the Northern scum was inherent.
This was shown, at an early age, in the extreme distaste I exhibited
for Webster's spelling-book,--the work of a well-known Eastern
Abolitionist. I cannot be too grateful for the consideration shown by
my chivalrous father,--a gentleman of the old school,--who resisted to
the last an attempt to introduce Mitchell's Astronomy and Geography
into the public school of our district. When I state that this same
Mitchell became afterward a hireling helot in the Yankee Army, every
intelligent reader will appreciate the prophetic discrimination of this
true son of the South.

I was eight years old when I struck the first blow for Southern freedom
against the Northern Tyrant. It is hardly necessary to state that in
this instance the oppressor was a pale, overworked New England
"schoolmarm." The principle for which I was contending, I felt,
however, to be the same. Resenting an affront put upon me, I one day
heaved a rock* at the head of the Vandal schoolmistress. I was seized
and overpowered. My pen falters as I reach the climax. English
readers will not give credit to this sickening story,--the civilized
world will avert its head,--but I, Mary McGillup, was publicly SPANKED!

* NOTE, BY G. A. S.--In the Southwest, any stone larger than a pea is
termed "a rock."

CHAPTER III.

But the chaotic vortex of civil war approached, and fell destruction,
often procrastinated, brooded in storm.* As the English people may
like to know what was really the origin of the rebellion, I have no
hesitation in giving them the true and only cause. Slavery had nothing
to do with it, although the violation of the Declaration of
Independence, in the disregard by the North of the Fugitive Slave
Law,** might have provoked a less fiery people than the Southrons. At
the inception of the struggle a large amount of Southern indebtedness
was held by the people of the North. To force payment from the
generous but insolvent debtor--to obtain liquidation from the Southern
planter--was really the soulless and mercenary object of the craven
Northerners. Let the common people of England look to this. Let the
improvident literary hack; the starved impecunious Grub Street debtor;
the newspaper frequenter of sponging-houses, remember this in their
criticisms of the vile and slavish Yankee.

* I make no pretension to fine writing, but perhaps Mrs. Hardinge can
lay over that. O, of course! M. McG.

** The