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Show 250 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, Tom came out the door. It was between one and two o'clock at night,-broad, calm, still moonlight. Tom rc. marked, as tho light of the moon fell upon Cassy's large, black eyes, that there was a wild and peculiar glare in them, unliko their wonted fixed despair. " Come here, Father Tom," she said, Ia.ying her small hand on his wrist, and drawing him forward with a force as if the hand were of steel; ''come here,- I've news for you.'' '' '\Vhat, Misse Cassy?" said Tom, anxiously. "Tom, wouldn't you like your liberty?" "I shall have it, ~1isse, in God's time," said Tom. "Ay, but you may have it to-night," sa.id Cassy, with a fiash of sudden energy. "Come on." Tom hesitated. "Come!" sa.id she, in a whisper, fixing her black eyes on him. "Come along! He 's asleep-sound. I put enough into his brandy to keep him so. I wish I'd had more,- I shouldn't have wanted you. But come, the back door is unlocked; there 's an axe there, I put it there,-his room door is open; I '11 show you the way. I'd a done it myself, only my arms arc so weak. Come along ! " "Not for ten thousand worlds, Misse!" said Tom, firmly, stopping and holding her back, as she was pressing forward. "But think of all these poor creatures," said Cassy. " Wo might set them all free, and go somewhere in the swamps, and find an island, and live by ourselves; I've heard of it.s being done. Any life is better than this." "No!" said Tom, firmly. "No! good never comes of wickedness. I 'd sooner chop my right hand off! " "Then I shall do it," sa.id Cassy, turning. "0, Misse Cassy ! " sa.id Tom, throwing himself before her, "for the desr Lord's sake that died for yo, don't sell LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 251 your precious soul to the devil, that way! Nothing but evil will come of it. The Lord hasn't called us to wrath. We must suffer, and wait his time." "VVait!" said Cassy. "llavc n't I waited 1-waited till my head is dizzy and my heart sick? What has he made mo suffer ? What has he made hundreds of poor creatures suffer? Is n't he wringing the life-blood out of you ? I 'm called on ; they call me ! His time 's come, and I ' II havo his heart's blood ! " "No, no, no!" said '11om, holding her small hands, which were clenched with spasmodic violence. "No, ye poor, lost soul, that ye mustn't do. 'l.'he dear, blessed Lord never shed no blood but his own, and that he poured out for us when we was enemies. Lord, help us to follow his steps, and love our enemies.'' "Love ! " said Cassy, with a fierce glare; '' love such enemies ! It isn't in flesh and blood." "No, Misse, it isn't," said Tom, looking up; "but He gives it to us, and that 's the victory. When we can love and pray over all and through all, tho battle's past, and the victory 's come,-glory be to God ! " And, with streaming eyes and choking voice, the black man looked up to heaven. And this, oh Africa 1 latest called of nations, - called to the crown of thorns, the scourge, the bloody sweat, the cross of agony,-this is to be tlty victory; by this shalt thou reign with Christ when his kingdom shall como on earth. The deep fenor of '!'om's feelings, the softness of his voice, his tears, fell like dew on the wild, unsettled spirit of the poor woman. A softness gathered over the lurid fires of her eye ; she looked down, and Tom could feel the relaxing muscles of her hands, as she said, " Did n· t I tell you that evil spirits followed me ? 0 ! |