diff --git "a/data/test/29594.txt" "b/data/test/29594.txt" --- "a/data/test/29594.txt" +++ "b/data/test/29594.txt" @@ -1,1731 +1,1731 @@ - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: BULL RUN.] - - - -THE SOCK STORIES, - -BY "AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER. - -RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SOCKS. - -Part Second. - -BEING - -THE SECOND BOOK OF THE SERIES. - -BY - -"AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER, - -THE AUTHOR OF "THE LITTLE WHITE ANGEL." - - NEW YORK: - LEAVITT & ALLEN, 21 & 23 MERCER ST. - 1863. - - - - - ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by - S. L. BARROW, - In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States - for the - Southern District of New York. - - JOHN F. TROW, - PRINTER, STEREOTYPER, AND ELECTROTYPER, - 50 Greene Street, New York. - - - - -CONTENTS OF VOL. II. - - - PAGE - - COLONEL FREDDY; OR, THE MARCH AND ENCAMPMENT - OF THE DASHAHED ZOUAVES, - - CHAP. I.--BELLIGERENT POWERS, 5 - - II.--BULL RUN, 30 - - III.--BEFORE MONTEREY, 50 - - IV.--A GRAND REVIEW, 87 - - V.--"HOME! SWEET HOME!" 111 - - CONCLUSION, 125 - - - - -COLONEL FREDDY; - -OR, - -THE MARCH AND ENCAMPMENT OF THE DASHAHED ZOUAVES. - -PART II. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -BELLIGERENT POWERS. - - -TUESDAY morning dawned "as clear as a bell," as an old lady once said, -and the Dashahed Zouaves, if not exactly up with the sun, were awake and -stirring at a much earlier hour than usual; and after a rather more -careful washing and brushing than soldiers usually indulge in, -assembled on the lawn, looking as bright as their own buttons. - -"What fun it is to be soldiers!" cried a little lisping fellow, one of -the privates. "I only wish thome Southerners would come along now, and -you'd thee how I'd _thmash_ 'em." - -"Bravo, Louie!" said Harry, laughing; "I dare say, if we were to go to -the wars, you'd keep on fighting the battles of your country till you -were chopped into inch bits!" - -"And pickled! I expect to be made Lieutenant-general, -Commander-in-chief, Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant -Hamilton at the very least!" - -"Pooh! that's nothing to the feats of bravery I intend to perform!" -cried Peter. "In my first battle I shall capture a 2,000-pound -columbiad with one hand tied behind me, and carry it home for a paper -weight!" - -"While I'm charging a regiment of mounted infantry single handed, and -making them throw away their swords, and pistols, and things, and run -for that 'last ditch' of theirs double quick!" said Will Costar, -laughing; "but here comes breakfast, I'm happy to say. It strikes me -camping out makes a fellow awful hungry, as well as no end of brave." - -A servant who had been sent from the house with breakfast materials, now -approached, and the table being laid, the soldiers drew their camp -stools around it; Colonel Freddy sitting at the head and pouring out -coffee with great gravity. Everything was going on smoothly enough, when -Harry tilted the tray on one side, and Charley knocked his elbow on the -other, and away went the coffee to the very end of the table! - -"Charley," exclaimed the Colonel, severely, "what do you mean, sir? I'll -have you put in arrest if you don't look out!" - -"Who'll put me there?" - -"Me!" shouted Peter. "I'm the boy to manage refractories. You'll see how -I will come after you with a sharp stick--bayonet, I mean--and put you -in arrest like that!" snapping his fingers. - -"By the way, when we've caught our rebels, where is the prison to be?" -asked Jimmy. - -"Why, in the smoke house. There's a patent spring bolt on the -door--father had it fixed the last time we had hams made; and if anybody -was once in there, they'd never get out in the world, unless they could -draw themselves fine like a wire and squeeze through the chimney." - -"We'll take care to keep out of it, then!" said Charley; "so, Colonel, I -beg pardon for tilting the biggin--I didn't mean to do it so -much--really!" - -"I, too!" cried Harry; "shake hands, old chap!" - -Good-tempered Freddy, always ready to "make up," caught a hand of each -of his comrades, and breakfast went on amicably. - -Now, there lived in the house an old English man servant named Jerry -Pike. He had formerly been a groom and attendant on Peter's uncle, Major -Schermerhorn, and volunteered in the army at the time of the war with -Mexico, that he might follow his dear master, whom he had served and -loved ever since the Major was a mere boy. He had fought bravely beside -him in many a hard battle, and, for his gallant conduct, been promoted -to the rank of sergeant. When the hand of death removed that kind -master, Mr. Schermerhorn had gladly taken Jerry to his own house, and -promised him that should be his home as long as he lived. So now, like -a gallant old war horse, who has a fresh green paddock, and lives in -clover in his infirm age, Jerry not only stood at ease, but lived at -ease; and worked or not as he felt disposed. - -When breakfast was over, Peter suddenly cried out, "I say, fellows, -suppose we employ ourselves by having a drill! You know old Jerry that I -told you about? I'll ask him to give us a lesson!" - -"Yes! that will be grand fun!" said Freddy. "Do go and find him, Peter; -I should really like to learn how to drill as the soldiers do; so when -General McClellan comes along, he'll admire us as much as the English -General, old Sir Goutby Slogo, did the Seventh Regiment when they -paraded before the Prince. 'Really, most extraordinary style of marching -these American troops have,' said he, 'most hequal to the 'Orse Guards -and the Hoxford Blues coming down Regent street!'" - -Meanwhile, Peter had scampered off to the house, and in a short time -returned with a comical-looking little old man, dressed in faded -regimentals. - -He touched his cap to the boys as he approached, in military style, and -then drew himself up so very stiff and straight, awaiting their orders, -that, as Freddy whispered to Tom, it was a perfect wonder he didn't snap -short off at the waist. - -"Now, Jerry," began the Colonel, "we want you to give us a _real_ -drill, you know, just as you used to learn." - -"Yes, a regular one!" chimed in the rest; "we'll run for our guns." - -"Not fur your fust drill, I reckon, genl'men. You'll do bad enough -without 'em, hech, hech!" cackled Jerry. - -"Very well--come begin then, Jerry!" cried impatient Will. - -"Are ye all ready?" - -"Yes, and waiting." - -"Then, genl'men, FALL IN!" exclaimed the sergeant, the first two words -being uttered in his natural voice, but the last in an awful sepulchral -tone, like two raps on the base kettle drum. Off duty, Jerry rather -resembled a toy soldier, but when in giving his orders he stiffened his -body, threw up his head, and stuck out his hands, he looked so like the -wooden figures out of Noah's ark, that the boys burst into a shout of -laughter. - -"Now, genl'men," exclaimed Jerry in a severe tone, "this won't do. -Silence in the ranks. Squad! 'Shun. The fust manoover I shel teach you, -genl'men, is the manoover of 'parade rest.' Now look at me, and do as I -do." - -Anybody would have supposed, naturally enough, that to stand at rest -meant to put your hands in your pockets and lean against a tree; but -what Jerry did, was to slap his right hand against his left, like a -torpedo going off, and fold them together; stick out his left foot, lean -heavily upon his right, and look more like a Dutch doll than ever. - -The boys accordingly endeavored to imitate this performance; but when -they came to try it, a difficulty arose. Whatever might be their usual -ideas on the subject, there was a diversity of opinion now as to the -proper foot to be advanced, and a wild uncertainty which was the left -foot. The new soldiers shuffled backward and forward as if they were -dancing hornpipes; while Jerry shouted, "Now, then, genl'men, I can't -hear them hands come together smartly as I'd wished, not like a row of -Jarsey cider bottles a poppin' one arter the other, but all at once. -Now, then, SQUAD! 'SHUN!" in a voice of thunder, "Stan' at parade rest! -No--no--them _lef futs_ adwanced! Well if ever!" And Jerry in his -indignation gave himself such a thump on his chest that he knocked all -the breath out of his body, and had to wait some moments before he could -go on; while the boys, bubbling over with fun, took his scoldings in -high good humor, and shrieked with laughter at their own ridiculous -blunders, to the high wrath of their ancient instructor; who was so -deeply interested and in earnest about his pursuit, that he didn't fail -to lecture them well for their "insubornation;" which, indeed, nobody -minded, except Tom Pringle, who, by the by, was from Maryland, and many -of whose relations were down South. He had been looking rather sulky -from the beginning of the drill, and now suddenly stepped from his place -in the ranks, exclaiming, "I won't play! now I vow I won't!" - -"Why, Tom, what is the matter? Are you mad at us?" cried half a dozen -voices at once. - -"Humm--" grumbled sulky Tom. - -"What say? I can't hear you," said Freddy. "Nonsense, Tom, don't be -poky, come back and drill." - -"I won't! Let us alone, will you?" - -"All we want is, let us alone!" chanted Peter. "There, Fred, let him be -cross if he wants to, we can play without him;" and the boys ran back to -their places in the ranks, Freddy calling out, "Come fellows, let's try -that old parade rest once more;" and on Jerry's giving the command, they -really _did_ do it this time, and were pronounced capable of passing to -grander evolutions. - -The first of these was the turn about so as to fall in ranks; something -the Dashahed Zouaves hadn't dreamt of before. Get into ranks? Nothing -could be easier than to stand four in a row, as they had done before; -but when it came to "right face," most of the soldiers were found to -have opposite views on the subject, and faced each other, to their -mutual astonishment. The natural consequence was, that in three seconds -the regiment was in such a snarl and huddle, that no one could tell -which rank he belonged to or anything else; so Jerry, perfectly purple -in the face with shouting, by way of helping them out of the scrape, -gave them the following remarkable advice: "Squad, 'shun! At th' wud -'Foz' the rer-rank will stepsmartly off wi' th' leffut, tekkinapesstoth' -rare--Fo-o-o-res!" - -"W-h-a-t!" was the unanimous exclamation. - -Jerry repeated his mandate, which, after infinite puzzling (the honest -sergeant being no assistance whatever), was discovered to mean, "At the -word 'Fours,' the rear rank will step smartly off with the left foot, -taking a pace to the rear. Fours!" - -This difficulty solved, the next "article on the programme," as Peter -said, was the command March! or "harch!" according to Jerry. - -Out stepped Freddy, confident that he knew this much at any rate, -followed by the others; but here again that celebrated left foot got -them into trouble. The right foot _would_ pop out here and there, and as -sure as it did, at the third step the unlucky Zouave found his leg -firmly stuck between the ankles of the boy in front; and the "man" -behind him treading on his heels in a way calculated to aggravate a -saint; while meantime, the fellows in the rear rank, who were forever -falling behind while they were staring at their feet to make sure which -was the left one, _would_ endeavor to make up for it by taking a wide -straddling step all of a sudden, and encircled the legs of people in -front; a proceeding which, not being in accordance with "Hardee's -Tactics," was not received with approbation by Jerry; who, looking at -them with a sort of deprecating pity, hoarsely said, "Now, Company D! -wot--wrong agin? fowod squad! wun, too, three, foore; hup! hup! hup! -hold your head up, Mr. Fred; turn out your toes, Master William, and -keep STEADY!" - -"Goody!" exclaimed Freddy at last, stopping short in the middle of his -marching, "I can't stand this any longer! There, Jerry, we've had drill -enough, thank you; I am knocked into a cocked hat, for my part!" - -"Very well, sir; it _is_ powerful hot; an' I must say you young genl'men -have kep' at it steadier nor I expected, a gred deal." - -"Thank you, Jerry," said George, laughing, "we shall not forget our -first drill in a hurry. I can't tell, for my part, which has been most -bothered, you or we." - -"Allers glad to give you a little practice," grinned Jerry, "though -you'd rive the gizzard out of an army drill sergeant, I'd wenture to -say, if he hed the teachin' of you. Hech! hech! hech! Mornin', genl'men, -your sarvent," and Jerry touched his cap to Colonel Freddy and marched -off chuckling. - -As soon as he had made his exit, the boys clustered around Tom, as he -sat turning his back on as many of the company as possible, and all -began in a breath, "Now, Tom, do tell us what you're mad at; what have -we done? please speak!" - -"Well, then," shouted Tom, springing up, "I'll tell you what, Frederic -Jourdain! I won't be ordered around by any old monkey like -that,"--pointing toward Jerry--"and as for _you_ and _your_ ordering -about, I won't stand that either! fine as you think yourself; the -Colonel, indeed!" - -"Why, Tom, how can you talk so? can't you play like the rest of us? I'm -sure I haven't taken advantage of being Colonel to be domineering; have -I, boys?" - -"No, no! not a bit, Fred--never mind what he says!" - -"Oh _do_--_don't_ appeal to them! You do that because you daren't say -outright you mean to have everything your own way. That may be very well -for them--you're all a parcel of Yankee shopkeepers together--but, I can -tell you, no Southern _gentleman_ will stand it!" - -"North or South, Tom," began Will Costar, pretty sharply, "every -regiment must have a head--and obey the head. We've chosen Fred our -Colonel, and you must mind him. When he tells you to drill you've _got -to do it_!" - -Tom wheeled round perfectly furious. "You say that again," he shouted, -"and I'll leave the regiment! I will. I won't be told by any Northerner -that I'm his subordinate, and if my State hadn't thought so too, she'd -never have left the Union." - -"What! you dare to say anything against the Union!" cried George, -turning white with rage; "do you mean to say that you _admire_ the South -for seceding?" - -"Yes! I've a great mind to secede myself, what's more!" - -Freddy, as I said, was as sweet-tempered a little fellow as ever lived; -but he was fairly aroused now. His blue eyes flashed fire; he crimsoned -to the temples; his fists were clenched--and shouting, "you traitor!" -like a flash, he sent Tom flying over on his back, with the camp stool -about his ears. - -Up jumped Tom, kicked away the stool, and rushed toward Fred. But the -others were too quick for him; they seized his arms and dragged him -back; Peter calling out "No, don't fight him, Colonel; he's not worth -it; let's have a court martial--that's the way to serve traitors!" - -Amid a perfect uproar of rage and contempt for this shameful attack on -their Colonel, the Zouaves hastily arranged some camp stools for judge -and jury; and George being chosen judge, the oldest members of the -regiment took their places around him, and Tom was hauled up before the -Court. - -"Oh stop, pray stop!" cried Freddy at this stage of affairs. "Indeed, I -forgive him for what he said to me, if he will take back his language -about the Union. I can't stand _that_." - -"You hear what the Colonel says," said George, sternly; "will you -retract?" - -"No, never! if you think I'm going to be frightened into submission to a -Northerner you're very much mistaken! No Southerner will ever be that! -and as for your precious Union, I don't care if I say I hope there never -will be a Union any more." - -"Then, by George!" shouted the judge, fairly springing from his seat, -"You're a traitor, sir! Fellows, whoever is in favor of having this -secessionist put under arrest, say Aye!" - -"Aye! AYE! AYE!" in a perfect roar. - -"Does any one object?" Nobody spoke. - -"Then I sentence him to be confined in the guard house till he begs -pardon; Livingston, Costar, and Boorman to take him there." - -His captors pounced upon their prisoner with very little ceremony when -this sentence was pronounced; when Tom, without attempting to escape, -suddenly commenced striking out at every one he could reach. A grand -hurley-burley ensued; but before long Tom was overpowered and dragged to -the smoke, _alias_ guard house; heaping insults and taunts on the Union -and the regiment all the way. Harry flung open the door of the prison, -a picturesque little hut built of rough gray stone, and covered with -Virginia creepers and wild honeysuckles. The others pushed Tom in, and -Peter, dashing forward, slammed the door on him with a bang. Snap! went -the bolt, and now nothing earthly could open it again but a Bramah key -or a gunpowder explosion. Young Secession was fast, and the North -triumphant. Hurrah! - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -BULL RUN. - - -THEIR first excitement over, the gallant Zouaves couldn't help looking -at each other in rather a comical way. To be sure, it was very -aggravating to have their country run down, and themselves assailed -without leave or license; but they were by no means certain, now they -came to think of it, that they had acted rightly in doing justice to the -little rebel in such a summary manner. Peter especially, who had -proposed the court martial, had an instinctive feeling that if his -father were to learn the action they had taken, he would scarcely -consider it to tally with the exercise of strict politeness to company. -In short, without a word said, there was a tacit understanding in the -corps that this was an affair to be kept profoundly secret. - -While they were still silently revolving this delicate question, little -Louie Hamilton suddenly started violently, exclaiming, "Only listen a -moment, felloth! what a strange noithe! It sounds like thome wild -beast!" - -"Noise? I don't hear any," said Freddy; "yes I do, though--like -something trampling the bushes!" - -"There's nothing worse than four cows and a house dog about our place," -said Peter; "but what that is I don't know--hush!" - -The boys listened with all their ears and elbows, and nearly stared -themselves blind looking around to see what was the matter. They had not -long to wait, however, for the trampling increased in the wood, a -curious, low growling was heard, which presently swelled to a roar, and -in a moment more, an immense brindled bull was seen dashing through the -locusts, his head down and heels in the air, looking not unlike a great -wheel-barrow, bellowing at a prodigious rate, and making straight toward -the place where they stood! - -"Murder, what _shall_ we do?" cried Louie, turning deadly pale with -terror, while the Zouaves, for an instant, appeared perfectly paralyzed. - -"Why run! run for your lives!" shouted George, who was the first to -recover himself. "Peter, you lead the way; take us the shortest cut to -the house, and--oh!" - -Not another word did George utter. He was saving his breath for the -race. And now, indeed, began a most prodigious "skedaddle;" the boys -almost flying on ahead, running nearly abreast, and their terrible enemy -close behind, tearing up the ground with his horns, and galloping like -an express! - -On sped the gallant Zouaves, making off as rapidly from the scene of -action as their namesakes from Manassas, without pausing to remark -which way the wind blew, until, at last, they had skirted the grove, and -were on the straight road for the house. Here Peter stopped a moment, -"Because some of the men will be near here, perhaps," he pantingly said, -"and Master Bull will be caught if he ventures after us." Scarcely had -he spoken, when the furious animal was once more seen, dashing on faster -than ever, and flaming with rage, till he might have exploded a powder -mill! Now for a last effort! One determined burst over the smooth road, -and they are safe in the house! - -Little Louie, who was only nine years old, and the youngest of the -party, had grasped hold of Freddy's hand when they first started; and -been half pulled along by him so far; but now that safety was close at -hand, he suddenly sank to the ground, moaning out, "Oh Fred, you must go -on and leave me; I can't run any more. Oh mamma!" - -"No, no, Louie! don't do so!" cried Freddy. "Get up, little man! why, -you can't think I would leave you, surely?" and, stooping down, the -brave little fellow caught Louie up in his arms, and, thus burdened, -tried to run on toward the house. - -The rest of the boys were now far beyond them; and had just placed their -feet upon the doorstone, when a loud shout of "help!" made them turn -round; and there was Freddy, with Louie in his arms, staggering up the -road, the horns of the bull within a yard of his side! - -Like a flash of lightning, Will snatched up a large rake which one of -the men had left lying on the grass, and dashed down the road. There is -one minute to spare, just one! but in that minute Will has reached the -spot, and launching his weapon, the iron points descend heavily on the -animal's head. - -The bull, rather aghast at this reception, which did not appear to be at -all to his taste, seemed to hesitate a moment whether to charge his -adversary or not; then, with a low growl of baffled fury, he slowly -turned away, and trotted off toward the wood. - -The help had not come a minute too soon; for Freddy, his sensitive -organization completely overwrought by the events of the morning and his -narrow escape from death, had fallen fainting to the ground; his hands -still clenched in the folds of little Louie's jacket. Will instantly -raised him, when he saw that all danger was over, and he and some of the -others, who had come crowding down the road, very gently and quickly -carried the insensible boy to the house, and laid him on the lounge in -the library; while Peter ran for the housekeeper to aid in bringing him -to life. - -Good Mrs. Lockitt hurried up stairs as fast as she could with camphor, -ice water, and everything else she could think of good for fainting. - -"Mrs. Lockitt, where is papa?" asked Peter, as he ran on beside her. - -"Gone to New York, Master Peter," she replied; "I don't think he will be -home before dinner time." - -Our little scapegrace breathed more freely; at least there were a few -hours' safety from detection, and he reentered the library feeling -considerably relieved. - -There lay Colonel Freddy, his face white as death; one little hand -hanging lax and pulseless over the side of the lounge, and the ruffled -shirt thrust aside from the broad, snowy chest. Harry stood over him, -fanning his forehead; while poor Louie was crouched in a corner, -sobbing as though his heart would break, and the others stood looking on -as if they did not know what to do with themselves. - -Mrs. Lockitt hastened to apply her remedies; and soon a faint color came -back to the cheek, and with a long sigh, the great blue eyes opened once -more, and the little patient murmured, "Where am I?" - -"Oh, then he's not killed, after all!" cried Louie, running to his side. -"Dear, dear Freddy! how glad I am you have come to life again!" - -This funny little speech made even Freddy laugh, and then Mrs. Lockitt -said, "But, Master Peter, you have not told me yet how it happened that -Master Frederic got in such a way." - -The eyes of the whole party became round and saucer-y at once; as, all -talking together, they began the history of their fearful adventure. -Mrs. Lockitt's wiry false curls would certainly have dropped off with -astonishment if they hadn't been sewed fast to her cap, and she fairly -wiped her eyes on her spectacle case, which she had taken out of her -pocket instead of her handkerchief, as they described Freddy's noble -effort to save his helpless companion without thinking of himself. When -the narrative was brought to a close, she could only exclaim, "Well, -Master Freddy, you are a little angel, sure enough! and Master William -is as brave as a lion. To think of his stopping that great creetur, to -be sure! Wherever in the world it came from is the mystery." So saying, -Mrs. Lockitt bustled out of the room, and after she had gone, there was -a very serious and grateful talk among the elder boys about the escape -they had had, and a sincere thankfulness to God for having preserved -their lives. - -The puzzle now was, how they were to return to the camp, where poor Tom -had been in captivity all this time. It was certainly necessary to get -back--but then the bull! While they were yet deliberating on the horns -of this dilemma, the library door suddenly opened, and in walked--Mr. -Schermerhorn! - -"Why, boys!" he exclaimed, "how do you come to be here? Fred, what's the -matter? you look as pale as a ghost!" - -There was general silence for a moment; but these boys had been taught -by pious parents to speak the truth always, whatever came of it. Ah! -that is the right principle to go on, dear children; TELL THE TRUTH when -you have done anything wrong, even if you are sure of being punished -when that truth is known. - -So George, as the eldest, with one brave look at his comrades, frankly -related everything that had happened; beginning at the quarrel with -Tom, down to the escape from the bull. To describe the varied expression -of his auditor's face between delight and vexation, would require a -painter; and when George at last said, "Do you think we deserve to be -punished, sir? or have we paid well enough already for our court -martial?" Mr. Schermerhorn exclaimed, trying to appear highly incensed, -yet scarcely able to help smiling: - -"I declare I hardly know! I certainly am terribly angry with you. How -dare you treat a young gentleman so on my place? answer me that, you -scapegraces! It is pretty plain who is at the bottom of all this--Peter -dares not look at me, I perceive. At the same time, I am rather glad -that Master Tom has been taught what to expect if he runs down the -Union--it will probably save him from turning traitor any more, though -you were not the proper persons to pass sentence on him. As for our -plucky little Colonel here--shake hands, Freddy! you have acted like a -hero! and for your sake I excuse the court martial. Now, let us see what -has become of the bull, and then go to the release of our friend Tom. He -must be thoroughly repentant for his misdeeds by this time." - -Mr. Schermerhorn accordingly gave orders that the bull should be hunted -up and secured, until his master should be discovered; so that the -Zouaves might be safe from his attacks hereafter. If any of our readers -feel an interest in the fate of this charming animal, they are informed -that he was, with great difficulty, hunted into the stables; and before -evening taken away by his master, the farmer from whom he had strayed. - -Leaving the others to await his capture, let us return to Tom. He had -not been ten minutes in the smoke house before his wrath began to cool, -and he would have given sixpence for any way of getting out but by -begging pardon. That was a little too much just yet, and Tom stamped -with rage and shook the door; which resisted his utmost efforts to -burst. Then came the sounds without, the rushing, trampling steps, the -furious bellow, and the shout, "Run! run for your lives!" Run! why on -earth must they? What had happened? and especially what would become of -him left alone there, with this unseen enemy perhaps coming at him next. -He hunted in vain in every direction for some cranny to peep through; -and if it had been possible, would have squeezed his head up the -chimney. He shouted for help, but nobody heard him; they were all too -frightened for that. He could hear them crunching along the road, -presently; another cry, and then all was still. - -"What shall I do?" thought poor Tom. "Oh, where have they gone to? -Please let me out, Freddy! do forgive me, boys! I'll f-fight for the -Union as m-much as you like! oh! oh!" and at last--must it be -confessed?--the gallant Secesh finished by bursting out crying! - -Time passed on--of course seeming doubly long to the prisoner--and still -the boys did not return. Tom cried till he could cry no more; sniffling -desperately, and rubbing his nose violently up in the air--a proceeding -which did not ameliorate its natural bent in that direction. He really -felt thoroughly sorry, and quite ready to beg pardon as soon as the boys -should return; particularly as they had forgotten to provide the captive -with even the traditional bread and water, and dinner-time was close at -hand. While he was yet struggling between repentance and stomachache, -the welcome sound of their voices was heard. They came nearer, and then -a key was hastily applied to the fastenings of the door, and it flew -open, disclosing the Zouaves, with Freddy at the head, and Mr. -Schermerhorn bringing up the rear. - -Tom hung back a moment yet; then with a sudden impulse he walked toward -Freddy, saying, "I beg your pardon, Colonel; please forgive me for -insulting you; and as for the flag"--and without another word, Tom ran -toward the flag staff, and catching the long folds of the banner in both -hands, pressed them to his lips. - -"The chivalry forever!" said Mr. Schermerhorn, smiling. "That's right, -Tom! bless the old banner! it is your safeguard, and your countrymen's -too, if they would only believe it. Go and shake hands with him, boys; -he is in his right place now, and if ever you are tempted to quarrel -again, I am sure North and South will both remember - - "BULL RUN!" - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -BEFORE MONTEREY. - - -IT is not necessary to describe the particular proceedings of the -Dashahed Zouaves during every day of their camp life. They chattered, -played, drilled, quarrelled a little once in a while, and made it up -again, eat and slept considerably, and grew sunburnt to an astonishing -degree. - -It was Thursday morning, the fourth of their delightful days in camp. -Jerry had been teaching them how to handle a musket and charge -bayonets, until they were quite excited, and rather put out that there -was no enemy to practise on but the grasshoppers. At length, when they -had tried everything that was to be done, Harry exclaimed, "I wish, -Jerry, you would tell us a story about the wars! Something real -splendid, now; perfectly crammed with Indians and scalps and awful -battles and elegant Mexican palaces full of diamonds and gold saucepans -and lovely Spanish girls carried off by the hair of their heads!" - -This flourishing rigmarole, which Harry delivered regardless of stops, -made the boys shout with laughter. - -"You'd better tell the story yourself, since you know so much about -it!" said Tom. - -"I allow you've never been in Mexico, sir," said Jerry, grinning. "I -doubt but thar's palisses somewhar in Mexico, but I and my mates hev -been thar, an' _we_ never seed none o' 'em. No, Master Harry, I can't -tell ye sich stories as that, but I do mind a thing what happened on the -field afore Monterey." - -The boys, delightedly exclaiming, "A story! a story! hurrah!" drew their -camp stools around him; and Jerry, after slowly rubbing his hand round -and round over his bristling chin, while he considered what to say -first, began his story as follows: - - -JERRY'S STORY. - - "It wor a Sunday night, young genl'men, the 21st - of September, and powerful hot. We had been - fightin' like mad, wi' not a moment's rest, all - day, an' now at last wor under the canwas, they of - us as wor left alive, a tryin' to sleep. The - skeeters buzzed aroun' wonderful thick, and the - groun' aneath our feet wor like red-hot tin - plates, wi' the sun burnin' an blisterin' down. At - last my mate Bill says, says he, 'Jerry, my mate, - hang me ef I can stan' this any longer. Let you - an' me get up an' see ef it be cooler - out-o'-doors.' - - "I wor tired enough wi' the day's fight, an' - worrited, too, wi' a wound in my shoulder; but - the tent wor no better nor the open field, an' we - got up an' went out. Thar wor no moon, but the sky - was wonderful full o' stars, so we could see how - we wor stannin' wi' our feet among the bodies o' - the poor fellows as had fired their last shot that - day. It wor a sight, young genl'men, what would - make sich as you sick an' faint to look on; but - sogers must larn not to min' it; an' we stood - thar, not thinkin' how awful it wor, and yet still - an' quiet, too. - - "'Ah, Jerry,' says Bill--he wor a young lad, an' - brought up by a pious mother, I allow--'I dunnot - like this fightin' on the Sabba' day. The Lord - will not bless our arms, I'm afeard, if we go agin - His will so.' - - "I laughed--more shame to me--an' said, 'I'm a - sight older nor you, mate, an' I've seed a sight - o' wictories got on a Sunday. The better the day, - the better the deed, I reckon.' - - "'Well, I don't know,' he says; 'mebbe things is - allers mixed in time o' war, an' right an' wrong - change sides a' purpose to suit them as wants - battle an' tumult to be ragin'; but it don't go - wi' my grain, noways.' - - "I hadn't experienced a change o' heart then, as I - did arterward, bless the Lord! an' I hardly - unnerstood what he said. While we wor a stannin' - there, all to onct too dark figgers kim a creepin' - over the field to'ard the Major's tent. 'Look - thar, Jerry,' whispered Bill, kind o' startin' - like, 'thar's some of them rascally Mexicans.' I - looked at 'em wi'out sayin' a wured, an' then I - went back to the tent fur my six-shooter--Bill - arter me;--fur ef it ain't the dooty o' every - Christian to extarminate them warmints o' - Mexicans, I'll be drummed out of the army - to-morrer. - - "Wall, young genl'men--we tuck our pistols, and - slow and quiet we moved to whar we seed the two - Greasers, as they call 'em. On they kim, creepin' - to'ard my Major's tent, an' at las' one o' 'em - raised the canwas a bit. Bill levelled his - rewolver in a wink, an' fired. You shud ha' seed - how they tuck to their heels! yelling all the way, - till wun o' em' dropped. The other didn't stop, - but just pulled ahead. I fired arter him wi'out - touching him; but the noise woke the Major, an' - when he hearn wot the matter wor, he ordered the - alarm to be sounded an' the men turned out. 'It's - a 'buscade to catch us,' he says, 'an' I'm fur - being fust on the field.' - - "Bill an' I buckled on our cartridge boxes, caught - up our muskets, an' were soon in the ranks. On we - marched, stiddy an' swift, to the enemy's - fortifications; an' wen we were six hundred yards - distant, kim the command, 'Double quick.' The sky - hed clouded up all of a suddent, an' we couldn't - see well where we wor, but thar was suthin' afore - us like a low, black wall. As we kim nearer, it - moved kind o' cautious like, an' when we wor - within musket range, wi' a roar like ten thousand - divils, they charged forred! Thar wor the flash - and crack o' powder, and the ring! ping! o' the - bullets, as we power'd our shot on them an' they - on us; but not another soun'; cr-r-r-ack went the - muskets on every side agin, an' the rascals wor - driven back a minnit. 'Charge bayonets!' shouted - the Major, wen he seed that. Thar wos a pause; a - rush forred; we wor met by the innimy half way; - an' then I hearn the awfullest o' created - soun's--a man's scream. I looked roun', an' there - wos Bill, lying on his face, struck through an' - through. Thar wos no time to see to him then, fur - the men wor fur ahead o' me, an' I hed to run an' - jine the rest. - - "We hed a sharp, quick skirmish o' it--for ef thar - is a cowardly critter on the created airth it's a - Greaser--an' in less nor half an' hour wor beatin' - back to quarters. When all wor quiet agin, I left - my tent, an' away to look fur Bill. I sarched an' - sarched till my heart were almost broke, an at - last I cried out, 'Oh Bill, my mate, whar be you?' - an' I hearn a fibble v'ice say, 'Here I be, - Jerry!' - - "I swon! I wor gladder nor anything wen I hearn - that. I hugged him to my heart, I wor moved so - powerful, an' then I tuck him on my back, an' off - to camp; werry slow an' patient, fur he were sore - wownded, an' the life in him wery low. - - "Wall, young genl'men, I'll not weary you wi' the - long hours as dragged by afore mornin'. I med him - as snug as I could, and at daybreak we hed him - took to the sugeon's tent. - - "I wor on guard all that mornin' an' could not get - to my lad; but at last the relief kim roun', an' - the man as was to take my place says, says he, - 'Jerry, my mate, ef I was you I'd go right to the - hosp'tl an' stay by poor Bill' (fur they all knew - as I sot gret store by him); 'He is werry wild in - his head, I hearn, an' the sugeon says as how he - can't last long.' - - "Ye may b'lieve how my hairt jumped wen I hearn - that. I laid down my gun, an' ran fur the wooden - shed, which were all the place they hed fur them - as was wownded. An' thar wor Bill--my mate - Bill--laying on a blanket spred on the floore, wi' - his clothes all on (fur it's a hard bed, an' his - own bloody uniform, that a sojer must die in), wi' - the corpse o' another poor fellow as had died all - alone in the night a'most touching him, an' - slopped wi' blood. I moved it fur away all in a - trimble o' sorrer, an' kivered it decent like, so - as Bill mightn't see it an' get downhearted fur - hisself. Then I went an' sot down aside my mate. - He didn't know me, no more nor if I wor a - stranger; but kept throwin' his arms about, an' - moanin' out continual, 'Oh mother! mother! Why - don't you come to your boy?' - - "I bust right out crying, I do own, wen I hearn - that, an' takin' his han' in mine, I tried to - quiet him down a bit; telling him it wor bad fur - his wownd to be so res'less (fur every time he - tossed, thar kim a little leap o' blood from his - breast); an' at last, about foore o'clock in the - day, he opened his eyes quite sensible like, an' - says to me, he says, 'Dear matey, is that you? - Thank you fur coming to see me afore I die.' - - "'No, Bill, don't talk so,' I says, a strivin' to - be cheerful like, tho' I seed death in his face, - 'You'll be well afore long.' - - "'Aye, well in heaven,' he says; and then, arter a - minnit, 'Jerry,' he says, 'thar's a little bounty - money as belongs to me in my knapsack, an' my - month's wages. I want you, wen I am gone, to take - it to my mother, an' tell her--'(he wor gaspin' - fearful)--'as I died--fightin' fur my country--an' - the flag. God bless you, Jerry--you hev been a - good frien' to me, an' I knows as you'll do - this--an' bid the boys good-by--fur me.' - - "I promised, wi' the tears streamin' down my - cheeks; an' then we wor quiet a bit, fur it hurt - Bill's breast to talk, an' I could not say a wured - fur the choke in my throat. Arter a while he says, - 'Jerry, won't you sing me the hymn as I taught you - aboard the transport? about the Lord our Captin?' - - "I could hardly find v'ice to begin, but it wor - Bill's dying wish, an' I made shift to sing as - well as I could-- - - "'We air marchin' on together - To our etarnal rest; - Niver askin' why we're ordered-- - For the Lord He knoweth best. - Christ is our Captain! - 'Forred!' is His word; - Ranks all steady, muskets ready, - In the army o' the Lord! - - "'Satan's hosts are all aroun' us, - An' strive to enter in; - But our outworks they are stronger - Nor the dark brigades o' sin! - Christ is our Fortress! - Righteousness our sword; - Truth the standard--in the vanguard-- - O' the army o' the Lord! - - "'Comrads, we air ever fightin' - A battle fur the right; - Ever on the on'ard movement - Fur our home o' peace an' light. - Christ is our Leader! - Heaven our reward, - Comin' nearer, shinin' clearer-- - In the army o' the Lord!' - - "Arter I hed sung the hymn--an' it wor all I could - do to get through--Bill seemed to be a sight - easier. He lay still, smilin' like a child on the - mother's breast. Pretty soon arter, the Major kim - in; an' wen he seed Bill lookin' so peaceful, he - says, says he, 'Why, cheer up, my lad! the sugeon - sayd as how you wor in a bad way; but you look - finely now;'--fur he didn't know it wor the death - look coming over him. 'You'll be about soon,' - says the Major, 'an' fightin' fur the flag as - brave as ever,' - - "Bill didn't say nothing--he seemed to be getting - wild agin;--an' looked stupid like at our Major - till he hearn the wureds about the flag. Then he - caught his breath suddint like, an', afore we - could stop him, he had sprang to his feet--shakin' - to an' fro like a reed--but as straight as he ever - wor on parade; an', his v'ice all hoarse an' full - o' death, an' his arm in the air, he shouted, - 'Aye! God--bless--the--flag! we'll fight fur it - till--' an' then we hearn a sort o' snap, an' he - fell forred--dead! - - "We buried him that night, I an' my mates. I cut - off a lock o' his hair fur his poor mother, afore - we put the airth over him; an' giv it to her, wi' - poor Bill's money, faithful an' true, wen we kim - home. I've lived to be an old man since then, an' - see the Major go afore me, as I hoped to sarve - till my dyin' day; but Lord willing I shel go - next, to win the Salwation as I've fitten for, by - Bill's side, a sojer in Christ's army, in the - Etarnal Jerusalem!" - -The boys took a long breath when Jerry had finished his story, and more -than one bright eye was filled with tears. The rough words, and plain, -unpolished manner of the old soldier, only heightened the impression -made by his story; and as he rose to go away, evidently much moved by -the painful recollections it excited, there was a hearty, "Thank you, -sergeant, for your story--it was real good!" Jerry only touched his cap -to the young soldiers, and marched off hastily, while the boys looked -after him in respectful silence. But young spirits soon recover from -gloomy influences, and in a few moments they were all chattering merrily -again. - -"What a pity we must go home Monday!" cried Louie; "I wish we could camp -out forever! Oh, Freddy, do write a letter to General McClellan, and ask -him to let us join the army right away! Tell him we'll buy some new -india-rubber back-bones and stretch ourselves out big directly, if he'll -only send right on for us!" - -"Perhaps he would, if he knew how jolly we can drill already!" said -Peter, laughing. "I tell you what, boys, the very thing! let's have a -review before we go home. I'll ask all the boys and girls I know to come -and look on, and we might have quite a grand entertainment. Won't that -be splendid? We can march about all over, and fire off the cannons and -everything! I'm sure father will let us." - -"Yes, but how's General McClellan to hear anything about it?" inquired -practical Louie. - -"Why--I don't know," said Peter, rather taken aback by this view of the -subject. "Well, somehow--never mind, it will be grand fun, and I mean -to ask my father right away." - -"Take me with you?" called a dozen fellows directly. Finally it was -concluded that it might make more impression on Mr. Schermerhorn's mind, -if the application came from the regiment in a body; so, running for -their swords and guns, officers and men found their places in the -battalion, and the grand procession started on its way--chattering all -the time, in utter defiance of that "article of war" which forbids -"talking in the ranks." Just as they were passing the lake, they heard -carriage wheels crunching on the gravel, and drew up in a long line on -the other side of the road to let the vehicle pass them; much to the -astonishment of two pretty young ladies and a sweet little girl, about -Freddy's age, who were leaning comfortably back in the handsome -barouche. - -"Why, Peter!" exclaimed one of the ladies, "what in the world is all -this?" - -"This!" cried Peter, running up to the carriage, "why, these are the -Dashahed Zouaves, Miss Carlton. We have been in camp ever since Monday. -Good morning, Miss Jessie," to the little girl on the front seat, who -was looking on with deep interest. - -"Oh, to be sure, I remember," said Miss Carlton, laughing; "come, -introduce the Zouaves, Peter; we are wild to know them!" - -The boys clustered eagerly about the carriage and a lively chat took -place. The Zouaves, some blushing and bashful, others frank and -confident, and all desperately in love already with pretty little -Jessie, related in high glee their adventures--except the celebrated -court martial--and enlarged glowingly upon the all-important subject of -the grand review. - -Colonel Freddy, of course, played a prominent part in all this, and with -his handsome face, bright eyes, and frank, gentlemanly ways, needed only -those poor lost curls to be a perfect picture of a soldier. He chattered -away with Miss Lucy, the second sister, and obtained her special promise -that she would plead their cause with Mr. Schermerhorn in case the -united petitions of the corps should fail. The young ladies did not know -of Mrs. Schermerhorn's departure, but Freddy and Peter together coaxed -them to come up to the house "anyhow." The carriage was accordingly -taken into the procession, and followed it meekly to the house; the -Zouaves insisting on being escort, much to the terror of the young -ladies; who were in constant apprehension that the rear rank and the -horses might come to kicks--not to say blows--and the embarrassment of -the coachman; who, as they were constantly stopping unexpectedly to turn -round and talk, didn't know "where to have them," as the saying is. -However, they reached their destination in safety before long, and -found Mr. Schermerhorn seated on the piazza. He hastened forward to meet -them, with the cordial greeting of an old friend. - -"Well, old bachelor," said Miss Carlton, gayly, as the young ladies -ascended the steps, "you see we have come to visit you in state, with -the military escort befitting patriotic young ladies who have four -brothers on the Potomac. What has become of Madame, please?" - -"Gone to Niagara and left me a 'lone lorn creetur;'" said Mr. -Schermerhorn, laughing. "Basely deserted me when my farming couldn't be -left. But how am I to account for the presence of the military, -mademoiselle?" - -"Really, I beg their pardons," exclaimed Miss Carlton. "They have come -on a special deputation to you, Mr. Schermerhorn, so pray don't let us -interrupt business." - -Thus apostrophised, the boys scampered eagerly up the steps; and Freddy, -a little bashful, but looking as bright as a button, delivered the -following brief oration: "Mr. Schermerhorn: I want--that is, the boys -want--I mean we all want--to have a grand review on Saturday, and ask -our friends to look on. Will you let us do it, please?" - -"Certainly, with the greatest pleasure!" replied Mr. Schermerhorn, -smiling; "but what will become of you good people when I tell you that -I have just received a letter from Mrs. Schermerhorn, asking me to join -her this week instead of next, and bring Peter with me." - -"Oh! father, please let me stay!" interrupted Peter; "can't you tell ma -I've joined the army for the war? We all want to stay like everything!" - -"And forage for yourselves?" said his father, laughing. "No, the army -must give you up, and lose a valuable member, Master Peter; but just -have the goodness to listen a moment. The review shall take place, but -as the camp will have to break up on Saturday instead of Monday, as I -had intended, the performances must come off to-morrow. Does that suit -your ideas?" - -The boys gave a delighted consent to this arrangement, and now the only -thing which dampened their enjoyment was the prospect of such a speedy -end being put to their camp life. "Confound it! what was the fun for a -fellow to be poked into a stupid watering place, where he must bother to -keep his hair parted down the middle, and a clean collar stiff enough to -choke him on from morning till night?" as Tom indignantly remarked to -George and Will the same evening. "The fact is, this sort of thing is -_the_ thing for a _man_ after all!" an opinion in which the other _men_ -fully concurred. - -But let us return to the piazza, where we have left the party. After a -few moments more spent in chatting with Mr. Schermerhorn, it was decided -to accept Colonel Freddy's polite invitation, which he gave with such a -bright little bow, to inspect the camp. You may be sure it was in -apple-pie order, for Jerry, who had taken the Zouaves under his special -charge, insisted on their keeping it in such a state of neatness as only -a soldier ever achieved. The party made an extremely picturesque -group--the gay uniforms of the Zouaves, and light summer dresses of the -ladies, charmingly relieved against the background of trees; while Mr. -Schermerhorn's stately six feet, and somewhat portly proportions, quite -reminded one of General Scott; especially among such a small army; in -which George alone quite came up to the regulation "63 inches." - -Little Jessie ran hither and thither, surrounded by a crowd of adorers, -who would have given their brightest buttons, every "man" of them, to be -the most entertaining fellow of the corps. They showed her the battery -and the stacks of shining guns--made to stand up by Jerry in a wonderful -fashion that the boys never could hope to attain--the inside of all the -tents, and the smoke guard house (Tom couldn't help a blush as he looked -in); and finally, as a parting compliment (which, let me tell you, is -the greatest, in a boy's estimation, that can possibly be paid), Freddy -made her a present of his very largest and most gorgeous "glass agates;" -one of which was all the colors of the rainbow, and the other -patriotically adorned with the Stars and Stripes in enamel. Peter -climbed to the top of the tallest cherry tree, and brought her down a -bough at least a yard and a half long, crammed with "ox hearts;" Harry -eagerly offered to make any number of "stunning baskets" out of the -stones, and in short there never was such a belle seen before. - -"Oh, a'int she jolly!" was the ruling opinion among the Zouaves. A -private remark was also circulated to the effect that "Miss Jessie was -stunningly pretty." - -The young ladies at last said good-by to the camp; promising faithfully -to send all the visitors they could to the grand review, and drove off -highly entertained with their visit. Mr. Schermerhorn decided to take -the afternoon boat for the city and return early Friday morning, and the -boys, left to themselves, began to think of dinner, as it was two -o'clock. A brisk discussion was kept up all dinner time you may be sure, -concerning the event to come off on the morrow. - -"I should like to know, for my part, what we do in a review," said -Jimmy, balancing his fork artistically on the end of his finger, and -looking solemnly round the table. - -"Why, show off everything we know!" said Charley Spicer. "March about, -and form into ranks and columns, and all that first, then do charming -"parade rest," "'der humps!" and the rest of it; and finish off by -firing off our guns, and showing how we can't hit anything by any -possibility!" - -"But these guns won't fire off!" objected Jimmy. - -"Well, the cannon then!" - -"But I'm sure father won't let us have any powder," said Peter -disconsolately. "You can't think how I burnt the end of my nose last -Fourth with powder! It was so sore I couldn't blow it for a week!" - -The boys all burst out laughing at this dreadful disaster, and George -said, "You weren't lighting it with the end of your nose, were you?" - -"No; but I was stooping over, charging one of my cannon, and I dropped -the 'punk' right in the muzzle somehow, and, would you believe it, the -nasty thing went off and burnt my nose! and father said I shouldn't play -with powder any more, because I might have put out my eyes." - -"Well, we must take it out in marching, then," said Freddy, with a -tremendous sigh. - -"No, hold on; I'll tell you what we can do!" cried Tom, eagerly. "I have -some 'double headers' left from the Fourth; we might fire them out of -the cannon; they make noise enough, I'm sure. I'll write to my mother -this afternoon and get them." - -The boys couldn't help being struck with the generosity of this offer, -coming from Tom after their late rather unkind treatment of him; and the -older ones especially were very particular to thank him for his present. -As soon as dinner was over, he started for the house to ask Mr. -Schermerhorn to carry his message. As he hurried along the road, his -bright black eyes sparkling with the happiness of doing a good action, -he heard trotting steps behind him, felt an arm stealing round his neck, -schoolboy fashion, and there was Freddy. - -"I ran after you all the way," he pantingly said. "I want to tell you, -dear Tom, how much we are obliged to you for giving us your crackers, -and how sorry we are that we acted so rudely to you the other day. -Please forgive us; we all like you so much, and we would feel as mean as -anything to take your present without begging pardon. George, Peter, and -I feel truly ashamed of ourselves every time we think of that abominable -court martial." - -"There, old fellow, don't say a word more about it!" was the hearty -response; and Tom threw his arm affectionately about his companion. "It -was my fault, Freddy, and all because I was mad at poor old Jerry; how -silly! I was sorry for what I said right afterward." - -"Then we are friends again?" cried Freddy, joyfully. - -"Yes; I'll like you as long as I live! and ever so much longer." And so -we will leave the two on their walk to the house, and close this -abominably long chapter. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -A GRAND REVIEW. - - -THERE are really scarcely words enough in the dictionary properly to -describe the immense amount of drill got through with by the Dashahed -Zouaves between three o'clock that afternoon and twelve, noon, of the -following day. This Friday afternoon was going to be memorable in -history for one of the most splendid reviews on record. They almost ran -poor old Jerry off his legs in their eagerness to go over every possible -variety of exercise known to "Hardee's Tactics," and nearly dislocated -their shoulder blades trying to waggle their elbows backward and forward -all at once when they went at "double quick;" at the same time keeping -the other arm immovably pinioned to their sides. Then that wonderful -operation of stacking the rebellious guns, which obstinately clattered -down nine times and a half out of ten, had to be gone through with, and -a special understanding promulgated in the corps as to when Jerry's -"'der arms!" meant "shoulder arms," and when "order arms" (or bringing -all the muskets down together with a bang); and, in short, there never -was such a busy time seen in camp before. - -Friday morning dawned, if possible, still more splendidly than any of -the preceding days, with a cool, refreshing breeze, just enough snowy -clouds in the sky to keep off the fiery summer heat in a measure, and -not a headache nor a heartache among the Zouaves to mar the pleasure of -the day. The review was to come off at four o'clock, when the July sun -would be somewhat diminished in warmth, and from some hints that Jerry -let fall, Mrs. Lockitt, and the fat cook, Mrs. Mincemeat, were holding -high council up at the house, over a certain collation to be partaken of -at the end of the entertainments. - -As the day wore on the excitement of our friends the Zouaves increased. -They could hardly either eat their dinners, or sit down for more than a -moment at a time; and when, about three o'clock, Mr. Schermerhorn -entered the busy little camp, he was surrounded directly with a crowd of -eager questioners, all talking at once, and making as much noise as a -colony of rooks. - -"Patience, patience, my good friends!" laughed Mr. Schermerhorn, holding -up a finger for silence. "Every one in turn. Tom, here are your 'double -headers,' with love from your mother. Fred, I saw your father to-day, -and they are all coming down to the review. George, here is a note left -for you in my box at the Post Office, and Dashahed Zouaves in -general--I have one piece of advice to give you. Get dressed quietly, -and then sit down and rest yourselves. You will be tired out by the end -of the afternoon, at all events; so don't frisk about more than you can -help at present;" and Mr. Schermerhorn left the camp; while the boys, -under strong pressure of Jerry, and the distant notes of a band which -suddenly began to make itself heard, dressed themselves as nicely as -they could, and sat down with heroic determination to wait for four -o'clock. - -Presently, carriages began to crunch over the gravel road one after -another, filled with merry children, and not a few grown people besides. -Mr. and Mrs. Jourdain, with Bella, were among the first to arrive; and -soon after the Carltons' barouche drove up. Jessie, for some unknown -reason, was full of half nervous glee, and broke into innumerable little -trilling laughs when any one spoke to her. A sheet of lilac note paper, -folded up tight, which she held in her hand, seemed to have something to -do with it, and her soft brown curls and spreading muslin skirts were in -equal danger of irremediable "mussing," as she fidgetted about on the -carriage seat, fully as restless as any of the Zouaves. - -Mr. Schermerhorn received his guests on the piazza, where all the chairs -in the house, one would think, were placed for the company, as the best -view of the lawn was from this point. To the extreme right were the -white tents of the camp, half hidden by the immense trunk of a -magnificent elm, the only tree that broke the smooth expanse of the -lawn. On the left a thick hawthorne hedge separated the ornamental -grounds from the cultivated fields of the place, while in front the view -was bounded by the blue and sparkling waters of the Sound. - -Soon four o'clock struck; and, punctual to the moment, the Zouaves could -be seen in the distance, forming their ranks. Jerry, in his newest suit -of regimentals, bustled about here and there, and presently his voice -was heard shouting, "Are ye all ready now? SQUAD, 'SHUN! HARCH!" and to -the melodious notes of "Dixie," performed by the band, which was -stationed nearer the house, the regiment started up the lawn! Jerry -marching up beside them, and occasionally uttering such mysterious -mandates as, "Easy in the centre! keep your fours in the wheel! _Steady_ -now!" - -Oh, what a burst of delighted applause greeted them as they neared the -house! The boys hurrahed, the girls clapped their hands, ladies and -gentlemen waved their hats and handkerchiefs; while the Dashahed -Zouaves, too soldierly _now_ to grin, drew up in a long line, and stood -like statues, without so much as winking. - -And now the music died away, and everybody was as still as a mouse, -while Jerry advanced to the front, and issued the preliminary order: - -"To the rear--open order!" and the rear rank straightway fell back; -executing, in fact, that wonderful "tekkinapesstoth'rare" which had -puzzled them so much on the first day of their drilling. Then came those -other wonderful orders: - - "P'_sent_ humps! - "_Der_ humps! - "Gr'_nd_ humps!" - -And so on, at which the muskets flew backward and forward, up and down, -with such wonderful precision. The spectators were delighted beyond -measure; an enthusiastic young gentleman, with about three hairs on -each side of his mustache, who belonged to the Twenty-second Regiment, -declared "It was the best drill he had seen out of his company room!" a -celebrated artist, whose name I dare not tell for the world, sharpened -his pencil, and broke the point off three times in his hurry, and at -last produced the beautiful sketch which appears at the front of this -volume; while all the little boys who were looking on, felt as if they -would give every one of their new boots and glass agates to belong to -the gallant Dashahed Zouaves. - -[Illustration: "DOUBLE-QUICK."] - -After the guns had been put in every possible variety of position, the -regiment went through their marching. They broke into companies, -formed the line again, divided in two equal parts, called "breaking into -platoons," showed how to "wheel on the right flank," and all manner of -other mysteries. - -Finally, they returned to their companies, and on Jerry's giving the -order, they started at "double quick" (which is the most comical -tritty-trot movement you can think of), dashed down the of the -lawn, round the great elm, up hill again full speed, and in a moment -more were drawn up in unbroken lines before the house, and standing once -again like so many statues. - -It was really splendid! Round after round of applause greeted the -Zouaves, who kept their positions for a moment, then snatching off -their saucy little fez caps, they gave the company three cheers in -return, of the most tremendous description; which quite took away the -little remaining breath they had after the "double quick." - -Thus ended the first part of the review; and now, with the assistance of -their rather Lilliputian battery, and Tom's double headers, they went -through some firing quite loud enough to make the little girls start and -jump uncomfortably; so this part of the entertainment was brought to -rather a sudden conclusion. Jerry had just issued the order, "Close up -in ranks to dismiss," when Mr. Schermerhorn, who, with Miss Carlton and -Jessie, had left the piazza a few minutes before, came forward, saying, -"Have the goodness to wait a moment, Colonel; there is one more ceremony -to go through with." - -The boys looked at each other in silent curiosity, wondering what could -be coming; when, all at once, the chairs on the piazza huddled back in a -great hurry, to make a lane for a beautiful little figure, which came -tripping from the open door. - -It was Jessie; but a great change had been made in her appearance. Over -her snowy muslin skirts she had a short classic tunic of red, white, and -blue silk; a wreath of red and white roses and bright blue jonquils -encircled her curls, and in her hand she carried a superb banner. It -was made of dark blue silk, trimmed with gold fringe; on one side was -painted an American eagle, and on the other the words "Dashahed -Zouaves," surrounded with a blaze of glory and gold stars. She advanced -to the edge of the piazza, and in a clear, sweet voice, a little -tremulous, but very distinct, she said: - - "COLONEL AND BRAVE SOLDIERS: - - "I congratulate you, in the name of our friends, - on the success you have achieved. You have shown - us to-day what Young America can do; and as a - testimonial of our high admiration, I present you - the colors of your regiment! - - "Take them, as the assurance that our hearts are - with you; bear them as the symbol of the Cause you - have enlisted under; and should you fall beneath - them on the field of battle, I bid you lay down - your lives cheerfully for the flag of your - country, and breathe with your last sigh the name - of the Union! Colonel, take your colors!" - -Freddy's cheeks grew crimson, and the great tears swelled to his eyes as -he advanced to take the flag which Jessie held toward him. And now our -little Colonel came out bright, sure enough. Perhaps not another member -of the regiment, called upon to make a speech in this way, could have -thought of a word to reply; but Freddy's quick wit supplied him with -the right ideas; and it was with a proud, happy face, and clear voice -that he responded: - - "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: - - "I thank you, in the name of my regiment, for the - honor you have done us. Inspired by your praises, - proud to belong to the army of the Republic, we - hope to go on as we have begun. To your kindness - we owe the distinguishing colors under which we - march hereafter; and by the Union for which we - fight, they shall never float over a retreating - battalion!" - -Oh! the cheers and clapping of hands which followed this little speech! -Everybody was looking at Freddy as he stood there, the colors in his -hand, and the bright flush on his cheek, with the greatest admiration. -Of course, his parents weren't proud of him; certainly not! - -But the wonders were not at an end yet; for suddenly the band began -playing a new air, and to this accompaniment, the sweet voice of some -lady unseen, but which sounded to those who knew, wonderfully like Miss -Lucy Carlton's, sang the following patriotic ballad: - - "We will stand by our Flag--let it lead where it will-- - Our hearts and our hopes fondly cling to it still; - Through battle and danger our Cause must be won-- - Yet forward! undaunted we'll follow it on! - 'Tis the Flag! the old Flag! still unsullied and bright, - As when first its fair stars lit oppression's dark night - And the standard that guides us forever shall be - The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free! - - "A handful of living--an army of dead, - The last charge been made and the last prayer been said; - What is it--as sad we retreat from the plain - That cheers us, and nerves us to rally again? - 'Tis the Flag! the old Flag! to our country God-given, - That gleams through our ranks like a glory from heaven! - And the foe, as they fly, in our vanguard shall see - The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free! - - "We will fight for the Flag, by the love that we bear - In the Union and Freedom, we'll baffle despair; - Trust on in our country, strike home for the right, - And Treason shall vanish like mists of the night. - Then cheer the old Flag! every star in it glows, - The terror of traitors! the curse of our foes! - And the victory that crowns us shall glorified be, - 'Neath the Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free!" - -As the song ended, there was another tumult of applause; and then the -band struck up a lively quickstep, and the company, with the Zouaves -marching ahead, poured out on the lawn toward the camp, where a -bountiful collation was awaiting them, spread on the regimental table. -Two splendid pyramids of flowers ornamented the centre, and all manner -of "goodies," as the children call them, occupied every inch of space on -the sides. At the head of the table Jerry had contrived a canopy from a -large flag, and underneath this, Miss Jessie, Colonel Freddy, with the -other officers, and some favored young ladies of their own age, took -their seats. The other children found places around the table, and a -merrier fete champetre never was seen. The band continued to play lively -airs from time to time, and I really can give you my word as an author, -that nobody looked cross for a single minute! - -Between you and me, little reader, there had been a secret arrangement -among the grown folks interested in the regiment, to get all this up in -such fine style. Every one had contributed something to give the Zouaves -their flag and music, while to Mr. Schermerhorn it fell to supply the -supper; and arrangements had been made and invitations issued since the -beginning of the week. The regiment, certainly, had the credit, however, -of getting up the review, it only having been the idea of their good -friends to have the entertainment and flag presentation. So there was a -pleasant surprise on both sides; and each party in the transaction, was -quite as much astonished and delighted as the other could wish. - -The long sunset shadows were rapidly stealing over the velvet sward as -the company rose from table, adding a new charm to the beauty of the -scene. Everywhere the grass was dotted with groups of elegant ladies and -gentlemen, and merry children, in light summer dresses and quaintly -pretty uniforms. The little camp, with the stacks of guns down its -centre, the bayonets flashing in the last rays of the sun, was all -crowded and brilliant with happy people; looking into the tents and -admiring their exquisite order, inspecting the bright muskets, and -listening eagerly or good-humoredly, as they happened to be children or -grown people, to the explanations and comments of the Zouaves. - -And on the little grassy knoll, where the flag staff was planted, -central figure of the scene, stood Colonel Freddy, silent and thoughtful -for the first time to-day, with Jerry beside him. The old man had -scarcely left his side since the boy took the flag; he would permit no -one else to wait upon him at table, and his eyes followed him as he -moved among the gay crowd, with a glance of the utmost pride and -affection. The old volunteer seemed to feel that the heart of a soldier -beat beneath the little dandy ruffled shirt and gold-laced jacket of the -young Colonel. Suddenly, the boy snatches up again the regimental -colors; the Stars and Stripes, and little Jessie's flag, and shakes -them out to the evening breeze; and as they flash into view and once -more the cheers of the Zouaves greet their colors, he says, with -quivering lip and flashing eye, "Jerry, if God spares me to be a man, -I'll live and die a soldier!" - -The soft evening light was deepening into night, and the beautiful -planet Venus rising in the west, when the visitors bade adieu to the -camp; the Zouaves were shaken hands with until their wrists fairly -ached; and then they all shook hands with "dear" Jessie, as Charley was -heard to call her before the end of the day, and heard her say in her -soft little voice how sorry she was they must go to-morrow (though she -certainly couldn't have been sorrier than _they_ were), and then the -good people all got into their carriages again, and drove off; waving -their handkerchiefs for good-by as long as the camp could be seen; and -so, with the sound of the last wheels dying away in the distance, ended -the very end of - - THE GRAND REVIEW. - - - - -CHAPTER V.--AND LAST. - -"HOME, SWEET HOME." - - -AND now, at last, had come that "day of disaster," when Camp McClellan -must be deserted. The very sun didn't shine so brilliantly as usual, -thought the Zouaves; and it was positively certain that the past five -days, although they had occurred in the middle of summer, were the very -shortest ever known! Eleven o'clock was the hour appointed for the -breaking up of the camp, in order that they might return to the city by -the early afternoon boat. - -"Is it possible we have been here a week?" exclaimed Jimmy, as he sat -down to breakfast. "It seems as if we had only come yesterday." - -"What a jolly time it has been!" chimed in Charley Spicer. "I don't want -to go to Newport a bit. Where are you going, Tom?" - -"To Baltimore--but I don't mean to Secesh!" added Tom, with a little -blush. "I have a cousin in the Palmetto Guards at Charleston, and that's -one too many rebels in the family." - -"Never mind!" cried George Chadwick; "the Pringles are a first rate -family; the rest of you are loyal enough, I'm sure!" and George gave -Tom such a slap on the back, in token of his good will, that it quite -brought the tears into his eyes. - -When breakfast was over, the Zouaves repaired to their tents, and -proceeded to pack their clothes away out of the lockers. They were not -very scientific packers, and, in fact, the usual mode of doing the -business was to ram everything higgledy-piggledy into their valises, and -then jump on them until they consented to come together and be locked. -Presently Jerry came trotting down with a donkey cart used on the farm, -and under his directions the boys folded their blankets neatly up, and -placed them in the vehicle, which then drove off with its load, leaving -them to get out and pile together the other furnishings of the tents; -for, of course, as soldiers, they were expected to wind up their own -affairs, and we all know that boys will do considerable _hard work_ when -it comes in the form of _play_. Just as the cart, with its vicious -little wrong-headed steed, had tugged, and jerked, and worried itself -out of sight, a light basket carriage, drawn by two dashing black -Canadian ponies, drew up opposite the camp, and the reins were let fall -by a young lady in a saucy "pork pie" straw hat, who was driving--no -other than Miss Carlton, with Jessie beside her. The boys eagerly -surrounded the little carriage, and Miss Carlton said, laughing, "Jessie -begged so hard for a last look at the camp, that I had to bring her. So -you are really going away?" - -"Really," repeated Freddy; "but I am so glad you came, Miss Jessie, just -in time to see us off." - -"You know soldiers take themselves away houses and all," said George; -"you will see the tents come down with a run presently." - -"And here comes Jerry to help us!" added Harry. As he spoke, the donkey -cart rattled up, and Jerry, touching his cap to the ladies, got out, and -prepared to superintend the downfall of the tents. By his directions, -two of the Zouaves went to each tent, and pulled the stakes first from -one corner, then the other; then they grasped firmly the pole which -supported the centre, and when the sergeant ejaculated "Now!" like a -flash! the tents slid smoothly to the ground all at the same moment, -just as you may have made a row of blocks fall down by upsetting the -first one. - -And now came the last ceremony, the hauling down of the flag. - -"Stand by to fire a salute!" shouted Jerry, and instantly a company was -detached, who brought the six little cannon under the flagstaff, and -charged them with the last of the double headers, saved for this -purpose; Freddy stood close to the flagstaff, with the halyards ready in -his hands. Crack! fizz! went six matches for the cannon. "Make ready! -apply light, FIRE!" - -BANG! and the folds of the flag stream out proudly in the breeze, as it -rapidly descends the halyards, and flutters softly to the greensward. - -There was perfectly dead silence for a moment; then the voice of Mr. -Schermerhorn was heard calling, "Come, boys, are you ready? Jump in, -then, it is time to start for the boat." The boys turned and saw the -carriages which had brought them so merrily to the camp waiting to -convey them once more to the wharf; while a man belonging to the farm -was rapidly piling the regimental luggage into a wagon. - -With sorrowful faces the Zouaves clustered around the pretty pony -chaise; shaking hands once more with Jessie, and internally vowing to -adore her as long as they lived. Then they got into the carriages, and -old Jerry grasped Freddy's hand with an affectionate "Good-by, my little -Colonel, God bless ye! Old Jerry won't never forget your noble face as -long as he lives." It would have seemed like insulting the old man to -offer him money in return for his loving admiration, but the handsome -gilt-edged Bible that found its way to him soon after the departure of -the regiment, was inscribed with the irregular schoolboy signature of -"Freddy Jourdain, with love to his old friend Jeremiah Pike." - -As for the regimental standards, they were found to be rather beyond -the capacity of a rockaway crammed full of Zouaves, so Tom insisted on -riding on top of the baggage, that he might have the pleasure of -carrying them all the way. Up he mounted, as brisk as a lamplighter, -with that monkey, Peter, after him, the flags were handed up, and with -three ringing cheers, the vehicles started at a rapid trot, and the -regiment was fairly off. They almost broke their necks leaning back to -see the last of "dear Jessie," until the locusts hid them from sight, -when they relapsed into somewhat dismal silence for full five minutes. - -As Peter was going on to Niagara with his father, Mr. Schermerhorn -accompanied the regiment to the city, which looked dustier and red -brickier (what a word!) than ever, now that they were fresh from the -lovely green of the country. By Mr. Schermerhorn's advice, the party -took possession of two empty Fifth avenue stages which happened to be -waiting at the Fulton ferry, and rode slowly up Broadway to Chambers -street, where Peter and his father bid them good-by, and went off to the -depot. As Peter had declined changing his clothes before he left, they -had to travel all the way to Buffalo with our young friend in this -unusual guise; but, as people had become used to seeing soldiers -parading about in uniform, they didn't seem particularly surprised, -whereat Master Peter was rather disappointed. - -To go back to the Zouaves, however. When the stages turned into Fifth -avenue, they decided to get out; and after forming their ranks in fine -style, they marched up the avenue, on the sidewalk this time, stopping -at the various houses or street corners where they must bid adieu to one -and another of their number, promising to see each other again as soon -as possible. - -At last only Tom and Freddy were left to go home by themselves. As they -marched along, keeping faultless step, Freddy exclaimed, "I tell you -what, Tom! I mean to ask my father, the minute he comes home, to let me -go to West Point as soon as I leave school! I must be a soldier--I -can't think of anything else!" - -"That's just what I mean to do!" cried Tom, with sparkling eyes; "and, -Fred, if you get promoted before me, promise you will have me in your -regiment, won't you?" - -"Yes I will, certainly!" answered Freddy; "but you're the oldest, Tom, -and, you know, the oldest gets promoted first; so mind you don't forget -me when you come to your command!" - -As he spoke, they reached his own home; and our hero, glad after all to -come back to father, mother, and sister, bounded up the steps, and rang -the bell good and _hard_, just to let Joseph know that a personage of -eminence had arrived. As the door opened, he turned gayly round, cap in -hand, saying, "Good-by, Maryland; you've left the regiment, but you'll -never leave the Union!" and the last words he heard Tom say were, "No, -by George, _never_!" - - * * * * * - -And now, dear little readers, my boy friends in particular, the history -of Freddy Jourdain must close. He still lives in New York, and attends -Dr. Larned's school, where he is at the head of all his classes. - -The Dashahed Zouaves have met very often since the encampment, and had -many a good drill in their room--the large attic floor which Mr. -Jourdain allowed them for their special accommodation, and where the -beautiful regimental colors are carefully kept, to be proudly displayed -in every parade of the Zouaves. - -When he is sixteen, the boy Colonel is to enter West Point Academy, and -learn to be a real soldier; while Tom--poor Tom, who went down to -Baltimore that pleasant July month, promising so faithfully to join -Freddy in the cadet corps, may never see the North again. - -And in conclusion let me say, that should our country again be in danger -in after years, which God forbid, we may be sure that first in the -field, and foremost in the van of the grand army, will be our gallant -young friend, - - COLONEL FREDDY. - - - - -CONCLUSION. - - -IT took a great many Saturday afternoons to finish the story of "Colonel -Freddy," and the children returned to it at each reading with renewed -and breathless interest. George and Helen couldn't help jumping up off -their seats once or twice and clapping their hands with delight when -anything specially exciting took place in the pages of the wonderful -story that was seen "before it was printed," and a great many "oh's" and -"ah's" testified to their appreciation of the gallant "Dashahed -Zouaves." They laughed over the captive Tom, and cried over the true -story of the old sergeant; and when at length the very last word had -been read, and their mother had laid down the manuscript, George sprang -up once more, exclaiming; "Oh, I wish I could be a boy soldier! Mamma, -mayn't I recruit a regiment and camp out too?" "And oh! if I could only -present a flag!" cried his sister; "I wish I had been Jessie; what a -pity it wasn't all true!" - -"And what if I should tell you," said their mother, laughing, "that a -little bird has whispered in my ear that 'Colonel Freddy' was -wonderfully like your little Long Island friend Hilton R----?" - -"Oh, mamma! why, what makes you think so?" - -"Oh, something funny I heard about him last summer; never mind what!" - -The children wisely concluded that it was no use to ask any more -questions; at the same moment solemnly resolving that the very next time -they paid a visit to their aunt, who lived at Astoria, they would beg -her to let them drive over to Mr. R----'s place, and find out all about -it. - -After this, there were no more readings for several Saturdays; but at -last one morning when the children had almost given up all hopes of more -stories, George opened his eyes on the sock hanging against the door, -which looked more bulgy than ever. "Hurrah!" he shouted; "Aunt Fanny's -daughter hasn't forgotten us, after all!" and dressing himself in a -double quick, helter-skelter fashion, George dashed out into the entry, -forgot his good resolution, and slid down the banisters like a streak of -lightning and began pummelling on his sister's door with both fists; -shouting, "Come, get up! get up, Nelly! here's another Sock story for -us!" - -This delightful announcement was quite sufficient to make Helen's -stockings, which she was just drawing on in a lazy fashion, fly up to -their places in a hurry; then she popped her button-over boots on the -wrong feet, and had to take them off and try again; and, in short, the -whole of her dressing was an excellent illustration of that time-honored -maxim, "The more _haste_, the worse _speed_;" George, meanwhile, -performing a distracted Indian war dance in the entry outside, until his -father opened his door and wanted to know what the racket was all about. - -"Socks! socks! father!" cried George, joyfully. - -At this moment Helen came out, and the two children scampered down -stairs, and sitting down side by side on the sofa, they proceeded to -examine this second instalment of the Sock stories. They found it was -again a whole book; and the title, on a little page by itself, read -"GERMAN SOCKS." - -"Oh, I am so glad!" said Helen. "These must be more stories like that -dear 'Little White Angel.'" - -And so they proved to be; for, on their mother's commencing to read the -first story, it was found to be called, "God's Pensioners;" and -commenced, "It was a cold--" but stop! halt! This book was to be devoted -to "Colonel Freddy;" but if you will only go to Mr. Leavitt's, the -publishers, you will there discover what was the rest of the second Sock -Stories. - - THE END. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Page 41, "dilemna" changed to "dilemma" (horns of this dilemma) - -Page 81, "arttisically" changed to "artistically" (his fork -artistically) - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Red, White, Blue Socks. Part Second, by -Sarah L. Barrow - + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: BULL RUN.] + + + +THE SOCK STORIES, + +BY "AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER. + +RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SOCKS. + +Part Second. + +BEING + +THE SECOND BOOK OF THE SERIES. + +BY + +"AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER, + +THE AUTHOR OF "THE LITTLE WHITE ANGEL." + + NEW YORK: + LEAVITT & ALLEN, 21 & 23 MERCER ST. + 1863. + + + + + ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by + S. L. BARROW, + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States + for the + Southern District of New York. + + JOHN F. TROW, + PRINTER, STEREOTYPER, AND ELECTROTYPER, + 50 Greene Street, New York. + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOL. II. + + + PAGE + + COLONEL FREDDY; OR, THE MARCH AND ENCAMPMENT + OF THE DASHAHED ZOUAVES, + + CHAP. I.--BELLIGERENT POWERS, 5 + + II.--BULL RUN, 30 + + III.--BEFORE MONTEREY, 50 + + IV.--A GRAND REVIEW, 87 + + V.--"HOME! SWEET HOME!" 111 + + CONCLUSION, 125 + + + + +COLONEL FREDDY; + +OR, + +THE MARCH AND ENCAMPMENT OF THE DASHAHED ZOUAVES. + +PART II. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +BELLIGERENT POWERS. + + +TUESDAY morning dawned "as clear as a bell," as an old lady once said, +and the Dashahed Zouaves, if not exactly up with the sun, were awake and +stirring at a much earlier hour than usual; and after a rather more +careful washing and brushing than soldiers usually indulge in, +assembled on the lawn, looking as bright as their own buttons. + +"What fun it is to be soldiers!" cried a little lisping fellow, one of +the privates. "I only wish thome Southerners would come along now, and +you'd thee how I'd _thmash_ 'em." + +"Bravo, Louie!" said Harry, laughing; "I dare say, if we were to go to +the wars, you'd keep on fighting the battles of your country till you +were chopped into inch bits!" + +"And pickled! I expect to be made Lieutenant-general, +Commander-in-chief, Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant +Hamilton at the very least!" + +"Pooh! that's nothing to the feats of bravery I intend to perform!" +cried Peter. "In my first battle I shall capture a 2,000-pound +columbiad with one hand tied behind me, and carry it home for a paper +weight!" + +"While I'm charging a regiment of mounted infantry single handed, and +making them throw away their swords, and pistols, and things, and run +for that 'last ditch' of theirs double quick!" said Will Costar, +laughing; "but here comes breakfast, I'm happy to say. It strikes me +camping out makes a fellow awful hungry, as well as no end of brave." + +A servant who had been sent from the house with breakfast materials, now +approached, and the table being laid, the soldiers drew their camp +stools around it; Colonel Freddy sitting at the head and pouring out +coffee with great gravity. Everything was going on smoothly enough, when +Harry tilted the tray on one side, and Charley knocked his elbow on the +other, and away went the coffee to the very end of the table! + +"Charley," exclaimed the Colonel, severely, "what do you mean, sir? I'll +have you put in arrest if you don't look out!" + +"Who'll put me there?" + +"Me!" shouted Peter. "I'm the boy to manage refractories. You'll see how +I will come after you with a sharp stick--bayonet, I mean--and put you +in arrest like that!" snapping his fingers. + +"By the way, when we've caught our rebels, where is the prison to be?" +asked Jimmy. + +"Why, in the smoke house. There's a patent spring bolt on the +door--father had it fixed the last time we had hams made; and if anybody +was once in there, they'd never get out in the world, unless they could +draw themselves fine like a wire and squeeze through the chimney." + +"We'll take care to keep out of it, then!" said Charley; "so, Colonel, I +beg pardon for tilting the biggin--I didn't mean to do it so +much--really!" + +"I, too!" cried Harry; "shake hands, old chap!" + +Good-tempered Freddy, always ready to "make up," caught a hand of each +of his comrades, and breakfast went on amicably. + +Now, there lived in the house an old English man servant named Jerry +Pike. He had formerly been a groom and attendant on Peter's uncle, Major +Schermerhorn, and volunteered in the army at the time of the war with +Mexico, that he might follow his dear master, whom he had served and +loved ever since the Major was a mere boy. He had fought bravely beside +him in many a hard battle, and, for his gallant conduct, been promoted +to the rank of sergeant. When the hand of death removed that kind +master, Mr. Schermerhorn had gladly taken Jerry to his own house, and +promised him that should be his home as long as he lived. So now, like +a gallant old war horse, who has a fresh green paddock, and lives in +clover in his infirm age, Jerry not only stood at ease, but lived at +ease; and worked or not as he felt disposed. + +When breakfast was over, Peter suddenly cried out, "I say, fellows, +suppose we employ ourselves by having a drill! You know old Jerry that I +told you about? I'll ask him to give us a lesson!" + +"Yes! that will be grand fun!" said Freddy. "Do go and find him, Peter; +I should really like to learn how to drill as the soldiers do; so when +General McClellan comes along, he'll admire us as much as the English +General, old Sir Goutby Slogo, did the Seventh Regiment when they +paraded before the Prince. 'Really, most extraordinary style of marching +these American troops have,' said he, 'most hequal to the 'Orse Guards +and the Hoxford Blues coming down Regent street!'" + +Meanwhile, Peter had scampered off to the house, and in a short time +returned with a comical-looking little old man, dressed in faded +regimentals. + +He touched his cap to the boys as he approached, in military style, and +then drew himself up so very stiff and straight, awaiting their orders, +that, as Freddy whispered to Tom, it was a perfect wonder he didn't snap +short off at the waist. + +"Now, Jerry," began the Colonel, "we want you to give us a _real_ +drill, you know, just as you used to learn." + +"Yes, a regular one!" chimed in the rest; "we'll run for our guns." + +"Not fur your fust drill, I reckon, genl'men. You'll do bad enough +without 'em, hech, hech!" cackled Jerry. + +"Very well--come begin then, Jerry!" cried impatient Will. + +"Are ye all ready?" + +"Yes, and waiting." + +"Then, genl'men, FALL IN!" exclaimed the sergeant, the first two words +being uttered in his natural voice, but the last in an awful sepulchral +tone, like two raps on the base kettle drum. Off duty, Jerry rather +resembled a toy soldier, but when in giving his orders he stiffened his +body, threw up his head, and stuck out his hands, he looked so like the +wooden figures out of Noah's ark, that the boys burst into a shout of +laughter. + +"Now, genl'men," exclaimed Jerry in a severe tone, "this won't do. +Silence in the ranks. Squad! 'Shun. The fust manoover I shel teach you, +genl'men, is the manoover of 'parade rest.' Now look at me, and do as I +do." + +Anybody would have supposed, naturally enough, that to stand at rest +meant to put your hands in your pockets and lean against a tree; but +what Jerry did, was to slap his right hand against his left, like a +torpedo going off, and fold them together; stick out his left foot, lean +heavily upon his right, and look more like a Dutch doll than ever. + +The boys accordingly endeavored to imitate this performance; but when +they came to try it, a difficulty arose. Whatever might be their usual +ideas on the subject, there was a diversity of opinion now as to the +proper foot to be advanced, and a wild uncertainty which was the left +foot. The new soldiers shuffled backward and forward as if they were +dancing hornpipes; while Jerry shouted, "Now, then, genl'men, I can't +hear them hands come together smartly as I'd wished, not like a row of +Jarsey cider bottles a poppin' one arter the other, but all at once. +Now, then, SQUAD! 'SHUN!" in a voice of thunder, "Stan' at parade rest! +No--no--them _lef futs_ adwanced! Well if ever!" And Jerry in his +indignation gave himself such a thump on his chest that he knocked all +the breath out of his body, and had to wait some moments before he could +go on; while the boys, bubbling over with fun, took his scoldings in +high good humor, and shrieked with laughter at their own ridiculous +blunders, to the high wrath of their ancient instructor; who was so +deeply interested and in earnest about his pursuit, that he didn't fail +to lecture them well for their "insubornation;" which, indeed, nobody +minded, except Tom Pringle, who, by the by, was from Maryland, and many +of whose relations were down South. He had been looking rather sulky +from the beginning of the drill, and now suddenly stepped from his place +in the ranks, exclaiming, "I won't play! now I vow I won't!" + +"Why, Tom, what is the matter? Are you mad at us?" cried half a dozen +voices at once. + +"Humm--" grumbled sulky Tom. + +"What say? I can't hear you," said Freddy. "Nonsense, Tom, don't be +poky, come back and drill." + +"I won't! Let us alone, will you?" + +"All we want is, let us alone!" chanted Peter. "There, Fred, let him be +cross if he wants to, we can play without him;" and the boys ran back to +their places in the ranks, Freddy calling out, "Come fellows, let's try +that old parade rest once more;" and on Jerry's giving the command, they +really _did_ do it this time, and were pronounced capable of passing to +grander evolutions. + +The first of these was the turn about so as to fall in ranks; something +the Dashahed Zouaves hadn't dreamt of before. Get into ranks? Nothing +could be easier than to stand four in a row, as they had done before; +but when it came to "right face," most of the soldiers were found to +have opposite views on the subject, and faced each other, to their +mutual astonishment. The natural consequence was, that in three seconds +the regiment was in such a snarl and huddle, that no one could tell +which rank he belonged to or anything else; so Jerry, perfectly purple +in the face with shouting, by way of helping them out of the scrape, +gave them the following remarkable advice: "Squad, 'shun! At th' wud +'Foz' the rer-rank will stepsmartly off wi' th' leffut, tekkinapesstoth' +rare--Fo-o-o-res!" + +"W-h-a-t!" was the unanimous exclamation. + +Jerry repeated his mandate, which, after infinite puzzling (the honest +sergeant being no assistance whatever), was discovered to mean, "At the +word 'Fours,' the rear rank will step smartly off with the left foot, +taking a pace to the rear. Fours!" + +This difficulty solved, the next "article on the programme," as Peter +said, was the command March! or "harch!" according to Jerry. + +Out stepped Freddy, confident that he knew this much at any rate, +followed by the others; but here again that celebrated left foot got +them into trouble. The right foot _would_ pop out here and there, and as +sure as it did, at the third step the unlucky Zouave found his leg +firmly stuck between the ankles of the boy in front; and the "man" +behind him treading on his heels in a way calculated to aggravate a +saint; while meantime, the fellows in the rear rank, who were forever +falling behind while they were staring at their feet to make sure which +was the left one, _would_ endeavor to make up for it by taking a wide +straddling step all of a sudden, and encircled the legs of people in +front; a proceeding which, not being in accordance with "Hardee's +Tactics," was not received with approbation by Jerry; who, looking at +them with a sort of deprecating pity, hoarsely said, "Now, Company D! +wot--wrong agin? fowod squad! wun, too, three, foore; hup! hup! hup! +hold your head up, Mr. Fred; turn out your toes, Master William, and +keep STEADY!" + +"Goody!" exclaimed Freddy at last, stopping short in the middle of his +marching, "I can't stand this any longer! There, Jerry, we've had drill +enough, thank you; I am knocked into a cocked hat, for my part!" + +"Very well, sir; it _is_ powerful hot; an' I must say you young genl'men +have kep' at it steadier nor I expected, a gred deal." + +"Thank you, Jerry," said George, laughing, "we shall not forget our +first drill in a hurry. I can't tell, for my part, which has been most +bothered, you or we." + +"Allers glad to give you a little practice," grinned Jerry, "though +you'd rive the gizzard out of an army drill sergeant, I'd wenture to +say, if he hed the teachin' of you. Hech! hech! hech! Mornin', genl'men, +your sarvent," and Jerry touched his cap to Colonel Freddy and marched +off chuckling. + +As soon as he had made his exit, the boys clustered around Tom, as he +sat turning his back on as many of the company as possible, and all +began in a breath, "Now, Tom, do tell us what you're mad at; what have +we done? please speak!" + +"Well, then," shouted Tom, springing up, "I'll tell you what, Frederic +Jourdain! I won't be ordered around by any old monkey like +that,"--pointing toward Jerry--"and as for _you_ and _your_ ordering +about, I won't stand that either! fine as you think yourself; the +Colonel, indeed!" + +"Why, Tom, how can you talk so? can't you play like the rest of us? I'm +sure I haven't taken advantage of being Colonel to be domineering; have +I, boys?" + +"No, no! not a bit, Fred--never mind what he says!" + +"Oh _do_--_don't_ appeal to them! You do that because you daren't say +outright you mean to have everything your own way. That may be very well +for them--you're all a parcel of Yankee shopkeepers together--but, I can +tell you, no Southern _gentleman_ will stand it!" + +"North or South, Tom," began Will Costar, pretty sharply, "every +regiment must have a head--and obey the head. We've chosen Fred our +Colonel, and you must mind him. When he tells you to drill you've _got +to do it_!" + +Tom wheeled round perfectly furious. "You say that again," he shouted, +"and I'll leave the regiment! I will. I won't be told by any Northerner +that I'm his subordinate, and if my State hadn't thought so too, she'd +never have left the Union." + +"What! you dare to say anything against the Union!" cried George, +turning white with rage; "do you mean to say that you _admire_ the South +for seceding?" + +"Yes! I've a great mind to secede myself, what's more!" + +Freddy, as I said, was as sweet-tempered a little fellow as ever lived; +but he was fairly aroused now. His blue eyes flashed fire; he crimsoned +to the temples; his fists were clenched--and shouting, "you traitor!" +like a flash, he sent Tom flying over on his back, with the camp stool +about his ears. + +Up jumped Tom, kicked away the stool, and rushed toward Fred. But the +others were too quick for him; they seized his arms and dragged him +back; Peter calling out "No, don't fight him, Colonel; he's not worth +it; let's have a court martial--that's the way to serve traitors!" + +Amid a perfect uproar of rage and contempt for this shameful attack on +their Colonel, the Zouaves hastily arranged some camp stools for judge +and jury; and George being chosen judge, the oldest members of the +regiment took their places around him, and Tom was hauled up before the +Court. + +"Oh stop, pray stop!" cried Freddy at this stage of affairs. "Indeed, I +forgive him for what he said to me, if he will take back his language +about the Union. I can't stand _that_." + +"You hear what the Colonel says," said George, sternly; "will you +retract?" + +"No, never! if you think I'm going to be frightened into submission to a +Northerner you're very much mistaken! No Southerner will ever be that! +and as for your precious Union, I don't care if I say I hope there never +will be a Union any more." + +"Then, by George!" shouted the judge, fairly springing from his seat, +"You're a traitor, sir! Fellows, whoever is in favor of having this +secessionist put under arrest, say Aye!" + +"Aye! AYE! AYE!" in a perfect roar. + +"Does any one object?" Nobody spoke. + +"Then I sentence him to be confined in the guard house till he begs +pardon; Livingston, Costar, and Boorman to take him there." + +His captors pounced upon their prisoner with very little ceremony when +this sentence was pronounced; when Tom, without attempting to escape, +suddenly commenced striking out at every one he could reach. A grand +hurley-burley ensued; but before long Tom was overpowered and dragged to +the smoke, _alias_ guard house; heaping insults and taunts on the Union +and the regiment all the way. Harry flung open the door of the prison, +a picturesque little hut built of rough gray stone, and covered with +Virginia creepers and wild honeysuckles. The others pushed Tom in, and +Peter, dashing forward, slammed the door on him with a bang. Snap! went +the bolt, and now nothing earthly could open it again but a Bramah key +or a gunpowder explosion. Young Secession was fast, and the North +triumphant. Hurrah! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +BULL RUN. + + +THEIR first excitement over, the gallant Zouaves couldn't help looking +at each other in rather a comical way. To be sure, it was very +aggravating to have their country run down, and themselves assailed +without leave or license; but they were by no means certain, now they +came to think of it, that they had acted rightly in doing justice to the +little rebel in such a summary manner. Peter especially, who had +proposed the court martial, had an instinctive feeling that if his +father were to learn the action they had taken, he would scarcely +consider it to tally with the exercise of strict politeness to company. +In short, without a word said, there was a tacit understanding in the +corps that this was an affair to be kept profoundly secret. + +While they were still silently revolving this delicate question, little +Louie Hamilton suddenly started violently, exclaiming, "Only listen a +moment, felloth! what a strange noithe! It sounds like thome wild +beast!" + +"Noise? I don't hear any," said Freddy; "yes I do, though--like +something trampling the bushes!" + +"There's nothing worse than four cows and a house dog about our place," +said Peter; "but what that is I don't know--hush!" + +The boys listened with all their ears and elbows, and nearly stared +themselves blind looking around to see what was the matter. They had not +long to wait, however, for the trampling increased in the wood, a +curious, low growling was heard, which presently swelled to a roar, and +in a moment more, an immense brindled bull was seen dashing through the +locusts, his head down and heels in the air, looking not unlike a great +wheel-barrow, bellowing at a prodigious rate, and making straight toward +the place where they stood! + +"Murder, what _shall_ we do?" cried Louie, turning deadly pale with +terror, while the Zouaves, for an instant, appeared perfectly paralyzed. + +"Why run! run for your lives!" shouted George, who was the first to +recover himself. "Peter, you lead the way; take us the shortest cut to +the house, and--oh!" + +Not another word did George utter. He was saving his breath for the +race. And now, indeed, began a most prodigious "skedaddle;" the boys +almost flying on ahead, running nearly abreast, and their terrible enemy +close behind, tearing up the ground with his horns, and galloping like +an express! + +On sped the gallant Zouaves, making off as rapidly from the scene of +action as their namesakes from Manassas, without pausing to remark +which way the wind blew, until, at last, they had skirted the grove, and +were on the straight road for the house. Here Peter stopped a moment, +"Because some of the men will be near here, perhaps," he pantingly said, +"and Master Bull will be caught if he ventures after us." Scarcely had +he spoken, when the furious animal was once more seen, dashing on faster +than ever, and flaming with rage, till he might have exploded a powder +mill! Now for a last effort! One determined burst over the smooth road, +and they are safe in the house! + +Little Louie, who was only nine years old, and the youngest of the +party, had grasped hold of Freddy's hand when they first started; and +been half pulled along by him so far; but now that safety was close at +hand, he suddenly sank to the ground, moaning out, "Oh Fred, you must go +on and leave me; I can't run any more. Oh mamma!" + +"No, no, Louie! don't do so!" cried Freddy. "Get up, little man! why, +you can't think I would leave you, surely?" and, stooping down, the +brave little fellow caught Louie up in his arms, and, thus burdened, +tried to run on toward the house. + +The rest of the boys were now far beyond them; and had just placed their +feet upon the doorstone, when a loud shout of "help!" made them turn +round; and there was Freddy, with Louie in his arms, staggering up the +road, the horns of the bull within a yard of his side! + +Like a flash of lightning, Will snatched up a large rake which one of +the men had left lying on the grass, and dashed down the road. There is +one minute to spare, just one! but in that minute Will has reached the +spot, and launching his weapon, the iron points descend heavily on the +animal's head. + +The bull, rather aghast at this reception, which did not appear to be at +all to his taste, seemed to hesitate a moment whether to charge his +adversary or not; then, with a low growl of baffled fury, he slowly +turned away, and trotted off toward the wood. + +The help had not come a minute too soon; for Freddy, his sensitive +organization completely overwrought by the events of the morning and his +narrow escape from death, had fallen fainting to the ground; his hands +still clenched in the folds of little Louie's jacket. Will instantly +raised him, when he saw that all danger was over, and he and some of the +others, who had come crowding down the road, very gently and quickly +carried the insensible boy to the house, and laid him on the lounge in +the library; while Peter ran for the housekeeper to aid in bringing him +to life. + +Good Mrs. Lockitt hurried up stairs as fast as she could with camphor, +ice water, and everything else she could think of good for fainting. + +"Mrs. Lockitt, where is papa?" asked Peter, as he ran on beside her. + +"Gone to New York, Master Peter," she replied; "I don't think he will be +home before dinner time." + +Our little scapegrace breathed more freely; at least there were a few +hours' safety from detection, and he reentered the library feeling +considerably relieved. + +There lay Colonel Freddy, his face white as death; one little hand +hanging lax and pulseless over the side of the lounge, and the ruffled +shirt thrust aside from the broad, snowy chest. Harry stood over him, +fanning his forehead; while poor Louie was crouched in a corner, +sobbing as though his heart would break, and the others stood looking on +as if they did not know what to do with themselves. + +Mrs. Lockitt hastened to apply her remedies; and soon a faint color came +back to the cheek, and with a long sigh, the great blue eyes opened once +more, and the little patient murmured, "Where am I?" + +"Oh, then he's not killed, after all!" cried Louie, running to his side. +"Dear, dear Freddy! how glad I am you have come to life again!" + +This funny little speech made even Freddy laugh, and then Mrs. Lockitt +said, "But, Master Peter, you have not told me yet how it happened that +Master Frederic got in such a way." + +The eyes of the whole party became round and saucer-y at once; as, all +talking together, they began the history of their fearful adventure. +Mrs. Lockitt's wiry false curls would certainly have dropped off with +astonishment if they hadn't been sewed fast to her cap, and she fairly +wiped her eyes on her spectacle case, which she had taken out of her +pocket instead of her handkerchief, as they described Freddy's noble +effort to save his helpless companion without thinking of himself. When +the narrative was brought to a close, she could only exclaim, "Well, +Master Freddy, you are a little angel, sure enough! and Master William +is as brave as a lion. To think of his stopping that great creetur, to +be sure! Wherever in the world it came from is the mystery." So saying, +Mrs. Lockitt bustled out of the room, and after she had gone, there was +a very serious and grateful talk among the elder boys about the escape +they had had, and a sincere thankfulness to God for having preserved +their lives. + +The puzzle now was, how they were to return to the camp, where poor Tom +had been in captivity all this time. It was certainly necessary to get +back--but then the bull! While they were yet deliberating on the horns +of this dilemma, the library door suddenly opened, and in walked--Mr. +Schermerhorn! + +"Why, boys!" he exclaimed, "how do you come to be here? Fred, what's the +matter? you look as pale as a ghost!" + +There was general silence for a moment; but these boys had been taught +by pious parents to speak the truth always, whatever came of it. Ah! +that is the right principle to go on, dear children; TELL THE TRUTH when +you have done anything wrong, even if you are sure of being punished +when that truth is known. + +So George, as the eldest, with one brave look at his comrades, frankly +related everything that had happened; beginning at the quarrel with +Tom, down to the escape from the bull. To describe the varied expression +of his auditor's face between delight and vexation, would require a +painter; and when George at last said, "Do you think we deserve to be +punished, sir? or have we paid well enough already for our court +martial?" Mr. Schermerhorn exclaimed, trying to appear highly incensed, +yet scarcely able to help smiling: + +"I declare I hardly know! I certainly am terribly angry with you. How +dare you treat a young gentleman so on my place? answer me that, you +scapegraces! It is pretty plain who is at the bottom of all this--Peter +dares not look at me, I perceive. At the same time, I am rather glad +that Master Tom has been taught what to expect if he runs down the +Union--it will probably save him from turning traitor any more, though +you were not the proper persons to pass sentence on him. As for our +plucky little Colonel here--shake hands, Freddy! you have acted like a +hero! and for your sake I excuse the court martial. Now, let us see what +has become of the bull, and then go to the release of our friend Tom. He +must be thoroughly repentant for his misdeeds by this time." + +Mr. Schermerhorn accordingly gave orders that the bull should be hunted +up and secured, until his master should be discovered; so that the +Zouaves might be safe from his attacks hereafter. If any of our readers +feel an interest in the fate of this charming animal, they are informed +that he was, with great difficulty, hunted into the stables; and before +evening taken away by his master, the farmer from whom he had strayed. + +Leaving the others to await his capture, let us return to Tom. He had +not been ten minutes in the smoke house before his wrath began to cool, +and he would have given sixpence for any way of getting out but by +begging pardon. That was a little too much just yet, and Tom stamped +with rage and shook the door; which resisted his utmost efforts to +burst. Then came the sounds without, the rushing, trampling steps, the +furious bellow, and the shout, "Run! run for your lives!" Run! why on +earth must they? What had happened? and especially what would become of +him left alone there, with this unseen enemy perhaps coming at him next. +He hunted in vain in every direction for some cranny to peep through; +and if it had been possible, would have squeezed his head up the +chimney. He shouted for help, but nobody heard him; they were all too +frightened for that. He could hear them crunching along the road, +presently; another cry, and then all was still. + +"What shall I do?" thought poor Tom. "Oh, where have they gone to? +Please let me out, Freddy! do forgive me, boys! I'll f-fight for the +Union as m-much as you like! oh! oh!" and at last--must it be +confessed?--the gallant Secesh finished by bursting out crying! + +Time passed on--of course seeming doubly long to the prisoner--and still +the boys did not return. Tom cried till he could cry no more; sniffling +desperately, and rubbing his nose violently up in the air--a proceeding +which did not ameliorate its natural bent in that direction. He really +felt thoroughly sorry, and quite ready to beg pardon as soon as the boys +should return; particularly as they had forgotten to provide the captive +with even the traditional bread and water, and dinner-time was close at +hand. While he was yet struggling between repentance and stomachache, +the welcome sound of their voices was heard. They came nearer, and then +a key was hastily applied to the fastenings of the door, and it flew +open, disclosing the Zouaves, with Freddy at the head, and Mr. +Schermerhorn bringing up the rear. + +Tom hung back a moment yet; then with a sudden impulse he walked toward +Freddy, saying, "I beg your pardon, Colonel; please forgive me for +insulting you; and as for the flag"--and without another word, Tom ran +toward the flag staff, and catching the long folds of the banner in both +hands, pressed them to his lips. + +"The chivalry forever!" said Mr. Schermerhorn, smiling. "That's right, +Tom! bless the old banner! it is your safeguard, and your countrymen's +too, if they would only believe it. Go and shake hands with him, boys; +he is in his right place now, and if ever you are tempted to quarrel +again, I am sure North and South will both remember + + "BULL RUN!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BEFORE MONTEREY. + + +IT is not necessary to describe the particular proceedings of the +Dashahed Zouaves during every day of their camp life. They chattered, +played, drilled, quarrelled a little once in a while, and made it up +again, eat and slept considerably, and grew sunburnt to an astonishing +degree. + +It was Thursday morning, the fourth of their delightful days in camp. +Jerry had been teaching them how to handle a musket and charge +bayonets, until they were quite excited, and rather put out that there +was no enemy to practise on but the grasshoppers. At length, when they +had tried everything that was to be done, Harry exclaimed, "I wish, +Jerry, you would tell us a story about the wars! Something real +splendid, now; perfectly crammed with Indians and scalps and awful +battles and elegant Mexican palaces full of diamonds and gold saucepans +and lovely Spanish girls carried off by the hair of their heads!" + +This flourishing rigmarole, which Harry delivered regardless of stops, +made the boys shout with laughter. + +"You'd better tell the story yourself, since you know so much about +it!" said Tom. + +"I allow you've never been in Mexico, sir," said Jerry, grinning. "I +doubt but thar's palisses somewhar in Mexico, but I and my mates hev +been thar, an' _we_ never seed none o' 'em. No, Master Harry, I can't +tell ye sich stories as that, but I do mind a thing what happened on the +field afore Monterey." + +The boys, delightedly exclaiming, "A story! a story! hurrah!" drew their +camp stools around him; and Jerry, after slowly rubbing his hand round +and round over his bristling chin, while he considered what to say +first, began his story as follows: + + +JERRY'S STORY. + + "It wor a Sunday night, young genl'men, the 21st + of September, and powerful hot. We had been + fightin' like mad, wi' not a moment's rest, all + day, an' now at last wor under the canwas, they of + us as wor left alive, a tryin' to sleep. The + skeeters buzzed aroun' wonderful thick, and the + groun' aneath our feet wor like red-hot tin + plates, wi' the sun burnin' an blisterin' down. At + last my mate Bill says, says he, 'Jerry, my mate, + hang me ef I can stan' this any longer. Let you + an' me get up an' see ef it be cooler + out-o'-doors.' + + "I wor tired enough wi' the day's fight, an' + worrited, too, wi' a wound in my shoulder; but + the tent wor no better nor the open field, an' we + got up an' went out. Thar wor no moon, but the sky + was wonderful full o' stars, so we could see how + we wor stannin' wi' our feet among the bodies o' + the poor fellows as had fired their last shot that + day. It wor a sight, young genl'men, what would + make sich as you sick an' faint to look on; but + sogers must larn not to min' it; an' we stood + thar, not thinkin' how awful it wor, and yet still + an' quiet, too. + + "'Ah, Jerry,' says Bill--he wor a young lad, an' + brought up by a pious mother, I allow--'I dunnot + like this fightin' on the Sabba' day. The Lord + will not bless our arms, I'm afeard, if we go agin + His will so.' + + "I laughed--more shame to me--an' said, 'I'm a + sight older nor you, mate, an' I've seed a sight + o' wictories got on a Sunday. The better the day, + the better the deed, I reckon.' + + "'Well, I don't know,' he says; 'mebbe things is + allers mixed in time o' war, an' right an' wrong + change sides a' purpose to suit them as wants + battle an' tumult to be ragin'; but it don't go + wi' my grain, noways.' + + "I hadn't experienced a change o' heart then, as I + did arterward, bless the Lord! an' I hardly + unnerstood what he said. While we wor a stannin' + there, all to onct too dark figgers kim a creepin' + over the field to'ard the Major's tent. 'Look + thar, Jerry,' whispered Bill, kind o' startin' + like, 'thar's some of them rascally Mexicans.' I + looked at 'em wi'out sayin' a wured, an' then I + went back to the tent fur my six-shooter--Bill + arter me;--fur ef it ain't the dooty o' every + Christian to extarminate them warmints o' + Mexicans, I'll be drummed out of the army + to-morrer. + + "Wall, young genl'men--we tuck our pistols, and + slow and quiet we moved to whar we seed the two + Greasers, as they call 'em. On they kim, creepin' + to'ard my Major's tent, an' at las' one o' 'em + raised the canwas a bit. Bill levelled his + rewolver in a wink, an' fired. You shud ha' seed + how they tuck to their heels! yelling all the way, + till wun o' em' dropped. The other didn't stop, + but just pulled ahead. I fired arter him wi'out + touching him; but the noise woke the Major, an' + when he hearn wot the matter wor, he ordered the + alarm to be sounded an' the men turned out. 'It's + a 'buscade to catch us,' he says, 'an' I'm fur + being fust on the field.' + + "Bill an' I buckled on our cartridge boxes, caught + up our muskets, an' were soon in the ranks. On we + marched, stiddy an' swift, to the enemy's + fortifications; an' wen we were six hundred yards + distant, kim the command, 'Double quick.' The sky + hed clouded up all of a suddent, an' we couldn't + see well where we wor, but thar was suthin' afore + us like a low, black wall. As we kim nearer, it + moved kind o' cautious like, an' when we wor + within musket range, wi' a roar like ten thousand + divils, they charged forred! Thar wor the flash + and crack o' powder, and the ring! ping! o' the + bullets, as we power'd our shot on them an' they + on us; but not another soun'; cr-r-r-ack went the + muskets on every side agin, an' the rascals wor + driven back a minnit. 'Charge bayonets!' shouted + the Major, wen he seed that. Thar wos a pause; a + rush forred; we wor met by the innimy half way; + an' then I hearn the awfullest o' created + soun's--a man's scream. I looked roun', an' there + wos Bill, lying on his face, struck through an' + through. Thar wos no time to see to him then, fur + the men wor fur ahead o' me, an' I hed to run an' + jine the rest. + + "We hed a sharp, quick skirmish o' it--for ef thar + is a cowardly critter on the created airth it's a + Greaser--an' in less nor half an' hour wor beatin' + back to quarters. When all wor quiet agin, I left + my tent, an' away to look fur Bill. I sarched an' + sarched till my heart were almost broke, an at + last I cried out, 'Oh Bill, my mate, whar be you?' + an' I hearn a fibble v'ice say, 'Here I be, + Jerry!' + + "I swon! I wor gladder nor anything wen I hearn + that. I hugged him to my heart, I wor moved so + powerful, an' then I tuck him on my back, an' off + to camp; werry slow an' patient, fur he were sore + wownded, an' the life in him wery low. + + "Wall, young genl'men, I'll not weary you wi' the + long hours as dragged by afore mornin'. I med him + as snug as I could, and at daybreak we hed him + took to the sugeon's tent. + + "I wor on guard all that mornin' an' could not get + to my lad; but at last the relief kim roun', an' + the man as was to take my place says, says he, + 'Jerry, my mate, ef I was you I'd go right to the + hosp'tl an' stay by poor Bill' (fur they all knew + as I sot gret store by him); 'He is werry wild in + his head, I hearn, an' the sugeon says as how he + can't last long.' + + "Ye may b'lieve how my hairt jumped wen I hearn + that. I laid down my gun, an' ran fur the wooden + shed, which were all the place they hed fur them + as was wownded. An' thar wor Bill--my mate + Bill--laying on a blanket spred on the floore, wi' + his clothes all on (fur it's a hard bed, an' his + own bloody uniform, that a sojer must die in), wi' + the corpse o' another poor fellow as had died all + alone in the night a'most touching him, an' + slopped wi' blood. I moved it fur away all in a + trimble o' sorrer, an' kivered it decent like, so + as Bill mightn't see it an' get downhearted fur + hisself. Then I went an' sot down aside my mate. + He didn't know me, no more nor if I wor a + stranger; but kept throwin' his arms about, an' + moanin' out continual, 'Oh mother! mother! Why + don't you come to your boy?' + + "I bust right out crying, I do own, wen I hearn + that, an' takin' his han' in mine, I tried to + quiet him down a bit; telling him it wor bad fur + his wownd to be so res'less (fur every time he + tossed, thar kim a little leap o' blood from his + breast); an' at last, about foore o'clock in the + day, he opened his eyes quite sensible like, an' + says to me, he says, 'Dear matey, is that you? + Thank you fur coming to see me afore I die.' + + "'No, Bill, don't talk so,' I says, a strivin' to + be cheerful like, tho' I seed death in his face, + 'You'll be well afore long.' + + "'Aye, well in heaven,' he says; and then, arter a + minnit, 'Jerry,' he says, 'thar's a little bounty + money as belongs to me in my knapsack, an' my + month's wages. I want you, wen I am gone, to take + it to my mother, an' tell her--'(he wor gaspin' + fearful)--'as I died--fightin' fur my country--an' + the flag. God bless you, Jerry--you hev been a + good frien' to me, an' I knows as you'll do + this--an' bid the boys good-by--fur me.' + + "I promised, wi' the tears streamin' down my + cheeks; an' then we wor quiet a bit, fur it hurt + Bill's breast to talk, an' I could not say a wured + fur the choke in my throat. Arter a while he says, + 'Jerry, won't you sing me the hymn as I taught you + aboard the transport? about the Lord our Captin?' + + "I could hardly find v'ice to begin, but it wor + Bill's dying wish, an' I made shift to sing as + well as I could-- + + "'We air marchin' on together + To our etarnal rest; + Niver askin' why we're ordered-- + For the Lord He knoweth best. + Christ is our Captain! + 'Forred!' is His word; + Ranks all steady, muskets ready, + In the army o' the Lord! + + "'Satan's hosts are all aroun' us, + An' strive to enter in; + But our outworks they are stronger + Nor the dark brigades o' sin! + Christ is our Fortress! + Righteousness our sword; + Truth the standard--in the vanguard-- + O' the army o' the Lord! + + "'Comrads, we air ever fightin' + A battle fur the right; + Ever on the on'ard movement + Fur our home o' peace an' light. + Christ is our Leader! + Heaven our reward, + Comin' nearer, shinin' clearer-- + In the army o' the Lord!' + + "Arter I hed sung the hymn--an' it wor all I could + do to get through--Bill seemed to be a sight + easier. He lay still, smilin' like a child on the + mother's breast. Pretty soon arter, the Major kim + in; an' wen he seed Bill lookin' so peaceful, he + says, says he, 'Why, cheer up, my lad! the sugeon + sayd as how you wor in a bad way; but you look + finely now;'--fur he didn't know it wor the death + look coming over him. 'You'll be about soon,' + says the Major, 'an' fightin' fur the flag as + brave as ever,' + + "Bill didn't say nothing--he seemed to be getting + wild agin;--an' looked stupid like at our Major + till he hearn the wureds about the flag. Then he + caught his breath suddint like, an', afore we + could stop him, he had sprang to his feet--shakin' + to an' fro like a reed--but as straight as he ever + wor on parade; an', his v'ice all hoarse an' full + o' death, an' his arm in the air, he shouted, + 'Aye! God--bless--the--flag! we'll fight fur it + till--' an' then we hearn a sort o' snap, an' he + fell forred--dead! + + "We buried him that night, I an' my mates. I cut + off a lock o' his hair fur his poor mother, afore + we put the airth over him; an' giv it to her, wi' + poor Bill's money, faithful an' true, wen we kim + home. I've lived to be an old man since then, an' + see the Major go afore me, as I hoped to sarve + till my dyin' day; but Lord willing I shel go + next, to win the Salwation as I've fitten for, by + Bill's side, a sojer in Christ's army, in the + Etarnal Jerusalem!" + +The boys took a long breath when Jerry had finished his story, and more +than one bright eye was filled with tears. The rough words, and plain, +unpolished manner of the old soldier, only heightened the impression +made by his story; and as he rose to go away, evidently much moved by +the painful recollections it excited, there was a hearty, "Thank you, +sergeant, for your story--it was real good!" Jerry only touched his cap +to the young soldiers, and marched off hastily, while the boys looked +after him in respectful silence. But young spirits soon recover from +gloomy influences, and in a few moments they were all chattering merrily +again. + +"What a pity we must go home Monday!" cried Louie; "I wish we could camp +out forever! Oh, Freddy, do write a letter to General McClellan, and ask +him to let us join the army right away! Tell him we'll buy some new +india-rubber back-bones and stretch ourselves out big directly, if he'll +only send right on for us!" + +"Perhaps he would, if he knew how jolly we can drill already!" said +Peter, laughing. "I tell you what, boys, the very thing! let's have a +review before we go home. I'll ask all the boys and girls I know to come +and look on, and we might have quite a grand entertainment. Won't that +be splendid? We can march about all over, and fire off the cannons and +everything! I'm sure father will let us." + +"Yes, but how's General McClellan to hear anything about it?" inquired +practical Louie. + +"Why--I don't know," said Peter, rather taken aback by this view of the +subject. "Well, somehow--never mind, it will be grand fun, and I mean +to ask my father right away." + +"Take me with you?" called a dozen fellows directly. Finally it was +concluded that it might make more impression on Mr. Schermerhorn's mind, +if the application came from the regiment in a body; so, running for +their swords and guns, officers and men found their places in the +battalion, and the grand procession started on its way--chattering all +the time, in utter defiance of that "article of war" which forbids +"talking in the ranks." Just as they were passing the lake, they heard +carriage wheels crunching on the gravel, and drew up in a long line on +the other side of the road to let the vehicle pass them; much to the +astonishment of two pretty young ladies and a sweet little girl, about +Freddy's age, who were leaning comfortably back in the handsome +barouche. + +"Why, Peter!" exclaimed one of the ladies, "what in the world is all +this?" + +"This!" cried Peter, running up to the carriage, "why, these are the +Dashahed Zouaves, Miss Carlton. We have been in camp ever since Monday. +Good morning, Miss Jessie," to the little girl on the front seat, who +was looking on with deep interest. + +"Oh, to be sure, I remember," said Miss Carlton, laughing; "come, +introduce the Zouaves, Peter; we are wild to know them!" + +The boys clustered eagerly about the carriage and a lively chat took +place. The Zouaves, some blushing and bashful, others frank and +confident, and all desperately in love already with pretty little +Jessie, related in high glee their adventures--except the celebrated +court martial--and enlarged glowingly upon the all-important subject of +the grand review. + +Colonel Freddy, of course, played a prominent part in all this, and with +his handsome face, bright eyes, and frank, gentlemanly ways, needed only +those poor lost curls to be a perfect picture of a soldier. He chattered +away with Miss Lucy, the second sister, and obtained her special promise +that she would plead their cause with Mr. Schermerhorn in case the +united petitions of the corps should fail. The young ladies did not know +of Mrs. Schermerhorn's departure, but Freddy and Peter together coaxed +them to come up to the house "anyhow." The carriage was accordingly +taken into the procession, and followed it meekly to the house; the +Zouaves insisting on being escort, much to the terror of the young +ladies; who were in constant apprehension that the rear rank and the +horses might come to kicks--not to say blows--and the embarrassment of +the coachman; who, as they were constantly stopping unexpectedly to turn +round and talk, didn't know "where to have them," as the saying is. +However, they reached their destination in safety before long, and +found Mr. Schermerhorn seated on the piazza. He hastened forward to meet +them, with the cordial greeting of an old friend. + +"Well, old bachelor," said Miss Carlton, gayly, as the young ladies +ascended the steps, "you see we have come to visit you in state, with +the military escort befitting patriotic young ladies who have four +brothers on the Potomac. What has become of Madame, please?" + +"Gone to Niagara and left me a 'lone lorn creetur;'" said Mr. +Schermerhorn, laughing. "Basely deserted me when my farming couldn't be +left. But how am I to account for the presence of the military, +mademoiselle?" + +"Really, I beg their pardons," exclaimed Miss Carlton. "They have come +on a special deputation to you, Mr. Schermerhorn, so pray don't let us +interrupt business." + +Thus apostrophised, the boys scampered eagerly up the steps; and Freddy, +a little bashful, but looking as bright as a button, delivered the +following brief oration: "Mr. Schermerhorn: I want--that is, the boys +want--I mean we all want--to have a grand review on Saturday, and ask +our friends to look on. Will you let us do it, please?" + +"Certainly, with the greatest pleasure!" replied Mr. Schermerhorn, +smiling; "but what will become of you good people when I tell you that +I have just received a letter from Mrs. Schermerhorn, asking me to join +her this week instead of next, and bring Peter with me." + +"Oh! father, please let me stay!" interrupted Peter; "can't you tell ma +I've joined the army for the war? We all want to stay like everything!" + +"And forage for yourselves?" said his father, laughing. "No, the army +must give you up, and lose a valuable member, Master Peter; but just +have the goodness to listen a moment. The review shall take place, but +as the camp will have to break up on Saturday instead of Monday, as I +had intended, the performances must come off to-morrow. Does that suit +your ideas?" + +The boys gave a delighted consent to this arrangement, and now the only +thing which dampened their enjoyment was the prospect of such a speedy +end being put to their camp life. "Confound it! what was the fun for a +fellow to be poked into a stupid watering place, where he must bother to +keep his hair parted down the middle, and a clean collar stiff enough to +choke him on from morning till night?" as Tom indignantly remarked to +George and Will the same evening. "The fact is, this sort of thing is +_the_ thing for a _man_ after all!" an opinion in which the other _men_ +fully concurred. + +But let us return to the piazza, where we have left the party. After a +few moments more spent in chatting with Mr. Schermerhorn, it was decided +to accept Colonel Freddy's polite invitation, which he gave with such a +bright little bow, to inspect the camp. You may be sure it was in +apple-pie order, for Jerry, who had taken the Zouaves under his special +charge, insisted on their keeping it in such a state of neatness as only +a soldier ever achieved. The party made an extremely picturesque +group--the gay uniforms of the Zouaves, and light summer dresses of the +ladies, charmingly relieved against the background of trees; while Mr. +Schermerhorn's stately six feet, and somewhat portly proportions, quite +reminded one of General Scott; especially among such a small army; in +which George alone quite came up to the regulation "63 inches." + +Little Jessie ran hither and thither, surrounded by a crowd of adorers, +who would have given their brightest buttons, every "man" of them, to be +the most entertaining fellow of the corps. They showed her the battery +and the stacks of shining guns--made to stand up by Jerry in a wonderful +fashion that the boys never could hope to attain--the inside of all the +tents, and the smoke guard house (Tom couldn't help a blush as he looked +in); and finally, as a parting compliment (which, let me tell you, is +the greatest, in a boy's estimation, that can possibly be paid), Freddy +made her a present of his very largest and most gorgeous "glass agates;" +one of which was all the colors of the rainbow, and the other +patriotically adorned with the Stars and Stripes in enamel. Peter +climbed to the top of the tallest cherry tree, and brought her down a +bough at least a yard and a half long, crammed with "ox hearts;" Harry +eagerly offered to make any number of "stunning baskets" out of the +stones, and in short there never was such a belle seen before. + +"Oh, a'int she jolly!" was the ruling opinion among the Zouaves. A +private remark was also circulated to the effect that "Miss Jessie was +stunningly pretty." + +The young ladies at last said good-by to the camp; promising faithfully +to send all the visitors they could to the grand review, and drove off +highly entertained with their visit. Mr. Schermerhorn decided to take +the afternoon boat for the city and return early Friday morning, and the +boys, left to themselves, began to think of dinner, as it was two +o'clock. A brisk discussion was kept up all dinner time you may be sure, +concerning the event to come off on the morrow. + +"I should like to know, for my part, what we do in a review," said +Jimmy, balancing his fork artistically on the end of his finger, and +looking solemnly round the table. + +"Why, show off everything we know!" said Charley Spicer. "March about, +and form into ranks and columns, and all that first, then do charming +"parade rest," "'der humps!" and the rest of it; and finish off by +firing off our guns, and showing how we can't hit anything by any +possibility!" + +"But these guns won't fire off!" objected Jimmy. + +"Well, the cannon then!" + +"But I'm sure father won't let us have any powder," said Peter +disconsolately. "You can't think how I burnt the end of my nose last +Fourth with powder! It was so sore I couldn't blow it for a week!" + +The boys all burst out laughing at this dreadful disaster, and George +said, "You weren't lighting it with the end of your nose, were you?" + +"No; but I was stooping over, charging one of my cannon, and I dropped +the 'punk' right in the muzzle somehow, and, would you believe it, the +nasty thing went off and burnt my nose! and father said I shouldn't play +with powder any more, because I might have put out my eyes." + +"Well, we must take it out in marching, then," said Freddy, with a +tremendous sigh. + +"No, hold on; I'll tell you what we can do!" cried Tom, eagerly. "I have +some 'double headers' left from the Fourth; we might fire them out of +the cannon; they make noise enough, I'm sure. I'll write to my mother +this afternoon and get them." + +The boys couldn't help being struck with the generosity of this offer, +coming from Tom after their late rather unkind treatment of him; and the +older ones especially were very particular to thank him for his present. +As soon as dinner was over, he started for the house to ask Mr. +Schermerhorn to carry his message. As he hurried along the road, his +bright black eyes sparkling with the happiness of doing a good action, +he heard trotting steps behind him, felt an arm stealing round his neck, +schoolboy fashion, and there was Freddy. + +"I ran after you all the way," he pantingly said. "I want to tell you, +dear Tom, how much we are obliged to you for giving us your crackers, +and how sorry we are that we acted so rudely to you the other day. +Please forgive us; we all like you so much, and we would feel as mean as +anything to take your present without begging pardon. George, Peter, and +I feel truly ashamed of ourselves every time we think of that abominable +court martial." + +"There, old fellow, don't say a word more about it!" was the hearty +response; and Tom threw his arm affectionately about his companion. "It +was my fault, Freddy, and all because I was mad at poor old Jerry; how +silly! I was sorry for what I said right afterward." + +"Then we are friends again?" cried Freddy, joyfully. + +"Yes; I'll like you as long as I live! and ever so much longer." And so +we will leave the two on their walk to the house, and close this +abominably long chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A GRAND REVIEW. + + +THERE are really scarcely words enough in the dictionary properly to +describe the immense amount of drill got through with by the Dashahed +Zouaves between three o'clock that afternoon and twelve, noon, of the +following day. This Friday afternoon was going to be memorable in +history for one of the most splendid reviews on record. They almost ran +poor old Jerry off his legs in their eagerness to go over every possible +variety of exercise known to "Hardee's Tactics," and nearly dislocated +their shoulder blades trying to waggle their elbows backward and forward +all at once when they went at "double quick;" at the same time keeping +the other arm immovably pinioned to their sides. Then that wonderful +operation of stacking the rebellious guns, which obstinately clattered +down nine times and a half out of ten, had to be gone through with, and +a special understanding promulgated in the corps as to when Jerry's +"'der arms!" meant "shoulder arms," and when "order arms" (or bringing +all the muskets down together with a bang); and, in short, there never +was such a busy time seen in camp before. + +Friday morning dawned, if possible, still more splendidly than any of +the preceding days, with a cool, refreshing breeze, just enough snowy +clouds in the sky to keep off the fiery summer heat in a measure, and +not a headache nor a heartache among the Zouaves to mar the pleasure of +the day. The review was to come off at four o'clock, when the July sun +would be somewhat diminished in warmth, and from some hints that Jerry +let fall, Mrs. Lockitt, and the fat cook, Mrs. Mincemeat, were holding +high council up at the house, over a certain collation to be partaken of +at the end of the entertainments. + +As the day wore on the excitement of our friends the Zouaves increased. +They could hardly either eat their dinners, or sit down for more than a +moment at a time; and when, about three o'clock, Mr. Schermerhorn +entered the busy little camp, he was surrounded directly with a crowd of +eager questioners, all talking at once, and making as much noise as a +colony of rooks. + +"Patience, patience, my good friends!" laughed Mr. Schermerhorn, holding +up a finger for silence. "Every one in turn. Tom, here are your 'double +headers,' with love from your mother. Fred, I saw your father to-day, +and they are all coming down to the review. George, here is a note left +for you in my box at the Post Office, and Dashahed Zouaves in +general--I have one piece of advice to give you. Get dressed quietly, +and then sit down and rest yourselves. You will be tired out by the end +of the afternoon, at all events; so don't frisk about more than you can +help at present;" and Mr. Schermerhorn left the camp; while the boys, +under strong pressure of Jerry, and the distant notes of a band which +suddenly began to make itself heard, dressed themselves as nicely as +they could, and sat down with heroic determination to wait for four +o'clock. + +Presently, carriages began to crunch over the gravel road one after +another, filled with merry children, and not a few grown people besides. +Mr. and Mrs. Jourdain, with Bella, were among the first to arrive; and +soon after the Carltons' barouche drove up. Jessie, for some unknown +reason, was full of half nervous glee, and broke into innumerable little +trilling laughs when any one spoke to her. A sheet of lilac note paper, +folded up tight, which she held in her hand, seemed to have something to +do with it, and her soft brown curls and spreading muslin skirts were in +equal danger of irremediable "mussing," as she fidgetted about on the +carriage seat, fully as restless as any of the Zouaves. + +Mr. Schermerhorn received his guests on the piazza, where all the chairs +in the house, one would think, were placed for the company, as the best +view of the lawn was from this point. To the extreme right were the +white tents of the camp, half hidden by the immense trunk of a +magnificent elm, the only tree that broke the smooth expanse of the +lawn. On the left a thick hawthorne hedge separated the ornamental +grounds from the cultivated fields of the place, while in front the view +was bounded by the blue and sparkling waters of the Sound. + +Soon four o'clock struck; and, punctual to the moment, the Zouaves could +be seen in the distance, forming their ranks. Jerry, in his newest suit +of regimentals, bustled about here and there, and presently his voice +was heard shouting, "Are ye all ready now? SQUAD, 'SHUN! HARCH!" and to +the melodious notes of "Dixie," performed by the band, which was +stationed nearer the house, the regiment started up the lawn! Jerry +marching up beside them, and occasionally uttering such mysterious +mandates as, "Easy in the centre! keep your fours in the wheel! _Steady_ +now!" + +Oh, what a burst of delighted applause greeted them as they neared the +house! The boys hurrahed, the girls clapped their hands, ladies and +gentlemen waved their hats and handkerchiefs; while the Dashahed +Zouaves, too soldierly _now_ to grin, drew up in a long line, and stood +like statues, without so much as winking. + +And now the music died away, and everybody was as still as a mouse, +while Jerry advanced to the front, and issued the preliminary order: + +"To the rear--open order!" and the rear rank straightway fell back; +executing, in fact, that wonderful "tekkinapesstoth'rare" which had +puzzled them so much on the first day of their drilling. Then came those +other wonderful orders: + + "P'_sent_ humps! + "_Der_ humps! + "Gr'_nd_ humps!" + +And so on, at which the muskets flew backward and forward, up and down, +with such wonderful precision. The spectators were delighted beyond +measure; an enthusiastic young gentleman, with about three hairs on +each side of his mustache, who belonged to the Twenty-second Regiment, +declared "It was the best drill he had seen out of his company room!" a +celebrated artist, whose name I dare not tell for the world, sharpened +his pencil, and broke the point off three times in his hurry, and at +last produced the beautiful sketch which appears at the front of this +volume; while all the little boys who were looking on, felt as if they +would give every one of their new boots and glass agates to belong to +the gallant Dashahed Zouaves. + +[Illustration: "DOUBLE-QUICK."] + +After the guns had been put in every possible variety of position, the +regiment went through their marching. They broke into companies, +formed the line again, divided in two equal parts, called "breaking into +platoons," showed how to "wheel on the right flank," and all manner of +other mysteries. + +Finally, they returned to their companies, and on Jerry's giving the +order, they started at "double quick" (which is the most comical +tritty-trot movement you can think of), dashed down the of the +lawn, round the great elm, up hill again full speed, and in a moment +more were drawn up in unbroken lines before the house, and standing once +again like so many statues. + +It was really splendid! Round after round of applause greeted the +Zouaves, who kept their positions for a moment, then snatching off +their saucy little fez caps, they gave the company three cheers in +return, of the most tremendous description; which quite took away the +little remaining breath they had after the "double quick." + +Thus ended the first part of the review; and now, with the assistance of +their rather Lilliputian battery, and Tom's double headers, they went +through some firing quite loud enough to make the little girls start and +jump uncomfortably; so this part of the entertainment was brought to +rather a sudden conclusion. Jerry had just issued the order, "Close up +in ranks to dismiss," when Mr. Schermerhorn, who, with Miss Carlton and +Jessie, had left the piazza a few minutes before, came forward, saying, +"Have the goodness to wait a moment, Colonel; there is one more ceremony +to go through with." + +The boys looked at each other in silent curiosity, wondering what could +be coming; when, all at once, the chairs on the piazza huddled back in a +great hurry, to make a lane for a beautiful little figure, which came +tripping from the open door. + +It was Jessie; but a great change had been made in her appearance. Over +her snowy muslin skirts she had a short classic tunic of red, white, and +blue silk; a wreath of red and white roses and bright blue jonquils +encircled her curls, and in her hand she carried a superb banner. It +was made of dark blue silk, trimmed with gold fringe; on one side was +painted an American eagle, and on the other the words "Dashahed +Zouaves," surrounded with a blaze of glory and gold stars. She advanced +to the edge of the piazza, and in a clear, sweet voice, a little +tremulous, but very distinct, she said: + + "COLONEL AND BRAVE SOLDIERS: + + "I congratulate you, in the name of our friends, + on the success you have achieved. You have shown + us to-day what Young America can do; and as a + testimonial of our high admiration, I present you + the colors of your regiment! + + "Take them, as the assurance that our hearts are + with you; bear them as the symbol of the Cause you + have enlisted under; and should you fall beneath + them on the field of battle, I bid you lay down + your lives cheerfully for the flag of your + country, and breathe with your last sigh the name + of the Union! Colonel, take your colors!" + +Freddy's cheeks grew crimson, and the great tears swelled to his eyes as +he advanced to take the flag which Jessie held toward him. And now our +little Colonel came out bright, sure enough. Perhaps not another member +of the regiment, called upon to make a speech in this way, could have +thought of a word to reply; but Freddy's quick wit supplied him with +the right ideas; and it was with a proud, happy face, and clear voice +that he responded: + + "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: + + "I thank you, in the name of my regiment, for the + honor you have done us. Inspired by your praises, + proud to belong to the army of the Republic, we + hope to go on as we have begun. To your kindness + we owe the distinguishing colors under which we + march hereafter; and by the Union for which we + fight, they shall never float over a retreating + battalion!" + +Oh! the cheers and clapping of hands which followed this little speech! +Everybody was looking at Freddy as he stood there, the colors in his +hand, and the bright flush on his cheek, with the greatest admiration. +Of course, his parents weren't proud of him; certainly not! + +But the wonders were not at an end yet; for suddenly the band began +playing a new air, and to this accompaniment, the sweet voice of some +lady unseen, but which sounded to those who knew, wonderfully like Miss +Lucy Carlton's, sang the following patriotic ballad: + + "We will stand by our Flag--let it lead where it will-- + Our hearts and our hopes fondly cling to it still; + Through battle and danger our Cause must be won-- + Yet forward! undaunted we'll follow it on! + 'Tis the Flag! the old Flag! still unsullied and bright, + As when first its fair stars lit oppression's dark night + And the standard that guides us forever shall be + The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free! + + "A handful of living--an army of dead, + The last charge been made and the last prayer been said; + What is it--as sad we retreat from the plain + That cheers us, and nerves us to rally again? + 'Tis the Flag! the old Flag! to our country God-given, + That gleams through our ranks like a glory from heaven! + And the foe, as they fly, in our vanguard shall see + The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free! + + "We will fight for the Flag, by the love that we bear + In the Union and Freedom, we'll baffle despair; + Trust on in our country, strike home for the right, + And Treason shall vanish like mists of the night. + Then cheer the old Flag! every star in it glows, + The terror of traitors! the curse of our foes! + And the victory that crowns us shall glorified be, + 'Neath the Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free!" + +As the song ended, there was another tumult of applause; and then the +band struck up a lively quickstep, and the company, with the Zouaves +marching ahead, poured out on the lawn toward the camp, where a +bountiful collation was awaiting them, spread on the regimental table. +Two splendid pyramids of flowers ornamented the centre, and all manner +of "goodies," as the children call them, occupied every inch of space on +the sides. At the head of the table Jerry had contrived a canopy from a +large flag, and underneath this, Miss Jessie, Colonel Freddy, with the +other officers, and some favored young ladies of their own age, took +their seats. The other children found places around the table, and a +merrier fete champetre never was seen. The band continued to play lively +airs from time to time, and I really can give you my word as an author, +that nobody looked cross for a single minute! + +Between you and me, little reader, there had been a secret arrangement +among the grown folks interested in the regiment, to get all this up in +such fine style. Every one had contributed something to give the Zouaves +their flag and music, while to Mr. Schermerhorn it fell to supply the +supper; and arrangements had been made and invitations issued since the +beginning of the week. The regiment, certainly, had the credit, however, +of getting up the review, it only having been the idea of their good +friends to have the entertainment and flag presentation. So there was a +pleasant surprise on both sides; and each party in the transaction, was +quite as much astonished and delighted as the other could wish. + +The long sunset shadows were rapidly stealing over the velvet sward as +the company rose from table, adding a new charm to the beauty of the +scene. Everywhere the grass was dotted with groups of elegant ladies and +gentlemen, and merry children, in light summer dresses and quaintly +pretty uniforms. The little camp, with the stacks of guns down its +centre, the bayonets flashing in the last rays of the sun, was all +crowded and brilliant with happy people; looking into the tents and +admiring their exquisite order, inspecting the bright muskets, and +listening eagerly or good-humoredly, as they happened to be children or +grown people, to the explanations and comments of the Zouaves. + +And on the little grassy knoll, where the flag staff was planted, +central figure of the scene, stood Colonel Freddy, silent and thoughtful +for the first time to-day, with Jerry beside him. The old man had +scarcely left his side since the boy took the flag; he would permit no +one else to wait upon him at table, and his eyes followed him as he +moved among the gay crowd, with a glance of the utmost pride and +affection. The old volunteer seemed to feel that the heart of a soldier +beat beneath the little dandy ruffled shirt and gold-laced jacket of the +young Colonel. Suddenly, the boy snatches up again the regimental +colors; the Stars and Stripes, and little Jessie's flag, and shakes +them out to the evening breeze; and as they flash into view and once +more the cheers of the Zouaves greet their colors, he says, with +quivering lip and flashing eye, "Jerry, if God spares me to be a man, +I'll live and die a soldier!" + +The soft evening light was deepening into night, and the beautiful +planet Venus rising in the west, when the visitors bade adieu to the +camp; the Zouaves were shaken hands with until their wrists fairly +ached; and then they all shook hands with "dear" Jessie, as Charley was +heard to call her before the end of the day, and heard her say in her +soft little voice how sorry she was they must go to-morrow (though she +certainly couldn't have been sorrier than _they_ were), and then the +good people all got into their carriages again, and drove off; waving +their handkerchiefs for good-by as long as the camp could be seen; and +so, with the sound of the last wheels dying away in the distance, ended +the very end of + + THE GRAND REVIEW. + + + + +CHAPTER V.--AND LAST. + +"HOME, SWEET HOME." + + +AND now, at last, had come that "day of disaster," when Camp McClellan +must be deserted. The very sun didn't shine so brilliantly as usual, +thought the Zouaves; and it was positively certain that the past five +days, although they had occurred in the middle of summer, were the very +shortest ever known! Eleven o'clock was the hour appointed for the +breaking up of the camp, in order that they might return to the city by +the early afternoon boat. + +"Is it possible we have been here a week?" exclaimed Jimmy, as he sat +down to breakfast. "It seems as if we had only come yesterday." + +"What a jolly time it has been!" chimed in Charley Spicer. "I don't want +to go to Newport a bit. Where are you going, Tom?" + +"To Baltimore--but I don't mean to Secesh!" added Tom, with a little +blush. "I have a cousin in the Palmetto Guards at Charleston, and that's +one too many rebels in the family." + +"Never mind!" cried George Chadwick; "the Pringles are a first rate +family; the rest of you are loyal enough, I'm sure!" and George gave +Tom such a slap on the back, in token of his good will, that it quite +brought the tears into his eyes. + +When breakfast was over, the Zouaves repaired to their tents, and +proceeded to pack their clothes away out of the lockers. They were not +very scientific packers, and, in fact, the usual mode of doing the +business was to ram everything higgledy-piggledy into their valises, and +then jump on them until they consented to come together and be locked. +Presently Jerry came trotting down with a donkey cart used on the farm, +and under his directions the boys folded their blankets neatly up, and +placed them in the vehicle, which then drove off with its load, leaving +them to get out and pile together the other furnishings of the tents; +for, of course, as soldiers, they were expected to wind up their own +affairs, and we all know that boys will do considerable _hard work_ when +it comes in the form of _play_. Just as the cart, with its vicious +little wrong-headed steed, had tugged, and jerked, and worried itself +out of sight, a light basket carriage, drawn by two dashing black +Canadian ponies, drew up opposite the camp, and the reins were let fall +by a young lady in a saucy "pork pie" straw hat, who was driving--no +other than Miss Carlton, with Jessie beside her. The boys eagerly +surrounded the little carriage, and Miss Carlton said, laughing, "Jessie +begged so hard for a last look at the camp, that I had to bring her. So +you are really going away?" + +"Really," repeated Freddy; "but I am so glad you came, Miss Jessie, just +in time to see us off." + +"You know soldiers take themselves away houses and all," said George; +"you will see the tents come down with a run presently." + +"And here comes Jerry to help us!" added Harry. As he spoke, the donkey +cart rattled up, and Jerry, touching his cap to the ladies, got out, and +prepared to superintend the downfall of the tents. By his directions, +two of the Zouaves went to each tent, and pulled the stakes first from +one corner, then the other; then they grasped firmly the pole which +supported the centre, and when the sergeant ejaculated "Now!" like a +flash! the tents slid smoothly to the ground all at the same moment, +just as you may have made a row of blocks fall down by upsetting the +first one. + +And now came the last ceremony, the hauling down of the flag. + +"Stand by to fire a salute!" shouted Jerry, and instantly a company was +detached, who brought the six little cannon under the flagstaff, and +charged them with the last of the double headers, saved for this +purpose; Freddy stood close to the flagstaff, with the halyards ready in +his hands. Crack! fizz! went six matches for the cannon. "Make ready! +apply light, FIRE!" + +BANG! and the folds of the flag stream out proudly in the breeze, as it +rapidly descends the halyards, and flutters softly to the greensward. + +There was perfectly dead silence for a moment; then the voice of Mr. +Schermerhorn was heard calling, "Come, boys, are you ready? Jump in, +then, it is time to start for the boat." The boys turned and saw the +carriages which had brought them so merrily to the camp waiting to +convey them once more to the wharf; while a man belonging to the farm +was rapidly piling the regimental luggage into a wagon. + +With sorrowful faces the Zouaves clustered around the pretty pony +chaise; shaking hands once more with Jessie, and internally vowing to +adore her as long as they lived. Then they got into the carriages, and +old Jerry grasped Freddy's hand with an affectionate "Good-by, my little +Colonel, God bless ye! Old Jerry won't never forget your noble face as +long as he lives." It would have seemed like insulting the old man to +offer him money in return for his loving admiration, but the handsome +gilt-edged Bible that found its way to him soon after the departure of +the regiment, was inscribed with the irregular schoolboy signature of +"Freddy Jourdain, with love to his old friend Jeremiah Pike." + +As for the regimental standards, they were found to be rather beyond +the capacity of a rockaway crammed full of Zouaves, so Tom insisted on +riding on top of the baggage, that he might have the pleasure of +carrying them all the way. Up he mounted, as brisk as a lamplighter, +with that monkey, Peter, after him, the flags were handed up, and with +three ringing cheers, the vehicles started at a rapid trot, and the +regiment was fairly off. They almost broke their necks leaning back to +see the last of "dear Jessie," until the locusts hid them from sight, +when they relapsed into somewhat dismal silence for full five minutes. + +As Peter was going on to Niagara with his father, Mr. Schermerhorn +accompanied the regiment to the city, which looked dustier and red +brickier (what a word!) than ever, now that they were fresh from the +lovely green of the country. By Mr. Schermerhorn's advice, the party +took possession of two empty Fifth avenue stages which happened to be +waiting at the Fulton ferry, and rode slowly up Broadway to Chambers +street, where Peter and his father bid them good-by, and went off to the +depot. As Peter had declined changing his clothes before he left, they +had to travel all the way to Buffalo with our young friend in this +unusual guise; but, as people had become used to seeing soldiers +parading about in uniform, they didn't seem particularly surprised, +whereat Master Peter was rather disappointed. + +To go back to the Zouaves, however. When the stages turned into Fifth +avenue, they decided to get out; and after forming their ranks in fine +style, they marched up the avenue, on the sidewalk this time, stopping +at the various houses or street corners where they must bid adieu to one +and another of their number, promising to see each other again as soon +as possible. + +At last only Tom and Freddy were left to go home by themselves. As they +marched along, keeping faultless step, Freddy exclaimed, "I tell you +what, Tom! I mean to ask my father, the minute he comes home, to let me +go to West Point as soon as I leave school! I must be a soldier--I +can't think of anything else!" + +"That's just what I mean to do!" cried Tom, with sparkling eyes; "and, +Fred, if you get promoted before me, promise you will have me in your +regiment, won't you?" + +"Yes I will, certainly!" answered Freddy; "but you're the oldest, Tom, +and, you know, the oldest gets promoted first; so mind you don't forget +me when you come to your command!" + +As he spoke, they reached his own home; and our hero, glad after all to +come back to father, mother, and sister, bounded up the steps, and rang +the bell good and _hard_, just to let Joseph know that a personage of +eminence had arrived. As the door opened, he turned gayly round, cap in +hand, saying, "Good-by, Maryland; you've left the regiment, but you'll +never leave the Union!" and the last words he heard Tom say were, "No, +by George, _never_!" + + * * * * * + +And now, dear little readers, my boy friends in particular, the history +of Freddy Jourdain must close. He still lives in New York, and attends +Dr. Larned's school, where he is at the head of all his classes. + +The Dashahed Zouaves have met very often since the encampment, and had +many a good drill in their room--the large attic floor which Mr. +Jourdain allowed them for their special accommodation, and where the +beautiful regimental colors are carefully kept, to be proudly displayed +in every parade of the Zouaves. + +When he is sixteen, the boy Colonel is to enter West Point Academy, and +learn to be a real soldier; while Tom--poor Tom, who went down to +Baltimore that pleasant July month, promising so faithfully to join +Freddy in the cadet corps, may never see the North again. + +And in conclusion let me say, that should our country again be in danger +in after years, which God forbid, we may be sure that first in the +field, and foremost in the van of the grand army, will be our gallant +young friend, + + COLONEL FREDDY. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + +IT took a great many Saturday afternoons to finish the story of "Colonel +Freddy," and the children returned to it at each reading with renewed +and breathless interest. George and Helen couldn't help jumping up off +their seats once or twice and clapping their hands with delight when +anything specially exciting took place in the pages of the wonderful +story that was seen "before it was printed," and a great many "oh's" and +"ah's" testified to their appreciation of the gallant "Dashahed +Zouaves." They laughed over the captive Tom, and cried over the true +story of the old sergeant; and when at length the very last word had +been read, and their mother had laid down the manuscript, George sprang +up once more, exclaiming; "Oh, I wish I could be a boy soldier! Mamma, +mayn't I recruit a regiment and camp out too?" "And oh! if I could only +present a flag!" cried his sister; "I wish I had been Jessie; what a +pity it wasn't all true!" + +"And what if I should tell you," said their mother, laughing, "that a +little bird has whispered in my ear that 'Colonel Freddy' was +wonderfully like your little Long Island friend Hilton R----?" + +"Oh, mamma! why, what makes you think so?" + +"Oh, something funny I heard about him last summer; never mind what!" + +The children wisely concluded that it was no use to ask any more +questions; at the same moment solemnly resolving that the very next time +they paid a visit to their aunt, who lived at Astoria, they would beg +her to let them drive over to Mr. R----'s place, and find out all about +it. + +After this, there were no more readings for several Saturdays; but at +last one morning when the children had almost given up all hopes of more +stories, George opened his eyes on the sock hanging against the door, +which looked more bulgy than ever. "Hurrah!" he shouted; "Aunt Fanny's +daughter hasn't forgotten us, after all!" and dressing himself in a +double quick, helter-skelter fashion, George dashed out into the entry, +forgot his good resolution, and slid down the banisters like a streak of +lightning and began pummelling on his sister's door with both fists; +shouting, "Come, get up! get up, Nelly! here's another Sock story for +us!" + +This delightful announcement was quite sufficient to make Helen's +stockings, which she was just drawing on in a lazy fashion, fly up to +their places in a hurry; then she popped her button-over boots on the +wrong feet, and had to take them off and try again; and, in short, the +whole of her dressing was an excellent illustration of that time-honored +maxim, "The more _haste_, the worse _speed_;" George, meanwhile, +performing a distracted Indian war dance in the entry outside, until his +father opened his door and wanted to know what the racket was all about. + +"Socks! socks! father!" cried George, joyfully. + +At this moment Helen came out, and the two children scampered down +stairs, and sitting down side by side on the sofa, they proceeded to +examine this second instalment of the Sock stories. They found it was +again a whole book; and the title, on a little page by itself, read +"GERMAN SOCKS." + +"Oh, I am so glad!" said Helen. "These must be more stories like that +dear 'Little White Angel.'" + +And so they proved to be; for, on their mother's commencing to read the +first story, it was found to be called, "God's Pensioners;" and +commenced, "It was a cold--" but stop! halt! This book was to be devoted +to "Colonel Freddy;" but if you will only go to Mr. Leavitt's, the +publishers, you will there discover what was the rest of the second Sock +Stories. + + THE END. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 41, "dilemna" changed to "dilemma" (horns of this dilemma) + +Page 81, "arttisically" changed to "artistically" (his fork +artistically) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Red, White, Blue Socks. Part Second, by +Sarah L. Barrow + *** \ No newline at end of file