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Show 118 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, CHAPTER IX. IN WHICU IT APPEARS TllAT A SENATOR IS DUT A. MAN. TnE light of the cheerful fire shone on the rug and carpet of a cosey parlor, and glittered on the sides of the tea-cups and well-brightened tea-pot, as Senator Bird was drawing off his hoots, preparatory to inserting his feet in a pair of new handsome slippers, which his wife had been working for him while away on his senatorial tour. Mrs. Bird, looking tho very picture of delight, was superintending the arrangements of tho table, ever and anon mingling admonitory remarks to a number of frolicsome juveniles, who were effervescing in all tboso modes of untold gambol and mischief that have astonished mothers ever since the flood. "Tom, let the door-knob alone,-thoro's a. man! Mary! Mary! don't pull the eat's tail,- poor pussy! Jim, you mustn't climb on that table,- no, no!-You don't know, my dear, what a surprise it is to us all, to see you here to-night! " said she, at last, when she found a space to say something to her husband. "Yes, yes, I thought I 'djust make a run down, spend the night, and have a little comfort at home. I 'm tired to death, and my head aches ! " Mrs. Bird cast a glance at a camphor-bottle, which stood in the half-open closet, and appeared to meditate an approach to it, but her husband interposed. "No, no, Mary, no doctoring! a cup of your good hot tea, and some of our good home living, is what I want. It 's a tiresome business, this legislating ! " LH'E AMONG '£1111 LOWLY. 119 And tho senator smiled, as if he rather liked the idea of considering himself a sacrifice to his country. "Well," said his wife, after the business of the tea-table was getting rather slack, " and what have they been doing in the Senate 1" Now, it was a very unusual thing for gentle little Mrs. Bird ever to trouble her head with what was going on in tho house of tho state, yery wisely considering that she had enough to do to mind her own. Mr. Bird, therefore, opened his eyes in surprise, and said, " Not very much of importance." "Well; but is it true that they have been passing a law forbidding people to give meat and drink to those poor colored folks that come along? I heard they were talking of some such law, but I didn't think any Christian legislature would pass it! '' "Why, Mary, you are getting to be a politician, all at once." "No, nonsense ! I wouldn't give a fip for all your politics, generally, but I think this is something downright cruel and unchristian. I hope, my dear, no such law has been passed." "There has boon a law passed forbidding poople to help off the slaves that come over from Kentucky, my dear; so much of that thing has been done by these reckless Abolitionists, that our brethren in Kentucky are very strongly excited, and it seems necessary, :md no more than Christian and kind, that something should he done by our state to quiet the excitement." " And what is the law 1 It don't forbid us to shelter these poor creatures a night, does it, and to give 'em something comfortable to eat, and a few old clothes, and send them quietly about their business?" |