' _The
Examiner._--'Seward's promises are not worth the paper they are written
upon.' '_Faith as to Sumter fully kept--wait and see._' That which was
seen was a fleet of eleven vessels, with two hundred and eighty-five
guns and twenty-four hundred men--'_carrying provisions to a starving
garrison!_' Have done with cant, and welcome open war! _The
Enquirer._--'Virginia will still succeed in mediating. Virginia from her
curule chair, tranquil and fast in the Union, will persuade, will
reconcile these differences!' Amen to that!" said Miss Lucy, and took up
another bundle. "_The Staunton Gazette_--_The Farmer's Magazine_--_The
Literary Messenger_--My _Blackwood_--Julius!"

"Yaas, Miss Lucy."

"Julius, the Reverend Mr. Corbin Wood will be here for supper and to
spend the night. Let Car'line know."

"Yaas, Miss Lucy. Easter's Jim hab obsarved to me dat Marse Edward am
conducin' home a gent'man from Kentucky."

"Very well," said Miss Lucy, still sorting. "_The Winchester
Times_--_The Baltimore Sun._--The mint's best, Julius, in the lower
bed. I walked by there this morning.--Letters for my brother! I'll
readdress these, and Easter's Jim must take them to town in time for the
Richmond train."

"Yaas, Miss Lucy. Easter's Jim hab imported dat Marse Berkeley Cyarter
done recompense him on de road dis mahnin' ter know when Marster's
comin' home."

"Just as soon," said Miss Lucy, "as the Convention brings everybody to
their senses.--Three letters for Edward--one in young Beaufort Porcher's
writing. Now we'll hear the Charleston version--probably he fired the
first shot!--A note for me.--Julius, the Palo Alto ladies will stop by
for dinner to-morrow. Tell Car'line."

"Yaas, Miss Lucy."

Miss Lucy took up a thick, bluish envelope. "From Fauquier at last--from
the Red River." She opened the letter, ran rapidly over the half-dozen
sheets, then laid them aside for a more leisurely perusal. "It's one of
his swift, light, amusing letters! He hasn't heard about
Sumter.--There'll be a message for you, Julius. There always is."

Julius's smile was as bland as sunshine. "Yaas, Miss Lucy. I 'spects
dar'll be some excommunication fer me. Marse Fauquier sho' do favour Old
Marster in dat.--He don' never forgit! 'Pears ter me he'd better come
home--all dis heah congratulatin' backwards an' forwards wid gunpowder
over de kintry! Gunpowder gwine burn ef folk git reckless!"

Miss Lucy sighed. "It will that, Julius,--it's burning now. Edw