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 THE RANDALL FAMILY 1 69

R. — That's the very thing they call anarchy, Mr. G.

G. — Oh, is that it ? Well, then, I think it's a pretty good thing, for the people's a-going to rule this country anyhow, and they'll soon begin with hanging that traitor, McClellan, and then, by gosh, I hope they'll shoot all the rest on 'em, and let the common soldiers choose the smart- est ones for leaders.

G. — senior {somewhat boozy) — Yes, by golly, the common people's waited long enough to get the power out o' the hands of the damned lawyers and speculators, and now we're goin' to rule — yes, we be ! (Exit, unsteady.)

The above varies not greatly from the style of the con- versation as I heard it, and so we may rejoice that liberty

is at hand.

Your friend,

J. W. Randall.

��Boston, July 23rd, 1863. Dear Frank,

I have now waited several days in hopes of gaining suffi- cient composure to write to you. I have already written to your mother, and am glad that I now end for the present the duty of writing. I suppose that you (though not I) now realize, as Adam is fabled to have done, that Death has first entered into the world, at least into your world, which is also mine.

For your Abel and my Abel is dead. If by walking arm in arm round the circumference of the earth we could find him again at his hearthstone, how cheerfully should we undertake the journey ! He has been the victim of a war which he deemed wholly unnecessary, as also do I ; but, though he condemned the spirit of faction on both sides, which brought it about contrary to the wishes of the great

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