Ten American Girls From History

schools" of that day, and half a dozen girls were still grouped around the big center-table piling

Club, with officers and regular club nights, and all sorts of interesting s

le, and several voices exclai

bolished.' And Betty Van Lew

s!" around the table, then some one aske

said. "I hope it will be me. My, but it would be

isn't a girl in school who knows what she thinks on any subje

as she is on hers-and you all ought to be if you are not! Father says it is only in the cotton-raising States that they think the way Betty does, and w

favor of slavery were as familiar as the principles of arithmetic, for Betty had heard the subject dis

e debate against her New England opponent, and so shrewdly did she repeat all the arguments she had heard fall from Southern lips, that she sat down amid a burst of applause, having won her case, proudly sure that from that moment there would be no more

e on the side against that which Betty had won because she had complied so fully with the rules of debate; and she had by no means won her friends over to her way of thinkin

of the cotton-gin, which made the owning of slaves much more valuable in the cotton-growing States. East of the Mississippi River slavery was allowed in the new States lying south of the Ohio, but forbidden in the territ

n the North at school. Doubtless Philadelphia had been chosen not only because of the excellence of the school to which she was sent, but also because the Qu

incing in their appeal to her reason as those to which she had listened at home from earliest childhood. John Van Lew, Betty's father, had ever been one of those Southerners who argued that in slavery lay the great protection for the negro-in Massachusetts Betty heard impassione

ed that she went back to her Richmond home an unwavering abolitionist, who was to giv

e Massachusetts girl, fresh from the rugged hills and more severe life of New England, Richmond was a fascinating spot, a

irmed her, and later barred its doors against her." Behind the house at the foot of the hill stood "The Libby," which in years to come was to be her special care.... But this is anticipating our story. Betty Van Lew, f

curious old iron railings, ascended to either end of the square, white-pillared portico which formed the entrance to the st

wandered down broad, box-bordered walks, from terrace to terrace by way of moss-grown stone

't breathe, it is

ets, and the drone of insects in the hot, dry grass. And through the branches of the trees on the lower terrace one could get frequent glimpses of the James River, thickly studded with black rock

men and heard brilliant men talk intelligently on many subjects of vital import, especially on the all-important subject of slavery; of the men who upheld it, of its result to the Union.

ke responsibility,-and yet!" There was a long pause, then Betty added, softly: "And yet, all human beings have a right to

ow-sill, young as she was, in Betty Van Lew's face there was a gleam of that purpose which in coming years was to be her consecration and her baptism o

very be extended? Shall it be allowed in the country purchased from Mexico?" As this land had been made free soil by Mexico, many people in the North insisted that it should remain free. The South insisted that the newly acquired country was the common property of the States, that any citizen might go there with his slaves, and that Congress had

ndertook to end the quarrel between the States, and as a result there was a famous debate between the most notable living orators, Webster, Calhoun, and Clay, and a new compromise was made. It was called the Compromise of 1850, and it was confidently hoped would be a final settlement of all

So as soon as he was elected the Southern States began to withdraw from the Union, known as the United States of America. First went South Carolina, then Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Then delegates from these States met

ouses, court-houses, post-offices, custom-houses, and two important forts, Moultrie and Sumter, which guarded the entran

ing been dissolved by the secession of South Carolina, the land on which the buildings stood belonged to the State, but the buildings themsel

g the purchase the forts would be taken by force, cut down the flagstaff and spiked the guns at Fort Moultrie, and moved his men to Fort Sumter, w

the vessels with food, men and supplies reached Charleston, they found that the Confederates had already begun to fire on Fort Sumter. Then, as Major Anderson related: "Having defended the Fort for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire ... the magazine surro

eaceable settlement of the dispute with the South was gone. Mr. Lincoln at once called for

for charming women as was Richmond, Betty Van Lew enjoyed an enviable popularity. To be invited to the mansion on the hill was the great delight of her many acquaintances, while more than one ardent lover laid his heart at her feet; but her pleasure was in the many rather than in the one, and she remained heart-whole while most of her intimate friends married and went to homes of their own. It is said that as she grew to womanhood, she was "of delicate physique and a small but commanding fi

s poem, "The Raven," to a picked audience of Richmond's elect, there Jenny Lind sang at the height of her fame, and there as a guest came the Swedish noveli

of the stately house on the hill in a manner worthy of Southern society women, and as years went by and Betty became a woman, always when they had bri

oured troops from other States, and the beautiful Southern city became a vast military camp. Daily the daughters of the Confederacy met in groups to sew or knit for the s

diers. We need the immediate assistance of

s of the two women facing a sure future, looking sadly into ea

st abide by the consequences of our belie

made her choice-fearlessly she took the consequences. Fr