; and at the moment of their highest enthusiasm, he cried
out:

"Whatever State gave us birth, we have one native land and we have one
flag!" Instantly from the grim, blood-stained walls of the fortress, the
blessed Stars and Stripes flew out; and in a moment a thousand smaller
flags, from every high place, gave it salutation. Then the thunder of
cannon was answered by the thunder of voices. Cannon may thunder and
make no impression; but the shout of humanity! It stirs and troubles the
deepest heart-stream. It is a cry that cannot be resisted. It sets the
gates of feeling wide open. And it was while men were in this mood that
Houston said his last words:

"I look in this glorious sunshine upon the bloody walls of the Alamo. I
remember Goliad. I carry my memory back over the long struggle of thirty
years. Do you think the young, brave souls, fired with the love of
liberty, who fell in this long conflict have forgotten it? No! No!
No! Wherever in God's Eternity they are this day, I believe they are
permitted to know that Texas has become part of their country, and rests
forever under the flag they loved. The shouting thousands, the booming
cannon, that greeted this flag were not all the sounds I heard! Far
off, far off, yet louder than any noise of earth, I heard from the dead
years, and the dead heroes of these years; the hurrahing of ghostly
voices and the clapping of unseen hands!"

"It was like Houston to call the dead to the triumph," said the doctor,
as he stood with the Senora in her room. He was unbuttoning her gloves,
and her tears dropped down upon his hands.

"He is a man by himself, and none like him. I thought that I should
never forgive him for sparing the life of that monster--Santa Anna;
but to-day I forgive him even that. I am so happy that I shall ask Holy
Maria to excuse me the feeling; for it is not good to permit one's self
to be too happy; it brings trouble. But indeed, when I looked at Thomas,
I thought how wisely he has married. It is seldom a mother can approve
of her daughter-in-law; but Abbie has many excellencies--good manners,
and a good heart, and a fortune which is quite respectable."

"And strong principles also, Maria. She will bring up her children to
know right and wrong, and to do right."

"THAT of course. Every good mother does that. I am sure it is a sight
for the angels to see Isabel teaching her children their prayers. Did
you observe also how great a favorite Luis is? He lift