His feelings were tenderly susceptible; the scene before him
awakened his better nature, struck deep into his mind. He viewed it
as a cruel mockery of Christianity, a torture of innocent nature,
for which man had no shame. He saw the struggling spirit of the old
negro contending against wrong,--his yearnings for the teachings of
Christianity, his solicitude for Marston's good. And he saw how man
had cut down the unoffending image of himself-how Christian
ministers had become the tyrant's hand-fellow in the work of
oppression. It incited him to resolution; a project sprung up in his
mind, which, from that day forward, as if it had been a new
discovery in the rights of man, he determined to carry out in
future, for the freedom of his fellows.
Harry, in accordance with Bob's advice, chose the latter text. For
some minutes he expounded the power of divine inspiration, in his
simple but impressive manner, being several times interrupted by the
Deacon, who assumed the right of correcting his philosophy. At
length, Marston interrupted, reminding him that he had lost the
"plantation gauge." "You must preach according to the Elder's rule,"
said he.
With a submissive stare, Harry replied: "Mas'r, a man what lives
fo'h dis world only is a slave to himself; but God says, he dat
lives fo'h de world to come, is the light of life coming forth to
enjoy the pleasures of eternity;" and again he burst into a rhapsody
of eloquence, to the astonishment and admiration of Maxwell, and
even touching the feelings of Marston, who was seldom moved by such
displays.
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