Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Original Edition | Liberty - Chapter 12

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet beecher Stowe,
Chapter twelve, select incident of lawful trade in Rama. There
was a voice heard, weeping and lamentation, and great mourning.
Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted

(00:20):
Jeremiah thirty one fifteen. Mister Haley and Tom jogged onward
in their wagon, each for a time absorbed in his
own reflections. Now the reflections of two men sitting side
by side are a curious thing, seated on the same seat,
having the same eyes, ears, hands, and organs of all sorts,

(00:41):
and having passed before their eyes the same objects. It
is wonderful what a variety we shall find in these
same reflections. As for example, mister Haley, he thought first
of Tom's length and breadth and height, and what he
would sell for if he was kept fat and in
good case till he got him into market. He thought

(01:01):
of how he should make out his gang. He thought
of the respective market value of certain supposititious men and
women and children who were to compose it, and other
kindred topics of the business. Then he thought of himself,
and how humane he was, that whereas other men chained
their nigger's hand and foot both. He only put fetters
on the feet and left Tom the use of his

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hands as long as he behaved well. And he sighed
to think how ungrateful human nature was, so that there
was even room to doubt whether Tom appreciated his mercies.
He had been taken in so by niggers whom he
had favored. But still he was astonished to consider how
good natured he yet remained. As to Tom, he was

(01:43):
thinking over some words of an unfashionable old book, which
kept running through his head again and again, as follows,
we have here no continuing city, but we seek one
to come. Wherefore God himself is not ashamed to be
called our God, for he hath prepared for us a city.
These words of an ancient volume, got up principally by

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ignorant and unlearned men, have through all time, kept up
somehow a strange sort of power over the minds of
poor simple fellows like Tom. They stir up the soul
from its depths and rouse, as with trumpet call courage, energy,
and enthusiasm, where before was only the blackness of despair.

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Mister Haley pulled out of his pocket sundry newspapers and
began looking over their advertisements with absorbed interest. He was
not a particularly fluent reader, and was in the habit
of reading in a sort of recitative half aloud by
way of calling in his ears to verify the deductions
of his eyes. In this tone, he slowly recited the

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following paragraph. Executors Sale Negroes agreeably to order of court,
will be sold on Tuesday, February twenty before the court
house door in the town of Washington, Kentucky. The following
negroes Hagar aged sixty, John aged thirty, Ben aged twenty one,

(03:08):
Saul age twenty five, Albert age fourteen, Sold for the
benefit of the creditors and heirs of the estate of
Jesse Blutchford, Samuel Morris, Thomas Flint Executors. This year I
must look at said he to Tom, for want of
somebody else to talk to. You. See, I'm going to
get up a prime gang to take down with you. Tom.

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It'll make it sociable and pleasant, like good company. Will
you know? We must drive right to Washington first and foremost,
and then I'll clap you into jail while I does
the business. Tom received this agreeable intelligence quite meekly, simply
wondering in his own heart how many of these doomed
men had wives and children, and whether they would feel
as he did about leaving them. It is to be confessed, too,

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that the naive, off hand information that he was to
be thrown into jail by no means produced an agreeable
impression on a poor fellow who had always prided himself
on a strictly, honest and upright course of life. Yes, Tom,
we must confess it was rather proud of his honesty,
poor fellow, not having very much else to be proud of.
If he had belonged to some of the higher walks

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of society, he perhaps would never have been reduced to
such straits. However, the day wore on, and the evening
saw Haley and Tom comfortably accommodated in Washington, the one
in a tavern and the other in a jail. About
eleven o'clock the next day, a mixed throng was gathered
around the court house steps, smoking, chewing, spitting, swearing, and

(04:38):
conversing according to their respective tastes and turns, waiting for
the auction to commence. The men and women to be
sold sat in a group apart, talking in a low
tone to each other. The woman who had been advertised
by the name of Hagar was a regular African in
feature and figure. She might have been sixty, but was
older than that by hard work and disease ease, was

(05:00):
partially blind and somewhat crippled with rheumatism. By her side
stood her only remaining son, Albert, a bright looking little
fellow of fourteen years. The boy was the only survivor
of a large family who had been successively sold away
from her to a southern market. The mother held on
to him with both of her shaking hands, and eyed

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with intense trepidation every one who walked up to examine him.
Don't be feared, Aunt Hagar, said the oldest of the men.
I spoke to mass Thomas about it. He thought he
might manage to sell you in a lot both together.
They needn't call me worn out yet, said she, lifting
her shaking hands. I can cook yet, and scrub and scour.

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I'm worth a mine. If I do come cheap, tell
him Dad, I you tell him, she added earnestly. Hailey,
here forced his way into the group, walked up to
the old man, pulled his mouth open and looked in
felt of his teeth, made him stand and straighten himself,
bend his back, and perform a various evil lucis to
show his muscles, and then passed on to the next

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and put him through the same trial. Walking up last
to the boy, he felt of his arms, straightened his
hands and looked at his fingers, and made him jump
to show his agility. He ain't quite to be sold
without me, said the old woman with passionate eagerness. He
and I goes in a lot together as real strom.
Yet massa and can do heaps o work. Heaps on it,

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massa on plantation, said Haley, with a contemptuous glance. Likely story,
And as if satisfied with his examination, he walked out
and looked and stood with his hands in his pocket,
his cigar in his mouth, and his hat cocked on
one side, ready for action. What think of em? Said
a man who had been following Haley's examination, as if
to make up his own mind from it. Well, said Haley, spitting,

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I shall put in I think for the youngerly ones
and the boy they want to sell the boy and
the old woman together, said the man. Find it a
tight Paul why she's an old rackabone. It's not worth
her salt. You wouldn't, then, said the man. Anybody be
a fool twould she's half blind, crooked with rheumatism, and

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foolish to boot some buys up. These are old critters,
and says there's a sight more awarenum than the body
to think, said the man reflectively. No gold tall, said Haley.
Wouldn't take her for present fact I've seen now. Wow,
tis kind of pity now not to buy her with
her son. Her heart seemed so solt on him. Suppose

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they flinger in cheap them. That's got money to spend
that our way, it's all well enough. I shall bid
off on that our boy for a plantation hand. Wouldn't
be bothered with her, no way, not if they'd give
her to me, said Haley. She'll take on, desperate, said
the man. Natalie, she will, said the trader coolly. The
conversation was here interrupted by a busy hum in the audience,

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and the auctioneer, a short, bustling important fellow, elbowed his
way into the crowd. The old woman drew in her
breath and caught instinctively at her son, keep close to
your mammy, Albert close. They'll put us up together, she said, Oh, mammy,
I'm afeared they won't, said the boy. They must, child,
I can't live no ways if they don't, said the

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old creature vehemently. The stentorian tones of the auctioneer calling
out to clear the way now announced that the sale
was about to commence. A place was cleared and the
bidding began. The different men on the list were soon
knocked off at prices which showed a pretty brisk demand
in the market. Two of them fell to Hayley. Come now, young,
un said the auctioneer, giving the boy a touch with

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his hammer. Be up and show your springs. Now put
us two up together together. Do please mass it, said
the old woman, holding fast to her boy. Be off,
said the man, gruffly, pushing her hands away. You come last, now,
darky spring, and with a word he pushed the boy
toward the block, while a deep, heavy groan rose behind him.

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The boy paused and looked back. There was no time
to stay, and, dashing the tears from his large, bright eyes,
he was up in a moment. His fine figure, alert limbs,
and bright face raised an instant competition and half a
dozen bids simultaneously met the ear of the auctioneer. Anxious,
half frightened, he looked from side to side as he

(09:18):
heard the clatter of contending bids. Now here, now there,
till the hammer fell. Hailey had got him. He was
pushed from the block toward his new master, but stopped
one moment and looked back when his poor old mother,
trembling in every limb, held out her shaking hands toward him.
Buy me, too massive, for the dear Lord's sake, buy me.

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I shall die if you don't. You'll die if I do.
That's the kink of it, said Haley. No, and he
turned on his heel. The bidding for the poor old
creature was summary. The man who had addressed Hailey, and
who seemed not destitute of compassion, bought her for a trifle,
and the spectators began to disperse. The poor victims of
the safe, who had been brought up in one place

(10:02):
together for years, gathered round the despairing old mother, whose
agony was pitiful to see. Couldn't they leave me one?
Massus Al has said I should have one? He did,
she repeated over and over in heart broken tones, thrust
into Lord aunt, Haga, said the oldest of the men, sorrowfully.
What good will it do? Said she, sobbing passionately. Mother, Mother, don't, don't,

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said the boy. They say you's got a good master.
I don't care. I don't care. Oh al, but oh
my boy, you's my last baby Lord? How can I
come take her off? Can't some of you? Said Haley dryly.
Don't do no good for her to go on? That
are we? The old men of the company, partly by
persuasion and partly by force, loosed the poor creature's last

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despairing hold, And as they led her off to her
new master's wagon, strove to comfort her. Now, said Haley,
pushing his three purchases together and producing a bun of handcuffs,
which he proceeded to put on their wrists, and fastening
each handcuff to a long chain, he drove them before
him to the jail. A few days saw Haley, with

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his possessions safely deposited on one of the Ohio boats.
It was the commencement of his gang, to be augmented
as the boat moved on by various other merchandise of
the same kind which he or his agent had stored
for him in various points along shore. The La Belle Riviere,
as brave and beautiful boat as ever walked the waters

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of her namesake River, was floating gaily down the stream
under a brilliant sky, the stripes and stars of Free
America waving and fluttering overhead. The guards crowded with well
dressed ladies and gentlemen, walking and enjoying the delightful day.
All was full of life, buoyant and rejoicing, all but
Haley's gang, who were stored with other freight on the

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lower deck, and who somehow did not seem to appreciate
their various privileges. As they sat in a knot talking
to each other in low tones, boys said Haley, coming
up briskly. Hope to keep up good heart, and are
cheerful now no sulks see keep stiff upper lit boys.
Do well by me, and I'll do well by you.

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The boys addressed responded the invariable Yes, massa for ages
the watchword of poor Africa, but it's to be owned.
They did not look particularly cheerful. They had their various
little prejudices in favor of wives, mothers, sisters, and children.
Seen for the last time, and though they that wasted

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them required of them mirth, it was not instantly forthcoming.
I've got a wife, spoke out the article enumerated as John,
aged thirty, and he laid his chained hand on Tom's knee.
And she don't know a word about this poor girl.
Where does she live? Said Tom? In a tavern a
piece down here? Said John. I wish now I could

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see her once more in this world, he added, poor John,
it was rather natural, And the tears that fell as
he spoke came as naturally as if he had been
a white man. Tom drew a long breath from a
sore heart and tried in his poor way to comfort him.
And overhead in the cabin sat fathers and mothers, husbands

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and wives, and merry dancing children moved around among them
like so many little butterflies, and everything was going on
quite easy and comfortable. Oh, Mamma, said a boy who
had just come up from below. There's a Negro trader
on board, and he's brought four or five slaves down there.
Poor creatures, said the mother, in a tone between grief

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and indignation. What's that, said another lady, Some poor slaves? Blow,
said the mother, and they got chains hu, said the boy.
What a shame to our country that such sights are
to be seen, said another lady. Oh there's great deal
to be said on both sides of the subject, said
a genteel woman who sat at her stateroom door sewing

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while her little girl and boy were playing round her.
I've been South, and I must say I think the
negroes are better off than they would be to be free.
In some respects, some of them are well off, I grant,
said the lady to whose remarks she had answered. The
most dreadful part of slavery, to my mind, is its
outrages on the feelings and affections, the separating of families,

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for example. That is a bad thing, certainly, said the
other lady, holding up a baby's dress she had just
completed and looking intently on its trimmings. But then, I
fancy it don't occur often. Oh it does, said the
first lady eagerly. I've lived many years in Kentucky and
Virginia both, and I've seen enough to make any one's

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heart sick. Suppose, ma'am, your two children there should be
taken from you and sold. We can't reason from our
feelings to those of this class of persons, said the
other lady, sorting out some worsteads on her lap. Indeed, ma'am,
you can know nothing of them, if you say so,
answered the first lady warmly. I was born and brought

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up among them. I know they do feel just as keenly,
even more so perhaps as we do. The lady said. Indeed,
yawned and looked out the cabin window, and finally repeated
for a finale the remark with which she had begun.
After all, I think they are better off than they
would be to be free. It's undoubtedly the intention of

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providence that the African race should be servants kept in
a low condition, said a grave looking gentleman in black,
a clergyman seated by the cabin door. Cursed be Canaan,
a servant of servants? Shall he be? The scripture says
note Genesis nine twenty five. This is what Noah says

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when he wakes out of drunkenness and realizes that his
youngest son, ham father of Canaan, has seen him naked.
I say, stranger, is that her? What that text means?
Said the tall man standing by, And doubtedly it pleased
Providence for some inscrutable reason to doom the race to
bondage ages ago, and we must not set up our

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opinion against that. Well, then we'll all go ahead and
buy up niggers, said the man. If that's the way
of providence, won't we, squire, said he, turning to Haley,
who had been standing with his hands in his pockets
by the stove and intently listening to the conversation. Yes,
continued the tall man. We must all be resigned to
the decrees of providence. Niggers must be sold and trucked

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round and kept under. It's what they's made for peers
like this yarrow of views, quite refreshing. Ain't a stranger,
said he to Haley. Never thought un said Haley. I
couldn't have said as much myself. I hain't no larnin'.
I took up the trade just to make a livin'.
If can't write, I calculated to pentant in time. You know,

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And now you'll save yourself the trouble, won't you, said
the tall man. See what is now to know a scripture?
If y'd only studied your Bible like this, y're good man,
ye might have known it before and saved ye a
heap of trouble. Ye could just have said, curse b
what's his name, and twould all have come right. And
the stranger, who was no other than the honest drover

(17:14):
whom we introduced to our readers in the Kentucky tavern,
sat down and began smoking, with a curious smile on
his long, dry face. A tall, slender young man with
a face expressive of great feeling and intelligence here broke
in and repeated the words all things, whatsoever ye would
that men should do unto you? Do ye even so

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unto them? I suppose? He added, that is scripture as
much as cursed be canaan, while it seems quite as
plain a text. Stranger, said John the drover to poor
fellows like us now, and John smoked on like a volcano.
The young man paused, looked as if he was going
to say more, when suddenly the boat stopped and the

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company made the usual steamboat rush to see where they
were landing. Both them are chaps Parsons, said John to
one of the men as they were going out. The
man nodded. As the boat stopped, a black woman came
running wildly up the plank, darted into the crowd, flew
up to where the slave gang sat, and threw her
arms round that unfortunate piece of merchandise before enumerate John,

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aged thirty, and with sobs and tears, bemoaned him as
her husband. But what needs tell? The story told too
oft every day told of heart strings rent and broken,
the weak, broken and torn for the prophet and convenience
of the strong. It needs not to be told. Every
day is telling it. Telling it too in the ear

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of one who is not deaf, though he be long silent.
The young man who had spoken for the cause of
humanity and God before, stood with folded arms, looking on
his scene. He turned and Haley was standing at his side.
My friend, he said, speaking with thick utter, And how
can you, how dare you carry on a trade like this?

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Look at those poor creatures here. I am rejoicing in
my heart that I am going home to my wife
and child. And the same bell, which is a signal
to carry me onward towards them, will part. This poor
man and his wife forever depend upon it, and God
will bring you into judgment for this. The trader turned
away in silence. I say, now, said the drover, touching

(19:25):
his elbow. There's differences in parsons, ain't there? Cause it
be Canaan. Don't seem to go down with us an,
does it? Haley gave an uneasy growl, And that are
aunt the worst, aunt, said John. Maybe it won't go
down with the lord neither when you come to settle
with him one of these days, as all on us must,
I reckon? Haley walked reflectively to the other end of

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the boat. If I make pretty handsomely on one or
two next gangs, he thought, I reckon, I'll stop off
this yard. It's really gettin dangerous. And he took out
his pocket book and began adding over his accounts, a
process which many gentlemen, besides mister Haley, have found a
specific for an uneasy conscience. The boat swept proudly away

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from the shore, and all went on merrily as before.
Men talked and loafed, and read and smoked, women sewed,
and children played, and the boat passed on her way.
One day, when she lay to for a while at
a small town in Kentucky, Haley went up into the
place on a little matter of business, Tom, whose fetters
did not prevent his taking a moderate circuit had drawn

(20:31):
near the side of the boat and stood listlessly gazing
over the railing. After a time he saw the trader
returning with an alert step, in company with a colored
woman bearing in her arms a young child. She was
dressed quite respectably, and a colored man followed her, bringing
along small trunk. The woman came cheerfully onward, talking as

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she came, with a man who bore her trunk, and
so passed up the plank into the boat. The bell rung,
the steamer whizzed, the engine groaned and coughed, and away
swept the boat down the river. The woman walked forward
among the boxes and bales of the lower deck, and
sitting down, busied herself with chirruping her baby. Hailey made
a turn or two about the boat, and then coming up,

(21:15):
seated himself near her and began saying something to her
in an indifferent undertone. Tom soon noticed a heavy cloud
passing over the woman's brow, and that she answered rapidly
and with great vehemence. I don't believe it. I won't
believe it. He heard her say, you just to fooling
with me if you won't believe it. Look here, said
the man, drawing out a paper. This year's the bill

(21:36):
of sale, and there's your master's name to it. And
I paid down good solid cash for it too, And
I can tell you so now. I don't believe Massa
would cheat me, so it can't be true, said the woman,
with increasing agitation. You can ask any of these men
here that can read right in here, he said to
a man that was passing by. Just read this ere,
won't you this? Youre gald won't believe me when I

(21:57):
tell her what tis why. It's a bill of say I,
signed by John Fosdick, said the man making over to you,
the girl Lucy and her child. It's all straight enough
for ought to see. The woman's passionate exclamations collected a
crowd around her, and the trader briefly explained to them
the cause of the agitation. He told me, I was
going down to Louisville to hire out his cook to

(22:19):
the same tavern where my husband works. That's what Massa
told me his own self. And I can't believe he
lied to me, said the woman. But he has sold you,
my poor woman, There's no doubt about it, said a
good natured looking man who had been examining the papers.
He has done it, and no mistake. Then it's no
account talking, said the woman, suddenly, growing quite calm and

(22:39):
clasping her child tighter in her arms. She sat down
in her box, turned her back round, and gazed listlessly
into the river. Gonna take it easy, after all, said
the trader. Gal's got grit messy. The woman looked calm
as the boat went on, and a beautiful, soft summer
breeze passed like a compassionate spirit over her head, the
gentle breeze that never inquires whether the brow is dusky

(23:02):
or fair, that it fans. And she saw sunshine sparkling
on the water in golden ripples, and heard gay voices
full of ease and pleasure talking around her everywhere, but
her heart lay as if a great stone had fallen
on it. Her baby raised himself up against her and
stroked her cheeks with his little hands, and, springing up

(23:23):
and down, crowing and chatting, seemed determined to arouse her.
She strained him suddenly and tightly in her arms, and slowly,
one tear after another fell on his wondering, unconscious face,
and gradually she seemed, and little by little, to grow
calmer and busied herself with tending and nursing him. The child,
a boy of ten months, was uncommonly large and strong

(23:46):
of his age, and very vigorous in his limbs. Never
for a moment still he kept his mother constantly busy
in holding him and guarding his springing activity. That's a
fine chat, said a man, suddenly stopping opposite to him,
with his hands in his pockets. How old is he?
Ten months and a half, said the mother. The man

(24:07):
whistled to the boy and offered him part of a
stick of candy, which he eagerly grabbed at and very
soon had in a baby's general depository to it his mouth.
Rumfellow said, the boy knows what's what, and he whistled
and walked on. When he had got to the other
side of the boat, he came across Haley, who was
smoking on top of a pile of boxes. The stranger

(24:28):
produced a match and lighted a cigar, saying, as he
did so, decent dish kind o wench he got round there, stranger,
Why I reckon? She is tolerable, fair, said Haley, blowing
the smoke out of his mouth. Taking her down south,
said the man. Haley nodded and smoked on plantation hand,
said the man. Well, said Haley, I'm fillin out in

(24:50):
order for plantation, and I think I shall put her in.
They telled me she was a good cook, and they
can use her for that or set her at cotton pickin'.
She's got the right for that. I looked at him,
sell well either way. Then Haley resumed his cigar. They
won't want the young un on the plantation, said the man.
I I shall sell him first chance of find, said Haley,

(25:12):
lighting another cigar. Suppose you'd be selling him tollible cheap,
said the stranger, mounting the pile of boxes and sitting
down comfortably. Don't know about that, said Haley. He's a
pretty smart, young and straight, fat, strong flesh as hard
as a brick. Very true, But then there's the bother
and expense of raisin nonsense, said Haley. Theyse are raised

(25:35):
as easy as any kind of critter there is going.
They ain't a bit more trouble than pups. This our
chap will be running all round in a month, and
I've got a good place for raisin. And I thought
of taking in a little more stock, said the man.
One cook lost to young'in last week got drowned in
the wash tub while she was a hangin out clothes,
and I reckon it would be well enough to set
her to raisin'. This are Haley and the stranger smoked

(25:58):
awhile in silence, they're seeming willing to broach the test
question of the interview. At last, the man resumed, you
wouldn't think of wanting more than ten dollars for that
our chap, Seeing you must get him off your hand anyhow,
Haley shook his head and spit impressively. I won't do
no ways, he said, and began his smoking again. Wow, stranger,

(26:20):
what will you take well? Now? Said Haley. I could
raise that our chap myself, or get him raised. He's uncommon,
likely and healthy, and he'd fetch one hundred dollars six
months hence, and in a year or two he'd bring
two hundred if I had him in the right spot.
I shan't take a cent less or fifty for him now, Oh, stranger,

(26:40):
that's ridiculous altogether, said the man. Fact said Haley, with
a decisive nod of his head. I'll give thirty for him,
said the stranger, but not a cent more. Now I'll
tell you what I'll do, said Haley, spitting again with
renewed decision. I'll split the difference and say forty five,
and that's the most I'll do. Well, agreed, said the man.

(27:04):
After an interval, none, said Hailey. Where do you land
at Louisville? Said the man. Louisville, said Haley. Er fair,
we get there about dusk. Chap will be asleep, all fair.
Get him off quickly, and no screaming happens. Beautiful, I
like to do everything quietly. I hates all kind of
agitation and flustered her, And so, after a transfer of
certain bills had passed from the man's pocket book to

(27:26):
the traders, he resumed his cigar. It was a bright,
tranquil evening when the boat stopped at the wharf at Louisville.
The woman had been sitting with her baby in her arms,
now wrapped in a heavy sleep, when she heard the
name of the place called out. She hastily laid the
child down in a little cradle formed by the hollow
among the boxes, first carefully spreading under it her cloak,

(27:48):
and then she sprung to the side of the boat
in hopes that among the various hotel waiters who thronged
the wharf. She might see her husband. In this hope,
she pressed forward to the front rails, and, stretching far
over them, strained her eyes intently on the moving heads
on the shore, and the crowd pressed in between her
and the child. Now's your time, said Hailey, taking the

(28:10):
sleeping child up and handing him to the stranger. Don't
wake him up and set him to crying now, It
would make the devil of a fuss with a gal.
The man took the bundle carefully and was soon lost
in the crowd that went up the wharf. When the boat,
creaking and groaning and puffing, had loosed from the wharf
and was beginning slowly to strain herself along, the woman
returned to her old seat. The trader was sitting there.

(28:33):
The child was gone. Why why? Where? She began in
bewildered surprise. Lucie said the trader, Your child's gone. You
may as well know it first as last. You see,
I knowed you couldn't take him down south, and I
got a chance to sell him to a first rate
family that'll raise him better than you can. The trader

(28:53):
had arrived at that stage of Christian and political perfection
which has been recommended by some preachers and politicians of
the North lately, in which he had completely overcome every
humane weakness and prejudice. His heart was exactly where yours, sir,
and mine, could be brought with proper effort and cultivation.
The wild look of anguish and utter despair that the

(29:16):
woman cast on him might have disturbed one less practiced,
but he was used to it. He had seen that
same look hundreds of times. You can get used to
such things, too, my friend, And it is the great
object of recent efforts to make our whole northern community
used to them, for the glory of the union. So
the trader only regarded the mortal anguish which he saw

(29:37):
working in those dark features, those clenched hands and suffocating breathings,
as necessary incidents of the trade, and merely calculated whether
she was going to scream and get up a commotion
on the boat, for like other supporters of our peculiar institution,
he decidedly disliked agitation. But the woman did not scream.

(29:57):
The shot had passed too straight and direct through the
heart for cry or tear. Dizzily, she sat down her
slack hands fell lifeless by her side. Her eyes looked straightforward,
but she saw nothing. All the noise and hum of
the boat, the groaning of the machinery mingled dreamily to
her bewildered ear, and the poor dumb stricken heart had

(30:19):
neither cry nor tear to show for its utter misery.
She was quite calm. The trader, who, considering his advantages,
was almost as humane as some of our politicians, seemed
to feel called on to administer such consolation as the
case admitted of. Ah know, this shower comes kind hard
at first, Lucy, said he. But such a smart, sensible

(30:42):
gal as you are won't give way to it. You see,
it's necessary and can't be helped. Oh, don't mass it, don't,
said the woman, with a voice like one that is smothering.
You're a smart wench Lucy, he persisted. I mean to
do well by ya and get y a nice place downriver,
and you'll soon get another husband such likely gal as you.

(31:04):
Oh massive, if you only won't talk to me now,
said the woman, in a voice of such quick and
living anguish that the trader felt that there was something
at present in the case beyond his style of operation.
He got up, and the woman turned away and buried
her head in her cloak. The trader walked up and
down for a time, and occasionally stopped and looked at her.
Takes it hard, rather, he soliloquized, but quiet though let

(31:28):
her sweat awhile she'll come right by and by. Tom
had watched the whole transaction from first to last, and
had a perfect understanding of its results. To him, it
looked like something unutterably horrible and cruel, because poor ignorant
black soul he had not learned to generalize and to
take enlarged views. If he had only been instructed by

(31:48):
certain ministers of Christianity, he might have thought better of
it and seen in it an every day incident of
a lawful trade, a trade which is the vital support
of an institution which an American vine note Doctor Joel Parker, Philadelphia,
Missus Stowe's note, Presbyterian Clergyman, seventeen ninety nine eighteen seventy three,
A friend of the Beecher family. Missus Stowe attempted unsuccessfully

(32:12):
to have this identifying note removed from the stereotype plate
at the first edition. End of note tells us has
no evils, But such as are inseparable from any other
relations in social and domestic life. But Tom, as we see,
being a poor ignorant fellow whose reading had been confined
entirely to the New Testament, could not comfort and solace

(32:33):
himself with views like these. His very soul bled within
him for what seemed to him the wrongs of the poor,
suffering thing that lay like a crushed reed on the boxes,
the feeling, living, bleeding yet immortal thing which American state
law coolly classes with the bundles and bales and boxes

(32:54):
among which she is lying. Tom drew near and tried
to say something, but she only grown Honestly, and with
tears running down his own cheeks, he spoke of a
heart of love in the skies, of a pitying Jesus,
and an internal home. But the ear was deaf with anguish,
and the palsied heart could not feel. Night came on night, calm,

(33:16):
unmoved and glorious, shining down with her innumerable and solemn
angel eyes twinkling, beautiful but silent. There was no speech,
no language, no pitying voice or helping hand. From that
distant sky. One after another, the voices of business or
pleasure died away. All on the boat were sleeping, and

(33:38):
the ripples at the prow were plainly heard. Tom stretched
himself out on a box, and there as he lay
he heard ever and anon, a smothered sob or cry
from the prostrate creature. Oh what shall I do? Oh Lord,
Oh good Lord, do help me? And so ever anon,

(34:00):
until the murmur died away in silence. At midnight, Tom
waked with a sudden start. Something black passed quickly by
him to the side of the boat, and he heard
a splash in the water. No one else saw or
heard anything. He raised his head. The woman's place was vacant.
He got up and sought about in vain. The poor

(34:21):
bleeding heart was still at last, and the river rippled
and dimpled, just as brightly as if it had not
closed above it. Patience, patience, ye, whose hearts swell indignant
at wrongs like these. Not one throb of anguish, not
one tear of the oppressed, is forgotten by the Man

(34:42):
of sorrows, the Lord of Glory, in his patient, generous
bosom he bears the anguish of a world. Bear thou
like him in patience and labor in love. For sure,
as he is God, the year of his redeemed shall come.
The trader waked up bright and early, and came out
to see to his live stock. It was now his

(35:05):
turn to look about in perplexity. Where live is that gal?
He said to Tom. Tom, who had learned the wisdom
of keeping counsel, did not feel called upon to state
his observations and suspicions, but said he did not know.
She surely couldn't have got off in the night at
any of the landings, for I was awake and on
the lookout whenever the boat stopped. I never trust these

(35:27):
are things to other folks. This speech was addressed to
Tom quite confidentially, as if it was something that would
be specially interesting to him. Tom made no answer. The
trader searched the boat from stem to stern, among boxes,
bales and barrels, around the machinery by the chimneys in vain. Now,
I say, Tom, be fair about you, he said, when

(35:50):
after a fruitless search, he came where Tom was standing.
You know something about it, now, don't tell me. I
know you do. I saw the gal stretched out here
about ten o'clock, and again at twelve, and again between
one and two and then at four she was gone,
and he was sleeping right there all the time. Now
you know something, you can't help it, well, Massa said Tom.

(36:12):
Towards morning, something brushed by me, and I kind of
half woke, and then I heard a great splash, and
then I Claire woke up, and the gal was gone.
That's all I knowned. The trader was not shocked nor amazed, because,
as we said before, he was used to a great
many things that you are not used to. Even the
awful presence of death struck no solemn chill upon him.

(36:35):
He had seen death many times, met him in the
way of trade, and got acquainted with him, and he
only thought of him as a hard customer that embarrassed
his property operations very unfairly. And so he only swore
that the gal was a baggage, and that he was devilish, unlucky,
and that if things went on in this way, he
should not make a cent on the trip. In short,

(36:56):
he seemed to consider himself an ill used man, decidedly.
But there was no help for it, as the woman
had escaped into a state which never will give up
a fugitive, not even at the demand of the whole
glorious union. The trader therefore sat discontentedly down with his
little account book and put down the missing body and
soul under the head of losses. He's a shocking creature,

(37:20):
isn't he, This trader so unfeeling? It's dreadful. Really. Oh,
but nobody thinks anything of these traders. They are universally despised,
never received into any decent society. But who, sir, makes
the trader who is most to blame, the enlightened, cultivated,
intelligent man who supports the system of which the trader

(37:44):
is the inevitable result, or the poor trader himself. You
make the public statement that calls for his trade, that
debauches and depraves him till he feels no shame in it?
And in what are you better than he? Are you
educated and he ignorant? You high? And he low? You refined?

(38:04):
And he coarse? You talented and he simple? In the
day of a future judgment, these very considerations may make
it more tolerable for him than for you. In concluding
these little incidents of lawful trade, we must beg the
world not to think that American legislators are entirely destitute
of humanity, as might perhaps be unfairly inferred from the

(38:27):
great efforts made in our national body to protect and
perpetuate this species of traffic. Who does not know how
our great men are outdoing themselves in declaiming against the
foreign slave trade. There are a perfect host of Clarkson's
and wilberforces. Note Thomas Clarkson seventeen sixty eighteen forty six

(38:49):
and William Wilberforce seventeen fifty nine eighteen thirty three, English
philanthropists and anti slavery agitators who help to secure passage
of the Emancipation Bill by Parliament in eighteen thirty three.
Clarkson's and wilberforces risen up amongst us on that subject
a most edifying to hear and behold. Trading negroes from Africa,

(39:11):
dear reader, is so horrid it is not to be
thought of. But trading them from Kentucky, that's quite another thing.
End of Chapter twelve. Dream Audio Books hopes you have
enjoyed this program.