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Show 202 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: Olt1 '' 0 God a.' mercy ! you speak the truth ! 0-0- 0! "-and, with groans, she fell on the floor, like one crushed and writhing under the extremity of mental anguish. There was a silence, a while, in which tho breathing of both parties could be heard, when '11om faintly said, "0: please, ~fissis ! " 1'be woman suddenly rose up, with her face composed to its usual stern, mcbncholy expression. "Please, ~iissis, I saw 'em throw my coat in that ar' cor~ nor, and in my coat-pocket is my Bible ; - if Missis would please get it for me." Cassy went and got it. Tom opened, at once, to a heavily marked passage, much worn, of the last scenes in tho life of Him by whose stripes we arc healed. "If Missis would only be so good as read that ar',- it's bettor than wa tor. '' Cassy took the book, with a dry, proud air, and loolwd over the passage. She then read aloud, in a soft voice, and with a beauty of intonation that was peculiar, that touching account of anguish and of glory. Often, as she read, her voice faltered, and sometimes failed her altogether, when she would stop, with an air of frigid composure, till she had mastered herself. When she came to the touching words, " Father forgive them, for they know not what they do," she threw down the book, and, burying her face in the heavy masses of her ba.ir, she sobbed aloud, with a convulsive violence. Tom was weeping, also, and occasionally uttering a smothered ejaculation. "If we only could keep up to that ar'!" said 'Tom;- "it seemed to come so natural to him, and ,.,..e hu.ve to fight so hard for 't! 0 Lord, help us! 0 blessed Lord Jesus, do help us!" J,I.FE AMONG Tll.I:: LOWLY. 203 "Miss is," said ~rom, after a while, "I can sec that, some how, you 'rc quite 'hove me in everything; but there's one thing l\fissis might learn even from poor Tom. Yc said the Lord took sides against us, because he lots us be 'bused and knocked round; but yo sec what como on his own Son,-- the blessed Lord of Glory,- wan't he allays poor? and have we, any on us, yet como so low as he come 1 The Lord han't forgot us,-I 'm sartin' o' that ae. If we suffer with him, wo shall also reign, Scripture says; but, if we deny Ilim, he also will deny us. Didn't they all suffer?- tho Lord and all his? It tells ho,.,- they was stoned and sawn asunder, and wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, and was destitute, a,lliicted, tormented. Sulferin' an't no reason to make us think the Lord's turned agin us; but jest the contrary, if only we hold on to him, and docs n't give up to sin." "But why docs he put us where we can't help but sin?" said the woman. " I think we can help it," said Tom. ''You'llsco,'' said 0:1Ssy; ''what'llyoudo? To-morrow they '11 be n,t you again. I know 'em; I've seen all their doings; I can't bear to think of all they'll bring you to; - and they'll make you give out, at last!" "Lord Jesus!" said Tom, "you 'Will take care of my soul? 0 Lord, do!- don't let me give out!" '' 0 dear!'' said Cassy; ''I 'vc heard all this crying and praying before; and yet, they've been broken down, and brought under. There's Emmeline, she's trying to hold on, and you're trying,- but what use? You must give up, or be killed by inches." "Well, then, I U'ill die!" said Tom. "Spin it out as long as they can, they can't help my dying, some time!- and, after |
