Rastus Jones was airing some of the church troubles of the union Avenue Baptist Church in the Wilford State Bank one morning and the bank force who had time to listen were greatly interested in his recital3.
"You sees it wa' jest like this. I's elected deacon and so's that rascally4 niggah, Sam Jenkins. I se's I ain't gwine to act as no deacon if that low down niggah is goin' to be deacon. It's not in accordance wid my exalted6 opinion of the dignities an duties of the impo'tant and splendiferous office of chu'ch deacon."
"Yes, sah; dat is right. Well, when we'd been instituted in ouh offices——"
"You mean installed, don't you?" Ruth asked.
"Yes'm, dat's it, installed. The fust Sunday we 'ficiated aftah de duties and sponsibilities had become incumbent8 upon us dat impudent9 niggah looks at me and says, 'Rastus, do you presume that you has the qualifications requisite10 to serve as deacon?' It was lucky for that niggah that I didn't have my razzer with me. I jumps up befo' the entire boad of deacons and says, 'I moves that Sam Jenkins is disqualified to occupy the high and exalted position of deacon of The union Avenue African Church.' Maybe you don't tink that brought on a battle. About half took sides wif me and tothah half wid Sam. Dar ware11 some langwage bein' used what wouldn't sound good in a pulpit when the Reverend George Washington Bascom entered and ast what all de argument was about. Well, Sam splained and I splained; but Sam splained moah than I did, an the Reverend George Washington Bascom decided12 that Sam could remain a deacon. I'd done said that I ain't gwine to serve with no sech a low down niggah so I takes my hat and walks out, and I ain't gwine to pay no moah of my ha'd earned money to a prechah what ain't got no mo' discriminatin and amplyfien powah than to side in with sech a wuthless niggah. I'se done stopped payin' and I reckons the Reverend is gwine to miss my thuty cents what I'se been takin' evah Sunday."
"You better watch out," warned the cashier. "The Ku Kluxers may visit you."
"Ain't nobody gwine to scah me with no Ku Klux talk. If I'se some if these niggahs what's a shootin' craps and liftin' othah people's chickens of' de roosts I might be scahed, but I'se a Christian13, I is, and I jest like to know why the Kluxer would botheh me."
"They might get you for going back on the preacher."
"He done went back on me and de best interests of the chu'ch when he saved that onry low-down niggah from my just wrath14 and indignation."
"The Klan may not look at it that way," said Ruth.
"Go on, you all ain't gwine to scah me with no Ku Klux talk, you ain't."
The bank clerks continued their work and Rastus busied himself about the bank. Several times during the morning his questions about the Ku Klux Klan showed a grave apprehension15.
"Yes, sah; I'll mop it tonight. I'se janitah at one of the school buildings and have to do the work there right aftah fo' o'clock."
"Well, I don't care when you do it just so you get it done," Stover replied.
That evening after dinner at the Babcock home Ruth announced that she was going back to the bank.
"I'm sorry that they want you to come to the bank and work at night," said her father.
"This work that I am going to do tonight is a little work I want to do for myself. Mr. Stover did not tell me to do it."
"I hope you will not be out late."
Before going, Ruth went to her room and secured a pillow slip and a sheet; in the pillow slip she cut eyes and a mouth vent17 for breathing. She wrapped the pillow slip and sheet in a paper which she carried under her arm.
When she reached the bank she locked herself in her office and waited for the arrival of the janitor18.
It was eight-thirty when he came. Ruth could hear him talking frequently to himself as he worked. Once she heard him say, "Who's afeared of them Kluxers, anyway. I'm mighty19 shuah I ain't."
Ruth put on her robe and mask and viewed herself in the mirror. She suppressed a laugh. When she heard Rastus emptying the water she went out of the door that opened directly into the corridor and waited behind the elevator cage which was standing20 at the bottom of the shaft21.
Soon Rastus came out and when near the elevator Ruth stepped from behind it.
Rastus threw up both his hands and exclaimed, "Lawd, Lawd!" and began to back off. The white robed figure wearing a white mask slowly followed him. One arm under the robe was lifted toward him. He was sure the Klansman had a revolver in his hand, as he backed away from the approaching figure he said, "Please don't shoot me, I ain't done nothin', Mistah Ku Klux—honest to Gawd, I ain't."
"You have refused to support your pastor22." The white robed figure spoke23 in a sepulchral24 voice.
"I'se only missed payin' one Sunday and that's a fact. If you will let me go this time I'll pay evah Sunday."
"You may have one more chance. Now face the wall and don't look around until you have counted three hundred. My final warning to you is beware, beware, beware!"
The negro, as directed, faced the wall and began to count. Ruth removed her robe and mask as she passed through the outer entrance to the corridor and hastened to the street intersection25 where she caught a car.
The next morning it was ten o'clock before Rastus made his appearance at the bank.
"Rastus, you are a little late," said Stover.
"Yes, sah, Mr. Stover, I'se late. I had a terrible sperience last night that's kinda made me feel flober-gasted."
"What was the trouble, Rastus?" asked Stover.
"I was visited by the Ku Klux Klan."
"What, are you telling the truth?" Stover asked with interest.
The bank employees all left their work and gathered around Rastus.
"Honest to Gawd, I'se tellin' the truf. I'd jest finished moppin' and sta'ted home, when out from behind the elevator stepped one of them Ku Kluxers."
"Did he have a mask on?" someone asked.
"Yes, sah; he had a mask on."
"Was there just one?" the cashier asked.
"Jest one in the hall, but I heard a lot of 'em outside the doah."
"What did the Klansman say to you?"
"He said I hadn't been payin' our preachah. I spec dat skunk26 of a Sam Jenkins done set 'em on me."
"What did they do?"
"This big spook done say he give me one moah chance."
"Why didn't you grab him and lift his mask?" Golter asked.
"He was too big and powahful."
"How big was he?" asked Ruth.
"He must have been seben feet tall."
"You thought he was too big for you to grapple with?"
"Yas, ma'am, he was too big—besides he threatened me with a gun."
"Are you sure he had a gun?" she asked.
"Yes'm, I'se shuah. I didn't see the gun itsef. He kept it covered with his robe, but he shuah nuf pointed27 it at me."
"This is no more than I have been expecting," Mr. Stover remarked, and the clerks resumed their work.
All day at irregular intervals28 Ruth shook with suppressed laughter. That evening when she reached home and saw a copy of the Journal she gave full vent to her mirth. Springer had made the most capital possible out of the incident. This was a consequence that Ruth had not foreseen. When she saw the article she was thoroughly29 amused at the exaggerated garbled30 report of it, but after reflecting on the article she regretted that she had staged the affair. She had never once thought of the incident's being used to the detriment31 of the Klan. She re-read the article:
KU KLUX KLAN MOB NEGRO
His Life Threatened
"The very thing that was to be expected of the Ku Klux Klan has come to pass in Wilford Springs. Last night about 9 p.m. a dozen or more members of the Ku Klux Klan went to the main entrance of the Central State Bank of Wilford. One of their number, wearing a robe and mask, entered the corridor and waited for Rastus Jones, the janitor of the bank, who was doing some work on the inside. When he had finished his work and was walking through the corridor leaving the building a man in a white robe and wearing a mask suddenly stepped from behind the elevator and forced Mr. Jones into a corner at the point of a revolver. The Klansman threatened the life of Mr. Jones if he did not agree to do something that was contrary to the dictates32 of his conscience. The white robed and hooded33 ruffian then flourished the gun in the face of Mr. Jones and warned him that he would be given only the one chance. Mr. Jones was then forced to face the wall and was told to count to three hundred before looking around. When he had counted the required number and reached the street, the Klansmen were gone. The robed Klansman is described as a very large man with an exceedingly heavy voice.
"It seems that Mr. Jones had had a little trouble with another colored man, and he is of the opinion that this man secured the assistance of the Klan. This seems plausible34 as Mr. Jones is a highly respected colored man, honest and industrious35. This hooded organization has been known before to act as an agent to punish someone through personal spite.
"The Klan movement in Wilford Springs has been discouraged by the best citizens of the community. The organization here at present is small and, as it is elsewhere, composed of the derelicts of society, together with a few foolish individuals who are easily influenced to part with their money to enrich Klan promoters, not knowing the real nature of the organization.
"This incident should arouse all good citizens to do their utmost to oppose the Klan."
Saturday evening when the employees of the bank were receiving their pay Rastus Jones said to the cashier, "I wants some change fo' my chu'ch envelope tomorrow."
"I thought you had quit paying to the church."
"I done quit but I'se gwine to sta't to payin' agin. I don't believe a Christian should quit payin' the preachah jest 'cause he don't like all the preachah does. I wants the change so's I can get sixty cents out of it fer my envelope."
"All right, here you are, but I thought you said that you only gave thirty cents."
"Yas, sar, dat's all I gives regular, but I didn't pay las' Sunday, so I'se gwine to make up fer it this time."
The following Sunday evening the Reverend George Washington Bascom discussed "The Questions of the Day." The union Avenue African Church was well filled. Many of the members of this church were among the best colored people of the town, but of course the union Avenue Church also had its share of the other kind.
The major portion of Reverend Bascom's address was devoted36 to the coming election. He discussed the issues of the campaign and then he aroused tremendous interest when he said:
"They tell us that the Ku Klux Klan is a factor in this campaign. They told us in the city election that if we did not line up for certain candidates that the Klan would get so strong here that no negro would be safe in the pursuit of his happiness. Now if there is any nigger here whose pursuit of happiness leads him to the chicken coop of his neighbor he ought not to be safe in that pursuit."
("Dat's right, dat's right," came from a number of his auditors37.) "Now they are trying to scare us with that bogey38 man, the Klan."
"Now the Klan may go out and do unlawful things and then again it may not." ("I know it does," came from the pew where Rastus Jones was seated. "Amen," shouted Sam Jenkins.) "As I was a saying, the Klan may sometimes whip a nigger and then again it may be some folks who have no connection with the Klan, but if the Klan does do it I want to tell you that it isn't any more than some of you rascally niggers need."
("Amen, amen; dat's right, dat's right," came from various parts of the house.)
The Reverend Bascom ceased to speak. His mouth dropped open, his eyes, fixed39 on the door in the rear of the room, protruded40 from his head.
The congregation turned and looked to see if their minister had suddenly seen a ghost. There in the doorway41, clad in white, his face concealed42 by a mask, stood a Klansman. Some of the women screamed. The man in white started down the aisle43, and other white robed and masked figures entered, and as fifteen or twenty of them pressed down the aisles44 the greatest excitement prevailed. "Lawd have mercy on us!" some of the women ejaculated. One or two negroes crawled under benches and one man, of whom it was reported that he had been paying too much attention to another man's wife, jumped through a window and never quit running until he reached the woods a mile and a half from town.
As the white robed figures neared the front of the room the pastor clutched the pulpit with both hands. Rastus Jones, who was seated on a front seat, called out, "Mistah Kluxers, I'se done paid up my chu'ch dues. You kin5 ast de treasurer45."
When the two Klansmen in front halted in front of the pastor one spoke in a clear voice that could be distinctly heard all over the room: "Reverend Bascom, the Wilford Springs Klan has heard of your good work as pastor of this church. (The preacher breathed easier.) The Klan is ready to help you and back you up in every good work. Here is an envelope containing an expression of good will from our organization."
The spokesman handed the envelope to the minister who, with trembling hands, tore it open. It contained three hundred dollars and a note which read: "Fifty dollars of this money is a personal gift to the Reverend Bascom and the remaining two hundred and fifty dollars is a gift to the church to be applied46 on the church indebtedness."
Whatever fear that the pastor had entertained up to this moment now vanished. A broad grin overspread his black face.
"Members of the Ku Klux Klan," he said, "in behalf of myself and this congregation I thank you for this gift. I wish your organization success in its efforts to uphold the laws and promote good citizenship47. Again I thank you."
The Klansmen then left the room in silence. After the last one was out the pastor read the note just received and a chorus of hallelujahs followed.
"Hallelujah! That's right, brethren," said the Reverend Bascom, "I believe it would be a fine thing to close this meeting with a hallelujah song." And they did and sang it with a will.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
factions
|
|
| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
outrages
|
|
| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
recital
|
|
| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
rascally
|
|
| adj. 无赖的，恶棍的 adv. 无赖地，卑鄙地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
kin
|
|
| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
teller
|
|
| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
incumbent
|
|
| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
impudent
|
|
| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
requisite
|
|
| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
ware
|
|
| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
banking
|
|
| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
vent
|
|
| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
janitor
|
|
| n.看门人，管门人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
pastor
|
|
| n.牧师，牧人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
sepulchral
|
|
| adj.坟墓的，阴深的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
intersection
|
|
| n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
skunk
|
|
| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
garbled
|
|
| adj.（指信息）混乱的，引起误解的v.对（事实）歪曲，对（文章等）断章取义，窜改( garble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
detriment
|
|
| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
dictates
|
|
| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hooded
|
|
| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
plausible
|
|
| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
industrious
|
|
| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
auditors
|
|
| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
bogey
|
|
| n.令人谈之变色之物；妖怪，幽灵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
protruded
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
aisle
|
|
| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
aisles
|
|
| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
treasurer
|
|
| n.司库，财务主管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
citizenship
|
|
| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |