appointed, but," placing his hands on the young lawyer's shoulders, as a father might lovingly confront a son beloved, "I respect and honor your conscientious convictions. In some matters there can be no human intervention-Jacob had to have it out alone with God." A few minutes later, as the young lawyer, having said good-night, was leaving, Mr. Lincoln called him back and said: "By the way, Sammy, let me see you in the morning before you enlist. I think maybe I can direct you to your advantage, even though Seward and Greeley seem to think I'm a greenhorn. But, Sammy, I'm cutting my eye teeth mighty fast in this office." The following morning when Simonson had told Mr. Lincoln he had changed his mind, and that he was eager to get back to New Richmond with his "weather-eye open, and his main-sail ear spread," the President laughed boisterously and said: "Been ripenin', Sammy? Been ripenin'? I thought you'd be ripe by morning, and you're no Jonah's gourd either. I doggie, Sammy, this does me good. If I felt any better my Adams apple would exude so much cider I'd drown in apple-jack! Of all men, you're supremely qualified, Sammy, to do just the work that's needed in Southern Illinois. Quiet, brave, diplomatic, educated, a lawyer, thoroughly acquainted with the people and situation—there's none other that's so perfectly fitted and equipped, least of all myself, to grapple with the Egyptian plots and machinations against us. Any man can pull a trigger, and advance or retreat, as per order of commanding officer-be a fighting machine-but to take the initiative, to match cunning with yet greater cunning, blind, hot-headed rashness with clear-eyed, cool-headed, carefully reasonedout, purposeful heroism, with a definite object in view, re quires brains, Sammy, and you've got 'em, heaps of 'em. Blessings on you, my boy! You've taken a great burden off my heart. With you in command in Southern Illinois, I shall rest easy, so far as that locality is concerned. I only wish everything was as satisfactory over there," looking away toward McClellan's command. "Again, blessings on you, Sammy; and let me hear from time to time-how the menagerie's performing!" CHAPTER XV THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM-VERGIE CULPEPPER AGAIN W HEN the young lawyer returned to New Richmond he found everything surprisingly quiet. The bellicose passions of early October seemingly had entirely subsided. Amsden Armentrout, recovered from the blow he had received, was pounding iron as usual. Abner Wilcox was vending sorghum and calico, rock candy and spike nails, with equal grimness and passivity, while Hiram Goldbeck was as eager as ever in pursuit of the almighty dollar. Lige Ferris, a horse trader, was in town; but as he had cheated everybody out of his eye teeth nobody would look at his horses. A strolling band of gipsies drove through without imperiling their souls by the acquisition of that "dross," the inordinate love of which is said to be the root of all evil; the only notice taken of them was by the canine population. A murder trial was on at the court house, but as it had been brought on a change of venue from Sardis it excited but little local interest. In fact the streets were practically deserted, as the children were in school and the farmers were busy gathering corn, "butchering," and hauling and working-up the winter firewood. Apparently nothing was the matter with the world, and nothing out of the ordinary ever had occurred at New Richmond; least of all would it have been conceivable to an outsider that behind the placid faces and kindly greetings of the citizens there were slumbering passions that could be awakened, easily and instantly, to a most extraordinary turbulence 225 226 and fury—that indeed presently would be kindled to such a height of hatred and ferocity as would result in a climax of murderous violence on the one hand, and of dauntless defiance on the other, unsurpassed even in the tragedies of Eschylus and Sophocles. Several events had contributed to the present tranquillity. Dr. Culpepper's assault on Amsden Armentrout had profoundly shocked the entire community-and none deplored it more, after the storm of his passion had subsided, than the Doctor himself; and he and his fellow Southerners realized that the time had come when moderation and mutual concession were indispensable. Thus for a week Dr. Culpepper and his compatriots had vied with the "Yankee Abolitionists" in expressions of sympathy and kindly offers of assistance; and when the rugged but pale blacksmith once more appeared on the street none greeted him with greater or sincerer cordiality than those who were the most diametrically opposed to him politically. The mob-spirit, too, which twice had manifested itself on successive evenings, had had a sobering effect. Whether Roundhead or Cavalier, the Anglo-Saxon cannot abide the mob; and on two occasions gruesome, murderous Anarchy had lifted its hideous head, and openly defied the authorities, in New Richmond; and citizens, regardless of previous differences of opinion, anxiously inquired: "If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" But the quietness of the community and abstention from rancorous political discussion possibly were mainly due to the sympathy felt for Dr. Culpepper and his family on account of Harold's abrupt severance of all home ties. That he had espoused the Union was only a surprise; but to have left home as he had done was profoundly shocking. Even the staunchest Loyalists could not approve of the manner of his going, nor refuse the meed of sympathy to the 227 stricken family. The Doctor suddenly had aged, Vergie refused to be seen, and the reports concerning Mrs. Culpepper's grief and declining health were such as to awaken the liveliest commiseration. Whatever dislike Dr. Culpepper's previous words and actions had aroused now was forgotten in the presence of his great domestic affliction. The leading Loyalists, such as Noss and Blavey, exhibited a specially fine spirit, assuring the Doctor that elation on account of what the Union cause had gained by the enlistment of his son was as nothing compared with the regret and sorrow they felt over the loss he had sustained. To all such expressions of sympathy the Doctor listened gravely and respectfully, and returned thanks in a manner and spirit that left nothing to be desired. Thus for a season everything moved along quietly and uneventfully. But little was heard regarding war or politics, though of course there were flying rumors and casual remarks. It was generally understood that the President and McClellan were at outs, but if concern was felt, one way or the other, no one said so. Banks and Butler, one a politician and the other a lawyer, were fighting somewhere-but no one seemed sufficiently interested to inquire whether successfully or unsuccessfully. The little affair at Hatteras Inlet the last of August was, to all appearances, a thing of the past and utterly unrelated to the present. On the Seventh of November, Port Royal, midway between Charleston and Savannah, again uncovered before "Old Glory;" as did also, on the same day, Belmont, Missouri-but there was no commotion in New Richmond. The 37th Congress met in December but New Richmond, though reading the proceedings day by day, made few comments. The Battle of Ball's Bluff was fought and lost by the Union forces, the gallant General E. D. Baker of the Union army being among the |