"Equal!" said Abel, "there is that idiot, with his tongue hanging out of
his mouth, across the street: was he born equal with you?"

"It strikes me," said Arthur, "that our slaves are not born free."

"They ought to be so, then," said Mr. Hubbard.

"Ah! there you arraign the Creator," said Arthur; "I must stop now."

"What do you think is the meaning of the text 'Cursed be Canaan, a servant
of servants shall he be unto his brethren,' Hubbard?" said Abel.

"I don't think it justifies slavery," said Hubbard.

"Well, what does it mean?" said Abel. "It must mean something. Now I am at
present between two doctrines; so I am neither on your nor on Arthur's
side. If I can't live one way I must another; and these are hard times. If
I can't distinguish myself in law, divinity, or physic, or as an artist,
which I would prefer, I may turn planter, or may turn Abolition agent. I
must do something for my living. Having no slaves I can't turn planter;
therefore there is more probability of my talents finding their way to the
Abolition ranks; so give me all the information you can on the subject."

"Go to the Bible," said Mr. Hubbard, "and learn your duty to your
fellow-creatures."

"Well, here is a Bible my mother sent here for Arthur and myself, with the
commentaries. This is Scott's Commentary. Where is Canaan?" said he,
turning over the leaves; "he is very hard to be got at."