One morning, while Miss Ophelia was busy in some of her domestic cares, St. Clare's voice was heard, calling her at the foot of the stairs.
"Come down here, Cousin, I've something to show you."
"What is it?" said Miss Ophelia, coming down, with her sewing in her hand.
"I've made a purchase for your department,--see here," said St. Clare; and, with the word, he pulled along a little negro girl, about eight or nine years of age.
She was one of the blackest of her race; and her round shining eyes, glittering as glass beads1, moved with quick and restless glances over everything in the room. Her mouth, half open with astonishment2 at the wonders of the new Mas'r's parlor3, displayed a white and brilliant set of teeth. Her woolly hair was braided in sundry4 little tails, which stuck out in every direction. The expression of her face was an odd mixture of shrewdness and cunning, over which was oddly drawn5, like a kind of veil, an expression of the most doleful gravity and solemnity. She was dressed in a single filthy6, ragged7 garment, made of bagging; and stood with her hands demurely8 folded before her. Altogether, there was something odd and goblin-like about her appearance,--something, as Miss Ophelia afterwards said, "so heathenish," as to inspire that good lady with utter dismay; and turning to St. Clare, she said,
"Augustine, what in the world have you brought that thing here for?"
"For you to educate, to be sure, and train in the way she should go. I thought she was rather a funny specimen9 in the Jim Arow line. Here, Topsy," he added, giving a whistle, as a man would to call the attention of a dog, "give us a song, now, and show us some of your dancing."
The black, glassy eyes glittered with a kind of wicked drollery10, and the thing struck up, in a clear shrill12 voice, an odd negro melody, to which she kept time with her hands and feet, spinning round, clapping her hands, knocking her knees together, in a wild, fantastic sort of time, and producing in her throat all those odd guttural sounds which distinguish the native music of her race; and finally, turning a summerset or two, and giving a prolonged closing note, as odd and unearthly as that of a steam-whistle, she came suddenly down on the carpet, and stood with her hands folded, and a most sanctimonious13 expression of meekness14 and solemnity over her face, only broken by the cunning glances which she shot askance from the corners of her eyes.
Miss Ophelia stood silent, perfectly15 paralyzed with amazement16. St. Clare, like a mischievous17 fellow as he was, appeared to enjoy her astonishment; and, addressing the child again, said,
"Topsy, this is your new mistress. I'm going to give you up to her; see now that you behave yourself."
"Yes, Mas'r," said Topsy, with sanctimonious gravity, her wicked eyes twinkling as she spoke19.
"You're going to be good, Topsy, you understand," said St. Clare.
"O yes, Mas'r," said Topsy, with another twinkle, her hands still devoutly20 folded.
"Now, Augustine, what upon earth is this for?" said Miss Ophelia. "Your house is so full of these little plagues, now, that a body can't set down their foot without treading on 'em. I get up in the morning, and find one asleep behind the door, and see one black head poking21 out from under the table, one lying on the door-mat,--and they are mopping and mowing22 and grinning between all the railings, and tumbling over the kitchen floor! What on earth did you want to bring this one for?"
"For you to educate--didn't I tell you? You're always preaching about educating. I thought I would make you a present of a fresh-caught specimen, and let you try your hand on her, and bring her up in the way she should go."
"_I_ don't want her, I am sure;--I have more to do with 'em now than I want to."
"That's you Christians23, all over!--you'll get up a society, and get some poor missionary24 to spend all his days among just such heathen. But let me see one of you that would take one into your house with you, and take the labor25 of their conversion26 on yourselves! No; when it comes to that, they are dirty and disagreeable, and it's too much care, and so on."
"Augustine, you know I didn't think of it in that light," said Miss Ophelia, evidently softening27. "Well, it might be a real missionary work," said she, looking rather more favorably on the ahild.
St. Clare had touched the right string. Miss Ophelia's conscientiousness28 was ever on the alert. "But," she added, "I really didn't see the need of buying this one;--there are enough now, in your house, to take all my time and skill."
"Well, then, Cousin," said St. Clare, drawing her aside, "I ought to beg your pardon for my good-for-nothing speeches. You are so good, after all, that there's no sense in them. Why, the fact is, this concern belonged to a couple of drunken creatures that keep a low restaurant that I have to pass by every day, and I was tired of hearing her screaming, and them beating and swearing at her. She looked bright and funny, too, as if something might be made of her;--so I bought her, and I'll give her to you. Try, now, and give her a good orthodox New England bringing up, and see what it'll make of her. You know I haven't any gift that way; but I'd like you to try."
"Well, I'll do what I can," said Miss Ophelia; and she approached her new subject very much as a person might be supposed to approach a black spider, supposing them to have benevolent30 designs toward it.
"She's dreadfully dirty, and half naked," she said.
"Well, take her down stairs, and make some of them clean and clothe her up."
Miss Ophelia carried her to the kitchen regions.
"Don't see what Mas'r St. Clare wants of 'nother nigger!" said Dinah, surveying the new arrival with no friendly air. "Won't have her around under _my_ feet, _I_ know!"
"Pah!" said Rosa and Jane, with supreme31 disgust; "let her keep out of our way! What in the world Mas'r wanted another of these low niggers for, I can't see!"
"You go long! No more nigger dan you be, Miss Rosa," said Dinah, who felt this last remark a reflection on herself. "You seem to tink yourself white folks. You an't nerry one, black _nor_ white, I'd like to be one or turrer."
Miss Ophelia saw that there was nobody in the camp that would undertake to oversee32 the cleansing33 and dressing18 of the new arrival; and so she was forced to do it herself, with some very ungracious and reluctant assistance from Jane.
It is not for ears polite to hear the particulars of the first toilet of a neglected, abused child. In fact, in this world, multitudes must live and die in a state that it would be too great a shock to the nerves of their fellow-mortals even to hear described. Miss Ophelia had a good, strong, practical deal of resolution; and she went through all the disgusting details with heroic thoroughness, though, it must be confessed, with no very gracious air,--for endurance was the utmost to which her principles could bring her. When she saw, on the back and shoulders of the child, great welts and calloused35 spots, ineffaceable marks of the system under which she had grown up thus far, her heart became pitiful within her.
"See there!" said Jane, pointing to the marks, "don't that show she's a limb? We'll have fine works with her, I reckon. I hate these nigger young uns! so disgusting! I wonder that Mas'r would buy her!"
The "young un" alluded37 to heard all these comments with the subdued38 and doleful air which seemed habitual39 to her, only scanning, with a keen and furtive40 glance of her flickering41 eyes, the ornaments42 which Jane wore in her ears. When arrayed at last in a suit of decent and whole clothing, her hair cropped short to her head, Miss Ophelia, with some satisfaction, said she looked more Christian-like than she did, and in her own mind began to mature some plans for her instruction.
Sitting down before her, she began to question her.
"How old are you, Topsy?"
"Dun no, Missis," said the image, with a grin that showed all her teeth.
"Don't know how old you are? Didn't anybody ever tell you? Who was your mother?"
"Never had none!" said the child, with another grin.
"Never had any mother? What do you mean? Where were you born?"
"Never was born!" persisted Topsy, with another grin, that looked so goblin-like, that, if Miss Ophelia had been at all nervous, she might have fancied that she had got hold of some sooty gnome43 drom the land of Diablerie; but Miss Ophelia was not nervous, but plain and business-like, and she said, with some sternness,
"You mustn't answer me in that way, child; I'm not playing with you. Tell me where you were born, and who your father and mother were."
"Never was born," reiterated44 the creature, more emphatically; "never had no father nor mother, nor nothin'. I was raised by a speculator, with lots of others. Old Aunt Sue used to take car on us."
The child was evidently sincere, and Jane, breaking into a short laugh, said,
"Laws, Missis, there's heaps of 'em. Speculators buys 'em up cheap, when they's little, and gets 'em raised for market."
"How long have you lived with your master and mistress?"
"Dun no, Missis."
"Is it a year, or more, or less?"
"Dun no, Missis."
"Laws, Missis, those low negroes,--they can't tell; they don't know anything about time," said Jane; "they don't know what a year is; they don't know their own ages.
"Have you ever heard anything about God, Topsy?"
The child looked bewildered, but grinned as usual.
"Do you know who made you?"
"Nobody, as I knows on," said the child, with a short laugh.
The idea appeared to amuse her considerably45; for her eyes twinkled, and she added,
"I spect I grow'd. Don't think nobody never made me."
"Do you know how to sew?" said Miss Ophelia, who thought she would turn her inquiries46 to something more tangible47.
"No, Missis."
"What can you do?--what did you do for your master and mistress?"
"Fetch water, and wash dishes, and rub knives, and wait on folks."
"Were they good to you?"
"Spect they was," said the child, scanning Miss Ophelia cunningly.
Miss Ophelia rose from this encouraging colloquy48; St. Clare was leaning over the back of her chair.
"You find virgin49 soil there, Cousin; put in your own ideas,--you won't find many to pull up."
Miss Ophelia's ideas of education, like all her other ideas, were very set and definite; and of the kind that prevailed in New England a century ago, and which are still preserved in some very retired50 and unsophisticated parts, where there are no railroads. As nearly as could be expressed, they could be comprised in very few words: to teach them to mind when they were spoken to; to teach them the catechism, sewing, and reading; and to whip them if they told lies. And though, of course, in the flood of light that is now poured on education, these are left far away in the rear, yet it is an undisputed fact that our grandmothers raised some tolerably fair men and women under this regime, as many of us can remember and testify. At all events, Miss Ophelia knew of nothing else to do; and, therefore, applied51 her mind to her heathen with the best diligence she could command.
The child was announced and considered in the family as Miss Ophelia's girl; and, as she was looked upon with no gracious eye in the kitchen, Miss Ophelia resolved to confine her sphere of operation and instruction chiefly to her own chamber52. With a self-sacrifice which some of our readers will appreciate, she resolved, instead of comfortably making her own bed, sweeping53 and dusting her own chamber,--which she had hitherto done, in utter scorn of all offers of help from the chambermaid of the establishment,--to condemn54 herself to the martyrdom of instructing Topsy to perform these operations,--ah, woe55 the day! Did any of our readers ever do the same, they will appreciate the amount of her self-sacrifice.
Miss Ophelia began with Topsy by taking her into her chamber, the first morning, and solemnly commencing a course of instruction in the art and mystery of bed-making.
Behold56, then, Topsy, washed and shorn of all the little braided tails wherein her heart had delighted, arrayed in a clean gown, with well-starched apron57, standing58 reverently59 before Miss Ophelia, with an expression of solemnity well befitting a funeral.
"Now, Topsy, I'm going to show you just how my bed is to be made. I am very particular about my bed. You must learn exactly how to do it."
"Yes, ma'am," says Topsy, with a deep sigh, and a face of woful earnestness.
"Now, Topsy, look here;--this is the hem29 of the sheet,--this is the right side of the sheet, and this is the wrong;--will you remember?"
"Yes, ma'am," says Topsy, with another sigh.
"Well, now, the under sheet you must bring over the bolster60,--so--and tuck it clear down under the mattress61 nice and smooth,--so,--do you see?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Topsy, with profound attention.
"But the upper sheet," said Miss Ophelia, "must be brought down in this way, and tucked under firm and smooth at the foot,--so,--the narrow hem at the foot."
"Yes, ma'am," said Topsy, as before;--but we will add, what Miss Ophelia did not see, that, during the time when the good lady's back was turned in the zeal62 of her manipulations, the young disciple63 had contrived64 to snatch a pair of gloves and a ribbon, which she had adroitly65 slipped into her sleeves, and stood with her hands dutifully folded, as before.
"Now, Topsy, let's see _you_ do this," said Miss Ophelia, pulling off the clothes, and seating herself.
Topsy, with great gravity and adroitness66, went through the exercise completely to Miss Ophelia's satisfaction; smoothing the sheets, patting out every wrinkle, and exhibiting, through the whole process, a gravity and seriousness with which her instructress was greatly edified67. By an unlucky slip, however, a fluttering fragment of the ribbon hung out of one of her sleeves, just as she was finishing, and caught Miss Ophelia's attention. Instantly, she pounced68 upon it. "What's this? You naughty, wicked child,--you've been stealing this!"
The ribbon was pulled out of Topsy's own sleeve, yet was she not in the least disconcerted; she only looked at it with an air of the most surprised and unconscious innocence69.
"Laws! why, that ar's Miss Feely's ribbon, an't it? How could it a got caught in my sleeve?
"Topsy, you naughty girl, don't you tell me a lie,--you stole that ribbon!"
"Missis, I declar for 't, I didn't;--never seed it till dis yer blessed minnit."
"Topsy," said Miss Ophelia, "don't you now it's wicked to tell lies?"
"I never tell no lies, Miss Feely," said Topsy, with virtuous70 gravity; "it's jist the truth I've been a tellin now, and an't nothin else."
"Topsy, I shall have to whip you, if you tell lies so."
"Laws, Missis, if you's to whip all day, couldn't say no other way," said Topsy, beginning to blubber. "I never seed dat ar,--it must a got caught in my sleeve. Miss Feeley must have left it on the bed, and it got caught in the clothes, and so got in my sleeve."
Miss Ophelia was so indignant at the barefaced71 lie, that she caught the child and shook her.
"Don't you tell me that again!"
The shake brought the glove on to the floor, from the other sleeve.
"There, you!" said Miss Ophelia, "will you tell me now, you didn't steal the ribbon?"
Topsy now confessed to the gloves, but still persisted in denying the ribbon.
"Now, Topsy," said Miss Ophelia, "if you'll confess all about it, I won't whip you this time." Thus adjured72, Topsy confessed to the ribbon and gloves, with woful protestations of penitence73.
"Well, now, tell me. I know you must have taken other things since you have been in the house, for I let you run about all day yesterday. Now, tell me if you took anything, and I shan't whip you."
"Laws, Miscis! I took Miss Eva's red thing she wars on her neck."
"You did, you naughty child!--Well, what else?"
"I took Rosa's yer-rings,--them red ones."
"Go bring them to me this minute, both of 'em."
"Laws, Missis! I can't,--they 's burnt up!"
"Burnt up!--what a story! Go get 'em, or I'll whip you."
Topsy, with loud protestations, and tears, and groans74, declared that she _could_ not. "They 's burnt up,--they was."
"What did you burn 'em for?" said Miss Ophelia.
"Cause I 's wicked,--I is. I 's mighty75 wicked, any how. I can't help it."
Just at this moment, Eva came innocently into the room, with the identical coral necklace on her neck.
"Why, Eva, where did you get your necklace?" said Miss Ophelia.
"Get it? Why, I've had it on all day," said Eva.
"Did you have it on yesterday?"
"Yes; and what is funny, Aunty, I had it on all night. I forgot to take it off when I went to bed."
Miss Ophelia looked perfectly bewildered; the more so, as Rosa, at that instant, came into the room, with a basket of newly-ironed linen76 poised77 on her head, and the coral ear-drops shaking in her ears!
"I'm sure I can't tell anything what to do with such a child!" she said, in despair. "What in the world did you tell me you took those things for, Topsy?"
"Why, Missis said I must 'fess; and I couldn't think of nothin' else to 'fess," said Topsy, rubbing her eyes.
"But, of course, I didn't want you to confess things you didn't do," said Miss Ophelia; "that's telling a lie, just as much as the other."
"Laws, now, is it?" said Topsy, with an air of innocent wonder.
"La, there an't any such thing as truth in that limb," said Rosa, looking indignantly at Topsy. "If I was Mas'r St. Clare, I'd whip her till the blood run. I would,--I'd let her catch it!"
"No, no Rosa," said Eva, with an air of command, which the child could assume at times; "you mustn't talk so, Rosa. I can't bear to hear it."
"La sakes! Miss Eva, you 's so good, you don't know nothing how to get along with niggers. There's no way but to cut 'em well up, I tell ye."
"Rosa!" said Eva, "hush78! Don't you say another word of that sort!" and the eye of the child flashed, and her cheek deepened its color.
Rosa was cowed in a moment.
"Miss Eva has got the St. Clare blood in her, that's plain. She can speak, for all the world, just like her papa," she said, as she passed out of the room.
Eva stood looking at Topsy.
There stood the two children representatives of the two extremes of society. The fair, high-bred child, with her golden head, her deep eyes, her spiritual, noble brow, and prince-like movements; and her black, keen, subtle, cringing79, yet acute neighbor. They stood the representatives of their races. The Saxon, born of ages of cultivation80, command, education, physical and moral eminence81; the Afric, born of ages of oppression, submission82, ignorance, toil34 and vice83!
Something, perhaps, of such thoughts struggled through Eva's mind. But a child's thoughts are rather dim, undefined instincts; and in Eva's noble nature many such were yearning84 and working, for which she had no power of utterance85. When Miss Ophelia expatiated86 on Topsy's naughty, wicked conduct, the child looked perplexed87 and sorrowful, but said, sweetly.
"Poor Topsy, why need you steal? You're going to be taken good care of now. I'm sure I'd rather give you anything of mine, than have you steal it."
It was the first word of kindness the child had ever heard in her life; and the sweet tone and manner struck strangely on the wild, rude heart, and a sparkle of something like a tear shone in the keen, round, glittering eye; but it was followed by the short laugh and habitual grin. No! the ear that has never heard anything but abuse is strangely incredulous of anything so heavenly as kindness; and Topsy only thought Eva's speech something funny and inexplicable,--she did not believe it.
But what was to be done with Topsy? Miss Ophelia found the case a puzzler; her rules for bringing up didn't seem to apply. She thought she would take time to think of it; and, by the way of gaining time, and in hopes of some indefinite moral virtues88 supposed to be inherent in dark closets, Miss Ophelia shut Topsy up in one till she had arranged her ideas further on the subject.
"I don't see," said Miss Ophelia to St. Clare, "how I'm going to manage that child, without whipping her."
"Well, whip her, then, to your heart's content; I'll give you full power to do what you like."
"Children always have to be whipped," said Miss Ophelia; "I never heard of bringing them up without."
"O, well, certainly," said St. Clare; "do as you think best. Only I'll make one suggestion: I've seen this child whipped with a poker89, knocked down with the shovel90 or tongs91, whichever came handiest, &c.; and, seeing that she is used to that style of operation, I think your whippings will have to be pretty energetic, to make much impression."
"What is to be done with her, then?" said Miss Ophelia.
"You have started a serious question," said St. Clare; "I wish you'd answer it. What is to be done with a human being that can be governed only by the lash,--_that_ fails,--it's a very common state of things down here!"
"I'm sure I don't know; I never saw such a child as this."
"Such children are very common among us, and such men and women, too. How are they to be governed?" said St. Clare.
"I'm sure it's more than I can say," said Miss Ophelia.
"Or I either," said St. Clare. "The horrid92 cruelties and outrages93 that once and a while find their way into the papers,--such cases as Prue's, for example,--what do they come from? In many cases, it is a gradual hardening process on both sides,--the owner growing more and more cruel, as the servant more and more callous36. Whipping and abuse are like laudanum; you have to double the dose as the sensibilities decline. I saw this very early when I became an owner; and I resolved never to begin, because I did not know when I should stop,--and I resolved, at least, to protect my own moral nature. The consequence is, that my servants act like spoiled children; but I think that better than for us both to be brutalized together. You have talked a great deal about our responsibilities in educating, Cousin. I really wanted you to _try_ with one child, who is a specimen of thousands among us."
"It is your system makes such children," said Miss Ophelia.
"I know it; but they are _made_,--they exist,--and what _is_ to be done with them?"
"Well, I can't say I thank you for the experiment. But, then, as it appears to be a duty, I shall persevere94 and try, and do the best I can," said Miss Ophelia; and Miss Ophelia, after this, did labor, with a commendable95 degree of zeal and energy, on her new subject. She instituted regular hours and employments for her, and undertook to teach her to read and sew.
In the former art, the child was quick enough. She learned her letters as if by magic, and was very soon able to read plain reading; but the sewing was a more difficult matter. The creature was as lithe96 as a cat, and as active as a monkey, and the confinement97 of sewing was her abomination; so she broke her needles, threw them slyly out of the window, or down in chinks of the walls; she tangled98, broke, and dirtied her thread, or, with a sly movement, would throw a spool99 away altogether. Her motions were almost as quick as those of a practised conjurer, and her command of her face quite as great; and though Miss Ophelia could not help feeling that so many accidents could not possibly happen in succession, yet she could not, without a watchfulness100 which would leave her no time for anything else, detect her.
Topsy was soon a noted101 character in the establishment. Her talent for every species of drollery, grimace102, and mimicry,--for dancing, tumbling, climbing, singing, whistling, imitating every sound that hit her fancy,--seemed inexhaustible. In her play-hours, she invariably had every child in the establishment at her heels, open-mouthed with admiration103 and wonder,--not excepting Miss Eva, who appeared to be fascinated by her wild diablerie, as a dove is sometimes charmed by a glittering serpent. Miss Ophelia was uneasy that Eva should fancy Topsy's society so much, and implored104 St. Clare to forbid it.
"Poh! let the child alone," said St. Clare. "Topsy will do her good."
"But so depraved a child,--are you not afraid she will teach her some mischief105?"
"She can't teach her mischief; she might teach it to some children, but evil rolls off Eva's mind like dew off a cabbage-leaf,--not a drop sinks in."
"Don't be too sure," said Miss Ophelia. "I know I'd never let a child of mine play with Topsy."
"Well, your children needn't," said St. Clare, "but mine may; if Eva could have been spoiled, it would have been done years ago."
Topsy was at first despised and contemned106 by the upper servants. They soon found reason to alter their opinion. It was very soon discovered that whoever cast an indignity107 on Topsy was sure to meet with some inconvenient108 accident shortly after;--either a pair of ear-rings or some cherished trinket would be missing, or an article of dress would be suddenly found utterly109 ruined, or the person would stumble accidently into a pail of hot water, or a libation of dirty slop would unaccountably deluge110 them from above when in full gala dress;-and on all these occasions, when investigation111 was made, there was nobody found to stand sponsor for the indignity. Topsy was cited, and had up before all the domestic judicatories, time and again; but always sustained her examinations with most edifying112 innocence and gravity of appearance. Nobody in the world ever doubted who did the things; but not a scrap113 of any direct evidence could be found to establish the suppositions, and Miss Ophelia was too just to feel at liberty to proceed to any length without it.
The mischiefs114 done were always so nicely timed, also, as further to shelter the aggressor. Thus, the times for revenge on Rosa and Jane, the two chamber maids, were always chosen in those seasons when (as not unfrequently happened) they were in disgrace with their mistress, when any complaint from them would of course meet with no sympathy. In short, Topsy soon made the household understand the propriety115 of letting her alone; and she was let alone, accordingly.
Topsy was smart and energetic in all manual operations, learning everything that was taught her with surprising quickness. With a few lessons, she had learned to do the proprieties116 of Miss Ophelia's chamber in a way with which even that particular lady could find no fault. Mortal hands could not lay spread smoother, adjust pillows more accurately117, sweep and dust and arrange more perfectly, than Topsy, when she chose,--but she didn't very often choose. If Miss Ophelia, after three or four days of careful patient supervision118, was so sanguine119 as to suppose that Topsy had at last fallen into her way, could do without over-looking, and so go off and busy herself about something else, Topsy would hold a perfect carnival120 of confusion, for some one or two hours. Instead of making the bed, she would amuse herself with pulling off the pillowcases, butting121 her woolly head among the pillows, till it would sometimes be grotesquely122 ornamented123 with feathers sticking out in various directions; she would climb the posts, and hang head downward from the tops; flourish the sheets and spreads all over the apartment; dress the bolster up in Miss Ophelia's night-clothes, and enact124 various performances with that,--singing and whistling, and making grimaces125 at herself in the looking-glass; in short, as Miss Ophelia phrased it, "raising Cain" generally.
On one occasion, Miss Ophelia found Topsy with her very best scarlet126 India Canton crape shawl wound round her head for a turban, going on with her rehearsals127 before the glass in great style,--Miss Ophelia having, with carelessness most unheard-of in her, left the key for once in her drawer.
"Topsy!" she would say, when at the end of all patience, "what does make you act so?"
"Dunno, Missis,--I spects cause I 's so wicked!"
"I don't know anything what I shall do with you, Topsy."
"Law, Missis, you must whip me; my old Missis allers whipped me. I an't used to workin' unless I gets whipped."
"Why, Topsy, I don't want to whip you. You can do well, if you've a mind to; what is the reason you won't?"
"Laws, Missis, I 's used to whippin'; I spects it's good for me."
Miss Ophelia tried the recipe, and Topsy invariably made a terrible commotion128, screaming, groaning129 and imploring130, though half an hour afterwards, when roosted on some projection131 of the balcony, and surrounded by a flock of admiring "young uns," she would express the utmost contempt of the whole affair.
"Law, Miss Feely whip!--wouldn't kill a skeeter, her whippins. Oughter see how old Mas'r made the flesh fly; old Mas'r know'd how!"
Topsy always made great capital of her own sins and enormities, evidently considering them as something peculiarly distinguishing.
"Law, you niggers," she would say to some of her auditors132, "does you know you 's all sinners? Well, you is--everybody is. White folks is sinners too,--Miss Feely says so; but I spects niggers is the biggest ones; but lor! ye an't any on ye up to me. I 's so awful wicked there can't nobody do nothin' with me. I used to keep old Missis a swarin' at me half de time. I spects I 's the wickedest critter in the world;" and Topsy would cut a summerset, and come up brisk and shining on to a higher perch133, and evidently plume134 herself on the distinction.
Miss Ophelia busied herself very earnestly on Sundays, teaching Topsy the catechism. Topsy had an uncommon135 verbal memory, and committed with a fluency136 that greatly encouraged 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.
"O, children never understand it at the time; but, after they are grown up, it'll come to them."
"Mine hasn't come to me yet," said St. Clare, "though I'll bear testimony137 that you put it into me pretty thoroughly138 when I was a boy."'
"Ah, you were always good at learning, Augustine. I used to have great hopes of you," said Miss Ophelia.
"Well, haven't you now?" said St. Clare.
"I wish you were as good as you were when you were a boy, Augustine."
"So do I, that's a fact, Cousin," said St. Clare. "Well, go ahead and catechize Topsy; may be you'll make out something yet."
Topsy, who had stood like a black statue during this discussion, with hands decently folded, now, at a signal from Miss Ophelia, went on:
"Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state wherein they were created."
Topsy's eyes twinkled, and she looked inquiringly.
"What is it, Topsy?" said Miss Ophelia.
"Please, Missis, was dat ar state Kintuck?"
"What state, Topsy?"
"Dat state dey fell out of. I used to hear Mas'r tell how we came down from Kintuck."
St. Clare laughed.
"You'll have to give her a meaning, or she'll make one," said he. "There seems to be a theory of emigration suggested there."
"O! Augustine, be still," said Miss Ophelia; "how can I do anything, if you will be laughing?"
"Well, I 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 recitations. They were all very well, only that now and then she would oddly transpose some important words, and persist in the mistake, in spite of every effort to the contrary; and St. Clare, after all his promises of goodness, took a wicked pleasure in these mistakes, calling Topsy to him whenever he had a mind to amuse himself, and getting her to repeat the offending passages, in spite of Miss Ophelia's remonstrances139.
"How do you think I can do anything with the child, if you will go on so, Augustine?" she would say.
"Well, it is too bad,--I won't again; but I do like to hear the droll11 little image stumble over those big words!"
"But you confirm her in the wrong way."
"What's the odds140? 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."
"O, dismal141! so I ought; but, as Topsy herself says, `I 's so wicked!'"
In very much this way Topsy's training proceeded, for a year or two,--Miss Ophelia worrying herself, from day to day, with her, as a kind of chronic142 plague, to whose inflictions she became, in time, as accustomed, as persons sometimes 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 a 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 a stray picayune, which she laid out in nuts and candies, and distributed, with careless generosity143, to all the children in the family; for Topsy, to do her justice, was good-natured and liberal, and only spiteful in self-defence. She is fairly introduced into our _corps be ballet_, and will figure, from time to time, in her turn, with other performers.
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1
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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drollery
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| n.开玩笑，说笑话；滑稽可笑的图画（或故事、小戏等） | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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sanctimonious
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| adj.假装神圣的，假装虔诚的，假装诚实的 | |
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meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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19
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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22
mowing
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| n.割草，一次收割量，牧草地v.刈，割( mow的现在分词 ) | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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softening
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| 变软，软化 | |
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conscientiousness
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| 责任心 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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oversee
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| vt.监督，管理 | |
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cleansing
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| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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calloused
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| adj.粗糙的，粗硬的，起老茧的v.（使）硬结，（使）起茧( callous的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）冷酷无情 | |
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callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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41
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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42
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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43
gnome
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| n.土地神；侏儒，地精 | |
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44
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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47
tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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48
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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49
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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50
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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51
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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52
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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53
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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54
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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55
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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56
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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57
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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58
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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59
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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60
bolster
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| n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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61
mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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62
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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63
disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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64
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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65
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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66
adroitness
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67
edified
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| v.开导，启发( edify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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69
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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70
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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71
barefaced
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| adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的 | |
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72
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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73
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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74
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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75
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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76
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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77
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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78
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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79
cringing
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| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
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80
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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81
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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82
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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83
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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84
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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85
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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86
expatiated
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| v.详述，细说( expatiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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88
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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89
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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90
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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91
tongs
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| n.钳；夹子 | |
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92
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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93
outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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94
persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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95
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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96
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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97
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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98
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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99
spool
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| n.（缠录音带等的）卷盘（轴）；v.把…绕在卷轴上 | |
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100
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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101
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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102
grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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103
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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104
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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106
contemned
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| v.侮辱，蔑视( contemn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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108
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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109
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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110
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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111
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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112
edifying
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| adj.有教训意味的，教训性的，有益的v.开导，启发( edify的现在分词 ) | |
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113
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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114
mischiefs
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| 损害( mischief的名词复数 )； 危害； 胡闹； 调皮捣蛋的人 | |
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115
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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116
proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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117
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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118
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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119
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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120
carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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butting
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| 用头撞人（犯规动作） | |
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122
grotesquely
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| adv. 奇异地,荒诞地 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enact
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| vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演 | |
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125
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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126
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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rehearsals
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| n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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132
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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133
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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fluency
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| n.流畅，雄辩，善辩 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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