The National tribune., 1901-10-31

white and blue that sent the color surg.
ing to the fair face. of Georgiana Good
speed as the postmaster put the letter
in her hand, together with the New York
Tribune.
She put the letter in her pocket, with
out so much as look at the poStmark
carrying the paper in her hand. She felt
rather than knew, the lettGf was because
OF those two words she had so hesitatingl!
slipped in one of the many articles which
women of the North were everywher,
making and sending to their loved one:
in the South. Georgiann Goodspeed wa:
the last of her family, a proud old fam
lily, that traced their lineage back TO one
among the first that kpelt on the grea
granite boulder at the waters edge IL
Plymouth days.
Four sons of this family, from thc
namcless infant TO the stalwart young
man. lay side by side with their mother
in the country graveyard. Georgiana was
the only daughter, the child of their Olt
age.
The old farm, with long sowing an(
reapng. had become barren and unfruit
full and Mr.. Goodspeed had sold it, anC
with less wisdom than he would have
exercised 20 years before, invested the
money in small houses in the nearby vii
lage.
In one of these he and Georgiana lived
| MI 'b'uNlftu W. Hul 'iiS
stanch supporter of Abraham Lincoln
but a radical AbOlitonist. In his Bible
he had read aloud to Georgiana, again
and again, the story of the children of
Israel their bitter servitudc and wonder
full deliverancc. Incidentally, he had been
Oh the street in Boston, and with burning
Indignation witnessed the mObbing Of Will
| liam Lloyd Garrison and a few years
later, in Faneuil Hall, he had listened
while the old Cradle of Liberty echoed
and re-cchoed with the marvellous elO-
quencc of Wendell Phillips, in behalf of
the great anti-saveIy movement. Weekly
he read Horace Greeley, and was n great
admirer of Secretary Chase. Together he
and Georgiana had read, with sympathetic
hearts and sometimes fearful eyes, Uncle
Toms Cabin
fluences, which helped to shape and EN-
phasize that which was already deep in
the old mans heart, Liberty and Justice.
During the somewhat stormy campaign
of 1860 companies of men in shining
black oil-cloth capes and caps, with fam
ing torches, marched and drilled almost
nightly, and Mr. GoOdspeed was always
in the front rank, while at home GeOrg-
lana went from window to window, keep
ing the bits Of lighted candle in place,
with which every pane was Illuminated.
Now the great struggle between North
and South had begun.
The 10000 three-months' men. which as
one man had sprung to arms at the call
of the President, had served their time
and re-enIisted for three years or dur
ing the war. Another call was made, and
as quickly filled. The patriotism of the
people knew no bounds, and those who
stayed thought it no more than their duty
to provide for the families of those who
went.
Old Mr. GoOdspeed went from house to
house among his tenants with the pledge
of his word, which was as good as an
oath. that any man who enlisted his fam
lily should live rent free until his return.
''And if | should not return?' one had
said, looking over his brood of little ones.
"Then. please God,' the old man an
swcred, 'the house shall be theirs"
Although loyal to sthe Government and
a great admirer of the president. yet like
many another revOllitiOnist of both Church
and State, he narrowed to the one thing.
and fretted audibly' at the slowness of
President Lincoln.
IF Old Hickory were only at the head,
he had said, he would make short work
of secession.
But Il greater Captain than even Gen.
Jackson stood at the wheel of the old
Ship of State, and although the storm
arose, night came on apace and thick
blackneSs, huge waves pounded on every
side and lashcd with eeascless fury. the
timbers strained and cracked-yet, thank
God, the Captain stood at the helm.
In times of peace the weekly newspa-
pers had been a luxury and all sufficient
to keep the village people well posted as