Shun

I stepped out of my home and into the sunlight, and was immediately greeted by my closest friend, Dan. He came running up to me and asked, "Have you seen what the newspapers have been saying?" He stuck the day's paper in my face. I lowered it down and said, "How can I read it when you have it that close to my face?"

I took the paper and read the headline. Future Of The Nation Unknown. I rolled my eyes. The North and South had been at odd ends for a while now, and I was growing tired of it. I tossed the paper back at Dan and said, "We aren't going to go to war. Buchanan will work something out with the South and everything will go back to the way it was."

Everyone was worried that our nation would be plunged into a Civil War, but I didn't see it happening. Although, things had been on the rocks lately, and people weren't even sure why the North and South were disagreeing.

A lot of people thought it had to do with slavery. Yeah, that was a factor, but there was so much more that was contributing to this. Things such as the dispute with the territory that was aquirred during the Louisiana Purchase, and whether they would become slave states, or not. There were also the matters of States' Rights and the increase in the tariff taxes.

It was all so ridiculous. People could find any kind of excuse to argue, and it made me sick at times. None of this had to happen. If the North and South would just let the other do what they wanted, we wouldn't be in the mess we were in now. Dan flagged down a house carriage and climbed in.

He asked, "You coming with me to town, or not?" I sighed and climbed into the seat next to him. Dan gave the carriage driver the name of where we were going, and the driver nodded. Dan asked, "What makes you so certain that we aren't going to go to war?"

I sighed from aggravation. It was difficult to tell at times if Dan wanted this nation to go into a bloody war, or work out its differences. I told him, "I just know. We have some rational people running this country, and they'll work it out to where both sides get what they want."

Dan stared down at the newspaper that he still had with him. Without looking up, he said, "You really think so?" I nodded, wishing that he would end this conversation and go onto another topic. "Dan, I've told you before, I don't care about the other side's problem."

The brunette sighed and remained quiet the rest of the trip. I looked out the window of the carriage and saw presidential flyers hung up everywhere. That was another thing that was tearing the country apart. Lincoln was for the freedom of the slaves, and the South didn't favor his views too much.

The only other choice was Stephen Douglas, but the odds didn't seem to be in his favor. Slavery was the top issue of both of their capaigns, but only one would get their way. And only a few more weeks till election day, I thought to myself.

The carriage stopped, and Dan and I climbed out. We walked up to the local bar and took a seat at a booth. I asked, "Why are we hear again?" Dan leaned back in his seat and said, "I want to hear what people are saying about the possibility of the war."

I shook my head. Should have known. Jake walked up to our table and waved. "Hey, guys. Didn't expect to see you two here today." Dan moved down the seat and said, "Take a seat and talk to us, man." I wished for nothing more but to get as far away from these two as I could.

Jake was like Dan in almost everyway; even down to the concept of a Civil War. It was bad enough I had to listen to Dan talk about it, but two of them babbling on and on, I wasn't able to handle. The minute they started, I sighed. Jake stopped talking and asked, "What's up with him?"

Dan rolled his eyes and said, "He doesn't think a war will break out." I glared at the person who was my friend, and began to wonder why I even hung around him. Jake abruptly stood up from the booth and said, "You seriously don't think that a war will break out? Why? All the signs are pointing to it."

Dan was trying to get Jake to sit back down, but to no prevail. I asked him, "Why do you care if it does? Huh?" Jake sat back down and said, "Because we need to put those Southerns in their place and let them know what they're doing is wrong."

I crossed my arms over my chest and said, "Yes, Jake. The whole slavery thing is wrong, but it's not why there's so much talk about it. The abolishionists don't care for the well-being of the slaves. They only care about whether owning a person is a danger to values and evil, or if it's profitable and protected by the Constitution. That's why it's gotten so much recognition."

I knew what I was talking about. I kept in touch with the recent politics and such. Jake scratched the back of his neck. He was at a loss of words. I told him, "Quite frankly, I don't care what either side does. If the South wants to break away, then they can. Let them do whatever they please. But it's not worth starting a war, and President Buchanan knows this. That's why there is going to be no war."

Dan tapped his fingers on the table and said, "You're dead set on this, aren't you?" I ran a hand through my hair, feeling a headache starting to form. There was no convincing these two.

Jake looked out the window behind us and said, "I have to get going before it gets too dark." He stood up and left the table. Dan told him, "Bye, Jake." I just sat there, not saying anything.

Alice

My grandfather opened the carriage door, revealing yet another large Antibellum home. I sighed and stepped out, making sure that my dress didn't catch on anything. As we approached the doors of the home, I asked, "Do I really have to do this again?" He nodded.

I was here to meet another marriage hopeful that my parents had picked out. It had to be the third this week, and I was growing tired of having strangers placed in front of me, asking for my hand in marriage. The doors were opened by two slaves. I rolled my eyes.

He was a plantation owner, just like the last four suitors. Then again, most of the people in the South were. I found my marriage hopeful standing in front of a large staricase, dressed in the basic plantation owner garments.

I walked up to him, and he bent over, placing his right arm over his chest. "My name is Klaus. I'm pleased to meet you, malady." He took my hand and kissed it. I wanted to snatch my hand away from him, but that would be considered rude. Beside me, my grandfather shook his head.

He knew I didn't like doing this, but it wasn't like I had much choice. Klaus stood up and said, "Would you like to take a look around?" I shook my head and said, "No, but thanks for the offer." I had seen one too many homes like this, and they all looked the same to me now.

My grandfather asked, "What do you think of this suitor, Alice?" He knew what I thought of him; just another stranger that I was being forced to decide if I wanted to spend my life with. But if I said no, then I would just have to do this all over again.

That was stressful enough on me. Unable to handle another meeting like this, I said, "I think he may be the one." The words stung my tongue after I said them, but I didn't want to continue to do this. My grandfather looked at me, knowing all too well I was lying.

Klaus clapped his hands together and said, "Oh, this is wonderful. I promise, I will make you the happiest woman in all of the great South." He took my hand again, kissing it in the same place. My grandfather leaned over and whispered, "Alice, you don't have to marry him if you don't want to."

I didn't want to, but I also didn't want to meet another hopeful in the morning. I told him, "I know, but I want to end this once and for all." He nodded, fully understanding why. My grandfather escorted me back to the carriage. Before climbing inside, I turned around and looked at the place that would become my new home soon.

I sighed and climbed up the steps on the carriage, and closed the door. The carriage started to move, and the Antebellum home became smaller as we got further away. I couldn't help but think that this was such a wonderful time get married.

There was the winds of war drifting through the wind, and I knew that it wouldn't be long before one side attacked the other. These were just such confusing times for us all. "Your parents will be happy that you finally chose a suitor that they picked," my grandfather said flatly.

They just wanted what they thought was best for me, despite if I thought it was or wasn't. A stray leave found its way into the carriage through the open window. It landed on my lap, brown and brittle as the changing seasons took its life away.

At that moment, I felt like that leaf; no choice on how I wanted to live, at the mercy of what the rest of the world told me to do. I stuck my hand out of the window, and let the leaf go. The breeze took it away, and carried it somewhere else.

My grandfather cleared his throat and tried to strike up a conversation, that didn't have to do with my newly betrothed. He said, "I heard rumor that South Carolina is thinking about seceding. What a bunch of fools, don't you think? Don't they know what will happen if they do that?"

I did know. It would most likely spark a fight, that would soon ignite the whole powder keg, sending the country into a war. "Maybe Buchanan can do something in time and stop it from happening." Unlike most of the Southerners, my grandfather and I didn't want to see a war form. Nobody would win. But it seemed like people didn't care.

They wanted to try and show who was superior. That was the Nationalism that was taking place and tearing this country further and further apart. The carriage came to a halt, and my parents were standing outside of our home. It was a nice place, but nowhere near what the plantation homes looked like.

They stood in front of the stairs, looking eager to know the verdict of their daughter's latest proposal. My grandfather grabbed my hand before I stepped out of the carriage. He told me, "You can still call it off while you have the chance."

I smiled and said, "I know, but I'm going to put an end to this." I slid out of the carriage, straightening the skirt of my dress. My mother ran up to me and asked, "So, what did you say? Did you say yes?" I smiled and nodded.

My mother squealed with joy and said, "I was so worried we'd never find the right person for you. Come on inside. This calls for a celebration." She ran inside the house, and my father followed behind her. I turned around to look at my grandfather.

He looked somewhat disappointed, but I did what I had to. I shrugged my shoulders and gave him a smile, then walked inside of the house.

Story title is based off the song Southern Hymn by Samuel Hazo. o.o yes, i am a workaholic. X3 this story is going to require a lot of research (for it it going to be the most historically acurate story i'll ever write.) so yes, there will be a lot of mentioning of slavery (since that is what most of the Civil War was about.) it's history, so i'm not meaning to offend anybody. i also have the link to the full story cover on my profile, along with the youtube link to the song. check it out. read, review, and other things. ~Copperpelt~