UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

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16 ryCLE TOM S CABIN
'" Kind families get in "
debt,and the laws of I declare, my very blood runs cold vhcn J
our countryalien- tnem to sell the child out of its think of it," your condition and your risks!"
mother's bosom to pay
its master's debts,"said said Mr. Wilson.
"
George,bitterly.
Mine has run cold a good many years, Mr.
"
Well,well,?' said the honest old man, fumbling
Wilson ; at present, it 's about up to the boiling
point," said George.
"
Well, my good sir,"continued George, after
in his pocket. " I s'pose,perhaps,I an't
following my judgment," hang it,I won't follow
my judgment!" he added,suddenly; " so here,
a few moments' silence,
" I saw you knew me 1
,
George,"and, takingout a roll of billsfrom his thoughtI 'd justhave this talk witli you, lest your
pocket-book, he offered them to George. surprised looks should bring me out. I leave early
"No, my kind, good sir!" said George, to-morrow morning,before daylight
"
you 'radone a great deal for me, and this ; by to-morrow
might night I hope to sleepsafe in Ohio. I shall travel
get y--; into trouble. I have money enough, I bydaylight, stop at the best hotels, go
hope,to take me as far as I need it." 4
with the lordsof the land. So,goodby,
sir ; if you hear that I 'm taken, you may
"
No
,
you must, George.Money is a
greathelpevery where "
; have too much, know that I 'm dead !"
if you get it honestly Ṭake do take it, George stood it," up like a rock,and put out his
do, my boy!"
hand with the air of a prince.The friendlylittle
now,
"
On condition,sirțhat I may repay it at some
future time,I will,"said Georgețakingup the
money.
" And now, George,how longare you going to
"
"
travel in this way ? longor far,I hope. It 's
well carried on, but too bold. And this black
fellow, who is he ? "
"
A true fellow,who went to Canada more than
a
year ago. He heard,after he got there,that
his master was so angry at him for goingoff that
he had whipped his poor old mother ; and he has
come all the way back to comfort her,and get a
chance to get her away."
"
Has he got her?"
"
Not yet ; he has been hangingabout the last deed of Christian kindness of you."
place,and found no chance yet. Meanwhile,he
"
Well,George."
is goingwith me as far as Ohio,to put me "
among Well, what sir,"
you said was true. I am
friends that helpedhim, and then he will come runninga dreadful risk. There isn't,on earth,a
back after her."
livingsoul to care if I die,"he added,drawinghis
"Dangerous,very dangerous!" said the old breath hard,and speaking a great effjrt,
man.
"
I shall be kicked out and buried like a dog,and
George drew himself up, and smiled disdainfully.
nobody'11 think of it a day after, only my poor
wife! Poor soul ! she '11 mourn and grieve; and
The old gentlemaneyed him from head to foot, if you 'd onlycontrive,Mr. Wilson, to send this
with a sort of innocent wonder.
"
Georgeșomethinghas brought you out wonderfully.
You hold up your head,and speak and
move like another man," said Mr. Wilson.
"Because I'm a freeman!" said George,
proudly. " Yes, sir ; I 've said Mas'r for the last
time to any man. I 'mfree ! ' '
' Take care ! You are not sure,
"
takin."
you may be
"
All men are free and equalin the grave, if it
comes to that,Mr. Wilson," said George.
" I 'm perfectly dumb-foundered with your boldness!"
said Mr. Wilson,"
"
to come righthere
to the nearest tavern !"
"
Mr. Wilson, it is so bold,and this tavern is
so near, that theywill never think of it ; theywill
look for me on ahead,and you yourselfwould n't
know me. Jim's master don't live in this country
Trust in the Lord,George. I wish in my heart
; he isn't known in these parts. Besides,he you were safe that's what I
through,though,"
is givenup ; nobody is looking after him, and do."
nobodywill take me up from the advertisement, I
"
Is there a God to trust in?" said George,in
think." such
-
a tone of bitter despairas arrested the old
"
But the mark in your hand?"
George drew off his glove,and showed a newlyhealed
scar in his hand.
"
That is a partingproofof Mr. Harris' regard,"
he said,scornfully. " A fortnight ago, he
took it into his head to giveit to me, because he
said he believedI should try to get away, one of
these days. Looks interesting, doesn't it?" he
paid,drawing his gloveon again.
to the dinner-tables
old man shook it heartily, and after a littleshower
of caution,he took his umbrella,and fumbled his
way out of the room.
George stood thoughtfully lookingat the door,
as the old man closed it. A thoughtseemed to
flash across his mind. He hastily steppedto it,
and openingit,said,
"
Mr. Wilson, one word more."
The old gentlemanentered again, and George,
as before,locked the door,and then stood for a few
moments lookingon the floor,irresolutely. At
last,raisinghis head with a suddeneffort"
'"
Mr. Wilson, you have shown yourself a Christian
in your treatment of me,
"
want to ask one
littlepin to her. She gave it to me for a Christmas
present,poor child ! Give it to her, and tell
her I loved her to the last. Will you? Will
"
you?" he added,earnestly.
"Yes, certainly poor fellow!" said the old
gentleman țakingthe pin,with wateryeyes, and
a melancholyquiverin his voice.
"
Tell her one thing,"said George; " it 's my
last wish,if she can get to Canada, to go there.
Xo matte:1 how kind her mistress is," no matter
how much she loves her home ; beg her not to go
back," for slaveryalwaysends in misery. Tell
her to bring up
our boy a free man, ami then he
won't suffer as I have. Tell her this,Mr. Wilson,
will you ?"
"
Yes, George, I'll tell her; but I trust you
won't die; take heart," you 're a brave fellow.
"
gentleman's words. 0, I 've seen thingsall my
life that have made me feel that there can't be a
God. You Christiansdon't know how these things
look to us. There 's a God for you,
but is there
"
any for us?"
my boy !" said the old
"
0, now, don't
man, almost sobbingas he spoke; " don't feel so
'
There is" there is ; clouds and darkness are around
about him, but righteousness judgment are