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Show 96 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN j OR, CHAP1'ER XXVI. Weep not for those whom the '\"'Cil of the tomb, In life's cady morning, hath hid from our eyes. EvA's bed-room was a spaCious apartment, which, ]ike all the other rooms in the house, opened on to the broad verandah. The room communicated, on one side, with her father and mother's ap>rtment; on the other, with that appropriated to Miss Ophelia. St. Clare had gratified his own eye and taste, in furnishing this room in a style that had a pcculhr keeping with the character of her for whom it was intended. The windows were hung with curtains of rosecolored and white muslin, the floor was spread with a matting which had been ordered in P>ris, to a pattern of his own device, having round it • border of rose-buds and leaves, and a centre-piece with full-blown roses. The bedstead, chairs, and lounges, were of bamboo, wrought in peculiar! y graceful and fanciful patterns. Over the head of the bed was an alabaster bracket, on which a beautiful sculptured angel stood, with drooping wings, holding out a crown of myrtleleaves. From this depended, over the bed, light curtains of rose-colored gauze, striped with silver, supplying that protection from mosquitos which is an indispensable addition to all sleeping accommodation in that climate. The graceful b•mboo lounges were amply supplied with cushions of rose-colored damask, while over them, depending from the hands of sculptured figures, were gauze curtains similar to those of the bed. LTFI~ AMONG TilE LOWLY. 97 A light, fanciful bamboo table stood in the middle of the room, where a Parian vase, wrought in the sha.pc of a white lily, with its buds, stood, ever filled with flowers. On tllis table lay Eva's books and little trinkets, with an elegantly wrought alabaster writing-stand, which her father had sup· plied to her when he saw her trying to improve herself in writing. ~,hero was a fireplace in the room, and on the marble mantle above stood a beautifully wrought statuette of Jesus receiving little children, and on either side marble vases, for which it was Tom's pride and delight to offer bouquets every morning. Two or three exquisite paintings of children, in various attitudes, embellished tho wall. In short, the eye could turn nowhere without meeting images of childhood, of beauty, and of peace. Those little eyes never opened, in the morning light, without falling on something which suggested to the heart soothing and be:1utiful thoughts. The deceitful strength which had buoyed Eva up for a little while was fast passing away; seldom and more seldom her light footstep was heard in the verandah, and oftener and oftener she was found reclined on a little lounge by the open window, her brge, deep eyes fixed on the rising and falling w>tcrs of the lake. It was towards the middle of the afternoon, as she was so reclining,- her Bible half open, her little transparent fingers lying listlessly between the leaves,- suddenly she heard her mother's voice, in sharp tones, in the verandah. "\Vha.t now, you baggage!- what new piece of mischief! You 'vc been picking the flowers, hey?" and Eva heard the sound of a smart slap. "Law, ~Iissis!- they 's for :Miss Eva," she heard a voice say, which she knew belonged to Topsy. " Miss Evo ! A pretty excuso! -you suppose she wants VOL. II. 9 |