The Christian Slave - A Drama Part 6

Oph. Well, now, the under sheet you must bring over the bolster--so--and tuck it clear down under the mattress nice and smooth--so; do you see?

Top. Yes, ma'am.

Oph. But the upper sheet must be brought down in this way, and tucked under firm and smooth at the foot--so--the narrow hem at the foot.

Top. Yes, ma'am.

[Adroitly s.n.a.t.c.hing a pair of gloves and a ribbon, and hiding them in her sleeve.] Oph. Now, Topsy, let's see you do this.

[As TOPSY goes to make the bed, the ribbon hangs out of her sleeve.] Oph. [Seizing it.] What 's this? You naughty, wicked child--you 've been stealing this!

Top. Laws! why, that ar's Miss Feely's ribbon, an't it? How could it a got in my sleeve?

Oph. Topsy, you naughty girl, don't you tell me a lie; you stole that ribbon!

Top. Missis, I declar for 't, I did n't; never seed it till dis yer blessed minnit!

Oph. Topsy, don't you know it 's wicked to tell lies?

Top. I never tells no lies, Miss Feely; it 's jist the truth I've been a tellin' now, and an't nothin' else.

Oph. Topsy, I shall have to whip you, if you tell lies so.

Top. Laws, missis, if you 's to whip all day, could n't say no other way. I never seed dat ar--it must a got caught in my sleeve. Miss Feely must have left it on the bed, and it got caught in the clothes, and so got in my sleeve.

Oph. [Shaking her.] Don't you tell me that again! [The gloves fall out.] There, you! will you tell me now you did n't steal the ribbon?

Top. Laws, missis, I did steal dem ar gloves--but I never did take dat ar ribbon, in the world, never!

Oph. Now, Topsy! If you 'll confess all about it, I won't whip you this time.

Top. Well, den, missis, I did take de ribbon and de gloves both, I did so.

Oph. 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.

Top. Laws, missis! I took Miss Eva's red thing she wars on her neck.

Oph. You did, you naughty child! Well, what else?

Top. I took Rosa's yer-rings--dem red ones.

Oph. Go bring them to me this minute, both of 'em.

Top. Laws, missis, I can't--they's burnt up!

Oph. Burnt up? what a story! Go get 'em, or I 'll whip you!

Top. [Crying and groaning.] I can't missis, I can't no how! Dey 's burnt up-dey is.

Oph. What did you burn 'em up for?

Top. 'Cause I 's wicked--I is. I 's mighty wicked, any how. I can't help it, no how.

Enter EVA, with the coral necklace on her neck. Oph. Why, Eva, where did you get your necklace?

Eva. Get it? Why, I 've had it on all day.

Oph. Did you have it on yesterday?

Eva. Yes; and what is funny, aunty, I had it on all night. I forgot to take it off when I went to be.

Enter ROSA, with a basket of newly-ironed linen poised on her head, and the coral ear-drops shaking in her ears. Oph. [In despair.] I 'm sure I can't tell anything to do with such a child! What in the world did you tell me you took those things for, Topsy?

Top. Why, missis said I must 'fess; and I could n't think of nothin' else to 'fess.

Oph. But, of course, I did n't want you to confess things you did n't do; that 's telling a lie, just as much as the other.

Top. Laws, now, is it? Why, how curus!

Rosa. La, there an't any such thing as the truth in that limb! If I was Mas'r St. Clare, I 'd whip her till the blood run, I would! I 'd let her catch it!

Eva. No, no, Rosa! you must n't talk so, Rosa. I can't bear to hear it.

Rosa. La, sakes! Miss Eva, you 's so good, you don't know nothing how to get along with n.i.g.g.e.rs. There 's no way but cut 'em well up, I tell ye.

Eva. Rosa, hush! Don't say another word of that sort.

Rosa. Miss Eva has got the St. Clare blood in her, that's plain. She can speak for all the world just like her papa.

[Exit ROSA.] Oph. Well, I don't know anything what I shall do with you, Topsy.

Top. Laws, missis, you must whip me! Ole missis always whipped me. I s'pects 's good for me.

Oph. Why Topsy, I don't want to whip you. You can do well if you 've a mind to. What 's the reason you won't?

Top. Why, missis, I 's so used to whippin'.

Oph. Well, I shall shut you in this closet, to think of your ways a while.

Eva. [Goes up to Topsy.] 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.

Top. Ha! ha! dat ar 's curus! Well, I 's gwine in de closet--mebbe I 'll come out better. [Goes in.]

[Exeunt EVA and MISS OPHELIA.

SCENE VIII.--A Veranda. ST. CLARE lounging on a sofa. MISS OPHELIA sewing.

Ophelia. Topsy!

Topsy. Hear me!

Oph. Let me see if you can say your catechism; and if you can you may go and play. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?

Top. [Repeating very rapidly.] Covenant being made with Adam not only for hisself but for his posterity, all mankind 'scending from him by ordinar transgression, sinned wid him, and fell in him, in that fust generation.

Oph. Stop! stop!! stop!!! Topsy. Why, how are you saying it?

St. Clare. Why, what 's the odds? I don't see but that it makes as good sense one way as the other.

Oph. St. Clare! now--how can I teach this child if you will take so? And now you 're laughing!

St. C. I 'm done. Proceed. Topsy! you careless hussy, mind yourself! Be sure you get everything in right end first. Now for it!

Oph. Into what state did the fall bring all mankind?

Top. Fall brought all mankind into a state of sin and misery. Please ma'am----?

Oph. What, Topsy?

Top. Dar 'ar state Kintuck? De Lor' knows dey has sin and misery 'nough dar!

Oph. Hush, hush, Topsy!

St. C. No personal reflections, Topsy!

Top. Please, missis, can't I go play? Dar ar 'bout the generations was so curus! Never kin get it right nohow!

St. C. O, yes, coz, let her go. I want you to go up stairs and look at a new carpet I 've been buying for Eva's room. There, Tops, there 's some candy for you. Next time get the words straight.

[Exeunt ST. CLARE and OPHELIA.] Enter JAKE, AMANDA, and other negro children. Top. Dar now, ye n.i.g.g.e.rs! I 'se gittin' eddecated, I is; 'cause I b'longs to Miss Feely. I larns catechize every day, and you por trash don't. Laws, you 's runnin' wild all the while! What doos you know? Doos you know you 's all sinners? Wal, you is, everybody is. White folks is sinners, too--Miss Feely says so; but I 'spects n.i.g.g.e.rs is the biggest ones; but, lor! ye an't any on ye up to me. I 's so awful wicked there can't n.o.body do nothin' with me. I used to keep old missis a swarin' at me half de time. I 'spects I 's the wickedest crittur in the world.

Jake. Ah! Den ye 'll go to torment one dese days, anyhow. Ye won't be quite so crank then.

Top. No I shan't--I 's bound to go to heaven, I is.

Amanda. No ye won't neither!

Top. Shall too! Miss Feely 's bound to go thar, and they 'll have to let me come too; cors she 's so curus they won't n.o.body else know how to wait on her dar! Come, now, be still touching that thing of mine, or I 'll crack ye over!

[Exit JAKE, running with TOPSY'S thimble. TOPSY follows, with all the rest, in pursuit.]

SCENE IX.--An Arbor, looking out on Lake Ponchartrain. UNCLE TOM and EVA.

Eva. O, Uncle Tom, I 'm going to read you some such beautiful places!--now, this: "Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne; and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four-and-twenty seats; and upon the seats I saw four-and-twenty elders sitting clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold." Only think of it! [She turns to another place.] And, now, this: "And I saw, as it were, a sea of gla.s.s, mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast stand on the sea of gla.s.s, having the harps of G.o.d, and they sing the song of Moses, the servant of G.o.d, and the song of the Lamb; saying, Great and marvel- lous are thy works, Lord G.o.d Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." [Pointing to the lake.] THere 't is, Uncle Tom! see! there 't is--a sea of gla.s.s mingled with fire!

Uncle Tom. What, Miss Eva?

Eva. Don't you see--there, that water? There 's a "sea of gla.s.s mingled with fire."

Uncle T. True enough, Miss Eva. [Sings.]

"O, had I the wings of the morning, I'd fly away to Canaan's sh.o.r.e! Bright angels should convey me home, To the new Jerusalem." Eva. Where do you suppose new Jerusalem is, Uncle Tom?

Uncle T. O, up in the clouds, Miss Eva!

Eva. Then, I think I see it! Look in those clouds! they look like great gates of pearl; and you can see way, way beyond them--far, far off--it 's all gold. Tom, sing about "spirits bright!"

Uncle T. [Sings.] "O, what hath Jesus bought for me!

Before my wondering eyes Rivers of pure delight I see, And streams of Paradise. "I see a band of spirits bright, That taste the glories there; They all are robed in spotless white, And conquering palms they bear." Eva. Uncle Tom, I 've seen them! They come to me sometimes in my sleep, those spirits. [Sings.]

"They are all robed in spotless white, And conquering palms they bear." Uncle Tom, I 'm going there.

Uncle T. Where, Miss Eva?

Eva. [Rising and pointing up.] I 'm going there, to the spirits bright, Tom; I 'm going before long.

Oph. [Calling from a distance.] Eva! Eva! child--come in; the dew is falling! you must not be out there!

SCENE X.--A Veranda. ST. CLARE and MARIE reclining on lounges.