UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

he
'
LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY.
73
"
him,to keepallniggers from runningaway ; and Flesh and blood coull net do otherwise,iaid
his wife two of them were goingto run down to Simeon.
"
Woe uuti the world because of
New Orleans to sell,on their own account, and offences, but woe unto them hroughwhom the
theycalculated to get sixteen or eighteen hundred offence cometh."
"
dollars *br her ; and the child,they said,was
Would not even
you, sir,lo the same, in my
going to a trader, who had bought him ; and then place?"
there was the boy Jim, and his mother, they
"
I pray that
"
I be not tried,"said Simeon ; the
were to go back to their masters in Kentucky.
flesh is weak."
"
They Si'id that there were two constables,in a I think my flesh would be
tow* a littlepieceahead, who would
go
in with strong, in such a case," said
prettytole.able
Phineas,stretching
'em to get 'em taken up, and the young woman out a pair of arms like the sailsof a windmill.
was to be taken before a and one of the "I an't friend I shouldn't
jrdge; sure, George, that
fellows,who is small and- "u.ooth-spoken, was to hold a fellow for thee,if thee had
swear to her for his property, and get her delivl
to settle with him."
any accounts
ered over to him to take south. They 've got a
"
If man should ever resistevil,"said Simeon,
right notion we of the track are "
;
goingto-night then George should feel free to do it but
and they'11be down after us, six or eightstrong. the leadersof our peopletaughta more
now ;
excellent
So,now, what 's to be done?"
way ; for the wrath of man vvorketh not the
The group that stood in various attitudes,after righteousness if God ; but it goes sorelyagainst
this communication,were worthyof a painter. corruptwill of man, and none can receiveit
Halliday, who had taken her hands out
.Rachel
of a batch of biscuitțo hear the news, stood
with them upraised and floury, and with a face
of the deepest concern. Simeon looked
pro-
thoughtful-, Eliza had thrown her arms
around hei husband, and was lookingup to him.
Georgestood with clenched hands and glowing
"
And so / do," said Phineas
"
; but if we are
foundly tempted too much why, let them look out
that "s all !"
thee wasn't born a Friend,'
"
It 's quiteplain
said Simeon, smiling. " The old nature hath its
eyes, and looking as any other man might look,
whose wife was to be sold at auction,and son
sent to a trader,all under the shelter of a Christian
nation's laws.
a dead shot at a buck ; but,havingwooed a pretty
"What shall we do, George?" said Eliza, Quakeress,had been moved by the power of her
faintly.
charms to join the society his neighborhood ;
"
I know what I shall do," said George,as he and thoughhe was an honest,sober, and efficient
steppedinto the little room, and beganexaminingmember, and nothingparticular could be alleged
his pistols.
againsthim,yet the more spiritual among them
"
Ay, ay," said Phineas,noddinghis head to could not but discern an exceeding lack of savor
Simeon, " thou seest,Simeon,how it will work." in his developments.
"I see," said Simeon, sighing; "I pray it "Friend Phineas will ever have ways of his
come not to that."
t
"
I don't want to involve any
one with or for
me," said George. " If you will lend me your
vehicle and direct me, I will drive alone to the
next stand. Jim is a giant in strength, and
brave as death and despair, and so am I."
"
Ah, well,friend,"said Phineas, " but thee '11
me, pleaseto let me know."
"Phineas is a wise and skilfulman," said
Simeon. "Thee does well,George,to abide by
his judgment;and," he added, layinghis hand
kindlyon George'sshoulder,and pointing to the
pistols,
" be not over hasty with these," young
blood is hot."
stand by and see them take my wife and sellTier,
when God has givenme a pairof strongarms to
defend her? No ; God help me ! I '11 fighto the
last breath,before they shall take my wife and
son. Can you blame me!"
"
Mortal man cannot blame thee, George.
save theyto whom it is given. Let us pray .the
Lord that we be not tempted."
way in thee prettystrong as yet."
To tellthe truth Phineas had been a hearty,
two-fisted baekwoodoman
,
a vigoroushunter,and
own," said Rachel Halliday, smiling; " but we all
think that his heart is in the rightplace, after
all."
"Well," said George,"isn't it best that we
hasten our flight?"
" I gotup at four o'clock, and came on with all
speed,full two or three hours ahead of them, if
need a driver,for all that. Thee 's quitewelcome
theystart at the time theyplanned. It is n't safe
know
to do all the fighting, thee knows ; but 1 to start tilldark,at any rate ; for there arc some
a thingor two about the road,that thee evil persons in the villages ahead, that might be
doesn't."
meddle disposed with us, if theysaw our wagon,
"
But I don't want to involve you," said and that would delayus more than the waiting;
George.
but in two hours I think we may venture. I will
"
a
go over engage to come
keen expressionof face. " When thee does involvebehind
on his swift nag, and keep a brightlook-
curious and
Involve,"said Phineas,with him
out
on the road,and warn us if any company of
men come on. Michael keepsa horse that can
soon
get ahead of most other horses ; and he could
shoot ahead and let us know, if there were any
danger. I am goingout now to warn Jim and
the old woman to be in readiness, and to see about
"
"
the horse. We have a pretty fair start,and stand
"
I will attack no man," said George. " All I
ask of this countryis to be let alone,and I will
go out peaceably ; but, paused,and his George;
brow uglyscrape
darkened and his "
face worked, I 've been in with thypeople,"said Phineas,as he
'
had a sister sold in that New Orleans market. I closed the door.
know what theyare sold for ; and am I going to
He
"
Phineas is prettyshrewd,"saidSimeon.
will do the best that can be done for thee,George "
a good chance to getto the stand beforethey can
come
up with us. So,have good courage, friend
that I 've
"
All I am sorry for,"said George, " is the risk
to you."
"
Thee '11much obligeus, friend George țo say
no more about that. What we do we are conscience
bound to do; we can do no other way,