'"
She made up a very expressive smile as she said it and stretched her
work across her knee.
"Yes," said I, "the Bible is antiquated! God never gave a written
revelation to be a perpetual guide to the end of time! I can supersede
the Epistle to Philemon: Mrs. North, Hebrews; you, James; and another
the whole of the Old Testament."
"Now," said Mr. North, "I will tell you what I have been thinking of all
this time.
"I will put you into bondage in Algiers or Tunis. Somebody has bought
you or captured you. But by some means you escape to me at Gibraltar.
Now I will read 'Philemon' to you, and send you back to your Algerine
master. What objection can you make to this, as a believer in
inspiration?"
I answered, "If I were a slave in my own country, and slavery existed in
Algiers, you would need to consider the relation which existed between
this country and Algiers. If the governments had treaties with each
other, the surrender of persons held to service in either of the
countries would probably be provided for, and then you would have to
consider whether you would obey what is called the 'higher law,' or
yield me to the requisition of the proper authorities.
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