CHAPTER III
'Twas when the fields were swept of Autumn's store, And growing winds the fading foliage tore Behind the Lowmon hill, the short-lived light, Descending slowly, ushered in the night; When from the noisy town, with mournful look, His lonely way the meager peddler took. --WILSON.
A storm below the highlands of the Hudson, if it be introduced with aneasterly wind, seldom lasts less than two days. Accordingly, as theinmates of the Locusts assembled, on the following morning, around theirearly breakfast, the driving rain was seen to strike in nearlyhorizontal lines against the windows of the building, and forbade theidea of exposing either man or beast to the tempest. Harper was the lastto appear; after taking a view of the state of the weather, heapologized to Mr. Wharton for the necessity that existed for histrespassing on his goodness for a longer time. To appearances, the replywas as courteous as the excuse; yet Harper wore a resignation in hisdeportment that was widely different from the uneasy manner of thefather. Henry Wharton had resumed his disguise with a reluctanceamounting to disgust, but in obedience to the commands of his parent. Nocommunications passed between him and the stranger, after the firstsalutations of the morning had been paid by Harper to him, in commonwith the rest of the family. Frances had, indeed, thought there wassomething like a smile passing over the features of the traveler, when,on entering the room, he first confronted her brother; but it wasconfined to the eyes, seeming to want power to affect the muscles of theface, and was soon lost in the settled and benevolent expression whichreigned in his countenance, with a sway but seldom interrupted. The eyesof the affectionate sister were turned in anxiety, for a moment, on herbrother, and glancing again on their unknown guest, met his look, as heoffered her, with marked attention, one of the little civilities of thetable; and the heart of the girl, which had begun to throb withviolence, regained a pulsation as tempered as youth, health, and buoyantspirits could allow. While yet seated at the table, Caesar entered, andlaying a small parcel in silence by the side of his master, modestlyretired behind his chair, where, placing one hand on its back, hecontinued in an attitude half familiar, half respectful, a listener.
"What is this, Caesar?" inquired Mr. Wharton, turning the bundle over toexamine its envelope, and eying it rather suspiciously.
"The 'baccy, sir; Harvey Birch, he got home, and he bring you a littlegood 'baccy from York."
"Harvey Birch!" rejoined the master with great deliberation, stealing alook at his guest. "I do not remember desiring him to purchase anytobacco for me; but as he has brought it, he must be paid forhis trouble."
For an instant only, as the negro spoke, did Harper suspend his silentmeal; his eye moved slowly from the servant to the master, and again allremained in impenetrable reserve.
To Sarah Wharton, this intelligence gave unexpected pleasure; risingfrom her seat with impatience, she bade the black show Birch into theapartment; when, suddenly recollecting herself, she turned to thetraveler with an apologizing look, and added, "If Mr. Harper will excusethe presence of a peddler."
The indulgent benevolence expressed in the countenance of the stranger,as he bowed a silent acquiescence, spoke more eloquently than the nicestframed period, and the young lady repeated her order, with a confidencein its truth that removed all embarrassment.
In the deep recesses of the windows of the cottage were seats of paneledwork; and the rich damask curtains, that had ornamented the parlor inQueen Street, [Footnote: The Americans changed the names of many townsand streets at the Revolution, as has since been done in France. Thus,in the city of New York, Crown Street has become Liberty Street; KingStreet, Pine Street; and Queen Street, then one of the most fashionablequarters of the town, Pearl Street. Pearl Street is now chiefly occupiedby the auction dealers, and the wholesale drygoods merchants, forwarehouses and counting-rooms.] had been transferred to the Locusts, andgave to the room that indescribable air of comfort, which so gratefullyannounces the approach of a domestic winter. Into one of these recessesCaptain Wharton now threw himself, drawing the curtain before him insuch a manner as to conceal most of his person from observation; whilehis younger sister, losing her natural frankness of manner, in an air ofartificial constraint, silently took possession of the other.
Harvey Birch had been a peddler from his youth; at least so hefrequently asserted, and his skill in the occupation went far to provethe truth of the declaration. He was a native of one of the easterncolonies; and, from something of superior intelligence which belonged tohis father, it was thought they had known better fortune in the land oftheir nativity. Harvey possessed, however, the common manners of thecountry, and was in no way distinguished from men of his class, but byhis acuteness, and the mystery which enveloped his movements. Ten yearsbefore, they had arrived together in the vale, and, purchasing thehumble dwelling at which Harper had made his unsuccessful application,continued ever since peaceful inhabitants, but little noticed and butlittle known. Until age and infirmities had prevented, the fatherdevoted himself to the cultivation of the small spot of groundbelonging to his purchase, while the son pursued with avidity his humblebarter. Their orderly quietude had soon given them so much considerationin the neighborhood, as to induce a maiden of five-and-thirty to forgetthe punctilio of her sex, and to accept the office of presiding overtheir domestic comforts. The roses had long before vanished from thecheeks of Katy Haynes, and she had seen in succession, both her male andfemale acquaintances forming the union so desirable to her sex, with butlittle or no hope left for herself, when, with views of her own, sheentered the family of the Birches. Necessity is a hard master, and, forthe want of a better companion, the father and son were induced toaccept her services; but still Katy was not wanting in some qualitieswhich made her a very tolerable housekeeper. On the one hand, she wasneat, industrious, honest, and a good manager. On the other, she wastalkative, selfish, superstitious, and inquisitive. By dint of using thelatter quality with consummate industry, she had not lived in the familyfive years when she triumphantly declared that she had heard, or ratheroverheard, sufficient to enable her to say what had been the former fateof her associates. Could Katy have possessed enough of divination topronounce upon their future lot, her task would have been accomplished.From the private conversations of the parent and child, she learned thata fire had reduced them from competence to poverty, and at the same timediminished the number of their family to two. There was a tremulousnessin the voice of the father, as he touched lightly on the event, whichaffected even the heart of Katy; but no barrier is sufficient to repelvulgar curiosity. She persevered, until a very direct intimation fromHarvey, by threatening to supply her place with a female a few yearsyounger than herself, gave her awful warning that there were boundsbeyond which she was not to pass. From that period the curiosity of thehousekeeper had been held in such salutary restraint, that, although noopportunity of listening was ever neglected, she had been able to addbut little to her stock of knowledge. There was, however, one piece ofintelligence, and that of no little interest to herself, which she hadsucceeded in obtaining; and from the moment of its acquisition, shedirected her energies to the accomplishment of one object, aided by thedouble stimulus of love and avarice.
Harvey was in the frequent habit of paying mysterious visits in thedepth of the night, to the fireplace of the apartment that served forboth kitchen and parlor. Here he was observed by Katy; and availingherself of his absence and the occupations of the father, by removingone of the hearthstones, she discovered an iron pot, glittering with ametal that seldom fails to soften the hardest heart. Katy succeeded inreplacing the stone without discovery, and never dared to trust herselfwith another visit. From that moment, however, the heart of the virginlost its obduracy, and nothing interposed between Harvey and hishappiness, but his own want of observation.
The war did not interfere with the traffic of the peddler, who seized onthe golden opportunity which the interruption of the regular tradeafforded, and appeared ab
sorbed in the one grand object of amassingmoney. For a year or two his employment was uninterrupted, and hissuccess proportionate; but, at length, dark and threatening hints beganto throw suspicion around his movements, and the civil authority thoughtit incumbent on them to examine narrowly into his mode of life. Hisimprisonments, though frequent, were not long; and his escapes from theguardians of the law easy, compared to what he endured from thepersecution of the military. Still Birch survived, and still hecontinued his trade, though compelled to be very guarded in hismovements, especially whenever he approached the northern boundaries ofthe county; or in other words, the neighborhood of the American lines.His visits to the Locusts had become less frequent, and his appearanceat his own abode so seldom, as to draw forth from the disappointed Katy,in the fullness of her heart, the complaint we have related, in herreply to Harper. Nothing, however, seemed to interfere with the pursuitsof this indefatigable trader, who, with a view to dispose of certainarticles for which he could only find purchasers in the very wealthiestfamilies of the county, had now braved the fury of the tempest, andventured to cross the half mile between his own residence and the houseof Mr. Wharton.
In a few minutes after receiving the commands of his young mistress,Caesar reappeared, ushering into the apartment the subject of theforegoing digression. In person, the peddler was a man above the middleheight, spare, but full of bone and muscle. At first sight, his strengthseemed unequal to manage the unwieldy burden of his pack; yet he threwit on and off with great dexterity, and with as much apparent ease as ifit had been filled with feathers. His eyes were gray, sunken, restless,and, for the flitting moments that they dwelt on the countenance ofthose with whom he conversed, they seemed to read the very soul. Theypossessed, however, two distinct expressions, which, in a great measure,characterized the whole man. When engaged in traffic, the intelligenceof his face appeared lively, active, and flexible, though uncommonlyacute; if the conversation turned on the ordinary transactions of life,his air became abstracted and restless; but if, by chance, theRevolution and the country were the topic, his whole system seemedaltered--all his faculties were concentrated: he would listen for agreat length of time, without speaking, and then would break silence bysome light and jocular remark, that was too much at variance with hisformer manner, not to be affectation. But of the war, and of his father,he seldom spoke and always from some very obvious necessity.
To a superficial observer, avarice would seem his ruling passion--and,all things considered, he was as unfit a subject for the plans of KatyHaynes as can be readily imagined. On entering the room, the peddlerrelieved himself from his burden, which, as it stood on the floor,reached nearly to his shoulders, and saluted the family with modestcivility. To Harper he made a silent bow, without lifting his eyes fromthe carpet; but the curtain prevented any notice of the presence ofCaptain Wharton. Sarah gave but little time for the usual salutations,before she commenced her survey of the contents of the pack; and, forseveral minutes, the two were engaged in bringing to light the variousarticles it contained. The tables, chairs, and floor were soon coveredwith silks, crapes, gloves, muslins, and all the stock of an itineranttrader. Caesar was employed to hold open the mouth of the pack, as itshoards were discharged, and occasionally he aided his young lady, bydirecting her admiration to some article of finery, which, from itsdeeper contrast in colors, he thought more worthy of her notice. Atlength, Sarah, having selected several articles, and satisfactorilyarranged the prices, observed in a cheerful voice,--
"But, Harvey, you have told us no news. Has Lord Cornwallis beaten therebels again?"
The question could not have been heard; for the peddler, burying hisbody in the pack, brought forth a quantity of lace of exquisitefineness, and, holding it up to view, he required the admiration of theyoung lady. Miss Peyton dropped the cup she was engaged in washing, fromher hand; and Frances exhibited the whole of that lovely face, which hadhitherto only suffered one of its joyous eyes to be seen, beaming with acolor that shamed the damask which enviously concealed her figure.
The aunt quitted her employment; and Birch soon disposed of a largeportion of his valuable article. The praises of the ladies had drawn thewhole person of the younger sister into view; and Frances was slowlyrising from the window, as Sarah repeated her question, with anexultation in her voice, that proceeded more from pleasure in herpurchase, than her political feelings. The younger sister resumed herseat, apparently examining the state of the clouds, while the peddler,finding a reply was expected, answered,--
"There is some talk, below, about Tarleton having defeated GeneralSumter, on the Tiger River."
Captain Wharton now involuntarily thrust his head between the opening ofthe curtains into the room; and Frances, turning her ear in breathlesssilence, noticed the quiet eyes of Harper looking at the peddler, overthe book he was affecting to read, with an expression that denoted himto be a listener of no ordinary interest.
"Indeed!" cried the exulting Sarah; "Sumter--Sumter--who is he? I'llnot buy even a pin, until you tell me all the news," she continued,laughing and throwing down a muslin she had been examining.
For a moment the peddler hesitated; his eye glanced towards Harper, whowas yet gazing at him with settled meaning, and the whole manner ofBirch was altered. Approaching the fire, he took from his mouth a largeallowance of the Virginian weed, and depositing it, with thesuperabundance of its juices, without mercy to Miss Peyton's shiningandirons, he returned to his goods.
"He lives somewhere among the niggers to the south," answered thepeddler, abruptly.
"No more nigger than be yourself, Mister Birch," interrupted Caesartartly, dropping at the same time the covering of the goods in highdispleasure.
"Hush, Caesar--hush; never mind it now," said Sarah Wharton soothingly,impatient to hear further.
"A black man so good as white, Miss Sally," continued the offendednegro, "so long as he behave heself."
"And frequently he is much better," rejoined his mistress. "But, Harvey,who is this Mr. Sumter?"
A slight indication of humor showed itself on the face of the peddler,but it disappeared, and he continued as if the discourse had met with nointerruption from the sensitiveness of the domestic.
"As I was saying, he lives among the colored people in thesouth"--Caesar resumed his occupation--"and he has lately had ascrimmage with this Colonel Tarleton--"
"Who defeated him, of course?" cried Sarah, with confidence.
"So say the troops at Morrisania."
"But what do you say?" Mr. Wharton ventured to inquire, yet speaking ina low tone.
"I repeat but what I hear," said Birch, offering a piece of cloth to theinspection of Sarah, who rejected it in silence, evidently determined tohear more before she made another purchase.
"They say, however, at the Plains," the peddler continued, firstthrowing his eyes again around the room, and letting them rest for aninstant on Harper, "that Sumter and one or two more were all that werehurt, and that the rig'lars were all cut to pieces, for the militia werefixed snugly in a log barn."
"Not very probable," said Sarah, contemptuously, "though I make no doubtthe rebels got behind the logs."
"I think," said the peddler coolly, again offering the silk, "it's quiteingenious to get a log between one and a gun, instead of getting betweena gun and a log."
The eyes of Harper dropped quietly on the pages of the volume in hishand, while Frances, rising, came forward with a smile in her face, asshe inquired, in a tone of affability that the peddler had neverwitnessed from her,--
"Have you more of the lace, Mr. Birch?"
The desired article was immediately produced, and Frances became apurchaser also. By her order a glass of liquor was offered to thetrader, who took it with thanks, and having paid his compliments to themaster of the house and the ladies, drank the beverage.
"So, it is thought that Colonel Tarleton has worsted General Sumter?"said Mr. Wharton, affecting to be employed in mending the cup that wasbroken by the eagerness of his sister-in-l
aw.
"I believe they think so at Morrisania," said Birch, dryly.
"Have you any other news, friend?" asked Captain Wharton, venturing tothrust his face without the curtains.
"Have you heard that Major Andre has been hanged?"
Captain Wharton started, and for a moment glances of great significancewere exchanged between him and the trader, when he observed, withaffected indifference, "That must have been some weeks ago."
"Does his execution make much noise?" asked the father, striving to makethe broken china unite.
"People will talk, you know, 'squire."
"Is there any probability of movements below, my friend, that will maketraveling dangerous?" asked Harper, looking steadily at the other, inexpectation of his reply.
Some bunches of ribbons fell from the hands of Birch; his countenancechanged instantly, losing its keen expression in intent meaning, as heanswered slowly, "It is some time since the rig'lar cavalry were out,and I saw some of De Lancey's men cleaning their arms, as I passed theirquarters; it would be no wonder if they took the scent soon, for theVirginia horse are low in the county."
"Are they in much force?" asked Mr. Wharton, suspending all employmentin anxiety.
"I did not count them."
Frances was the only observer of the change in the manner of Birch, and,on turning to Harper, he had resumed his book in silence. She took someof the ribbons in her hand--laid them down again--and, bending over thegoods, so that her hair, falling in rich curls, shaded her face, sheobserved, blushing with a color that suffused her neck,--
"I thought the Southern horse had marched towards the Delaware."
"It may be so," said Birch; "I passed the troops at a distance."
Caesar had now selected a piece of calico, in which the gaudy colors ofyellow and red were contrasted on a white ground, and, after admiring itfor several minutes, he laid it down with a sigh, as he exclaimed,"Berry pretty calico."
"That," said Sarah; "yes, that would make a proper gown for your wife,Caesar."
"Yes, Miss Sally," cried the delighted black, "it make old Dinah heartleap for joy--so berry genteel."
"Yes," added the peddler, quaintly, "that is only wanting to make Dinahlook like a rainbow."
Caesar eyed his young mistress eagerly, until she inquired of Harvey theprice of the article.
"Why, much as I light of chaps," said the peddler.
"How much?" demanded Sarah in surprise.
"According to my luck in finding purchasers; for my friend Dinah, youmay have it at four shillings."
"It is too much," said Sarah, turning to some goods for herself.
"Monstrous price for coarse calico, Mister Birch," grumbled Caesar,dropping the opening of the pack again.
"We will say three, then," added the peddler, "if you like that better."
"Be sure he like 'em better," said Caesar, smiling good-humoredly, andreopening the pack; "Miss Sally like a t'ree shilling when she give, anda four shilling when she take."
The bargain was immediately concluded; but in measuring, the clothwanted a little of the well-known ten yards required by the dimensionsof Dinah. By dint of a strong arm, however, it grew to the desiredlength, under the experienced eye of the peddler, who conscientiouslyadded a ribbon of corresponding brilliancy with the calico; and Caesarhastily withdrew, to communicate the joyful intelligence to hisaged partner.
During the movements created by the conclusion of the purchase, CaptainWharton had ventured to draw aside the curtain, so as to admit a view ofhis person, and he now inquired of the peddler, who had begun tocollect the scattered goods, at what time he had left the city.
"At early twilight," was the answer.
"So lately!" cried the other in surprise: then correcting his manner, byassuming a more guarded air, he continued, "Could you pass the picketsat so late an hour?"
"I did," was the laconic reply.
"You must be well known by this time, Harvey, to the officers of theBritish army," cried Sarah, smiling knowingly on the peddler.
"I know some of them by sight," said Birch, glancing his eyes round theapartment, taking in their course Captain Wharton, and resting for aninstant on the countenance of Harper.
Mr. Wharton had listened intently to each speaker, in succession, andhad so far lost the affectation of indifference, as to be crushing inhis hand the pieces of china on which he had expended so much labor inendeavoring to mend it; when, observing the peddler tying the last knotin his pack, he asked abruptly,
"Are we about to be disturbed again with the enemy?"
"Who do you call the enemy?" said the peddler, raising himself erect,and giving the other a look, before which the eyes of Mr. Wharton sankin instant confusion.
"All are enemies who disturb our peace," said Miss Peyton, observingthat her brother was unable to speak. "But are the royal troops outfrom below?"
"'Tis quite likely they soon may be," returned Birch, raising his packfrom the floor, and preparing to leave the room.
"And the continentals," continued Miss Peyton mildly, "are thecontinentals in the county?"
Harvey was about to utter something in reply, when the door opened, andCaesar made his appearance, attended by his delighted spouse.
The race of blacks of which Caesar was a favorable specimen is becomingvery rare. The old family servant who, born and reared in the dwellingof his master, identified himself with the welfare of those whom it washis lot to serve, is giving place in every direction to that vagrantclass which has sprung up within the last thirty years, and whosemembers roam through the country unfettered by principles, anduninfluenced by attachments. For it is one of the curses of slavery,that its victims become incompetent to the attributes of a freeman. Theshort curly hair of Caesar had acquired from age a coloring of gray,that added greatly to the venerable cast of his appearance. Long andindefatigable applications of the comb had straightened the close curlsof his forehead, until they stood erect in a stiff and formal brush,that gave at least two inches to his stature. The shining black of hisyouth had lost its glistening hue, and it had been succeeded by a dingybrown. His eyes, which stood at a most formidable distance from eachother, were small, and characterized by an expression of good feeling,occasionally interrupted by the petulance of an indulged servant; they,however, now danced with inward delight. His nose possessed, in aneminent manner, all the requisites for smelling, but with the mostmodest unobtrusiveness; the nostrils being abundantly capacious, withoutthrusting themselves in the way of their neighbors. His mouth wascapacious to a fault, and was only tolerated on account of the doublerow of pearls it contained. In person Caesar was short, and we shouldsay square, had not all the angles and curves of his figure bid defianceto anything like mathematical symmetry. His arms were long and muscular,and terminated by two bony hands, that exhibited on one side a coloringof blackish gray, and on the other, a faded pink. But it was in his legsthat nature had indulged her most capricious humor. There was anabundance of material injudiciously used. The calves were neither beforenor behind, but rather on the outer side of the limb, inclining forward,and so close to the knee as to render the free use of that joint asubject of doubt. In the foot, considering it as a base on which thebody was to rest, Caesar had no cause of complaint, unless, indeed, itmight be that the leg was placed so near the center, as to make itsometimes a matter of dispute, whether he was not walking backwards. Butwhatever might be the faults a statuary could discover in his person,the heart of Caesar Thompson was in the right place, and, we doubt not,of very just dimensions.
Accompanied by his ancient companion, Caesar now advanced, and paid histribute of gratitude in words. Sarah received them with greatcomplacency, and made a few compliments to the taste of the husband, andthe probable appearance of the wife. Frances, with a face beaming with alook of pleasure that corresponded to the smiling countenances of theblacks, offered the service of her needle in fitting the admired calicoto its future uses. The offer was humbly and gratefully accepted.
As Caesar followed his wife and the peddler from the apartment, and wasin the act of closing the door, he indulged himself in a gratefulsoliloquy, by saying aloud,--
"Good little lady--Miss Fanny--take care of he fader--love to make agown for old Dinah, too." What else his feelings might have induced himto utter is unknown, but the sound of his voice was heard some timeafter the distance rendered his words indistinct.
Harper had dropped his book, and he sat an admiring witness of thescene; and Frances enjoyed a double satisfaction, as she received anapproving smile from a face which concealed, under the traces of deepthought and engrossing care, the benevolent expression whichcharacterizes all the best feelings of the human heart.