fiscated, and then offered to relieve us of his order
if we gave him five bales, each worth three hundred dollars in gold. I
agreed, and within a week another thief came and declared the other
fifteen bales confiscated. They steal it, and the Government never
gets a cent. We dared not try to sell it in open market, as every bale
exposed for sale is "confiscated" at once.

No crop was planted this summer. The negroes are all drawing rations
at the Freedman's Bureau.

We have turned our house into a hotel, and our table has become
famous. Margaret is a treasure. She has learned to do everything. We
tried to raise a crop on the farm when we came home, but the negroes
stopped work. The Agent of the Bureau came to us and said he could
send them back for a fee of $50. We paid it, and they worked a week.
We found it easier to run a hotel. We hope to start the farm next
year.

Our new minister at the Presbyterian Church is young, handsome, and
eloquent--Rev. Hugh McAlpin.

Mr. Lenoir died last week--but his end was so beautiful, our tears
were half joy. He talked incessantly of your father and how the
country missed him. He seemed much better the day before the end came,
and we took him for a little drive to Lovers' Leap. It was there,
sixteen years ago, he made love to Jeannie. When we propped him up on
the rustic seat, and he looked out over the cliff and the river below,
I have never seen a face so transfigured with peace and joy.

"What a beautiful world it is, my dears!" he exclaimed, taking Jeannie
and Marion both by the hand.

They began to cry, and he said with a smile:

"Come now--do you love me?"

And they covered his hands with kisses.

"Well, then you must promise me two things faithfully here, with Mrs.
Cameron to witness!"

"We promise," they both said in a breath.

"That when I fall asleep, not one thread of black shall ever cloud the
sunlight of our little home, that you will never wear it, and that you
will show your love for me by making my flowers grow richer, that you
will keep my memory green by always being as beautiful as you are
to-day, and make this old world a sweeter place to live in. I wish
you, Jeannie, my mate, to keep on making the young people glad. Don't
let their joys be less even for a month because I have laid down to
rest. Let them sing and dance----"

"Oh, Papa!" cried Marion.

"Certainly, my