NEGRO LIFE IN AMERICA. 211
daucing, 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 admiration 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 implored St. Clare to forbid it. ,

“* Poh ! let the child alone,” said St.Clare. “Topsy will do her

ood.’’
“ But so depraved a child—are you-not afraid she will teach her
some mischief ?”

‘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 knowI’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 condemned by the upper ser-
vants: they soon found reason to alter their opinion. It was very
soon discovered that whoever cast an indignity on Topsy was sure
to meet with some inconvenient 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 utterly ruined, or the
person would stumble accidentally into a pail of hot water, or a
libation of dirty slop would unaccountably deluge them from above
when in full gala dress ; and onall these occasions, when investiga-
tion 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 the most edifying innocence and gravity of appearance. No-
body in the world ever doubted who did the things ; but not a
scrap of direct evidence could be found to establish the suppo-
sitions, and Miss Ophelia was too just to feel at liberty to proceed
to any lengths without it.

The mischiefs done were always so nicely timed, also, as further :
to shelter the aggressor. Thus, the times for revenge on Rosaand
Jane, the two chambermaids, 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.800n made the house-
hold understand the propriety 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 the proprieties of Miss Ophelia’s