The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-06
sins and cnormities evidently considering penn
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sins and cnormities, evidently considering eth
as something peculiarly distinguishing.
LA. YOU niggers' she would say to some of
her auditors. " does you know you's all sinners /!
Well you is-everybody is. White folks is sim
ners too, Miss Feely says so but spects mig
gers is the biggest ones but lor We amt any on
We up to me lis so awful wicked there can't
nobody do nothn with me. ! used to keep old
missiS a swarm at me half de time spects
rs the wickedest critter in the world and
Topsy would cut a somerset, and come up brisk
and shining on to a higher perch, and evidently
plume herself ON the distinction.
Miss Ophelia busted herself very earnestly
ON Sundays, teaching Topsy the catechism.
Topsy had an uncommon verbal memory, and
committed with fluency that greatly encour-
aged her instructress
What good do you expect it is going to do
her said st. Clare.
why it always has done children good
It's what children always have to learn you
know" said Miss Ophelia.
Understand it or not,' said St Clare
oh children never understand it at the
time, but after they are grown up it'll come to
them
Mine hasn't come to me YETI said St
Clare though III bear testimony that you put
it into me pretty thoroughly when Twas boy"
All you were always good at learning, Au-
gustine. ! used to have great hopes of you"
said Miss OpheGa.
"Well, haven't you now" sad st. Clare.
81 wish you were as good as you were when
you were q boy, Augustine
SO do l. that's fact cousin said ST. Glare
Well, go ahead and catechise Topsy may be
you'll make out something YETI
Topsy, who had stood ike a black statue
during this discussion, with her hands decenty
folded, now, at a signal from Miss Ophela
went on
Oar first parents, being left to the freedom
Of their own will, fell from the state wherein
they were created"
Topy's eyes twinkled, and she looked in
quirngly.
What is it, Topsy ~ said Miss Ophelia
Please, missis was dat ar State Kintuck ~
what State, Topsy ~
Dat state dey fell out Of | used to hear
mass'r tell how we came down from Kintuck."
. st, Clare laughed.
" You'll have to give her meaning or she'll
make one, said be- T1ere seems to Dc r.
theory Of emigration suggested there
w A@S'~f'T~ - ~ ? 81" 91,Y to']'p7
liza; how can do anything if you will be
laughing!'
"Well, | 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 Rotations They were all very
well, only that now and then she would oddly
tanspose some important words and persist in
the mistake, in spite of every effort to the con-
trary and St Clare after all his promises of
goodness, took wicked pleasure in these mis-
takes calling Topsy to him whenever he had IA
mind to amuse himself, and getting her to re-
peat the offending passages in spite of Miss
Ophelia's circumstances
How do you think | can do anything with
the child, if you will go on 50, Augustine?" she
would say
Well, it is too bad, | won't again but |
do like to hear the droll little image stumble
over those big words ~
But you confirm her in the wrong way
I" What's the oddsi one word is as good as
another TO her.
" You wanted me to bring her up right; and
you ought to remember she is a reasonable
creature and be careful of your influence over
her.
Oh, dismal so ought but as Topsy her
self says, Is so wicked -
In very much this way TOpsy's training pro-
ceeded for year or two--Miss Ophelia wor-
Tryng herself from day to day with her, as a
KIND OF chronic plague to whose infections she
became IN time as accustomed as persons some
times do to the neuralgia or sick headache.
st. Clare took the same kind of amusement
IN the child that a man might in the tricks of
parrot or a pointer. Topsy whenever her .
sins brought her into disgrace in other quarters.
always took refuge behind his chair, and St
Clare, in one way or other would make peace
for her From him she got many stray
pcayune which she laid out in nuts and can
dies and distributed with careless generosity
to all the children in the family; for Topsy, to
do her justice, was good-natured and liberal,
and only spiteful in selEdefence She is fairly
introduced into our corps de ballet, and viii
figure from time to time in her turn with other
performers
TO BE Continued