CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE PURPOSE.

d.Itwasagreaterself-denialtohisimpulsive,warm-heartedmotherthantoClayton.Sheyearnedtoexpresssympathytothrowherselfuponhisnecktodrawforthhisfeelings,andminglethemwithherown.Buttherearesomepeoplewithwhomthisisimpossibleitseemstobetheirfatethattheycannotspeakofwhattheysuffer.Itisnotpridenorcoldness,butakindoffatalnecessity,asifthebodywereamarbleprison,inwhichthesoulwerecondemnedtobleedandsufferalone.Itisthelasttriumphofaffectionandmagnanimity,whenalovingheartcanrespectthatsufferingsilenceofitsbeloved,andallowthatlonelylibertyinwhichonlysomenaturescanfindcomfort. Clayton'ssorrowcouldonlybemeasuredbytheeagernessandenergywithwhich,inconversation,hepursuedtheobjectwithwhichheendeavoredtofillhismind. "Iamfarfromlookingforwardwithhopetoanysuccessfromyourefforts,"saidJudgeClayton,"theevilissoradical." "Isometimesthink,"saidMrs.Clayton,"thatIregretthatEdwardbeganashedid.Itwassuchashocktotheprejudicesofpeople!" "Peoplehavegottobeshocked,"saidClayton,"inordertowakethemupoutofoldabsurdroutine.Useparalyzesustoalmosteveryinjusticewhenpeopleareshocked,theybegintothinkandtoinquire." "Butwoulditnothavebeenbetter,"saidMrs.Clayton,"tohavepreservedyourpersonalinfluence,andthushaveinsinuatedyouropinionsmoregradually?Thereissuchaprejudiceagainstabolitionistsand,whenamanmakesanysuddendemonstrationonthissubject,peopleareapttocallhimanabolitionist,andthenhisinfluenceisallgone,andhecandonothing." "Isuspect,"saidClayton,"therearemultitudesnowineverypartofourstatewhoarekeptfromexpressingwhattheyreallythink,anddoingwhattheyoughttodo,bythisfear.Somebodymustbravethismad-dogcrysomebodymustbewillingtobeodiousandIshallanswerthepurposeaswellasanybody." "Haveyouanydefiniteplanofwhatistobeattempted?"saidhisfather. "Ofcourse,"saidClayton,"aman'sfirstnotionsonsuchasubjectmustbecrudebutitoccurredtome,first,toendeavortoexcitethepublicmindontheinjusticeofthepresentslave-law,withaviewtoalteringit." "Andwhatpointswouldyoualter?"saidJudgeClayton. "Iwouldgivetotheslavetherighttobringsuitforinjury,andtobealegalwitnessincourt.Iwouldrepealthelawforbiddingtheireducation,andIwouldforbidtheseparationoffamilies." JudgeClaytonsatpondering.Atlengthhesaid,"Andhowwillyouendeavortoexcitethepublicmind?" "Ishallappealfirst,"saidClayton,"tothechurchandtheministry." "Youcantryit,"saidhisfather. "Why,"saidMrs.Clayton,"thesereformsaresoevidentlycalledfor,byjusticeandhumanity,andthespiritoftheage,thatIcanhavenodoubtthattherewillbeageneralmovementamongallgoodpeopleintheirfavor." JudgeClaytonmadenoreply.Therearesomecasesw