LAKE COUNTY FARMERS.

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cession bore a large banner, with this inscription: "THE GIFT OF LAKE COUNTY TO OUR BRAVE BOYS IN THE HOSPITALS, THROUGH THE GREAT NORTHWESTERN FAIR." It was a free-will offering from hearts that beat true to freedom and the Union. No part of the procession attracted more attention, and no heartier cheers went up from the thousands who thronged the streets, than those given, and thrice repeated, for the splendid donation of the Lake County farmers. There were no small loads here. Every wagon was filled to overflowing with great heaps of potatoes and silver-skinned onions, mammoth squashes, huge beets and turnips, monster cabbages, barrels of cider, and rosy apples - load after load, with many a gray-haired farmer driving.

Many of the farmers were sunburned men, with hard and rigid features, and a careless observer would have said that there was nothing in these farm-wagons and their drivers to awaken any sentiment. But there was something in this farmers' procession that brought tears to the eyes as the heavy loads toiled by. On the sidewalk, among the spectators, was a broad-shouldered Dutchman, with a stolid, inexpressive face. He gazed at this singular procession as it passed, the sunburned farmers, the long narrow wagons, and the endless variety of vegetables and farm produce, the men with their sober faces and homely gifts,—until, when the last wagon had passed, he broke down in a flood of tears. He could do nothing and say nothing; but he seized upon the little child whom he held by the hand, and hugged her to his heart, trying to hide his manly tears behind her flowing curls.

Among the wagons was one peculiar for its look

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"WE DID THE BEST WE COULD."

of poverty. It was worn and mended, and was drawn by horses which had seen much of life, but little grain. The driver was a man past middle age, with the clothing and look of one who had toiled hard, but his face was thoughtful and kindly. By his side was his wife, a silent, worn woman,- for many of the farmers had their wives and daughters on the loads, and in the rear was a seeming girl of fifteen and her sister, both dressed in black, and with them a baby.

Some one said to the man, "My friend, I am curious to know what you are bringing to the soldiers. What have you?" "Well," said he, "here are potatoes, and here are three boxes of onions; and there are some ruta-bagas, and there are a few turnips; and that is a small bag of meal; and then, you see, the cabbages fill in; that box with slats has ducks in it, which one of our folks sent."

"Oh, then this is not all your load alone, is it?" "Why, no; our region where we live is rather poor soil, and we haven't any of us much to spare, anyway; yet for this business we could have raked up as much again as this, if we had had time. But we didn't get the notice that the wagons were going in until last night at eight o'clock, and it was dark and raining then. So my wife and I and the girls could only go round to five or six of the neighbors within a mile or so; but we did the best we could. We worked pretty much all the night, and loaded so as to be ready to get out to the main road and start with the rest of 'em this morning. It's little, but then it's something for the soldiers."

"Have you a son in the army?"

"Well, no," he answered slowly, turning round

now.

THE SANITARY FAIR OPENED.

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"No, we haven't

and glancing stealthily at his wife. We had one there once. He was buried down by Stone River. He was shot there. That's his wife there with the baby," pointing over his shoulder to the rear of the wagon without looking back; "but I should not bring these things any quicker if he were alive now and in the army. I don't know as I should think so much as I do now about the boys way off there. He was a good boy."

The goal of the procession was the spacious yard of the Court House, where it halted for an address by Thomas B. Bryan, the loyal and gifted nephew of the rebel general Robert Lee.

The fair was opened at noon, and the firing of thirty-four guns gave to the public the indication that its managers were in readiness to receive guests, and to put on the market its varied wares. As the last gun boomed on the ears of the vast multitude, they surged like a tidal wave towards Bryan Hall, the first of a series of six or seven, occupied by the fair, to be entered.

The Lake County delegation of farmers proceeded first to the rooms of the Sanitary Commission to unload their freight of vegetables. The hundreds of wagons drew up before the doors, and soon the sidewalks and streets were filled with boxes, barrels, and sacks. Scores and scores of bystanders eagerly put their shoulders to the work, proud to aid in unloading the farmers' produce. Madison Street, for a whole square, was blockaded an hour, and the progress of the street-cars arrested, but nobody grumbled. The passengers alighted and increased the crowd, cheering the farmers, shaking hands with. them, offering help, uttering congratulations and

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TOUCHING INCIDENT.

benedictions. Many a rough fellow, who elbowed his way into the dense throng to lend a hand at the disburdening of the wagons, found his hitherto everready words fail him, and turned to dash away, with the back of his hand, unwonted tears, of which he need not have been ashamed.

The back room of the Commission was speedily filled with wheat. Mr. McVicker, the well-known theatrical manager, tendered the use of his capacious cellar under the theatre for the vegetables, and that also was soon filled. While unloading, a messenger from the women managers approached the farmers with an invitation to Lower Bryan Hall, where a sumptuous dinner was awaiting them. The sturdy yeomen, accompanied by the marshals of the several divisions, marched to the hall, where the women warmly welcomed them.

A touching little episode occurred while the farmers were dining. In the neighborhood of their table were several soldiers, who had also ordered dinner. One of them chancing to give an order during a brief pause in the conversation, the tones caught the ear of one of the farmers, who turned quickly, and recognized in the bronzed and bluecoated soldier behind him his own son, whom he had not seen for two years and a half. He was now on his way home from Vicksburg on a short furlough. The discovery and recognition were mutual. Father and son started up at the same glad moment, and, in the touching language of Scripture, literally "fell on each other's necks and wept." This little occurrence gave new zest to the dinner, and added to the excitement of the hour.

CHAPTER XXI.

STORY OF THE GREAT FAIR CONTINUED ITS SIX HALLSPRESIDENT LINCOLN'S DONATION UNEXAMPLED ENTHUSIASM-"GOD BLESS THE FARMERS."

Profusion of Wares and rapid Sales-Daily Excursion Trains - President Lincoln donates the Manuscript of the Proclamation of Emancipation Large Quantities of Food sent from the Country to the Dining-HallHow Dubuque furnished her Quota of Supplies- Picturesque Scene -Hall erected for Donations of Machinery-Our Bargain with the Builder-A Revelation and its Results-County Court Room transformed into a "Curiosity Shop" - Rebel Flags, and Battle Trophies Slave Shackles and Collars-Large Loan Collection of Art Works-Anna Dickinson's Lectures-Dinner to Northwestern Governors, Congressmen, and other Dignitaries - Gift of Live Stock-Auction Sales on the Sidewalk.

BRYAN HALL BAZAR.

HE inaugural ceremonies being over, we will follow the multitude to Bryan Hall, transferred for the nonce into a bazar, rivalling those of the Orient in bewildering beauty. A semi-circle of double booths followed the curve of the gallery, and another semi-circle was arranged against the wall, a broad aisle being left between for a promenade. In the centre of the hall, under the dome, a large octagonal pagoda was erected, two stories high; the lower floor occupied by fair saleswomen and brilliant wares, while in the gallery, overhead, the band discoursed sweet music through the afternoon and evening. The leading