IIARP ERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINES No. CCV.JUNE, 1867.VOL. XXXV. OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. R5HJNG to examine the mines of Cob- and, if it did exist, to learn if an~ mines weic rado, and being also urged to do so by there, as in the East both were being serionsly certain Eastern gentlemen, in order to see mf doubted. capital could safely and profitably be invested The month of August fonnd ns in Chicago, there, two of us New Englanders, and a Mis- where the cholera had made its appearance; sissippian, recently from California, left Boston and although we had been but a few hours in together, bonnd for the El Dorado of the West, the city, yet one of our number, while walking thus far the land of disappointment to the East along one of its principal avenues, was so vio- ~~-the far-famed Colorado Territory to ex- lently taken with symptoms of the disease as to amine its gold and silver mines, or rather to require prompt medical attention. We were ascertain if there really was such a country; urged to leave the city immediately, which we Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year iSOT, by Harper and Brothers, in the Clerks OIllce of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. VOL. XXXV.NO. 205.A ~ouu5E OP EMPInE. 2 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. did that evening by taking the cars on the Northwestern Railroad. We took the night-train, intending to pass the Mississippi at Clinton, and through Cedar Rapids to Boonesborough in Iowa, thence by stage, some hundred and twenty miles, to Coun- cil Bluffs. Entering the sleeping-car we were whirled rapidly toward our place of destination, unconsciously to ourselves, as we slept soundly until 2 oclock A.M., when, by the deep peals of thunder that came crashing around us, I was awakened, and found the train standing perfect- ly still on the track, surrounded by a dense for- est, which the vivid and almost incessant flash- es of lightning revealed to view. All was silent in our sleeping-car, no one appearing to know but that we were at some d6p6t, or still in mo- tion. Carefully I awoke my California friend, to accompany me to see the cause of our delay, as I began to think both engineer and fireman had been killed by some lightning-stroke. Out of our sleeping-car into the mud we went, and as we came up to the engine all was silent not a soul to be seen or heard. What could it mean? Soon the vivid lightning revealed on the track, some distance ahead, a smashed-up freight train. It took nearly eight hours to clear the track so that we could pass; then we slowly steamed forward, leaving one poor fel- low so mangled that his life was despaired of; and others less severely wounded. This accident prevented our arrival at the place of destination, Boonesborough, at the ap- pointed time, and it was 11 oclock when we reached the place. Here we had comfortable beds, and early next morning took the sl~tge for Council Bluffs. The heavy rains the previous night had made our road muddy enough, and we were slowly dragged over it, passing on an open rolling prairie a horse lying dead in the middle of the road. It had been shot two nights before by robbers, who here met the stage near midnight, and from two large re- volvers fired some six or eight shots at the coach and horses, killing one of the wheel- horses instantly, and slightly wounding the oth- ers. The wounded horses sprang forward, tear- ing off the harness from the dead animal, and ran at full speed with the coach, while ball after ball passed through and around it from the pistols of the robbers. The driver jumped from the box, as he found the balls striking too. thickly about him, and surrendered himself to the robbers, who took what money he had, and cursed him for not holding his team. The horses ran with the coach for some distance, until they came to a hill which checked their speed; all the passengers here jumped out and secreted themselves in the surrounding grass until the driver came up and eventually secured the team, which had stopped on the summit of the hill. This robbery took place in a dark night, on a lonely spot surrounded by high rolling prairie ground, so that the flashes from the pistols could not be seen, nor their reports heard at any great distance. The place had been well selected by the robberstwo in number. They came to the place on horseback, and, picketing their horses at some little distance, advanced on foot, each with $wo revolvers, to the attack, and when all was over rode away, and will probably nev- er be traced. Our road soon struck the valley of the Boyer River, down which its course lay. This beau- tiful valleya level, fertile, open prairie, bound- ed by gently rising hills covered with luxuriant grass to their very summitsaverages nearly three-quarters of a mile in width. By the side of the strettm that winds through this valley, and on the summits of some of the hills, may be seen a few trees, which add greatly to the beauty of the landscape. The valley is little improved, having only a few farms in it. Most of it is in the same wild, uncultivated state as when the buffalo and elk roamed undisturbed through all this vast region. As we rode down this lovely valley, soon to be traversed by a rail- road now fast approaching, it required but little imagination to see countless herds of buffalo and elk grazing over its surface and on the hills adjoining, with their usual accompaniment, the red man and his wigwam. Now all is silent and lonely; though the engineer and his locat- ing party have been here, and left their stakes marked ready foi~ the gradation of the road. Constructing parties, whose tents and tempo- rary sheds, covered with brush-wood instead of boards, we had passed a few miles back, will soon follow, since the construction of this road is being pushed toward Council Bluffs with a rapidity and skill only equaled by the great Pacific Railroad leading westward from Omaha, to which it is tobe united by a bridge over Mis- souri River. Here, in a single month, more than 500,000 cubic yards of earth have been placed in embankments, or thrown from cuts, for the gradation of the road; the bridges and all struc- tures completed, so that the average track-lay- ing has exceeded a mile a day. Once, when an emigrant. team was alongside of the track- layers, when the traveling was very bad and the teams often stuck fast in the mud, a strife sprang up between the team and track-layers; and when night closed upon them the camp-fires of the emigrants were behind the head of the track. This railroad is well located and well con- structed, and is destined to become one of our great thoroughfares when it reaches, as it will before this page is printed, the Missouri River beyond Council Bluffs, and by a bridge joins the great Pacific Railroad at Omaha. Down Boyer River Valley our road contin- ued for many miles, until we came to the bot- tom-lands of the Missouri River, which are here some 10 or more miles in width, and resemble the American bottom-lands opposite St. Louis. At this point we turned southward, following for some 15 miles the base of the hills or bluffs that bound the eastern side of the bottom-lands; and here, turning westward, as the sun was sinking OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 3 behind the hills of Omaha, we rode into a long street well built with wood and brick houses. At this place, called Council Bluffs, we soon found a comfortable hotel to pass the night. In the morning, taking a coach, we were driv- en several miles to a ferry over the Missouri River, and soon landed on its opposite banks at I the city of Omaha. At Council Bluffs we met four pilgrimss gentlemen from Pennsylvania en route for Colo- rado to examine some mining property in that Territory. As they were bound over the same road with us, and our Eastern papers had teemed with accounts of Indian depredations on the plains, and of the danger of a general and immediate Indian war, we were happy to meet them. General Sherman had gone across the country only a -few days previous to exam- ine into the truth of these rumors, and learn the disposition of the various tribes. As we had brought several repeating-rifles, we concbided to arm our traveling companions as fellow-soldiers in our pilgrimage across the great American Desert. Unpacking our guns at Omaha Railroad D~p6t we presented each of the party with a rifle, and went through with them the exercise of loading and unloading, arming and firing, etc., until all were judged suf- ficiently proficient for any emergency. While thus handling our fire-arms there stood before us an Indian, dressed in his native costume, a splendid specimen of his race, tall and straight as an arrow and finely proportioned. His cye was -like an eagles, which he riveted upon us with a defiant look, while intelligence beamed from a very expressive and handsome counte- as he contemptuously gazed upon his brethren, arming to kill, if necessary, tions. It also indicates the route followed by the au- thor of this paper from Council Bluffs, in Iowa, to the mineral region of Colorado. A more detailed map of this mineral belt will be found on a subsequent page. The ~main lines are, (1.) The Central Pacific, from Sacramento to Salt Lake City. (2.) The Union Pacific, from Salt Lake City to Omaha. The principal con- necting lines are shown on the map. The work is pushed forward very rapidly, especially upon the-Un- ion Pacific road. On the first of January cars ran from Omaha westward 305 miles to the crossing of the Platte River. How far they will have reached in June, when this paper ~appears, we can not say. On the Central Pacific they were running to Cisco, 93 miles from Sac- ramento. The Company hope during the present year to reach Humboldt, 250 miles from Sacramento. From Sacramento to San Francisco, 123 miles by water, for the present the passage is by steamers; although eventually the Company propose to extend their track to Oakland, across the bay of San Francisco, shorten- ing the distance 43 miles. The following are the dis- tances from New York to San Francisco: New York to Chicago 9T9 miles. Chicago to Omaha 500 Omaha to Salt Lake City 1035 Salt Lake City to Sacramento 625 Sacramento to San Francisco 123 3262 Of this distance nearly 2100 miles are now traversa- ble by railway and steamers, leaving not quite 1200 miles of railway between the present western tannin- us of the Union Pacific and the eastern terminus of the Central Pacific to be constructed. The accompanying map shows the line of rail- ways, completed and in progress, between the Pacific and the Mississippi River, with their principal connec 4 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. his red-skinned brothers. We thought if he was a specimen of those we might have to con- tend with on the plains, it would indeed be no boys play. There was a report that a hostile tribe was now down on the Republican Fork, contemplating an attack on the railroad, to pre- vent, if possible, its further extension; and that the Governor of Kansas had called on the Sec- retary of War for additional force to oppose them. Was this Indian a scout, a spy of this or some other unfriendly tribe? As we entered the car for our ride to Fort Kearney onr Indian friend followed us, but at the first stopping-place took his departure for his brethren of the friendly Pawnee tribe. Soon Indian and all were forgotten as sleep took pos- session of us, while our rifles fell over on the car floor, and we were in far more danger from them than from Indian warriors. Daylight found us. some hundred or more miles from Omaha, and as we passed along we had an opportunity of examining the railroad constructed near the line of the telegraph, on long tangents, and on slight embankments to elevate the grade-line above the water, which otherwise, on the level plain where it is con- s~ructed, might prove detrimental to the road. About two oclock in the afternoon we ar- rived at the station opposite Fort Kearney, one hundred and ninety miles from Omaha. Here we left the cars, and entered a wagon on wheels high and broad-tired, so as to ford the Platte River, which must be crossed in order to reach the stage-station on the opposite side. The river is here divided into small channels by islands, some of them of great length; and its muddy waters hold vast quantities of sand and soil, which, deposited in many places, form quicksand beds in the channel of the river. When our wagon was on these beds it would spring up and down, as if passing over a rough stone pavement. We had passed several small channels, and were descending a slight declivity to enter the main one, when, with a crash, down went one of our wagon-wheels, broken to frag- ments, close to the water. Fortunately no one was seriously injured, and doubly fortunate were we to meet with the accident at this place rather than in the river. At Fort Kearney we found the stage in wait- ing for us, and with rifle in hand, pockets well filled with cartridges, and magazine-box ready for any emergency, each took his seat in the coach, and off we started, at full speed, for our long ride of some four hundred miles across the plain to Denver. Our road lay up the valley of Platte Riverif that can be called a val- ley which consists of a level tract of land, viewed transversely, nearly on a meridian line, while longitudinally, running westward, it as- cended some ten or more feet per mile, as Den- ver is some five thousand feet above the ocean. This valley is from ten to twenty miles in width, and is bounded both on the north and south by rolling prairie land. The entire distance be- tween these elevations, for more than seven hundred miles in lengthfrom near the base of the Rocky Mountains to Missouri River OMAhA OITY. OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 5 has been perfectly graded by soil and sand washed down for countless ages by the waters of the Platte River, whose bed has been con- stantly changing until it has passed over the entire surface of the valleyleaving its bed, when it became filled with Sand and soil, to seek some lower level in this vast plain. This entire valley is destitute of trees and all cultivation, but is covered with nutritious grass with- out which it would indeed ha the Great American Desert, almost impassab~ie for man or beast. Station-houses along the road, some twelve or fifteesi miles apart, have been constructed by the Overland Stage Company, where relays of horscs are kept, and where passengers are pro- vided with square meals at $1 50 eacha price not too high, as most of the provisions are brought from the States; even wood for cook- ing has to be transported hundreds of miles, and often costs more than a hundred dollars a cord; and at Julesburg one hundred and fifty dollars per cord has been paid. These sta- tionsor adobes, as they are calledare con- structed of turf, piled sod upon sod, to form the sides of the houses and barns, some two feet in thickness, while the roofs are covered with turf supported by rough frame-work the whole forming a kind of burrow. Small windows are inserted in the turf walls of the house, and answer both to admit light arid for port-boles to fire from. The houses and barns are generally connected with each other by high turf walls, which are often pierced with small port-holes for dcfense, and sometimes the front entrance to the house is defended by a turf wall, through which also are port-holes. Many of these adobes have been attacked by Indians, and some have been destroyed, with their brave defenders, after a desperate and prolonged resistance. But, as a general rule, the wily savage prefers to attack emigrant teams for plunder, rather than risk himself storming one of these miniature fortifications; but tbey often prowl about them, and drive off stock. Only a few d~ys previous to our arrival at Cotton-wood Station eighty head of cattle and mules were taken .in one night, close to the station ; and soon afterward ten more were driven off in open day by some half-dozen In- dians, while the whites calmly looked on, not daring to interfere, apprehending that there was a large body of Indians in reserve. Teams and emigrants, in passing the plains, go in large bodies for defense, and when attacked, or when encamped for the night, form into a circleor corral, as it is calledwith their wagons se- curely joined together, often chained; and from behind this wall of wagons the hardy emigrant pours his fire upon the ludians, and is seldom overpowered. We had a most delightful ride up Platte River Valley for three days and nights; the air was dry and bracing, and highly exhilarat- ing; and when we alighted at the Pacific House in Denver we felt as fresb as when we first en- tered the cars in Boston for our long journey. We encountered no Indians, seeing but one on our entire route; and saw no game, except a few antelope, far away from rifle-shot; no elk, PLATTE aivan vALLEY. 6 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. no buffalo. Indeed, I have never seen a new eountry so destitute of game; and have seen more in one day in former years in Illinois, or in Northern New York or Maine, than one would be likely to see here in a year, unless the buffalo and elk resume their old stamping- ground. From a description given in the work entitled Across the Continent, by Mr. Bowles, who had seen Switzerland and the Alps, I had an- ticipated much pleasure from a view of the scenery. It was indeed a beautiful panorama of mountain scenery, with Longs Peak on the right, and far off to the south Pikes Peak, both towering to an elevation of more than 13,000 feet above the ocean, while Greys Peak between them, far in the back-ground, appeared even higher than either, and all connected by mount- ains little inferior to these peaks in height; but they lack one very prominent feature of Swiss scenerythe snows and glaciers which add such infinite beauty and sublimity to the Alps. Thu great Pacific Railroad ____ leading westward from Omaha, under the direction of Thomas C. IDurant, Vice-President of the road, and General Gina- ville M. Dodge as Chief En- gineer, is being constructed up the Valley of Platte River with a rapidity hitherto unequaled in railroad building in Amer- ica, even surpassing the North- western railroad in Iowa; for here have been laid 2~ miles of track in a single day, and 150 miles in 100 consecutive days. More than 12,000 hands are employed upon the road, pro- curing ties, grading, and track- laying. Nine saw - mills are owned by the Company, and more than a dozen hired, which are all constantly employed in getting out lui~fber. Steam- boats are owned and many chartered by the Company for transportation pur- poses, and for 60 miles below and 150 miles above Omaha the banks of Missouri River are being de- pleted of timber for ties for the track; and all are sent for- ward to its terminus, together with con- struction materials of every kind, by regu- lar freight trains, run for that purpose only. The track is laid in a substantial manner with long rails. Boarding-houses for construction parties are very appropriately placed on wheels. Some are constructed like a dwelling-house, with windows, doors, etc., on three platform cars, one being fitted up for a dining-room, another for a kitch- en at one end and a reception-room at the oth- er, and the third for sleeping berths. When all are run upon a temporary track for use, the middle or kitchen-car is placed transversely across the track, the truck-wheelsbeing detached and the two other cars are brought against its opposite sides; all combined forming a comfort- able dwelling-place. The road is well supplied with engines and cars from our best Eastern works, and to meet the rapidly-increasing demand more are con- stantly being transported at heavy expense to Omaha. The necessary buildings at Omaha have been substantially constructed, as well as d6pflts along the line of the road. The grada- tion for the reception of the track is fast being prepared, and by June of 1867 not more than LAYING inilS nAILI. ruz vscz-PRz5IDENT viawine ms woux. OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 7 180 miles of staging will be required be- tween Denver and Boston, whereas 15 months since there were some 800 miles, 600 in Colorado and Nebraska and 200 in Iowa. Onward is the destiny of this great Pacific Railroad until it meets the Califor- nia division nowbeing rapidly constructed, when our vast con- tinent will be bound with iron bands. We remained but o~ne night at Denver, which is located on the plains, on the South Branch of the Platte River, about 16 miles from the base of the mountains, and is being substantially built with brick, structures on wide and well located streets; and with a branch railroad leading to it from the great Pacific line, and perhaps another from the Union Pacific road, over the Smoky Hill route, one of which without doubt will be extended up Clear Creek, it will be- come a flourishing place. Again we found ourselves on Ben Holladays stage-coach bound for Central City, which is situated about 35 miles westward by the trav- eled road from Denver, among the mountains on the gold mining belt of Colorado. Over undulating prairies covered with innumerable herds of cattle and horses grazing on the nutri- tiOus bunch-grass now unusually luxuriant on account of the great quantity of rain that has fallen this summer, our road lay, until we came to Golden City, a small place located where Clear Creek a rapid stream of nearly 100 feet in width pours from its mountain home. Turn- ing to the left our road soon entered a deep valley, on both sides of which rose abrupt, rocky hills, or rather mountains, in some places almost perpendicular, and often covered with peculiar pine-trees resembling the yellow pine of New England, and named the Cemubra Pine, by Nuttall. Up this valley and over the abrupt DENVER CITY. OON5TRIICTION TRAIN. 8 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. mountains lay our road, often in a zigzag course to gain distance for a more gradual ascent. For hours we climbed up one side of these mountains only to dash down the other, into a deep valley resembling the one we had left. Thus our route continued ascending and de- ~cending until passing down a deep valley, through which flowed a small stream, we struck the waters of North Clear Creek, some two miles below the city of Black Hawk. Turning up this creek, hemmed in by high mountains on both sides, we were soon in the city itself; amidst structures of every descrip- tion, a motley string of buildingsstamp-mills, engine-houses, shops, stores, offices, and dwell- ingsoften stuck into the sides of the hills or located in the valleys, and in some cases even below high-water-mark, on a small creek where the city is in part located. On through the city we went, drawn by six splendid horses over a road having a rapidly ascending grade, and excavated along the ab- rupt side of the bill, and through another place called Mountain City, until we at last arrived at our place of destination. Where Black Hawk ended and Mountain and Central cities com- menced or ended, no one could tell, for they were all alike composed of mills, shops, and dwellings, promiscuously jammed together in every imaginable way. Our stage at last came to a halt in Central City, on Main Street, close- ly built of log, brick, and wooden buildings, and we alighted at the Conner I-louse, a wooden structure of no prepossessing appearance, but with comfortable fare. Here we proposed to make our home while thoroughly examining, and, if possible; understanding this one great gold-mining centre of Colorado Territory. We found the topography in and about Black Hawk, Mountain, and Central cities peculiar, the first in part located on the north branch of Clear Creek, while the other two are built upon a small stream which enters the main creek at Black Hawk. All are located in deep, nt~rrow valleys, while towering above them are high hills, or what in the East would be called mountains, and intersecting these valleys are several transverse valleys, here called gulches. Across the whole of this mountainous section of country sweeps one of the mineral belts of Colorado, filled with gold lodes or veins, and here, over the hills and through the valleys, can be seen excavations of more or less extent, made in search of; or for the development of these lodes, cutting the country into countless pit-holes of all depths and forms imaginable; while over many of these excavations are to be seen long lines of buildings of all manner of forms and dimensions, covering steam-engines, stamp-mills, etc., appertaining to working the lodes, some of which have been excavated to a depth of five hundred or more feet. Across the valleys, through the cities, and among the buildings these lodes often pass. In the valleys are many stamp-mills, some constructed of stone, and others of wood, sometimes standing directly on the veins or lodes; while towering far up the side of the mountain at the lower end aLACK HAWK CIlY. OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. of Black Hawk on the northerly side of the small creek, are seen the lofty chimneys be- longing to James E. Lyon and Co.s smelting- works. Over the hills as far as the eye can reach, and np and down the valleys, stand the lonely stamp-mills, with their high iron chimneys tied up with iron strings, from only a few of which could smoke be seen to issue. Now and then from one here, and another there, came a dull heavy sound, like the falling of a huge weight on some solid body, showing that some of the stamps were in motion, though most of them were silent as the tomb; no smoke, no sound, and no living thing seen about the innumerable mining tenements. At first I was gre~tly puzzled at what I saw about me in every direction. If the gold mines were really rich as report declared, why were they not extensively worked? If not rich, why were they not abandoned entirely? And why, after years of experimenting with other ma- chinery, were the old stamp-mills apparently coming into use again? To comprehend this I had to look back through the insane mining fever through which the countr~r had passed, and see how the Eastern people, without any exercise of their brains, madly and foolishly rushed into mining speculations, often purchas- ing withont the least examination any thing that was offered them called a gold mine in Colorado. And as soon as the purchases were made they would form a Joint Stock Company with a capital of a million or more dollars, and a small working capital, purchase steam-boilers, K engines, and stamps, or any other parapherna- lia requisite as they thought to work their min- ing property, and then send all by railroad to some point West, ~enerally to St. Joseph, thence to he hauled at great expense some six or seven hundred miles across the plains, often some parts of the machinery scattered along the route never reaching their place of destination. In the mean time a person was sent from the East as Superintendent, who, perhaps, had never seen a mine or even a rock blasted, the son or favorite of some heavy stockholder in the Com- pany, who never before had charge of construct- ing any thing; but now, receiving a large salary, and intrusted with nnlimited power, this man would make his appearance in Colorado and commence building a large wooden or stone structure, on a spot pointed out to him as his lode, which, long before it was finished, would cost far beyond expectations, and when the en- gines, stamps, and other things arrived, if such a thing took place at all, the working capital would all he gone. Scattered in all directions around half-finished, roofless buildings, can be seen hollers and engines, stamps and crushers, pans and amalgamators, and machinery of every kind, half buried in the soil, rusting and wast- ing, lying in the roads, even driven over by the traveler as he passes the wrecka monument of one kind of Eastern mining. Other companies, with better management or more working capital, would succeed in get- ting roofs on their buildings and machinery in them fitted for working, and then commence for the first time excavating their so-called ozaraAL CITY. 10 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. mine, and often fail to find any appearance of plates. And to the use of these, combined with a true lode; or if a mark was found indicating some of the new machines of merit, in some a vein, it would soon prove entirely worthless. cases using for their best ores some desulphur- If none but the guilty suffered it would be a izing process, has now settled the slowly-moving just punishment for such stupidity and folly as mining interest. the purchasing of a lode for a mine without. the While considering the many errors of the most thorough inspection and exploration. At past committed by the inexperienced in this the best mining is uncertain enough, and with- interesting mining country, we do not forget, out the requisite caution none but a set of luna- and can not but admire, the untiring energy of tics would engage in the business, some of the present able managers of mines Others, again, with buildings finished, ma- here, who, struggling with many disadvantages, chinery in place, abundance of working capital are making the best use of.their stamp-mills on left, and first-class lodes to work, soon found their present ores, using the best desuiphurizers they had an elephant, and knew not what to do on the rest. In this way they obtain half, or with it. And here, perhaps, is the greatest possibly more than half, of all the gold. By blunder of all. It is almost beyond belief that this c~urse they are making handsome profits; so many companies, one after another, should bound, as one noble superintendent told me, all rush into the same error of sending stamp- to do something for Colorado now in her time mills and all the machinery connected with of distress and need ; and nobly is he redeem- them across the plains, six hundred miles in ing his pledge by the monthly remittances to extent, at vast expense, without even knowing the East of the productions of his mine. If whether they had a mine or not, or even for a mines here can do thus when saving only a por- moment thinking of delaying to have the stamp-. tion of the gold, what may not be expected of mills tested before accepting them. . Appoint- them when all of the gold, silver, and copper is ing superintendents with salaries of $10,000 or saved? $15,000 per year, and paying for labor from Another drawback to the successful working $5 to $10 per day, they rushed with breathless of mines here is the deficiency in length of some haste to erect expensive buildings for the in- of the lodes, often located high up a mountain, ception of this stamp - mill machinery, when where ores have to be raised and water pumped there can not now be found in all Colorado, from a depth of some five hundred feet, whereas, after years of experience, a single one with their if one company owned the entire lode, it could accompanying amalgamating plates that takes be easily drained and worked by a tunnel from out one-half the gold that is in the ore after the base of the mountain. Some of the most the decomposed or surface ore has been worked. valuable mines here are admirably located for It is now called a liberal estimate to say that tunneling. thirty per cent. of the gold is extracted by this While stamp-mills were being so extensively process, and no silver or copper obtained, the erected and used a certain firm here took a dif- latter of which, in mines in this vicinity, is often ferent course, and erected at heavy expense ex- found in the ores in large quantities. tensive smelting furnaces and cupeling hearths, All who had stamp-mills learned by sad ex- or furnaces as here called, and commenced pur- perience that with them and the amalgamating chasing the orea of different mines and all the plates only a portion of the gold in the ores tailings (i.e., the leavings of the mills after flie could be obtained. But some of the mines are gold has been extracted) which they could ob- so rich that, in spite of the imperfections of the tam, and by submitting these ores and tailings apparatus, the cortipanies working them, though to the action of their furnaces they obtained losing all the silver, all the copper, and perhaps some three or four times the amount of gold three-quarters of the gold, have nevertheless that had been or could be obtained by the made, and are now making, money out of their stamps and amalgamating plates, besides all comparatively small returns from their valuable the silver they contained. But to carry on mines. But many of these stamp-mill compa- their works required a large quantity of galena nies, when they struck the iron or solid ore in ore, which, unfortunately, did not exist in or mines not so rich, entirely suspended operations about Black Hawk and Central City in suffi- after using up all their capitals, and have ever cient quantities to supply their wants, and the since remained motionless. Then came the firm was driven to seek it from a distance at heavy rush for other kinds cif maqhinery too numerous cost for transportation, not being able even then to mention; among the rest, desuiphurizers of to procure the requisite supply. And although every name and form, warranted to take out this process, with .a proper supply of galena ore, more gold than even the assaying chemist could was a perfect success, as far as saving all the possibly obtain by the most careful quantitative gold and silver was concerned, yet this com- analysis. And through this new fever passed pany. have recently been induced to change the mining interest, with hope again and again their works into a regular smelting, or, what is deferred, until many enfeebled stamp-mill com- here called, matting furnace, in which all the panies expired under these new experiments, ores can be yiccessfully worked. Others, more fortunate, with constitutions strong For this smelting, or matting furnace, the enough to withstand the effects, turned back ores, as they are taken from the mines, are con- again to the old stamps and amalgamating veyed directly to the furnace, where they are OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 11 crushed and screened to a fine powder, then thoroughly washedi. e., passed through dif- ferent processes to free the ore from sediment, rock, zinc, etc. Without this preparation the ores could not be properly smelted. This wash- ing process requires skill, and men of much ex- perience in the business have been procured from the smelting-works of Swansea, in Wales. When thoroughly cleansed by skillful manipu- lation the ore is put into a reverberating fur- nace, where it is desulphurized; thence it is taken to the smelting, or matting furnace, hav- ing been, mixed with finely-pulverized quartz- ~ock for a flux; and from this furnace it is drawn off into ruoulds, and when cooled the top, or iron part, is knocked off, leaving the mat containing all the gold, silver, and cop- per, with perhaps some iron. I was shown a quantity of mat said to contain seven hun- dred dollars of gold, two hundred dollars of silver, and three hundred dollars in value of copperin all twelve hundred and fifty dollars. Now, allowing that a stamp-mill, with the use of some desulphurizer, would take ont one-half the gold, we should then have three hundred and fifty dollars in gold, instead of twelve hun- dred and fifty dollars of gold, silver, and cop- per, taken out by the matting process. Of course matting is the most expensive; but if a good desulphurizer is used to assist the stamp- mills the difference in cost is not very great. The cost of matting is increasing in the vicin- ity of Black Hawk and Central City on account of the scarcity of fuel, all of which the inhabit- ants require for their own consumption. Unfortunately this matting containing the gold, silver, and copper can not be separated in any cheap practical manner in this country, but for this purpose is sent to Swansea, where a company has agreed to take all that this com- pany produce, and give them coin value for all the gold and silver it contains, retaining the copper as their compensation. The secret of separating this matting can not long remain confined to Swansea, but will be done in this country, and, without doubt, in Colorado it- self. But how will this mining business ultimately be managed? It appears to me that the answer is clear. Smelting furnaces of some kind, prob- ably matting furnaces, will be constructed upon the coal-beds at the base of the mountains, on the plains, and a railroad will be constructed up Clear Creek to the mines; and where water- power is abundant, that will be used for crush- ing the ores before they are sent to the furnaces for smelting. But where water-power is not to be had, then the ores will be transported direct- ly from the mines to the furnace, and there crushed and smelted. Some furnaces will prob- ably be constructed up Clear Creek Valley, and goal brought by railroad to them; but the best locations will be on the coal-beds, and the two branches of business, mining and smelting, kept separate. When this is accomplished the pro- ductions of the mines will astonish the country. Besides examining the gold region in and about Black Hawk and Central City I extend- ed my researches among the mines and lodes in other places; among the rest I examined the rich gold deposits in Empire and vicinity, with invariably the same conclusionsviz., the necessity of some other than the present process of working the ores with stamp-mills. I saw some lodes where the decomposed or surface ores could be crushed and worked even by stamp-mills at good profit, as these surface ores have always proved comparatively easy to ma- nipulate. The sai~e lodes, as soon as the iron on hard ore is struck, prove refractory. Some places were found sufficiently supplied with wood for fuel to justify the erection of small smelting furnaces near locations where railroads would eventually reach them. To the silver region, located high above the gold deposits, I resolved to go, and having had some experience here in horseback riding, con- cluded to take this mode of locomotionin fact, the only practicable one for this journeyto the Argentine district, over the snow i~ange of the Rocky Mountains, down Snake River on the Pacific side, and up Blue River to Breckinridge, thence through South Park back to Central City again. Snow had recently fallen, and we had once been baffled by it in an attempt to pass the range over to the Middle Park. And now, with some misgivings, as several experienced persons had expressed fears of our being snowed in over the range, we started t~ pass the summit of the mountain. We were three in number, mounted on horses which were loaded with India-rubber and woolen over-coats, blankets for camping out, apd saddle-bags for carrying provisions, or specimens of rock, as we pleased. It was a beautiful October morning without a cloud when we left the Conner House and Cen- tral City by an abrupt ascent through a gulch, and passed over a creek which had been brought by an artificial ditch for gulch-mining purposes. We soon came to Missouri City, a city with only four dwellings, located on the top of a hillthe smallest city I was ei~er in. On for miles we went among the pit-holes, indicating former mining explorations, now silent and lonely, and in some cases so close to our road that a single misstep on the part of our horses would have plunged us into them. Descending a deep valley we emerged upon a level tract of land, on which the town of Idaho is located, on South Clear Creek, where we found a small but pleas- ant village and a good hotel Hot mineral baths of some celebrity are located a short dis- tance from the village, up a.smail stream, flow- ing into the creek from the south. Another but larger stream nearly opposite the town, also from the south, here enters the creek. These two streams open fipe vistas among the lofty mountains, which are here seen piled one upon another, peak on peak. The highest of these, named the Old Chief, is, I should think, at least ten thousand feet above the level of the sea. 12 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Idaho is well located for a pleasant town; arid with its warm soda springs and fine mount- ain scenery, will doubtless become a place of re- sort. Gold lodes are thickly scattered about the place, aud with a railroad up the creek it would probably do a good mining business. Leaving Idaho our road lay near to and par- allel with South Clear Creek, a rapid stream here about seventy-five feet in width, rnnniug in an easterly direction. Both sides of. it are hemmed in by very abrupt and lofty mountains which are often composed of barren rocks, their strata twisted in every possible form by the force that elevated them. In many places on the sides of the mountains have been cnt deep gulches by the action of water in ages past, which always deposited the df6ris directly in front of the gulches and sometimes forced it across the creek itselg through which the creek in its turn has cut its channel and settled into a rapidly descending mountain torrent. No- where can be seen stronger proofs of former action of both fire and water than is here ex- hibited in all directions. Still up the valley of Clear Creek, twisting and tnruiug~, lay our way. Coming at last to a road leading sonthwardly up a branch of the creek my companions passed on toward Georgetown, while I continued up the main stream a few miles to Empire, a small village well located in a southern sloping val- ley that intersects the main valley at right an- gles, forming a picturesque location for a town, hemmed in, though not very closely, by lofty mountains on every side. A wide, deep valley southward from the village opens a fine vista among the distant mountain peaks. Empire is located, in a valuable mining dis- trict. On Douglas Mountain southwardly, and Silver and other mountains northwardly, can be seen the rich lodes, some of which have been worked. They are generally well situated for tunneling, and some of the many companies here are now engaged in constructing tunnels to their lodes, waiting and hoping for some bet- ter process to be developed for handling the ores, as they too have passed through the ma- chinery-as well as speculatingfever. On Clear Creek, coming from Idaho, as well as at this place, can be seen the silent stamp-mills. Westward from the town, high up the sides of the mountain on the north side of Clear Creek, I was taken to see some gold and silver lodes, and walked for a long distance over slid- ing rocks, which for ages have been tumbling down the mountain sides. They now form a perfect avalanche, piled, like a frozen torrent, in countless layers, one above another, resting on a declivity of nearly forty degrees, and liable at any time to slide again, carrying every thing before it. On both sides of the creek above Empire can be seen these barren, rocky slides. It was my intention at a former visit at Em- pire to continue up Clear Creek, and to go over Berthoud Pass into the Middle Park; but heavy snow-storms prevented. A party of ladies and gentlemen from the town had been snowed in; and rumor bad it that one gentleman, the minister of the place, and his wife and sister, zieriza CITY. OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 13 had been lost in the storm; but after an ab- sence from the party of some two days and nights they were found, and the anxious peo- ple of Empire were relieved as to their fate. Up. South Clear Creek and over Berthoud Pass a survey of the great Pacific Railroad has recently been made; butI think that the height of the Pass, which is, if I have been correctly informed, 11,400 feet above the ocean, will pre- vent its location upon this route, and that a more favorable one further north will be found. Should this Pass be taken, the road will come through Denver, and up South Clear Creek, greatly enhancing the value of mining property in the vicinity of its location. From Empire I turned my course toWard my companions now at Elizabethtown, some 6 miles southward, riding under the frowning sides of the far-famed Douglas Mountain on my right, near whose rocky summit among its gold and silver lodes I had been on a former visit. Con- tinuing on up a wide valley, bounded on the left by the lofty range opposite Douglas Mount- ain, and passing the Henry Ward Beecher, and other lodes, located high upon the summit of a mountain on the right, I entered the village of Georgetown, and passed through it into an- other, called Elizabethtown, where, late in the evening, I joined my companions ready for the morrows ride over the range to the Pacific slope. Georgetown and Elizabethtown join, and are located at the upper end of a deep valley sur- rounded by lofty ifiountains, and both are sit- uated on the south branch of Clear Creek, which at Ellzabethtown is divided into two streams by Leavenworth Mountain, rising abruptly from the little plain on which the town is now being constructed. Ere long these places will proba-. bly be united under one city name. Being in the silver and galepa region they are well lo- cated for smelting purposes, surrounded by tim- ber in abundance, which will last until a rail- road is completed up Clear Creek from the coal beds. At Elizabethtown some furnaces are being constructed, indicating a healthy develop- ment of the mining interest. May no insane speculativejhrore mar or destroy the prospect,! It was a beautiful Indian summer morning, not a cloud upon our limited horizon, when we mounted our well-trained horses for a ride over the range. A party had come over the evening before, and another had started that morning in advance of us, so that we did not anticipate any serious trouble from the depth of snow upon the summit. Leaving Elizabethtown we imme- diately struck the base of Leavenworth Mount- ain, on the side of which, by a zigzag bridle- path only wide enough for a single horse, we entered the timber, consisting of fir, and spruce, and pine, and announced the ascent. We took the left-hand valley, at the foot of which ran foaming and tumbling along its rocky bed a wild mountain stream, while from the opposite side of this valley a long range of snow-capped mountains towered far above the timber-line into the pure blue sky. For hours we toiled on our way, passing lodes but little worked, yet, enough to exhibit the galena in the ore, often in places where a careless step of our horses would have rolled us far down the mountain. Eucounteringanotherstream, which came foam- ing down the side of the mountain which we were traversing into a valley that separated us from MClellan Mountain, on the south, we turned westward, and continued our course up the stream until opposite the highest point of Leavenworth Mountain. Huge and rocky, it frowned upon us far above our heads, while the & 6ris from it lay scattered around in the form of massive rocks. Our road here turned more southward, and soon struck the side of the far-famed Argentine Mountain. On Leavenworth Mountain, which we had nowcrossed, as well as onArgentine and MClel- lan Mountains, high up their sides, running in the general course of the mineral belt, north- east and southwest lay the silver lodes. These on a subsequent visit I examined more particu- Ja~ly. On this mountain a large number of lodes have already been discovered, and new ones are almost daily added to their number. Some of these lodes are composed of true silver quartz, carrying sulphuret of silver; others are of ar- gentif%rous galena. Many assay high, and will, without doubt, prove valuable mines. On some lodes shafts have been sunk from 10 to 40 feet in depth, a few others have even deeper shafts; but, as a general thing, sufficient explorations have nor yet been made to determine fully the character of the lodes. From Elizabethtown to Argentine there are two routes, one some 6 or 8 miles along the left fork of the creek, which we took, and the other by the right fork, some 12 or more miles. I regret that time did not permit me to explore the right fork, on which are many valuable lodes, one of which, the Baker lode, was pur- chased by our Pennsylvania traveling compan- ions. Up this fork are undoubtedly many val- imable mines yet undiscovered. Indeed, from all I learned and saw here I was nearly forced to the same conclusion as that of a Kentuckian whom I met on the coach coming from Denver to Central City. To my inquiry Have they valuable mines here ? he replied: Yes; their wealth can not be over-estimated; but there are so many of them that the~y are of no value what- ever !~ Of course he meant in a speculative point of view. Leaving Argentine on our right our path ran along a small ridge of land leading southward for nearly a mile, when it entered the crater of an extinct volcano. It was clearly and dis- tinctly marked by the high conical sides of the mountain towering above us on every side ex- cept the one by which we entered. This, in ages past, had been cut away by the action of the water; and a. small stream down the valley still runs from some pit-holes at the base of the crater. As we slowly toiled up the zigzag path, now filled with snow, on the abrupt western 14 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. / NERAL LL - LT SCALE o MILES 0 10 20 THE MINEHAL BELT OF COLOBADO. EAK (p OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. side of the crater, we often halted to give our horses breath so particularly needed in the high, rarefied atmosphere of this elevation and turned to view the crater with its craggy sides, resembling the old crater of Mount Ve- suvius, and gazed again and again on the won- derful scenery about us. When, at the height of nearly 1500 feet from the base of the crater, we stood on the summit of the snow range of the Rocky Mountains at Sandersons Pass, which can not be less than 13,000 feet above the ocean, there burst upon us a view the like of which I had never before seen, except upon a beautiful, tranquil, cloudless day, like the one we now en- joyed, when I stood upon the Righi CuIm, in Switzerland, and viewed tire unequaled pano- rama, which this in some respects resembles; the mountain peaks, now covered with snow, give a fair representation of the Oberland Alps, with their glaciers and lofty summits. It was our intention to ascend Greys Peak, at no great distance from the Pass, and a few hundred feet above it; but time would not per- mit. I would, however, advise all travelers over this Pass to go by all means to its summit, from which the view must be such as will amply re- pay them for the journey. Leaving our horses picketed together on the summit of the Pass, we ascended a high point adjoining it, and had a yet grander view of the near and distant snow-capped mountains, piled range on range, and peak on peak, off toward the setting sun; while eastward lay the mount- ains of the Atlantic side, beyond which stretched the level plain over which we had traveled, some 600 miles in extent, resembling a vast ocean as it faded away in the eastern horizon. After dining on sardines and crackers we re- turned to our horses to commence the descent. Near the summit of the Pass, on our ascent, we met an Irishman on foot laden with buffalo- robe, blanket, rifle, and camp-kettle, reti~rning from an exploring tour. To some remarks of ours about the steep ascent before us he quick- ly replied: Faith and be jabbers, you will soon want your cruppers on. We fully realized the truth of Pats assertion as we cast our eyes down the steep declivity of fallen rocks over which, zigzag, lay our path, cut out of these rocks, not more than eighteen inches in width, now filled with ice and snow. Uncoiling the long ropes which had been fastened about our horses necks by some kind friend who knew what was before us, each took one end, going ahead of his horse as far as the rope would reach, to avoid the dan- ger in case the animal should turn somersault down the declivity, which event seemed highly probable. We then commenced pulling; two of the horses, obeying, passed on; but, No, you dont, my horse exclaimed, and .bracing his feet against the draft, determined not to he drawn head foremost down such a declivity, where a single misstep would send him rolling thousands of feet down the rocky mountain side. By alternate coaxing and stoning I at last got him under way. But, shades and ministers 15 of grace defend us! people surrounded by the comforts of civilized life can have no idea what roads are, or rather, what a road can be if it only has a mind to! If I am ever again on the summit of Mount Washington, or standing on the top of Marshalls Column, in Virginia, or on any other mountain, I shall nev~r think of looking for a road, but at once plunge direct- ly down the most abrupt precipice, fully believ- ing I shall come out all right at the bottom. By dint of storming and scolding, dragging and coaxing for hours, in some cases through snow three feet deep, we at last found ourselves some 2000 feet below the summit of the Pass, and mounting our horses, were soon at Peru City, consisting of some half-dozen small log-houses stuck on the side of a lofty mountain, just under the timber-line. Here we found several mining explorers, and among the rest an acquaintance, with his tents; for even in this wild, inhospita- ble region, far up the sides of Greys Peak, are found some of the rich silver lodes. Our road now lay down the valley of Snake River, which runs between two ranges of lofty mountains, their summits above the timber-line, now covered with snow; while their sides, as well as. the valley in which our road lay, were covered with the cembra pine, a tree which is peculiar to this high elevation, with bodies of a reddish color, and free from limbs except near the top. Down beside the roaring, foaming Snake River (though I believe a snake was nev- er seen here) lay our road, and strange were my feelings when, for the first time in all my wanderings, I found myself severed from the Atlantic slope. Soon we met, coming on foot up the road, two hardy-looking bronzed-faced woodsmen, whom my companions recognized as belonging to the camp to which we were going, and which, as we learned from them, was but a few miles distant down the stream. Over the mountain - road, filled with rocks and stumps, at a gallop we went until we came near the camp, when, my companions making the woods resound with the Ute Indian war-cry, we dashed at full speed up to the tent. We found but one person there, sitting upon a log before a large fire, whom I at first thought was my son, from whom I had parted a few months previous, then a well-dressed Cambridge student; but when all tattered and torn, hair flying in all directions, head bare, and face bronzed to the color of an Indian, he came rushing toward me, I drew back my hand and felt for my revolver, thinking a brigand was upon me. Dont you know me ? he said, in a familiar tone. I thought I did, said I; but what a bear you have become! Learning that, in his capacity of engineer and chemist, he enjoyed good health while enduring the hardships of a prosphetors life, I became reconciled to his rough appearance. Soon we were comfortably seated before a good fire, enjoying a well- cooked supper, and but for the lodgings would not have changed our quarters for a Fifth Ave- nue hotel. Not being sufficiently provided with 16 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. blankets for this cold region my two traveling companions and myself were obliged to share one covering. It may be imagined that the middle man fared the best; but with the blank- ets drawn tight as a drum-head over him by the two outsiders pulling and hauling with hands and teeth, in vain efforts to increase the dimensions of their covering, even his position must have been any thing but comfortable. However, as we were all old campaigners, the loss of a few hours sleep did not affect us. When weary of pulling blankets we went and stirred up the fire to roast all hands out of the tent if possible. Snake River, a stream of about twenty miles in length, rises at the base of the mountains near Sandersons Pass, and empties into Blue River. At the source of the stream are some valuable silver lodes recently discovered, and for many miles on both sides of the river high up the mountain-sides, after crossing the stream, are the silver veins. The country is but partial- ly explored, and more lodes were probably dis- t~overed here last summer than were ever before known to exist in this vicinity. The ores are generally argentiferous galena; and it is claimed that, near Peru City, ruby silver ore has been found, yielding by assay sixty per cent. of sil- ver, but I did not see any specimens of it. The owners of mines or lodes here claim that they are richer and stronger veins than those found on the Atlantic slope; but every man in this section always has the best mine or lode in all Colorado. Undoubtedly it is a very rich sil- ver region, though now it is only partly explored and but little developed. A large number of lodes will soon be opened, at least to a depth of ten feet, the requisite distance now required by law to secure the title. About a mile southward from our camping- place is a city of some half dozen log-houses, balled Montezuma, and in its vicinity is a small furnace just commencing to work upoml some galena ores. These, with the exception of a few log-cabins at Peru City, were the only signs of civilization here. In other respects the place is as wild as when the Ute Indians had undisputed possession of the country. Our camp was about five miles within the timber-tract which extended for many miles be- low, thus furnishing plenty of fuel for mining uses. It is said coal also can be obtained on Blue River, some miles below the mouth of Snake. In this vicinity are good points for erecting furnaces, with a plenty of galena ore for use. The climate is cold, as the elevation is more than ten thousand feet above the level of the sea, and there are lofty mountains on every side. Snow often falls here in October, and remains until June, sometimes to a depth of more than five feet, but does not drift as bn the Atlantic slope, for the air is always very still here. There are two routes by which supplies can be transported to this place from Denverone through South Park, over the range to Breck inridge, and up the Snake, in all about one hundred and twenty-five miles; the other by Georgetown, and over the range by the route we came, or by the right-hand fork of the creek at Georgetown. The latter undoubtedly will be the best when the road over the range now commenced shall have been finished. Then gone will be the romance of the pathway over Sandersons Pass and down the rocky slope; but, judging from the topography of the coun- try, I think there will be. sufficient romance over the other route to please all ordinary tastes. Time rolls his ceaseless course, and at last rolled us out of camp into our saddles again for a ride down the Snake and up the Blue. On a beautiful morning, like all those it had been our good fortune to enjoy since leaving Central City, we started off in Indian file over a rough wagon-road here thickly bordered by heavy pine timber, mountains towering to the sky on eith~er side for miles, till at last they turned to the right and left in long ranges. Then we came into a more open country with less timber, and with hills instead of mountains. Here in the open meadows we first struck the sage bush, which here grows about two feet high in bunches some ten or more feet apart. We met some explorers on horseback, bound over Sandersons Pass, and of course all halted to in- quire of each other the news. After a gallop of many miles, the balmy Pacific air giving new spirits to man and beast, we came to a log- house situated on a beautiful open space of level ground, near the Snake, and about three miles above its entrance into Blue River. Here we found a live Yankee from Saratoga, New York, with his wife. and young child, who had squatted on a farm in this Indian terri- tory. Two lodges of the. natives were camped a few miles westward, on the Blue, who often visit4l him. While dinner was being prepared for us we walked about half a mile westward to drink some mineral waters from Congress Spring, which is in every respect, as far as we could judge, equal to its celebrated namesake. At the base of a large hill there are several mineral springs coming directly through solid rock, the waters from the spring having formed a kind of calcareous tufa about them. Using a stick for a rod we tried our hand at fly-fishing for trout in a stream running into Snake River, but with poor success. After a good dinner, as we were mounting our horses to be off again, a gentleman and lady, with a small child, all on horseback, rode up for a days visit. They lived some twenty miles distant, and, except the natives mentioned above, were their nearest and only neighbors. Down the Snake we went, following in an open country an old and well-trodden Indian trail, until we struck the waters of the Blue River, now any thing but blue, filled as it is with mud from extensive gold washings many miles above. Turning southwardly, for hours we rode up the broad alluvial valley of the OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 17 Blue River, which is covered with the sage bushes so peculiar to the Pacific slope, and which in many places is nearly a mile in width, and bounded on both sides by mountain ranges covered with timber. This plain has been grad- uated by the waters of Blue River, which, like the Platte, has been constantly changing its bed for countless ages from base to base of the mountains bordering its sides. As we galloped in Indian file up the Blue over the well-trodden Indian path no voice, no sound was heardthe very air was mute. Not a living being aside from our party was seen. Soon, however, we came to signs of former habitations in shape of old dilapidated log-cabins located on the side of the river or at the base of the mountains, and large dibris of former gulch and patch mining here extensively carried on, but long since abandoned. Too soon our ride was ended, as we came to a small village called Breckinridge, containing about a dozen roughly-constructed wooden houses all on one street, which was par- allel with, and but a short distance from, Blue River, which we forded to reach the place. Here we alighted at a log hoteL Soon our tatterdemalion acquaintance from the camp on Snake River hove in sight. Imag- ine a huge raw-boned hQrse, with a long neck lying level with his back, and a young man mounted upon him, with an old round-top felt hat on, turned up in front, covered with dirt, with his clothes only held by pistol-belt to his body, with unmentionable streamers flying in the wind, a large bundle of blankets lashed behind his saddle, and saddle-bags filled with minerals for assaying purposes, John Gilpin- like galloping down the wind, and you will have a faint idea of a Cambridge student on a prospecting excursion. We all remained overnight at Breckinridge, and next morning started for the mountains on the east side of the town to explore the gold and silver lodes here abundantly found. They appeared rich, but have not been worked or extensively assayed, so that we can not speak with confidence respec4~ing their value. High on the sides of some of the mountains we found extensive veins of galena ores, undoubtedly ar- gentiferous, and well located to work the gold lodes by furnaces, which will, without doubt, be much used, as here is the most extensive tim- ber land I have seen in Colorado. There is also good water-power on Blue River, and the topography of the country is such that railways can be easily made from the mines to the mills and furnaces. As we ascended the mountains to examine the lodes we passed large dc~bris of former patch and gulch mining, once extens- ively carried on here, thongh now all is de- serted. Breckinridge is located near the eastern side of a leyel tract of land, which is estimated to he nearly six miles in width, constituting the val- ley of Blue River, and is entirely covered with timber, principally the cembra pine. On the west side of this valley runs a high mountain VOL. XXXV.No. 205.B ridge divided into innumerable peaks, all of which tower above the timber-line, and are now covered with snow, and resemble the Alps more than any mountains which I saw in Colo- rado. On the east the mountains are not as high, but are well covered with pine timber. The village itself must be nearly ten thousand feet above the ocean, and its topographical lo- cation is such that no railroad will ever reach it. Snow often falls here to a depth of five feet, coming in October and lasting until May or June. It is a lonely plaee to pass a winter in, and we found most of the inhabitants pre- paring to leave for the Atlantic side before they were snowed in. Leaving Breckinridge, with our party now angmented to four, we proceeded in a souther- ly direction, and were soon inclosed by the mountains, which here form narrow valleys covered with pine and other evergreen trees. Our road continued on a gradually ascending grade, over which a good road could easily be constructed to the summit of Breckinridge Pass, where we soon came. Casting a long, lingering look back upon the Pacific Mountains we turned our horses to th~ southeast toward the South ?arka broad open space of land which was just visible in the distance. Night closed upon us ere we reached the Park, and we stopped at a log-house, where we had comfort- able beds. As a fine brook ran past the house we tried our band again at fly-fishing for trout, and caught a few. They resemble our Eastern brook trout, but do not take the fly with the same avidity as the latter. Catching them is more like dace than trout fishing. Directly op- posite the house where we stopped are seen ex- tensive remains of former gulch and patch wash- ings. It is surprising to find such evidence of former activity in gulch and patch minings as we saw here and in other places. It has been estimated that at pne time when the different kinds of surface-mining were at their highest Colorado contained nearly one hundred thou- sand inhabitants, but this is probably an over- estimate. Early in the morning we started for the Park by the road leading down the trout stream, which we again essayed with a fly, but with poor success. Along the side of the stream we passed di~bris of former gulch-mining once ex- tensively carried on here, but now entirely aban- doned: we soon came to the Park itself, where we found a small collection of log-houses, form- ing a town or city (I do not know which) called Hamilton, wherewe alighted to examine some of the far-famed Tarryall gold washings. Among the rest we saw here some nuggets of pure gold as large as two fingers of ones hand, which had been purchased by a bank agent from Denver. Hamilton stands near the eastern side of the mineral belt, and a line from here at right angles with the belt, to Ten-Mile Creek, where are ex- tensive silver lodes, some of which are now being worked, would give a distance of some twenty-six miles as the width of the belt at this 18 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. point. On this belt we have been cox~stantly traveling since we left Central City, crossing and recrossing bnt never off of it, and far down southwestward from here it has been traced and worked, demonstrating its vast extent. Soon, homeward-bound, we were galloping over the Park toward Central City along a well- trodden wagon road. We could easily have ridden two abreast, but we had become so nsed to being free from all restraint that in our usual independent Indian file we went, each taking his own time for his journey. It was about three hours before we reached the hills on the opposite side of the Park. This Park consists of an open space of ground some thirty-five or forty miles from north~ to south, and about twenty or twenty-five miles from east to west. Its general aspect is like a prairie, but there are small gravel hills upon it, over some of which our road passed. It is free from timber and covered with nutritious grass, forming fine pasture ground. Several streams, the head waters of South Platte River, in which the city of Denver is located, flow through it in a southwestern direction, and form picturesque callous where they take their exit from the Park. It is wild and uncultivated, and only a few ranches or grass farms are to be seen upon it. These consist of a few log dwellings and some fenced-in corrals, into which the stock that runs at large upon the Park in the day is driven for protection in the night. It is surrounded by mountains on every side, those on the west be- lug the highest. In the spring and early sum- mer their summits are covered with snow, and when the Park is covered with luxuriant grass the whole must present a beautiful landscape.. The soil of the Park consists of a gravelly loam, not very rich, and, judging by the timber-line, I should estimate its height to be not less than eight thousand feet above the ocean. It is too elevated for a good farming region, but will al- ways be a fine grazing section, and as such will undoubtedly be extensively used. As soon as we had passed th~~ Park we com- menced ascending some high hills or mountains, having but little timber upon them. Over these and through deep valleys we went, until coming to a long declivity we encountered a wagon well laden with supplies for a mine in Buckskin Joe, which is several miles westward from Hamilton. This team was accompanied by three men fiom Pennsylvania, formerly merchants, now miners here. They anxiously inquired if in coming over the Park, we had met any persons; for ac- cording to reports this country was again in- fested by robbers, or Jay Hawkers, as they called them. Formerly several such had b8en hunted down in this vicinity and shot like wild beasts of the forest. Indeed, summary justice under Lynch law awaits robbers if caught in a mining district. We dined at a log-cabin at the foot of a bill in a wide valley, and here saw a few specimens of poor minerals, showing that we were now off the mineral belt. Yet even here they were ex- ploring for lodes, Our road soon struck the E~TRA~OE OF urran CANON OF SOUTH PLATTE. OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 19 side of a stream or branch of South Platte River, which has on both sides high rocky mountains. For miles we rode by the side of this stream until we came to a log-cabin, where we stopped for the night. Soon after our arrival our num- ber was augmented by a wagon-load of passen- gers, as we were now upon the post route for Denver. We all had a fine supper of trout, etc., but indifferent lodgings, since we were all put into an attic room with beds almost touch- ing each other. At midnight I was awakened by a new-coiner, who was standing with over- coat in one hand and two pistols in the other, ready for his bed. I found him to be an ac- quaintance I had made in my ride across the plains coming to Denver. We were equally surprised at meeting again. This man is ex- tensively engaged in gulch mining in different sections of the Territory, and was now bound for Arkansas River to superintend some mining operations there. He is a gentleman of intelli- gence, and I gained much topographical knowl- edge from him, in conversing next morning about the probable location of the railroad over the Smoky Hill route across the plains. In- deed, I have often been surprised in meeting in this section disguised under a rough miners dress very intelligent and accomplished gen- tlemen. Our road continued for several miles down the north fork of South Platte River, till we left the valley and turned into another road leading down an old river-bed composed of red sandstone. This river-bed is clearly marked hy water-worn rocks on every side, and pot- holes can be seen in the rocks, cut out by the long-continued rotation of small rocks forced round by the water. This bed is nearly ten thousand feet above the ocean, and far above the possibility of any water reaching it from any source but from the clouds; and there was no chain of mountains in sight so situated as to form the bed for a lake the outlet of which this river-bed could be. By expansion from beneath it must have been elevated to its pres- ent position, unless formed, pot-holes and all, by one of Professor Agassizs glaciers. On the summit of a high range that we soon passed along the line of our road I observed a great number of trees shattered by strokes of lightning. I should think that, for a mile or more, I (lid not pass three hundred feet at any one time without seeing some of the trees thus scathed; and if this is the case in every part of the mountain, it must be any thing but a safe place in a thunder-storm. Darkness closed upon us ere we reached our place of destination, and it was late in the even- ing when we arrived at a log-built hotel, where we were saluted by the barking of innumerable dogs that appeared to be let loose upon us from the hotel itself, as one after the other we came slowly riding up. Having safely passed the dogs, we unsaddled our beasts and conveyed our traps into a large room already filled with similar traps belonging to a rough-looking set of travelers. We were up betimes for our last days ride. VIEW ON souxa PLATTE avau. 20 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. For the first time since leaving Central City we mineral wealth of this land, and a thousand saw a few clouds, betokening a change in the years of constant devehpment will not ex- hitherto beautiful weather. As we had a long haust it. days ride before us, we took an early breakfast Look at the vast production of gold in Cali- and were again off in our usual Indian file fornia, and nearly all from surface washings. fashion. Our route, as usual, lay through ~al- The veins and lodes from which nature has de- leys and over mountains; but the valleys were composed and washed this harvest of wealth wider and the mountains smaller and less abrupt, remain almost untouched, and for the most and nestled in many valleys could be seen the part unknown, for posterity to exhaust their houses of stock ranchers, constructed of logs energies upon. And Oregon and Washington sometimes built like palisades standing upright have their share of mineral wealth yet unde- in the ground, battened by small strips of boards. veloped. We saw many enormous vegetables growing Think of the Territories of Wyoming and about the ranches, or farm-houses, though stock- Dacotah, Idaho and Montana, with their al- feeding on the nutritious grass, here every where ready large production of gold from surface- found, is the chief business at these ranches. washings, only just commenced being developed We saw less pine timber, or more scattered, and by the few hardy miners who are bold enough some fir and spruce began to be seen as we de- to encounter all the difficulties and dangers in- scended from the elevated region. Our road cidental to a life in those remote regions, far aow became more abrupt and tortuous, and from railroad communication. Lodes and veins soon we came to the waters of South Clear Creek in some places are so numerous as to be passed again, and, turning up the stream upon a good unclaimed as worthless. Imagine the amount road, struck once more upon the mineral belt, of wealth destined to be produced in this bound- off which we had been since leaving Hamilton, les~extent ofcountrywhen all is fully developed. on the west side of the Park. Look at Nevada with her rich silver mines, Soon we were at Idaho again, and here in- and Utah with her mineral wealth. Both are dulged in a warm soda-bath; and, taking the but just at the commencement of their mining road we had formerly traveled, we enteted career. Then listen to the accounts of the Central City, and galloped up to the Conner mining wealth of Arizona and New Mexico. House, and looking as we did, expected to pro- Think of this vast expanse of territory nearly duce some kind of sensation, if nothing more; two-thirds as large as all Europe, and filled but, alas for human weakness! they were here with mineral wealth, and behold what a field is so accustomed to such scenes, and, if possible, opened for the enterprise of the world. to even worse or better-looking sets, that we Come at last to Colorado; though less than did not even get a passing glance from a single one-tenth the size of the combined mineral soul. Half chagrined at our insignificance, we surface of the West, yet it is larger than all went limping into the house like any other New England and half of New York State to- bipeds of our race, resolved, if we could not gether. It was not known as a mining cou~ntry create a sensation amidst the gentry out of till 58, and probably does not now contain more doors, we would among some within, than forty thousand inhabitants. The State By tlie legends store of Vermont has been inhabited for more than Of our strange ventures, happd by land and sea, one hundred and forty years, and has a popu- or by our huge mountain appetites. lation of three hundred and fifteen thousand In all our long ride through this wild region live Yankees, who, though greedy nnough for it struck us as most singular that we did not the almighty dollar, with all their energy encounter any kind of game, unless a small have not yet discovered one-half the mineral ground- squirrel could be called such. We wealth of their State in copper mines, and slate, probably made too much noise with our horses, steatite, and marble quarries. What, then, and frightened it ere we came in sight. One shall we say of Colorado, which has so few in- of the men belonging to the camp on Snake habitants, and is more than twelve times the River, a few days before we arrived there, in size of Vermont? Is it not safe to say that passing over the range of mountains west of her mineral wealth is yet undiscovered and Breckinridge to Ten-Mile Creek, saw two large unknown? cougars, or mountain lions, as they are here Finally, let us glance at only one of the mm- called; and at a subsequent time encountered eral belts of Colorado T& ritory, on which Black two large cinnamon bears, with their cubs, and Hawk and Central cities are located. North- climbed a tree to escape an attack from them. easterly from them for more than forty miles The mineral wealth of the West is but little this belt has been traced, and in some j~aces known, and the results of its development even worked; and southwestward far down across less appreciated. Now and then the chemist Arkansas River for a distance of more than has a glance into thf future by the astonishing seventy-five miles it has been traced, and more assays that some lodes and mines produce; but or less worked, and it probably extends through the enthusiast in his wildest flight has never yet the northeastern corner of New Mexico into dreamed of the reality~ But it will take a long Arizona. It is difficult to give an average time to develop all its resources. Many hun- width of this belt, but twenty miles is not an dred years will not suffice to discover all the I extravagant estimate. On this one belt alone OVER THE PLAINS TO COLORADO. 21 what an amount of mineral wealth will be de- veloped and added to the resources of the nation! And when we consider that this one mineral belt will require more than a hundred years for its exploration, and many hundreds for its complete development, let us hope that Eastern capitalists will not again start across the plains with stamp-mills, and amalgamating plates, and all the paraphernalia attached to them, in breathless haste to reach Pikes Peak for fear some neighbor will have appro- priated all the mineral wealth of the country to himself. If any one chooses in the greatest haste to purchase a lode or mine developed by some gopher hole, and recommended as the best property in all Colorado by some broker or speculator who knows nothing and cares less for the intrinsic value of what he recommends, let him not therefore conclude that he really has a gold or silver mine. For if only one in twenty of the so-called lodes in Colorado prove good mines, even then it will be the greatest mining country in the world. It is to be hoped the time has passed. for starting a company with a capital of from five to ten millions of dollars, shares from one to five dollars each, and only a few left to dis! pose of to particular friends, with Hon. and Judge , and General , and Rev. ID.D. as Directors; and perhaps some Governor and Senator as President and Treas- urer of the Companyall paid out of its stock for allowing their names to be used. This mining business of the West is too promising of real profit, and too legitimate and necessary to the national wealth and development, to be trifled with in this weak and wretched way.~~ Those who have the true interest of the Terri- tory at heart, who foresee her future, and would have her progress steady and sure, can not but look upon the invitation of Eastern capi- tal, hitherto under false expectations and by de- ceptive enterprises, with equal sorrow and in- dignation. It is also to be hoped that the opposite error will not be adoptedviz., concluding that all mining is worthless, because losses have been sustained in investing in the business without thought or proper examination. If this course is taken then some of the best of opportunities for investments will be lost to Americans, and European capitalists will profit by their neglect and folly. Already far-sighted and accomplished agents have been and are being sent from Europe to seek opportunities for profitable investments in the mines of the West, while our wise men of the East, who can thank their own folly alone for any losses they may have sustained in mining speculations, now ignore all mining en- terprises, apparently resting contented, while treating almost with contempt the hardy, honest miners, who, with their valuable properties well located to be immediately and profitably work- ed, have sought the Eastern marketstoo late, as the reckless speculator ihas swept over them to dispose of interests in their mines in order to obtain working capitals for their full devel- opment, asking no payments to be made until their properties can be most thoroughly inspect- ed by competent men to be chosen by the par- chasers themselves. Only a few of these hardy miners now remain in the East. Many of them, discouraged and disgusted by their reception here, have sought for gentlemen among the Comanches of the plains; while others have sailed for Europe, where they hope at least to be. recognized as honest men, even if they are miners in Amer- ica. I believe that very few of the gold mines worked by stamp-mills will be profitable. Yet I have great faith in the ultimate value of all true gold lodes in the Territory. It would be a good investment to purchase those lodes or mines at the low prices at which many of them are now offered, and hold for development on the completion of a railroad to or near them. But to invest with a view of immediately work- ing is not judicious, unless the surface or de- composed ore is extensive enough to justify the expenditure. The silver ores offer better in- ducements, and bid fair to rival, and even to surpass, the gold ores in richness. They are much more easily worked than the gold, and are generally, in Colorado, located where there is abundance of wood for furnaces, which will last until railroads can be constructed to trans- port coal to them. When investments in mining properties are to be made the topographical locations should be well considered, and the presence of true lodes or mines fully determined; and time enough should be spent and the utmost caution used to obtain all the facts and fully comprehend the subject. And above all, stern integrity and proper ability will be required to insure favor- able results. This vast mining region of the West demands all the energy and capital the East can spare, and calls on Europe for more. If the mines are selected with proper care and judgment by those competent to the task, and worked as they should be, especially after the completion of railroads to or near them, they will richly remunerate for all the capital invested. 22 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE DODGE CLUB; OR, ITABY IN MDCCCLIX. xv. MAGNIFICENT ATTITUDE OF THE SENATOR; BRILLIANCY OF BUTTONS AND PLUCK OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLUB: BY ALL OF WHICH THE GREATEST EFFECTS AEE PRODUCED. OYS, said the Senator, assuming agay B tone, its evident these rascals have planned this arrangement to attack ns; hut Ive got a plan by which we Can turn the tables. Now laugh, all of you. A roar of laughter arose. Ill tell it in a minute. Whenever I stop, YOU all laugh, so that they may not think that we are plotting. Another roar of laugh- ter. Buttons, talk Italian as hard as you can; pretend to translate what I am saying; make up something funny, so as to get them laugh- ing; but take good care to listen to what I say. All right, said Buttons. Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! said the others. Now the Senator began to divulge his plan, and Buttons began to talk Italian, pretending to translate what the Senator said. To do this required much quickness, and a vivid imagina- tion, with a sense of the ridiculous, and many other qualities too numerous to mention. For- tunately Buttons had all these, or else the Club would not have acted precisaly as it did act; and perhaps it might not have been able to move along in the capacity of a Club .any longer, in which case it would, of course, have had no further adventures; aud then this history would not have been written; and whether the world would have been better off or worse is more than I can say, Im sure. [what the Senator said.] Boys, look at these devils, one on each side of us. They have arranged some signal, and when it is given they will spring at us. Look sharp, for your ltves, and he ready to do what I say. But- tons, listen, and when you dont hear look at me, and Ill repeat it. [Cleb.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha !] MSr idea is to turn the tables on these varmints. They put themselves in our power. What they have arranged for them- selves will do for us just as well as if we planned it all. In fact, if we had tried we could not have adjusted the present com- pany better. [Clu7~fla! ha! ha! ha! ha!] Listen now, Buttons. We will arrange a signal, and at a certain word we will fall on our neighbors and do with them as they propose doing with us. But first let us arrange [what Battone said he said.] He says, most noble Captain, and gentlemen, that he is desperatelyhun- gry; thathe cant get what he wants to eat, lie gen- erally eats dried snakes, and the supply he brought from the Great American desert is exhausted; he wants more, and will have it. [Sensation among ban- dits.] He says he wouldnt have come out here to- day, but had a little diffi- culty just before he joined our party. He was land- ing from the American ship of war, and on step- ping on shore a man trod on his foot, whereupon he put him into the water, and held him there till he was drowned. [Bandits looking more respectfully.] It makes him feel amused, he says, when he thinks how odd that guide looked at him when he made him go down into the crater of Vesuvius; gave him five minutes to THE BANDITS CAPTURED.

22 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE DODGE CLUB; OR, ITABY IN MDCCCLIX. xv. MAGNIFICENT ATTITUDE OF THE SENATOR; BRILLIANCY OF BUTTONS AND PLUCK OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLUB: BY ALL OF WHICH THE GREATEST EFFECTS AEE PRODUCED. OYS, said the Senator, assuming agay B tone, its evident these rascals have planned this arrangement to attack ns; hut Ive got a plan by which we Can turn the tables. Now laugh, all of you. A roar of laughter arose. Ill tell it in a minute. Whenever I stop, YOU all laugh, so that they may not think that we are plotting. Another roar of laugh- ter. Buttons, talk Italian as hard as you can; pretend to translate what I am saying; make up something funny, so as to get them laugh- ing; but take good care to listen to what I say. All right, said Buttons. Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! said the others. Now the Senator began to divulge his plan, and Buttons began to talk Italian, pretending to translate what the Senator said. To do this required much quickness, and a vivid imagina- tion, with a sense of the ridiculous, and many other qualities too numerous to mention. For- tunately Buttons had all these, or else the Club would not have acted precisaly as it did act; and perhaps it might not have been able to move along in the capacity of a Club .any longer, in which case it would, of course, have had no further adventures; aud then this history would not have been written; and whether the world would have been better off or worse is more than I can say, Im sure. [what the Senator said.] Boys, look at these devils, one on each side of us. They have arranged some signal, and when it is given they will spring at us. Look sharp, for your ltves, and he ready to do what I say. But- tons, listen, and when you dont hear look at me, and Ill repeat it. [Cleb.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha !] MSr idea is to turn the tables on these varmints. They put themselves in our power. What they have arranged for them- selves will do for us just as well as if we planned it all. In fact, if we had tried we could not have adjusted the present com- pany better. [Clu7~fla! ha! ha! ha! ha!] Listen now, Buttons. We will arrange a signal, and at a certain word we will fall on our neighbors and do with them as they propose doing with us. But first let us arrange [what Battone said he said.] He says, most noble Captain, and gentlemen, that he is desperatelyhun- gry; thathe cant get what he wants to eat, lie gen- erally eats dried snakes, and the supply he brought from the Great American desert is exhausted; he wants more, and will have it. [Sensation among ban- dits.] He says he wouldnt have come out here to- day, but had a little diffi- culty just before he joined our party. He was land- ing from the American ship of war, and on step- ping on shore a man trod on his foot, whereupon he put him into the water, and held him there till he was drowned. [Bandits looking more respectfully.] It makes him feel amused, he says, when he thinks how odd that guide looked at him when he made him go down into the crater of Vesuvius; gave him five minutes to THE BANDITS CAPTURED. THE DODGE CLUB. 23 [What the Senator said.] carefully about the signal; for every thing depends on that. [Ctuh.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!] First, we must keep up our uproar and merri- ment to as great an ex- tent as we can, but not very long. Let it be wild, mad, boisterous, butshort. It will distract these vag- abonds, and throw them off their guard. The first thing on the programme, then, is merriment. Laugh as loud and long as you can. [Club.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!] The next thing is, to have some singing. They seem to like our glori- ous national songs. Give them some of them. Let the first one be Old Vir- ginny. [Club.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha !] [What Buttons said he said say his prayers, and then lifted him up in the air and pitched him down to the bottom. He thinks he is falling still. [Bandits exchange glan- ces.] He doesnt know but what hell have a little trouble about a priest he killed last night. He was in a church, and was walk- ing about whistling, when a priest came up and or- dered him out; whereup- on he drew his revolver, and put all six of the bul- lets in the priests head. [Bandits cross them- selves, and look serious.] He heard that the priest was not dead. As he always makes sure work, he intends to look in in the morning, and if bes alive, hell cut his throat, and make all his attendants dance to the tune of Old Virginny. Buttons had to work on that word Old Virginny, for the quick ears of the Italians had caught it. Bandits cross themselves again. Captain. I dont believe a word of it. Its impossible. Bandit No. 5. He looks like it, any way. In fact, the Senator did look like it. His hair tinged to an unnatural hue by the sulphur of Vesuvius, his square, determined jaw, his heavy, overhanging brow, marked him as one who was capable of any desperate enterprise. [What the 5e,sator said.] Next and last, Dick, you are to sing Yankee Doodle. You know the words about coming to town riding on a puny. You know that verse ends with an Italian word. I am particular about this, for you might sing the wrong verse. Do you un- derstand, all of you? If so, wink your eyes twice. [The Club all winked twice. Then, as usual: Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!] Look at me. There are six. I will take two; each of you take onethe man on your right, re- member. As Dick, in sing- ing, comes to that word, each of you go at your man. Buttons, you hear, of course. [Club.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!] [What Buttons said he said.] He says there is no danger for him, however, for foreigners are in ter- ror of the tune of Yankee Doodle. If he were ar- rested by the Govern- ment, the American Ad- miral would at once send ashore a file of marines with an ultimatum, a Columbiad, a spanker boom, a Websters Un- abridged, and a brachy- catalectic, to demand his surrender at the cannon s mouth. [Great sensation among the bandits at the formi- dable arms of American marines.] They think in town that he is the Devil, be- cause he has killed seven men in duels since he came, and has never been wounded. People dont know the great American invention, worn next the skin, which makes the body impervious to bul- lets. [Captain, sneering. I dont believe it. [What the 5enator said.] Boys, arrange in your minds what to do. Grab the gun, and put your man down backward. Pm almost ashamed of the game, its so essy. Look at these boobies by me. They are like children. No muscle. The fellows at the end wont dare to shoot for fear of wound- ing their own men. [Club.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!] [What Buttons said he asid.] Bandit ATO 3, I dont know. They invented the revolver. If I only had one !] Hes made up his mind to go and take part in the war in Lombardy. He will raise a band of Amer- icans, all clothed in the great shot - proof shirt, and armed with revolv- ers like ours, that shoot twelve times, and have bullets like bomb-shells, that burst inside of a man and blow him to pieces. Captain, coldly. That crow didnt blow up. Buttons. Oh yes it did. It was dark, and you didnt notice. Go get it to-morrow, exam- ine it, and you will find traces of the exploded shell. Bandit No. 4. Santa Maria! What lies this giant tells his friends! and they all laugh. They dont believe him. Bandit No. 1. Well, that revolver is enough for me; and they all have them. The above conversation was all carried on very rapidly, and did not take up much time. At once the Club proceeded to carry out the Senators plan. Fir~t they talked nonsense, and roared and laughed, and perfected their plan, and thus passed about ten minutes. Then Buttons asked the Italians if they wished more music. Answer, gallant Captain of these Kings of the Road. Will you hear our foreign songs ? Most gladly, said the gallant Captain. There will yet be time before we get our sup- per. A sinister gleam in his eye as he said this about the supper did not escape the notice of Buttons. Thereupon he handed the guitar to Dick, and the latter began to sing once more the strains of Old Virginny. The Italians showed he same delight, and joined in a roar- ing chorus. Even the men by the door stood yelling or whistling as Dick sang. Lastly, Dick struck up the final song. The hour had come! Yankee Doodle came to town To buy himself a pony, Stuck a feather in his hat And called itMaccereal ! As the song began each man had quietly braced himself for one grnnd effort. At the sound of the last word the effect was tremen- dous. The Senator threw his mighty arms round the Captain and the other bandit. They were both small men, as indeed Italians are general- ly, and beside his colossal fri~me they were like boys to a grown man. He held them as in a vice, and grasping their hands, twisted them back till their guns fell from their grasp. As he hurled the affrighted ruffians to the floor, 24 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. the gnns crashed on the stone pavement, one of them exploding in its fall. He then by sheer strength jerked the Captain over on his face, and threw the other man on him face down- ward. This done he sat on them, and turned to see what the others were doing. Buttons had darted at No. 5 who was on his right, seized his gun and thrown him backward. He was holding him down now while the fellow was roaring for help. Dick had done about the same thing, but had not yet obtained possession of the gun. He was holding the Doctors pistol to the bandits head, and telling him in choice Italian to drop his gnu, or he would send him out of the world with twelve bullets. The Doctor was all right. He was calmly seated on Bandit No. 3, with one hand holding the bandits gun pointed toward the door, and the other grasping the ruffians throat in a death-like clutch. The mans face was black, and he did not move. Mr. Figgs had not been so successful. Being fat, he had not been quick enough. He was holding the bandits gun, and aiming blows at his face. Doctor, said the Senator, your mans all right. Give it to Figgss man. The Doctor sprang up, seized Figgss man by the throat, just as he staggered back, and brought him down. The whole thing had been done in an in- credibly short time. The robbers had been taken by complete surprise. In strength they were far inferior to their assailants. Attacked as they were so unexpectedly the success of the Americans was not very wonderful. The up- roar was tremendous. The women were most noisy. At first all were paralyzed. Then wild shrieks rang through the hall. They yelled, they shouted, they wrung their hands. The four bandits at the end of the hall stood for a moment horror-struck. Then theyraised their guns. But they dared not fire. They might shoot their own men. Suddenly Dick, who had got the gun which he wished, looked at the door, and seeing the guns leveled he fired the revolver. A loud scream followed. One of the men fell. The women rushed to take care of him. The other three ran off~ Doctor, said the Senator, have you a rope? Tie that mans hands behind him. The Doctor took his handkerchief, twisted it, and tied the mans hands as neatly and as firm- ly as though they were in handcuffs. He then went to Buttons, got a handkerchief from him, and tied up his man in the same way. Then Dicks man was bound. At that moment a bullet fired through one of the windows grazed the head of Mr. Figgs. Dick, said the Senator, go out and keep guard. Dick at once obeyed. The women screamed and ran as he came along. Then the two men whom the Senator had captured were bound. After a while some pieces of rope and leather straps were found by Buttons. With these all the bandits were se- cured more firmly. The men whom the Sena- tor had captured were almost lifeless from the tremendous weight of his manly form. They made their captives squat down in one corner, while the others possessed themselves of their guns and watched them. The wretches looked frightened out of their wits. They were Nea- politans and peasants, weak, feeble, nerveless. Its nothing to boast of~ said the Senator, contemptuously, as he looked at the slight fig- ures. Theyre a poor lotsmall, no muscle, no spirit, no nothing. The poor wretches now began to whine and cry. Oh, signore, they cried, appealing to But- tons. Spare our lives! At that the whole crowd of women came moaning and screaming. Back ! said Buttons. Oh, signori, for the sake of Heaven spare them. Spare our husbands! Back, all of you! We wont hurt any one if you all keep quiet. The women went sobbing back again. The Doctor then went to look at the wounded man by the door. The fellow was trembling and weeping. All Italians weep easily. The Doctor examined him and found it was only a flesh wound. The women were full of gratitude as the Doctor bound up his arm after probing the wound, and lifted the man on a rude couch. From time to time Dick would look in at the door to see how things were going on. The field was won. Well, said the Senator, the other three have probably run for it. They may bring others back. At any rate we had better hurry off. W~ are armed now, and can be safe. But what ought we to do with these fellows ? Nothing, said Buttons. Nothing ? No. They probably belong to the Ca- morra, a sort of legalized brigandage, and if we had them all put in prison they would be let out the next day. Well, I must say Id rather not. Theyre a mean lot, but I dont wish them any harm. Suppose we make them take us out to the road within sight of the city, and then let tl~em go? Well. The others all agreed to this. We had better start at once then. For my part, said Mr. Figgs, I think we had much better get something to eat before we go. Pooh! We can get a good dinner in Na- ples. We may have the whole country around us if we wait, and though I dont care for my- self, yet I wouldnt like to see one of you fall, boys. So it was decided to go at once. One man still was senseless. He was left to the care of the women after being resuscitated by the Doc THE DODGE CLUB. 25 tor. The Captain and four bandits were taken away. Attend, said Buttons, sternly. You must show us the nearest way to Naples. If you deceive us you die. If you show us our way we may perhaps let you go. The women all crowded around their hus- bands, screaming and yelling. In vain Buttons told them there was no danger. At last he said, You come along too, and make them show us the way. You will then return here with them. The sooner the better. Haste The women gladly assented to this. Accordingly they all started, each one of the Americans carrying a gun in one hand, and holding the arm of a bandit with the other. The women went ahead of their own accord, eager to put an end to their fears by getting rid of such dangerous guests. After a walk of about half an hour they came to the public road which ran near to the sea. I thought I smelt the sea-air, said Dick. They had gone by the other side of Vesu- vms. This is the road to Naples, signori, said the women. Ah! Ai~d you wont feel safe till you get the men away. Very well, you may go. We can probably take care of ourselves now. The women poured forth a torrent of thanks and blessings. The men were then allowed to go, and instantly vanished into the darkness. At first it was quite dark, but after a while the moon arose and they walked merrily along, though very hungry. Before they reached their hotel it was about one oclock. Buttons and Dick staid there. As they were all sitting over the repast which they forced the landlord to get for them, iPick suddenly struck his hand on the table. Sold ! he cried. What ? Theyve got our handkerchiefs. Handkerchiefs! cried Mr. Figgs, ruefully, why, I forgot to get back my purse. .7 Your purse! Well, lets go out to-mor- row Pooh! its no matter. There were only three plasters in it. I keep my circular bill and larger money elsewhere. Well, theyve made something out of us after all. Three plasters and five handker- chiefs. The Senator fro ed. Ive a precious good mind to go out there to-morrow and make them disgorge, said he. Ill think it over. XVI. DOLORES ONCE MOREA PLEASANT CONvERSATION. BUTTO LEA ES MO N or ms YOUNG F IENDAF- FECTI 0 FAREWELL. As the Club intended to leave for IRome al- most immediately, the two young men in the Strado di San Bartollo were prepared to settle with their landlord. When Buttons and Dick packed up their modest valises there was a general excitement in the house; and when they called for their little bill it appeared, and the whole family along with it. The landlord presented it with a neat bow. Behind him stood his wife. On his left the big dragoon. And on his right Dolores. Such was the position which the enemy took up. Buttons took up the paper and glanced at it. What is this ? Your bill. iMly bill? Yes, Signore. Yes, repeated Dolores, waving her little hand at Buttons. Something menacing appeared in the atti- tude and tone of Dolores. Had she changed? Had she joined the enemy? What did all this mean? What did you say you would ask for this room when I came here ? Buttons at length asked. I dont recollect naming any price, said the landlord, evasively. I recollect, said Dolores, decidedly. He didnt name any price at all. Good Heavens ! cried Buttons, aghast, and totally unprepared for this on the part o Do- lores, though nothing on the part of the land- lord could have astonished him. In the brief space of three weeks that worthy had been in the habit of telling him on an average about four hundred and seventy-seven downright lies per day. You told me, said Buttons, with admira- ble calmness, that it would be two piasters week. Two piasters! Two for both of you! Im- possible! You might as well say I was in- sane. Two plasters! echoed Dolores, in indig- nant tones only think! and for this meg- 26 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. TWO PlASTERS! nificent apartment! the best in the houseele- gantly furnished, and two gentlemen! Why, what is this that he means Et tu Brute ! sighed Buttons. Signore ? said Dolores. Didnt he, Dick ? He did, said Dick; of course he did. Oh, that uomicciuolo will say any thing, said Dolores, contemptuously snapping her fin- gers in Dicks face. Why, Siguore. Look you. How is it pos- sible? Think what accommodation! Gaze upon that bed! Gaze upon that furniture! Contemplate that prospect of the busy street! Why, its the most wretched room in town cried Buttons. Ive been ashamed to ask my friends here. Ah, wretch ! cried Dolores, with flashing eyes. You well know that you were never so well lodged at home. This miserable! This a room to be ashamed of! Away, American savage! And your friends, who are they? Do you lodge with the lazaroni ? You said that you would charge two pi- asters. I will pay no more; no, not half a canine. How dare you send me a bill for eight- een plasters? I ~vill pay you six plasters for the three weeks. Your bill for eighteen is a cheat. I throw it away. Behold And Buttons, tearing the paper into twenty fragments, scattered them over the floor. Ah ! cried Dolores, standing before him, with her arms folded, and her face all aglow with beautiful anger; you call it a cheat, do you? You would like, would you not, to run off and pay nothing? That is the custom, I sup- pose, in America. But you can not do that in this honest country. Signore, you may tear up fifty bills, but you must pay, said the landlord, politely. If you come to travel you should bring money enough to take you along, said Dolores. Then I would not have to take lodgings fit only for a Sorrento beggar, said Buttons, somewhat rudely. They are too good for an American beg- gar, rejoined Dolores, taking a step nearer to him, and slapping her little hands together by way of emphasis. Is this the maid, thought Buttons, that hung so tenderly on my arm at the masquerade? ~he sweet girl who has charmed so many even- with her innocent mirth? Is this the fair young creature who Are you going to pay, or do you think you can keep us waiting forever ? cried the fair young creature, impatiently and sharply. No more than six piasters,~replied But- tons. Be reasonable, Signore. Be reasonable, said the landlord, with a conciliatory smile; and above all, be calmbe calm. Let us have no contention. I feel that these honor- able American gentlemen have no wish but to act justly, and he looked benignantly at his family. I wish I could feel the same about these Italians, said Buttons. You will soon feel that these Italians are determined to have their due, said Dolores. They shall have their due and no more. Come, Buttons, said Dick, in Italian, lel us leave this old rascal. Old rascal ? hissed Dolores, rushing up to- ward Dick as though she would tear his eyes out, and stamping her little foot. Old ras- cal! Ah, piccolo Di-a-vo-lo Come, said the landlord; I have affec- tion for you. I wish to satiafy you. I have always tried to satisfy and please you. The ungrateful ones! said Dolores. Have we not all been as friendly to them as we never were before? And now they try like vipers to sting us. Peace, Dolores, said the landlord, majes- tically. Let us all be very friendly. Come, good American gentlemen, let us have peace. What now will you pay ? Stop! cried Doloi~es. Do you bargain? Why, they will try and make you take a half- canine for the whole three weeks. I am ashamed of you. I will not consent. How much will you give ? said the land- lord, once more, without heeding his daughter. Six piasters, said Buttons. Impossible When I came here I took good care to have it understood. You distinctly said two plasters per week. You may find it very con- venient to forget. I find it equally convenient to remember. THE DODGE CLUB. 27 Trytry hard, and perhaps you will re- member that we offered to take nothing. Oh yes, nothing absolutely nothing. Couldnt think of it, said Dolores, with a multitude of ridiculous but extremely pretty gestures, that made the little witch charming even in her ras- cality. Oh yes, nothinga shrug of the shoulders we felt so honored spreading out her hands and bowing. A great Ameri- can !a noble foreigner ! folding her arms, and strutting up and down. Too much hap- piness ! here her voice assumed a tone of most absurd sarcasm. We wanted to entertain them all the rest of our lives for nothinga ridiculous grimace or perhaps your sweet conversation has been sufficient payha ? and she pointed her little rosy taper finger at But- tons as though she would transfix him. Buttons sighed. Dolores I said he, I always thought you were my friend. I didnt think that you would turn against me. Ah, infamous one! and foolish too! Did you think that I could ever help you to cheat my poor parents? Was this the reason why you sought me! Dishonest one! I am only an innocent girl, but I can understand your ~il- lainy. I think you understand a great many things, said Buttons, mournfully. And to think that one would seek my friendship to save his money ! Buttons turned away. Suppose I staid here three weeks longer how much would you charge ? he asked the landlord. That worthy opened his eyes. His face brightened. Three weeks longer? AhI Well Perhaps Stop ! cried Dolores, placing her hand over her fathers mouth not a word. Dont you understand? He dont want to stay three minutes longer. He wants to get you into a new bargain, and cheat you. Ah ! said the landlord, with a knowino~ wink. But, my child, you are really too harsh. You must not mind her, gentlemen. Shes only a willful young girla spoiled child a spoiled child. Her language is a little strong, said But- tons, but I dont mind what she says. You may deceive my poor, kind, simple, honest, unsuspecting father, said she, but you cant deceive me., Probably not. Buttons, hadnt we better go, said Dick squabbling here wont benefit us. Well, said Buttons, slowly, and with a lingering look at Dolores. But as Dolores saw them stoop to take their valises she sprang to the doorway. Theyre going! Theyre going ! she cried. And they will rob us. Stop them. Signore, said Buttons, here are six pi- asters. I leave them on the table. You will get no more. If you give me any trouble I will summon you before the police for conspiracy against a traveler. You cant cheat me. You need not try. So saying, he quietly placed the six piasters on the table, and advanced toward the door. Signore! Signore ! cried the landlord, and he put himself in his way. At a sign from Dolores the big dragoon came also, and put himself behind her. You shall not go, she cried. You shall never pass through this door till you pay. Who is going to stop us ? said Buttons. My father, and this brave soldier who is armed, said Dolores, in a voice to which she tried to give a terrific emphasis. Then I beg leave to say this much, said Buttons; and he looked with blazing eyes full in the face of the brave soldier. I am not a brave soldier, and I am not armed; but my friend and I have paid our bills, and we are going through that door. If you dare to lay so much as the weight of your finger on me Ill show you how a man can use his fists. Now the Continentals have a great and a wholesome dread of the English fist, and con- sider the American the same flesh and blood. They believe that le bogues is a necessary part of the education of the whole Anglo-Saxon race, careful parents among that people being intent upon three things for their children, to wit: (1.) To eat Rosbjf and Bf~ek, but especially the former. (2.) To use certain profane expressions, by which the Continental can always tell the An- glo-Saxon. THE BRAVE SOaDIER. 25 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. (3.) To STRIKE FROM THE SHOULDER!!! Consequently, when Buttons, followed by Dick, advanced to the door, the landlord and the brave soldier slipped aside, and actually allowed them to pass. Not so Dolores. She tried to hound her relatives on; she stormed; she taunted them; she called them cowards; she even went so far as to run after Buttons and seize his valise. Whereupon that young gentleman patiently waited without a word till she let go her hold. He then went on his way. Arriving at the foot of the stairway he look- ed back. There was the slender form of the young girl quivering with rage. Addio, Dolores !in the most mournful of voices. Scelerato ! was the response, hissed out from the prettiest of lips. The next morning the Dodge Club left Na- ples. XVII. DICK RELATES A FAMILY LEGEND. DICK, said the Senator, as they rolled over the road, spin a yarn to beguile the time. Dick looked modest. The rest added their entreaties. Oh, well, said Dick, since youre so very urgent it would be unbecoming to refuse. A story? Well, what? I will tell you about my maternal grandfather. My maternal grandfather, then, was once out in Hong Kong, and had saved up a little money. As the climate did not agree with him he thought he would come home; and at length anAmerican ship touched there, on board of which he went, and be saw a man in the galley; so my grandfather stepped up to him and asked him: Are you the mate? No. Im the man that boils the mate, said the other, who was also an Irishman. So he had to go to the cabin, where he found the captain and mate writing out clear- ance papers for the custom-house. Say, captain, will you cross the sea to plow the raging main? asked my grandfather. Oh, the ship it is ready and the wind is fair to plow the raging main! said the captain. Of course my grandfather at once paid his fare without asking credit, and the amount was three hundred and twenty-seven dollars thirty-nine cents. Well, they set sail, and after going ever so many thousand miles, or hundredI forget which, but it dont mattera great storm arose, a typhoon or simoom, perhaps both; and after slowly gathering up its energies for the space of twenty-nine days, seven hours, and twenty- three minutes, without counting the seconds, it burst upon them at exactly forty-two minutes past five, on the sixth day of the week. Need I say that day was Friday? Now my grand- father saw all the time bow it was going to end; and while the rest were praying and shriek- ing he had cut the lashings of the ships long- boat and staid there all the time, having put on board the nautical instrilments, two or three fleh-hooks, a gross of lucifer matches, and a sauce-pan. At last the storm struck the ship, as I have stated, and at the first crack away went the vessel to the bottom, leaving my grand- father floating alone on the surface of the ocean. My grandfather navigated the long-boat fifty-two days, three hours, and twenty minutes by the ships chronometer; caught plenty of fish with his fish-hooks; boiled sea-water in his sauce-pan, and boiled all the salt away,making his fire in the bottom of the boat which is a very good place, for the fire cant burn through without touching the water, which itt cant burn; and finding plenty of fuel in the boat, which he gradually dismantled, taking first the thole-pins, then the seats, then the taifrail, and so on. This sort of thing, though, could not last forever, and at last, just in the nick of time, he came across a dead whale. It was floating bottom upward, covered with barnacles of very large size indeed; and where his fins projected there were two little coves, one on each side. Into the one on the lee-side he ran his boat, of which there was nothing left but the stem and stern and two side planks. My grandfather looked upon the whale as an island. It was a very nice country to one who had been so long in a boat, though a little monotonous. The first thing that he did was to erect the banner of his country, of which he happened to have a copy on his pocket-hand- kerchief; which he did by putting it at the end of an oar and sticking it in the ground, or the flesh, whichever you please to call it. He then took an observation, and proceeded to make himself a house, which he did by whittling up the remains of the long-boat, and had enough left to make a table, a chair, and a bootjack. So here he staid, quite comfortable, for forty- three days and a half, taking observations all the time with great accuracy; and at the end of that time all his house was gone, for he had to cut it up for fuel to cook his meals, and no- thing was left but half of the bootjack and the oar which served to uphold the banner of his country. At the end of this time a ship came up. The men of the ship did not know what on earth to make of this appearance on the water, where the American flag was flying. So they bore down straight toward it. I see a sight across the sea, hi ho cheerly men! remarked the captain to the mate, in a confidential manner. Methinks it is my own countrie, hi ho cheerly men! rejoined the other, quietly. It rises grandly oer the brine, hi ho cheerly men! said the captain. THE DODGE CLUB. 29 And bears aloft our own ensign, lii ho cheerly men! said the mate. As the ship came up my grandfather placed both hands to his mouth in the shape of a speak- ing-trumpet, and cried out: Ship ahoy across the wave, with a way-ay-ay-ay-ay! Storm along! To which the captain of the ship respond- ed through his trumpet: Tis I, my messmate bold and brave, with a way-ay-ay-ay-ay! Storm along! At this my grandfather inquired: What vessel are you gliding on? Pray tell to me its name. And the captain replied: Our bark it is a whaler bold, and Jones the captains name. Thereupon the captain came on board the whale, or on shore, whichever you likeI dont know which, nor does it matterhe came, at any rate. My grandfather shook hands with him and asked him to sit down. Bnt the cap- tain declined, saying he preferred standing. Well, said my grandfather, I called on you to see if you would like to boy a whale. Waal, yes, I dont mind. Im in. that line myself. Whatli you give for it? Whatll you take for it? Whatli you give? Whatll you take? Whatll you give? Whatll you take? ~give? give? Whatll you take? take? give? give? t~.take? take? Twenty-five minutes were taken up in the repetition of this question, for neither wished to commit himself. Have you had any offers for it yet? asked Captain Jones at last. Waal, no; cant say that I have. Ill give as much as any body. How much? Whatll you take? Whatll you give? Whatli you take? Whatll you give? Whatll you take? ~give? give? take? take? Wha~ give? give? L take? take? Then my grandfather, after a long delib- eration, took the captain by the arm and led him all around, showing him the country, as one may say, enlarging upon the fine points, and doing, as all good traders are hound to do when they find themselves face to face with a customer. To which the end was: Waal, whatli you take? Whatll you give? ~give? give? Whatll you take? take? give? give? L take? take? Well, said my grandfather, I dont know as I care about trading after alL I think Ill wait till the whaling fleet comes along. Ive been waiting for them for some time, and they ought to he here soon. BUYLNG A wHALE. 30 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Youre not in the right track, said Cap- tain Jones. Yes, lam. Excuse me. Ex-cuse me, said my grandfather. I took an observation just before you came in sight, and I am in lat. 470 22 20, long. 1500 15 55. Captain Joness face fell. My grandfather 1)oked him in the ribs and smiled. Ill tell you what Ill do, as I dont care, after all, about waiting here. Its a little damp, and Im subject to rheumatics. Ill let you have the whole thing if you give me twenty-five per cent, of the oil after its barreled, barrels and. all. The captain thought for a moment. You drive a close bargain. Of course. Well, itll save a voyage, and thats some- thing. Something! Bless your heart! aint that every thing? Well, Ill agree. Come on board and well make out the papers. So my grandfather went on board, and they made out the papers; and the ship hauled up alongside of the whale, and they went to work cutting, and slashing, and hoisting, and burn- ing, and boiling, and at last, after ever so long a timeI dont remember exactly how long the oil was all secured, and my grandfather, in a few months afterward, when he landed at Nantucket and made inquiries, sold his share of the oil for three thousand nine hundred and fifty-six dollars fifty-six cents, which he at once invested in business in New Bedford, and start- ed off to Pennsylvania to visit his mother. The old lady didnt know him at all, he was so changed by sun, wind, storm, hardship, sick- ness, fatigue, want, exposure, and other things of that kind. She looked coldly on him. Who are you? Dont you know? No. Think. have you a strawberry on your arm Thenyou areyou areYOU AREmy ownmy long-lost son! And she caught him in her arms. Here endeth the first part of my grandfa- thers adventures, but he had many more, good and bad; for he was a remarkable man, though I say it; and if any of you ever want to hear more about him, which I doubt, all youve got to do is to say so. But perhaps its just as well to let the old gentleman drop, for his adven- tures were rather strange; but the narration of them is not very profitable, not that I go in for the utilitarian theory of conversation; hut I think, on the whole, that, in story-telling, fic- tion should be preferred to dull facts like these, and so the next time I tell a story I will make one up. The Club had listened to the story with the gravity which should be manifested toward one who is relating family matters. At its close the Senator prepared to speak. He cleared his throat: Ahem! Gentlemen of the Club! our ad- ventures, thus far, have not been altogether contemptible. We have a President and a Sec- retary; ought we not also to have a Recording Secretarya Historian ? Ay ! said all, very earnestly. Who, then, shall it he ? All looked at Dick. I see there is but one feeling among us all, said the Senator. Yes, Richard, you are the man. Your gift of language, your fancy, modesty, your fluency But I spare you. this time forth you know your duty. Overcome by this honor, Dick was compelled to bow his thanks in silence and hide his blush- ing face. And now, said Mr. Figgs, eagerly, I want to hear tile Higgins Story ! The Doctor turned frightfully pale. Dick began to fill his pipe. The Senator looked earnestly out of the window. Buttons looked at the ceiling. Whats the matter ? said Mr. Figgs. What? asked Buttons. The Higgins Story ? The Doctor started to his feet. His excite- ment was wonderfuL He clenched his fist. Ill quit! Im going back. Ill join you at Rome by another route. Ill No, you wont ! said Buttons; for on a THE DODGE CLUB. 31 journey like this it would be absurd to begin the Higgins Story. Pooh! said Dick, it would require nine- teen days at least to get through the introduc- tory part. When, then, can I hear it ? asked Mr. Figgs, in perplexity. XVIII. NIGHT ON THE ROADTHE CLUB ASLEEPTHEY ENTER ROME. THOUGHTS ON APPROACHING AND ENTERING THE ETERNAL CITY. XIX. A LETTER BY DICK, AND CRITICISMS OF HIS FRIENDS. THEY took lodgings near the Piazza di Spag- na. This is the best part of Home to live in, which every traveler will acknowledge. Among other advantages, it is perhaps the only clean spot in the Capital of Christendom. Their lodgings were peculiar. Description is quite unnecessary. They were not discov- ered without toil, and not secured without war- fare. Once in possession they had no reason to complain. True, the conveniences of civilized life do not exist therebut who dreams of con- venience in Home? On the evening of their arrival they were sitting in the Senators. room, which was used as the general rendezvous. Dick was diligent- ly writing. Dick, said the Senator, what are you about ? Well, said Dick, the fact is, I just hap- pened to relnelnber that when I left home the editor of the village paper wished me to write occasionally. I promised, and he at once pub- lished the fact in enormous capitals. I never thought of it till this evening, when I happened to find a scrap of the last issue of his paper in my valise. I recollected my promise, and I thought I might as well drop a line. Head what you have writtell. Dick blushed and hesitated. Nonsense! Go ahead, my boy! said Buttons. Whereupon Dick cleared his throat and be- gan: RIME, May 15, 1819. MR. EDITORRome is a subject which is neither uninteresting nor alien to the present age. Thats a fact, or you wouldnt be here writing it, remarked Buttons. In looking over the past, osn~ view is too often hounded hy the Middle Ages. We consider that pe- riod as the chaos of the modern world, when it lay covered with darkness, until the Reform came and said, Let there he llMht! Hang it, Dick! be original or he nothing. Yet, if the life of the world began any where, it was in Rome. Assyria is nothing to me. Egypt is hut a spectacle If you only had enough funds t3 carry you there youd change your tune. But go on. But Rome arises before me as the parent of the latter time. By her the old battles between Freedom and Despotism were fought long ago, and the forms and principles of Liberty came forth, to pass, amidst many vicissitudes, down to a new-born day. There! Im coming to the point now ! About time, I imagine. The editor will get into despair. There is but one fitting approach to Rome. By any other road the majesty of the Old Capital is lost in the lesser grandeur of the Medieval City. Whoever goes there let him come up from Naples and enter by the Jerusalem Gate.~ Jerusalem fiddle-sticks! Why, theres no such gate! There the very spirit of Antiquity sits enthroned to welcome the traveler, and all the solemn Past sheds her influences over his soul Excuse me; there is a Jerusalem Gate. Perhaps soin Joppa. There the Imperial City lies in the sublimity of ruin. It is the Rome of our dreamsthe ghost of a dead and buried Empire hovering over its own neg- lected grave I Dick, its not fair to work off an old college essay as European correspondence. Nothing may be seen but desolation. The waste Campagna stretches its arid surface away to the Alhan mountains, uninhabited, and forsaken of man and beast. For the dust and the works and the monu- ments of millions lie here, mingled in the common corruption of the tomb, and the life of the present age shrinks away in terror. Long lines of lofty aqueducts come slowly down from the Alhan hills, hut these crumbled stones and broken arches tell a story more elOqIlent than huloan Voile. 10 ROME. 32 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. The walls arise before us, but there is no city be- with a tinge of regret, Id rather stand and yond. The desolation that reigns in the Campagna hear them talk by the hour, particularly the has entered here. The palace of the noble, the haunts of pleasure, the resorts of the multitude, the garrison women, than listen to the pootiest music they of the soldier, have crumbled to dust, and mingled to- can scare up I, gether in one common ruin. The soil on which we I tried that game, said Mr. Figgs, rueful- tread, which gives birth to trees, shrubs, and wild- ly in Naples. I went into a brokers shop to flowers without number, is but an assemblage of the chan a Napoleon. I thought Id like to see disintegrated atoms of stones and mortar that once ge arose on high in the form of palace, pyramid, or tem- their financial system. I saw enough of it; for ple. the scoundrel gave me a lot of little bits of coin Dick, I advise you to write all your letters that only passed for a few cents apiece in Na- before you see the places you speak of. Youve pies, with difficulty at that, and wont pass here no idea how eloquent you can be ! at all Now, if we pass on in this direction, we soon The Senator laughed. Well, you shouldnt come to a spot which is the centre of the worldthe complain. You lost your Napoleon, but gained place where most of all we must look when we search experience. You have a new wrinkle. I gained for the source of much that is valuable in our age. a new wrinkle too when I gave a half-Napoleon, It is a rude and a neglected spot. At one end rises istake, to a wretched looking beggar, blind a rock crowned with houses; on one side are afew bym mean edifices, mingled with masses of tottering ruins; of one eye. I intended to give him a cen- on the other a hill formed altogether of crumbled time. atoms of bricks, mortar, and precious marbles. In Your principle, said Buttons, does well the midst are a few rough columns blackened by time and exposure. The soil is deep, and in places there enough for you as a traveler. But you dont are pits where excavations have been made. Rubbish look at all the points of the subject. The point lies around: bits of straw, and grass, and hay, and de- is to write a letter for a newspaper. Now what cayed leather, and broken bottles, and old bones. A is the most successful kind of letter? The read- few dirty shepherds pass along, driving lean and mis- erable sheep. Further up is a cluster of wine-carts, ers of a family paper are notoriously women with still more curious horses and drivers, and young men, or lads. Older men only look What is this place Iwhat those ruins, these fallen at the advertisements or the news. What do monuments, these hoary arches, these ivy - covered women and lads care for horse-shoes and maca- walls? What? This is roni? Of course, if one were to write about The field ef freedem, fartien, fame, and bleed; Here a preud peeples pseetens were exhaled, these things in a humorous style they would Freesi the first beer ef Empire in the bed Te that when further werlds to cenquer failed; take; but, as a general thing, they prefer to The Ferem where the immertal arrenle glow, ruins, statues, ~ cities, And still the elequent air breathes, burne with cirerel read about old and an~ Yet if you go up to one of those people and ask and processions. But the best kind of a corre- this question, he will answer you and tell you the only spondence is that which deals altogether in ad- name he knows The Cow Markef! ventures. Thats what takes the mind! Inci- Is that all ? inquired Buttons, as Dick laid dents of travel, fights .with ruffians, quarrels down his paper. withlandlords, shipwrecks, robbery, oddscrapes, Thats all Ive written as yet. laughable scenes; and Dick, my boy! when you Whereupon Buttons clapped his hands to ex- write again be sure to fill your letter with events press applause, and all the others laughingly of this sort. followed his example. But suppose, suggested Dick, meekly, Dick, said the Senator, after a pause, that we meet with no ruffians, and there are what you have written sounds pretty. But no adventures to relate ? look at the facts. Here you are writing a de- Then use a travelers privilege and invent scription of Rome before youve seen any thing them. What was imagination given for if not of the place at all. All that you have put in to use that letter is what you have read in books of It will not doit will not do, said the Sea- traveL I mention this not from blame, but ator, decidedly. You must bold on to facts. merely to show what a wrong principle travel- Information, not amusement, should be your ers go on. They dont notice real live facts. aim. Now Ive promised the editor of our paper a But information is dull by itself. .4~nuse- letter. As soon as I write it Ill read it for you. ment perhaps is useless. Now how much bet- The style wont be equal to yours. But, if I ter to combine the utility of solid information write, Ill be bound to tell something new. with the lighter graces of amusement, fun, and Sentiment, pursued the Senator, thoughtfully, fancy. Your pill, Doctor, is hard to take, is playing the dickens with the present age. though its effects are good. Coat it with sugar What we ought to look at is not old ruins or and its easy. pictures, but menmenlive men. Id rather What! exclaimed the Doctor, suddenly visit the cottage of an Italian peasant than any starting up. Im not asleep! Did you speak church in the country. Id rather see the work- to me ing of the political constitution of this ere be- The Doctor blinked and rubbed his eyes, and nighted land than any painting you can show. wondered what the company were laughing at. Horse-shoes before ancient stones, and macaroni In a few minutes, however, he concluded to re- before statues, say I! For these little things sume his broken slumber in his bed. He ac- show me all the life of the people. If I only cordingly retired; and the company followed understood their cursed lingo, said the Senator, his example. THE DODGE CLUB. 33 xx. ST. PETERS 1THE TRAGIC STO~Y OF THE FAT MAN IN THE BALL.HOW ANOTHER TRAGEDY NEARLY HAP FENED.THE WOES OF MEINHERE SCHAYT. Two stately fWntains, a colonnade which ~ spite of faults possesses unequaled majesty, a vast piazza, inclosing many acres in whose im- mense area puny man dwindles to a dwarf; and in the distance the unapproachable glories of the greatest of earthly templessuch is the first view of St. Peters. Our party of friends entered the lordly vesti- bnle, and lifting the heavy mat that hnng over the doorway they passed throngh. There came a soft air laden with the odor of incense; and strains of music from one of the side chapels came echoing dreamily down one of the side aisles. A glare of sunlight flashed in on pol- ished marbles of a thousand colors that covered pillars, walls, and pavement. The vaulted ceil- ing blazed with gold. People strolled to and fro without any apparent object. They seemed to be promenading. In different places some peasant women were kneeling. They walked up the nave. The size of the immense edifice increased with every step. Arriving under the dome they stood looking up with boundless astonishment. They walked round and round. They saw statues which were master - pieces of genius; sculptures that glowed with immortal beauty; pictures which had consumed a lifetime as they grew up beneath the patient toil of the mosaic worker. There were altars containing gems equal to a kings ransom; curious pillars that came down from immemorial ages; lamps that burn forever. This, said the Senator, is about the first place that has really come up to my idee of for- eign parts. In fact it goes clean beyond it. I acknowledge its superiority to any thing that America can produce. But whats the good of it all? If this Government really cared for the good of the people it would sell out the hull concern, and devote the proceeds to railways and factories. Then Italy would go ahead as Providence intended. My dear Sir, the people of this country would rise and annihilate any Government that dared to touch it. Shows how debased they have grown. Theres no utility in all this. There couldnt be any really good Gospel preaching here. Different people require different modes of worship, said Buttons, sententiously. But its immense, said the Senator, as they stood at the farthest end and looked toward the entrance. Ive been calclatin that you could range along this middle aisle about eighteen good-sized Protestant churches, and eighteen more along the side aisles. You could pile them up three tiers high. You could stow away twenty-four more in the cross aisle. After that you could pile up twenty more in the dome. That would make room here for one hundred and fiftytwo goodsized Protestant churches, VOL. XXXV.No. 205.C and room enough would be left to stow away all their spires. And to show the truth of his calculation he exhibited a piece of paper on which he had pen- ciled it all. If the interior is imposing the ascent to the roof is equally so. There is a winding path so arranged that mules can go up carrying loads. Up this they went and reached the roof. Six or seven acres of territory snatched from the air spread around; statues rose from the edge; all around. cupolas and pillars arose. In the centre the huge dome itself towered on high. There was a long low building filled with peo- ple who lived up here. They w& e workmen whose duty it was to attend to the repairs of thevast structure. Two fountains poured forth a never-ceasing supply of Water. It was diffi- cult to conceive that this was the roof of a build- ing. Entering the base of the central cupola a stairway leads up. There is a door which leads to the interior, where one can walk around a gallery on the inside of the dome and look down. Farther up where the arch springs there is an- other. Finally, at the apex of the dome there is a third opening. Looking down through this the sensation is terrific. Upon the summit of the vast dome stands an edifice of large size, which is called the lantern, and appears insignificant in comparison with the mighty structure beneath. Up this the stairway goes until at length the opening into the ball is reached. The whole five climbed up into the ball. They found to their surprise that it would hold twice as many more. The Senator reached up his hand. He could not touch the top. They looked through the slits in the side. The view was boundless; the wide Campagna, the pur- ple Apennines, the blue Mediterranean, appear- ed from different sides. I feel, said the Senator, that the conceit is taken out of me. What is Boston State House to this; or Bunker Hill monument! I used to see pictures of this place in Woodbridges Geography; but I never had a realizing sense of architecture until now. This ball, said Buttons, has its history, its associations. It has been the scene of suf- fering. Once a stoutish man came up here. The guides warned him, but to no purpose. He was a willful Englishman. You may see, gen- tlemen, that the opening is narrow. How the Englishman managed to get up does not appear; but it is certain that when he tried to get down he found it impossible. He tried for hours to squeeze through. No use. Hundreds of peo- ple came up to help him. They couldnt. The whole city got into a state of wild excitement. Some of the churches had prayers offered up for him though he was a heretic. At the end of three days he tried again. Fasting and anxiety had come to his relief; and he slipped through without difficulty. HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 34 He must have been a London swell, said Dick. I dont believe a word of it, said Mr. Figgs, looking with an expression of horror, first at the opening and then at his own rotund- ity. Then springing forward he hurriedly be- gan to descend. Happy Mr. Figgs! There was no danger for him. But in his eagerness to get down he did not think of looking below to see if the way was clear. And so it happened, that as he de- scended quickly and with excited haste, he stepped with all his weight upon the hand of a man who was coming up. The stranger shouted. Jr. Figgs jumped. His foot slipped. His h d loosened, and down he fell plump to the bottom. Had he fallen on the floor there is no doubt that he would have sustained severe in- jury. Fortunately for himself he fell upon the stranger and nearly crushed his life out. The stranger writhed and rolled till he had got rid of his heavy burden. The two men simultaneously started to their feet. The stran- g r was a short stout man with an unmistaka- ble German face. He had bright blue eyes, red hair, and a forked red beard. He stared with all his aught, stroked his forked red beard pite- ously, and then ejaculated most gutturally, in tones that seemed to come from his boots: Gh-h-h-r-r-r-r-r-acious me Mr. Figgs overwhelmed him with apo1o~ies, ure him that it was quite unintentional, hope that he wasnt hurt, begged his pardon; but the stranger only panted, and still he stroked nis forked red beard, and still ejaculated Gh-h-h-r-r-r-r-r-acious me Four heads peered through the opening ove; but seeing no accident their owners, one by one, descended, and all with much sympathy asked the stranger if he was much hurt. But the stranger, who seemed quite bewildered, still nted and stroked his beard, and ejaculated: Gh-h-h-r-r-r-r-r-acious me At length he seemed to recover his faculties, ad discovered that he was not hurt. Upon this he assured Mr. Figgs, in heavy guttural English, that it was nothing. lie had often been knocked down before. If Mr. Figgs were a Frenchman, he would feel angry. But as he was an American he was pr~ud to make his acquaintance. He himself had once lived in America, in Cincinnati, where he had edited a German paper. His name was Meinherr Schatt. Meinherr Schatt showed no further disposi- tion to go up; but descended with the others down as far as the roof, when they went to the front and stood looking down on the piazza. In the course of conversation Meinherr Schatt informed them that he belonged to the Duchy of Saxe Meiningen, that he had been living in Rome about two years, and liked it about as well as any place that he had seen. He went every autumn to Paris to speculate on the Bourse, and generally made enough to keep him for a year. He was acquainted with all the artists in Rome. Would they like to be introduced to some of them? Buttons would be most charmed. He would rather become acquainted with artists than with xny class of people. Meinherr Schatt lamented deeply the present state of things arising from the war in Loin- hardy. A peaceful German traveler was scarce- ly safe now. Little boys made faces at him in the street, and shouted after him, Maledetto Tedescho Just at this moment the eye of Buttons was attracted by a carriage that rolled away from under the front of the cathedral down the piaz- za. In it were two ladies and a gentleman. Buttons stared eagerly for a few moments, and then gave a jump. Whats the matter ? cried Dick. Itis! ByJove! Itis! What? Who? I see her face! Im off! Confound it! Whose face ? But Buttons gave no answer. He was off like the wind, and before the others could re THE DODGE CLUB. 35 cover from their surprise had vanished down the descent. What npon airth has possessed Buttons now ? asked the Senator. It mnst be the Spanish girl, said Dick. Again? Hasnt his mad chase at sea given him a lesson? Spanish girl! What is he after? If he wants a girl, why cant he wait and pick out a regular thorough-bred out and outer of Yaiskee stock? These Spaniards are not the right sort. In an incredible short space of time the figure of Buttons was seen dashing down the piazza, in the direction which the carriage had taken. But the carriage was far ahead, and even as he left the church it bad already crossed the Ponte di S. Angelo. The others then descended. Buttons was not seen till the end of the day. He then made his appearance with a dejected air. What luck? asked Dick, as he came in. None at all, said Buttons, gloomily. Wrong ones again ? No, indeed. Im not mistaken this time. But I couldnt catch them. They got out of sight, and kept out too. Ive been to every hotel in the place, but couldut find them. Its too bad. Buttons, said the Senator, gravely, Im sorry to see a young man like you so infatuated. BewareButtonsbeware of wimmin! Take the advice of an older and more experienced man. Beware of wimmin. Whenever you see one comingdodge! Its your only hope. If it hadnt been for wimminand the Senator seemed to speak half to himself, while his face assumed a pensive air if it hadnt been for wimmin, Id been haranguing the Legislatoor now, instead of wearying my bones in this be- nighted and enslaved country. XXI. THE GLORY, GRANDEUR, BEAUTY, AND INFINITE VARIETY OF THE PINOIAie HILL; NARRATED AND DETAILED NOT GOLUMNARILT HUT EXHAUSTIvELY, AND AFTER THE MAHNER OF RAHELAIS. Ox, the Pincian Hill !Does the memory of that place affect all alike? Whether it does or not matters little to the chronicler of this veracious history. To him it is the crown and glory of modern Rome; the centre around which all Rome clusters. Delightful walks! Views without a parallel! Place on earth to which no place else can hold a candle! Poohwhats the use of talking? Contem- plate, 0 Reader, from the Pincian Hill the fol- lowing: The Tiber, The Campagna, The Aqueducts, Tra- jans Column, Antonines Pillar, The Piazza del Popo- lo, The Torre del Capitogilo, The Hoar Capitoline, The Palatine, The Quirinal, The Viminal, The Esqub line, The Cailian, The Aventine, The Vatican, The Janiculum, St. Peters, The Lateran, The Stands for Roast Chestnuts, The New York Times, The Hurdy- gurdys, The London Times, The Raree-shows, The Obelisk of Mosaic Pharaoh, The Wine-carts, Has~pesa Weekly, Roman Beggars, Cardinals, Monks, Artists, Nuns, The New York Tribune, French Soldiers, Swiss Guards, Dutchmen, Mosaic-workers, Plane-trees, Cy. press - trees, Irishmen, Propaganda Students, Goats, Fleas, Men from Bosting, Patent Medicines, Swells, Lager, Meerschaum-pipes, The New York Herald, Crosses, Rustic Seats, Dark-eyed Maids, Babel, Terra- pins, Marble Pavements, Spiders, Dreamy Haze, Jews, Cossacks, Hens, All the Past, Rags, The original Bar- rel-organ, The original Organ-grinder, Bourbon Whis- ky, Civita Vecchia Olives, Hadrians Mausoleum, liar- per8 Magazine, The Laurel Shade, Murrays Hand. hook, Cicerones, Englishmen, Dog-carts, Youth, Hope, Beauty, Conversation Kenge, Blue-bottle Flies, Gnats, Galignani, Statues, Peasants, Cockneys, Gas-lamps, Dundreary, Michiganders, Paper - collars, Pavilions, Mosaic Brooches, Little Dogs, Small Boys, Lizards, Snakes, Golden Sunsets, Turks, Purple Hills, Pla- cards, Shin-plasters, Monkeys, Old Boots, Coffee-roast- ers, Pale Ale, The Dust of Ages, The Ghost of Rome, Ice Cream, Memories, Soda-Water,. Harpers Guide- Book. XXII. RANMONY ON THE PINCIAN HILL.MUSIO BATH OHARMS. AMERIGAN MELODIESTHE GLORY, THE POWER, AND THE BEAUTY OF YANKEE DOODLE, AND THE MERCENARY SOUL OF AN ITALIAN ORGAN-GRINDER. THE Senator loved the Pincian HiU, for there he saw what he loved best; more than ruins, more than churches, more than pictures and statues, more than music. He saw man and human nature. He had a smile for all; of superiority for the bloated aristocrat; of friendliness for the hum- ble, yet perchance worthy mendicant. He long- ed every day more and more to be able to talk the language of the people. On one occasion the Club was walking on the Pincian Hill, when suddenly they were arrested by familiar sounds which came from some place not very far away. It was a barrel-organ; a soft and musical organ; but it was playing Sweet Home. A Yankee tune, said the Senator. Let us go and patronize domestic manufacture. That is my idee of political economy. Reaching the spot they saw a pale, intellect- ual-looking Italian working away at his instru- ment. Its not bad, though that there may not be the highest kind of musical instrument. No, said Buttons; but I wonder that you, an elder of a church, can stand here and listen to it. Why, what has the church to do with a barrel-organ ? Dont you believe the Bible ? Of course, said the Senator, looking mys- tified. Dont you know what it says on the sub- ject ? What the Bible says? Why no, of course not. It says nothing. I beg your pardon. It says, The sound of the grinding is low. See Ecclesiastes, twelfth, fourth. The Senator looked mystified, hut said no- o6 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. -~ gaining its characteristics from the boundless extent _ of its homea continental life of limitless variety. As mournful as the Scotch; as reckless as the Irish; as sol- emnly patriotic as the En- glish. Listen ! cried the Sena- tor, in wild excitement. It was Hail Columbia. The Pincian Hill, said the Senator, with deep so- lemnity, is glorified from this time forth and for ever- more. It has gained a new charm. The Voice of Free- dom hath made itself heard The others, though less de- monstrative, were no less de- lighted. Then came another, better yet. The Star-Span- gled Banner. There I cried the Sena- tor, is our true national an- themthe commemoration of national triumph; the grand upsoaring of the victorious - American Eagle as it wings oaD vi eianv. its everlasting flight through the blue empyrean away up thing. But suddenly the organ-grinder struck to the eternal stars! up another tune. He burst into tears; the others respected his Well, I do declare, cried the Senator, de- emotion. lighted, if it isnt another domestic melody I Then he wiped his eyes and looked ashamed It was Independence Day. of himselfquite uselesslyfor it is a mistake Why, it warms my heart, he said, as a to suppose that tears are unmanly. Unmanly! flush spread over his fine countenance. The manliest of men may sometimes shed tears The organ-grinder received any quantity of out of his very manhood. bajoccid, which so encouraged him that he tried At last there arose a magic strain that pro- another Old Virginny. duced an effect to which the former was no- Thats better yet, said the Senator. But thing. It was Yankee Doodle how on airth did this man manabe to get hold The Senator did not speak. He could not of these tunes ? find words. He turned his eyes first upon one, Then came others. They were all Amen- and then another of his companions; eyes beam- can: Old Folks at Home, Nehly Bly, ing with joy and triumpheyes that showed Suwannee Ribber, Jordan, Dan Tuck- emotion arising strnight from a patriots heart er, Jim Crow. eyes which seemed to say: Is there any The Senator was certainly most demonstra- sound on earth or above the earth that can tive, but all the others were equally affected, equal this? Those native airs; the dashing, the reckless, Yankee Doodle has never received justice. the roaringly-humorous, the obstreperously jol- It is a tune without words. What are the lythey show one part of the many-sided Amen- recognized words? Nonsense unutterablethe c~ a character. sneer of a British officer. But the tune !ah, Not yet has justice been done to the nigger that is quite another thing! song. It is not a nigger song. It is an Amen- The tune was from the very first taken to the can melody. Leaving out those which have national heart, and has never ceased to be cher- been stolen from Italian Operas, how many ished there. The Republic has grown to he a there are which are truly American in their very different thing from that weak beginning, extravagance, their broad humor, their glorious hut its national air is as popular as ever. The an uproarious jollity! The words are trash. people do ndt merely love it. They glory in it. The melodies are every thing. And yet apologies are sometimes made for it. These melodies touched the hearts of the By whom? By the soulless dilettante. The listeners. American life rose before them as people know better :the farmers, the me- they listened. American lifefree, boundless, chanics, the fishermen, the dry-goods clerks, exuberant, broadly - developing, self- asserting, the news-boys, the railway stokers, the butchers, THE DODGE CLUB. 37 the bakers, the candlestick-makers, the tinkers, the tailors, the soldiers, the sailors. Why? Because this music has a voice of its own, more expressive than words; the language of the soul, which speaks forth in certain melodies which form an utterance of unutterable passion. The name was perhaps given in ridicule. It was accepted with pride. The air is rash, reck- less, gay, triumphant, noisy, boisterous, care- less, heedless, rampant, raging, roaring, rattle- brainish, devil-may-care-ish, plague - take - the- hindmost-ish; but! solemn, stern, hopeful, res- olute, fierce, menacing, strong, cantankerous (cantankerous is entirely an American idea), bold, daring Words fail. Yankee Doodle has not yet received its Doo! The Senator had smiled, laughed, sighed, wept, gone through many variations of feeling. He had thrown baioccki till his pockets were ex- hausted, and then handed forth silver. He had shaken hands with all his companions ten times over. They themselves went not quite as far in feeling as he, but yet to a certain extent they went in. And yet Americans are thought to be prac- tical, and not ideal. Yet bere was a true American who was intoxicateddrunk! By what? By sound, notes, harmony. By music! Buttons, said he, as the music ceased and the Italian prepares to make bis bow and quit the scene, I must make that gentlemans ac- quaintance. Buttons walked up to the organ-grinder. Be my interpreter, said the Senator. In- troduce me. Whats your name ? asked Buttons. Maffeo Cloto. From where ? Urbino. Were you ever in America ? No, Signore. What does he say ? asked the SenatQr, im- patiently. He says his name is Mr. Cloto, and he was never in America. How did you get these tunes ? Out of my organ, said the Italian, grin- ning. Of course; but how did you happen to get an organ with such tunes ? I bought it. Oh yes; but how did you happen to buy one with these tunes ? For you illustrious American Signore. You all like to hear them. Do you know any thing about the tunes ? I Signore ? Do you know what the words are Oh no. I am an Italian. I suppose you make money out of them. I make more in a day with these than I could in a week with other tunes. You lay up money, I suppose. Oh yes. In two years I will retire and let my younger brother play here. These tunes? Yes, Si~nore. To Americans ? Yes, Signore. What is it all ? asked the Senator. He says that he finds he snakes money by playing American tunes to Americans. Hm, said the Senator, with some dis- pleasure; and he has no soul then to see the the beauty, the sentiment, the grandeur of his vocation Not a bithe only goes in for money. The Senator turned away in disgust. Yan- kee Doodle, he murmured, ought of itself to have a refining and converting influence on the European mind; but it is too debasedyes yestoo debased. XXIII. HOW A BARGAIN IS MADETHE WILES OF THE ITALIAN TRADESBAN.THE NAKED SULKY BEGGAR, AND THE JOVIAL WELL-CLAD BEGGAR.WHO IS THE KING OP BEGGARS? WHAT are you thinking about, Buttons ? Well, Dick, to tell the truth, I have been thinking that if I do find the Spaniards they won t have reason to be particularly proud of me as a companion. Look at me. I look, and to be frank, my dear boy, I must say that you look more shabby-genteel than otherwise. Thats the result of traveling on one suit of clotheswithout considering fighting. I give up my theory. Give it up, then, and come out as a but- terfly. Friend of my soul, the die is cast. Come forth with me and seek a clothing-store. It was not difficult to find one. They en- tered the first one that they saw. The polite Roman overwhelmed them with attention. Show me a coat, Signore. Signore sprang nimbly at the shelves and brought down every coat in his store. But- tons picked out one that suited his fancy, and tried it on. What is the price ? With a profusion of explanation and descrip- tion the Roman informed him: Forty pias- ters. Ill give you twelve, said Buttons, quietly. The Italian smiled, put his head on one side, drew down the corners of his mouth, and threw up his shoulders. This is the skrug. The shrug requires special attention. The shrug is a gesture used by the Latin race for expressing a multitude of things, both objectively and sub- jectively. It is a language of itself. It is, as circumstances require, a noun, adverb, pronoun, verb, adjective, preposition, interjection, con- junction. Yet it does not supersede the spok- en language. It comes in rather when spoken words are useless, to convey intensity of mean- ing or delicacy. It is not taught, but it is learned. 138 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. TIlE 511110G. The coarser, or at least blunter, Teutonic race have not cordially adopted this mode of human intercommunication. The advantage of the shrug is that in one slight gesture it con- tains an amount of meaning which otherwise would require many words. A good shrugger in Italy is admired, just as a good conversa- tionist is in England, or a good stump orator in America. When the merchant shrugged Buttons understood him and said: You refuse? Then I go. Behold me!, Ah, Signore, how can you thus endeavor to take advantage of the necessities of the poor ? Signore, I must buy according to my abil- ity. The Italian laughed long and quietly. The idea of an Englishman or American not having much money was an exquisite piece of humor. Go not, Siguore. Wait a little. Let me unfold more garments. Behold this, and this. You shall have many of my goods for twelve plasters. .No, Signore; I must have this, or I will have none. You are very hard, Signore. Think of my necessities. Think of the pressure of this pres- ent war, which we poor miserable tradesmen feel most of all. Then addio, Signore; I must depart. They went out and walked six paces. Pssssss-ssst! (Another little idea of the Latin race. It is a much more pene- trating sound than a loud Hallo! Ladies can use it. Children too. This would be worth importing to America.) Pssssssssst Buttons and Dick turned. The Italian stood smiling and bowing and beckoning. Take it for twenty-four piasters. No, Signore; I can only pay twelve. With a gesture of ruffled dignity the shop- keeper withdrew. Again they turned away. They had scarcely gone tea paces before the shopkeeper was after them: A thousand pardons. Bat I have con- to take twenty. iNo; twelve, and no more. But think, Signore; only think. I do think, my friend; I do think. Say eighteen. No, Siguore. Seventeen. Twelve. Here. Come hack with me. They obeyed. The Italian folded the coat neatly, tied it carefully, stroked the parcel ten- derly, and with a meek yet sad smile handed it to Buttons. Thereonly sixteen piasters. Buttons had taken out his purse. At this be hurriedly replaced it, with an air of vexation. I can only give twelve. Oh, Signore, be generous. Think of my struggles, my expenses, my family. You will not force me to lose. I would scorn to force you to any thing, and therefore I will depart. Stop, Siguore, cried the Italian, detaining them at the door. I consent. You may take it for fourteen. For Heavens sake, Buttons, take it, said Dick, whose patience was now completely ex- hausted. Take it. Twelve, said Buttons. Let me pay the extra two dollars, for my own peace of mind, said Dick. Nonsense, Dick. Its the principle of the thing. As a memher of the Dodge Club, too, I could not give more. Thirteen, gopd Signore mine, said the Italian, piteously. My friend, I have given my word that I would pay only twelve. Your word? Your pardon, but to whom ? To you. Oh, then, how gladly I release you from your word! Twelve, Signore, or I go. I can not. Buttons turned away. They walked along the street, and at length arrived at another clothiers. Just as they stepped in a hand wa~ laid on Buttonss shoulder, and a voice cried out: Take it! Take it, Signora! Ah! I thought so! Twelve ? Twelve. Buttons paid the money and directed where it should he sent. He found out afterward that the price which an Italian gentleman would pay was about ten piasters. VANITY. 89 There is no greater wonder than the patient waiting of an Italian tradesman in pnrsuit of a bargain. The flexibility of the Ittilian con- science and imagination under such circum- stances is truly astonishing. Dress makes a difference. The very expres- sion of the face changes when one has passed from shabbiness into elegance. After Buttons had dressed himself in his gay attire his next thought was what to do with his old clothes. Come and let us dispose of them. Dispose of them! Oh, I mean get rid of t~em. I saw a man crouching in a corner nearly naked as I came up. Let us go and see if we can find him. Id like to try the effect. They went to the place where the man had been seen. He was there still. A young man, in excellent health, brown, muscular, lithe. He had an old coverlet around his loinsthat was alL He looked up sulkily. Are you not cold ? No, he blurted out, and turned away. A boor, said Dick. Dont throw away your charity on him. Look here. The man looked up lazily. Do you want some clothes ? No reply. Ive got some here, and perhaps will give them to you. The man scrambled to his feet. Confound the fellow! said Dick. If he dont want them lets find some one who does. Look here, said Buttons. He unfolded his parcel. The fellow looked indifferently at the things. Here, take this, and he offered the pan- taloons. The Italian took them and slowly put them on. This done, he stretched himself and yawn- ed. Take this. It was his vest. The man took the vest and put it on with equal sang froid. Again he yawned and stretched himself. Heres a coat. Buttons held it out to the Italian. The fel- low took it, surveyed it closely, felt in the pock- ets, and examined very critically. the stiffening of the collar. Finally he put it on. He but- toned it closely around him, and passed his fin- gers through his matted hair. Then he felt the pockets once more. After which he yawned long and solemnly. This done, he looked earn- estly at Buttons and Dick. He saw that they had nothing more. Upon which he turned on his heel, and without saying a word, good or bad, walked off with immense strides, turned a corner, and was out of sight. The two philan- thropists were left staring at on~another. At last they laughed. That man is an original, said Dick. Yes, and there is another, said Buttons. As he spoke he pointed to the flight of stone steps that goes up from the Piazza di Spagna. Dick looked up. There sat The Beggar! ANTONIO! Legless, hatless, but not by any means pen- niless, king of Roman beggars, with a European reputation, unequaled in his own profession there sat the most scientific beggar that the world has ever seen. He had watched the recent proceedings, and caught the glance of the young men. As they looked up his voice came clear and sonorous through the air: 0 most generousO most nobleO most illustrious youthsDraw nearLook in pity upon the abjectBehold legless, armless, help- less, the beggar Antonio forsaken of Heaven For the love of the VirginFor the sake of the saintsIn the name of humanityDate me uno mezzo baiocchoSono pooooooooooverG MiseraaaaaaaaaabileDesperrrraaaaaaaado VANITY. THE sun comes up and the sun goes down, And day and night are the same as one The year grows green and the year grows brown, And what is it all, when all is done? Grains of sombre or shining sand, Sliding into and out of the hand. And men go down in ships to the seas, And a hundred ships are the same as one; And backward and forward blows the breeze, And what is it all, when all is done? A tide with never a shore in sight Setting steadily on to the night. The fisher droppeth his net in the stream, And a hundred streams are the same as one And the maiden dreameth her love-lit dream, And what is it all, when all is done? The net of the fisher the burden breaks, And alway the dreaming the dreamer wakes.

VANITY. 89 There is no greater wonder than the patient waiting of an Italian tradesman in pnrsuit of a bargain. The flexibility of the Ittilian con- science and imagination under such circum- stances is truly astonishing. Dress makes a difference. The very expres- sion of the face changes when one has passed from shabbiness into elegance. After Buttons had dressed himself in his gay attire his next thought was what to do with his old clothes. Come and let us dispose of them. Dispose of them! Oh, I mean get rid of t~em. I saw a man crouching in a corner nearly naked as I came up. Let us go and see if we can find him. Id like to try the effect. They went to the place where the man had been seen. He was there still. A young man, in excellent health, brown, muscular, lithe. He had an old coverlet around his loinsthat was alL He looked up sulkily. Are you not cold ? No, he blurted out, and turned away. A boor, said Dick. Dont throw away your charity on him. Look here. The man looked up lazily. Do you want some clothes ? No reply. Ive got some here, and perhaps will give them to you. The man scrambled to his feet. Confound the fellow! said Dick. If he dont want them lets find some one who does. Look here, said Buttons. He unfolded his parcel. The fellow looked indifferently at the things. Here, take this, and he offered the pan- taloons. The Italian took them and slowly put them on. This done, he stretched himself and yawn- ed. Take this. It was his vest. The man took the vest and put it on with equal sang froid. Again he yawned and stretched himself. Heres a coat. Buttons held it out to the Italian. The fel- low took it, surveyed it closely, felt in the pock- ets, and examined very critically. the stiffening of the collar. Finally he put it on. He but- toned it closely around him, and passed his fin- gers through his matted hair. Then he felt the pockets once more. After which he yawned long and solemnly. This done, he looked earn- estly at Buttons and Dick. He saw that they had nothing more. Upon which he turned on his heel, and without saying a word, good or bad, walked off with immense strides, turned a corner, and was out of sight. The two philan- thropists were left staring at on~another. At last they laughed. That man is an original, said Dick. Yes, and there is another, said Buttons. As he spoke he pointed to the flight of stone steps that goes up from the Piazza di Spagna. Dick looked up. There sat The Beggar! ANTONIO! Legless, hatless, but not by any means pen- niless, king of Roman beggars, with a European reputation, unequaled in his own profession there sat the most scientific beggar that the world has ever seen. He had watched the recent proceedings, and caught the glance of the young men. As they looked up his voice came clear and sonorous through the air: 0 most generousO most nobleO most illustrious youthsDraw nearLook in pity upon the abjectBehold legless, armless, help- less, the beggar Antonio forsaken of Heaven For the love of the VirginFor the sake of the saintsIn the name of humanityDate me uno mezzo baiocchoSono pooooooooooverG MiseraaaaaaaaaabileDesperrrraaaaaaaado VANITY. THE sun comes up and the sun goes down, And day and night are the same as one The year grows green and the year grows brown, And what is it all, when all is done? Grains of sombre or shining sand, Sliding into and out of the hand. And men go down in ships to the seas, And a hundred ships are the same as one; And backward and forward blows the breeze, And what is it all, when all is done? A tide with never a shore in sight Setting steadily on to the night. The fisher droppeth his net in the stream, And a hundred streams are the same as one And the maiden dreameth her love-lit dream, And what is it all, when all is done? The net of the fisher the burden breaks, And alway the dreaming the dreamer wakes. 40 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. JAM a bachelor. I do not state the fact be- cause I suppose it will possess arty peculiar interest for my lady readers, aitbough I know that young men, possessing the refined feelings and affectionate dispositions necessary to form good husbands, arc comparatively rareI state the fact simply to preclude the possibility of any one judging me to be the father of the lovely children about whom I shall dilate. They re- semble me, it is true, but it is because they re- semble my sister. She (a beautiful woman she is) is their mother. In respect to them I bear the plain designation of Uncle Ned a title which I nevertheless consider right royal. The once upon a time in which m~y story commences was a warm day of last summer. I reposed on the easiest of easy-chairs in the veranda of my brother-in-laws house, enjoying my post-prandial cigar. My sister does not ob- ject to my smoking good cigars on the prem- ises, although she will not tolerate my meer- schaum. A cool breeze from Long Island Sound fanned my cheek; and its blue waters, sparkling in the sunlight and dotted here and there with a white sail, lay outstretched before rue. My attention, however, was exclusively attracted by the movements of my little nieces and nephews, who, some few feet from me, were engaged in one of those comic imitations of the life of their elders which children delight in. Not a little unintentional satire is to be noted in these exhibitions, and the childs powers of observation are often strikingly por: trayed. The game was that known in infant- me parlance as Keeping House. The house itself was of the most primitive and fragile ar- chitecture; and had there been an inroad of an enemy, the question of the possibility of keep- ing it would have been decided in a moment. No idea of warfare, however, disturbed the souls of the young tunants, who regarded keep- ing house in its purely civil aspect Four high- backed chairs surmounted by an umbrella com- posed the domicile. Within were snugly en- sconced the arch little elf, Katie, lIve years old, and her brother Willie, a robust, rosy-checked boy of seven; such were the lady and the lord of the mansion. A dismal-faced Skye terrier was well-nigh smothered in the girls arms, and personified her eldest son. Her husband, as I gazed, was discovered sitting upon her infant, and berated in a savag~ manner by the anxious mother. The china head of the darling had re- ceived no injury, and it was soon again put to sleep by the careful attentions of its parent. Mithter and Mithith Wilkaith will thoon arrive, now lisped Katie; nud hardly Imad she spoken before Nell and Gus, arm in arm, ap- peared from behind the corner of the veranda. How do you do, soon resounded from all months with great empressemeat; and vigorous hand-shaking nearly overturned the house. You will thtop to thupper, wont you ? next queried the hostess. KEEPING buss. MY SECOND CHILDHOOD.

40 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. JAM a bachelor. I do not state the fact be- cause I suppose it will possess arty peculiar interest for my lady readers, aitbough I know that young men, possessing the refined feelings and affectionate dispositions necessary to form good husbands, arc comparatively rareI state the fact simply to preclude the possibility of any one judging me to be the father of the lovely children about whom I shall dilate. They re- semble me, it is true, but it is because they re- semble my sister. She (a beautiful woman she is) is their mother. In respect to them I bear the plain designation of Uncle Ned a title which I nevertheless consider right royal. The once upon a time in which m~y story commences was a warm day of last summer. I reposed on the easiest of easy-chairs in the veranda of my brother-in-laws house, enjoying my post-prandial cigar. My sister does not ob- ject to my smoking good cigars on the prem- ises, although she will not tolerate my meer- schaum. A cool breeze from Long Island Sound fanned my cheek; and its blue waters, sparkling in the sunlight and dotted here and there with a white sail, lay outstretched before rue. My attention, however, was exclusively attracted by the movements of my little nieces and nephews, who, some few feet from me, were engaged in one of those comic imitations of the life of their elders which children delight in. Not a little unintentional satire is to be noted in these exhibitions, and the childs powers of observation are often strikingly por: trayed. The game was that known in infant- me parlance as Keeping House. The house itself was of the most primitive and fragile ar- chitecture; and had there been an inroad of an enemy, the question of the possibility of keep- ing it would have been decided in a moment. No idea of warfare, however, disturbed the souls of the young tunants, who regarded keep- ing house in its purely civil aspect Four high- backed chairs surmounted by an umbrella com- posed the domicile. Within were snugly en- sconced the arch little elf, Katie, lIve years old, and her brother Willie, a robust, rosy-checked boy of seven; such were the lady and the lord of the mansion. A dismal-faced Skye terrier was well-nigh smothered in the girls arms, and personified her eldest son. Her husband, as I gazed, was discovered sitting upon her infant, and berated in a savag~ manner by the anxious mother. The china head of the darling had re- ceived no injury, and it was soon again put to sleep by the careful attentions of its parent. Mithter and Mithith Wilkaith will thoon arrive, now lisped Katie; nud hardly Imad she spoken before Nell and Gus, arm in arm, ap- peared from behind the corner of the veranda. How do you do, soon resounded from all months with great empressemeat; and vigorous hand-shaking nearly overturned the house. You will thtop to thupper, wont you ? next queried the hostess. KEEPING buss. MY SECOND CHILDHOOD. MY SECOND CHILDHOOD. 41 Were to go to a ball to-night; I hardly k~iow if we can. Is that your eldest son? How he has grown! Thu discoursed Nell, and stretched out her hands to receive the dog. Looks a good deal like his father, observed Gus, and slyly pulled his tail. The unfortunate animal gave a short bark and snapped the air, to the dismay of Nellie, who let him drop; when whiz! he went underneath the chair-rounds, bearing with him Katies apron, which had been fastened to his neck. The party burst into shouts of laughter, and rushing in pursuit were soon hid from my sight hy the bushes in the garden. Happy, happy childhood ! I mused, as the sound of their mirth still rang in my ears; and then my thoughts reverted to that dingy law- office in Pine Street, whither I was to go in the morning. Yes, happy, happy childhoodig- norant of the crimes and miseries of life. Ex- istence is for thee all sunshine, where no clouds lower; or, if there be, thy tempests are but April showers lasting for a moment, and then all smiles again. What knowest thou -of agonized fears and hopes, of bi~ain-searing toil, of dark despair? The fiend ambition stings not th e. Ever care- less, everjoyful. Ah, would I were a boy again! I must have puffed my cigar furiously as I thus cogitated, for I found myself enveloped in a dense smoke, which soon shut off all view of surrounding objects. From a bluish tinge its color changed to yellow, and now a roseate ra- diance filled it. Amidst its depths appeared the outline of a female form, to which every moment gave s bstance. In perfect beauty it soon stood fully revealed. Drapery of the purest white fell from her shoulders and enshrouded her feet. A single star blazed on her forehead. Hers was the majestic port of Juno, but no pride curled her lip. Like Venus, she was faultless in feature, yet in the expression of her calm, soul-searching eyes -no voluptuousness dwelt. The stern, intellectual purity of Minerva was seen in her countenance, but, unlike that god- dess, she wore no martial aspect. Her look ~1. - or co ~eui sEasz. toward me was benignant, pitying. I felt no fear. - - Mortal, dust thou know me ? she asked, in mild tones. Are you ? I hesitated, w6ndering, but not daring to inquire if she were not the Genius of America, the only nineteenth-century deity of which I had heard much. II have never before seen you, I finally declared, in the most respectful manner. - Thou hast not. I am the Spirit of Com- mon Sense. Is it possible? Yon do exist, then. I wts told so, but had not deemed it true. I have heard thy prayer, and am come to grant thy request. A smile played over her face. Thou shalt be a boy abain. Eh? AhI What ? I became quite nervous, and stammeringly added: A boy in good circumstances, then, I beg. Of course I know that As thou- desirest. Farewell. Yet stay. I am not all-powerful. I can not entirely de- prive thee of the memory of thy past state. I am but C mmon Sense. A boy thou shalt be, but thou wilt retain thy recollections of man- hood. Into the mist about me she slowly fa.ded as she had come. I trembled, for I believed in her. What lady save the embodiment of common- sense would have smiled upon me amidst tobac- co-smoke? And now the clouds rolled closer to me, and pressed me in their embrace. A singu- lar sensation pervaded my flame. I was growi g smaller. At length the dense atmosphere cleared away, and I discovered myself in an apartment new to me, yet where, strangely enough, I felt myself at home. It appeared as though I had spent many years in the house of which I was a part. As I gazed abstractedly about, won- dering what I should do, a noise in the street attracted me. Yes, I was in the city. Iran to the window, and tried to peer outside. I could not reach the sill. Wh~ t donkeys made this house ? I murmured. Did they never intend people to enjoy any prospect? What~ sort of prison is it? I now caught sight of a mirror at the end of the room, and approached it,- desiring to gratify a harmless vanity by a view of myself. It was hung out of my reach. A chair ? what a monstrous chair! ~ATith difficulty I clambered upon it. A curly-head- ed little fellow was presented to my sight, at- tired in a Zouave jacket and breeches. Ab, I was a child! and every thing about me ap- peared as if made for giants. Little boys were entirely forgotten. It was too bad. Sofas, stools lounges, were only to be mounted by me with an effort. Not an article of furniture was adapted to my needs. I wish I were a man I pettishly exclaimed to myself, and then the thought flashed upon me that so I once had been. I seemed to have led a dual existence, but my past life as a child was far more vivid to me than my manhood. Gorgeously bound volumes in a book-case near now fascinated my 42 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. gaze. On an upper shelf I noted one bearing the title, Robinson Crusoe. That famous bookI must see it. How could I reach it? Would a chair enable me to do so? No: The lower half of the secretary projected, covered by a mahogany leaf, which could be turned down, then forming a desk lined with black velvet. I soon ascertained this, and determ- ined to place a stool upon the desk, and thus elevate myself nearer the desired object. No sooner thought than done. Hardly so; for as I was stretching out my hand for the volume the stool slipped, and I fell from my perch to the floor, bruising my forehead. I gave a frightful cry, and instantly the parlor-door was opened. Ah, Masther Neddie! in mischief again, are ye? Your feyther shall hear of this. Come with me! and with these words a stout Irish maid-servant seized me rudely by the shoul- der. Lemme lone, I shouted, you ugly old thing ! and I strove to release myself from her grasp. She laughed as she marked my impo- tent rage; and, tucking me under her arm, bore me out of the apartment. Your head is cut; I must wash it. Your mother will be in soon, she said. To be thus handled by a being I despiseda creature I had heard my parents ridiculea low, ignorant Milesian! I will wash myself; let me go, I shrieked, bursting with wrath. How pitiable to be a childhow helpless I was! Bat worse was to come. We reached the kitchen, and there with intentional tenderness, but real roughness, my wound was mopped with a towel. I writhed beneath the inflic- tion. Why would she not let me tend my own bruises; I had been used to tend my own bruises. Yes, when I was a man! Freed from her clutches I bounded maddened up stairs. As I passed the parlor the door opened and my little sister stood revealed. She rushed after me attired in her bonnet and cloak. Neddie, come in! Mas got back! Oh my, look at your head! Poor Neddies hurt and with that she kissed my wound, fondling me in her pretty purring way. Oh never mind, Susy, thats nothing, I re- plied, restored to my equanimity. Mas got company, and wants to see you. Come in! she exclaimed, pulling me by the sleeve of my jacket. I followed, reluctantly, and was soon in the presence of my mother and three other ladies. Instantly arose a chorus: What a smart looking little fellow! Your eyes, Matilda, I declare! A good boy, too, Im sure. Two of the ladies were wrinkled and ugly, with expressions that were very disagreeable to me. The first of these cried: Come hereNeddie his name is ? Come here, Neddie! You go to school ? She laid one hand underneath my chin, and, raising my head, grinned at me with what was meant to be a winning smile. I could feel all the while she did not care for me, and I was made very awk- ward and uncomfortable. AK OBJECT OF COMPASSION. TORTIJaE. sEEIuNO xaowaznez nama DIFFIcuLTIEs. MY SECOND CHILDHOOD. 43 Yes, maam, I answered. WAnd what do you study there ? iRithmetic, Geography, Grammar, Writ I stopped, for my interrogator was now talking vivaciously with the other old lady ahout the ridiculous airs a certain Miss Benson gave her- self in church last Sunday. I was very much hurt. They only made fun of me. All the old people did. I was a mere thing to thema toy. The world was made for the grown peo- ple. Children, like negroes and ill-treated wives, have no rights that any one is hound to respect. Oh, I wished I were a man, then I wouldnt he so slighted. The old hag! I would like to chuck her under the chin and ask her what she had learned at school. As I thus mused, standing sullenly heside the party, the third visitor heckoned to me with such a kind look that I advanced toward. her. She was richly dressed, and had a soft hrown eye; and dark curls almost concealed her plump, rosy cheeks. There, Neddie, said she, huy something you like with that, and she pressed one of the new five-cent nickel pieces in my hand. Thank you, maam, I returned, modestly, while my heart leaped as I heheld the coin. Feelings of humiliation had, however, hy no means passed from me. When Im a man, I said to myself, as I stole toward the door, I shall have plenty of money to do what I wish with. A reminiscence of my previous man- hood came upon me like a dream as I walked the street toward a candy-shop, and a yellow cur snarling at my heels at the time. I kicked at if contemptuously as if I were six feet high. With a savage growl the animal sprang at me and I was tumhled in the mud. I would he killed! I would he killed! Crouched, ready for another spring two feet off, he glared horn- hly upon me with his great red eyes. I twisted my hody round and presented my hoots toward him while I grasped a cohhle-stone with one hand. Quickly I flung my weapon; it struck the dogs fore-paw; he turned with his tail he- tween his legs and limped away howling. I rose from the ground and was ahout hrushing, as well as I could, the mud from my garments, when I found myself confronted hy a ragged, dirty-faced hoy, considerahly higger than my- self. He wore a mans dress-coat, the tails of which dragged ~pon the ground and the sleeves of which were pulled half-way hack to admit of the protrusion of a pair of grimy fists. A loose cap was drawn down over his ears. There was a long scar across his cheek. He squinted at me in a frightful manner as he compressed his lips and raised his right arm as if for a hiow. Did yer know that ere dorg was mine ? I humhly and frightenedly confessed my ig- norance of the fact. A long pause, in which I stood rooted to the spot hy the fascination of his cruel gaze. Finally he asked: Do yer hlong to ther Gulls or ther Dash- ers ? He alluded to two hostile sects into which the street-hoys of the neighhorhood were divided. Neither, I tremblingly asseverated. Funnin on me, are yer? Take that, and at once he commenced a ferocious onslaught upon my person, pommeling me with his fists in quick time and on all sides. Confused and hreathless I warded his blows as well as I could, hut was soon laid prostrate at his feet. He stood over me contemptuously for a moment, and then bestowing a hearty kick upon me strolled away whistling. I did not dare to move until I was sure he was a good way distant; hut as I lay I saw a policeman on the opposite side of the street, who must, I knew, have wit- nessed the whole affair. If Id been a man, I said to myself with tears, hed have come to my assistance soon enough. But it was only a fight between two hoys. Yes, as I looked he laughed at me; and I was hruised in every limh and covered with filth. My moneyit was lost! Boys were made for naught hut in- sults and contempt, it seemed. Slowly and sor- rowfully I picked myself up, and plodded on my way hack home. With my fists ruhhed into my smarting eyes I hiundered along, impervious to all external sights and sounds, ahsorhed in maddened reflections upon my calamities. Be- wildered with bodily and mental anguish I turned down the wrong street, and proceeded a considerahle distance before the thought struck me that I ought to he near home. As I looked~ up wondering why the well-known door-step had not presented itself to my gaze, I found my- self enveloped in the shades of evening; a vista of gas-lights extended hefore me, and a man placed a ladder against a tall iron post on the corner near me and soon set in flame another jet. Rows of hrilliant windows, with varieties of gay articles therein, were on each side of me. Where was I? II was lost! Lost! Lost in the night in that great city, which even in the day hred horrors! Oh! oh! it was ter- rible! Desperation lent me strength, and I eagerly ran to a passer-hy. FUNNIN, ARE YER~ 44 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Please, Sir, I began, faintly, will you tell me But the man pressed rndely on, without deign- ing so muc~h as a look at me. Oh, how awful it was to be small! If I were a man, how soon hed stop! My spirits gave way entirely. I seated myself on a curb-stone and wept bitterly. But this would not do; I must make another effort. I determined to submit to no repulse, and made after the next comer. I grasped him by the sleeve. Please, Sir, will Away, you little brat! He shook me off, giving me such a scowl from his black-bearded face that I almost sank to the ground with dread. I saw how it would be. I would wander down street after street until I was sick with exhaustion, and then I would lie in the damp and cold, und die, if some more horrid boys did not again Oh! oh! oh! what should I do? As I reeled to and fro xvith perturbation there met my frenzied gaze a well-known formmy fathers! He was advancing toward me. A sudden revulsion took place within my breast. I was safe! My first impulse was to rush to his protection. But I knew him to be, though a good and kifid man, one very stern as well. That thought made me pause. Quoting the proverb Spare the rod, and spoil the child, lie was often hasty in his judgments. It was against his orders that I should be out at this hour, and I was, moreover, torn and dirty. lie had not seen me, I reflected; I bad better keep clear of his sight, and merely follow him to the fiome I had left. My plan was put in execu- tion. I again beheld the house I sought; and as my father opened the front-door with his latch-key I slipped into the area. Then, alas! he saw me, and, what was worse, Biddy saw me. Biddy had not forgotten my ill-treatment of her a few hours previous. No sooner was I in the basement hall than she laid her big red hands upon me. Aha! Masther Neddie; at yer thricks again, air ye! Come to yer feyther at oust, yer bad boy! I was borne rapidly up stairs, and stood quiv- ering with apprehension in the presence of my august parent, who stopped divesting himself of his light over-coat to gaze upon me. What is the meaning of this, Edward? How came it that I saw you sneaking into the area a moment ago ? I, Sir, III I could not find the words I wished. Then Biddy launched forth, and gave a glowing account of my adventure with the book-case. She took her own view of the affair, however; and as I listened I ap- peared to myself a confirmed house-breakera criminal of the deepest dye. Its no such thing! was all I could utter. Youve been fighting, Edward, said my fio. ther. N-no; ye-yes, Sir! I stammered, and was collecting my thoughts to tell the whole story, when he reached his hand for a rattan. In an agony of fear I only screamed: Dont! oh dont! My mother now appeared on the scene, exclaiming: Oh, husband, look at him! the poor boy has suffered enough. My father yielded to her pleading, and turning to Biddy, said: Take him to the kitchen and rid hhn of those filthy clothes, and then pijt bun to bed at once. No! he shall have no supper to-night! Biddy shed tears over me as she performed her task. Hypocritical tears I thought them. I hated her; I hated every thing. Oh, how cruel every body is ! I moaned, as I lay alone on my couch in the dark. And just because I am a little boy. If I were only a man! A dim recollection of my previous state of being flashed upon me. Was I in enlightened, free America? Could such an outrageous exercise of tyrannical power be allowed? Trial by jury? Ab, I was only a little boy. I must submit to oppression. Thus groaning I fell asleep. I was soon awake for I slept uneasily, and a scratching and clawing apparently underneath LOST. noar! on nouT MY SECOND CHILDHOOD. 45 my bed startled my fancy. What could it be? Crick, guar-r-r, tap, tap, tapno mouse ever made a ~ioise like that. And if it were a mouse or a rat; did not evil spirits take the forms of vermin to torment mankind? All the mon- sters of the legendary lore I had perused crowd- ed upon my imagination. I raised myself from my pillow and peered about, while my hearts palpitations seemed the dull beats of a funereal drum. All was dense blackness, yet there seemed ~omething glistening a dull white with- in its depths. It movedit surely moved. That something whiteit drew nearer. Bang! it had stumbled against the foot of my bed, and there, above the board, I could see its yellow, shining eyes. I swooned. When I again opened my eyes I saw tbe bright vision which had greeted me previous to my entrance upon my infantile state. Oh, Spirit of Common Sense! How could you ? I cried, imploringly. Thou hadst but thy wish. But those horrid eyes Yes, I have just frightened a cat from the room. I was never more than half serious in wish- ing to be a child again. Thou ~vast therefore but half a child; I made the work complete. What thou didst wish is the wish of all unkind, to be other than they are. Please say no more, I broke in hastily. I know all about that. Thou art still averse to the dictates of Com- mon Sense. But I forgive thee. Thou hast had thy lesson and mayest return to thy normal state. With these words the spirit smiled pityingly upon me, though there lurked amusement too in the curve of her lip. She leaned forward and pressed her hand upon my brow. Be thou a man Her touch was icy cold, a shiver ran through me, and I found myself seated again in that easy-chair on the veranda. That ugly Skye terrier whose disappearance I had noted wa~ held in close proximity to my face. Could it have~ been his cold nose which I had felt in that icy touch? The merry-eyed Katie held him. All the children were dancing and laughing about me. Ha! ha! ha! how he jumped when Growl- er touched him, said one. Uncle Ned, youve been asleep, and burned a hole right through your coat with your cigar, cried another. I surveyed them one and all with a sad smile. Miserable little creatures, little you know of your helpless and wretched state ! My six feet of humanity arose, and its lengthy proportions were admiringly contemplated by the o~ner. I thrust my hand into my pocket and drew forth my porte-monnale. It contained eight dollars in bank-bills for four. I gave one of these bills to each of my young relatives. Forget your- selves with that, children, if you can, and for- get me too. I wish to smoke in peace. So I had been dreaming it seemed. Well, well, when next I wish to be a boy again I shall indeed be in my Second Childhood. uISEBABL LITTLE cREATUnEs. 46 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ESCOBJAZA. DEAR Uncle Ben is a monomaniac upon auctions; he is forever filling the house with traps of every description; to-day it is an old mirror on the verge of losing its powers of reflection; yesterday, it was a library of books in Greek and Latin, which must wait another generation in order to be translated, since to the members of this it is only so much waste paper. Theyll turn right side up, was his plea, when reprimanded for so foolish an expendi- ture; but every day of my life Im tempted to turn them into tin-pans and coffee-pots. - How classic domestic life would appear if Xenophon presided at the milk-straining and Ovid settled the coffee; quite a metamorphose indeed, sea- soned with Attic salt. However, he capped the climax when one morning a truckmau set down an old mahogany desk in the front entry. Dear me 1 I cried, what shall be done with the old thing? It must have been hand- some enough in its day, but it is hardly fit for kindlings now. Let it lodge in the garret a while, proposed Uncle Ben; it wont eat nor drink any thing; and seven years hencewhy, you know, ever~r thing works up once in seven years. He seemed to entertain the idea that time alone was capable of crystallizing the useless into the precious. But I had another notion; the garret was already cumbered with fac-similes of itself so that further additions would hinder Bridget from stretching her lines there in cold weather; therefore, as soon as Uncle Bens back was turned, I deceitfully trundled it off to the auc- tion-room again. Imagine my chagrin when, a week later, it made its reappearance in company with my elat- ed uncle. Am I not in luck ? said he. Heres the mate to that piece I bought last week: sold for a song too ! So thinking that I had been sold, as the boys have it, I resigned myself, and looking through the compartments, before dismissing it to the upper story, these old letters fell into my hands. They were without envelopes or address; worn and yellow, as if something had lent them an interest destined never to grow so faint a.s the handwriting, much of which was sadly blot- ted as though the words had been traced upon paper wet with falling tears; and they were tied together with a black ribbon. I hesitated to unfasten the ribbon, and found myself conjec- turing what sort of person it could have been who kept and used them thus; but, as curi- osity is the open sesame of many secrets, I was soon deep in their perusal. Here they are, faithfully transcribed: DEAR SYLVIA,I dont know how you will be able to forgive my long silencehardly how I shall forgive myself. But I have been beat- ing about so constantly that unless I wrote as Giotto sketched his earliest fancies, on the flat surface of a rock, I must perforce omit it alto- gether. But to-night there is a little pause in the music, between the parts. Some of the house- hold are off at a county fair. Mellicent and Mr. Earlsworthy are singing in the drawing- room; they do nothing but make love under the transparent mask of vocal music. Escoriaza has gone across the river to meet a friend; and Sidney and Louise, having just had a brush, are watching each other sidelong, no doubt, and wishing with all their silly hearts to make it up. But I must tell you about this Escoriazadid you ever hear such a beautiful name, with its musical th sound of the z? Isnt it just like some delicious love-song? Some tuneful fount- ain falling in a court of the Aihambra? Speak it, and you see two lovers meeting under the shadow of a castle-wall, in the romantic moon- light wegther, sombrero and mantilla, the flash of dark, dangerous eyes, and the murmur of passionate words. Well, if you were to see him, I wouldnt an- swer for you; he is more exquisite than his name a thousand-fold; such a face as you see in dreams only; such a voice as you might sup- pose a seraph to praise with; such a smile as perhaps the saints dont wear. Maybe I had better say no more about himif I can help it. I think it was the first morning after arriving here, wben going out upon the veranda, I heard a nightingale trolling a hunting-catch, if you can imagine it, and presently the Spaniard emerged from behind a clump of rose-bushes which he had been plundering. I must have looked amazed, for I had no idea of e(nconnter- ing such an apparition; but he bowed, came forward, and gave me a rose. Sweets for the sweet, he said, with the most delightful accent; and just then the bell called us in to breakfast together. A bosom-friend, said Mellicent, remark- ing the flower which I had fastened in with my pin; and so, as she said it, I mean to keep it, and have pressed it into the Romaunt of the Rose. The color cooled, but no rose quite loses its perfume. When we are out upon our drives I often ob- serve the laborers and foot-passengers turn to gaze after this Escoriaza, as he flies by like a beautiful thought, and I sometimes wonder if they take him for an Enchanted Knight hasten- ing to his tryst before the dusk falls. Positive- ly he is so handsome that I am almost suspi- cious of some lurking deformitylike the Pauns ears. There is a step on the stairhe must have returnedand a note slipped under my door. Shall I read it to you? Escoriaza and the moonlight are alone on the ve- randa. Where is Lyra ? Of course I shant go down to him, as he t

46 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ESCOBJAZA. DEAR Uncle Ben is a monomaniac upon auctions; he is forever filling the house with traps of every description; to-day it is an old mirror on the verge of losing its powers of reflection; yesterday, it was a library of books in Greek and Latin, which must wait another generation in order to be translated, since to the members of this it is only so much waste paper. Theyll turn right side up, was his plea, when reprimanded for so foolish an expendi- ture; but every day of my life Im tempted to turn them into tin-pans and coffee-pots. - How classic domestic life would appear if Xenophon presided at the milk-straining and Ovid settled the coffee; quite a metamorphose indeed, sea- soned with Attic salt. However, he capped the climax when one morning a truckmau set down an old mahogany desk in the front entry. Dear me 1 I cried, what shall be done with the old thing? It must have been hand- some enough in its day, but it is hardly fit for kindlings now. Let it lodge in the garret a while, proposed Uncle Ben; it wont eat nor drink any thing; and seven years hencewhy, you know, ever~r thing works up once in seven years. He seemed to entertain the idea that time alone was capable of crystallizing the useless into the precious. But I had another notion; the garret was already cumbered with fac-similes of itself so that further additions would hinder Bridget from stretching her lines there in cold weather; therefore, as soon as Uncle Bens back was turned, I deceitfully trundled it off to the auc- tion-room again. Imagine my chagrin when, a week later, it made its reappearance in company with my elat- ed uncle. Am I not in luck ? said he. Heres the mate to that piece I bought last week: sold for a song too ! So thinking that I had been sold, as the boys have it, I resigned myself, and looking through the compartments, before dismissing it to the upper story, these old letters fell into my hands. They were without envelopes or address; worn and yellow, as if something had lent them an interest destined never to grow so faint a.s the handwriting, much of which was sadly blot- ted as though the words had been traced upon paper wet with falling tears; and they were tied together with a black ribbon. I hesitated to unfasten the ribbon, and found myself conjec- turing what sort of person it could have been who kept and used them thus; but, as curi- osity is the open sesame of many secrets, I was soon deep in their perusal. Here they are, faithfully transcribed: DEAR SYLVIA,I dont know how you will be able to forgive my long silencehardly how I shall forgive myself. But I have been beat- ing about so constantly that unless I wrote as Giotto sketched his earliest fancies, on the flat surface of a rock, I must perforce omit it alto- gether. But to-night there is a little pause in the music, between the parts. Some of the house- hold are off at a county fair. Mellicent and Mr. Earlsworthy are singing in the drawing- room; they do nothing but make love under the transparent mask of vocal music. Escoriaza has gone across the river to meet a friend; and Sidney and Louise, having just had a brush, are watching each other sidelong, no doubt, and wishing with all their silly hearts to make it up. But I must tell you about this Escoriazadid you ever hear such a beautiful name, with its musical th sound of the z? Isnt it just like some delicious love-song? Some tuneful fount- ain falling in a court of the Aihambra? Speak it, and you see two lovers meeting under the shadow of a castle-wall, in the romantic moon- light wegther, sombrero and mantilla, the flash of dark, dangerous eyes, and the murmur of passionate words. Well, if you were to see him, I wouldnt an- swer for you; he is more exquisite than his name a thousand-fold; such a face as you see in dreams only; such a voice as you might sup- pose a seraph to praise with; such a smile as perhaps the saints dont wear. Maybe I had better say no more about himif I can help it. I think it was the first morning after arriving here, wben going out upon the veranda, I heard a nightingale trolling a hunting-catch, if you can imagine it, and presently the Spaniard emerged from behind a clump of rose-bushes which he had been plundering. I must have looked amazed, for I had no idea of e(nconnter- ing such an apparition; but he bowed, came forward, and gave me a rose. Sweets for the sweet, he said, with the most delightful accent; and just then the bell called us in to breakfast together. A bosom-friend, said Mellicent, remark- ing the flower which I had fastened in with my pin; and so, as she said it, I mean to keep it, and have pressed it into the Romaunt of the Rose. The color cooled, but no rose quite loses its perfume. When we are out upon our drives I often ob- serve the laborers and foot-passengers turn to gaze after this Escoriaza, as he flies by like a beautiful thought, and I sometimes wonder if they take him for an Enchanted Knight hasten- ing to his tryst before the dusk falls. Positive- ly he is so handsome that I am almost suspi- cious of some lurking deformitylike the Pauns ears. There is a step on the stairhe must have returnedand a note slipped under my door. Shall I read it to you? Escoriaza and the moonlight are alone on the ve- randa. Where is Lyra ? Of course I shant go down to him, as he t ESCOBIAZA. 47 wishes; it is in Spanish, you know, and I can make-believe that I am not a scholar wouldnt you? Its very charming down there with Escoriaza and the moonlight, indeed with- ont the moonlight; one star is enough for his firmament, he often says, enough to light him to heavenwould you stay? Here, Ill toss up. No, Ill draw with closed eyes from this basket of flowers. White rose, stay; red rose, go. It isa-red rose! How provoking! It is the red roses fault. You can bear witness that I would have staid otherwise. Good-night, I go to shine on other scenes. LYRA. I am so glad, dear, that you like to know about the people here, because I like to talk of them. I wish you could find it in your heart to drop in upon us one of these fine days. Oh, we had such a ghostly time the other night. You must know that it had rained all day, and neither the lakes nor the woods were to be considered; so, as last refuge of weary souls,, we had lights brought in early and beguiled the hours with ombre, piquet, and whist, though I, for one, could have dispensed with the trio in view ofwell, no matter. I think it must have been near twelve, and the storm had tired itself out and Escoriaza had just dealt me three honors, when in rushed Mellicent in magnificent d~sha6ille, her eyes half out of her head, her hair let down in a cloud about her,. and a face like marble. Oh, girls, oh, Sidney! A ghost! a ghost! and she dropped into somebodys armsnot Escoriazasand set all our teeth chattering. Where ? cried one. Who ? shrieked another. What for ? gasped Lu. What did it look like ? asked Escoriaza, with analytic coolness, turning his cards face downward upon the table. I didnt stay to see, of course, replied Mellicent, indignantly; but I heard it step- ping, stepping over my head till my blood ran cold, and all I could do was to tear out of the room without looking behind me. Im certain that I should meet It on the stairs if I were to go up. Nonsense, said Sidney, a rat i the arras. A rat! Dont you suppose that I know a rat from a ghost? I wont sleep in that horrid room again; Ill stay here on the sofa and go home to-morrow. If you could have heard It! Such a grave-yard tread! - Come, said Escoriaza, we will investi- gate. So up we went, single file, Lu armed with an umbrella, I with Escoriazas dagger, Sidney car- rying the candle, and Mellicent quaking in the rear. It was the most comical sight; we bore such a striking resemblance to the picture in our old Fairy-book of the fellow with the golden gooseall hanging upon each others skirts but when we reached Mellicents room I held my breath, what there was left of it, for sure enough the phantom footsteps were doing pen- ance overhead in a way to make ones heart stand still. Murder! cried Sidney, snuffing the candle. Yes, said Lu, under her breath, Mrs. Leo says that her grandfather hung himself there. We will beard the lion in his den, then, said Escoriaza. So up we went again, bruising our amiable heads, tripping on each others heels, and mark- ing, above all, the weary step growing nearer feeling a cold wind from a broken skylight, guessing at a star far up in the black immensi- ty till the garret was fairly stormed, and the ghostmercy! Sidney had snuffed out the candle and the step was at every bodys elbow! Lu gave such a shriek that I just rushed for- ward and clapped my hand over her rebellious mouth. Mums the word, said I; but dear me, it wasnt Lus mouth at allLu hasnt a mus- tache, you know; and he just kissed it quick before I could snatch it away. I can assure you that it was chilly enough up there at the top of the house, the clocks tolling twelve, while the match Escoriaza held burned blue. There were all manner of shadows agog; there was an old churn wearing an antique bon- net on its dasher as if it were going to market with fresh butter; a distaff which the spiders had to themselves; a gigantic stone ewer, with a yawning demonface, which would seem to poison the water intended to flow between its jaws; and there was the ghost! Every one shivered, of course, for every one just escaped stepping into a pan which Mrs. Leo had placed near to catch the drops which fell from a flaw in the roof; in dismal procession, mimicking the tired tread of the poor suicide. Thus having laid the ghost Mellicent went back to her pillow, and the rest of us to our game. I dont know, said Lu, while we talked it over; I was quite certain that I heard a kiss up there. Did any one kiss me? because I should like to resent it. It is my lead, said Escoriaza. When you kissed me, kissed me, sweet, What quick music two hearts beat. When you missed me, missed me, love, There was music up above he sang in his own tongue, though I rhyme it for you. I shall have to get a pony, as the collegians call it, said Lu, if you are going to ride your hobby, Escoriaza. Oh, well, said he, I can go afoot, though I limp, since I know a little hand Tis the sweetest in the land, And I feel its pressure bland While I sing. Do you? said I. The game is ours. 48 hARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Whist with a caution, quoth Sidney, who was in a fog. Dear Sylvia, if I tire you with my rehears- als say so; dont let me amuse myself at your expense. LYRA. You say that Escoriaza interests you, he as- suredly does the rest of us; even Earlsworthy, the sedate, unimaginative Earlsworthy, comes home after a little absence with an anxious face, and Sidney is so afraid that Escoriaza will make love to Lu, though there isnt the smallest danger of it, that he doesnt give him- self time to sleep. As for myself, whenever he requests to ride or walk with me, I feel it were wise to refuse, but consent, nevertheless. Last week we went up the Treacherous Pass. Mrs. Leo was greatly against it, never expect- ed to see us again, and told all manner of gob- lin stories about it, which might very well be true, seeing that it was a perfect labyrinth of deceit, so darkened with overhanging precipice and tangled growth, so noisy with the capriccio of neighboring torrents, so fragrant with the breath of trailing plants which detained one at every step that it fairly became a point of dis- pute whether, I be I, as I do hope I be, or some Changeling, spirited away by gnomes of the mountain. Just where we sat down to lunch a little thread of pure water bubbled over a rock, and tumbled headlong downward to catch up with the advance corps that danced beneath a rain- bow a hundred feet below. White hermitage, said Escoriaza, filling his silver drinking-horn. Who knows if it is not the fountain of youth which my revered ancestor thirsted for? Drink, Sefiorita, said he, offering it to me; unless you share it per- petual youth were insupportable. It was the strangest thing how we became separated from the rest of the party afterward. I think it must have been that, following the trail of a splendid soarlet creeper, we suddenly found ourselves alone, in the wildest and most rugged solitude. Oh, we are lost, Mr. Escoriaza! I cried. Perhaps so, said he, coolly lifting a bough for me to pass. What then ? What then? Do you fancy this lonely height at midnight ? I fancy any spot where the Sefiorita is, he answered, bending low over my hand. Well, do you know, the sun went down and left us there, and the great white stars leaned down to look into the gorge, and by-and-by the moon rose over the jagged points of rock, and touched the rills of leaping water into chains of silver, drop by drop, and made awful lights and shades at each step, and interpenetrated every seam and fissure with its frosty phanta- sies. I told Lu afterward that it was worth being lost to see such an effect of moonlight. I am afraid it was an effect of Escoriaza, said she. However, we returned safely at l~st, the clock holding up its two hands at One in a holy horror, and half the neighborhood out seeking us. Your time-piece is fast, is it not ? asked Escoriaza. Dear no, said Mrs. Leo; its only lovers who doubt it. Truly. Do I not belong to that happy company ? he whispered, unfastening the cloak he had lent me up there. Who should know ? I replied. Who should know? She whom I love. Who else? I dont know her, I flung back at him, for Lu was calling. But you will see her before dreaming, kissing his hand after me. Dear Sylvia, I am a trifle sleepy. Shall I dream of you to-night? Waking or dreaming I am, if no one elses, your LYRA. Dear Sylvia, if you had been at our bal Masque last evening you would have met Cinderella. I looked high and low for the Prince till near midnight, when a frightful gray hat, which had been flapping about in a very distracted man- ner, suddenly emerged the Pink of Princes, in velvet doublet and diamonds, and had just led Cinderella to the dance when the clocks chimed twelve, and behold! there was only a little beg- gar girl courtesying to the stately lover. You would have heard a Troubadour touch his gui- tar, and would have caught a Tartar making love to Lu in the dress of the contadini. To be sure there was a skeleton at the feast mak- ing merry, and Fagin making pocket-hand- kerchiefs, while a ghost hovered about every where, as unavoidable as the atmosphere, im- portuning one tQ dancewho cared to skip with a ghost ?to take an iceone was already frozento do any thing, in short, that was an- becoming. None of us could settle upon his identity, till, just as we scattered, I said: Adieu, Sir Ghost, and happy~ dreams Happy, if I dream of you, he returned; and I knew it could be no other than Escoriaza. Do you know, Escoriaza has made me an ~olian harp, and fitted it into my window, and wake when I will the room is full of a low, de- licious melody which lulls me off again, except when the wind is high and wild; then it seems to sing of shipwreck and sorrow, of breakers crashing upon lonesome beaches, of great waves heaped over pulseless hearts, of hones bleach- ing in ocean hollows, of shifting sand-bars and treacherous night-tides sapping weak sea-walls and rearing a swift destruction before house and hamlet, till the waters seem seething in at my window, and I rise in haste and fear to shut them out. When I am dead, Escoriaza says, my spirit will speak to you sometimes through this harpthe music of the spheres. If your spirit should but touch these strings they would break, I answer, and there would be no more musicfor me, I could have added. ESCORIAZA. 49 How tiresome I must be to you harping al- ways upon one str.ingnay, two! What ques- tions you propose, Sylvia dear! If Escoriaza is in love with me he has not said so, and I can hardly believe it otherwise. In the mean while I am your Lya& . I have only a minute, dear Sylvia, in which to reply to your questionEscoriaza is waiting for meonly a minute, when I might write volumes. To be brief, he came yesterday and said, I am going to be married. Can I tell you what a pain transfixed me, tnrned me blind and giddy for one dreadful instant? Then I answered, coldly enough: Let ma be the first to congratulate you; for after all, if he were going to marry, was it not his pleasure? Not so fast, he i~lled; you interrupted me. I am going to be marriedif you will marry me. So the programme is arranged. Did it ever occur to you that life is like that mountain range of which Humboldt makes mentionone extremity touching the frigid zone, while the other is swathed in tropic sweet- ness? The weather would do credit to the suburbs of Paradise, and we are to make the tour of the lakes, if it keeps its promise, but Mrs. Leo pre- dicts the equinoctial directly. Am I somewhat less yours since I am some- thing more his LYRA? Yesterday there were two in the world whom I loved and trusted. Escoriaza and you. But that is all past; a part of it at least. Do you know what it is you have done? You have read my heart without remorse and broken It with treachery! If you had only spoken earlier, if you had so much as hinted that you knew and loved him; that he was yours, only separated from you by a hasty word, a mistake, a blind obstinacy, a lovers quarrel, I could, perhaps, have sent him back to you, heart free. To-day I send him away; but too late, alas! for n~. You wished to know, maybe, how far he would wander from ypu, what power lay in si- lence, how long existence would be a boon with- out him. Iwish you had not tried the dull ex- perimentthe reaction is mine. I should have hated myself; had I thought this thing of you that you, you whom I loved, could so use and defraud me. Well, I have given you wounds too; shall I grieve that you return this deadly thrust? Thinking that not alone do you bereave me of a lover, but of yourself; a friead, a kinswoman, what I most relied upon! The gods sell all things at a fair price, it is said; but surely this summers sunihine has cost me dear. So my letter must have crossed yours on the VOL. XXXV.No. 205.D road. Had you read that first, I wonder would you have written this which I found in Escoria- zas bands an hour ago? He meant to be he- roic for my sake, but I surprised himI would not suffer it. I saw that in hi~ face which his act would deny. He loves you best, since for me he would sacrifice you and himself together. It was vain to contend with Fate. Your time is short, I said, if you linger beyond the day she has fixed to receive you. She refuses to see your face. Go quickly. You belong to her. Good-by! I have done with- out you for twenty yearsI can hardly miss you now. The fancy of a summer dies easilygood- by! And even at this moment the ring of his horses hoofs sounds woefully in my ears. Can I forgive you? My God! I forgot; the storm has swept away the bridge. Will he try the Dangerous Ford? Have I sent him to meet Death instead of you? Have you summoned him thus? DEAR Miss SYLvIA,It is a painful duty that is imposed upon me by the sudden aberra- tion of mind of your cousin Lyra. Sefior Escoriaza left here yesterday by your commands; he intended to cross the river on horseback and take the stage beyond; but the late violent storm had carried away the bridge, and in his haste he attempted the Dangerous Ford. The stream was swollen, the current strong and wild, the horse unmanageable and no help near. Your unfortunate cousin saw it allthe plunge, the rear, the struggling, the fatal victory of the hungry tide, which threw him at her feet, bruised and buffeted, dead and drowned. Since which event her reason is shaken sorely, and she laughs and talks wildly, while he lies bland and beautiful before her; wonders when he will return, and hastens to meet him hourly. I will send my brother to bring you; and I am, yours obediently, JOHN EARLSWORTHY. Dear Sylvia, last night the wind was high so high, it shivered myA~olian harp with a gust. I could cry, onlyEscoriazawill make me another when he comes across the river, and will breathe upon it the music of the spheres. lam his Lyra. And here the old letters ended. I bound them again with the black ribbon which so well became them, and consulted with Uncle Ben. Sylvia, Sylvia, he mused, old Miss As- tors name was Sylvia true as mines Ben. The desk must have been hers. Who would have thought of her playing such a game though? Dont you remember there was only one mourn- er at the funerala queer little lady, her cousin and heir, the servants said, whom she had not met for forty years? She was under the care of a Doctor somebody. Yes, said I, that must have been Lyra. 50 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. I recollect that she seemed expecting some one, and often repeated, Why doesnt he come? I supposed some other relative had. agreed to come, and ventured to suggest that he had lost the train and would take the next. Yes, said she, every things lost; I am a lost star, and she nodded and looked out again across the happy fields and the purple hills, into the wide, blue heavens. To think that we had a romance next doorbut one! But poor Miss Astor! Who guessed that her stubborn heart had been forty years in breaking, while Lyras was shivered in an hour? JANE MORRISON. JT was summer, and sunset: a bank of orange clouds slowly sinking, as with their own heaviness, illumined the tops of the hills that hem in the most thriving and populous of the cities that stand on tbe shores of the River of Beauty. Carts were rattling homeward, shops closing, men with plaster of lime and clay on their hands, and in their hair, and with bundles of lath and sticks of pine wood on their shoulders hurrying along, thinking, perhaps, of the smok- ing supper, the patient wife, and the children, glad in spite of their rags, that waited for them. At the doors of the great soap and candle fac- tories smartish fellows, with scented hair, heavy gold fob chains, and curiously-striped trowsers, were lounging to watch and comment upon the pretty milliners and sewing-girls as they passed along with the new bonnet, or the roll of shirts in their hands, computing in their minds the weeks earnings, and balancing the scanty amount against the pair of new shoes and the few yards of muslin that must be bought, with a sigh that so little was left for the gloves and the ribbons. Along the dusty roads that wind round about and through and among the hills. great teams were moving slowly, some toward, others from the city, and all loaded full to their white cov- ers with oats, grain, and potatoes, or with farm- ing implements, dry goods, and groceries, as they ~ehanced to be bound. Some of the returning wagons were laden with the stores of country merchants, bound for parts inae~eessible by canal-boat or rail-car, and included every thing from a fanning-mill to a thimble, all hought at bargains, and to be Aold at a great reduction. There were brooms, chums, and cheesesscythes, milk-crocks, and cradles. Shawls so ingeniously manufactured that cotton could not be told from cashmere, nor tow from silk; linen warranted pure, that could be sold cheaper than cotton; also a great varietyofsilksof the newest styles and patterns, imported expressly for the country trade, and cheapas dirt. Imitatiois laces and embroideries that ~cant possibly be distinguished from real, and which all ladies actually prefer; milliners goods, bought below cost, and to be sold at a still lower rate. And so forth. One of these great teams, city-bound, stopped before one of the rickety old houses of the sub- urb, and the teamster got down from his saddle to water his horses at the trough which stood by the doorside for the accommodation of all travelers. The horses shook themselves in their harness as they rested thus, and the two lead- ers, wearing bells on their collars, made a merry jangle as they did so that brought to the win- dows above a dozen faces, among the rest the pretty but sad face of a young girl, who held her sewing in her hand as she stood at the win- dow and looked out. Almost at the first glance the color rose to her pale cheek, and then drop- ping her eyes she stitched faster than ever. The teamster happened to look up just as she looked down, and his bold, brown eyes seemed to settle on her pale face like a couple of bees on a lily, and to stay th~e in his own despite, for by the blush in his~nbu~t cheek it was evident that his look was not intentionally inso- lent. When he htid watered his horsesthere were six of them, stout and sturdy as they could be he patted their necks and adjusted their bear- skin collars, giving to each a word of praise or a pet name. Two were grays, two were bays, two were black, all had their manes plaited like a wo- mans hair, and their tails knotted and tied up to keep them out of the mud. When every thing was adjusted the young teamster still waited, perhaps that his horses might rest, crossing his arms and leaning against the pump in an attitude by no means unbecom- ing, though doubtless the result of accident. His trowsers and jacket were of home-spun blue, he wore no coat, and his shirt was of bright red flannel. His straw-hat would not hold half the nut-brown curls that ornamented his head, so they tumbled out of it every way, some upon his neck, some about his forehead and eyes, a great rippling, tangled mass. He was stout and sturdy, built for work, like his horses, but had about him withal an air of pride and independencethat quite charmed the young girl, who was herself painfully timid and bashful. If you were to speak to him he would tell you that he lives in the most prQductive coun- try in the world, the best wooded, the best wa- tered; and not only so, but the healthiest in the world. No fever and ague within fifty miles of him !that he owns hi~ team and a little farm of three hundred acreshas a snug house and barn, together with grape-vines and orchards coming on, and that he would not live in Cin- cinnati if you would give him the half of it! I~ he should grow a Little confidential, as he would with half an hours talk, he would tell you that he has every thing he wants, unless in- deed it be a wife. That if he gets a good price for his oats, as he means to, he intends to buy himself a gold watch and a Sunday suit, and to carry home to his widowed mother as good a black silk dress as any body wears. He in-

50 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. I recollect that she seemed expecting some one, and often repeated, Why doesnt he come? I supposed some other relative had. agreed to come, and ventured to suggest that he had lost the train and would take the next. Yes, said she, every things lost; I am a lost star, and she nodded and looked out again across the happy fields and the purple hills, into the wide, blue heavens. To think that we had a romance next doorbut one! But poor Miss Astor! Who guessed that her stubborn heart had been forty years in breaking, while Lyras was shivered in an hour? JANE MORRISON. JT was summer, and sunset: a bank of orange clouds slowly sinking, as with their own heaviness, illumined the tops of the hills that hem in the most thriving and populous of the cities that stand on tbe shores of the River of Beauty. Carts were rattling homeward, shops closing, men with plaster of lime and clay on their hands, and in their hair, and with bundles of lath and sticks of pine wood on their shoulders hurrying along, thinking, perhaps, of the smok- ing supper, the patient wife, and the children, glad in spite of their rags, that waited for them. At the doors of the great soap and candle fac- tories smartish fellows, with scented hair, heavy gold fob chains, and curiously-striped trowsers, were lounging to watch and comment upon the pretty milliners and sewing-girls as they passed along with the new bonnet, or the roll of shirts in their hands, computing in their minds the weeks earnings, and balancing the scanty amount against the pair of new shoes and the few yards of muslin that must be bought, with a sigh that so little was left for the gloves and the ribbons. Along the dusty roads that wind round about and through and among the hills. great teams were moving slowly, some toward, others from the city, and all loaded full to their white cov- ers with oats, grain, and potatoes, or with farm- ing implements, dry goods, and groceries, as they ~ehanced to be bound. Some of the returning wagons were laden with the stores of country merchants, bound for parts inae~eessible by canal-boat or rail-car, and included every thing from a fanning-mill to a thimble, all hought at bargains, and to be Aold at a great reduction. There were brooms, chums, and cheesesscythes, milk-crocks, and cradles. Shawls so ingeniously manufactured that cotton could not be told from cashmere, nor tow from silk; linen warranted pure, that could be sold cheaper than cotton; also a great varietyofsilksof the newest styles and patterns, imported expressly for the country trade, and cheapas dirt. Imitatiois laces and embroideries that ~cant possibly be distinguished from real, and which all ladies actually prefer; milliners goods, bought below cost, and to be sold at a still lower rate. And so forth. One of these great teams, city-bound, stopped before one of the rickety old houses of the sub- urb, and the teamster got down from his saddle to water his horses at the trough which stood by the doorside for the accommodation of all travelers. The horses shook themselves in their harness as they rested thus, and the two lead- ers, wearing bells on their collars, made a merry jangle as they did so that brought to the win- dows above a dozen faces, among the rest the pretty but sad face of a young girl, who held her sewing in her hand as she stood at the win- dow and looked out. Almost at the first glance the color rose to her pale cheek, and then drop- ping her eyes she stitched faster than ever. The teamster happened to look up just as she looked down, and his bold, brown eyes seemed to settle on her pale face like a couple of bees on a lily, and to stay th~e in his own despite, for by the blush in his~nbu~t cheek it was evident that his look was not intentionally inso- lent. When he htid watered his horsesthere were six of them, stout and sturdy as they could be he patted their necks and adjusted their bear- skin collars, giving to each a word of praise or a pet name. Two were grays, two were bays, two were black, all had their manes plaited like a wo- mans hair, and their tails knotted and tied up to keep them out of the mud. When every thing was adjusted the young teamster still waited, perhaps that his horses might rest, crossing his arms and leaning against the pump in an attitude by no means unbecom- ing, though doubtless the result of accident. His trowsers and jacket were of home-spun blue, he wore no coat, and his shirt was of bright red flannel. His straw-hat would not hold half the nut-brown curls that ornamented his head, so they tumbled out of it every way, some upon his neck, some about his forehead and eyes, a great rippling, tangled mass. He was stout and sturdy, built for work, like his horses, but had about him withal an air of pride and independencethat quite charmed the young girl, who was herself painfully timid and bashful. If you were to speak to him he would tell you that he lives in the most prQductive coun- try in the world, the best wooded, the best wa- tered; and not only so, but the healthiest in the world. No fever and ague within fifty miles of him !that he owns hi~ team and a little farm of three hundred acreshas a snug house and barn, together with grape-vines and orchards coming on, and that he would not live in Cin- cinnati if you would give him the half of it! I~ he should grow a Little confidential, as he would with half an hours talk, he would tell you that he has every thing he wants, unless in- deed it be a wife. That if he gets a good price for his oats, as he means to, he intends to buy himself a gold watch and a Sunday suit, and to carry home to his widowed mother as good a black silk dress as any body wears. He in- JANE MORRISON. 51 tends to go down to the river and have a look at the steamboats, go to the museum, possibly to the theatre, and do some other things, may- be, for his own private pleasure. His name, as you would learn, supposing such conversation really took place, is Nathan tambert, and I think this is all you need know of him just now. What are you looking at, Janey, that turns your cheeks so red ? was the question that star- tled the young girl at the window, and caused her cheek to turn twice as red as before. And while we wait for her answer let us take a look at the person who asked the question, and a glance, also, at things in generaL The room, originally small enough, had had a considerable slice taken off one side by a board partition, so that it was left with length quite dispropor- tioned to its width, looking, in fact, more like an entry than a room. The furnishiug was scant enough; a small. cast-iron stove set in a brick fire-place (all cold and inhospitable just now), ~wo or three chairs, a table strewn with sewing-work, scissors, needle-book, press-board, and such like, a settee cushioned with faded calico, and an old mahogany bureau set upon high legs, and with one big drawer projecting out considerably beyond the others, comprised about the whole of it. There were two windows fronting the street, and these were curtained with wall-paper, and ornamented with flowers grown in earthen pots. The work-table was placed beside one of the windows, and also a wooden rocking-chair with a low, split bottom; and it was from this chair the girl had risen when she heard the jingle of the bells, and here she was still standing when the question previously recorded diverted her attention. What am I looking at ? she replied, the color coming and going in her cheek, and her eyes dropping upon her work. I was looking at some horses; let me see, there are six of them. You never saw such strong, stout-look- ing creatures; come and see for yourself, Will. The young man, who was lounging on the settee with a cigar in his mouth and the even- ing newspaper in his hand, got up with a yawn and came lazily forward. Much you know about horses, to be sure! he said, tapping her cheek with fingers a good deal fairer than hers. And then he aaid, with sudden energy: Thats a splendid dog, though, by Jove! I wonder if the fellow would sell him ? And he was out of the house and talking to the teamster in an instant. The young girl addressed as Jane~y now no- ticed that a great brindle dog, as large almost as a yearling calf, was lying under the wagon, his eyes glittering like fire, and his wide mouth as black as tar. Take care ! says the teamster; take care, Sir! as the young fellow began pulling at the strap about the dogs neck. Take care! What shall I take care for ? Youll find out in a minute; let go of him; he aint used to be handled that Way by stran- gers! The dog had by this time risen on his fore- legs, and was growling like a lion. Curse him! cries the young man; and he gave the dog a kick with his rough boot. The enraged creature leaped upon him now, and in another moment would have liad him on the ground. I told you to be careful ! says the teamster; down, Grisly, down! but Gris- ly was in earnest, and would not let go. The sash flew up by this time, and the young girl, with her head and shoulders clear outside, entreated: Dont let the dog~ bite himoh, good Sir, dont, I pray! Her mannerfor she was wringing her hands, and her eyes were wide with terror-entreated more pathetically than her words. Not if he is any thing to you ! answered the teamster, glancing toward her. Then he seized the dog by the brass collar about his neck and pulled him off, but he took half the young fellows coat-sleeve in his mouth. Are you hurt ? says the teamster, speaking as one speaks when sympathy does not go with the words. No, damn you, and your dog too! says the young man; and then he slips a pistol from his side-pocket, and, with an oath, threatens to shoot the dog. You had better not! says the teamster, flourishing his lash-whip, and coming nearer by a step. At this the young man lifted his arm, with the tatters hanging from it, and cocked the pis- toL A scream from the window now, and then another, with twenty incoherent exclamations. If you are not hurt you deserve to be says the teamster, cracking his whip, and whis- tling to his dog. By this time a crowd had gathered, made up of the motley crew that always hang about the suburbs of large citiesmen, boys, girls, and womensome of the last named with babies in~ their arms. Go it, Will Morrison! go it! cried half a dozen voices. Im on your side! Ill see t you have fair play! Shoot the dog through the head, and then shoot his master! You aint a-comm here, you backwoods hoosier you, to set your great dog onto us to tear us to pieces, I can tell you! so look out ! He haint sot his dog onto nobodyhe was a-behavin like a gentleman till Will Morrison attacked him! I can swear to thai; and Ill stand up for him, too! cried as many voices on the other side. Grisly had renewed his growls; and what with the disputations of the by-standers, the crying of the frightened children, the profanity of the young man called Morrison, the whip, the pistol, and all together, the scene was becoming one of wild and painful excitement; when all at once the young girl who had been making her entreaties from the window pushed through 52 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. the crowd, i~nd taking the young man by the hand, besought him to come peaceably into the house with her. Go back, you little fool ! he cried, twisting himself out of her grasp, and pushing her rough- ly from him. Dont touch that woman that way again, if you know whats good for yourself~ says the teamster, doubling the lash back against the stock of his whip, and eying the young man askance, as he leaned against the shoulder of his leader. What is it your business? Shes nothing to you! So shut up your mouth, or Ill shut it for you in a way that you wont like, you old hoo- sier-pate ! She i8 something to me, Sirshes a wo- man! and for that she ought to be something to every man. At any rate, I wont stand by and see you put your hand upon her as you did just now, let come what will come Bravo! bravo! hurrah for you ! shouted a dozen of the crowd, taking the strangers part; and this so irritated the young scape-grace that he again lifted the pistol, and made as if he were about to snap it. Oh, for mercys sake, go away! cried the girl, clinging to the teamsters arm and endeav- oring to keep him back; for he was striding toward the young man as fast as he could stride. He put her softly behind him with one hand, while with the other he seized the pistol and sent it whirling over the heads of the throng, and away out of sight. Then taking off his hat, as in reverence, he said: I will go now; but I have not been to blame in this, first or last. And placing a hand upon the shoulder of one of his leaders, he threw himself into the saddle; the bells began to tinkle, Old Gris- ly, with one surly backward look, took his place beneath the wagon, and the young man called Will Morrison, pushing the girl roughly out of his way, climbed the rickety old stairs that hung like a fungus against the outside of the house, and kicking open the door, disappeared, mut- tering a curse between his teeth. The girl followed him directlyher footstep slow and heavy, and her apron to her eyes. The crowd lingered a little while to talk over the affairto praise and to blame, to wonder and to prophesy that the last of it had not come yet, and that whoever saw the teamster stop at the~t trough to water his horses another time would see a fight. The bets were made as to who would beat when the fight should come off; and the man who kept the grocery in the basement of the tumble- down house against which the fungus of a stair was hung was appointed watchman to signal the approach of the teamster; and the crowd finally separated in a state of high exhilarationthe men swearing, the women gossiping, the babies crying, and the dogs barking and snarling. So the pump was left alone but for one poor fel- low who found himself unable to let go the handle. The teamster, as he rode away, swaying from side to side of his leader, heard not the tinkling music of the bells, and thought not at all about the price his oats would fetch; he heard only the voice of the young woman entreating him, and thought chiefly of the relation in which she stood to the young man. Was she his wife? was she his sister? In vain he tried to dis- miss her from his mind. What is she to me ? he would say; I shall never see her again.! And then he would set straight to dreaming out the most improbable chances how he might by some strange combination of circumstances rescue her from danger or from deathhow she might come to love him, and he her, and how the end of it might be mar- riage! So quickly do the fancies of a young heart take the shape of hope and love, and of all things bright and beautifulmore especial- ly if the heart be innocent as well as young. It would be three days till his return. Would that face be at the window? No, it was not likely; and if it were, why what of that? He would not be privileged to make recognition by a smile or a glance. He thought of half a doz- en pretty speeches that he might have made, now that it was too late, and took himself to task, and rated himself soundly for a simpleton, and an ignoramus, and a fool. And while he rode away musing on thiswise, and planning the plans impossible to execute the plans he might have spared himselfFate had already fixed his destiny, and he was mov- ing steadily toward it all the time. The young girl was dreaming her dream too, and reproach- ing herself for behaving so coldly to the kind- hearted stranger who had stepped in and taken her part. His brown cheek seemed to her handsomer than any fair one she had ever seen in all her life, and his r~d shirt sleeves to be the very pattern of gr~tceful elegance. What are you so glum for, Janey ? the young man said at last, dashing the newspaper aside (for he had been lying on the settee with his face covered with the paper); and raising himself on one elbow, he looked at her with stern reproachfulness. Oh, I dont know as I am glum, as you call it, the girl answered I was thinking, that is all. And her cheek glowed, for she felt as if her thoughts had been detected. You was thinking of that impudent back- woodsmanthats what you was thinking of. You neednt try to deceive me, Janey; I know your sly ways. But come, put away your old sewing-work and get me my supperI must be off! Aad he took out a gold watch, looked at it a moment, and shut it again with a snap. It isnt time yet: I just heard the cathedral clock, said the girl, quietly; and, besides, I want to finish this piece of work. I have prom- ised it this evening, and you can carry it home if you will only wait a little while. And standing up at the window to make the most of the fading light, she stitched away as if for dear life. JANE MORRISON. 53 Then the young man swore an oath it was time he was off, that she knew very well; hut small regard had she for his comfort or interest. Well, he supposed he could take a drink at the grocery below, and manage to do without sup- per, as she had forced him to do many a time before. And, rising, he pulled his hat over his eyes, took a handsome carriage whip from the mantle-shelf, and strode toward the door. Oh, Willy, dont be cross with me ! plead- ed the girL I must finish this work to-night, indeed I mustyou just make up the fire now, thats a good boy; by that time I shall have finished this seam, and I can do the rest while you are eating your supper, and then you can carry and leave the work on your way to the boat. Come now, dear Willy, you dont know how much it will oblige me. Just think of the long walk you will save me! Oh, youre very good all at once; if you hadnt er been fooling away your time in the streetall for the sake of that confounded ras- cal of a teamsteryour work would have been done, and my supper ready too: but little do you care; so, missy, you can get your work home without my help. Then he stopped, with his hand on the latch, and told her not to be sitting up and wasting candles on his account, for the chances were that he would not he home before daylight. Oh, Will! dear Will! dont go away so! there is no need for you to go yetindeed there is not! Just wait and Ill make the fire and cook your supper all myself, and then finish my work and get it home as best I can, only dont go to the grocery and drinkfor mercys sake dont do that, Will! If you only knew how you make me suffer I am sure you would not, you could not! And she was holding his arm and lifting to- ward him her tear-wet face with such gentle, sad beseeching. Whew! do you think to come it over, me with such acting! And he shook her off his arm as though she had been a viper, hurried down the rickety stairs, and went as straight into the grocery store as he could go. Janey held her breath and listened, and di- rectly she knew by the rattling of glasses and by the roars of laughter that the accustomed drinking and coarse jesting and profanity were going forward. She put away her sewing-work now, and hastened to make a fire and prepare the supper, and when the table was spread and every thing made as attractive as it could be she went down stairs. Come, Will, supper is in season after all, she said, coaxingly, so come up and eat it. I have made toast for you, and such. a nice cup of tea! But by this time he had drank so much whisky that ~oaxing was all in vain; he an- swered her with such rude and boisterous inso- lence as .to send her hack ~vi~h a heart almost breaking in her bosom. She did not eat any of the supper herself but sat down hy the window, and after a burst of bitter tears tried to divert herself with the sights and sounds of the street. Droves of cattle and hogs, packed together in what seemed one solid mass, were being goaded forward to their doom; while carts load- ed full of calves and lambs, their feet tied and heaped one over the other, rattled over the rough pavement. Dutch women, in short petti- coats and wooden shoes, and with round rosy faces, were going to and fro, some with bundles of sticks on their heads, and some with baskets of smoking livers on their arms,.to be converted into puddings at home. The gardeners, with their small wagons filled with vegetables for the next days market, were chiding the drovers and pushing forward. Across the street and along the edge of the opposite hill the low dingy boats were being pulled, one after an- other, through the thick green waters of the canal; the whistle of the steam-engine shrieked in the distance, and the evening bells wrangle and jangle; the boys that are the scavengers of the streets jostle the unwary from the side- walks; and smoke, smoke, smoke, blank and dismal, hangs over every thing, from the river to the slaughter-yards of Deer Creek, and from St. Peters to the Observatory. The young girl did not distinctly see or hear any of these things just now; she had seen and heard them so often that they produced little impression at any time, but just now she could see nothing but a weary dreary past, and a weary dreary future. Here she had lived ever since she was born; here her father and mother, while she was yet almost a child, had sickened with the cholera and died; and after them two brothers, sturdy, sterling boys, and a meek-eyed little sister that had slept on her pillow, shared all her hard- ships and privations, and grown to be a part of her very heart, so that it was like dividing her life from her life when they were separated by that relentless enemy that shows no mercy and no favor. Their graves had been made in the Potters Field, and left nameless among ten thousand others, so that for years she had not known where to find them. And those years had been dark enough. The oldest and least promising of the boys, William, had been spared by the scourge that desolated the home, and things no sooner fell into his hands than they went from bad to worse. Mr. Morrison, the father, had been none of the steadiest, and Janeys earliest memory was the picture of her mothers pale face at the window, watching, as the other workmen came home, to see if he would come with the rest. She had seen the cradle in which her little sister was rocked tum- bled over, and the baby with it, time and again, in his fits of drunken anger, and the scanty delf dashed against the jamb or into the street be- cause some dish of the breakfast or supper hap- pened not to please him. But in the main he had provided for his family and kept them to- gether with an outside show of decency, though without much respectability or comfort it must 54 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. be owned. The house he lived in, together with the lot of land on which it stood, were his at the time of his death, as also the tools and implements of his trade. These the son, who inherited all that was bad in his fathers char- acter and nothing that was good, lost from time to time in raffles with fellows of the neighbor- hood like himself; next the house wa~ mort- gaged, and the end of all was that it was sold aud the heirs reduced to the necessity of rent- ing the one small room in which they still lived. Jane, or Janey as her brother called her in his better moods, betook herself as she grew into womanhood to that miserable resource of so many miserable womenidain sewing. And day in and day out, and week in and week out, and month in and month out, she was to be seen at the smoke-darkened window, bending over her needle, and stitching and stitching and stitching. So her cheek grew pale as ashes, and her shoulders bent prematurely, and at last there had come to be a stitch in her side with almost every stitch in her work. Sometimes when she sighed, dropped her work, and for a moment drew up her poor tired shoulders, the brother, with angry impatience, would drag the work out of her lap and say, Why in the devils name are you killing your- self over that hateful sewing? You know very well I dont want you to do it ! Or something of that sort he would say. Perhaps her sad face and drooping figure reproached him. But he never said with any real tenderness or sym- pathy, I dont want you to work so hard ; nor did he ever by deeds, that speak plainer than words, say to her that he did not wish her to work so hard. For weeks at a stretch he would lounge on the settee, reading the Police Gazette and the Sun- day News, and smoking cigars between whiles, rising only to eat the bread and meat she had earned for him, and at last, when some paler look or sadder sigh than common displeased him by interfering with his own indolent happiness, breaking out with some such exclamation as has been recorded. At first he had pretended to learn the shoe- makers trade, but after a few weeks gave it up, sitting so steadily did not agree with him; he was suffering dreadfully with a pain in his chest, and he would groan so dreadfully whenever he came into the house as to force his sister to sec- ond his wishes and entreat him tolet the trade go. Then he must have medicine and be nursed with extra care and pains for a month or more; his health had been so broken down he did not think he should ever be able to undertake an- other trade. At last, however, after six months idling and loafing he surprised and delighted his sister one day by informing her that he had taken a notion to be a carpenter. Oh, Will, I am so glad ! she cried; that will be just the thing for you, you always liked tools so much, you know ! And then she counted up the years of apprenticeship, and the probable time that would elapse afterward be- fore he would really get into business for him- self; and then she ascertained the wages which a first-rate workman might hope to obtain, and estimated how much he would have left after paying the rent; and if you can only do that, Will, why I can do all the rest with my needle, and we shall get along so beautifully! Pay the rent! why, he could do that and a great deal besides; he could buy the fire-wood and the flourin fact, he could do almost ev- ery thing, and Janey should just keep the house, and that would be all she need door nearly all he was sure of that. So, Janey, lets have some oysters to-night. We can afford it, you know, in view of the great things I am going to do; and its a pity if we cant have something nice once in a while as well as other folks. Then Jane, taking out her faded purse, with a little silver change in one end and a dollar- bill in the other, gave him the dollar, with di- rections to bring it half back against paying for the half cord of wood that must be had in a few days. But Will said oysters were nothing with- out Worcestershire sauce, and that would take the remaining fifty centsif he couldnt have both he didnt want either, and so he flung the note back to her and sulked, and of course the end of it was that he had both, and Janey worked till midnight to make it up. When the day came upon which he had en- gaged to begin work he had no boots fit to wear, he said; and he set his foot np in the sight of Janey again and again, showing her the hole in the side and the heel askew, in a fretful, irrita- ble sort of way, as though she were in some sort to blame. At last she told him to have his measure tak- en for just such boots as he wanted, and she would sew for the shoemakers wife to pay for them. Then he went off to order the boots in fine humorit would be the last time Janey should ever work for him, that was certain! That day every thing went wellhe split the wood and made the fires for her, and talked with gay good-humor of the thousand and one things he would do for her by-and-by. It was easy to sit up of nights and sew while Will was behaving so handsomely. By the time the boots came home the trow- sers were out at the knees, and Jane offered to put in patches of just the same color and darn them down as neat as could be. They will be nice enough for a working-suit, you know, she said; and perhaps nobody will ever no- tice the patches at all. Why, just look at the elbows of my dress! And she showed patches of a color different from the gown. But iill would not do. A womans dress is no rule said Will; and if I cant go looking respecta- ble I wont go at all! When I db try my best you will not help me any; its poor encourage- ment, and after all I have offered to do for you, too! Then ~he sulked, and threw himself on the settee, and staid there till Jane saw the tai- lor and arranged for the new trowsers. JANE MORRISON. Tea days after the time upon which he had agreed to go to work he actually did go one morning, all brushed and spruced up, and with a white handkerchief in his pocket (one of Janeys) and a cigar in his month. That day Jane watered her flowers with a light heart, and afterward, as she sewed at the window, snng lit- tIe tunes to herself. After all, Will was going to turn out a man! She was almost angry with the shoemakers wife for intimating a doubt; and when the tailor said, with a dubious shake of the head: We will see what we will see! she took out her purse and paid him all she owed, though she had not money left to buy bread for snpper. She wonld not be indebted to the like of him though she should starve for it! For a whole week Will went regnlarly to work every morning, and came home regularly every night; but though, after the first day or two, he began to get sullen and surly, Jane kept up heart. It was natural enoughhe was not used to hard work; but after a little he would come to like it, and be good-humored. She was sure he would; and in this hope she exert- ed herself to please him in every way possible. She bought cakes and pies for his supper when he came home at night, eating none of them herself she didnt care for such things, she sai~l. And then she would make such nice luncheons for him to carry to his work; for her- self; she did not stop to eatsomeho~wshe did not get hungry, she said. All the hardship was as nothing so long as Will kept at work, and prom- ised so well; by-and-by, when he had got his trade, and she could give up working of nights, they were going to be so happy! Just a few years more! One evening when she was saying this to her- self as she trimmed her tallow-candle, while her work lay for a moment in her lap, an unusual stir in the street attracted her attentiona hum of strange voices mingled with groans. She opened the window, but saw only a crowd surg- ing about the foot of the stairs. Then she heard the stairs creaking, and the groans were right at the door. Her heart was in her mouth; and well it might have been. They had brought her brother home stretched out on a board. He had fallen from a house-roof and broken one leg and dislocated a shoulder-joint. Here was trouble to face; danger and death, perhaps; though the last was considered the happiest prospect by every one except Jane. It was six months before he could hobble upon crutches, and there were the doctors bills and the medicines, and all the delicacies to be paid for, and only one way to do it alL No wonder the shoulders began to bend, and the stitch to catch in the side of the poor, sad seamstress. It was a year before Will Morrison thought of turning his hand to a stroke of workhe seemed to feel that he was set apart by Provi- dence now to a life of easy indolence, and day in and day ont he lay on the settee and smoked and read the newspaper; and night after night, swinging the broken leg out and around as he walked, got himself down to the grocery and liquor store below stairs and drank and played at cards, and traded jack-knives and hats and coats with idle feJlows about as worthless as himself. A man who kept a livery stable in the neighborhood caii~e to ask Jane to make him some shirts one day, and as it happenedfor it was not a thing unusualhe found her in tears. What is the matter, my poor child ? he said, and can I do any thing for you ? No, nothing was the matter, Jane answered. She was foolish and unreasonably discontented with her lotthat was all; but the man, who had a kind heart, and had seen troubles of his own, knew well enough how it was, and more for pity of her than love of her brother, it is to be presumed, gave him employmenthis busi- ness being to drive a coach down to the wharf on the arrival of a steamboat, secure as many passengers as he could for the city hotels, di- viding the profits with his employer. This business really suited him better than any thing he had undertaken; and with the ex- ception of one drunken spree he had kept pretty steadily at it for a month at the time our story begins. The new and fast-running steamer, Belle of the West, was expected to arrive about nine oclock on the evening of the day upon which the teamster stopped before the grocery store to water his horses, and the quarrel about the dog, already recorded, took place. And to drive his coach to the wharf and wait for the passengers of the Belle qf the West was the business Will Morrison had in hand when, he urged the preparation of supper, as has been seen. He urged it in advance of any actual neces- sity, because of the ill-humor he was in, and, knowing this, Jane had entreated him to wait, as we have seen, but afterward relented, and did as he wishedall against her better judg- ment. It has been told how she went back from her coaxing, leaving her brother drinking and swear- ing in the grocery store, and sat at the window with her heart fit to break; but the poor girl had not even time for tears, and by-and-by she wiped her eyes, and trimmed her candle, and be- gan to stitch again. It was nine oclock before the work was com- pleted, and she had promised to send it home that evening. The moon was shining and she was fearless, having been used to be sent late of errands from a child; she would carry it her- selfshe had always managed to keep her word, and she would now. So tying on her straw- bonnet, and pinning a cotton shawl about her shoulders, she set ont with the parcel in her hand. It was full a mile and a half to town, for she lived in the northern suburb; but she walked with a quick step, and when she had 56 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. delivered her work and turned homeward, it lacked yet fifteen minutes to ten oclock. A sudden thought struck her she was so uneasy about Will she would walk down to- ward the river and see if she would meet him. Perhaps he might not be able to sit on the box, and might fall off and be run over! She almost flew along the street, and was soon in sight of the river. ~iPhere they were, the long line of coaches, waiting. She crept cautiously along now, nearer and nearer. She knew Wills gray horses, and if she could only see them she would be satisfied. But he must not see her, not for the world! So, like a guilty thing, she peered about until she saw the horses past doubt, but still she was no bet- ter satisfied. Will was not with them; they seemed restive, and the reins were dragging loose. What should she do? Ask some one to secure them? While she hesitated in fear and doubt a step came toward her. She turn- ed to make the request, and recognized the young teamster. Somehow she knew not whyshe could not ask him, and stole into the shadow as quickly as she might. He had seen her, however, and stood watching her with his eyes straining into the shadows; he had seen her somewhere before. When his eyes would go no farther his feet moved of them- selves, or seemed to do so, for consciously he had no part in the matter, and, to his surprise, the girl stopped in front of a low drinking-house and peered cautiously in at the window. A minute in all she stood there, perhaps, and then treading on tip-toe for a little way she came out into the light and fairly ran. But by the glimpse he caught of her face he could almost have sworn it was the girl he had seen, and maybe saved from harm, that afternoon. When she was completely out of sight he approached the win- dow and looked in just as she had done, and there, drinking and swearing, was the very man with whom he had quarreled in the afternoon. It was now settled in his mind beyond doubt this was the woman he had seen, wife or sister, whichever she might be. Prompted, he knew not by what impulse, he lingered about, keeping one eye upon the win- dow of the drinking-house and one on the rest- ive horses. He had come to the river-side to see the Belle of the West come in, to view the Ken- tucky hills, and, in fact, being a stranger, to see what he could see. It was now near ten oclock, and little was doing on the wharf; a few carts and drays, and the coaches waiting for the evening passengers, that was all. The river was low, below low-water-mark, and the steamboats were packed together by dozens, waiting for a rise. Some small craft occasionally worked and wheezed and wriggled its way through sand-bars, and with much trib- ulation of surging and backing and shoving got itself near enough ashore to push out the plank. But the Belle of the West did not make her ap pearance, and report finally came through one of the smaller craft that she was aground some forty miles above Louisville. No need then of further waiting for her. Omnibuses, coaches, and carts pulled up the hill and went their separate ways; but when all the rest were gone one coach remained standing, the horses growing more and more restive, and no driverin sight. The young teamster stopped once or twice and gave these horses a mouthful of the hay that had fallen from some load as it passed, or patted their necks kindly, for he was used to take care of his own horses, and could not bear to see them suffer from neglect or ill-usage. There was another reason why he kept guard upon these horses if he had known itdestiny was holding him fast. By-and-by eleven sounded from some distant bell-tower, and then all at once the noise in the drinking-house became a tumultoaths were bandied, and then blows were struck, and then there were cries of Murder! and Help! and directly a couple of fellows came dragging a bleeding body out between them, and mutter- ing curses as they came. Do you know where he lives? said one. No, dn me if I do, answered the other. Spose we throw him in the river and have done with him, once for all ! He aint worth his salt, said the first spe~t- er, and if.he was once in I wouldnt be the fel- ler to pull him out; but as for puttin him in, Im afeared I shouldnt like the feel of a rope round my neck afterward; but what shall we do with him any how ? Chuck him into this coach here. I dont know whether its hisn or not; but lets chuck him in and leave the watchman to find him any how; what becomes of him aint our look- out. They had dragged him close to the coach by this time, and between them they managed to chuck him in as they had said, and having done it, closed the door upon him and ran away, their hands red with blood, and their hair fly- ing in the wind. The young teamster, who had been sitting astride of a post at the heads of the horses while this conversation took place, now came round, scratched a match on the sole of his boot, and by the flickering light it made eyed the bleed- ing man: it was just as he had suspected, the young fellow with whom he had quarreled that day. He got inside the coach now, laid the cush- ions beneath him as well as he could, and then, mounting the box, turned the heads of the horses homeward, and driving carefully, drew up by the well-known water-trough, a little past midnight. The candle was burning at the window-pane above, and with the grating of the wheels upon the sands the sash flew up, and out came the pale face. Willy, oh, Willy! is that you?~ JANE MORRISON. 57 He is not in a condition to answer you; but dont be alarmed! replied the teamster, and then jumping from the box he hastily secured the horses and went up to her, feeling his way through the dark along the fungus-like stairs. He told her as gently as he could what had hap- pened, and assured her over and over that there was no real danger. in the case, though he was by no means sure of this himself. The grocer had to be called up, for he was gone to bed, and by the time they got the in- jured man up stairs poor Janey was fairly beside herself with terror. And she no sooner saw the blood than she sank to the ground, moaning, and fainted dead away. Here was bewilderment upon bewilderment. What shall we do ? cries Nathan Lambert, the teamster. Dash some water in her face ! ans*ers the grocer; theres a cup on the table. But this the young man refused to do; but dropping oii one knee beside her, laid her flat along the floor and began chafing her hands and prattling to her as though she had been a baby. And his method, though so gentle, was effective; perhaps, indeed, it was the strange- ness of tender tones and touches that aroused her, for she presently unclosed her eyes, and when she saw the young mans face so close to hers, shut them again with something very like a blush flushing along her cheek. No rose of all his mothers garden had ever seemed to Nathan half so sweet, and he would have given the price of his black leaders for the privilege of kissing that bright cheek then and there. Oh, my brother! my poor brother! were the first words the pale lips uttered; and the next, as she seized Nathan by the hand, did he come to harm through you ? When she learned that he was not seriously hurtfor the grocer had fetched the doctor al- most immediatelyand that lie had only come to good through Nathan, she began to laugh and to cry at once, and to talk with a mingled wildness and tenderness that was not at all like her accustomed quiet self. And as for Nathan, his own mother would not have known her child if she had seen him in that hourso careful and thoughtful for the strange girl whom he had never seen until with- in a few hours. Will Norrison in his drunken brawl had re- ceived a cut across the arm, by means of which a vein had been severed, and the profuse bleed- ing had induced fainting; but so soon as the blood was stanched and the wound dressed he came to himself, and when he was gotten into bed behaved better than he. had done for many a day. It was two oclock before the house was cleared and all quiet. By this time Will was sleeping soundly, but Janey was wide awakenever so wide in all her life, perhaps, and professed it to be her intention to sit and watch all night. Shall I sit with you ? says the grocers wife, yawning and rubbing her eyes, and with a sidelong, anxious look toward the door. Oh, by no means ! says Janey Morrison. I am not at all afraid. I will just trim the candle and take up my sewing, and it will be daylight directly. No, no; I will not allow you to staynot at all ! And will you allow me to stay? says the young stranger, bashfully, when theywere alone; for the grocers wife made haste to avail herself of her privilege. There is no need of it, answers Janey, eva- sively; and taking up her sewing-work she be- gan to stitch very hard. All at once the young man became strangely interested in flowerswhat was the name of this one, and what of that one? and how very sweet they all were! His mother had a garden full of them at home, but nothing of them all so~ fine as these, to be sure! Might he have a slip of the plant with the blue blossom? Oh, Janey was so very good to give it! how should he ever thank her! He would not cut it nownot till hewas going home; then he would stop for it, if Janey would give him leave; and it would be so much the fresher. So, with that artfulness that in all such cases seems to be second nature, he planned a second visit before the first was well commenced. Then he discovered a flower dissimilar to all the restsomething entirely strange and new. Would Janey just put down her sewing-work and come for a moment to look at it? Of courseshe could do no less; and before it was all over, as good luck would have it, a brier got itself in her finger. Here was a rare chance! The brier must be gotten outthat was certain; and when Nathan had gotten the little hand in his he was a long time performing the simple operation. And when it was done, Janey must not sew any more that night; was not Nathan her surgeon? and he positively forbade it! The acquaintance, begun in such circum- stances, matured very fast; their hearts had got acquainted almost before they had exchanged a word. Both were young, innocent, and ig- norant of all merely conventional restraints; they were alone, and what should hinder the acquaintance from maturing? Before the day- break Nathan had revealed all the history of his life, part of which the reader knows already; and in turn Janey had told him her history, but with much softening and modification. She did not tell him the hardness of her hardships; and all her brothers indolence and recklessness she passed by under the name of misfortunes. Poor, poor Willy! she exclaimed again and again; but what Nathan Lambert thought in his heart, for he saw prettyclearly how things were, was Poor, poor Janey ! And this and a great many other things he said with his eyes, and in the tender interest of his tone, and in all those nameless ways that can never be represented by mere written words. And Janey understood the mysterious language; for, as we all know, the greatest mystery of the world 58 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. makes itself the most lucid and simple of all things when falls the inevitable day and hour. To be alone thus together, with the silence and darkness of night about them, was a pleas- ure inconceivable to their minds until it was in- terpreted in their experience; and both sighed when the gray daylight broke in and the hnm and stir in the street warned them that the dear, delicious season was well-nigh over. At last Nathan must go; and there was no other way. What can I ever do to pay you for all your goodness to my poor dear brother ? says Janey, with drooping eyes. She was standing before him in the broad light now; and when he saw her pale, pinched cheek a happy thought struck himwhy, there was one thing she could do, he said, bluntly; if she would permit him to eat breakfast with her he would be more than paid; and to say truth, lie was as hnngry as a bear. Then with much pretense of starvation and ado about there not being enough in all the mark- et to supply his need he made Janey borrow for him the biggest basket the grocer had in his shop, and with it on his arm and whistling a merry tune away he wentall for his own self- ish gratification as he pretended. The table was set as carefully as the scanti- ness of the house afforded, and the coals glow- ing bright when he returned with such a full basket as had never come into that house before. As I told you, I am as hungry as a bear ! he exclaimed, by way of apology, as he placed the basket on the table. They sat down together directly, a~d such a delicious breakfast Nathan declared he had never eaten in his lifefresh rolls, and sweet butter, and beef-steak, and berries, and coffee, and I know not what besides. Janey had never been so happy in all her life as when she s~t opposite Nathan at that breakfast-table, and made his coffee for him with cream and white sugar, delicacies she had hardly even seen on a table till thenit seemed to her as though she had been transported by magic into some realm of fairy-land. But by-and-by something of the old shadow fell npon her face again; no excuses would avail longer, and Nathan must go. I am to stop as I go home, you remember, he said, when he took Janeys hand at parting, for the slip of this beautiful plant. And he glanced at the flower-pot in the window. Oh yes, says Janey; and for fear you forget it I will giveyou a flower now to wear in yonr button-hole. And she broke the finest of the flowers and stuck it in the button-hole of his jacket. Forget it ! says Nathan; but I thank you all the same. And with his face glowing bright as his flower he went away. All great cities have their share of poverty and filth and wretchedness, and the Queen City of Ohio is not an exception. She has her lazy worthless tribe as well as the resther begriined children, who will not wash in her beautiful river and be clean. Her ignorant population, who will not migrate beyond her circle of hills and make themselves honest homes in the goodly country beyond, adorning their lands with wheat and orchards and grape-vines, meadows and gardens, and all things bright and beautifulthat come out of the ground almost for the asking. Oh no; they prefer moist cellars, scented with rats, and garrets with scanty windows looking into blind alleys where the children paddle through pools of dish-water, and gutters that from years end to years end run red with the drainage from the slaughter-houses; pelting one another in their playful moods with fish-heads, rotten cabbage-stalks, and the necks and handles of broken whisky-jugs. Never knowing the wholesome delight of seeing the cows come home at set of sun, or the grateful feeling of new fur~ows lying under their feetnever know- ing the wild exhilaration of hide and seek, where the yellow harvest-straw is tossed from the threshing-floor, nor the glad sensation that comes of gathering aprons and hats full of fresh eggs and ripe nuts. It was in one of the most miserable districts of the miserably poor that the tumble - down house in which Janey Morrison lived was situ- ated, but it had never in all her life seemed to her so dismal and dreary as after the pictured glimpse of fresh fields drawn for her by the glowing tongue of Nathan Lambert. Every thing seemed to conspire to heighten the hide- ousness of her own surroundings, if that indeed were possible. She was used to sit at the window that over- looked the street with her sewing - work, but now that Will must lie in bed she seated her- self at the rear window in order to keep him companytwo small bedrooms having been manufactured out of what was originally one room, by means of board partitions, as was be- fore intimated. The window by which she must now sit over- looks a yard where swine and cattle were kept previously to being slaughtered. Not a spear of grass nor a green herb was to be seenno- thing but dry, baked earth, and dry bones, and rags and fags, and refuse too vile for description. Some children were amusing themselves by throwing stones and sticks at the cattle that stood waiting their turn, with sides raked by the horns of their mad fellows with fly-bitten legs and lolling tongues. All at once there came a wild shout up to the window where the seamstress sata boy with a head as big as two heads, and with one leg a good deal longer than the other, had overturned a pig-trough and found beneath it a nest full of naked red - skinned mice; he was holding one up by the tail in the sight of his play-fel- lows, and this was what the wild shouting was about. Let the baby see, darn ye! let the baby see I cried a bare-legged, freckled-faced girl who had one shoulder higher than the other, as she pushed and elbowed her way with a JANE MORRISON. 59 great-eared, white-headed baby in her scrayiny bare arms. Beyond this cattle-pen part of the dingy walls of a sausage-factory was to be seen, with a bit of open yard, where an old horse was treading in a mill that ground meat, and beyond this the high chimneys of a bone-boiling establishment sent up their dense columns of coal-black smoke. She was sick at heart, poor girl, and again and again her needle fell out of her weary hand. What are you so glum for ? says the broth- er, raising himself on one elbow and eying her with a look as cross as it could be, just because I had the misfortune to get nearly killed, trying to work and earn something for you. I wish I had been killed outright, and then maybe you would come to your feeling!! Janey puts down her work and asks him kindly what she can do. Do! there are plenty of things you could do if you had a mind, but that hoosier of a teamster, plague take him, has put every thing else out of your head ! And then he says, shaking his fist, If he comes up them stairs agin hell go down quicker than he come up ! The weariness of the third day of this thank- less watching and working was interrupted by as glad a sound as ever came to a poor sick heartit was the tinkle of the well-known bells. Janey had been listening for it all the day, and all she could do for the better appearance of things and for her personal advantage she had done; smooth tresses, a elean apron, and a tidy hearth was about all; but Nathan saw nothing but her glad smile and her blushing cheek, and that she might have known. When Will Morrison heard the cheerful voices he dragged himself out of bedfor a little weak- ness was all that ailed himand suddenly open- ing the door, dashed a foot-stool at the head of Nathan with all his might. He evaded the blow, but poor Janey was not so fortunateit struck her right arm, and though it did lot break any bones, bruised it so dreadfully that she was forced to cry with the pain. Seeing what he had done the wicked fellow began to mutter curses between his teeth, and presently he slunk away and crept into bed again. I cant go and leave you here this way, and I shant! says Nathan, taking up the bruised arm and caressing it very tenderly. She made no reply, but hid her eyes and cried onas much for his kindness now as for the pain; and finding that he was not reproved, Nathan lifted the hand to his lips and kissed it. Dont cry, Janey! dont cry! he said. Is the pain so very much ? I am not crying for that, Janey sobbed at last. What then? do I offend you ? and he put down the hand so softly. Janey cried all the more bitterly now; and at last, after much coaxing, she sobbed out that she cried because there was nohody in the world who cared for her! Oh, Janey, that isnt true! But she insisted that it was true. Do you think I would be living here this way, she says, if it were not true; there is not a soul in the world that loves menot one and I wish I was dead and where no more trouble could come to me. You can be where no more trouble will come to you, if you like, without being dead, says Nathan. He spoke very, very tenderly this time, and somehow had got the hand in his again. Then he told her, if she would consent to go home with him and live with his good mother, she would never know any more trouble as long as she lived. Directly he told her that she must not judge of his mother by the rude fellow he wasthat he was sure she would love his mother. And she will love you, I know, he says, with boy- ish simplicity she cant help it! Janey blushed, and almost forgot the pain- ful bruise. Directly Will opened the door softly and looked out. Im sorry for what I have done, Janey, he says, with such penitence; and then he tells her that he wants her to do him a favor by way of showing that she forgives himhe wants his slippers from the shoemakerswill she just run and fetch them for him? Oh, he is so SQrry for what he has done! Oh, to be sure Janey would go !her arm was not htirt badlyshe didnt mind it at alL And she glanced at Nathan with a look that was almost triumphant, and, tying on her bon- net and pinning on her shawl, she was ready in a moment. Nathan went down the stairs with her, and away she flew, hoping to ge~the slippers, re- turn, and catch one more glimpse of him before he was quite out of sight. Seeing the well-known team standing there, quite a crowd had gathered in front of the grocery store, and some were admiring the stout horses, some the great monster of a dog, and some the wagon, big as a canal-boat al- most, so that Nathan found it easy enough to allow himself to be detained. The wagon had a white canvas cover over it all, and just in the front was an easy arm-chair that the kind- hearted son was carrying home to his mother. With many a backward glance Janey hur- ried along, and when she got to the shoemakers door she said, almost out of breath, I am come for Wills slippers that you have been mendingplease give them to me quickI am in such a hurry Wills slippers! Now you are a kitten, says the shoemaker, dropping the waxed end from his fingers, and opening his eyes wide. I have been mending no slippers for Will he is making a fool of you as he has done so many times before! Oh, Janey, Janey, will you never learn wisdom? Will is a great scamp, if he is your brother, and there is an end of it. I wish he had to work or starve, 60 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. and that is the worst wish I wish him. And, more than all, the greatest pity of it is that your sacrifice is just eating out your life and doing him no good, for he grows worse and worse all the time. There are folks, Janey, that must be met on their own ground, and Will Morrison is one of emmind my words. And then he said he didnt think of preach- ing such a sermon; but, since he had preached it, he hoped Janey would profit l~y it. When Janey got back to her house it was with drooping eyes, and spirit drooping as well as her eyes. The crowd made way for her, but she neither looked up nor smiled, and with j~ a nod and a low - voiced good-by, passed the young teamster who stood with his hand on the shoulder of his leader ready to mount, went up the creaking old stair, and put her hand on the latch. The door was fast! She knocked and rattled at the latch, and listened and waited, and knocked and rattled again. Oh, Will she cries at last, do come and open the door what is it bolted and barred in this way for ? To keep you out, you little fool! What should it be for ? And then he said, speaking so loud that all the crowd heard him, that when he got ready he would open the door, and not till then. Knock there all night, he says, if you want to, and see how you will like that! And then he opened the window, and mocked her with laughter and rude jests. Janey stag- gered down the steps. Oh, what shall I do ? she cries, falling against the baluster at the foot of them; ~vhat shall I do? and where shall I go ? Go with me! says the teamster. And before them all he took her in his arms, for she did not resist, aAl lifting her into the wagon, placed her in the easy-chair; and the next mo- ment he was in the saddle, and at the crack of his whip the six horses shook their bells and were off at a trot; while the brother, frightened into his right senses at last, shouted from the window: Come back! oh, come back, Janey! and all the people below stood dumb with amaze- ment. The fourth day after this the six weary horses stood still before the gate of a pretty white cot- tage half hid in a clump of maple-trees on the bank of the clear-flowing Wabash. He sprang to the ground and lifted Janey out of the wagon; and while she stood blushing and trembling a sweet-faced woman of about forty came out of the house and down the graveled walk to meet them. Her dress was of drab color, and she wore the Quaker cap tied down about her quiet, pleasant face. Natty, my dear boy, I am so glad to see thee home safe ! she says, taking a handful of the young mans brown curls in her hand and shaking his head instead of shaking his hand; but who is this thee has brought with thee? and she turned to Janey. Her name was Jane Morrison four days ago, says Nathan, looking straight in the eyes of his mother, as one who was neither afraid nor ashamed; but its Jane Lambert now Janey you may call her; and I only hope you will like her half as well as IL do And so thee is my sons wife; how does thee do, Janey ? And with no more ado about it the sweet-faced woman took the girl by the hand and led her down the path and into the house, as though she were her child indeed. They had married in haste; but they never repented at leisure. The blue waters of the Wabash never sung and murmured to a happier pair, first or last, that is certain. THE GENERALS STORY. OF all the occupations associated with the conduct of war there is none which calls for more address, nerve, courage, daring, and patriotism as well, as that of the secret serv- ice. I do not now propose to discuss the moral of the question, as whether or not it is dishonor- able to seek for information within an enemys country in disguise. It is enough to know that the laws of war are universal and inexorable in the punishment of the person detected as a spy with death. The hero of the following story was a spy in spite of himself. In relating the trying ordeal through which he was obliged to pass real names in most instances have for obvious reasons been suppressed, while the locale has been retained. It was one night not long ago when I heard it from the lips of its hero. We sat before a pleasant fire. It was late into the night, the family had retired, but we lingered long over our pipes, rehearsing many an adventure by camp and field, discussing this and that cam- paign, of what would have been the result if things which happened had not happened, and things did not happen which had happened, and all that sort of thing. It is very easy to correct mistakes in battles long after the bones of its victims are whitening upon the field, and the poorest soldier of us all, when the sword is sheathed and peace once more blesses the land, may lay out campaigns which would put Grant or Sherman to the blush. But old comrades will get together and talk over those scenes which were the grandest, su- premest moments of their lives; and so the General and I lived over again many a skirmish and fight, not forgetting those whose voices are silent in death, recounting our varied experi- ences since we parted in Shenandoah Valley on a bright summers day in sixty-two. But there is a hiatus following Antietam which you have not filled up, I said, during a lull in the conversation. What became of you for several months? Some one was telling me that you were taken prisoner and in dis- guise, I think they said. I was captured abbut that time, answered my friend. But there were circumstances about that affair which made publicity very dangerous for me so long as the war lasted. I

60 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. and that is the worst wish I wish him. And, more than all, the greatest pity of it is that your sacrifice is just eating out your life and doing him no good, for he grows worse and worse all the time. There are folks, Janey, that must be met on their own ground, and Will Morrison is one of emmind my words. And then he said he didnt think of preach- ing such a sermon; but, since he had preached it, he hoped Janey would profit l~y it. When Janey got back to her house it was with drooping eyes, and spirit drooping as well as her eyes. The crowd made way for her, but she neither looked up nor smiled, and with j~ a nod and a low - voiced good-by, passed the young teamster who stood with his hand on the shoulder of his leader ready to mount, went up the creaking old stair, and put her hand on the latch. The door was fast! She knocked and rattled at the latch, and listened and waited, and knocked and rattled again. Oh, Will she cries at last, do come and open the door what is it bolted and barred in this way for ? To keep you out, you little fool! What should it be for ? And then he said, speaking so loud that all the crowd heard him, that when he got ready he would open the door, and not till then. Knock there all night, he says, if you want to, and see how you will like that! And then he opened the window, and mocked her with laughter and rude jests. Janey stag- gered down the steps. Oh, what shall I do ? she cries, falling against the baluster at the foot of them; ~vhat shall I do? and where shall I go ? Go with me! says the teamster. And before them all he took her in his arms, for she did not resist, aAl lifting her into the wagon, placed her in the easy-chair; and the next mo- ment he was in the saddle, and at the crack of his whip the six horses shook their bells and were off at a trot; while the brother, frightened into his right senses at last, shouted from the window: Come back! oh, come back, Janey! and all the people below stood dumb with amaze- ment. The fourth day after this the six weary horses stood still before the gate of a pretty white cot- tage half hid in a clump of maple-trees on the bank of the clear-flowing Wabash. He sprang to the ground and lifted Janey out of the wagon; and while she stood blushing and trembling a sweet-faced woman of about forty came out of the house and down the graveled walk to meet them. Her dress was of drab color, and she wore the Quaker cap tied down about her quiet, pleasant face. Natty, my dear boy, I am so glad to see thee home safe ! she says, taking a handful of the young mans brown curls in her hand and shaking his head instead of shaking his hand; but who is this thee has brought with thee? and she turned to Janey. Her name was Jane Morrison four days ago, says Nathan, looking straight in the eyes of his mother, as one who was neither afraid nor ashamed; but its Jane Lambert now Janey you may call her; and I only hope you will like her half as well as IL do And so thee is my sons wife; how does thee do, Janey ? And with no more ado about it the sweet-faced woman took the girl by the hand and led her down the path and into the house, as though she were her child indeed. They had married in haste; but they never repented at leisure. The blue waters of the Wabash never sung and murmured to a happier pair, first or last, that is certain. THE GENERALS STORY. OF all the occupations associated with the conduct of war there is none which calls for more address, nerve, courage, daring, and patriotism as well, as that of the secret serv- ice. I do not now propose to discuss the moral of the question, as whether or not it is dishonor- able to seek for information within an enemys country in disguise. It is enough to know that the laws of war are universal and inexorable in the punishment of the person detected as a spy with death. The hero of the following story was a spy in spite of himself. In relating the trying ordeal through which he was obliged to pass real names in most instances have for obvious reasons been suppressed, while the locale has been retained. It was one night not long ago when I heard it from the lips of its hero. We sat before a pleasant fire. It was late into the night, the family had retired, but we lingered long over our pipes, rehearsing many an adventure by camp and field, discussing this and that cam- paign, of what would have been the result if things which happened had not happened, and things did not happen which had happened, and all that sort of thing. It is very easy to correct mistakes in battles long after the bones of its victims are whitening upon the field, and the poorest soldier of us all, when the sword is sheathed and peace once more blesses the land, may lay out campaigns which would put Grant or Sherman to the blush. But old comrades will get together and talk over those scenes which were the grandest, su- premest moments of their lives; and so the General and I lived over again many a skirmish and fight, not forgetting those whose voices are silent in death, recounting our varied experi- ences since we parted in Shenandoah Valley on a bright summers day in sixty-two. But there is a hiatus following Antietam which you have not filled up, I said, during a lull in the conversation. What became of you for several months? Some one was telling me that you were taken prisoner and in dis- guise, I think they said. I was captured abbut that time, answered my friend. But there were circumstances about that affair which made publicity very dangerous for me so long as the war lasted. I THE GENERALS STORY. 61 dont know that there is any objection to telling the story now. Yet I rarely speak of it, proba- bly because few know of it, and ask no ques- tions, and perhaps because of the habit of si- lance. I may say here that the General is one of the most reticent of men; modest and reserved by nature, he is a gentleman of elegance and refinement and superior scientific attainments. He has a long and rather angular face with a slightly projecting chin. His forehead is high and his eyes gray in color and set wide apart. There is great determination in my friends face, but it is determination in repose rather than in action. His manner and the history of his army life justifies the expression in his face. He has won his star by unflinching courage, by undeviating devotion to duty: the hero of many a gallant deed, he rarely speaks of himself; but I was curious to know the story of his capture and prison life. And this is what he told me: After the second Bull Run fight you will re- member that a great many new troops were pushed into the field; and when, after McClellan took command, it was ascertained that Lee had crossed~ the Potomac into Maryland, at once all the volunteer militia, recruits, and detach- ments, without regard to completeness of organ- i~ation, were hurried to the field. At that time, with a captain s commission, I was raising a regiment of cavalry. One morning I received orders, with such a number of men as I had, to report myself directly to General McClellan. Which I did without delay, and by his order, on the day of the battle of Antietam, was posted on the left of the line near the river bank. From my position, where I could see much of the fight, and from the fact that during the day I had oc- casion to carry orders from one end to the other of the line, I was able to judge of the result of the battle. My own opinion, when that awful stillness of night shut down over the field, was, that the contest had been pretty near drawn, but that the enemy were so badly crippled that they would not dare risk another engagement with their backs to the river, and that they would attempt to withdraw across the river im- mediately. So fully impressed was I with this opinion that I went to General McClellnn and offered to cross the river, and gain such information as I might of the movements of the enemy. I proposed to go to the south side of the river because I could not go north without running into their battle - line, and any movement to return to Virginia would first be known in their rear. The General consented, provided I would take with me a scout and a Methodist preach- er, who, although he might have been a saint, had the audacity of the devil. He was one of the most valuable spies in the service. I was reluctant to take Parson Marshall and the scout along with me, fearing that they would be an embarrassment rather than an assistance; but I finally yielded. As it afterward proved my in- tuitions were wise. Had I left them behind, weeks and months of the agony of death might have been spared me. But in this, as in other experiences of life I found that there was a providential dispensation in it all, and that the pain had its compensating good, as you will see. I had no definite plan of operations marked out; but several months before I had gained reliable evidence of the loyalty of a man named Jackson, a miller by trade, who lived in Shep- ardstown, which, you know, is on the south bank of the river, and to the rear of the rebel army. During my skirmishing on the day of the fight I had also ascertained that another miller, named Roberts, who lived in a little village on the south side of the stream from where my command was n6w posted, was also a Union man. My scheme was to cross the river at this point, see Roberts, induce him at once to go to Shepardstown, which was but four miles away, and, in conjunction with Jackson, obtain such information as they could of the movements of the rebels, and that Roberts should then re- t~irn to me with the news. It~ was past eleven oclock when we arrived at the ferry on the bank, which at one time had been a ford, but was long out of use. The boatman was not there; and so we searched up and down the bank, among the bushes and in the inlets, to see if we could not discover some skiff or dug-out, in which we could make the passage. But all our efforts were fruitless, and the -not altogether assuring suggestion was made by Jake, the scout, that the enemy had been there recently and removed the boats. There were none within our reach, that was certain; and so we sat down under the shadow of the bank discussing in low tones the best course of action to pursue. There does not appear to be any evidence of the presence of the rebels on the other side, I said. They wouldnt show their hand if they were there, replied Jake. - I think we should have heard from them by this time if they were in the village; be- sides that, the absence of the ferryman shows nothing. He ought to be abed by this time, remarked Marshall. That is true, I said. Let us hail him. If he comes over we can ascertain whether or not the rebs are there. ~ Its a risky business. Hadntwe better go back ? muttered the scout. We will not return until we make some ef- fort at least to cross the river, I replied; final- ly adding, you may go back if you wish. Im in for this campaign, miss or win. As Jake answered I had approached the waters edge and shouted, Ferry ahoy! There was no moon that night, and the star- light was partially obscured by a warm mist; yet it was light enough to distinguish objects mov 62 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ing on the other shore, while the air was so quiet that the chants of the katydid could be distinctly heard across the stream. There was no answer to my call, and no evidence of hu- man life appeared among the houses of the lonely village which lay hid in the shadows of the wooded hills. llillyo-o-o! Boat ahoy! .1 cried again. A few moments elapsed, and then a dark object was seen emerging from a house near by. It approached the bank. Y-o-o-o! came ringing to our ears; and shortly after the boat was stemming its way slowly up and across the stream. The moment it touched the bank I recognized its occupant as the ferryman who, during the evening, had been to our camp for some coffee. He was an honest-looking fellow, and professed to be, and I believe was, loyal. Ah, Captain! he exclaimed, is that you ? Yes, we wish to cross the river. Are there any Johanies over there ? None that belong to the army; but its rather risky for yer to go cross. The Confed cavalry are scouting round all the time. Well take that risk. Have you heard any news from Shepardstown ? Nothing but stories of the fight. They say the Yanks have been licked awful. By this time we were in the boat, and after a sharp pull of several moments, wherein all had relapsed into silence or spoke only in whispers, we were landed safely on the southern bank. If you should happen to be questioned, on no account say that you brought over a Union officer, I said to the boatman as I gave him a liberal fee. We shall probably return to be taken back before morning.~~ Five minutes walk brought us to the house of Roberts, which had been pointed out by the boatman. I was not surprised to find him up and seated with his wife and a young negro woman by a log fire in the large room which was his bedchamber and sitting - room at the same time. Before telling him my errand I tried to get rid of the women, but his wife re- fused to leave the room. Its no use, said the miller; she wont go. She knows as well as you or I whats up. I spose yer arter news of the rebs. Precisely that, and we wish your assist- ance, I replied, making a virtue of necessity. Well, what is it? You know its mighty dangrus fur me ter be caught foolin round. Theyd hang me quickern winkin; but Im true blue, anll do any thing in reason. What I wish to do is simple enough, and need not get you into trouble. I wish you to go to Shepardstown, see Jackson the miller. You know him ? I should think so. You and he together can find out if there are any indications of an intention of the rebels to recross the river. I see, said Roberts, striking one hand with the other in a significant way. Hit on the man; but its dangrus, Capn. Jacksons all right, I know that. Its a good piece ter Shep- ardstown. I must ride, an I might lose my horse. And Roberts settled himself back in his chair as if he didnt intend leaving it until the war was over. I had no time to reply to him before his wife asserted her woman prerogative and declared she wouldnt listen to it. Its certain death ter go thar; besides, yerve no right ter leave yer wife all alone sich troublus times as these. Leaving the parson, who now came to my aid, to talk with the woman, I urged Roberts to undertake the journey, offering him two hun- dred dollars for the horse.- Whether or not the sight of the money stimulated his courage and patriotism I can not tell. But he consent- ed just as Marshall had clenched his closing argument with the wife by the promise that we would remain until her husband returned. We calculated that it would take Roberts three hours at the outside to go to Shepards- town and return. Jake was to go with him up the road a short distance, conceal himself in the woods in sight of the road, and he ~eady to give the alarm should any danger threaten our scheme. In five minutes the horse was saddled, and from the window I watched the two figures as they noiselessly disappeared in the thick dark- ness which had now succeeded the half light of the earlier evening. I did not for a moment leave my post, but sat and gazed out into the gloom and mistfor a drizzling rain commenced to fallthinking and thinking until it seemed as if my brain would burst. My ear caught the slightest murmur of the leaves; the water dropping from the eaves reverberated thro.ugh the chambers of my brain; the crackling of a twig seemed louder than the report of cannon. Each tree and stump took on the form of a man; the rail fence was a line of battle; the pile of logs a battery in position. Again and again did I see parties of soldiers approaching the house, to vanish into the night and take on new shape. Within the room, which now was in deep shadowfor the fire had been left to burn low for fear of attracting the attention of. some passer-byI could dimly see the forms of the millers wife and the preacher. Singularly enough, they were discussing some technical point of theology. In the chimney corner sat the negress. She did not appear to be listen- ing to the talk of the others, but with her chin resting in her hands was bowed forward va- cantly staring into the smouldering embers, whose light gave to her a deep rich color of bronze. It was a dramatic picture, that figure crouched there in the fire-light. During the talk with Roberts it had never occurred to me to question her presence there. The wife I doubted. With the negress her color was the pledge of her faith. She proved it afterward. THE GENERALS STORY. 63 And thus I sat by the window counting each second as it passed. They were hours. I won- dered what our army were doing. Most likely gathering the wounded from the battle-field. Where were the rebels? Would they retreat across the river? Should I get knowledge of their movement? What complete destruction would come upon their disordered masses should McClellan strike at them in the act of cross- ing! Again and again did I look at my watch. Where was Roberts? Could he meet with mis- hap? Would he return within the hour named? Could there be doubt of his loyalty? He might betray us. These and a thousand queries and imaginations, reasonable and foolish, crossed my mind. One, two, three, four hours passed by. One more and daylight would be upon us. The rising sun must not find us here. Robertss time was up. Where was he? What was the cause of his delay 2 I must not recross the river without seeing him. It was just at this moment of anxiety and doubt that I was sensible of a tremulous mo- tion which jarred the house to its foundations. It was slight at first, but increased steadily. This could be no creation of the imagination. By a singular psychological phenomenon which I can not explain, the presence of a real danger dispersed all these vague fantasies. All my faculties resumed their normal condition. Ob- jects assumed their natural shape. Within the room there was absolute silence. The millers wife had fallen asleep in her chair; the parson, stretched upon the floor with his head upon his arm, was evidently in some dream of theological bliss, for he was snoring earnest- ly; the negress had not changed her position, except that her head was slightly turned as if listening. The sound increased. Yes, far into the darkness I could hear the click of steel against steel. I sprang to my feet. The noise aroused the sleepers. Whats the matt~er, Captain ? demanded Marshall, feeling for his revolver-belt. Be quiet; keep still, I replied, trying to listen. No, it is not infantry, nor artillery. Yes, it is a body of cavalry, and a large one at that, and coming this way. They must be rebels, for we have no troops this side of the Potomac. Oh, you will be taken, and we shall be murdered! screamed the woman. Silence! not another word ! I exclaimed, seizing her by the wrist with no gentle grasp. You Will not be harmed, whatever happens to me; but you must hold your tongue. Whether from exceeding fear, or that she was reassuredwhatever the reasonthe mill- ers wife was as silent as if born dumb. Meanwhile the rumble had grown more dis- tinct, and I could hear the clatter of horses hoofs and the jingle of sabres. I went to the window again, and could see coming up the road what appeared to be an advanced-guard: a dozen or more men riding rapidly; one or two dashing off on the side-road which led to the ferry. I was wondering what could be the meaning of this movement, when I was startled by a hand upon my arm and heard the voice of the negress: Massa Capn, youse isnt safe dar. Come up de ladder ter my place, yer can see better dar. The girls right, .Captain, said Marshall. That uniform will ruin us. I am in citizens clothes, and if they come here can fool them easily. The idea of hiding did not please me, but it was the best thing to do; and so, led by Sara~h, I passed into the kitchen, climbed the ladder, and found myself in a small attic, which was formed by the roof of the house. There was no place in it where I could stand erect, and the two panes of glass which answered for a window were so close to the floor that I was obliged to lie down in order to see the troopers, who in solid mass, filling the road, were now passing the house. There was no halt in the column; but stead- ily, and at an easy trot, they poured along the way. There was but little sound of voices in this swift procession out of the shadows and into the shadows. They might have been phantom horsemen but for that clack of hoof, that rattle of spur and sabre. Steadily they moved along, winding from out the solemn woods, in among the houses and over the lull-top into the dark- ness again, with coil unbrokena monster of a dream, were it not a dread reality of sight and sound. I had marked several squadrons, and then divisions. They numbered hundreds, thou- sands, these night-riders. This was no scout- ing party. It. was something more than a re- connoissance. It can not be a movement of the rebel army; I said to myself, for there would be infantry before this. Whnt can it mean ? Meanwhile the day was breaking. The col- umn of cavalry had gone with the darkness; only a few stragglers remained, galloping their steeds to catch up with their comrades still ad- vancing. And then the road was deserted as before. But where were Roberts and Jake? The question in part was answered by Jakes voice, which I now heard in the room below. Hur- rying down the ladder I asked him: What news ? Not a word of Roberts. You saw the cav- aIry. What an army of em! Didnt know the Johanies had so many horses. Did any of them stop here ? Not one. They seemed bent on some im- portant business by their haste. I heard them talking, but could only catch the words Harpers Ferry, Falling Waters, crossing ford, and so on. I dont know where they are going; yet it is evident to me that Lees army is on the move. But whatever it means McClellan ought 64 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. to know of it. Do not delay an instant, but get across the river and report to him all that has occurred. I will remain here until Roberts turns up, or at least until I can obtain further information. Get away now as fast as you can. The scout at once left the room, and I saw him in a few moments threading his way among the houses in the village. Thank God, he is off. So much is accom- plished ! I exclaimed. If the rebels are coming we shall have rough work before night. But there is Roberts just in the nick of time.~~ As I spoke the miller rode slowly into the yard, dismounted without unsaddling his horse, put him in the shed, which answered to the name of stable, and then with a long look up the road by which he had come the miller en- tered the house. Im afeard youll get caught! was his hur- ried exclamation; Ive ridden as fast as I could, but that beast is not a racer. I see there are troops in the village, and a lot of foot- soldiers are comm down the road just behind me. Did you see Jackson ? Yes, I saw him. He went out and spied around. He came back bime-by and said that big gangs of men were at work shoveling down the banks of the canalthe water, you know, has been out for some time. Jackson thinks, and so do I, that the rebel army are moving back sure. But I tell yer, Capn, yerll be caught ef yer dont start mighty quick. Yes, yes, I replied, impatient to get every item of intelligence. But what did the towns- people say? Were there soldiers in the vil- lage ? Wounded men? yes heaps of em the houses were full. They all say the Yanks have been licked. During this talk the miller had kept his eyes on the road, and as he finished his report he ran to the door and instantly returned with his face pale with fear, crying: The game is up. You cant reach the river now unless you can walk over a thousand rebel bayonets. The miller was right, for a large body of troops had poured out of the woods at a quick step. Passing the house they broke into squads, some entering the houses near the river, others marching beyond the town, while the larger body stacked their arms and appeared to be making preparations to go into camp. I saw at once that there was no chance of escape. They were picketing the roads and posting sentinels. Until this moment I had not fully realized that I wore the uniform of the United States army. In trnth I had not at all anticipated this juncture of affairs, and was hardly pre- pared for it. Certainly my calculations had not included the thought of capture; and now with this important knowledge in my possession the idea was doubly odious. But it was immi neat at that moment, for several soldiers were approaching the house. De lof, de lof! muttered the negro womun, as for a second time she seized me by the arm and dragged me toward the ladder. Do not breathe a word of our presence here unless they have found out something, and then we will come down, I said to the miller and his wife as Marshall and I hurried up the ladder to our hiding-place. Once there I knew from the talk of the soldiers that they were not come for us. They wanted some corn ground, and Roberts started away to his mill with one of them. We were safe for the mo- ment; but how long was this confinement to continue? And I stared out of the window to see the sun which had now risen above the hill-tops, shining down upTh groups of men, standing or cooking at their camp-fires, while its bright rays glittered upon a battery of artil- lery which had gone into position in the field upon the rising ground just outside the forest. The caissons and horses were takento the rear, while a party of pioneers commenced throwing up earth-works in front of the cannon, which appeared to be placed so as to cover the road crossing at the old ford. That looks like fighting, whispered Mar- shall. No, they are too deliberate about it. It is a precaution against any movement of ours from below there can be no doubt about it, Lee means to retreat. If McClellan could know of all this the war might be ended within twenty-four hours. Do you think, Marshall, that you can get across the river ? I can try. And the preacher rose to his feet. He was a brave, true-hearted fellow. You had better go up stream; it is safer than to attempt the passage below. Make a big effort, for you can appreciate the importance of success as well as But what will yom do ? The best I can. Lie quiet here until these fellows leave. They wont stay forever. Good- by, and good luck to you ! Good-by, Captain. I hope we shall see you in a few hours. With what eagerness did I listen to the par- son as he passed into the room where the sol- diers were! A tremor of anxiety crept over me as I heard him question them as to the num- ber of men in the command, and why they were there. He will excite suspicion, I thQught. Why does he ask such questions? Success in these adventures has made him fool-hardy. They will arrest him. But no, he is out of the house; and now he strides away up the road as if he belonged here. He passes through the camp. Why does he stop there to talk with the guard? The fate of the nation may hang on his words. But he moves on unmolested; and now he is lost in the thick underbrush which skirts the edge of the woods. Pray Heaven he may get to McClellan! THE GENERALS STORY. 65 and I looked up at the sun which was so quick- ly mounting to the zenith. My watch told me it was nearly twelve o.clock. After all, if Mar- shall escaped, it might be too late. But Jake, the scout, ought to be within the Union lines ere this. One hour, two hours slowly moved by. There was but little change in the position of the reb- el troops. They seemed to be waiting. Once or twice a mounted courier came to and went away from a large tent in the rear of the bat- teries. Now and then the pickets would ex- change shots with my men, who were under cover on the northern bank of the stream. Far up the river I could now discern a dark object moving toward the other bank. Could this be Marshall? There were rapids at that point, and the swift current bore the object down- ward, and nearer to my sight and to the bullets of the rebel soldiers as well, for they saw it, and fired at it. But the boat moved steadily to the opposite shore, and there it shot in behind a rocky cliff. Safe, safe ! I exclaimed, as I wiped the perspiration from my brow. I could now see the figure of a man, which I was sure was Mar- shall, creep up the hill toward my soldiers. Quite a knot of them had gathered together to welcome the refugee. As the parson joined them I could see him gesticulating and point- ing across the river. Why does the fool stop there to talk ? With my thought there came the loud bang of a cannon. I turned to see the wind lift the white smoke above the rebel batteries, carrying it toward the front, where it was dissipated among the leaVes and branches, and then there was the ripping, tearing sound of a shell. A percussion shell is not a foot-ball to be played with; and, as this one burst within a few rods of the group, they seemed to be of the same opinion, for they immediately separated. That instants halt, however, hndflxed my business beyond a peradventure. I did not know it for several moments. So intensely was I occupied in imagining Marshalls progress to head-quarters, and the grand possibilities which opened up for the cause, that I was not conscious of the presence of the negro woman until I heard her stifled exclamation. It had come to be the voice of a friend. Massa Capn, youse caught fur su now. Hyar jes tuk off dem blue cbs and put on dare common tings of Massa Roberts. Mighty quick. Deres a guard a-cummin fin de camp wid Massa Roberts, an dey is arter you, su, su. There was not an instant for reflection. My uniform meant punishment to the people of the house. Those brass buttons reflected Libby, Salisbury, imprisox~ment, starvation, rotting to death. In this homespun there was a chance of escape. I did not reflect how could I when the guard were so near the house that I could dis- VOL. XXXV.No. 205.E tinguish every detail of their ragged forms that as a soldier I was entitled to the rights of a prisoner of warprotection of health and life. As an enemy in disguise, I was a Spy, and my claims upon humanity were embraced in a sho~t shrift and a strong cord. If I did think of this, it was after I had exchanged my honored in- signia of rank and service for the butternut clothes, and had heard Robertss voice in the yard, exclaiming: The gentlemen came in late last night, and the nigger gave em a place ter sleep. I havent seen em. Thank you for the cue, thought I, as rap- idly descending the ladder I gained the room before they had fairly entered, and saluted the officer who headed the party with a complacent, self-assured Good-morning, Sir. The gentleman was a little surprised at my manner and respectable appearance; for I was in the millers be~t clothes. I am.sorry to trouble you, Sir; but my com- manding officer, Colonel Heartly, requires your presence at head-quarters. Certainly, Captain;. I will go with you at once. As I never anticipated capture, I had not prepared any story. In that walk of five min- utes between the house and the camp I had to do the work of a Collins or Dickensto create a character, and account for his existence and presence in that locality. If any sight could have twisted my nerves, it was when I turned the corner of Colonel Heartlys tent and behelfl Jake, the scout, and the ferryman who had brought us over. The guard which surrounded them with fixed bayonets told me that Jake and I stared each other in the face with an indiffer- ence which would have done credit to two En- glishmen traveling in the same diligence. So far as Jake and Roberts were concerned I was safe. But the ferryman by a chance word might ruin me. It was necessary for him to recog- nize me in my new costume, for if I were dis- covered I should be hung as a spy. I did not look at the ferryman, but at once addressed myself to the commanding officer, who stood in front of his tent: You sent for me, Colonel ? Yes; I. shall be obliged to put you under arrest. For what cause? You are here under suspicious circumstan- ces. I learn that you crossed the river late last night with two other persons. One of these has just returned in a skiff, and has been talk- ing with the Yankee pickets on the other side; and this ma~pointing to Jake, who was star- ing stupidly at the speaker was caught in the attempt to recross on a raft. These cii- cumstances are all against you, Sir. They may be to you, Colonel, who are a soldier, and must see these things from a differ- ent point of view than I a citizen. I can ex- plain how I came here. My name is Peters. I am a citizen of Baltimore, and before your 66 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. army came into the State was at Cumberland looking after some mining interest in that neighborhood. On my way back I found that I was likely to get into trouble with one or the other of the armies, and so came this way in the hope of avoiding both. I regret exceedingly, replied the Colonel, after a moments reflection, that I can not set you at liberty, for I have no doubt of the truth of your story; but my orders are strict in cases like yours. I must send you to General F for examination; his decision will be final. This was said in a polite, almost deprecating manner, yet with a firmness which admitted of no question. I hope, I replied, there wrn be but little delay. We shall move to-night or to-morrow morn- ing. But what er yer a-gwine ter do with me demanded Jake, who had been listening with clownish interest to the conversation. Ef I cant go on ter Frederick let me git back ter Harpers Ferry with my woman an the young uns. I could not help looking at the scout with a feeling of admiration. He was the perfect rep- resentation of one of those miserable devils who go wandering through the Border States pick- ing up odd jobs. A shiftless, shifting, thiev- ing fellow he looked. Let the beggar go, said the Colonel to one of his officers. He is not worth the keep- ing. To which decision my heart responded Amen ! But I betrayed no feeling what- ever, and turned my back on my confederate. Meanwhile there was the ferryman and Roberts yet under arrest. I wished to get rid of them. Every instant that they remained increased my danger. The ferryman claimed with reason that he was not responsible for those he brought across the riverthat was his business. His father had been at that ferry before him. Roberts put in the same sort of a plea. His house had been a sort of stopping-place for years. He never asked questions so long as people paid for their lodging. The Colonel hesitated, when I remarked: Colonel Heartly, I am right sorry that I amthe cause of getting these people into trouble; they are residents here, and are always within your reach. That is just, Mr. Peters; they ought not to be detained. You may go both of you. A great weight of distrust and fear was re- moved from my heart when I saw Lhe two men walking down the road together. With their absence the rope in my minds eye had shrunk to a thread. The following morning, as the tents were struck and I stood watching the other bank of the stream, I saw Sarah, the negress, my would-be saviour, coming toward us leading my horse. I had forgotten my purchase of the night before, but the noble girl had forgotten nothing. As I took hold of the bridle my hand came in contact with hers; a warm press- ure was the only return I could make for her devotion. She s4sned to understand that we were watched, and with a whispered God bress yer, massa! she walked away to her home. We came upon the rebel army at Shepards- town. In all my experience of war I never witnessed such a scene of confusion. They were in full retreat, and I should have thought it a disgraceful rciut, but there were no evi- dences of pursuit. How eagerly did I listen for the thiinder of McClelians artillery! But to the north it was as quiet as a Sabbath morn- ing; here every thing was in disordercavalry, artillery, infantry, huddled in tangled masses upon the bank. Some were rushing over the miserably improvised bridge, others attempted the ford. Wagons foundered in the stream; mules, cattle, horses, straggling, scrambling, swimming hither and thither. What a glorious opportunity lost! Why did not McClellan strike hard and strong? Had Marshall failed to deliver the message? But what use to ask these questions? Lee had placed the Potomac between his army and de- struction. General P, to whose command Colonel Heartly belonged, was not at Shepardstown; so dragging our way along among the strag- gling host as best we could we made for Mar- tinsburg, where P had gone. Probably I could not have selected, had I had .the power, a more inauspicious moment in which to have made the acquaintance of that individual, before whom we at last arrived. He listened with manifest impatience to Col- onel Heartlys relation of the circumstances of of my arrest. Where are the other prisonersthe ferry- man, the miller, and the man who tried to cross the river ? Excepting the last, I knew they were citi- zens of the village and released them. The other man was too much of an idiot to be harijiful. Well, Colonel, replied his chief, you are: a good patriot and an excellent artillery offi- cer, but I should never select you to catch spies. You have thrown away the certain key to unravel this business, the proof which would have convicted this man, whose story I dont believe one word ofnot a word. Where were you, Sir, three days ago ? This last question was addressed to me. I answered him, calmly: I was in Hagerstown. Did you see any large bodies of troops there ? I remembered hearing, on the day of Antie- tam, that a portion ~of our cavalry who had es- caped from Harpers Ferry ~ad passed through or near Hagerstown, and had captured several hundred wagons, which must have been in the rear of and belonged to the rebel army. So I thought I was safe in my answer: THE GENERALS STORY. 67 I did not. You saw no soldiers passing through the town ? There were a few who might have been in charge of wagon-trains. Mr. Petersthat is the name you have chosen to callyourself by ? That is my name. I have no doubt but what you are a man of education; you have the manners of one. You may be an owner of mines, and all that; but you can~t make me believe that you could be in Hagerstown and not know if a division of troops had passed, or that any man in his senses would go Wandering about the country while two armies were mancunvring and fighting great battles. Now, Mr. Peters, I think you are a spy. The escape of your comrades will not help you much, for I shall send you to Richmond, with a report of the whole case, which, if it does not hirug you, it will be because there is no hemp in our capital. Addressing an officer who stood near, he.con- tinned: Captain, this man will be sent with the party of prisoners which is to start this morning. I will give General Winder a spe- c~al report of his case.~~ I made no reply to this speech except such answer as the eye may give of contempt and scorn. I am really sorry for you, Sir, said the kind-hearted Colonel, ~s I was led from the room. The General is in an ugly mood this morning; this infernal retreat sets ones teeth on edge. But you need not despair. Get your friends at work, and you may get by Winders court-martial, although they do say that he is deaths right-bower. I know the officer who is to take this party to Richmond, and I will speak a good word for you. You shall have your horse. Good-by, Mr. Peters! Good-luck to you ! And the honest fellow grasped me warmly by the hand as he went away to attend to his duties. In an hour from that time I was riding down the Winchester road on my way to Richmond. We had not been on the road half an hour when I found that Captain Graham had been as good as his word. The officer in charge of the party treated me wtth kindness, sharing his blankets and mess with me. There were sev- eral other prisoners in the party. Two were citizens of Maryland, or pretended to be, who had been arrested nuder circumstances some- what similar to my own. Others were soldiers who had been captured at the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. The faces of these I carefully examined for fear that they might have known me in the army. Fortunately they belonged to Eastern regiments, and had never served in our wing: I am safe from that de- tection, I thought. As we journeyed down the Shenandoah Val- ley I could see with what a hand of iron war had pressed upon this lovely region. The fields were not waving with grain as when we saw them in sixty-one. Now the farm-houses were deserted or in ruins, every few rods the hill-sides and meadows were marked with the track of wagon-wheels, the feet of men and animals had trampled out of life every green thingthe face of the country seemed to have been turned into a vast camping-ground. It was the Garden of Eden after the Fall. At Martinsburg I had spent the last of my small stock of change in the purchase of a pair of spurs in the hope that an opportunity would occur when I could escape from the guard; but I found that several of them were splendidly mounted, while my horse was nearly broken down after the first days march, and neither persuasion of spur nor whip could induce him to proceed faster than a bone-breaking trot; so with a sinking heart I gave up that means of escape. At night we camped at some of those stations where there were posted detachments of troops to guard supplies; and although I was appnr- ently given the largest liberty, yet if I moved ever so short distance away from the quarters I found that I was watched by the guards. In fact there was less opportunity of escape than if I had been in uniform, while the consequence of failure would have been more disastrous, for it would have confirmed the suspicion that I was a spy, and my execution would have been speedy and sure. It was late in the night when our little party arrived at the office of General Winder in the city of Richmond. We were among the first who had come direct from the seat of war, and a crowd of curious men and women, white and black, followed us to the prison door. Winder was not in the office. He had gone home for the night. How fervently did I pray that he might never return! My case was the first of the party to be con- sidered; and as I gave the clerk or officer who represented the rebel prison-keeper look for look as he stared at me, and then divined his thought as with a sleepy yawn his eye wandered down the line of my captive companions, and again as he ran over the package of papers which gave the history of each unfortunate, and came upon that of mine which General P had kindly marked, Special Importance, my heart beat with anxious fear. Whose case is this ? he said; which is the man The officer of the guard pointed to me and replied, This is the gentlemanMr. Peters. What the dl do they continue to arrest citizens for? We shall have all the Border States down here by-and-by. Castle Thunder is full of these people now, replied the clerk as he opened the letter and glanced over the four closely-written pages; and then, without reading a word, broke out in a string of oaths which seemed to pass familiarly from his lips. What does General P suppose we have to do here F he continued. Here is a story as long as one of Winders court-martial 68 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. thatil do to keep ; and he threw the letter into a pigeon-hole in the box over his table. As I saw it disappear among the collection of papers I felt a sense of relief. at The late hour, the weary, impatient officer his post, the long letter with its detailed charges, which were intended to fix guilt and conviction npon me beyond escape these were my salvation from a hangmans noose. I thanked God then. I thank God to-night. When I entered the prison yard and the doors of Castle Thunder closed behind, I gazed up the long room which was to be my home for long months with a feeling of real gladness which I could not have believed possible a week before. This was confirmed the next morning when I could sit and watch the prisoners as they passed to and fro. Not a face did I see that I had ever met before, and with renewed confidence did I enter upon my new r6le. Castle Thunder was one of those large to- bacco warehouses which are characteristic of Richmond. The presses yet remained in the room where I was placed with two or three hun- dred prisoners,, most of whom were either de- serters from the rebel army or citizens who had been arrested because suspected of Union sen- timents, or men suspected of being spies, as in my case. And when these people crowded about me hungry for some new thing with which to feed their minds starving for the rest of change, I told as little of my story as I might. My name, I said, was PetersI was a citizen of Maryland. I had been arrested without cause. This wai in the early days of my new life. As time wore on and I came to know these men, to read their faces as we read books, I learned whom to trust, and whom to shun or deceive. There were more than twenty professional Union spies in that room. Some were North- ern men, Americans who were in the army. Others were foreigners who were in the service of some General in the army. They had been captured in Virginia, or Tennessee, or in Texas. One had been engaged in running the blockade between Wilmington and Nassau. He over- staid his pass at Richmond and was arrested. He had been in prison thirteen months. An- other was buying cotton in Charleston, was suspected, taken up, and for nine months had been buried here. And yet another had been a clerk in the rebel War Department, an in- advertent word of sympathy with the North had caused his arrest, and here he had been for several months. It was days, weeks, months before I came to know these men for what they werebefore that confidence was given which is the result of intention rather than from any rule of action. Some of these spies did not reveal themselves until the last moment. Singular characters were they, combining a subtle cun- ning, a knowledge of men and things, a daring greater than that which faces the cannon s mouth. Some pursued their dangerous calling from the purest patriotism, others for its ad- venture, and more for gain. Not to one of them did I reveal my true name; I never even hinted that I was an officer in the United States army. And yet they trusted me, and never pressed me to tell theta what, by-and-by, they had.the right to suspect. I had been in Castle Thunder some two months without making an effort to be released. I did not wish to disturb that paper which I had seen thrust into a pigeon-hole in Winders office, when one mo ruing one of our men handed me a copy of the Richmond Enquirer which, by clubbing together, we were able to buy day by day. The paper had not gone its usual round; my turn to read it had not come, and the simple act of giving it to me at that early hour Was enough. Red-Eye, as he was nicknamed, did not need to point at a paragraph which occupied a prominent place in the paper to have convinced me that I was on the very verge of being dis-. covered. A criminal condemned to the gallows could not have suffered the torture of death with a more acute, vivid sense of its reality than did I as my eye at a single stroke took in the contents of that short fatal paragraph. It ran thus: wuma is ita? We clip thefollowing from the Philadelphia Press. We have looked over the list of prisoners captured within 4he time mentioned, but find no record of Cap- tain P. It would he interesting to know If he was captured, and what has become of him. w,rzaz IS CAPTAIN r? On the night of the day of the hattie of Antietam Captain P of the Pennsylvania Cavalry, with two scouts, crossed the Potomac River at a point a few miles below Shepardstown with a view to rdconnoi- tre the enemys position, and if possible to as~ertain whether or not Lee was making any movement to re- cross the river in retreat. As we learn now from one of the scouts, who was sent hack by. Captain P with the desired information, which, by-the.~way, ar- rived too late, a detachment of the enemy during the night had taken possession of the ford, and it was only hy a close squeeze that the scout was able to get past their pickets and make his escape. Re left the Cap- tain at the house of a miller, who refuses to tell what he knows, or is ignorant of the fate of Captain P. The presumption is that he was taken prisoner.Phil- ctdelphia Press, June 20. We repeat the question of the Presswhat has be- come of him ? For an instant I was speechless with amaze- ment and horror, and stared at the printed char- acters before me as if each letter had a voice, and each voice in tones of loud reproach pro- claimed, through rebel camp and capital:. Spy! Spy! Srv! I was recalled to my senses by tbe touch of Red-Eyes hand upon my arm, Mr. Peters, he whispered, remember where you are, and who may be looking at you. Perhaps that paper had better be lost. This is cleaning-day, and it will not be missed much. As soon as I could bring my mind to reflect. upon the probable consequences of this new danger I perceived that detection was sure if the Richmond paper should find its way into the hands of any of the officers in the rebel army who were concerned in my arrest, or at Win- THE GENERALS STORY. 69 ders office had P s letter been read. My situation before that cruel criminal publica- tion was as dangerous as I cared to have it; now discovery had become almost certain. That night I commenced laying my plans for escape. It was the habit of the prisoners to divide into squads of three or more for convenience in messing and sleeping. I had chosen for my companion the sergeant of the floor, a Union man who had been captured in the early part of the war, and whose long imprisonment had given him this petty official position. With him were two othersChandler, who was a spy in our service, and an East Tennesseean, who had been pressed into the rebel service and de- serted. Wehad anticipated that a moment might come like this to me, when we had the choice of an attempt to escape, or certain death. Through a negro who used to bring vegetables and other nick-nacks into the prison we had obtained a file, and at odd moments, when the noise was loudest in the room, had made a saw from the blade of a jack-knife which I fortunately had in my possession. Our quartersif I may give that title to the six feet square of floor space between one of the tobacco presses and the wall in the end and corner of the room farthest from the door were more than any other happily situated for the hazardous undertaking which we at once began. The room in which we were confined was raised from the level of the yard several feet. Our hope was to cut through the planking of the floor, drop down into a sort of sub-cellar which was underneath, and which opened into the yard. The sergeant told us there was no guard there. We hoped to pass through that inclosure, gain the street, and then trust to luck in our effort to get out from the city and to find our way, as best we might, to the Union lines. We could not work at the hole in the ftoor during the night; the grating sound of the saw upin the oak plank would have reached the ears of the guard, or aronsed some of our neighbor- ing prisoners. In the daytime, even, we were obliged to keep constant watch lest the prison- ers walking back and forward should hear the noise. We were able in a measure to conceal our movements by a co~ bedstead which the sergeant had placed in our corner under plea of my illness. Under cover of this bed one of us worked at the hard work. With the miserable apology for a saw, and the far-removed occa- sions when we could work, the progress was fearfully slow. Thus days and weeks passed by. But a ~new and unforeseen danger threatened me. Hear- ing nothing from the extract in the Press I had grown more confident. The Where is he ? had passed by unnoticed by any of those who could identify me. One day I was promenading the length of the long room, calculating the chances of our escape, when a new prisoner was brought in. It was always my policy to see every recent arrival before they could see me, so as to avoid the risk of surprise in the event of recognition. Ordinarily I was safe from this, as the Yankee prisoners from the army were kept in Libby. Making one of the party who now crowded about the new-coiner, I was able to get a good look at his face. It was not one to be forgotten when once seen. It had met my eyes before but where? and wben? As I gazed at the man I was certain that I had met him personally, and notwithstanding my inability to locate time and place, I yetained enough of recollection to be certain that our previous encounter had not been a pleasant one. I was about to turn away when his eyetwas an evil eyecaught mine. Ah! he said, I have seen you before Looking him steadily in the eyes, I replied: Indeed! I dont remember when I have ever met you. My name is Peters, and I live in Maryland. Where do you hail from ?. Im Frank Myers, from Lexington, Ken- tuck. But ef I didnt take you for Captain P , oftheFed cavalry, I hope I may be dd. Youre the perfect image of that man, cuss him! These resemblances are very common, I replied. I expect to be taken for Abe Lin- coln next. But what are you in here for ? As I asked this question a cold chill ran down my back, as if I had been hauled over an iceberg, for in a flash I remembered the occa- sion of my first kno~Wedge of Mr. Myers. A year before, while on duty in Kentucky, this fellow had been caught stealing in my camp, and by my orders he was driven beyond the lines with a placard on his back marked THIEF. He had good reason to remember me, but my quiet assurance completely foile~d him, and he answered my question as if he were satisfied that he was in error. Im hare because I was broughtyou may bet high on that! I wont stay long. The work upon our plank went on slowly, but it progressed. We had but one sawing to make, which was some two feet from the end of the plank where it rested upon the cross- beam of the building. In truth, we had nearly got through. Oh, how my heart beat with anxiety, as day by day, hour by boar, we ar- rived nearer and nearer to the end of our ta~k to the moment when we should make the great attempt! And the day came. There was but the smallest sliver to separate, and we had ar- ranged our final plan to escape for that night. Luckily it was .a day of rain and storm, and I sat upon the edge of the cot while Chandler was at work cutting at the last thread which perhaps held us in slavery. I was moving my feet about on the floor to prevent the sound of the saw reaching the ears of the prisoners walk- ing to and fro, when one of them, a man I had never liked, came up to me and sat down upon the bed. You are looking better, Mr. Peters. Pears like as cf Castle Thunder agreed with you. 70 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Z-z-z-zip !z-z-z-z-zip ! went the saw un- derneath us. I was frightened lest my nnwel- come visitor shonid hear it. So I got np and stretched my limbs as I laughingly replied: Castle Thunder dont agree with me, nor I with the Castle, and the sooner I am out of it the better. Z-z-z-zip !z-z-z-z-zip! I stamped my foot, partly to overcome the noise and as a warning to Chandler. But he seemed neither to hear our conversation nor my signal to stop work. Whats the matter with yer foot ? asked my sympathizing guest. Its asleep, I answered, as I continued stamping on the floor. Chandler was as deaf as a post. Zipzipzip! What the deuce is that noise ? It sounds like a saw, said Bonesthat was his prison nameas he stared about and listened more curiously. Its the infernal rats, I replied, reaching over the side of the bed and gripping the leg of Chandler with a spitefulness which made it black and blue with the mark of my fingers. The noise suddenly stopped. Bones and I re- sumed conversation for a while, and then he left me, giving Chandler a chance to crawl out from his hole. Its all through, said Chandler, when I returned to him. I hope it is not all up with us, I grunted. That fellow Bones heard your saw.~~ Thunder! Was that why you nearly broke my leg? We must have our eyes open. And we did watch for any indication which would lead us~to suppose the authorities had any knowledge of our attempt and intention; but the day wore off its monotonous round of nothings. Tedious, heart-breaking days are those of the prisoner; but this, of all others, dragged fearfully its slow length into the night. One by one the prisoners broke up their knots of talkers and gamblers, and crawled to their corners for sleep, if not for rest; and soon the long room, with its double line of tobacco-press- es on either side, looking like niches in the vault of the catacombs which underlie the old city of Paris, was in darkness and silence, excepting the slow, regular tramp of the sentinels on the floor above and at our door. The wind blew fiercely, and we could hear the rain beating and splashing against the building. With the others we crept to our corner, and to the guard who made his nightly round of the prison we were fast asleep. It must have been near midnight when we removed the plank for our final start. Chan- dler was to have the first start. He had been longest in prison, and had contributed most to- ward the cutting off of the plank. As we lift- od the plank from its place a draught of fresh air rushed up through the aperture. Bending down, Chandler thrust his head and shoulders below the level of the floor. In an instnnt it was withdrawn again, and I could trace even in the darkness every lineament of his aifright- ed face. Look there! he whispered, pointing with his finger into the hole in the floor. Hanging on by my hands I stretched my head into the opening, and I saw that which, simple enough in itself, but, seen then and there, chilled me to the marrow with a nameless fear. The building was erected upon stout founda- tions of piers; the distance between these piers was some ten feet, forming na open space un- derneath into which a lantern from the outside, in the yard, cast a strong light. Across this space I saw moving slowly the shadow of a man with a musket, and then another, and another. The prison was patroled by an extra guard. Were we discovered? Have we been betray- ed? In smothered whispers we asked each other these questions. It must be given up for to-night, said the sergeant. That patrol is a heavy one, and has been placed there since sundown. Suspi- cion has been excited. We must wait. Silently did we replace the plank, holding it in its place by two wedges introduced from the bottom, filling up the crevice made by the saw with dirt, so that to the casual eye there was no evidence that the plank had been severed. Sleep did not visit my eyelids that night. Anxiously did we wait for the morning. It came, with an order from Winder to have all the prisoners of our room turned out into the yard. The room was to be cleaned out, it was said. It was a part of the duty of the sergeant to see that the room was cleaned, and the squad of prisoners who were engaged in this work were usually under his direction, but in this instance an officer of Winders accompanied them in their rounds, carefully examining the floors and walls, as the sergeant told us after- ward. When they came to our quarters I trem- bled lest they found our track; but the end of the plank we had cut was so near the tobaeco- tress that no one stood on it, nor did any one notice the cut we had made. I thought the officer in charge made a closer examination here than at the other cribs. But he didnt find any thing. So we passed through that scrape without being caught. We didnt try it again, for the guard after that was always stationed in the yard, and we knew very well that if we failed in our effort to get away the dungeon would follow detection. One day when Libby, surcharged with Yan- kee prisoners, poured some of its excess into ours, Colonel Miles, of my own State, and an. intimate friend, walked into the room. Seeing him from a distance I retreated to my corner, and waited until he came that way, and we were alone, and then stared him blankly in the face. But it was no use. He recognized me at once, and exclaimed: My God, here is Captain P! THE GENERALS STORY. 71 I am not P. My name is Peters, and lam a civilian. (Keep walking, Miles,) Icon- tinned, in a low voice, while my face was as impassible as ever; ( I will speak to you by- and-by.) He said not another word, but resumed his promenade. Later in the evening we seized an opportunity to speak to each other. We all thought you were dead, P . You see I am not; and I hope the gentle- man of the pale horse will not ride across my track for some time. How came you here, and in this disguise ? I detailed the circumstances of my arrest, and ended with an appeal to Miles that he would not mention to any one that he had seen me here; not even to my family and friends, should you get home to the North. Let them believe me dead, any thing, rather than the ex- posure which would certainly take place should they make any effort to have me released. The time may come, should you never hear of me again. But no; keep the secret forever. It can do no good to tell of it, and I might be misunderstood. The Colonel promised me all I asked. I did not see him again, for the early morning found him on his way to Salisbury Prison. I had now been in prison over three months, and release seemed hopeless, for I did not dare avail myself of the influence of friends, and I could not claim the privileges and rights of a prisoner of war. Sometimes I despaired of re- lease, but I was hopeful in the main, and used every effort to gain my liberty. I found a friend when I least expected it. The jailer of our prison was a relative of a banker in Washing- ton who was well known to me. This jailer, who was in heart a Unionist, and had taken this position to avoid service in the army, be- came interested in my story, and after much persuasion I induced him to enlist the services of Mr. G , of North Carolina, in my behalf. I had no money, so that my kind advocate was obliged to dispense with the ceremony of a re- tainer; but the jailer was the owner of a valu- able silver watch. My proposition was to give him an order for $150 in gold on friends of mine in Philadelphia in exchange for the watch in the event of my release through the inter- vention of Mr. G~, to whom the watch was to be given as soon as I was at liberty. Upon this basis Mr. G at once set at work, but on the threshold of his demand he was met by Winder, who refused to listen to the scheme. Better hold twenty honest men than per- mit one rogue to escape. He knew nothing of Mr. Peterss case; but there was no object in his release. He would not have been arrest- ed without good reason, and so on. So much was gained, any way. I was sure that Winder knew nothing about me. So I made another proposition: That I would go North, and any civilian held by the Federals whom they should select should return in my place. Thanks to the suggestion of a man named Farm, who had recently been added to the number of our unfortunates, this offer of mine was taken past Winder to higher author- ity. While this is pending let me describe Farm, who was the most remarkable man I ever saw; and although his story has no direct relation to mine, yet it is a link in the chain of that event- ful period of my life which can not well be omitted. Farm was a Canadian by birth and residence, and as I knew him then was a most enthusiastic supporter of the Southern cause. For four years he had made this cause his own. Hard- ly a battle had been fought since the first Bull Run that Farm was not present, and then in the thickest of the fight. He did not join the service because he preferred to dQ general staff duty as he termed it, so at one time or another he had accepted the hospitalities of nearly every general officer in Lees army. But he returned these courtesies with interest, lie spent money with great liberality; his supper- parties were the costliest, the most recherckn, of any in the camp, or in the capital, for that matter, for Farm was a favorite in the fashion- able circles of Richmond. He was na accom- plished linguist, a fair musician, an elegant dancer, and a poet of no mean order. An elegy by him on the death of Stonewall Jackson, written in prison and published in the Rich- mond papers, was full of tender pathos and fine poetic feeling. But how came he in prison? One night after a wine supper, given in honor of his pro- posed departure for Canada, and when his warm-hearted friends became wild with wine, Farm took home with him and put to bed in a somewhat intoxicated condition a young officer who was intimately connected with General Lee. The next morning, acconpanied by Presi- dent Daviss private secretary, Farm went to Winders office to get a pass to go through the lines. His friend went in for the pass while he remained in the office outside. Very soon his friend returned. Winder says he wishes to see you. Farm entered the presence of the man who at that moment had more practical power in Richmond than did Davis himself. You wish to go North, Mr. Farm ? Yes, Sir, to my home in Montreal. Winder gazed at him steadily in the face for a moment, and then, with a diabolical sneer, exclaimed: You wont go, Mr. Fan I arrest you as a spy. Captain, he continued, to the officer of the guard, I give this man in your charge. Permit no one to speak to him. Take him to Castle Thunder. And here he was. The incidents of his life and arrest I learned not only from him but from others, and knew them to be true from the fact that he was visited by crowds of young men who were high in in- 72 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. fluence in the rebel army and Government. Young Lee, Stuart, Hampden, and others, came and sympathized with this victim of Winders caprice, cursing that individual with as much earnestness as if he were the keeper of Camp Douglas instead of Castle Thunder. Farms conduct in the prison was that of a calm, self-poised gentleman, but above all there was a philosophy in all he said and did which sometimes reached the point of audacity; and I who watched and studied him closely imagined I detected something of bravado in it all. In a few weeks his friends had obtained an order for his release. An examination of his trunks and papers had been made by Winders people, but not any thing was found which would criminate him beyond a slight expression of pleasure writ- ten in his note-book upon seeing the stars and stripes raised again at Norfolk. Not another particle of evidence could Winder obtain against him. When the order of release was brought to him by a friend he refused to leave Castle Thunder. He said: I have been unjustly imprisoned. I refuse to be set at liberty by favor of Winder. I de- mand a trial. Expostulation and entreaty had no effect with Farm. He would go out with a clean record, or not at all. It was while his trial was pending that I re- ceived the welcome intelligence that Mr. G. had been successful. I was to procure in ex- change the release of one White, a citizen of Richmond, who had been captured on a block- ade-runner. I was to be sent to City Point with the next party released for exchange, and they were to start on the following morning. I could not realize this joyful news. For the first time since my capture I was unmanned. Burying my face in my bands I hurried to my quarters and let the hot tears come. When the morning came I stood at the door and watched the file of men who came out, from Libby, and down the street, on their way to the landinga ragged, sickly crowd of men they were, who danced with glee as they moved along. But they did not halt at our gate; they passed by; they disappeared behind the build- ings in the distance. I was left behind! Was I to be cheated of my liberty after all? Had I been purposely deceived? A great despair filled my heart! Some one touched me on the shoulder. I turned and saw Farm. They have left you behind. Heaven help me!yes. Do not be discouraged; you can go with the next party. How do you know that ? From an officer who wa~ here just now from Libby. I asked about your affair. You will be required to go up to Libby to sign some papers relative to their exchange. Let me warn you not to be recognized by any of the prison- ers at Libby. What do you mean ? By this time we had arrived at my old quar- ters, and had sat down on the edge of the tobac- co-press, and out of ear-shot of others. I mean that I am sure your name is not Peters. A cold sweat started from every pore of my body; my tongue rolled a ball in my month. I could not utter a word. Do not be alarmed. I do not wish to know who you are; but I have faith in you. Do not stare at me so. Remember where we are. Be perfectly calm, and listen well to what I say. I am in the service of Mr. Seward. I have frequently sent him information of priceless value. He knows that I have never been mis- taken. I have never~ failed him. If Winder had not stopped me the other morning I should have carried him a bit of news which would have given the Government a chance to have destroyed the rebel army in forty-eight hours. I got it from young Lee that night of the party; but it is too late now. You will go to Wash- ington? Yes. See Mr. Seward. Tell him that I am out of money. If he wishes me to remain here I must have at least $5000 in gold. He knows thai I can do service worth a thousand times that amount. If he consents write me a letter, no matter about what, beginning your name with the last lettersbelow the line. If it is above, I shall understand Mr. Seward is una- ble or refuses. Will you do this ? I was so completely astonished at this as- tounding revelation that I could only answer, mechanically, I will. We have been too long together. Ill leave you now. If there is an opportunity I shall speak to you again. If not, good-by! We will meet each other in the North one of these days, orand he smiled calmlyin heaven. And Farm sauntered away down the long room, talking and jesting with the prisoners as if he had not confided a secret to me which, whispered in the ears of Winder, would have cost him his life. I gazed upon his retreating form with dazed bewilderment. I could not at once take into my astonished brain the fact that this man, who for three years had been the friend and confidant of rebel Generals, the com- panion of rebel statesmen, the pet of the Rich- mond salon, this accomplished scholar, this brave ideal of a gentleman, was a spy! For a moment I was lost in admiration of his tact, his audacity, his genius. The sublime daring of his venture overshadowed its dishonor. There was a grandeur in this playing with death not unlike that with which Milton has invested the Fallen Angel. We shrink from the deed; we admire the genius which conceives and dares to execute! I Not for an instant did I question the truth of Farms words. The man who uttered them was not the gay, carelessftaneur of society, who re- ceived so gracefully the courtesies of gentlemen and ladies who had visited him the day before. THE GENERALS STORY. 73 It was a metamorphosisabsolute, complete. It was another creature with another tongueit was tipped with steel; another heartif he had any heart; an other brain, and that seemed alive with fire. II could not believe it, yet I knew Farm was a spy. But who was Farm? When the guard came for me to go to Libby I was not surprised, nor did I fail to remember the caution of Fan While I was signing the paper, which was an oath as well, to return in one week to my prison if I did not proeure the release of White, I kept my face close to the table, and afterward was seized with a violent fit of coughing, which furnished an excuse for holding a handkerchief to my face until I reach- ed the street. I wouldnt have recognized my own father had I met him that afternoon. During the evening I took a complete list of all the prisoners who were either in our service or were citizens. Many of them wrote short letters for their friends. These I placed in the lining of my pants behind the knee, which is safer than any other place of concealment. At early morning I was at my post watching for the exit of the party I was told were to go to City Point that morning. I had seen no- thing of Fariu since the afternoon before, when I went to Libby. His trial was to come off that afternoon; but he had not returned to Castle Thunder dufing the night. Shall I ever see him again ? I thought. How long will he be able to play this double game? What are his motives? Surely not those of gain! Yet he demands money. The gate was open, and the e~ichanged pris- oners approached. There was quite a party of them this morning. As they came near I ran to the door and attempted tci pass the guard so certain was I of my liberty; but I found his bayonet at my breast. Halt; yer cant go out there. But I am exchanged! I am on the list to go with the party which are coming down the street. There, they are passing, and I shall be left behind. And I pushed savagely against the sharp steel, calling loudly to the officer ot the guard in charge of the squad of prisoners: Officer! here; I am to go with you! The fellow turned his head; but the party of unfortunates pushed on, as if fearing that some new delay might prolong the torture of confinement from which they had just emerged. It was a selfish impulse; but even then; with the blood rushing to my eyes and nostrils in the agony of despair, I did not blame them. With blinded vision I could hardly see them, nor did I hotice two horsemen who were riding up the street, and reined in their steeds near the party; but my ear caught the sound of Farms voice clear and sharp. It was the tone of command. Captain, is there not the name of Peters in your list of exchanged prisonersa man to be taken from Castle Thunder ? The officerwhomhe addressed, without speak- ing, stared at Farms civilians clothes, and then in the face of the other horseman, who was in the uniform of a general officer, who broke out, impatiently: Dn it, why dont you answer ? - I didnt know who he was, Sir. And the man fumbled in his pocket, found the paper, and was about to open it, when Farm reached forth his hand, seized the document, and ran his eye down the list, returning it with his finger on the place where my name was written. Thats the man, Captain. You had better go and get him. If the Commander-in-Chief of the rebelarmy had uttered these words he could not have been more deliberate, more authoritative, than this spy, who a few hours before was my fellow-pris- oner in Castle Thunder. As I took my place in the file Farm nodded familiarly to me, saying to his companion, as they rode away: I knew that poor fellow was down for ex- change, and determined he should not be cheat- ed of his liberty. In a few hours from that moment I once more stood under the protecting folds of our dear old flag, never so beautiful, so sacred as then. At Fortress Monroe I reported to our Commissioner of Exchange, telling him my real name and story. You must retain your incognito, Captain, he said, until the exchange is entirely effected. Go at once to Washington; but keep clear from recognition by your friends. You will get from the Government all the assistance you need. The instant I arrived in Washington the ut- most power of the Government was put at my disposal, and in those days when Mr. Stanton desired to accomplish an object he did it. But the man White was not to be found. Tele- grams were sent to every place wh& e prisoners of state were confined, but the name of White was not among them. Thus three of my seven days had elapsed when it was discovered that White, a few weeks before, had been set at lib- erty. I at once hurried back to Fortress Mon- roe, resolved to deliver myself up to the rebel authorities, but our Commissioner would not listen to what he termed a suicidal notion. The facts of-Whites release were made known to Colonel Ould, another name was given, and on the day my time was up I had my papers of discharge. I was free from every obligation to my late captors. With the name of Peters I shook off that terrible nightmare of suspense. I awoke, as it were, from a horrible dream where I had been playing a part, where I had been a helpless actor to my own personality. A rest- ful, thankful, happy consciousness was it, when I was free, when I came to know myself again. When the General finistied speaking there followed a silence of several moments wherein he seemed lost in the memory of that strange hazardous episode in his life, while I strove to disenthrall myself from the singular fascina 74 HARPERS ~WEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. tion which had held me spell-bounda fascin- ation which grew in part out of the dramatic interest of the story. The silence of the night hour may have had something to do with it, while it was due in a measure to the earnest manner of the speaker, who at times seemed to be passing through the scenes he was narrating. And what became of Farm? said I, final- ly breaking the silence. Oh yes, I carried his message to Mr. Sew- ard, who recognized him as one of his most val- uable agents; but at that moment the secret service fund of the State Department was so much depleted that the amount demanded by Farm could not be expended. The matter was deemed of so much importance, however, that it was taken to the War Office; but Halleck ob- jected, and I was obliged to write to the spy a letter wherein I told him of my safe arrival at my home, signing the last letter of my name above the line. He has told me sincefor he came to my camp one day near the end of the warthat Winder used every means but that of force to make him leave the Confederacy; but Farm staid in Richmond in spite of Winder, until one day he was taken by a guard and absolutely put outside the lines. What has become of this man I do not know. It do not to this day know his real name, where he came from, nor if he is alive to-day. I had the satisfaction, however, to obtain by exchange the freedom of nearly all the pris- oners who were confined in Castle Thunder upon suspicion of their sympathy with the Union cause. Did you ever hear from Roberts again ? Oh yes; I found him after I came back. By-the-way, did you notice the negro girl who was with the children this afternoon ? Yes, I did; and now I think of it she ad- dressed you as Massa Capn. That was Sarah, who tried to save me from capture. She cant call me by any other name than Massa Capn. Your capture and imprisonment had its compensation then ? Decidedly, replied the General. But I was careful during the remainder of the war not again to be caught outside the Union lines in disguise. The story of the adventure of my comrade the General is an exceptional one, even in the history of a war like that of ours, which is so full of incident and romance. Its hero is alive, and honorably and publicly known to-day. MRS. F.S WAITING-MAID. WHEN General Butler was in New Orleans Colonel F. With his wife and family oc- cupied the confiscated mansion of a Mr. Che- sanga Frenchman by birth, and a rebel by principle. There was Mrs. F. and her two children, Tom and Evaa boy and girl of four- teen and eleven, and Mrs. F. s sistera young lady of twenty. Besides these, two or tliree officers made it their home with them. It was a pleasant party, and Mrs. F. enjoyed it vastly, with one drawback, however. She was a New England woman, and accustomed to the do- mestic life of New England. Her house had always been a model of elegant nicetyher servants well trained and reliable, as a usual thing. To a person with her habits these slave- servants were almost intolerable. This, then, was the drawbackher 6& e-noir in the midst of so much that was delightfuL The idea, Tom, she would say to her hus- band, of being obliged to have six people to do what two could do at the North; and then of all the idle, careless, irresponsible creatures ! The Colonel took it philosophicallylaughed at their idleness, quoted the climate, their train- ing, or want of training, and told Mrs. F. that in Rome she must expect to do as the Romans did. Mrs. F. knew all this, and a good deal more about it than Tom did, and she knew it was a trial. But one day she came in to dinner radiant. I believe she thought the worst of her troubles were over. Tom! she said, in an exultant undertone as she stood by the window with him waiting for Major Luce to come iii Torn, Ive dis- charged Rose, and engaged a perfect jewel of a waiting-maid. You dont say so! Lets send out at once and have a cannon fired and the bells rung. Now, Tom, be serious and listen. She is a creole, and belonged formerly in a French family up the river, and doesnt speak a word nor understand a word of English ; and Mrs. F. looked up in triumph as if the last item was the crowning virtue. The Colonel laughed gayly. Thats the best of all is it, Kate ? It isnt the least, Colonel Tom. Do you remember how Rose used to be found at key- holes sometimes, answered Mrs. Tom, signifi- cantly. Just here Major Luce came in, and the sub- ject was dropped as they turned to the dinner- table; but when they rose the Colonel, who could never spare his fun, took Luce aside and said lowly, but not so lowly but that Mrs. Tom heard: Luce, I want you to go down to the Gen- eral and communicate a bit of news to him its a bell-ringing, cannon-firing affair, Luce, and Ive no doubt hell give orders Now, Colonel, youre too bad ; and Mrs. Tom, interposing, told the story herself; but the Colonel had his laugh, and that was all he wanted. Four or five days passed, and nothing more was said about the new waiting-maid until one morning the Major asked, How does Roses successor get on, Mrs. F. ? Admirably. Shes a perfect treasure, Ma- jor Luce. I knew I should like he~ in the be-

74 HARPERS ~WEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. tion which had held me spell-bounda fascin- ation which grew in part out of the dramatic interest of the story. The silence of the night hour may have had something to do with it, while it was due in a measure to the earnest manner of the speaker, who at times seemed to be passing through the scenes he was narrating. And what became of Farm? said I, final- ly breaking the silence. Oh yes, I carried his message to Mr. Sew- ard, who recognized him as one of his most val- uable agents; but at that moment the secret service fund of the State Department was so much depleted that the amount demanded by Farm could not be expended. The matter was deemed of so much importance, however, that it was taken to the War Office; but Halleck ob- jected, and I was obliged to write to the spy a letter wherein I told him of my safe arrival at my home, signing the last letter of my name above the line. He has told me sincefor he came to my camp one day near the end of the warthat Winder used every means but that of force to make him leave the Confederacy; but Farm staid in Richmond in spite of Winder, until one day he was taken by a guard and absolutely put outside the lines. What has become of this man I do not know. It do not to this day know his real name, where he came from, nor if he is alive to-day. I had the satisfaction, however, to obtain by exchange the freedom of nearly all the pris- oners who were confined in Castle Thunder upon suspicion of their sympathy with the Union cause. Did you ever hear from Roberts again ? Oh yes; I found him after I came back. By-the-way, did you notice the negro girl who was with the children this afternoon ? Yes, I did; and now I think of it she ad- dressed you as Massa Capn. That was Sarah, who tried to save me from capture. She cant call me by any other name than Massa Capn. Your capture and imprisonment had its compensation then ? Decidedly, replied the General. But I was careful during the remainder of the war not again to be caught outside the Union lines in disguise. The story of the adventure of my comrade the General is an exceptional one, even in the history of a war like that of ours, which is so full of incident and romance. Its hero is alive, and honorably and publicly known to-day. MRS. F.S WAITING-MAID. WHEN General Butler was in New Orleans Colonel F. With his wife and family oc- cupied the confiscated mansion of a Mr. Che- sanga Frenchman by birth, and a rebel by principle. There was Mrs. F. and her two children, Tom and Evaa boy and girl of four- teen and eleven, and Mrs. F. s sistera young lady of twenty. Besides these, two or tliree officers made it their home with them. It was a pleasant party, and Mrs. F. enjoyed it vastly, with one drawback, however. She was a New England woman, and accustomed to the do- mestic life of New England. Her house had always been a model of elegant nicetyher servants well trained and reliable, as a usual thing. To a person with her habits these slave- servants were almost intolerable. This, then, was the drawbackher 6& e-noir in the midst of so much that was delightfuL The idea, Tom, she would say to her hus- band, of being obliged to have six people to do what two could do at the North; and then of all the idle, careless, irresponsible creatures ! The Colonel took it philosophicallylaughed at their idleness, quoted the climate, their train- ing, or want of training, and told Mrs. F. that in Rome she must expect to do as the Romans did. Mrs. F. knew all this, and a good deal more about it than Tom did, and she knew it was a trial. But one day she came in to dinner radiant. I believe she thought the worst of her troubles were over. Tom! she said, in an exultant undertone as she stood by the window with him waiting for Major Luce to come iii Torn, Ive dis- charged Rose, and engaged a perfect jewel of a waiting-maid. You dont say so! Lets send out at once and have a cannon fired and the bells rung. Now, Tom, be serious and listen. She is a creole, and belonged formerly in a French family up the river, and doesnt speak a word nor understand a word of English ; and Mrs. F. looked up in triumph as if the last item was the crowning virtue. The Colonel laughed gayly. Thats the best of all is it, Kate ? It isnt the least, Colonel Tom. Do you remember how Rose used to be found at key- holes sometimes, answered Mrs. Tom, signifi- cantly. Just here Major Luce came in, and the sub- ject was dropped as they turned to the dinner- table; but when they rose the Colonel, who could never spare his fun, took Luce aside and said lowly, but not so lowly but that Mrs. Tom heard: Luce, I want you to go down to the Gen- eral and communicate a bit of news to him its a bell-ringing, cannon-firing affair, Luce, and Ive no doubt hell give orders Now, Colonel, youre too bad ; and Mrs. Tom, interposing, told the story herself; but the Colonel had his laugh, and that was all he wanted. Four or five days passed, and nothing more was said about the new waiting-maid until one morning the Major asked, How does Roses successor get on, Mrs. F. ? Admirably. Shes a perfect treasure, Ma- jor Luce. I knew I should like he~ in the be- MRS. F.S WAITING-MAID. 75 gInning, she was so quiet and deft. Ah~Major, if you had ever had your muslims torn, and your laces lost, and your best silk dresses borrowed without your leave, you would appreciate what it is to be served by this Mathilde, concluded Mrs. F., with mock gravity. The Major laughed. I dare say I should, Mrs. F.; but my mus- lins and laces are warranted not to tear or lose, and my best silk dresses dont fit any body but myself. Later on that same day they were all sitting in the drawing-roomMrs. F. and the Colonel, and Miss VesceyMrs. F.s sister, and Major Luce and two other officers who had dropped in for a call. It was getting late, and a wind had sprung up. Mrs. F. shivered with a little chill. Kate, you are taking cold; send for that paragon to bring your shawl, suggested the Colonel, in an aside. When the paragon came in with the shawl he was busy talking again. Major Luce, who hap- pened to be disengaged and looking that way, was probably the only person conscious of her personality as she entered. How well she carries herself! he thought, vaguely. Then he glanced at her face. Below stiff folds of muslin, which concealed her hair, shone a pair of brilliant eyes, an olive cheek, and a mouth cut like Phen~s, and curving beneath, a chin so firm, it was a trifle heavy. She looks like a picture; and where have I seen one like it I mused the Major. I know. In Valsis studio at New York theres a Roman girl carrying a palm-branch, which she regards disdainfully. I used to think that Miss Laudersmine looked like it too sometimes. Valerie Landersinine. I wonder where she is now. She was a Louisianianused to spend her winters at New Orleans. Handsome, haughty creaturehow she would lift that Greek head of hers if she knew I put her in comparison with a slave-girl! Heigh-ho! I suppose shes a rebel now. If she had been a man a pair of epaulets would have shone on her shoulders. And how soft she could be too, sometimes! I called her Valerie oncenh me! And in his recollection of Valerie Lauders- mine he forgot Mathilde the waiting-maid. The waiting-maid, however, as the days went on, continued to give unbounded satisfaction to her mistress. Nobody ever dressed hair like her; nobody was ever at once so deft and taste- ful. Of course the Major forgot all about her; never thought of her again until again she re- called the picture in Yalsis studio, and so Miss Laudersmine. He was playing backgam- mon with Miss Vescey in Mrs. F. s little sit- ting-room up stairs one morning, and glancing over the board he could see Mathilde sitting sewing in the room beyond. Did you ever see that Roman girl in Val- sis studio, Miss Vescey ? Oh yes. Its a. strange picture, I think. Did you ever notice that your new waiting- woman looks like it! No, I never thought of it; but now you mention it, seems to me I do see the resem- blance. But you neednt speak so low, Major Luce; she doesnt understand a word of En- glish. Oh, she doesnt! Presently Mrs. F. came in, and presently aft- er coming in she wanted something which Ma- thilde must bring. Mathilde! and Mathilde came, quiet, soundless of foot, and prompt. She stood re- ceiving the order, while the rest talked, oblivi- ous of her. Major Luce was listening to Miss Vesceys description of the onyx ring she wore, and listening, was holding Miss Vesceys hand to look at the ring for the moment. He glanced up from the hand suddenly, and caught a pair of eyes that were not Miss Vesceys; dark, brilliant, and piercing, they startled him with an odd sensation, like peril; but as quickly as he met them they were withdrawn. As she left the room the influence seemed to pass, and he laughed at himself for it. He hardly thought of it again until the next day, as he was running up the stairs, he came upon her carrying a basket of flowers to her mistresss room. Two or three choice roses fell out at his feet, and he stooped involuntarily to pick them up. As he tossed them back he looked at her eyes again, but the lids were down, and her Je vous remercie was spoken in a swift nasal, and her whole air the very type of the class of slaves who are educated in the houses of the French planters up the river. As she went in he met Mrs. F. coming out. He could say to Mrs. F. what he couldnt to Miss Ves- cey, for besides being a great friend of his she was a married friend. Mrs. F. knew a good deal about his affairs, one way and another, and what he hadnt told her she had guessed from what he had told. She knew about Va- lerie Laudersmine. She knew, that is, that, as the phrase goes, Miss Landersmine and Major Luce had had a great flirtation, and that at the end of the summer, when she waited to hear of their engagement, that Luce suddenly disap- peared, and only came back when Miss Lan- dersmine had left, and then with a gloomy face, and two or three bitter words that once or twice dropped from his lips. She had guessed the story, for she knew Valerie Laudersmine well enough to know how proud she was, and how high she looked; and Everett Luce was not high enough for that looking. This was five years ago, and she supposed by this time that he had gotten over the whole affair, and perhaps for- gotteR Valerie Laudersmine. In a moment she knew that he hadnt for- gotten her when he stopped her and said: You remember Miss Laudersmine, Mrs. F. ? Oh yes. And Mrs. F. looked curiously up at his face. It was cool enough. Have you ever thought, he went on, that your waiting-maid resembles her in some ways ? There! And Mrs. F. struck her two 76 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. hands together in the sudden shock of thought. There! that is it! I knew there was something some resemblance to somebody, I couldnt make out who. They sat down together in the alcove of the bay-window in the hall, and by-and-by Luce said, with a wistful, grave simplicity that touch- ed Mrs. F. greatly: I never quite got over Valerie Lauders- mine, Mrs. F. ? Mrs. F. said, in return, some kind, sympa- thetic, womanly things; and under her spell he told her more of the affair than she had ever known before, and she found that she had not guessed wrongly. It is a long while agofive years, Mrs. F.; and I really thought the other. day that I didnt care, you know, any more; butjust the turn of a girls cheek and a pair of black eyes, and that old nerve I thought dead goes to vibrat- ing again, and it aches confoundedly, Mrs. F., though I had the tooth drawn long ago. He laughed, but it was a. sad little laugh, sadder than any sigh to Mrs. F. And half ashamed of his confidence he resumed: I believe I am acting like a school-boy, or a fool, Mr. F., but I am not going to say any thing about it after this. Mrs. F. assured him that he might say just as much as lIe pleased about it to her, and that he was neither a school-boy nor a fool in her estimation for what he had told her. But she hadsometbing to say now. Theres one thing you havent thought of, Major Laceperhaps you never knew the fact. Valerie Laudersmine, when she was at Cape May that summer, had a waiting-maid who bore quite a curious resemblance to herself. Major Luces face was all aflame in an in- stant. He wheeled round. Who knows Exactly, Major Luce. Who knows but this girl is the quondam waiting-maid of Miss Laudersmine? Shall I ask her now Yes, if you will, now and here. Mrs. F. opened the door of her sitting-room and called Mathilde ! Mathilde dropped the flowers which she was arranging and obeyed the call with her usual alacrity. And as Major Luce looked again at this face which recalled another face the nerve he had fancied dead be- gan to thrill again; and it thrilled still more as he listened to the conversation that ensued. It was in French, and the girls voice was as he had heard it a while beforenasal and a trifle shrill, like her class, not like the dulcet tones of Valerie Laudersmine, that soft-i~oiced siren who had sung his heart away five years ago. Mathilde, asked Mrs. F., did you once belong to Miss Laudersmine ? Mathilde looked open-eyed surprise as she answered, briskly, Oui, Madame. How long since ? Five years, after a minuteu counting on her brown fingers, and with a stronger nasal than ever upon the cin~. A i~d how came you to part from her? M~nsieur Laudersmine died, and Made- moiselle Valerie went to live with her uncle. It was an exchange, Madame. Madame Che- sang wanted me, and offered Celie for me. Celie can not dress hair like me; but Made- moiselle Valerie is good-natured, so she took Celie for me, Madame. Do you mean to say, Mathilde, that Ma- dame Chesang, who used to live ia this house, was your mistress before you came to me ? Yes, Madame. And that Monsieur Chesang is uncle to Miss Laudersmine ? Yes, Madame. Did you come straight from Monsieur Che- sangs here? and was Miss Laudersmine there? broke in Luce, in a slightly nervous tone. Oh no, Monsieur. Mrs. Chesang died three years ago, and she gave me my freedom in her will; then I came down to the city and hired out as fine laundress. I havent seen Made- moiselle Laudersmiae since, and I couldnt tell where she is, Monsieur, with a curious, stealthy look at Lace from her piercing eyes. There was no more to be learned from her after this, and as soon as possible Mrs. F. dii- missed her back to her task. And after this Luce was no .more at rest. He could never see the slim, straight figure, northe olive curve of Mathildes cheek, nor the flash of her dark, brilliant eyes beneath those folds of muslin, but it set his heart to beating with old memories. One night she passed him, unconscious of his presence, as he stood. in that very bow-window. The poise of her head, the undulation of her movements was so like, so very, very like! Confound the resemblance! he said, under his breath, and with an impatient stamp of his foot, a bitter, troubled, vexed face. And then he turned and looked after her. He saw her pass down the dim corridor. He saw her half turn the handle of a door, then pause, retrace her steps, and come swiftly, softly back. It flashed over him in an unreasoning sort of way, just then, that Mrs. F. and her sister were both away for the evening; at the same moment he shrank involuntarily within the embrasure. She came back and in that, swift, soft-footed man- ner entered Mrs. F. s room. And why ~not? He had seen her enter at that very door many and many a time. Why not now? There was no reason why not to be sure; but a curious sensation oppressed him as he watched her; a sensation that was compounded of suspicion and peril; and he remembered the same sensation once before when he had first seen her. One, two, the seconds ticked by, in audible throbs from the great hall clock, and still he waited, watching now for her reappearance, yet half jeering at himself for the indefinable fan- cies that held him there. One, two; it seemed an age. What was she about there so long? So long! Pshaw, it was but three minutes. Three minutes, in that time what might not be done? MRS. F.S WAITING-MAID. 77 What a fool I am! he muttered. I be- lieve I have been drinking too much Cham- pagne; I dare say the girl is putting her mis- tresss finery in order. But hark! the door opens; there she comes, the gay coral ear-rings sparkling and tinkling; a smile lurking about her lips, which parting, hum swiftly a bit of the Marseillaise. How like the maid is to her quonda~m mistress! The old pang strikesthe watcher in his nook as he sees her; and he sees, too, one shapely hand thrust into an apron pocket, and hears the rustle of paper, and is half ashamed of himself for the suspicion that upon so slight a footing gains ground. But as she passes out of sight he says, with a certain dogged resolution: Ill keep an eye on her any way; if theres mischief Ill find it outbut I wish she wasnt so like, so very, very like. And he did keep an eye on her. Twice that evening in the garden grounds he crossed her path with the careless pretext of smoking. Twice he cut off her egress from the private gateway. And at the last she turned with a gesture, and half an exclamation that was im- patience and disappointment all in onethe impatience and disappointment simply of a foiled coquette. Possibly no deeper errand than to meet her lover ; but as he made this inward remark he sighed satisfaction as he saw her flit up the stairway before him. And by-andby the Col- onel and his wife and Miss Vescey came in. It was early yet, and a storm brooded in gusty sobs about the house; it brought damp and chill into the wide rooms, and Mrs. F., shivering under the influence, besought them to adjourn to her smaller boudoir, where Heckla should kindle a fire upon the hearth. Thither they went, and while Heckla, sable servitor, kindled a blaze which sent out aromatic odors of cypress and cedar, Miss Vescey brewed a beverage whose scents were of spices and wines. The scene so home-like and simple, dispellcd all fancies and suspicions, but still there was the possibility, and the Major told his story. The Colonel, shrewd soldier, was alert at once, listening in- tently and gravely; but Mrs. F., nettled at any distrust of her favorite, made jest of the whole affair. It was only some little French love- mottoes Mathilde was after, probably; she her- self had told Mathilde where to find theni; or it might have been a recipe for a cosmetic Madame iDroyer had bestowed upon her, a most wonderful recipe for the hands; and Ma- thilde had a passion for concocting messes; and very likely, too, it was the young creole who kept the drug-shop round the corner whom Ma- tnilde was seeking at the gateways. Major Luce felt excessively annoyed at Mrs. F. s annoyance; annoyed and a trifle disturbed at this jest-making. Miss Vescey, cognizant of all this, tried to dispel it with the breath of a little song, airily chanted over her foamy distillation. A little French song, who~e English Heart, heart of mine, Why dost repine ? could scarcely give the impassioned aerial grace of the original, which he had heard before. But it was the same lovely tune; and he could im- agine as he bent his head away from the sing- er, and dipped his mustache into the warm spar- kle of the spiced wine frothing up in his glass he could imagine Valerie Laudersmine sing- ing to him one summer night as they rowed down the river for lilies. Five years, and the lilies were all dead long agoand Valerie, per- haps she too had followed the lilies. A sharp pang pierced him. Dead! he had not thought of that. Deadall that life and bloom and beauty! He looked up suddenly; it was a whisper through the song that caught his earjust a My shawl, Mathilde, and there she stood, for once unconscious, for once rapt, away and apart betraying herself. There was wistful depth in her eyes, there was melting sweetness on her lips, as if she might then be singing softly the old French song: Heart, heart of mine, Why dost repine ? A little tinkling crash, a start and exclama- tions, while Mrs. F. moved her violet silk from the scene of accident, and then they all fell to laughing over the Majors preoccupation. Or was it Julias song ?. bantered the Col- oneL Yes, it was just thatMiss Julias song, with a single glance at Miss Vescey, which cost Everett Luce all his self-command; for over it flashed another glance, startled, yet unafraid, as if I trust you: you will not betray. And while they laughed and bantered he bent down from their gaze to the fragments of his glass upon the floor, unheeding the remind- er of Mrs. F. that Mathilde could perform that service; and bending there, his hands touched hers, and he knew that perhaps he held her life Valerie Laudersmines lifein his keeping. Valerie Laudersmine! All this time it had been Valerie Laudersmine, and he had not known. At first a thrill of delight, swift and unreasoning, at her simple presence; then fear, anxiety, foreboding, and suspicion, which deep- ened into horror, at the fate that might be that must be, closing around them. He drew a deep breath at the thought that he had be- trayed her; for, knowing now that it was Valerie Laudersmine, he knew no trep of hers was pur- poseless in that house, nor that, left alone, she did other work than her own. What thwarted purpose was that in the garden then? What noiseless errand in the room beyond? And he had betrayed her! Betrayalwhat did it mean? And this betrayal was assuredly of wrong and misdoing, of treason and conspiracy! What did his loyalty command him to do but to betray all treason and conspiracy? His brain reeled with these questions, and his pulses throbbed dizzily, while still he bent there in such dangerous neighborhood, and still the laugh and 78 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. bantering jest went on, and no one but they two Down a wide hail, as he went out of Mrs. conscious of the tragic undertone. F. 5 boudoir, he caught the echo of a footstep. Curious creature she is! remarked the Cob Following it, the flutter of a light garment led onel, as, the fragments gathered up, Mathilde him on, and on, still on, through a maze of moved stately from the room, doorways and passages until the fever of pur- A faithful creature! interluded Mrs. F., suit and delay nearly maddened him. Then a with a little breath of malice. See how she voicewas it Mrs. F.s ?far off at first, then mends this old lace, holding up a web of Valen- coming nearer, called Mathilde, Mathilde ! other voice ciennes. then other footsteps, s, when sud Lace? And how about that gold-lace on denly a breath of the storm blew coldly in from my coat, Mrs. F., which this faithful creature an opening door, and following on, he found was to rejuvenate with her wonderful fingers ? himself in the garden-grounds, out in the wild asked the ColoneL tempestuous night. A late moon was strug- How about it? its like new. You could gling up through flying clouds, and by its fitful never tell the broken thread; but look and see light he discerned what he sought. There she for yourself in the wardrobe in your room. fled down the narrow, tortuous pathway which He came back with it on his arm, and look- led to the river-gate. A moment more and he ing at it, fell into praises which satisfied even held her in his graspa moment more and he Mathildes mistress. was speaking to her vehemently, almost inco- And the papers in the inner pocket I told herently, calling her Valerie; imploring, be- you of you put in my cabinet, I suppose, as I seeching, commanding, in a breath. At the suggested ? first words she knew her danger; yet the reck No, npt in the cabinet; it was that day I less adventurous spirit which had incited her was ill in my room, and I dropped them in my on to the part she had undertaken still had pos- writing-desk; or Mathilde did for me. session of her. A strange exultant look gleamed The eyes of Major Luce threw a startled, from her eyes. fearful glance across the table; and there was Well! she exclaimed, in the breathless something in the answering glance of his supe- pause. nor that fully met it. Just a moment of wait- The papers! give me the papers, Valerie ing, then the Colonel rose again. Mrs. F. then go free, and God help you! he cried. looked up from the contemplation of her slip- She seemed to start at the solemn passion of pers on the fender. his tone; but immediately her voice rang stead- Wait, and Ill send Mathilde for the desk, ily in answer: Tom. But the Colonel had disappeared, and At the foot of the garden, by the river-gate, presently returning, bore in his hands a little es- under the lions head, there is a receptacle for critoir of gilt and inlaying, lettersa cleft in the granite that will admit The key, Kateunderneath there. Dont your hand. I dropped the packet there an you remember the small secret drawer outside hour agoan hour hence itwould have been be- for it ? yond your reach, if you had not prevented my It was but a second that turning of the key, egress from the grounds; and so you check- that lifting of the lid; but in the brief time mate me again, Sir. She stepped forward, as what length of fear and dread, what fainting if to go, but still his detaining hand lingered on horror possessed him who watched and waited her arm. from the other side of the little table, where Well, am I to go free, Sir ? in haughty still Miss Vescey brewed her posset and hummed accents. her song. But the song was coming to an end, What Fate was it that held that moment? no more to be resumed that night. It broke There was no shadow of doubt of her in his off suddenly in the turning of a note, at a new mind as she spoke; he believed she spoke only note in her brother-in-laws gay voice, simplest truth, and that in the cleft of granite Kate, Kate! what have you done ? It was he should find what he sought; but some bitter not only displeasure, but it was the sharp, swift pang of parting, some anxious fear for her wel- tone which bursts forth at only one crisisthat fare in the wild and dreary night made him of peril or its anticipation. Then in an instant hesitate perhaps. dismay seized upon the group therein an in- lint how can you go, where can you go stant they all knew what had happened, that alone, Val Miss Laudersmine, at this hour? Major Luces suspicions had come true; but Again his tone seemed to touch her; and still in anxious voice Mrs. F. cried, What is she lifted wistful eyes a moment and answered it? what have IF done, Tom ? gentler than before: It was that plan of Gerritts, Major, the I have friends who wait for me. whole line of attack, and the present disposition As she spoke, the wind rising in a fresh burst, of our men in complete drawing ; but the Ma- a branch of the cypress under which she stood jor, before the Colonel had spoken more than struck suddenly agiCinst her. Unprepared for the first half dozen words, had disappeared. the blow, she lost poise, reeled, and would have He would save her yet from question or triaL fallen but for her companion. As he caught If he reclaimed the lost paper, what more for her something slipped from her hold and rus- all loyal purpose was needed? If he reclaimed it! tled to the ground. The moon came sailing up MRS. F.S WAITING-MAID. 79 and showed him what it wasa slender packet sealed with red wax. Good Heaven! how well he knew it! And how bitter the recognition now; yet what Providence! As he stooped to take it their eyes met. Yes, I deceived you, she exclaimed, bit- terly, but with the bitterness .f defeat solely. I told you it was at the foot of the garden when I held it here in my hands. I meant to have gained time, as you see: an accident pre- vented me. She stood as if waiting. She had deceived him. In how much more might she not even now be deceiving, misleading, and betraying? What was she to him? The woman whom he loved. But there was something else. There was his country and his honor! Suddenly his mind cleared, and a divine resolution possessed him. ValerieMiss Laudersmine, you are my prisoner. The next instant lights gleamed from the opening doors, footsteps and voices ranga con- fusion of question and exclamation and wonder. It seemed an age to Major Luce that he stood there with his hand closed over Valerie Lan- dersmines slight wrist, until the soldierly figure of Colonel F. stood before them. At the first glance the Colonel saw the wholethe double identity, the deep-laid thwarted purpose, and the pang of discovery. In another moment he saw, too, how much loyalty and honor meant with Everett Luce, as he noted the firm yet gentle hold of detention, and the stern sorrow of his face as he handed him the packet. And Valerie Laudersmine was a prisoner in the house where she had fraudulently served. She uttered no complaint, she made no pro- test, she showed no sign of repentance, and none of aaxiety through it all. Quietly and even tenderly, for the sake of her youth and her sex, and perhaps, too, for the sake of the brave fellow who had so pain- fully proved his loyalty, the examination was carried on, and the final judgment awarded. It was certainly gentle judgment, that sentence of banishment up the river, upon an unwilling parole dhonneur. Gentle judgment for her sin; but she received it with the same cold, haughty apathy that had intrenched her from the first. I always thought her heartlessalways, commented Mrs. F., with a pained, half-fright- ened face, after their last interview. And to think we should have been so de- ceived by a little disguising ! exclaimed Miss Vescey; but there never was such an actress as Valerie Laudersmine. The first time I ever saw her she played in Mrs. Althorpes private theatricals, and how Charlie Althorpe raved about her! Heartless and an actress! Perhaps they all judged her with this judgment except one, who might have been pardoned for even harsh- er judgment. But he, as those dark eyes lifted to his for the last time, realized what divine possibilities were lost in the warping realities of her education and associations, and what she might have been if all her life had not been spent under an unnatural rule, where every selfish whim was fostered, and every idle wish indulged. Looking into her eyes, he said no word of reproach, hut only with sad earnest- ness: Good-by, Valerie. She dropped her hand in his; it was icy cold, and her haughty voice faltered a llttle in re- plying: You have done your duty, Major Luce,. and I honor you for it. In an instant, by that glance, by that falter- ing tone, he knew how near, yet how far apart they were; and he knew that when they part~- ed it would he forever. But he had done his duty, and she honored him. To Mrs. F. he said,oneday: I suppose I shall overllve this, and perhaps at some time he a happy and contented man, with altogether another future than this that I thought possible once; for neither men nor wo- men give up their lives at one disappointment, however great, unless they are weak or wicked. This was good and true philosophy; but it sounded a llttle too matter-of-fact and cool to Mrs. F., who remembered so vividly the sad passion of love which had broken up into every word and look a little while since from this now quiet speaker. She had not fathomed Everett Luce yet. He isnt a fellow to make a fuss about any thing, but he is one to hold on to a feeling or a purpose a long time, Mrs. F., commented that ladys husband. And Mrs. F. realized how true this was as time went on, and found Major Luce untouched hy all the hright eyes and winning smiles that lavished their sweetness upon him. The war is over, and Valerie Laudersmino now Valerie Laudersmine no longer, but the wife of one of her own racereleased from that parole dhonneur, shows her handsome, haughty face at imperial fetes and royal presentations. She achieved her destiny, and made a worldly, perhaps a loveless marriage; but that she was not altogether unworthy such love as Everett Luce had given her one little incident may serve to show. Meeting a fellow-countrywoman none other than Miss Vesceyin a Paris sa- lon one day, among other inquiries she asked, with a flushing cheek: And Major Luce, Miss Vescey? I hope the world goes well with him. He is a brave fellowand a gentleman. And this brave fellow, this gentleman, proves all his claims, and the world goes well with him. Men respect him, women trust him, and children welcome his approach. He has not made that other future for himself yet; but there is certainly nothing morhid in his mind, even though the only picture that hangs ia his room is that Roman girl of Valsis, whose aspect is that of Valerie Laudersmine. 80 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. TOM CORWIN OF OHIO. ~ AM old and infirm, said Tom Corwin of tOhjo to Roscoe Cenkling, a few days be- fore his death, and in the common way of life I must soon die. I fear, ConklingI fear men will remember me only as a jester. This dread ia Corwins mind was not with- out reason. Although he was contemporaneous with Webster, Adams, Clay, and Douglas, and won his very enviable and national reputation upon the same issues of national banks, tariff, the Compromise of 1850, and the Mexican war, he fails to take rank with them as a statesman. We even neglect to name him in. the same cat- egory of great orators with Clay and Webster, though, in the strict sense of the term, he was the superior of either in elegance and refine- ment of style, beauty and richness of imagina- tion, and gracefulness of delivery; but mental- ly incapable of grasping, complicated political questions and of originating great political measures, Corwin failed to become a statesman like Clay and Webster. He had not, besides, the fierce earnestness of those absolute and more powerful, more despotic natures; he had not the firm, deep, earnest, absorbing convictions which they felt, and which were their motive powers, and which made them. oratorsand such orators, too, as were resistless in the ad- vocacy of their ideas. Always more pleasing, Corwin was not always as forcible as they were; and so he takes ranknot exactly as he feared, as a jesterbut as a stump orator, and his fame will be preserved by tradition rather than by ster great orators. Corwin, on the contrary, spoke without effort, and eloquent words came from his lips without the exercise of thought certainly without the inspiration of the great progressive ideas of reform which aroused the others. Corwin was a finished speaker, but one felt all the whil@ he listened to him that he was being beguilednot to say swindledby soft words, beautiful language, perfect rhetoric, but pleasing only, not impressive. In it all the heart seemed absent. When you could steal away from the presence of the speaker, and shut out from eye and memory the fascination of his manner, his words lacked terribly in impress- iveness; all their rich glow and warmth as he uttered them was gone, and they looked dull and tame in the cold leaden type. One turns away from their contemplation, and takes de- light in recalling some of the commonplace but powerful phrases of Webster, which stir the blood even as one reads them. Websters de- nunciation, in the Supreme Court, of the Wheel- ing Bridge Company, loses nothing by the ab- sence of his manner. After stating facts and figures, and previous conclusions and decisions upon the case, which had long troubled the court and the public, Webster said, in his quiet, forcible way: Now, your Honors, we desire this unauthorized Company to send in complete returns from the first; to present a bill of en- tire receipts; to render up strict and unimpeach- able accounts; to settle up, pay npin other~ words, DIsGORGE! As he spoke the last word he brought down his hand upon the desk with a thump of emphasis. history. Though the absence of this deep earnestness When one comes to examine Corwins career of manner and profundity of thought which char- it is surprising to find how little he accom- acterized the others prevented Corwin from be- plished. He did no great national work, de- coming a great orator, it didnotpreventhim from veloped. no great national idea, and his finest being a singularly effective and fascinating stump triumphthat of 1840was a mere partisan speaker. Even in his forensic efforts he took victory. Almost the only deeply earnest speech delight in his graceful flights of fancy rather in advocacy of a great and grave principle which than in the employment of solid argument; and he ever made, and the only one of his efforts preferred the familiar and conversational to the which powerfully impressed the American peo- didactic in style, and was demonstrative rather ple, was that opposing the further prosecution than deliberative. Profound he never was, and of the Mexican war. It is a singular speech: could not be. He was very thoroughly read in the first place, there is no argument in it; a man, however, of acquirements rather than and it is by no means the most eloquent of his of learning; and his extensive though rather special pleadings, though it contains some fine superficial information, firmly held in his re- passagesas witness the fine picture of Napo- tentive memory, gave him great command of leon seeking ~more room, and finding it at language. He had an inexhaustible supply of St. Helena. Its impressiveness on the public sharp and telling because pointed and applica- resulted from a certain force given to the senti- ble anecdotes, the wit of which was easy of com- ments by the strong convictions of the speaker prehension; and a rare knowledge of those sen- in the truth of what he advocated. He felt as timents which please the multitude, and which, he spoke, as all now recognize, that while he exploded in a crowd, circulate with electrical was boldly and unreservedly exposing himself rapidity and effect. to the charge of unpatriotically opposing a war Corwin was, I think I may safely say, the in which the country was involved, he was in first of our public men who made a great repu- truth simply opposing the spread of slavery. tation in that style peculiar to us Americans But this one statesmanlike effort did not gain known as stump oratory, and to succeed in him the fame as a statesman which he coveted, which requires perhaps more varied talents than nor did his lighter efforts gain him a reputation any other style of the rhetoricians art. His as an orator. Their great ideas of statesman- voice either required no training at all, or had ship demanding utterance, made Clay and Web- received a great deal, and never had speaker

80 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. TOM CORWIN OF OHIO. ~ AM old and infirm, said Tom Corwin of tOhjo to Roscoe Cenkling, a few days be- fore his death, and in the common way of life I must soon die. I fear, ConklingI fear men will remember me only as a jester. This dread ia Corwins mind was not with- out reason. Although he was contemporaneous with Webster, Adams, Clay, and Douglas, and won his very enviable and national reputation upon the same issues of national banks, tariff, the Compromise of 1850, and the Mexican war, he fails to take rank with them as a statesman. We even neglect to name him in. the same cat- egory of great orators with Clay and Webster, though, in the strict sense of the term, he was the superior of either in elegance and refine- ment of style, beauty and richness of imagina- tion, and gracefulness of delivery; but mental- ly incapable of grasping, complicated political questions and of originating great political measures, Corwin failed to become a statesman like Clay and Webster. He had not, besides, the fierce earnestness of those absolute and more powerful, more despotic natures; he had not the firm, deep, earnest, absorbing convictions which they felt, and which were their motive powers, and which made them. oratorsand such orators, too, as were resistless in the ad- vocacy of their ideas. Always more pleasing, Corwin was not always as forcible as they were; and so he takes ranknot exactly as he feared, as a jesterbut as a stump orator, and his fame will be preserved by tradition rather than by ster great orators. Corwin, on the contrary, spoke without effort, and eloquent words came from his lips without the exercise of thought certainly without the inspiration of the great progressive ideas of reform which aroused the others. Corwin was a finished speaker, but one felt all the whil@ he listened to him that he was being beguilednot to say swindledby soft words, beautiful language, perfect rhetoric, but pleasing only, not impressive. In it all the heart seemed absent. When you could steal away from the presence of the speaker, and shut out from eye and memory the fascination of his manner, his words lacked terribly in impress- iveness; all their rich glow and warmth as he uttered them was gone, and they looked dull and tame in the cold leaden type. One turns away from their contemplation, and takes de- light in recalling some of the commonplace but powerful phrases of Webster, which stir the blood even as one reads them. Websters de- nunciation, in the Supreme Court, of the Wheel- ing Bridge Company, loses nothing by the ab- sence of his manner. After stating facts and figures, and previous conclusions and decisions upon the case, which had long troubled the court and the public, Webster said, in his quiet, forcible way: Now, your Honors, we desire this unauthorized Company to send in complete returns from the first; to present a bill of en- tire receipts; to render up strict and unimpeach- able accounts; to settle up, pay npin other~ words, DIsGORGE! As he spoke the last word he brought down his hand upon the desk with a thump of emphasis. history. Though the absence of this deep earnestness When one comes to examine Corwins career of manner and profundity of thought which char- it is surprising to find how little he accom- acterized the others prevented Corwin from be- plished. He did no great national work, de- coming a great orator, it didnotpreventhim from veloped. no great national idea, and his finest being a singularly effective and fascinating stump triumphthat of 1840was a mere partisan speaker. Even in his forensic efforts he took victory. Almost the only deeply earnest speech delight in his graceful flights of fancy rather in advocacy of a great and grave principle which than in the employment of solid argument; and he ever made, and the only one of his efforts preferred the familiar and conversational to the which powerfully impressed the American peo- didactic in style, and was demonstrative rather ple, was that opposing the further prosecution than deliberative. Profound he never was, and of the Mexican war. It is a singular speech: could not be. He was very thoroughly read in the first place, there is no argument in it; a man, however, of acquirements rather than and it is by no means the most eloquent of his of learning; and his extensive though rather special pleadings, though it contains some fine superficial information, firmly held in his re- passagesas witness the fine picture of Napo- tentive memory, gave him great command of leon seeking ~more room, and finding it at language. He had an inexhaustible supply of St. Helena. Its impressiveness on the public sharp and telling because pointed and applica- resulted from a certain force given to the senti- ble anecdotes, the wit of which was easy of com- ments by the strong convictions of the speaker prehension; and a rare knowledge of those sen- in the truth of what he advocated. He felt as timents which please the multitude, and which, he spoke, as all now recognize, that while he exploded in a crowd, circulate with electrical was boldly and unreservedly exposing himself rapidity and effect. to the charge of unpatriotically opposing a war Corwin was, I think I may safely say, the in which the country was involved, he was in first of our public men who made a great repu- truth simply opposing the spread of slavery. tation in that style peculiar to us Americans But this one statesmanlike effort did not gain known as stump oratory, and to succeed in him the fame as a statesman which he coveted, which requires perhaps more varied talents than nor did his lighter efforts gain him a reputation any other style of the rhetoricians art. His as an orator. Their great ideas of statesman- voice either required no training at all, or had ship demanding utterance, made Clay and Web- received a great deal, and never had speaker TOM CORWIN OF OHIO. 81 more complete control over his voice, or voice more power over an audience. It was soft, round, strong, and flexible. Within the scope of a few brief sentences it would often expand from the lowest conversational and confidential tone, audible only in the speakers immediate vicinity, to a climax which would startle his thousands of admirers in the remotest galleries. Corwinwas the bane of my existence in the gallery, said an old Congressional reporter to me on my telling him that Corwin was dead. He could he heard only about half the time. When he had any thing particularly good to say he told it in a confidential manner, inaudible in our gallery, and as if it were intended only for the special benefit of his fellow-members. The reporters could never catch the point where the jokes came in. Another facetious reporter, refer- ring to this peculiarity of Corwins, used to say that when he had a good joke to tell, Corwin used to go into executive session. Mr. Corwins manner ia telling an apt story was more effective upon a large audience, and not less agreeable to a small party, than that of Mr. Lincoln; hut the two men told their stories for very different purposes. Mr. Lin- colns humor was the adjunct of his deep and earnest nature, and his stories were his peculiar nnd effective arguments in favor of wise and great principles. Corwins humor was the pri- mary, the essential part of his exuberant and jovial nature; and his witticisms served only the purposes of ridicule, pointing no moral, though in his hands his stories wonderfully adorned an address and charmed an audience. lie was not at all argumentativewas rather a rhetorician than a logician; hut he did not for that reason the less appreciate and perceive the salient points of an argument. But Corwin seldom or never met argument by argument; lie drew in reply on his inexhaustible fund of wit and humor, and effected his purposes by the use of sarcasm and the illustrative anecdotes which were such resistless weapons in his hands. His sarcastic powers made him when in Con- gress the terror of all younger members. The most memorable of his sarcastic speeches, and indeed one of the most remarkable efforts in that vein in the English language, was his car- icature of General Crary, a member of Con- gress, who had formerly been a general of Michigan militia in the old times when the mi- litia were so supremely ridiculous. Corwin s description of Crary as a militiaman will be so enjoyable to the tried soldiers of the nation of the present day, and is so happily illustrative of Corwins style, that I am tempted to give the extract here. General Crary had sneeringly reflected in one ofhis speeches on General Har- risons generalship, and had thereby aronsed the ire of Corwin, who had always been Harri- sons champion. I dont believe that General Crarys speech had excited any malice in Cor- wins heart, and I mean nothing more by ire than a slight contempt. At any rate, sharp and crushing as was his sarcastic castigation of Cm- VOL. XXXV.No. 203 F ry, there does not appear in his speech any oth- er than the greatest good-humor. Having brief- ly alluded to the indignity which Crary had of- fered to the dead hero, Corwin continued: Now the entleman from Michigan being a militia general, as ~e ha~s told us, his brother officers, in that simple statement, has revealed the glorious history of toils, privations, sacrifices, and bloody scenes through which we know, from experience and observation, a militia officer in time of peace has to pass. We all in fancy see the gentleman from Michigan in that most dangerous and glorious event of the militia general a parade day.We can see the troops in motion, um- brellas, hoe and axe handles, and other like deadly implements of war, overshadowing all the field, when in I the leader of the host approaches. Far off his coining shines. His plume white after the fashion of the great Bour- bon, is of ample length, and readS its doleful history in the bereaved necks and bosoms of forty neighboring hen.roosts. Like the great Suwaroff, he seems some- what careless in forms and point of dress, hence his epaulets may he on his shoulders, back, or sides, but still gleaming gloriously in the sun. Mounted he is too, let it not he forgotten. Need I describe to the Colonels and Generals of this honorable body the steed which such heroes bestride on such occasions? No. I see the memory of other days is with you. You see before you the gentleman from Michigan, mounted on his crop-eared, bushy-tailed mare, the regular obliqui.- ties of whose hinder limbs is described by that most ex- pressive phrase sickle hams ; her height just four- teen hands a 11 told. Yes, Sir, there you see his steed, that laughs at the shaking of the spear ; that is his war horse whose neck is clothed with thunder. We have glowing descriptions of Alexander the Great and his war horse Bucephalus at the head of the Macedonian phalanx; but, Sir, such are the improve- ments of modern times, that every one must see that our militia General, with his crop-eared mare with bushy tail and sickle ham would literally frighten off a battle-field a hundred Alexanders. But to the his- tory of the parade day. The General thus mounted an deqnipped is in the field and ready for action. On the eve of some desperate enterprise, such as giving order to shoulder-arms, it may be, there occurs a crisis, one of the accidents of war which no sagacity could prevent. A cloud rises and passes over the sun! Here an occasion occurs for the display of that great~ est of all traits in the character of a commander, that trait wbich enables him to seize upon and turn to nod account events unlooked for as they may arise. Now for the caution with which the Roman Fabius foiled the skill and courage of Hannibal. A retreat is or- dered, and troops and General, in a twinkling, are found gone, safe ensconced in a neighboring grocery. But even here the General still has room for the exhi- bition of heroic deeds. Hot from the field and chafed with the untoward events of the day, your General unsheathes his trenchant blade, eighteen inches in length, as you will well remember, and with an ener- gy and remorseless fury he slices the water-melons that lie in heaps around -him, and shares them with his surviving friends. Others of the sinews of war are not wanting here. Whisky, that great traveler of modern times, is here also, and the shells of the water-melon are filled to the brim. Here, again, is shown how the extremes of bar- barism and civilization meet. As the Scandinavian heroes of old, after the fatigues of war, drank wine from the skulls of their slang tered enemies in Odins halls, so now our militia General and his forces, from the skulls of melons thus vanquished, in copious draughts of whisky assuage the heroic fire of their souls, after the bloody scenes of a parade day. But, alas! for this short-lived race of ours, all things will have an end, and so even is it with the glorious achievements of our General. Time is on the wing, and will not stay its flight; the sun, as if frightened at the mighty events of the day, rides down the sky, and at the close of day, when the hamlet is still, the curtain of night drops upon the scene, And glor,-, hiss Iho phconix in its fire,, Exhales iii odors, hiansa, and axpirsa. The unfortunate militia gentleman from Michigan was not less confounded and dum- founded by this reply; and when John Quincy Adams, in the course of a debate on the follow- 82 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ing day, casually alluded, in his quiet way, to the late lamented Mr. Crary, the whole House, including the victim, was convulsed with irresistible merriment. Few persons now living will be able to re- member Corwin during the memorable cam- paign of 1840, when he gained for himself the sobriquet of the Wagon Boy, and his great popularity as the most fascinating stump speak- er in the country. The Whig victory of that year was a double triumph for Corwin; for he was at once the candidate for Governor of the party, and its great Western champion in the effort to elect Harrison to the Presidency. Al- though he knew he was personally popular, Corwin did not~ attempt to make the race for Governor on his own merits, but ran on those of Harrison. In fact, no important printiple was involved in his raceindeed, none in that of Harrisonthe w5nderful uprising of the peo- ple was but a partisan reviVala political revo- lution incited by the financial policy of Presi- dent Jackson, and strengthened by the financial panic and distress of 183738. The political excitement was very great; no canvass for the Presidency has ever been accompanied by such peculiar demonstrations. They were resorted to as necessary to excite interest in a contest involving only partisan issues, and were chiefly sound and fury, signifying noihing. Harri- son ran on the prestige gained at Tippecanoe. and the party war-cry was Tippecanoe and Tyler too. Harrisons greatest recommenda- tion for a place in the White house was that he had been born, reared, and had lived all his life in a log-cabin, and he became better known as the Log-cabin Candidate than as the Conqueror of Tecumseh. Miniature log-cabins were carried in the political proces- sions throngh the streets of the great cities, and political log-cabin raisings were of daily occurrence during the canvass in the rural dis- tricts all over the country. A huge log-cabin, mounted on a wagon, was carried through Ohio with Tom Corwin, and appeared as his platform wherever he spoke. The people in those days came to hear him in vast crowdsperfect car- avansariesand he often spoke to audiences which covered, with their wagons, tents, and the inevitable log-cabins, several hundred square acres. The farmers in the idle summer season followed him from county to county, holding their peculiar Western barbecues at each point at which he spoke, and living, in the mean time, in their tents and log-cabins. The State, and indeed all the Northwest, was carried in a per- fect blaze of excitement for Harrison; and the Wagon Boy was elected Governor of Ohio. Corwins opponent in this race was the then incumbent, Governor Wilson Shannon. Dur- ing one of his trips from one appointment to another Corwin and the wife of Shannon were fellow-passengers in a public stage-coach. They had never met, and were unknown to each other. Mrs. Shannon had no escort, but carried only her infant boy in her arms. The remainder of the-passengers consisted of Corwins friends, who made the round of the State with him, and who were likewise ignorant of the presence of the rival candidates better half. They were not long left in this blissful ignorance; for the lady, aroused by their free use of hard cider sen- timents, soon gave them to understand in very plain English that she was a good Locofoco, and, moreover, the wife of Governor Shannon to boot. This announcement was rather start- - hug to the gentlemen. Corwin was the first to recover his composure and take advantage of the situation. Expressing himself delighted at having met her, he placed himself beside Mrs. Shannon, and at once became very attentive to her. He told her of his acquaintance with her husband, spoke in highly complimentary terms of his character and public career, and express- ed his unbounded admiration of the man. The lady was charmed, and begged several times to know the name of her new friend. Corwin found means to avoid answering that question. The lady overlooked this evasion, -and told Corwin in confidence (loud enough, of course, to be heard by the hard-cider men) that her husband was certain of a re-electionthat he was not to be beaten by that fellow Tom Cor- win, who was nothing, after all, she added, but a wagon boy when young. And who now goes about the country, suggested Corwin, making himself ridiculous by driving a six-horse team, with a log-cabin mounted on a country wagon. And who, they say, is black as the ace of spades, chimed in the lady. Black, Madam ! exclaimed Corwin. Black? Yes, black as theI beg your par- donas I am. Continuing the deception in a manner which kept his friends convulsed with smothered laugh- ter, Corwin took the ladys baby in his arms, fondled and dandled it, calling it the Young Governor, and carrying the heart of the mo- ther by storm. At length the lady reached her destination, and informed Corwin so with a sigh of regret. The gallant but unknown candidate assisted the Governors lady to alight, took the child in his arms, and carried it into the house. He saw the lady in her parlor, and laid the in- fant flat on its back in her lap. holding it there for a moment, he said: My dear Mrs. Shannon, I have laid the Young Governor fiat on his back, and- Im go- ing to serve the Old Governor in The same way at the coming election. Good - by. I ought to have told you before that my name is Tom Corwin, who was nothing but a wagon boy, and who is pretty black, I admit. Good- by ! and before Mrs. Shannon could recover from her astonishment he was gone. He did lay the Old Governor fiat on his back, but the latter returned the compliment two years later. There are quite a number of storie8 told about Corwins dark complexion. The best of them, perhaps, is to the effect that one of the TOM CORWIN OF OHIO. 83 English capitalists, who visited this country with bets which you are sure to lose, remember that Sir Morton Peto in 1865, on being introduced no man can be a great advocate who is no law- to Corwin, asked him if his tribe was at peace yer. The thing is impossible. with the whites. Corwin must have enjoyed Corwin was a positive refutation of this the- this as much as he did Marshalls mistake in ory. His reputation at the bar was chiefly due recollecting him as one of his uncles family to his powers as an advocate and special plead- colored servants. Singularly enough Corwin er, and his ability in that branch of the profes- was rather proud of his dark complexion, and sion made his fortune several times over; for frequently alluded to it. Several years before he spent three handsome fortunes in paying se- his death, while traveling with some friends from curity debts. He was not a great lawyer Washington to New York, conversation fell hardly a good practical lawyer to intrust with uponthe subject of American orators, and Cor- small cases of little interest, and yet he was a win indulged, in his peculiar vein, in a long great advocate, often wringing verdicts from critique, interspersed with reminiscences and cold-blooded jurymen in spite of law, and fact, anecdotes, of Clay, Calhoun, John Quincy Ad- and justice. It used to be a common remark ams, and the public speakers and men who among lawyers that to give Corwin the closing made the last generation memorable. A com- speech in defense of the vilest criminal was to panion, who had heard nearly all of them, dis- give him the case, as his appeals to a jury were agreed with Corwin in some of his opinions, equivalent to an acquittal. His reputation as a and particularly his estimate, or failure to esti- criminal lawyer was known all over the country, mate himself; and said: and caused him to be retained for the defense You must allow me to say, Mr. Corwin, of some of the most desperate villains. Such that for elegance, refinement, and that beauti trials were exactly in his vein, and yet he was ful imagery of the Orient, in which so many not a tragic lawyer. His humor would indulge and so f~w know how to sustain, there crop out on the most serious occasions, and is no one of our public speakers who pleases me often produced, in spite of the orator, an anti- so mitch as Tom Corwin of Ohio. climax which would injure his case. An in- Mr. Corwin bowed in acknowledgment of the tance of such a result to one of his grand pa- compliment, and remarked that he thought he thetic appeals occurred in a Western court. It might honestly accept it as such, as he claimed will be remembered that Corwin, in the Senate that it was a natural gift, descended to him in 1847, arguing seriously against the morality from his ancient ancestors, of the projected war against Mexico, permitted You will have noticed, he said, my very his appreciation of broad humor to lead him dark complexion ? into the extravagant expression, If I were a The other could not but admit with a smile Mexican I would tell you, Have you not room that he had noticed that, in your own country to bury your dead men? Well, I came by that complexion and my If you come into mine, we will greet you with imagination in the same way, naturally and bloody hands and welcome you to hospitable from the same sourcemy ancestry. You may graves. A few years after, when this ex- remember that away back in 1458 there figured pr& sion, somewhat abbreviated and effectively among the Hungarian rulers a great champion changed, had been quoted by the newspapers of that country, one Mathias Corvinus, or Cor- until it had become as familiar as household yin, who, as history has it, made his country words, Mr. Corwin was retained as counsel for formidable to her neighbors. Well, I am de- a man charged with murder, and who he claim- scended from that Magyar family of Corvinus. ed had acted in self-defense. Corwin had the My father was named Mathias Corwin, and closing speech, and the verdict was confidently from that family I derive my complexion and expected to be with him. In his final appeal imagination. to the jury he pictured the condition of his Corwin was a great advocate rather than a client as endeavoring to avoid the difficulty, great lawyerin spite of what Lord Chancellor portrayed the murdered man as forcing it upon Erskine may say of the impossibility of such a him, dogging his steps, denouncing him as a thing. Every body will remember the story, coward, and at last threatening to strike him. how two Americans having differed in opinion What! he exclaimed, would you have concerning Erskines incompetence the one done in such an emergency? What, Sir, of them maintaining and the other denying turning to the prosecuting attorney, what that the greater number of his decrees had would you have done ? been reversedthe dispute gave rise to a bet Done, replied the attorney, eagerly clutch- of three dozen of port. With comical bad ing his opportunity and springing to his feet taste one of the parties to the betthe one done, Sir ?I would have welcomed him with who believed that the Chancellors judgments bloody hands to a hospitable grave. had been thus frequently upsetwrote to Ers- The jury was convulsed with laughter, and kine for information on the point. Instead of Corwin lost that case. giving the answer which his correspondent de- Corwins peculiarities of oratory may almost sired, Erskine informed him that he had lost his be said to have left him without a parallel. wine, and added: The use of this extravagant and frequent quo- To save you from spending your money on tation has made me reflect that I never heard 84 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. of his being mentioned except in contrast to the various speakers of his time. I have heard and read of him quoted as in .contrast to Douglas, Clay, Webster, Calhoun, and even Bob Toombs. After his return to Congress in 1858-60 great eagerness was manifested to hear him, and his great effort on January 24, 1860, urging concil- iation, but never mentioning compromise, was listened to with the profoundest attention by the leading men and extremists of both parties (never mind the synonymous terms; every body dont admit that leading men in politics are of necessity extremists). Senators deserted their wing of the Capitol and swelled the multitude that clustered about him. He soon revealed the fact that he had lost none of the charms of old. He had not spoken ten minutes before the mem- bers from all sides had literally surrounded him, and revealed in bursts of raptu%ous applause that they had caught his spirit and felt the fire which burned within the speakers heart. The scene in the House on this occasion was one of the most interesting that has ever been witnessed in the splendid new Hall of Representatives. Any reader can imagine from what Ihave said before that Mr. Corwin was a delightful com- panion sociably. his magnetic influence was not less strongly and strangely felt at the fire- side and social board than on the rostrumia fact, the conversational was his most effective style on the stump, in the forum, or Halls of Congress.. He was equally attractive to old and young, and equally amusing and instructive in his conversation. It will be remembered that it was while surrounded by his friends, and en- gaged in recalling recollections of his inglorious and laughable Mexican career, that he was strik. en down with paralysis. An old friend whom he had parted with in Mexico had come among many others to see him; and naturally conver~ sation turned in the Mexican channel. After a time it lagged somewhat, and having nothing better to say, Corwin remarked to his friend that he was looking more bald than when they had parted. Oh yes, his friend said, and added, laugh- ingly, that old apology of baldpated men But then, you know, Cnsar was bald. Yes, returned Corwin, and for that mat- ter it is also said that Cmsar had fits. These were about the last inte~lligent words he uttered. Hardly had he spoken them than he fell down in a fit of paralysis, and was taken to his bed, from which he never rose agai~. DAY DREAMS. GREAT colors burned upon the lake, Richer than faded in the west, Like gorgeous flush of bough and brake Half bathed, half drowned in its dark breast. Great colors burned there and were lost, Deepening and smouldering softly out; And up the slope and all about Bloomed globes of scent the light wind tossed. While like an alchemist the day Wrought clouds to gold and madly died, The exultation of his ray Still slanted up the broad earths side. And all the willows, where they wet The white feet of each dipping branch, Seemed but the lakes dark blood to stanch, Half down the twilight, when we met. Against a twisted stem she leaned; The breeze blew out her shining curls; A thrush hung over her and threned With all his songs melodious whirls. Till stars were large upon the east Through the sweet dusk the bird sung still Voluptuous cadences at will; And in a sudden swell he ceased. A blossom on the floor of night Through odorous dark the young moon lay, And thronging stars with yellow light Marked out the footsteps of the day. Full house-lights streamed down elm and lawn, Crowned statue-heads with steady rays, Lit leaping fountains into blaze, And died in gloom as longer drawn. Then slowly shot one last red gleam Over large urns hung down with flowers, Oer ripples shouldering in the stream, Oer lush growth soaked in fragrant showers. Some sudden laugh rung through the place, And startling all, her deep dream broke; Still I no pleading word had spoke, Nor seen one blush fleet oer her face. She might have passed me undescried In all the shadow as she fled; I stepped, and trembling by her side, My love I my love I I only said. Above, with brows implacable, Three marble fates towered sad and wise; I laughed to scorn their vacant eyes, And kissed the lips of Rosabel I The electric touch of passion stings My soul to cast the unreal by, Escape Its overshadowing wings, And know my dream alone is nigh A gleaming castle in the air, That lightens, breaks, and fades away, And leaves me floating on the bay This summer noon with my despair. The very water lapping now Across my slow keels languid drifting Has bubbled roundher lip and brow, Perchance, perchance, with weary shifting! Yon very sea-weeds streaming wreath, Knotted through lashings long and fell, Perchance from anchored beds of shell Arose upon her parting breath. For somewhere in the middle sea I can not ever know the place The only world of joy to me Sleeps quietly with heaven-turned face. Perhaps the shadow of some lest; Borne from the north far out to sea, On her still dream may picture me Calm with despair, but mad with grief. I dare not think of that wild hour Before she found the quiet rest, Clinging to life that threw her off As each crest struck her struggling breast. With sunbeams flecked, through doming waves, I only see her lying there, Free currents drawing down her hair, With closed eyes heedless whoso raves I

84 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. of his being mentioned except in contrast to the various speakers of his time. I have heard and read of him quoted as in .contrast to Douglas, Clay, Webster, Calhoun, and even Bob Toombs. After his return to Congress in 1858-60 great eagerness was manifested to hear him, and his great effort on January 24, 1860, urging concil- iation, but never mentioning compromise, was listened to with the profoundest attention by the leading men and extremists of both parties (never mind the synonymous terms; every body dont admit that leading men in politics are of necessity extremists). Senators deserted their wing of the Capitol and swelled the multitude that clustered about him. He soon revealed the fact that he had lost none of the charms of old. He had not spoken ten minutes before the mem- bers from all sides had literally surrounded him, and revealed in bursts of raptu%ous applause that they had caught his spirit and felt the fire which burned within the speakers heart. The scene in the House on this occasion was one of the most interesting that has ever been witnessed in the splendid new Hall of Representatives. Any reader can imagine from what Ihave said before that Mr. Corwin was a delightful com- panion sociably. his magnetic influence was not less strongly and strangely felt at the fire- side and social board than on the rostrumia fact, the conversational was his most effective style on the stump, in the forum, or Halls of Congress.. He was equally attractive to old and young, and equally amusing and instructive in his conversation. It will be remembered that it was while surrounded by his friends, and en- gaged in recalling recollections of his inglorious and laughable Mexican career, that he was strik. en down with paralysis. An old friend whom he had parted with in Mexico had come among many others to see him; and naturally conver~ sation turned in the Mexican channel. After a time it lagged somewhat, and having nothing better to say, Corwin remarked to his friend that he was looking more bald than when they had parted. Oh yes, his friend said, and added, laugh- ingly, that old apology of baldpated men But then, you know, Cnsar was bald. Yes, returned Corwin, and for that mat- ter it is also said that Cmsar had fits. These were about the last inte~lligent words he uttered. Hardly had he spoken them than he fell down in a fit of paralysis, and was taken to his bed, from which he never rose agai~. DAY DREAMS. GREAT colors burned upon the lake, Richer than faded in the west, Like gorgeous flush of bough and brake Half bathed, half drowned in its dark breast. Great colors burned there and were lost, Deepening and smouldering softly out; And up the slope and all about Bloomed globes of scent the light wind tossed. While like an alchemist the day Wrought clouds to gold and madly died, The exultation of his ray Still slanted up the broad earths side. And all the willows, where they wet The white feet of each dipping branch, Seemed but the lakes dark blood to stanch, Half down the twilight, when we met. Against a twisted stem she leaned; The breeze blew out her shining curls; A thrush hung over her and threned With all his songs melodious whirls. Till stars were large upon the east Through the sweet dusk the bird sung still Voluptuous cadences at will; And in a sudden swell he ceased. A blossom on the floor of night Through odorous dark the young moon lay, And thronging stars with yellow light Marked out the footsteps of the day. Full house-lights streamed down elm and lawn, Crowned statue-heads with steady rays, Lit leaping fountains into blaze, And died in gloom as longer drawn. Then slowly shot one last red gleam Over large urns hung down with flowers, Oer ripples shouldering in the stream, Oer lush growth soaked in fragrant showers. Some sudden laugh rung through the place, And startling all, her deep dream broke; Still I no pleading word had spoke, Nor seen one blush fleet oer her face. She might have passed me undescried In all the shadow as she fled; I stepped, and trembling by her side, My love I my love I I only said. Above, with brows implacable, Three marble fates towered sad and wise; I laughed to scorn their vacant eyes, And kissed the lips of Rosabel I The electric touch of passion stings My soul to cast the unreal by, Escape Its overshadowing wings, And know my dream alone is nigh A gleaming castle in the air, That lightens, breaks, and fades away, And leaves me floating on the bay This summer noon with my despair. The very water lapping now Across my slow keels languid drifting Has bubbled roundher lip and brow, Perchance, perchance, with weary shifting! Yon very sea-weeds streaming wreath, Knotted through lashings long and fell, Perchance from anchored beds of shell Arose upon her parting breath. For somewhere in the middle sea I can not ever know the place The only world of joy to me Sleeps quietly with heaven-turned face. Perhaps the shadow of some lest; Borne from the north far out to sea, On her still dream may picture me Calm with despair, but mad with grief. I dare not think of that wild hour Before she found the quiet rest, Clinging to life that threw her off As each crest struck her struggling breast. With sunbeams flecked, through doming waves, I only see her lying there, Free currents drawing down her hair, With closed eyes heedless whoso raves I THE VIRGINIANS IN TEXAS. 85 THE VIRGINIANS IN TEXAS. CHAPTER XX. TWO YEARS AFTER. A LEAP, and a long one. Only two years since that night the prairie was on firetwo years this morning! Hah! perhaps so. Well, yes; but it seems to me more like ten. It is Uncle Frank who says it. His beard is more luxuriant, his eye is brighter, his face, if possible, more browned by the sun and the never-ending winds; certainly a stouter, come- lier Texan than we left him in our last chapter. He is engaged, for probably the ten thousandth time in his life, in cleaning out his favorite rifle at a stnmp, the broad top of which has been neatly leveled off to make a table, in his broth- ers front yard. Upon the stump lie his revolv- ers, with which he has just got through. No children in the neatest household in Christen- dom are more regularly and thoroughly washed than they. You can see at a glance that his bowie-knife, which he has stuck into a tree be- side him out of Bessies ever-curious reach, has a new edge from whetstone and strap. He is refreshed, as he works, by having, every ten minutes or so, his rosy-cheeked and very plump baby brought to him to be kissed by his pretty wife, who generally seizes the same opportu- nity of kissing both of them herself; in view of the event for which all the preparation is on foot. Near by sits Venable at work, cross-legged, upon the straps and buckles of his uncles Mex- ican saddle. Will is mannfacturing a leather satcheL Mr. Morton McRoberts is in th~. house writing vigorously at his desk. The ladies and servants are grinding coffee and baking bushels of biscuits and hard cakes, as if for an army about to march. Bessie is eagerly supplying all her friends with water for the washing, thread and wax for the sewing, chips for the baking, and innumerable questions for the answering. But it is very evident that all the unusual act- ivity of the hour revolves about and upon Uncle Frank. Two years! And the Texan pushed back the brim of his great wool hat from his brow with the left hand, holding his rifle, end down for the water to run out, with his right. We lived so quietly, uncle, up here all among ourselvesso happily, too, that we hard- ly knew or cared what was going on in the world. Why, continued Venable, looking up from his saddle, my father always taught me the Union was patterned after the Solar Sys- tem, each separate star having its own inde- pendent axis and orbit, yet each and all re- volving about a great centre. I no more ever dreamed of the Union being broken up than I did of all the planets tumbling apart. It looks to me like trying to upset nature itself. Weve been too busy up here to study such matters as closely as we might; but for my part I cant believe itIwont believe itat least not yet. I never believed they even meant to try such a foolish thing till that day I went down to Austin, replied the uncle. There was a fellow in the Convention with their Ordinance of Secession spread out on his desk just below where I sat in the gallery. Leaning a little over the railing I could have spit right in the centre of it, and it was all I could do not to do it. I told you about the young lady sitting next to me. Just do it, she whispered to me she must have seen it all in my face do it, do it! Ill say it was me! If I could only get my hands on it I would tear it up. 1 aint afraid, she said. But they all passed it, and signed it, and put it in a long tin case, and la- beled it, arid put it on a shelf behind, the glass doors of the book-case in the State Department there in the Capitol. Ive seen it often since. And that day they summoned Sam Hous- ton to the bar to take their new oath, contin- ued the Texan. Yes, I was there that day. I never will forget that fellow Clarke stepping up to the desk, so spry and piert, to take it in- stead, when no Sam Houston answered. De- spising them, growling at them, striking at them right and left with his paws when they pressed on him too near, like a big hear retreating slow- ly before a pack of curs, giving way, but his eyes and teeth toward them all the time! I do wonder, added the speaker, pausing with his oiled rag over the lock of his rifle as he spoke I do wonder what would have been the upshot of thu business if old Sam lied list- ened to some of us! There were enough of us to do it. He had only to say the word, and we would have sent that straw Convention whirl- ing soon enough! No, no, gentlemen,he said, in that slow way of hisI can see him now sit- ting in his large chair, whittling crosses and hearts and such like out of white pine while he talkedNc, no, my friends; those fools up stairswe were talking to him in his room in the basement of the Capitol are going head- foremost to ruin; but no, I can not imbrue my hands in the blood of my fellow-citizens. Wont you take some of these trifles to remember me by? he said, as we were leaving, holding out an old cigar-box on the table by him, brimful of his tobacco- stoppers, crosses, and things. Not a man of us took one! He was a wise man, a great man, a good manthat is, ot late years; he had his good wife to thank for that. But he was old, that was the troubletoo old. There he lives this moment at his place on the bay, making a hard living, his hands boating wood to Galveston for sale, growling at the madmen who have got us, prophesying, as he always did, only ruin, ruin as the end of it all. What I say Better take the sober, sensible view of mat- ters which I do, Frank. interrupted his broth-

THE VIRGINIANS IN TEXAS. 85 THE VIRGINIANS IN TEXAS. CHAPTER XX. TWO YEARS AFTER. A LEAP, and a long one. Only two years since that night the prairie was on firetwo years this morning! Hah! perhaps so. Well, yes; but it seems to me more like ten. It is Uncle Frank who says it. His beard is more luxuriant, his eye is brighter, his face, if possible, more browned by the sun and the never-ending winds; certainly a stouter, come- lier Texan than we left him in our last chapter. He is engaged, for probably the ten thousandth time in his life, in cleaning out his favorite rifle at a stnmp, the broad top of which has been neatly leveled off to make a table, in his broth- ers front yard. Upon the stump lie his revolv- ers, with which he has just got through. No children in the neatest household in Christen- dom are more regularly and thoroughly washed than they. You can see at a glance that his bowie-knife, which he has stuck into a tree be- side him out of Bessies ever-curious reach, has a new edge from whetstone and strap. He is refreshed, as he works, by having, every ten minutes or so, his rosy-cheeked and very plump baby brought to him to be kissed by his pretty wife, who generally seizes the same opportu- nity of kissing both of them herself; in view of the event for which all the preparation is on foot. Near by sits Venable at work, cross-legged, upon the straps and buckles of his uncles Mex- ican saddle. Will is mannfacturing a leather satcheL Mr. Morton McRoberts is in th~. house writing vigorously at his desk. The ladies and servants are grinding coffee and baking bushels of biscuits and hard cakes, as if for an army about to march. Bessie is eagerly supplying all her friends with water for the washing, thread and wax for the sewing, chips for the baking, and innumerable questions for the answering. But it is very evident that all the unusual act- ivity of the hour revolves about and upon Uncle Frank. Two years! And the Texan pushed back the brim of his great wool hat from his brow with the left hand, holding his rifle, end down for the water to run out, with his right. We lived so quietly, uncle, up here all among ourselvesso happily, too, that we hard- ly knew or cared what was going on in the world. Why, continued Venable, looking up from his saddle, my father always taught me the Union was patterned after the Solar Sys- tem, each separate star having its own inde- pendent axis and orbit, yet each and all re- volving about a great centre. I no more ever dreamed of the Union being broken up than I did of all the planets tumbling apart. It looks to me like trying to upset nature itself. Weve been too busy up here to study such matters as closely as we might; but for my part I cant believe itIwont believe itat least not yet. I never believed they even meant to try such a foolish thing till that day I went down to Austin, replied the uncle. There was a fellow in the Convention with their Ordinance of Secession spread out on his desk just below where I sat in the gallery. Leaning a little over the railing I could have spit right in the centre of it, and it was all I could do not to do it. I told you about the young lady sitting next to me. Just do it, she whispered to me she must have seen it all in my face do it, do it! Ill say it was me! If I could only get my hands on it I would tear it up. 1 aint afraid, she said. But they all passed it, and signed it, and put it in a long tin case, and la- beled it, arid put it on a shelf behind, the glass doors of the book-case in the State Department there in the Capitol. Ive seen it often since. And that day they summoned Sam Hous- ton to the bar to take their new oath, contin- ued the Texan. Yes, I was there that day. I never will forget that fellow Clarke stepping up to the desk, so spry and piert, to take it in- stead, when no Sam Houston answered. De- spising them, growling at them, striking at them right and left with his paws when they pressed on him too near, like a big hear retreating slow- ly before a pack of curs, giving way, but his eyes and teeth toward them all the time! I do wonder, added the speaker, pausing with his oiled rag over the lock of his rifle as he spoke I do wonder what would have been the upshot of thu business if old Sam lied list- ened to some of us! There were enough of us to do it. He had only to say the word, and we would have sent that straw Convention whirl- ing soon enough! No, no, gentlemen,he said, in that slow way of hisI can see him now sit- ting in his large chair, whittling crosses and hearts and such like out of white pine while he talkedNc, no, my friends; those fools up stairswe were talking to him in his room in the basement of the Capitol are going head- foremost to ruin; but no, I can not imbrue my hands in the blood of my fellow-citizens. Wont you take some of these trifles to remember me by? he said, as we were leaving, holding out an old cigar-box on the table by him, brimful of his tobacco- stoppers, crosses, and things. Not a man of us took one! He was a wise man, a great man, a good manthat is, ot late years; he had his good wife to thank for that. But he was old, that was the troubletoo old. There he lives this moment at his place on the bay, making a hard living, his hands boating wood to Galveston for sale, growling at the madmen who have got us, prophesying, as he always did, only ruin, ruin as the end of it all. What I say Better take the sober, sensible view of mat- ters which I do, Frank. interrupted his broth- 86 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. er, who had come out from his writing during the last few moments, and was tossing Bessie ia the air by way of exercise. We are Union men. Yes; but why? Because our father was so before us. No one more deVoted to the Union than our mother, too, for that matter. Then, all our nearest associates in Virginia held the same opinions. I am sure we never permitted a newspaper to come into the house that did not teach the same. So, ever since we were born. I believe we have been right in our opinions; but no merit in you and I for that we couldnt kelp thinking and feeling as we doits part of our very nature. And isnt it exactly so with the other side? In almost ev- ery case their parents, associates, reading, have been exactly the opposite from ours, and they are, in consequence, just what they are to-day., Mind, added he, with a species of calm warmth, not that I do not hate their crime as much as any man cannot that I do not pray it may be an utter failurenot that I would not fight against it, however sorrowfully, if I couldyet all my feeling for the men themselves is chiefly pitypitynot hatred Oh, these ladies, these ladies ! groaned the younger brother, as he proceeded to put his rifle lock on again, dipping each screw ia the saucer of oil before him as he placed it in its hole. You never were more mistaken, Frank, replied his brother, coloring a little. My wife naturally feels for her native Stateis indig- nant at the outrages committed by the Feder- als! I have explained all the principles in- volved to her often. The feelings of the other sex are stronger and deeper than ours. And those Yankees up North talking about giving the women the right of voting; as if they didnt rule the land already, at the South, at least. I dont know how about it at the North, said Uncle Frank, mournfully. Not but what I respect and esteem and love them as much as any man doing his level best can, he added, earnestly; only I do wish with all my soul they would only, here in the South But what he desired of the sex was lost upon the ears of all by the sudden ringing of the din- ner-bell, accompanied by the joyful cries of Bessie, whose feelings, being of that gender, were excitable, even in reference to dinner, especially when, as in the case to-day, there was to be a pudding. At dinner there were a hundred things to be said, for there was no telling how long it might be before they would see Uncle Frank again. For so many weeks now they have had his trip in contemplation as to wear off a good deal of the eager interest in it they might otherwise have had. Near a dozen times before has he been all ready to start for Mexicoprovisions all packed, horse saddled at the gatewhen something would arise to make it barely possi- ble for him to stay a little longer. You see, this is the way I put it up, he had announced to all under that roof long be- fore, and very often indeed. Theres some things I can do; some things I cant do. I can make a break for Mexico; but I can not go into the Confederate rankscan not! For two reasons. First, I would be mighty apt to shoot, in the first battle, my own officers, who dragged me into the fight by the ears like a dog, against my conscience. Second, in any battle I might accidentally kill some Federal or otherand that, with my views, would be worse murder still. Moreover, suppose I did pester, and beg, and beseech until I got a detail to do something so as to stay at home, wouldnt I have to take that oath, eh? Id die first !at any rate, what is about as ba~I, leave wife and baby here. Yes, the Texan continued, doggedly, Ill go to Mexico first! This time you shall go, Frank, if I have to put you on your horse with my own hands, and give him a good cut with a girth to start him! exclaimed the elder Mrs. McRobert,inalaugh-. ing tone, but with tears in her eyes; while her sister said nothing, only looked upon him with anxiety and speechless affection: You know how it was with Mr. Maginnis, uncle, said Venable, grown now nearly as large as uncle or father. That Tuesday I was there, while we were spinning that cabris there it hangstogether, he said to me, Well, Venable, theyve been here again. The same men after the horses? I asked. No, another setthree men. They said they had orders to seize my horses for use in the army. I only told them the first tuna who lariated a horse of mine I would shoot on the spot. With that off they went, saying they would see about it. Im not afraid of them, he went on to say; it is months ago they told me I must take the oath. I told them I wouldnt. You must, they said; II wont, I replied. Why theyll kill you if you dont, they told me. I can be killed then, I said. The reason is, he was Scotch-Irish obstinate as he could be, continued Venable. And I told him, when he rode home with you that night, how wicked it was to expose his life for the sake of a few horses, said Yen- ables father. I reasoned with him for hours about it, you remember. 1-Je told me that he was the first man in his county to pay his Con- federate taxes; that he always gave every Con- federate soldier that came along board and bed; that while he couldnt and wouldnt voluntarily give any money to help the war, he gave as much as any man to the poor, the widows, and orphans. He made me a solemn promise that he would yield every thing rather than resist and be killedall except taking the oath. That was Wednesday, said Venable. Thursday morning sixteen men rode up to the door of his ranch and demanded his horses. He told them there they were, pointing over the prairies where hundreds of them were graz- ing. And I will drive them up, and let you take your pick, he said. No, they wanted what he had up already. They went there only to kill him! He had only one horse up, his favor- THE VIRGINIANS IN TEXAS. 87 ite horse, the only thing then in the corral to herd up the rest osi the range. They said theyd take that horse! Then he got excited, he had been trampled upon so long! You remember he led the horse ont of the stable by the halter wrapped around his arm. The Captain of the men ordered them to seize the animal. Mr. Maginnisoh! continued Venable, with en- thusiasm, was not he a true gentleman? gen- tle as a woman, kind, even refined, when you once knew the man, under his rough clothes and great beard and plain ways, living out from society among his horses so long: a Christian gentleman, if there ever was oneMr. Magin- nis drew his revolver, shot his horse through the head rather than they should have him. The next instant the Captain gave the word to his men, and there he lay, in his own stable- yard, sixteen bullets through his body! Yes, Venable, said Will, eagerly, and you remember, while he was lying in his jacal gasping in death, the men who killed him were sauntering over the place, laughing and talk- ing. Otie of them lounged into the room where he lay, and when Mr. Maginnis said, Theres ope of my murderers, the man replied, Yes, you old scoundrel, and Ill just put another bul- let through you if you say a word!? I only wish, continued the excited boy, I could Silence ! interrupted his mother. They were wicked men; God will surely punish them. Yet the Federals too have done a thousand things as bad, even worse, in Virginia. There are abandoned men every where. Yes, it was a terrible trial to the women in the South, even those who had been trained from childhood to love the Union; who had brothers, fathers, husbands, devoted Union men; who as fully understood all the principles in- volved in the war as any body. Hearing and reading daily, for years after the war began, of Federal raids; of the desperate valor of the Con- federate troops; of heavy losses among relatives nt the South, if not from their own negro quar- ters and smoke-houses; of deaths in camp and battle from among relatives and from their own hearth: then all the ingrained, life-long preju- dices of section. No one is denying the existence of the beau- tiful and eternal stars, ever moving in their se- rene orbits above us all; but oh! let us make all gentle, ay, just allowance for those betwecn whom and these gathered dense clouds, hang- ing low afid long and heavy with tears! Even while His awful band accomplishes all his will on earth, the Heavenly Father bends pityingly over those on both sides bleeding thereby, far more pityingly than we whom little merit of our own has cast on the right and victorious side lie, as much greater than we in love as in jus- tice and might! But the family have dispersed from the table. A hundred things have to be done in case Uncle Frank really does have to be off to-night for Mexico. Duke and Snap, evidently wide awake to something unusual going on, and frequently conferring together as to what it is, have to be securely chained up, lest they should follow the one departing. Bullets have to be moulded; clothes repaired and packed into the smallest space; the horse shod; nothing forgotten of sugar, salt, pepper, a little medicine, and a vast deal of coffee, from the haversack. Oh! a thousand things to do, and every soul as busy as possible, in order to avoid thinking of the actual leaving of Uncle Frank, whose broad, free, wholesome, hearty nature makes perpetual summer on the San Hieronymo. A sort of Texas himself, with all its prairie and genial clime, in boots and broad-brimmed hat, is Uncle Frank, worth precisely seventeen million nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand Broadway nnd Chest- nut Street dandies! One pair of wistful eyes following him in his every motion this after- noon would have thrown in the population of London, Paris, Pekin, and Jeddoyes, even Charlie, the baby, thrown in tooand not find his side of the scale even quiver thereupon. Only, in such times as these, you see, we all get used to such things. If the keen~edge re- mained all the years through it wouk~ cut the heart to pieces. And so, before we know it, we have the yard filled with rough men, all garbed, like Uncle Frank, for travel. They came in, somehow, one by onevery quietly, too. Although they have stationed pickets all about the place to guard against surprise, every Union man of the twenty-eight there met by appointment is very silent. Their horses all, ready for the long ridesome of them, ~t is greatly to be feared, abstracted from Confederate Caballados on ac- count of points ofwind, bone, build, bottom, too tempting to be resisted; the men eat supper on them as they sit, for they must make forced march to-night.. And the amount of hot coffee they consume! The quantity of bread and meat handed to them by every member of the family, duly prepared for it and now hard at work, is wonderful; but the number of tin cups of strong black coffee these drink, seated in the saddle, is something absolutely astonishing. Each man, with the two hundred and fifty miles rapid run to Mexico before him, seems to have all the stomachsseven, are there not ?of a camel to store for the trip. The motive with each is the one motive with all alike. As long as possible they have held on to home, hoping in some way to escape go- ing into the Confederate service. But Provost Marshal and Conscripting Officer are after them just now to that degree that they can hesitate no longer. And these officials will be after them on fleet horses and in good earnest by to-morrow night, when it is known that they have broken for Mexico. Not a moment for any thing now but a few pints mor& of coffee! The family can hardly realize it. An instant more, and the place is empty of them all; Un- cle Frank gone with them, too, from out of a whirlwind of kissing, in which baby takes an active part, and hand-shaking, none more de 88 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. monstrative than Hark, Rohamma, Scip; Duke and Snap tugging at their chains, and protest- ing vehemently! Gone to Mexico! But for every touch of his horses hoofs upon the prairie hearing him away there is a heart-throb on the San Hiero- nymo hearing ever steadily upward in fervent prayer the one best loved, because most in dan- ger. And at the same moment there are many hundreds of like kinds of mennot the least valuable to Texas eitherriding in the same direction from the same cause. And for a long time it seemed the oddest thing in the world to people in Texas slow to realize things, the idea of running away for life and freedom from the United States toMexico! Mexico! CHAPTER XXI. THE E~ AT LAST. IT is a beautiful evening many, many long months after this eventful night. Both house- holds have been long living together in the now thoroughly comfortable house on the Ilierony- mo, bound a hundredfold more closely togeth- er by the terrible times which have howled and foamed and broken about them like the waves about an island. Supper has been ready and waiting an hour now, cooling, in fact, in the kitchen, while Rohamma has grown wnrmer in the expression, to Hark and Scip, of her senti- ments in reference to Mass Venable, who is keep- ing them waiting. Not that she does not love Venable dearly; only it is a trial to her feelings to see so nice a supper nctly spilin here, an he knows it, an he a sittin on a log dar at de possoflis listin to de fool talk of dem poor stracted white folks. May de Yankees make dem scatter! You better hold your tongue, woman, says her husband, fitting a new helve to his axe amidst a pile of litter at the cabin door. ~ Fur what we know Mass Venable been hangin two hours by de neck to a live-oak. Nothin more common dese last four years to people of our sort, an you know it Which effee~tually silences his wife. It is getting darker every ~moment, and the family in the house have become thoroughly uneasy about the absent one. Long ago Mr. McRobert has walked to the bluff which com- mands a view of the road, Bessie beside him. The ladies, standing with Will on the front porch, can see Bessie and her father shading their eyes with their hands, and looking down the road into the deepening twilight. We have been so wonderfully preserved, and for so long, may God forbid any thing should have happened at last! says the elder of the ladies. I have no fear at all, replies the other. Frankhas been so amazinglyprotected through all the peril he has passed, that I have almost lost all apprehension, and you know how fool- ish Charlie and I once were. Were we not, Charlie ? And she kisses the curly-headed little boy, who is altogether too old and too fat and too restless to be in her arms as he is, only she has to lavish upon him not only all the af- fection due him, but his absent and imperiled father also. He has come and gone so often between home and Mexico unhurt that I never have hardly any fear at all now. And Vena- ble, too, to say nothing of brother Morton. You know how impossible it seemed for him to escape having to take the oath when he was conscripted, how we had all ready for him to leave by himself for Mexico, and how they act- ually forgot to make him swear. And when he got his detail to collect saltpetre in the caves, we all said, Surely they will not forget this timeand how they forgot it again! Yes, Im a firm believer in Providence; both of us are, aint we, Charlie ? Yes, but Providence very often permits Bless me, Venable must be crazy! remarks the other. Not so incoherently as you might im- agine either. For in the moment if is said they can see that the young gentleman so apos- trophized has galloped up to his father, jumped off his foaming mustang almost before it has been reined in; has given his father a good hug; has seized his fathers hat, and waved it and his own over his head with a shout; has caught i~p Bessie, thrown her, a heavy weight, higher by a yard in the air than he ever dared do before. Placing . her on the ground any way, he has started on a run for the house; has seized Will, hastening to meet him, by the shoulders, and, placing one leg behind his broth- er for the purpose, has laid him fiat upon. his back on the ground. Oh, mo~ther! he shouts, oh, aunt, at last! at last! I Great news! Glorious news! Best news! And lie, makes a clutch at, Charlie, evidently for the purpose of waving him over his head like a flag, his hat being dropped far be- hind. Prevented from this by the mothers redoubled embrace of the child, laughing and kicking to get to him, he hugs first his own mo- ther and then his aunt in his arms, his brown and handsome face all sparkling with excite- ment. Why, Venable, I never knew you to do so, exclaims his astonished parent; and with real alarm, she adds, Is it possible ? You have been drinking, she would have added, only it is too absurdly impossible a thing to say. Oh, news, mothernews, auntythe best news in the world! exclaims the excited youth.~ Hark, Robamma, and Scip having joined the party on the porch, increased now by the com- ing up of Mr. McRobert, Bessie, and Will, all eager to know what has crazed Venable, ordi- narily sedate, and specially sobered by the se- vere experiences of the last few yearsexperi- ences which have whitened prematurely many a head and broken many a heart even among those far from actual fields of battle. But what is the news ? asks his father, THE VIRGINIANS IN TEXAS. 89 and the eager eyes of all there crowded about him to know. Mr. Lincoln has been killedassassinated the news is certainly true A sudden sharp cry, as of intense anguish, from the negroes! Even in the shock of their own surprise the white family observe and are struck by it. During all the war it was very singular, in all families, Union or Secession, the whites imparted no information in reference to the progress of the war to the blacks. Stranger still, these never asked any questions in refer- ence to it of the whites; they seemed, so far as any manifestation in the presence of master, mistress, or the white children could evidence it, utterly unconcerned, uninterested. Among themselves, however~ hoeing together in the field apart from white ears, around their cabin fires at night, the case was very different. And do you call that glorious news ? ex- claimed Mr. McRobert, sternly, while all the rest stood silent and stunned as under a calam- ity affecting the very earth and heavens. Oh no, Sir! no, no ! Venable hastened to explain. Only the news has all come at once. You know not a soul of us has been off the place for a week. Oh, father, Richmond has fallen! General Lees army has been cap- tured! the Confederacy is gone! the war is over! Thank God ! Mr. McRobert said it from the depth of his soul, giving expression to the feeling of every heart there. And yet I can not say that I do not also have a sense of humiliation, a vague regret at it too, said his wife, as they sat at the supper- table. I do hope, ~[enable, you were prudent enough not to show any feeling at the post- office when you heard the news, she added, with sudden anxiety. As mum as a mouse, mother, said her son. By this time I have had experience enough in all that. Dont you remember how it was when I was down at the Port~ last Christmas? That Monday news came there that Hood had captured Nashville, and that Sherman had been cut to pieces west of Savan- nah. Every body believed it, and oh how ter- ribly blue I was! You know I told you how, at the first d~p6t, as I was sitting there so blue, so very blue, waiting for the cars to start again, a Confederate officer came in and sank upon the seat near me, his face a picture of distress, ex- claiming, It is terrible !terrible! and told me of the telegram, just arrived at the ddp6t, of Hoods defeat and Shermans safe arrival at the sea. My face was like wood, hut my heart began beating Thank God! thank God! thank God! like the ticking of a watch. While the cars were filled with people discussing the news, scoffing at it, General Hibert among them ex- claiming, with dignity, Evidently false, gen- tlemenunworthy your least attention! As a military man I know it to be impossible and untrue! All the timeyes, and for hours aft- erI kept saying to myselg Oh, thank God! thank God! thank God! My face was cold and hard as a mask, but a regular jubilee going on inside. Never fear me; even Will here, and Bessie, Charlie too, weve all learned to be pru- dent. Weve been four years at school, ready to graduate in Prudence now. It all seems to me like a long, feverish dream, said Venables mother an hour later, after the news bad been thoroughly read and discussed, with the aid of tIme map, worn to tatters by perpetual use for now so long a time. All your and aunts puzzling how to make new shoes for the children and yourselves out of old soles; how to get substitutes for coffee, and tea, and saleratus, and blucing, and soap, and all that; bow to twist and pinch your bon- nets so as to last a little l6nger, and what a trouble we bad having the spinning-wheel and loom madesuch a spinning and weaving! says Venable, joyously. And moulding of candles, and making starch out of potatoes and wheat bran ! added Will. What a time we had ! And spoilin my aprons an things tryin to dye them with pecan-tree bark! Andoh yes! and the saddles an bridles, Venable, you an Will were always tryin to make, so ugly, an always comm to pieces again as soon as you tried them, said Bessie. ~ Oh, what a sto-ry! They didnt ! replied Will. Yes they did, Will, persisted Bessie. So did the shoes you an Venable made, the ugly hats an caps! How we all laughed at Hark that day he wore first the clothes ma made him out of our parlor carpet! An my funny little bonnet ma made out of my dolls cloak! An, aunty, how we had to cut up the counterpane into frocks for Charlie, until Uncle Frank brought us those nice things from Mexico. An oh, what times, aunty, we had twisting an haxnmcrin at our old hoopsma an~ me an you! And we all rememberhush, Bessie !the sleepless nights we had lest Venable should be forced into the ranks, said Mr. McRobert. I remember very well your not allowing me to go outside the house during the day for weeks and weeks, for fear some one passing by should see m~. And how glad we were, as if we bad inherited a fortune, that day I got my contract to furnish so much saltpetre a month, so as to keep out of the army, added Venable. You must not forget the newspapers, print- ed on brown paper and wall-paper and the backs of court-house blanks, which we usedit seems already as if it all were ages agoto get, continued Mrs. Frank MeRobert, so full of great news, glorious news; and how miserable you used to look, brother Morton, over them; how you couldnt eat any dinner, nor play with the children; and how I could hear you from my room turning and groaning in your bed, or walking all night up and down, up and down! 90 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Dont you remember, aunty, how very blue father was that night after Grant had besieged Vicksbu~g so~ long, and the paper proved that it was provisioned for two years longer, and could never be takennever, never! contrib- uted Will. And oh yes! how pa said in prayers that night so often, Thy will be done! as if he was sick an dyin; yes, I remember it, added Bessie. Yes, and that very night, sitting right there at supper-table, you remember what you said, mother! exclaimed Venable. You said: Ive always thought they could never conquer the South, Morton. Ive listened, my dear hus- band, faithfully to all, mimicking his mothers tones as nearly as he dared, you can tell me of the wrong of secession. You may be right in the abstractf remember as if it was last night, mother you may be right, Morton, but, for one, I can not help wanting old Virginia to conquer the Federals. They are all of them Abolitionists, Morton, A6-o-lition-ists! Oh yes, chorused Will and Bessie in a breath, that was the verynight Uncle Frank Came home from Mexico, crept into the window of my room so quietly after you were all asleep, said their aunt promptly, and with a blush. But oh, aunty, what a fib you told! ex- claimed plain-spoken Bessie. You told ma nothing was the matter with Charlie when she heard him cry, and went to your door to ask. Nothing was the matter, only a little fright- ened at his pa with his long beard. You know I wouldnt let him disturb you all sleeping so. And how we astonished you with Uncle Frank next morning! And, continued Charlies mo- ther, how Frank laughed at you, Morton, for being so blue, and told you how the victory at Gettysburg was just the other way from what our news had made it, and all about the sur- render of Vicksburg the very next day. And oh, the beautiful things he brought us all from Mexico! said Bessie, clapping her hands at the memory. That was why I wasnt a bit sorry when he ran away again to Mexico, because I knew what beautiful, beautiful combs and shoes and things he would bring when he came back again. I wonder who it was kept Frank in the house, as if he had the measles, all the time he was here? And who ? began Mr. MeRob- ert, wonderfully brightened up. Of course I did, said the young wife, stoutly, after his guiding that Union party to Mexico. And to think of his having come and gone between us and Mexico six times safely. And that he can actually come home now, come in broad day, come to stay, to live all the rest of his dear life with Charlie and me. And the joyful wife can say no more, but hides her face on Charlies fat shoulders and weeps silently, only she can not realize that the war is indeed over; it is too good to be true; none of them can. But I wonder, says Venable, at last, to re- lieve the almost painful happiness of the me- ment, if we ever will enjoy any thing again as we did the newspapers and picture Harpers from the North Uncle Frank used to send or bring us. I do believe we got to know each of them by heart. And dont you remember, fa- ther, he continued, in the restless joy of the occasion, shifting yet again the kaleidoscope of the wondrous period just expiring, how often we expected the Federals to arrive, no doubt on earth about it this timedozens of times. And that afternoon, broke in Will, I came tearing in nearly crazy, and told you I knew they were coming this time, for I had heard ti~eir cannon down south, and how I hur- ried out my flag from where I had hidden it under the floor Onlythunder at last! interrupted his broth- er. Yes, and how you had barely time to hurry your flag under the floor again as Mi:. Barker came in to tell us of the Federal repulse at the Sabine. The only people in this world, said Mr. McRobert, after a long silence among the ex- cited group, who thoroughly understand and appreciate our national deliverance, who come nearest thanking God for it as He ought to be thanked, are the Union people at the South. And their feeling isunutterable, he added, with quivering lip and fast-filling eyes. And to think that we will see the old, old flag again after so many years! I feel as if I could hug and kiss it over and over again a thousand times! exclaims Mrs. Frank MeRob- ert. Why I thought it was Frank you loved most, began her brother. No, we love pa; but we love pas flag a hundred times most; dont we, Charlie ! she replied, Charlie yielding only a sleepy assent thereto. And now, remarks the other Mrs. MeRob- ert, as, at a late hour, they reluctantly separate for the night, for one, I am glad the war is over, yet I can not say Im glad Virginia is sub- dued! I never want to see it again. Never mind. We wont speak about it. Now the war is o~r, there is this, at leastVenable can go on with his studies. And I can get some new booksbran-new picture-booksI feel as if I hadnt seen one for a hundred years ! said WilL And I can get a new doll an some real rock-candy! Oh yes, an some new dresses an hoops an round combs to break just as many as I please ! cries Bessie, now the bad, bad war is over An wes free ! says Hark, in his cabin, at the same moment, but only to his wife, and in strictest confidence. But, except Charlie and Bessie, no one could be truthfully said to have slept under that roof that night. No, nor under hundreds of thousands of other roofs that same evening either. THE VIRGINIANS IN TEXAS. 91 CHAPTER XXII. between timesgame has bad its own way all these years; we will have to fight it a little to IN WHICH OUR STORY COMES TO AN END, keep it out of doors. Then there is Venables YES, home at last, home, home! For the silver mine up north. As soon as we can get a next year or so I dont expect to be outside my chance we will look into that in good earnest. fence; for all the rest of my life I intend to Most of all, after a while, not now, not for years, whistle only one tune, except Hail Columbia, perhaps, but some day, certain, I intend to go Star-Spangled Banner, and Yankee Doodle on the stump! its about the only one I knowand that is On the stump ! ejaculate all present. Un- Home, Sweet Home! cle Frank is seated in the midst of a good deal You have guessed aright: it is Uncle Frank of confusion, himself the radiant centre. He back again. He arrived last nightjust three has known very well during all his absence of months and a half, to a day, since the events the privations of the family, in reference even recorded in the last chapter. In magnificent to the most necessary articles of clothing. And health is the returned Texan. If all the world during all that absence it has been a chief pleas- over there is a nobler specimen of a man, his ure with him to buy continually, while in the wife says to herself, as she sits there looking at cities, such things as he supposed were needed. his open, generous, though bronzed and beard- Six of the largest trunks are standing open all ed, face, herself blushing at one moment, and around himVenable, Will, Bessie, Rohamma, pale the next with excessive joy all the wide and Mrs. Morton McRobert at work an hour world over a husband to be prouder of, or a now unpacking them. As to Mrs. Frank, all happier wife, why, thenyes, Charlie, you are she cares for is her husband; she hardly looks rightget as close as you canhold on with at any thing else. And a noisy time it is, as both hands I one after another of the exceedingly miscella- Which advice is not needed by Charlie, who neous assortment is brought to light. Bessie has coiled himself in a fat circle about his fa- has already come upon three dolls, beautiful thers neck, and has hold upon his fathers lux- beyond her wildest dreams, and, fortified from uriant beard with both of his chubby hands, cvi- interruption behind a bulwark of dresses and dently intending ~ever again to let go as long shoes, rock candy, hoops, and flaming picture- as he lives. But he is not a bit worse than his books, is in unsatiated search for more, with in- mother, who has tight hold upon her husbands cessant screams of delight; Will, not much more hand, kissing, when she deceives herself into silent than his sister, as he, too, comes upon believing nobody sees her, such parts of the articles evidently purchased for Venable and beaming face as Charlie for the moment leaves himself. Every now and then Mrs. Morton open to approach. McRobert finds and unrolls some shawl or dress And you have improved, Frank ! she says altogether too costly for country life, or of a for the hundredth time. Hasnt he, Mor- wrong shade or fabric. ton ? Bless my soul, Frank, what didyou buy? Amazingly! And this is the reason, says she begins. But Franks wife shakes her head the one appealed to, who dearly loves to trace at her with laughing but earnest rebuke; if he all events to their causes, Frank has been cx- had brought in the trunks a small crocodile, or posed to incessant dangers for years now, day a diamond crown, or a complete bridal outfit, it and night, and nothing quickens a man more. would have been exactly right.in her eyes. Then, he has traveled all over the Union, seen Well, you know, Uncle Frank has replied all its cities, associated with all its leading men, to any special remonstrance of the kind, with a made thrilling appeals to vast audiences every rueful glance at the article in question, you whereyou see, Frank, we have been reading ladies understand shopping; I dont. I saw about you in the papers. Most of all, you have that roll of lace, for instance, in the window of gone heart, soul, and body into the grandest a milliner, or something of the kind, on Broad- cause the world ever knew. Of course he is way. I went in, and told the lady behind the improved! No merit in him for it, Im sure, countershe had the freshest complexion I ever Only I am afraid, afraid adds didactic Mr. knewit was one of the prettiest things I ever Morton McRobcrt. saw, and asked her if it wasnt the kind of thing He wont be contented to settle down to ladies sewed around the edges of their bonnets, our quiet life at the ranch, adds the other, or frocks, or sleevessomewhere or other. She with a flash of anxiety on her eager face. said yes, it was exactly that. I remember I Yes, Ive thought of that. But do as you paid a tremendous price for it. She was so please, dear, you may do as you please; only if kind as to show me those other things there. you will keep Charlie and I with you, in a whirl- Yes, I bought them all. When I paid her bill wind if you wish, we will hold to you only the she said I was a gentleman of excellent taste in closer; wont we, Charlie ? such things, hoped I would call again. You And after I have just said I would never see I always had one trunk on hand at my ho- leave home again! exclaims the aggrieved Tex- teL It was so convenient to buy things as I an. Plenty to do on the ranch. Besides, came on them along the streets, to pack them in look at the looking-up and branding stockso when I came home at night; it made me feel so many years arrears to be done; a little hunting pleasant, doing something for you all far away. 92 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. And so good Mrs. MeRobert could only groan as she brought up article after article, holding it up in mute appeal for her sister to see, who would only assent to her dismay with a merry nod, but not for an instant permit her husband to be called in question therefor. The stump! Why, uncle, unless there was a Federal force right there they would shoot or hang you ! says Venable. They would now, of course, Uncle Frank cheerfully acquiesces. I think I ought to know that. But not after a while. I can wait. The day will come when I can, yes, and will, take the stump in any part of Texas, and tell them, kindly, you see, but plainly, all the facts of our case, no Federals in five hundred miles either. Two parties in this land are grinding away upon each other, in opposite directions, like mill-stones, turning tremendously Why, uncle, in a mill its only one stone that turns, the upper one; the lower stone nev- er stirs a hair begins Will. Never mind, says the Texan, with a smile. What I mean is, the whole question before this nation is being steadily, if slowly, ground out. Well get the fine flour at last! As if the sublimest revolution in all history could be completed in a year or two! No, Sir. There are very few men understand how vast are the results we are arriving at. Arriving at, not for this great republic only and all our generations after us, but for all other nations in the world besides! I tell you Law, Mass Frank, breaks in Rohamma, a gorgeous package in hand, which her mistress had just thrust therein in mute despair, dis here dress for me! Its mighty splendid; but its stuff for parlor windows like we used to have in ole Virgin Hush! says Mrs. Frank, with warning hand; and Hohamma pours the rest of her re- mark into the sympathizing ear of Mrs. McHob- ert, kneeling beside her among the open trunks. Never mind. Wait till you hear me on the stump. Wait; thats all; wait awhile. If I dont know the people of Texas, continues the Texan, almost pathetically, I would like to know who does; and I tell youand here he rises in his enthusiasm from his seat and stands erect, Charlie cleaving with both arms, like a crab, about his neck the Texans are the no- blest people on this earth. Intelligent, ener- getic, truthful, ardent, wholesome, healthy, whole-souled! I tell you, continued the speak- er, himself a fit specimen thereof, Texas is in the ore yet, but its the richest ore the sun ever shone on. Wait; thats what I say; wait. As to the New Englanders, no one can admire them more than I do for all their wonderful traits of character. Like the rest of us they havedefects,ofcourse. Ihavebeenupamong them, off and on, for years now. They are bright, keen, cold, sharptoo sharp, overwhet by eternal sharpening. More bteadth, depth, warmth about us of the South and the West. It is like an axe. The Yankees are the edge steel, blue, and razorish; we are the rest of the axe, thicker, stronger, more lasting. The edge must go first, but the rest of the axe follows. Just wait, he adds, wincing a little at Charlies clutch upon his beard, and laying his hand upon the head of his wife, seated beside him; Tex- as is at school just now; the lesson is awfully hard to learn, but the discipline is tremendous, and the scholars are smart. Itll be with us like that poor Pete Hoogenboom I saw yester- day Pete Hoogenboom ! exclaimed Will and Venable in a breath. Yes, I know all about his conscription, says Uncle Frank, and desertion. You thought here he had been hung, or had escaped to Mex- ico. Not a bit of it. He has been lying in the brake afraid to come in till he is a perfect savage. He came upon me as I was riding home yesterday. Ive learned a way of look- ing around as I go very sharp for game, espe- cially sharp for bushwhackers these last few years. As I was riding I saw just about one eye of the man peeping at me from an old, dead cedar-top pile fifty yards off the road to the right. Somehow I felt it was Pete. I halted, called out to him who I was, ordered him in a sharp way to coiue to me. It was a long time before he would. In fact I went up to him. He was almost stark naked. What with hair and beard and finger-nails uncut; starvation, sleeping on the earth, and miserable watching for his life, he had become a wild animal. He sat there on the ground~ crouched together like a dying brute. Colonel, what is the news? he said at last, glancing up at me like a wild thing fastened in a trapsharp, but shaking all over. Why, dont you