eoparding our own peace; nor
would it be kind to you, as things are, to be made prominent in any way
as a class. When the Northern people are, generally, your true friends,
and cease to use you in an offensive manner, to excite civil war, we
shall join to elevate you in every way consistent with your true
interests.'

"There will be cases of extreme hardship," said I, "if a slave, fleeing
from the South, however unjustifiably, nevertheless becomes surrounded
here with a family, and the owner comes and claims him. There are
principles of natural humanity which come into force at such a time to
modify or set aside a claim. I know, indeed, that to build a valuable
house on land not mine, does not vacate the land-owner's title; and,
moreover, I know what may be alleged on the principle illustrated by
Paley, who speaks of a man finding a stick and bestowing labor on it
which is more in value than the stick itself. These cases of slaves who
have gained a settlement here, call for the utmost kindness and
forbearance between the sectional parties in controversy; clamor will
never settle them, nor the sword; but the reign of good feeling will
cause justice to flow down our streets like a river, and righteousness
like an overflowing stream."

"As we have conversed a good deal upon this subject," said Mr. North,
"perhaps we may bring our conversation to a close as profitably as in
any other way by your telling us, summarily, what you think of this
whole perplexing subject; what would you have me believe; how ought a
Christian man, who desires to know and do the will of God, to feel and
to act with regard to it? Good men, I see, are divided about it; I
respect your motives, I approve many of your principles, I cannot object
to your conclusions, in the main. Let us know what you consider to be,
probably, the ultimate issue of the whole subject."

"I will do so with pleasure," said I.

"But," said Mrs. North, "let us wait till after dinner."

"As the storm is over," I said to her, "I must go home, but we will have
one more council fire, if you please, and end the subject."

So in the afternoon, my kind friends gave me their attention while I
made my summing up in the next and concluding chapter.

CHAPTER X.

THE FUTURE.

"It is heaven upon earth to have a man's mind rest in providence, move in
charity, and turn upon the poles of truth."

LORD BACON.

"Slavery, as human nature now is, cannot be otherwise th