A busy day followed—a day full of sad, heart-breaking excitement. Troops were in hot pursuit of the murderers—the one who had slain the President, and his confederates, him who had attacked Secretary Seward, and those who had aided and abetted them.
The newsboys’ cry of “Extry! Extry!” was frequently heard, and the papers sold rapidly. All loyal hearts rejoiced that though evidently it had been the intention of the conspirators to slay Secretary Seward, perhaps General Grant also, both had escaped with life, though the secretary had been severely wounded by his would-be assassin.
Cavalry and a heavy police force were speedily sent out in pursuit of the criminals, who were finally taken and brought back to Washington to receive the punishment due to their crimes—with the exception of Booth who, refusing to surrender, was shot and killed in the barn which, he had made his hiding place.
When it was known that he was no longer at large, had not escaped with impunity after his awful deed—people seemed to breathe more freely, their hearts to be a little less sore, though they still mourned deeply for the loss of their martyred President, who was borne to the grave amid the tears and lamentations of almost the entire nation. There were few who did not mourn for him as for one very near and dear; one whose place could never be filled.
CHAPTER XVII.
Those were very bright faces which gathered about Mrs. Baker’s breakfast table one morning early in the next June.
“Father’s coming home from the war to-day!” cried the children exultingly; “the fighting is all done and father’s coming home to stay.”
“Yes,” returned their mother, tears of mingled joy and thankfulness shining in her eyes. “Oh, how thankful I am that he has never been wounded or taken prisoner—to starve and freeze to death, as so many of our poor, dear soldiers did. Oh, children, let us thank God every day of our lives for that!”
“Yes, yes, indeed!” exclaimed Mrs. Ray. “You will all want to go and see the train come in with the soldiers,” she added, “but I’ll stay at home and get the best dinner for John that he ever had in his life.”
“Thank you for that kind offer, mother, dear,” said Mrs. Baker. “I’ll be very glad to go and take the children.” Then turning to Ethel, “And what are you going to do, young woman?” she asked in a sprightly tone.