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Show 50 UNCLE TOM'S CADIN: Oil, body is. White folks is sinners too,- Miss Feely says so ; but I spects niggcrs is the biggest ones; but lor! yo an't any on yo up to me. I 's so awful wicked there can't nobody do nothin' with me. I used to keep old Missis a swarin' at me half do ~~me. I spccts I 's the wickcdest critter in the world ;" and 1opsy wo.uld cut n summcrsc_t, and como up brisk and shining on to a h<gher perch, and eVldently plume herself on the distinction. Mi:"' Ophelia busied herself very earnestly on Sundays, teaching Topsy the catechism. 'fopsy had an uncommon verbal memory, and committed with a fluency that greatly encouraged her instructress. " What good do you expect it is going to do her? " said St. Clare. ."Why, it always has dono children good. It 's what chi;dren always have to learn, you know," said Miss Ophelia. 'Understand it or not," said St. Clare. "0, children never understand it at the time; but, after they are grown up, it 'll come to them." , ":Mine h~ n't come to me yet," said St. Chtrc, "though I ll bear testimony that you put it into me pretty thoroughly wh,~n I was a boy." Ah, you were always good at learning, Augustine. I used to have great hopes of you," said Miss Ophelia. :; We~J, have n't you now? " said St. Clare. I WISh you were as good as you were when you were a hoy, Augustine." " So do I, that 's a fact, Cousin," said St. Clare. " w o11 go ah~d and catechize Topsy; may be you '11 make ou; something yet." Topsy, who had stood like a black statue during this dis- LIFE AMONG Tlll:l LOWLY. 51 cussion, with bands decently folded, now, at a signal from Miss Ophelia, went on: " Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state wherein they were created." Topsy's eyes twinkled, and she looked inquiringly. "What is it, 'l'opsy 1" said Miss Ophelia. " Please, }t'lissis, wns dat ar sta.te K.intuck? " " 'Vhat state, Topsy ?" " Dat state dey fell out of. I used to hear Mas'r tell how we came down from IGntuck." St. Clare laughed. "You 'II have to give her a meaning, or she 'I! make one," said he. " There seems to be a theory of emigration suggested there." "0 ! Augustine, be still," said Miss Ophelia; " how can I do anything, if you will be laughing?" "Well I won't disturb the exercises again, on my honor;" and St. Clare took his paper into the parlor, and sat down, till Topsy had finished her recitations. They were all very weB, only that now and then she would oddly transpose somo important words, and persist in the mistake, in spite of every effort to the contrary; and St. Clare, after all his promises of goodness, took a wicked pleasure in these mistakes, ca1ling Topsy to him whenever he had a mind to amuse himself, and getting her to repeat the offending passages, in spite of Miss Ophelia's remonstrances. " How do you think I can do anything with the child, if you will go on so, Augustine 1" she would say. "Well, it is too bad,- I won't again ; but I do like to hear the droll little image stumble over those big words ! " "But you confirm her in the wrong way." |