Page 17 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

W H E N Major Stafford galloped away, on his return
to his command, the little group at the lawn gate

shouted many messages after him. The last thing he
heard was Charlie's treble, as he seated himself on the gate­
post, calling to him not to forget to make Santa Claus bring
him a pair of breeches and a sword, and E velyn’s little voice
reminding him of her H dolly that can go to sleep,”

Many times during the ensuing year, amid the hardships
of the campaign, the privations of the march, and the dangers
of battle, the Major heard those little voices calling to him.
fn the autumn he won the three stars of a colonel for gal­
lantry in leading a desperate charge on a town, in a perilous

raid into the heart of the enemy’s country, and holding the
place; but none knew, when he dashed into the town at the
head of his regiment tinder a hail of bullets, that his mind
was full of toyshops and clothitig stores, and that when he
was so stoutly holding his position he was guarding a little

boy’s suit, a small sword with a gilded scabbard, and a large
doll with flowing ringlets and eyes that could “ go to sleep.”
Some of his friends during that year had charged the Major
with growing miserly, and rallied him upon hoarding up his