Final answer:
C. They convey a negative and primitive image. The author's use of phrases like "old-stone savage," "moves in darkness," and "fathers saying" in the text conveys a negative and primitive image.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cumulative impact of the author's use of the phrases "old-stone savage," "moves in darkness," and "fathers saying" is that they convey a negative and primitive image. These phrases are used to describe a certain group of people, and they are loaded with negative connotations that imply a lack of progress and civilization. The author's intention is to highlight the negative aspects of this group and contrast them with the positive attributes of modernity and progress.