloured pantaloons, and bright boots. about his neck is an enormous shirt collar, turned carelessly over, and secured with a plain black ribbon. elder praiseworthy is of lean figure, with sharp, craven features. the people of the parish have a doubtful opinion of him. some say he will preach sermons setting forth the divine right of slavery, or any other institution that has freedom for its foe, provided always there is no lack of pay. as a divine, he is particularly sensitive lest anything should be said disparagingly against the institution he lends his aid to protect. that all institutions founded in patriarchal usage are of god's creation, he holds to be indisputable; and that working for their overthrow is a great crime, as well as an unpardonable sin, he never had the slightest doubt. he is careful of his clerical dress, which is of smoothest black; and remembering how essential are gold-framed spectacles, arranges and re-arranges his with greatest care. he is a great admirer of large books with gilt edges and very expensive bindings. they show to best advantage in the southern parlour library, where books are rarely opened. to say the elder is not a man of great parts, is to circulate a libel of the first magnitude. indeed, he liked big books for their solidity; they reminded him of great thoughts well preserved, and sound principles more firmly established. at times he had thought they were like modern democratic rights, linked to huge comprehending faculties, such as was his good fortune to use when expounding state rights and federal obligations.
deacon rosebrook is a comely, fair-faced man, a moderate thinker, a charitable christian, a very good man, who lets his deeds of kindness speak of him. he is not a politician-no! he is a better quality of man, has filled higher stations. nor is he of the modernly pious-that is, as piety professes itself in our democratic world, where men use it more as a necessary appliance to subdue the mind than a means to improve civilization. but he was always cautious in giving expression to his sentiments, knowing the delicate sensibilities of those he had to deal with, and fearing lest he might spring a democratic mine of very illiberal indignation.
"come, gentlemen guests, you are as welcome as the showers," says marston, in a stentorious voice: "be seated; you are at home under my roof. yes, the hospitality of my plantation is at your service." the yellow man removes a table that stood in the centre of the room, places chairs around it, and each takes his seat.
"pardon me, my dear marston, you live with the comfort of a nabob. wealth seems to spring up on all sides," returns the deacon, good-naturedly.
"and so i think," joins the elder: "the pleasures of the plantation are manifold, swimming along from day to day; but i fear there is one thing our friend has not yet considered."
"pray what is that? let us hear it; let us hear it. perhaps it is the very piety of nonsense," rejoined marston, quickly. "dead men and devils are always haunting us." the elder draws his spectacles from his pocket, wipes them with his silk handkerchief, adjusts them on his nose, and replies with some effort, "the future."
"nothing more?" marston inquires, quaintly: "never contented; riches all around us, favourable prospects for the next crop, prices stiff, markets good, advices from abroad exciting. let the future take care of itself; you are like all preachers, elder, borrowing darkness when you can't see light."
"the elder, so full of allegory!" whispers the deacon. "he means a moral condition, which we all esteem as a source of riches laid up in store for the future."
"i discover; but it never troubles me while i take care of others. i pray for my negro property-pray loudly and long. and then, their piety is a charge of great magnitude; but when i need your assistance in looking after it, be assured you will receive an extra fee."
"that's personal-personal, decidedly personal."
"quite the reverse," returns marston, suddenly smiling, and, placing his elbows on the table, rests his face on his hands. "religion is well in its place, good on simple minds; just the thing to keep vassals in their places: that's why i pay to have it talked to my property. elder, i get the worth of my money in seeing the excitement my fellows get into by hearing you preach that old worn-out sermon. you've preached it to them so long, they have got it by heart. only impress the rascals that it's god's will they should labour for a life, and they'll stick to it like trojans: they are just like pigs, sir."
"you don't comprehend me, my friend marston: i mean that you should prepare-it's a rule applicable to all-to meet the terrible that may come upon us at any moment." the elder is fearful that he is not quite explicit enough. he continues: "well, there is something to be considered;"-he is not quite certain that we should curtail the pleasures of this life by binding ourselves with the dread of what is to come. "seems as if we owed a common duty to ourselves," he ejaculates.
the conversation became more exciting, marston facetiously attempting to be humorous at the elder's expense: "it isn't the pleasure, my dear fellow, it's the contentment. we were all born to an end; and if that end be to labour through life for others, it must be right. everything is right that custom has established right."
"marston, give us your hand, my friend. 'twould do to plead so if we had no enemies, but enemies are upon us, watching our movements through partizans' eyes, full of fierceness, and evil to misconstruct."
"i care not," interrupts marston. "my slaves are my property-i shall do with them as it pleases me; no insinuations about morality, or i shall mark you on an old score. do you sound? good elders should be good men; but they, as well as planters, have their frailties; it would not do to tell them all, lest high heaven should cry out." marston points his finger, and laughs heartily. "i wish we had seven lives to live, and they were all as happy as most of our planters could desire to make them."
the elder understood the delicate hint, but desiring to avoid placing himself in an awkward position before the deacon, began to change the conversation, criticising the merits of several old pictures hung upon the walls. they were much valued by marston, as mementoes of his ancestry: of this the elder attempted in vain to make a point. during this conversation, so disguised in meaning, the mulatto servant stood at the door waiting marston's commands. soon, wine and refreshments were brought in, and spread out in old plantation style. the company had scarcely filled glasses, when a rap sounded at the hall door: a servant hastened to announce a carriage; and in another minute was ushered into the room the graceful figure of a young lady whose sweet and joyous countenance bespoke the absence of care. she was followed by a genteelly-dressed young man of straight person and placid features.
"oh! franconia," said marston, rising from his seat, grasping her hand affectionately, and bestowing a kiss on her fair cheek, for it was fair indeed.
taking her right hand in his left, he added, "my niece, gentlemen; my brother's only daughter, and nearly spoiled with attentions." a pleasant smile stole over her face, as gracefully she acknowledged the compliment. in another minute three or four old negroes, moved by the exuberance of their affection for her, gathered about her, contending with anxious faces for the honour of seeing her comfortable.
"i love her!" continued marston; "and, as well as she could a father, she loves me, making time pass pleasantly with her cheerfulness." she was the child of his affections; and as he spoke his face glowed with animation. scarce seventeen summers had bloomed upon his fair niece, who, though well developed in form, was of a delicate constitution, and had inherited that sensitiveness so peculiar to the child of the south, especially she who has been cradled in the nursery of ease and refinement. as she spoke, smiled, and raised her jewelled fingers, the grace accompanying the words was expressive of love and tenderness. turning to the gentleman who accompanied her, "my friend!" she added, simply, with a frolicsome laugh. a dozen anxious black faces were now watching in the hall, ready to scamper round her ere she made her appearance to say, "how de'h!" to young missus, and get a glimpse at her stranger friend. after receiving a happy salute from the old servants, she re-enters the room. "uncle's always drinking wine when i come;-but uncle forgets me; he has not so much as once asked me to join him!" she lays her hand on his arm playfully, smiles cunningly, points reproachfully at the elder, and takes a seat at her uncle's side. the wine has seized the elder's mind; he stares at her through his spectacles, and holds his glass with his left hand.
"come, dandy," said marston, addressing himself to the mulatto attendant, "bring a glass; she shall join us." the glass is brought, marston fills it, she bows, they drink to her and to the buoyant spirits of the noble southern lady. "i don't admire the habit; but i do like to please so," she whispers, and, excusing herself, skips into the parlour on the right, where she is again beset by the old servants, who rush to her, shake her hand, cling playfully to her dress: some present various new-plucked flowers others are become noisy with their chattering jargon. at length she is so beset with the display of their affection as to be compelled to break away from them, and call for clotilda. "i must have clotilda!" she says: "tell her to come soon, dandy: she alone can arrange my dress." thus saying, she disappeared up a winding stair leading from the hall into the second story.
we were anxious to know who clotilda was, and why franconia should summon her with so much solicitude. presently a door opened: franconia appeared at the top of the stairs, her face glowing with vivacity, her hair dishevelled waving in beautiful confusion, giving a fascination to her person. "i do wish she would come, i do!" she mutters, resting her hands upon the banisters, and looking intently into the passage: "she thinks more of fussing over annette's hair, than she does about taking care of mine. well, i won't get cross-i won't! poor clotilda, i do like her; i can't help it; it is no more than natural that she should evince so much solicitude for her child: we would do the same." scarcely had she uttered these words, when the beautiful female we have described in the foregoing chapter ran from her cabin, across the yard, into the mansion. "where is young miss franconia?" she inquires; looks hastily around, ascends the stairs, greets franconia with a fervent shake of the hand, commences adjusting her hair. there is a marked similarity in their countenances: it awakens our reflections. had clotilda exhibited that exactness of toilet for which franconia is become celebrated, she would excel in her attractions. there was the same oval face, the same arched brows; there was the same grecian contour of features, the same sharply lined nose; there was the same delicately cut mouth, disclosing white, pearly teeth; the same eyes, now glowing with sentiment, and again pensive, indicating thought and tenderness; there was the same classically moulded bust, a shoulder slightly converging, of beautiful olive, enriched by a dark mole.
clotilda would fain have kissed franconia, but she dare not. "clotilda, you must take good care of me while i make my visit. only do my hair nicely, and i will see that uncle gets a new dress for you when he goes to the city. if uncle would only get married, how much happier it would be," says franconia, looking at clotilda the while.
"and me, too,-i would be happier!" clotilda replies, resting her arms on the back of franconia's lolling chair, as her eyes assumed a melancholy glare. she heaved a sigh.
"you could not be happier than you are; you are well cared for; uncle will never see you want; but you must be cheerful when i come, clotilda,-you must! to see you unhappy makes me feel unhappy."
"cheerful!-its better said than felt. can he or she be cheerful who is forced to sin against god and himself? there is little to be cheerful with, where the nature is not its own. why should i be the despised wretch at your uncle's feet: did god, the great god, make me a slave to his licentiousness?"
"suppress such feelings, clotilda; do not let them get the better of you. god ordains all things: it is well to abide by his will, for it is sinful to be discontented, especially where everything is so well provided. why, uncle has learned you to read, and even to write."
"ah! that's just what gave me light; through it i knew that i had a life, and a soul beyond that, as valuable to me as yours is to you."
"be careful, clotilda," she interrupts; "remember there is a wide difference between us. do not cross uncle; he is kind, but he may get a freak into his head, and sell you."
clotilda's cheeks brightened; she frowned at the word, and, giving her black hair a toss from her shoulder, muttered, "to sell me!-had you measured the depth of pain in that word, franconia, your lips had never given it utterance. to sell me!-'tis that. the difference is wide indeed, but the point is sharpest. was it my mother who made that point so sharp? it could not! a mother would not entail such misery on her offspring. that name, so full of associations dear to me-so full of a mother's love and tenderness,-could not reflect pain. nay; her affections were bestowed upon me,-i love to treasure them, i do. to tell me that a mother would entail misery without an end, is to tell me that the spirit of love is without good!"
"do not make yourself unhappy, clotilda. perhaps you are as well with us as you would be elsewhere. even at the free north, in happy new england, ladies would not take the notice of you we do: many of your class have died there, poor and wretched, among the most miserable creatures ever born to a sad end. and you are not black-"
"all is not truth that is told for such," clotilda interrupts franconia. "if i were black, my life would have but one stream: now it is terrible with uncertainty. as i am, my hopes and affections are blasted."
"sit down, clotilda," rejoins franconia, quickly.
clotilda, having lavished her skill on franconia's hair, seats herself by her side. franconia affectionately takes her tapering hand and presses it with her jewelled fingers. "remember, clotilda," she continues, "all the negroes on the plantation become unhappy at seeing you fretful. it is well to seem happy, for its influence on others. uncle will always provide for annette and you; and he is kind. if he pays more attention to ellen at times, take no notice of it. ellen juvarna is indian, moved to peculiarities by the instincts of her race. uncle is imprudent, i admit; but society is not with us as it is elsewhere!"
"i care not so much for myself," speaks the woman, in a desponding voice; "it is annette; and when you spoke of her you touched the chord of all my troubles. i can endure the sin forced upon myself; but, o heavens! how can i butcher my very thoughts with the unhappy life that is before her? my poor mother's words haunt me. i know her feelings now, because i can judge them by my own-can see how her broken heart was crushed into the grave! she kissed my hand, and said, 'clotilda, my child, you are born to a cruel death. give me but a heart to meet my friends in judgment!'"
the child with the flaxen hair, humming a tune, came scampering up the stairs into the room. it recognises franconia, and, with a sportive laugh, runs to her and fondles in her lap; then, turning to its mother, seems anxious to divide its affections between them. its features resembled franconia's-the similarity was unmistakeable; and although she fondled it, talked with it, and smoothed its little locks, she resisted its attempts to climb on her knee: she was cold.
"mother says i look like you, and so does old aunt rachel, miss franconia-they do," whispers the child, shyly, as it twisted its fingers round the rings on franconia's hand. franconia blushed, and cast an inquiring look at clotilda.
"you must not be naughty," she says; "those black imps you play with around aunt rachel's cabin teach you wrong. you must be careful with her, clotilda; never allow her to such things to white people: she may use such expressions before strangers,-which would be extremely painful-"
"it seems too plain: if there be no social sin, why fear the degradation?" she quietly interrupts. "you cannot keep it from the child. o, how i should like to know my strange history, franconia,-to know if it can be that i was born to such cruel misfortunes, such bitter heart-achings, such gloomy forebodings. if i were, then am i content with my lot."
franconia listened attentively, saw the anguish that was bursting the bounds of the unhappy woman's feelings, and interrupted by saying, "speak of it no more, clotilda. take your child; go to your cabin. i shall stay a few days: to-morrow i will visit you there." as she spoke, she waved her hand, bid clotilda good night, kissing annette as she was led down stairs. now alone, she begins to contemplate the subject more deeply. "it must be wrong," she says to herself: "but few are brought to feel it who have the power to remove it. the poor creature seems so unhappy; and my feelings are pained when they tell me how much she looks like me--and it must be so; for when she sat by my side, looking in the glass the portrait of similarity touched my feelings deeply. 'tis not the thing for uncle to live in this way. here am i, loved and beloved, with the luxury of wealth, and friends at my pleasure; i am caressed: she is but born a wretch to serve my uncle's vanity; and, too, were i to reproach him, he would laugh at what he calls our folly, our sickly sensitiveness; he would tell me of the pleasures of southern life, southern scenery, southern chivalry, southern refinement;--yes, he would tell me how it were best to credit the whole to southern liberality of custom:--so it continues! there is a principle to be served after all: he says we are not sent into the world to excommune ourselves from its pleasures. this may be good logic, for i own i don't believe with those who want the world screwed up into a religious vice; but pleasure is divided into so many different qualities, one hardly knows which suits best now-a-days. philosophers say we should avoid making pleasure of that which can give pain to others; but philosophers say so many things, and give so much advice that we never think of following. uncle has a standard of his own. i do, however, wish southern society would be more circumspect, looking upon morality in its proper light. its all doubtful! doubtful! doubtful! there is elder pemberton praiseworthy; he preaches, preaches, preaches!--his preaching is to live, not to die by. i do pity those poor negroes, who, notwithstanding their impenetrable heads, are bored to death every sunday with that selfsame sermon. such preaching, such strained effort, such machinery to make men pious,--it's as soulless as a well. i don't wonder the world has got to be so very wicked, when the wickedness of the slavery church has become so sublime. and there's uncle, too,--he's been affected just in that way; hearing pious discourses to uphold that which in his soul he knew to be the heaviest wickedness the world groaned under, he has come to look upon religion as if it were a commodity too stale for him. he sees the minister of god's word a mere machine of task, paid to do a certain amount of talking to negroes, endeavouring to impress their simple minds with the belief that it is god's will they should be slaves. and this is all for necessity's sake!" in this musing mood she sits rocking in her chair, until at length, overcome with the heat, she reclines her head against the cushion, resigning herself to the soothing embrace of sweet sleep.
the moon's silver rays were playing on the calm surface of the river, the foliage on its banks seemed bathed in quiet repose, the gentle breeze, bearing its balmy odours, wafted through the arbour of oaks, as if to fan her crimson cheeks; the azalia and magnolia combined their fragrance, impregnating the dew falling over the scene, as if to mantle it with beauty. she slept, a picture of southern beauty; her auburn tresses in undulating richness playing to and fro upon her swelling bosom,-how developed in all its delicacy!-her sensitive nature made more lovely by the warmth and generosity of her heart. still she slept, her youthful mind overflowing with joy and buoyancy: about her there was a ravishing simplicity more than earthly: a blush upon her cheek became deeper,-it was the blush of love flashing in a dream, that tells its tale in nervous vibrations, adding enchantment to sleeping voluptuousness;-and yet all was sacred, an envied object no rude hand dare touch!
franconia had been educated at the north, in a land where--god bless the name--puritanism is not quite extinct; and through the force of principles there inculcated had outgrown much of that feeling which at the south admits to be right what is basely wrong. she hesitated to reproach marston with the bad effect of his life, but resolved on endeavouring to enlist clotilda's confidence, and learn how far her degraded condition affected her feelings. she saw her with the same proud spirit that burned in her own bosom; the same tenderness, the same affection for her child, the same hopes and expectations for the future, and its rewards. the question was, what could be done for clotilda? was it better to reason with her,-to, if possible, make her happy in her condition? custom had sanctioned many unrighteous inconsistencies: they were southern, nothing more! she would intercede with her uncle, she would have him sign free papers for clotilda and her child; she saw a relationship which the law could not disguise, though it might crush out the natural affections. with these thoughts passing in her mind, her imagination wandered until she dropped into the sleep we have described.
there she slept, the blushes suffusing her cheeks, until old aunt rachel, puffing and blowing like an exhausting engine, entered the room. aunty is the pink of a plantation mother: she is as black as the blackest, has a face embodying all the good-nature of the plantation, boasts of her dimensions, which she says are six feet, well as anybody proportioned. her head is done up in a flashy bandana, the points nicely crosslain, and extending an elaborate distance beyond her ears, nearly covering the immense circular rings that hang from them. her gingham dress, starched just so, her whitest white apron, never worn before missus come, sets her off to great advantage. aunty is a good piece of property-tells us how many hundred dollars there is in her-feels that she has been promoted because mas'r told somebody he would not take a dollar less for her. she can superintend the domestic affairs of the mansion just as well as anybody. in one hand she bears a cup of orange-grove coffee, in the other a fan, made of palmetto-leaves.
"gi'h-e-you!" she exclaimed. "if young missus aint nappin' just so nice! i likes to cotch 'em just so;" and setting her tray upon a stand, she views franconia intently, and in the exuberance of her feelings seats herself in front of her chair, fanning her with the palmetto. the inquisitive and affectionate nature of the good old slave was here presented in its purity. nothing can be stronger, nothing show the existence of happy associations more forcibly. the old servant's attachment is proverbial,-his enthusiasm knows no bounds,-mas'r's comfort absorbs all his thoughts. here, aunt rachel's feelings rose beyond her power of restraint: she gazed on her young missus with admiration, laughed, fanned her more and more; then grasping her little jewelled hand, pressed it to her spacious mouth and kissed it. "young missus! franconia, i does lub ye so!" she whispers.
"why, aunt rachel!" ejaculated franconia, starting suddenly: "i am glad you wakened me, for i dreamed of trouble: it made me weak-nervous. where is clotilda?" and she stared vacantly round the room, as if unconscious of her position. "guess 'e aint 'bout nowhere. ye see, miss, how she don't take no care on ye,-takes dis child to stir up de old cook, when ye comes to see us." and stepping to the stand she brings the salver; and in her excitement to serve missus, forgets that the coffee is cold. "da'h he is; just as nice as 'em get in de city. rachel made 'em!"
"i want clotilda, rachel; you must bring her to me. i was dreaming of her and annette; and she can tell dreams-"
the old slave interrupts her. "if miss franconia hab had dream, 'e bad, sartin. old mas'r spoil dat gal, clotilda,-make her tink she lady, anyhow. she mos' white, fo'h true; but aint no better den oder nigger on de plantation," she returns. franconia sips her coffee, takes a waf from the plate as the old servant holds it before her, and orders dandy to summon clotilda.