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160 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN OR
The woman walked forward among the boxes and bales of the lower deck, and, sitting down, busied herself with chirruping to her baby.
Haley made a turn or two about the boat, and then, coming up, seated himself near her, and began saying something to her in an indifferent undertone.
Tom soon noticed a heavy cloud passing over the woman's brow; and that she answered rapidly, and with great vehemence.
" I don't believe it, — I won't believe it! " he heard her say. " You 're jist a-foolin' with me."
" If you won't believe it, look here!" said the man, drawing out a paper ; " this yer 's the bill of sale, and there 's your master's name to it; and I paid down good solid cash for it, too, I can tell you, — so, now ! "
" I don't believe Mas'r would cheat me so ; it can't be true ! " said the woman, with increasing agitation.
" You can ask any of these men here, that can read writing. Here ! " he said, to a man that was passing by, " jist read this yer, won't you! This yer gal won't believe me, when I tell her what't is."
" Why, it 's a bill of sale, signed by John Fosdick," said the man, " making over to you the girl Lucy and her child. It's all straight enough, for aught I see."
The woman's passionate exclamations collected a crowd around her, and the trader briefly explained to them the cause of the agitation.
" He told me that I was going down to Louisville to hire out as cook to the same tavern where my husband works, — that 's what Mas'r told, his own self; and I can't believe he 'd lie to me," said the woman.
" But he has sold you, my poor woman, there 's no doubt about it," said a good-natured looking man, who had been examining the papers ; " he has done it, and no mistake."
" Then it's no account talking," said the woman, suddenly growing quite calm ; and, clasping her child tighter |
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