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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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“Tom,” said his master, kindly, “I want you to notice that I give this gentle- man bonds to forfeit a thousand dollars if you are not on the spot when he wants you; he’s going to-day to look after his other business, and you can have the day to yourself. Go anywhere you like, boy.” “Thank you, Mas’r,” said Tom. “And mind yerself,” said the trader, “and don’t come it over your master with any o’ yer nigger tricks; for I’ll take every cent out of him, if you an’t thar. If he’d hear to me, he wouldn’t trust any on ye-slippery as eels!” “Mas’r,” said Tom,- and he stood very straight,- “I was jist eight years old when ole Missis put you into my arms, and you wasn’t a year old. ‘Thar,’ says she, ‘Tom, that’s to be your young Mas’r; take good care on him,’ says she. And now I jist ask you, Mas’r, have I ever broke word to you, or gone contrary to you, ‘specially since I was a Christian?” Mr. Shelby was fairly overcome, and the tears rose to his eyes. “My good boy,” said he, “the Lord knows you say the truth; and if I was able to help it, all the world shouldn’t buy you.” “And sure as I am a Christian woman,” said Mrs. Shelby, “you shall be re- deemed as soon as I can any way bring together means. Sir,” she said to Haley, “take good account of who you sell him to, and let me know.” “Lor, yes, for that matter,” said the trader, “I may bring him up in a year, not much the wuss for wear, and trade him back.” |
