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the 22d of which, the noble and venerable J. Q. Adams was struck down in death on the floor of the Capitol, exclaiming, at the close of a long and blameless life of usefulness, "This is the last of earth." On July 4th, President Polk issued the formal proclamation of peace between the United States and Mexico. A large extent of territory was ceded to us, and we paid, on our part, several millions of dollars to the Mexican Government. The war cost us twenty-five thousand men, and seventy-five millions of dollars.

The disbanded army was again distributed among the forts in the States, and along the frontier. The hero of Chapultepec now made a new conquest. He won the hand of a Miss Dent, a sensible and excellent young lady, near St. Louis, Mo., and was married in August of that year. His military home was first at Detroit, Mich., and then at Sackett's Harbor, a post on Lake Ontario, in Northern New York. There was little to do in time of peace in these quiet barracks near a small and pleasant village. He is remembered by the people in Watertown, a handsome place several miles distant, as having a passion for playing checkers,-a game which, perhaps, my young readers have played, and is among the most harmless pastimes of the kind, because not often carried to excess, or associated with dangerous games of chance. The quartermaster (for in this position he continued), with characteristic perseverance and patience, would contest the

advantage to be gained by the moves, and was hard to beat.

At this time, many of the settlers on the plains of California were without law and order; they were gold seekers, and reckless men. It becoming necessary to send a military force to restrain their passions, and prevent Indian depredations and massacre, the Fourth Infantry were selected to visit the Pacific coast. Lieutenant Grant went with a portion of it to Oregon. This wild and romantic life was very similar to that in the South, soon after he left West Point. The solitary marches in the grand old woods, the ancient rocks and rivers, with perils from the savages, had attractions for the young and adventurous spirit. While here, his regular commission as captain in the infantry came-another step in the career of honor.

After two years' service in the far and almost uninhabited West, Captain Grant saw so little prospect of activity and promotion, that he resigned his place in the

army, and returned to his family near the

city of St. Louis, to try his fortune in civil life. We shall see how he succeeded.

CHAPTER IV.

The Captain turns Farmer-He is not Afraid of Work-In the Leather Trade-The Call to Arms again-Captain offers his Service-His First Post of Duty-Is appointed Colonel.

F

OR fifteen years the heroic Captain had handled books, firearms, and sword, instead of logs, leather, and horsewhip. What shall he do now, without office and employment? It did not

cost him a tear nor take him long to put off the "regimentals," and appear in an old felt hat, blouse coat, and pants tucked into his boots, on a small farm in the neighborhood of Mr. Dent, his father-in-law, southwest of St. Louis. He had early learned to "rough it" in the woods of the West, and among the vats of the tannery. Had you been in St. Louis, you might have seen him in the winter, mounted on his wagon, in which a cord of wood was well packed, and driving the team into the city. Citizens of St. Louis recollect the plainly. dressed man who came with his load, delivered it to the purchaser, and returned to his country retreat.

With the hot Southern summer came leisure from

the woodman's traffic, and our hero must look for lighter work. His fine education qualified him for any business, and his character attracted the confidence of all. His neighbors were glad to employ and aid a stranger who was so generous and true as Captain Grant. He was just the collector some of them wanted to "dun " negligent debtors. They therefore put into his hands their debts. Like all the truly noble men of the world, he was honest and sincere in his dealings; and, trusting too readily to the apologies and promises of delinquent debtors, he had but small success. His failure reminds one of the forcible proverb: "It takes a rogue to catch a rogue." That is to say, a pure-minded person, unused to business contact with the unprincipled and vicious, makes a poor detective of rogues.

The Captain found that he was not made for a taxgatherer or an auctioneer, or even a farmer. He was neither a talker, schooled to hard, suspicious dealings with his fellows, nor in the economical management of a farm. Military culture and habits were exactly the opposite in their fruits of character. Law, order, promptness, and manly bearing, were the lessons which had followed those of a virtuous and humble home.

The year 1859 brought, therefore, a change again in the plans of Grant. His tannery education now served him well. From his father in the West came a proposition to go into the leather and saddlery trade with him. What a singular and pleasant fact! The hero of Chapul.

tepec again called by parental love to handle the tanned skins of cattle and sheep, and even horses, instead of the burnished sword and the military cap.

very steep and grand. The streets consequently paths on a hillside, with not only, as you see, a

He removed to the city of Galena, on the banks of Fevre river, in Jo Daviess county, Illinois. The broad stream pours its waters into the Mississippi only six miles below the town. Along the river the shores rise to highlands or bluffs, sometimes Galena is built on one of these. rise one above the other, like steps between them. It was curious and picturesque city, but, being near the Missis sippi and having a good harbor, was a centre of commercial life, of trade and resort, for a large region lying back of it. Soon the new sign of "Grant & Son" began to attract customers. The soldier recalls his early knowledge of the business, and quietly talks over the qualities and prices of his piles and rolls of leather.

The trade prospers; far and near the establishment becomes known. A great many shoemakers work up Captain Grant's goods, and the feet of his customers wear the contribution to "the arts of peace" made by him. It would really seem as if the Captain had settled down into a nice, permanent business, and his name would be. come famous as a successful, wealthy leather merchant. But it was the lull before a stormy life. An Illinois law. yer, in the autumn of 1860, was elected President of the

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