UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
They
KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
9
they have received in infancynumberless acts of away slaves. I never lock the outer doors of my
kindness ; the younger
ones have not unfrequentlyhouse. It is done,but done by the servants ; and
been their playmates(not the most suitable, I I rarelybestow a thoughton the matter. I leave
admit),and much good-willis thus generated on home periodically for two months,and commit the
both sides. In addition to this,most men feel dwelling-house, plate,and other valuablesțo the
attached to their property; and this attachment servants,without even an enumeration of the
is stronger in the case of persons than of things. articles.
I know it,and feel it. It is true, there are harsh
masters ; but there are also bad husbands and
bad fathers. They are all exceptions to the rule,
not the rule itself. Shall we therefore condemn shell corn once a week for their own consumption,
in the gross
those relations, and the rights and and on a few other extraordinary occasions. The
authoritythey imply, from their occasional people, as we generally call them, are requiredto
abuse 1 I could mention
many instances of strong leave their houses at daybreak, and to work until
attachment on the part of the slave,but will only dark,with the intermission of half an hour to an
adduce one or two, of which I have been the object.
hour at breakfast, and one to two hours at dinner,
It became a questionwhether a faithful according to the season and sort of work In this
servant,bred up with me from boyhood șhould respect I suppose our negroes will bear a favorable
giveup his master or his wife and children țo comparisonwTith any laborers whatever.
whom he was affectionately attached,and most 4th. " The liberty usually allowed the "
slave,
his holidays and amusements, and the way in
attentiveand kind. The trial was a severe one,
but he determined to break those tender ties and
to his discretion,
and even stronger
case, afforded by one of his slaves. As the reward
of assiduous and delicateattention to a venerated
parent, in her last illness, I proposed to purchaseraise bees,and, in finețo earn an honest pennj
and liberate a healthy and intelligent woman, in any way which chance or their own ingenuity
about thirtyyears of age, the best nurse, and,in
allrespects, one of the best may offer. The modes specifiod are, however,
servants in the state, those most commonly resorted to,and enable provident
of which I was onlypart owner ; but she declined
servants to make from five to thirty dollars
to leave the family, and has been since rather
better than free. I shall be excused for stating a
die ; and he thoughtMr. B was better able
to bear the loss than his master. He was sent to
a medicinal spring and recovered his health,if,
indeed,he had ever lost it,of which his master
had been unapprized.It may not be amiss to
describe my deportment towards my servants,
whom I endeavor to render happywhile I make
them profitableỊ never turn a deaf ear, but publicfunerals,
listen patiently to their communications. 1 chat or to be taugh
familiarly with those who have passedservice, or formerly gave them
have not begun to render it. With the others I customary here
observe a more prudentreserve, but I encourage
all to approach me without awe. I hardly ever
go to town without havingcommissions to execute
3d "' The duration of the labor of the slave.""
The day is usuallyconsidered longenough. Employment
at nightis not exacted by me, except to
which theyusuallyspend their evenings and holidays."
remain with me. I left it entirely
are prohibited from going off the
though I would not, from considerations of estate without firstobtaining leave ; thoughthey
interest, have taken for him quadruple the price I often transgress, and with impunity,except in
should probably have obtained. Fortunately, in flagrant cases. Those who have wives on other
the sequel,I was enabled to purchase his family, plantations visitthem on certain specified nights,
with the exception of a daughter,happilysituated
and have an allowance of time for goingand returning,
; and nothingbut death shall henceforth part proportioned to the distance. My negroes
them. Were it put to the test, I am convinced
are permitted, and, indeed,encouraged, to
that many masters would receive this striking raise as
proof of devotion. A gentleman but many
ducks and chickens as they can ; a day or two cultivatevegetables
to
for their own use, and a patch
since informed me of a similar,
of corn for sale ; to exercise their trades,when
they possess one, which many do; to catch muskrats
and other animals for the fur or the flesh : to
apiece. The corn is of a differentsort from that
which I cultivate, and is all boughtby me. A
great many 'fowls are raised ; I have this year
known ten dollars worth sold by one man at one
ludicrous case I heard of some time ago
"
: A
favoriteand indulged servant requestedhis master
to sellhim to another gentleman.His master refused
time. One of the chief sources of profitis the
to do so, but told him he was at perfectfur of the muskrat ; for the purpose of catching
liberty to go to the North,if he were not alreadywhich the marshes on the estate have been parcelled
free enough. After a while he repeatedthe request
out and appropriated from time immemorial,
; and, on beingurgedto givean explanation and are held by a tenure littleshort of feesimple
Ṭhe negroes
of his singular conduct țold his master that he
are indebted to Nat Turner *
considered himself consumptive, and would soon and Tappan for a curtailment of some of their
privileges. As a sincere friend to the blacks,I
have much regretted the reckless interferenceof
these persons, on account of the restrictions it has
become, or been thought,necessary to impose.
to their fellow-
Since the exploit of the former hero, they have
been forbidden to preach,except
slaves țhe property of the same owner ; to have
unless a white person officiates ;
to read and write. Their funerals
greatsatisfaction, and it was
to furnish the relationsof the deceased
withbacon, spirit, flour, sugar and butterf
with which a grand entertainment,
their way,
was got up.
We were once much amused by a
heartyfellow requesting
for some of them ; and think theypreferto employ
his mistress to let him
me, from a beliefthat,if their money should have his funeral during his lifetime, when itwould
not quitehold out, I would add a littleto it ; and do him some good. The waggish requestwas
I not unfrequently do, in order to get a better granted; and 1 venture to say there never was a
article. The relation between myself and
my
slaves is decidedlyfriendly. I keepup prettyexact
The leader of the insurrection in lower Virginia,in
discipline, mingledwith kindness,and hardly which upwards of a hundred white
ever lose persons, piiucipall/
propertyuy thievish, or labor by I
run- were massacred in cold blocd.
women and children,