Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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both,- it would have been better for this poor child if he had never been born. All this may happen to him yet!” “O, but master is so kind!” “Yes, but who knows?- he may die-and then he may be sold to nobody knows who. What pleasure is it that he is handsome, and smart, and bright? I tell you, Eliza, that a sword will pierce through your soul for every good and pleasant thing your child is or has; it will make him worth too much for you to keep!” The words smote heavily on Eliza’s heart; the vision of the trader came before her eyes, and, as if some one had struck her a deadly blow, she turned pale and gasped for breath. She looked nervously out on the verandah, where the boy, tired of the grave conversation, had retired, and where he was riding triumphantly up and down on Mr. Shelby’s walking-stick. She would have spoken to tell her hus- band her fears, but checked herself. “No, no,- he has enough to bear, poor fellow!” she thought. “No, I won’t tell him; besides, it an’t true; Missis never deceives us.” “So, Eliza, my girl,” said the husband, mournfully, “bear up, now; and good- bye, for I’m going.” “Going, George! Going where?” “To Canada,” said he, straightening himself up, “and when I’m there, I’ll buy you; that’s all the hope that’s left us. You have a kind master, that won’t refuse to sell you. I’ll buy you and the boy.- God helping me, I will!” |