UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

164 KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
sewingby day, and alwayslocked up by
night. Sometimes they were allowed to
sew in Bruin's house, and even to eat there.
After they had been in Alexandria two or
three weeks, their eldest married sister,
having heard from them for some time,came
to see
of their fate; and
not
subjoin : Alexandria,Va.,Sept.5, 1848.
The bearer,Paul Edmondson, is the father of
two girls, Mary Jane and Emily Catharine Ed-
These girls have been purchasedby
us, and once sent to the south ; and, upon the
positive assurance that the money for them would
be raised if they were broughtback,they were
returned. Nothing, it appears, has as yet been
done in this respectby those who promised,and
mondson. earnestness
we are on the very
eve of sendingthem south the
at the
second time ; and we are candid in very moment, too, when deliverance was
sayingthat,if
they go again, we will not regardany promisesexpected
! Bruin was not absolutely a man
made in relation to them. The father wishes to of stone, and this agonizing appealbrought
raise money to pay for them ; and intends to appeal
tears to his eyes. He gave
some
encouragement
to the liberality of the humane and the good
that,if Hill would
to aid him, and has requestedus to state in writing
consent țhey need
the conditions upon which we will sell his not be sent off with the gang. A sleepless
daughters.
nightfollowed, spent in weepingxgroaning
We expectto start our servants to the south in and prayer. Morningat lastdawned,and,
a few days; if the sum of twelve hundred ($1200)
according
dollars be raised and paid to us in fifteen to orders receivedthe daybefore,
days,or
we be assured of that sum, then we will retain theypreparedthemselves to go, and even
them for twenty-five daysmore, to givean opportunity
put on their bonnets and shawls, and stood
for
of*the other thousand and
the
the raising
fifty($1050)dollars ; otherwise we
to send them alongwith our other servants.
Bruin " Hill.
shall be compelled
Paul took his papers, and partedfrom his
off, theirsistermade them a sad farewellvisit.
They mingledtheir prayers and tears,and
the girlsmade up littletokens of remembrance
to send by her as partingiftsto
their brothers and sistersand aged father
and mother, and with a farewellsadder than
Bruin,to learn,ifpossible, somethingthat of a death-bed the sistersparted.
her surprise and joy were The eveningbeforethe cofflewas to start
drew on. Mary and Emily went to the
great to see them once more, even there.
After a few weeks theirold fathercame againhouse to bid Bruin's familygood-by.Bruin
to see them. Hopelessas the idea of their had a littledaughterwho had been a pet and
emancipation seemed,he stillclungto it. He favorite with the girls.She clunground
had had some encouragement of assistancein them,cried,and beggedthem not to
Washington, and he go.
purposedto go North Emily told her that, if she wished to have
to see ifanything could be done there ; and them stay,she must go and ask her father.
he was anxious to obtain from Bruin what Away ran the little pleader, full of her
Avere the very lowest possible terms forwhich errand ; and was so very earnest in her importunities,
that he,to pacifyher,said he
he would sellthe girls. Bruin drew up his
terms in the following document,which we would consent to theirremaining, ifhispartner,
CaptainHill,would do so. At this
time Bruin,hearingMary crying aloud in
the prison, went up
daughterssorrowfully. After thisțhe time
to the girlsdragged on in heavy suspense.
Constantly theylooked for letteror message,
and prayedto God to raisethem up
a de-
Either the
entreatiesof littleMartha or Mary'splea
liverer with Bruin had prevailed.
from some quarter. But day after Soon the gang
"
was startedon foot, men.
day and week afterweek passed, and the women and children, two and two, the men
dreaded time drew near. The preliminaries all handcuffed together, the rightwrist of
for fitting up the gang for South Carolina one to the leftwrist of the other, and a chain
commenced. Gay calico was boughtforthem passingthroughthe middle from the handcuffs
to make up into " show dresses," in which of one coupleto those of the next. The
theywere to be exhibitedon sale. They women and children walked in the same
made them up with far sadder feelings than manner throughout, handcuffed or chained.
theywould have sewed on their own shrouds. Drivers went before and at the sidețo take
Hope had almost died out of their bosoms.
A few daysbeforethe gang were to be sent
to see her. With all the
she made her last ap-
of despair,
peal
to his feelingsṢhe begged him to
dear "
littledaughter, what
make the case his own, to think of his own
if she were exposed
to be torn away from every friendon
earth, and cut offfrom allhope of redemption,
ready for the word to be given.When
very last tear of hope was shed, and they
were goingout to jointhe gang, Bruin's
heart relented. He calledthem to him, and
told them theymightremain ! 0, how glad
were theirheartsmade by this, as
now hope on a littlelonger!
theymight
up those who were sick or lame. They were
obligedto set off singing ! accompanied