“I know； Mas’r； but I can’t tell anything。 I can die！”
Legree drew in a long breath； and； suppressing his rage； took Tom by the arm； and； approaching his face almost to his； said； in a terrible voice； “Hark ’e； Tom！—ye think； ’cause I’ve let you off before； I don’t mean what I say； but； this time； I’ve made up my mind； and counted the cost。 You’ve always stood it out again’ me： now； I’ll conquer ye； or kill ye！—one or t’ other。 I’ll count every drop of blood there is in you； and take ’em； one by one； till ye give up！”
Tom looked up to his master； and answered； “Mas’r； if you was sick； or in trouble； or dying； and I could save ye； I’d give ye my heart’s blood； and； if taking every drop of blood in this poor old body would save your precious soul； I’d give ’em freely； as the Lord gave his for me。 O； Mas’r！ don’t bring this great sin on your soul！ It will hurt you more than ’t will me！ Do the worst you can； my troubles’ll be over soon； but； if ye don’t repent； yours won’t never end！”
Like a strange snatch of heavenly music； heard in the lull of a tempest； this burst of feeling made a moment’s blank pause。 Legree stood aghast； and looked at Tom； and there was such a silence； that the tick of the old clock could be heard； measuring； with silent touch； the last moments of mercy and probation to that hardened heart。
It was but a moment。 There was one hesitating pause；—one irresolute； relenting thrill；—and the spirit of evil came back； with seven…fold vehemence； and Legree； foaming with rage； smote his victim to the ground。
Scenes of blood and cruelty are shocking to our ear and heart。 What man has nerve to do； man has not nerve to hear。 What brother…man and brother…Christian must suffer； cannot be told us； even in our secret chamber； it so harrows the soul！ And yet； oh my country！ these things are done under the shadow of thy laws！ O； Christ！ thy church sees them； almost in silence！
But； of old； there was One whose suffering changed an instrument of torture； degradation and shame； into a symbol of glory； honor； and immortal life； and； where His spirit is； neither degrading stripes； nor blood； nor insults； can make the Christian’s last struggle less than glorious。
Was he alone； that long night； whose brave； loving spirit was bearing up； in that old shed； against buffeting and brutal stripes？
Nay！ There stood by him One；—seen by him alone；—“like unto the Son of God。”
The tempter stood by him； too；—blinded by furious； despotic will；—every moment pressing him to shun that agony by the betrayal of the innocent。 But the brave； true heart was firm on the Eternal Rock。 Like his Master； he knew that； if he saved others； himself he could not save； nor could utmost extremity wring from him words； save of prayers and holy trust。
“He’s most gone； Mas’r；” said Sambo； touched； in spite of himself； by the patience of his victim。
“Pay away； till he gives up！ Give it to him！—give it to him！” shouted Legree。 I’ll take every drop of blood he has； unless he confesses！”
Tom opened his eyes； and looked upon his master。 “Ye poor miserable critter！” he said； “there ain’t no more ye can do！ I forgive ye； with all my soul！” and he fainted entirely away。
“I b’lieve； my soul； he’s done for； finally；” said Legree； stepping forward； to look at him。 “Yes； he is！ Well； his mouth’s shut up； at last；—that’s one comfort！”
Yes； Legree； but who shall shut up that voice in thy soul？ that soul； past repentance； past prayer； past hope； in whom the fire that never shall be quenched is already burning！
Yet Tom was not quite gone。 His wondrous words and pious prayers had struck upon the hearts of the imbruted blacks； who had been the instruments of cruelty upon him； and； the instant Legree withdrew； they took him down； and； in their ignorance； sought to call him back to life；—as if that were any favor to him。
“Sartin； we ’s been doin’ a drefful wicked thing！” said Sambo； “hopes Mas’r’ll have to ’count for it； and not we。”
They washed his wounds；—they provided a rude bed； of some refuse cotton； for him to lie down on； and one of them； stealing up to the house； begged a drink of brandy of Legree； pretending that he was tired； and wanted it for himself。 He brought it back； and poured it down Tom’s throat。
“O； Tom！” said Quimbo； “we’s been awful wicked to ye！”
“I forgive ye； with all my heart！” said Tom； faintly。
“O； Tom！ do tell us who is Jesus； anyhow？” said Sambo；—“Jesus； that’s been a standin’ by you so； all this night！—Who is he？”
The word roused the failing； fainting spirit。 He poured forth a few energetic sentences of that wondrous One；—his life； his death； his everlasting presence； and power to save。
They wept；—both the two savage men。
“Why didn’t I never hear this before？” said Sambo； “but I do believe！—I can’t help it！ Lord Jesus； have mercy on us！”
“Poor critters！” said Tom； “I’d be willing to bar’ all I have； if it’ll only bring ye to Christ！ O； Lord！ give me these two more souls； I pray！”
That prayer was answered！
1 This poem does not appear in the collected works of William Cullen Bryant； nor in the collected poems of his brother； John Howard Bryant。 It was probably copied from a newspaper or magazine。
Chapter 41
The Young Master
Two days after； a young man drove a light wagon up through the avenue of China trees； and； throwing the reins hastily on the horse’s neck； sprang out and inquired for the owner of the place。
It was George Shelby； and； to show how he came to be there； we must go back in our story。
The letter of Miss Ophelia to Mrs。 Shelby had； by some unfortunate acomident； been detained； for a month or two； at some remote post…office； before it reached its destination； and； of course； before it was received； Tom was already lost to view among the distant swamps of the Red river。
Mrs。 Shelby read the intelligence with the deepest concern； but any immediate action upon it was an impossibility。 She was then in attendance on the sick…bed of her husband； who lay delirious in the crisis of a fever。 Master George Shelby； who； in the interval； had changed from a boy to a tall young man； was her constant and faithful assistant； and her only reliance in superintending his father’s affairs。 Miss Ophelia had taken the precaution to send them the name of the lawyer who did business for the St。 Clares； and the most that； in the emergency； could be done； was to address a letter of inquiry to him。 The sudden death of Mr。 Shelby； a few days after； brought； of course； an absorbing pressure of other interests； for a season。
Mr。 Shelby showed his confidence in his wife’s ability； by appointing her sole executrix upon his estates； and thus immediately a large and complicated amount of business was brought upon her hands。
Mrs。 Shelby； with characteristic energy； applied herself to the work of straightening the entangled web of affairs； and she and George were for some time ocomupied with collecting and examining acomounts； selling property and settling debts； for Mrs。 Shelby was determined that everything should be brought into tangible and recognizable shape； let the consequences to her prove what they might。 In the mean time； they received