there is more probability of my talents finding their way to the
Abolition ranks; so give me all the information you can on the subject."

"Go to the Bible," said Mr. Hubbard, "and learn your duty to your
fellow-creatures."

"Well, here is a Bible my mother sent here for Arthur and myself, with the
commentaries. This is Scott's Commentary. Where is Canaan?" said he,
turning over the leaves; "he is very hard to be got at."

"You are too far over," said Arthur, laughing, "you are not in the habit of
referring to Scott."

"Here it is," said Abel, "'Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he
be unto his brethren.' And in another verse we see 'God shall enlarge
Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his
servant.' So we are Japheth and Shem, and the colored population are
Canaan. Is that it, Arthur?" said Abel.

"See what Scott says, Abel," said Arthur; "I'm not a commentator."

"Well, here it is,--'There is no authority for altering the text, and
reading, as some do, Cursed be Ham, the father of Canaan, yet the frequent
mention of Ham, as the father of Canaan, suggests the thought that the
latter was also criminal. Ham is thought to be second, and not the youngest
son of Noah; and if so, the words, 'Knew what his younger son had done,'
refers to Canaan, his grandson. Ham must have felt it a very mortifying
rebuke, when his own father was inspired on this occasion to predict the
durable oppression and slavery of his posterity. Canaan was also rebuked,
by learning that the curse would especially rest on that branch of the
family which should descend from him; for his posterity were no doubt
principally, though not exclusively, intended.'"

"Now," continued Abel, "I shall have to turn planter, and get my niggers as
I can; for I'll be hanged if it wasn't a curse, and a predicted one, too."

"That does not make it right," said Mr. Hubbard.

"Don't it," said Abel; "well, if it should be fated for me to turn parson,
I shan't study divinity with you, for my mother has told me often, that
God's prophecies were right, and were fulfilled, too; as I think this one
has been."

"I suppose, then, you think slavery will always continue, Mr. Weston?"
said Hubbard.

"Well, I am only a man, and cannot prophesy, but I think, probably not.
Slavery is decreasing throughout the world. The slave trade is about being
abolished on the coast of Africa. You Abolitionists are getting a good many
off from