 | Uncle Tom's Cabin |  |
SCENE II
A dining room. Table and chairs. Dessert, wine, etc., on table. Shelby and Haley
discovered at table.
That is the way I should arrange the matter.
HALEY:
I can't make trade that way—I positively can't, Mr. Shelby. (Drinks.)
SHELBY:
Why, the fact is, Haley, Tom is an uncommon fellow! He is cer-
tainly worth that sum anywhere—steady, honest, capable, manages my whole
farm like a clock!
HALEY:
You mean honest, as niggers go. (Fills glass.)
SHELBY:
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.
HALEY:
Some folks don't believe there is pious niggers, Shelby, but I do. I
had a fellow, now, in this yer last lot I took to Orleans—'twas 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.
SHELBY:
Well, Tom's got the real article, if ever a fellow had. Why last fall
I let him go to Cincinnati alone, to do business for me and bring home five hun-
dred dollars. “Tom,” says I to him, “I trust you, because I think you are a Chris-
tian—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,” was his answer.
They told me all 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.
HALEY:
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 twere; 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! (Fills glass again.)
[Description: 916EAF. Page 080.]
Well, then, Haley, how will you trade?
HALEY:
Well, haven't you a boy or a girl that you could throw in with
Tom?
SHELBY:
Hum! none that I could well spare; to tell the truth, it's only hard
necessity makes me willing to sell at all. I don't like parting with any of my
hands, that's a fact. (Harry runs in.)
Hulloa! Jim Crow! (Throws a bunch of
raisins towards him.)
Pick that up now! (Harry does so.)
HALEY:
Bravo, little 'un! (Throws an orange, which Harry catches. He sings and
dances around the stage.)
Hurrah! Bravo! What a young 'un! That chap's a case,
I'll promise. Tell you what, Shelby, fling in that chap, and I'll settle the
business. Come, now, if that ain't doing the thing up about the rightest!
(Eliza enters. Starts on beholding Haley, and gazes fearfully at Harry, who runs
and clings to her dress, showing the orange, etc.)
Well, Eliza?
ELIZA:
I was looking for Harry, please, sir.
SHELBY:
Well, take him away, then.
(Eliza grasps the child eagerly in her arms, and casting another glance of apprehen-
sion at Haley, exits hastily.)
By Jupiter! there's an article, now. You might make your fortune on
that ar gal in Orleans any day. I've seen over a thousand in my day, paid down
for gals not a bit handsomer.
SHELBY:
I don't want to make my fortune on her. Another glass of wine.
(Fills the glasses.)
HALEY:
(Drinks and smacks his lips.)
Capital wine—first chop. Come, how will
you trade about the gal? What shall I say for her? What'll you take?
SHELBY:
Mr. Haley, she is not to be sold. My wife wouldn't part with her
for her weight in gold.
HALEY:
Ay, ay! women always say such things, 'cause they hain't no sort of
calculation. Just show 'em how many watches, feathers and trinkets one's
weight in gold would buy, and that alters the case, I reckon.
SHELBY:
I tell you, Haley, this must not be spoken of—I say no, and I
mean no.
HALEY:
Well, you'll let me have the boy tho'; you must own that I have
come down pretty handsomely for him.
SHELBY:
What on earth can you want with the child?
HALEY:
Why, I've got a friend that's going into this yer branch of the
business—wants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Well, what
do you say?
SHELBY:
I'll think the matter over and talk with my wife.
HALEY:
Oh, certainly, by all means; but I'm in a devil of a hurry and shall
want to know as soon as possible, what I may depend on.
(Rises and puts on his overcoat, which hangs on a chair. Takes hat and whip.)
Well, call up this evening, between six and seven, and you shall
have my answer.
[Description: 916EAF. Page 081.]
All right. Take care of yourself, old boy! (Exit.)
SHELBY:
If anybody had ever told me that I should sell Tom to those rascal-
ly traders, I should never have believed it. Now it must come for aught I see,
and Eliza's child too. So much for being in debt, heigho! The fellow sees his ad-
vantage and means to push it. (Exit.)
| Uncle Tom's Cabin | |