Yes, it was a merry evening, and Philip was heartily
glad when it was over, and the long leave-taking with
the family was through with.
“Farewell Philip. Good night Mr. Brierly,”
Ruth’s clear voice sounded after them as they
went down the walk.
And she spoke Harry’s name last, thought Philip.
“O
see ye not yon narrow road
So
thick beset wi’ thorns and briers?
That
is the Path of Righteousness,
Though
after it but few inquires.
“And
see ye not yon braid, braid road,
That
lies across the lily leven?
That
is the Path of Wickedness,
Though
some call it the road to Heaven.”
Phillip and Harry reached New York in very different
states of mind. Harry was buoyant. He found
a letter from Col. Sellers urging him to go to
Washington and confer with Senator Dilworthy.
The petition was in his hands.
It had been signed by everybody of any importance
in Missouri, and would be presented immediately.
“I should go on myself,” wrote the Colonel,
“but I am engaged in the invention of a process
for lighting such a city as St. Louis by means of
water; just attach my machine to the water-pipes anywhere
and the decomposition of the fluid begins, and you
will have floods of light for the mere cost of the
machine. I’ve nearly got the lighting part,
but I want to attach to it a heating, cooking, washing
and ironing apparatus. It’s going to be
the great thing, but we’d better keep this appropriation
going while I am perfecting it.”
Harry took letters to several congressmen from his
uncle and from Mr. Duff Brown, each of whom had an
extensive acquaintance in both houses where they were
well known as men engaged in large private operations
for the public good and men, besides, who, in the
slang of the day, understood the virtues of “addition,
division and silence.”
Senator Dilworthy introduced the petition into the
Senate with the remark that he knew, personally, the
signers of it, that they were men interested; it was
true, in the improvement of the country, but he believed
without any selfish motive, and that so far as he knew
the signers were loyal. It pleased him to see
upon the roll the names of many colored citizens,
and it must rejoice every friend of humanity to know
that this lately emancipated race were intelligently
taking part in the development of the resources of
their native land. He moved the reference of
the petition to the proper committee.
Senator Dilworthy introduced his young friend to influential
members, as a person who was very well informed about
the Salt Lick Extension of the Pacific, and was one
of the Engineers who had made a careful survey of
Columbus River; and left him to exhibit his maps and
plans and to show the connection between the public
treasury, the city of Napoleon and legislation for
the benefit off the whole country.
