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Mr. Chamberlain's formal address to General Scott was a model of his excellent use of the English tongue; and the closing sentences of it have a peculiar force, as I write fifty-six years later and record the fulfillment of the prophecy therein contained. I quote from a newspaper of the time;

"Some of these pupils, when you have filled up the measure of your fame, and to you, the praise and censure of men will be alike indifferent, -- they will survive; and when they shall recount your achievements, and tell to coming generations of Chippewa, and of Cerro Gordo, and of Contreras, and many other fields where you have covered the proud flag of your country with imperishable glory, -- I would have them say, too, that once at least it was their fortune to listen to the tones of that voice, whose word of command was ever to the brave the talisman of assured victory."

General Scott's reply was earnest but brief, and his gentle manner did not indicate a hero of so many battles; yet there was strength beneath the exterior appearance, and a heart of iron within his breast. But from him I learned that the warrior only it is, who can fully appreciate the blessing of peace. I recalled the newspaper reports of the triumphal entry of the Americans into the city of Mexico, and how the soldiers reveled there.

"General Scott," I said, "when you found yourself really within the halls of the Montezumas, did you not feel like shouting ?"

"No," replied the soldier, "we felt like falling down here on our knees to thank the good Lord for our victory." Later in the afternoon he said, "No, we did not revel in the halls of the Montezumas; we lived on one meal a day."

While General Scott was examining a collection of maps that were used by our pupils, one of the aldermen present, -- for they always came to our receptions, -- stepped to my side and whispered,

"The general's sword is just a little out of place."

"Let us remove it quietly," said I. With his aid I carefully drew it out of the great sheath without attracting attention; and then suddenly held it above the head of the intrepid warrior.

"General Scott," I exclaimed in an authoritative tone, "you are my prisoner." Although taken completely by surprise, he was by no means at a loss for an answer.

"Oh, I surrender; I always surrender at discretion to the ladies." He laughed good-naturedly, as did those who saw the incident; and we turned the subject. A moment later, however, he said,

"Well, Miss Crosby, the next time I come here I suppose some young man will have run off with you." Forgetting that he was a candidate for the presidency, I exclaimed,

"Oh, no, I shall wait for the next president." This announcement on my part was followed by a tremendous roar of laughter, and I found myself in an uncomfortable position.

But General Scott, being the candidate of the Whigs at the election of 1852, was defeated by one of his subordinate generals in the Mexican war, Franklin Pierce, of whose political party I was an adherent. Consequently, after the election I wrote a little song entitled, "Carry Me On," most of which has been forgotten, except the chorus, which goes as follows:

"O Whigs, carry me on, carry me far away,
For election's past and I'm pierced at last;
The locoes gave gained the day."

I have already mentioned James K. Polk, who was president from 1845 to 1849, and also the soiree at the White House during the Washington exhibition in the winter of 1847. The following summer Mr. Polk re-turned our call, coming unexpectedly and unattended, for he was a very plain man and did not wish any cere-mony at his reception. He said that he had simply come to our beautiful retreat to escape the turmoil of the busy city.

After dinner I asked President Polk if he would not enjoy a stroll through our grounds. Everything that day was in the height of its beauty, the trees formed a double arch over the walks in our yard, and in the lofty boughs many robins and bluebirds built their nests and entertained us with their sweet carols. The soft winds came stealing through the leafy boughs, laden with perfume from the flowers of a score of nearby gardens.

We had not gone many yards before I heard the familiar voice of an old domestic to whom I was indebted for many favors. The dear old woman was not at that time in the employ of the Institution, but had just returned for a few minutes to speak with some of us; and I knew that I might not see her again for months to come. This thought was uppermost in my mind at that moment; and so I turned impulsively to President Polk and said, "Will you please excuse me a minute?" "Certainly," he replied; and so I left the chief man of the nation standing alone while I ran to greet my friend. Realizing my discourtesy on my return, I made all manner of apologies; and tried to explain the circumstance as best I might. To my surprise, however, the great and good man said,

"You have done well, and I commend you for it. Kindness, even to those in the humblest capacity of life, should be our rule of conduct; and by this act you have won not only my respect but also my esteem." I had hitherto held a high opinion of President Polk but from that moment his kind words elevated him to my own ideal of a Christian gentleman; and that night, ere I sought my pillow, I fervently prayed that God would bless and sustain our worthy president in the arduous duty of executing the laws for more than twenty millions of people.