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！
may say about it；〃 he continued； taking another book。 〃I think the law is
even more liberal there。 Ah； this is the place：
〃‘The term mulatto；'〃 he read； 〃‘is not invariably applicable to every
admixture of African blood with the European； nor is one having all the
features of a white to be ranked with the degraded class designated by the
laws of this State as persons of color； because of some remote taint of the
negro race。 Juries would probably be justified in holding a person to be
white in whom the admixture of African blood did not exceed one eighth。
And even where color or feature are doubtful； it is a question for the jury
to decide by reputation； by reception into society； and by their exercise of
the privileges of the white man； as well as by admixture of blood。'〃
〃Then I need not be black？〃 the boy cried； with sparkling eyes。
〃No；〃 replied the lawyer； 〃you need not be black； away from Patesville。
You have the somewhat unusual privilege； it seems； of choosing between
two races； and if you are a lad of spirit； as I think you are； it will not take
you long to make your choice。 As you have all the features of a white
man； you would； at least in South Carolina； have simply to assume the
113
… Page 114…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
place and exercise the privileges of a white man。 You might； of course；
do the same thing anywhere； as long as no one knew your origin。 But the
matter has been adjudicated there in several cases； and on the whole I
think South Carolina is the place for you。 They're more liberal there；
perhaps because they have many more blacks than whites； and would like
to lessen the disproportion。〃
〃From this time on；〃 said the boy； 〃I am white。〃
〃Softly； softly； my Caucasian fellow citizen；〃 returned the judge；
chuckling with quiet amusement。 〃You are white in the abstract； before
the law。 You may cherish the fact in secret； but I would not advise you to
proclaim it openly just yet。 You must wait until you go awayto South
Carolina。〃
〃And can I learn to be a lawyer； sir？〃 asked the lad。
〃It seems to me that you ought to be reasonably content for one day
with what you have learned already。 You cannot be a lawyer until you
are white； in position as well as in theory； nor until you are twenty…one
years old。 I need an office boy。 If you are willing to come into my
office； sweep it； keep my books dusted； and stay here when I am out； I do
not care。 To the rest of the town you will be my servant； and still a negro。
If you choose to read my books when no one is about and be white in your
own private opinion； I have no objection。 When you have made up your
mind to go away； perhaps what you have read may help you。 But mum 's
the word！ If I hear a whisper of this from any other source； out you go；
neck and crop！ I am willing to help you make a man of yourself； but it
can only be done under the rose。〃
For two years John Walden openly swept the office and surreptitiously
read the law books of old Judge Straight。 When he was eighteen； he
asked his mother for a sum of money； kissed her good… by； and went out
into the world。 When his sister； then a pretty child of seven； cried
because her big brother was going away； he took her up in his arms； gave
her a silver dime with a hole in it for a keepsake； hugged her close； and
kissed her。
〃Nev' min'； sis；〃 he said soothingly。 〃Be a good little gal； an' some o'
these days I'll come back to see you and bring you somethin' fine。〃
114
… Page 115…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
In after years； when Mis' Molly was asked what had become of her son；
she would reply with sad complacency；
〃He's gone over on the other side。〃
As we have seen； he came back ten years later。
Many years before； when Mis' Molly； then a very young woman； had
taken up her residence in the house behind the cedars； the gentleman
heretofore referred to had built a cabin on the opposite corner； in which he
had installed a trusted slave by the name of Peter Fowler and his wife
Nancy。 Peter was a good mechanic； and hired his time from his master
with the provision that Peter and his wife should do certain work for Mis'
Molly and serve as a sort of protection for her。 In course of time Peter；
who was industrious and thrifty； saved enough money to purchase his
freedom and that of his wife and their one child； and to buy the little house
across the street； with the cooper shop behind it。 After they had acquired
their freedom； Peter and Nancy did no work for Mis' Molly save as they
were paid for it； and as a rule preferred not to work at all for the woman
who had been practically their mistress； it made them seem less free。
Nevertheless； the two households had remained upon good terms； even
after the death of the man whose will had brought them together； and who
had remained Peter's patron after he had ceased to be his master。 There
was no intimate association between the two families。 Mis' Molly felt
herself infinitely superior to Peter and his wife；scarcely less superior
than her poor white neighbors felt themselves to Mis' Molly。 Mis' Molly
always meant to be kind； and treated Peter and Nancy with a certain good…
natured condescension。 They resented this； never openly or offensively；
but always in a subconscious sort of way； even when they did not speak of
it among themselvesmuch as they had resented her mistress…ship in the
old days。 For after all； they argued； in spite of her airs and graces； her
white face and her fine clothes； was she not a negro； even as themselves？
and since the slaves had been freed； was not one negro as good as another？
Peter's son Frank had grown up with little Rena。 He was several
years older than she； and when Rena was a small child Mis' Molly had
often confided her to his care； and he had watched over her and kept her
from harm。 When Frank became old enough to go to work in the cooper
115
… Page 116…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
shop； Rena； then six or seven； had often gone ac