The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-04-16
CHAPTER ".
WASHINGTON AT A RECEPTION

1CI. DuG, O1 1Cu1ON1uS liz 1dOCO SOdl-
skin cover which some prudent hand had
sewed on the Bible which the girl carried
from Salem to the Muskingum, there was
found a little note-billet, it was called in
those days-in which he asked her to
accept a farewell present. The present
was a basket fitted with knives and forks
and spoons, which he had carried more
than once when they went on a picnic
together.
In all the little familiar tea-parties
which Salem sadly made by way Of bid
ding goodbye to Miss Paris, Mr.. Curwen
appeared. He had gone to New
York, it was said, and though Salem was
apt to know the business of everybody in
Salem, rather better than he knew him
self, Salem did not know why he had
gone. No letters came from him, or, if
they did, the postmaster had not recog-
nlzed the handwriting. So was it that,
excepting for the picnic basket, and for
that little billet which was accidentally
preserved. Sarah Paris had no goodbye
from Harry Curwen.
A hundred years have lifted some mys-
t~eries, so that there is no reason why l
should not tell both of you, dear Lily and
dear Emma, what MI. Harry Curwen had
done with himself.
Fl rst of all, he had written the little
billet, and had sent off the basket, with
the silver spoons and knives and forks to
the young lady. Second he had gone to
Boston, and had spent two or three days
there, in conference with his fathers old
military friends. He had obtained from
them letters of introduction to General
Knox in New York. Then he took the
stage to Providence, and from Providence,
with a northeast wind, he took the packet
Lady Washington, and sailed for the city
Of New York. Three days after, he found
himself at Francis's Hotel in that city. It
was then the seat of government Of the
United States.
Harry Curwen dressed himself in his
BEST and called upon his old friend, Col.
Timothy Pickering, to whom he told his
plans. The Colonel advised him, as men
of forty sometimes will advise men Of
twenty-that is, he advised him to change
all his plans and go home. But by this
advice Harry Curwen was not moved.
He asked Col. Pickering, also, to give an
introduction to Gen. Knox, which he
could not refuse. Now, Gen. Knox was
at this time the secretary of war to the
newborn nation. And so soon as Col.
Pickering had written the note, to Gen.
Knox Harry Curwen repaired.
The General was most kind. There
had been no need, he said that our friend
Harry should bring him letters. Frederic
Curwen's son needed no introduction to
him. He went back to cid days when
4lo I-o,~s ~oo-jo fo4l>or r-o, ~ oo11o~o
"And after those days, my dear young
man, he would come into the store in
King street-it was King street then
and we would talk of everything; of your
dear mother, my boy, of your uncles and
your aunts-why I knew Salem as well
as-as we'll as your father knew Cambridge
and Boston, and what could I say more?
Then at Morristown--why, Harry, where
did 1 not know him? No, indeed, his
boy needs no letters to me-" This was
all very nice and fattering, and Harry
vent bravely on to tell his business. But
instantly Gen. Knox's smile died away,
his forehead wrinkled itself, and he could
hardly let the young man finish his ap-
peal.
90, my dear Mr.. Curwen, ask for any
thing but a commission. Everyone wants
a commission-and there is no commits
sion to give anyone. See here, and here,
and here, each of these is a file of applica-
tons for commissions. Each separate
paper is an application. The recommenda-
tions are yonder," and he pointed across
the room. If I were our august ally,
King Louis himself, and now he laughed
again, II should not have commissions
enough for the young men who want
them"
"But these young men," said Curwen,
boldly, "want to kick their heels here in
garrison. I do not. I want to see service:
I want to see life. General, I want to do
what you did, and my father-I want to
begin. Remember, you showed me how"
"That is prettily said, my boy" said
the veteran, who was himself not forty
years old, "and if these days were those
days, you should have had your commits
sion, and should have been in your regi-
mentals before now. We did not wait
long then for papers Or for service. But
these are days of peace, alas! so much
the worse for you and me.
"No, my lad, if it is to the Ohio or the
Kentucky you would go, you must go and
talk with Parson Cutler by your own
home, or to MI. Symmes here. For me,
I have not power to send one enlisted
mao there, far less an ensign. I hate to
say no to you; but truly, there is nothing
else to say"
So Harry Curwen experienced the Sec
ond sharp rebuff he had received within a
week. AS he passed out through the
door, which was held open for him by a
courtly black man, and in the raw north
east wind stepped out upon the stoop, he
remembered, bitterly enough, that it was
just at that hour, that day week, that he
had heard in Salem of Sarah Paris inten-
ton.
Slowly enough he returned to Francis's,
and with little enough interest entered on
the business which came next his hand,
which was the eating of his supper. Then,
with a group of young Virginians, who
had come on to see the Congress, he went
to the theatre. and tried to amuse himself