May we not think now that the task of binding up the wounds of a bruised and shattered country, of reconciling jarring interests thrown into new and delicate relationships, of bringing peace to sore and wearied nerves, and abiding quiet to those who are fated to dwell side by side in close proximity, may require faculties of a wider and more varied adaptation, and a spirit breathing more of Calvary and less of Sinai? It is no discredit to the good sword gapped with the blows of a hundred battle fields, to hang it up in all honor, as having done its work. It has made place for a thousand other forces and influences each powerless without it, but each now more powerful and more efficient in their own field. Those who are so happy as to know Mr. Phillips personally, are fully aware how entirely this unflinching austerity of judgment, this vigorous severity of exaction, belong to his public character alone, how full of genial urbanity they find the private individual. We may be pardoned for expressing the hope that the time may yet come when he shall see his way clear to take counsel in public matters with his own kindly impulses, and that those genial traits which render his private intercourse so agreeable, may be allowed to modify at least his public declarations. [Illustration: Henry Ward Beecher] CHAPTER XVIII. HENRY WARD BEECHER. Mr. Beecher a Younger Child--Death of his Mother--His Step-Mother's Religious Influence--Ma'am Kilbourn's School-- The Passing Bell--Unprofitable Schooling--An Inveterate School Joker--Masters the Latin Grammar--Goes to Amherst College-- His Love of Flowers--Modes of Study; a Reformer--Mr. Beecher and the Solemn Tutor--His Favorite Poetry--His Introduction to Phrenology--His Mental Philosophy--Doctrine of Spiritual Intuition--Punctuality for Joke's Sake--Old School and New School--Doubts on Entering the Ministry--Settlement at Lawrenceburg--His Studies; First Revival--Large Accessions to the Church--"Tropical Style"--Ministerial Jokes--Slavery in the Pulpit--The Transfer to Brooklyn--Plymouth Church Preaching --Visit to England--Speeches in England--Letters from England --Christian View of England--The Exeter Hall Speech--Preaches an Unpopular Forgiveness.