The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-25
1914

do rs she pleases said St. Clare
st Clare how viii she ever get along in the
world ," said Marie.
The Lord knows said St Clare; "but
she'll get along in heaven better than you or L.
Oh papa don't said Eva softly touching
hi, elbow; d" it troubles mother
Well Cousin. are you ready to go to meet
ing " said Miss Opheha, turning square about
on St Clare
I'm not going. thank YOU
81 dowish St Clare ever would 90 to church"
said Marie but he hasn't particle of reli-
gon about him 1t really isn't respectable"
Il know il" said St. Clare. You ladies 60
to church to learn how to get along in the
world, | suppose and your piety sheds respecta-
bility on US If did go at all. | would GO
where Nanny goes-theres somethingto keep
a fellow awake there, at least"
What those shouting Methodists Horri-
BILE" said Marie
Anything but the dead sea of your respect
able churches Marie Positively it's too much
to ask Of aman Eva, do you like to go! Come,
stay at home and play with me-
Thank you, papa but Id rather 60 to
church"
Isn't it dreadful tiresome ?" said St Clare
81 think it is tiresome some said Eva; and
am sleepy. too, but | try to keep awake
What do you 90 for them"
Why you know papa she said in whis-
per Cousin told me that God wants to have
us; and he gives us everything. you know, and
it isn't much to do it if he wants us TO- 1t ism t
so very tires0me, after all
You sweet little Obliging soul said st
Clare, kissing her, ego along, that's good girl
and pray for me-
Certainly, | always do" said the child, as
she sprung after her mother into the carriage.
St Clare stood on the steps and kissed his
hand to her as the carriage drove away; large
tears were in his eyes
"Oh, Evangelinel rightly named" he said:
hath not God made thee an eyangel to me!'
So he felt a moment and then-he smoked Il
cigar and read the Plcayuhe, and forgot his lit
tie gospel Was he much unlike other folks
" You see Eyangeline,' said her mother, it's
always right and proper to be kind to servants,
but it isn't proper to treat them just as we would
our relations or people in our own class OF life
Nuw i ,Sitfnnny Was SICK. you wouldn't want
TO put her in your own bed
g should feel Just like it, mamma" said Eva,
because then it would be handler to take care
of her and because, you know, my bed is better
than hers
You are very uncharitable,' said Marie.
well" said St Clare, Suppose that some
thing should bring down the price Of cotton
once and forever and make the whole slave
property a drug in the market, don't you think
we should soon have another version of the
scripture doctrinei What flood of light
would pour into the church all at once, and how
Immediately it would be discovered that every
thing in the Bible and reason went the other
way!o
We'll, at any rate f" said Marie, as she re-
clined herself on a lounge, "rm thankful I'm
born where slavery exists and | believe it's
right; indeed, | feel it must be; and at any
rate, I'm sure | couldn't get along without it.
81 say. what do you think, Pussy said her |
father to Eva, who came in at this moment with |
a flower in her hand.
"What about, papa
"Why, which do you like the best, to live rs
they do at your unce's up in Vermont or to
have a housefull Of servants rs we do -
"Oh, Of course our way is the pleasantest"
said Eva!
"Why so!" said st. Clare, strokng her
head
"Why, it makes so many more round you to
love You know, said Eva, looking up earnestly
3" Now, that's just like Eva said Marie
"iust one of her odd speeches
" Is it an odd speech, papa ~ said Eva, whis-
peringly as she got upon his knee,
Rather, AZ this world goes Pussy" said St
Clare.
Marie was in utter despair at the entire want
of moral perception eyincod in this reply
"What can do to make this child under
stand me :" she said
Nothing" said Miss Ophelia, significantly
Eva looked sorry and disconnected for a mo-
ment; but children, luckily, do not keep to one
impression long and in a few moments she was
merrily laughing at various things which she
saw from the coach windows as it ratified along.
"Well, ladies" said ST. Clare as they We're
comfortably seated at the dinner table "and
what was the bill of fare at church to-day"
ooh, DR. C. preached a splendid ser
mon,n said Marie. 1t was Just such a sermon
az you ought to hear it expressed all my views
exactly
-" 1t must have been very improving said St
Clare The subject must have been an extern
niVe oneo
"Well, | mean all my views about society
and such thing" said Marie. "The text was
He hath made everything beautiful in its sea-
SON; and he showed how all the orders and dis
tinctions in society came from God and that
it was so appropriate you know, and beautiful,
that some should be high and some low and
that some were born to rule and some TO serve,
and all that yOu know, and he applied it so
well to all this ridiculous fuss that il made
about slavery, and he proved distinctly that the
Bible was on our side and supported all our in
situations conyincingy. only wish you'd
heard him
oh, | didn't need it" said St Clare. al
can learn what does me as much good IN that
from the Picayune any time and smoke cigar
besides which ! can't do, you know, in
church.
"Why said Miss Ophelia, don't you believe
in these views"
"Who-I? You know I'm such n gracelcss
dog that these religious aspects of such subjects
don't edify me much If was to say ANYTHING
on this slavery matter, would say out fair and
square, we're in for it-weve got 'em, and
mean to keep em-its for our convenience and
our intersection that's the long and short of
it-that's Just the whole of what all this sancti-
ed stuff amounts to, after all and think that
will be Ineligible to everybody, everywhere
81 do think, Augustine you are so irreyer-
emit" said Marie. 8" think it's shocking to hear
you talk"
Shocking it's the truth This religious
talk on such matters-why don't they carry it
little farther, and show the beauty, in its sea-
son. of fellows taking glass too much, and
sitting little too late over his cards and yari-
GUS providential arrangements of that sort
which are pretty frequent among us young
men-wed ike to hear that those are right and
godly, too
We'll, said Miss 0phelia, q do you think
slavery right or wrOng!"
"Fm not going to have any of your horrid
New England directness Cousin, said st, Glare
galy IF | answer that question, know you'll
be ut me with half dozen others each one
harder than the last and I'm not a-going Il
define my position. | am one of the sort that
lives by throwing stones at other peoples 9 lass