The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-20

stCu III DcI Onll cauuCntu IsrDcNcU Dpr :.
for she had child's implicit trust that her
mother could not do wrong There was some
thing about her that Eva never could make
thinking that, after all, it was mamma and she
loved her very dearly indeed.
"She felt, too, for those fond, faithful SER
wants to whom she was as daylight and sun
shine. Children do not usually gcneralze but
Eva was an uncommonly mature child. and the
things that she had witnessed of the evils of
the system under which they were living had
fallen one by one into the depths of her thought
full. bordering heart She had vague longings
to do something for them-to bless and save
not only them, but all in their condition
longngs that contrasted sadly with the fee
bleness of the little frame.
"Uncle Tom" she said one day. when she
was reading to her friend 81 can understand
why Jesus panted to die for us
"Why, Miss Eva "a
Because I've felt 80 too
What is it. Miss Eys-z-I don't understand 81
:" can't tell you but when saw those poor
creatures ON the boat you know, when you
came up and I-some had lost their mothers,
and some their husbands and some mothers
cried for their little chdren-and when heard
about Poor Prue--oh, wasn't that dreadful -
and a great many other times, Pve felt that
would be glad to die if my dying could stop
all this misery trouid die for them Tom. if
could" said the child, earnestly, laying her
little thin hand on his"
Tom looked at the child with awe and
when she, hearing her fathers voice. glided
away, he wiped his eyes many times, as he
looked after her.
It's jest no use tryin to keep Miss Eva
here" he said TO NANNY, whom he met mo-
ment after She's got ,the Lords mark in
her forehead
3.. - - said MARI, /. ..,...ng her
hands: - re as,s,s 49,, Cd -, 10y ,,.ss.'r
,'''-- = s'h',t ~ y -,,ss', s, ~ --~4 @;iar,
something deep in her eyes I've told missis so
many the time it's comm true-we all sees
it-dear, little, blessed lamb"
Eva came tripping up the verandah steps to
her father 1t was late in the afternoon. and
the rays of the sun formed kind of glory be-
hind her, as she came forward in her white
dress, with her golden hair and glowing cheeks
her eyes unnaturally bright with the slow fe-
YER that burned in her veins
st. Clare had called her 10 show a statuette
that he had been buying fir her, but her APP
pearance as she came ON impressed him sud
denly and painfully. There is kind of beau
ty so intense yet so fragile, that we cannot bear
to look at it. Her father folded her suddenly
in his arms and almost forgot what he was
going to tell her.
Eva, dear, you are better nowadays are
you not! "
Papa" said Eva. with sudden frmness,
I" I've had things wanted to say to you great
while. want to say them now, before | get
weaker"
St. Clare trembled as Eva seated herself in
his lap; she laid her head on his BOSOM and
said
any longer. The time is coming that am go
ing TO leave you. am g,ng and never to
come back; :" and Eva sobbed
ooh, now, my dear little Eva" SAID St Clare,
trembling as he spoke, but speaking cheerful
ly, you've got nervous and low-spirited; you
mustn't indulge such gloomy thoughts. See
here, Pve bought statuette for you"
uv,iS." 7c.Tr 'aavu5st su soil-ii AM 40. 'tsy
better, know it perfectly well, and am going
before long. am not nervous am not low
friends, should be perfectly happy. | want to
go-I long to 90"
AWhy. dear child, what has made your poor
little heart so sad You have had everything
to make YOU happy that could be given you"
al had rather be in heaven though only
for INV friends sake | would be willing to live.
There are great many things here that make
me sad that seem dreadful Ia me; had rather
be there; but don't want to leave you-it al
most breaks my heart"
"Wbat makes you sad and seems dreadful,
Eya?n
"Oh things that are DONE and done all the
time feel sad for our poor people-they love
me dearly, and they are all good and kind to
me. wish, papa, they were all free"
@Wby. Eva, child, don't you think they are
well enough off now :"
"Oh. but papa, if anything should happen to
YOU, what would become of them There are
very few men like you, papa. Uncle Alfred
isn't like you and mamma isn't; and then think
of moor old Prue's owners What horrid things
people do and can don and Eva shuddered
"My dear child, you are too sensitive. I'm
sorry ever let you hear such stories"
"Oh, that's what troubles me, papa. You
want me to live 10 happy, and never to have
any pain-never suffer anything not even hear
n sad story, when other poor creatures have
nothing but pain and sorrow all their lives it
seems selfish. ] ought to know such things |
ought to feel about them! Such things always
sunk into my heart; they went down deep; Pye
thought and thought about them. Papa. isn't
there any way TO have all slaves made free :"
"That's n difficult question, dearest. There's
no doubt that this way is a very bad one; a
great many people think 40; | do myself
heartily wish that there were not slave in the
land but then don't know what is TO be done
about 10 ~
Papa you are such good man, and 50 no
BILE, and kind, and you always have "a way of
saying things that is so pleasant couldn't you
90 all round and try 10 persuade people ~ do
right about this' When am dead papa then
YOU will think of me, and do il for my sake. II
would do it if could
"Whcn you are dead, Eva" said st. Clare,
passonateIy @Oh, child, don't talk to me so
You are all | have on earth"
Poor old prue's child was all she had--and
vet she had TO hear it crying, and she couldn't
help it, Papa these poor creatures love their
children a. much ~ you do me. Oh do some
thing for thon-there's poor Nanny loves her
children; Eve seen hersc when she talked
about them. And Tom Ieyes his children and
it's dreadful, papa, that such things are happen
ing all the timeD
There there, darling" said st. Clare, sooth-
ingiy: "only don't distress yourself, and don't
talk of dying, and | will do anything you
wishD
"And promise me, dear father that Tom
shall have his freedom n soon as 0--shc stop
ped, and said, in a hcsitating tone-"as ] am
gomez
ayes, dear, | will do anything in the world
ANYTHING you could ask me top
aDear papa said the child, laying her burn
ing cheek against his chow ! wish we could
go together!p
"Whcre, dearest % said st Clare
GTo our Saviour's home; it's 10 sweet and
peaceful there---it is all 80 loving there )" The
child spoke unconsciously, as OF place where
she had often been. Don't you want 10 60
DADA 1u she said