登陆注册
5245500000078

第78章 CHAPTER XIV IN WASHINGTON(5)

People were pouring into Washington then as they were pouring into the Confederate capital at Richmond. One dressed as he, and looking as he, could enter or depart almost as he pleased, despite the ring of fortifications.

Up went the sun, and the full day came, extremely hot and clear.

Harry turned into a little restaurant, and spent half of his well-earned dollar for breakfast. Neither proprietor nor waiter gave him more than a casual glance. Evidently they were used to serving countrymen.

Harry, feeling refreshed and strong again, paid for his food and went outside.

The streets were thronged. He had expected nothing else, but there was a great air of excitement and expectancy as if something important were going to happen.

"What is it?" asked Harry of a man beside him.

"Don't you know what day this is?" asked the man.

"I've forgot," replied the boy in the slouchy speech and intonation of the hills. "I jest came in with dad this mornin', bringin' a wagon load of fresh vegetables.""You look as foolish as you talk," said the man scornfully. "This is the Fourth of July, and the special session of Congress called by President Lincoln is to meet this morning and decide how to give the rebels the thrashing they need.""I did hear somethin' about that," replied Harry, "but workin' in the field I furgot all about it. I 'low I'll stroll that way."He drifted on with the crowd toward the Capitol, which rose nobler and more imposing than ever, a great marble building, gleaming white in the sunshine. Harry's heart throbbed. He could not yet dissociate himself from the idea that he, as one of the nation, was a part owner of the Capitol. But, forgetting all danger, he persisted in his errand.

A great event was about to occur, and he intended to see it.

There were soldiers everywhere. The streets blazed with uniforms, but the people were allowed to gather about the Capitol and many also entered. A friendly sentinel passed Harry, who stood for a few moments in the rotunda. He was careful to keep near other spectators, in order that he might not attract attention to himself.

All things that he saw cut sharply into his sensitive and eager mind.

It was in truth an extraordinary situation for one who had come as he had come, and he waited, calm of face, but with every pulse beating.

The comments of the other spectators told him who the famous men were as they entered. Here were Cameron and Wade of the lowering brows.

There passed Taney, the venerable Chief Justice, and then dry and quiet Hamlin, the Vice-President, on his way to preside over the Senate, went by. A tall and magnificent figure in a general's uniform next attracted Harry's attention. He was an old man, but he held himself very erect and his head was crowned with splendid snowy hair.

"Old Fuss and Feathers," said a man near Harry, and the boy knew that this was General Scott, the Virginian, who had led the famous and victorious march into the City of Mexico, and who was now in name, but in name only, commander of the Northern army. His father had served under him in those memorable battles and Harry looked at him with a certain veneration, as the old man passed on and disappeared in another room. Then came more, some famous and others destined to be so.

The atmosphere of the great building was surcharged. Harry and his comrades had heard that the North was discouraged, that the people would not fight, that they would "let the erring sisters go in peace."It did not seem so to him here. The talk was all of war and of invading the South, and he seemed to feel a tenacious spirit behind it.

He managed to secure entrance to the lobbies of both Senate and House, and he listened for a while to the debates. He discovered the same spirit there. He felt that he had a right to report not only on the forts of Washington and the movements of brigades, but also on the temper in the North. Resolution and tenacity, he now saw, were worth as much as cannon balls.

Harry did not leave the Capitol until the middle of the afternoon, when he drifted back to the restaurant at which he had obtained his breakfast, where he spent the other half of the dollar for luncheon.

同类推荐
  • 宅法举隅

    宅法举隅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瑜伽金刚顶经释字母品

    瑜伽金刚顶经释字母品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 憨休禅师敲空遗响

    憨休禅师敲空遗响

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北郭集

    北郭集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说圣最上灯明如来陀罗尼经

    佛说圣最上灯明如来陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 呼啸而过

    呼啸而过

    作为一位青年教师,我在学校干得很出色,想不到却被学校无情地解聘了,我想去找校长理论,校长却连我的电话都不接,我异常怨愤,发誓活出个样子给他们看看,几年后,我真的成功了,当我再次来到学校,我才知道这是校长的故意安排,我从未体会到这种最特殊的关爱……给别人家的孩子担任高考保姆的中年妇女,忍受误解和屈辱,耐心地开导别人孩子的心灵,使她近乎扭曲的心灵变得健康而阳光,但是女孩自己的母亲却因为工作忙碌,没有时间照顾孩子,当这位中年妇女,做完自己的工作回家之后发现孩子早已上学去了,原来她的孩子也上高三,她是因为生活的压力而不得不出去打工,没时间照顾孩子……
  • 说矩里迦龙王像法

    说矩里迦龙王像法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 掌柜大人有点冷

    掌柜大人有点冷

    三个月前,她还是长生门不折不扣的第一杀手,突发变故,从此沦为所谓的“叛徒”;三个月后,她遇到了落魄的有家客栈主人明馥雪,摇身一变成为新任掌柜。原以为可以过上平静无波的日子,却不想长生门的“诛杀令”步步紧逼,深陷泥淖的弟弟危在旦夕,故人的相遇,别有用心的保护,看似平静的客栈日子,所有的人和事开始因为这一场狙杀而变得面目全非。而在这一切的背后,却藏着更深的恩怨情仇,而她的归宿,又最终在哪里?
  • 道德经批判

    道德经批判

    本书以一个全新的角度,通过对道学经典《道德经》的批判,告诉人们作为现代人的我们对于传统文化所应采取的态度:既不能全盘否定更不能全盘肯定,尤其不能借之来厚古薄今和以古非今;在肯定古人智慧的同时,更要看到作为现代人的我们自己的伟大,因为只有这样,才可以在今天的基础上更好地去创造明天。
  • 夜帝独宠:天才萌宝俏娘亲

    夜帝独宠:天才萌宝俏娘亲

    她是二十四世纪名声赫赫的化妆界女神,一双巧手,化腐朽为神奇。或而妩媚、或而妖娆、或而可爱、或而清纯、或而霸气、或而温婉……俗称“百变女王”。一朝穿越,肚子里却莫名多了一个娃,偏偏她还不知道孩子的爹是谁!等到孩子出世,谁能告诉她,这孩子的性子到底是随了谁?“娘亲,那个叔叔好酷啊。”“娘亲,那个叔叔好帅啊。”“娘亲,那个叔叔跟我好像,我要让他做我爹爹!”“……”颜控小包子半路认爹,最后却认了个亲爹?!哦买噶,来道闪电劈了她吧。
  • 锈刻于胸间上的玫瑰

    锈刻于胸间上的玫瑰

    千年后,人类的征途变成了星辰大海。其中有着各种奇妙的生物和险地,但从未有一个星系,像雅拉这样神秘,吸引人类用百年的时间去探索,却不得而入。于是一艘载满战争型机器人的航空母舰驶入了雅拉星系,迎接航母的,是头戴荆棘王冠的女人,她的身边无数碳基生物环绕,我们命之为刺岩卡。紧接着巨大的陨石摧毁了航母,其中一台编号SG-00001的机器人,驾驶的小型穿梭机坠毁在这颗人类从未涉足的星球上。在山崖坠落的瞬间,它遇到了那个让它铭记,并锈刻一生的女孩艾拉。两人的故事开始了……书名:锈刻于胸间上的玫瑰,代表你是我心上深痛却又深爱的那个人。
  • 高情商的女人受欢迎

    高情商的女人受欢迎

    这是一本帮助女性朋友提高情商的智慧读本。本书以轻松睿智的笔触,教会女人在社交中必备的说话方法与办事技巧,教会女人如何展示自己的特色风采,在工作、生活中做到游刃有余,进而成就自己的魅力、事业及家庭。
  • 年月诗集 轻轻地呼唤

    年月诗集 轻轻地呼唤

    故乡山水,如诗如画,住净水器、触景生情,咏物明志。讽刺为了清明,离骚怒其不争。时光链环套住年月,火花飞溅,汇集成歌,一唱百年。
  • 贴身男佣是美男

    贴身男佣是美男

    一个以24岁花样年纪成为娱乐圈的风云经纪人,让当红组合的成员像听话的小孩子一样,跟在屁股后面的女人,究竟有这什么样的过去什么样的经历,又付出了多少努力多少汗水,才能有今天的成就?一场并不美好的邂逅,一点维持四年的心结,这一切该怎么化解怎么释怀,最后两个同样骄傲的人才会走在一起?女王的爱情会怎样开始和结束呢?《贴身男佣是美男》带你走入属于女王韩依夏的爱情世界。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 那些曾经的恋爱记事

    那些曾经的恋爱记事

    世上大概找不到比景有希更倒霉的人了,从小到大诸事不顺:参加比赛礼堂失火、中考当天摔成骨折、告白被花瓶砸……