“Has he?” said Ethel; “so have two of my cousins. Oh,” turning to Mrs. Baker, “I hope this dreadful war will soon be over!”
“So do I,” was the emphatic rejoinder; “or rather I wish it; things don’t look so very hopeful just at present. But folks seem to think the new general may be expected to make better progress against the rebels than the others did, I think myself it’s more than likely, considering what he has done out West.”
“And we are all praying for him, that the Lord will give him wisdom and success with his plans, so that this awful war may come to an end, and the country be saved,” said Mrs. Ray. “The men at the head of the rebellion have a great deal to answer for. They were not oppressed, but were dreadful oppressors—of the negro first, then of the whites both North and South, in order to hold on to slavery, which they found so profitable to their pockets, besides ministering to their wicked pride.”
“Well, I am sure the backbone of the rebellion is broken now; they know it can’t succeed, and I for one can’t see how the consciences of the rebel leaders can allow them to go on with the struggle—sacrificing so many lives to no purpose,” sighed Mrs. Baker. “Now, Ethel, I will show you round the store and make you acquainted with the places of the different articles we have for sale, so that you will be able to find them when called for.”
“And I must go and see to household matters,” her mother said, hurrying away in the direction of the kitchen.
Ethel was kept very busy all day, except for a little while in the afternoon, when Blanche came with Harry and Nannette to see her in her new quarters.
Mrs. Baker received them kindly and invited them to come again for Ethel’s sake, and though some tears were shed by the three girls at parting, they all felt better contented than they had before.
As the days, weeks, and months rolled on, Ethel was more comfortable and found things going more smoothly with her at Mrs. Baker’s than she had dared to hope. Waiting upon customers was not repugnant to her, she was fond of her needlework, and not averse to using the sewing-machine; though Mrs. Baker was kindly careful not to let her do too much of that last, lest she should injure her health; also she kindly contrived some errand for her every day, squares away from the store, that she might have the benefit of outdoor air and exercise.
And there were many exchanges of visits between herself and her younger sisters and brother; occasional letters from Mrs. Keith and her mother to be read and replied to, and interesting news from the seat of war, the daily papers being eagerly searched for it by Mrs. Kay, Mrs. Baker, and herself.
With what a thrill of horror they read of the awful massacre by the savage Forrest and his troops at Fort Pillow, taken by a resort to trickery under a flag of truce; the terrible battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and others of the sanguinary conflicts of that last year of the war of the rebellion!