CHAPTER XVIII.
SOUTH AND NORTH.
We made a round of pleasure after leaving West Point. That is, it wasa round of pleasure to the rest of the party. I had left my bestpleasure behind me. Certainly, I enjoyed Catskill, and Trenton Falls,and Niagara, after some sort; but there was nothing in them all likemy walk to "Number Four." West Point had enough natural beauty tosatisfy any one, I thought, even for all summer; and there I hadbesides what I had not elsewhere and never had before, a companion.All my earlier friends were far older than I, or beneath me instation. Preston was the single exception; and Preston and I were nowwidely apart in our sympathies; indeed, always had been. Mr. Thoroldand I talked to each other on a level; we understood each other andsuited each other. I could let out my thoughts to him with a freedom Inever could use with anybody else.
It grieved me a little that I had been forced to come away so abruptlythat I had no chance of letting him know. Courtesy, I thought,demanded of me that I should have done this; and I could not do it;and this was a constant subject of regret to me.
At the end of our journey I came back to school. Letters from myfather and mother desired that I would do so, and appointed that I wasto join them abroad next year. My mother had decided that it was bestnot to interfere with the regular course of my education; and myfather renewed his promise that I should have any reward I chose toclaim, to comfort me for the delay. So I bent myself to study with newenergies and new hope.
I studied more things than school books that winter. The bits ofpolitical matter I had heard talked over at West Point were by nomeans forgotten; and once in a while, when I had time and a chance, Iseized one of the papers from Mme. Ricard's library table and examinedit. And every time I did so, something urged me to do it again. I wasvery ignorant. I had no clue to a great deal that was talked of inthese prints: but I could perceive the low threatening growl of comingill weather, which seemed to rise on the ear every time I listened.And a little anxiety began to grow up in my mind. Mme. Ricard, ofcourse, never spoke on these subjects, and probably did not care aboutthem. Dr. Sandford was safe in Washington. I once asked Miss Cardiganwhat she thought. "There are evil men abroad, dear," she said. "Idon't know what they will be permitted to do."
"Who do you hope will be elected?" I asked.
"I don't vote myself," said Miss Cardigan; "so I do not fash myselfmuch with what I can't help; but I hope the man will be elected thatwill do the right thing."
"And who is that?" I asked. "You do not want slavery to be allowed inthe territories?"
"I? Not I!" said Miss Cardigan. "And if the people want to keep it outof them, I suppose they will elect Abraham Lincoln. I don't know if heis the right man or no; but he is on the right side. 'Break everyyoke, and let the oppressed go free.' That is my maxim, Daisy."
I pondered this matter by turns more and more. By and by there beganto be audible mutterings of a storm in the air around me. The first Iheard was when we were all together in the evening with our work, thehalf hour before tea.
"Lincoln is elected," whispered one of the girls to another.
"Who cares?" the other said aloud.
"What if he is?" asked a third.
"Then," said a gentle, graceful-looking girl, spreading her embroideryout on her lap with her slim white fingers--"_then_ there'll befighting."
It was given, this announcement, with the coolest matter-of-factassurance.
"Who is going to fight?" was the next question.
The former speaker gave a glance up to see if her audience was safe,and then replied, as coolly as before,--
"My brother, for one."
"What for, Sally?"
"Do you think we are going to have these vulgar Northerners rule over_us_? My cousin Marshall is coming back from Europe on purpose that hemay be here and be ready. I know my aunt wrote him word that she woulddisinherit him if he did not."
"Daisy Randolph--you are a Southerner," said one of the girls.
"Of course, she is a Southerner," said Sally, going on with herembroidery. "She is safe."
But if I was safe, I was very uncomfortable. I hardly knew why I wasso uncomfortable. Only, I wished ardently that troubles might notbreak out between the two quarters of the country. I had a sense thatthe storm would come near home. I could not recollect my mother and myfather, without a dread that there would be opposing electricitiesbetween them and me.
I began to study the daily news more constantly and carefully. I hadstill the liberty of Madame's library, and the papers were alwaysthere. I could give to them only a few minutes now and then; but Ifelt that the growl of the storm was coming nearer and growing morethreatening. Extracts from Southern papers seemed to my mind veryviolent and very wrong-headed; at the same time, I knew that my motherwould endorse and Preston echo them. Then South Carolina passed theordinance of secession. Six days after, Major Anderson took possessionof Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour, and immediately the fort he hadleft and Castle Pinckney were garrisoned by the South Carolinians inopposition. I could not tell how much all this signified; but my heartbegan to give a premonitory beat sometimes. Mississippi followed SouthCarolina; then United States' forts and arsenals were seized in NorthCarolina and Georgia and Alabama, one after the other. The tone of thepress was very threatening, at least of the Southern press. And notless significant, to my ear, was the whisper I occasionally heardamong a portion of our own little community. A secret whisper, intensein its sympathy with the seceding half of the nation, contemptuouslyhostile to the other part, among whom they were at that very momentreceiving Northern education and Northern kindness. The girls evenlistened and gathered scraps of conversation that passed in theirhearing, to retail them in letters sent home; "they did not know,"they said, "what might be of use." Later, some of these letters wereintercepted by the General Government, and sent back from Washingtonto Madame Ricard. All this told me much of the depth and breadth offeeling among the community of which these girls formed a part; and myknowledge of my father and mother, Aunt Gary and Preston, and others,told me more. I began to pray that God would not let war come upon theland.
Then there was a day, in January, I think, when a bit of public newswas read out in presence of the whole family; a thing that rarelyhappened. It was evening, and we were all in the parlour with ourwork. I forget who was the reader, but I remember the words: "'Thesteamer, _Star of the West_ with two hundred and fifty United Statestroops on board for Fort Sumter, was fired into' (I forget the day)'by the batteries near Charleston.' Young ladies, do you hear that?The steamer was fired into. That is the beginning."
We looked at each other, we girls; startled, sorry, awed, with astrange glance of defiance from some eyes, while some flowed over withtears, and some were eager with a feeling that was not displeasure.All were silent at first. Then whispers began.
"I told you so," said Sally.
"Well, _they_ have begun it," said Macy, who was a native of New York.
"Of course. What business had the _Star of the West_ to be carryingthose troops there? South Carolina can take care of her own forts."
"Daisy Randolph, you look as solemn as a preacher," said another."Which side are you on?"
"She is on the right side," said another.
"Of course," said Sally. "She is the daughter of a Southerngentleman."
"I am not on the side of those who fire the first shot," I said.
"There is no other way," said Sally, coolly. "If a rat comes in yourway you must shoot him. I knew it had got to come. I have heard myuncle talk enough about that."
"But what will be the end of it?" said another.
"Pooh! It will end like smoke. The Yankees do not like fighting--theywould rather be excused, if you please. Their _forte_ is quite inanother line--out of the way of powder."
I wondered if that was true. I thought of Thorold, and of Major Blunt.I was troubled; and when I went to see Miss Cardigan, next day, Ifound she could give me little comfort.
"I don't know, my dear," she said
, "what they may be left to do.They're just daft, down there; clean daft."
"If they fight, we shall be obliged to fight," I said, not liking toask her about Northern courage; and, indeed, she was a Scotswoman, andwhat should she know?
"Aye, just that," she replied; "and fighting between the two parts ofone land is just the worst fighting there can be. Pray it may notcome, Daisy; but those people are quite daft."
The next letters from my mother spoke of my coming out to them as soonas the school year should be over. The country was likely to bedisturbed, she said; and it would not suit with my father's health tocome home just now. As soon as the school year should be over, and Dr.Sandford could find a proper opportunity for me to make the journey, Ishould come.
I was very glad; yet I was not all glad. I wished they had been ableto come to me. I was not, I hardly knew why I was not quite ready toquit America while these troubles threatened. And as days went on, andthe cloud grew blacker, my feeling of unwillingness increased. Thedaily prints were full of fresh instances of the seizure of UnitedStates property, of the secession of New States; then the SecessionCongress met, and elected Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens theirpresident and vice-president; and rebellion was duly organized.
Jefferson Davis! How the name took me back to the summer parade on theWest Point plain, and my first view of that smooth, sinister,ill-conditioned face. Now _he_ was heading rebellion. Where would Dr.Sandford, and Mr. Thorold, and Preston be? How far would the rebelscarry their work? and what opposition would be made to it? Again Iasked Miss Cardigan.
"It's beyond _me_, Daisy," she said. "I suppose it will depend verymuch on whether we've got the right man to head us or no; and thatnobody can tell till we try. This man, Buchanan, that is over us atpresent, he is no better than a bit of cotton-wool. I am going to takea look at Mr. Lincoln as he comes through, and see what I think ofhim."
"When is he coming?"
"They say to-day," said Miss Cardigan. "There'll be an uncommon crowd,but I'll risk it."
A great desire seized me, that I might see him too. I consulted withMiss Cardigan. School hours were over at three; I could get away then,I thought; and by studying the programme of the day we found itpossible that it would not be too late then for our object. So itproved; and I have always been glad of it ever since.
Miss Cardigan and I went forth and packed ourselves in the dense crowdwhich had gathered and filled all the way by which the President-electwas expected to pass. A quiet and orderly and most respectable crowdit was. Few Irish, few of the miserable of society, who come out onlyfor a spectacle; there were the yeomanry and the middle classes, menof business, men of character and some substance, who were waiting,like us, to see what promise for the future there might be in theaspect of our new chief. Waiting patiently; and we could only waitpatiently like them. I thought of Preston's indignation if he couldhave seen me, and Dr. Sandford's ready negative on my being there; butwell were these thoughts put to flight when the little cavalcade forwhich we were looking hove in sight and drew near. Intense curiosityand then profound satisfaction seized me. The strong, grave, kindlylineaments of the future Head of the Country gave me instantly afeeling of confidence, which I never lost in all the time thatfollowed. That was, confidence in his honesty and goodness; butanother sort of trust was awakened by the keen, searching, shrewdglances of those dark eyes, which seemed to penetrate the masses ofhuman intelligences surrounding him, and seek to know what manner of_material_ he might find them at need. He was not thinking of himself,that was plain; and the homely, expressive features got a place in myheart from that time. The little cavalcade passed on from us; thecrowd melted away, and Miss Cardigan and I came slowly again up FifthAvenue.
"Yon's a mon!" quoth Miss Cardigan, speaking, as she did in moments ofstrong feeling, with a little reminder of her Scottish origin.
"Didn't you like him?" I rejoined.
"I always like a man when I see him," said my friend. "He had need bethat, too, for he has got a man's work to do."
And it soon appeared that she spoke true. I watched every action, andweighed every word of Mr. Lincoln now, with a strange interest. Ithought great things depended on him. I was glad when he determined tosend supplies into Fort Sumter. I was sure that he was right; but Iheld my breath, as it were, to see what South Carolina would do. Thetwelfth of April told us.
"So they have done it, Daisy!" said Miss Cardigan, that evening. "Theyare doing it, rather. They have been firing at each other all day."
"Well, Major Anderson must defend his fort," I said. "That is hisduty."
"No doubt," said Miss Cardigan; "but you look pale, Daisy, my bairn.You are from those quarters yourself. Is there anybody in thatneighbourhood that is dear to you?"
I had the greatest difficulty not to burst into tears, by way ofanswer, and Miss Cardigan looked concerned at me. I told her there wasnobody there I cared for, except some poor coloured people who were inno danger.
"There'll be many a sore heart in the country if this goes on," shesaid, with a sigh.
"But it will not go on, will it?" I asked. "They cannot take FortSumter; do you think so?"
"I know little about it," said my friend, soberly. "I am no soldier.And we never know what is best, Daisy. We must trust the Lord, mydear, to unravel these confusions."
And the next night the little news-boys in the streets were crying outthe "Fall of Fort Sum--ter!" It rang ominously in my heart. Therebels had succeeded so far; and they would go on. Yes, they would goon now, I felt assured; unless some very serious check should be giventhem. Could the Yankees give that? I doubted it. Yet _their_ cause wasthe cause of right, and justice, and humanity; but the right does_not_ always at first triumph, whatever it may do in the end; and goodswords, and good shots, and the spirit of a soldier, are things thatare allowed to carry their force with them. I knew the South hadthese. What had the North?
Even in our school seclusion, we felt the breath of the tremendousexcitement which swayed the public mind next day. Not bluster, noreven passion, but the stir of the people's heart. As we walked tochurch, we could hear it in half caught words of those we passed by,see it in the grave, intense air which characterised groups and faces;feel it in the atmosphere, which was heavy with indignation andgathering purpose. It was said no Sunday like that had been known inthe city. Within our own little community, if parties ran high, theywere like those outside, quiet; but when alone, the Southern girlstestified an exultation that jarred painfully upon my ears.
"Daisy don't care."
"Yes, I care," I said.
"For shame not to be glad! You see, it is glorious. We have it all ourown way. The impertinence of trying to hold our forts for us!"
"I don't see anything glorious in fighting," I said.
"Not when you are attacked?"
"We were not attacked," I said. "South Carolina fired the first guns."
"Good for her!" said Sally. "Brave little South Carolina! Nobody willmeddle with her and come off without cutting his fingers."
"Nobody did meddle with her," I asserted. "It was _she_ who meddled,to break the laws and fight against the government."
"What government?" said Sally. "Are we slaves, that we should be ruledby a government we don't choose? We will have our own. Do you thinkSouth Carolina and Virginia _gentlemen_ are going to live under arail-splitter for a President? and take orders from him?"
"What do you mean by a 'rail-splitter'?"
"I mean this Abe Lincoln the northern mudsills have picked up to makea President of. He used to get his living by splitting rails for aWestern fence, Daisy Randolph."
"But if he is President, he is President," I said.
"For those that like him. _We_ won't have him. Jefferson Davis is myPresident. And all I can do to help him I will. I can't fight; I wishI could. My brother and my cousins and my uncle will, though, that'sone comfort; and what I can do I will."
"Then I think you are a traitor," I said.
I was hated among the S
outhern girls from that day. Hated with abitter, violent hatred, which had indeed little chance to show itself,but was manifested in the scornful, intense avoidance of me. Thebitterness of it is surprising to me even now. I cared not very muchfor it. I was too much engrossed with deeper interests of the time,both public and private. The very next day came the President's callfor seventy-five thousand men; and the next, the answer of thegovernor of Kentucky, that "Kentucky would furnish no troops for thewicked purpose of subduing her sister Southern States." I saw this inthe paper in the library; the other girls had no access to the generaldaily news, or I knew there would have been shoutings of triumph overGovernor Magoffin. Other governors of other States followed hisexample. Jefferson Davis declared in a proclamation that letters ofmarque and reprisal would be issued. Everything wore the aspect ofthickening strife.
My heart grew very heavy over these signs of evil, fearing I knew notwhat for those whom I cared about. Indeed, I would not stop to thinkwhat I feared. I tried to bury my fears in my work. Letters from mymother became very explicit now; she said that troublesome times werecoming in the country, and she would like me to be out of it. After alittle while, when the independence of the South should be assured, wewould all come home and be happy together. Meantime, as soon after theclose of the school year as Dr. Sandford could find a good chance forme, I was to come out to them at Lausanne, where my mother thoughtthey would be by that time.
So I studied with all my strength, with the double motive of gaining allI could and of forgetting what was going on in the political world. Musicand French, my mother particularly desired that I should excel in; and Igave many hours to my piano, as many as possible, and talked with Mlle.Genevieve, whenever she would let me. And she was very fond of me andfond of talking to me; it was she who kept for me my library privilege.And my voice was good, as it had promised to be. I had the pleasure offeeling that I was succeeding in what I most wished to attain. It wassucceeding over the heads of my schoolfellows; and that earned me wagesthat were not pleasant among a portion of my companions. Faustina St.Clair was back among us; she would perhaps have forgiven if she couldhave forgotten me; but my headship had been declared ever since the timeof the bronze standish, and even rivalry had been long out of thequestion. So the old feud was never healed; and now, between theunfriendliness of her party and the defection of all the Southern girls,I was left in a great minority of popular favour. It could not be helped.I studied the harder. I had unlimited favour with all my teachers, andevery indulgence I asked for.
The news of the attack in Baltimore upon the Massachusetts troopspassing through the city, and Governor Andrew's beautiful telegram,shook me out of my pre-occupation. It shook me out of all quiet for aday. Indignation, and fear, and sorrow rolled through my heart. Thepassions that were astir among men, the mad results to which they wereleading, the possible involvement of several of those whom I loved, ageneral trembling of evil in the air, made study difficult for themoment. What signified the course and fate of nations hundreds ofyears ago? Our own course and fate filled the horizon. What signifiedthe power or beauty of my voice, when I had not the heart to send itup and down like a bird any longer? Where was Preston, and Dr.Sandford, and Ransom, and what would become of Magnolia? In truth, Idid not know what had become of Ransom. I had not heard from him or ofhim in a long time. But these thoughts would not do. I drove themaway. I resolved to mind my work and not read the papers, if I couldhelp it, and not think about politics or my friends' course in them. Icould do nothing. And in a few months I should be away, out of theland.
I kept my resolve pretty well. Indeed, I think nothing very particularhappened to disturb it for the next two or three weeks. I succeeded infilling my head with work and being very happy in it. That is,whenever I could forget more important things.