Uncle tom's cabin - online children's book

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4                UNCLE TOM'S CABIN- OR
" Hulloa, Jim Crow! " said Mr. Shelby, whistling, and snapping a bunch of raisins towards him, " pick that up, now! "
The child scampered, with all his little strength, after the prize, while his master laughed.
" Come here, Jim Crow," said he. The child came up, and the master patted the curly head, and chucked him under the chin.
" Now, Jim, show this gentleman how you can dance and sing." The boy commenced one of those wild, gro­tesque songs common among the negroes, in a rich, clear voice, accompanying his singing with many evolutions of the hands, feet, and whole body, all in perfect time to the music.
" Bravo! " said Haley, throwing him a quarter of an orange.
" Now, Jim, walk like old Uncle Cudjoe when he has the rheumatism," said his master.
Instantly the flexible limbs of the child assumed the appearance of deformity and distortion, as, with his back humped up, and his master's stick in his hand, he hobbled about the room, his childish face drawn into a doleful pucker, and spitting from right to left, in imitation of an old man.
Both gentlemen laughed uproariously.
" Now, Jim," said his master, " show us how old Elder Bobbins leads the psalm." The boy drew his chubby face down to a formidable length, and commenced toning a psalm tune through his nose with imperturbable gravity.
" Hurrah ! bravo ! what a young un ! ' said Haley ; " that chap 's a case, I '11 promise. Tell you what," said he, suddenly clapping his hand on Mr. Shelby's shoulder, "fling in that chap and I '11 settle the business, — I will. Come, now, if that an't doing the thing up about the Tightest! "
At this moment, the door was pushed gently open, and a young quadroon woman, apparently about twenty-five, entered the room.