nglish。 Down goes the hammer again；—Susan is sold！ She goes down from the block； stops； looks wistfully back；—her daughter stretches her hands towards her。 She looks with agony in the face of the man who has bought her；—a respectable middle…aged man； of benevolent countenance。
“O； Mas’r； please do buy my daughter！”
“I’d like to； but I’m afraid I can’t afford it！” said the gentleman； looking； with painful interest； as the young girl mounted the block； and looked around her with a frightened and timid glance。
The blood flushes painfully in her otherwise colorless cheek； her eye has a feverish fire； and her mother groans to see that she looks more beautiful than she ever saw her before。 The auctioneer sees his advantage； and expatiates volubly in mingled French and English； and bids rise in rapid sucomession。
“I’ll do anything in reason；” said the benevolent…looking gentleman； pressing in and joining with the bids。 In a few moments they have run beyond his purse。 He is silent； the auctioneer grows warmer； but bids gradually drop off。 It lies now between an aristocratic old citizen and our bullet…headed acquaintance。 The citizen bids for a few turns； contemptuously measuring his opponent； but the bullet…head has the advantage over him； both in obstinacy and concealed length of purse； and the controversy lasts but a moment； the hammer falls；—he has got the girl； body and soul； unless God help her！
Her master is Mr。 Legree； who owns a cotton plantation on the Red river。 She is pushed along into the same lot with Tom and two other men； and goes off； weeping as she goes。
The benevolent gentleman is sorry； but； then； the thing happens every day！ One sees girls and mothers crying； at these sales； always！ it can’t be helped； &c。； and he walks off； with his acquisition； in another direction。
Two days after； the lawyer of the Christian firm of B。 & Co。； New York； send on their money to them。 On the reverse of that draft； so obtained； let them write these words of the great Paymaster； to whom they shall make up their acomount in a future day： “When he maketh inquisition for blood； he forgetteth not the cry of the humble！”
Chapter 31
The Middle Passage
“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil； and canst not look upon iniquity： wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously； and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he？”—Hab。 1： 13。
On the lower part of a small； mean boat； on the Red river； Tom sat；—chains on his wrists； chains on his feet； and a weight heavier than chains lay on his heart。 All had faded from his sky；—moon and star； all had passed by him； as the trees and banks were now passing； to return no more。 Kentucky home； with wife and children； and indulgent owners； St。 Clare home； with all its refinements and splendors； the golden head of Eva； with its saint…like eyes； the proud； gay； handsome； seemingly careless； yet ever…kind St。 Clare； hours of ease and indulgent leisure；—all gone！ and in place thereof； what remains？
It is one of the bitterest apportionments of a lot of slavery； that the negro； sympathetic and assimilative； after acquiring； in a refined family； the tastes and feelings which form the atmosphere of such a place； is not the less liable to become the bond…slave of the coarsest and most brutal；—just as a chair or table； which once decorated the superb saloon； comes； at last； battered and defaced； to the barroom of some filthy tavern； or some low haunt of vulgar debauchery。 The great difference is； that the table and chair cannot feel； and the man can； for even a legal enactment that he shall be “taken； reputed； adjudged in law； to be a chattel personal；” cannot blot out his soul； with its own private little world of memories； hopes； loves； fears； and desires。
Mr。 Simon Legree； Tom’s master； had purchased slaves at one place and another； in New Orleans； to the number of eight； and driven them； handcuffed； in couples of two and two； down to the good steamer Pirate； which lay at the levee； ready for a trip up the Red river。
Having got them fairly on board； and the boat being off； he came round； with that air of efficiency which ever characterized him； to take a review of them。 Stopping opposite to Tom； who had been attired for sale in his best broadcloth suit； with well…starched linen and shining boots； he briefly expressed himself as follows：
“Stand up。”
Tom stood up。
“Take off that stock！” and； as Tom； encumbered by his fetters； proceeded to do it； he assisted him； by pulling it； with no gentle hand； from his neck； and putting it in his pocket。
Legree now turned to Tom’s trunk； which； previous to this； he had been ransacking； and； taking from it a pair of old pantaloons and dilapidated coat； which Tom had been wont to put on about his stable…work； he said； liberating Tom’s hands from the handcuffs； and pointing to a recess in among the boxes；
“You go there； and put these on。”
Tom obeyed； and in a few moments returned。
“Take off your boots；” said Mr。 Legree。
Tom did so。
“There；” said the former； throwing him a pair of coarse； stout shoes； such as were common among the slaves； “put these on。”
In Tom’s hurried exchange； he had not forgotten to transfer his cherished Bible to his pocket。 It was well he did so； for Mr。 Legree； having refitted Tom’s handcuffs； proceeded deliberately to investigate the contents of his pockets。 He drew out a silk handkerchief； and put it into his own pocket。 Several little trifles； which Tom had treasured； chiefly because they had amused Eva； he looked upon with a contemptuous grunt； and tossed them over his shoulder into the river。
Tom’s Methodist hymn…book； which； in his hurry； he had forgotten； he now held up and turned over。
Humph！ pious； to be sure。 So； what’s yer name；—you belong to the church； eh？”
“Yes； Mas’r；” said Tom； firmly。
“Well； I’ll soon have that out of you。 I have none o’ yer bawling； praying； singing niggers on my place； so remember。 Now； mind yourself；” he said； with a stamp and a fierce glance of his gray eye； directed at Tom； “I’m your church now！ You understand；—you’ve got to be as I say。”
Something within the silent black man answered No！ and； as if repeated by an invisible voice； came the words of an old prophetic scroll； as Eva had often read them to him；—“Fear not！ for I have redeemed thee。 I have called thee by name。 Thou art Mine！”
But Simon Legree heard no voice。 That voice is one he never shall hear。 He only glared for a moment on the downcast face of Tom； and walked off。 He took Tom’s trunk； which contained a very neat and abundant wardrobe； to the forecastle； where it was soon surrounded by various hands of the boat。 With much laughing； at the expense of niggers who tried to be gentlemen； the articles very readily were sold to one and another； and the empty trunk finally put up at auction。 It was a good joke； they all thought； especially to see how Tom looked after his things； as they were going this way and that； and then the auction of the trunk； that was funnier than all； and ocomasioned abundant witticisms。
This little affair being over； Simon sauntered up again to his property。
“Now； Tom； I’ve relieved you of