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It may be well to say here, that it has often occur-
red to us, that those inhabitants of the South who pity
the slave would render him an inestimable service by
supplying him with a pocket-compass. Could every
slave who- encounters the appalling perils of flight
from bondage have access to this little and cheap but
unerring guide, he might dispense with the shining of
the North star. An occasional match-light to show
him the needle of his compass would suffice for his di-
rection in the darkest night.

This is also the place for saying a few words to you
on the subject of theft. We are aware that an almost
irresistible tendency of slavery is to make thieves of
its victims. But we entreat younot to steal. ¢ Not
purloining ” is an apostolic injunction on slaves, as
well as other servants. Let all your toil go unrequit-
ed, rather than to seek an equivalent, at the expense
of trampling on conscience, and polluting the soul by
violating a Divine command. “Say not thou, I will
recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall
save thee.” In your poorest estate, you will still be
infinitely better off' than they who “rob the poor, be-
cause he is poor;” ‘“for the Lord will spoil the soul of
those that spoiled them.” Do not, however, suppose
that we forbid your innocent yieldings to necessity.
We are aware of the dreadful straits to which some of
you are at times reduced; and God forbid that we
should tell you to starve or freeze when relief is possi-
ble. In those straits, you have the permission of Him
who says that ¢ the life is more than meat, and the
body is more than raiment,” to count as your own