we change with fortune
but a few months have passed since the popularly called gallant m'carstrow led the fair franconia to the hymeneal altar; and, now that he has taken up his residence in the city, the excitement of the honeymoon is waning, and he has betaken himself to his more congenial associations. the beautiful franconia for him had but transient charms, which he now views as he would objects necessary to the gratifications of his coarse passions. his feelings have not been softened with those finer associations which make man the kind patron of domestic life; nor is his mind capable of appreciating that respect for a wife which makes her an ornament of her circle. saloons, race-courses, and nameless places, have superior attractions for him: home is become but endurable.
in truth, franconia, compelled to marry in deference to fortune, finds she is ensnared into misfortunes. m'carstrow (colonel by courtesy) had fifteen hundred dollars, cash down, to pay for clotilda: this sad grievance excites his feelings, inasmuch as it was all owing to his wife's whims, and the poverty of her relations. the verdict of the jury, recently rendered, was to his mind a strictly correct one; but he cannot forget the insane manner in which the responsibility was fastened upon him, and the hard cash-which might have made two handsome stakes on the turf-drawn from his pocket. his wife's poverty-stricken relations he now detests, and can tolerate them best when farthest away from him. but franconia does not forget that he is her husband; no, night after night she sits at the window until midnight, waiting his return. feeble and weary with anxiety, she will despatch a negro on a hopeless errand of search; he, true to his charge, returns with the confidential intelligence of finding mas'r in a place less reputable than it is proper to mention. such is our southern society,--very hospitable in language, chivalrous in memory,--base in morals! some- times the gallant colonel deems it necessary to remain until daylight, lest, in returning by night, the pavement may annoy his understanding. of this, however, he felt the world knew but little. now and then, merely to keep up the luxury of southern life, the colonel finds it gratifying to his feelings, on returning home at night, to order a bed to be made for him in one of the yard-houses, in such manner as to give the deepest pain to his franconia. coarse and dissolute, indifference follows, cold and cutting; she finds herself a mere instrument of baser purpose in the hands of one she knows only as a ruffian-she loathes! thus driven under the burden of trouble, she begins to express her unhappiness, to remonstrate against his associations, to plead with him against his course of life. he jeers at this, scouts such prudery, proclaims it far beneath the dignity of his standing as a southern gentleman.
the generous woman could have endured his dissipation-she might have tolerated his licentiousness, but his arbitrary and very uncalled-for remarks upon the misfortunes of her family are more than she can bear. she has tried to respect him-love him she cannot-and yet her sensitive nature recoils at the thought of being attached to one whose feelings and associations are so at variance with her own. her impulsive spirit quails under the bitterness of her lot; she sees the dreary waste of trouble before her only to envy the happiness of those days of rural life spent on the old plantation. that she should become fretful and unhappy is a natural consequence.
we must invite the reader to go with us to m'carstrow's residence, an old-fashioned wooden building, three stories high, with large basement windows and doors, on the south side of king street. it is a wet, gloomy night, in the month of november,--the wind, fierce and chilling, has just set in from the north-east; a drenching rain begins to fall, the ships in the harbour ride ill at ease; the sudden gusts of wind, sweeping through the narrow streets of the city, lighted here and there by the sickly light of an old-fashioned lamp, bespread the scene with drear. at a second-story window, lighted by a taper burning on the sill, sits franconia, alone, waiting the return of m'carstrow. m'carstrow is enjoying his night orgies! he cares neither for the pelting storm, the anxiety of his wife, nor the sweets of home.
a gust of wind shakes the house; the windows rattle their stormy music; the cricket answers to the wailings of the gale as it gushes through the crevices; franconia's cares are borne to her husband. now the wind subsides,--a slow rap is heard at the hall door, in the basement: a female servant, expecting her master, hastens to open it. her master is not there; the wind has extinguished the flaring light; and the storm, sweeping through the sombre arch, spreads noise and confusion. she runs to the kitchen, seizes the globular lamp, and soon returns, frightened at the sight presented in the door. master is not there-it is the lean figure of a strange old "nigger," whose weather-worn face, snowy with beard and wrinkled with age, is lit up with gladness. he has a warm soul within him,--a soul not unacceptable to heaven! the servant shrinks back,--she is frightened at the strange sight of the strange old man. "don' be feared, good child; bob ain't bad nigger," says the figure, in a guttural whisper.
"an't da'h fo'h notin good; who is ye'?" returns the girl, holding the globular lamp before her shining black face. cautiously she makes a step or two forward, squinting at the sombre figure of the old negro, as he stands trembling in the doorway. "is my good young miss wid'n?" he enquires, in the same whispering voice, holding his cap in his right hand.
"reckon how ye bes be gwine out a dat afo'h miss come. yer miss don' lib in dis ouse." so saying, the girl is about to close the door in the old man's face, for he is ragged and dejected, and has the appearance of a "suspicious nigger without a master."
"don' talk so, good gal; ye don' know dis old man,--so hungry,--most starved. i lub miss franconia. tell she i'ze here," he says, in a supplicating tone, as the girl, regaining confidence, scrutinises him from head to foot with the aid of her lamp.
the servant is about to request he will come inside that she may shut out the storm. "frankone knows old daddy bob,--dat she do!" he reiterates, working his cap in his fingers. the familiar words have caught franconia's ear; she recognises the sound of the old man's voice; she springs to her feet, as her heart gladdens with joy. she bounds down the stairs, and to the door, grasps the old man's hand, as a fond child warmly grasps the hand of a parent, and welcomes him with the tenderness of a sister. "poor-my poor old daddy!" she says, looking in his face so sweetly, so earnestly, "where have you come from? who bought you? how did you escape?" she asks, in rapid succession. holding his hand, she leads him along the passage, as he tells her. "ah, missus, i sees hard times since old mas'r lef' de plantation. him an't how he was ven you dah." he views her, curiously, from head to foot; kisses her hand; laughs with joy, as he was wont to laugh on the old plantation.
"faithful as ever, daddy? you found me out, and came to see me, didn't you?" says franconia, so kindly, leading him into a small room on the left hand of the hall, where, after ordering some supper for him, she begs he will tell her all about his wayfaring. it is some minutes before bob can get an opportunity to tell franconia that he is a fugitive, having escaped the iron grasp of the law to stand true to old mas'r. at length he, in the enthusiastic boundings of his heart, commences his story.
"nigger true, miss franconia"-he mumbles out-"on'e gib 'im chance to be. ye sees, bob warn't gwine t' lef' old mas'r, nohow; so i gin 'ein da slip when'e come t' takes 'em fo'h sell-"
"then they didn't sell you, old dad? that's good! that's good! and daddy's cold and wet?" she interrupts, anxiously, telling the servant to get some dry clothes for him.
"i is dat, miss frankone. han't ad nofin t' eat dis most two days," he returns, looking at her affectionately, with one of those simple smiles, so true, so expressive.
a supper is soon ready for daddy, to which he sits down as if he were about to renew all his former fondness and familiarity. "seems like old times, don 'un, miss frankone? wish old mas'r war here, too," says the old man, putting the bowl of coffee to his lips, and casting a side-look at the servant.
franconia sits watching him intently, as if he were a child just rescued from some impending danger. "don't mention my poor uncle, daddy. he feels as much interest in you as i do; but the world don't look upon him now as it once did-"
"neber mind: i gwine to work fo' old mas'r. it'll take dis old child to see old mas'r all right," replies the old man, forgetting that he is too old to take care of himself, properly. bob finishes his supper, rests his elbow on the table and his head in his hand, and commences disclosing his troubles to franconia. he tells her how he secreted himself in the pine-woods,--how he wandered through swamps, waded creeks, slept on trunks of trees, crept stealthily to the old mansion at night, listened for mas'r's footsteps, and watched beneath the veranda; and when he found he was not there, how he turned and left the spot, his poor heart regretting. how his heart beat as he passed the old familiar cabin, retracing his steps to seek a shelter in the swamp; how, when he learned her residence, famished with hunger, he wended his way into the city to seek her out, knowing she would relieve his wants.
"what vil da do wid me, spose da cotch me, miss frankone?" enquires the old man, simply, looking down at his encrusted feet, and again at his nether wardrobe, which he feels is not just the thing to appear in before young missus.
"they won't do anything cruel to you, daddy. you are too old; your grey hairs will protect you. why, daddy, you would not fetch a bid if they found out who owned you, and put you up at auction to-morrow," she says, with seeming unconsciousness. she little knew how much the old man prided in his value,--how much he esteemed the amount of good work he could do for master. he shakes his head, looks doubtingly at her, as if questioning the sincerity of her remark.
"just get daddy bob-he mutters-a badge, den 'e show missus how much work in 'um."
franconia promises to comply with his request, and, with the aid of a friend, will intercede for him, and procure for him a badge, that he may display his energies for the benefit of old mas'r. this done, she orders the servant to show him his bed in one of the "yard houses;" bids the old man an affectionate good night, retires to her room, and watches the return of her truant swain.
there, seated in an arm-chair, she waits, and waits, and waits, hope and anxiety recording time as it passes. the servant has seen daddy safe in his room, and joins her missus, where, by the force of habit, she coils herself at her feet, and sleeps. she has not long remained in this position when loud singing breaks upon her ear; louder and louder it vibrates through the music of the storm, and approaches. now she distinctly recognises the sharp voice of m'carstrow, which is followed by loud rappings at the door of the basement hall. m'carstrow, impatiently, demands entrance. the half-sleeping servant, startled at the noise, springs to her feet, rubs her eyes, bounds down the stairs, seizes the globular lamp, and proceeds to open the door. franconia, a candle in her hand, waits at the top of the stairs. she swings back the door, and there, bespattered with mud, face bleeding and distorted, and eyes glassy, stands the chivalrous m'carstrow. he presents a sorry picture; mutters, or half growls, some sharp imprecations; makes a grasp at the girl, falls prostrate on the floor. attempting to gain his perpendicular, he staggers a few yards-the girl screaming with fright-and groans as his face again confronts the tiles. to make the matter still worse, three of his boon companions follow him, and, almost in succession, pay their penance to the floor, in an indescribable catacomb.
"i tell you what, colonel! if that nigger gal a' yourn don't stand close with her blazer we'll get into an all-fired snarl," says one, endeavouring to extricate himself and regain his upright. after sundry ineffectual attempts, surging round the room in search of his hat, which is being very unceremoniously transformed into a muff beneath their entangled extremes, he turns over quietly, saying, "there's something very strange about the floor of this establishment,--it don't seem solid; 'pears how there's ups and downs in it." they wriggle and twist in a curious pile; endeavour to bring their knees out of "a fix"--to free themselves from the angles which they are most unmathematically working on the floor. working and twisting,--now staggering, and again giving utterance to the coarsest language,--one of the gentry--they belong to the sporting world-calls loudly for the colonel's little 'oman. regaining his feet, he makes indelicate advances towards the female servant, who, nearly pale with fright--a negro can look pale--runs to her mistress at the top of the stairs.
he misses the frightened maid, and seats himself on the lowest step of the stairs. here he delivers a sort of half-musical soliloquy, like the following: "gentlemen! this kind a' thing only happens at times, and isn't just the square thing when yer straight; but--seein' how southern life will be so--when a body get's crooked what's got a wife what don't look to matters and things, and never comes to take care on a body when he's done gone, he better shut up shop. better be lookin' round to see what he can scare up!"
franconia holds the flaring light over the stairs: pale and death-like, she trembles with fear, every moment expecting to see them ascend.
"i see the colonel's 'oman! yander she is; she what was imposed on him to save the poverty of her folks. the m'carstrows know a thing or two: her folks may crawl under the dignity of the name, but they don't shell under the dignity of the money-they don't!" says a stalwart companion, attempting to gain a position by the side of his fellow on the steps. he gives a leering wink, contorts his face into a dozen grimaces, stares vacantly round the hall (sliding himself along on his hands and knees), his glassy eyes inflamed like balls of fire. "it'll be all square soon," he growls out.
the poor affrighted servant again attempts-having descended the stairs-to relieve her master; but the crawling creature has regained his feet. he springs upon her like a fiend, utters a fierce yell, and, snatching the lamp from her hand, dashes it upon the tiles, spreading the fractured pieces about the hall. wringing herself from his grasp, she leaves a portion of her dress in his bony hand, and seeks shelter in a distant part of the hall. holding up the fragment as a trophy, he staggers from place to place, making hieroglyphics on the wall with his fingers. his misty mind searches for some point of egress. confronting (rather uncomfortably) hat stands, tables, porcelains, and other hall appurtenances, he at length shuffles his way back to the stairs, where, as if doubting his bleered optics, he stands some moments, swaying to and fro. his hat again falls from his head, and his body, following, lays its lumbering length on the stairs. happy fraternity! how useful is that body! his companion, laying his muddled head upon it, says it will serve for a pillow. "e'ke-hum-spose 'tis so? i reckon how i'm some-ec! eke!-somewhere or nowhere; aint we, joe? it's a funny house, fellers," he continues to soliloquise, laying his arm affectionately over his companion's neck, and again yielding to the caprice of his nether limbs.
the gentlemen will now enjoy a little refreshing sleep; to further which enjoyment, they very coolly and unceremoniously commence a pot-pourri of discordant snoring. this seems of grateful concord for their boon companions, who-forming an equanimity of good feeling on the floor-join in.
the servant is but a slave, subject to her owner's will; she dare not approach him while in such an uncertain condition. franconia cannot intercede, lest his companions, strangers to her, and having the appearance of low-bred men, taking advantage of m'carstrow's besotted condition, make rude advances. m'carstrow, snoring high above his cares, will take his comfort upon the tiles.
the servant is supplied with another candle, which, at franconia's bidding, she places in a niche of the hall. it will supply light to the grotesque sleepers, whose lamp has gone out.
franconia has not forgotten that m'carstrow is her husband; she has not forgotten that she owes him a wife's debt of kindness. she descends the stairs gently, leans over his besotted body, smooths his feverish brow with her hand, and orders the servant to bring a soft cushion; which done, she raises his head and places it beneath-so gently, so carefully. her loving heart seems swelling with grief, as compassionately she gazes upon him; then, drawing a cambric handkerchief from her bosom, spreads it so kindly over his face. woman! there is worth in that last little act. she leaves him to enjoy his follies, but regrets their existence. retiring to the drawing-room, agitated and sleepless, she reclines on a lounge to await the light of morning. again the faithful servant, endeavouring to appease her mistress's agitation, crouches upon the carpet, resting her head on the ottoman at franconia's feet.
the morning dawns bright and sunny: franconia has not slept. she has passed the hours in watchfulness; has watched the negro sleeping, while her thoughts were rivetted to the scene in the hall. she gets up, paces the room from the couch to the window, and sits down again undecided, unresolved. taking diana-such is the servant's name-by the hand, she wakes her, and sends her into the hall to ascertain the condition of the sleepers. the metamorphosed group, poisoning the air with their reeking breath, are still enjoying the morbid fruits of their bacchanalianism. quietly, coolly, and promiscuously, they lay as lovingly as fellows of the animal world could desire.
the servant returns, shaking her head. "missus, da'h lays yander, so in all fixins dat no tellin' which most done gone. mas'r seems done gone, sartin!" says the servant, her face glowing with apprehension.
the significant phrase alarms franconia. she repairs to the hall, and commences restoring the sleepers to consciousness. the gentlemen are doggedly obstinate; they refuse to be disturbed. she recognises the face of one whose business it is to reduce men to the last stage of poverty. her sensitive nature shudders at the sight, as she views him with a curl of contempt on her lip. "oh, m'carstrow,--m'carstrow!" she whispers, and taking him by the hand, shakes it violently. m'carstrow, with countenance ghastly and inflamed, begins to raise his sluggish head. he sees franconia pensively gazing in his face; and yet he enquires who it is that disturbs the progress of his comforts. "only me!" says the good woman, soliciting him to leave his companions and accompany her.
oh, you, is it?" he replies, grumblingly, rising on his right elbow, and rubbing his eyes with his left hand. wildly and vacantly he stares round the hall, as if aroused from a trance, and made sensible of his condition.
"yes, me-simply me, who, lost to your affections, is made most unhappy-" franconia would proceed, but is interrupted by her muddling swain.
"unhappy! unhappy!" says the man of southern chivalry, making sundry irresistible nods. "propagator of mischief, of evil contentions, of peace annihilators. ah! ah! ah! thinking about the lustre of them beggared relations. it always takes fools to make a fuss over small things: an angel wouldn't make a discontented woman happy." franconia breaks out into a paroxysm of grief, so unfeeling is the tone in which he addresses her. he is a southern gentleman,--happily not of new england in his manners, not of new england in his affections, not of new england in his domestic associations. he thinks franconia very silly, and scouts with derision the idea of marrying a southern gentleman who likes enjoyment, and then making a fuss about it. he thinks she had better shut up her whimpering,--learn to be a good wife upon southern principles.
"husbands should be husbands, to claim a wife's respect; and they should never forget that kindness makes good wives. take away the life springs of woman's love, and what is she? what is she with her happiness gone, her pride touched, her prospects blasted? what respect or love can she have for the man who degrades her to the level of his own loathsome companions?" franconia points to those who lie upon the floor, repulsive, and reeking with the fumes of dissipation. "there are your companions," she says.
"companions?" he returns, enquiringly. he looks round upon them with surprise. "who are those fellows you have got here?" he enquires, angrily.
"you brought them to your own home; that home you might make happy-"
"not a bit of it! they are some of your d-d disreputable relations."
"my relations never violate the conduct of gentlemen." "no; but they sponge on me. these my companions!" looking at them inquisitively. "oh, no! don't let us talk about such things; i'ze got fifteen hundred dollars and costs to pay for that nigger gal you were fool enough to get into a fit about when we were married. that's what i'ze got for my good-heartedness." m'carstrow permits his very gentlemanly southern self to get into a rage. he springs to his feet suddenly, crosses and recrosses the hall like one frenzied with excitement. franconia is frightened, runs up the stairs, and into her chamber, where, secreting herself, she fastens the door. he looks wistfully after her, stamping his foot, but he will not follow. too much of a polished gentleman, he will merely amuse himself by running over the gamut of his strongest imprecations. the noise creates general alarm among his companions, who, gaining their uprights, commence remonstrating with him on his rude conduct, as if they were much superior beings.
"now, colonel, major,--or whatever they dubbed ye, in the way of a title," says one, putting his hand to his hat with a swaggering bow; "just stop that ar' sort a' nonsense, and pay over this 'ere little affair afore we gets into polite etiquette and such things. when, to make the expenses, ye comes into a place like ours, and runs up a credit score,--when ye gets so lofty that ye can't tell fifty from five, we puts a sealer on, so customers don't forget in the morning." the modest gentleman presents to m'carstrow's astonished eyes a note for twenty-seven hundred dollars, with the genuine signature. m'carstrow takes it in his hand, stares at it, turns it over and over. the signature is his; but he is undecided about the manner of its getting there, and begins to give expression to some doubt.
the gentleman watches m'carstrow very cautiously. "straight! colonel-he says-just turn out the shiners, or, to 'commodate, we'll let ye off with a sprinkling of niggers."
the colonel puts the fore-finger of his left hand to his lips, and, with serious countenance, walks twice or thrice across the hall, as if consulting his dignity: "shell out the niggers first; we'll take the dignity part a'ter," he concludes.
"i demand to know how you came in my house," interrupts the colonel, impatiently. he finds himself in very bad company; company southern gentlemen never acknowledge by daylight.
"we brought you here! anything else you'd like to know?" is the cool, sneering response. the gentleman will take a pinch of snuff; he draws his fancy box from his pocket, gives the cover a polite rap with his finger, invites the enraged m'carstrow to "take." that gentleman shakes his head,--declines. he is turning the whole affair over in his head, seems taking it into serious consideration. seriously, he accepted their accommodation, and now finds himself compelled to endure their painful presence.
"i, i, i-m, rather in doubt," stammers m'carstrow, fingering the little obligation again, turning it over and over, rubbing his eyes, applying his glass. he sees nothing in the signature to dispute. "i must stop this kind of fishing," he says; "don't do. it 's just what friend scranton would call very bad philosophy. gentlemen, suppose you sit down; we'd better consider this matter a little. han't got a dime in the bank, just now." m'carstrow is becoming more quiet, takes a philosophical view of the matter, affects more suavity. calling loudly for the negro servant, that personage presents herself, and is ordered to bring chairs to provide accommodation for the gentlemen, in the hall.
"might just as well settle the matter in the parlour, colonel; t'wont put you out a mite," the gambler suggests, with a laconic air. he will not trouble m'carstrow by waiting for his reply. no; he leads the way, very coolly, asking no odds of etiquette; and, having entered the apartment, invites his comrades to take seats. the dignity and coolness with which the manouvre is executed takes "boss" m'carstrow by surprise; makes him feel that he is merely a dependent individual, whose presence there is not much need of. "i tell you what it is, gents, i'ze shaved my accounts at the bank down to the smallest figure, have! but there's an honourable consideration about this matter; and, honour's honour, and i want to discharge it somehow--niggers or cash!" the gentlemen's feelings have smoothed down amazingly. m'carstrow is entirely serious, and willing to comply.
the gentlemen have seated themselves in a triangle, with the "done over" colonel in the centre.
"well, niggers will do just as well, provided they are sound, prime, and put at prices so a feller can turn 'em into tin, quick," says the gentleman, who elects himself spokesman of the party.
"keeps my property in tall condition, but won't shove it off under market quotations, no how!" m'carstrow interrupts, as the spokesman, affecting the nonchalance of a newly-elected alderman, places his feet upon the rich upholstery of a sofa close by. he would enjoy the extremes of southern comfort. "colonel, i wish you had a more convenient place to spit," rejoins the gentleman. he will not trouble the maid, however-he let's fly the noxious mixture, promiscuously; it falls from his lips upon the soft hearth-rug. "it will add another flower to the expensive thing," he says, very coolly, elongating his figure a little more. he has relieved himself, wondrously. m'carstrow calls the servant, points to the additional wreath on the hearth-rug!
"all your nigger property as good-conditioned as that gal?" enquires the gentleman, the others laughing at the nicety of his humour. rising from his seat very deliberately, he approaches the servant, lays his hand upon her neck and shoulders.
"not quite so fast, my friend: d-n it, gentlemen, don't be rude. that's coming the thing a little too familiar. there is a medium: please direct your moist appropriations and your improper remarks in their proper places." the girl, cringing beneath the ruffian's hand, places the necessary receptacle at his feet.
the gentleman is offended,--very much offended. he thinks it beneath the expansion of his mind-to be standing on aristocratic nonsense! "spit boxes and nigger property ain't the thing to stand on about haristocrats; just put down the dimes. three bright niggers 'll do: turn 'em out."
"three of my best niggers!" ejaculates the colonel.
"nothin' shorter, colonel."
"remember, gentlemen, the market price of such property. the demand for cotton has made niggers worth their weight in gold, for any purpose. take the prosperity of our country into consideration, gentlemen; remember the worth of prime men. the tip men of the market are worth 1200 dollars."
"might as well lay that kind a' financerin aside, colonel. what's the use of living in a free country, where every man has a right to make a penny when he can, and talk so? now, 'pears to me t'aint no use a' mincing the matter; we might a' leaked ye in for as many thousands as hundreds. seein' how ye was a good customer, we saved ye on a small shot. better put the niggers out: ownin' such a lot, ye won't feel it! give us three prime chaps; none a' yer old sawbones what ye puts up at auction when ther' worked down to nothin'."
m'carstrow's powers of reasoning are quite limited; and, finding himself in one of those strange situations southern gentlemen so often get into, and which not unfrequently prove as perplexing as the workings of the peculiar institution itself, he seeks relief by giving an order for three prime fellows. they will be delivered up, at the plantation, on the following day, when the merchandise will be duly made over, as per invoice. everything is according to style and honour; the gentlemen pledge their faith to be gentlemen, to leave no dishonourable loop-hole for creeping out. and now, having settled the little matter, they make m'carstrow the very best of bows, desire to be remembered to his woman, bid him good morning, and leave. they will claim their property-three prime men-by the justice of a "free-born democracy."
m'carstrow watches them from the house, moralising over his folly. they have gone! he turns from the sight, ascends the stairs, and repairs to meet his franconia.