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Show 172 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, nigger, yet, I couldn't bring down with one crack," said he, bringing his fist down so ncar to tho filcc,of ~rom that he winked and drew back. " I don't keep none o ycr cussed OYcrsccrs; I docs my own m·orsccing ; and I toll you things is seen to. You 'severy one on yo got to toe the mark, I tcltyc; quick, _straight,- the moment I speak. That's the way to keep in with me. Yo won't find no soft spot in me, nowhere. So, now, mind ycrsclvcs; for I don't show no mercy ! " The women involuntarily drew in their breath, and tho whole gnng sat with downcast, dejected f.'lccs. ~Icanwhilc, Simon turned on his heel, and marched up to the bar of the boat for a dram. "That's the wa.y I begin with my niggcrs," l1o said, to a gentlemanly man, who had stood by him during his speech. '' It 's my system to begin strong,- just let 'em know what to expect." "Indeed ! " said the stranger, looking upon him with tho curiosity of a naturalist studying some out-of-the-way specimen. "Yes, indeed. I 'm none o' ycr gentlemen phnters, 1vith lily fingers, to slop round and be cheated by some old cuss of an overseer! Just feel of my knuckles, now; look at my fist. Tell ye, sir, the flesh on 't has come jest like a stan(', practising on niggcrs,- feel on it." Tho stranger applied his fingers to the implement in question, nml simply said, "'Tis hard enough; and, I suppose," he added," practice has made your heart just like it." '' 'Vhy, yes, I ma.y say so," said Simon, with a. hearty laugh. "I reckon tl1ere 's as little soft in me as in any one going. Tell you, nobody comes it over me! Niggers never LIFE A:\lOSO THE LOWLY. 173 gets round me, neither with squalling nor soft soo.p,- that 'g a fi\Ct." " You ha.yc a fine lot there." "llcnl," said Simon. "There 's thn.t Tom, they tolled me he wns suthin' uncommon. I paid a little l1igh for him, tcndin' him for a driver and a managing chrtp; only get the notions out that he ·s hu·nt by bcin' treated as niggers never ought to be, he :]I do prime ! The yellow woman I got took in in. I myther think she's sickly, but I shall put her through for wha.t she's worth; she may last a. year or two. I don't go for savin' niggcrs. Usc up, and buy more, 's my way;makes you less trouble, and I 'm quito sure it comes cheaper in the end; " and Simon sipped his glass. "Anu how long do they generally last?" said tho stranger. 11 " 'ell, donna; 'cardin' as their constitution is. Stout fcl1ers last six or seven years; trashy ones gets worked up in two or three. I used to, when I fust begun, have considerable trouble fussin' with 'em and t rying to make 'em hold out,- doctorin' on 'em up when they 's sick, and givin' on :em clothes and blankets, and what not, tryin' to keep 'em all sort o' decent and comfortable. Law, 't was n't no sort o' usc; I lost money on 'em, and 't wns heaps o' trouble. Now, you sec, I just put 'em straight through, sick or well. 'Vhcn one nigger's dead, I buy another; and I find it comcs.cliCapcr and easier, every -way." The stranger turned away, and seated himself beside a gentlcma.n, who had been listening to the conversation with repressed uneasiness. "You must not take that fellow to be any specimen of Southern planters," said he. YOL. H. 15> |