Part 6 (1/2)
Toombs was becoming a firebrand. His eloquence was doing in the South what Mrs. Stowe's novel was doing in the North--preparing the soil for revolution--planting gunpowder under the foundations of society.
Could these forces yet be controlled or were they already beyond control?
CHAPTER V
After dinner, Jeb Stuart succeeded in separating Mary from Phil and began again his adoration. The men adjourned to the library to discuss the Presidential Campaign and weigh the chances of General Scott against Franklin Pierce. The comment of Toombs was grim in its sarcasm and early let him out of the discussion.
”It doesn't matter in the least, gentlemen, who is elected in November,”
he observed. ”There's nothing before the country as yet. Not even an honest-to-G.o.d man.”
Lee shook his head gravely.
Toombs parried his protest.
”I know, Colonel Lee, you're fond of the old General. You fought with him in Mexico. But--” he dropped his voice to a friendly whisper--”all the same, you know that what I say is true.”
He took a cigar from the mantel, lighted it and waved to the group.
”I'll take a little stroll and smoke.”
Custis took Phil to the cottage of the foreman to see a night school in session.
”You mean the overseer's place?” Phil asked eagerly, as visions of Simon Legree flashed through his mind.
”No--I mean Uncle Ike's cottage. He's the foreman of the farm. We have no white overseer.”
Phil was shocked. He had supposed every Southern plantation had a white overseer as slave driver with a blacksnake whip in his hand. A negro foreman was incredible. As a matter of fact there were more negro foremen than white overseers in the South.
In Uncle Ike's cottage by the light of many candles the school for boys was in session. Custis' brother ”Rooney,” was the teacher. He had six pupils besides Sam. Not one of them knew his lesson to-night and Rooney was furious.
As Phil and Custis entered, he was just finis.h.i.+ng a wrathful lecture.
His pupils were standing in a row grinning their apologies.
”I've told you boys for the last three weeks that I won't stand this.
You don't have to go to school to me if you don't want to. But if you join my school you've got to study. Do you hear me?”
”Ya.s.sah!” came the answer in solid chorus.
”Well, you'll do more than hear me to-night. You're going to heed what I say. I'm going to thrash the whole school.”
Sam broke into a loud laugh. And a wail of woe came from every dusky figure.
”Dar now!”
”Hear dat, folks--?”
”I been a tellin' ye chillun--”
”I lubs my spellin' book--but, oh, dat hickory switch!”