Not for one moment had we seriously entertained the thought of secession. The question of slavery in the territories was still unsettled, and the stormy scenes in the House might possibly be re?nacted. Like General Cass, we had heard all our lives rumors4 of possible secession, possible war. Nobody believed these rumors—any more than we believed that every threatening cloud would burst in a devastating5 tempest. It was part of the routine, "the order of the day," to enliven things by warm discussions and spicy6 personalities7.
My husband had been unanimously re?lected, and our delightful8 Washington life was assured to us—certainly for three winters—probably for all time.
We were so deeply concerned about the state of the country at large, that his election excited us but 108 little. When the polls closed at sunset, one of his political friends came to me and said there would be a torch-light procession in his honor, that the crowd would call at his residence, and the house must be illuminated9. "Illuminated!" I exclaimed. "Impossible! There are not half a dozen candles in the house, and the stores are all closed. Besides, the babies will be asleep. It is bad for babies to be roused from their first sleep."
My friend seemed to appreciate this reasoning; but later in the evening I received a bushel of small white turnips10 and a box of candles, with a pencilled note saying that I must cut holes in the vegetables, and I would find them admirable candlesticks. The little boys and servants went to work with a will, and when the drum announced the near approach of the procession, every window was blazing with a double row of lights, one row on the window-sill, the other midway, on the top of the lower sash.
My young Congressman11 was considered a brilliant speaker, and his talents were sometimes called into use in Washington. Some matter of municipal interest was supported by him, and another torch-light procession gathered late one night around the door of the house on New York Avenue.
"You are not to listen," he said to me, as he descended12 to the front door to speak to the crowd; "I shall say a few words only." I threw a shawl over my night-dress and crouched13 down in a little balcony just over his head. To my prejudiced mind, his speech was the most graceful14 and charming 109 thing I had ever heard. I was in a delightful trance of happiness when he closed, and was rudely awakened15 when, in response to shouts of "Go on, go on, we could listen all night," the daring young orator16 deliberately17 turned and pointed18 to the balcony above him: "Go on, my friends? Go on, exposed to the criticism of one from whose criticism I am always trying to escape?"
And among the pleasant happenings of these golden days, so soon to be shut in by darkness and sorrow, was the presentation to my young Congressman of a beautiful service of silver from his Democratic friends of Virginia in recognition of "brilliant talents, eminent20 worth, and distinguished21 services."
Mr. Galt made this splendid service, and I record it here because it became part of the history of the next years of trouble. I should have lost it once (in a dark hour), but Mr. Galt bade me keep it—that brighter days were in store for me and mine, a prophecy which he lived to see fulfilled.
We were all in our places in November, setting our houses in order, several weeks before the assembling of Congress. We were warmly welcomed into our pleasant home by Susan, whose authority, now fully22 established and recognized, kept us in perfect order. Everything promised a season of unusual interest. We now knew everybody—and what is more I, for one, liked everybody. It takes so little to make a woman happy!
In Washington our social life did not begin 110 before New Year's Day. Among our first cards this winter was an invitation to the marriage of Mr. Bouligny, member from Louisiana, and Miss Parker, daughter of a wealthy Washington grocer. Rumors reached us of unusual plans for this wedding. Mr. Parker's large house was to be converted into a conservatory23 filled with blossoming roses and lilies. Fountains were to be introduced, new effects in lighting24. The presents were to be magnificent, the bridal dress gorgeous.
Upon arriving at the house (I think it was an afternoon wedding) I found the President seated in an arm-chair at one end of the drawing-room, and the guests ranging themselves on either side. A crimson25 velvet26 curtain was stretched across the other end of the room. Presently the curtain parted, and the bridal tableau27 appeared in position behind it. After the ceremony the crowd waited until the President went forward to wish the bride and her husband "a great deal of happiness." Everybody remained standing28 until Mr. Buchanan returned to his seat. I stood behind his chair and observed that he had aged29 much since the summer.
He had had much to bear. Unable to please either party, he had been accused of cowardice30, imbecility, and even insanity31, by both parties. "The President is pale with fear," said General Cass. "He divides his time equally between praying and crying. Such an imbecile was never seen before," said another. A double-leaded editorial in the New York Tribune of December 17 suggested that he might be insane. On the day of the wedding, 111 December 20, he stoutly32 denied that he was ill. "I never enjoyed better health nor a more tranquil33 spirit," said the hard-pressed President. "I have not lost an hour's sleep nor a single meal. I weigh well and prayerfully what course I ought to adopt," he had written on that day.
The crowd in the Parker drawing-room soon thinned as the guests found their way to the rooms in which the presents were displayed. The President kept his seat, and I stood behind him as one and another came forward to greet him. Presently he looked over his shoulder and said, "Madam, do you suppose the house is on fire? I hear an unusual commotion34 in the hall."
"I will inquire the cause, Mr. President," I said. I went out at the nearest door, and there in the entrance hall I found Mr. Lawrence Keitt, member from South Carolina, leaping in the air, shaking a paper over his head, and exclaiming, "Thank God! Oh, thank God!" I took hold of him and said: "Mr. Keitt, are you crazy? The President hears you, and wants to know what's the matter."
"Oh!" he cried, "South Carolina has seceded35! Here's the telegram. I feel like a boy let out from school."
I returned and, bending over Mr. Buchanan's chair, said in a low voice: "It appears, Mr. President, that South Carolina has seceded from the union. Mr. Keitt has a telegram." He looked at me, stunned37 for a moment. Falling back and grasping the arms of his chair, he whispered, "Madam, might I beg you to have my carriage 112 called?" I met his secretary and sent him in without explanation, and myself saw that his carriage was at the door before I re?ntered the room. I then found my husband, who was already cornered with Mr. Keitt, and we called our own carriage and drove to Judge Douglas's. There was no more thought of bride, bridegroom, wedding cake, or wedding breakfast.
This was the tremendous event which was to change all our lives—to give us poverty for riches, mutilation and wounds for strength and health, obscurity and degradation38 for honor and distinction, exile and loneliness for inherited homes and friends, pain and death for happiness and life.
The news was not known, except in official circles, until the evening. The night was dark. A drizzling39 rain was falling; the streets were almost impassable from mud.
At the house of a prominent South Carolina gentleman a crowd soon collected. The street was full of carriages, the house brilliantly lighted.
Admiral Porter, then a lieutenant40, had heard the startling news, and called at this house to tell it. He found the mistress of the mansion41 descending42 in cloak and bonnet43, and as soon as she saw him she exclaimed: "Oh, Captain, you are just the man I want. I'm going to the White House to tell the President some good news. The horses are sick and I'm going to walk over."[10]
"It is impossible for you to walk through the rain and mud," said the Lieutenant. "There are 113 ten or twelve hacks44 at the door, and I will press one into your service." So saying, he called a carriage and helped her to enter it, getting in after her.
"I was under the impression," he said, as they started, "that you were having a party at your house, it was so brilliantly lighted up, and I thought I would venture in uninvited."
"No, indeed," she replied; "but we have received glorious news from the South, and my husband's friends are calling to congratulate him. South Carolina has seceded, and, oh, Captain, we will have a glorious monarchy45, and you must join us."
"And be made Duke of Benedict Arnold?"
"Nonsense!" she exclaimed, "we will make you an admiral."
"Certainly," said Lieutenant Porter, "Admiral of the Blue. For I should feel blue enough to see everything turned upside down, and our boasted liberty and civilization whistled down the wind."
"What would you have?" she inquired. "Would you have us tamely submit to all the indignities46 the North puts upon us, and place our necks under their feet? Why, this very day my blood boiled while I was in Congress, and I could scarcely contain myself. An old black Republican was berating47 the Southern people as if they were a pack of naughty children. However, Mr. Rhett took the floor and gave the man such a castigation48 that he slunk away and was no more heard from."
Just then they reached the White House. "Come in," said the lady, "and hear me tell the President the good news." 114
Lieutenant Porter preferred returning to her house. There he found a crowd around a generous bowl of punch. When he had an opportunity, he asked the host if he thought it possible the Southern states would secede36. "What more do they want?" he inquired. "They have a majority in the Senate and the House, and, with the Supreme49 Court on their side, they could make laws to suit themselves."
"True," his host replied, "most people would be satisfied with that. 'Better to bear the ills we have than fly to others that we know not of.' But you will join us? You must! We will have a navy to be proud of, and we'll make you admiral."
"There's one comfort," said an old society dame50 who now joined the party. "South Carolina is a fickle51 young thing and may change her mind! She declared herself ready once before to walk out,—you all remember it,—and changed her mind. She took off her things and concluded to stay a little longer."
"She has gone for good and all this time, depend upon it," said the host. "She was only giving warning then! Her time is up now and she is off."
Meanwhile the lady of the house was telling the President news that was no news to him. He was fully prepared to receive it calmly and gravely. I had preceded her by some hours.
Lieutenant Porter little dreamed of the good fortune the secession of South Carolina would bring to him. From a poor lieutenant with anxious cares about a large family, he was speedily raised by Mr. 115 Lincoln to the proud position of rear-admiral of the United States.
His own comment upon the enthusiasm of his Southern friends is amusing. He declared that if the capital and its surroundings had been less stupid, that if those vivacious52 Southerners could have had a court, theatres, and opera-houses, the catastrophe53 which overwhelmed North and South might have been prevented. "The Romans understood these things better than we. They omitted nothing to keep the people amused; they even had the street fountains at times run with wine, and the investment was worth the money spent." "But what," said Admiral Porter, "could one expect at a court presided over by an old bachelor whose heart was dead to poetry and love; who sat at dinner with no flowers to grace the festive54 board, and never even had a boutonnière on his coat lapel?" which was one way, at least, of accounting55 for things.
Of course, we all paid our respects to the President on the next New Year's Day, and joined the motley crowd of men and women of every degree who were admitted after the starred and beribboned dignitaries from foreign lands had been received. "Here I am, Mr. President," said one of the witty56 Southern women, "and my cook will be here in a few minutes! I left her dressing57 to come."
The day that ushered58 in the eventful year 1861 was gloomy out of doors, but within the Executive Mansion flowers, music, gay attire59, and bright smiles 116 ruled the hour. "I wish you a happy New Year, Mr. President," fell from every lip, but in every heart there was a gloomy foreboding of impending60 disaster. What would the year bring to the "wayward sister," whose sons had all gone home? How we missed them!—Mr. Porcher Miles, Mr. Boyce, Mr. and Mrs. Keitt, always so delightful a part of our Washington social life. Some of us might expect to return; but this was adieu, not au revoir, to our President. This was his last New Year's Day in the White House, not his last day of perplexity and trouble. Very soon more wayward sisters would depart, and the hour he had dreaded61 would "come in his time."
There is no time at the President's New Year's reception to gather in corners for private talk. We must hurry on our rounds to the houses of the Cabinet and of the foreign Ministers. Sending the gentlemen of our party forward to visit the Senators' wives, we hastened home to our own punch-bowl.
I brewed62 a mighty63 bowl that last New Year's Day. Dr. Garnett and Judge Scarborough presided over the mixing, to be sure that the arrack was proportioned rightly, and that there were just as many and no more toasted crab-apples than there should be. I was assisted by my friend Agnes, whom I love to quote, and whose full name I should like to give, except for the reason that she is now living, and, being a respectable lady of the old school, is averse64 from seeing her name in print. In the society journal occasionally, apropos65 of the opera or reception, perhaps, but in a book! I should never be forgiven. 117
Late in the afternoon my rooms were thronged—with Virginians and Southerners mainly, but with some Northern friends as well, for Virginia was not yet classed. Like Touchstone, I was "in a parlous66 state," lest some of my guests who had already honored many punch-bowls should venture on forbidden subjects. More than one came in on the arm of James, but it took a better man than James to conduct him out again and into his carriage. My friend who had distinguished himself at my first President's dinner was in high feather, as were some grave judges I knew.
There was but one thought in every mind, gay or sober. "Is this a meeting of the Girondists?" queried67 one.
"When shall we three meet again?"
quoted another.
"When the hurly-burly's done—
When the battle's lost and won,"
was the prompt answer. "Sh-h-h!" said an old army officer. "It is not lucky to talk of lost battles on New Year's Day, nor of Girondists' feasts on the eve of a revolution."
The season which was always ushered in on New Year's Day resolved itself literally68 this year into a residence in the galleries of the Senate Chamber69 and the House of Representatives.
Before the 2d of February, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had dissolved their bonds with the Federal union. The 118 farewell addresses of the Representatives of the seceded states became the regular order of the day. Jefferson Davis's final farewell closed with these solemn words: "May God have us in His holy keeping, and grant that, before it is too late, peaceful counsels may prevail."
Virginia, had she retained her original colonial bounds, could have dictated70 to the rest. Now, should she elect to join the Southern Confederacy, the states she had given to the union—her own children—would be arrayed against her.
Virginia now essayed to arbitrate. Her Peace Commission met in Washington, but without result, except that it was for her a fleeting71 moment of enthusiasm.
Mr. Kellogg of Illinois said: "She has thrown herself into the breach72 to turn aside the tide of disunion and revolution, and she says to the nation, 'Be united and be brothers again.' God bless the Old Dominion73!" Said Mr. Bigler of Pennsylvania, January 21: "Pennsylvania will never become the enemy of Virginia! Pennsylvania will never draw the sword on Virginia."
Apprehension74 was felt lest the new President's inaugural75 might be the occasion of rioting, if not of violence. We were advised to send our women and children out of the city. Hastily packing my personal and household belongings76 to be sent after me, I took my little boys, with their faithful nurse, Eliza Page, on board the steamer to Acquia Creek77, and, standing on deck as long as I could see the dome78 of the Capitol, commenced my journey homeward. 119 My husband remained behind, and kept his seat in Congress until Mr. Lincoln's inauguration79. He described that mournful day to me—differing so widely from the happy installation of Mr. Pierce. "O'er all there hung a shadow and a fear." Every one was oppressed by it, and no one more than the doomed80 President himself.
We were reunited a few weeks afterward at our father's house in Petersburg; and in a short time my young Congressman had become my young colonel—and Congressman as well, for as soon as Virginia seceded he was elected to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America, and was commissioned colonel by Governor Letcher.
I am afraid the evening is at hand, when we must bid adieu to the bright days—the balls, the merry hair-dresser, the round of visits, the levees, the charming "at homes." The setting sun of such a day should pillow itself on golden clouds, bright harbingers of a morning of beauty and happiness. Alas81, alas! "whom the gods destroy they first infatuate."
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1
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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insistently
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| ad.坚持地 | |
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rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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spicy
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| adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的 | |
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personalities
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| n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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turnips
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| 芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表 | |
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Congressman
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| n.（美）国会议员 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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conservatory
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| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
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lighting
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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stoutly
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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commotion
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seceded
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| v.脱离，退出( secede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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secede
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| v.退出，脱离 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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drizzling
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| 下蒙蒙细雨，下毛毛雨( drizzle的现在分词 ) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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hacks
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| 黑客 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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berating
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| v.严厉责备，痛斥( berate的现在分词 ) | |
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castigation
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| n.申斥，强烈反对 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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fickle
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| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
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vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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brewed
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| 调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡） | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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apropos
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| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
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66
parlous
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| adj.危险的，不确定的，难对付的 | |
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67
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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68
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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69
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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70
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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71
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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72
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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73
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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74
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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75
inaugural
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| adj.就职的；n.就职典礼 | |
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76
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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77
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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78
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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79
inauguration
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| n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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80
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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81
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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