Uncle tom's cabin - online children's book

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LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY             123
otherwise there would have been very little performed to any purpose by the party.
" Now," said Aunt Chloe, bustling about after break­fast, " I must put up yer clothes. Jest like as not, he '11 take 'em all away. I know thar ways, — mean as dirt, they is ! Wal, now, yer flannels for rhumatis is in this corner; so be car'f ul, 'cause there won't nobody make ye no more. Then here 's yer old shirts, and these yer is tiew ones. I toed off these yer stockings last night, and put de ball in 'em to mend with. But Lor ! who 11 ever mend for ye ? " and Aunt Chloe, again overcome, laid her head on the box side, and sobbed. " To think on 't! no crittur to do for ye, sick or well! I don't railly think I ought ter be good now ! "
The boys, having eaten everything there was on the breakfast-table, began now to take some thought of the case; and seeing their mother crying, and their father looking very sad, began to whimper and put their hands to their eyes. Uncle Tom had the baby on his knee, and was letting her enjoy herself to the utmost extent, scratch­ing his face and pulling his hair, and occasionally break­ing out into clamorous explosions of delight, evidently arising out of her own internal reflections.
" Ay, crow away, poor crittur!' said Aunt Chloe; " ye '11 have to come to it, too ! ye '11 live to see yer hus­band sold, or mebbe be sold yerself; and these yer boys, they 's to be sold, I s'pose, too, jest like as not, when dey gets good for somethin'; an't no use in niggers havin' nothin'! "
Here one of the boys called out, "Thar 's Missis a-comin' in ! " *
" She can't do no good; what's she coming for ? " said Aunt Chloe.
Mrs. Shelby entered. Aunt Chloe set a chair for her in a manner decidedly gruff and crusty. She did not seem to notice either the action or the manner. She looked pale and anxious.