Harriet Beecher Stowe

“ Quakers are not allowed to use guns and pistols, so Phineas had been standing back while George shot. Now he sprang forward. As Tom Loker landed in the middle of them, he gave him a great push, saying, 'Friend, thee isn't wanted here.'
Down fell Tom Loker, down, down the steep side of the rock. He crashed and crackled among trees, bushes, logs, loose stones, till he lay bruised and groaning far below. The fall might have killed him, had it not been broken by his clothes catching on the branches of a large tree.
Cruel people are, very often, cowardly too. ”

“ Eliza's husband was called George, and was a slave too. He did not belong to Mr. Shelby, but to another man, who had a farm quite near. George and Eliza could not live together as a husband and wife generally do. Indeed, they hardly ever saw each other. George's master was a cruel man, and would not let him come to see his wife. He was so cruel, and beat George so dreadfully, that the poor slave made up his mind to run away. He had come that very day to tell Eliza what he meant to do. ”

“ But Eliza said, 'No, I must go on; I dare not stop. I can't sleep at night: I can't rest. Last night I dreamed I saw that man come into the yard.'
'Poor child,' said Rachel, the kind Quaker woman to whom she was speaking, 'poor child, thee mustn't feel so. No slave that has run away has ever been stolen from our village. It is safe here.'
While they were talking, Simeon, Rachel's husband, came to the door and called, 'Wife, I want to speak to thee a minute.'
Rachel went out to him. 'Eliza's husband is here,' he said. ”

“ CHAPTER I UNCLE TOM AND LITTLE HARRY ARE SOLD
ERY many years ago, instead of having servants to wait upon them and work for them, people used to have slaves. These slaves were paid no wages. Their masters gave them only food and clothes in return for their work.
When any one wanted servants he went to market to buy them, just as nowadays we buy horses and cows, or even tables and chairs.
If the poor slaves were bought by kind people they would be quite happy. Then they would work willingly for their masters and mistresses, and even love them. But very often cruel people bought slaves. ”

“ The first I knew, a man was helping me up the bank.'
It was such a sad story, that the tears came into the eyes of everyone who heard her tell it.
'Where do you mean to go to, poor woman?' asked the lady.
'To Canada, if I only knew where that was. Is it very far off, is Canada'? said Eliza, looking up in a simple, trusting way, to the kind lady's face.
'Poor woman,' said she again.
'Is it a great way off?' asked Eliza.
'Yes,' said the lady of the house sadly, 'it is far away. But we will try to help you to get there.' Eliza wanted to go to Canada, because it belonged to the British. ”

“ One of the saddest things for the poor slaves was that they could never long be a happy family all together—father, mother, and little brothers and sisters—because at any time the master might sell the father or the mother or one of the children to some one else. When this happened those who were left behind were very sad indeed—more sad than if their dear one had died.
Uncle Tom was a slave. He was a very faithful and honest servant, and his master, Mr. Shelby, was kind to him. Uncle Tom's wife was called Aunt Chloe. She was Mr. Shelby's head cook, and a very good one too, she was. ”

“ While Uncle Tom was sailing South, down the wide river, to his new master's home, Eliza with her boy was travelling north to Canada.
Kind people helped her all the way. She passed from friend to friend, till she arrived safely at a village where the people were Quakers.
The Quakers were gentle, quiet people. They all dressed alike in plain grey clothes, and the women wore big, white muslin caps. Because they thought it was wicked to have slaves, they helped those who ran away from their cruel masters. Often they were punished for doing this, but still they went on helping the poor slaves. ”

“ He loved his little mistress Eva very tenderly, and she was ill.
He saw that she was growing white and thin. She no longer ran and played in the garden for hours together as she used to do. She was always tired now.
Miss Ophelia noticed it too, and tried to make Mr. St. Clare see it. But he would not. He loved his little Eva so much, that he did not want to believe that anything could be the matter with her.
Mrs. St. Clare never thought that any one, except herself, could be ill. So Eva grew daily thinner and weaker, and Uncle Tom and Aunt Ophelia more and more sad and anxious. ”

“ Quicker than we can say it, they were following him up a tiny narrow path to the top of the rocks, and Simeon was galloping the horses with the empty waggon along the road.
'We are pretty safe here,' said Phineas, when they had reached the top. 'Only one person can come up that path at a time. If any one tries it, shoot him.'
The men who were chasing them had now arrived at the foot of of the rocks. They were led by a big man called Tom Loker, and another mean-looking little man, whom Haley had sent. ”

“ But a fellow-creature that can think, and reason, and feel, and is immortal, you shudder at. I know how you north-country people feel about it. You loathe the blacks as you would a toad or a snake. Yet you pity them, and are angry because they are often ill-treated.'
'Well, cousin,' said Miss Ophelia thoughtfully, 'I daresay you are right. I suppose I must try to get over my feeling.'
CHAPTER X UNCLE TOM'S LETTER
Uncle Tom felt that he was indeed very fortunate to have found such a kind master and so good a home. He had nice clothes, plenty of food, and a comfortable room to sleep in. ”

“ You may die or lose all your money. Then Topsy would be taken away and sold, in spite of anything I could say.'
Mr. St. Clare hated being made to do things when he didn't want to. However, after teasing his cousin a little more, he wrote out the paper, and Topsy belonged to Miss Ophelia. That evening Mr. St. Clare went out for a ride.
Tom saw him go, and asked if he should come too. 'No, my boy,' said Mr. St. Clare, 'I shall be back in an hour.'
Tom sat down on the verandah to wait till his master came home. While he waited, he fell asleep. ”

“ Your house is full of these little plagues as it is. I get up in the morning and find one asleep behind the door; see one black head poking out from under the table; another lying on the mat. They tumble over the kitchen floor, so that a body can't put their foot down without treading on them. ”

“ At first Tom could hardly believe what he heard. Then he sank down, and buried his face in his hands.
'The good Lord have pity on us!' said Aunt Chloe. 'What has Tom done that master should sell him?'
'He hasn't done anything—it isn't for that. Master don't want to sell; but he owes this man money. If he doesn't pay him it will end in his having to sell the house and all the slaves. Master said he was sorry. But missis she talked like an angel. I'm a wicked girl to leave her so, but I can't help it. It must be right ”

“ My old missis always did. I an't used to workin' unless I gets whipped.'
So Miss Ophelia tried it. Topsy would scream and groan and implore. But half an hour later she would be sitting among the other little niggers belonging to the house, laughing about it. 'Miss Feely whip!' she would say, 'she can't do it nohow.'
'Law, you niggers,' she would go on, 'does you know you's all sinners? Well, you is; everybody is. White folks is sinners too—Miss Feely says so. But I 'spects niggers is the biggest ones. But ye an't any of ye up to me. I's so awful wicked, there can't nobody do nothin' with me. ”

“ The men slaves walked, while Legree and the two women drove in a cart.
Mile after mile they trudged along, over the rough road through wild and dreary country, till, hungry, thirsty, and tired, they arrived at the farm, or plantation as it was called.
Legree was not a gentleman like Mr. Shelby or Mr. St. Clare. He was a very rough kind of farmer. On his farm he grew cotton. The cotton had to be gathered and tied into bundles. Then he sold it to people who made it into calico, muslin, and other things, which we need to use and wear. Gathering cotton is very hard work. ”

“ Old missis used to say so, too. She whipped me a heap harder, and used to pull my hair and knock my head agin the door. But it didn't do me no good. I 'spect if they is to pull every hair out o' my head it wouldn't do no good neither. I's so wicked. Laws! I's nothin' but a nigger noways.'
'I shall have to give her up,' said Miss Ophelia. 'I can't have that trouble any longer.'
Eva had stood silent, listening. Now she took Topsy by the hand, and led her into a little room close by.
'What makes you so naughty, Topsy?' she said, with tears in her eyes. 'Why don't you try to be good? ”

“ Master George was Mr. and Mrs. Shelby's son. He was very fond of Tom, and was teaching him to write. He often used to come and have tea in Uncle Tom's little cottage. Aunt Chloe used to make her very nicest cakes when Mas'r George came to tea. But he was not at home now, and did not know that Tom had been sold.
Haley whipped up the horse, and, with a last sad look at the old place, Tom was whirled away to a town called Washington.
CHAPTER VII UNCLE TOM MEETS EVA
Haley stayed in Washington several days. He went to market each day and bought more slaves. ”

“ There's his new mas'r,' she said, pointing to the other shore. 'Oh, save me.'
'Yer a right brave gal,' said the man. 'Go there,' pointing to a big white house close by. 'They are kind folks; they'll help you.'
'Oh, thank you, thank you,' said Eliza, as she walked quickly away. The man stood and looked after her wonderingly.
On the other side of the river Haley was standing perfectly amazed at the scene. When Eliza disappeared over the bank he turned and looked at Sam and Andy, with terrible anger in his eyes.
But Sam and Andy were glad, oh, so glad, that Eliza had escaped. ”

“ Clare,' said the little girl; 'though papa and everybody else call me Eva. Now, what's your name?'
'My name's Tom. The little chil'en at my old home used to call me Uncle Tom.'
'Then I mean to call you Uncle Tom, because, you see, I like you,' said Eva. 'So, Uncle Tom, where are you going?'
'I don't know, Miss Eva.'
'Don't know?' said Eva.
'No. I'm going to be sold to somebody. I don't know who.'
'My papa can buy you, said Eva quickly. 'If he buys you you will have good times. I mean to ask him to, this very day.'
'Thank you, my little lady,' said Tom. ”

“ Grateful tears rushed to his eyes as he said, 'God bless you, mas'r.'
'Can you drive horses, Tom?'
'I've been allays used to horses,' said Tom.
'Well, I think I'll make you a coachman. But you must not get drunk.'
Tom looked surprised and a little hurt.
'I never drink', mas'r,' he said.
'Never mind, my boy,' said Mr. St. Clare, seeing him look so grave; 'I don't doubt you mean to do well.'
'I certainly do, mas'r,' said Tom.
'And you shall have good times,' said Eva. 'Papa is very good to everybody, only he always will laugh at them.'
'Papa is much obliged to you,' said Mr. St. ”

“ And God helped me.'
'Were you a slave?' said the gentleman.
'Yes, sir.'
'Was your master unkind to you?'
'No, sir.'
'Was your mistress unkind to you?'
'No, sir—no. My mistress was always good to me.'
'What could make you leave a good home, then, and run away, and go through such danger?'
'They wanted to take my boy away from me—to sell him—to sell him down south, ma'am. To go all alone—a baby that had never been away from his mother in his life. I couldn't bear it. I took him, and ran away in the night. They chased me, they were coming down close behind me, and I heard 'em. ”

“ Shelby gave in, and Haley went away with the promise that next morning Uncle Tom and little Harry should be given to him, to be his slaves.
CHAPTER II ELIZA RUNS AWAY WITH LITTLE HARRY
Mr. Shelby was very unhappy because of what he had done. He knew his wife would be very unhappy too, and he did not know how to tell her.
He had to do it that night, however, before she went to bed.
Mrs. Shelby could hardly believe it. 'Oh, you do not mean this,' she said. 'You must not sell our good Tom and dear little Harry. Do anything rather than that. It is a wicked, wicked thing to do. ”

“ With sobs and tears and shouts they pressed round him, thanking and blessing him. But some of them came with anxious faces, begging him to take their free papers back again, and not to send them away.
'We don't want to be any freer than we are,' they said. 'We have always had all we wanted.'
'We don't want to leave the old place, and young mas'r and Missis, and the rest.'
'My good friends,' said George, when he could get silence, 'there will be no need for you to leave me. ”

“ The two young men, as they seemed to be, got out, Eliza helping the kind lady and little girl, while George saw to the luggage.
As he was standing at the office, taking the tickets, George overheard two men talking by his side.
'I've watched every one that came on board,' said one, 'and I know they are not on this boat.'
'You would scarcely know the woman from a white one,' said the other. 'The man is very fair too. ”

“ He gave some money to the good man too, and told him to use it for Eliza.
CHAPTER VI UNCLE TOM SAYS GOOD-BYE
The day after the hunt for Eliza was a very sad one in Uncle Tom's cabin. It was the day on which Haley was going to take Uncle Tom away.
Aunt Chloe had been up very early. She had washed and ironed all Tom's clothes, and packed his trunk neatly. Now she was cooking the breakfast,—the last breakfast she would ever cook for her dear husband. Her eyes were quite red and swollen with crying, and the tears kept running down her cheeks all the time. ”