Several men were there carrying a load. It was Mr. St. Clare. He had been hurt in an accident, and was dying.
Very gently they laid him on a sofa. Nothing could be done. In a short time he had gone to join his little Eva.
CHAPTER XVII
UNCLE TOM'S NEW MASTER
There had been great grief in the house when Eva died. Now there was not only sorrow, but gloom and fear.
The kind master was dead, and the poor slaves asked themselves in despair what would happen to them now.
They were not long left in doubt. One morning Mrs. St. Clare told them that they were all to be sold. She was going back to her father's house to live, and would not want them any more.
Poor Uncle Tom! The news was a dreadful blow to him. For a few days he had been so happy in the thought of going home. Once more, after all these years, he thought he would see his dear wife and little children. Now, at one stroke, he had lost both his kind master and his hope of freedom.
Instead of going home, he was to be sent farther away than ever from his dear ones. He could not bear it. He tried to say, "Thy will be done", but bitter tears almost choked the words.
He had one hope left. He would ask Miss Ophelia to speak to Mrs. St. Clare for him.