Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

"No, no – I an't going. Let Eliza go – it's her right! I wouldn't be the one to say no – 'tan't in natur for her to stay; but you hear what she said! If I must be sold, or all the people on the place, and everything go to rack, why, let me be sold. I s'pose I can b'ar it as well as any on 'em," he added, while something like a sob and a sigh shook his broad, rough chest convulsively. "Mas'r always found me on the spot – he always will. I never have broke trust, nor used my pass no ways contrary to my word, and I never will. (p.34)

In the excerpt above, Uncle Tom is being characterized as _____.

a schemer with a plan
a man of principles
a foolish old man
a religious zealot