The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-06
For thu National Era
GcoPYRIGHT SECURED ACCORDING To LAw.l
UNCLE TOMS CABIN:
OR,
LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY.
BY MRS. II. B. STOWE.
CHAPTER XIX.-TopSy

CHAPTER XX,-fopsy
One morning, while Miss pphelia was busy
in some of her domestic cares St Clare's voice
was heard, calling her at the Dot of the stairs
ee, C9sse .dteSsA Nsrs Cousi, Eve Something
to show youD
Wl,st is Rtfln said Miss Ophelia. coming
nown wfa> a.ot &c ,>Ais ri her PAM. w
"Pye made purchase for bur department;
see here" said st. Clare; and with the word,
he pulled along a little negro girl, about eight
or nine years of age.
She was one of the blackes of her race, and
her round, shining eyes Offering as glass
beads moved with quick and restless glances
over everything in the room. Her mouth, half
open with astonishment at tie wonders of the
new mass'rs parlor, displayed n white and
brilliant set of teeth. Her woody hair was
braided in sundry little tails, which stuck out
in every direction. The expression of her face
was an odd mixture of shrekdness and cum
ming over which was oddly drawn, like kind
of veil, an expression of the most doleful gravi-
ty and solemnity. She was dressed in a single
filthy, ragged garment, mad, of bagging, and
stood with her hands demlrely folded before
her. Altogether, there was something odd
and goblin-Gke about her ppearance-some-
thing, as Miss Ophelia afterwards said, $50
heathenish,' as to inspire that good lady with
utter dismay and turning to st. Clare, she
said
Augustine, what in the world have you
brought that thing here for?
For you to educate, TO 10 sure, and train
in the way she should 60. Thought she was
rather funny specimen in tie Jim Crow line.
Here, Topsy," he added, giving whistle, as a
man would, to call the attention of a dog,
give us a song, now, and show US some of your
daaeingn
The black, CLASSY eyes glittered with kind
of wicked drollery, and the thing struck up, in
q clear shrill voice, an odd negro melody, Il
which she kept time with her hands and feet
spinning round clapping her hands knocking
her knees together, in wild fantastic sort o
time, and producing in her throat all those ode
cultural sounds which distinguish the natv,
music of her race; and finally, turning a sum
merset or two, and giving prolonged closing
note, as odd and uneartlly as that of a steam
whistle, she came suddenly down on the carpet,
and stood with her hands folded, and a most
sanctimoniOus expression Of meekness and 80
lemnity over her face, only broken by the cum
ming glances which she shot askance from the
corners Of her eyes.
Miss Ophelia stood silent perfectly paralyzed
with amazement
St. Clare, like mischieOus fellow as he was,
appeared to enjoy her adjustment and ad-
dressing the child again, sid:
"Topsy, this is your new mistress. I'm
going to give you up to hf see now that you
behave yourself"
eyes, mass'r,n said ToFy with sanctimoni-
Gus gravity, her wicked 9es twinklng as she
spoke
"You're going to be go I'd, TOpsy, you under
stand said ST. Clare.
"Oh yes, mass'r" said fTopsy, with another
twinkle her hands still d9outly folded.
Now, Augustine, wh8 upon earth il this
fori" said Miss Ophelia. tYour house is so full
of these little plaques nowthat body can't set
down their foot without trading on 'em get
up in the morning and ind one asleep behind
the door, and see one bhck head poking out
from under the table one lying on the door mat,
and they are hopping andmoving and grinning
between oil the ratings, aid tumbling over the
kitchen floor What on earth did you want
to bring this one for 2"
"For you to educate-dln't tell you? You're
always preaching about elucating thought
would make you present Of fresh-caught
specimen, and let you try pur hand on her. and
bring her up in the way sic should 60"
81 don't want her, ] amsure---I have more to
do with 'em now than wnt TO-"
"Thats you, Christians all over-you'l get
up Society and get SONS poor missionary to
spend all his days among Just such heather
But let me see one Of you hat would take one
into your house with you, and take the labor of
their conversion on yourselves. No; when IL
comes to that, they are dirty and disagreeable,
and it's too much care, and 70 on"
Augustine, you know didn't think Of 1T in
that light said Miss 0phela, evidently soften
ing. We'll, il might be real missionary
work, said She looking rather more favorably
on the child
st. Clare had touched the right string Miss
Ophelia's conscientiousDess was ever on the
alert. "But,r she added, al really didn't see
the need Of buying this one--there are enough
now in your house to take all my time and
skilln
Well, then, cousin said st. Clare, drawing
her aside, ! ought to beg your pardon for my
speeches. You are sogood, at
ter all, that there's no sense in them. Why, the
fact is, this concern belonged to couple OF
drunken creatures that keep low restaurant
that have to pass by every day, and | was
tired Of hearing her screaming, and them beat
ing and swearing mt her. She looked bright
aud funny, too as if something might be made
Of her-so bought her, and Pll give her to
you. Try, now, and give her good orthodox
New England bringing up, and see what itll
make Of her You know ] haven't any git
that way, but I'd like you 10 try
swell, III do what cam said Miss Ophella
and she approached her new subject very much
Is person might be supposed to approach
black spider, supposing them to have benevo-
lent designs toward
"She's dreadfully dirty, and half naked" she
said ~
"Weli take her down stairs, land make some
Of them clean and clothe her up"
Miss Ophelia carried her to the kitchen
regions. /.
"Don't zee what mass'r St Clare wants OF
mother niggcr,n said Dinsh, surveying the new
arrival with no friendly air "Wo1t have
her round under my feet know
a Pah said Rosa and Jane, with supreme
disgust slet her keep out Of our way: What in
The world masyr wanted alother OF these low
niggers Cor, ! can't see"
EYou 10 long. No more Niger dan you be,
Mis- Rosa said Dinah, who feit thus last TO