Uncle Tom's Cabin

s of Living Propert

anding before her mirror, brushing out the complicated braids and curls in which Eliza had arranged her hair; for, noticing her pale cheeks and haggard eyes, she had excused her atte

t low-bred fellow that you lugg

himself rather uneasily in his chair, and

nd what may be his b

ed some business with, last time

ake himself quite at home,

I had some accounts w

Shelby, noticing a certain embar

that into your head?"

ying and taking on, and said you were talking with a trader, and that

r, which he seemed for a few moments quite intent upon

ut," said he, mentally;

le fool for her pains, and that you never had anything to do with that sort of persons. Of

d said; but the fact is that my business lies so that I ca

ossible! Mr. Shelby, y

am," said Mr. Shelby. "

him his freedom, too,-you and I have spoken to him a hundred times of it. Well, I can believe anything now,-I can believe

l Tom and Harry both; and I don't know why I am to be rated, a

said Mrs. Shelby. "Why sell them, of all

ould choose another, if you say so. The fellow made me a high bi

said Mrs. Shel

nt,-out of regard to your feelings,

repared for this;-but surely you will allow me to intercede for these poor creatures. Tom is a noble-hearted, faithf

ut what's the use of all

n, we sell such a faithful, excellent, confiding creature as poor Tom, and tear from him in a moment all we have taught him to love and value? I have taught them the duties of the family, of parent and child, and husband and wife; and how can I bear to have this open acknowledgment that we care for no tie, no duty, no relation, however sacred, compared with money? I have talked with Eliza about her boy-her duty to him as a C

here is no choice between selling these two and selling everything. Either they must go, or all must. Haley has come into possession of a mortgage, which, if I don't clear off with him directly, will take everything before it. I've raked, and scraped, and borrowed, and all but begged

ly, turning to her toilet, she rested her

of such a deadly evil. It is a sin to hold a slave under laws like ours,-I always felt it was,-I always thought so when I was a girl,-I thought so still more after I joine

getting to be an a

ght talk! We don't need them to tell us; you know I never tho

and pious men," said Mr. Shelby. "You rem

ers can't help the evil, perhaps,-can't cure it, any more than we can,-but defend it!-it al

rious things, and get used to a deal that isn't the exact thing. But we don't quite fancy, when women and ministers come out broad and square, and go beyond us in matters of e

lry of any amount," she added, thoughtfully; "but would not this watch do something?-it was an expensive

e thing's done; the bills of sale are already signed, and in Haley's hands; and you must be thankful it is no worse. That man has had

so hard

de and profit,-cool, and unhesitating, and unrelenting, as death and the grave. He'd

that good, faithful To

ters, and take possession tomorrow. I'm going to get out my horse bright and early, and be off. I can't see Tom, that's a

om, God help him, in his distress! They shall see, at any rate, that their mistress can feel for and with them. As to

is conversation whom Mr. and

dismissed Eliza for the night, her feverish and excited mind had suggested the idea of this closet; and she had hidden

nd then turned and glided into her own room. It was a quiet, neat apartment, on the same floor with her mistress. There was a pleasant sunny window, where she had often sat singing at her sewing; there a little case of books, and various little fancy articles, ranged by them, the gifts of Christmas holidays; there was her simple wardrobe in the cl

liza; "they have sold you! but

t has no tears to give,-it drops only blood, bleeding itself away in

any way,-I heard all you and master said tonight. I am going to try to save

remembrance, that, even in the terrors of that hour, she did not forget to put in the little package one or two of his favorite toys, reserving a gayly painted parrot to amuse him, when she should

said he, as she drew near the b

stly into his eyes, that he at once divin

ittle Harry away from his mother, and carry him 'way off in the dark; but mother won't let him-she's

, taking him in her arms, she whispered to him to be very still; and, opening a

other wrapped the shawl close round her child, as, per

rently revolving much, in this simple dog's head, what such an indiscreet midnight promenade might mean. Some dim ideas of imprudence or impropriety in the measure seemed to embarrass him considerably; for he often stopped, as Eliza glided forward, a

ur; and, as Uncle Tom had indulged himself in a few lengthy solos afterwards, the consequence was, tha

urtain. "My sakes alive, if it an't Lizy! Get on your clothes, old man, quick!-t

he light of the tallow candle, which Tom had hastily lighted,

o look at ye, Lizy! Are ye tuc

and Aunt Chloe-carrying of

both, lifting up th

heard Master tell Missis that he had sold my Harry, and you, Uncle Tom, both, to a trader; and

a man in a dream. Slowly and gradually, as its meaning came over him, he collapsed,

hloe. "O! it don't seem as if it was true! W

having to sell the place and all the people, and move off. Yes, I heard him say there was no choice between selling these two and selling all, the man was driving him so hard. Master said he was sorry; but oh, Missis-you ought to have heard her talk! If she an't a Christian and an angel, there never was

ll niggers with hard work and starving? I'd a heap rather die than go there, any day! There's time for ye,-be

, and looked sorrowfully b

, why, let me be sold. I s'pose I can bar it as well as any on 'em," he added, while something like a sob and a sigh shook his broad, rough chest convulsively. "Mas'r always found me on the spot-he always will. I never ha

the chair, and great tears fell through his fingers on the floor; just such tears, sir, as you dropped into the coffin where lay your first-born son; such tears, woman, as you shed when you heard the cries of

y, that he was going to run away. Do try, if you can, to get word to him. Tell him how I went, and why I went; and tell him I'm going to try and find Canada. You must give my love to him, and tell him, i

ed. "Shut the door on him, poo

d blessings, and clasping her wondering and affrig