Anonymous

“ How many [27] scandals are fabricated—how many families set together by the ears—how many parents have their hearts turned against their children, husbands weaned from their wives, brothers from their sisters, and the most intimate, firm and steady friendships broken, by the tongue of the liar. I beg you, then, my dear Clara, never more to be guilty of a vice which is offensive both to God and man.”
Miss Melville’s lessons, often repeated, made a deep impression on the mind of Clara. To the slaves she became gentle and kind ”

“ A great and benevolent mind would use power only to promote the happiness of those who are under its government. You know not how much you may need the friendship of your slaves; and your conduct should be such as would entitle you to their esteem. I am sorry to see it otherwise. Your cruelty was manifested in the sufferings of Dinah; and the unjust punishment inflicted on her, was not your only [26] fault; that was but secondary to your first; the untruth you told was the primary cause of the poor girl’s sufferings. ”

“ As soon as it was light, Miss Melville and Clara ventured out in search of Mrs. Dormer. Their imaginations had already anticipated the affecting scene. Clara fainted when she saw the mangled body of her parent, and was afterwards conducted by her amiable companion, to the next plantation. A little reflection, however, convinced them that they had nothing to fear from those DISCRIMINATING SLAVES who had deemed them worthy their clemency, at a time they came to execute vengeance [35] on an individual under the same roof. ”

“ Be assured, that lying is a most dangerous and detestable vice; and a liar is more to be dreaded than any other character. Locks, bolts and bars may secure us from the thief; but what can secure us from the tongue of the liar? ”

“ Humanity is due to all; difference of colour, or inequality of rank, can never warrant the exercise of oppression or injustice; and the abolition of the slave trade, lately effected by the persevering efforts of Mr. ”

“ Dormer.
Dinah was compelled to attend them, and to give them all the information they required.
“Who be dat lady?” said the ringleader to Dinah, pointing to Miss Melville.
“She be good lady,” said Dinah; “she pity poor blacky man and woman—she [32] never get poor slave beat, but cry, cry, weep, weep, to see dem hurt.”
“We no killy you, Missy—we only fight wid dem dat use poor black ill—get him beat—order bad Jackson to flog, flog, flog, till poor slave fall down, almost dead.”
Clara was seized by another of the slaves ”