seem bending from heaven to kiss the yellow corn-fields that stretch
along the horizon. And at your feet, the city of Richmond extends along
the valley."

"We admit the beauty of the scene and the accuracy of the description,"
said Beverly, "but, for my part, I should prefer the less romantic view
of some of Aunt Nancy's batter-cakes, for this ride has famished me."

"Now look below," continued Arthur, "at that swarm of human beings
clustering together like angry bees. As we stand here gazing at the
glorious pageant which nature spreads out before us, one might suppose
that only for some festival of rejoicing or thanksgiving would men
assemble at such an hour and in such a scene. But what are the beauties
of the landscape, bathed in the glories of the setting-sun, to them?
They have met to listen to words of passion and bitterness, to doctrines
of strife, to denunciations and criminations against their fellow-men.
And, doubtless, a similar scene of freemen invoking the spirit of
contention that we behold yonder in that pleasant valley of the Old
Dominion, is being enacted at the North and at the South, at the East
and at the West, all over the length and breadth of our country. The
seeds of discord are being carefully and persistently gathered and
disseminated, and on both sides, these erring mortals will claim to be
acting in the name of patriotism. Beverly, do you surmise nothing
ominous of evil in that gathering?"

"Ten to one, some stirring news from Charleston. We must ride over after
supper, Arthur, and learn the upshot of it."

"And I will be a sybil for the nonce," said Oriana, with a kindling eye,
"and prophecy that Southern cannon have opened upon Sumter."