Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Original Edition | Liberty - Chapter 7

None

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet beecher Stowe,
Chapter seven, The Mother's Struggle. It is impossible to conceive
of a human creature more wholly desolate and forlorn than Eliza.
When she turned her footsteps from Uncle Tom's cabin, her
husband's suffering and dangers, and the danger of her child

(00:20):
all blended in her mind with a confused and stunning
sense of the risk she was running in leaving the
only home she had ever known, and cutting loose from
the protection of a friend whom she loved and revered.
Then there was the parting from every familiar object, the
place where she had grown up, the trees under which
she had played, the groves where she had walked many

(00:44):
an evening in happier days by the side of her
young husband. Everything as it lay in the clear, frosty
starlight seemed to speak reproachfully to her and ask her
whither could she go from a home like that? But
stronger than all was maternal love, wrought into a paroxysm
of frenzy by the near reproach of a fearful danger.

(01:07):
Her boy was old enough to have walked by her
side and in an indifferent case, she would only have
led him by the hand. But now the bare thought
of putting him out of her arms made her shudder,
and she strained him to her bosom with a convulsive grasp.
As she went rapidly forward, the frosty ground creaked beneath

(01:27):
her feet, and she trembled at the sound. Every quaking
leaf and fluttering shadow sent the blood backward to her
heart and quickened her footsteps. She wondered within herself at
the strength that seemed to be come upon her, for
she felt the weight of her boy as if it
had been a feather, and every flutter of fears seemed
to increase the supernatural power that bore her on, while

(01:50):
from her pale lips burst forth in frequent ejaculations, the
prayer to a friend above, Lord, help Lord save me.
If it were your harry, mother, or your Willie that
were going to be torn from you by a brutal
trader tomorrow morning, if you had seen the man and
heard that the papers were signed and delivered, and you

(02:12):
had only from twelve o'clock till morning to make good
your escape, how fast could you walk? How many miles
could you make in those few brief hours with the
darling at your bosom, the little sleepy head on your shoulder,
the small soft arms trustingly holding on to your neck.
For the child slept at first, the novelty and alarm

(02:34):
kept him waking, but his mother so hurriedly repressed every
breath or sound, and so assured him that if he
were only still, she would certainly save him. That he
clung quietly round her neck, only asking as he found
himself sinking to sleep. Mother, I don't need to keep awake,
do I? No? My darling sleep if you want to.

(02:56):
But Mother, if I do get asleep, you won't let
him get me. No, So may God help me, said
his mother, with a paler cheek and a brighter light
in her large dark eyes. You're sure, ain't you? Mother? Yes? Sure,
said the mother, in a voice that startled herself, for
it seemed to her to come from a spirit within

(03:17):
that was no part of her. And the boy dropped
his little, weary head on her shoulder and was soon asleep.
How the touch of those warm arms, the gentle breathings
that came in her neck, seemed to add fire and
spirit to her movements. It seemed to her as if
strength poured into her in electric streams from every gentle

(03:37):
touch and movement of the sleeping, confiding child. Sublime is
the dominion of the mind of the body, that for
a time can make flesh and nerve impregnable, and string
the sinews like steel, so that the weak becomes so mighty.
The boundaries of the farm, the grove, the wood lot
passed by her dizzily as she walked on. And still

(03:59):
she went, leaving one familiar object after another, slacking, not pausing,
not till reddening daylight found her many a long mile
from all traces of any familiar objects upon the open highway.
She had often been with her mistress to visit some
connections in the little village of Tea, not far from
the Ohio River, and knew the road well to go

(04:22):
thither to escape across the Ohio River. Were the first
hurried outlines of her plan of escape. Beyond that she
could only hope in God. When horses and vehicles began
to move along the highway with that alert perception peculiar
to a state of excitement, and which seems to be
a sort of inspiration, she became aware that her headlong

(04:43):
pace and distracted air might bring on her remark and suspicion.
She therefore put the boy on the ground, and, adjusting
her dress and bonnet, she walked on at as rapid
a pace as she thought consistent with the preservation of appearances.
In her little bundle, she had provided a store of
cakes and apples, which she used as expedients for quickening

(05:04):
the speed of the child, rolling the apple some yards
before them, when the boy would run with all his
might after it. And this ruse, often repeated, carried them
over many a half mile. After a while, they came
to a thick patch of woodland through which murmured a
clear brook. As the child complained of hunger and thirst,
she climbed over the fence with him, and, sitting down

(05:27):
behind a large rock which concealed them from the road,
she gave him a breakfast out of her little package.
The boy wondered and grieved that she could not eat,
and when putting his arms round her neck, he tried
to wedge some of his cake into her mouth. It
seemed to her that the rising in her throat would
choke her. No, no, harry, darling, mother can't eat till

(05:48):
you are safe. We must go on on till we
come to the river. And she hurried again into the road,
and again constrained herself to walk regularly and composedly forward.
She was many miles past any neighborhood where she was
personally known, if she should chance to meet any who
knew her. She reflected that the well known kindness of

(06:09):
the family would be of itself a blind to suspicion,
as making it an unlikely supposition that she could be
a fugitive. As she was also so white as not
to be known as of colored lineage without a critical survey,
and her child was white. Also, it was much easier
for her to pass on unsuspected. On this presumption. She

(06:31):
stopped at noon at a neat farmhouse to rest herself
and buy some dinner for her child and self, For
as the danger decreased with a distance, the supernatural tension
of the nervous system lessened, and she found herself both
weary and hungry. The good woman, kindly and gossiping, seemed
rather pleased than otherwise with having somebody come in to

(06:53):
talk with, and accepted without examination Eliza's statement that she
was going on a little peace to spend a week
with her friends, all which she hoped in her heart
might prove strictly true. An hour before sunset, she entered
the village of Tea by the Ohio River, weary and footsore,
but still strong in heart. Her first glance was at

(07:15):
the river, which lay like Jordan between her and the
Canaan of Liberty on the other side. It was now
early spring, and the river was swollen and turbulent. Great
cakes of floating ice were swinging heavily to and fro
in the turbid waters, owing to the peculiar form of
the shore on the Kentucky side, the land bending far

(07:36):
out into the water. The ice had been lodged and
detained in great quantities, and the narrow channel which swept
round the bend was full of ice, piled one cake
over another, thus forming a temporary barrier to the descending ice,
which lodged and formed a great undulating raft, filling up
the whole river and extending almost to the Kentucky shore.

(07:57):
Eliza stood for a moment contemplated this unfavorable aspect of things,
which she saw at once must prevent the usual ferry
boat from running, and then turned into a small public
house on the bank to make a few inquiries. The hostess,
who was busy in various fizzing and stewing operations over
the fire preparatory to an evening meal, stopped with a

(08:19):
fork in her hand as Eliza's sweet and plaintive voice
arrested her. What is it, she said? Isn't there any
faery or boat that takes people over to be Now?
She said no, Indeed, said the woman, the boat's has
stopped running. Eliza's look of dismay and disappointment struck the woman,
and she said inquiringly, maybe you're wantin to get over

(08:41):
anybody sick. You seem might be anxious. I've got a
child that's very dangerous, said Eliza. I never heard of
it till last night, and I've walked quite a piece
to day in hopes to get to the ferry. Well,
now that's unlucky, said the woman, whose motherly sympathies were
much aroused. I'm really concerned for you, Solomon, she called

(09:03):
from the window. Towards a small back building, A man
in leather apron and very dirty hands appeared at the door.
I say, Saul, said the woman. Is that our man
going to toat them? Barrels over tonight. He's said he
should try if twas any way prudent, said the man.
There's a man apiece down here that's going over with
some truck this evening. If he dares to, he'll be

(09:25):
in here to supper tonight. So you'd better sit down
and wait. That's a sweet little fellow, added the woman,
offering him a cake. But the child, wholly exhausted, cried
with weariness. Poor fellow, he isn't used to walking, and
I've hurried him on, so said Eliza. Well take him
into this room, said the woman, Opening into a small

(09:46):
bedroom where stood a comfortable bed, Eliza laid the weary
boy upon it and laid his hands in hers till
he was fast asleep. For her, there was no rest
as a fire in her bones. The thought of the
pursuer urged her on, and she gazed with longing eyes
on the sullen, surging waters that lay between her and liberty.

(10:07):
Here we must take our leave of her for the present,
to follow the course of her pursuers. Though missus Shelby
had promised that the dinner should be hurried on table,
yet it was soon seen, as the thing has often
been seen before that it required more than one to
make a bargain. So, although the order was fairly given
out in Haley's hearing, and carried to Aunt Chloe by

(10:29):
at least half a dozen juvenile messengers, that Dignitary only
gave certain very gruff snorts and tosses of her head,
and went on with every operation in an unusually leisurely
and circumstantial manner. For some singular reason, an impression seemed
to rain among the servants generally that Missus would not
be particularly disobliged by delay, And it was wonderful what

(10:53):
a number of counter accidents occurred constantly to retard the
course of things. One luckless wight contrived to upset the gravy,
and then gravy had to be got up de novo
with due care and formality. Aunt Chloe, watching and stirring
with dogged precision, answering shortly to all suggestions of haste,
that she warn't goin to have a raw gravy on

(11:16):
the table to help nobody's catchings. One tumbled down with
the water and had to go to the spring for more,
and another precipitated the butter into the path of events,
and there was from time to time giggling news brought
into the kitchen that Massa Hailey was mighty uneasy, and
that he couldn't sit in his chair no ways, but

(11:36):
was a talkin', an stalkin to the winders and through
the porch saves him, right, said Aunt Chloe indignantly. He'll
get was nor uneasy one o these days. If he
don't mend his ways, his master'll be sendin for him,
and then see how he'll look. He'll go to torment,
And no mistake, said little Jake. He deserves it, said

(11:57):
Aunt Chloe grimly. He's broken men, many many hearts, I
tell y'all, she said, stopping with a fork uplifted in
her hands. It's like what Massa George reads in ravelations.
Soul's a callin' under the altar, and a callin on
the Lord for vengeance. On such a bind by the Lord,
he'll hear him, so he will. Aunt Chloe, who was

(12:17):
much revered in the kitchen, was listened to with open mouth,
and the dinner being now fairly sent in, the whole
kitchen was at leisure to gossip with her and to
listen to her remarks, Sich, you'll be burnt up for ever,
and no mistake, won't there, said Andy. I'd be glad
to see it. I'll be bound, said little Jake. Chillin
said a voice that made them all start. It was

(12:38):
Uncle Tom, who had come in and stood listening to
the conversation at the door. Chillin He said, I'm afeared.
You don't know what you're saying for ever. It's a
dreadful word, chullin. It's awful to think, Aunt, you ought'ner
wish thou hurt in any human critter. We wouldn't anybody
but the soul drivers, said Andy. Nobody can help wishing
it to them they so awfully. Don't nature herself kinder

(13:02):
cry out on him, said Aunt Chloe. Don't they tear
to their sucond baby right off of his mother's breast
and sell him and their little children as his crying
and holding on by her clothes. Don't they pull them
off and sells them. Don't they tear wife and husband apart,
said Aunt Chloe, beginning to cry, when it's just taking
the very life on him and all the wild as

(13:23):
they feel one bit? Don't they drink and smoke and
take it uncommon? Easy? Lord, if the devil. Don't get then,
what's he good for? And Aunt Chloe covered her face
with her checkered apron and began to sob in good earnest,
pray for them that spitefully used you, The good book says,
says Tom. Pray for him, said Aunt Chloe. Lord, it's tough.

(13:45):
I can't pray for him. It's nature, Chloe. And nature's strong,
said Tom. But the Lord's grace is stronger. Besides, you
ought to think what an awful state of poor critter's
soul's in that'll do them? Are things you ought to
thank God God that you ain't like him, Chloe. I'm
sure I'd rather be sold ten thousand times over than
to have all that our poor critter's got to answer for.

(14:08):
So I'd a heap, said Jake. Lord, shouldn't we catch it? Andy?
Andy shrugged his shoulders and gave an acquiescent whistle. I'm
glad Master didn't go off this morning, as he looked
to said Tom. That ar hurt me more than sellin
it did. Maybe it might have been natural for him,
but it t would have come desperate hard on me,

(14:28):
as has known him from my baby. But I've seen
Master and I begin to feel sort of reconciled at
the Lord's will. Now, Massa couldn't help his health. He
did right, But I'm afeared things will be kind of
goin to rack when I'm gone. Massa can't be spected
to be prying round everywhere as I've done, and keeping
up all at ends. The boys all means well, but

(14:49):
they's powerful. Careless that art troubles me. The bell here rang,
and Tom was summoned to the parlor. Tom said his
master kindly. I want you to notice that I give
this gentleman bonds to forfeit a thousand dollars if you
are not on the spot when he wants you. He's
going to day to look after his other business, and

(15:10):
you can have the day to yourself. Go anywhere you like. Boy,
Thank you, Massa, said Tom. And mind yourself, said the trader.
And don't come it over your master with any of
your nigger tricks, for I'll take every cent out of
him if you ain't thar. If he'd hear to me,
he wouldn't trust any on ya. Slippery as eels, Massa,
said Tom, and he stood very straight. I was just

(15:32):
six years old when old Missus put you into my arms.
And you wasn't a year old? Thar, says she. Tom,
that's to be your young Massa. Take good care of him,
says she. And now I just ask you, Massa, have
I ever broke word to you or gone contrary to you?
Specially since I was a Christian. Mister Shelby was fairly overcome,
and the tears rose to his eyes. My good boy,

(15:55):
said he. The Lord knows you say but the truth.
And if I was able to help it, all the
world shouldn't buy you. And sure, as I am a
Christian woman, said missus Shelby, you shall be redeemed as
soon as I can bring together means. Sir, she said
to Hailey, take a good account of who you sell
him to and let me know. Lor Yes, for that matter,

(16:17):
said the trader, I may bring him up in a year,
not much the worse for wear, and trade him back.
I'll trade with you then and make it for your advantage,
said missus Shelby. Of course, said the trader, all's equal
with me, Lambs. Trade him up is down, So I
does a good business. All I want is a livin,
you know, ma'am. That's all any of us wants. Supposed.

(16:39):
Mister and Missus Shelby both felt annoyed and degraded by
the familiar impudence of the trader, and yet both saw
the absolute necessity of putting a constraint on their feelings.
The more hopelessly sordid and insensible he appeared, the greater
became Missus Shelby's dread of his succeeding in recapturing Eliza
and her child, and of course, the greater her motive

(16:59):
for attaining him by every female artifice. She therefore graciously smiled, assented,
chatted familiarly, and did all she could to make time
pass imperceptibly. At two o'clock, Sam and Andy brought the
horses up to the posts, apparently greatly refreshed and invigorated
by the scamper of the morning. Sam was there, new

(17:21):
oiled from dinner, with an abundance of zealous and ready officiousness.
As Haley approached, he was boasting in flourishing style to
Andy of the evident and eminent success of the operation,
now that he had firely come to it. Your master,
I suppose don't keep no dogs, said Haley thoughtfully, as
he prepared to mount heaps of em said Sam triumphantly.

(17:42):
There's Bruno. He's war and besides that, bout every nigger
of us keeps a pup of some nature or other. Poh,
said Haley, And he said something else too, with regard
to the said dogs, at which Sam muttered, I don't
see no use cussin' on in no way. But your
master don't keep no dogs. I pretty much know you
don't for trackin out niggers. Sam knew exactly what he meant,

(18:04):
but he kept on a look of earnest and desperate simplicity.
Our dogs all smells round considerable shop. I spec theay's
the kind though they they ain't never had no practice.
They's far dogs though at most anything. If you'd get
em started here, Bruno, he called, whistling to the lumbering Newfoundland,
who came pitching tumultuously towards them. You go, hang, said Haley,

(18:25):
getting up. Come tumble up now. Sam tumbled up accordingly, dexterously,
contriving to tickle Andy as he did. So. We had
occasioned Andy to split out into a laugh, greatly to
Haley's indignation, who made a cut at him with his
riding whip. I stonished at you, Andy, said Sam with
awful gravity. This year's serious business. Andy, you mustn't be

(18:47):
a makin game this year. Ain't no way to help Massa.
I shall take the straight road to the river, said
Haley decidedly, after they had come to the boundaries of
the estate. I know the way of all of em.
They make tracks for the underground Sartain, said Sam. That's
the idea, Massa. Haley hits the thing right in the middle.
Now there's two roads to the river, the dirt road

(19:08):
and the pike, which Massa mean to take. Andy looked
up innocently at Sam, surprised at hearing this new geographical fact,
but instantly confirmed what he said by a vehement reiteration.
Car said Sam, I'd rather be glad to imagine that
Lizzie take dirt road, being its least traveled. Haley, notwithstanding
that he was a very old bird and naturally inclined

(19:29):
to be suspicious of chaff, was rather brought up by
this view of the case. If y'er warn't both on
your such cussed liars, now, he said contemplatively as he
pondered a moment. The pensive, reflective tone in which this
was spoken appeared to amuse Andy prodigiously, and he drew
a little behind and shook so as apparently to run

(19:49):
a great risk of falling off his horse, while Sam's
face was immovably composed into the most doleful gravity. Course,
said Sam, MASSA can do as he'd rather goes straight road.
If Massa think's best, it's all one to us. Now
when I study upon it, I think the straight road
the best. Delightedly, she would naturally go a lonesome way,

(20:10):
said Haley, thinking aloud and not minding Sam's remark. Deare
ain't no sayin, said Sam. Gals is peculiar. They never
do nothin' Y thinks they will. More generally, the contrary
gals has naturally made contrary. And so if you think
they's gone one road, it is certain you'd better go t'other,
and then you'll be sure to find em. Now, my

(20:30):
private opinion is Lizzie took dear road, so I think
we'd better take the straight one. This profound generic view
of the female sex did not seem to dispose Haley
particularly to the straight road, and he announced decidedly that
he should go the other and asked Sam when they
should come to it a little piece of head, said Sam,
giving a wink to Andy with the eye which was

(20:51):
on Andy's side of the head, And he added gravely,
but I've studied on the matter, and I'm quite clar
we ought not to go that diar away. I never
been over it. No way. It's despite lonesome, and and
we might lose our way. Why we'd come to the
Lord only knows. Nevertheless, said Haley, I shall go that
way now I think on it. I think I hearn

(21:13):
em tell that that our road was all fenced up
and down by their creek, and there ain't it Andy,
Andy wasn't certain. He'd only hearn tell about that road,
but never been over it. In short, he was strictly noncommittal. Haley,
accustomed to strike the balance of probabilities between lies of
greater or lesser magnitude, thought that it lay in favor

(21:34):
of the dirt road. Aforesaid The mention of the thing
he thought he perceived was involuntarily on Sam's part at first,
and his confused attempts to dissuade him. He set down
to a desperate lying on second thoughts, as being unwilling
to implicate Liza when Therefore Sam indicated the road. Haley
plunged briskly into it, followed by Sam and Andy. Now,

(21:56):
the road, in fact was an old one that had
formerly been in a thoroughfare to the river, but abandoned
for many years. After the laying of the new pike,
it was opened for about an hour's ride, and after
that it was cut across by various farms and fences.
Sam knew this fact perfectly well. Indeed, the road had
been so long closed up that Andy had never heard

(22:18):
of it. He therefore rode along with an air of
dutiful submission, only groaning and vociferating occasionally that twas desperate,
rough and bad for Jerry's foot. Now I just give
your warnin, said Haley. I know you you won't get
me to turn off this road with all your fuss,
and so you shut up. Mass will go on his way,

(22:38):
said Sam with rueful submission, at the same time winking
most pretentiously to Andy, whose delight was now very near
the explosive point. Sam was in wonderful spirits, professed to
keep a very brisk lookout, at one time exclaiming that
he saw a gal's bonnet on the top of some
distant eminence, or calling to Andy, if that there wasn't

(22:58):
Lizzie down the hollow was making these exclamations in some
rough or craggy part of the road, where the sudden
quickening of speed was a special inconvenience to all parties concerned,
and thus keeping Haley in a state of constant commotion.
After riding about an hour in this way, the whole
party made a precipitate and tumultuous descent into a barn

(23:18):
yard belonging to a large farming establishment. Not a soul
was in sight, all the hands being employed in the fields.
But as the barn stood conspicuously and plainly square across
the road, it was evident that their journey in that
direction had reached a decided finale. Want bot ar what
I tell you, masser, said Sam, with an air of
injured innocence. How does strange gentlemen spect to know more

(23:41):
about a country than the natives born raised you? Rascal,
said Haley. You knew all about this, didn't I tell you?
I knowed? And you wouldn't believe me. I telled Master
it was all shut up and fenced up, and and
I didn't spect we could get through Andy heard me.
It was all too true to be disputed, and the
unlucky man had to pocket his wrath with the best
grace he was able, and all three faced to the

(24:03):
right about and took up their line of march for
the highway. In consequence of all the various delays, it
was about three quarters of an hour after Eliza had
laid her child to sleep in the village tavern that
the party came riding into the same place. Eliza was
standing by the window looking out in another direction when
Sam's quick eye caught a glimpse of her. Hailey and

(24:24):
Andy were two yards behind. At this crisis, Sam contrived
to have his hat blown off and uttered a loud
and characteristic ejaculation, which startled her at once. She drew
suddenly back. The whole train swept by the window round
to the front door. A thousand lives seemed to be
concentrated in that one moment. To Eliza. Her room opened

(24:45):
by a side door to the river. She caught her
child sprang down the steps towards it. The trader caught
a full glimpse of her just as she was disappearing
down the bank and throwing himself from his horse and
calling loudly on Sam and Andy. He was after her,
like a house after a deer. In that dizzy moment,
her feet to her scarce seemed to touch the ground,
and a moment brought her to the water's edge. Right

(25:07):
on behind they came and nerved with strength such as
God gives only to the desperate. With one wild cry
and flying leap, she vaulted sheer over the turbid current
by the shore on to the raft of ice beyond.
It was a desperate leap, impossible to anything but madness
and despair, and Haley, Sam and Andy instinctively cried out
and lifted up their hands as she did it. The

(25:30):
huge green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched
and creaked as her weight came on it, But she
stayed there not a moment. With wild cries and desperate energy,
she leaped to another and still another cake, stumbling, leaping, slipping,
springing upwards again. Her shoes are gone, her stockings cut
from her feet, while blood marked every step. But she

(25:51):
saw nothing, felt nothing till dimly, as in a dream,
she saw the Ohio side and a man helping her
up the bank. Yer brave gal. Now, whoever you are,
said the man with an oath. Eliza recognized the voice
and face for a man who owned a farm not
far from her old home. Oh, mister Simes, save me,

(26:11):
do save me, do hide me, said Eliza. Why what's this,
said the man. Why if tain't Shelby's Gal, my child,
this boy he'd sold him? There is his masses, said she,
pointing to the Kentucky shore. Oh, mister Simes, you've got
a little boy, so I have, said the man, as
he roughly but kindly drew her up the steep bank. Besides,

(26:35):
you're a right brave gal. I like grit wherever I
see it. When they had gained the top of the bank,
the man paused, I'd be glad to do something for you,
said he. But then there's nowhere I could take you.
The best I can do is to tell you to
go thar, said he, pointing to a large white house
which stood by itself off the main street of the village.
Go thar. They're kind folks. There's no kind of danger,

(26:58):
but they'll help you. They're up to all that sort
of thing. The Lord bless you, said Eliza earnestly. No occasion,
no casion in the world, said the man. What I've
done is of no account. Oh surely, sir, you won't
tell anyone go to thunder gal? What' you take a
feller for? In course not, said the man. Come now,
go along like a likely sensible gal as you are.

(27:20):
You've aarn't your liberty, and you shall have it for
all me. The woman folded her child to her bosom
and walked firmly and swiftly away. The man stood and
looked after her shelby. Now, maybe won't think this yard
the most neighborly thing in the world, but wants a
feller to do if he catches one of my gals
in the same fix, he's welcome to pay back. Somehow,

(27:40):
I never could see no kind of critter as strivin
and panting and trying to clear themselves with the dogs
after him and go again him. Besides, I don't see
no kind occasion for me to be hunter and catcher
for other folks either, So spoke this poor Heathenish Kentuckian,
who had not been instructed in his constitutional relations and

(28:01):
consequently was betrayed into acting in a sort of Christianized manner,
which if he had been better situated and more enlightened,
he would not have been left to do. Hailey had
stood a perfectly amazed spectator of the scene till Eliza
had disappeared up the bank. When he turned a blank
inquiring look on Sam and Andy. Lad are was a tolerable,

(28:22):
fair stroke of business, said Sam. The gal's got seven
devils in her, I believe, said Haley. How like a
wildcat she jumped? Well now, said Sam, scratching his head.
I hope mass Exkews is tryin' down our road. Don't
think I feel spry enough for dad. Are in no way?
And Sam gave a hoarse chuckle. You laugh, said the
trader with a growl. Lord bless you Massa. I couldn't

(28:44):
help it, now, said Sam, giving way to the long
pent up delight of his soul. She looked so curious,
a leapin' and springin' ice a crackin', only to hear
her plump her curb, chunk, curse flash spring, Lord, how
she goes it? And Sam and Andy laughed till the
tears rolled down their cheeks. I'll make your laugh t'other
side of your mouths, said the trader, laying about their

(29:05):
heads with his riding whip. Both docked and ran, shouting
up the bank, and were on their horses before he
was up. Good evening, Massa said Sam with much gravity.
I very much spect missus be anxious about Jerry Massa.
Haley won't want us no longer. Missus wouldn't hear our
ride in the critters over Lizzie's Bridge to night, And
with a facetious poke into Andy's ribs, he started off,

(29:27):
followed by the latter at full speed, their shouts of
laughter coming faintly on the wind end of chapter seven.
Dream Audio Books hopes you have enjoyed this program.