CHAPTER XIX


UNCLE TOM FINDS FREEDOM


The letter which Miss Ophelia wrote to Mrs. Shelby, telling her that Tom
was to be sold again, was delayed a long time in the post. When at last
it did arrive, Mr. Shelby was very ill, and though Mrs. Shelby felt
dreadfully sorry about Uncle Tom, she could do nothing, as her husband
was so ill. Soon Mr. Shelby died. Mrs. Shelby was very sad, but in her
sorrow she did not forget her promise to Aunt Chloe and Uncle Tom. As
soon as she could, she sold some land, and George Shelby, taking the
money with him, went off to try to find Uncle Tom and buy him back
again.

But by the time George Shelby, came to the place where Mr. St. Clare
used to live, Uncle Tom had been sold to Legree, and no one knew where
he had gone.

At last, after searching about for months, George Shelby found out where
Uncle Tom was, and followed him.

Two days after Legree had been so cruel, George Shelby drove up the
avenue and stopped at the door of the old house.

'I hear,' he said to Legree, 'that you bought a slave named Tom. He used