118 
KANSAS. 
upon us — so lovely one could scarcely realize, lhat under the quiet 
soothing influence of such sunny skies, the brutal passions of raer 
could so rage as to seek the destruction of their fellows. Diffi¬ 
cult, indeed, is it to feel that destruction is sworn against oui 
homes, and a price set upon the heads of some dear to us. Yet, 
our people, having decided upon their course of action, are again 
at their usual places of business. The warlike aspect of yesterday 
has given place to the busy, enterprising spirit of the past daily rou¬ 
tine which has characterized our people, and made the little city 
of a year give good promise of its future. Though at a moment’s 
warning they could spring into line, armed for defence, externally 
everything looks peaceful. Occasionally, a horseman rides rapidly 
into town, and, after stopping a few moments, goes as rapidly out. 
It is rumored that a large force is gathering at Franklin; also 
another at Lecompton, fourteen miles above here. We do not 
credit such reports. Whom will they fight, if they come? Will 
they dare, in this nineteenth century, in this boasted land of free¬ 
dom, to make a raid upon us, crying, “ Extermination, and no quar¬ 
ter ! ” A wholesome fear of consequences to themselves will 
prevent this. There will, probably, be a good deal of useless bra¬ 
vado, and they will strive to place us, if possible, in a wrong posi¬ 
tion before the world. There is a rumor, at evening, that an attack 
is threatened from Lecompton. The night is dark. E. and I are 
alone. About nine o’clock some gentlemen call, fora few minutes, 
who have been looking around on the hill beyond us, but saw no 
enemy. The hours were rapidly passing; it was nearly eleven 
o’clock, and no one came from town. E. fell asleep in her chair; 
I went out upon the hill alone, in the darkness, and listened ; I heard 
nothing. I nearly dropped asleep upon the lounge, and was 
aroused by a loud knocking at the door, and three young men with 
Sharpe’s rifles, and a cheerful “ Good-evening,” entered. They came 
as a guard, to see that no force comes into town from the Lecomp¬ 
ton road. We talked a while of the prospect of the war, and 
were fully agreed as to the general character of the enemy, their 
failure of courage when they meet a foe equal in number, as Jones 
and party proved on the night of the 26th. We brought in extra 
candles and blankets, and went up stairs for a little sleep. 
