tion of dirty slop would unacomountably deluge them from above when in full gala dress；…and on all these ocomasions； when investigation 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 most edifying innocence and gravity of appearance。 Nobody in the world ever doubted who did the things； but not a scrap of any direct evidence could be found to establish the suppositions； and Miss Ophelia was too just to feel at liberty to proceed to any length without it。
The mischiefs done were always so nicely timed； also； as further to shelter the aggressor。 Thus； the times for revenge on Rosa and Jane； the two chamber maids； 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 soon made the household understand the propriety of letting her alone； and she was let alone； acomordingly。
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 to do the proprieties of Miss Ophelia’s chamber in a way with which even that particular lady could find no fault。 Mortal hands could not lay spread smoother； adjust pillows more acomurately； sweep and dust and arrange more perfectly； than Topsy； when she chose；—but she didn’t very often choose。 If Miss Ophelia； after three or four days of careful patient supervision； was so sanguine as to suppose that Topsy had at last fallen into her way； could do without over…looking； and so go off and busy herself about something else； Topsy would hold a perfect carnival of confusion； for some one or two hours。 Instead of making the bed； she would amuse herself with pulling off the pillowcases； butting her woolly head among the pillows； till it would sometimes be grotesquely ornamented with feathers sticking out in various directions； she would climb the posts； and hang head downward from the tops； flourish the sheets and spreads all over the apartment； dress the bolster up in Miss Ophelia’s night…clothes； and enact various performances with that；—singing and whistling； and making grimaces at herself in the looking…glass； in short； as Miss Ophelia phrased it； “raising Cain” generally。
On one ocomasion； Miss Ophelia found Topsy with her very best scarlet India Canton crape shawl wound round her head for a turban； going on with her rehearsals before the glass in great style；—Miss Ophelia having； with carelessness most unheard…of in her； left the key for once in her drawer。
“Topsy！” she would say； when at the end of all patience； “what does make you act so？”
“Dunno； Missis；—I spects cause I ’s so wicked！”
“I don’t know anything what I shall do with you； Topsy。”
“Law； Missis； you must whip me； my old Missis allers whipped me。 I an’t used to workin’ unless I gets whipped。”
“Why； Topsy； I don’t want to whip you。 You can do well； if you’ve a mind to； what is the reason you won’t？”
“Laws； Missis； I ’s used to whippin’； I spects it’s good for me。”
Miss Ophelia tried the recipe； and Topsy invariably made a terrible commotion； screaming； groaning and imploring； though half an hour afterwards； when roosted on some projection of the balcony； and surrounded by a flock of admiring “young uns；” she would express the utmost contempt of the whole affair。
“Law； Miss Feely whip！—wouldn’t kill a skeeter； her whippins。 Oughter see how old Mas’r made the flesh fly； old Mas’r know’d how！”
Topsy always made great capital of her own sins and enormities； evidently considering them as something peculiarly distinguishing。
“Law； you niggers；” she would say to some of her auditors； “does you know you ’s all sinners？ Well； you is—everybody is。 White folks is sinners too；—Miss Feely says so； but I spects niggers is the biggest ones； but lor！ ye an’t any on ye up to me。 I ’s so awful wicked there can’t nobody do nothin’ with me。 I used to keep old Missis a swarin’ at me half de time。 I spects I ’s the wickedest critter in the world；” and Topsy would cut a summerset； and come up brisk and shining on to a higher perch； and evidently plume herself on the distinction。
Miss Ophelia busied herself very earnestly on Sundays； teaching Topsy the catechism。 Topsy had an uncommon verbal memory； and committed with a fluency that greatly encouraged her instructress。
“What good do you expect it is going to do her？” said St。 Clare。
“Why； it always has done children good。 It’s what children always have to learn； you know；” said Miss Ophelia。
“Understand it or not；” said St。 Clare。
“O； children never understand it at the time； but； after they are grown up； it’ll come to them。”
“Mine hasn’t come to me yet；” said St。 Clare； “though I’ll bear testimony that you put it into me pretty thoroughly when I was a boy。”’
“Ah； you were always good at learning； Augustine。 I used to have great hopes of you；” said Miss Ophelia。
“Well； haven’t you now？” said St。 Clare。
“I wish you were as good as you were when you were a boy； Augustine。”
“So do I； that’s a fact； Cousin；” said St。 Clare。 “Well； go ahead and catechize Topsy； may be you’ll make out something yet。”
Topsy； who had stood like a black statue during this discussion； with hands decently folded； now； at a signal from Miss Ophelia； went on：
“Our first parents； being left to the freedom of their own will； fell from the state wherein they were created。”
Topsy’s eyes twinkled； and she looked inquiringly。
“What is it； Topsy？” said Miss Ophelia。
“Please； Missis； was dat ar state Kintuck？”
“What state； Topsy？”
“Dat state dey fell out of。 I used to hear Mas’r tell how we came down from Kintuck。”
St。 Clare laughed。
“You’ll have to give her a meaning； or she’ll make one；” said he。 “There seems to be a theory of emigration suggested there。”
“O！ Augustine； be still；” said Miss Ophelia； “how can I do anything； if you will be laughing？”
“Well； I won’t disturb the exercises again； on my honor；” and St。 Clare took his paper into the parlor； and sat down； till Topsy had finished her recitations。 They were all very well； only that now and then she would oddly transpose some important words； and persist in the mistake； in spite of every effort to the contrary； and St。 Clare； after all his promises of goodness； took a wicked pleasure in these mistakes； calling Topsy to him whenever he had a mind to amuse himself； and getting her to repeat the offending passages； in spite of Miss Ophelia’s remonstrances。
“How do you think I can do anything with the child； if you will go on so； Augustine？” she would say。
“Well； it is too bad；—I won’t again； but I do like to hear the droll little image stumble over those big words！”
“But you confirm her in the wrong way。”
“What’s the odds？ One word is as good as another to her。”
“You wanted me to bring her up right； and you ought to remember she is a reasonable creature； and be careful of your influence over her。”
“O； dismal！ so I ought； but； as Topsy herself says； ‘I ’s so wicked！’”
In very much this way Topsy’s training proceeded； for a year or two；—Miss Ophelia worrying herself； from day to day； with her； as a kind of chronic plague； to whose inflictions she became； in time； as acomustomed； as persons sometimes do to the neuralgia or sick headache。
St。 Clare took the same kind of amusement in the child that a man might in the tricks of a parrot or a pointer。 Topsy； whenever her sins brought her into disgrace in other quarters； always took refuge behind his chair； and St。 Clare； in one way or other； would make peace for her。 From him she got many a stray picayune； which she laid out in nuts and candies； and distributed； with careless generosity； to all the children in the family； for Topsy； to do her justice； was good…natured and liberal； and only spiteful in self…defence。 She is fairly introduced into our corps be ballet； and will figure； from time to time； in her turn； with other performers。
Chapter 21
Kentuck
Our readers may not be unwilling to glance back； for a brief interval； at Uncle Tom’s Cabin； on the Kentucky farm； and see what has been transpiring among those whom he had left behind。
It was late in the summer afternoon； and the doors and windows of the large parlor all stood open； to invite any stray breeze； that might feel in a good humor； to enter。 Mr。 Shelby sat in a large hall opening into the room； and running through the whole length of the house； to a balcony on either end。 Leisurely tipped back on one chair； with his heels in another； he was enjoying his after…dinner cigar。 Mrs。 Shelby sat in the door； busy about some fine sewing； she seemed like one who had something on her mind； which she was seeking an opportunity to introduce。
“Do you know；” she said； “that Chloe has had a letter from Tom？”
“Ah！ has she？ Tom ’s got some friend there； it seems。 How is the old boy？”
“He has been bought by a very fine family； I should think；” said Mrs。 Shelby；—“is kindly treated； and has not much to do。”
“Ah！ well； I’m glad of it；—very glad；” said Mr。 Shelby； heartily。 “Tom； I suppose； will get reconciled to a Southern residence；—hardly want to come up here again。”
“On the contrary he inquires very anxiously；” said Mrs。 Shelby； “when the money for his redemption is to be raised。”
“I’m sure I don’t know；” said Mr。 Shelby。 “Once get business running wrong； there does seem to be no end to it。 It’s like jumping from one bog to another； all through a swamp； borrow of one to pay another； and then borrow of another to pay one；—and these confounded notes falling due before a man has time to smoke a cigar and turn round；—dunning letters and dunning messages；—all scamper and hurry…scurry。”
“It does seem to me； my dear； that something might be done to straighten matters。 Suppose we sell off all the horses； and sell one of your farms； and pay up square？”
“O； ridiculous； Emily！ You are the finest woman in Kentucky； but still you haven’t sense to know that you don’t understand business；—women never do； and never can。
“But； at least；