UNCLE TOM SAYS GOOD-BYE


The day after the hunt for Eliza was a very sad one in Uncle Tom's
cabin. It was the day on which Haley was going to take Uncle Tom away.

Aunt Chloe had been up very early. She had washed and ironed all Tom's
clothes, and packed his trunk neatly. Now she was cooking the
breakfast,--the last breakfast she would ever cook for her dear husband.
Her eyes were quite red and swollen with crying, and the tears kept
running down her cheeks all the time.

'It's the last time,' said Tom sadly.

Aunt Chloe could not answer. She sat down, buried her face in her hands,
and sobbed aloud.

'S'pose we must be resigned. But, O Lord, how can I? If I knew anything
where you was goin', or how they'd treat you! Missis says she'll try and
buy you back again in a year or two. But, Lor', nobody never comes back
that goes down there.'

'There'll be the same God there, Chloe, that there is here.'

'Well,' said Aunt Chloe, 's'pose dere will. But the Lord lets drefful
things happen sometimes. I don't seem to get no comfort dat way.'

'Let's think on our mercies,' said Tom, in a shaking voice.