英语天堂-第76章

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immediate　urgency；　and　then；　when　the　light　faded；　and　the　work　was　folded　away；　with　one　turn　out　came　the　ever…ready　knitting…work；　and　there　she　was　again；　going　on　as　briskly　as　ever。　It　really　was　a　labor　to　see　her。
Chapter　20
Topsy
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　beads；　moved　with　quick　and　restless　glances　over　everything　in　the　room。　Her　mouth；　half　open　with　astonishment　at　the　wonders　of　the　new　Mas’r’s　parlor；　displayed　a　white　and　brilliant　set　of　teeth。　Her　woolly　hair　was　braided　in　sundry　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　drawn；　like　a　kind　of　veil；　an　expression　of　the　most　doleful　gravity　and　solemnity。　She　was　dressed　in　a　single　filthy；　ragged　garment；　made　of　bagging；　and　stood　with　her　hands　demurely　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　specimen　in　the　Jim　Crow　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　drollery；　and　the　thing　struck　up；　in　a　clear　shrill　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　sanctimonious　expression　of　meekness　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；　perfectly　paralyzed　with　amazement。　St。　Clare；　like　a　mischievous　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　spoke。
“You’re　going　to　be　good；　Topsy；　you　understand；”　said　St。　Clare。
“O　yes；　Mas’r；”　said　Topsy；　with　another　twinkle；　her　hands　still　devoutly　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　poking　out　from　under　the　table；　one　lying　on　the　door…mat；—and　they　are　mopping　and　mowing　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　Christians；　all　over！—you’ll　get　up　a　society；　and　get　some　poor　missionary　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　labor　of　their　conversion　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　softening。　“Well；　it　might　be　a　real　missionary　work；”　said　she；　looking　rather　more　favorably　on　the　child。
St。　Clare　had　touched　the　right　string。　Miss　Ophelia’s　conscientiousness　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　benevolent　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　supreme　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　oversee　the　cleansing　and　dressing　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　calloused　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”　alluded　to　heard　all　these　comments　with　the　subdued　and　doleful　air　which　seemed　habitual　to　her；　only　scanning；　with　a　keen　and　furtive　glance　of　her　flickering　eyes；　the　ornaments　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　gnome　from　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；”　reiterated　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　considerably；　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　inquiries　to　something　more　tangible。
“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　colloquy；　St。　Clare　was　leaning　over　the　back　of　her　chair。
“You　find　virgin　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　retired　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　ev