Page:Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House.djvu/72

70 question in my presence with one of her intimate friends, she exclaimed: "I would rather remain in Washington and be kicked about, than go South and be Mrs. President." Her friend expressed surprise at the remark, and Mrs. Davis insisted that the opinion was an honest one. "While dressing her one day, she said to me: "Lizzie, you are so very handy that I should like to take you South with me." "When do you go South, Mrs. Davis "I inquired.

"Oh, I cannot tell just now, but it will be soon. You know there is going to be war, Lizzie?" "No!" "But I tell you yes." "Who will go to war?" I asked. "The North and South," was her ready reply. "The Southern people will not submit to the humiliating demands of the Abolition party; they will fight first."