"You are too far over," said Arthur, laughing, "you are not in the habit of
referring to Scott."

"Here it is," said Abel, "'Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he
be unto his brethren.' And in another verse we see 'God shall enlarge
Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his
servant.' So we are Japheth and Shem, and the colored population are
Canaan. Is that it, Arthur?" said Abel.

"See what Scott says, Abel," said Arthur; "I'm not a commentator."

"Well, here it is,--'There is no authority for altering the text, and
reading, as some do, Cursed be Ham, the father of Canaan, yet the frequent
mention of Ham, as the father of Canaan, suggests the thought that the
latter was also criminal. Ham is thought to be second, and not the youngest
son of Noah; and if so, the words, 'Knew what his younger son had done,'
refers to Canaan, his grandson. Ham must have felt it a very mortifying
rebuke, when his own father was inspired on this occasion to predict the
durable oppression and slavery of his posterity. Canaan was also rebuked,
by learning that the curse would especially rest on that branch of the
family which should descend from him; for his posterity were no doubt
principally, though not exclusively, intended.'"

"Now," continued Abel, "I shall have to turn planter, and get my niggers as
I can; for I'll be hanged if it wasn't a curse, and a predicted one, too."

"That does not make it right," said Mr. Hubbard.

"Don't it," said Abel; "well, if it should be fated for me to turn parson,
I shan't study divinity with you, for my mother has told me often, that