UNCLE TOM AND LITTLE HARRY ARE SOLD Very many years ago, instead of having servants to wait upon them and work for them, people used to have slaves.

These slaves were paid no wages.

Their masters gave them only food and clothes in return for their work.
When any one wanted servants he went to market to buy them, just as nowadays we buy horses and cows, or even tables and chairs.
If the poor slaves were bought by kind people they would be quite happy.
Then they would work willingly for their masters and mistresses, and even love them.

But very often cruel people bought slaves.

These cruel people used to beat them and be unkind to them in many other ways.
It was very wicked to buy and sell human beings as if they were cattle.
Yet Christian people did it, and many who were good and kind otherwise thought there was no wrong in being cruel to their poor slaves.