Daisy In The Field
Page 148"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
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
"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."
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."