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anā€™ begin to cry, anā€™ then the fat would be in the fire. So, while I love freedom more than a child loves its motherā€™s milk, Iā€™ve made up my mind to stay on the plantation. I wish, from the bottom of my heart, I could go. But I canā€™t take her along with me, anā€™ I donā€™t want to be free and leave her behind in slavery. I was only five years old when my master and, as I believe, father, sold us both here to this lower country, anā€™ weā€™ve been here ever since. Itā€™s no use talking, I wonā€™t leave her to be run over by everybody.ā€

A few evenings after this interview, the Union soldiers entered the town of Cā āøŗ, and established their headquarters near the home of Thomas Anderson.

Out of the little company, almost everyone deserted to the Union army, leaving Uncle Daniel faithful to his trust, and Ben Tunnel hushing his heartā€™s deep aspirations for freedom in a passionate devotion to his timid and affectionate mother.

IV Arrival of the Union Army

A few evenings before the stampede of Robert and his friends to the army, and as he sat alone in his room reading the latest news from the paper he had secreted, he heard a cautious tread and a low tap at his window. He opened the door quietly and whispered:ā ā€”

ā€œAnything new, Tom?ā€

ā€œYes.ā€

ā€œWhat is it? Come in.ā€

ā€œWell, Iā€™se done bin seen dem Yankees, anā€™ dere ainā€™t a bit of troof in dem stories Iā€™se bin yerin ā€™bout ā€™em.ā€

ā€œWhere did you see ā€™em?ā€

ā€œDown in de woods whar Marster tole us to hide. Yesterday ole Marse sent for me to come in de settinā€™-room. Anā€™ what do you think? Instead ob makinā€™ me stanā€™ wid my hat in my hanā€™ while he went froo a whole rigamarole, he axed me to sit down, anā€™ he tole me he ā€™spected de Yankees would want us to go inter de army, anā€™ dey would put us in front whar weā€™d all git killed; anā€™ I tole him I didnā€™t want to go, I didnā€™t want to git all momached up. Anā€™ den he said weā€™d better go down in de woods anā€™ hide. Massa Tom and Frank said weā€™d better go as quick as eber we could. Dey said dem Yankees would put us in dere wagons and make us haul like we war mules. Marse Tom ainā€™t libinā€™ at de great house jisā€™ now. Heā€™s keepinā€™ bachellarā€™s hall.ā€

ā€œDidnā€™t he go to the battle?ā€

ā€œNo; he founā€™ a pore white man who war hard up for money, anā€™ he got him to go.ā€

ā€œBut, Tom, you didnā€™t believe these stories about the Yankees. Tom and Frank can lie as fast as horses can trot. They wanted to scare you, and keep you from going to the Union army.ā€

ā€œI knows dat now, but I didnā€™t ā€™spect so den.ā€

ā€œWell, when did you see the soldiers? Where are they? And what did they say to you?ā€

ā€œDeyā€™s right down in Gundoverā€™s woods. Anā€™ de Gineralā€™s got his headquarters almosā€™ next door to our house.ā€

ā€œThat near? Oh, you donā€™t say so!ā€

ā€œYes, I do. Anā€™, oh, golly, ainā€™t I so glad! I jisā€™ stole yere to told you all ā€™bout it. Yesterday morninā€™ I war splittinā€™ some wood to git my breakfasā€™, anā€™ I met one ob dem Yankee sogers. Well, I war so skeered, my heart flew right up in my mouf, but I made my manners to him and said, ā€˜Good morninā€™, Massa.ā€™ He said, ā€˜Good morninā€™; but donā€™t call me ā€œmassa.ā€ā€Šā€™ Dat war de fust white man I eber seed dat didnā€™t want ter be called ā€˜massa,ā€™ eben ef he war as pore as Jobā€™s turkey. Den I begin to feel right sheepish, anā€™ he axed me ef my marster war at home, anā€™ ef he war a Reb. I tole him he hadnā€™t gone to de war, but he war Secesh all froo, inside and outside. He war too ole to go to de war, but dat he war all de time gruntinā€™ anā€™ groaninā€™, anā€™ I ā€™spected heā€™d grunt hisself to death.ā€

ā€œWhat did he say?ā€

ā€œHe said he specs heā€™ll grunt worser dan dat fore dey get froo wid him. Den he axed me ef I would hab some breakfas,ā€™ anā€™ I said, ā€˜No, tā€™ank you, sir.ā€™ Anā€™ I war jisā€™ as hungry as a dorg, but I war ā€™feared to eat. I war ā€™feared he war gwine to pizen me.ā€

ā€œPoison you! donā€™t you know the Yankees are our best friends?ā€

ā€œWell, ef datā€™s so, Iā€™se mighty glad, cause de woods is full ob dem.ā€

ā€œNow, Tom, I thought you had cut your eyeteeth long enough not to let them Anderson boys fool you. Tom, you must not think because a white man says a thing, it must be so, and that a colored manā€™s word is no account ā€™longside of his. Tom, if ever we get our freedom, weā€™ve got to learn to trust each other and stick together if we would be a people. Somebody else can read the papers as well as Marse Tom and Frank. My ole Miss knows I can read the papers, anā€™ she never tries to scare me with big whoppers ā€™bout the Yankees. She knows she canā€™t catch ole birds with chaff, so she is just as sweet as a peach to her Bobby. But as soon as I get a chance I will play her a trick the devil never did.ā€

ā€œWhatā€™s that?ā€

ā€œIā€™ll leave her. I ainā€™t forgot how she sold my mother from me. Many a night I have cried myself to sleep, thinking about her, and when I get free I mean to hunt her up.ā€

ā€œWell, I ainā€™t tole you all. De gemman said he war ā€™cruiting for de army; dat Massa Linkum hab set us all free, anā€™ dat he wanted some more sogers to put down dem Secesh; dat we should all hab our freedom, our wages, anā€™ some kind ob money. I couldnā€™t call it like

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