"Why, as I understand it, Daisy, it was a satisfaction to the

justice of God for the sins of the world. Are you going to put

me through a course of theology, Daisy?"

"No, papa. But do you think it was for all the world, or only

for a part of them?"

"For all, of course. The Bible words I take to be quite clear

on that point, even if it were possible that it should have

been otherwise."

"Then it was for you and me, papa?"

"Yes."

"And for those ignorant Moslems that live in the city now?"

"Yes, of course it was; though I think they will not have much

good of it, Daisy."

"Never mind that, papa. Then it was for my old June, and for

Maria and Darry and Pete and Margaret, and all the rest of our

people at Magnolia?"

"Yes," said papa, rousing up a little. I did not look at him.

"Papa, don't you think the Lord Jesus loves the people for

whom He died?"

"Certainly. It is inconceivable that He should have died for

them if He did not love them. Though that is also a great

mystery to me, Daisy."

"Papa, don't you think that, having died for them, He holds

them precious?"

"I suppose so," said papa slowly.

"Every one?"

"Yes."

"Do you think He loves one man less than another because his

skin is darker?"

"Certainly not, Daisy."

"Then papa - should we?"

"I do not know that we do," papa said, after a pause.

"Papa, think. What would you say to our, or anybody's, holding

white men in slavery - making them work without wages - and

forcing them to obey under the lash?"

"They are an inferior race, Daisy," papa answered again after

a pause. His voice showed he did not enjoy the conversation;

but it was needful for me to go on.

"Papa, they have been kept down. But suppose they were

inferior, - since Christ died for them, does He not love

them?"

"I have no doubt of it."

"Then, papa, what will He say to us, for keeping those whom He

loves and died for, at arms' length or under our feet? and

what will He say to us for keeping them out of the good He

died to give them?"

"We do not, Daisy! They have their religious privileges."

"Papa, I have lived among them as you never did. They may not

meet together to pray, on pain of the lash. They cannot have

Bibles, for they are not allowed to read. They have no family

life; for husbands and wives and parents and children are

parted and torn from each other at the will or for the

interest of their owners. They live like the animals."

"Not on my estates!" said papa, rousing himself again. "There

is no selling and buying of the people there."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024