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Show 140 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, "It's for hcr,n he said, briefly. "Ay, ay," said John, with equal conciseness. They shook hands, and parted. CHAPTER X. TlllC PROPERTY lfl CARRlED OFF. TnE February morning looked gray and drizzling through the window of Uncle Tom's cabin. It looked on downcast faces, the images of mournful hearts. ~'he little table stood out before the fire, covered with an ironing-cloth; a com-se but clean shirt or two, fresh from the iron, hung on the back of a chair by the .fire, and Aunt Chloe had another spread out before her on the table. Caxefully she rubbed and ironed every fold o.nd every hem, with the most scrupulous exactness, every now and then raising her hand to her face to wipe ofr the tern'S that were coursing down her checks. Tom sat by, with his Testament open on his knee, and his head leaning upon his hand; -but neither spoke. It was yet early, and tho children by all asleep together in their little rude trundle-bed. Tom, who had, to the full, the gentle, domestic heart, which, woe for them ! has been n. peculiar characteristic of his unhappy race, got up and walked silently to look at his children. "It's the last time," he said. Aunt Chloo did not answer, only rubbed away over and LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 141 O\'Cl' on the coarse shirt, already as smooth as hands could make it; nnd finally setting her iron suddenly down with a despairing plunge, she snt down to the ta.ble, aml " lifted up her voice and wept." "S'posc we must be resigned ; but oh Lord! how ken I~ If I know\.1 anything whar you 's go in', or how they 'U sane you! Missis s:l,ys she '11 try and 'deem yo, in a year or two; but Lor! nobody never comes up that goes down thar! They kills 'em! I 've hearn 'em tell how dey works 'em up on dcm ar plantations.'' " 'l'hcre '11 be the same God there, Chloe, that there is here." "Well," said Aunt Chloo, "s'posc dcre will; but de Lord lets drefful things 1~rt,ppcn, sometimes. I don't seem to get no comfort tla,t way." "I'm in the Lord's hands," said Tom; " nothin' can go no furder than he lets it;- and thar 's one thing I can thank him for. It's 1ne that 's sold and going down, and not you nur the chil'en. Here you 're safe;-what comes will come only on me; and the Lortl, he '11 help me,- I know he will." Ah, bra.vc, manly heart,-smothering thine own sorrow, to comfort thy beloved ones! Tom spoko with a thick utterance, and ·with a bitter choking in his throat,- but he spoke brave and strong. "Let's think on our marcics! " he added, t remulously, us if he was quite sure he needed to think on them very hard indeed. "~farcies! " said Aunt Chloe; " don't sec no marcy in 't ! 'tan't right! tan't right it should be so ! 1Ias'r never ought ter left it so that yc could be took for his debts. Ye 've arnt him all he gets for yc, twice over. He owed ye yer freodom, |
