6 UNCLE TOM’S CABIN; oR,

company. Perhaps you laugh - too, dear reader; but you know
humanity comes out in‘a variety of strange forms now-a-days, and

o

a iS no end to the odd things that humane people will say
and do.

Mr. Shelby’s laugh encouraged the trader to proceed.

“It's strange. now, but I never could beat this into people's
heads. Now, there was Tom Loker, my old partner, deen in
Natchez. He was a clever fellow, Tom was, only the very devil
with niggers—on principle ‘twas, you see, for a better-hearted
feller never broke bread—'twas his system, sir. | used to talk to
Tom. * Why, Tom,’ I used to say, ‘ when your gals takes on and

on ‘em round? It’s ridiculous,’ says I, ‘and don’t do no sort o’
good. Why, I don’t see no harm in their cryin’, says I; ‘it
is natur,’ says I; ‘and if natur can’t blow off one way it will
another. Besides Tom,’ says I, ‘it jest spiles your gals; they
get sickly and down in the mouth, and sometimes they gets ugly
—particular yellow gals do—and it’s the devil and all gettin’ on ‘em
broke in. Now,’ says I, ‘why can’t you kinder coax ‘em up, and
speak ’em fair? Depend on it, Tom; a little humanity thrown in
along goes a heap further than all your jawin’ and crackin’; and
it pays better,’ says I, ‘depend on’t.’ But Tom couldn’t get the
hang on't, and. he spiled so many for me that I had to break off
with him, though he was a good-hearted fellow, and as fair a
business-hand as is goin’.” |

“And do you find your ways of managing do the business better
than Tom’s?” said Mr. Shelby.

“Why yes, sir, I may say so. You see, when I any ways can, I
takes a leetle care about the onpleasan’ parts, like selling young
uns and that—get the gals out of the way—out of sight out of
mind, you know; and when it’s clean done, and can’t be helped,
they naturally gets used toit. ‘Tant, you know, as if it was white
folks, that’s brought up in the way of ‘spectin’ to keep their
children and wives, and all that. Niggers, you know, that’s
fetched up properly, ha'n’t no kind of ’spectations of no kind; so
all these things comes easier.”

“T’m afraid mine are not properly brought up, then,” said Mr.
Shelby. |

“S'pose not. You Kentucky folks spile your niggers. You
mean well by ’em, but ’taint no real kindness, arter all. Now, a
nigger, you see, what’s got to be hacked and tumbled round the
world, and suld to Tom, and Dick, and the Lord knows who,
‘tan’t no kindness to be givin’ on him notions and expectations
and bringin’ on him up too well, for the rough and tumble comes
all the harder on him arter. Now, I venture to say, your niggers

tion niggers would be singing and whooping like all possessed.
Every man, you know, Mr, Shelby, naturally thinks well of his