The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-20
well as inward obedience to themS We

well as inward obedience to themp We
need the letter of the law"
"Yea, Friend" replied Deliversnce,
her thoughts turned in new direction;
but what dost think of government
that upholds the selling of innocent
children to pay debt ? Surely thee re-
membereth little Daniel and Provided
Southwicke, who SO narrowly escaped
being sold to slavery in Barbados last
year. Such government cannot pros
per"
ut is true," said Christopher, "Ihat
our government is earthly and for that
reason faulty; but we must bear IN mild
that government is for the mass. 1t
may render justice in the aggregate, and
yet sometimes trespass on ind vldual
rights. Such failings we must wink at
If justice be at the bottom"
"Nay, but the Lord will not wink at
injustice and cruelty, wherever perpe-
trated," persisted Deliverance, her color
deepening with her increasing earnest
ness. Besides, this government that
thee upboldest is inconsistent with itself.
Dost thou not remember that clause of
the charter in which it is provided that
all in the plantation shall enjoy equal
justice and law? Dost thou think that
the government has regarded the char
ter when it has prosecuted the saints
and children of the Lord ?"
1.-The Government only protects the
Lords fold against the ravenous wolves
that seek to devour it." replied Chrsto-
pher. Think you that oil Dame Jones's
malignant touch and power of bringing
down curses on her felowmen came
from the Lord : She was but hand
maid of Satan, and deserved to forfeit
her life for blasphemies,
NAY" answered Deliverance, softly;
"she was verify martyr, and was led
by the spirit of the Lord, and so denied
the works of the devil. Should the
Lord call me would follow in her foot
steps and seal my testimony with my
blood"
She rose in the rapture Of her enthu-
sasm and stood looking off at the pur-
pie hills, which loomed hazy and unsub-
stautial in the distance. Her pure. up
turned face looked like that of saint in
the soft shadow of the leafy porch, aud
one could almost fancy that a tender au-
reole lighted up her sunny head. Chris
topher let his troubled gaze rest on her
almost translated beauty, and uncon-
sciously the deep lines of thought which
furrOwed his ample forehead smoOthed
themselves out He rose slowly and
stood very close to her, with one nand
resting lightly on her sleeve.
Come, DeliverancP," he said, be my
saint and my life, and reveal the Truth f.,
whatever 1t may be, through the trans
pareEcy of your purity and holiness.
a inplr of dom min aWpnt the
girls brow. She drew away from him
and beg IN to pluck at the vine ain =
lessly.
"It cannot be, Friend Christopher.
have told thee many times that II can
not be. 1t is not meet that two be yDked
unequally."
But you surely cannot do such a
wrong as to let a fellow-creature fail for
lack of sympathy !" he cried; and there
was great passion in his voice. Il
shall go mad if you will not listen to
me"
Nay, but there is no salvation which
comes from mere frail mortal. That
will not save thee in the last great day.
| Onlv take heed to that heavenly light,
the Son within thee, and kiss him before
his wrath be kindled against thee; for
verify the night cometh when you shall
fall TO your own master"
The night was darkening down upon
them fast One quivering red beam
shot rough the thick leaves and rested
for a moment on Drliverance's pure face;
then the sun sank, leaving stretch of
golden sky which cast soft glow over
the tops of the hills. The advancing
twilight lent force to the figure that De
liverance had used. Christopher Burden
shivered involuntarily, and drew his
cape around him; then with hasty
fare well he strobe off down the darken-
ing road. Deliverance watched him un-
I'll he had disappeared, and then went
slowly in to prepare the simple evening
meal of rye Pudding and milk for the
tired father and brother who had worked
all day in the fields. She was silent dur
ing tea, aud supplied the wants of the
hungry men with preoccupied air,