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Show 190 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: on, the blood, tltat trickled down his face. "I'm will in' to work, night and da,y, aml work ·whi1c there's life and breath in me; but this ycr tiling I can't feel it right to do;- and, 1\fas'r, I never sltall do it,-?IC'Cer!" ~rom had a rcm:ulmbly smooth, soft voice, and a habitually respectful manner, th;}t had given Legree an idea. tha.t he would bo cowardly, and easily subdued. When he spoke tlJcsc last words, a thrill of amazement went through every one ; the poor woman clasped her hands, and &'1id, "0 Lord!" and every one involuntarily looked nt each other and drew in their breath, as if to prepare for the storm that was about to burst. \ Legree looked stupefied and confounded; but at last burst forth,- "What! yc blasted black beast ! toll me yo don't think it right to do what I tell yo! What havo any of you cussed cattle to do with thinking wha,t 's right1 I 'll put a stop to it! Why, what do yo think yo arc? May be yo think yo 'r a gentleman master, Tom, to be a telling your master what's 1·ight, and what an't! So you pretenU it 's wrong to flog the gal!" ~~I think so, ~Ias'r," said Tom; "the poor crittur 's sick and feeble ; 't would be downright cruel, and it's what I never will do, nor begin to. l\ias'r, if you mean· to kill me, ki1l me; but, as to my raising my hanU agin any one here; I never shall,- I ' Jl die first ! " ~rom spoke in a mild voice, but with a decision that could not be mistaken. Legree shook with anger; his greenish eyes glared fiercely, and his very whiskers seemed to curl with passion ; but, like some ferocious beast, that plays with its victim before he devours it, he kept back l1is strong LlFB AMONG THE LOWLY. 197 impulse to proceed to immediate violence, and broke out into bitter raillery. " \Yell, here 's a pious dog, at last, Jet down among us sinners ! -a saint, a gentleman, and no less, to talk to us sinners about our sins! Powerful holy critter, he must be! Here, you rascal, you ma,ke believe to be· so pious,- didn't you never hca.r, out of yer Bible, 'Servants, obey yer masters'? An't I ycr master? Didn' t I pay down twelve hundred dollars, cash, for all there is inside yer old cussed black shell? An't yer mine, now, body and soul1" he sa.id, gi\Ung Tom a violent kick with his heavy boot; ''tell me!'' In tho very depth of physical suffering, bowed by brutal oppression, this question shot a gleam of joy and triumph through ~!.'om's soul. He suddenly stretched himself up, and, looking earnestly to heaven, while the tears and blood that flowed down his face mingled, he exclaimed, "No ! no! no! my soul an't yours, l\fas'r! You haven't bought it,- yo can't buy it! It 's been bought and paid for, by one that is able to keep it; -no matter, no matter, you can't harm me!'' n I can't! " said Legree, with a sneer; ': we 'll see,- we 'll see ! Here, Sa,mbo, Quimbo, give this dog such a breakin' in ns he won't get over, this month! " 'l'hc two gigantic negroes that now laid hold of Tom, with fiendish exultation in their faces, might have formed no unapt personification of powers of darkness. '1.1be poor woman screamed with apprehension, and :tll rose, as by a general impulse, while they dragged llim unresisting from the place. vor.. rr. 17·• |