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Show 220 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: on, good-humorcdly, "Look up, ~rom, n.nd see how you like your new master." Tom looked up. It was not in nature to look into that gay, young, handsome face, without a. feeling of pleasure i and '11om felt the tears sta.rt in his eyes as he said, heartily, "God bless you, i\ias'r ! " "Well, I hope he will. What's your name? Tom? Quite as likely to do it for your asking as mine, from all accounts. Can you drive horses, Tom ? " "I 'vc been allays used to horses," said Tom. "Mas'r Shelby raised heaps on 'em." "Well, I think I shall put you in eoachy, on condition that you won't be drunk more than once a. week, unless in cases of emergency, Tom.'' Tom looked surprised, and rather hurt, and said, " I never drink, Mas'r." " I 've heard that story before, Tom ; but then we 'II see. It will be a special accommodation to all concerned, if you don't. Never mind, my boy," he added, good-humoredly, seeing Tom still looked grave ; " I don't doubt you mean to do well." I( I sartin do, Mas'r," said Tom. " And you shall have good times," said Eva. " Papa is very good to everybody, only he always will laugh at them." "Papa is much obliged to you for his recommendation," said St. Clare, laughing, as he turned on his heel and walked away. ______ LIFE AMONG TilE LOWLY. 221 CHAPTER XV. OP TOM's NE\V )!ASTE"R, A.~O VAniOUS OTIU:ft. lfA.TI"JtRS. SINCE the thread of our bumble hero's life has now become interwoven with that of higher ones, it is necessary to give some brief introduction to them. Augustine St. Clare was the son of a wealthy planter of Louishna. The family had its origin in Canada. Of two brothers, very similar in temperament and character, one had settled on a, flourishing farm in V crmont, and the other became an opu~cnt planter in Louisiana. The mother of Augustine was .a. Huguenot French lady, whose family llad emigrated to LouiSiana during the days of its early settlement. Augustme and another brother were the only children of their par~nts. I-Iavi~g ~nhcritcd from his mother an exceeding deh;mcy of constitution, he was, at the instance of physicians, durmg many years of his boyhood, sent to the care of his uncle in Vermont, in order that his constitution J!light be strengthened by the cold of a more bracing climate. In childhood, he was remarkable for an extreme and mttrked sensitiveness of character, more akin to the softness of woman than the orc~inary hardness of his own sex. 'fime, hoWC\'er, overgrew tillS softness with the rough bark of manhood ami but few knew how living and fresh it still lay at the 'core. Ills talents were of the very first order, although his mind showed a preference a! ways for the ideal and the rosthetic and there was about him that repugnance to the actual busi~ ness of life which is the common result of this balance of the lD~ |