"That was very severe, indeed. I wonder how you endured it."
"It was severe, and nearly broke some of us down. By-the-way, Mr. K----, how did you come over?"
"Oh," said I, carelessly, "Richardson and I left Syracuse at noon yesterday, and arrived here at ten last night."
Before that campaign was ended, General Fremont's staff acquired some knowledge of horsemanship.
At Warsaw the party of journalists passed several waiting days, and domiciled themselves in the house of a widow who had one pretty daughter. Our natural bashfulness was our great hinderance, so that it was a day or two before we made the acquaintance of the younger of the women. One evening she invited a young lady friend to visit her, and obliged us with introductions. The ladies persistently turned the conversation upon the Rebellion, and gave us the benefit of their views. Our young hostess, desiring to say something complimentary, declared she did not dislike the Yankees, but despised the Dutch and the Black Republicans."
"Do you dislike the Black Republicans very much?" said the Tribune correspondent.
"Oh! yes; I hate them. I wish they were all dead."
"Well," was the quiet response, "we are Black Republicans. I am the blackest of them all."
The fair Secessionist was much confused, and for fully a minute remained silent. Then she said--
"I must confess I did not fully understand what Black Republicans were. I never saw any before."