"Yes, I remember," said the major, sighing; "you made a mistake, and yet your error was on the side of humanity. I forgive you and so does humanity. Take this," said he, reaching the judge a roll of bills, "with my forgiveness and this advice,--be careful not to exceed your authority again, for law, in the hands of Shylocks, is a relentless thing. Take this, Judge, and pay your debts."
"What, Major, a hundred dollars? Why, surely, sir, I'm already more deeply indebted to you than I can ever squar' up. This, I'm assoomin', is too much."
"My dear Lynn," said Major Hampton, throwing his head back in his own unique way, "my mission in life is to help the needy. More years of sorrow and suffering than you can comprehend have opened the doorway of my understanding. I was an old veteran in the cause of humanity when I helped in the crusade for liberty at Valley Forge; later I was at the Commune in Paris during the Reign of Terror, when it was demonstrated that man can endure the galling yoke of slavery and adversity easier than he can withstand prosperity or the tickled vanity of a new-found power. Later I was honored with the confidence of John Brown in his noble and heroic attempts to overthrow slavery; and still afterwards gave my advice to Lincoln, and at his solicitation helped formulate the Emancipation Proclamation. Yes, I've seen the black race freed from slavery, but the yoke was not destroyed, and in turn it has, like an octopus, fettered a race of white slaves. As a lover of mankind and a reformist, I am now building up the nucleus of a power in my organization, the Barley Hullers, that will not only free from bondage the white slaves of our land, but will also effectually destroy the yoke--the instrument of torture. This can be done only by an equal distribution of wealth. In giving you this money I am acting as an instrument of the Unseen, yet, nevertheless, potent force that will never rest until liberty liberates."
"Major Hampton," said Judge Lynn, rising and striking an attitude, and bringing the tips of his fingers and thumbs together, as was his wont in addressing a jury, "you sure do me an honor by givin' me such a plain, comprehensive statement, speakin' gay and genial-like, of your position and life's mission. I'm thrilled to overflowin' at your confidence in me. Think I don't know thoughts when I hear 'em rumblin' down all 'round me? Course I do! Speakin' of the Barley Hullers brings me face to face with the idee which I had in mind when I entered this room. In short, sir, I wish to jine the organ'zation, and to secure a place as lecturer, or somethin' of that sort, at some stipulated, but not exorbitant compensation. Do you see?"