The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-07-13

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thing? 1 would not have a letter
from him. 1 would not speak to
him. I would not be beholden to
him fer favOr-not to save the life
of every member of my family No
sir ! The thought of it makes me
shudder. L feel indignant at the
mention of it. l take letter from
Benton l. Stop, stop y said /:
that is the old man speaking in you.
This is not the spirit in which to in
dulge. know how you feel.' While
he was raving and protesting, and
declaring by all the saints in the call
endar his purpose to accept no favor
from Col. Benton. turned around to
my desk and addressed a note to
Benton something like this:
"Dear sir : am we'll aware of the
disputes, personal and political,
which have taken place between
yourself and the bearer of this note
John Wilson; but the old gentleman
is now poor and is going to Califor-
mia and needs letter of recommen.
dation. know nobody in Califor.
MIA to whom l could address a letter
that would be of any service to him.
have assured John Wilson that it
will give yourself more pleasureto
forget what has passed between 5sedr-'
self and him, and to give him letter
that will do him good, than it will
him to receive it. I am going to
: persuade him to carry you this note
and l know you will be glad to see
him."
"Wilson got through protesting
and 1 read him the note, Then l
said Il want you to carry it to
Benton
~ WON'T he replied.
II coaxed and scoIded and reason
: ed and brought every consideration
death. eternity and everything else
to bear, but it seemed to be of no
use. Said I, Wilson, you will re-
greet it,
"After awhile he got little soft
ness some tears flowed at last l
made him promise. rather reluctant.
ly that he would deliver the note at
Col. Benton's door, if he did not do
any more. He told me afterwards
that it was the bitterest pill he ever
swallowed. Col. Benton's house was
not far from mine. Wilson took the
note, and as he afterwards told me,
went up with trembling hands, put
the note, with his own card. into the
hands of the girl who came to the
door, and ran away to his own lodg-
ing. He had scarcely been half an
hour in his own room, trembling to
think what he had done, when a
note came from Col. Benton saying
he had the card and note and that
Mrs. Benton and himself would have
much pleasure in receiving jog
Wilson at 8 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. They would wait breakfast for
him, and no answer was expected.
The idea said he to himself, that l
am going to breakfast with Tom
Benton John Wilson! What will
the people say, and what shall say?
The thing is not to be thought of.
And yet l must. 1 have delivered
the note and sent my card if l don't
go it will he rude. / wish had not
taken it. 1t doesn't seem to me as if
I could go and sit there at that table.
l lay awake that night thinking
about it, and in the morning felt as a
man might feel who had sentence of
death passed upon him and was call
ed upon by the turnkey to partake of
his last breakfast. 1 rose, however,
made my toilet. and, after hesItating
a great deal. went to Col. Benton's
house. My hands trembled as l rang
the bell. Instead of the servant the
Colonel himself came to the door. He
took me cordially by both hands and
said: Wilson. l am delighted to see
you this is the happiest meeting I
have had for twenty years. Give me
your hand. Webster has done me
the kindest thing he ever did in his
life.' Leading me directly to the
dining-rocm, he presented me to his
wife, Mrs. Benton, and then we sat
down to breakfast.
"After inquiring kindly about my
family he said: You and 1. Wilson,
have been quarreling on the stump
for twenty-five years. We have been
calling each other hard names, but
really with no want of mutual re.
spect and confidence. 1t has been a
mere foolish political fight, and let's
wipe it out of mind. All have said
about you I ask your pardon for
We both cried a little. I asked his
pardon and we were good friends.
We talked over old matters until IL