第 24 节
that to some extent she was an invalid。 It was in vain that she argued with herself as to the propriety of undertaking the journey alone and unprotected; and she finally put an end to inward and outward doubts by informing herself and her friends; including John Huntingdon; her brother; who was practicing law in Atlanta; that she had decided to visit the South。
When; therefore; on the 12th of October; 1870…the date is duly recorded in one of Miss Theodosia's letters…she alighted from the cars in Atlanta; in the midst of a great crowd; she fully expected to find her brother waiting to receive her。 The bells of several locomotives were ringing; a number of trains were moving in and out; and the porters and baggage…men were screaming and bawling to such an extent that for several moments Miss Huntingdon was considerably confused; so much so that she paused in the hope that her brother would suddenly appear and rescue her from the smoke; and dust; and din。 At that moment some one touched her on the arm; and she heard a strong; half…confident; half…apologetic voice exclaim:
〃Ain't dish yer Miss Doshy?〃
Turning; Miss Theodosia saw at her side a tall; gray…haired negro。 Elaborating the incident afterward to her friends; she was pleased to say that the appearance of the old man was somewhat picturesque。 He stood towering above her; his hat in one hand; a carriage…whip in the other; and an expectant smile lighting up his rugged face。 She remembered a name her brother had often used in his letters; and; with a woman's tact; she held out her hand; and said:
〃Is this Uncle Remus?〃
〃Law; Miss Doshy! how you know de ole nigger? I know'd you by de faver; but how you know me?〃 And then; without waiting for a reply: 〃Miss Sally; she sick in bed; en Mars John; he bleedzd ter go in de country; en dey tuck'n sont me。 I know'd you de minnit I laid eyes on you。 Time I seed you; I say ter myse'f; 'I lay dar's Miss Doshy;' en; sho nuff; dar you wuz。 You ain't gun up yo' checks; is you? Kaze I'll git de trunk sont up by de 'spress waggin。〃
The next moment Uncle Remus was elbowing his way unceremoniously through the crowd; and in a very short time; seated in the carriage driven by the old man; Miss Huntingdon was whirling through the streets of Atlanta in the direcfion of her brother's home。 She took advantage of the opportunity to study the old negro's face closely; her natural curiosity considerably sharpened by a knowledge of the fact that Uncle Remus had played an important part in her brother's history。 The result of her observation must have been satisfactory; for presently she laughed; and said:
〃Uncle Remus; you haven't told me how you knew me in that great crowd。〃
The old man chuckled; and gave the horses a gentle rap with the whip。
〃Who? Me! I know'd you by de faver。 Dat boy er Mars John's is de ve'y spit en immij un you。 I'd a know'd you in New 'Leens; let lone down dar in de kyar…shed。〃
This was Miss Theodosia's introduction to Uncle Remus。 One Sunday afternoon; a few weeks after her arrival; the family were assembled in the piazza enjoying the mild weather。 Mr。 Huntingdon was reading a newspaper; his wife was crooning softly as she rocked the baby to sleep; and the little boy was endeavoring to show his Aunt Dosia the outlines of。 Kenesaw Mountain through the purple haze that hung like a wonderfully fashioned curtain in the sky and almost obliterated the horizon。 While they were thus engaged; Uncle Remus came around the corner of the house; talking to himself。
〃Dey er too lazy ter wuk;〃 he was saying; 〃en dey specks hones' fokes fer ter stan' up en s'port um。 I'm gwine down ter Putmon County whar Mars Jeems is…dat's w'at I'm agwine ter do。〃
〃What's the matter now; Uncle Remus?〃 inquired Mr。 Huntingdon; folding up his newspaper。
〃Nuthin' 'tall; Mars John; 'ceppin deze yer sunshine niggers。 Dey begs my terbacker; en borrys my tools; en steals my vittles; en hit's done come ter dat pass dat I gotter pack up en go。 I'm agwine down ter Putmon; dat's w'at。〃
Uncle Remus was accustomed to make this threat several times a day; but upon this occasion it seemed to remind Mr。 Huntingdon of something。
〃Very well;〃 he said; 〃I'll come around and help you pack up; but before you go I want you to tell Sister here how you went to war and fought for the Union。…Remus was a famous warrior;〃 he continued; turning to Miss Theodosia; 〃he volunteered for one day; and commanded an army of one。 You know the story; but you have never heard Remus's version。
Uncle Remus shuffled around in an awkward; embarrassed way; scratched his head; and looked uncomfortable。
〃Miss Doshy ain't got no time fer ter set dar an year de ole nigger run on。
〃Oh; yes; I have; Uncle Remus!〃 exclaimed the young lady; 〃plenty of time。〃
The upshot of it was that; after many ridiculous protests; Uncle Remus sat down on the steps; and proceeded to tell his story of the war。 Miss Theodosia listened with great interest; but throughout it all she observed…and she was painfully conscious of the fact; as she afterward admitted…that Uncle Rcmus spoke from the standpoint of a Southerner'; and with the air of one who expected his hearers to thoroughly sympathize with him。
〃Co'se;〃 said Uncle Remus; addressing himself to Miss Theodosia; 〃you ain't bin to Putmon; en you dunner whar de Brad Slaughter place en Harmony Grove is; but Mars John en Miss Sally; dey bin dar a time er two; en dey knows how de lan' lays。 Well; den; it 'uz right long in dere whar Mars Jeems lived; en whar he live now。 When de war come long he wnz livin' dere longer Ole Miss en Miss Sally。 Ole Miss 'uz his ma; en Miss Sally dar 'uz his sister。 De war come des like I tell you; en marters sorter rock along same like dey allers did。 Hit didn't strike me dat dey wnz enny war gwine on; en ef I hadn't sorter miss de nabers; en seed fokes gwine outer de way fer ter ax de news; I'd a 'lowed ter myse'f dat de war wuz 'way off 'mong some yuther country。 But all dis time de fuss wnz gwine on; en Mars Jeems; he wnz des eatchin' fer ter put in。 Ole Miss en Miss Sally; dey tuck on so he didn't git off de fus' year; but bimeby news come down dat times wuz gittin' putty hot; en Mars Jeems he got up; he did; en say he gotter go; en go he did。 He got a overseer fer ter look atter de place; en he went en jined de army。 En he 'uz a fighter; too; mon; Mars Jeems wnz。 Many's en many's de time;〃 continued the old man; reflectively; 〃dat I hatter take'n bresh dat boy on accounter his 'buzin' en beatin' dem yuther boys。 He went off dar fer ter fight; en he fit。 Ole Miss useter call me up Sunday en read w'at de papers say 'bout Mars Jeems; en it hope 'er up mightly。 I kin see 'er des like it 'uz yistiddy。
Remus;' sez she; 'dish yer's w'at de papers say 'bout my baby;' en den she'd read out twel she couldn't read fer cryin'。 Hit went on dis way year in en year out; en dem wuz lonesome times; sho's you bawn; Miss Doshy…lonesome times; sho。 Hit got hotter en hotter in de war; en lonesomer en mo' lonesomer at home; en bimeby 'long come de conscrip' man; en he des everlas'nly scoop up Mars Jeems's overseer。 W'en dis come 'bout; ole Miss; she sont atter me en say; sez she:
〃'Remus; I ain't got nobody fer ter look arter de place but you;' sez she; en den I up'n say; sez I:
'Mistiss; you kin des 'pen' on de ole nigger。'
〃I wuz ole den; Miss Doshy…let lone w'at I is now; en you better b'leeve I bossed dem han's。 I had dem niggers up en in de fier long 'fo' day; en de way dey did wnk wuz a caution。 Ef dey didn't earut der vittles dat season den I ain't name Remus。 But dey wuz tuk keer un。 Dey had plenty er doze en plenty er grub; en dey wuz de fattes' niggers in de settlement。
〃Bimeby one day; Ole Miss; she call me up en say de Yankees done gone en tuck Atlanty…dish yer ve'y town; den present'y I year dey wuz a marchin' on down todes Putmon; en; lo en beholesi one day; de fus news I know'd; Mars Jeems he rid up wid a whole gang er men。 He des stop long nuff fer ter change hosses en snatch a mouffle er sump'n ter eat; but 'fo' he rid off; he call me up en say; sez he:
〃'Daddy'…all Ole Miss's chilluns call me daddy…'Daddy;' he say; ''pears like dere's gwineter be mighty rough times 'roun' yer。 De Yankees; dey er done got ter Madison en Mounticellar; en 'twon't be many days 'fo' dey er down yer。 'Tain't likely dey'll pester mother ner sister; but; daddy; ef de wns come ter de wns; I speck you ter take keer un um;' sezee。
〃Den I say; sez I: 'How long you bin knowin' me; Mars Jeems?' sez I。
〃'S ence I wuz a baby;' sezee。
〃'Well; den; Mars Jeems;' sez I; 'you know'd 'twa'nt no use fer ter ax me ter take keer Ole Miss en Miss Sally。'
〃Den he tuck'n squoze my han' en jump on de filly I bin savin' fer 'im; en rid off。 One time he tu'n roun' en look like he wanter say sump'n'; but he des waf' his han'…so…en gallop on。 I know'd den dat trouble wuz brewin'。 Nigger dat knows he's gwineter git thumped kin sorter fix hisse'f; en I tuck'n fix up like de war wuz gwineter come right in at de front gate。 I tuck'n got all de cattle en hosses tergedder en driv' um ter de fo'…mile place; en I tuck all de corn en fodder en w'eat; en put urn in a crib out dar in de woods; en I bilt me a pen in de swamp; en dar I pu