NEGRO LIFE IN AMERICA. 201

“What's here?” said St. Clare, coming up and looking at the
slate. .

‘Oh, it’s Tom’s letter. I’m helping him to write it,” said.
Eva “isn’t it nice ?” ,

‘“‘T wouldn't discourage either of you,”’ said St. Clare, “ but T
rather think, Tom, you'd better get me to write your letter for
you. J’ll do it, when I come honie from my ride.”

‘‘ It's very important he should write,” said Eva, “ because his
_ mistress is going to send down money to redeem him, you know,
papa ; he told me they told him so.”

St. Clare thought in his heart that this was probably only one
of those things which good-natured owners say to their servants,
to alleviate their horror of being sold, without any intention of
fulfilling the expectation thus excited. But he did not make any
audible comment upon it—only ordered Tom to get the horses out
for a ride. i sh

Tom’s letter was written in due form for him that evening, and
safely lodged in the post-office. | |

Miss Ophelia still persevered in her labours in the housekeeping
line. It was universally agreed among dll the household, from
Dinah down to the youngest urchin, that Miss Ophelia was de-

cidedly ‘‘ curis’’-—a term by which a southern servant implies that
__ his or her betters:don’t exactly suitthem. ~~ = =. = *
The higher circle in the family—to wit, Adolph, Jane and
‘Rosa—agreed that she was no lady; ladies never kept working

a4 : about as she did; that she had no air at all; and they were sur- .

- —_

_ prised that she should be any relation of the St. Clares. . Even
Marie declared that it was absolutely fatiguing to see Cousin
Ophelia always so busy. And, in fact, Miss Ophelia’s industry
Was so-incessant as to lay some foundation for the complaint: She
_ sewed and stitched away, from daylight ‘to dark, with the energy
of one who is pressed on by some immediate urgéncy; 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 labour to sce her.

_l

+ | CHAPTER Xx.
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.: 3 |
“Come down here, cousin,” cried he; “I’ve something to

_ show you.” - -

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