ng to incur the
displeasure of my father? What would you have me do? Assist in
pulling down the old flag, and in breaking up the best government
the world over saw? Why, father, this is downright madness. I _can
not_ "join hands" with you in so unholy a cause. On the contrary,
as long as that flag needs defenders, you will find me among them.
You are deceiving yourself when you say the "cowardly Yankees"
will not fight. They are a people "slow to wrath," but they are
not cowards, father; and you will find, to your sorrow, that they
will resist, to the death, "any and every attempt to alienate any
portion of this _Union_ from the rest."

Living in the South, as I have, I have long seen this war brewing,
but was unwilling to confess it, even to myself; and I had hoped,
that if it did come, my father would not countenance it. Why will
you do it? You never, never can succeed. The very first attempt
you make to withdraw from your allegiance to the United States
will be the signal for a war, the like of which the world has
never witnessed, and the blood of thousands of men, who will be
sacrificed to glut your ambition, will be upon your own heads.

Inclosed, I respectfully return the check, with many thanks for
your kindness. I can not use it for the purpose you wish.

Hoping and praying that you and my brothers will consider well
before you take the step that will bring you only suffering and
disgrace, and will use all your influence to prevent the effusion
of blood that must necessarily follow the suicidal course you
would pursue, I am, as ever,

Your affectionate son, GEO. LE DELL.

"That was the best I could do at the time," said George, as Frank
finished the letter. "I believe I must have been crazy when I wrote
it. If I could only have known as much as I do now, I think I could
have made a much better plea than that."

"Didn't it have any effect upon your father?" inquired the major.

"Effect!" repeated George. "Yes, it had the effect of making him
disinherit and cast me off. Read that," he continued, handing Frank
another soiled paper, which looked as though it had been read and
thumbed continually. "I felt like one with his death-warrant when I
received that."

It ran thus:

CATAHOOLA PARISH, _March_ 31, 1861.

SIR:

In reply to your scandalous and insulting letter, I have but a few
wo