The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-27

and scarlet geranium, and one single white ia |
ponica with its glossy leaves. 1t was tied up
with an evident eye TO the contrast of color and
the arrangement of every leaf had carefully
been studied
Topsy looked pleased, as Eva said-"Topsy.
you arrange flowers very prettly. Here" she
said is this vase haven't any flowers for. |
wish you'd arrange something every day for
it,
"Well-that's odd" said Marie. What in
the world do you want that for
"Never mind, mamma, you'd as leave as not
Topsy should do it-had you not?'
h0f course, anything you please dear Top
sy, you hear your young mistress; see that you
mind
Topsy made short courtesy, and looked
down: and as she turned away, Eva saw tear
roll down her dark cheek.
"You see, mamma knew poor Topsy want
ed to do something for me- said Eva to her
mother.
@Oh nonsense; it's only because she likes to
do mischief-she knows she mustn't pick flow
ers, SO she does it-thats all there is to it but
il you fancy to have her pluck them so he itlp
"Mamma, l think fopsy is different from
what she used to be-she's trying to he good
girl"
"She'll have to try good while before she
gets to be good" said Marie, with careless
laugh.
well, you know, mamma poor Topsy
everything has always been against her"
"Not since she's been here, Pm sure. II she
hasn't been talked to- and preached to, and
every earthly thing done that anybody could do
and she's just so ugly, and always will be
you can't make anything of the creature!"
" But, mamma, it's 40 different TO be brought
up as I've been, with so many friends, so many
things to make me good and happy-and to be
hrorSht 80 ~ r.>r's- @~~r ~ tNe tir,e tal,sJhe
came here!"
, ~M"s' Wa, $ Ss.;i iaiArie, yawnisx-@dea
me, how hot it is"
"Mamma you believe don't you that Topsy
could become an angel, as well as any of us, if
she were Christian"
"Topsy what ridiculous dea-nobody but
you would ever think of it suppose she could,
though"
" But, mamma, isn't God her father as much
as ours Isn't Jesus her saviour?"
"Well, that may be- | suppose God made
everybody" said Marie "Where is my SMELL
ing bottle?"
EIts such pity, oh such pity" said Eva
looking out on the distant lake, and speaking
half to herself
What's pity :" said Marie.
"Why, that any one who could be a bright
angel and live with angels, should go all down,
down, down, and nobody help them-oh!
dear!n
"Well, we can't help tits no use worry
ing, Eva don't know what's to be done
we ought to be thankful for our owR advan-
tages"
II hardly can be- said Eva, "Pm so sorry
10 a.. xnf.> ell 4 I~.kL
"Thats odd enough, said Marie" Pm sure
my religion makes me thankful for my advan-
tages"
Mamma" said Eva, ~ want to have some
of my hair cut off--a good deal of it,
"What for 2" said Marie
Mamma, want to give some away to my
friends, while am able to give it to them my
self Won't you ask aunty to come and cut it
for me 2"
Marie raised her voice and, called Miss
| Ophelia from the other room.
The child half rose from her pillow as she came
in, and shaking down her long golden brown
curls, said, rather playfuily-
"Come, aunty, shear the sheepp
whats that 2" said ST. Clare, who Just then
entered with some fruit he had been out to get
for her.
| "Papa, just want aunty to cut off some of
my hair-there's too much of it, and it makes
my head hOt--besdes, want to give some of
it away"
Miss Ophelia came with her scissors.
take care-don't spoil the looks of it, /"
| said her father "cut underneath where it
won't show-Eva's curls are my pride"
"Oh, papa!" said Eva, sadly
Eyes and | want them kept handsome
against the time take you up to your unce's
plantation to see Cousin Henrique," said St
Clare, in gay tone
81 shall never go there, papa am going
to a better country. Oh, do believe me
Don't you see, papa, that | get weaker every
day!p , ,
a cruel thing Eva?D said her father.
"Only because it is true, papa and if you
will believe it now, perhaps you will get to
feel about it as | do
St Clare closed his lips, and stood, goomily, |
cycling the long, beautiful curls which, rs they |
were separated from the child's head, were
laid one by one in her lap. She raised them
up looked earnestly at them, twined them
around her thin fingers and looked from time
to time anxiously at her father.
It's just what I've been foreboding" said
Marie; "it's just what has been preying on
my health from day to day, bringing me down.
ward to the grave, though nobody regards it.
! have seen this long st. Clare, you will see
after while that was right
(Which will afford you great consolation,
no doubt" said st. Clare, in dry, bitter tone
Marie lay back on lounge, and covered her
face with her cambria handkerchief
Evas clear blue eye looked earnestly from
one to the other; it was the calm, compre-
hending gaze of q soul half lOOsed from its
earthly bonds it was evident she saw, felt, and
appreciated the difference between the two.
She beckoned with her hand to her father.
He came, and sat down by her.
Papa my strength fades away every day,
and know must GO There are some things
want to say and do-that ! ought to do
and you are 80 unwilling TO have me speak a
word ON this subject, but it must come there's
no putting it off. DO be willing should speak
now pa
my child, an, willing" said St. Clare,
covering his eyes with one hand and holding
up Eva's hand with the other
"Then want to nee all our people together.
have some things must say to them" said
Eva.
aWeA" said St Clare, in tone of dry en-
duranee.
Miss Ophela dispatched messenger, and
soon the whole of the servants were convened
in the room.
Eva lay back on her pillows-her hair hang
ing loosely about her face-her crimson cheeks
contrasting painfully with the intense white
ness of her complexion and the thin contour Of
her limbs and features--and her large soul |
like eye fixed earnestly on every one.
The servants were struck with sudden |
emotion. The spiritual face-the long locks
of hair cut Of, and lying by her-her fathers
ayerted face, and Maries sobs--struck at once |
upon the feelings of sensitive and impressible
race and as they came in they looked one
ON another sighed, and shook their heads |
IN - .. n daan s;lence like that of n |