"
"Now, what is all this for?" said Mrs. North. "Do the people here really
believe that Kate is 'oppressed?' that her mistress is a tyrant? that
Kate is a victim to the 'sum of all villanies?' that she buffers an
'enormous wrong?' that her mistress does her a 'stupendous injustice?'
If they wish for objects of charity, and will go with me, I will engage
to supply them with 'the oppressed' in any quantity, with some of 'the
down-trodden' also."
"But, my dear Mrs. North," said I, "''tis distance lends enchantment to
the view.' Besides, to get a slave away from a Southerner is worth
unspeakably more to the cause of human happiness than to help scores of
Northern people."
"But to be serious," said Mr. North, "we are afraid that slave-holding
may get a foothold in Massachusetts; so we have to challenge every one
who comes here with a slave, to show proof that he or she is not holding
the servant to involuntary servitude among us."
"But," said Mrs. North, "are the people so conscientiously fearful lest
bondage should get established here in Massachusetts? Is that the true
reason for hurrying every colored servant, who travels here with his or
her invalid master or mistress, before a court to know if he or she
would not prefer to quit the family and the South? It seems to me we are
sadly wanting in good manners.
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