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m sat； like one stunned； at the fire。 Suddenly everything around him seemed to fade； and a vision rose before him of one crowned with thorns； buffeted and bleeding。 Tom gazed； in awe and wonder； at the majestic patience of the face； the deep； pathetic eyes thrilled him to his inmost heart； his soul woke； as； with floods of emotion； he stretched out his hands and fell upon his knees；—when； gradually； the vision changed： the sharp thorns became rays of glory； and； in splendor inconceivable； he saw that same face bending compassionately towards him； and a voice said； “He that overcometh shall sit down with me on my throne； even as I also overcome； and am set down with my Father on his throne。”
How long Tom lay there； he knew not。 When he came to himself； the fire was gone out； his clothes were wet with the chill and drenching dews； but the dread soul…crisis was past； and； in the joy that filled him； he no longer felt hunger； cold； degradation； disappointment； wretchedness。 From his deepest soul； he that hour loosed and parted from every hope in life that now is； and offered his own will an unquestioning sacrifice to the Infinite。 Tom looked up to the silent； ever…living stars；—types of the angelic hosts who ever look down on man； and the solitude of the night rung with the triumphant words of a hymn； which he had sung often in happier days； but never with such feeling as now：
“The earth shall be dissolved like snow；
The sun shall cease to shine；
But God； who called me here below；
Shall be forever mine。
“And when this mortal life shall fail；
And flesh and sense shall cease；
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace。
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years；
Bright shining like the sun；
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun。”
Those who have been familiar with the religious histories of the slave population know that relations like what we have narrated are very common among them。 We have heard some from their own lips； of a very touching and affecting character。 The psychologist tells us of a state； in which the affections and images of the mind become so dominant and overpowering； that they press into their service the outward imagining。 Who shall measure what an all…pervading Spirit may do with these capabilities of our mortality； or the ways in which He may encourage the desponding souls of the desolate？ If the poor forgotten slave believes that Jesus hath appeared and spoken to him； who shall contradict him？ Did He not say that his； mission； in all ages； was to bind up the broken…hearted； and set at liberty them that are bruised？
When the dim gray of dawn woke the slumberers to go forth to the field； there was among those tattered and shivering wretches one who walked with an exultant tread； for firmer than the ground he trod on was his strong faith in Almighty； eternal love。 Ah； Legree； try all your forces now！ Utmost agony； woe； degradation； want； and loss of all things； shall only hasten on the process by which he shall be made a king and a priest unto God！
From this time； an inviolable sphere of peace encompassed 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； “wouldn’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’ll tree de coon。 Ho； ho； ho！”
This was spoken as Legree was getting on 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 pencilled on the turf below； and there was that transparent stillness in the air which it seems almost unholy to disturb。 Legree was a little distance from the quarters； when he heard the voice of some one singing。 It was not a usual sound there； and he paused to listen。 A musical tenor voice sang；
“When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies；
I’ll bid farewell to every fear；
And wipe my weeping eyes
“Should earth against my soul engage；
And hellish darts be hurled；
Then I can smile at Satan’s rage；
And face a frowning world。
“Let cares like a wild deluge come；
And storms of sorrow fall；
May I but safely reach my home；
My god； my Heaven； my All。”2
“So ho！” said Legree to himself； “he thinks so； does he？ How I hate these cursed Methodist hymns！ Here； you nigger；” said he； coming suddenly out upon Tom； and raising his riding…whip； “how dare you be gettin’ up this yer row； when you ought to be in bed？ Shut yer old black gash； and get along in with you！”
“Yes； Mas’r；” said Tom； with ready cheerfulness； as he rose to to in。
Legree was provoked beyond measure by Tom’s evident happiness； and riding up to him； belabored him over his head and shoulders。
“There； you dog；” he said； “see if you’ll feel so comfortable； after that！”
But the blows fell now only on the outer man； and not； as before； on the heart。 Tom stood perfectly submissive； and yet Legree could not hide from himself that his power over his bond thrall was somehow gone。 And； as Tom disappeared in his cabin； and he wheeled his horse suddenly round； there passed through his mind one of those vivid flashes that often send the lightning of conscience across the dark and wicked soul。 He understood full well that it was God who was standing between him and his victim； and he blasphemed him。 That submissive and silent man； whom taunts； nor threats； nor stripes； nor cruelties； could disturb； roused a voice within him； such as of old his Master roused in the demoniac soul； saying； “What have we to do with thee； thou Jesus of Nazareth？—art thou come to torment us before the time？”
Tom’s whole soul overflowed with compassion and sympathy for the poor wretches by whom he was surrounded。 To him it seemed as if his life…sorrows were now over； and as if； out of that strange treasury of peace and joy； with which he had been endowed from above； he longed to pour out something for the relief of their woes。 It is true； opportunities were scanty； but； on the way to the fields； and back again； and during the hours of labor； chances fell in his way of extending a helping…hand to the weary； the disheartened and discouraged。 The poor； worn…down； brutalized creatures； at first； could scarce comprehend this； but； when it was continued week after week； and month after month； it began to awaken long…silent chords in their benumbed hearts。 Gradually and imperceptibly the strange； silent； patient man； who was ready to bear every one’s burden； and sought help from none；—who stood aside for all； and came last； and took least； yet was foremost to share his little all with any who needed；—the man who； in cold nights； would give up his tattered blanket to add to the comfort of some woman who shivered with sickness； and who filled the baskets of the weaker ones in the field； at the terrible risk of coming short in his own measure；—and who； though pursued with unrelenting cruelty by their common tyrant； never joined in uttering a word of reviling or cursing；—this man； at last； began to have a strange power over them； and； when the more pressing season was past； and they were allowed again their Sundays for their own use； many would gather together to hear from him of Jesus。 They would gladly have met to hear； and pray； and sing； in some place； together； but Legree would not permit it； and more than once broke up such attempts； with oaths and brutal execrations；—so that the blessed news had to circulate from individual to individual。 Yet who can speak the simple joy with which some of those poor outcasts； to whom life was a joyless journey to a dark unknown； heard of a compassionate Redeemer and a heavenly home？ It is the statement of missionaries； that； of all races of the earth； none have received the Gospel with such eager docility as the African。 The principle of reliance and unquestioning faith； which is its foundation； is more a native element in this race than any other； and it has often been found among them； that a stray seed of truth； borne on some breeze of acomident into hearts the most ignorant； has sprung up into fruit； whose abundance has shamed that of higher and more skilful culture。
The poor mulatto woman； whose simple faith had been well…nigh crushed and overwhelmed； by the avalanche of cruelty and wrong which had fallen upon her； felt her soul raised up by the hymns and passages of Holy Writ； which this lowly missionary breathed into her ear in intervals； as they were going to and returning from work； and even the half…crazed and wandering mind of Cassy was soothed and calmed by his simple and unobtrusive influences。
Stung to madness and despair by the crushing agonies of a life； Cassy had often resolved in her soul an hour of retribution； when her hand should avenge on her oppressor all the injustice and cruelty to which she had been witness； or which she had in her own person suffered。
One night； after all in Tom’s cabin were sunk in sleep； he was suddenly aroused by seeing her face at the hole between the logs； that served for a window。 She made a silent gesture for him to come out。
Tom came out the door。 It was between one and two o’clock at night；—broad； calm； still moonlight。 Tom remarked； as the light of the moon fell upon Cassy’s large； black eyes； that there was a wild and peculiar glare in them； unlike their wonted fixed despair。
“Come here； Father Tom；” she said； laying her small hand on his wrist； and drawing him forward with a force as if the hand were of steel； “come here；—I’ve news for you。”
“What； Misse Cassy？” said Tom； anxiously。
“Tom； wouldn’t you like your liberty？”
“I shall have it； Misse； in God’s time；” said Tom。 “Ay； but you may have it tonight；” said Cassy； with a flash of sudden energy。 “Come on。”
Tom hesitated。
“Come！” said she； in a whisper； fixing her black eyes on him。 “Come along！ He’s asleep—sound。 I put enough into his brandy to keep him so。 I wish I’d had more；—I shouldn’t have wanted you。 But come； the back door is unlocked； there’s an axe there； I put it there；—his room door is open； I’ll show you the way。
I’d a done it myself； only my arms are so weak。 Come along！”
“Not for ten thousand worlds； Misse！” said Tom； firmly； stopping and holding her back； as she was pressing forward。
“But think of all these poor creatures；” said Cassy。 “We might set them all free； and go somewhere in the swamps； and find an island； and live by ourselves； I’ve heard of its being done。 Any life is better than this。”
“No！” said Tom； firmly。 “No！ good never comes of wickedness。 I’d sooner chop my right hand off！”
“Then I shall do it；” said Cassy； turning。
“O； Misse Cassy！” said Tom； throwing himself before her； “for the dear Lord’s sake that died for ye； don’t sell your precious soul to the devil； that way！ Nothing but evil will come of it。 The Lord hasn’t called us to wrath。 We must suffer； and wait his time。”
“Wait！” said Cassy。 “Haven’t I waited？—waited till my head is dizzy and my heart sick？ What has he made me suffer？ What has he made hundreds of poor creatures suffer？ Isn’t he wringing the life…blood out of you？ I’m called on； they call me！ His time’s come； and I’ll have his heart’s blood！”
“No； no； no！” said Tom； holding her small hands； which were clenched with spasmodic violence。 “No； ye poor； lost soul； that ye mustn’t do。 The dear； blessed Lord never shed no blood but his own； and that he poured out for us when we was enemies。 Lord； help us to follow his steps； and love our enemies。”
“Love！” said Cassy； with a fierce glare； “love such enemies！ It isn’t in flesh and blood。”
“No； Misse； it isn’t；” said Tom； looking up； “but He gives it to us； and that’s the victory。 When we can love and pray over all and through all； the battle’s past； and the victory’s come；—glory be to God！” And； with streaming eyes and choking voice； the black man looked up to heaven。
And this； oh Africa！ latest cal