To Sarah Wharton, this intelligence gave unexpected pleasure; rising from her seat, with impatience, she bade the black shew Birch into the apartment; when, suddenly recollecting herself, she turned to the traveller with an apologizing look, and added, “if Mr. Harper will excuse the presence of a pedlar.”
The indulgent benevolence expressed in the countenance of the stranger, as he bowed a silent acquiescence, spoke more eloquently than the nicest framed period, and the young lady repeated her order with a confidence in its truth, that removed all embarrassment.
In the deep recesses of the windows of the cottage, were seats of panneled work; and the rich damask curtains, that had ornamented the parlour in Queen-street,* had been transferred to the “Locusts,” and gave to the room that indescribable air of comfort, which so gratefully announces the approach of a domestic winter. Into one of these recesses Captain Wharton now threw himself, drawing the curtain before him in such a manner as to conceal most of his person from observation; while his younger sister, losing her natural frankness of manner in an air of artificial constraint, silently took possession of the other.
Harvey Birch had been a pedlar from his youth; at least, so he frequently asserted, and his skill in the occupation went far to prove the truth of the declaration. He was a native of one of the Eastern Colonies; and, from something of superior intelligence which belonged to his father, it was thought they had known better fortunes in the land of their nativity. Harvey possessed, however, the common manners of the country, and was in no way distinguished from men of his class but by his acuteness—and the mystery which enveloped his movements. Ten years before, they had arrived together in the vale, and, purchasing the humble dwelling at which Harper had made his unsuccessful application, continued ever since peaceful inhabitants, but little noticed and but little known. Until age and infirmities had prevented, the father devoted himself to the cultivation of the small spot of ground belonging to his purchase, while the son pursued with avidity his humble barter. Their orderly quietude had soon given them so much consideration in the neighbourhood, as to induce a maiden of five and thirty to forget the punctilio of her sex, and to accept the office of presiding over their domestic comforts. The roses had long before vanished from the cheeks of Katy Haynes, and she had seen in succession, both her male and female acquaintances forming the union so desirable to her sex, with but little or no hope left for herself, when, with views of her own, she entered the family of the Birches. Necessity is a hard master—and, for the want of a better companion, the father and son were induced to accept her services—but still Katy was not wanting in some qualities, which made her a very tolerable housekeeper. On the one hand, she was neat, industrious, honest, and a good manager.—On the other, she was talkative, selfish, superstitious, and inquisitive. By dint of using the latter quality with consummate industry, she had not lived in the family five years when she triumphantly declared, that she had heard, or rather over heard, sufficient to enable her to say what had been the former fate of her associates.—Could Katy have possessed enough of divination to pronounce upon their future lot, her task would have been accomplished. From the private conversations of the parent and child, she learnt that a fire had reduced them from competence to poverty, and at the same time diminished the number of their family to two. There was a tremulousness in the voice of the father, as he touched lightly on the event, which affected even the heart of Katy; but no barrier is sufficient to repel vulgar curiosity. She persevered, until a very direct intimation from Harvey, by threatning to supply her place with a female a few years younger than herself, gave her awful warning, that there were bounds beyond which she was not to pass. From that period, the curiosity of the housekeeper had been held in such salutary restraint, that, although no opportunity of listening was ever neglected, she had been able to add but little to her stock of knowledge. There was, however, one piece of intelligence, and that of no little interest to herself, which she had succeeded in obtaining; and, from the moment of its acquisition, she directed her energies to the accomplishment of one object, aided by the double stimulus of love and avarice.
Harvey was in the frequent habit of paying mysterious visits, in the depth of the night, to the fire-place of the apartment, that served for both kitchen and parlor. Here he was observed by Katy; and, availing herself of his absence and the occupations of the father, by removing one of the hearthstones, she discovered an iron pot, glittering with a metal that seldom fails to soften the hardest heart. Katy succeeded in replacing the stone without discovery, and never dared to trust herself with another visit. From that moment, however, the heart of the virgin lost its obduracy; and nothing interposed between Harvey and his happiness, but his own want of observation.
The war did not interfere with the traffic of the pedlar, who seized on the golden opportunity which the interruption to the regular trade afforded, and appeared absorbed in the one grand object of amassing money. For a year or two his employment was uninterrupted, and his success proportionate; but, at length, dark and threatening hints began to throw suspicion around his movements, and the civil authority thought it incumbent on them to examine narrowly into his mode of life. His imprisonments, though frequent, were not long; and his escapes from the guardians of the law easy, compared to what he endured from the persecution of the military. Still Birch survived, and still he continued his trade, though compelled to be very guarded in his movements, especially whenever he approached the northern boundaries of the county; or, in other words, the neighbourhood of the American lines. His visits to the “Locusts” had become less frequent, and his appearance at 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 her reply to Harper. Nothing, however, seemed to interfere with the pursuits of this indefatigable trader; who, with a view to dispose of certain articles for which he could only find purchasers in the very wealthiest families of the county, had now braved the fury of the tempest, and ventured to cross the half mile between his own residence and the house of Mr. Wharton.
In a few minutes after receiving the commands of his young mistress, Caesar reappeared, ushering into the apartment the subject of the foregoing digression. In person, the pedlar was a man above the middle height, spare, but full of bone and muscle.—At first sight, his strength seemed unequal to manage the unwieldy burden of his pack; yet he threw it on and off with great dexterity, and with as much apparent ease as if it had been filled with feathers. His eyes were gray—sunken, restless, and, for the flitting moments that they dwelt on the countenances of those with whom he conversed, they seemed to read the very soul. They possessed, however, two distinct expressions, which, in a great measure, characterized the whole man. When engaged in traffic, the intelligence of his face appeared lively, active, and flexible, though uncommonly acute; if the conversation turned on the ordinary transactions of life, his air became abstracted and restless; but if, by chance, the revolution and the country were the topic, his whole system seemed altered—all his faculties were concentrated—he would listen for a great length of time, without speaking, and then would break silence by some light and jocular remark, that was too much at variance with his former 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 Katy Haynes as can be readily imagined. On entering the room the pedlar relieved himself from his burden, which, as it stood on the floor, reached nearly to his shoulders, and saluted the family with modest civility. To Harper he made a silent bow, without lifting his eyes from the carpet; but the curtain prevented any notice of the presence of Captain Wharton. Sarah gave but little time for the usual salutations before she commenced her survey of the contents of the pack; and, for several minutes, the two were engaged in bringing to light the various articles it c
ontained. The tables, chairs, and floor, were soon covered with silks, crapes, gloves, muslins, and all the stock of an itinerant trader. Caesar was employed to hold open the mouth of the pack, as its hordes were discharged, and occasionally he aided his young lady, by directing her admiration to some article of finery, which, from its deeper contrast in colours, he thought more worthy of her notice. At length, Sarah having selected several articles, and satisfactorily arranged the prices, observed in a cheerful voice—
“But, Harvey, you have told us no news.—Has Lord Cornwallis beaten the rebels again?”
The question could not have been heard; for the pedlar, burying his body in the pack, brought forth a quantity of lace of exquisite fineness, and, holding it up to view, he required the admiration of the young lady. Miss Peyton dropped the cup she was engaged in washing, from her hand; and Frances exhibited the whole of that lovely face, which had hitherto only suffered one of its joyous eyes to be seen beaming with a colour that shamed the damask which enviously concealed her figure.
The aunt quitted her employment; and Birch soon disposed of a large portion of this valuable article. The praises of the ladies had drawn the whole person of the younger sister into view; and Frances was slowly rising from the window, as Sarah repeated her question, with an exultation in her voice, that proceeded more from pleasure in her purchase, than her political feelings. The younger sister resumed her seat, apparently examining the state of the clouds, while the pedlar, finding a reply was expected, answered slowly—
“There is some talk, below, about Tarleton having defeated General Sumpter, on the Tyger river.”
Captain Wharton now involuntarily thrust his head between the opening of the curtains into the room; and Frances, turning her ear, in breathless silence, noticed the quiet eyes of Harper looking at the pedlar, over the book he was affecting to read, with an expression that denoted him to be a listener of no ordinary interest.
“Indeed!” cried the exulting Sarah, “Sumpter—Sumpter—who is he? I’ll not 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 pedlar hesitated; his eye glanced towards Harper, who was yet gazing at him with settled meaning, and the whole manner of Birch was altered. Approaching the fire, he took from his mouth a large allowance of the Virginian weed, and depositing it, with the superabundance of its juices, without mercy to Miss Peyton’s shining andirons, he returned to his goods—
“He lives somewhere among the niggars to the south,” answered the pedlar, abruptly.
“No more niggar than be yourself, Mister Birch,” interrupted Caesar tartly, dropping, at the same time, the covering of the goods in high displeasure.
“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 offended negro, “so long as he behave heself.”
“And frequently he is much better,” rejoined his mistress; “but, Harvey, who is this Mr. Sumpter?”
A slight indication of humour shewed itself on the face of the pedlar,—but it disappeared, and he continued as if the discourse had met with no interruption from the sensitiveness of the domestic.
“As I was saying, he lives among the coloured people in the south,”— Caesar resumed his occupation—“and he has lately had a skrimmage 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 in a low tone.
“I repeat but what I hear,” said Birch, offering a piece of cloth to the inspection of Sarah, who rejected it in silence, evidently determined to hear more before she made another purchase.
“They say, however, at the Plains,” the pedlar continued, first throwing his eyes again round the room, and letting them rest for an instant on Harper, “that Sumpter and one or two more were all that were hurt, and that the rig’lers were all cut to pieces, for the militia were fixed snugly in a log barn.”
“Not very probable,” said Sarah contemptuously, “though I make no doubt the rebels got behind the logs.”
“I think,” said the pedlar coolly, again offering the silk, “it’s quite ingenious to get a log between one and a gun, instead of getting between a gun and a log.”
The eyes of Harper dropped quietly on the pages of the volume in his hand, while Frances, rising, came forward with a smile in her face, as she inquired, in a tone of affability that the pedlar had never before witnessed from the younger sister—
“Have you more of the lace, Mr. Birch?”
The desired article was immediately produced, and Frances became a purchaser also. By her order a glass of liquor was offered to the trader, who took it with thanks, and, having paid his compliments to the master of the house and the ladies, drank the beverage.
“So it is thought that Colonel Tarleton has worsted General Sumpter?” said Mr. Wharton, affecting to be employed in mending the cup, that was broken by the eagerness of his sister-in-law.
“I believe they think so at Morrisania,” said Birch, drily.
“Have you any other news, friend?” asked Captain Wharton, venturing to thrust his face without the curtains again.
“Have you heard that Major André has been hanged?”
Captain Wharton started, and for a moment glances of great significance were exchanged between him and the trader, when he observed, with affected indifference, “that must have been some weeks ago.”
“Does his execution make much noise?” asked the father, striving to make the broken china unite.
“People will talk, you know, Squire.”
“Is there any probability of movements below, my friend, that will make travelling dangerous?” asked Harper, looking steadily at the other, in expectation of his reply.
Some bunches of ribbons fell from the hands of Birch; his countenance changed instantly, losing its keen expression in intent meaning, as he answered 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 their quarters; it would be no wonder if they took the scent soon, for the Virginia horse are low in the county.”
“Are they in much force?” asked Mr. Wharton, suspending all employment in 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 some of the ribbons in her hand—laid them down again—and, bending over the goods, so that her hair, falling in rich curls, shaded her face, she observed, blushing with a colour 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 colours of yellow and red were contrasted on a white ground; and after admiring it for 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 heart leap for joy—so berry genteel.”
“Yes,” added the pedlar quaintly, “that is only wanting to make Dinah look like a rainbow.”
Caesar eyed his young mistress eagerly, until she inquired of Harvey the price of the article.
“Why, much as I light of chaps,” said the pedlar.
“How much?” demanded Sarah in surprise.
“According to my luck in finding purchasers—for my friend Dinah, you may 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 pedlar, “if you like that better.”
“Be sure, he like ’em better”—said Caesar smiling good humouredly and re-opening the pack—“Miss Sally like a t’ree shilling when she give, and a four shilling when she take.”
The bargain was immediately concluded; but in measuring, the cloth wanted a little of the well known ten yards required by the dimensions of Dinah. By dint of a strong arm, however, it grew to the desired length, under the experienced eye of the pedlar, who conscientiously added a ribbon of corresponding brilliancy with the calico, and Caesar hastily withdrew, to communicate the joyful intelligence to his aged partner.
During the movements created by the conclusion of the purchase, Captain Wharton had ventured to draw aside the curtain, so as to admit a view of his person, and he now inquired of the pedlar, who had begun to collect his scattered goods, at what time he had left the city.
“At early twilight,” was the answer.
“So lately!” cried the other in surprise; and then correcting his manner, by assuming a more guarded air, he continued—“Could you pass the picquets at so late an hour?”
“I did,” was the laconic reply.
“You must be well known by this time, Harvey, to the officers of the British army,” cried Sarah, smiling knowingly on the pedlar.
“I know some of them by sight,” said Birch, glancing his eyes round the apartment, taking in their course Captain Wharton, and resting for an instant on the countenance of Harper.
Mr. Wharton had listened intently to each speaker, in succession, and had so far lost the affectation of indifference, as to be crushing in his hand the pieces of china on which he had expended so much labour in endeavouring to mend it; when, observing the pedlar tying the last knot in his pack, he asked abruptly—
James Fenimore Cooper's Five Novels Page 7