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Chapter 37

           MostofthosewhohadfoughtfortheConfederacy,heldofficeunderitorgivenaidandcomforttoitwerenotallowedtovote,hadnochoiceintheselectionoftheirpublicofficialsandwerewhollyunderthepowerofanalienrule.Manymen,thinkingsoberlyofGeneralLee’swordsandexample,wishedtotaketheoath,becomecitizensagainandforgetthepast.Buttheywerenotpermittedtotakeit.Otherswhowerepermittedtotaketheoath,hotlyrefusedtodoso,scorningtoswearallegiancetoagovernmentwhichwasdeliberatelysubjectingthemtocrueltyandhumiliation.

           Scarlettheardoverandoveruntilshecouldhavescreamedattherepetition:"I’dhavetakentheirdamnedoathrightafterthesurrenderifthey’dacteddecent.IcanberestoredtotheUnion,butbyGod,Ican’tbereconstructedintoit!"

           Throughtheseanxiousdaysandnights,Scarlettwastornwithfear.Theever-presentmenaceoflawlessnegroesandYankeesoldierspreyedonhermind,thedangerofconfiscationwasconstantlywithher,eveninherdreams,andshedreadedworseterrorstocome.Depressedbythehelplessnessofherselfandherfriends,ofthewholeSouth,itwasnotstrangethatsheoftenrememberedduringthesedaysthewordswhichTonyFontainehadspokensopassionately:

           "GoodGod,Scarlett,itisn’ttobeborne!Anditwon’tbeborne!"

           Inspiteofwar,fireandReconstruction,Atlantahadagainbecomeaboomtown.Inmanyways,theplaceresembledthebusyyoungcityoftheConfederacy’searlydays.

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