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Show 162 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, slave of the passions of her possessor, and the mother of children who may never know a father. J?rom one of the proudest families in Kentucky he bad inherited a set of fine European features, and a high, indomitable spirit. From his mother he had received only a slight mulatto tinge, amply compensated by its accompanying rich, dark eye. A slight change in the tint of tho skin and tho color of his hair had metamorphosed him into the Spanish-looking fellow be then appeared ; and as gracefulness of movement and gentlemanly manners had always been perfectly natural to him, he found no difficulty in playing the bold part he had adopted- that of a gentleman travelling with his domestic. Mr. Wilson, a good-natured but extremely fidgety and cautious old gentleman, ambled up and down the room, appearing, as John Bunyan hath it, "much tumbled up and down in his mind," and divided between his wish to help George, and a certain confused notion of maintaining law and order: so, as he shambled about, he delivered himself as follows: ' ''\VcH, George, I s'poso you 're running away-lca.ving your lawful master, George- (I don't wonder at it) -at tho same time, I 'm sorry, George,- yes, decidedly- I think I must say that, George-it 's my duty to tell you so." "'Vhy arc you sorry, sir?" said George, calmly. 11 tYhy, to see you, as it were, setting yourself in opposition to the laws of your country." " ltfy country ! " said George, with a strong and bitter emphasis; "what country have I, but the grave,- and I wish to God that I was laid there ! " "Why, George, no- no- it won't do; this wny of talking is wicked- unscriptural. George, you've got n. hard master- in fact, he is- well he conducts himself rcprehensi- LIFE AMONG TilE LOWLY. 163 bly- I can't pretend to defend him. But you know bow the angel commanded Hagar to return to her mistress, and submit herself under l1er hand; and the apostle sent back Oncsimus to his master." "Don't quote Bible n.t mo tlmt way, Mr. Wilson," said George, with n. flashing eye, ''don't! for my wife is a Christian, and I mean to be, if ever I get to where I can; but to quote Bible to a fellow in my circumstances, is enough to make him give it up altogether. I appeal to God Almighty; -I'm willing to go with the case to Him, and ask Him if I do wrong to seck my freedom." " ~J..1hcso feelings a.re quite natural, George," said the goodnatured man, blowing his nose. "Yes they 're natural, but it is my duty not to encourage 'em in you. Yes, my boy, I'm sorry for you, now; it 's a bad case- very bad i but tho apostle says, 'Let every one abide in the condition in which he is called.' W c must all submit to the indications of Providence, George,- don't you sco?" George stood with his head drawn back, his arms folded tightly over his broad breast, and a bitter smile curling his lips. " I wonder, 1\lr. Wilson, if the Indians should come and t.ako you a prisoner away from your wife and children, and want to keep you all your life hoeing corn for them, if you'd think it your duty to abide in tho condition in which you wore called. I rnthcr think that you'd think the first stray horse you could find an indication of Providence- shouldn't you?" 'l'ho little old gentleman stared with both eyes at this illustration of tho case i but, though not much of a reasoner, he had tho sense in which some logicians on thjs particular subject do not excel,- that of saying nothing, where nothing could be said. So, as he stood carefully stroking his umbrella, |