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Show 184 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, of the griniling was protrnctcd; for tho mills were few in number compared with the grinrlcrs, and tho weary and feeble ones were driven back by the strong, and came on last in their turn. "llo yo! " said Sambo, coming to tho mulatto woman, and throwing down a bag of corn before her; "what a cuss yo name? " "Lucy," said the woman. ""\Val, Lucy, yo my woman now. Yo grind dis ycr corn, and get my supper baked, ye har? '' "I an't your woman, and I won't be ! " said the woman, with the shn.rp, sudden courage of despair; ':you go long! '' "I ' ll kick yo, then! " said Sambo, raising his foot threateningly. " Yo moy kill me, if yo choose,- tho sooner the better ! Wish't I was dead! " said she. " I say, Sambo, you go to spilin' the ltnnds, I 'II tell i\Ins'r o' you," said Quimbo, who was busy at the mill, from w]Jich he had viciously driven two or three tired women, who were waiting to grind their corn. "And I 'II tell him yc won't let the women come to the mills, yo old nigger ! " said Sa.mbo. "Yo jcs keep to yo own row." ~'om was hungry with his day's journey, and almost faint for want of food. l' ~J.lhar, yo!" sa.id Quimbo, throwing down a coarse bag, which conta.ined a. peck of corn ; " thar, nigger, grab, take car on :t,- yo won't get no more, dis yer week." Tom waited till a Jato hour, to get a place at the mil1s; and then, moved by the utter weariness of two women, whom ho sa.w trying to grind their corn tltere, he ground for them, put together the decaying brands of the fire, where many IJad LIFE AMONG TllE LOWLY. 185 baked cakes before them, and then went about getting his own supper. It was a new kind of work there,- a deed of charity, small as it was; but it woke an answering touch in their hearts,- an expression of womanly kindness came over their hard fitees; they mixed his cake for him, and tended its baking; and Tom sa.t down by the light of the fire, and drew out his Bible,- for he had need of comfort. " \Vhat's that 1" said one of the women. " A Bible," said Tom. " Good Lord! han't seen un since I was in Kcntuck." " \Vas you raised in Ken tuck 1" said Tom, with interest. " Y cs, and well raised, too ; never 'spcctcd to come to dis yer! " said the woman, sighing. " ' Vhat 's dat ar book, any way 1" said the other woman. "Why, the Bible." ''Laws a me! what's dat 1 '' said the woman. " Do tell ! you never hen.rn on 't 1" said tho other woman. " I used to bar .Missis a rcn.din' on't, sometimes, in Ken tuck; but, laws o: me ! we don't har nothin' hero but crackin' and swarin'." " Read il piece, anyways ! " said the first woman, curiously, seeing Tom attentively poring over it. ~fom read,-" Come unto 1\fE, all yo that labor and arc heavy laden, a.nd I will give you 1·est." " ~fhcm 's good words, enough," said the woman; " who says 'em?" " ~ehe Lord," said Tom. 11 I jest wish I know'd whar to find Him," said the woman. "I would go; 'pears like I never should get rested agin. My flesh is fi•irly sore, and I tremble all over, every day, and Sambo 's a.llcrs a jawin' at me, 'cause I doesn't pick faster ; and nigltts it's most midnight ' fore I can get my supper ; and YOL. 11. 16"" |