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Marster Robert has been mighty good to me. He stood by me in my troubles, anā€™ now his troubleā€™s come, Iā€™m a gwine to stanā€™ by him. I used to think Gundoverā€™s wife war jealous ob my Katie. She war so much puttier. Gundoverā€™s wife couldnā€™t tech my Katie wid a ten foot pole.ā€

ā€œBut, Aunt Katie, you have had your trials,ā€ said Robert, now that Daniel had finished his story; ā€œdonā€™t you feel bitter towards these people who are fighting to keep you in slavery?ā€

Aunt Katie turned her face towards the speaker. It was a thoughtful, intelligent face, saintly and calm. A face which expressed the idea of a soul which had been fearfully tempest tossed, but had passed through suffering into peace. Very touching was the look of resignation and hope which overspread her features as she replied, with the simple childlike faith which she had learned in the darkest hour, ā€œThe Lord says, we must forgive.ā€ And with her that thought, as coming from the lips of Divine Love, was enough to settle the whole question of forgiveness of injuries and love to enemies.

ā€œWell,ā€ said Thomas Anderson, turning to Uncle Daniel, ā€œwe canā€™t count on yer to go wid us?ā€

ā€œBoys,ā€ said Uncle Daniel, and there was grief in his voice, ā€œIā€™se mighty glad you hab a chance for your freedom; but, ez I tole yer, I promised Marse Robert I would stay, anā€™ I musā€™ be as good as my word. Donā€™t you youngsters stay for an ole stager like me. Iā€™m ole anā€™ mosā€™ worn out. Freedom wouldnā€™t do much for me, but I want you all to be as free as the birds; so, you chillen, take your freedom when you kin get it.ā€

ā€œBut, Uncle Danā€™el, you wonā€™t say nothinā€™ ā€™bout our going, will you?ā€ said the youngest of the company.

Uncle Daniel slowly arose. There was a mournful flash in his eye, a tremor of emotion in his voice, as he said, ā€œLook yere, boys, de boy dat axed dat question war a newcomer on dis plantation, but some ob youā€™s bin here all ob your lives; did you eber know ob Uncle Danā€™el gittinā€™ any ob you inter trouble?ā€

ā€œNo, no,ā€ exclaimed a chorus of voices, ā€œbut manyā€™s de time youā€™ve held off de blows wen de oberseer got too mean, anā€™ cruelized us too much, wen Marse Robert war away. Anā€™ wen he got back, you made him settle de oberseerā€™s hash.ā€

ā€œWell, boys,ā€ said Uncle Daniel, with an air of mournful dignity, ā€œIā€™se de same Uncle Danā€™el I eber war. Ef any ob you wants to go, I habbenā€™t a word to say agin it. I specs dem Yankees be all right, but I knows Marse Robert, anā€™ I donā€™t know dem, anā€™ I ainā€™t a gwine ter throw away dirty water ā€™til I gits clean.ā€

ā€œWell, Uncle Ben,ā€ said Robert, addressing a stalwart man whose towering form and darkly flashing eye told that slavery had failed to put the crouch in his shoulders or general abjectness into his demeanor, ā€œyou will go with us, for sure, wonā€™t you?ā€

ā€œYes,ā€ spoke up Tom Anderson, ā€œā€Šā€™cause de traderā€™s done took your wife, anā€™ got her for hisā€™n now.ā€

As Ben Tunnel looked at the speaker, a spasm of agony and anger darkened his face and distorted his features, as if the blood of some strong race were stirring with sudden vigor through his veins. He clutched his hands together, as if he were struggling with an invisible foe, and for a moment he remained silent. Then suddenly raising his head, he exclaimed, ā€œBoys, thereā€™s not one of you loves freedom more than I do, butā ā€”ā€

ā€œBut what?ā€ said Tom. ā€œDo you think white folks is your besā€™ friends?ā€

ā€œIā€™ll think so when I lose my senses.ā€

ā€œWell, now, I donā€™t belieb youā€™re ā€™fraid, not de way I yeard you talkinā€™ to de oberseer wen he war threatninā€™ to hit your mudder. He saw you meant business, anā€™ he let her alone. But, whatā€™s to hinder you from gwine wid us?ā€

ā€œMy mother,ā€ he replied, in a low, firm voice. ā€œThat is the only thing that keeps me from going. If it had not been for her, I would have gone long ago. Sheā€™s all Iā€™ve got, anā€™ Iā€™m all sheā€™s got.ā€

It was touching to see the sorrow on the strong face, to detect the pathos and indignation in his voice, as he said, ā€œI used to love Mirandy as I love my life. I thought the sun rose and set in her. I never saw a handsomer woman than she was. But she fooled me all over the face and eyes, and took up with that hellhound of a trader, Lukens; anā€™ he gave her a chance to live easy, to wear fine clothes, anā€™ be waited on like a lady. I thought at first I would go crazy, but my poor mammy did all she could to comfort me. She would tell me there were as good fish in the sea as were ever caught out of it. Many a time Iā€™ve laid my poor head on her lap, when it seemed as if my brain was on fire and my heart was almost ready to burst. But in course of time I got over the worst of it; anā€™ Mirandy is the first anā€™ last woman that ever fooled me. But that dear old mammy of mine, I mean to stick by her as long as there is a piece of her. I canā€™t go over to the army anā€™ leave her behind, for if I did, anā€™ anything should happen, I would never forgive myself.ā€

ā€œBut couldnā€™t you take her with you,ā€ said Robert, ā€œthe soldiers said we could bring our women.ā€

ā€œIt isnā€™t that. The Union army is several miles from here, anā€™ my poor mammy is so skeery that, if I were trying to get her away and any of them Secesh would overtake us, anā€™ begin to question us, she would get skeered almost to death, anā€™ break down

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