266 UNCLE TOM’S CABIN; OR,

Christian otherwise, though I have certainly had intercourse with
a great many enlightened and Christian peoplé who did no such
thing; and I confess that the apathy of religious people on this
subject, their want of perception of. wrongs that filled me with
Noerve have engendered in me more scepticism than any other
thing.”

“Tf you knew all this,” said Miss Ophelia, “ why didn’t you
do it?”

“Oh, because I have had only that kind of benevolence which
consists in lying on a sofa, and cursing the church and clergy for
not being martyrs and confessors. One can see, you know, very
easily, how others ought to be martyrs.”

‘Well, are you going to do differently now ?” said Miss Ophelia.

“God only knows the future,” said St.Clare. ‘I am braver
than I was, because I have lost all; and he who has nothing to
lose can afford all risks.”

** And what are you going to do?”

** My duty, I hope, to the poor and lowly, as fast as I find it
out,” said St. Clare, ‘ beginning with my own servants, for whom
I have yet done nothing; and perhaps, at some future day, it
may appear that I can do something for a whole class —something
to save my country from the disgrace of that false position in
which she now stands before all civilised nations.”

** Do you suppose it possible that a nation ever will voluntarily
emancipate ?” said Miss Ophelia.

‘“‘T don’t know,” said St. Clare. ‘ This is a day of great deeds.
Heroism and disinterestedness are rising up, here and there, in
the earth. The Hungarian nobles set free millions of serfs, at an
immense pecuniary loss; and perhaps among us may be found
generous spirits, who do not estimate honour and justice by dollars
and cents.”

“I hardly think so,” said Miss Ophelia.

‘But suppose we should rise tp to-morrow and emancipate,
who would educate these millions, and teach them how to use
their freedom? They never would rise to do much among us.
The fatt is, we are too lazy and unpractical ourselves ever to give
them much of an idea of that industry and energy which is neces-
sary to form them into men. They will have to go north, where
labour is the fashion—the universal custom; and tell me, now,
is there enough Christian philanthropy among your northern states
to bear with the process of their education and elevation? You
send thousands of dollars to foreign missions; but could you
endure to have the heathen sent into your towns and villages, and
give your time, and thoughts, and money, to raise them to the
Christian standard? That’s what I want to know. If we eman-
cipate, are you willing to educate? How many families in your
‘town would take in a negro man and woman, teach them, bear
with them, and seek to make them Christians? How many mer-