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LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY 497 |
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passed the lowly heart of the oppressed one, an ever-present Saviour hallowed it as a temple. Past now the bleeding of earthly regrets ; past its fluctuations of hope, and fear, and desire; the human will, bent, and bleeding and struggling long, was now entirely merged in the Divine. So short now seemed the remaining voyage of life, so near, so vivid, seemed eternal blessedness, that life's uttermost woes fell from him unharming.
All noticed the change in his appearance. Cheerfulness and alertness seemed to return to him, and a quietness which no insult or injury could ruffle seemed to possess him.
" What the devil's got into Tom ? " Legree said to Sambo. " A while ago he was all down in the mouth, and now he 's peart as a cricket."
" Dunno, Mas'r ; gwine to run off, mebbe."
" Like to see him try that," said Legree, with a savage grin, " would n't we, Sambo ? "
" Guess we would! Haw! haw! ho ! " said the sooty gnome, laughing obsequiously. " Lord, de fun ! To see him stickin' in de mud, chasin' and tarin' through de bushes, dogs a-holdin' on to him ! Lord, I laughed fit to split, dat ar time we cotched Molly. I thought they 'd 'a' had her all stripped up afore I could get 'em off. She car's de marks o' dat ar spree yet."
" I reckon she will, to her grave," said Legree. " But now, Sambo, you look sharp. If the nigger's got anything of this sort going, trip him up."
" Mas'r, let me 'lone for dat," said Sambo. " I '11 tree de coon. Ho, ho, ho! "
This was spoken as Legree was getting on to his horse, to go to the neighboring town. That night, as he was returning, he thought he would turn his horse and ride round the quarters, and see if all was safe.
It was a superb moonlight night, and the shadows of the graceful China-trees lay minutely penciled on the turf below, and there was that transparent stillness in the |
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