ite noted in affairs of this kind。 The owner was exceedingly indignant。 He had always treated the slave with such indulgence； and his confidence in his affection was such； that he believed he must have been practised upon to induce him to revolt from him。 He visited the Quaker； in high anger； but； being possessed of uncommon candor and fairness； was soon quieted by his arguments and representations。 It was a side of the subject which he never had heard；—never had thought on； and he immediately told the Quaker that； if his slave would； to his own face； say that it was his desire to be free； he would liberate him。 An interview was forthwith procured； and Nathan was asked by his young master whether he had ever had any reason to complain of his treatment； in any respect。
“No； Mas’r；” said Nathan； “you’ve always been good to me。”
“Well； then； why do you want to leave me？”
“Mas’r may die； and then who get me？—I’d rather be a free man。”
After some deliberation； the young master replied； “Nathan； in your place； I think I should feel very much so； myself。 You are free。”
He immediately made him out free papers； deposited a sum of money in the hands of the Quaker； to be judiciously used in assisting him to start in life； and left a very sensible and kind letter of advice to the young man。 That letter was for some time in the writer’s hands。
The author hopes she has done justice to that nobility； generosity； and humanity； which in many cases characterize individuals at the； South。 Such instances save us from utter despair of our kind。 But； she asks any person； who knows the world； are such characters common； anywhere？
For many years of her life； the author avoided all reading upon or allusion to the subject of slavery； considering it as too painful to be inquired into； and one which advancing light and civlization would certainly live down。 But； since the legislative act of 1850； when she heard； with perfect surprise and consternation； Christian and humane people actually recommending the remanding escaped fugitives into slavery； as a duty binding on good citizens；—when she heard； on all hands； from kind； compassionate and estimable people； in the free states of the North； deliberations and discussions as to what Christian duty could be on this head；—she could only think； These men and Christians cannot know what slavery is； if they did； such a question could never be open for discussion。 And from this arose a desire to exhibit it in a living dramatic reality。 She has endeavored to show it fairly； in its best and its worst phases。 In its best aspect； she has； perhaps； been sucomessful； but； oh！ who shall say what yet remains untold in that valley and shadow of death； that lies the other side？
To you； generous； noble…minded men and women； of the South；—you； whose virtue； and magnanimity and purity of character； are the greater for the severer trial it has encountered；—to you is her appeal。 Have you not； in your own secret souls； in your own private conversings； felt that there are woes and evils； in this acomursed system； far beyond what are here shadowed； or can be shadowed？ Can it be otherwise？ Is man ever a creature to be trusted with wholly irresponsible power？ And does not the slave system； by denying the slave all legal right of testimony； make every individual owner an irresponsible despot？ Can anybody fall to make the inference what the practical result will be？ If there is； as we admit； a public sentiment among you； men of honor； justice and humanity； is there not also another kind of public sentiment among the ruffian； the brutal and debased？ And cannot the ruffian； the brutal； the debased； by slave law； own just as many slaves as the best and purest？ Are the honorable； the just； the high…minded and compassionate； the majority anywhere in this world？
The slave…trade is now； by American law； considered as piracy。 But a slave…trade； as systematic as ever was carried on on the coast of Africa； is an inevitable attendant and result of American slavery。 And its heart…break and its horrors； can they be told？
The writer has given only a faint shadow； a dim picture； of the anguish and despair that are； at this very moment； riving thousands of hearts； shattering thousands of families； and driving a helpless and sensitive race to frenzy and despair。 There are those living who know the mothers whom this acomursed traffic has driven to the murder of their children； and themselves seeking in death a shelter from woes more dreaded than death。 Nothing of tragedy can be written； can be spoken； can be conceived； that equals the frightful reality of scenes daily and hourly acting on our shores； beneath the shadow of American law； and the shadow of the cross of Christ。
And now； men and women of America； is this a thing to be trifled with； apologized for； and passed over in silence？ Farmers of Massachusetts； of New Hampshire； of Vermont； of Connecticut； who read this book by the blaze of your winter…evening fire；—strong…hearted； generous sailors and ship…owners of Maine；—is this a thing for you to countenance and encourage？ Brave and generous men of New York； farmers of rich and joyous Ohio； and ye of the wide prairie states；—answer； is this a thing for you to protect and countenance？ And you； mothers of America；—you who have learned； by the cradles of your own children； to love and feel for all mankind；—by the sacred love you bear your child； by your joy in his beautiful； spotless infancy； by the motherly pity and tenderness with which you guide his growing years； by the anxieties of his education； by the prayers you breathe for his soul’s eternal good；—I beseech you； pity the mother who has all your affections； and not one legal right to protect； guide； or educate； the child of her bosom！ By the sick hour of your child； by those dying eyes； which you can never forget； by those last cries； that wrung your heart when you could neither help nor save； by the desolation of that empty cradle； that silent nursery；—I beseech you； pity those mothers that are constantly made childless by the American slave…trade！ And say； mothers of America； is this a thing to be defended； sympathized with； passed over in silence？
Do you say that the people of the free state have nothing to do with it； and can do nothing？ Would to God this were true！ But it is not true。 The people of the free states have defended； encouraged； and participated； and are more guilty for it； before God； than the South； in that they have not the apology of education or custom。
If the mothers of the free states had all felt as they should； in times past； the sons of the free states would not have been the holders； and； proverbially； the hardest masters of slaves； the sons of the free states would not have connived at the extension of slavery； in our national body； the sons of the free states would not； as they do； trade the souls and bodies of men as an equivalent to money； in their mercantile dealings。 There are multitudes of slaves temporarily owned； and sold again； by merchants in northern cities； and shall the whole guilt or obloquy of slavery fall only on the South？
Northern men； northern mothers； northern Christians； have something more to do than den