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    August 14, 1852. THE STAB OF FREEDOM. 13

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    LITERATURE.

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    J:sUxcle Tom's Cabin; or Negko Life amox...

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    August 14, 1852. The Stab Of Freedom. 13

    August 14 , 1852 . THE STAB OF FREEDOM . 13

    Literature.

    LITERATURE .

    J:Suxcle Tom's Cabin; Or Negko Life Amox...

    J : sUxcle Tom ' s Cabin ; or Negko Life amoxg tub Slvpe I States op America . By Harriet Beecher Stowe . London < George JRoutledge , Earrmgdon-street . " God of all right , how long Shall priestly robbers at thine altar stand , Lifting in prayer to thee the bloody hand And haughty brow of wrong ? Hoarse , horrible ,, and strong , Rises to Heaven that agonizing cry , Filling the arches of the hollow sky , How ioxg , Oh God , how loxg ?''

    "Must we be told that Freedom stands On Slavery ' s dark foundations strong-On breaking hearts and fettered hands , On robbery , and crime , and wrong ? That all our fathers taught is vain—That Freedom ' s emblem is the chain ?" " Speak out in acts , the time forwards Has passed , and deeds alone suffice In the loud clang of meeting swords , ' The softer music dies ! Act ! act in God ' s name while ye may Smite smite

    J the nation ' s leprous limb ! Throw open to the light of day The bondsman ' s cell , and break away The chains the State has bound on him . " Th tjs sing's the American poet Whittier , whose brave and vehement heart hursts the garb of quakerdom , and shows the living- man , and the true warrior in the cause of humanity , whenever lie sings about slavery , while his splendid thoughts rush from his rmnd like bolts of steel welded white-hot in a sevenfold-heated furnace . Then there is Longfellow , whose

    p leadings for the oppressed negro slave are as the sweet and holy voice of a sister . And Lowell , whose bright wit , and genuine Yankee humour , play havoc with the cause of the slaveholders . The sharp and barbed arrows of his sarcasm and scorn stick irremovabl y in the wounds winch they inflict on the hydra-headed beast . And with these are joined a brave company of heroic hearts and noble natures , who speak with tongues of tire in speech and song , and carry on the battle of freedom with a zeal and bravery worthy of the grand old pilgrim fathers . They are encircling the walls of tins hideous tyranny , which are doomed to fall before them as surely as the walls of Jericho before the Israelitish

    warriors oi old . In this brave hand the honoured names of Garrison and Townshend , Giddings and Loavitt , Perry and Clapp , Pollen and . Douglass , and a thousand others deserve warm mention of us , and the eternal thanks of mankind . Honour to yon and blessings on you , dear brothers , for your gallant strife in the cause of ' the poor crushed slave ! Thanks , the heart ' s best and proudest thanks , to you for nursing the old pilgrim spirit and keeping alive in your hearts the old heroic fire , and proclaiming in your deeds the old Saxon hatred of slavery .

    we are proud to welcome the authoress of " Uncle Tom ' s Cabin" as a great and worthy champion in a great and worthy cause . " Uncle Tom ' s Cabin" is a book which strong men will read with weeping eyes . It will call the blood up hot from the heart , and make it run red lava through the veins . It is a terrible book—terrible in the awful Dantean distinctness with which it depicts the workings of the slavery-curse . It is a true book ; true , in being of the right " grit" and grain . It is a beautiful book ; beautiful , in its tearful tenderness ; and what marvellous smiting tenderness

    it has ! it must make the waters of kindness gush from the rockiest heart . What a bright and beautiful creation is that spirit-child , Eva St . Clair 1 one of those beings who , like a smile of sunshine , seem to visit the earth under some heavenly promise that will not stay long . Sweet rainbow of the storm that glitters upon us through falling tears ! And then what glancing lights of negro mirth , which seem to make the gloom of slavery more horrible , as the lightning reveals the darkness of night ! We have nothing but thanks for the woman who can witch the world with such a love for the

    " nigger as she makes ns feel for " Uncle Tom , " and who drops such a crown of g lory on the dark and branded brow . In reviewing this book , criticism mil run into eulogy . We do not marvel at the extraordinary success it has had in America , and we trust it will have as large a sale in England . Everybody should read it . ' It will be impossible to do justice to it in extracts . But , who will not buy it for one shilling ? Here , however , are a few specimens : — THE HUMANE (!) SLAY EDE ALEX .

    " * These critters an ' t like white folks you know ; they gets over things , only manage right . Now , they say , ' said Haley , assuming a candid and confidential air , ' that this kind o' trade is hardening to the feelings ; but I never found it so . Fact is , I never could do things up the way some fellers manage the business . I ' ve seen ' em as would pull a woman ' s child out of her arms , and set him up to sell , and she sereechin' like mad all the time;—very bad policy—damages the article—makes ' em quite unfit for service sometimes . I knew a real handsome gal once , in Orleans , as was

    entirely ruined by this sort o' handling . The fellow that was trading for her didn't want her baby ; aud she was one of your real high sort when her blood was up . I tell you , she squeezed up her child iu her arms , and talked , and went on real awful . It kinder makes my blood run cold to think ou ' t ; and when they carried off the child , and locked her up , she jest went ravin' mad , and died in a week . Clear waste , sir , of a thousand dollars , just jor tcant of management , —there ' s where tis . It's always best to do the humane tilingsir ; that ' s been my experience . '

    , "'Now there was Tom Loker , my old partner , down in Natchez ; he was a clever fellow , Tom was , only the very devil with niggers—on principle ' twas you see , for a better-hearted feller never broke bread ; 'twas his system , sir . I weed to talk to Tom . « W hy , Tom , ' 1 used to say , * when your gals takes on and cry , what ' s the use o' crackin' on 'em over the head , and knockin ' on ' em round ? It ' s ridiculous , ' says I , ' and don't do no sort o '

    good . Why I don't see no harm ia their cry-in ' , ' says I ; it is natur / says I , ' and if natur can't blow olf one way , it will another . Besides , Tom , ' says I , * it jest spiles your gals ; they get sickly , aud down in the mouth ; and sometimes they gets ugly—particular yellow girls do , and it ' s the devil and all gettin' on ' em broke in . Now , ' says I , * why can ' t you kinder coax ' em up , and speak ' em fair ? ' Depend on if , Tom , a little humanity , thrown

    J:Suxcle Tom's Cabin; Or Negko Life Amox...

    in along , goes a heap further than all your jawin' and crackin '; and it pays better , ' says I , ' depend on't . ' But Tom couldn't get the hang on ' t ; and he spiled so many for me , that I had to break off with him , though he was a good-hearted fallow , and as fair a business hand as is going . '"

    THE ESCAPE OP A FEMALE SLAVE . Sam tumbled up accordingly , dextrously contriving to tickle Andy as he did so , which occasioned Andy to split out into a laugh , greatly to Haley ' s indignation , who made a cut at him with his riding-whip . " I ' s ' stonished at yer , Andy , ' said Sam , with awful gravity . ' This yer ' s a seris business , Andy . Yer musn ' t be a makin' game . This yer an ' t no way to help mas ' r . ' "' I shall take the straight road to the river , ' said Haley decidedly , after they had come to the boundaries of the estate . c I know the way of all of ' em—they make tracks for the underground . '

    • "Sarthy said Sam , 'dat's de idee . Mas'r Haley hits de thing right in de middle . Now , der ' s two roads to de river—de dirt road and der pike—which mas'r mean to take ? ' " Andy looked up innocently at Sam , surprised at hearing this new geographical fact , but instantly confirmed what he said by a vehement'i-eitevation . " Cause , ' said Sam , ' I'd rather be 'diced to ' magme that Lizy'd take de dirt road , hem' it ' s the least travelled . ' " Haley , notwithstanding that he was a very old bird , and naturally inclined to be suspicious of chaff , was rather brought up by this view of the case .

    " * If yer warn ' t both on yer such cussed liars , now ! ' said he contemplativel y , as he pondered a moment . " The pensive , reflective tone in which this was spoken appeared to amuse Andy prodigiously , and he drew a little behind and shook so as apparently to run a great risk of falling off his horse , while Sam ' s face was immovably composed into the most doleful gravity . "' Coarse , ' said Sam , * mas ' r can do as he'd rather ; <> o de straight road , if mas ' r think best—it ' s all one to us . Now , when I study ' pon it , I think de straight road de best deridedly . ' "' She would naturally go a lonesome way , ' said Haley , thinking aloud , not minding Sam ' s remark .

    "' Par an ' t no savin' / said Sam ; ' gals is pecular . They never does nothing ye thinks they will ; mose gen'lly the contrar . Gal ' s is nat'lly made contrary ; and so , if you thinks they ' ve gone one road , it is sartin you'd better go t ' other , and then you'll be sure to find 'em . Now , my private 'pinion is , Lizy took der dirt road ; so I think we'd better take de straight one . ' " This profound generic view of the female sex did not seem to dispose Haley particularly to the straight road ; and he announced decidedly that he should go the other , and asked Sam when they shou ! d come to it .

    " ' A little piece ahead , said Sam , giving a wink to Andy with the eye which was on Andy ' s side of the head ; and he added gravely , * but I ' ve studded on de matter , and I'm quite clar we ought not to go dat ar way . I nebber been over it no way . It ' s despit lonesome , and we might lose our way—whav we'd came to , de Lord only knows . ' " Nevertheless / said Haley , ' I shall go that way . ' "' i \ otv I think on't , I think I hearn ' em tell that dat ar road was all fenced up and down by der creek , and thar ; an ' , Andy ?'

    " Andy wasn't certain , he'd only ' hearn tell' about that road but never been over it . In short , he was strictly non-committal . " Haley , accustomed to strike the balance of probabilities between lies of greater or lesser magnitude , thought that it lay in favour of the dirt road aforesaid . The mention of the thing he thought he perceived was involuntary ou Sam's part at first , and his confused attempts to dissuade him he set down to a desperate lying , on second thoughts , as being unwilling to implicate Eliza . " When , therefore , Sam indicated the road , Haley plunged briskly into it , followed by Sam and Andy .

    " Now the road , in fact , was an old one that had formerly been a thoroughfare to the river , but abandoned for many years after the laying of the new pike . It was open for about an hour ' s ride , and after that it was cut across by various farms and fences . Sam knew this fact perfectly well ; indeed , the road had been so long closed up that Audy had never heard of it . He therefore rode along with an air of dutiful submission , only groaning and vociferating occasionally that 'twas 'desp't rough , and bad for Jerry ' s foot . ' " Now , I jest give yer warning , ' said Haley , 'I know yer ; yer won ' t get me to turn off this yer road , with all yer fussin 'so you shet up !'

    "' Mas ' r will go his own way !' said Sam , with rueful submission , at the same time winking most portentously to Andy , whose delight was now very near the explosive point . " Sam was in wonderful spirits ; professed to keep a very brisk look-out—at . one time exclaiming that he saw ' a gal ' s bonnet' on the top of some distant eminence , or calling to Andy ' if that thar wasn't Lizy down in the hollow '—always making these exclamations in some rou » h or craggy part oi' the road , where the sudden

    quickening of speed was a special inconvenience to a ' . l parties concerned , and thus keeping Haley in a state of constant commotion . " After riding about an hour in this way , the whole party made a precipitate and tumultuous descent into a barnyard belonging to a largo farming establishment . Not a soul was in sight , all the hands being employed in the fields ; but , as the barn stood conspicuously and plainly square across the road , it was evident that their journey in that direction had reached a decided finale .

    " Wau'tdatar whatltelled mas ' r ? ' said Sam , with an air of injured innocence . ' How does strange gentlemen ' specfc to know more about a country dan de natives born and raised ?' "' You rascal , ' said Haley , ' you knew all about this . ' "' Didn't I tell yer I know'd and yer wouldn't believe me ? I felled mas ' r ' twas ail shet up , and fenced up , and I didn't ' spect we could get through—Andy heard me . ' " It was all too true to be disputed , and the unlucky man had to pocket his wrath with the best grace he was able , and all three faced to the right about , and took up their line of © arch for the highway . * * *

    "A thousand lives seemed to be concentrated in that one moment to Eliza . Her room opened by a side door to the river . She caught her child , and sprang down the steps towards it . The trader caught a full glimpse of her , just as she was disappearing down the bank ; and throwing himself from his horse , and calling loudly on Sam and Andy , he was after her like a hound after a deer . In that dizzy moment her feet to her scarce seem to touch the ground , and a moment broug ht her to . the water ' s edge . Right on behind they came ; and , nerved with strength such as God gives only to the desperate , with oue wild cry and flying leap she vaulted sheer over the turbid current by the shore , on tothe raft of ice beyond , It was a desperate leap—impossible

    J:Suxcle Tom's Cabin; Or Negko Life Amox...

    to anything but madness « nd despair ; and Haley , Sam , and Andy instinctively cried out , and lifted up their hands , as she did it . "The huge green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched and creaked as her weight came on it , but she stayed there not a moment . With wild cries and desperate energy she leaped to another and still another cake ;—stumbling—leaping—slippingspringing upwards again ! Her shoes are gone—her stockings cut from her feet—while blood marked every step ; but she saw nothing , felt nothing , till dimly , as in a dream , she saw the Ohio side , and a man helping her up the bank . " ' Yer a brave ffal . now . whoAVfiV vo , ni >! > said thA man . with "' Yer a brave galnowwhoever ar ! ' said the manwith

    , , ye , an oath . "Eliza recognised the voice and face of a man who owned a farm not far from her old home . " Haley had stood a perfectly-amazed spectator of the scene , till Eliza had disappeared up the bank , when he turned a blank , inquiring look on Sam and Andy . " * That ar was a tol ' able fair stroke of business , ' said Sam . "' The gal ' s got seven devils in her , I believe , ' said Haley . ' How like a wild-cat she jumped !' "' Wal now , ' said Sam , scratching his head , * I hope mas ' r ' 11 ' scuse us tryin' dat ar road . Don't think I feel spry enough for dat ar , no way ! ' and Sam gave a hoarse chuckle . "' You laugh ! ' said the trader , with a growl .

    "' Lord bless you , mas ' r , I couldn ' t help it , now , ' said Sam , giving way to the long pent-up delight of his soul . ' She looked so curi ' s , a leapin' and springin' —ice a crackin '—and only to hear her—plump ! kerchunk . ' ker splash ! Spring ! Lord ! how she goes it ! ' and Sam and Andy laughed till the tears rolled down their cheeks . " ' I'll make you laugh t ' other side yer mouths ! ' said ] the trader , laying about their heads with his riding-whip . "Both ducked , and ran shouting up the bank , and were on their horses before he was up . ( ll

    Gootl evening , mas ' r ! 'said Sam , with much gravity . { l berry much ' spect missis be anxious 'bout Jerry . Mas ' r Haley won ' t want as no longer . Missis wouldn't hear of our ridin' the critters over Lizy ' s bridge to-night ; ' and , with a facetious poke into Andy's ribs , he started off , followed by the latter , at full speed —their shouts of laughter coming faintly on the wind . " "Uncle Tom" has been sold from a good master into slavery " down south , " and his young " Mas ' r George" is absent at the time : he , however , follows " Uncle Tom , " of whom he is very fond , and this is the

    LAST PARTING . " Tom was sitting very mournfully on the outside of the shop . Suddenly he heard the quick , short click of a horse ' s hoof behind him ; and , before he could fairly awake from his surprise , young - Master George sprang into the waggon , threw his arms tumultuously round his neck , and was sobbing and scolding with energy . " ' I declare , it ' s real mean ! I don ' t care what they say , any of ' em ! It ' s a nasty , mean shame ! If I was a man , they shouldn't do it—they should not so . " said George , with a kind of subdued howl .

    "' 0 , Mas ' v George ! this does me good 1 ' said Tom . ' I couldn't bar to go off without seem' ye ! It does me real good , ye can't tell ! ' Here Tom made some movement of his feet , and George ' s eyes fell on the fetters . " ' What a shame ! ' he exclaimed , lifting his hands . * I'll knock that old fellow down—I will !'

    " ' No you won ' t , Mas ' r George , and you must not talk so loud . It won ' t help me any , to anger him . ' " ' Well , I won ' t , then , for your sake ; but only to think of itisn't it a shame ? They never sent for me , nor sent me any word , and , if it hadn't been for Tom Lincon , I shouldn ' t have heard it . I tell you , I blew ' em up well , all of ' em , at home !' " ' That ar wasn't right , I'm feard , Mas ' r George . ' "' Can't help it ! I say it ' s a shame ! Look here , Uncle Tom , ' said he , turning his back to the shop , and speaking in a mysterious tone , ' Pre brought you my dollar . ' ' "' Oh ! I couldn't think o' takin' ou't , Mas ' r George , no ways in the world ! ' said Tom , quite moved .

    "' But you shall take it ! 'said George . ' Look here ; I told Aunt Chloe I'd do it :, and she advised me just to make a hole iu it , and put a string through , so you could hang it round your neck , and keep it out of sight ; else this mean scamp would take it away . I tell ye , Tom , I want to blow him up ! it would do me good !' " ' No , don't , Mas ' r George , for it won ' t do me auy good . '

    " ' Well , I won ' t ior your sake , ' said George , busily tying hiss dollar round Tom ' s neck ; ' but there , now , button your coat tightt over it , and keep it , and remember , every time you see it , thatt I'll come down after you , and bring you back . Aunt Chloe andd I have been talking about it . I told her not to fear ; I'll see to it , ; , and I'll tease father ' s life out , if he don ' t do it .. ' " ' 0 , Mas ' r George , ye mustn't talk so 'bout yer father !' " * Lor , Uncle Tom , I don ' t mean anything bad . '

    "' And now , Mas ' r George , ' said Tom , ' ye must be a good boy ; - ; ' member how many hearts is sot on ye . Al ' ays keep close to yeru " mother . Don't be gettin' into any of them foolish ways boys haasi of gettin' too big to mind their mothers . Tell ye what , MasVn George , the Lord gives good many things twice over ; but he donYll give ye a mother but once . Ye'll never see sich another woman , !) ,, Mas ' r George , if ye live lo he a hundred years old . So , now , yoioi . hold on her , thar ' s my good boy—yon will now , won't ye ? "' Yes , 1 will , Uncle Tom , ' said George seriously .

    "' And be careful of yer speaking , Mas ' r George . Young boyfysr when they come to your age , is wilful , sometimes—it ' s natur theies should be . But real gentlemen , such as I hopes you'll be , neveve ! lets fall no words that isn't ' spectful to their parents . Yo antni 'fended , Mas ' r George V " < No , indeed , Uncle Tom ; you always did give me good adviceccE " < Vs older , ye know , ' said Tom , stroking the boy ' s fine , curhrll

    head with his large , strong hand , but speaking in a voice astendadn as a woman ' s , 'and I sees all that ' s bound up in you . 0 , Ma & ass George , you has everything—larnin ' , privileges , readin ' , writiitii -and you'll grow up to be a great , learned , good man , and jd u the people on the place and your mother and father ' 11 be so prow ; on ye ! Be a good mas ' r , like yer father ; and be a Christian , li , lit yer mother . 'Member yer Creator in the days o' yer youbutl Mas ' r George .

    " ' I'll be real good , Uncle Tom , I tell you / said George . ' I' L going to be & first-rater ) and don ' t you be discouraged . 1 ' 11 ha haa you back to the place , yet . As I told Aunt Chloe this mornunin I'll build your house all over , and you shall have a room fo : fo : > : parlour with a carpet on it , when I ' m a man . Oh , you'll In ha good times yet !' " Haley now came to the door , with the handcuffs in his hannma "' Well , good-by , Uncle Tom ; keep a stiff upper lip / s / ssi George . ¦ '

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 14, 1852, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_14081852/page/13/