英语天堂-第98部分

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rements　of　Christianity；　that　he　shrank；　by　anticipation；　from　what　he　felt　would　be　the　exactions　of　his　own　conscience；　if　he　once　did　resolve　to　assume　them。　For；　so　inconsistent　is　human　nature；　especially　in　the　ideal；　that　not　to　undertake　a　thing　at　all　seems　better　than　to　undertake　and　come　short。
Still　St。　Clare　was；　in　many　respects；　another　man。　He　read　his　little　Eva’s　Bible　seriously　and　honestly；　he　thought　more　soberly　and　practically　of　his　relations　to　his　servants；—enough　to　make　him　extremely　dissatisfied　with　both　his　past　and　present　course；　and　one　thing　he　did；　soon　after　his　return　to　New　Orleans；　and　that　was　to　commence　the　legal　steps　necessary　to　Tom’s　emancipation；　which　was　to　be　perfected　as　soon　as　he　could　get　through　the　necessary　formalities。　Meantime；　he　attached　himself　to　Tom　more　and　more；　every　day。　In　all　the　wide　world；　there　was　nothing　that　seemed　to　remind　him　so　much　of　Eva；　and　he　would　insist　on　keeping　him　constantly　about　him；　and；　fastidious　and　unapproachable　as　he　was　with　regard　to　his　deeper　feelings；　he　almost　thought　aloud　to　Tom。　Nor　would　any　one　have　wondered　at　it；　who　had　seen　the　expression　of　affection　and　devotion　with　which　Tom　continually　followed　his　young　master。
“Well；　Tom；”　said　St。　Clare；　the　day　after　he　had　commenced　the　legal　formalities　for　his　enfranchisement；　“I’m　going　to　make　a　free　man　of　you；—so　have　your　trunk　packed；　and　get　ready　to　set　out　for　Kentuck。”
The　sudden　light　of　joy　that　shone　in　Tom’s　face　as　he　raised　his　hands　to　heaven；　his　emphatic　“Bless　the　Lord！”　rather　discomposed　St。　Clare；　he　did　not　like　it　that　Tom　should　be　so　ready　to　leave　him。
“You　haven’t　had　such　very　bad　times　here；　that　you　need　be　in　such　a　rapture；　Tom；”　he　said　drily。
“No；　no；　Mas’r！　’tan’t　that；—it’s　bein’　a　freeman！　that’s　what　I’m　joyin’　for。”
“Why；　Tom；　don’t　you　think；　for　your　own　part；　you’ve　been　better　off　than　to　be　free？”
“No；　indeed；　Mas’r　St。　Clare；”　said　Tom；　with　a　flash　of　energy。　“No；　indeed！”
“Why；　Tom；　you　couldn’t　possibly　have　earned；　by　your　work；　such　clothes　and　such　living　as　I　have　given　you。”
“Knows　all　that；　Mas’r　St。　Clare；　Mas’r’s　been　too　good；　but；　Mas’r；　I’d　rather　have　poor　clothes；　poor　house；　poor　everything；　and　have　’em　mine；　than　have　the　best；　and　have　’em　any　man’s　else；—I　had　so；　Mas’r；　I　think　it’s　natur；　Mas’r。”
“I　suppose　so；　Tom；　and　you’ll　be　going　off　and　leaving　me；　in　a　month　or　so；”　he　added；　rather　discontentedly。　“Though　why　you　shouldn’t；　no　mortal　knows；”　he　said；　in　a　gayer　tone；　and；　getting　up；　he　began　to　walk　the　floor。
“Not　while　Mas’r　is　in　trouble；”　said　Tom。　“I’ll　stay　with　Mas’r　as　long　as　he　wants　me；—so　as　I　can　be　any　use。”
“Not　while　I’m　in　trouble；　Tom？”　said　St。　Clare；　looking　sadly　out　of　the　window。　。　。　。　“And　when　will　my　trouble　be　over？”
“When　Mas’r　St。　Clare’s　a　Christian；”　said　Tom。
“And　you　really　mean　to　stay　by　till　that　day　comes？”　said　St。　Clare；　half　smiling；　as　he　turned　from　the　window；　and　laid　his　hand　on　Tom’s　shoulder。　“Ah；　Tom；　you　soft；　silly　boy！　I　won’t　keep　you　till　that　day。　Go　home　to　your　wife　and　children；　and　give　my　love　to　all。”
“I　’s　faith　to　believe　that　day　will　come；”　said　Tom；　earnestly；　and　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　“the　Lord　has　a　work　for　Mas’r。”
“A　work；　hey？”　said　St。　Clare；　“well；　now；　Tom；　give　me　your　views　on　what　sort　of　a　work　it　is；—let’s　hear。”
“Why；　even　a　poor　fellow　like　me　has　a　work　from　the　Lord；　and　Mas’r　St。　Clare；　that　has　larnin；　and　riches；　and　friends；—how　much　he　might　do　for　the　Lord！”
“Tom；　you　seem　to　think　the　Lord　needs　a　great　deal　done　for　him；”　said　St。　Clare；　smiling。
“We　does　for　the　Lord　when　we　does　for　his　critturs；”　said　Tom。
“Good　theology；　Tom；　better　than　Dr。　B。　preaches；　I　dare　swear；”　said　St。　Clare。
The　conversation　was　here　interrupted　by　the　announcement　of　some　visitors。
Marie　St。　Clare　felt　the　loss　of　Eva　as　deeply　as　she　could　feel　anything；　and；　as　she　was　a　woman　that　had　a　great　faculty　of　making　everybody　unhappy　when　she　was；　her　immediate　attendants　had　still　stronger　reason　to　regret　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　Mammy；　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　skilful　and　alert　in　her　ministrations　of　her　mistress　than　usual；　which　drew　down　a　constant　storm　of　invectives　on　her　defenceless　head。
Miss　Ophelia　felt　the　loss；　but；　in　her　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　a　chastened　and　quiet　air；　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　ill…repressed　disgust；　because　she　felt　none。　She　viewed　her　now　through　the　softened　medium　that　Eva’s　hand　had　first　held　before　her　eyes；　and　saw　in　her　only　an　immortal　creature；　whom　God　had　sent　to　be　led　by　her　to　glory　and　virtue。　Topsy　did　not　become　at　once　a　saint；　but　the　life　and　death　of　Eva　did　work　a　marked　change　in　her。　The　callous　indifference　was　gone；　there　was　now　sensibility；　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　something　into　her　bosom。
“What　are　you　doing　there；　you　limb？　You’ve　been　stealing　something；　I’ll　be　bound；”　said　the　imperious　little　Rosa；　who　had　been　sent　to　call　her；　seizing　her；　at　the　same　time；　roughly　by　the　arm。
“You　go　’long；　Miss　Rosa！”　said　Topsy；　pulling　from　her；　“’tan’t　none　o’　your　business！”
“None　o’　your　sa’ce！”　said　Rosa；　“I　saw　you　hiding　something；—I　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　considered　her　rights。　The　clamor　and　confusion　of　the　battle　drew　Miss　Ophelia　and　St。　Clare　both　to　the　spot。
“She’s　been　stealing！”　said　Rosa。
“I　han’t；　neither！”　vociferated　Topsy；　sobbing　with　passion。
“Give　me　that；　whatever　it　is！”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　firmly。
Topsy　hesitated；　but；　on　a　second　order；　pulled　out　of　her　bosom　a　little　parcel　done　up　in　the　foot　of　one　of　her　own　old　stockings。
Miss　Ophelia　turned　it　out。　There　was　a　small　book；　which　had　been　given　to　Topsy　by　Eva；　containing　a　single　verse　of　Scripture；　arranged　for　every　day　in　the　year；　and　in　a　paper　the　curl　of　hair　that　she　had　given　her　on　that　memorable　day　when　she　had　taken　her　last　farewell。
St。　Clare　was　a　good　deal　affected　at　the　sight　of　it；　the　little　book　had　been　rolled　in　a　long　strip　of　black　crape；　torn　from　the　funeral　weeds。
“What　did　you　wrap　this　round　the　book　for？”　said　St。　Clare；　holding　up　the　crape。
“Cause；—cause；—cause　’t　was　Miss　Eva。　O；　don’t　take　’em　away；　please！”　she　said；　and；　sitting　flat　down　on　the　floor；　and　putting　her　apron　over　her　head；　she　began　to　sob　vehemently。
It　was　a　curious　mixture　of　the　pathetic　and　the　ludicrous；—the　little　old　stockings；—black　crape；—text…book；—fair；　soft　curl；—and　Topsy’s　utter　distress。
St。　Clare　smiled；　but　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes；　as　he　said；
“Come；　come；—don’t　cry；　you　shall　have　them！”　and；　putting　them　together；　he　threw　them　into　her　lap；　and　drew　Miss　Ophelia　with　him　into　the　parlor。
“I　really　think　you　can　make　something　of　that　concern；”　he　said；　pointing　with　his　thumb　backward　over　his　shoulder。　“Any　mind　that　is　capable　of　a　real　sorrow　is　capable　of　good。　You　must　try　and　do　something　with　her。”
“The　child　has　improved　greatly；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。　“I　have　great　hopes　of　her；　but；　Augustine；”　she　said；　laying　her　hand　on　his　arm；　“one　thing　I　want　to　ask；　whose　is　this　child　to　be？—yours　or　mine？”
“Why；　I　gave　her　to　you；　“　said　Augustine。
“But　not　legally；—I　want　her　to　be　mine　legally；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。
“Whew！　cousin；”　said　Augustine。　“What　will　the　Abolition　Society　think？　They’ll　have　a　day　of　fasting　appointed　for　this　backsliding；　if　you　become　a　slaveholder！”
“O；　nonsense！　I　want　her　mine；　that　I　may　have　a　right　to　take　her　to　the　free　States；　and　give　her　her　liberty；　that　all　I　am　trying　to　do　be　not　undone。”
“O；　cousin；　what　an　awful　‘doing　evil　that　good　may　come’！　I　can’t　encourage　it。”
“I　don’t　want　you　to　joke；　but　to　reason；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。　“There　is　no　use　in　my　trying　to　make　this　child　a　Christian　child；　unless　I　save　her　from　all　the　chances　and　reverses　of　slavery；　and；　if　you　really　are　willing　I　should　have　her；　I　want　you　to　give　me　a　deed　of　gift；　or　some　legal　paper。”
“Well；　well；”　said　St。　Clare；　“I　will；”　and　he　sat　down；　and　unfolded　a　newspaper　to　read。
“But　I　want　it　done　now；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。
“What’s　your　hurry？”
“Because　now　is　the　only　time　there　ever　is　to　do　a　thing　in；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。　“Come；　now；　here’s　paper；　pen；　and　ink；　just　write　a　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　Ophelia’s　downrightness。
“Why；　what’s　the　matter？”　said　he。　“Can’t　you　take　my　word？　One　would　think　you　had　taken　lessons　of　the　Jews；　coming　at　a　fellow　so！”
“I　want　to　make　sure　of　it；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。　“You　may　die；　or　fail；　and　then　Topsy　be　hustled　off　to　auction；　spite　of　all　I　can　do。”
“Really；　you　are　quite　provident。　Well；　seeing　I’m　in　the　hands　of　a　Yankee；　there　is　nothing　for　it　but　to　concede；”　and　St。　Clare　rapidly　wrote　off　a　deed　of　gift；　which；　as　he　was　well　versed　in　the　forms　of　law；　he　could　easily　do；　and　signed　his　name　to　it　in　sprawling　capitals；　concluding　by　a　tremendous　flourish。
“There；　isn’t　that　black　and　white；　now；　Miss　Vermont？”　he　said；　as　he　handed　it　to　her。
“Good　boy；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　smiling。　“