"That is for both of us, for all of us, for all our people to-day," said Atwater. "I believe it is the struggle of Satan against Christ that has brought on this war. To attempt to build up a nation on human slavery--that is Satan. And I believe, wicked as we are at the north too, that the principle of freedom we are fighting for is the opposite of Satan. And whoever brings that into the world, brings a war that will never cease until the right triumphs, and the wrong ceases forever."
Frank was astonished. He had never suspected that in this stiff, reserved soldier there dwelt the spirit which, when their tongues are loosed, makes men eloquent.
Atwater had roused up, and spoken with earnestness. But his glow passed, and he said quietly,--
"'A man's foes shall be they of his own household.'"
There Frank stopped again, this time of his own accord. The words struck him with peculiar force.
"That is true too," said Abram; "of the nation, for a nation is a household; and of many, many families."
Frank studied the words a moment, and, after a struggle with his feelings, said in a hushed voice,--
"Did you know, Abe, I've a brother in the rebel army?"
"I did not know. I have heard you have one somewhere in the south."
"Yes, you have heard Jack twit me about my secesh brother. And I have been obliged to own he was a--traitor. And since I left home my folks have had a letter from him, in which he wrote that he was on the point of joining the confederate army, and that we would not probably hear from him again. So I suppose he is fighting against us somewhere."
"As well here as any where," said Frank. "I always loved my brother. I love him still. But, as you say, wicked as we are, Christ is in our cause, and----" Frank read,--
"'He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.'"
"And I," said the boy, lifting up his face with a patriotic, even a religious, fervor in it, "I love my country, I love the cause of right and freedom, better than I love my brother!"
"With that true of us, with that love in our hearts," said Atwater, "we can dare to fight, and whatever the result, I believe it will be well with us. See what the book says."