eous
exercise of power is to be found in just principles."

"If available, beyond a question. They who contend that the debased and
ignorant are unfit to express their opinions concerning the public weal,
are obliged to own that they can only be restrained by force. Now, as
knowledge is power, their first precaution is to keep them ignorant; and
then they quote this very ignorance, with all its debasing consequences,
as an argument against their participating in authority with themselves.
I believe there can be no safe medium between a frank admission of the
whole principle--"

"You should remember, dear Goldencalf, that this is a subject on which I
know but little. It ought to be sufficient for us that we find things as
they are; if change is actually necessary, we should endeavor to effect
it with prudence and a proper regard to justice."

Anna, while kindly leading me back from my speculations, looked both
anxious and pained.

"True--true"--I hurriedly rejoined, for a world would not tempt me to
prolong her suffering for a moment. "I am foolish and forgetful, to
be talking thus at such a moment; but I have endured too much to be
altogether unmindful of ancient theories. I thought it might be
grateful to you, at least, to know, Anna, that I have ceased to look
for happiness in my affections for all, and am only so much the better
disposed to turn in search of it to one."

"To love our neighbor as ourself, is the latest and highest of the
divine commands," the dear girl answered, looking a thousand times more
lovely than ever, for my conclusion was very far from being displeasing
to her. "I do not know that this object is to be attained by centring
in our persons as many of the goods of life as possible; but I do think,
Jack, that the heart which loves one truly, will be so much the better
disposed to entertain kind feelings towards all others."

I kissed the hand she had given me, and we now began to talk a little
more like people of the world, concerning our movements. The interview
lasted an hour longer, when the heaven. "You never yet were so unkind to
one who was offensive; much less could you willingly have plotted this
cruelty to one you regard!"

Anna could no longer control herself, but her cheeks were wetted with
the usual signs of feeling in her sex. Then smiling in the midst of
this little outbreaking of womanly sensibility, her countenance became
playful and radiant.

"That letter ought not to be