On the morning of September 28, 1870, General Lee was at his desk promptly as usual. In the afternoon he went to a business meeting of the Church officers. A steady rain was falling and the air was chilly. He presided at the meeting, sitting in the cold, damp church. When it was announced that the minister's salary had not been raised, Lee said he would pay what was lacking. Tea was waiting for him when he came home. He stood up as if to say grace, but he could not speak. When the doctor came, he told Lee he would soon be up again riding his favorite gray, but Lee only shook his head. Then later in his delirium, he showed his mind had wandered back to the battlefields, for once he said, "Strike the tents." And again speaking of one of his favorite officers who had been killed in the war, he said, "Tell Hill he _must_ come up." Then at last Lee passed peacefully away from all battlefields. One time a young student was called to the president's office and was told gently that only patience and industry would prevent the failure that would otherwise certainly come to him. "But, General, you failed." "I hope that you may be more fortunate than I," was the quiet answer. But it was only the General's great modesty that made him consider himself a failure. What greater success could come to any man than to be always a Christian and always a gentleman? THE PLAY ACT I SCENE I _Scene: Alexandria, Va., the garden in front of the Lees' home in the spring of 1819._ Characters Robert Lee, aged 12 Bud, his chum, aged 11 Slats, a friend, aged 12 Fat, another friend, aged 13 (_Enter ROBERT and BUD. BUD has a fishing rod. ROBERT is carrying his school books. SLATS follows tossing a ball in the air and catching it. FAT trails along last, as usual._) BUD--An say, Rob, get your pole and come on fishing. They say they're biting great. Have you asked your mother if you could go? ROBERT--No, I haven't. SLATS--Well what do you think she is, a mind reader or something? FAT--No, probably he thinks if he waits long enough, somebody will ask her for him. BUD--Don't judge everybody by yourself. Rob always does everything for himself and a lot of things for other people, and you know it, unless your head's too fat. SLATS--Well, aren't you going to ask her Rob? ROBERT--No, I told you before, I couldn't go fishing. FAT--Well, how do you know you can't if you haven't even asked? Talk about my head being fat! BUD--You better be careful what you say to Rob. He could trim the life out of you, and you know it. ROBERT--I don't see what you boys are making all this fuss about. I just can't go fishing, that's all. You fellows go ahead and have a good time and tomorrow tell me all about that biggest fish that got away. BUD--Don't you want to go, Rob? ROBERT--Of course I want to go, but I simply can't this afternoon, that's all. BUD--Aw what's the secret, Rob? Aren't you and I pardners?