heard, woe to him and to the North, and to the slaves, to say
nothing of ourselves.

"'I stopped after service, and, without at first introducing myself, I
asked him if he was in the habit of praying, as he had done to-day, for
slave-holders. He said yes. I asked him if it was a general practice at
the North. He thought it was. I inquired if he would have every slave
liberated to-morrow, if he could effect it. "By all means," said
he.--"Would they be better off?" said I.--"Undoubtedly they would," said
he. "But that is not the question. Do right, if the heavens
fall."--"What would become of them?" said I.--"Hire them," said he; "pay
them wages; let husbands and wives live together; abolish
auction-blocks, and"--"But," said I, "some of the very best of men in
the world, at the South, are decidedly of the opinion that such
emancipation would be the most barbarous thing that could be devised for
the slaves."--"Are you a slave-holder?" said he.--"I was," said I; "but
I have liberated my slaves, and I am in your city to see the last two of
my servants sail with your fellow-citizens ---- and ----" (naming
them).--"You don't say so!" said he. "What did you liberate them
for?"--"I could not take proper care of them," said I, "situated as I
am."--"But," said he, "did you do right in letting them go to sea as you
did? One of them will get no good with that man for a master. I would
rather be your dog than his child."--"Then," said I, "you have
'oppressors' at the North, it seems."--"Well," said he, "some of our
people are not as good as they ought to be."--"It is so with us at the
South," said I.--"Preach for me next Sabbath, Sir," said he.--"Are you
going to stay over?"--"Why," said I, "my dear Sir, would you and your
people like to hear a man preach for you whom you, if you made the
prayer, would first pray for as an 'oppressor?'"--"But you are not an
oppressor," said he.--"But I am in favor of what you call 'oppression,'"
said I.--"One thing I could pray for with you," said I.--"What is that?"
said he.--"Break every yoke," said I. "This I pray for always. But how
many 'yokes,'" said I, "do you suppose there are at the South?"--"I
forget the exact number of the slaves," said he, in the most artless
manner.'

"Hereupon the company broke out into great merriment. After they had
enjoyed their laughter awhile, my Northern lady-friend said, 'Did you
preach for him?'

"'Yes,' said the pastor; 'and prayed for him too.

"'Walking