The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-08
A Silver Dime.

Little Phoebe winleve stood at her
mother's knee, tangling the skeins OF
bright colored zephyr in her Jealous
efforts to help assort them, and listened
with wide wandering eyes to the con-
versation of the mother and Mrs. Vance,
neighbor, who had dropped in to
discuss the latest news from Washing
ton, during the stormiest days of the
civil war.
''Those dreadful battles are killing
off all our men. Goodness knows
what will he done now." remarked Mrs,
Vance, shaking her head mourn
fully.
"There will be another draft, l sup
pose," observed Mrs. Winlove.
well, when the men are all killed
they will have to draft little girls, SO be
tareful, Phoebe, or you will be carried
off tothe war some day to be soldier, "
said Mrs. Vance, noticing how wide
Phebe's blue eyes had opened, and
prompted by that strange instinct to lie,
which SO often leads people to weave
gossamers of falsehood and send them
floating through childish minds. Happy
will it be if in after life those slight,
wayering threads do not strike against
the clear eyes and dim their vision to the
truth
Phoebe said nothing, but shuddered
as her fancy painted the horrors OF
being drafted" and the ladies
continued their conversation, forget
ting the presence of the thoughtful
child.
For some time afterwards no induce
ment could get Phoebe to venture out
side her parents yard. But one sunny
morning the gate stood ajar, and sh'
peeped cautiously into the street. 1t wa
quite deserted, and looked very shad.
and inviting, and the little girl pushed
the gate open widerand looked anxiousl
up and down the wooing vista befor
her.
81 guess they're all dead now, so
can't be drafted, cause there's no on
do II, she murmured, "I'n just ru
down to the corner and see If anyone
living" and pushing back the brow
; tresses which shaded her eyes, she til
; toed down the street. Standing at tn
corner she shaded her hax-blue eye
| with one dimpled arm and peered IL
quiringly across the square, Just 8
that moment blue clad soldier Issue
from door beside her, and with
= look of admiration at the tin!
= serious creature, caught her impulsive
/. in his arms and kissed the piI
s cheeks.
!, Phoebe shrieked vociferously al
o grasped his ears with her chubby hand
o while her tiny feet kicked his che
e most viciously.
II "Let me CO." she screamed, ''y'
IL must let me gol I'm papa's only lit
t. daughter, and he couldn't get alol
lie 'thout me. can't 6ght-I wor
ss fight, so there's no use to draft N
or "Oh, mister soldier, do let me 3
lg How'd you like to have your little 6
s, taken away from your Pm the OF
at little girl papa and mama have, a
st they don't want me to fight, sides, l
r. too little-I can't fight ~
n 'On my honor, your actions give
70, lie to that" laughed the soldier, ''y
ig are an infantine Mars. But ST
Sc screatning, do, and leave, at least,
to portion of my ears attached to my he
ny You are pulling them out, root q
re all. Hushl Come, here's a nice sill
ro- dime, now tell me what is the matte
Ter "Arn't you going to draft me ?"
he said, giving couple Of kicks agai
is his chest, and drawing a long bres
i'll. preparatory to RECALLING him with
for other shrek.
be "No, of course not. Why do
of think so ?" he replied.
the "Cause Mrs. Vance said all Ii
in girls would be drafted as soon as all
IDS, men were killed, and they're all XII
the now amt they ?"
or ''Oh, no ~ there are plenty of /
is left yet" he answered, reassurin
tom "enough to take care of little girls
the are not able to fight"
'e a ''Then what do you want me TO
mot she questioned, clutching the
nple tightly and evidently preparing to
in sumo her war-like operations.
ated 81 only want TO know who you
nths and to have you kiss me, he answt
~ am going right away to fight