,note3 ,images of the original pages are
 available through        ,internet     
,archive4 ,see                          
https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/deepwate
rsorstra#jj;croz            ,,deep      
,,waters1      ,or ,a ,strange ,story   
by    ,,rev4 ,r4 ,h4 ,,crozier1         
,author of 8,fiery ,trials10 8,araphel10
 8,cave of ,hegobar10 8,confederate     
,spy10 8,bloody ,junto10 c41 c4         
8,when through the ,deep ,waters ,i call
 thee to go40              ,st4 ,louis3 
,publishing ,house ,of ,farris1 ,smith  
,co4  #iai ,olive ,street4    ,copyright
 by ,r4 ,h4 ,crozier4  ,all ,rights     
,reserved4          ,,contents4         
,,chapter ,i4                           
,,page4  ,the ,young ,graduate          
#e      ,,chapter ,,ii4    ,a ,great    
,change                   #cj           
,,chapter ,,iii4    ,the ,mysterious    
,voice             #ea      ,,chapter   
,,iv4    ,a ,rival                      
#gf      ,,chapter ,v4    ,deep ,waters 
#ii      ,,chapter ,,vi4    ,manassas   

#abf      ,,chapter ,,vii4    ,after the
 ,battle                #acf            
,,chapter ,,viii4    ,hard ,truths      
#aea      ,,chapter ,,ix4    8,off to   
the ,wars0               #afh           
,,chapter ,x4    ,a ,dangerous ,mission 
#ahb      ,,chapter ,,xi4    ,a ,brave  
,girl                    #aif           
,,chapter ,,xii4    ,in ,prison         
#bji      ,,chapter ,,xiii4    ,a       
,desperate ,man                 #bbf    
,,chapter ,,xiv4    ,dark ,hours        
#bde      ,,chapter ,,xv4    ,a         
,remarkable ,event              #bfj    
,,chapter ,,xvi4    ,a ,confederate     
,marriage          #bgg      ,,chapter  
,,xvii4    ,peace                       
#bhc      ,,chapter ,,xviii4    ,the    
,drunkard                    #bie       
,,chapter ,,xix4    ,the ,crime         
#cjh      ,,chapter ,,xx4    ,the       
,prison                      #cag       
,,chapter ,,xxi4    ,the ,trial         
#cbi      ,,chapter ,,xxii4    ,the     
,last ,scene                  #cda      

,the ,sermon                      #cej  
,,deep ,,waters4          ,,chapter ,i4 
,,the ,,young ,,graduate4      ,in the  
latter part of ,june #ah-- the little   
city of ,oxford1 ,miss41  was teeming   
with visitors1 not only from various    
portions of the  ,state1 but from the   
adjoining ,states of ,tennessee1        
,alabama1 ,arkansas  and ,louisiana4    
,this concourse of people was no unusual
 spectacle to  the citizens of ,oxford2 
for it was but the gathering that       
occurred  regularly once a year4 ,the   
center of attraction to this            
fashionable1  well-dressed assemblage   
was the ,university of ,mississippi1    
which has  sent forth hundreds of young 
men intellectually equipped for the     
stern  struggle for existence--a        
struggle1 the contemplation and         
investigation  of which gave birth to   
,mr4 ,darwin's doctrine of 8,the        
survival of the  fittest40 ,what was the
 meaning of this concourse8 ,it was     
,commencement  day4 ,the ,university    

would again dismiss another class of her
 children  to assume the grave          
responsibilities of citizenship1 and to 
enter  into the new and strange         
relations for which they had been       
preparing  by years of diligent study4  
,at last1 they were to lay aside the    
toga  virilis trita1 and don the toga   
pexa of manhood4 ,it was the last  day1 
and the exercises of the graduating     
class were to close the week's          
programme4    ,at an early hour the     
crowd of visitors and the citizens of   
,oxford  began to fill up the chapel1   
and by the time the speaking was to     
begin1 the large and commodious         
structure was packed with a dense mass  
of eager1 intelligent humanity2 for it  
was generally the elite of  the country 
that gathered here on these interesting 
occasions4 ,the  class of this year was 
unusually large1 and was distinguished  
for  intellectual attainments4 ,sitting 
in the long row of chairs in front of   
the rostrum1 they constituted as fine a 

body of young men as could  be collected
 from the ,south4 ,what a variety of    
destinies lay before  them6 ,how many   
would ever rise to eminence in any      
department of human  activity6 ,how many
 would go down to premature graves      
without any  opportunity of justifying  
the fond anticipations of their friends6
 ,how  many would disappoint the        
expectations of their affectionate      
parents1  many of whom proudly gazed    
upon them as they performed their parts 
in  the programme6 ,there was much      
speculation that day as to what these   
young men would achieve upon the arena  
of active life4 ,it would be1 no  doubt1
 very interesting if we could trace the 
subsequent history of  each and all1 but
 our present undertaking will compel us 
to confine  our attention to only one of
 the class1 whose career was            
sufficiently  remarkable to be rescued  
from the darkness of that obscurity in  
which  the large majority of his mates  
have disappeared4    ,at length the     

speaking began4 ,the first speaker was  
listened to  with attention which       
novelty secures4 ,the next found a      
difficulty  in making himself heard in  
the remoter parts of the building1 the  
consequence of which was considerable   
whispering in the seats that  were      
beyond the compass of his voice4 ,the   
next four or five speakers  labored     
under the disadvantage of trying to     
overcome that buzz and  hum of          
conversation1 sotto voce1 which is      
generally a disturbing  element when the
 orator cannot reach the whole of his   
audience4  ,but a wonderful change was  
soon to come over this congregation1 now
  becoming rapidly demoralized by       
forgetting or ignoring the demands of   
etiquette4 ,for when the next speaker   
was called1 a young man responded  whose
 pale cast of countenance indicated the 
world's ideal student4  ,his splendid   
physique at once arrested the attention 
of the entire  assembly1 and there was a
 strange1 sudden lull1 for which no one 

could  account4 ,those in the rear of   
the chapel straightened themselves1 and 
leaned forward1 as if fearful that they 
would lose the first words of  the      
orator4 ,the ladies ceased fanning1 and 
fastened their eyes upon  the elegant   
form now standing in graceful attitude  
on the crowded  rostrum4 ,it was evident
 that something unusual was expected4   
,would the  assembly be disappointed and
 disgusted8 ,would the external marks of
  genius prove fallacious8 ,the young   
man bowed gracefully1 straightened      
himself1 paused for an instant1 and     
gazed modestly1 but in perfect          
self-possession1 at the sea of upturned1
 eager faces4 ,slowly came  forth the   
first sentences flowing on a voice as   
clear as a silver  trumpet1 and yet as  
soft as the breeze which was at that    
moment  soughing through the broad oaks 
of the surrounding forest4 ,the tones1  
and1 in fact1 everything else about the 
young man appeared to be in  consonance 
with his subject1 which the audience    

saw1 on glancing at  the programme1 was 
8,man was made to mourn40 ,it was a     
theme which1 of  course1 admitted of no 
profound reasoning1 and no startling    
argument4  ,none was attempted1 and none
 was expected4 ,the auditors tacitly    
offered  their emotions to be swayed as 
the orator willed4 ,the people made  no 
resistance1 but seemed to yield at once 
to the strange1 subtile  influence which
 was stealing over them1 and insinuating
 itself into  their hearts like an      
invisible current of electricity4 ,the  
smiles  vanished from every face as the 
youthful speaker1 in a slightly         
quivering voice1 portrayed scenes of    
human sorrow and suffering1 in  order to
 establish his proposition4 ,in a little
 while tears were seen  rolling down    
grave cheeks4 ,young ladies endeavored  
to laugh at the  8ridiculous scene10 as 
some called it1 but the crystal drops   
glistened  in their eyes4 ,at last1 when
 the young man sat down1 nothing was    
heard  but suppressed sobs and efforts  

to clear the nasal duct of its liquid   
obstructions4 ,at first there was no    
applause3 people seemed unwilling  that 
the spell should be broken4 ,but        
presently1 seeming to realize that  the 
effort deserved more than the silent    
attestation of the lachrymal  gland1    
they suddenly burst forth into thunders 
of applause1 such as  had never before  
awoke echoes in the classic grove that  
sheltered the  chapel4 ,those who had   
printed programmes again looked at the  
name of  this young man4 ,it was ,ernest
 ,edgefield4    ,who was he8 ,whence did
 he come8 ,such were the questions which
  immediately followed this effort1 the 
most remarkable that had ever  been     
witnessed in the ,university of         
,mississippi4 ,it was ascertained  that 
day1 that there was nothing very        
eventful or wonderful in his  history4  
,his parents had died when he was small1
 leaving1 however1  sufficient means to 
support him till he could obtain a      
collegiate  education4 ,such was his    

brief history4 ,but what would be his   
future8  ,everybody felt that his career
 would be brilliant2 that the young  man
 must achieve a degree of success       
commensurate with his wonderful         
oratory4 ,we will at once follow up his 
footsteps4    ,ernest determined to     
adopt the law as his profession4 ,he now
 had  barely funds to defray his        
expenses through the ,law ,school1 but  
as he  did not wish to lose time1 he    
resolved to exhaust his entire means  in
 the completion of his legal education4 
,at the expiration of two  years he was 
graduated with distinction2 but he was  
penniless1 and had  to begin the battle 
with nothing but his education and      
energy4 ,his  guardian1 with whom our   
reader will soon become better          
acquainted1  agreed to board him without
 pay till the young man's efforts should
  be crowned with that material success1
 which the ,reverend gentleman  thought 
must attend the exercise of such talents
 as his young ward  possessed4 ,when the

 parents of ,ernest died1 he was left to
 the care  of a minister of the ,baptist
 denomination1 in whom they had         
unbounded  confidence4 ,his name was    
,joseph ,hillston4 ,he at once took the 
boy to  his house1 and made no          
difference between him and his own      
children4 ,by  a judicious management of
 the small property left in his hands1  
,mr4  ,hillston kept the youth in       
college till his education was          
completed1  at which time ,ernest had   
attained his majority4 ,mr4 ,hillston   
then  turned over to him the remainder  
of his property1 which1 as stated1  was 
entirely absorbed by his two year's     
course at the ,law ,school4 ,and  now he
 had no money1 but he was animated by a 
lofty purpose1 and a  determination to  
conquer1 before which he felt that      
difficulties must  vanish4 ,no one      
seemed to doubt that the brilliant young
 lawyer1 with  his splendid             
accomplishments1 would subordinate      
destiny to his will1  and would soon    

stand at the head of the legal          
fraternity4 ,indeed1 some  predicted    
that he would1 at last1 reach the       
highest office that the  people could   
bestow4 ,and why should he not8 ,not a  
single element of  success was lacking1 
so far as his friends could see4 ,his   
attainments  appeared to be equal to the
 demands of the most vaulting ambition4 
,what1 then1 should he care for         
difficulties1 except as a stimulus to   
arouse his energies8    ,but what       
little1 insignificant trifles turn the  
barque of destiny into  channels of     
which the pilot never dreamed6 ,it is   
not violent storms  that change the     
course of this allegorical barque2      
because the pilot is  prepared for great
 disturbances and obstacles4 ,it was a  
moment of sleep  that caused ,palinurus 
to fall over-board into the sea3 a      
hurricane  could not have produced the  
same disastrous result4 ,it is the      
little  things that change the current  
of human life4 ,a spider's web sometimes

  turns the vessel's helm3 the echo of a
 word destroys the equilibrium of       
circumstances4 ,late in life man finds  
himself driven into a port which  had   
never entered into the programme of     
possibilities4 ,all this will be        
illustrated in the progress of the      
present story4    ,a few days after     
,ernest returned from the ,law ,school1 
there was seen on  the door of an       
unpretending office1 in his native town1
 a square piece  of metal1 exhibiting in
 gilded letters1 8,ernest ,edgefield1   
,attorney at  ,law40    ,our young      
lawyer had not the most remote idea of  
settling permanently  in this little    
town1 where he would have to fritter    
away his energies  and cramp his mind in
 such narrow litigation as must arise in
 rural  courts1 but he fully intended1  
after a while1 to seek a field of       
broader dimensions1 which would call    
forth all his legal lore1 and  cause him
 to put forth all the strength of which 
he was capable4  ,his present location  

was only the stepping-stone to his      
loftier  aspirations1 and which1 he     
thought1 would detain him only till he  
could  acquire sufficient means to      
justify his removal to some city where  
his  talents could find room for        
development4    ,it was not long before 
,ernest's fond hopes and the justifiable
  expectations of his friends began to  
emerge from the shade of  possibilities 
into the sunshine of realities4 ,legal  
business flowed in1  and ,ernest1 at the
 very outset of his career1 found       
himself entrusted  with the management  
of as important cases as ever require   
judicial  investigation in a provincial 
court4    ,but ,ernest could not thus go
 on forever1 thinking of nothing but the
  immediate object of his ambition1 and 
dreaming only of deeds and legal        
parchments and bags of gold4 ,at an     
early day in his career a path of       
destiny began to open in the misty      
future1 different from that which he    
had at first marked out for himself4 ,in

 the town there lived a young  lady whom
 he had known from childhood4 ,for      
several years1 however1 she  had        
occupied scarcely a single thought of   
his1 attributable to the fact  that both
 had been absent at school4 ,both       
returned home the same month  to enter  
upon their respective careers1 which    
seemed to be as far apart  as zenith and
 nadir1 since the charming1 gilded path 
of ease1 leisure  and idleness lay      
before the one1 and the path of work1   
diligence1 and  activity lay before the 
other4    ,clara ,vanclure was the only 
child of a wealthy merchant4 ,her       
prospects  were regarded as very        
brilliant1 since the probability was1   
she would  inherit all her father's     
property1 consisting of lands and       
plantations  as well as stores1 and     
estimated at not less than two millions 
of  dollars4 ,as might be expected1 she 
was a 8spoiled child10 yet1 she  was    
beautiful1 and accomplished to the full 
extent of her capacities1  which1 strict

 truth compels us to say1 were not1 by  
any means1 of  the highest order4 ,but  
the dazzling mantle of vast wealth hides
 a  mighty multitude of faults4 ,there  
is a confusing glamour about 8great     
possessions10 which so fascinates and   
bewitches1 that the judgment of  men    
cannot be properly exercised4 ,the      
sneering cynic1 like growling           
,diogenes1 may affect to despise wealth1
 but in his heart he respects  the      
owner1 who controls such a source of    
commercial power and social  influence4 
,we may have a contempt for the rich    
man's character1 but in  spite of       
ourselves1 we stand in awe of the       
,magician's mysterious ring  which he   
wears on his finger4 ,it was wealth that
 gave an additional  luster to ,miss    
,vanclure's accomplishments4    ,when   
,ernest again met the young lady1 after 
a separation of several  years1 both    
were changed by the uncontrollable      
vicissitudes of  time4 ,she especially  
had developed from an awkward ,miss of  

fifteen1  into a                        
symmetrically-proportioned woman4 ,in   
the catalogue of her  recommendations1  
her physical attractions were certainly 
well  calculated to make an impression  
upon any susceptible heart4 ,ernest was 
not insensible to the charms of beauty1 
and he at once acknowledged  ,clara's   
claims to the highest order of corporeal
 graces4 ,he immediately  renewed his   
acquaintance with his quondam           
school-fellow1 7for  both had attended  
the same school when they were children7
 to which  she was1 by no means averse4 
,our reader will be afflicted with no   
long story of love and courtship4 ,it is
 always very entertaining to  a certain 
class of young people to read the entire
 history of two  lovers--their honeyed  
utterances1 poetical effusions1         
delightful  promenades by               
moonlight--their petty jealousies1 sad  
misunderstandings1  little quarrels1    
succeeded by reconciliation that only   
places mutual  rehabilitation upon a    

firmer basis--all this might be highly  
interesting1 but we must hasten on to   
the narration of more important  events4
 ,it is sufficient to say that as soon  
as ,ernest's success became  an assured 
fact1 he proposed to the fair ,clara1   
and was accepted4  ,old ,mr4 ,vanclure  
was secretly delighted at the prospect  
of such an  alliance1 for he was not one
 of those simpletons who would have     
their  children sacrifice their temporal
 happiness upon the altar of ,mammon4   
,clara would have a large estate1 and   
only needed a husband who had  the      
ability to manage it4 ,mr4 ,vanclure1   
now advanced in years1 had  felt        
considerable anxiety in regard to his   
daughter's future1 but the  perplexing  
problem seemed about to end in a        
felicitous solution1 and  a great burden
 was lifted from his mind1 when one day 
,ernest called  for the purpose of      
asking his consent to a closer          
relationship between  ,miss ,vanclure   
and himself4 ,he had been among the     

first to discover the  excellency and   
solidity of the young man's moral       
character1 and he  was not so blinded by
 parental love that he could not easily 
perceive  the moral infirmities of his  
own child4 ,he knew that she would need 
a protector and a guardian as long as   
she should live4 ,therefore1  having    
been fearful that ,clara would become   
the prey of some worthless  adventurer1 
he could scarcely conceal his joy when  
,ernest approached  him upon this       
delicate subject4 ,however1 the old     
gentleman seemed to  think it advisable 
to mask his happy feelings under the    
guise of a  little opposition1 and he   
said3    8,ah8 ,i was hardly expecting  
this--at least so soon--yes1 so soon40  
8,why not1 ,mr4 ,vanclure80    8,why    
not8 ,why because you ar'nt settled in  
life--yes1 settled in life40    8,i have
 now a respectable income10 said        
,ernest1 8if you are alluding to  that1 
and it is increasing gradually1 but     
surely40    8,i have no doubt1 ,ernest10

 replied ,mr4 ,vanclure1 with more      
tenderness  than he wished to manifest1 
8that you will succeed--yes1 you will   
succeed4 ,but still1 both of you are    
rather young to marry40    8,we think   
differently10 answered ,ernest1 with a  
smile1 8,i am nearly  twenty five40     
8,ah8 are you that old8 ,well1 bless me1
 ,i believe you are1 since ,i come  to  
think about it4 ,dear me6 how time does 
fly--yes1 how time does fly4  ,you have 
got to be a man before ,i thought about 
it4 ,young people do  grow up so        
fast--so fast--and ,clara is a grown    
woman1 too4 ,well2 well40    8,since you
 have discovered that we are both       
grown10 said ,ernest with a  smile1 8may
 ,i hope that you will not oppose our   
wishes80    8,and if ,i did10 answered  
,mr4 ,vanclure1 not knowing what he     
ought to  say1 8,what would you do--yes1
 what would you do80    8,i should      
endeavor to overcome your opposition40  
8,and ,i guess you think you'd succeed  
with your eloquence4 ,you lawyers  are  

cunning dogs10 said the old gentleman1  
breaking into a laugh1  which1 rather   
than otherwise1 indicated approval of   
this feature of the  legal character1   
8yes1 cunning dogs4 ,if ,i give you a   
chance to argue  the case1 ,i'm         
satisfied ,i'll lose2 for you'll        
convince me that ,clara  will land in   
eternal perdition unless she marries    
you--yes marries  you--and nobody else4 
,i don't want to get into an argument   
with you  lawyers4 ,so if the           
arrangement suits ,clara1 ,i'll have    
nothing more to  say4 ,it will take a   
lawyer anyhow to manage the estate to   
which she  will fall heir some of these 
days4 ,the thing is now getting beyond  
my  comprehension1 and ,i will soon have
 to get a lawyer to untangle some  of my
 affairs--yes1 some of my affairs40     
,in this way the old man gave his       
consent4    ,here we must say that the  
reader would do ,ernest the grossest    
injustice  to suppose that the metallic 
virtue of the young lady was the chief  

consideration that influenced his       
affections4 ,clara appeared lovely in   
his eyes1 and he would have been willing
 to enter into the matrimonial  relation
 without any prospect of dower4 ,nearly 
every one in the  community believed    
that ,ernest was governed in this       
affaire du cur  by mercenary            
considerations4 ,there is nothing more  
certain than that an  impecunious man   
who pays his addresses to a wealthy     
woman1 will incur  the imputation of    
improper motives4 ,it is a sad fact1    
that the world is  envious4 ,people1 in 
their secret souls1 dislike to see their
 neighbors  lifted by sudden prosperity 
to an elevation above their own level4  
,why should not such good fortune have  
happened to themselves8 is the  galling1
 latent thought of their hearts1 to     
which they would be ashamed  to give    
audible expression4 ,the thought lurks  
in the darkest recesses  of the breast  
like a slimy viper1 and well deserves a 
place in the  horrid abode of that      

fearful envy1 so graphically described  
by ,ovid3           ,pallor in ore      
sedet1 macies in corpore toto1          
,nusquam recta acies2 livent rubigine   
dentes1       ,pectora felle virent1    
lingua est suffusa veneno4#a      ,but  
,ernest truly loved ,clara1 though he   
might not himself have been  able to    
explain the source of attraction1 as    
love is not a passion  subject to the   
human will4 ,mr4 ,hillston at an early  
period of the  courtship1 perceived his 
infatuation1 and as he took a deep      
interest  in the welfare of his ward1 he
 could not but feel some misgivings as  
to the propriety of the union4 ,one day 
,ernest informed him of his  engagement1
 and the old man shook his head         
unconsciously in an ominous  manner1    
which did not escape ,ernest's          
observation4    8,you do not seem to    
approve of my selection80 said ,ernest  
inquiringly4  ,mr4 ,hillston had made no
 remark after this communication1 but   
sat still  with an ambiguous expression 

upon his face4    8,it is not for me to 
approve or disapprove in matters of this
 kind10  was ,mr4 ,hillston's reply1    
which was not very satisfactory to his  
ward1  who was looking at the old       
minister in surprise4    8,i thought    
surely you would congratulate me10 said 
,ernest1 with a  faint1 forced smile4   
8,the ides of ,march have come1 but not 
gone10 answered ,mr4 ,hillston1  shaking
 his head4    8,i do not understand you1
 ,mr4 ,hillston40    8,how can ,i       
congratulate you1 my dear boy1 when ,i  
cannot foresee the  end80    8,can you  
do that in any case1 sir80    8,true    
enough3 but sometimes1 and in some      
cases1 we fear the  termination40       
8,please do not speak in riddles1 ,mr4  
,hillston4 ,is not the prospect         
flattering80    8,in one sense1 yes4 ,so
 far as material prosperity is          
concerned1 ,i can  see no possible      
objection4 ,but money1 my dear ,ernest1 
does not always  bring happiness40      
8,do you suppose ,i am base enough to   

marry for money80 interrupted  ,ernest  
with an angry flush4    8,no1 no10      
hastily answered ,mr4 ,hillston4 8,i    
have a better opinion  of you than that4
 ,but the world judges of marriages by  
outward  circumstances4 ,if both parties
 start out in life with great wealth1   
people generally think they are happy   
matches4 ,but there are other  things to
 be considered in a woman besides       
wealth1 beauty and external             
accomplishments4 ,a good1 solid moral   
character is of far more value  than a  
great fortune4 ,a woman's character is  
the first thing to be  considered4      
,sometimes young people hurry into      
marriage without ever  pausing to       
ascertain whether there may not be      
incompatibilities and  incongruities    
that will forever exclude happiness from
 their abode4  ,now1 my dear boy1 have  
you thought of all this80    8,certainly
 ,i have10 replied ,ernest1 impatiently4
 8,do you mean to  insinuate that ,miss 
,vanclure is destitute of moral worth80 

8,i did not say that4 ,i only asked if  
you had thought about1 as ,i  should    
have said1 the dissimilarity of your    
characters40 ,but1 noticing  ,ernest's  
expression of dissatisfaction1 8,i have 
not intimated that ,miss  ,clara is     
morally deficient4 ,i would only advise 
you to be cautious4 ,in  such matters1  
young people should #8make haste        
slowly4' ,however1 ,i do  not presume to
 give you advice on this subject4 ,every
 man must choose  to suit himself40     
8,the choice ,i have made10 said ,ernest
 quickly1 8suits me40    8,then there is
 nothing more to be said10 replied ,mr4 
,hillston coolly4    8,but you do not   
seem to like it40    8,that has nothing 
to do with it4 ,it is your affair1 and  
if you are  pleased1 no one else has the
 right to say a word40    8,mr4         
,hillston10 said ,ernest1 suddenly      
lowering his voice from the high  key of
 self-sufficiency and independence to a 
subdued tone1 8you have  been a father  
to me1 and you know ,i have been guided 

by you4 ,i have  confidence in your     
judgment2 and now if you see me about to
 commit an  error1 one that may wreck my
 happiness1 ought not common charity1 to
  say nothing of the relation you       
sustain to me1 induce you to kindly     
point out my mistake8 ,i can see clearly
 that you are not pleased at my         
prospective marriage4 ,now tell me      
plainly what is the matter80    8,my    
dear ,ernest10 said the old man1 with   
the tenderness of a parent1  8you know  
that ,i have ever treated you as one of 
my own children1 and  have ever         
consulted your interest4 ,i would not   
hesitate to give you  advice in this    
important matter if ,i knew how4 ,i will
 only say this1  if you will take no    
offence--0    8,no1 no10 interrupted    
,ernest eagerly1 8,i will not4 ,go on1  
say what you  please40    8,well1 then1 
,i fear that the great dissimilarity    
between your  characters may prove a    
source of annoyance1 if not trouble4    
,you are  grave and serious in your     

disposition1 while ,miss ,clara is the  
very  opposite40    8,that may be true10
 replied ,ernest1 8but might not this   
very  dissimilarity be an advantage to  
both of us80    8,it might1 and then it 
might not4 ,at any rate1 therein lies   
the danger  ,i apprehend4 ,you ought to 
pray to ,god to direct you in so serious
 a  business as this40    8,but ,i am   
not a churchman1 ,mr4 ,hillston40       
8,you cannot regard ,god then as your   
friend80    8,o yes1 ,i suppose ,he is2 
but ,i do not know that ,god would      
concern  ,himself with so small an      
affair as my marriage40    8,what6 if   
,god takes note of the flight of the    
sparrow1 and the flower  of the field1  
think you ,he will totally overlook the 
welfare of ,his  intelligent creatures8 
,do you not believe the ,lord has       
something to do  with everything that   
happens80    8,i do not know1 sir4 ,i am
 no ,presbyterian4 ,i understand they   
hold to  some such doctrine as that4    
,but ,i have never had any special      

liking for  that denomination40         
8,neither am ,i a ,presbyterian4 ,i am a
 ,baptist1 as you know4 ,but do  you    
suppose that ,presbyterians are the only
 people who advocate the  doctrine of   
special providence80    8,i do not know 
that they are1 but from all that ,i can 
learn1 they push  it to extremes40      
8,i believe it10 said ,mr4 ,hillston1   
emphatically1 8as firmly as any         
,presbyterian ,i ever saw1 and ,i       
believe it to its fullest extent1 and in
  all its bearings4 ,i am not willing   
that the ,presbyterians shall claim  as 
a distinctive dogma of theirs a doctrine
 to which the ,baptist ,church  holds   
with as much tenacity as they do40      
8,do you believe1 then1 that ,god would 
concern ,himself with so small a  matter
 as the marriage of two human beings80  
8,i certainty do40    8,do you believe1 
then1 that ,god is a matchmaker80 asked 
,ernest1 with a  laugh4    8,i believe  
,god will direct ,his people in all     
their affairs1 when they  ask ,him in   

faith40    8,but suppose ,i am not one  
of ,his people80    8,if you are not10  
said ,mr4 ,hillston1 with deep          
solemnity1 8,i am very  sorry for you4  
,it is your own fault1 if you are not40 
8,would it be of any avail for me to ask
 ,god's direction1 when ,i am not  one  
of ,his people1 as you call them80      
8,not if you are determined to go on in 
your sins4 ,if you make a full          
surrender of yourself to ,him1 ,i have  
no doubt ,he will assist and guide  you4
 ,however1 in that case you would be one
 of ,his people4 ,but how  could you    
expect ,god's favor and friendship1 if  
you stand to ,him in the  relation of an
 enemy80    8,i do not know10 answered  
,ernest thoughtfully1 and then after a  
moment  he added1 8,i suppose ,i will   
have to look out for myself40    8,i    
dislike to hear you talk that way1 my   
dear boy10 said ,mr4 ,hillston  kindly1 
8for if you proclaim your independence  
of the ,divine ,being1 you  will lead a 
most wretched life40    8,i did not mean

 that in any spirit of irreverence10    
quickly answered  ,ernest4 8,all ,i     
meant was that1 if ,i was not one of    
,god's people1 ,i  would have to take   
care of myself4 ,i have the utmost      
respect for the  ,christian religion4   
,my conduct1 as you know1 has proved    
that ,i have40    8,yes1 ,i know you are
 a moralist1 and you may be one of      
,god's children1  notwithstanding the   
fact that you are living in sin40    8,i
 do not understand you10 said ,ernest4  
8,i know you do not1 but the time may   
come when you will4 ,i will pray  ,god  
to direct you1 since you cannot do so   
for yourself4 ,his will1  no doubt1 will
 be accomplished4 ,you have not married 
,clara yet1 and  perhaps you may never  
do so40    8,but ,i rather think ,i     
will10 said ,ernest with considerable   
energy4    8,my boy1 do not speak so    
positively4 ,if ,god does not intend    
that it  shall be so1 you will never    
marry her40    8,i should like to know  
what is to prevent it80    8,i know not4

 ,but remember1 #8,man proposes1 but    
,god disposes4' ,you cannot  overcome   
your ,maker40    8,i do not propose to  
enter into any contest with ,god2       
because ,i do  not think ,he cares      
whether ,i do this thing or that thing4 
,therefore ,i  repeat that ,i will marry
 ,clara40    8,when it happens10 said   
,mr4 ,hillston1 smiling1 8we will talk  
more about  it4 ,do not be too          
confident1 my boy40    ,ernest went to  
his office1 wondering what in the world 
the old preacher  could mean4 ,did he   
intend to predict that the 8consummation
 to be  devoutly wished10 at least by   
himself1 would1 at last1 prove only an  
idle dream8 ,what would be the use1 he  
thought1 of asking ,god to direct  him  
in so simple an affair as a marriage8   
,besides1 it was too late  now4 ,like   
,csar1 he had crossed the ,rubicon1 and 
he must go on4 ,he  loved ,clara with   
all his heart--why1 then1 should he not 
fulfill his  engagement8 ,he would do   
it4    ,alas6 how short-sighted is man8 

,how quickly are his deep-laid schemes1 
his skillfully-concocted plans1 suddenly
 overthrown by some unforseen           
circumstance which had never entered as 
a factor into his calculations8  ,man is
 frequently standing on the very verge  
of a volcano1 and knows it  not till the
 soil crumbles beneath his feet4        
,,footnote3    #a ,a paleness rests on  
her face1 leanness in the whole body1   
,never  looks direct2 her teeth are     
black with rust3 ,her breast green with 
gall2 her tongue is dripping with venom4
          ,,chapter ,,ii4    ,a ,,great 
,,change4      ,it is sometimes the case
 that we have premonitions that vaguely 
forewarn us of approaching ill fortune4 
,not a cloud appears above  the horizon 
of our life1 and yet we instinctively   
shrink from an  undefinable something   
that seems to reach far out in advance  
of the  shadow of coming events4        
,probably there are powers in the human 
mind  whose development has been        
prevented by the dread of superstition4 

,the animal seeks shelter from the      
approaching storm before man has        
discovered the slightest indication of  
atmospheric disturbance1 or  whatever it
 may be that warns the unreasoning brute
 of impending  danger4 ,may there not be
 some similar delicate instinct in man  
that  perceives the advancing peril     
while it is still below the horizon of  
reality8 ,who knows8 ,or discarding     
human philosophy as insufficient  to    
furnish a solution1 may we not regard   
this shadowy mene tekel  upharsin as an 
emanation from a supernatural source8   
,men are so  skeptical and incredulous  
and so afraid of 8superstition0 that    
they  will attribute incomprehensible   
events to any cause rather than divine  
interposition4 ,some assume that        
miracles never have been performed2 and 
others1 that the days of miracles have  
passed away1 and in consequence  of this
 assumption1 they ascribe nothing to the
 hand of ,omnipotence4  ,evolution1     
correlated forces1 natural selection1   

origin of species1  and such terms have 
left no place in the nomenclature of    
science for  the recognition of the hand
 of ,deity4 ,unholy skepticism declares 
that  divine direction in the affairs of
 men is but the unfounded fancy  of     
religious fanaticism4 ,but we do know   
that in ancient times the  ,lord sent   
warnings through the medium of dreams   
and visions4 ,by what  authority do we  
assume that such means of communication 
have been  abolished8 ,at any rate1 such
 a feeling1 a feeling of vague          
uneasiness1  mingled with the thoughts  
of ,ernest ,edgefield4 ,he was engaged  
to be  married1 and had the utmost      
confidence in the fidelity and stability
  of his affianced2 and yet he was      
disturbed by a dim1 indistinct sense  of
 unrest1 which defied all efforts of    
analysis4 ,it was like trying  to follow
 an obscure mist by the uncertain light 
of the moon4 ,he  endeavored to reason  
himself out of his foolish              
apprehensions4 ,what  had he to fear8   

,the course of his own true love seemed 
to be running  smooth4 ,in a few weeks  
the engagement would be consummated4    
,then1  why this dread8 ,was it not1    
after all1 produced by ,mr4 ,hillston's 
ambiguous innuendoes8 ,but what made the
 old preacher disbelieve1 or  at least  
doubt1 that his marriage with ,miss     
,vanclure would ever take  place8 ,there
 was no rival in the case to awaken his 
jealousy4 ,indeed1  he felt a little    
vexed at his kind guardian for throwing 
out such  insinuations4 ,then he would  
endeavor to banish the indefinable dread
  which had seized upon him4 ,we who    
have passed through the scenes of       
youth1 know something of the petty      
follies1 the disquiet1 the foolish      
ennui at times1 which distinguish the   
young man whose heart has been          
lacerated by the golden arrow of the    
mischievous little son of ,venus4       
,ernest rarely failed to call once a day
 at the enchanting domicile of  his     
intended1 and if he failed1 he          

frequently made atonement for his       
negligence by two visits on the next    
day4 ,while he was in this state  of    
cardiac effervescence1 the wheels of    
time rolled on1 unfolding  events which 
had slumbered so long in the bosom of   
the future4 ,who can  tell what a day   
may bring forth8 ,amid the multitudinous
 events that are  continually rushing   
into reality1 like the soldiers of an   
army in the  charge1 who can make       
provision against those unforeseen      
contingencies  which are forever        
arising8 ,who can control the chariot of
 destiny8    ,perhaps no event was so   
little expected as that which seemed to 
change the current of ,ernest's destiny1
 a few weeks antecedent to his          
contemplated marriage4 ,not to delay    
with moralizing1 an ,evangelist  by the 
name of ,coyt made his advent into the  
quiet town where ,ernest  lived1 on the 
invitation of the ,presbyterian church4 
,great expectations  had been formed by 
many of the more pious brethren1 who had

 read  accounts of ,dr4 ,coyt's         
wonderful success at other places4 ,his 
services  were eagerly desired and      
sought all over the country4    ,at last
 he entered the little town of ---- and 
began a series of  earnest1             
soul-searching sermons1 which he had    
repeated so often that  he could        
frequently predict what result would    
follow the delivery of  each4 ,large1   
expectant congregations attended his    
meetings from the  very outset1 since   
his evangelistic fame had preceded him4 
,for several  days the preacher produced
 no great visible effects1 and there    
were  scarcely any signs of spiritual   
life1 except such as were discernible   
in the numerous petitions sent in by    
anxious brethren1 requesting  prayer for
 sons1 daughters1 wives1 or other       
relatives and friends4 ,at  length this 
request was read out to the             
congregation3    8,please pray for a    
young lawyer1 who is moral and worthy in
 every  respect1 but is lacking the one 

thing needful40    ,ernest was present1 
and heard the reading of this petition4 
,who could  it be but himself8 ,at      
first1 a flash of displeasure1 to call  
it by the  mildest name1 passed over his
 handsome face4 ,who was the person that
  had the impudence to direct attention 
to him8 ,but all harsh thoughts  soon   
passed away1 when he reflected that the 
petitioner1 whoever it  might be1       
desired only his good4 ,the process of  
rigid introspection  succeeded his first
 unpleasant thoughts1 and he at once    
gave attention  to the contest between  
conscience and passion that had         
mysteriously  begun4 ,he seemed to be   
only a spectator of the conflict of     
antagonistic  forces in his soul4 ,there
 are times1 says one of the most        
profound and  philosophical women of the
 nineteenth century1 when our passions  
speak  for us1 and we stand by and look 
on in astonishment4 ,there is something 
similar to this in the process of       
spiritual regeneration4 ,questions  and 

answers suddenly arise in the mind1 as  
of concealed beings in  whispered       
consultation1 and we appear to ourselves
 to be listening to  the mysterious     
dialogue4 ,so it was with ,ernest       
,edgefield1 as he sat  in the church    
engaged in self-examination4 ,it        
appeared to him that  he had suddenly   
awakened out of an alarming dream4 ,he  
had been in a  moral sleep all his life1
 and had never reflected seriously upon 
the  unknown eternity which was distant 
but a single step4 ,a 8still small      
voice0 seemed to come on the very       
breeze1 and whispered3 8,what folly     
this young man has displayed in thinking
 of nothing but the things  of time and 
sense40 ,ernest almost started4 8,what  
am ,i living for80  he asked himself4   
8,in a few weeks ,i shall be married1   
and will give  renewed attention to     
business4 ,but time will flow on3 and if
 ,i live1  ,i will soon be an old man1  
and ,i must die1 and then--and          
then--what80  ,ernest was neither       

infidel nor skeptic3 indeed1 he only    
needed that his  fears should be aroused
 as a precedent condition to becoming an
 active  ,christian4 ,after prayer had  
been offered up for the 8young lawyer10 
and while thoughts1 conclusions and     
convictions were all mingling  together 
in the mind of ,ernest1 he looked at    
,clara1 who was sitting  where he could 
see her face4 ,their eyes met4 ,she was 
gazing at him with  an expression which 
he could easily interpret1 and if she   
had spoken  in an audible voice1 he     
could not more clearly have understood  
her to  say3 8,isn't it ridiculous80    
,the young man almost shuddered4 ,why   
did a  great yawning abyss seem to open 
suddenly between them8 ,the depression  
which had for some days weighed down his
 spirits1 all at once appeared  like a  
heavy rock upon his breast1 causing     
something like a sickening  sensation to
 creep through his troubled heart4      
,however1 in his present  state of newly
 aroused emotions1 to which he had been 

such an utter  stranger all his life1 he
 felt that a subject of more vital      
importance  than even his marriage      
deserved his immediate attention4       
,accordingly  he turned his gaze upon   
the preacher1 who announced his text3   
8,thou  art weighed in the balances1 and
 art found wanting40 ,dr4 ,coyt1 in the 
progress of his discourse1 drew a       
word-picture1 upon which his audience   
gazed in profound1 breathless silence4  
,no one looked upon this picture  more  
intently than ,ernest4 ,he saw himself  
alone with his ,creator and  the        
balances which were to determine his    
everlasting destiny4 ,never  before had 
,ernest's relations to time and eternity
 appeared in so vivid  a light4 ,the    
next morning after this1 as the sun     
kissed the glowing  horizon1 darkness   
and doubt were dispelled from the soul  
of ,ernest by  the enlightening beams of
 the ,sun of ,righteousness4 ,he had    
found that  8peace which passeth all    
understanding10 and he was strangely    

happy4    ,that day1 without saying a   
word to any one upon the subject1 he    
went  forward to indicate his purpose of
 joining the church4    8,which church  
do you desire to join80 asked ,dr4      
,coyt4    8,i have not yet determined10 
replied ,ernest4 8,i only wish now to   
let  it be known that ,i have come out  
upon the ,lord's side4 ,i intend to     
investigate the doctrines of the        
different denominations1 and ,i shall   
join that one ,i like best40    8,that  
is right10 replied the ,doctor4 8,take  
time for reflection1 so that  you will  
have no trouble in the future4 ,select  
that church in which you  think you can 
be the happiest40    ,those who feel any
 interest in this story will1 of course1
 desire  to know what effect the meeting
 had upon ,clara4 ,ernest had been so   
absorbed in his own spiritual troubles  
that he had had no conversation  with   
her since the hour when he had become   
interested upon the subject  of his     
personal salvation4 ,but that evening1  

after he had signified his  intention of
 attaching himself to the church1 he    
paid her a visit4 ,she  was not present 
at the morning service1 and knew nothing
 of the step he  had taken4 ,after the  
exchange of ordinary civilities1 she    
said with a  significant flippancy which
 was chilling to ,ernest's heart3       
8,how have you enjoyed the show80       
8,show60 exclaimed ,ernest1 bestowing   
upon her a solemn look of inquiry4      
8,yes10 said ,clara1 not seeming to     
notice his serious air4 8,it is as  good
 as any show4 ,wasn't it funny to have  
them all praying for you80    8,i do not
 see where there was any fun10 said     
,ernest with an expression  of          
disappointment upon his face1 8and ,i am
 truly sorry to hear you talk  so       
lightly about such solemn things4 ,they 
are too sacred to admit of  sport40     
8,so1 they have got you1 too1 have      
they80 asked ,clara1 breaking into a    
merry laugh4 8,well1 ,i confess ,i am   
astonished40    8,why should you be8 ,i 

cannot see that it is a matter of such  
profound  amazement for a man to join   
the church40    8,have you really joined
 the church80    8,i have1 or at least  
gave notice this morning that ,i would  
do so1 and ,i  earnestly wish1 my dear  
,clara1 that you would make up your mind
 to the  same thing4 ,that is needed to 
complete our happiness40    ,she made no
 reply1 but laughed in a tone which it  
would have required  no expert          
physiognomist to pronounce one of       
derision4    8,what is it that is so    
amusing80 asked ,ernest in vexation4 8,i
 had  hoped that you would talk         
seriously about this matter of such     
vital  importance40    8,the idea of my 
joining the church1 and giving up my    
dancing and all  other amusements1 is   
simply preposterous4 ,it is funny40     
8,but suppose you were to die10 said    
,ernest1 8what would become of you8     
,are you willing to sacrifice your soul 
for a few worldly pleasures  which1     
after all1 add nothing to your          

happiness80    8,why1 are you going to  
turn preacher1 too80 said ,clara with an
 amused  expression4 8,that's just the  
way ,dr4 ,coyt has been preaching for   
the  last five or six days40    8,i am  
no preacher1 and never expect to be10   
replied ,ernest1 8but that  is no reason
 why ,i should not want my friends      
saved1 especially such a  friend as you 
will be40    ,clara bit her cherry      
nether lip1 and laying aside her mood of
 levity1  said3    8,i should like to   
know what we are to do in this world1 if
 we are  forbidden to enjoy life4 ,that 
is what ,i dislike about religious      
people4  ,they are so gloomy1 and can   
talk about nothing but death4 ,i hate to
 be  with them40    ,this was spoken in 
such a way as to cause ,ernest to see   
again the  yawning chasm gaping between 
them4    8,o1 my dear ,clara60 he       
exclaimed with trembling tenderness1    
8how you  are mistaken60    8,why1 how  
do you know80 she asked in surprise4    
8,you have not been one  of them long   

enough to find out1 ,i should think4    
,how did you become so  wise1 all of a  
sudden80    ,ernest was not at all      
pleased with the manner in which she    
addressed  him1 but he durst not        
manifest the least vexation in the      
critical  juncture of his amatory       
affairs4 ,he felt that a quarrel might  
terminate  in a final overthrow of the  
fond hopes upon which his heart had fed 
for months past4 ,he1 therefore1 spoke  
as mildly and affectionately as         
possible3    8,i have learned something 
about it even in the last few hours4 ,i 
have never experienced such a sense of  
love1 joy and peace in all my  previous 
life4 ,i am astonished at myself for    
never having turned my  attention sooner
 to eternal things4 ,all these years1   
since ,i reached  the line of moral     
responsibility1 have been almost wasted1
 or1 at  least1 the spiritual enjoyments
 of all this time have been lost to me2 
and how ,i regret it60    8,how you do  
talk80 exclaimed ,clara4 8,do you expect

 to keep up such  lecturing all our     
lives8 ,if you do1 we may as well--0    
8,may as well what80 asked ,ernest with 
a sinking heart4    8,may as well follow
 divergent paths10 she said with a      
timidity which  implied that she1 by no 
means1 desired the proposition to be    
accepted4    8,no1 my dear ,clara1 ,i   
shall not mention it again if it is     
unpleasant  to you4 ,i shall leave you  
in the hands of ,god and continue to    
pray  for you4 ,i think you will take a 
different view of the matter after a    
while40    8,but ,i would as soon you   
would talk to me as to look at me as if 
,i were  a criminal40    8,i do not     
think10 said ,ernest1 8that religion    
will convert me into a  long-faced monk4
 ,on the contrary1 ,i expect to be more 
cheerful and  happy than ,i could be    
otherwise4 ,you are the one to look     
solemn and  gloomy40    8,you expect10  
said ,clara1 not appearing to notice the
 last remark1 8you  expect to give up   
dancing1 as most church people do40     

8,certainly4 ,i cannot do violence to my
 conscience by indulging in an          
amusement which ,i regard as of doubtful
 propriety1 to say the least of  it40   
8,where is the harm in dancing8 ,church 
people condemn it1 but ,i never  could  
see any sin in it--not the least40      
8,but there would be sin in it to me    
with my present views10 said ,ernest4   
8,you used to like it as well as ,i     
did40    8,yes1 that is true2 but the   
time has come when ,i must and will     
renounce  it40    8,you expect me to    
give it up1 too80    8,that is a matter 
to be determined by your own conscience4
 ,i shall not  interfere40    8,there is
 the theatre--you will give that up     
too80    8,i feel that ,i must do that1 
too40    8,then10 said ,clara with a    
slight frown1 8what congeniality of     
taste and  pursuits is there between    
us80    8,why1 my loved one10 said      
,ernest with a smile1 8fortunately      
theatres  and dances occupy but a small 
portion of our time40    8,who will     

escort me when ,i want to go80          
,ernest loved his affianced with such an
 intensity that he dreaded to  get into 
an unpleasant controversy that might    
culminate fatally to his  hopes4 ,if he 
were too puritanical and inflexible1 he 
thought1 she might  sever all the ties  
between them--an event which made him   
shudder to  contemplate2 so he replied3 
8,all congeniality of taste between us  
need not be destroyed because  you may  
fancy some amusements which ,i do not4  
,it could scarcely be  expected that two
 human beings should think exactly      
alike4 ,with regard  to your dancing1 ,i
 leave it to your conscience and to time
 which  usually destroys our relish for 
most of the sports and enjoyments of    
youth4 ,i have strong hopes that you    
will sooner or later perceive  the      
necessity of leaving the paths of moral 
ruin and renouncing the  pleasures of   
sin for the more solid and substantial  
pleasures of  religion40    ,clara said 
nothing1 but sat still gazing into the  

forest which spread  out in the         
distance--gazing with that vacant air   
which indicates the  absence of         
attention to any object upon which her  
eyes might be fixed4  ,ernest could form
 no idea as to the character of her     
thoughts from the  expression of her    
fair countenance1 and he began to fear  
that he had  said too much1 and thought 
that perhaps he would better endeavor to
  remove every difficulty that might    
prove an obstacle to their union4  ,he  
did not want to leave any grounds for   
one of those unfortunate                
misunderstandings between lovers which  
so frequently grow out of  nothing4 ,he 
therefore said with an air of           
cheerfulness and tenderness2    8,you   
need not suppose1 my loved one1 that ,i 
will be forever preaching  to you4 ,that
 is not my calling4 ,have ,i given you  
offence by anything ,i  have said8 ,i   
mean by all ,i have said only that there
 is a time for all  things--a time to   
dance and a time to give religion a     

prominent place  in our thoughts40      
8,o1 no2 ,i'm not offended1 but you make
 me feel gloomy4 ,it is bad  enough to  
hear these things about death at church1
 where we expect  it4 ,i didn't know    
that we had to make religion a topic of 
private  conversation40    8,no1 we are 
not forced to do so2 but ,i thought it a
 suitable time to  talk about it now    
when the subject is occupying the       
attention of the  whole community40     
8,i candidly confess ,i don't like to   
talk about such things10 said ,clara    
with a serious air4 8,i have always had 
a sort of horror of religion4 ,in  my   
mind it is associated with death and    
other disagreeable things40    8,but    
these disagreeable things10 said        
,ernest1 8as you call them1 are         
stubborn realities which we cannot      
avoid4 ,sooner or later1 we must  face  
them1 whether we like or not4 ,would we 
not1 then1 better regulate  our lives so
 that these very gloomy things shall    
become sources of  pleasure80    8,o1 ,i

 suppose so10 said ,clara dryly1 8if    
death could ever be a pleasant  subject 
of conversation40    8,not long since10 
replied ,ernest with the deepest        
solemnity1 8,i  entertained the very    
same views which you do4 ,i would not   
think about  death when ,i could        
possibly banish it from my mind1 and ,i 
contemplated  it for an instant as some 
horrible monster which ,i must face     
after a  while4 ,i regarded it with as  
much dread as ever the celebrated ,dr4  
,samuel ,johnson did4 ,but now10 and as 
he spoke an expression of deep joy      
flashed over his features1 8,i do not   
dread the event as such an awful        
calamity4 ,i even love to think about   
it40    8,what6 do you want to die80    
cried ,clara4    8,no3 ,i did not say   
that10 calmly replied ,ernest4    8,no  
man in the enjoyment of health really   
desires to die2 for in some  respects1  
it is a terrible ordeal from which poor1
 weak human nature  shrinks4 ,i have no 
disposition to court death3 ,i want to  

live for your  sake1 for you know with  
what depth and intensity ,i love you1   
and loving  you thus1 ,i should like1   
above all things1 to see you in a       
condition  that would enable you to     
exclaim with rapture1 #8,o death1 where 
is thy  sting8 ,o grave1 where is thy   
victory8' ,what a happy thought to me   
that  we should be one on earth1 and    
then when we cross over the dark river1 
our purified souls should be knit       
together in the bonds of a higher1      
nobler affection than is possible here2 
and then that we should stroll          
hand-in-hand in the heavenly groves1    
along the banks of the crystal  river1  
under the fruit trees whose leaves are  
for the healing of the  nations1 never  
more to be disturbed by any             
misapprehensions1 nor even  by a        
discordant word or thought4 ,we shall be
 one in heart1 soul and  mind4 ,this is 
what ,i call true marriage4 ,it is a    
contract not to end  with time1 but it  
goes on through the numberless ages of  

eternity4  ,o1 what a glorious          
prospect60 he exclaimed with features   
lit up with  pure1 holy joy2 and then he
 paused for an instant as if overwhelmed
  and lost in the contemplation of      
indescribable scenes which 8eye hath    
not seen nor ear heard1 neither have    
entered into the heart of man40  ,after 
a moment he continued3 8,on the other   
hand1 what an awful thought6  ,it makes 
me shudder4 ,o1 if you remain as you now
 are1 we shall be  separated forever1   
when we part at the grave4 ,then where  
will you go8  ,if you miss the          
glory-land1 there is only one more      
place--the lake  that burns with fire   
and brimstone--a place where their worm 
dieth  not and the fire is not quenched4
 ,if there is no fire there1 as some    
contend1 then it is a place of black1   
thick darkness4 ,the lost soul1  cast   
out into the illimitable regions of     
uninhabited space1 away beyond  the last
 star that glitters on the outskirts of 
visible creation1  will go wandering    

round and round1 or if too weary to make
 an effort1  it will begin falling1 like
 a bird with folded wings1 and keep on  
falling1 falling1 down and down1 forever
 down--no company but your own          
thoughts--no sound heard but your own   
breathing--no sweet music--no  voice of 
friend--no light--nothing but the       
horrors of eternal1  impenetrable       
darkness4 ,you may suppose you will have
 companions--but  what will be their    
character8 ,not kind friends1 to speak  
words of  consolation1 but malevolent   
fiends whose delight it will be to      
torment4  ,all the horrors so           
graphically described by ,dante may be  
awful  realities4 ,can you blame me1    
then1 for feeling the deepest anxiety on
  your account8 ,i should be the        
happiest man in town if you could make  
up your mind to join the church40       
8,o1 ,i could not think of such a       
thing60 exclaimed ,clara4 8,you have    
already given me the blues4 ,i fear you 
will never be yourself again4  ,you are 

so changed4 ,but reading that awful old 
,dante is enough to  frighten any one   
out of his senses4 ,i tried to read it  
not long since1  but it was so foolish  
and absurd1 ,i dropped it in disgust4   
,but haven't  you preached long enough8 
,i do believe you will be a preacher    
yet40    8,no2 ,i have no such idea as  
that4 ,but ,i should be sorry to think  
that  preachers are the only persons to 
whom it is allowable to talk about      
religion4 ,however1 ,i am a changed man1
 and ,i am glad you can perceive  it4 ,i
 hope ,i may never again be the wicked  
man ,i have been4 ,but ,i shall  not    
further press the subject upon your     
attention1 and ,i promise not to        
mention it again till you are in the    
proper mood to talk about it40    ,the  
foregoing conversation is no integral   
part of the present story1  and might   
have been omitted entirely1 but we have 
recorded it at length  to show what     
different views young people entertain  
in regard to the  highest destiny a     

human being can achieve4 ,what makes    
such a vast  difference1 when there are 
precisely the same incentives to action 
in both8 ,some quickly cut the ,gordian 
knot by attributing it to the           
difference in their wills1 which1 we may
 bring this chapter to an end  by       
saying1 is quite a convenient way of    
avoiding ,deep ,waters4                 
,illustration3 ,decoration              
,,chapter ,,iii4    ,,the ,,mysterious  
,,voice4      ,the protracted meeting1  
which had continued fourteen days1 was  
ended4  ,dr4 ,coyt1 the ,evangelist1    
took his leave in order to carry        
blessings  to other places4 ,no one     
could deny that a wonderful change had  
taken  place in the moral aspect of the 
town4 ,some1 who had been regarded as   
the worst characters in the community1  
astonished their neighbors by  an       
immediate reformation4 ,saloon-keepers  
joined the church4 ,gamblers  forsook   
their evil ways4 ,lukewarm church       
members were fired with  renewed zeal4  

,the whole town seemed to be animated by
 one impulse and  one purpose4 ,but such
 a great disturbance of public thought  
could not  in the nature of things be   
maintained for any lengthy period4      
,public  feeling1 like water1 seeks its 
level4 ,a state of effervescence is not 
its normal condition4 ,consequently the 
foam-crested waves must soon  subside   
into customary tranquillity4 ,men return
 to their vocations1 and  their thoughts
 revert to trade and traffic4 ,the      
things of eternity  which had so        
recently absorbed attention1 must now be
 partly laid aside4    ,ernest was not  
different from other men in the general 
aspect of human  nature4 ,he too had to 
resume his books and legal documents4   
,judging  from his outward conduct1 no  
one could have imagined the depth of the
  work of grace in his heart4 ,but      
internally1 he was leading a quite      
different life4 ,his energies were put  
forth for the accomplishment of  one    
object--his personal salvation4 ,in the 

short space of a week he had  lost that 
ambition whose only object is           
self-gratification4 ,it is not  meant   
that he had no desire to excel and to   
rise to a high position  in his         
profession1 for religion does not       
require the suppression of  every       
impulse of this character1 but ,ernest  
had no disposition to  gain victories   
merely to elicit the admiration and     
applause of his  fellow men4 ,after the 
meeting1 he endeavored to apply himself 
to  business with his former diligence4 
,but there was one peculiarity  in his  
efforts for which he could not account1 
and which he did not  understand clearly
 till some years afterwards4 ,he could  
not and did not  feel the same interest 
in his profession1 for which so lately  
he had  a most enthusiastic love4 ,try  
never so hard to confine his attention  
to his law books1 his mind would wander 
off to very unsecular affairs4          
,endeavoring to plunge into the         
profundities of ,kent's ,commentaries1  

he would meet with a sentence or a word 
which would remind him of  some         
theological commentary4 ,ernest1 in a   
short time after his  conversion1 had   
become so much interested in the study  
of the ,holy  ,scriptures that he had   
added to his library the commentaries of
 ,henry1  ,clarke and ,scott4 ,he found 
himself more frequently pondering over  
the signification of passages of holy   
writ than paragraphs of law4  ,he spent 
much time in reading and searching the  
,scriptures--like the  ,bereans--time1  
which the spirit of the world said      
should have been  given to the duties of
 his calling4 ,this internal conflict   
threw ,ernest  into a state of          
perplexity4 ,he was becoming an enigma  
to himself4 ,he  could not imagine why  
his vocation should become distasteful4 
,the  finger of destiny was pointing in 
a new direction1 but it was concealed   
by the mists of the future4 ,for some   
wise reason the path of duty is  not    
always clearly indicated4 ,the divine   

economy is so inwrought with  human     
affairs that no man can determine the   
extent of the supernatural  guidance    
that may be furnished4    ,while in this
 state of mind1 ,ernest went to church  
one ,sabbath4 ,the  minister1 who was a 
stranger1 read the fourteenth chapter of
 ,john as  his lesson1 and at the proper
 time announced as his text the first   
and  second verses--8,let not your heart
 be troubled4 ,ye believe in ,god1      
believe also in me10 etc4 ,ernest       
assumed a comfortable physical posture  
in the expectation of hearing a         
soul-thrilling sermon--an expectation   
justified by the abundant consolation   
which can be legitimately drawn  from   
the entire chapter4 ,there was a large  
congregation and all seemed  to be eager
 to catch every word that should be     
uttered4 ,the preacher  began in a      
rather low nasal 8whine10 as the people 
called it--a not  very classical term to
 be sure1 but very expressive and       
generally  understood1 if nothing else  

could be said in its favor4 ,his manner 
was cold and not at all en rapport with 
his environments1 but  ,ernest thought  
and hoped that he would 8warm up0 with  
his subject as  he proceeded4 ,he was   
doomed to disappointment3 for the       
preacher kept  on with the same whine1  
with no more variation than there is in 
the  ringing of a bell4 ,the vocal part 
was utterly incongruous with the  theme4
 ,the preacher stood stone still1       
nothing moving but his lips1  and       
looking like a talking statue4 ,his     
hands were gently folded on his  breast 
and his eyes were fixed with immovable  
rigidity upon something  on the floor   
immediately in front of the pulpit4 ,his
 whole manner was  the best imaginable  
remedy for insomnia1 which was soon     
proved by the  state of delightful      
unconsciousness into which many of the  
audience  had fallen at the expiration  
of the first half-hour4 ,ernest made    
brave  and persistent efforts to confine
 his attention to the minister's        

monotonous sentences and to resist the  
feeling of somnolence which  was quietly
 and gradually creeping over him4 ,when 
the service finally  ended1 ,ernest left
 the church with a feeling of spiritual 
lassitude--a  consciousness that the    
hour had been unprofitable1 not to say  
that he  was a little vexed1 too4       
8,why does the ,church send out such men
 to preach80 he asked himself  as he    
walked slowly homeward4 8,this man's    
intentions1 no doubt1 are  good1 but his
 education is wofully deficient1 and he 
does not seem to  understand the first  
rudiment of oratory4 ,the ecclesiastical
 body that  put him in this responsible 
position are more censurable than he is4
  ,what a grand text he had6 ,if a man  
could preach at all1 it does seem  that 
he could get a splendid sermon out of   
that passage4 ,i believe ,i  could do it
 myself4 ,let me see4 ,there is that old
 college speech of  mine--,man was made 
to mourn1--it would apply admirably to  
the first  head4 ,look abroad over the  

world4 ,how many things there are which 
are calculated to trouble the heart4 ,of
 all this the preacher never  said a    
word4 ,i moved an audience to tears with
 the same subject when  there was       
nothing but human sympathy to which ,i  
could appeal4 ,but with  the precious   
hopes and promises of the gospel in his 
hands1 he put  a portion of his         
congregation to sleep4 ,then there are  
the blessed  mansions which the ,savior 
promised to ,his true followers4 #8,i go
 to  prepare a place for you1' said our 
,lord4 ,why there is a grand sermon  in 
that one brief sentence4 #8,i go1' said 
,christ4 ,where did ,he go8 ,why  did   
,he go8 ,why did ,he not remain forever 
on earth8 ,the answer is1  that ,he     
might send the ,comforter4 ,then1 for   
what purpose did ,he go8  ,to prepare   
mansions for all true believers4 ,what a
 glorious thought6  ,what does ,he      
prepare8 ,a place4 ,then the conclusion 
is1 that heaven is a  tangible locality4
 ,for whom is ,he preparing a place8    

#8,for you4' ,but the  disciples stood  
there as the representatives of all true
 believers for  all time4 ,so ,i should 
have said1 had ,i been in that          
preacher's place  to-day3 #8,brethren1  
,jesus says ,i am preparing a place for 
you4' ,then  ,i would go on to describe 
this blessed place from intimations     
thrown  out in the ,bible itself4 ,there
 are the shining city1 the jasper walls1
  the golden streets1 the crystal river1
 the ,trees of ,life1 the ,great  ,white
 ,throne1 and the mighty multitude which
 no man can number4 ,with  these grand  
and sublime thoughts in easy reach1 the 
preacher never said  one word to        
brighten our hopes and strengthen our   
faith4 ,but instead  of producing such  
an effect1 he threw us into a state of  
stupid1  half-unconsciousness4 ,what a  
failure60    ,presently1 while ,ernest  
was musing in this loose1 random way1 a 
voice--a 8still1 small voice10 as it    
were1 seemed to come out of the         
atmosphere1 and ask3 8,why not then     

preach yourself80 ,it was the  fiery    
finger of destiny flashing before him1  
and ,ernest was startled4  ,he answered1
 almost speaking in audible tones3      
8,because ,i am not  qualified4 ,i have 
no call to such work4 ,i am a lawyer4 ,i
 do not know  how to preach40    8,but  
you have just preached a sermon10       
quickly answered the voice4 8,i  only   
thought what the preacher might have    
said10 replied ,ernest4    8,then why   
not speak your thoughts to a            
congregation80 asked the  mysterious    
voice4    ,we do not wish1 by any means1
 to make the impression that this was an
  actual supernatural dialogue4 ,it was 
probably subjective4 ,we use the  word  
8probably10 because we have no right to 
affirm that ,god1 even in  this age of  
skepticism1 never addresses men in      
audible tones2 or what  amounts to the  
same thing4 ,he1 no doubt1 so operates  
upon the human  conscience as to make   
subjective mental processes appear      
objective4 ,at  any rate1 ,ernest was a 

little startled by this colloquy1 which 
had the  appearance of reality4 ,he was 
so absorbed that he did not notice where
  he was4 ,he was slowly walking with   
his head bowed down1 and ran against    
some one soon after the voice appeared  
to utter the last words4 ,it was  ,mr4  
,hillston1 at whose house ,ernest was   
still boarding4 ,the collision  occurred
 at the gate4 ,ernest sprang back1 and  
looked in surprise4    8,o1 ,mr4        
,hillston10 he cried1 8,i beg your      
pardon1 sir4 ,i was not looking  up4 ,i 
was thinking1 yea1 almost talking40     
8,and to whom were you talking1 my young
 friend80 asked the old  gentleman4     
8,i scarcely know1 sir1 that is1 ,i can 
hardly determine whether it was  to     
myself1 or some invisible being in the  
air80    8,that is a little strange2 but
 what was the subject of your           
conversation80    8,i will tell you how 
it was40    ,ernest then related what   
had occurred4 ,when he had finished1 he 
could  not fail to notice the serious   

expression of ,mr4 ,hillston's face4    
8,what do you think about it80 asked    
,ernest4    8,do you think the          
circumstance needs interpretation80     
asked ,mr4  ,hillston4 8,do you not     
perceive the meaning80    8,i do not    
know that it has any particular         
meaning10 answered ,ernest4    8,my     
boy10 spoke the old man with deep       
solemnity1 8does it not occur to  you   
that it is ,god's call to the ministry80
    8,no sir10 quickly replied ,ernest4 
8,do not tell me that4 ,i cannot        
believe it4 ,i will not think it upon   
such evidence80    8,yes1 you will think
 it1 and believe it1 too4 ,you may      
decline1 if you  will2 you may offer    
resistance1 but that voice will follow  
you up1 and  haunt you like a ghost4 ,if
 you will not go into the work          
willingly1 ,god  will drive you into it1
 as he did ,paul40    8,what6 smite me  
with blindness80    8,i do not say      
that10 answered ,mr4 ,hillston slowly1  
8but ,he will so  shape and direct      

circumstances as to force you to do ,his
 bidding4 ,you  may flee like ,jonah1   
but events1 possibly misfortunes1 will  
be the  #8great fish' to swallow you up1
 and cast you out where you will be glad
  to cry aloud to men to repent40       
8,you almost frighten me10 exclaimed    
,ernest4 8,i cannot regard what ,i  have
 told you as constituting a call from   
,god to preach4 ,i am not               
superstitious4 ,i do not believe as you 
do1 anyhow40    8,what do you mean1 my  
boy80 asked the old man1 looking at him 
in  surprise4    8,do you not remember  
what you said the other day about       
election and  free agency4 ,i believe in
 free agency4 ,i do not think that ,god 
forces  men to do things4 ,but you10    
continued ,ernest with a laugh1 8are a  
regular old blue-stocking               
,presbyterian40    8,i cannot suffer    
you1 my young friend1 to give up to the 
,presbyterians  exclusively the most    
precious doctrines of the ,bible4 ,you  
are very  much mistaken if you think    

that ,presbyterians are the only people 
who  believe in election and the final  
perseverance of the saints40    8,do you
 believe that other horrid doctrine of  
,predestination8 ,no2  surely not40     
8,you have asked me a direct question10 
said ,mr4 ,hillston1 8and have  presumed
 to answer for me4 ,but your answer is  
incorrect3 for as much  as you may be   
surprised1 ,i tell you that ,i do       
believe the #8horrid  doctrine' of      
,predestination40    8,well1 ,i am      
surprised to hear you say so4 ,for ,i   
thought that even  ,presbyterians shrank
 from averring it openly40    8,you may 
be surprised now2 but when you          
investigate more closely1 you  may be a 
,predestinarian yourself1 if you will   
lay aside prejudice40    8,i do not see 
how ,i ever can be1 with all deference  
to you1 sir2 for  the doctrine is       
horrible to me40    8,what is so        
horrible1 my boy80 asked the old man    
kindly4 8,but let us  go into the house4
 ,now10 continued ,mr4 ,hillston1 as    

they both seated  themselves1 8tell me  
what is so horrible80    8,why1 that    
,god should condemn men to eternal      
torment even before they  are born4     
,what can be more cruel and unjust80    
8,that would be #8horrible' if ,god were
 blind1 as men are4 ,but let us  look at
 this #8horrible doctrine' from other   
standpoints4 ,you probably  know that   
some people1 in order to avoid the      
difficulties of ,divine  sovereignty1   
strip ,god of one of ,his attributes by 
saying that the ,lord  does not choose  
to foreknow human destiny1 that is1     
individual destiny4  ,now if that were  
true1 man would be a perfect free moral 
agent1 would  he80    8,undoubtedly1 he 
would1 sir40    8,that is what a great  
many people say10 answered ,mr4         
,hillston1 8in  the very face of        
,scriptures to the contrary4 ,but never 
mind3 for the  present1 we will assume  
that ,god does not choose to exercise   
,his  foreknowledge4 ,well1 men follow  
the bent of their owns wills1 and  shape

 their own destinies4 ,at last the world
 comes to an end4 ,god opens  the       
,books--that is1 ,he looks back over the
 past1 and discovers what  men have     
done1 and settles their doom according  
to their deeds1 do you  think that would
 be right80    8,o1 yes10 said ,ernest1 
8that would certainly be just1 according
 to my  ideas40    8,very well4 ,in     
looking back1 the mere knowledge which  
,god acquires does  not affect men's    
conduct1 does it80    8,what do you mean
 by #8affect'80    8,i mean ,his        
knowledge would not change their deeds1 
one way or the  other80    8,no3 of     
course1 ,his knowledge would have no    
effect upon their past  conduct40       
8,then1 if you please1 tell me what is  
the difference between ,god's  looking  
back over the past and looking forward  
over the future4 ,how  would ,his       
knowledge affect human destinies in the 
one case more than in  the other80      
,ernest thought for a moment1 and then  
said3    8,why1 there is this           

difference3 whatever ,god foreknows must
 take  place40    8,undoubtedly10 said  
,mr4 ,hillston1 8but does ,god's        
after-knowledge  affect the conduct of  
men80    8,no1 sir40    8,then how does 
,god's foreknowledge differ from his    
after-knowledge--that is the question4  
,is there any difference80    8,just at 
this moment10 replied ,ernest in some   
confusion1 8,i am not  prepared to say2 
but it does seem to me unjust in ,god to
 sentence men  to torment before they   
are born40    8,but if the condemnation 
is for the same sins1 why not condemn   
before  they are born as well as after80
    8,you have taken a turn that ,i was 
not expecting10 answered ,ernest4 8,i   
confess ,i had never thought of it in   
that way40    8,no1 and that is what is 
the matter with the most of those who   
oppose  the doctrine of predestination4 
,they even deny fore-knowledge to ,god1 
not pausing to reflect that mere        
knowledge has no effect upon the        
destinies of men4 ,they represent ,god  

as in the attitude of a human  judge4   
,but we must never forget that ,his ways
 are not as our ways1  and ,his         
thoughts1 not as our thoughts4          
,predestination is a mysterious         
doctrine1 and there is something about  
it which no man can understand4  ,and   
yet1 when we investigate it in the light
 of the ,holy ,scriptures1  and study   
the examples illustrating it1 there is  
not as much difficulty  as some people  
imagine4 ,i do not think you have       
investigated in this  way40    8,no1    
sir2 but ,i intend to do so40    8,that 
is right4 ,study your ,bible closely2   
honestly mark all the  passages that    
teach this #8horrid doctrine1' and let  
us talk about it  again4 ,i have no     
doubt that you will study the ,bible    
more closely than  you have ever done1  
since you are going to be a minister of 
the gospel40    8,there1 you are        
reckoning without your host10 said      
,ernest4 8,i have no  idea of ever being
 a preacher4 ,i am not qualified4 ,why1 

it would be  presumption in me to think 
about it40    8,mark my words1 ,ernest10
 said ,mr4 ,hillston solemnly1 8you will
 be a  preacher or a ruined man4 ,the   
,holy ,spirit1 if ,i am not very greatly
  mistaken1 is opening the way1 and     
showing you the path4 ,i beg you1 do    
not neglect and disregard plain         
indications4 ,i cannot help thinking    
that you are a chosen vessel for some   
great purpose1 and if so1 you  will see 
no peace till you obey the voice of     
,god4 ,if you are in doubt1  pray to the
 ,lord for light1 and it will be given4 
,the ,master will  certainly make clear 
the path of duty40    ,ernest was       
silent1 and ,mr4 ,hillston concluded it 
would be prudent to  say nothing more at
 that time4 ,the young man went to his  
office soon  after1 and fell into deep  
thought4 ,was it possible1 he asked     
himself1  that he was destined to become
 a preacher8 ,the thought became more   
intolerable as he reflected upon it4 ,he
 wished that he had not tried  his power

 of sermonizing1 for it was this that   
had given origin to what  ,mr4 ,hillston
 had the boldness to pronounce a call to
 the ministry4  ,was it in this way that
 ,god chose his ministers8 ,but suppose 
this was  a divine call1 how could he   
refuse to obey8 ,would he rebel against 
,god's expressed will8 ,but surely this 
was no call1 at least it was not        
sufficient4 ,there certainly was no     
voice4 ,he would wait1 and pray for     
more light4 ,would he not lose ,clara   
,vanclure8 ,would she ever consent to   
be a preacher's wife8    ,this latter   
question1 propounded to himself1 had    
some influence1  probably in causing him
 to come to the conclusion not to rush  
hastily  into the ministry upon an      
invitation which existed1 he thought1   
only in  his imagination4 ,accordingly1 
he endeavored to dismiss the perplexing 
subject from his mind4 ,to his great    
relief1 he found no difficulty  in      
losing himself in the pages of a volume 
which he took from one of  the shelves  

of his library4 ,it was ,dr4 ,dick's    
8,philosophy of a ,future  ,state40 ,for
 pleasant and profitable ,sunday        
reading1 no better books can  be found  
than ,dick's several volumes on moral   
and religious subjects4  ,ernest was so 
absorbed in his book that he thought no 
more about the  8call to preach0 for the
 remainder of the ,sabbath evening4     
,the next morning when he returned to   
his office as usual and began  reading  
,blackstone1 the words of the preacher's
 text on the previous  day suddenly     
flashed into his mind4 ,he quickly      
dropped his book and  began thinking4   
,presently he almost sprang from his    
seat1 for on the  opposite side of the  
table1 on which his head had been       
resting1 there  sat a visitor1 who was  
curiously gazing at him4    8,ah6 been  
asleep1 have you80 said ,mr4 ,vanclure1 
for it was he4    8,no1 sir10 said      
,ernest confusedly1 8,i was in a sort of
 reverie40    8,things of that sort     
don't pay much--no1 sir1 don't pay much4

 ,i have  been too busy all my life for 
anything of that kind4 ,people must keep
  wide awake in this world to           
succeed--yes1 sir1 to succeed40    8,my 
vocation is different from yours1 ,mr4  
,vanclure1 you know4 ,when we  lawyers  
meet with a knotty problem sometimes1 we
 stop to think1 and  occasionally we get
 to dreaming3 it is not unnatural40     
8,well10 said the old merchant abruptly1
 8,i have come to say something  about a
 delicate matter--a delicate matter4 ,if
 it was ordinary  business1 ,i'd know   
how to begin--how to begin4 ,but it's   
another sort of  affair40    8,just     
suppose it to be business of an ordinary
 character1 ,mr4 ,vanclure1  and begin  
at once10 said ,ernest with a feeling of
 dread4    8,well10 said the merchant in
 a fidgety manner1 8,i thought you and  
,clara  were engaged to be              
married--engaged to be married pretty   
soon1 and  things were floating along   
smoothly1 you know4 ,yes1 sir1 and ,i   
had  given my consent1 you remember1 at 

your solicitation1 and ,i was making  my
 arrangements accordingly1 for you see  
,i had confidence in you1  ,ernest1     
since ,i have known you from a          
child--yes from a child4 ,i told  you1  
don't you remember1 that ,i had some    
business affairs which ,i could  not    
manage--could not manage1 because ,i'm  
no lawyer40    8,well10 interrupted     
,ernest1 8you can tell me what the      
business is1 and  ,i will do the best ,i
 can with it40    8,but you don't       
understand1 ,ernest--you don't          
understand4 ,it wouldn't  be proper just
 yet to tell you4 ,i said it was a      
delicate matter--a  delicate matter1    
just as things now are4 ,you see ,i     
thought everything  was working well4 ,i
 thought this contract between you and  
,clara would  soon be executed--would   
soon be executed1 and then ,i could with
  propriety put this business in your   
hands--in your hands1 ,ernest1  because 
you would1 you would sustain a closer   
relation to me than you  do now1 and    

then ,i could let you know all my       
plans--know all my plans1  which        
wouldn't be proper just yet--just yet1  
you know4 ,you understand  how ,i am    
situated40    8,i cannot say that ,i    
do10 replied ,ernest with a smile1 8for 
you have  told me nothing in regard to  
your situation40    8,i have told you   
all ,i can1 ,ernest--all ,i can till    
that affair comes  off--comes off40     
8,what affair1 ,mr4 ,vanclure80    8,the
 engagement between you and ,clara1 of  
course1 of course4 ,i thought  all would
 be over in a few weeks--yes1 in a few  
weeks4 ,but ,i fear there  is a         
misunderstanding somewhere1 and ,i      
thought there'd be no harm in  finding  
out--in finding out1 you see40    8,what
 is it you wish to find out1 ,mr4       
,vanclure80    8,well1 you see1 ,i got a
 hint from ,clara1 a hint from ,clara1  
and ,i  thought ,i'd better find        
out1--better find out40    8,i am       
perfectly willing to give you any       
information in my possession10  said    

,ernest4    8,i thought so1 ,i thought  
so1 and ,i'll come to the point at once4
  ,you see it was a lawyer ,i wanted4 ,a
 preacher and a lawyer are very         
different people4 ,i could make no use  
of a preacher--no1 sir1 no use of  a    
preacher1 you understand80    8,i do not
 understand1 ,mr4 ,vanclure40    8,i got
 a hint from ,clara--a hint from ,clara1
 and ,i thought ,i'd better  come1 and  
find out about it1 before it's too      
late40    8,what is it you wish to find 
out1 ,mr4 ,vanclure80 interrupted       
,ernest4    8,why1 ,i thought you'd see 
at once--yes1 at once1 after my         
explanation40    ,ernest smiled         
internally4    8,i confess1 ,mr4        
,vanclure1 that ,i am so obtuse         
mentally1 that ,i have  failed to       
understand your explanation40    8,what8
 can't you see--can't you see that a    
lawyer and a preacher are  two different
 people--two different people80         
8,yes1 sir2 ,i see that clearly40       
8,well1 ,i gave you to understand that a

 lawyer would suit me--would suit  me1  
and ,i thought you were a lawyer40      
8,so ,i am40    8,but are you going to  
give up law1 and be a preacher--be a    
preacher80    8,who said ,i was1 ,mr4   
,vanclure80    8,i told you ,i got a    
hint from ,clara--a hint from ,clara1   
you understand80    8,i believe ,i do10 
said ,ernest thoughtfully4 8,it seems   
that ,miss ,clara  has thrown out a hint
 that ,i would be a preacher80          
8,precisely1 precisely40    8,and       
suppose ,i should be1 ,mr4 ,vanclure1   
how could it affect present  relations80
    8,why1 you see1 a preacher is not   
the sort of man1 the sort of man1  that 
would suit my purposes4 ,a preacher is  
no business man1 ,ernest--no  business  
man4 ,this thing of going over the      
country1 with your ward-robe  in a pair 
of saddle-bags--yes1 in a pair of       
saddle-bags1 and living  from hand to   
mouth--well1 ,i can't see the necessity 
of it in this case1  in this case4      
,although ,clara gave me a hint1 ,i     

didn't much believe  it--,i didn't much 
believe it--because1 ,ernest1 there is  
no necessity  for it1 no earthly        
necessity for it4 ,you will not be      
forced to go  into that poor            
business--that poor business2 but don't 
misunderstand2  ,i'm not opposed to the 
,church--it's a very good thing in its  
place--a  very good thing1 and ,i pay my
 part to keep it going4 ,but1 as ,i     
said1  a preacher is not the sort of man
 ,i bargained for--it was a lawyer ,i   
wanted1 and ,i had my heart set on this 
matter1 and ,i expected to put  the     
business in your hands--in your hands40 
8,why are you opposed to preachers1 ,mr4
 ,vanclure80    8,you misunderstand1    
,ernest1 you misunderstand4 ,i haven't  
said ,i was  opposed to them4 ,i have   
nothing against them1 nothing against   
them4  ,they are useful men1 in some    
respects1 in some respects2 but they are
  not business men1 not business men4   
,how could a preacher attend to my      
business8 ,i don't see why you should   

want to quit your profession1 quit  your
 profession1 and be a preacher2 you     
understand1 don't you80    8,i gather   
from your remarks1 ,mr4 ,vanclure1 that 
if it is my intention  to be a preacher1
 you would oppose the marriage of ,miss 
,clara and  myself--is that your        
meaning80    8,well1 ,i didn't say that 
,i'd oppose it3 ,i only said that a     
preacher  wouldn't suit me2 no1 wouldn't
 suit me4 ,a preacher wouldn't have time
  to attend to business1 even if he were
 a business man1 and ,i never saw  one  
that was--one that was40    8,i have no 
idea of ever being a preacher1 ,mr4     
,vanclure1 and ,i cannot  imagine why   
,miss ,clara should have drawn such an  
inference from  anything ,i said40      
8,i told ,clara that she must be        
mistaken1 must be mistaken4 ,then ,i    
understand that you never will be a     
preacher80    8,i have no such          
intention1 sir40    8,well1 that's      
enough said2 ,i'll go now1 and ,i'd     
advise you to see ,clara  about this    

affair1 and give her the assurance you  
have given me40 ,mr4  ,vanclure left    
hurriedly4    ,ernest had an interview  
with ,clara that evening1 which         
terminated in  the assurance1 on her    
part1 that if he ever became a preacher1
 she  would at once file an application 
for a divorce4    ,illustration3        
,decoration          ,,chapter ,,iv4    
,a ,,rival4      ,an event soon occurred
 in the town which aroused feelings and 
emotions  in the breast of ,ernest1 the 
statical condition of which had never   
before been disturbed4 ,a family moved  
into the town1 among whose  members was 
a young man about the age of ,ernest4 ,a
 few days after their  arrival1 a sign  
was seen over a store-door in large     
black letters--,a4  ,j4 ,comston  ,son4 
,the 8son0 belonging to this firm is the
 only one  of the family whose life     
projects into the present history4      
,xerxes  ,comston was the equal of      
,ernest in physical attractions1 and his
  superior in almost everything         

pertaining to the elegant frivolities   
and  conventional refinements of        
fashionable society4 ,he was            
emphatically  a man of the world--a     
disciple of ,chesterfield1 who had made 
social  etiquette a special study4 ,he  
had no depth of intellect and no solid  
education1 but was master of that small 
talk1 silvery nonsense1 so  delightful  
to vacuous minds4 ,it is a well-known   
fact that truly  educated men1 who have 
8drunk deep of the ,pierian spring10    
rarely ever  shine in promiscuous       
society4 ,they appear timid and         
destitute of ideas1  while men who have 
collected only the scum of ephemeral    
literature1 and  studied terpsichorean  
gymnastics1 and committed to memory a   
stock of  witticisms pleasing to        
light-headed women1 pass in society at a
 value  far more than their real worth4 
,xerxes was a man of this description4  
,he had studied dinner-table etiquette  
and ball-room dynamics more than  any   
other branch of human literature4 ,the  

comparison between ,ernest and  ,xerxes 
in regard to moral excellences would be 
like that of ,brobdingnag  and          
,lilliputian4 ,yet in fashionable       
assemblies1 where ,ernest would  sit in 
embarrassed silence1 ,xerxes would      
rattle away with astonishing  and       
entertaining volubility--a volubility   
without ideas1 but still1  necessary to 
preserve the regular flow of the stream 
of conversation4  ,men like ,ernest are 
frequently voted 8stupid0 by the gilded 
butterflies  of society1 when the truth 
is1 they can scarcely ever find a       
8pleasure-party0 that can appreciate the
 subjects with which they are  familiar4
 ,they are not unsocial1 as is generally
 supposed1 but they  dwell in a world of
 thought1 a world which is so sparsely  
settled that  they necessarily spend    
much or most of their time in solitude4 
,this  class is quite small4 ,hence1    
speaking metaphorically1 they live in a 
wilderness in which there is here and   
there a house inhabited by a  literary  

recluse4    ,ernest and ,xerxes were1 as
 to moral character1 like ,zenith and   
,nadir4    ,not many days elapsed before
 ,xerxes sought and formed the          
acquaintance  of ,clara ,vanclure4 ,her 
prospective fortune made a deep         
impression upon  his heart4 ,he had     
heard of the relation between ,ernest   
and the young  lady1 but he acted toward
 her as though he were perfectly        
ignorant  of the ties which bound her to
 another4 ,the civil law had given no   
validity to this gossamer tenure1 and   
till that should be done1 the           
conscience of ,xerxes stood not in the  
way of his endeavoring to produce  an   
alienation between the engaged lovers4  
,however1 he never intimated  to any one
 that he entertained such a purpose4    
,at length there was to be a grand ball 
in the town1 and the young  people      
generally were filled with delightful   
expectations4 ,a few days  before it    
occurred1 ,ernest called upon his       
intended4 ,he had visited her  regularly

 three or four times a week since his   
profession of religion1  and had not    
once alluded to the subject which was so
 repulsive to her4  ,when there was a   
pause in the conversation on the evening
 just referred  to1 she suddenly said3  
8,are you going to the ball1 next       
,tuesday evening80    ,he looked        
earnestly at her1 while a shade of      
sorrow and disappointment  passed over  
his face4    8,my dear ,clara10 he said 
in a subdued tone1 8how can you ask me  
such a  question1 after the conversation
 we once had on this subject80    8,i   
didn't know but that you might have     
changed your notion10 she  replied4     
8,i thought you would give me credit for
 more stability of purpose than  that40 
8,well1 ,i'm sure ,i can see no harm in 
going to a ball10 was her  rejoinder4   
8,that means you are going1 does it80   
asked ,ernest4    8,i rather think ,i   
shall10 she replied with an air of      
firmness1  indicating expectancy of     
opposition4    8,well1 do as you        

please10 he said4    8,i am sorry you   
cannot go10 she remarked1 after a brief 
pause1 8because  ,i shall be forced to  
accept another escort40    8,who80 asked
 ,ernest with an air of indifference    
that nettled ,clara's  feelings4        
8,mr4 ,comston40    ,ernest made a      
sudden movement which she noticed with  
pleasure4 ,the  first pang of jealousy  
had shot through his heart1 stinging1   
tearing1  sickening1 shocking like a    
barbed arrow4 ,it had not seriously     
occurred  to him before1 that there     
might be a rupture of the engagement    
into  which she had so solemnly entered4
 ,he had regarded her as his wife1 or   
at least1 so near to that relation that 
the possibility of losing her1  had not 
disturbed his thoughts4 ,suddenly this  
peril flashed into his  mind1           
accompanied by a feeling of strong      
dislike toward the young man1  whose    
name she had just pronounced with       
alarming tenderness4 ,he tried  to      
re-assure himself4 ,why should he for a 

moment doubt her constancy8  ,how could 
she possibly prefer this dude to        
himself8 ,no1 no2 how could  she8 ,and  
yet--4 ,he dreaded to give definite     
shape to the vague thought  confusedly  
working to the surface4 ,clara perceived
 her advantage4    8,you would not go10 
she said1 8what then1 was ,i to do8 ,i'm
 bound to  have an escort40    8,i have 
offered no objection10 ,ernest replied  
in a sorrowful tone1 8and  yet10 he     
continued timidly1 8might you not have  
accepted an escort with  more           
congeniality than exists between you and
 that one80    8,i don't see the        
necessity of so much congeniality in a  
dancing  companion10 she answered4      
8,besides1 ,mr4 ,comston is a nice1     
elegant  gentleman1 and is1 by no means1
 dull40    ,the last remark was like    
gall to ,ernest1 and he felt strongly   
tempted  to express his opinion about   
the moral character of his rival3 but   
on second thought1 he concluded that    
silence on that head would be  prudent4 

,he at once changed the subject of      
conversation1 and nothing  more was said
 about the dance4    ,at the time       
appointed1 ,xerxes called to escort     
,clara to the ball4  ,that evening he   
paid her very marked attention1 and     
endeavored in  every possible way1      
except the agency of the tongue1 to     
convey  to her the knowledge that she   
occupied a conspicuous place in his     
affections4 ,clara was at no loss to    
interpret his look and manners4 ,she    
understood that earnest1 inquiring gaze 
which seemed to be searching  into the  
depths of her soul4 ,it was not the     
bold1 impudent stare of  the            
accomplished libertine1 but the skillful
 maneuvering of a man who  knew how to  
express tender feelings silently1       
whether they had real  existence or not4
 ,he gazed1 it is true1 but in such a   
way as to make  the impression upon the 
young lady that it was the timid1       
stealthy  act of a despairing lover4 ,he
 acted as though he had unintentionally 

betrayed the state of his affections1   
and yet he was well aware that  this    
betrayal had not escaped the observation
 of the young lady2 for we  sometimes   
seem to know that certain persons are   
looking at us1 when we  do not see them4
 ,if ,xerxes had gazed boldly at ,clara1
 she would have  taken offence2 but his 
appeared to be stolen glances1 and she  
felt  flattered4    ,as they returned   
late from the ball-room1 he said to her 
as soon as  they were in the open air3  
8,well1 how have you enjoyed the        
evening80    8,very much1 indeed10 she  
said1 8how has it been with yourself80  
8,i do not know why it was10 he         
answered1 8but ,i never enjoyed an      
evening so much in my life4 ,i wish we  
could have a dance every week1 or  even 
oftener40    8,i say #8,amen' to that10 
exclaimed ,clara1 8for this is an awful 
dull  town40    8,i find it so myself10 
replied ,xerxes4 8,there are so few     
young ladies  here40    8,so few80      
answered ,clara in surprise4 8,i thought

 there were a great  many40    8,yes1   
but ,i mean congenial spirits4 ,they    
make no impression upon me4  ,the fault1
 however1 may be mine4 ,i may not know  
how to entertain them4  ,i have not been
 accustomed to a great deal of female   
society40    8,you dance beautifully1   
which made me conclude that you were a  
great  lady's man40    8,i am at a loss 
to imagine upon what you could base such
 a conclusion40    8,is not dancing     
associated with ladies8 ,you said you   
had enjoyed the  evening4 ,i was simple 
enough to think that it was the presence
 of  ladies that caused the time to pass
 off so agreeably40    8,i am indebted  
to you for that10 he answered quickly4  
8,if you will  allow me to say it1 you  
are so different from the rest40    8,if
 you really believe that1 ,i must thank 
you for the compliment you  intend40    
,thus they chatted till they reached    
,clara's home4 ,as he was taking his    
leave1 ,xerxes said in an earnest1      
appealing tone3    8,if you will allow  

me to call occasionally1 it would be a  
great favor1  and enable me to kill at  
least some of the time that hangs so    
heavily  upon my hands80    8,certainly3
 ,i would be pleased to have you call1  
for ,i'm frequently  afflicted with     
dreadful ennui myself10 was the         
imprudent permission  of this betrothed 
young lady4 ,when they separated1 ,clara
 said to  herself3    8,what a pleasant 
man he is4 ,i do believe he is more     
entertaining than  ,ernest1 who1 with   
his religion and his great education1 is
 so solemn4  ,he doesn't act like a     
young man at all4 ,but he is so smart1  
and ,i can  always be proud of him4     
,besides1 papa has so much confidence in
 him4  ,but ,i do wish he were just a   
little more like ,mr4 ,comston40    ,and
 ,xerxes thought as he went away3       
8,she is very beautiful4 ,this1 with her
 thousands1 makes her a prize  worth    
winning4 ,she has not yet mentioned the 
name of that religious  lawyer4 ,look   
sharp1 my zealous friend6 if you don't  

mind1 ,i'll play  you a trick yet4 ,you 
may be engaged to her1 but #8there's    
many a slip  betwixt the cup and the    
lip4'0    ,and here we leave them in    
darkness4    ,the next evening ,ernest  
called again1 and found ,clara in the   
parlor4  ,she had slept till noon4      
8,i hope you are feeling well after your
 last evening's dissipation10 he  said  
pleasantly1 as he seated himself4    8,i
 never felt better10 she answered4 8,i  
believe the exercise was an  advantage  
to me4 ,i don't see why you should call 
it dissipation40    8,dissipation it is 
when compared with some other things1   
especially  those more solid pursuits   
which improve the mind40    8,do you    
think of nothing but improving the      
mind80 asked ,clara4 8,don't  you       
believe in any recreation at all80      
8,certainly1 but different people have  
different kinds of recreation40         
8,what is your kind8 ,i should like to  
know40    8,i will tell you10 answered  
,ernest4 8,i take a walk or ride every  

day  for the benefit of my physical     
organization4 ,to rest my mind ,i read  
light literature40    8,and is that the 
way you propose to spend your life80    
inquired ,clara  looking at him         
anxiously4    8,why should ,i not80     
8,of course1 you can do as you please10 
said ,clara1 showing some signs  of     
vexation4 8,but isn't it rather         
selfish80    8,it may appear so at      
present1 because ,i am alone a great    
deal4 ,but ere  long ,i shall have a    
lovable companion who can share these   
pleasures  with me40    ,clara could not
 fail to understand his meaning1 and    
now1 for the first  time1 it occurred to
 her what a gloomy life she must lead   
with this  solemn man of books4 ,she had
 no great taste for literature3 ,ernest1
 on  the other hand1 was a thorough     
bibliophilist4 ,he would1 no doubt1 want
  her to read to him what he called     
light literature1 which would prove     
rather heavy to her2 and he would expect
 her to be deeply interested in  it4    

,xerxes1 on the contrary1 would be a gay
 companion1 and would take  her to      
balls1 theaters1 and other places of    
amusement4 ,this comparison  passed     
rapidly through her mind4    8,do you   
not think that will be a pleasant way to
 spend life80 asked  ,ernest1 after the 
pause that followed his last remark4    
8,it may be for those who like it10 she 
answered very dryly4    8,don't you     
think10 asked ,ernest1 8that            
intellectual pleasures are the  most    
solid and substantial of all8 ,i take   
the view that we are put here  to       
cultivate our minds and hearts1 and not 
to be creatures of mere  sensuality4    
,how much better are we than the brutes1
 if our whole aim  is only to #8eat1    
drink1 and be merry4' ,that is the way  
they spend the  golden hours of life40  
8,i suppose you mean1 then1 to call me a
 brute10 said ,clara1 inclined to  pout4
    8,no1 no10 cried ,ernest quickly1   
8,i had no such meaning40    8,but ,i   
cannot enjoy books like you4 ,you know  

that10 she said peevishly4    8,you will
 learn1 though1 ,i trust40    8,i don't 
think ,i ever will10 she replied4       
8,what do you like1 then80 inquired     
,ernest1 trying to smile4    8,things   
that you don't1 it seems4 ,i like       
theaters and dances40    8,but in the   
course of time you will desire pleasures
 more substantial  than these40    8,i  
don't know that ,i will40    ,clara     
seemed to be out of humor all that      
evening1 and when ,ernest left  his     
heart was filled with misgivings4 ,he   
thought and feared that he had          
discovered a change in her manner toward
 him4 ,she was evidently more  distant  
than she had been since their           
engagement4 ,he was melancholy4  ,but   
what could he do to put an end to this  
dreadful suspense8 ,he  determined that 
he would persuade ,clara to appoint an  
earlier day for  their marriage4        
,availing himself of the privilege      
allowed him1 ,xerxes called the next    
evening4 ,this young man had traveled   

considerably1 and had lived in the  city
 of ,new ,york for several years4 ,he   
had not been seated long before  he gave
 ,clara an animated description of the  
theaters of ,paris4 ,she  listened like 
one entranced4 ,perceiving her profound 
interest1 he soon  discovered how to    
entertain her4    8,how ,i should like  
to travel10 said ,clara1 with a         
deep-drawn sigh4    8,yes1 it is very   
pleasant to make the tour of the world  
with a  congenial companion40    8,i    
should think so10 she said4 8,which city
 do you like best80    8,paris1         
undoubtedly4 ,you can spend a life      
there1 looking at the  curiosities4     
,there is the ,louvre1 the ,tuilleries1 
the bridges1 the arcs  and a thousand   
other things that ,i cannot think of    
now4 ,i read ,victor  ,hugo's ,les      
,miserables while ,i was there1 and went
 to the streets and  other places he    
mentions4 ,it made the story much more  
interesting4 ,did  you ever read that   
work80    8,no1 sir1 ,i never did40     

8,i have a copy1 and will bring it to   
you if you would like to read it40      
8,indeed1 ,i should like to do so4 ,we  
can get no books in this dull town40    
8,well may you call it dull10 said      
,xerxes4 8,i told my father the other   
day that ,i felt that ,i would have to  
dissolve our partnership4 ,i don't      
believe ,i can stand the country much   
longer4 ,father came here to have a     
quiet time1 but it is almost too quiet  
for me40    ,these two talked about     
nothing but parties1 dances1 shows and  
the  like the remainder of the evening1 
and the young lady thought she had  been
 highly entertained4 ,xerxes had touched
 responsive chords in her  nature whose 
very existence ,ernest had ignored4     
,after his departure1  she1 at first    
timidly asked herself the question if   
she really had any  true affection for  
,ernest4 ,was he a suitable companion   
for her8 ,after  their marriage1 was it 
not evident that he would expect her to 
take a  deep interest in the stupid     

books to which he was devoted4 ,xerxes  
was  like herself and she thought how   
happy she could be with an elegant      
gentleman who would take delight in the 
things of which she was so fond4        
,with such communings as these she fell 
asleep4 ,she dreamed that she was       
wandering in a wide plain1 and that she 
was weary and sad on account  of a great
 sorrow which had come over her1 which  
was the loss of her  parents4 ,she sat  
down on a stone1 covered her face with  
her hands1 and  wept4 ,hearing a        
deep-drawn sigh at her side1 she looked 
around1 and  beheld ,ernest4 ,he mingled
 his tears with hers1 and pointed       
upward4  ,suddenly he disappeared4      
,again she bowed her head1 and wept     
afresh4  ,then she heard a joyous laugh1
 and rising up1 she saw ,xerxes standing
  before her4 8,why weep80 he said4     
8,enjoy life4 ,come with me to yon      
throng of dancers1 and drown your       
sorrow40 ,she cast her eyes in the      
direction in which he was pointing1 and 

beheld a company gayly dressed1         
whirling amid gorgeous flowers under    
gigantic oaks4 ,she gave her hand  to   
the smiling ,xerxes1 and they were soon 
mingling with the giddy                 
pleasure-seekers4    ,when ,clara awoke1
 the superstition of her nature1 more or
 less of which  all of us have1 inclined
 her to put an interpretation upon her  
dream  which was decidedly unfavorable  
to ,ernest4 ,did not the dream          
foreshadow  a fearful destiny1 if she   
married him8 ,all that day she was in a 
state  of perplexing indecision4 ,but   
circumstances soon enabled her to reach 
a  conclusion2 for ,xerxes1 to her      
surprise1 called that very evening4 ,he 
looked sad1 and seemed to be greatly    
embarrassed4    8,i cannot stay long10  
he said as soon as they were seated4 8,i
 have come  to bid you adieu40          
8,what60 exclaimed ,clara in unfeigned  
astonishment1 but suddenly  restraining 
her emotion1 she said3    8,o1 you are  
going off on business80    8,no3 ,i     

don't expect to return40                
8,why--is--it--is it not a sudden       
conclusion80    8,it is10 said ,xerxes4 
8,i reached it on leaving you yesterday 
evening4 ,i  learned something that at  
once decided me40    8,it seems that it 
was something disagreeable1 judging by  
your looks80    8,yes1 the most         
disagreeable news ,i ever heard in my   
life10 exclaimed  ,xerxes4 8,i cannot   
remain here any longer4 ,i wish ,i had  
known it sooner4  ,i should have        
controlled my foolish heart1 and saved  
myself a world of  sorrow40    8,i don't
 understand you10 said ,clara4    8,i   
know you don't1 but to be plain1 you are
 the cause of my trouble40    8,i8 ,how 
can ,i be80    8,i will tell you10 said 
,xerxes1 speaking as if he were in the  
deepest  distress4 8,i heard of your    
engagement yesterday evening4 ,i had    
permitted myself to entertain hopes in  
regard to you1 not dreaming that  ,i had
 a rival4 ,i do think you ought to have 
informed me of this fact1  in common    

charity40    8,you never asked me1 ,mr4 
,comston40    8,no3 but when you saw my 
infatuation1 you might have thrown out a
 hint1  that your heart was             
pre-occupied4 ,but you allowed me to go 
on in my  blindness till ,i have become 
hopelessly entangled in the web of      
,cupid4  ,i love you to madness4 ,o1 why
 did you not warn me80 exclaimed ,xerxes
 in  a voice of such exquisite anguish  
that ,clara felt sorry1 and yet glad4   
8,i think it would have been            
presumptuous in me to have done so4 ,i  
did  not know that you cared anything   
for me40    8,well1 it is useless to    
talk about it1 ,i suppose4 ,i go with a 
great  wound in my heart which nothing  
on earth can cure4 ,you are lost to me  
forever4 ,the thought drives me mad4 ,i 
cannot remain here40    8,why should you
 go80 asked ,clara timidly4    8,do you 
suppose ,i could stay here1 and see you 
the bride of another8  ,no1 no1 never40 
8,another8 whom do you mean80    8,why1 
you know--,mr4 ,edgefield40    8,i don't

 think ,i will ever be his bride10      
replied ,clara in a low1  hesitating    
tone4    8,are you not engaged to him80 
asked ,xerxes eagerly4    8,yes3 but    
since he has joined the ,christians1 ,i 
have been thinking of  breaking it off4 
,he has become too solemn to suit me40  
8,o1 if you will only give me the       
slightest grounds for hope1 this town   
would be the dearest spot on earth to   
me4 ,tell me that ,i may try to win     
you1 and ,i will be raised at once from 
the very depths of despair to  the      
pinnacle of felicity40    ,xerxes had   
used this very expression at least a    
dozen times to  different damsels1 but  
he now spoke it with all the freshness  
of a  first utterance1 and it had the   
same effect upon ,clara as if it had    
been the spontaneous outgush of a       
sentiment struggling to find vent in    
suitable language4 ,subsequent events   
will show what reply ,clara made4       
,ernest could not be blind to the       
frequency of ,xerxes' visits1 and he    

determined to put an end to them by a   
marriage at an early day as he  could   
prevail upon ,clara to appoint4 ,he had 
not doubted her constancy1  but since   
the ball he dreaded the consequences of 
the comparisons  between himself and his
 rival1 which it was but natural the    
young lady  should institute4           
,accordingly1 the next time he called1  
he directed the  conversation to their  
engagement1 and said earnestly3    8,i  
hope1 my dear ,clara1 you will appoint  
the day for our union4 ,this  you have  
not yet done4 ,you have only said it    
would be in the next few  weeks1 which  
is indefinite4 ,i can see no use in     
waiting longer4 ,please  make the day as
 near in the future as possible40       
,clara's beautiful face at once assumed 
an expression of ominous  seriousness   
but she spoke promptly and directly3    
8,i am thinking of asking you to release
 me from that hasty engagement40        
,ernest turned pale4 ,he made no attempt
 to conceal his amazement and  anguish4 

,for a moment he sat as if petrified1 or
 as if he did not  clearly understand   
her4 ,surely she could not mean what    
these words  signified3 he could not    
believe it1 for did she not love him8   
,why break  the engagement8 ,o1 she must
 be tantalizing him for sport--yes1 that
 was  all4 ,he would humor this         
pleasantry4 ,then he tried to smile1 but
 it was  an expressionless distortion of
 his face4 8,you want a divorce1 do     
you80  he asked in a husky voice4       
8,well1 that will be hard to get40      
8,i said nothing about a divorce10 she  
replied in a cold manner4    8,you did  
not use that word1 ,i know1 but an      
engagement1 ,clara1 solemnly  entered   
into is equivalent to marriage in the   
sight of ,god4 ,you are  mine2 how can  
,i release you80    8,i see no          
difficulty in the way whatever4 ,i'm not
 yours3 ,i only  promised to be40       
8,well1 are you going to deliberately   
violate your promise1 your solemn  vow1 
which ,god witnessed8 ,how can you do   

such a thing8 ,did you mean  what you   
said80    8,certainly1 ,i did1 but ,i   
have changed my mind3 ,i don't want to  
marry  you40    8,o1 ,clara1 ,clara10 he
 cried in agony1 8you crush me into the 
dust6 ,you  do not mean what you        
say--tell me1 you do not mean it4 ,you  
merely want  to tantalize me4 ,well1    
dear1 do you not see that ,i cannot     
endure it8  ,i never could appreciate   
jokes4 ,come1 you have had enough sport4
 ,be  serious1 and appoint the day for  
our marriage40    8,mr4 ,edgefield10 she
 said firmly1 8,i'm not joking2 ,i'm in 
earnest1 and  ,i ask you to release me  
from the engagement40    8,ask ,god to  
release you10 cried ,ernest wildly1 8and
 see if ,he will do  it4 ,you are mine1 
,clara4 ,how can ,i give you up8 ,it    
would be a sin40    8,o1 pshaw60 said   
,clara contemptuously1 8,i see no sin in
 it4 ,i'll never  marry you4 ,don't you 
understand that80    8,i see how it is10
 suddenly cried ,ernest1 8that tippling 
fop has  deceived you4 ,you surely would

 not think of rejecting me for a        
stranger  whose moral character is bad8 
,you are too wise for that4 ,your father
  will not permit you to be so foolish40
    8,i give you to understand1 sir10   
said ,clara reddening with anger1 8my   
father will not compel me to marry any  
one against my will4 ,you have  insulted
 me4 ,leave me1 and never speak to me   
again40    8,o1 ,clara1 ,clara10 cried  
,ernest1 wringing his hands in anguish1 
8do not  drive me from you in this cruel
 way4 ,i beg your pardon4 ,i scarcely   
knew  what ,i was saying4 ,forgive me1  
if ,i said anything offensive40         
8,i'll forgive you1 if you will leave   
me1 and promise never again to  call1   
except as a friend40    ,ernest fixed   
his eyes upon her face1 and gazed so    
strangely that she  shrank1 and hung her
 head4 ,he was trembling like the       
wind-shaken aspen4  ,he was standing on 
the verge of an abyss of darkness1 and  
felt the  ground giving way under his   
feet4 ,he felt as if the foundations of 

his  being were breaking up1 and        
drifting off1 leaving him to sink down  
into the horrid blackness4 ,how could he
 cry to ,god to sustain him in  this    
supreme hour of distress6 ,the chilling 
waves were rolling over  him3 a great   
suffocating lump seemed to be forming in
 his heart4 ,his  soul reeled4 ,he      
looked up to the ceiling of the room1   
and seemed to be  trying to see through 
it1 and beyond it4 ,his lips worked and 
twitched  convulsively4 ,o1 it is       
pitiable to see a strong man suddenly   
hurled  from his normal tranquillity    
down to the dust of abject despair1 at  
the  feet of an unworthy woman6         
,clara gazed at him with feelings of    
mingled compassion and alarm4 ,she  was 
still more astonished1 when he suddenly 
rose to his feet1 and1  without         
appearing to see her1 walked out of the 
parlor4 ,she noticed  that his face was 
bloodless1 and his lips were firmly     
compressed as  though he were holding   
back some terrible thought which was    

struggling  to find egress4 ,in a few   
moments his rapid footsteps had died    
away4    8,what a strange man60 she     
said4 8,i wonder what he is going to do8
 ,i  didn't think he would take it so   
hard as that4 ,but marriage would have  
made us both miserable40    ,thus there 
was a sudden divergence of the path of  
destiny4 ,there is  nothing more common 
in the affairs of this life than these  
unexpected  transitions from one        
condition to another4 ,we may carefully 
spread the  warp on the loom1 but the   
shuttle which holds the woof1 is        
projected by  an unseen hand4 ,our      
well-settled purposes1 our deep-laid    
schemes1 are  thwarted1 and scattered to
 the winds4 ,we stand astounded and     
appalled  in the wreck of our hopes and 
plans1 not knowing what to do1 when     
presently we turn1 and behold a new path
 opened1 and uncontrollable             
circumstances force us to pursue it4    
,illustration3 ,decoration              
,,chapter ,v4    ,,deep ,,waters4       

,it was a bright moon-lit night1 and the
 town of ---- showed dimly  in the      
silvery sheen which vaguely illuminated 
the half of every  object4 ,it was calm 
and quiet4 ,the people were sitting in  
groups on  the galleries1 porticoes and 
piazzas of their respective residences1 
enjoying the cooling breezes that stole 
out of the circumjacent forests  and    
crept gently along the deserted streets4
           8',twas one of those         
delicious nights1         ,so common in 
the climes of ,greece1       ,when day  
withdraws but half his lights1          
,and all is moonshine1 balm and peace40 
,ernest and ,mr4 ,hillston were sitting 
in the gallery of the preacher's        
residence4 ,the young man was sad and   
silent4    8,ernest10 said ,mr4         
,hillston kindly1 8what is the matter   
with you8 ,you  have not been like      
yourself for two or three days4 ,you    
seem to be in  deep trouble40    8,so ,i
 am1 ,mr4 ,hillston4 ,i am wading       
through the #8deep waters' about  which 

you sing40    8,i knew there was        
something the matter4 ,is it anything   
you can tell8  ,sometimes it is a great 
relief to unbosom ourselves to a kind   
friend1  who can sympathize with us1 if 
nothing more40    8,i do not mind       
telling you1 ,mr4 ,hillston1 though ,i  
cannot see that it  will do any good40  
8,you do not know that4 ,i have lived a 
long time in this world1 and  have1 at  
least1 tried to comfort a great many    
people under clouds of  sorrow4         
,probably ,i might be able to give you  
some advice which would be  useful40    
8,well1 you know ,i was engaged to be   
married to ,clara ,vanclure80    8,yes2 
you told me that40    8,she has broken  
the engagement40    8,for what reason80 
8,i suspect that ,comston has deceived  
her40    8,did you have no quarrel with 
her8 ,frequently young people fall out  
about trifles1 and soon become          
reconciled40    8,no2 we had no quarrel4
 ,she discarded me coolly and           
deliberately40    8,well1 my dear boy10 

said ,mr4 ,hillston1 with tenderness1   
8it is no more  than ,i expected40      
8,why80 asked ,ernest4    8,do you not  
remember some weeks ago1 when you told  
me about the affair1  that you thought  
,i did not approve your choice80        
8,yes1 sir1 distinctly40    8,i did not 
think you had made a wise selection1 and
 as ,i did not  congratulate you then1  
,i now congratulate you on the happy    
termination  of the affair40    8,you   
are cruel1 ,mr4 ,hillston10 said        
,ernest1 in a tone of bitterness4       
8,far from it1 my boy4 ,i know you must 
suffer for a while4 ,but mark what  ,i  
say3 you will1 no doubt1 see the day    
when you will regard it as the  best    
that could have happened to you4 ,i was 
surprised at your choice1  but as the   
poet says3           #8,lovers are      
blind1 and cannot see       ,the petty  
faults themselves commit4'      ,but ,i 
could see that ,miss ,clara would not   
suit you at all4 ,she  has as few       
qualifications for a minister's wife as 

any lady of my  acquaintance40          
8,minister's wife60 exclaimed ,ernest4  
8,she would not have been a  minister's 
wife40    8,i see you are still disposed
 to disobey the ,divine call2 but you   
would  better yield1 or your present    
trouble will be only the beginning of   
sorrows4 ,i have no doubt that it is    
foreordained that you shall be a        
preacher of the gospel40    8,look here1
 ,mr4 ,hillston10 cried ,ernest         
suddenly1 8,i have been reading  my     
,bible to discover if that doctrine of  
predestination is taught40    8,well1 do
 you find it in ,god's ,word80 quietly  
asked ,mr4 ,hillston4    8,i think not1 
sir4 ,on the contrary1 ,i find all      
through it that man is a  free agent40  
8,my dear boy1 who denies that man is a 
free agent8 ,i am sure that  ,i will    
endorse every passage which you can cite
 that teaches human  responsibility40   
8,why1 ,i do not see1 ,mr4 ,hillston1   
how you can possibly reconcile          
predestination with man's free moral    

agency40    8,i do not pretend to do so1
 ,ernest4 ,you are like a good many     
people  ,i know1 who think that         
predestination is not taught in ,god's  
,word1  because they cannot make it     
harmonize with free agency4 ,i have     
frequently been amused at some ministers
 who undertook to show that  there is no
 such doctrine as fore-ordination in the
 ,bible4 ,they quoted  those passages   
which prove that man is a free agent1   
and then at once  jumped to the         
conclusion that ,god could not shape or 
control human  destiny4 ,we must accept 
both doctrines1 for both are clearly    
taught in  the ,scriptures4 ,you cannot 
understand the ,trinity1 but your       
failure to  comprehend it is no proof of
 its falsity1 is it80    8,no1 sir1 of  
course not4 ,but ,i did not think you   
could hold to  predestination and free  
agency at the same time4 ,what do you do
 with  the passage of ,scripture which  
says that #8,christ tasted death for    
every  man8'0    8,do with it8 ,i accept

 it without hesitation as a precious    
truth40    8,well1 well1 well10 said    
,ernest1 as though greatly perplexed1   
8and yet  you say that some men were    
condemned from all eternity4 ,how in the
  world can that be8 #8,whosoever will1'
 says the ,scripture1 #8let him take    
the water of life freely4'0             
8,certainly10 answered the preacher1    
gently4 8,i quote that in every  sermon 
,i preach1 and urge sinners to avail    
themselves of the  world-embracing      
invitation40    8,but if their destiny  
is already determined1 what is the use  
of your  preaching to them and urging   
them80    8,now1 my boy1 don't begin at 
the roof to build your house1 but       
commence  at the foundation1 and work   
upward4 ,suppose ,i show that this      
#8horrid  doctrine1' as some people call
 it1 is contained in ,god's ,word80     
8,well1 ,i wish you would10 said        
,ernest4 8,i am open to conviction40    
8,then let us go into my study1 and     
appeal to the ,blessed ,book itself2    

for it should be final in every         
theological controversy40    ,they were 
soon seated1 and the old man arranged   
his spectacles1 and  opened the ,bible4 
8,it seems to me10 said ,mr4 ,hillston1 
8that the eighth and ninth  chapters of 
the epistle to the ,romans ought to     
remove every doubt on  this subject4    
,you have surely noticed the celebrated 
passage1 ,romans  #h3bi4 ,now here it   
is3 #8,whom ,he did fore-know1 ,he did  
predestinate4'  ,what does predestinate 
mean8 ,it has only one meaning40        
8,that is true10 said ,ernest1 8but     
might it not refer to the righteous     
character8 ,he did fore-know and        
predestinate the righteous character4   
,i can admit that40    8,how will you   
separate a man from his character80     
asked ,mr4 ,hillston4  8,you might just 
as well talk of separating sugar from   
its sweetness4  ,what is the character  
of sugar8 ,it is sweet4 ,can you deprive
 it of  this attribute without utterly  
destroying it8 ,certain qualities and   

attributes constitute character1 and    
make the man4 ,if a man has no          
character1 he is a brute4 ,godliness1   
holiness1 etc41 are nothing  till they  
become concrete by entering into the    
moral constitution of  an individual4   
,it is in vain1 then1 to talk about     
,god's saving the  #8righteous          
character1' because that is nothing but 
an abstraction4  ,besides1 ,paul says1  
#8whom' ,he did fore-know1 not #8what4'0
    8,i will take back the word         
#8character1' if you will allow me10    
said  ,ernest1 8and say that ,god       
predestinates the righteous man40       
8,very well10 replied ,mr4 ,hillston4   
8,we agree1 then1 it is the  individual 
that is foreordained to salvation4 ,all 
denominations are  agreed that there is 
an election of some sort4 ,let me ask   
upon what  principle you think ,god     
elects men to salvation80    8,why1 sir1
 ,god elects those to salvation who ,he 
fore-saw would repent  of their sins40  
8,that view10 said ,mr4 ,hillston1 8is a

 flat contradiction of what ,paul  says4
 ,the apostle describes the several     
steps or processes in the  believer's   
salvation4 ,he does not say that ,god   
predestinated those  who would repent1  
but those #8whom ,he did predestinate   
,he called1  and them that ,he called   
,he justified4' ,according to your view1
 the  passage ought to say3 #8,them whom
 ,he justified1 on account of their     
repentance1 ,he predestinated4' ,the    
plain meaning of the passage is1  that  
,god predestinated some men to          
salvation1 and in consequence of  that  
election1 ,he called them and justified 
them4 ,the apostle  reiterates this view
 in some of the other epistles4 ,here is
 ,eph4 #a3c1  #d1 #e3 #8,blessed be the 
,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus    
,christ who hath  blessed us with all   
spiritual blessings in heavenly places  
in ,christ4  ,according as ,he hath     
chosen us in ,him before the foundation 
of the  world1 that we should be holy   
and without blame before ,him in love4  

,having predestinated us unto the       
adoption of children by ,jesus ,christ  
to ,himself according to the good       
pleasure of ,his will4' ,now10 continued
  ,mr4 ,hillston1 8ought not this       
passage to put an end to all            
controversy8  ,the apostle declares     
there was an election4 ,when8 ,he says  
#8before the  foundation of the world4' 
,why did ,he choose us8 ,was it because 
we were  righteous8 ,no4 ,was it because
 ,god fore-saw that we would repent8    
,no4 ,he  chose us that #8we should     
become holy and with out blame4' ,now   
what do  you say80    8,i confess10 said
 ,ernest1 8that such passages puzzle me 
no little4 ,why  does ,god choose some  
men to salvation1 and pass by others1   
when all are  guilty alike80    8,ah6   
there's the difficulty10 said ,mr4      
,hillston4 8,the good ,lord has not     
informed us on what principle ,he makes 
the choice4 ,if we knew that1  there    
would be an end of all discussion4 ,all 
we know about it is1 that  it is        

#8according to the good pleasure of ,his
 will4' ,is not that a  sufficient      
reason80    8,somehow1 this doctrine of 
predestination appears to me to be      
unjust10  said ,ernest1 looking         
confused4 8,you say that ,god passes by 
some men  without giving them an        
opportunity to be saved40    8,i did not
 say that1 ,ernest40    8,well1 it      
amounts to that40    8,on the contrary1 
they do have an opportunity to be saved4
 ,the  invitations of the gospel are    
extended to all alike1 and all could be 
saved1 if they would4 ,no man ever was  
lost simply on account of the  #8eternal
 decrees4'0    8,why1 how can they be   
saved10 asked ,ernest1 8if it is        
predestinated  that they shall not      
accept the invitations offered to them80
    8,but1 my young friend1 the ,bible  
does not say that they shall not        
accept1 but that they will not4 #8,ye   
will not come unto me that ye  might    
have life1' said our ,lord4 ,the        
greatest obstacle in the way of  human  

salvation is found in the perversity of 
the will4 ,if men only  willed to be    
saved1 they could be4 ,how1 then1 is    
there injustice in  predestination80    
8,well10 said ,ernest1 8if some men are 
foreordained to eternal death1 ,i       
should like to know what is the use of  
your preaching to them80    8,when you  
get to be a minister1 if you discard    
predestination and  election1 ,i want to
 ask you a question or two10 said ,mr4  
,hillston4  8,assuming that you are a   
preacher1 ,i will ask you these         
questions now40    8,very well2         
proceed40    8,you believe in ,god's    
fore-knowledge80    8,certainly40       
8,do you believe that all men will be   
saved80    8,no1 sir2 some will be      
lost10 answered ,ernest4    8,that is   
certain1 is it80    8,of course1 it is40
    8,then10 said ,mr4 ,hillston1 8what 
is the use of your preaching to  certain
 men that ,god knows will be lost8 ,will
 not the same result  follow in both    
instances80    8,yes1 sir2 but ,i throw 

the responsibility of refusing upon     
themselves40    8,let us settle one     
thing at a time1 if you please10 said   
,mr4 ,hillston4  8,we are not talking   
about where the responsibility belongs2 
but1 at  present1 we want to get at the 
facts4 ,i ask you1 if ,god fore-knows   
that  some men will be lost1 is not     
their destiny as much fixed as if it had
  been decreed8 ,answer that40    8,i   
suppose it would be10 replied ,ernest   
hesitatingly1 as though he were  fearful
 of admitting too much1 8but ,god's     
fore-knowledge has no effect  upon human
 destiny40    8,it does not matter about
 that just now4 ,people10 continued ,mr4
  ,hillston1 8frequently ask me the     
question which you have propounded4     
,what is the use of preaching to men    
that are certain to be lost8 ,you  must 
not try to make me remove an objection  
which applies with as much  force to    
your system as to mine4 ,god commands us
 to preach the gospel  to every         
creature1 and that is reason enough4    

,you remember that ,god  commanded      
,ezekiel to preach to the dry bones in  
the valley4 ,the prophet  might have    
said1 #8,what is the use8 ,these bones  
have no life and no  sense4 ,they cannot
 hear3 it is foolish to talk to them4'  
,but ,god said1  #8,preach to them4'    
,sinners are in the condition of those  
dry bones2 but  ,god tells me to preach 
to them4 ,i obey2 ,i know not who are to
 be lost3  my duty is to preach1 and    
,god quickens whom ,he will40    8,i see
 the unfairness of my question10 said   
,ernest honestly4 8,but there  is an    
absurdity in the doctrine of            
predestination1 if ,i only knew how  to 
point it out40    8,look here1 my boy10 
said ,mr4 ,hillston kindly1 8how can you
 call that  an #8absurdity' which the   
,bible so clearly teaches80    8,i beg  
pardon1 ,mr4 ,hillston2 ,i will recall  
the offensive word4 ,i will  substitute 
the word injustice for absurdity40      
8,your apology does not mend the        
matter10 answered ,mr4 ,hillston1 8for  

are you going to accuse ,god of         
injustice80    8,no1 sir2 but the       
question is whether it is a doctrine of 
the ,bible40    8,exactly4 ,we agreed to
 let the ,bible settle it10 said ,mr4   
,hillston4  8,i have already called your
 attention to several passages which    
undoubtedly teach it4 ,i can refer to   
instances and passages almost  without  
number in the ,scriptures4 ,the ,bible  
certainly is not silent on  the subject1
 whether we can understand it or not40  
8,i cannot understand10 said ,ernest1   
8how a man can be a free agent1 and  yet
 his destiny is already fixed40    8,and
 yet1 the ,bible is full of instances   
which prove clearly that  predestination
 and free agency operate in perfect     
harmony40    8,name one10 said ,ernest4 
8,well1 take the case of ,judas         
,iscariot3 it was predicted by ,isaiah  
that  the ,lord ,jesus should be        
betrayed for thirty pieces of silver4   
,will you  not admit that ,god had      
,judas in ,his mind1 when this prophecy 

was made80    8,certainly10 replied     
,ernest1 8for a betrayal necessarily    
implies a  betrayer40    8,undoubtedly1 
because ,god could not foresee a        
betrayal disconnected  entirely from any
 individual4 ,you will also admit that  
after the  prediction was made1 it must 
be fulfilled1 and ,judas must betray    
,christ80    8,i do not see that ,i must
 admit that40    8,but you must1        
though10 said ,mr4 ,hillston4    8,why  
must ,i80 asked ,ernest4    8,well1     
suppose ,judas had not betrayed the     
,lord for thirty pieces of  silver1 what
 would have become of ,isaiah's         
prophecy8 ,would it not have  been      
falsified80    8,i suppose so10 said    
,ernest a little doggedly4    8,suppose 
so60 cried ,mr4 ,hillston4 8,how can    
there possibly be any doubt  about it8  
,after a prophesy is uttered1 and even  
written down1 it must  be fulfilled1 or 
,god's word is falsified40    8,yes2 ,i 
admit that1 for the sake of argument40  
8,well1 when the proper time arrived1   

,judas betrayed the ,lord4 ,he          
evidently performed a part which was    
predestinated4 ,was he not a free       
agent80    8,not if he was compelled to 
do as he did10 answered ,ernest4        
8,no1 if he was compelled10 replied ,mr4
 ,hillston1 8but where was the          
compulsion8 ,he was carrying out his own
 will and if he was1 that makes  him a  
free agent4 ,his conduct afterwards     
proves that he never felt  that he was  
constrained by any extraneous influence4
 ,the crucifixion  was foretold with all
 its attendant prominent circumstances1 
and to  prove that it was predestinated1
 let us turn to ,acts #b3bc4 #8,him     
being  delivered by the determinate     
counsel and fore-knowledge of ,god1 ye  
have  taken1 and by wicked hands have   
crucified and slain4'    8,here it is   
emphatically declared that ,jesus was   
delivered by the  determinate counsel of
 ,god4 ,to show that the actors in the  
disgraceful  tragedy were free agents1  
it is said that they crucified ,him with

  wicked hands4 ,but to put it beyond   
all dispute1 that it was all            
predestinated1 let us turn to ,acts     
#d3bg-bh3 #8,for of a truth against  thy
 holy child ,jesus1 whom ,thou hast     
anointed1 both ,herod and ,pontius      
,pilate1 with the ,gentiles1 and the    
people of ,israel1 were gathered        
together1 for to do whatsoever thy hand 
and thy counsel determined  before to be
 done4'    8,here1 the actors are all   
clearly specified4 ,they met at a       
certain  place4 ,for what8 ,to do       
whatsoever ,god had determined before   
should be  done4 ,you can get no other  
meaning out of it4 ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke   
saw a  difficulty here1 and he took the 
liberty to transpose the passage so  as 
to make it read thus3 #8,for a truth    
against thy holy child ,jesus1  whom    
,thou hast anointed1 for to do          
whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel     
determined before to be done4'    8,dr4 
,clarke thus makes the predestination   
clause apply to ,jesus1  instead of     

,herod1 and the others4 ,it seems the   
,doctor did not mind  stripping ,jesus  
of free agency1 just so he could        
preserve it to men4  ,but ,mr4 ,benson1 
who had no leaning towards              
predestination1 says that  such a       
transposition as ,clarke makes is       
unauthorized and unnecessary40    8,do  
you think10 asked ,ernest1 8that ,dr4   
,clarke was insincere8 ,i mean1  do you 
believe he discovered the doctrine of   
predestination in that  passage1 and    
then deliberately tried to eliminate    
it80    8,o1 no10 replied ,mr4          
,hillston1 8,i think he honestly        
believed that  the doctrine of          
predestination1 as taught by most       
,baptist ministers  and especially by   
the ,presbyterian ,church1 has no       
foundation in  the ,scriptures1 and thus
 believing1 he could not admit the plain
  meaning of what seems to me a plain   
passage4 ,he1 no doubt1 thought by      
transposing a clause1 he would make the 
,bible say what was intended4  ,but what

 does the ,doctor gain by this          
transposition8 ,if ,jesus was not  a    
free agent1 we are under no obligation  
to ,him for fulfilling the law  in our  
stead and suffering for us4 ,he was     
merely undergoing a penalty  which ,he  
could not avoid4 ,was it not necessary  
that ,jesus should be a  free agent as  
well as that men should80    8,but      
according to your view10 said ,ernest1  
8,he could be a free agent1  and yet    
,his career be fore-ordained40          
8,exactly1 but according to ,dr4        
,clarke's view1 if ,his career was      
foreordained1 ,he could not be a free   
agent2 that is the difference4  ,these  
men1 ,herod1 ,pilate1 and the others1   
carried out their own will  and the     
,divine will at the same time1 and ,i   
see no difficulty in it4  ,that is the  
great advantage the predestinarian has4 
,when he meets  with a passage that     
teaches predestination1 he admits it2   
and when he  meets with another that    
teaches free agency1 he admits it4 ,he  

makes  no pause to try to reconcile     
them1 because he sees no inconsistency4 
,but when ,dr4 ,clarke1 and those who   
believe like him1 come to one of  these 
passages1 #8hard to be understood1' as  
,peter says1 they halt  and endeavor to 
harmonize it with their belief4 ,when   
the ,bible1 in  speaking of ,pharaoh1   
says1 8,for this purpose have ,i raised 
thee up10 we  predestinarians at once   
acknowledge ,god's hand1 and we read on 
without  stopping to explain4 ,but ,dr4 
,clarke comes to it and finds an        
obstacle4  ,he must pause and try to    
determine what is meant by #8raising    
up1' and  must explain it so as not to  
interfere with man's free agency4 ,we   
read  that ,god hardened ,pharaoh's     
heart and in the next passage we read   
that  ,pharaoh hardened his own heart4  
,we predestinarians find no difficulty  
here1 for we see the two doctrines      
working together in perfect  harmony1   
but ,dr4 ,clarke becomes puzzled4 #8,how
 is this8' he says4 #8,if  ,god hardened

 ,pharaoh's heart1 how could ,pharaoh   
have hardened his own  heart8' ,so the  
good ,doctor must enter into a long     
explanation of this  hardening process40
    8,one of the passages you have      
quoted10 said ,ernest1 who appeared  to 
be confused by perplexing thoughts1     
8says1 #8according to the               
fore-knowledge4' ,could it not have been
 that ,god merely fore-saw what  ,judas 
and others would do and based the       
prophecy upon foreknowledge80    8,that 
only removes the difficulty one step10  
replied ,mr4 ,hillston4  8,for whatever 
,god fore-saw1 must take place4 ,but the
 passage says also  #8determinate       
counsels4' ,what does that mean80    8,i
 know you think it means                
predestination40    8,i certainly do10  
replied ,mr4 ,hillston4 8,but ,i think  
we have found  predestination in at     
least two instances which prove that    
there  is no conflict between the two   
principles we are discussing4 ,if       
fore-ordination and free agency could   

work in harmony in the case of  ,judas1 
why not in the case of every human      
being4 ,i want to ask you a  question   
right here40    8,i will answer it1 if  
,i can10 said ,ernest4    8,you have    
already acknowledged that ,god          
fore-knows all things1 #8every  deed    
which men will perform and even every   
thought which will pass  through their  
minds'4 ,now suppose ,god should order  
some ,jeremiah to  write out the history
 of every human being3 we would have a  
tremendous  book of prophecy which would
 include every individual of the human  
race4 ,you will admit that all these    
prophecies would have to be             
accomplished or ,god's word would be    
falsified4 ,you will admit1 also1  that 
if no one knew anything about this great
 and enormous book except  the writer1  
men would be free agents8 ,how could    
merely recording their  actions without 
their knowledge affect their conduct80  
8,it could not10 said ,ernest4          
8,well1 then1 are men's actions any the 

less uncertain because they are  not    
written out in a book8 ,the history of  
every human being is written  out in the
 ,divine ,mind4 ,is that history any the
 less uncertain because  it is not      
published in a tangible volume8 ,god's  
not fore-telling  what ,he fore-knows1  
does not leave men at liberty to change 
their  conduct4 ,if it did1 the ,lord   
could fore-know nothing with certainty4 
,if then ,god could write out the       
history of every human being without    
doing the least violence to his free    
agency1 how can you object to           
predestination8 ,my history is fixed1   
and so is yours and every other  man's1 
and that is predestination40    ,ernest 
said nothing1 and ,mr4 ,hillston        
continued3    8,but let us turn to the  
,scriptures again4 ,here is ,john       
#ae3af3 #8,ye  have not chosen me1 but  
,i have chosen you4' ,again1 #a ,cor4   
#a3bf3 #8,for  ye see your calling1     
brethren1 how that not many wise men    
after the  flesh1 not many mighty1 not  

many noble are called1' etc4 ,i could   
refer  to a great many passages of      
similar import4 ,is not election clearly
  taught in such ,scriptures8 ,then it  
is said that ,god did not choose ,his   
people on account of their righteous    
character1 but that ,he might make  them
 righteous4 ,when they were chosen1 they
 were children of wrath even  as others4
 ,this is proved in the #aeth chapter of
 ,john1 where ,jesus1  speaking of ,his 
people under the similitude of sheep1   
says3 8,other  sheep ,i have which are  
not of this fold0--that is they were in 
the  world out of the fold2 they were   
sinners and yet were ,god's people1 to  
be brought in1 when it should please    
,god4    8,i do no see how anyone can   
read the eighth and ninth chapters of   
,romans without believing in the        
doctrine of predestination and          
election4 ,paul there answers the very  
objections which are to this  day urged 
against divine fore-ordination4 ,peter  
certainly understood  ,paul to advocate 

this #8horrid doctrine1' for he says it 
is #8hard to be  understood4' ,if ,paul 
was writing about free agency1 there was
 no need  to say it was hard to be      
understood40    8,i have read these     
chapters10 said ,ernest1 8and ,i confess
 they are  mysterious40    8,what makes 
them mysterious80 asked ,mr4 ,hillston4 
8,don't you see if  you can eliminate   
predestination and election out of them1
 they would  not be mysterious8 ,why do 
so many people stumble over these       
chapters  especially8 ,it is because    
their foot strikes against these two    
hard  doctrines40    8,you have used the
 word #8election1'0 said ,ernest1 8but  
do not some  people say that it applies 
only to the election of classes or      
nations  to temporal privileges1 and not
 to the election of individuals to      
eternal salvation80    8,yes2 but let us
 settle that point by the ,scriptures4  
,turn to ,acts  #ac3dh3 #8,and when the 
,gentiles heard this they were glad1 and
 glorified  the word of the ,lord2 and  

as many as were ordained to eternal life
  believed4' ,some people have wished   
that the last clause could be           
transposed so as to read3 #8,as many as 
believed were ordained to  eternal      
life4' ,but it is too plain to be       
tampered with in this way4  ,again1 in  
second ,thessalonians #b3ac3 #8,but we  
are bound to give thanks  always to ,god
 for you1 brethren1 beloved of the      
,lord1 because ,god  hath from the      
beginning chosen you to salvation       
through sanctification  of the ,spirit  
and belief of the truth4' ,again1       
,hebrews #ab3bc3 #8,to  the general     
assembly and ,church of the first-born  
which are written  in heaven4' ,again1  
,philippians #d3c3 #8,whose names are in
 the book of  life4' ,i could go on1 and
 cite ,i know not how many more         
passages1  all proving that there is an 
election of individuals unto eternal    
salvation40    8,there is evidently an  
election of individuals10 said ,ernest1 
8but why  could it not be based upon    

men's foreseen repentance and faith4 ,i 
could  accept that doctrine40    8,no   
doubt10 answered the preacher1 8for that
 is more agreeable to  the carnal heart4
 ,men like so much to deserve salvation 
by their own  works--their own faith and
 repentance4 ,according to the          
,scriptures1  this election is based    
upon ,god's will4 ,but if you will      
modify your  position a little1 ,i think
 we can agree4 ,if you will say that    
this  election is based upon faith and  
repentance brought about by the ,holy   
,spirit1 we need not have any further   
discussion40    8,but ,i do not mean    
that4 ,i mean that men perceive the     
truth and act  upon it40    8,of        
themselves1 do you mean80    8,well1    
with the assistance of the ,holy        
,spirit40    8,but men10 said ,mr4      
,hillston1 8are represented in the      
,scriptures as  dead in trespasses and  
sins4 ,lazarus is a fit type of the     
sinner4 ,could  ,lazarus have raised    
himself from the grave without the      

assistance  of the ,lord8 ,is it not    
evident that he could do nothing till he
  was actually restored to life8 ,so it 
was with the man who had the  diseased  
arm4 ,he could not make an effort till  
the limb was healed4  #8,by grace are ye
 saved1' says the ,scripture1 #8through 
faith1 and that  not of yourselves2 it  
is the gift of ,god4' ,are not all these
 passages  sufficient to convince and   
satisfy you80    8,of course1 ,i must   
believe what the ,bible says10 replied  
,ernest1 8but  it does appear strange to
 me how a man can be a free agent1 and  
yet his  destiny is fixed40    8,no one 
ever denied that it is strange4 ,indeed1
 it is incomprehensible2  but we are not
 to reject it on that account4 ,all we  
have to do is to  ascertain whether it  
is contained in ,god's ,word or not4    
,but after all1  what do we mean by     
predestination8 ,why just this1 that    
,god had a  purpose in view in the      
creation of the world4 ,he surely was   
not trying  experiments4 ,he did not put

 men in the world1 and turn them loose1 
to  see what they would do4 ,you will   
not deny that ,he fore-knew who would   
be saved and who would be lost80        
8,no1 ,i do not deny that40    8,well1  
there is no power in mere fore          
knowledge4 ,would not ,god1 then1  have 
to exercise power in order to accomplish
 what ,he fore-knew80    8,it seems that
 ,he would1 sir40    8,well1 that is    
predestination4 ,it is the execution of 
the divine  purpose4 ,so you see that1  
without predestination1 ,god could not  
have  made the world--could not have    
created man4 ,notwithstanding that ,he  
fore-saw some would be lost1 ,he        
determined to create them1 and that     
determination on the part of ,god1 is   
predestination4 ,then1 eliminate        
predestination1 and you represent ,god  
in the attitude of a sort of            
empiricist4 ,he creates men without any 
particular purpose in view4  ,besides1  
there is another difficulty4 ,when there
 was nothing in  existence1 how could   

,god foresee anything except what ,he   
had determined  upon8 ,would not ,god   
have to determine that things should be1
 before  ,he could fore-see them8 ,i    
cannot imagine how the ,lord could have 
made  the world without predestination4 
,man1 with his limited wisdom1 never    
undertakes enterprises without          
determining something in regard to them4
  ,do you suppose that ,god put men here
 without any purpose80    8,no1 sir2 of 
course1 ,he had a purpose40    8,really1
 when you admit that1 there is no use of
 discussion1 for that  purpose is       
predestination4 ,we can ascertain what  
,god's purposes are1  only by what takes
 place4 ,we see that some men are lost  
and some are  saved1 and all this must  
be in accordance with ,god's purpose1   
and that  is what we mean by            
predestination40    8,you can beat me in
 argument10 suddenly exclaimed ,ernest4 
8,i have not  studied the question      
sufficiently40    8,the more you study  
it10 said ,mr4 ,hillston1 8the more you 

will be  convinced that it is the       
doctrine of the ,bible40    8,whenever  
,i am convinced10 replied ,ernest1 8you 
may rest assured that  ,i will accept   
it4 ,but ,i am not satisfied4 ,what you 
have said appears  reasonable2 but ,i   
know there is something to be said on   
the other  side1 if ,i knew how to get  
at it40    8,i don't know10 answered    
,mr4 ,hillston2 8you have mentioned the 
usual  objections that men urge against 
it4 ,but when you find any good         
argument on your side1 let me know what 
it is4 ,let me caution you  on one      
point1 though4 ,do not seek out those   
passages of ,scripture  which teach free
 agency1 and put them against the       
passages that favor  predestination4    
,for that is only fighting ,scripture   
with ,scripture4  ,you must not make the
 ,bible contradict itself1 but you must 
try to  reconcile these seemingly       
antagonistic passages4 ,in the meantime1
 try  to apply this doctrine to your own
 case4 ,your steps are ordered by the   

,lord4 ,recognize ,god's hand in your   
affairs1 and thus predestination        
becomes a practical1 comforting         
doctrine1 instead of that #8horrid      
thing' which some people call it40      
,ernest took his leave4 ,he was almost  
convinced by the arguments of ,mr4      
,hillston1 but he was not yet prepared  
to acknowledge it4    ,men pride        
themselves upon consistency1 and some   
will even cling to an  error rather than
 appear fickle-minded4 ,away1 we say1   
with such absurd  and false consistency6
 ,it is morally degrading4              
,,chapter ,,vi4    ,,manassas4          
,while the never-ceasing march of time  
was unfolding the events which  have    
been narrated1 others of a more         
startling and melancholy character  were
 evolving from the womb of the future4  
,we have now reached the  historical    
year of #ahfa1 which has already taken  
its place along with  other famous      
periods that have marked the turning    
points in humanity's  progress4 ,the    

reader1 in order fully to understand the
 present story1  must again gaze in     
imagination at the gloomy clouds of war1
 and listen  to the awful earthquake of 
battle1 the sharp rattle of musketry1   
varied  with the deep bass of cannon1   
the thundering tramp of cavalry1 the    
deafening shouts of the victor1 and the 
piteous groans of the wounded  and      
dying4    ,on the morning of the #bast  
,july #ahfa1 at early dawn1 the boom of 
a  single cannon broke the solemn       
stillness and sacred silence of the     
,lord's day4 ,it was the signal gun of  
,manassas1 fired by the ,federal  troops
 opposite the stone bridge which spans  
the now celebrated rivulet  known as    
,bull ,run4 ,it was thirty minutes past 
six o'clock when this gun  awoke the    
first echoes of the initial battle of   
the so-called great  8,rebellion40      
,general ,mc,dowell1 as rapidly as      
possible1 pushed forward his forces to  
the main point of attack1 which was the 
left wing of the ,confederate  army1    

resting at the stone bridge4 ,it appears
 that it was ,general  ,beauregard's    
intention to make an aggressive movement
 by attacking the  enemy's left wing1   
but suddenly his plan was turned against
 himself1  and he was forced to act upon
 the defensive4 ,general ,hunter threw  
his  command forward1 and crossed ,bull 
,run some distance above the stone      
bridge4 ,the extreme ,confederate left  
was held by ,evans who had only  fifteen
 companies of infantry and ,latham's    
battery of six-pounders4  ,a            
demonstration was made in his front at  
stone bridge while ,hunter  was crossing
 at ,suddle ford4 ,as soon as this      
movement of ,hunter's was  reported to  
,evans1 he took eleven companies1       
leaving four to guard the  bridge1 and  
with this small force rapidly went      
forward to sustain the  shock of #cj1jjj
 men4 ,it seemed impossible that this   
little ,spartan  band could stand before
 the impetuous onset of an enthusiastic 
army1  outnumbering them by twenty to   

one4 ,but ,beauregard and ,johnson were 
several miles off1 and ,evans must      
assume the responsibility of giving     
shape to the battle4 ,history hardly    
gives this man the praise which  is due1
 who1 without any authority to order up 
reinforcements1 had  to initiate a      
movement of his own in the very face of 
the defeated  plans of the commanding   
,general4 ,had it not been for ,evan's  
prompt  action and his quick            
comprehension of the critical situation1
 the  whole ,confederate army might soon
 have been thrown into inextricable     
confusion4 ,but ,evans1 at once1        
perceived the necessity of checking     
,mc,dowell's army till ,beauregard could
 form a new line of battle1 and  send   
forward the necessary reinforcements4   
,the struggle that took place  was      
bitter and determined1 for both parties 
were in a state of military             
effervescence4 ,the ,northern army      
especially was drunk with enthusiasm1   
and anticipated an easy victory over the

 poorly-equipped 8rebels40  ,many       
,congressmen and citizens1 including    
elegant ladies1 had come from           
,washington to participate in the       
celebration of the grand victory  which 
they had no doubt would be achieved4    
,they had sent to ,centerville  all     
kinds of delicacies1 fine wines and the 
like1 with which they  expected to have 
a splendid collation as soon as the     
battle should be  ended4 ,we may here   
mention a fact1 to which ,northern      
historians have  never given much       
prominence1 if they have not            
deliberately suppressed  it3 ,several   
wagons were loaded with hand-cuffs1 with
 which to manacle  the captured 8rebels0
 and lead them along the streets of     
,washington in  triumph4 ,the ,federals 
were1 therefore1 much enraged when they 
found  their march checked by this      
handfull of 8rebels0--a single regiment 
from ,south ,carolina and a company from
 ,wheat's battallion4 ,it could not  be 
expected that ,evans could hold his     

position for any great length of  time  
against such terrible odds4 ,he was     
gradually driven back4 ,but the  gallant
 ,bee soon came up4 ,his arrival was    
most timely1 for the whole  ,southern   
line was now giving way1 reeling1       
staggering under the hot1  concentrated 
fire of ,mc,dowell's army4 ,bee rapidly 
advanced with four  regiments1 and the  
battle was1 at once1 renewed with       
additional fury4  ,for an hour1 this    
brigade1 with the few bleeding companies
 of ,evans1  decimated by their heroic  
effort to check the advance of a whole  
army1  stood their ground1 and fought   
with a desperation born of pride and    
patriotism4 ,it seems that ,beauregard  
had made no preparations for an  attack 
at this point4    ,twelve o'clock       
arrived1 and found the little army of   
,bee and ,evans in a  most critical     
condition4 ,it was slowly falling back4 
,there would soon  have been a panic1   
had not ,bee discovered the famous      
brigade of the  immortal 8,stonewall0   

,jackson1 coming to his relief4         
8,general10 groaned  ,bee1 as he        
galloped back1 begrimed with the smoke  
and dust of battle1  8they are beating  
us back40 8,sir1 we will give them the  
bayonet10  calmly and curtly replied the
 ,man of ,iron4 ,bee immediately rushed 
back  to his disordered and disheartened
 soldiers1 and pointing with his  sword1
 cried out3 8,look at ,jackson1 men1    
standing like a stone wall40  ,and thus 
on that bloody field1 amid the roar of  
battle and the groans  of the dying1 the
 hero was christened with a name which  
has superseded  that given by his       
parents4    ,again the battle was       
renewed4 ,jackson held his position for 
an hour1  which enabled ,beauregard to  
hurry forward troops from the lower     
fords of ,bull ,run4 ,when ,beauregard  
and ,johnson arrived on the field  about
 twelve o'clock1 the day was going      
against the ,confederates4 ,but         
fortunately1 while the 8rebels0 were    
wavering1 and would in a short  time    

have been utterly defeated1 there was an
 inexplicable lull in the  fight4 ,the  
,federals had halted4 ,at that time they
 were novices in the  art of war1 and   
did not appreciate the importance of    
those critical  junctures when the      
fortunes of both parties are trembling  
in the  balance1 or when nothing is     
needed but a vigorous movement to secure
 a  decided victory4 ,but in half an    
hour1 ,beauregard had reestablished his 
lines1 and the contest was again        
renewed4 ,fresh troops were arriving on 
both sides4    ,from one till after     
three o'clock1 the historian is unable  
to follow  the cloud of this battle4    
,this period was what an elegant writer 
calls  the quid obscurum of battle4 ,the
 war-cloud was broken up1 and floated   
about in uncertainty4 ,victory1         
trembling in doubt1 hovered over one    
party and then the other4 ,nobody can   
tell what was done4 ,tactics had  become
 useless4 ,each individual soldier was  
his own commander4 ,it was  a wild      

sozzle--an enormous street melee4       
,batteries were charged and  captured1  
and in a moment afterwards1 re-captured4
 ,there was no base  anywhere2          
everything was shifting4 ,volumes of    
smoke rolled up2 cannon  roared2 muskets
 rattled2 shouts and groans--all mingled
 together in  one horrid bedlam of      
confusion4 ,for two hours there was this
 irregular  contest1 in which men fought
 more as individuals than as companies4 
,three o'clock came4 ,the fortunes of   
the ,confederates were extremely  dark4 
,they had lost some of their best and   
bravest officers4 ,hampton  was shot    
while leading on his men in desperation4
 ,the noble ,bee1 who  had baptized     
,jackson with blood1 fell mortally      
wounded at the head of  the ,alabamians 
in the thickest of the fray1 grasping   
his sword and  urging on his men with   
his dying breath4 ,the magnanimous      
,barton1 while  rallying the seventh    
,georgia1 was shot through the head1 and
 as he  fell1 exclaimed3 8,they have    

killed me1 but never give up the field10
  and his pure1 brave spirit winged its 
flight away from this awful scene  of   
carnage1 confusion and death4 ,fisher1  
of the 8old ,north ,state10 was  killed2
 ,colonels ,gartrell and ,falkner were  
hors de combat4 ,many  officers of lower
 grade1 whose names will never be known1
 lay stretched  upon the ground1 never  
to rise again4    ,but the supreme      
moment had come4 ,both parties now      
prepared for the  final blow4 ,it was   
four o'clock1 and the evening was hot   
and sultry4  ,the ,federal army was     
drawn up in the form of a crescent4     
,they begin  to advance4 ,they expect1  
it seems1 to flank the left wing of the 
,confederate army4 ,what was their      
amazement to find themselves suddenly   
confronted and flanked on their right   
wing by #agjj fresh troops4 ,it  was the
 army of ,kirby ,smith1 for which       
,johnson had been so anxiously  looking 
for several hours4 ,indeed1 he had gone 
back to hasten forward  these troops1   

who came on the railroad2 but as there  
was not a moment  to lose1 the cars were
 stopped1 and the troops were hastily   
hurried  from the train in the forest4  
,this arrival added another feature to  
,bull ,run that made up its similarity  
to the battle of ,waterloo in #ahae4    
,if the reader will take the trouble to 
compare these two battles1 he  will     
discover that there was a striking      
resemblance between them1 in  several   
respects4 ,hugo's letter ,a1 with some  
slight modifications1  will apply to    
,bull ,run4 ,the whole fight of         
,waterloo was for the plateau  of ,mont 
,st4 ,jean3 the whole fight of ,bull    
,run was for a plateau1  where the      
battle began and ended4 ,in the         
afternoon1 there was the  same irregular
 contest4 ,toward nightfall ,blucher    
burst upon the field  like a terrible   
avalanche1 before which the dismayed    
,french fled in  terror4 ,about four    
o'clock in the evening of that ,sabbath 
day1 just  as ,beauregard gave the order

 to his entire line to advance1 ,kirby  
,smith1 like ,blucher1 suddenly emerged 
from the woods1 and burst like a        
thunder-clap upon the scene4 ,this1 at  
once1 changed the whole aspect of  the  
fight4 ,the disheartened ,federals gave 
way on the right1 and fled  before the  
intrepid soldiers of ,kirby ,smith4 ,at 
the same time1 the  entire 8rebel0 army 
charged with reviving hopes and renewed 
energy4 ,the  ,federals disappeared like
 phantoms from the gory scene1 leaving  
clouds  of smoke1 abandoned wagons1     
wounded and dead men1 to mark the spot  
where they had so lately fought with a  
courage and desperation worthy  of their
 blood4 ,kirby ,smith had saved the day4
    ,soon the roar of battle ceased1 and
 the 8rebel yell0 announced to  those in
 the distance that the first important  
battle of the war had  terminated in    
favor of the 8,great ,rebellion40 ,the  
8,grand ,army10 which  had1 that        
,sabbath morning1 marched out with so   
firm a step1 rolled back  upon          

,washington in broken fragments4 ,it may
 appear a strange fact in  history1 but 
that one battle terminated the whole    
campaign of the year  #ahfa4    ,the    
enemy has gone1 and the storm of battle 
has subsided4 ,we can now  quietly walk 
over the terrible field1 and examine its
 gory wake4 ,in  the final charge1 the  
second ,mississippi1 with the exception 
of one  regiment1 was on the extreme    
left wing of the ,confederate army4     
,just  at the time that ,kirby ,smith's 
bayonet flashed like lightning into the 
cloud of battle1 a young officer was    
seen to wave his sword1 and fall  to the
 earth with a groan4 ,it was ,ernest    
,edgefield4    ,illustration3           
,decoration          ,,chapter ,,vii4   
,,after ,,the ,,battle4      ,sometimes 
in battle a soldier suddenly finds      
himself prostrated to the  earth4 ,he   
knows not what has happened4 ,a         
dizziness comes over him4  ,then he     
glances down at his limbs1 and discovers
 that he is bleeding4  ,he knows he is  

wounded1 but he cannot tell to what     
extent4 ,it may be  a fearful shot which
 will end his mortal existence the next 
moment1  or it may be only a severe     
shock that has touched no vital part4   
,when  ,ernest fell1 it was a moment    
before he could clearly comprehend what 
had occurred4 ,one of his company ran to
 him1 and asked3    8,are you much      
hurt80    8,yes2 ,i fear ,i have        
received a long furlough40    ,the      
soldier tore off some of his clothing1  
and1 after a brief  examination1 said3  
8,it is a severe wound1 ,captain1 but ,i
 don't think it is fatal4 ,shall ,i     
stay with you80    8,no1 no1 go on with 
the boys4 ,never mind me4 ,we have      
whipped them1  thank ,god1 and ,i can   
die1 if it is ,his will1 with a clear   
conscience4  ,go on with the boys40     
,the soldier gathered up his military   
implements1 and pushed on with his      
comrades in pursuit of the flying foe1  
and ,ernest was left alone with  the    
wounded1 dead and dying4 ,presently he  

fell into a train of thought  as        
follows3    8,perhaps this is another   
warning4 ,i have totally disregarded    
what ,mr4  ,hillston says is my call to 
the ministry4 ,shall ,i now promise     
,god1 as ,i  lie here1 that ,i will     
yield to the call1 if ,he will spare my 
life8 ,no2  for ,i cannot believe that  
,i am called of ,god4 ,why does not ,god
 give me  some reliable evidence1 if ,he
 really wants me to be a minister8 ,i   
shall  wait a while yet4 ,but suppose ,i
 die80 ,he could not make up his mind to
  preach4    ,at six o'clock1 an elderly
 gentleman1 with an honest1 open1       
benevolent  countenance came to the spot
 where ,ernest was lying4 ,he was the   
first  wounded soldier the gentleman    
reached4    8,what is your condition1 my
 young friend80 he asked in a kindly    
voice4    8,i am wounded here in the    
side10 said ,ernest4    8,could you     
travel in a buggy a few miles80    8,i  
think ,i could1 sir40    8,then1 if you 
can1 ,i would be pleased to take you to 

my house1 where  you can have proper    
attention and good nursing4 ,will you   
go8 ,i will  assist you into the buggy40
    8,yes1 sir2 ,i will accept your kind
 offer4 ,how far do you have to go80    
8,about six miles2 but it is a good     
road1 and we can make the drive in  an  
hour4 ,i could hear the fighting all day
 from my house4 ,at noon1  during the   
lull1 ,i supposed the battle might be   
over1 and ,i started to  the scene of   
action4 ,but when ,i had driven three   
miles1 ,i discovered  that the fight was
 renewed with redoubled fury4 ,when it  
ended1 ,i  learned from a courier how   
the day had gone1 and ,i came on to do  
what ,i  could for our wounded4 ,it will
 afford me pleasure to take care of you 
till you are again ready for duty80     
8,i shall be under lasting obligations1 
sir10 replied ,ernest4    ,at once1     
,ernest was assisted into the buggy1 and
 driven along at a slow  pace till they 
reached the gentleman's residence at    
eight o'clock  in the evening4 ,this    

gentleman was a ,presbyterian minister1 
by name  ,dr4 ,arrington4 ,his family   
consisted of a wife and three daughters1
  the elder of whom was about twenty    
years of age--an intelligent1 well      
educated young lady4 ,she had completed 
her education the previous year  at one 
of the best female colleges of          
,virginia4 ,we cannot say that she  was 
perfectly beautiful1 for1 though her    
features seemed faultless when          
contemplated singly1 yet the grouping   
was somehow a little defective4  ,no one
 could tell what was lacking1 but there 
was something4 ,but the  perfection of  
her features enabled her to bear a most 
rigid inspection1  and she improved     
greatly on acquaintance4 ,she had a     
decidedly classical  cast of            
countenance4 ,in conversation her face  
beamed with intelligence  and sympathy1 
which made her appear handsome and      
lovely4 ,she belonged1  in a word1 to   
that class1 who attract more by their   
moral excellencies  than their physical 

graces4 ,mildred ,arrington1 however1   
possessed  a symmetrical figure1 and her
 every movement betrayed elegance of    
manners and refinement of taste and     
intellectual culture4 ,all who were     
intimately acquainted with her1 thought 
her beautiful4    ,with this kind family
 ,ernest remained for many days1 while  
his wound  was slowly healing4 ,dr4     
,arrington had an excellent library1 in 
which  he and his family spent much of  
their time4 ,they were an intellectual  
family4 ,ernest here spent some of the  
happiest hours of his life1 in  the     
company of the three girls1 especially  
,mildred4 ,the ,doctor was also  a      
congenial companion1 and loved to talk4 
,he was an earnest ,christian1  who     
believed1 though1 in getting as much    
legitimate happiness out of  this mortal
 life as possible4 ,there was none of   
the ,pharisee in his  composition4 ,he  
received the gospel with the simple     
faith of a child1  and so preached it4  
,he believed in providing innocent      

amusements for  his family4 ,the        
consequence was1 there was no nicer     
place to visit and  no happier home in  
all the country than ,dr4 ,arrington's4 
,his residence  was full of sunshine1   
and no discordant sound was ever heard  
beneath  that roof4    ,it will not     
appear wonderful1 then1 that the days   
passed rapidly away  in the             
consciousness of ,ernest1 who felt loth 
to put an end to the  period of his     
convalescence4 ,but at last he began to 
painfully realize  that he could not    
remain much longer1 with propriety1     
beneath this  hospitable roof4 ,when he 
thought of leaving ,mildred he          
discovered that  it filled him with the 
keenest pain4 ,but why should it8 ,if he
 really  loved her1 why not propose1 at 
once1 and bind her to him by a tie which
  nothing but death could sever8 ,he    
must go back to the army in a few  days1
 and the probability was1 he could never
 see her again4    ,it was hardly       
reasonable to suppose that he could go  

through many such  scenes as those of   
,bull ,run1 and escape with his life4   
,but he felt that  he could not bid     
farewell to this happy family without   
the prospect of  a closer relationship  
with them in the future4 ,he believed   
that he had  endeared himself to them2  
but one thing was certain1 they had so  
wound  themselves around his heart that 
the thought of never seeing them again  
was intolerable4    ,one day about a    
week before his departure1 he was       
walking in the lawn  in company with    
,mildred4 ,presently ,ernest fell into a
 reverie that made  his face appear more
 solemn than usual4 ,he was aroused by a
 soft voice  at his side3    8,you      
appear to be in a profound study40      
8,so ,i was10 replied ,ernest1 heaving a
 deep sigh4    8,it was something       
unpleasant1 was it not80    8,what makes
 you think so80    8,i noticed your     
countenance10 answered ,mildred1 8just  
now1 which was  expressive of pain40    
8,you are a good physiognomist10 replied

 ,ernest4 8,i was just thinking  that in
 a few days more ,i must return to my   
command40    8,and is it so painful to  
fight for your country80 quickly asked  
,mildred4    8,you misunderstand me10   
said ,ernest4 8,it is no reluctance to  
serve my  country3 for ,god knows that  
,i am willing to die for the            
independence of  the ,confederate       
,states1 if necessary4 ,but there are   
things to me more  bitter than death    
itself40    8,you talk in riddles1      
,captain40    8,yes2 because ,i was     
talking to myself partly4 ,it is due to 
you that ,i  should explain myself40    
,after a pause1 he continued3 8,i have  
had few  associates in my life4 ,my     
father and mother left me a lonely      
orphan  when ,i was a small boy4 ,from  
various causes1 which ,i need not weary 
you by relating1 my life has not been   
very happy4 ,i have found very  few     
congenial companions among either sex4  
,i have now prepared your  mind for the 
reception of the fact1 that the time    

spent beneath your  father's roof1 is   
the happiest portion of my existence4 ,i
 was thinking  just now1 that ,i must   
soon leave1 and the probability is1 ,i  
shall never  again see you and the      
family till we shall all meet in the    
eternal  world40    8,why should you    
take such a gloomy view1 ,captain80     
asked ,mildred1  slightly coloring4 8,we
 destroy our happiness by anticipating  
misfortunes that may never befall us4   
,you may go through the war1 and  come  
out with honors budding thick upon your 
brow4 ,why not look forward  to         
promotion8 ,who knows10 she continued1  
trying to smile1 8but that you  may be a
 ,general80    8,no2 ,i have no ambition
 in that way4 ,i do not want any greater
  responsibility than the command of a  
single company involves40    ,there was 
a pause1 which was broken by ,mildred   
suddenly saying3    8,what foolish      
thoughts will sometimes flash into our  
minds40    8,what mean you80 asked      
,ernest4    8,i was just thinking what  

an astounding victory you could gain1 if
 you  had control of that one force1    
from which all the forces of nature1 ,i 
think1 are derived40    ,this idea of   
,mildred's was fully elaborated by ,lord
 ,lytton1 some few  years afterwards1   
and the force was called vrill4 ,but as 
we are not  writing a treatise on       
science1 we will proceed with our story4
    8,o10 she continued gaily1 8do you  
not wish you had something of that      
sort80    8,i have had such foolish     
thoughts a thousand times10 replied     
,ernest1  breaking into a laugh1 8but ,i
 did not know that anybody else had such
  absurd fancies4 ,i found myself       
wishing for miraculous powers on the    
battle field of ,bull ,run a short time 
since4 ,when our soldiers were  about to
 retreat in a wild panic in the evening1
 ,i almost cried aloud  for a cyclone to
 hurl upon those dark columns4 ,how     
quickly ,i thought ,i  would annihilate 
them4 ,was it not preposterous80    ,and
 they both laughed4    8,i should be    

ashamed10 said ,mildred1 8to let any one
 know what wild  fancies pass through   
this dwarfish brain of mine4 ,the truth 
is1 ,i live  in an ideal world4 ,i often
 find myself wishing that ,i could visit
 some  #8,new ,utopia4'0    8,what a    
coincidence10 said ,ernest1 looking at  
the young lady in  surprise4    8,what  
is80 she asked4    8,that you and ,i    
should be dreaming about the same       
absurdities40    8,well1 ,i do not      
know10 replied ,mildred4 8,i have never 
cared to mention  my silly reveries to  
any one4 ,indeed1 it is the first time  
in my life  that ,i have alluded to     
them40    8,may you not be wrong to call
 them #8silly'8 ,some of the happiest   
moments of my life have been spent in   
this way4 ,i frequently discover  myself
 traveling about in some of             
,munchausen's wonderful vehicles1 and   
,i become so absorbed that my imaginings
 appear as realities40    8,i1 too1 do  
the same thing10 said ,mildred1 turning 
her blue eyes upon  him in surprise4    

8,miss ,mildred10 spoke up ,ernest after
 a brief pause1 8our minds seem to  have
 been constructed in the same molds4    
,henceforth ,i shall be forever  meeting
 you in my psychological peregrinations4
 ,i have no doubt that ,i  shall often  
rove back to this beautiful yard and    
these grand oaks1 when  ,i am sitting   
around the bivouac fire or meditating in
 my tent40    ,mildred began to look    
serious1 and to turn her face in order  
to conceal  the treacherous blushes     
which1 she felt1 must be mantling her   
cheeks4    8,i am glad to think10 she   
answered in a low1 hesitating tone1     
8that  your imprisonment here has been  
rendered tolerable40    8,tolerable60   
cried ,ernest4 8,i wish such            
imprisonment could last  forever60      
8,what60 exclaimed ,mildred1 feigning   
not to understand1 8would you be        
willing to be cooped up while your      
comrades are fighting the battles of    
liberty8 ,sometimes ,i wish ,i could go 
myself1 and that ,i were an ,amazon     

stout enough to shoulder a cannon4 ,the 
poor ,south needs every soldier  she can
 get4 ,you must1 therefore1 dismiss your
 ,utopian dreams and enter  into gory   
and awful realities40    8,if ,i know   
myself10 said ,ernest1 8,i do not shrink
 from those realities4  ,but ,i need    
something to inflame my zeal40    8,what
 do you need80 she asked1 wishing after 
the inquiry had been made1  that she had
 propounded some other question4    8,i 
have told you10 he replied1 8that ,i    
have no intimate friends4 ,my           
affections are roving around like the   
#8wandering ,jew1' seeking some  object 
upon which to concentrate4 ,the object  
that comes within their  focus will find
 no reason to complain of their lack of 
intensity4 ,do  you understand me80     
8,i cannot say that ,i do10 answered    
,mildred1 8but ,i should think that  the
 goddess of ,liberty would be sufficient
 to elicit all the better  feelings and 
aspirations of your soul40    8,the     
goddess of ,liberty may call forth a    

certain class of affections1  but there 
is another group which requires a more  
substantial being40  ,mildred said      
nothing1 but looked thoughtful4 ,she    
understood what  ,ernest meant1 yet he  
had spoken so vaguely that she was      
reminded of  the amiable ,pickwick and  
the widow ,bardell1 which association of
 ideas  caused her to laugh out-right4  
,ernest gazed at her in amazement and   
pain4    8,what is it that amuses you   
so80 he asked in a tone indicative of   
displeasure4    8,please excuse me1     
,captain10 she said deprecatingly4 8,i  
was not1 ,i  assure you1 laughing at    
anything you said4 ,it was only a       
foolish and  ridiculous thought that    
suddenly came into my mind4 ,i beg your 
pardon10  she said earnestly4           
8,granted10 he replied1 8if you will    
only be serious for a moment40          
8,certainly1 ,i will40    8,i will speak
 plainly so that you cannot             
misunderstand me4 ,the truth  is1 ,i    
love you40    8,o1 ,captain10 she       

exclaimed with solemn earnestness1 8what
 a time for  such a declaration60       
8,why80 asked ,ernest4    8,why1 we are 
on the threshold of a terrible war which
 will end1 we know  not when40    8,that
 is the very reason ,i want a love to   
sustain me under the trials  which await
 me4 ,my nature demands love4 ,i am     
gloomy and wretched  without it40       
8,how have you managed this long1       
,captain80    8,i will tell you all     
about it40 ,and he gave her a full      
account of all  the circumstances of his
 past life1 after which ,mildred with a 
cunning  smile1 said3    8,it seems1    
then1 ,i am second choice40    8,you are
 mistaken4 ,i did not know my own heart 
then4 ,i never had for  her the deep1   
ineffable affection ,i have for you4    
,after this honest  explanation must ,i 
leave you without hope8 ,if ,i do1 it   
matters little  to me what shall become 
of me4 ,i shall consider that ball from 
the  enemy's gun a mercy that shall put 
an end to my misery4 ,but with your     

love1 ,i shall be the happiest soldier  
in the army4 ,i shall have an  object   
for which to live4 ,can you1 will you   
give me any hope80    ,ernest perceived 
that ,mildred was violently agitated1   
and he felt  encouraged4    8,tell me10 
he urged1 8that you will be mine1 when  
this cruel war is  over1 if ,i come out 
the fiery crucible alive40    8,i am    
glad you have given me time to reflect  
about the matter10 she  said at last4   
8,i will candidly say this3 if you are  
alive and ,i am1  when the war ends1 and
 the feelings of neither undergo any    
change1 it  shall be as you wish4 ,is   
that sufficient80    ,so these two young
 people1 with that pure affection1      
glowing in their  hearts1 which is      
sanctioned by the ,allwise ,god1        
standing under the  broad-spreading     
oaks1 agreed to enter into the sacred   
relation which  constitutes the very    
foundation of human society4 ,why should
 older  persons1 who have lost the      
ardor1 aspirations and hopes of youth1  

sneer  at what they are pleased to call 
8sickly love stories80 ,god implanted   
these sacred affections in the human    
heart to bind society together1  and it 
is these which make man a gregarious    
animal4 ,is that pure love  which leads 
to the marriage relation only evidence  
of a kind of folly  that deserves to be 
ridiculed8 ,why do prudish1             
righteous-over-much  people1 calling    
themselves critics1 cry out against     
stories which  illustrate social        
realities1 and which seek to inspire the
 youth of  our country with proper      
respect and reverence for a             
heaven-sanctioned  institution8 ,why is 
it that extremely pious people profess  
such an  aversion to 8love              
scenes0--scenes that are every day      
realities in the  ranks of the purest   
and most refined society8 ,such scenes  
as we have  described1 call them        
8love-sick10 who will1 actually         
transpired during  the war1 and many a  
soldier found a ,god-sent wife in the   

hospitals4  ,these love affairs mingle  
with the gravest concerns of human life4
  ,why1 then1 omit them from the pages  
of a story which is intended to  be a   
true picture8 ,there is nothing         
startling or sensational in them4       
,indeed1 they are so old1 common and    
customary that they derive any  interest
 they may possess from new combinations 
of circumstances4  ,eliminate these     
circumstances1 and nothing is left but  
an occurrence  that transpires every    
hour of the day4 ,we may here say that  
there is  nothing in this volume that   
should prevent it from occupying a place
 on  the shelves of any ,sabbath-school 
library4          ,,chapter ,,viii4     
,,hard ,,truths4      ,during the time  
that ,ernest was confined in the house  
of ,dr4 ,arrington1  he had had several 
discussions with that gentleman1 of     
doctrines which  are regarded by the    
world as distinctive dogmas of the      
,presbyterian  ,church4 ,they were      
conducted on both sides with the utmost 

calmness1  politeness and good-will4 ,it
 is a fact that generally men cannot    
engage  in discussions of religious     
questions with moderation4 ,they are    
often  more acrimonious than            
politicians4 ,but the ,doctor was       
naturally calm  and tranquil1 and       
,ernest found that his first belief was 
beginning to  totter on its foundation4 
,mildred1 too1 believed this 8horrid    
doctrine  of predestination10 which1 in 
the mind of ,ernest1 had a tendency to  
strip it of its forbidding aspects4 ,but
 still he was not perfectly  satisfied4 
,the discussions which he had with ,dr4 
,arrington1 were1 on  his part1 designed
 more to elicit information and proof   
than sustain  his own assumed position2 
in different language1 ,ernest took the 
8wrong  side0 in order that the ,doctor 
might overturn it4    ,two or three days
 before ,ernest was to start to his     
command1 he was  sitting in the         
,doctor's study looking over the        
,westminster ,confession  of ,faith4    

,the ,doctor1 glancing up presently1 and
 seeing how the young  man was employed1
 said pleasantly3    8,you have tackled 
what the world calls a #8hard book1'    
,captain40    8,the world1 in my        
opinion10 answered ,ernest1 with a      
smile1 8is not much  to blame for taking
 that view of it40    8,no doubt10 said 
the ,doctor1 8the doctrines which it    
proclaims are  #8hard to be understood1'
 as ,paul himself declared40    8,you   
will have it that ,paul was speaking of 
predestination1 will you1  ,doctor80    
8,he certainly must have been4 ,of what 
else could he have been speaking8  ,if  
he was discussing free agency1 ,i am    
sure there is no difficulty in  that4   
,what is there in free agency to make   
,paul say1 #8,the ,lord will  have mercy
 on whom ,he will have mercy'8 ,what is 
there in free agency to  make ,peter    
open his eyes and wonder1 and declare   
that it was #8hard to  be understood8'  
,what is there in free agency that      
people could #8wrest  to their own      

destruction8'0    8,what is there in    
predestination that people can wrest to 
their  destruction80 asked ,ernest4     
8,why just this10 replied the ,doctor3  
8,men said1 and say it to this day1     
#8,well1 if my destiny is fixed1 ,i     
shall make no effort to be saved1 for   
,i cannot change my destiny2 ,i intend  
to take my fill of sin4' ,that  is the  
way they wrest it to their destruction4 
,any one who really  believes the       
doctrine of predestination never talks  
in that way4 ,on the  contrary1 if he   
believes that he is one of the elect1 he
 will be the  more earnest and diligent 
in making that election sure40          
8,but10 said ,ernest1 8what is the use  
of his diligence1 if he is one of  the  
elect8 ,he will be saved anyhow40       
8,that is the way people talked in      
,paul's day10 replied the ,doctor1 8but 
,i will answer you4 ,do you not remember
 that the ,lord promised ,gideon he     
should gain the victory with his three  
hundred men8 ,why did not ,gideon  say1 

#8if that is so1 ,i shall do nothing2 ,i
 shall employ no strategy1  but ,i shall
 wait for the ,lord to conquer ,his     
enemies4' ,when ,god told  ,paul1 as he 
was tossed in a frail vessel on the     
storm-lashed sea1 that  he and all on   
board should certainly be saved1 why did
 not the apostle  tell the sailors to   
sit down quietly1 and they should all   
reach the  land in safety8 ,why1 the    
knowledge that they should be saved     
inspired  the crew with hope1 and       
courage to renewed efforts to work out  
their  salvation4 ,this doctrine arouses
 the believer's energies1 instead of    
begetting a spirit of indolence and     
rebellion40    ,while the ,doctor was   
speaking1 ,ernest was slowly turning the
 pages of  the ,confession of ,faith1 as
 if looking for some particular passage1
  and at the same time as if paying     
strict attention to what was said4      
,just as the preacher closed his last   
remark1 ,ernest came to the third       
chapter and said3    8,what does this   

mean1 ,doctor80    8,what is it80       
8#8,god from all eternity did1 by the   
most wise and holy counsel of ,his  will
 freely and unchangeably ordain         
whatsoever comes to pass4'0    8,now10  
continued ,ernest quickly closing the   
book with his thumb  between the leaves1
 8there it is--#8,god ordains whatsoever
 comes to  pass4' ,it seems there is no 
exception1 murder1 sin1 robberies and   
all4 ,whatever ,i do1 then1 good or bad1
 ,god ordained it4 ,how am ,i           
responsible8 ,if that clause does not   
destroy man's free agency1 ,i  cannot   
understand the meaning of words4        
,surely1 ,doctor1 you do not  endorse   
this book8 ,you do not believe that ,god
 is the author of sin80    ,the ,doctor 
looked at ,ernest in astonishment1      
smiled1 and said3    8,are you certain  
it says just exactly that80    8,if ,i  
can read1 it says that40    8,you are   
like a great many other people10 said   
the ,doctor1 8who find  fault with the  
,confession1 and jump to conclusions1   

without really  knowing what it does    
say4 ,now1 if you please1 open the book1
 and read  on--read it all--that is the 
whole paragraph2 for you paused in the  
middle of a sentence40    ,ernest read3 
8,god from all eternity did1 by the most
 wise and holy counsel of ,his  own     
will1 freely and unchangeably ordain    
whatsoever comes to pass2  yet so as    
thereby neither is ,god the author of   
sin2 nor is violence  offered to the    
will of the creatures1 nor is the       
liberty or contingency  of second causes
 taken away1 but rather established40   
8,now1 that makes a considerable        
difference1 does it not80 asked the     
,doctor4    8,but it does say1 ,doctor1 
that ,god ordains whatsoever comes to   
pass4  ,the exceptional clause does not 
deny this1 but simply affirms that  ,god
 is not the author of sin4 ,but does it 
not say that ,god ordains  whatsoever   
comes to pass80    8,certainly1 it      
does40    8,every event80               
8,undoubtedly4 ,there is no exception40 

8,well10 said ,ernest with a triumphant 
air1 8last week ,mr4 ,jones killed  ,tom
 ,smith in cold blood4 ,it was          
deliberate assassination--murder in the 
first degree4 ,now1 did ,god ordain that
 or not80    8,god ordained it in this  
way3 ,he did not decree that ,jones     
should kill  ,smith without any         
connection with other events4 ,but ,he  
fore-saw that  certain causes would     
operate so as to culminate in the       
murder2 yet  ,he permitted those causes 
to operate1 for the accomplishment of   
some  wise purpose4 ,the difficulty is1 
we cannot see things as ,god does4 ,we  
consider it as an awful calamity that   
,jones should kill ,smith1 when we  have
 no idea what the divine purpose is4    
,the murder was not an isolated         
circumstance1 but it was the legitimate 
result of certain other causes  which   
the two men themselves might have       
controlled1 so far as their own  free   
agency was concerned4 ,but ,jones had   
murder in his heart1 and the  ,lord     

permitted him to follow his own         
inclinations4 ,now1 ,god fore-saw1  from
 all eternity1 that this murder would   
grow out of other events1 yet  ,he      
determined to permit those events to    
occur1 and in that sense ,he  ordained  
it4 ,but you1 surely1 cannot infer that 
,god is the author of  the murder4 ,god 
is not the author of men's actions4 ,he 
did not force  ,jones to kill ,smith4   
,but let me ask you a question4 ,suppose
 lightning  had killed ,mr4 ,smith1     
instead of ,jones' knife1 would you say 
that ,god  had anything to do with it1  
or was it a pure accident80    8,it was 
not an accident10 said ,ernest1 8in the 
usual acceptation of the  word40        
8,you are correct1 because with ,god    
there is no accident4 ,well1 if  the    
,lord chose to destroy ,smith by a knife
 in the hands of a wicked  man1 instead 
of lightning1 what right have we to cry 
out1 #8horrible6  horrible6' ,god sends 
diseases upon men1 and innocent babes   
and women1  and good men are swept off  

by thousands2 shall we accuse the ,lord 
of  cruelty and injustice80    8,no2 ,he
 has the right to do that40    8,and so 
,he has the right to remove ,his        
creatures in whatever way ,he  may      
please10 said the ,doctor4 8,i firmly   
believe that ,god ordained  the present 
war--not arbitrarily1 though1--not as an
 isolated  circumstance2 but it has     
legitimately grown out of causes that   
have  been working together for years4  
,men1 goaded on to desperation by  their
 own evil passions1 meet upon the field 
and destroy each other4  ,they are      
conscious that they are acting as free  
agents4 ,we have no  more right then1 to
 impeach divine goodness for permitting 
this  wholesale butchery1 than we have  
for allowing ,jones to kill ,smith1 or  
some disease to destroy the innocent    
babe4 ,we make a great mistake  by      
supposing that there ought not to be    
violent deaths2 they are the  necessary 
concomitants of sin1 and must ever      
result from the inexorable  law of cause

 and effect40    8,well10 said ,ernest1 
8if it was ordained that ,jones should  
kill ,smith1  ,jones ought not to be    
punished for the deed40    8,my dear    
,captain10 said the ,doctor good        
humoredly1 8a lawyer like you1  ought   
not to quibble in that way4 ,the mere   
fact that ,god permits crime  does not  
destroy human responsibility4 ,you might
 just as well say  that ,judas ought not
 to have been punished for betraying the
 ,savior4  ,undoubtedly it was ordained 
that he should perform that deed of     
shame2  because it was foretold         
centuries before our ,lord's advent40   
,ernest knew not what reply to make4    
,the ,doctor had answered his           
objections4 ,so he turned the leaves of 
the book1 and said3    8,here is another
 passage which seems to me to need      
explanation40    8,what is it80         
,ernest read as follows3    8,by the    
decree of ,god1 for the manifestation of
 ,his glory1 some  men and angels are   
predestinated unto everlasting life1 and

 others  fore-ordained to everlasting   
death4    8,these men and angels1 thus  
predestinated and fore-ordained1 are    
particularly and unchangeably designed  
and their number is so certain  that it 
cannot be either increased or           
diminished40    8,that reads rather     
harsh1 does it not80 asked the ,doctor4 
8,yes1 sir2 it does40    8,and yet it is
 what the ,bible says40    8,where will 
,i find that80    8,turn to ,romans     
#i3bb-be3 #8,what if ,god1 willing to   
show ,his wrath1 and  to make ,his power
 known1 endured with much long          
suffering1 the vessels  of wrath fitted 
to destruction2 and that ,he might make 
known the riches  of ,his glory on the  
vessels of mercy1 which ,he had afore   
prepared unto  glory8'0    8,that does  
seem to teach that there are two        
classes10 said ,ernest4                 
8,undoubtedly1 it does40    8,but it    
says10 continued ,ernest1 8that this    
number is so fixed and  certain that it 
can neither be increased nor            

diminished40    8,there is surely no    
difficulty in that10 said the ,doctor4  
8,it is a  mathematical fact1 and would 
be true1 if the ,scriptures said nothing
  about it4 ,leaving predestination     
entirely out of the question1 that      
would be true4 ,for on the ,day of      
,judgment1 when the destiny of every    
human being is settled1 there will be a 
certain number saved1 and a  certain    
number lost4 ,now1 can the number be    
increased or diminished8  ,i never could
 see why anybody should object to that  
clause1 when it is  true according to   
the doctrine of every religious         
denomination in the  world40    8,well10
 said ,ernest laughing1 8here is more of
 this hard doctrine40    8,let us hear  
it10 said the ,doctor4    ,ernest read  
as follows3    8,those of mankind that  
are predestinated unto life1 ,god1      
before  the foundation of the world was 
laid1 according to ,his eternal and     
immutable purpose1 and the secret       
counsel and good pleasure of ,his  will1

 out of ,his mere free grace and love1  
without any foresight of  faith or good 
works--0    8,yes10 exclaimed ,ernest1  
breaking off suddenly1 8there it        
is--without  any foresight of faith or  
good works--saved arbitrarily40         
,again the ,doctor gazed at ,ernest in  
surprise4 8,my young friend10 said  the 
,doctor1 with an amused expression1 8you
 do not pause1 for a moment1  to reflect
 what the paragraph does really mean1   
but you at once jump to  unauthorized   
conclusions40    8,i have read it       
verbatim10 replied ,ernest4    8,but you
 did not read it all4 ,you have read    
just as our opposers do  who give       
garbled extracts from the ,confession1  
and then draw the most  absurd          
inferences4 ,you stopped in the middle  
of the sentence4 ,read it  all40        
,ernest read3    8,without any foresight
 of faith or good works1 or perseverance
 in  either of them1 or any other thing 
in the creature1 as conditions1 or      
causes moving ,him thereunto40    8,the 

meaning10 said the ,doctor1 8is that    
,god did not choose ,his people  on     
account of their faith and good works4  
,faith itself is the gift of  ,god4 ,all
 men are in a state of guilt by nature4 
,how1 then1 could the  ,lord fore-see   
faith and good works in any of them1    
growing out of their  evil natures8 ,how
 could they possibly perform good works 
without a  regenerated heart80    8,for 
what did ,he choose them1 then80    8,i 
can answer you only in the language of  
,his own ,word1 which says1  it was     
#8according to the good pleasure of ,his
 will4' ,certainly1 the  ,lord has some 
good reason for saving a portion of the 
human race and  rejecting1 or rather    
passing by the rest1 but ,he has nowhere
 acquainted  us with that reason4 ,if   
election is such a #8hard' doctrine1    
what would  have been the result1 if    
,god had not made any choice at all1 but
 left  men to follow the bent of their  
own wills1 how many do you suppose      
would have been saved8 ,the carnal heart

 is enmity against ,god4 ,could  men1   
then have chosen ,god8 ,verily not4     
,christ ,himself declares1 #8,no  man   
can come unto me1 except the ,father1   
which sent me1 draw him4' ,do  you not  
see clearly1 then1 that1 without this   
much-abused doctrine of  election1 no   
human being could possibly be saved8 ,it
 is a doctrine  which the ,church cannot
 afford to give up1 and it is a doctrine
 to  which every denomination holds in  
some form4 ,we differ only as to the    
principle upon which the election is    
based4 ,we ,presbyterians1 adhere       
rigidly to the ,bible1 and say that     
,god's choice grows out of ,his own     
will and pleasure1 while our opposers   
affirm that it is founded upon  the good
 works of the creature1 and thus make   
salvation a matter of  debt1 and not of 
pure1 free grace4 ,that is the          
difference between us1  and ,i leave it 
to you1 with the ,bible as your guide1  
to determine which  view is the more    
,scriptural40    8,there is another     

thing ,i should like to ask you about10 
said ,ernest1  feeling that he could    
produce no further objections4    8,what
 is it8 ,i will answer to the best of my
 knowledge and ability40    8,i have    
heard it said that some ,presbyterian   
preachers hold to the view  that there  
are infants in hell #8not a span long4'0
    8,did you ever hear one say such a  
thing80 asked the ,doctor4    8,no sir2 
,i never did40    8,and did you ever see
 anybody that heard a ,presbyterian     
minister preach  it80    8,no1 sir40    
8,no2 and you never will10 said the     
,doctor with emphasis4 8,that is an  old
 slander without the slightest          
foundation4 ,we would instantly depose  
any ,presbyterian minister who would    
dare to make such an assertion4 ,the    
truth is1 we believe that all infants   
that die are saved40    8,your          
,confession says something about        
infants1 does it not1 ,doctor80    8,o1 
yes4 ,give me the book1 and ,i will find
 it for you4 ,here it is4  ,chapter ,x3 

#8,elect infants1 dying in infancy1 are 
regenerated and saved  by ,christ       
through the ,spirit1 who worketh when1  
and where1 and how ,he  pleaseth4'0     
8,elect infants1 ,doctor8 ,does not that
 imply that there are non-elect         
infants80    8,you can put that         
construction upon it1 if you wish10 said
 the ,doctor2  8but the term is         
explained in several ways4 ,i really do 
not know which  view the framers of the 
,confession intended we should take4 ,so
 we are  at liberty to construe it in   
that way which appears most consistent  
to  us40    8,what is your              
construction80    8,it is this3 all     
mankind are evidently divided into two  
classes--the  elect and the             
non-elect--the saved and the lost4 ,you 
believe that1 do  you not80    8,o1 yes2
 that is true40    8,well1 of course1   
the non-elect are sinners in their      
infancy as well as  in after life4 ,in  
that sense there are non-elect infants2 
but we do not  believe that any of them 

die in infancy40    8,but how do you    
know that they do not80    8,because    
,christ says1 that #8of such is the     
kingdom of heaven4'0    8,according to  
your view1 then10 said ,ernest1 8there  
are non-elect  infants1 but they do not 
die in infancy80    8,exactly10 replied 
the ,doctor4 8,but there is another     
explanation4  ,some say the framers of  
the ,confession put in the word #8elect'
 not  to divide infants into two        
classes1 but to show upon what principle
  they are saved2 they are elected to   
salvation4 ,you know1 ,john uses  the   
expression1 #8the elect lady' and her   
sister4 ,this certainly would  not mean 
that there was a non-elect lady4 ,again1
 in the form for the  baptism of infants
 in the ,methodist ,discipline1 the     
minister prays  that #8this child may be
 numbered among the elect children of   
,god4'  ,we would not1 of course1 insist
 that the ,methodists believe that there
  are non-elect children4 ,some say that
 the ,confession means by #8elect       

infants1' just what the ,methodists do  
in their form of baptism4 ,but  after   
all1 the ,presbyterian ,church is the   
only one probably whose  doctrine does  
consistently save infants4 ,we declare  
they are saved  by election4 ,if not1   
tell me how they can be saved8 ,they    
cannot  repent and believe as adults do4
 ,then do you not see1 if they are not  
elected by a merciful ,father1 they must
 be lost forever80    8,upon my word10  
quickly and honestly exclaimed ,ernest1 
8,i had never  looked at the subject in 
that light4 ,you have taught me         
something ,i  never knew before40    8,i
 am glad10 replied the ,doctor1 8if ,i  
have helped you out of any  difficulty40
    8,i candidly acknowledge1 ,doctor1  
that the more ,i study this deep        
subject1 the more reasonable and        
,scriptural it seems40    ,and here the 
discussion ended for that day4 ,ernest1 
seeing ,mildred  walking in the yard and
 clipping flowers1 vacated his seat and 
joined  her4 ,the ,doctor looked at him1

 as he left1 and a perceptible smile    
stole over his benevolent face4         
,illustration3 ,decoration              
,,chapter ,,ix4    8,,off ,,to ,,the    
,,wars40      ,the next day ,ernest and 
the ,doctor were alone in the study4    
,the former  seemed to be a little      
restless1 like a man who wishes to say  
something1  but knows not how to begin2 
the latter was tranquil as usual1 poring
  over his theological books4 ,ernest   
would try to read1 and then glance  up  
uneasily at the calm old man upon whose 
open face ,god had put the  seal of     
honesty4 ,ernest became fidgety4 ,but   
presently he spoke3    8,will you give  
me your attention just a moment1        
,doctor80    8,certainly2 ,i am at your 
service10 replied the ,doctor1 laying   
his open  book on the table4    8,you   
believe the ,confession of ,faith80     
asked ,ernest with a merry  twinkle1    
which escaped the preacher's notice4    
8,undoubtedly1 ,i do40    8,yesterday   
you said you believed that ,god ordained

 whatsoever comes to  pass40    8,yes1  
,i believe that1 too40    8,without     
exception80    8,yes10 replied the      
,doctor1 unsuspiciously4    8,well1     
then10 said ,ernest1 casting his eyes to
 the floor1 8,miss ,mildred  has agreed 
to become ,mrs4 ,edgefield1 when this   
#8cruel war is over4' ,if  the ,lord has
 ordained that1 you will1 of course1    
offer no objection40    ,the old        
minister broke out into a hearty laugh  
in which he was joined  by ,ernest4     
8,that is a clever turning of the table1
 my young friend10 said the  ,doctor    
pleasantly4 8,but all that is really    
ordained is that she has  agreed to the 
arrangement40    8,yes sir1 that is     
all40    8,i mean so far as we actually 
know4 ,we know not what ,god has in     
store  for any of us4 ,i believe that   
the ,lord directs every ,christian in   
his  affairs4 ,if you have won          
,mildred's heart1 ,i shall offer no     
objection to  your union whenever it may
 please her to consummate it4 ,these are

 very  uncertain times1 and the good    
,lord only knows what may become of any 
of  us40    8,we can but hope1 sir10    
said ,ernest4    8,hope and pray10      
replied the ,doctor4    ,ernest was now 
happy and unhappy--a thrilling          
contradiction which all  will understand
 who have been in the same condition4   
,he must leave in  a few hours4 ,would  
he ever return8 ,there lay before him   
the prospect  of a long and bloody war4 
,how many battles like that of ,bull    
,run could  he go through1 and escape   
with his life8 ,he had already been     
severely  wounded in the first fight in 
which he had been engaged4 ,the chances 
seemed to be against him4 ,yet did not  
,god control the events of battle8      
,could ,he not save and protect whom ,he
 would8 ,something similar to this  the 
,doctor said to ,ernest the morning he  
was to rejoin his command4    8,the     
doctrine which we have several times    
discussed10 said the ,doctor1  8has     
always proved to be a source of great   

comfort to me1 and it will  be to you1  
if you can believe it4 ,just think that 
your destiny is in  ,god's hands1 and   
what need you fear8 ,it is this that    
makes ,jackson the  ,stonewall that the 
lamented ,bee called him with his dying 
breath4 ,i  am told that ,jackson is    
almost a fatalist4 ,but1 whatever may be
 his  doctrinal errors1 he is a firm    
believer in ,god's sovereignty4 ,the    
consequence is1 he is afraid of         
nothing40    8,but are there not men as 
brave as he is1 who do not believe this 
doctrine80 asked ,ernest4    8,yes1 in  
one sense4 ,i do not mean to say that   
men are lacking in  courage who reject  
the doctrine which we have discussed4   
,but there is  something in ,jackson    
which is more than courage4 ,it is his  
sublime1  inflexible faith4 ,there are  
numbers of men who will go unflinchingly
  into any of the dangers of battle1 but
 they are animated by a spirit of       
desperation1 by human feelings1 such as 
pride1 ambition1 and the like4  ,but    

,jackson puts himself unreservedly in   
the hands of ,god1 and accepts  whatever
 comes without a murmur4 ,he knows that 
he can never be killed  till ,god speaks
 the word1 and it is this firm belief   
that gives such  adamantine solidity to 
his grand and exalted character40       
,that morning when all knelt around the 
family altar1 it was a most  solemn and 
affecting scene4 ,ernest was now        
regarded as one of the  family4 ,the    
,doctor read a portion of ,scripture    
suitable to the  occasion1 and they sang
 with quivering voices three or four    
stanzas  of that familiar old hymn1     
which seems destined to go sounding down
  through all the ages till the last of 
the redeemed are gathered home3         
8,how firm a foundation1 ye saints of   
the ,lord1       ,is laid for your faith
 in ,his excellent word40      ,then all
 knelt down to pray4 ,ernest had the    
feeling of ,jacob when1 alone  at       
,bethel1 his head pillowed upon rock the
 patriarch said1 8surely the  ,lord is  

in this place40 ,a holy influence gently
 stole over his soul1  as the ,doctor1  
in a husky voice1 prayed for their      
guest4 ,all arose in  tears4 ,ernest    
shed tears too1 but they were strange   
tears4 ,his faith  was firmer1 and he   
felt that he could trust himself in the 
hands of ,god4    ,alas6 those were days
 that tried men's souls6 ,when the      
8soldier boy0  went from his home1 it   
was like shaking hands over the grave4  
,the  mother drew her darling son to her
 breast and imprinted burning kisses    
upon his brow4 ,he broke loose from her 
frantic embrace1 and in a few  days     
afterwards1 the news was brought that he
 was sleeping in the  soldier's bloody  
grave4 ,young husbands and wives parted 
to meet no more  till the last trump    
shall call them up on the resurrection  
morn4 ,no  pen can describe the awful   
scenes of those four years of           
fratricidal  strife4 ,sad6 sad6 sad6    
,ernest was accompanied by ,mildred to  
the depot4 ,they rode in a buggy  while 

,dr4 ,arrington came on horse-back in   
the rear4 ,the young man  endeavored to 
be lively and cheerful1 and this humor  
was encouraged  by ,mildred4 ,yet both  
could see through this disguised mutual 
gaiety4  ,it was not natural4           
,frequently there were long pauses in   
their  conversation4 ,such is generally 
the case with two friends1 about to     
part in a very short time1 who feel that
 they ought to talk1 but can  think of  
no topic suitable to the occasion4 ,i   
have seen two brothers1  one of whom was
 condemned to be shot for a military    
offence1 hold their  last interview2 it 
was a silent meeting4 ,so when ,ernest  
and ,mildred  tried to keep up a        
cheerful conversation1 they would often 
relapse  into silence4    8,o1 my       
,mildred10 cried ,ernest with deep      
emotion1 as they neared the  depot1 8,i 
can keep up this false show no longer4  
,i am not cheerful4  ,the thought of    
leaving you is as bitter as death1 and  
,i may as well  give vent to my real    

feelings4 ,i could almost wish that ,i  
had never met  you4 ,my thoughts will   
all run out to you4 ,o1 ,i fear we shall
 never meet  again40    8,why should we 
look on the dark side of the picture80  
asked ,mildred1  in low1 sweet tones4   
8,there is a kind ,father above who     
rules in the  affairs of men4 ,whatever 
may happen1 be assured the ,judge of all
 the  earth will do right4 #8,our times 
are in ,his hands4' ,he will do that    
which is best for us4 ,he can throw ,his
 everlasting arms around you1  and      
shield you in the terrors of the hottest
 battle4 ,the ,mighty ,god  controls all
 things40    8,i see10 said ,ernest1    
trying to smile1 8that you too1 endeavor
 to  comfort yourself with that         
#8horrid' ,presbyterian doctrine4 ,you  
rely on  that on all occasions40        
8,certainly ,i do10 replied ,mildred4   
8,i get as much comfort from it as  from
 any truth taught in ,god's ,holy       
,word40    8,i am almost convinced10    
said ,ernest1 8that predestination is a 

doctrine of the ,bible1 but ,i wish ,i  
could bring it into practical  affairs1 
as you do40    8,it is easy to do10     
replied ,mildred4 8,just put yourself   
unreservedly  into the hands of ,god1   
and go out boldly in the discharge of   
duty4 ,of  what should you be afraid80  
8,sometimes10 said ,ernest1 8,i think   
perhaps it is predestinated that ,i     
shall be lost40    8,if you have that   
fear1 it is an evidence that you are not
 so  predestinated4 ,if you were a      
reprobate1 you would have no such fear4 
,you would be indifferent40    8,if ,i  
am one of the elect10 asked ,ernest1    
8how may ,i know it with  certainty80   
8,god does not leave us to grope in     
doubt and darkness10 replied  ,mildred4 
8,if you love the people of ,god1 love  
the ,church and its  services1 love     
religion1 love to meditate upon heavenly
 things1 and  love to read your ,bible1 
you know that you love the ,lord ,jesus4
 ,that is  a certain indication that the
 heart has been renewed4 ,god has said  

that  ,his people shall never perish4   
,they were chosen before the foundation 
of the world4 ,if then1 ,i was chosen   
from all eternity1 how happy ,i  ought  
to feel2 and ,i will add1 how happy ,i  
do feel4 ,this doctrine of  election and
 predestination1 which is so horrible to
 some people1 is  the greatest source of
 comfort to me40    8,you ought to be   
the wife of a minister10 said ,ernest1  
thoughtfully4    8,i would ask no higher
 destiny in this world10 modestly       
replied ,mildred4    8,there is a       
,baptist preacher in my town10 said     
,ernest1 8who has tried  to make me     
believe that ,i am called to preach40   
8,what made him think so80    ,ernest   
then briefly related the circumstances  
in regard to the matter1  with which the
 reader is acquainted4 ,mildred listened
 with the most  intense interest1 and a 
flash of joy suddenly illuminated her   
face4    8,i am glad you told me that10 
she said1 8for now ,i cannot but believe
  that ,god is preparing you for ,his   

work just as ,he did ,moses in the land 
of ,midian4 ,go on1 then2 do your duty1 
and have faith in ,god4 ,i will try  to 
believe that you will be brought through
 all dangers in safety4 ,god  has       
something for you to do4 ,are you       
willing to walk in the path which       
providence points out80    8,i am40     
8,then have no fears40    ,and from that
 moment she appeared so cheerful and    
confident1 and seemed  to have such     
strong faith in the divine goodness1    
love and care1 that  ,ernest caught her 
spirit4 ,by the time they arrived at the
 depot he was  in much better spirits4  
8,i am now satisfied10 he said1 as they 
were about to part1 8that there  is     
something more practical in the         
doctrines of the ,presbyterian ,church  
than ,i had ever dreamed of4 ,henceforth
 ,i shall try to bring them into  my    
life as you do4 ,but ,i am very         
skeptical by nature1 and when ,i leave  
you ,i may again fall into doubt4 ,god  
bless you1 my dear ,mildred1 for        

helping to lift the clouds from my soul4
 ,i feel hopeful4 ,but pray for  me1    
that my faith fail not40    ,mildred    
tried hard to restrain her tears1 but it
 was in vain4 ,they  were tears of joy  
mingled with tears of sadness4 ,the     
train was heard  rumbling in the        
distance1 and ,mildred said3 8,i hope   
you will not regard  me as a ,cassandra1
 if ,i prophesy that you will at last   
return to us in  safety80    8,you shall
 be as a ,deborah to me10 replied       
,ernest4 8,you must write to  me every  
day40    8,every day80    8,what ,i mean
 is1 keep a sort of daily journal1 and  
send it to me once  a week1 if possible4
 ,i will do the same1 and it will be a  
source of  pleasure to us40    ,the     
foregoing is no fancy-sketch1 but an    
actual occurrence1 and shows  how the   
dearest friends separated during the    
terrible1 uncertain days  of the ,great 
,rebellion4    ,presently the train came
 dashing in1 and ,ernest stepped on  the
 platform1 waved his hand to ,mildred1  

and entered the  coach4 ,the conductor  
shouted 8,all aboard40 ,the bell rang3  
sizz--sizz--click--click--and a moment  
after1 a young lady with a  solemn face 
was seen in a buggy1 driving slowly and 
thoughtfully from  the depot4 ,her      
thoughts followed the train whose       
roaring she could hear  in the distance4
 ,when she reached home1 how sad all    
nature appeared6  ,she went to her room1
 locked the door1 fell upon her knees1  
and prayed  ,god1 with all the          
earnestness of her soul1 to shield and  
protect him  upon whom her temporal     
happiness depended4 ,hers was a sacred  
love which  ,god sanctioned4    ,ernest1
 as the train went dashing along through
 forest and fields1 sank  down into a   
seat1 and without effort directed his   
imagination to the  residence of the    
good ,doctor ,arrington4 ,he thanked    
,god in his heart  for sending him to   
that house4 ,suppose he had not been    
wounded1 he  thought1 or suppose he had 
fallen upon some other part of the      

field1  the probability was1 ,dr4       
,arrington would not have found him4    
,how could  he fail to recognize the    
hand of ,god in all these little        
circumstances8  ,then1 he prayed the    
,lord still to be with him1 and direct  
all his  footsteps4    ,in connection   
with such thoughts as these1 his memory 
revived scenes  which had transpired the
 previous year4 ,he recalled the agony  
of his  unrequited love for ,clara      
,vanclure4 ,he had thought that he never
 could  recover from the wound which she
 had so ruthlessly inflicted4 ,three    
months1 or less1 after his rejection1   
she had married his rival1  contrary to 
the wishes of her father4 ,he became    
enraged when she  informed him that she 
had discarded ,ernest ,edgefield4       
8,you have acted like a--a--simpleton10 
he exclaimed1 suppressing with          
difficulty a much harsher appellation4  
8,whom do you expect to marry1 ,i       
should like to know80    8,mr4          
,comston10 she answered hesitatingly4   

8,well1 well1 that surpasses my         
comprehension--surpasses my             
comprehension10 he cried4 8,i should    
like to know what you fancy  in         
him--yes1 fancy in him4 ,ernest is worth
 a thousand such  cinnamon-scented      
popinjays--yes1 cinnamon-scented        
popinjays40    8,mr4 ,comston does not  
use cinnamon10 ,clara ventured to say   
apologetically4    8,if he don't10      
exclaimed the irritated parent1 8he uses
 musk which is  worse1 and bear's oil1  
and such other tomfoolery--other        
tomfoolery40    ,clara blushed1 but said
 nothing more1 wisely allowing her      
provoked  progenitor to give vent to his
 indignation till the storm of wrath    
should subside4 ,resistance would only  
increase its fury4    ,but she married1 
and ,ernest saw her become the bride of 
his rival2 for  she had sent him a card 
to her wedding1 and ,ernest went1 to    
show her  how little he cared4    ,all  
this now appeared like some dim dream   
that flitted through his mind  years    

ago4 ,how thankful he now felt that     
,comston had removed to the  town of    
---- in time to prevent a complicated   
involution of the threads  of destiny4  
,if that young man had made his advent a
 few weeks later1  the conjugal         
infelicity of ,ernest would have been an
 assured fact--at  least he felt so now4
 ,what an insignificant being ,clara now
 appeared  when put in contrast with the
 intelligent1 accomplished and pious    
,mildred ,arrington4 ,he almost         
shuddered as he thought of the narrow   
escape he had made4 ,and the question   
came up in his mind1 did ,god have      
nothing to do with this8 ,if the sparrow
 does not escape the beneficent         
observation of the ,supreme ,being1     
surely ,his intelligent creatures will  
receive a due share of the divine       
watchfulness and loving care4    ,again1
 while the train was thundering along   
its iron track1 sad and  gloomy thoughts
 and doubts1 calculated to banish all   
cheerfulness1  would suddenly spring up 

in his mind1 and the trembling light of 
hope  would almost disappear in the     
darkness4 ,he recalled the old adage1   
8,man  proposes1 ,god disposes40        
,suppose his intended union1 after all1 
with  ,mildred should not be in accord  
with the ,divine purpose8 ,could he give
  her up8 ,would he not rebel1 and      
murmur against ,god's will8 ,alas6 how  
hard it is for a human being to tread   
the appointed path of destiny  with his 
will in complete subjection to that of  
the ,heavenly ,father6  ,at times1 man  
cannot but think that his own chosen way
 is best4 ,the  retrospective view      
convinces him of his folly and          
infirmity4    8,while ,i mused1 the fire
 burned10 said the ,psalmist4 ,while the
 train  rattled along1 ,ernest thought  
and mused4 ,presently a brakesman cried 
out1 8---- ,station40 ,ernest gathered  
up his baggage1 and in a short  time was
 shaking hands with his                 
comrades-in-arms4          ,,chapter ,x4
    ,a ,,dangerous ,,mission4      ,in  

the progress of the present story we    
have now come to some of those  strange1
 startling1 and almost incredible events
 which prove the truth  of the old      
proverb1 8,truth is stranger than       
,fiction10 and which could  occur only  
in those times when the foundations of  
society are shaken by  martial upheavals
 and commotions4    ,we stop at a small 
farm-house a few miles from ,manassas1  
and not far  from the residence of ,dr4 
,arrington4 ,it is in the afternoon of a
  beautiful day4 ,we open the door of   
one room of the little farm-house1  and 
find ourselves in the presence of two   
,confederate officers1 of high  rank1   
who are engaged in an earnest           
conversation4 ,both have long since     
passed into history1 and are inseparably
 connected with the 8,great             
,rebellion40 ,the whole history of any  
war is1 in fact1 comprised in the       
biographies of a few individuals4 ,the  
lives of ,lee1 ,grant1 ,jackson1        
,sherman1 and a few others that could be

 readily named1 cover the entire  field 
of the ,war of ,secession4    ,it is not
 essential to our story that we should  
give the names of the  two ,generals to 
whom reference has just been made4 ,for 
reasons which  are clear to the author1 
it is deemed advisable to leave our     
reader  the pleasure of identifying     
them1 if he can4 ,merely for the sake of
  convenience we will designate one as  
,general ,a4 and the other as  ,general 
,b4 ,as we stand in one corner of the   
room1 eaves-dropping1 as is  the        
privilege of the ,novelist1 we hear the 
following colloquy3    8,it will require
 a peculiar person for the business10   
said ,gen4 ,a4 in  a rather low tone4   
8,it must be a woman--and a woman of    
intelligence1  discretion and courage40 
8,i know just such a one10 replied ,gen4
 ,b41 8but ,i should dislike to ask  her
 to run the risk that must be incurred40
    8,these are times10 answered ,gen4  
,a41 8which demand sacrifices4 ,our     
,southern men and women should be       

willing to incur danger for the sake  of
 their country4 ,cannot the ,south      
furnish an ,iphigenia if one is         
necessary to the success of our arms80  
8,no doubt1 many can be found10 replied 
,gen4 ,b41 8but ,i should dislike  to   
sacrifice any of our noble women1 if it 
could possibly be avoided40    8,would  
it not be better10 coolly asked ,gen4   
,a41 8to sacrifice a woman  in the      
prosecution of this business than a good
 soldier8 ,but who is the  lady you     
mentioned8 ,we can discuss the ethics of
 the case at some other  time40    8,it 
is the daughter of ,dr4 ,arrington10    
answered ,gen4 ,b4 8,i dined with  his  
family last ,sabbath1 and ,i was        
impressed with the idea that the  young 
lady is just such a woman as you have   
described40    8,i am willing10 said    
,gen4 ,a41 8to take your judgment in    
this case4 ,when  can we have an        
interview with her1 do you suppose80    
8,any time we may call1 ,i think40      
8,suppose we go at once1 then10 said    

,gen4 ,a4 8,the business is urgent40    
,accordingly the two officers mounted   
their horses4 ,half an hour later  they 
alighted at ,dr4 ,arrington's residence4
 ,they were met by the  ,doctor1 and    
shown into the parlor4 ,after talking a 
short time upon  general topics1 ,gen4  
,b4 broached the particular subject that
 had caused  the visit4    8,dr4        
,arrington10 said he1 8,gen4 ,a4 is in  
search of a person to perform  a        
delicate and hazardous duty4 ,the       
service is of such a nature that no  one
 but a lady can perform it well1 and it 
must be a lady of bravery1  discretion  
and intelligence40    8,i do not know   
where you can find one in this community
 who will  fulfill such requirements10  
said the ,doctor4    8,i have taken the 
liberty10 said ,gen4 ,b41 without       
seeming to have  noticed the ,doctor's  
remark1 8to suggest your daughter1 ,miss
 ,mildred40    8,i doubt10 replied the  
,doctor1 8that she possesses the        
qualifications  you have named--at      

least1 ,i do not know that she is       
brave40    8,probably10 suggested ,gen4 
,a41 8you have never seen her courage   
put to  the test40    8,no1 ,i cannot   
say that ,i have40    8,however10       
continued ,gen4 ,a41 8the business ,i   
have in hand requires  more tact than   
courage40    8,is it a perilous         
business1 ,general80    8,perilous in   
case of detection2 yes1 sir40    8,i    
profess to love my country10 said the   
,doctor1 8and ,i am willing to  make    
sacrifices for it1 but ,i cannot speak  
for my daughter4 ,i will  call her1 if  
you wish1 and let her speak for         
herself40    8,if you please10 said     
,gen4 ,a4 8,we mentioned the matter to  
you first in  order to get your consent 
to an interview with her40    ,the      
,doctor went out of the room1 and in a  
few moments returned with  ,mildred1    
introducing her to ,gen4 ,a41 who had   
never seen her before4 ,an  explanation 
of how and why ,gen4 ,b4 had formed the 
acquaintance of this  family would1 no  

doubt1 lead at once to his personal     
identification4    8,shall ,i remain in 
the room80 asked the ,doctor1 after     
,mildred was  seated4    8,certainly2 we
 expected you to do so10 replied ,gen4  
,a4    ,the true1 actual history of the 
war of #ahfa will never be written4 ,it 
cannot be4 ,it is only general events   
that the dignity of history will        
condescend to record4 ,take the battle  
of ,bull ,run1 which has been so        
briefly described in previous pages of  
our story4 ,scarcely anything  more than
 the events which we have outlined will 
go down to future  generations4 ,the    
thousand little incidents which         
constituted the very  essence of the    
fight1 and give to it a coloring which  
the historical  brush must ever miss1   
will never be known4 ,the history of a  
battle is  nothing more than a picture  
of it3 three-fourths of the scenes are  
left  out4    ,from one till three      
o'clock who can tell what occurred on   
the field  of ,bull ,run8 ,the war-cloud

 floated in fragments3 it was like a    
fog4  ,the contest seemed to dwindle    
almost into individual combats4 ,the    
grim  warriors were mixed up in a dense 
cloud of smoke1 through which the       
historian cannot see clearly4 ,it was   
not till after three o'clock that  the  
battle presented an aspect that comes   
within the scope of history4  ,to get   
the correct history of those two or     
three hours1 each individual  like      
,ernest would have to tell what occurred
 within his sight4 ,little  incidents1  
though thrilling1 such as we are about  
to relate1 are  rejected from the domain
 of sober history4 ,individual deeds of 
daring  and heroism1 necessity demands  
shall find their place in the province  
of biography4 ,accordingly that which   
,mildred performed will be found        
recorded nowhere except in the pages of 
this story4    8,we have a mission10    
said ,gen4 ,a4 presently1 8which only a 
lady can  accomplish1 and ,gen4 ,b4 has 
suggested you as a person who would be  

likely to undertake it2 and this is the 
object of our present visit40           
,mildred looked surprised4    8,if it is
 anything ,i can do1 ,general10 she     
said1 8,i think ,i have  sufficient     
patriotism to undertake it40    8,i have
 no doubt of that4 ,but1 to make a long 
story short1 we want a  lady to go into 
the capital--,washington ,city1 ,i      
mean40    ,gen4 ,a4 watched her face    
closely and critically as he said this4 
,mildred did not appear to be amazed at 
this information1 but she  quietly said3
    8,will that be easy to do80    8,i  
do not know2 it depends upon the tact of
 the person that tries it10  answered   
,gen4 ,a4    8,i infer1 then10 she said1
 8that ,i would have to avoid the       
pickets and  sentinels80    8,not so    
much that as other things which ,i will 
explain to you4 ,but ,i  shall not      
conceal the fact from you1 that if you  
are detected1 the  consequences will be 
enough to terrify not only a lady1 but a
 desperate  man40    8,death1 would it  

be80 she asked in a firm1 but gentle    
tone which  convinced ,gen4 ,a4 that    
,gen4 ,b4 was not mistaken in his       
estimate of her  character4    8,death1 
and #8death by hanging'10 answered ,gen4
 ,a4 with an emphasis  designed to test 
her nerves4    8,o1 ,general60 exclaimed
 the ,doctor in some alarm1 8that is    
asking too  much of my child4 ,she is   
too delicate and timid to take such a   
risk40    8,i shall not insist upon     
anyone's undertaking it10 replied ,gen4 
,a4 with  a disappointed look4 8,gen4   
,b4 here suggested that your daughter   
would  be the kind of person we need1   
but if you object we will say no more   
about it40    8,my kind father has      
spoken hastily10 said ,mildred with     
dignity4 8,i do  not know why the women 
of our country should not sometimes risk
 their  lives as well as the soldiers4  
,suppose ,i should lose my life1 it is  
no more than hundreds have already done4
 ,i am not afraid4 ,i will go1          
,general1 unless my father positively   

forbids it40    8,there will be no very 
great risk1 though1 after all10 said    
,gen4 ,a41  8especially after you are in
 the city4 ,i have a paper to be        
delivered  to a certain person in       
,washington4 ,if you were caught with   
that paper1  you would no doubt be      
treated as a spy1 but a lady of         
intelligence and  tact can conceal it40 
8,could ,i not commit the contents to   
memory and write them out after ,i  get 
into the city80 asked ,mildred4    8,no2
 the person who is to receive it must   
have the original paper40    ,mildred   
reflected for a moment1 and turning to  
the ,doctor said3    8,father1 ,i am    
willing to do this small service for the
 ,general40    8,it is no small service1
 ,i should think10 interrupted the      
,doctor4    8,no10 replied the ,general1
 8it is a very great service1 one which 
will  bring your country under          
obligations40    8,what do you say1     
father80 asked ,mildred4    8,my child10
 said the doctor with some emotion1 8,i 

cannot encourage  you to do it4 ,i will 
leave it to your own judgment4 ,i1      
however1 would  prefer to undertake the 
mission myself1 if that would answer40  
8,if the business10 answered ,gen4 ,a41 
8could be accomplished by a man1  we    
have any number of soldiers in camp who 
would cheerfully volunteer1  but no     
person will answer but an intelligent   
lady4 ,you will see that  when ,i enter 
into fuller explanations40    8,if this 
be so1 father1 it seems to me that ,i   
ought to perform this  service for the  
country4 ,the enemy can but destroy this
 body1 if ,i  should be detected4       
,suppose1 ,general10 turning to him1    
8you can find no  lady who will         
undertake the affair1 what will be the  
consequence80    8,that will be         
difficult to foretell or foresee10      
replied ,gen4 ,a4 8,it  might cause the 
loss of a great battle4 ,on the other   
hand1 her going  might result in        
achieving the independence of the       
,confederate ,states4  ,very little     

affairs of this kind frequently result  
in great things40    8,then1 father10   
said ,mildred with firmness1 8,i can no 
longer hesitate4  ,we helpless women    
ought to serve our country in some way  
in the hour of  need4 ,will you give    
your consent1 father40    8,i can not   
tell you either to go or to stay10      
answered the ,doctor4 8,do  as you      
please40    8,then1 ,general1 ,i will go
 and do the best ,i can for you4 ,what  
is it you  wish me to do80    8,when can
 you start80 asked ,gen4 ,a4            
8,to-morrow1 if you desire it40         
8,very well3 now give me your attention 
and ,i will tell you what is to  be     
done4 ,the paper of which ,i spoke is   
this10 taking a folded document  from   
his pocket4 8,you see this is a map40   
,it is not necessary to enter into      
details in regard to this map4  ,besides
 it might not be advisable to unfold any
 portion of the secret  history of the  
8,great ,rebellion0 at this time when   
some of the actors  in the scenes we are

 now describing are yet living4         
8,this10 continued the ,general1 8is to 
be delivered to a gentleman by  the name
 of ,beall40    8,what is his address80 
asked ,mildred4    8,that ,i am not able
 to give you at present10 responded     
,gen4 ,a4 8,he  changes his quarters    
frequently2 but there are five hotels at
 which he  stops1 and you will find him 
registered in one of them40 ,the        
,general  here informed her how she     
could identify ,beall1 with whose       
melancholy  history our reader is       
probably acquainted4 8,this paper must  
be put into  the hands of ,captain      
,beall10 continued ,gen4 ,a41 8and no   
one else40    8,yes1 ,i understand10    
said ,mildred4    8,the principal       
danger10 the ,general went on1 8lies in 
this4 ,if  you should be arrested with  
this paper on your person or in your    
possession1 your fidelity to your       
country will cost you very dearly1  you 
understand40    8,yes1 sir1 my life will
 be the price40    8,when you meet      

,beall10 coolly resumed ,gen4 ,a41 8he  
will give you  another paper which you  
are to bring to me4 ,of course ,i will  
have to  leave some of the details to   
your own good sense and tact4 ,if you   
should get into any difficulty1 do not  
lose your presence of mind and          
self-possession4 ,keep cool under all   
circumstances1 and ,i think you  will   
soon come back to us in safety40        
,after some further directions and      
explanations1 which can be omitted      
without detriment to our story1 the     
,general said3    8,now1 you fully      
understand what is to be done2 are you  
still willing to  go80    ,mildred      
looked appealingly at her father1 but he
 said not a word4    8,what do you say1 
father80 she again asked4    8,i        
candidly confess10 he replied at last   
8that ,i dislike to see my  daughter    
subjected to exposure of this sort4     
,probably the result may  be such as    
makes me shudder to think about it1 and 
then my gray hairs  would be brought in 

sorrow to my grave4 ,in that case1 ,i   
never could  forgive myself for not     
having forbidden her to go40    8,well10
 said ,gen4 ,a41 8,i shall not even now 
insist upon her going4  ,she can still  
decline if she wish4 ,the danger is just
 what ,i have  represented it4 ,if10    
turning to ,mildred1 8you shrink from   
it1 you would  better decline at once40 
8,it is not the danger ,i dread10       
answered ,mildred4 8,i am willing to    
serve my country in any way ,i can1 even
 to the extent of shedding  my blood1   
but ,i dislike to do anything that will 
cause my father to  suffer4 ,but ,i have
 already told you ,i would go1 and so ,i
 will unless my  father sees proper to  
exercise his parental authority and     
forbids it40    8,i shall not forbid10  
said the ,doctor4 8,i want you to       
consult your own  feelings and judgment 
and act accordingly40    8,then         
,general10 said ,mildred with firmness1 
8,i shall start in the  morning4 ,there 
is no use of any further discussion40   

8,god bless you60 exclaimed ,general    
,b41 who had not taken any part in  the 
conversation4 8,i thought ,i could not  
be mistaken in your character4  ,i knew 
your religious training had developed   
those very traits which  peculiarly     
qualify you for this perilous           
undertaking4 ,may ,god protect  and     
crown the undertaking with deserved     
success40    ,as the officers were      
riding away1 ,gen4 ,b4 said3    8,what a
 pity it would be if that noble girl    
should be arrested and--0    8,hanged80 
spoke up ,gen4 ,a41 finishing the       
uncompleted sentence4    8,yes2 it would
 be terrible10 answered ,gen4 ,b4       
8,well10 said ,gen4 ,a4 deliberately1   
8war signifies bloodshed4 ,if the  young
 lady falls a victim1 does not the      
occasion demand the sacrifice40    ,and 
the two officers rode on4               
,illustration3 ,decoration              
,,chapter ,,xi4    ,a ,,brave ,,girl4   
,it might seem strange to the reader who
 is unacquainted with the nature  of    

war1 that a young1 intelligent1 and     
accomplished lady should have           
undertaken such an enterprise as that   
partly described in the previous        
chapter4 ,but it must be remembered that
 war introduces customs and  modes of   
thought which would be subversive of our
 notions of propriety  in times of      
peace4 ,the women of the ,south were    
frequently thrown by  the force of      
circumstances into strange and unusual  
situations during  the dark and stormy  
days of the 8,great ,rebellion40 ,they  
had to perform  many duties which would 
have been palpable violations of the    
laws of  etiquette under different      
circumstances4 ,besides1 we are all     
creatures  of habit1 and our character  
depends upon our education4 ,this fact  
is  our authority for the assertion1    
that in our social relations there is   
scarcely anything1 if there is really   
anything1 proper or improper  per       
se--anything inherently absolute4 ,many 
of our terms are merely  relative3 they 

have no fixed definition4 ,no absolute  
rules can be laid  down that shall      
determine whether a given line of       
conduct is modest  or immodest4         
,circumstances only can determine4 ,an  
angel1 for instance  could use language 
in the pulpit which ordinary ministers  
of the  ,gospel would not dare to       
employ4 ,one nation regards a thing as  
proper1  which another considers        
improper4 ,hence1 there can be no fixed 
code of  propriety4    ,bearing these   
facts in mind1 we can understand why it 
was that ,mildred  could see no         
impropriety in undertaking to make her  
way alone into  ,washington--which she  
did in less than forty-eight hours after
 the  interview with the two            
,confederate ,generals4 ,the statement  
of this  fact is sufficient1 without    
entering into particulars in regard to  
the  difficulties which she encountered4
 ,she remained in the city three days   
till she found the unfortunate ,captain 
,beall1 to whom she delivered  the      

papers1 and from whom she received      
others for ,gen4 ,a4 ,her mission       
having been successfully accomplished1  
she returned1 and reported to  the      
,confederate officer4 ,his rather stern 
face assumed a smile1 as he  took her by
 the hand and congratulated her upon her
 success4    8,here is a check for a    
thousand dollars10 he said as she       
finished her  report4    8,but ,i did   
not expect to be paid1 ,general10 she   
said4 8,i undertook the  mission because
 ,i love my country1 and desire to do   
something in the  struggle for          
independence40    8,you are not a       
soldier10 replied ,gen4 ,a4 8,we have no
 right to your  services without        
compensation4 ,this is only a partial   
reward for what  you have done40    8,i 
do not ask any remuneration40    8,you  
have been in danger10 said ,gen4 ,a4    
8,besides1 ,i will want you to go  on a 
similar mission in a few days1 and ,i   
have no right to your time4 ,i  am aware
 that the salary of ministers is small1 

and funds do not come  amiss4 ,you have 
earned this money1 and ,i insist upon   
your taking it4 ,it  is yours40    8,i  
can do with it as ,i please80 asked     
,mildred after a short pause4           
8,certainly you can40    8,then10 said  
,mildred1 8,i will take it4 ,i know how 
,i can use it to good  purpose40        
8,well10 said the ,general1 handing her 
the check1 8can you go on a  similar    
mission80    8,to the same place80      
8,yes40    8,yes1 sir2 ,i will go40     
8,when can you start80    8,to-morrow1  
if necessary40    8,i am truly glad10   
said ,gen4 ,a4 8for ,i have another     
paper which ought  to be in ,washington 
now4 ,i was afraid to entrust it to you 
till you had  proved that it was        
practicable to go in and out of the     
city4 ,but since  you know now exactly  
what to do1 ,i feel that there will be  
little risk40    8,it1 too1 is a        
dangerous paper1 is it80    8,it is1 and
 if you are detected with it1 the death 
of another party  will be the           

consequence4 ,if you can manage to give 
it to ,capt4 ,beall  there will be no   
danger to you40    8,i can do that10    
replied ,mildred4 8,i know how to find  
him40    8,you see10 said ,gen4 ,a4 8,i 
have written the message on this pocket 
handkerchief so that you can conceal it 
in your clothing40    8,yes1 sir10 said 
,mildred1 taking the handkerchief1 8,i  
can conceal this  so that it will escape
 the most rigid search40    8,i can     
trust you for that10 said the ,general4 
8,if nothing providential interferes10  
said ,mildred1 8,i shall start in  the  
morning40    8,thank you10 answered     
,gen4 ,a4 8,when you return1 you shall  
receive your  reward40    8,we will talk
 about that when ,i get back10 she said1
 as she took her  leave4                
,accordingly1 the next morning she again
 started for the city of  ,washington1  
without the slightest misgiving or      
premonition of evil4  ,indeed what had  
she to fear8 ,she knew exactly how to   
proceed4 ,she1  therefore1 boldly       

entered the city1 after having complied 
with  such military requisitions as were
 necessary in those days4 ,it was       
frequently the case that the most       
elegant ladies of the ,south1 mounted   
upon bales of cotton in an ox-wagon1    
went shopping in cities that were  under
 ,federal jurisdiction4 ,some had to    
take the oath of allegiance  to the ,u4 
,s4 ,government1 and others1 by their   
extreme cleverness1  managed to 8get    
through the lines0 without compromising 
their fealty  to the ,confederacy4 ,it  
is not necessary to describe ,mildred's 
military  maneuvers in order to secure  
both ingress and egress4 ,but more light
  will be thrown on this subject as the 
story proceeds4    ,again ,mildred was  
in ,washington4 ,she registered at the  
very same hotel  at which she had put up
 before4 ,this was the first mistake    
that she  had made4 ,for even her first 
visit had aroused the suspicions of  the
 head clerk4 ,however1 without          
manifesting the least surprise1 he      

assigned her to a room1 remarking that  
it would be half an hour before  the    
chamber would be ready for occupancy4   
8,you can sit in the parlor for that    
length of time80 he asked with a  bland 
smile4    8,certainly10 replied         
,mildred4    8,thanks10 he said1 bowing 
politely4 8,please step this way40      
,mildred followed him to the elegant    
parlor1 and seated herself on one  of   
the luxurious sofas4    8,i will return 
in a short time10 said the urbane clerk1
 8and have you  shown to your room4     
,please make yourself comfortable40     
,he bowed himself out of the apartment1 
and was gone about twenty  minutes4     
,seating himself1 he manifested a       
disposition to engage in                
conversation--at which ,mildred         
exhibited surprise as well as aversion4 
8,you have no friends in the city1      
lady80 he said half inquiringly and     
half declaratively4 ,she could construe 
it either way4    8,sir80 said ,mildred 
in a tone that plainly indicated        

disinclination to  talk4    8,i made a  
remark about your friends10 said the    
clerk1 8but it does not  matter4 ,you   
have been to the city before have you   
not80    8,i have1 sir10 answered       
,mildred in a frigid tone4 8,is my room 
ready80    8,not quite1 ma'am4 ,the     
chambermaid will be in presently4 ,how  
long will  you want the room80 asked the
 clerk4    8,why do you wish to know80  
8,o1 merely to know4 ,sometimes we like 
to know how long our guests will        
remain--it is a matter                  
of--of--convenience40    8,i will notify
 you when ,i am ready to vacate it10    
said ,mildred coldly4    8,o1 yes1 of   
course1 you can retain it as long as you
 wish4 ,i meant no  offence4 ,have you  
heard the news80    8,what news80 asked 
,mildred4    8,why1 a terrible battle   
has been fought--it was on yesterday at 
----3  an awful fight40    8,no1 sir1 ,i
 have not heard of it10 answered        
,mildred changing to a more  gentle     
tone1 yet expressive of indifference4   

8,you do not seem to take much interest 
in military affairs80 remarked  the     
clerk4 8,i thought everybody was eager  
to hear of the success of our  arms4    
,the ,rebels received a fearful         
chastisement yesterday40    8,they did80
 asked ,mildred1 trying to appear       
indifferent under the  searching gaze of
 this impudent clerk4    8,indeed1 they 
did4 ,you will hear the guns booming    
presently in honor  of the great        
victory4 ,there were ten thousand rebels
 killed1 yes1  left dead on the field4  
,wasn't it glorious8 ,wasn't it         
glorious80 he  exclaimed rubbing his    
hands in glee4    8,i see nothing       
glorious in shedding human blood10      
replied ,mildred4    8,don't you rejoice
 at hearing of the defeat of the rebels1
 and that so  many thousands were       
killed80 inquired the clerk4    8,god   
forbid10 exclaimed ,mildred with more   
warmth than she intended to  manifest1  
8that ,i should rejoice at the death of 
any human being40    8,but the rebels   

have got to be killed1 you know1 in     
order to bring the  war to an end and to
 restore the ,union40    8,that may be  
so10 answered ,mildred1 drawn into a    
conversation in spite  of herself1 8but 
,i dislike to hear of wholesale murder4 
,the great ,god  did not put ,his       
intelligent creatures here to butcher   
each other4 ,i  cannot1 therefore1 but  
think that war is a sin40    8,no doubt1
 the aggressive party is guilty10       
answered the clerk4 8,the  rebels       
brought on the war4 ,don't you think1   
then1 that the rebels are  responsible  
for all the blood that has been1 and may
 be shed80    8,i was speaking on       
general principles10 answered ,mildred4 
8,it does not  become me to measure the 
degree of guilt that may attach to      
either  party4 ,it is a sin to commit   
murder2 it is a violation of ,god's     
commandment40    8,is it1 when done in  
self-defence80    8,i suppose10 replied 
,mildred1 8that if homicide is          
absolutely necessary  to the            

preservation of one's life1 it would be 
justifiable4 ,but in the  case of war1  
who is to determine which party is      
fighting purely in  self-defence80      
8,in the present war10 said the clerk1  
8,i don't see how there can be any      
doubt about it4 ,the rebels fired the   
first gun1 and dishonored the flag  of  
our country40    8,yet10 said ,mildred1 
8the rebels claim that they are fighting
 in  self-defence40    8,do you         
sympathize with the rebels80 asked the  
clerk1 looking narrowly  into her face1 
as though he would read her thoughts4   
8,probably you may  be a ,copper-head80 
8,i did not say ,i sympathized with     
either party10 answered ,mildred        
quietly4    8,no2 but one would infer   
that you leaned toward the rebels40     
8,i do not know upon what you could base
 such an inference10 rejoined  ,mildred1
 8for ,i have not used an expression    
that could be construed  into sympathy  
for either side4 ,i told you ,i was     
speaking only on  general principles40  

8,do you mind telling with which party  
you do sympathize80 quoth the  clerk4   
8,i am neither politician1 nor soldier1 
nor am ,i regarded as a citizen  by the 
law10 answered ,mildred4 8,you will1    
therefore1 please excuse me  from any   
expression of opinion on this subject4  
,why should you wish to  know80    8,why
 should you mind expressing an opinion80
    8,it is not necessary1 is it80 asked
 ,mildred4    8,no1 ma'am2 it is not a  
matter of life or death10 replied the   
smiling  clerk1 8but ,i can imagine no  
good reason why you should be so        
extremely  cautious--that is1 unless you
 have come upon some illegal business40 
,for an instant ,mildred seemed startled
 at this insinuation4    8,i'm sure ,i  
asked a civil question10 said the clerk4
    8,certainly10 answered ,mildred with
 a little birdlike laugh1 intended to   
ward off suspicion1 8but ,i should like 
to know by what authority you  propound 
questions to me40    8,o10 said the     
clerk1 breaking into a laugh1 8,i am no 

court of  inquisition4 ,i questioned you
 only by the authority of social        
etiquette4 ,it is no breach of          
politeness1 ,i hope1 to ask ordinary    
questions in a common conversation4 ,we 
sometimes ask questions merely  for the 
sake of vivifying conversation40        
8,the authority of social etiquette10   
replied ,mildred1 8is sometimes         
insolent1 and even ordinary questions   
may in times of public  disturbance lead
 to grave consequences40    8,i had no  
intention of making so serious a matter 
of it10 said the  clerk4 8,i asked the  
question more for the sake of saying    
something than  anything else4          
,certainly1 if you wish to conceal your 
opinions and  sentiments1 ,i'm no       
inquisitor to try to force you to reveal
 them4 ,i1  however1 admire your        
prudence1 since you are a stranger in   
the city40    ,mildred suddenly laughed 
outright4    8,what do you see in my    
remark10 inquired the clerk very        
soberly1 8to  excite your risibility80  

8,i was laughing at your making so      
serious a matter out of nothing10       
answered ,mildred4 8,you speak of my    
prudence1 as if ,i were some astute     
diplomatist who had come to ,washington 
to negotiate a treaty of peace1  or some
 other important business4 ,the whole of
 my prudence consists in  not directly  
answering questions that might lead to  
the discussion of  unpleasant topics40  
8,why is the war such an unpleasant     
subject80 asked the clerk4 8,it ought   
to be agreeable to all loyal people to  
hear about the destruction of  rebels4  
,i wish ,i could kill some of them      
myself40    8,if you have such a        
blood-thirsty disposition10 said        
,mildred a little  contemptuously1 8,i  
think you could easily find             
opportunities to gratify  it40    8,you 
may be sure1 if ,i could stand the      
exposure which camp life  involves1 ,i  
should have gone out at the first tap of
 the drum4 ,besides1  ,i have a family40
    8,there are soldiers on both sides  

who have families10 said ,mildred4      
8,i only wish ,i had physical strength10
 said the clerk4 8,nothing would        
delight me more than to kill rebels40   
,mildred could not suppress a smile of  
derision1 for the clerk was a  large1   
well-developed man1 presenting every    
aspect of perfect health4  ,this        
exhibition of contempt did not escape   
his notice1 since he closely  watched   
her throughout the entire interview4 ,he
 felt provoked at her  insinuations1 but
 he was too polite to manifest his      
vexation4    8,but here comes the       
chamber-maid10 he said1 8who will show  
you to your  room4 ,i hope you may have 
a pleasant time in the city1 if the     
business  upon which you have come will 
permit you to seek pleasure40    8,how  
do you know that ,i have come upon any  
business80 asked ,mildred4              
8,strangers generally have business1    
when they visit the city10 said the     
clerk significantly1 as ,mildred        
thought4 ,but she concluded that she    

would say nothing more4 ,rising1 she    
silently followed the chamber-maid4     
,the clerk walked back to his desk in a 
thoughtful mood2 and this is  what was  
passing through his mind3    8,that is  
one of those proud ,southern women1 and 
she is bent upon  mischief4 ,well1 if   
she is not very cautious1 ,i shall trap 
her as ,i have  done others4 ,she seems 
to be an intelligent1 accomplished      
woman1 but  what is she doing here      
alone8 ,if she is a spy1 as ,i begin to 
suspect1  and is detected1 what a fate  
awaits her60          ,,chapter ,,xii4  
,,in ,,prison4      ,as soon as the     
chamber-maid's footsteps had died away1 
,mildred locked  the door1 and sat down 
to think4 ,suffering herself to be drawn
 into an  interview with a stranger was 
her second blunder1 as she now          
perceived4  ,why had the clerk          
manifested such a sudden interest in her
 affairs8  ,did he not suspect her8     
,what made her so foolish as to engage  
in a  conversation with him8 ,she could 

not but feel a little uneasy and        
anxious1 and she determined to transact 
her business as quickly as  possible1   
and leave the city4 ,as soon as she     
would rid herself of ,gen4  ,a4's       
message she would be out of danger4 ,she
 must find ,beall at once4    ,she then 
rose from her seat1 and looked around   
the room1 and even  under the bed4 ,she 
cast her eyes up to the ceiling1 and as 
she did  so imagined that she heard a   
sudden1 but slight movement overhead4   
,a small bit of plaster dropped to the  
floor4 ,she at once made the  discovery 
that about two feet square of the       
plaster had fallen off1 or  at least was
 gone4 ,this fact1 under ordinary       
circumstances1 would have  made no      
impression upon her mind1 but now it    
awakened her suspicions1  and she       
narrowly examined the unsightly blemish4
 ,why should it not  have been repaired8
 ,but it may have been recently done4   
,to discover  whether this might be so1 
she examined the carpet immediately     

under  it1 but she saw only a few grains
 of sand1 and the little lump that  had 
just fallen4 ,perhaps ,sir ,isaac1 in   
the same length of time1 did  not study 
more profoundly in regard to the descent
 of that famous  apple which            
revolutionized philosophy1 than ,mildred
 did about that  insignificant bit of   
rubbish4 ,was its fall1 too1 due simply 
to the  law of gravitation1 or was it   
caused by some eavesdropper8 ,after     
reflecting for some moments1 a new      
thought seemed suddenly to flash  into  
her mind1 for she partially disrobed    
herself1 as if to rest1 and  lay upon   
the bed1 pretending to fall into a deep 
sleep4 ,she was1 in  fact1 wide awake1  
listening with all her ears4 ,an hour   
passed away1 and  she arose4 ,taking a  
pair of small scissors from her pocket1 
she cut  a small aperture in the lining 
of her dress so that she could secure   
easy access to the ,general's manuscript
 pocket-handkerchief4 ,this done1  she  
drew her chair to the window where she  

could look down upon the  busy street4  
,she gazed at the crowds rushing along  
in pursuit of the  varied objects that  
occupy the attention of the inhabitants 
of a gay  city1 like the capital of the 
,united ,states4 ,she beheld officers of
  every grade walking among the throng  
with proud1 military step1 who  appeared
 to glory more in their magnificent     
physique and splendid1  spotless        
uniform1 than in the deeds of valor they
 had performed on the  field of battle4 
,in this gay1 beautiful city1 she felt a
 keen sense  of loneliness4 ,there was1 
so far as she knew1 only one person in  
all  the place1 whose sympathies were   
like her own1 and she had no intimate   
acquaintance with him4 ,this person was 
,capt4 ,beall4 ,she now determined  to  
find him at once1 deliver the ,general's
 document1 and immediately  start       
homeward4 ,accordingly1 she rose from   
her chair1 donned her  cephalic attire1 
and opened the door4 ,she started back  
in amazement  and horror6 ,there stood  

before her a policeman1 a woman1 and the
  head-clerk with whom she had conversed
 not more than two hours since4  ,what  
awful thoughts now came crowding into   
her mind6 ,it is impossible  to describe
 them4 ,persons who have been in similar
 situations remember  how active is the 
mind in the first moment of surprise4   
,the sense of  danger1 the line of      
defence1 the means of escape1 all are   
discussed  in a few seconds4 ,thoughts  
such as these1 and a hundred others of a
  different character1 flashed in the   
most rapid succession through           
,mildred's mind4 ,among other things    
,gen4 ,a4's cautions came vividly to    
her memory4 ,he had told her how        
necessary is self-possession1 and she   
was now making the most desperate       
efforts to be calm4 ,the trio stood     
watching her face1 as she gazed steadily
 at them4 ,as they said nothing1  she   
presently1 in a quiet tone broke the    
silence4    8,i am patiently waiting to 
learn the object of this intrusion10 she

  said with dignity4    8,we are not    
guilty of intrusion10 replied the clerk1
 8we are merely  standing before the    
door40    8,if that is all10 said       
,mildred calmly1 8please let me pass1   
and you can  enjoy your harmless        
pleasure to your heart's content40      
8,not so fast1 sarcastic lady10 spoke   
the clerk4 8,you must give a  better    
account of yourself than you did a while
 ago4 ,i suspected your  disloyalty to  
the ,federal ,government sufficiently to
 induce me to make  an effort to        
ascertain if my suspicions were         
correct40    8,what effort do you       
propose to make80    8,would you object 
to being searched80    8,for what80     
asked ,mildred with inward trepidation1 
as she perceived  treachery gradually   
unfolding4 ,for one moment the most     
bitter hatred  toward that deceptive    
clerk sprang up in her heart1 and she   
felt that  she could have taken his     
life4 ,but it was only for a moment4    
8,we wish to see if you have anything   

contraband10 replied the clerk4    8,i  
suppose you intend to search me anyhow1 
whether ,i consent or not80    8,we     
don't like to resort to force10 answered
 the clerk1 8and we hope  you'll readily
 give your consent4 ,indeed1 a          
willingness on your part to  submit will
 be taken as evidence of your loyalty to
 the government40    8,i do not see it  
in that light10 said ,mildred as quietly
 as possible4  8,what have ,i done to   
arouse your suspicions80    8,that does 
not matter1 lady10 replied the clerk4   
8,i have no feeling of  malice toward   
you4 ,i sincerely hope that ,i am       
mistaken1 and that you  may prove as    
innocent of any sinister intentions     
towards the government  as the angels of
 heaven4 ,i was prepossessed in your    
favor by your  general appearance and   
your conversation4 ,but if you have come
 to the  city with any dark purpose1 it 
is but natural that you should oppose   
being searched40    8,can you not see10 
asked ,mildred1 speaking slowly1 8that  

it is a  personal indignity to be       
subjected to a search80    8,not in such
 times as these10 said the clerk4 8,it  
is generally the  case1 that1 when      
innocent people are suspected1 they     
demand an  investigation1 instead of    
shrinking from it40    8,that depends   
upon circumstances10 replied ,mildred   
coolly4 ,she was  endeavoring to prolong
 the conversation as much as possible in
 order  to think what was best to be    
done4 ,if she could avoid this search1  
she would be safe4 ,a score of schemes  
rapidly presented themselves  during    
these few moments4 ,she thought of      
bribery2 but that would be  an          
acknowledgment of guilt4 ,if there had  
been a fire in the room1 she  would have
 hastily thrown the dangerous kerchief  
into it2 in that case  all that the     
authorities could do would be to        
imprison her for a while  as a          
suspicious character4 ,but there was no 
fire1 and she did not have  even a      
match4 ,if ,mildred had only known it1  

all her scheming was to no  purpose1 for
 she had been watched4 ,that wiry1 pert 
little woman1 one  of the trio had been 
in the room over-head1 which had been   
prepared  for suspicious characters4    
,when ,mildred had suddenly looked up to
 the  ceiling1 in her examination of the
 room1 the woman involuntarily drew     
back1 and in so doing had caused the    
lump of loose plaster to fall4 ,she  saw
 ,mildred make the rent in the dress1   
and that was enough4 ,mildred  at last  
came to the conclusion that it would be 
advisable to submit  with the best grace
 possible1 and trust to ,providence for 
protection4  ,sending up a silent1 but  
earnest prayer1 she said3    8,i suppose
 you have brought this lady to do the   
work8 ,if so1 it is  useless to discuss 
the matter4 ,so proceed40    8,that is  
right10 said the clerk4 8,you can both  
go into the room1 and  close the door4  
,this officer and myself will await the 
result in the  hall1 here40             
,accordingly the little woman1 with     

eyes1 as ,mildred thought1 keen  enough 
to see through a mill-stone1 entered the
 apartment1 and closed  the door4       
8,well1 what do you wish80 asked        
,mildred4    8,let me have your dress   
first1 please40    8,you wish me to take
 it off80    8,yes1 take it off40       
8,what do you expect to find80 asked    
,mildred4 8,you can feel the dress      
anywhere1 and you will discover no      
papers40    8,take it off10 said the    
woman sharply4 8,i don't know what ,i   
will find4  ,i'll show you when ,i am   
through searching40    ,mildred         
deliberately removed the garment1 and   
while so doing1 made  two or three      
unsuccessful attempts to withdraw the   
treacherous  kerchief unobserved2 but   
the diminutive woman was watching with  
an  ,argus-eyed vigilance that would    
have instantly detected any suspicious  
manipulation4 ,the little lady took it1 
turned it inside out1 and  stretched it 
upon the bed4 ,in an instant her keen   
eyes fell upon the  fatal rent4 ,mildred

 felt a choking sensation when she      
perceived the  nimble fingers deftly    
close upon the ,general's handkerchief4 
8,o1 heaven6 what shall ,i do80 was her 
inward exclamation as she saw the       
kerchief quickly jerked out4 ,she felt a
 sickening sensation creeping  over her4
 ,she tried hard to preserve her        
equanimity4 ,would falsehood  avail in  
this instance8 or should she tell the   
truth1 and meet death  with ,christian  
resignation8    8,ah6 what is this80    
exclaimed the little woman1 holding up  
the kerchief  by two corners1 and gazing
 at it with a most provoking air of     
triumph4    ,mildred's first impulse was
 to snatch the terrible document from   
her  hands1 and thrust it in the fire1  
but alas6 there was no fire in the      
room4    8,it may be some old rag10 said
 ,mildred in a hoarse1 trembling voice1 
8put in to thicken the lining40 ,it was 
the first time in her life that  she had
 practiced prevarication1 and the words 
seemed to blister her  tongue4          

8,hardly probable10 said the            
,lilliputian lady with an ironical      
smile4  8,hardly probable2 it is almost 
new1 don't you see8 ,but ,i will give it
  to ,mr4 ,twombly1 and let him examine 
it while ,i continue the work40         
,accordingly1 she opened the door1 gave 
the kerchief to the clerk1 and  resumed 
the search4 ,but a half hour's further  
investigation revealed  nothing else of 
a suspicious character4 ,the woman said3
    8,well1 unless that handkerchief    
contains evidences of disloyalty you    
will go free4 ,put on your clothing4 ,i 
will assist you40    ,in a little time  
,mildred was again presentable1 and the 
door being  re-opened1 the two men      
entered without ceremony4 ,the little   
woman was  the first to speak4          
8,that's the only suspicious article    
,i've been able to discover40    8,and  
that is enough10 said the clerk4 8,alas6
 young lady1 we are forced  to arrest   
you as a spy4 ,i am sorry for you40     
8,i do not need your sympathy10 said    

,mildred indignantly4 8,i would  rather 
be anything than a detestable informer1 
showing a #8,devil's  purpose with an   
angel's face'--sneaking among your      
unsuspecting  guests1 smiling and       
fawning upon them in order to convert   
their blood  into gold4 #8,i'd rather be
 a dog and bay the moon than such a     
,roman4'  ,yes1 ,i'd rather die a       
thousand times than act the base part of
 a  contemptible hypocrite40    8,high6 
wrathful lady10 exclaimed the clerk     
without betraying any  symptoms of      
vexation and annoyance1 8how can you    
blame me for  discharging my duty to my 
country80    8,don't you remember that  
,king ,philip said he loved the treason1
 but  despised the traitor8 ,that is the
 case with your masters2 they love  your
 treachery1 but they hate you4 ,every   
honest man heartily execrates  a        
cold-blooded1 villainous informer10     
cried the enraged ,mildred4             
8,nevertheless1 young lady10 coolly said
 the clerk1 8it is our duty to  arrest  

you as a spy40    8,i am no spy10       
exclaimed ,mildred4 8,i have not come to
 ,washington to  find out anything of a 
military character4 ,i call ,god to     
witness that ,i  have not come here for 
any such purpose40    8,why1 don't you  
know the contents of this document80    
asked the clerk4    8,god in heaven1 who
 sees me1 knows that ,i never read a    
single word1 or  syllable of it40       
8,then10 said the clerk in surprise1    
8you know not what a dangerous          
handkerchief you have been carrying40   
8,yes1 sir2 ,i knew it was attended with
 some sort of danger1 but ,i do         
emphatically deny being a spy4 ,all ,i  
had to do was to deliver the            
handkerchief to a certain person1 and go
 back home40    8,and that person is    
named here10 replied the clerk4 8,i     
wouldn't given a  snap of my finger for 
his life40    ,mildred turned pale on   
hearing this1 and on re-calling the fact
 that  ,general ,a4 had told her that if
 she were detected1 a third party would 

be compromised4    8,notwithstanding    
your unnecessary abuse of myself10 said 
the clerk1 8,i  hope your excuse will be
 considered sufficient to procure your  
release4  ,your friends have made a mere
 tool of you for the accomplishment of  
their own purpose4 ,but ,i must take you
 to head-quarters4 ,if you will  promise
 to go along quietly1 ,i will accompany 
you myself2 if you are  not1 ,i will    
turn you over to the police40    8,i    
will go with you10 said ,mildred1 who   
was now ready almost to faint4    ,the  
clerk and ,mildred descended to the     
street1 and entered a passing  hack4 ,in
 a few moments they alighted at the     
head-quarters of ,gen4 ----1  to whom   
the clerk delivered the handkerchief4   
,he read it over twice and  said3    8,a
 pretty kettle of fish is this6 ,are you
 the bearer of this1 young  lady80      
8,i am1 sir40    8,she had it carefully 
concealed in her clothing1 ,general10   
spoke up the  clerk4 8,i suspected her1 
and had her watched40    8,you have done

 your country a great service10 replied 
the ,general4  8,have you arrested the  
other party80    8,no1 sir1 ,i thought  
it best to deliver that article to you  
first40    8,very well10 answered the   
,general4 8,i thank you heartily for    
what  you have done4 ,now1 young lady10 
continued the ,general1 turning his     
attention to ,mildred who was pale but  
calm1 8how came you with this           
document80    ,mildred had concocted a  
falsehood which might have obscured her 
connection with the affair with a shadow
 of dubitation4 ,but in early  life the 
little story of ,george ,washington and 
the cherry tree had made  a deep1       
ineffaceable impression upon her mind1  
and neither could she  8tell a lie40 ,if
 she spoke at all1 she determined to    
tell the truth1  let the consequences be
 what they might4 ,so she answered3     
8,i brought it to a certain person in   
this city40    8,what is his name80     
8,i cannot tell10 she replied4 8,you can
 do as you please with me1 but ,i  shall

 not compromise others40    8,it does   
not matter10 replied the ,general4 8,his
 name is ,beall4 ,i shall  have him     
arrested in an hour or so4 ,he is an    
important character1 it  seems4 ,do you 
not know1 lady1 that you are acting the 
spy80    8,no1 sir4 ,i deny being a     
spy40    8,i pity your ignorance10      
replied the officer4 8,you are exactly  
in the  attitude of a spy4 ,the         
penalty--do you know what it is80       
8,death1 is it not80 replied ,mildred   
calmly4    8,death1 and death by        
hanging40    8,o1 ,general60 exclaimed  
,mildred1 whose feelings were           
alternating  between trepidation and    
tranquility4 8,can you not pardon me    
when ,i was  ignorant that ,i was acting
 in such a capacity80    8,i never knew 
a spy to be pardoned10 said the ,general
 thoughtfully4  8,there was universal   
sympathy for the unfortunate ,major     
,andre1  and ,washington would have     
saved him1 if possible4 ,but the law is 
inexorable4 ,i have no power to do      

anything4 ,you will have to be tried  by
 a military court1 and you can easily   
imagine what will be the  result4 ,a spy
 always takes his life in his hands1    
well knowing the  consequences of       
detection4 ,if you are ignorant of these
 consequences1 ,i  am truly sorry for   
you4 ,you will10 he continued1 turning  
to the clerk1  8give the lady a room in 
your hotel1 and ,i will send a guard to 
stand  at the door to prevent escape4 ,i
 do not care to send so elegant a lady  
to a common prison4 ,give her a room    
from which there is no practicable      
egress except through the door40    8,i 
understand1 ,general10 replied the      
clerk4 8,the corner room of the  fourth 
story is perfectly safe40    8,general10
 said ,mildred who had been trying to be
 brave1 8may ,i write  to my parents80  
,if the officer had spoken harshly1 she 
could have borne her misfortune  more   
courageously1 but he spoke kindly1 and  
the womanish heart would  betray itself4
 ,under such circumstances1 without     

tears1 she would have  been untrue to   
her sex4 ,the ,general was touched1 as  
nearly all men  are1 by the sight of a  
beautiful woman down whose cheeks are   
flowing  the evidences of her distress4 
,when the grim old ,general looked at   
the innocent truth-telling face of this 
magnanimous girl1 upon whose  features  
,god had stamped the seal of honesty1   
and especially when  she broke down at  
the thought of the distress of her      
parents1 and  ,ernest1 all the better   
feelings of his heart were touched4 ,his
 chivalry  prompted him to release her1 
but the claims of duty were paramount4  
,he1 at the time1 thought that surely no
 court-martial would deal with  her as  
with one of the 8rougher sex40 ,her     
innocence1 beauty1 and  intelligence    
would be her defense1 and1 under all    
circumstances1 would  be a greater      
protection than a ,roman shield4 ,he1   
therefore1 replied3    8,certainly1 you 
may4 ,this gentleman10 turning to the   
clerk1 8will see  that you have         

everything that you want4 ,remember1    
sir1 she is a lady1  and treat her      
accordingly40    8,she herself will     
testify1 ,general1 that ,i have extended
 to her the  treatment which every lady 
deserves1 notwithstanding the fact1 that
 she  abused me roundly for simply      
discharging my duty40    ,when they     
again entered the hack1 such a sense of 
the awfulness of  her situation came    
over ,mildred that she covered her face1
 and sobbed  audibly4 ,her woman nature 
strongly asserted itself1 and she       
yielded4  ,for the first time a sense of
 shame reddened the cheeks of the clerk1
  sitting silent in front of her4       
8,confound it10 said he to himself1     
8what great deed have ,i done8 ,she is  
nothing but an innocent girl1 ignorant  
of her own danger4 ,if it were  some    
sharp man1 ,i might feel                
self-complacent4 ,the man to whom she   
was  to deliver that handkerchief is    
really the guilty party4 ,but it is too 
late now4 ,i must obey orders40    ,they

 soon reached the hotel1 and in ten     
minutes ,mildred found herself  in the  
corner room of the fourth story4 ,and   
she sat down1 and wept  bitterly4       
,illustration3 ,decoration              
,,chapter ,,xiii4    ,a ,,desperate     
,,man4      ,the army to which ,ernest  
belonged was encamped on the banks of   
the  historical river ----4 ,the year   
was drawing to a close4 ,to ,ernest  the
 days dragged heavily by1 as there are  
few amusements in military  camps that  
are sufficient to divert one's mind from
 introspectional  processes4 ,it was    
this prolonged subjectivity--this       
constant brooding  over one's own       
thoughts1 inseparable from camp life1   
that produced  ennui1 or more           
frequently1 that exquisite nostalgia1   
which often  terminated in death4       
,ernest had kept up a regular           
correspondence with  ,mildred1 which    
occupied much of his time1 and made his 
own thoughts  pleasant companions4 ,she 
had not written a word in regard to her 

visits  to ,washington1 and he1 of      
course1 supposed that she was at home4  
,one morning a letter was delivered to  
him1 post-marked from  ,mildred's       
office1 but directed in a chirography   
which was not hers4  ,this circumstance 
at once aroused1 in his mind1 the most  
fearful  apprehensions4 ,he thought of a
 hundred calamities1 in a few moments1  
that might have overtaken her--probably 
she had suddenly died--she  might be    
sick--she had married someone--the enemy
 had made a raid and  carried off the   
whole family1 and this thought made him 
clench his  hand and grind his teeth4   
,why did he not open the epistle at     
once1 and  end his suspense8 ,because he
 was endeavoring to prepare his mind for
  the reception of distressing news1    
like a man who sees the avalanche       
coming1 and braces himself against the  
nearest rock that promises  to offer    
successful resistance against the coming
 shock4 ,the first  ,lieutenant of his  
company was in the tent1 to whom        

,ernest1 holding up  the letter1 said3  
8,i fear this will put an end to all my 
fondly cherished hopes40    8,is it from
 her80 inquired the ,lieutenant4        
8,no1 not from her10 said ,ernest1 8but 
it bears the post-mark of her  office40 
8,well1 why don't you open it80         
8,because it appears to me like a       
,pandora's box1 and ,i dread the evils  
it contains40    8,hope was left behind1
 you know40    8,yes2 but ,i fear that  
hope1 in this instance1 will be the     
first to wing  her flight away from me10
 said ,ernest4    8,never climb the hill
 till you get to it10 said the          
,lieutenant4 8,why  allow yourself to   
suffer the pangs of imaginary evils80   
8,it is foolish1 ,lieutenant40          
,ernest slowly opened the envelope1 took
 out the folded sheet1 and  glanced at  
the subscriber's signature4 ,it was from
 ,dr4 ,arrington4 ,the  ,lieutenant     
noticed that a deathly pallor spread    
over his face1 and his  hands trembled  
violently1 but he said nothing till     

,ernest had finished  the letter4 ,he   
was transformed into the very embodiment
 of despair4    8,what is the matter80  
kindly and anxiously asked the          
,lieutenant1 his  personal friend4      
8,i cannot tell10 ,ernest almost groaned
 out4 8,there1 read for yourself40      
,the ,lieutenant carefully read ,dr4    
,arrington's account of the arrest and  
imprisonment of his daughter4    8,it is
 terrible news10 said the ,lieutenant1  
8and there is no use  disguising it4    
,yet as long as there is life1 there is 
hope40    8,oh6 ,great ,heavens60       
exclaimed ,ernest1 springing to his     
feet1 8the  villains may have already   
executed her6 ,you know how hurriedly   
they  do these things4 ,if they have--10
 shaking his head and grinding his      
teeth--8,if they have1 ,i will be       
avenged4 ,yes1 they shall pay for her   
blood4 ,i shall have only one object to 
live for--to avenge her death4  ,in the 
next battle1 ,lieutenant1 ,i desire you 
to command the company4 ,i  want a      

gun--,i must have a gun4 ,i cannot stand
 still while there will be  such        
opportunities for spilling their blood4 
,yes1 sir1 ,i will make them  pay dearly
 for such shameful1 diabolical murder40 
8,now1 come1 my friend10 said the       
,lieutenant1 8you will try to ascend    
the mountain before you reach it4       
,sufficient unto the day is the evil    
thereof4 ,you have no proof whatever    
that the execution has taken place1  and
 your surmises may be without the shadow
 of foundation4 ,besides1  you are a    
,christian--a follower of the meek and  
lowly ,lamb1 who when  ,he was reviled1 
reviled not again4 ,does it become you  
to be talking of  revenge8 #8,vengeance 
is mine1' saith the ,lord4 ,you must not
 murmur at  the dispensations of divine 
providence40    8,what60 interrupted    
,ernest1 8do you call this a            
dispensation of  providence8 ,do you    
believe that ,god would deliberately    
bring about such  a dreadful event as   
that80    8,why not that as well as any 

other event8 ,don't you believe that    
,god  has something to do with this     
war80    8,yes1 ,i suppose ,he has1 in a
 sort of general way40    8,general     
way80 exclaimed the ,lieutenant4 8,why1 
generalities are made up  of            
particulars4 ,how can there be a general
 providence1 as some people  call it1   
without special acts8 ,well1 this       
misfortune of yours1 as you  regard it1 
is one of the events of the war4 ,it is 
not a mere accident40    8,do you       
pretend to say10 asked ,ernest in an    
agitated manner1 8that ,god  selected my
 loved one especially for the purpose of
 being sacrificed8  ,do you say that80  
8,why not her as well as anybody else1  
granting your premises8 ,but you  are a 
little too fast1 my friend4 ,you have no
 reliable information that  she has been
 sacrificed4 ,you're assuming too much40
    8,she will be treated as a spy10    
said ,ernest1 8and you know what that   
means4 ,i can never forgive ,gen4 ,a4   
for inveigling her into such an  affair4

 ,why did he not get me1 or some other  
man to go80    8,you do not know what   
,gen4 ,a4's reasons were10 said the     
,lieutenant4  8,captain1 you need to be 
taught a lesson of humility1 if you will
  pardon me for saying it4 ,god says1   
#8love your enemies1' and here you  are1
 wishing to murder yours1 and are       
manifesting an unforgiving spirit  even 
toward your friends4 ,i believe you are 
a ,christian1 but ,i fear you  will have
 to be chastened by sorrow and          
suffering4 ,you would better ask  ,god  
to give you meekness of spirit and      
resignation to ,his will1 before  you   
are made to bow by calamities4 ,your    
rebellion will be punished4 ,the        
,scripture says1 #8,whom the ,lord      
loveth1 ,he chasteneth4' ,submit1 before
 a  #8worse thing happen unto thee4'0   
8,it is difficult for me to believe just
 as you do10 answered ,ernest in  a     
gentler tone4 8,you belong to the       
,presbyterian ,church that holds to  the
 doctrine that ,god ordains whatsoever  

comes to pass4 ,i confess that  ,i am   
disposed to believe the theory1 but     
somehow ,i cannot bring it into  the    
practical affairs of life40    8,you    
remember what ,nebuchadnezzar was       
punished for80 asked the  ,lieutenant4  
8,it was for denying the ,divine        
,sovereignty4 ,god punishes  men for the
 same offence now4 ,he tells us ,he is a
 jealous ,god2 ,he  demands that we     
shall recognize ,his hand in all our    
affairs40    8,i wish ,i could fully and
 firmly believe as you do10 said ,ernest
  thoughtfully4 8,i can see that the    
doctrines of the ,presbyterian ,church  
are better adapted to the necessities of
 man's nature than those of any  other  
,church4 ,i notice too1 that            
,presbyterians seem to bear up under    
misfortunes better than other people4   
,and this ,i must attribute to the      
comfort they find in their doctrines40  
8,there is much truth in what you say10 
replied the ,lieutenant4 8,i was  not   
reared a ,presbyterian1 but after ,i was

 grown1 ,i was particularly  struck with
 their quiet way of doing things--a way 
destitute of  boisterous zeal and       
ostentatious fussiness4 ,then when ,i   
investigated  their doctrines1 ,i found 
them ,scriptural4 ,i confess ,i do not  
see how  any man can fail to believe    
these doctrines1 with the ,bible in his 
hands4 ,do you not think that the       
doctrine of the ,divine ,sovereignty is 
taught in the ,bible80    8,it does seem
 to be10 said ,ernest2 8but this        
doctrine of election does  not1 at      
times1 appear to be consistent with     
justice40    8,where is the             
inconsistency80    8,why1 that ,jesus   
died for some men1 and left the rest of 
mankind to  perish in their sins1 and   
then to hold these men responsible for  
what  they could not help40    8,who    
advocates such a view as that80 asked   
the ,lieutenant1 who was a  pious and   
intelligent member of the ,presbyterian 
,church4    8,why1 do not you           
,presbyterians believe that80    8,no1  

sir2 we believe that ,christ tasted     
death for every man1 as the  ,scriptures
 declare4 ,he made an atonement         
sufficient to save every son  and       
daughter of ,adam4 ,no man is lost on   
account of any limitation or  defect in 
the atonement1 nor on account of an     
eternal decree4 ,all  could be saved1 if
 they only had the will4 ,it is nothing 
but the  perverse will in men that      
prevents their salvation4 ,but ,i should
 like  to ask what you believe in regard
 to the atonement8 ,you may as well be  
thinking about this as brooding over    
your troubles40    8,yes2 let us have a 
discussion--anything to keep my mind off
 this  misfortune till ,i am prepared to
 think calmly about it4 ,in reply1      
then1 to your inquiry1 ,i say ,i        
scarcely know what to think4 ,it would  
seem reasonable to me1 though1 that     
,christ died for all precisely          
alike--for one just as much as another4 
,all were on the same level4 ,by  ,his  
death ,he removed the obstacles placed  

in the way by original sin  or ,adam's  
transgression4 ,he thus made salvation  
possible to all men4  ,christ provided  
the means1 and left it to man's choice  
whether he would  use the means or not4 
,that would seem just and right40       
8,so it might at the first glance10     
answered the ,lieutenant1 8and it is    
the way men would like to have it4      
,nothing could be more agreeable to  the
 carnal heart4 ,but let us calmly       
examine your position4 ,you think  then 
that ,jesus died for no individual in   
particular1 but for the whole  race of  
men in general80    8,that seems to be  
reasonable10 replied ,ernest1 8and no   
one could  complain40    8,yes1         
reasonable according to man's notions10 
rejoined the ,lieutenant1  8and         
according to the principles of mere     
human philosophy4 ,but the  main        
objection to it1 is that it is in       
diametrical opposition to the           
,scriptures4 ,for they emphatically     
declare that ,christ gave ,himself for  

the ,church4 ,all through the ,new      
,testament we find such expressions as  
#8died for ,his people4' ,jesus1        
,himself repeatedly spoke of #8,his     
people'  for whom ,he would give ,his   
life40    8,but does not the ,bible say 
#8,he was made a propitiation not only  
for  our sins1 but for the sins of the  
whole world8' ,what does that mean80    
8,well1 suppose ,christ had not died at 
all1 how many would have been  saved80  
8,none at all10 said ,ernest4    8,then 
the answer is that ,jesus died          
sufficiently for all the world1  but    
effectually for ,his own people4 ,he    
made such an atonement that  every one  
could be saved who wanted to be4 ,and   
this is the meaning of  every passage of
 ,scripture which is similar to the one 
cited by you40    8,but10 asked ,ernest1
 8what was the use of dying sufficiently
 for all1  when it was known that all   
would not be saved80    8,christ had to 
die for the elect10 replied the         
,lieutenant1 8and in so  doing ,he died 

sufficiently to save the entire world4  
,if the atonement  is sufficient to save
 all1 that throws the responsibility of 
the  damnation of those who are lost    
upon themselves4 ,but how much broader  
do you want the atonement1 if it takes  
in all who want to be saved8 ,why       
should you want ,christ to make an      
effectual atonement for those who do    
not want to be saved80    8,i confess   
that is a puzzling question10 answered  
,ernest4    8,besides10 continued the   
,lieutenant1 8your position is contrary 
to  sound philosophy40    8,how is      
that80    8,you say it is left to men to
 choose their own destinies4 ,now       
suppose  that not one of the human race 
had accepted ,christ1 would not the     
atonement have been a failure8 ,would   
not ,jesus have died in vain80    8,it  
does seem so10 said ,ernest4    8,do you
 suppose10 continued the ,lieutenant1   
8that the ,lord was trying              
experiments80    8,what do you mean by  
that80    8,i mean this10 answered the  

,lieutenant4 8if ,god was experimenting1
 ,he  virtually said3 #8,son1 go into   
the world1 and make an atonement for    
the sins of all mankind2 perhaps1 some  
may avail themselves of the  provisions 
of this scheme which we have adopted1   
but we do not know  that a single       
individual will be saved4' ,do you not  
suppose that ,god  had some definite    
purpose to accomplish in the atonement8 
,if not1 ,he  was less wise than men    
are4 ,even we1 weak human beings1 never 
go to  work without some plan and some  
object40    8,of course10 said ,ernest1 
8,i admit that ,god had a definite      
purpose in  view40    8,do you not      
believe that ,god's purpose will be     
achieved80 asked the  ,lieutenant4      
8,certainly1 it will40    8,then10 said 
the ,lieutenant1 8if the ,lord intended 
to save all men1 why  are they not      
saved80    8,because they will not be40 
8,you are then driven to the            
conclusion10 replied the ,lieutenant1   
8that  men are more powerful than ,god4 

,he wants to save them1 and intends to  
save them1 but they will not allow ,him4
 ,they defeat ,god's intentions40       
8,no2 ,i do not mean that exactly10 said
 ,ernest4    8,well1 what do you mean80 
8,why10 answered ,ernest1 8,i mean that 
,god made equal provisions for all1  and
 determined to treat all alike40        
8,then all the plan you admit was1 that 
,christ made a sort of general          
atonement1 but determined nothing in    
regard to the salvation of any          
particular individual8 ,it was not      
certain that any would be saved80       
8,o1 of course1 ,he knew that some would
 be saved1 and some lost40    8,yes10   
replied the ,lieutenant1 8,he knew that 
some would be saved1 and  some          
lost--just put it on that ground2 now1  
,christ died effectually  for those who 
,he knew would be saved1 and yet        
sufficiently to save  those who ,he knew
 would be lost2 and this is the election
 which my  ,church advocates1 that is1  
leaving out fore-knowledge as the ground

  upon which the scheme of redemption is
 based2 for ,god's choice of the  elect 
does not depend upon anything in the    
creature4 ,but ,i am showing  that your 
own position leads to a kind of         
predestination4 ,do you not  see that   
your position also runs into the        
broadest universalism80    8,how does   
it80 asked ,ernest4    8,why1 your idea 
is1 that ,god1 to be impartial1 must    
treat all  alike--give all the same     
opportunities1 and bring the same       
influences  to bear upon all4 ,now let  
us see how that will work4 ,mr4 ,a4 is  
convinced by the ,holy ,spirit1 and is  
converted1 as we may say3 he is  saved2 
,mr4 ,b4 his neighbor1 must be treated  
in the same way1 or ,god  would be      
partial40    8,god gives both the same  
opportunities10 said ,ernest1 8but one  
resists  and the other yields40         
8,then10 said the ,lieutenant1 8you have
 mankind divided into two  classes--one 
resists1 and is certain to be lost1 and 
the other yields1  and is certain to be 

saved4 ,what is that but                
predestination80    8,i mean10 said     
,ernest1 8that ,god gives each class    
sufficient grace to  save them1 if they 
would use it40    8,it is well10 replied
 the ,lieutenant1 8that you brought in  
that #8if4'  ,certainly1 #8if' they     
would use it4 ,the grace is sufficient1 
do you not  see1 to save one class1 but 
not the other8 ,so here is              
predestination  again4 ,the line is     
drawn between the two classes1 and one  
class can  never be saved1 because the  
grace given is not sufficient to induce 
them to make an effort to secure        
salvation40    8,well10 said ,ernest1   
8do you not make ,god unjust in not     
giving them  sufficient grace80    8,if 
,he did give every man sufficient grace 
to save him10 said the  ,lieutenant1    
8then every man would be saved4 ,what is
 that but the  broadest universalism80  
,ernest made no reply4    8,but you are 
not a universalist10 continued the      
,lieutenant4 8,if  not1 you must believe

 the doctrine of election2 there is no  
other  alternative4 ,the difference     
between us is this3 ,i affirm that ,god 
elects ,his people upon a principle with
 which ,he has not acquainted  us2 you  
say that the election depends upon men  
themselves2 and  you divide men into two
 classes1 and the individuals of one    
class  are so constituted that it is    
certain they will resist all sacred     
influences1 and consequently will       
inevitably be lost4 ,this is as rigid   
predestination as ever ,john ,calvin    
advocated40    8,you have a way of      
making me say things ,i do not mean1    
,lieutenant40    8,no10 answered the    
,lieutenant1 8,i merely followed out the
 proposition  you laid down to its      
legitimate consequences4 ,i do not see  
how you can  escape these consequences1 
and ,i would be glad if you would show  
me how  to avoid them4 ,for1 ,i confess 
that there is something about it which  
sorely puzzles me1 and troubles me40    
8,i thought you professed to fully      

understand it10 said ,ernest4    8,on   
the contrary1 ,i do not understand it4  
,i merely take the ,bible at  what it   
says4 ,but ,i never pretended to        
reconcile election with human  free     
agency4 ,we can go to a certain point1  
and there we must stop40    8,what is it
 that perplexes you so80    8,well10    
answered the ,lieutenant1 8some people  
assert that ,god desires  and wills     
every human being to be saved4 ,now1 if 
,he does1 why does  ,he not save them8  
,why does ,he not accomplish ,his own   
will8 ,he1  undoubtedly1 has the power40
    8,we might answer10 replied ,ernest1
 8that ,god will not destroy their  free
 agency40    8,is it so important and   
necessary to preserve free agency that  
men  must suffer eternal torment for    
it80 asked the ,lieutenant4 8,would it  
not be better to destroy their free     
agency than to permit men to use  it to 
their own destruction8 ,we cannot deny  
that ,god could save every  man if ,he  
really desired and willed to do so4 ,he 

could speak to them  with an audible    
voice or show them a great light1 as ,he
 did ,paul1 and  in this way bring the  
entire human race into the fold of the  
,lord  ,jesus ,christ4 ,but it is as    
clear as anything can be1 that ,god     
never  intended to save all men4 ,if ,he
 did1 what was there to defeat the      
divine intention8 ,if you say that men  
will not let ,him save them1 then  men  
have more power than ,god4 ,in fact1 any
 position you may take that  is not in  
harmony with the ,westminster           
,confession of ,faith will end  in      
confusion and darkness4 ,why not1 then1 
take the plain ,scriptures on  the      
subject8 ,all through ,god's word the   
two classes1 the lost and the  saved1   
are spoken of4 ,you may account for the 
damnation of sinners on  any principle  
you please2 you may say that ,god has   
nothing to do with  it1 if you will2 you
 may say that men are perfectly free    
agents2 that  there is no such doctrine 
as election in the ,scriptures2 you may 

blot  out predestination1 but           
nevertheless the fact stares you in the 
face  that there are the ,saved and the 
,lost4 ,we must judge of ,god's purpose 
by what takes place4 ,men are saved     
every day4 ,men are lost every day4     
,now1 all this is in accordance with the
 divine will or opposed to it2  one or  
the other4 ,if it is in accordance with 
,god's will1 this is the  election for  
which we contend4 ,but if it is opposed 
to the divine will1  we are forced to   
the conclusion that ,god has not        
sufficient power to  accomplish what ,he
 wants40    8,as ,i told you1           
,lieutenant10 said ,ernest1 8,i am      
inclined to the  doctrine of the        
,presbyterian ,church4 ,i can see that  
there is more  comfort in it than the   
opposite1 and it is certainly more      
,scriptural40    8,the opposite is too  
vague and loose10 answered the          
,lieutenant4 8,the  believer has too    
little security4 ,according to the view 
of some people1  the ,christian may be  

in a state of grace to-day1 and         
to-morrow in a  state of condemnation4  
,if ,i believed that1 ,i should be      
miserable1 for ,i  should never know    
whether ,i was safe or not4 ,i prefer to
 believe ,god's  own declaration1 which 
is that ,he will complete the good work 
,he has  begun1 and that ,his people    
shall never perish40    8,i believe     
that1 myself10 said ,ernest4 8,i have   
been talking on this  subject more to   
keep my mind off my misfortune than for 
anything else1  but it is in vain4 ,how 
can ,i help thinking of it8 ,my mind is 
now like  a volcano in a state of       
activity4 ,i cannot stand this4 ,i      
cannot lie  here in camp doing nothing1 
while she is languishing in prison4     
,good  heavens6 it is enough to drive me
 mad40    8,let us pray to ,god for     
direction40    8,with all my heart10    
answered ,ernest4 8,please pray for me40
    ,they both knelt down1 and the      
,lieutenant in a low voice prayed       
earnestly for his friend1 that ,god     

would sustain him and bring him in      
triumph out of all his troubles4 ,when  
they arose1 the ,lieutenant said3       
8,now let us have faith in ,god1 but    
that does not mean that we are not  to  
be active ourselves4 ,what course do you
 intend to pursue80    8,i must go into 
,washington ,city10 said ,ernest4       
8,how can you do that80 inquired the    
,lieutenant4    8,i do not know1 but ,i 
must go4 ,perhaps ,gen4 ,a4 can assist  
me4 ,he ought  to do so1 since he is the
 cause of the calamity4 ,i shall go to  
him at  once4 ,the train will be here in
 two hours4 ,i cannot stay here2 ,i will
  desert first40    ,and ,ernest dashed 
out of the tent and rushed off like a   
mad man4    ,illustration3 ,decoration  
,,chapter ,,xiv4    ,,dark ,,hours4     
,the rapid pace of ,ernest soon brought 
him to the quarters of his  ,brigadier  
,general1 a man whose name is           
inseparably connected with the  battle  
of ,bull ,run4 ,after the ,brigadier had
 heard the touching story of  ,mildred's

 arrest and incarceration1 he gave1     
without hesitation1 the  distressed     
young man a permit to visit ,gen4 ,a4   
,in less than two hours after this1     
,ernest was thundering along toward     
,gen4 ,a4's headquarters1 which he      
reached about four o'clock in the       
evening4 ,after the ceremony necessary  
to secure access to a ,general1 he      
entered the little farm house to which  
allusion has already been made1  and    
introduced himself4 ,there is never much
 social intercourse between  the higher 
and subordinate officers of an army4    
,there is a great gulf  between them    
which is rarely crossed4 ,in visiting a 
high officer1 it  is not expected that  
the subaltern shall make familiar       
remarks about  the weather or any other 
ordinary topic4 ,he must come to        
business in  medias res4    8,well1 sir1
 what can ,i do for you80 asked ,gen4   
,a4 in that impatient  military tone    
which indicates that the applicant must 
talk fast and to  the point4    8,some  

days ago1 sir10 said ,ernest1 stung by  
his frigid reception1 8you  sent a young
 lady of this neighborhood into         
,washington1 where she was  arrested and
 will probably be doomed to death1 if   
she has not already  been40    8,well80 
8,well60 exclaimed ,ernest1 vexed at the
 ,general's coolness and seeming        
indifference1 8she is my affianced40    
8,well1 go on40    8,are you not going  
to make some effort for her relief10    
cried ,ernest1  warming into boldness1  
8or do you propose to let her perish80  
8,i should like to know what ,i can do80
 quoth ,gen4 ,a4    8,i do not know what
 you can do10 cried ,ernest in          
desperation1 8but you  ought to do      
something1 since you are the cause of   
her misfortune40    8,am ,i to be held  
responsible for all the calamities which
 the war may  bring upon citizens and   
soldiers80 broke out the ,general4 8,if 
so1 ,i  shall resign my position at     
once4 ,the young lady herself will not  
hold  me to such responsibility4 ,she   

went with a full knowledge of what she  
would have to encounter40    8,suppose  
she did1 sir1 does that make it any the 
less necessary that  efforts should be  
made to save her80    8,i would save    
her1 if ,i could10 said the officer4    
8,general10 cried ,ernest1 overcome by  
his conflicting emotions1  8something   
must be done for her relief4 ,it seems  
to me that you are too  indifferent     
about it40    ,the ,general looked at   
him in surprise and with an expression  
of  sternness1 but ,ernest was now      
deeply agitated1 and he met the official
  coup d'oeil without the slightest     
indication of servility4    8,i cannot  
stay here in camp10 continued ,ernest1  
8when the being who is  dearer to me    
than life is in such imminent danger4   
,you cannot expect me  to be a good     
soldier under such circumstances40      
8,well1 what do you want80 asked ,gen4  
,a4    8,i must do something10 replied  
,ernest4 8,can you aid me in getting    
into  ,washington80    8,if you were    

there1 what could you do80    8,i do not
 know what1 ,general1 but ,i am willing 
to risk my life in the  attempt to save 
her40    8,i cannot see10 said the      
,general1 whose feelings were beginning 
to  soften at the sight of the young    
man's distress1 8what you could do if   
you were in the city40    8,general1 ,i 
must go40    8,if you do go1 you are    
liable to be arrested as a spy          
yourself40    8,i will have to take that
 risk4 ,general4 ,how did you enable her
 to go  into the city80    8,o1 that is 
managed easily enough40    8,then1      
,general1 in heaven's name1 let me go10 
exclaimed ,ernest1 8let me  go4 ,if ,i  
do not save her1 ,i will return and     
devote my life to avenging  her death4  
,i will be the bravest soldier in your  
army40    8,very well1 sir1 you can try 
it40    8,thanks1 ,general1 ten thousand
 thanks4 ,i shall never forget your     
kindness as long as ,i live4 ,when can  
,i start80    8,whenever you please10   
said ,gen4 ,a4    8,then ,i will go at  

once10 said ,ernest1 8,i do not want to 
lose a  moment40    ,gen4 ,a4           
immediately gave ,ernest the necessary  
directions4 ,it is no  part of our story
 to explain how ,gen4 ,a4 enabled people
 to go in and  out of ,washington4 ,it  
is sufficient to say that he did it4 ,as
 we have  already remarked1 the real    
history of the war has never been       
written1  and never will be4 ,the most  
thrilling portions of it will remain in 
eternal obscurity4 ,many stirring       
incidents will linger for a while in    
individual memories1 and will enliven   
the fire-sides of families for  a few   
years1 and then perish forever4 ,not    
many ever knew how ,ernest  made his way
 into ,washington1 but the next day he  
saw the capitol of  the ,united ,states4
 ,this1 however1 was the least of his   
difficulties4  ,how could he find       
,mildred8 ,and what could he do after   
finding her8 ,but  he determined to make
 every effort in his power1 trusting to 
chance to  furnish opportunities4       

,fortune soon seemed to favor him4 ,for 
the next  day after his arrival1 he was 
standing on a certain street1 which it  
is not necessary to name1 gazing about  
in a vacant way1 while thoughts  were   
revolving in his mind1 connected with   
the object of his visit4  ,he was       
opposite the hotel at which he was      
stopping4 ,accidentally1  it seemed1    
casting his eye upward1 he beheld a lady
 at the window  of the corner room of   
the fourth story4 ,she was looking down 
on the  crowds below as they went       
hurrying along the street4 ,ernest1     
after  a moment's examination1          
recognized her4 ,he waved his hand till1
 at  last1 he attracted her attention4  
,mildred gazed at him earnestly for  a  
moment1 and waved responsively in token 
of recognition4 ,ernest  placed his     
fingers upon his mouth in a significant 
manner1 which she  understood4 ,he stood
 for a brief space in profound study1   
but suddenly  disappearing1 crossed the 
street1 and entered the hotel4 ,he      

ascended  to the fourth story where his 
own room was located4 ,mildred was on   
the  same floor in the corner room4 ,he 
had noticed the guard at the door1  but 
till now1 knew not who the prisoner was4
 ,approaching the sentinel1  he spoke in
 a tone sufficiently loud for ,mildred  
to hear3    8,whom are you guarding80   
8,it seems to be a leddy10 replied an   
,irishman1 8but how shud ,i know who    
she be80    8,what are your             
instructions80 asked ,ernest4    8,why1 
to let no one in nor out1 to be shure40 
8,is the door locked80 asked ,ernest4   
8,faith is it1 and the kay is gone40    
8,who has it80    8,the ,capting1 ,i    
guess40    8,what is the lady confined  
for80    8,narry bit do ,i know40       
8,will you not let me speak to this lady
 through the keyhole80 asked  ,ernest4  
8,och6 what would ye be afther doin'8   
,do ye want me to be a traitor to  my   
counthry80    8,no1 no2 ,i do not want  
you to be a traitor10 said ,ernest in a 
low tone4  8,are you a married man or   

not80    8,faith no1 but ,i expect to   
be1 as soon as this whar is over1 which 
,i  hope wont be a ghreat toime2 an'    
then ,i'll be marrhid to one of the     
moust beautiful geerls in the whoul     
city40    8,then listen to me1 my       
friend4 ,you are engaged to be married1 
and so  am ,i4 ,now suppose your girl   
were confined in that room1 and ,i      
should  be standing guard in your place1
 and you should come up1 and ask me to  
let you speak one little word to her    
through the keyhole1 and ,i should      
refuse1 what would you think of me80    
8,faith1 ,i'd take you to be a mane     
rascal40    8,well10 said ,ernest       
eagerly1 8the girl you have in that room
 has  promised to marry me4 ,i have not 
spoken to her for several months4 ,now1 
will you drive me away without letting  
me speak to her80    8,och2 that's it1  
is it8 ,by the houly ,st4 ,pathrick1 ,i 
cud niver find it  in me heart to deny a
 feller that small a favor4 ,biddy would
 call me  a mane dog1 ef ,i was to do as

 dhirty a trick as that4 ,it's spaking  
to  her1 is it8 ,well spake1 but be as  
quick as you ken40    8,thank you1 thank
 you1 my good friend10 said ,ernest1 as 
tremblingly he  applied his mouth to the
 key-hole4    8,mildred8 ,mildred60 he  
called4    8,o1 ,ernest1 is it you80 she
 asked1 drawing her chair to the door4  
8,yes2 are you well80    8,i am1 except 
heart-sickness40    8,i do not know how 
you have stood it40 replied ,ernest4    
8,but what are  your prospects80    8,o6
 they are dark1 ,ernest1 so dark at     
times4 ,but how came you here80    8,i  
came to find out about you40    8,are   
you not in danger80 she asked4    8,i do
 not know4 ,i never thought of any      
personal danger4 ,o1 ,mildred1 you      
cannot imagine what ,i have endured4    
,but the worst has not come40    8,try  
to be brave10 she said4 8,there is a    
,god who rules in the affairs  of men4  
,i have not lost faith in ,him4 ,i am in
 ,his hands1 and ,i know  ,he can raise 
up friends to aid me in the darkest     

hours of misfortune4  ,i spend the most 
of my time in prayer1 and were it not   
for my belief1  ,i fear ,i should lose  
my mind4 ,i try so hard to be reconciled
 to ,god's  will1 but sometimes1 when ,i
 think of my parents and sisters1 it is 
hard  to keep down the spirit of        
rebellion40    8,if anything worse than 
imprisonment happens to you10 said      
,ernest1 8,i  shall be tempted to doubt 
the goodness and justice of ,god40      
8,do not talk that way10 she said1 as if
 horrified4 8,i would rather die  a     
thousand times than have one harsh      
thought of my ,god4 ,our times are  in  
,his hands1 and ,he has determined when 
and how we shall die1 and ,he  will do  
right4 ,i am distressed not so much on  
account of myself as of  my family40    
8,you have no thought for me80 asked    
,ernest4    8,yes1 ,i include you with  
the family40    8,o1 ,mildred60 he      
exclaimed in tones of anguish1 8,i love 
you better  than my own life4 ,god knows
 if ,i could take your place1 and       

restore you  to freedom1 ,i would       
willingly and cheerfully do it40    8,i 
believe you1 ,ernest1 but ,i could not  
ask you to make such a  sacrifice1 even 
if it were possible4 ,but the good ,lord
 knows what is  best4 ,i have no fears40
    8,do you have any hope of escape80  
8,i cannot say that ,i have any         
particular hope4 ,i have no plans at    
all4  ,i leave the matter in ,god's     
hands4 ,he has appointed the time1 place
 and  manner of my death1 and ,i cannot 
die till ,god's time arrives4 ,you know 
in what faith my father has trained me4 
,i will trust my ,god though ,he  slay  
me40    8,o1 ,mildred1 ,i do wish ,i had
 such a firm faith as yours4 ,it seems  
to  sustain you under the most fearful  
circumstances40    8,so it does4        
,sometimes10 she continued with tears of
 joy in her eyes1  8,i feel happy at the
 thought of so soon going to the blessed
 mansions  which ,jesus is preparing for
 them that love ,him40    8,and1        
sometimes1 ,mildred1 ,i hate myself for 

my spiritual infirmities4  ,while you   
can look upon death as a blessing1 ,i   
cannot but see in it a  calamity--,i    
cannot regard it as anything else--that 
you should be taken  from me and your   
family in the prime of life1            
especially--4 ,i cannot  finish the     
sentence40    8,you were going to say10 
replied ,mildred with perfect calmness1 
8especially if ,i should die such a     
violent death as makes you shudder  to  
contemplate40    8,yes1 yes10 said      
,ernest in an agitated manner1 8it      
maddens me to think  about it4 ,i can   
never forgive ,gen4 ,a4 for bringing you
 into this awful  situation40    8,but  
you must do it1 ,ernest4 ,god requires  
it at your hands40    8,o1 ,mildred1 ,i 
cannot see the hand of a merciful       
providence in this  misfortune10        
suddenly cried ,ernest4 8,it appears    
cruel40    8,you are very rebellious10  
rejoined ,mildred gently1 8and ,i am    
sorry to  see it4 ,you will have to     
learn to guard your tongue and thoughts1

 or  ,god will mercifully subdue your   
proud spirit by a worse misfortune40    
8,what can be worse than this80 cried   
,ernest bitterly4 8,i would be  better  
reconciled if ,i were in your place40   
8,then1 perhaps1 ,god is now causing you
 to pass under the chastening rod  by   
allowing the misfortune1 as you call it1
 to befall me4 ,the loss  of my life1 at
 this time1 may be necessary to the     
accomplishment of  some good purpose4   
,suppose ,i should die1 the separation  
from my loved  ones will not be long4   
,thank ,god6 ,we will all soon meet     
under brighter  skies1 where no cannon  
roars1 no tear is shed1 no sickness     
comes1 no  death invades1 but where     
there is universal peace1 joy and love40
    8,o1 ,mildred10 exclaimed ,ernest1  
8you are so much better than ,i am4 ,you
  are as pure as the angels1 and ,i am  
not worthy of you4 ,i ,i wish ,i could  
believe this ,presbyterian doctrine as  
you do4 ,i can see that it is this      
which enables you to bear up under the  

darkest trials1 and in the face  of     
death40    8,i am not so good and pure  
as you seem to believe10 answered       
,mildred1  8but ,i am glad to say ,i    
fully endorse the doctrines of the      
,presbyterian  ,church4 ,yet there are  
moments when the spirit of rebellion    
rises up in  me4 ,frequently ,i find    
myself shedding tears40    8,i do not   
see how you can help it10 said ,ernest  
in surprise4 8,surely  there is no      
rebellion in that40    8,i fear there   
is10 replied ,mildred4 8,it seems like  
anticipating ,god's  purposes4 ,what is 
the use of grieving over a misfortune   
that may never  come8 ,god may send     
deliverance in some very unexpected way4
 ,nothing is  too hard for ,him40       
8,o1 ,mildred1 ,i feel as helpless as a 
child4 ,i have worked my way into  this 
city1 and now1 having found you1 ,i can 
do nothing4 ,you have had no  trial1 ,i 
infer40    8,no1 not yet40    8,you may 
have to languish here for months before 
they reach your case4  ,i know something

 about the military courts40            
8,probably you will put your own life in
 jeopardy by remaining here10  said     
,mildred4 8,you can be of no advantage  
to me and you would better  return40    
8,i would not be worthy of you1 if ,i   
could not cheerfully risk my life  for  
you4 ,have you heard nothing from ,gen4 
,a480    8,not a word40    8,i feel as  
if ,i never can forgive him40    8,you  
are very wrong10 answered ,mildred      
mildly4 8,gen4 ,a4 could never  have    
persuaded me to undertake such a        
business if ,i had not wanted  to serve 
my country4 ,my life is of no more value
 than the lives of  thousands of        
soldiers who fall upon every field40    
,at this juncture the ,irishman who had 
moved off several paces from the  door  
approached and said3    8,haven't you   
talked long enough80    8,do you ever   
become tired of talking to your girl80  
asked ,ernest4    8,no1 i' faith10      
replied the guard4 8,biddy is a rose1   
she is1 an'  she don't give me much     

chance to talk--she has such a lively   
tongue  herself4 ,but ,i'm afeerd for ye
 to stay here iny longer40    8,i will  
not impose upon you10 replied ,ernest1  
8nor take advantage of  your kindness4  
,i am so much obliged to you40    8,i   
hope ye'v hed a pleasint chat with the  
leddy10 said the ,irishman4    8,yes1   
but let me bid her adieu40              
8,certainly ye may1 an' ,i'll move      
mesilf off so's ,i may'nt hear your     
swate words4 ,i know how 'tis with      
,biddy1 mesilf40    8,mildred10 said    
,ernest1 8the sentinel will not permit  
us to converse  longer4 ,i must leave   
you and ,i know not when ,i can see you 
again4 ,the  next guard may not be as   
kind as this one40    8,where are you   
going80 she asked4    8,not far4 ,my    
room is on this floor4 ,i shall watch   
for any chance for  saving you that may 
arise4 ,god bless you4 ,good-by40       
8,good-by4 ,pray for me40    8,i need to
 ask your prayers10 replied ,ernest4    
,the young man turned  sorrowfully away1

 went to his room1 fell upon his knees1 
and cried to  ,god in anguish of spirit4
 ,he prayed that he might have the      
sublime  faith of ,mildred4 ,he felt    
humbled under a sense of his            
helplessness4    ,it seems to be natural
 to us to cry to the ,supreme ,being in 
the hours  of distress4 ,the most       
immoral men will pray to ,god when      
misfortunes  come upon them4 ,they have 
no faith in it1 but the inner soul      
becomes  frightened2 it almost proclaims
 its independence of its physical       
environments1 and expresses its wants   
through the reluctant organs of  the    
body4 ,therefore1 wicked men pray in    
times of danger4    ,illustration3      
,decoration          ,,chapter ,,xv4    
,a ,,remarkable ,,event4      ,it was   
night4 ,the stars looked down from their
 blue dome upon the  lamp-lit streets of
 ,washington4 ,busy feet went hurrying  
along this way  and that4 ,small groups 
could be seen standing at different     
places1  discussing some question of an 

exciting character4 ,if we draw near to 
any of these groups1 we will hear such  
expressions as 8great victory10  8hard  
fight10 8four hundred rebels killed40   
,but we are not now  specially concerned
 with this 8glorious news10 which had   
come on the  telegraph wires4    ,let us
 pause before that large hotel1 standing
 on a certain street1  which shall be   
nameless4 ,then let us enter1 and ascend
 to the corner  room of the fourth      
story4 ,the door is locked1 and on the  
outside stands  a sentinel with musket  
in hand4 ,inside there is a lady on her 
knees4  ,she has been informed that her 
trial will take place on the ensuing    
day4 ,three days have passed since her  
interview with ,ernest4 ,gen4  ,a4 had  
told her what would be the consequence  
of detection with that  handkerchief in 
her possession4 ,the result of the trial
 may1 therefore1  be easily anticipated4
 ,the fate of a spy is 8death by        
hanging40    ,mildred well knew what she
 had to expect1 but strange to say1 the 

dark prospect excited no alarm4         
,probably she could not make a reality  
of the impending danger4 ,this is what  
the world would say4 ,we are  creatures 
of hope1 and we do not yield to despair 
till the last chance  is gone4 ,but the 
,christian is sustained in the most     
awful calamities  by something higher   
than any human hope of deliverance4 ,in 
the darkest  hours of trial1 a          
mysterious influence pervades the       
,christian's breast1  produces a holy   
calm1 a sacred joy1 and elevates the    
soul in triumph  above earthly          
sufferings and sorrows4 ,unbelievers may
 pronounce it a  delusion1 but1         
nevertheless1 it is a delusion which    
brings happiness2  and if this be so1   
the delusion is just as useful and      
comforting as  though death should put  
an end to the entire man--both body and 
soul4    ,after arising from her knees1 
,mildred seated herself at the window1  
and gazed down upon the scenes below4   
,at that moment she felt not a  particle

 of fear or mistrust4 ,she was perfectly
 resigned to the will of  the ,heavenly 
,father1 let it be expressed in what    
aspect it might4 ,she  gave herself up  
to this ecstatic sense of security1     
feeling as if she  were nestling1 like a
 timid bird in the ,omnipotent ,hand4   
,were 8coming  events casting their     
shadows before80    ,while in this      
strange state of feeling1 she was       
startled by a gentle  rap on her door4  
,this was so unusual that she waited for
 a repetition  of the signal4 ,there was
 a louder tap4    8,what is wanted80 she
 asked4    ,she heard the click of a    
key1 and the door stood open4 ,her lamp 
threw  its rays upon the form of a young
 man dressed in the ,federal uniform4   
,he took off his cap1 bowed1 and looked 
straight at ,mildred4 ,she glanced  at  
his face1 and with a little cry of joy  
sprang toward him4    8,o1 ,will1 can it
 be you80 she exclaimed4    8,it is ,i1 
cousin ,mildred40    ,without another   
word1 she threw her arms around his     

neck1 and pent-up  tears flowed without 
restraint4 ,the officer brushed the     
drops from his  own eyes1 and said3     
8,come1 cousin1 you'll make me ashamed  
of myself4 ,it is weakness in a  soldier
 to cry4 ,sit down and let me look at   
you4 ,i have not seen you  for five     
years4 ,upon my word1 you've got to be  
right good-looking40    8,why have you  
not called to see me before80    8,now  
don't begin to scold before ,i've had   
time to say #8howdy'20 said  the officer
 gaily4 8,i didn't know you were here4  
,my company has been  guarding you too1 
but ,i did not see you1 nor hear your   
name called4  ,to-day ,i happened to be 
in the room where they are holding      
court1 and ,i  heard one of the officers
 say that the case of ,mildred          
,arrington would  come first to-morrow  
morning4 ,i ascertained the charges     
against you1  and ,i've come to see     
whether it was my cousin ,mildred2 and  
sure enough  it is4 ,but ,i never       
expected to find you in such a place--at

 least1 in  such a predicament4 ,it     
seems you are a spy40    8,that ,i deny1
 cousin ,will1 if ,i know what it is to 
be a spy40    8,well1 it amounts to the 
same thing4 ,your accomplice was tried  
to-day40    8,who40    8,you know--one  
,capt4 ,beall40    8,and what80 asked   
,mildred4    8,why1 he will hang next   
,friday--that's all40    ,we may here   
remark that it is a matter of history   
that ,capt4 ,beall was  executed as a   
spy1 and met his dismal fate with an    
undaunted courage  that excited the     
admiration1 and pity of his enemies--,i 
say pity1  because we all dislike to see
 a brave1 noble man put to an           
ignominious  death4    8,i am very      
sorry10 said ,mildred4    8,no doubt1   
you are2 but what is to become of       
yourself1 my pretty  cousin80    8,why1 
has not ,god sent you to release me80   
asked ,mildred with the  simple faith of
 a child4    8,o1 you old blue-stocking 
,presbyterian60 cried ,capt4 ,benner1   
breaking  into a laugh4 8,that is so    

like you4 ,you get into an ugly scrape1 
and  ask ,god to help you out of it1 and
 a kind-hearted young fellow calls to   
see you1 and you forthwith jump to the  
conclusion that the ,lord sent  him to  
save you4 ,what a faith you do have4    
,but don't be too fast10  continued the 
officer1 with a merry twinkle1 8you are 
a rebel1 and ,i  am a union man4 ,i     
don't know whether ,i ought to have     
called at all  or not4 ,but how do you  
expect me to save you8 ,do you want me  
to be a  traitor8 ,do you want me to    
release a dangerous spy8 ,say1 now80    
8,no1 cousin4 ,if it endangers you1 let 
me be4 ,i am ready to be  sacrificed on 
the altar of my country10 said ,mildred4
    8,o1 ho6 you want to be a martyr1 do
 you80    8,no2 ,i have no ambition in  
that way10 replied ,mildred4 8,i would  
prefer  to go home to my family2 but ,i 
do not want you to take any risks to    
save me40    8,do you suppose ,i could  
release a prisoner without taking risks8
 ,to be  sure1 my fair cousin1 ,i will  

have to take risks40    8,then1 leave me
 alone10 said ,mildred4    8,leave you  
to be hanged1 you mean80    8,yes1 if   
that is the penalty40    8,and after    
that deplorable event10 said the        
officer1 8could ,i ever look  my mother 
in the face8 ,could ,i see ,uncle       
,arrington again1 and good ,aunt        
,jennie8 ,after the war1 when ,i go down
 ,south again1 and call at uncle's1  and
 ,i should hold out my hand1 he would   
start back and say1 #8,no1 ,i  cannot   
touch that hand2 it is stained with poor
 ,mildred's blood4' ,and  aunt would    
say1 #8,leave me1 ,will1 ,i cannot bear 
to look at you4' ,how do  you suppose ,i
 would feel1 eh8 ,i guess ,i should go  
off like ,judas did1  and hang          
myself--,i think ,i would40    8,well1  
let us be serious1 ,will4 ,i am in no   
humor for sport now4 ,do not  keep me in
 suspense4 ,what have you come for80    
8,didn't you say1 just now1 that ,god   
sent me8 ,i wish ,i could think it4  ,it
 would be a great relief to my          

conscience40    8,how is that80         
8,why1 don't you see1 ,i've got to play 
false to my government and my  country1 
if ,i give you freedom80    8,is that   
painful to your conscience80    8,if ,i 
say yes1 then you will become stubborn1 
and refuse to accept the  boon of       
freedom4 ,so1 that you may have no      
scruples1 ,i will tell you  that ,i have
 a convenient conscience--one that will 
stretch4 ,i never was  raised1 like you1
 a regular1 old blue-stocking           
,presbyterian4 ,sometimes1  though1 ,i  
wish ,i had been4 ,for there is no doubt
 in my mind that the  ,presbyterian is  
the most solid and substantial ,church  
on earth4#b ,my  mother1 you know1 is a 
,presbyterian1 and my father belongs to 
the ----  ,church4 ,i notice that she is
 the firmer character1 and ,i can say   
with  truth1 more consistent1           
religiously4 ,i take after my father2   
and that1  ,i guess1 is a good thing for
 you40    8,why is it80 asked ,mildred4 
8,why1 don't you see1 if ,i were a rigid

 ,presbyterian1 ,i should hesitate      
about giving you liberty8 ,i should be  
afraid of doing violence to my          
conscience4 ,waiving that1 however1 ,i  
think ,i have been a faithful  servant  
of my government1 and they might allow  
me to release one  wretched prisoner40  
8,why could you not get a pardon for me1
 and thus save your conscience80  asked 
,mildred4    8,how green you women are6 
,don't you know there is no pardon for a
 spy8  ,don't you remember ,maj4 ,andre1
 of the ,revolutionary war8 ,washington 
would not even let the poor fellow      
select his own mode of quitting  #8these
 low grounds of sorrow4' ,the punishment
 for this great sin of  espionage is    
death1 and death by hanging40    8,can  
you free me10 asked ,mildred1 8without  
compromising your own  safety80    8,i  
will have to take some risks1 of course1
 but you needn't give  yourself any     
uneasiness on my account1 my fair       
cousin4 ,can you make  your way home1 if
 you were out of this building8 ,can you

 go alone80    8,certainly1 but it will 
not be necessary40    8,what6 you've got
 another accomplice80    8,i shall not  
conceal anything from you1 ,will1 since 
you are so kind10  replied ,mildred1    
while a deep blush spread over her      
features4 8,i am  engaged to be married 
to a young man who is here4 ,his room is
 on this  floor40    8,indeed6 what a   
pretty1 romantic scrape you have got    
into6 ,it would  do to go into a novel4 
,but you have made such an honest       
confession1  though1 that ,i can't have 
the pleasure of teasing you4 ,is he a   
,rebel  too80    8,yes1 he is40         
8,wouldn't it be patriotic1 if ,i were  
to have him arrested1 and tried as  a   
spy8 ,two romantic lovers hanged on a   
sour apple tree60    8,you might call it
 patriotic10 said ,mildred1 8but what   
would ,i call it80    8,o1 treacherous1 
mean1 diabolical1 and the like4 ,but    
we've got to act  now10 taking out his  
watch4 8,what do you want me to do8 ,can
 you and the  young man who is so       

interesting1 manage the matter if you   
can get out  of the city80              
8,certainly40    8,when can you see     
him80    8,i suppose he is in his room10
 replied ,mildred4    8,what number80   
8,no4 #ah40    8,i'll go see him at     
once40    ,accordingly1 the officer went
 to the designated number1 and tapped   
on the door4 ,a footstep was heard      
inside1 and the door was opened  by     
,ernest4 ,seeing a ,federal officer     
standing before him1 he was             
disagreeably surprised4 ,the first      
thought that entered his mind was  that 
he had been watched1 and this man had   
come to arrest him4 ,the  prospect was  
enough to make him turn pale4 ,benner   
observed his alarm1  and said with a    
smile3    8,is your name ,edgefield80   
8,who told you that ,i bore such a      
name80 asked ,ernest1 in ill-concealed  
surprise4    8,it does not matter who   
told me1 is the information correct80   
8,i do not like to answer questions in  
regard to myself till ,i  understand    

your object40    8,my object is1 to     
establish your identity40    8,for what 
purpose80 asked ,ernest4    8,if you    
know what is for your own good10 replied
 ,benner1 8you will  answer candidly40  
8,supposing that to be my name1 what    
then80    8,if that's your name1 come   
with me40    8,where10 asked ,ernest4   
8,to that lady in the corner room40     
,ernest looked more astonished than     
ever1 on hearing this1 but thought  it  
best to obey in silence4 ,both entered  
the room1 and ,mildred said3    8,allow 
me to introduce1 ,capt4 ,edgefield1 my  
cousin1 ,capt4 ,benner40    ,ernest1 at 
first1 appeared puzzled and bewildered1 
but he soon took in  the situation1 and 
his feelings vibrated to the opposite   
extreme4 ,he  was elevated from the     
depths of darkness to the pinnacle of   
light4 ,of  course1 he thought the young
 man had come to bring deliverance to   
his  kinswoman4 ,at that moment1 too1 a 
sense of his ingratitude toward ,god    
flashed into his mind4 ,in a subdued    

tone he inquired how ,capt4 ,benner  had
 discovered his cousin4 ,he was told in 
a very few words what the  reader knows 
concerning the affair4 ,ernest relapsed 
into silence1 and  bitterly reproached  
himself for his lack of confidence in   
the kind  ,heavenly ,father4 ,here ,god 
was bringing the blind by a way they    
knew  not1 and was preparing            
deliverance1 while he had been indulging
 in  harsh reflections toward the ,giver
 of all good4 ,it was a lesson which  he
 never forgot4 ,from that moment he     
became a firm believer in the  doctrines
 of grace as held by the ,presbyterian  
,church4    ,we hope we are not taking  
undue advantage of any interest that may
  be excited by the present story to    
give undeserved prominence to  the      
,presbyterian ,church4 ,the effect which
 her doctrines have upon  individual and
 national character is admitted by      
thoughtful historians4  ,buckle1 in his 
,history of ,civilization1 does justice 
to them4 ,according  to him1 they are   

better adapted to democratic            
institutions than any  other published  
creeds4 ,it will be found that those who
 have believed  in these doctrines1     
which some people call 8horrible10 have 
ever been  the most stubborn1           
uncompromising advocates of human       
rights4 ,they  have been foremost in all
 the great conflicts for freedom4 ,these
  same doctrines underlaid the          
,reformation of the #afth century1 as is
  evident to the most cursory reader4   
,we are1 by no means1 attempting to     
disparage other ,churches1 but our      
present undertaking will not allow us   
to point out their excellences4 ,we will
 now proceed with the story4 ,we  need  
not detail the conversation which took  
place among the trio1 nor  attempt to   
describe the happiness of the two who   
were in the greatest  danger4 ,ernest   
was so overwhelmed by this evident      
demonstration of  divine providence that
 he did not have much to say4 ,he was   
thinking4  ,mildred acted as though she 

were not greatly surprised4 ,she had    
sent up  many earnest prayers to the    
,throne of ,grace and she was not       
astounded  that her petitions were      
answered4    8,well10 said ,benner1     
presently1 when it was time to bring the
 interview  to an end1 8you must leave  
about #ab o'clock1 when most honest     
people  are asleep4 ,i will see that the
 way is clear in the hotel4 ,you must   
both be dressed as union soldiers1 at   
least till you get to the  forests4 ,i  
will have the clothing here in time40   
,capt4 ,benner then left1 but returned  
at #cj minutes past #aa o'clock4        
,mildred and ,ernest were soon          
transformed into ,federal soldiers1 at  
least1 in appearance4 ,each was armed   
with a musket1 and no one1 without  an  
unusually close inspection1 would have  
supposed they were other than  they     
appeared to be4 ,and now all was ready4 
,as the clock struck #ab1 two ,federal  
soldiers issued from ---- hotel1  and   
walked leisurely along the streets4 ,in 

a short time they left the  lamps       
glimmering in the distance1 and plunged 
into the darkness of the  forest4 ,two  
miles from the city they mounted their  
horses which had  been left in the care 
of a friend4    ,early the next day1    
they suddenly ran upon a union soldier1 
who was  a vidette4 ,this route had not 
been occupied by ,federal soldiers      
before1 as it was scarcely anything more
 than a path4 ,the young people  were   
very much surprised1 but ,ernest in an  
instant recovered his  self-possession1 
and decided upon his plan of action4 ,he
 was still  dressed in the ,federal     
uniform1 and had his musket1 besides his
 own  pistol4 ,they came upon the       
soldier in a sudden turn of the path1   
and  were within a few paces of him     
before they discovered him4 ,the        
vidette1  taking ,ernest to be what this
 garb indicated1 without raising his    
gun1  called out3    8,halt6 who goes   
there80    ,he had barely uttered the   
words before ,ernest leveled his gun1   

and  exclaimed3    8,surrender60        
8,who are you80 cried the astounded     
soldier4    8,drop your gun10 exclaimed 
,ernest sternly1 8or ,i shall kill you40
    ,the amazed vidette1 perceiving that
 resistance would be in vain1 let  his  
gun drop to the earth4    8,now10 said  
,ernest1 8,i have no disposition to harm
 you4 ,all we want is  to pass you4 ,are
 you willing to let us go80    8,how can
 ,i hinder you10 asked the soldier 8when
 ,i am disarmed80    8,but you must     
promise not to pursue us40    8,where   
are you going80 asked the soldier4      
8,that is my business10 replied ,ernest4
    8,certainly4 ,i promise then40      
8,promise10 said ,ernest1 8that you will
 remain on your horse for fifteen       
minutes1 and not touch that gun1 and    
will give no alarm after we are  gone40 
8,i promise10 answered the soldier4     
8,to make assurance doubly sure10       
continued ,ernest1 8,i will take your   
cartridges40    8,o1 don't do that10    
begged the vidette4 8,i will promise    

just as you  want me to40    8,why are  
you so opposed to giving up your        
cartridges80    8,because ,i am         
accountable for them4 ,i don't intend to
 say anything  about this affair1       
because the boys would laugh at me1 and 
,i might be  punished too4 ,just go1 and
 get out of the way as quick as you can1
 and  ,i give you my word of honor that 
you shall not hear another word from    
me4 ,but how am ,i to account for the   
loss of my cartridges80    8,you seem to
 be honest10 said ,ernest1 8and ,i      
believe ,i will try you40    ,the two   
immediately rode on1 and the soldier    
kept his word1 so far as  ,ernest knew4 
,that morning1 while ,mildred and       
,ernest were making their escape1 the   
first passers-by saw a long rope1       
reaching from the corner room of the    
fourth story of ---- hotel1 down to the 
pavement below4 ,they knew not  what it 
meant4 ,about #i o'clock though1 when   
the ,court-,martial sent for  the female
 prisoner1 it was discovered that the   

8bird had flown40 ,the  sentinel1 who   
had been stationed at the door about    
twelve o'clock1  could give no account  
of the escape4 ,the door was locked1 and
 he heard  nothing4 ,it was presently   
noised abroad that the lady spy had     
escaped1  and soon hundreds of people   
gathered in the streets1 looked up at   
the  dangling rope1 and wondered how a  
lady could have climbed down such a     
fearful distance4 ,the general opinion  
was that she was a brave1 daring  woman1
 who was confined to this one mode of   
escape4 8,of course10 they  said1 8she  
had friends in the city1 who assisted   
her in the perilous  undertaking40 ,at  
any rate1 she was gone4 ,the chief clerk
 at the hotel1  who had been            
instrumental in her arrest1 was not of  
the rabid class  who regretted her      
timely flight4 8,i don't care10 he said 
with a smile4  8,i don't believe she was
 a spy anyhow4 ,even if she was1 and    
they had  hanged her1 ,i believe ,i     
should have felt guilty of murder40     

,nothing more was ever found out about  
it1 and ,capt4 ,benner bore the         
character of a true and loyal soldier   
till the horrid war came to an  end4    
,some years afterwards he met ,mildred1 
and laughingly explained his  scheme1   
remarking that1 8people might have had  
sense enough to know  that she could not
 have escaped in that way40             
8,possibly ,i might1 though10 she said4 
8,there is no telling what one can  do1 
when life depends upon it40 ,and she    
laughed as she thought of how  she would
 have appeared1 dangling by her hands on
 a rope between heaven  and earth4      
,,footnote3    #b ,an intelligent member
 of the ,methodist denomination once    
spoke  these very words to the author of
 this story4          ,,chapter ,,xvi4  
,a ,,confederate ,,marriage4      ,we   
now return to our two fugitives4 ,they  
met with no other adventure1  and       
arrived that evening at ,dr4            
,arrington's residence4 ,the old        
gentleman would have gone into          

,washington himself when ,mildred was   
arrested1 but ,ernest persuaded him to  
remain at home with his family1         
promising to promptly inform him if his 
presence should become  necessary4      
,it is impossible to portray the scene  
which occurred when the two rode  up and
 alighted4 ,mrs4 ,arrington1 who had    
been almost brokenhearted1  could not   
control her feelings in the transition  
from despair to joy4  ,this arrival was 
like the coming back of the dead4 ,the  
good lady must  cry aloud4 ,the ,doctor 
was more calm1 but the tears gently     
coursed down  his cheek in gratitude to 
,god for the restoration of his child4  
,it was  an hour or more before the     
family equilibrium approximated its     
normal  condition sufficiently to admit 
of tranquil conversation4 ,after a      
while the ,doctor said3    8,we must now
 have a special service--a service of   
gratitude1 for ,i feel  that my many    
earnest prayers have been answered40    
,the family assembled in the parlor1 and

 the ,doctor selected some  portions of 
,scripture suitable to the occasion1 and
 all humbly and  reverently bowed upon  
their knees4 ,such an out-pouring of    
thanksgiving  never before was witnessed
 around that altar4 ,this was a family  
of  faith4 ,they regarded ,god as the   
source of every blessing4 ,the ,doctor  
had no more doubt that ,god had restored
 his child1 in answer to prayer1  than  
he had of his own existence4 ,ernest1   
however1 who loved to hear  the old man 
defend his position1 suggested that the 
same thing might  have happened if there
 had been no prayers in the case4    8,i
 am surprised at you10 answered the     
,doctor4 8,i do not know that ,i  ever  
saw the hand of ,god more clearly       
revealed in my affairs40    8,but       
still10 said ,ernest1 8does it not all  
appear natural8 ,your nephew  was in the
 city1 and hearing of his cousin's      
imprisonment1 what is more  natural than
 that he should restore her to liberty80
    8,i remember10 said ,mrs4           

,arrington1 8how we were all distressed 
when we  heard that ,will had joined the
 ,northern army4 ,little did we think   
that  ,mildred's life depended upon it4 
,how short sighted we are60    8,and    
suppose10 said the ,doctor1 8that ,will 
had not been in the  court-room when the
 officer made the remark about her      
trial4 ,you told  us of this a while    
ago4 ,this might have appeared          
accidental1 but still  it happened      
exactly at the right time4 ,suppose     
,will had not gone into  that room at   
the moment he did1 the trial would have 
ended the next  day1 and ,mildred in all
 probability1 would have never been sent
 back  to the hotel1 but to a dismal    
felon's cell to await her execution1 and
  then ,will would not have been able to
 release her40    8,you say1 ,doctor10  
answered ,ernest1 8that these things    
happened at  the right time4 ,suppose   
this deliverance had occurred earlier1  
what  difference would it have made80   
8,we do not understand all ,god's ways  

and purposes10 replied the ,doctor2     
8but granting that this deliverance had 
occurred two or three days  earlier1 you
 would not have been present to give    
your assistance4 ,then  suppose ,mildred
 had tried to make her way alone1 she   
might have been  re-captured by that    
vidette you told us about4 ,i do not see
 how you can  fail to recognize divine  
providence in all this40    8,i do      
recognize it fully10 replied ,ernest4   
8,you must not think1 ,doctor1  that ,i 
am disposed to doubt a supernatural     
providence4 ,one reason why ,i  asked   
the question which ,i did was to get    
your views4 ,i wanted to hear  you point
 out the particulars as you have done4  
,i am glad to say that  this severe     
trial has proved beneficial to me4 ,i do
 not think ,i will  ever again be as    
skeptical as ,i have been4 ,i have had a
 lesson40    8,let it be a lesson to us 
all10 answered the ,doctor1 8ever to    
have  implicit faith in ,god40    ,the  
next day ,ernest requested a private    

interview with the ,doctor4 ,they  met  
in the study1 and ,ernest said3    8,i  
must return soon to the army1 and1 to   
make a long story short1  ,i have come  
to ask you to perform the marriage      
ceremony for me and  ,mildred to-day40  
8,to-day60 exclaimed the ,doctor in     
surprise4    8,yes1 sir2 why not80      
8,i do not suppose she is ready10 said  
the ,doctor4    8,it will not take long 
to get ready10 remarked ,ernest4        
8,people do not  expect grand weddings  
such times as these40    8,no2 but what 
put this sudden notion into your head80 
asked the ,doctor  a little bluntly4    
8,we have come to the conclusion that   
there is no use waiting any  longer40   
8,well1 if it is ,mildred's wish10      
replied the ,doctor thoughtfully1 8,i   
shall interpose no objection40          
,accordingly1 that very evening a few   
friends assembled at the ,doctor's      
residence1 and at #h o'clock ,ernest and
 ,mildred were pronounced 8husband  and 
wife40    ,during those times young     

people entered into the marriage        
relation  without much ceremony1 and    
upon short notice4 ,in many parts of the
  country it was impossible to procure  
suitable 8wedding garments10 and  the   
soldiers frequently married in their    
ordinary uniforms4    ,ernest remained  
with his bride three or four days1 and  
then started  8off to the wars0 again4  
,it was a great and severe trial to the 
two  young people to separate4 ,they    
might never meet again in this world4   
,many a young man left his young wife1  
and in a few days afterwards he  was    
slumbering in the soldier's bloody      
grave4    8,mildred10 said ,ernest in a 
husky tone1 8pray for me4 ,i have faith 
in  your prayers40    8,do not doubt my 
praying for you10 she said1 while tears 
glistened in  her eyes4 8,you will never
 be out of my mind a moment40    8,it   
does look hard10 said ,ernest1 8that we 
should be separated by the  yawning gulf
 of war just as we are upon the         
threshold of life4 ,i never  knew the   

depth of my affection for you till now40
    8,you will not suffer1 after all1 as
 ,i shall10 replied ,mildred4 8,you     
will have the exciting scenes of war to 
occupy your thoughts1 and ,i  shall have
 nothing to think about but you4 ,o1 the
 long weary days that  must pass away6  
,i shall think of you as constantly     
exposed to dangers40    ,and so they    
separated1 both saying in their hearts1 
as they went their  respective ways3    
8,o1 shall we ever meet again80         
,,chapter ,,xvii4    ,,peace4      ,the 
frightful clouds of war have rolled     
away4 ,the smoke of battle has          
dissolved into the darkness of the      
,past4 ,the blood-spots have been       
washed out by the rains and dews of     
heaven4 ,blessed ,peace spreads  out her
 snow-white pinions1 dripping balm for  
wounded hearts1 from  the granite hills 
of ,new ,england to the smiling prairies
 of the ,lone  ,star ,state4 ,the little
 hillocks of earth that rise up all over
 the  ,south mark the gory fields where 

the enraged warriors met in the         
death-struggle4 ,we can again re-visit  
the awful spots where once the  earth   
groaned under the tread of men and      
horses rushing head-long  to the fray1  
and we can call up the phantom forms1   
and make them  re-enact the bloody      
tragedies of battle in solemn silence4  
,the gloomy  cedar-brakes of            
,murfreesboro1 the plateau of ,bull     
,run1 the dark stream  of ,chickamauga1 
the rugged ,mount that looks down upon  
,chattanooga1 the  black hills of       
,vicksburg1 pock-marked by the shells of
 a fifty-days'  siege--are all there    
yet1 dumb witnesses to the ferocity of  
human  passions4 ,to-day1 at all these1 
and many other places1 we can take the  
torch of history1 and relight the       
terrible scenes enacted in the now      
silent past4 ,we see long lines of      
soldiers start up in battle array1      
grasping the deadly musket1 and solemnly
 preparing to die1 in that  ominous lull
 which always precedes the mighty shock 

of battle4 ,there is  a strange silence4
 ,the very forests seem to be holding   
their breath in  expectation of a storm 
more awful than the cyclone of nature4  
,what is  it8 ,the awful pause of       
,death4    ,presently a single gun      
breaks the oppressive silence4 ,the work
 of  destruction begins4 ,heavy volumes 
of smoke rise up all over the  forests4 
,men on horse-back are seen flying in   
every direction4 ,one  remarkable man1  
clad in a red flannel shirt1 symbolical 
of the fierce  spirit within1 is seen   
galloping from one scene of carnage to  
another1  under the inspiration of a    
courage that never failed4 ,at last1 he 
reels  and falls1 and the fiery form of 
,a4 ,p4 ,hill disappears from the scenes
  of history forever4    ,it is         
remarkable that ,lee and ,jackson in    
their last moments on  earth1 when they 
were unconscious of all temporal things1
 and their  imaginations were roving    
lawlessly over the gory fields where    
they had  been such prominent actors1   

both called for ,a4 ,p4 ,hill4 ,it is a 
high  compliment to the hero's military 
genius4 ,but ,jackson himself went down 
in the thundering cyclone of war1 and   
was seen no more4 ,alas6 such men  as   
these had to be swept from the path of  
destiny before the divine  purpose could
 be accomplished4 ,we mourn for our     
fallen braves1 and yet  we thank ,god   
that such scenes as gave them undying   
fame have ceased1  we hope1 forever1 in 
these ,states now cemented with         
intermingling  fraternal blood6    ,one 
bright morning in ,april1 #ahfe1 the    
members of ,dr4 ,arrington's  family    
were all seated around the breakfast    
table4 ,every face wore  a sad1 anxious 
expression4 ,the news of ,lee's         
surrender1 which some  doubted1 had been
 received1 but not the particulars of   
his last battle4  ,who had fallen8      
,mildred looked at the smoking dishes1  
but could not  eat4 ,where was ,ernest8 
,she had seen him but three or four     
times since  their marriage1 and he had 

been in all of ,lee's battles4 ,o1 could
 it be  possible that he had been killed
 in the last fight8 ,the thought made   
her shudder4    8,why do you not eat80  
asked the ,doctor kindly4    8,how can  
,i1 father80 ,mildred answered sadly4   
8,i am heart-sick4 ,this  suspense is   
awful40    8,have faith in ,god10 said  
the ,doctor4 8,the last time we heard   
from  ,ernest he was well4 ,what reason 
have you to suppose he is otherwise     
now80    8,there has been a battle or   
two since then1 and some are killed in  
every fight40    8,do not anticipate1 my
 child4 ,never make trouble for         
yourself4 ,what is  the use of grieving 
over imaginary calamities80    8,i know1
 father1 that you are right2 but it is  
so hard to be perfectly  resigned to    
,god's will40    8,you have not         
ascertained what ,god's will is in this 
instance2 but even  should it be that   
which you dread1 ,i do not deny that it 
will be hard  to bear4 ,it is natural   
for us to think that ,god should let us 

have our  way in some things at least4  
,but we should never forget that ,god   
knows  what is best for us1 and ,he     
always does the best for us1 if we put  
ourselves unreservedly in ,his hands40  
8,i know that is true10 replied         
,mildred4 8,but1 sometimes ,i am        
rebellious4 ,if ,ernest does not come   
back10 she continued in quivering       
tones1 8it seems to me ,i can never     
again be happy in this world40    8,then
 be happy60 exclaimed a voice at the    
door4 ,mildred instantly  looked up1    
gave a little scream of joy1 sprang from
 her seat1 and  was locked in ,ernest's 
arms4 ,what a transition6 ,we shall not 
attempt  to describe it4 ,there are some
 emotions of the human heart that are   
beyond the reach of words4 ,they are too
 sacred and deep to be expressed  by    
human language4 ,every trace of sadness 
immediately vanished from  ,mildred's   
face1 which was lit up with a holy joy  
and peace that made  her look radiant4  
,presently when there was comparative   

quiet1 the  ,doctor said3    8,well1 has
 ,lee really surrendered80    8,i am    
sorry to say he has10 replied ,ernest4  
8,here is my discharge from  the        
service40    8,and you have not been    
wounded10 asked ,mildred1 8since you    
were home  last80    8,i have not       
received a graze10 he replied4          
8,well10 she said with tears springing  
into her eyes1 8let me go to  my room1  
and return thanks to ,god1 and ask ,his 
forgiveness for my  thoughts4 ,i cannot 
eat till ,i do40    ,as she went out    
,mrs4 ,arrington said3    8,you have a  
treasure1 ,ernest1 in that girl1 if ,i  
do say it myself40    8,i am well aware 
of that1 ,madam1 and ,i am indebted to  
the war for it4 ,i  have learned that   
,god brings good out of evil4 ,i never  
would have heard  of ,mildred1 had it   
not been for the battle of ,manassas4 ,i
 am sorry1  though1 our cause is lost40 
8,but it is ,god's will10 quickly spoke 
up the ,doctor1 8and we should be       
thankful that it is no worse40    8,i am

 sure it is bad enough10 replied        
,ernest4 8,we have lost our             
independence40    8,it may appear to you
 to be a great calamity10 said the      
,doctor1 8but ,i  have no doubt it is a 
blessing in disguise4 ,two different    
governments  could not exist in this    
glorious land of ours4 ,i have never    
believed  that we would succeed4 ,i was 
fearful that we were in the wrong4 ,but 
it is in vain to discuss such questions 
now4 ,all is over1 and we must  submit4 
#8,promotion cometh neither from the    
,east nor the ,west1 but ,god  setteth  
up one1 and pulleth down another4'0     
,mildred now returned to the            
dining-room1 and all partook of the meal
  with hearts glowing with gratitude4   
,do not the angels hover over1 and      
smile upon1 such a social scene8    ,the
 next day the family assembled in the   
parlor to hold a consultation1  at the  
request of ,ernest4    8,well10 said the
 ,doctor1 smiling upon the group1 8#8the
 cruel war is  over1' and we must now   

all return to the blessed arts of peace4
 ,i  suppose you will resume the        
practice of law10 he continued1 turning 
to  ,ernest4    8,no1 ,i think not1     
,doctor10 answered ,ernest4 8,i called  
this family  meeting in order to lay my 
plans before you4 ,after my marriage1   
when  ,i returned to my command again1  
,i solemnly promised ,god that if ,he   
would spare my life1 ,i would devote my 
energies to ,his service in the         
ministry4 ,i am here alive1 without     
having received another wound4 ,now  do 
you not think ,i ought to regard my     
vows80    8,o1 my dear ,ernest10 cried  
,mildred eagerly1 8,i have prayed ,god  
to put  it in your heart to become a    
minister1 and now1 it seems1 my prayer  
is  answered40    8,i did not know10    
said ,ernest1 8but that you might have  
an ambition for  something higher40     
8,higher60 exclaimed ,mildred in        
surprise4 8,what can be higher80    8,i 
did not mean #8higher' in the sense that
 you understand10 replied  ,ernest1 8but

 the world1 you know1 regards some other
 professions as  higher40    8,but the  
ministry is not a profession10 answered 
,mildred4 8,i cannot  imagine what      
greater honor a human being can enjoy   
than to be called to  do ,god's work40  
8,i have now no greater ambition myself 
than to be an humble minister of  the   
gospel10 replied ,ernest4    8,it is    
well10 said the ,doctor1 8that you      
employ the word humble4 ,i am  sorry to 
say that there are ambitious men in the 
,church who desire to  acquire great    
reputation as preachers1 and who seek   
after high places  in the ,church4 ,i   
hope you have no such disposition as    
that80    8,no1 ,doctor1 if ,i know my  
own heart4 ,i desire to be useful40     
8,let us be plain10 continued the       
,doctor1 8that you may not1 in the      
future1 regret the step you have taken4 
,be sure that you are influenced  by the
 proper motives4 ,i hope you have not   
entered into a sort of  contract with   
the ,lord--that is1 you do not propose  

to become a  minister because ,god has  
brought you safe out of the war80       
8,no1 sir2 ,i firmly believe ,i was     
called years ago1 but ,i resisted4  ,i  
think ,i would have been a preacher if  
there had been no war4 ,but  probably   
the war has caused me to enter it sooner
 than ,i might have  done otherwise40   
8,you feel1 then1 that it is your duty  
to preach80 asked the ,doctor4    8,yes1
 sir1 ,i do40    8,then1 there is no    
more to be said about it10 answered the 
,doctor4 8,the  sooner you begin the    
better4 ,i believe ,i have not asked you
 under what  ecclesiastical auspices you
 propose to preach80    8,the           
,presbyterian1 of course10 said ,ernest 
with a smile4 8,i suppose my  dear      
,mildred would hardly consent to        
anything else40    8,o1 ,i am not so    
prejudiced as all that10 answered       
,mildred laughing4 8,if  you felt it    
your duty to attach yourself to any     
other orthodox ,church1  ,i should not  
oppose you4 ,but to tell you the truth1 

,i love my ,church to  such an extent   
that ,i could never be happy in any     
other1 and ,i never  could feel the same
 zeal in another40    8,mildred is a    
true blue10 said the ,doctor with a     
laugh1 8and ,i am glad  to think you    
will find her a useful helpmeet in your 
work40    8,i expect she will make a    
better pastor than ,i10 said ,ernest1   
8for ,i am  not as social as she is4 ,i 
fear that this thing of visiting will be
 the  most troublesome duty ,i shall    
have to perform40    8,people will      
require a great deal of you in that     
respect10 said the  ,doctor4 8,you will 
find that most of them wish you to visit
 them not  on account of their spiritual
 interests3 but it is the social feature
  they regard4 ,i have noticed that most
 ,presbyterian ministers are more       
reserved in their manners than those of 
some other denominations4 ,this  is1 no 
doubt1 to be attributed to the long     
course of mental discipline  to which   
they are subjected4 ,they acquire the   

habit of solitary study  till the social
 feature of their nature is considerably
 impaired4 ,on  this account ,i have    
known some ministers to be accused of   
stiffness1  pride and formality1 who    
were humble1 godly men4 ,they really did
 not  understand the demands of social  
etiquette4 ,you will have to cultivate  
this feature40    8,what is the use of  
social visiting1 ,doctor80    8,whether 
there is use in it or not1 people       
require it10 replied the  ,doctor4 8,you
 will find some of them very            
unreasonable4 ,they will  complain if   
you do not call every week40    8,how   
then1 shall ,i ever find time to study80
 asked ,ernest4    8,you must take it4  
,you can not please everybody1 try never
 so hard40    ,and for a long time the  
,doctor gave the young man excellent    
advice1  which we need not detail1 as it
 would be of no great interest to the   
general reader4 ,besides1 we are well   
aware1 that people do not read a  story 
for the sake of the moral1 but for their

 own entertainment4 ,so  we shall       
proceed1 at once1 to relate the most    
interesting events of  ,ernest's life4  
,the next month1 the ,presbytery of ----
 met1 and received ,ernest under  its   
care4 ,instead of going to a ,seminary1 
it was allowed him to take  a course of 
,theological study under the tuition of 
,dr4 ,arrington4 ,at  the expiration of 
a year he stood his examination1 and    
having received  a call from the        
,presbyterian church in his own town1 he
 was regularly  ordained a minister of  
the gospel4 ,his trial sermon aroused   
universal  wonder and admiration4 ,the  
people had rarely ever witnessed such   
oratorical power in the pulpit4 ,every  
one predicted for him a brilliant       
career of usefulness4 ,no young minister
 ever entered upon his work with  more  
flattering prospects4    ,ernest was    
praised and complimented sufficiently to
 have turned an  older head1 but he now 
possessed too much of the grace of      
humility  to be affected by human       

applause4 ,the great object with him was
 the  approval of the ,master and his   
own conscience4 ,with the settlement of 
,ernest in his charge it might seem that
 our story had reached a point  at which
 it could properly and happily be       
brought to an end1 but we  have other   
interesting events yet to relate4       
,illustration3 ,decoration              
,,chapter ,,xviii4    ,,the ,,drunkard4 
,ernest entered upon his work in two or 
three weeks after his  ordination4 ,this
 was the first time he had seen his     
native town since  he left it in #ahfa4 
,things had undergone a great change    
during the four  years of war4 ,the     
prosperity of the place was a thing of  
the past4  ,many wealthy families had   
been reduced to abject beggary4 ,old    
,mr4  ,vanclure had died in #ahfb1 and  
his son-in-law had administered upon    
his estate4 ,if ,comston had been a man 
of moral habits1 he could have  saved a 
handsome property for his wife1 but he  
was dissipated1 and was  passionately   

addicted to gambling4 ,he had pursued a 
course during the  war which had brought
 him into disgrace1 having avoided      
conscription  by hiding in the          
cane-brakes4 ,when the war came to an   
end1 he found  himself in possession of 
only three thousand dollars4 ,by        
judicious  management of even this      
amount1 he might have gained an         
honorable  livelihood2 but he soon lost 
it all at the gambling table4 ,finally1 
he  became a sot4    ,poor ,clara had to
 resort to her needle for bread1 and she
 gained only  a precarious1 scanty      
subsistence for herself and her unworthy
 husband1  who sometimes spent her hard 
earnings for drink4    ,affairs were in 
this condition when ,ernest returned to 
his native  town to take charge of the  
church4 ,as soon as he had heard of     
,clara's  misfortunes1 he called to see 
her4 ,he met with a cold reception1 for 
she had become hardened4 ,but by        
kindness1 he soon induced her to talk   
freely4 ,presently she said3    8,i know

 you think ,i made a great blunder40    
8,how80 asked ,ernest timidly1          
suspecting what she was going to say4   
8,in my marriage10 she answered with    
decided emphasis4 8,you know that ,i    
rejected you4 ,are you not glad to see  
me humbled80    8,god forbid60 exclaimed
 ,ernest energetically4 8,i sympathize  
with you4  ,the good ,lord knows ,i am  
sorry for you40    8,they tell me you   
are a preacher now80    8,it is true1 ,i
 am glad to say40    8,o10 she exclaimed
 suddenly1 8,i wish ,xerxes were a      
preacher--yes1  anything than what he   
is4 ,i reckon you've heard all about    
him40    8,i have heard some things10   
replied ,ernest4    8,he has got to be a
 regular drunkard10 she said1 8and ,i am
 tired of  him4 ,he treats me cruelly4  
,i think he once loved me1 and ,i could 
have  lived happily with him1 but he got
 to drinking1 and that has proved his   
ruin4 ,he is not the same man40    8,i  
am truly sorry for you10 replied        
,ernest4 8,but you are not without      

hope40    8,where is there any hope for 
me80 she cried4 8,i never expect to be  
happy again40    8,you can be1 if you   
will10 said ,ernest solemnly1 as he     
looked pityingly  at the sad woman4     
8,how can ,i8 ,i should like to know40  
8,there is a happiness10 answered       
,ernest1 8far superior to any this      
world affords40    8,where is it80 she  
cried4    8,in ,christ ,jesus40         
8,yes1 ,i expected you to say that1 or  
something like it4 ,but how could ,i  be
 a ,christian1 miserable and wretched as
 ,i am80    8,the ,lord never turns away
 any who come to ,him10 replied ,ernest4
    8,but ,i'm not ready for that yet10 
she said with candor4 8,i want to  enjoy
 the world for a while4 ,i think ,i     
deserve it4 ,if ,i had not  married1 ,i 
might have been happy1 but it is        
impossible now1 with such a  husband as 
mine40    ,at this moment1 ,comston came
 from town1 and staggered into the room4
  ,clara blushed with shame and         
vexation1 but recovering herself1 looked

  at him without uttering a word4       
8,why1 how d'ye do1 ,edgefield10 he     
exclaimed in a boisterous tone1  and    
with the drunkard's slow stammering and 
stuttering4 8,it's the  first--first    
time--,i've met ye--since you--you--er  
got back from  the--er wars4 ,how you   
make it--er now1 ole feller1 eh80       
8,o1 ,i am in good health10 said        
,ernest1 dryly4    8,well1 ,i'm--er     
truly glad to give you--er--er the right
 hand--er of--er  welcome4 ,would       
you--er 'a known this 'er--er little    
'oman--er of mine1  at--er first sight1 
eh8 ,she used ter--er--er be right      
down--er good  lookin'--but--er the last
 year--er she's--er begun--ter break--er
  little--yes--er you see1 eh8 ,arn't it
 so1 ,clarer1 eh8 ,you see--er the      
cruel war--er broke us up1 like it      
did--er everybody else--er40    8,yes10 
said ,ernest1 more to relieve ,clara of 
embarrassment than to  keep up a        
conversation with a foolish inebriate1  
8the war proved  disastrous to most of  

our people40    8,indeed--er did it4 ,i 
lost heavily--er--by                    
it--myself--ruined--dead                
broke--er--brought down--er to--er      
abject pov--er--er--tee--er1 as         
the--saying is--er4 ,cruel--thing--it   
was4 ,i--er didn't have--er--much  to   
do--er--with it--you see--er1--eh8 ,i   
was--er long-headed--,i saw how         
the--er--thing--was agoin'1 an'--er--,i 
tried ter--save my scalp--eh8  ,i told  
,clarer--there was'nt--any use--er--of  
my--goin'4 ,she was a                   
great--er--patriarch--you               
know--er-wanted--er ter eat             
,yankees--up--er4  ,but--er ,i          
don't--love that--er sort of--er flesh4 
,it is--not--er--half  as good--er--as  
fish4 ,i went--a--fishin'--most of the  
time1 and--er--we  had a--jolly         
time--er--we did4 ,it was--better--than 
shootin'  yer--feller--man in--er       
cold--blood4 ,the ,yankees--had--never  
done  me--any harm1--an' ,i could'nt    
make--up my mind ter--murder 'em--'thout

  provocation--you see1 eh8 ,but ,i     
hear--you've got to be--a preacher1 eh80
    8,yes1 sir10 answered ,ernest in a  
manner which convinced ,clara that the  
passing scene was painful to his        
feelings4 ,she could easily perceive    
that he was enduring her maudlin husband
 for her sake4    8,well--er10 continued
 ,comston1 8it's a--nice--er            
profession--1  not--much--er money in   
it--though--eh8 ,like the ole ,injun    
said--poor  preach--poor pay--er4 ,i    
don't--er mean that for you--though--er4
  ,you--used ter be--er--a good         
law--yer1 and--if--er you preach--as    
well  as you--talk--,i don't            
see--why--er you shouldn't succeed--er4 
,i'm  a-comin' 'round to--er hear you   
preach--er--some ,sunday--if you don't  
object--eh80    8,i should be glad to   
have you as one of my audience10 replied
 ,ernest4    8,we'll make two--er--of iz
 audience1 won't we1 ,clarer1 eh80      
,she made no reply1 but endeavored to   
appear as though she had not heard  him4

    8,now1 come1 ,clarer--don't try to  
put on--airs--before the preacher--er4  
,i ain't jealous--a--bit--er4 ,no1 for  
,i know--you prefer me--ter all  the--er
 men on earth1 don't you--er1 dear1 eh8 
,what--won't you--speak  to me8 ,never  
mind1 ,parson1 when you go--er she'll be
 pleasant enough4  ,some--times she     
gets--into one of her--er--contantnums  
before--er  company--and there's no     
doin' anything with her--have ter let   
'er  alone till she--sobers up--er40    
8,i must be going10 suddenly said       
,ernest1 rising4 8,i have some other    
calls to make40    8,thank you for your 
visit10 said ,clara4 8,call again if you
 can40    8,yes--er--come again1        
,parson1--if ,i arn't at home--,clarer  
will--er  entertain you40    ,clara left
 the parlor1 as ,ernest did1 and        
,comston fell asleep upon  a sofa4 ,when
 he awoke1 he had partly emerged from   
his state of  intoxication4 ,arising1   
and going into ,clara's room1 he said3  
8,had a nice time with the preacher1    

dear8 ,i think1 though1 you might  have 
treated me with a little more respect4  
,you wouldn't speak to me4  ,what is the
 matter80    8,you have made a fool of  
yourself10 cried ,clara1 in anger and   
vexation4  8,i have told you ,i wanted  
you to keep away from me when you are   
drunk4  ,you make a brute of yourself40 
8,why1 ,i thought ,i was entertaining   
the minister very nicely4 ,you  wouldn't
 talk to him1 and it wouldn't do for all
 of us to sit still  like ,quakers1     
would it80    8,you made a complete fool
 of yourself10 she said with face       
flashing  with anger4 8,i am getting so 
,i hate you--yes1 ,i hate you40    8,now
 don't provoke me1 dear4 ,you know ,i   
can't control my savage temper  when    
,i'm aroused4 ,don't you remember how   
you provoked me the other day  till ,i  
was about to strike you80    8,yes1 sir1
 ,i remember your brutality1 and ,i tell
 you now ,i am not going  to stand it   
much longer1 either40    8,what will you
 do80 asked ,comston4    8,i am not     

going to live with a man who is such a  
coward as to strike  a defenceless      
woman4 ,here you are bragging about it1 
as if you had  performed some wonderful 
deed4 ,if you ever attempt to strike me 
again1  ,i will leave you--yes1 ,i will 
apply for a divorce40    8,o1 no1 you   
wouldn't do that1 dear8 ,who would      
provide for you80    8,who provides for 
me now8 ,i should like to know4 ,if ,i  
did not support  myself1 ,i should      
starve4 ,you know that40    8,o1 no1 you
 wouldn't starve1 dear4 ,you've never   
starved yet1 have you8  ,do you 'spose  
,xerxes ,comston would let you starve8  
,nobody can say that  of my wife4 ,but1 
come1 ,clara1 let's be friends4 ,i      
haven't drunk much  to-day1 and ,i'm    
going to quit the business entirely--you
 hear that80    8,yes2 ,i have heard it 
five hundred times4 ,i have lost all    
confidence in  you4 ,i expect nothing   
but to see you go down to a drunkard's  
grave40    8,you want me to die8 ,o1 ho6
 ho6 that's it1 is it8 ,well ,i am not  

going to fill any drunkard's grave4     
,from now on1 ,i'm going to be a  better
 man4 ,we'll go to hear that preacher   
preach2 it will do us both  good--make  
,christians out of us1 ,i hope4 ,won't  
you go80    8,i do not think10 said     
,clara with a sneer1 8that you will ever
 be sober  enough to go40    8,yes1 ,i  
will1 though4 ,you see if ,i don't40    
,we have lengthened this domestic scene 
sufficiently to enable the  reader to   
understand the relations between this   
unhappy husband and  wife2 and to       
prepare his mind for a better           
comprehension of events that  are soon  
to be related4    ,the next evening     
,ernest met ,comston on the street4     
,comston was sober1  from the fact that 
he had no money to buy the fiery        
beverage for which  he was now          
thirsting4    8,mr4 ,edgefield10 said   
,comston1 who had a dim consciousness   
that he had  used improper language on  
the previous evening1 8,i want to offer 
you  an apology for my conduct          

yesterday4 ,i hope you are not          
offended40    8,no apology is           
necessary10 replied ,ernest4 8,i am     
sorry that you have  formed such awful1 
ruinous habits40    8,you are not as    
sorry as ,i am10 said ,comston1 speaking
 with emphasis4    8,why do you not     
leave off your terrible habits1 then80  
said ,ernest4    8,i've tried again and 
again10 said ,comston1 bursting into    
tears1 8but  it seems10 he continued1   
half sobbing1 8that ,i cannot4 ,o1 you  
have no  idea what a consuming thirst   
torments me4 ,i must have brandy1 or ,i 
will  die40    8,no1 you would not die10
 answered ,ernest1 8if you had the will 
to  resist4 ,but that1 ,i doubt not1 is 
gone4 ,and now you can never quit so    
long as you rely on yourself40    8,on  
whom must ,i rely80 asked ,comston4     
8,christ10 said ,ernest solemnly4       
8,nothing1 ,i fear1 will ever enable you
  to quit your evil ways1 but the grace 
of ,god40    8,how am ,i to get the     
grace of ,god80    8,only by faithful   

prayer40    8,do you think ,i could quit
 in that way80    8,yes10 answered      
,ernest4    8,well1 ,i'd give worlds to 
be as ,i once was4 ,i am ashamed of     
myself4 ,but  if ,i am left to myself1  
,i never can reform4 ,will you help me80
    8,will you put yourself in my       
hands80 asked ,ernest4 8,will you do as 
,i  tell you8 ,if you will1 you can     
reform40    8,but ,i know what you'll   
tell me10 cried ,comston4 8,you'll say1 
never  touch another drop4 ,i can't quit
 suddenly4 ,you make no allowance for my
  appetite40    8,yes1 ,i do10 replied  
,ernest4 8,i will give you a substitute 
for strong  drink40    8,all right10    
said ,comston4 8,i will do it40         
8,very well10 said ,ernest4 8,now you   
must promise me to keep away from  the  
saloons40    8,i'll do it40    8,to     
prove your sincerity1 turn around like a
 man1 and go home40    8,when will you  
give me that substitute80 asked         
,comston1 hesitating4    8,go home10    
said ,ernest1 8and remain till ,i come  

with it40    ,comston1 without another  
word1 at once went home sober1 to the   
surprise  of his wife4 ,he remained till
 his burning appetite destroyed his     
self-control4 ,he could stand it no     
longer4 ,snatching up his hat he  rushed
 off toward town4 ,drink he must have4  
,as he was turning a corner1  he stood  
face to face with ,ernest4    8,do not  
go there1 ,comston10 he said4 8,is this 
the way you obey me8 ,you  promised to  
put yourself in my hands40    8,but you 
said10 exclaimed ,comston1 8that you    
would give me a  substitute1 and you    
didn't do it4 ,i stayed as long as ,i   
could4 ,why  didn't you come1 and help  
me1 as you promised80    8,i desired to 
measure your will-power10 replied       
,ernest4 8,i wanted to  test your       
manhood4 ,i told you ,i would come4 ,why
 could you not believe  me80    8,i was 
afraid you would put it off too long10  
replied ,comston4 8,i am  dying40       
8,let us go back10 said ,ernest4        
8,but where is the substitute80    8,i  

have it4 ,come on10 commanded ,ernest4  
8,let us hurry10 said ,comston4    ,it  
was now dark1 and they both hurried     
along to ,comston's residence4  ,as soon
 as they had entered the drunkard's     
bed-room1 ,ernest drew from  his pocket 
a vial1 and poured out some of the      
mixture into a glass of  water1 which   
,comston eagerly drank4 ,ernest gave him
 two more glasses1  and then the        
inebriate seemed satisfied4 ,in an hour 
,ernest left him in  a profound sleep1  
which he knew would last till morning4  
,illustration3 ,decoration              
,,chapter ,,xix4    ,,the ,,crime4      
,when a man acquires the habit of       
indulging in strong drink1 it  requires 
a will of iron to break it4 ,few men    
have the physical and  moral fortitude  
to offer the necessary resistance4 ,the 
intense1  consuming thirst paralyzes the
 mental energies4 ,the wretched victim  
will risk life itself to gratify his    
raging appetite4 ,poor ,comston  had not
 descended to such a depth of moral     

degradation that he had no  disposition 
to free himself from the shackles of his
 terrible foe4 ,in  his sober moments he
 most earnestly wished that he could    
free himself  from the vicious demon    
which clung to him with the tenacity of 
,sinbad's  ,old ,man of the ,sea4 ,but  
the saloon was like a load-stone--a     
cynosure  which drew ,comston with an   
attraction that he had not the moral    
nerve  to resist4 ,when the appetite was
 upon him1 it seemed impossible to pass 
the open door4 ,the fragrance of the    
wines1 issuing from the interior  of the
 dram-shop1 acted upon his senses with  
all the force of the law  of            
gravitation1 and he went in almost in   
the same way that a stone  falls to the 
earth when it is thrown up into the air4
    ,comston woke up early the next     
morning from the stupor into which      
,ernest's substitute had thrown him4 ,he
 felt that he was burning up4  ,his     
terrible appetite made him forget1 or   
ignore his promises to the  preacher4   

,what cared he for reformation1 when he 
believed himself  dying--dying for the  
want of brandy4 ,in spite of the        
entreaties of his  wife1 he put on his  
hat1 to go to town4    8,where are you  
going80 she asked4    8,o1 just to town 
a little while--that's all40    8,but   
you promised ,mr4 ,edgefield that you   
would not go4 ,come back40    8,i'll be 
back in a few moments40    ,and off he  
rushed1 determined to have a dram if he 
should have to sell  his very clothing4 
,while he is walking along rapidly1 let 
us secretly  and silently enter the     
saloon to which he is hastening4 ,we see
 two men  in the room1 and they are     
engaged in a bitter quarrel4 ,presently 
the  man1 who is partially under the    
influence of ardent spirits1 springs    
toward the saloon-keeper1 exclaiming3   
8,i'm not going to stand this any       
longer4 ,you've got all my money1 and ,i
  must have another drink1 and ,i'll    
have it1 or ,i'll kill you40    ,a brief
 scuffle ensues1 which1 however1 lasts  

only half a minute4 ,the  man falls1    
crying3    8,you've killed me4 ,i wish  
to ,god there was a witness--but it's   
too  late4 ,i'm a dead man1 curse you40 
,then he fell heavily to the floor4     
8,you brought it on yourself10 said the 
saloon-keeper4 8,you forced me to  kill 
you40    ,at this moment ,comston       
hastily entered the saloon1 and without 
looking  around1 cried3    8,for ,god's 
sake give me a drink6 ,i haven't a cent4
 ,take my  clothes--anything--,i'll die 
if ,i can't get a dram40    ,an idea    
seemed to strike the saloon-keeper1     
whose agitation ,comston had  not       
observed1 for he said3    8,well1 here1 
drink40    8,thank you1 thank you10     
exclaimed ,comston1 clutching the glass1
 and  draining it to the very dregs4    
,in a few moments the saloon-keeper     
said3    8,comston1 ,i'll give you      
another drink if you'll drag that       
drunken  feller out there under the     
trees4 ,he fell down1 and cut himself on
 the  corner of that bench1 and is      

bleeding considerably40    8,i'll do    
it10 exclaimed ,comston1 upon whom the  
brandy was beginning  to have some      
effect4 ,he stooped down to lift up the 
fallen man1 but  glancing at the ghastly
 face1 he exclaimed3    8,why1 ,good    
,gracious6 he's dead1 arn't he80    8,o1
 no--dead drunk--that's all40    8,well1
 may be he is10 said ,comston1 who was  
more anxious about the  anticipated dram
 than the fate of a fellow-being4 8,i'll
 take him out  anyhow40    ,seizing the 
dead man in his arms1 he dragged him out
 of the door1 and  while so doing1 his  
own clothing was plentifully besmeared  
with blood4  ,as he reached the trees1  
two men passed by1 one of whom said3    
8,hello1 ,comston6 what are you doin'8  
,been fightin'1 have you80    8,not     
much10 replied ,comston1 who wanted it  
thought that he was a man of  pugnacious
 tendencies4 8,he gave me some of his   
impudence1 and ,i slapped  him over40   
,this brief specimen of ,comston's      
braggadocio appeared to delight the     

saloon keeper4    ,comston left his     
human burden under a tree1 and hurried  
back into the  saloon4    8,give me the 
drink you promised60 he said4    8,yes1 
here it is1 and it is a good one10 said 
the cunning  saloon-keeper4 8,take it1  
for you've earned it10 he continued1    
laughing4  8,he was heavy1 warn't he80  
8,yes1 he was40    ,comston took the    
glass brimful of strong brandy1 tossed  
it off as  though it had been cool      
water1 went out1 and seated himself     
under one  of the shade trees only a few
 paces from the dead man4    ,it was no 
unusual thing to see men lying under the
 trees in front of  the saloon4         
,accordingly several hours passed away  
before the corpse  attracted any special
 attention4 ,comston1 in half an hour   
was so much  intoxicated1 that he fell  
from the bench1 and lay upon the ground 
in a  state of utter unconsciousness4   
,the crowd1 accustomed to assemble there
  every day1 gathered in1 and among them
 the two who had seen ,comston  dragging

 the body out of the house4 ,one of     
these1 who had spoken first1  looking at
 the corpse closely1 exclaimed to the   
saloon-keeper3    8,look here1 ,blicker1
 ,i do believe ,jones is dead6 ,i'll    
feel his pulse40    8,i reckon not10    
replied ,blicker1 with perfect          
nonchalance4 8,him and  ,comston got    
into a scuffle about three hours ago1   
and ,comston snatched  up my knife which
 was on the counter1 and made a slash at
 ,jones1 and ,i  took the knife away    
from him4 ,comston knocked him down1 and
 ,i thought  ,jones was too drunk to get
 up4 ,i saw that ,jones was bleeding1   
and ,i  ordered ,comston to take him    
out1 as ,i didn't want blood on my      
floor4  ,comston1 as you saw1 dragged   
him out1 but ,i didn't 'spose he was    
hurt  much40    8,as shore as shootin'01
 cried the man1 8he's dead6 ,he hasn't a
 bit of  pulse40    8,go for a ,doctor10
 said ,blicker4    8,i'll step over to  
,dr4 ,warner's office10 said the man4   
8,i see him  riding up now40    ,it was 

not more than five minutes before ,dr4  
,warner was on the spot4 ,a  very brief 
examination proved that ,jones was dead4
 ,he had been stabbed  to the heart4    
8,who did it80 asked the ,doctor4       
8,that feller1 ,i reckon10 pointing to  
the prostrate form of ,comston1  spoke  
up the man who gave the version of the  
affair1 which1 in  connection with that 
of the saloon-keeper1 made it evident   
that ,comston  was the criminal4    ,it 
was several hours before ,comston was   
sufficiently sober to  comprehend that  
he was accused of a most awful crime4   
,when he awoke  from his drunken sleep1 
the constable was near by1 who had a    
warrant  for his arrest4    8,come10    
said he to ,comston1 8you're my         
prisoner4 ,come on to jail40    8,to    
jail60 cried ,comston4 8,you're joking6 
,what have ,i done to go to  jail for80 
8,o1 you pretend not to know1 do you8   
,well1 probably you was so drunk  that  
you didn't know what you was a doin'4   
,don't you know that you  killed ,jones 

this morning80    8,no1 ,i don't10      
exclaimed ,comston in the utmost alarm1 
now looking at  his bloody clothes1 and 
recalling the events of the morning4    
,soon his  mind was clear4    8,i       
dragged ,jones out under the tree for a 
drink of brandy10 said  ,comston4 8,i   
can prove that by ,blicker himself40    
8,didn't you tell ,bill ,dodds1 while   
you were dragging him1 that you had  a  
fight with him1 and slapped him over80  
asked one4    8,o1 ,i said that in fun10
 exclaimed ,comston4 8,i only thought   
,jones was  drunk40    8,you'll find it 
dear sort of fun10 said one4    8,say1  
,blicker10 cried ,comston1 now          
thoroughly aroused to the fearful       
realities of his situation1 8didn't you 
give me a drink to drag ,jones  out of  
your house this very morning--didn't    
you80    8,why1 no1 ,comston10 answered 
,blicker coolly1 8,i don't keep brandy  
to  give away4 ,you've forgot all about 
the fight you had with ,jones this      
morning40    8,it's a lie6 ,it's a lie60

 frantically cried ,comston4 8,i never  
even had  any quarrel with ,jones4 ,he  
was a good friend1 and ,i never thought 
of  fighting with him40    8,poor       
feller60 said ,blicker1 with affected   
pity1 8you was so drunk you  can't      
remember that you made a slash at ,jones
 with my knife that was on  the         
counter40    8,o1 ,blicker1 ,blicker60  
exclaimed ,comston1 8how can you stand  
there and  tell such an infamous lie8   
,you know you gave me two drinks--one   
free1  and the other to drag ,jones     
out40    8,whether he did or not10      
interposed the constable1 8you're in for
 it  now4 ,i am compelled to take you to
 jail4 ,when your trial comes off1 you  
can have a chance to prove your         
innocence40    8,i'm not going to jail60
 cried ,comston wildly4 8,i've done     
nothing to  go there for4 ,what do you  
want to put an innocent man in prison   
for8 ,i  should like to know40    8,get 
up1 and come along10 cried the constable
 sternly1 8or ,i'll  hand-cuff you40    

8,o1 my ,god60 exclaimed ,comston1 now  
completely sobered4 8,turn me loose1    
,dick ,bonds4 ,you know ,i didn't do    
it40    8,come along1 ,i say60 cried the
 constable4    8,please let me speak to 
,blicker10 entreated the terror-stricken
 man1  turning to the saloon-keeper4    
8,o1 ,blicker1 you're a gentleman4 ,wow 
don't let me go to jail40    8,how can  
,i prevent it80 asked ,blicker4         
8,why1 you know very well that ,i didn't
 so much as strike ,jones1 if  you'd    
only say so4 ,now come1 be honest1      
,blicker40    8,will you go10 asked the 
constable1 producing a pair of          
hand-cuffs1  8without these80    8,o1   
yes1 ,i'll go10 said ,comston in        
anguish4 8,surely ,blicker will tell    
the truth when he is put on his oath40  
,and ,comston was locked up in the jail4
          ,,chapter ,,xx4    ,,the      
,,prison4      ,immediately after the   
arrest and imprisonment of ,comston1    
,ernest  called to see ,clara in order  
to give such comfort as the             

circumstances  would allow4 ,he did not 
find her in tears1 as he had expected4  
,on  the contrary1 her face1 though sad1
 wore a hard1 stony expression4  ,she   
acted as those unfortunate wives1 who   
have lost their affection  for their    
husbands1 and who are looking forward to
 be released by  the divorce of nature4 
,the drunkard's wife can be freed only  
by the  premature death of her husband4 
,she may not desire such a termination  
to her continual troubles1 but she lives
 in constant expectation of  such an    
end1 and when it does come1 she is not  
greatly surprised1 for  it is nothing   
more than she has anticipated4 ,clara   
was just in this  condition4 ,she had   
once loved ,xerxes ,comston as much as  
it was in her  nature to love any one4  
,but this affection had been eradicated 
by his  brutal conduct and disgusting   
habits4    8,i do assure you10 said     
,ernest1 8,i sympathize with you in your
 trials4  ,such misfortunes look dark to
 us1 but ,god is good and kind1 and we  

must  be resigned to ,his holy will4    
,all is for the best40    8,you think1  
then10 cried ,clara1 8it is best that   
,mr4 ,comston should  kill ,mr4 ,jones1 
and be hanged for it1 do you80    8,we  
must not jump to conclusions10 mildly   
answered ,ernest4 8,no trial  has taken 
place1 and we surely ought not to judge 
of the divine  purposes before they are 
developed4 ,even after they are         
accomplished1  we may not understand    
them4 ,i have no doubt1 that in every   
instance1  ,god brings good out of      
evil40    8,do you believe10 asked      
,clara1 8that ,god has anything to do   
with this  horrible affair80 ,and she   
looked at him almost savagely4          
8,certainly10 replied ,ernest gently1   
8,i believe that ,god has something  to 
do with every event40    8,do you       
think10 exclaimed ,clara1 8that ,god    
made my husband a drunkard80    8,no1   
certainly not10 answered ,ernest4 8,he  
made himself a an--inebriate4  ,he is a 
free-agent1 and the ,lord permitted him 

to exercise his powers4  ,god is not the
 author of men's sins4 ,he does not     
force them to sin4 ,but  if ,mr4        
,comston killed ,mr4 ,jones1 which ,i do
 not think has been proved  yet1 you may
 rest assured that the ,lord will bring 
good out of it in  some way1 and make it
 redound to ,his glory40    8,i don't   
see how that can be10 said ,clara4      
8,you may never see it in this world10  
replied ,ernest1 8and you may live  to  
see the day1 when you will feel thankful
 for this very misfortune1  as you now  
regard it40    8,look here10 suddenly   
exclaimed ,clara1 8if that day ever     
comes when ,i  shall feel that ,i ought 
to be thankful1 ,i promise to join your 
church1  and try to be a ,christian40   
8,why not try to be a ,christian        
anyhow80 asked ,ernest4 8,you must not  
try  to make a bargain and contract with
 ,god40    8,how is that80 said ,clara4 
8,why1 you say in your heart1 if ,god   
will give me certain things1  grant     
certain desires1 ,i will be a           

,christian4 ,the ,lord will accept no   
such service as that4 ,you must make a  
full surrender of yourself to           
,christ--unconditional and forever4     
,determine to serve ,him whether your   
wishes are granted or not4 ,trust ,him1 
though ,he slay you40    8,o10 said     
,clara1 8,i cannot be a ,christian4 ,i  
have suffered too much40    8,so much   
the more reason why you should be a     
,christian10 answered  ,ernest4 8,you   
have seen the folly of this world's     
pursuits4 ,now seek  that happiness     
which the world can neither give nor    
take away40    8,i don't know how to    
begin1 even if ,i had the disposition10 
replied  ,clara sulkily4 8,i once was   
happy4 ,i enjoyed myself1 and never     
thought  of religion4 ,if ,god is so    
good and so kind1 as you say1 why does  
,he not  give me that sort of           
happiness--the sort that ,i really      
crave80    8,how long would it last80   
asked ,ernest4 8,only a few years4 ,the 
time  will come when you can no longer  

enjoy these pleasures of sense4 ,you    
will lose the ardor of youth4 ,age will 
steal upon you1 and you will  lose all  
relish for temporal things4 ,you will   
then feel the need of  something more   
substantial4 ,why not begin now to lay  
up treasures in  heaven80    8,shall ,i 
feel more happy1 if ,i do80 asked this  
spiritually ignorant1  thoroughly       
worldly-minded woman4 8,will ,god care  
for me1 and supply my  wants80          
8,undoubtedly1 if you devote yourself to
 ,his service from the proper  motives80
    8,what is the proper motive80       
8,why10 answered ,ernest1 8you must     
serve the ,master1 not with the object  
of receiving earthly good1 but with the 
view of making your calling and         
election sure40    8,i don't know what  
to do10 replied ,clara1 thoughtfully and
 seriously4    8,give yourself1 at once1
 to ,christ1 pray for the enlightening  
influences of the ,holy ,spirit1 and    
,god will bless you40    8,how can ,i do
 all this80 suddenly and impatiently    

cried ,clara1 8when  ,i am suffering for
 the----40 ,she paused1 and appeared to 
be greatly  embarrassed4    8,nothing1  
though10 she added4    8,mrs4 ,comston10
 said ,ernest compassionately1 8,god    
knows ,i would be a  friend and brother 
to you4 ,i want your soul saved4        
,confide in me4 ,are  you afraid to     
trust me1 and acquaint me with your     
troubles1 whatever  they maybe80        
8,no1 ,i'm not afraid to trust you10 she
 answered1 with tears springing  into   
her eyes1 8but ,i'm proud4 ,i'm ashamed 
to tell anyone40 ,she could  say no more
 for several moments1 and ,ernest waited
 till she became  more tranquil4        
8,you seem to be the only friend ,i have
 in the world10 she continued           
presently4 8,i once had plenty of       
friends1 but when misfortunes overtook  
me1 they deserted me1 and ,i have met   
with nothing but rebukes and  insults4  
,i have got so ,i hate people4 ,i didn't
 know the world was so  full of mean    
wretches4 ,people used to envy me1      

because ,i had money1 but  they seemed  
to me to rejoice when ,i was brought    
down to poverty and  social degradation4
 ,if ,i wished to be good1 ,i don't see 
how ,i could40    8,tell me your        
troubles10 urged ,ernest kindly1 8and1  
perhaps1 ,i can be  of service40    8,it
 is humiliating to confess10 she said1  
turning her blushing face1  8but the    
truth is1 ,i can get no work to do4 ,i  
have had nothing to eat  since          
yesterday4 ,it seems that ,i must       
starve1 and that1 too1 when ,i am       
willing to labor4 ,but don't misconstrue
 my motives4 ,i'm no beggar4 ,i'm  not  
appealing to you for relief1 and ,i     
don't want you to mention what ,i  have 
told you4 ,i tell it to you to show you 
how difficult it would be  for me to be 
good1 when ,i hate people for my        
misfortunes40    ,ernest expressed no   
surprise at this distressing            
information1 but he  said no more on the
 subject of religion1 well knowing that 
hunger is  not very compatible with     

spirituality4    8,the world is not so  
bad as you think it10 he replied4 8,you 
do your  neighbors injustice by         
concealing your condition40    8,don't10
 cried ,clara1 starting up1 8don't tell 
them for the world4 ,i  despise to be   
regarded as an object of pity40         
8,trust me10 rising to leave4 8,i shall 
not betray your confidence40    ,in a   
little while after his departure1 a cart
 drove up to ,clara's door1  and the    
driver unloaded sufficient provisions to
 last for several  weeks4 ,poor ,clara  
was overwhelmed by this expression of   
kindness1 and  she went to her room1 and
 8wept bitterly40 ,several lady members 
of  ,ernest's church called the next    
evening with offers of employment4 ,they
  acted and talked in such a manner that
 she was satisfied they were not        
acquainted with her true condition4 ,in 
her heart she thanked ,ernest for  the  
delicacy with which he had come to her  
relief4 ,the ladies spoke  words of     
sympathy4 ,all this had a tendency to   

open the woman's darkened  heart to     
spiritual influences4    ,ernest waited 
two days before he called at the prison 
to see ,comston4  ,not being able to    
procure strong drink1 the prisoner was  
perfectly  sober4 ,the poor fellow was  
humbled and subdued by the misfortunes  
which  darkened his pathway4    8,how   
are you to-day80 asked ,ernest kindly4  
8,i've been in torment10 he replied4 8,i
 want brandy1 and it seems ,i'll  die1  
if ,i can't get it4 ,give me some40     
8,comston10 said ,ernest gently1 but    
firmly1 8now is your time to break  off 
your evil habit4 ,if you do not1 you are
 ruined40    8,i'm already ruined10     
groaned the wretched victim4 8,but ,i   
never thought  that ,i would be accused 
of murder4 ,god in heaven knows that ,i 
never  killed poor ,jones4 ,i'm as      
innocent of that as you are4 ,blicker   
told  an infamous lie4 ,i believe he did
 it himself1 and is using me as a       
scape-goat40    8,but circumstances10   
remarked ,ernest1 8seem to be against   

you at  present4 ,however1 ,i have not  
come to talk about that4 ,i want to save
  your soul40    8,why10 cried ,comston1
 in visible alarm1 8you can't believe   
,i'll be put  to death1 do you8 ,it     
would be an everlasting disgrace        
to--to--hang an  innocent man40    8,but
 you will have to die sometime1         
,comston--sooner or later1 and ,i do    
not want your soul lost4 ,i have come to
 pray with you1 and for you4  ,will you 
join me80    8,o1 yes1 if you think it  
will do any good40    ,ernest read      
suitable portions of ,scripture1 and    
prayed for the unhappy  man1 whose      
feelings were at last deeply moved4     
,comston1 the next day1 stood his trial 
in the ,magistrate's court1  and without
 entering into the details1 which would 
be of no special  interest to the       
reader1 it is sufficient to state that  
he was bound  over to the ,circuit      
,court1 which would convene at the      
expiration of  five months4 ,as this was
 no bailable case1 ,comston had to be   

confined  in jail4    ,frequently our   
greatest misfortunes are blessings in   
disguise1 as the  ,sacred ,scriptures   
abundantly demonstrate4 ,comston's      
incarceration1  was at least a spiritual
 blessing to him4 ,he could not procure 
ardent  spirits1 and the consequence    
was1 that1 in a few weeks1 his physical 
constitution began to recuperate1 and he
 at last mastered his terrible          
appetite4 ,but this was not all4 ,ernest
 visited him nearly every day1  prayed  
with him1 instructed him1 till finally  
the poor fellow had  reason to rejoice  
in a brighter hope than had ever        
thrilled his heart  before4 ,there could
 be no doubt about his complete         
reformation4 ,this1  in connection with 
,comston's emphatic assertion of his    
innocence1 had a  tendency to arouse    
public sympathy in his favor4 ,no one   
believed that  he was a murderer at     
heart1 even if he had taken ,jones'     
life4 ,the  theory was1 that it was done
 in a drunken quarrel1 without there    

being  any intention to kill4    ,but   
all this was not the full extent of the 
blessing4 ,the husband and  wife were   
also reconciled4 ,clara1 who1 too1 had  
found that 8peace  which passeth all    
understanding10 visited him in the      
jail--indeed1  spent the most of her    
time there4 ,xerxes 8was himself again10
 and her  buried affection for him      
revived4 ,so notwithstanding the        
unfavorable  circumstances which        
surrounded them1 they were comparatively
 happy4  ,they were not without hope4   
,ernest1 in these hours of trial1 proved
 a brother4 ,he attended to  ,comston's 
outside affairs1 and1 among other       
things1 secured the  services of a good 
lawyer4    ,the five months had nearly  
passed away1 and only a few days        
remained  before the trial would occur4 
,now1 let us visit the jail for the last
  time4 ,only ,clara1 ,comston and      
,ernest were present4    8,o10 said     
,comston earnestly1 8if ,i could only   
get out of this  difficulty1 what a     

different man ,i'd be6 what a different 
life ,i'd  lead6 ,i've lost the taste   
for brandy1 and now take a solemn oath  
that  not another drop of the vile stuff
 shall ever go down my throat4 ,o1 ,mr4 
,edgefield1 pray ,god to get me out of  
this trouble1 and ,i promise to be  a   
true ,christian as long as ,i live40    
8,now1 ,mrs4 ,comston10 said ,ernest    
pleasantly1 8you have heard his vow1  do
 you think he would keep it80    8,if he
 wouldn't10 she said emphatically1 8he  
would be the meanest  ingrate that ever 
lived on earth40    8,well10 said       
,ernest1 8,i believe he will perform his
 vows4 ,i shall not  see you any more   
before the trial4 ,let us pray together 
once more for  ,god's assistance40      
,when they arose from their knees1      
,clara seemed more cheerful and said3   
8,somehow ,i feel hopeful40    8,so do  
,i10 said ,ernest1 so emphatically that 
both looked at him in  surprise4        
8,but upon what can you base a hope80   
asked ,clara1 gazing searchingly  into  

his face4    8,have faith in ,god10     
replied ,ernest4 8,he can raise up      
friends for us40    8,but we want       
witnesses10 said ,clara4    8,god can   
raise up unexpected witnesses10 replied 
,ernest mysteriously4  8,but good-by40  
,and he left in haste4    ,illustration3
 ,decoration          ,,chapter ,,xxi4  
,,the ,,trial4      ,at last1 the       
,circuit ,court met4 ,three or four days
 were consumed with  other business1 and
 the case of the ,state against ,xerxes 
,comston was  called4    8,are you ready
 for trial80 asked the ,judge4          
8,ready10 replied the ,prosecutor4      
8,ready10 promptly answered the ,counsel
 for the defence1 to the surprise  of   
every one4 ,for obvious reasons1 it is  
generally the practice to  postpone     
murder cases as long as possible4       
8,proceed then10 said ,his ,honor4      
,the impanelling of the ,jury was the   
first step to be taken4 ,this was       
quickly done1 too1 for1 to general      
surprise1 ,mr4 ,greenlee1 who had       

undertaken to defend ,comston1 offered  
no objection to any juror1 if  he only  
had a fair measure of common sense4 ,he 
did not1 evidently1  care for the       
character of the jury1 and did not      
appear to manifest  the least uneasiness
 or anxiety4 ,he was calm and collected1
 as  though he had no fears as to the   
final result4 ,people looked at him  in 
astonishment1 but the lawyer paid no    
attention to their amazement4  ,blicker 
cast suspicious glances at him4 ,clara  
was sitting in the bar  near her        
husband1 seemingly in deep distress4    
,but when she occasionally  looked at   
,greenlee's calm face1 her hope revived4
 ,ernest was also  present1 and did not 
seem to be anxious4 ,greenlee1 instead  
of trying  to retard the progress of the
 case1 manifested a willingness to      
hasten  it forward4 ,his whole manner   
was surprising to the ,district         
,attorney1  who was under the impression
 that a verdict of condemnation must be 
the  inevitable result4    ,at length1  

the indictment was read1 and then       
followed the examination  of witnesses4 
,the first was ,blicker1 who stated the 
circumstances that  were favorable to   
his own case1 with which the reader is  
acquainted4  ,the two men were then     
introduced who had seen ,comston        
dragging the dead  man under the trees4 
,they also stated the language which the
 criminal  had employed4 ,this united   
testimony appeared to be conclusive4    
,the  spectators1 who were generally in 
sympathy with the accused1 looked       
solemn4 ,all had hoped that the trial   
itself would develop something  that    
would be favorable to ,comston4 ,no one 
wanted him punished4 ,but how  could he 
escape in the face of such overwhelming 
evidence8    ,a long-drawn sigh was     
heard at ,comston's side4 ,it came from 
,clara1 who  seemed suddenly to give way
 to despair4 ,again1 she turned her     
head1 and  looked at ,ernest4 ,could she
 be mistaken8 ,was there not a          
perceptible  smile upon his face8 ,she  

then glanced at ,greenlee4 ,his         
countenance wore  the same serene1      
imperturbable expression4 ,there was a  
short pause in  the proceedings when the
 ,prosecutor said3    8,we have no more 
witnesses4 ,i do not know10 he continued
 with an air of  triumph1 8why ,mr4     
,greenlee foregoes his privilege of     
cross-examining  the witnesses for the  
,state4 ,he can do so yet1 if he wishes4
 ,i would  prefer that he should do it40
    8,their testimony10 replied         
,greenlee1 8can go to the jury for what 
it is  worth40    8,do you mean to      
insinuate that it is worth nothing80    
asked the ,district  ,attorney4    8,has
 the counsel for the defense10          
interrupted ,his ,honor1 8no            
witnesses80    ,every one expected to   
hear a sorrowful 8no40 ,but what was the
 universal  astonishment and joy1 when  
,greenlee quietly replied3    8,we have 
one40    ,then mouths and eyes were     
opened with curiosity4 ,the spectators  
seemed  to hold their breath lest they  

should lose the name of the unexpected  
witness1 or as if the only chance for   
,comston had wings1 and might be        
frightened away by heavy respiration4   
,comston and ,clara looked up1  leaned  
forward1 and subjected ,greenlee's      
tranquil face to a quick1  close search4
    8,call your witness10 said the      
,court4    8,let ,rev4 ,mr4 ,edgefield  
be sworn10 said ,greenlee mildly and    
quietly4    ,ernest rose from his chair1
 and deliberately stepped to the        
,clerk's  desk1 where he was sworn1 and 
then placed himself in the witness'     
seat4  ,it was one of those strange1    
unexpected scenes1 which sometimes occur
  in gloomy court-rooms1 and which      
change the entire aspect of the case4   
,clara now understood that smile on the 
preacher's face4 ,ernest knew  all about
 it1 she thought4 ,and who1 but ,god1   
had sent him8 ,she was  awe-struck by   
the thought1 and felt as one who had    
just witnessed1 or  rather was about to 
witness1 a miracle4 ,comston had similar

 feelings4  ,both could have cast       
themselves upon the floor1 and kissed   
the witness'  feet4 ,what a friend he   
was6 ,how good1 and kind1 and merciful  
was ,god1  in raising up such a noble   
witness at the moment when it seemed    
that  hope was about to wing a          
returnless flight6 ,how both their      
hearts  were melted to tenderness toward
 their ,creator6 for it was the firm    
conviction of both that ,god had sent   
,his own messenger to see justice  done4
 ,ernest had not spoken a word1 but they
 felt that his testimony1  whatever it  
was1 would be conclusive4    8,tell what
 you know about this case10 said ,mr4   
,greenlee4    ,ernest spoke in a firm1  
emphatic tone1 that carried conviction  
to every  heart3    8,on the morning of 
the ---- day1 of ----1 ,i rose earlier  
than usual4  ,the day before ,i had     
remained with ,comston1 and kept him    
away from the  saloon4 ,he had promised 
to reform4 ,but1 ,i confess1 ,i had     
little hope of  any reformation1 if he  

was left alone1 and ,i determined to    
watch him  another day2 and this        
accounts for my early rising on that    
particular  morning4 ,i started toward  
the saloon1 and when ,i had nearly      
reached  there1 ,i saw ,comston coming  
out of his gate4 ,i then concealed      
myself  in the rear of the saloon1      
waiting for ,comston to come1 intending 
to  persuade him to return home4 ,when  
,i had hidden myself1 ,i heard two  men 
quarreling inside1 both of whose voices 
,i instantly recognized4  ,presently1 ,i
 heard ,jones exclaim3    8#8,i won't   
stand it any longer4'    8,then ,i heard
 a rush over the floor4 ,there was a    
scuffle for only a few  seconds1 and ,i 
heard ,jones cry out3    8#8,you have   
stabbed me--1 you have killed me6'      
8,he employed some other words which ,i 
did not hear distinctly4 ,then ,i  heard
 a body fall heavily to the floor1 and  
all was still4 ,a moment  afterwards1 ,i
 heard ,comston enter the room1 and beg 
for a drink1  stating that he had no    

money4 ,i heard the rattling of glasses2
 then  there was silence4 ,in a short   
time ,i heard ,blicker say3    8#8,i    
will give you another drink1 if you will
 drag that drunken man  under the tree4'
    8#8,i will do it'1 said ,comston4   
,he seemed to be lifting the man1 and ,i
  heard him exclaim3    8#8,jones is    
dead1 ain't he8'    8#8,no1' replied    
,blicker1 #8,he is dead drunk2 he fell  
on the bench1 and  cut himself1 and he  
is bleeding4'    8,i then heard a sound 
as of one man dragging another over the 
floor4 ,at  this moment ,i heard        
footsteps approaching and ,i left40     
8,that is the ,god's truth60 cried      
,comston in a voice trembling with      
emotion4    8,silence60 cried the       
,sheriff4    ,clara could scarcely      
restrain her deeply agitated feelings4  
,how  she wanted to fall on her knees1  
and thank ,ernest for this strange      
interference4 ,the ,district ,attorney  
was astounded4 ,blicker1 as pale as     
death1 had started out of the room at a 

rapid pace4    8,sheriff60 exclaimed the
 ,judge1 8arrest ,mr4 ,blicker1 if you  
please40    8,i am not running10 said   
,blicker1 who suddenly seemed to        
recollect that  flight was an evidence  
of guilt4 8,i was only changing my seat4
 ,that  preacher has made up that lie40 
8,how came you never to have said       
anything about this before80 said the   
,district ,attorney angrily1 turning to 
,ernest1 8,why did you not give  in this
 testimony in the committing court1 and 
save the expense and  trouble of this   
trial80    8,i had a very good reason   
for it10 said ,ernest1 8,i was anxious  
for  the reformation of ,mr4 ,comston1  
and ,i believed that nothing but        
imprisonment for several months would   
ever cure him of his evil habits4       
,surely1 the salvation of a human soul  
is worth the few dollars that it  may   
cost the county40    8,you have pursued 
a very strange course1 it seems to me10 
said the  ,district ,attorney4 8,suppose
 you had taken sick and died before the 

trial came off1 you would have left your
 friend in a sad predicament40    8,not 
at all1 sir10 replied ,ernest4 8,i made 
provision for contingencies  of that    
sort4 ,you may ask ,mr4 ,greenlee40     
8,i will state10 said ,mr4 ,greenlee1   
8that a few days after this killing1    
,mr4 ,edgefield made his deposition to  
the facts he has just stated1 and       
signed it in the presence of two        
witnesses4 ,however1 that is perfectly  
irrelevant4 ,we have no use whatever for
 the deposition40    8,will your ,honor 
permit such a proceeding as this80 asked
 the ,district  ,attorney4              
8,certainly10 answered the ,court1 8,mr4
 ,edgefield was never summoned as a     
witness in the committing court40       
8,but still10 said the ,district        
,attorney1 8ought he not to have        
appeared  anyhow80    8,mr4 ,edgefield10
 said the ,court1 8has given his reason 
for not doing  so4 ,the jury can take   
his testimony for what it is worth40    
,the jury1 at once1 retired1 but they   

returned in about ten minutes1 and      
moved slowly up to the ,judge's stand4  
8,are you agreed1 gentlemen80 said the  
,court4    8,we are10 replied the       
foreman4 ,the ,clerk then took a paper  
from the  hands of the foreman1 and read
 the following in substance3    8,we1   
the jury in the case of the ,state      
against ,xerxes ,comston1 find  that the
 defendant is not guilty40              
,immediately there was a great shout    
which shook the building4    8,silence6 
silence60 cried the ,sheriff2 but he    
might as well have spoken  to a cyclone4
 ,nothing could be heard but shouts of  
gladness1 thus  showing what a deep     
interest the public had felt in this    
trial4 ,comston  rose from his seat and 
tottered toward ,ernest1 around whose   
neck he  threw his arms1 and wept like a
 child4    ,clara exclaimed aloud3      
8,praised be ,god6 ,i shall serve ,him  
the remainder of my days40    ,there    
were few dry eyes in the room4 ,it      
resembled some of the scenes  of an     

old-fashioned camp-meeting4 ,the crowd  
looked at ,ernest with a  species of    
awe4 ,they could not have felt more     
reverence if ,abraham  himself had come 
back from the dead and testified in the 
case4    ,comston and his wife          
immediately left the court-room amid the
 plaudits  of the crowd that the terror 
of the law could not control4    ,within
 two days1 ,comston had obtained a      
position as clerk in a store1  and soon 
began to prosper4    ,the next time that
 ,ernest called1 both gave him such a   
joyful and  grateful greeting that he   
felt compensated for all the trouble and
  inconvenience to which he had been    
subjected4 ,after conversing a while1   
,ernest said3    8,surely1 you now see  
the hand of ,god in your affairs80      
8,yes10 replied ,comston1 8and ,i am a  
different man1 and1 by ,god's grace1    
intend to lead a different life40       
8,and what has ,mrs4 ,comston to say80  
asked ,ernest with a smile4    8,i am   
perfectly overwhelmed10 she answered4   

8,i feel as one in a dream1  and you    
appear to me as our guardian angel4 ,god
 must have sent you  here40    8,i hope 
so1 my friends10 replied ,ernest1 8but  
give all the glory to  ,god4 ,i am only 
an humble instrument in ,his hands4     
,but10 he added after  a short pause1   
8you will now both join the church1 will
 you not1 and  lead ,christian lives80  
8,i will10 answered ,comston            
emphatically4 8,i've not forgotten my   
vow40    8,and so will ,i10 replied     
,clara4    8,what church will you join8 
,i do not believe ,i have ever asked    
you40    8,the ,presbyterian--your      
church10 answered ,comston4 8,i like its
  comforting doctrines4 ,they are       
certainly the right thing when one is   
in trouble4 ,i've heard some people talk
 very hard about the eternal  decrees1  
but1 as you told me1 the doctrine of    
election is taught in the  ,bible1 and  
,i find it there40    8,a few months    
ago10 said ,clara1 8,i had an abhorrence
 of predestination1  but now ,i have no 

doubt that it is a doctrine of ,god's   
,book4 ,if it is  not taught in the #hth
 and #ith chapters of ,romans1 ,i cannot
 understand  language4 ,so ,i can be    
nothing but a ,presbyterian40           
,accordingly1 the next ,sabbath both    
were received into the church of  their 
choice4 ,ernest never had more faithful1
 zealous members1 and  more staunch     
friends4 ,if ,comston heard any one     
complaining in regard  to ,ernest1 or   
any thing he did1 it made him impatient1
 and he defended  his beloved pastor and
 friend1 with unlimited warmth of       
feeling4 ,god  prospered him in         
business1 and in a few years ,comston   
had a store of  his own4 ,he became a   
liberal and cheerful supporter of the   
,church and  all its institutions4      
,clara contracted habits of economy and 
diligence1  and was foremost in all     
church work1 such as ladies could       
perform4 ,we  close the chapter with the
 remark that ,blicker was tried for     
murder1  and condemned to the           

penitentiary for the period of his      
natural life4    ,illustration3         
,decoration          ,,chapter ,,xxii4  
,,the ,,last ,,scene4      ,the lives of
 a great many people are distinguished  
by a few romantic  events1 but no man's 
life is one continuous series of        
startling  incidents4 ,life flows in a  
regular channel1 and its romantic       
portions  are mere episodes4 ,the great 
bulk of mankind are doomed to toil for  
the  necessaries of existence4 ,hence1  
every day is alike4 ,they go through    
the same dull routine--the same         
tread-mill process of eat1 drink1       
sleep1 work4    ,it could not1          
therefore1 be reasonably expected that  
the career of a  minister1 like ,ernest1
 living in a quiet provincial town1     
should be  distinguished for thrilling  
experiences4 ,the clerical life is      
generally  tranquil and unromantic4 ,the
 preacher visits the sick1 comforts the 
distressed1 resolves the doubts of the  
skeptical1 preaches the gospel1         

,sabbath after ,sabbath1 and in this way
 the days glide by till death  transfers
 him to a higher state of existence4    
,after the remarkable  episode1         
involving ,comston's startling history1 
nothing occurred1 for  years1 in the    
life of ,ernest which would be of       
interest to the mere  story reader4 ,at 
present he is performing his ministerial
 duties1  assisted by ,mildred1 with    
unostentatious piety4    ,one ,sabbath  
there was an unusually large            
congregation assembled in  ,ernest's    
church4 ,it had been published that he  
would1 by special  request1 preach a    
doctrinal sermon4    ,on ,monday morning
 there was considerable excitement      
throughout the  community4 ,many of     
those who had believed the opposite     
doctrine1 were  caused to reflect1 and  
made to examine the ground-work of their
 creed4  ,little groups gathered on the 
streets and in the stores to discuss the
  sermon of the day before4    8,well10 
said good old father ,grimshaw1 8if ,i  

believed as ,brother  ,edgefield does1  
,i would never go to church any more4   
,in fact1 ,i'd never  do anything1 but  
,i'd take my fill of sin--yes ,i would40
    8,i am utterly astounded10 answered 
a ,presbyterian elder1 8to hear you     
talk that way1 father ,grimshaw4 ,if you
 were to take your fill of sin1  how    
could you be a ,christian8 ,can a       
,christian love sin80    8,why1 what    
difference would it make whether ,i am a
 ,christian or not80  cried the old man4
 8,if ,i'm to be saved1 ,i'll be saved  
anyhow1 and if  ,i'm to be lost1 ,i'll  
be lost anyhow1 no matter what ,i may   
do40    8,look here1 father ,grimshaw10 
said the elder1 8did ,brother ,edgefield
  say anything like that80    8,if he   
didn't say it1 that's what his doctrine 
leads to40    8,i confess10 said the    
elder mildly1 8that ,i cannot see that  
it leads  to any such conclusion4 ,but  
that is the way with some of you people4
  ,you draw your inferences1 and take   
them as the doctrines of the            

,presbyterian ,church4 ,you know that   
,brother ,edgefield said that all  could
 be saved who wanted to be4 ,i should   
like to know how much broader  you      
desire the plan of salvation4 ,do you   
want ,god to save people1  nolens       
volens80    8,no1 sir10 replied father  
,grimshaw4 8,but if certain people are  
fore-ordained to eternal death1 how can 
any of them be saved80    8,brother     
,edgefield made that as plain as        
anything could be10 replied  the ,elder4
 8,but ,i will answer your question4 ,of
 course1 if they are  fore-ordained to  
eternal death1 they cannot be saved1 but
 whose fault  is it8 ,god does not      
prevent their salvation4 ,it is nothing 
but their  own wicked hearts--their own 
perverse will4 ,no man ever was lost    
simply  on account of predestination40  
8,but why don't they have the will80    
asked father ,grimshaw4    8,i do not   
know1 but that is the truth10 replied   
the elder4 8,their lack  of the will is 
not to be attributed to any eternal     

decree1 and if  that be so1 ,i am sure  
the sinner can charge the loss of his   
soul to  nobody but himself4 ,we        
naturally hold every man responsible for
 his own  character4 ,if a man is a     
thief1 it is not natural for us to think
 that  ,god made him so4 ,neither do we 
hold the ,lord responsible for any man's
  will4 ,if1 then1 the sinner lacks the 
disposition to be saved1 surely  he     
cannot charge ,god with injustice4      
,every man has the consciousness  that  
he could be a ,christian1 if he only    
desired to be4 ,then1 ,i ask  you1 in   
the name of common sense1 how does      
predestination prevent his  salvation80 
8,i don't know how to argue the         
question10 cried father ,grimshaw       
testily1 8but it does appear horrible to
 me that ,god should choose one  man to 
eternal life and condemn another to     
eternal death1 when both  are alike by  
nature--both sinners40    8,let me ask  
you10 said the elder1 8if ,god was under
 any obligations to  save any one80     

8,no1 certainly not40    8,if ,he were  
to send all to eternal torment1 would it
 be just80 asked  the ,elder4    8,yes10
 answered father ,grimshaw4    8,well1  
then1 if ,god1 in mercy1 choose to save 
a large portion of the  human race1 and 
leave the rest to perish in their sins1 
and on account  of their sins1 how is   
any injustice done them80    8,because  
they have as much right to be chosen as 
the others10 said  father ,grimshaw4    
8,right60 said the elder1 8,what right  
do they have8 ,i suppose if the         
,governor were to pardon two or three   
convicts1 he is bound to pardon  all1 is
 he8 ,why1 my dear1 sir1 your position  
runs squarely into  ,universalism60     
8,how does it80    8,why1 you say that  
one man has as much right to be saved as
 another4 ,if  then1 ,god saves one1 ,he
 must save all4 ,what is that but       
,universalism80  asked the ,elder4      
8,he's got you there1 father ,grimshaw10
 cried one of the by-standers  with a   
laugh4    8,i repeat1 father ,grimshaw10

 continued the elder1 8no man is        
punished  on account of predestination1 
but on account of his sins4 ,show me a  
man  who feels that he must be lost by  
reason of the eternal decrees1 and ,i   
promise to give up the doctrine40    8,i
 can't for my life10 said father        
,grimshaw1 8understand why some are     
chosen1 and others are passed by40      
8,no10 replied the elder1 8if we        
understood that1 ,peter never would have
  said that ,paul #8wrote things hard to
 be understood4' ,if we only knew  what 
,god's reasons are1 there would be no   
difficulty and no mystery in  the       
doctrine of predestination4 ,but we are 
told that the secret things  belong unto
 the ,lord1 and those which are revealed
 are for us and our  children40         
8,well1 you ,presbyterians10 said father
 ,grimshaw1 8have a way of getting      
around things so that it is hard to keep
 up with you4 ,i cannot argue  the      
point1 but the doctrine looks strange to
 me--don't look right  somehow40        

8,no10 replied the elder1 8that is what 
people said in ,paul's day4 ,it  did not
 look right to some of the disciples of 
,christ1 and they went  back1 and       
#8walked with ,him no more4' ,people    
always have found fault  with this      
doctrine1 and ,i suppose will do so till
 the end of the  world40    8,i must    
say10 spoke up a man by the name of     
,wallerton1 8that ,mr4  ,edgefield made 
it plain to my mind4 ,i never knew      
before what  ,presbyterians do believe40
    8,what60 exclaimed father ,grimshaw1
 8are you going to turn ,presbyterian80 
8,well10 answered ,wallerton1 8,i fully 
endorse what ,mr4 ,edgefield said       
yesterday4 ,if that makes me a          
,presbyterian1 ,i am one40    8,all may 
believe that please10 cried father      
,grimshaw1 8but ,i never  will4 ,you may
 out-argue me1 but you are not going to 
make me believe  that predestination is 
right1 no sir--never40    8,but what    
will you do with the ,scripture80 asked 
,wallerton4 8,it says1  #8,whom ,he did 

foreknow1 ,he did predestinate4' ,now   
what does predestinate  mean80    8,i   
don't know10 cried father ,grimshaw1    
giving way to a feeling closely  related
 to anger1 8but there ain't no          
predestination in it--not a bit  of it40
    8,if there is not10 replied         
,wallerton1 8,i should like to know     
where to  find it40    8,you'll find it 
no where1 but in the ,presbyterian      
,confession of ,faith10  cried the old  
man4    8,well1 ,i am convinced10 said  
,wallerton1 8that it is the true        
doctrine4  ,i love to believe it too1   
because ,i can see that there is more   
comfort  in it than in the other40      
8,what comfort is there in it80 cried   
the old man1 raising his hand in  holy  
horror4    8,why just this10 replied    
,wallerton1 8,i am trying to serve ,god4
 ,it does  me good1 then1 to think that 
,i have been elected from all eternity  
to  salvation1 and1 therefore ,i can    
never perish40    8,if you believe      
that10 exclaimed the old man1 8then go  

on1 and sin as  much as you please4     
,you'll be saved anyhow40    8,but ,i do
 not want to sin10 replied ,wallerton1  
looking at him in  surprise4 8,that is  
the very thing ,i pray ,god to deliver  
me from4  ,instead of desiring to sin1  
,i pray to become more holy4 ,i do not  
ask  ,god to save me in my sins1 but    
from them4 ,i should think ,i would make
 a  poor return of gratitude to ,god1 if
 ,he should give me the evidence of  my 
election1 and ,i should say to ,him1 ,i 
will1 then1 serve the devil4  ,what sort
 of religion is that80    8,you will    
make a ,presbyterian out of me1         
,wallerton1 if you talk much  longer10  
said another by-stander4    8,father    
,grimshaw10 continued ,wallerton1       
laughing1 8you've got this  doctrine    
wrong2 you are mixed up on it40    8,if 
,i am1 ,i guess ,i'll stay mixed up10   
replied the old man1 shaking his  head4 
,rising1 he limped off on his stick1    
leaving the group wondering  at his     
prejudice4    ,father ,grimshaw was a   

type of that class that will not be     
convinced by  anything4 ,many people    
reject the doctrines of the             
,presbyterian ,church1  especially      
predestination1 because such doctrines  
are repugnant to  their feelings1 and   
are not in harmony with their           
preconceived opinions4    ,we may here  
state that all the parties who have been
 conspicuous in  these pages1 are alive 
at the present writing1 and our story   
must come  to an end4    ,there was so  
much discussion in regard to the        
doctrinal sermon which  ,ernest had     
preached1 that the elders of his church 
requested it for  publication4 ,he      
thought it advisable to comply with     
their request1 in  order that there     
might be no misconstruction of his      
views4 ,we present  the outlines of the 
sermon to our readers1 leaving it to    
them to draw  their own conclusions4    
,,the ,,sermon4         8,for whom ,he  
did foreknow ,he also did predestinate  
to be conformed       to the image of   

,his ,son40--,romans viii3 #bi4      ,i 
have quoted only one clause of the      
verse1 because ,i have not time  to     
elaborate the several doctrines to which
 the apostle calls our  attention4 ,on  
this occasion1 ,i desire to make some   
few remarks on the  divine purpose4 ,in 
one sermon ,i can do little more than   
present only a  few of the reasons which
 ,presbyterians have for believing the  
doctrine  of predestination4 ,without   
taking up the time in further           
preliminaries1  ,i proceed1 at once1 to 
discuss the doctrine that is announced  
in our  text4 ,we can hardly            
misapprehend the text4 ,but to remove   
all possible  ground of misconstruction 
and misunderstanding1 let us notice in  
what sense 8foreknowledge0 is employed4 
,there can be no doubt as to  the       
meaning of predestination4 ,no one will 
dispute that it means to  8appoint10 or 
8destine beforehand40 8,to foreknow10   
says ,adam ,clarke1  8here signifies to 
design beforehand1 or at the first      

forming of the  scheme40 ,without1      
therefore1 doing the least violence to  
the text1 ,i  am justifiable in         
translating1 8whom ,he elected or       
designed before ,he  did predestinate40 
,the term predestinate embraces both the
 decrees of  election and reprobation4  
,some persons are disposed to limit the 
word  to election4 ,but no good reason  
can be assigned for such restriction1   
as ,god determined the final condition  
of both classes4 ,permit me to  say     
here1 that we ought to enter into the   
discussion of this subject  with        
feelings of the deepest solemnity and   
reverence4 ,i know it is  revolting to  
the carnal heart to think that the      
eternal destiny of men  is settled      
before they are born4 ,it is repugnant  
to human pride2 but  above all things   
let us avoid warping and perverting the 
truth of the  ,scripture so as to bring 
it in harmony with our feelings and     
desires4  ,if we allow ourselves to do  
violence to ,god's ,word1 in order to   

support a theory1 we shall run into     
serious error4 ,men1 impelled more  by  
feeling than reason1 have embraced the  
doctrine of universalism4  ,i am sure ,i
 could have no objection to the doctrine
 of universalism1  if it could be       
established from ,god's written ,word4  
,i want no one to  go to hell1 and ,i   
would be glad to think that all of      
,adam's race will  be saved at last4 ,i1
 for one1 hold to the doctrine of       
predestination1  not only because it is 
agreeable to my feelings1 but because ,i
 believe  it to be taught in ,god's     
,word4 ,if it were not taught there1 ,i 
would  not have the least objection to  
renouncing it4 ,now let us1 as briefly  
as possible1 see whether or not it is   
promulgated in the ,bible4 ,i  begin    
with ,election4 ,is it to be found in   
the ,scriptures8 ,if so1 it  is our duty
 to accept it1 no matter if we cannot   
make it square with  our notions of the 
fitness of things4 ,the definition of   
election is1  that it is the choice     

which ,god1 in the exercise of sovereign
 grace1  made of certain individuals of 
mankind to enjoy salvation by ,jesus    
,christ4 ,i do not think the position   
can be successfully combatted1  that    
,god has elected some to salvation in   
preference to others4 ,there  are many  
passages of ,scripture that establish   
the position4 ,but ,i have  time to call
 attention to only a few of them4       
,romans #af3 #ac3 8,salute  ,rufus      
chosen in the ,lord40 8,i have          
manifested thy name unto the men  which 
,thou gavest me out of the world40      
8,when the ,gentiles heard this1  they  
were glad1 and glorified the word of the
 ,lord1 and as many as  were ordained to
 eternal life1 believed40 8,i have much 
people in this  city0 99 99 99 99 8to   
them who are the called of the ,lord    
according to his  purpose10 8,ye have   
not chosen me1 but ,i have chosen you1  
that ye should  go and bring forth      
fruit1 and that your fruit should       
remain40 8,he said  to ,moses1 ,i will  

have mercy on whom ,i will have mercy1  
and ,i will have  compassion on whom ,i 
will have compassion40 8,so then1 it is 
not to him  that willeth nor him that   
runneth1 but of ,god that showeth       
mercy40 8,who  hath saved us and called 
us with a holy calling1 not according to
 our  work1 but according to ,his own   
purpose and grace which was given us in 
,christ ,jesus1 before the world began40
 8,according as ,he hath chosen  us1 in 
,him1 before the foundation of the      
world1 that we should be holy  and      
without blame before ,him in love40     
,these are but a few passages  that     
establish the doctrine of predestination
 and election4 ,it would  require a     
volume to contain the passages of       
,scripture that teach the  doctrine both
 by precept and example4 ,some persons  
admit the doctrine  of election with    
certain modifications4 ,they say it is  
an election of  character2 they affirm  
that ,god elected the righteous         
character4 ,i  cannot see what is gained

 by this attempt to separate an         
individual  from his character4 ,it is  
character that makes the man4 ,it would 
be  just as reasonable to talk of       
extracting the sweetness from sugar as  
to make a distinction between an        
individual and his character4 ,but      
leaving out the passages which ,i have  
just quoted1 our text settles  the      
point4 ,it says plainly1 whom1 not what1
 he did foreknow4  ,all through the     
,scripture1 election is spoken of as    
applicable to  individuals1 and not     
characters4 ,some say1 ,god elected to  
salvation  those who ,he foresaw would  
believe and repent4 ,if ,paul meant no  
more  than this in the epistle to the   
,romans1 he used language for which     
there was no necessity4 ,why should he  
exclaim with such solemnity1 8,who  art 
thou1 oh1 man1 that repliest against    
,god08 ,if ,paul did not hold to  the   
doctrine of predestination1 it is       
strange that ,peter should have  said   
that ,paul 8wrote things hard to be     

understood40 ,there is not the  least   
difficulty in understanding the         
proposition that ,god elected  those ,he
 foresaw would believe and repent4 ,no  
,presbyterian would deny  that          
proposition in its literal sense1 for it
 is certain that those  who are elected1
 do believe and repent4 ,god never      
elected any one that  does not believe  
and repent4 ,but those who oppose the   
doctrines of  the ,presbyterian ,church1
 assert that ,god elected some to       
salvation on  account of their foreseen 
faith1 and their voluntary compliance   
with  ,god's requirements4 ,well1 if    
this position be correct1 there was no  
necessity of ,peter's saying that ,paul 
wrote things hard to understand1        
because no one could fail to understand 
such a proposition1 and no one  could   
reply against ,god1 not even the worst  
sinner on the face of the  earth1 if    
,paul meant no more than that every     
man's salvation is placed  in his own   
hands2 because this is the very thing   

for which the natural  man has ever     
clamored4 ,no one would object to the   
doctrine of salvation  on account of    
foreseen faith and righteousness1 or    
righteous works1  if it were taught in  
the ,scriptures2 because it is in       
accordance with  human notions of       
things4 ,it is a philosophical idea4 ,i 
will cheerfully  concede the point that 
the main system that stands opposed to  
the  doctrines of the ,presbyterian     
,church has the merit of philosophy4    
,but  this is one great objection to it4
 ,the ,bible is no book of philosophy4  
,it announces truths in disconnected    
order1 some of which1 owing to the      
weakness of our finite minds1 appear to 
be contradictory4 ,but the chief        
objection to this doctrine of foreseen  
faith and works as a ground of          
salvation1 is that it does not appear to
 be consonant to the divine  will4 ,paul
 tells us why we are chosen4 ,he says   
8according as ,he hath  chosen us in    
,him before the foundation of the world1

 that we should be  holy and without    
blame before ,him in love40 ,we were not
 chosen because  we were already holy1  
but that we should become so4 ,then he  
goes on  to say3 8,he having            
predestinated us unto the adoption of   
children by  ,jesus ,christ to ,himself 
according to the good pleasure of ,his  
will40  ,that is the reason why we were 
chosen2 it was the good pleasure of ,his
  will4 ,he does not say that we were   
chosen on account of our foreseen  faith
 and works4 ,i hope no one will         
understand me as affirming that we  are 
saved without faith4 ,we must have      
faith2 but it is not the ground  of our 
salvation4 ,besides1 faith itself is the
 gift of ,god4 ,it is a  well-settled   
principle in all orthodox theology1 that
 man is dead in  trespasses and sin4    
,how ,god could foresee that a man in   
this condition  could1 of himself1      
exercise faith1 it is difficult to      
conceive4 ,it  requires the ,holy       
,spirit to awaken men to life4 ,without 

such an  operation1 no man is capable of
 spiritual activity4 ,if this be        
granted1  then1 we can easily see in    
what sense faith is the gift of ,god4   
,now to  bring the discussion down to   
the narrowest possible limits1 ,i will  
lay  down a proposition which cannot be 
disputed4    ,first1 ,god made choice of
 some to be saved4 ,on what principle   
was the  choice based8 ,why1 to use     
plain language1 ,god chose some on      
account of  some good in them2 or some  
evil in them2 or the choice was simply  
,his  good will and pleasure4 ,well1    
there was no good in them1 consequently 
,god could not have chosen them on that 
account4 ,there was not a  naturally    
righteous character on the face of the  
earth4 ,if men had been  left to        
themselves to believe1 not a single     
individual of the human  race would have
 been saved4 ,again1 ,god is too holy to
 have chosen men  on account of the evil
 in them4 ,i presume no one will contend
 for any  such doctrine as this4 ,then1 

the conclusion of the whole matter is1  
that ,god chose some men to salvation   
because it was ,his good will and       
pleasure4    ,some cry out that this    
would be unjust4 ,they say that ,god    
should not  make distinctions1 and that 
,he should be impartial4 ,i do not see  
where  the injustice is4 ,to illustrate3
 ,here are five criminals condemned  to 
death4 ,if the ,governor should pardon  
two of them1 is there any  injustice to 
the remaining three8 ,the objector says 
there would be1  unless the ,governor   
has some good reason for showing        
clemency in the  case of the two4 ,for  
the sake of argument1 we will admit it4 
,god also  has ,his reasons for ,his    
choice2 but these reasons1 so far as    
,his secret  purposes are concerned1    
have never been revealed to us4 ,all we 
now know  is that ,he will have mercy on
 whom ,he will have mercy4 ,men somehow1
  seem to think that ,god has no right  
to make distinctions among the sons  of 
,adam2 and that ,he is bound to put all 

on the same level1 and if ,he  saves    
one1 ,he is bound to give all the same  
opportunity to be saved4  ,but ,god is  
under no sort of obligation to save any 
one4 ,if the ,lord has  no right to make
 distinctions1 then we are driven to the
 conclusion  that the universalist has  
the true doctrine4 ,because it would    
follow  that if ,god saves one1 then ,he
 must employ such means in the case of  
every individual as would result in ,his
 salvation4 ,if it required a  miracle  
to convince ,paul1 and it would require 
a miracle to convince  me1 ,god would be
 bound to perform it4 ,so all must be   
saved4 ,the only  safe position is to   
take ,god's ,word at what it says4 ,it  
speaks of  the elect as individuals1 and
 not mere characters1 and it speaks of  
them as chosen before the foundation of 
the world1 because of ,god's  good will 
and pleasure4 ,now let us notice the    
other class whom ,god  has not          
chosen--the class of reprobates4 ,the   
idea of reprobation is  necessarily     

implied in the idea of election4 ,so if 
we prove one1 the  other is virtually   
established4 ,they are correlative      
terms1 and men  do violence to          
,scripture and logic when they admit    
election and deny  reprobation4 ,when   
out of some objects a choice is made1   
those not  chosen are certainly         
rejected4 ,when objects are presented to
 a person  for the selection of some1   
even if he speak not a word1 he says by 
his  actions3 8,this ,i will take1 and  
this ,i will not take40 ,it is in vain  
to say that nothing has been done to    
them2 but that they were left in  the   
precise condition in which they were    
found4 ,there certainly has  been some  
sort of act of mind in refusing them1 or
 passing them by4  ,but leaving out the 
question of logical consistency1 we     
would have  no zeal in the advocacy of  
such a doctrine were it not taught in   
the  ,scriptures4 ,we could well afford 
to admit a logical inconsistency1 if  by
 the admission we could get rid of this 

doctrine which has aroused  a spirit of 
rebellious wrath in the heart of the    
natural man4 ,we may  lift up our hands 
in holy horror at the idea of           
reprobation1 but the  ,scriptures affirm
 it in language plain enough4 ,there are
 so many  passages bearing on the       
subject1 that ,i have not time to call  
attention  to them all4 ,i refer to only
 a few as specimens4 ,the ,scriptures   
say  concerning ,pharaoh1 #8,for this   
same purpose have ,i raised thee up1'   
etc4  8,therefore hath ,he mercy on whom
 ,he will have mercy1 and whom ,he will 
,he hardeneth40 8,what if ,god1 willing 
to show ,his wrath1 and to make  ,his   
power known1 endured with much          
long-suffering the vessels of wrath     
fitted to destruction40 8,men of corrupt
 mind1 reprobate concerning  the faith40
 8,there are certain men crept in       
unawares who were before  of old        
ordained to this condemnation10 etc4    
,again1 we read of those  whose names   
are not written in the ,book of ,life4  

,i could quote other  passages just as  
strong and conclusive as those referred 
to4 ,throughout  the whole ,scriptures1 
from ,genesis to ,revelation1 we are    
taught both  by precept and example1    
that there is a line running between the
  people of ,god and those doomed to    
eternal destruction4 ,therefore1 we     
conclude that the framers of the        
,westminster ,confession of ,faith were 
justifiable in inserting that           
much-abused article3 8,by the decree  of
 ,god1 for the manifestation of ,his    
glory1 some men and angels are          
predestinated unto everlasting life1 and
 others are fore-ordained to            
everlasting death40 ,the idea is        
expressed in no ambiguous terms4 ,these 
men perceived the doctrine in ,god's    
,word1 and they did not shrink from     
avowing it1 without the least           
sugar-coating4    ,and now1 if reasoning
 from logical premises would be of any  
avail2  if it be thought necessary to   
support scriptural truth by logical     

processes1 ,i would say that only three 
propositions can be made in  regard to  
the salvation of men3    ,first1 ,all   
men will be saved4    ,second1 ,all men 
will be lost4    ,third1 ,a part of the 
human race will be saved1 and a part    
lost4    ,we can easily prove by the    
holy ,scriptures that the first two     
propositions are not true4 ,then1 we are
 bound to admit that the  third is true4
 ,this is a fixed fact4 ,the question   
is1 when was it  fixed in the mind of   
,god8 ,the ,scripture says the elect    
were chosen  before the foundation of   
the world4 ,the point for which we      
contend is  that the fact was fixed by  
the ,lord4 ,it was not simply foreseen  
as  a fact that would arise             
independently of divine interposition1  
but  it was predetermined4 ,it was ,god 
who determined it4 ,this is the kind  of
 predestination to which the            
,presbyterian ,church holds4 ,whatever  
objections may be urged against it1 we  
believe it to be taught in ,god's       

,word4 ,there are questions in regard to
 it which no human being can  answer4   
,we are confronted with the question1   
how fore-ordination and  man's free     
agency can be reconciled4 ,it is        
certainly no good reason  for the       
rejection of a doctrine that we cannot  
fully understand it4  ,who can          
understand the ,trinity8 ,who can       
comprehend the dual existence  of our   
,lord ,jesus8 ,such truths we receive on
 faith1 and not because  they are in    
harmony with reason4 ,but it is not     
right to require that  ,predestinarians 
shall remove objections which apply with
 equal force  to the theological system 
of those who so bitterly oppose us4 ,for
  instance1 how can fore-knowledge be   
reconciled with man's free agency8      
,whatever ,god fore-knows must come to  
pass4    ,we1 too1 believe with others1 
that so far as free agency is concerned1
  every man on the face of the earth    
could be saved1 if he only had the  will
 to come to ,christ4 ,but some will not 

accept2 and that fact  was fixed in the 
,eternal ,mind1 away back before the    
foundation of  the world1 as well as the
 other fact1 that some would accept4 ,it
 is  in vain to say that this result was
 merely fore-seen4 ,when there was      
nothing in existence1 how could ,god    
fore-see anything except what ,he  had  
determined should be8 ,permit me to use 
a plain illustration3 ,here  stands a   
sculptor before a block of marble4      
,there are millions of  possible images 
and forms in that marble4 ,with his     
chisel the artist  can develop one      
image4 ,that must first exist as a      
conception in  his mind4 ,after a while 
the beautiful statue is brought out as  
the  result of a predetermination4 ,or  
the sculptor might produce two          
images--three--four--a hundred4 ,there  
are millions of possible forms  in the  
marble1 but the workman determines what 
forms he will develop4  ,applying the   
illustration1 there were millions of    
possible events or  circumstances before

 the divine ,mind4 ,the ,lord could have
 made this  world larger or smaller2 ,he
 could have made ,adam a very different 
being  from what he was4 ,but ,god      
chose1 predetermined1 to make this world
 just  the size it is4 ,god selected the
 events that take place out of millions 
that might have taken place1 as the     
sculptor chose the images which he      
would develop4 ,if the ,lord did not    
select1 or predetermine1 the precise    
events that occur in time1 who did make 
the selection8 ,was the ,all ,wise  ,god
 merely trying experiments8 ,what would 
we think of a sculptor who  should go to
 work on his block of marble without any
 conception or plan  in his mind8 ,how1 
then1 can we believe that ,god would    
place men in the  world1 and devise the 
scheme of redemption without selecting  
the exact  results in ,his own          
,omniscient ,mind8 ,the ,lord has ,his  
own purposes1  and these purposes will  
be accomplished2 and this is            
predestination4  ,therefore1 ,i do not  

hesitate to endorse another article of  
our  ,confession of ,faith1 which has   
been often assailed with un-christian   
virulence3 8,god hath fore-ordained     
whatsoever comes to pass40    ,here ,i  
would observe that the objection is     
without foundation that1 if             
predestination be true1 it is in vain   
for men to make any effort to be  saved4
 ,this is a gross perversion of the     
doctrine4 ,god does not decree  that any
 one shall be doomed to eternal torment 
who desires to enjoy  heaven1 and who is
 willing to accept the terms of         
salvation4 ,show me  the sinner who is  
thirsting for the waters of ,life1 and  
,i will show you  one whose name is     
written in the ,book of ,heaven as an   
heir of ,god4 ,now1  how much broader do
 we want the plan of salvation1 if it   
embraces all  that desire salvation on  
,scriptural terms8 ,if the sinner is    
disposed to  repent1 he has no reason to
 suppose that he belongs to the         
reprobate  class4 ,but some men want an 

excuse for continuing in sin1 and these 
are  the persons who1 ,peter said1 would
 8wrest the ,scriptures to their own    
destruction40    ,another argument in   
support of this doctrine is the fact    
that ,paul  mentions1 and comments upon 
the very objections that are to this day
  urged against the doctrines of the    
,presbyterian ,church4 ,it is evident   
that the apostle taught precisely what  
the ,confession of ,faith does4  ,we    
have to meet the very same objections   
which he met1 and refuted4 ,we  know    
that this doctrine has ever been        
revolting to men of the world4  ,you    
remember1 when ,christ said1 8,no man   
can come unto me except the  ,father    
which hath sent me1 draw him10 some of  
,his disciples 8went back1  and walked  
with ,him no more40    ,i have no doubt 
the doctrine of predestination will be  
opposed to  the end of time4 ,but it can
 never be destroyed4 ,you may revise the
  ,confession of ,faith till every      
vestige of it disappears1 but that  does

 not blot it out from the pages of      
,god's ,word4 ,to get rid of that       
doctrine1 the whole ,bible must be      
revised from ,genesis to ,revelation4   
,strike out from the ,scriptures every  
thing that is said in regard to         
predestination2 expunge every passage   
from which the doctrine may be  deduced 
by plain inference1 and there is nothing
 left but ,universalism4                
,predestination and man's free agency   
are both taught in the ,holy            
,scriptures4 ,recognize this fact1 and  
you will find little difficulty  in     
harmonizing passages that may appear to 
some persons to be  antagonistic4       
,reject either doctrine1 and you will   
run into serious  error4 ,there is      
,fatalism1 on the one side2 and on the  
other1 there is  a broad ,liberality of 
sentiment among men which receives no   
support  from ,god's ,word4 ,hence we   
honestly believe that the position of   
the  ,presbyterian ,church is the only  
true way to steer in safety between     

,scylla and ,charybdis4                 
,illustration3 finis4          ,stories 
by ,rev4 ,r4 ,h4 ,crozier4      ,,fiery 
,,trials    --,,or--    ,a ,,story ,,of 
,,an ,,infidel',s ,,family4             
,elegantly bound in cloth4 ,price #a4ej4
 #dij pages4      ,,araphel    --,,or-- 
,a ,,story ,,of ,,evolution4            
,elegantly bound in cloth4 #ebg pages4  
,price #a4ej4      ,,the ,,cave ,,of    
,,hegobar    --,,or--    ,,the ,,fiend  
,,of #ahgh4    ,elegantly bound in      
cloth4 #fge pages4 ,price #a4ge4        
,any of the above books sent by mail1   
post-paid1 on receipt of price4         
,each volume treats of some important   
religious doctrine4             ,they   
are recommended by such men as ,drs4 ,b4
 ,m4                    ,palmer1 ,bishop
 ,wm4 ,green1 ,bishop                   
,c4 ,c4 ,galloway1 and many             
others4      ,please address1    ,,rev4 
,r4 ,h4 ,,crozier1 ,sardis1 ,miss4      
----------------------------------------
---------  ,transcriber's note3         

,obvious typographic errors have been   
corrected4                              
----------------------------------------
---------