The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-24

'>'~ tuuti SpchhtuS III yOus. 1IldL iS
notthe spirit in which to indulge. i
know how you feel"
And while he was raving and pro-
testing and declaring. by all the
saints in the calender. his purpose to
fecept no favor from Colonel Benton,
turned around to my desk and ad-
'ressed note to Benton, something
IKE this:
"DEAR SIR: 'sT am aware of
the disputes, personal and political,
which have taken place between
yourseif and the bearer of this note,
ezr. John Wilson. But the gentle.
men is now old and is going to Cali
Ifoynia. and needs a good recommen-
dati0n. I know of no one in Cali.
hMnia to whom / could address
Y - hat would be-ofaay service to
him. You know everybody, and a
letter from you would do him great
deal of good. have assured Mr..
Wilson that it will give you more
pleasure to forgive and forget what
has passed between you and him,
and give him letter that will do
him good, than it will him to receive
it. am going to persuade him to
carry this note, and l know you will
be glad to see him."
II want you to carry it to Benton"
II won't' he replied.
1coaxed and scolded and reasoned,
and brought every consideration
death. eternity, and everything else
to bear, but it seemed of no use.
Said /:
"Wllson, you will regret it,"
After awhile he got a little SOFTEN
ed. and some tears flowed, and at
last l made him promise, rather re-
luctantly. that he would deliver the
note at Colonel Benton's door, if he
did not do any more. He told me
afterwards that it was the bitterest
pill he ever swallowed. Colonel
Benton's house was not far from
mine. Wilson took the note las he
afterwards told me,l went up with
trembling hands, put the note with
his own card into the hand of the
girl that came to the door, and ran
away to his lodgings. He had been
scarcely half an hour in his room,
trembling to think what he had done,
when note came from Colonel Ben
ton, saying he had received the card
and note, and that Mrs. Benton and
hihself would have much pleasure in
receiving Mr.. Wilson at breakfast at
nine O'Clock the next morning.
They would wait breakfast for him,
and no answer was needed.
"The idea !" said he to himself,
"that / am going to take break fast
with Tom Benton! John Wilson,
what will people say? The thing is
not to be thought of. And yet /
must ; l have delivered the note and
sent may card. If don't go now it
will be rude. l wish had not TAX
en- it. 1t doesn't seem to ME as if |
could 60 and sit there at that table.
l lay awake" said he afterwards to
me. "that night, thinking of 1t, and
in the mOrning felt as man might
feel who had sentence of death pas
sed upon him, and was told by the
turnkey to get up and get his break
fast. l arose, however. made my
toilet, and after hesitating a great
deal went to Colonel Benton's house.
My hands trembled as I rung the
hell. Instead of the servant the Col
onel himself came to the door. He
took me by both hands and said |;
Wilson, / am delighted to see you !;
this has been the happiest meeting
have had for twenty years. Give
me your hand. Webster has done
the kindest thing he ever did in his
life.' Leading me directly to the
dining-roOm, he presented me to
Mrs. Benton, and then we sat down
to break kfast. After inquiring about
my family, he said: You and 1.
Wilson, have been quarreling on the
stump for twenty-five years. We
haye been calling each other hard
names. but really with no want of
mutual respect or confidence. 1t has
been a mere foolish political fight,
and let's wipe it out of our mind.
Everything that l have said about
you, l ask your pardon for.' We
both cried little. and / asked his
pardon, and we both became good
friends. We talked over old matters,
and spent the morning till twelve
o'clock in pleasant conversation.
Nothing was said OF the letter until
was departing. He turned to his
desk aud said: Il have prepared
some letters to my son-in-Iaw and
other friends in California; and
he handed me nine sheets of FOOLS
cap.