ball against the walls of Fort Sumter. There was no hamlet in the
land which the reverberations of that cannon-roar did not reach. There
was no valley so darkened by overshadowing hills that it did not see the
American flag hauled down on the 13th of April. There was no loyal heart
in the North that did not answer to the call of the country to its
defenders which went forth two days later. The great tide of feeling
reached the locality where the lesser events of our narrative were
occurring. A meeting of the citizens was instantly called. The
venerable Father Pemberton opened it with a prayer that filled every soul
with courage and high resolve. The young farmers and mechanics of that
whole region joined the companies to which they belonged, or organized in
squads and marched at once, or got ready to march, to the scene of
conflict.

The contagion of warlike patriotism reached the most peacefully inclined
young persons.

"My country calls me," Gifted Hopkins said to Susan Posey, "and I am
preparing to obey her summons. If I can pass the medical examination,
which it is possible I may, though I fear my constitution may be thought
too weak, and if no obstacle impedes me, I think of marching in the ranks
of the Oxbow Invincibles. If I go, Susan, and I fall, will you not
remember me . . . as one who . . . cherished the tenderest . . .
sentiments . . . towards you . . . and who had looked forward to the
time when . . . when . ."

His eyes told the rest. He loved!

Susan forgot all the rules of reserve to which she had been trained. What
were cold conventionalities at such a moment? "Never! never!" she said,
throwing her arms about his neck and mingling her tears with his, which
were flowing freely. "Your country does not need your sword .... but it
does need . . . your pen. Your poems will inspire . . . our
soldiers. . . . The Oxbow Invincibles will march to victory, singing
your songs . . . . If you go . . . and if you.. . fall . . . O
Gifted! . . . I . . . I . . . . yes, I shall die too!"

His love was returned. He was blest!

"Susan," he said, "my own Susan, I yield to your wishes at every
sacrifice. Henceforth they will be my law. Yes, I will stay and
encourage my brave countrymen to go forward to the bloody field. My
voice shall urge them on to the battle-ground. I will give my dearest
breath to stimulate their ardor.

"O Susan! My own, own Susan!