is little girl heard a great noise coming
from Miss Ophelia's room. A minute later she appeared, dragging Topsy
behind her.

'Come out here' she was saying. 'I will tell your master.'

'What is the matter now?' asked Mr. St. Clare.

'The matter is that I cannot be plagued with this child any longer' said
Miss Ophelia. 'It is past all bearing. Here, I locked her up, and gave
her a hymn to learn. What does she do, but spy out where I put my key.
She has gone to my wardrobe, taken a bonnet-trimming, and cut it all to
pieces to make dolls' jackets! I never saw anything like it in my life.'

[Illustration]

'I don't know what to do' she went on; 'I have taught and taught. I have
talked till I'm tired. I've whipped her. I've punished her in every way
I can think of, and still she is as naughty as she was at first.'

'Come here, Topsy, you monkey,' said Mr. St. Clare.

Topsy came, her hard, round eyes glittering and blinking, half in fear,
half in mischief.

'What makes you behave so?' said Mr. St. Clare, who could not help being
amused at her funny expression.

'Spects it's my wicked heart; Miss Feely says so.'

'Don't you see how much Miss Ophelia has done for you? She says she has
done everything she can think of.'

'Lor', yes, mas'r! Old missis used to say so, too. She whipped me a heap
harder, and used to pull my hair and knock my head agin the door. But it
didn't do me no good. I 'spect if they is to pull every hair out o' my
head it wouldn't do no good neither. I's so wicked. Laws! I's nothin'
but a nigger noways.'

'I shall have to give her up,' said Miss Ophelia. 'I can't have that
trouble any longer.'

Eva had stood silent, listening. Now she took Topsy by the hand, and led
her into a little room close by.

'What makes you so naughty, Topsy?' she said, with tears in her eyes.
'Why don't you try to be good? Don't you love anybody, Topsy?'

'Dunno nothin' 'bout love. I love candy, that's all.'

'But you love your father and mother?'

'Never had none, ye know. I telled ye that, Miss Eva.'

'Oh, I forgot,' said Eva sadly. 'But hadn't you any brother, or sister
or aunt, or--'

'No, none on 'em. Never had nothin' nor nobody.'

'But, Topsy, if you would only try to be good you might--'

'Couldn't never be nothin' but a nigger, if I was ever so good,' said
Topsy. 'If I could be skinned, and come white, I'd try then.'

'But people can love you, if you are black, Topsy. Miss Ophelia would
love you i