NEGRO LIFE IN AMERICA. 25

“Only hear that!” “Jest think on't!” “Is all that a comin’ sure
enough ?’

George, who was a bright boy, and well trained in religious
things by his mother, finding himself an object of general admi-
ration, threw in expositions of his own, from time to time, with a
commendable seriousness and gravity, for which he was admired
by the young and blessed by the old; and it was agreed, on all
hands, that a “minister couldn’t lay it off better than he did ;”
that “ ’t was reely ’mazin’ !”

Uncle Tom was a sort of patriarch in religious matters in the
neighbourhood. Having, naturally, an organisation in which the
morale was strongly predominant, together with a greater breadth
and cultivation of mind than obtained among his companions, he
was looked up to with great respect, as a sort of minister among
them; and the simple, hearty, sincere style of his exhortations
might have edified even better educated persons. But it was in
prayer that he especially excelled. Nothing could exceed the
touching simplicity, the child-like earnestness of his prayer, en-
riched with the language of Scripture, which seemed so entirely
to have wrought itself into his being as to have become a part of
himself, and to drop from his lips unconsciously ; in the language
of a pious old negro, he “ praye right up.” And so much did his
prayer always work on the devotional feelings of his audiences, that
there seemed often a danger that it would be lost altogether in the
abundance of the responses which broke out everywhere around
him.

 

While this scene was passing in the cabin of the man, one quite
otherwise passed in the halls of the master.

The trader and Mr. Shelby were seated together in the dining-
room afore-named, at a table covered with papers and writing:
utensils.

Mr. Shelby was busy in counting some bundles of bills, which,
as they were counted, he pushed over to the trader, who counted
them likewise.

“‘ All fair,” said the trader, ‘‘ and now for signing these yer.”

Mr. Shelby hastily drew the bills of sale towards him, and
signed them, like a man that hurries over some disagreeable busi-
ness, and then pushed them over with the money. Haley pro-
duced, from a well-worn valise, a parchment, which, after looking
over it a moment, he handed to Mr. Shelby, who took it with a
gesture of suppressed eagerness. |

“ Wal, now the thing’s done!” said the trader, getting up.

“ Tt’s done!” echoed Mr. Shelby, in a musing tone; and,
fetching a long breath, he repeated, “It's done "

«“ Yer don’t seem to feel much pleased with it, ‘pears to me,”
said the trader.

GCC