------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcriber’s Note: This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. There are two footnotes, which have been moved to directly follow the paragraphs in which they are referenced. The full page drawings are also moved to avoid falling in mid-paragaph. The pagination in the list of illustrations refers to their original positions. They appear in this version as [Illustration: <caption>] Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation. Betsy Gaskins ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: “THAT EVERY STAR WAS AN EYE LOOKING DOWN ON ME WITH PITY.” (CHAPTER XXXVIII.)] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ==BETSY GASKINS== (Dimicrat), Wife of Jobe Gaskins (Republican) [decoration] Or, Uncle Tom’s Cabin Up to Date [decoration] [Illustration] By.... W. I. HOOD [Illustration] With Illustrations from Original Drawings by C. B. FALLS And an Appendix Edited by K. L. ARMSTRONG [Illustration] CHICAGO: THE WABASH PUBLISHING HOUSE No. 324 Dearborn Street COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY W. I. HOOD. _All rights reserved._ NOTICE.—The illustrations in this work are engraved from original drawings from life, and their reproduction, except by special permission from the publishers, is prohibited. [Illustration: BETSY GASKINS.] [Illustration: JOBE GASKINS.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE. THIS book is written for a purpose. It is founded upon actual occurrences. Betsy and Jobe Gaskins are characters well known to you, if you will but reflect upon events coming under your own observation within the past few years. The author claims no inspiration or gift of genius. This is only a simple statement of facts deserving the consideration of every intelligent human being. While you read these pages, if you will permit your intelligence to assert itself over your prejudices, and if finally you will do that which the nobler instincts of man prompt you to do toward bringing about a better condition of things under the government of which you are a part, the author will be fully repaid for his labor. He asks you only to keep in mind at all times that Jobe Gaskins is your brother; that Betsy Gaskins is your sister. W. I. HOOD. _New Philadelphia, Ohio, April 24, 1897._