CHAPTER XIV. AUNT NESBIT'S LOSS.

hattheworstinsurrectionshavearisenfromthereadingoftheBiblebytheseignorantfellows.ThatwasthecasewithNatTurner,inVirginia.ThatwasthecasewithDenmarkVesey,andhiscrew,inSouthCarolina.Itellyou,sir,itwillneverdo,thisturningoutasetofignorantpeopletopastureintheBible!Thatblessedbookisasavoroflifeuntolifewhenit'susedrightbutit'sasavorofdeathuntodeathwhenignorantpeopletakeholdofit.Theproperwayisthis:administersuchportionsonlyasthesecreaturesarecapableofunderstanding.Thisadmirablesystemofreligiousinstructionkeepsthematterinourownhands,byallowingustoselectforthemsuchportionsofthewordasarebestfittedtokeepthemquiet,dutiful,andobedientandIventuretopredictthatwhoeverundertakestomanageaplantationonanyothersystemwillsoonfinditgettingoutofhishands." "SoyouareafraidtotrusttheLord'swordwithoutholdingthebridle!"saidTom,withasneer."That'sprettywellforyou!" "Iamnot!"saidClayton."I'mwillingtoresignanyrightstoanyonethatIamnotabletodefendinGod'sword—anythatIcannotmakeapparenttoanyman'scultivatedreason.IscorntheideathatImustdwarfaman'smind,andkeephimignorantandchildish,inordertomakehimbelieveanylieIchoosetotellhimaboutmyrightsoverhim!Iintendtohaveaneducated,intelligentpeople,whoshallsubmittomebecausetheythinkitclearlyfortheirbestintereststodosobecausetheyshallfeelthatwhatIcommandisrightinthesightofGod." "It'smyopinion,"saidTom,"thatboththesewaysofmanagingarehumbugs.Onewaymakeshypocrites,andtheothermakesrebels.Thebestwayofeducatingis,toshowfolksthattheycan'thelpthemselves.Allthefussingandarguingintheworldisn'tworthonedoseofcertaintyonthatpoint.Justletthemknowthattherearenotwowaysaboutit,andyou'llhaveallstillenough." Fromthispointtheconversationwaspursuedwithconsiderablewarmth,tillNinaandAuntNesbitroseandretiredtothedrawing-room.PerhapsitdidnotmateriallydiscourageClayton,inthepositionhehadtaken,thatNina,withthefranknessusualtoher,expressedthemosteagerandundisguisedadmirationofallthathesaid. "Didn'thetalkbeautifully?Wasn'titnoble?"shesaidtoAuntNesbit,asshecameinthedrawing-room."AndthathatefulJekyl!isn'themean?" "Child!"saidAuntNesbit,"I'msurprisedtohearyouspeakso!Mr.Jekylisaveryrespectablelawyer,anelderinthechurch,andaverypiousman.HehasgivenmesomemostexcellentadviceaboutmyaffairsandheisgoingtotakeMillywithhim,andfindheragoodplace.He'sbeenmakingsomeinvestigations,Nina,andhe'sgoingtotalktoyouaboutthem,afterdinner.He'sdiscoveredthatthere'sanestateinMississippiworthahundredthousanddollars,thatoughtproperlytocometoyou!" "Idon'tbelieveawordofit!"saidNina."Don'tliketheman!—thinkheishateful!—don'twanttohearanythinghehastosay!—don'tbelieveinhim!" "Nina,howoftenhaveIwarnedyouagainstsuchsuddenprejudices—againstsuchagoodman,too!" "Youwon'tmakemebelieveheisgood,notifhewereelderintwentychurches!" "Well,but,child,atanyrateyoumustlistentowhathehasgottosay.Yourbrotherwillbeveryangryifyoudon't,andit'sreallyveryimportant.Atanyrate,yououghtnottooffendTom,whenyoucanhelpit." "That'strueenough,"saidNina"andI'llhear,andtryandbehaveaswellasIcan.Ihopethemanwillgo,sometimeorother!Idon'tknowwhy,buthistalkmakesmefeelworsethanTom'sswearing!That'scertain." AuntNesbitlookedatNinaasifsheconsideredherinamosthopelesscondition.