UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

_
will
and
this
"
they
what
"
never
it
teach them to mind when they were spoken to ;
to teach them the catechism,sewing, and reading
; and to whip them if theytold lies. And
though, of course, in the flood of lightthat is
now pouredon education,these are left far away
in the rear, yet it is an undisputed fact that our
grandmothers raised some tolerably fair men and
women under this regime, as many of us can remember
and testify. '"Atall events,Miss Ophelia
knew of nothing else to do ; and, therefore, applied
her mind to her heathen with the best diligence
she could command.
The child was announced and considered in the
LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 93
"
"
familyas Miss Ophelia'sgirl; and, as she was an"t it? How could it a
sleeve?"
looked upon
with no gracious eye
in the kitchen,
got caught in my
Miss Ophelia resolved to confine her sphere of
'
Topsy,you
operation
chiefly to her own lie, ou
naughtygirl,don't
stole that ribbon! you tellme a
chamber. With a self-sacrifice which some of
seed
"
Missis,I declar for 't,I did n't ;
our readers will appreciate, she resolved, instead it tilldis yer blessed minit."
of comfortably makingher own bed, sweeping and Topsy,"said Miss Ophelia, " don't you know
"
dusting her own chamber," which she had hitherto
it's wicked to telllies?"
done,in utter scorn of all offersof help from
"
I never tells no lies,Miss Feely." said
the chambermaid of the establishment, to condemn
with virtuous gravity ; " it 's jis the
Topsy,
truth I 've
herself to the martyrdom of instructing Topsy
been a tellin now, and an't nothin else."
to perform these operations, ah,woe the day ! Topsy, I shall have to whip you, if you wll
"
Did any of our readers ever do the same, they liesso."
will appreciate the amount of her self-sacrifice.
"
Laws. Missis,if you 's to whip all day,
Miss Opheliabegan with Topsy by takingher couldn't say
into hex chamber,the firstmorning, no other way," said Topsy,beginning
and solemnly to blubber. " I never seed dat ar,
"
must
commencinga course of instruction in the art and a got caught in my sleeve. Miss Feelymust have
mystery of bed-making.
left it on the bed,and it gotcaught in the clothes,
Behold,then,Topsy, washed- and shorn of all and so got in my sleeve."
the littlebraidedtailswherein her heart had delighted,
Miss ""Ophelia
was so indignant at the barefaced
arrayed in a clean gown, with wellstarched
apron, standingreverentlybefore Miss
"
liețhat she caugh the child and shook her.
Don't you tell me that again !"
Ophelia, with an expression of solemnitywell The shake brought the gloves on to the floor,
befitting a funeral.
"
Now, Topsy, I 'ni going to show you just
"
"
"
"
"
do
how
"There, you!" said Miss Ophelia, "will you
my bed is to be made. I am very particular tellme now you did n't steal the ribbon ?"
about my bed. You must learn exactlyhow to Topsy now confessed to the gloves, but still
do it."
persisted in denyingthe ribbon.
"Yes, ma'am," says Topsy,with a deepsigh,
"
Now% Topsy," said Miss Ophelia, " if '11
and a face of woful earnestness.
confess all about it,I won't
you
whip you this time."
"
Now, Topsy,look here ; is the hem of Thus adjured,Topsy confessed to the ribbon and
the sheet," this is the right side of the sheet, gloves, woful protestations of penitence.
and this is the wrong ; you remember?"
must have
"
Well,now, tell me. I know you
"Yes, ma'am," says Topsy,with another taken other thing since you have been in the
sigh.
house,for I let you
run about all day yesterday.
"Well, now, the under sheet you must bringNow, tell me if you took anything, I shan't
over the bolster, so, tuck it clear down whipyou."
under the mattress nice and smooth,"
"
Laws, Missis ! I took Miss Eva's red tlung
you see
?' '
so,
process, a gravity and seriousnesswith which her
instructresswas greatly edified. By au unlucky
slip,however,a fluttering fragment of the ribbon
hung out of one of her sleeves, justas she was
finishing, and caught Miss Ophelia's attention.
Instantly she pounced upon it. " What 's this1
"
You naughty, wicked child, you 've been stealing
this !"
The ribbon was pulled out of Topsy's own
sleeve,yet was she not in the least disconcerted ,
she onlylooked at it with an air of the most sur
prised and
unconscious innocence.
"
Laws ! why, that ar 's Miss Feely'sribbon,
from the other
sleeve.
she wars on her neck."
"Yes, ma'am," said Topsy,with profound "You did, ypu naughty child! "
Well,what
attention.
else?"
"
But the "
upper sheet,"said Miss Ophelia, I took Rosa's yr
"
r-rings, them red ones."
"
must be brought down in this way, and tucked
"
Go bring them to me this minute,both of
under firm and
"
smooth at the "
foot, so, the
narrow hem at the foot."
Laws, Missis can't," they burnt
"Yes, ma'am," said Topsy, as but
up !"
before;"
we will add,what Miss Ophelia did not "
see, that, Burnt up
!" a story ! Go get 'em,or
duringthe time when the good lady'sback was I '11whipyou."
turned,in the zeal of her manipulations, the Topsy, with loud protestations, and tears,and
young disciple had contrived to snatch a pair of
gloves and a ribbon,Avhich she groans, declared that she could not. "
They 's
had adroitly burnt up,
slipped "
sleeves, and stood with her hands What did you
burn 'em up for?" said Miss
dutifully folded,as before.
Ophelia.
" "
Now, Topsy, let's see
you do this,"said Cause I I 'swicked," is. I 'smightywicked,
Miss Ophelia,pulling clothes, and seatinganyhow. helpit."
herself.
Just at this moment, Eva came innocentlyinto
Topsy, with greatgravity adroitness, went the room, with the identicalcoral necklace on her
throughthe exercise completely Ophelia'sneck.
satisfaction ; smoothingthe sheets,patting out
"
Why, Eva,where did you getyour necklace ?*'
every wrinkle,and exhibiting, throughthe whole said Miss Ophelia