` My poor , good Chloe , ' she said gently . Chloe leaned her head on her mistress 's shoulder , and sobbed out , ` Oh , missis , ` scuse me , my heart 's broke -- dat 's all . ' ' I know it is , ' said Mrs. Shelby , as her tears fell fast , ` and I can not heal it . ' There was silence for a little as they wept together . Then George sat down beside Aunt Chloe , and took her hand . He talked gently to her , telling her of Uncle Tom 's last loving messages . So she was comforted a little . One morning , about a month after this , George Shelby called all his servants together , telling them he had something to say to them . They wondered what it could be , and were very much surprised when he appeared , carrying a bundle of papers in his hand . They were still more astonished when he gave a paper to each one , and told them all that they were free . With sobs and tears and shouts they pressed round him , thanking and blessing him . But some of them came with anxious faces , begging him to take their free papers back again , and not to send them away . ` We do n't want to be any freer than we are , ' they said . ` We have always had all we wanted . ' ` We do n't want to leave the old place , and young mas ' r and Missis , and the rest . ' -LSB- Illustration -RSB- ` My good friends , ' said George , when he could get silence , ` there will be no need for you to leave me . We want quite as many servants as we did before . But now you are free men and free women . I shall pay you wages for your work , and if I die , or get into debt , you ca n't be taken away to be sold . That is all the difference .
I want you all to stay with me , for I want to teach you how to live as free men and XXXXX ought . '
Illustration Mrs. faces friends heart rest silence something women work