Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Original Edition | Liberty - Chapter 8

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet beecher Stowe,
Chapter eight, Eliza's Escape. Eliza made her desperate retreat across
the river just in the dusk of twilight. The gray
mist of evening, rising slowly from the river, enveloped her
as she disappeared up the bank, and the swollen current

(00:21):
and floundering masses of ice presented a hopeless barrier between
her and her pursuer. Hailey therefore slowly and discontentedly returned
to the little tavern to ponder further what was to
be done. The woman opened to him the door of
a little parlor covered with a rag carpet, where stood
a table with a very shining black oilcloth, sundry, lank,

(00:43):
high backed wood chairs with some plaster images in resplendent
colors on the mantel shelf, above a very dimly smoking grate,
a long hardwood settle extended its uneasy length by the chimney.
And here Haley sat him down to meditate on the
instability of human hopes and happiness in general. What did

(01:04):
I want with a little cuss? Now? He said to
himself that I should have got myself treat like a coon,
as I am this here way, And Haley relieved himself
by repeating over a not very select litany of imprecations
on himself, which, though there was the best possible reason
to consider them as true, we shall as a matter
of taste omit. He was startled by the loud and

(01:27):
dissonant voice of a man who was apparently dismounting at
the door. He hurried to the window by the land.
Is this all right? The nearest now to what I've
heard folks call providence? Said Haley. I do believe that
the oar's tom Locker Haley hastened. Out standing by the
bar in the corner of the room, was a brawny,
muscular man, full six feet in height and broad in proportion.

(01:51):
He was dressed in a coat of buffalo skin, made
with the hair outward, which gave him a shaggy and
fierce appearance, perfectly in keeping with the whole air of
his physiognomy. In the head and face, every organ and liniament,
expressive of brutal and unhesitating violence, was in a state
of the highest possible development. Indeed, could our readers fancy

(02:13):
a bulldog come unto man's estate, and walking about in
a hat and coat, they would have no unapt idea
of the general style and effect of his physique. He
was accompanied by a traveling companion, in many respects an
exact contrast to himself. He was short and slender, lithe
and catlike in his motions, and had appearing mousing expression

(02:36):
about his keen black eyes, with which every feature of
his face seemed sharpened into sympathy. His thin, long nose
ran out as if it was eager to bore into
the nature of things in general, his sleek, thin black
hair was stuck eagerly forward, and all his motions and
evolutions expressed a dry, cautious acuteness. The great man poured

(02:59):
out a big tumbrel half full of raw spirits, and
gulped it down without a word. The little man stood
tiptoe and, putting his head first to one side and
then the other, and snuffing considerably in the direction of
the various bottles, ordered at last a mint julip in
a thin and quivering voice, and with an air of
great circumspection. When poured out, he took it and looked

(03:20):
at it with a sharp, complaisent air, like a man
who thinks he has done about the right thing, and
hit the nail on the head and proceeded to dispose
of it in short and well advised SIPs. Well, now,
who'd a thought this yar luck had come to me? Why, Lucker,
how are you? Said Haley, coming forward and extending his
hand to the big man. The devil was the silver reply,

(03:43):
what brought you here? Haley? The mousing man who bore
the name of Marx, instantly stopped his sipping and poking
his head forward, looked shrewdly on the new acquaintance, as
a cat sometimes looks at a moving dry leaf or
some other possible object of pursuit. I say, Tom, this
airs the luckiest thing in the world. I'm in a
devil of a hobble, and you must help me out.

(04:06):
Ah like enough, grunted his complacant acquaintance. A body may
be pretty sure of that when you're glad to see him,
something to be made off em. What's the blow? Now
you've got a friend here, said Haley, looking doubtfully at
Marx partner. Perhaps, yes, I have here, Marx. Here's that

(04:26):
our fellow that I was in with in Natches, shall
be pleased with his acquaintance, said Marx, thrusting out a long,
thin hand like a raven's claw. Mister Haley, I believe
the same, sir, said Haley. And now, gentlemen, seeing as
we've met so happily, I think I'll stand up to
a small matter of a treat in this here parlor.
So now, old Coon, said he to the man at

(04:48):
the bar, Get us hot water and sugar, and cigars
and plenty of the real stuff, and we'll have a
blow out. Behold, then the candles lighted, the fire stimulated
to the burning point in the grate, and our three
worthies seated round a table well spread with all the
accessories to good fellowship enumerated. Before Haley began a pathetic

(05:09):
recital of his peculiar troubles, Locker shut up his mouth
and listened to him with gruff and surly attention. Marx,
who was anxiously and with much fidgeting compounding a tumbler
of punch to his own peculiar taste, occasionally looked up
from his employment, and, poking his sharp nose and chin
almost into Haley's face, gave the most earnest heed to

(05:32):
the whole narrative the conclusion of it appeared to amuse
him extremely, for he shook his shoulders and sides in silence,
and perked up his thin lips with an air of
great internal enjoyment. So then here you're fairly sewed up,
ain't you, he said? He it's neatly done too. This
yer young un business makes lots of troubles in the trade,

(05:54):
said Haley dolefully.

Speaker 2 (05:56):
If we could get a breed of gals that didn't
care now for their young unds, said Marx, tell you,
I think it would be about the greatest modern improvement
I knows on And Marx patronized his joke by a
quiet introductory sniggle.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
Just so, said Haley. I never couldn't see into it.
Young Uns's heaps of trouble to him. One would think
now they'd be glad to get clare on them, But
they aren't. And the more trouble young' is, and the
more good for nothing is gentle thing, the tighter they
sticks to him. Well, mister Haley, said Marx's past the
hot water. Yes, sir, you say as what I feel

(06:31):
that ours have now. I bought a gal once when
I was in the trade, a tight lightly Wench. She
was too, and quite considerable, but smart, and she had
a young un that was miserable, sickly, it had a
crooked back or something or other. And I just getting
a way to a man that thought he'd take his
chance raising on being it didn't cost nothing. Never thought

(06:51):
you know of the gal's taken on about it. But
lor you ought to see how she went on. Why,
really she did seem to me too, Valley, the more
cause twas sickly and cross and plagued her, and she
warn't making believe neither cried about it. She did and
looked around as if she'd lost every friend she had.
It really was droll to think, Aunt lord, there ain't

(07:13):
no end to women's notions. Well, jest so with me,
said Haley. Last summer down on Red River, I got
a gal traded off on me with a likely lookin
child enough, and his eyes looked as bright as yorn.
But come to look, I found him stone blind. Fact,
he was stone blind. Wow, you see, I thought there
warn't no harm in my just passing them along and

(07:35):
not saying nothin. And I've got him nicely swapped off
for a keg of whiskey. But come to get him
away from the gal. She was just like a tiger,
so twas before we started, and I hadn't got my
gang chained up. So what should she do? But up's
on a cotton bale like a cat catches a knife
from one of the deckhands. And I tell ye, she
made all fly for a minute till she saw twas

(07:56):
no use, and she just turns round and bitch's head first,
younger at all, into the river, went down plump. Never
raise bah, said Tom Locker, who had listened to these
stories with ill repressed disgust. Shiftless. Both on you, my gals,
don't cut on no such shines, I tell you. Indeed,

(08:17):
how do you help it? Said Marx briskly. Help it?
Why I buys a gal and if she's got a
young un to be sold, I just walks up and
puts my fist to her face and says, look here, now,
if you give me one word out of your head,
I'll smash your face in. I won't hear one word,
not the beginning of a word. I says to him, this,
you are young UN's mine and not yourn, and you've

(08:38):
no kind of business with it. I'm gonna sell it
first chance. Mind, you don't cut up none of your
shines about it, or I'll make you wish you'd never
been born. I tell you they sees it ain't no play.
When I gets hold, I makes em as what's his fishes?
And if one on em begins and gives a yelp, pye,
and mister Locker brought down his fist with a thump

(08:59):
that fully explained the hiatus that ours what you may
call emphasis, said Mars, poking Haley in the side and
going into another small giggle. Aunt Tom peculiar, I say, Tom,
I spect you make em understand for all niggers heads
as Woolley, they don't never have no doubt O your
meanin Tom. If he ain't the devil, Tom, here's his

(09:19):
twin brother. I'll say that for you. Tom received the
compliment with becoming modesty and began to look as affable
as was consistent as John Bunyan says, with his doggish nature. Haley,
who had been imbibing very freely of the staple of
the evening, began to feel a sensible elevation and enlargement
of his moral faculties, a phenomenon not unusual with gentlemen

(09:42):
of the serious and reflective turn under similar circumstances. Well, now, Tom,
he said, he really is too bad, as I always
have told you. You know, Tom, you and I used
to talk over these yard matters down Natchez, and I
used to prove to you that we made full of
much and was as well off for this our world

(10:03):
by treating on him well, besides keeping a better chance
for coming in the kingdom at last, when worse comes
to worst and there ain't nothing else left to get,
you know, bas said Tom. Don't I know, don't make
me too sick with any of our stuff. My stomach
is a little roud now. And Tom drank half a
glass of raw brandy, I say, said Haley, and leaning

(10:26):
back in his chair and gesturing impressively. I'll say this now.
I always meant to drive my trade so as to
make money, aunt, fust and foremost as much as any man.
But then trade ain't everything, and money ain't everything, because
we've all got souls. I don't care now who hears
me say it, and I think a cussined sight on it,
so I may as well come out with it. I

(10:48):
believe in religion, and one of these days when I
got matters tight and snug. I calculates to tend to
my soul and them our matters. And so what's the
use of doing any more wickedness than it's really no necessary?
Don't seem to me it's all prudent. Tend to your soul,
repeated Tom, contemptuously, take a bright look out to find

(11:09):
a soul in you? Save yourself any care on that score.
If the devil sifts you through a hare sieve, he
won't find one. Why Tom, you're cross, said Haley. Why
can't you take it pleasant now when a feller's talking
for your good? Stop that our jaw you're in there,
said Tom, gruffly. I can stand most any talk in yourn,

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but your pious talk that kills me right up. After all,
what's the odds between me and you? Tan't that you
care one bit more or have a bit more feeling?
It's clean sheer dog meanness, one to cheat the devil
and save your own skin. Don't I see through it?
And you're getting religion as you call it, after all,

(11:49):
is too pisin mean for any creator. Run up a
bill with the devil all your life and then sneak
out when pay time comes Bob. Come, come, gentlemen, I
say this isn't business, said Marx. There's different ways you know,
of looking at all subjects. Mister Haley is a very
nice man, no doubt, and has his own conscience. And Tom,
you have your ways, and very good ones too, Tom.

(12:12):
But quarreling, you know, won't answer no kind of purpose.
Let's go to business now, mister Haley, what is it
you want us to undertake to catch this yar gal?
The gal's no matter of mine. She's Shelby's. It's only
the boy. And I was a fool for buying the monkey.
You're generally a fool, said Tom gruffly. Come now, locker,
none of your huffs, said Marx, licking his lips. You see,

(12:35):
mister Haley's putting us in a way of a good job.
I reckon, Just hold still, these air arrangements is my forte?
This here gal, mister Haley, how is she? What is she? Well?
White and handsome, well brought up by Jin Shelby eight
hundred or thousand, and then made well on her, white

(12:56):
and handsome, well brought up, said Marx, his sharp eyes,
nose and mouth all alive with enterprise. Look here now,
locket a beautiful openin'. We'll do a business here on
our own account. We does the catchin. The boy, of course,
goes to mister Haley. We takes the gal to Orleans
to speculate on ain't beautiful. Tom, whose great heavy mouth

(13:17):
had stood ajar during this communication, now suddenly snapped it
together as a big dog closes on a piece of meat,
and seemed to be digesting the idea at his leisure.
You see, said Marx to Haley, stirring his punch as
he did so. You see, we has justices convenient at
all pants along shore. That does up any little jobs
in our line. Quite reasonable, Tom, He does the knockin

(13:39):
down an that are an. I come in all dressed up,
shinin' boots, everything first chop when the swearin's to be done.
You're a sea now, said Marx, in a glow of
professional pride. How I can tone it off. One day
I'm mister Trickham from New Orleans. Another day I'm just
come from my plantation on Pearl River, where I work
seven hundred niggers. Then again I come out a distant

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relation of Henry Clay or some old cock in Kentuck
talents is different. You know. Now Tom's roarer when there's
any thumpin or fightin to be done. But at line
he ain't good Tom, Ain't you see it? It don't
come natural to him. But Lord, if there's a feller
in the country that can swear to anything and everything
and put in all the circumstances and flourishes with a

(14:23):
long face and carrot through better, nick An, why I'd
like to see him. That's all I believe in my heart.
I could get along and snake through. Even if justices
were more particular than they is. Sometimes I rather wish
they was more particular. Twould be a heap more relish
an if they was more fun. You know, Tom Locker, who,

(14:43):
as we have made it appear, was a man of
slow thoughts and movements. Here interrupted Marx by bringing his
heavy fist down on the table so as to make
it all ring again. It'll do, he said, Lord, bless you, Tom.
You needn't break all the glasses, said Marx, save your
fe for the time and need but gentlemen and I
to come in for a share of the profits, said Haley.

(15:06):
Ain't it enough we catch the boy for you? Said Locker.
What do you want, well, said Haley. If I gives
you the job, it's worth something, say ten percent on
the profit's expenses paid now, said Locker, with a tremendous
oath and striking the table with his heavy fist. Don't
I know you, Dan Haley? Don't you think to come

(15:26):
it over me? Suppose Marks and I have taken up
the catch and trade just to accommodate gentlemen like you
and get nothing for ourselves, not by a long chalk.
We'll have the gal out and out and you keep quiet,
or you see, we'll have both. What's to hinder? And
you showed us the game. It's as free to us
as you, I hope if you or shall Be wants

(15:46):
to catch us, look where the Partridges was last year.
If you find them or us, you're quite welcome. Oh well,
certainly just let it go at that, said Haley, alarmed,
you catch the boy for the job. The allers did
trade far with me, Tom, and was up to your word.
You know that, said Tom. I don't pretend none of

(16:07):
your sniveling ways, but I won't lie in my counts
with the devil himself. What I says I'll do, I
will do you know that, Dan, Haley? Just so, just so,
I said so, Tom, said Haley. And if you'd only
promise to have the boy for me in a week,
at any point, you'll name that's all I want. But
it ain't all I want by a long jump, said Tom.

(16:28):
You don't think I did business with you down Natchez
for nothing. Haley, I've learned to hold an eel when
I catch him. You've got to fork over fifty dollars
flat down, or this child, don't start a peg. I
know you're why when you have a job in hand
that may bring a clean profit of somewhere about one
thousand or sixteen hundred? Why, Tom, you're on unreasonable? Said Haley. Yes,

(16:51):
And hasn't we business booked for five weeks to come
all we can do? And suppose we leaves all and
goes to bushwhacking round out of your young and finally
doesn't catch the gal, and Gal's allars is the devil
to catch once? Then would you pay us a cent?
Would you? I think I see you doing it, hug No,

(17:11):
No flap down your fifty. If we get the job
and it pays, I'll hand it back. If we don't
it's for our trouble. That's fire, ain't it. Marks certainly, certainly,
said Marx with a conciliatory tone. It's only a retaining fee,
you see, we lawyers, you know well, we must all
keep good natured, keep easy. You know. Tom'll have the

(17:33):
boy for you anywhere you'll name, won't you, Tom? If
I find them young and I'll bring him on to
Cincinnati and leave him at Granny Belcher's on the landing,
said Locker. Marx had got from his pocket a greasy pocketbook,
and taking a long paper from thence he sat down
and fixing his keen black eyes on it, began mumbling
over its contents. Barnes Shelby County Boy, Jim three hundred

(17:57):
dollars for him dead or alive words Dick and Lucy
Man and wife six hundred dollars, Wench Polly and two
children six hundred for her or her head. I'm just
running over our business to see if we can take
up this hour handily, locker, he said, after a pause.
We must set Adams and spring her on the track.
Of these are they've been booked some time. They'll charge

(18:22):
too much, said Tom. I'll manage that are they's young
in the business and must spect to work cheap, said
Marx as he continued to read. There's three on em,
easy cases, because all you got to do is to
shoot 'em or swear they shot. They couldn't, of course,
charge much for that them other cases, he said, Folding
the paper will bear putting off a spell. So now

(18:42):
let's come to the particulars Now, mister Haley, you saw
the sharkal when she landed? To be sure, plain as
I see you and a man helping on her up
the bank, said Locker. To be sure, I did, most likely,
said Marx. She's took in somewhere. But uh, where's a question, Tom,

(19:03):
what do you say? We must cross the river tonight,
no mistake, said Tom. But there's no boat about, said Marx.
The ice is running awfully, Tom, ain't it dangerous? Don't
know nothing about that. Only it's got to be done,
said Tom decidedly. Dear me, said Marx, fidgeting. It'll be,
I say, he said, walking to the window. It's dark

(19:25):
as a wolf's mouth. And Tom, the long and short
is you're scared marks, But I can't help that. You've
got to go. Suppose you want to lie by a
day or two to the gal's been carried on the
underground line up to Sandusky or so. Before you start.
Oh no, I ain't a green fraid, said Marx. Only
only what said Tom. Well about the boat, you see,

(19:46):
there ain't any boat. I heard the woman say there
was one coming along this evening, and that a man
was going to cross over in it neck or nothing.
We must go with him, said Tom. I suppose you
got good dogs, said Haley. First right, said Marx. But
what's the use you ain't got nothing on hers to
smell on? Yes I have, said Haley triumphantly. Here's her

(20:07):
shawl she left on the bed in a hurry. She
left her bonnet too. That our's lucky, said Locker Forkover.
Oh the dogs might damage the gal if they come
on her unwires, said Haley. That ours a consideration, said Marx.
Our dogs tore a feller half to pieces once down
a mobile before we get them off. Well, you see

(20:27):
for this sort that's to be sold for their looks.
Arrow won't answer you see, said Haley. I do see,
said Marx. Besides, if she's got took in, tain't no
go neither dogs. There's no account in these are up
states where these critters get tired. Of course, you can't
get on their track. They only does down in plantations,
where niggers when they runs, has to do their own

(20:49):
running and don't get no help. Well said Locker, who
had just stepped out to the bar to make some inquiries.
They say, the man's come with the boat, so Marx
that Worthy cast a rueful look at the comfortable quarters
he was leaving, but slowly rose to obey. After exchanging
a few words of further arrangement, Haley, with visible reluctance,

(21:10):
handed over the fifty dollars to Tom, and the Worthy
trio separated for the night. If any of our refined
and Christian readers object to the society into which this
scene introduces them, let us beg them to begin and
conquer their prejudices in time. The catching business, we beg
to remind them, is rising to the dignity of a

(21:31):
lawful and patriotic profession. If all the broad land between
Mississippi and the Pacific becomes one great market for bodies
and souls and human property retains the locomotive tendencies of
this nineteenth century, the trader and catcher may yet be
among our aristocracy. While this scene was going on at

(21:51):
the tavern, Sam and Andy, in a state of high felicitation,
pursued their way home. Sam was in the highest possible
feather expressed his exultation by all sorts of supernatural howls
and ejaculations, by divers odd motions and contortions of his
whole system. Sometimes he would sit backward with his face

(22:12):
to the horse's tail and sides, and then, with a
whoop in a Somerset, come right side up in his
place again, and, drawing on a grave face, begin to
lecture Andy in high sounding tones for laughing and playing
the fool Anon, slapping his sides with his arms, he
would burst forth in peals of laughter that made the
old woods ring as they passed. With all these evolutions,

(22:35):
he contrived to keep the horses up to the top
of their speed until between ten and eleven their heels
resounded on the gravel at the end of the balcony.
Missus Shelby flew to the railings, is that you, Sam?
Where are they? Master Hayley's Arrestin' at the tavern? He's
dreadful fatigue. Missus and Eliza Sam while She's Claire Cross Jordan,

(22:57):
as a body may say in the land a cane.
Why Sam, what do you mean? Said Missus Shelby, breathless
and almost faint, as the possible meaning of these words
came over her. While Missus the Lord he preserve ours
his own. Lizzy's done gone over the river into Howe,
as markably as if the Lord took her over in
a chart of fire and two hosses. Sam's vain of

(23:19):
piety was always uncommonly fervent in his mistress's presence, and
he made great capital of scriptural figures and images. Come
up here, Sam, said mister Shelby, who had followed on
to the Verandah, and tell your mistress what she wants.
Come Come, Emily, said he, passing his arm round her.
You were cold and all in shiver. You allow yourself

(23:40):
to feel too much, feel too much? Am I not
a woman a mother? Are we not both responsible to
God for this poor girl? My God lay not this
sin to our charge? What sin? Emily? You see yourself
that we have only done what we were obliged to.
There's an awful of guilt about it, though, said Missus Shelby.

(24:02):
I can't reason it away. Here, Andy, you nigger be alive,
called Sam under the veranda. Take these yar horses to
der barn, don't you hear? Masa colin Sam soon appeared
palm leaf in hand at the parlor door. Now, Sam
tell us distinctly how the matter was, said mister Shelby.
Where is Eliza? If you know well? Massa. I saw

(24:24):
her with my own eyes the crossin on the floatin ice.
She crossed most markably. It wasn't no less nor miracle.
And I saw a man help her up on the
high side, and then she was lost in the dusk. Sam,
I think this rather apocryphal. This miracle crossing on floating ice.
Isn't so easily done, said mister Shelby. Easy. Couldn't nobody

(24:46):
done it without the Lord? Why now, said Sam? Twis
just this your way? Mass Hayley and me and Andy.
We comes up to the little tavern by the river,
and I rides a leadle ahead. I's so zealous to
be Cotchin Lizzie that I couldn't hold in no way.
And when I comes by the tavern winder, sure enough
there she was right in plain sight. And they digging

(25:06):
on behind while I loses off my head and sings
out enough to raise the dead course Lizzie, she hires
and she dodges back when mass Haley he gone past
the door. And then I tell you she cleared out
the side door. She went down to the river bank.
Mass Haley he seed her and yelled out, and him
and me and Andy we took ard down. She come
to the river and there was the current running ten

(25:28):
feet wide by the shore and over t'other side, an ice,
a sawing and a jiggling up and down kinderess to
where a great island. We'd come right behind her, and
I thought my soul he'd got her, sure enough when
she can sitch a screeches, I never hearing. And there
she was clear on to the other side of the current,
on the ice, and then on she went, a screeching
and a jumpin'. The ice went crack swallop, cracking, chunkin'.

(25:53):
She bounding like a buck. Lord. The spring that our
gal's got in there ain't comin, I'm opinion. Missus Shelby
sat perfectly still, pale with excitement, while Sam told his story.
God be praised. She isn't dead, she said, But where
is the poor child. Now de Lord will provide, said Sam,

(26:14):
rolling up his eyes piously. As I've been a sayin
this year's a providence, and no mistake, as missus has
allers been a instructin on us. There's Oller's instruments rise
up to de Lord's will. Now, if t hadn't been
for me to day, she'd ha been took a dozen times.
Warn't it I started off to horses this year mornin',

(26:34):
an An kept him chasin till nigh dinner time. An
didn't I car massa haley night an five miles out
of the road this evenin', or else he'd come up, olyzzye,
as easy as a dog are to coon. These years
all providences. They are a kind of providences that you'll
have to be pretty sparing of, Master Sam. I allow

(26:55):
no such practices with gentlemen on my place, said mister Shelby,
with as much didness as he could command under the circumstances. Now,
there is no more use in making believe be angry
with a negro than with a child. Both instinctively see
the true state of the case through all attempts to
effect the contrary, and Sam was in no wise disheartened

(27:16):
by this rebuke, though he assumed an air of doleful
gravity and stood with the corners of his mouth lowered
in most penitential style. Mass is quite right, quite it
was ugly on me. There's no dispute, Indatar, And of
course Mass and Missus wouldn't encourage no such works. I'm
sensible of that. Are but a poor nigger like me's

(27:39):
may's intempted to act ugly sometimes when fellers will cut
up such shines asda are massa Haley. He ain't no gentleman,
no way. Anybody's been raised as I've been. Can't help
seeing Datar well, Sam, said Missus Shelby. As you appear
to have a proper sense of your errors, you may
go now and tell Aunt Chloe. She may get you

(28:00):
some of that cold ham that was left of dinner
to day. You and Andy must be hungry. Missus is
a heap too good for us, said Sam, making his
bow with alacrity and departing. It will be perceived, as
has been before, intimated that Master Sam had a native
talent that might undoubtedly have raised him to eminence and

(28:21):
political life, a talent of making capital out of everything
that turned up to be invested for his own especial
praise and glory, And having done up his piety and humility,
as he trusted to the satisfaction of the parlor, he
clapped his palm leaf on his head with a sort
of rakish, free and easy air, and proceeded to the
dominions of Aunt Chloe, with the intention of flourishing largely

(28:44):
in the kitchen. I'll speech ifa these yarneggers, said Sam
to himself. Now I've got a chance, Lord, I'll reel
it off to make em stare. It must be observed
that one of Sam's especial delights had been to ride
in attendance on his master to all kinds of political gatherings,
where roosted on some rail fence or perched aloft in

(29:06):
some tree, he would sit watching the orators with the
greatest apparent gusto, and then descending among the various brethren
of his own color assembled on the same errand he
would edify and delight them with the most ludicrous burlesques
and imitations, all delivered with the most imperturbable earnestness and solemnity.
And though the auditors immediately about him were generally of

(29:28):
his own color. It not infrequently happened that they were
fringed pretty deeply with those of a fair complexion who listened,
laughing and winking to Sam's great self congratulation. In fact,
Sam considered oratory as his vocation and never let slip
an opportunity of magnifying his office. Now, between Sam and

(29:49):
Aunt Chloe there had existed from ancient times a sort
of chronic feud, or rather a decided coolness. But as
Sam was meditating something in the provision department as the
necessary and obvious foundation of his operations, he determined on
the present occasion to be eminently conciliatory. For he well
knew that although missus orders would undoubtedly be followed to

(30:12):
the letter, yet he should gain a considerable deal by
enlisting the spirit also. He therefore appeared before Aunt Chloe
with a touchingly subdued, resigned expression, like one who has
suffered immeasurable hardships in behalf of a persecuted fellow creature,
enlarged upon the fact that Missus had directed him to
come to Aunt Chloe for whatever might be wanting to

(30:34):
make up the balance in his solids and fluids and
thus unequivocally acknowledged her right and supremacy in the cooking department,
and all thereto pertaining the thing took accordingly. No poor, simple,
virtuous body was ever cajoled by the attentions of an
electioneering politician. With more ease than aunt. Chloe was won

(30:54):
over by Master Sam suavities, And if he had been
the prodigal son himself, he could could not have been
overwhelmed with more maternal bountifulness. And he soon found himself seated,
happy and glorious over a large tin pan containing a
sort of oya podrida. Of all that had appeared on
the table for two or three days past, savory morsels

(31:15):
of ham, golden blocks of corn cake, fragments of pie,
of every conceivable mathematical figure, chicken wings, gizzards, and drumsticks
all appeared in picturesque confusion, and Sam, as monarch of
all he surveyed, sat with his palm leaf cocked rejoicingly
to one side and patronizing andy at his right hand.

(31:36):
The kitchen was full of all his compeers, who had
hurried and crowded in from the various cabins to hear
the termination of the day's exploits now was Sam's hour
of glory. The story of the day was rehearsed with
all kinds of ornament and varnishing which might be necessary
to heighten its effect. For Sam, like some of our
fashionable dilettanti, never allowed a story to lose any of

(31:58):
its gilding by passing through his hands. Roars of laughter
attended the narration and were taken up and prolonged by
all the smaller fry, who were lying in any quantity
about on the floor or perched in every corner in
the height of the uproar and laughter. Sam, however, preserved
an immovable gravity, only from time to time, rolling his

(32:20):
eyes up and giving his auditors divers inexpressibly droll glances,
without departing from the sententious elevation of his oratory. You see,
fellow countrymen, said Sam, elevating a turkey's leg with energy.
Yer see now what deare child upter for fendin'yer? All, yes,
all on yer. For him as tries to get one

(32:42):
of our people is as good as trying to get
all You see the principles same Deadire's Claire in any
one of these air drivers that comes smellin round outter
any our people. Why he's got me in his way.
I'm the feller. He's got to set in with. I'm
the feller for y all to come to Bredon. I'll
stand up for your rights. I'll fend em to the

(33:02):
last breath. Why but Sam, you'd telled me only this
mornin that you'd help this our master to catch Lizzie.
Seems to me your talk don't hang together, said Andy.
I tell you now, Andy, said Sam, with awful superiority.
Don't yer be talkin bout what yer don't know nothin
on boys like you, Andy means well, but they can't
be spected to callucinate of great principles of action. Andy

(33:25):
looked rebuked, particularly by the hard word callucinate, which most
of the youngerly members of the company seemed to consider
as a settler in the case. While Sam proceeded, tad
Ire was conscience, Andy, when I thought of gwine Arter's Lizzie,
I rarely spected masser was sought that way. When I
found Missus was sought the contrary, tad Ire was conscience more. Yet,

(33:49):
kus Feller's ours gets more by stickin to missus side.
So you see as persistent either way, an sticks up
to conscience and holds on to principles. Yes, principles, Sam
giving an enthusiastic toss of a chicken's neck. What's principles
good for? If we isn't persistent? I want to know, there, Andy,
you may have died. Our bone tain't picked up clean.

(34:12):
Sam's audience hanging on his words with open mouth, he
could not but proceed this here matter about persistence, fellow niggers,
said Sam, with the air of one entering into an
abstruse subject. This your assistancy, sing, what ain't seed into
very clear by most people. Now you see when a
feller stands up for a thing one day and night

(34:32):
to contrary to next folks says, and naturally enough day
says why he ain't persistent? Hanm me do our a
bit of corn cake? Andy, But let's look into it.
I hope the gentleman under fair sex will excuse my
usin an ordinary sort of parson. Here, I'm a trying
to get a topper to hay well, I puts up

(34:53):
my larder. This your side tain't no go then? Because
I don't try there no more? But puts my larder
right the corntraerside. Ain't I persistent? I'm persistent in want
to get up? Which I re sighed my ldder is,
don't you see all on yer? It's the only thing
you ever was persistent in, Lord Knows, muttered Aunt Chloe,

(35:13):
who was getting rather restive, the merriment of the evening
being to her somewhat after the scripture comparison like vinegar
upon kniter. Yes, indeed, said Sam, rising full of supper
and glory for a closing effort. Yes, my feller, citizens
and ladies are the allier saxon general. I has principles.
I'm proud to n em. They'se persequit to these, to

(35:36):
your times, aunt Ter. All times I has principles, and
I sticks to em like forty Just anything that I
thinks as principles, I goes inter it. I wouldn't mind
if they burnt me live. I'd walk right up to
the stake, I would and say, here I comes to
shed my last blood for my principles, for my country,
for general interest the society. Well said Aunt Chloe. One

(36:00):
of your principles will have to be to get to
bed some time to night. And not to be keepin
everybody up till mornin. Now, every one of you young
uns that don't want to be cracked, it'd better be scarce,
mighty sudden niggers, all O yer, said Sam, waving his
palm leaf with benignity. I give yer my blessin. Go
to bed now and be good boys. And with this

(36:22):
pathetic benediction, the assembly dispersed. End of Chapter eight. Dream
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