But another, older girl came running. “Sally,” she said reprovingly, and seizing the little one’s hand in an effort to draw her away, “you must not tease the ladies; papa says so. Come with me.”
Sally resisted and Rosie said, “No, we are not teased. We’d like to have her stay and talk to us.”
But the father had come for his baby girl. “Please excuse her, young ladies,” he said, lifting his hat politely, “she’s pretty well spoiled. I’ve come to the seaside for a bit of rest and brought my children along, for I knew it would be quite a treat to them.”
“And see, we’ve all got on the Union colors,” said one of the little girls who had followed him, showing a rosette of red, white, and blue ribbon pinned to her dress. “Father was a soldier in the war, and we all love the old flag.”
“Oh, were you, sir?” cried Lulu delightedly. “Won’t you please tell us of your experiences there?”
The other girls joined eagerly in the request, and at length, evidently pleased that they cared to hear the story, he sat down on the beach beside them and began it.
“In the war of the rebellion I was in the Shenandoah Valley with the infantry troops; a mere lad I was, only fifteen. One day I slipped off without leave, to visit an aunt living in Washington. We were at that time in camp on Georgetown Heights. Going back that night I lost my way and did not feel safe to ask it lest I should be thought a deserter; so finally went down into an area and, wearied out with my wanderings, fell asleep. It rained heavily through the night, but I was so weary and so used to hardship that I slept on and knew nothing about that till morning, when I waked to find myself lying in a puddle of water. I rose and hurried on my way; finally got back to camp, but so rheumatic from my wetting that I was sent to the hospital—in Washington. There my gun was taken from me and a receipt for it given me; so that when at length I recovered sufficiently to go back to camp, I was without a gun.
“It was not supplied to me immediately, and in the mean time the troops with whom I belonged were ordered to guard some wagons—a very long train—and while it was moving on, Mosby came up with his cavalry, took us prisoners, rifled the wagons of such things as he could carry away and use, and took the best horses for the use of his troops, leaving behind his own broken-down ones.
“Mosby’s own troops and his prisoners were allowed to help themselves to such provisions as they could carry. I think they burnt all they could not take. When the rebs came upon us, one demanded my coat. I pulled it off and gave it to him; another took my hat, a third my shoes, so that I was not particularly well dressed when they were done with me.
“But I, as well as others, filled my haversack with provisions—hard-tack, pork, and so forth—and as they moved on each prisoner was obliged to lead one or more horses. I had but one.