UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

everybodyis.
I
Miss
96 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN OR,
to some
"
Law, you niggers," she would say
in spiteof every
effort to the and St. want to come up here again."
premises goodness "
- of her auditors, '"does you know you 's all sinners
wicked pleasure in these mistakes,calling Tops?
? Well, you is White to him whenever he had a mind to amuse himself
folks is sinners Miss too," Feely says
so ; but I and getting her to repeat the offending passages
spectsniggers is the biggestones ; but Lor ! ye in spiteof Miss Ophelia's remonstrances.
an't any on
ye up to me. I 's so awful wicked
"
How do think I can do
there can't nobodydo nothin' with me. I used
you
the child,if you will go
on
anythingwith
so, Augustine?"she
to keep old Missis a swarin' at me half de time. would say.
I spects I 's the wickedest critter in the world ;" ."Well,it is too bad, won't again; but I
and Topsy would cut a summerset, and come up do like to hear the drull little imagestumble over
brisk and shining on to a higherperch,and evidentlythose
bigwords !"
plume herself on the distinction.
"
But confirm her in the wrong way."
you
"But I 's boun' to go to "
heaven,for all that, What 's the
though," she said,one day,afteran expose of this another to her."
odds? One word is good
kind.
"
You wanted me to her and
bring up right;
"
Why, how 's that,Tops'?"said her master, you ought to remember she is a reasonable creature,
who had been listening, quiteamused.
and be careful of your influence over her."
0, dismal ! I Topsyherself
" Miss Why, 's boun' Feely to go, any way ; so
"
so ought;
they '11 have me thar. Laws ! Miss Feely's so
says, ' I 's so wicked !' "
curous theywon't none of 'em know how to wait In very much this way Topsy'strainingproceeded,
on her."
for a year or two, Ophelia worry
Miss Opheliabusied herself very earnestly ingherself, from day to day,with her,as a kind
Sundays,teachingTopsy the catechism. Topsy of chronic plaguețo whose
had an uncommon verbal became,
memory, and committed in time,as accustomed as
with a fluency that greatlyencouragedher instructress.
persons sometimes do
to the neuralgia sick head-ache.
St. Clare took the same kind of amusement in
"
What good do you expect it is goingto do the child that a man might in the tricksof a parrot
her?" said St. Clare.
or a pointer.Topsy, whenever her sina
"
Why, it alwayshas done children good. brought her into disgrace in other
It 's what children always have to learn, quarters,
you always took refuge behind his chair ; and St.
know," said Miss Ophelia.
Clare,in one
way or other,would make peace
"
Understand it or not," said St. Clare.
for her. From him she got many a straypicayune,
"
0, children never understand it at the time ; which she out laid nuts in and candies,and
but. after they are grown up, it '11come to them." distributed, with careless generosity, to all the
"'
Mine has n't come to me yet,"said St Clare, children in the family; for Topsy,to do her justice,
prettythoroughly,when
only
is fairlyintroduced
"
though I '11bear testimonythat you put it into
was good-naturedand liberal,and
me I was a boy." spitefulin seit-defence. She
"
Ah, you were always good at learning, into our
co7ys de ballet, and will figure, Augustine. I used to have greathopes of you," to time,in her turn, with other performers.
said Miss Ophelia.
"
haven't Well, you now?" St. said Clare.
were
you
when
"
I wish were as good as
you were a you
boy,Augustine."
CHAPTER XXL
"So do I, that's a fact,cousin,"said St.
Clare. "Well, go
ahead and catechize Topsy;
may be you rllmake out somethingyet."
Our readers may not be unwillingto glanca
Topsy,who had stood like a black statue during
back, for a brief interval,at Uncle Tom's cabin,
this discussion,with hands decentlyfolded, on the Kentuckyfarm,and see what has been
now, at a signalfrom Miss Ophelia,went on : transpiring among those whom he had left behind.
" Our first parents,beingleft to the freedom
of their own will,fell from the state wherein It was late in the summer afternoon,and the
they were created."
doors and windows of the largeparlorall stood
Topsy'seyes twinkled,and she looked inquiringly.
open, to invite any straybreeze țhat might feel
in a good humor, to enter. Mr. Shelbysat in a
"
What is it,Topsy?" said Miss Ophelia. largehall opening into the room, and running
"
Please,Missis,was dat ar state Kintuck ?" throughthe whole length of the house,to a balcony
"
What state,Topsy?"
on either end. Leisurelytippedback in one
"Dat state dey fell out of. I used to hear chair,with his heels in another, he was enjoying
Mas'r tellhow we came down from Kintuck." his after-dinner cigar. Mrs. Shelbysat in the
St. Clare laughed.
door,busy about some fine sewing; she seemed
"
You '11 have to give her a meaning, or she '11 like one who had something on her mind, which
make one," said he. "There seems to be a she was seeking an opportunity to introduce.
theoryof emigrationsuggested "Do you know," she said,"that Chloe has
"
0 !
Augustine,
be still,"said Miss Ophelia; had a letter from Tom ? ' '
"
how can I do anything, if you will be laughing?"
" Ah! has she ? Tom's got some friend there,
it seems. How is the old boy ?"
"
He been boughtby a
"
Well, I won't disturb the exercisesagain, on
has fine
my honor ;" and St. Clare took his paper into should think,"said Mrs.
very
Shelby,"
family,I
"is kindly
the parlor, and sat down, tillTopsy had finished treated,and has not much to do."
her recitations. They Avere all very well,only
"
Ah ! well,1 'm glad of glad," said
that now and then she would oddlytransposeMr. Shelby,heartily. " Tom,
very
I suppose, will
some importantwords, and persistin the mistake, get reconciled to a Southern residence "
; hardly