"None of your black humbugging; there's wives enough on my place,
and a parson can have his choice out of fifty," returns M'Fadden,
dragging him along by the arm. The scene that here ensues is
harrowing in the extreme. The cries and sobs of children,--the
solicitude and affection of his poor wife, as she throws her arms
about her husband's neck,--his falling tears of sorrow, as one by one
he snatches up his children and kisses them,--are painfully touching.
It is the purest, simplest, holiest of love, gushing forth from
nature's fountain. It were well if we could but cherish its heavenly
worth. That woman, the degraded of a despised race, her arms round a
fond husband's neck, struggling with death-like grasp, and imploring
them not to take him from her. The men who have made him
merchandise,--who have trodden his race in the dust,--look on unmoved
as the unfeeling purchaser drags him from the embrace of all that is
near and dear to him on earth. Here, in this boasted freest country
the sun shines on-where freedom was bequeathed by our brave
forefathers,--where the complex tyranny of an old world was
overthrown,--such scenes violate no law. When will the glorious, the
happy day of their death come? When shall the land be free?
M'Fadden, having paid the price of his clergyman, drags him to the
door. "Once more, master," mutters the victim, looking back with
fear and hope pictured on his imploring face. M'Fadden has no
patience with such useless implorings, and orders him to move along.
"I will see them once more!" the man exclaims, "I will! Good bye!
may Heaven bless you on earth, my little ones!-God will protect us
when we meet again!" The tears course down his cheeks.
"None of that ar' kind of nonsense! Shut down yer tear-trap," says
M'Fadden, calling an attendant, and, drawing a pair of irons from
his pocket, placing them about Harry's hands. Mr. M'Fadden's
property shows signs of being somewhat belligerent: to obviate any
further nonsense, and to make short work of the thing, Mr. M'Fadden
calls in aid, throws his property on the ground, ties its legs with
a piece of rope, places it upon a drag, and orders it to be conveyed
to the depot, from whence it will be despatched by rail for a new
home.
This little ceremony over, the wife and children (Romescos and
M'Fadden, not very good friends, were competitors for the preacher
property) are put up and sold to Romescos. That skilful and very
adroit gentleman is engaged to do the exciting business of
separating, which he is progressing with very coolly and cleverly.
The whole scene closes with selling the animal property and farming
utensils. Happy Christian brothers are they who would spread the
wings of their Christianity over such scenes!
CHAPTER XX.
A FATHER'S TRIALS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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