HIHTBTEISJ 
 
THE UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE WILMER COLLECTION 
 OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS 
 PRESENTED BY 
 RICHARD H. WILMER, JR. 
 
SL^^Mm COLLECTION 
 
^- 
 
 ■^*c 
 
 
 ^'i^*^-^'"* 
 
SIX LITTLE REBELS. 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. KATE TANNATT WOODS. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY. 
 
 FRANKIJ-V ST., COrtNKIl OF HAWT-EY. 
 
Copyright, by 
 
 D. LOTHROP & COMPANY, 
 
 1879. 
 
DEDICATED 
 
 TO 
 
 THE BLUE AND GREY, 
 
 BY THEIR FAITHFUL 
 
 FRIEND 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 540134 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 A Prelude. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 I. — In the Beginning — A Letter - - n 
 
 2. — A Terrible Night - - . _ 23 
 
 3. — More Letters and some Plans - - 32 
 
 4. — How THE Swarm settled down - - 43 
 
 5. — More Arrivals at the " Woodbox " - 56 
 
 6. — Xews from Europe - . - _ 53 
 
 7. — Miss Lucinda to the Rescue - - - 78 
 
 8. — Flitting ------ ^2 
 
 9. — Lex in Trouble - - - - - 106 
 
 10. — Gay Doings - - - - - - 119 
 
 II. — RuFus Choate and Wonderland - - 134 
 
 12. — The Peace Sisters - - - - 151 
 
 13. — A Quarrel with Dick - - - - 171 
 
 14. — Walter's Secret - - - - - 194 
 
 4 
 
A Prelude. 
 
 Evidently the brisk walk in the rain was a pleasure 
 to her, for her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright and 
 her step elastic. 
 
 She entered the yard of the jfiuiiciary Square Hospi- 
 tal and saluted the guard. Her face was doubtless 
 familiar, for she passed in like one about her business, 
 and the servant left her with the basket at the door, 
 quite like one who was accustomed to the dut}-. 
 
 Two young surgeons who were chatting in the hall, 
 came forward to assist her, in removing her rain cloak. 
 
 "Why did you venture down on such a terrible 
 day ? " asked the elder surgeon as he lifted her basket 
 from the floor. 
 
 " I promised," was the brief reply. " Since promises 
 are sacred with you," he answered, smiling, " do not 
 forget one to my wife, she hopes to see you before you 
 leave the building to-day." 
 
 " I will remember, unless some of my poor boys are 
 worse." 
 
 Together they walk down the long hall, he bearing 
 her basket, which he does not give her until they reach 
 the door of a small room ; the little " voluntary " enters 
 and seems perfectly at home. 
 
 Two women are there before her, one lying on the 
 bed, the other arranging her false front, which by some 
 means has tilted on one side bringing the parting over 
 her left eye. 
 
 The little nurse says a few pleasant words to them 
 which they respond to, but it is plain to see that they 
 regard it as a highly improper place for " such a chit of 
 a girl." 
 
A Prelude. 
 
 The little *'chit " did not mind. 
 
 Long before, Miss Dix, excellent soul, had found, 
 that all skill, wisdom, and tact, were not confined, to 
 long, lank, disagreeable but worthy old women with false 
 hair and teeth ; if she had not, the " boys " had, and 
 the surgeons also. The little nurse leaves these some- 
 what grim companions and goes out into the ward ; she 
 nods on the right, she smiles on the left, and glad eager 
 faces greet her ; but under the welcome her quick eye 
 detects trouble ; what it is, she hardly knows, but she 
 is determined to find out. Walking up to a bed in the 
 end of the room, she asks a man of about fort)' who 
 seems delighted to see her : 
 
 " Is there anvthinsr wrono: 1 " 
 
 " Yes," he replies, ''that rebel out yonder, has put us 
 most crazy ; wish you could have him put somewhere 
 else, the doctors would, if you ask them." 
 
 The patients are directing uneasy glances toward a 
 bed near the door. 
 
 " We shall never get well," said a one legged soldier, 
 " if that Johnnie keeps on." The " Johnnie " has been 
 there three days now and every one has tried to be 
 kind to him, all but the young voluntary nurse, she has 
 looked that way many times but has been warned not 
 to approach him he is so furious and stubborn. 
 
 " Poor fellow," she says, " he is all alone here, and 
 the fever makes him rave about his troubles, don't 
 mind him." She whispers a few words to a stew- 
 ard, who declares " it is no earthly use," but the little 
 nurse thinks otherwise, she thinks of her own darling 
 brother, perhaps in a Southern prison, and she walks 
 
A Prelude. 
 
 tirmly down the row and approaches his cot. He will 
 not answer one question, but stares at the wall ; she is 
 half afraid to touch him, but her heart is full of sorrow, 
 and she still thinks of her own " Boston Boy." She 
 takes from her basket a bottle of Bay water and bathes 
 his head ; he scowls but does not speak. 
 
 The strong, proud, man, lying so helpless among 
 strangers, and those whom he calls enemies, is more to 
 her now because he needs help so much more than her 
 old patients, w^io are watching her closely. She hesi- 
 tates, ponders, and breathes quickly ; then, with a half- 
 frightened movement she bends lower, and lower, over 
 the sick man, still bathing his burning temples. Her 
 knees just touch the floor, her face is near his jDillow, 
 and there, with her hand on his head, she breathes in 
 his ear a little prayer which the waiting angels carry up 
 to heaven's gate, and the sick man listens to, as he 
 never listened before. 
 
 Sick, wounded, sore-distressed, he may be, but he is 
 no longer alo7ie. 
 
 The little nurse rises from her position ; so gently 
 does she do this, that the man in the next cot won- 
 ders if she knelt at all. The "Johnnie's" eyes are 
 closed, and the nurse moves away. All that morning 
 he is quiet, trying perhaps, to catch her words, as she 
 reads in a low tone to two men in the upper row- ; no 
 .more idle boasting, no more desire for revenge, escapes 
 him. When the dinner hour comes, he no longer re- 
 fuses food, for the little nurse sits by, and feeds him. 
 She takes from her basket an orange, and with her own 
 
A Prelude. 
 
 fruit knife cuts it in fanciful shapes, telling him how 
 "the girls used to do so at school." 
 
 He is amused, and says he has two sisters, no mother, 
 none for years, but an old father. They become fast 
 friends, and day after day as he grows more gentle, the 
 men say " Little Nursey has converted him," and one 
 and another, send him portions of their gifts, with 
 kindly messages. 
 
 He has hours when he talks of his South Carolina 
 home, and tells his little friend, when he gets well and 
 goes back, he will tell them how kind the Yankees were 
 to him, and she, his little nurse, shall come there, and 
 have the best the old state can give, and know his dear 
 sisters. 
 
 A few days go by, and the little nurse is herself a 
 patient in the large house. When at last she goes back, 
 the surgeon shows her a white sheet drawn over the 
 dark curly head and tells her he left her a message, al- 
 though it was sudden at last. 
 
 The little nurse neither sees, nor hears, she is think- 
 ing of those sisters, of the desolate home, and as she 
 stoops down and kisses the handsome, thin face and her 
 tears fall on the face of the dead, one of the old women 
 passes her a pair of scissors, and she takes from the 
 well shaped head one curling lock. 
 
 "ZT/i' way, was not our way,"' she says, ^^ but he was 
 true to his sense of right. So long ago ; so long, that the 
 number of the regiment is lost, but safe in an old w^orn 
 pocket-book, there lies a lock of dark hair, and by its 
 side, a light one, and on the time-worn yellow paper is 
 written : " The Blue and Gref. 
 
SIX LITTLE REBELS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 IN THE BEGINNING A LETTER. 
 
 APA and I were in the librarv 
 ^ when Axy brought up the letter. 
 Papa read it, and passed it over 
 to me. Now dates and I had a 
 falHng out long ago or rather, 
 we never fell in, but I distinctly 
 remember without looking at 
 the letter at all, that it was written in Jan- 
 uary, 1 86 1, and everybody knows Fort Sum- 
 ter was bombarded in April following. 
 
12 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 I am perfectly honest in saying I was 
 cross when the letter came, for papa was 
 explaining to me a passage in the XIV. Book 
 of the Iliad, and his description was so fine 
 I could not be quite patient when Axy 
 showed her turbaned head. Who ever heard 
 of a girl or boy of fourteen who was very 
 patient } 
 
 Well papa read it as I said and handed it 
 across the table to me saying: 
 
 " You had better read it aloud daughter, it 
 is from poor Gresham." 
 
 " Poor Gresham," as papa called him, I 
 remembered as a tall, elegant looking man, 
 who patted me on the head when I was quite 
 small, and praised my long curls. I knew 
 he was a far away cousin of papa's, that he 
 lived in Richmond, was very wealthy, and 
 never failed to send long, kind letters every 
 month to his " Cousin '' and old classmate. 
 
 He was papa's friend, consequently, I liked 
 him in a distant fashion, but I never could 
 quite understand, why in speaking of him 
 
/;/ the Beginning — A Letter. 13 
 
 papa generally said " poor Gresham,"or "' poor, 
 dear old fellow," until I read that letter. It 
 
 y---^-^ 
 i:^,^^:: 
 
 ■-."%■■ 
 
 0^. 
 
 was dated at Richmond, and read as follows: 
 
 " My dear Warrington : I have a great 
 favor to ask of you, which I could not ask at 
 the hands of any other man. 
 
14 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " You know very well that my sister Alice, 
 has managed mv household ever since the 
 death of my beloved wife. We seem to be 
 especially afflicted since that terrible loss ; 
 Allie's husband, whom you remember — 
 Judge Neville of the Nevilles formerly from 
 Lynchburg — has been suddenly stricken 
 with paralysis while performing his duties in 
 the court-room; the physicians here tell us 
 that his life depends on his immediate re- 
 moval from home, and all cares of office. 
 They desire us to go with him to Europe. 
 After many discussions and plans, we can 
 only decide that it is utterly impossible for 
 her to go alone, and I must accompany her; 
 under such circumstances, what can be done 
 with our children ? To leave them here, 
 with servants is impossible; my three boys, 
 with Allie's two, are a host in themselves, 
 and require careful handling. We did think 
 of placing them in good boarding-schools, 
 but I dread such a step, as it robs them of 
 all a boy needs most in his growing-up-home 
 
In ilie Beginning — A Letter. i^ 
 
 influence, and the honest truth is, dear War- 
 rington, I am extremely anxious about the 
 future of our country; trouble is impending, 
 is even now here, how serious it will be none 
 can foretell. I pray God as a lover of my 
 country that the madness of a few politicians 
 may not plunge us into a fratricidal war. 
 
 " In this unsettled condition of affairs, may 
 I send these lads to you, not for your per- 
 sonal care, but, with a strong desire that you 
 will place them in good schools, where you 
 can have a or^neral oversisfht of them ? 
 
 " Family schools I prefer, for our poor lads 
 are likely to suffer the loss of all home re- 
 straints for several months; I trust it may 
 not be longer. 
 
 " I know you are devoted to your only child, 
 and I feel the magnitude of my request, I 
 only ask that you will act as their guardian 
 until my return, and in order that all finan- 
 cial matters may be arranged with as little 
 trouble as possible to you, I will, if you 
 consent, place in the Bank of North America 
 
1 6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 in New York, a liberal allowance for all 
 expenses for one year. Let me hear at once 
 for we must sail as early as next week with 
 our invalid. Arnold, my confidential clerk 
 wdll remain in charge of my affairs in Rich- 
 mond, and will also act as escort to the lads 
 if you consent. 
 
 " Do not hesitate to refuse if your health is 
 not better than when I saw you last, I can- 
 not afford to add one pang to your life of 
 suffering. 
 
 " Your cousin and friend, 
 " Charles Warrington Gresham." 
 
 That was the letter. When I had finished 
 reading it, I saw papa's eyes were moist and I 
 knew very well that " cousin Gresham's " boys 
 were safe in his hands. 
 
 " It all depends on you little woman," said 
 papa. " Shall we take them in and do our 
 best for them, in our ' Woodbox ' or send a 
 cold letter of refusal to poor Gresham?" 
 
/;/ ilic Beo^inning — A Letter. ij 
 
 " Why, I have nothing to say about it, you 
 dear old pa, but I should like to know where 
 we could put five boys In our little cottage ?" 
 I replied. 
 
 Years before I had heard papa say that his 
 young bride had playfully christened the 
 cottage on the Georgetown Heights as " The 
 Woodbox " and ever since the family friends 
 had known it by that name. 
 
 I am afraid that selfishness was one of my 
 faults in those days, but you must remember 
 that I was spoiled by a very indulgent father, 
 and a good old nurse ; and for long years, the 
 one who would have seen all shortcomings 
 and corrected them, had been sleeping In 
 that loveliest of all cemeteries our own " Oak- 
 wood." 
 
 It seemed a dreadful thinor to have the 
 
 o 
 
 peace and quiet of our pleasant home broken 
 up. Axy had been our only housekeeper for 
 two years, and I was trying hard to do things 
 as "mamma used to." If I arransfed a nose« 
 
1 8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 gay or made a loaf of cake which papa said 
 reminded him of my sainted mother I was a 
 proud, happy girl. 
 
 All my studies went on under papa's eyes 
 except music, and drawing, and many happy 
 hours we spent together in the cosy study, 
 which opened from our front hall. 
 
 " Well, daughter," said papa, as I twisted 
 the end of a curl over one finger, and 
 pouted a little, " would you be willing to 
 keep them with us until we can find a home 
 for them ? I am to do with them precisely 
 as I would with my own, you know, but I 
 cannot take any steps without the advice of 
 my little housekeeper!'' 
 
 " But, papa, I do hate boys ! " 
 
 " Hate boys, Dolly ! ' 
 
 "Yes, I do, pa, and I can't help it; they 
 tag and tease girls, and make fun of old 
 ladies and drunken men, and drown kittens, 
 and keep up such a noise, they are horrid, 
 "]Vi%'i horrid^ r 
 
 Papa smiled a little, and said : 
 
/;/ the Begin iinig — A Letter ig 
 
 *' Come here, little critic, and let us talk 
 about these horrid creatures." 
 
 When we had anything very particular to 
 talk about, papa always called me to m}' 
 favorite seat on the broad arm of his chair, 
 and there, with my arm about his neck, and 
 his hand in mine, we settled all our little 
 bothers — my bothers — not papa's. 
 
 " Now, Dolly," said he, " tell me how you 
 know so much about boys ? " 
 
 " Why, at the academy, papa. Didn't I 
 go there two whole terms, and didn't I see 
 with my great homely eyes the big boys 
 teaze and torment the little ones } I used 
 to grow so angry, I could hardly keep from 
 speaking to them and telling them how 
 mean it w^as, and I don't think I ever could 
 like a boy, papa, unless he was a grown-up, 
 dear big boy, like you." 
 
 " Poor little woman," he said, caressing 
 my hand, " it might have been quite different 
 with mamma and Charlie here," 
 
 " I never knew papa to mention my little 
 
20 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 dead brother but once before, and his death 
 had been such a bitter grief to him, I did 
 not wonder. Aunt Axy had told me all 
 about it, and the memory of him should have 
 softened my heart, but it did not ; I could 
 only think of the noise and misery of five 
 boys in one home. 
 
 " Poor motherless lads," said papa, " my 
 heart aches for them," and then I began to 
 grow less wicked, for that word " mother- 
 less" means so much to me it always softens 
 and subdues me. 
 
 " Now, papa Warrington," I said, taking 
 his handsome face between my hands, and 
 half-sliding from my perch. '' You call me 
 your little housekeeper, do you ? " 
 
 " Yes, daughter, and you improve every 
 day." ' ^ 
 
 " Well, if I am housekeeper, why don't you 
 say : ' I have guests coming, and you must 
 make ready for them.' If you want the boys 
 here they shall come here, you dear, hen- 
 pecked papa." 
 
/;/ I he Beginning — A Letter. 21 
 
 And then papa kissed me and declared " I 
 was a bundle of contradictions, with a good 
 heart in the centre, and his best earthly com- 
 fort." After that, I think I should not have 
 complained if cousin Gresham's boys had 
 walked over me. 
 
 "You see, daughter," said papa, talking 
 with me as if I were a grown-up young lady, 
 instead of a silly school-girl ; " Gresham is 
 one of ten thousand, the world does not 
 know him — he is one of those grand, re- 
 served characters which are sure to be mis- 
 understood ; people call him cold, but that 
 man has a heart like a woman's. Alice and 
 he have never been separated since they 
 were left orphans, until her marriage, and 
 even then, their homes were close together. 
 It might brighten me up a little to have 
 more young people about. I sometimes 
 think a poor cripple like me, must be a dull 
 companion for a bright young girl." 
 
 That letter seemed to make papa talka- 
 tive. His helpless limbs had never once 
 
22 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 been mentioned since the doctors had ceased 
 to call on him professionally, and I some- 
 times wondered at it when his own patients 
 came in and told long stories of their suf- 
 ferings. Some of his old families would not 
 give him up, although he could not go to 
 them, and one of the duties which 1 had to 
 perform was to receive the patients during 
 his office hours. I suppose I may as well 
 tell you now how it all happened, and why 
 the once gay and active Dr. Warrington sat 
 in a huge arm-chair with his '^ little woman " 
 curled up by his side. The sorrow came two 
 years before the boys did, and, so after all, 
 it is a part of the beginning. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 A TERRIBLE NIGHT. 
 
 l\^^ was very dark and stormy, and papa 
 ^^(i had just said he hoped no one would 
 call him out again for his head was aching, 
 when the office bell rang, and Gene, the boy, 
 came in to tell us that papa was wanted over 
 the river, to attend the child of a poor 
 colored woman who had once lived in our 
 family. I was in papa's lap, when the mes- 
 senger came, and was trying to brush off 
 the ache, by passing my hands gently over 
 his forehead and temples. 
 
2^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Don't go pa," I said, let Susan get some 
 one nearer, it is not best to kill yourself for 
 charity." 
 
 " Hush little pet," said he as he put me 
 down and took his heavy coat from Gene ; " if 
 it were my little girl instead of poor old 
 Susan's, would I like to have Dr. Howard 
 refuse to come ? " So he went out into the 
 darkness, and I could not see him, although 
 I put my hands on either side of my face 
 and tried to. I heard him say, " be still old 
 fellow," to his horse, and then the carriage 
 rattled down the hill, and I sat down to study 
 my latin for I went to the academy then, 
 and the girls were trying to surpass the boys, 
 as they had done for several terms. 
 
 Susan's child was very ill, and ten o'clock 
 came without papa. Our housekeeper told 
 me I must go to bed or my eyes would be 
 heavy in the morning, so I went, Aunt Axy 
 going with me just as she had done ever 
 since I was born, to see that I was properly 
 tucked in. The wind blew, and the shutters 
 
A Tcjnnble Night. 2§ 
 
 rattled, so I could not sleep for a long time, 
 and when I did, the clock struck four, and I 
 heard a confused sound of moving to and 
 fro, in the lower rooms and supposed papa 
 had just returned and Gene was locking up 
 after putting Dixie in his stall. 
 
 I listened a moment. Could that be Dr. 
 Howard's voice ? 
 
 It sounded like it. What could he be 
 doing in our house at that hour.^^ Aunt Lu- 
 cinda was up, I could hear her speaking as if 
 giving directions in a suppressed tone. What 
 could it mean ? Very likely papa had 
 brought in some poor soul to be cared for, 
 he often did that; I would put on my slip- 
 pers and run down. I did so. Without 
 other covering than a little plaid shawl over 
 my night dress, I ran over the stairs to the 
 library. No one seemed to hear me, no one 
 thouo^ht of me, until I was in the room. 
 There was no stranger; but my own, darling, 
 my precious papa, was lying upon a mattress, 
 pale, and still. With one wild cry I threw 
 
26 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 myself beside him, and begged him to speak 
 to me, but the lips were past speech. Dr. 
 Howard and two other physicians were 
 doing something to his feet, and I was in the 
 way. I remember they begged me to be 
 calm, told me he would soon be all right, and 
 urged my going back to bed. 
 
 What could they think of me? Back to 
 bed, with my whole world wrecked before 
 me ? To sleep, with him dead or dying 1 
 How cruel they seemed. The women knew 
 better. 
 
 " I didn't mean she should know until 
 morning said the housekeeper; but Aunt 
 Axy, put her arms about me and whispered: 
 
 " You can't stay away now honey, he*s 
 more yours than the rest, but come now, and 
 get dressed, and the doctors will mend him 
 all up while we get his bed ready." 
 
 Something to do was a mercy. My heart 
 could only flutter, not beat, and an iron hand 
 seemed to bind my forehead, but I went 
 with Aunt Axy, and while I hurried on my 
 
A Terrible Nicr/it. 
 
 27 
 
 clothing with trembling fingers she told me 
 all they knew — all the watchman had said, 
 who saw it without being near enough to 
 help. 
 
28 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 plunged frantically about, and in his fright 
 ran against a piece of rotten wooden railing 
 which gave way, and horse, carriage and rider 
 fell down to the cruel rocks below. They 
 found him at last with his feet fairly tied up 
 with an iron which had spanned the front 
 part of his buggy. They had lifted him 
 out, and brought him home, but he had 
 not spoken, although he had groaned several 
 times. 
 
 " It isn't death, honey, bress de Lord for 
 dat, now, an' let me fasten de buttons 
 you're gettin' all wrong." 
 
 '' I am going down, now," I said, feeling 
 so cold and still, I seemed to be having a 
 dreadful dream. '* They will not send me 
 away, now, but we will put a bed for him in 
 the sewino^-room off of the librarv where he 
 can see things when he is — " I stopped 
 there ; his getting better seemed so hopeless. 
 When I went back, they were still at work 
 on the poor mangled feet, but I passed by 
 and spoke to Aunt Lucinda. 
 
A Terrible Night 2g 
 
 " Don't you think papa's bed had better 
 be brought down and put here in the sewing- 
 room ? " I said. " It will be better for him." 
 
 " You are right, Dolly," said Dr. Howard, 
 who was one of papa's dearest friends, '' it 
 was a wise thought, my dear, and you may 
 g^et it ready, yourself." 
 
 Doing something, is such a comfort ; papa 
 always said so. 
 
 " If things go wrong, little woman, work ; 
 if friends turn false, work ; if trouble comes, 
 work ; if slander assails you, stop your ears, 
 and work." 
 
 He had uttered those words only two days 
 before, and now the trouble was here. Aunt 
 Lucinda staid below to wait upon the doc- 
 tors, but Aunt Axy and I went up and down, 
 and soon had papa's own bed ready in the 
 little room. I remember I covered my eyes 
 when they moved him, it was too cruel to 
 see my noble, handsome father, so crushed 
 and helpless, but when at last he was laid 
 in his bed, with cushions to raise the cloth- 
 
JO Six Little Rebels, 
 
 ing from his limbs, Dr. Howard gave me a 
 bottle of colore, and asked me to bathe his 
 temples. I tried to thank him, but the words 
 would not come, and I sat down to press the 
 dear head I had been trying to soothe only 
 a few hours before. 
 
 We watched him for weeks and weeks. 
 The first words which passed his lips were 
 " dear little woman." 
 
 I hope I shall never again see such fearful 
 suffering, and I know I shall never witness 
 such fortitude, and Christian sweetness. I 
 gave up the academy, for no one could ask 
 me to study, with my only relative so much 
 in need of my ser\dces. My greatest pleas- 
 ure was in waiting on him all day, and dream- 
 ins of him all nis^ht, while the nurse was in 
 charge. 
 
 Before that night, I had been a gay, happy 
 girl ; after it, I felt as old as Aunt Axy. 
 One thing I resolved upon, and that was to 
 devote my life to his care, let it cost what 
 it might of personal comfort. 
 
A Terrible Night Ji 
 
 Wicked as I was at heart about the com- 
 ing of the strange boys, I was ashamed of 
 it the moment he mentioned his crippled 
 condition and I said, as cheerily as I could : 
 
 " Now, papa Warrington, those boys are 
 coming here. I won't promise to love them, 
 but I will be good to them, and just as soon 
 as you decide what you will write to cousin 
 Gresham, we will discuss ways and means. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 MORE LETTERS AND SOME PLANS. 
 
 HAT very evening, after our talk, papa 
 wrote a long, kind letter to Colonel 
 Gresham, and requested him to send one of 
 his brightest negro boys to wait upon the 
 lads, otherwise he feared they would not be 
 comfortable. 
 
 A prompt answer came, and I confess I 
 liked Col. Gresham a little better after read- 
 ing it. Here it is : 
 
 " God bless you, my dear doctor. You have 
 made Alice and myself see one bit of blue 
 32 
 
More Letters and Some Plans. jj 
 
 sky. It seems too hard not to come and 
 thank you in person, but it is utterly impos- 
 sible for me to leave Allie even for a day. 
 Arnold will go with the boys, and you must 
 not hesitate to draw on me for any amount. 
 I leave all with you, but do not overburden 
 yourself, or let our madcaps tease your 
 daughter. Just so soon as I can leave my 
 sister in safety, I shall return and thank you ; 
 if it will ever be possible to do so, for your 
 brotherly kindness. 
 
 " Alice wants me to write you some hints 
 concerning our five, but I wall leave you to 
 read their characters for yourself. They are 
 good boys, as the world goes, and I trust 
 they will never forget that they are gentle- 
 men. I have arranged to send Alexis — a 
 bright boy who has been a kind of foster- 
 brother, although older, of our little Bertie, 
 and is devoted to him. Alice says he re- 
 quires watching, but he is so bright we have 
 spoiled him. 
 
 " I do hope you can send me good reports. 
 
34 ^^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 and can find, as you suggest, the kind of 
 school you like, for the eldest boys. 
 
 " Again and again, God bless you, for all 
 your kindness to your grateful 
 " Friend and cousin, 
 
 " Gresham." 
 
 My letter to Aunt Lucinda comes next 
 in order, after I have told you that she was 
 no aunt at all, but a good Yankee woman 
 who had nursed my mother, and was papa's 
 real housekeeper at the time of the terrible 
 accident. She owned a nice little house near 
 the sea, in Massachusetts, and her cat, chick- 
 ens and relatives were very dear to her, but 
 " duty could never be shirked," she said, and 
 whenever any trouble came to us, the good 
 soul found it a duty to come and look after 
 us. We had done very well with Aunt Axy 
 and Eugene, since papa had been able to be 
 moved about in his chair, and the knowledge 
 of housekeeping I had acquired, was a mat- 
 ter of pride to us all, but a " ^irl of fourteen, 
 
More Letters and Some Plans. jj 
 
 could never be expected to manage five 
 boys, and a wide-av/ake little darkey," papa 
 said ; so down I sat, and wrote to Aunt 
 Lucinda. 
 
 " I told her just how the case stood ; that I 
 hated boys ; that papa s heart was set on 
 having them come, and I really could not 
 live through it, unless she came to help me. 
 In a few days, the following reply came : 
 
 "West Beach, Mass. 
 
 " Dear Miss Dolly : I am sorry to hear 
 that you hate boys. It is against Scripture 
 I have no special hankering after them, my- 
 self, but the boys, as a general thing, are just 
 as God made them. 
 
 " If an old woman like me can do you any 
 good, why, of course, I will come, but I can't 
 see it clear to come before the first of Feb- 
 ruary. Josiah's second wife — he's my only 
 brother, you know — has a young child ; old 
 Mis' Tashy, one of my neighbors, is kind of 
 poorly, as she has lost her son out west ; 
 
jd Six Little Rebels, 
 
 and I have promised to tend to the fixing up 
 of Squire Budd's summer residence. Just 
 as soon as I can, I will lock up, and leave 
 the key with Josiah. 
 
 " I am very much obliged to you for men- 
 tioning Gen. Scott, for, as things look now, 
 Josiah's children would maul him to death, > 
 if I left him here. He isn't any trouble to 
 speak of, and knows enough to be some- 
 thing better than a cat, so I'll just tuck him 
 into my willow basket, and bring him along. 
 
 " My dutiful remembrance to your father. 
 " Yours, 
 
 " LuciNDA Dodge. 
 
 " P. S. — I do hope those boys don't all 
 wear store stockings. L. D." 
 
 Papa and I could net help smiling over 
 the store stockings, but we appreciated the 
 kindness of Aunt Lucinda. 
 
 I hardly knew what to do first. Aunt Axy 
 was ready and willing, but always came to 
 me for orders. 
 
More Letters and Some Plans. 37 
 
 Ever since I could think, I had felt " the 
 mother-went about the world," but I never felt 
 it more than while getting our " Woodbox " 
 ready for so many guests. Since the acci- 
 dent, papa had occupied the sewing-room, 
 it was better for all of us, and he could be 
 rolled in and out to the office in the wing. 
 Nearly everything in the library and his 
 room had been presented to him since his 
 injuries by his grateful patients. The patent 
 chair, in which he spent so many hours 
 was the s:ift of his Bible-class; his wonderful 
 footstool was Dr. Howard's own invention 
 and everything about him spoke of the ten- 
 derness and respect with which he was 
 regarded. 
 
 He should not be disturbed for any boys 
 in creation, that I was determined on, but 
 what could I do with six boys ? 
 
 Day after day Axy and I had rolled the 
 chair with our dear patient, in and out from 
 the sleeping-room to the library, and then 
 to the dinino^-room across the hall. Practice 
 
j8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 had taught us to do it with such skill, he 
 declared himself a king, and laughingly 
 said we ought to try it once just to see how 
 nice it was. 
 
 Now, all would be changed ; no more 
 quiet chats with my hand in his ; no more 
 cosy readings ; no more music after tea. 
 Six horrid boys, and one of them almost a 
 baby. However, I hid these things in my 
 heart, and went about making papa merry 
 with my nonsense. 
 
 At first, I had thought seriously of run- 
 ning over to Mrs. Howard's and asking her 
 to help me plan a little, but I concluded not 
 to, for she could not tell me any more about 
 the capacity of the " Woodbox " than I knew 
 already, and what was the use of being a 
 girl of fourteen, if I had to ask some one 
 to help me over every difficult place. Papa 
 was always preaching self-reliance. Yes, I 
 would go to work, and do it all alone. If 
 I blundered, papa would help me out. 
 
 It would never do in the world to have 
 
More Letters and Some Plans. jp 
 
 any boys in the room directly over papa's, 
 so the first thing to be done was to give 
 up my precious " drab and blue " room, and 
 take the small one over the sewing-room. 
 The carpet of robin's-egg blue and quaker- 
 drab which I loved so well must be trampled 
 on by boy's feet ; there was no use in chang- 
 ing it, for it would not fit elsewhere, so I 
 must content myself with the dingy one 
 already down. The youngest boy, papa said, 
 could not be more than five vears old, and 
 I must take him under my protecting care, 
 so Axy and I hunted up in the attic until 
 we found a large crib which I had slept in 
 when I was about the age of the little 
 stranger, and this we put up by the side of 
 my own bed. 
 
 Aunt Axy scolded and " sputtered " about 
 it. " 'Deed Miss Dolly," said she, " you is 
 g'wine to begin all wrong ; it will never do 
 for you to be botherin' with a chile, nights ; 
 why, honey, you is nothin' but a chile you 
 ownself.' 
 
40 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Now, Aunt Axy, please don't croak. I 
 will take care of the boy, you will take care 
 of me, and Miss Lucinda will look after all 
 of us." So we settled it. 
 
 There was a good bit of fun in the hard 
 work, after all. Once, when I ran down to 
 pat up papa's cushions, I found he was 
 troubled about the work, and my getting 
 tired, and a dozen other things, because he 
 could not get up and do the lion s share, as 
 he used to do. 
 
 " It would be a great relief to me, daugh- 
 ter, if you would send Gene out for Jim 
 Crow. You are not equal to moving furni- 
 ture," papa said, as I stopped on my way 
 up-stairs with my arms full. 
 
 He was really nervous about it, so I sent 
 Gene away for the man, although I dreaded 
 to see him return. Jim Crow was a protege 
 of papa's, a burly man of color, six feet in 
 his stockings, and as lazy as he was long. 
 He had the grace to respect papa, and often 
 came to him with some pitiful tale of woe 
 
More Letters and Some Plans. ^/ 
 
 about himself. No one believed him but 
 papa, and no one could, who watched him 
 lounging about the streets. But Jim came, 
 and after all, he was useful. 
 
 It was just four days of hard work to 
 make ready for our goths and vandals. The 
 bath-room was supplied with new, strong 
 towels, rugs were put down before beds and 
 bureaus, and a closet was turned into a 
 sleeping apartment for Alexis. 
 
 The skin was off my fingers in several 
 places ; my shoulders were lame from reach- 
 ing up, and my new room made me feel as 
 if I had gone out on a visit and wanted to 
 get home. But papa was so pleased at my 
 success, and a complete description of things 
 which he could not see, that I was after 
 all, quite happy. 
 
 As I am telling a true story, and don't 
 care to make people think I was very sweet 
 and lovely about it, when I was not, I will 
 confess that I sighed very often when I 
 looked into my own room, and on the 
 
42 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 evening of the boys' arrival, I heard the 
 carriage stop at the door with a feeling of 
 dread. As Axy opened it, I ran back for 
 one more hug and kiss from papa, and, like 
 a rebellious girl, said : 
 
 " That's a good-bye to all good times, 
 papa." 
 
 I had only time to see a sad look on papa's 
 face, before Axy called " Miss Dolly," and 
 I ran out, hearing that sweet, patient man, 
 say: 
 
 " Give them a cordial greeting for my 
 sake, little woman." 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HOW THE SWARM SETTLED DOWN. 
 
 HE first person I saw was a 
 small, slender young man who 
 said : " This is Miss Warring- 
 ton, I presume," and I ans- 
 wered, laughingly; "Yes, and 
 you are Mr. Arnold, I suppose, 
 
 and have brought us a coach-load of cousins. 
 
 Come in, and welcome." 
 
 On the doorstep was the oddest-looking 
 
 little darkey I ever saw in my life. His body 
 
 43 
 
44 ^i^ Little Rebels, 
 
 was small, and his face old, but mischief 
 was wTitten all over it. 
 
 I had been very anxious to see the " baby " 
 who was to share my room, and I was grati- 
 fied, for Mr. Arnold put him into Aunt 
 Axy's arms fast asleep. 
 
 " He is very tired," he said. 
 
 " He is not very strong at any time," said 
 the tallest boy, and then they w^ere show^n 
 into the library to meet papa. 
 
 "Reggie, my boy, how are you; should 
 have known you for a Gresham, anywhere," 
 said papa, shaking hands w^ith the tall boy 
 who had spoken first. " And this is Edward, 
 I presume." 
 
 ''Walter and Charlie Neville," said Mr. 
 Arnold, bringing up the other boys, as 
 unlike as possible for twins. 
 
 " Glad to see you all, my lads ; you are 
 very welcome to our little ' Woodbox,' but 
 I mean to tell you a secret at once. Your 
 cousin Dolly will be very kind to you all, 
 but she hates boys." 
 
How the Swarm Settled Down. ^5 
 
 It was dreadful in papa, and I pretended 
 not to hear, for I was busy getting the sleep- 
 ing boy in a comfortable position on the 
 sofa. Just then, papa espied Alexis, who 
 
 was standing in the doorway, staring about 
 the room. 
 
 " Well, my boy, we expect you to take 
 good care of the little fellow over yonder. 
 
 " Arnold, you must be tired ; go up to your 
 room when you please, and remember we do 
 not put ceremony before comfort. 
 
 " Dolly, dear, show your cousins their 
 rooms. I have a young housekeeper, Ar- 
 
/^6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 nold, just now, but she surpasses many old 
 ones I have seen." 
 
 Papa was in such good spirits, I could not 
 help looking at him, and saying softly to 
 myself : 
 
 " Periiaps this is the very thing he needs." 
 
 Axy took " Lex," as the boys called him, 
 to the kitchen, while I went up-stairs with 
 Mr. Arnold and the four boys, leaving the 
 little fellow still sound asleep on the lounge. 
 
 While they were dressing, or brushing up, 
 I ran down to look after the late dinner we 
 had prepared, after papa received a telegram 
 from Mr. Arnold. My part of it was small 
 enough, only the dessert and arranging the 
 table, but Aunt Axy always depended on me 
 a little, and so did papa. 
 
 In the kitchen I found Lex, rubbing his 
 face until it shone. 
 
 " So your name is Lex 1 " I said; as he 
 stared at me with his great eyes. 
 
 " No, miss, it's Lex^-, most days ; they 
 calls me Lex, or Bub, though." 
 
How the Swarm Settled Down. 4J 
 
 " Well, Lexis, I hope you will be a good 
 boy, and mind Aunt Axy. She has taken 
 care of me, ever since I was a baby." 
 
 " Yes, miss." 
 
 " And Lexis you will wait on the table, 
 papa says, for you are young and spry.'' 
 
 " Yes, miss," 
 
 The little fellow looked so droll, as he 
 pulled his wool by way of making a bow 
 that I could not help laughing, although I 
 had all my life seen colored childi-en about 
 me. When I went back to the library 
 Bertie had just opened his eyes and fastened 
 them on papa, who said at once : 
 
 '' Well, laddie, come and shake hands ; if 
 you like my looks, half as well as I like 
 yours. I cannot come to you." 
 
 ''Why not.^" asked Bertie, already half 
 won by papa's voice and manner. 
 
 " Because I never walk, Bertie. I am 
 lame." 
 
 " Then I'll come," said the little fellow. 
 
4^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 and in a moment he was nestled in my 
 father's arms. 
 
 Suddenly, he looked up, and asked : 
 
 " Are you papa's dear, dear friend ? " 
 
 " Yes, laddie, the dearest friend on earth, 
 except my daughter, is your own papa." 
 
 "Well, I am to call you 'Uncle,'" he 
 said, " and be your boy for a big, long while 
 until he comes back." 
 
 " That is kind, for I need a good little 
 boy, and so does cousin Dolly. You see I 
 have to use her feet so much,, I am afraid 
 she will not be able to use them all she 
 wants to for herself." 
 
 " Can't you walk just the leas test, truly 
 mite } " asked Bertie, looking down at the 
 helpless, misshapen feet on the cushion. 
 
 " No, darling ; not one little step." 
 
 " Who did it ? " asked the child. 
 
 " God, I think, dear." 
 
 " And won't you never walk out on the 
 grass with them again } " 
 
 '' Never here, Bertie." 
 
How the Swarm Settled Down. ^p 
 
 " I wonder what made God do it ? I 
 don't think I Hke him very well ; he took 
 mamma away, and I can't see her, and now 
 he has hurted your feet, and you can never 
 walk;' 
 
 " Until I get to the blessed country where 
 crooked things are made straight," said papa, 
 kissing the boy. 
 
 " That's Heaven," said the child with tears 
 in his dark eyes, papa told me, and I want 
 to go there and see mamma ; but I do hope 
 God wont stay there every minute ; I feel so 
 afraid of him." 
 
 " Bertie, do you feel my arms tight about 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Well, you know I never saw you before, 
 but I love you, and I am sorry for you, 
 because your dear mamma has gone away, 
 and your papa has gone too for a little 
 while. Like all little boys, I suppose, you 
 are naughty sometimes, and then I shall be 
 compelled to correct you, but I shall love 
 
^o Six Little Rebels, 
 
 you all the same. Now, we are God's chil- 
 dren ; he holds us tight in his arms. Some- 
 times, we are naughty, and he punishes us, 
 we do not know why, but we do know he 
 loves us, and it is for our good, although it 
 is hard to bear, and all the comfort we have, 
 is the thought that do what we will, he never 
 takes his arms away." 
 
 I was leaning ever papa's chair, listening 
 to the conversation, and I could not help 
 feeling that some of it belonged to me. 
 
 Bertie was silent for a moment, and then 
 looked up with a bright, glad smile to say : 
 
 " Perhaps I'll like Him better when I 
 know Him, but I don't feel very well 
 'quainted now." 
 
 Papa turned to me with a smile, and said : 
 
 " Here is your boy, Dolly, and well worth 
 all the care you can give him." 
 
 Axy and I rolled papa's chair out to the 
 dining-room, and gave Bertie a seat at his 
 right hand. We had a very pleasant time. 
 Mr. Arnold told some queer things about 
 
How the Swarm Settled Down, 5/ 
 
 their trip ; papa was in fine spirits, and the 
 boys were all quiet and gentlemanly. Once, 
 Bertie burst out with : 
 
 "Oh, Reggie, Uncle doctor hasn't any 
 foots, and Fm going to run and catch all 
 the butterflies for him ! " 
 
 We all laughed at the idea of catching 
 butterflies in January; but papa only patted 
 the little fellow's hand and said : 
 
 " Certainly he is ; and he will bring in 
 the sunshine too." 
 
 Bertie looked puzzled, but it was plain 
 enouo-h to see that the two would be fast 
 friends. 
 
 " Now my dear boys," said papa, as soon 
 as we were all seated in the library, " I do 
 not intend to make you work much for 
 several days, but one thing I shall urge, and 
 that is, that each of you will keep a diary 
 and write in it faithfully every day. If you 
 do not care for them now, your parents will 
 value them on their return, and beside, we 
 are all making history. Dolly, my dear, pass 
 
^2 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 me the bundle which Gene brought me this 
 morning." 
 
 I did so; and papa opened it, and gave 
 each of us a pretty blank book, all but 
 Bertie, who seemed so grieved about it that 
 papa assured him there was a cunning little 
 one coming for him in the morning. 
 
 The next morning Mr. Arnold left us 
 quite early; before Bertie was awake, and 
 the little fellow cried so hard when he found 
 him gone, I could not help taking him in my 
 arms and comforting him. He was a pretty 
 boy, with dark eyes and light hair, but his 
 eyes had that far-away look which I cannot 
 help thinking all motherless children have. 
 
 Reggie was about my age, Ned two years 
 younger, and Charlie and Walter Neville, 
 twins, aged twelve. All the boys were fond 
 of little Bertie Gresham, but Reginald, his 
 eldest brother, seemed to be the child's 
 favorite. He was mine, too, after the first 
 bashfulness wore away. Ned, was every- 
 body's boy, jolly, noisy, full of fun and good- 
 
How the Swarm Settled Down. 5J 
 
 nature. Aunt Axy adopted him at once, 
 and he, although the rogue of the party, 
 took a wonderful fancy to the black, but 
 honest and excellent woman. 
 
 Charlie Neville was the owner of the 
 bright red head, and Walter, his twin, was 
 crow^ned with curly brown locks. 
 
 " They were all intelligent-looking lads," 
 papa said, " but Bertie was a rare child — 
 one of the kind to handle with great care 
 and study patiently." 
 
 I soon learned the truth of papa's remark, 
 and often grew puzzled over some speech 
 of the little fellow. 
 
 He clung to me, and followed me about 
 so much that I began to feel the care of 
 him all my own. I dressed him, and un- 
 dressed him, heard his little prayers, and 
 gave him a drink if he waked in the 
 night, and little by little, the love grew for 
 the motherless little fellow, until heedless 
 and selfish as I was, nothing was too much 
 to do for my Bertie. 
 
5^ Six Little Rebels. 
 
 The first day the boys rested and un- 
 packed ; the second, as it was fine, we drove 
 about Washington, Dr. Howard going with 
 us. Bertie nestled close to me, and kept 
 us all merry with his innocent remarks. 
 Charlie's red head, loomed up like a beacon- 
 light on the front seat. Reggie sat with the 
 doctor and Ned, looking so sober I really 
 pitied him. He seemed to feel the family 
 sorrow more than Charlie or Walter. 
 
 We did not miss one of the public build- 
 ings, and at last, when we came to the 
 White House, Bertie remarked: 
 
 " That it wasn't a very clean white house, 
 and he didn't like it." 
 
 " Wouldn't you like to live there ? " kindly 
 asked Dr. Howard, not a little amused by 
 his sober face. 
 
 "Well, I 'spose I might if you gived it 
 tome; but it isn't as nice as Uncle doctor's." 
 
 " There, Miss Dolly, now pray do not let 
 me hear you complain of the ' Woodbox ' 
 again," said Dr. Howard, laughing. 
 
How the Swarm Settled Down. §§ 
 
 " You musn't laugh," said the child, with 
 a flush on his little pale face. " I don't 
 like to be laughed at. I doiit like it ; 
 papa's is nicer, and not so big, and I 
 might go in there at the big door and get 
 lost. If I did, you couldn't find me for 
 ever and ever." 
 
 " Bertie has detected one of its faults," 
 said Dr. Howard, "there is nothing homelike 
 about it." 
 
 We found papa ready to listen to our 
 report when we returned, and it seemed to 
 me when I undressed Bertie at night that 
 I had known our cousins a long, long time, 
 and they were very nice for boys. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 MORE ARRIVALS AT THE " WOODBOX." 
 
 HE first thing changed after the boys 
 \^r^$. came was our dinner hour. Papa 
 said it would never do for growing boys to 
 wait for our four o'clock dinner. 
 
 They were very much surprised to learn 
 that we were all to study at home for the 
 present. Thanks to my home training I 
 was far in advance of Reggie ; but I soon 
 saw he was determined to overtake me. It 
 was several days before we settled down to 
 work, and decided on our studies, but we 
 56 
 
More Arrivals at the ''Woodbox!' ^j 
 
 had ever so much fun over it ; " finding out 
 what we didn't know^ " as Ned said and at 
 last it was papa who arranged everything to 
 please us. 
 
 I was busy every moment, for Aunt Axy 
 was getting old and it required some time to 
 prepare desserts for so many, and papa in- 
 sisted on a vacation until Miss Lucinda 
 came to relieve me of all care. 
 
 Only a few days passed before she arrived 
 coming sooner than we expected. The eco- 
 nomical soul had only taken an omnibus to 
 the nearest point rather than pay " two prices " 
 for a carriage. 
 
 We had just finished dinner when the 
 door bell rang out loud and clear. Lex an- 
 swered it promptly for we had found another 
 place for Gene soon after he came, well know- 
 ing that two such " imps of darkness " as 
 Charley said, w^ould be too much in one 
 house. When Lex opened the door I heard 
 the familiar voice of Mis*^ Lucinda saying to 
 him : 
 
ss 
 
 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Well, you are no great to look upon " 
 and out I went and hugged the kind hearted 
 woman who had left all her belongings to 
 care for me. 
 
 " The Lord be praised Miss Dolly I am 
 here," she said, " but it's as much as ever and 
 the poor General is nearly smothered." 
 
More Arrivals at the ''Woodboxr jg 
 
 She sat down on one of the hall chairs to 
 puff a little. 
 
 Now Miss Lucinda was by no means a 
 lank, lean Yankee, but a plump, ruddy-faced, 
 motherly looking soul, with no particular 
 waist line, and an arm like a blacksmith. She 
 had walked on this occasion a good milej 
 part of the way, up a steep hill, vvith a large 
 black valise, a lunch box, and the market 
 basket containing her feline w^arrior. No 
 wonder she was " completely beat out." 
 
 After removing her bonnet, I turned my 
 attention to the gallant General. Surely no 
 cat could behave better. 
 
 To be sure, his basket was roomy, and his 
 mistress devoted ; but for a gentleman cat, 
 of good old family, it was rather hard. For 
 years he had been accustomed to long strolls 
 on the beach, to evening receptions, and con- 
 certs, to calls upon Josiah, and others of his 
 craft, who furnished free lunches of fresh fish; 
 and now it is all ended. 
 
 I opened his prison door and set him free. 
 
6o Six Little Rebels. 
 
 For one moment he looked bewildered but 
 hearing Miss Lucinda request him " To be- 
 have himself, and shake hands like a sensi- 
 ble fellow," he sat down and demurely held 
 up one paw like a dog. 
 
 Bertie was delighted, and although cau- 
 tioned about his claws at once began to 
 fondle him. The little fellow was nearly- 
 wild over this new pet, kissing his head, 
 smoothing his handsome fur, and admiring 
 his eyes. The General was a superior creat- 
 ure of his kind, as large as a small dog, and 
 of the soft velvety color known as Maltese. 
 
 Assoonas Miss Lucinda — for papa insisted 
 on our calling her Miss now ; she would not 
 be called Miss Dodge — as soon as she 
 could breathe freely, we gathered in papa's 
 study. I had been a little afraid that her 
 oddities might provoke the boys to laughter, 
 but papa had arranged all that by telling 
 them of her real worth. I heard Aunt Axy 
 telling Lex that '' he'd better stop his foolin' 
 
More Arrivals at the ''Woodboxr 6i 
 
 now, for de ole lady had eyes before, and be- 
 hind." 
 
 Lex must have been an awful trial in 
 those days, his woolly head was full of mis- 
 chief, and very often I had to pause out-side 
 the kitchen door which opened at the end of 
 the hall, before I could suppress my laughter, 
 while Aunt Axy was giving him what she 
 called " a good rakin' down." 
 
 " You good for nothin', peeky limb why 
 don't ye b'have decent ? she would say, and 
 then Lex would give a " te, he, he," and a 
 " ha ha ha," and an " O my eyes, but you is a 
 beauty." Aunt Axy was very proud of her 
 personal appearance, her turbans were gay- 
 colored, and neatly tied, and her long white 
 aprons were so tidy I used to wonder how 
 she did so much dirty work, and never soiled 
 them. Once, Lex waited until she passed 
 the door on her way to church and then 
 sprinkled flour all over her best black gown ; 
 on another occasion, he showered her with 
 ducks' feathers just as she had finished scrub- 
 
62 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 bing her kitchen floor, and it was wet enough 
 to make them stick. 
 
 These pranks were all kept from papa, at 
 the good soul's request, and Miss Lucinda 
 was such a terror to the little rascal he al- 
 ways behaved well in her presence. We 
 were very happy after she came ; I had 
 plenty of time for my studies, and all of us 
 went for long walks, for winter walks about 
 Georgetown, and Washington, are as pleas- 
 ant as summer ones in other places. Papa 
 seemed almost gay when we came home, 
 each with a little budget of news, but Miss 
 Lucinda always looked us over as we came 
 trooping in, with a dread of more mending. 
 Walter, generally gave her something for he 
 was one of those unfortunate boys who are 
 sure to tumble down or meet with some sort 
 of an accident. 
 
 The best thing about the dear old soul 
 was, that she never was cross, and if she 
 looked a little sober over a tear in Waiter's 
 coat, Reggie was sure to make her laugh 
 
More Arrivals at the ''Woodbox!' 6j 
 
 with a story of how, when, and where, it was 
 made. Her laugh was a queer one " a real 
 Yankee pucker," Walter said; she would 
 lower her double chin, draw down the cor- 
 ners of her mouth, and wink her eyes rap- 
 idly, but no audible sound ever escaped her. 
 
 A kind of Puritan grimness hung about 
 her, and she seemed to be always battling 
 with some spirit of fun, which she was deter- 
 mined to conquer. 
 
 Gen. Scott evidently understood her, and 
 their devotion was amusing. The boys 
 called him her " lover," and if he were not in 
 his usual place at her feet they would ask, 
 " where her lover had gone ? " 
 
 This bit of teasing amused her, for she 
 always answered merrily: 
 
 " Oh, he's out for a walk." 
 
 We had one scene with this four-footed 
 lover which Lex at least will remember. 
 
 It was our custom to have family prayers in 
 the breakfast room, and all the family gath- 
 ered about as soon as the servants removed the 
 
64 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 dishes. After the boys came I retained my 
 old place close by papa, and gave Bertie a 
 seat at my side ; Lex, who was inclined to 
 trouble the child when he had nothing else 
 to do, was given a low seat near the door, 
 next to Miss Lucinda. 
 
 About two weeks after the arrival of Gen. 
 Scott and his mistress, while we were all 
 kneeling, except papa, whose eyes were 
 closed. Lex determined to torment the 
 General who always attended to his devo- 
 tional exercises, while curled up on the folds 
 of Miss Lucinda's gown. 
 
 Either the General was very sleepy, or 
 very devout, for Lex found no difficulty in 
 tying a stout cord on one of his hind legs, 
 while he fastened the other end to the knob 
 of the half open door which rested against 
 his chair. 
 
 Miss Lucinda was perhaps even then pray- 
 ing for " the young limb." And his move- 
 ments did not startle her. When we rose as 
 usual the General rose too, but did not leave 
 
More Arrivals at the '' Woodbox!' 65 
 
 his mistress, side until later. Lex ran out in 
 great haste causing papa to say : 
 
 ^" Lex is in a hurry this morning Aunt 
 Axy." 
 
 " For de fust time massa doctor, dat boy 
 nebber kill hisself, hurryin', nebber." 
 
 The words had scarcely past her lips be- 
 fore she went out closing the door after her. 
 
 Then there was a scene. 
 
 The General spit, scratched, and made a 
 most pitiful howl, or growl, as he was 
 dragged suddenly across the floor. Miss 
 Lucinda, who never could see anything small 
 without her glasses, concluded that her dear 
 fellow had a fit, and no one dared approach 
 the furious animal. Reggie, was the first to 
 discover the cord, and in a twinkling he 
 pulled out his pocket knife and liberated the 
 hero of an inglorious battle. Walter threw 
 open -the door, the General tore out mad 
 with rage, and Miss Lucinda turned to my 
 father speechless with indignation. Bertie 
 began to whimper, thinking his new friend 
 
66 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 was hurt, and the boys laughed merrily, 
 until papa said quietly : 
 
 " Reginald, please bring Alexis to me." 
 
 But Lex was not to be found, he did not 
 appear at dinner; and it was dark before 
 he stole into the kitchen, and I heard Aunt 
 Axy giving him a lecture. 
 
 " Now, Lexis, I'se a good mind to tote 
 you in there to massa. I is indeed ; he 
 wants you mighty bad, and it seems to me 
 chile, dat de debbil just got you in his 
 clutches." 
 
 " I won't do it agin', marmy, I won't ; you 
 jess let me go long off to bed, an' I'll get 
 you mighty heap o' kindlin' ; deed I will. 
 You see marmy, I hasn't no mother nor 
 nothin', and how is I goin' to know how to 
 be good." 
 
 This stroke of policy saved Lex. Every 
 motherless child was sacred in her eyes, for 
 my sake, and the young rascal knew her 
 weak side, so he whimpered and whined 
 
More Arrivals at the ''Woodboxr 6y 
 
 until she gave him a good supper, and let 
 him slip off to bed. 
 
 While I sat rocking Bertie for a kind of 
 " comfort nap " before I put him in bed, I 
 heard Aunt Axy say in a muffled whisper: 
 
 " Now, Lexis, if you ever goes for to do 
 such a wicked thing agin' when the massa 
 is a habbin' prayers, de old fellow wid' de 
 hoofs and long tail jis carry you off shure I " 
 The reckoninor came next morning. Ree- 
 gie and papa had the boy locked up with 
 them for an hour, and when he came out 
 sniffling and showing the whites of his eyes, 
 we all concluded it would be a long time 
 before Lex would tease the General aeain. 
 But you see we did not understand the 
 amount of mischief in that queer, woolly 
 head. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 NEWS FROM EUROPE. 
 
 ^yM. E did not hear from the travellers 
 '^t^ very often, but when we did, there 
 was general rejoicing, for every one in the 
 family was remembered. 
 
 Walter was the only one of the boys who 
 disliked study. He had a mania for tools 
 of all sorts, and was very fond of covering 
 whole sheets of paper with plans of engines, 
 patent gates, hinges and bits of machinery, 
 without any name whatever, which the other 
 
 68 
 
News from Europe. 6g 
 
 boys usually made fun of, and called " Wal- 
 ly's flying-machines." 
 
 " I don't think you care much for books 
 Walter," I said one day, when I had tried 
 for half an hour to explain a problem to him. 
 
 "Fact, cousin Dolly, I don't; sometimes 
 I hate everything inside of two covers." 
 
 "Except apple-pie," said Charlie, with a 
 laugh. 
 
 Papa was very patient with him, and al- 
 ways said: 
 
 " Stick to the books now, my boy, because 
 /want you to, and presently you will find 
 the kind you want, and stick to them be- 
 cause you want to." 
 
 One day when Walter had been very 
 
yo Six Little Rebels, 
 
 stupid and a little sulky over a lesson in 
 history, Reggie and Charlie were so vexed 
 with him, they begged papa not to trouble 
 himself any more, but send him to a school 
 where he must study or be flogged. 
 
 *' No, no ; " said papa, " if one way of 
 getting a thing does not agree with every 
 one, we must find a new way. Walter will 
 come out right ; there is a niche waiting 
 for him somewhere." 
 
 After that, every day papa gave Walter 
 instead of a regular history lesson, some- 
 thing to search for, and such questions as : 
 
 " Who were the first people that used 
 scythes, and how were the scythes made ? " 
 
 " When did machinery first take the place 
 of hand labor, in'manufacturing cloth ? " 
 
 "When were melted lead and stones 
 dropped on the heads of an attacking 
 party ? " 
 
 These, and many more of far more im- 
 portance, interested the boy, and in reading 
 up for replies he became at last quite a 
 
News from Europe. 7/ 
 
 good historian, without thinking of the dis- 
 asrreeable " humbu2r of dates." 
 
 " You sec," said papa, smihng, when Wal- 
 ter carried him a drawing of some old ma- 
 chinery — " you see, my boy, what a mine of 
 hidden treasures we find ' inside of two 
 covers/ I think father and mother will be 
 proud of you yet, Wally." 
 
 Poor boy, — : before a week passed he 
 thought of papa's words, for a letter came 
 from Col. Gresham telling us that Judge 
 Neville had been attacked for a second 
 time with paralysis, and died almost imme- 
 diately, and the sudden blow, with all the 
 exhaustion and previous care, had prostrated 
 Mrs. Neville. She was without doubt, in- 
 sane, but only from grief ; he was quite sure 
 it would soon pass away. 
 
 " Of course," he wTOte, " I cannot leave 
 her ; we have laid my poor brother's remains 
 in a lovely spot, which I will have photo- 
 graphed for the boys before I return. 
 
 " The enclosed letter for your daughter, 
 
'/2 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 I found lying on Allie's desk, and although 
 not finished, I send it, for she expresses her 
 o-ratitude and re2:ard far better than I can 
 possibly do." 
 
 I read it with my eyes filled with tears. 
 At the close, she said : 
 
 " You can never know, dear girl, at least 
 I hope you never will, what this separation 
 costs my brother and myself, especially with 
 such a state of affairs at home. I went into 
 Charlie's room on Sunday evening, and there 
 I found him with our boys' pictures spread 
 out on the table before him. ' Well, Allie; 
 he said, trvinor to smile, ' I think I would 
 willingly give half of all I own, to see the 
 five dear rogues to-night for one hour.' 
 Then we studied them all — Reggie's dear 
 wuse face, always a trifle sober ; Charlie's 
 laughing, roguish eye ; Walter's scowl and 
 firm mouth ; Ned's mischievous, dimpled 
 phiz, and the dear baby's dreamy, sad, sweet 
 countenance. 
 
Nezvs from Europe, yj 
 
 " Our precious boys ; how blessed we are 
 in finding such a home for them, and such 
 loving, thoughtful care ! Those little printed 
 letters of Bertie's are actually kissed and 
 folded away next my brotlier's heart. 
 
 '' We find many here who think the South 
 right, and the North much to blame. I 
 cannot decide, nor am I called upon too, 
 but mv brother is strons^ in his belief that 
 ' Union means more than sections.' There 
 is madness and wrong-doing on both sides, 
 how will it all end } 
 
 " Keep our darlings with you as much as 
 you can, dear Dolly, but do not let them 
 weary or worry you, now in your fresh, 
 young girlhood. Boys are always thought- 
 less, but generally kind-hearted." 
 
 Then followed some suggestions and more 
 thanks. 
 
 It was very hard for the Neville boys to 
 realize that they should never again see 
 their devoted father, and Ned and Reggie 
 
Jjf Six Little Rebels, 
 
 were in deep grief over his loss. Papa was 
 very kind to them, and tried in every way 
 to bid them hope for their mother. 
 
 In a few weeks the news of Sumter came 
 like a bomb-shell to our little family, and all 
 the confusion and misery seemed centred 
 about Washino^ton. Rumors of all sorts 
 floated about ; the storv which was an- 
 nounced at breakfast as a fact, was contra- 
 dicted before dinner as utterly false. 
 
 For one week papa had a hard time with 
 his pupils. It was almost impossible to 
 study. The streets were filled with men 
 talkinor in excited tones, and soldiers seemed 
 everywhere present. 
 
 As the days and weeks went on, matters 
 orrew worse and worse. Old friends became 
 bitter enemies, and " Union " and '' Secesh," 
 were common words. Wives separated from 
 husbands, and brothers and sisters did not 
 speak. Even in church the bitterness dis- 
 played itself. 
 
 Little bv little we became accustomed to 
 
News from Europe. 75 
 
 the taunts and sneers of our old neio^hbors. 
 The boys had decided opinions of their own, 
 as well as their elders. 
 
 Charlie declared that " they had no right 
 to meddle with the South ; if she wanted to 
 live by herself, why not ? " 
 
 Walter " did not see why people should 
 be killed because a few others wanted their 
 own way." 
 
 Reggie thought " my country far grander 
 than my state." 
 
 Ned " wished he could get home and secure 
 some of his treasures," and one and all 
 were anxious except the war-like Alexis. 
 
 Papa, a Union man to his hearts core, 
 kept us at our best, and gave us good advice 
 about guarding our lips. It was almost 
 impossible to tell whether those about you 
 were friends or foes. 
 
 Mr. Thorpe, our old rector, who had bap- 
 tized me as a baby, left suddenly and went 
 South where he became chaplain of a regi- 
 ment. Harry, his son, enlisted in one of our- 
 
'J 6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 own regiments, and took his mother's bless- 
 ing with him. I never felt worse than when 
 Harry left ; he had been my music-teacher 
 ever since I could stretch an octave, and 
 many happy hours we had in our old church, 
 he playing the organ as few could play, after 
 I had thumped out a lesson. 
 
 Mrs. Thorpe could not stay in her once 
 happy home alone, and she too left to visit 
 friends in Connecticut. Her house was 
 taken by a surgeon, Dr. Miller, who was 
 ordered on special duty ft)r the government. 
 His wife was a charming woman, and the 
 only son Dick, a boy about Reggie's age, 
 soon became a great favorite at our house. 
 He was a wide-awake, fun-loving specimen of 
 Young America — the true Young America 
 — not the coarse, noisy, rude, swaggering 
 type, which some people call by that name. 
 His father was considered a superior sur- 
 geon, and he and papa became warm friends. 
 As for Dick, he was in and out at our 
 house like the other boys, and papa often 
 
News from Europe. jy 
 
 said he believed our lads knew quite as 
 much about the movements of the army, 
 and the latest " orders," as most of the army 
 officers. 
 
 Lex grew valiant, and was often heard 
 giving Aunt Axy a description of wonder- 
 ful things he had seen on his way to market 
 or back. The show and parade pleased him, 
 and many tmies poor " Aunty was com- 
 pelled to wait (or some needed article from 
 the store, because Lex had paused by the 
 way to see " some dreff ul pretty sojcrs, but 
 I done tell ye marmy, we has better ones 
 down Souf. ' 
 
 One member of our household suffered 
 deeply from this excitement, and that was 
 little Bertie. He had never been quite 
 strong, and as the spring advanced his appe- 
 tite grew less and less, until it became a reg- 
 ular question in the family : 
 
 " What can we get new^ for Bertie ? " 
 
 Every day we hoped he would be better 
 to-morrow, but the little fellow grew worse, 
 and finally ill. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MISS LUCINDA TO THE RESCUE. 
 
 LEASE sing again, cousin Dolly ; it 
 # takes the ache away," said Bertie, as 
 the study clock struck one, and all was still 
 in the house. 
 
 " Where is the ache, dear ? " 
 
 "In my head, now, but it is better when 
 you sing." 
 
 I had only time to sing " Little Travellers 
 Zionward," which was one of his favorites, 
 about half through, when I felt a hand on 
 
 7^ 
 
Miss Ltuinda to the Rescue. yg 
 
 my shoulder. The room was dimly lighted, 
 and I turned quickly to see Reggie. 
 
 " Give him to me, please," he said, " this 
 will never do ; you have not slept at all as 
 you promised. Darling, will you come to 
 brother? cousin Dolly will be sick, too." 
 
 " Yes, take me quick, Reggie, and please 
 don't let my head keep slipping down way 
 Ned does. Cousin Dolly holds me like 
 Auntie Neville ; will it hurt her to hold 
 my hand when it aches very hard 1 " 
 
 " No, pet," I answered, " Dolly will hold 
 it." 
 
 " Where is the pain, little brother .f*" asked 
 Reggie, trying very hard, I knew by the 
 sound of his voice, to hide his feelings. 
 
 " Most times it is in my head, but my legs 
 are pretty achy, too. Do the soldiers' legs 
 ache when they are cut off, Reggie } " 
 
 Poor little fellow, the misery and agony 
 of war never left him ; he was in the very 
 midst cf it. 
 
 " They ache very hard, I suppose, dear." 
 
8o Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " But they never cry, do they ? Lex took 
 me close up to the window when they were 
 sick one day, and they didn't cry they just 
 made a noise so " 
 
 The child' groaned, and we both knew he 
 was trying to be brave and bear his pain 
 like a soldier. I put cool napkins on his 
 burning head, and held his hand, while Reg- 
 gie rocked him gently. By and by he fell 
 asleep, but moaned constantly. 
 
 " Oh ! Reggie," said I, " we must get him 
 away from here. I cannot bear it any 
 longer ; this dreadful war v/ill madden us all 
 yet. Do let us find some cool, quiet place, 
 and insist on papa's going ; he will, if Dr. 
 Miller and Dr. Howard ask him to." 
 
 I was crying like a great baby then, for 
 the moans of the little sufferer cut me like 
 a knife. 
 
 " I know so little of the North," said 
 Reggie, sadly, " it is a land of strangers to 
 us you know, but I will go anywhere, do 
 
Miss Lucinda to the Rescue. 8i 
 
 anything which the doctor advises. You 
 must stay here with your father." 
 
 " But Reggie, he could not do without 
 me, the child has clung to me from the 
 first, and I could not do without him." 
 
 " I won't trouble her," said Bertie, rousing 
 up, and staring about in a frightened way. 
 Let me stay with cousin Dolly ; don't send 
 me away ; don't ! don't ! " 
 
 " Bertie, my little darling, you are not 
 going from me. See, I am holding your 
 hand, and I will never leave you until you 
 are our merry little boy again." 
 
 The child sank back exhausted, while 
 Reggie and 1 asked, with our eyes, " What 
 shall we do ? " 
 
 " Children," said a voice in the doorway, 
 " may I come in ? " 
 
 '• Yes, please," I answered, and in came 
 Miss Lucinda, with a shawl over her long 
 night-dress. 
 
 " Dolly," said she slowly, as she bent over 
 and touched the burnins: cheeks ; it is rather 
 
82 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 early in life for you two to be having sick- 
 ness and trouble, and I've been thinking — 
 
 " Oh, Miss Lucinda," I said, " trouble came 
 to Reggie and I long ago ; I feel as if I 
 had lived a hundred years now." 
 
 Miss Lucinda only coughed, and went on : 
 
 " I've been thinking of my cottage down 
 there at the Farms, it is all shut up, and of 
 no earthly use ; it is a small cage, so to 
 speak, and only good natured birds could 
 live in it. Now if you was a mind to live a 
 little less genteel, and have a bed in the par- 
 lor for your pa, Reggie could sleep on my 
 sofa bedstead, you could have the front 
 chamber with the baby, and the boys and I 
 could scatter round, there is room enough 
 such as it is, and we could swing Josiah's 
 hammock in the shed if need be. It never 
 was built for fashionable folks but the sea 
 air is just as reviving as if it was." 
 
 " Oh,Aunt Lucinda" I said giving her a good 
 hug," you are a fairy god-mother, nothing could 
 be better, only think of it Reggie, giving up 
 
Miss Lucinda to the Rescue. 8j 
 
 her precious nest, with all her little treasures 
 to such a crowd of people ! Aunt Lucinda, 
 you're a saint, a jewel, a blessing ! " 
 
 " I am afraid the Lord of all wouldn't 
 agree with you," said the good soul, winking 
 very fast, " but it doesn't need the eyes of a 
 saint to see that our little boy is pining and 
 as to the doctor, this heat and flurry is too 
 much for him, he has only taken one cup of 
 coffee for a fortnight." 
 
 In a moment my heart was filled with 
 dread. 
 
 " He sleeps well," I said ; " I ran down for 
 some aconite for Bertie about an hour ago, 
 and he did not waken. Now you speak of 
 it, he has not seemed quite so strong. Oh, 
 Aunt Lucinda, let us get away as soon as 
 we can." 
 
 " The sooner the better," said she, one day 
 is as good as forty for packing up." 
 
 " But the house will not be aired," I said, 
 remembering papa's caution about such 
 things. 
 
84 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " As to that," said the faithful, unselfish, 
 blessed, old maid, " I took that all into ac- 
 count last week, and it's all settled as soon as 
 your pa says go. You see, I saw how things 
 were going, so I wrote to Josiah, and he 
 wrote back he could go right to work, and 
 put up a little room for cooking, and niake 
 a dining-room of my kitchen, and a parlor of 
 the sitting-room, and there we are all right. 
 He has "some hammocks ready for the boys 
 if they want them, and by the time we could 
 get there he will have a good clean boat 
 fitted up. Such as it is, it is yours, and weh 
 come. I only got Josiah's letter this after- 
 noon, and I designed laying it before your 
 father in the morning." 
 
 " What rent can we pay ? " asked practical 
 Reggie. 
 
 " That is for the doctor to decide," said 
 she, briefly. 
 
 " I do think Aunt Lucinda that you are 
 the best woman living," I said eagerly. 
 
Miss Lucmda to the Rescue. 8§ 
 
 " Why Reggie, it is very fashionable down 
 there now, and only last summer she refused 
 a fancy price for this very cottage ; but she 
 would not let it, for it was full of things 
 her father and brother brought from sea." 
 
 " Folks make foolish remarks sometimes. 
 Miss Dolly, and I hope Fm not quite a 
 heathen if I am nothing but a Yankee old 
 maid. The truth is, I am kind of hankering 
 for the salt water myself, and the General 
 will be only too glad to go down to Josiah's 
 iishiuG: boat. 
 
 "And now my advice is, to put that sick 
 child on the bed, and have Miss Dolly lie 
 down 'long side of him, and hold his hand if 
 need be." 
 
 Bertie had grown quiet while we were 
 talking, so Reggie and I took her advice. 
 The child roused a little as we put him 
 down and called " Dolly ; " my " yes dear," 
 seemed to comfort him and he dozed again. 
 Reggie went back to his room begging me 
 
86 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 to call him if Bertie was restless again, but 
 the aconite had its effect, and I too slept a 
 little without undressing. 
 
 The next morning as soon as I heard 
 Aunt Axy about, I crept softly away from 
 the little fellow and ran down to papa, there 
 I curled up on the bed, and told him about 
 Miss Lucinda's proposal. He was very still 
 for a few moments, and then when I asked 
 impatiently " If he didn't think it perfectly 
 glorious," he said quietly: 
 
 " It does look like an open door to us 
 Dolly, but you didn't think of the bother 
 your cripple would be." 
 
 Dear heart, he was always so afraid of 
 making trouble. Then I cuddled my head 
 down close to his, and we talked and talked, 
 until it was time for me to help him dress. 
 
 Bertie was ver}^ quiet all day, and the boys 
 took turns sta}'ing with him while Reggie, 
 Miss Lucinda, and I, packed up ; we decided 
 not to tell the dear sick one, until we were 
 nearly ready. 
 
Miss Lticinda to the Rescue. 8y 
 
 Dr. Miller came in about noon, and o:ave 
 him a tonic, but said over and over again how 
 delighted he was to have us go. Dick bus- 
 tled in soon after, exclaiming : 
 
 '' I say now, what is all this about the 
 Beach? who dares to run off without my per- 
 mission ? '' 
 
 " Six little Rebels " said Ned, who was put- 
 ting the school-books into a wooden box, " that 
 is the name the ragamufKins gave us yester- 
 day when we went out for our walk." 
 
 "Where do you get six," asked Dick, 
 laughing ? 
 
 " Oh they count Lex, said Ned, and the 
 truth is, he started it, for Charlie and I found 
 out last night that the young rascal had been 
 giving a free lecture down at the corner store, 
 with a fish barrel for a platform." 
 
 " Yes, and Mr. Harrison told us he had a 
 great deal to say about ' his young gemen 
 who were all good south eners and 'spised 
 Yankee doings,' " said Charlie. 
 
88 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Whew ! What did Reg, and the doctor 
 say to that?" 
 
 " Oh, we didn't tell the doctor, but Reg 
 was awfully provoked, and gave the cub a 
 good scare." 
 
 Dick laughed merrily. 
 
 " The truth is, said Ned, that Lex is a 
 spoiled boy, he used to make speeches for us 
 at home, on all kinds of questions, but we 
 never dreamed of his attempting it up here. 
 Toss us that C^sar will you Dick ? " 
 
 A short time after, Dick came to my assist- 
 ance, I was busy putting Bertie's clothes in 
 the large tray of my trunk, and had quite 
 forgotten that summer dresses would take up 
 all the room. 
 
 " Dick always sees the loose screw," Walter 
 says, for everything is machinery with him, 
 and I think Wally is right about it. 
 
 " I told Dick one day, he owed his clever to 
 his mother; the few boys I have seen who have 
 been much with their mothers, always seem 
 to think of all the little tilings, and it is just 
 
Miss Lucinda to the Rescue. 8q 
 
 these little things which make the big ones 
 work well; papa said that once, and I remem- 
 bered it." 
 
 " Now Dolly," said Dick getting down on 
 the floor by my side, "will you permit 'yours 
 truly ' to suggest ? " 
 
 " Of course I will, but what do boys know 
 about packing trunks ? " 
 
 " Heaps, Miss Warrington, heaps, espec- 
 ially when boys have been away to school, 
 and do that sort of thing semi-annually/' 
 " Well Dick, proceed." 
 " In the first place you will take a hand 
 bag?" 
 
 " Yea, verily.'^ 
 
 " Well then, put into it now, such traps as 
 you will require on the way, sleeping uniform, 
 and all that sort of thino- " 
 
 "Yes, well, that is already done." 
 " Then put the things you will want first, 
 on the very top of 37our trunk." 
 " It shall be done, oh, wise kino-." 
 " Don't be saucy now, or I'll leave." 
 
go 
 
 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Well, now, let me see how the bottom is 
 packed." 
 
 " Why there is nothing in there yet. I left 
 it until the last," I said. 
 
 " I dare say, just like a girl, beg pardon, a 
 vouno- ladv, who has never travelled." 
 
Miss Lucmda to the Rescue, gi 
 
 Such a time as we had packing that trunk : 
 I had to leave several times to care for Ber- 
 tie, and every time I came back there was 
 Dick on his knees, with his coat off, shoving 
 things into corners, and actually making xooxvl 
 when I thought it was full. All the time he 
 worked he kept up such ridiculous nonsense, 
 and made so much fun of the thino^s I 
 thought "really necessary," that I left several 
 out entirely, and was thankful that the " up- 
 per deck" as he called the top of the trunk 
 was packed full of all a girls' " frills " and 
 "furbelows," before he came in, and that, I 
 would not let him touch. My work-box and 
 writing-desk took up so much room, he de- 
 clared I would have to charter a special car 
 for the rest, but all w^ent in finally, and it was 
 real good in Dick to help me, for my shoul- 
 ders ached from holding Bertie. 
 
 After he had packed my " traps " as he 
 called them " snug and ship shape," he went 
 down-stairs for a bit of fun with papa. 
 
CHAPTER VIIT. 
 
 FLITTING. 
 
 NLY two days after, all 
 was ready and we were up 
 bright and early at the 
 " Woodbox." Dr. How- 
 ard had been in, and 
 heartily approved of our 
 plans. Before Aunt Axy 
 had time to make her kitchen fire, Mrs. Mill- 
 er's cook came over with some delicious 
 rolls, and some fruit for our breakfast. 
 
 "Jiss like her," said Aunt Axy, "she's a 
 92 
 
Flitting, gj 
 
 born lady, yer white trasli nebber thinks of 
 dese yere doings, say we don't want to make 
 fire if we's be shuttin' up de house, an de 
 cook will fin' 'nough to do, does ye mind 
 that Miss Dolly ? Ole culled folks some 
 count long dese yere New York ladies." 
 
 Before I could finish with papa, Dick 
 came in, with a platter of hot steak, and the 
 doctor s boy followed with a pot of steaming 
 chocolate. 
 
 " Hurry up doctor, bustle round Dolly, 
 here's a pot of my mother's best French 
 chocolate, take it in liberal quantities, early 
 in the morning." 
 
 " Bless that boy," said my father, as I gave 
 the last touch to his hair, "he brings good 
 cheer in his voice without anything in his 
 hands." 
 
 " Dick, your mother is too good for any- 
 thing," I said, school girl fashion, after Miss 
 Lucinda had relieved him of his burden. 
 
 " Is she ? Really, you arc complimentary, 
 but I've always had a suspicion she was 
 
g^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 good enough, to be my mother," and then 
 the saucy fellow strutted about a little with 
 his thumbs in his vest. 
 
 " Bertie wants you," called Ned over the 
 stair-way. 
 
 " Does he } excuse me then fair maid, I 
 have a higher call," and away he went up to 
 my pet. 
 
 Bertie was very fond of him, and his sensi- 
 tive little heart, seemed to dread any more 
 partings ; he was lying on my bed, all ready 
 for our early start, and in his pretty blue 
 wrapper he looked like a picture, rather than 
 a poor sick baby. The contrast between his 
 hair, and eyes was quite uncommon, and his 
 suffering had made him prettier than ever. 
 Reggie had been with him while I was busy, 
 but Reggie was more quiet than ever of late; 
 tlie family sorrows were always with him, 
 and it was very hard for him to cheer up the 
 little fellow, when as Ned said, he " was al- 
 ways looking in a grave-yard." 
 
 " Oh Dick, do o^o too," said Bertie, as he 
 
Flitting. P5 
 
 entered the room. Reggie would have said, 
 " poor child," and brought a flood of tears, 
 but Dick's hearty: 
 
 " Well now, I call that rough Bertie, no 
 one has asked me before, no one wants 
 me but you, and see here, between you 
 and I, and Aunt Axy's meeting bonnet 
 I mean to come down there sometime, just 
 to punish them." 
 
 "Will you? Oh Dick, that will be so 
 nice, there will be room in the boat for you, 
 I know." 
 
 Reggie had been telling him that morn- 
 ing about the boat, Josiah had made ready. 
 
 " See here Reg," said Dick, " suppose you 
 go down and surround a roll or two, while I 
 tell this little chap a story ; the bell rang you 
 know." 
 
 Reggie hesitated, but seeing Bertie's eag- 
 erness for the story, he went down. 
 
 " Now ship-mate come to my arms," said 
 Dick, picking up the little fellow as tenderly 
 
()6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 as a woman. There, now, all right ? Well, 
 here goes for a story. 
 
 What the story was no one knew but 
 Bertie and Dick, but when I went up from 
 breakfast to give my boy his beef tea, he was 
 resting quietly in Dick's arms, and looking 
 up in his face with admiration, staring out of 
 those laro-e dark eves. 
 
 '• Oh Dolly, I do love Dick so, can't you 
 take him with us ? " 
 
 " Hush, hush, little ship-mate, not a word 
 of that, or I won t come down and make that 
 visit." 
 
 " We will run up the American flag when 
 he comes, and all the flock will go out to 
 meet him," I said, still determined to keep 
 Bertie from breaking down. 
 
 At last all was readv: Dr. Miller and Dr. 
 Howard took care of papa, Bertie, and I, 
 while the boys and Miss Lucinda came in 
 another coach. 
 
 The " woodbox " was locked up, and the 
 
Flitting, gj 
 
 key left with the Millers. Gen. Scott was in 
 his old travelling carriage, and Charlie took 
 charge of him, but the funniest of all funny 
 things was that I never thought of Aunt 
 Axy's way of getting to the depot. I left 
 her putting some more crackers into the 
 lunch basket, and in the confusion I did not 
 notice where she was. Lex, was perched on 
 the box with 'our driver, he was safe, that was 
 a comfort, for generally he was out of hearing 
 when wanted. 
 
 As soon as we reached the station I missed 
 my old nurse and went at once to Reg with 
 my trouble. 
 
 " Reggie Gresham, do you know we have 
 left Aunt Axy behind } " 
 
 " Is that so .? Why the old lady will miss 
 the train, what shall I do, take a carriage 
 and drive back ? " 
 
 Papa was chatting away with Dr. Miller, 
 and giving some charges about Eugene, who 
 was to remain in the doctor's service. Mrs. 
 
g8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Miller had Bertie in her lap ; Dr. Howard 
 was saying pleasant things to the four boys, 
 and I, well, — I was in a fid|;et. 
 
 '' Do tell me what to do, Dr. Howard 
 Aunt Axy is left! " I said nervously. 
 
 " In excellent hands I see," said the doctor, 
 pointing toward the street, and there was 
 Dick Miller perched up in his father's buggy 
 with Aunt Axy by his side. Dick was lean- 
 ing forward pretending to drive like some of 
 the jockeys he had seen, and Aunt Axy was 
 lauQ^hinof at him. 
 
 The old lady held a huge lunch basket 
 in her lap, and would hardly give it up when 
 Dick sprang out and offered her his hand 
 with as much politeness as if she were a 
 duchess. 
 
 " I quite envy you that boy, Mrs. Miller," 
 said Doctor Howard as the odd pair came 
 near our group. 
 
 " Don't, I beseech you she said with a 
 merry laugh, I couldn't keep house without 
 mv tease." 
 
Flitting. gg 
 
 Dick called a colored boy to hold his horse 
 and soon joined us in the station. 
 
 ' Mother," said he, " 3^our occupation is be- 
 
 ning, go on in well doing." 
 
 ' Miss Dolly thank me for picking up the 
 
100 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 fragments; such trifles as old faithful nurses, 
 arc sometimes of value." 
 
 " Don't mind him Dolly dear," said Mrs. 
 Miller; "he can't live without teasing some- 
 body," but I did mind, for all the sickness, 
 worry and hurry had made me tired and ner- 
 vous, so Dick's little speech made the tears 
 come. I was determined he should not see 
 it, so I went up to Aunt Axy, and asked her 
 about papa's medicine, and pretended not to 
 care. 
 
 Dick w^ent right on joking, and laughing, 
 with everybody until innocent little Bertie 
 remarked to Mrs. Miller, that " Dick was 
 most as funny as the monkey at the menag- 
 erie." Even Reggie laughed then, but Dick 
 rallied, and going up to the little fellow said : 
 
 " Yes, yes, master Bertie, and when I come 
 down to the beach, I will show^ you the tricks 
 that can win." 
 
 By some special arrangement which the 
 doctors had made, papa's chair was carried in- 
 to the cars; and after we were all seated, we 
 
Flitting, 10 1 
 
 were a comfortable looking party. Dr. Miller 
 had business in New York, and that was a 
 comfort to papa, as he made all necessary 
 plans for the rest of the trip. 
 
 Mrs. Miller kissed me and called me " a 
 dear, brave girl," and Dr. Howard said " re- 
 member Dolly, I come next to papa, write 
 me long letters little woman, and bring back 
 a bright red rose just here, and here" — then 
 he kissed me on each cheek and whispered 
 something to papa. Dick said good-bye to 
 everyone before he came to me, and then he 
 leaned over the seat, and said : 
 
 " I say Dolly, learn to row will you .^ I 
 think you can do it pretty w^Vi for a girl yow 
 know ; don't pout, it hides your dimples, 
 and Dolly, take good care of P^eg, he is 
 moping about something," and then they 
 were gone. I did want to put my head 
 down, and have a good cry, but there sat Dr. 
 Miller looking straight at me, and every now 
 and then papa looked so distressed I con- 
 cluded that a girl with five boys and a sick 
 
102 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 man to think of, hadn't a minute to waste in 
 tears. 
 
 Papa stood the journey much better than 
 we expected. Bertie was quite exhausted, 
 but we arrived in Boston in good order and 
 ivent to the Parker House where some old 
 friends of papa's called and insisted on his 
 remaining for a day at least. The boys 
 spent the time in looking about the city, but 
 Bertie seemed so homesick, and miserable, I 
 would not leave him. 
 
 Miss Lucinda would not pause by the way, 
 so she went on to the little cottage, taking 
 Lex with her, leaving Aunt Axy to wait 
 upon us. 
 
 I think papa enjoyed every moment of his 
 stay in Boston, for several of his old class- 
 mates rallied about him and showed him 
 every attention, but it was dreary for me 
 staying in a room in a strange house with a 
 sick child, and Aunt Axy for company. 
 Just before dark papa called me and said he 
 had a treat in store. His good friend Dr. , 
 
Flitting. los 
 
 of Cambridge had been in with tickets for 
 our whole party to see Warren at the Mu- 
 seum, and another friend was coming to 
 keep papa company while we were gone. 
 
 " But I can't leave Bertie," I said, sorrow- 
 fully. 
 
 " Certainly you can, he will sleep well 
 after his journey, Axy shall sit by his bed- 
 side and even if he wakens, he is always con- 
 tent to nestle in my arms." 
 
 " But papa, I don't know your friend the 
 doctor, you know he is a famous man, and I 
 feel just a little afraid of him, and should be 
 sure to say the wrong thing." 
 
 " Don't think of yourself little daughter, 
 my friend is a very kind man, or he would 
 not have thought of taking a troop of young- 
 sters, out for an evening, and these boys of 
 ours need the change, to say nothing of my 
 little woman who is getting nervous, and 
 fanciful." 
 
 So we went with the great doctor, and 
 after all I wasn't one bit afraid of him. He 
 
104 "^^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 had such a nice, quiet way of saying things, 
 and told us so many little stories about 
 Boston and Boston people that I was almost 
 sorry to hear the music — for the first time in 
 my life too — for music always rests me, and 
 " tones me up " as papa says. 
 
 I had often heard people speak of Mr. 
 Warren as very funny, but he was the very 
 drollest of all droll men, that night. Reg 
 had to speak to Walter several times for 
 laughing too loud, but the doctor told him to 
 " let him enjoy it in his own way." 
 
 When we went back to the hotel, papa, 
 and two Qrentlemen were tellino: over their 
 college scrapes, and the doctor joined them. 
 I think he must have been nearly as funny as 
 Mr. Warren, for Reggie who waited up to 
 help papa, said he never laughed so much in 
 his life before, and papa laughed all the time 
 he was undressing, over the queer stories his 
 friend had told. The boys call him " Jolly 
 Doctor," and Reggie said he told papa we 
 
Flitting. 105 
 
 » 
 were " as orderly and polite a party of rebels, 
 
 as ever marched into Boston." 
 
 When papa tried to thank him he said : 
 
 '' Why bless your heart, Warrington, I 
 never took such a delightful party to a show 
 in my life, I had two plays before me all the 
 time; "and then he quoted some Latin which 
 papa laughed at, but Reggie ^did not quite 
 understand. 
 
 It was delightful ; and I was surprised to 
 find that this great writer, was as simple and 
 kind, as less distinguished people. 
 
 Papa said " The greater the mind the sim- 
 pler the manner." It must be so. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 LEX IN TROUBLE. 
 
 UCH a delightful spot by 
 the sea ! And it comes 
 upon you suddenly, while 
 you think you are still in 
 the woods. Thanks to 
 those dear Bostonians, we 
 came upon it, in the very prettiest way. It 
 was a lovely morning, and I had just said to 
 Aunt Axy : " You can't think how I dread 
 the car ride again for papa," when Reggie 
 tapped at my door and said papa wanted me. 
 
 io6 
 
Lex i7i Trouble, loy 
 
 I went to his room, and there I read the 
 kindest little note you ever saw. I read it 
 over twice, before I could speak a word, it 
 was from one of the gentlemen who had been 
 with papa the evening before, telling him he 
 wished to give himself the pleasure of driv- 
 ing down over the road in his family carriage, 
 and two of the boys would oblige by taking 
 seats in another one. which a friend of his 
 would send down. I will order a substantial 
 lunch and we will take things easy." 
 
 Could anything be more delightful ? " Why 
 papa Warrington, what does make people say 
 " cold-blooded Bostonians ? " 
 
 " It is not our experience, daughter," said 
 papa, "but I know Gresham has entertained 
 people for weeks in Richmond, who have 
 never had the kindness to invite him to their 
 houses, when he has been here. Some of 
 our western friends complain of the same 
 thing." 
 
 " Yes, with too much reason, I fear," said 
 
io8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 a gentleman who was waiting to take papa's 
 answer, " as a Bostonian I am sorry for it." 
 
 " Perhaps the ladies are less hospitable " 
 said Reggie, " you know we have not seen 
 any of the Boston ladies yet." 
 
 " Nonsense,*' said I, " it is the mothers 
 which make men noble; if the Boston men 
 are such dear, delightful, kind souls, what 
 must the women be ? " 
 
 Never, never shall I forget that ride. It 
 was a little bit of " kingdom come " I told 
 papa, and when at last we reached our new 
 home, and all the glory of the sea lay before 
 us, I felt as little Bertie did, " afraid to shut 
 my eyes, for fear it would all go away and be 
 only a beautiful dream." 
 
 Inside, the house was complete ; Josiah 
 "knew what sick folks wanted," and had ar- 
 ranged everything for our comfort. 
 
 He was younger than Aunt Lucinda, and 
 as brown as a berry, but from the first, I saw 
 he was honest, brave, and tender-hearted ; 
 
Lex in Trouble. log 
 
 and I liked him. I think he liked me too, 
 for after tea he came up to mc as I sat on 
 the end of the piazza, and asked in a low 
 tone, " if I would like to take a turn or two 
 in the little craft out there ? " 
 
 " Oh very much " I said eagerly, and then 
 I remembered my boy. 
 
 " Go right along Miss Dolly," said Miss 
 Lucinda, " the child is sound asleep, and 
 you're not called upon to watch over his 
 dreams." 
 
 "May I papa.^" I asked, "Captain Josiah 
 has invited me, and we will not go out of 
 sight .f^" 
 
 " You will not miss me will you } " 
 
 "Go little woman, by all means, this is a 
 rare night, and brings back my boyish love 
 of the sea, run, off with you, and take a thick 
 shawl. Reggie and Walter v\ill keep mc 
 company, and I dare say the captain will find 
 room for Charlie and Ned." 
 
 "To be sure sir, there's another boat of 
 
no Six Little Rebels. 
 
 mine just off that point yonder, if the other 
 young gentlemen know how to handle an 
 oar." 
 
 " They will keep me company to-night, 
 thank you captain, but to-morrow, you and I 
 will arran2:e to 2:ive them lessons in boatinsr." 
 
 We went down on the beach and soon 
 pushed off. Nothing could be more beauti- 
 ful, the rock shadows, the clear moonlight, 
 the pretty villas on shore, with lights gleam- 
 ing from them, the strolling parties on the 
 beach, the songs of other parties on the 
 water, were like the beautiful dream Bertie 
 spoke of. 
 
 Ned, who was seldom still, leaned over the 
 side of the boat and trailed his hand in the 
 water ; Walter looked far away and I fancied 
 thought of his poor mother, sick, and sor- 
 rowful, in a land of strangers, and I took in 
 all the glory and beauty, and thanked God 
 he had let me see it, and then felt myself a 
 very small atom in the great universe. 
 
 After the captain had rowed ms about in 
 
Lex in Trouble, lii 
 
 silence for awhile, I thought it was not very 
 polite in us to be so still, so I tried to talk to 
 him, but people are sure to say silly things 
 when they talk from a sense of duty, and of 
 course 1 did. 
 
 " Don't you ever get tired of rowing? " 
 
 " Not often, Miss, not round here." 
 
 " I want to learn," I said, thinking of 
 Dick's last words. 
 
 " It will give me nothing but pleasure to 
 teach you. Miss," said the gallant captain. 
 
 " Ned rows," said Walter, " don't you 
 Ned?" 
 
 "Just a little, but captain, hold up a bit, 
 didn't I hear some one call ? " 
 
 " The boys foolin' on shore," said the sailor, 
 "they never know when to quit such nights 
 as this." 
 
 Again the captain leaned forward, and took 
 a long stroke, but he stopped suddenly : 
 
 "You are right young man," said he, 
 "there's a sound of distress just over there 
 
112 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 agin the point of rocks," and away he 
 steered in. that direction. 
 
 '' Oh dear, ' I said, " I do hope our first 
 night in this lovely spot will not begin with 
 trouble.'' , 
 
 " Never say ' trouble ' young lady until 
 you see it," said Captain Josiah, as he pulled 
 with a will. 
 
 As we came near the point of rocks the 
 old sailor muttered something under his 
 breath, and brought the boat about. 
 
 " Help hel ' — we heard distinctly, and 
 then I could see the water dancing, and rip- 
 ling in the moonlight. 
 
 " Nothing but a dive will do now," said the 
 sailor, " take the oars Mr. Ned, and run her 
 up on the beach, wait there, until I call." 
 
 It was only a few rods about the point, 
 and Ned had only time to seize the oars 
 when Captain Josiah went over board with a 
 clean jump. 
 
 I was so thankful Ned knew what to do, 
 and I was more than thankful that the moon 
 
Lex in Trouble, 
 
 ^rs 
 
 was hidden by a cloud so that papa could 
 not see us when we landed. 
 
 Ned sprang out, and pulled the boat up, 
 and there we waited. 
 
 It seemed an hour to us all, but it was 
 really a very few moments, before the captain 
 called " all right," and then he came down 
 over the rocks, and on to the beach, bringing 
 something, we could hardly tell what. 
 
 " There, Miss Warrington," said the captain 
 puffing with his violent exercise, " I've fished 
 
//^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 this black rascal up, and if he was never 
 rolled and pounded before in his life, he has 
 been now.' 
 
 Yes, there was Lex, or all there was left of 
 him in the captain's arms. 
 
 " Oh don't let papa and Bertie know," I 
 said, " get him up to the house quick, but 
 don't let them see. ' 
 
 " There is no call to," said the captain, " if 
 the young men will just pull that boat up a 
 trifle higher, I'll take him round the back 
 way to the women folks, and we'll fix him up." 
 
 The boys and myself w^alked soberly up 
 the beach determined to carry back a good 
 report. 
 
 They were all sitting where we had left 
 them, and I was the first to speak. 
 
 " Papa, did you ever see a more beautiful 
 night ? " 
 
 " Very lovely, daughter, and how did you 
 enjoy your first trip on the sea ? " 
 
 "It was glorious," I said," I shall never 
 
Lex in Troubh. ii^ 
 
 forget it," and all the time I shivered, as 
 I thought of poor little Lex. 
 
 Miss Lucinda was knitting in the dark, 
 and I said as carelessly as possible : " Your 
 brother has gone round to the kitchen with 
 something for you I believe," and the good 
 soul went out at once. Walter followed her, 
 but Ned helped me out with glowing de- 
 scriptions of the water by moonlight, of the 
 nice boat, and the beauty of the shore. 
 
 In order to give them time enough to take 
 care of the " drowned boy," I coaxed papa to 
 stay out a little longer and brought him 
 some extra wrappings. It was very hard 
 work to keep any trouble locked away from 
 my precious father even for a few hours, but 
 Dr. Howard had taught me how necessary it 
 was during his sickness, and since then, little 
 things affected his nerves as they had never 
 done before. I curled up in my shawl, on 
 the arm of papa's chair and chattered away 
 with my thoughts in the kitchen. By and 
 
ii6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 by Walter came back and Ned asked in the 
 most innocent manner if Miss Lucinda's vis- 
 itors had gone ? 
 
 " Yes/' said Walter, seeing the point at 
 once, " the coast is clear, and Lex and Aunt 
 Axy are in bed." 
 
 Then we all went in to prayers and some 
 of us found our thoughts wandering to the 
 sea, and Josiah's burden. When papa was 
 snuo: and comfortable I went into Miss Lu- 
 cinda's room where I found all four boys 
 with her, talking over the narrow escape. 
 
 " I knew something was wrong as soon as 
 Dolly spoke," said Reggie, " the tone of her 
 voice was enough." 
 
 " Papa didn't discover it," I said. 
 
 "He probably thought as I did at first, that 
 your new experience saddened you a little; I 
 have heard my father say that two things al- 
 ways affected him to tears, one was, the music 
 of a band, and the other, perfect silence on 
 the water." 
 
Lex in Trouble. iiy 
 
 But wasn't It a bare chance for life, Miss 
 Lucinda ? " I asked, 
 
 " Bare enough," she said, " but he's all 
 right now, and if this doesn't teach him a 
 lesson nothins: will." 
 
 " How did he come there ? ' asked Ned. 
 • " I reckon he heard Josiah tell the boys 
 about the other boat and he went after it, 
 but he won't talk much about it before to- 
 morrow; Aunt Axy will take good care of 
 him to-night, and I really do think it is time 
 for all of us to be in bed." 
 
 " There is just one thing, I would like to 
 say, and that is, you had better not sit out 
 round, evenings, much until you get used to 
 the sea air; to-night is an uncommon warm 
 night, for the last of June down here, but 
 you'll often be glad enough of the open fire 
 in the sitting-room." 
 
 "I think we are glad for everything, you 
 dear old soul," said I, " what should we all 
 do if it were not for this cozy home. Boys, I 
 
ii8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 mean to name it, let us call it the * Pilgrims' 
 Rest; " 
 
 " The ' Rebels' Roost,' you had better say," 
 said Charlie, " I am sleepy enough to dream 
 until noon." 
 
 Then we all said our good nights, and went 
 to bed. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 GAY DOINGS. 
 
 m 
 
 HE next day, Lex was so bright, and 
 
 \^^i seemed so sorry, we concluded to tell 
 
 papa the whole story, for he alone could 
 
 check the wayward little " imp of darkness," 
 
 as Josiah constantly called him. 
 
 As Miss Lucinda suggested, the boy had 
 
 heard the remark about the boat, and being 
 
 always ready for adventure, started off _ to 
 
 follow us and not being used to the rocks, 
 
 he slipped and fell, and but for Ned's quick 
 
 ears, and Josiah's strong arms, we should 
 
 119 
 
120 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 have lost our quick-witted, but vexatious 
 little Lex. 
 
 The first day we spent in unpacking and 
 arranging with occasional runs down on the 
 beach, or pauses, to admire something the 
 boys had discovered. 
 
 Papa's room was charming. At Miss Lu- 
 cinda's request, I had taken some pretty 
 muslin curtains, and some nick-nacks from 
 home, and it did not take us long to put them 
 in order. 
 
 My room was the " spare room," as they 
 call the guest chamber, in New England, and 
 although it was very pleasant, 1 did bump 
 my head several times where the roof sloped 
 down over my bed. Bertie had a little old- 
 fashioned trundle-bed which pushed in un- 
 der mine by day, and took up most of the 
 room by night, but the child was delighted 
 with it and called it his " bureau bed " be- 
 cause it went in like a bureau drawer. 
 
 Altogether we were very comfortable, and 
 every day seemed to give new life to little 
 
Gay Doings, 121 
 
 Bertie. For one week we gave ourselves a 
 good vacation. Our two invalids would 
 watch us from the piazza, or listen patiently 
 to our stories when we came in from fishine 
 or walking. 
 
 As soon as Bertie was strong enough to go 
 down on the beach, and be amused, Josiah 
 proposed that we should go over on the 
 island for a " fish fry." We were ready for 
 anything, but how could we leave papa.? 
 
 Josiah must have told him our trouble for 
 the next day after prayers he said : 
 
 " There is one thing children, about our 
 life here, which I want you to remember, you 
 must never hesitate about any reasonable 
 pleasure on my account. You are young, 
 and I want you to enjoy every moment of 
 your lives ; I know how anxious you feel 
 about our absent ones, and I know they 
 would wish you to look on the bright side, 
 so learn all you can, see all you can, enjoy all 
 you can, and I will more than enjoy hearing 
 it from you. Bertie and I will be content to 
 
122 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 let you strong ones do all the running, racing, 
 and rowing, while we will hear about it with- 
 out any of the work." 
 
 " You will take care of Uncle doctor, won't 
 you Bertie," he said, patting the curly head ? 
 
 " Yes," said Bertie, doubtfully, " but Dolly 
 will come home nights won't she ? " 
 
 " Yes pet, Dolly will be here nights, and a 
 good many days too, for next week there is a 
 piano coming down here for her, and her 
 music will keep her in, and make us all 
 merry." 
 
 Dear papa, that was just like him, to order 
 a piano for me without saying a word about 
 it, and then to prepare Bertie for my going 
 out with the rest. 
 
 We went to the island, and had our fish 
 fry, and a real fish chowder, such as I never 
 tasted before. 
 
 The captain made it, and I insisted on tak- 
 ing some home to papa, The captain 
 showed the boys how^ to make spoons with 
 clam shells stuck into bits of stick, he gave 
 
Gay Doings. 123 
 
 us lessons in fishing for cunners, and rock- 
 cod, told us queer stories of his sea life, and 
 
 made us so happy, it seemed to me the sun 
 set very early out of spite, and we had prom- 
 ised to leave for home at sunset. 
 
 The next day, Josiah took us to Baker's 
 Island where we saw two light-houses, one 
 larger than the other. We saw the keeper, 
 his wife, and his daughter ; and the kind old 
 gentleman took us up into the largest light- 
 house and showed us the lamps, and told us 
 that every night they must be re-trimmed 
 about midnio-ht. Down-stairs in the house 
 where he lived he pointed to a door which 
 his faithful dog had worn through, scratching 
 it to wake his master at the right hour ; and 
 the old dog stood by and wagged his tail 
 
12^ Six Little Rebels. 
 
 looking from one to another of our party as 
 much as to say : 
 
 " Yes, I did it, pretty well, for a dog." 
 
 Then the keeper's daughter interested us 
 because her father said when he was sick, 
 she went out and up to the lights night after 
 niQ:ht to do his work for him. 
 
 Reggie thought the government ought to 
 give the dog a medal, and the young woman 
 " a fat office for life." I thought very few 
 young girls would do it, or be willing to live 
 on that dreary island. 
 
 Another place which pleased me very 
 much was " Pride's Crossing," there we went 
 for our first long walk, and there we found 
 some rare and beautiful ferns for papa's col- 
 lection. We saw some lovely villas on the 
 shore which charmed me very much for I 
 always had a fancy for a large roomy house, 
 but Charlie declared the 'Rebels' Roost' 
 was a heap better for real fun." 
 
 We sat down to rest a little, not far from 
 a neat little house, where Reo^ofie asked for 
 
Gay Doings. 12^ 
 
 a glass of water for me, and a good woman 
 brought us some, asking If we would not 
 like a drink of milk? of course we would, I 
 was never so tired and hungry, and we all 
 did our part to empty the large pitcher she 
 passed out full. We offered to pay her, but 
 she would not take a penny, saying: 
 
 " A sup of milk was no great to give any- 
 body, but It was refreshing like If you was 
 tired ; when she was house-cleaning or draw- 
 ing In mats or such like she always made it 
 a rule to drink considerable milk." 
 
 It was very kind, and so unexpected too. 
 
 " Walter said If that was a specimen of 
 Yankees he wouldn't mind living north," but 
 Joslah told him she was uncommon clever, 
 she had two boys gone to war, all she had ; 
 and she was kind of fond of boys anyw^ay. 
 
 " Well, Joslah," said I, " you think the boys 
 won our lunch do you ? now I fancied she 
 looked at me and liked me as well as I did 
 her." 
 
 " Dare say Miss," said sober Joslah, who 
 
126 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 could not understand any kind of joke, " but 
 you see she is uncommon, most folks about 
 here sell everything they can, need all the 
 pennies they can get ; but some that don't 
 need 'em, want more." 
 
 One morning just as we had finished our 
 lessons, Josiah came in to see papa. 
 
 " If it's agreeable to you, doctor," he said, 
 " I would like to take your young folks over 
 here a piece to the Essex Woods. Deacon 
 Wisher has lent me old Whitey, and his 
 wasfon is comfortable enouo^h with some 
 boards laid on for extra seats, if it ain't one 
 of vour citv turnouts." 
 
 " Very kind in you captain, very kind, they 
 will be glad to go, but you must not let them 
 take up too much of your time." 
 
 " Well there's no call to hurry down here 
 doctor," said the captain, twirling his straw 
 hat about. " Time's as cheap as anything, 
 after I've brought up my fish and sold 'em, 
 and these young folks of yours enter right 
 
Gay Doings. i2j 
 
 into things, with such a will, I rather en- 
 joy it." 
 
 " Josiah, Josiah," called Miss Lucinda, from 
 the little kitchen. 
 
 " Aye, aye," answered her big brother. 
 
 '' You can't think of taking the children 
 off so far, without something to eat, why you 
 won't be back for hours." 
 
 " Well, Lucinda," said the captain with a 
 laugh, you're wise enough, a box of grub 
 never comes amiss with a young crew." 
 
 So it was settled. Aunt Axy was in her 
 glory, putting up our lunch. Miss Lucinda 
 added some weak tea, in bottles, marked 
 " Best Brown Sherry," for she knew very 
 well we shouldn't find any decent drinking 
 water." 
 
 Every summer when papa and I rode 
 about Washington and dear old Georgetown 
 I said : " There could not be more charmine 
 drives in this world, I think;" but then, I 
 had never been " down to New Enorland." 
 What a glorious day that was in the Essex 
 
128 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 Woods. Josiah knew every rock and path it 
 seemed to us, and we were a noisy, happy 
 crowd, with a Httle heart ache back of the 
 happiness for us older ones, for we could not 
 fororet the sad condition of Mrs. Neville, and 
 our letters had been missing for some time. 
 I told Ned and Reggie one day that the 
 only way for us to do was to wait, and hope, 
 and get as much out of the weeks by the 
 sea, as we could. Ned said : 
 
 '' I believe you would preach ' hope,' if the 
 old fellow with hoofs stood by." 
 
 " Of course she would," said Charlie, " fo^ 
 being a girl she would dazzle the old fellow, 
 and have her own way." 
 
 What queer things boys are, they will 
 tease you one moment and defend you the 
 next. Reggie generally smiles when the 
 rest are teasing, but he never says much. 
 If Dick could have taken that ride, what fun 
 we should have had — speaking of teasing, al- 
 ways reminds one of Dick. 
 
 On our way home we had an adventure 
 
Gay Doings. I2g 
 
 Josiah thought from the looks of things we 
 had better hurry a little or we should get 
 wet. 
 
 I was busy putting some wee, little ferns 
 in a book to press, and the boys were racing, 
 and tearing about, while old Whitey nibbled 
 every bush withni reach. It was a little 
 dark in the woods to be sure ; but I could 
 see the sun peeping through the trees, and i: 
 seemed foolish to be in a hurry. 
 
 " Oh dear, must we go ? " I said, impo- 
 tently, never thinking that it was best to fol- 
 low the lead of our gallant captain. 
 
 " Well," said he good naturedly, " I don't 
 care to spoil your fun, and that ugly looking 
 cloud may pass round to the left ; we might 
 hang round a little longer, and then get 
 home before dark/ 
 
 " Good," shouted the boys, and off they 
 went, before Reggie could call them back. 
 Charlie had seen a beautiful squirrel, and 
 they knew just where he had gone. Reggie 
 packed the remains of our lunch in the 
 
/JO Six Little Rebels, 
 
 basket, and put it in the wagon and I gath- 
 ered ferns, as eagerly as if I never expected 
 to see another. 
 
 Half an hour passed, and the cloud came 
 nearer, and nearer; one hour, two hours, and 
 still no boys ; even old Whitey grew restless 
 as the thunder rolled ; Josiah walked back 
 and forth calling and shouting to the boys. 
 ReoQ^ie climbed a tree and 2:ave the whistle 
 which never failed before to rally the " reb- 
 els," and I, mortified and ashamed, packed 
 away my ferns, and put on the waterproof, 
 vvhich Miss Lucinda insisted on tucking un- 
 der the waQ-on-seat. 
 
 Just as the rain began to fall, the three 
 boys came tearing through the bushes. 
 
 " Oh Dolly ! Oh Reg ! such a lark ! we 
 have seen — " 
 
 " Never mind what you have seen, Ned," 
 said Reggie, "just pile into this wagon, the cap- 
 tain has waited for you quite long enough." 
 
 '' Put on all the coats and cloaks you can." 
 
Gay Doings. ijt 
 
 said Josiah, " it is coming down pell mell, in 
 less than five minutes." 
 
 We tumbled in as fast as we could, but no 
 one had any extra wrappings except Josiah 
 and myself; his oil skin jacket was under the 
 seat, ready for service if need be, and long 
 before our runaways returned he had it on. 
 
 Whitey was vexed at the long delay, and 
 showed it by running so fast, we had all we 
 could do to keep on the seats which Josiah 
 had made for the occasion. 
 
 Every flash of lightning made the woods 
 seem darker than before, and as Josiah said, 
 in less than five minutes the rain fell in tor- 
 rents. The boys huddled together and tried 
 to keep dry, but it was useless. At Ned's 
 hint I took my pretty sun hat off, and hid it 
 under the shawl which covered or tried to 
 cover our laps, where we sat on the back 
 seat. 
 
 We had all seen thunder showers, but 
 never before a regular thunder storm. The 
 trees crashed and bent with the terrible wind, 
 
/J2 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 the lightning zig-zagged all about us, and the 
 thunder rolled, and whirled, and growled, and 
 bellowed in our very ears. Dozens of times we 
 were sure that the lightning struck very near 
 us, and poor Whitey was so terified, Josiah, 
 who was a better sailor than horseman, 
 could hardly control him. Reggie, who had 
 been trained to manage horses, begged per- 
 mission to take the reins, but the sturdy old 
 sailor hung on for dear life, and would not 
 give up. 
 
 No shelter was near, and the only course 
 was to keep on through the darkness, and 
 pitiless storm, until we reached an opening 
 where we remembered a friendly barn. 
 
 It was a terrible ride, and all the way I 
 blamed myself for it ; and strained my eyes 
 to see before us, why, I could hardly tell, but 
 it seemed to me we were rushing into danger. 
 
 " Reggie, there is something coming," I 
 said just before we reached a turn in the 
 road, " I hear voices." Hardly had I uttered 
 the words, before crash went our wheels, and 
 
Gay Doijigs, /jj 
 
 out of the darkness came an angry voice 
 exclaiminof: 
 
 " Can't you see where you are driving to, 
 man ? " And there we were, with locked 
 wheels, frightened horses, and in the midst 
 of a furious storm. 
 
 The angry man was a countryman, with a 
 low open wagon and a woman by his side, 
 wrapped up so we did not know what it was 
 until she spoke. 
 
 " Be patient Will, be patient, don't you see 
 he has a big load, and the storm in his eyes } ' 
 
 "See! said the man, I'm not a telescope — 
 whoa, Dandy, be still you rascal." 
 
 Reggie went to old Whitey s head and pat- 
 ted him, and Ned did the same for the 
 stranger's Dandy, while the two men, and ihe 
 other boys managed to free the wheels, by 
 waiting for flashes of lightning to help them 
 see the real condition of things. Josiah 
 said little, but worked ; and I think no one 
 was more thankful than he when we drove 
 up once more to the cottao^c door. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 RUFUS CHOATE AND WONDERLAND. 
 
 OSIAH! well I never! "so 
 said Miss Lucinda, as she 
 , came to help us out. What 
 .\^ did you think of yourself to 
 keep these poor children 
 out so, I dare say Miss 
 Dolly has caught her death." 
 
 " I am all right," I exclaimed, " and I am to 
 blame." 
 
 " No she isn't, we are " said the boys. 
 134 
 
Rufus Clioate and Wonderland, /jj 
 
 " Well, well, if I ever," said Miss Lucinda 
 fairly dragging me into the house. 
 
 " All right, papa," I said, standing on a mat 
 to drip, '' were you worried ? " 
 
 " A trifle anxious dear, but get dry and we 
 will hear about it." 
 
 " Look papa," I said, holding up all there 
 was left of my pretty sun hat, with its wreath 
 of daisies, now a bunch of soft pulp, and 
 nothing more, for the rain had poured in 
 everywhere. 
 
 " Too bad, daughter, but run now all of 
 you, take a brisk rubbing, and a cup of Miss 
 Lucinda's ginger tea, which she has kept 
 waiting for you, and then, for a full account 
 of your journey." 
 
 Away we scampered, Bertie wanted a kiss 
 and a hug, but the poor little fellow had to 
 wait until I shed my suit. 
 
 Walter declared, after we were all dressed 
 and went down that he didn't want to be 
 " Molly-coddled," and drink ginger tea, but 
 Reggie told him it was a slis^ht thing to do, 
 
1^6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 to please the doctor, so he swallowed it, but 
 made up fearful faces. 
 
 Then we went in and told papa our story, 
 each one adding a little, but it was not until 
 its close that we found out what had kept the 
 boys. 
 
 "So the delay, the wetting, the danger, 
 were all owing to three of my boys running 
 after squirrels was it ? " 
 
 " No sir," said Ned, " we started for a 
 squirrel, but we found a fellow cutting wood, 
 who told us if we wanted to see the sight 
 which all strangers went for, we must keep 
 on and then turn." 
 
 " And we saw it," shouted Charlie, " saw it, 
 and I am glad, if we did get a ducking." 
 
 " Yes, and we are going again some day, 
 and go into it," said Walter. 
 
 Papa laughed, and so did Reggie and I. 
 
 " My dear boys," said papa, " will one of 
 you talk at a time, and please tell us what 
 you saw, which gave you so much pleasure." 
 
 " The house where Rufus Choate was 
 
Riifiis Choate and Wonderland. ijy 
 
 born, the great lawyer papa likes so much, 
 and whose picture hangs in the office at 
 home," said Ned. 
 
 " It was a shame Reggie didn't go, for he 
 is ahvays reciting some of his speecnes," 
 said Charlie. 
 
 " Reggie and I will go some day by our- 
 selves," said I laughing, " and leave you boys 
 to wait in the w^oods for us." 
 
 " Well," said papa, " even this adventure 
 will teach you something of the duty you 
 owe your elders ; if Josiah's council had 
 been of sufficient weight, I should have had 
 n^v flock about me at tea time; but all is well 
 that ends well, eh, Ned } " 
 
 Not one of us took cold; that was a com- 
 fort ; and as to my hat, why, it gave us 
 another frolic, for we all went with Miss Lu- 
 cinda over to Salem, to buy a new one, and 
 get our pictures taken before we burned any 
 more." 
 
 The shade hat did not trouble us much, 
 for we found a cheap one readv trimmed, and 
 
ij8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 as soon as we were ' done " at the photo- 
 grapher's we started out to see the sights. 
 
 We went to " Gallows Hill" where the 
 witches were hung, and saw the house where 
 they were tried, and spent a good hour in 
 the museum, where the boys nearly went 
 crazy over the wonders from foreign countries. 
 We left them there while Miss Lucinda and 
 I made a call on an old friend of hers, who 
 lived in a queer old house all by herself, and 
 had three big bolts and a chain on every 
 door. The furniture was so old and odd, I 
 wanted to ask questions, but did not dare to. 
 
 I had a glass of milk, and some little seed 
 cakes for mv lunch, while the two ladies 
 sipped tea out of some dear Httle china cups, 
 which Miss Priscilla said her grandfather 
 brought over himself years and years ago. 
 
 Everything in Salem seemed " years and 
 years ago " to me — the houses and many of 
 the people. All the portraits on Miss Pris- 
 cilla's wall were painted "years and years 
 ao-o," the silver was so old, I felt ashamed of 
 
Rufiis Choatc and Woiidcrland. ijg 
 
 being so young, and at last, when Miss Pris- 
 cilla unbolted another door, and ran with 
 little dancing steps across the garden, and 
 brought in an old, old lady to see Miss Lu- 
 cinda, it seemed to me that it was a real 
 disgrace to be young, and bright, and wear 
 shade hats with daisies, for all they talked of 
 was " the good old days," and " her mother's 
 father, and his second wife's first cousin." I 
 found out one thing while they w^ere talking, 
 and that was, that almost everybody in 
 Salem was related, and they didn't like " new 
 people," and " new things." 
 
 After all I liked it ; the talk, and the queer 
 old house, and the brasses, and the sideboard, 
 and the old-fashioned women who said " little 
 dear," to me. 
 
 " I am tired of hearing so much about the 
 witches, it always makes me shiver and feel 
 sad, but I do like those tall three story 
 houses which like the " Galsior " " keep get- 
 ting on, upper and upper." 
 
 I ate my seed cakes in an old chair, more 
 
1^0 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 than two hundred years old, and my feet 
 rested on a stool made out of a cradle which 
 belonored to one of the old Governers. 
 
 " I asked Miss Priscilla, if she supposed 
 he cried just like others babies ? " 
 
 She laughed a kind little laugh, and said : 
 '• she supposed he did, and had to take 
 ' mint tea' to stop him.'' 
 
 The old, old lady they called " Hitty," 
 asked Miss Lucinda if I was old enough to 
 sense it when my mother died ? 
 
 Lucinda said something in a low voice, 
 whereupon both of them shook their heads, 
 and said, "poor little dear," as if I were a 
 baby, instead of a girl in my teens, and 
 " papa s housekeeper." 
 
 When we came away. Miss Priscilla gave 
 me a bit of pink coral, which some of her 
 ancestors brought home, and I thanked her, 
 and she said : 
 
 " Come again, little dear, come again, and 
 look at the old things, if you don t mind an 
 old woman." 
 
Rufus Choate and Woiiderland, i^l 
 
 When we went back to the museum and 
 told the boys, Reggie said: Salem "was a 
 regular treasure house of antiquities, a real 
 wonderland," he had heard his father say, 
 and he wished he could call on Miss Pris- 
 cilla, but the other boys said the museum 
 was worth a hundred old houses, and all the 
 known countries put together, and old 
 women were plenty everywhere, they liked 
 the museum best. 
 
 When we went home that evening, we 
 found papa's Boston friend there, and he in- 
 sisted on hearing our stories just as papa 
 would do, so we told everything, "seed 
 cakes " and all. 
 
 " Well, well, doctor," said he, " this old Com- 
 monwealth of ours will be a new Historical 
 work to your young people, you must spare 
 them some day and I will show them still 
 greater wonders in the ' City of Peace,' she 
 has been the mother of many brave, and 
 notable men and women." Papa thanked 
 him, and I was delighted. 
 
142 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Reggie came in while he was there, with 
 the evening paper, and passed it to me. I 
 knew at once there was something he wanted 
 me to see and not speak of. Bertie was in 
 my lap, and I managed to glance at the page 
 near me, and saw the name of " Thorpe," 
 with this brief mention : 
 
 " There is now no reason to doubt the 
 truth of a former despatch, to the effect 
 that young Lieutenant Thorpe was fatally 
 wounded in a recent engagement. He was a 
 young man of great promise, and entered 
 the Union Army from a sense of duty, while 
 his father entered the Confederate service as 
 a chaplain. We are told that the sorrowing 
 wife, and mother spends all her time in our 
 hospitals caring for the sick and wounded." 
 
 It was hard work to keep the tears back as 
 I read the short paragraph. I recalled every 
 music lesson at home, or in .the old church, 
 his patience with all my blunders, his won- 
 derful love of music, his devotion to his 
 mother, and for a moment it seemed to me I 
 
Rufus Choate and Wonderland, /^j 
 
 must scream from the pain and grief. Reg- 
 gie saw my trouble, and remarked that Ber- 
 tie was up late for a sick boy, this helped 
 me and I asked to be excused. It seemed 
 to me that Bertie was never so restless, and 
 would never stop talking, but at last he was 
 quiet, and I could think. Papa's friend was in 
 the little parlor, and I slipped down quietly 
 without being seen, and went out to the 
 beach where I stayed until I feared papa would 
 be troubled. When I returned I found papa 
 had promised his friend that *vve should go 
 out with him to see a yacht race, but I said, 
 " I could not go, I was too unhappy," and 
 then papa listened to the sad story of poor 
 Harry Thorpe. He was much affected, but 
 begged me to get his writing materials and 
 let him write at once to our dear old friend 
 and neighbor Mrs. Thorpe, while we went 
 out for a stroll on the beach. 
 
 It was now several weeks since we had 
 heard from Col. Gresham, or Mrs. Neville, 
 the last letters mentioned the critical condi- 
 
r44 ^^x Little Rebels, \ 
 
 tion of the latter, and the statement of her 
 physcians, that her mind was much affected 
 by all she had gone through; they hoped 
 much from her.youth, and good constitution. 
 
 " Boys/' said I, " let us go down to the 
 point of rocks, and hold a consultation," and 
 we all strolled down soberly, just as much 
 oppressed with the horrors of war, and our 
 own troubles, as any grown up company of 
 men and women. 
 
 " Boys" said I, when I saw they were all 
 waiting for me to talk, " don't it seem a little 
 mean for us to go on having good times day 
 after day, when our old friends and neighbors 
 are wounded and suffering. What can 
 we do ? " 
 
 " Something, anything," said Reggie, " this 
 living in peace and quiet, while others are 
 dying, or worse than dying, is selfish." 
 
 "What could a lot of boys like us do," 
 asked Charlie, who always liked to count me 
 in as one of the boys } 
 
 " I don't know," said I, " but I was think- 
 
Rufus Choate mid Wonderland, i^j.^ 
 
 ing of poor Harry to-night, while Bertie was 
 going to sleep, and it seemed to me I would 
 be very happy if I only knew some one had 
 been kind to him, and made him comfortable." 
 
 " They had no business to have the war," 
 said Ned, " somebody ought to suffer, but I 
 am just as sorry for the innocent ones." 
 
 "Oh Ned, dear," I said, with tears in my 
 eyes, as I thought of poor Mr. Thorpe, who 
 was so sure he was right, and of Harry, who 
 was just as sure of his course ; it won't do 
 as papa says, to question what might have 
 been, or who is right, and who is wrong, the 
 question is what can we do to help the 
 victims. 
 
 "Cousin Dolly is right," said Reggie, " if 
 we are young, we can do something, the 
 question is what shall it be ? " 
 
 " Papa is writing to Mrs. Thorpe," I said, 
 " now if we could only agree to do some use- 
 ful work, I could ask her to tell us what she 
 needed most, and we could spend an hour or 
 two every day working for the soldiers ; any 
 
14^ Six Little Rebels. 
 
 soldiers we can find to help, it doesn't matter 
 which side." 
 
 " The fellows who are going down to my 
 home to kill our old neighbors, and the fel- 
 lows who come up here to kill yours,'' said 
 Walter. 
 
 " The men who suffer on either side, 
 Wally," I said, "your uncle, or my Harry 
 Thorpe." 
 
 They were all still for a few moments, and 
 then Reggie said : 
 
 " Cousin Dolly we will sign an agreement 
 if you say so, to keep all personal feelings 
 out of the question, and all do as you say, 
 work for the soldiers everywhere, if circum- 
 stances keep us north, our duty is here, and 
 we will try to do it. I think papa would 
 wish it boys," he said in a lower tone. 
 
 That night we all signed the following 
 paper, and I wrote a slip and added it to 
 Mrs. Thorpe's letter. 
 
 " We the undersigned, children and wards 
 of Dr. Warrington, agree to do all in our 
 
Rufus Choate and Wonderland, i^j 
 
 power to relieve the sick and wounded sol- 
 diers during the present civil war, with the 
 advice and consent of our guardian. We 
 do not recognize, nor will any of our num- 
 ber mention ' north ' or 'south,' but speak of, 
 and work for, our fellow-countrymen wherever 
 we find them needinof assistance. 
 
 o 
 
 " Dolly Warrington, 
 
 " Reginald Grcsham, ♦ 
 
 " Edward Gresham, 
 
 " Walter Neville, 
 
 " Charles Neville, 
 
 "BERTIE GRESHAM." 
 
 When little Bertie heard us talking about 
 it, and saw the paper, he was so grieved be- 
 cause his name was not down, that papa gave 
 
1/^8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 him a pen and he printed it. 
 
 After it was all done, papa said he felt 
 rather proud of his " six little rebels T 
 
 By papa's advice we all went out with his 
 friends in the yacht, although I confess I did 
 not want to g:o, and had been dreamino: all 
 night of poor Harry. 
 
 It was a beautiful day, and a beautiful 
 s!ght. I never saw an ocean race before, and 
 the boys were delighted, even Reggie was 
 gayer, and happier than he had been for 
 weeks. 
 
 The vessels seemed like great birds as 
 they spread their sails and flew away. 
 
 We had a nice collation on board, and the 
 young people who went with us were very 
 polite, and kind. 
 
 One young girl about my age, amused me 
 very much by asking me if I didn't hate the 
 southerners.^ Her name was Lillian, and 
 she was very pretty, but Ned said she was 
 under orders not to touch her light suit 
 
Rtiftis CJioate and Wonderland, i^g 
 
 against anything, and that made her keep 
 fussing about her dress. 
 
 Reggie said it was not her fault, for her 
 mamma kept repeating : 
 
 " LilHan, my dear, that side is quite wet," 
 or, " Lillian, my love, hold your flounce on 
 your skirt away from the rope." 
 
 I suppose she thought my plain, travelling 
 dress, very homespun, very, but I did not 
 need to look after it, and papa says clothes 
 are not designed as a torment, and it is our 
 fault if we make them so. 
 
 We reached home in good season, and 1 
 fairly dreaded looking at the evening paper 
 again. 
 
 In a few days we received a letter from 
 Mrs. Thorpe, just such a letter as I thought 
 she would write, full of patient resignation. 
 I wished over and over again, I could be so 
 good, and gentle; I knew I could not, for I 
 felt so wicked about Harry's death, and over, 
 and over I said, " Oh dear, I wish the war 
 would end now." 
 
1^0 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 She sent us this message about our work. 
 
 " Bless you my dear children for thinking 
 of our sufferers ; the half is not told. If 
 you can beg old cotton, and linen, make 
 bandages, hem handkerchiefs, or get up some 
 soft, carpet slippers, you will help very much. 
 We do not need dainty articles, but strong 
 and serviceable. Dolly is a pretty good judge, 
 after her sad experience in a sick room. 
 Whatever you send, pack in a barrel, and 
 direct to me, and I will unpack and distrib- 
 ute them myself." 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE PEACE SISTERS. 
 
 FTER that, we worked for the sol- 
 •^^ diers every day. As we did not know 
 many people we could not beg much, but 
 Josiah and Miss Lucinda begged for us, and 
 one day when papa asked Reggie and me to 
 ride over to Salem to get a draft cashed for 
 him, we went to see Miss Priscilla, and 
 found her busy knitting socks for the sol- 
 diers, she said, every one of them should 
 go in our barrel, and what was more, she 
 would " scurry round " and get ever so many of 
 
 151 
 
[^2 Six Litile Rebels. 
 
 her friends to send things, too, you are so 
 sure of them getting to the right ones. 
 
 She sent us to a store where she traded, to 
 get some bits of carpet for sHppers, which 
 she cut out ; basting up one pair, so we should 
 be sure to get them right. 
 
 Papa said if Miss Priscilla urged us to 
 stay, or we could find anything to interest 
 us, we might stay until a late afternoon 
 train, but I must pin my money inside the 
 waist of my dress. I did so, and we staid to 
 dinner, because Miss Priscilla said it seemed 
 necessary, if we expected to send a barrel to 
 Mrs. Thorpe. 
 
 After dinner we went with her to the three 
 sisters. Miss Betty, Miss Sally, and Miss 
 Polly. 
 
 I think some boys might have smiled, but 
 Reggie didnt, although they did look very 
 funny, all three sitting on a long, straight- 
 backed sofa. 
 
 A woman almost as old as they were, — 
 
The Peace Sisters. i^j 
 
 how old I could not guess, — opened the 
 door and showed us in. 
 
 " These are the southern children, are 
 they?" said Miss Polly, the youngest of the 
 sisters. 
 
 " Yes, two of them," said Miss Priscilla, 
 "this is the doctor's daughter, Lucinda sets 
 such store by, and this is one of the young 
 gentlemen from Richmond." 
 
 After they had talked with us a little while. 
 Miss Polly said, if we liked old things she 
 would take us up to " Sir's " chamber which 
 had been kept just as it was for sixty years. 
 
 I couldn't think who "Sir" could be, but 
 Miss Priscilla whispered : " he was their 
 grandfather, deary, an old school gentleman, 
 one of the best." 
 
 Such a queer, queer room. The bed went 
 up to the ceiling, and had green and white 
 curtains all around it, and the quilt was of 
 silk, with big figures all over it. I thought 
 if I had to sleep there, I should need Jo- 
 
1^4 *^^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 siah's steps to get in. There was a queer 
 old chest In the room, full of old-fashioned 
 dresses and clothing, and when Miss Betty 
 called over the stair-way, " Here's the key to 
 the waistcoats Polly ; " Miss Polly, took it 
 and showed them to our wonderino: Q:aze. 
 
 Waists worn by their grandmothers, vests 
 by their grandfathers, keepsakes, hundreds of 
 years old, flasks, and silver spoons, old rings, 
 and pewter cups, and little love letters, old 
 and yellow. 
 
 " Who did save them all," asked Reggie 1 
 
 " All of us, for years, and years," said Miss 
 Polly, " and we don't show them to every- 
 body my dear." 
 
 " You are very kind," said Reggie, " I never 
 saw anything Hke them before." 
 
 " But yours is a ver}^ old family," said Miss 
 Polly, looking at Reg, — who certainly was 
 very good looking — with a smile, " a good 
 family, and a handsome one." 
 
 Reggie looked puzzled. 
 
 " Oh yes, my dear, i know all about you, 
 
The Peace Sisters, 1^5 
 
 for Luclnda was always telling us about the 
 Warringtons, and Greshams, so sister and I 
 looked it up, and sure enough, our families 
 were connected away back in the 'Colonial' 
 times, so you see you are quite one of us, 
 and very welcome to our poor little show. 
 As to Miss Dolly, her father and our only 
 brother were class mates ; he has been dead 
 for years, poor boy, but we love all his old 
 friends, and you seem to belong to us as it 
 were." 
 
 I was so thankful Ned and Charlie were 
 not there, for they would have smiled at the 
 idea of our belonging to the the three queer 
 old ladies. Reggie seemed to like it ; and I 
 am sure I did, for I cannot help thinking 
 when I see old ladies, how I shall look some 
 day, and these old ladies were so kind to us, 
 and so gentle to each other, I loved to watch 
 them. 
 
 Miss Betty was so very, very deaf, the 
 others had to scream to her, and whenever 
 Reggie or I spoke, they took turns in repeat- 
 
1^6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 ing it to Miss Betty, who always nodded and 
 smiled. 
 
 Just before we went down-stairs, Miss 
 Polly whispered: 
 
 " You needn't mention about the relation- 
 ship to the girls my dears." 
 
 " The girls," I repeated, wondering. 
 
 " Yes dear, the sisters, down-stairs ; Betty 
 has quite set her heart on finding you all out 
 before she speaks of it." 
 
 She seemed so old, so very old herself, 
 that I could not help smiling wdien she said 
 " girls." 
 
 Then we went down-stairs, and Miss 
 Betty told us stories, while all four women 
 clicked their needles, knitting stockings for 
 our soldiers. 
 
 Such queer, funny stories as she told of 
 the long ago, and true ones too, — I can only 
 remember one now, and that was in the old 
 times, when men were put in prison for debt. 
 
 One man who owed another, must hide 
 
The Peace Sisters. i^y 
 
 away, and only come out on Sunday, because 
 Sundays they could not be arrested. 
 
 Miss Betty said that an old Salem man 
 who used to live "just over there," failed, so 
 he shut himself up in his house, and one day 
 one of his creditors called, and asked for 
 some money. 
 
 " I can't pay, I have failed, he called out," 
 but the creditor knew he could, and as he 
 went out, he wrote over the door, with a bit 
 of chalk : 
 
 " A Freeman lives here, 
 
 A Freeman, they say, 
 A Freeman to run in debt. 
 
 But not a Freeman to pay." 
 
 In a few moments a great crowd gathered 
 about, and made so much disturbance, the 
 " freeman " was glad to come out, pay the 
 bill, and rub off the disagreeable verse. 
 
 It was quite hard to leave the sisters, but 
 Miss Priscilla hurried us a little in order to 
 
1^8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 show us the birth-place of Nathaniel Haw- 
 thorne, and the house of Seven Gables, or 
 the one which passes for it. Then she told 
 us about Prescott the historian, Bowditch, 
 and Story, and other famous men who once 
 lived here. I told Reggie I felt as if I had 
 swallowed a history of the United States, on 
 the spot where it was made, but he laughed 
 and said : " the old city is worth a journey 
 from Richmond to see." 
 
 When we reached our little station we 
 found " the rebels " there to receive us. 
 
 " Oh, boys ! " I said, " such a glorious time ! " 
 
 " Not a bit pokey } " asked Ned. 
 
 " See any machinery ? " asked Walter. 
 
 " Where's my fish line .^ " asked Charlie. 
 
 " Forward march," said I, as the twins 
 took their places on eidier side of me, " now 
 not a story of any sort until we get home." 
 
 Papa found his money all right and gave 
 RcG:G:ie and me each a dollar for our ser- 
 vices, with the promise that Ned and Charlie 
 should go next time. 
 
The Peace Sisters, i^g 
 
 The brightest, nicest days always seem to 
 have a cloud at sunset, and our day ended in 
 sadness. 
 
 Papa had at last received a letter from 
 Col. Gresham ; it was dated Florence, and 
 was written lono^ before we left our home. 
 The physicians had given up all hope of 
 Mrs. Neville's return to reason ; her mind 
 seemed completely shattered and her brother 
 had found some American friends, who 
 would look after her, in the quiet, pleasant re- 
 treat he had found for her. If she showed the 
 slightest improvement, these friends would 
 send her under the best possible escort to 
 America, if not, it was better for her to re- 
 main where she was. Col. Gresham would 
 leave for home by the next steamer, and 
 hoped soon to see his dear children. 
 
 " Tell AUie's boys they are as my own, 
 and tell them also, I shall never despair while 
 their mother lives. No one in our family 
 ever suffered from insanity, and poor AUie 
 is only dazed with the multitude of her sor- 
 
t6o Six Little Rebels. 
 
 rows, the separation from her children, the 
 loss of her husband, and the terrible condi- 
 tion of affairs at home. I must go to Rich- 
 mond, and look after my business there, as 
 soon as I have seen you all." 
 
 It was August, now, and all this time had 
 passed by without any tidings. Where Col. 
 Gresham was, we did not know, and one 
 night of suspense followed after another as 
 we looked over the papers and turned away 
 disappointed. 
 
 I have said before that Charlie and Wal- 
 ter Neville were, although twins, entirely un- 
 alike, their trouble brought out the differ- 
 ence. Charlie was nervous and irritable, 
 Walter sad and silent, but both worked 
 harder than ever in our " Hospital Club." 
 
 About this time, a letter from Dick Miller 
 came like a blessing, it was addressed to 
 Reggie but included the family. He wrote : 
 
 " I am coming to your beloved friends for 
 a day, or longer if you will have me. Dolly 
 did not ask me, but the doctor did, and lo ! 
 
The Peace Sisters, i6i 
 
 I come. Keep shady, Bertie, we know a 
 secret or two." 
 
 It seenis that papa who was always plan- 
 ning something to make other people happy, 
 had sent for Dick to spend August with 
 us, and here he was coming. 
 
 Mrs. Miller had been called to New York, 
 and the doctor was as usual very busy at- 
 tending to his duties. 
 
 The very next day while I was playing for 
 papa, and the boys were all out fishing, in 
 marched Dick. 
 
 Bertie, who was piling up clam shells to 
 make a fort on the piazza, saw him first, and 
 screamed out : 
 
 " Oh Dick, oh Uncle doctor, oh Dolly," 
 and in a moment Dick had him in his arms. 
 
 " My dear boy," said papa, " you are wel- 
 come, and welcome again," and then the two 
 had a good old-fashioned hug. 
 
 As for me, Dick merely took my hand 
 and said : 
 
 "Sorry to interrupt Beethoven, Dolly. 
 
t62 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 Browned up haven't you ? Good, hope I 
 shall." 
 
 Then IMiss Luclnda came in, and actually 
 kissed Dick, and declared he was one of her 
 own boys. Before she had finished speak- 
 ing, he had uttered a hurried " excuse me," 
 and was in the little cook-room, sliaking 
 Aunt Axy's fat, black hands. 
 
 '' Land sakes, Massa Dick, you is her' fo' 
 shure ; well, well, these yere is great days." 
 
 " Great days, indeed," said he merrily, and 
 then he went back to papa. 
 
 " The boys are all fishing," said Bertie, 
 " but you may stay to supper, and then you'll 
 see them." 
 
 " May I ? that's kind. Well I shall stay 
 to supper, and to breakfast, and dinner too, 
 thanks to our Uncle doctor," he replied, hold- 
 ing papa's hand in his. 
 
 " You can b'long to the Hoss Club, too^ if 
 you'll work, but Dolly don't let droves 
 b'long." 
 
The Peace Sisters, r6j 
 
 " Is old Whitey who behaved so charm- 
 ingly in the woods, a member ? " 
 
 Bertie looked puzzled, and appealed to me. 
 
 " It is our working club for the soldiers," 
 I explained, " Bertie's crooked tongue has 
 never managed ' Hospital,' and for droves 
 read drones, as the printers say." 
 
 " I see, I see," said Dick. " Well Bertie, I 
 will not be a drone be sure of that, if cousin 
 Dolly will allow me to join the Hoss Club." 
 
 Then the boys came home ; tired, hungry, 
 and, fortunate, with a good basket of iish. It 
 was fun to see them gather about Dick; he 
 stood among them like a Saul, wuth his 
 broad shoulders and curly head, and to every 
 one he gave some special greeting. Reggie 
 and he stood for a moment with their hands 
 on each others shoulders lookino: into each 
 others eyes, but they hardly spoke beyond a 
 " Well, old fellow." Then we sat down for 
 a little talk, until the boys had to dress for 
 tea. 
 
t6^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 If I Vv'ere writing a fairy tale, or a made 
 up story, these boys would all talk properly, 
 and know a great deal of books, and eti- 
 quette ; but as papa says " the trouble with 
 most books for boys and girls is, that they 
 are written of children and not for them," 
 and as young people do use slang, and are 
 careless, it seems to me better to paint them 
 true to nature ; real, live boys and girls, just 
 as they vrere, and are, not the prinking, fine 
 ladies and f^entlemen. It would sound bet- 
 ter to say that Charlie, and Ned, and Walter, 
 and Reggie, retired to their rooms, to make 
 their toilet ; but it would not be true for 
 every one of these boys had their pants 
 tucked into their boots, two of them had on 
 torn straw hats, and each and all smelt fishy, 
 and salt, but Vv'hat do bovs care for such tri- 
 fles ? Down tliey all went on the piazza to 
 look at and listen to Dick. Papa's chair 
 was rolled out, Bertie climbed into Dick's 
 lap, Charlie rolled up his lines, Walter and 
 Ned turned over their fish, saying occasion- 
 
The Peace Sisters, i6§ 
 
 ally " there, I caught that fellow," and Reg- 
 gie leaned against a pillar watching Dick's 
 every motion, delighted in his quiet way, to 
 see him once more. 
 
 There was so much to tell of Washington, 
 of the camps, of new orders, and great 
 changes, that papa spoke twice, a very unu- 
 sual thing, before the boys went in to dress, 
 and took Dick with them. 
 
 After tea Ned proposed a row and Dick 
 wanted to know how many crafts it required 
 to carry us all ? 
 
 " Dolly has her own boat," said Ned, " one 
 of uncle's friends sent his wife and daus^hter 
 across the big pond just in the nick of time, 
 and the young lady's boat is in Dolly's 
 care." 
 
 " And you ought to see her streak it, when 
 Dolly goes alone," exclaimed Charlie. 
 
 " I mican to," said Dick, quietly ; but I 
 thought, you will not have an opportunity to 
 laugh at me Mr. Dick Miller. 
 
 " You are welcome to my boat, Dick, 
 
1 66 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 whenever you like, the boys will be likely to 
 follow wherever you and Reggie lead," I 
 said. 
 
 " Ned is the duck here," said papa, " I 
 think my boys are all fond of the water, but 
 Ned lives in it and on it. Now if you will 
 allows me to suggest, I should say that three 
 of you might go out in Dolly's boat and 
 three in the other ; or the ' boys boat,' as we 
 call it." 
 
 Then we drew lots, and it ended in Dick, 
 Charlie, and I, going in my boat, and I de- 
 clared at once that I was too tired to row. 
 
 Papa urged us to return soon, for Dick 
 was tired, and besides he had many questions 
 to ask. 
 
 "Take the oars a little while, Dolly," 
 begged Dick when we w^re well out. 
 
 " No," I said, " Charlie can manage, and 
 there is no need ; besides, I shall only do it 
 ' w^ell enough for a girl you know\' Dick 
 laughed. 
 
The Peace Sisters, i6y 
 
 " So you remember my tender parting 
 words, do you ? " 
 
 " Yes, I seldom forget a Kindness!^ 
 
 Then Dick laughed again, and asked 
 Charlie if we lived on fish altogether, for 
 Dolly's brain was too active. 
 
 " Some of us would come off poorly, 
 if her brains and hands were not both 
 active," said my red-headed champion. 
 
 " I believe you," said Dick. 
 ■ And then we talked of various things, the 
 light houses, the yacht race, and all the 
 sports of our sea shore life, until it was time 
 to return. 
 
 " R^ggi^'" said Dick, after I had seen 
 papa snug in bed that night, " do you know 
 I think your father has been in Washing- 
 ton." Reggie's eyes glowed. " Yes, some- 
 one called at the "Woodbox," and at our 
 house; we were all away; he wrote your ad- 
 dress down on a card which the servant 
 gave him, and we supposed he must have 
 
r68 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 come directly here. It didn't seem to occur to 
 him to leave his own card, and I have cross- 
 questioned that stupid girl, in ex'ery way, 
 without a bit of satisfaction ; all she would 
 say was : ' I see him, Mr. Dick, go to the 
 ' Woodbox ' over there, and look all about, 
 then he came here and rang the bell, and he 
 asked me when the folks went, and if they 
 was all well, and I told him I hadn't been 
 here long, and I didn't know.' " 
 
 " I have feared that," said Reggie, " our 
 letters have not reached him." 
 
 " Why didn't he come directly here ? " 
 asked Ned, " he had our address." 
 
 " That is the point," said Dick. 
 
 " It mio^ht have been Arnold, or some of 
 your Richmond friends, and not Col. Gres- 
 ham at all," said I. 
 
 " No," said Dick, " Mary described him ex- 
 actly. Tall, very erect, broad shouldered 
 and handsome ; but sad-looking, that corres- 
 ponds with the pictures, Reggie." 
 
 " Yes," said Reg, absently. 
 
The Peace Sisters, i6g 
 
 " When was this ? " I asked. 
 
 " About three weeks since ? '' 
 
 " Oh well, that is all right, if he was well 
 three weeks ago and on this side of the 
 Atlantic, I am sure we have ever so much to 
 be thankful for," said I. 
 
 " Dolly I don't think you ever give up or 
 lose your hope," said Charlie. 
 
 " Hopeful Dolly," said Dick, teasingly. 
 
 Reggie walked the floor and came back 
 and forth near my chair so often, it made me 
 nervous to see him. 
 
 " Now Reggie Gresham," I said, " if you 
 will stop 'marching on,' long enough to hear 
 me I will tell you something. He paused, 
 looked eagerly in my face and said : 
 
 " Well cousin." 
 
 '' Without doubt we shall hear from your 
 father within a month, so shorten your 
 ' filing,' and be happy." 
 
 " I wish I could think so," he said sadly. 
 
 " Well, let us go to bed and dream of 
 him," I said. 
 
7/0 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " I did as you suggested," said Reggie, the 
 next morning ; " I saw papa distinctly, he 
 was standing on the end of a burned bridge, 
 and the timbers were falHng, I started to go 
 to him, but he put up his hands, and said : 
 ' Keep back my boy, keep back, keep your 
 feet on firm ground.' " 
 
 " And I jeemed, piped up Httle Bertie, 
 " that Captain Josiah tooked us all over to 
 the island in a boat, and we staid most all 
 day, and I wasn't tired one bit." 
 
 " Bless him," said I, "the poor darling hung- 
 ers for a trip to that island, papa you must 
 say yes." 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A QUARREL WITH DICK. 
 
 ^^^t FTER breakfast we went to our les- 
 sons as usual, and Dick joined us, 
 but he made so many blunders in translating 
 some latin, that he laughed at himself, and we 
 all helped. 
 
 " You see doctor," he said, " I am not 
 favored with home drill, like these lucky- 
 fellows." 
 
 " I know my boy, but you own, honest 
 
 work is the best drill after all." 
 
 Then we read aloud, but Dick did not read 
 
 171 
 
T'j2 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 as well as either Reggie, or Charlie.; papa 
 said he had certainly been neglected in 
 that respect, for he had a fine voice, and ^vas 
 very quick to catch anything. I whispered 
 to Charlie, that he was too full of mischief 
 to study hard. When we had finished, 
 papa sent for Josiah, and arranged for us to 
 spend the rest of the day in boating, or on 
 the Island. 
 
 Josiah and Dick were friends at once, but 
 Josiah's "second wife," as Miss Lucinda 
 always called her, told Aunt Axy in confi- 
 dence that the talky young man seemed 
 rather queer, and she didn't take to him, as 
 she had to the other boys. 
 
 Bertie went with us. Dick insisted upon 
 it, and carried a big umbrella and a pillow, 
 down to the boat, to make the child comfort- 
 able, if he wanted a nap. Papa saw us off, 
 and then began his writing. Dick said it 
 was a shame he did not go with us, and he 
 meant to have him yet. 
 
A Qtiarrel with Dick, lyj 
 
 But who do you think went, and in my 
 boat too? Why Miss Lucinda ! she de- 
 clared she would not, she was too fat, and 
 heavy, the doctor would need her, and it was 
 foolish nonesense, but Dick and Charlie 
 managed it, and when I saw her green ber- 
 age sun-bonnet coming down the beach, I 
 said, " Dick Miller, I do believe you always 
 accomplish everything you set your heart on." 
 
 " Not quite, fair lady, you would not row 
 to please m^c, but Miss Lucinda is more 
 obliging, she goes with us to keep you 
 all in order, at my request." And then the 
 provoking boy strutted up the beach, making 
 himself as absurd as possible. 
 
 Reggie did not care to go, but knew it 
 was polite to our guest, and the boys were 
 only too glad to show off the coast and har- 
 bor to Dick, who boasted cf New York, like 
 a o-cnuine New Yorker, as he v/as. 
 
 " The sea side has done one rood thin^ 
 for Miss Dolly, said Dick to Miss Lucinda, 
 
ij^f. Six Little Rebels. 
 
 as he arranged a cushion for her. She has 
 at last found out that her father can live and 
 breathe without her." 
 
 " Thank you," said I, " we had ver}^ few 
 temptations to leave him at home, and he 
 was not as strong as he is now." 
 
 " Don't say much about that," said Miss 
 Lucinda, who never quite relished Dick's 
 remarks when they appeared to reflect on 
 me, — "goodness knows, her pa and I have 
 tried hard to get her out more, especially, 
 since the little fellow came, and I think the 
 doctor enjoys it quite as much as she does. 
 He has brightened up a good bit since the 
 boys came." 
 
 " Thank you," called Reggie, who was put- 
 ting the kettle and fry-pan in his boat. "It 
 is a comfort to know we have done some- 
 thin r^ to make ourselves bearable." 
 
 Reggie vras in one cf his " blue moods," 
 he had them frequently novv, and I lincw he 
 was troubled, so I called out: 
 
 "Why Reggie Gresham, I am sure I don't 
 
A Quarrel with Dick, 775 
 
 know what we should do without you, I am 
 not half as mean, and selfish as I was before 
 you all came." I meant every word I said, 
 but I was so provoked with myself for saying 
 ic before Dick, I knew he would never let me 
 forget it. 
 
 Reggie turned about with one of his pleas- 
 ant smiles, and said ; " Thank you cousin, I 
 value that from one who hates boys." 
 
 " You don't hate them now do you Dolly t " 
 said my little pet, who was sitting very, very 
 still, as the boys told him to." 
 
 " No dear, not since I knew you," I an- 
 swered, but my cheeks burned, for Dick Mil- 
 ler kept those great eyes of his fastened on 
 me with such a provoking look, I was vexed 
 enough to pinch myself. There he sat with 
 Bertie nestled close to him, and in his bland- 
 est tones called out : " Come Miss Dolly, 
 take your oars, we are all ready." 
 
 " You don't mean to ask the child to row 
 a great heavy body like me over to that 
 
Ij6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 island do you ? " exclaimed Miss Lucinda, 
 amazed. 
 
 " I want to see her row," said Dick, " I asked 
 her to learn, and now I want to see how well 
 she does it." 
 
 If I was provoked before, I was downright 
 angry now, and burst out with, " If you think 
 Mr. Miller, that I shall use the oars for your 
 benefit, or amusement, you are mistaken, I 
 am in the habit of rowing when / please." 
 
 " Oh," said Dick, mockingly, " I thought 
 you were not selfish now, and would do 
 things to please others. ' 
 
 I could hardly keep the tears back, but I 
 answered : " Our boys usually consult my 
 wishes, and I try to remember theirs." 
 
 " Good for cousin Dolly," shouted Ned, 
 who was ready to push us off. " Come, none of 
 your nonsense, Dick, turn, and turn about, is 
 fair play, if you want to see her row, get up 
 early in the morning, she can beat 'yours 
 truly,' any day in the week, Sundays excepted." 
 
 Ned sprang into our boat, and took the 
 
A Quarrel with Dick, 777 
 
 oars, and with three cheers for papa, away 
 we went. 
 
 Miss Lucinda talked more than usual, and 
 told some funny stories of the sailors she 
 had known, while Ned and Dick were soon 
 interested in a race with Josiah and the 
 l3oys. 
 
 " I wish you were close by me, cousin 
 Dolly," said little Bertie, when the beat 
 began to dance a little. 
 
 " You shall sit by her now dear," said Dick, 
 " if you like to move, or, if not, you may cud- 
 dle under her wing on the home trip." 
 
 " I would rather not move," said the child, 
 but his little pale face grew paler, and I saw 
 him cling to Dick's arm. 
 
 After we had landed, we arranged a little 
 bed for him, and the dear boy seemed glad 
 to be on shore again. He looked very com- 
 fortable with the umbrella opened above 
 him, and held down with a string tied to 
 some stones ; I could not help thanking 
 Dick for thinking of it. 
 
1^8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 Whereupon, Dick pulled off his hat, and 
 with the most comical face, begged me " to 
 forgive him for his ' sarse,' I can't help teas- 
 ing, Miss Dolly, indeed I can't, total deprav- 
 ity, original sin, or something's the matter, 
 but I tease that blessed mother of mine some- 
 times, until the tears come, and then I want 
 to go out and hang myself." He looked so 
 funny, and seemed so ready to begin teasing 
 again, I could not help saying. Oh, Dick, 
 Bertie is right, you do act like the monkey 
 at the menagerie." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Warrington," he re- 
 plied, and marched off looking " cross enough 
 to bite, Charlie said." 
 
 " What ails you two ? " said Walter, " are 
 you both so sharp that every word cuts, I 
 thought you liked Dick, cousin Dolly } " 
 
 " It isn't her fault," said Charlie, who was 
 helping me unpack a basket. " Dick seems 
 to think girls are made to be teased, and 
 snubbed; you ought to hear Reggie lecture 
 him." 
 
A Quarrel with Dick, 
 
 ^79 
 
 " I was to 
 b 1 a m e," I 
 said, " but he is dread- 
 fully provokinor; he is 
 our guest you know boys, ^:',.. '^^- 
 
 and remember papa is very strict 
 on duty to guests, beside he is so 
 good to Bertie, and the child loves him." 
 
 " Well, he needn't put on airs," said Char- 
 lie, who was always ready to defend me, right 
 or wrong, " I like him ever so much, but he 
 must stop teasing you, or Til duck him." 
 
 " Tut, tut," said Miss Lucinda, " don't be 
 rash my boy, the airs that are put on 'for 
 fun,' arc easier to manage than those put on 
 'in anger;' look at him now, minding, and 
 amusing that child, as nice as a woman, I tell 
 
t8o Six Little Rebels, 
 
 you, Mister Dick has the making of a splen- 
 did man in him, if some stupid body don't 
 spoil him." 
 
 Yes, there was Dick lying on the ground 
 close to Bertie, telling him some story which 
 delighted the child, for every little while we 
 heard his laugh ring out as it had not done 
 before, since he first came to us. 
 
 Reggie called Dick when they were ready 
 to go out fishing, and I took his place, and 
 shared my pet's pillow. Miss Lucinda was 
 busy "getting things in trim, for a good 
 chowder," she said. 
 
 " Oh Dolly," said Bertie, as he patted my 
 cheek with his little hand, " don't you think 
 God is real good to make such a big out- 
 doors for us t " 
 
 " Yes darling, very, and the sea is so beau- 
 tiful to-day." 
 
 " I wish we could live here, all the time, 
 Dolly." 
 
 " Not when the snow, and ice come, little 
 
A Quarrel with Dick, i8i 
 
 birdie, then, you would be glad to nestle in 
 the ' woodbox.' " 
 
 " If I was ever so rich," said he, with bil- 
 lions, and billions of dollars, I would build a 
 big house here for sick folks, and make 'em 
 get well. I wish I had something cousin 
 Dolly." 
 
 " Well pet." 
 
 " I w4sh I had a telegraph right straight 
 up to Heaven, like Dr. Howard's." 
 
 " I didn't know he had one there," I said, 
 smiling. 
 
 " Well, I mean like the one he showed me 
 in the office." 
 
 " Well dear, what would you do } " 
 
 '' Oh I ask God somefin." 
 
 " What dear } " 
 
 " Oh 'bout mamma, I'd ask him to spare 
 her just one little wee day, so I could have a 
 truly mamma like other boys, I wouldn't 
 keep her long, cousin Dolly." 
 
 I did not answer. He went on : 
 
i82 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " I asked Dick if he 'sposed she knowed 
 how good you was to me, and how we all 
 loved }0U, and Uncle doctor, and Dick said, 
 no one could help loving you, and Uncle doc- 
 tor was pretty near a saint/' 
 
 I raised up on my elbow and looked at 
 him, his dark eyes were looking far, far out 
 to sea, and he talked on, like a person think- 
 ing aloud. 
 
 " There are so many things I want to 
 knovv^, 1 should ask Him, why he lets the sea 
 get angry, and swallow up the poor sailors, 
 and then the little children never have a 
 papa, to come home. 
 
 " When my papa comes, he will bring me 
 a velocipede, and squeeze me up real tight, 
 the way he did when he went away. I wish 
 he would come, Uncle doctor says it will be 
 a long while yet." 
 
 " Yes dear, we must be very patient, you 
 want to grow ever so much before papa 
 comes, you know." 
 
 When Bertie first came, it troubled me to 
 
A Quarrel with Dick, i8j 
 
 hear him talk so much of Heaven, and his 
 mother, it seemed to me he would die, very 
 young, as the children in the good Sunday- 
 school books do, and I talked with papa 
 about it. 
 
 " Don't trouble yourself, little woman," 
 said he, " people generally are very stupid in 
 such matters. Our little Bertie is a highly 
 organized child, with quite a remarkable 
 poetic temperament, only a little more brain, 
 than body, daughter, and we must help the 
 body catch up with the brain. Let his queer 
 fancies come out, and when he is too deep 
 for you, send him to me ; when he is too 
 deep for me I must do as many a man has 
 done before me, confess that ' I am led by a 
 little child; " 
 
 Bertie was perfectly quiet for a little while, 
 and I began to think, it was a great relief to 
 know that Dick's teasing did not come from 
 dislike, and I confess I felt flattered by his 
 remark to Bertie; I had always been long- 
 ing to have people love me, but it seemed to 
 
184 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 me no one ever did, except papa. Of course 
 Miss Lucinda loved me in a " sorry-for-me- 
 way," I didn't like that; Aunt Axy, yes, I 
 really think she loved me out and out, with- 
 out " ifs," or " buts," or "because," and now 
 dear little Bertie loved me because he needed 
 me, but the girls at* school used to call me 
 " odd " when I spoke out my thoughts, and 
 then when I refused to speak them they said 
 " I was a queer girl anyway." 
 
 I never felt " queer," only lonely, and tired, 
 when papa lay so sick, and I had wished 
 hundreds and hundreds of times, just as 
 Bertie did, that God could spare my mother 
 for a little while. Perhaps I should never 
 have been " odd " or " queer " if she had been 
 with me. I had one girl friend, one bright, 
 pretty, gay crony, who sent me long letters 
 every week from Philadelphia. She was the 
 only child of wealthy parents, and they were 
 dear friends of my dead mother ; long, long 
 before the boys came, I cried hard one day, 
 because two spiteful girls at school, sneered 
 
A Quarrel with Dick. i8§ 
 
 at my composition, after the teachers had 
 praised it; those girls called me the "Queer- 
 ity writer." Then Cora put both arms 
 around me, and called me a dear, dear 
 thing, and begged me not to mind. They 
 did not see me weeping, oh, no, and papa 
 never knew, but Cora comforted me as she 
 always did. 
 
 " You are original darling, all the teachers 
 say that, and it is a nice thing to be ; now I 
 am just a poor, little commonplace school 
 girl, no one calls me ' original,' or marks me 
 ten on my essays." 
 
 " I should rather be as commonplace as 
 Aunt Axy, and have everyone love me," I 
 said, bitterly, " oh Cora, I do hate so, to be 
 queer." 
 
 Those old hurts in my brief school life, 
 had never healed, and when our boys came I 
 fancied they were polite, first, because they 
 were well bred, secondly, because I was 
 papa's daughter, and thirdly, because I was 
 kind to them. They tolerated me, and made 
 
1 86 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 the best of me, but I never thought until 
 Bertie's little speech, that after all Dolly 
 Warrington was to some other people pre- 
 cisely what her precious papa called her " a 
 loverable girl." 
 
 Yes, I was growing fond of the boys too, 
 all of them, and I wondered how we could 
 ever go back to our old quiet life, if Col. 
 Gresham should walk in some day and carry 
 them off to Dixie. Whatever the boys did, 
 I did. If they made kites so did I ; if they 
 fished I fished ; if they tried experiments on 
 turtles, toads, and water snakes, I was always 
 with them, 
 
 Josiah gave us all swimming and boating 
 lessons, and even papa said " the boys " will 
 do so and so, when I was included. One of 
 the gentlemen from Boston, proposed swim- 
 ming lessons for me in that city, but two sat- 
 isfied Miss Lucinda and myself. 
 
 '' It is like putting a duck in a wash basin 
 doctor," said she one day, and after that we 
 all swam about in our " big pond," 
 
A Quarrel with Dick, iSj 
 
 Papa and Bertie had their salt water dip 
 at home, and much fun had we in " totino- " 
 up the water. As I lay there looking at the 
 blue sky, and the bluer water, I thought over 
 all these things, and felt ashamed that my 
 temper had' risen against Dick, felt more 
 than ashamed of my silly, pride about row- 
 ing, and I then and there determined to be 
 so good, dear little Bertie would have some- 
 thing worth while to tell his mother if he 
 had his telegraph. While I was meditating, 
 the child had fallen asleep, tired out with 
 the excitement of the mornino^. I covered 
 him up carefully, and crept down to ask 
 Miss Lucinda if there was any danger of his 
 taking cold. 
 
 " No child, not a mite," said she, " sea 
 breezes, never give sneezes,'' and while I was 
 laughing over the old saying, we heard 
 shouts, and saw the boys and Josiah making 
 for shore. Dick landed first, with two small 
 fish, which he flourished about, singing : 
 
i88 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " On fish he lived from day to day 
 
 Fish caught by his own hand, 
 And when he did not land his prey 
 
 He did not praise the land. 
 
 He led a happy life ; content, 
 
 He never thought to roam j 
 And every day he fishing went 
 
 And brought his net gains home." 
 
 "Sh, sh, shur," cried Miss Lucinda, "the 
 boy is asleep, don't wake him until we have 
 some dinner ready ; he will have a sea appe- 
 tite I'll warrant." 
 
 " Beg pardon," said Dick, " I never had 
 such a good time in all my life ; I fished for 
 fish, Ned fished for hats, two overboard ; and 
 we have all fished up a tremendous appe- 
 tite." 
 
 " Well," said Miss Lucinda, trotting about; 
 the next thing is, are the fish cleaned ? " 
 
 " Fish cleaned ! " shouted Charlie, and Wal- 
 ter in chorus, " why we had all we could do 
 to pull in, Josiah and Reg are at them now," 
 
A Quarrel with Dick. [8g 
 
 " I will go and help," said I, "for fear you 
 will all starve." 
 
 " Don't Dolly, don't," said dainty Dick, 
 " it isn't nice work for a young lady, stay 
 here, and let me tell you about the fun." 
 
 " I do believe you are lazy," said I, laugh- 
 ing, " of course it isn't ' nice work,' for any- 
 one, but many hands make light work, come 
 Charlie, let us do our share." 
 
 " The fact is," said Dick, in a half whisper 
 to Miss Lucinda, " I am tired ; you see this 
 is all new business to me, haven't got my 
 muscle up." 
 
 " Cheek's in good order," said Charlie, call- 
 ing back as we went down the hill. 
 
 " Charles my son, you are right, I bor- 
 rowed some from you, and forgot to return 
 it," said Dick. 
 
 How hungry we all were when dinner was 
 ready ! Lazy as Dick pretended to be, he 
 fried fish like a veteran cook, while Reggie 
 and I cooked the potatoes. 
 
Tgo Six Little Rebels, 
 
 Miss Lucinda made us a pot of chocolate, 
 which was nearly as good as our farewell cup 
 in Georgetown, and Bertie woke up just in 
 time to enjoy it with us. More than a week 
 before we had made a store-house on the 
 island with Josiah's help. We dug down far 
 enough to sink a small square box, and in it 
 we put some bright tin plates, some forks, 
 and spoons, and such things as we did not 
 care to carry back and forth. Everything 
 was found in good order, and our chowder, 
 had a better flavor than any we had ever 
 eaten from elegant china dishes. 
 
 " If papa were only here," I said, " it 
 would be complete." 
 
 " We must arrange it some way," said 
 Reggie, "do you know I took the liberty of 
 asking his old friend about it, and he says 
 boating would be of great benefit to him if 
 we could manao;e it without too much exer- 
 tion." 
 
 Walter and I exchanged glances. From 
 the day of our coming this had been our 
 
A Quarrel with Dick. igt 
 
 hope, but we did not share it with the rest. 
 Walter was an ingenious boy, always devis- 
 ing some labor-saving machine ; papa often 
 told him he was the son of a Yankee. 
 
 When we began to carry up salt water, he 
 explained a method by which it could be 
 taken up to the house, and I think papa 
 would have carried it out, if he had owned 
 the property, as it was, we had " patent window 
 lifts " without a patent ; patent fastenings on 
 doors, a new process for scouring tins. Miss 
 Lucinda never fretted or found fault with his 
 filings and dirt, but she it was, who urged 
 her brother to fit up a little work-shop in the 
 shed. 
 
 This little shop was our refuge on stormy 
 days. Ned went there to use his fret-saw, 
 Charlie to feed his pet turtles, or rabbits, and 
 Reggie to look on and suggest, when he 
 grew tired of his books. As for me, I will 
 be honest, I went there and spent many a 
 happy hour because as Miss Lucinda said I 
 had " a hankering for all kinds of tools." 
 
ig2 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Reggie sometimes drew our plans, but gen- 
 erally, I drew them, and Walter did the 
 heavy work, leaving the pretty wood carving, 
 and touching up, to me. 
 
 Out of this little shop many useful things 
 had appeared. A black-board for family use, 
 brackets for Miss Lucinda, and Josiah's wife; 
 bookshelves for our little study, foot-stools 
 for Bertie and myself, picture frames for 
 Reggie's drawings and the pretty plates we 
 bought from time to time, a folding desk for 
 papa, rustic chairs, and baskets for the piazza, 
 and now we were all busy making a little 
 sideboard for our dining-room, which Miss 
 Lucinda said should go into Miss Dolly's 
 house when she was married. 
 
 It was nearly done, the panels were of the 
 natural wood, polished, with a little shore 
 scene, painted in the centre of each. The 
 drawers were decorated with fanciful carved 
 handles, and the high back had the various 
 grains and grasses of the locality, all we 
 could gather, painted in little groups, be- 
 
A Quarrel with Dick, igj 
 
 neath a very mysterious monogram, an effort 
 of Reggie's to combine the names of War- 
 rington, Gresham, and Neville. Papa Had 
 seen it in bits, but the next rainy day 
 would put on the finishing strokes and 
 all would enjoy our handy work. 
 
 Beside this, we had something else which 
 we must talk about in another chapter. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 WALTER S SECRET. 
 
 ^^ E went home in good season from our 
 ^^ trip, as we had promised, for it would 
 never do to keep our little Bertie out late ; 
 but before we started, in order to show Dick 
 that I did not feel ill-natured, I invited him 
 out to row. 
 
 He accepted, and seemed very much 
 pleased, but soon urged our going back, as 
 Bertie was so troubled about my leaving him. 
 
 I tried very hard not to quarrel with him, 
 so I talked about his mother, his going back 
 194 
 
Walters Secret, igc 
 
 to school, and other things, but neither of us 
 mentioned boats or rowing, of course we 
 were both thinking of it, or he was, and 
 when we landed, his " thank you. Miss Dolly," 
 sounded very little like the praise our boys 
 were fond of giving me after a brisk pull. 
 
 " I hope he is satisfied," said Charlie, with 
 a growl, as I passed him. 
 
 " I am," said I, as I threw myself down 
 on the grass, and began to fan myself with 
 my hat. 
 
 " You didn't pull your best, Miss Dolly," 
 said Josiah, who was rather proud of his 
 pupil, and now seemed disappointed. 
 
 " Haven't any best to pull," said I with a 
 laugh, " it needs you out in the other boat to 
 stir me up to good work." 
 Dick said nothing, but sang : 
 
 " For my hopes o'er the sea lightly flit, like the win-s 
 Of the curlews that hover and poise round my bark." 
 
 " Where do you get so many sea songs," 
 
ig6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 asked Ned, " did you study up for this occa- 
 sion ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Dick, " laid in all the old mag- 
 azines, and song books I could find, and 
 committed them to memory, that accounts 
 for my verdancy in Latin." 
 
 The truth was, Dick had a most remarka- 
 ble memory, and could repeat things he had 
 read but once or twice. 
 
 That evening we had a quiet time in the 
 study with papa. 
 
 " Uncle," said Walter, looking up suddenly 
 from his chemistry, " may I have the work- 
 shop all to myself, to-morrow ? " 
 
 "He has something he wants to finish, 
 papa, I added." 
 
 " Is it a great secret 1 " asked papa. 
 
 " No, sir, a very simple secret, but Dolly 
 knows." 
 
 " Oh, well," said papa, "if w^e are at all 
 gallant, we must say that, if Dolly knows, it 
 must be all right, how is it boys, shall we 
 grant the request ? " 
 
Walter s Secret, igy 
 
 " Yes sir," was the prompt reply. 
 
 " Do you care for it, if the day is fine, 
 Walter?" asked papa. 
 
 " Yes sir, I would not like to wait any 
 longer, the express man brought me all I 
 need to-night." 
 
 The next day we were to visit the "Sing- 
 ing Beach," but Walter would not go, and I 
 made up my mind to stay and help him if he 
 needed me. 
 
 The boys were very curious, but papa said 
 it was always rude to ask questions, concern- 
 ing the private affairs of any one, " depend 
 upon it my lads, if people wish you to know 
 things, they will manage to tell you, without 
 prying questions." 
 
 At last they went away and left us in 
 peace. Walter worked like a hero, and part 
 of the time Josiah and I helped. Before our 
 tramps returned we were all ready, and went 
 out to arrange for the first scene. Walter 
 thought it would be best to try it before the 
 
i<)8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 boys came back, but I was sure it would 
 work, and I wanted all our flock present. 
 
 " When will the great unknown be re- 
 vealed ?" asked Dick, as he sat whittling a 
 boat for Bertie, about four in the afternoon. 
 
 " Now," answered Walter promptly, " if the 
 doctor is ready." 
 
 I had prepared papa, and Josiah was as 
 eager as one of the boys. 
 
 " All ready," said papa, who was in his 
 favorite seat on the piazza. 
 
 "Boat ready, Dolly .1^" 
 
 " All ready." 
 
 Then Walter like an eager, young in- 
 ventor, sprang over the steps, and produced 
 some wooden machinery with hinges, and a 
 crank which he had previously placed under 
 the little piazza. Quick as a flash, he 
 fastened one end into some sockets and 
 turned the crank, when slowly, and carefully 
 a wooden track appeared, and began to 
 stretch down the sandy beach in the direc- 
 tion of my pretty cushioned boat. 
 
Walters Secret /pp 
 
 The boys looked on surprised ; Walter 
 was pale with excitement, and I fairly trem- 
 bled as I stood at the back of papa's chair. 
 
 My boat had been pulled up high and dry 
 for the occasion, but Josiah was on hand to 
 launch her. 
 
 As soon as the little track was ready, Jo- 
 siah and Walter fitted the wheels of papa's 
 chair upon the end, on the piazza, and slowly 
 let him down upon the sand. 
 
 Bertie stood on the steps looking half 
 pleased and half frightened, holding Reggie's 
 hand. Dick looked on admiringly, and Charlie 
 and Ned whispered, but no one interfered, as 
 papa had requested them to " keep still, and 
 let Walter manage his own affairs." 
 
 All went well. With no more trouble 
 than he usually experienced in getting from 
 his chair to his bed, papa was seated in the 
 boat, and then, when he waved his hat above 
 his head, it was the signal for the loudest, 
 longest, jolliest cheers I ever heard. 
 
 Carefully and safely Josiah slid the boat 
 
200 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 down ; when I got in and took the oars as 
 Walter had suggested. 
 
 " Come Walter, my boy, you must go with 
 us," said papa, every inventor must test the 
 result of his work." 
 
 Before he could get in, Reggie was there 
 to say : 
 
 " Well done Walter, you floundered in 
 Latin, but triumphed with tools." 
 
 Ned hugged him, he was so delighted, and 
 Charlie was so proud of his mate he ex- 
 ploded with : 
 
 " Bully- for you, brown locks, bully for you," 
 and papa did not reprove him for using 
 slang, as he generally did. 
 
 Josiah, Aunt Axy, Miss Lucinda, Lex and 
 Bertie, all crowded about. Dick after his 
 fashion began feeling of the bumps in Wal- 
 ter's head, and exclaimed : 
 
 " And still the wonder grew, 
 That one small head, could carry all he knew." 
 
 " Come all you fellows, don't put it all on 
 
Walters Secret. 201 
 
 me, I never should have put the thing 
 through only for Dolly, clear the way please, 
 and don't touch that track, Reggie, look out 
 for it will you." 
 
 As for me, there was a lump in my throat 
 which felt as big as a water-melon. It was 
 so charming to have dear papa out on the 
 water with me; I had blistered my hands, 
 and skinned my knuckles, in the work shop, 
 and made my shoulders ache so I could not 
 sleep, while learning to handle the oars, but 
 I would do it all over again forty times, if 
 need be, for the sake of seeing that peaceful 
 contented look, on papa's face. 
 
 He had been very fond of the water when 
 in college, and was " stroke oar," one of his 
 friends told me, and it seemed to me he 
 would think of those days and his present 
 crippled condition ; but no, he took a long 
 look about, drew in a long breath, of the sea 
 air, and said : 
 
 " ' He brought me to the banqueting house, 
 and his banner over me was love.' " 
 
202 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 We had read it at morning prayers, only 
 a few days before. Walter sat perfectly still, 
 watching papa, and I was rowing now my 
 very best. It was something to work for, 
 with such a passenger. 
 
 " My dear children I thank you very much, 
 more than you can understand ; this is de- 
 lightful," said our dear patient. 
 
 " And now you can go every day papa, and 
 you shall teach me some of your boating 
 tricks, for I want to learn to be graceful, as 
 well as sure, Josiah thinks I have a good sure 
 stroke, but that is not enough. Shall I go 
 back now, papa } " 
 
 " Not unless you wish daughter, and feel 
 tired." 
 
 I was not tired, and I did not " wish," but 
 it seemed only fair that the boys should go 
 out for a few moments with him, for Ned 
 w^as proud of his boating knowledge. 
 
 Walter beckoned to them and down they 
 came. Ned and Charlie went out first, then 
 Reggie and Dick, and I think no happier 
 
Walters Secret, 20J 
 
 family could be found in all the elegant villas 
 on the shore, than gathered about the tea- 
 table in our little cottasre that niQ:ht. 
 
 The next morning papa said he had de- 
 cided to allow us a week's freedom from 
 lessons in order to give us ample time to 
 show Dick the sights. 
 
 I was very glad, for I had so much to 
 do for our club, and my dresses needed so 
 many repairs, to say nothing of music and 
 boating, it would be a great relief to slide 
 over even interesting lessons. 
 
 During the week, I had a long letter from 
 Mrs. Miller, and one from Cora. Mrs. 
 Miller's troubled me a little, and I carried it 
 to papa. 
 
 " I suppose our rattle-brain has told you all 
 the news, but I must speak a word about 
 your visitor. You may tell Reggie, or not, 
 as your papa thinks best. 
 
 " I met a lady this week, who once met 
 him in society at Richmond, and was so 
 much pleased with him she would remember 
 
20 /J. Six Little Rebels. 
 
 him anywhere. She says, he passed her one 
 day In the street while I was gone ; he was 
 looking worn and haggard, so much so, she 
 turned to look after him, and as she did so, 
 he was greeted by a gentleman who seemed 
 delighted to see him, and asked if he were 
 stopping in town ; she distinctly heard his 
 reply : 
 
 '" No, I am a wanderer; came here to meet 
 my children, but find them in New England, 
 I have important tidings from Richmond, 
 and find I must manage to go there, before I 
 can travel north and see my boys.' The lady 
 passed on, but says she was rude enough to 
 turn once more, and saw them still talking, 
 and she was so much interested in your 
 father's 'young rebels' she came to tell me 
 about it as soon as possible after my return. 
 " ' Why did he not write froni Washington } ' 
 I hear you ask. My dear I presume he did, 
 but you know these are terrible times. Doctor 
 will make every effort to hear something 
 
Walters Secret, 20^ 
 
 more satisfactor}^ Don't borrow trouble. 
 If he was arrested here we should have 
 heard of it I think ; he is probably where he 
 cannot get away or he may be worn and sick, 
 my servant said he looked ill." 
 
 The boys did not borrow trouble, on the 
 contrary, the fact that their father was on 
 this side of the Atlantic, was enough to ren- 
 der them jubilant, and as papa said, we need 
 not be surprised if he walked in upon us 
 any day. 
 
 That night, Reggie was gayer and brighter 
 than he had been before for weeks, and 
 when Ned and Dick said they had arranged 
 a race with two " Boston swells,' as they 
 chose to call two lads in town, Reggie pro- 
 posed going out to see the fun. 
 
 It was a lovely evening, and I was tempted 
 to join the boys, but Bertie had one of his 
 "poor days," as Miss Lucinda called them, 
 and I staid behind. 
 
 Charlie gave us this wonderful account 
 
2o6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 which you must accept precisely as It was 
 given, with clue allow^ance for boys' slang. 
 A boy must talk like a boy you know. 
 
 " Oh, Uncle doctor, you never saw such 
 fun, Reggie, and Johnny Budd, and that 
 quill driver, were the judges ; Ned and Dick 
 had Dolly's boat, and Walter and I took 
 ours, and out came the swells in regular 
 boating rig, shirts open, and arms bare, and 
 all the fol-dc-rols, two in each boat, same as 
 we were. We were to start from the point 
 of Rocks, go out to the judges, row around 
 It, and back to the starting point. 
 
 '" Richmond against Boston.' Those swells 
 said we ' were rebels ' anyway ; two of 'em 
 did, and the other two told them to shut up, 
 but Reggie and Budd fixed it up all right. 
 Budd's a good fellow, no sneak, no shoddy, 
 and he can handle a boat too ; you know his 
 brother and a cousin were in one of the boats. 
 It was ' Richmond against Boston,' and away 
 we w^ent ; Walt pulled everlastingly, and so did 
 the others, they had the best boats though. 
 
Walter s Secret, 2oy 
 
 when we reached the judges' boat, Budd's 
 boat and Ned's were about even, but coming 
 in, Ned got about a length ahead, and 
 then, — I am awful sorry, uncle, and you 
 may keep my month's allowance back as 
 long as you like, but if we didn't smash into 
 those others ; and our boat is hauled up for 
 repairs, or she will be; and the j oiliest part of 
 it is, theirs is stove the worst." 
 
 Charlie laughed over the crash, but stopped 
 to add, " young Budd is a real brick, though, 
 and I am sorry it was his boat the boys had. 
 Next time, you must all come and see us." 
 
 " See you smash boats ? " said papa, smil- 
 ing at the boy s eagerness. 
 
 "Oh no, see the race — those fellows did 
 pull well though, didn't they Ned? " 
 
 "Capital, but do you know uncle, what I 
 liked best was, the way the ladies on the 
 shore cheered us, it made me forget every- 
 thing but good work." 
 
 " Good, my boy," said papa, I hope you 
 
2o8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 will always have the good cheers of the 
 ladies to encourage you." 
 
 " What / liked best," said Walter, " was the 
 even motion of the oars, and the clear 
 bounds of the boat, ' mind over matter,' as 
 the doctor says." 
 
 "Well, Reggie," said I, "you and Dick 
 must speak now of this wonderful race." 
 
 " As for me," said Dick, I think the whole 
 
 thing was a success, in the language of Willy 
 
 Shaky : " 
 
 " O, bravely came we off 
 When with a volley of our needles shot, 
 (The smash you know.) 
 
 " After such bloody toil, we bid good- 
 night. Dick Miller ! " I exclaimed, the rest 
 all laughed. 
 
 " Dick, were you born making quotations 1 " 
 asked Reggie. 
 
 " Ask my future biographer, sir," said 
 Dick, with a profound bow. 
 
 " Now Reggie, let us hear from you," said 
 papa. 
 
Walter s Secret, 
 
 2og 
 
 " The boys did well, sir, all of them, Mr. 
 Budd, thought Ned quite a wonder, said he 
 handled the oars better than some of the 
 Harvard boys." 
 
 " Aha ! Ned," said I pulling a lock of his 
 hair, " champion oar ! well, I will give up try- 
 
 -•..*v. 
 
 " No teasing, cousin Dolly," said Ned, " I 
 heard Budd ask Reggie, if the young lady with 
 a blue and white boating suit was our sister?" 
 
 " And what did Reggie say, pray?" I asked, 
 looking at Reg, who was trying to make 
 
210 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 Ned hold his tongue. Ned did not, or would 
 not see. 
 
 " And then Budd said he loved to watch 
 you row, you did it so gracefully." 
 
 It was my turn to blush now, and I did it; 
 while Dick ran up and began fanning me 
 with a newspaper. 
 
 " He is coming to call," said Reggie. 
 
 " Who, the ' swell .^ ' " I asked. 
 
 " No, no, the big one. Harvard Budd, and 
 he is a good fellow too " 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 NEWS FROM THE FRONT. 
 
 
 J^ AR ! war! war ! was heard everywhere, 
 /^^ and our Httle family began to dread 
 the arrival cf the mail, and yet longed for it. 
 R^ggi^ g^^^v so nervous, he could not wait 
 Josiah's slow movements in brinsfine down 
 our evening paper, and every day, no matter 
 how busy, or how tired he was, the dear boy 
 went up to the little post-office. 
 
 Dick Miller was a great comfort to us all ; 
 he would not let us stop to worry even at 
 our " Hoss Club " meetin^^s, Dick was full of 
 
212 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 his fun and jokes, and his sewing oh the slip- 
 pers will never be forgotten, "fancy stitches," 
 he called them. 
 
 Our sideboard was finished, and decorated 
 with some rare old china, which those kind 
 souls, Miss Lucinda, and the Saicm sisters 
 collected for us. 
 
 Before Dick's visit was half over, we had 
 forwarded one large barrel of hospital stores 
 to Mrs. Thorpe, and still we w^orked on. 
 Mrs. Thorpe wrote, " beg all the old linen, 
 and cotton you can, money will not buy 
 them." 
 
 We did beg. With Dick for escort, I 
 managed to get up courage enough to ask 
 several of the families about us, to help fill 
 our next barrel. Nearly all were kind, but 
 one man said " help the soldiers, no, I won't 
 send a cent, they don't get half we send now^ 
 not a dime, all humbug and cheating." 
 
 Harvard Budd said that very man was 
 making: thousands of dollars out of the war. 
 He came in verv often, and told us about the 
 
News from the Front, 21 j 
 
 little town and its summer residents. He 
 called us the " Gay little Rebels," and was so 
 full of quiet fun, he often brought a smile to 
 Reggie's sober face, by his " sharp shooting " 
 with Dick. 
 
 His mother called one evening in her car- 
 riage, but I did not fancy her, she seemed so 
 calm, and cold, with a little of the pompous 
 air, which we all disliked in the Harvard 
 Budd's younger brother. 
 
 I think she meant to be very kind, and 
 rather pitied me for being " the only girl 
 among so many boys," but I hate to be pitied, 
 aligiost as much as I dislike to be patronized. 
 
 Dick whispered to me that her regular 
 diet was " Boston, in long doses," 
 
 He liked her better, however, when she 
 invited us all to a croquet party on her lawn, 
 and took us over her beautiful house. The 
 thing I liked best about her, was, her 
 fondness for Harvard Budd, she never lost 
 sight of him, go where he would ; and he 
 never failed to show her all the little atten- 
 
21^^ Six Little Rebels. 
 
 tions which make a lady feel comfortable 
 and happy. 
 
 Miss Lucinda says "politeness, and finikin 
 puckers never made the pot boil," but papa 
 tells her " that all courtesies, shorten the 
 time while you are waiting for it, or travell- 
 ing on." 
 
 The boys found out that the Harvard 
 Budd's real name, was Augustine, but we 
 liked " Harvard " best, and stuck to it. 
 
 Papa said he was a sensible young man, 
 and quite worthy of being admitted into our 
 little circle, consequently, he came very often. 
 
 The young ladies did not interest itie 
 much, which was' my fault I dare say, but the 
 boys talked about things I liked and under- 
 stood, while these young ladies looked at 
 each other and smiled at my remarks. They 
 even laughed when I said I had never seen 
 the German danced, and said, " you poor 
 Httle innocent," that sent the blood tingling 
 in my cheeks, and I said : " I am only a 
 school girl you know, and have had no time 
 
News from the Front, 21^ 
 
 for anything but my books, and taking care 
 of the sick." 
 
 Then Miss Budd, the eldest said : " But 
 you are quite a wonder, you know dear, for 
 all that ; we thought you southern girls never 
 did anything but look pretty." 
 
 " That is because you don't know," said I, 
 " when you go south, you will see how accom- 
 plished they are, and how generous too," I 
 added, " but I am only a half-way southerner, 
 for my father's family were Bostonians." 
 
 "So brother said; well Miss Warrington, 
 you must come and see us often, and perhaps 
 you will find us generous too." 
 
 Then our club popped into my head, and 
 although I was provoked with them, I told 
 them about it, and both young ladies prom- 
 ised to give a good package for the next 
 barrel. 
 
 We went to the croquet party, but I did 
 not like it half so well as a row, and a chow- 
 der on the island — the young men were so 
 silly and said all sorts of foolish things to 
 
2i6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 the young ladies, and the young ladies said 
 silly things back. No it wasn't nice. The 
 people didn't talk as if they meant what they 
 said. 
 
 When we went home, papa gave Dick a 
 letter, and in it was one for me. Dear Mrs. 
 Miller, she never forgot me. 
 
 " My darling," she wrote, " I think I have 
 
 sc)me tidings for you. This week, the s, a 
 
 'sesesh' family, received by private hands, 
 some letters from their relations in Rich- 
 mond, and a little Union officer's wife who 
 boards there, because she could not find 
 another place, says they boasted of their 
 means of oettino: intellisfence, and read aloud 
 portions of the letters. 
 
 " This interested her, as she had often 
 heard me speak of you all. The correspond- 
 ent wrote : 
 
 '' ' Did you ever see some Richmond boys 
 at Doctor Warrington's. If you have, I can 
 tell you something about them. Their father 
 came back here from Europe, a short time 
 
News from the Front. 2 fj 
 
 ago to see to his property, he found his ele- 
 gant house used for a hospital, his sister's 
 Mrs. Neville's, stored with "munitions of war," 
 and his confidential clerk, a confederate 
 major. It was rumored that he intended 
 going away again, but we know too much 
 for that ; he has a large property, or had, and 
 has always occupied some important position. 
 He was immediately given a staff -appoint- 
 ment, and it will be one while before he gets 
 away now, for he was taken down with a 
 slow fever, and has been carried to a friend's 
 house to be cared for. J. D. knows better 
 than to let such birds fly loose among our 
 enemies. 
 
 " The officer's wife pretended to be shad- 
 ing a drawing of the entrance to Oakwood, 
 but the, sharp little woman writes short hand, 
 and w^as really taking down every word 
 for us. 
 
 " Now Dolly, tell Reggie, slow fever is 
 tedious but not dangerous, and don't borrow 
 trouble." 
 
2i8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " As to letters," said papa, " how can we 
 expect them, look at this one from an old 
 patient in Memphis, it has been two months 
 on the way, and is postmarked Lynn, where 
 I have not the slightest acquaintance." 
 
 " Ah Reggie," said I, " did I say hope for 
 nothing ? He is not exposed to bullets, is he ?" 
 
 The days flew by, and Dick's vacation was 
 nearly over, but we had many merry times 
 before he left. 
 
 Once to Marblehead Neck, one of the 
 lovliest, wildest spots on the coast, once to 
 Nahant, where we saw the poet Longfellow, 
 and his home, and once to take tea with the 
 " Peace Sisters," as the boys called the three 
 dear old ladies in Salem. 
 
 All went but papa, and dear me, how 
 Bertie was pettied and coddled. I was a 
 little uneasy about Dick, but I need not have 
 been, for we had not been in the house 
 ten minutes, before he knew all the ladies, 
 and was sitting on the sofa by Miss Betty, 
 showing her a new stitch in knitting, he had 
 
News from the Front. 2ig 
 
 learned once when he had a sprained ankle. 
 Wc drank tea out of little thin china cups, 
 we used spoons which had been in the family 
 over a hundred years, and we ate the dain- 
 tiest little wafer cakes, which Miss Sally 
 called "cookies." The ladies called the 
 boys Reginald, Charles, and Richard, and 
 when it came to calling our roguish Ned, 
 Edward, poor Charles had hard work to keep 
 from lauschinQ-. Bertie behaved like a lamb, 
 and was kissed so much, Dick said he must 
 be sugar coated. A Japanese game, a cuc- 
 koo clock, puzzles of all sorts, and queer old 
 toys amused us all. Bertie was very happy 
 with two little kittens, and a mouse made of 
 velvet, and I was just as delighted as I could 
 be, for I always loved old ladies, and here 
 were three, so kind and devoted to our noisy 
 party, that I wondered at them. 
 
 Dick saw me smiling, and wanted to know 
 " if I was sitting for my picture } " 
 
 Three more days of pleasure, and Dick 
 was gone. We all marched to the station to 
 
220 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 see him off, even Harvard Budd, and Miss 
 Lucinda. We shook hands all round, and 
 when it came my turn, the saucy boy whis- 
 pered : " I say Dolly, don't talk Greek with 
 Harvard Budd, for Reggie will be miserable." 
 
 Just like Dick, how could I help it, if he 
 walked by my side to the station ? Beside, 
 Harvard Budd was a college student, and I 
 a very young girl, if I did feel as old as 
 Methusalah. 
 
 Of course I must be civil to the young 
 man, when he was so attentive to papa, and 
 the boys, and I was grateful too, for on our 
 very last yachting party, it was rough, and I 
 was sea sick, and he would not let the others 
 come near me, or make any fuss about. 
 That was real kindness, as any one knows 
 who was ever sea sick, and as to Reggie, I 
 don't think he knew when Dick was leaving, 
 where I was. 
 
 The train came at last, the conductor hur- 
 ried the passengers on, and the last we heard 
 was " We will meet at the ' Woodbox.' " 
 
News from the Front. 221 
 
 Only one more month of the beautiful sea, 
 before we were on our way home, taking 
 Miss Lucinda witli us. 
 
 The Budds came over to bid us good-bye, 
 and after they were gone I found a copy of 
 Moore's poems on the study table directed 
 to me. Harvard Budd must have left it, for 
 on the fly leaf was written in a hand too 
 bold for his lady mother : 
 
 " Miss Dolly Warrington, 
 
 West Beach, Sept.. 30." 
 
 When we reached home, tired, and dirty, 
 everything was as bright and cheerful at the 
 "Woodbox,"as Mrs. Miller's kind hands could 
 make it. 
 
 " I know how utterly dreary it is," she said, 
 " to reach home, tired out after a long jour- 
 ney, and find everything musty and dusty." 
 
 The doctor came in very soon after our 
 arrival, and told us we must be prepared for 
 great changes outside ; inside, for one brief 
 
222 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 evening, we talked as cheerily as possible, 
 and forgot the troubles, or put them aside. 
 
 On Monday morning we began work in 
 earnest. Reggie, Dick, Charlie, Walter, and 
 Ned, were sent to a school, kept by a young 
 clergyman who had been induced to open 
 it' by some officers, whose families were in 
 town. Dr. Miller said he had called upon 
 the young man, found him quite agreeable, 
 and he had thought it wise for our young 
 folks to try it for a few months. 
 
 Papa gave up his pupils reluctantly, but 
 we all knew it was wise for him to spare 
 them, at least, part of the time, and after all 
 we would have our little readings with him 
 during the long evenings. One reason, why 
 my dear father consented to the arrange- 
 ment, was the fact, that his summer had so 
 increased his strength, he was able, and anx- 
 ious to take up his dear profession to a cer- 
 tain extent, and the surgeons at the hosipital 
 were only too glad to have his advice and 
 counsel, for two or three hours every day. 
 
News from the Front. 22 j 
 
 While he was gone in the morning, I went 
 over the way to recite in French and music, 
 but the other branches I took with papa, just 
 as we had done before. 
 
 We had just settled down well for winter 
 work, when I received a letter from Cora 
 Birney, saying, her father and mother were 
 coming South, and if quite convenient and 
 agreeable, she would spend a week with 
 me. 
 
 " It will not matter in the least about my 
 lessons papa," I said, when I had read her 
 letter to him, " Cora will go on with me, and 
 the boys will be sure to like her." 
 
 " I shall be glad to see her, dear child, for 
 your sake, as well as her own, and so you may 
 send a cordial 'yes,' to our bright little 
 friend.*' 
 
 The boys were anxious to have me tell 
 them all about her, but I would only say, " she 
 is a dear, lovely girl, and just as unlike me 
 as possible." 
 
224 ^'^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 Dick declared she would prove one of the 
 gushing, simpering sort, and he wished she 
 would not come, but two days after, some- 
 thing happened which made them all forget 
 Cora's coming for a little while. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 TRAVELLERS IN DIXIE. 
 
 Ihm. ALWAYS was sure to get into mis- 
 "^^1 chief when left to myself and every- 
 body was gone. The sun shone brightly, 
 the air was soft, and balmy, and the boys 
 were out for a long tramp with Dick Miller. 
 Miss Lucinda was in Washington shopping 
 for Josiah's children, for said she : " I will 
 always maintain that Washington is as cheap 
 a place for dry goods as I ever saw." Papa 
 
 was getting up a paper on " Sanitary Precau- 
 
 225 
 
226 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 tions." Bertie and I were tired of my room. 
 " Let us go for a walk, dear," I said. 
 
 " Yes do, cousin Dolly, I have counted 
 those tents over there much as a million 
 times, Reggie wouldn't let me go." 
 
 " No dear, they have gone too far, but 
 never mind we will wrap up the baby if it is 
 warm, and have a glorious walk before any- 
 one has time to miss us." 
 
 " Bertie and I are going to walk Aunt 
 Axy," I said, putting my head in at the 
 kitchen door, " be sure and have Lex an- 
 swer papa's bell." 
 
 " Yes, Miss Dolly, but yer must put on 
 yer gums, it's dreadful muddy I kin tell 
 yer." 
 
 To please the careful soul, I put on my 
 overshoes, and away we started for the river. 
 
 We chatted merrily, until we reached the 
 old bridge, where Bertie could look over, 
 and see the white tents which he had been 
 counting. 
 
Travellers in Dixie, 22^ 
 
 " Did you ever go over there," asked 
 Bertie. 
 
 " Yes, darling often, we children used to 
 run races here on the bridge." 
 
 " Can't we now ? " 
 
 " No pet, those soldiers are watching us." 
 
 " Well let's walk over, cousin Dolly. Lex 
 says it is all Virginia over there, and per- 
 haps we could find papa." 
 
 Poor little fellow, none of us could say 
 where papa might be that pleasant after- 
 noon. 
 
 " This is not near papa's home, dear," I said, 
 " but it is ' Dixie,* and those are the tents of 
 Union soldiers, but neither you nor I can 
 pass without a bit of paper signed by a gen- 
 tleman called the ' Provost Marshal' " 
 
 " Can't you ask him for one .f* " said the 
 child, still walking slowly on, and planting 
 his little feet on the planks. 
 
 " Some day, papa will if we ask him, but 
 all these soldiers are sentinels to keep us 
 from crossing." 
 
22$ Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Oh dear," said Bertie, in a disappointed 
 tone, " it looks so pretty over there on the 
 hill, with the tents, and the smoke curling up. 
 Here comes a soldier I mean to ask him." 
 
 Before I could stop him, Bertie ran to- 
 ward a gentleman in uniform who was just 
 coming onto the bridge. 
 
 "Do you live over there, sir .^^ " he asked, 
 pointing across the river. 
 
 " Yes, my little mian." 
 
 " Can't I go over, and see your tents } " 
 
 " If you have a pass you can." 
 
 " Have you a pass ? " 
 
 " Bertie, Bertie, don't annoy the gentle- 
 man," I called; but the young officer had 
 already taken up the little fellow, and was 
 holdins: him in his arms. 
 
 " If I will take you over, will you tell me 
 your name, and why you wish to go ? " 
 
 "Yes sir, it is Bertie Gresham, and my 
 papa is in Richmond, and he's a soldier too, 
 and I can't see him 'cause we have to stay 
 North, and I want to see how papa lives." 
 
Travellers i7t Dixie. 22g 
 
 I felt half frightened to hear the little fel- 
 low tell all this story to an utter stranger, 
 but they were walking on, and I could only 
 follow, until the first sentinel was reached 
 then the officer paused and I managed to 
 say : 
 
 " I am sorry my little cousin has troubled 
 you so much, and I am very much obliged 
 to — " 
 
 The gentleman raised his hat, and smiled : 
 
 " I think I am indebted to you for letting 
 me enjoy the little fellow, he reminds me of a 
 little nephew I left, not long ago in Michi- 
 gan. 
 
 "Did you come so far?" I said, "I had a 
 school-mate once, who lived there, and it 
 seemed to me almost out of the world." 
 
 " We think it the centre of civilization," 
 he said, laughing merrily, " but I remember 
 my little niece used to write me something 
 of the sort when she was at school in 
 Georgetown." 
 
2 JO Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Here," I exclaimed "here! was her name 
 Mary Brentford ? " 
 
 " Was and is," he said, with a merry 
 twinkle of his handsome eyes, " now I think 
 of it, you must be the 'precious Dolly' I 
 used to hear so much about." 
 
 Dear me, how foolish I felt ; I dare say 
 Mary had shown him some of my silly let- 
 ters, and he was no doubt laughing at me 
 for my awkwardness. 
 
 " I hope the discovery is not unpleasant," 
 said the young colonel, still walking on ap- 
 parently quite indifferent to the sentinels, 
 who saluted as we passed. 
 
 " It is delightful," I said, " and I cannot 
 help thinking how strange it all is, for 
 Mary used to talk so much of her dear Un- 
 cle Will. Have you been here long '^. " 
 
 " Only two weeks," he answered, " and 
 now if you are willing to gratify this little 
 youngster. Miss Warrington, you can walk 
 over and inspect our camp. I think you 
 
Travellers in Dixie, 2ji 
 
 will not be concerned about passes in my 
 care, and I will gladly show you how soldiers 
 live." 
 
 " Do, do, do ! " said Bertie, and the boy's 
 pleading overcame all doubts, if I had any. 
 It never entered my head to think it unwise 
 or imprudent, to visit a camp of soldiers 
 after visiting them so often in the hospitals, 
 with Dr. Miller ; beside, we were in sight of 
 our own home windows. 
 
 When Col. Brentford urged us to remain 
 and witness a dress parade, and Bertie again 
 begged with voice and eyes, and the camp 
 fires glowed and sparkled, could I refuse } 
 
 Dress parades are consumers of time, and 
 before we knew it, or wanted it, the sun 
 had gone down, and the street lamps were 
 lighted across the river. Like a frisky young 
 kitten out for a frolic, I had enjoyed every 
 moment, and when at last a thought of 
 papa's terror entered my head, I exclaimed : 
 
 " Oh Colonel Brentford, I have been very 
 
2^2 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 cruel to stay, papa will be so worried ! I am 
 never out alone ; and indeed I thank you 
 very much." 
 
 " Night comes on suddenly now," said the 
 colonel, but we will do our best for you. 
 My orderly will carry the little fellow, and if 
 you will accept Mary's Uncle Will for your 
 escort, we will soon be on the other side." 
 
 What else could I do ? Once on the 
 other side, I walked so fast the colonel 
 checked me several times, but it seemed like 
 hours before we reached the " woodbox," al- 
 though we could see the light in the win- 
 dows. As soon as I reached the door, I 
 burst in, quite forgetting the gentleman who 
 had so kindly cared for me. 
 
 Such a picture as I saw ! 
 
 Papa, sat in his chair, looking the very 
 picture of despair; Dr. Miller, leaned against 
 the door trying to look unconcerned, and 
 Reggie and Dick were out looking for me, 
 as I learned afterward. 
 
Travellers in Dixie. 2j^ 
 
 The orderly put Bertie down in the hall, 
 and I had just time to say : 
 
 " Why, papa dear, you were not fright- 
 ened ? "' when he ran in shouting: 
 
 " Oh, Uncle doctor, I have been to Dixie, 
 and I mean to be a soldier." 
 
 '' Dear me," I said, '' I forgot him, I am so 
 ashamed," and out I ran to usher in the colo- 
 nel, who looked so amused, I was half pro- 
 voked with him. 
 
 " Papa," I said, " this is Colonel Brentford 
 of Michigan; he is Mary's Uncle Will, whom 
 you have heard about, and I found him on 
 the old bridge ; he has shown us all over his 
 camp, and we have had a delightful time." 
 
 " I am very glad to meet you, sir," said 
 papa, kindly, " and I hope my little mad cap 
 has not caused so much consternation in 
 your camp, as her absence caused here." 
 
 " Oh, papa dear, did I worry you } " 
 
 " Not very much daughter," he replied, 
 " but our streets are not very safe now, and 
 
2^^ Six Little Rebels. 
 
 you have never been inclined to visit after 
 dark." 
 
 Then Col. Brentford explained, with Ber- 
 tie's help, all about our little journey, and 
 while they were talking, I slipped away to 
 brush my hair. As I passed into the entry, 
 Charlie followed me to say that papa had 
 sent everywhere for me, and Dick and Reg- 
 gie were still hunting for " the stray lamb." 
 
 I think I was never so vexed with myself, 
 and yet it did seem rather foolish to have so 
 many people frightened, because a strong, 
 healthy girl happened to be out a little after 
 candle light. 
 
 Miss Lucinda was wiser. 
 
 " I thought," said she, " you had walked 
 farther than you intended, and I was sure you 
 were quite able to take care of yourself, but 
 it is all in bringing up; I shouldn't minded 
 going from Dan to Beersheba at your age." 
 
 Col. Brentford soon left, after promising 
 to dine with us the following day, and Ber- 
 
Travellers in Dixie. 2^5 
 
 tie and I sat down to tea with excellent ap- 
 petites. 
 
 " Papa Warrington," I said, after he had 
 taken his second cup of Formosa, " it was 
 fun, to go over there, and so unexpected 
 too." 
 
 " A weakness for adventure, Dolly," said 
 he, " well, child, you came honestly by that 
 trait." 
 
 " I cannot see the fun in visiting a camp 
 full of rough men," said Reggie, with a curl 
 of his lip. 
 
 He had just returned from his search, and 
 left Dick to go in another direction. 
 
 " Can't you ? " said I. " These men were 
 not rough; they were clean, courteous, and 
 evidently glad to see us. I am going again 
 some day, when papa is willing." 
 
 " Yes, the colonel Vited us," said Bertie, 
 " and he is ever so nice, and says I shall see 
 a big, large cannon, next time." 
 
 While he was speaking, in came Dick. 
 
2^6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Well young lady/' he said, " it is well you 
 are here, I had just resolved to give notice 
 at the Provost's office, or hunt up a crier." 
 
 " Don't, Dick, I am not Vv^orth the trouble, 
 and I am really sorry you- were anxious 
 about me, but the fact is, I thought I could 
 take care of myself ; and I have had a charm- 
 ing trip." 
 
 Dick sat dov/n and listened to the story, 
 including Bertie's description of the colonel, 
 who " was most as handsome as papa, and 
 just as tall." 
 
 " Very romantic," said Dick,' " brass but- 
 tons, music, starlight, a long-loved, but newly 
 discovered uncle, consternation at home, safe 
 return, etc., etc., etc." 
 
 " Make all the fun you like," said I, '' but 
 the colonel dines here to-morrow, and I dare 
 say you will make him invite you to camp 
 before he leaves. I don't wonder Mary 
 praised him, he is a perfect gentleman." 
 
 " Certainly," said Dick, '' I have heard my 
 father say that brass buttons would make a 
 
Travellers in Dixie. 2^^ 
 
 barber, into a Major General, if he had cheek 
 enough." 
 
 I was so annoyed, I could not ansv/er, but 
 papa poured oil on the waters by saying : 
 
 " He is I think all you claim for him, my 
 daughter, and I shall be glad to see more of 
 him." 
 
 " I have no more to say," said Dick, with 
 one of his profound bows, " but to change 
 !he subject, I should like to ask doctor, why 
 some of the fellows at our school make it a 
 point to call this august circle, a set of 
 rebels } " 
 
 " Who does ? " asked papa. 
 
 " That Sutler fellow and one or two of 
 them, it seems to me the young parson is a 
 little to blame." 
 
 " I am sure of it," said Reggie, with some 
 spirit, " he could stop the whole thing with a 
 few decisive words." 
 
 " I hope Professor Marks has sufficient good 
 sense to keep down any turbulent spirit in 
 his school," said papa, "you youngsters have 
 
2j8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 enough to do to battle with Greek roots, and 
 Latin verbs ; don't meddle with the war 
 spirit in any way, for your elders find it a 
 difificult question." 
 
 The next day Col. Brentford came to din- 
 ner, and we were much pleased with him. 
 He seemed very young to be in such an im- 
 portant position, but papa found he had just 
 been made colonel, and was a great favorite 
 with his command. I did not wonder Mary 
 was so proud of him. 
 
 Before he left he invited us all to come 
 over. some pleasant day and visit his camp, 
 and as Cora would enjoy it we decided to 
 w^ait for her. 
 
 The next mornino: after the colonel's visit 
 I drove down to the Seminary Hospital with 
 papa. He made it a practice to go regularly 
 and sit in a little office where all the sur- 
 ofeons could visit and consult with him. He 
 called it " his little mite for his country." 
 Charley called it the " Dungery." It seemed 
 
Travellers in Dixie, 2jg 
 
 very sad to find such a change. In the very 
 rooms where young girls had written non- 
 sense, and planned scrapes, I now saw wounded 
 and suffering men. While papa was talking 
 with the surgeons, I called on the matron 
 who was an old friend of Miss Lucinda's, and 
 as she said, " knew all there was to know 
 about nursing." 
 
 She had left her home and all its comforts, 
 to do this work from a sense of duty. I had 
 beQ:2:ed for weeks to do some settled work 
 for the soldiers, but everybody except papa, 
 and Dr. Howard laughed. When I talked 
 with this good woman, she 'did not laugh, 
 but said : 
 
 " It is born in some to care for the sick, 
 and Miss Lucinda has told me about you. 
 Why don't you study for a doctor ? " 
 
 I laughed merrily. 
 
 " My dear," said she solemnly, " when I 
 was your age I wanted to be a doctor, but it 
 couldn't be done ; now, a few brave women 
 
2/fo Six Little Rebels, 
 
 have made the way easy, and you may do a 
 great deal of good." 
 
 I never forgot her words, and not long- 
 after, Dr. Howard kindly made it possible 
 for me to go in and out at the Union where 
 kind Dr. G. soon began to call me his assis- 
 tant, and told me I had wonderful nerve. 
 He did not know how much I suffered when 
 he called on me to help him dress some 
 dreadful wound ; nor did he know that I saw 
 the sufferers before me all nis^ht lonof in my 
 dreams ; but the comfort was, in thinking 
 that the men were glad to see me, and often 
 begged me to stay a little longer. Two 
 hours every day, after lessons, I spent among 
 them ; often I was tempted to stay longer, 
 but Dr. G. was evidently in league with papa 
 and Dr. Howard, for he would open a door 
 when I was busy reading, or writing for 
 them, and say : 
 
 " Time up, Miss Dolly ; good bye, until 
 to-morrow." 
 
 One day I left papa at the Seminary, and 
 
Travellers in Dixie, 
 
 241 
 
 went on to the Union, to carry some corn 
 cake to a Minnesota soldier, who declared it 
 was the only thing he wanted. Aunt Axy 
 made it for me, and my " Minnesota Boy " 
 was glad to see me coming with my flat 
 basket. 
 
 " It is just right," he said, " the very thing! 
 My own wife couldn't do it better," and he 
 insisted on sharing it with every man in the 
 ward, who felt like eating. 
 
 " No surgery to-day,- Miss Dolly," said 
 Dr. G., " but when you are through here, my 
 little drummer wants to see you. Don't 
 growl boys, because I take her away, another 
 day coming remember." 
 
 I read to them from Pickwick, for papa 
 said: 
 
 " Sick people have gloomy fancies enough ; 
 give them something bright, and jolly to 
 think of." 
 
 When my time was up, I called on the lit- 
 tle drummer, who was crippled with rheuma- 
 
2/J.2 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 tism, took a message from him to write his 
 mother, and went out saying : 
 
 " Good-bye until to-morrow." 
 
 But the next, was a sad day at the " Wood- 
 box," 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 BATTLES AT SCHOOL. 
 
 ^WHEN I had walked half way up the 
 (^^ hill, looking down all the way, and 
 wonderinsf what I should do with Cora, while 
 I went to the hospital, two boys passed me, 
 and one said : " It is a wicked shame, I don't 
 believe he will ever get over it," 
 
 " I bet it will break up the school," said 
 the other; I looked up as quick as possible, 
 and saw two of Professor Mark s boys going 
 down the hill. 
 
 243 
 
2/^^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Dear me, what can be the matter ? " said 
 I hurrying on. 
 
 As soon as I reached our door, I knew it 
 was something to do with us, for it stood 
 wide open, and I could smell champhor. Miss 
 Lucinda's remedy for everything. I did not 
 stop to walk, I ran, and w^ent at once to the 
 study. 
 
 On the sofa, lay Chad, our dear, gay 
 loving Charl, and over him stood Miss Lu- 
 cinda and Reggie. Dick had gone for papa, 
 and his father, and the other boys were in 
 the dining-room speechless from terror. I 
 took off my sack and hat and went back to 
 the study. No one had spoken a word, but 
 Miss Lucinda sponged his head and hands. 
 On liis left temple was a cut and dark bruise. 
 
 " Reggie, who did it } " I asked. 
 
 " Suiter King." 
 
 " Was Bismarck to blame ? " 
 
 " I think not, most of the fellows think 
 not." 
 
 " Has he spoken, Reggie .f* " 
 
Battles at School, 
 
 245 
 
 " Not once since the stone struck him." 
 
 " If papa would only come," I said, " this 
 waiting is terrible." 
 
 Dr. Miller came first, then Dr. Howard 
 with papa. After a few hurried words. Dr. 
 Aliller and Dr. Howard lifted the poor boy 
 and carried him up-stairs. 
 
 " Papa, is it very bad 1 " I asked, creeping 
 into my old place. 
 
 " Bad enough, I fear daughter," and then 
 he buried his face in his hands, and did not 
 speak again until the two doctors came down- 
 stairs, when he asked Reggie to come in and 
 tell him how it happened. 
 
 " The boys were having some talk about 
 the Maryland raid, sir, and Chad was listen- 
 ing with the rest, when the boy they call 
 Sutler said to him, ' Oh, you are one of the 
 rebel sneaks coming up here to be pro- 
 tected,' I was afraid Charl would strike him 
 but he kept quiet, and bit his lips. A brave 
 little fellow from Massachusetts whose father 
 is in the War Department spoke up, and 
 
2^^6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 said : ' Come, none of that, now Sutler ; you 
 know these fellows were here before the 
 fighting began.' 
 
 '"Yes, precious little while though! every- 
 body knows Miss Warrington's pet rebels,' 
 said Suiter, with a sneer. 
 
 " This was too much for Charl, and he 
 spoke : ' See here, young man, you may 
 abuse me if you like, and call me names, but 
 don't you dare to speak one word disrespect- 
 fully of a young girl who is not only kind to 
 a lot of motherless boys, but works every 
 day of her life for the Union soldiers.' 
 
 " The other boys cried, ' good for Red- 
 head ! ' and Sutler was angry. Just as we 
 were going in from recess. Sutler threw the 
 stone." 
 
 Reggie could hardly speak, and as for me 
 I was crying, with my head on papa shoul- 
 der. 
 
 Poor little Bismarck ! he was suffering for 
 my sake, I thought. 
 
 Papa was very cool and quiet, but Dr. 
 
Battles at School, ^^7 
 
 Howard and Dr. Miller were both very 
 angry. I had never seen Dr. Howard an- 
 noyed before. 
 
 " Richard," said he, " can you tell us any- 
 thing further } " 
 
 " I don't think the trouble all came from 
 this, sir," said Dick, " this talk about the raid 
 I mean; the feeling has been growing. Reg- 
 gie and the others, are better scholars than 
 any fellows in our school, and Mr. Marks 
 has had a trick of calling on them to answer 
 questions where others fail. He generally 
 puts two or three questions on the board 
 every day, and we send in our answers writ- 
 ten on paper. Day before yesterday under 
 one of these questions was written : ' Ask 
 the Secession Pets.' Reggie and I saw it 
 first, I think, but Charl did not see it until 
 it was his turn to read a scripture text, then 
 he was so surprised he sat down, and Mr. 
 Marks shouted, ' next,' without looking up. 
 The next boy giggled, and Reggie w^ent 
 forward, and said : ' My cousin's failure, 
 
2^8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 sir was owing to his surprise when he saw 
 the sentence on the board behind you.' Mr. 
 Marks turned and looked thunderstruck. 
 Then he said, ' The boy who wrote that will 
 please come forward.' No one moved, Mr. 
 Marks was called out then and while he was 
 in the hall, Sutler sprang forward, and 
 erased the words while many of the boys 
 hissed him. Mr. Marks heard the noise and 
 put his head in at the door to say, ' Mister 
 Reginald please take charge for a few mo- 
 ments I am called out on important busi- 
 ness.' Reggie stepped up." 
 
 " No matter about that," interrupted Reg- 
 gie, blushing. 
 
 " Let us have the whole," said papa. 
 
 " I did not tell you for fear it might annoy 
 you, sir," said Reggie. " It seemed only a 
 boys quarrel." 
 
 Dick went on. 
 
 " When Reggie stepped onto the platform 
 to take his seat, Sutler flung a wad of paper, 
 dipped in ink into his face. Reggie wiped 
 
Battles at School. 240 
 
 it off, and made a little talk. I can't do him 
 justice, I know but it was something like 
 this : 
 
 " ' Boys,' said he, ' I hope you understand 
 that I am no coward, because I have held 
 my tongue when insulted before. I am a 
 Southern boy, it is true, and so are mv cous- 
 ins ; we are here to study, not to quarrel, 
 and I ask you If you consider this a fair and 
 just way of treating strangers ? 
 
 " ' I advise you to stop this nonsense, be- 
 fore it grows serious, I have no ill will to- 
 ward any of your number, on the contrary, I 
 have, I think, some good friends here. Let 
 us stick to our studies, and remember that 
 gentleme^i are above low taunts and sneers.' 
 
 "Everybody but Sutler felt that he was 
 right, and we supposed there would be no more 
 trouble until to-day, Sutler began again." 
 
 Reggie sat on the sofa with his head 
 down until Dick was done speaking, then he 
 rose us and went to papa. 
 
 " You understand, sir." he said, " that I did 
 
2^0 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 not trouble you with this because it seemed 
 too childish ; as our faithful guardian you 
 have a right to know all that takes place." 
 
 " My dear boy," said papa, " I understand, 
 and honor you." 
 
 " You will never think of allowing them 
 to go back, there .^ " said Dr. Howard. 
 
 " I shall take time to think of it well ; 
 meanwhile, the victim of all this petty perse- 
 cution, and ill will, requires our constant 
 care." 
 
 Charlie lay all night in a stupor, but Dr. 
 Miller did not leave him. 
 
 The next day Mr. Marks called and held a 
 long conference with papa. He seemed to 
 feel it very much and said that King was 
 one of those coarse, turbulent spirits, it was 
 hard to control, but he had dismissed him 
 from the school, and hoped the other boys 
 would return. 
 
 Papa called in Reggie and told him to do 
 as he pleased. 
 
 " I think sir," said Reo-g^ie, " it will be best 
 
Battles at School. 251 
 
 for us to go on as we have been doing in our 
 studies. We must bear our part of the bit- 
 terness, I suppose. Col. Brentford said the 
 wife of one of his captains, never came down 
 as far as the bridge to meet him, without 
 some southern woman insulting her, fre- 
 quently calling out : ' Oh, going to meet 
 your Yankee Doodle husband, ain't you ? ' 
 When educated women do such things I sup- 
 pose, Mr. Marks, we must not mind rough 
 school boys." 
 
 Mr. Marks, who was a little, mild sort of a 
 man, held out his hand to Reggie, and said : 
 
 " You look at the matter like a man, Mr. 
 Reginald, and I am sure I wish it were in 
 my power to make your cousin all right once 
 more." 
 
 Poor Chad ! he was very ill. Every doc- 
 tor said the chances of his recovery were 
 small. 
 
 Day after day Professor Marks called, and 
 went away again with a sad face, when he 
 heard the usual : " No better sir." 
 
2^2 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 In order to keep the house quiet, Walter, 
 Ned, and Reggie went back to school ; papa 
 gave up the hospital, and I scarcely left the 
 house. 
 
 I think Ned's diary will tell this part of 
 the story best, so I will give it here : 
 
 " ' Woodbox,' Nov. . 
 
 " This is a pretty household just now, and 
 I don't see any sense in recording misery, 
 but uncle said this morning : 
 
 " ' Boys, don't neglect the little books ; 
 they will be valuable sometime, — ' So here 
 goes : 
 
 " Charl is no better; he talks, talks, talks 
 night and day, it is awful to hear him. Un- 
 cle has a nurse every night for him, and the 
 rest take turns days. 
 
 " Dolly doesn't do anything but watch and 
 nurse him, and when I am out of school, Bertie 
 is my charge. This morning they let me go in 
 a moment to see Charl. I do wish I hadn't. 
 
Battles at School, 2§j 
 
 There he lay with his head shaved, and bags 
 of crushed ice on it, and his fingers looked 
 like birds' claws. He kept them moving 
 every minute picking at the bed clothes. 
 Walt went Jn once but he couldn't stand it ; 
 made him sick all day and he blunders terri- 
 bly in his lessons. 
 
 "Mrs. Miller is everlastingly good; she 
 keeps asking us over there evenings, and 
 tries everyway to amuse Bertie. I wish w^e 
 could hear from pa but everything is uncer- 
 tain except war. When I was walking down 
 street to-day, I met a little German soldier 
 and I stopped to talk with him. He had a 
 tin pail in his hand, and he looked so sick, 
 and weak, I asked him where he was o-oinor. 
 
 " ' Puy der milk,' said he. 
 
 " Do you belong in the convalescent ward.? 
 I said pointing to the hospital. 
 
 " ' Yes, sur.' 
 
 " Don't they give you milk to drink 1 
 
 " ' Blenty, ven I vas in ped, but der ish not 
 
2ff^f. Six Little Rebels, 
 
 blenty, for mens as ish on der feets, so I 
 takes mine leedle penny, and mine chum's 
 leedle penny, and I puy some milk.' 
 " He loooked so weak and sick, I said : 
 " Give me the pail, and do you sit down 
 here on the steps, in the sun, while I bring 
 the milk. 
 
 " The old fellow looked me all over for a 
 minute, and said : 
 
 " ' Dat ish goot, I tinks you are good poy.' 
 " When I went back and gave him his milk 
 and money, he seemed surprised, but I told 
 him I got it where we bought our milk at 
 the old black woman's, and there was noth- 
 ing to pay, so he must save his pennies for 
 another day. I wouldn't let him know I 
 paid for it, and the little sick looking chap 
 was so happy over it, 1 sat down on the 
 steps and let him tell me a long story about 
 ' mine vrow, and blenty of babies out west.' 
 It's awful cruel to think of killing such men. 
 Just think of Colonel Brentford being shot, 
 
Battles at School, ^55 
 
 and men like my father ! I know it is 
 wicked, and I wash it could be stopped. 
 
 " Col. Brentford is what Charl used to call 
 a ' perfect brick,' or ' P. B.' He sends every 
 day to know how Charl is, and day before 
 yesterday he made us all go over to his 
 camp, and spend the day just because he 
 heard papa say the doctors would hold a 
 consultation, and he knew we would not 
 be able to study. We all went, except Reg, 
 and Dolly; they had to help take care of 
 Charl, and Walter wanted to stay until un- 
 cle said he should give him the care of Ber- 
 tie. We had a good time and found out 
 ever so much about breech-loader's, and dif- 
 ferent fire-arms. I can't write any more it is 
 too much bother.'' 
 
 Walter, who seemed so cool and calm to 
 others, was growing thin and nervous every 
 day, and as I look into his diary, I read on 
 paper all I saw written in his face : 
 
 " The doctors have been here, and spent a 
 long time in Charl's room. When they 
 
2^6 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 came out I saw by uncle's face that they did 
 not hope much, and without saying a word 
 I picked up my hat and made off to the 
 brook. I sat down under the trees, where 
 we used to sit in summer, and thought of 
 everything. If Charl never gets better, what 
 is the use of my Hving ? We don't know 
 about mother, father is gone, and I should 
 be all alone. I don't want to live if he 
 goes — poor Charl, poor dear, old boy — he 
 was always better to think of little things. 
 I don't think this is a very happy world even 
 for boys. 
 
 " I wrote that yesterday, but did not finish 
 it, as I was called dow^n to see Professor and 
 Mrs. Marks. They were very kind but I 
 never know what to say, and was glad when 
 they left. 
 
 " While I sat under the trees, I heard 
 steps coming that way, and heard Dolly's 
 voice say: ' I must find Walter, and tell him. 
 At first I thought she had come to say the 
 doctors had utterly given Charl up, and I de- 
 
Battles at School. 
 
 257 
 
 termined not to speak, for it seemed to me I 
 could not hear it said, although I felt sure of 
 it. Before I could speak, another voice 
 said : 
 
 "'Isn't Reggie happy?' 
 
 " Then I crept out, and there was Ned 
 and Dolly looking for me in a corner of 
 the little grove where I used to sit, and 
 make models out of wood. As soon as I 
 spoke, Dolly said : 
 
 " ' Oh, Walter, good news ! A letter from 
 your mother's nurse, and physician, telling 
 us she is improving, and they think she will 
 be quite well in the course of a year.' 
 
 " ' They want you boys to send her cheer- 
 ful letters to help on the good work.' " 
 
 Walter's journal suddenly stops here, and 
 I must finish the story. 
 
 For a moment his face was bright, and 
 then it clouded over, and he said : 
 
 " She mustn't know about Charl, it would 
 kill her." 
 
 " Of course not," I said, " but I do believe 
 
2^8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Charl's case is more hopeful. Dr. Miller 
 said he should hope on, if others did not, 
 and I am sure Reggie and I found him more 
 quiet. We won't borrow trouble, Wally, 
 but you and I will write a long letter, and 
 tell her it will be Chad's turn next time. 
 She will think we could not all write at 
 once. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 GOOD NEWS. 
 
 N Reggie's diary of Nov. 30th, 
 I find the following : 
 
 " Good news ! Good news ! 
 We have heard indirectly 
 from my father, and he is 
 well, but cannot hope to see 
 us now. Aunt Allie is improving, her doc- 
 tor writes, and dear Charl, is able to talk 
 with us a little every day. I never knew 
 how many kind people the world had until 
 
 now. 
 
 259 
 
26o Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Charl has been loaded down with presents 
 of all sorts. Dr. i\Iillcr seems like another 
 uncle, and our dear guardian has not thought 
 of himself for weeks. Mrs. Howard is an in- 
 valid, but even she sends something to Charl 
 nearly every day, and Mrs. Miller kindly 
 kept Bertie more than a week at her house. 
 Miss Lueinda and cousin Dolly are quite 
 worn out, I know, but they will not own it. 
 
 " The other day, Dolly's friend Miss Cora 
 Birney came to make a visit which the acci- 
 dent had postponed and she too, pets our in- 
 valid. Both o-irls declare thev will o-ive a 
 grand party v>'hen Charl gets well, for the 
 sake of using up all the good things sent in 
 for him. 
 
 " I wish papa and auntie could know how 
 kind every one is. Kinsf s father and mother 
 feel so bad about Charl they have tried every 
 way to get uncle to accept some present, and 
 'Sutler' has been sent off somewhere to 
 school. 
 
Good News. 261 
 
 " Yesterday Mr. King called to say that he 
 kept a little phceton down here at the stable, 
 and it would please him if we would use it. 
 
 " I go to the Union now in Dolly's place 
 and hear a good many funny things down 
 there in No. 3, where most of the men are 
 pretty comfortable. They have a rough way 
 of beino; kind to each other, which I shall 
 never forget, and they enjoy sharing every 
 little treat, even their letters from home. 
 Walter made a very cunning little engine 
 last summer, and one day I carried it down 
 to show to a young engineer who had his 
 arm torn away by the accidental explosion 
 of a shell in camp ; it amused me, to see 
 how ea2:er he Q-rew over it, and how he 
 begged me to pass it around, and let the 
 other fellows see. 
 
 "If you give one an orange he is not easy 
 until some one else has part of it. When I 
 sit by them and hear their jokes about the 
 'Johnnies,' and the 'next cut they hope to get 
 
262 Six Little Rebels. . 
 
 at the rebels ; ' I often wonder if they would 
 like me less, if I told them my father was a 
 confederate ofiEcer! 
 
 " They are brave fellows, and plucky about 
 their sufferings ; once in a while a growler is 
 brought in, but he gets very little peace, for 
 the men are sure to call out : ' Shut up,' ' no 
 more of that,' ' go down with the Johnnies,' 
 and other slang expressions which stop all 
 fault finding." 
 
 Reggie was very kind about our soldier 
 boys ; papa had several pets in the Union, 
 and he often sent Reggie down with books 
 or messages, but he never went himself. 
 Charlie's sickness was a great trial to him, 
 we could all see, although he talked cheer- 
 fully. 
 
 One night after Charl had been talking 
 too much, and grew very nervous, he asked 
 papa to let Reggie take care of him for he 
 had something to tell him. Papa promised 
 if he would be very quiet, and try to sleep as 
 soon as the important council was over. 
 
Good News, 26j 
 
 " What do you think he wanted ? " asked 
 Reggie, when Charl had at last fallen asleep, 
 and the niirse took his place. 
 
 " I cannot guess," I replied, " but if there 
 is any thing in the wide world which the dear 
 fellow wants, he shall have it." 
 
 " I wonder you are not tired of us, Dolly," 
 said ResfSfie, lookinor as sober as an old man 
 of sixty, " I was thinking while I sat there with 
 Charl, how few people would do for us, as 
 you and uncle have done." 
 
 " Reggie Gresham, do you take us for 
 heathen } That is not the topic under dis- 
 cussion as Professor Marks would say. What 
 does our dear Bismarck want } Tell me this 
 minute." 
 
 When Reggie was gloomy I always pre- 
 tended to scold, and he was sure to smile be- 
 fore I finished. 
 
 "Well dear cousin," he said, "he was 
 afraid his head was not quite right, and 
 never would be, and he wanted me to write 
 a formal request to his mother, and my 
 
26^1- Six Little Rebels. 
 
 father, urging them to secure his portion of 
 his father's property to 3^ou as a token of 
 gratitude for your unselfish care,' and kind- 
 ness." 
 
 " ' I cannot rest, or sleep, Reggie, unless 
 you will do this,' he said, and so, of course, I 
 wrote as he wished ; then he made me give 
 him a pen, and he wrote his name in crooked 
 letters, underneath the lines. After that, he 
 seemed satisfied and fell asleep." 
 
 "Oh Reggie," I said, with tears in my 
 eyes, " he is not worse is he } What did 
 he say about his head ? Are you sure he is 
 better, as the doctors all say ? " 
 
 The dear boy's care for me made me fear 
 he would never be any better, and I was 
 filled with nervous dread. Papa was sound 
 asleep, and every one save the nurse, Reggie 
 and myself, were in bed. 
 
 " I think, he is better," said Reggie, in his 
 slow, deliberate manner, " but he is weak, 
 and is just beginning to realize his danger." 
 
 " But, Reggie, I can't have anything of his, 
 
Good News. 26^ 
 
 I will not, I want dear, old Charl — oh dear, 
 and I found fault with him the very day he 
 was hurt ; because he cracked the glass over 
 my ferns." 
 
 " Don't cry, Dolly," said Reggie, " don't 
 cry. Just step up-stairs and see for yourself 
 how the old fellow is sleeping; he will come 
 out right yet, and as to the property, Dolly, 
 do you know I begin to think we are all beg- 
 gars I 
 
 " Oh no, Reggie, you could not be. Think 
 of all your father's large estates, and Judge 
 Neville's, too ! " 
 
 " But the property is taken by the Con- 
 federate government; the cotton, tobacco, 
 and negroes, will not be of any value now, 
 at least to my father, and young Cooper 
 writes that our house is used for a hospital. 
 Think of it, Dolly, our pleasant home and 
 all my dead mother's belongings." 
 
 " Who tells you so ? how do you know?" 
 
 " Cooper sent up a package to his mother, 
 and I heard of it through the Millers. I did 
 
266 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 not mean to tell you, but you see your 
 legacy would never trouble you, and we are 
 likely to, for a long time to come. I feel 
 like running away and enlisting myself, when 
 I think of it." 
 
 " Reginald ! " 
 
 " Yes, Dolly, I am not an idiot, and I 
 know the money which my father put in the 
 bank must be nearly or quite exhausted by 
 this time, and before long I shall speak to 
 uncle about it.'' 
 
 I thought — well, it is no matter what I 
 thought, but I said : 
 
 " Reggie Gresham, if you dare to talk any 
 such nonsense when we are all in ' the gall 
 of bitterness ' as Axy says, I will quarrel 
 with you outright ; don't you lisp it again, 
 he is taking comfort with you boys every day 
 of his life, he said so to Dr. ]\Iiller only yes- 
 terday, and now you mean to spoil all our 
 pleasure, by talking about enlisting." 
 
 " I only want to do my duty, cousin 
 Dollv.' 
 
Good News. 26'j 
 
 " A queer kind of duty, to leave your 
 brothers, and your guardian ; but I should 
 like to know where you would enlist ? " 
 
 " Here, Dolly, right here, to write in one 
 of the offices ; your father would do that for 
 me, and I might earn something for Ned, 
 and Bertie." 
 
 " And you wouldn't go through the lines 
 and join your father ? " I asked. 
 
 " No, Dolly, I couldn't even write down 
 the American flag, much as I love my father 
 and my old home ; but I cannot be a burden 
 on uncle, and I will not." 
 
 Reo^ofie looked so handsome and deter- 
 mined as he said this, that I couldn't help 
 thinking — He is manly enough to do just 
 as he says ; so I added aloud : 
 
 " Well, Reggie, do you promise me to 
 keep quiet on this point, and I will talk with 
 papa about it." 
 
 " How long ? " 
 
 " Oh, until Charl is strong and well ; you 
 
268 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 couldn't bring any more worries now could 
 you ? 
 
 " No, I only want to lessen them," he said, 
 " I will promise on one condition." 
 
 '' Well ? '^ 
 
 " That my cousin puts an end to her bad 
 practice of reading until midnight, when she 
 is tired." 
 
 " But it rests me." 
 
 " Will you promise "^ " 
 
 " I will promise not to, while Cora is 
 here," I said, for the sleepy chick has been 
 dreaminsf of home or Colonel Brentford for 
 two hours." 
 
 " Don't you dream of him, Dolly ? " 
 
 " No, I never get beyond gruel, bandages, 
 deodorents, wounds, and now and then a lit- 
 tle music." 
 
 Reggie went off to bed, and I soon joined 
 Cora. 
 
 How pretty she looked in her sleep ! I 
 am sure I never do. I must pout my lips, 
 and frown just as I do when awake, and for- 
 
Good News. 26g 
 
 get to " look agreeable " as our teacher used 
 to say : 
 
 " Now, young ladies, sit up and look agree- 
 able ; never mind how ^ow feel, always make 
 it a point to look pleasant." 
 
 " I think Cora could, but I was always get- 
 ting a little snappiness into my eyes, even 
 when I did not feel snappy in the least. 
 
 The next day Charl seemed much better, 
 and we looked forward to having him down- 
 stairs. ResfSfie said he never mentioned that 
 little will of his again, and I was glad to 
 think he had forgotten it. 
 
 All the time he was sick, Lex behaved 
 quite well, and often gave little talks in the 
 kitchen about ''growin' good," and "de 'spon- 
 seebility of dat young man what injured 
 Massa Charles." 
 
 Cora said she believed he was like the 
 pony she had in the country every summer; 
 whenever he was preparing for any ugly out- 
 break he was sure to be gentle and good for 
 several weeks ; after that — look out I 
 
2 JO Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Cora was as bright as a bird, and she 
 never grew tired of the sick room as most 
 girls would, but was a real comfort to me. I 
 told Charl, I should certainly scalp him, if 
 he dared to like her better than his old 
 Dolly. 
 
 Poor, wee, wan boy, he tried to laugh, and 
 said : 
 
 " My scalp is safe cousin Dolly, but you 
 would be sure to quarrel with me very much 
 if I didn't like her." 
 
 " Of couse I should, Bismarck," said I, " no 
 one could help loving her." 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 STRANGE GUESTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. 
 
 OW girls," said Mrs. Miller, one after- 
 noon, when Charlie was able to sit up, 
 " if you are to go under my wing to the 
 White House, you must prepare for the next 
 reception, for I am liable to be called away 
 now at any time." 
 
 " Oh dear," said I, " then I must have a 
 new gown ; even a school girl must not dis- 
 grace her friends at the ' American Court.' " 
 
 " Can't you alter something t " asked Mrs. 
 
 Miller, " we have so little time." 
 
 271 
 
2^2 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 I thought of the pretty dresses folded 
 away in a trunk up-stairs, but I could not 
 make up my mind to ask papa, for the dear 
 mother who wore them was a belle and a 
 beauty, and I, only plain Dolly Warrington. 
 
 The President's Reception was very dif- 
 ferent from a party, especially, if we went 
 with Dr. and Mrs. Miller who were personal 
 friends of the President. 
 
 " I will ask papa about it," I said, " and it 
 need not take long to make a dress dear 
 Mrs. Miller, you know I am quick with my 
 needle, as well as my tongue.'' 
 
 " I can help,'' said Cora, " if some one will 
 tell me what to do ; you know I have my- 
 lovely pink silk which some good angel put 
 it into Mame's head to buy for me to wear 
 at cousin Anna's wedding, and it is ready to 
 jump into." 
 
 Mrs. Miller said she would do all she 
 could for me, and after a little more plan- 
 ning, the important subject of dress was de- 
 
Strange Guests at the White House, 2jj 
 
 cided upon, and one pleasant day Mrs. Miller 
 called for us in her carriage, for a shopping 
 excursion. Charl was well enouQ:h to eo 
 down into the study w'ith papa, and we went 
 off in fine spirits. 
 
 " Something good, simple, and tasteful," 
 said papa as he gave me a check, " my little 
 bird must not go with clipped wings, or too 
 gay plumage." 
 
 " Why, you generous soul, don't you know 
 I must do all I can to look as well as other 
 girls do without finery.? " 
 
 " Good, simple, and tasteful," he said again, 
 as I closed the study door. 
 
 Cora's dress was pink, with pufiings of 
 tulle, mine should be pale blue, caught here, 
 and there, with lilies of the valley, my favor- 
 ite iiower. As we rattled along Cora said : 
 
 ' I do think, Dolly it has never entered in- 
 to your head to decide what you will ask 
 for." 
 
 "Quite time," said Mrs. Miller, "for here 
 
2'/4 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 we are at Perry's, and as soon as you have 
 decided, I will coax my own dressmaker to 
 take you in hand." 
 
 " If you please, Mrs. Miller," said I, " the 
 dress I would like, would be a pale blue silk, 
 made as simply as possible with a careless 
 looping here, and there, of white lilies of the 
 valley." 
 
 " Why Dolly," said Cora, " it will be lovely 
 with your complexion ! " 
 
 " I congratulate you on your good taste, 
 my dear," said Mrs. Miller, " now let us se- 
 lect our silk." 
 
 It was great fun shopping with Mrs. 
 Miller; she knew everybody and the clerks 
 were so polite to her, I knew they considered 
 her a person of some importance. The silk 
 was cut and sent round to Madame Waugh S: 
 where Mrs. Miller drove, after a little more 
 shopping for herself. Madame condescended 
 as a great favor, to cut the gown, but she 
 could not promise to have it finished in 
 

 Strange Guests at the White House. 2j^ 
 
 time; could not Mrs. Miller's own sewing 
 girl finish it? 
 
 Mrs. Miller said, yes — while I whispered, 
 
 " We can, Cora and I." 
 
 So it was settled, and after one or two visits 
 to " try on," and " alter a little," the pretty 
 gown came home, and we girls sat up-stairs 
 in my room sewing away for dear life. 
 
 To keep Bertie quiet, I gave him a book 
 of pictures, and sent him into the dining- 
 room with Lex. This plan worked so well I 
 repeated it again, and little dreamed of harm 
 to my pet. 
 
 When our fright was over, and our dar- 
 ling was safe in my lap, we let him tell the 
 story in his own way. 
 
 " I got tired of pickshures," said he, " and 
 Lex said wouldn't we go walk, and I asked 
 cousin Dolly, and she said ' yes dear, a little 
 way,' and we went. 
 
 " When we went a little way, Lex said : 
 
 " ' Le's we go up to de White House, dey 
 are having a 'ception there, in the afternoon, 
 
2j6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 for folks that takes cold going out nights.' 
 
 " And I said, ' Is that where Dolly and 
 Cora will go ? ' and Lex said ' yes, most 
 likely you would get there before we did, 
 cause you would ride,' and I thought cousin 
 Dolly would be so 'sprized to see me she would 
 show me to the President, so we went, and 
 went, a big, long way, and by and by, we saw 
 carriages and people there right before the 
 door. Lex said, ' come on,' and I did. 
 Pretty soon we saw two real pretty ladies go 
 in, and we went close behind them, and by 
 and by, we were in a room where it was real 
 crowded, and the President stood there, and 
 a lady with him, and all round were ever 
 so many more ladies and gentlemen. 
 
 " Everybody shook hands with the tallest 
 man, so I held out mine, and the President 
 didn't take it, but he lifted me right up in 
 his arms and said : 
 
 " ' Dear little man, did you come to see 
 me?' and I said, * yes sir; ' then he hugged 
 me real tight, and said : 
 
Strange Gtiests at the White House. ^77 
 
 " Be a good boy, and mind your mother,' 
 but I couldn't tell him about her for they 
 hurried us on so fast into another room, and 
 when I looked back, I saw him shaking 
 hands with more people, and his face looked 
 puckcry just like he was tired, don't you 
 think he was ? " 
 
 " Yes darling I haven't a doubt of it, but 
 what else happened ? " 
 
 The family w^ere all seated about listening, 
 and the little fellow^ went on : 
 
 " The pretty ladies went away, and I told 
 Lex I wanted to see my cousin Dolly, but 
 he said you hadn't come yet, and it was fun 
 to see the folks. Then we stood there until 
 a real kind man came up, and said : 
 
 " ' Well my little fellow, have you lost your 
 party ? ' 
 
 " And I told him ' No, cousin Dolly would 
 give me one when my birthday came.' 
 
 " ' I mean have you lost your mamma in 
 the crowd t ' he said, and I told him, ' No 
 sir, I lost her in Heaven.' 
 
2j8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Then he laughed and called another man 
 with white gloves on, and they both laughed, 
 and I wanted to cry. Then one of them 
 said : 
 
 " ' Whom did you come with my boy ? ' 
 
 " ' With Lex,' I said. 
 
 " ' And who is Lex ? ' 
 
 " ' He is our servant,' I said, ' but I am 
 afraid he is lost, too.' 
 
 " Then one of the gentlemen took hold of 
 my hand, and said : 
 
 '"We will find him my little fellow, don't 
 w^orry ; I will take you home myself, if he 
 does not come.' 
 
 " ' There's Lex,' I said pointing at him, 
 and oh ! cousin Dolly, what do you think he 
 was doing } " 
 
 " I couldn't tell possibly, Bertie." 
 
 " He had picked up two pretty roses some- 
 body had dropped, and he was walking right 
 behind a lady and gentleman with them 
 stuck up in his wool ! He looked so funny 
 making up faces, I laughed right out, and 
 
Strajige Guests at the White House, zyg 
 
 the gentleman who 
 held my hand laughed, 
 too, but a big man went 
 up to him, and pulled 
 him away, then my 
 nice man called him 
 and talked to him. 
 
 " ' Who brought you 
 here, you 
 young 'ras- 
 cal ? ' 
 
 "'Myfeets, 
 massa/ 
 
 " Where 
 do you live?' 
 " ' Over to 
 Massa War- 
 rington's, sah.' 
 
 " ' Aha,' said the gentleman, 
 brought this poor little fellow from George- 
 town, did you ? ' 
 
 " ' No, massa, he walked.' 
 
 so you 
 
28 o Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " ' You deserve a flogging,' said the kind 
 gentleman. 
 
 " * Yes, sah; 
 
 " Then this gentleman said to me : 
 
 " * Well, my boy, can you tell me your 
 name ? ' 
 
 And I told him I was Bertie Gresham, 
 from Richmond, and I lived with Dr. War- 
 rington, and cousin Dolly took care of me. 
 Then he said something to another man, and 
 they looked at me, and by and by some more 
 people looked at me so hard, I didn't like it, 
 and the kind gentleman, said : 
 
 " ' My carriage will be here soon, my little 
 man, and my wife and I will see you safe 
 home.' 
 
 " Then we came, and he wouldn't tell me 
 his name, but his wife called him, ' dear,' and 
 the coachman ' general.' " 
 
 That was all the child could tell, and we 
 only knew that 1 went to the dining-room 
 with a box of blocks which I had found 
 
Strange Guests at the White House, 281 
 
 while looking in a closet for a piece of 
 lining muslin, and no boys were there. Axy 
 said, they had gone to walk; but I knew that, 
 to be at least, two hours before. Dick, and 
 Reggie, came in from a tramp ; and Walter 
 was busy over a patent lock for his desk. 
 Ned was with Charlie, and no one could tell 
 me anything about my run-aways. 
 
 " Gone to the camp," said Dick, "come on, 
 Reggie, let us get them home before dark; 
 these short days cheat you out of your day- 
 light." 
 
 " True enough," said papa, " Lex is doubt- 
 less anxious to cultivate the acquaintance of 
 the colonel's boy." 
 
 I was in terror. Like an old granny as 
 Ned said, I thought first of his health. The 
 child was subject to sore throats, and evi- 
 dently he had been hurried away with only 
 his velvet jacket, which was quite warm 
 enough for early afternoon, but not sufficient 
 for the cool evening. 
 
282 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " If he only had his coat," I said. 
 
 " I could take it," said Walter, " if you 
 would tell me where to go." 
 
 Charlie grew so nervous about it we were 
 sorry it had been mentioned in his presence. 
 To quiet him, I ran over to Mrs. Miller's, 
 although I was quite sure he was not there. 
 Then Cora, like a real comforter, sat down 
 and talked to him until he was calmer, and 
 quite interested in her account of a little 
 drummer boy whom she had met the day be- 
 fore. 
 
 Ned and Walter went to the stores where 
 Lex was fond of making speeches, but noth- 
 ing was heard of them, until a carriage rolled 
 up to the door and they were left, without 
 giving us a chance to thank the kind gentle- 
 man, whose wife called him " dear," and his 
 coachman, " general." 
 
 That night everybody in the house agreed 
 that something must be done to cure Lex of 
 his roaming habit, but the question was — 
 " what ? " 
 
Strange Guests at the White House. 28 j 
 
 Just as I was shutting my eyes, Cora burst 
 out laughing. 
 
 " Are you asleep Dolly ? " said she. 
 
 " How can I sleep, when you shake the 
 bed like an earthquake," I said. 
 
 " I was thinking, Dolly, how Lex must 
 have looked marching behind the two fine 
 ladies with the whites of his eyes rolled up." 
 
 Then we both laughed, and wondered 
 about the "general." 
 
 Lex had his version of the story, which 
 papa called for. 
 
 The boys begged so had to hear it, papa 
 consented, and Reggie brought him in. 
 
 " Lex," said papa, trying to look very 
 stern, " how came you to run off with Bertie, 
 without permission ? " 
 
 " Didn't, sah, Miss Dolly sayed we might 
 
 go-" 
 
 " No, Lex, she gave you permission for a 
 
 short walk, you do not call it a short walk to 
 
 the White House do you } " 
 
2^4 ^^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 " Yes, massa, heaps shorter dan de walks 
 I took down home." 
 
 " Short for you, but very long for a poor 
 little boy who is not strong. Why did you 
 go there ? no one invited you, no one sent 
 for you, no one wanted you." 
 
 " Yes, massa, Mr. Linkum did ; I heerd a 
 fellow down to the store say, Massa Linkum 
 wanted all his friends to come, and I is his 
 friend, sah ; 'sides, I wanted to see if Jim 
 Crow told de truff, and he didn't, sah." 
 
 " What did Jim tell you 1 " asked papa 
 soberly, while the boys were chuckling with 
 fun. 
 
 "Well, he sayd sar, dat Massa Linkum 
 was the big fat man we see a riding round 
 so much ; a very brack man, and he looked 
 so — " 
 
 Here Lex put his thumbs in his jacket, 
 and strutted back, to the infinite amusement 
 of the boys. 
 
 " He isn't, sah ; no sah." 
 
 " And you saw the President } " 
 
Strange Guests at the White House, 28^ 
 
 " Yes, sah, I looked roun' good, till I see 
 some pretty ladies agoin' in, and I said : 
 
 " ' Massa Bertie dese yere are our ladies, 
 come on,' and we went through a crowd, and 
 then into another room, and there stood Massa 
 Linkum, and he's the one I knowed, cause 
 I've got his picture on a penny, an' he 
 stooped down low, like he was doubling up, 
 and he called me ' little friend,' he had heard 
 of me, I spose." 
 
 When he had gone thus far in the story, 
 every one in the room laughed, even papa, 
 and Lex stood looking from one to the 
 other, scratching his woolly head, and show- 
 ing his white teeth. 
 
 Papa sobered down first. 
 
 " V/'ery well," said he, " the President spoke 
 to you ? " 
 
 " Yes, sah, and he took Massa Bertie right 
 up in his arms, and kissed him before all de 
 folks, and the lady that stood by him. I spose 
 she was Massa Linkum's wife. She said : 
 
 " ' Oh, what a beautiful child,' and she 
 
286 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 kissed him, too ; then we walked round like 
 all de folks, and by and by a gentleman, 
 'bout as big as Dr. Miller, with a mustarsh, 
 he come and 'vited us to ride home in his 
 carriage, an' she, the general's wife, she 
 wrapped Massa Bertie all up long side oh 
 her, and said he was a poor, little baby, and 
 she wished he was hers." 
 
 " Lex, I am very sorry you have done such 
 a foolish thing, and you may have injured 
 your little master seriously. Now in order 
 to make you remember what you are told, I 
 forbid you to go outside of our yard without 
 permission, and to-morrow you will be a pris- 
 oner in Reggie's room all day, and he will 
 take care of you. One thing more, I want 
 you to tell me as well as you can, about the 
 gentleman who brought you home, I am 
 very grateful to him, and very sorry I cannot 
 thank him." 
 
 "Yes, massa; he had a white coachman 
 with a big, red nose, and he called him, 
 
Strange Guests at the White House, 28 j 
 
 gin'ral, and de lady was putty as Miss Cora, 
 and she sayed : 
 
 " ' Better write on your card how we found 
 them, dear, the family must have been so 
 'stressed 'bout them ; ' but the gin'ral he only 
 sayed : ' Let them tell their own story, pet,' 
 and so we has, massa doctor." 
 
 Fortunately, Bertie came out all right ; no 
 cold, or sore throat appeared thanks to the 
 care of the unknown lady ; but many a 
 laugh did we have, over President Lin- 
 coln's queer guests. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 LEX MAKES A PRESENT. 
 
 [ W^ UR first reception was delightful in ev- 
 
 \<^£^ ery way. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Miller called for us, and we 
 
 were to meet Major Birney and his wife at 
 
 the president's. Just as we were starting, 
 
 who should appear but Colonel Brentford, 
 
 with a letter for me, from his neice which he 
 
 had just received in one of his own. Dr. 
 
 Miller insisted on his going with us, and he 
 
 accepted, saying he had started with the 
 288 
 
Lex Makes a Present, zSg 
 
 White House in view, but did not dream of 
 such excellent company. 
 
 When we reached the White House, I 
 whispered to Cora in the cloak room, that I 
 had already seen so many distinguished peo- 
 ple, I felt quite ^^rtinguished. We waited a 
 little while for Major Birney, but Dr. Miller 
 grew impatient, and settled matters to please 
 himself. 
 
 How he managed it, I never could tell, but 
 before I knew what I was doing, Mrs. Miller 
 was passing in, leaning on the arm of an ele- 
 gant looking officer; the accomplished and 
 graceful daughter of Mr. Chase followed with 
 her father; Dr. Miller had my arm tucked 
 in his, and Cora brought up the rear, with 
 Col. Brentford. In half a moment I had for- 
 gotten everything about me for I was look- 
 ing straight into the President's face, — -his 
 good, strong, homely face, and I heard hirn 
 say, — " Glad to see you, doctor," — " God 
 bless you niy dear young lady ; " and then it 
 came Cora's turn. As we passed into the 
 
2 go Six Little Rebels. 
 
 little circle, following Mr. Chase, as he re- 
 quested, I began to get a little more courage, 
 and looked about me. What a remarkable 
 group ! What good, intelligent faces ! What 
 lovely women ! 
 
 Cora, could talk better than I, at any time 
 and now she was just as gay as she could be, 
 chatting with a young foreign minister. 
 
 Dr. Miller had forgotten all about me, but 
 I was not alone, for of all the elegant gentle- 
 men present the man I most admired came 
 and stood by me, — None other than Hon. 
 Salmon P. Chase. He was not too grand, 
 or self absorbed to notice a shy young girl ; 
 and we had such a good little home talk, just 
 as easy as we might have had in the library, 
 at the " Woodbox." 
 
 " Dolly-like, I said the first thing I could 
 think of, and that was : " How charming 
 your daughter is, Mr, Chase ! her head and 
 neck are so perfect in shape, I cannot help 
 wishing I could see them done in marble." 
 
 " She is a dear girl," he said, looking fond- 
 
r 
 
 Lex Makes a Present 2gi 
 
 ly at her, " and you shall see what you wish, 
 Miss Warrington, for her foolish old father 
 has it now on his mantel, and you must 
 come to my house, and see it." 
 
 " But I am only a school girl, you know, 
 papa would hardly allow me to go out again, 
 this is a little treat to-night." 
 
 " Then we will make it very bright for 
 you, if you will take my arm, I will show you 
 something more of the White House, and 
 you shall tell me what people you would like 
 to know." 
 
 Then the French minister came up, and 
 we could not get away for some time. Dear 
 me, how thick my tongue seemed, in a sec- 
 ond ! I forgot all the little French, I knew, 
 and yet he insisted on making me speak it, 
 until I appealed to Mr. Chase, and said, " It 
 is the first time I ever tried to talk with a 
 Frenchman." 
 
 " Then I advise you to go on, for you will 
 learn more in this way, than in weeks from 
 books." 
 
2g2 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 What a kind, polite man, the minister 
 was ! I forgot to be afraid, and when he told 
 me that Miss Nettie Chase, the youngest 
 daughter of my companion, spoke the purest 
 French he had heard from American lips, I 
 resolved to go home and study as I had 
 never done before. 
 
 Miss Nettie was not there that evening, 
 but many times afterwards I heard her talk- 
 ing, and knew she deserved the high praise 
 bestowed upon her. It seemed to me one of 
 the shortest evenings I ever knew, and when, 
 at last, we came away, I told Cora that I 
 never thought of my dress once, and I pre- 
 sumed it was hunched up, or out of order in 
 some way, when I was walking with Mr. 
 Chase. 
 
 " Oh, Dolly dear, you never looked better, 
 I was as proud of you as I could be, and 
 wasn't the whole thing pretty '^ " 
 
 "Yes; I squeezed my eyes up, and it all 
 looked like a gorgeous panorama, but I could 
 
Lex Makes a Present. 2gj 
 
 not help shuddering when I thought of the 
 boys in the hospitals." 
 
 Dick and Reggie, were wishing to hear 
 our story, and we sat down in our finery, to 
 talk it all over. 
 
 After I had told mine with Cora interrupt- 
 ing me to add a little now and then, - Dick 
 said, " Well, I have always declared I would 
 never get myself up and go through the cer- 
 emony, but on the whole Reg I think it will 
 be something to remember, and I move we 
 go some evening." 
 
 " Very well," said Reg. 
 
 " Now, Miss Dolly," said Dick, '' if you 
 will stop spinning round on that piano stool, 
 and forget the remarkable people you have 
 seen, for ten minutes, I should like to men- 
 tion another subject." 
 
 " Proceed, Dick." 
 
 " To-morrow is your birthday ; never mind 
 who told me, and Charl and I propose to cel- 
 ebrate. The doctor says ' yes,' of course, 
 
2g^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 and I only mention it in order to keep you 
 girls from flying off somewhere." 
 
 " How jolly ! " cried Cora, " we must ask 
 Col. Brentford over, and have a good 
 frolic." 
 
 " Will Chad be strong: enouofh ? " 
 
 " Yes, the boy is full of it, and you are 
 not to ask questions. " Markie " takes a hol- 
 iday to-morrow, the doctors will all come, and 
 you are not to go down to the hospital for 
 more than one hour." 
 
 " I don't think I would call my teacher 
 ' Markie,' if I were you, Dick ; it is not re- 
 spectful, and the younger ones will do as 
 you do." 
 
 Dick sprang to his feet and made up a 
 pitiful face, as much like Lex as possible. 
 
 " Please, Miss Dolly," he said, " I didn't 
 go for to do it; please 'scuse me, Miss Dolly." 
 
 What a Dick ! 
 
 " W^ell," said I, " until to-morrow night at 
 twelve, you boys may do as you please, 
 provided you take counsel with Miss Lu- 
 
Lex Makes a Present. 295 
 
 cinda ; after that I shall be older than I am 
 now, and we will see." 
 
 " Dear me," said Dick, mockingly, " how 
 one evening out has set the child up ! 
 Why, here am I, a whole year her senior, 
 and she presumes to dictate to me. Regi- 
 nald, I can't fancy how you stand it. I 
 must go home and sleep on it.'" 
 
 " Good night," we said, and the merry- 
 hearted fellow ran, whistling, down the 
 street. 
 
 The next morning early. Lex was sent 
 away with two or three notes, and I kept 
 my promise and did not ask questions. 
 Charl and papa called Cora in several times 
 to consult with her, and I was entirely left 
 out for one day. 
 
 About four o'clock, papa called me, and 
 we had one of our good little talks, after 
 which Cora and I dressed for the evening, 
 and I waited to see what would come. The 
 first guests were Major and Mr. Binney, who 
 had been spending a few days in Alexan- 
 
2g6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 cilia; thePx Col. Brentford with a friend — a 
 quick, wir}^ little officer ; Dr. and Mrs. 
 Miller and Dick. 
 
 Miss Lucinda appeared in a new dress, 
 with a huge bow of green ribbon at her 
 throat. Aunt Axy hugged me until I could 
 hardly breathe, and then cried because " my 
 poor dear ma couldn't see her baby." 
 
 " I think she does, Aunt Axy," said I, 
 " and so does papa." 
 
 You see 1 went to the kitchen to speak 
 a word with her before the guests came ; 
 after that I did just as the boys told me. 
 
 Dear papa, how happy he was ! Dr. Miller 
 told him he was one of the men who ap- 
 peared at their best with a flock of young 
 people about him. 
 
 We had tea in the dininsf-room, which the 
 boys had kept closed all day, and I was sur- 
 prised enough when the door was opened. 
 Another table had been added to our exten- 
 sion, and it was covered with good things. 
 The boys had put their money together, and 
 
Lex Makes a Present, zgj 
 
 ordered a large frosted birthday cake ; this 
 stood in the centre of the table, with flowers 
 about it, and Aunt Axy's salads decorated 
 every spot which was not filled wdth pyra- 
 mids of ice cream, platters of cold ham, piles 
 of light tea biscuit, and baskets of delicious 
 cake. Cora and the boys arranged every- 
 thing, and I could not help exclaiming, 
 " This is just perfection ! " 
 
 " The presents are saved for after supper," 
 said Bertie, who clung to me tighter than 
 ever. 
 
 " Don't tell tales, little man," said papa. 
 
 " No, I won't," said Bertie, stoutly. While 
 we were at supper, in walked Mrs. Thorpe. 
 She had been hard at work for the soldiers 
 in Alexandria, and we hardly expected to see 
 her, although papa had written her an invita- 
 tion. 
 
 How I pitied her, and loved her ! What a 
 still calm, she had schooled herself to ! Her 
 plain black dress made her look paler then 
 ever, but she came in with a grace and ease 
 
2g8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 which seemed to say : " I have had my 
 merry-makings, and I do not intend to sad- 
 den yours." 
 
 I could have hugged Reggie for his care 
 of her; he hardly left her for the evening, 
 and she seemed as fond of " our big boy " as 
 papa. 
 
 Once, during the evening, the boys begged 
 us for some music and I asked Cora to play, 
 for I knew it would give dear Mrs. Thorpe 
 a heart ache, to see me at the piano. 
 
 She must have read my thought, for, put- 
 ting her hand on mine, she said : 
 
 " My dear, play for your friends ; do not 
 mind me, no one thing can recall an ever- 
 present grief. 
 
 Then I played for the boys, trying very 
 hard to think of pieces I had learned since 
 Harry went away. 
 
 It was a very merry evening. Col. Brent- 
 ford taught us some Western games, and af- 
 ter Mrs. Thorpe left, we had a little dancing. 
 Never before did I see papa so gay; now, 
 
Lex Makes a Present. 2gg 
 
 calling out to the colored musicians who 
 were a trifle slow ; now, joking with the boys, 
 or suQ^ofestinsf words for charades. 
 
 The boys had planned to have me see my 
 presents the last thing, in order to give Miss 
 Lucinda time to arranofe them on the librarv 
 table, while we were busy with music , and 
 games. I was glad enough I assure you, for, 
 do what I would, the tears came into my 
 eyes as I looked them all over, and I could 
 only say : 
 
 " Papa, I wish you would speak for me, in- 
 deed I can't." I always had a horror of 
 books where people were melting into tears 
 constantly, and then coming together again, 
 and I was determined to go through it all 
 with only smiles, but tears do express joy, 
 quite as often as smiles, I think. 
 
 Lex helped me out wonderfully, — wicked 
 little Lex, with his round bead-like eyes, and 
 white teeth, but first, I must tell you about 
 the presents. Papa put his on with his own 
 hands, — a lovely watch and chain, such a 
 
Soo Six Little Rebels. 
 
 beauty, too! of course, I hugged him on the 
 spot for it ; Major Birney, gave me a beauti- 
 ful coral necklace ; Cora, a handsome Rus- 
 sia-leather Bag; Mrs. Birney, an exquisite 
 picture of my own dear mother, painted on 
 porcelain, from one she owned at the time of 
 her marriage. I told her I could never 
 thank her enough for that. The boys had a 
 large album with their pictures in it, and on 
 the fly leaf written, 
 
 Cousin Dolly 
 
 from her loving " Rebels r 
 
 " But you are not one of them," said I to 
 Dick, as I turned it over and found his 
 saucy, handsome face. 
 
 " Yes, I am," he replied, " and don't you 
 dare to count me out." 
 
 I was very glad not to, and I was pleased 
 to see that he had put it by the side of 
 Bertie's, for the little fellow was so fond of 
 
Lex Makes a Present. joi 
 
 the " rollicking mad-cap," as his father called 
 him. 
 
 Every one had something for me ; Dr. 
 Miller gave me six solid silver spoons, " for," 
 said he, " girls in their teens, should have 
 something which they can use all their 
 lives. 
 
 Mrs. Miller gave me a book of plates 
 which she had ordered from London ; and 
 even Col. Brentford had a gift, a beauty too, 
 nothing more or less than a small American 
 flag of pure silk, just long enough to hang 
 over the door of the " Woodbox." Miss Lu- 
 cinda, sensible, and practical, presented me 
 with a work-box, fitted up in excellent style ; 
 and Aunt Axy, who put in her gay turbaned 
 head to " see how Miss Dolly liked em," 
 drew from under her apron a little jeweller's 
 box containing a silver thimble. 
 
 " Come Lex," said Reggie, " you have 
 been telling all day that you had a right 
 smart present all ready ; bring it in.'* 
 
JO 2 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Yes, massa," said Lex, going with a hop, 
 skip and jump to the shed, and soon re- 
 turninof with a basket. 
 
 " Here 'tis, Miss Dolly ; golly, ain't him 
 hansum ! " 
 
 He raised the cover, and out jumped a 
 pretty white bantam chicken. 
 
 " Oh Lex," I said, after Dick had caught 
 it, and brought it up for me to admire, 
 " where did you get it } " 
 
 " Well, you see Miss Dolly, Miss Cindy 
 she told me when I was gwine over with 
 massa colonel's letter to tote dis yer basket 
 down to de ole woman you is always send- 
 ing things to, and Miss Cindy said how I 
 was not to let it go out of my hand till I 
 come back, an' I didn't once. When I give 
 the ole woman her loaf of bread, an de 
 meat, I cum down long, an' I see a boy, an' 
 he was a-watchin" some chickens out in a 
 little yard, an' I asked him to get me one 
 of those pretty ones, an I would give him 
 
Lex Makes a Present. joj 
 
 five cents — I had five cents Miss Gora gave 
 me yesterday " — here he nodded to her. 
 
 " Yes, I did," said Cora. 
 
 " Well, he catch de chickun, and I paid 
 him." 
 
 " But Lex," said papa, " this chicken is 
 worth more money. Did they belong to 
 the boy } " 
 
 " I reckon not, massa ; he said he didn't 
 live there, but he knowed de folks I " 
 
 " Oh Lex ! Lex ! " groaned Reggie. 
 
 " What shall we do with him } " said Miss 
 Lucinda. 
 
 The rest of us were laughing so we could 
 not speak. 
 
 Then papa explained and told him the 
 little chick must be returned. Lex looked 
 so woe-begone, I hastened to say : 
 
 " I will go with you, Lex, and perhaps 
 we will see something I should like bet- 
 ter." 
 
 So the day ended happily, but long after 
 
^04 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 the boys had gone to their rooms, we could 
 hear them laughing over my queer present, 
 and every now and then Ned would crow 
 so like a young bantam, that Cora and I 
 shook with laughter. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THROWING PONTOONS. 
 
 m ^^^^ ^^^y ^^^ch afraid Charl would 
 
 ® suffer from late hours, and dissipation 
 on my birthday, but he came down to break- 
 fast, and declared himself " nearly sound." 
 
 " That head will trouble him for a lone 
 time," said Dr. Miller one day, and we found 
 it was so, for he was often compelled to give 
 up everything, and shut himself in a dark- 
 ened room. The pain was terrible, he could 
 not speak or be spoken to. 
 
 Looking over the diaries again, I find an 
 
 5°s 
 
3o6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 interesting account in Reggie's, of the first 
 pontoon bridge thrown across the Potomac 
 during the war. 
 
 " The Engineer Brigade, commanded by 
 
 the gallant Col A , was stationed on the 
 
 eastern branch, and through our good friend, 
 Dr. Miller, Dick, Dolly, Cora and myself 
 were allowed to go. I don't think any of us 
 knew what a pontoon was, but we were all 
 eager to find out. 
 
 " When our carriage drove up to the col- 
 onel's headquarters, he came out in full uni- 
 form to meet us, and told us Gen. McClellan 
 was expected every moment. 
 
 A few officers, and three or four ladies 
 were present, but I did not care much for 
 any of them, until an orderly called out to 
 the colonel, while we were all sitting in his 
 tent , " The general is coming sir." As he 
 came down toward our group on horseback, 
 1 could not help thinking of Napoleon, but 
 when he dismounted I was sorry he was not 
 taller. He had only two or three of his 
 
Throwing Pontoons. joy 
 
 staff with him, and as he rode forward the 
 men cheered him again and again. Mrs. Mil- 
 ler greeted him warmly, and said : " Your 
 soldiers love to do you honor general." 
 
 " They are very kind madam, but I wish 
 the good fellows would reserve their cheers 
 until I have earned them by hard work." 
 
 Dr. Miller's reply was just the thing. 
 "Ah general," said he, "a battle is half 
 won, when the troops have confidence in 
 their leaders." 
 
 After an excellent collation w^e all went 
 down to the river bank, and in a few mo- 
 ments, boat after boat was put in position, 
 and we were invited to walk out on the 
 bridge thus formed. 
 
 "This is pontoon throwing is it.?" said 
 Dick, " well Reggie, these men work like so 
 much machinery, what a shame Walter is 
 not here." 
 
 " It is too bad," I said, " I wish he had 
 taken my place." Then Col. A. who heard 
 our talk, said : " You can come again, young 
 
jo8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 gentlemen, and bring your .friend ; my men 
 have worked hard you may be sure, to work 
 so well." 
 
 While we were talking. Gen. McClellan 
 walked forward and stood on the very end of 
 the little bridge, looking up and down the 
 river, as if in thought. Presently two boats 
 came out from the Navy Yard, and for the 
 first time we saw and heard a naval salute. 
 
 The whole thing was very pretty, and 
 every one was so polite and kind, I thought 
 we must be seeing the best side of the war. 
 
 Some one said the Ensrineer Brio^ade was 
 noted for its orderly camp, and Dick and I 
 were sure it must be so, for we went through 
 the company-streets which were laid out like 
 a little town, and when we were invited by 
 the soldiers, we went inside of one or two of 
 the tents and sat down. 
 
 Mrs. Miller who knew Mrs. McClellan 
 and was very fond of her, was having a little 
 chat with the general, Vv'hen we slipped 
 away. By and by we heard her voice near 
 
Throwing Pontoons, ^og 
 
 the tent where we were sitting. " Oh, but 
 you must obey, you know ; we all have to, 
 and really, you wouldn't like your wife, or 
 sweet-heart, to see you now." 
 
 Dick and I went out. There was Mrs. 
 Miller with Dolly by her side, talking to a 
 soldier, who was marching up and down his 
 company-street, dressed up with a gabion, a 
 large, barrel-shaped thing made of coarse 
 wicker, something like a heavy basket. 
 These are filled with earth and piled one on 
 top of another, to form what we call fortifi- 
 cations, or breast-works. 
 
 The poor fellow was inside of this cage, 
 which rested on a stick over his shoulder, 
 and he v/as ordered to walk all day, because 
 he had disobeyed orders. 
 
 Mrs. Miller's kind heart was touched, and 
 she walked up and down with him, urorino- 
 him to avoid punishment in the future. 
 
 "That kind of talk" will fetch him," said 
 one of the men, " he's stubborn as a mule, 
 but kind hearted after all," 
 
J 10 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 When Mrs. Miller had quite softened him, 
 she went back to the colonel, and beo-o-ed to 
 have him forgiven. The colonel smiled : 
 
 Mrs. Miller urged. 
 
 " Madame," said he,. " if you were in my 
 camp you would destroy all discipline." 
 
 " Never colonel, I should make your men 
 so good they would not require much." 
 
 The colonel's eyes sparkled, but he said 
 with a kind of trying-to-be-severe tone : 
 
 " Well, madam, it shall be done, but he 
 must understand that you request it, and a 
 second offence will meet with still more se- 
 vere punishment. 
 
 The poor man seemed glad enough to be 
 free, and I am sure his comrades were right, 
 when they said : " you will never catch him 
 in that scrape again." 
 
 How pleasant it is to recall all these 
 things by reading the diaries, how many lit- 
 tle thinsis will be remembered which are 
 well worth remembering, and, as papa said, 
 were " making history." 
 
Throwing Pontoons. jii 
 
 For several weeks matters went on much 
 as usual, with stories, one day of movements, 
 and engagements, which were contradicted 
 the next. 
 
 All the newspapers were filled with " On 
 to Richmond," and fault finding because the 
 army did not move. 
 
 " Cousin Dolly, come here," said Charlie, 
 one morning, " look at this sight, and then 
 wonder why the army does not go on to 
 Richmond." 
 
 I looked from the window, and saw a gov- 
 ernment bread wagon drawn by six mules ; 
 the poor animals were floundering in mud 
 up to their bellies, and on the leader rode a 
 negro, urging them along, while his feet 
 were curled up, over the mule's neck. This 
 supply wagon was on its way to the station 
 of the Signal Corps, on Georgetown 
 Heights, and day after day, as we saw them 
 toiling past, we felt that Dick was not very 
 far out of the way when he wished " some of 
 the fault finders had to transport supplies 
 
312 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 for a week on their backs." The mud was 
 simply terrible in our streets, what could it 
 be through open fields ? 
 
 One day, Mrs. Miller took Cora and my- 
 self with a nephew of the doctor's, up to the 
 signal station, and the officer kindly allowed 
 us to call the attention of the officer on the 
 Virginia side. 
 
 It seemed very simple after all, and I felt 
 quite proud, when by obeying instructions I 
 had conveyed a message to the officer so far 
 away. Mrs. Miller, who knew all about 
 camp life, being the daughter of an army of- 
 ficer, never visited one, without some little 
 token of good will. Her basket of oranges 
 and apples were most acceptable to men who 
 were kept on the hill top, and seldom came 
 down into the mud below. Before we 
 started, Dr. Miller's man had tied up his 
 horses tails, and we were thankful he did so. 
 In some places, the mud seemed so sticky 
 and deep, I was afraid we should be held 
 fast, and how to abandon the carriage, as we 
 
Throwing Pontoons. jij 
 
 had seen government wagons left one day 
 in Maryland. 
 
 We did very well, however, except Cora, 
 who lost her overshoe when we orot out, 
 somewhere in the mud and could not find 
 it. When the doctor's nephew had finished 
 his business, we drove slowly back, after 
 giving Cora a view from the top of our 
 reservoir, which all strangers think very 
 beautiful. 
 
 On reaching home we found papa had 
 entertained quite a number of guests, among 
 others, the owner of the bantam, which Lex 
 had confiscated. 
 
 The morning after my birthday I had 
 kept my promise and gone with the boy. 
 We had no trouble in finding the place, and 
 I explained it to the woman as well as I 
 could. She seemed very glad to get her 
 little chick back, and quite forgave Lex 
 when I told her he did not seem to know 
 that it was wrong to buy a chicken worth 
 fifty cents ^nr five. She showed us some 
 
314 "^^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 pretty rabbits which were only twenty-five 
 cents each, and I told Lex one of those 
 would be very nice for Bertie. 
 
 He seemed so pleased with the idea I 
 bought one after he had promised to feed 
 it well. 
 
 " But I hasn't got you no present, Miss 
 Dolly, and de money is in my pocket, 'cause 
 Massa Reggie say he don't want Miss Dolly 
 to be having noffin' mean, an' I say, no sah ! " 
 
 " Well Lex," said I, " here is a store where 
 they keep all kinds of things, even jewelry, 
 shall we go in } " 
 
 '* Yes miss." 
 
 " I will turn my head away, and you may 
 pick out for me anything you like and it 
 shall be all your present." 
 
 If you were to guess a week, you could 
 
 not find out what Lex selected, so I must 
 
 « 
 
 tell you. A black doll, with woolly head, and 
 grinning, white teeth. 
 
 Lex was very wild over it. " O, my eyes 
 Miss Dolly, jis look at him ! looks like he jis 
 
Throwing Pontoons. 
 
 315 
 
 come from de Marmie Cloe place down 
 home, jis you see him laff ! Got does on, 
 Miss Dolly jis like white fellows, oh golly ! 
 but he's hansum, te he, he, he.'' 
 
 
 / -"* f"- 
 
 The little German shop-keeper was laugh- 
 ing so over the boy's pleasure, he did not 
 notice his own baby who was staring at the 
 darkey with mouth and eyes wide open. 
 
^i6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " Hi yi!" said Lex, growing more excited 
 when he found 1 did not check him. " I buy 
 dis yere Httle picaninie, for you, shure, Miss 
 Dolly/' 
 
 " I tink not," said the shop-keeper, " de 
 young lady too fine, to blay mit de doll — 
 dese will please her mooch." 
 
 He opened a case, and took out a tray full 
 of charms for a ladies chain, and showed 
 them to the boy. For a few moments his 
 eye rested on a little boat with oars in it, 
 but he soon turned from it, to the black 
 baby, saying : " No sah, ye see Miss Dolly 
 she say I pick it out, and I pick him, dis 
 yere bressed little baby; does ye see him 
 laff , Miss Dolly .? " 
 
 " Yes, Lex, he looks very happy." 
 
 " Den I buy him," and the boy pulled 
 from his trousers pocket the silver piece 
 which Reggie had given him. 
 
 So delighted was he with his purchase, he 
 could not bear to have it rolled up in a pa- 
 per and the good natured shop-keeper con- 
 
Throwing Pontoo7is, jiy 
 
 sented to put it in a box for him. Never 
 shall I forget the sport which followed. 
 
 At dinner I told the family Lex had 
 bought me a handsome present, but he did 
 not care to have it opened until the fam- 
 ily were all in, "'specially Massa Dick." 
 
 When evening came, and we were 
 gathered about as usual in the study, Lex 
 knocked at the door. 
 
 " Come in," I said, " Well, Lex, now you 
 shall show my present, yourself." With in- 
 describable airs, he opened the box, and 
 drew forth my treasure. 
 
 " Capital ! " shouted Dick. 
 
 " What an idiot ! " said Reggie, with 
 scorn. 
 
 " He's a beauty, Lex," said Cora. 
 
 " Looks like one of slim Joe's babies," 
 said Charlie to Walter. 
 
 " What a present ! " exclaimed Ned. 
 
 Lex began to feel uncomfortable; evi- 
 dently his young " gemmen " did not 
 value " de hansum baby." To comfort him, 
 
Ji8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 I said: "Well, Lex," you have as good a 
 right to select your own present as any one, 
 he is a real pretty baby, and I shall keep 
 him until I am an old woman just to remem- 
 ber this night." 
 
 Lex was delighted. 
 
 " If he would only wink his eyes," said lit- 
 tle Bertie looking soberly at the doll, " he 
 would look like Lex," whereupon every one 
 laughed, and Lex hardest of all. 
 
 When papa told us that Mrs. McLoughlin 
 had called, I was very much distressed for 
 fear Lex had been in mischief, but when he 
 added she Jiad come to tell us that a neigh- 
 bor of hers had just bought several white 
 bantams, add perhaps we would like to buy 
 one or two, as the black boy seemed to feel 
 so bad about it. I was relieved enough. 
 
 " Papa," said I, " don't you think Lex would 
 be less trouble if he had something, more to 
 do ? you know he had pigs and chickens to 
 care for, and pet at home, and he is very 
 
Throzving Pontoons. j/p 
 
 good to Bertie's rabbit, I have half a mind 
 to buy him a pair of bantams." 
 
 " Not a bad idea, daughter," said papa, 
 " but I doubt ver}^ much if anything will 
 keep the little rascal out of mischief." 
 
 Cora and I thought it would work well ; 
 we used to have great talks in those days, 
 about making people good, and Lex seemed 
 to need a little missionary labor expended 
 on him. 
 
 The bantams were purchased, and a little 
 warm coop made for them. 
 
 Lex grew very proud of his pets, and our 
 plan for keeping him out of mischief 
 worked well, but the day Cora went away we 
 went over to Washington and left him at 
 home with Bertie ; when we returned they 
 were nowhere to be found. Papa had been 
 fast asleep ; Miss Lucinda said they were in 
 the shed pounding on a toy drum of Ber- 
 tie's only a little while before, and Aunt Axy 
 had not seen them for some time. 
 
^2o Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " You don't think he would dare go away 
 again with the child ? " said Miss Lucinda 
 quite frightened, to think she had not 
 watched him better. " Yes," said Reggie 
 who never had much patience with the little 
 rascal, " he would dare do anything." 
 
 " You take off your things and rest, 
 Dolly," said Charlie, " the boys will find 
 them and you know Lex will be sure to 
 come home when he is hungry." 
 
 Papa urged, and I did as they wished, but 
 it was then quite late in the afternoon and I 
 was troubled about the child. 
 
 I had just put away my hat, when Aunt 
 Axy came in with a frightened face. " It is 
 wuss and wuss, Miss Dolly ; the little limb 
 has carted off 'bout half a can of sweet 
 crackers and my dried beef I had jis cut 
 from twice." 
 
 " Camping out," I exclaimed, " his head is 
 full of it" 
 

 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 A RAID ON THE POTOMAC. 
 
 ^^ HAT shall we do uncle ? " asked Reg- 
 ^^^ gie, as he and Dick went into the 
 study after a long fruitless walk. Ned and 
 Walter had not returned. Charl was nerv- 
 ous and troubled. 
 
 '* What did Col. Brentford say ? " asked 
 papa. 
 
 " No one had seen them there ; he thinks 
 they are nearer home." 
 
 " Oh, dear," said I, " if I had not gone to 
 
 321 
 
^22 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 the station with Cora, this would not have 
 happened." 
 
 " Don't blame yourself for everything," 
 said Charl, " especially with that little rascal. 
 Mamma always said he needed watching, 
 but he was very bright." 
 
 " Col. Brentford thinks a night or two in 
 the guard house, would do Lex good," said 
 Dick. 
 
 " Six would be none too many, Arnold 
 was opposed to his coming with us, but 
 Aunt Allie favored it," said Reggie, "she 
 was always rather fond of the little imp." 
 
 '' And here was Dolly telling only yester- 
 day, how much he had improved," said Wal- 
 ter. 
 
 Yes, I had been growing proud of my 
 dark pupil, but he was not to be trusted ; 
 like Cora's pony, he had evidently been get- 
 ting ready for mischief. 
 
 " Dick," said I, " it is impossible to sit still 
 here, I feel sure .they are camping out some 
 where ; let us go out once more," 
 
A Raid on the Potomac. J2j 
 
 " Where ? " said Dick. 
 
 " Down by the old bridge," I said, " Lex, 
 and Bertie, have a fondness for the water." 
 
 " But my dear child," said papa, " our 
 friend the colonel can do more with his men 
 in ten minutes, than a young girl in an 
 hour." 
 
 " Perhaps so, papa, but I must tr}% I 
 have heard the children talk so much about 
 soldiers, and camps, indeed, they have played 
 it so often in my room, I cannot help think- 
 ing I shall find them. Don't let us give up, 
 and wait." 
 
 " Dolly is right," said Ned, " come on Reg- 
 gie, we will go over to the brook, and let 
 Dolly and Dick try the river once more." 
 
 I put on some rubber boots and started 
 with Dick. Once, we thought of turning 
 back to get a lantern, but I remembered the 
 glass was broken to ours, and Dick said he 
 had smashed theirs trying to get it up to the 
 top of their flag staff. We floundered on in 
 the darkness, through mud, and mire, until 
 
224 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 we reached the bridge. The sentinel was 
 pacing up and down. 
 
 " We wish to send a message to Col. B. of 
 Michigan," I said. 
 
 " Yes miss." 
 
 He blew a whistle, and a soldier appeared, 
 coming out of a little sentry box. Then we 
 suddenly remembered that a verbal message 
 would not do. 
 
 " Hold on," said Dick, pulling an old let- 
 ter from his pocket and writing rapidly on 
 the envelope, " give this to him." 
 
 What he wrote, I do not know, but we 
 walked up and down for some time, all the 
 while talking, and I, not hearing half he 
 said. 
 
 Presently w^e heard voices, and I strained 
 my eyes in the direction of the camp. 
 
 " You here, ]\Iiss Warrington, and on such 
 a cold nio^ht ! " said the colonel. 
 
 I did not answer him, only said impa- 
 tiently, " colonel, can't your men find them ? " 
 
A Raid on the Potomac. J2^ 
 
 " I am afraid not ; they could not cross 
 the bridGfe ; the sentinels would not let them 
 pass. The colonel of the — Mass., has kindly 
 sent out scouts, and yet I am quite sure they 
 must be on your side of the river." 
 
 " We have searched everywhere," I said. 
 
 " While we stood pondering what to do 
 the sentinel came up and saluted. 
 
 " I was thinking, sir, perhaps the lads 
 micfht have stole a ride in some of the 
 wagons ; a good many crossed this afternoon 
 before I came on duty." 
 
 " Yes, to be sure," I exclaimed, " when 
 they played camp, I remember Lex always 
 said, " now we must go with our baggage in 
 in a guv'ment wagon." 
 
 " Will you walk over to our camp Miss 
 Warrington, and let us enquire ? " 
 
 " Yes anything, anywhere, to find Bertie," 
 I said, " and never again will we trust him 
 with that dreadful boy." 
 
 We went over, and Dick sat with me in 
 
326 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 the colonel's tent while he went out to con- 
 sult with the commanding officer of a l^Jassa- 
 chusetts regiment near by. 
 
 After some time, he returned saying he 
 believed we might discover them yet, for one 
 of the teamsters said when he reached this 
 side, he found it hard to get up through the 
 deep ruts, and while the mules were kicking 
 about, out rolled a little darkey; didn't see but 
 one though. He asked him what he was do- 
 ing there, and he said his massa sent him 
 with a note to Col. Brentford, so he let him 
 go off, and didn't mind where he went. 
 
 " Oh Dick," I said, " he has lost Bertie, I 
 am sure, how could he be alone t " 
 
 " Don't worry. Miss Warrington, we shall 
 find them now somewhere," said the colonel, 
 " keep as warm as you can in my quarters, 
 while I go out to see how the men progress, 
 who are searchino: the was^ons." 
 
 The wagons were searched in every direc- 
 tion, but no children appeared. 
 
A Raid 07i the Potomac, j2y 
 
 " Couldn't be in the major's tent could 
 they ? " said a little officer, belonging to the 
 — Mass. ^' I remember hearing voices there, 
 and thought it was strange, for he had gone 
 to town." 
 
 Col. Brentford sprang forward and went 
 in ; then stepping back quickly, he said : 
 
 " Orderly, ask Miss Warrington, and the 
 young gentleman to step this way." 
 
 I almost ran, stumbling and bumping 
 along after Dick and the orderly. 
 
 When Col. Brentford lifted the canvas, I 
 nearly screamed. There was Bertie, our 
 poor, delicate "baby," as we loved to call 
 him, fast asleep on the major's rubber 
 blanket, with nothing over him but a red 
 plaid shawl which I recognized at once as 
 Miss Lucinda's. 
 
 Lex was not to be seen at first, but pres- 
 ently we discovered a woolly head sticking 
 out of a U. S. blanket and its owner was fast 
 asleep too." 
 
J28 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 "Wake him up;" I said, "the wicked 
 boy ! and here is my beautiful bag, Cora 
 gave me ; he ran away with that too." 
 
 " Yes," said Dick, " that has evidently been 
 his knapsack, and here are the commissary 
 stores." 
 
 Several of the officers laughed outright, 
 when Dick pulled out the dried beef, and 
 some crackers. 
 
 " Do wake him," said I, " we must get 
 back ; think of papa and the boys, Col. 
 Brentford." 
 
 An ambulance will be ready in a few mo- 
 ments. Miss Warrington," said one of the 
 Massachusetts officers. They were all very 
 kind, and I felt it, but I hardly knew how 
 to say so before so many, so I whispered to 
 Dick. 
 
 " Miss Warrington wishes to thank you 
 all for the trouble you have had, and for 
 your great kindness," said Dick, turning to 
 the officers, who had gathered in the major's 
 tent. 
 
A Raid on the Potomac. J2g 
 
 Very soon we were homeward bound, not 
 however until we had roused Lex, and made 
 him tell us his story. He was not a whit 
 disturbed, but evidently, regarded himself as 
 quite a hero. 
 
 " I wanted to camp out, and so did Massa 
 Bertie. I took Miss Dolly's bag to hang on 
 my back like the soljers, and Miss Cindy's 
 shawl was de blanket, 1 didn't want to go 
 home, an' Massa Bertie he did'nt cry only 
 little, for Miss Dolly ; but when I tole him 
 soljers nebber cried, he stop right up." 
 
 " If you will allow me to advise," said Col. B., 
 " I should suggest leaving this chap here for 
 to-night ; while you get home as soon as pos- 
 sible, with your little charge." 
 
 We agreed with him ; and I was only too 
 glad to get into the ambulance, and take 
 little Bertie in my arms. He did not waken 
 even with the terrible jolting, only to call, 
 " Dolly ; " and when I said, " yes, dear, Dolly 
 is here," he nestled down, and did not speak 
 again until we had him safe at home. 
 
J JO Six Little Rebels. 
 
 When the family heard all we had to tell, 
 Reggie was so tried with Lex he said he 
 should never again have the care of his lit- 
 tle brother. 
 
 Papa said that Lex was full of adventure ; 
 he was crazy to be in the midst of hubbub, 
 and he thought it would be a good idea to 
 send him off for a few weeks. 
 
 Poor little Bertie, did not escape this time 
 as he had done before. A heavy cold settled 
 on his lungs, and Reggie said he never heard 
 him cough without wanting to choke that 
 little black rascal. 
 
 Lex did not come back The next day. 
 Col. Brentford sent a note to papa and the 
 essence of it was, that he had talked with 
 Alexis and found him a hard subject, not fit 
 to be the companio:' of a tender, imaginative 
 child, like Bertie, if pap^. .^ j:ute willing, 
 he would exchansre with i , and send over 
 Smith, a likely colored boy who was honest 
 and helpful, although slower than yc. ..g 
 
A Raid on the Potomac. Jji 
 
 Lex. Papa readily consented, and, soon 
 after, Smith appeared. Gen. Scott rested in 
 peace ; Aunt Axy was no longer tormented, 
 and poor little Bertie gave up his travels. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 DOLLY IS §ICK. 
 
 HE cold tramp, and worry over the 
 
 ^^^ „ children, proved too much for me, and 
 as I cannot remember all that happened, I 
 shall let the boys tell most of the story. 
 
 I was determined not to be sick, and for 
 two or three days I kept on with my lessons, 
 and went down to the hospital, just as I had 
 always done, until one day, I could not see 
 for the pain in my eyes, and when I tried to 
 dress for breakfast, I fell back on the bed, 
 sick and faint. 
 332 
 
Dolly is Sick. 333 
 
 " Bertie, ask Miss Lucinda to come," I 
 said, as soon as I could speak. The little 
 fellow called her, and she soon had me in 
 bed, where I shivered, and shook for an 
 hour, before a high fever came on. Oh it 
 was so wretched being cooped up when I 
 had so much to do, and papa needed me 
 so much ! 
 
 " Miss Lucinda, can't you ask Dr. Miller 
 to step in without letting papa know? he 
 would give me something, and I could 
 soon get down-stairs," I said laughingly. 
 
 " It is my opinion," said she, curtly, " that 
 you will just keep still, and be taken care of ; 
 as to Dr. Miller, I dare say he will come." 
 
 As soon as she left the room I tried once 
 more to get up, but it was impossible. I 
 ached from head to foot, and I crawled baclg. 
 to my bed, at last convinced that I must be 
 sick. 
 
 In half an hour Dr. Miller came ; he was 
 very kind, and gentle. 
 
jj*^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Caged at last, are you, little Birdie? " he 
 said, taking one of my hot hands in his. 
 
 " Oh, doctor," I said, " can't you get me 
 well quick ? I was never sick before since I 
 was a baby, and papa can't spare me." 
 
 He took a little vial from his pocket, 
 dropped something into a tumbler, and gave 
 it to me, holding up my throbbing, thump- 
 ing head, with his own hands. 
 
 " Now, Birdie," he said, — that was his pet 
 name for me — " you must listen, you are a 
 sensible soul, and I will talk to you honestly. 
 If you are very careful, we may fight off ty- 
 phoid, if not, — look out ! 
 
 You must keep here in this bed, until I 
 tell you to get up ; you must take it for 
 granted that your little world will go on 
 ^'ithout you although not half so well, you 
 must take all the beef tea, and good things 
 I order, and then I hope papa will have his 
 housekeeper down-stairs in a few days — 
 Will you promise Birdie ? " 
 
 It seemed easy enough to promise him, 
 
Dolly is Sick 335 
 
 while his hand was brushing my hair softly, 
 and his calm, pleasant voice was in my ears, 
 but when he had gone, I began to worry 
 about Bertie, to wonder if Reggie would go 
 to papa, to think of the men at the hospital, 
 and my music lesson. Oh dear, it was so 
 hard to be sick ! 
 
 The pain in my head grew so bad I could 
 not keep still, and it seemed to me that all 
 the wagons in the street, and all the noise of 
 the house was inside of it. By and by the 
 door opened, and there was papa with Reg- 
 gie and Dr. Miller helping him into his 
 chair. " He would come," said Dr. Miller, 
 " and I think you had better keep him up 
 here for a day or two." They rolled his 
 chair up to the bedside, and then left us 
 alone. 
 
 " My darling," said he, " I wish I could 
 save you from this, but my brave little girl 
 will be patient, and we will soon have her 
 about again." 
 
 " I am not very sick papa, only tired, so 
 
33^ 'Six Little Rebels. 
 
 tired I can't think, and my bones ache so ! 
 Do you know, I never thought I had bones 
 before.*' 
 
 " Suffering has never made you conscious 
 of a body, dear." 
 
 After a time, I opened my eyes again, and 
 saw papa writing with his study table before 
 him ; then Miss Lucinda brought something 
 which she called beef tea, but it did not 
 taste like anything, and the person who 
 drank it, did not seem to be myself — Dolly. 
 They all did just as they pleased with me, 
 and I let them ; I knew when people came 
 and went, I knew thev were trying to keep 
 my room very still, and it rested me to have 
 papa so near, but I could not talk, even 
 when I heard their questions. 
 
 Dr. Miller came in often, and I know he 
 kissed me on my forehead, but I seemed to 
 go to sleep after that, and must read what 
 Reggie said about it in his diary. 
 
 " Dolly is sick, and the house seems 
 turned upside down. Everybody mopes. 
 
Dolly is Sick, jjj 
 
 They keep her room very quiet, and uncle 
 stays there all the time. Dr. Miller says he 
 hopes they will prevent a settled fever. Yes- 
 terday, Miss Lucinda and I moved Bertie's 
 bed into my room, and Dolly shall not have 
 him again, I did not know he was so restless 
 nights ; poor girl, she must have had a hard 
 time of it ! Dick comes in half a dozen 
 times a day, and his mother is devoted to 
 Dolly. Uncle, is so very quiet I cannot 
 bear to look at him although when I carry 
 up his tray he never fails to say, ' Ah Reg- 
 , gie, one more thing to thank you for, — or, 
 Reggie, my boy, we could not get on with- 
 out you.' It is poor comfort to me when 
 I know Dolly took this dreadful cold, look- 
 ing for my brother. Dr. Miller says she 
 has been over-doing for a long time. I 
 suppose he means since we came. I 
 wouldn't care if there was anything we 
 could do." 
 
 Poor Reggie ! he was growing morbid un- 
 der his worries. 
 
Jj8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Ned writes in a different strain, for Ned 
 was a Mark Sepley for jollity. 
 
 " Poor dear Dolly is up-stairs sick, bless 
 her ! I peeped in through the door to-day, 
 and saw her ; she looks like a picture with 
 her waving hair, and rosy cheeks. Uncle 
 says she is doing very well, and we need not 
 be worried she has such a good constitution. 
 Charl frets all the time because we cannot 
 do anything for her, although he looks after 
 her bird and flowers every day. 
 
 " Walter has been busy making her a bed- 
 rest something like uncles ; and Reggie is a 
 regular old hen, clucking around after Bertie." 
 
 " He sleeps in our room now, and I suppose 
 it is right to look after your brothers, and all 
 that, but it isn't nice just the same, when 
 they wake up in the night, and howl for 
 cousin Dolly, or a drink." 
 
 " Dick is a jev;el ; he is in and out at all 
 hours, always bright and funny. It does not 
 seem possible, that we have only known 
 them since the war, they are so good, — the 
 
Dolly is Sick. jjp 
 
 Millers, I mean, — Mrs. Miller is real young, 
 and as jolly as Dick ; she often sits with us 
 evenings when Dolly is sleeping." 
 
 At last, after nearly two weeks I was able 
 to sit up and receive calls. Reggie was like 
 another boy w4ien he saw me in the large 
 chair. I think he really fancied I would die. 
 He told me about the men in the hospital, 
 and eave me a little reel for silk which an 
 artilleryman had made for me, since he 
 heard I was sick. 
 
 Walter's bed-rest proved very useful, and I 
 often sat propped up with it, before I could 
 sit in my chair. 
 
 Charl thought it his place to sit by me, 
 and wait upon me, and the rest knew he 
 would like to do as I had done for him. 
 When Dick came, I was delighted to see 
 him. His mother was sitting with me and 
 papa had been carried down-stairs to attend 
 to his neglected duties there. 
 
 The first thino: I heard was : 
 
34^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " By the pricking of my thumbs, 
 Something evil this way comes." 
 
 And in walked Dick. 
 
 He stopped a moment, and seemed sur- 
 prised to see me looking so thin ; then he 
 came forward, and took both hands in his. 
 
 " Mother," said he, " do you hold on to her 
 all the time, to keep her from blowing 
 away } " 
 
 ." Not quite," said Mrs. Miller. 
 
 "Dolly, I am jubilant! it is a feast for 
 sore eyes to see you even in the picked- 
 chicken style." 
 
 " And I am glad too, Dick, you have all 
 been so good to me I don't know what to 
 say, I never was sick before." 
 
 " No, I suppose not, but couldn't you 
 manage, Dolly, to be content with this expe- 
 rience } couldn't you ' slow down ' a little, 
 and not get up any more raids into Dixie } " 
 
 " Dick, if you tease I shall put you out," 
 said his mother. 
 
 " Never felt less like it in my life, mother ; 
 
Dolly is Sick. j^/ 
 
 the fact is, we had a time of it, searching for 
 those young rebels — and I was to blame for 
 letting Dolly expose herself so." 
 
 " Hush Dick," I said, " no one was to 
 blame but Lex. Tell me about him, please, 
 Reo^o-ie doesn't want to hear him mentioned." 
 
 " Didn't he tell you what Colonel Brent- 
 ford said } " 
 
 " Not a word." 
 
 " Well, when he told the little darkey that 
 he was never coming to see us all any more, 
 — I say zcs, Dolly, for I want to be counted 
 in, you know." 
 
 " Yes Dick," I said, " you shall always be 
 counted in, after that terrible night." 
 
 "Do you hear that, mother? always, re- 
 member, you are a witness." 
 
 " Go on, Dick," I said laughing. 
 
 " Well, when he told him. Lex cried, and 
 bellowed as if he had beaten him ; while he 
 was doing the operatic, in fine shape, the 
 colonel called to his orderly : 
 
 " I want you to take this boy to the bar- 
 
34^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 bers and have his head shaved ; then go to 
 the store, where we called for men and boy's 
 clothing, and pick him out a good strong 
 suit of clothes ; these are not fit for camp 
 life." Lex sprang up at once and shouted, 
 " Oh, massa colonel please tell him shiny but- 
 tons, real shiny buttons like yours, I don't 
 want to go back, no sah, I'll jis stay an' be 
 your boy forever, 'deed I will." " Well, well, 
 order shiny buttons, "said the colonel to the 
 orderly, whereupon Lex danced round like a 
 young baboon and never thought again of 
 the friends who had done so much for him." 
 
 " Ungrateful little wretch ! " said Miss Lu- 
 cinda who had been listening to the story. 
 "Just think of the hours, I have spent 
 mending his clothes, and here is Miss Dolly 
 who has been teaching him every day, as if 
 he were a gentleman." 
 
 " I am glad he is gone now, however," 
 said I, " for I was always in terror for fear he 
 would get into mischief of some sort." 
 
 When I was well enough to get down- 
 
Dolly is Sick, 343 
 
 stairs, I went into the kitchen and asked 
 Aunt Axy how she liked the new boy. 
 
 '' Oh, he's folks, he is ; minds his work, 
 and doesn't give no sass." 
 
 " And what of Lex? " said I. 
 
 " Miss Dolly," said the old lady, solemnly, 
 " I 'clar to gracious, I is that riled when I 
 think of the ongrateful varmint, I jist want 
 to wallop him ! such cuttins up, as he would 
 have in dis yere house ! he tried my soul, 
 deed he did." 
 
 " You should have complained to us." 
 
 "Complained! Does ye think I has nothin' 
 but growls for you and yer pa, bout a shift- 
 less niofsrer ? No miss ; but I fixed him one 
 time good." Aunt Axy rolled her hands up 
 in her large apron, and chuckled. 
 
 " Tell me about it," I said. 
 
 " Ye see, Miss Lucinda, she told him one 
 day, if he didn't behave better she'd tell 
 massa, and thin he sassed her, a spell 
 through the door, but he darsn't come in ye 
 see. When she went up-stairs he came 
 
344 
 
 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 round sassing me, and when I stood it long 
 enough, an he stuck his head in again, I jis 
 up with my soft-soap bowl, and let it fly 
 right in his face ; he spit an' sputtered, like 
 a mad cat, but he stopped his sass." 
 
 Poor old woman I the little rascal must 
 have troubled her. 
 
 Smith proved a very valuable servant, and 
 it seemed a pity to take him from the colonel. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 "a corned pig. 
 
 NE evening after I was 
 quite strong and well, I 
 found a cork screw note 
 on my plate at supper, and 
 on opening it, I read as 
 follows : 
 
 " The pleasure of your 
 company is requested, in the kitchen, at 
 7 : 30 P.M." 
 
 " Now, what mischief ? " said I. 
 
 " Nothing, cousin Dolly, nothing wrong, 
 
 345 
 
j^(5 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Miss Lucinda will tell you so, but you must 
 accept." 
 
 Papa's note was precisely like mine, and 
 we agreed to accept. 
 
 "Don't come too early," said Ned, "that 
 will spoil the fun." 
 
 To my surprise, Dr. and Mrs. Miller were 
 invited, and both came promptly. When we 
 reached the kitchen, we laus^hed outright. 
 The boys all had on paper caps such as 
 cooks wear, and Dick had an enormous 
 white apron of Aunt Axy's, tied about his 
 waist. He stood with Reggie, in the middle 
 of the floor, and waved his hand toward some 
 chairs. 
 
 " Welcome, ladies, and gentlemen ; wel- 
 come ! " said Reggie. . 
 
 " Right-loyal welcome, fair Princess," said 
 Dick, making a grand bow, which wound the 
 apron about his long legs. 
 
 Charl was seated on a corner of the large 
 kitchen table, picking over a pan of pop corn 
 which Walt and Ned were filling as fast as 
 
" A Corned Pig!' 347 
 
 possible, each armed with a popper. Bertie, 
 dear little man, was shelling corn from the 
 cobs, and Aunt Axy was stirring a basin of 
 " taffy," or molasses candy. 
 
 '^ Ladies and gentlemen," said Dick, after 
 we were seated, "it is my pleasant task, 
 ahem! — to — ahem! — welcome you, ahem!'' 
 "Dick," said his mother, "let poor Mr. 
 Marks alone, and talk like yourself." 
 Dick straightened himself up. 
 " Ladies and gentlemen, the noble lady 
 requests me to talk like myself, I forbear, 
 being somewhat lengthy, you might be 
 weary." 
 
 '' Better let him alone," whispered papa to 
 Mrs. Miller. 
 
 "We deal to-night, ladies and gentle- 
 men," — this was uttered in a deep voice, to 
 imitate Charles Sumner, and so well was it 
 done, we all recognized the hit, then in- 
 stantly changing it to a high key, often 
 adopted by speakers in the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, he added, — " with that noble ani- 
 
34^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 mal of historic fame, vulgarly called the pig. 
 Charles Lamb immortalized it as Roast Pis:, 
 but we will present it in a sweeter and more 
 toothsome form. It has been said by some 
 extinguished wit, " — here Dick put his 
 thumbs in his vest, scowled, and talked rap- 
 idly, imitating a well known Senator. — '"that 
 a rose, by any other name would smell as 
 sweet.' Ladies and gentlemen, this is not 
 always true of the pig. I assert it, sir, not 
 always true ; for it is my purpose to prove to 
 you, that no sweeter pig ever existed than 
 our pig, and you may call it by its own 
 name. Let us examine this matter carefully, 
 as becomes statesmen," — here his voice was 
 again changed, and he pressed his fore fin- 
 gers together as if attempting to prove a 
 very important point. 
 
 " Take, if you please, the first letter of his 
 name — P — ah ! how many precious, pretty, 
 poetical associations cluster about that one 
 letter and its curl is just as graceful, v/hethcr 
 it begins putty or peace. Then there is — / — " 
 
" A Corned Pig!' j^g 
 
 here Dick's pompous manner caused every 
 one to scream with lauG:hter. 
 
 " The boy is a genius," whispered papa to 
 Mrs. Miller. His father laugrhed until the 
 tears rolled down his face, and Miss Lucinda 
 said over and over acrain : 
 
 " Well, I never ! " 
 
 As for me, I could not take my eyes from 
 him, for one moment, although I laughed 
 with the rest. 
 
 " The power of / is indescribable. It has 
 won elections, and women's hearts ; it has 
 paraded for years in Congress, and staid 
 quietly at home ; it is the beginning of 
 things invisible, and in Latin or English 
 means only /. 
 
 " Then there is G., what a curling, graceful 
 letter it is ! how deceitful too ! looking so 
 modest in goodness, so lordly in grand, and, 
 so commonplace in grunt. It is a wonderful 
 letter, ladies and gentlemen, and p — i — g — 
 is a remarkable word. Still more remarka- 
 ble will be the one which it is our purpose to 
 
j^o Six Little Rebels. 
 
 present to you. It may not be a lamb-like 
 pig but it will be eatable from the end of its 
 pouting lips, to the tip of its curling tail. 
 
 " Ladies and gentlemen I invite you to 
 witness the ceremony." 
 
 Dick rolled up his sleeves, washed his 
 hands, and proceeded to take the basin of 
 boiling syrup from Aunt Axy. Reggie 
 stood ready with a large spoon. 
 
 In a few moments they had poured the 
 hot liquid over the crisp white kernels, which 
 Charl had so carefully seperated from the 
 '• old maids," and while we were still laugh- 
 ing over the capital burlesque Dick had just 
 given us, the five boys began to manufacture 
 out of the mass, some very nice corn balls. 
 
 " Charl," called papa, as he stood waiting 
 his turn to dip in the large pan, 
 
 ^' Yes sir." 
 
 " Come here, one moment. Did Dick 
 write his speech } " 
 
 " No, sir, no indeed ; it was all done in a 
 moment. You see our molasses took so 
 
" A Corned Pig',' 35^ 
 
 long to boil, we were not quite ready when 
 we heard you coming, so Reggie asked Dick 
 to talk a few minutes to fill up the time.*' 
 
 " Capital," said papa, " capital." 
 
 " Do you think so ? " said Mrs. Miller, 
 looking with loving eyes at her handsome 
 boy, " I am sometimes afraid his powers of 
 mimicry will exceed the bounds of courtesy." 
 
 " Never," said papa, " with you to keep it 
 in check, until he is old enough to use a lit- 
 tle caution. His command of language ap- 
 pears to me quite wonderful." 
 
 " That is largely owing to early training. 
 When very small, he attended a school 
 where every pupil was obliged to express 
 himself in his own words, and the use and 
 meaning of every word was taught. I be- 
 lieve in it thoroughly." 
 
 When a platter of balls were ready, Dick 
 took a large tray and began placing them in 
 order, with the aid of a little hot syrup ; and 
 in a few minutes, a good sized pig stood be- 
 fore us, with a corn cob stuck under its nose 
 
Six Little Rebels. 
 
 and a curly tail made by sticking single 
 kernels together. The likeness was excel- 
 lent and of all the laughing party none 
 laughed longer or louder than little Bertie. 
 
 '' Ladies and gentlemen/' said Dick, " be- 
 hold, a well corned pig ! " 
 
 Then we ate it up, and finished the even- 
 ing with games, and stories. 
 
" A Corned Pigr 353 
 
 Dr. Miller said when he went out, that 
 never had he enjoyed a frolic so much since 
 he was the age of his own mischievous boy. 
 
 " Good night, father," called Dick, " if you 
 wouldn't mind, you might pay my board for 
 this quarter, before you go." 
 
 " It is quite time, I think," said the doctor, 
 " for I am sure you spend more hours here, 
 than at home." 
 
 " Never too many for us," said papa. 
 
 " No indeed," I added. 
 
 " We must make the most of our friends 
 while we have them," said Mrs. Miller; 
 '' these are unsettled days." 
 
 •' Yes, yes," said papa, " let them get all 
 they can out of the days together, they will 
 not last forever." 
 
 I thought of Harry Thorpe. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Howard had been called 
 away only a few days before, he on duty for 
 the government, and she as she said, "on 
 duty for him." Changes were constantly 
 taking place about us and we young ones 
 
2S4 '^^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 felt it quite as much as our elders. The 
 news from Mrs. Neville was encouraging, 
 but from Richmond only rumors, which wor- 
 ried Reggie, until he was as blue as a jay. 
 
 Papa always hoped, and would try to 
 cheer him up by saying : 
 
 " Count your blessings, my boy, count 
 your blessings. If you are in a tight place 
 or a dark corner, don't make it worse by 
 brooding over it, but think of the things you 
 have to be thankful for." 
 
 Col. Brentford was soon ordered into the 
 field, and as the days moved rapidly away, 
 we found it was time to hear from him. 
 
 These were the days when we boys and 
 girls lived a year in a week ; and took as 
 much interest in every movment of the 
 troops, as the veterans who had been under 
 fire. 
 
CHAPTER XXV, 
 
 A REPENTANT DARKEY. 
 
 NE day when we were all seated at 
 the dinner-table, papa drew from the 
 
 little pocket of his rolling chair, a letter, 
 which he said would do well for dessert. 
 
 " From whom ? " I asked. 
 
 " A gentleman who left us not long ago, 
 and who was very kind to some tramps of 
 mine one chilly night." 
 
 " Oh, Col. Brentford. Is he quite well.? " 
 
 " You shall hear presently." 
 
 355 
 
J5^ •^'^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 The boys hurried down their dinners, boy 
 fashion, for they were all fond of the colonel. 
 
 As soon as Smith had finished his duties 
 and. left the room, papa began to read. 
 
 " Headq'rs. on the Pamunkey." 
 
 " Where in the world is that ? " said I. 
 
 " Get out your map of Virginia when I 
 have done, and hunt it up," said papa. 
 
 " I know," exclaimed Reg, but papa went 
 on : 
 
 " Dear doctor, and friends at the ' Wood- 
 box': 
 
 " I will try to keep my promise under ad- 
 verse circumstances. We came here two 
 days since, and our supply trains have not 
 arrived, consequently the men are growling. 
 I dare say you know more about our move- 
 ments than we do, for we go blindly on, as 
 we are ordered, and often think there is ter- 
 rible blunderinof somewhere. The sooner 
 this government makes up its mind that it 
 has a powerful foe to contend with, the better 
 it will be for us. But enough. 
 
A Repentant Darkey. jjj 
 
 " Your Lex is a study, I wish Miss Wai*- 
 rington could sec him now ; the Httlc darkey 
 is nearly frightened to death, and all the 
 brass buttons in camp, cannot keep him from 
 feeling homesick. 
 
 " As luck would have it, we were ordered to 
 an important post as soon as we arrived, and 
 in the scrimma2:e I was so unfortunate as to 
 have my right arm hurt a little. Lex was 
 nearly wild at the sight of blood, — actually 
 gave up and was sick. Our surgeons call it 
 an attack of ' white liver fever,' and hint 
 that it sometimes seizes on whites as well as 
 blacks. 
 
 " Tell Miss Warrington I am now writing 
 with my left hand, a trick which I practised 
 at school, little dreaming that the broad 
 right one would be useless some day. But, 
 to return to Lex. 
 
 " The other day he came to me when I was 
 writing and hung about for some time, look- 
 ing very foi'lorn. ' WfeU, Lex,' I said ' what 
 is it ? ' 
 
J ^8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " * Is you ^Titin' to massa doctor, sah ? ' 
 ' No, Lex, writing home.' 
 
 " ' Would you be writin, to de doctor and 
 de young gemmen some day ? " 
 
 " ' Yes, Lex, very soon ; do you wish to 
 send a message ? ' 
 
 " ' I would like to write my own self, sah, 
 Miss Dolly she teached me how.' 
 
 "' Very well, Lex, here are pencil and pa- 
 per, do your best.' He went off very happy 
 and brought me the enclosed note as the re- 
 sult of his efforts. 
 
 " I often think with gratitude of the pleas- 
 ant home life, which you permitted me to 
 share in Georgetown, the only pleasure of the 
 kind I have had, since leaving my own home. 
 
 " If it is our good fortune to meet once 
 more I hope it will be in my power to return 
 kindness for kindness. 
 
 " With kind regards for every member of 
 the family, not forgetting my boy Smith, I am 
 " Most truly y'rs, 
 
 " Wm, Brentford." 
 
A Repentant Darkey. jjp 
 
 "Just like him," said Reggie, "he is a 
 splendid fellow." 
 
 " I am sure he never allowed a day to go 
 by without remembering us," said Chad, 
 "just think of the flowers for Dolly, and the 
 gimcracks for Bertie." 
 
 " I should like it better if he had said 
 something more about the scrimmage',' said 
 Walter. 
 
 After every one had made some comments 
 'on the letter, we were all so glad to receive, 
 papa opened the other, — a blurred, blotted, 
 dirty note addressed in this wise : 
 
 " Mr. dockter Warrintun Gorgtun. d. c. 
 
 " Deer Sur. I Have akted awfull bad and I 
 am sorry. Mr dockter if you will plez too 
 lett me Kum Hom I will Bee a good Dooti- 
 full Boy and Mind yur Ordurs 
 
 " Yurs Humble 
 
 " Survant 
 
 "ALeXis." 
 
j6o Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " The Bullits hits round here an Magur 
 Prays boy he sayed I wud git hit caus they 
 Kin see my IZe so Far." 
 
 How we all laughed. 
 
 " Well daughter," said papa, " your pupil 
 has done wonders." 
 
 " She tried hard enough to teach him," 
 said Miss Lucinda. 
 
 " That's a fact," added Charl. 
 
 " Show it to Dick ! " shouted " Bertie, keep 
 it 'till Dick comes." 
 
 " He shall see it, dear," said 1, " and now 
 papa, if you jDlease, I will go out and read 
 this wonderful epistle to Aunt Axy ; the 
 good soul was terribly tried with that boy." 
 
 Out I went, with all the boys but Reggie 
 following. Aunt Axy was very busy scour- 
 ing tins, but stopped at once and heard me 
 read Lex's letter through ; then with her face 
 shining she said : 
 
 " Scared ! dat's what he is ; scared mos' 
 out o' his life, I tole him so, I tole him." 
 
 " What aunty .? " 
 
A Repentant Darkey. j6i 
 
 " Well, ye see, Miss Dolly, one night when 
 I was kind o' tellin him bout dese yer goins 
 on o' his at prayer time an' sich, sez he, pert 
 as could be : ' Now, marmy, what's de good 
 of all dese yer prayers ? de Lord he make 
 us an' he kin take care on us an' we needn't 
 min' bout his work.' 
 
 " I'd clare, Miss Dolly, I was jiss mos' choked 
 with sich blasspheemerin ; but he jiss kep' 
 on sassin' roun' here a spell, an' I tell him to 
 stop, if he didn't min' 'bout his prayers de 
 Lord 'ud put dat black skin o' his in sich a 
 tight place he'd be berry glad to pray to git 
 out ; an' now Miss Dolly he's thar for shure." 
 
 " But you know we don't always get all we 
 pray for, aunty," said I. 
 
 " Shure nuff, honey, shure nu£f, jiss you 
 min' dis yere. He nebber slumbers, nor 
 sleeps, an' ye don't s'pose he's agwine to an- 
 swer what w^e asks for when we's sleep half 
 our time ? Nebber honey ! you jiss pray, an' 
 pray an' de Lord he jiss whispers to hiself 
 
362 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 ' now dat ar chile, she see only de beginning 
 an' I knows what's good for her.' " 
 
 I always loved to hear Aunt Axy talk 
 about such things for she was so good and 
 sincere you couldn't help thinking she was a 
 true Christian ; sometimes, I did not quite 
 understand her, but very often she helped 
 me out of a mental puzzle. 
 
 " But aunty," said I, " how can we tell 
 when we are right ? I am sure I prayed and 
 prayed when papa was hurt that he might 
 get well and still he suffers." 
 
 " Miss Dolly," said the old woman, point- 
 ing her fat fore-finger at me, ' you has 
 heaps o' things to learn. How does you 
 know that your pa's 'flickshuns ain*t de berry 
 best kind o' gettin' well 1 Ef he was a stout, 
 hearty man like he was 'fore dat night, does 
 you s'pose he'd be sittin' here so patient 
 teachin' an' workin' for dese yere orfin chil- 
 dren makin' 'em all good, ebery bressed day ? 
 
 " Does you 'spose you own self 'ud be so 
 settled like an' kind to de pore little fellow 
 
A Repe7itant Darkey, j6j 
 
 dere wid his arms roun' ye, if you hadn't 
 been 'flickted yer own self ? " 
 
 "I am afraid not, aunty," I said, giving 
 Bertie a little hug, " but it bothers me, when 
 I can't see my way out of a trouble, and we 
 may pray all we like, it don't seem any 
 clearer." 
 
 " Persisely, Miss Dolly, persisely, 'cause 
 you jiss sees half way through dis yere walk 
 wer'e a takin', and de Lord he sees de end, 
 clar through, an' he jiss brings us right out 
 in his own way. It's jiss like de tunnel on 
 de rail-road whar we went through, dark in 
 de middle but light nuff to blind yer eyes at 
 de oder end." 
 
 " Where's Dolly ? " called Reggie, in the 
 hall. 
 
 " Here we are," answered Ned opening 
 the kitchen door. 
 
 "Busy.?" 
 
 " Oh, no, I read Aunt Axy the letter, and 
 she gave us a little sermon, I like her ser- 
 mons." 
 
j6/f Six Little Rebels^ 
 
 " Tell me," said Reggie. 
 
 " You should have heard it," I said, " she 
 was proving to me that the best thing which 
 ever happened to me was papa's getting 
 hurt." 
 
 " I don't believe it," said Reggie with em- 
 phasis. 
 
 " Perhaps she is right," I said. " I may 
 have needed the ''flickshun,' " as she sa3^s but 
 I don't think papa did, he was always good." 
 
 " I suppose she would say it is all right 
 for papa to be down there, auntie so far 
 away, and all the rest of these worries which 
 torment me so, Dolly I can't see it." 
 
 " I don't think I do, either, Reggie, but I 
 should like to feel so sure and satisfied as 
 Axy does," I said, as we all marched into the 
 dining-room and I sat dowm in the bay win- 
 dow to shade a drawing I had made of Bak- 
 ers' Island. 
 
 Reggie went to his books, and Walter to 
 his beloved tools, Bertie sat down with pen- 
 
A Repentant Darkey, 365 
 
 cil and paper to draw as cousin Dolly did, 
 and Ned and Charlie sat by, watching me. 
 
 " I suppose," said Ned soberly, " that Aunt 
 Axy is a real Christian, but I don't under- 
 stand her. " 
 
 " I think I do," said Charl, quietly ; " when 
 I was sick I used to think, and think, and I 
 couldn't understand why I should have a 
 poor sick mother, why he should die, and we 
 all have so much trouble. It used to fret 
 me a good deal until Dick said something 
 one day that made me feel differently." 
 
 " Dick ! " I exclaimed, Dick Miller ! I did 
 not know he ever had a sober thought in his 
 life. Do tell me about it." 
 
 "Yes," said Ned, " if rollicking Dick has 
 turned parson let us hear; he's a jelly good 
 fellow but none of your awful pious sneaks." 
 
 " Hush, Ned," said I. ^ 
 
 " One evening when he was sitting with 
 with me, I felt pretty cross and I was growl- 
 ing about being sick, and wondering about 
 mother and all that, and old Dick he sat 
 
^66 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 there listening patiently, but by and by he 
 reached over, and took my hand and held it. 
 
 " ' Chad, my boy,' said he, ' who built this 
 little craft ? ' 
 
 " ' I suppose I know,' " I answered in a cross 
 tone. 
 
 " ' Do you ? Well, just look at one of those 
 finger nails will you, got up in good shape 
 isn't it ? finished just right, stayed well at 
 the corners, strong and useful, not a bad 
 color either, for a sick fellow. Do you think 
 you could get up a better one 1 ' 
 
 " ' Don't fool,' said I. 
 
 '" Never felt less like it, in my life, it hurts 
 way down, old fellow, to see you here, and I 
 feel like knocking somebody over every time 
 I think of it, but that won't help you ; a 
 cracked head isn't the worst thing in the 
 world, my boy, especially when you have a 
 housefull of people getting down on their 
 knees, so to speak, to worship. I think I 
 I shouldn't mind having mine cracked a lit- 
 
A Repentant Darkey, 367 
 
 tie, if Dolly, for instance, would weep over, 
 and pet me as she does you.' 
 
 " ' What has that to do with finger nails ? ' 
 " ' Oh, yes, beg your pardon,' said Dick, 
 with one of his little laughs,' I was about to 
 remark, that I had a kind of feeling — 
 might be mistaken you know — that any Be- 
 ing who could get up a hand like this, so 
 perfect, so complicated, and so helpless, and 
 yet make it only one small part of a wonder- 
 ful machine, might be trusted to keep it in 
 his own way, provided, no one tampered too 
 much with the screws.' 
 
 " I kept perfectly still and he went on : 
 ' neither you nor I could work Walter's pa- 
 tent affair down there last summer, as he 
 could ; he knew best about it, and without 
 prolonging these remarks, I think between 
 you and I, bad grammar Chad, but a com- 
 mon blunder, that there is somebody, who 
 understands your machinery a little better 
 than you do.' 
 
J 68 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " I kept quiet a few moments longer, and 
 then I said : 
 
 " ' Dick are you a Christian ? ' 
 
 " ' No, Charley, I'm afraid not." 
 
 " ' Well, what makes you so jolly, and 
 happy? I wish I could keep it up as you do, 
 but I can't. One day I am full of fun, the 
 next cross as a bear, and sure to snap at 
 some one. How do you manage it } ' 
 
 " ' You know old Plato, Charl .? ' 
 
 " ' Think I ought to/ I answered. 
 
 " ' Well, he cails a boy a " vicious animal." ' 
 
 " ' He is about right, too,' said I. 
 
 " ' Well, mother and I have had heaps of 
 talks about it' 
 
 " ' There it is, Dick, you have your mother.' 
 
 " ' So have you, hasn't she been racing in 
 and out here for weeks to take care of that 
 "dear boy?" lam almost jealous, Charles 
 my lad." 
 
 " ' You needn't be ; I am deep in love with 
 her, though. Go on.' 
 
 " ' What were we talking about ? oh, " vi- 
 
A Repentant Darkey. ^6g 
 
 ciotcs animals." Well mother never preaches 
 you know, she lives, and that is the best 
 kind of gospel, father says, — but we talk 
 about all sorts of things, we are jolly chums 
 you know ; once, when I had a fever only 
 two years ago, she never left me night or 
 day, and I did the tallest amount of think- 
 ing, I can tell you. I used to say over and 
 over to myself, how does she keep so cheer- 
 ful and pleasant? one day I asked her.' 
 
 " ' " Ah, laddie dear," she said, " it is just 
 as much ones duty to be pleasant and cheer- 
 ful, as it is to eat." 
 
 " ' " But it isn't natural mother." 
 "'"Then the fight is harder, Dick, and the 
 reward greater." 
 
 " ' She has seen no end of trouble, buried 
 all her children but me, lost nearly all her 
 relatives, and had a rough time of it gener- 
 ally. 
 
 " ' Your mother, Dick, and she so young? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, sir, my precious mother, ' he went 
 
 on : 'so I thouoht it over with Dick Miller 
 
jjo Six Little Rebels, 
 
 Junior, and I said: "now sir, no whining, or 
 w^himpering, if you feel as ugly as the dick- 
 ens, look as sweet as a saint, make up your 
 mind to be jolly, and make everybody else 
 so ; when you feel ugly go and have it out 
 by yourself." 
 
 " That is whv Dick's o^ood-nature never 
 fails," I said, " I have always envied him his 
 disposition, and lo, he makes it what it is. 
 I do believe he plans pleasure for others, 
 every day of his life." 
 
 " / know it,'' said Charl, " his mother used 
 to say to him when he was little : ' Well, 
 dear, whom shall we make happy to-day ? ' 
 
 I bent my head low over my drawing to 
 hide the tears ; if I only had a mother ! I 
 thought ; but I said : " It is good of you 
 to tell us, Charl dear, I don't think we ever 
 gave Dick credit for his real goodness, which 
 he hides under his fun, and teasing ; but we 
 had not time to say anything more, for in 
 walked Dick himself. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 BREAKING UP. 
 
 ^jW HAD not time to hide my tears and 
 ^ smile, before he called out : 
 
 " There was tJwee crows sat on a tree^ 
 And they were black as crows could be^ 
 
 " Where are the rest ? " 
 
 " Reggie in the study, Walt in the shed, 
 and—" 
 
 " Ntiff scd, miff sal, I came to tell you 
 some news." 
 
 " Good or bad ? " I asked. 
 
 371 
 
J7^ Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Miss Warrington, do you take me for a 
 raven ? " said he, making a horrible face. 
 
 " No, sir, only Dick Miller." 
 
 " ^^^i"-actly, as Smith says ; well I think 
 you will consider it good for me, wise for me, 
 bad for me, and yet best for all of us. How 
 do you like that for a riddle ? " 
 
 " Don't bother, Dick, I must be getting 
 nervous, for I live in constant dread of some- 
 thinor terrible since the Vv^ar beG:an." 
 
 " No, Dolly, you shan't be teased ; my 
 friends, I am going away." 
 
 I sprang from my seat and then sat down 
 again, making little stabs in my drawing 
 with the point of my pencil. 
 
 " Where Dick ? " asked Ned. 
 
 " To New York. Mother's old aunt is 
 worse, and left alone with hired servants ; 
 father is here, there, and everywhere, as you 
 know, and the court decrees that I go to and 
 enter the Preparatory School which my be- 
 loved pater attended in order to get ready 
 for colles^e." 
 
Breaking up, J7J 
 
 " Oh, Dick, I can't let your mother go ! it 
 scciTiS wicked ; every one has gone and left 
 me that I cared for and your mother seems 
 so much, such a — Dick ! isn't there some 
 other way ? " 
 
 " No, Dolly," said Dick, taking the draw- 
 ing from my hand and rolling it up. " You 
 have spotted this, let me take them off for 
 you ; may I ? " 
 
 " Yes, I don't care," I said, recklessly, " let 
 us go tell papa." 
 
 We w^ent into the library, and sent our 
 news like a bomb shell into the little camp. 
 
 Reggie got up, and walked the floor; 
 papa took Dick's hand in his, and said : 
 
 " You have been a comfort to us all, my 
 boy, and no one will miss you more than 
 your crippled friend. It is a duty-call, and 
 you would be a poor soldier, not to go when 
 the trumpet sounds." 
 
 " It's hauQ-ed niean!" said Ned. 
 
 Charl was silent. I knew he was thinking 
 about our talk, and watch ino- Dick. 
 
374 *^^^ Little Rebels, 
 
 I was almost angry with Dick Miller* 
 There he stood, holding my father's hand, 
 and not saying a word ; it looked as if he 
 were glad to go and leave us all, and then I 
 thought of his mother, of her care and love 
 for me, of our visits together to the hospitals, 
 of our long talks, and walks, and it seemed 
 too hard to bear, so I slipped out of the 
 room and went back to my corner in the bay 
 window of the dining-room. 
 
 I wondered how I could tell Bertie, the lit- 
 tle fellow would grieve so, and then I leaned 
 against the window, and sobbed. It seemed 
 to me I could not even have a mother- 
 friend. Oh, dear! and it was only a few 
 hours since Aunt Axy had told me about 
 the end of the way. Why — why was mine 
 so full of tangles, and snarls } 
 
 I heard some one open the door and Reg- 
 gies voice say : 
 
 " She is in there Dick ; " then the door 
 closed, and I knew some one was standing 
 by me, but I would not look up. 
 
Breaking up, jy£ 
 
 " Dolly," said he, in a cheery tone, " I feel 
 flattered, really. I rather thought you would 
 be glad to get rid of one ' horrid boy.' " 
 
 I began to choke down my tears, but I 
 could not speak." 
 
 " Dolly, are you crying about my mother } 
 because if you are, I mean to tell you some- 
 thing. She is going to write to you very 
 often, I heard her say so, and sometime 
 when you can get away, you are to come 
 and make us a visit, and Dolly, when you do 
 come, I will give you a solemn promise, not 
 to tease you but once a week. Don't you 
 think you are rather impolite not to speak 
 to your guests ? Come, Dolly, look right at 
 me now, and tell me." 
 
 Then he sat down on a foot rest, and put 
 his face so close to mine I could not look 
 away. 
 
 " Tell me, are you truly sorry, way, way 
 down, in your warm, little heart, to have 
 your tease and torment go away, and not so 
 much as peep into the ' Woodbox ' ? " 
 
j/d Six Little Rebels, 
 
 " Oh, Dick, you know I am ; it seems to 
 me I have ahvays known you all, ever since I 
 was born, and your mother — '' 
 
 The tears would come, spite of me. 
 
 " Yes, she is as good as gold, Dolly, and 
 she will never stop loving you, be sure of 
 that, mother and I are alike there ; we never 
 give up a friend. Doll3% I want you to 
 make me a good bye present, will you } " 
 
 " Yes, Dick." 
 
 " I want you to give me the picture you 
 were at work on just now." 
 
 " You have it in your pocket." 
 
 " I know ' possession is nine tenths of the 
 law,' but I want your permission." 
 
 " It isn't worth giving." 
 
 " No matter, can I have it } " 
 
 " Yes, Dick." 
 
 " And now here's your pay for it ; wear 
 this little charm on your vratch guard, please, 
 and in language of our ancient poet : 
 
 " ' When this yoii see, }'eniember me f " 
 
Breaking tcp. jyy 
 
 Then he put it on himself, and we both 
 went in to talk with papa again. 
 
 When Bertie came I said : 
 
 " Oh, Dick, you must tell him, I can't." 
 
 So Dick went out, took the little fellow 
 with him into the boys' room, and we did 
 not see them until the bell rang for tea, and 
 then Dick insisted on going home. 
 
 All my pet said was that he had promised 
 Dick to be a good little soldier. 
 
 That evening Dr. Miller came in, and had 
 a long talk with papa, and the result of it all, 
 was made known to us before bed time. 
 Reggie was to go with Dick. Dr. and Mrs. 
 Miller were so generous and kind about it, 
 and as papa said it seemed such a good 
 chance for the boy to have the very drill he 
 needed, we all tried to think it was right. 
 At first, I begged papa to keep Reggie at 
 home until after Christmas, but he said, no, 
 he had better see something of his new 
 home before the holidays, and Mrs. Miller 
 
3j8 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 had arranged to have them with her all the 
 time. 
 
 Reggie seemed happier as soon as it was 
 all settled, but we had several quiet talks 
 about Bertie and the boys before he left. 
 They went so soon I had hard work to do 
 all I wanted to for Reggie, and when I sat 
 up until midnight to finish a needle, book for 
 him. Miss Lucinda said she should think 
 to see and hear me that the boy was going 
 to the West Indies. It was very hard to 
 lose three from our little circle, and after 
 they were gone, I began to see how much I 
 had enjoyed them. 
 
 We wrote regularly every week, and at 
 Christmas we received a box from New 
 York which no one but Mrs. Miller could 
 have packed. It was filled to the very top 
 with useful presents, and Dr. Miller, who 
 dined with us whenever he was in town, de- 
 clared his little wife must have been lying 
 awake nights to plan what she should send. 
 
 Fortunately he ate his Christmas dinner 
 
Breaking up. jyg 
 
 with us, and although we missed our dear 
 ones, we were a very merry party. 
 
 The other boys grew more manly every 
 day. Papa said they had relied on Reggie 
 for everything and his absence would make 
 them think for themselves. 
 
 About this time I had a letter from Cora, 
 which goes on with the story I am telling. 
 
 " Philadelphia, . 
 
 " My dear Busy Bee : 
 
 " How glad I was to get your letter ! It 
 was a shame for you to lose those big boys, 
 and dear Mrs. Miller all at once, but just 
 like you to say ' it is all for the best.' 
 
 " I think it is for Reggie ; he was so sol- 
 emn, and seemed to think he was responsi- 
 ble for all the rest. He will find ever so 
 much to take up his mind in New York be- 
 sides his books, and how Mrs. Miller will 
 mother him. 
 
 " Now, darling, what do you think I am 
 doing? well, I am studying just as hard as I 
 
j8o Six Little Rebels, 
 
 can. Reggie actually hinted — don't sup- 
 pose he meant to — that you were a far bet- 
 ter scholar, as if I did not know it! I mean 
 to overtake you, dear, so look out ! You ask 
 if I cannot coax papa to take a house on the 
 Beverly Shore next summer ? Mamma says 
 he would give me his head if he could, but 
 when I mentioned it, he said : 
 
 " ' Oh, my darling, there are too uncertain 
 times for planning.' Mamma says, however, 
 that we must get out of this dreadful hot 
 city, and she will consent, if you will find us 
 a boarding place ; housekeeping, is jiot to be 
 thought of; she has too much of it now. 
 
 " We seldom sit down to table alone. Papa 
 is always sending or bringing someone to 
 lunch or dinner ; he says he will keep open 
 house to all officers, it is a duty, as Vv'ell as a 
 pleasure. I was the means cf bringing one 
 guest here, ancj Dolly, vv'ho do you think it 
 was .^ 
 
 " You know, I go two days in the week to 
 
Breaking up. j8i 
 
 take painting lessons, and the other day as I 
 ran down the studio steps in an awful hurry, 
 to catch a horse car, somebody knocked 
 against me, and I knocked against some one 
 else, who immediately said, ' I beg your par- 
 don,' and then I looked up, and was about to 
 say, ' I must beg yours,' when there before 
 me stood Colonel Bre7itford with his arm in 
 a sling ! 
 
 " He laughed, and laughed, and then we 
 shook hands, and he insisted on carrying my 
 portfolio, and I didnt take the horse car but 
 we walked every step of the way home. He 
 looked very pale and thin. Mamma made 
 him confess that his arm was hurt worse 
 than they thought at first, and he had been 
 taking a " short leave." He did not know 
 a soul here, and when papa came he insisted 
 on sending for his luggage, and keeping him 
 here for a day or two at least. 
 
 " I can't begin to tell you how we enjoyed it, 
 especially when he took a letter out of his 
 
j82 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 pocket from your father and Reggie, which 
 told all the news from the ' Woodbox.' He 
 said he should try and get time to see you 
 when he went through Washington, but he 
 feared he might not. We took him every- 
 where to see the sights, and he and mamma 
 are great friends, she has his picture, and he 
 carried away ours with him. He doesn't 
 seem half as gay as he used to at your house, 
 and I tell mamma I am sure he must have 
 some trouble on his mind. She thinks he 
 feels the horror of the war deeply, for his 
 regiment was almost " cut to pieces " they 
 say, and when he was talking it over with 
 papa, he walked the floor and nearly cried 
 yes, Dolly, I actually saw tears in his eyes, 
 when he said, ' my poor brave boys! We 
 have not heard a word since he left, but I 
 am just as sure as I can be that the gallant 
 colonel is in love with some pretty western 
 girl, and the family objects. 
 
 " Don't let any one read my nonsense, 
 dear, I can write as I please to you. Write 
 
Breaking up. j8j 
 
 soon, dear, and tell me what IMiss Lucinda 
 thinks about the beach. 
 
 " Your loving, 
 
 " Cora B ." 
 
 I am afraid I must give one of my own 
 letters now, or the story will not be complete. 
 Cora saved them all, if they were full of girls 
 talk. 
 
 " ' WooDBOX,' March ist. 
 " My dear Sister-friend ; 
 
 " I know it is an age since I wrote but I 
 could not find a spare moment ; every day 
 is full; if they were only forty-eight hours 
 long wouldn't it be nice? 
 
 " I never dare say I am tired for fear papa 
 will make me give up something and vvhat 
 could it be ? 
 
 " Not study with him ? Never. Not les- 
 sons on the organ, no indeed, they rest me ; 
 not the care of Bertie for he needs me, and I 
 love him ; not my ' boys in blue,' for it is my 
 one comfort every night when I say my 
 
;^84 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 prayers, that I have done some little, wee, bit 
 of good down there. 
 
 "Yesterday when I went down, It was a lit- 
 tle late, and as I entered the ward one of 
 the stewards said, ' you are none too soon 
 miss, " No. 9 " refuses to take his nourish- 
 ment until you come, and the doctor is very 
 particular about it.' ' No. 9 ' is the little 
 man I told you about, who cannot move his 
 hands or feet, had an attack of paralysis out 
 on picket, and yet his brain is clear as a bell, 
 while his body is just enough alive to keep 
 him in torture. When they fed him they 
 used to spill his food, and it worried him, he 
 is so nice. I sat down, and gave him his 
 beef tea, and then told him how my music 
 teacher rapped my fingers for making a 
 blunder, which I made because I was won- 
 derinsf if he had taken his breakfast. He 
 smiled poor fellow, a sick, wan smile, and 
 looked at my hands as if he wanted to see if 
 they were hurt, I held them both up and 
 told him thev were all rio-ht, but next time, if 
 
Breaking up. j8^ 
 
 I came late, he must take his food for my 
 sake. 
 
 " You can't think, Cora, how I get attached 
 to some of my ' boys.' 
 
 " Dr. Greeley called me away one day to 
 help him dress a wound, and while we were 
 doing it what do you think he said } 
 
 " I can't forget it, although I must try to. 
 ' Miss Warrington, you should study medi- 
 cine, you have already had more practice than 
 half of our young M. D's.' 
 
 " ' I wish 'I could,' said I, eagerly, ' when I 
 am a little older.' 
 
 " ' And why not, pray ? ' 
 
 " ' I think you forget that I can never 
 leave papa,' I said, feeling provoked wuth 
 him for askinsf. 
 
 " ' Ah ! ' said he, ' now I was thinking, 
 what a good thing it would be for your 
 father, say a few years hence.' 
 
 " ' Do you mean what you say, Dr. Gree- 
 ley ? ' I asked. 
 
 '' He was bending over the shoulder wound 
 
j86 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 of our patient, but he stopped, looked up, 
 and with those great eyes of his, fairly gaz- 
 ing through me, said : 
 
 " ' I mean, that you show wonderful apti- 
 tude, wonderful nerve, and the clearness of 
 judgment, that is needed ; and I mean that 
 no other woman of your years has ever 
 raised a finger inside of these walls, and 
 never will. You inherit your father's skill, 
 and although I have always had a strong 
 prejudice against women as physicians, I will 
 gladly help you on, and perhaps One of these 
 days call you Doctor Warrington.' 
 
 " I declare, Cora, it nearly frightened me, 
 for I have often thought how much I should 
 like it, but the whole thing is impossible ; 
 how could I ever go to college, or what 
 would papa do without his housekeeper t 
 
 " No, dear, that is a girl's dream. I am 
 all papa has, and I must never leave him. 
 It makes my heart jump to think of it, — 
 school, study, and all the advantages of com- 
 panions, but Cora here I am, and here 
 
Breaking icp. j8j 
 
 must I stay. I think, if we should once turn 
 our steps in the wrong direction on the path 
 Aunt Axy talks of, even He would not be 
 able to make the way end right. 
 
 " No, I shall never go to college. 
 
 " We hear orood news from the bovs. 
 ' Reggie studies very hard,' Mrs. Miller 
 writes, and ' Dick is doing very well, for such 
 a rattle-pate.' 
 
 " Charlie and Walter tell Ned he shall not 
 surpass them, and even little Bertie is quite 
 anxious to be a good boy and ' go to college 
 like Reggie.' 
 
 " Colonel Brentford did not come to us ; I 
 am sorry he is so sad as, you say, it may be 
 a love affair. 
 
 " And now dear, here comes the cream of 
 my letter if there is any cream to it. Miss 
 Lucinda has made arrangements to take care 
 of us all the coming summer. Her plan is, 
 to have her little stable turned into a house 
 where she will live with the servants and 
 cook for us, we. to use the whole of her nest. 
 
j88 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 Could anything be better ? this will give us 
 a room for guests, and Mrs. Miller begs to 
 join us during the boys' vacation while the 
 invalid aunt will go up to her house on the 
 Hudson, and have a very good woman to 
 take care of her, and Mrs. Miller can have a 
 quiet rest. 
 
 " Isn't it delightful .? 
 
 " Papa says I must say " D. V." for unless 
 He is willing, all our plans will come to 
 naught, so if nothing happens, Cora dear, 
 we will all flit sea-ward by the middle of 
 May or first of June, and not return until 
 October ; but the ' big boys ' cannot come 
 until the vacation begins in July. All well. 
 " Lovingly, 
 
 " Dolly." 
 
^^. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 ABOUT BOYS. CORA TO DOLLY. 
 
 Y precious Friend'. 
 
 " Here we are in New York, 
 
 aren't you surprised ? 
 
 "We came away suddenly, 
 
 you may be sure, or I should 
 
 have written. 
 
 " Good news first. — Papa is much pleased 
 
 with the Beverly plan and mamma speaks of 
 
 it every day. Won't we study, deary ? Those 
 
 389 
 
;^go Six Little Rebels. 
 
 ' horrid boys ' shall not startle us with their 
 learning. Why Dick, — but, oh dear I haven't 
 told you yet. You see we are here at papa's 
 sister's ; they only came home from Europe a 
 few weeks ago ; uncle had to come on ac- 
 count of the war, for his money is all in cot- 
 ton or something. Anyway he is away nearly 
 all the time, and auntie, who has only one 
 child, a son by her first marriage, keeps 
 house here in elegant style. John, that is my 
 would-be cousin — hateful name, isn't it 
 dear.^ — John, is a classmate of Dick's and 
 Reggie's, and as soon as I found it out, we 
 made up a little surprise. 
 
 " Auntie is very fond of young men, and 
 has had them here several times, so Jack and 
 I — everybody calls him Jack Montgomery — 
 we planned some fun. 
 
 " In the first place, auntie drove round 
 with mamma and I to call on Mrs. Miller. 
 We found her as lovely as ever, and she said 
 the boys should not know from her about 
 my being here : then auntie left an invita- 
 
About Boys. — Cora to Dolly, jgi 
 
 tion for the 'young gentlemen,' — think of 
 yo2c calling ' our boys ' young gentlemen ! — 
 to come up to six o'clock dinner, for she had 
 business of importance to explain to them. 
 
 " ' You see dear,' she said, ' I have been 
 coaxed by Jack to write a little play for them, 
 and as I would do anything in the world to 
 make him happy at home, I have done it, of 
 course it is very, very simple, but it will 
 serve as a pastime, and make our young peo- 
 ple happy.' 
 
 " I think it is so good in auntie. She is 
 very, very wealthy, and yet mamma says she 
 has been doing for others ever since she 
 knew her. Only think Dolly, she was the 
 first lady in all her fashionable set to open 
 her house on New Years Day, and not have 
 a drop of wine ! How everybody talked ! 
 Even her husband thought she would 
 make herself too conspicuous by such a 
 step, but papa said Aunt Laura smiled and 
 replied : 
 
 " ' You know, dear, if a thing is right I 
 
jg2 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 should do it, if I stood alone on Mount 
 Pisgah.' I call that brave, don t you Dolly ? 
 Well, the ' boys ' came and I was hid. 
 When they were all busy talking over the 
 parts, and Dick said he couldn't think of a 
 girl to take the part of Miss Sallie Dare-all 
 because it needed some one with snap, and 
 fun, auntie gave a little pat with her hands 
 as our signal, and out I walked from behind 
 the curtain. 
 
 " It was real fun to see those boys ! Dick 
 rushed up, and for half a second, I really 
 thought he was going to kiss me, it would 
 have been just like him you know, if he 
 wanted to tease ; then Reggie came forward 
 in his cool, calm way, and said quietly : 
 ' This is capital, is Dolly hiding there, too .^ ' 
 
 " Poor fellow, his face grew sober when I 
 said, ' No, Reggie, I wish she were.' 
 
 " Then I sat down on the sofa, and the 
 boys stared, and asked questions all about my 
 letters from you, and dear old ' Home ' as 
 Reggie called it. Dolly, I told them all the 
 
About Boys. — Cora to Dolly, jgj 
 
 good things I could think of ; how you had 
 had done so well with your playing, that you 
 had managed the organ for two Sundays ; 
 how you thought you would like to go to 
 college, but never could, on account of your 
 father, and everything which I thought you 
 would be willing to have them know. 
 
 " It did seem like old days to me to see 
 them. Reggie has been growing handsome; 
 Dick tells me, he is the best scholar in his 
 class, and auntie thinks he is her favorite of 
 all the 'fellows' Jack brings home. Jack 
 calls them all ' fellows.' 
 
 " The play is all settled. I am to be Sal- 
 lie, — the name of it, is " Outside and in'' 
 showing what absurd blunders people make 
 by looking at the outside of things, instead 
 of investigating. We all wish you could 
 have my part, you would do it so much bet- 
 ter than I. 
 
 " ' Mr. Skim'o-long ' is Jack, Dick is a 
 * Deacon Curious,' and Reggie is the best 
 ' Professor ' you ever saw. We have some 
 
3C)4 ^^'^ Little Rebels, 
 
 queer sayings I assure you. Dick's part is 
 so comical I laugh whenever I think of it. 
 But I won't tell you any more about it, for 
 Reggie says, we will have it played next 
 summer at Beverly, and you must take the 
 part of Eunice the Professor's wife, who is 
 bothered and tormented by his wonderful re- 
 searches. How well you would do it ! It 
 was too bad you had to refuse Mrs. Miller's 
 invitation ; I knew you would. Catch you 
 leaving your helpless father! oh, Dolly, you 
 are so brave, and unselfish ; / should growl, 
 sulk, scold, storm, and be hateful generally, 
 but, Dolly dear, naughty as I am, I am still 
 
 " Your Cora. 
 
 " P. S. Tell Miss Lucinda, mamma will 
 write to her, and thinks her very kind to 
 take so much trouble. 
 
 " Reggie and Dick say they will write as 
 soon as our play is over. 
 
 '' Cora." 
 
About Boys.— Cora to Dolly. 395 
 
 From Reggie. 
 " Dear Good People : 
 
 " We are doing pretty well in our stud- 
 ies, but not as well as I wish, for do my 
 best I never get the mark I aim for. Dick 
 seems to walk in a sort of charmed manner 
 over all difficulties and I envy him his won- 
 derful memory. Think of sitting down, and 
 readino; over three or four pages, and then, 
 beino- able to recite them verbatim ; and yet, 
 Dick does this, week after week, while I pore 
 as hard as I can. 
 
 " I have been thinking over the contents 
 of your letter, dear doctor, and I have about 
 made up my mind that ' Harvard is the best 
 place.' Tliis winter has done me good, but 
 I have always heard my father say he pre- 
 ferred Harvard, on many accounts. Dick 
 says if I try for that examination he will, and 
 his father consents ; meantime, I want to be 
 sure of a thorough preparation. Whatever 
 you think best will settle me in the matter. 
 
^g6 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " I hope you will let me know about the 
 financial affairs I wrote you about. Please 
 doctor, do not let us burden you. 
 
 " I am glad Ned and the rest get on so 
 well. Tell Ned he must try to follow me in 
 a year, if I get into Harvard. 
 
 " It was a great pleasure to see Miss Cora 
 B. and hear from you all — of many little 
 things which Dolly does not tell us. 
 
 " Dick will write full particulars of our 
 play. 
 
 *' Yours truly, 
 
 " Reginald." 
 
 Were ever boys more unlike ^ Reggie, so 
 business-like, and solemn, and Dick, such a 
 rollicking, fun-loving rogue. Here is Dick's 
 letter which came with the other. 
 " Dear Cousin Dolly : 
 
 " I am ' counted in ' you know, and as 
 I cannot write to half a dozen people all 
 in one breath, so to speak, I prefer to address 
 your highness, and you may pass it around, 
 
Abo7it Boys. — Cora to Dolly. 397 
 
 as our fore-fathers, and fore-mothers, used to 
 a mug of cider. 
 
 "Concerning Reg, he is a trump. A. i. 
 on the books, — A. i. everywhere. 
 
 " The play was a success ; Cora did her 
 part pretty well, Reggie his very well, Jack 
 excellent, yours truly, passable, and the rest 
 ' fair to middling.' 
 
 " I don't think we feel quite so much of 
 the war as we did there ; we hear enough in 
 all conscience ; at our house, when the pa- 
 per comes morning and evening, it is at 
 once torn in two parts, we are all so eager to 
 hear the news. 
 
 " That Beverly arrangement suits me to 
 a charm, especially if we are fortunate 
 enough to get into Harvard; haven't a 
 doubt of Reg. 
 
 " How does Miss Lucinda do? What is 
 Walt whittling out? 
 
 " How do you progress with Greek? Cora 
 says, you have figured at the organ in 
 church. Good ! but see here cousin Dolly, 
 
^g8 Six Little Rebels 
 
 don't you let that squint-eyed chorister, talk 
 nonsense to you. 
 
 " Think of your wounded admirer, the 
 colonel ! Lucky he didn't get into the ' Sem- 
 inary,' or the ' Union ' to be cared for, or we 
 mi2:ht have had a romance, and the dear 
 ' uncle doctor,' might have lost his house- 
 keeper. 
 
 •' Cora said something about ' college,' — 
 do you mean it ? 
 
 " Don't, I shouldn't stand any chance ; be- 
 sides, I am afraid of learned women. Think 
 of the ' Peace Sisters,' and be happy. 
 
 " How I laughed over Bertie's plum pud- 
 ding, dear little chap ! 
 
 " Tell him ' cousin Dick ' kisses his pict- 
 ure every time he looks at it, which is pretty 
 often seeinsf it is inside his watch case. 
 Whose picture do you think is on the other 
 side 1 Won't do to tell. 
 
 " Do you know Reggie is getting so broad 
 across the shoulders, his best coat fits like a 
 straight-jacket, and all we can say, he won't 
 
About Boys, — Cora to Dolly. jgg 
 
 o-et another. Solemn old owl ; he says he 
 must be economical, until he hears how his 
 father is coming out of this struggle. How 
 do you like Jack Montgomery? you must 
 have a pretty good idea of him, from all our 
 letters. He is ' not pleasing to look at,' as 
 Miss Lucinda would say, but he is a kind 
 old soul, and gives away more money every 
 week, than most of us have in a month. His 
 mother Mrs. VanCleve, is one of our sort, 
 motherly, and refined. They live in swell 
 style, ( beg pardon, I didn't mean to use a 
 word of slang, but remember I am only a 
 ' horrid boy ' ) and she is one of the leading 
 Sanitary workers, keeps one seamstress al- 
 ways at work for the soldiers, and is called 
 ' proud ' by people who don't know a grand 
 woman when they see one. Don't she make 
 things pleasant for us though } 
 
 '' She would like to have Cora with her all 
 the time, but I don't wonder Mrs. Birney 
 cannot bear to give her up. I suppose my 
 
400 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 blessed mate has told you all about our home 
 affairs, so I will only say that Dr. Miller is 
 still away, on Government business ; that 
 grand aunt Follansbee, is still nervous, and 
 fanciful, that my beloved mother waits on 
 her like a saint and endures fault-finding like 
 a martyr, and that Reggie and I still have 
 our big room to do as we please in, and my 
 sweet-heart (wonder if I shall ever have an- 
 other, I shall love as well as my lovely 
 mother,) comes every night, and sits with us 
 for an hour or two after aunt Follansbee is 
 asleep. Of course, we talk about our friends 
 at the ' Woodbox.' Hurra ! for next summer ! 
 won't we spin about in that new boat } won't 
 we lead Josiah out on tramps 1 won't we have 
 fun with little Budd.?" 
 
 " Would it were here ! 
 
 " Reg calls out, ' Come, Dick ; come to 
 bed ; when you get hold of a pen, you never 
 know when to stop.' 
 
 " I shout back, ' Coming, coming, most no- 
 
About Boys, — Cora to Dolly. 401 
 
 ble lord.' And so good night. By the by, 
 if you want to keep me out of scrapes, write 
 long letters — missionary work, Dolly, — 
 pax vobiscum, 
 
 " Dick." 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 ONE MORE SUMMER. 
 
 ERTIE'S "plum pudding" requires an 
 ^ explanation. 
 
 Papa and I were very busy, or I was with 
 my Homer, when Bertie put his head in to 
 ask if he might take Johnny Young into the 
 kitchen, and have some pop corn ? I said 
 yes, if they would mind Aunt Axy, quite for- 
 getting that I had sent her down to the hos- 
 pital with some things Dr. Greely wanted. 
 
 Miss Lucinda was in her room darning 
 
 stockings, and her devoted Gen. Scott was 
 402 
 
One More Stimmer. 40 j 
 
 of coarse near by, so the young rogues had 
 it all their own way. 
 
 I have always been laughed at for my 
 nose, " scenting trouble afar off," as papa 
 says, and suddenly I knew something was 
 burning. I rushed to the kitchen and found 
 it completely filled with smoke. At first I 
 thought it was all on fire, but I soon found 
 that popping corn had proved too tame, and 
 the young gentlemen were trying experiments. 
 Johnny Young was spelling out words from 
 a cook book, and Bertie, with one hand up to 
 his eyes, was stirring something, which he 
 spilled over upon the red hot stove with 
 every motion of the spoon ; still the little 
 Casabianca stood at his post. 
 
 " Bertie, Bertie, my darling, what are you 
 doing } " 
 
 " Only making a pudding, Dolly, and 
 Johnny says it's cider you put in, it isn't 
 is it 1 " 
 
 " What kind of a pudding } " I asked, try- 
 ing to look sober 
 
404 Six Little Rebels. 
 
 " It's a plum pudding, like you made when 
 Dick and Reggie went over to camp." 
 
 Yes, I had made one, and Bertie who had 
 watched the operation confounded it with 
 the boiling of sryup for ginger snaps which 
 I made at the same time. 
 
 Aunt Axy was such a superior cook I sel- 
 dom ventured into her kingdom, but once in 
 a while I tried a bit of ''girls cookery." 
 
 Both boys were sprinkled with flour; 
 Johnny, worst, for his velvet jacket held it 
 fast. Aunt Axy s white pine table of which 
 she was so proud, was daubed with grease, 
 molasses, and sugar; the flour, — well, as 
 Aunt Axy expressed it: " dat ar flour, was 
 wuss un a camp meetin' eatin'-house." 
 
 I suppose I should have punished them 
 both, for papa says, " weak indulgence, is al- 
 ways cruelty ; " but the little culprits looked 
 so comical, and they were so angry with 
 each other, Johnny, spelling out slowly with 
 his little, fat, dirty finger, c-i-t-r-o-n and insist- 
 ing that it was cider, while Bertie knew. 
 
One Mo7^e Surmner. ^o§ 
 
 cousin Dolly did not put in cider, it was cis- 
 tern all covered with white sugar, that I 
 could not. After I had laughed until both 
 shavers stared at me in amazement I washed 
 them up, and made each of them swallow 
 two spoonfuls of their " plum pudding " as a 
 punishment. I knew it could not hurt 
 them. 
 
 Reggie, wrote home when he received my 
 letter telling him of this frolic, that I was al- 
 together too easy with Bertie, he required a 
 firm hand. Poor baby, if Reg had seen 
 those handsome eyes fulT of tears as I did, 
 when I talked with him that night, he, well, 
 boys are conceited; but how could I be stern 
 with a dead woman's child t 
 
 I must give one more letter of Cora's from 
 New York, because it recalls some of the 
 trials of the war, to our little circle, and as 
 papa said, explained " how the women could, 
 and did bear arms." 
 
 " No soldier with his musket ever did 
 more good service than the women in the 
 
^o6 . Six Little Rebels. 
 
 hospitals, and homes, the Sanitary Comniis- 
 ions, and, like dear Mrs. Thorpe, in the 
 field," so Dr. Greeley said, and for such a 
 gruff old surgeon, I thought it high praise. 
 
 " New York, March, 1862. 
 *' My dear Dolly : 
 
 " All our pleasant times are ended for the 
 present. Poor Mrs. Miller is in deep afflic- 
 tion, and we all feel it as if we were relatives. 
 I think Dick has told you, about his mother s 
 only brother, all the relative she had except 
 this old aunt. He was here, only three 
 weeks since. 
 
 " Handsome, gifted, young Roger Morris ! 
 don't you remember seeing his picture over 
 the piano in Georgetown ? He has been West 
 most of the time since the war broke out, 
 and only came on to command a brigade in 
 the army of the Potomac since we came to 
 New York. He was a West Pointer, and 
 could not rest content until he was ordered 
 here ' to be in the thick of it,' as he said.: 
 
One iMore Summer, 40 y 
 
 " The morning he left, we were all over 
 there to breakfast, and when he began to put 
 on his sword, he stopped a moment, went up 
 to his sister, and said, holding out his sash : 
 
 " ' Perhaps you would like to do this for 
 me, sis, it may be the last chance, you 
 know.' 
 
 " Mrs. Miller took one end of the sash and 
 'wound him up' as he called it, and he took 
 her face between his hands and kissed her, 
 saying with a laugh, she ' always claims that 
 for pay.' When he left the house the boys 
 went with him, and Mrs. Miller said to 
 mamma and me, ' I wish Roger did not seem 
 so glad to go, but he is every inch a soldier.' 
 She felt badly I could see, but she went on 
 just the same, only a trifle paler than usual. 
 
 " And now comes the sad part. He made 
 his sister promise not to attempt to find his 
 body if he should fall. ' It is neither brave, 
 nor loyal,' he said, ' to put the government to 
 so much trouble, to say nothing of your 
 friends ; I want to die like a soldier and be 
 
^o8 Six Little Rebels, 
 
 buried like one ; and mind, sister, no boun- 
 ties or pensions for me ; my life belongs to 
 my country, if it is good for anything, let it 
 go.' Then came the tidings so soon after, 
 that he had fallen, the brave, young man, 
 and the last of his family ! We read the 
 news in our evening paper : ' A reconnois- 
 sance in force and all done,' the despatch 
 said, ' to withdraw the enemies attention 
 from more important movements.' We went 
 ■*ound to Mrs. Miller's at once. Aunt Laura 
 and marfima were going, and I would not be 
 left at home. 
 
 " Oh, Dolly, how strong women are in 
 trouble ! I shall never forget Mrs. Miller's 
 eyes, as long as I live ; there was not the 
 slightest outcry, only dumb sorrow. The 
 family idolized him, her one, darling brother, 
 and I could not help crying for her. Dick 
 ^at down by her, and held her hand ; Reg- 
 gie had gone out to send word to the doctor, 
 but for days, and days, the despatch could 
 not find him. 
 
One More Summer. ^og 
 
 " In his last letter he wrote, ' I am so 
 thankful Roger has been ordered East; he is 
 too gifted to spend his days fighting Indians,' 
 and poor Mrs. Miller read that with her face 
 like marble, when her gifted Roger, lay dead 
 on the field of battle. 
 
 " Yesterday, a gentleman brought her his 
 watch, sword and belt, and oh, Dolly, the 
 very sash she had tied on, as he said ' for the 
 last time.' Mrs. Miller took them all and 
 went to her room, where she staid for two or 
 three hours ; after that, she came back and 
 answered all the old aunt's fretful questions 
 in her own gentle way. We did intend to 
 go home this week, but Mrs. Miller urged 
 me to spend a few days with her on account 
 of the boys, Dick feels this so much, and it 
 is harder for them all having the doctor 
 away." 
 
 Just as soon as I finished reading Cora's 
 letter I sat down and wrote to Mrs. Miller, 
 
410 Six Little Rebels 
 
 but I tore up at least six sheets of paper be- 
 fore I had one fit to send. 
 
 A girl of my age could only say things in 
 the worst way, I know, but it seemed to me 
 I felt Roger Morris' death myself. I had 
 neither brother nor sister, and like Mrs. 
 Miller, my mother was dead. I don't know 
 w^hat I said, but I was glad I wrote it, poor 
 as it was, for she wrote in return : 
 
 " It was such a comforting little letter I 
 have read it over and over." 
 
 The spring came, then the summer, and 
 once more, we all went to the sea side. 
 
 Mrs. Miller went with papa and me, and 
 Mrs. Van Cleoe followed with the boys, as 
 soon as the term closed. 
 
 Again the little railroad was used, but this 
 time much improved; again our boats 
 danced over the water, and Josiah acted as 
 pilot. 
 
 Harvard Budd once more made calls, and 
 devoted hiijiself to Dora ; the cheerful doc- 
 
07ie More Summer. ^ii 
 
 tor came from Cambridge, and bricrhtened 
 papa's summer with thoughtful letters, and 
 gifts of books. 
 
 Once more the Peace sisters welcomed us, 
 and the " Hoss Club " worked on ; once 
 more, our merry hearted boys with Dick for 
 leader, got into scrapes, and out again ; and 
 once more we read our papers with beating 
 hearts, lest we should find the name of 
 some loved one amid the killed and wounded ; 
 but the summer passed and the autumn 
 came. 
 
 Again we turned our faces homeward leav- 
 ing behind us our three big boys, for Jack, 
 Dick and Reggie "passed" and entered "fair 
 old Harvard." 
 
 And now, dear readers, if you wish to 
 know more of my " Six Little Rebels " and 
 their friends, if you are anxious to hear what 
 became of Mrs. Neville and Colonel Gres- 
 ham, if the doctor is half as dear to you as to 
 me, and Dolly and Cora are the lovable girls 
 I know them to be, if you are interested in 
 
/fi2 Six^ Little Rebels, 
 
 the gallant colonel from Michigan or his 
 mischievous servant Lex, let us still journey 
 together and read their history in another 
 volume called 
 
 " Doctor Dick." 
 
RARE BOOK 
 COLLECTION 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT 
 
 CHAPEL HILL 
 
 Wilmer 
 1184