lly and truly a God-fearing man--a
man of unimpeachable veracity, strict honesty, and ardent piety; above
suspicion--above crime--a perfect man--a man of almost angelic purity.
We, moreover, learn from her narrative, that good old Tom, (God bless
his soul and preserve his dust), was a kind of overseer on Shelby's
farm; that to him was committed the oversight and supervision, of
whatever pertained to Shelby's farming operations and interests. And
as a proof of Shelby's implicit confidence in him, she states, that he
sent Tom alone at one time, to Cincinnati on business, and that he
returned home with five hundred dollars in his pocket. Tom, according
to her account, was a great favorite, not only with his master, but
also with his mistress and the entire family. Shelby's son George was
devotedly attached to him.

We learn also from the narrative, that Tom was an old man, not less
than forty-five, and probably fifty years of age. She tells us that
Shelby had a son, by name George, who was thirteen years of age; and
that Tom was seven years older than his master Shelby. Supposing that
Shelby was twenty-five years of age when his son George was born; and
that George was thirteen years of age, and that Tom was seven years
older than his master, it stands thus: seven added to twenty-five make
thirty-two, and thirteen added to thirty-two, make forty-five. But
supposing that Shelby was thirty, when George was born, the result
would be fifty.

From the narrative, we infer, that Shelby was in possession of many
slaves; for Mrs. Stowe speaks of a dozen black children perched on the
veranda railings at one time; and it is not presumable, that all the
little boys and girls in his possession, would happen to be perched on
the veranda railings at the same time; and these children must have
had fathers and mothers, and many of them of course, brothers and
sisters, who were men and women. She also tells us, that there were
various negro cabins on the place; each cabin must have contained one
family of negroes at least, if not more. She speaks of a couple of
negro men who went with Haley, the trader, in search of Eliza and her
child.

The labor on Shelby's farm was performed by slaves, and it is a fair
supposition, that there were from fifty to seventy-five slaves on the
farm. This is common through the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, and
farther South it is no uncommon occurrence, to find from one hundred
to five hundred slaves on