"Why?" said I.
"Simply because," said she, "the New Testament would have sanctioned the practice of running off slaves."
"Why, then," said I, "does it not now equally countenance the 'running' of slaves back to their masters?"
"Please answer that for me, husband," said Mrs. North.
He smiled, and rose to put some coal on the fire. We waited for his words.
"Well," said he, "I do not know but it is all right, provided the master be in each case a Philemon."
"That is a good word," said I. "You show that the Bible has an ascendency in your mind. You will be safe in following the Bible wherever it leads you, even into slave-holding, if it goes so far. But I must now question you a little. You may answer me or not, as you please.
"One day a black man appears at your door, and says, 'I have just escaped from the South. I was owned by Rev. Professor A.B. of New Orleans. I preferred liberty to slavery, and here I am.' Would you shelter him, and encourage his remaining here, and, if necessary, send him to Canada?"
"What would you have me do?" said he.
"Take him in," said I, "if you please, and give him some breakfast. You would not object to this. After breakfast you have family prayers. 'Can you read, Nesimus?' you inquire. 'O yes, master; missis and the young missises taught us all to read.' Your little boy hands him, with the rest, a Testament, and names the place of reading. Strange to say, yesterday you finished 'Titus,' and the portion to be read in course is 'Philemon!'"