oadly prevailed, had the people North
and South better understood one another, there would have been no bloody
disruption. Now, gentlemen, I must request you to help yourselves,
remembering that such as I have is freely yours. When age comes on apace
there is nothing more inspiring than to see the young and the vigorous
gathered about us. And it is thus that the evening of live is
brightened. Henry, pass the bread to Mr. Jucklin, and the peas, the very
first of this backward season, I assure you. Mr. Hawes, can you recall
the face of your noble grandfather?"

"No, General; he died many years before I can remember."

"A pity, I assure you, for what is more spurring to our ambition than to
recall the features of a noted relative. Some of this lettuce, Mr.
Hawes? A sleepy, but withal a soothing, dish. My daughter, I must
request you to help yourself. Charming weather we have, Mr. Hawes, with
the essence of youth and hope in the air."

How completely had his manner changed. His eyes, which had seemed hard
and cold when he had waved his hand and looked out over the yellow sedge
grass, were beaming now with kindly light, and his voice, which I had
thought was coarse and gruff, was vibrant with notes of stirring
sympathy. Alf, heartened by the old gentleman's streaming courtesy,
spoke a low word to the girl who sat beside him, and she nodded,
smiling, but with one ear politely lent to the familiar talk of her
father.

After dinner we were shown into the library, wherein were many law
books, and the General, catching the longing glance that I shot at them,
turned with bewitching patronage, bowed and said:

"You have expressed your determination to become acquainted with the law
and to practice the wiles of its logic; and so, if you can make no
better arrangements, I pray, sir, that you make this room your office."

Alf's eyes bulged out at this, doubtless looking upon me as the most
fortunate man alive, and in my country bluntness I blurted: "You are the
kindest man I ever saw."

In this room we talked for two hours or more, and the afternoon--or the
evening, as we say in the South--was well pronounced when I declared
that it was time for us to go. Alf looked up surprised, and in a voice
sad with appeal, he asked if it were very late. I could have given him
the exact time, but was afraid to take out my grandfather's
watch--afraid that the General and his daughter might think that I was
seeking to make a display, so I si