"'I stopped after service, and, without at first introducing myself, I asked him if he was in the habit of praying, as he had done to-day, for slave-holders. He said yes. I asked him if it was a general practice at the North. He thought it was. I inquired if he would have every slave liberated to-morrow, if he could effect it. "By all means," said he.--"Would they be better off?" said I.--"Undoubtedly they would," said he. "But that is not the question. Do right, if the heavens fall."--"What would become of them?" said I.--"Hire them," said he; "pay them wages; let husbands and wives live together; abolish auction-blocks, and"--"But," said I, "some of the very best of men in the world, at the South, are decidedly of the opinion that such emancipation would be the most barbarous thing that could be devised for the slaves."--"Are you a slave-holder?" said he.--"I was," said I; "but I have liberated my slaves, and I am in your city to see the last two of my servants sail with your fellow-citizens ---- and ----" (naming them).--"You don't say so!" said he. "What did you liberate them for?"--"I could not take proper care of them," said I, "situated as I am."--"But," said he, "did you do right in letting them go to sea as you did? One of them will get no good with that man for a master. I would rather be your dog than his child."--"Then," said I, "you have 'oppressors' at the North, it seems."--"Well," said he, "some of our people are not as good as they ought to be."--"It is so with us at the South," said I.--"Preach for me next Sabbath, Sir," said he.--"Are you going to stay over?"--"Why," said I, "my dear Sir, would you and your people like to hear a man preach for you whom you, if you made the prayer, would first pray for as an 'oppressor?'"--"But you are not an oppressor," said he.--"But I am in favor of what you call 'oppression,'" said I.--"One thing I could pray for with you," said I.--"What is that?" said he.--"Break every yoke," said I. "This I pray for always. But how many 'yokes,'" said I, "do you suppose there are at the South?"--"I forget the exact number of the slaves," said he, in the most artless manner.' "Hereupon the company broke out into great merriment. After they had enjoyed their laughter awhile, my Northern lady-friend said, 'Did you preach for him?' "'Yes,' said the pastor; 'and prayed for him too. "'Walking through the streets of that place in the evening, I saw evidence that no minister nor citizen there was justified in casting the first stone at the South for immorality. I lifted up my heart in thanks to God that my sons were not exposed to the temptations of a Northern city. Being in the United States District Court there, several times, I had some revelations also with regard to the treatment and the condition of seamen in some Northern ships, which led me to the conclusion which I have often drawn,--that poor human nature is about the same, North and South.