Uncle tom's cabin - online children's book

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LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY              27
wall over the fireplace was adorned with some very bril­liant scriptural prints, and a portrait of General Washing­ton, drawn and colored in a manner which would certainly have astonished that hero, if ever he had happened to meet with its like.
On a rough bench in the corner, a coupls of woolly-headed boys, with glistening black eyes and fat shining cheeks, were busy in superintending the first walking opera­tions of the baby, which, as is usually the case, consisted in getting up on its feet, balancing a moment, and then tumbling down, — each successive failure being violently cheered, as something decidedly clever.
A table, somewhat rheumatic in its limbs, was drawn out in front of the fire, and covered with a cloth, display­ing cups and saucers of a decidedly brilliant pattern, with other symptoms of an approaching meal. At this table was seated Uncle Tom, Mr. Shelby's best hand, who, as he is to be the hero of our story, we must daguerreotype for our readers. He was a large, broad-chested, power­fully made man, of a full glossy black, and a face whose truly African features were characterized by an expres­sion of grave and steady good sense, united with much kindliness and benevolence. There was something about his whole air self-respecting and dignified, yet united with a confiding and humble simplicity.
He was veiy busily intent at this moment on a slate lying before him, on which he was carefully and slowly endeavoring to accomplish a copy of some letters, in which operation he was overlooked by young Mas'r George, a smart, bright boy of thirteen, who appeared fully to realize the dignity of his position as instructor.
" Not that way, Uncle Tom, — not that way," said he, briskly, as Uncle Tom laboriously brought up the tail of his g the wrong side out; " that makes a q you see."
" La sakes, now, does it ? " said Uncle Tom, looking with a respectful, admiring air, as his young teacher flourishingly scrawled g"s and g's innumerable for his