“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.”

“Now, please do not smile at your good wife for her simplicity, Mr. North,” said I, “for I suppose that you are thinking, What have ’good manners’ to do with the ‘cause of freedom’?  She is right in her impressions; a lady’s sense of propriety against all the world.”

“Do publish the Southern lady’s letter by all means,” said Mrs. North.

“How surprised she would be,” said I, “to see it in print, or to know that it had wandered here, and was taking part in the discussions about slavery.”

“The letter,” said Mrs. North, “would, just now, seem like Noah’s poor little dove, wandering over wrecks and desolations.”

“True,” said I, “and to finish the illusion, it might come back to her after many days, and lo! in its mouth an olive-leaf plucked off!”

“Give my love to her,” said Mrs. North; “her letter has made me a better and happier woman.  Now I love my whole country.  I do justice in my feelings to hundreds of thousands whom I have hitherto regarded as perverse.  I now see God’s wonder-working providence in connection with the slave.  It seems plain to me in what way the Union can be saved, and that is, by the general prevalence at the North of such views about slavery as the very best people at the South declare to be just and right.”

“You would be deemed simple for saying that, Mrs. North,” said I.  “But you are right.”

“Three things,” she continued, after a moment’s pause, “are more strongly impressed on my mind; please see if I am right:—­That the relation of master and slave is not in itself sinful; That good people at the South feel toward injustice and cruelty precisely like us; and, That Southern Christians can correct all the evils in slavery, or abolish it, if necessary, better without our aid than with it.”

“Mrs. North,” said I, “unless we accept those propositions, the North and South never can live together in peace; and if we separate, the Northern conscience will be in a worse condition than ever, and we shall have long wars.”