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company。 Drummond's opinions were a good deal affected by
sectional prejudice； and a self…satisfied and righteous ignorance
of the actual conditions and limitations of the people with whom he
was to deal； while the younger man； who had served through the war
with distinction； retained a soldier's respect and esteem for his
late antagonists； with a conscientious and thoughtful observation
of their character。 Although he had resigned from the army； the
fact that he had previously graduated at West Point with high
honors had given him preferment in this technical appointment； and
his knowledge of the country and its people made him a valuable
counselor。 And it was a fact that the country people had preferred
this soldier with whom they had once personally grappled to the
capitalist they had never known during the struggle。
The train rolled slowly through the woods； so slowly that the
fragrant pine smoke from the engine still hung round the windows of
the cars。 Gradually the 〃clearings〃 became larger； they saw the
distant white wooden colonnades of some planter's house； looking
still opulent and pretentious； although the fence of its inclosure
had broken gaps； and the gate sagged on its single hinge。
Mr。 Drummond sniffed at this damning record of neglect and
indifference。 〃Even if they were ruined； they might still have
spent a few cents for nails and slats to enable them to look decent
before folks； and not parade their poverty before their neighbors；〃
he said。
〃But that's just where you misunderstand them； Drummond；〃 said
Courtland； smiling。 〃They have no reason to keep up an attitude
towards their neighbors； who still know them as 'Squire' so…and…so；
'Colonel' this and that； and the 'Judge；'owners of their vast but
crippled estates。 They are not ashamed of being poor； which is an
accident。〃
〃But they are of working； which is DELIBERATION；〃 interrupted
Drummond。 〃They are ashamed to mend their fences themselves； now
that they have no slaves to do it for them。〃
〃I doubt very much if some of them know how to drive a nail； for
the matter of that；〃 said Courtland； still good…humoredly； 〃but
that's the fault of a system older than themselves； which the
founders of the Republic retained。 We cannot give them experience
in their new condition in one day； and in fact； Drummond； I am very
much afraid that for our purposesand I honestly believe for THEIR
goodwe must help to keep them for the present as they are。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Drummond sarcastically； 〃you would like to
reinstate slavery？〃
〃No。 But I should like to reinstate the MASTER。 And not for HIS
sake alone； but for freedom's sake and OURS。 To be plain： since I
have taken up this matter for the company； I have satisfied myself
from personal observation that the negroeven more than his
mastercannot handle his new condition。 He is accustomed to his
old traditional task…master； and I doubt if he will work fairly for
any otherparticularly for those who don't understand him。 Don't
mistake me： I don't propose to go back to the whip； to that brutal
institution； the irresponsible overseer； to the buying and selling；
and separation of the family； nor any of the old wrongs； but I
propose to make the old master OUR OVERSEER； and responsible to US。
He is not a fool； and has already learned that it is more profitable
to pay wages to his old slaves and have the power of dismissal； like
any other employer； than be obliged； under the old system of
enforced labor and life servitude； to undergo the cost of maintaining
incompetence and idleness。 The old sentiment of slave…owning has
disappeared before natural common…sense and selfishness。 I am
satisfied that by some such process as this utilizing of the old
master and the new freedom we will be better able to cultivate our
lands than by buying up their estates； and setting the old owners
adrift； with a little money in their pockets； as an idle；
discontented class to revive old political dogmas； and foment new
issues； or perhaps set up a dangerous opposition to us。
〃You don't mean to say that those infernal niggers would give the
preference to their old oppressors？〃
〃Dollar for dollar in wagesyes！ And why shouldn't they？ Their
old masters understand them betterand treat them generally
better。 They know our interest in them is only an abstract
sentiment； not a real liking。 We show it at every turn。 But we
are nearing Redlands； and Major Reed will； I have no doubt；
corroborate my impressions。 He insists upon our staying at his
house； although the poor old fellow； I imagine； can ill afford to
entertain company。 But he will be offended if we refuse。〃
〃He is a friend of yours； then？〃 asked Drummond。
〃I fought against his division at Stony Creek；〃 said Courtland
grimly。 〃He never tires of talking of it to meso I suppose I
am。〃
A few moments later the train glided beside the Redlands platform。
As the two travelers descended a hand was laid on Courtland's
shoulder； and a stout figure in the blackest and shiniest of alpaca
jackets； and the whitest and broadest of Panama hats； welcomed him。
〃Glad to see yo'； cun'nel。 I reckoned I'd waltz over and bring
along the boy；〃 pointing to a grizzled negro servant of sixty who
was bowing before them； 〃to tote yo'r things over instead of using
a hack。 I haven't run much on horseflesh since the wahha！ ha！
What I didn't use up for remounts I reckon yo'r commissary gobbled
up with the other live stock； eh？〃 He laughed heartily； as if the
recollections were purely humorous； and again clapped Courtland on
the back。
〃Let me introduce my friend； Mr。 Drummond； Major Reed；〃 said
Courtland； smiling。
〃Yo' were in the wah； sir？〃
〃NoI〃returned Drummond； hesitating； he knew not why； and angry
at his own embarrassment。
〃Mr。 Drummond； the vice…president of the company；〃 interposed
Courtland cheerfully； 〃was engaged in furnishing to us the sinews
of war。〃
Major Reed bowed a little more formally。 〃Most of us heah； sir；
were in the wah some time or other； and if you gentlemen will honah
me by joining in a social glass at the hotel across the way； I'll
introduce you to Captain Prendergast； who left a leg at Fair Oaks。〃
Drummond would have declined； but a significant pressure on his arm
from Courtland changed his determination。 He followed them to the
hotel and into the presence of the one…legged warrior （who turned
out to be the landlord and barkeeper）； to whom Courtland was
hilariously introduced by Major Reed as 〃the man； sir； who had
pounded my division for three hours at Stony Creek！〃
Major Reed's house was but a few minutes' walk down the dusty lane；
and was presently heralded by the baying of three or four foxhounds
and foreshadowed by a dilapidated condition of picket…fence and
stuccoed gate front。 Beyond it stretched the wooden Doric columns
of the usual Southern mansion； dimly seen through the broad leaves
of the horse…chestnut…trees that shaded it。 There were the usual
listless black shadows haunting the veranda and outer offices
former slaves and still attached house…servants； arrested like
lizards in breathless attitudes at the approach of strange
foots