the case are pretty generally known, and you can understand how unpleasant such a matter must be to the entire family.  It is claimed that a tinge of color sometimes passes over a generation and appears more markedly in the next.  I do not know how that may be, but the idea of the risk is enough to give one chills.  There is a story that the Western family of which I spoke has a colored grandson concealed somewhere.  Of course I do not know whether it is true or not; but it serves as an illustration.

“My message to Mr. Brown is, that, under all the circumstances, we think he should discontinue his visits at our house.  I presume he will see that he should take that course.  I shall always be glad to meet him anywhere except at my home.  In regard to a business engagement, if he will allow me to say a word, I would suggest that he should teach our colored school.  They are looking for a teacher just now, as it happens, and he would be very popular in that capacity.”

I could not but admit that Mr. Allen’s suggestions were characterized by practical wisdom, but I hinted that the course proposed seemed hardly just to Anthony.

“As to that,” said Mr. Allen, “it is true that our laws and customs are unjust and cruel in their treatment of a subjugated race.  But it is not wrong to avoid marriage with any other race than our own.  As to the part that is unjust, you and I cannot remedy that.  So far as we are individually concerned, we may deal justly with the down-trodden, and I hope we do so; but the great wrong will still remain.”

I left the office of Mr. Allen, feeling that he was in the right.  I went directly to Anthony, and, with a heavy heart, reported to him the particulars of the interview.  It was a painful shock, but he bore it with greater calmness and fortitude than I had expected.  When I had concluded the recital, he remarked sadly that he found it impossible to say that Mr. Allen was wrong, hard as the truth seemed.  He felt that marriage was out of the question, and said that he would not have indulged the thought of it if he had reflected upon the matter carefully.  He was not fully decided what course he would pursue.  It was too painful a subject and involved too great a change to admit of a hasty decision; and he desired my best thoughts and counsel, which I gave him.

After two days I returned to Whitesboro, leaving Anthony in Philadelphia, still pondering the course he would pursue.  Three weeks later I received a letter from him, in which he announced that he had taken the colored school.

Four months passed away.  Then I received from my friend a long communication, setting forth rather formally his experience in his new position and unfolding to me new views which he had gained by reflection and contact with the world.  He also presented the plan of life which he had decided upon, if I approved.  I was greatly surprised at the entire revolution in his ideas which had been effected by his observation and his courageous mental struggles.