The National tribune., 1882-04-15
VANQUISHITG THE ENEMY.
A STORY FOR THE LITTLE ONES

A STORY FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
1t was during the war, and we were little
Virginia girls. Two small rebels after a
most malignant type, decidedly beligerent,
for did we not fight mimic battles every day
for the cause, and in deeds Of heroism rival
(at least in our imagination) all those re-
corded in history? But, strange to say,
though we were surrounded by the enemy
on all sides, with the bristling guns of Forts
Ward and Worth almost in sight, for we
lived about three miles from Alexandria and
seven from Washington, we did not hesitate
to express our opinion in the presence of any
number of the good-humOred " blue coats,
who seemed TO be greatly diverted, and
would laughingly declare they were going
TO arrest and put us in the "bomb-proof"
However, these threats did not intimidate
in the least, but only made US more saucy,
to their infinite amusement. Then they
would take up Annie, little cunning mite
of thing and say: "Now, sis, tell as your
name," and she always said: Black-eyed
Secesh Southern Baby" and sometimes Ie-
ceived a kiss and sugar plum from the kind
questioner.
Now, Just short distance from our house
was a mill-dam, deep clear piece of water
shaded on either side by large beech and
sycamore trees intermixed with tall poplars,
which gave seclusion to the spot and kept
the water at a cool temperature even during
the warmest days-in short, it was delight
full place to battle in and charming one to
sketch, with its miniatured cascade and pic
turesque rocks; one with natural steps lead
ing to a small circular cavity, always partly
filled with water, and which we named The
Fairies Basin" and it was a superstition
that if anybody should wash their face in it,
IT would bring them good luck. One of the
roads to this romantic place wound round
the foot of our hill and every day squads of
soldiers from the adjoining forts would file
past On their way to enjoy a good splash in
the dam, which was, indeed, favorite resort
for all the neighborhood. We children had
built our haby-houses on the hillside quite
near this path, for, inconsistent little rebs
that we we're, we had such confidence in our
enemies that we never thought they would
modest them or us, and we worked very
busily to finish them, for in winter mamma
allowed us to have box in the house, but
in summer it was nicer to build in the yard.
So each of Us formed square little room Of
old bricks, and covered the top with pieces
of rough pine bark for shingles, and the floor
with the softest of green moss specked with
white pebbles from the run, and made a
gravel walk to the entrance, ornamented
with bits of cedar stuck on either side for
evergreens.
Into these snug apartments we stored our
treasures dolls, two or three cent chairs,
little tub and churn in which we sometimes
brought tiny speck of butter for Dolly,
though she never deigned to touch it; and
we always managed to chuTn when mother
did, it was such fun. Then we had a small
cooking stove but it was only a sham of
thing, with no hole in the pipe for the smoke
TO escape, and the first time we did make
fire in it, to our dismay, one Of the legs,
which was just glued on, came of, and down
tumbIed our stove and all our expectations
of future cooking. This was a great disap-
pointment, but we could take our dinner out
there and eat it-and that would be the next
best thing to preparing it ourselves, and we
did One morning we jumped up early to
see if our houses were all right, and what do
you think we found on the floor? Guess
But you never could. Why, paper of gum
drops neatly done up in a package. OF
course, we were very much surprised, and
thought the fairies had been at work, and we
ran to tell mother, who didn't know a thing
about il, and was as astOnished as we. But
IN the evening the mystery was solved, for
while We were sitting before our houses as
usual, playing, some soldiers passed, and
CHEEKY voice called out: Sissy, did you get
the candy?" Then we knew who ii was,
though he passed on so quickly that we did
not have time to thank him, and never saw
him again that / remember, but we thanked
him in our hearts, and enjoyed the candy
very much and if he is still living and
should read this, want him TO know, that
even now, though the little girl to whom he
gave the candy lives in another State, is
grown and married, she often thinks and
speaks of this act Of kindness which softened
our hearts with love for the soldier, and kept
us from being such good rebels after that.