xt702v2c8745 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt702v2c8745/data/mets.xml Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896 1852  books b92ps2954u41852dv12009 English J. P. Jewett : Boston, Mass. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Plantation life --Southern States --Fiction. African Americans --Southern States --Fiction. Slavery --Southern States --Fiction. Slaves --Southern States --Fiction. Political fiction. Didactic fiction. Uncle Tom s cabin; or, Life among the lowly. text Uncle Tom s cabin; or, Life among the lowly. 1852 2009 true xt702v2c8745 section xt702v2c8745 
  
  
  
  
  
  
U N C L E TOM'S C A B I N ;
OK,

LIFE

AMONG
BY

THE

LOWLY.

H A R R I E T B E E C H E R STOWE.

VOL.
FIFTEENTH

I.
THOUSAND.

BOSTON: JOHN P. J E W E T T
CLEVELAND, J E W E T T , PROCTOR &

&

COMPANY.
OHIO:

WORTHINGTON.

1852.

  
  
PREFACE.

T H E s cenes o f this story, as its t itle i ndicates, l i e a mong a race hitherto ignored b y the associations of p olite and refined s o c i e t y ; a ncestors, horn beneath a an exotic race, w hose tropic sun, brought

w i t h t h e m , and perpetuated to their descendants, a c haracter so essentially u n l i k e the h a r d a n d d o m i nant A n g l o - S a x o n race, as for m a n y years to have w on from i t only misunderstanding and contempt. B u t , a nother and better day is d a w n i n g ; every

i nfluence of l i t e r a t u r e , of poetry a n d of art, i n our t imes, i s becoming more a n d more i n unison w i t h t he great master chord of C h r i s t i a n i t y , " g o o d w i l l to m a n . " T h e p oet, t he painter, a n d the a rtist, n ow ties of l i f e , a n d , under the allurements of 1* s eek fiction,

o ut and embellish the common and gentler h u m a n i -

  
VI

PREFACE.

b reathe a h u m a n i z i n g and subduing influence, favorable to the development of the great p r i n c i p l e s of C h r i s t i a n b rotherhood. T h e hand of b enevolence i s everywhere stretched

o ut, searching into abuses, r i g h t i n g wrongs, a l l e v i a t i n g d istresses, a n d b r i n g i n g to the knowledge s ympathies of the w o r l d the l o w l y , the a nd t he forgotten. I n t liis g eneral movement, u n h a p p y A f r i c a a t last is r e m e m b e r e d ; Africa, w ho began the race of and

oppressed,

c i v i l i z a t i o n a nd h u m a n progress i n the d i m , gray d a w n of early t i m e , but who, for centuries, has l ain b ound and bleeding at the f oot o f c i v i l i z e d and C h r i s tianized h u m a n i t y , i m p l o r i n g compassion i n v a i n . B u t t he heart of the dominant race, who have been h er conquerors, her h a r d masters, has at l e n g t h been t urned t owards her i n m e r c y ; a n d i t has been seen h ow far nobler i t is i n nations to protect the f eeble t han t o oppress them. Thanks be to G o d , the world

h as at last outlived the slave-trade ! T h e o bject o f these sketches is to a w a k e n s y m pathy and feeling for the A f r i c a n race, as they exist a mong us ; to show their wrongs a n d sorrows, under a s ystem so necessarily cruel and unjust as to

  
PREFACE.

VII

d efeat a nd do away the

g ood e ffects o f a l l that

c an he attempted for t h e m , by their b est f riends, u nder i t . I n d oing t his, t he author can sincerely disclaim a ny invidious feeling towards t hose i n d i v i d u a l s w h o , o ften without any fault of their own, are i n v o l v e d i n t he t rials a nd embarrassments of the l e g a l relations o f slavery. Experience has shown her that s ome of the

n oblest of minds and hearts are often thus i n v o l v e d ; a nd n o one m ay be knows better than they do, that what of the evils of slavery from be

gathered

s ketches l i k e t hese, is not the h a l f that could t old, o f the unspeakable whole.

I n t he northern states, these representations m a y , p erhaps, be thought c a r i c a t u r e s ; i n the southern "What

s tates are witnesses who k n o w their fidelity.

p ersonal knowledge the author has h a d , of the t r u t h o f incidents such as here are r e l a t e d , w i l l a ppear i n i ts t ime. I t i s a c omfort t o h ope, as so m a n y of the w o r l d ' s s orrows and wrongs have, from age to age, b een l i v e d d own, so a time s hall c ome w h e n sketches s imilar

  
VIII

PREFACE.

t o these s hall b e valuable only as memorials of what h as long ceased to be. W h e n a n enlightened and C h r i s t i a n i z e d commun i t y s hall l anguage h ave, and on the shores of A f r i c a , l aws, among us,

literature, d r a w n from

m a y then the s cenes o f the house of b ondage b e to t hem like t he remembrance of Egypt to the
Inwi1

I s r a e l i t e ,     a m otive of thankfulness to H i m who h ath r edeemed them ! Eor, while politicians contend, and men are

TllE

3

s werved this w a y and that b y conflicting tides of i nterest a nd passion, the great cause of human ^
1

l iberty i s i n the hands of one, of w h o m i t is said :
AN

E

" He sliall not fail nor be discouraged T ill He have set judgment in the earth." " He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, The poor, and him that Lath no helper." " He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, And precious shall their blood be in His sight."

SHOTTI

Disco";

T HE J

ELIZA'
IN WJ

  
bat
   

iu-

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS.

ws,
VOL.
US,

I.

to
t he ?ho ^
W M C H T H B

   
CHAPTER I.
1

READER IS INTRODUCED TO A MAN OF HUMANITY , CHAPTER II.

.

13

A

R

E

T HE M o r a E R , CHAPTER THE HUSBAND AND FATHER, CHAPTER A N EVENING IN UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, CHAPTER V. IV. III.

27

of ,   
N

31

:

38

S nOTVING THE F E E L I N C S OF L l V I N G PROPERTY ON CHANGING OWNERS,

54

CHAPTER DISCOVERY-, . CHAPTER T HE MOTHER'S STRUGGLE, CHAPTER ELIZA'S ESCAPE, CHAPTER

VI. 66 VII. 79 VIII. 97 IX. . . 118

IN WHICH IT APPEARS THAT A SENATOR IS BUT A MAN,

  
X

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER
Tin: PROPERTY IS CARRIED OFF, CHAPTER

X.

XI.

IN WHICH PROPERTY GETS INTO AN IMPROPER STATE OF MIND CHAPTER SELECT INCIDENT OF LAWFUL TRADE CHAPTER T HE QUAKER SETTLEMENT, CHAPTER EVANGELINE, CHAPTER XV. XIV. XIII. XII.

O F TOM'S NEW MASTER, AND VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS, CHAPTER TOM'S MISTRESS AND HER OPINIONS, CHAPTER T HE FREEMAN'S DEFENCE, . . XVI. . XVII. . XVIII. . . . . . . .

CHAPTER

MISS OPHELIA'S EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS,

  
UNCLE
172

TOM'S

CABIN:

LIFE

AMONG

THE

LOWLY,

193

C H A P T E R I.
201
I N W H I C H T n E R E A D E R 13 INTRODUCED TO A M A N OP H U M A N I T Y .

221

L A T E i n the afternoon of a c hilly day in February, two gentlemen were sitting alone over their wine, in a w ellfurnished dining parlor, in the town of P , in Kentucky. There were no servants present, and the gentlemen, w ith chairs closely approaching, seemed to be discussing some subject with great earnestness. F or convenience sake, we have said, hitherto, two gentlemen. One of the parties, however, when c ritically examined, did not seem, strictly speaking, to come under the species. H e was a short, thick-set man, w ith coarse, commonplace features, and that swaggering air of pretension which marks a low man who is t rying to elbow his way upward in the world. H e was much over-dressed, in a gaudy vest of many colors, a blue neckerchief, bedropped gayly w ith yellow spots, and arranged with a flaunting tie, quite in keeping w ith the general air of the man. His hands, large and coarse, were plentifully bedecked with r ings; and he wore a heavy gold watchchain, w ith a bundle of seals of portentous size, and a great

291

  
14

UNCLE

TOM'S

CABIN :

OR,

variety of colors, attached to i t ,     which, i n the ardor of conversation, he was in the habit of flourishing and jingling with evident satisfaction. His conversation was in free and easy defiance of M urray's Grammar, and was garnished at convenient intervals with various profane expressions, which not even the desire to be graphic in our account shall induce us to transcribe. H is companion, M r . Shelby, had the appearance of a gentleman ; and the arrangements of the house, and the general air of the housekeeping, indicated easy, and even opulent c ircumstances. A s we before stated, the two were in the midst of an earnest conversation. " T h a t is the way I should arrange the matter," said M r . Shelby. " I can't make trade that way     I positively can't, M r . S helby," said the other, holding up a glass of wine between his eye and the l ight. " W hy, the fact is, Haley, Tom is an uncommon fellow; he is certainly worth that sum anywhere,    steady, honest, capable, manages my whole farm like a c lock." " Y ou mean honest, as niggers go," said Haley, helping himself to a glass of brandy. " N o ; I mean, really, Tom is a good, steady, sensible, pious fellow. He got religion at a camp-meeting, four years ago; and I believe he really did get it. I ' v e trusted him, since then, with everything I have,    money, house, horses,    and let him come and go round the country; and I always found him true and square in everything." " Some folks don't believe there is pious niggers, Shelby," said H aley, w ith a candid flourish of his hand, " but / do. I had a fellow, now, in this yer last lot I took to Orleans     ' t was as good as a mectin, now, really, to hear that critter

  
LIFE

AMOXU

THE

LOWLY.

15

p ray; and he was quite gentle and quiet l ike. H e fetched me a good sum, too, for I bought him cheap of a man that wa3 'bliged to sell o ut: so I realized six hundred on him. Yes, I consider religion a valeyable t hing i n a nigger, when it's the genuine article, and no mistake." " W ell, T om's got the real article, if ever a fellow had," rejoined the other. " W h y , last f all, I let him go to C incinnati alone, to do business for me, and bring home five h undred dollars. ' Tom,' says I to him, ' I trust you, because I think y ou 're a Christian     I know you would n't cheat.' Tom comes back, sure enough; I knew he would. Some low f ellows, they say, said to him   -'Tom, why don't you make tracks for Canada ? ' ' A h , master trusted me, and I could n't,'     they told me about it. I am sorry to part w ith T om, I must say. You ought to let him cover the whole balance of the debt; and you would, Haley, if you had any conscience." " W ell, I ' v e got just as much conscience as any man in business can afford to keep,    just a l ittle, y ou know, to swear by, as 'twere," said the trader, jocularly; " a n d , then, I ' m ready to do anything in reason to 'blige friends; but this yer, you see, is a leetle too hard on a fellow     a leetle too h ard." The trader sighed contemplatively, and poured out some more brandy. " W e l l , then, Haley, how w ill y ou trade?" said M r . Shelby, after an uneasy interval of silence. " W ell, have n't you a boy or gal that you could throw in with T o m ? " " H u m !     none that I could w ell spare; to t ell the t ruth, i t ' s only hard necessity makes me w illing to sell at a ll. I don't l ike parting w ith any of my hands, that's a fact." H ere the door opened, and a small quadroon boy, between four and five years of age, entered the room. There was

  
16

UNCLE

TOM'S

CABIN :

OR,

something in his appearance remarkably beautiful and engaging. H is black hair, fine as floss s ilk, hung in glossy curls about his round, dimpled face, while a pair of large dark eyes, f ull of fire and softness, looked out from beneath the r ich, long lashes, as he peered curiously into the apartment. A gay robe of scarlet and yellow plaid, carefully made and neatly fitted, set off to advantage the dark and r ich style of his b eauty; and a certain comic air of assurance, blended with bashfulness, showed that he had been not unused to being petted and noticed by his master. " H u l l o a , J i m C r o w ! " said M r . Shelby, whistling, and snapping a bunch of raisins towards him, " p i c k that up, now!" The child scampered, w ith a ll his little strength, after the prize, while his master laughed. " Come here, J i m Crow," said he. The child came up, and the master patted the curly head, and chucked him under the chin. " N ow, Jim, show this gentleman how you can dance and s ing." T he boy commenced one of those w ild, grotesque songs common among the negroes, in a r ich, clear voice, accompanying his singing w ith many comic evolutions of the hands, feet, and whole body, a ll in perfect time to the music. " B ravo i " said Haley, throwing him a quarter of an orange. " N o w , J i m , walk l ike old Uncle Cudjoe, when he has the rheumatism," said his master. Instantly the flexible limbs of the child assumed the appearance of deformity and distortion, as, w ith his back humped u p, and his master's stick in his hand, he hobbled about the room, his childish face drawn into a doleful pucker, and spitting from right to left, in imitation of an old man.

  
LIFE

AMONG

THE

LOWLY.

17

B oth gentlemen laughed uproariously. " N o w , J i m , " said his master, "show us how old E lder Robbins leads the psalm." The boy drew hi3 chubby face down to a formidable length, and commenced toning a psalm tune through his nose, w ith imperturbable gravity. " H u r r a h ! b ravo! what a young 'un ! " said Haley; " that c hap's a case, I ' l l promise. T ell y ou what," said he, suddenly clapping his hand on M r . Shelby's shoulder, " fling i n that chap, and I ' l l settle the business     I w ill. Come, now, if that ain't doing the t iling up about the r ightest! " A t this moment, the door was pushed gently open, and a young quadroon woman, apparently about twenty-five, entered the room. There needed only a glance from the child to her, to identify her as its mother. There was the same r ich, f ull, dark eye, with its long lashes; the same ripples of s ilky black h air. The brown of her complexion gave way on the cheek to a perceptible flush, which deepened as she saw the gaze of the strange man fixed upon her in bold and undisguised admiration. H er dress was of the neatest possible fit, and set off to advantage her finely moulded shape;     a delicately formed hand and a t rim foot and ankle were items of appearance that did not escape the quick eye of the trader, w ell used to run up at a glance the points of a fine female article. " W e l l , E l i z a ? " said her master, as she stopped and looked hesitatingly at him. " I was looking for H arry, please, s i r ; " and the boy bounded toward her, showing his spoils-j which he had gathered in the s kirt of his robe. " W e l l , take him away, then," said M r . Shelby; and hastily she withdrew, carrying the child on her arm.

  
18

UNCLE

TOM'S

CABIN:

OR,

" B y J upiter," said the trader, turning to him in admiration, " t here's an article, now ! You might make your fortune on that ar gal in Orleans, any day. I 've seen over a thousand, in my day, paid down for gals not a bit handsomer." " I don't want to make my fortune on her," said Mr. Shelby, dryly; and, seeking to t urn the conversation, he uncorked a bottle of fresh wine, and asked his companion's opinion of it. " Capital, s ir,   first chop ! " said the trader; then turning, and slapping his hand familiarly on Shelby's shoulder, he added     " Come, how w ill y ou trade about the gal ?     what shall I say for her     what '11 y ou take ? " " M r . H aley, she is not to be sold," said Shelby. " M y wife would not part w ith her for her weight in gold." " A y , a y! women always say such things, cause they h a'nt no sort of calculation. Just show 'em how many watches, feathers, and trinkets, one's weight in gold would b uy, and that alters the case, / reckon." " I t ell you, Haley, this must not be spoken of; I say no, and I mean no," said Shelby, decidedly. " W e l l , y o u ' l l let me have the boy, though," said the t rader; " you must own I've come down pretty handsomely for him." " W h a t on earth can you want w ith the c h i l d ? " said    Shelby. " W hy, I've got a friend that's going into this yer branch of the business     wants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Fancy prticles entirely     sell for waiters, and so on, to r ich 'uns, that can pay for handsome 'uns. It sets off one of yer great places     a real handsome boy to open door, wait, and tend. They fetch a good s um; and this lit-

  
LIFE

AMONG

THE

LOWLY.

19

tie devil is such a comical, musical concern, he's just the a rticle." " I would rather not sell h im," said M r . Shelby, thoughtfully; " the fact is, sir, I ' m a humane man, and I hate to take the boy from his mother, sir." " 0 , you do?     L a ! yes     something of that ar natur. I understand, perfectly. It is mighty onpleasant getting on with women, sometimes. I al'ays hates these yer screachin', screamin' times. They are mighty onpleasant; but, as I manages business, I generally avoids 'em, sir. Now, what i f you get the g irl off for a day, or a week, or so; then the t hing's done q uietly,    a ll over before she comes home. Your wife might get her some ear-rings, or a new gown, or some such truck, to make up with h er." " I ' m afraid not." " L or bless ye, yes ! These critters an't l ike white folks, you know; they gets over things, only manage right. Now, they say," said Haley, assuming a candid and confidential air, " that this k ind o' trade is hardening to the feelings; but I never found it so. Fact is, I never could do things up the way some fellers manage the business. I ' v e seen 'em as would p ull a woman's child out of her arms, and set him up to sell, and she screechin' l ike mad all the time;     very bad policy     damages the article     makes 'em quite unfit for service sometimes. I knew a real handsome gal once, i n Orleans, as was entirely ruined by this sort o' handling. The fellow that was trading for her did n't want her baby; and she was one of your real high sort, when her blood was up. I t ell you, she squeezed up her child in her arms, and talked, and went on real awful. It kinder makes my blood run cold to think o n't; and when they carried off the c hild, and locked her up, she jest went r avin' mad, and died in a week. Clear

  
20

UNCLE

TOM'S

CABIN:

OR,

waste, sir, of a thousand dollars, just for want of management,     there's where 'tis. I t ' s always best to do the humane t hing, s ir; that's been my experience." A n d the trader leaned back in his chair, and folded his arm, w ith an air of virtuous decision, apparently considering himself a second Wilberforce. The subject appeared to interest the gentleman deeply; for while M r . Shelby was thoughtfully peeling an orange, Haley broke out afresh, with becoming diffidence, but as if actually driven by the force of t ruth to say a few words more. " I t don't look w ell, now, for a feller to be p raisin' himself; but I say it jest because i t's the t ruth. I believe I ' m reckoned to bring in about the finest droves of niggers that is brought i n ,     at least, I've been told so; i f I have once, I reckon I have a hundred times,    a ll i n good case,    fat and l ikely, and I lose as few as any man in the business. A n d I lays i t all to my management, sir; and humanity, sir, I may say, is the great p illar oimy management." M r. Shelby did not know what to say, and so he said, "Indeed!" " Now, I've been laughed at for my notions, sir, and I've been talked to. They an't pop'lar, and they an't common; but I stuck to 'em, sir; I ' v e stuck to 'em, and realized well on 'cm ; yes, sir, they have paid their passage, I may say," and the trader laughed at his joke. There was something so piquant and original in these elucidations of humanity, that M r . Shelby could not help laughing i n company. Perhaps you laugh too, dear reader; but y ou know humanity comes out in a variety of strange forms now-a-days, and there is no end to the odd things that humane people w ill say and do. M r. Shelby's laugh encouraged the trader to proceed.

  
LIFE

AMONG

THE

LOWLY.

" I t ' s strange, now, but I never could beat this into people's heads. Now, there was Tom Loker, my old partner, down in Natchez; he was a clever fellow, Tom was, only the . very devil w ith niggers,    on p rinciple't was. you see, for a better hearted feller never broke bread; 'twas his system, sir. I used to talk to Tom. ' Why, Tom,' I used to say, ' when your gals takes on and cry, what's the use o' crackin on 'em over the head, and knockin' on 'em round ? I t ' s ridiculous,' says I, ' and don't do no sort o' good. W hy, I don't see no harm i n their c ryin',' says I ; ' i t ' s natur,' says I, 'and if natur c ant blow off one way, it w ill another. Besides, Tom,' says I , ' i t jest spiles your gals ; they get s ickly, and down in the m outh; and sometimes they gets u gly,    particular yallow gals do,    and i t ' s the devil and all gettin' on 'em broke in. N ow,' says I, 'why can't you kinder coax 'em up, and speak 'em fair ? Depend on it, Tom, a little humanity, thrown in along, goes a heap further than all your jawin' and crackin'; and i t pays better,' says I, ' depend on't.' B u t Tom could n't get the hang on't; and he spiled so many for me, that I had to break off w ith h im, though he was a good-hearted fellow, and as fair a business hand as is goin'." " A n d do you find y our ways of managing do the business better than T o m ' s ? " said M r . Shelby. " W h y , yes, sir, I may say so. You see, when I any ways can. I takes a leetle care about the onpleasant parts, l ike selling young uns and t hat,    get the gals out of the way     out of sight, out of mind, y ou know,    and when i t ' s clean done, and can't be helped, they n aturally gets used to it. ' Tan't, you know, as if it was white folks, that's brought up i n the way of 'spectin' to keep their children and wives, and a ll that. Niggers, you know, that's fetched up properly,

  
22

UNCLE

TOM'S

CABIN:

OK,

h a'n't no k ind of 'spectations of no k ind; so all these tilings comes easier." " I ' m afraid mine are not properly brought up, then," said M r . Shelby. " S'pose n ot; you Kentucky folks spile your niggers. Y ou mean well by 'em, but 'tan't no real kindness, arter all, N ow, a nigger, you see, what's got to be hacked and tumbled round the world, and sold to Tom, and Dick, and the Lord knows who, 'tan't no kindness to be g ivin' on him notion; and expectations, and bringin' on him up too w ell, for thi rough and tumble comes a ll the harder on him arter. Now. I venture to say, your niggers would be quite chop-fallen in a place where some of your plantation niggers would be singing and whooping l ike a ll possessed. E very man, you know, Mr. Shelby, naturally thinks well of his own ways; and I think 1 treat niggers just about as well as it's ever worth while to treat ' em." " I t ' s a happy thing to be satisfied," said M r . Shelby, witt a slight shrug, and some perceptible feelings of a disagreeable nature. " W ell," said Haley, after they had both silently picked their nuts for a season, " what do you s a y ? " " I ' l l think the matter over, and talk with m y wife," said M r. Shelby. "Meantime, Haley, if you want the matter carried on in the quiet way you speak of, you'd best not let your business in this neighborhood be known. It w ill get out among my boys, and it w ill not be a particularly quiet business getting away any of my fellows, if they know it, I'll: promise you." " 0 ! certainly, by all means, mum ! of course. But I ' l l t ell you, I ' m in a devil of a hurry, and shall want to

  
LIFE

AMONG

THE

LOV.'LY.

23

un

  

sail gers. ; all, 'hied Lord turns the ma g2 Mr, nk I ce tt
l ln

know, as soon as possible, what I may depend on," said he, rising and putting on his overcoat, < "\y ]i n up this evening, between six and seven, and i you shall have my answer," said M r . Shelby, and the trader bowed himself out of the apartment. " I ' d l ike to have been able to kick the fellow down the steps," said he to himself, as he saw the door f airly closed,    i t h his impudent assurance ; but he knows how much he has me at advantage. If anybody had ever said to me that I should sell Tom down south to one of those rascally traders, I should have said, ' Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing 1' A n d now it must come, for aught I see. A n d E liza's c hild, too ! I know that I shall have some fuss w ith wife about that; and, for that matter, about Tom, too. So much for being i n debt,    heigho ! The fellow sees his advantage, and means to push i t . "
c jc a w

Perhaps the mildest form of the system of slavery is to be witl seen in the State of Kentucky. The general prevalence of sable agricultural pursuits of a quiet and gradual nature, not requiring those periodic seasons of h urry and pressure that ;cked are called for in the business of more southern districts, makes the task of the negro a more healthful and reasonable said one; while the master, content w ith a more gradual style of atter acquisition, has not those temptations to hardheartedness t lei which always overcome f rail human nature when the prospect t out of sudden and rapid gain is weighed in the balance, with no busi- heavier counterpoise than the interests of the helpless and I li unprotected.
!

Whoever visits some estates there, and witnesses the goodBut humored indulgence of some masters and mistresses, and the it t affectionate loyalty of some slaves, might be tempted to dream o the oft-fabled poetic legend of a patriarchal institution, and a ll

  
24

UNCLE

TOM'S

CABIN:

OR,

t hat; but over and above the scene there broods a portentous shadow     the shadow of law. So long as the law considers a ll these human beings, with beating hearts and l iving affections, only as so many things belonging to a master,    s o long as the failure, or misfortune, or imprudence, or death of the kindest owner, may cause them any day to exchange a life of k ind protection and indulgence for one of hopeless misery and t oil,    so long it is impossible to make anything beautiful or desirable in the best regulated administration of slavery. M r. Shelby was a fair average k ind of man, good-natured and k indly, and disposed to easy indulgence of those around him, and there had never been a lack of anything which might contribute to the physical comfort of the negroes on his estate H e had, however, speculated largely and quite loosely; had involved himself deeply, and his notes to a large amount had come into the hands of Haley; and this small piece of information is the key to the preceding conversation. N ow, it had so happened that, in approaching the door, E liza had caught enough of the conversation to know that a trader was making offers to her master for somebody. She would gladly have stopped at the door to listen, as she came o ut; but her mistress just then calling, she was obliged to hasten away. S till she thought she heard the trader make an offer for her boy;     could she be mistaken ? H er heart swelled and throbbed, and she involuntarily strained him so tight that the little fellow looked up into her face i n astonishment. " E l i z a , g irl, what ails you to-day?" said her mistress, when E liza had upset the wash-pitcher, knocked down the work-stand, and finally was abstractedly offering her mistress

  
LIFE

AMONG

THE

LOWLY.

25

a long night-gown in place of the s ilk dress she had ordered her to bring from the wardrobe. E liza started. " 0, missis ! " she said, raising her e yes; then, bursting into tears, she sat down in a chair, and began sobbing. " W hy, E liza, child ! what ails you ? " said her mistress. " 0 ! missis, missis," said E liza, " there's been a trader talking with master in the parlor! I heard him." " W ell, s illy c hild, suppose there has." " 0 , missis, do y ou suppose mas'r would sell my Harry? " A nd the poor creature threw herself into a chair, and sobbed convulsively. " S ell h im! No, you foolish g i r l ! Y ou know your master never deals with those southern traders, and never means to sell any of his servants, as long as they behave w ell. W hy, y ou s illy child, who do you think would want to buy your H arry ? Do you think all the world are set on him as you are, you goosie? Come, cheer up, and hook m y dress. There now, put my back hair up in that pretty braid you learnt the other day, and don't go listening at doors any more." " W ell, but, missis, you never would give your consent     to    to     " " Nonsense, child ! to be sure, I should n't. What do you talk so for ? I would as soon have one of my own children sold. But really, E liza, y ou are getting altogether too proud of that little fellow. A man can't put his nose into the door, but you think he must be coming to buy him." Reassured by her mistress' confident tone, E liza p roceeded nimbly and adroitly with her toilet, laughing at her own fears, as she proceeded. M rs. Shelby was a woman of a high class, both intellect3

  
UNCLE

TOM'S

CABIN:

OR,

u ally and morally. To that natural magnanimity and generosity of mind which one often marks as characteristic of the women of Kentucky, she added high moral and religious sensibility and principle, carried out with great energy and ability into practical results. Her husband, who made no professions to any particular religious character, nevertheless reverenced and respected the consistency of hers, and stood, perhaps, a l ittle i n awe of her opinion. Certain i t was that he gave her unlimited scope i n all her benevolent efforts for the comfort, instruction, and improvement of her servants, though he never took any decided part in them himself. In fact, if not exactly a believer in the doctrine of the efficiency of the extra good works of saints, he really seemed somehow or other to fancy that his wife had piety and benevolence enough for two     to indulge a shadowy expectation of getting into heaven through her superabundance of qualities to which he made no particular pretension. T he heaviest load on his mind, after his conversation with the trader, lay in the foreseen necessity of breaking to his wife the arrangement contemplated,   meeting the importunities and opposition which he knew he should have reason to encounter. M rs. Shelby, being entirely ignorant of her husband's embarrassments, and knowing only the general kindliness of his temper, had been quite sincere in the entire incredulity with which she had met E liza's suspicions. In fact, she dismissed the matter from her mind, without a second thought; and being occupied in preparations for an evening visit, it passed out of her thoughts entirely.

i

  
LIFE

AMONG

TJiE LOWLY.

27

CHAPTER II.
TIIE MOTHER.

E L I Z A had been brought up by her mistress, from girlhood, as a petted and indulged favorite. The traveller in the south must often have remarked that peculiar air of refinement, that softness of voice and manner, which seems i n many cases to be a particular gift to the quadroon and mulatto women. These natural graces in the quadroon are often united w ith beauty of the most dazzling k ind, and i n almost every case w ith a personal appearance prepossessing and agreeable. E liza, such as we have described her, is not a fancy sketch, hut taken from remembrance, as" we saw her, years ago, in Kentucky. Safe under the protecting care of her mistress, E liza had reached maturity without those temptations which make beauty so fatal an inheritance to a slave. She had been married to a bright and talented young mulatto man, who was a slave on a neighboring estate, and bore the name of George H arris. This young man had been hired out by his master to work in a bagging factory, where his adroitness and ingenuity caused him to be considered the first hand in the place. He had invented a machine for the cleaning of the hemp, which, considering the education and circumstances of the inventor, displayed quite as much mechanical genius as Whitney's cottongin.*
* A machine of this description was really the invention of a y oung colored man in Kentucky.

  
23

UNCLE

TOM'S C A B I N :

OK,

H e was possessed of a handsome person and pleasing manners, and was a general favorite in the factory. Nevertheless, as this young man was in the eye of the law not a man, but a t hing, a ll these superior qualifications were subject to the control of a vulgar, narrow-minded, tyrannical master. This same gentleman, having heard of the fame of George's invention, took a ride over to the factory, to see what this intelligent chattel had been about. He was received w ith great enthusiasm by the employer, who congratulated him on possessing so valuable a slave. H e was waited upon over the factory, shown the machinery b y George, who