ten at night
Fond of her greenhouse , and often in the garden , she was ever at the gardener 's heels . Uncle Tony was very religious , and , whenever his mistress flogged him , he invariably gave her a religious exhortation . Although unable to read , he , nevertheless , had on his tongue 's end portions of Scripture which he could use at any moment . In one end of the greenhouse was Uncle Tony 's sleeping room , and those who happened in that vicinity , between nine and ten at night , could hear the old man offering up his thanksgiving to God for his protection during the day . Uncle Tony , however , took great pride , when he thought that any of the whites were within hearing , to dwell , in his prayer , on his own goodness and the unfitness of others to die . Often was he heard to say , `` O Lord , thou knowest that the white folks are not Christians , but the black people are God 's own children . '' But if Tony thought that his old mistress was within the sound of his voice , he launched out into deeper waters .