The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-06

inc camp thdI WOuu undertake 10 oversee
the cleansing and dressing of the new arrival
and 50 she was forced to do it herself with
some very ungracious and reluctant assistance
| from Jane.
1t is not for ears polite to hear the particulars
of the first toilet of neglected abused child
In fact in this world, multitudes must live and
die in a state that it would be too great a shock
to the nerves of their fellow mortals even to
hear described Miss 0phelia had a good
strong practical deal of resolution, and she
went through all the disgusting details with
heroic thoroughnesss though, it must 'bo con-
fessed, with no very gracious air for endurance
was the utmost to which her principles could
bring her. When she saw, on the back and
shoaidors OF the child, great welts and calloused
spots, inetfaceable marks of the system under
which she had grown up thus far, her heart
became pitiful within her.
"See there" said Jane, pointing to the
marks, "don't that show she's limb! Wen
have fine works with her. | reckon. | hate
these niger young uns so disgusting wonder
that masSr would buy her"
The "young un alluded to heard all these
comments with the subdued and doleful air
which seemed habitual to her, only scanning
with keen and furtiye glance of her Pickering
eyes the ornaments which Jane wore in her
ears When arrayed at last in a suit of decent
and whole clothing her hair cropped short to
her head Miss Ophela with some satisfaction
said she looked more Christian-like than she
did, and in her own mind began to mature some
plans for her instruction.
Sitting down before her, she began to ques-
ton her.
How old are you, Topsy!n
l. Dun no, misss,' said the image with grin
. n ~ ~. b
] Don't know how old you are Didn't any
( >. ,.y,>.y SIG ssS& sou VINO Yves yk, ~ 81
"Never had none ~ said the child, with
another grin
"Never had any mother What do you
mean Where were you born?'
"Never was born persisted Topsy with
another grin, that looked 50 goblin-like, that if
| Miss Ophela had been ut all nervous she might
have Eincied that she had got hold of some
sooty gnome from the land of Diablerie; but
Miss Ophelia was not nervous but plain and
business-like, and she said, with some stern
ness
"Iou mustn't answer me in that way, child !;
Pm not playing with you Tell me where you
were born, and who your father and mother
were"
"Never was born reiterated the creature,
more emphatcally; "never had no father nor
mother nor nothin. | was raised by II specula-
tor, with lots of others Old Aunt Sue used
to take car on u.s."
The child was evidently sincere, and Jane,
breaking into a short laugh said
. claws, missis there's heaps of em. Specu-
ators buys 'em up cheap when they Is little, and
gets 'em raised for market"
GLOW long have you lived with your master
and mistress
/, "Dun no, missis"
"ls it year, or more or less 2"
"Dun no, misss"
claws, missis, those low negroes, they can't
tell they don't know anything about time, u
said JAM; athey don't know what a year Is
they don't know their own ages"
n Have you ever heard anything about God
o Topsy ,"
t The child looked bewildercd but grinned a.
Q usual
# "Do you know who made you?"
d Nobody, as | knows or" said the child
e with short laugh.
! The idea appeared TO amuse her cOnsidera
2 bly,, for her eyes twinkled, and she added
4 81 spect crowd Don't think nobody neve
made me-"
/ DO you know how 10 sew ?" said Miss Ophe
liza, who thought she would turn her inquiries
to something more tangible
No. misss.p
"What can you do-what did you do for
| your master and mistress I"
Fetch water and wash dishes, and rub
knives, and wait on folks
"Were they good to you?
aspect they was" said the child scanning
Miss Ophelia cunningy
Miss Ophelia rose from this encouraging col
loquy st Clare was'leaning over the back Of
her chair,
"You find virgin soil there, cousin put in
your own ideas-you won't find many to pull
up"
Miss Ophelias ideas of education, like all
her other ideas, were very set and definite, and
of the kind that prevailed in New England q
century ago and which are still preserved in
some very retired and unsophisticated parts
where there are no railroads. As nearly as
could be expressed, they could be comprised in
very few words to teach them TO mind when
they were spoken to; TO teach them the cate
chsm, sewing, and reading; and to whip them
if they told lies And, though of course in the
food of light that is now poured on education
these are left far away in the rear, yet it is AN
undisputed fact that our grandmothers raised
some toerably fair men and women under this
regime, as many of us can remember and testi-
fly. At all events, Miss Ophelia knew Of moth
ing else to do, and therefore applied her mind
to her heather with the best diligence she
could command
The child was'announced and considered in
the family as Miss Ophelia's girl; and as she
was looked upon with no gracious eye in the
kitchen, Miss Ophela resolved to confne her
sphere of operation and instruction chiefly to
4 her own chamber With selfScrifce which
A. H., ,aSo Oh
solved, instead Of comfortably making her own
which she had hitherto done in utter scorn Of
all offers of help from the chambermaid of the
establishment To condemn herself 10 the mar
tyrdom Of instructing Topsy to perform these
operations-ah wo the day. Did any Of our
readers ever do the same, they will appreciate
the amount of her seli-sacrifce.
Miss Ophclia began with Topsy by taking
her into her chamber the first morning and
solemny commencing course of instruction in
the art and mystery Of bed-making
Behold, then, Topsy, washed and shorn Of all
the little braided tails wherein her heart had
delighted, arrayed in a clean gown, with we'll
starched apron, standing reyerently before Miss
l Ophelia with an expression OF solennity well
BETTING funeral.
@Now, Topsy, Pm going TO show you just
how my bed is to be made. nm very particu-
lar about my bed. You must learn exactly how
10 do it,"
ayes, ma am" says Topsy, with deep sigh
and face of woeful earncstness.
Now, Topsy, look here--this is the hem Of
the sheet--this is the right side Of the sheet
and this is the wrong--will you remember !"
yes maam," says Topsy, with another
sigh
"Well, now, the under sheet you must bring
over the bolster--so, and tuck il clear down
under the matrass nice and smooth--so, do you
seefv
@Ycs, ma'am, !" said Topsy, with profound at