I saw that I had prolonged my remarks to an undue length.  We sat in silence for a little while, looking into the fire, and listening to the rain against the windows, when Judith called Mrs. North to the door; and, after some whispering between them, Mrs. North said to her,

“Oh, bring them in; our company will excuse it.”

The cranberries, it seems, were not doing well over the fire in Judith’s department, and she had hesitatingly proposed that they should be promoted to the parlor grate, where, after due apologies, they were placed.  They soon began to simmer; then one would burst, and then another, we pausing unconsciously to hear them surrendering themselves to their fate, while one mouth, at least, watered at the thought of the delicious dish which they were to furnish; the rich, ruby color of their juice in the best cut-glass tureen, and the added spoonful, as a reward for not spilling a drop on the table-cloth the last time they were served, coming to mind, with thoughts of early days.  And here I was discussing slavery.  Now, while the cranberries were over the fire, making one feel domestic and also bringing back young days, it was impossible to be disputatious, had we been so inclined.  The Northern cranberry-meadow and the Southern sugar-plantation seemed mixed up in my feelings on this subject, qualifying and rectifying each other.  Perhaps the soothing presence of the cranberry saucepan was timely; for, without any design, a phase of our subject next presented itself which was not the most agreeable.  I broke the silence, and said,—­

“Mr. North, what do you think is the mission of the abolitionists as a party, and of all who sympathize with them?”

“Why,” said he, “to abolish slavery, to be sure.  What else can it be?”

“You are mistaken,” said I.  “The real mission of the abolitionists, thus far, is, To perpetuate slavery till Providence has accomplished its plan.  You know what Southern synods, and general assemblies, and many of the ablest men at the South have said about slavery; how they deplored it, and called upon Christians to seek its extinction.  The South would probably have tried to abolish slavery ere this, if left to themselves.  But they would have failed; and Providence prevented the useless effort.  The influence of those sentiments which prevailed in the General Assembly of 1818 would have been to remove all the objectionable features of slavery, at least, preparatory to its final extinction, if that could be reached.  It looked as though Churches generally would, in obedience to the General Assembly, have made it, in certain cases, the subject of discipline.  Abolitionism, however, began about that time.  It had the effect to make the South defend themselves and slavery too.  Providence saw that the South was weary of the system, and wished to throw it off.  But the years of the captivity appointed of God had not come to an end.  Purposes of mercy for the African race had not been accomplished; the South