Chapter 14

“Well,that’s not possible now,”Henry says consolingly.“There’s a Fugitive Slave Law.Even if a slave does run away up North,it’s a white man’s duty for him to be returned to his master.”

“There’s that duty again,”I sigh.“But what do you think of having slaves,anyway?The man who wrote the book sounded just as intelligent as a white man.Hannah tried to save Anna from the lash,just like any white woman would do for her daughter.Anna learned how to read while pretending to completely ignore everything Mr.Williams said.And now she’s still recovering from the lash after telling me the truth that no one else bothered to tell me.”I put a fist to my chin and consider.“So let’s say we do get married,Henry.Would you consider at least not whipping the slaves or treating them a little better?Those slave huts are terrible;no beds,nothing but a bare floor to sleep on.The children wear those horrible brown scratchy shirts that barely reach their knees.Can’t we at least improve their condition?”