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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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“Mas’r Legree,” said Tom, “I can’t do it. I did only what I thought was right. I shall do just so again, if ever the time comes. I never will do a cruel thing, come what may.” “Yes, but ye don’t know what may come, Master Tom. Ye think what you’ve got is something. I tell you ‘tan’t anything,- nothing ‘all. How would ye like to be tied to a tree, and have a slow fire lit up around ye;- wouldn’t that be pleasant,- eh, Tom?” “Mas’r,” said Tom, “I know ye can do dreadful things; but,”he stretched him- self upward and clasped his hands,- “but, after ye’ve killed the body, there an’t no more ye can do. And O, there’s all ETERNITY to come, after that!” ETERNITY,- the word thrilled through the black man’s soul with light and power, as he spoke; it thrilled through the sinner’s soul, too, like the bite of a scor- pion. Legree gnashed on him with his teeth, but rage kept him silent; and Tom, like a man disenthralled, spoke, in a clear and cheerful voice, “Mas’r Legree, as ye bought me, I’ll be a true and faithful servant to ye. I’ll give ye all the work of my hands, all my time, all my strength; but my soul I won’t give up to mortal man. I will hold on to the Lord, and put his commands be- fore all,- die or live; you may be sure on’t. Mas’r Legree, I an’t a grain afeard to die. I’d as soon die as not. Ye may whip me, starve me, burn me,- it’ll only send me sooner where I want to go.” “I’ll make ye give out, though, ‘fore I’ve done!” said Legree, in a rage. |
