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See there! said Jane, pointing to the marks, dont that show shes a limb? Well have fine works with her, I reckon. I hate these nigger young uns! so disgusting! I wonder that Masr would buy her! The young un alluded to heard all these comments with the subdued and doleful air which seemed habitual to her, only scanning, with a keen and furtive glance of her flickering eyes, the ornaments which Jane wore in her ears. When arrayed at last in a suit of decent and whole clothing, her hair cropped short to her head, Miss Ophelia, with some satisfaction, said she looked more Christian-like than she did, and in her own mind began to mature some plans for her instruction. Sitting down before her, she began to question her. How old are you, Topsy? Dun no, Missis, said the image, with a grin that showed all her teeth. Dont know how old you are? Didnt anybody ever tell you? Who was your mother? Never had none! said the child, with another grin. Never had any mother? What do you mean? Where were you born? Never was born! persisted Topsy, with another grin, that looked so goblin-like, that, if Miss Ophelia had been at all nervous, she might have fancied that she had got hold of some sooty gnome from the land of Diablerie; but Miss Ophelia was not nervous, but plain and business-like, and she said, with some sternness, You mustnt answer me in that way, child; Im not playing with you. Tell me where you were born, and who your father and mother were. Never was born, reiterated the creature, more emphatically; never had no father nor mother, nor nothin. I was raised by a speculator, with lots of others. Old Aunt Sue used to take car on us. The child was evidently sincere, and Jane, breaking into a short laugh, said, Laws, Missis, theres heaps of em. Speculators buys em up cheap, when theys little, and gets em raised for market. How long have you lived with your master and mistress? Dun no, Missis. Is it a year, or more, or less? Dun no, Missis. Laws, Missis, those low negroes,they cant tell; they dont know anything about time, said Jane; they dont know what a year is; they dont know their own ages. Have you ever heard anything about God, Topsy? The child looked bewildered, but grinned as usual. Do you know who made you? Nobody, as I knows on, said the child, with a short laugh. The idea appeared to amuse her considerably; for her eyes twinkled, and she added, |
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