The victory was won, and my mother began to go out with us and visit her neighbors.  She had not to learn self-possession nor good manners, these were innate; and as for education, knowledge, rare good sense, and kindliness, seldom was she to meet her equal.  I wrote “never” instead of “seldom” and then struck it out.  Nevertheless my private opinion is reserved.

Life at Altoona was made more agreeable for me through Mr. Scott’s niece, Miss Rebecca Stewart, who kept house for him.  She played the part of elder sister to me to perfection, especially when Mr. Scott was called to Philadelphia or elsewhere.  We were much together, often driving in the afternoons through the woods.  The intimacy did not cease for many years, and re-reading some of her letters in 1906 I realized more than ever my indebtedness to her.  She was not much beyond my own age, but always seemed a great deal older.  Certainly she was more mature and quite capable of playing the elder sister’s part.  It was to her I looked up in those days as the perfect lady.  Sorry am I our paths parted so widely in later years.  Her daughter married the Earl of Sussex and her home in late years has been abroad. [July 19, 1909, Mrs. Carnegie and I found my elder-sister friend April last, now in widowhood, in Paris, her sister and also her daughter all well and happy.  A great pleasure, indeed.  There are no substitutes for the true friends of youth.]

Mr. Scott remained at Altoona for about three years when deserved promotion came to him.  In 1859 he was made vice-president of the company, with his office in Philadelphia.  What was to become of me was a serious question.  Would he take me with him or must I remain at Altoona with the new official?  The thought was to me unbearable.  To part with Mr. Scott was hard enough; to serve a new official in his place I did not believe possible.  The sun rose and set upon his head so far as I was concerned.  The thought of my promotion, except through him, never entered my mind.

He returned from his interview with the president at Philadelphia and asked me to come into the private room in his house which communicated with the office.  He told me it had been settled that he should remove to Philadelphia.  Mr. Enoch Lewis, the division superintendent, was to be his successor.  I listened with great interest as he approached the inevitable disclosure as to what he was going to do with me.  He said finally: 

“Now about yourself.  Do you think you could manage the Pittsburgh Division?”

I was at an age when I thought I could manage anything.  I knew nothing that I would not attempt, but it had never occurred to me that anybody else, much less Mr. Scott, would entertain the idea that I was as yet fit to do anything of the kind proposed.  I was only twenty-four years old, but my model then was Lord John Russell, of whom it was said he would take the command of the Channel Fleet to-morrow.  So would Wallace or Bruce.  I told Mr. Scott I thought I could.