A LESSON IN CHARITY. 529 



It was exceedingly trying on many accounts to be obliged to 

 keep the company of the Arabs, but particularly on account of 

 the very dilatory movements of their party ; but there was noth- 

 ing else to be done. Nsama could not be depended on, and the 

 little party of Dr. Livingstone, small as it had become, was less 

 and less to be trusted. Another of his men had abandoned him 

 on the borders of Itawa, the very scamp who had been the cause 

 of his misfortune in being; robbed of his medicine-box. He felt 

 almost alone, and could not fail to appreciate the providence 

 which had raised him up an escort of the very men whose trade 

 was most contrary to his views. Possibly the kindness which 

 was shown him by these dealers in slaves was intended, by the 

 great Ruler of all, to correct any growing bitterness against the 

 slave-owner, while he might detest slave-owning. It is, we 

 know, one of the most lamentable weaknesses of human nature, 

 that we cannot recognize, as we should, the different educations 

 of men, or make allowance fully for the differences of judgment. 

 We are, perhaps, more forward than we should be, to make our 

 opinions of right the absolute touch-stone of human virtue. It 

 is thus that we become the persecutors of men when we should 

 be the advocates of doctrine. It is not to be desired that a man 

 should surrender his ideas of right, because of other good he 

 may find in those who differ with him on some great question ; 

 but it is well if he comes to distinguish between honest differ- 

 ence of opinion and personal meanness, and learns to respect a 

 man though he may hate a sentiment. The question of human 

 slavery has been prominent among the vital issues of centuries. 

 In our own country it has been a very serious one. It is to be 

 lamented that the antagonists in the great controversy have been 

 so frequently unable to rise above personal bitterness in the dis- 

 cussion. It ought not to be expected of any man to abandon 

 his convictions of right or privilege at the bar of his neighbor's 

 judgment; before a common Creator and Judge let every man 

 stand or fall. 



The fact of property in man is now a thing of the past in 

 our country, and the most zealous supporters of the policy 

 which has cancelled it, the most ardent advocates of human 

 equality, ought to reflect whether they do not violate their own 

 almost deified code when they visit still with their anathemas 



