Page:Clotel (1853).djvu/107

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THE RELIGIOUS TEACHER.
99

"Q. Is it right for the servant to run away , or is it right to harbour a runaway?—A. 'No.'

"Q. If a servant runs away, what should be done with him?—A. 'He should be caught and brought back.'

"Q. When he is brought back, what should be done with him?—A. 'Whip him well.'

"Q. Why may not the whites be slaves as well as the blacks?—A. 'because the Lord intended the negroes for slaves.'

"Q. Are they better calculated for servants than the whites?—A. 'Yes, their hands are large, the skin thick and tough, and they can stand the sun better than the whites.'

"Q. Why should servants not complain when they are whipped?—A. 'Because the Lord has commanded that they should be whipped.'

"Q. Where has He commanded it?—A. 'He says, He that knoweth his master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.'

"Q. Then is the master to blame for whipping his servant?—A. 'Oh, no! he is only doing his duty as a Christian."

Snyder left the ground in company with Carlton and Huekelby, and the three dined together in the overseer's dwelling.

"Well," said Joe, after the three white men were out of hearing, "Marser Snyder bin try hesef to-day." "Yes," replied Ned; "he want to show de strange gentman how good he can preach." "Dat's a new sermon he gib us to-day," said Sandy. "Dees white fokes is de very dibble," said Dick; "and all dey whole study is to try to fool de black people."

"Didn't you like de sermon?" asked Uncle Simon. "No," answered four or five voices. "He rared and pitched enough," continued Uncle Simon.

Now Uncle Simon was himself a preacher, or at least he thought so, and was rather pleased than otherwise, when he heard others spoken of in a disparaging manner. "Uncle Simon can beat dat sermon all to