Yes, it was a merry evening, and Philip was heartily glad when it was over, and the long leave-taking with the family was through with.

“Farewell Philip.  Good night Mr. Brierly,” Ruth’s clear voice sounded after them as they went down the walk.

And she spoke Harry’s name last, thought Philip.

CHAPTER XXIII.

               “O see ye not yon narrow road
               So thick beset wi’ thorns and briers? 
               That is the Path of Righteousness,
               Though after it but few inquires.

               “And see ye not yon braid, braid road,
               That lies across the lily leven? 
               That is the Path of Wickedness,
               Though some call it the road to Heaven.”

Thomas the Rhymer.

Phillip and Harry reached New York in very different states of mind.  Harry was buoyant.  He found a letter from Col.  Sellers urging him to go to Washington and confer with Senator Dilworthy.  The petition was in his hands.

It had been signed by everybody of any importance in Missouri, and would be presented immediately.

“I should go on myself,” wrote the Colonel, “but I am engaged in the invention of a process for lighting such a city as St. Louis by means of water; just attach my machine to the water-pipes anywhere and the decomposition of the fluid begins, and you will have floods of light for the mere cost of the machine.  I’ve nearly got the lighting part, but I want to attach to it a heating, cooking, washing and ironing apparatus.  It’s going to be the great thing, but we’d better keep this appropriation going while I am perfecting it.”

Harry took letters to several congressmen from his uncle and from Mr. Duff Brown, each of whom had an extensive acquaintance in both houses where they were well known as men engaged in large private operations for the public good and men, besides, who, in the slang of the day, understood the virtues of “addition, division and silence.”

Senator Dilworthy introduced the petition into the Senate with the remark that he knew, personally, the signers of it, that they were men interested; it was true, in the improvement of the country, but he believed without any selfish motive, and that so far as he knew the signers were loyal.  It pleased him to see upon the roll the names of many colored citizens, and it must rejoice every friend of humanity to know that this lately emancipated race were intelligently taking part in the development of the resources of their native land.  He moved the reference of the petition to the proper committee.

Senator Dilworthy introduced his young friend to influential members, as a person who was very well informed about the Salt Lick Extension of the Pacific, and was one of the Engineers who had made a careful survey of Columbus River; and left him to exhibit his maps and plans and to show the connection between the public treasury, the city of Napoleon and legislation for the benefit off the whole country.