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St. Clare laid down his paper, and set down his coffee-cup, and looked at Tom. Why Tom, whats the case? You look as solemn as a coffin. I feel very bad, Masr. I allays have thought that Masr would be good to everybody. Well, Tom, havent I been? Come, now, what do you want? Theres something you havent got, I suppose, and this is the preface. Masr allays been good to me. I havent nothing to complain of on that head. But there is one that Masr isnt good to. Why, Tom, whats got into you? Speak out; what do you mean? Last night, between one and two, I thought so. I studied upon the matter then. Masr isnt good to himself. Tom said this with his back to his master, and his hand on the door-knob. St. Clare felt his face flush crimson, but he laughed. O, thats all, is it? he said, gayly. All! said Tom, turning suddenly round and falling on his knees. O, my dear young Masr; Im fraid it will be loss of allallbody and soul. The good Book says, it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder! my dear Masr! Toms voice choked, and the tears ran down his cheeks. You poor, silly fool! said St. Clare, with tears in his own eyes. Get up, Tom. Im not worth crying over. But Tom wouldnt rise, and looked imploring. Well, I wont go to any more of their cursed nonsense, Tom, said St. Clare; on my honor, I wont. I dont know why I havent stopped long ago. Ive always despised it, and myself for it,so now, Tom, wipe up your eyes, and go about your errands. Come, come, he added, no blessings. Im not so wonderfully good, now, he said, as he gently pushed Tom to the door. There, Ill pledge my honor to you, Tom, you dont see me so again, he said; and Tom went off, wiping his eyes, with great satisfaction. Ill keep my faith with him, too, said St. Clare, as he closed the door. And St. Clare did so,for gross sensualism, in any form, was not the peculiar temptation of his nature. But, all this time, who shall detail the tribulations manifold of our friend Miss Ophelia, who had begun the labors of a Southern housekeeper? There is all the difference in the world in the servants of Southern establishments, according to the character and capacity of the mistresses who have brought them up. South as well as north, there are women who have an extraordinary talent for command, and tact in educating. Such are enabled, with apparent ease, and without severity, to subject to their will, and bring into harmonious and systematic order, the various members of their small estate,to regulate their peculiarities, and so balance and compensate the deficiencies of one by the excess of another, as to produce a harmonious and orderly system. Such a housekeeper was Mrs. Shelby, whom we have already described; and such our readers may remember to have met with. If they are not common at the South, it is because they are not common |
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