UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
cause
90 UNCLE TOM S CABIN : OR.
"
caughtin an impeneti ; then be neglected amid the adventures of the higher
he turned to bay, and I tell you he foughtthe born ; but,if our readers will accompany
us
up
dogsrightgallantly. right and to a littleloft over the stable,they may, perhaps,
left,and actuallykilled three of them with only learn a littleof his affairs. It was a decent room,
his naked fists,when a shot from a gun brought containing and a small,rough
There is danger that our humble friend Tom St. Clare thought,in his heart,that this was
him down, and he fell,wounded and bleeding, stand,whpre lay Tom's Bible and hymn-book ;
almost at my feet. The poor fellow looked up at and where he sits, at present,with his slate
me with manhood and despair eye. I before him, intent on somethingthat seems to
kept back the dogs and the party, as theycame cost him a great deal of anxious thought.
pressing up, and claimed him as my prisoner Ịt The fact was, that Tom's home-yearnings had
was all I could do to keep them from shootingbecome so strong,that he had beggeda sheet of
him, in the flush of success ; but I persisted writing-paper of Eva, and. mustering up all his
my b.vrgain, and Alfred sold him to me. Well,I small stock of literary attainment acquiredby
took him in hand, and in one fortnight Mas'r George'sinstructions,he conceived the
tamed down as submissive and tractable as heart bold idea of writing a letter ; and he was busy
oould desire."
now, on his slate,gettingout his first draft.
"
What in the world did you do to him?" said Tom was in a good deal of trouble,for the forms
Marie.
of some of the letters he had forgottentirely
;
"
Well, it was quite a simpleprocess. I took and of what he did remember he did not know
him to my
own room, had a goodbed made for exactlywhich to use. And while he was working,
him, dressed his wounds, and tended him myself, and breathing very hard,in his earnestness,
until he got fairly again. And, in Eva alighted,like a bird,on the round of his
of time,I had free
Erocess
papers
made out for chair behind him, and peepedover his shoulder.
im, and told him he might go
where he liked."
"
0
,
Uncle Tom ! what funny thingsyou are
" And did he go?" said Miss Ophelia. makingthere !"
"No. The foolish fellow tore the paper
in
"
I 'm tryingto write to old woman,
my poor
two, and absolutely refused to leave me. I never Miss Eva, and my little chil'en,"said Tom,
had fellow,"
a braver,better trustyand true as drawing the back of his hand over his eyes ; " but,
steel. He embraced Christianity afterwards,and somehow, I 'm feard I shan't make it out."
"
became as gentle as a child. He used to oversee
I wish I could helpyou, Tom ! I 've learnt
my place on the lake, and did it capitally, too. to Avrite some. Last year I could make all the
I lost him the first cholera season. In fact,he letters,but I 'm afraid I 've forgotten."
laid down his lifefor me. For I was sick,almost So Eva put her little golden head close to his,
to death ; and when, through the panic,everybody
and the two commenced a
grave
and anxious discussion,
else fled,Scipio worked for me like a giant,
each one oquallyearnest, and about
and actuallybrought me back into life again. equallyignorant ; and, with a deal of consulting
But, poor
fellow ! he was taken,rightafter,and and advising over every word, the composition
there was no saving him. I never felt anybody'sbegan, they both felt very sanguine, loss more."
quite like writing.
"
Eva had come gradually nearer and nearer to Yes, Uncle Tom, it reallybeginsto look
her father,as he told the story, her small lips beautiful,"said Eva, gazingdelightedly on it.
apart, her eyes wide and earnest with absorbing"How pleasedyour wife '11 be, and the poor
interest.
littlechildren ! 0, it 's a shame ever
you
had to
As he finishedșhe suddenlythrew her arms
go away
from them ! I mean to ask papa to let
around his neck, burst into tears, and sobbed you go back,some time."
'
"
convulsively.
Missis said that she would send down money
"Eva, dear child! what is the matter?" said for me, as soon as they could get it together,"
"
St. Clare,as the child's small frame trembled said Tom. I 'm 'spectin' Young
and shook with the violence of her feelings. Mas'r George, he said he 'd come for me ; and
"
This child,"he added, " ought not to hear any he gave
me this yer
dollar as a sign;" and Tom
of this kind of she 's nervous."
drew from under his clothes the precious dollar.
thing,"
"
No, papa,
I 'm not nervous,"said Eva, controlling
"0,he'll certainlycome, then!" said Eva.
herself,suddenly,with a strengthof
" I 'm so glad !"
resolution singular
such a child. "I'm not
"
And I wanted to send a letter, you know, to
nervous, but these thing sink into my heart." let 'em know whar I was, and tell poor Chloe that
"
What do you mean, Eva?"
I was well off,
she felt so diefful, poor
"
I can't tetl you, papa.
I think a greatmany soul ! ' '
thoughts. Perhaps some day I shall tell "
you." I say,
Tom!" said St. Clare's voice,coming
"Well, think dear,"
away, only don't cry in the door at this moment.
and worry your papa," said St. Clare. "Look Tom and Eva both started.
see what a beautiful here," peach I have got "What's here?" said St, Clare,comingup
for you ! "
and lookingat the slate.
Eva took it,and smiled,thoughthere was still "0, it's Tom's letter. I m helpinghim to
"
a nervous twitchingabout the corners of her write it,"said Eva ; isn't it nice
mouth.
"I wouldn't discourage you," said
"
Come, look at the gold-fish," said St. Clare, St.Clare, " but I rather thinkȚom, you 'd better
taking her hand and stepping to the veranda. get me to write your letter for you.
I '11do it.
A few moments, and merry laughswere heard when I come home from my ride."
throughthe silken curtains,as Eva and St. Clare
" It 's very importantho should write,"said
were pelting each other with roses, and chasing Eva, " because his mistress is goingto send down
each other among the alleys of the court.
money to redeem him, you know, papa ; he told
me theytold him so."