UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

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UNCLE TOM S CABIN I OH, 153
and Walk that Tom up hero, rightaway ! The time,I 've made up my mind,and co inted the cost.
old cuss is at the bottom of this yer whole matter ; You 've alwaysstood it out agin me ; now, I '11
and I '11have it cut of his old black hide,or I "
'11 conquer ye, or kill xje! or t'other. I'll
know the reason why !"
count every dropof blood there is in you, and take
Samb"" and Quimbo, both,thoughhating each 'em, one by one, till ye giveup !"
other,were joinedin one mind by a no less cordial Tom looked up to his master, and answered,
hatred of Tom. Legree had told "
them, at first, Mas'r,if you was sick,or in trouble,or dying,
that he had bought him for a generaloverseer, in and I could save ye, I 'd giveye my heart's blood ;
his absence ; and this had begun an illwill on arid,if taking every dropof blood in this poor old
their part, which had increased, in their debased body would save your precious soul,I 'd give 'em
and servile natures, as they saw him becomingfreely,
as the Lord gave his for me. 0, Mas'r !
dbnoxious to their master's displeasure. Quimbo, don't bringthis great sin on your soul ! It will
therefore,departed, with a will țo execute his hurt you more than 'twill me ! Do the worst you
orders.
man he had to deal with,and his despotic power.
But he felt strong in God to meet death, rather
than betraythe helpless.
He set his basket down by the row, and,looking
the
up said, " Into thy hands I commend my
spirit ! Thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord God of
truth!" and then quietly yieldedhimself to
rough, brutal grasp with which Quimbo seized
him.
"
Ay, ay !" said the giant, as he dragged him
'11cotch it now ! I '11boun' Mas'r's
along; " ye
back 's up high ! No sneakingout,now ! Tell
"
ye, ye "ll getit,and no mistake ! See how ye '11
look,now, helpin' Mas'r's niggers to run away ! brother-Christian must
See what ye '11 get !"
The
savage
words none of them reached that
ear!
highervoice there was saying, "Fear
not them that killthe body,and, after that,have
no more that theycan do." Nerve and bone of
that poor man's body vibrated to those words,as
if touched by the finger of God ; and he felt the
strengthof a thousand souls in one. As lie
passedalong țhe trees and bushes, the huts of
changed an instrument of torture,degradation
and shame,into a symbolof glory,honor,and immortal
"
"
life : and where His spirit is,neither degrading
stripes, nor blood,nor insults, can make
his servitude, the whole scene of his degradation, the Christian's last struggless than glorious.
seemed to whirl by him as the landscapeby the Was he alone țhat long night,whose brave,
rushing car. His soul his home was
throbbed," lovingspirit was bearingup, in that oil shed,
in sight, and the hour of release seemed at againstbuffeting and brutal stripes\
hand.
Nay! There stood by One, by him
"Well, Tom!" said Legree,walkingup, and
"like unto the Son of Cod."
alone,"
seizing grimlyby the collar of-his coat, and The tempter stood by him, blinded too," by
speakingthrough his teeth,in a paroxysm of furious,despoticwill,"
every moment pressing
determined rage, "do you know I've made up him to shun that agony by the betrayal of the innocent.
my mind to kill you V
But the brave țrue heart was firm on
"
It 's very likely,Mas'r,"said Tom, calmly. the Eternal Rock. Like his Master, he knew
"
I have" said Legree,with a grim, terrible
calmness, " " "
done that
you '11 tell me what you know about these
yer gals !' '
Tom stood silent.
Țom, unless
"
D' ye hear?'' said Legree,stamping, with a
"
roar like that of an incensed lion. Speak !"
"
Pay away, tillhe givesup ! Give it to him !
"
I han't got nothing to tell,Mas'r," said Tom,
Legree. " I "11take
with a eLow,linn,deliberateutterance.
every drop of blood he has, unless he confesses !"
" Do you dare to tell me. ye old black Christian, Tom opened his eyes, and looked upon his mas-*
'-"
ye don't know said Legree.
ter. "Ye poor miserable critter!" he said,
Tom was silent.
"
there an't no more
ye can do ! I
Speak !" thundered Legree,striking him furiously.
with all my
soul !" and
forgiveye,
he faintedentirelyaway.
"
"
Do you know anything !"
"I believe, my soul,he 's done for,finally,"
"
I know, Mas'r ; but I can't tellanything. I said Legree,steppingforward țo look at him.
can die,! ' '
"
Yes, he is ! Well,hismouth 's shut up, at last,
Legree drew in a long breath ; and,suppressing 's one comfort !"
his rage, to ik Tom by the arm, and approaching Yes, Legree; but who shall shut up that voice
his face almost to his,said,in a terrible voice, in thy soul] that soul,past repentance,past
"Hark"', Tom ! think, 'cause I 've let you prayer, past hope, in whom the fire that nevei
of before. I don't mean what I say; but,this shall be quenched is alreadyburning"-
can, my troubles'11be over soon ; but, if ye don't
Tom heard the message with a forewarning repent,yours
won't m ver end !"
heart ; for he knew all the plan of the fugitives' Like a strange snatch of heavenlymusic,heard
escape, and the place of their present concealment
in the lull of a tempest țhisburst of feeling made
-
; knew the deadlycharacter of the a moment's blank pause. Legree stood aghast,
and looked at Tom ; and there was such a silence.
that the tick of the old clock could be heard,measuring,
with silent touch, the last moments of
mercy and probation to that hardened heart.
It was but-a moment. There was one hesitating
pause,
"
irresolute,relentingthrill,
of evif came back,with seven-fold
and the spirit
vehemence ; and Legree,foamingwith rage, smote
his victim to the ground.
Scenes of blood and cruelty are
shocking to our
ear and heart. What man has nerve to do, man
has not nerve to hear. What brother-man and
suffer, cannot lietold us,
even in our secret chamber,it so harrows up the
soul ! And yet, 0 my country ! these tilings are
done under the shadow of thylaws ! 0, Christ !
thy church aeen them,almost in silence!
But, of old, there .was One whose suffering
that,if he saved others, himself he could not save ;
npr could utmost extremitywringfrom him words,
save of prayer and holy trust.
" He 'smost gone, Mas'r," saidSambo,touched,
in spite of himself,by the patience of his victim.