UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

.
"
"
if
"
it
and
" I
" "
148 UNCLE TOM S CABIN : OR,
looked down, and Tom could feel the relaxing this place. One or two immense packing-beses
muscles of her hands, as she said,
in which this furniture was brought ștood against
"Didn't I tell you that evil spirits followed the sides of the garret. There was a small window
me? 0' Father Tom, 1 can't pray,
wish I there,which let in,through its dingy,dusty
could. I never have prayed since my children panes, a scanty, uncertain lighton the tall highbacked
chairs and' dusty tables țhat had once
were sold ! What you say must he right, I know
it must ; but,when I try to pray, I can only hate seen better days. Altogether, it was a weird and
and curse. I can't pray !"
ghostlyplace; but,ghostly as it was, it wanted
"Poor soul!" said Tom, compassionately. not in legendsamong the superstitious negroes,
"
Satan desiresto have ye, and sift ye
as wheat. to increase its terrors. Some few years be fore ,_ a
negro woman, who had incurred Legree's dis-
I pray
the Lord for ye. 0 ! Misse Cassy țurn to
the dear Lord Jesus ! He came to bind up
the
"
"
broken-hearted, and
Cassy ștood silent,while large,heavy tears
droppe :"edfrom her downcast eyes.
Misse Cassy," said Tom, in ahesitating tone,
after surveying her a moment in silence," if ye
only could getaway from here, the thing was
possible, I 'd 'vise ye and Emmeline to do it ;
comfort all that mourn."
and the sound of violentblows,used to ring
through that old garret, and mingledwith waitings
that is, if ye could go without
"
blood-guiltiness,
and groans of despair Ọnce, when Legree
not otherwise."
chanced to overhear something of this kind, he
"
Would you try it with us, Father Tom ?" flew into a violent passion, and swore that the
"
No," said Tom ; " time was when I would ; next one that told stories about that garret should
but the Lord 's given me a work among
these have an opportunity of knowingwhat was there,
ver
poor souls,and 1 11 staywith 'em and bear for he woidd chain them up there for a week.
my
cross with 'em till the end. It's differentThis hint was enough to repress talking,though,
with you ; it 's a snare to you,
's more 'n you of course, it did not disturb the creditof the story
can and stand," you 'd better go, if you can."_
in the least.
"
I know no way but through the grave," said Gradually țhe staircasethat le d to_ the garret,
Cassy. " There 's no beast or bird but can find a and even the to the
passage-way staircase, were
home somewhere ; even the snakes and the alligatorsavoided
by every
one in the house, from every one
have their places to lie down and be quiet; fearingto speak of it,and the legend was gradually
but there 's no placefor us. Down in the darkest
falling into desuetude. It had suddenlyoccurred
swamps, their dogs will hunt us out, and find to Cassy to make use of the superstitious excitability,
us. Everybody and everything is "
againstus, which was so great in Legree,for the purpose
"
even the very beasts side against us, where of her liberation, and that of her fellowsufferer.
shall we
go ?"
Tom stood silent ; at lengt he said,
The sleeping-room of Cassy was directlyunder
" "
Him that saved Daniel in the den of lions, the garret. One day,without consultingLegree.
that saved the children in the fiery furnace she suddenly took it upon her,with some considerable
,
Him that walked on the sea, and bade the winds
ostentationțo change all the furniture
"
be still, He 's alive yet; and I 've faith to believe'he
can deliver you. Try it,and I '11 distance. The
and appurtenances of the room to one at some considerable
pray,
under-servants, who were
with all my might, for you."
called on to effectthis movement, were running
By what strangelaw of mind is it that an idea and bustling about with greatzeal and confusion,
longoverlooked, and trodden under foot as a useless
when Legreereturned from a ride.
stone,suddenlysparkles out in new light, as
"
Hallo ! you Cass !" said Legree, " what "s
a discovered diamond I
in the wind now?"
Cassy had often revolved, for hours, all possible "Nothing; onlyI choose to have another
or probable schemes of escape, and dismissed them room," said Cassy,doggedly.
all,as hopeless and "
impracticable ; but at this And what for,pray?" said Legree.
moment there flashed throughher mind apian șo
simple and
an
feasible in all its details, as
to awaken
was confined there for several weeks. "
What passed there we do not say ; the negroes
used to whisperdarkly to each other ; but it was
known that the body of the unfortunate creature
pleasure,
was one day taken down from there,and buried ;
and, after that,it was said that oaths and cursings,
" I choose to," said Cassy.
"
The devil you
do ! and what for?"
"
instant hope
I 'cllike to getsome sleep,now and then."
"
Father Tom, I '11 try it !" she "
said,suddenly. Sleep ! well,what hinders your sleeping?"
Amen !" said Tom ; " "
the Lord help ye !"
I could tell,I suppose, if you want to hear,"
said Cassy,dryly.
"
Speak out, you minx-!" said Legree
"
0 ! nothing. I suppose it would n't disturb
CHAPTER XXXLX.
you! Only groans,
and and
peoplescuffling,
_
rollinground on the garretfloor,half the night,
TIIK STRATAGEM,
from twelve to morning !"
"
The darkness he knoweth not at
way of the wicke;
"People up. garret!" said Legree,uneasily,
what he sturableth."
but forcing a laugh; " who are they,Cassy?"
The garret of the house that Legree occupied, Cassy raised her sharp,black eyes, and looked
like most other garrets, was a great, desolate in the face of Legree, with an expression space, dusty,hung with cobwebs, and littered went through his bones, as she said, "To be
with cast-offlumber. .The opulentfamily that sure, Simon, who are they? I'd like to have
had inhabited the house in the days of its splendor
you tell me. You don't know, I suppose !"
had imported a great deal of splendid furniture
With an oath,Legreestruck at her with his
,
some, of which they had taken away with riding-whip ; but she glided to one side, and
them, while some remained standingdesolate in passedthroughthe door,and lookingback, said,
"
mouldering, unoccupied rooms, or stored away
in If you
'11 sleep in. that room, you J11 know all