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Show 306 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, out ! And 1\~fissis has heard from 1\Ias'r George?" she said, inquiringly. "Yes, Chloe; but only~ lino, just to say bo would be homo to-night, if he could,- that 's all." "Didn't sa.y nothin' 'bout my old man, s'pose 'J" said Chloe, still fidgeting with tho tea-cups. " No, he did n't. He did not speak of anything, Chloe. He said he would tell all, when he got home." '' Jcs like 1\ias'r George,- he's allers so fercc for tell in' everything hisself. I allers minded dat ar in Mas'r George. Don't see, for my part, how white people gen'lly can bar to hev to write things much as they do, wrltin' 's such slow, onca.sy kind o' work." Mrs. Shelby smiled. ''I'm a thinkin' my old man won't know de boys and do baby. Lor' ! she's de biggest gal, now,- good she is, too, and peart, Polly is. She's out to the house, now, watchin' de hoe-cake. I 's got jist de very pattern my old man liked so much, a bakin'. Jist sich as I gin him the mornin' he was took off. Lord bless us ! how I felt, dat ar morning!" Mrs. Shelby sighed, and felt a heavy weight on her heart, at this allusion. She had felt uneasy, ever since sho received her son's letter, lest somethlng should provo to be hidden behind the veil of silence which he had drawn. " Missis has got dem bills? " said Chloe, anxiously. ''Yes, Chloe.'' "'Cause I wants to show my old man dem very hills de pe1jectioner gave me. 'And,' says he, 'Chloe, I wish you'd stay longer.' 'Thank you, Mas'r,' says I, 'I would, only my old man's coming home, and 'Missis,-shc can't do with4 LIFE AMONG TilE LOWLY. 307 out me no longer.' 'l.'here 's jist what I te11ixl him. Berry nice man, dat l\ins'r Jones was." Chloe had pertinaciously insisted that tho very bills in which her wages had been paid should be preserved, to show to her husband, in memorial of her capability. And Mrs. Shelby had readily consented to humor her in the request. "lie -..ron't know Polly,- my old man won't. Laws, it's five year since they tuck him! She was a baby den,couldn't but jist stand. Remember how tickled he used to be, cause she would keep a fallin' over, when she sot out to wnlk. Laws a me ! " 'l'l10 rattling of wheels now was heard. "Mas'r George!" said Aunt Chloe, starting to the window. Mrs. Shelby ran to tho entry door, and was folded in the arms of her son. Aunt Chloe stood anxiously straining her eyes out into tho darkness. "0, poor Aunt Chloe!" said George: stopping compassionately, and taking her hard, black hand between both his; "I'd have given all my fortune to have brought him with me, but he 's gone to a better country." There was ~ passionate exclamation from Mrs. Shelby, but Aunt Chloe said nothing. '!.'he party entered the supper-room. The money, of which Chloe was so proud, was still lying on the table. "Thar," said she, gathering it up, and holding it, with a trembling hand, to her mistress, "don't never want to see nor hear on 't again. Jist as I knew 't would be,- sold, and murdered on dcm ar' old plant..'ltions ! " Chloe turned, and was walking proudly out of the room. |
