UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
a
" thankful
72 UNCLE TOM S CABIN I OR,
" And when we get tc Canada,' said Eliza
"
"
shan't
"-Vow, that's just like Eva," said Marie;
Bible,and learn to be a good man." master, who was going to make an example of
"just one of her odd speeches !"
" I can helpyou. I ";an do dress-making very
"Is it an odd speech,papa?" said Eva,whisperingly,
well ; and I understand fine washing and ironing ;
as she gotupon
his knee.
and between us we can find somethingto livs
"
Rather, as this world goes, Pussy," said St. on."
(Clare. " But where has my
littleEva been,all
"
Yes,Eliza șo longas we have each other and
dinner-time?"
our boy. 0 ! Eliza,if these peopleonlyknew what
"
0, I 've been up in Tom's room, hearing him a blessingit is for a man to feel that his wife and
child belongto him! I 've often wondered to see
men that could call their wives and children their
own fretting and worrying about anything else.
"Why, I feel rich and strong,though we have
nothingbut our bare hands. I feel as if I could
scarcelyask God for any more. Yes, thoughI 've
worked hard every day, tillI 'm twenty-five years
old,and have not a cent of money, nor a roof to
"
Singinglessons,hey? you are coming on." cover me, nor a spot of land to call my own, yet,
"
Yes, he sings for me, and I read to him in if theywill only let me alone now, I will be satisfied
my Bible ; and he explains what it means, you
; I will work, and send hack the
know."
money for you and my boy. As to my old master,
" On jivy word," said Marie, laughing,
that he has been paidfive times over for all lie ever
is the latest jokeof the season !"
spent for me. I don't owe him anything."
"Tom isn't a bad hand, now, at explaining
"
But yet we are not quiteout of danger,"
scripture, I '11 dare swear," said St. Clare. said Eliza ; "we are not yetin Canada."
True," said George, but it seems " Tom has a natural genius for religion Ị
" " as if I
wanted the horses out early țhis morning, and I smelt the free air,and it makes me strong."
stole up to Tom's cubiculum there,over the At this moment, voices were heard in the outer
stables,and there I heard him holding a meeting apartment, in earnest conversation,and very soon
by himself; and, in fact,I haven't heard anything
a
rap
was heard on the door. Eliza started and
quite so savory as Tom's prayer,
this some opened it.
time. He put in for me, with a zeal that was Simeon Halliday was there, and with him a
quiteapostolic."
Quaker brother,whom he introduced as Phineas
"
Perhaps he guessedyou were listening. Fletcher. Phineas was tall and lathy,red-haired,
heard of that trick before."
with an expression greatacuteness and shrewdness
"If he did, he wasn't very politic; in his face. He had not the placid,quiet,
fave the Lord his opinion of me, prettyfreely, unworldly air of Simeon Halliday ; on the contrary,
'om seemed to think there was decidedly room
a particularly wide-awake and av fait appearance,
for improvement in me, and seemed very
earnest
like a man who rather prideshimself on
that I should be converted."
knowing what he is about,and keeping a bright
"I hope you'lllay it to heart,"said Miss look-out ahead ; peculiarities which sorted rather
Ophelia.
oddly with his hroad brim and formal phraseology.
something
"
Our friend Phineas hath discovered " I suppose you
are much of the same opinion,"
said St. Clare.
"
Well,we shall see,
of importance to the interests of thee and thy
we, Eva?"
party,George,"said Simeon; " it were well for
thee to hear it."
"
That I have," said Phineas, " and it shows
CHAPTER XVII.
the use of a man's alwayssleeping with one ear
THE FREEMAN S DEFENCE.
open, in certain places, alwayssaid. Last
night I stopped at a little lone tavern, back on
There was a gentle bustle at the Quaker house, the road. Thee remembers the place,Simeon,
as the afternoon drew to a close. Rachel Halliday
where we fecld some apples, last year, to that fat
moved quietly to and fro, collecting from her woman, with the great ear-rings ẠYeh ,
I was
household stores such needments as could be tired with hard driving ; and, after my supper, I
arranged in the smallest compass, for the wanderers
stretched myself down on a pile of hags in the
who were to go forth that night.The corner, and pulled
afternoon shadows stretched eastward,
to wait till
and the
my bed was ready; and what does I do, but get
round red sun stood thoughtfully on the horizon, fast asleep!"
Simeon,
and his beams shone yellowand calm into the
"
With one ear
open, Phineas?" said
littlebed-rocm where George and his wife were quietly.
sittingḤe was sitting his childon his knee,
slept, ears and all,for an hour or two,
" No ; I
and his wife's hand in his. Both looked thoughtful
for I was pretty well tired ; but when I came to
and serious,and traces of tears were on their myself a little, I found that there were some men
cheeks.
in the room, sittinground a table,drinkingand
"Yes, Eliza,"said George, "I know all you talking; and I thought,before I made much muster,
say is true. You are a good child, great I 'd justsee what theywere up to,especially
deal better than I am ; and I will try to do as as I heard them say something about the Quakers.
you say. I '11 try to act '
worthyof a free man. 'So,' says one, theyare up in the Quaker settlement,
I '11try to feel like a Christian. God Almighty
no doubt,' says he. Then I listened
knows that I 've meant to do tried hard with both well," ears, and I found that they were talking
10 do well," when everythinghas been against about this very party. So I layand heard them
me and
,
now I '11 forgetall the past, and put lay off all their plans. This young man, they
away every hard and bitter feeling, and read my said,was to be sent back to Kentucky, to his
sing, and Aunt Dinah gave me my dinner."
"
Hearing Tom sing,hey?"
"0, yes ! he singssuch beautiful thingsabout
the New Jerusalem,and brightangels,and the
of Canaan."
land
"
I dare say ; it 's better than the opera,
is n't
it?"
"Yes, and he 's goingto teach them to me."