Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/364

Rh or fodder, and often camping in the forests, where the place nearest the fire was a happy luxury; this stripling surveyor in the woods, with no companion but his unlettered associates, and no implements of science but his compass and his chain, contrasted strongly with the imperial magnificence of the congress of Aix-la-Chapelle. And yet God had selected, not Kaunitz nor Newcastle, not a monarch of the house of Hapsburg, nor of Hanover, but the Virginian stripling, to give an impulse to human affairs, and as far as events can depend on an individual, had placed the rights and destinies of countless millions in the keeping of the widow's son.”

And after this truly great man had accomplished his important task, and achieved an independence for his native land, he crowned his life rich in honour by giving freedom to his slaves, after having faithfully provided for their future.

How long will Virginia remain behind her noblest son?

But while we are earnest for the abolition of slavery, and for the advancement of the honour of America, let us not forget what is the condition of the lower classes of our working people in Europe, and even in our own country. Is not their life of labour too often like a hard slavery, especially as regards the women? Are not the daily wages of women in the country so miserably low that, even if they work every day, the whole year round, they can scarcely earn food and clothing for themselves and a couple of children. When a third child comes then comes want necessarily with it. Is it not a common thing to hear the poor women on our country estates deplore, as even a punishment of God, when they are about to give birth to a poor child; to hear mothers thank God for having of his mercy taken away a child, that is to say, because it is dead! Of a truth our own working-class may improve themselves, both intellectually and