Across Five Aprils

Across Five Aprils
historical novel
pages read 33

In chapter 2, a man named Wilse Graham who is Jethro's cousin visits the Creightons. The Creightons decide to let him and his companions stay for the night which makes Jethro happy as he can escape the monotonous routine. But things go different from what Jethro had anticipated and Wilse and Matt gets into an argument about war.  Matt asks Wilse if Kentucky wants to secede, and Wilse says maybe and, in return, asks how southern Illinois would feel about it. Matt says it will be hard for the river states, and Wilse argues that southern Illinois is part of the South. Matt argues that "separate, we're jest two weakened, puny pieces, each needin' the other." Wilse argues that only half of the country enjoys those benefits. Wilse says that the South should be able to do what it wants with no interference and adds that since the beginning of time slavery has existed. Wilse says that the real issue is greed, not slavery. Ellen stops the argument and Wilse apologises. Then Sadrach returns with a news and reports that there has been a gun fight in Fort Sumter and that the union general surrendered. Jenny asks if it means war and Sadrach says that since the congress is not in session, it is technically not a war. However Lincoln asked for 75,000 volunteer soldiers which would mean that it is a war between the North and the South.

This conversation makes Jethro realize that a war is very serious and dreadful since it brought his friendly family into an argument.

I think this family will go through the "danger" in this book which is war. I think Jethro will somehow overcome this war somehow and become a respected man in the end.