Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-02

way clear for them. Still there was
silence In the crowd, save that near me
| could hear a man sObbing. A rum-
peter lifted his bugle and sounded a
bar OF the r%eveilIe. The clear notes
cleft the silent air, flooding every
Street about us with thoir silver sound.
Suddenly the band began PLAYING.
The tune was yankee Doodle" A wild.
dismal, tremulous cry came out of n
throat near me. II grew and sprcad
10 a mighty roar, and then such n
shout went up to heaven as I had new.
or heard and I know full well shall
never hear again. II was like the riv-
ing Of thunderbolts above the roar Of
1oods-elelnental. prophetic, threaten.
ing. ungovernablc. 1t did seem 70 me
that the holy wrath of God Almighty
was in that cry Of the people. II was
a signal. It declared that they were
ready to give all that n man may give
for that he lovcs-his life and things
far dcarcr TO him than his life. After
that they and their sons begged for y
chance TO throw themselves into the
hiGcous ruin of war.
I walked slowly back to the Office
and wrote my article. When the
printer came In at Il, 7 went to his
room before he had had time to begin
work.
Mr.. Greeley 7 said. here is my
resignation. | am going TO the war"
His habitual smile gave way TO 4
sober look as he turned to me. his big
white coat IN his arm. He purscd his
lips and blew ~thoughtfully. Then he
threw his coat in a chair and wiped
his eyes with his handkerchief.
well. God bless you. my boy" he
said. II wish I could go too
I worked some weeks before my reci-
men was sent forward. I planned to
be at home for n day. but they needed
me on the stnff. and I dreaded the pain
Of 4 parting the gravity of which my
return would serve only to accentuate.
SO I wrote them n cheerful letter and
kept ut work. 1t was my duty TO in
terview some OF the great men of that
day as to the course of the government.
| remember Commodore Vanderbilt
came down to see me in shirt sleeves
and slippers that afternoon. with Il
handkerchief tied about his neck in
place of a collar-a blunt man OF sim
pie nanners and a big heart. one who
spoke his mind in good, plain talk, and.
I suppose. he got along with as little
profanity as possible, considering his
many cares.
He called me boy and spoke Of a
certain public man as a big sucker"
I soon learned that to him a sucker
was the lowest md meanest thing In
the world. He sent me away with
nothing but a great admiration Of him.
As a rule. the giants Of that day were
plain men of the people. with no frills
upon them and with a way Of hitting
from the shoulder. They said what
they meant and meant it hard. I have
heard Lincoln talk when his words had
the whiz OF a bullet and his arm the
jerk Of "A piston.
John Trumbull invited Michigan, of
whom l had told him much, and my
self to dine with him ar evening that
week. | went in my new dress suit
that mark Of sinful extravaganza for
which fate had brought me down to the
pounding of rocks under Boss McCor-
ullCh. lluulDull .OOluS were II IedSt
for the eye-aglOw with red roses. He
introduced me to Margaret Hull aud
her mother, who were there to dino
with us. She was a slight woman OF
thirty then, with q face OF no striking
beauty, but of singular sweetness.
Her dark eyes had a mild and tender
light in them: her voice a plaintive.
gentle tone. the like Of which ono may
hear rarely If ave For years she had
been n nigh. worker in the missions
Of the lower city, and many an I'M
fortunate had been turned from the
way Of evil by her good offices. | sat
beside her at the table, and she told
me Of her work and how often she hal
met Trumbull in his night walks.
Found me a hopeless heathen.' he
remarked.
ITO save him | had TO consent t.
marry him. she said, laughing.
WHO hath found love is already in
heaven" said Michigan. Il have not
found it. and I am in"--he hesitated az
II searching for n synonyIn-"a board
ing house On William street" he added.
The remarkable thing about Margaret
Hull was her simple faith. II looked
to no giittering generality for its re.
ward. such as the souls highest good"
much talked Of IN the philosophy of
that time. She believed that for every
soul she saved one Jewel would be add.
ed to her crown in heaven. And yet
she wore no jewel upon her person,
Her black costume was beautifully
fitted to her fine form, but was almost
severely plain. 1t occurred to Ms that
she did not quite understand her WI
heart. and. for that matter. who does!
But she had somewhat in her soul that
passeth all understanding. l shallnot try
10 say what. with so little knowledge
of those high things. save that l know
1t was of God. To what patience ana
unwearying effort she had schooled her.
self l was soon TO know.
Can you not find any one TO love
you?" She said, turning to Michigan.
You know the Bible says it is not
good for man to live alone
1T does. madam said he. but l
have a mighty fear in me, remember
ing the twenty-fourth verse of the
twenty-tifth chapter of Proverbs: 1T is