“I remember, as a young man, you used to be proud of New England. You used to speak of the New England love of fair play, and you would grow eloquent in praise of the New England conscience. Haven’t you had enough of New England fair play? Do you want more of it?
“I saw a leading Abolitionist dragged through the streets of Boston. I learned then where the New England conscience was, and is. It was, and is, inside the New England pocket-book. Had slavery been profitable in New England we should not have had the Civil War, and slavery would still be an American institution. I fought in that war, but I cannot close my eyes to the truth. There were soldiers under my command, who, as Northern laborers, were more to be pitied than the slaves on the better class of Southern plantations.
“I remember a young man—(do you remember him?)—who was a great admirer of the Springdale Democrat, which has been called the New England Bible. It is eloquent, in season and out of season, in advocating equal rights for the Southern negro and the Filipino, but never asks equal rights for the mill-hands of Papyrus. It does not hesitate to criticise the President of the United States, but its millionaire idol, Congressman Baldwin, is exempt from criticism. Can you defend this course?
“Let me urge one consideration which cannot fail to have weight with you. Your physician will tell you, much better than I can, that your son’s chances of living to a vigorous manhood will be much improved by coming here. Here, in all probability, he would reach a rugged maturity, and here is the mining property with which he should become familiar, as he must some day, in the natural course of events, bear a part in its management.�
Wycliff had scarcely finished reading this letter to his wife, when she said:—
“There are Eva Baldwin and Ralph Cutter, apparently coming here.� Only a few days before had the newspapers announced the couple’s engagement.
“I am told,� said Miss Baldwin, “that you own the territory to the northward, known as the Wilderness. There are reasons, purely sentimental, why I would like to purchase a portion of it, including Pulpit Rock. Would you sell it?�
“I had not intended to sell,� replied Wycliff. “I had thought of making a sheep-range of it. At the same time I intended making paths through it, as our Robert needs just the exercise which he could get there. However, if the possession of a portion of it would give pleasure to you, I suppose that I ought to sell, provided my wife agrees.�
“I have no objection,� said Mrs. Wycliff. “It seems to me that the Wilderness is large enough to accommodate both of us.�
“We shall probably soon go West for a time,� said Wycliff, “but my agent, Ford Hulbert, will attend to the matter. I think that you and he will have no difficulty. I believe the day will come, although not in our time, when there will be no private ownership of land, it is subject to so many abuses.�