CHAPTER XIV. AUNT NESBIT'S LOSS.

s.Ihavegotnowworkingformethreebricklayers.Iowntwofirst-ratecarpenters,andlastmonthIboughtaperfectjewelofablacksmith.Heisanuncommonlyingeniousmanafellowthatwillmake,easy,hisfifteendollarsamonthandheisthemorevaluablebecausehehasbeenreligiouslybroughtup.Why,someofthem,now,willcheatyouiftheycanbutthisfellowhasbeenbroughtupinadistrictwheretheyhaveamissionary,andagreatdealofpainshasbeentakentoformhisreligiousprinciples.Now,thisfellowwouldnomorethinkoftouchingacentofhisearningsthanhewouldofstealingrightoutofmypocket.Itellpeopleabouthim,sometimes,whenIfindthemopposedtoreligiousinstruction.Itellthem,'Seethere,now—youseehowgodlinessisprofitabletothelifethatnowis.'YouknowtheScriptures,Mrs.Nesbit?" "Yes,"saidAuntNesbit,"Ialwaysbelievedinreligiouseducation." "Confounditall!"saidTom,"Idon't!Idon'tseetheuseofmakingasetofhypocriticalsneaksofthem!I'dmakeniggersbringmemymoneybut,hangitall,ifhecamesnufflingtome,pretending'twashisduty,I'dchokehim!Theyneverthinkso,—theydon'tandtheycan't—andit'sallhypocrisy,thisreligiousinstruction,asyoucallit!" "No,itisn't,"saidtheundiscouragedMr.Jekyl,"notwhenyoufounditonrightprinciples.Takethemearlyenough,andworkthemright,you'llgetitgroundintothem.Now,whentheybegunreligiousinstruction,therewasagreatprejudiceagainstitinourpartofthecountry.Youseetheywereafraidthattheniggerswouldgetuppish.Ah,butyouseethemissionariesareprettycarefultheyputitinstronginthecatechismsabouttherightsofthemaster.Youseetheinstructionisjustgroundedonthis,thatthemasterstandsinGod'splacetothem." "D—dbosh!"saidTomGordon. AuntNesbitlookedacrossthetableasifsheweregoingtofaint.ButMr.Jekyl'scomposurewasnotintheslightestdegreeinterrupted. "Icantellyou,"hesaid,"that,inabusiness,practicalview,—forIamusedtoinvestments,—that,sincethepublishingofthosecatechisms,andthemissionaries'workamongtheniggers,thevalueofthatkindofpropertyhasrisentenpercent.Theyarebettercontented.Theydon'trunaway,astheyusedto.JustthatsimpleideathattheirmasterstandsinGod'splacetothem.Why,yousee,itcutsitsway." "Ihavearadicalobjectiontoallthatkindofinstruction,"saidClayton. AuntNesbitopenedhereyes,asifshecouldhardlybelieveherhearing. "Andpraywhatisyourobjection?"saidMr.Jekyl,withanunmovedcountenance. "Myobjectionisthatitisallalie,"saidClayton,insuchapositivetonethateverybodylookedathimwithastart. Claytonwasoneofthosesilentmenwhoareseldomrousedtotalk,butwhogowitharushwhentheyare.Notseemingtonoticethestartledlooksofthecompany,hewenton:"It'saworselie,becauseit'stoldtobewilderasimple,ignorant,confidingcreature.Inevercouldconceivehowadecentmancouldeverlookanothermaninthefaceandsaysuchthings.Irememberreading,inoneofthemissionaryreports,thatwhenthisdoctrinewasfirstpropoundedinanassemblyofnegroessomewhere,allthemostintelligentofthemgotupandwalkeddeliberatelyoutofthehouseandIhonorthemforit." "Goodforthem!"saidTomGordon."Icankeepmyniggersdownwithoutanysuchstuffasthat!" "Ihavenodoubt,"saidClayton,"thatthesemissionariesarewell-intending,goodmen,andthattheyactuallythinktheonlywaytogetaccesstothenegroesatallistobeverypositiveinwhatwillpleasethemasters.ButIthinktheyfallintothesameerrorthattheJesuitsdidwhentheyadulteratedChristianity