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60 UNCLE TOM’S CABIN; OR,

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 lawful and patri-
otic profession. If all the broad land between the Mississippi and
the Pacific becomes one great market for bodies and souls, and
human property retains the locomotive tendencies of this nine-
teenth century, the trader and catcher may yet be among our
aristocracy.

While this scene was going on at the tavern, Sam and Andy, in
a state of high felicitation, pursued their way home.

Sam was in the highest possible feather, and expressed his
exultation by all sorts of supernatural howls and ejaculations, by
divers odd motions and contortions of his whole system. Some-
times he would sit backward, with his face to the horse’s tail and
sides, and then, with a whoop and 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, 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. Mrs. Shelby flew to
the railings.

“Is that you, Sam? Where are they ?”

‘“Mas’r Haley’s a-restin’ at the tavern; he’s drefful fatigued,
missis.”

“ And Eliza, Sam ?”

“Wal, she’s clar ’cross Jordan—as a body may say, in the
land o’ Canaan.”

‘‘Why, Sam, what do you mean!” said Mrs. Shelby, breathless,
and almost faint, as the possible meaning of these words came
over her.

“Wal, missis, de Lord he presarves his own. Lizy’s done
gone over the river into ’Hio, as ’markably as if de Lord took her
over in a charrit of fire and two hosses.”

Sam’s vein of 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 Mr. 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 are cold,
and all in a shiver; you allow yourself 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.”

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