You've preached it to them so long, they have got
it by heart. Only impress the rascals that it's God's will they
should labour for a life, and they'll stick to it like Trojans: they
are just like pigs, sir."
"You don't comprehend me, my friend Marston: I mean that you should
prepare-it's a rule applicable to all-to meet the terrible that may
come upon us at any moment." The Elder is fearful that he is not
quite explicit enough. He continues: "Well, there is something to be
considered;"-he is not quite certain that we should curtail the
pleasures of this life by binding ourselves with the dread of what
is to come. "Seems as if we owed a common duty to ourselves," he
ejaculates.
The conversation became more exciting, Marston facetiously
attempting to be humorous at the Elder's expense: "It isn't the
pleasure, my dear fellow, it's the contentment. We were all born to
an end; and if that end be to labour through life for others, it
must be right. Everything is right that custom has established
right."
"Marston, give us your hand, my friend. 'Twould do to plead so if we
had no enemies, but enemies are upon us, watching our movements
through partizans' eyes, full of fierceness, and evil to
misconstruct."
"I care not," interrupts Marston. "My slaves are my property-I shall
do with them as it pleases me; no insinuations about morality, or I
shall mark you on an old score. Do you sound? Good Elders should be
good men; but they, as well as planters, have their frailties; it
would not do to tell them all, lest high heaven should cry out.
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