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ade 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