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Show 126 UNCLE TOM'S CAJHN : On, forlorn and imploring expression, that the tears came into the little woman's eyes. "You needn't be afraid of anything; we arc friends here, poor woman! ~roll me where you came from, and what you want," su.id sbo. "I came from Kentucky/' said the woman. '"VllCn 1" said l\ir. Bird, taking up the interrogatory. "To-night." ''How did you come 1 '' " I crossed on tho icc." " Crossed on the icc ! " said every one present. "Yes," said tho woman, slowly, "I did. God helping me, I crossed on the icc ; for they were behind me -right behind -and there was no other way! " "Law, :Missis/' sa id Cudjoe, "the icc is all in broken-up blocks, a swinging and a totcring up and down in the water!'' " I know it was- I know it! " said she, wildly; "but I did it! I wouldn't hc.ve thought I could,- I didn't think I should get over, but I didn't care! I could but die, if I didn' t. 'fhe Lord helped me i nobody knows how much the Lord can help 'em, till they try," said the woman, with a flashing eye. '~Were you a s1a.ve1" said Mr. Bird. "Yes, sir; I belonged to a man in Kentucky.'' "\Vas he unkind to you 1" "No, sir; hQ was a good master." " And was your mistress unkind to you? " "No, sir-no! my mistress w:J.S always good to me.:' " What could induce you to leave a good home, then, and run away, and go through such dangers?" The woman looked up at Mrs. Bird, with a keen, scrutiniz- LIFE Al\IONG Till': J,QWLY. 127 ing glance, and it did not escape her that she was dressed in deep mourning. ~~ l\Ia.1am," she said, suddenly, 11 have you ever losta.chlld'J" ~rho question was unexpected, and it was a thrust on a. new wound i for it was only a month since a darling child of the family had been laid in the grave. Mr. Bird turned around and walked to the window, and ~Irs. Bird burst into tears i but, recovering her voice, she said, "Why do you ask that 1 I lmvc lost a little one." " ~riJCn you will feel for me. I have lost two, one after another, -left 'em buried there when I came away; and I had only this one left. I never slept a night without him; he was all I had. He was my comfOrt and pride, day and night; and, ma.'am, they were going to take him ttway from me,- to sell him,- sell him down south, rna.' am, to go a.ll alone,-a baby that had never been a.wny from his mother in his lifO! I couldn't st:J.nd it, rna.' am. I knew I never should be good. fOr anything, if tlwy ilid; and when I knew the papers 'IYCrc signed, a1id he was sold, I took him ami came off in the night; and they cltascd me,- the man that OOught him, and some of :Mas'r's folks,- and they were coming down right behind me, and I heard 'em. I jumped right on to the icc; and how I got across, I don't know,- but, first I knew, a man was helping me up the bank." Tho woman did not sob nor weep. She had gone to a place where tears a1·c dry; but every one around her was, in some way characteristic of themselves, showing signs of hearty sympathy. ~'he two little boys, ::tfter a desperate rummaging in their pockets, in search of those pockct-handkerchicf8 which mothers know arc uevcr to he found there, had thrown themselves |
