human
I tell thee it is a pretty serious business, friend Joshua, to break up a home like this and go away into the wilderness with a family like thine. I don’t blame Hannah for feeling sad about it.
gpt
cried Joshua Peniman.
human
Who could blame her? She is the bravest woman in the world. Many women would be prostrated at leaving the home in which they were born and had lived all their lives, their mother, sisters, brothers and all the friends of a lifetime to go away into a wild and unknown country to encounter the dangers and hardships of the life of a pioneer. But she has been our inspiration, she has given courage to us all. After a moment he cleared his throat and went on huskily,
gpt
I don’t know that any of us particularly enjoy the prospect before us.
human
Why does thee persist in going then, Joshua? broke in his brother Henry.
gpt
There is time even yet to reconsider thy decision. It is a great undertaking, a great responsibility thou art laying on thyself. Think of Hannah—think of the children—think of the dangers and the hardships and privations that thee and thine will have to undergo in that desert country——
human
I have thought of nothing else for months, Henry, replied Joshua Peniman solemnly.
gpt
I cannot tell thee the struggle I have been through. I fully realize what this breaking up of her lifelong home must mean to Hannah. I know what it will mean to the children—and, with a sudden twitching of his gentle face,
human
But that is all nonsense, Joshua, thy boys are but children yet.
gpt
Joe is almost sixteen. In five years he will be twenty-one. Tell me, brothers, at the rate things are going in this country now how will things stand between the North and South in five years?
human
Well, put in Bill Hale,
gpt
It isn’t a question of safety, retorted Joshua Peniman with as near to a flash of anger in his eyes as Joe had ever seen.
human
It is a question of _principle_. Suppose this country does get into war and there should be a draft. My boys are Quakers. How could they go? And how could they avoid going if they were drafted? Even should there be no real fighting for years to come still those boys would be brought up in an atmosphere of rancor, hostility, and controversy. Hannah and I do not want our children to grow up with hatred in their hearts. We want them to grow up in love and brotherly kindness to all men.
gpt
But thee could keep the children out of it all, Joshua, put in Uncle Charles.
human
Here on the farm they would not come in touch with the political controversy to any great extent, and both thee and thy boys could keep thyselves entirely aloof from the trouble.
gpt
No, brother Charles, thee knows that that would not be possible. Thy affectionate heart is speaking now, not thy reason. Thee knows how I stand on this matter of slavery. Thee knows that already I have embroiled myself, have made many and bitter enemies for myself by my connection with the underground railway. I _have_ run off runaway slaves, and I will run them off again every chance I get; for I believe it to be a wicked and iniquitous business. No man has a right to own and control another human being. I am a man of peace, who loves my fellow-man, and yet —he paused and turned his eyes upon Joe, who crimsoned under the scrutiny,—
human
I didn’t mean any harm, Father, burst forth Joe,
gpt
I know, my son. And therein lies the danger. Thou art breathing in the spirit of warfare with the very air. I do not blame thee, lad; how could it be otherwise? The minds of men are full of it. The papers are full of it, and people talk of little else. I tell thee, friends, war is inevitable, and I will not have my young lads filled with the spirit of it. Hannah thinks as I do, and long before the red carnival of blood-lust is let loose in the land we will be far away, out on the clean, wholesome prairies, where our boys and girls can grow up to noble man and womanhood untouched and untainted by the unholy slaughter.
human
But thee should think of the material prosperity of thy children as well as their spiritual good, brother Joshua, argued Charles.
gpt
Thee knows that out there in that untrodden wilderness they will have little or no opportunity for education——
human
We are thinking of their material prosperity. What chance in life would our nine children have here? I would be a poor man all my life, and could do nothing to establish a future for them. With a big family like ours we need room, more opportunity for development, and that we will find in the new country. If we go west now, while the children and the country are both young they will have great opportunities. I will take up a homestead and make them a good home, and as the boys grow old enough they can take up timber-claims and homesteads so that by the time they reach manhood they will each have a valuable property, a good start in life, and a chance to make of themselves whatever they see fit.
gpt
Yes, but their education——