The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-07-06
CONDENSED
CLASSICS
~
UNCLE TOMS
CABIN
~
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE
Condensation by
John kendrick Bangs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TT WAS in the days when African
slavery fiOurished under the free
- skies Of America. Evil times had
befallen the house of Shelby, and
pressing debt required the sacrifice Of
a portion Of the holdings Of the Ken
lucky planter In human chattels. On
Gle Tom instead Of the freedom that
had been promised him as the reward
Of lifetime of devoted service found
himself torn from wife, home and
children. transferred to the hands Of
an INSCRIPTIONS trader, and consigned
to the terr0r-ridden slave-markets of
the lower Mississippi. So trusted had
the black man been that numerous
avenues Of escape lay open to him.
OF one Of these, in the dead of winter,
over the ice-bound waters of the Ohio
river, by the underground" to San
dusky, and thence to freedom in Can
ada, the mulatto-girl Eliza, and her
son who had been sold at the same
time had availed themselves. But
TOMS fidelity to his master was too
strong, and fearing to involve him in
further difficulties he bravely faced
the miseries of the future.
II am in the Lords hands," said
he to those who tried to persuade him
to escape, land therc'l be the same
God there that there is here"
"Well, it's a nasty mean shame,
| h &C. CT
as he bade the old slave farewell.
'But remember-some day I'll come
down and buy you back"
The voyage down the Mississippi
with the slave-gang to which Tom was
attached was filed with scenes and
episodes of woe and tragedy, but Tom
found relief from sorrow in the COM
partnership Of a fellow-passenger, a
fairy.like little girl, full Of the smil-
ing spirit of play, who fascinated by
Toms unusual dexterity in the making
Of strange toys dear to the hearts of
children, chung to him as to an old
and beloved friend.
"Where are you COINS, TOMB" she
asked one day.
II dunno, Missy" said rom. "Reck-
on I'm gwine to be sold to somebody
but dunno who"
swell, my father can buy you," said
she, land I'll ask him to this very
day.
"Thank you, my little lady," smiled
Tom, gratefully.
And his little lady" she soon be
came, for the brave black won little
Eva's life back from the swirling wa
tiers of the Mississippi into which she
had fallen, and in sheer gratitude fol-
her deliverance the child's father, Au.
gustine st. Glare, bought him from
the trader.
The scene now changes to New Or
leans, where in beautiful home, in
daily comradeship with his little mis-
tress, Tom for time was happy. St
Clare, his new master, was kindly and
sympathetic, and while of an easy
going disposition dawning conscious
ness of the iniquity of slavery haG
come into his soul, consciousness
confirmed and accentuated by his dai
ly contemplation of the nobility Of
heart of the faithful Tom. Two year.
Of this unlocked for happiness passed
away, and once more Tom was face
to face with misfortune His flower
like little companion, growing daily
more and more fragile, herself in spite
Of her years envisaging and depressed
by the wickedness Of the system OF
slavery which not only destroyed the
souls Of the oppressed, but debaset
} the character of the oppressors, final
} " died. Heart-broken over his los:
st. Clare found comfort only in tn,
/ companionship of the equally heart
| broken Tom. and one day in a sud
! den surge Of gratitude he promised
the old man his freedom, but the ligh
Of Joy that shone in Toms face wher
} he heard the promise disconnected
: him.
"You haven't had such a bad tim,
: here that you should be SO glad {,
leave me-" he said sadly.
> 'Tain't leavin' ye, Marse st. Clare
aaid Tom, "it's bein' free that In
! a-joyin' In"
But 1t was not to be. The easy
h going nature Of st. Glare caused hin
to delay TOMS emancipation papers
and one night trying to separate tw
drunken brawlers intent upon killin
> each other st. Glare was himself stab
9 bed to death; and in the settlement
7 OF his estate Tom once more foun
himself at the auction-block.
;. Enter now one Simon Legree, a ma.
ter Of far different type from Shelb
:. and st. Glare. A brute. and a DRUM
y ard. A beast whose glance was an IL
u suit to wOmanhood. A fiend VIII
/. prided himself upon his infexible br,
tally, and with british satisfactio
. showed to all who would look, h
y knuckles calloused with the blows /
= = had inflicted upon the helpless. I
u '. him by virtue Of length Of purse fe
> Tom who now tasted the tragic Dire,