Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/351

Rh dangerously ill, and he was obliged to leave the place immediately. Nevertheless, I pressed his hand, and spoke my cordial thanks to him in the presence of his teachers and his companions.

The good professors were somewhat confounded by the unexpected character of the young man's speech, but full of admiration: Good heavens! They had not expected such a speech. Really an uncommon speech! Above the common average! and so on.

Alexander S. Brown (I write the name at full) was declared to be a fine fellow! a smart young man! The President even expressed himself very warmly in his praise. But the learned in law and books were nevertheless somewhat afraid of giving to Cæsar that which was due to Cæsar, and endeavoured to indemnify themselves by certain depreciatory and apologistic concessions.

This was one of my happiest evenings in the Southern States, and I now looked with more cheerful, more loving glances upon this beautiful soil since it had produced such youth. How noble and how happy ought not his mother to be!

&emsp; Again good morning in the capital of Virginia; but not now in the city itself, but in one of its rural suburbs, where I am domiciled in a lovely country-house, beautifully situated upon a lofty terrace on the banks of the James River, surrounded by a park, with its lofty spreading trees. It is the residence of Mrs. Van S., a beautiful home, and I am infinitely well off here, in the midst of kind, well-wishing friends.

I left Professor S. de V. and his charming wife yesterday morning with mutual good wishes, and hope in a short time to have good tidings from them.

The business at Charlotte's Ville on Saturday consisted for the most part of speeches and the distribution of