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Show 148 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, Tom under the spur of a driving necessity, to get out of tho power of a man whom he dreaded,- and his first feeling, after the consummation of the bargain, had been that of relief. But his wife's expostulations awoke his half-slumbering regrets; and Tom's manly disinterestedness increased the unpleasantness of his feelings. It ·was in vain that he said to himself that he had a ,·ight to do it,- that everybody did it,- and that some did it without even the excuse of necessity;- he could not satisfy his own feelings ; and that he might not witness the unpleasant scenes of the consummation, he had gone on a short business tour up tho country, hoping that all would be over before he returned. Tom and li<tlcy rattled on along the dusty road, whirling past every old f"miliar spot, until tho bounds of the estate were fuirly passed, and they found themselves out on the open pike. After they had ridden abcut a milo, Haley suddenly drew up at tho door of a blacksmith's shop, when, taking out with him a p:Ur of handcuffs, he stopped into the shop, to have a little alteration in them. "These yer 's a little too small for his build," said Haley, showing the fetters, and pointing out to Tom. " Lor ! now, if tbar an't Shelby's •rom. He han't sold him, now ? " said the smith. "Yes, he has," said Haley. "Now, ye don't! well, reely," said the smith, "who'd n. thought it! Why, yc needn't go to fetterin' him up this ycr woy. lie 's tho foithfullest, best crittur -" "Yes, yes," said Haley; " but your good fellcrs arc just thecritturs to want tcrrunoff. Them stupid ones, as doesn't care whar they go, and shifless, drunken ones, as don't care for no thin' , they 'll stick by, and like as not be rather pleased to be toted round; but these yer prime fcllers, they bates it LIFE AMONG TilE LOWLY. 149 like sin. No way but to fetter 'em; got legs,- they 'II uso 'em,- no mistake." " 'Yell," said the smith, feeling among his tools, " them plantations down thar, stranger, ~an' t jest tho place a Kcntuck nigger wants to go to; they dies thar tol'ablc fast, don't they 1" "Wal, yes, to!' able fast, ther dying is; what with the 'climating and one thing and another, they dies so as to keep the market up pretty brisk," said Haley. "'Val, now, a feller can't help thinkin' it's a mighty pity to have a nice, quiet, likely fell er, as good un as Tom is, go down to be fairly ground up on one of them ar sugar plantations." " Wal, he's got a f"'r chance. I promised to do well by him. I 'll get him in house-servant in some good old family, and then, if he stands the fever and 'climating, he 'll have a berth good as any nigger ought ter ask for." "He leaves his wife and chil'en up bore, s'pose?" "Yes; but he' ll get another thar. Lord, thar 's women enough everywhar/' said Haley. Tom was sitting very mournfully on the outside of the shop while this conversation was going on. Suddenly ho heard the quick, short click of a horse's hoof behind him; and, before he could fairly awake from his surprise, young Muster George sprang into the wagon, threw his arms tt~multuously round his neck, and was sobbing and scolding WIth energy. " I declare, it 's real mean! I don't care who.t they say, any of 'em ! It 's n. nasty, mean shame! If I was o. mnn, they shouldn't do it,- they should not, so!" said George, with a kind of subdued howl. " 0 ! i\fas'r George ! this does me good ! " said Tom. "I 13• |
