"May I have a cap too?" asked Frankie.
"Yes, any little boy may join who will agree to the rules."
"Rules, mamma," said Willie, "Do companies have rules?"
"O, yes, my dear! Soldiers always have to obey the captain; and if an enemy comes, to go and fight him."
"Shall we fight, then?" asked the boy in surprise.
"There will be one kind of fighting, my dear; but it will not be fighting with swords. You may ask all the little boys, who wish to form a company, up here after school this evening, and I will talk with them. Perhaps they will like to join my company."
Willie laughed quite heartily. "Yours, mamma! Shall you be the captain?"
"If they choose me I shall, my dear."
As soon as Willie had gone to school, Mrs. Gray began to cut long strips of colored paper and wind them into plumes. There was a very long waving one of yellow for the captain, and one of blue for the lieutenant, and twelve of pink for the soldiers. She did not think there would be more than fourteen at first. Then she cut sheets of paper, and taught Sally to form them into caps; and after they were done, she sewed the plumes on, and laid them all out on the table, which stood in the hall, so as to attract the notice of the boys when they came in from school.
Next she sent Sally to the attic for some strips of red and blue cloth. Of the red she made pretty stars to fasten on the shoulders, while nurse cut long smooth stripes to trim their jackets and pantaloons.