The Barbadoes Girl | Page 8

never seen in her life: but the next day, it was apparent
that the lesson she had received was not lost upon her; she appeared
ashamed of her ignorance, and willing to learn; and as all her young
friends were very willing to instruct her, in whatever they had the
power, she soon began to make some progress in her education; she
was a child of good capacity, and, when roused to exertion, unusually
quick; and being at an age when the mind expands quickly, it was no
wonder that she soon gave evident marks of improvement. It was
observed, that as her mind became enlightened, her manners were
softened, and her petulance less obtrusive, though she was seen to
suffer daily from the habitual violence of her temper, and the
disposition to insolence, which unchecked power is so apt to foster in
young minds.
Mrs. Harewood found the care of Matilda greatly increase her task of
managing her family, as one naughty child frequently makes another,
by raising up a spirit of contention and ill-humour; and Charles was so
frequently led into sallies of passion, or tempted to ridicule the fault in
his new companion, that his parents often lamented that they had
accepted such a burdensome charge: but when they saw any symptoms
of improvement in her, they were ever happy to foster the good seed;
and in the consciousness that they were not only raising up a human
mind to virtue and happiness, but preparing an immortal soul for
heaven, they thought little of their own trouble, and were even truly
thankful that she had been intrusted to their careful examination and
affectionate discipline.
CHAPTER IV.
At the end of the week, Zebby came home, according to appointment;
and having paid her respects to her excellent lady, she ran up stairs, and
entered the apartment where the two young ladies were getting the
tasks assigned them by Mrs. Harewood. When Matilda first beheld her
she had a great inclination to embrace her, for her heart bounded
towards the only creature she had been acquainted with from her cradle;
but she suddenly checked herself, and pretended to continue her

reading; but Ellen spoke to her kindly, though she told her that she was
so situated, as not to be able to chat at present.
Zebby comprehended this, and would have withdrawn; but not to have
a single word from her, whom in her heart, she still considered as her
young mistress, the faithful creature could not endure; after waiting
some minutes in vain, she dropped a second humble courtesy, and
said--"How you do, Missy? me very glad see you larn booky, but me
hopes you spare one look, one wordy, for poor Zebby; me go away one
long weeky, to nurse white man baby, pretty as you, Missy."
"Yes," said Matilda, reproachingly, "you went away and left me very
willingly, though it was to wait on a person you never saw before."
"Ah, Missy! you no lovee me, and poor white woman lovee me much.
You makee beer spit in my face--she givee me tea-gruel out of her own
cup. You callee me black beetle--she callee me good girly, good nursy,
good every ting."
Matilda gave a deep sigh; she well remembered that it was on the very
day of her outrage that Zebby had quitted her, and in her altered sense
of justice, she could not help seeing the truth of the poor negro's
statement; she looked up, with an ingenuous sense of error depicted on
her countenance, and said--"I am sorry, Zebby, that I used you so ill,
but I will never do it again."
The poor African was absolutely astonished, for never had the voice of
concession been heard from the lips of Matilda before, even to her own
parents; and the idea of her humility and kindness in this
acknowledgment so deeply affected the faithful creature, that, after
gazing at her in admiration for a moment, she burst into tears, and then
clasping her hands, she exclaimed, in a broken manner--"Oh, tankee
God! tankee God! pretty Missy be good girly at last! her lovee her good
mamma--her pity poor negro--her go up stair when her die. Oh, me be
so glad! great God lovee my dear Missy now!"
Matilda felt the tears suffuse her own eyes, as the kind heart of her late
faithful slave thus gave vent to its natural and devout emotions; and she

gave her hand to Zebby, who kissed it twenty times. Ellen was so
delighted with this proof of good disposition in Matilda, and with the
honest effusions of the poor negro, that she could not forbear gratifying
her own affectionate little heart, by running to tell her dear mamma,
who truly rejoiced in every proof of Matilda's amendment, and doubted