George Shelby had written to his mother merely a line, stating the day that she might expect him home. —
乔治·谢尔比仅仅写了一句话给他母亲，告诉她他回家的日期。 —

Of the death scene of his old friend he had not the heart to write. —
他没有勇气写下他那位老朋友的临终场景。 —

He had tried several times, and only succeeded in half choking himself; —
他尝试了几次，最终只能半勉强地说出话来； —

and invariably finished by tearing up the paper, wiping his eyes, and rushing somewhere to get quiet.
最后总是撕毁纸张，擦干眼泪，匆匆找个地方静静。

There was a pleased bustle all though the Shelby mansion, that day, in expectation of the arrival of young Mas’r George.
谢尔比府邸里到处都是兴奋的忙乱，为了年轻的乔治先生的到来而准备。

Mrs. Shelby was seated in her comfortable parlor, where a cheerful hickory fire was dispelling the chill of the late autumn evening. —
谢尔比夫人坐在她舒适的客厅里，一个热情的山核桃火正在驱散深秋晚上的寒意。 —

A supper-table, glittering with plate and cut glass, was set out, on whose arrangements our former friend, old Chloe, was presiding.
一张闪闪发光的餐桌摆放着银盘和切玻璃，我们以前的朋友老克洛伊正在布置着。

Arrayed in a new calico dress, with clean, white apron, and high, well-starched turban, her black polished face glowing with satisfaction, she lingered, with needless punctiliousness, around the arrangements of the table, merely as an excuse for talking a little to her mistress.
穿着新买的卡里柯花呢连衣裙，头戴干净的白围裙和烫得很挺的头巾，她黑黑亮亮的脸上洋溢着满足的光芒，她无辜地装模作样在桌子上布置着，只是为了有个借口和女主人聊一会儿天。

“Laws, now! won’t it look natural to him?” she said. —
“天啊，现在他看到这样一定会感觉很亲切吧？”她说。 —

“Thar,–I set his plate just whar he likes it,round by the fire. —
“哎呀，–我把他的碟子放在他喜欢的地方，靠近火炉。 —

Mas’r George allers wants de warm seat. O, go way! —
小爷乔治总是想坐在暖和的地方。噢，走开！ —

–why didn’t Sally get out de best tea-pot,–de little new one, Mas’r George got for Missis, Christmas? —
–为什么莎莉没拿出最好的茶壶，–那个小的新的，小爷乔治圣诞节送给夫人的？ —

I’ll have it out! And Missis has heard from Mas’r George?” —
我会把它拿出来的！夫人有收到乔治小爷的信吗？” —

she said, inquiringly.
她问道。

“Yes, Chloe; but only a line, just to say he would be home tonight, if he could,–that’s all.”
“是的，克洛伊；但只是一封简短的信，就说他如果能的话今晚回来，–就这样。”

“Didn’t say nothin’ ‘bout my old man, s’pose?” said Chloe, still fidgeting with the tea-cups.
“没有提到我的老伴，吧？”克洛伊仍在忙着整理茶杯问道。

“No, he didn’t. He did not speak of anything, Chloe. He said he would tell all, when he got home.”
“没有，他没有。他没有谈及任何事情，克洛伊。他说他回家后会把一切都告诉我们。”

“Jes like Mas’r George,–he’s allers so ferce for tellin’ everything hisself. —
“就像乔治小爷一样，–他总是非常渴望亲自说出一切。 —

I allers minded dat ar in Mas’r George. Don’t see, for my part, how white people gen’lly can bar to hev to write things much as they do, writin’ ’s such slow, oneasy kind o’ work.”
我一直注意到乔治小爷是这样的。我就不明白，白人通常是如何忍受不得不一直写东西的，写作实在是一种缓慢、麻烦的工作呢。”

Mrs. Shelby smiled.
雪莉夫人微笑着。

“I’m a thinkin’ my old man won’t know de boys and de baby. Lor’! —
“我想我的老伴可能认不出那些男孩和孩子了。主啊！ —

she’s de biggest gal, now,–good she is, too, and peart, Polly is. —
她现在是那么大的女孩了，–她真是个好孩子，也很聪明，波莉是。 —

She’s out to the house, now, watchin’ de hoe-cake. —
她出去了，现在看着那个煎玉米面饼。 —

I ’s got jist de very pattern my old man liked so much, a bakin’. —
我有我老公喜欢的那个款式，做一个烘焙的。 —

Jist sich as I gin him the mornin’ he was took off. —
就像我给他的那个样式，他早上走的。 —

Lord bless us! how I felt, dat ar morning!”
主啊！那天早上我是多么难受啊！

Mrs. Shelby sighed, and felt a heavy weight on her heart, at this allusion. —
谢尔比夫人叹了口气，心中沉重。 —

She had felt uneasy, ever since she received her son’s letter, lest something should prove to be hidden behind the veil of silence which he had drawn.
自从收到儿子的信，她就感到不安，担心他绝望的沉默中隐藏着某些事情。

“Missis has got dem bills?” said Chloe, anxiously.
“克洛伊，小姐有这些账单吗？”克洛伊焦急地问道。

“Yes, Chloe.”
“有，克洛伊。”

”‘Cause I wants to show my old man dem very bills de perfectioner gave me. —
“因为我想给我老公看看那个蛋糕师给我的那些账单。 —

And,' say he,Chloe, I wish you’d stay longer.’ —
而且，'他说，克洛伊，我希望你能多呆一会儿。’ —

Thank you, Mas'r,' says I,I would, only my old man’s coming home, and Missis,–she can’t do without me no longer.’ —
谢谢，主人，'我说，我本来愿意的，只是我老公要回家了，小姐，她再也离不开我了。’ —

There’s jist what I telled him. Berry nice man, dat Mas’r Jones was.”
这就是我告诉他的。那个琼斯先生是个非常好的人。

Chloe had pertinaciously insisted that the very bills in which her wages had been paid should be preserved, to show her husband, in memorial of her capability. —
克洛伊坚持要保存她的工资支付账单，以展示她的能力，作为她丈夫的纪念。 —

And Mrs. Shelby had readily consented to humor her in the request.
谢尔比夫人欣然同意满足她的请求。

“He won’t know Polly,–my old man won’t. Laws, it’s five year since they tuck him! —
“他认不出波利来，–我老公认不出。天啊，他们带走他已经五年了！” —

She was a baby den,–couldn’t but jist stand. —
她还是婴儿，只会站着。 —

Remember how tickled he used to be, cause she would keep a fallin’ over, when she sot out to walk. Laws a me!”
还记得他以前有多高兴吗，因为她学走路的时候老是摔倒。天啊！

The rattling of wheels now was heard.
现在传来了车轮的噼啪声。

“Mas’r George!” said Aunt Chloe, starting to the window.
“乔治先生！”克洛伊阿姨说着，急忙走到窗边。

Mrs. Shelby ran to the entry door, and was folded in the arms of her son. —
雪贝太太跑到门口，儿子的臂弯中。 —

Aunt Chloe stood anxiously straining her eyes out into the darkness.
阿姨克洛伊焦急地凝视着黑暗中。

“O, poor Aunt Chloe!” said George, stopping compassionately, and taking her hard, black hand between both his; —
“哦，可怜的乔治！”乔治慈悲地停下来，双手握住她那坚硬的黑手， —

“I’d have given all my fortune to have brought him with me, but he’s gone to a better country.”
“我愿意拿出全部财产把他带来，但他已经去了一个更美好的国度。”

There was a passionate exclamation from Mrs. Shelby, but Aunt Chloe said nothing.
雪贝太太激动地惊呼起来，但克洛伊阿姨却一言不发。

The party entered the supper-room. The money, of which Chloe was so proud, was still lying on the table.
客人走进了餐厅。克洛伊如此自豪的钱仍然摆在桌上。

“Thar,” said she, gathering it up, and holding it, with a trembling hand, to her mistress, “don’t never want to see nor hear on ’t again. —
“拿去吧，”她把钱收集起来，颤抖的手把它递给女主人，“我再也不想看见也不想听见了。” —

Jist as I knew ’t would be,–sold, and murdered on dem ar’ old plantations!”
正如我所知道的–被卖掉，在那些旧庄园里被杀害了！

Chloe turned, and was walking proudly out of the room. —
克洛伊转身走出房间。 —

Mrs. Shelby followed her softly, and took one of her hands, drew her down into a chair, and sat down by her.
雪贝太太轻轻地跟着她，握住她的一只手，把她拉到椅子上坐下，并靠在她身边。

“My poor, good Chloe!” said she.
“我可怜的好克洛伊！”她说。

Chloe leaned her head on her mistress’ shoulder, and sobbed out, “O Missis! —
克洛伊把头靠在女主人的肩膀上，哭诉道：“哦，小姐！ —

‘scuse me, my heart’s broke,–dat’s all!”
对不起，我的心碎了，就是这样！”

“I know it is,” said Mrs. Shelby, as her tears fell fast; —
“我知道，”夏柏夫人说着，泪水如泉涌般地流下来； —

“and I cannot heal it, but Jesus can. He healeth the broken hearted, and bindeth up their wounds.”
“但我无法治愈它，但耶稣可以。他医治伤心的人，包扎他们的伤口。”

There was a silence for some time, and all wept together. —
接着又是一段沉默，所有人一起哭泣。 —

At last, George, sitting down beside the mourner, took her hand, and, with simple pathos, repeated the triumphant scene of her husband’s death, and his last messages of love.
最后，乔治坐在悲痛中的人身边，握住她的手，用简单的感情，重温了她丈夫死去时的凯旋场景，以及他的最后爱意。

About a month after this, one morning, all the servants of the Shelby estate were convened together in the great hall that ran through the house, to hear a few words from their young master.
大约一个月后的一个早晨，谢尔比庄园的所有仆人聚集在贯穿整个房子的大厅中，听他们年轻的主人说几句话。

To the surprise of all, he appeared among them with a bundle of papers in his hand, containing a certificate of freedom to every one on the place, which he read successively, and presented, amid the sobs and tears and shouts of all present.
让所有人惊讶的是，他拿着一叠纸张出现在他们中间，里面装着每个人的自由证明书，他依次宣读，并在在场所有人的哭泣声、泪水声和欢呼声中颁发。

Many, however, pressed around him, earnestly begging him not to send them away; —
然而，许多人纷纷围拢过来，恳切地请求他不要把他们遣散； —

and, with anxious faces, tendering back their free papers.
并且，焦急的面孔把自由证件还给了他。

“We don’t want to be no freer than we are. We’s allers had all we wanted. —
“我们不想比现在更自由。我们一直得到了我们想要的一切。 —

We don’t want to leave de ole place, and Mas’r and Missis, and de rest!”
我们不想离开老地方、主人和女主人，和其他人！”

“My good friends,” said George, as soon as he could get a silence, “there’ll be no need for you to leave me. —
“我亲爱的朋友们，”乔治等到一片寂静后说，“你们不用离开我。 —

The place wants as many hands to work it as it did before. —
地方需要和以前一样多的人手来工作。 —

We need the same about the house that we did before. But, you are now free men and free women. —
我们需要和以前一样多的人来服务。但是，你们现在是自由的男人和女人。” —

I shall pay you wages for your work, such as we shall agree on. —
我会支付你工资，我们会达成一致的协议。 —

The advantage is, that in case of my getting in debt, or dying,–things that might happen,–you cannot now be taken up and sold. —
好处是，如果我负债或去世，可能会发生的事情，你现在不会被抓起来卖掉。 —

I expect to carry on the estate, and to teach you what, perhaps, it will take you some time to learn,–how to use the rights I give you as free men and women. —
我打算继续经营这个庄园，教会你们如何使用我赋予你们的自由权利，也许你们需要一些时间来学习。 —

I expect you to be good, and willing to learn; —
我期望你们做事要好，愿意学习； —

and I trust in God that I shall be faithful, and willing to teach. —
我相信上帝会忠实，愿意教导。 —

And now, my friends, look up, and thank God for the blessing of freedom.”
现在，朋友们，抬头，为自由的祝福感谢上帝吧。

An aged, partriarchal negro, who had grown gray and blind on the estate, now rose, and, lifting his trembling hand said, “Let us give thanks unto the Lord!” —
一位年迈的族长般的黑人，他在这个庄园上变得苍老和失明，现在起身，抖着颤抖的手说：“让我们感谢上主！” —

As all kneeled by one consent, a more touching and hearty Te Deum never ascended to heaven, though borne on the peal of organ, bell and cannon, than came from that honest old heart.
当大家一致跪下时，没有比从那位老人诚实的心灵中升起的更感人、更真诚的颂扬上帝的歌颂，尽管是在管风琴、钟声和大炮的呼啸声中。

On rising, another struck up a Methodist hymn, of which the burden was,
起身后，另一个开始唱起一首卫理公会的圣歌，歌词中有这样一句：“禧年已经来到，赎罪的罪人们，归家吧。”

“The year of Jubilee is come,-Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.”
“还有一件事”，乔治打断了人群的祝贺；

“One thing more,” said George, as he stopped the congratulations of the throng; —
“你们都记得我们那位好老伯汤姆吧？” —

“you all remember our good old Uncle Tom?”
乔治在这里简短地讲述了他死亡时的场景，以及他对庄园上所有人的深情告别，并补充说，

George here gave a short narration of the scene of his death, and of his loving farewell to all on the place, and added,
“就是在他的坟墓旁，我的朋友们，我在上帝面前发誓，只要还有可能释放他们，我永远不会再拥有另一个奴隶；

“It was on his grave, my friends, that I resolved, before God, that I would never own another slave, while it was possible to free him; —
没有人，通过我，会冒被远离家人和朋友，在一个孤独的庄园上，就像他那样死去的风险。 —

that nobody, through me, should ever run the risk of being parted from home and friends, and dying on a lonely plantation, as he died. —
这是我对上帝的承诺。” —

So, when you rejoice in your freedom, think that you owe it to that good old soul, and pay it back in kindness to his wife and children. —
所以，当你为自由感到欢欣时，请记得这位老好人，用善意回报他的妻子和孩子。 —

Think of your freedom, every time you see UNCLE TOM’S CABIN; —
每当你看到《汤姆叔叔的小屋》时，想想你的自由； —

and let it be a memorial to put you all in mind to follow in his steps, and be honest and faithful and Christian as he was.”
让它成为一个纪念，提醒你们跟随他的脚步，像他一样诚实、忠诚和信仰基督。