the rebel lines, but hastened to Washington, leaving Meade in charge of the surrender. Neither gun nor martial music proclaimed the Union victory. There was a general handshaking among the officers of the opposing armies afterwards, and the men of the armies of the Potomac and the James shared their blankets and their rations with their late enemies. The Union army remained at Petersburg and Richmond, let us hope never again to carry arms. From one end of the world to the other, the news flew on the wings of the wind, — “ Richmond has fallen; Lee has surrendered!" What the rejoicing was, let your own hearts tell you when you remember the suffering and bloodshed of the preceding four years.

Jeff. Davis and his cabinet left Richmond that evening by a special train for Danville. Lee, in the mean while, spent the short hours of Sunday in making arrangements to leave Petersburg with the remnants of his army.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE END.

F the people and the soldiers were glad to know that

Lincoln have been! He had aged perceptibly in the past four years. The weight of his responsibility and his constant sympathy with the sufferings of the people had saddened him. By his kindly interest he had endeared himself to every officer and soldier in the army. He had already been at City Point for several days, when the end came. On Monday he and Admiral Porter went up to Richmond together. He was very grave, although very glad; for he thought of the years of sorrow that had had to be endured for this great day. General Weitzel escorted Mr. Lincoln about the city in an open carriage, coming at last to the Confederate Capitol. They walked through its rooms until they reached the cabinet-chamber. Pointing to a seat, General Weitzel said, "Mr. President, this is the chair occupied by President Davis." Another might have rejoiced in an enemy's downfall; but Mr. Lincoln stepped wearily to the vacant seat, and without a word sat down, letting his head fall into his open hands. For a moment not a sound broke the silence, and all present felt that the great statesman and beloved ruler was reviewing the events of the past sad year. He drew a deep sigh at last, and no one witnessed the scene with dry eyes.

The President returned to Washington on the 9th. Two

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ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

days later, in honor of the recent National victories, the White House was illuminated, and a throng gathered in the grounds, cheering and calling loudly for Mr. Lincoln. "As Mr. Lincoln and a few friends mounted the stairs to the upper part of the house, there was a tremendous din outside, as if roars of laughter were mingling with the music and the cheers. Inside of the house, at one of the windows on the right of the staircase, was old Edward, the conservative and dignified butler of the White House, struggling with Tad, and trying to drag him back from the window, from which he was waving a Confederate flag, captured in some fight, and given to the boy. The crowd recognized Tad, who frantically waved the flag as he fought with Edward, while the people roared with delight. The likes of it, Mister Tad,' said the scandalized butler, 'the likes of a rebel flag out of the windows of the White House! Oh, did I ever!' Edward conquered; and, followed by a parting cheer from the throng below, Tad rushed to his father with his complaints. But the President, just then approaching the centre window overlooking the portico, stood with a beaming face before the vast assembly beneath; and the mighty cheer that arose drowned all other sounds." The President then began his address.

This was Mr. Lincoln's last speech to a devoted people. On the 14th the Washington newspapers announced that General Grant would accompany Mr. Lincoln and his party to Ford's Theatre that evening. Although the President had invited him, General Grant excused himself in order to pay a visit to his children, whom he was in haste to see. So with Mrs. Lincoln, another lady, and Major Rathbone, the President occupied a box in the theatre, which was draped and decorated with the prettiest banner in the world. When the interest in the play was at its height, and every eye was fixed upon the stage, a man stole into the box and shot the President in the head. The assassin was John Wilkes