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Show 260 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN : OB., as God chastcncth whom he lovcth, he hath chosen poor Afric::t in the furna.cc of aflliction, to make her tho highest and noblest in tha.t kingdom which he will set up, when every other kingdom has been tried, and failed; for the first shall be last, and the last first. 'Vas this what :Mario St. Clare was thinking of, as she stood, gorgeously dressed, on the verandah, on Sunday morning, clasping a diamond bracelet on her slender wrist? 1\'fost likely it was. Or, if it wasn't that, it was something else; for 1\iaric patronized good things, and she was going now, in full force,-diarnonds, silk, and lace, and jewels, aml nil,- to a fashionable church, to be very religious. Marie always made a point to be very pious on Sundays. ~'here she stood, so slender, so elegant, so airy and undulating in all her motions, her lace scarf enveloping her like a mist. She looked a graceful creature, and she felt very goed and very elegant indeed. Miss Ophelia stocd at her side, a perfect contrast. It was not that she had not as handsome a silk dress and shawl, and ns fine a pocket-handkerchief; but stiflhcss and squarencss, and bolt-uprightness, enveloped her with as indefinite yet appreciable a presence as did grace her elegant neighbor ; not the grace of God, however,- that is quite another thing! '' \Vhcre 's Eva?'' said 1\.faric. "The child stopped on the stairs, to say something to ~Iarnrny." And what was Eva. saying to I\Iammy on tho strtirs ~ J.. istcn, reader, and you will hca,r, though ·Marie docs not. 11 Dear Mammy, I know your head is aching dreadfully." "Lord bless you, Miss E''" ! my head allers aches lately. You don't need to worry." "Well, I'm glad you 'regoing out; and here,"-and tho LnE AMONG TUE LOWLY. 261 Utt1c girl threw her arms around her,-'' :Mammy, you shall take my vinaigrette. 17 " What! your beautiful gold thing, thor, with them diamonds! Lor1 :l\liss, 'twould n't be proper, no ways." "Why not? You need it, and I don't. Mamma always uses it for headache, and it'll make you feel better. No, you shall take it, to please me, now." "Do hear the darlin talk ! " said :Mammy, as Eva. thrust it into her bosom1 and, kissing her, ran down stairs to her mother. " What wore you stepping for? " " I was just stopping to give Mammy my vinaigrette, tc take to church with her." " Eva! " said Marie, stamping impatiently,-" your gold vinaigrette to Mammy.' \Vhcn will you learn what 'a proper? Go right and take it back, this moment! 11 Eva looked downcast and aggrieved, and turned slowly. "I say, Mario, let tho child alone; she shall do as she pleases," said St. Claro. " St. Clare, how will she ever get along in the world? " said Mario. " 'l'hc Lord knows," said St. Clare ; " but she 'II get along in heaven better than you or I." "0, papa, don't," sa.id Eva, softly touching his elbow; "it troubles mother." "Well, cousin, arc you ready to go to meeting?'' said Miss Ophelia, turning square about on St. Claro. " I 'm not going, thank you." "I do wish St. Clare ever would go to church,, said Marie ; "but he hasn't a particle of religion about him. It really isn't respectable." " I know it," said St. Clare. " You ladies go to chnroh |