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Файл:The Chainbearer; or, The Littlepage Manuscripts
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THE CHAINBEARER; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
Thousandacres had the civility to order us chairs, and we
took our seats accordingly. On looking round the grave and
attentive circle, I could trace no new signs of hostility; but, on
the contrary, the countenances of all seemed more pacifi c than
they were when we parted. I considered this as an omen that
I and my friend should receive some propositions that tended
toward peace. In this I was not mistaken; the fi rst words that
were uttered having that character.
«It’s time this matter atween us, Chainbearer», commenced
Thousandacres himself, «should be brought to suthin’ like
an eend. It keeps the b’ys from their lumberin’, and upsets my
whull family. I call myself a reasonable man; and be as ready to
settle a diffi culty on as accommodatin’ tarms as any parson
you’ll fi nd by lookin’ up and down the land. Many is the diffi culty that I’ve settled in my day; and I’m not too old to settle
‘em now. Sometimes I’ve fi t out, when I’ve fell in with an obstinate fellow; sometimes I’ve left it out to men; and sometimes
I’ve settled matters myself. No man can say he ever know’d
me refuse to hearken to reason, or know’d me to gi’n up a just
cause, so long as there was a morsel of a chance to defend it.
When overpowered by numbers, and look’d down by your accursed law, as you call it, I’ll own that, once or twice in my
time, when young and inexper’enced, I did get the worst of
it; and so was obliged to sort o’ run away. But use makes parfect. I’ve seen so much, by seventy odd, as to have l’arnt to
take time by the forelock, and don’t practyse delays in business. I look upon you, Chainbearer, as a man much like myself,
reasonable, exper’enced, and willin’ to accommodate. I see no
great diffi culty, therefore, in settlin’ this matter on the spot, so
471
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
as to have no more hard feelin’s or hot words atween us. Sich
be my notions; and I should like to hear your’n».
«Since you speak to me, T’ousantacres, in so polite and civil
a manner, I’m reaty to hear you, ant to answer in t’e same temper», returned old Andries, his countenance losing much of
the determined and angry expression with which he had taken his seat in the circle. «T’ere ist nuttin’ t’at more pecomes
a man t’an moteration; ant an olt man in partic’lar. I do not
t’ink, however, t’at t’ere ist much resemplance petween you
ant me, T’ousantacres, in any one t’ing, except it pe in olt age.
We’re pot’ of us pretty well atvancet, ant haf reachet a time of
life when it pehooves a man to examine ant refl ect on t’e great
trut’s t’at are to pe fount in his piple. T’e piple ist a pook, Aaron,
t’at ist not enough re’t in t’e woots; t’ough Almighty Got hast all
t’e same rights to t’e sacrifi ces ant worship of his creatures in
t’e forest, as to t’e worship and sacrifi ces of his creatures in t’e
settlements. I’m not a tellin’ you t’is, T’ousantacres, py way of
showin’ off my own l’arnin’; for all I know on the supject, myself, I haf got from Dus, my niece, who ist as goot, ant as willin’,
ant as hanty in explainin’ sich matters, as any tominie I ever
talket wit’. I wish you would listen to her, yourself; you and
Prutence; when I t’ink you woult allow t’at her tiscourse ist
fery etifyin’ ant improfi n’. Now you seem in t’e right temper, ist
a goot time to pe penefi tet in t’at way; for t’ey tell me my niece
ist here, ant at hant».
«She is; and I rej’ice that you have brought her name into
the discourse so ‘arly; as it was my design to mention it myself.
I see we think alike about the young woman, Chainbearer, and
trust and believe she’ll be the means of reconciling all parties,
472
THE CHAINBEARER; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
and of making us good fri’nds. I’ve sent for the gal; and she’ll
soon be coming along, with Tobit’s wife, who sets by her wonderfully already».
«Well, talkin’ of wonterful t’ings, wonters wilt never cease,
I do pelieve!» Chainbearer exclaimed, for he really believed
that the family of the squatter was taken suddenly with a «religious turn», and that something like a conversion was about to
occur. «Yes, yes; it ist so; we meet wit’ wonters when we least
expect ‘em; and t’at it is t’at makes wonters so wonterful!»
CHAPTER XXV
«Yes, Hastings, these are they
Who challenge to themselves thy country’s love;
The true, the constant, who alone can weigh
What glory should demand, or lib erty approve!»
KENSIDE.
– A
A pause succeeded this little opening, during which the assembly was waiting for the arrival of Ursula Malbone, and
the semi-savage guardian that «set» so much by her, as not to
leave her out of sight for a moment. All that time Thousandacres was ruminating on his own plans; while old Andries was
probably refl ecting on the singular circumstances that «wonters shoult pe so wonterful!» At length a little bustle and movement occurred near the door, the crowd collected in it opened,
and Dus walked into the centre of the room, her color heightened by excitement, but her step fi rm, and her air full of spirit.
At fi rst, the blazing light affected her sight, and she passed
a hand over her eyes. Then looking around I met her gaze, and
was rewarded for all my anxiety by one of those glances, into
which affection knows how to infuse so much that is meaning and eloquent. I was thus favored for a moment only; those
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THE CHAINBEARER; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
eyes still turning until they met the fond, answering look of
Chainbearer. The old man had arisen, and he now received his
niece in his arms, as a parent would embrace a beloved child.
That outpouring of feeling lasted but a little while. It had
been unpremeditated and impulsive, and was almost as suddenly suppressed. It gave me, however, the happiness of witnessing one of the most pleasant sights that man can behold;
that of youth, and beauty, and delicacy, and female tenderness, pouring out their feelings on the bosom of age – on
the ruder qualities of one hardened in person by the exposures of a life passed in the forest. To me the contrast between
the fair, golden hair of Dus, and the few straggling, bleached
locks of her uncle; the downy, peach-like cheek of the girl, and
the red, wrinkled, and sun-dried countenance of Chainbearer,
was perfectly delightful. It said how deep must lie those sympathies of our nature, which could bring together so closely
two so differently constituted in all things, and set at defi ance
the apparent tendencies of taste and habit.
Dus suffered herself to be thus carried away by her feelings
for only a moment. Accustomed in a degree, as she certainly
was, to the rough associations of the woods, this was the fi rst
time she had ever been confronted with such an assembly, and
I could see that she drew back into herself with womanly reserve, as she now gazed around her, and saw in what a wild
and unwonted presence she stood. Still, I had never seen her
look so supremely lovely as she did that evening, for she threw
Pris Bayard and Kate, with all their advantages of dress and
freedom from exposure, far into the shade. Perhaps the life of
Ursula Malbone had given to her beauty the very complete-
475
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
ness and fullness, that are most apt to be wanting to the young
American girl, who has been educated in the over-tender and
delicate manner of our ordinary parental indulgence. Of air
and exercise she had already enjoyed enough, and they had
imparted to her bloom and person the richness and development that are oftener found in the subordinate than in the superior classes of the country.
As for Thousandacres, though he watched every movement of Ursula Malbone with jealous interest, he said nothing to interrupt the current of her feelings. As soon as she left
her uncle’s arms, however, Dus drew back and took the rude
seat that I had placed for her close to Chainbearer’s side. I was
paid for this little act of attention by a sweet smile from its subject, and a lowering look from the old squatter, that admonished me of the necessity of being cautious of manifesting too
much of the interest I felt in the beloved object before me. As
is usual in assemblages composed of the rude and unpractised,
a long, awkward pause succeeded this introduction of Dus to
our presence. After a time, however, Aaron resumed the subject in hand.
«We’ve met to settle all our diffi culties, as I was sayin’«, observed Thousandacres, in a manner as deliberative and considerate as if he were engaged in one of the most blameless
pursuits of life, the outward appearances of virtue and vice
possessing a surprising resemblance to each other. «When
men get together on sich a purpose, and in a right spirit, it
must be that there’s a fault somewhere, if what’s right can’t
be come at atween ‘em. What’s right atwixt man and man
is my creed, Chainbearer».
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THE CHAINBEARER; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
«What’s right petween man ant man is a goot creet,
T’ousantacres; ant it’s a goot religion, too», answered Andries,
coldly.
«That it is! that it is! and I now see that you’re in a reasonable temper, Chainbearer, and that there’s a prospect of
business in you. I despise a man that’s so set in his notions
that there’s no gettin’ him to give in an inch in a transaction –
don’t you hold to that, too, Captain Andries?»
«T’at depents on what t’e notions pe. Some notions do
nopoty any goot, ant t’e sooner we’re rit of ‘em t’e petter; while
some notions pe so fery excellent t’at a man hat pest lay town
his life as lay t’em town».
This answer puzzled Thousandacres, who had no idea of
a man’s ever dying for opinion’s sake; and who was probably
anxious, just at that moment, to fi nd his companion suffi ciently indifferent to principle to make some sacrifi ces to expediency. It was quite evident this man was disposed to practise
a ruse on this occasion, that is often resorted to by individuals, and sometimes by states, when disposed to gain a great
advantage out of a very small right; that of demanding much
more than they expect to receive, and of making a great merit of yielding points that they never had the smallest claim to
maintain. But this disposition of the squatter’s will make itself
suffi ciently apparent as we proceed.
«I don’t see any use in talkin’ about layin’ down lives»,
Thousandacres returned to Chainbearer’s remark, «seein’
this is not a life and death transaction at all. The most that
can be made of squattin’, give the law its full swing, is trespass and damages, and them an’t matters to frighten a man
477
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
that has stood out ag’in ‘em all his days. We’re pretty much
sich crittur’s as sarcumstances make us. There be men, I don’t
question, that a body can skear half out of their wits with
a writ, while a whull fl ock of sheep, skins and wool united,
wunt intimidate them that’s used to sich things. I go on
the principle of doin’ what’s right, let the law say what it
will of the matter; and this is the principle on which I wish to
settle our present diffi culty».
«Name your tarms – name your tarms!» cried Chainbearer,
a little impatiently; «talkin’ ist talkin’, all t’e worlt ofer, ant actin’ ist actin’. If you haf anyt’ing to propose, here we are, reaty
ant willin’ to hear it».
«That’s hearty, and just my way of thinkin’ and feelin’, and
I’ll act up to it, though it was the gospel of St. Paul himself,
and I was set on followin’ it. Here, then, is the case, and any
man can understand it. There’s two rights to all the land on
‘arth, and the whull world over. One of these rights is what
I call a king’s right, or that which depends on writin’s, and
laws, and sichlike contrivances; and the other depends on
possession. It stands to reason, that fact is better than any writin’ about it can be; but I’m willin’ to put ‘em on a footin’ for
the time bein’, and for the sake of accommodatin’. I go all for
accommodatin’ matters, and not for stirrin’ up ill blood; and
that I tell Chainbearer, b’ys, is the right spirit to presarve harmony and fri’ndship!»
This appeal was rewarded by a murmur of general approbation in all that part of the audience which might be supposed to be in the squatter interest, while the part that might
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THE CHAINBEARER; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
be called adverse, remained silent, though strictly attentive,
old Andries included.
«Yes, that’s my principles», resumed Thousandacres, taking
a hearty draught of cider, a liquor of which he had provided
an ample allowance, passing the mug civilly to Chainbearer,
as soon as he had his swallow. «Yes, that’s my principles, and
good principles they be, for them that likes peace and harmony, as all must allow. Now, in this matter afore us, General
Littlepage and his partner ripresents writin’s, and I and mine
ripresent fact. I don’t say which is the best, for I don’t want to
be hard on any man’s rights, and ‘specially when the accommodatin’ spirit is up and doin’; but I’m fact, and the gin’ral’s
pretty much writin’s. But diffi culties has sprung up atwixt us,
and it’s high time to put ‘em down. I look upon you, Chainbearer, as the fri’nd of the t’other owners of this sile, and I’m
now ready to make proposals, or to hear them, just as it may
prove convenient».
«I haf no proposals to make, nor any aut’ority to offer t’em.
I’m nut’in here put a chainpearer, wit’ a contract to survey t’e
patent into small lots, ant t’en my tuty ist tone. Put, here ist
General Littlepage’s only son, ant he ist empoweret, I unterstant, to do all t’at is necessary on t’is tract, as t’e attorney»
«He is and he isn’t an attorney!» interrupted Thousandacres, a little fiercely for one in whom «the accommodatin’ spirit is up». «At one moment he says he’s an attorney,
and at the next he isn’t. I can’t stand this onsartainty any
very great while».
«Pooh, pooh! T’ousantacres», returned Chainbearer, coolly,
«you’re frightenet at your own shadow; ant t’at comes, let me
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
telt you, from not lifi ng in ‘peace and harmony,’ as you call
it, yourself, wit’ t’e law. A man hast a conscience, whet’er he
pe a skinner or a cowboy, or efen a squatter; and he hast it,
pecause Got has gifen it to him, and not on account of any
sarfi ces of his own. T’at conscience it is, t’at makes my young
frient Mortaunt here an attorney in your eyes, when he ist no
more of a lawyer t’an you pe yourself».
«Why has he called himself an attorney, then, and why
do you call him one? An attorney is an attorney, in my eyes,
and little difference is there atween ‘em. Rattlesnakes would
fare better in a clearin’ of Thousandacres’ than the smartest
attorney in the land!»
«Well, well, haf your own feelin’s; for I s’pose Satan has
put ‘em into you, ant talkin’ won’t pring t’em out. T’is young
gentleman, however, ist no attorney of t’e sort you mean, old
squatter, put he hast been a soltier, like myself, ant in my own
regiment, which wast his fat’er’s, ant a prave young man he ist
ant wast, ant one t’at has fou’t gallantly for liperty»
«If he’s a fri’nd of liberty, he should be a fri’nd of liberty’s
people; should give liberty and take liberty. Now I call it liberty to let every man have as much land as he has need on, and
no more, keepin’ the rest for them that’s in the same situation.
If he and his father be true fri’nds of liberty, let ‘em prove it
like men, by giving up all claims to any more land than they
want. That’s what I call liberty! Let every man have as much
land as he’s need on; that’s my religion, and it’s liberty, too».
19
19
I am a little apprehensive that the profound political philoso-
phers who have sprung up among us within a few years, including
some in high places, and who virtually maintain that the American is
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