Advice Column

Problem:
I have been helping to free a slave for a while named Jim. I keep going along with it even though I'm not sure it's if it's the right thing to do. We are starting to become friends and he's good company. I just don't know what to do-- get him freedom or stop helping him?

--Huckleberry Finn

Columnist:
This is a very tricky situation you got yourself into, some people in society might look down upon you helping a slave. I would say you should keep helping Jim because it sounds like you have grown to be friends, it's probably nice to have the extra person around to help. He probably helps you in some ways that you don't even realize. Also you have helped him this far so why quit now? The last big part of why I think you should keep befriending Jim is because it really shows that you are getting more mature because you are looking out for others and you care about the relationships you have with those people, even though others may think it's wrong. This is difficult because it really depends on your beliefs. You have to decide if you want to ignore what society says and get him free or decide that you want to leave him.

Problem:
My problem is that in my town someone has died and his "brother" has come to take his children and take the money left to the family. Normally, this would be fine with me but I have this suspicion that the brother is a fraud and isn't actually related to the dead man. The big part of my problem is that I tried to tell the town what I thought but they all disagreed and since then my suspicion has gotten stronger. I feel like I need to do something really fast before this fraud gets away.

--The Doctor

Columnist:
It sounds like you don't care what other people think. You are just trying to keep his daughter safe and you don't want them left with nothing. It seems to me that you have very strong morals. I think you should look for proof of some sort and keep standing strong on what you believe. You can't go wrong with your instinct. If he ends up really being the brother of the dead man then you will know for sure the money can go to them and that the girls will be safe and well cared for. If he does end up being a fake then you will have stopped him and saved this family's finances. You just have to do anything you can to prove your point. You need to try not to listen to others in your town and just trust yourself.

--Kelsey H. and Kelly H.