over them, subject, of course, to
the laws against misdemeanors and crimes against the person. My only
point is this: Where would be the sinfulness of that relation? All that
would be sinful about it would be in your neglect or violation of your
duty as a master."

"How glad all this makes me feel," said he, "that I am not troubled with
slaves. If we do not like our servants or apprentices, we can get rid of
them."

"Then," said I, "you surely ought to pity those who are bound to their
slaves and have to put up with a thousand things which you say we can
escape by changing our help."

"But," said he, "can they not sell off their slaves when they please?"

"Suppose, however," said I, "that they happen to be humane, as Mr. North
is, and as we all are in the Free States! and that they are unwilling to
turn off a poor helpless creature for her faults, to be sold, and to go
they know not where!"

"Slavery," said Mr. North, "is surely a great curse. I am so glad that I
live under free institutions."

"Who made us to differ from the South in this respect? How came those
blacks there? Whose ships, whose money, imported them? You remember that
it was by the votes of Free States, that the importation of slaves was
continued for eight years beyond the time when the Southern States had
voted in the Convention that it should cease. And now what would you
have the South do with the slaves, to-day?"

"Set them all free," said he, "'break every yoke; proclaim liberty to
the captives, the opening of the prison-doors to them that are bound.'"

"Allow me," said I, "to smile at your simplicity, for you are very
child-like, not to say childish, in your feelings. You would have the
colored people universally go free. Do you really think that Kate is
worse off in being what you call a slave, than that young, free black
woman who keeps a stall and sells verses and knives near our Park?"

"O dear sir," said he, "liberty is a priceless boon; liberty"--

"Liberty to what?" said I.

"Why," said he, "liberty not to be sold, nor to be beaten, nor to be
subject to the wicked passions of a master."

"Would you rather," said I, "have your daughter a servant in a Southern
family, brought up as a playmate with the children, a sharer in many of
their gifts, a partner with their parents, as the children grew up, in
the pride and joy of the parents, an honored member of the wedding party
when a daughter is married, one of the principal mourne