Year: 1867

pocketed the offenses which the law would


not yindicate. The chivalry, when in.
suited, had TO nurse their wrath until
they could get into Missouri, or at least
to Bloody Island, half way over the Mis-
sissippi.


This was before the railroads with their
iron horses and fabulous speed had
wakened the echoes in that region.
Springfield was respectable two days
journey from Alton, the nearest accessi-
Bile point to the Mississippi. As nothing
else could be done, these two chiyalric
defenders Of injured innocence collected
their swords and other traps, and started
on slow coach, with the privilege OF
having, by the way, a nice long time in
which to think Of the pleasantness Of kill
ing or being killed, and what might come
thereafter. At last the journey ended,
like all things earthly must, and they ar.
rived at Alton.


There were no steam ferryboats then.
The Charons of that day had to find mo-
tive power in their own sinewy arms.
Everything was favorable to reflection.
The time was abundant not only for
sober, second thought to try its power,
but that number had q chance to multiply
itself into thousands, and grow soberer
all the while. But nothing moved the
conbatants from their steady purpose
The Father Of Waters was propitious,
and they were ferried safely over his wa
ters, they with their swords and a man
with dish to catch the blood and a
string TO take up an artery, as the case
might require. The matter having been
noised abroad somewhat in Alton, some
persons, blessed with inquiring minds,
followed them across the river in order to
be in at the death. AS the news spread
more and more, there came to be quite
an excitement in the town among those
who remained, and sentinels were posted
in commanding positions, and close
watch was kept for the party when it
should return. In process of time the
watchman announced that the boat which
had been ffeighted with the valiant was
coming back, and when it was a third of
the way in its passage across the river,
sharp eyes detected man with his
cloak wrapped around him, lying in
the bottom of the fatboat. The
news spread quickly over the town
that one of the avengers Of, no
body knew exactly what, had fallen
victim to his courage; and womanly
eyes were ready to weep at the thought
of the havoc that would be made in some
hody's heart. But now, as often, the
near centradicted the far. When the
boat landed it was found that some wag
had put in log, and thrown over it
cloak, so that expectation might not be
let down from its elevation too suddenly
The victims, who had 50 bravely pre-
pared themselves for the sacrifice, were
both alive and we'll Their honor had
been healed by other plaster than that of
blood. When the danger came within
touching distance, their wrath became
placabe A friend, who had gotten an
inkling of what was on hand, had fol-
lowed them, and reached the place as
Lincoln was clearing away the brush to
have a chance for fair fight, and sue
cseded, just in the nick of time, in con-
vincing them, as many another man has
been convinced, that discretion is the
better part of valor.


To Mr.. Lincoln, with his quick sense
of the ridiculous, and nice appreciation
of humer, the whole thing must have
been very laughabls in after years, un-
less, which is possible, it was little BIT
mortifyiug. Whether he ever used the
story to illustrate the psrturition of
mountains and the bringing forth of
mice, / do not know. He probably
would have done so, had he not himself
have been the hero