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 if you were good.'
Topsy laughed scornfully.
'Don't you think so?' said Eva.
'No. She can't bear me, 'cause I'm a nigger. She'd as soon have a toad
touch her. There can't nobody love niggers, and niggers can't do
nothin'. I don't care,' and Topsy began whistling to show that she
didn't.
'Oh, Topsy! I love you,' said Eva, laying her little, thin hand on
Topsy's shoulder. 'I love you, because you haven't had any mother, or
father, or friends; because you have been a poor, ill-used child. I love
you, and I want you to be good. It makes me sorry to have you so
naughty. I wish you would try to be good for my sake, because I'm going
to die soon. I shan't be here very long.'
Topsy's round, bright eyes grew suddenly dim with tears. She did believe
at last that it was possible for some one to love her.
Pages:
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60