"Deem not the just by Heaven forgot! Though life its common gifts deny,-- Though, with a crushed and bleeding heart, And spurned of man, he goes to die! For God hath marked each sorrowing day, And numbered every bitter tear, And heaven's long years of bliss shall pay For all his children suffer here." BRYANT.*

* This poem does not appear in the collected works of William Cullen Bryant, nor in the collected poems of his brother, John Howard Bryant. It was probably copied from a newspaper or magazine.

The longest way must have its close,--the gloomiest night will wear onto a morning. An eternal, inexorable lapse of moments is ever hurryingthe day of the evil to an eternal night, and the night of the just toan eternal day. We have walked with our humble friend thus far in thevalley of slavery; first through flowery fields of ease and indulgence,then through heart-breaking separations from all that man holds dear.Again, we have waited with him in a sunny island, where generous handsconcealed his chains with flowers; and, lastly, we have followed himwhen the last ray of earthly hope went out in night, and seen how,in the blackness of earthly darkness, the firmament of the unseen hasblazed with stars of new and significant lustre.

The morning-star now stands over the tops of the mountains, and galesand breezes, not of earth, show that the gates of day are unclosing.

The escape of Cassy and Emmeline irritated the before surly temper ofLegree to the last degree; and his fury, as was to be expected, fellupon the defenceless head of Tom. When he hurriedly announced thetidings among his hands, there was a sudden light in Tom's eye, a suddenupraising of his hands, that did not escape him. He saw that he did notjoin the muster of the pursuers. He thought of forcing him to do it;but, having had, of old, experience of his inflexibility when commandedto take part in any deed of inhumanity, he would not, in his hurry, stopto enter into any conflict with him.

Tom, therefore, remained behind, with a few who had learned of him topray, and offered up prayers for the escape of the fugitives.

When Legree returned, baffled and disappointed, all the long-workinghatred of his soul towards his slave began to gather in a deadly anddesperate form. Had not this man braved him,--steadily, powerfully,resistlessly,--ever since he bought him? Was there not a spirit in himwhich, silent as it was, burned on him like the fires of perdition?

"I _hate_ him!" said Legree, that night, as he sat up in his bed; "I_hate_ him! And isn't he MINE? Can't I do what I like with him? Who's tohinder, I wonder?" And Legree clenched his fist, and shook it, as if hehad something in his hands that he could rend in pieces.

But, then, Tom was a faithful, valuable servant; and, although Legreehated him the more for that, yet the consideration was still somewhat ofa restraint to him.

The next morning, he determined to say nothing, as yet; to assemblea party, from some neighboring plantations, with dogs and guns;to surround the swamp, and go about the hunt systematically. If itsucceeded, well and good; if not, he would summon Tom before him,and--his teeth clenched and his blood boiled--_then_ he would breakthe fellow down, or--there was a dire inward whisper, to which his soulassented.

Ye say that the _interest_ of the master is a sufficient safeguard forthe slave. In the fury of man's mad will, he will wittingly, and withopen eye, sell his own soul to the devil to gain his ends; and will hebe more careful of his neighbor's body?

"Well," said Cassy, the next day, from the garret, as she reconnoitredthrough the knot-hole, "the hunt's going to begin again, today!"

Three or four mounted horsemen were curvetting about, on the spacein front of the house; and one or two leashes of strange dogs werestruggling with the negroes who held them, baying and barking at eachother.

The men are, two of them, overseers of plantations in the vicinity;and others were some of Legree's associates at the tavern-bar of aneighboring city, who had come for the interest of the sport. A morehard-favored set, perhaps, could not be imagined. Legree was servingbrandy, profusely, round among them, as also among the negroes, who hadbeen detailed from the various plantations for this service; for it wasan object to make every service of this kind, among the negroes, as muchof a holiday as possible.

Cassy placed her ear at the knot-hole; and, as the morning air blewdirectly towards the house, she could overhear a good deal of theconversation. A grave sneer overcast the dark, severe gravity of herface, as she listened, and heard them divide out the ground, discuss therival merits of the dogs, give orders about firing, and the treatment ofeach, in case of capture.

Cassy drew back; and, clasping her hands, looked upward, and said, "O,great Almighty God! we are _all_ sinners; but what have _we_ done, morethan all the rest of the world, that we should be treated so?"

There was a terrible earnestness in her face and voice, as she spoke.

"If it wasn't for _you_, child," she said, looking at Emmeline, "I'd_go_ out to them; and I'd thank any one of them that _would_ shootme down; for what use will freedom be to me? Can it give me back mychildren, or make me what I used to be?"

Emmeline, in her child-like simplicity, was half afraid of the darkmoods of Cassy. She looked perplexed, but made no answer. She only tookher hand, with a gentle, caressing movement.

"Don't!" said Cassy, trying to draw it away; "you'll get me to lovingyou; and I never mean to love anything, again!"

"Poor Cassy!" said Emmeline, "don't feel so! If the Lord gives usliberty, perhaps he'll give you back your daughter; at any rate, I'll belike a daughter to you. I know I'll never see my poor old mother again!I shall love you, Cassy, whether you love me or not!"

The gentle, child-like spirit conquered. Cassy sat down by her, puther arm round her neck, stroked her soft, brown hair; and Emmeline thenwondered at the beauty of her magnificent eyes, now soft with tears.

"O, Em!" said Cassy, "I've hungered for my children, and thirsted forthem, and my eyes fail with longing for them! Here! here!" she said,striking her breast, "it's all desolate, all empty! If God would give meback my children, then I could pray."

"You must trust him, Cassy," said Emmeline; "he is our Father!"

"His wrath is upon us," said Cassy; "he has turned away in anger."

"No, Cassy! He will be good to us! Let us hope in Him," saidEmmeline,--"I always have had hope."

The hunt was long, animated, and thorough, but unsuccessful; and, withgrave, ironic exultation, Cassy looked down on Legree, as, weary anddispirited, he alighted from his horse.

"Now, Quimbo," said Legree, as he stretched himself down in thesitting-room, "you jest go and walk that Tom up here, right away! Theold cuss is at the bottom of this yer whole matter; and I'll have it outof his old black hide, or I'll know the reason why!"

Sambo and Quimbo, both, though hating each other, were joined in onemind by a no less cordial hatred of Tom. Legree had told them, at first,that he had bought him for a general overseer, in his absence; and thishad begun an ill will, on their part, which had increased, in theirdebased and servile natures, as they saw him becoming obnoxious totheir master's displeasure. Quimbo, therefore, departed, with a will, toexecute his orders.

Tom heard the message with a forewarning heart; for he knew all theplan of the fugitives' escape, and the place of their presentconcealment;--he knew the deadly character of the man he had to dealwith, and his despotic power. But he felt strong in God to meet death,rather than betray the helpless.

He sat his basket down by the row, and, looking up, said, "Into thyhands I commend my spirit! Thou hast redeemed me, oh Lord God of truth!"and then quietly yielded himself to the rough, brutal grasp with whichQuimbo seized him.

"Ay, ay!" said the giant, as he dragged him along; "ye'll cotch it, now!I'll boun' Mas'r's back 's up _high!_ No sneaking out, now! Tell ye,ye'll get it, and no mistake! See how ye'll look, now, helpin' Mas'r'sniggers to run away! See what ye'll get!"

The savage words none of them reached that ear!--a higher voice therewas saying, "Fear not them that kill the body, and, after that, have nomore that they can do." Nerve and bone of that poor man's body vibratedto those words, as if touched by the finger of God; and he felt thestrength of a thousand souls in one. As he passed along, the trees andbushes, the huts of his servitude, the whole scene of his degradation,seemed to whirl by him as the landscape by the rushing ear. His soulthrobbed,--his home was in sight,--and the hour of release seemed athand.

"Well, Tom!" said Legree, walking up, and seizing him grimly by thecollar of his coat, and speaking through his teeth, in a paroxysm ofdetermined rage, "do you know I've made up my mind to KILL YOU?"

"It's very likely, Mas'r," said Tom, calmly.

"I _have_," said Legree, with a grim, terrible calmness,"_done--just--that--thing_, Tom, unless you'll tell me what you knowabout these yer gals!"

Tom stood silent.

"D'ye hear?" said Legree, stamping, with a roar like that of an incensedlion. "Speak!"

"_I han't got nothing to tell, Mas'r_," said Tom, with a slow, firm,deliberate utterance.

"Do you dare to tell me, ye old black Christian, ye don't _know_?" saidLegree.

Tom was silent.

"Speak!" thundered Legree, striking him furiously. "Do you knowanything?"

"I know, Mas'r; but I can't tell anything. _I can die!_"

Legree drew in a long breath; and, suppressing his rage, took Tom by thearm, and, approaching his face almost to his, said, in a terrible voice,"Hark 'e, Tom!--ye think, 'cause I've let you off before, I don't meanwhat I say; but, this time, _I've made up my mind_, and counted thecost. You've always stood it out again' me: now, _I'll conquer ye, orkill ye!_--one or t' other. I'll count every drop of blood there is inyou, and take 'em, one by one, till ye give up!"

Tom looked up to his master, and answered, "Mas'r, if you was sick,or in trouble, or dying, and I could save ye, I'd _give_ ye my heart'sblood; and, if taking every drop of blood in this poor old body wouldsave your precious soul, I'd give 'em freely, as the Lord gave his forme. O, Mas'r! don't bring this great sin on your soul! It will hurt youmore than 't will me! Do the worst you can, my troubles'll be over soon;but, if ye don't repent, yours won't _never_ end!"

Like a strange snatch of heavenly music, heard in the lull of a tempest,this burst of feeling made a moment's blank pause. Legree stood aghast,and looked at Tom; and there was such a silence, that the tick of theold clock could be heard, measuring, with silent touch, the last momentsof mercy and probation to that hardened heart.

It was but a moment. There was one hesitating pause,--one irresolute,relenting thrill,--and the spirit of evil came back, with seven-foldvehemence; and Legree, foaming with rage, smote his victim to theground.

Scenes of blood and cruelty are shocking to our ear and heart. Whatman has nerve to do, man has not nerve to hear. What brother-man andbrother-Christian must suffer, cannot be told us, even in our secretchamber, it so harrows the soul! And yet, oh my country! these thingsare done under the shadow of thy laws! O, Christ! thy church sees them,almost in silence!

But, of old, there was One whose suffering changed an instrument oftorture, degradation and shame, into a symbol of glory, honor, andimmortal life; and, where His spirit is, neither degrading stripes, norblood, nor insults, can make the Christian's last struggle less thanglorious.

Was he alone, that long night, whose brave, loving spirit was bearingup, in that old shed, against buffeting and brutal stripes?

Nay! There stood by him ONE,--seen by him alone,--"like unto the Son ofGod."

The tempter stood by him, too,--blinded by furious, despoticwill,--every moment pressing him to shun that agony by the betrayal ofthe innocent. But the brave, true heart was firm on the Eternal Rock.Like his Master, he knew that, if he saved others, himself he could notsave; nor could utmost extremity wring from him words, save of prayersand holy trust.

"He's most gone, Mas'r," said Sambo, touched, in spite of himself, bythe patience of his victim.

"Pay away, till he gives up! Give it to him!--give it to him!" shoutedLegree. "I'll take every drop of blood he has, unless he confesses!"

Tom opened his eyes, and looked upon his master. "Ye poor miserablecritter!" he said, "there ain't no more ye can do! I forgive ye, withall my soul!" and he fainted entirely away.

"I b'lieve, my soul, he's done for, finally," said Legree, steppingforward, to look at him. "Yes, he is! Well, his mouth's shut up, atlast,--that's one comfort!"

Yes, Legree; but who shall shut up that voice in thy soul? that soul,past repentance, past prayer, past hope, in whom the fire that nevershall be quenched is already burning!

Yet Tom was not quite gone. His wondrous words and pious prayershad struck upon the hearts of the imbruted blacks, who had been theinstruments of cruelty upon him; and, the instant Legree withdrew,they took him down, and, in their ignorance, sought to call him back tolife,--as if _that_ were any favor to him.

"Sartin, we 's been doin' a drefful wicked thing!" said Sambo; "hopesMas'r'll have to 'count for it, and not we."

They washed his wounds,--they provided a rude bed, of some refusecotton, for him to lie down on; and one of them, stealing up to thehouse, begged a drink of brandy of Legree, pretending that he was tired,and wanted it for himself. He brought it back, and poured it down Tom'sthroat.

"O, Tom!" said Quimbo, "we's been awful wicked to ye!"

"I forgive ye, with all my heart!" said Tom, faintly.

"O, Tom! do tell us who is _Jesus_, anyhow?" said Sambo;--"Jesus, that'sbeen a standin' by you so, all this night!--Who is he?"

The word roused the failing, fainting spirit. He poured forth a fewenergetic sentences of that wondrous One,--his life, his death, hiseverlasting presence, and power to save.

They wept,--both the two savage men.

"Why didn't I never hear this before?" said Sambo; "but I do believe!--Ican't help it! Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!"

"Poor critters!" said Tom, "I'd be willing to bar all I have, if it'llonly bring ye to Christ! O, Lord! give me these two more souls, I pray!"

That prayer was answered!