University of Virginia Library

44. CHAPTER XLIV.
THE LIBERATOR.

George Shelby had written to his mother merely a line,
stating the day that she might expect him home. Of the
death scene of his old friend he had not the heart to write.
He had tried several times, and only succeeded in half choking
himself; and invariably finished by tearing up the paper,
wiping his eyes, and rushing somewhere to get quiet.

There was a pleased bustle all through the Shelby mansion,
that day, in expectation of the arrival of young Mas'r
George.

Mrs. Shelby was seated in her comfortable parlor, where a
cheerful hickory fire was dispelling the chill of the late
autumn evening. A supper-table, glittering with plate and
cut glass, was set out, on whose arrangements our former
friend, old Chloe, was presiding.

Arrayed in a new calico dress, with clean, white apron, and
high, well-starched turban, her black polished face glowing
with satisfaction, she lingered, with needless punctiliousness,
around the arrangements of the table, merely as an excuse for
talking a little to her mistress.

“Laws, now! won't it look natural to him?” she said.
“Thar, — I set his plate just whar he likes it, — round by the
fire. Mas'r George allers wants de warm seat. O, go way!
— why did n't Sally get out de best tea-pot, — de little new
one, Mas'r George got for Missis, Christmas? I 'll have it

out! And Missis has heard from Mas'r George?” she said,
inquiringly.

“Yes, Chloe; but only a line, just to say he would be
home to-night, if he could, — that 's all.”

“Did n't say nothin' 'bout my old man, s'pose?” said
Chloe, still fidgeting with the tea-cups.

“No, he did n't. He did not speak of anything, Chloe.
He said he would tell all, when he got home.”

“Jes like Mas'r George, — he 's allers so ferce for tellin'
everything hisself. I allers minded dat ar in Mas'r George.
Don't see, for my part, how white people gen'lly can bar to
hev to write things much as they do, writin' 's such slow,
oneasy kind o' work.”

Mrs. Shelby smiled.

“I 'm a thinkin' my old man won't know de boys and de
baby. Lor'! she 's de biggest gal, now, — good she is, too,
and peart, Polly is. She 's out to the house, now, watchin'
de hoe-cake. I 's got jist de very pattern my old man
liked so much, a bakin'. Jist sich as I gin him the mornin'
he was took off. Lord bless us! how I felt, dat ar morning!”

Mrs. Shelby sighed, and felt a heavy weight on her heart,
at this allusion. She had felt uneasy, ever since she received
her son's letter, lest something should prove to be hidden
behind the veil of silence which he had drawn.

“Missis has got dem bills?” said Chloe, anxiously.

“Yes, Chloe.”

“'Cause I wants to show my old man dem very bills de
perfectioner gave me. `And,' says he, `Chloe, I wish you 'd
stay longer.' `Thank you, Mas'r,' says I, `I would, only
my old man 's coming home, and Missis, — she can't do without

me no longer.' There 's jist what I telled him. Berry
nice man, dat Mas'r Jones was.”

Chloe had pertinaciously insisted that the very bills in
which her wages had been paid should be preserved, to
show to her husband, in memorial of her capability. And
Mrs. Shelby had readily consented to humor her in the
request.

“He won't know Polly, — my old man won't. Laws, it 's
five year since they tuck him! She was a baby den, —
could n't but jist stand. Remember how tickled he used to
be, cause she would keep a fallin' over, when she sot out to
walk. Laws a me!”

The rattling of wheels now was heard.

“Mas'r George!” said Aunt Chloe, starting to the window.

Mrs. Shelby ran to the entry door, and was folded in the
arms of her son. Aunt Chloe stood anxiously straining her
eyes out into the darkness.

“O, poor Aunt Chloe!” said George, stopping compassionately,
and taking her hard, black hand between both his;
“I 'd have given all my fortune to have brought him with
me, but he 's gone to a better country.”

There was a passionate exclamation from Mrs. Shelby, but
Aunt Chloe said nothing.

The party entered the supper-room. The money, of which
Chloe was so proud, was still lying on the table.

“Thar,” said she, gathering it up, and holding it, with a
trembling hand, to her mistress, “don't never want to see nor
hear on 't again. Jist as I knew 't would be, — sold, and
murdered on dem ar' old plantations!”

Chloe turned, and was walking proudly out of the room.

Mrs. Shelby followed her softly, and took one of her hands,
drew her down into a chair, and sat down by her.

“My poor, good Chloe!” said she.

Chloe leaned her head on her mistress' shoulder, and
sobbed out, “O Missis! 'scuse me, my heart 's broke, —
dat 's all!”

“I know it is,” said Mrs. Shelby, as her tears fell fast;
“and I cannot heal it, but Jesus can. He healeth the broken
hearted, and bindeth up their wounds.”

There was a silence for some time, and all wept together.
At last, George, sitting down beside the mourner, took her
hand, and, with simple pathos, repeated the triumphant scene
of her husband's death, and his last messages of love.

About a month after this, one morning, all the servants of
the Shelby estate were convened together in the great hall
that ran through the house, to hear a few words from their
young master.

To the surprise of all, he appeared among them with a
bundle of papers in his hand, containing a certificate of freedom
to every one on the place, which he read successively,
and presented, amid the sobs and tears and shouts of all
present.

Many, however, pressed around him, earnestly begging
him not to send them away; and, with anxious faces, tendering
back their free papers.

“We don't want to be no freer than we are. We 's allers
had all we wanted. We don't want to leave de ole place, and
Mas'r and Missis, and de rest!”

“My good friends,” said George, as soon as he could get
a silence, “there 'll be no need for you to leave me. The
place wants as many hands to work it as it did before. We
need the same about the house that we did before. But,

you are now free men and free women. I shall pay you
wages for your work, such as we shall agree on. The advantage
is, that in case of my getting in debt, or dying, — things
that might happen, — you cannot now be taken up and sold.
I expect to carry on the estate, and to teach you what, perhaps,
it will take you some time to learn, — how to use the
rights I give you as free men and women. I expect you to
be good, and willing to learn; and I trust in God that I shall
be faithful, and willing to teach. And now, my friends, look
up, and thank God for the blessing of freedom.”

An aged, patriarchal negro, who had grown gray and blind
on the estate, now rose, and, lifting his trembling hand said,
“Let us give thanks unto the Lord!” As all kneeled by
one consent, a more touching and hearty Te Deum never
ascended to heaven, though borne on the peal of organ, bell
and cannon, than came from that honest old heart.

On rising, another struck up a Methodist hymn, of which
the burden was,

“One thing more,” said George, as he stopped the congratulations
of the throng; “you all remember our good old
Uncle Tom?”

George here gave a short narration of the scene of his
death, and of his loving farewell to all on the place, and
added,

“It was on his grave, my friends, that I resolved, before
God, that I would never own another slave, while it was possible
to free him; that nobody, through me, should ever
run the risk of being parted from home and friends, and
dying on a lonely plantation, as he died. So, when you

rejoice in your freedom, think that you owe it to that good
old soul, and pay it back in kindness to his wife and children.
Think of your freedom, every time you see Uncle Tom's
Cabin; and let it be a memorial to put you all in mind to
follow in his steps, and be as honest and faithful and Christian
as he was.”