American Gothic, page 6
We accordingly left the hut and travelled at an easy rate for four days, determining to avoid being taken. But O! how shall I relate the horrid scene that followed? – Towards the evening of the fourth day we were surrounded and made prisoners by a party of Indians, who led us about two miles and then barbarously murdered my lover, cutting and mangling him in a most inhuman manner after tying him to a stake they kindled a fire round him, and while he burnt they run round singing and dancing, rejoicing in their brutal cruelty. I was at a few rods’ distance during this transaction, and this scene had well nigh deprived me of life. I fainted away and lay some time motionless on the ground, when I recovered my senses, I perceived that my guard had joined his companions, some of whom were seated round in rings, and others continued singing and dancing. Seeing them all engaged I withdrew by degrees into the bushes, and being out of their sight I got up and run for about an hour: I then sat down by the side of a tree and being overcome by fatigue and the sight I had seen, I either fainted or fell asleep, and knew nothing till next morning about 7 o’clock. ’Tis impossible for me to describe my feelings – or for you to conceive a situation more wretched than mine, at this time. Surrounded, as I supposed, on all sides by danger – I knew not what to do, without a guide to direct, or friend to protect me.
At length I got up, and after walking some time I resolved to seek some place of shelter where I might be secure from storms by day and from beasts by night, where I might dwell till a period should be put to my miserable existence. – With this view I wandered about for 14 days without knowing whither I went. By day the spontaneous produce of the earth supplied me with food, by night the ground was my couch, and the canopy of heaven my only covering. In the afternoon of the fifteenth day I was surprized at seeing a man of a gigantic figure walking towards me – to run I knew would be vain, and no less vain to attempt to hide. He soon came up with me and accosted me in a language I did not understand, and after surveying me for some time he took me by the hand and led me to this cave, having entered he pointed to a stone seat on which I sat down, he then gave me to eat some nuts and some Indian cake, after which he stretched himself out upon a long stone covered with skins which he used as a bed, and several times motioned to me to lay myself beside him; I declined his offer, and at length he rose in a passion and went into another apartment of the cave and brought forth a sword and hatchet. He then motioned to me that I must either accept of his bed or expect death for my obstinacy; I still declined his offer, and was resolved to die rather than comply with his desire. He then brought a walnut bark, and having bound me pointed to the east, intimating that he left me till next morning to consider his proposal, he then returned to his bed and happily for me soon fell asleep. Having the liberty of my mouth I soon made out to bite the bark in two with which he bound me, by which I found means to liberate myself while he continued sleeping. As I considered this as the only opportunity I should have of freeing myself from him, – as I expected that he would use violence when he awaked, to make me partake of his bed, and as I knew I could not escape him by flight I did not long deliberate, but took up the hatchet he had brought, and summoning resolution I with three blows effectually put an end to his existence. I then cut off his head, and next day having cut him into quarters drew him out of the cave about half a mile distance, when after covering him with leaves and bushes I returned to this place. I now found myself alone in possession of this cave in which are several apartments. I found here a kind of Indian corn which I planted, and have yearly raised a small quantity, here I contented myself as well as my wretched situation would permit – here have I existed for nine long years, in all which time this faithful dog which I found in the cave has been my only companion, and you are the only human beings who ever heard me tell my tale.” Here she finished her narration, and after shedding a plentiful shower of tears and a little conversation she requested us to take rest, which request we willingly complied with.
Next morning she conducted us through the cave, in which were four appartments, one of which appeared to be dug pretty deep in the earth, in which was a spring of excellent water – in the other three were nothing remarkable, except four skulls, which we supposed were of persons murdered by the owner of the cave, or of his former companions. We found also three hatchets, four bows and several arrows, one large tinder box, one sword, one old gun and a number of skins of dead beasts, and a few clothes. The bows, some arrows, the sword and one hatchet we brought away, which are now in my possession. After continuing in the cave five days we proposed returning home, and requested the lady to accompany us – at first she refused to quit her cave; but after some persuasion she consented. We together left the cave on the morning of the sixth day after our arrival in it, and travelling the way we went, arrived at my house in 17 days. After resting about a week we accompanied the Lady, agreeable to her desire, to her father’s house: the old man did not at first recognize his daughter, but being told who she was – he looked at her for some time and then tenderly embraced her crying, O! my child, my long lost child, do I once more fold thee in my arms – He then fainted away. We with difficulty brought him to life; but the scene had overcome him; he opened his eyes and being recovered, a little requested to know where she had lived so long, and what had happened to her since her leaving his house. We desired him to wait till he should be better recovered – but he begged to be satisfied immediately, observing that he had but a few moments to live. She then briefly related what had happened to her and the tragical death of her lover – he seemed much affected, and when she had finished, he took her by the hand and affectionately squeezed it, acknowledged he had been unjustly cruel to her, asked her forgiveness and attempted to say something more, but immediately fainted – all our endeavours to recover him were in vain. – he lay about seven hours and then expired. He left a handsome fortune to his daughter, who, notwithstanding his cruelty, was deeply affected at his sudden death. This adventure, the most singular and extraordinary of my life, I have communicated agreeable to your desire, as it really happened, without addition or diminition, and am Sir, yours, &c.
ABRAHAM PANTHER.
J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur (1735–1813)
Crèvecoeur was a French aristocrat who adopted the persona of a simple American farmer named John. His Letters from an American Farmer (1782) is a classic statement of American exceptionalism. In answering the rhetorical question “What is an American?” Crèvecoeur produces a still evocative picture of simple pastoral life under lenient laws, and a new kind of person formed in a melting pot, in which the mutual hostilities of European nations are dissolved. But this vision of perfection, offered especially in the often anthologized Letter III, is disrupted by Letter IX. As Teresa A. Goddu persuasively argues in Gothic America, Letter IX demonstrates a basic pattern of American Gothic by subverting the narrative of the earlier letters, and revealing what they must conceal. John’s horrifying encounter with the caged slave is a true Gothic moment, and exposes the key issue of race and American culture.
Text: J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur, Letters From an American Farmer, reprinted from the original ed. (New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904). A small number of obvious misprints have been silently corrected, and present-day conventions for quotation marks applied.
Letters from an American Farmer
LETTER IX. DESCRIPTION OF CHARLES-TOWN; THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY; ON PHYSICAL EVIL; A MELANCHOLY SCENE
CHARLES-TOWN is, in the north, what Lima is in the south; both are Capitals of the richest provinces of their respective hemispheres: you may therefore conjecture, that both cities must exhibit the appearances necessarily resulting from riches. Peru abounding in gold, Lima is filled with inhabitants who enjoy all those gradations of pleasure, refinement, and luxury, which proceed from wealth. Carolina produces commodities, more valuable perhaps than gold, because they are gained by greater industry; it exhibits also on our northern stage, a display of riches and luxury, inferior indeed to the former, but far superior to what are to be seen in our northern towns. Its situation is admirable, being built at the confluence of two large rivers, which receive in their course a great number of inferior streams; all navigable in the spring, for flat boats. Here the produce of this extensive territory concentres; here therefore is the seat of the most valuable exportation; their wharfs, their docks, their magazines, are extremely convenient to facilitate this great commercial business. The inhabitants are the gayest in America; it is called the centre of our beau monde, and is always filled with the richest planters of the province, who resort hither in quest of health and pleasure. Here are always to be seen a great number of valetudinarians from the West-Indies, seeking for the renovation of health, exhausted by the debilitating nature of their sun, air, and modes of living. Many of these West-Indians have I seen, at thirty, loaded with the infirmities of old age; for nothing is more common in those countries of wealth, than for persons to lose the abilities of enjoying the comforts of life, at a time when we northern men just begin to taste the fruits of our labour and prudence. The round of pleasure, and the expenses of those citizens’ tables, are much superior to what you would imagine: indeed the growth of this town and province has been astonishingly rapid. It is pity that the narrowness of the neck on which it stands prevents it from increasing; and which is the reason why houses are so dear. The heat of the climate, which is sometimes very great in the interior parts of the country, is always temperate in Charles-Town; though sometimes when they have no sea breezes the sun is too powerful. The climate renders excesses of all kinds very dangerous, particularly those of the table; and yet, insensible or fearless of danger, they live on, and enjoy a short and a merry life: the rays of their sun seem to urge them irresistibly to dissipation and pleasure: on the contrary, the women, from being abstemious, reach to a longer period of life, and seldom die without having had several husbands. An European at his first arrival must be greatly surprised when he sees the elegance of their houses, their sumptuous furniture, as well as the magnificence of their tables. Can he imagine himself in a country, the establishment of which is so recent?
The three principal classes of inhabitants are, lawyers, planters, and merchants; this is the province which has afforded to the first the richest spoils, for nothing can exceed their wealth, their power, and their influence. They have reached the ne plus ultra of worldly felicity; no plantation is secured, no title is good, no will is valid, but what they dictate, regulate, and approve. The whole mass of provincial property is become tributary to this society; which, far above priests and bishops, disdain to be satisfied with the poor Mosaical portion of the tenth. I appeal to the many inhabitants, who, while contending perhaps for their right to a few hundred acres, have lost by the mazes of the law their whole patrimony. These men are more properly law givers than interpreters of the law; and have united here, as well as in most other provinces, the skill and dexterity of the scribe with the power and ambition of the prince: who can tell where this may lead in a future day? The nature of our laws, and the spirit of freedom, which often tends to make us litigious, must necessarily throw the greatest part of the property of the colonies into the hands of these gentlemen. In another century, the law will possess in the north, what now the church possesses in Peru and Mexico.
While all is joy, festivity, and happiness in Charles-Town, would you imagine that scenes of misery overspread in the country? Their ears by habit are become deaf, their hearts are hardened; they neither see, hear, nor feel for the woes of their poor slaves, from whose painful labours all their wealth proceeds. Here the horrors of slavery, the hardship of incessant toils, are unseen; and no one thinks with compassion of those showers of sweat and of tears which from the bodies of Africans daily drop, and moisten the ground they till. The cracks of the whip urging these miserable beings to excessive labour, are far too distant from the gay Capital to be heard. The chosen race eat, drink, and live happy, while the unfortunate one grubs up the ground, raises indigo, or husks the rice; exposed to a sun full as scorching as their native one; without the support of good food, without the cordials of any cheering liquor. This great contrast has often afforded me subjects of the most conflicting meditation. On the one side, behold a people enjoying all that life affords most bewitching and pleasurable, without labour, without fatigue, hardly subjected to the trouble of wishing. With gold, dug from Peruvian mountains, they order vessels to the coasts of Guinea; by virtue of that gold, wars, murders, and devastations are committed in some harmless, peaceable African neighbourhood, where dwelt innocent people, who even knew not but that all men were black. The daughter torn from her weeping mother, the child from the wretched parents, the wife from the loving husband; whole families swept away and brought through storms and tempests to this rich metropolis! There, arranged like horses at a fair, they are branded like cattle, and then driven to toil, to starve, and to languish for a few years on the different plantations of these citizens. And for whom must they work? For persons they know not, and who have no other power over them than that of violence, no other right than what this accursed metal has given them! Strange order of things! Oh, Nature, where art thou? – Are not these blacks thy children as well as we? On the other side, nothing is to be seen but the most diffusive misery and wretchedness, unrelieved even in thought or wish! Day after day they drudge on without any prospect of ever reaping for themselves; they are obliged to devote their lives, their limbs, their will, and every vital exertion to swell the wealth of masters; who look not upon them with half the kindness and affection with which they consider their dogs and horses. Kindness and affection are not the portion of those who till the earth, who carry the burdens, who convert the logs into useful boards. This reward, simple and natural as one would conceive it, would border on humanity; and planters must have none of it!
If negroes are permitted to become fathers, this fatal indulgence only tends to increase their misery: the poor companions of their scanty pleasures are likewise the companions of their labours; and when at some critical seasons they could wish to see them relieved, with tears in their eyes they behold them perhaps doubly oppressed, obliged to bear the burden of nature – a fatal present – as well as that of unabated tasks. How many have I seen cursing the irresistible propensity, and regretting, that by having tasted of those harmless joys, they had become the authors of double misery to their wives. Like their masters, they are not permitted to partake of those ineffable sensations with which nature inspires the hearts of fathers and mothers; they must repel them all, and become callous and passive. This unnatural state often occasions the most acute, the most pungent of their afflictions; they have no time, like us, tenderly to rear their helpless offspring, to nurse them on their knees, to enjoy the delight of being parents. Their paternal fondness is embittered by considering, that if their children live, they must live to be slaves like themselves; no time is allowed them to exercise their pious office, the mothers must fasten them on their backs, and, with this double load, follow their husbands in the fields, where they too often hear no other sound than that of the voice or whip of the task-master, and the cries of their infants, broiling in the sun. These unfortunate creatures cry and weep like their parents, without a possibility of relief; the very instinct of the brute, so laudable, so irresistible, runs counter here to their master’s interest; and to that god, all the laws of nature must give way. Thus planters get rich; so raw, so unexperienced am I in this mode of life, that were I to be possessed of a plantation, and my slaves treated as in general they are here, never could I rest in peace; my sleep would be perpetually disturbed by a retrospect of the frauds committed in Africa, in order to entrap them; frauds surpassing in enormity everything which a common mind can possibly conceive. I should be thinking of the barbarous treatment they meet with on ship-board; of their anguish, of the despair necessarily inspired by their situation, when torn from their friends and relations; when delivered into the hands of a people differently coloured, whom they cannot understand; carried in a strange machine over an ever agitated element, which they had never seen before; and finally delivered over to the severities of the whippers, and the excessive labours of the field. Can it be possible that the force of custom should ever make me deaf to all these reflections, and as insensible to the injustice of that trade, and to their miseries, as the rich inhabitants of this town seem to be? What then is man; this being who boasts so much of the excellence and dignity of his nature, among that variety of unscrutable mysteries, of unsolvable problems, with which he is surrounded? The reason why man has been thus created, is not the least astonishing! It is said, I know that they are much happier here than in the West-Indies; because land being cheaper upon this continent than in those islands, the fields allowed them to raise their subsistence from, are in general more extensive. The only possible chance of any alleviation depends on the humour of the planters, who, bred in the midst of slaves, learn from the example of their parents to despise them; and seldom conceive either from religion or philosophy, any ideas that tend to make their fate less calamitous; except some strong native tenderness of heart, some rays of philanthropy, overcome the obduracy contracted by habit.
