She
has got a nice way of touching a negro's feelings so that anything
can be done with him: it tells largely at times." Mr. Scranton's
face becomes more serious; he doesn't seem to understand this new
"nigger philosophy." "Poor creatures!" the deacon continues, "how
wonderful is the power of encouragement;-how much may be done if
proper means are applied-"
"The trouble is in the means," Mr. Scranton interposes, scratching
his head, as if ideas were scarce, and valuable for the distance
they had to be transported.
Our good lady smiles. "I cannot help smiling, Mr. Scranton." She
speaks softly. "There are two things I want done-done quickly: I
want southern philosophers to consider, and I want southern ladies
to act-to put on energy-to take less care of themselves and more of
the poor negro!" She lays her hand gently upon Mr. Scranton's arm,
her soft blue eyes staring him in the face. "When they do this," she
continues, "all will be well. We can soon show the north how much
can be done without their assistance. I don't believe in women's
rights meetings,--not I; but I hold there should be some combination
of southern ladies, to take the moral elevation of the slave into
consideration,--to set about the work in good earnest, to see what
can be done. It's a monster work; but monster evils can be removed
if females will give their hands and hearts to the task. This
separating families to serve the interests of traders in human
beings must be stopped: females know the pains it inflicts on
suffering wretches; they are best suited to stop that heinous
offence in the sight of God and man.
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