The Christian Slave - A Drama Part 10

[Exit Ca.s.sy.]

SCENE V.--Sitting-Room.

Legree. [Drinking.] Plague on that Sambo, to kick up his yer row between me and the new hands! The fellow won't be fit to work for a week now,--right in the press of the season.

Ca.s.sy. Yes; just like you.

Leg. Hah! you she-devil! you 've come back, have you?

Cas. Yes, I have; come to have my own way, too!

Leg. You lie, you jade! I 'll be up to my word. Either behave yourself, or stay down to the quarters, and fare and work with the rest.

Cas. I 'd rather, ten thousand times, live in the dirtiest hole at the quarters, than be under your hoof!

Leg. But you are under my hoof, for all that; that 's one comfort. So, sit down here on my knee, my dear, and hear to reason.

Cas. Simon Legree, take care! You 're afraid of me, Simon; and you 've reason to be! But be careful, for I 've got the devil in me!

Leg. Get out! I believe to my soul you have! After all, Ca.s.sy, why can't you be friends with me as you used to?

Cas. Used to!

Leg. Come, Ca.s.sy, I wish you 'd behave yourself decently.

Cas. You talk about behaving decently! And what have you been doing? You, who have n't even sense enough to keep from spoiling one of your best hands, right in the most pressing season, just for your devilish temper!

Leg. I was a fool, it 's a fact, to let any such brangle come up; but when the boy set up his will, he had to be broke in.

Cas. I reckon you won't break him in!

Leg. Won't I? I 'd like to know if I won't! He 'll be the first n.i.g.g.e.r that ever came it round me! I 'll break every bone in his body but he shall give up!

Cas. No, he won't!

Leg. I 'd like to know why, mistress.

Cas. Because he 's done right, and he knows it, and won't say he 's doing wrong.

Leg. Who a cuss cares what he knows? The n.i.g.g.e.r shall say what I please, or----- Cas. Or you 'll lose your bet on the cotton crop by keeping him out of the field just at this very press.

Leg. But he will give up; of course he will. Don't I know what n.i.g.g.e.rs is? He 'll beg like a dog this morning.

Cas. He won't, Simon; you don't know this kind. You may kill him by inches, you won't get the first word of confession out him.

Leg. We 'll see. Where is he?

Cas. In the waste-room of the gin house.

[Exit LEGREE.] Cas. [Solus.] Would it be a sin to kill such a wretch as that?

Enter EMMELINE. Emmeline. O, Ca.s.sy! is it you? I 'm so glad you've come! I was afraid it was ----- O, you won't know what a horrid noise there has been, down stairs, all this evening!

Cas. I ought to know; I 've heard it often enough.

Em. O, Ca.s.sy! Do tell me,--could n't we get away from this place? I don't care where,--into the swamp among the snakes,--anywhere! Could n't we get somewhere away from here?

Cas. Nowhere but into our graves!

Em. Did you ever try?

Cas. I 've seen enough of trying, and what comes of it?

Em. I 'd be willing to live in the swamps, and gnaw the bark from trees. I an't afraid of snakes! I 'd rather have one near me than him.

Cas. There have been a good many here of your opinion; but you could n't stay in the swamps. You 'd be tracked by the dogs, and brought back, and then--then-- Em. What would he do?

Cas. What would n't he do, you 'd better ask! He 's learned his trade well among the pirates in the West Indies. You would n't sleep much, if I should tell you things I 've seen,--things that he tells of, so metimes, for good jokes. I 've heard screams here that I have n't been able to get out of my head for weeks and weeks. There 's a place way out down by the quarters, where you can see a black, blasted tree, and the ground all covered with black ashes. Ask any one what was done there, and see if they will dare to tell you.

Em. O, what do you mean?

Cas. I won't tell you. I hate to think of it. And, I tell you, the Lord only knows what we may see to-morrow, if that poor fellow holds out as he 's begun!

Em. Horrid! O, Ca.s.sy, do tell me what I shall do!

Cas. What I 've done. Do the best you can--do what you must, and make it up in hating and cursing!

Em. He wanted to make me drink some of his hateful brandy; and I hate it so-- Cas. You 'd better drink. I hated it too; and now I can't live without it. One must have something--things don't look so dreadful when you take that.

Em. Mother used to tell me never to touch any such thing.

Cas. Mother told you! What use is it for mothers to say anything? You are all to be bought and paid for, and your souls belong to whoever gets you. That 's the way it goes. I say, drink brandy; dr ink all you can, and it 'll make things come easier!

Em. O, Ca.s.sy, do pity me!

Cas. Pity you!--and don't I? Have n't I a daughter?--Lord knows where she is, and whose she is now,--going the way her mother went before her, I suppose, and that her children must go after her! There 's no end to the curse--forever!

Em. I wish I 'd never been born!

Cas. That 's an old wish with me. I 've got used to wishing that. I 'd die if I dared to!

Em. It would be wicked to kill one's self.

Cas. I don't know why;--no wickeder than things we live and do day after day. But the sisters told me things, when I was in the convent, that make me afraid to die. If it would only be the end of us, why then-- Legree. [Calling.] Ca.s.sy!--I say!--Emmeline!

Cas. There he is!--What now?

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VI.--Moonlight. UNCLE TOM--Solus. [Sings.]

"Way down upon the Swanee river, Far, far away, Dere's whar my heart is turning, ever,

Dere's whar the old folks stay.

All the world am sad and dreary, Everywhere I roam; O, Chloe, how my heart grows weary, Thinkin' of ye all at home!" [A pause. Looks up. His face brightens. Sings.]

"When I can read my t.i.tle clear To mansions in the skies, I bid farewell to every fear,

And wipe my weeping eyes.

Should earth against my soul engage, And h.e.l.lish darts be hurled, Then I can smile at Satan's rage, And face a frowning world." [Enter LEGREE, unperceived.] "Let cares like a wild deluge come, And storms of sorrow fall, May I but safely reach my home, My G.o.d, my heaven, my all!" Leg.[Aside.] So, ho! he thinks so, does he! How I hate these cursed Methodist hymns! [To TOM, aloud.] Here, you n.i.g.g.e.r! how dare you be gettin' up this yer row, when you ought to be in bed? Shut yer old black gash, and get along in with you!

Uncle T. Yes, Mas'r.

Leg. [Beating him.] There, you dog! see if you feel so comfortable after that!

[Exit TOM.]

SCENE VII.--Night. Before UNCLE TOM'S Cottage.

Enter Ca.s.sY. She raps. UNCLE TOM opens the door. Ca.s.sy. Come here, father Tom! come here; I 've news for you!

Uncle Tom. What, Misse Ca.s.sy?

Cas. Tom, would n't you like your liberty?

Uncle T. I shall have it, misse, in G.o.d's time.

Cas. Ay, but you may have it to-night! Come on!

[UNCLE TOM holds back.] Cas. Come! Come along! He 's asleep--sound. I put enough into his brandy to keep him so. I wish I 'd had more, I should n't have wanted you. But come, the back-door is unlocked: there is an axe there; I put it there--his room-door is open; I 'll show you the way. I 'd a done it myself, only my arms are so weak. Come along!

Uncle T. Not for ten thousand worlds, misse!

Cas. But think of all these poor creatures. We might set them all free, and go somewhere in the swamps, and find an island, and live by ourselves; I've heard of its being done. Any life is better than this.

Uncle T. No, no! good never comes of wickedness. I 'd sooner chop my right hand off!

Cas. Then I shall do it.

Uncle T. O, misse Ca.s.sy! for the dear Lord's sake that died for ye, don't sell your precious soul to the devil, that way! Nothing but evil will come of it. The Lord has n't called us to wrath. We must suffer, and wait his time.

Cas. Wait! Have n't I waited?--waited till my head is dizzy and my heart sick? What has he made me suffer! What has he made hundreds of poor creatures suffer! Is n't he wringing the life-blood out of you? I'm called on! They call me! His time 's come, and I'll have his heart's blood!

Uncle T. No, no, no! No, ye poor, lost soul, that ye must n't do! The dear, blessed Lord never shed no blood but his own, and that he poured out for us when we was enemies. Lord, help us to follow his steps, and love our enemies!