200/min Reading<23>--Uncle Tom's Cabin

 

"What is it, Eliza?" asked Mr. Shelby.

"Sir, I was just looking for little Harry, please, sir," replied the woman.

"Well, take him with you then, girl," said her master. The mother took the child and quickly closed the door behind her.

"Wow, she's a beauty!" said Haley.

"You could get a good price for her down in Orleans. What are you asking?"

"She's not for sale. My wife will never let her go."

"Fine. So I'll just take the boy, then."

"What would you do with a small boy?" said Shelby.

"They pay well for boys like this one. They train them to work as waiters in fancy hotels and restaurants. This one will get a good price."

"I couldn't," said Shelby, thoughtfully, "I'm a humane man and I could never take a child away from its mother."

"Well, I'm humane, too, sir. I hate hearing women crying and screaming. But Business is business. Now all you to do is send the girl away for a week or so. You could tell your wife to buy the girl some new earrings or something. She'll soon forget."

"I can't do that!" said Shelby.

"Look, sir, we aren't talking about white people here. [203 words]