| OCR Text |
Show 294 UNCLE T0:\1'5 CABIN : OR, "\Vhy, Tom, what's got into you 1 Speak out ; what do you mean ?'' n Last night, between one ancl two, I thought so. I studied upon the matter then. Mas'r isn't good to !tim-self'' Tom said this with his back to his master, and his lmnd on the door-knob. St. Clare felt his face flush crimson, but he bughed. "0, that's all, is it 1" he said, gayly. "All ! " said Tom, turning suddenly round and falling on his knees. "0, my dear young Mas'r! I 'm 'froid it will be loss of all-all-body and soul. 'rho good Book says, • it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder!' my dear :Mas' r ! '' Tom's voice choked, and the tears ran down his checks. "You poor, silly fool!" said St. Cbrc, with tears in his own eyes. "Get up, 'fom. I 'm not worth crying over." But Tom wouldn't rise, and looked imploring. "Well, I won't go to :my more of their cursed nonsense, Tom," said St. Clare; 11 on my honor, I won't. I don't know why I have n't stopped long ago. I 'rc always despised it, o.nd myself for it,-so now, Tom, wipe up your eyes, ancl go about your errands. Come, come," he added, " no blessings. I'm not so wonderfully good, now," he said, as l1c gently pushed 'rom to the door. "There, I '11 pledge my honor to you, Tom, you don't sec me so again," he said; and '£om went ofT, wiping his eyes, with great satisfaction. " I '11 keep my faith with him, too," said St. Cbrc, as he closed the door. And St. Clare did so,- for gross sensualism, in any form, was not the peculiar temptation of his nature. But, all this time, who shall detail the tribulations manifold LH'H AMO"XG '£HE T,OWLY. 295 of our friend i\liss Ophelia, who had begun the labors of a Southern housekeeper 1 ~,here is all the difference in tho world in the servants of Southern establishments, according to the chamctcr and capacity of the mistresses who have brought them up. South as well as north, there arc women who ha.vc an extraordinary talent for comma.nd, and tact in educating. Such are enabled, with apparent case, ::md without severity, to subject to their will, and bring into harmonious and systematic order, the various members of their small estat-e -to regulate their peculiarities, and so balance and comp~nsatc the deficiencies of one by the excess of another, as to produce a. harmonious and orderly system. Such a housekeeper was Mrs. Shelby, whom we have already described; and such our readers may remember to have met with. If they are not common at the South, it is because they arc not common in the world. They are to be found there as often as anywhere; and, when existing, find in that peculiar state of society a brilliant opportunity to exhibit their domestic talent. Such a housekcepor Marie St. Cl:Lre was not, nor her mother before her. Indolent and childish, unsystematic and improvident, it was not to be expected that servants trained under her care should not be so likewise; and she had very justly described to Miss Ophelia the state of confusion sho would find in the family, though she had not ascribed it to the proper cause. The first morning of her regency, :Miss Ophelia was up at four o'clock ; and having attended to all the adjustments of her own chamber, as she had done ever since she came there, to the great amazement of the chamber-maid, she prepared |
