UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

K"Y TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN. 27
lookingby the aid of the dim ligh there for my
victims, my eye
fell upon
ada.
Here he learned to read,and,by hi3
Master Amos, who was
superior
nearest to me ; my hand slid along capacity management,
the axehandle,I
raisedit to strike the "
fatalblow, when
fugitive settlement
laidthe foundation for the
suddenlythe thought came to "
me, What ! commit
of Dawn, which is understood to be one of
murder ! and you a Christian?" I had not the most flourishing in Canada.
"
called it murder before. It was self-defence,
it was
it was
preventing murdering me , "
justifiable, it was even praiseworthy.
But
now, all at once, the truth burst upon
me that it
was a crime. I was going to kill a young man, to bring forth as much fruitto the glory of
who had done nothingto injureme, but obey commands
God, to withstand temptation as patiently,
which he could not resist ; I was about to
to return good
lose the fruit of all my effortsat self-improvement,
for evil as disinterestedly,
as
the character I had acquired,and the peace
of this poor, ignorant slave. A writer in England
mind which had never deserted me. All this has sneeringly remarked that such a
came
upon me instantly, and with a distinctness man as Uncle Tom might be imported
which made me almost think I heard it whispered
as a
missionary to teach the most cultivatedin
in my ear ; and I believeI even turned my head
to listen. I shrunk back, laid down the axe,
oreptup
on deck again, and thanked God, as I
These instancesshow that what has
have done every daysince țhat I had not committed
been said with a sneer is in truth a sober
murder.
verity
My feelings were still ;
agitated, but they and it should never be forgotten that
were
changed. I was filledwith shame and remorse for
out of this race whom man despiseth have
the design I had entertained,and with the fear that often been chosen of God true messengers of
my companionswould detect itin my face,or that his grace, and temples for the indwelling of
a carelessword would betraymy guiltythoughts. his Spirit.
I remained on deck all night,instead of rousing "
For thus saith the
one of the men to relieve me ; and nothingbrought
high and lofty
composure to my mind,but the solemn resolution One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name
I then made to resignmyself to the will of God, is Holy, I d)i;ellin the high and holy
and take with thankfulness, if I could,but with
place,
submission,at all events, whatever he might
with him also that is of a contrite
and humble
decide should be my lot. I reflectedthat if my
spirit țo revive the spiritof
lifewere reduced to a brief term I should have the humble,and to revive the heart of the
less to suffer, and that it was better to die with a contrite ones"
Christian's bope,and a quietconscience, than to The vision attributedto Uncle Tom introduces
live with the incessant recollection of a crime
that would destroythe value of life,and under quite a
the weightof a secret that would crush out the with regard to the negro race, and indicates
satisfactionthat might be expected from freedom, a peculiarity which goes far to show how
and every other blessing.
Subsequently to this,his young master was They are possessed of a nervous organization
taken violently down with the river fever, peculiarly susceptible and impressible.
and became as helpless as a child. He passionately
Their sensations and impressions are
very
entreated Henson not to desert him, vivid,and theirfancy and imagination lively.
In thisrespect the race has an orientalcharacter,
and betrays its tropical origin.Like
and not to leave him,dead or alive, tillhe had the Hebrews of old and the orientalnations
carried him back to his father.
ofthepresent, theygivevent to theiremotions
The young master was borne in the arms with the utmost vivacity of expression, and
of his faithfulservant to the steamboat, and their whole bodilysystem sympathizes with
there nursed by him with unremitting attention
the movements of theirminds. When in
during the journeyup the river ; nor distress, theyactually lift up theirvoices to
did he leavehim tillhe had placedhim in weep, and "cry with an exceedingbitter
his father's arms.
cry." When alarmed,theyare often paralyzed,
Our love for human nature would lead Us
and rendered entirely helpless. Their
to add, with sorrow, that all thisdisinterestedness
religious exercisesare all colored by this
and kindness was rewarded onlyby sensitiveand exceedingly vivacioustemperament.
empty praises, such as would be bestowed
Like oriental nations,theyincline
upon a very fine dog;and Henson indignantlymuch
to outward expressions,
resolved no longerto submit to the
and agitating movements of the
but to attend to the selling of the boat and
produce, and put him on board the steamboat,
injustice. With a degree of prudence, courage
and address,which can
scarcely find a
parallel in any history, he managed, with
his wifeand two children, to escape intoCan-
It would be well for the most cultivated
of us to ask,whether our ten talentsin the
way
of religious knowledge have enabled us
England or America the true nature of religion.
curious chapter of psychology
very different theyare from the white race.
violentgesticulations,
body. Sometimes,in theirreligious meetings,
theywill spring from
the floor many
with a violence and
times in succession,
rapiditywhich is perfectly astonishing.