Page 24 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

father. T h e only Confederates the children ever saw now

were the prisoners who were being passed back On their way
to prison. The only news they ever received were the
rumors which reached them from Federal sources. Mrs. Staf­
ford’s heart was heavy within her, and when, a day or two
before Christinas, she heard Charlie and Evelyn, as they sat
before the fire, gravely talking to each other of the long*

expected presents which their father had promised that Santa
Claus should bring them, she could stand St no longer. She
took Bob and Ran into her room, and there told them that now
it was impossible for their father to come, and that they must

help her entertain “ the children ! and console them for their
disappointment. The two boys responded heartily, as true
boys always will when thrown on their manliness.
For the next two days Mrs. Stafford and both the buys
were busy, Mrs, Stafford, when Charlie was not present,
gave her time to culling out and making a little gray uni­

form suit from an old coat which her husband had worn
when he first entered the army; whilst the boys employed
themselves, Bob in making a pretty little sword and scabbard
out of an old piece of gutter, and Ran, who had a wonderful

turn, in carving a doll from a piece of hard seasoned wood.
T h e day before Christmas they lost a little time in follow­
ing and pitying a small lot of prisoners who passed along
the road by the gate. T he boys were always pitying the
prisoners and planning means to rescue them, for they had an
idea that they suffered a terrible fate. Only one certain case