FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 475 



terror, and agony, but also coffinless graves in a hostile land, and the last ignominy 

 of the dissecting-room. 



"Yet there was not one of that family who could not pronounce that awful word 

 with perfect quietness ; never, of course, lightly, but always quietly. For instance, as 

 I sat that evening, with the women busily sewing around me, preparing mother for 

 her sudden departure with me on the morrow, some daguerreotypes were brought out 

 to show me, and some one said, ' This is Oliver, one of those who were killed at 

 Harper's Ferry.' I glanced up sidelong at the young, fair-haired girl who sat near 

 me by the table — a wife of fifteen, a widow at sixteen ; and this was her husband, and 

 he was killed. 



"As the words were spoken in her hearing not a muscle quivered, and 

 her finger did not tremble as she drew the thread. For her life had become too real 

 to leave room for wincing at mere words. She had lived through, beyond the word, 

 to the sterner fact, and having confronted that, language was an empty shell. To the 

 Browns killing means simply dying — nothing more ; one gate into heaven, and that 

 one a good deal frequented by their family: that is all. 



"No; this family work for a higher price than fame. You know it is said that in 

 all Wellington's despatches you never meet with the word GLORY — it is always DUTY. 

 In Napoleon's you never meet with the word DL'TY — it is always GLORY. The race of 

 John Brown is of the Wellington type. Principle is the word I brought away with 

 me, as most familiar in their vocabulary. That is their standard of classification. A 

 man may be brave, ardent, generous — no matter; if he is not all this from principle, 

 it is nothing. The daughters, who knew all the Harper's Ferry men, had no 

 confidence in Cook, because 'he was not a man of principle.' They would trust 

 Stevens around the world, because "he was a man of principle.' 'He tries the hardest 

 to be good,' said Annie Brown in her simple way, 'of any man I ever saw.' 



"It is pleasant to add that this same brave-hearted girl, who had known most of her 

 father's associates, recognized them «// but Cook as being men of principle. 'People 

 are surprised,' she said, 'at father's daring to invade Virginia with only twenty-three 

 men; but I think if they knew what sort of men they were there would be less surprise. 

 I never saw such men.' 



"The children spoke of their father as a person of absolute rectitude, thoughtful 

 kindness, unfailing foresight, and inexhaustible activity. On his flying visits to the 

 farm, every moment was used; he was 'up at three A.M., seeing to everything himself,' 

 providing for everything, and giving heed to the minutest point. It was evident that 

 some of the older ones had stood a little in awe of him in their childish years. 'We 

 felt a little pleased sometimes, after all,' said the son, 'when father left the farm for a 

 few days' 'We girls never did,' said the married daughter, reproachfully, the tears 



