UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
either
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for
"
Miss
wouldn't
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"
"
"
timed,also,as further to shelter the aggressor.
as
LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY.
95
lar hours and employments for her,and undertook Thus, the times for revenge
on Rosr. and Jane,
to teach her to read and to sew.
the two chamber-maids,were always chosen in
In the former art, the child was quickenough. those seasons when (as not unf'requently hap-
She learned her letters as if by magic, and was
theywere in disgrace very soon able to read plainreading;but the when any complaint from them would of course
sewingwas a more difficultmatter. The creature meet with no sympathy. In short, Topsy soon
was as lithe as a cat, and as active as a
monkey, made the household understand the propriety of
and the confinement of sewingwas her abomination
letting ; and she was let alone accordingly.
; so she broke her needles țhrew them slyly
out of windows, or clown in cbinksof the walls ; Topsy was smart and energetic all manual
she tangled,broke, and dirtied her thread,or, operations, learningeverything that was taught
with a slymovement, would throw a spoolaway her with surprising quickness.With a few lessons,
altogether. as quickas
she had learned to do the proprieties of Miss
those of a practised Conjurer, and her command Ophelia's away with which even that
of her face quite as great; and though Miss particular lady could find no fault. Mortal hands
Ophelia could not helpfeeling that so many
accidents could not possiblyhappen in succession,
more accurately, sweep and dust and
yet she could arrange
not, without a watchfulness more perfectly, than Topsy, when she chose,"
which would leave her no time for anythingelse, but she didn't very often choose. If Miss Ophelia,
detect her.
Topsy was soon a noted' character in the supervision, was so sanguine as to suppose that
establishment. Her talent for every species of Topsy had at last fallen into her*
drollery, grimace, and
way, could do
mimicry, dancing, without overlooking, and so
go off anil busy herself
tumbling,climbing, singing, whistling, imitating about somethingelse,Topsy would hold a
every sound that hit her fancy, seemed inexhaustible.
perfect carnival of confusion, for some one or two
In her play-hours, she invariably had hours. Instead of making the bed, she would
every child in the establishment at her heels,
open-mouthed with admiration and wonder," butting her woolly head among the pillows, not excepting Miss Eva, who appeared to be would sometimes be grotesquely "
ited with
fascinated by her wild diablerie, as a dove is feathers stickingout in various directions ; she
sometimes charmed by a glittering serpent. Miss would climb the posts, and hang head downward
Ophelia was uneasy that Eva should fancyTopsy's from the tops; flourishthe sheets and spreadsall
society much, and imploredSt. Clare to forbid
over the apartment;
it"
up
in Miss
Ophelia's night-clothes, and enact various scenio
"
Poh ! let the child alone,"said St. Clare.
"
Topsy will do her good."
" But so depraved a child, are you not afraid
she will teach her some mischief!"
" She can't teach her mischief; she might
teach it to some children,but evil rollsoff Eva's
mind like dew off a cabbage-leaf, not a drop
on with her rehearsals before the glass in great
"
Don't be too sure,"said Miss Ophelia. " I style, Opheliahaving, with carelessness
know I 'd never let a child of mine playwith most unheard of in her,left the key for once in
her drawer.
rTw
"
Well, your children need n't," said St. "
Clare, Topsy !" she would s^y, when at the end of'
what does make
"
but mine
may ; if Eva could have been spoiled, all patience,
act so?"
you
it would have been done "
years ago."
Dunno, I Missis," spects
cause I 's so
Topsy was at first despised by wicked !"
the upper servants. They soon found reason to
"
I don't know I shall do with
anythingwhat
altertheir opinion. It was very
soon discovered you, Topsy."
that whoever cast an indignity Topsywas sure "Law, Missis, you must whip me; my old
to meet with some inconvenient accident shortlyMissis allcrswhippedme. I an^tused to.workin'
unless I getswhipped."
after ;
a pair of ear-rings or some cherished
trinketwould be "
missing, or an articleof Why, Topsy, I don't want to whip you.
dress would bo suddenlyfound utterly ruined,or You can do well,if you 've a mind to what is
,
the person would stumble accidentally into a pail the reason you won't?"
of hot water,or a libation of dirtyslop would "
unaccountably
Laws, Missis,I 's used to whippin'; i spects
delug)them from above when in full it's good for me."
and on all these occasions, when Miss galadress;" Ophelia tried the recipe, investigation was made, there was nobody found
made a terriblecommotion, s Teaming,
to stand sponsor for the indignityṪopsy was groaning and imploring,though half an hour
cited,and had up before all the domestic judicatories,
afterwards,when roosted on some projection of
time and again ; but alwayssustained her the balcony, and surrounded by a flock of admiring
examinations with most edifyinginnocence and young uns," she would express the utmost
"
gravity of appearance. Nobody in the world contempt of the whole
ever doubted who did the things; but not a scrap "Law, Miss Feelywhip! kill a
of any direct evidence could be found to establish skeeter,her whippins! Oughtersee how old
the suppositions, and Miss Opheliawas too just MrtB'r made the flesh fly; old Mas'r know'd
to feel at liberty to proceedto any lengths without
how !"
it.
Topsy alwaysmade greatcapital of her own
The mischiefs done ware always so nicelysins and enormities, evidentlyconsidering theoi
pened)
their mistress,
could not lay spread smoother, adjustpillows
after three or four days of careful and patient
amuse herself with pullingoff the pillow-cases,
performanceswith that," singing and whistling,
and makinggrimaces at herself in the lookingglass;
in short, as Miss Opheliaphrasedit,
"
raisingCain" generally.
On one occasion,Miss Ophelia found Topsy
with her very best scarlet India Canton crape
shawl wound round her head for a turban,going
somethingpeculiarly distinguishing.
Topsy invariably