"Truly yours, "JEFFERSON DAVIS." Nathaniel Hawthorne and Jefferson Davis were two of his most intimate friends, men entirely different in standards, political ideas, and life. The friendship between Hawthorne and Pierce lasted until the death of the former, May 19, 1864, Pierce being with him much of the time during his last illness and was by his side when he passed away. Hawthorne in his "Life of Pierce" tells us: "The administration of Franklin Pierce presents the only instance in our history of the continuance of a cabinet for four years without any change in personnel. When it will be remembered that there was much dissimilarity, if not incongruity, of character among the members of the cabinet, some idea may be formed of the power over men that was possessed by Mr. Pierce. Chivalrous, generous, amiable, true to his friends and faith, frank and bold in the declaration of his opinions, he never deceived any one, and if treachery ever came near him, it would have stood abashed in the presence of his truth, his manliness, and his confiding simplicity." [Illustration: PLATE LV.--Library, Franklin Pierce House.] The old Hillsboro house stands to-day unchanged. By its side is a small building formerly used by the ex-President as a library and it still contains a part of his books, many volumes of which have been transferred to the library of the main house. [Illustration: PLATE LVI.--Sword given by the State of New Hampshire to President Pierce; Bowie Knife used at Barbecue given at Hillsboro for Pres. Pierce and Canes presented to him by Notable Personages; Sword presented by ladies of Concord, to President Pierce.] This room is a perfect treasure trove, for on the walls hang pictures of historic value, many of them painted at the order of the late President. The most valuable collection of all, however, are the autograph letters, the most important of which are written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Jefferson Davis, letters that form a connecting link between the history of the Civil War and the life of men who made history. CHAPTER XIV THE SAVORY HOUSE We turn to old houses as we turn to old books--for information--for inside old mansions is generally a wealth of furniture and china, the history of which has a never-dying charm to the collector and the lover of the antique. These houses are rapidly passing away, and it is only now and then that we come across one where furniture may be found that covers the periods between the Chippendale and the Empire. One of these old houses, in which there is an especially rich collection of antiques, is found at Groveland, Massachusetts, and is known as the Savory house. Let us step over its threshold, and wander through its rooms, studying the furniture and the periods which they represent.