"than we were when he left
us; for we have been able to converse on a trying and perplexing
subject with good feelings."

"Now," said I, "here is the Southern lady's letter, which has given
occasion to all our conversation."

"It has also introduced us," said Mr. North, "to that goose, Gustavus,
and to his good aunt."

"What shall I say to the Southern lady," said I, "if I write to her
father?"

"Tell her," said Mrs. North, "that if she comes to the North she must
come directly to our house and make it her home. If you will allow me, I
will put a note into your envelope to that effect. I shall beg her to
bring Kate with her. Wouldn't I love to see Kate!"

"My dear," said Mr. North, "do you know what a time there would be if
the lady should bring Kate with her?"

"The good time coming! I think it would be," said his wife, "to see the
Southern lady and her Kate under our roof."

"Why," Paid he, "we should all have to go to court?"

"Well, that would be interesting," said she; "but for what?"

"Why," said he, "you know that this is free soil: Kate is a slave; she
can have her freedom for nothing if she comes here. Some of our
Massachusetts gentlemen are as chivalrous and attentive to Southern
colored people, as our good friend tells us Southern gentlemen are to a
white woman: a committee would wait on Kate, with an officer of the
peace, and invite her to visit the court-house with them, to be
presented with 'freedom'; and Kate's mistress must go with her, to show
that she is not restraining Kate of her liberty."

"Why," said Mrs. North, "if I could not be allowed, in visiting Sharon
Springs, to take Judith with me to give me my baths, because she is
free, I should call it barbarism. Who was that gentleman that broke his
collar-bone and seat to you, husband, to get him a nurse?"

Mr. North said it was a student in a medical school, from the South.

"Did you find him a nurse?" said she.

"Yes," he replied; "but he groaned and said, 'Mother wanted to send on
my mammy that nursed me, but your laws will not allow her to come. Now,'
said he, 'mammy will not tamper with your servants here, and entice them
away, as free colored men might do to our slaves if they landed at the
South from your vessels. O, mammy,' said he, 'if I had your 'arbs and
your nursing, what a pleasure it would be to be sick.'"

"Poor fellow!" said Mrs. North. "What did you say to him?"

"O," said he, "I told him that we lived under differe