Lucy (Chapter_16)

"I am afraid to undertake the care of this child," said Lucy, "for if there is not a plenty of food allowed, it will be impossible for me to nurse two children, and my own must suffer"--who would ever have thought that in such a house--such things could be "And who would believe it, that didn't see it?"--added Hetty-"I'm sure none of the gay company that visits here would suspect such a thing--they see nothing but grandeur and plenty--and hear singing and sees only smiling good natured faces--but servants hears scolding a plenty and sees a plenty frowns, --I suppose told all their acquaintances think theres no such loving couple in all the place, as the Captain and his lady--and they think too, that mistress is so mighty happy.--But we servants could tell a different story from all that.--Servants, Miss are the only ones that know the true condition of their master and mistress. As for what company sees, its all one, as what one sees at the play house--Why Sirs, who would think when they sees them actor-women, all dressed so grand, in velvet and silk and gold and

the like--and with such beautiful faces, all red and white; and such white teeth and curling bright hair, and gay smiling faces, capering and dancing and singing--who I say, would believe that them same queens and duchesses, lords and ladies, the miserablest creatures as you ever see"--I knows what they are well enough, for I have have waited on them, and helped paint and dress them up like so many dolls, and I've seen all the quarelling and cursing and swearing, nay sometimes fighting; among them there same lovers that talked so fond and tender on the stage--Oh, as I heard one of them play-actors say, "All the world's a stage and men and women nothing but actors, just as much as we are." Yes, indeed he did say so, and to my mind its all true." While the girl was running on at this rate, glad to have found some one to listen to her complaints, Lucy sighed often, and lost in thought as she looked now at the poor babe at her bosom,--now at her own child--felt not the tears that were running down her cheeks

running down her cheeks. When Hetty perceived them she checked her prattle and said "Dont take all I have said for gospel, Miss nor be so distressed. I makes no doubt things will be better now, for Mistress has been pretty well frightened, seeing how the child 'most dyied after the last nurse went away, for you must know Miss, this is the third nurse the poor thing has had and Hannah, when she went off gave my mistress, a little of the truth as she said. She told her, so she did, that it was a sin and a shame to be ranting about at such a rate and to leave her children perishing at home, and that if she did not allow the nurse plenty of food and fire, she never would get a decent person to stay with her. And what was worse yet, she said much be same to the Captain, who to give the Devil his due, is I must say a tender hearted man, and he took on furiously when the nurse told him how bad off she had been and the children too.--It would have scared you out o' your wits to hear how he cursed and swore.--So I'm thinking things will go on a little better now

For the Captain insisted on it, that his wife should come up every day after dinner to look a little herself how things were going on--But law, its a sad tiresome thing to tend children, and be poked up here all day long--they wouldn't a kept me long to it, and I can promise them, I only consented to stay here till they found another nurse, and its well you come when you did, for I was tired out, and I would ha' gone off too, and then my lady might a tried how she liked sitting up in this dismal back room by herself, tending child." "As you are acquainted with the ways of the house, I shall look to you for what I want," said Lucy. "Well Miss, I'll strike up a bargain with you; do you be agreeable to me, and I'll be agreeable--and seeing as how our situations are alike, we can have a feeling for one another." Lucy looked up with astonishment-"Why Miss, you look surprised like--but I must tell you, I have (and she sighed deeply) been misfortunate as well as yourself--Men are wicked creatures miss, as you and I has reason to know." "I can't understand

"I can't understood you," said Lucy. "Cant you miss? well I understand you, and understand as how, tho' you have a child, you dont happen ever to have a husband-do I speak plain enough now Miss?" Lucy burst into tears. "Law now, what are you crying for? why you don't thinks I like you the worse for being misfortunate--I heard Uncle Richard telling the mistress all about your distresses, and that your unnatural father had turned you out o'doors, and that in the wide world you hadn't a place to lay your head--but don't take on so miss, for tho' white folks may despise you for it, for my part I likes you the better, seeing as how you won't be holding your head above one, just because you're a shade lighter colour than I am. My father, was a white man, as well as yours, and a gentleman too, and I have sisters and brothers in this very city, who rides in their own coaches--ands thats more than you can say-Yes, for all the quality hold their heads so high,