7. In the fall of 1860 a President was to be chosen. There were two great parties in the country the Republican and the Democratic.

8. The Republicans were opposed to slavery, and especially to the carrying of it into any new States or Territories.

9. The Democrats were divided. One portion, composed chiefly of Southern men, said that Congress had no right to do away with slavery, or to prevent its existence in any new State; the other portion declared that it should be left to the States themselves to say whether they should be slave or free. Congress ought not to meddle with the ques

tion.

10. When the Presidential election in 1860 was held, Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, was chosen. He was the candidate of the Republican party. Then followed sad, dark days for our whole country. One after another the Southern States, beginning with South Carolina and ending with Tennessee, declared themselves out of the Union. They set up a Southern Confederacy, and chose Mr. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, for their President.

11. Of course, war could not be far off now; and in fact, before the last State had gone out the first

This was at Fort Sumter, in My story for this lesson will tell

gun had been fired. Charleston harbor. you more about it.

Questions.

1. What may be called the saddest portion of our history?

2. What had the United States gained by the treaty with Mexico? What attracted people to California? What effect had this upon the population?

3. What did the majority of the settlers desire? Who opposed this?

4. How was the question settled for a time? How long was war postponed? When was California admitted? What law was passed in the same year? What was to be done under this law?

5. What is said of the ill-feeling during the next ten years? What quarrels arose when new States applied for admission?

6. What was the condition of things in Kansas? At the end of 1859 how many new free States had been admitted? Name them.

7. What two parties divided the country in 1860?

8. How did the Republicans regard slavery? To what did they especially object?

9. What is said of the Democrats? What did one portion say about slavery? Who belonged to this portion chiefly? What did the other portion declare?

10. Who was elected President in the fall of 1860? Of which party was he the candidate? What followed? What did the Southern States do? Which was the first to secede? What did they set up? Who was their President?

11. When and where was the first gun fired in the Civil War?

Story.

1. On Sullivan's Island, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, stands Fort Moultrie. There, in the year 1860, was stationed Major Robert Anderson, with a few officers and artillery soldiers.

2. About a mile distant, in the bay, rose the granite walls and battlements of the small fortress of Sumter. It was the strongest place in case of an attack, and, sad to say, the signs became clearer, every day, that the South Carolinians meant to drive away the United States troops from their harbor. So, the night after Christmas, Major Anderson quietly stole away from Moultrie and put himself and his men into Sumter.

3. Here they spent three weary months. Their provisions were failing, and the Charleston people watched the harbor and kept off every ship that came to bring them supplies. Early in January, a steamer, named The Star of the West, was sent to the relief of the men at Fort Sumter. She went from New York, and had on board artillery soldiers with their arms and ammunition, and supplies of food for the garrison. As this vessel approached Fort Moultrie she was fired into, and, to escape capture or destruction, she withdrew and returned to New York. Major Anderson now knew that in case of attack he had not ammunition enough to return a fire for any length of time.

4. At last, on the 10th of April, 1861, the Southern general, Beauregard, demanded of Major Anderson the surrender of Sumter.

5. Major Anderson refused. To a second demand, made on the following day, Major Anderson replied that he would give up the fort on the 15th of April, unless he should receive, before that day, supplies of food and ammunition, or orders not to surrender, from the government at Washington.

6. But General Beauregard would not wait, and at twenty minutes past four o'clock in the morning, on the 12th of April, the batteries of Charleston opened fire upon the sturdy little fortress of Sumter.

7. It was the hand of Edmund Ruffin, a white-haired old man of Virginia, that fired the first shot.

8. The red-hot shells thrown from the guns set fire to the buildings of the fort. The powder was in so much danger that nearly all of it had to be cast into the sea. The little garrison could not put out the flames, nor return the fire of the enemy. To hold the fort now was impossible, and Major Anderson hoisted a flag of distress. Soon after he surrendered, and on Sunday morning, April 14th, with drums beating and colors flying, the little garrison of eighty men. marched out of Sumter.

1. The war which began with the firing upon Fort Sumter lasted through four sad years. Many bloody battles were fought. Thousands of brave and noble men fell on both sides. Many of the fairest portions of our country were laid waste, and millions of property destroyed.

2. The Confederate soldiers had fine commanders, and they fought with great bravery and spirit.

3. They gained some important victories in Virginia, and it was feared they might capture the capital at Washington.