Tom ran. But in the morning little Eva lay on her bed, cold and white,
with closed eyes and folded hands.

She had gone to God.

Mr. St. Clare was very, very unhappy for a long time after Eva died. He
had loved her so much, that now his life seemed quite empty without her.

He did not forget his promise to her about Tom. He went to his lawyer,
and told him to begin writing out the papers that would make Tom free.
It took some time to make a slave free.

'Well, Tom,' said Mr. St. Clare the day after he had spoken to his
Lawyer, 'I'm going to make a free man of you. So have your trunk packed
and get ready to set out for home.'

Joy shone in Uncle Tom's face. 'Bless the Lord,' he said, raising his
hands to heaven.

Mr. St. Clare felt rather hurt. He did not like Tom to be so glad to
leave him.

'You haven't had such a very bad time here that you need be in such
rapture, Tom,' he said.

'No, no, mas'r! tan't that. It's bein' a free man! That's what I'm joyin'
for.'

'Why, Tom, don't you think that you are really better off as you are?'