He had the power, too, of making many of those who had suffered by his acts believe him honest.

Indeed, while one portion of the community was cursing him for a knave, another was defending him as a really useful man--an opinion Mrs.Chapman was always ready to endorse.

In short, Chapman had supporters in Nyack who would have sent him to Congress out of sheer love for his talents, which they were sure would have found a happy field for their development.

Mrs.Chapman always sought to conciliate these friends, and would invite them to tea.

On these little occasions, after discussing the merits of cider-vinegar and homemade pumpkin pies, and the care respectable people should exercise over the company they kept, for there was pure New England "grit" in the lady, she would recur to her dear husband.
"All Nyack will confess how intellectually great he is," she would say; "and show me the person who has done more to elevate the moral respectability of Nyack.