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Show 138 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, HAnd what arc you going to do? " "My duty, I hope, to tho poor and lowly, ns fast as I find it out," said St. Clare, "beginning with my own scrnmts, for whom I have yet done nothing; and, pcrhnps, at some futuro day, it may appear that I can do something for a whole class; something to s::a.vc my country from the disgrace of that fitlse position in which she now stands before all civilized nations." "Do you suppose it possible that a nation ever will voluntarily emancipate 1" said Miss Ophelia. "I don't know," said St. Clare. ''This is a day of great deeds. Heroism and disinterestedness are rising up, here and there, in tho earth. 'l'he Hungarian nobles sot free millions of serfs, at an immense pecuniary loss; and, perhaps, among us may be found generous spirits, who do not estimate honor and justice by dollars and cents." "I hardly think so," said Miss Ophelia. " But, suppose we should rise up to-morrow and emancipate, who would educate these millions, and teach them how to usc their freedom ? They never would rise to do much among us. The fhct is, we are too lazy and unpractical, ourselves, ever to give them much of an idea of that industry and energy which is necessary to form them into men. They will have to go north, where labor is the fi1shion,- the universal custom; and tell me, now, is there enough Christian philanthropy, among your northern states, to bear with the process of their education and elevation? You send thousands of dollars to foreign missions; but could you enduro to have the heathen sent into your towns and villages, and give your time, and thoughts, and money, to raise them to the Christian standard 1 That 's what I want to know. If we emancipate, are you willing to educate? How many families, in your town, would take in a negro man and woman, teach LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 139 them, bear with them, and seek to make them Christians 1 How many merchants would take Adolph, if I wanted to make him a clerk ; or mccha.nics, if I wanted him taught a trade? If I wanted to put Jane and Ro8" to a school, how many schools arc there in tho northern states that would take them in 1 how many families that would board thorn 1 n.nd yet they arc as white as many a. woman, north or south. You see, Cousin, I want justice done us. '\Ve are in a bad position. 'Ve arc tho more obvious oppressors of the negro; but the unchristian prejudice of the north is an oppressor almost equally severo." (l 'Vdl, Cousin, I know it is so," said Miss Ophelia,-" I know it was so with me, till I saw that it was my duty to overcome it; but, I trust I have overcome it; and I know there arc many good people at tho north, who in this matter need only to be taught what their duty is, to do it. It would certainly be " greater self-denial to receive heathen among us, than to send missionaries to them; but I think we would do it.'' u You would, I know," said St. Clare. "I'd like to see anything you wouldn't do, if you thought it your duty ! " "Well, I'm not uncommonly good," said Miss Ophelia. "Others would, if they saw things as I do. I intend to take Topsy home, when I go. I suppose our folks wi ll wonder, at first; but I think they will be brought to see ns I do. Besides, I know there are many people at the north who do exactly what you said." n Yes, but they arc a minority; and, if we should begin to emancipate to any extent, we should soon hear from you." Miss Ophelia did not reply. Thoro was a pause of some moments; and St. CJare's countenance was overcast by a sad, dreamy expression. |
