was not to let his people know anything
of his whereabouts. She left that night for Washington.

"The next morning at the earliest hour that she could see the Secretary
of War, she made her appearance. On meeting the Secretary he recognized
her, and asked if she was after the discharge about which she agreed to
write to him. She replied that Henry was now at Baltimore, having been
exchanged. Then she told him of his condition. The Secretary at once
ordered the discharge made out, and as soon as it had passed through
the proper officers' hands and was returned to him he handed it to her,
saying:

"'You deserve this yourself, without any other consideration.'

"She again thanked the Secretary, and at once repaired to the
President's Mansion. When she was admitted, on seeing her the President
guessed from her bright countenance the whole story, and congratulated
her most heartily. She told him all, and showed him Henry's discharge
and thanked him for his kindness. He said:

"'May God bless you, my child, and give you both a safe journey home!'

"Returning to Baltimore, she made arrangements to have Henry placed in a
clean car and taken to Allentown. After they were under way she told him
about the discharge, and he was delighted. She telegraphed me to mee her
at the depot, but did not say one word about Henry. I read the dispatch
to the family, and many were the conjectures. Peter said she had not
found Henry, and a great variety of opinions were expressed. My wife
burst into tears, fell down on the sofa, and cried, saying she felt that
Henry was dead. Ham, hearing what was being said, concluded it was his
turn to guess; so he began:

"'You's all off de track. Ham sees it all frough de glass in he head, he
do.'

"'Go 'long wid you, you ole fool: since you's free you 'spec' you is big
and knows a heap. You doesn't know nuffin, you don't,' said Aunt Martha.

"'Well, alright, Marfa; 'spec' me not know bery much; but, sho's you is
born, dat boy all right; you see, you jes' wait. I say no mo', but I see
what is de matter. You jes' wait, dat's all you got to do.'

"The next morning I went down to the depot with a carriage, and there
found Seraine and Henry waiting for me. I embraced my poor boy, overcome
with grateful emotion. My joy was complete in finding him alive. He was
a living skeleton. We were not long in driving to the house. All were
out on the portico to see Seraine, no one but Ham expecting Henry with
her.