242 UNCLE Tom’s capiy 3 OR,

“Well, that’s odd!” said Marie. « What in the world do you
want that for ?”

“Never mind, ~ amma; you'd as lief ag not Topsy should do
it—had you not ?”

“ Of course, anything you please, dear ! Topsy, you hear your
young mistress ; see that you mind.”

opsy made a short curtsey, and looked down ; and, as she
turned away, Eva saw & tear roll down her dark cheek.

“ You see, mamma, I knew poor Topsy wanted to do Something
for me,”’ said Eva to her mother,

“Oh, nonsense! it’s only because she likes to do mischief.
She knows she mustn't pick flowers—go She does it; that’s all
there is to it, But, if you fancy to have her pluck them, go
be it.”

‘Mamma, I think Topsy is different from what she used to

; she’s trying to be a good. gir].”

“ She’ll have to try @ good while before she gets to be good,”’
said Marie, with a careless laugh. :

“ Well, you know, mamma, poor Topsy ! everything has always
been against her.” |

“Not since she’s been here, I'm sure. Tf she hasn’t been
talked to, and preached to, and Cvery earthly thing done that any-
body could do: and she’s just so ugly, and always will be, you
can’t make anything of the creature i

“But, mamma, it’s so different to be brought up as I’ve been,
with so many friends, so many things to make me good and
happy; and to be brought up as she’s been, all the time, till she
came here !”

“* Most likely,” gaid Marie, yawning. “ Dear me, how hot it is!”

“Mamma, you believe, don’t you, that Topsy could become an
angel, as well ag any of us, if she were a Christian ?””

“Topsy ! what a ridiculous idea ! Nobody but you would ever
think of it. J] Suppose she could, though.”

** But, mamma, isn’t God her Father, as much 48 ours? Isn't
Jesus her Saviour 9”

Well, that may be. I suppose God made everybody,” said
Marie. “ Where ig my smelling-bottle »”

“ It’s dich a Pity—oh! such a pity !” said Eva, looking out on
the distant lake, and speaking half to herself.

** What's a pity?”

“ Why, that any one, who could be a bright angel, and live
with angels, should go all down, down, down, and nobody help
them! oh, dear !”

“ Well, we can't help it; it’s no use worrying, Eva! I don’t
know what’s to be done; we ought to be thankful for our own
advantages,”

“T hardly can be,” said Eva, “I'm Sorry to think of poor folks
that haven't any.”

Sindee amma re