Унесенные ветром

Chapter 3

           Theywereaclose-mouthedandstiff-neckedfamily,whokeptstrictlytothemselvesandintermarriedwiththeirCarolinarelatives,andGeraldwasnotaloneindislikingthem,fortheCountypeoplewereneighborlyandsociableandnonetootolerantofanyonelackinginthosesamequalities.RumorsofAbolitionistsympathiesdidnotenhancethepopularityoftheMacIntoshes.OldAngushadnevermanumittedasingleslaveandhadcommittedtheunpardonablesocialbreachofsellingsomeofhisnegroestopassingslavetradersenroutetothecanefieldsofLouisiana,buttherumorspersisted.

           "He’sanAbolitionist,nodoubt,"observedGeraldtoJohnWilkes."But,inanOrangeman,whenaprinciplecomesupagainstScotchtightness,theprinciplefaresill."

           TheSlatteryswereanotheraffair.Beingpoorwhite,theywerenotevenaccordedthegrudgingrespectthatAngusMacIntosh’sdourindependencewrungfromneighboringfamilies.OldSlattery,whoclungpersistentlytohisfewacres,inspiteofrepeatedoffersfromGeraldandJohnWilkes,wasshiftlessandwhining.Hiswifewasasnarly-hairedwoman,sicklyandwashed-outofappearance,themotherofabroodofsullenandrabbity-lookingchildrenabroodwhichwasincreasedregularlyeveryyear.TomSlatteryownednoslaves,andheandhistwooldestboysspasmodicallyworkedtheirfewacresofcotton,whilethewifeandyoungerchildrentendedwhatwassupposedtobeavegetablegarden.But,somehow,thecottonalwaysfailed,andthegarden,duetoMrs.Slattery’sconstantchildbearing,seldomfurnishedenoughtofeedherflock.

           ThesightofTomSlatterydawdlingonhisneighbors’porches,beggingcottonseedforplantingorasideofbaconto"tidehimover,"wasafamiliarone.

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