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Show 164 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR1 and folding and patting down all the creases in it, he proceeded on with his exhortations in a genernl way. " You see, George, you know, now, I always have stood your friend; and whatever I've said, I 'vc said for your good. Now, here, it seems to me, you 'rc running an awful risk. You can't hope to carry it out. If you're taken, it will bo worse with you than ever; they'll only abuse you, and half kill you, and sell you down river." "Mr. Wilson, I know all this," said George. 1' I do run a risk, but-" he threw open his overcoat, and showed two pistols and flo bowie-knife. "There ! " he said, t~ I'm ready for 'em ! Down south I never will go. No! if it comes to that, I can earn myself at least six feet of free soil,- the first and last I shall ever own in Kentucky! " "Why, George, this state of mind is awful; it's getting really desperate, George. I'm concerned. Going te break the laws of your country ! " '(MY country again! ~ir. 'Vilson, you have a country; but what country have I, or any one like me, born of slave mothers? What laws are there for us? We don't mako them,- we don't consent to them,- we have nothing to do with them ; all they do for us is to crush us, and keep us down. Have n"t I heard your Fourth-of-July speeches? Don't you tell us all, once a year, that governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed 1 Can't a fellow think, that hears such things? Can't he put this and that together, and sec what it comes to 'I" Mr. Wilson's mind was one of those that may not unaptly be represented by a bale of cotton,-- downy, soft, bonevolently fuzzy and confused. He really pitied George with all his heart, and had a sort of dim and cloudy perception of the LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 165 style of feeling that ogitatcd him ; but he deemed it his duty to go on talking good to him, with infinite pertinacity. L George, this is bad. I must tell you, you know, as a friend, you'd better not be meddling with such notions; they n.rc bad, George, very bad, for boys in your condition,- very;" and :Mr. tVilson sat down to a table, and began nervously chewing the handle of his umbrella. 11 Sec bore, now, :Mr. "\·\Tilson," said George, coming up and sitting himself dcterminately down in front of him; 11 look at me, now. Don't I sit before you, every way, just as much a man as you arc? Look at my face,-look at my hands,look at my bedy," and the young man drew himself up proudly; "why am I not a man, os much as anybody? Well, Mr. Wilson, hear what I can tell you. I hod a father- one of your Kentucky gentlemen- who didn't think enough of me to keep me from boing sold with his dogs and horses, to satisfy the estate, when he died. I saw my mother put up at sheriff's sale, with her seven children. Thoy were sold before her eyes, one by one, all to different masters ; and I was the youngest. She came and kneeled down before old Mas'r, and bogged him to buy her with me, that she might have at least ono child with her; and ho kicked her away with his heavy boot. I saw him do it ; and the last that I heard was her moans and screams, wbon I was tied to his horse's neck, to bo carried off to his place." "'Vell, then?" " My master traded with one of the men, and bought my oldest sister. She was a pious, good girl,- a member of tho Baptist church,- and as handsome as my poor mother had boen. She was well brought up, and had good manners. At first, I was glad she was bought, for I had one friend near me. I was soon sorry for it. Sir, I have stood at t]JC door and |