Part 17 (1/2)
Lee spoke in low tones to his wife.
”Ask the young people to come in for a moment, my dear.”
Mrs. Lee crossed quickly to the library door and called:
”Come in, children, Colonel Lee wishes to see you all.”
Mary, Stuart, Custis, Phil, Robbie and Sid pressed into the hall in curious, expectant mood. Mrs. Marshall knew that Ruffin was still there, but her curiosity got the better of her aversion. She followed the children, only to run squarely into Ruffin.
He was about to speak in his politest manner when she stiffened and pa.s.sed him.
Ruffin's eye twinkled. He knew that she saw him. She hated him for his political views. She also knew that he hated her husband, Judge Marshall, with equal cordiality. His pride was too great to feel the slightest hurt at her attempt to ignore him. She was a fanatic on the subject of the Union. All right, he was a fanatic on the idea of an independent South. They were even. Let it be so.
With a toss of his head, he turned toward Lee who had seated himself at the table behind the couch.
The children were chatting and laughing as they entered. A sudden hush fell on them as they caught the serious look on the Colonel's face. He was writing rapidly. He stopped and fixed a seal on the paper which he held in his hand. He read it carefully, lifted his eyes to the group that had drawn near and said:
”Children, my good friend, Mr. Ruffin, has called to-day to bid us G.o.d-speed on our journey North. And he has asked me to answer _Uncle Tom's Cabin_. I've called you to witness the only answer I know how to make at this moment.”
He paused and turned toward Sam.
”Come here, Sam.”
The young negro rolled his eyes in excited wonder about the room and laughed softly at nothing as he approached the table.
”Ya.s.sah, Ma.r.s.e Robert.”
”How old are you, Sam?”
”Des twenty, sah.”
”I had meant to wait until you were twenty-one for this, but I have decided to act to-day. You will arrange to leave here and go with us as far as New York.”
The negro bowed gratefully.
”Ya.s.sah, thankee sah, I sho did want ter go norf wid you, sah, but I hated to axe ye.”
Lee handed Sam the doc.u.ment.
”You will go with me a free man, my boy. You are the only slave I yet hold in my own right. I have just given you your deed of emanc.i.p.ation.
From this hour you are your own master. May G.o.d bless you and keep you in health and strength and give you long life and much happiness.”
Sam stared at the paper and then at the kindly eyes of his old master. A sob caught his voice as he stammered:
”May G.o.d bless you, Ma.r.s.e Robert--”
Ben lifted his hands in benediction and his voice rang in the solemn cadence of the prophet and seer:
”And let the glory of His face s.h.i.+ne upon him forever!”