," said the gentleman. "I am here as a
magistrate."

"I am one at home," said my husband.

"One of these white men who led the negro," said the gentleman, "was
riding on horseback, and was attracted to a by-place by the screams of a
child, and found this black man attempting violence upon a black girl
ten years old. He knocked the fellow down and held him, and called for
help. A white man who came up took the bridle from the horse, to secure
the villain with it. They have with difficulty kept the negroes from
putting him to death."

"We are all ready, sir," said a sheriff to the gentleman.

"Will you walk into the hall?" said the magistrate to your Uncle.

But the stage-coach was waiting for him, and we were soon on our way.
Your Uncle was silent for nearly fifteen minutes, when he said,--

"What is that passage, Hattie, about answering a matter before you
understand it?"

I gave Hattie my Bible, and, after a while, she read:

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame
unto him. The spirit of a man"--

"That will do, child," said your Uncle, "I wanted only that one verse."

* * * * *

I should be glad to transfer some of this Southern ease and beauty of
manners to the North. I wish that we could see more of these Southern
ladies and gentlemen there. They stay away very much, because they
cannot bring servants with them. Whole families would rejoice to visit
our Northern shores and mountains for summer residences, were it not for
this. When our passions subside, and we can look at this subject fairly,
we shall repeal the statutes which prevent a Southerner from residing in
a free state for a season, with his or her servant. The people of
Massachusetts, for example, can easily appreciate the hardship of being
kept away from a clime which they would visit for health or recreation,
by the fear of being set upon by a mob of whites and blacks seeking to
drag a wet-nurse, for example, before a court to be interrogated whether
she does not wish to leave us. How long will our warm-hearted,
hospitable people allow such things? The answer, from ten thousand
tongues, will be, So long as Southern people imprison colored seamen
from the North!--If Southern slaves should come here and make trouble
between our domestics and us, and we should forbid their coming, the
cases would be more nearly parallel.--Moreover, it will be said that the
manner in which people fro