Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-04-15
and he is reconciled to many of his

wilson, "that he should do tbi,
thlng and that thing? would no
nave letter from him, l would moi
speak to him, | would not be be.
holden to him for a favor-uot tc
save the life of every member ot
my family! No, sir The though,
OF 1t makes me shudder. / feel in
dignant at the mention Of it. take
letter from Mr. Benton? ~
stop, stop" said /; "that is
!he old man speaking in you. That
Is not the spirit in which to indulge.
l know how you fccI.n
And while he was raviny and
protesting and declaring, by all the
saints in the calendar, his purpose to
accept no favor from Colonel Ben.
ton, turned round to my desk and
addressed note to Benton, some.
thing like this:
! Dear sir, L am aware Of the dis
putes, personal and political, which
nave taken place between yourself
ana the bearer of this note, Mr.. John
wilson. But the gentleman is now
oid, ana is going to California, and
needs recommendation. / know
nobody in California TO whom |
could address a letter that would he
OF any service to him. You know
everybody, and letter from YOU
would do him great deal of good
l have assured Mr.. Wilson that it
VIII give you more pleasure to for.
give and forget what has passed be-
you and him, and 70 give him let
ter 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. :"
Wilson got through protesting.
ana L read him the note. Then
said:
Z" l want you to carry it to Benton.u
81 won't ~ he replied.
coaxed and scolded and reasoned.
and brought every consideration
death, eternity and everything else
to bear, but it seemed of no use.
Said l:
Wilson you will regret it,"
After while he got a little soft
ened, and some tears flowed, and at
last 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
atterward that it was the bitterest
pill he ever swallowed. Colonel
Benton's house was not far from
mine. Wilson took the note, and,
as he afterward told me, went up
with trembling hands, put the note
with his own card, into the hands 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 Benton saying he had re-
ceived the card aud note, and that
Mrs. Benton and himself would have
much pleasure in receiving Mr.. Will
son at breakfast at nine O'Clock the
next morning. They would wait
breakfast for him and no answer was
expected.
1.-THE idea," said he to himself,
"that / am to breakfast with Tom
Benton! John Wilson, what will
people say, and what shall / say p
The thing is not to be thought Of
And yet | must. | have delivered
the note and sent my card. If /
don't go now it will be rude. wish
l had not taken it. 1t doesn't seem
to me as if could go and sit at the
table. | lay awake" he said after
ward, to me, "that night, thinking
of it, and in the morning / felt as a
man might who had had sentence of
death passed upon him, and was
called by the turnkey to get up for
his breakfast. | rose, however,
made my toilet, and, after hesitating
great deal, went to Colonel Ben
toms house. My hands trembled as
l rang the bell. Instead of the SER
want, the Colonel himself came to
the door. He took me by both hands
and said, Wilson, am delighted to
see you; this is the happiest meet
ing l 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 we sat down TO
breakfast. After ipquiring about
my family, he said, You and l,
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 respect or confidence. 1t has
been mere foolish fight, and let's
wipe it out out of mind. Every.
thing that / have said about you |
ask your pardon for.' Both cried a
little, and asked his pardon, and
we were good friends. We talked
over old matters, and spent the
morning till twelve O'Clock in pleas
ant conversation. Nothing was said
Of the letter until I was departing.
He turned to his desk and said, Il
have prepared some letters for you
to my son-in-law and other friends
in Californian and he handed me
nine sheets of foolscap.
1t was not n letter, but an ukase-
command to every person to
whom these presents shall come,
greeting.' 1t was to the effect that
whoever received them must give
special attention to the wants Of his
particular friend, Colonel John Will
son, of St. Louis. Everything was
to give way to that. He put them
into my hands, and | thanked him
and left"
Mr.. Webster continued: Colonel
Benton afterward came to me, and
said, Webster, that was the kindest
thing you ever did. God bless you
for sending John Wilson to me i
That is one troublesome thing off
nv mind. That was kind, Webster.
Let us get those things off our mind
.. co,, n, mo oap w a houa not m, uph