THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARY THE WILMER COLLECTION OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS PRESENTED BY RICHARD H. WILMER, JR. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://www.archive.org/details/gileadguardsstorOOscot "THIS loyal young lady went TO HER Room and CRIED LIKE ANY OTHER MORTAL." Page 22. THE GILEAD GUARDS A STORY OF WAR-TIME^ IN A NEW ENQLAND TOWN BY MRS. O. W. SCOTT AUTHOR OF Nettie and Her Friends, Santa Claus Stories, Boys and Other Boys, Girls of To-day, etc. NEW YORK: HUNT & EA TON CINCINNA TI: CRANSTON & STOIVE i So i Copyright, 1891, by HUNT & EATON, New Yokk. TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF NEW ENGLAND, AND TO MY NATIVE STATE, WHOSE "GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS'* NEVER LEFT A FLAG IN THE HANDS OF THE REBELS DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THIS STORY OF PATRIOTIC LIVING is afftctionattlp ©fbirattb. 535303 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. page Gilead's First War Sermon 7 CHAPTER II. Plowshares into Swords 23 CHAPTER III. A Pastoral Visit 36 CHAPTER IV. A Strange Test 50 CHAPTER V. A Peculiar Angel 62 CHAPTER VI. Sunday Noon 74 CHAPTER VII. "Company F" S7 CHAPTER VIII. Blue Suits 99 CHAPTER IX. On to Dixie 109 CHAPTER X. Austin's Letter 122 CHAPTER XI. Mrs. Phelps's Thanksgiving Sermon 132 CHAPTER XII. The Emancipation Proclamation 142 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIII. page A Fallen Hero 155 CHAPTER XIV. Esther's School 164 CHAPTER XV. Victoria Victrix 173 CHAPTER XVI. Gilead's " Soldiers' Aid " 182 CHAPTER XVII. Comfort-bags 194 CHAPTER XVIII. Self-denial Supplies 205 CHAPTER XIX. Two Lives for One 217 CHAPTER XX. " Your Vegetables or Vour Life ! " 230 CHAPTER XXI. Hiel's Experience 240 CHAPTER XXII. From the Shadow of Death 252 CHAPTER XXIII. The Raid and a Raider 261 CHAPTER XXIV. Ruby's Hero 271 CHAPTER XXV. Thanksgiving Again 282 CHAPTER XXVI. Swords into Plowshares 292 THE GILEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER I. GILEAD'S FIRST WAR SERMON. THERE was nothing in the rural town of Gil- ead on that lovely June Sabbath in 1862 to suggest warfare of any kind. Looking around you might have seen wide corn- fields, hill pastures covered with verdure to their very tops, sleepy cows lying beside shaded brooks, lazily chewing their cuds, and long dusty roads lead- ing past quiet farm-houses. Farther away, out- lined clearly against the quiet sky, were long spurs of the Green Mountain range, encircling the town and completely shutting it in from the outside world. You would have said, " Beautiful for situation ! " and so it was ; even to the small unambitious vil- lage which crowned an elevation near the center of the town, where were two churches, a court-house, bank, and a few other unpretentious public build- ings in the midst of pleasant homes. The churches, one white, the other light brown, stood on either side of an inclosed plot of ground called the " com- mon." You might have wondered why it was in- closed, for it was overgrown with weeds and this- S THE G I LEAD GUARDS. ties, and crossed from gate to gate by two narrow paths, showing that it was open to the public, and not a " private institution." It was also surrounded by a row of trees, tiny maples, most of them, which were nearly all dead and stood as mute witnesses against a " village improvement society " which had built the fence, set out the trees, and then died of exhaustion. But the fence was not simply a relic, since to its post-rails, Sunday after Sunday, were fastened the horses which brought the farmers' families to church. There they stood on this particular Sabbath, with bowed heads and half-closed eyes; their tails lazily switching the flies away, voluntarily enforcing the natural " Sunday law," whose only enemy is man. Two or three village loafers sat on the store steps just around a corner, talking and spitting to- bacco-juice right and left, their soiled clothing and unshaven faces bearing witness against them. But even they gave vent to their stale jokes and lifeless gossip in lower tones than usual, irresistibly sub- dued by the pervading quiet and peace of the day. Possibly, too, they felt the influence of tones which occasionally resounded from the nearest pulpit; seeming to bring them, in their forlorn condition, uncomfortably near to their neglected " gospel privileges." They knew very well whose voice it was, and as it grew more distinct with increasiugV earnestness, Jack Bragg remarked uneasily : "The elder appears to be havin' a remarkable free time." And this was also the opinion of the people who filled the plain, old-fashioned white church, as they GILEAD'S FIRST WAR SERMON. 9 always did when it was noised abroad that " Elder Putnam " was to be present on one of his official quarterly visits. The young pastor of the church looked upon this popularity with a jealous eye, and decided to watch the man more carefully, to ascertain, if possible, by what secret power he drew from their homes men and women who had never been affected in the least by his own eloquence. But with the reading of the text on this occasion his anxieties began, increasing with the progress of the sermon until he was wholly unfit to prepare a calm synopsis of that discourse or any other. The text was, " O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet ? " The preacher read it twice with great distinctness, standing before the people, tall, dark, and spare, like some self-renouncing prophet with a message from the Lord. Then followed Gilead's first war sermon. It may seem strange that this was true, but the town was far from the centers of excitement and action ; so, although more than one year of war had passed into history, this isolated little place had sent but few to the front. A few there had been, of the best and the worst young men, who had hur- ried away at the first alarm ; but the great majority were still reading their own town paper, the Stand- ard, and the New York Tribune, and impatiently waiting for the "rulers" to settle the "little un- pleasantness." But their loyalty and personal interest had been pent up quite as long as was possible, and this ser- mon was like a match thrown among prepared com- 10 THE GILEAD GUARDS. bustibles. The pastor, Rev. G. Harmon Phelps, looked into the faces of the people in amazement as they listened to the fiery sentences which fol- lowed each other in rapid succession, often enforced by resounding thumps upon the pulpit. The elder was never a quiet man in preaching, but now he paced back and forth, his iron-gray hair tossed from his forehead, his face alive with intense feeling. " Ah," said he, " what shall we say of this terrible sin of slavery ? Men have dared to buy and sell and torture their brother-men ; and the question as to whether it was right or wrong has been thrown back and forth in our legislative halls until it has been molded into a red-hot cannon-ball, and God says, 'Use it for the down-trodden and the oppressed.' God has been patient. He kept silent until the heavens were rent with the cries of his enslaved children, and then he stretched forth his hands, and this nation is being shaken by the fierceness of his wrath." Esquire Fletcher, who occupied a prominent pew and was listening intently, brought his gold-headed cane down upon the floor with emphasis, and groaned audibly. " You have thought slavery was a horrible sin, no doubt, but how can you measure a sin that does not seemingly touch you or your interests? " But God, according to his word, is revealing to this nation, and to us as individuals, the magnitude of this sin by demanding a corresponding sacrifice. And O, what a price to pay ! When your brave boys stand in the day of battle to fight for those GILEAD'S FIRST WAR SERMON. 11 who cannot fight for themselves, then you will be- gin to understand God's opinion of this great ques- tion." Two or three women, mothers of " brave boys," covered their faces ; but with outstretched hand the minister continued : " Sin never fully showed its hideousness until the great Sacrifice was offered once for all ; and slavery, the special sin of this nation, never looked as black as it will when the altars of our country are drenched with patriotic blood." Turning from the description of sin to the possi- bility of its triumph, the preacher aroused the loy- alty of his hearers by referring to the struggles of their forefathers, and the true significance of national liberty; appealing to them, as they valued their inherited blessings, to defend them, if need be, with their lives. It is impossible to convey an idea of the intensity, the fierce energy, with which the sermon was de- livered. It was this even more than the Avords which electrified the people. Not that they evinced any special excitement, for that was not customary in New England country towns ; but one who un- derstood them as well even as their pastor might safely predict results. In a certain pew sat Mr. Rollins, who had kept all the newspapers out of his home, lest his two grown- up sons should " catch the war fever." His face wore a look of stern disapproval which was faithfully reflected in that of his wife ; who, being on the sunny side of the house and close to a large, un- shaded window, had spread her green gingham par- 12 THE GILEAD GUARDS. asol, from whose protecting shade she sent her wrathful glance toward the pulpit. The boys sat between their parents ; and their mother noted with a heart-pang that Thomas was preternaturally quiet, while Andrew was constantly running his fingers through his well-oiled hair until it stood up in every direction. Just in front sat Mr. Douglas, a man of Scotch descent, whose opin- ions were always worth considering. He felt sure from the first that his son David's fate was decided. But he listened, and weighed arguments, and ad- mitted evidence, and made up his mind to submit bravely to the inevitable, even while a voice from the depths of his heart was crying, " My son, my son, my only son, can I give you up?" There, too, was poor little Mrs. Follinsbee, dis- solved in tears because her big broad-shouldered husband, who had been growing restless of late, was assuming a martial air, and indorsing, silently but unmistakably, every word of the sermon. In the gallery, which rose behind and above the high "box pulpit," was the choir, numbering a dozen or more young people. At the head of the soprano sat Ruby Fletcher, the squire's only child. Her cheeks were crimson with excitement, and her eyes glowed as she fol- lowed the discourse and watched the people in the pews below. She wished she were a man, that she might dash away at once and win glory upon a battle-field. As she was only a woman, she began to wonder if Abram Steele felt as she did, and wished she could catch one glimpse of his face. But Abram was chorister, and sat near the melodeon at the GILEAD 'S FIRST WAR SERMON: 13 rear, quietly turning the leaves of his singing-book. Don Stanley, who sat next to Ruby, at the head of the bass singers, gave an answering nod to her in- quiring glance; and Joe Armstrong, just beyond, seemed profoundly moved, but kept his eyes fixed upon the minister. His wife was behind Ruby, with baby Nellie; and, having written a note to Joe on a leaf torn from her hymn-book, she begged Ruby to pass it to him, whispering as she did so : " He needn't think he is going. I wont let him. I wish that minister was in Texas." "Don't talk that way, Vic," replied Ruby. " Somebody has got to go, and if you love your country just keep still and help Joe get ready. I would, if I were in your place." " You don't know any thing about it. I don't care two cents for my country, and Joe's worth more than all the negroes. O, dear! O, dear!" And Vic ended her frenzied whisper with an hyster- ical sob which all the singers heard, especially poor Joe, whose eyes filled with tears as he thought of what it would be to leave wife and baby. The ser- mon closed at length, and, like the echo of a bugle- call " America " was read. The choir and con- gregation tried to sing it, but the volume of sound which the good old tune usually carried was lack- ing, and at the last verse it became almost a bass and tenor duet. One voice, however, sustained the air to the end, and that was Ruby Fletcher's. Her father, who, as usual, was keeping time with his cane, noticed an expression upon her face which reminded him of a picture of Joan d'Arc, hanging in his li- brary at home ; and he said to himself, " If Ruby 14 THE GILEAD GUARDS. were a boy she would enlist to-morrow." But Ruby was not a boy, and so it was an easy matter for Esquire Fletcher to hasten forward a little later, shake hands with the minister, and say, " That was grand, elder! Just what was needed to rouse our boys. If you had called for volunteers you'd have got them, I'm sure." " Perhaps Mr. Fletcher would not feel quite so pleased if we had a son to send," said his wife. " No, that he wouldn't," said Mr. Douglas, ex- tending his hand. " He would close his lips and pray for courage, as I do, when I think of my David." Mr. Putnam wiped the perspiration from his fore- head and turned with a look of deep sympathy at this remark. "And do you think he will surely go?" he in- quired, then added, half-regretfully, " I have been surprised at the way the subject has opened before me. I was led out to speak of things I had not thought to mention, and yet I meant it all, breth- ren, every word of it." " Of course ! of course ! " responded Mr. Douglas, heartily. " I've been convinced for some time that we would have to do our part ; but it comes hard on us who have boys." " I have two in the field already," said the min- ister, in a husky tone; " so I know just how it is." Mrs. Follinsbee, a meek, hard-working woman, naturally very retiring, now pressed forward, her eyes red with weeping. " My husband will go to war now, I know he will," said she, " and you are responsible ! " GILEAD 'S FIRST WAR SERMON. 15 " O, I hope not, I trust not ! Your husband would not take such a step without serious thought and deep conviction, I am sure," said the minister, looking really distressed. But Mrs. Follinsbee only shook her head and hurried away. Mr. Rollins, who had formerly expressed high admiration for Mr. Putnam, did not stop to shake hands. Instead, he expressed his opinion, outside of the door, in a subdued Sunday growl : " Did ye ever hear such stuff? I come to meetin' to hear the Gospel, and if a man can't preach the Gospel he better keep away from Gilead." " O, well," answered Mr. Steele, good-naturedly, " this 'ere war may be a gospel war. I can't tell. He preached just what he believes, and I wouldn't wonder if he got it about right." " A minister has no business to preach politics, any way," snapped Mrs. Rollins, who was envelop- ing herself in a ' linen duster ' in view of her three- mile ride. " We rode away down here this hot day to listen to an edifyin' sermon, and I got the boys to come, and here they've got their minds all joggled up about this war business, and next we know they'll be 'listin', Thomas and Andrew both, fer they always go together;" and a sound like a sob fol- lowed the last word, which she seemed to transfix with the pin she used to fasten the duster at the throat. Mr. Steele, who was very lame, sat down in the little vestry to wait until Abram came to the door with the family wagon. He was generally very prompt, but to-day he lingered in the gallery, pre- tending that the melodeon, which had a chronic 16 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. weakness in the bellows, needed special attention. After the other members of the choir had left, Ruby Fletcher came back for a forgotten glove, as Abram had begged her to ! " Well? " said she, inquiringly, her face still glow- ing with the Joan d'Arc expression. " I must go ; I suppose you know that ? " said he, lightly and yet decidedly. " Yes," she answered, fully understanding, " and I only wish I could go too." " May I come up to see you a little while this evening ?" was the next question, and Abram closed and locked the melodeon nervously before he looked at her. " Yes, if you want to," responded Ruby ; and then she ran down the stairs to join her father, her heart throbbing strangely, while hot tears rushed to her eyes. Mr. Fletcher was still talking with the two ministers ; while her mother, the Steele girls, and Miss Hancock were gathered about Mrs. Judge Plumley, whose son was captain of a cavalry com- pany. She belonged to the " other church," but, being engaged in packing a box for the " boys," had come across the " common " to give the ladies an opportunity to send packages if they desired to do so. " We haven't many friends there yet," said Miss Hancock ; " but there's no telling when we shall have. After the sermon we had to-day it'll be a wonder if men enough stay at home to do the hay- ing." " Be thankful you've nobody to send, Miss Han- cock," said Mrs. Plumley, tenderly. GI LEAD'S FIRST WAR SERMON. 17 "But haven't I?" responded that lady. "Look at my Sabbath-school class ! A dozen young men that I've had since they wore dresses — some of them, any way — and haven't I told them war stories by the hour? I thought, as I watched their faces to- day, that I had done my part toward preparing them. I wanted them to be brave, but not for this." But the noise of wheels at the door called the Steele girls away, and very soon the old meeting- house was silent ; and the dust settled upon the great Bible and hymn-book, the spiders went on weaving lace curtains over the bare windows, the pews assumed again that look of peculiar emptiness which characterizes church pews during the week, and the old sexton, who lived just across the street, laid down his paper and hobbled over to lock the door ; but the words which had been spoken were not shut in. They were already like seed scattered broadcast, destined to bring forth much fruit. Mr. Steele's horse, tired and hungry after his long fast, could hardly wait until the family were seated in the carriage to start for home. He went pranc- ing and curveting through the village, only settling into a respectable trot when the long hill was reached. It seemed natural then that the sermon should be discussed, but there was an ominous silence instead. Abram used his whip assiduously upon the birch saplings which almost touched the wheels ; for the hill road ran through delightful woods whose shade was doubly welcome on a melting summer's day. His father was absorbed in his own meditations, and IS THE GILEAD GUARDS. Esther and Mary did not care to break the spell. So the mile and more between church and home was passed without a word on the exciting topic of the day. But the news had been in advance of them, for the Hickey boys, who lived beyond Mr. Steele's, had discovered Benjie standing under some plum- trees, book in hand, while he " watched the bees," whose expected swarming had kept him at home. " Hello ! " they called, approaching with long strides, their Sunday coats hanging over their arms, their hats pushed back from perspiring foreheads. " Whew ! " ejaculated John Henry, using his hat for a fan. "You look nice 'nd comfort'ble here in the shade, Benjie. I tell you it's too hot to dress up in meetin' clothes. Good things has to be lined, I s'pose, but lining's a nuisance such weather 's this." " You'd orter heard Elder Put's sermon, though," interposed George, drawing a long " ribbon grass " over his thumb ; " every body's wide awake, I tell you. It was a regular fightin' sermon ; 'nd all the boys 're ready to enlist. You'd orter seen their faces, and the women's faces too. O, my! you'd thought 'twas a funeral, to see 'em cry. You'll find out Abram '11 go ; I could sec how he looked in behind his singin'-book. Ruby Fletcher, too — she grew red in the face, 'nd her eyes snapped, 'nd I'll bet she wished she was a boy, so she could go, She wont keep Abram from goin'; you c'n bet your life on that ! " " Some of the old men got to talkin'," interrupted John Henry, "and I heard 'em say that Abram G I LEAD 'S FIRST WAR SERMON: 19 would be an officer if he went. He's a grand good feller, Abram is." It made Benjie feel an inch taller to hear his brother praised, but he only said, " I don't know- about that ; I guess there's a good many that want to be officers." "Yes," said John Henry, gathering himself up to go on, " it aint likely any Gilead boy will want to be less 'n captain ; though if I enlist I'll be sat- isfied with first lieutenant's place ;" and his big sober mouth broadened, and his eyes twinkled in visible appreciation of the joke. As the two brothers walked on, Benjamin hurried into the house, where he found the family just ready to sit down to a late dinner, which also answered for an early supper. " Have you really made up your mind to go to war, Abram?" asked the boy, excitedly, as he slid into his place. "The Hickey boys think so, any- how." "Benjamin!" cried his mother, with quick ap- prehension, "what are you talking about? The Hickey boys ought to be in better business than telling such stuff on Sunday." Abram looked at his father and the girls with a queer smile. " They were only following the minis- ter's example, I guess. But the fact is we might as well face this thing first as last ;" and Abram threw back his broad shoulders. " I do expect, if I live, to enlist." " O, Abram ! " and with grief-stricken face his mother looked at him, while . her eyes filled with tears. 20 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " Wish 't I was old enough to go too," said Rcnjie in a low tone, giving Abram an admiring nod. Mr. Steele buttered the piece of bread on his plate and cut it into sections. " It don't surprise me much to hear you say so, Abram," he said at length, his voice husky in spite of strong self-con- trol. " I know that many must die for the sins of the nation, but I have hoped there'd be enough to settle the question without drawing on Gilead. Seems to me we haven't many to spare." " There's none to spare," interrupted his wife. " The farms will grow up to weeds while the boys are down South getting shot for nothing." "You don't mean for nothing, mother," said Es- ther, leaning forward with flushed cheeks and tear- ful eyes. " The minister said the Right would win sooner or later." " I see you are all on Abram 's side, quite willing to have him go and leave your poor lame father alone," answered her mother, reproachfully. " O, now, mother, you know better than that," said Abram. " Father wont be left alone. Austin must come home, of course, because he can't go any way. He's only twenty, but he can help do the farm work as well as I, and I'm sure it is his turn after a year in Boston. Why, mother, I have been thinking about this for some time, and I wonder now that I could have waited so long. You would despise me if I stayed at home like a coward." " There's enough that can go and never be missed," was his mother's only answer as she looked into his manly face, now full of animation. GI LEAD'S FIRST WAR SERMON. 21 "Did the bees swarm, Benjamin?" asked Mr. Steele. " No, sir ; I thought they was going to, but I guess there was some trouble with the queen bee. Any- how, they finally settled down." " May be she didn't want them to leave the old hive," said Abram, with a glance at his mother. But she did not answer it, perhaps did not hear his remark. The family were not in the habit of talking freely about matters that affected them most deeply; and, true to their training, they finished the meal almost in silence, though their hearts ached with dread and apprehension. That evening Abram went to see Ruby Fletcher. In quiet, staid Gilead a Sunday-night visit was full of meaning and supposed to be a sure indication of "something serious." Ruby understood this, and with the exaltation of the day still unsubdued she put roses in her hair and upon her breast, and sat behind the vines in the broad veranda watching for him. They had always known each other, and it was tacitly agreed by interested friends that they would some time " make a match ; " but there had never been a formal engagement. That night, however, when Abram left Esquire Fletcher's he was quite ready for congratulations. Ruby had greeted him as a hero, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to promise herself as a reward when he should return from battle-fields, bearing honors, titles, and, possibly, wounds. When he suggested that Ruby only cried out, in her im- pulsive fashion : 22 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " As though that would make any difference ! I'd rather have you come back with only one arm than stay at home and keep both." It is needless to say that Ruby was more patriotic than the majority of young ladies. Her father had " talked politics " with her mother and herself until they thoroughly understood the condition of na- tional affairs ; and, as she inherited his ardent, im- pulsive temperament, she echoed his sentiments even to the limit of self-abnegation. But, after bidding Abram a cheerful good-night, this loyal young lady went to her room and cried like any other mortal ; proving by heartache and tears that her sacrifice was no less real because it was offered with a self- forgetful enthusiasm. As for Abram, we must forgive him if he held his head higher than usual as he strode toward home. All desirable good seemed within his grasp. Ad- venture, patriotic daring and danger, faithful service, advancement, glory, and — Ruby ! He had not known until that day the possibilities within him- self; and as he stood at his father's door he turned and looked across the fields and upon the meadows through which the river ran, all so still under the starlight, and wondered that he had stayed in Gilead so long. How small the place looked in the light of the future ! How uneventful and barren his life had been ! But now it was to expand and grow richer and nobler as he gave himself to his country as a patriot soldier. And, looking up into the serene heights above, he thanked God for life and the prospect that opened before him. PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS. 23 CHAPTER II. PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS. ABRAM'S exalted state of mind was in no sense disturbed by his visions of the night ; and he appeared at the breakfast-table with a radiant face, which his mother scanned with troubled eyes. " You don't look as though you expected to leave home and friends in a little while, Abram," said she, passing him the fragrant johnny-cake. " O, now, mother, don't go to thinking that I shall get killed in the first battle. I expect to go and come back again to take care of you in your old age. Of course you feel bad, but what could you expect of a boy that has read Uncle Toms Cabin through as many times as I have ? Why, I tell you I have almost learned that by heart. And then think how father 's taken the Tribune and Harper's Weekly all this year past, until we're full of fight, and ready to give advice to every general in the army ; " and Abram laughed cheerily, as though the whole subject was one to make merry over. " The Tribune comes out pretty strong — pretty strong," said his father, with emphasis on the first syllable, but otherwise sure of his ground. " None too much so, though; for people and papers can't stand on the fence these days." " I guess we don't stand on the fence," said Ben- 24 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. jie, his mouth hardly cleared in his haste to speak. " It would be funny, after hearing so much about slavery, if none of father's boys should have a hand in getting rid of it." " Austin would be the one to go if he was of age," said Mary. " He's all for excitement and change ; but I don't see how we can get along with- out Abram. Austin never '11 carry us to meetings and singing-school as you do, Abram. But there wont be a singing-school or any thing else, will there ? Who'll sing bass and tenor when all the boys are gone ? " And Mary, who was just learning to sing, looked around with a doleful face. " O, the girls will learn all parts, and have a fe- male choir, probably. And you can learn to chop wood, and ride on the mowing-machine, and do lots of things. Why, Mary, it will be almost as good as though you were a boy." As Mary was rather noted for her scorn of wom- anly duties this provoked a laugh at her expense ; and Abram was very careful to lead the conversation from that point away from the exciting topic of the day. Breakfast finished, Mr. Steele read a chapter from the Bible and offered prayer, which opened their hearts anew and sent every member of the family in a different direction, as soon as they rose from their knees, to hide the tears they could not check. Left alone in the sunny sitting-room, Mr. Steele settled himself once more in his broad old arm-chair and opened his Bible. This was a long- established habit of his ; in fact, his wife had often groaned in spirit when, on a bright morning, he would become so interested in a text as to sit hunt- PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS. 25 ing up references for an hour, when, in her opinion, he should have been differently employed. But for a few years past she had left him in peace, since his increasing lameness had made him incapable of protracted labor — and then, there was Abram ! He had really taken charge of affairs almost wholly since, two years before, he came from school be- cause he learned that his father was borrowing money to keep him there. He had a very high re- spect for his father's mental and moral qualities, but saw that, through his goodness and confidence in his fellow-men, he was constantly liable to impo- sition. Abram could never forget how, when Mr. Slocum's old blind ox fell into their ditch, his father had sent him over with one of their best cows to make " lawful restitution," and how Mr. Slocum had chuckled over the matter, accepting the cow even while he declared that the old ox " would have been killed for beef the next week any way ! " Abram was a little fellow at the time, but he lay up in the hay-mow a long while crying over the loss of the cow, and trying to decide what was right and what was wrong, not daring to take his perplexity to his father ; for, while Mr. Steele erred on the side of mercy in his dealings with the world, he was a rigid disciplinarian in his family and encouraged no confidential conferences with his children. But now Abram, without interfering with his father in any way, had established a sort of " protectorate " over his interests, and was trying, with a prospect of success, to pay off the mortgage and make needed improvements. His position as the head of affairs was tacitly acknowledged, and old Mr. 26 THE GILEAD GUARDS. Slocum, who was still apt to " overreach," showed his respect for the young man by building several rods of rail-fence which he had always insisted " be- longed to Steele." Abram laughed when his father cited it as an indication that Mr. Slocum was " growing clever in his old age." And now that this strong, reliable son was about to leave him it was not strange that Mr. Steele felt the need of consolation and read psalm after psalm until his mind was at rest. But the mother could not take time from her busy morning to read the Bible. As she skimmed pans of milk in the cool pantry, transferring the rich yellow cream to earthen jars, she recalled Abram's baby- hood and boyhood; and the love which had been growing all these years protested against his decision. Such was her temperament that she saw but one possible result of his going, which was a fatal shot on a pitch-dark battle-field ! Her imagination ran on until she saw him buried in an unknown grave, the homestead sold, and herself and her husband, reduced to extreme poverty, on their way to the poor-house. And yet in the very midst of these gloomy pictures she decided, like so many, many mothers in those dreadful days, to make the best of what seemed inevitable. As for the cause of all these sad anticipations, he went to his work with a martial tread, feeling that he must accomplish as much as possible before leav- ing the old farm. Benjie kept close by, as though a new partnership had been formed between them, quite ready to air his views of Abram's prospects as a soldier, and to " bet " any amount that he would PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS. 27 speedily be called to some high position. They had been in the field but a short time when a loud "Hullo!" called their attention to the roadside, and there they found Joe Armstrong. " I can't work this morning," said he, dejectedly. "Guess I can't do any thing till this thing is settled, for if you go, Abram, I must. Vic cried and took on so last night that I tried to give it all up, but I can't. It makes me sick to think of it. Seems if I should die if I don't go, 'nd I don't know but Vic '11 die if I do." The distress in Joe's honest eyes was not as- sumed, by any means, and yet Abram laughed as he said, "Why, Joe, you've got the war fever bad, and of course you must go. I don't believe Vic will die, though she'll miss you dreadfully. Some women arc not so brave as others ; they can't help it." And Abram's heart glowed at the thought of Ruby's enthusiasm. In fact, his heart had been in a blissful condition ever since he received her royal blessing, and no difficulty looked very serious in the light of his present experience. Joe's lip quivered as he replied : " Vic don't seem to see any good in it yet. She just sees me, you know, 'nd she's afraid I'll get shot. Then there's little Nellie ; but for all that I feel 's if I must go." Love of country and love for his pretty, shiftless wife and the baby were evidently making it hard for Joe. " Well, I'll tell you what I'd do," said Abram, after a little pause. " I'd go to work and fix things up and get one of her brothers — there's Frank, for 28 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. instance — to stay with her and carry on the farm ; and then, when the recruiting office is open, as it probably will be soon, why, you just enlist, and there you are ! " Joe straightened himself and drew a long breath. " That's what I will do. I don't know what makes me feel so plaguey bad, but since that sermon yesterday, seems 's if I'm all afire ; 'nd I tossed and tumbled all night." " It's catching, Joe. You needn't explain the symptoms to me," laughed Abram. Joe strode away, his face much brighter than when he came; and as he hurried home "'cross lots" he decided just what he ought to do. And " ought " was a strong word with Joe. He had been a poor boy, and had grown up in Gilcad, working here and there, going to school when he could, and winning a good many friends in place of the father and mother he had lost. Not that he had much petting, for the wise people in Gilead did not think that was good for little boys, but they had been fairly kind to him. They brought up their calves on skim milk and then boasted of their size and general excellence ; so, now that Joe had outlived his skim-milk days, they felt a degree of pride in his prosperity, for Joe had bought and cleared a piece of land just at the foot of the mount- ain and built a pretty little house. The neigh- bors encouraged him and gave their approval to that project ; but when he married Victoria Cleo- patra Shaw they groaned in concert. " That silly, lazy thing ! " they said, looking at their own sensible, industrious daughters. PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS. 29 Victoria was the only girl in a family of seven boys, and her mother, a romantic, aspiring woman, whose life of toil gave her only imaginary bliss, had spoiled Victoria by allowing her to spend her time in idleness. The young lady read fashion magazines and story-papers enough to break down the strong- est mind ; and her affections were about equally divided between them, her pretty clothes, and Joe. But Joe was satisfied with his " thirds," and his big, generous heart overflowed with gratitude whenever he thought of the prize he — a homely, awkward fel- low, as he called himself — had secured. In this state of mind he still continued, in spite of his queen's imperfections ; and it was no wonder that he had a struggle between his love of wife and country. But in deciding to enlist he had no idea of giving his life — that was Vic's. He just wanted to go down and help knock the breath out of slavery. That was all ! Vic had not touched the breakfast-table that morning, and when Joe came and stood in the door-way she sat with her hands clasped in her lap, listlessly watching little Nellie, who was creeping about the unswept floor in company with a couple of chickens that had ventured in after crumbs. She only pouted at Joe, and said not a word. " Don't feel bad any more, Vic," said he. " I'm going to work. We wont cross the bridge till we get to it, anyhow. Want me to see if I c'n get some of them peas for dinner? " " If ye want to," said Vic, sullenly. " Well, I will. Come, now, you fix up a little and see to the milk, wont von ? I'm afraid we wont 30 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. make butter enough for ourselves if the cream aint took care of." " I don't want no butter if you go to war," sobbed Vic. Joe, seeing the uselessness of argument, discreetly withdrew after kissing the baby and driving out the chickens. If any one could have taken a bird's-eye view of Gilead that day he would have seen other young men than Abram and Joe who were quite ready to beat their plowshares into swords and start for battle-fields. He would have seen them gathered by twos and threes at convenient corners where " lots " joined, and made friendly consultations practicable, while the " team " rested, and grass and grain waited and waved in the sunshine. But perhaps, after all, Miss Hancock gathered the news nearly as fast as one could, even with an unusually extensive outlook. Not that Miss Han- cock was a gossip ! She detested the character and did not deserve it ; nor could we correctly say that she " gathered " news. It seemed to come to her naturally, because of her relation to the place and the people ; and, having said this, it may be as well to introduce Miss Hancock more fully, because she was, as Mrs. Judge Plumley said, " a person you ought to know." Prudentia Hancock, then, was the last of her family in Gilead, and at this time was a little past forty. But she was youthful in appearance, her small, trim person, unwrinkled face, and keen black eyes having appar- ently made a truce with Father Time. She had been the tailoress in Gilead, but as sewing-machines PLOWSHARES INTO S WORDS. 31 came into use, and ready-made clothing was added to the miscellaneous stock of goods in all country stores, and a man tailor opened a shop at the " Cen- ter " with a great parade of advertisements, her cus- tomers gradually slipped away. Her work could not be excelled, especially her button-holes, which defied the ravages of time; but her patterns did not conform to the latest styles ; and in some way her customers had ascertained that there was a change in the mode of cutting, and a few new tricks in the disposal of buttons and braid, so that only a few of the "older inhabitants " who wore " sheep's-gray " and scoffed at fashion remained upon her list. She had a little home of her own, next door to the par- sonage, and some money in the bank ; but what healthy independent New England woman is satis- fied to fold her hands until she is obliged to ? So of course Miss Hancock took up dress-making and nursing. And in the sick-room she found a new kingdom. Her voice, naturally strong and decided, sank to a most sympathetic purring — not a whisper, that rasping, nerve-tearing whisper which makes a pa- tient frantic and gives him a wild desire to raise the roof and send the nurse flying up toward the starry heavens, but a calm, cheerful, even tone which made a man hope to live, or, if he must die, glad to be in so good hands at the last. But Miss Hancock was valued quite as much for what she was as for what she did. She was intel- ligent and original, a " great reader," and very fond of good poetry. She admired Bryant and Long- fellow and Whittier, but if she found in the Standard 32 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. a little poem which struck her fancy she embalmed it in her memory and pasted it in her scrap-book in close companionship with " Thanatopsis " or some other " rich relation," as she said. As she would pick a blue violet whose hue was deeper than that of its neighbors, so she was con- stantly discovering these little gems of poetry and prose ; and many a time her sharp shears paused in their legitimate work of pattern-cutting to rescue them from some old newspaper. " Rare birds fly low sometimes, so don't look for all the singers in the tops of trees," she would say. Looking back through the years, one sees certain characters clearly outlined against the horizon of his youth. Others are forgotten or recalled with difficulty ; but these, through an individuality which was not fully recog- nized then, are like friends of yesterday. The tone of voice, the peculiar gesture, the varying expres- sion, are all remembered. Miss Hancock is such a character. If she were not this digression would have been shorter. On this particular day, however, at half past three in the afternoon, Miss Hancock closed and locked the door of her little house, put the key in her pocket, looked back to see if the curtains were all drawn, and then hastened down street toward Esquire Fletcher's. This pleasant home was just outside the village, surrounded by trees and shrubbery and beds of blooming flowers ; while beyond was the farm, comprising acres of well-cultivated land. Miss Hancock's brisk walk terminated when she reached the garden, for she never could get past Mrs. Fletcher's flowers without bending over them PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS. 33 a moment for a breath of their fragrance. But the next moment she walked in through the wide cool hall, and tapped on the sitting-room door. "Yes, it's me," said she, in response to a cordial greeting. " I started to come at seven o'clock, cal- culating to finish your dress before this time, but such a time 's I've had. I expect from appearances my Sunday-school boys are all going to enlist — all but two. Johnny Dyke is lame, and Charles Clark isn't eighteen. I tell you I feel like a lone pelican upon the house-top. Where's the scissors, Ruby? I'll work and talk, too." " Never mind the work ; tell us about the boys," said Ruby, clasping her hands tightly, as was her habit when excited. " Well, first come Hiram Follinsbee, and wanted me to talk with his wife. So I went over and stayed an hour, maybe, getting her calmed down. Of course I didn't tell her, but I couldn't help thinking that Hiram would do better for her in the army than anywhere else. He's a great strong man, and will do a good day's work for any body but Hiram Fol- linsbee. Take him at home and he's real shif'less. But then, she thinks he's perfection, and that's all the law requires. Well, next come Don Lester, to hand me some work I got his mother to help me finish off; and when I asked him what he thought of the sermon he said he indorsed it, and if his mother would consent he should go with the boys." " His mother never will consent, I'm sure. Why, Donald is all she has," said Mrs. Fletcher. "Yes, but you can't tell. She's one of these quiet, long-suffering women that wouldn't say a 3 34 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. word if Don thought 'twas duty to go. That's my opinion of her, though, of course, living here so few years, we none of us feel much acquainted. Well, then, don't you think ! That Mrs. Smith drove down from the mountain, and wanted to get me to make some fine shirts for her boys! She's bound they shall have every thing nice if they go. I had to laugh ! I told her they wouldn't want fine bosom- shirts if they went to war. If you believe it, she was real disappointed ; for she had her butter-money, and she just wanted to lay it out on her three boys. I told her there'd be ways enough to spend it before they left. On the way down she heard that Abram Steele and Joe Armstrong and the Hickey boys would likely enlist, and O, dear me, who'll be left, I wonder ! There's your father with the paper, Ruby. Do ask him to come in and tell us the news." " Father always wears his spectacles to the post- office now, so he needn't lose a minute," said Ruby, as she ran out. "There's no special news to-day," said Esquire Fletcher as he seated himself, "only a summing up of particulars about McClellan's retreat. Seven days' fighting on the way, winding up with Malvern Hill, you know — just before the last call for three hundred thousand more. Our side lost more than fifteen thousand men, and didn't take Richmond either. I declare it's enough to make a man sw — " "There, Mr. Fletcher, don't say it," interposed his wife. "Of course you don't know how many difficulties he has to contend with." "That's so; but if the Lord's got a man any- PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS. 35 where that can take that splendid army and do something with it I wish he'd fetch him along. I wouldn't wonder a bit if Lee marched up through Maryland and took Washington while our men are fugling round down there." "Well," sighed Miss Hancock, "it seems that our boys will be needed." " Needed ? Yes, indeed ! Our Gilead boys have got to go down there and show them how to do it ;" and the old gentleman looked at Ruby with a meaning smile. She tried bravely to return it, but it was a failure. She turned to the window and hid her face, thinking of the fifteen thousand brave boys who would never come back. 36 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER III. A PASTORAL VISIT. " ' Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, Rally once again, Shouting — ' " " T)ENJAMIN,please don't sing that anymore;" \~J and Mrs. Steele turned toward the boy who was singing at the top of his voice — a voice that was just now trying to decide where it belonged, and breaking in unexpected places — one of the many patriotic songs which surged through the North clear as bugle-calls, arousing all hearts to a new enthusiasm. Benjie sat down and removed his big straw hat. " It keeps runnin' in my head, mother," said he. " I tell you it sounded good when Miss Bailey sung it last night at the concert. She was all dressed in white, you know, and she had a big flag — " But his mother had left the room, and Esther patiscd, broom in hand, to say : " Now, Benjie, don't you trouble mother so. She feels bad about Abram's going, and you ought to be careful. What's the news? Is the recruiting office open yet?" " Will be to-morrow. I went round by Judge Plumley's office while the horse was bein' shod, and lots of men was there. Wint Allen's home, struttin' 'round in his uniform, and John Bartlett — he's come A PASTORAL VISIT. 37 from Boston. Some of the boys think he expects to be captain of the new company. Don Stanley rode to the corner with me, and he's goin'. His mother said — well, what's the matter with you ? O, I know — you like him ; you like him ! " and the un- feeling boy doubled up over his straw hat, more amused than alarmed by his sister's evident distress. " Benjie Steele ! " gasped Esther, while her face grew as red as it had been white, " don't you dare say one word. Why, I'm ashamed of you. Now, Benjie ! " " Well, you get me a big hunk of pie and I wont. I don't care. He's a good feller. Like him if you want to; " and with this brotherly sanction Benjie seized the wedge of pie which had been speedily brought, settled his hat with one dextrous thrust, and ran away. Esther sat down and covered her face, surprised and ashamed that she had betrayed her secret, and, above all, overwhelmed by the news. They had thought Don would never leave his mother; but now — well, what right had she to grieve ? He had been friendly and polite, nothing more ; and Esther took herself to task at once with all the conscien- tiousness of a girl trained to a Puritanic modesty and reticence. She seized the broom and began work with redoubled energy. Meanwhile her thoughts ran on according to a law of their own, and tears came to her eyes in spite of indignant protest. Don Stanley and his mother had come to Gilead several years before and settled near the mills just below the village, where he obtained employment ; but, the location proving unfavorable, he had hired 38 THE GILEAD GUARDS. a little house not far from Joe Armstrong's, where his mother might have the benefit of mountain air, and walked every day to and from his work. They had a humble home and lived in a modest way, but there were certain indications that they had seen "better days." The widow, in her fine, plain black dresses and clinging crape, with her refined manner and speech, was accused of " feeling above her neighbors ; " while Don, who was like her, only with the advantages of youth and strength, was called " stuck-up " by his uncouth associates. But a few friends they had won, among whom were Abram and Esther, Miss Hancock, and Ruby Fletcher, all of whom respected their well-bred reserve, and felt, as Miss Hancock expressed it, that " where they came from and whether they had any ' folks ' or not was their own business. Any body could see with half an eye that they had an ancestry." And this young man, erect, polite, intelligent, so much like those of whom Esther had read, had un- wittingly won more than her friendship. Poor Es- ther ! She felt that sultry morning that the war was no longer " down South," but right there in Gilead, invading homes, breaking hearts. Somehow the spirit of loyalty which had enabled her to bear the thought of Abram 's going was not sufficiently strong to meet this emergency. She hurried from one duty to another impetuously, upbraiding her- self for the pain that would not be " disciplined," fretted by the heated kitchen and the never-ending routine of housework. But the dinner-hour, so full of weariness, was at length over. The work was " done up," as New Englanders say, and at three A PASTORAL VISIT. 39 o'clock the farm-house, within and without, was ready for a quiet afternoon. Even the hens seemed to understand the programme, for, after bristling and clucking about the yard all the forenoon, they retreated to the currant-bushes or plum-trees, under which they quietly reveled in nests which they hol- lowed for themselves in the warm dust. From a distant field came the voices of the men at work, mingled with the rattle of machinery, and there was in the air a murmur of insect life ; but all sounds were muffled by the heat, which made the sunshine itself look faded as it quivered through trees whose leaves hung limp and motionless. On a board by the woodshed was a shining pyramid of tin pans and pails and an empty churn whose clean " flyers " hinted of aching arms. Crossing the well- swept " shed- room," we catch a glimpse of the kitchen with white floor and well-blacked stove, be- hind which sits the "wood-box" full of wood, "hard and soft," it being one of Benjie's daily afflictions to keep it well supplied. Near a wide lounge, in an old rocker which swung to and fro with many a complaining creak, sat Mrs. Steele, braiding rags to be coiled and sewed " round and round " into a rug, which, once finished, would last nearly a life-time. Flies buzzed sleepily on the little win- dow-panes, and in the side door opening into an entry between kitchen and sitting-room lay Carlo, a handsome foxy-looking dog, extended at full length. In the sitting-room an old-fashioned brass clock ticked lazily — the children said it always knew when rest-time came, and lost its sharp peremptory tone — and at either end of the broad shelf which 40 THE GILEAD GUARDS. held it were piles of newspapers. There was a book-case with glass doors and a home-made desk neatly covered, which was Abram's property. A spider-legged melodeon, a three-and-a-half-octave instrument of wonderful capacity, stood between the two west windows ; and in the middle of the floor was a large table, hinting at family gatherings at " meal time " and on long evenings. The floor, as you saw it between round and oblong rugs, was "spruce yellow," smooth and shining. Here Esther sat in her pink calico afternoon dress, holding her work, but not sewing, only idly tracing figures on the window-pane, against which the lilac bushes outside tapped and scratched. She was still grieving, as girls will grieve over a first sorrow ; but sorrow seldom has a whole afternoon to itself; and Esther's reverie was interrupted by her mother, who hurried in, exclaiming, " Quick, Esther, open the parlor. The minister and his wife are coming, and I must get on my best cap ! " She had barely time to roll up the curtains, raise the windows, and remove Mary's best bonnet from the table before the Rev. G. Harmon Phelps and his wife were ushered in by her mother, whose " best cap " gave slight indications of a hasty adjust- ment. Mrs. Steele shook up the feather cushion in the rocking-chair to a plumper puffiness, and begged the minister to sit down ; but with due respect for the heat, and his wife, he generously waved her to- ward the cushion and seated himself upon what was called a " settee," a sort of wooden sofa with A PASTORAL VISIT. 4i rockers. Esther slipped away for a moment to put on a white apron, smooth her hair afresh, and ex- amine her eyes to see if they gave evidence of the tears that were constantly threatening to overflow. Meanwhile her father had put the minister's horse in the barn with a generous supply of oats before him, and then limped into the house as fast as pos- sible to make himself ready to entertain his honored guest. For in this home, always open to ministers, there still prevailed an old-fashioned idea that a servant of the King was to be treated with special respect. During these preliminaries the minister and his wife were examining the daguerreotypes and books arranged upon the table, the pictures that hung upon the wall, and smiling a little over the mantel ornaments — a plaster-of-paris bouquet, balanced by a kneeling Samuel of the same material, a huge conch shell, and a pair of glass candlesticks each holding a fresh tallow candle. These last were not for ornament, but use, as Mr. Steele cherished the opinion that ''kerosene was 'mazin' unsafe." This young couple had had the misfortune to be reared in a city, hence they were constantly meet- ing the "unexpected" in their pastoral visits; and sometimes it took the form of bric-a-brac and sometimes that of the people themselves. And the minister was often quite as much interested in one as the other. He had begun his work in the ministry honestly believing that he had some new " methods " that would regulate society ; and he came to Gilead expecting the people would crowd to hear him ; expecting they would regard 42 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. him with a sort of worshipful affection. But to his surprise, after listening a few Sabbaths, they began to grow indifferent ; and, as the summer heat increased, the honest farmers who had worked hard through the week would settle down comfortably in their pews and go to sleep almost before he had announced his text. This was very discouraging, and he told his wife confidentially that he did not believe any other man ever had such an ignorant, unappreciative audience as his was. Like all young ambitious souls, he was meeting difficulties that had been met and overcome by thousands of his brethren ; but every David has to face his own Goliath, who always looks taller and stronger to him than any other giant that was ever seen or heard of. In that "dark age" of pulpit- building he was architecturally raised high above the people, and constitutionally and theologically he was elevated still higher, so that really he was a long distance from the " five smooth stones " that still lay in the brook. When on the previous Sabbath he saw his vener- able brother in the ministry, who had no alma mater, hurling thunder-bolts right and left ; when he saw old and young awake and excited, moved and melted in turn, he was well-nigh distracted ; and he told his wife — that long-suffering little woman, who had to bear all his inconsistencies dur- ing this erratic period — that Mr. Putnam had taken advantage of his knowledge of slavery, politics, etc., to arouse the people. For his part he questioned the propriety of such a course. He thought the civil war was an abominable mistake which might A PASTORAL VISIT. 43 have been prevented " if, and if; " until Mr. Phelps, who did not realize " the spring of all his woes," felt constrained to advocate " pastoral calls," hoping thus to change the tide of his thought. This was one cause of the visit at Mr. Steele's, which, after a brief distraction, as already noted, progressed much after the usual fashion, save that Mrs. Phelps, with watchful skill, prevented any reference to the war or the " war sermon." And so a couple of hours passed, and Mary came home from school, and the sun crept around to the west windows, sending its slanting rays through shielding rose- bushes, on which birds sat and swung, peeping in at the busy talkers. And then Esther and her mother withdrew to pre- pare tea, and the boys came from the field tired and hot, to be intercepted and hurried up-stairs that they might make a little extra preparation before meeting " the minister's folks." And then came supper, heralded by a delightful odor of tea and warm cream biscuits, and other uncommonly toothsome dainties. " Abram," said the minister as he broke one of the biscuits, "how will you enjoy soldier's fare after eating such dainties as these? " " Not very well, I dare say," was the hearty an- swer; " but Uncle Sam can hardly be expected to furnish home fare." " I hope you will have an appetite for what you get, so many of the boys are sick in camp. I think more and more that this war is a stupendous mistake," continued Mr. Phelps, while his wife vainly tried to introduce another subject. 44 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " Of course it is a mistake, but not ours," an- swered Abram. " We fight to defend our rights and protect the helpless. I thought the sermon last Sunday proved that clearly enough. Didn't you?" " Well, really, I can't say that I did ; " and the minister balanced his spoon thoughtfully on the edge of his cup. " These are days that call for caution and reserve in expressing our opinions. Love of country is strong, but there are many ar- guments that should be dispassionately considered. Before I could venture to discuss the subject I should take time for extensive research and calm deliberation." Several pairs of eyes were directed inquiringly to- ward him as he closed his remark, from which the family failed to gather just what his opinion was. Abram 's eyes had a mischievous expression, al- though his tones were perfectly respectful as he said : " Well, you know the presiding elder has a chance at us but once in three months, and he can't afford to be very deliberate. He has to give us his ideas hot and heavy." " Yes ; and we must remember, too, that he is an old antislavery man," added Mr. Steele. " I've heard him off and on now for a good many years, and I never heard him make the opening prayer without praying for ' our colored brother in chains.' Always did, years ago, when nobody else thought of doing it." As a Christian Mr. Phelps was touched by this testimony, but with perverse jealousy he con- tinued : A PASTORAL VISIT. 45 " Well, if prayer and practice go together in this case, I will admit that he is a rare exception. Would he love his ' colored brother ' as well if he were a little nearer, think you ? " Mr. Steele's children had rarely seen any sign of excitement in their father's face ; but now they noticed a red flush under the coat of tan. " Have another biscuit, brother," said he, "and let me give you some more honey. Benjie, pass the cheese. May be you never heard how the elder took the place of a runaway slave once ?" " No, I'm a Jersey man, you know. Let us hear how he did it," said the minister, who had not no- ticed any rise in the temperature. " Well, there was a branch of the under-ground railroad not a thousand miles from here, that used to do a pretty lively business ; and Dyke's hotel, down to the Center, was one of the stopping-places. Mr. Putnam lived there then, and old Dr. Snow ; both of 'em in the business. One night a poor lost- lookin' fellow come to the tavern, black, but not so black as some, on his way to Canada. Well, Dyke give him a good supper and bed accordin' to in- struction ; and they said they would let him sleep till five o'clock the next morning and get him away before folks was stirring much. But he hadn't more 'n got to sleep when up rode two men all in a white heat after a ' runaway nigger,' as they said. They said they'd tracked him there, and they must sarch that house high and low ; and they raged round the bar-room swearin' like troopers. Well, Mr. Dyke didn't know what to do. He sent a boy out the back door to fetch the elder and old Dr. 46 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. Snow, and then he laid himself out to keep them men in the bar-room. He got 'em to the fire, and mixed some toddy, and got 'em to describe the runaway, and bustled 'round as if he'd turn the house upside-down for them. You know Thomas Dyke out to the village ? " The minister bowed affirmation. " Well, this was his father — nervous and fussy by nature, and Thomas takes after him. Well, when he couldn't keep 'em any longer in the bar-room, then the lights begun to bother ; and he got all the girls to running over each other fetching more of 'em ; but at last he actually took the men up-stairs. Then he went about routing up two or three ped- dlers, and soon till he was fairly obleeged to open that door. When he see the black head on the pil- low he said he was almost faint, to think nothin' had been done; but when he looked a little closer he suspected how it was, and says he, 'This must be your man, gentlemen, but you better let him sleep now you have him safe, and not make a fuss to-night, for I keep a quiet house.' He kept wav- in' 'em back and whisperin', but he said they was wild to get hold of him, and one of 'em drew out his pistol and leveled it at the bed and swore he'd make a hole through the rascal's head. But Dyke threatened he'd put 'em out if they made so much noise ; so after swearin' till every thing was blue they made him lock the door on the outside and give them the key, and went down to the bar- room, saying that after havin' supper they'd take turns watchin' the door till morning. Dyke said he hoped to be forgiven, but he got 'em both A PASTORAL VISIT. 47 drunk as fools before midnight. Then, of course, he found out how matters stood. " While he was hinderin' 'em at first, the elder and Dr. Snow got the runaway dressed in a new suit and into the doctor's carriage and off on the road toward Canada line. " Then the elder, he crept into bed, and, being a very dark-complected man, he hoped to deceive the slave-catchers, just as he did." " How did he feel when he heard them talking about shooting him ? " asked the minister, so in- terested that he stopped eating. " He said he felt sorry that he forgot to kiss his wife and children before he left home." There was a moment's silence. " He's always been that kind of a helpful man," added Mr. Steele, " and I can't help thinkin' it's the right sperit. It's the sperit that brought the Lord from heaven to take our place when we was in bond- age, at any rate." " It is a beautiful, grand spirit, I am sure," said Mrs. Phelps, warmly ; " I shall admire Mr. Putnam more than ever, now I have heard this story." "Yes; I am sure he has shown that he can prac- tice as well as preach," said her husband, frankly. Mr. Steele nodded approvingly. " You get a notion, too, of the way he feels about the war. It isn't no political question with him, it's the story of the Israelites in Egypt over again. He sees the Lord's hand in it all ; and when he advocates fightin' he calculates it's in the interests of truth and righteousness." At that moment a horse was heard slowly tramp- 48 THE GILEAD GUARDS. ing across the chip-yard, followed by the noise of wheels, and looking out they saw the hero of their conversation in his old wagon, with a buffalo-robe thrown over the seat, drawn by an ancient horse that he valued highly because it " never interfered with his meditations." " Talk of angels and you hear their wings," laughed Abram, as he hurried out to the old min- ister's assistance. Mr. Phelps could but notice the loving reverence with which the entire family regarded this man ; and he himself took his hand as he entered, dimly suspecting that he had the honor of meeting a lineal descendant of "prophets, priests, and kings," and in consequence feeling for an instant his own inferior- ity. Any one who remembers " sixty-two," and how one great theme was always before the people, can understand that conversation did not lag dur- ing the next hour. All work was suspended, and Esther and Mary, with rapt faces, sat silent near Mrs. Phelps, wondering as they listened, to hear Abram talk so wisely and so well as he kindled in animation under the elder's magic influence. And in the dusky twilight the cows came lowing down the lane, forgotten by the enchanted boy, Ben- jamin, who in his quiet corner drank in the spirit of the times and " only wished 't he was six years older." And when in a matter-of-fact tone the old hero announced that he was " on his last round of visits," and should offer himself as chaplain or " any thing else they can make of me," there was a unanimous expression that there could be no place too good for him. And the Rev. G. Harmon Phelps felt A PASTORAL VISIT. 40 that there was really something in this devotion to principle that would bear investigating. After the visitors were gone and all was again quiet Esther leaned from her window to enjoy the cool odorous wind which blew noiselessly across the fields ; and, recalling her experience of the morning, was surprised that the bitterness of her grief was all gone. There was still the thought of personal suffering, but above it sounded the key- note of the sentiments to which she had listened, " The oppressed must go free ! " 50 THE GILEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER IV. A STRANGE TEST. ABRAM rode rapidly toward the village on his black colt, Gypsy. It was afternoon, and he felt a little impatient that his duties should have kept him so long from the recruiting office, for, after a man decides to do a thing, especially if it is in the line of self-sacrifice, he feels impatient until the preliminaries are settled. But in spite of haste he took the roundabout road that led past Ruby's home, and had the pleasure of seeing her sitting with her sewing, half-hidden by the vines, as he checked Gypsy at the gate. She came down the garden-path, stopping to pick some clove pinks for his button-hole, and he noticed that her dress of blue lawn was charmingly becoming, while the knot of red, white, and blue ribbons which she wore at her throat he took as a subtile compliment to himself. Her face — but what are features described in de- tail? — it was a healthy, happy face, with a trick of changing its expression as her feelings changed. Ruby could look very resolute and decided, and she could look very tender and confiding. Her best friends said, " She will make a splendid woman," indicating that Ruby in the present tense was un- disciplined and somewhat wayward, but full of grand possibilities. Abram, however, did not look into the future, or speculate as to what Ruby might be A STRANGE TEST. 51 in the days to come. As she looked up at him with a smile that betrayed two dimples he was fully satisfied with her present perfection. " I know where you are going," said she, with a tremor in her voice, " and now that the time has come I don't like it at all." " It does seem hard, Ruby. May be I wont go after all ; " and Abram laughed as one will to hide deeper feelings. " Father said if I dared say a word to discourage you or any one else he would shut me up in the closet," said Ruby. " O, that would be dreadful ! I must hurry along so you wont be tempted to discourage me, then. Good-bye ; " and yielding to the impatient Gypsy Abram galloped away. Ruby looked after him with her hand above her eyes. He seemed like a brave knight of " ye olden time " on his coal-black steed, and she was the " faire ladye " who proved her loyalty by years of waiting in a moated castle. One of the clove pinks had fallen from his hand and lay in the grass at her feet. She picked it up, carried it to her lips, and then fastened it carefully to the red, white, and blue ribbons at her throat. Flushing guiltily, she looked around to see if she were observed ; but no one was in sight but Hiel Sanders, her father's hired man, who was too near-sighted to be feared. He stood at the pump drinking from the tin dipper. As he hung it up with a satisfied grunt he remarked : " That wuz Abram Steele, wuzn't it? Steps like his black colt. Ruther went round Robin Hood's barn comin' this road, didn't he?" 52 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. This remark was made rather aimlessly, partly to show that he knew very well why Abram came that way, partly because Hiel liked to be "sociable." Martha Thompson, who had just come to the kitchen window with a pan of fresh ginger-snaps in her hand, answered with a sharp, " S'posin' he did come this way? I guess he's a perfec' right to while he can. 'Twont be many days 'fore this town '11 be like a silent tomb. Every body's goin' to war, seems 's if, 'ceptin' you 'nd a few other old simpletons." Hiel laughed good-naturedly and snatched a couple of cakes from the pan. " Wal, Marthy, 's long ez me V Job Smith don't go you wont have no call to put on mournin'." Martha aimed the long fork she held in her hand at him, but he strode away still laughing, while she was trying to find words to express her contempt for Job Smith and all other " men folks." Meanwhile Abram rode swiftly past the " com- mon " and stopped at the post-office which occupied one side of a brick building, the other side being filled with "dry goods, groceries, and notions," be- longing to Elijah Green. Ira Barstow was postmaster, and, being deformed, he had been continued year after year until he seemed an essential part of the institution. When he saw Abram he took a letter and some papers from his box and handed them to him, re- marking as he did so that there " was quite lively times over to the jedge's office." "Yes, I think I'll go and see the judge myself," said Abram, smiling and nodding as he went out. A STRANGE TEST. 53 Mr. Barstow followed him as far as the front win- dow, apparently just for the pleasure of seeing the strong, cheery fellow on his way to the "jedge's." Every nerve in his misshapen body tingled with patriotism, but he could only show it by encourag- ing others to do their duty. Abram was about to slip the letter in his pocket, but observing that, although it came from Boston, the superscription was not in Austin's hand, he tore open the envelope, and, still standing on the store-steps, read its contents, which were as fol- lows : "Abram Steele, Esq. — " Dear Sir : Having found the above address in the room formerly occupied by Austin Steele, and supposing it to be his father's, we use it at this time. We are under the painful necessity of in- forming you that your son, after being in our em- ploy nearly a year, has been guilty of theft, and has absconded with the money stolen, probably to join the army. It is impossible for us to ascertain our losses, but, considering your son's youth and the high recommendations which he brought, referring in the highest terms to yourself and family, we have decided to settle the matter for one thousand dol- lars, which amount you will please remit at your earliest convenience. Your obedient servants, " L. Webber & Co." If Abram had been a woman he probably would have fainted. As it was, he grasped the railing of the platform and stood for a moment waiting until 54 THE GILEAD GUARDS. his surroundings again assumed a natural appear- ance. The postmaster, still watching him, felt almost impatient that a young fellow about to "volunteer" should stand there " so numb like " as he afterward said. Poor little hunchback ! He need not have en- vied Abram his size or strength at that moment of supreme wretchedness. " He aint going near the recruiting office. What in Texas does that mean?" said he to himself when, a little later, he saw Abram mount Gypsy and ride away toward home. But Abram had no idea of going home then. Instead, he rode down past the mills and then on and on through a lonely wooded part of the town. For some time he was not capable of connected thought ; and when at length he said to himself that he must think, he must plan, he dared not admit even to himself how he felt toward his brother. Anger, unmeasured and unmitigated anger, rose in his soul; but as one shuts his lips tight and refuses to let unrighteous words escape, so one sometimes imprisons dangerous thoughts, shutting them away from even his own investiga- tions. But while Abram thus turned the key upon his murderous and revengeful thoughts toward his brother there were others which took very definite form ; and poor Gypsy, whose coat was wet with sweat, was allowed to walk while her master's meditations ran on. " It was lucky that letter didn't reach father." This was the first calming considera- tion, and it weighed much with Abram. " It would have just about killed him. And he mustn't know it — nor mother — nor the girls! May be there's an A STRANGE TEST. 55 awful mistake, for how it could be possible — " and Gypsy jumped as Abram's hand came down upon her sensitive flesh. A long quivering breath, and he said aloud, as if to give it additional force, " I must keep this to myself! Nobody must know! But how can I ever raise a thousand dollars, and how can I enlist with this burden upon me?" This was the hardest point to settle. Austin was gone. If he went there would be no one to care for the parents and to raise this sum of money which looked so very, very large. But if Austin could be found and brought back, who wanted the family disgraced in that way? Better that he should fall on some battle-field and sleep in an unknown grave than that he should blacken the name that had so far been honest and honorable. Abram turned his horse, for there were dark shadows in the woods, which told that the day was almost done. His head felt heavy, his brain weary ; but one thing was clear ; he alone must bear the burden that had so unexpectedly fallen upon him, unless and until that dreadful letter could be ex- plained. This decision his judgment approved, even while he felt that in making it he was thrust- ing from him all that was most desirable in life. But there was one comforting thought. He would go to Ruby that night and tell her as much as he could of the story, and she would understand and sympathize with him and keep his secret until the mystery could be explained or buried. The clove pinks were still in his button-hole, and as he bent his head he caught their perfume, and said softly, " I can bear 'most any thing as long as I have Ruby." 56 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. At that moment he heard the sound of rapidly approaching wheels, and the next met Esquire Fletcher and John Bartlett. They stopped, and John called out in his brisk way: " Why, Steele, where have you been all day ? The office has been just about full. Lots of the boys are going. I looked for you among the first." " Yes," added Mr. Fletcher, " I heard a number inquiring for you, and understood you were there at one time." " No," said Abram, slowly, " I haven't been in Judge Plumley's office to-day. I expected to be, but certain things came up that have changed my plans, and I find I can't enlist just now ; I'm sorry ; " and he concluded with a smile that had no mirth in it. Mr. Fletcher look puzzled, and John Bartlett smoothed his mustache thoughtfully. " Well," said the former, " I'm surprised. What in the world — ahem ! I hope nothing serious has happened ? " " So do I," said Bartlett, heartily. " I'm disap- pointed. Well, if you change your mind let me know right away, will you ? " Abram bowed and the gentlemen drove on, leav- ing him to ride toward home more heavily burdened than before. His supper was waiting for him, all the others having eaten at the usual time ; and Benjie was also waiting, full of interest and curios- ity. "Say, Abram, how does it seem to be enlisted? I guess you was tall enough, wasn't you ? The A STRANGE TEST. 57 Hickey boys stopped a minute, but they hadn't happened to see you. You'd have thought they'd been to the county fair, they was so pleased. Did Don Stanley put his name down?" and Benjie rolled his eyes toward Esther. " I don't know, Benjie, whether Don enlisted to- day or not, for I haven't been in the recruiting office myself. I have concluded not to give my name just yet." Benjie gave a prolonged " Whew ! " while Mr. Steele laid down the Tribune and looked up inquir- ingly. " Did you say you had decided not to go? " he asked ; and his mother and sisters waited breath- lessly for his answer. " Yes, sir ; that was what I said, but I guess you all want me to go down there and get popped over by the rebels, you look so solemn." " No; we are all glad to have you here as long as possible, but we didn't suppose you could be hired to stay. What does it mean?" It was hard to face the anxious family, but Abram had made up his mind not to give them any clew at present to the true reason ; so he answered as un- concernedly as possible : "Well, father, I wish I could tell you all about it, but I can't — not yet, anyway. But don't you feel worried, because I'll try to make myself useful here on the farm." " Yes, but Austin could do a great deal. He'll think strange when you've written to him to come home. He is such a wide-awake, plucky fellow. I wouldn't a mite wonder if he got a notion to go him- 58 THE G 1 LEAD GUARDS. self, for I s'pose he hears a sight of brave talk in such a big place as Boston." Abram felt actually cold with the effort he made to appear natural; but remarking that he didn't feel hungry, and that he had to be away a while, he put on his hat and hurried off, glad to escape further questioning and comment. His ring at Esquire Fletcher's door was answered by Martha Thompson, who always labored under the impression that she should open the door upon a peddler or a book agent, and had a stereotyped welcome for that class ; but when she saw who it was she added, " O, step in ! " and he entered the hall, asking if Miss Ruby were at home. " I guess so ; I'll see," said Martha, nervously, and she hurried into the sitting-room, leaving the door ajar behind her. A moment more and he heard Ruby's clear tones: " No, I wont see him. If he can change his mind so quick, I guess other people can change theirs." " Ruby ! Ruby ! " said her father. " But you said yourself there was no account- ing for it. I just wish I was a man, and I would — " Abram did not wait to hear what she would do, but, turning, he went rapidly and silently down the stone steps into the darkness of desolation. Not that it was really dark, for the moon was just ris- ing and a flood of clear light filled the world with beauty, but Abram, rushing along with set teeth and clinched hands, was not in a mood to notice it. The experience of the afternoon had seemed all he could bear ; but that trouble was like a burden A STRANGE TEST. 59 upon the shoulders compared with this which pierced his heart. Abram had never formulated his views even to himself, but he had, nevertheless, a modest idea that he was ready to face " the world, the flesh, and the devil," ^nd rout them without the least diffi- culty ; but he had never imagined such an attack as this. It struck him on all sides — his ambition, reputation, honor, hope, love. He felt as if he had been shaken and stripped of them all and dropped by the way-side ! And at such times there is always a tempting spirit near laden with suggestions, even as, many, many years ago, Satan himself came to tempt One who was alone in the wilderness. To walk on and on, and put miles between himself and the old home before morning, to enlist and go with the company and leave his father to find out about Austin at his leisure, to jump into the river which gurgled near between banks darkly outlined by masses of alders — all these temptations, and many another vaguely desperate scheme, came and seemed for the moment like open doors offering him a chance to escape. If he had been a loosely constructed, unbelieving modern theorist he would probably have yielded to one or another, for he was carried quite beyond himself by forces he could not understand ; but the man who has really learned to obey law and believe in its righteousness hears a " Thus far and no far- ther " above all other voices. Any one who has followed in summer-time the course of a river has noticed once and again high bridges, supported by 60 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. massive buttresses, spannirg a chasm through which, far down among the shadows, glided an insignifi- cant stream. To a careless observer stone and iron at such a height seem quite superfluous ; but when in early spring a thousand torrents rush into the chasm and the river rises foaming to its highest shore, threatening to overleap all barriers and sweep away property and life, then is seen the wisdom of solid walls of masonry, of buttress, beam, and iron bolt. Men understand the possibilities of a decep- tive little river and guard against their harmful tendencies. God understands the possibilities of the most quiet and undemonstrative life, of all lives, in fact, and arches his laws strong and high above them — laws which look quite superfluous until they are needed, but which always prove sufficiently strong to guard and restrain, unless willful rebellion or insanity carries one beyond all restraints. Abram did not think of these things until long after that night. He simply felt then as though he were being held, and he said, too, that a quaint couplet learned years before from an old almanac recurred to his mind with persistent force : " When all the blandishments of life are gone The coward sneaks to death, the brave live on." It was later — after he had walked miles, after the last twinkling light in solitary farm-houses had dis- appeared, after he had turned his face toward home determined to " bear all things and endure all things" — that he received the reward of obedience. His training in religious matters had certainly been deficient, for, although he was a church member A STRANGE TEST. 61 and quoted as an example of integrity and positive goodness, he had never learned to think of his Elder Brother as a personal friend. So now, while he had yielded to law, his heart was still empty and cold and sorely wounded, and he felt himself pecul- iarly alone. But as he walked along the silent country road, so silent that the murmurings in the trees seemed but the breathing of nature's tiny children asleep in nests and mossy hollows, he turned half around with a feeling that some one was near. There was no visible presence, but the strong impression still remained and increased until he felt that beside him was a Friend who understood all his trials, who sympathized with him per- fectly, and imparted a strength that came from no " arm of flesh ; " and his heart, now filled with wonder and gratitude, recognized in that sweet un- expected companionship the blessed presence of a divine Comrade. He bowed his head and sank upon his knees, accepting as never before his Lord and Master, and realizing that whatever his future might be he had a Friend who would be to him more than a brother. He went to his rest that night with this new-found confidence ; and never afterward could he forget how over the strong cold heights of law came love, with blessings unmeas- ured, making the path of duty bright with His sacred footsteps. 62 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER V. A PECULIAR ANGEL. WITH bird twitterings and cock-crowings and slow unfolding of cloud curtains the next morning dawned. In a leisurely way the sun crept up over the eastern hills, as if to give time for yawn- ing and a backward glance into dreamland before it sent its direct beams into upper windows. Then smoke began to curl from chimney-tops, and here and there sleepy boys made their way to the yards where cows still lay ruminating. The cock-crowing continued until the sun was fairly " up ;" for chanti- cleer, like some more enlightened bipeds, labors un- der the hallucination that his crowing in some way sets the machinery of the world in motion, and hence he spares neither breath nor voice until he has brought the great luminary above the horizon. This duty done, he was ready to descend to a fierce con- test over corn and crumbs, his greedy clamoring scarcely surpassed by the pigs, whose starving con- dition was indicated by uncompromising grunts and squeals, checked only by generous pails of bonny- clabber and meal-mush. The lowing cows were finally released to find their way to green hill past- ures, while brimming pails of milk were carried to cool clean dairies or " set " for cheese. The horses were watered and given their allowance of oats, and A PECULIAR ANGEL. 63 then, when all the " chores " were done, the farmers themselves were ready to breakfast. At Mr. Steele's table that morning there was a visible restraint. Benjie in a cajoling tone had begged Abram to tell him " what the matter was " an hour before, and, not receiving any satisfactory answer, was in a decidedly sullen mood, and the en- tire family were sober and anxious. Abram rather hoped some question would be asked that would give him an opportunity to repeat what he had said the night before in a different way ; for he felt as if he was suspected of some plot, or at least of insincerity. He did not have the true idea, how- ever, as he soon discovered ; for before he could leave the house his mother asked him to step into the parlor a moment, and when they were alone in the dark room and the door closed she turned toward him pleadingly. " Now, Abram," said she, " tell me just what the trouble is. Is it your heart ? Your Uncle Abram died of heart disease, but I never thought it would follow the family. And there was your Grand- mother Austin, she died of old-fashioned consump- tion. Is it your lungs, Abram ? Tell me the worst, and we will see what can be done." Abram began to laugh ; but as he realized how his faithful, loving mother must be suffering, his eyes filled and he put his hand tenderly upon her shoul- der. " My lungs and heart are all right, mother, I firmly believe," said he. "And more than that, I haven't done any thing disgraceful ; but something has hap- pened to a friend of mine that will prevent my plans 64 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. being carried out. Now, if you will trust me and keep still, mother, it will be worth every thing to me just now." Of course she promised, and sealed it with a kiss ; but also of course, she was not really satisfied. She warned the children, however, to ask no questions, for their brother was all right, and she was only too thankful he could make up his mind to stay at home. All this did not satisfy Benjie, and he grew furious over this first family mystery. " I declare ! " said he, pacing back and forth, his cheeks red, his eyes wet, " I didn't s'pose any of our folks would show the white feather. Might as well be a skedaddler and done with it. Might as well be a copperhead. Guess you wouldn't catch me backin' out. Keep the war goin' a few years longer, sir, and you'll see a feller go out of this house that aint afraid of gunpowder." " O, now, Benjie," expostulated Esther, "you can talk, but you don't know how it might seem when the time come. I think whatever keeps Abram at home is something that makes him feel bad enough." " Feel bad enough ! " cried Benjie, wrathfully, " he better feel bad. He's disgraced me. I'll have to dodge the boys for fear they'll ask questions, and I just can't bear it ; " and the poor boy strode away pulling his hat over his eyes and kicking every thing that happened to be in his wa)'. Meanwhile Abram was in his room trying to think how he could secure the money to send the avenger, " L. Webber & Co." A PECULIAR ANGEL. 65 No one unfamiliar with farming communities can readily understand how large this sum appeared. People are comfortable, even opulent, with their farms paid for and the ready money that comes from harvest sales ; and when in the course of years their surplus funds accumulate in a bank they are not in the habit of withdrawing them without very good reasons for doing so. To lend a thousand dollars without ample security would indicate that a man was in his dotage. Abram had two or three uncles who were "forehanded" living within a ra- dius of ten miles ; but as he thought of them indi- vidually and collectively he shook his head. The inquisitional process through which a person must pass before he got money of Uncle Rufus or Uncle Ira or Uncle Mont was enough to make him pre- fer a place of torture nearer home. He had good friends at the village, but most of them whom he could trust were young men like Dr. Adams, Judson Plumley, and Lawyer Parker, who had not reached that period in life when they could put as many ciphers after a unit as this case demanded. At last, after taking the financial census of Gilead, he hap- pened to think of Miss Hancock, and with a feel- ing of relief decided to go to her for at least a part of the needed amount, To be sure, she was a woman, and Abram had heard the old tradition that a woman could not be trusted with a secret ; but he argued that as she was in most respects su- perior to her sex so she must be in this ; and he was soon on Gypsy's back riding toward her little home. To his great disappointment the curtains were drawn and the door was locked. The minis- 5 66 THE GILEAD GUARDS. ter's wife saw Abrarn, and leaned out of her window to tell him that Miss Hancock had gone to see a sick person, and would probably be away several days. Riding slowly homeward, quite perplexed, in spite of the peace which he still retained in his heart, he reached the outer edge of Esquire Fletch- er's farm, where the orchard was, and heard the musical ring of a whetted scythe. A sudden thought inspired him, and, jumping off his horse, he fastened her to a tree, leaped over the fence, and made his way toward Hiel Saunders, who, he very well knew, was preparing to mow the orchard. " Good-morning, Hiel ; how do you do ? " said he, as he reached the spot where that worthy stood gazing meditatively up into an apple-tree, while his whetstone with a merry "ching! clang! ching ! " played mechanically up and down the sharp-edged scythe. " O, mornin' ! " answered Hiel, observing his vis- itor ; " I'm so's to be crawlin', thank ye. How be yeou ? Hot day to work in the sun, but jest right here, shady and cool's a cowcumber. I was jest watchin' them little birds up in the tree, 'n' thinkin' how odd it seems to mow with a scythe after using a machine. I do' know how we ever got along without 'em, I'm sure. But the machines makes it easier to spare the boys that's goin' to war. One man c'n du what six use' ter. That's right, set deown. Stuns aint quite so easy as sofies, but they'll du." j Hiel hung his scythe upon a limb of the apple-tree and seated himself on a rock con- veniently near Abram. " Seems to me I hearn the squire sayin' you'd about give up 'listin' ; " and Hiel A PECULIAR ANGEL. 67 plucked a long grass spear and measured it with his outstretched hand as innocently as though he and Martha Thompson had not discussed the whole matter pro and con the previous evening. "Yes," said Abram, "and that is just what I want to talk about, Hiel; " and Abram looked with anxious eyes into his homely, honest face. "' Have you money that you're not using that you would be willing to lend?" " Wal, I've got quite a little money saved up;" and Hiel chewed the juicy stalk and looked into the grass at his feet, wondering what was coming next. " And if I tell you why I can't enlist and why I need money will you keep my secret ? " " I reckon. Fire away ! " and Hiel leaned back in a listening attitude. And then Abram told the whole story, only he could not bear to say that the money had been stolen. It was a debt that Austin had in- curred and left when he ran away to enlist. " And now, Hiel," said he, appealingly, " if you can lend me the money to pay that debt you know you will get it again with interest if I live. I can't give you security on the farm, for I own only an undivided share, but as soon as I get a good offer for Gypsy I can sell her, and some of the other stock is mine. I think my Cotswold sheep would bring a big price by and by, but just now I could only give my note." Hiel had wiped his eyes several times while Abram was talking, and after giving them a final polish on his shirt-sleeve he straightened himself and drew a long breath. 68 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " Keep yer critters, Abram ; I don't want no se- curity, 'nd I don't care nothin' about yer note. Do as ye please about that. I'll let ye have the money 'cause ye need it. I did hev' a notion to spec'late with about that much. Brown, son-in-law of Slo- cum, over there by your place, says there's goin' to be lots of money in the wool business ; so many soldier-clothes and army blankets, you know. But may be I'd lose it all. 'T any rate I ruther you'd hev' it, 'nd I hope tu gracious it '11 settle up the business thet's plaguin' of ye." Abram was so full of gratitude that he could hardly find voice to express it. " I shall have a feeling that this is sacred money, Hiel. It seems to me it has come right down from heaven by the hands of an angel." Hiel's big mouth drew up at the corners until it resembled a half moon, while his eyes twinkled through reefs of wrinkles. "A ruther pe-cn-liar angel," he drawled, wonder- fully pleased, however, with the compliment. " Guess likely you're thinkin' of them riggers on old grave-stones. Ever see any ? I used to see lots of 'em down to Sandown. That's an awful old teown, 'n' these dark-colored stuns 's all over the grave-yard. And them Aggers has wings hitched on to 'em, but their faces aint like pictur'-angels, not by no means. I hearn two young fellows dis- putin' one day about it. They was chock full of learnin', 'n' used lots of big words, but the upshot of it wuz, one of 'em thought the figger wuz an angel, 'nd t'other thought 'twas one of them things that flies up from t'other place, a-representin' death 'n' A PECULIAR ANGEL. 69 the terrors of the tomb. I says to 'em, says I, ' You can't decide that ; but I tell ye what I think of the man that made the things. He no business to leave such a doubtful figger. An angel orter look better 'n that, 'n' t'other kind worse. But moreover,' says I, ' it makes me think of some folks I've seen. These wipsy-wopsy people that you can't tell whuther they're good or whuther they're bad. They leave a puzzle for comin' generations to work over.' Says I, ' Let's see tu it that we don't make folks wonder whuther we're angels or figgers from t'other places.' " " Why, Hiel," said Abram, laughing in spite of himself, " I never knew you were an exhorter before, but you certainly told them the truth." " I'm no exhorter, Abram, 'n' squire's wife thinks I orter go to meetin' more, 'n' jine the church, 'n' I s'pose I had ; but you see I hearn one of them young fellers swear a profane oath, 'nd when things come to thet pass I'm on the side of Him that writ the third commandment. Yes, sir! I hate to see young fellers thet's had advantages piled mountain high, as ye might say, spilin' themselves for this world 'n' the one tu come. Yes, I du." Abram rose, thinking that Hiel might be hin- dered by his long call, and made one more effort to express his gratitude. " I must ride on now, or you wont get the orchard mowed to-day. I don't know how to thank you,* but I shall never, never forget your kindness to me." " Wal, never's a long word, but I aint afraid. I always thought an awful sight of yeou, 'nd I'm glad to du you a favor. I'll be tu the bank at six o'clock ; 70 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. no, half past three, aint it ? Likely yeou want that filthy lucre soon 's convenient ; " and Hiel took down his scythe and passed his finger along the shining blade. "Yes," said Abram, " I'll be there ; " and he hur- ried away through the trees. After his departure Hiel stood looking after him with an expression of real concern. " Wal, neovv," he mused, " what's the dictionary meanin' of this? There's a figger fer a brigadier- gineral, and as good a boy as wuz ever raised in Gilead ; 'n' neow he's got tu give up all his plans, 'n' saddle this big debt, 'n' be throwed over by his girl. Ruby don't know nothin' or she'd never be- lieve he's a coward. Women is fools anyway — most of 'em." This possible exception was added after an in- stant's thought, for Hiel desired above all things to be just. " I'd like to wallop that young Austin. No busi- ness tu get in debt 'n' make Abram all this trouble. I'm glad I got money tu lend. I don't care if I could get ten per cent, in wool spec'lation. I guess I've a right to help a feller thet's in trouble ! " This last was spoken rather fiercely, as if some imp of evil had suggested the loss of that fabulous percentage ; and Hiel vigorously attacked the rasp- berry shoots and Canada thistles which grew rankly among the stones. Hiel Saunders would have delighted the soul of an artist in search of a traditional Yankee or of a litterateur anxious to preserve a dialect indigenous to and originating in New England soil, which A PECULIAR ANGEL. 71 has had few interpreters, and is rapidly disap- pearing. He was lean and wiry, his face wore a shrewd, good-natured, interrogatory expression, his hair was light-colored and " stubbly," his pantaloons and coat-sleeves were invariably too short, and his vocabulary was in a loose, chaotic state to which his nasal twang was nicely adapted. In his every-day garb he was comparatively at ease, and " conversa- tion " was a delightful pastime. Indeed, Martha Thompson said there was " no end to his gab." But in his best clothes he was wretched ; and great indeed must be the social obligations which should force him into them. Under such circumstances he became conversationally bankrupt, and speech clung and tripped on familiar words like a plow in a pasture where old snags and roots impede its progress. And yet Hiel, in spite of his peculiarities, was very sensitive regarding literary and pictorial repre- sentations of the Yankees, and had he been told that he resembled one of those creations of fancy he would have felt afflicted. " Neow tu think," said he to Martha Thompson, as he leaned over a copy of Harper s Weekly, which had upon its last page an artistic " Uncle Sam," " that picture-man tries to make folks b'lieve Northerners look like that scalawag. It makes me hoppin' mad, an' I'd like tu tell him he's a perfick sap-head." Martha eyed Hiel a moment, and said in her crisp way, "You better do it, Hiel; I think he'd be amused." 72 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. But while there was a resemblance that even Martha noticed, one's ideas of a Yankee character ought not to be derived wholly from such pictures, nor from the eccentric dialect as given by ordinary authors. Under all the contractions and elisions and strange constructions there is often a surprising amount of general intelligence ; and when words are spoken with earnestness one learns to look at their tattered condition with a certain charity. So our friend Hiel, who stands out against the horizon of the past, already referred to as particu- larly " odd," was, nevertheless, much respected in Gilead, which had its complement of other oddities and quite as much localism as was good for it. When Hiel strode over to the bank at the ap- pointed time, clad in his blue " frock " and sheep's- gray pantaloons, which did not by any means trail in the dust, and called for a thousand dollars of his invested funds, the cashier, Mr. Akers, was very deferential, and, as he knew Hiel was about to in- vest in wool, he made no remarks, only to wish him " many returns of the same ; " and Hiel winked at Abram as though it were a good joke. " I pulled the wool over his eyes," said he, as soon as they were fairly outside. Abram took his letter, written as if he were Austin's father, with the check inclosed, to the Center, that it might not pass under the close scrutiny of the village postmaster. Just before leaving Hiel he said to him : " If you ever need a friend I'm yours, soul and body, because of what you have done for me to- day." A PECULIAR ANGEL. 73 And Hiel went back to his work snapping his fingers and smiling like a millionaire who has just endowed a college. No, not like ; for the million- aire knows that his beneficence will be heralded far and wide, while Hiel was only half conscious that he had slain the love of gain, mowed it down, so to speak, and wholly conscious that he had served a friend. " Jewhitiker!" said he, as he spat upon his hands and seized his scythe, 4< didn't I pull the wool over the cashier's eyes ? " THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER VI. SUNDAY NOON. MARTHA THOMPSON hired a " sitting" in Miss Hancock's pew, and on the Sabbath following the events just narrated she sat as usual in her accustomed place, very erect and very quiet, evidently listening attentively to the sermon. But Miss Hancock was aware, through some marvelous intuition which almost constituted her a " mind- reader," that Martha was troubled about something, and was not following the minister's eloquent de- scription of Belshazzar's feast. And she fully sympathized with Martha's way- ward thoughts, although her lack of devout attention was caused by the minister himself. Miss Hancock was one of those unreasonable women who have existed in all ages, who sometimes forget the lim- itations of sex and long to do what evidently ought to be done by somebody. So this bright Sabbath morning she was wishing she could remand J. Har- mon Phelps and Belshazzar to some other clime, and stand there herself and talk to the dear boys who were so soon to leave their home and church influences perhaps forever. There was so much practical wisdom in God's great store-house, so much sweetness and consolation, so many strong, encouraging words just adapted to present circum- SUNDA Y NOON. 75 stances, that it seemed a pity to waste time over the decorations of a heathen palace. Miss Hancock found herself in the midst of a fervent imaginary discourse which brought a bright color to her cheeks and tears to her eyes when the closing " amen " sounded from the pulpit ; and she came to herself with a start, thankful that her neighbors had no suspicion that she had been so moved and edified by her own " prophesyings." Under these circum- stances she was not surprised when Martha whis- pered to her, behind her palm-leaf fan, that if it was agreeable she would walk home with her after Sabbath-school. So, after Miss Hancock had taught her class of young men, throwing into the lesson all the pent-up enthusiasm of the morning, and Martha had faithfully followed the lesson as taught by the minister in the Bible-class, the two women walked sedately down the street to the little white house next door to the parsonage. Martha Thomp- son was one of those rare New England "girls" who " lived out," laid up money, accumulated wis-^ dom, cherished her independence, and enjoyed the respect and friendship of those who knew her best. That this number of friends was not larger was due to the fact that Martha measured people with a jealous eye. That church member who looked down upon her because she did the work in Esquire Fletcher's kitchen found her as rigid as a marble statue when, on some social occasion, it became convenient to approach her in a familiar way. Not that Martha was tart or saucy — she was simply unapproachable. But those who recognized her worth when she was flying around in her scant, plain, every-day 76 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " gownds," as she called her work-dresses, found her gracious and ready to assist any good cause. This angularity of disposition gave Martha a certain ad- vantage, intrenching her, so to speak, in her own garrison, which she took care to keep well provis- ioned. Mrs. Fletcher understood her handmaiden so well that there was seldom any friction between them. Ruby, too, had learned her " limitations," and found it wise to consult Martha before interfer- ing in any way with the domestic system which revolved around her. Hiel Saunders was less sub- missive, but even he had learned new lessons in caution whenever he had failed to fill the wood-box or ventured upon her clean kitchen floor with muddy boots. Hiel was one of her crosses, but he consoled her by declaring that without him she would forget how to exercise moral suasion. Her very attitude, as she stood upon the door-steps and pointed out a loosened clapboard on Miss Han- cock's little cottage, proclaimed her practical turn of mind. " You better have that nailed right on," said she, tapping it with her parasol. " I would, fer one of these nights there'll come a high wind and that'll go 1 flap, flap, flap,' and you can't sleep a wink." " I hadn't noticed it. Yes, I must have it fixed," assented Miss Hancock, as she ushered Martha into her cozy sitting-room. " Now, take off your bonnet and rest your head," said she, adding, as she re- ceived it, " Your straw whitened beautifully, Mar- tha. It looks like a new bonnet ; and as for your shawl, I must say it's a beauty." The owner of the new " cashmere " looked well SUNDA Y NOON. 77 pleased, and remarked, as she carefully folded it in its original creases : "Yes, I think so. I did think of gettin' a stella shawl. They're thinner and more suited to warm weather ; but squire's wife said it wouldn't always be good like a cashmere. I have to work too hard for my money to throw it away when I do get it, and they say some of the Stellas fade in the sun." "They do," assented Miss Hancock. "My cousin in Boston bought a nice green stella last summer, and it faded so she had it colored black and gave it to her mother; but when people can't afford to give away things they don't like, why, they must buy the best in the first place." By this time Martha had spread her handkerchief over her lap and produced a little package of cara- way cookies and cheese, her usual Sunday lunch, and a little later Miss Hancock seated herself in a neighboring rocking-chair with a small bowl of cracker and milk. Then, as she expected, Martha revealed her errand. " You know, I s'pose, that our Ruby's turned Abram Steele off because he didn't 'list." " I heard so, but you can't believe rumors always, and I hadn't thought of it again," said Miss Han- cock. " Well, it's true, and Ruby's such a little goose she wont budge an inch. She's clear Fletcher — just as set in her way as her father is ; but notwith- standing she can't deceive me. She don't have no appetite, and she keeps sitliing every five minutes." Here Martha's feelings threatened to interfere with her speech, and she paused to shake her head — 78 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. a little gesture with which she always reproved any "softness," and then resumed. " I think a good deal of Abram, 'nd he's no coward, I tell you. Hiel says he's all right, 'nd while Hiel aint so bright as some he's ready to stake his life on that. Ruby's pretty high-strung, 'nd of course she thought strange that Abram should back out after they was engaged, when he was so eager to go. But I says to her, ' Now, Ruby, give him a chance to explain. You may be sure he's got a good reason.' But no ; she just stamped her foot down and threw up her head, and off she went. So that's the way we're livin' to the squire's, 'nd I do wish you'd come in and see if you can't help straighten things out. They all think a sight of your judg- ment." Miss Hancock had listened very attentively while Martha was speaking, just as she always listened when people told her their troubles ; and after a moment's silence she said : " I'm sorry for Ruby. I'm sorry for Abram too ; but, Martha, what could have changed his mind so suddenly? If it had been any other — why, Martha, I have had Abram Steele in my class ever since he was a little boy, and I never knew him to do a wrong act. Not one ! and it wasn't because he didn't know how to, but he always seemed to choose to do right ; and I have felt so tried with him since this — well, fickleness, I have called it — that I was al- most glad to hear the gossip about Ruby's rejecting him. But I can't bring myself to blame him as the men do, and I think there must be some reason back of it all if we could know the truth. Mean- SUNDA Y NOON. 79 while I'll drop in some day soon and see if I can help any. Ruby's never had much discipline, and she needs it — we all need it ; " and Miss Hancock rocked gently back and forth, evidently recalling her own pupilage under that impartial Master who gives what we need, not always what we want. " I s'pose we do," said Martha, grimly, " 'nd I b'lieve in taking what's sent: but lots of our troub- le's home-made, after all." " That is true," said Miss Hancock, cheerily, " and I guess I've manufactured a little in this case. But you see I love Abram so well that I can't bear to have him even suspected of any thing that isn't just right, and the rest of the boys are feeling bitter toward him and coming to me to talk about it, and yet he doesn't say one word. I confess I have felt hurt; but probably he will explain it all very soon. You see, Martha, just how selfish I am. But there's another reason. I'm getting so wrought up over this war that I can't understand how any man can stay at home. My heart is so full of it that some nights it seems as if it would surely break when I think of the awful sin that brought it on and the woe that comes with it. I didn't feel so at first, but it has grown upon me till some nights I can't sleep for thinking of battle-fields and wounded soldiers and hospitals, with scores and hundreds of sick ones lying there with none of their friends to take care of them. And then I think of the widows and orphans until I groan in spirit and beg the Lord to let me do something to hasten the end." Martha listened with a sort of awe, her eyes fixed upon Miss Hancock's slender fingers, which were 80 THE GILEAD GUARDS. twisted tightly together as if to help repress the emotion that her words but feebly embodied. "Well, now," said she, perfectly aware that she had no language to express what she really wished she could, " I didn't s'pose you ever got low-spirited like that over any thing. You never seem given up to doubts and glooms like most folks." The spell was broken, and Miss Hancock's hands folded themselves softly together. " Never in the day-time when I'm needed, and never about my own affairs. I just count myself among God's little sparrows, and take it for granted that I'll always have my twig to hold on to. But this is different. It isn't my affairs at all, but it is my country." " I guess likely you'll yet go for a nurse," said Martha, half questioningly. " Possibly, but I've no special leading so far. There'll be work enough to do every-where, I guess, before we see the last of it, and I hope I shall be ready to do my part. It's time for me to think of that, too ; for I was terribly troubled all sermon- time because our minister wasn't doing his part according to my ideas. I can say to you, Martha, that I do wish he would come down from his lad- der and talk sense to the boys." " Come down from his ladder?" repeated Martha, who was never figurative. "Yes, ladder, or stilts, or whatever it is that lifts him so far above common folks." Miss Hancock's eyes twinkled, and she added, with bated breath, " I can't think of any thing but a man in corsets when I hear him preach." SUNDA Y NOON. 81 " 0-o-oh ! " cried Martha, throwing up her hands. " Nobody but a born fool would wear one of them abominable things, man or woman." " Not actual corsets, of course," laughed Miss Hancock, "but spiritual ones, binding and cramp- ing his very soul. I felt this morning how I'd like to snap the whalebones and cut the strings just once." This bold figure of speech traveled through Martha's brain, and was recognized as embodying a vague idea that she had had ; and an appreciative smile expanded her lips and gathered in wrinkles all around her eyes, by which time Miss Hancock had repented her rashness and added in contrite tones, " But I ought not to indulge in such unprofitable talk. The Lord can loose the bonds of his serv- ant in his own good time ; and there's the first bell ringing this minute." But a Sunday "noonin' " may hold many events of interest besides the conversation of two simple- hearted women ; and the little groups gathered in and around the church made up of those who remained between Sunday-school and " afternoon preaching" were all making the most of the hour. One topic, with many variations, absorbed all classes in those days, and the air was filled with murmur- ous bits of conversation relating to those who had gone or were going to war, or, sometimes sadder still, those who would remain at home. Esther Steele happened to be the sole occupant of the gallery, and she sat at the melodeon playing with timid, quiet touch tunes with which she was familiar. She was not a daring musician, like Abram, 82 THE GILEAD GUARDS. who, though self-taught, could fill the old church with all the music the instrument was capable of, and could improvise voluntaries that were the pride of the congregation. The instrument had been bought for a " seraphine," and the choir had taken pride in the name, until poor old Grandma'am Pike spoiled it by saying that " Abram Steele could make music on their new ' seraphim ' that was most heavenly." The young people of the other church did not fail to take advantage of the old lady's blunder, and as a result it had been nothing but a melodeon ever since. But it was much larger than that in Mr. Steele's parlor, and so was a delight to Esther's music-loving soul. She was playing a quaint old "fugue" tune, which was a fitting accompaniment to her own thoughts, when she became aware that she was not alone, and, looking around, saw Donald Stanley. Her heart immediately began to beat a wild tattoo, for she instinctively felt that he had planned to see her alone. Ought she to go or to stay? While her tender conscience was debating this question, with the weight of argument in favor of instant flight, he seated himself near her, and she persuaded herself that she could not pass him without actual rudeness. There was no more prac- ticing of old tunes; and if two or three old ladies who had gathered in the minister's pew, because it boasted the luxury of a cushion, missed the music and glanced up questioningly, let us trust that some pure and sweet memory of their own youth returned to remind them that there was other music quite as entrancing as that of a melo- SUNDA V NOON. S3 deon. If at this point sentimental readers antici- pate a touching love episode they are doomed to disappointment. Indeed, such scenes as are de- scribed by those who make it a business would be altogether too intense to suit the quiet of a coun- try church. Our friend Esther was an honest little Puritan, and, greatly as she admired Don Stanley, she had no idea of revealing the fact. So she sat primly erect, and felt quite enraged because the blood crept into her cheeks and her heart kept up such a ridiculous thumping. But they began to talk about the new company, touching very lightly on Abram's inexplicable conduct, for that subject was painful to both. Then Don spoke tenderly of his mother and begged Esther to see her as often as possible, for his mother loved her dearly ! And Esther laughed nervously at this and said she didn't see why — she had never done any thing for Mrs. Stanley. Then the young man asked another favor for himself, which was that she would write to him while he was away. He had his penknife, and, as he talked, was cutting his initials in fine shapely letters on the back of the time-worn seat, where were the names of many other singers who had sometime made melody in the old gallery. Esther heard the request perfectly, and held her under-lip with her white front teeth for an instant, and so hard that the impression was there a moment afterward ; but she did not reply. Instead, she said that she hoped army life would agree with him, and that he wouldn't get wounded. He repeated his question — would she write to him ? 84 THE GILEAD GUARDS. "O, I can't write good letters. You would get more news from the Standard. I'll send you that," said she, gazing steadfastly at the initials and feel- ing as though she had shut the gates of bliss against herself. He looked at her an instant and half smiled to see her poorly assumed indifference. " I expect to have the paper anyway. King wants me to cor- respond. But I want you to write to me. May be you think that is a favor I shall ask of other young ladies, but it is not. I shall prize your letters — more than I can tell ; and when I come home — sometime — " " When you come home you'll give them all back, wont you ? " interrupted Esther, while the gates of bliss swung wide open. "Then you will write? " and the persistent fel- low laughed at her confusion. And then quite un- expectedly their eyes met, and at the same instant the " first bell " began to ring. By the time the other singers had ascended the narrow stairs Don and Esther were in their re- spective places diligently studying their hymn- books. The bell rang, and after a brief silence rang again a few sharp admonitory strokes, the last of which resounded and echoed and kept the rope swinging until Job Renfrew, the sexton, had hob- bled half-way to his seat. The hot afternoon sun struck through the unshaded west windows, and the singers settled themselves, after the opening exer- cises, as far as possible from its direct rays ; and this gave Esther an opportunity to secure for her- self a corner where she could hide her face. She SUN DA Y NOON. S5 was so intensely self-conscious that it seemed as though every body was looking at her blushing cheeks and reading the very thoughts which whirled through her brain. She had to assure herself over and over again that " he " had not said any thing, and that she had been equally prudent, before she ventured to raise her eyes. It was very singu- lar that the utterance of mere commonplaces such as Esther persuaded herself had been the sum and substance of their conversation should have had such an effect. But if one finds the road which leads back to paradise it matters little how the gate is opened. It was enough for her to know, with or without the agency of speech, that Don Stanley valued her friendship and looked forward to a "sometime." Of course with all this new hap- piness came the thought of his speedy departure. The " rough beard of war " was arousing many a slumbering princess ; but with the waking came not only the thrill of new life, but the bitterness of sep- aration and the shadow of bereavement. And yet there would be letters, and, by and by, a glad home- coming. But how would her mother relish such a correspondence ? Esther's conscientious heart quailed before this thought, for Mrs. Steele did not like Don. His very name was an offense to her conservative ears, having a savor of romance. " It sounds to me like a borrowed name," said she, " and you may depend upon it there's something wrong." Then again, his free and easy elegance, so differ- ent from the good wholesome awkwardness and 86 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. diffidence of most country-bred young men, aroused her suspicion that he had lived in " the city." And were not cities noted for all sorts of deception and duplicity? So, in spite of Abram's warm defense of his friend and the young man's uniformly good be- havior, she nursed her prejudice and would not, Esther was sure, lay it aside to favor such a wild proposition as that of correspondence. But it would all come right, of course it would, said Esther to herself; for in this new paradise road nothing stumbles and falls so readily as doubts and fears. So, during the rest of the service, she gave herself up to innocent imaginings and plans for the future ; and when the benediction was pronounced she bowed her head with the happy consciousness that she was indeed receiving the threefold blessing invoked, and that for ever and ever her heart would be kept " in perfect peace." " COMPANY F." 87 CHAPTER VII. " COMPANY F." JULY days, sunny and sultry, passed rapidly, and the last loads of hay had been drawn from shaven fields. Barn doors stood wide open, and the sum- mer winds blew through between mows piled high on either side, still fragrant with the sweetest odors of earth and air ; and harvesting crowded close upon haying, or perhaps haying had dragged a little. What else could be expected, when every night men and boys alike hurried to the village post- office for " the news," and stopped to discuss it with neighbors and friends? And there was so much news to discuss. Surely the old controversy con- cerning the relative might of the sword and the pen was never so far from settlement as in those days when the one was constantly engaged in re- cording the deeds of the other. Never before had newspapers been in such demand, never had edito- rial courage and wisdom been so tested, never in the history of our land had thought responded to thought and impulse to impulse so quickly and with such tell- ing effect. Gilead's local paper, the Standard, whose motto was, "No compromise with slavery," and whose editor was a young man full of combativeness and moral courage, was issued every Friday. 88 THE GILEAD GUARDS. While the sheets were still damp from the press they were carried away by eager subscribers, who, after hearing a " Boston daily' ' read aloud in the post- office, Avere ready to study the events of the week in the light of Standard reports from the front. When at length the last recruit necessary to form the new company had given his name and received a glance of medical approval through old Dr. Snow's spectacles, an organization was effected ; and while the presses waited the Standard slipped in a com- plete list of men and officers. It was more popular that night than ever before. Benjie Steele was one of the first to snatch a copy, and away he rode toward home with his prize, en- tirely forgetting the nails and screws he was to purchase. He was at that age when a very little ex- citement is sufficient to set the blood racing through the body, and when there is no motive power quite rapid enough to keep pace with the imagination. Talk of telegraphic communication ! A boy of fifteen brooks no delay ; not that his business is all-im- portant, he simply wants things to move. That was Benjie's nature; and yet in hoeing- time he could, if he chose, rival a snail in his rate of progress from one potato-hill to another. Of such strange inconsistencies are boys capable. But he rode home through the darkness and the dust that August evening at Gypsy's best speed ; and, after turning her loose in the little pasture be- hind the barns, hurried into the sitting-room where the family were gathered. " I got the Standard and the list's in it — company all organized and every thing," he panted. "COMPANY F." 89 His father laid aside the Tribune with a " Well, well, I want to know !" His mother looked up from her mending, the girls each held out a hand for the paper, and Abram, who sat at his desk in the cor- ner, paused in his writing and leaned his head upon his hand. Benjie began with the editorial : " Company F, popularly known as the Gilead Guards, is now full, and to-day elected officers, whose names, as also those of the privates, will be found in another column. " Among the new recruits are many of our best young men ; and, while they will be sadly missed, every patriotic citizen must rejoice that our town is to be so well represented in the ranks of our nation's defenders. Bristow's Falls and the Center have helped make up the — " " O, Benjie," interrupted Mary, "who cares for editorials? Do read the list." Benjie looked at her with lofty scorn. " I care for editorials. How would we know how things are goin' if 'twasn't for them ?" said he, mean- while turning the paper to the indicated column. " Well, John Bartlett is captain, just as we ex- pected, 'nd Judson Plumley's first lieutenant. Wal- ter Jackson, from the Center, is second lieutenant — " "Don Stanley's one of the sergeants, anyway," said Mary, peeping over Benjie's shoulder. "Yes, and Joe Armstrong 'nd Hiram Follinsbee are corporals. Now, I'm disappointed not to see David Douglas amongst the officers. He's a real smart feller ; he knows lots more 'n most of the boys, too." 90 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " It aint the wisest and best that get office, not always. I dare say David will make a good private soldier," said Mr. Steele. "Yes; he'll be good anywhere; but if they'd asked my advice I'd have said, ' Have David for cor- poral, for all of Hi Follinsbee.' " There was a laugh at this, for Benjie distinguished himself daily by planning campaigns and directing affairs generally. "Well, you needn't laugh," said he; "don't I know the boys a good deal better than most of the company? But they all feel so good I suppose they don't care much for office. John Henry Hickey said every Gilead boy would be an H. P., best they could do." " What's an H. P.?" asked Mary. " High Private, of course. I told John Henry he walked 's if he'd swallowed a ramrod ; but he said I ought to see him when he gets out of sight, 'nd I wouldn't worry." " The Hickey boys are straightening up wonder- fully," said Mary, as she carefully drew the paper from the table. " See here," she continued, " Vic's brother, Chester Shaw, is going. He was in the Standard office, you know. And hear this : ' The family of Mr. Joel Smith is truly patriotic, sending the father and three sons.' The family send them ! that must mean poor Mrs. Smith, and Abby Jane, and Huldah, and two or three babies." " They'll be left without a man to drive a nail," observed Benjie as he recaptured the paper. "I guess girls can learn to drive nails," cried Mary. "■COMPANY F." 91 "Yes, finger-nails," retorted Benjie. " Three boys ! How can poor Mrs. Smith bear it ?" said Mrs. Steele, sympathetically. " But Pliny is not of age, I am very sure. No ; he was born the win- ter their house burnt, and that makes him a whole year younger than Austin. Strange they allow him to go." " I guess they take him along to keep him out of mischief; I wish somebody was obliged to take me," sighed Benjie. "They wouldn't find time to do any fighting if they did," said Mary, between whom and her brother existed an affection subject to frequent changes. " Children, children, be careful what you say ! " interposed their father. " It's no joke to 'list, for it means never seein' home again to a good many. Read the names of the boys, son." And with many an exclamation and interpolation the boy read the long list, while Esther's knitting- needles clicked, and the rest sat thoughtfully listen- ing and wondering what would be the future fate of the " Guards." Esther kept her fingers and needles flying, for, like all self-conscious people, she felt sure that the slightest change in her acts or words would be noticed ; and not for all the world would she have betrayed the fact that her heart was interested in one more than another of the names in that long column. Printer's ink stamps any subject with a distinct- ness that means finality ; so, while every body in town seemed to know who had enlisted, the fact 92 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. was not fully realized until they saw it thus announced in black and white. " It reads too much like the killed and wounded list in the Boston Journal" said Mary. "And there's where you'll see some of 'em next, probably," added her mother, sadly. " Here's a long letter from the cavalry — from Cap- tain Plumley," said Benjie, rapidly scanning the paper ; " 'nd here's a little squib from somebody about the new company. Want to hear it? " and without waiting for a response the boy began to read one of those local letters such as add to the popularity of a paper in its own town. It was well written, giving advice to the new " soldier-boys " as well as considerable information concerning their immediate future ; and Benjie plunged along in his usual haste until he found himself reading the closing sentences : " Nothing but admiration is expressed for the brave men who form this new company. Its officers are, without exception, making a genuine sacrifice, whether we consider present position or future prospects, and are evidently actuated by pure pa- triotism ; while the privates are, as a whole, far above the average in appearance and character. Gilead may trust her ' war record ' in the hands of such men. As for those who exhibited a flaming zeal before the recruiting office was opened, and after- ward cooled off so suddenly, we have no words to express our contempt. If such were in the majority, ' secesh ' principles would soon rule the nation, law and order would be sacrificed, anarchy would — " Mary's foot was applied with such emphasis at "COMPANY F." 93 this moment as to awaken Benjie to the fact that the article was dealing with a dangerous topic. He saw it at once, and marveled at his stupidity, while his face and neck reddened all over. He glanced quickly toward Abram, who still sat with his face bent over his desk and gave no visible sign of emotion. There followed a painful silence which no one cared to break. Benjie hid his glowing face and finished the article, which closed with a sarcas- tic reference which he felt must be aimed at Abram. He was thoroughly stirred, and tears of vexation filled his eyes and began to drop with a distinct noise upon the paper. Angry that he could not control himself, more than all angry that Abram should bring such disgrace upon himself and the family, he jumped up, seized a candle from the shelf, and ejaculating, "It's too confounded mean, so!" he disappeared up the stairs. Mr. Steele did not reprove or call him back, severe as he was against the use of "by-words." He snuffed his candle deliberately and turned again to his paper. Esther left her place by the table and moved over by Abram's desk, wishing she dared express the sympathy she felt ; while Mary, who did not approve of silence, introduced what she felt sure was a safe subject. " Mother," said she, " I wonder why Austin doesn't write. It's been weeks since we heard last. I think he is awful careless." " It never was easy for Austin to write," answered her mother. " He used to fret over his writing- books more than all the rest of you put together. But he promised to write every fortnight." 94 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " I dreamed last night that I saw him in a brass band," laughed Mary. " He had a horn that shone like the sun, and it was just the shape of the ram's horns that they blew when they went round Jericho, you know, and he was riding on a black horse." " Father read about Jericho yesterday morning; that's why you dreamed of horns," said Esther. " I'm glad it was a black horse instead of a white one," said Mrs. Steele, slowly. " I don't really be- lieve in signs, but I've noticed if you dream of a white horse you're almost sure to hear of sickness or death or some other trouble." Mary leaned her head upon the table close to her mother and whispered, " I don't think we need to dream about white horses, for we've got trouble enough now. I think Abram's real hateful, and if I was you and father I'd make him tell what's keeping him home." Mrs. Steele shook her head to enforce silence, and glanced with troubled eyes toward the corner. " I s'pose he wrote to Austin not to come home now he isn't needed," continued Mary, still in a whisper. " I guess Austin wonders what the trouble is, don't you ? " A warning cough from Esther checked the talka- tive girl at last, who tossed her head defiantly and picked up the Standard which had been thrown upon the floor in Benjie's wrath. If the family had been better acquainted with the tactics of writers just at that time they would have known that it was their policy to bring the army of stay-at-homes into disrepute. They would have known that there were many genuine cowards who "COMPANY F." 95 might have considered that caustic letter a personal reproof, well deserved on account of their high pro- fessions of patriotism previous to the test of enlist- ment. In those days many a man remembered with delight that he had a " tendency " to consumption, or that he had a " bad knee,"or defective teeth ; and the number of " stiff joints " discovered was a libel on nature's system of lubrication. But under the circumstances they thought of no one but Abram that evening, and suffered accordingly. As for Abram, he was not yet so hardened as to be indifferent to public opinion. To be sure he had tried to fortify himself against it, but every day brought some new trial which he felt, as Gypsy felt through every nerve of her sensitive body the sting of a whip. But public opinion in general was nothing to him compared with that of his inti- mate friends ; for Abram, like all royal souls, placed a high estimate on those whose friendship he valued. And they had been to him — Judson Plumley and young Lawyer Parker and Don Stanley and all the rest — been to him and pleaded and coaxed until they were weary ; and then — for human nature is weak — had turned away either in anger or in silence, which expressed more than words. A few, and but a few, had remained quite the same. One of these was Don Stanley, who knew enough of the world to dimly suspect where the trouble lay ; and another was Joe Armstrong, who declared that he had " pulled with Abram Steele too long to leave him alone when he got stuck in a hard furrow." Others tried to resume the old friendly relations, but there is nothing so hard to counterfeit as the ring of sin- 96 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. cerity in a familiar voice ; and Abram, with his clear insight, could not be deceived. He was, however, philosopher enough to say that he would do no better himself under similar circumstances. Next to the trial of losing the esteem of old friends was that of receiving the congratulations of new ones, who most unexpectedly came to the front. Old Mr. Slocum still owned the farm adjoining Mr. Steele's, and had so conducted himself since the commencement of the civil war as to win the epithet "copperhead,' which was applied some- what indiscriminately to rebel sympathizers in the North. Mr. Slocum was a hard-fisted old fellow who loved money so well that his capacity in the line of affection was exhausted. He regarded his country as deliberately wronging him in supporting the luxury of a war ; and as his sons and his son-in- law, who lived near, all subscribed to his doctrines, the family had become quite notorious in a commu- nity so generally loyal. Abram was at work one day near the " line-fence," when Mr. Slocum, who was busily mending the same, called to him, greet- ing him with a cordiality that was quite surprising. " Glad to know you've got a leetle grain of com- mon sense," said he. " Every body's so eat up with this rage to go South ; I declare it beats all! And they're bound to get the upper hand of us, them Southerners ; don't ye see they be ? Who wins the big battles? Why, the rebs do. They're on their own ter'tory; don't you see they be? They'll hold on to their niggers, too. So'd I if I was in their places, fer it Stan's to reason a man "COMPANY F." 97 wont give up his property. Who's goin' to carry on them rice plantations and pick all that 'ere cotton, if the niggers all go to Afriky ? White folks can't do it — can't stand the hot weather. Don't ye see they can't?" Abram always had to smile at Mr. Slocum, he was so hopelessly ignorant and bigoted, so he an- swered good-naturedly: " The negroes wont go to Africa if they are freed. They will probably stay in the South and pick the cotton just as they do now, only they will be paid for their work like other men. They wont be slaves, and they ought not to be slaves." " I do' know about that;" and Mr. Slocum brought his hammer down upon the top fence-rail with em- phasis. " Folks don't all read the Bible alike, and folks don't always think alike. If they're set free they'll roam everywhere, all over creation. They'll be up here, and the town'll have 'em to take care of. Yis, sir; they'll be beggars and thieves, eatin' us out of house and home. And think of the taxes ! Land o' Goshen — think of the taxes ! They're goin' to take more 'n a man's got. Don't ye see they be?" The old man's eyes snapped, and his voice, al- ways high and shrill, sounded so like a cracked violin that Abram laughed again, even while he felt that, in a sense, he was " aiding and abetting " the old traitor. " Wal," he continued, wiping the sweat from his forehead and lowering his voice, " I was about to say I'm glad to see you know enough to stay to home ; I says to my folks, says I, ' Abram Steele's 7 98 THE GILEAD GUARDS. got more sense 'n I thought he had. He knows which side his bread is buttered,' says I." " But, Mr. Slocum, I didn't want to stay at home. I should have enlisted when the rest did if my way hadn't been blocked," interrupted Abram, with considerable dignity. " O, y-a-a-s ! " drawled the old farmer, his eyes twinkling facetiously, " that's what I told my folks. Says I, ' Abram knows which side his bread's but- tered.' Them that goes to war is twice as likely to get shot as them that stays to home. Don't ye see they be ? " Abram dared not trust himself to reply, but his face grew white as he said " Good-morning " and returned to his work. Mr. Slocum had a dim idea that he might have misunderstood the young man ; but, after watching him a moment, he took up his hammer, muttering as he did so that " the Steeles was a dretful thin- skinned family." BLUE SUITS. CHAPTER VIII. BLUE SUITS. AND next in order came the new blue clothes for the " Guards." The earlier volunteers had not been thus equipped before leaving home, and the brief visits of a few "on furlough" had given to people in general but a glimpse of " blue and gold." Even the pompous officers who had visited the place since recruiting began tarried but for a night, leaving behind a vague impression of military splendor and a question as to what it must be to see a regiment thus arrayed. But now Gilead had a whole company of its own in uniform ! Has any one whose memory dates back to '62 forgotten how the boys looked in their dark blue coats, light blue pantaloons, and regulation caps ? How straight and tall they looked ! And as for their style of walking, they seemed to drop the old slouching stride, and step as if they had already been under the charge of a drill-master. The villagers had the first view of the company when, after receiving their outfit at their rendezvous, they appeared singly or in squads to " pass inspection." Proud and anxious to be seen they were, but modest withal, and quite overwhelmed by the hand-shakings and compliments which greeted them on every side. " Uncle Sam's boys forever! " shouted Ira Bar- 100 THE GILEAD GUARDS. stow from the post-office window ; and then the men and boys standing around began to cheer, and the children just released from school hurrahed and waved handkerchiefs, until our young soldiers felt inclined to beat a retreat. " Well, David," cried Mrs. Douglas, as her son appeared, having hurried home to exhibit himself to parental eyes, " well, David, you do look fine, indeed ; but I can't bear to think that my little Da- vid is really going to meet the great Goliath of slavery ! " " O, mother," laughed the young man, "don't call me your little David. I took one of the largest suits they had ; " and he drew himself up compla- cently, trying to survey his " five feet ten " in the tiny looking-glass that hung in the corner. " But it seems such a few days since you was a baby in the cradle. O, David, you're too good for a soldier ! " and for a moment it seemed as if Mrs. Douglas was about to follow the example of weaker women. " But I said I wouldn't cry, Da- vid, and I'll not begin now, for I love this dear country as well as though I'd been born here; and I wont say, like some of the mothers, that I wish I had no son to go, for I'm glad I have you and that you're brave enough to go ; " and she wiped the tears from her eyes, still sunny and clear, and David resolved, then and there, that his mother should never have cause to regret her sacrifice. But all the women were not as courageous as this clever Scotchwoman. Vic Armstrong, who had cried and scolded alternately while preparing neces- sary clothing for Joe, broke down completely when BLUE SUITS. 101 she saw him coming through the trees that night and caught the sparkle of tell-tale brass buttons as the rays of the setting sun fell upon them. Little Nellie clapped her hands and laughed, reaching out eagerly for the new splendor ; but Vic threw herself into the big arm-chair and sobbed : " O, Joe, now you're going, now you're going! You don't love me and baby any more ! All you care for now is the new clothes and going to war." Joe caught her in his arms and smoothed her tangled hair. " O, now, Vic," said he, soothingly, " you mustn't talk so. You wouldn't want me to stay here 'nd feel too mean to live, while the rest of the boys went to war, would ye? Frank will come to stay with ye, 'nd I'll send home my money to pay up for the farm, 'nd when I come home I'll build a new house with a piazza all round. It wont seem no time hardly before we finish up that little job down South; and you'll write all about how things 're goin' here to home, 'nd I'll write every week, sure." " No ; you'll get shot. I know you will ! " wailed Vic ; " and I'll be left a widow woman like Grand- ma'am Pike." This pleased Joe immensely, and he laughed so heartily that baby Nell's lips began to curl with fright. " When you look like Grandma'am Pike," said he, nestling the baby closer, " Nellie will be about fifty years old. Don't ye worry about me, Vic, fer your old Joe's sure to come home." " If you could only wear a hemlet it would be some comfort," said Vic, wiping her eyes. 102 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " Wear a what?" inquired puzzled Joe. " A hemlet, such as the knights used to wear when they rode away on their coal-black steeds." " 0, that's some of your story-book nonsense, I guess ; " and Joe looked slightly annoyed, for he had no sympathy with his little wife's " helmeted knights," " fierce brigands," and " moated castles." " Well, they didn't go to war in them days in blue clothes trimmed with brass buttons. You can't even have a breastplate," said Vic, fretfully. " Speakin' of breastplates makes me think what Miss Hancock told us boys last Sunday. Kind of an armor, you know — why, yes, Vic — and there's a helmet, I remember now. Let's see. Breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit." " O, I know what you mean, Joe," interrupted Vic ; " but that don't keep the bullets from killin' you." Joe was silent a moment, his eyes fixed on the floor. Then he kissed his wife softly and asked her what he could find for supper, for this careless housekeeper often made Joe take his meals in the pantry. Perhaps none of the new recruits felt more de- pressed by their uniforms than the Hickey boys. Naturally angular and awkward, they made desper- ate efforts to conform to the new order of things, but they had always dressed in such a very free- and-easy style that they rather resented " tight clothes with linin's." They bore up bravely while the cheering and congratulations lasted, and John Henry was so elated for the moment that he vent- BLUE SUITS. 103 ured to bow to Miss Emma Alice Green, the mer- chant's daughter, a white-faced, listless young lady, who always reminded him of an angel ! They also maintained their dignity as they passed Squire Fletcher's, and were rewarded by Ruby's cordial bow and waving handkerchief. " I'll bet she wishes we was Abram Steele," said John Henry, soberly. " I heard some women tellin' mother the other day that Ruby tore round awful when any body spoke about him. Wished she might die if she ever had any thing to say to him, 'nd all such stuff," added George, in a low tone. " I don't b'lieve it. Too much soft wood fer a good steady fire. Folks better let that fuss alone, fer, as Hiel Saunders says, they'll find out some- time," said John Henry, who was in his way quite a social philosopher. But they had now gained the shelter of their beloved woods, and dared to express an opinion concerning their new habiliments. "Awful warm, aint they?" said John Henry, shrugging his shoulders. " I can't breathe good in mine. I'm a good mind to cut and run," said George, half joking, half in earnest. "We don't want gover'ment down on us though. Let's take off our coats 'nd go easy for a spell." And so it came to pass as Mrs. Hickey stood in the door-way with her hand above her eyes watch- ing for the boys she saw them coming up the hill, the new blue coats hanging over their arms as they " loped " along, laughing and joking as usual. Her great homely boys — how she loved them ! Good and honest they were, and as shrewd and intelligent 104 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. fellows as you would find anywhere, only lacking the refinements of polite society. Glancing around from Mrs. Hickey's stand-point at the front door, it was an easy matter to read the secret of their liberty-loving tendencies. The farm was on the " height of land " and the house occupied a plateau at its summit. After reaching this, and recovering their breath, no one wondered that they enjoyed living there. Well-cultivated farms lay in full view flanked by green side-hill pastures, such as Vermonters, having known, never forget ; while, farther on, magnificent forests swept away on either hand, yielding a glimpse here and there of the val- ley below. Against the northern horizon old " Owl's Head " was visible, while away at the south was a far-distant range of mountains which looked, in their softened purplish outline, like a vision of dreamland. This was the view from the front of the house. On the opposite side, and toward the west, was a gradual slope, leading into a fine farming neighbor- hood and finally to the village of Bristow's Falls. A stranger, studying the economy of time and strength, would naturally suppose that the Hickeys would make that their village ; but no, their post- office was Gilead ; and, with the obstinacy of dwell- ers in hill countries, they really seemed to enjoy climbing up from the valley, and felt duly afflicted when drifted winter roads or an ailing horse pre- vented attending the Gilead church on Sundays. " It aint nothing to go up hill when you get used to it," quoth Mr. Hickey. It is a striking illustration of the wise provisions BLUE SUITS. 105 of Providence that there are a good many people who agree with our friend, else the hills of New England never would have been settled ! The persistent energy which had won this hill farm from the wilderness had brought it to a high degree of perfection ; and it was, indeed, a picture, from the front yard, with its flaunting hollyhocks and dahlias, to the orchard, whose laden apple-trees leaned over the wall ; and still beyond to the wide corn-field, where, through a miniature forest of rus- tling leaves, gleamed golden pumpkins. Mrs. Hickey saw it all, glorified as it was by the sunset, and her heart ached as she thought that her boys must leave. " Just as we've got ready to live, and every thing so nice and pleasant, they want to go, both of 'em, both of 'em ! " said she to herself, choking back the sobs that made her throat ache, and trying to smile as they approached. Little Emmeline, a sturdy five-year-old and the only daughter, thrust her flaxen head into view, pushing her mother's dress aside that she might greet her brothers. " New clothes ! " said she, briefly. " Yes, tow-head ! new clothes ; aint they pretty ? " and they threw their coats over a splint-bottomed chair outside the door, with a sigh of relief. " Birds on the buttons ! " continued Emmeline, examining them curiously. "Yes, sir; that's the glorious American eagle! " exclaimed her brother. " With torn pinions he soars aloft, crying to every loyal citizen — " " Give me liberty or give me death ! " interrupted George, as John Henry's breath failed. 106 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " He didn't, either," said the little sister, reprov- ingly^ " Keep still, George Washington ; that wasn't what I was going to say. He cries to every loyal free-born American citizen — " " Live or die, sink or swim, survive or perish, I'm for the Constitution ! " shouted the father of his country, who was immediately attacked by his brother. Little Emmeline instantly retreated to a respect- ful distance and stood with her hands meekly folded over her blue and white check apron, watch- ing the young gladiators, whose good-natured con- tests were a source of continual delight and terror. Mrs. Hickey was glad of their nonsense, for it gave her time to control herself. She bent over the new coats and tested the quality of cloth and " mak- ing " with true housewifely instinct. " They're very nice, and real well made," said she. " You must put them on when father comes. Here, sissy, go to the barn and call pa to supper ; it's all ready and waitin'." Mrs. Hickey was a remarkable housekeeper, and the table around which the family gathered in the large clean kitchen was covered with a tempting array of her best cookery. " Mother means we shall never forget her bis- cuits," said John Henry, reaching for his third, while George passed his plate for a second supply of cold lamb. " It does me good to see you eat," said their mother ; " I've a notion the soldiers don't get much variety in their victuals when they get down where the fiuhtingf is." BLUE SUITS. 107 The boys exchanged amused glances with their father, and he remarked dryly: " No, mother, I understand gover'ment don't deal out fresh bread all round but once a day; dough- nuts not so often." " And frosted cake 'nd tarts only once a week," added John Henry, slyly. "Poor fellows!" sighed Mrs. Hickey, while the boys laughed uproariously over their joke. " Mother '11 have to read up a little after you're gone, I guess," said their father. " You must send us some of the hard-tack we read about, so we can see what Uncle Sam feeds his soldiers with." "If they don't feed you well, boys, you just come home. You know father and I believe in livin' well," said their mother. Again the boys went off in a gale of laughter, and John Henry declared he should die if she said any more. " Why, mother," said he, " don't you know we'd be shot for deserters if we ran away from the army? " " O, I don't mean that I want you to run away, exactly, but just tell the general that you can't stand the livin'. That's perfectly reasonable, I'm sure." This " amendment " was greeted with subdued chuckles by the " men folks," and good Mrs. Hickey rambled on, giving her ideas of what " gover'ment " ought to do in the line of equipping and feeding its soldiers. If she could have had her way there would have been feather-beds all around, and plum pre- serves and cake for regular rations. The time came, however, when she knew all about what her boys 108 THE GILEAD GUARDS. had to eat and how they slept ; but the lessons of the rebellion could not be learned all at once by busy women on Vermont hill-tops. Little by little, through sacrifice, and loss, and bleeding hearts, they learned how the mothers of a nation can suffer for the nation's sin. But this good supper and the quiet evening which followed were almost the last the Hickey boys enjoyed. In many other homes loving hands pre- pared niceties never seen save at Thanksgiving or some other festive occasion, that their loved ones might remember home comforts with pleasure ; but the time for their ministrations was short. Hardly a week from the arrival of the uniforms orders came that the company should report at the State ren- dezvous the following Wednesday. OAT TO DIXIE. 100 CHAPTER IX. ON TO DIXIE. A DRUM-BE AT, followed by the clear musical notes of a bugle and supplemented by the church-bell, was sufficient to arouse the people on that eventful Wednesday morning. A very early start was necessary, as Gilead was four miles from the nearest railroad station, which must be reached by eight o'clock ; hence, before the fog lifted from the river, or released the village from its white envelopments, the echo of quick footsteps was heard upon the plank sidewalks. Familiar forms looked weird and unnatural, seen dimly through the mists, and the first wagon that rolled along the street with its silent occupants seemed like some mysteri- ous vehicle walking in its sleep. There was a very perceptible chill in the damp air; and the new recruits, as they greeted each other, shrugged their shoulders and hoped it would be warmer " down in Dixie." As daylight increased one could see that quite a crowd had collected — men, women, and little children — a quiet, sad-eyed crowd, among which the boys in blue passed to and fro, trying to talk and laugh, poor fellows ! — as though staid Gilead was accustomed to convene every morning to see the sun rise, and they were in no sense responsible for this gathering. Flags were displayed at the court- 110 THE GILEAD GUARDS. house, post-office, bank, and hotel, as well as from the flagstaff on the common ; and a short distance away were carriages, to convey the soldiers and their baggage to the station. After a little delay the " Gilead Brass Band," sadly depleted by the out- going company, struck up " America," and the peo- ple hastened to the brown church, where a tem- porary platform had been erected. Judge Plumley stepped forward, looked over the assembled company, and in a voice he could with difficulty control, said : " There is no time for speech-making this morn- ing, nor are we in a mood for speeches. We are here as loyal citizens of Gilead, to say good-bye to the citizen soldiers of our own and adjoining towns. We differ from many lands in this, that our soldiers are not such by profession, or for a long period of time. You are still fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, going out from your homes to help save our country from ruin in this her time of peril. We believe you are truly patriotic, and that your enlist- ment is from a sense of duty. We shall watch your career with pride, shall rejoice in your success, and pray most earnestly for your safe return. Remem- ber, officers and private soldiers, that you leave be- hind those who love and honor the principles for which you are ready to die ; and that while we can- not be with you we are still one in our devotion to our country and our country's flag. In the name of tliis and other towns which you represent, I pledge you our hearty co-operation in the work of putting down the rebellion. May your lives be precious in the sight of the God of battles, and ON TO DIXIE. Ill his comforting presence go and remain with you always ! " Hearty cheering followed these earnest words, growing even more enthusiastic as Captain Bartlett stepped forward to reply. The people looked at him through tears as he stood there so handsome and so fearless ; and, just as he began to speak, the sunlight burst through the mists, falling like a morning blessing upon his bared head and untarnished uniform. An invol- untary murmur of applause again rose around him, and he smiled in response and begged the sorrowful hearts before him to accept it as an omen of good, a prophecy of coming victory, peace, and reunion. And then he pledged himself and his men to all that was brave, and noble, and true. Can such speeches be reported ? Can the present generation even imagine what it was to live in those days? Such scenes were being repeated somewhere every day ; and every-where hearts beat high with emo- tions of self-sacrifice and patriotic daring. Every loyal soul was aroused and responsive to the over- mastering impulse of the hour ; and eloquence, whose very breath is liberty, touched the lips of every impassioned orator. To live at such a time was to know the heights of self-renunciation and the depths of sacrificial pain ; and as the keenness of that suffering can never be portrayed to those who did not experience it, neither is it possible to describe the fervid enthusiasm which was kindled in that hour of national danger. It ran from heart to heart, turning timidity to fearlessness, self-seeking to self-sacrifice, producing armies of heroes ready 112 THE GILEAD GUARDS. to die upon the altar of their country. And in all this there was a faith in the sacredness of the altar, and a firm belief that God was directing in the con- flict. However it may have been in crowded cities where grosser motives held partial sway, in many quiet New England towns this passion of loyalty was nothing less than religion at white heat. The cry was, in deed and in truth, " God and our native land!" A stranger might have failed to appreciate this fact, for New England enthusiasm does not always vent itself in noise ; but one who knew how to read aright would have learned the truth by looking in the earnest, thoughtful faces of that listening audi- ence. When Captain Bartlett closed his remarks the people were too deeply moved to think of ap- plause. The time to say good-bye was very near. The old pastor of the brown church raised his hand and said, " Let us pray ; " and a profound silence, broken only by deep inspirations and a low under- tone of sobs, fell upon the people. There are times when prayer is like the speech of friend to friend ; and the most careless hearts were touched and ele- vated as they found themselves commended to the guidance and protection of Him who was evidently very near them — so near that the sunshine now fall- ing brightly every-where seemed no more real than his presence. But with the solemn "Amen," which fell from many lips, closed the simple farewell serv- ice. The leave-taking which followed cannot be described. There was Captain Bartlett's young wife in her father's carriage, with white, still face and tearless eyes which followed his every movement ; ON TO DIXIE. 113 and very near sat Joe Armstrong's little wife and the baby, with her father and mother. Vic was trying to be calm, but her most heroic efforts only resulted in floods of tears which she concealed as best she could behind Nellie's sunny head. And moving through the crowd was Esquire Fletcher, with eyes suspiciously red, telling every body to " keep the tears back and give the boys a cheerful send-off." And there were the Hickeys, father and mother and little sober-faced Emmeline, faithful to "their boys" to the last; and David Douglas's brave par- ents, talking cheerily to him and to others whose friends were not there ; and, in striking contrast, Mr. Rollins, who watched proceedings with a forbidding face, ami would have kept Thomas from going to that " unrighteous war " at the last moment if the young man had not attained his majority. Poor Mrs. Follinsbee stood a little apart, with a child clinging to her dress on either side, proud as she could be of her big, soldierly husband, yet crushed and wretched at thought of losing him. Don Stanley, as straight and handsome as the cap- tain himself, had been besieged by a bevy of the village girls, who were wonderfully impressed by his appearance ; but he was watching for one face which was not there. Benjie's opportune appearance, however, gave him a trusty messenger for a hastily written note to Esther, who was at that moment shedding her tears alone and thinking with a sinking heart of the events she could not witness. Ruby Fletcher was with Miss Hancock and other ladies at Judge Plumley's front gate, where she looked and 8 114 THE GILEAD' GUARDS. listened, with glowing cheeks and changing mood ; at one moment protesting that Mrs. Plumley ought not to cry — she wouldn't cry if she had two boys in the army ; she would say, like that old Roman matron, "Come home with, or on, your shields" — and the next moment she would be bidding some old school-mate good-bye with tears rolling down her cheeks. Hiel Saunders stopped a moment at the gate to say : " I swanny, it's too bad to see our best boys a-goin' off this way! Makes me wish I could wind up the whole gover'munt concern." And Ruby, with elevated chin, declared that he ought to be ashamed of himseff; and if it were not for his good- for-nothing eyes she wouldn't give him any peace until he went himself. Miss Hancock, who knew that these speeches came from the poor child's sore heart, patted her hand softly and. whispered : " 'Tis easy thus to give our anger vent ; 'Tis harder when we find we must repent." " O, you made that up on purpose for me," said Ruby, half pettishly. But the old yellow stage and the large wagons and private conveyances of various kinds were now in readiness. Last kisses were ex- changed and last blessings bestowed. The officers gave their orders, the company drew up in position, and the next moment all was ready for departure. The band began to play, caps were lifted, handker- chiefs waved, eyes met and spoke one more mute farewell, and with cheers and music and flying flags the boys in blue rode away. ON TO DIXIE. 115 Quickly and almost in silence the people began to disperse. The excitement and display and brave talk were all over now, and there remained for them only days of work and days of waiting. Many a pitying glance followed poor Mrs. Smith, who seemed to have given so much more than any one else, as she backed her horse out of the meeting- house shed and helped the children, Huldah, Abby Jane, and the little boys, into the two-seated wagon. She had had offers of assistance, but only replied, "No, I'm capable, thank you," with the quiet de- termination of a woman who decides from the first to be independent. The two girls, with little three- year-old Prescott, occupied the back seat ; while Byron, a sedate boy of ten, climbed up beside his mother, watching her with some apprehension as she gathered up the reins and started faithful old Doll toward home. He unconsciously raised himself as high as possible, as though to make the contrast between his father's broad shoulders and his dimin- utive form less apparent, although he felt the differ- ence most keenly. He had been deeply impressed and his curiosity had been aroused by the morning's proceedings ; and after they had jogged along some time in silence he began to ask questions, like a true little Yankee as he was. " Mother, what does father and Homer and Chester and Pliny want to go to war for? " he asked. "To put down the rebellion," answered his mother, recalling her thoughts with an effort. " What you mean by the rebellion ? " " Why, the Southern States rebelled — left the Union, sonny." 116 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " What for?" persisted Byron. "The Southern folks kept slaves. All the black men and women down there were slaves to the white ones. 'Taint right, and the Northern people said they shouldn't do it, and they shouldn't make any more slave States. Then the Southern States said they wouldn't stay in the Union," explained his mother, patiently. " And was that secesh — what father and the boys talked about ? " " Secession ? Yes." " What was they' going to do when they got out ? " " Stay out, and have a gover'ment of their own." Byron meditated a moment. " And the war is goin' to bring 'em back ? " " Yes, yes, and free the slaves," said this far-see- ing and believing woman. " Well, if it's got to be done I s'pose my father had to go, and the boys. Do you s'pose, mother, they will whip and get through afore next spring ? " he asked, confidentially. " O, Byron, I hope so, I hope so," said his mother, earnestly. " My father'll help a good deal ; " and Byron gave an assuring nod of his big head. " He's awful strong, 'most as strong as a giant. I'll bet ye, sir, he could twist the chains right off 'm them niggers." " Don't say niggers," interposed Huldah, with a womanly air, from the depths of her "shaker." " I read the other day that nobody with any self-respect would use that word. You must say negroes, or colored people." Byron had oceans of self-respect. ON TO DIXIE. in " Well, mother," said he, " if the negroes or col- ored people get free, would the negroes or colored people be glad and hallelujah to the starry skies?" Poor Mrs. Smith's sad, anxious face relaxed into an actual smile — a small one — as she asked, " Why, sonny, what do you mean ? " " That's what Captain Bartlett said, near as I can remember ; and he said God up in heaven held the reins in this war." " Yes, he did, mother ; anyway, that's what he meant," interposed Huldah. " You was crying so you didn't notice, I guess." " That's what he said," continued Byron ; " and if God up in heaven holds the reins, that means he's driving — " " Yes," assented his mother. " And if he's driving, why, the team can't run away," said the boy. Byron concluded his reasoning with a slow, self- satisfied smile, and turned his attention to the horse and the slowly revolving wheels, while his mother, who had been looking into the future with dreary foreboding, felt comforted as she thought of the strong Hand that was guiding, not only the nation, but her own humble affairs, and would surely keep both from destruction. It is rather humiliating to acknowledge that any thing occurred on that bright August morning to mar its history; but there were a few men, even in Gilead, who looked upon the departure of the "Guards" with unsympathetic eyes. Mr. Slocum and two or three of his " party friends " had stood upon the outskirts of the crowd, 118 THE GILEAD GUARDS. and, while they were silenced and awed by the scene, were quite ready when it was over to take exceptions. " Looks very fine to 'em now," said Mr. Green, sagely, " gives 'em a chance to see the world ; but they'll change their tune one of these days." " Yes," struck in Mr. Slocum's high tones; " they haint smelt gunpowder yet. None of 'em aint killed nor wounded yet. My boys aint goin\ no, sir! If this country's bound to go to ruin none of my family aint goin' to have a hand in it." So busily were these worthies conversing that they did not notice the approach of numerous feet until a concert of hisses attracted their attention, and, turning, they confronted a dozen boys tramp- ing sturdily along just in the rear, their eyes flash- ing and their best efforts concentrated upon the well-understood " hiss." " Stop it ! stop it ! clear out and run right away, you sassy little rascals ! " cried the old man, flour- ishing his cane right and left. "Copperhead! copperhead!" shouted the boys as they scattered, laughing at the result of their ex- periment. " Boys haint no respec' for gray hairs. They're all full of this ere war-talk, goin' right straight to ruin ; don't ye see they be ? " The old man did not realize how those boys had been thrilled by what they had heard and seen, nor that they felt they were vindicating the honor of their country in opposing him. He did not even notice that they wore " McClellan caps," nor know that they could whistle " Rally 'round the flag, ON TO DIXIE. 119 boys," like a brass band. So he and his compan- ions continued to discuss government affairs in dole- ful tones, agreeing that speedy and utter ruin awaited the country ; and little Byron Smith was not there to remind them that " God up in heaven held the reins." That morning Abram Steele had risen very early, and while Benjie was hurrying villageward he strode away to a certain hill pasture where he was sure to be alone and undisturbed. He did not think, until he reached the place and began to ex- amine the fence which he had persuaded himself needed his attention, that he was nearer town at that point than he could have been at any other on the farm. The clear tones of the bell first re- minded him of this fact ; and after working aim- lessly for a few moments he laid down his hammer beside the nail-box, and leaned against a huge gray rock which formed the corner where two fences met. There he stood with arms folded across his breast, straw hat pushed back, and eyes fixed dreamily upon the clouds of mist, which, seen from his stand- point, were already scurrying hither and thither be- fore the sun's rays. So absorbed was he in his own thoughts that time passed unheeded, and his face became almost like that of a statue in its fixed and silent outline. It was a face that had always borne close scru- tiny, for it indicated truthfully his strong, well-bal- anced character. As the country people said, " It was recommend enough." But within a few weeks it had assumed an expression never seen there 120 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. before, the subtle change which surely follows a rapid development of mental or spiritual life. It was a typical face — we arc pleased to believe — which an artist might have chosen for his ideal of a Puritan, or for one of those early Christians who heard wild beasts roar and walked upon the arena to meet them without sign of faltering. But there was no artist to note symmetry of form or nobility of feature, and Abram himself did not even suspect that he was capable of being heroic. The possibility of taking a course other than that he had taken after his first struggle had never occurred to him. There are natures so like a plumb- line that they are all ready to be used in God's car- pentry without the endless trouble of straightening. This is worth remembering in a world where so many require geometrical demonstration to teach them how to find the shortest distance between two given points. But Abram's high sense of honor, integrity of purpose, and persistence in action could not pre- vent his heart going out with a great longing to- ward the gathering in the village. He fancied him- self there with the crowd whose applause he felt almost sure he could hear. He was proud, excited, and elated as he imagined himself in uniform ready for speedy departure. Ruby's face, full of enthu- siasm as it had been on that Sunday evening — was it a hundred years ago ? — rose before him, and he saw her dear eyes grow moist while her lips still smiled as he whispered his last " good-bye." He saw the fluttering red, white, and blue ribbons at her throat, and the odor of clove pinks was in the ON TO DIXIE. 121 air. Hark ! The music of a familiar patriotic march floated up to his retreat, and he involuntarily lifted his straw hat and straightened himself, sure that it must be the signal for final departure. He strained his ears to catch the last, the very last cornet notes, and then the faint, far-away roll of the drum ; and then — with a long-drawn breath, he found himself standing in the silence alone. The " Gilead Guards" were on their way to glory, and he was left behind ! And he had wanted to go so much, so much ! He had understood the gospel of the war better than had most of the boys, and had been uncon- sciously preparing for it for years, so closely had he followed, even in his early youth, the develop- ment of national questions. And now to stay at home under an imputation of cowardice! The " path of duty" may be " the path of beauty" indeed, but it sometimes leads through desert places. The wild birds sang in the woods near by that morning, and in a neighboring pasture a flock of sheep nibbled between the stones and bleated so- cially, while aLl through the sultry summer air was that " background of noise " furnished by droning, humming, and buzzing insects, intent on fulfilling their brief missions; but Abram heard nothing, saw nothing. He was conscious only of a loneliness that was harder to bear than actual pain. Years after- ward he said to one who questioned him closely concerning that period of his life : " I can't tell you much about that morning. You must live at such a time, and feel as I did, to know how I suffered." 122 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER X. AUSTIN'S LETTER. " T DECLARE, if I don't believe this must be from J. Austin Steele ! It's a franked war letter, too ! Well, well, it's been two months or more since they heard from him to my knowledge, and now it ap- pears he's gone to war;" and Ira Barstow held up the plump envelope between himself and the light curiously. It was plainly directed to Mr. Steele, and across the end was a scrawl with " M. C." beneath, indicating that it had received the name of some congressman, which was sufficient in those days to bring soldiers' letters to the home office. Mr. Barstow could not stop to scrutinize the letter as he would have done in former days. The time had been when he could have given the history of the town as it sifted through his hands in limited correspondence ; but soldiers' letters and extra papers made Gilead's mail-bag plethoric, and the people, instead of coming to the office once a week, came every night and crowded the limited space, waiting impatiently for the news, until he was well- nigh distracted with rapid work and outside noise. He did not fully enjoy the change, for it seemed like defrauding government to push such valuable documents into their respective boxes with no time to speculate over post-marks. Mr. Barstow AUSTIN'S LETTER. 123 was alone in the world, and his work supplied in a sense the lack of fireside and friends. Benjie was late in calling for his mail that night, and Mr. Barstow felt almost vexed over the delay. " It's from Austin, I guess," said he, yielding the letter at length to the boy's eager fingers. " Your folks worried any? Must be he's gone to war. Thinks I, may be Abram knew it all along." Benjie looked at the familiar handwriting, opened his lips as if to speak, closed them again, thrust it into his pocket, and hurried away. Mr. Barstow laughed silently. " Close-mouthed, like all the family," said he. " ' Tend to their own business and keep their own counsel, and that's all right. No law to prevent that ever I heard of." There was a commotion in Mr. Steele's sitting- room when Benjie burst in, more breathless and excited than usual, and exclaiming, " Letter from Austin at last ! " threw it upon the table in front of his father. Abram sprang up from his desk with a look of relief and expectation ; his mother and the girls hurried in from the kitchen, and Mr. Steele, peering through his spectacles at the letter which he held in his trembling hand, said in the words of Mr. Barstow : " It appears he's gone to war ! Read it, Abram." Abram did not at once respond. He had torn it open and was scanning page after page, searching for something he evidently did not find ; for after a moment's delay his face lost its brightness and he handed the letter to Esther. 124 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " You read Austin's writing better than I," said he, and returned to his quiet corner. " Read it, I can't wait ;" and Mrs. Steele, with hands tightly clasped, leaned back in her rocking- chair with closed eyes. Esther bent her head to the lamp and began : "'In Camp, September 25, 1862. " ' Dear Father : You will all be surprised to get a letter from Virginia instead of Massachusetts, unless Uncle Austin has written about my enlisting. As I asked him not to I presume you have been wondering and worrying, perhaps, for some time. I ought to have written at once, and intended to, but waited for time and quiet and conveniences, until I found if such business was attended to at all it must be just when I could get a few spare moments right in the midst of disturbance, and with no better writing- desk than my knapsack or the bottom of my tin plate. " ' You know, too, what a boy I am to put off till to-morrow what ought to be done to-day, and I dreaded to break the news and ask you to forgive me for enlisting without your consent. But you will, all of you, wont you ? ' " " Yes, we will," cried Benjie, snapping his fingers and nodding his head excitedly, while his mother sobbed : " Bless his heart ! He was always quick to do wrong and quick to repent." Esther read on : " ' But, father, if you had been in Boston and heard the music and the cheering and the speeches, and A US TIN 'S LE TTER. 1 25 seen the flags flying and the regiments marching, you would have felt just as I did. Why, it was Uncle Tom s Cabin and Horace Greeley's Tribune editorials and Elder Put's sermons mixed together and taken hot. I said to myself, " If father was younger, and wasn't lame, he would go;" and I kept thinking of what you had said until it seemed to me you would expect me to go. Well, by and by I could not think of any thing else. My appe- tite was all gone and my work was drudgery. At last I went with two other clerks, who were going to enlist to fill up the ranks of an old regiment, the — the Massachusetts, and right then and there I gave my name, and was accepted, too. I expected there might be trouble about my age, but the others were older than I, and one of them answered for me. He said afterward he didn't know but I was twenty-one ; if I wasn't I ought to be. " 'At any rate, almost before I realized it I was a soldier. I called at Uncle Austin's and told him I was going. He never says much, you know, but was sorry I had been in such a hurry — said I ought to have written and got your consent at least ; and I didn't tell him I was afraid you would not give it. " ' Aunt Elizabeth said a great deal, as her habit is, and gave me lots of good advice. If I could fol- low it I should be too good for this world. She gave me a Testament, and I felt real tender over it till she said she got it for nothing of a Bible agent.' " Even the tearful mother had to join in the gen- eral laugh which followed this characteristic an- 126 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. nouncement ; for Aunt Elizabeth, whose wealth seemed fabulous to her husband's country relatives, was far from generous. " ' There is one thing more you ought to know, although I am ashamed to tell it. I did not go to Mr. Webber at all after we enlisted. We had just been paid, and the other clerks said he was a hard man to deal with when he got excited ; so we just kept clear of the store till we left the city, which was only a few days afterward.' " Mr. Steele's face flushed and his voice trembled as he said : " That's bad for Austin. He hadn't ought to have done so. That wasn't the square thing." " He says so himself, father ; just hear; " and Es- ther continued : " ' I am ashamed of it now, and also that I was so extravagant that I had only money enough to get me what I needed to bring away. I got to going with a couple of the clerks who were not very good fel- lows — not the ones who enlisted — and spent money foolishly. I did not realize what they were until just before I left ; but I am fairly away from their in- fluence now, and will try to be a credit to you.' " " Poor boy ! " said his mother, pressing her hand- kerchief to her eyes ; " how could we have consented to let him go down to that wicked city?" But Abram, with his hands thrust into his hair and his eyes dry and stern, said to himself, " Of course he didn't want to see Mr. Webber." From his view of the case his worst fears were con- firmed, and he felt that his last hope was also extinguished. AUSTIN'S LETTER. 127 Esther read on : " ' When I lie down in my blanket at night I think of you all and remember your counsel. Last night I dreamed of that fall I had, years ago, from a cherry-tree, when Abram lugged me home on his back. He was always so good to me — it makes me feel mean when I think may be he wanted to come down to Dixie — but he isn't the kind of fellow to feel as I did about it. If I had gone home to work on the farm I should have been good for nothing; but now if I get popped over down here you will have the best one left. " ' I meant to have told you about a skirmish I was in the other day— for Benjie's benefit — but can't this time. Will write him soon. Meanwhile I hope you will send me the home news as soon as possible, for when I stop to think of you all it seems as though I could not wait to hear. Write how your lameness is ; how the crops are this fall ; who has enlisted that I know, and how you feel about the war. If the folks get blue tell them we are not ; for we expect to win in less than a year. There is a rumor that we are to move soon, and I must ascer- tain how your letters will reach me.' " And with an animated scrawl of an eagle sup- posed to be burdened with love for each member of the family Austin's epistle closed. " Well," said Mr. Steele, polishing his spectacles carefully on a corner of the table-cloth, " I'd thought of it, but he hadn't ought to have 'listed that way. Don't take it too hard, mother ; we're no wuss off than thousands. When a boy gets bewitched to go he seems to lose his head ; " and the old farmer resumed 128 THE GILEAD GUARDS. his newspaper-reading, apparently, although for some minutes his Tribune was wrong side up. " I think he might have told us about the fight, anyhow," grumbled Benjie. " I'll write to-morrow, see if I dont, and ask him a thousand questions. Where does he say to send his letters?" Esther looked carefully. " I don't find any thing— I am afraid — " And then they all examined every page again ; but ev- idently the careless boy, hungry as he was for home news, had neglected to add the information he was so anxious to give. The letter was re-read and reviewed by Esther and Mary, with Benjie's head between theirs ; and much that he had not written was "guessed at; " for a loving curiosity will press through the narrow gate-way of a pen-flourish in search of reasons and motives and feelings which might have influenced the writer. But in no way could they discover the lacking address, and their only hope was that another letter was already on its way. One fact, however, was established in Benjie's mind, at least — Austin was the hero of the family, and from the parlor-table he brought the old daguerreotype and the new " Boston photograph," to be examined with this character in view. In the first Austin was a round-faced boy of fourteen, with rigid muscles and scared yet resolute face. " There's a real die-on-the-field-of-battle look, now, just as plain as can be ; " and Benjie rubbed the glass and held the picture in a favorable light, that his sisters might catch the prophetic expres- sion. " Now see this one ! " and with genuine pride AUSTIN'S LETTER. 129 Benjie balanced the photograph of the hero, taken on his nineteenth birthday, against a pile of books. " That's Austin, sure enough ! Must look gay in his new blue clothes." But as he spoke a mistiness obscured the boy's eyes, and the girls turned away from the bright young face that smiled at them so hopefully with quivering lips. Their mother left the room after one glance at the picture, and Benjie took it back to its sacred corner, remaining in the dark parlor several minutes and returning very quietly. It was a grand thing to have a brother in the army, of course ; but one must be careful about these photographs. He was soon busy looking over a Harper s Weekly with Mary, and as they examined the pictures which brought the scenes of the war so vividly be- fore them they whispered their views of their broth- er's future career. But Esther, with a sudden thought which made her heart beat very fast, moved her chair into the corner beside Abram's desk. " Did you know before to-night that Austin had enlisted?" she asked, in an eager whisper. He looked at her a moment thoughtfully and bowed. Her eyes grew large with surprise and excitement. " Was that the reason of your staying at home ? " Again he bowed gravely, and dipped his pen as though to continue writing ; but she tapped his arm with her knitting-needle impatiently. " Why didn't you say so, then ? " Abram smiled at her indignant tone. " Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies," said he ; " that's district-school policy." But Esther would not be put off. 9 130 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " Abram," said she, gravely, " you know how we have all felt. Now, for all our sakes, and for Ru- by's sake, I'm just going to tell every body how it is. It's a shame ! " Abram turned toward her with a look she never forgot. " You wont do any such thing. There are other reasons that I can't tell you — reasons that mustn't be known. I promise you to explain just as soon as I can ; but till then you must trust me — and — pity me, if you want to. If you want to help me, Esther, never even hint that you know more than the rest of the family." Esther was amazed, but dared press her question- ings no further. One point, however, she ventured to urge, for she had felt keenly the alienation from Ruby Fletcher, and was eager to see the old relations re-established. " I'll do any thing you say, Abram, if you'll only let me give Ruby one little hint — just so she will understand you're not to blame." " Never ! " said he, sternly ; and then, after a struggle with himself, he added : " Esther, I wrote Ruby a note asking her to see me and let me make an explanation. That was several weeks ago — just before she went to the seminary. But she — sent it back unopened." Esther's eyes flashed. " I didn't think she could ! O, I'm glad she's gone, and I will never write to her — never ! " " No, I wouldn't. It would hardly be the thing to do." After a little pause he continued : A USTIN J S LE TTER. 131 " Don't think I'm going to break down under this trouble. I have had some experience along with it that I couldn't be persuaded to part with. I'm going to think of other things, too — like this, for instance," handing her a geology. " Suppose you learn about the rocks too. Perhaps if we turn toward the past we may not think so much about the present." It is but fair to state in this connection that Abram was not the only one who had adopted study as a relief. Ruby had lost her appetite and " sithed," as Martha Thompson had stated, until her father's patience was exhausted. In consulta- tion with Miss Hancock he had said, desperately : " She shall go away to school and find something else to think about. She must go on with her mu- sic under better teachers than we have here ; so get her ready, mother, and I'll take her to Hope Sem- inary." So Mrs. Fletcher obediently prepared Ruby for the new life, and the stubborn little patriot, after crowning her martyrdom by sending back Abram's letter, made a knot of fresh " red, white, and blue " for her pretty gray traveling-dress and left Gilead, determined to forget the past. 132 THE GILEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XL MRS. PHELPS'S THANKSGIVING SERMON. THE open country is always conscious of the approach of winter. In city and town there are a thousand ways of beguiling one's self with a prolonged autumn ; but genuine country livers un- derstand very well what comes " after harvesting." And Gilead saw indisputable signs, from lowest val- ley to highest hill-top, that winter was at its doors. The brilliance of its forests was gone, and there remained only the evergreens mingled with sober browns, which grew purple here and there at sunset. The summer birds had flown, and their empty nests, swinging on many a bare gaunt branch, were but pitiful reminders of songs and sunshine. A pre- monitory chill was in the wind as it swept across the stubble of wide corn-fields, shaking the brown shriveled leaves still clinging to the low-cut stalks ; and there is nothing that looks colder in all the wide range of hill and plain than these same faded rustling tatters of former greenness and glory. The farm-houses were all " banked," giving them a comical tucked-up appearance, and every thing was made as snug and secure as possible, for Gilead al- ways expected six months of cold weather. Finally the last harrow-shaped flock of wild geese had cloven the sky and disappeared southward with its weird MRS. PHELPS'S THANKSGIVING SERMON. 133 farewell " Honk ! honk ! honk ! " And then, with a preliminary roaring in the wind-swept hills, came the first snow, just whiteningthe frozen fields with coquet- tish flurries at first, and a little later captivating the town in a single night, thereby meeting the general expection of " sleighing before Thanksgiving." Like all genuine New England towns Gilead made much of this annual festival, not only by family reunions and feasting, but by attending public religious serv- ice. So this year, closing as it was in national distress, the people were called to make public and private acknowledgment of their " manifold mer- cies." It was well that they were bidden so to do, for every thing conspired to turn their thoughts in an opposite channel. The "union service" was to be held this year in the brown church, and, by regular rotation, it became the duty of the Rev. G. Harmon Phelps to preach. Our young friend was nearly distracted. As once before stated, he was from New Jersey, and he steadfastly persisted in " discouraging " the war. A fast-day discourse he could have extemporized at a moment's notice, but after several days of exhaust- ing brain-work he found he was as far as ever from Thanksgiving. General McClellan had been re- moved from the command of the Army of the Po- tomac — a fact which had caused great anxiety and foreboding all through the North ; and the minister, who had looked upon him as a " chosen leader," couldn't imagine where the Lord was to find an- other man to take " Little Mac's " place. Could he have foreseen the terrible slaughter and defeat of 134 THE GILEAD GUARDS. Union soldiers which was to occur at Fredericks- burg in less than three weeks he would have given up his task in despair. As it was he gathered up his manuscript and took it down to his wife. She groaned inwardly when she saw his cloud-capped brow and fluttering notes ; but, having married him " for better, for worse," she showed no sign of distress when he coolly brushed her sewing out of the arm-chair and sat down. " I want to read you what I have jotted down for next Thursday, Letty," he began. " May be you can tell what ails it. It isn't very cheerful, I admit ; but what there is to be cheerful over I can't see." As he read, pausing occasionally to explain un- developed points, she grew more and more per- plexed. It would never do to preach such lugubri- ous stuff to modern Puritans and patriots, she was sure ; but it was very hard to tell her husband so. He had a peculiar habit — it must have been pecul- iar — of clinging to his opinions with all the energy of his nature; and she had to practice a diplomacy she did not admire to bring about any change which to her practical common sense seemed desirable. " There, " said he, after he had finally " perorated " the government into a strait between Scylla and Charybdis, " how's that for a Thanksgiving dis- course ? The people will feel more like taking wormwood than roast turkey when I get through, wont they ? Speak right out, Letty." " We-ell," and Mrs. Phelps thoughtfully smoothed a seam while her eyes kindled as she set her thoughts in order, " since you have suggested it, Harmon, I must say it seems more like Lamentations than MRS. PHELPS'S THANKSGIVING SERMON 135 Psalms. Now, if you stood at my angle you would see a great deal to be thankful for, and you would lay that sermon aside for a — for a — well, for Mr. Slocum's funeral occasion perhaps." She looked up, and, the merry twinkle of her eyes proving conta- gious, there followed a hearty laugh, which was a great advantage every way. "You are unmerciful, Letty ; but go on. What do you see from your angle? " and the minister be- gan to clip the first leaf of his " lamentation " with her shining scissors. Mrs. Phelps's face flushed, but she began bravely : " Why, I see great cause for rejoicing in the patriot- ism of our Northern States. Many of our soldiers don't understand much more about political expe- dients and sectional questions than I do, but they know the country is in danger, and are willing to risk every thing in its defense. This is old, I know, but it seems to me it will bear repeating just now ; for if you can make the people feel that they are a part of a loyal whole they will be strengthened by it. Secondly, I should enlarge upon the record this town has made, which certainly is remarkable, and just pile up the references and illustrations until every body is full of gratitude and pride. And while they were thinking of the boys away down in Virginia and in Washington forts and out in places of danger I should just tell them to take care of those that were left behind, and give them thanks- giving cheer all the long cold winter. I'd tell them, too, how grateful they ought to be that this part of the country is undisturbed. Our churches and schools are open, as usua 1 !, our abundant harvests have been gath- 130 THE GILEAD GUARDS. ered in peace, and we are really free from the horrors of war as experienced in the South. And above all, Harmon, show the people that this is a war for the right — for liberty ; that it is God's war against the sins of our nation. And if you must speak of McClellan — and feeling as you do I suppose you will — don't be blue over him. God has a man for the place, and he will find him, though all the sons of Jesse pass in review and are rejected." Frightened by her own intense feeling, and fearing she had said too much, Mrs, Letty laid her hand timidly upon her husband's shoulder and added in an apologetic tone, " Now, perhaps I've said too much, but you— you started me." Her husband kissed her hand humbly as he replied, " I licensed you as an exhorter, but lo, and behold ! you are a full-fledged preacher! Don't say a word, yeu are a regular Deborah ! I begin to feel your courage in my finger-tips. Yes, honestly, Letty, your angle gives a better view than mine — for a Thanksgiving discourse — and your ideas are very good indeed — for a woman." This was a wonderful concession, and " Deborah " was wise enough to make no further comments. When, a few minutes later, her husband stole away to his study looking very much like a man with an idea, she smiled happily and brushed up the fragments of the " funeral sermon " from the car- pet. " What's come over your husband, Sister Phelps? " inquired Esquire Fletcher, shaking her hand warmly after the service on Thanksgiving day. " He's given us a regular, straight, encouraging kind of a sermon, MA'S. PHELPS'S THANKSGIVING SERMON. 137 Tell him I believe he was inspired. It was just what we needed, just what we needed!" And the good man's face shone with genuine feeling. The congregation had been unusually large, and many were prepared to sympathize with the senti- ments they expected the young minister to advance. He had more than once given them reason to call him a conservative ; but if he enjoyed that reputation he destroyed it forever by the fresh, hopeful, and exceedingly practical discourse which revived and strengthened all who listened that bright cold No- vember day in '62. All sorts of benevolent projects and charitable impulses received a new inspiration, and no sooner was the benediction pronounced than a sort of informal business meeting was inaugurated upon that basis. In the absence of bulletin-boards and daily papers such a gathering takes the place of both, and one " not to the maner born " would be surprised to see what could be accomplished between the pews and outer church door. On this peculiar occasion Mrs. Plumley grasped Miss Hancock as soon as the proprieties would admit to arrange with her for the packing of boxes to be sent to " the boys" before Christmas ; while Esther Steele, who stood at her elbow, nearly forgot to beg for "just one day's help in making over a dress," so absorbed did she be- come in the plans of these energetic women. Meanwhile Abram was quietly busy among the young people, enlisting their sympathies in Mrs. Smith's behalf, whose corn needed husking, and whose home force was quite unequal, in his opinion, 138 THE GILEAD GUARDS. to the task. In less than ten minutes he had pledged eight young ladies and as many young men and boys to serve their country by giving a long even- ing to her interests. It was stated on good authority throughout Gilead that " Abram Steele had lost his reputation;" but for one thus bereft he seemed to have a very potent influence, never failing to secure plenty of followers in any project. At the same time Mr. Douglas was circulating among the older people, reminding them that it was nearly time for their " annual donation visit." His " brethren " were quite ready to respond, for had not their minister covered himself and the white church with honor? Before he left the place a committee was appointed and a notice written for insertion in the next issue of the Standard. Several lonely women who anticipated a sorrowful day were surprised by invitations to dinner, and Esquire Fletcher surprised himself by remembering Corporal Follinsbee's little brood and sending them by Hiel's willing hands a basket of his finest apples and a pound of toothsome confectionery. But we cannot follow all the influences that were set in motion that day, a part of which were certainly strengthened or suggested by the sermon. " Did I expound your sentiments satisfactorily to-day, Letty? " asked the minister, as they reached home late in the evening after enjoying the hospi- tality of a parishioner. " Your sermon was excellent, sir ; you must know that, for I saw the people smiling and shaking hands with you. Tell me what they said, if you dare ! " There was no direct reply to this until Mr, Phelps MRS. PHELPS'S THANKSGIVING SERMON. 139 had built a fire in the little sitting-room stove and arrayed himself in dressing-gown and slippers. Then, while the flames went roaring and dancing up the chimney, the young couple sat down for a few moments to enjoy the coziness of their own hearth-stone, and he said : " They liked the sermon, Letty, because it was encouraging, I think ; and then — well, I may as well admit that they thought it indicated a change in my sentiments. And all the credit belongs to you, my dear. No, don't protest ; you know very well that I was your mouth-piece to-day, At first I was a little spiteful about it ; but from your angle I saw some views that affected me strangely. I wasn't brought up to look at slavery as New England peo^ pie do, and I must confess my sympathies were with the chivalry of the South ; but lately I have begun to question my own position, and concluded that as I am in New England I might as well do as the New Englanders do ; " and he laughed in some confusion, for his wife was looking at him very ear- nestly, and her eyes were sometimes inconveniently keen. "You mean that you believe at last in the Con- stitution as it was, is, and ever shall be. You mean that you are a newly converted patriot, and you are sorry you haven't struck a blow for the Union before, and that from this time forth your pulpit shall be — " " Divided with my wife," interrupted her hus- band. She shook her head and placed her hand over his lips. 140 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " I don't want a pulpit ; but if I had one in these days I wouldn't dare preach any thing but liberty to the captive and the opening of prison doors to those who are bound," said she, solemnly. " Amen ! " responded the minister. It was not long before the plans arranged that day matured successfully. The " husking-party " took Mrs. Smith by storm, and to the unspeakable delight of the children turned the discouraging heaps of corn into bushels of golden ears ready for market. The young people also carried with them so much good cheer, so many songs and stories and friendly words, that their visit lasted, in a sense, all winter, and brightened many a cold, windy evening when the family was " snow-bound." The "donation visit" also became a reality. It was held in the white church on Christmas eve, and was counted a brilliant success, although by some strange yet well-understood policy all the money collected was counted on the preacher's salary. If that particular " collection " had been preserved it would be far more valuable now than it seemed that night when it was tied up in Mr. Douglas's red bandanna for safe-keeping. It was a time when silver currency, like some people, had " fled to Can- ada; " at least such was the popular belief, and gov- ernment had provided nothing, as yet, to take its place. Scrip was beginning to circulate, but there were also postage-stamps, single and in little en- velopes, " tokens " in the semblance of a one-cent piece, and a great many notes issued by business firms, which were called " shin-plasters." A ten-cent postage-stamp in a little brass frame was another MRS. PHELPS'S THANKSGIVING SERMON. 141 curious device of the times to be found in that won- derful collection ; and some impecunious individual slipped in several army buttons. With true Yankee persistence the people were bound to " make change," honestly if they could, dishonestly if they must. " But the meanest thing," said Benjie Steele, after the affair was all over, " was what Rast Slocum did. He put in one postage-stamp — just one — and it had been used on a letter ! Yes, sir ! and then he sat down and eat a dollar supper." Through Benjie's unsolicited efforts this fact was widely circulated ; but about ten days later it was discovered that Rast had been more generous than was apprehended; for, while the minister had not been enriched in basket or in store by his munifi- cence, he had given the measles to every body who was capable of accepting them, Benjie himself be- ing one of the ungrateful recipients. This disease, so thoroughly distributed, diverted the energies of Gilead into a new channel, wherein was displayed the skill of the two physicians, many mothers, and our friend Miss Hancock. 142 THE GILEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XII. THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. u T NEVER really expected I'd live to see such A a document as this in print," said Mr. Steele, as he polished his spectacles and unfolded the Stand- ard of January 9, 1863, containing the full text of the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave free- dom to more than three millions of slaves ! With intense satisfaction his eyes ran down the col- umn until he found and read aloud with empha- sis, "' And by virtue of the power, and for the pur- pose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all per- sons held as slaves within the said designated States and parts of States are and henceforward shall be free!'" He paused, with one finger upon the words, to ejaculate, " Praise the Lord ! How the old saints and martyrs must have felt when the news reached them up in the New Jerusalem ! " " You don't know as they've heard of it yet." Uncle Rufus made this remark. It is sometimes inconvenient to pause long enough to introduce a character; but in this case one word is sufficient — he was a controversialist. He stood in front of the fire-place, his coat-tails judiciously parted and held out of harm's way while his broad back rejoiced in the heat which seemed to go roaring up the broad chimney when it should have been warming THE EMANCIPA TION PROCLAMA TlON. 143 the corners of the room. Uncle Rufus was short and stout, with gray hair rising perversely from his forehead. His eyebrows were thick and beetling, his under-lip prominent, and, better than meat and drink, he loved an argument. Hence, no sooner did Mr. Steele, in the fullness of his spiritual faith, refer to saints and angels than he drew his eyebrows to a more roof-like projection and planted his feet more firmly upon the braided rug before the fire- place as he exclaimed, " You don't know as they've heard of it yet." " I can't think but what they knew when the chains was broke, Brother Rufus. Probably they haint worried as I have since last September, fearin' 'twouldn't come true after all ; but they knew — bless ye, of course they did." "You Methodists take things for granted which concern the heavenly world," said Uncle Rufus, his voice growing loud. " If — if saints and martyrs rejoice over the proclamation, then it follows that they've sorrowed over slavery heretofore. But this contradicts the Scriptur' statement that there's no sorrow in heaven ! " and in pure admiration of his own logic Uncle Rufus balanced himself upon his toes only to settle back to his old position more firmly. " I don't suppose there is sorrow there such as we have here," responded Mr. Steele; "but I can't help thinkin' they've known up there all about this slavery blot and about the war; and I wouldn't a mite wonder if the strongest angel there is amongst 'em was sent down to stiddy Abraham Lincoln's hand when he writ this." 144 THE GILEAD GUARDS. Uncle Rufus gave a snort of opposition. "You forget the exceedin' sinfulness of war, which proves to high heaven the unworthiness of , us poor human beings. There should be peace in- stid of war and bloodshed." " There couldn't have been without a compromise with sin," said Mr. Steele, shaking his gray head sadly. " As things turned what could a President do but what Lincoln has done ? May be you noticed this, Brother Rufus: 'And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.' There aint any consait about it. He's done the square thing, and looks to see God and man stand by him." " 1 don't say he's done wrong ; I don't say he's done right; " and Uncle Rufus's eyes grew a little fierce. " I do say he may be honest and make a big blunder. I do say I tremble for the future ; for a man's heart may be soft while his judgment aint safe to go by. Gover'munt's got a big job on hand to take care of 'em. Can she do it ? I ask you, can she do it ?" Mr. Steele laughed good-naturedly. " We shall see, it's likely, one of these days. We'd ought to know by this time that there's ways and means un- beknown to us." Uncle Rufus shook his head dismally and pro- ceeded to state, with the forefinger of his right hand beating time upon the palm of his left, how the President's act was hazardous and premature, how the colored people were likely to abuse their THE EMANCIPA TION PROCLAMA TIOiV. 145 freedom, and how, after all, the nation would be destroyed by those it sought to save. " I see Ben Butler has some such notion," re- sponded Mr. Steele, taking up his paper again and reading : " ' The institution cursed of God, which has taken its last refuge here, in his providence will be rooted out as the tares from the wheat, although the wheat be torn up with it.' That's what he says down in Orleans when he made his farewell speech. Nobody doubts but some of the wheat '11 be tore up — North and South. Haint we seen it down there to Fredericksburg ? But it's my opinion the nation '11 be left." " That's what I tell Rufus," remarked his wife, a plump, happy-faced woman, who sat rocking back and lorth in the corner. " I tell him if he'd stop argufyin' and go to pray in' he'd be lots happier. But if you'll believe it, Brother Benjamin, if he don't have any body else to talk to he argufies with me." And at the manifest absurdity of such a waste of time she laughed so heartily that her husband was obliged to smile ; which weakness on his part was equal to a defeat. He was one of those whose opin- ions are always hot if not heavy, and such was his temperament that during the war he lived in a tem- pest of discussion. Every country town had at least one such pessimistic orator, and some were blessed with a circle of similar kindred spirits large enough to surround the stove in the store and plan campaigns for the entire army. And yet Uncle Rufus was a patriot, and had sent one son to the front. His misgivings were those of a man who could not see how good was to come out of 10 146 THE GILEAD GUARDS. evil, or how success was to follow the perplexities of those gloomy days. It was quite a relief to the family when his visit was over and the worthy couple departed in their high-backed green sleigh to the music of slow-tinkling bells. " Father, why didn't you give it to him harder?" called Benjie from the bedroom where measles still kept him a prisoner. " Why, Benjie," said Mary, reproachfully, " do you think father would dispute with Uncle Rufus?" " I would, now, you better believe. He no busi- ness to talk so discouraging. O, I heard him ! It's awful mean, now;" and Benjie's speckled face glowed with righteous indignation. "Such talk wont spread like measles. There's nobody foolish enough to mind it," said Abram, soothingly. Benjie gave a turn and toss that tumbled the bed- clothes hopelessly. " I guess you don't know how blue it made me feel ; " and his voice faltered suspiciously. " If any body else comes while I'm sick I hope they'll know enough to talk sensible." In response, seemingly, to this very reasonable hope came Miss Hancock the next morning, just as Benjie was transferred to the sitting-room lounge well wrapped in shawls and with a green paper shade over his eyes. " I thought I never should get here, Esther," said she, cheerily, as she stamped the snow from her feet ; " but the measles have given me close work for a week, I can tell you. So many sick at once, you know. Of course the soldiers' families must be THE EMANCIPA TION PROCLAMA TION. 147 looked after, and I've tried to be faithful — a day here and a day there, and nights wherever help was most needed." By this time she was ready for work, having pro- duced thimble, pincushion, shears, and tape-measure with workmanlike rapidity. The family felt the charm of her presence at once. Esther's old brown dress which had looked so utterly hopeless all at once grew more promising as she laid it, nicely ripped and pressed, at Miss Hancock's elbow. Ben- jie, who had fretted and fumed like a full-grown man because he wasn't allowed to read, beamed with good nature ; and Mr. Steele, kept in-doors by his lameness, laid aside his paper as though he ex- pected something more entertaining than that. *' I don't know how I can settle down to sewing to-day on account of that proclamation. Why, Mr. Steele," said she, earnestly, " it has uplifted this whole nation. I have felt ever since I read it as though I could take a timbrel and sing the song of Miriam. Not that it's the end, but it's the begin- ning of the end. Every body feels so. The stage- driver said as we came along this morning that it was the good air made people so happy, and I said in return that 'twas furnished by government. I don't think he understood what I meant really." " Where 've you been taking care of measle cases, Miss Hancock? " asked Mrs. Steele, as she carefully deposited the last of a half dozen pumpkin-pies in the oven. " First with Mrs. Follinsbee, last Sunday night and Monday. Little Hi was very sick, but gained so fast Monday that I left and went over to see Vic 148 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. Armstrong's little Nell. The child was comfortably sick, but poor Vic was wild with fright. She's — well, no matter about that. Then I got the young doctor to take me up to Mr. Hickey's. We tipped over only three times on the way. She is down with pleurisy, and the little girl with measles, of course. I stayed with her until Wednesday night, then went to Mrs. Smith's." "In that snow-storm?" " How did you ever get there?" asked Esther and Benjie in the same breath. " Well, Mr. Hickey had a letter for her from Washington ; and so, toward night — you know the storm was over at sunset — he took his shovel and said he was going across the ridge — through the pasture, you know — to deliver it and see how they were. So I followed on. I could step in his tracks nicely, and, to tell the truth, I wore a pair of John Henry's old boots." Benjie laughed heartily as his vivid imagination pictured the scene, and Miss Hancock joined him, also adding: " I never followed a man so closely before in all my life. Well, we found that poor woman with the four children sick in bed and not a soul to do a thing. The snow was drifted to the top of the well- curb and 'way up to the kitchen windows, and there wasn't a sign of a path to the barn ; and she was rigged up in her husband's old buffalo coat, his boots, cap, and mittens, trying to shovel out." "Glad to see you, wasn't she?" asked Benjie. " Glad ! She dropped her shovel and broom and took me in by the fire, and then she broke down THE EMANCIPA TION PROCLAMA TION. 149 and cried as much as five minutes, with her head on my shoulder. She hadn't heard from her husband and the boys for two weeks, and the children were all pretty sick. Byron had been wild with fever all night before, so she hadn't slept a wink ; and when she saw the snow-drifts she said she felt almost dis- couraged, but hoped I would excuse her for giving way to such feelings. I cried, too, to keep her company, and thought to myself that any woman who could be snowed in with four sick children and hear the wind rattling the windows and howling down the chimney all night and not get nervous would be a strange creation. Well, Mr. Hickey broke out all her. paths and fed the cattle while she was milking ; and the letter brought good news, and I took care of the children that night, and the measles all came out beautiful. So yesterday morn- ing when I left her the world looked quite bright again. She's been spinning a lot of the nicest yarn, Mrs. Steele, just as soft and even ; so if you know of any body that wants to buy send them up there." " Does she do all her work — outdoor work and all?" asked Esther, curiously. " Every thing but threshing. She and the girls have sawed and split a nice lot of wood, and it is piled elegantly. The money that comes from the army would be enough to pay for having all these hard things done, but the children will want to go away to school, so she saves every cent of it. O, I can't see why she isn't just as brave and grand a woman as my great-great-aunt who killed two In- dians with an ax when they were trying to break 750 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. down the door ! It's the real old Puritan foremother spirit, if her name is Smith." " Smith by marriage, that's all. She was a Pea- body, from York State," said Mr. Steele, musingly. Miss Hancock filled her mouth with pins just then and proceeded to fit a lining to Esther's waist — a process which Benjie watched with apprehension. "That aint the way men have their coats cut," said he. The pins came out immediately, for Miss Hancock began to laugh. " Foolish notion to use your mouth for a pin- cushion, isn't it?" said she. " I know it's tempting Providence. No, Benjie, be thankful you're a man and can have your coat cut by a pattern that gives plenty of room. Some dress-makers use patterns, but I like the old way best, so I pin on the lining and cut it to fit before I touch the material. I wish you had a new dress to make, Esther, instead of this, for I'm going to have good luck with your shoul- ders, I know." " 'Sh ! " whispered Esther. " I wanted one so much, but Abram is short of money this winter for some reason, and I wouldn't say one word about it. Mother thinks this will be as nice as new. O, dear ! " and Esther heaved a long sigh as she glanced rather contemptuously at her " old brown." " Never mind, you always look well in any thing. If it wasn't for wearing such large hoops one could make over dresses much better ; but there it is, six breadths, calico width, in the skirt, and all in plain sight — faded places, darns, and all. You might as well try to hide a rent in an umbrella. I'm really tired of hoops." THE EMANCIPATk)N PROCLAMATION. 151 " Why, Miss Hancock ! " laughed Esther, " I wouldn't be hired to go without." " O, of course we must follow the fashion, but—" " I wish you'd talk so I can hear," said Benjie, fidgeting on the lounge. " We will," replied Miss Hancock, graciously ; "I was just about to say to Esther that it would be an advantage if we didn't need so much material to make a dress now, every thing is so high-priced. Common calico is twenty cents a yard. Still, we must be thankful we don't have to pay Southern prices. According to the papers cotton cloth is two or three dollars a yard, and coffee about four dollars a pound." " Poor folks will have to drink cold water at that rate," said Esther. " Makes me think what a contraband told the soldiers when he reached our army. He said the rebels had ' plenty of nuffin '," added Benjie. " Spectators '11 do all they can to keep prices 'way up, and cotton goods must be scurce, of course ; but I'm thinkin' the proclamation's sure to bring things to a head afore long," said Mr. Steele. " That's just what Mr. Hickey says, but I don't know ; we must hope so. That reminds me, Benjie, of something that happened yesterday. I rode down the hill with Mr. Hickey in his long pung with his grist, and when we reached old gentleman Dow's he came out and begged a ride to the post-office, his rheumatism being bad ; so he got in and soon begun to talk about the proclamation. You know 152 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. him, Mr. Steele, and can guess how he went on, abusing the President and cabinet right and left. Mr. Hickey is a pretty patient man, but he couldn't stand that ; so when the old man went so far as to swear at Lincoln he reined his horse up and says, 'Well, neighbor, I'll have to ask you to get out here. My boys are in the army, and they think every thing of Lincoln, and so do I. He's God's man, and I wont hear him abused.' Old gentle- man Dow was astonished, I tell you ; but he man- aged to get out and hobble into Mr. Gray's yard, and there he stood shaking his fist — poor man — as we drove away." Eenjie clapped his hands. " Good for Mr. Hickey! " said he. "I'll write the boys about that." " Perhaps I'll be able to tell them the story be- fore many weeks," was Miss Hancock's quiet re- joinder. Esther turned toward her in surprise. "You don't mean it, do you? Are you really in earnest ? " " Of course I am. Mrs. Lovejoy and I hope to go in the spring, sure." "Who is Mrs. Lovejoy? " and " Haven't you got enough to do here ? " and " We really can't let you go," came in the same breath from the family. " Mr. Steele, you must know Isaac Lovejoy ; he died late in the fall. Well, it's his widow. She was a school-teacher, and a good deal younger than' Isaac," replied Miss Hancock. " Yes, O, yes! I knew Isaac. We was young to- gether; but he bought a farm in Jeffers. Made THE EMANCIPA TIOM PROCLAMA TION. 153 money too, they say. Left a good property, didn't he ? " " Yes, he left all he had," said Miss Hancock, dryly. Mr. Steele smiled. " I've understood he was tight's the bark to a tree." "Why, Mr. Steele, that's no comparison. The bark of a tree gives a chance for growth inside, doesn't it ? Well, his soul never had any chance at all." " Why, why, I guess you didn't admire Isaac much; church member, wasn't he? Think he's gone to heaven, don't you?" asked Mr. Steele, a little dismayed by her earnestness. Again for an instant Miss Hancock held her shears poised as she replied : " Perhaps he did, but I can't help thinking he's a pretty small pattern for an angel;" and then, aware that she had shocked her good friends, she pro- ceeded calmly, " I was there a good deal, making his clothes — he always got half a yard of cloth less than I told him to — and he grew smaller and smaller spiritually every year. If his suits had only been made for that part of him he could have scrimped half a yard without the least danger. He had the young doctor a few times because he was a homeopathist, and Isaac thought he wouldn't charge much for his medicine. One day he asked the doctor for his bill, and how he raged when he found he charged fifty cents a visit, same as old Dr. Snow ! ' Don't you get the water out of my well? and do you think I'll pay you for it?' says 154 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. he. So he changed again, for he said when he paid for medicine he wanted it bitter enough to bring him up on his toes. Well, poor man, he's gone now, and the farm and stock and money in the banks fall to his wife. She says she wants to leave it all for a while and go down and help nurse the soldiers. O, she's pure gold — tried in the fire — and money in her hands will be used for the good of mankind. Yes, it will." Miss Hancock had allowed her tongue unusual freedom, for in it was the " law of kindness ; " but, as she was wont to say, she had " no patience with downright stinginess." In Mr. Steele's family she found a sympathy and appreciation lacking elsewhere for her pet theo- ries, but checked herself like a wise woman even while the spice of gossip was most tempting, much to Benjie's disappointment. " Let the dead rest in peace," said she ; " let us hope blessings came to Isaac as they did to his wife when he went. At any rate, she has the money now, and we are going together where it will help the poor suffering boys." And so again the conversation turned into the usual channel as her future prospects were can- vassed. " One good thing about your going is that prob- ably you wont have to stay long," said Mr. Steele, confidently ; " for I do think the rebellion must yield, now the cause is removed. And it's good to believe that the nations of the earth '11 stand by Lincoln's proclamation." "it's a telegram; prob'ly somebody's killed. Page 155. A FALLEN LLERO. 155 CHAPTER XIII. A FALLEN HERO. A BOY came riding into the village one even- ing early in April, his horse bespattered with mud ; and, drawing rein before the post-office, in- quired for Judge Plumley. Mr. Barstow hurried to the door to ask, " What's the news? " " Don't know," replied the messenger. " It's a telegram; prob'ly somebody's killed;" and he urged his tired horse up the street toward the judge's pleasant home. Within an hour the news had passed from lip to lip that Captain Plumley, of the cavalry, had been shot and instantly killed ! He had been one of the first to enlist from Gilead in '61, and had been promoted from a private's position on account of his bravery. Other soldiers who were well known all through that region had fallen among the early recruits; they had fallen at Lee's Mills and Will- iamsburg, at Golden's Farm, Savage Station, and White Oak Creek, and others had died in hospitals ; but Charlie Plumley was the first taken from the heart of the town. Every body had known and respected him and watched with commendable pride his career in the army. And now he was gone ! The curtains of his old home were lowered, crape fluttered from the door-knob, his father 156 THE GILEAD GUARDS. bowed his head in speechless sorrow, and his moth- er sat in her darkened room, empty-handed and alone, mourning for her first-born. And the people — undemonstrative by nature and habit- — passed to and fro with sad faces and spoke in low tones of their common loss. In the general eagerness to hear the particulars, the first letter, written by a comrade to Dr. Adams, was read in the post-office, where men had so often gathered with anxious faces to listen to news from the front. The young doctor sat upon a box and leaned his head upon his hand, almost overcome by what was to him no common grief, while he read as follows: " Captain Plumley came along past our tent about one in the morning of the first day of April and wanted all who had horses good for any thing to mount up as soon as possible, for they were going to catch Mosby. That was just what we wanted to do, and we were soon ready and on our way. They had left Drainsville and stopped at a plantation a few miles from there, where we found them about seven o'clock. " Captain Plumley took the lead with his com- pany, and I was one in the front set of fours, and therefore received their first fire, which came unex- pectedly to us all. We expected to surprise them, but found them mounted and ready to receive us. In the first fire Captain Plumley fell on my left with six balls through his body. They did not hit me that fire. They charged again, and some of the horses began to rear and pitch every way, and either with or without help to wheel around and run. Most of us who stood our ground were either A FALLEN HERO. 157 killed or wounded. A rebel rode up toward me and we commenced firing at each other. He hit me twice, the first ball passing through my leg, and as the second passed through my thigh, I rolled off my horse without much exertion on my part, I as- sure you. As soon as I could I raised my head on my hand to see what was going on in other parts of the field. Every horse was turned and running for the woods. I then looked the other way and saw our good captain lying upon his face. I worked myself along to him and got there just as a rebel came to take his arms and mine. I asked him to help me turn him over on his back, which he did. He did not speak after I got to him. I held his head while he breathed his last, then laid a rail under it and made my way to a house which was a few rods off." The doctor paused, his voice shaken with emo- tion. After a moment's silence he said, " That is all. We know how he lived ; this tells how he died." Very quietly the little company dispersed, asking themselves, " Who will be the next to fall ?" A few days later the body of the brave captain was returned to the old home, and the day fol- lowing — a bright, clear spring day — his funeral was held in the brown church. Such gatherings were not rare in the early part of the war, but, alas ! there came a time when the dead heroes were buried far away from their kindred dust. It was a quiet crowd of mourners that came together, filling the pews, the aisles, the gallery, and the vestibule, many wearing tokens of bereavement, many who could sympathize with the stricken family. 158 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. Within the altar was the casket containing the young captain's body. Upon it lay his cavalry hat, sword, and gloves, while over the lower part was thrown the flag for which he had died. The old pas- tor slowly ascended the pulpit-stairs accompanied by Mr. Phelps, the pastor of the other church. The music of the opening hymn filled the house, hushing the already subdued audience, and precious words of consolation from God's word were read. Then the young minister, with uplifted hand, said, "Let us pray." An instant's pause, and then came the words, " O, thou God of battles, thou Saviour of suffering humanity, draw very near us to-day." Thus far, and his voice failed, breaking into an irrepressible sob as he bowed his head upon the Bible. A wave of emotion passed through the audience, to which every heart seemed to respond. For a moment hard-faced men wept like children, and women sobbed aloud. All the days and nights of watching and waiting, all the hopes and fears and bereave- ments of the past and the dreaded uncertainties of the future, as connected with those perilous times, seemed condensed in that brief and bitter experi- ence. And yet there was in it an element of almost sacred tenderness which cannot be described. But this scene was only for a moment. Then again the voice of prayer was heard, gradually leading the congregation to the Source of comfort and strength. And this was the hour when Mr. Phelps began to understand fully the meaning of the " great con- test." As he listened to the old pastor's touching remarks his soul, melted into self-forgetfulness as A FALLEN HERO. 159 never before, took upon itself a little of that burden which has rested and must ever rest upon those who help rid the world of evil. After the sad service was over a large part of the audience accompanied the friends to the grave-yard a half mile distant. Immediately following the hearse walked a young negro leading the captain's horse, with empty saddle in place, ready for the swift rider whose last charge had been made. The negro was a " contraband " who had found his way into camp and attached himself uninvited to the captain's service, making himself useful and finally indispensable. His tears that day fell freely, and he said, over and over, " I'se los' my good friend." And this was the "home-coming" of one of the "boys." Under the notice of his death which Miss Hancock placed in her quaint scrap-book she pasted this little clipping: " In the city, in the village, In the hamlet far away, Sit the mothers, watching, waiting, For their soldier-boys to-day. They are coming, daily coming. One by one and score by score, In their leaden casings folded, Underneath the flag they bore." "I almost envied Charlie to-day," said Abram, as Esther came to her favorite chair beside his desk after the excitement of the day was over. " O, no, don't say that!" and Esther looked at him sadly, for to her there had been nothing so ap- parent as the universal distress over what seemed a cruel sacrifice. 160 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " But he will always be counted with martyrs and heroes. And isn't it better to do something and die than to live and live until you forget how to en- joy or suffer?" " Abram Steele ! " said Esther, earnestly, " you talk as though you had outlived your usefulness. It isn't like you to say such things. If he went to war because it was his duty, and you stay here because it is your duty, what's the difference?" "That's the way I argue myself," said Abram, with a smile; "but I tell you, Esther, there's noth- ing harder than to live day after day and rejoice in doing what you don't like to do. There ! I've said it, and now I feel better. Generally I can be satis- fied, because nobody likes to shirk his duty ; but sometimes, like to-day, I feel actually leg-weary try- ing to be good. I'm like a baby crying when no- body knows what it wants. And there was Charlie — he fought, gathered all the struggle into a few minutes, and there he lay with a smile on his face like a conqueror." Esther's face glowed with sympathy for her de- sponding brother. " I know something about it, Abram. You will laugh, but it seems like a waking-up pain. You know when your foot is asleep it aches and tingles when it wakes up. I was telling Miss Hancock about it, and she understood and felt that way her- self. She said it was because of the war. I suppose she has a chance to forget it now she's got to work. Did I tell you ? Mrs. Phelps has had a letter, and they're in Washington, expecting to be sent to the front in a few days. I could have read it, but Mrs. A FALLEN HERO. 161 Fletcher has it. Miss Hancock seems perfectly- happy and well, Mrs. Phelps says." " By the way, how did Mrs. Phelps seem to feel about her husband's breaking down so in the prayer?" asked Abram. " I don't think he broke down. Why, Abram, I think — well, I'm so glad he could ; and I really believe that's what made her look so exalted after the service." " O, I was glad, too ; but a few months ago Brother Phelps would have felt himself disgraced forever. He has changed wonderfully of late. It began with his Thanksgiving sermon, I think. Somebody was saying to-day that Elder Putnam's mantle must have fallen upon him." " It's good to think so," said Esther, heartily. " How glad our boys must be to have Mr. Putnam for their chaplain at last ! " "Ah! did that news come in Don's letter?" Esther glanced warningly toward the rest of the family gathered around the long table. " Yes. He said they had got him at last, and he was doing the soldiers ever so much good. But, Abram, you mustn't laugh at me. He doesn't write — they're just friendly letters. Of course as long as the Guards stay in camp they have lots of spare time. Probably after they're sent to the front—" Abram laughed, for Esther's face had been grow- ing rosier with every word, and he interrupted her. " O, yes, he will. He will write just the same. I only wish mother could be persuaded that he is all right and have a little sympathy for Mrs. Stanley." 11 162 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " But, Abram," said Esther, anxious to change the subject, " seems to me you needn't talk about other people writing. Somebody must get volumes from you. I believe it's your postage that keeps you feeling so poor these days." For answer Abram handed his sister an agricult- ural paper, pointing to an article. " Read that," said he. " O, you want me to keep still now. I never read any thing in this paper but the stories and the housekeeper's corner." Nevertheless she read " A Plea for Shrubbery and Shade-trees," and a something in its construction, a something which reveals the personality of an au- thor, made her turn to Abram with a look of de- lighted surprise. "Why, you wrote it yourself! It sounds just like you. Who told you to? When did you begin ? Do they pay you for it ? " Abram laughed as he had not for weeks. It seemed so pleasant to tell his one little comfortable secret. " O, I began some time ago, first for the Stand- ard. Then King advised me to try this paper, and they pay — not very much, but enough to satisfy me for the present." Esther drew a long breath. " Isn't it grand to be a man and have so many ways to earn money ! I believe you're bound to be rich sometime. And, Abram, I've a good mind to tell you what I've been thinking of. Do you think I could teach school this coming summer? Mary is all the help mother will need, and of course she A FALLEN HERO. 163 wont go to school herself — Mary has finished every- thing they teach here — so I'm not really needed ; and it would seem so good to earn something." " Why, that's a splendid plan ; " and Abram whirled around in his chair with sudden animation. " Let's see. You're eighteen, and people know you've had two terms in the academy at the Center. Yes, I'm sure you could. Had you thought where you'd like to teach? " "Yes, in the 'mountain district.' There's Vic Armstrong, you know, and that nice Mrs. Stubbs — " " Yes, and Mrs. Stanley," added Abram, with a smile. " I'll find out who the committee is and see him right away." Every dollar saved or earned meant much to Abram, and, although he was willing to bear the bur- den of debt alone, Esther's proposition seemed like very tangible sympathy ; and they continued to dis- cuss the subject with considerable enthusiasm. Mrs. Steele glanced toward them occasionally, wondering how they could have so soon forgotten the scenes of the afternoon. They had not forgotten ; but youth is strong and hopeful, and, in spite of tragic news and heartaches and tears and new-made graves, the spirit of those days was one of intense earnest- ness and action. 164 THE GILEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XIV. ESTHER'S SCHOOL. BEFORE the "first Monday in June," which was the orthodox beginning for a country school in '63, Esther's certificate was lawfully se- cured, and she was engaged to teach twelve weeks in the mountain district. Mr. Stubbs, the commit- tee, agreed to pay her one dollar and a half per week, and she was to "board around." He did not fail to remind her that most beginners got but a dollar and a quarter, which inspired Esther with a most heroic resolution to work very hard and prove her right to such munificent wages. She was a happy girl when on that first morning she entered the trim little school-house with its newly washed floor, its atmosphere fragrant with the odors of spruce and maple-boughs which decorated the walls, its seats occupied by twenty-four bright- eyed boys and girls — most of them barefoot — who bent upon her their silent scrutiny. She was sure this "double jury" could see how her palpitating heart interfered with the little opening speech she had so carefully prepared, and laughed in its sleeves over her awkwardness in " forming classes." Never was a girl more willing to receive counsel than was she, when, after the perplexities of the day were over, she climbed the hill through the woods to Mr. ESTHER'S SCHOOL. 165 Stubbs's, where she was to board the first week. And he was glad to give it. " I don't s'pose you could find a loyaler deestrict in all Gilead than our'n," said he, as, minus coat and collar, he tilted back in his chair on the " front platform" after tea. "There's ten voters out of nineteen gone a'ready ; and that leaves desp'rate few men in case of a fire. And I don't s'pose there's an easier managed school in all Gilead than our'n. If you want to make the children think every thing of you just learn 'em to sing these 'ere war songs. It beats all how they can sing. That little Irene Wells is a regular bobolink, and Florry and Flo- rindy Gray aint fur behind. The master we had last winter said he never see any thing like it in his travels." As Esther, listened her eyes feasted upon the scene before her. The mountain district was a little settlement made within a few years by clearing the land at the foot of the mountain and up its sloping sides, and building little houses here and there, sev- eral of which were of logs ; so that while Esther was only two miles from her father's farm she was virt- ually in the "backwoods." Mr. Stubbs's house was rather more pretentious than most of the others, as it was painted white, and contained six rooms ; but its attractiveness was, after all, due to Mrs. Stubbs's care and neatness. She had a genius for home-making and housekeeping, and no one could step within the door without feeling it. Her rooms were sweetly clean, even to the kitchen-floor, made of white hard-wood, which the neighbors said was so smooth that flies couldn't walk across it 166 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. without slipping down ! Every thing seemed to know its place and stay there, from the almanac on its nail under the clock to the patch-work holder, which always hung close to the turkey's wing with its red flannel shield, answering to the modern dust-brush. Mrs. Stubbs was also a wonder- ful cook. " What kind of flour do you use, and where do you get your spices?" her neighbors would ask, viewing her puffy biscuits and fragrant tea-cakes with jealous eyes. " Same as you," she always replied, with a cheery laugh. But her care-taking was by no means confined to 'the house. Her front yard was her pride and delight. It was bounded on the south and west by the roadway, with grass growing between the ruts, on the east by a rhythmical brook, and on the north by primitive forest, a part of which was Mr. Stubbs's " wood-lot." When a clearing for the new house was made Mrs. Stubbs had begged her hus- band to leave a part of the stumps for her. The tops of these she had excavated and filled with rich soil, and all over them were now growing morn- ing-glories and nasturtiums — she said " sturtions " — and myrtle and creepers of all kinds, even to a lux- uriant hop-vine, which climbed up a sort of liberty- pole arrangement and threw its tendrils out to a neighboring tree. On the side near the woods she left tangles of blackberry-bushes and tall dogwood shrubs, while a little farther along were dewberry- vines, checker-berry, and bunch plums, with all their original flavor. She took special pride, ESTHER'S SCHOOL. 167 however, in her flower-beds on either side of the path leading to the front door. These were' in the form of circles and fat hearts ; and in them flourished hollyhocks and bachelor's-buttons, tiger- lilies, honeysuckles, marigolds, fly-catchers, peonies, china-asters, and bunch pinks, which she called " poor relations," because of their tendency to wan- der in " by and forbidden ways," and appear sud- denly where they were not wanted. But time fails to mention all the dear old-fashioned flowers that helped make up a display which was so natural and wild in its setting that it seemed as if the seeds must have been dropped from above by some lavish, careless hand. We are aware that Mr. Stubbs and Esther have been lost sight of in this flowery inter- lude, but he has been talking all the while, and she dutifully listening, even while her eyes caressed each flower and bud and sturdy plant. " Make 'em feel good where you go to board," said he. " Talk about the scholars as though they was all bright as buttons. Makes parents feel good when you praise their childern." " What if they are really stupid and troublesome ? " asked Esther. " That would be bad, of course ; but it never helps matters none to tell them things. You can't please 'em unless you seem interested in their scholars, and if you don't please 'em you can't do 'em any good." " I'm afraid you're a little deceptive, father," said Mrs. Stubbs, who, having finished her household duties, had seated herself near them, knitting in hand. " We're all deceptive when we try to make things 108 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. better 'n they be, hey ? Stop rootin' 'round your old stumps, then, tryin' to make b'lieve they're piles of posies. Stop rootin', I tell you ; " and at his delight in catching his wife in her own trap he laughed until he nearly fell from his chair. " I think you are very kind, Mr. Stubbs, to tell me about the children and their parents," said Esther. " I'm sure it will be a help to me. I wasn't really acquainted with any one over here except Mrs. Stanley and Vic Armstrong." "Poor Mis' Stanley; she seems kind o' pinin' since Donald went away, and no wonder. I know how it is since my Theodore went. As for N'xztoxy Armstrong, if she would go to work and make something of herself while Joe's gone may be the Lord would forgive her for the time she's wasted so far;" and Mrs. Stubbs sighed deeply as she narrowed off the thumb of the mitten she was knitting. Esther was very glad to use Mr. Stubbs's hints in managing her school. After the first week's drill, she could, by a tap of the bell and giving the "key- note," bring every child to an erect position and start such a volume of melody on " Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys," or "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching," or old " America," as would make the woods ring. "You're very polite to let us sing so good," said little Josephine Labrique, with her pretty French accent, as she leaned against Esther's lap one noon. "You mean she's kind," corrected Irene Wells. " Yes, and I love you, too," said Flora Durhurst. ESTHER'S SCHOOL. 169 " I wrote my pa a letter last night, an' I told him how you teached us ' Tramp, Tramp.' ' " Where is your father? " asked Esther. Flora stopped eating her bread and butter and looked at the teacher in blank amazement. " He's in the war, of course ; 'way down before Vicksburg, my pa is." " My big brother's gone. He's down there, too," said Jasmine Ripley, a tall, slender girl, taller, in fact, than her teacher. " My father's been killed. I tell you 'taint very nice to see your mother cryin' and think you can't see your father any more; " and Ira Grover shook his head soberly as he advanced to the desk. Little Bub Spinner, who was Esther's " bad boy," came hopping forward at this instant and spoke up loudly, " I guess they wont kill my Uncle John. He's too big. We're going to send him a box. He lives in a tent an' fires guns, but he wants to go in a battle. I wish 't I could go in a battle. My uncle wrote some poetry once, an* it was in the paper. I say it sometimes when folks tease me to." Bub had been in constant motion thus far, as though his body was a little machine which had to hop or swing itself at every sentence ; but now, without any special " teasing," he assumed the per- pendicular, brought his little toes together upon a crack in the floor, jerked a funny bow toward Esther and recited : " "Tis of a noble lady that my story shall be told, Who among our valiant soldiers was the boldest of the bold ; How she plead and teased our colonel till he was forced to yield. And let her share our dangers upon the tented field. 170 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. " For miles upon the dusty road she traveled all the way, While many of the sterner sex were forced down to lay. Here in her home of canvas, not over eight feet square, She managed all so nicely they'd plenty room to spare. "And when the order came to move, upon her noble steed, With her husband 'midst the skirmishers Mrs. Selwyn took the lead. Arrived in camp at Seneca, she had a palace made Of bushes, and, although they leaked, served very well for shade. " 'Twas here she met an accident that made her lame for life, But she bore her troubles bravely, as became a soldier's wife ; From Seneca to Grover on a stretcher she did ride, Survived the awful sickness with which so many died." Here Bub paused and bowed. " There's more to it," said he, " but I aint got it yet. When I do I'll speak it to you. It's all about a real live woman ; my uncle knows her." "Why, it's nice, isn't it, teacher?" said Jasmine, who was fond of verses. " I'd write all the time if I could do so well." " Pooh ! " and Bub resumed his gymnastics. " My Uncle John writes whole letters like that. He don't mind. He don't care whether he makes poetry or shoots rebs." " A little boy with such an uncle ought to be a splendid scholar, don't you think so ? " said Esther, looking with new interest into the animated freckled face. Bub returned the look with a conscious blush, then with a wild whoop he sprang through the open door-way, shouting, " Lil — lil ! " at which rallying- cry every barefooted boy-patriot rushed out to join in their favorite game. Esther was surprised that her scholars knew so well the condition of the coun- try. She had thought they liked the quick martial ESTHER'S SCHOOL. 171 music of the "war songs" and their rattling cho- ruses ; but after that day she was able to detect a deeper appreciation in their voices, sustaining their claim to a share of the honor of belonging to the " loyalest deestrict in Gilead." And that was a summer to test every body's loy- alty. The first of July came the terrible battle of Gettysburg, which filled the papers with heart-rend- ing accounts and long, long lists of killed and wounded. Then Vicksburg surrendered, and there was a gleam of hope again. But a little later came the first draft, followed by terrible resistance in New York city, where riots, mobs, and bloodshed filled the land with a new dread and made white lips ask, " What next ? What next ? " But the press and pulpit of the Green Mountain State stood firm, and above the murmurs of the faint-hearted and the false rose the faith and cour- age of those who spoke to the people with author- ity. The editors and ministers of those days are passing away, but they belong to an unrecognized " Grand Army " which fed the fires of loyalty at home through many a dark and ominous peril. The country seemed full of strange contradictions that summer; for while battles were being fought and men were dying in hospitals the rural districts of the North were being invaded by pleasure-seekers as never before. Up among the White Mountains, along the Vermont lakes, and in quiet little villages were seen crowds of those who had money from the soldier-boys or who had coined their gold out of the great necessities of the hour. Speculation was rife and dishonest men in their glory ; and the sol- 172 THE GILEAD GUARDS. dier boys received blankets and clothing among other things bearing witness to this. It was "shoddy" sometimes in those days, and from the vast wealth resulting arose "shoddy aristocracy!" Even Gilead saw some of it during a few weeks of unusual splendor. But still the children sang in the quiet shadow of old Bear Mountain : " Rally 'round the flag, boys, Rally once again, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom ! " VICTORIA VICTRIX. 173 CHAPTER XV. VICTORIA VICTRIX. ESTHER'S school duties did not prevent fre- quent calls upon Mrs. Stanley and Vic Arm- strong. Mrs. Stanley always greeted her with a cor- diality which would have surprised those who only saw the gentle widow at church. " My dear child ! " was her usual greeting ; and then Esther would kiss the soft thin cheek with the " tips of her lips " and be ushered with quaint ceremony into the tiny " best room." No matter where Esther looked during these visits, she always saw something to remind her of Don, from the case of handsome books in the parlor to his coat and hat hanging in the little entry through which she always passed. At all these reminders she glanced with shy reverence, when she thought herself unobserved, although we must confess that in leaving the house she usually gave the old coat a loving touch when she was quite, quite alone, then hastened away with blushing cheeks and pal- pitating heart. Not a word passed between the two respecting Don's letters, however, which any stranger might not have heard ; but there was a tacit understanding which made the calls very com- forting to both. One night in August Esther had carried an offering of delicious blackberries, deco- 17 i THE GILEAD GUARDS. rated with green leaves and vines ; and after enjoy- ing a few moments' chat reluctantly turned toward Joe Armstrong's little home impelled by sundry messages which Vic had been sending by the neigh- bors' children. " Vic is so discouraged I don't know what to say to her," she had said to the widow. " Perhaps you are the very one to help her out of her selfishness and sloth," was the gentle reply ; and the thought followed Esther as she climbed the slope beyond. She found Victoria sitting in the door-way in an untidy dress, her pretty hair uncombed, engaged in reading a story-paper, while baby Nellie was playing in the dirt with some new tin pans commonly used for milk. " O, Vic!" cried Esther, without waiting to greet her, " do see what the baby is doing. She will spoil those pans." Vic looked up languidly. "O, it's you, Esther, at last! Don't mind the baby ; she wont do no hurt. I let her have every thing to keep her quiet ; " and scrambling to her feet she brought a rocking-chair to the door. " I'd ask you to go in, but it looks worse in the house than it does out here — " " I'd rather sit here, it is so cool and pleasant un- der this big tree ; " and Esther removed her broad-brimmed hat, looking around with new in- terest. " You might make this yard real pretty, Vic, if you would try," said she. " Mrs. Stubbs has made hers beautiful with all sorts of vines and flowers. VICTORIA VICTRIX. 175 You ought to see it now, while her dahlias are in blossom." " O, my gracious! " said Vic, scornfully. "I'd like to know who cares whether my yard looks nice or not. I aint going to stay here anyway, Esther. If Joe can leave me to go to war I guess I can live where I please, and I'm going to take Joe's pay and board in the village with Aunt Maria. I'll buy some nice new dresses and have 'em made like those in the fashion-plates. Lawyer Ellis says it's a shame for me to bury myself over here in the woods when I might be having good times in the village." Esther dared not speak for a moment, she was so startled by the words of her foolish friend. She felt like catching hold of her with both hands to save her from some impending peril, but dared not betray her anxiety. Instead she said lightly, " He has no right to give advice until he is asked. Think how Joe loves this little home, and how hard he worked for it. Every body says it will be such a nice place when it's all cleared and paid for." " It aint going to be paid for, because I want the money ; and the farm may go to rack and ruin for all I care;" and Vic folded her dimpled arms defiantly. " I know what I would do, Victoria, if I were in your place," continued Esther. "I would never, never sell my pretty house, but I would pay up the debt with Joe's wages, and then fix up the house with new paint and paper, and make a rag-carpet for the sitting-room, and some rugs for the kitchen, and cover the big rocking-chair with new copper- 176 THE GILEAD GUARDS. plate, and hang some new white curtains at the windows. Then I would buy a few pretty dresses and have them made good and strong, Vic " — and both looked at the rips in the one she was wearing with a smile — "and then every afternoon I would put one of them on and comb my beautiful hair and coil it up just as I would want it to look if Joe should happen to come up the path." " O, O, O, don't say any more ! " sobbed Yic, sud- denly turning and burying her face in Esther's lap. "I know I'm all wrong, and I'm just as miserable and lonesome as I can be ; and I thought I would try to do better, but I get to reading, and my bread sours and my cream molds and my butter aint fit to eat, and Frank's mad because he don't have good victuals, and says he wont carry on the farm, and I don't know what to do." Esther smoothed the tangled hair, and little Nellie came toddling up to lay her head beside her mamma's and pat her cheek with a very hot, dirty hand. " Well, I wouldn't give up, Vic," said Esther, half crying herself. " You know Joe and all the rest have gone to war, not because they wanted to leave home, but to save the country; and it seems to me we that stay here ought to do our very best, so that when they come back they will find every thing ready for them. And, Vic, I wish you would stop reading those silly love-stories. For Joe's sake don't you think you could, dear ? " " O, I don't know," sighed Vic, wearily. "When mother died last winter she tried to make me prom- ise to, but seems to me I can't. When I get to VICTORIA VICTRIX. 177 reading one of them Ledger stories I can't stop ; but when I do stop there's so many things that ought to be done I don't know where to begin." " Well, I would begin," said Esther, firmly ; " and the first thing I'd make a big bonfire of the old papers and never let any more come into the house." "All my old papers that I've saved up-stairs?" aske 1 Vic, reproachfully. " Yes, every one, unless you're anxious to keep them for Nellie, to read by and by." " O, no, I don't want Nellie to read 'em. I want her to learn to work and do things in season, too. She must be a scholar ; that's what papa Joe says ; " and Vic seized the dirty baby, kissing her sweet, sticky mouth again and again. And so, over the baby the two girls wiped their eyes and silently resolved, the one to reform, the other to " lend a hand " while the work was being done. Vic pushed away the wavy tangles from her flushed forehead and swollen eyes and looked up. " Esther," said she, " tell me what you would do first if you was in my place — really in my place, you know." " I would comb my hair, wash baby's face, and give her some supper. Then I would — burn — those — papers;" and Esther, amazed at her own boldness, kissed Vic tenderly and hurried down the hill toward her boarding-place. A few rods from the house she discovered Frank Shaw, sitting on a big rock by the roadside trying to coax music from an old flute. He looked nearly as discouraged as had Victoria ; and, guessing that he 12 . 178 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. had left his sister after a quarrel, but hardly cared to go home, she stopped and asked him if he were learning to play. "Can't make much music out of this old thing," replied Frank. " I did think I'd buy a new one when Joe paid me next time, but I've quit work to- day." "Now, Frank," said Esther, earnestly, "you mustn't leave Vic. I've just been having a long talk with her, and she's feeling better. You must remember how much Joe thinks of her and how he petted her, and be patient." "Well, I have been patient, Miss Steele, but a feller can't live on bread and milk all the time, es- pecially when the bread is sour and hard. I took the hammer and chisel to the table to break it with this noon, and that's what begun the fuss." Esther laughed. "I don't believe the bread will be that way any more, Frank, really. And then, again, it wouldn't be fair to leave Vic while Joe's off fighting for the country. Joe and your brother '11 be home one of these days, and you don't want them to find that the ' home guards ' haven't done their duty." Frank drew a long breath. " I know," said he. " I didn't forget that, either; but Vic's been a trial. I don't wonder Joe was ready to go to war after eating her bread a couple of years. I'd want to get shot if I was him." "But you'll go back and try it once more, wont you, Frank ? " asked Esther, with an encouraging nod. "O, I s'pose so. I think lots of little Nellie;" VICTORIA VICTRIX. 179 and Frank polished the old flute diligently to con- ceal a deeper feeling than he cared to exhibit. " All right, then ; " and Esther left him, feeling sure that if her friend would do right Frank was pledged to " bear and forbear " a little longer. And that Victoria was moved by some new im- pulse became evident as soon as Esther disappeared around the foot of the slope, for she ran up-stairs into the little room where lay piles of papers and old books in confused heaps upon the floor. Seiz- ing an armful she descended and soon had them blazing in the kitchen stove. Again and again she filled the stove, regardless of consequences, while the baby clapped her hands and laughed. Victoria continued this cremation until she reached the last serial, " The Bride of the Magic Cave," bound to- gether and tied securely. This was peculiarly fas- cinating and terrible ; but the thought that Nellie might sometime read it sealed its doom, and it was soon rolling up the chimney in a volume of smoke. It was no wonder that Frank, slowly returning to the house, hastened his footsteps as he saw smoke mingled with sparks flying up- ward. " What under the sun you doing now, Vic? " he cried, rushing into the kitchen, seizing a pail of water, and climbing to the roof with the utmost speed. "There now, Vic," said he, as he met her in the chamber bringing another pail of water, " next time you set the house afire give me a little notice, so I can get my clothes out." " It didn't really get afire, did it?" asked his sis- ter, with pallid lips. 180 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " Course it did. Burned out the soot and scorched quite a place in the roof." " Well, you see, Frank, I've been burning my old story-papers and books," said Vic. " Je-ru-sa-lem ! I don't wonder they made a hot blaze. Kind of flavored with brimstone, you know. May be I better take up another pail of water under the circumstances." Vic would have been angry ordinarily, but now she only smiled pitifully, trembling, too, as she thought, now the danger was over, how she would have felt if the little house had burned. With a feeling of genuine shame, such as she had never be- fore experienced, our delinquent housekeeper col- lected a few fragments of former feasts for their late supper ; but with a clean cloth on the table, a clean- faced baby beside her, and Frank graciously endeav- ing to cut his bread with a knife just opposite, Vic felt that she had really made a beginning. The very next morning, with deep humiliation and many misgivings, she took little Nellie and made her way to Mrs. Stubbs's kitchen. The result of her visit that worthy woman rehearsed to Esther at the first opportunity. " The day of miracles aint over," said she, with beaming countenance. " Victory Armstrong wants to learn how to make good bread. And she's in earnest, too. She wrote it all down on paper, and I'm going to give her yeast every week. She's a pretty girl^ Victory is, and she looked so humble and sorry I couldn't help kissing her. Dretful curi- ous she was about my posies, too, and asked ques- tions about this thing and that, in doors and out, VICTORIA VICTRIX. 181 till I made up my mind she'd had a dream or a vis- ion or something like what come to Saul of Tarsus. Something's woke her up, any way, and I kind of asked the Lord to help me give just the advice she needed, bein' her mother's dead. I felt fairly beat out with surprise and astonishment after I see her off with a loaf of my bread and a couple of pies for a sample, for, as I said to Mr. Stubbs, I'd as soon expect one o' them robins out there to hop in and ask for knitting-work as I would to have Victory Armstrong come into my kitchen to have me learn her to make good bread." 182 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XVI. GILEAD'S "SOLDIERS' AID." BEFORE the close of '63 the loyal women of Gilead organized a " Soldiers' Aid Society." The "Christian Commission" was carrying on its splendidly organized and equipped work for the soldiers, and hundreds of aid societies were in active operation long before this, but, as we have intimated, our little rural town moved slowly. Boxes had been sent to their own "boys" — many of them — but a conviction was growing that something more was essential ; so when a notice was read in the two churches one Sunday late in the fall, calling for a meeting of all the " willing-hearted " on the next Thursday afternoon, it met general approval. " O, if Miss Hancock were only here to tell us what to do! " said one and another when the time for the meeting arrived. " Think of the good she is doing where she is," replied Mrs. Fletcher. " The dear soul writes that she is nurse and mother, too, in her ward — writing letters, telling stories, listening to family histories, and sometimes just crying and praying while some poor fellow's tortured soul is set free. The doctors tell her she'll have to come home in the spring to recruit, for she's not one to stay more than a year in such a trying place." GILEAD'S "SOLDIERS' AID." 183 Not much machinery was required for a society which had but one object, and that was soon set in motion. Mrs. Plumley, elected president with very little formality, took her place beside the large table opened to its full size in her own parlor and looked into the faces of the women around her. Her black dress with its simple crape trimmings, her face with its indescribable expression of mingled sorrow and heroic endurance, helped emphasize her appeal. " I have nothing to urge upon you, dear sisters," said she, " because we are only taking our share of the responsibility resting upon all women to-day. A long, cold winter is upon us. We have seen some -victories, and we believe General Grant is the leader we have been waiting for ; but Lincoln calls for ' three hundred thousand more ; ' so it is evident that our President doesn't think the war will close in the spring, as we had hoped. Our own Guards are fretting still in Washington, longing for action, and perhaps we feel that they are comparatively safe ; but we don't know how many of them may be in hospital before spring; at any rate somebody's sons will be there — hundreds of them — dependent for comfort upon supplies sent from the North. I felt sure you wouldn't feel satisfied with simply organ- izing to-day — time is too precious; so I bought a web of cotton-cloth and collected some old sheets, that we might begin our work at once." A murmur of approval followed these remarks, and while the cloth was brought in and put upon the table thimbles and needles made their appear- ance, and in an incredibly short space of time sheets, pillow slips, and shirts were in process of manufact- 184 THE GILEAD GUARDS. ure, while old linen was being carefully prepared for bandages or scraped into snowy piles of lint. Sewing-machines were very rare in Gilead, but Mrs. Plumley had one of the few, and it was devoted to the use of the " Soldiers' Aid " from that hour, although some of the ladies had an old-fashioned notion that every thing sent to "the boys" ought to be "hand- made." As they wrought with nervous energy it was good to see how one absorbing interest was bringing them together. Like many small country towns, Gilead had its " distinctions." A social philosopher might well smile over such very, very small orbital differences, but to the "orbs" they were by no means imaginary. They existed be- tween the churches, and also to some extent be- tween those living "out of" and "in" the vil- lage. The brown church was supposed to be more aristocratic than its neighbor across the green. It had come to town first. It had the bell, also red cushions in its pews, carpeted aisles and grass- cloth curtains at its windows. The white church had none of these luxuries. More of the village people attended the brown church, and " this, that, and the other " were all weighed in invis- ible scales, and people who felt the tipping of one side or the other governed themselves accord- ingly. But this afternoon Mrs. Green, the mer- chant's wife, measured pillow-slips with Mrs. Rollins, who was as aggressive and acrimonious as ever, but " of course she must help as long as her boy was down South." Mrs. Hickey, in a figured calico dress, sat quite at her ease with Mrs. Akers, the cashier's wife, sewing GILEAD'S "SOLDIERS' AID." 185 "over and over" at opposite ends of the same sheet, while Mrs. Smith from her mountain eyrie gave Mrs. Allen, wife of the "richest man in town," her rule for preserving sweet flag-root in sugar, recommending it highly for her husband's " heart- burn." O, it is good to remember that through common sorrow the hearts of home-workers were brought very near together! And of course these women talked as fast as they sewed. A poor " skedaddler," as deserters were called, had been caught in a barn near the village and promptly delivered to the proper authorities a few days before. Over his case there was a difference of opinion, some of the ladies pitying the coward who had been so near Canada and failed to reach it, while others declared they were glad he was caught, and wished they might have his fate to decide ! Among the last mentioned was Martha Thompson, whose unyield- ing attitude as she sat scraping lint was suggestive of nothing less than the courage and fortitude of a Roman matron. " The fact is," said she, " this is a sort of high- way for all the scalawags in New Hampshire and Massachusetts who want to run to Canada. Let a few of 'em get caught, I say. Let 'em smell gun- powder, and take their chance with better men." In the midst of conversation the loud-voiced stage -bells were heard, and the big covered sleigh, with its two sweating horses, their mouths frost-covered, dashed past, drawing up with a flour- ish in front of the post-office. So many ladies were expecting " war letters" — they were always expect- 186 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. ing them in those days — that a messenger was sent over, and very soon they were brought in and distributed. Can any of my readers remember the gay, patriotic envelopes used by the soldiers and their friends? In the corner opposite the stamp were designs — eagles, flags, shields, cannons, and swords, or perhaps the portraits of Union generals. Lincoln's face was often seen, sometimes Lincoln's and Washington's together, surrounded by a wreath of laurel. Gayly colored were many of these de- signs, and the paper corresponded, often being bor- dered or barred with red, white, and blue lines. Yes, the very mail-bags were laden with patriotism in those days ! Scraps of the letters were read aloud, among others a part of John Henry Hickey's, our young friend having won quite a reputation as a spicy writer. "Thanks to Corporal Rollins," he wrote, "while you folks at home were feasting on turkey and plum-pudding, not to mention other superfluous goodies, we also ate our turkey. The proud bird was reheated by our tent cook, and we gathered around it trying not to notice the absence of side dishes. O, but it was good, mother! and for once we were glad we were not on the 'tented field,' but still here at old Fortress Monroe. We ate every thing but the bones, drawing lots for the wish- bone, which is pinned to my tent just above my head. Then we finished the birthday cake you sent, and were ready to sing. We tried ' Home, Sweet Home,' but some of the boys grew suddenly hoarse, so we struck up ' '65's the Jubilee for the Darkies Ebery-where,' which went with a vim. GILEAD'S "SOLDIERS' AID." 187 George and I and the other Gilead boys are well, and would like to see some new recruits down here. Tell our fellow-citizens of the Green Mountain peaks if I was up there and wanted to come down here pretty bad, and had nothing to hinder, I would the first thing gather myself together and come, all in one solemn column, to the tune of ' Soldier's Joy,' common time, rout step, double quick, marcJi ! The weather here varies, days usually quite warm, while some nights are cold enough to freeze the ears off a stone image." " There, now, I guess I wont read any more," laughed Mrs. Hickey as she wiped her eyes. " John Henry gets extravagant sometimes." The ladies had a plain early tea, after which the village girls and men, young and old, came, drawn together by a bond of common interest. The Bos- ton Daily was brought in, and the Standard, truest and stanchest of all, damp from the press. News from the front was read aloud, and army leaders criticised or commended as usual. Doubts were expressed as to the possibility of raising " three hundred thousand more," for, judging the nation by Gilead, they said, " Who is there to go? " Among other gleanings we find one worthy of special preservation, which Dr. Adams read from the Standard, from which it is literally copied : " A gentleman from Massachusetts went to New- berne, when General Wilde went down to raise negro troops. He went out into the country with a friend, visited a lot of black men who were cutting timber for government, and made them a speech, telling them that they were to be called on to enlist, 188 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. and urging them to do their duty for their country. As a result the next morning, before the recruiting office could be opened, a black man with one hun- dred men — the gang of government wood-cutters — came to enlist. When the Massachusetts man was coming away he espied a black woman trying to get past a line of guards to him. He assisted her and a colored minister to do so, when she approached him and handed him a brown paper parcel that jin- gled, explaining that it was money that had been subscribed by colored women of Newberne to buy a standard of colors for the first regiment of North Carolina volunteers. It was one hundred dollars, she said, and they wanted a first-rate one. " ' But you will need the money; you had better keep it — the government will provide the colors,' said the gentleman. " But this so distressed the woman and the minis- ter that he took the money, made up mostly of silver three-cent pieces, half dimes, and dimes, from the scanty earnings of the slaves, and said : " ' Madam, you shall have the very handsomest flag that the city of Boston can supply.' " With the money was the subscription paper, the first gotten up by slave women in the United States for such a purpose. It was written by ' Marian, a Cook,' and is as follows : " ' Sob-scription list. Ladays old and young, one and all, I call on you in this time of our great Struggle for Liberty. We a Potion of us do intend to go forward and try and Collect Money enough to Purchase a decent flag for our Colard Solgers and Jcntlemen, for it is for our good and the good of GILEAD'S "SOLDIERS' AID." 1S9 our Daughters that our husbands and Sons do in-List to fight our Battles and gain our Libatys therefore there Remans a work for us to do and Let us rise and do our parte Cheerfully Please give me Something to aid us in this matter.' " Signed, ' Marian Hargit and others.' " This little account of self-denial was quite in line with public sentiment. "Real common sense, I call it," said Esquire Fletcher ; " shows that they're just such folks as we are." King, the editor of the Standard, had just en- tered in time to catch the last remark and its appli- cation. " If they don't fight well under that flag they deserve to be shot. But they will. They're men, and government itself can't make them 'contra- bands.' I expect to see grand work done by colored troops yet," said he. " You've got great faith in niggers, King, but I tell you they'll run ! they'll run ! I went down South myself when I was a young man, and I tell you they're cowards, these niggers;" and Mr. Green, who was a well-known " copper-head," edged his way through the crowd toward the table where the editor was standing. This latter individual, who was literally " boiling over with patriotism," cleared his throat and prepared to reply; but Mrs. Plumley quietly arose and happened to place herself with an armful of half-completed garments between the two. " I feel like shaking hands with ' Marian Hargit and others,' " said she, with a smile. " I think our 190 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. new society will adopt her language and say, ' Therefore there remains a work for us to do.' And we will begin by asking Mr. Green to ' Please give us something to aid us.' " But by the time she had emptied her arms and turned toward him with outstretched hand he had retreated in good order ; for if there was any thing his soul hated it was a "collection." Neverthe- less, it was taken with much quiet laughter, and several cutting remarks reflecting upon his bravery as compared with that of his colored brethren. " But we ought to be doing more, I think," said lively Nellie Lucas, one of the village teachers. " Miss Sawyer says they have had a soldiers' fair in Bucksbury and raised over a hundred dollars. She had a long letter from her cousin telling all about it." Miss Sawyer, a red-cheeked, modest little lady, came forward after much persuasion and read the description referred to, which was followed by an eager discussion of grab-bags, fish-ponds, Jacob's- wells, post-offices, etc., a part of the devices used in securing funds in that time of national need. Figuratively speaking, Gilead clapped its hands over the prospect. Here was an opportunity to do good, to have " lots of fun," and, if possible, to outdo Bucksbury all at once! Committees were appointed that very evening to take charge of this great undertaking, and several weeks of the dull " snow-bound " winter were enlivened by prepara- tions for it. Girls who had been accustomed to sit under buffalo robes while fathers and brothers drove GILEAD'S "SOLDIERS' AID." 101 now went dashing along the country roads, their hands in thick yarn mittens, their faces rosy and resolute, as they held the reins and dispatched business with a new courage born of necessity. The news of the great sanitary fair of the North- west, with its receipts reaching nearly one hundred thousand dollars, had run across the nation like wild-fire. The papers were full of it, and it was the model and guide for city and country. As our Gilead friends talked and read they began to realize something of the tremendous efforts that were being made in the heart of the country. Their first plan broadened. They would have singing and reciting of patriotic pieces, tableaus, and charades. They would beg donations of precious things to sell at enormous profits. They would hire a brass band ! And so it came to pass that Gilead's fair was larger and longer and more magnificent in every respect than Bucks- bury had ever dreamed of! It was held on Christ- mas week, and the people came from far and near for three consecutive evenings. Ruby Fletcher was there to play and sing; and when standing before the people with her patriotic little head raised and her full triumphant voice filling the old church she sang some of the new "war songs," her audience gave her a recall which was unmis- takably sincere. Gilead was by no means " senti- mental," but no place is too stupid to enjoy a bit of romance, and there was a tacit understanding that Ruby had given up her lover for her country's sake in quite an unusual way. Hence Ruby was a heroine and something of a martyr! Her return on this occasion with a more dignified 192 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. bearing and a more womanly and scholarly expres- sion than she had ever worn met a general ap- proval, and quite warranted all the applause she received. Abram, poor fellow, felt it all! He had done an immense amount of hard work for the ladies, but absolutely refused to help sing patriotic airs. " It would be so inconsistent," he had said to Mrs. Plumley, when she appealed to him. " Abram, I wish you would tell me why," she had said, in her tender, motherly way. 1 1 is lips had trembled, but he only replied : " I cannot," and no one had ventured any farther appeal. So he sat well back in the audience shield- ing his face with one hand while he watched Ruby through his fingers ! Hiel Saunders noticed his apparent unconcern, and said to himself: " Blamed if I'd stan' it ! May be Ruby is the God- dess of Liberty, but I wont ' stomp ' till I'm sure." Esther Steele had her little triumph that evening also when the best singers in her school gave in perfect time and tune their favorite " Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching," with the brass band from the Center to accompany each chorus. Even little Bub Spinner immortalized himself by reciting some exquisitely absurd verses written by his warrior uncle, with matchless fervor and a quaint dramatic force which was nature's own gift. Esther felt fully repaid for all her efforts as she looked into Mrs. Spinner's toil-worn face under her old-fashioned bonnet and saw the glow of mother- pride and the flash of happy tears. GILEAD'S "SOLDIERS' AID." 193 Of course there was much eating and drinking in the " town hall," to which the audience was invited after the exercises of each evening were over. In that department Mrs. Douglas and Martha Thomp- son reigned supreme over a corps of assistants who dispensed quantities of rich cookery regardless of consequences. At the close of this unprecedented dissipation the tired workers counted their gains and announced two hundred and fifty dollars for the " boys in blue!" 13 194 THE GJLEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XVII. COMFORT-BAGS. "/"^ IRLS, which would you rather do, take care VJJ" of a greasy ' Kanuck ' this spring, or help Benjie make sugar, so I can go ahead with the other work?" asked Abram one day in early April. " Help make the sugar," was the quick response. "We can do it, of course, " said Mary. "And perhaps earn money enough to buy some calico dresses, if you pay good wages." " You may well say that, for Mr. Green told me he must ask thirty cents a yard for the next lot; so you see ten yards will cost three dollars," said Esther. " Exactly ! good girl to remember your arith- metic. But Mr. Green will ask a long time before I buy his old calico. ' When this cruel war is over ' prices will go down again," sang Mary. "But what will you do next summer, girls?" asked their mother. " Turn our old dresses," replied Esther, briskly. "You've done that already," sighed Mrs. Steele. "Well, 'one good turn deserves another,' I've heard you say. Now I've given my dresses one good turn, and — " " Esther ! Esther! " cried Mary, seizing her sister by the arm ; " that's a joke ! Have you inherited COM FOR T-BA GS. 1 95 Uncle Rufus's 'gift?' Think of his awful humor and spare your poor family. I see Abram's idea; he's all for saving money these days, and so instead of hiring a worthy Frenchman for help he takes us, his unworthy sisters. I'm afraid he has inherited Uncle Mont's gift of accumulation." Mr. Steele was searching the prophecy of Daniel for some text which somebody said "bore on the war ; " but he lifted his head at that moment, look- ing over his glasses at his tall son. " Remember, ' the life is more than meat,' Abram," said he. " I hope I wont never see you so fond of money as your Uncle Mont is." " No, father, you never will ; but of course you want to see every thing paid up, and this is the time to do it. They say butter will be forty cents a pound and wool over a dollar this spring." The theme did not exactly suit Abram, and while he was speaking he hastily thrust his papers into his desk and locked it. "With two or three hundred pounds of wool and a fair showin' of butter, seems 's if we ought to be even with the world by 'n' by," said his father, wist- fully. "Yes, sir ; we'll sing our emancipation hymn one of these days; but I must be off. Is it a bargain, girls? " Hardly waiting to hear their cheery affirmative he hurried away. By clever management he had already paid Hiel Saunders several hundred dollars of the thousand ; but he knew very well that his father — almost helpless now from increasing lame- ness — was constantly wondering what became of 196 THE GILEAD GUARDS. the money that came in ; for farmers were receiving wonderful prices for all kinds of produce, and Mr. Steele knew the income of the farm was steadily increasing. Abram always reported sales and prices most dutifully ; but what became of the money ? He wondered that morning how much longer he could bear the double burden resting upon him. After much thought he had written to Austin a full state- ment of the case, appealing to him to lead a better life, to live down his disgrace, and in simple justice to send home his wages until the awful debt was paid. But that portion of the army with which Austin was connected was moving from place to place in the far South, and letters were often lost. The last news from him was indirectly received through soldiers at home on furlough, and might not be reliable, so Abram was still waiting for an answer and hoping against hope. " There ! isn't this ever so much better than cook- ing for a hired man?" asked Esther, as she sat down in an old splint-bottom rocking-chair in the sugar-house a day or two later. Mary occupied an upturned box near, and upon a rough little table between them was a work- basket piled high with " sewing." Just above the table were two long shelves filled with books and papers, and at the one window hung a white curtain, "to make it look more civilized," Mary said. On the opposite side of the room was the wide brick arch — hollow in the center, with a door in one end — upon which was the sheet-iron pan filled with sap, boiling and bubbling, and filling the air with steamy sweetness. COMFORT-BAGS. 197 A pile of " three-foot wood" filled the back part of the sugar-house, and sap-holders, pails, etc., made up its primitive furnishings. Our description would be incomplete, however, were we to omit the pictures upon the rough board wall. These were the work of Benjie's artistic fin- gers. Here, done in charcoal or red chalk, were various heads, most of them to illustrate some pe- culiarity of form or feature ; for Benjie was a half- fledged phrenologist as well as an artist. Hence noses, chins, lips, and ears indicated special " stud- ies." The war had given him new inspiration, however, and generals' heads were now strangely introduced into his gallery of abnormal develop- ments ! Harper s Weeklies were also* pinned up here and there, with pictures of battle scenes and of noted men, showing that our Yankee boy was fully up with the times. It was no cross for Esther and Mary to hurry through with their share of the housework each morning, and, either alone or together, to come to this quiet and unique retreat. Their duties were to keep the fire burning, the pan well filled with sap, and at the proper time help Benjie " sugar off." Considerable time remained for other work, and their first enterprise was to be "comfort-bags " for the soldiers. " Have you the list of things to put in? " asked Mary, as she carefully measured the pretty blue cloth, ten by seven inches, for the bag itself. Esther answered by reading the list : " A needle-book, pin-ball, white and black thread, buttons, large and small, pair of small scissors, bit 198 THE GILEAD GUARDS. of bees-wax, roll of plaster, large thimble, a letter, an envelope with blank paper inside, and a stamp." " Doctor Adams's wife says that a good many put in a plug of tobacco, but I wont do that," said Mary, firmly. " Of course not," replied her sister ; " but we might send spruce gum instead." "Yes, that's more sensible," said Mary, "and I suppose they have lots of time to chew something. I've a great mind to put in my little pearl-handled knife for my soldier-boy. I guess he may be fond of whittling." " Well, if it goes I hope the right one will get it, for you don't find pearl-handled knives like that very often. Doctor Snow told the girls to put in a little package of cayenne pepper. He says when the poor fellows come in wet and cold it would be splendid to have a cup of pepper-tea," said Esther. " That's just the thing. And I'll write on the outside of my package, ' To be divided with the rebels.' It's only fair to give them a peppering, too.' " I shall send my little black Testament. That will be precious if the soldier is sick or homesick. It is easy enough to fill the list, all but the letter. What to write I don't know," said Esther, bending thoughtfully over her work. " Why, really, I thought practice made perfect ; " and Mary gave her sister a tantalizing glance. Esther's face flushed hotly from chin to smooth brown hair, and she answered not a word. "Speaking of letters," continued Mary, "did you hear them telling, the other evening, how COM FOR T-BA GS. 199 Sophie Adams's correspondence had come out? It must have been after you left, then. You know she sent a letter several months ago, and got an answer right away, and of course you saw the photo- graph she had — " Both girls paused to laugh heartily, for Sophie Adams's " Sergeant " had been exhibited all over town. " Then she had her picture taken when that ambrotype-car was here, and Emma Green said it was a sight. She borrowed Emma's rings, and so of course she sprawled her hands, and she wore her aunt's gold chain. Well, she sent him that ; and finally the girls said that Sophie said she was en- gaged to him. But last month, when Lieutenant Plumley was home from Washington, he told her mother something, it seems, which put a stop to it, and now some of the Gilead boys have written home that Sophie's ' Sergeant ' is a married man ! It's all over town, and she feels dreadfully. You see he just made fun of her letters and showed her picture to all the boys, and so, of course, it was recognized. They say she's hardly been out of the house since it happened." "No wonder!" said Esther, rather severely. " How could a girl be so foolish ? I hope it will be a warning to the rest of those silly village girls." . " Aint we glad we live on a farm, where there's nothing but good sense?" asked Mary, serenely. While Esther was laughing quietly over this thrust Benjie's " Hallo there ! " was heard outside, and Mary ran to open the door. 200 THE GILEAD GUARDS. He came in with two pails brimming full of sap, suspended from the hooks of the wooden " yoke " made to fit his neck and shoulders. " O, do be quick, and let us have the mail," cried the girls; for Benjie had been "across lots" to the village on the hard-crusted snow, which still loitered in the woods and shaded hollows. " O, yes," responded the boy, as he let down his heavy pails and hung up his yoke, " you're ter- rible glad to see me when I come from the post- office. Here's your letter, Esther, and it's such a fat one you'll have to give me two pieces of mince- pie at noon. I've got one from John Henry Hickey, and some papers. Now, Esther, read yours out loud first, and then I'll read mine." For answer Esther gave her brother a playful push and slipped her letter into her pocket. " O, do read yours, Benjie, I'm in a hurry to know if the Guards are going to the front," said Mary. " No, they're still at Fort Stevens ; but this is what he says about it : " ' We hear that the hitherto inglorious Gilead Guards are to be called to the front, and we may yet make a brilliant record on some field to be historic. For I tell you when we do move the un- derpinning of the rebellion will give way. "'Our heavy artillery don't expect to do any flirting with dangerous weapons. Do we want to go ? Most of us do, I truly believe, and if all the talk amounts to nothing a good many will be dis- appointed. But you know the hunter turned pale with fright when, on inquiring of the woodman if COM FOR T-BA GS. 20 1 he had seen any lions' tracks around there, he was told that the lion himself was near by. It may be so with us. It is certain that General Sedgwick has asked for this regiment, and I for one am tired staying around here drilling, digging ditches, etc. " ' I suppose you have begun to make sugar by this time, and I'd give a month's pay if I could go up to our old sugar place and help father tap the maples. George and I got talking about it last night, till we could smell the sap and the birch and see the snow-banks under the trees with chip- munks scurrying over them. " ' And then we thought of father plodding around there all alone, and I tell you what ! — it was dark in our tent, and I sha'n't say whether we had wet eyes or not. It's nobody's business. Gov- ernment don't pay any thing extra for smiles.' " There fell a little silence after this, and the girls could hardly set their stitches, for they, too, were paid nothing "extra for smiles ! " and it was very easy in those days to shed a few tears over a home- sick soldier-boy's letter. But Benjie could never keep a newspaper to him- self, and he was soon slapping his knee, according to his usual habit, as he exclaimed : "Good enough! Grant's been to Washington, and they've made him lieutenant-general. Since then seems 's if every thing had started up lively, and I tell you there's going to be a spring campaign that'll finish up our quarrel, I believe." A few minutes later there was another concus- sion, and a " Hear this, will you ? Guess we better have a regiment sent up here to Vermont. ' Cop- 202 THE GILEAD GUARDS. perheads in Jeffers.' I don't believe it's more 'n fifty miles from here as the crow flies." He then proceeded to read : " ' Rev. Mr. Stowe, of Jeffers, is a patriotic minis- ter who is not ashamed to preach his sentiments. Unfortunately, a portion of his flock are Southern sympathizers — that is, copperheads. A week ago they took possession of the church, armed- with blud- geons, and locked the doors, declaring he should not preach there again. One man tried to get in through a window, and they felled him to the ground. But during the week there was a mighty reaction, and last Sunday he was escorted to the church by two hundred citizens, and he preached. It need hardly be said that his theme was loyalty to the govern- ment.' " " Good enough ! " ejaculated Benjie again. " There's some excuse for the rebs themselves— they've been brought up with slavery ; but I just despise a copperhead 's bad as King does- And that makes me think of the best joke. Yes, I know the sap-buckets 'U run over, but I must tell you this. It happened when I was in Green's this morning after those tin spiles. You know Lib Slocum's going up to the ' White Mountings ' this summer to help spend some of the money old Slopum has made out of government." This was a bit of neighborhood gossip, repeated with a fine scorn for "shoddy" and disloyalty until it had become a stock phrase. " But you didn't know Lib was home from Bos- ton ? She is, though, and came tiptoeing into the store with a green silk dress on and her ribbons and COMFORT-BAGS. 203 dingle-dangles all a-fluttering. She looked so kind of airy and foreign that I got behind the plows in the back part of the store. But I could hear. She minced up to the counter, and says she, ' Mr. Green, I believe? ' " At this absurd recollection Benjie fell off the bucket which was his seat and finished his story on the floor. " Then she had over a lot of palaver about Boston, and wound up by buying four yards of cloth and a spool of thread and one of those little hooks that you twist thread round to make trimmin'. Well, Green looked awful stony-like in his face, jus' as if she'd asked him for a subscription, but he rolled up her things and tried to change the bill she handed out. It was a twenty-dollar bill, and he fumbled through his till and then went over to Barstow's corner before he could fix it. By 'n' by he brought along the change, and then, then, sir, she handed him back the bundle and told him she'd thank him to send it out to her ' papa's ! ' " After an interval of laughter Benjie continued : "You'd ought to 've heard Green talk after she went out. He almost swore, and he said he'd throw her things into the road ; but Barstow told him to carry out the joke. He advised him to have his hired man take the big wagon and span and drive up there with a flourish, and have two or three fellers to help carry the bundle into the house. They'll spread the story all 'round aforehand, of course. I'll bet they'll have lots of fun, and I'm going over to-night to see." Having finished his story Benjie hurried away to 204 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. gather the sap, while Esther and Mary discussed the matter as they filled the "comfort-bags." " To think that Lib Slocum, who couldn't learn the multiplication table to save her life, should have money to throw away, while we can't even afford to go off to school ! It isn't fair," said Mary, bitterly. She had the same feeling that you have had, per- chance, when some addle-pated human received the shekels which you could have used so wisely. " But we mustn't forget how the money came," said Esther. " Every body says her father has been just as dishonest as he could be with those con- tracts and that he may be obliged to run to Canada yet." " He can be spared, and I do hope Rast will go too. It just makes me mad to see so much mean- ness driving 'round behind those splendid black horses of theirs." " Rast would be delighted to add your good sense and respectability to his turn-out," suggested Esther. " Me ! " and Mary, quite unable to express her indignation, began to prepare their noonday lunch, while Esther went out where the sunshine fell through interlacing trees to read her precious letter. Don's convictions were similar to John Henry's, and he, too, was anxious to see what real war was like. A little later word came that the "Guards" were ordered to the front. SELF-DENIAL SUPPLIES. 205 CHAPTER XVIII. SELF-DENIAL SUPPLIES. THE Standard of May 27, 1864, brought the following urgent message from Mrs. Daven- port, the State Superintendent of the Sanitary Commission : " My latest dispatches represent the greatest need of every thing for use on the battle-fields. Those towns in Massachusetts that received dis- patches Saturday evening, turned out en masse and sewed all day Sunday and continued their work till the compaign was over. We can have no other thought now but to do every thing in our power to help the sufferers and thus to strengthen the army. If we do all we can, and stimulate every man, woman, and child to do their part, it does seem that this terrible conflict may be brought to an end, for at length we have a leader.* Cannot the ladies of your town suspend all other interests, and all work resolutely to supply what cannot be bought in market at any price ? Cotton and flannel gar- ments, slippers, socks, quilts or spreads, dressing- gowns, every thing that can be needed — there is no danger of a mistake. Old cotton and linen are much wanted, and maple-sugar and dried fruits. The commission sent two steamers of two hun- dred tons capacity, fully laden with supplies, and * General Grant. 206 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. with a large corps of trained relief agents and nurses, male and female, from Baltimore into the James River, to follow General Butler's column and reach the army of General Grant that way. Two other boats went from Washington laden in the same way on the ioth to Aquia Creek, thence to send supplies and agents across the country to Fredericksburg. " Now we must send supplies to take the place of these as fast as used — tons per day — among our tens of thousands of wounded. " The wounded of the enemy must also be cared for. Every stitch is of consequence, and they ap- peal to the women of every house to help carry for- ward this mighty work. The government is doing what was never before done by any government or dreamed of. But the medical bureau is not allowed to advance its stores, so the commission does the brunt of the work in first reaching the sufferers, and its ambulance-train bears them off to the reach of the government supplies and surgeons. Send by express (for this emergency) to Brattleboro." The women of Gilead thought they were doing about all they could through the " Soldiers' Aid," but when they heard this bugle-blast there was a general uprising. Mrs. Plumley and Doctor Adams's wife took a carriage as soon as the call came and drove from house to house through the village and far beyond. But what could these country women give more than they had given ? Why, they gave what they wanted to keep ! There was old Grandma'am Pike who had some SELF-DENIAL SUPPLIES. 207 linen sheets which she had kept years and years. She went to the big polished bureau with its brass handles, which stood in the everlasting twilight of her " best room," and got down upon her stiff old knees before the lower drawer. "They're a part o' my settin' out," said she, piti- fully, looking up into Mrs. Adams's animated face. " And I never 'spected to part with 'em, never ! I spun the flax on my own little wheel and the thread was 'mazin' fine, and I made 'em up with uncommon little stitches, too — none of 'em's broke in all these years. But if the soldiers want 'em, and need 'em, they'll hev to go ; " and overcoming her natural selfishness — a hard thing at her age — she pulled out four soft, fine sheets, while the faded rose-leaves in which she had packed them fluttered down like butterflies' ghosts upon the carpet. " Could ye jest write, ' These come from Grand- ma'am Pike,' and pin it onto them ? Then if our Gilead boys got 'em they'd know I didn't feel no ways stingy toward 'em." "Yes, indeed, I will mark them," assented Mrs. Adams, as she gratefully received the precious gift. This was an inspiration to others, who said : " If Grandma'am Pike's given away her linen sheets its time for us to give away our keepsakes." Mrs. Rollins grimly presented a " rising sun " bed-quilt, wishing in her heart that it might find its way to Thomas, but quite sure that, whatever be- came of it, she had done her duty by her country. But most of the gifts were from those who forgot themselves entirely in the overwhelming desire to help. 208 THE GILEAD GUARDS, Little companies of ladies gathered that evening to make shirts and other articles, sewing until long past rest-hours. Indeed, away up on the side of the mountain, lights burned all night at Mrs. Smith's and Mrs. Hickey's as they plied their needles. Esther had already begun her summer-school in the "mountain district," earlier than usual, in the hope that she might go to Hope Seminary in the fall. A note and a copy of the appeal reached her early in the afternoon, and at three o'clock she dis- missed the scholars, telling them how the poor sol- diers were suffering, and that every body was going to give what they could right away to help them. "Teacher," said Jasmine Ripley, her hand up- held, eagerly, " do you think they'd like maple- sugar hearts? " "Yes, indeed! they ask for maple-sugar; but don't rob yourselves, children." Poor little things ! With their bare, brown feet, and plain, cheap clothing, they did not look as if they had any thing to spare ; but as she watched them trooping up the shady roadways Esther felt quite sure that some of them were already planning their little sacrifices. She herself hastened to call upon Vic Armstrong, as the one most likely to aid in this emergency. And it was a pleasure now to " run up to Vic's," for a marvelous change had come to the little woman and her home. As Esther approached she saw her, sewing in hand, seated between two trees near the house. Always pretty, Vic was doubly attractive now in her clean, neatly fitting calico dress, with muslin SELF-DENIAL SUPPLIES. 209 ruffles at neck and wrists. Her beautiful hair was coiled up in a net whose wide silken meshes could not conceal its shining abundance. " O, Vic, how nice you look ! I believe I must kiss you," said Esther; and Vic, smiling and dim- pling, sprang up to kiss her friend, not once, but thrice. " How well your yard looks, and how your flowers are springing up!" and Esther looked around ad- miringly upon the hints of beauty in that once desolate front yard. " Yes, I guess it's because I have the sun here all day. Frank helped me last night, and set out vines all over that stump, like Mrs. Stubbs's. I've got lots of seed in, too ; and, Esther, I've made a tidy for my big rocker — yes, ma'am, and finished it ; and now I'm making a pretty patch-work quilt." Esther turned and looked admiringly into the animated face. " O, Vic, isn't it nice ! How different every thing seems ! " " I know it ! " cried Vic, impulsively. " O, what a little fool I was ! Why didn't somebody take me and shake me? Well, you may laugh, and I know you're thinkin' that I didn't like to be shaken very well. But, Esther, what's school out so early for? It can't be four o'clock." Then the story was told, and, pausing only long enough to put a clean dress on Nellie, the two started, with the little maiden between them, to visit the most accessible homes. Mrs. Stanley, who had become a sort of patron saint to these two girls, made a quick response, her 14 210 THE GILEAD GUARDS. eyes kindling as she heard the appeal. From a tiny closet she brought a handsome dressing-gown gayly lined with soft crimson. " I am sure Donald would wish me to send this if he were here ; " and she held it up lovingly. " He always took so much comfort in it Sun- days, after church, and evenings when we two were alone." Struggling to suppress her emo- tion, she continued after a little : " I do hope it will cheer some poor fellow in the hospital. And I might as well put his slippers with it. Yes, I will. Why should I stop to ask if he will want them some time in the future? No, the need is too great." And Esther bit her lips, forcing herself to smile, glad indeed to see even these sacred things given, but questioning within herself, " Why should she speak as though he might not come home? " As they left the house with their precious pack- age Vic said softly : " Don't you remember when some of the folks found out that Don had a dressing-gown ? They said he was ' putting on airs,' and wanted to be as fine as the minister. But Joe says he's brave as a lion about every thing. Joe says he helps Elder Putnam in the meetings, and he says it takes real grit to speak and pray there, when so many of the boys laugh at such things. I guess the folks here at home '11 think a little different when he gets back ; and Joe's sure he'll be a captain or something be- fore long." All of which was very pleasant to Esther's ears, SELF-DENIAL SUPPLIES. 211 but she walked on silently, the dressing-gown and slippers held tightly against her heart. Mrs. Labrique, the sturdy little Frenchwoman, who lived in a log-house by the brook, listened with many exclamations of sympathy to their appeal and gave a pair of fat feather pillows for " the head of them to lie soft on." A grim, unapproachable spinster at the next house listened in absolute silence, and as silently extended to them a pair of soft wool socks, just finished. Mrs. Spinner greeted them with a downcast countenance. " Bub told me what you said, teacher, and I want to help, but I haint nothin' to give. Now, that aint the truth — not quite, only ' so to speak ! ' Because I've got some dried ros'bries, and I've been savin' 'em till you come here to board. If I should send 'em to the soldiers you couldn't have any sass all whilst you was here, for there aint an- other livin' thing to make sass of. Now, you may guess my mind's been all topsy-turvy ever sence Bub come home from school ; " and with her face quivering all over with emotion Mrs. Spinner car- ried her apron to her eyes. "Why, Mrs. Spinner, I don't want any sauce. I'd rather have the berries go to the soldiers if you'd like to send them ; "' and Esther put her young arms around the poor tired woman, hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry. " Would ye now? Be ye sure you could stan' it? Well, then, I shall do it, for nothin' makes me feel quite so discouraged and good for nothin' as not to 212 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. be able to give ;" and, wiping away her tears, Mrs. Spinner soon brought forward two or three quarts of nicely dried berries. " They're beautiful berries as ever was. Bub and Irene picked 'em right upon the slope yonder," said she, all in a glow of satisfaction, as she tied them up securely in a clean salt-bag. A few more calls and they paused at Mrs. Stubbs's, whose deft fingers soon cut and basted a plain hospital shirt, upon which they sewed dili- gently until late in the evening. When Esther went to unlock the school-house door at half past eight the following morning she found a dozen boys and girls waiting, each one bearing a package. " O, teacher, we've brung our sugar-hearts," shouted Flora Denhurst, " and we'd rather give 'em than not." Sure enough, the little packages contained cakes of maple-sugar, both round and heart-shaped, amounting to several pounds, according to scales used by mortals. How much they weighed when love and self-denial were added, who can tell? " Teacher, I bit off a corner of my heart," con- fessed Flora's little sister Josie. " It's very sweet. Do you think the soldiers '11 care ? " and fearing some one might call her selfish she hid her face in Esther's dress and began to cry. " No, dear, if the soldiers could see your little white teeth, and could know how much you love maple-sugar, I'm sure they'd think this was the sweetest cake in the box. But who brought this?" holding up a bundle tied with a good fish-line. SELF DENIAL SUPPLIES. 213 Byron Smith nodded in reply. " That's spruce-gum and slippery-el-lum," said he. " Me and the girls got it, and mother said 'twould be good for a change." " So it will. The slippery-elm is ever so good for a cough. But why did you put this nice fish- line around it? Wont you want it? " she asked. Byron's face reddened. " Yes'm, but I wanted to send it. There wasn't nothin' but common string unless I took that." Esther understood, and the fish-line went. Within four days the box was packed and sent. The list of articles it contained was published in the Standard, and may be of interest : "Sixteen sheets, 3 quilts, 13 cotton shirts, 6 woolen shirts, 5 dozen towels, 71 rolls bandage, 7 rolls flannel, 4 rolls cotton cloth, I large bundle linen, 1 dressing-gown, I pair slippers, 5 pair socks, 2 bottles wine, 16 pounds dried berries, 17 pounds dried apple, 41 pounds maple-sugar, \ pound spruce-gum, 6 feather pillows, I dozen arm-slings, 2 comfort-bags." A few days later one of Vic's characteristic little notes reached Esther begging for a call directly after school. The little mistress of the cottage was evidently in trouble, for she met her friend with red and swollen eyes and every appearance of distress. " Why, what is the matter with you, Vic ? Have you had bad news from Joe?" queried Esther, throwing her hat upon the table, taking up the perplexed baby and seating herself in a listening attitude. " I don't know — that is, may be you wont call it 214 THE GILEAD GUARDS. bad news. Read Joe's letter — that page, and this." Esther began at the point indicated and read : " I guess you'll be surprised, and I hope glad, to know that I am trying to be a Christian. It aint any thing sudden, for I've been thinking about it a good while. You see I didn't know, Vic, that men could be so awful wicked as some of these soldiers be. And when I saw them drinking and gambling, and heard them swear, it roused me clear through. I wished I had power to strike them down in their tracks. You see I felt like they was rebels, not against the country, but against God, and I felt like fighting for the government of high heaven. And the more I heard, the worse I felt. I declare it was as if they was abusing my best friend. But then I began to think that I was a rebel, too, for I hadn't done any thing to show which side I was on. One day I felt so stirred up over it it seemed as if I'd die. So then I hunted up Don Stanley, and he found Elder Put, and we had a prayer-meeting. They prayed and I prayed, and I tell you before meeting was done I knew which side I was on. It wasn't hard, because the recruiting office was wide open, and when I'd once made up my mind there I was, an accepted volunteer ! Just as sure of it as I was when my name went on the list up in Gilead that I was one of the Guards. O, I tell you, Vic, when you think of your poor Joe in a battle now you needn't be afraid" — the bottom of the page was reached, and Esther's eyes were full of happy tears. " Why, Vicky, isn't it grand ? I should think you SELF-DENIAL SUPPLIES. 215 would be singing for joy. Tell me what there is to cry about," said she, pleadingly. "Joe was good enough before," exclaimed Vic, pettishly. " He didn't do any thing wicked ; he was 'way up above me in goodness, and I've just been trying to catch up to him for a whole year. I found out he was studyin' books then and getting to know more than I, so Frank and I bought books too, and studied last winter 'most every night. I learned lots of things, just to surprise him. And you know how I've learned to cook. Why, my bread is 'most as good as Mrs. Stubbs's ; Frank says so. And we've got the farm all paid for, and fixed up things real nice, all for him. And now, now, when I begun to think I was just about as he would like to find me when he comes home, now he goes and gets to be a Christian and goes 'way, 'way beyond me again. I can't bear it, Esther, I really can't bear it!" and down went her head into baby Nellie's lap, within reach of Esther's caressing hand. For a few moments Esther did not know what to say. Absurd and childish as Vic's reasoning was, she knew that it meant a great deal to her. So she sat in the silence of the little room praying very earnestly for wisdom. " Vic, dear," she said at length, " who has helped you so far in trying to catch up with Joe, as you call it." " You have," was the low answer. " But if I have done any thing it was because God put it in my mind, for we don't do good things naturally. So if he hadn't helped you you could not have overcome your bad habits as you have. 216 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. And the same Spirit that has helped you has lifted Joe up another step higher than either of you had reached before. Joe was willing to be helped, but God is just the same always toward every body. So if you really want to catch up to Joe again you needn't stay behind a single day unless you choose. Joe talks about it like a soldier, but we can be sol- diers in Christ's army, Vic, as well as the men. And you know Joe has done right. He came to a place where he must be a better man or a worse man than ever before. What if he'd begun to drink and swear ? O, Vic, it is the best news you ever had ! And it is just as he says, if he goes into battle now, even if he should be killed you would know he was safe." Little Nellie had been looking with wide, solemn ev£s into Esther's face, and as she paused she clasped her little hands and lisped, " Tan I say my pray-er now?" Not waiting for a reply, she began in reverent tones, " Our Fa'ver which art in heav- en," closing as she always did, " B'ess Papa Joe, keep him all safe, and b'ing him home to mamma." With a little cry Vic caught the child to her heart sobbing, " O, baby, you and I must catch up to Papa Joe, yes, we must ! " TWO LIVES FOR ONE. 217 CHAPTER XIX. TWO LIVES FOR ONE. " And I saw in a vision how far and fleet That fatal bullet went speeding forth Till it reached a town in the distant North, Till it reached a house in a sunny street, Till it reached a heart that ceased to beat Without a murmur, without a cry ; . And a bell was tolled in that far-off town, For one who had passed from cross to crown. — And the neighbors wondered that she should die." — Longfelloiv. IT was a beautiful morning in early June, and as Esther started from her boarding-place — she was now at Mrs. Spinner's — her heart seemed to respond involuntarily to its rhythm. June mornings have often been immortalized in prose and poetry, but in the mountain district, where Nature so nearly had her own way, there was a kind of original fresh- ness which was simply indescribable. It was as if, for the sake of those who lived there in a pinched and lonely style, a little panorama of days had been planned full of quiet revelations and surprises. Mrs. Spinner's twins, Adna and Alta, who were nearly four years old, had that summer begun their scho- lastic career, much to their mother's relief and Es- ther's perplexity. A pillow had been sent to the school-house with the two babies, on which one curly head, and sometimes both, reposed for a long 218 THE GILEAD GUARDS. nap every forenoon. These two cherubs clung to their beloved teacher as they ran clown the mount- ain-path puffing in unison, as though they had but one pair of lungs between them. It was early, for Esther liked to " set copies " be- fore school ; but the twins were to play by the brook under certain restrictions which had been vigorously impressed by their mother. As they reached the main road Esther saw Hiel Saunders riding rapidly toward her on one of Squire Fletch- er's farm-horses. As he saw her he slackened his speed, finally checking his horse to say : " You hain't heard the news, have ye?" Hiel's face looked drawn and agitated, and Esther asked, with a vague alarm : " What is it ? Do you mean bad news from the army ? " Hiel nodded. " Awful ! You see our boys was in battle day before yisterday, down to Cold Harbor, and they got all cut up. The list come las' night, and squire and me 're out to notify the friends. I'm goin' to Widder Stanley's an' then up to Hickey's V Smith's, an' so on round this deestrict." " Mr. Saunders, were any of them killed ? " Es- ther forced herself to ask. " Killed ! I guess they was ! Don Stanley, George Hickey, two of the Smiths, either two of the boys or him an' one boy, we don't know which. Then up t'other way there's Thomas Rollins 'n' Fol- linsbee. O, I can't tell ye ; there's a long list of 'em." Hiel drew his hand across his eyes and struck his TWO LIVES FOR ONE. 219 horse sharply, as though he could not venture an- other word. Esther stood as he had left her for an instant and then sank down at the foot of a huge maple, whose roots reached into the roadway. For a brief time a great darkness mercifully shut out the glory of the morning. With her head against the tree-trunk and hands clinched tightly in the moist brown earth she sat stunned, crushed, help- less. Then a wood-bird cleft the air overhead, alighting upon a swaying bough, and from his little throat burst a song so shrill and sweet, so full of abandon, that it reached the stricken heart like a sharp needle-thrust, and she drew a long, quivering breath. " O God ! O God ! " she moaned, " I don't want to live any longer ! " Then followed a few moments of intense and silent suffering, such as humanity can bear and still live. God makes us so. And then the sound of children's voices, high-toned and full of musical trills, echoed through the woods. Esther belonged to a race of strong-nerved men and women, and the habit of self-control and self- repression was as forceful within her as life itself. To conceal her pain — this was her first thought. She was not formally " engaged " to Don Stanley, hence, according to Gilead's social laws, had no right to " mourn." The fear of curious question- ings, the dread of the children's keen eyes even, touched her pride, and by the time they discovered her she stood pale and quiet under the tree. " O, teacher, can't we trim up before school ? It's goin' to be awful hot to-day, so me and Flora 220 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. got these to fill the winders with," panted Irene Wells as she hurried down the hill laden with clean, cool branches of maple and birch. "And I've got evergreen for your desk and the stove," added Jasmine, whose love for pretty things led to all sorts of devices in decorating the bare walls and rusty stove. She linked her arm into Esther's, whispering : " You look pale this mornin', teacher. Wont you let me hear the baby classes for you ? " "Yes, dear; my — my head aches, I believe." Her voice sounded far away and strange to her- self, but Jasmine did not notice as she talked on in a womanly fashion, still giving the welcome sup- port of her arm. As they approached the school- house a cry of distress was heard, and Esther soon found that Adna and Alta, forgotten and neglected, had fallen into the brook, from which Bub had just rescued them. They were crying in unison, and, for the first time, Esther made no effort to check them. As she wiped their hands and faces and sent them home in Bub's charge she was grateful for the diver- sion which gave her a chance to creep into the cool, empty school-room while the children were examin- ing the brook critically and discussing how the twins fell in. And she still waited, bending over a copy- book with dry pen in hand, while the curtainless win- dows were being filled with fragrant branches; then, like a wounded officer who would not " fall back," she began her monotonous round of duties. "Teacher! teacher!" It was little Josephine whose hand was raised. " Can't we sing the com- ing-home song which I like so well ? " TWO LIVES FOR ONE. 221 " She means ' When Johnnie comes marchin' home again.' We all want it," seconded her seat- mate. " Children," said Esther, after a little, " will you be willing to give up singing that this morning? Let us take ' We thank thee, Lord, for morning light.' " That was the hardest test of the day, for the children could sing the song grandly and it had al- ways been an inspiration, but now ! Could she ever sing it again ? It was some time before she remem- bered that she was not alone in this new sorrow ; but, as Byron Smith came to her with one of his profound questions she suddenly thought, " Why, your home is under the shadow too! " Yes, and more than one or two would be found among those who mourned ; but she resolved to keep them through one more day in ignorance of it, if possible. It was nearly noon when Hiel rode up to Mr. Steele's door and, without dismounting, rapped with his whip-stock to attract attention. Miss Hancock, who had been sent home from Washing- ton several weeks before, worn out with hospital service, was visiting there, and was relating some of her experiences to Mr. and Mrs. Steele when they heard the summons. " Somebody wants me, I'm almost sure," said Miss Hancock, as the two women hastened to the door. " You've heard about the fight down to Cold Harbor, I s'pose?" began Hiel. " No ; our boys went up to the hill farm early this morning. Do tell us what's happened," said Mrs. Steele. 222 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. So he told his pitiful story again, only interrupted by the sympathetic ejaculations of his hearers. " All the partic'lars haint come yet," said Hiel, but it looks 's if they'd had a desp'rate fight, with thousands killed ; and amongst 'em a good many Vermonters. It beats all what lots of our boys has gone. Doctor Adams read the list, and it was dretful to hear. Mis' Follinsbee, she stood there in the crowd, and when she heard Hi's name she gin one cry and sunk right down on the floor. I was close by, 'nd helped carry her home. I never c'n stan' round 'n' not help when any body's in trouble;" and Hiel looked around half fiercely, as though some one had questioned the propriety of his ac- tion. "Of course not, but what became of her? Who took care of her?" asked Miss Hancock. " Wal, we laid her on the bed, and the children begun to cry, and we gin her some water, and by 'n' by she come to, and then I sent over some of the women. I tell you, Miss Hancock, this war's dretful hard on the women. I don't never covet another job like what I've done this morning— car- ryin' sech news to half a dozen poor creetur's. Squire needn't send me no more. I don't exactly worry over any of 'em, 'less 'tis Widder Stanley. And thet's what I come this way fur. I wish 't you could git up there, Miss Hancock. Seems to me she'd ought to have some woman there a spell." " Why, Hiel, what do you mean ? Tell us all about it," said Miss Hancock, anxiously. Hiel's voice was husky, and he had to clear his TWO LIVES FOR ONE. 223 throat before replying. At length, with his face turned quite away from his listeners, he began : " I rode up there, you know, 'n' rapped easy, fer I could hear the widder singin' somethin' about Je- rusalem. She come to the door, 'n' says she in her soft way, ' Is it Mr. Saunders ? ' ' Yes'm,' says I, dreadin' what would come next ; but there come a strange look into her eyes, 's if she mistrusted ; 'n' she says, ' Tell me the very worst.' So then I did. Wal, she put her hand up here " — indicating his heart — "kinder quick, 'n' says she, ' Are you sure?' I says, ' I'm 'fraid I be, ma'am. Can't I do somethin' fer ye ? ' But she said ' No,' 'n' thanked me — actually thanked me fer comin' up. Then she went back 'n' shet to the door. But someway I was dretful un- easy, feared she might faint away, so I jes' sidled round to the winder, and looked in over the currant- bushes. She jus' got down on to her knees 'n' be- gun to pray; that's what she did. Tell you, it made me feel cur'ous. Some folks seem to be on dretful good terms with spirits ; but I never see any body act 's if she belonged to the family 's the widder did. You'd thought Jesus Christ was right close by. Wal, I aint no hand to talk, but it made me feel 's I did once when I stayed to communion, waitin' fer squire's wife. I couldn't stan' it, so I got away. But it kinder worries me. Think you'll git up there, Miss Hancock? " Both women had been quietly weeping while Hiel was talking, and Mr. Steele was nearly as much affected as he sat in the door-way. " Yes, I'll go up right away, Hiel ; the walk will do me good," said she, heartily. "There's hospital 224 THE GILEAD GUARDS. work here in the North, I'm thinking, only it isn't the poor wounded body that needs help after a battle." " That's so," said Hiel, as he turned his horse and rode slowly away. Two hours later Miss Hancock was walking slowly toward the mountain, above which ominous clouds were gathering, with mutterings of distant thunder. It was quite dark as she reached the little cottage, shaded now by clouds and trees, and she was glad to step uninvited into the little entry. Pausing a moment to collect her thoughts, she tapped gently upon the kitchen door. There was no response, and after another louder knock she vent- ured to open it. The kitchen, neat and orderly as it always was, seemed to be empty, but fearing to intrude further into the room she spoke : " Dear Mrs. Stanley, will you let me come in and try to comfort you? I have been wanting to come and tell you about Donald, ever since I got home." Still there was no reply, and as the storm was rapidly increasing she entered, closing the door and groping her way to a chair. Thunder-storms among the mountains are often terrible in their violence, and this one seemed to descend with a peculiar swiftness, as if to en- fold the little settlement. The room grew very dark, save when it was illuminated by flashes of lightning; and after a sudden hush, as if to draw its breath for greater conflicts, the storm burst with torrents of rain. The trees outside swayed over the tiny house and the rain dashed spitefully against the windows, while the wind came tramp- TWO LIVES FOR ONE. 225 ling through the woods like a separate force, more of earth than air. Above all solemn thunder-peals echoed and re-echoed. Miss Hancock was not greatly disturbed by the tempest. To be sure, she sat with tightly clasped hands listening with a feeling of awe to the " war- ring of the elements," but she was more anxious about her poor friend and her own duty. At length she rose, saying, softly, " It is no kind- ness for me to sit here, for if she ever needed a friend she needs one just now." Approaching the bed- room, she found the door ajar. One glance within, and, filled with vague forebodings, she turned back to light a lamp, with which she entered the room. Don's mother was lying upon the bed, her white face pressing the pillow as if in natural sleep ; but the white hand which Miss Hancock clasped was cold and lifeless. " Beyond the storm ! beyond the storm ! you and Don together, just as you would have had it," she murmured, her tears dropping fast. But the next moment she rose to meet this unexpected emergency. With the skill gained in hospital experience she applied such restoratives as could be found, pausing not an instant until con- vinced after a long-continued effort that her task was hopeless. " O, I wish Doctor Snow was here !" she exclaimed, overwhelmed with a sense of her iso- lation and helplessness. But, looking at the quiet form before her, she knew very well that no earthly physician could do more than had been done. Covering it gently, she whispered, " What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee;" and thus dividing the burden that seemed 15 226 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. heavy she sat down by the bedside with a feeling of sacred companionship and waited for the storm to subside. And this was not long delayed. The mutterings of thunder were now distant and low, the wind crept away to its hiding-place, and with timid thankfulness shrubs and flowers rose from the earth and stood glistening in the sun, which soon shone as brightly as ever. This surprised and radiant expression, which all nature wears after such a tempest, is one of its compensations ; and the paean of praise sung by wild birds over their deliverance is another. Miss Hancock knew when the storm ceased, knew that the sun was shining, but still sat thinking and mourning alone, arousing herself at length only in response to a timid rap at the door. " Why, Esther, is it you ? I was wishing the Lord would send one of his servants, for my strength is almost exhausted," she exclaimed as she admit- ted the young girl. " But, dear child, you look strange! Esther — Esther — has that ball struck your heart too? Wait a moment — " " O, Miss Hancock, I've been waiting all day. Let me see Mrs. Stanley," pleaded Esther, losing her self-control at last and yielding to the kind arms which enfolded her with a " Poor child ! poor child ! " Drawing her to a seat, Miss Hancock waited until the first bitter but blessed tears had brought relief, and she again whispered : "Where is Don's mother? I know she wants me." Then she softly replied, "Yes, you shall see her; TWO LIVES FOR ONE. 227 but — can you bear to know that she has gone — to meet her soldier-boy?" A moment later Esther looked upon the patient, peaceful face, and knelt by the bedside. Into her bewilderment and grief a strange exalted sense of divine interposition had entered. She had looked forward all day to this meeting with Don's mother, for they two understood each other, and they would lock the door and weep together ! This had been her thought ; but Someone had come with a mes- sage, and, instead of waiting to mourn with her she had gone on to rejoice with him. But would they not remember her, left so lonely and desolate? Esther had a very simple faith. She could not have explained the holy influences which met her as she knelt so long in the silence of that little room — in- fluences which lingered with her always ; but when she read from the word, " And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengtheninghim" she felt sure that she knew — just a little — of what it meant. In the midst of its wide-spread sorrow Gilead paused to " do its duty " by her who had lived among them like a stranger. There were some who would have found a certain enjoyment in entering the house and examining all that was in it ; in whispering and "guessing" around her helpless form ; in seeking to rind in box or drawer or desk some clew to her former life and position. But Miss Hancock was there, and curiosity itself had a whole- some respect for her rights as friend and supervisor. The strong maiden lady who had stayed with Mrs. Stanley every night since Don's departure took 228 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. charge of the necessary preparations, and Miss Han- cock and Esther alone examined such effects as were left in the cottage. They found finely em- broidered clothing for the shrouding, so rarely fine that Miss Hancock but expressed the thoughts of both when she said : " Our friend has known, sometime, what it was to have the best that money could buy." They also found a large package of Don's letters, marked, "To be burned in case of death," and in an envelope money more than sufficient to meet all expenses. But beyond these and the limited ward- robe, furniture, and books, nothing remained. " It seems as if she was all ready for the journey," they said. And the people came reverently in their Sunday clothes to the funeral. Indeed, there is nothing like a funeral to touch and unite the hearts of country dwellers. They were now ashamed to re- member their cold, unfounded criticisms and harsh judgments, and tried to atone by speaking gracious words of their "departed sister" and calling to memory her unfailing kindness. Heaven forgives much, and probably this last bungling attempt to " do as they would be done by " was placed to their credit. But we know there were genuine mourn- ers there who never could forget. And others, wearing the crape which told of their own slain, came — it seemed the right thing to do in those days — some of them almost envying her whose hands were so serenely folded for the last sleep. But Gilead had not yet paid her full share of the " national debt." Beautiful June had not numbered TWO LIVES FOR ONE. 229 her days before the town was thrilled with news of another calamity. Some Union troops set to guard a railroad, most of them Vermonters, were attacked ; some were killed and wounded, and four hundred were taken prisoners ! Joe Armstrong's name headed the first list, brave Captain Bartlett, John Henry Hickey, and Vic's brother Chester were among the prisoners, while David Douglas and others of the Guards were wounded. " Some things are worthless, some others so good That nations who buy them pay only in blood, For Freedom and Union each man owes his part, And here I pay my share, all warm from my heart." — Standard (Gilead, Vt.), of July, 1864. 230 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XX. "YOUR VEGETABLES OR YOUR LIFE!" " 1 ADIES, what shall we do ? " It was a reg- J — * ular meeting of the "Soldiers' Aid," and every woman was at work — some sewing, some scraping lint, some rolling bandages ; but they all paused and looked toward Mrs. Plumley with per- plexed faces. But they had no answer to the new appeal she had spoken of, nor the question which followed it. " Wouldn't it be well to have the secretary read Mrs. Davenport's letter? Perhaps all the ladies haven't seen it," suggested Miss Hancock. Mrs. Adams came forward, and, taking the letter from the president's hands, read as follows : " ' I presume you have heard before this of the condition of our army from the presence of scurvy among the men. Since the trying campaign opened they have subsisted for many successive days on the rations of the haversack alone. We must have a supply of vegetables, says one of our major-generals, or the results will be disastrous; and Grant's forces cannot and must not meet such an enemy in their own ranks. We must therefore canvass every neighbor- hood, and gather together every peck and half-peck of any of these vegetables that families have left, for there is nothing of the kind in market to depend "YOUR VEGETABLES OR YOUR LIFE /" 231 upon. Cannot ladies canvass the towns in your county without delay, to procure whatever can be found of an anti-scorbutic nature — potatoes, onions, pickles of all kinds, prepared cabbage, etc. If even one barrel can be sent from every town it is worth a hundred times the trouble and cash value of the article.' " Mrs. Rollins turned her pale, severe face toward the table. "Can we stan' many more such calls? Does any body know when there'll be an end of 'em ? " she inquired. " Nobody knows," replied Mrs. Plumley, sadly. " Perhaps this will show us that we can't stop yet ; " and Mrs. Adams took up a paper and read : " ' Pres- ident Lincoln has issued a proclamation calling for five hundred thousand volunteers, to be raised by the fifth of September, or drafted immediately aft- erward.' " A low exclamation of surprise and pain ran around the room. Miss Hancock looked anxious. " That only means," said she, slowly and impressively, " that Lincoln means to bring the struggle to an end. And there isn't one here who isn't willing to work to the last moment for our brave boys. We've suffered too much and too long to shirk any thing that's necessary to be done." " Yes ; we must work till our boys 're all dead or in Libby Prison," said Mrs. Rollins. " Sister Rollins, your boy and mine never grudged what they gave to their country, and we mustn't," said Mrs. Douglas, laying her firm, steady hand upon her impatient, heart-broken neighbor. 232 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " My David writes from the hospital, ' Don't fret about me, mother ; I'm no better than thousands of the boys who were killed, and none of us 're too good to die for our country.' " "I'm sure we're all ready to do what's pos- sible," said Mrs. Fletcher. " The question in my mind is, Can we get these vegetables? We women wouldn't hesitate a minute, but perhaps the men wont see it as we do." " And are they to be found any way, for love or money? " inquired Mrs. Akers. "There's enough!" and Martha Thompson bit off her thread with a snap. " There's men in this town jus' mean enough to hold and withhold to make money. There's potatoes and turnips and onions in many a sullar. Next thing is to get 'em out." " Your vegetables or your life ! — we must make that our motto," said Mrs. Adams. " Gilead has shown its loyalty, as we know very well, but if our brethren are suffering a relapse we women must wake them up. Perhaps that's a part of our mission," suggested Mrs. Plumley. " That reminds me of something I found in a New York paper. I cut it out and put it in my pocket for your benefit," and drawing her chair to the center of the group Miss Hancock read: "' A gentleman on a train near New York city the other day, speak- to a friend across the car, said, " Well, I hope the war will last six months longer ; if it does I shall have made enough to retire from business. In the last six months I've made one hundred thousand dollars. Six months more and I shall have enough." "YOUR VEGETABLES OR YOUR LIFE!" 233 A lady sat behind the speaker and heard his re- marks. When done she tapped him on the shoul- der, and said, " Sir, I had two sons. One was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, the other at the battle of Murfreesboro." She was silent a moment ; so were all around. Then, overcome by her indig- nation, she suddenly slapped the speculator, first on one cheek, then on the other, and before the fel- low could say a word the passengers sitting near, who had witnessed the whole affair, seized him and pushed him out of the car, as one not fit to ride with decent people.' " " Good ! " said Martha Thompson ; " that's good enough to frame.' " " We don't expect to have to deal like that with any of our brethren who may be a little — little stubborn," continued Miss Hancock, " but that's the spirit we need. We've got to feel that money is nothing along-side of life and liberty. It's the good old Revolutionary spirit that kept our ances- tors from drinking tea when they wanted it. We've got to tell our men-folks that we must have these vegetables, money or no money. They wont have scurvy if they go without potatoes a few weeks. Now, I'm not very strong yet, but I'm willing to go to the men you think will be hardest to deal with. I'll take a big wagon and some boys and baskets and start to-morrow morning. And I move, Mrs. President, that committees be appointed to canvass the whole town as soon as possible." Every woman was soon pledged to do her share of the work, even Mrs. Rollins, who had no idea of standing alone. She even emphasized her position 234 THE GILEAD GUARDS. by declaring, " Not another potater nor pickle passes my lips till new ones come in." " Every potato saved is a potato earned. Let us show our faith by our works," said Miss Hancock. The loyal Gileadites of our story were still loyal as a whole, but these days of '64 were very trying. Every body but speculators was weary of the war. The country was about to face another presidential election, and as the struggle drew near parties and factions drew farther away from each other. The disaffected, the grumblers, and the discouraged were approached by such men as were avowed cop- perheads, and beset with the political arguments of that era. The rebellion could not be crushed ; the Northern army had no efficient officers ; France was about to declare war against the United States; greenbacks were sure to become worthless ; these and similar opinions were scattered as widely as possible by such newspapers as were accused of being bribed by Southern supporters. McClellan, beloved by so many soldiers, was Lincoln's rival in the contest. It was not strange that many honest but unfortified judgments were bewildered by a comparatively few leaders, who, according to the stanch, out- spoken Standard, were " ready to perform the office of national assassin, and plant the stiletto deep in the vitals of the Goddess of Liberty ! " So much for a few of the " predominating causes " which in this case threatened to mix politics and potatoes ! But the women were thoroughly in earnest, and, in spite of " haying," secured teams, boys, and baskets quite sufficient for their purpose. Indeed, "YOUR VEGETABLES OR YOUR LIFE!" 235 there was a surplus of boys, if any thing ; for the lit- tle fellows were strangely impressed that it would be " fun alive " to help fill those barrels. Among the names given Miss Hancock were those of Mr. Slocum, Mr. Green, and a well-to-do old bachelor named Dunlap, who, with two spinster sisters, lived on a large and valuable hill farm. Our acquaintance with the gentlemen first named makes it unnecessary to state that they were " hard cases," but even they yielded at length to our friend's eloquence. " Wouldn't give a pertater to any body but you," persisted Mr. Slocum. " But 's I tell my wife you've been down there to nuss, 'nd I cal'late we'll need such sarvice some day. We're all more or less likely to get sick. Don't ye see we be ? " In the afternoon she seated herself in Mr. Fletch- er's " mill wagon," with several baskets around her, and two boys, Johnnie Clark and Baxter Bartlett, on the front seat to drive the old gray horse. Having called upon two or three rather inaccessible women, from whom she received a supply of pickles, she told the boys to drive on to Mr. Dunlap's. " 'Spect to get any thin' there ? " asked Johnnie. " Certainly !" was the undaunted reply; where- upon the two boys exchanged skeptical glances. Mr. Dunlap had in some way learned that the women were " taking the town," and as rapidly as possible he was " sorting over," as he called it, his potatoes, of which he had a fine supply. Into one barrel he threw the small and imperfect ones, while into several others he tossed the large ones which he intended to hide from all prying feminine eyes. 236 THE GILEAD GUARDS. While he was still sweating over his task in the security of the cellar he heard a light footstep on the stairs, and looked up to meet Miss Hancock's smiling countenance. "Well done, Mr. Dunlap ; your sister told me I would find you here. These are beauties ! " and she took up the big, white specimens from the barrel. " The very best potatoes I've seen to-day. And it isn't every man that takes the pains to pick out all the little ones. Come, boys, bring down your baskets." "I — I — didn't mean — a man must look out for his own first," stammered the perspiring bachelor. " Yes, our own poor boys ! how often I think of them, sick and wounded on battle-fields and in hos- pitals. I don't wonder you feel that nothing is too good for them. If ever we ought to live on hasty pudding and milk it is just now while they are suf- fering for vegetables. You'll have a sweet reward for this, Mr. Dunlap. Here, boys ! " and, with her back turned toward the small potatoes, Miss Han- cock waved them toward the other barrels, and Mr. Dunlap, rubbing his soiled hands upon his over- alls, actually helped the little fellows, until four bushel baskets were full to the brim. Johnnie and Baxter opened their eyes very wide as they de- posited them in the wagon, but said nothing. Miss Hancock thanked the bewildered and some- what exasperated donor, assured him of a " blessed re- ward," and was soon driving on toward a big yellow house with a small colony of barns, which crowned the next hill. As the old horse slowly jogged along the quiet road Johnny turned around and drawled : "YOUR VEGETABLES OR YOUR LIFE!" 237 " Miss Hancock — I — don't — b'lieve — Ben Dun- lap ever meant them p'taters for us." " No, dear ; not for us. They are for the poor suffering soldiers," said she. The shrewd little Yankee, who knew the reputa- tion of the old bachelor very well, looked toward Baxter with a knowing smile, and asked him in a low tone if he could " see through a hole in the wall with his eyes shut." The town was quite thoroughly canvassed before night, and as a result nine barrels of vegetables of various kinds, with several jars of pickles, were shipped the following day. The necessity for exertion and these extra calls for supplies were a blessing beyond measure to those who had been so sorely bereaved. Some had farms and families to care for, while others were able to devote themselves almost wholly to the soldiers. Poor Vic, who was nearly frantic in her grief over Joe's death, clung to Esther and refused to be com- forted. She had lived the last year— a year of won- derful transformation — on the hope of his return ; for her richest reward was to be his pleasure in what she had done. " It wouldn't seem so hard, Esther," she moaned, " if he could have just come home to see what we have done, and if he could know how sorry I am for the way I used to do things. O, my poor Joe ! " " No, Vic ; not poor Joe, for he's better off; you know that. What if he had been shot before he became a Christian, and before you were one ? Just think, Vic, how much you have to be thankful for," 238 THE GILEAD GUAFDS. Esther said, forcing her own blighted hopes into the background in her new character of comforter. " O, I know it, but I don't feel it. I pray with my lips, but in my heart I almost hate God for taking Joe. He could have saved him so easy, and he was worth saving." Vic was leaning back in her large rocker, and the face which lay against the " finished tidy " was thin- ner and paler than when we saw it last. That day had revived her agony by bringing back to her the last letter she sent her husband. A comrade had sent it, writing her that it had been the only clew to his identification. It had been in his breast pocket, and was deeply stained with blood from the fatal wound. " Perhaps you ought to be thankful he was shot instead of being taken prisoner," said Esther, dream- ily. " They are suffering such tortures at Libby and Andersonville. The paper says that more than a hundred are buried every day at Andersonville. Mother thinks Austin is there, it is so long since we heard from him ; father thinks he's dead. It's dreadful not to know." " Poor Chester is somewhere in one of these horrid places if he is alive," said Vic. " I ought not to forget him. Isn't it strange that we can be so full of trouble that we can't think of things. I don't know what baby would have done those first few days if Frank hadn't taken care of her — and he feeling as bad as he could over Joe and Chester, too. It didn't seem as if I could do anything; but I must — I must for baby's sake." " Don't you think we could help get something "YOUR VEGETABLES OR YOUR LIFE!" 239 ready for the wounded soldiers?" suggested Esther. "You know you'll have lots of blackber- ries up in your pasture, and blackberry cordial is one of the things they want. Mrs. Plumley has the rule for making it. I'll help pick them after school every afternoon, and I'm sure we can do the rest, working together." " Well, perhaps," said Vic, wearily. "I'm going to try not to be selfish." And the weak, helpless men who received that cordial, spoonful by spoonful, never knew it was made by two heroic women in the backwoods of Vermont, who, in an effort to benefit them, had themselves received more than they gave. 240 THE GILEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XXI. HIEL'S EXPERIENCE. PERHAPS the kindly side of New England character was never shown more clearly than in the case of soldiers' families. Especially were the widows and orphans of those slain in battle ac- cepted as a sort of sacred legacy by the general public. The war debt might be discussed in the post-office, and political feeling run high ; but as the nine o'clock bell rang, and men filed away to their homes, they did not forget to take mail or groceries to some lonely woman. Abram was still active in this department, start- ing many a little wave of interest in behalf of the needy which was never traced back to him. Hiel Saunders, too, was a faithful member of the home- guard, and so developed by the services of his benevolence as to bring upon him Martha Thomp- son's criticism, who declared that " Hiel wasgettin' rather soft," which term in Gilead was not alto- gether complimentary. Perhaps Martha ventured that remark after she noticed his interest in Mrs. Follinsbee's welfare. This poor little widow, with her three fatherless children, had seemed to have a special claim upon Hiel after the night she heard of her husband's death. He had taken her many an opportune gift, and succeeded in chopping her fire- HI EL'S EXPERIENCE. 241 wood by doing it very secretly sometime between sunset and sunrise. She had been alarmed to find a fresh supply, and told some neighbors she could not explain it, "unless Hiram had come back;" hearing which, Hiel remarked, somewhat tartly, that it was " a good, sensible thing for a ghost to du, but as Hiram wasn't no great hand to saw wood while he was here, seems 's if he wouldn't be apt to du it now." Mrs. Follinsbee had read to him the last letters she received from her husband, and was humbly grateful for his sympathetic interest ; but meanwhile he had become more interested in her than in the letters. His knowledge of the demands of custom was Very limited ; hence, without consult- ing any book of etiquette, he resolved to win her regard as soort as possible by a judicious and gener- ous oversight of her interests. Acting upon this resolution he selected a variety of vegetables one day in early September, packed them in a large basket, adding a sprinkling of pink-cheeked harvest apples, and took them to her gate on his way to mill with the squire's grist. Tommy and Alice and little Hiram came running toward him, looking with curious eyes upon these prospective riches. "O, ma! come see what's been brung," cried Tommy ; and seizing her dress he dragged her to the door. " Now we can have somethin' but 'tatoes." " Well, you've robbed yourself, I know, Mr. Saunders," said Mrs. Follinsbee, her face reddening with pleasure. "You really shouldn't bring me so much." "I didn't know but what they might come ac- 16 242 THE GILEAD GUARDS. ceptable, seein' ye have so many mouths to feed," he replied, removing his big straw hat. " O, yes ! " and there was a little catch in her voice, just a hint of the need that made them more than " acceptable ; " " but I don't like to have folks put themselves out for me." "No put out at all, Mis' Follinsbee ; I've got more sass than I know what to du with. My little farm yields like all possessed — makes me feel 's if I must put up a house 'n' have sullar room for it ; " and Hiel leaned against the rude railing which kept the children from falling, with his eyes fixed upon the basket. "Why don't you, then ? " asked the widow, inno- cently. Hiel's heart began to beat tumultuously, but he recognized his opportunity. " I will, if you'll come 'n' live in it ; " and then with increasing courage he went on : " I thought I'd just let ye know how I feel about it, fer I can't bear tu see ye sort of strugglin' with adverse fate, so to speak; and if you agree I'll make things real easy. I'll build a house with a bay winder 'n' a piazza; 'n' if you want posies out in front, why, have 'cm ! I don't care ; " and Hiel ventured a glance at the blushing face in the door-way, feeling that he had made a good, generous offer which no woman could refuse. But to his surprise she began to cry, saying, be- tween her sobs, " O, I can't, I can't ! It's temptin' — nobody knows how hard 'tis for a woman to get along when she hasn't any thing to do with — and I like you real well ; but I can't marry a man that's Ill EL'S EXPERIENCE. 243 an unbeliever ; no, no ; I cannot ! " and then the little woman sought her rocking-chair just inside the door and strove to put away the temptation. But the tempter followed her. " O, sho, now ! " ejaculated Hiel, distressed be- yond measure. " I ain't no unbeliever. Ever hear o' my lyin', stealin', or killin' any body?" " No, no ! not that ; but you don't go to meetin', and I'm afraid you don't believe the Bible. I want to bring up the children to be good." Hiel suddenly felt the weight of a crushing re- sponsibility, and looked at innocent little Tommy and Alice, now serenely munching apples, as though he saw them for the first time. Very humbly he said, " May be I could jine the church, you know." Mrs. Follinsbee raised her flushed face with a startled look. " O, Hiel! I don't want you to join the church until you're converted. That wouldn't m ike any difference. If you was a Christian I'd know it, and I wouldn't look at any thing else. I'm not a very good one myself — I make a good many crooked paths ; but I wouldn't dare to marry a man that wasn't tryin' to walk with me." Hiel drew a long sigh. " I'd never interfere with ye in any way, shape, or manner. I'd go to meetin' and stay in to prayers in the mornin'." She almost laughed. " Bless your heart, you'd have to pray yourself! But I don't want no man to get religion on my account. You want it because you need it to live by and die by. So now I've had my say. Temptin' as you make it, with a new house and all, I can't listen. I think I've done right." 244 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. Hiel flung himself away in a rage, but she was not angry. It might have been better if she could have had that energizing experience ; but instead she sat and cried until the little ones gathered around and lifted up their voices in bitter lamenta- tion. She saw before her a lonely, impoverished life, a long struggle with the world, which oftenest presented itself to her discouraged soul as a huge monster with a special spite against women, and the prospect was appalling. But, nevertheless, her con- science was dominant. Perhaps the time will come when such natures are rare, but New England nurt- ured many in the early generations; undeveloped and untrained, perchance, but as true to their con- victions of right, as self-denying, as the best of their Puritan ancestry. Whatever modern materialism and criticism may say upon the subject, it was that religious element, true and tough, which gave New England character its peculiar charm, and stamped it unmistakably as " Law and goodness, love and force, Wedded fast beyond divorce.". Such a character thinks much of its own ap- proval, and so in the midst of her desolation, beset by her womanly fears and weakness, our friend was able to endure because she " thought she had done right." Meanwhile Hiel lashed the horses on through the village and down " mill hill," the same road which Abram had taken on his memorable ride. Men looked after him in surprise, and Barstow, who hap- pened to be in the store door, called out to him, HIEL'S EXPERIENCE. 245 and then muttered : " Wonder what's riled up Hiel, anyhow. Never knew him to 'buse squire's horses before." The hill was steep, and Hiel drew the frightened creatures back upon their haunches and sawed their bits furiously, then whipped them again as they reared and tossed their heads. He swore at them, too, and that was what brought him to his senses, for swearing was not allowed in his creed of morality. He looked around in a half-frightened way, but no one was near. The mill was left be- hind, and he had come into the cool level river road, bordered by woods, and full of the charming tints and quiet sounds of the approaching autumn, be- fore he succeeded in stopping the horses. Then, very much astonished and ashamed of himself, he crawled over the front of the wagon like a weak old man, and began to pat their wet flanks. They looked at him with dilated eyes and quivering nos- trils, inquiring as well as they could if this was indeed their old friend Hiel. He plucked green leaves from the trees and fed them, then let them pull down branches for themselves while he clam- bered back to his seat to " think it over." He had never cared for any one as he cared for this over- worked, sorrowful little woman ; and, being a far- seeing man, he had supposed she would feel thank- ful to accept his proffer of home and fortune. " Je-whitiker ! " he ejaculated ; " if she thinks I aint 's good 's Hi Follinsbee she's mistakened. He wasn't wuth a tow-string fer business ; couldn't save any more'n a sieve. Women must be fools any way!" But Hiel knew very well that her simple refusal would not have aroused such a 246 THE GILEAD GUARDS. temper-tempest as he had passed through. It was the reason she gave. "Ay! there's the rub!" Because he wasn't a Christian she couldn't marry him ! He had, so far as Gilead air was favorable, cultivated the " idea " which is cherished by thou- sands of men : ' Some Christians are full of faults ; I have but few faults ; therefore, I am better than some Christians.' To be sure, he was a red-haired, weak-eyed, country-bred logician, but logic does not dictate as to the color of the hair or strength of the eyes. He was a true disciple of comparison, with an honest admiration for consistency ; but for some reason his creed gave him no comfort now. He was enraged at that, at himself, at the truth, which sometimes has a way of turning and looking at men as Christ looked at Peter, which is very un- pleasant. The terrible oath he had uttered seemed to take shape and mock his discomfiture, and as he turned the horses slowly toward the mill he mur- mured : " If a man was like corn, now, 'n' could be put in the hopper 'n' groun' up fine, may be he'd come out good fer somethin'." Wherein it may be seen that Hiel had found a weak place in his logic. That very evening Hiel sought Abram, and having enticed him into the barn, where they could- lean against a fragrant hay-mow, with the moonlight slanting through wide open doors, he found courage to ask counsel. " You told me yerself to come if I ever got into a scrape," said he. "I haven't forgotten," replied Abram, cordially. " I don't pass a day but I think of your kindness HI EL'S EXPERIENCE. 247 and patience; and sometimes I've wondered if you ever regretted lending me the money." " Never; not a mite! If I'd put in with Slocum 'n' his son-in-law a-spee'latin' may be I'd 'a' got neck-deep in meanness. 'Stead o' that I've made fairly well, I take it. I've lent government a few hundred. Squire says there's no question but she'll pay up one o' these days; 'n' then I bought that piece o' land, you know. Squire didn't want me to leave, so he let me have it cheap, 'n' it's powerful good land, too. But I didn't come to talk money- to-night, 'n' you can't guess within ten rows o' apple-trees what I du want." And then, having found a stick to whittle, Hiel related the episode of the afternoon. Abram was both surprised and amused ; but, being appealed to for advice, replied: " Why, I think, in the first place, that you were in too great a hurry. It was only the first of June that Hiram was shot, not quite four months ago." But Hiel shook his head. " Hiram 'd been away two years. Don't ye forgit that. It aint 's if he'd died here to home. And she never said a word about bein' too sudden. That don't trouble me none, but it's the other thing — the bein' or not bein' a Christian." "Well, Hiel," said Abram, soberly, "you know very well that you ought to be one, for you aren't a heathen. And I've often thought you must be a Christian at heart, you're always so ready to do good." Again Hiel shook his head. " That's what I thought myself up to this morn- 24S THE G I LEAD GUARDS, in', but I know better now. I'd give a hundred dollars this minute if I knew jest what to do." "Why don't you ask the minister?" inquired Abr.im. " O, he's too young," responded Hiel, in a de- spondent tone. " He's well meanin', but I should scare him — I know I should. If 'twas Mr. Phelps I wouldn't mind." " Why not go to the old minister then ?" Hiel squinted along the edge of the stick he held, and drew a long breath. " You see how 'tis, Abram, he uses lots of long words, good words, too, but I 've no idee of the dictionary meanin'. What if he sh'd ask me if I was predestinated to be elected ? I couldn't say one word, 'cause I don't know. It would tangle me all up, sure 's you live, Abram," said Hiel, in a changed tone. "Couldn't you jest tell me how to git started ? Seems to me I'd ought to know ; but I declare to you it's jest 's dark 's that corner over there beyond the moonshine." " Yes, of course I can ;" and Abram's voice grew tender with his theme. " If you mean that you want to be a Christian — not so you can marry Mrs. Fol- linsbee — but because it is the right thing to do — " " Yes, sir ! that's what I mean ! " asserted Hiel. " Then it's all plain. If Jesus was on earth to- day, and you should hear that he was at the Center, for instance, would you be satisfied to hear what he was doing, or would you want to go and see for yourself?" " Go, of course ! " " The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day and forever ; so if you want FUEL'S EXPERIENCE. 249 to know about him, and especially if you want to be cured of any disease, you must do now as you would have done then, go to him yourself and ask him for all you need." " That seems easy," said Hiel. " It is easy. And remember he has promised to save every one that comes in this way. Just tell him you're sorry you didn't come before and con- fess your sins, and God can't help accepting you, because he has promised, and all his promises are ' yea and amen in Christ Jesus.' " " Now, hold on ! I c'n go so fur — I c'n b'lieve that things 're all fixed up strong at that end. 'Twould be an awful sin to cheat a world full o' human bein's, 'n' I don't b'lieve he ever done it, do you ? Now, then " — and Hiel's voice grew intense and low — " what I want to know is how to get on to that promise, so I c'n feel sure I'm there, 'n' he'll see me 'n' jest 'tend to the rest of it." " Why, Hiel, seems to me it is like this : There's a bridge over the river between here and the vil- lage, and you want to go across. You never think of stopping to calculate whether you can get on the bridge or not. You keep walking till you step on full weight. You actually have to do it of your own free will. Now, this promise is your bridge, and — " " I've got holt o' thet, 'n' don't you say another word. I'll work this thing out — now you see ! " And out of the barn, through the clear moonlight, Abram watched Hiel stride away. He did " work it out," with divine help, that very night, and it was not long before all through the country-side 250 THE GILEAD GUARDS. spread the news of his wonderful conversion — " wonderful " because, within their narrow reason- ing, this was outside the ordinary channels of spir- itual refreshing ; but it proved the beginning of a gracious and gentle revival which flowed like heal- ing waters through the churches. The terrors of battle-fields and hospitals, the oft-repeated shocks of bereavement, the desolated homes, empty chairs, and aching hearts, had made a place for the coming of the Comforter. Hiel gave himself heartily to the new phase of existence which opened before him, finding no weariness now in " goin' to meetin' " five nights in a week, and his quaint, joyous testimonies were decidedly helpful where the general tone of piety was inclined to be distrustful. But for several weeks Hiel made no effort to meet Mrs. Follinsbee. With natural sensitiveness he feared she might suspect him of hypocrisy, while she, in turn, was equally distressed lest, having met the conditions, he might think she looked for his return. In due time, however, a happy combination of circumstances enabled them to become reconciled without serious compromise, and it was not long before Gilead was saying, laughingly or reproach- fully or dubiously : " Hiel Saunders is engaged to Hi Follinsbee's widow ! What can the man be thinking of?" That was what Squire Fletcher asked him confi- dentially one morning in the harvest-field. " Why, Hiel," said he, " wife and I thought per- haps you and Martha would make a match, and we could keep you both." HIEL'S EXPERIENCE. 251 " Wal, now, squire," responded Hiel, " I'm sorry to disapp'int any body, but Marthy's tu brisk. She never lets ye feel that there's any time to rest. I never expect to eat no better vittles than Marthy cooks, but I tell ye she keeps her eye on the nut- cake pail ! Then, squire, she aint no ways han'- some. She's jest like a Lumbardy popple — right up 'n' down, straight 'n' scant 's you please. Now, Mis' Follinsbee's purty, I think, 'nd when she gets dressed up other folks '11 say so tu. She needs nice clo'es, like any woman, 'n' I tell ye there's lots of women that's beholden to their clo'es more 'n you've any idee." The squire was much amused over Hiel's ideas, and chuckled at intervals all through the afternoon as his eyes would fall upon a couple of Lombardy poplars which had stood, year after year, a picture of independent ugliness in a field near the roadside. "Yes, that's Martha — straight and scant as you please," he would say. 252 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XXII. FROM THE SHADOW OF DEATH. VIC ARMSTRONG had been up since early morning engaged in " cleaning house." As such work was not natural to her she was apt to keep watch of the movements of other housekeep- ers, and also to follow rules of domestic science laid down in books and papers. Mrs. Stubbs, who was governed by an intuitive knowledge something like that which governs birds and bees, had taken up her parlor carpet ; hence Vic had followed suit, and, by an all-day siege, had made her chambers sweet and clean, and put the tiny parlor into its most cheery condition. But in opening boxes she had come across Joe's letters in their many-hued, patri- otic envelopes — letters he had written the first year of enlistment ; and now, as she rested after the hard day's work in her favorite seat between the two trees, she held a package in her lap, reading and crying over them. It had been one of those dreamy autumn days when every thing wears an unreal as- pect. The voices of men at work in the fields, the crowing of chanticleer, the barking of a neighboring dog, sounded as though they echoed from some other world just outside our own. The sunset rays were now slanting across the little " front yard " as though loath to leave. Vic's flowers were past their FROM THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 253 season of beauty, except some sturdy coxcombs and asters, but along by the stone wall nodded double rows of golden-rod — " yaller weed " the farmer folk called it, and voted it a nuisance ; but Vic liked to have it hide the wall, and thus far it had escaped Frank's threatening scythe. Little Nellie, now nearly three years old, was gathering great bouquets of red and yellow leaves, which, after a few weeks of gorgeous display, were slowly fluttering to the ground. But she saw her mother's tears and came panting through the heaped- up leaves, with her hands full, to inquire, " What for does mamma cry? Baby sinks papa Joe comin' very soon." This was the charming little sentence she had learned long before, but now it brought no comfort. " No, no ; papa wont come ever again ; " and, pressing the little one close, Vic's tears fell faster. " Nellie ask Uncle Frank ; I can find papa ; " and wriggling away from her mother the child trotted down the roadway, her little feet rustling musically through the leaves. She reached a tree which marked the limit of her journeyings, and then paused, her hands clasped behind her back in an old-fashioned way, her dainty little head held at one side in a listening attitude. There was a sound of approaching wagon-wheels, but it was not " Uncle Frank" nor Grandpa Shaw. Clapping her hands, she said, " Somebody come 'at baby knows ; " and watched eagerly as the horse slowly drew near and stopped a few feet away. The driver jumped to the ground and carefully assisted another man — tall and gaunt, wearing an old light-blue soldier's overcoat 254 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. — to alight. Handing him a cane and a parcel, he turned slowly, saying, as he did so, " You'd ought ter let me drove clear up to the door ; I wouldn't 'a' charged a cent more, 'n' I'll bet it '11 be too much for ye." As for little Nellie, she gave one frightened glance, and started toward her mother. But the man had seen her, and as he rested for an instant upon his cane he said, in a strange, hoarse tone, " Nellie — baby — go tell mamma — papa's coming ! " The little thing could not have comprehended his meaning, but, stumbling up the slope as fast as she could with outstretched hands, she cried, shrilly, " Baby's sure Papa Joe's comin' very soon." Her tone startled Vic, who sprang up from her reverie and started toward her, saw the stranger, and stopped again. Her heart seemed to stand still as she watched him. Had the battle-field given up its slain ? And then with a little cry she almost flew over the space between them and clasped in her arms all that she could hold of the unshaven, threadbare, hollow-eyed soldier. " Joe, Joe ! tell me it's truly you ? " she gasped. And the husky voice that answered convinced her: "Yes, Vic, poor little wife; all that's left of me ! " It was fortunate for both of them that the house was near, for Joe's strength was well-nigh exhausted. But Vic helped him over the clean hard walk be- tween the flower-beds, into the kitchen, and on the lounge. With trembling hands she removed cap and coat ; got a pillow under his clear head ; FROM THE SHADO W OF DEA TIL 255 brought water, camphor, milk — every thing she could think of — and waited until he could speak again. Reviving a little, he smiled, and said, " It was 'most too far to come — without resting — but I couldn't wait." And then, kissing him very softly, Vic calmed her self to whisper, "Joe, dear, where have you been since last June ? " " Andersonville ; didn't you know? " he asked in a surprised tone. " No ; the paper said you were found, and my letter was in your pocket," she replied. " I handed it to Chester just before the battle. Poor Chester! " said Joe, greatly moved. " Never mind now. We'll talk of that by and by ; " and Vic with rare forbearance closed her lips very tightly. Then she brought water and gently bathed his face and hands, brushed the long hair away from his forehead, keeping back the cries that almost es- caped her lips as she realized his extreme emacia- tion. Little Nellie drew nearer, her eyes full of wonder and pity, and at length laid one soft little hand upon his face. Joe drew it to his parched lips, and tears began to roll down his sunken cheeks. But even then, while they watched him tenderly, he fell asleep. Frank's return was most opportune, and, allow- ing him but one glimpse of Joe, Vic sent him with all speed to the village for Doctor Snow and Miss Hancock. Fortunately they both came, and by nine o'clock Joe was in a clean bed, ready for a 256 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. night's rest, and able to smile upon them all as he murmured, " This must be like heaven ! " " There were two of the exchanged prisoners in the stage to-night, somebody told me," said Miss Hancock, as they left the room ; " but Joe must have got a team to bring him right over from the land- ing. Mr. Hickey happened to be in the village, and they say he took John Henry home in Mr. Plum- ley's carriage. One of the others was Homer Smith. Judson Plumley was just discharged from the hos- pital and happened to come from Washington with them, so he took Homer home for the night. There was a great stir over Lieutenant Plumley ; as many as a hundred people gathered around the post-office, I should think. O, thank the Lord that some of our boys are coming back ! " This was the signal for Vic's enforced calmness to give way, and with tears and hysterical laughter she clung to Miss Hancock, while the old doctor patted her shoulder, and said, in very unsteady tones, " That's right ! that's right ! Cry all you want to ; only cry easy, so Joe wont hear." But Joe was in- little danger of being disturbed. His strong physique had apparently succumbed to hardship and privation as many a feebler one had not ; and the stupor into which he sank that night was the prelude of other nights and days, when, barely clinging to life, he lived over again and again his Andersonville experience. The home-coming of these prison-starved soldiers had been without warning, hundreds having been exchanged at the same time and sent as rapidly as possible in many different directions. Hence, there FROM THE SHADO IV OF DEA TH. 257 were many joyful, painful surprises all through the North. The few who came to Gilead were but a fair type of the entire company; enough could they have been seen together in their squalid misery to call the nation to its knees ! But we must climb the hill to witness the arrival of another old friend. Mrs. Hickey, whose face bore the lasting impress of sorrow, and whose black dress told the common story of bereavement, sat in her neat kitchen in the early evening awaiting her husband's return from the village, when, instead of the steady tramp of the old horse, she caught the sound of wheels slowly approaching the house. " Emmeline, take a candle and see who's coming. It can't be father, for he went horseback," said she. The little girl was soon in the door-way, shielding a flickering light with one hand while she peered out into the darkness. "Hullo, Emmie! Who d' you think I've got for a passenger?" called her father, with a curious laugh. Mrs. Hickey came and stood behind Emmeline, and as she appeared a strange, reedy voice from within the carriage called, " Mother!" She extended her arms with an answering cry, and the next moment gathered her bony, disreputa- ble-looking boy to her longing heart. " Is this the way they send you home, John Henry?" she sobbed, when under the lamp-light of the kitchen she saw his forlorn appearance more fully. " O ! what have they done to you, my boy? " And with eager, trembling hands, she drew him to 17 258 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. the arm-chair beside the fire, and removed his cap, clasping him again in an ecstasy of bewilderment and joy. " Tried to starve me, mother," said he, with a pitiful attempt to be merry. " The rebs thought they were doing God service by killing off Yankees, and they actually thought they were going to pick my bones ; but I thought I'd rather give 'em to Vermont crows. So here I am, hungry enough to eat the fatted calf, hoofs and all." "Hungry! of course you are!" and upon that Mrs. Hickey almost ran back and forth, until she had barricaded him with all sorts of dainties. " But why didn't you write when you was coming, dear child ? I'm so surprised I don't know what to do first ; " and Mrs. Hickey's strong nerves certainly suffered strange vibrations as she hovered over him. John Henry laughed feebly. "Why didn't I write? I'll tell you how 'twas, mother. We didn't have any gilt-edged paper, and the rebs kept our rosewood writing-desks, and Uncle Sam forgot to send postage stamps. So they just packed us aboard the cars and sent us off to carry the news ourselves. But, mother, the best thing you can do for me is to put me in the bed where George and I used to sleep, under that sun-flower bed-quilt. O, how many times I've dreamed about it ! And, fa- ther, if you'll help me up-stairs you may, for, hon- estly, there's nothing about me that feels quite right, except my tongue." It was not long before the poor fellow was bathed and put between clean sheets, which made him feel " like an old aristocrat." FROM THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 259 " O, mother ! " he groaned, fairly burdened with luxury, " if I only knew that all the boys were as well off ! Your heart would have ached if you had seen them come out of Andersonville. Some of 'em couldn't get aboard the cars, they were so weak, and so died just as they thought there was a chance to start for home. And I tell you, we had hard work to get poor Joe Armstrong through ; we'd keep saying, 'Just a few days more and you'll see Vic and the baby ; ' and that, with the food they gave us on the way, was all that kept him alive." " Now, John Henry," interposed his father, in the tone he had used when his children were young, "you stop talking to-night, and when you get rested you shall tell the whole story. We want to hear it bad enough, but not to-night. Don't forget to thank the Lord for bringin' you safe home." "No, sir; but, mother, just one thing more: will you get up a boiled dinner to-morrow, with plenty of cabbage and beets, and a pudding? " " Yes, yes, any thing you want," they responded, and then left him, but not alone, for Mrs. Hickey sat by the kitchen fire through the night, stealing up to his room every half hour, fearful lest starva- tion and exposure would yet rob her of her boy. And here, too, intense joy was mingled with grief; for the mother could not forget, as she watched through the dark, silent hours, that she had sent two stalwart sons away in their new blue " regiment- als " and only one had returned ! It was a strong faith which could still sing, " Free- dom is worth all this and more." We may as well state just here that that " boiled 200 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. dish" proved an almost fatal enjoyment to our poor soldier-boy. After the manner of New England housekeepers, Mrs. Hickey cooked a large quantity of corned beef, pork, and all kinds of vegetables, setting away the portion which remained after din- ner for another meal. But John Henry knew where the pantry was; and with his ravenous hunger un- satisfied he waited only until the rest of the family chanced to be employed elsewhere to descend upon that platter and capture a good part of its contents. But it was impossible to make up a two years' lack of "boiled dishes " in one day, and our " forager" paid the penalty of his rashness by terrible suffer- ing. Doctor Adams and Miss Hancock united their human skill, and poor Mrs. Hickey watched incessantly until the danger was averted ; but John Henry was reduced to " spoon victuals" for several weeks in consequence, much to his disgust. Great interest was felt in the experiences of these liberated captives, and a pathetic blending of curi- osity and loving sympathy brought visitors from far and near to gaze upon them. John Henry told his father that he was neglect- ing a rare opportunity to amass a fortune in not charging an admission fee ! As the evenings grew long, and gathered harvests brought leisure to the farmers, he had a chance to tell his story again and again — a story which could have been duplicated by thousands. But with the hope and promise of a better South and a better North, we need not recall it, only as a warning against national sins which bring bitter punishments and demand price- less ransoms. THE RAID AND A RAIDER. 261 CHAPTER XXIII. THE RAID AND A RAIDER. " W 7 ELL, father, I guess you wont laugh about V V the raiders any more, for they've cleaned out the St. Albans banks in fine style," said Benjie Steele one fine October evening on his return from the village. "You don't say so ! " exclaimed Mr. Steele. " Yes, sir; there's more 'n two columns here from a Burlington paper." " I've told you all along that the rebels would come 'round by way of Canada ! Now I guess you'll be ready to put locks on the outside doors ; " and Mrs. Steele turned from the cupboard, where she had just deposited the last " supper dish," with a look of mild reproach. But Mr. Steele only laughed. " O, now, mother," said he, " the raiders wont trouble us. They may try the bank — I don't say they wont — but they'll let us alone." " Unless they want horses ; I heard they stole some up on the border," said Abram. " Read what you have there, Benjamin, and to- morrow I'll see to the doors and board up the hen- coops." Mr. Steele, with his good-natured trust in hu- manity, was evidently unwilling to believe that the 262 THE G1LEAD- GUARDS. gaunt hand of war could reach the Green Mount- ains, and listened with a sort of incredulous sur- prise as Benjie read : " The raiders had been in the village for several days. They had been at the different hotels, and citizens had noticed the well- dressed, well-armed strangers with some curiosity. On Wednesday, at half past three o'clock, they sta- tioned a patrol on the streets, and then in parties of five or six descended upon the three banks in the village. At one they held their pistols to the heads of the teller and one of the directors, making them swear an oath of allegiance to the Southern Con- federacy, and taking $73,500. At another the band introduced themselves as Confederate soldiers, and cleaned the bank of $85,000, shutting the cashier and another man into the vault when they left the bank. The third bank lost $52,000." Then fol- lowed an account of persons who had been shot, and of the pursuit ; of the arrival of re-enforcements, the departure of the raiders, etc. An editorial note stated that the border counties were getting well under arms and forming military companies for pro- tection against further raids. Returned soldiers and citizens were alike enlisting for this service. A few days later official news was received warn- ing the people to expect these incursions of " rebels and skedaddlers from Canada," and to allow no stranger at farm-house or on the highway. Gilead, having a bank, was morally sure of a visit, and pre- pared to receive it. Every road, the river and its bridges, were put under guard, and woe to the man who couldn't give an account of himself ! To a few ardent young souls like Benjie the whole THE RAID AND A RAIDER. 263 affair was an episode apparently arranged for their express benefit, a grand opportunity to prove their bravery. The post of duty assigned to our young friend was not, however, exactly what he would have chosen, being what was called " the old road " lead- ing over the hill pasture of their own farm. It had long since been abandoned for the more easily trav- eled valley road, but there were still grass-grown ruts discernible between encroaching trees and un- derbrush, holding a possibility for horseback riders or wary footmen. It was a dark night, with a lonesome wind telling ghost-stories in the tree-tops, when he was first called into service ; but Benjie shouldered his rifle like a veteran and marched up the hill. One of the neigh- bors was stationed within hallooing distance, but Benjie thought, incidentally, it would have been a good plan if they could have been nearer each other. He carried a lantern and matches for an emergency, for which he felt quite ready after walking stealthily back and forth two or three hours, listening intently for raiders. The nervous strain was greater than he had expected, and the power of imagination invested the familiar landscape with grotesque creations, ap- parently as real as every-day companions. A book of Grecian history had fallen into Benjie's hands a short time before, and, with a fine scorn for the visionary and fantastic, he had called the old Greeks " a set of simpletons ! " But to-night, watching the wind-swayed branches, they became warning, be- seeching hands, with a personality behind them ; and an oddly broken and parti-colored stump be- 264 THE CI LEAD' GUARDS. came in the starlight a man with a contemplative air, just ready to impart his wisdom to some kin- dred mind ; and our young philosopher decided that under some circumstances it would not be dif- ficult to people a world with beings neither human nor divine ! And the noises ! Who could explain them? A dead limb fell with a thud a few rods away; then, snap, snap ! twigs were breaking in a thicket like the click of many rifles. Then the wind swept over the hill, and Benjie was sure it held the echo of horses' hoofs, and somehow the comical side of "watching for raiders" suffered a total eclipse just then ! But at length a sound different from any of these smote his ear and set his heart to thumping wildly. It was a something quite as large as a man — as large as several men, he thought — advancing deliberately and stealthily. Waiting until he heard the bushes near by parting and cracking on either side, he shouted, " Halt ! " There was an instant of intense silence. " Give your name and the countersign, or I fire ! " There was no response to this, but instead what sounded to Benjie like a snort of derision, and he fired ! He also " hallooed," and retreated rapidly toward the open field; but as the "something" crashed away through the bushes and down the hill there was a significant " Mo-o-o ! " which sufficiently re- vealed the personality of that intruder ! When neighbor Hiller appeared Benjie ex- plained the report by saying that he " guessed he THE RAID AND A RAIDER. 265 got nervous, but he really thought the rebels were coming through the woods." " Don't wonder ! " exclaimed the honest farmer, sympathetically, " the woods 're full of the most outlandish noises I ever heard. The rabbits and squirrels seem to be havin' a picnic out my way, and if I didn't know better I should say there was somethin' 's big as a bear among the hemlocks." Benjie was greatly relieved to find so congenial a spirit, and shared his lunch with him, much to their mutual benefit. The rest of the night passed with- out adventure, for the spell of fear was broken ; but Benjie had learned his lesson. It was some time, however, before he told the story of his fright and old Brindle's narrow escape. Abram was stationed at the bridge between farm and village that night. He had known that his "beat" would be less lonely than Benjie's, and sug- gested changing with him ; but Mr. Steele had said, " No, no ! let Benjamin try his pluck in the pastur'. He's too hot-headed to stan' on the bridge." During the evening there was the usual travel to and from the village, and the neighbors — kind souls ! — did not forget the past as they recognized Abram in his new character. " Don't get lonesome to-night. John Henry says picket duty is rather scary sometimes," said Mr. Hickey. "Always thought you'd be a soldier ever sence you talked up so smart about it," called Mr. Slo- cum ; "but them that fight an' runs away lives to fight another day; don't you know they do? " 266 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. And another shouted back above the rattling of his wagon, " The watch up our way come pretty nigh shootin' my woman las' night. She was out huntin' up her geese after dark, 'n' when she come back drivin' of 'em, the feller got scairt 'n' fired. Didn't know so much 's a goose, he didn't. So now don't you fire at no woman ! Haw, haw ! " and turning about on his seat he slapped the reins and drove off rapidly, still laughing. The last straggler was a returned soldier — poor fellow ! — who had learned to love whisky all too well while in the army. He came across the bridge — not quite steadily — in his light blue cape-over- coat, which could always be recognized so far away in those days, and drawled, " Give my love to the Johnnies, Abram, and tell 'em I'd 'a' been on hand to meet 'em if I hadn't got to have the sha-shakes to-night. Give us yer hand, and mind you don't show the white — white feather, Abram, and let 'em slip through your fingers." And away he went trolling a camp song ; brave to meet rebels, but a coward, alas ! before his worst enemy. And so the last one crossed the bridge, and all along the river a heavy white fog hung like a cold pall, gradually reaching out over the valley and cov- ering the lonely sentinels. Then Abram, as he paced back and forth, ex- claimed bitterly to himself, " And this ' mimicry of war 'is all I can expect ! Others can die and wear martyrs' crowns, but I must live and wear a fool's cap!" His was, as has before been stated, a long-en- during nature, strong to bear disappointment, and THE RAID AND A RAIDER. 267 able to keep it out of sight ; but there were times when the old rebellious nature asserted itself. And then he loathed the close economy and small de- ceptions he was practicing. Even the fact that his obligation to Hiel was nearly canceled gave small comfort at such times. What did it all amount to? His father and mother mourned over Austin as one dead. He was a hero and almost a saint. His photograph, the few letters that had reached them, with articles of clothing and his books, had been laid away with plenty of rose-leaves in a trunk by themselves as sacred relics. And when, stung by some unjust word, Abram was tempted to tear away this halo that surrounded the "soldier-boy" his heart invariably relented. " I can't do it. Father and mother think he's all right, and I'll never undeceive them," he would say, and set his face steadfastly toward some duty, thus working his way past temptation. But this temptation was gradually losing its power, for there was an increas- ing tenderness in his own heart toward his brother as time seemed to ratify the theory of his death. The face that had lain close to his own so many, many nights through childhood and boyhood would sometimes suddenly appear, and, looking again into the willful, mischievous eyes — but always honest eyes — he would whisper, " It's all a mistake, Tony ; a terrible mistake ! " Tony was the name he had given his brother when they were little fel- lows, and it had been years since he had used it. But now that the silence of mystery and probable death had fallen between them it often recurred to him, and with it returned the half- 268 I'll E G1LEAD GUARDS. protecting, half-patronizing feeling which older brothers affect. Truly, death is a wonderful peacemaker, and there is divine wisdom in the separation which makes it possible for good people, who don't al- ways agree, to lose the bitterness of old animosi- ties before they meet in the beyond. If an entire circle of relatives or friends was removed at the same time, it would need all the sweetness of heaven to tone down the discordant elements and unravel the misunderstandings ; but, as it is, death touches them one by one ; and when old antag- onists finally come together they will probably have to stop and inquire " the cause of that little disturbance down in earth." All of which leads the logical mind to ask, " If these things weigh so little in the world of true weights and measures, why do we allow them to torment and wound us so here ? " But Abram, pacing back and forth on the bridge, was not troubled by a single thought of bitterness or revenge toward his brother. It was a new temptation which used the old form of expression against the old annoyances. The new temptation was Ruby. She had returned, after graduating " with honor," and, to his dismay, he found she was just as dear as ever. She had come with all her added gifts and graces, but was as far from his worshipful eyes, ap- parently, as the topmost peak of the Green Mount- ains. She had joined the choir again, as though there had been no interim ; but in the gallery, as every-where else, she met him with a studied cour- THE RAID AND A RAIDER. 269 tesy which was almost as edifying as it was humili- ating. And then, just as he had decided to make her hear his story and do him justice, came a dapper little lieutenant who walked with a cane ! He sang with Ruby, he rode horseback with her, and limped into church beside her; and Gilead whispered and nodded, as humdrum country places will, and reported that " it was settled ! " All this was gall and wormwood to Abram. Every smile she bestowed upon the stranger, the gentle defer- ence with which she moderated her step to his, the expression she threw into " Blest be the tie that binds," he noticed and interpreted in accordance with his own fears. And so, as he considered the matter that night — and the raiders did not interfere with his train of thought — he decided to leave Gilead as soon as he could make his arrangements to do so. Having made this conclusion, he was quite willing to see the fog assume a lighter hue — the first token of a new day — as he repeated to himself the old couplet, of which many repetitions had made him rather fond : " When all the blandishments of life are gone The coward sneaks to death, the brave lives on." Objects nearby were now perceptible, and he saw that he could soon leave his post, when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from the village, ac- companied by a whistled tune. It was " The Vacant Chair," and Abram's first thought was that no rebel would whistle that tune. Nevertheless, he leveled his rifle and cried, " Halt ! " as the figure of a man appeared. 270 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " Whatever !" said a wondering voice ; and then, " O, yes! you're guarding the old bridge! Well, I'm the 'prodigal son' returning to my father's house, and the countersign is, ' E plurrbus unum.' " Something in the voice caused Abram to lower his rifle. "What's your name? " he inquired. For answer a tall soldier advanced with the cry, " Abram ! I believe it's you ! " and the next mo- ment, with an answering cry of "Austin!" the two brothers met each other. " Only your left hand to shake with ! is that so?" asked Abram, huskily. "Yes, or I would have sent you word ; for I got your letter three months ago, Abram, and, old fel- low, how could you stand it ? " RUBY'S HERO. 271 CHAPTER XXIV. RUBY'S HERO. ABRAM halted in the road and faced his brother. "Then you never took that money? It was a lie, was it ?" he asked. " Of course 'twas a lie ! Did you think one of father's boys would steal? I knew nothing about it till I got your letter," replied Austin, his face quivering with excitement. Abram drew a long breath, and straightened him- self, as though a burden had been lifted. "All right! now take my arm and tell me about it as we walk home." "It's a long story, Abram, but I'll tell you what I can. You see I've been on the go ever since I enlisted. And I got careless about writing, and about other things. Some of my letters were prob- ably lost — yours were, I know — and sometimes there were weeks when we couldn't hear from home. Well, you can't understand it, but it's the easiest thing in the world to learn to play cards and drink and smoke and cut up generally when the other fellows are doing it. And so I didn't like to think much about father and mother, and kept put- ting off writing, even when I might have done it. But when we got down in the Shenandoah Valley with Sheridan we got a big mail one day, and 272 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. among other things was your letter. When I read it I thought I couldn't wait to see you. But before I could write, even, we met the rebs about six miles from Winchester." " And was that where you lost your arm ? " asked Abram. " Yes ; a shell struck a tree close by, glanced, and took it off before you could say ' Jack Robinson ! ' I was badly hurt in other ways, and of course it was some time before they got me on an ambulance. They started for Harper's Ferry, but I couldn't stand it, so what should they do but leave me at a regu- lar secesh house — a big stone mansion beside the road ! Well, they took me into the attic, and laid me on some boards, and set a boy to watching me. I'd have died there, sure, but one day a lady, a friend of that family, happened to find out about me, and she sent a straw bed and four negroes to lift me on to it. Then she drove four miles for a doctor — didn't dare send any body — and when I got a lit- tle better she had me moved to her home, and took care of me till I got well." " There's one Christian woman down South, I know," said Abram, warmly. " O, there's lots of them, I dare say," continued Austin, " only the war has rather upset the ' golden rule ' part of their religion. But I'll never forget that woman; no, sir! May be I was there a month, and then I started for Washington. And now the strangest part of the whole story happened. You see I went to a hospital one day to see some of the boys I knew, and while I was wandering through one of the wards with the surgeon I heard some- RUBY'S HERO. 273 body speak my name ; and there, out in the corner, was a regular scarecrow of a fellow waving his hand for me to come. I went, and there was Charlie Williams, one of the boys that used to be in Web- ber's with me ! He got hold of me with his bony hands, and says he, ' We stole that money, Dick and I, and when Webber caught us we swore it on to you because you'd got away, and we thought he couldn't get you.' Then he went on to tell how Dick was killed in battle, and how he'd got to die, and hoped I'd forgive him, and all that. Of course I had to. I wouldn't have known what he meant if I had not received your letter. But I wanted some proof, so I wrote out what he had said, and he had just strength enough to sign it, and the nurse signed it too." " Thank the Lord ! " ejaculated Abram. " Perhaps we might as well," said Austin, soberly, " though I hadn't looked at it in that light. But of course I couldn't come home then, until I'd seen L. Webber & Co. ; so I went to Boston and just faced the old gentleman, and he forked over that thou- sand dollars with interest for two years at ten per cent. Yes, sir ! And when I told him I though the'd been driving a pretty sharp bargain, taking a thou- sand dollars, when the boys stole only a few hun- dred, he owned right up that he might have, since he never knew just how much they took! But he begged pardon and smoothed it over as well as he could, and of course there was nothing more to be done. So then I went to Uncle Austin's, and they made quite an ado over me. I'd sent him my pay at different times, and he has it invested for me, so 18 274 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. I'm not quite as badly off as that other prodigal son, though I've done enough to make my elder brother despise me, I suppose." " No," said Abram, with a smile ; " I think you've done what you could to set matters right ; but — " " I think I know what you mean. There are other things," interrupted Austin. " Yes, there are other things," said Abram, " but we wont speak of them, for it is daybreak now, and we're almost home. Father's got the kitchen fire started, and I dare say he's just ready to crawl out to the barn to see if the horses and cattle have rested well. Yes, there he comes ! Now, Austin, be a little cautious; it's a big surprise, you know." But Austin had never been famous for caution, and, swinging his cap above his head, he sprang toward the door with a " Good-morning, father !" and just then the first sunshine struck across the valley and rested upon the old farm-house. The story of Austin Steele's return spread like wild-fire, and with it went the story of Abram's sac- rifice. Gilead opened its eyes and drew in its under-lip as it remembered its " cold shoulders," hard speeches, and unjust accusations ; but if you imagine that it hastened to beg his pardon you do •not yet understand human nature. Instead it as- sumed a jovial expression and said: "Glad you've come out top o' the heap, Abram ; we always thought you would ! " This was Gilead in the abstract ; but there were a goodly number who felt more than a common inter- est, and who could appreciate something of the struggle he had passed through. These gave him so RUBY'S HERO. 275 much of admiration and sympathy as to be almost embarrassing. Hiel Saunders was among the first to rejoice, as Abram sought him immediately, eager to cancel the debt still remaining and to explain every thing to the honest fellow who had served him so faithfully. " Wal, now, " said he, leaning against the fence, his face glowing with satisfaction, " I couldn't 've planned it neater, not if I'd tried. To have Austin come back V tell the story himself, 'n' bring the money! Why, Abram, he'd ought to serve you night and day. I guess folks wont say ' coward ' no more behind your back. Brutus 'n' Caesar 'n' Gen- eral Grant warn't no braver;" and Hiel laughed and grimaced, and finally laid his " greenbacks " on a fence-post while he shook Abram 's hand. As soon as the latter was out of sight again Hiel hung up his hoe and started for the house, eager to tell the good news. Ruby had been helping Martha with the crab-apple jelly that forenoon, and to find her in the kitchen was a great satisfaction to our friend. He was in a state of exaltation, almost equal to singing psalms or prophesying. " A hero's come to light, born an' brought up amongst the Green Mountains. Brutus V Caesar 'n' General Grant aint no braver. And them that's been waggin' the head wont do so no longer, fer old soldiers themselves '11 turn out fer him. Hoo- ray ! " and Hiel caught off his old straw hat and threw it high in the air. "For pity's sake stand out o' my way," said Martha, somewhat sharply. " I b'lieve you've lost your mind." 276 THE GILEAD GUARDS. "Who is it that is such a hero, Hid?" asked Ruby, who was now rubbing apple-stains from her fingers. "It's Abram ;" and Hiel crossed his elbows on the window-sill and looked at her innocently. " You see Austin's got home ; stayed to the tavern last night V walked over early this mornin', 'n' now the whole story's come out. A man down to Boston thought as how he'd stole some money; so after he goes to war the man writes to Abram a real threaten- in' letter 'n' calls fer a thousan ' dollars. Then Abram, he gives up goin' to war, gives up — wal, sev'ral other things too numerous to mention " — with a sidelong glance at Ruby — " keeps the story 'n' disgrace all to himself, and stays to home 'n' bears the sneers o' folks that aint fit to clean his boots, 'n' just turns to 'n' raises that money, dollar by dollar. See ? Why he's bigger 'n' braver 'n any soldier we sent out from Gilead. They don't make uniforms big enough for such a man, in my opinion ; " and Hiel smote the window-sill with an emphatic fist. " Don't you dare to joggle my jelly-tumblers ! " cried Martha, and then, sinking into a chair, she returned to the subject-. " Did you ever ! And I'm glad of it. You'll bear me witness, Hiel, that I never yielded that he stayed at home because he was afraid o' gunpowder." Ruby did not speak. A sudden sensation of faintncss swept over her ; the warm kitchen, with its odor of jelly, became unbearable, and without a word of explanation she disappeared. " There, Hiel, now you've hit Ruby, and I s'pose you're happy," said Martha. RUBY'S HERO. 277 " No, I aint ; " and Hiel shook his head soberly. " I didn't know she'd feel it. Seems to me women 're queer about such things. She don't want two beaus, I sh'd hope. Where's that little lieutenant? But I see my room's better 'n my company." Hiel had cause for this suspicion, as Martha had begun to hum " The Last Rose of Summer." For the first time in her life Ruby felt that she had made a fatal mistake ; and as she locked her door and sank upon her knees by the window she looked quite wretched enough to suit the most ex- acting lover ; for the shadows had suddenly been dispelled, and to Ruby's own surprise she found that Abram was still enshrined in her heart of hearts. She also saw clearly, what she would not admit before, that she had never fully deceived her- self with the theory that she neither respected nor loved him. Respect ! She felt that this was a cold word to express the sentiment which responded to the sudden revelation of his excellence. Once con- vince a woman that a man is morally heroic, that he has suffered in silence from some high and wor- thy motive, and she is almost ready to worship him. Being created with this tendency, it will take gen- erations to uproot it. Hence the strength of this utilitarian age would better be expended in evolving the ideal man who is " morally heroic " than in eradicating this tendency. Ruby, being a sensitive, high-minded girl, was fully capable of appreciating nobility in others and giving to it her homage ; but, mingled with her love and admiration, was just now the thought of her injustice toward Abram. " What a fool I've been ! " she sobbed. " I wouldn't 278 . THE G I LEAD GUARDS. even let him explain. O, he'll never wish to see me again, I'm sure." But with every ejaculation and tear-fall Ruby grew more convinced that the love she had spurned was of the kind which " many waters cannot quench." That Abram had never changed she fully believed, but there was the barrier between them which she herself had raised, but which she dare not attempt to destroy ! At tea the subject she dreaded was the theme of conversation. Squire Fletcher had met Austin, and was delighted with the tall, soldierly fellow. " He's got to be a fine young man," said he, ap- provingly. " The fact is, Gilead is turning out some young folks who wont need to take off their hats to any body. There's Abram, now ; it aint one in a thousand who could have borne what he has these two years past. I'm glad that thing's cleared up to his credit, for he's bound to be a leading man among us. They tell me he's been writing a prize essay on farming that's making quite a stir. Per- haps he was kept from using the sword that he might use his pen. By the way, I guess you owe him an apology, don't you, sis?" Ruby turned her agitated face toward her father and meekly responded, " Yes, sir ; I do," while Mrs. Fletcher hastened to say : " You wouldn't have Ruby do any thing unlady- like, I'm sure, would you, father ? I dare say he understands it was all a mistake." " Humph ! I presume he does; but that may not make it anv easier to bear. Fact is, I never could RUBY'S HERO. 279 see any thing ' unladylike ' in saying you're sorry if you've done wrong." Ruby thanked her father with a smile for this comforting bit of logic. She was sure now that, however crossing it might be, she must take the first step toward a reconciliation. It would be an easy matter to create a labyrinth at this point through whose intricate and nearly interminable ways our young friends should wander in their search for a " sequel ; " but some- times Love walks along the line which is geo- metrically described as marking the " shortest dis- tance between two points." The weather, even, was propitious to a speedy adjustment of misunderstandings, for October held no more perfect day than was the Sabbath just after Austin's return. Ruby's dark-blue silk fitted the day admirably, as did the dainty bonnet which matched it. She dressed herself with unusual care that morning, and who shall inquire as to her motives ? It was a kind of " red-letter day " in Gilead, for more of the " Guards " were at home than had been before. Lieutenant Plumley, David Douglas, and others were " on furlough," after a stay in a Wash- ington hospital ; and John Henry Hickey was out for the first time, his thin, sallow face beaming with repressed satisfaction. There, too, was Mrs. Smith, in her deep mourning, with Homer, pale and emaci- ated still, on the seat beside her, while Byron, with a look of responsibility and care-taking which made him appear like a little old man, sat on the front seat and guided the spiritless old horse. 280 THE GILEAD GUARDS. Will any one who remembers those days ever forget how the boys looked in their uniforms — no longer new and fresh — as they returned to their country homes ? Can you not see the jaunty air with which they doffed their " soldier-caps " as they entered the plain, cool vestibule of the old church ? They were eager to see familiar faces, and the subdued greetings exchanged just outside the inner door were heartfelt. As they walked up the un- carpeted aisles they knew very well that every de- corous eye was upon them, that every loyal heart was paying homage. Austin's "empty sleeve" gave him a claim to universal attention, while the events connected with his return furnished material for much whispered conversation during the " nooning," when old ladies and children ate cookies and crackers and young men stood upon the steps quietly exchanging views, in utter subjugation to " Sunday clothes " and the hallowing influence of the day. The forenoon sermon, the Sunday-school session, and the afternoon sermon were over at last, and the people of both churches were dispersing, when Ruby returned to the gallery on some pretext, where Abram still lingered. He had been very dig- nified that day ; for, being fully aware of his vindica- tion in the eyes of the public, he unwittingly repaid some of Ruby's scorn by an unusually reserved and preoccupied manner. But, nevertheless, she re- turned and stood by the melodeon as she had stood on that other Sunday more than two years before. Did she remember? Abram wondered. " Mr. Steele — Abrarn — I am very sorry I have RUBY'S HERO. 281 misjudged you so," she said, her face turned away from him. " Miss Fletcher — Ruby — so am I ! " he replied, a little stiffly, and after a painful pause. And then, with an embarrassed laugh, a flushing face, and tear-filled eyes, Ruby turned toward him. " You know I was terribly mistaken ! " she fal- tered. The transparent frost-work in Abram's eyes im- mediately disappeared. He stepped over the back of the seat which separated them and grasped her hand, saying, almost fiercely, " Ruby, how much do you mean by that ? " " I mean that I am very sorry that I wronged you, and for all that has happened." This was not what Ruby had planned to say, but as she covered her eyes with her free hand, trying in vain to control herself, Abram seemed perfectly satisfied. Not quite, however; he had one more question to ask : " Ruby, are you engaged to that — lieutenant?" She shook her head promptly. And then, why, then the reconciliation took place, particulars of which the faithful historian has never received. Suffice it to say that as they left the old church a little later side by side, as they have walked ever since, she said : " But remember, Abram, I haven't taken back what I once said to you ; for even if you didn't go to war I have got my hero ! " " And remember, Ruby, that though I didn't go to war I have captured my rebel," returned Abram, with a contented smile. 282 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XXV. THANKSGIVING AGAIN. THE raiders never appeared in Gilead. Whether sufficient funds had been elsewhere secured to answer the purposes of the Confederacy, or whether the military bearing of frontier towns struck terror to their hearts, we cannot tell; but at any rate the unscrupulous desperadoes retreated. Then women dared once more to linger outside the garden gate at twilight, and in time forgot to set their home-made " burglar-alarms," deftly con- trived of tinware and twine, and fastened by a curi- ous mechanism to doors and windows. But al- though this " reign of terror " was over the public mind was far from a state of rest. As before stated, the presidential election was approaching, and while corn and pumpkins were ripening in quiet fields the country was in a ferment. The best and worst elements in every community were aroused. Public meetings, discussions, disputes, bonfires, and newspaperial bombs absorbed attention. Soldiers, at home and in the field, were interested and busy; for the Union army was an army of ideas, whose opinions as well as bullets were devoted to the service of their country. But at length the struggle and the suspense were over, and the nation filled its lungs to hurrah for Lincoln. By an overwhelming THANKSGIVING AGAIN. 2S3 majority, which surprised even his most sanguine friends, he was elected for a second term. There were ratification meetings, jubilees, head-lines, capi- tals — every thing that could emphasize the shout, " Old Abe is elected ! " which rang joyfully from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Loyalty to and confi- dence in government revived, and the army, with new life and courage, saw victory ahead. Is it any wonder that, with bountiful harvests to crown the year, New England could welcome its Thanksgiving day? Not that they forgot the awful shadow of war. There were too many empty chairs and too many distant graves to allow it. But they had learned the meaning of " our country " as never before. A musician sits down to a small instrument and finds it too .limited for the complicated music he would play. The highest and the lowest tones find no keys to speak through. Just so we are aware that our country town could not express the in- tensity of city life nor the bitter depths of battle- fields and hospitals ; but according to its capacity it responded truly to the varied emotions of the great conflict. Pain and patriotism were the same every- where. So, just at this period, we need not refer to statesmen and army officers to find an illustra- tion of the prevailing sentiment — although Washing- ton was overflowing with it — but turn to Joe Arm- strong's little home in the mountain district. Joe was sitting up. The parlor had been made as bright as possible, which was very bright indeed, in honor of the event. Vic had prepared and arranged quantities of brilliant autumn-leaves and scarlet 284 THE GILEAD GUARDS. " runners " when they were at their best, which glowed upon the light-papered walls and hung in festoons over the windows. In the well-polished box-stove a jovial fire snapped and sparkled. There was a warmth and snugness in the atmos- phere which soothed poor Joe like a loving hand as he sat with pillows at his back and a blanket over his shoulders, where he could watch his little wife as she bustled about in the kitchen, "getting ready for Thanksgiving," which anniversary came on the morrow. "Vic !" called Joe. In an instant she was at his side. "You say they're very sure that old Abs'e elected ? " " Yes, indeed ; the papers say that the returns 're all in, and it's all right." " O, I'd like to go back now and help finish up the war ! " he sighed. " You look like it, Joe, don't you ? I think you'd better wait till you get your bones fairly covered. Why, you couldn't whip the baby, and what would you do with a rebel ? " laughed Vic. " I know, but I'm going to begin to eat like other folks to-morrow. I've lived on spoon victuals long enough," said Joe. Vic patted his head tenderly. " So you shall. I'm going to have two of my own white-breasted chicks killed to-night, for father and the boys are coming to dinner, and you shall have the broth and a little meat and a bit of my nice bread and a tiny, tiny piece of pie ! " Joe looked admiringly at the trim figure beside THANKSGIVING AGAIN. 285 him. " Vic, I've been wanting to ask about it. Every thing is so nice and bright, and the house fixed up, and good things to eat. Do you really make the bread and stuff that smells so good when you're baking? " Vic nodded, while her face dimpled with hap- piness. " What a wonderful woman you are ! " exclaimed Joe. She placed her hand over his mouth. " Don't you say so, fcr I'm not wonderful at all. I'm just an ignoramus about most things, but I'm a little better than I used to be, Joe." Holding her hand in his own, he said : " I've been scared to ask, for fear 't wouldn't be true ; but now tell me all about it." " 'Tvvas trying to catch up to you, Joe, and it's been awful hard," she replied ; and then, half laugh- ing, half crying, she told the story of her struggle with the old habits, her trials and her triumphs. He listened with an appreciation which more than repaid for the long waiting. " My old Vic was too good for me," said Joe, humbly, "but the new one's ahead! You'd make a good soldier, Vic. Dear me ! what have I done to deserve such blessin's? I don't believe there's a man in the United States that's got more to be thankful for than I have. I'm alive, that's one! Abraham Lincoln's elected, that's two ! I've got the best wife in the world, that's three ! And the smartest baby" — as little Nellie came trotting in — - "that's four! and lots of other things too numer- ous to mention." 286 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. Vic kissed him gently on the forehead and hurried into the kitchen, where savory odors called for at- tention, and Joe leaned back and tried to sing, " Praise God, from whom all blessings flow ! " Joe's hands were still lean and yellow, his face wore shadows and lines that had no right to be there, his clothes hung upon him in absurd folds, and behind him was the memory of Andersonville ; but he was loyal to the heart's core, and, having given his strength to his country, he didn't know any better than to sing the Doxology ! And in spite of all his " blessin's " he was quite ready to go and " help finish up," had it been possible. Preparations for a family reunion at Mr. Steele's had culminated that afternoon in the arrival of Uncle Austin and Aunt Elizabeth from Boston. Esther and Mary were again at home also, after a delightful term at Hope Seminary, grateful for their brother's return, proud of his empty sleeve, but doubly grateful and proud over Abram's vindication. " How blind we were not to see that he must be all right from the beginning!" said Esther. " Ah, but he might have told us !" said Maiy. " He done right," interrupted their father, " and I shall always bless him for savin' us from the dis- grace we'd have had to feel for two long years. My son " — and he turned toward the desk — " I found a Bible text for you this mornin': ' Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.' If I had the Thanksgivin' sermon to preach to-morrow I should enlarge on it." There was a hearty laugh' over that idea, but the text was not forgotten. In the pantry, during the dish-washing session, THANKSGIVING AGAIN. 287 Esther and Mary exchanged opinions, with closed doors, as they had done so many times before, and fully decided that while they might forgive every one else who had wronged Abram they could never, never forgive Ruby Fletcher. " She's been too cold and proud," said Esther. " Too impudent, I say," added Mary. "And now we can hold our heads as high as she can, and I shall do it, too." In the midst of this unrelenting dissection of poor Ruby Abram tapped at the door, came in, and seated himself on the meal-chest as of yore. " It seems good to have you home again, girls," said he, "but we mustn't keep you here, I suppose. Now that all the money we raked together has come back again there isn't any reason why you shouldn't have part of it. I would rather have it go toward your education than in any other way. It doesn't look like ordinary money to me. But that wasn't exactly what I came in to say. We are all invited to spend to-morrow evening at Ruby's. Would you like to go ? " There was an ominous silence for a moment, and then Esther asked in a low tone, " Have you for- given her, Abram ? " He responded with a joyous laugh, "Forgiven' her ! I rather think I have. O, yes ; she was ' true blue,' but she has suffered too." " Well, Abram," said Maiy, in her impulsive way, " I've said a hundred times to-day that you're a hero; and now I think you're a saint ! " At that self-same hour Martha Thompson looked into the sitting-room at the squire's, where sat Mrs. 288 THE GILEAD GUARDS. Fletcher, Miss Hancock, and Ruby, busily complet- ing a dress. " Any body 'd know 'twas Thanksgivin' to-morrow just to look into our buttery," said she. "Come in, Martha," called Mrs. Fletcher, and " Come in " echoed the others. " Tell us what you've been doing." "Well" — and Martha, nothing loath, took a seat by the door — " I've made bread 'nd nut-cakes; pump- kin-pies an' apple-pies an' mince-pies ; raisin-cake, an' stri-ped cake an' frosted cake ; got my turkey ready for the oven an' cleaned up my kitchen. Yes, I must say I've done atol'able day's work, an' I'm real tired." " You poor, dear soul ! " said Mrs. Fletcher, " I'm afraid we put too much upon you, having Hiel's wedding here in addition to the big dinner. You couldn't have done more for him if he'd been your own brother. I suppose you'll miss him a good deal when he finally goes." A sniff of strong ammonia could not have re- vived Martha's drooping spirits more effectually. " Miss him ! " she repeated, " don't worry about my missin' that gawming* creature. I shall be able to keep things decently clean after he's out o' the way, I sh'd hope. But how he's goin' to get along with Mis' Follinsbee's cookin' I can't imagine. A man that likes good victuals 's well 's Hiel does — Its none o' my business, though." A short pause, and then with a dry laugh she continued : "What taste for a wcddin' dress ! Must seem queer to take off weeds and put on purple plaid; don't you think so, Miss Hancock?" * A word often heard in the northern New England States. THANKSGIVING AGAIN. 2S9 " O, I don't know ! Sophronia Follinsbee never has had much to spend in dress, and perhaps she's a little puzzled to know just what is suitable. But I'm glad to see her enjoy herself after eating the bitter bread of poverty all her days ; and if she wants a lemon-colored silk and a pea-green shawl I wont object, though I don't believe she will. She reminds me of one of these late-blooming asters. You think they're all dead after frost comes, and then you'll see a bright purple one, perhaps, blossom- ing out as gay as you please. Never had a chance to blossom before ; that's the reason." Martha's face softened a little, but she gave a sniff of disapproval as she continued : " It takes you to see the good there is in folks, Miss Hancock. If I die before you do I want you to promise here an' now that you'll write what's put in the paper about me." " I will, Martha," replied Miss Hancock, smil- ingly, " for you and I are standing witnesses that women can be useful and happy even if they don't get married." " We couldn't spare Martha to be married, even if she wanted us to," said Ruby. "H'm! don't worry! I'm glad enough that I'm not the one to wear that purple dress to-morrow." They laughed, and shook out the neat wedding- dress, scrutinizing and criticising their work as women will, but Martha retreated to the kitchen. " Strange folks '11 be so pleased over a weddin'," said she to herself as she groped her way to the match-safe. " There's Ruby, as chirk 's can be, tellin' in her face every minute that she's made up 19 290 THE GILEAD GUARDS. with Abram. Next thing she'll be goin' ofif. But I think it's a solemn subject ; " and Martha placed her hand over that strange organ called the heart with a half groan. If every thing did not occur on the following day just as it was planned it was not the fault of the weather. Blue sky, crisp cold air, and just snow enough for "good slippin','' as the farmers said, made up a typical Thanksgiving day. Hiel was married after the church service, and every one who witnessed the ceremony, even Mar- tha, agreed that " Mrs. Hiel " looked " remarkably pretty." And the dinners were eaten. This was only a repetition of former gastronomical feats, but no less surprising on that account. And in the evening Ruby had her young friends gathered in the big parlor, after the manner of a modern reunion. Every returned soldier who was able to leave his own fireside was present. Some were pale and weak, several were crippled, and a few others were on the eve of a return to their regiment. But for that one evening they sang the grand war songs and hymns that held memories of other days and other voices, told stories comical and pitiful, and feasted on dainties prepared by bountiful hands. And Abram once more sang with Ruby. The seemingly impossible had come to pass, and no one rejoiced in this token of " love's justice" more than Austin, who stood beside the piano, quietly observ- ant. Esther and Mary looked on also, but with limited approval, until, overborne by Ruby's sweet THANKSGIVING AGAIN. 291 humility, they silently " grounded their arms " and yielded to the inevitable. And Esther was gener- ous enough to rejoice in her brother's happiness and self-forgetful enough to try to join in the songs, even while her thoughts wandered away to a lonely grave on a southern battle-field and her heart cried out for one who could never return. 292 THE GILEAD GUARDS. CHAPTER XXVI. SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES. AS has been already stated, the re-election of Lincoln was a source of encouragement and strength all through the North. And this was in- creased by his official acts, commencing with his " Message," issued early in December. It is proba- ble that more people perused this document than had ever before attempted a similar task. Mr. Lin- coln had one rare gift : he was able to make him- self understood ; hence the " common people " found no ambiguity in his terse sentences. As an exam- ple of this quality we copy here the closing section, which hints of real independence and unselfish- ness: " As to slavery, I repeat the declaration made a year ago, and that while I remain in my present position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the Emancipation Proclamation, nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by the terms of that proclamation or by any of the acts of Congress. If the people should, by whatever mode or means, make it an executive duty to re-enslave such per- sons, another, not I, must be their instrument to perform it. In stating a single condition of peace I mean simply to say that the war will cease on S WORDS INTO PL O WSHA RES. 293 the part of the government whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it. " Abraham Lincoln." The nation set its seal to these sentiments when, the following month, slavery was abolished by law through the adoption of the famous " Thirteenth Amendment." Another omen of good was the great confidence felt in General U. S. Grant as a military leader. For more than a year, ever since the surrender of Vicksburg, in fact, he had been known all through the North as " Unconditional Surrender Grant." And the people, longing for victory and peace, built their hopes upon him. Throughout the winter a portion of the Union army was kept busy " peg- ging away " in the South, and to them it became more and more apparent that the " Confederacy " was nearly exhausted. Men and money were lack- ing. To keep their ranks filled they were obliged to conscript boys as young as fourteen and men as old as sixty — " robbing both the cradle and the grave," as General Butler said. Their resources were pitifully meager, and yet, with a courage born of desperation, they continued to fight, and men dared not say when the war would end. It was perfectly natural, then, for Abram to prepare again for enlisting and talk confidently of the " spring campaign." But the recruits with whom he in- tended to start on a day's notice were never called for. One victory followed another through the winter, and at length came the memorable April of '65. 294 THE GILEAD GUARDS. Sheridan's victory at Five Forks occurred on the first day of the month, the grand assault on Peters- burg the second, the occupation of Richmond on the third ; Sheridan routed Lee's forces on the sixth, and on the ninth Lee surrendered to Grant ! The conquest of Richmond was followed by such rejoicing as can hardly be described. The largest type and blackest ink of the Standard proclaimed " Richmond Ours ! After Nearly Four Years of Terrible Fighting the War is Virtually Over. Now 4 Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good-will toward Men ! ' " Enthusiasm ran wild, and the eager hearts in dis- tant country towns like Gilead could hardly wait for the news which came singing over the wires and then found its way more slowly to the little post- office, thronged every evening to its utmost ca- pacity. Our soldier-boys were always ready to swing their caps and hurrah, nor were they ashamed when tears of joy rolled down their cheeks as the news of final victory was fully confirmed. But one evening an unusually large crowd col- lected, drawn together by a strange rumor. Captain John Bartlett, the brave leader of the ' Guards,' long mourned as dead, was coming home! His wife, who had never given him up, and who had persistently refused to wear crape, had been living with his widowed mother for a year in a little cot- tage near Judge Plumley's. Just what news she had received was not generally known, but the crowd was willing to wait " till the stage came in " to test the rumor for itself. And at length the old SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES. 295 yellow stage, well splashed with mud from the four miles' drive, came whirling into the village. The red-faced, jolly driver wore an assuring smile as he drew his steaming horses up with even more than the usual flourish and prepared to throw the mail- bags out. Then the curtain of the stage door was lifted and a cheer from the crowd greeted the dark, worn face that smiled out upon them. It was surely he, their own young captain, but how changed ! A few of the boys who had gone out with him were there, and they clambered upon the steps and wheels to grasp his outstretched hand, asking question after question, until he said : " Bless your hearts, boys, let me see my wife and mother to-night, and then I'll talk with you a week ! " They fell back then, hurrahing again, as he was borne on to the open door and the waiting hearts of " home, sweet home." Captain Bartlett's experience proved to have been remarkable even in those eventful days. He had been taken prisoner, with many of his men, the pre- vious June, was conveyed with them to Anderson- ville, from whence he, with two others, escaped by tunneling. Recapture followed and imprisonment in a still viler " stockade." Preferring death by bullets or blood-hounds to starvation, he again suc- ceeded in escaping, and, after almost incredible suf- fering, in reaching a town in North Carolina. From that point he traveled about two hundred and sev- enty-five miles, through swamps and by-ways, over mountains and rivers, until, about the middle of March, he succeeded in reaching the Union lines in 296 THE G I LEAD GUARDS. Tennessee. During all this time the negroes were his true and trusted friends. They never denied him food, shelter, nor guidance, and never betrayed his confidence. On one occasion, when surrounded by rebel picket-lines, three women took him over a mountain at their own peril, and so brought him into a safer route. But the nation's joy over victories won during the first two weeks of that memorable April was turned into mourning when, on the night of the fourteenth, Lincoln was assassinated ! The terrible news flashed all over the land, and it was received with a wail of sorrow that must have reached heaven itself. Every thing else was forgotten for the time in the overwhelming, irrepressible sorrow. "Don't speak to me!" groaned Captain Bart- lett, as he sat with head bowed upon his folded arms; "don't speak to me! I feel as if I hadn't any right to live when such a man dies ! " And, selfish as human nature is, there was many another man who would have been willing to die that day if by so doing he could have given life to the martyred President. Cold history can convey no idea of the universal mourning of that day, for history seldom dips its pen in sentiment. In the school known as " Hope Seminary" in these pages there were three hundred pupils. Among them were young men who had enlisted from there, served their time in the army, and returned — not all, alas ! — to finish their preparation for college. When the news reached the little village where the school was located the students were scattered here and there, enjoying their Saturday holiday. SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES. 297 On a hill back of the school was a merry little party gathering fragrant trailing arbutus, first wild flower of the spring. A student suddenly ap- proached from the town, hurrying up from rock to rock in breathless haste. Coming near he gasped : " Lincoln is dead ! He was shot last night at a theater in Washington ! " " Impossible ! " cried the young men of the party, several of whom were returned soldiers. The report was confirmed, and they turned away one by one, weeping as for a near and dear friend ! No words seemed sufficient to express their feel- ings, and the entire party descended the hill in silence, bearing with them the beautiful blossoms as though for his burial. One, at least, of that group rarely inhales the fragrance of the arbutus without vividly recalling the shock of that tragic event and the sense of bereavement which followed it. But who can explain just why men, women, and children wept together over Lincoln's death? It was not simply because he was President. Beyond this was a genuine love for his unique personality, a gratitude for service conscientiously given to the nation, and a kind of adoration for the transparent soul that followed what he believed was the right. And until the nation forfeits forever its claim to the liberty for which he died that love and gratitude and adoration shall survive. But little more remains of our simple story. When, a little later, the great Union army was finally disbanded, more than a million men returned with music, with tattered flags, with honors, with universal acclaim to their homes and friends. The 298 THE GILEAD GUARDS. prophetic song, "When Johnny comes marching home again," was literally fulfilled, and " cheers and shouts " rent the air. And Gilead received its own again, but not all ! In the long, long list of " unreturning brave " were names of loyal " Guards " who had fallen on battle-fields, starved in prisons, died in hospitals. They perished that we might enjoy a nation purified of slavery. One glimpse at a few of our old friends, and we must leave them. Mr. Slocum and the tribe he represented were very unpopular after the Confederacy ceased to exist. Their policy was to come boldly over to the support of the government, or to subside into a quiet but continual growl over the " administration." Mr. Slocum joined the latter class. Gradually he lost a large portion of his ill-gotten gains, his chil- dren were reckless and unfortunate, and life became a burden. Hiel's comment upon his case may be a suitable epitaph : " A man's bad deeds 'most always ketch up to him. Sometimes they take the longest way round, 'n' sometimes they cut 'cross lots, but, which- ever way 'tis, he needn't expect to get red of 'em." As for Hicl himself, he became a prosperous cit- izen and one of the pillars of the church, and never failed to consider his wedding-day one of the most fortunate of his life. Abram and Ruby inherited the Fletcher estate, and are peculiarly happy in each other and in their children. His taste for literary work has given him limited fame, and his native town delights in his accumulating honors. SIVORDS INTO PLOWSHARES. 299 Austin became a business man in Boston, and in his present self one would hardly suspect the former youth who enlisted under age and sowed his wild oats in the army. His partner is one " John Henry," who is famous as a "Grand Army" man, with rare ability to " make a speech." Joe Armstrong never regained his former strength, and when Mr. Barstow was laid away in the village grave-yard Joe took his place. Under certain con- ditions peculiar to country towns he has retained this position a series of years, much to Vic's satis- faction, who is engaged in every good work with a zeal and persistence born of that first struggle and triumph in her younger days. David Douglas left the army broken in health, but recovered during the years spent in fitting for the ministry, in which he now finds his work. "She that was Mary Steele," as they say in Gil- ead, is his wife, and together they are helping build Christ's kingdom in the earth. And Benjie ? After a fitful flight into the great world, which always seemed so delightful to him — at a distance — Benjie returned to the farm, where he has introduced modern improvements to his heart's content. Esther is still Esther Steele. For her there was but one lover. Instead of husband and children she is identified with the grand reforms and charities of the present age. Realizing that the nation is not yet free from the thralldom of legalized sin, she is one of the stanch advocates of prohibition. She reaches a helping hand also to the colored women of the South, who are slowly struggling toward a 300 THE GILEAD- GUARDS. higher and holier plane of living ; and, not content with this, her sympathies extend to the unsaved of other lands, and her voice pleads for the mental and spiritual elevation of women every-where. But when Decoration Day comes, with its sadly signifi- cant rites, other duties are laid aside, and if it be possible she makes a pilgrimage to her native town, finds her way to the old grave-yard, and lays upon a certain grave her floral tribute. Don's mother rests there, but the simple monument which marks the spot is sacred to mother and son. THE END. 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