"Got any matches, Grasshopper?"
They dug holes in the ground for the powder, and over the powder crossed some dry sticks. When they touched it off they ran away as fast as possible; but it was a wonder they were not both blown up. It was pleasant, no doubt, to hear the popping of the powder; but they dared not laugh too loud, lest some one in the house should hear them, and come out to ask what they could be playing that was so remarkably funny.
Mrs. Clifford little thought what a naughty thing Horace had been doing, when she called him in one day, and said, with a smiling face,—for she loved to make him happy,—"See, my son, what I have bought for you! It is a present from your father, for in his last letter he asked me to get it."
Horace fairly shouted with delight when he saw the beautiful Zouave suit, gray, bordered with red, and a cap to match. If he had any twinges of conscience about receiving this present, nobody knew it.
Here is the letter of thanks which he wrote to his father:—
"Dear Papa.
"I am sorry to say I have not seen you since you went to the war. Grandpa has two pigs. I want a drum so much!
"We have lots of squirrels: they chip. We have orioles: they say, 'Here, here, here I be!'
"I want the drum because I am a captain! We are going to train with paper caps.
"I get up the cows and have a good time.