Year: 1861

of dinner that day, but looking across sh'
fat she saw Johns manly form. and a GLOW
passed over her thin sallow face, for il
spite of their unromantic surroundings
these two people loved each other as dt
not many husbands and wives wao live II
stately dwellings She took up the sal
pork and potatoes, lifted the baby into
high chair, and when John escorted by the
three dirty piemakers came into the kitch
en- he looked as if he thought she had dohe
| about as well as woman could do who
had nothing to do with, But still she no.
ticed the cloud on his face, noticed bis
careless answers to her children, and once
or twice detected hard long breath, as
if he were making up some desperate re-
solve. She tried to speak of it one or two
times but something sealed her lips, and
he saved her the effort. Fanny, our CON-
pany, the Stark Rifles, are going to the
war.


She saw it all in a moment--the pic
ture of her husband as she had seen him
years ago before they had ever thought of
being married, above his fellows on the
muster field in height, yet stopping low his
proud head in Acknowledgement of her
tinid bow. And then another scene took
its place. that tall figure in the old famil-
lar uniform, lying stained with dust and
blood on the far off battlefield. She looked
ready to faint but still he went on with
his story.


I knew it a week ago Fraees, knew it
when the Governor called out the regi-
ment, but I dared not tell you


No word by the pale woman by bis side
only one wild thought in her BRAIN
Could she not hold, keep back the man,
her one earthly hope from what seemed
her certain death.


We 60 to Concord Saturday, and to-
day is Thursday, thought the stricken wo-
man.


At first I determined / wouldn't 60,
couldn't 60, but when I went to the CON-
pany meeting last night, and the Squire
road the Presidents call for help, my blood
boiled and my hand went up with the rest.
God only knows Fanny how hard it is to
leave you and the children, but I don't t
dare to be coward. Why Fanny could
not ever show grandsire's old queensarm
to the boys again, if I turned my back to
my country now.


His voice trembled and the baby caught
tear on its grimmy little hand, but there
wasn't line that looked like faltering on
that stern face, The wife's tears fell like
summer rain, but the words of her hus-
band thrilled her. for the true old blood of
the true old State was in her veins, and it
shamed her now that even for o second
she had thought of holding back her dear
est and best if liberty called. Had she
not listened when he read how the Massa-
chusetts troops were massacred In Balti-
more, how Ellsworth was shot down like a
dog, and didn't she know that this war
would decide whether it was to be freedom
or slavery for her children ? He was all
she had of strength in the world but for
his sake she would not hold him back
She did not need many words wherein to
express her consent; but when be saw her
white lids stiffen into sternness, he knew
that he had no weak complainings of hers
to struggle with. There is not much time
counting by hours between Thursday and
Saturday, but there was much done in that
poor household, for a new life possessed
Frances Plummer She did not grow
young again she never did that this side
of the grave but she grew strong, for
hers was the baptism of fire. She listened
while J ohm told her how she could get on
in his absence, how this and that one wo' d
assist her, how be should save every cent
of his pay for her and the children, and
without any shrinking, she told him in
clear full tones that comforted him even
amidst the groans and din of Bull Run,
that he was to deny himself of DO comfort
his pay could procure, for she could work
as we'll as he Once only she broke down,
when together they inspected her little
stock of potatoes. There was enough to
last till those on the east knoll got ripe,
and then, please God, be would be with
her again if he was with her at all Their
eyes met spite of their resolutely turning
away from each other, and the bitter tears
filed them.


Saturday came, and he went, and she
took up her summers work alone, not
wi hout the hope and courage that come
from selfrenunciatien. When she was
most weary she remembered her husband
toiling in the trenches beneath a southern
sun, and no groan or complaint passed her
lips. Her little family lived decently,
thanks to her untiring industry, and even
the nearest neighbor, who remarked the
wonderful growth of the potatoes and corn