UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
thisis
PART
I
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER
II.
At differenttimes,doubt has been expressed
whether the representations of
"
"
In the very
firstchapter of the book we
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" are a fair representation
encounter the characterof the negro-trader,
of slaveryas it at present exists. Mr. Haley. His name stands at the head
This work,more, perhaps țhan any other of this chapteras the representative of all
work of fiction that ever was written, the different characters introduced in the
has been a collection and arrangement of work which exhibit the traderțhe kidnapper,
real incidents, of actions reallyperformed,
the negro-catcher, the negro-whipper,
of words and expressions reallyand
all the other inevitable auxiliariesand
uttered, groupedtogether with reference indispensable appendages of Avhat is often
to a generalresult, in the same manner called the " divinely-instituted relation "
that the mosaic artist groups his fragmentsof slavery.The author's first personal
of various stones into one generalpicture. observationof thisclassof beingswas somewhat
His is a mosaic of gems,
a mosaic
a3 follows :
of facts.
Several years ago, while one morning
Artistically considered, it might not be employed in the duties of the nursery, a
best to point out in which quarry
and from colored woman was announced. She was
which regioneach fragment of the mosaic ushered into the nursery,
and the author
picture had its origin; and it is equallyunartisticto
thought, on first survey, that a more surly,
disentangle the glittering web of unpromising face she had never seen. The
fiction, and show out of what real warp and woman was thoroughlyblack,thick-set,
woof it is woven, and with what real coloring
dyed. But the book had a
purpose entirely
the artistic one, and
; and
therefore as a realityit may be proper
that it should be defended.
The
thatthe book is
when smiled upon,
nor utter any pleasant
writer acknowledges
remark in replyto such as were addressed
a
very inadequate representation of slavery : to her. The youngestpet of the nursery,
and it is so, necessarily, for this reason," a boy about three years old,walked up, and
that slavery, in some
of itsworkings, is too
pleasuremust draw a veil somewhere,or
theycannot succeed.
The author will now proceedalongthe
course of the story, from the first page onward,
and develop, as far as possible, the
incidents by which different parts were
suggested.
MR.
HALEY.
firmlybuilt,and with strongly-marked African
transcending
to read the expressions of
accordingly encounters, at the hands of the
public,demands not usually made on fictitious
producedby a lowering, desponding
works. It is treated as a reality, upon
"
sifted, triedand tested, as a reality
race generally, the woman did not smile
African face know what a peculiar effectis
features. Those who have been accustomed
the
expression
its dark features. It is like the
shadow of a thunder-cloud. Unlike her
laid his littlehand on her knee,and seemed
dreadful for the purposes of art. A work astonished not to meet the quicksmile which
which should represent it strictly as it is
would be a work which could not be read. the little child. The writer thoughther
And all works which ever mean to givevery cross and disagreeable, and,after a few
moments' silence,asked, with perhaps a
the negro almost alwayshas in reserve for
littleimpatience, "Do
you want anything
of me to-day? "
"
Here are some papers," said the woman,
pushing them towaids her; "perhaps
you would read them."
The first paper openedwas a letterfrom