Year: 1872

he could get no one to clean the chapel at
first; but when he succeeded, and asked Mrs.
Elliott if she could have his surplice washed
and made ready, it was discovered that it
took the last spoonful Of starch. Here was
dilemma. 1t had taken all of Conway's and
Grace's strength and patience to iron shirts
and vests enough to keep the house'full Of men
presentable. Linen coats were now added to
their task, and there was no more starch
Some supplies had given out, others were
nearly gone, and there had been some anxiety
as to how they we're to get what was needed
The question was not where, and with what
should they purchase, but how they should
get the supplies from town, with the railroad
torn up, and no negro they could trust to
send with the wagon.


1t was hard to be without coffee and to see
the sugar barrel empty, and still harder to
have no -four; but with meat, meal, rice and
some poultry and eggs, they could satisfy
hunger, and not lose health or strength. They
could bring philosophy to their aid when the
pleasures of the table were denied, and say
iokingly, "What we eat now from necessity
will only give US strength to enjoy the good
things to come"


The want of starch was different thing.
What was there to sustain them under the
afliction of limp collars and starchless bo-
SONS?


Mrs. Elliott remembered she had never
seen Mr.. Wright or Tom without smooth bo-
SONS and stiff collars; and knowing Mrs.
Wright would willingly do any favor in her
power, she had the horses harnessed and rode
over.


Mrs. Wright listened, and in spite of her
sympathy, could not help smiling. "Ihaven't
bought any starch in three years. When
every thing began to grow scarce and hard to
get, I used -four for awhile, and then made
starch from potatoes; but since they were
destroyed, have to use meal"


"How do you make starch from potatoes"


Mrs. Wright described the simple process;
but it brought a sigh from Mrs. Elliott, for
she hadn't enough potatoes left to make tea
cup full, and the new crop was just planted.
She was obliged to content herself with learn
ing to make starch of meal, and to confess
that poor substitute was better than none.


Grace took her lesson from Ellen; laugh
iugly told how she had been half day iron
ing Mr.. Ellison's surplice; but if it had to be
washed again, she should send it to her, whose
hands had learned their task, and were be-
coming very skillful. .


No one yet realized the terrible weight Of
"hard times" which was to fall on the coun-
try; but the shadows of looming events"
chilled some of the more thoughtful, and
they turned anxious eyes towards the future.
Some deprivations were anticipated, but not
that poverty which is "like an armed man."
and whose clutches are 80 hard to bear or to
loosen.


Rumors and news of events taking place,
were not so infrequent as might be supposed.
There was considerable travelling on the road
which passed Mr.. Wright's, and every one
who stopped to water horse or seek nights
lodging had something to tell, which, to peo-
pie cut off from all mail facilities, was eagerly
heard and as eagerly discussed. Then the
soldiers at Potters Bridge sometimes came
around and were willing to talk freely with
any one who would converse with them.


Mr.. Elliott went to town on horseback and
engaged supplies, but the ho,o to get them was
an open question till Mr.. Wright offered to
let Tom 60, if he could have part Of the
wagon for some things they were needing
Mr.. Elliott was delighted. The Gordian knot
was cut by the offer, and one source Of anxi-
ETY. was relieved.


On hearing it, Jack resolved to 60 also.
"Why hadn't his own good sense, or some one
who had a little, told him to 60 long before?
He was tired of lying around like house-dog.
His aunt Georgia had been pining for weeks
for cup Of coffee, and if his uncle had not
brought half pound Of tea in his pocket,
she'd have died of headache. Had he priced
good segars like Russell and Arthur, he'd
have walked to town before smoking the vile
tobacco they had used for month";" And
thus he went on, blaming himself for his want
of thought, and laughing at the Others for
being as needless as himself.


"Ican't think of your going with the wagon
and camping out" said Mr.. Elliott.


"Why not?" asked Jack.


"It's something you are not usedto. 1don't
like YOU to do anything degrading"


"You seemed glad enough when Tom
Wright offered to CO."


"Well, yes. We are needing things so bad
ly, was really glad when his father said he
could 90. But then he is of a different family
from ours. They are accustomed to these
sort of things, and don't view them in the
same light"


"I am as much accustomed to camping out
as Tom. We were in the same regiment
and as for any thing degrading, he would no
more think of it than we should. He is
real gentleman"


"I don't see where you and Ellison get your
notions. To be sure the Wrights are fine
people-a good deal above the average of
those in their station-but you must see
there's difference between them and our old
families"


If Mr.. Elliott thought they lost by the
comparison, Jack found they did not in the
intercourse which he had with them.


The trip to town was made, and he came
back with new ideas, as we'll as -four, sugar,
coffee, starch and sundry other articles. 1t
had been thought best to send both wagons,