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O, George, we must have faith. Mistress says that when all things go wrong to us, we must believe that God is doing the very best. Thats easy to say for people that are sitting on their sofas and riding in their carriages; but let em be where I am, I guess it would come some harder. I wish I could be good; but my heart burns, and cant be reconciled, anyhow. You couldnt in my place,you cant now, if I tell you all Ive got to say. You dont know the whole yet. What can be coming now? Well, lately Masr has been saying that he was a fool to let me marry off the place; that he hates Mr. Shelby and all his tribe, because they are proud, and hold their heads up above him, and that Ive got proud notions from you; and he says he wont let me come here any more, and that I shall take a wife and settle down on his place. At first he only scolded and grumbled these things; but yesterday he told me that I should take Mina for a wife, and settle down in a cabin with her, or he would sell me down river. Whybut you were married to me, by the minister, as much as if youd been a white man! said Eliza, simply. Dont you know a slave cant be married? There is no law in this country for that; I cant hold you for my wife, if he chooses to part us. Thats why I wish Id never seen you,why I wish Id never been born; it would have been better for us both,it would have been better for this poor child if he had never been born. All this may happen to him yet! O, but master is so kind! Yes, but who knows?he may dieand then he may be sold to nobody knows who. What pleasure is it that he is handsome, and smart, and bright? I tell you, Eliza, that a sword will pierce through your soul for every good and pleasant thing your child is or has; it will make him worth too much for you to keep. The words smote heavily on Elizas heart; the vision of the trader came before her eyes, and, as if some one had struck her a deadly blow, she turned pale and gasped for breath. She looked nervously out on the verandah, where the boy, tired of the grave conversation, had retired, and where he was riding triumphantly up and down on Mr. Shelbys walking-stick. She would have spoken to tell her husband her fears, but checked herself. No, no,he has enough to bear, poor fellow! she thought. No, I wont tell him; besides, it ant true; Missis never deceives us. So, Eliza, my girl, said the husband, mournfully, bear up, now; and good-by, for Im going. Going, George! Going where? To Canada, said he, straightening himself up; and when Im there, Ill buy you; thats all the hope thats left us. You have a kind master, that wont refuse to sell you. Ill buy you and the boy;God helping me, I will! O, dreadful! if you should be taken? I wont be taken, Eliza; Ill die first! Ill be free, or Ill die! You wont kill yourself! No need of that. They will kill me, fast enough; they never will get me down the river alive! |
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