"And it is involved," said Webster; "but I can't
improve it."
"How would this do?" said I.
"`LIBERTY AND UNION, NOW AND FOREVER, ONE AND
INSEPARABLE!'"
"Capital!" he said, "capital! write that down for
me." At that moment we arrived at the Capitol steps. I
wrote down the words for him, and from my notes he read
them, when that place in the speech came along.
All of us applauded the story.
Phebe then told
THE SCHOOLMISTRESS'S STORY
You remind me of the impression that very speech made
on me, as I heard Henry Chapin deliver it at an
exhibition at Leicester Academy. I resolved then that I
would free the slave, or perish in the attempt. But how?
I, a woman--disfranchised by the law? Ha! I saw!
I went to Arkansas. I opened a "Normal College, or
Academy for Teachers." We had balls every second
night, to make it popular. Immense numbers came. Half
the teachers of the Southern States were trained there.
I had admirable instructors in oil painting and music--
the most essential studies. The arithmetic I taught
myself. I taught it well. I achieved fame. I achieved
wealth; invested in Arkansas five per cents. Only one
secret device I persevered in. To all--old and young,
innocent girls and sturdy men--I so taught the
multiplication table that one fatal error was hidden in
its array of facts.
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