Chapter Four.
The Sound of War—First Sorrows—A Change in our Lives.
Like many other poor folks, to the houses of whom Death comes when least expected, Nancy Gray was left without a penny in the world, and wee Mattie was doubly an orphan since Daddie Gray was drowned.
When then, after a visit or two to the fisherman’s cottage, auntie one morning announced that she had taken Mattie over to be as one of her own kith and kin, and that Nancy herself would have employment at Trafalgar Cottage, none of us was a bit surprised. It was only the angel in auntie’s heart showing a little more.
So Mattie was henceforth styled “sister” by Jill and me.
Then came sorrow the second. War broke out at the Cape, the Caffres were up and killing—butchering, in fact—our poor people at all hands. Father’s regiment was ordered out, and though he himself might have stayed at home, he elected to go.
What a grief this was for us! Jill and I looked upon our dear father as one already dead.
“I’m sure they’ll kill you, father,” Jill sobbed.
“Why me, my boy?”