The St. Charles herald., 1921-07-23
CONDENSED
CLASSICS
~
UNCLE TOMS
CABIN
~.
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
Condensation by
HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE
Condensation by
John kendrick Bangs

slavery fiourished under the free
skies Of America. Evil times had
befallen the house Of Shelby, and
pressing debt required the sacrifice Of
q portion of the holdings Of the. Ken
lucky planter in human chattels. Un-
Gle Tom instead of the freedom that
had been promised him as the reward
Of a lifetime of devoted service found
himself torn from wife, home and
children, transferred to the hands Of
an INSCRIPTIONS trader, and consigned
to the terror-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.
"I am in the Lords hands," said
he to those who tried to persuade him
to escape, "and there'l be the same
God there that there is here"
"Well, it's a nasty mean shame
Tom !" sobbed his masters son George
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 filled with scenes and
episodes Of woe and tragedy, but Tom
found relief from sorrow in the com
panionship of a fellow-passenger. 9
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, clung to him as to an ole
and beloved friend.
"Where are you going, NTomT sht
asked one day.
81 dunno, Missy" said rom. "Reck
Oh I'm gwine to be sold to somebod!
but I dunno who"
swell, my father Gun buy you" sail
she, "and IN ask him to this yer.
day.
"Thank you, my little lady," smile'
Tom, gratefully.
| And his 'Iittle lady" she soon be
came, for the brave black won littl'
Eva's life back frcm the swirling wa
ters Of the Mississippi into which sh'
had fallen, and in sheer gratitude 10
| her deliverance the child's father, Au
gustine st. Clare, bought him from
| the trader.
The scene now changes to New Or
leans, where in beautiful home. II
daily comradeship with his little mis-
tress, Tom for time was happy. 81
Glare, his new master, was kindly AM
sympathetic, and while Of an easy
going disposition a dawning conscious
ness Of the iniquity Of slavery ha'
come into his soul, a consciousness
confirmed and accentuated by his dai
" contemplation Of the nobility o
heart of the faithful Tom. Two year
/ Of this unlocked for happiness passe'
away, and once more Tom was fac
! to face with misfortune. His flower
like little companion, growing dali
more and more fragile, herself in spit
Of her years envisaging and depresse
by the wickedness Of the system 0
slavery which not only destroyed tn
souls Of the oppressed, but debase
the character of the oppressors, final
" died. Heart-broken over his los
st. Clare found comfort only in tn
companionship Of the equally hear
broken Tom, and one day in sue
den surge Of gratitude he promise
the old man his freedom, but the ligh
of Joy that shone in Toms face whe
he heard the promise disconcerte
him.
! "You haven't had such a bad tim
here that you should be so glad I
/ leave me-" he said sadly.
Tatn't leaV1n' We, MarSc SC. CIdIe'
said Tom, ''it's bein' free that II
a-joyin' in"
! But it was not to be. The cas-!
going nature Of st. Clare caused hi
to delay Toms emancipation paper
and one night trying to separate tw
drunken brawlers intent upon KILN
each other st. Glare was himself stal
bed to death; and in the settlemer
Of his estate Tom once more f0un
himneH at the auction-block.
Enter now one Simon Legree, a ma
ter Of far different type from Shelb
and st. Clare. A brute, and a drunl
ard. A beast whose glance was an u
suit to womanhood. A fiend wh
prtded himself upon his inflexible br'
tality, and with british satisfactio
showed to all who would look, b
knnckles calloused with the blows t
hail inflicted upon the helpless. I
/ him by virtue of length Of purse fe
/ Ium who now tasted the tragic dref
Of the cup Of slavery. The mantle.
contrast between his own Grass br'
! tality and the high-minded characts
| Of his chattel aroused the envior
wrath Of his new owner, who e.
deavored by every wicked expediel
Epossible to break Toms spirit, and n