replied the generous friend, "whoever wrote them they certainly reflect great credit on the family." My husband wrote much, but was not a voluble talker. As I have said, most of the entertaining devolved upon me, and the fact that I often spoke of the scenes in his "Life on the Plains" that we had shared together, must have been the reason why some persons listening to the oft-repeated stories ascribed the book to me.
As for my congratulations, the very highest meed of praise I could give him was that he had not taken the opportunity offered in describing his life in the book to defend himself against the unjust charges of his enemies. I had found that they expected and dreaded it, for "the pen is mightier than the sword," and military people are quick to realize it. My husband appreciated my having noticed what he studied to avoid, though while I commended, I frankly owned I could not have been equal to the task of resisting what could not but be a temptation to retaliate.
