The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-29


blind 10 the existence of wrongs, suferings
and sorrOws at the mere narration Of which
under a different phase Of things, his blood
would boil with Indignation.
Such, then was in some considerable degree
the state OF mind arising from habit and ac-
quaintance with the constitution Of freedom
and slavery intermingled everywhere in the
then world, anything to the contrary Of which
they had never seen nor even heard Of in which
the two Norman lords took their way down
the village street, if il could so be called being
q mere sandy track, passable only to horse
men, or carts and vehicles of the very rudest
construction unarmed except with their heavy
swords, and wholly unattended, on an errsnd,
as they intended, of liberality and mercy
The quarter Of the serfs of Sir Alberto De
Mortemsr was, for the most part, very superior
to the miserable collection OF huts, liker 10
dog houses than to any human habitation,
which generally constituted the dwellings Of
this iorlorn and miserable race; for the knight
wac, as it has been stated, an even-tempered
and good-natured, though commonplace man
and being endowed with rather an uncommon
regard COR order and taste for the picturesque,
he consequently looked more than usual TO
the comfort Of his serfs, both in allotting them
small plots Of garden. ground and orchards,
and in bestowing on them building materials
OF superior quality and appearance
All the huts, therefore, rudely framed of oak
beams, having the interstices filled in with a
cement of clay and ruddle, with matched roof
and wooden lattices instead of windows, were
whole, and for the most part weather proof
Many had made porches, covered with nstur al
wild runners, as the woodbine and sweet briar;
all had made gardens in front, which they
might cultivate in their hours of leisure, when
the days task work should be done, and which
displayed evidently enough, by their orderly or
slOvenly culture, the character and disposition
OF their occupants.
The few men whom they met on their way,
mostly driving up beasts laden with frewoOd
or forage to the cattle, for the day WAS not yet
far spent, nor the hours devoted to toll well
nigh spent, were hale, strong sturdy varlets,
In good physical condition, strong climbed, and
giving plentiful evidences in their appearance
OF ample coarse subsistence; they were well
dressed, moreover, although in the plainest and
coarsest hablEments, made, for the most part,
OF the tanned hides of beasts with the hair
outward, or in some cases of cheapbaf leather,
their feet protected by clumsy home. made san
dals, and their heads uncovered save by the
thick and matted elflocks of their unkempt
and dingy hair
They lOuted low as their lord passed them
by but no CLEAN Of recognition, much less any
smile of respectful greeting, such as passes be-
tween the honored superior and the valued
servant, played over their stod heavy counte-
nances, begrimed for the most part with filth,
and half-coyered with dis1rdered boards and
unshorn moustaches.
Neither in form, motion, nor attire did they
show any symptom of misusage; there were
no scars, as of the stripes, the stOcks, or the
letters, on their bare arms and legs; they were
in good physical condition, wcl-fed warmly
lodged, sufficiently clad--perhaps in the best
possible condition for the endurance OF con-
tinuous labor, and the performance Of works
requiring strength and patience, rather than
agility or energetic exertion
But 30 also were the mules, oxen, or horses
which they were employed in driving, and
which 10 all these respects were fully equal to
their drivers, while they had this manifest sd
vantage over them, that they were rubbed down
and currcombed ard cleaned, and showed
their hides GLOSSY and sleek, and their names
| free from scurf and burrs which il far more
than could be stated Of their human cdmpari-
ions, who looked for the most part % If their
tanned andswart compilations were rs innocent
of water, az were their boards and eli-looks Of
brush or currycOmb.
In addition, however, to their grim and sor-
did aspect, and their evident ignorance or
carelessDess Of their base appearance, there
was a dull, sullen, logged expression ON all
their iaces-a look not despairing nor even sor-
rowiul, but perfectly impas>ive, as if they had
nothing to hope for or regret, or fear the look
of q Gagged bear wearied and fattencd out of
his forceness, not tanned, civilized or controlled
by any human teaching.
The stature and bearing, even Of the free
born and noble Saxon, i'll ti,o day when his fair
isle Of Albion was bis own, and he trod the
soil its proud proprietor, had never been re-
markable for It's beauty, grace or dignity. He
WAS for the most part, short, tn, k-set sturdy
limbed bul-necked, huilet-he4jed; man
framed more for hardihood, endurance, obsti-
nate resolve, indomitable patience TO resist,
than for vivid energy, brilliant impulsive vigor,
or ardor, whether intellectual or physical; but
these men, though they neither lounged nor
Jagged behind plodded along with a heavy
listless gait their frowning brows turned earth
ward, their dull gray eyes rolling beneath their
light lsshes, meaningless and spritess, and
the same scowl on every gloomy face.
The younger women, Il few Of whom were
seen about the doors or gardens busted in
churning butter, making cheese, or performing
other duties of the farm and dairy, were some
what more neatly and in some few cases, even
tastefully alfred Some were Of rare beauty,
with profusion Of auburn, light brown, or
haxen hair, bright roy compilations, large blue
eyes, and voluptuous figures; and these bore
certainly a more cheerful aspect, as the nature
OF woman is more hopeful than that of man,
and more gentle mood than their fellows yet
there were no songs enlivening their moments
of rest or alleIatiug their hours of toils-no
jests, no rompipg, AZ we are wont to nee among
young girls of tender years, occupied in the
lighter and more feminine occupations Of agri-
cultural life,
Some one or two Of these indeed, smiled as
they curtsied 10 their lord but the smile was
wan and somewhat sickly, nor seemed TO come
from the heart; it gave no pleasure, one would
say, to her who gave-po pleasure TO him who
received it.
The little children, however who tumbled
about in the dust OF built mud bouses by the
pudde1 in the road, were the saddest sight Of
all. Halfnaked, sturdy limbed, filthy little
savages utterly untaught and untamed, scarce
ly capable of making themselves understood,
even in their own rude dialect; wild and
fierce or sulen looking as it might, subject to
no control OF correction, receiving no educs-
ton, no culture whatsoever-not 20 much even
as the colt, which is broken Mt least to the
manage, or the hound-puppy, which is entered
a. the quarry which he is 70 chase; ignorant
Of every moral or divine truth--ignorant even
that each one Of them was the possessor Of q
mortal body, no more than an immortal soul
But not u thought Of these things ever cross
ed the mind of the stately and puissant Nor
mans No impression such as these which
must needs now strike home 10 the soul of
every chance beholder, had ever been made on
their imaginations by the sight Of things,
which, seeing every day, they bad come TO
consider only as things which were customary,
and were therefore right and proper-not the
exception even 70 the rule, but the rule without