The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-12-23


the moral influences specified love aud
confdence-of which | have now some.
thing to say more specifically.
By love ! mean the love of benevo.
lcnce-good will, expressed in act, by
doing good and in manner bv kindness.
1t delights in the happiness Of its object,
and manifests soicitnde to promote it
To become efIectual in school govern.
ment it should enter into all the inter
course between teacher and pupil, both
in and out of the school room rs truest
and most etiectual expression is in little
things--in the thousand nameless ways
in which loving spirit may he exhibit
ed. Very signal and snowy demonstra
tions o! it are apt TO excite suspicion
that an effort is made for effect, that
does not spring spontaneously from the
heart and when this is manifest, dis.
trust and contempt will he excited.
Spontaneous, disinierested heartfelt
love Who sufficiently considers and
appreciates its power How strongly
1t appeals tn the sensiblities How it
bauishes jealousy subdues hostility. dis
arms opposition. enkindles affection, in.
spires confidence. A kim look, a gentle
word, an unmistakabe sympathy In an.
others cares, joys sorrows perplexiiies,
how they win the heart
am reminded in this connection, of
an illus'rotion'cf the power of love.
brought out by Mrs Stove in Uncle
Toms Cabin
Topsy. an ignorant, abused hardened
negro girl. had been purchased by 81.
Clair from some one who sold her be.
cause the lash had proved Intellectual for
anything but to make her worse She
was put By her new master into the care
and uudor the special training. of Miss
Ophelia, his cousin from New England,
fair representative Of the old race of
school mstresses who in my boyhood,
used to govern by rod and ferule Miss
o. wa. soon very much shocked with
Topssy's wiekedness and ncorrigi bleness
and after considerable trial with her
troublesome charge, says. in an interview
with S.. Clair
don't know what to DO. I've taught
and taught. I've talked till am tired
I've whipped her. I've punished her in
every way can think Of, and still, she
is just what she was at the frat"
Come here, Topssy, you monkey"
said St Clair, ealing the child to him,
what makes you behave so? Don't
you see how much Miss Opbelia has
done for you She says she has done
everything she can think of
1.or yes. massa old missus used to
say % too. She whipped me heap hard
er, and used to pull my hair, and knock
my head against the door but it din't
do nc good spect il ,heyis to pull
every har out q my head it would, do
me no good neiiher-ps so wicked
Well, | shall have to give her up, said
Miss Ophelia | can't have that trouble
any longer
Eva the little daughter Of ST. Clair,
after standing a silent spectator Of this
scene. contrived to get Topsy into lit.
tie glass room at the corner OF the yer.
anda, where soon after, the drawing of
curtain by 81. Clair disclosed the two
sitting on the floor and Eva-her ewes
suffused with tesrs-thus addressing the
abused, forsaken one
What does make you 20 bad Topsey2
Why won't you try to be good ! Don't
you love anyb0dy Topsey Q
'Donno nothing bout love loves can.
dy, and sich,-that's all
But, TOpsoy, il you would only try to
be good you might
Couldn't never be nothing but mig.
ger, if was ever 90 good,
But people can love you if you are
black, TOp,ey. Miss Ophelia would love
you if you were good Don't you think
so?'
No, she can't bare me, cause I'm
niger Therel don't anybody love mig.
gers.
%. Topsey, poor child, / love YOU
said Eve. with a sudden burst of feeling.
and, laying her little thin white hand
on Topsey's shoulder ! love you be.
cause you haven't had any father or
mother, or friends because you've been
a poor abused child. | love you, and
want you to be good 1t really grieves
me to nave you so naughty, l wish you
would try to be good for my sake.
The round keen eyes of the black child
were overcast with tears largo drops
rolled heavily down. Que by one, and fell
on the little white hand Yes in that
moment, ray Of heavenly love had pen
etrated her heather sonl. She laid her
head down between her kpess, and wept
aud sobbed, while the beautiful child
bending over her looked like the picture of
some bright angel STOPPING to- rsclaims
sinner"
Poor Topsey," said Eva. don't you
know that Jesus loves all alkeq He
will help you to be good
30 lear. Miss Eva" said the child, Il
will try. ] never did care nothin' about
it before.
In q subsequent scene between Miss
Ophsla and, Topssy, after the death of
Eva, there is q most touching description
Of the grief Of the poor outeast, upon the
loss OF her friend, 10 which upon Der say.