Uncle Tom's Cabin Ch. 13-18

I think there is a lot of misconception about this book.  I have always heard that it was just about slaves being beaten, that is not true.  I am on Chapter 18 and so far she has only had slave owners who were kind to their slaves.  She also talks about how people thought of the slaves, that they were simple and lowly (The other title of the book is "Life Among the Lowly").  She doesn't realize it but even Mrs. Stowe believed they wer a "child like race".  Treat a human being like a child and they will act like a child.  She expresses that is why they were so slow, it is because they were suppressed into submission.  She also talks a lot about how people will have to answer for their sins at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
Happy Reading,
Missy

Uncle Tom's Cabin Ch. 11 and 12

Chapter 11 and 12 reintroduce George and let us know what he has been doing.  He is mostly white and has passed himself off as a rich white guy.  Chapter 12 has Uncle Tom with Harley buying up more slaves and what happens when the negroes are separated from their families.  Mrs. Stowe uses a lot of sarcasm when talking about the negroes (I have chosen to use therm negroes since that is what is used in her book).  If you read the book please keep this in mind.
I now want to address how people would twist the scripture to "justify" owning slaves.  Here a few of the verses and arguments found in these two chapters:
"But you know how the angel commanded Hagar to return to her mistress, and submit herself under her hand; and the apostle sent back Onesimus to his master."  "Let everyone abide in the condition in which he is called."  "It's undoubtedly the intention of Providence that the African race should be servants, - kept kept in a low condition....'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be."    Yes they do quote scriptures and stories in the Bible, but it is all taken out of context and twisted around.
They didn't look at the part that says:  "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them."    "My friend, .... how can you, how dare you, carry on a trade like this?  Look at those poor creatures!  Here I am, rejoicing in my heart that I am going home to my wife and child; and the same bell which is a signal to carry me onward towards them will part this poor man and his wife forever.  Depend upon it, God will bring you into judgement for this."
God does not allow for people to take His holy Word and twist it around they wilol stand in judgement for it.
Happy reading!
Missy

Uncle Tom's Cabin Chapters 9-10

Chapter nine starts off with a senator and his wife in Ohio discussing the new fugitive slave law that he just helped to vote in.  Mrs. Bird (the senator's wife) does not like the law at all and is asking her husband whether or not he could actually turn them in.  She says that she doesn't know much about politics, "but I can read my Bible; and there I see that I must feed the hungry,clothe the naked, and comfort the desolate; and that Bible I mean to follow."  How right she is!  Yes we are "to obey the laws of the land" according to the Bible, but only as long as they do not go against the Bible.  She also says:  "Obeying God never brings on public evils.  I know it can't.  It's always safest, all around, to do as He bids us." 
In the middle of this discussion who shows up but Eliza!  Of course they help her, who could turn away a mother trying to protect her child?
Chapter is about when Harley (the slave driver) comes back for Uncle Tom.  It is a very sad scene in the cabin as they eat their last breakfast together.  His wife and children are crying.  Even though Haley has been assured that Tom would not run away he puts leg shackles and handcuffs on him.  Master George, the 13 yr old son, is very upset about Tom leaving also.  George tries to convinve Tom to run away, but he won't do it, because it wouldn't be right.
Happy Reading!