； because it was distinctly the moral impulse generated in New England that set going the slave’s liberation movement； of which the most powerful tract was a novel； and that novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin。
Her father’s preaching； and his prayers for the slaves； had a determining influence over Mrs。 Stowe as a girl； and then； in 1832； the family moved south to Cincinnati； Ohio； where she was within easy reach of the slave states； and gained her intimate knowledge of the life she was to describe。 She married there Professor Stowe； of Lane College； in 1836—an eventful year； when his house was often in danger from its association with the “underground railway” that helped the slaves to escape north。 A few years later her husband had become professor at Andover； Mass。； and the slave movement had reached a further crisis； when she began the story that was to move every country in Europe and give her international and world…wide fame。
The following summary by Nassau W。 Senior sketches its contemporary effect：— “Uncle Tom’s Cabin came out as a sort of feuilleton in the National Era； a Washington paper。 The death of Uncle Tom was the first portion published； indeed the first that was written。 It appeared in the summer of 1851； and excited so much attention that Mrs。 Stowe added a biginning and middle to her end； by composing and printing from week to week the story as we now have it； until it was concluded in March 1852。 It was soon after reprinted at Boston in two volumes。 By the end of November 1852； 150；000 copies had been sold in America。 The first London edition was published in May 1852； and was not large； for the European popularity of a picture of negro life was doubted。 But in the following September； the London publishers furnished to one house ten thousand copies per day for some four weeks。 We cannot follow it beyond 1852； but at that time more than a million of copies had been sold in England； probably ten times as many as have been sold of any other work； except the Bible and Prayer…book。”
As for France； Uncle Tom fairly covered for a time the shop…windows of the boulevards； and one publisher alone； Eustace Barba； sent out five editions in different forms。 Before the end of 1852； indeed； the story had been translated； to e Senior again； into “Italian； Spanish； Danish； Swedish； Dutch； Flemish； German； Polish； and Magyar。 There were two Dutch translations and twelve German ones； and the Italian translation enjoyed the honour of the Pope’s prohibition。 It had been dramatised； too； in twenty different forms； and acted in every capital in Europe； and in the free States of America。” We might add also to Senior’s strictly contemporary list—Welsh； Armenian； Illyrian； Finnish； modern Greek； and Portuguese versions。 George Sand contributed an appreciation to one of the French versions； in which she said Mrs。 Stowe had “genius； not literary； but as humanity needed it— the genius of goodness。”
Mrs。 Stowe died on July 1； 1896； at Hartford； Conn。
Chapter 1
In Which the Reader Is Introduced to a Man of Humanity
Late in the afternoon of a chilly day in February； two gentlemen were sitting alone over their wine； in a well…furnished dining parlor； in the town of P——； in Kentucky。 There were no servants present； and the gentlemen； with chairs closely approaching； seemed to be discussing some subject with great earnestness。
For convenience sake； we have said； hitherto； two gentlemen。 One of the parties； however； when critically examined； did not seem； strictly speaking； to come under the species。 He was a short； thick…set man； with coarse； commonplace features； and that swaggering air of pretension which marks a low man who is trying to elbow his way upward in the world。 He was much over…dressed； in a gaudy vest of many colors； a blue neckerchief； bedropped gayly with yellow spots； and arranged with a flaunting tie； quite in keeping with the general air of the man。 His hands； large and coarse； were plentifully bedecked with rings； and he wore a heavy gold watch…chain； with a bundle of seals of portentous size； and a great variety of colors； attached to it；—which； in the ardor of conversation； he was in the habit of flourishing and jingling with evident satisfaction。 His conversation was in free and easy defiance of Murray’s Grammar；1 and was garnished at convenient intervals with various profane expressions； which not even the desire to be graphic in our acomount shall induce us to transcribe。
His companion； Mr。 Shelby； had the appearance of a gentleman； and the arrrangements of the house； and the general air of the housekeeping； indicated easy； and even opulent circumstances。 As we before stated； the two were in the midst of an earnest conversation。
“That is the way I should arrange the matter；” said Mr。 Shelby。
“I can’t make trade that way—I positively can’t； Mr。 Shelby；” said the other； holding up a glass of wine between his eye and the light。
“Why； the fact is； Haley； Tom is an uncommon fellow； he is certainly worth that sum anywhere；—steady； honest； capable； manages my whole farm like a clock。”
“You mean honest； as niggers go；” said Haley； helping himself to a glass of brandy。
“No； I mean； really； Tom is a good； steady； sensible； pious fellow。 He got religion at a camp…meeting； four years ago； and I believe he really did get it。 I’ve trusted him； since then； with everything I have；—money； house； horses；—and let him come and go round the country； and I always found him true and square in everything。”
“Some folks don’t believe there is pious niggers Shelby；” said Haley； with a candid flourish of his hand； “but I do。 I had a fellow； now； in this yer last lot I took to Orleans—’t was as good as a meetin； now； really； to hear that critter pray； and he was quite gentle and quiet like。 He fetched me a good sum； too； for I bought him cheap of a man that was ’bliged to sell out； so I realized six hundred on him。 Yes； I consider religion a valeyable thing in a nigger； when it’s the genuine article； and no mistake。”
“Well； Tom’s got the real article； if ever a fellow had；” rejoined the other。 “Why； last fall； I let him go to Cincinnati alone； to do business for me； and bring home five hundred dollars。 ‘Tom；’ says I to him； ‘I trust you； because I think you’re a Christian—I know you wouldn’t cheat。’ Tom comes back； sure enough； I knew he would。 Some low fellows； they say； said to him—Tom； why don’t you make tracks for Canada？’ ‘Ah； master trusted me； and I couldn’t；’—they told me about it。 I am sorry to part with Tom； I must say。 You ought to let him cover the whole balance of the debt； and you would； Haley； if you had any conscience。”
“Well； I’ve got just as much conscience as any man in business can afford to keep；—just a little； you know； to swear by； as ’t were；” said the trader； jocularly； “and； then； I’m ready to do anything in reason to ’blige friends； but this yer； you see； is a leetle too hard on a fellow—a leetle too hard。” The trader sighed contemplatively； and poured out some more brandy。
“Well； then； Haley； how will you trade？” said Mr。 Shelby； after an uneasy interval of silence。
“Well； haven’t you a boy or gal that you could throw in with Tom？”