daily occupations, and the alarms subside, until aroused by fresh alarms and increased dangers.

At last two letters reach me. The first from Mr. Moore, the Consul, kindly overlooking my restless timidity, and enclosing the following pass:

"This is to certify that Miss Sarah Jones is a British subject," etc., etc., and to "request and require that she may be allowed to pass freely without let or hindrance; and that she may be afforded every assistance and protection, of which she stands in need." (Signed and sealed, and presenting a very official look indeed.)—Dated, Richmond, 29th April, 1861.

And in a postscript to his letter he added, "Our postal communications are interrupted for all alike. I regret that I can be of no assistance to you in this respect." Still it was a great relief and comfort to possess this "pass," which enabled me to feel I could travel whenever I wished to do so.

My other letter was from T. H. W., who had the best means of ascertaining all the routes of travel opened to us.

"If you could strike the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at any point beyond Harper's Ferry, you could then proceed westward." But in the name of bad roads and high mountains, how is one to get beyond Harper's Ferry! Again, "Passengers from Baltimore arrived here last night, coming by steam to Norfolk, but our State joined the Southern Confederacy yesterday, and I presume all travel will be

LETTERS AT LAST.

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stopped that way directly. If you know any member of the Convention from Western Virginia, you should lose no time in asking his escort to some place on the borders, from whence you could proceed Northwards through Kentucky. The Convention will adjourn in a few days, therefore you must not delay if you think of taking that route.-26th April, 1861."

Then Virginia had not decidedly, by act of the Convention, seceded until the 25th, although it had been looked upon as a fact since the 16th April. But this second letter was more perplexing than comforting. Such hasty movements at Milbank were I knew out of the question, and no decision could so soon be formed. In a few days: " Another letter for you, Miss Jones: you are very fortunate, ma'am."

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This was at last from Mrs. Castleton. Her husband advised me not to delay a single day, because affairs were growing more and more complicated. Her intended brother-in-law had been "waited on" by a deputation from the city to request that he would "proceed Northwards forthwith, as his presence was not required in Richmond." This polite hint had so aroused the indignation of his fair fiancée that she declared she would also leave for the North immediately, be married there instead of at Richmond, and not return to the South again.

"It is a pity," wrote Mrs. C., "that the people of Richmond could not distinguish friends from enemies, as Mr. L. might have exercised much beneficial influence in behalf of the South, whereas now he was so

angry at having been suspected of unfriendly feelings, that he had determined not to take any part in politics at all: neither would it soften the prejudices of his Northern friends to find that he had been summarily dismissed from the city."

She described the consternation of the inhabitants as having been frightful on the 21st April (Sunday), when the bell of the Capitol tolled to announce some sudden calamity. The morning services at the different churches had been interrupted by the exit of the men, and alarms of the ladies. Every citizen had armed himself with whatever weapon he could seize, and had rushed down to "Rockett's" wharf, to prevent the landing of troops from the Pawnee. They were living in terror of the approach of the Federal fleet up the river; and she was making preparations to go into the country with her children, where they would be out of danger. "The ladies were as determined to fight as the men, and there was scarcely an upper room of a house on Main Street, where they had not collected a heap of "rocks" (large stones), and other missiles, which they intended to throw upon the heads of the "Yankees," should they venture into Richmond. Military companies were arriving almost hourly from different directions, and every woman was hard at work making clothing, tents, cartridges, &c.

"I would not advise you to come here if you can possibly get away by any other route, for we are living in dread of an hourly attack, besides incendiary

fires; and there is scarcely a lodging to be had in town. The British Consul, Mr. Moore, intends to take his family to Europe. He will leave to-morrow, and kindly escort my sister to New York; if you were ready it would be an excellent opportunity for you to go in his party."

It was a very long epistle, but these were the points that most nearly concerned me. Alas, the letter had been several days on the road, and another opportunity was lost!

"You are the most fortunate person I know, madam," said Mr. Quence, on learning that I had obtained a "pass" from the British Consul; which I had mentioned as a hint that I was contemplating a journey Northwards. “ Why, Miss Jones, no one can harm you; but you had better stay here, ma'am, where you are safe and well off. If there is danger here, we shall go to the mountains, and there you will be safe enough."

I knew perfectly well that this was only said as an inducement to tempt me to remain; for Mrs. Quence had, the previous day, mentioned her intention of spending the summer vacation with her sister in North Carolina; therefore all I had to decide was, whether to risk the loss of my salary by giving up my engagement before the regular term expired, or, waiting till then, risk the probability of being paid in paper money, valueless at the North, and of incurring imminent dangers on a journey every outlet of which promised to be guarded by soldiers.

CHAPTER XV.

The Women of the South-Secession Flags-Juvenile Heroines— Johnny's Double-barrelled Gun-Superannuated Uncle SamA Letter from Washington-It is hard to depart-Reports of Cannon alarm us-The Annual Supply of Provisions- A New Remedy for Consumption-A Shopping Expedition-Wealth of Western Virginia-Productions of Western Virginia— Alexandria captured—The two Heroes.

THE County of Caroline in which I was then residing soon became as much alive with Secession Meetings and Ladies' Associations as its sister counties. The volunteer companies were daily galloping here or there for drill. Colonel Spotts, who belonged to the militia, said he could not wait until that was likely to be called out, but would join a volunteer company and be off directly on active duty. It did not suit him, he said, "to be idling at home when those Northern hordes were threatening his native State." But his wife went off into hysterics at the idea of being left alone, and in this respect formed an exception to almost any other lady one heard of.

It would have been strange indeed, not to find a single quaking, timid woman's heart, at such a terrible future in view, as that then presented to us.