having never, in all that
civilization had done for them, discovered any other way of settling
their difficulties than by this wholesale murder.

The actors in this scene were scattered now; they had returned to the
farm, the workshop, the desk, and the pulpit. The old flag again floated
upon the ramparts of Sumter, and a government was trying to reconstruct
itself, so that the Great Republic should become more thoroughly a
government of the people, founded upon equal rights to all men.

A sharp, scraping sound under my boat roused me from my revery, for I
had leaned upon my oars while the tide had carried me slowly but surely
upon the oyster-reefs, from which I escaped with some slight damage to
my paper shell. Newspaper reading had impressed upon me a belief that
the citizens of the city which played so important a part in the late
civil war might not treat kindly a Massachusetts man. I therefore
decided to go up to the city upon the ferry-boat for the large mail
which awaited my arrival at the Charleston post-office, after receiving
which I intended to return to Mount Pleasant, and cross the bay to the
entrance of the southern watercourses, leaving the city as quietly as I
entered it.

My curiosity was, however, aroused to see how, under the new
reconstruction rule, things were conducted in the once proud city of
Charleston. As I stood at the window of the post-office delivery, and
inquired through the narrow window for my letters, a heavy shadow seemed
to fall upon me as the head of a negro appeared. The black post-office
official's features underwent a sudden change as I pronounced my name,
and, while a warm glow of affection lighted up his dark face, he thrust
his whole arm through the window, and grasped my hand with a vigorous
shake in the most friendly manner, as though upon his shoulders rested
the good name of the people.

[Illustration: RECEPTION AT CHARLESTON POST-OFFICE.]

"_Welcome_ to Charleston, Mr. B----, _welcome_ to our beautiful city,"
he exclaimed. So _this_ was Charleston under reconstruction.

After handing me my mail, the postmaster graciously remarked, "Our rule
is to close the office at five o'clock P. M., but if you are belated any
day, tap at the door, and I will attend you."

This was my first welcome to Charleston; but before I could return to my
quarters at Mount Pleasant, members of the Chamber of Commerce, the
Carolina Club, and others, pressed upon me kind attentions and
hospi