The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-25

the announcement OF some ylsiterS.
Marie st. Clare felt the loss of Eva as deep
ly as she could feel anything, and as she was a
woman that has great faculty of making
everybody unhappy when she was her imme-
date attendants had still stronger reason to re-
greet the loss Of their young mistress, whose
winning ways and gentle intercessions had So
often been a shield to them from the tyrannical
and selfish exactions Of her mother Poor old
Nanny, in particular, whose heart, severed
from all natural domestic ties, had consoled
itself with this one beautiful being, was almost
heart-broken. She cried day and night, and
was from excess of sorrow less skillful and aler;
in her ministrations on her mistress than usual.
which drew down a constant storm Of invechyes
on her defenceess head
Miss Ophelia felt the loss, but in Der good
and honest heart it bore fruit unto everlasting
life. She was more softened, more gentle, and
though equally assiduous in every duty, it was
with chastened and quiet sir, as one who
communed with her own heart not in vain
She was more diligent in teaching Topsy-
taught her mainly from the Bible-did not any
longer shrink from her touch or manifest an
il-repressed disgust because she felt none
She viewed her now through the softened me-
dunn that Eva's hand had first held before her
eyes, and saw in her only an immortal crea-
ture, whom God had sent to be led by her to
glory and virtue Topsy did not become at
once saint but the life and death of Eva did
work marked change in her The callous
indifference was gone-there was now sensibil-
ity, hope desire, and the striving for good-a
strife irregular, interrupted, suspended oft but
yet renewed again.
One day when Topsy had been sent for by
Miss Ophelia she came, hastily thrusting some
thing into her bosom.
"What are you doing there you limb. You've
been stealing something, I'll b bound, said
Z sF"' i}~>,Y va Se"s, ~-,-,t ~
osn seil1iing nor at the-,. ''~e rgqs6ly,
by the arm.
"You go long Miss Rosa" said Topsy, pull
ing from her, "taint none o your business
None O. your SAGE" said Rosa. al saw
you hiding something's know yer tricks" and
| Rosa seized her arm, and tried to force her
hand into her bosom while Topsy, enraged
| kicked and fought valiantly for what she con.
| of the battle drew Miss Ophelia and St Clare
| both to the spot.
She's been stealing" said Rosa
q haint, neither" vocferated Topsy, sobbing
with passion.
ulNc inc tuuS NudttNcI IL Nllse
0phelia firmly.
Topsy hesitated but on a second order pull
ed out of her bosom q little parcel done up in
the foot of one of her own old stockings.
Miss Ophela turned it out. There was
small book which had been given to Topsy by
Eva containing a single verse of Scripture, ar
ranged for every day in the year, and in pa
per the curl Of hair that she had given her on
that memorable day when she had taken her
last farewell
sight of it.; the little book had been rolled in a
long stmp of black Grape, torn from the funeral
weeds.
for 2" said St. Clare, holding up the Grape
"Cause--cause-cause twas Miss Eva
oh, don't take 'em away, please she said and
sitting fiat down on the floor and putting hei
apron over her head she began to sob vehe-
mently
1t was a curious mixture of the pathetic anC
the ludicrous-the little old stocking-blacl
crape-text book-fair soft curl-and Topsy'
utter distress.
St. Clare smiled, but there were tears in hi
eyes as he said
"Come, come; don't cry; you shall hay
them and putting them together, he tire,
them into her lap, and drew Miss Ophela wit
him into the parlor.
{" really think you can make something
that concern" he said, pointing with his thum
backward over his shoulder. "Any mind tha
is capable of a real sorrop, is capable of goot
You must try and do something with herr
The child has improved greatly, /" said Mis-
Ophelia 81 have great hopes of her but Au
gustine," she said, laying her hand on his arm
lone thing | want to ask; whose is this chile
to be !-yours or mine?"
"Why gave her to YOU" SAID Augustine.
"But not legally want her to be mine le
gally," said Miss Ophelia.
"Whew! cousin" said Augustine "Whai
will the Abolition Society think They'll have O
day of fasting appointed for this backsliding
| If you become a stakeholder
"Oh, nonsense; ! want her mine, that | may
have right to take her to the free States, and
give her her liberty that all ! am trying to do
be not undOne"
"Ob, cousin, what an awful doing evil that
good may come can't encourage it,"
81 don't want you to joke, but TO reason
said Miss Ophea "There il no use in my
trying to make this child Christian child. un.
less | save her from all the chances and re-
verses of slavery and if you really are will
ing should have her, want you to give me a
deed Of gift, or some legal paper"
"Wel, we'll said ST. Clare, 81 will - and
he sat down and unfolded n newspaper to read
But want it done now" said Miss Ophe-
liza.
whats your hurry"
"Because now in the only time there ever il
to do a thing in" said Miss Ophela. "Come,
now, here's paper pen, and ink; just write q
paper
St. Clare, like most men Of his class Of mind
cordially hated the present tense OF action,
generally; and therefore he was considerably
annoyed by Miss Ophela's downrightness.
"Why, what's the matter ? y said he. Cant
you take my word One would think you had
taken lessons Of the Jews, coming at fellow
so!p
al want to make sure Of IT," said Miss
Ophelia. "You may die, or fail, and then Topsy
be hustled of to auctioa, spite Of all can do"
Really, you are quite provident Well,
seeing I'm in the hands Of q Quaker, there 10
nothing for it but to concede !" and St. Clare
rapidly wrote off deed Of gift, which, ~ he
was well versed in the forms of law, he could
easily do, and signed his name to it in sprawl
ing capitals, concluding by tremendous
flourish.
"There isn't that black and white, now,
Miss Yermont?p he said, as he handed it to
her.
Good boy" said Miss Opheia, smiling.
"But must it not be witnessed ~
"Oh, bother-yes. Here" he said, opening
the door into Marie's apartment Marie,
cousin wants your autograph just put your
name down here"
Whats this?" said Marie, as she ran over
the paper. Ridiculous ! thought cousin
WAS too pious for such horrd things" she add
ed as she carelessly wrote her name "but If
she has fancyfor that article, am sure she's
welcome"
There, now, she's yours, body and soul )"
said st. Clare, handing the paper.