按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
while he bent with each question closer to the shrinking forms before
him。 The tone was sepulchral； with awful pause as if waiting each time
for a reply。 The culmination came with a pounce on one of the group； a
shake of the shoulders； and a shout of：
〃YOU'VE got it！' and she tore him all to pieces！〃
And the children would shout 〃Lordy！〃 and look furtively over their
shoulders； fearing to see a woman in white against the black wall； but；
instead； only gloomy； shapeless shadows darted across it as the
flickering flames in the fireplace went out on one brand and flared up on
another。 Then there was a story of a great ball of fire that used to
follow lonely travelers along dark roads through the woods。
〃Once 'pon a time there was a man； and he was riding along de road and he
come to a ha'nted house； and he heard de chains'a…rattlin' and a…rattlin'
and a…rattlin'； and a ball of fire come rollin' up and got under his
stirrup； and it didn't make no difference if his horse galloped or went
slow or stood still； de ball of fire staid under his stirrup till he got
plum to de front do'； and his wife come out and say： 'My Gord； dat's
devil fire！' and she had to work a witch spell to drive it away。〃
〃How big was it； Uncle Ned？〃
〃Oh； 'bout as big as your head； and I 'spect it's likely to come down dis
yere chimney 'most any time。〃
Certainly an atmosphere like this meant a tropic development for the
imagination of a delicate child。 All the games and daily talk concerned
fanciful semi…African conditions and strange primal possibilities。 The
children of that day believed in spells and charms and bad…luck signs；
all learned of their negro guardians。
But if the negroes were the chief companions and protectors of the
children； they were likewise one of their discomforts。 The greatest real
dread children knew was the fear of meeting runaway slaves。 A runaway
slave was regarded as worse than a wild beast； and treated worse when
caught。 Once the children saw one brought into Florida by six men who
took him to an empty cabin； where they threw him on the floor and bound
him with ropes。 His groans were loud and frequent。 Such things made an
impression that would last a lifetime。
Slave punishment； too； was not unknown； even in the household。 Jennie
especially was often saucy and obstreperous。 Jane Clemens； with more
strength of character than of body； once undertook to punish her for
insolence； whereupon Jennie snatched the whip from her hand。 John
Clemens was sent for in haste。 He came at once； tied Jennie's wrists
together with a bridle rein； and administered chastisement across the
shoulders with a cowhide。 These were things all calculated to impress a
sensitive child。
In pleasant weather the children roamed over the country； hunting berries
and nuts； drinking sugar…water； tying knots in love…vine； picking the
petals from daisies to the formula 〃Love me…love me not；〃 always
accompanied by one or more； sometimes by half a dozen； of their small
darky followers。 Shoes were taken off the first of April。 For a time a
pair of old woolen stockings were worn； but these soon disappeared；
leaving the feet bare for the summer。 One of their dreads was the
possibility of sticking a rusty nail into the foot； as this was liable to
cause lockjaw； a malady regarded with awe and terror。 They knew what
lockjaw wasUncle John Quarles's black man； Dan； was subject to it。
Sometimes when he opened his mouth to its utmost capacity he felt the
joints slip and was compelled to put down the cornbread； or jole and
greens； or the piece of 'possum he was eating； while his mouth remained a
fixed abyss until the doctor came and restored it to a natural position
by an exertion of muscular power that would have well…nigh lifted an ox。
Uncle John Quarles； his home； his farm； his slaves； all were sources of
never…ending delight。 Perhaps the farm was just an ordinary Missouri
farm and the slaves just average negroes； but to those children these
things were never apparent。 There was a halo about anything that
belonged to Uncle John Quarles； and that halo was the jovial； hilarious
kindness of that gentle…hearted； humane man。 To visit at his house was
for a child to be in a heaven of mirth and pranks continually。 When the
children came for eggs he would say：
〃Your hens won't lay； eh？ Tell your maw to feed 'em parched corn and
drive 'em uphill；〃 and this was always a splendid stroke of humor to his
small hearers。
Also； he knew how to mimic with his empty hands the peculiar patting and
tossing of a pone of corn…bread before placing it in the oven。 He would
make the most fearful threats to his own children； for disobedience； but
never executed any of them。 When they were out fishing and returned late
he would say：
〃Youif I have to hunt you again after dark； I will make you smell like
a burnt horn！〃
Nothing could exceed the ferocity of this threat； and all the children；
with delightful terror and curiosity； wondered what would happenif it
ever did happenthat would result in giving a child that peculiar savor。
Altogether it was a curious early childhood that Little Sam hadat least
it seems so to us now。 Doubtless it was commonplace enough for that time
and locality。
V
THE WAY OF FORTUNE
Perhaps John Quarles's jocular； happy…go…lucky nature and general conduct
did not altogether harmonize with John Clemens's more taciturn business
methods。 Notwithstanding the fact that he was a builder of dreams；
Clemens was neat and methodical； with his papers always in order。 He had
a hearty dislike for anything resembling frivolity and confusion； which
very likely were the chief features of John Quarles's storekeeping。 At
all events； they dissolved partnership at the end of two or three years；
and Clemens opened business for himself across the street。 He also
practised law whenever there were cases； and was elected justice of the
peace； acquiring the permanent title of 〃Judge。〃 He needed some one to
assist in the store； and took in Orion； who was by this time twelve or
thirteen years old； but； besides his youth； Orionall his days a
visionarywas a studious； pensive lad with no taste for commerce。 Then
a partnership was formed with a man who developed neither capital nor
business ability； and proved a disaster in the end。 The modest tide of
success which had come with John Clemens's establishment at Florida had
begun to wane。 Another boy； Henry； born in July； 1838； added one more
responsibility to his burdens。
There still remained a promise of better things。 There seemed at least a
good prospect that the scheme for making Salt River navigable was likely
to become operative。 With even small boats （bateaux） running as high as
the lower branch of the South Fork； Florida would become an emporium of
trade； and merchants and property…owners of that village would reap a
harvest。 An act of the Legislature was passed incorporating the
navigation company； with Judge Clemens as its president。 Congress was
petitioned to aid this work of internal improvement。 So confident was
the company of success that the hamlet was thrown into a fever of