"Furthermore. We find the Most High decreeing perpetual bondage in
certain cases, and more than all, as we have seen, _the forcible
separation of husband and wife_ among slaves. Let me turn to Exodus xxi.
and read:--
"'1. Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
"'2. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in
the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
"'3. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he
were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
"'4. If his master have given him a wife and she have borne him
sons or daughters, _the wife and her children shall be her
master's_, and he shall go out by himself.'
"I have not finished my reading," said I; "but what do you say to that,
Mr. North?"
"Read on," said he.
"'5. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my
wife, and my children, I will not go out free:
"'6. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges, he shall also
bring him to the door, or unto the door-post, and his master shall
bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.
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