Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

One of the parties, however, when critically examined, did not seem, strictly speaking, to come under the species. He was a short, thick-set man, with coarse, commonplace features, and that swaggering air of pretension which marks a low man who is trying to elbow his way upward in the world.

gaudy

bedr...

bedecked

portentous

a...

opulent

he is certainly worth that sum anywhere,—steady, honest, capable, manages my whole farm like a clock.”

“You mean honest, as niggers go,”

square

“Some folks don’t believe there is pious niggers Shelby,”

Yes, I consider religion a valeyable thing in a nigger, when it’s the genuine article, and no mistake.”

jocularly;

Jim Crow!”

“Now, Jim, show this gentleman how you can dance and sing.”

The boy commenced one of those wild, grotesque songs common among the negroes,

doleful

pucker,

imperturbable

“Mr. Haley, she is not to be sold,” said Shelby. “My wife would not part with her for her weight in gold.” “Ay, ay! women always say such things, cause they ha’nt no sort of calculation. Just show ’em how many watches, feathers, and trinkets, one’s weight in gold would buy, and that alters the case, I reckon.”

handsome ’uns.

article!’

Now, what if you get the girl off for a day, or a week, or so; then the thing’s done quietly,—all over before she comes home. Your wife might get her some ear-rings, or a new gown, or some such truck, to make up with her.”

Is he referring to rape?

I knew a real handsome gal once, in Orleans, as was entirely ruined by this sort o’ handling. The fellow that was trading for her didn’t want her baby; and she was one of your real high sort, when her blood was up. I tell you, she squeezed up her child in her arms, and talked, and went on real awful. It kinder makes my blood run cold to think of ’t; and when they carried off the child, and locked her up, she jest went ravin’ mad, and died in a week.

Wilberforce.

diffidence,

piquant

elucidations

Tom Loker,

Natchez;

‘when your gals takes on and cry, what’s the use o’ crackin on’ em over the head, and knockin’ on ’em round? It’s ridiculous,’

Why, I don’t see no harm in their cryin’,’ says I; ‘it’s natur,’ says I,

Besides, Tom,’ says I, ‘it jest spiles your gals; they get sickly, and down in the mouth; and sometimes they gets ugl...

you Kentucky folks spile your niggers.

impudent

—so long it is impossible to make anything beautiful or desirable in the best regulated administration of slavery.

“O, missis, do you suppose mas’r would sell my Harry?” And the poor creature threw herself into a chair, and sobbed convulsively. “Sell him! No, you foolish girl! You know your master never deals with those southern traders, and never means to sell any of his servants, as long as they behave well.

nimbly

adroitly

importunities

adroitness

He had invented a machine for the cleaning of the hemp,

this young man was in the eye of the law not a man,

He was waited upon over the factory, shown the machinery by George, who, in high spirits, talked so fluently, held himself so erect, looked so handsome and manly, that his master began to feel an uneasy consciousness of inferiority. What business had his slave to be marching round the country, inventing machines, and holding up his head among gentlemen? He’d soon put a stop to it. He’d take him back, and put him to hoeing and digging, and “see if he’d step about so smart.”

yes! a machine for saving work, is it? He’d invent that, I’ll be bound; let a nigger alone for that, any time. They are all labor-saving machines themselves, every one of ’em. No, he shall tramp!”

drudgery

—indubitable

A very humane jurist once said, The worst use you can put a man to is to hang him. No; there is another use that a man can be put to that is WORSE!

“I always thought that I must obey my master and mistress, or I couldn’t be a Christian.”

“Don’t you know a slave can’t be married? There is no law in this country for that;