THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG 
 FOLKS 
 
 IN PEACE AND WAR 
 
 BY 
 
 MARTHA FINLEY 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1900. 
 
 BY 
 
 DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
 
 PS 
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 IT was a lovely summer day, bright and clear, 
 but the heat so tempered there on the coast 
 of Maine by the delicious sea breeze that it 
 was delightful and exhilarating. The owner 
 and passengers of the Dolphin had forsaken 
 her more than a fortnight ago, and since spent 
 their days and nights at a lovely villa on shore 
 there in Bar Harbor; but now no longer able 
 to resist the attractions of the beautiful sea, 
 the most of them had come aboard, and were 
 sitting, standing, or roaming about the deck. 
 
 " Oh, I'm so glad to be in our own dear sea 
 home again! " cried Elsie Eaymond. " Aren't 
 you, Ned? " 
 
 " Yes; though we have been having a splen 
 did time on shore in Bar Harbor."
 
 2 ELS IE' 8 JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "Yes, so we have; but as we expect to be 
 back again in a few days, we needn't fret at all 
 about leaving it." 
 
 "No, nor we needn't if we were just going 
 back to Woodburn, our own beautiful home 
 certainly a better place than this in fall and 
 winter, anyhow." 
 
 "But I'm glad to have a sail again," said 
 Elsie. 
 
 " Brother Max says we'll soon see some 
 places where they had sea fights in our two 
 wars with England," remarked Ned, with satis 
 faction. 
 
 " Oh, does he? I mean to ask papa or 
 grandma to tell us about them," exclaimed 
 Elsie, in tones of excitement. 
 
 " Oh, yes, let's! " cried Ned. " But the men 
 are taking up the anchor," he added hastily, 
 " and I must see that first. Come," catching 
 his sister's hand and hurrying her along to a 
 good position from which to view the opera 
 tion. 
 
 That duly attended to, they sought out their 
 grandma, who happened to be at the moment
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 3 
 
 sitting a little apart from the others, and 
 made their request. She smilingly consented 
 to tell them all she could recall on the subject 
 that would be interesting to them, and bid 
 ding them seat themselves close beside her she 
 began. 
 
 " Your father has told me that we are now 
 going out to the extreme eastern point of the 
 State and of our country the United States. 
 West Quoddy Head is its name now, but in 
 very early times it was called Nurumbega. In 
 1580 John Walken, in the service of Sir Hum 
 phrey Gilbert, conducted an expedition to its- 
 shores, and reached the Penobscot River. In 
 1603 two vessels, the Speedwell and the Dis 
 coverer, entered the Penobscot Bay and the 
 mouth of a river probably the Saco. About 
 three years after that two French Jesuits, with 
 several families, settled on Mount Desert 
 Island. A few years later some twenty-five 
 French colonists landed on Mount Desert and 
 founded a settlement called St. Saviour. But 
 not long afterward they were driven away by 
 some English under command of Captain Ar-
 
 4 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 gal, who considered them trespassers upon 
 English soil. That, I think, is enough of the 
 very early history of Maine, for to-day, at 
 least." 
 
 " Oh, yes, grandma! but won't you please 
 tell about Eevolutionary times and the war of 
 1812-14? " pleaded Elsie. " Maine was one of 
 the thirteen colonies, wasn't she ? " 
 
 " No, dear; she was considered a part of 
 Massachusetts at that time, and did not be 
 come a separate State until 1820." 
 
 " Oh, didn't the people there care about the 
 Eevolution and help in it?" asked Elsie in a 
 tone of disappointment. 
 
 " Yes, dear, they did. In a county conven 
 tion in 1774 Sheriff William Tyng declared 
 his intention to obey province law and not that 
 of parliament. He advised a firm and per 
 severing opposition to every design, dark or 
 open, framed to abridge our English liberties." 
 
 " English! " exclaimed Ned, in a half scorn 
 ful tone, at which his grandma smiled, and 
 stroking his curls caressingly, said, "Yes, 
 Neddie, at that time before the Bevolu-
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 5 
 
 tionary War our people liked to call them 
 selves English." 
 
 " But we don't now, grandma; we're Ameri 
 cans." 
 
 " Yes; that is the name we have given our 
 selves in these days; but we consider the Eng 
 lish our relations a sort of cousins." 
 
 " Well, then I hope we and they will never 
 fight any more/' said Elsie. "But, please, 
 grandma, tell us something more of what has 
 happened along this coast." 
 
 "In 1775," continued her grandma, "the 
 British kept the coast of New England from 
 Falmouth (now called Portland) to New Lon 
 don in continual alarm; they were out in every 
 direction plundering the people to supply their 
 camp with provisions." 
 
 "In this State, grandma?" asked Ned. 
 
 "Yes; and in Connecticut and Massachu 
 setts. They bombarded Stonington, in Con 
 necticut, shattered houses and killed two men. 
 That was in August or September. In Oc 
 tober Mowatt was sent to Falmouth in Maine 
 to get a supply of provisions from the people
 
 Q ELSIE' 8 JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 there, and to demand a surrender of their 
 arms. They refused and defied him; then 
 after giving time for the women and children 
 to leave the town he bombarded and set it on 
 fire. More than four hundred houses were 
 destroyed nearly all the town of about five 
 hundred buildings." 
 
 " What a cruel thing! " exclaimed Elsie; " I 
 suppose they had to give up then? " 
 
 " No," said Mrs. Travilla; " so brave and de 
 termined were they that they repulsed the 
 marauders and would not let them land." 
 
 " Grandma," asked Elsie, " didn't Arnold 
 go through Maine with an army to attack 
 Canada about that time? " 
 
 "Yes; about the middle of August a com 
 mittee of Congress visited Washington in his 
 camp, and together they formed a plan to send 
 a force into Canada by way of the Kennebec 
 Eiver to co-operate with General Schuyler, 
 who was preparing to invade that province by 
 way of the Northern lakes. Arnold was well 
 known to be brave. He had been complaining 
 of being ill-used upon Lake Champlain.
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 7 
 
 Washington desired to silence his complaints, 
 and knowing that this expedition was suited to 
 his talents he appointed him to command, and 
 gave him the commission of colonel in the Con 
 tinental army. 
 
 " The force under his command consisted of 
 eleven hundred hardy men ten companies of 
 musketeers from New England, and three 
 companies of riflemen from Virginia and Penn 
 sylvania. Those riflemen were commanded by 
 Captain Daniel Morgan, who afterward did 
 such good work for our country in her hard 
 struggle for liberty. Arnold and his troops 
 marched from Cambridge to Newburyport, 
 where they embarked on transports which 
 carried them to the mouth of the Kennebec. 
 They went up that river in bateaux and ren 
 dezvoused at Fort Western, opposite the 
 present town of Augusta. Now they had 
 come to the edge of a vast and almost unin 
 habited wilderness." 
 
 "And had to go through it, grandma?" 
 asked Ned. 
 
 "Yes; they were very brave men, ready to
 
 8 ELSIE' 8 YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 encounter difficulties and dangers for the 
 sake of securing their country's freedom. Two 
 small parties were sent on in advance to recon 
 noitre, and the rest moved forward in four di 
 visions, Morgan with his riflemen in the van. 
 Arnold, who was the last, passed up the river 
 in a canoe/* 
 
 "Hadn't they a very hard time going 
 through that wilderness, grandma?" asked 
 Elsie. 
 
 " Yes, very hard indeed; over craggy knolls, 
 deep ravines, through creeks and ponds and 
 deep morasses; sometimes paddling along a 
 stream in their canoes sometimes carrying 
 them around a fail on their shoulders. Sud 
 denly, at length, they came to a mountain cov 
 ered with snow. At its foot they encamped 
 for three days. Then they went on again, 
 but a heavy rain set in, sending down such tor 
 rents from the hills that the river rose eight 
 feet in one night. The water came roaring 
 down the valley where our soldiers were, so 
 unexpectedly and powerfully that they had 
 scarcely time to retreat and get into their
 
 dLSIL'S YOUNG FOLKS. g 
 
 bateaux before the whole plain was flooded 
 with water. Seven boats were overturned 
 and the provisions in them lost. Many of 
 them were made sick, too, by the storm and 
 exposure, and so grew sad and discouraged. 
 Some gave up and went back to their homes, 
 while Arnold went on with the rest. The rain 
 changed to snow, and there was ice in the 
 water in which the poor fellows had to wade 
 to push their bateaux along through ponds and 
 marshes near the sources of the Dead River. 
 
 " At last they reached Lake Megantic. 
 They encamped on its eastern shore, and the 
 next morning Arnold, with a party of fifty-five 
 men on shore with Captain Nanchet and thir 
 teen with himself in five bateaux and a birch 
 canoe, pushed on down the river to a French 
 settlement to get provisions to send back to his 
 almost starving men. They passed seventeen 
 falls, marching through snow two inches deep, 
 then reached the Highlands which separate the 
 waters of New England from Canada. But 
 as it is of the history of Maine I am telling 
 you, and Arnold and his band have now passed
 
 10 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKk. 
 
 out of it, we will leave the est of his story for 
 another time." 
 
 "He did a good deal more for his country 
 before he turned traitor, didn't he, grandma? " 
 asked Elsie. 
 
 "Yes; he fought bravely again and again. 
 The great victory at Saratoga was largely due 
 to him; in a less degree to Morgan." 
 
 " Daniel Morgan who commanded at the 
 battle of the Cowpens?" asked Elsie. 
 
 " The very same," replied Mrs. Travilla. 
 
 "Didn't some other things happen along 
 this coast, grandma?" asked Ned. 
 
 "Yes, indeed; several things. In the war 
 of 1812-14 there occurred a naval battle near 
 Portland, between the American ship Enter 
 prise and the English brig Boxer. On the 
 morning of the 1st of September, 1813, the 
 Enterprise sailed from Portsmouth, New 
 Hampshire, and on the morning of the 3d 
 chased a schooner suspected of being a British 
 privateer, into Portland harbor. The next 
 day she left that harbor and steered eastward 
 looking for British cruisers. On the 5th
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS H 
 
 they discovered in a bay what Captain Bur 
 rows supposed to be a vessel of war getting 
 under way. She was a British brig, and on 
 sighting the Enterprise she displayed four 
 British ensigns, fired several guns as signals to 
 boats that had been sent ashore to return, and 
 crowding canvas, bore down gallantly for the 
 Enterprise. 
 
 " Seeing that, Burrows cleared his ship for 
 action, sailed out a proper distance from land 
 to have plenty of sea room for the fight, then 
 shortened sail and edged toward the Boxer. 
 That was at three o'clock in the afternoon. 
 Twenty minutes later the two brigs closed 
 within half pistol shot, and both opened fire at 
 the same time. The sea was almost quiet, 
 there was but little wind, and that condition of 
 things made the cannonading very destructive. 
 Ten minutes after the firing began the Enter 
 prise ranged ahead of the Boxer, steered across 
 her bows and delivered her fire with such pre 
 cision and destructive energy that at four 
 o'clock the British officer in command shouted 
 through his trumpet that he had surrendered,
 
 12 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 but his flag being nailed to the mast, could 
 not be lowered until the Enterprise should 
 cease firing." 
 
 "And did she, grandma?" asked Ned. 
 
 " Yes; I do not think our men ever fired on 
 a foe whom they believed to be ready to sur 
 render. Captain Blyth of the Boxer was al 
 ready dead, having been nearly cut in two by 
 an eighteen-pound ball, and Captain Burrows 
 was mortally wounded. He had been helping 
 the men to run out a carronade, and while 
 doing so a shot, supposed to be a canister 
 ball, struck his thigh, causing a fatal 
 wound. He lived eight hours, and must have 
 suffered terrible agony. He refused to be 
 carried below until the sword of the com 
 mander of the Boxer should be brought to him. 
 He took it eagerly when brought, saying, 
 ' Now I am satisfied; I die contented.' " 
 
 " What did they do for a commander after 
 their captain was so dreadfully injured?" 
 asked Elsie. 
 
 "Lieutenant Edward E. M'Call took com 
 mand of the Enterprise and showed great skill
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 13 
 
 and courage," replied Grandma Elsie. " On 
 the morning of the 7th he took both ves 
 sels into Portland Harbor, and the next day 
 the bodies of the two commanders were buried 
 side by side in the same cemetery, and with all 
 the honors to which their rank and powers en 
 titled them." 
 
 " Were the ships quite spoiled, grandma? " 
 asked Ned. 
 
 " The Enterprise was not, but the Boxer 
 was much cut up in both hull and rigging," 
 she replied. "The battle showed that the 
 Americans exceeded the English in both nau 
 tical skill and marksmanship. Lossing tells us 
 that a London paper, speaking of the battle, 
 said, l The fact seems to be but too clearly 
 established that the Americans have some su 
 perior mode of firing, and we cannot be too 
 anxiously employed in discovering to what cir 
 cumstances that superiority is owing/ " 
 
 " I think the man who wrote that was feel 
 ing mortified that one of their vessels had 
 been whipped by one of ours," remarked Ned 
 sagely.
 
 14 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "Yes," said Grandma Elsie, "I think the 
 nailing of their flag to the mast showed that 
 they felt confident of victory. Cooper tells in 
 his history that when the Enterprise hailed to 
 know if the Boxer had struck as she kept her 
 flag flying one of the officers of the British 
 vessel leaped upon a gun, shook both fists at 
 the Americans, and shouted 'No, no, no!' 
 adding some opprobrious epithets." 
 
 " Oh, didn't that make our fellows angry? " 
 asked Ned. 
 
 "I think not," replied Grandma Elsie; "it 
 seems to have amused them, as they saw that 
 he was ordered down by his superiors." 
 
 "Was it a long fight, grandma?" asked 
 Elsie. 
 
 " It had lasted only thirty-five minutes when 
 the Boxer surrendered." 
 
 "Had a great many of her men been 
 killed? " asked Ned. 
 
 " I don't knoAV," replied his grandma, " but 
 on the Enterprise there was but one besides 
 Burrows; Midshipman Kervin Waters, who 
 had been mortally wounded, died a few weeks
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 15 
 
 later. He was buried by the side of his gal 
 lant leader Burrows." 
 
 " Oh, dear! " sighed little Elsie, " war is so 
 dreadful! " 
 
 " It is indeed," said her grandma, " and it 
 was made especially dreadful at that time to 
 the people of this country by reason of our 
 being so much weaker than England in men, 
 money, and ships." 
 
 " But it was a blessing that our seamen were 
 so much more skilful than hers, Grandma 
 Elsie," said Max, who had drawn near in time 
 to hear the last few sentences. " Our little 
 navy did good work in that war, small as she 
 was in comparison with the enemy's. We had 
 but twenty ships to her thousand, yet showed 
 ourselves strong enough to put an end to her 
 tyrannical conduct toward our poor sailors. 
 She has never interfered again in that way 
 with them." 
 
 " And never will, I think," added Grandma 
 Elsie. " The two Anglo-Saxon nations are 
 good friends now, and I trust always will be." 
 
 " I hope so indeed," said Max. " We must
 
 16 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 be prepared for war, but I hope may be long 
 able to maintain peace with all other nations/' 
 
 " A hope in which we can all join, I think," 
 said Mrs. Travilla, glancing around upon the 
 circle of interested faces; for all the Dolphin's 
 passengers had by this time gathered about 
 them. 
 
 " You were talking of the war of 1812, were 
 you, mother?" asked Captain Eaymond. 
 
 " Yes; I was telling the children of the fight 
 between the Boxer and the Enterprise," replied 
 Mrs. Travilla. 
 
 "And oh, won't you tell us some more, 
 grandma? " entreated Ned. 
 
 " I think your father could do it better," she 
 said, looking persuasively at the captain. 
 
 "I am not at all sure of that," he said; 
 " but if you wish it I will tell what I can re 
 member of such occurrences at the points 
 along the coast which we are about to visit. 
 But first let me beg that every one will feel 
 free to leave the vicinity should my story seem 
 to them dull and prosy," he added, with a smil 
 ing glance about upon the little company.
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 17 
 
 There was a moment's pause; then Violet 
 said laughingly, " That was very kind and 
 thoughtful in my dear, and I for one shall not 
 hesitate to go should I feel inclined." 
 
 The captain responded with a bow and smile; 
 then, after a moment's pause, began upon the 
 chosen theme.
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 " EASTPORT which we will presently visit," 
 began Captain Baymond, " is on Moose Island, 
 in Passamaquoddy Bay. At the time of our 
 last war with them the English claimed it as 
 belonging to New Brunswick, under the treaty 
 of 1783. Early in July, 1814, Sir Thomas 
 Hardy sailed secretly from Halifax for that 
 place, with quite a force of men for land and 
 sea service. On the llth the squadron en 
 tered Passamaquoddy Bay and anchored off 
 Fort Sullivan, at Eastport. Major Perley 
 Putnam was in command of the fort, with a 
 garrison of fifty men and six pieces of artillery. 
 Hardy demanded an instant surrender, and 
 gave only five minutes' time for consideration. 
 Putnam promptly refused to surrender but 
 the inhabitants of the island were greatly 
 alarmed and not disposed to resist, so entreated 
 
 18
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 19 
 
 him to yield, which he did on condition that 
 private property should be respected. 
 
 " When the agreement was signed, the Brit 
 ish took possession of the fort, the town of 
 Eastport, and all the islands and villages in 
 and around Passamaquoddy Bay, landing a 
 thousand armed men, with women and chil 
 dren, fifty or sixty pieces of cannon, and a bat 
 talion of artillery." 
 
 "And did they stay there, papa?" asked 
 Elsie. " Oh, I hope they are not there now! " 
 
 "I have no doubt that nearly, if not all of 
 them, are in their graves by this time, daugh 
 ter," replied the captain; then went on: " The 
 British made declaration that these islands 
 were in their permanent possession, and or 
 dered all the inhabitants to take an oath of 
 allegiance within seven days, or leave the ter 
 ritory." 
 
 "Allegiance to the King of England, 
 papa? " asked Elsie; " and did any of them 
 do it?" 
 
 "Yes, that is what was meant, and about 
 two-thirds of the people took it. They, the
 
 20 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 English, took all the public property from the 
 custom-house, and tried to force the collector 
 to sign unfinished treasury notes to the value 
 of nine thousand dollars. But he refused, say 
 ing, ' Hanging will be no compulsion/ " 
 
 " Did that mean that he wouldn't do it even 
 if he knew they would hang him if he re 
 fused?" asked Elsie. 
 
 "Yes, that was just it," said her father. 
 " Having accomplished what he wished to do 
 at Eastport securing it to his country, as he 
 thought leaving eight hundred troops to hold 
 it, Hardy sailed away along the coast of 
 Maine and Massachusetts, spreading alarm as 
 he went. But the people prepared to meet his 
 expected attack manning their forts and arm 
 ing them. When Sherbrook and Griffith 
 sailed, they intended to stop at Machias and 
 take possession of it; but falling in with the 
 brig Rifleman, and being told by its commander 
 that the United States corvette John Adams 
 had gone up the Penobscot, they made haste to 
 the mouth of that river to blockade her. 
 They passed up the Green Island channel and
 
 ELSIE'S YOVNa FOLKS. 21 
 
 entered the fine harbor of Castine on the 
 morning of the 1st of September. On the 
 edge of the water south of the village was the 
 half moon redoubt called Fort Porter, armed 
 with four twenty-pounders and two field 
 pieces, and manned by about forty men under 
 Lieutenant Lewis, of the United States army. 
 At sunrise Lewis was called upon to surrender. 
 He saw that resistance would be impossible, 
 so resolved to flee. He gave the enemy a vol 
 ley from his twenty-pounders, then spiked 
 them, blew up the redoubt, and with the field- 
 pieces he and the garrison fled over the high 
 peninsula to its neck and escaped up the 
 Penobscot. Then the British took possession, 
 of the town and control of the bay. 
 
 " The John Adams had just come home from 
 a successful cruise, and coming into Penobscot 
 Bay in a thick fog had struck a rock and re 
 ceived so much injury that it was found neces 
 sary to lay her up for repairs. They did their 
 best to take her out of harm's way, but it was 
 with difficulty they could keep her afloat until 
 she reached Hampden, a few miles below Ban
 
 22 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 gor. Some of her crew were disabled by sick 
 ness, and so she was almost helpless. 
 
 " Sherbrook, the commanding officer of the 
 British vessels, was told all this as soon as he 
 landed at Castine, and he and Griffith, com 
 mander of the fleet, at once sent a land and 
 naval force to seize and destroy the John 
 Adams. The expedition sailed in the after 
 noon of the day of the arrival at Castine. 
 The people along the Penobscot were not at 
 all inclined to submit to the British if they 
 could possibly escape doing so. On the day 
 the British sailed up the river word was sent 
 by express to Captain Morris, and he at once 
 communicated with Brigadier-General John 
 Blake, at his home in Brower, opposite Bangor, 
 asking him to call out the militia immediately. 
 Blake lost no time in assembling the tenth 
 Massachusetts division, of which he was com 
 mander. That evening he rode down to 
 Hampden, where he found Captain Morris 
 busy with his preparations for defence. He 
 had taken the heavy guns of his ship to the 
 high right bank of the Soadabscook, fifty rods
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 23 
 
 from the wharf, and placed them in battery 
 there so as to command the river approaches 
 from below. 
 
 " The next morning he and Blake held a con 
 sultation on the best methods of defence, citi 
 zens of Bangor and Hampden taking part in it. 
 Captain Morris had little confidence in the 
 militia, but expressed his intention to meet the 
 enemy at their landing-place, wherever that 
 might be, and also his resolution to destroy 
 the Adams rather than allow it to fall into 
 their hands. 
 
 " Belfast was taken the next morning by 
 General Gosselin, at the head of six hundred 
 troops. At the same time another detach 
 ment marched up the western side of the 
 Penobscot unmolested, and reached Bald Hill 
 Cove at five o'clock in the evening. The 
 troops and eighty marines bivouacked there 
 that night in a drenching rain. During that 
 day about six hundred raw militia, who had 
 never seen anything more like war than their 
 own annual parade, had gathered at Hampden 
 and been posted by General Blake in an ad-
 
 24 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 mirable position on the brow of a hill. Lieu 
 tenant Lewis and the forty men who had fled 
 from Castine had joined him. The artillery 
 company of Blake's brigade was there also, 
 with two brass three-pounders, and an iron 
 eighteen-pound carronade from the Adams 
 was placed in battery in the road near the 
 meeting-house in charge of Mr. Bent of the 
 artillery. Many of the militia were without 
 weapons or ammunition, but Captain Morris 
 supplied them as far as he could. 
 
 " While these arrangements were being made 
 Captain Morris had mounted nine short 
 eighteen-pounders from the Adams upon the 
 high bank over Crosby's wharf, and placed 
 them in charge of his first lieutenant, assisted 
 by the other two. With the rest of his guns 
 he took his position on the wharf, with about 
 two hundred seamen and marines and twenty 
 invalids, ready to defend his crippled ship to 
 the last extremity. 
 
 " The next morning all that region was cov 
 ered by a dense fog. The different British 
 detachments joined together, and by five
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS . 25 
 
 o'clock were moving on toward Hampden 
 moving cautiously in the mist, with a vanguard 
 of riflemen, and on the flanks detachments of 
 sailors and marines with a six-pound cannon, 
 a six and a half inch howitzer, and a rocket 
 apparatus. The British vessels at the same 
 time moved slowly up the river within support 
 ing distance. 
 
 " Blake had sent out two flank companies to 
 watch and annoy the approaching foe, and be 
 tween seven and eight o'clock they reported 
 them as coming up the hill to attack the 
 Americans. The fog was so thick that they 
 could not be seen, but Blake pointed his 
 eighteen-pounder in that direction, his field- 
 pieces also, and fired away with a good deal of 
 effect, as he learned afterward; but the fog was 
 too thick for him to see it at the time. His 
 plan was to reserve his musket firing until the 
 enemy should be near enough to be seriously 
 hurt; but his men, being raw militia and with 
 out the protection of a breastwork in front, 
 lost courage while standing there awaiting the 
 approach of the enemy, and when it came
 
 26 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 suddenly into view, marching at double-quick 
 and firing volleys in rapid succession, they were 
 panic-stricken, broke ranks, and fled in every 
 direction, leaving Blake and his officers alone. 
 Lieutenant Wadsworth saw it all from the 
 upper*TDattery where he was, and sent word 
 immediately to Morris, who was on the wharf. 
 
 " The flight of the militia had left Morris* 
 rear and flank exposed, and he saw that it 
 would be impossible to defend himself against 
 such a force as was about to attack him. 
 He therefore ordered Wadsworth to spike 
 his guns and retreat with his men across 
 the bridge over the Soadabscook, while it was 
 yet open, for the stream was fordable only at 
 low water, and the tide was rising. 
 
 " Wadsworth obeyed, his rear gallantly cov 
 ered by Lieutenant Watson with some marines. 
 At the same time the guns on the wharf were 
 spiked the John Adams was set on fire, and 
 Morris' men retreated across the Soadabs 
 cook, he being the last man to leave the wharf. 
 Before he reached the bridge the British were 
 on the bank above him; but he dashed across
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 27 
 
 the stream, armpit deep in the water, and 
 under a galling fire from their muskets, un 
 hurt, joined his friends on the other side 
 Blake and his officers and a mere remnant of 
 his command among them and all retreated 
 to Bangor. Morris did not stay there, however, 
 but soon made his way overland to Portland." 
 
 " Did the British harm the people in that 
 town, papa?" asked Elsie. 
 
 " They took possession, and there was no 
 further resistance," replied the captain. 
 Then they sent some vessels, with about five 
 hundred men, to Bangor. A mile from the 
 town they were met by a flag of truce from the 
 magistrates, who asked terms of capitulation. 
 The answer was that private property would 
 be respected. It was about ten o'clock when 
 they reached the town, and Commodore Barrie 
 gave notice that if the people would cheerfully 
 send in the required supplies they should not 
 be harmed in person or property. But he had 
 hardly done so before he gave his sailors to 
 understand that they might plunder as much 
 as they pleased."
 
 28 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "And did they, papa?" asked Elsie. 
 
 " Yes/' he said, " history tells us that al 
 most every store on the western side of the 
 creek, which there empties into the Penob- 
 scot, was robbed of all valuable property. Col 
 onel John, however, did all he could to protect 
 the inhabitants. The British forced the 
 people to surrender all their arms, military 
 stores, and public property of every kind, and 
 to report themselves prisoners of war for 
 parole, with a promise that they would not take 
 up arms against the British. 
 
 "Having robbed the people of property 
 worth twenty-three thousand dollars, de 
 stroyed, by burning, fourteen vessels, and stolen 
 six, which they carried away with them, they 
 left Bangor for Hampden, which they treated 
 in the same way. There they desolated the 
 church tearing up the Bible and psalm-books, 
 and demolishing the pulpit and pews. Lossing 
 tells us that the total loss of property at Hamp 
 den, exclusive of the cargo of the Commodore 
 Decatur, was estimated at forty-four thousand 
 dollars. And in a note he adds that William-
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 29 
 
 son's ' History of Maine ' says, ' In the midst 
 of the rapine a committee waited on Barrie, 
 and told him that the people expected at his 
 hands the common safeguards of humanity, if 
 nothing more; to which the brutal officer re 
 plied, " I have none for you. My business is to 
 burn, sink, and destroy. Your town is taken 
 by storm, and by the rules of war we ought to 
 both lay your village in ashes and put its in 
 habitants to the sword. But I will spare your 
 lives, though I don't mean to spare your 
 houses." ' " 
 
 " Oh, what a cruel wretch! " said Evelyn. 
 
 " A perfect savage, I should call him! " ex 
 claimed Lucilla hotly. 
 
 " I entirely agree with you, ladies," said Mr. 
 Lilburn, " and am sorry indeed to have to own 
 him as a countryman of mine." 
 
 " Well, Cousin Konald," returned Mrs. Tra- 
 villa pleasantly, " there are plenty of Ameri 
 cans of such character that I should be loth 
 indeed to own them as relatives." 
 
 "And there were plenty such in the days 
 of our two wars with England, as any one must
 
 30 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 acknowledge, remembering the lawless bands 
 of marauders called Cowboys and Skinners," 
 said Violet; "they were more detestable than 
 the British themselves even such as that 
 Barrie, Tarleton, and others too numerous to 
 mention." 
 
 "Will they ever come here again, papa?" 
 asked Ned. 
 
 " I think not, son," replied the captain; 
 " most, if not all of them, are now dead." 
 
 " Yes, it must have been a long, long while 
 ago," remarked the little lad reflectively. 
 
 " We are going now to Passamaquoddy Bay, 
 aren't we, papa? " asked Elsie. 
 
 " Yes," he said, " and hope to reach there 
 early this afternoon." 
 
 " And I hope we will see all that Lossing 
 tells about," said Grace. 
 
 " I think you may feel reasonably certain of 
 that," her father responded, in his kindly, 
 pleasant tones. 
 
 " We pass Machias on the way to Passama 
 quoddy Bay, don't we, father? " asked Grace. 
 
 " Yes," he replied, " we are nearing it now/*
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. ai 
 
 " Oh, I remember something about what 
 occurred there in the Kevolution; but won't 
 you please tell us the story again?'' she ex 
 claimed. 
 
 "I will/' he said. "We had then an ex 
 posed coast many miles in extent, and not a 
 single armed vessel to protect it, while Britain, 
 was the first naval power of the world. A few 
 of our planters and merchants had been trained 
 in the royal navy, and so had a good many 
 American seamen, to some extent, in helping 
 England in her wars with the French in the 
 twenty years preceding our Kevolution; but 
 our wise men who were directing public affairs 
 could see no material for organizing a marine 
 force, so devoted themselves to the business of 
 raising an army. Immediately after the bat 
 tle of Lexington the British began depreda 
 tions along the New England coast, and soon 
 private vessels were gotten out by patriot 
 volunteers, who armed them as well as they 
 could, and did their best to defend the 
 coast. 
 
 " You know news did not fly so fast in those
 
 82 ELSIE' 8 JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 days as it does now, but when at length the 
 people of Machias heard of the affair at Lex 
 ington it of course caused great excitement, 
 and a desire to defend their country against 
 the foe. There in their own harbor lay a 
 British armed schooner called the Margaretta. 
 She had two sloops with her, and the three 
 were busied in getting lumber for the British 
 army in Boston. A party of the young men 
 of the town determined to try to capture her 
 while her officers were at church on shore. 
 They seized one of the sloops, chased the 
 schooner out of the harbor, and after a severe 
 fight compelled her to surrender. 
 
 "It was the first naval engagement of the 
 Eevolution. There were forty of the Ameri 
 cans, commanded by Jeremiah O'Brien, and 
 about twenty of them, and as many of the 
 British, were killed in the fight. The captain 
 of the cutter was one of the mortally wounded. 
 Soon afterward O'Brien captured two small 
 English cruisers, making their crews prisoners, 
 and carrying them to Watertown, where the 
 Provincial Congress of Massachusetts was in
 
 ELSIE' 8 YOUNG FOLKS. 33 
 
 session. That body then took measures to 
 establish a coast marine to intercept English 
 transports bringing supplies for the British 
 troops, and gave O'Brien employment in that 
 service, with a captain's commission. 
 
 "The British force under Sherwood and 
 Griffiths, after their raid up the Penobscot, 
 went back to Machias. They landed at Buck's 
 Harbor, three miles below the town, and 
 marched against the fort, which the garrison 
 deserted and blew up." 
 
 "Are we going to Machias now, papa?" 
 asked Ned. 
 
 "No," said his father, "we are nearing 
 Passamaquoddy Bay now. We will spend a 
 little time there, then turn and go back to 
 the Penobscot, to visit historical scenes along 
 its course. You perhaps remember that the 
 British went there shortly after having taken 
 Eastport and Fort Sullivan on Moose Island 
 in Passamaquoddy Bay. They were taken on 
 the llth of July, 1812; Castine on September 
 1 of the same year." 
 
 " And about a year after came the fight be-
 
 34 ELSIE'S JOVNG FOLKS. 
 
 tween the Enterprise and the Boxer, which 
 occurred September 5, 1813/' observed 
 Max. 
 
 " Yes," said bis father, with a smile, " and of 
 course you remember the notable victory 
 vouchsafed us by Providence five days later on 
 Lake Erie?" 
 
 " Perry's victory, sir? Yes, indeed! Also 
 Macdonough's on Lake Champlain, which was 
 given him on the llth of the next September, 
 1814." 
 
 But they were now entering the bay, and 
 historical reminiscence gave place to talk of 
 the beauty of the scenery, Captain Kaymond, 
 who had been there before, pointing out and 
 naming the different islands and villages. 
 They did not land, but steamed slowly about 
 the bay, finding so much to interest them that 
 they lingered there until nightfall. They 
 then steamed out into the ocean, taking a 
 westward course. It was a beautiful moon 
 light evening, and all gathering together on 
 deck, passed the time in cheerful chat concern 
 ing the scenes just visited and those they ex-
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 35 
 
 pected to visit in the near future. At length 
 there was a pause in the conversation, presently 
 broken by little Ned. 
 
 " Oh, dear ! " he sighed, " I'm just hungry 
 for a little fun. I don't see what's the use of 
 having ventriloquists along, if they don't make 
 some fun for us once in a while." 
 
 " Now, Master Ned, do you call that a polite 
 speech?" asked a strange voice that seemed 
 to come from a short distance in his rear. 
 
 Ned sprang to his feet and turned toward 
 it. 
 
 " I I didn't mean to be rude, Cousin Eonald 
 or Brother Max, whichever you are; but I ani 
 ever so hungry for a bit of fun." 
 
 "And you consider that a healthful appe 
 tite, do you?" queried the voice. 
 
 "Yes, sir; for 'Laugh and grow fat' is an 
 old saying, so I've heard." 
 
 "Well, well, well! I have understood that 
 you rather objected to being considered fat/' 
 laughed the invisible speaker. 
 
 " Oh, well, I don't believe a bit of fun once 
 in a while would do much harm in that way/'
 
 36 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 returned the little fellow. " At any rate, Fm 
 more than willing to try it." 
 
 "Well, suppose we try it with the under 
 standing that if you get too fat you are to be 
 reduced to your present suitable size by a low 
 and spare diet?" 
 
 " No, indeed! " cried Ned. " I won't eon- 
 sent to that. Don't you know that boys need 
 to eat plenty, if they are to grow up into big, 
 strong men? " 
 
 "Enough, but not too much, Neddie," 
 laughed his cousin, Dr. Percival, sitting near. 
 
 "Uncle Harold, you know all about it, for 
 you're a good doctor," said Ned, appealing to 
 Dr. Travilla; " oughtn't little boys to have 
 plenty to eat? " 
 
 " Yes, Ned; plenty, but not too much." 
 
 "Well, that's just what I want," laughed 
 Ned. " Oh, what was that? " as a cry, " Help! 
 help, or I shall drown! " came from the water 
 not far from the side of the vessel. Cousin 
 Eonald and Max exchanged inquiring glances, 
 and the latter rose hastily to his feet. 
 
 " Throw him a rope, my men! " he called to
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 37 
 
 a group of sailors at the farther end of the ves 
 sel. 
 
 The words had hardly left his lips ere the 
 order was obeyed, and the next moment the 
 dripping figure of a young lad in a bathing suit 
 was drawn up and landed upon the deck. 
 
 " Thanks, thanks, gentlemen/' he panted; 
 " you've helped me to a narrow escape from a 
 watery grave, I ventured out too far alone 
 in the moonlight and " 
 
 "Don't try to talk, my man; you are too 
 much exhausted," interrupted Dr. Travilla, 
 for he, Captain Eaymond, Max, Mr. Lilburn, 
 Chester, and Dr. Percival had all hurried to 
 the spot to see and assist the rescued stranger. 
 
 " Thanks! Ill do," he said, " if you'll kindly 
 help me to rub down, and lend me some things 
 till these can be made dry. 
 
 " Certainly," replied Captain Eaymond, and 
 at once gave directions that the stranger be 
 taken to a comfortably warm stateroom, pro 
 vided with everything needful, and his wet 
 garments dried and returned to him as quickly 
 as possible. Then turning to his brother-in-
 
 38 ELSIE'S TOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 law, "I leave the rest to your care, Harold," 
 he said. 
 
 " Oh, Brother Max," cried Ned, as the gen 
 tlemen rejoined the ladies and children, "I 
 thought it was you or Cousin Ronald calling 
 for help just for fun, and it was a real drown 
 ing man, after all." 
 
 " A mere lad, Ned, and I am very glad we 
 were able to give him help in season." 
 
 The incident had created quite a little ex 
 citement, and all eagerly awaited Harold's re 
 port. He rejoined them in a few minutes, 
 looking so undisturbed that they at once felt 
 that his new patient was in no danger. 
 
 " He will be all right presently," he said, in 
 answer to their eagerly inquiring looks and 
 questions. " When we heard his cry for help 
 he had hardly more than just realized his dan 
 ger. He is somewhat ashamed of his venture- 
 someness, and anxious to get back to his 
 friends without letting them know of the peril 
 he was in." 
 
 Turning to Captain Raymond, "He will be 
 Yery glad and grateful if you will go a little
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 39 
 
 out of your way and land him at the spot 
 where he entered the water, so that he may be 
 able to steal up to the house of his friends 
 without arousing their suspicions concerning 
 the danger he has been in." 
 
 " I think we may do that," the captain said, 
 in his kindly tones. " It will probably not de 
 lay us more than an hour or so, and we are not 
 so hurried for time that we need decline to 
 submit to that." 
 
 Max at once gave the necessary orders, the 
 course of the vessel was changed, and ere long 
 the young stranger was landed at the spot 
 where he had entered the water. Then the 
 Dolphin proceeded on her westward way, and 
 when her passengers awoke in the morning 
 they were nearing Penobscot Bay.
 
 CHAPTEE in. 
 
 ALL were eager to visit the historical places 
 immediately upon their arrival. As they en 
 tered the harbor of Castine Mrs. Travilla re 
 marked that it was quite as picturesque as she 
 expected from Lossing's description. 
 
 "Ah, I entirely agree with you, Cousin 
 Elsie," responded Mr. Lilburn; " it is so bonny 
 a place that I do not wonder it was coveted by 
 the enemy." 
 
 The whole party presently landed, a guide 
 was found who promised to conduct them to 
 all the points of historical interest, and they 
 set out upon their search. They very much 
 admired the situation of the town, and the 
 view from it of the bay, with its pictur 
 esque islands. They visited old Fort George, 
 built by the British in 1779, in the centre of 
 the peninsula, and repaired, f raised, and armed 
 by them in 1814. It was only a ruin now, but 
 
 40
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 41 
 
 interesting because of what it had been in 
 those earlier days. The view from its banks, 
 which were about eighteen feet high from the 
 bottom of the six feet deep ditch, was very 
 interesting. Looking northwestward from the 
 fort they could see on the right the entrance 
 to the canal cut by the British across Castine 
 Neck, turning the peninsula into -an island. 
 It was about eighty rods long and twelve feet 
 deep, and now had a bridge across it. Be 
 tween the promontory and an island could be 
 seen the mouth of the Penobscot Eiver. On 
 the extreme left they could see the town of Bel 
 fast, thirteen miles distant. Leaving that 
 point they visited the remains of several other 
 forts built by the British, after which they re 
 turned to the yacht for the evening meal and 
 the night's rest. 
 
 The Dolphin was allowed to remain station 
 ary until all her passengers were on deck 
 again the next morning; then the anchor was 
 lifted, and she steamed up the river. Favored 
 with delightful weather they greatly enjoyed 
 the trip up the beautiful, winding stream.
 
 42 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 They had taken on board a man well ac 
 quainted with the river and every point of 
 interest upon its banks, and who pointed out 
 each one as they neared it. As they entered 
 Marsh Bay the young people were told that the 
 British squadron lay there one night on their 
 way toward Hampden. Elsie and Ned showed 
 keen interest when told of it, and in hearing 
 from their father of the cannon-ball of the 
 British that lodged in a storehouse there in 
 1814. 
 
 "Do you remember the story Lossing tells 
 about a Norway pine somewhere in this 
 region?" asked Mrs. Travilla, addressing 
 Captain Eaymond. 
 
 " Something of it," he said, with an amused 
 smile, and the children at once begged to hear 
 it. 
 
 " Will you gratify them, mother? " asked the 
 captain. " You probably have a better recol 
 lection of his story than I." 
 
 " I will do my best," she said, and began at 
 once. " Lossing says the tree was about a 
 mile above here, and the only one of its kind in
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 43 
 
 that region a round, compact tree, its short 
 trunk looking as if composed of a group of 
 smaller ones, and the limbs growing so near 
 the ground that it was difficult to get under it. 
 At the time that the British landed at Frank- 
 ford some man who had a large quantity of 
 bacon, being afraid they would rob him of it, 
 carried it to that tree and hung the pieces in 
 among the branches to hide them from the 
 foe; and though the British passed along the 
 road only a short distance from the tree, they 
 did not notice its peculiar fruit, so did not 
 meddle with it, and his bacon was saved; al 
 ways afterward that Norway pine was called 
 the Bacon Tree." 
 
 " Thank you, grandma; that was a nice 
 story," said Elsie. 
 
 "Haven't you another little story for 
 us, grandma?" asked Ned, in coaxing tones. 
 "I do always like your stories ever so 
 much." 
 
 At that Grandma Elsie laughed a pleasant 
 little laugh, then went on: 
 
 " Lossing tells us quite an interesting little
 
 44 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 story of a remarkable black man whom he 
 visited somewhere near here. His name was 
 Henry Van Meter, and he was then ninety- 
 five years old. During the Revolution he was 
 a slave to Governor Nelson of Virginia. After 
 that he became a seaman, and was one of the 
 crew of the privateer Lawrence, which sailed 
 from Baltimore in 1814. I suppose Lossing 
 questioned him about his long life, and heard 
 his story of it. He remembered having seen. 
 Washington many times. The estate of Gov 
 ernor Nelson, his first master, was sold after 
 the war, to pay his debts, and Henry was 
 bought by a planter beyond the Blue Ridge. 
 The new master wanted him to marry one of 
 his slave girls, and told him if he did he would 
 order in his will that he should be made a free 
 man at his (the master's) death. In telling of 
 it Henry said, ' I didn't like the gals, and didn't 
 want to wait for dead men's shoes. So master 
 sold me to a man near Lexington, Kentucky, 
 and there was only one log house in that town 
 when I went there.' 
 
 " He was soon sold to another man, who
 
 ELSIE'S JOHN a FOLKS. 45 
 
 treated him shamefully, and one night he 
 mounted one of his master's horses and fled to 
 the Kentucky Eiver, where he turned the 
 horse loose, and told him to go home if he had 
 a mind to, as he didn't want to steal him. 
 Some kind white people helped Henry over 
 the river into Ohio, and at Cincinnati he then 
 took the name of Van Meter the family 
 name of some of the Shenandoah Valley people 
 who had been kind to him. 
 
 " Afterward Henry became the servant of an 
 officer in the army of General St. Clair, and 
 served with our troops in the Northwest 
 under General Wayne. After that he lived in 
 Chillicothe, then came East to Philadelphia. 
 There some Quaker sent him to school, and he 
 learned to read and write. He became a sailor, 
 went to Europe several times in that capacity, 
 and when the war broke out he shipped as 
 such on board the privateer Lawrence. It 
 was taken by the British, and he was thrown 
 into Dartmoor Prison, and saw the massacre 
 there in 1815." 
 
 " Oh, what was that, grandma? " asked Ned,
 
 46 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 in tones of excitement. " I didn't think I ever 
 heard about it." 
 
 " Lossing tells us," replied his grandmother,. 
 " that Dartmoor was a depot for prisoners in 
 England; that it was situated in a desolate 
 region, was built in 1809 for a place in which 
 to confine French prisoners. At the time the 
 treaty of peace was made with us there were 
 six thousand American prisoners in it two 
 thousand five hundred of them American sea 
 men, put there for refusing to fight in the 
 British Navy against their countrymen. They 
 were there when the war began in 1812. For 
 some unknown reason there was great delay in 
 setting those prisoners free after the treaty of 
 peace was made. It was nearly three months 
 before they were allowed to know that the 
 treaty had been signed. From the time they 
 first heard of it they were every day expecting 
 to be set at liberty, and naturally grew very 
 impatient over the delay. On the 4th of April 
 they demanded bread instead of hard biscuit, 
 which they refused to eat. On the evening of 
 the 6th they showed great unwillingness to
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 47 
 
 obey the order to retire to their quarters, and 
 some of them not only refused to do that, 
 but went beyond their prescribed limits. 
 Then, Captain Shortland, who had charge of 
 the military guard, ordered them to fire on the 
 Americans, which they did. The soldiers, I 
 believe, fired a second time. Five prisoners 
 were killed and thirty-three wounded." 
 
 "Why, that was just murder, wasn't it, 
 grandma?" asked Ned. "And didn't they 
 hang those soldiers for doing it? " 
 
 "No; the British authorities called it ' jus 
 tifiable homicide/ which meant it was all right 
 enough." 
 
 " In which decision I, for one, am far from 
 agreeing," remarked Mr. Lilburn emphatically. 
 
 " It created intense indignation in this coun 
 try at the time," said the captain; " but is now 
 seldom remembered, and the two nations are, 
 and I hope always will be, good friends." 
 
 The Dolphin ascended the river only as far 
 as Bangor, and returned by moonlight to Cas- 
 tine, where they anchored for some hours; then 
 at an early hour in the morning they steamed
 
 48 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 out into the ocean again, and pursued a west 
 ward course until they reached Portland. 
 There they landed and paid a visit to the 
 cemetery where lay the remains of the brave 
 captains of the Enterprise and the Boxer; also 
 those of Midshipman Kervin Waters. 
 
 " They are buried side by side, as if they 
 were brothers, instead of enemies who were 
 killed fighting each other/' said little Elsie 
 softly. "But perhaps they were good Chris 
 tian men, each fighting for what he thought 
 was the right of his own country. Papa, can 
 you tell us about the funeral? I suppose they 
 had one?" 
 
 " Yes, daughter, a solemn and imposing one. 
 The two battered vessels were lying at the end 
 of Union Wharf. A civil and military proces 
 sion had been formed at the court-house at 
 nine in the morning of the 9th of September. 
 The coffins were brought from the vessels in 
 barges of ten oars each, rowed by minute 
 strokes of ship-masters and mates, most of the 
 barges and boats in the harbor accompanying 
 them. When the barges began to move, and
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 49 
 
 while the procession was passing through the 
 streets to the church, minute guns were fired 
 by artillery companies. Also while the proces 
 sion marched from the church to the cemetery 
 here, which is about a mile distant from the 
 church. 
 
 " The chief mourners who followed the 
 corpse of Captain Burrows were Dr. Wash 
 ington, Captain Hull, and officers of the Enter 
 prise. Those who followed Captain Blyth's 
 were the officers of the Boxer, on parole. Both 
 were followed by naval and military officers in 
 the United States service, the crews of the two 
 vessels, civil officers of the State and city, mili 
 tary companies, and a large concourse of citi 
 zens. Only a few weeks before Oaptain Blyth 
 was one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of 
 our Lawrence, the gallant commander of the 
 Chesapeake, at Halifax." 
 
 " That dear brave man that said, * Don't give 
 up the ship/ papa?" asked Elsie. 
 
 "Yes, daughter. Now let us read the in 
 scription on his tombstone: ' In memory of 
 Captain Samuel Blyth, late Commander of his
 
 50 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 Britannic Majesty's brig Boxer. He nobly fell 
 on the 5th day of September, 1813, in action 
 with the United States brig Enterprise. In 
 life honorable; in death glorious. His coun 
 try will long deplore one of her bravest sons, 
 his friends long lament one of the best of men. 
 M. 29. The surviving officers of his crew 
 offer this feeble tribute of admiration and re 
 spect.' " 
 
 " It sounds as though they had respected 
 and loved him/' said the little girl. " That 
 next grave is where Burrows lies, isn't it, 
 papa? and won't you please read its inscrip 
 tion? " 
 
 They drew nearer and the captain read 
 aloud: " ' Beneath this stone moulders the 
 "body of William Burrows, late commander of 
 the United States brig Enterprise, who was 
 mortally wounded on the 5th of September, 
 1813, in an action which contributed to in 
 crease the fame of American valor, by captur 
 ing his Britannic Majesty's brig Boxer, after a 
 severe contest of forty-five minutes. M. 28. 
 A passing stranger has erected this memento
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 51 
 
 of respect to the manes of a patriot, who, in 
 the hour of peril, obeyed the loud summons of 
 an injured country, and who gallantly met, 
 fought, and conquered the f oeman.' ' : 
 
 " And that one on the pillars, papa whose 
 is it?" Elsie asked, as her father paused with 
 a slight sigh. 
 
 " That is the tomb of Midshipman Waters," 
 he said. " We will go nearer and read its in 
 scription: ' Beneath this marble, by the side of 
 his gallant commander, rest the remains of 
 Lieutenant Kervin Waters, a native of George 
 town, District of Columbia, who received a 
 mortal wound, September 5, 1813, while a 
 midshipman on board the United States brig 
 Enterprise, in an action with his Britannic 
 Majesty's brig Boxer, which terminated in the 
 capture of the latter. He languished in 
 severe pain, which he endured with fortitude, 
 until September 25, 1813, when he died with 
 Christian calmness and resignation, aged 
 eighteen. The young men of Portland erect 
 this stone as a testimony of their respect for 
 his valor and virtues.' "
 
 52 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " Twenty days to suffer so," sighed Elsie. 
 " Oh, it was dreadful! " 
 
 Max and Evelyn stood near, side by side. 
 
 " Dreadful indeed! " Evelyn sighed, in low 
 quivering tones as they turned away. " Oh, 
 Max! I wish you did not belong to the 
 navy! " 
 
 " Why, dearest? " he asked in tender tones. 
 " It is not only in the navy that men die sud 
 denly and of injuries; and many a naval officer 
 has lived to old age and died at home in his 
 bed. And we are under the same Protecting 
 Care on the sea as on the land." 
 
 " Yes, that is a cheering thought," she said, 
 "and since you love the sea, it is wrong and 
 selfish in me to regret your choice of a profes 
 sion. And I could not be induced to resign 
 my sailor lover for any landsman," she added, 
 with a charming blush and smile. 
 
 That evening, joining her father, as she so 
 often did, in his quiet promenade of the deck 
 before retiring for the night, Lucilla spoke of 
 their visit to the cemetery, and said, "I have 
 always been so glad that you left the navy,
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 53 
 
 papa, so that we could have you always at 
 home with us, and I am gladder still when I 
 think that if we should have another war you 
 will not be in danger of such a fate as that 
 which befell Burrows and Blyth." 
 
 " Unless I am needed, volunteer my services, 
 and am accepted," he returned, in a slightly 
 playful tone. 
 
 " Oh, papa, don't, please don't! " she ex 
 claimed, clinging more closely to him. "It 
 will be dreadful enough to have Max in such 
 danger, but to have you, too, in it would be 
 heart-breaking." 
 
 " Well, dear child, we won't be so foolish as 
 to trouble ourselves about what may never 
 happen. And if it ever should happen, we 
 must just put our trust in the Lord, believ 
 ing that he doeth all things well, and trusting 
 his promise, ' As thy days, so shall thy strength 
 be.' And you can rejoice in the fact that 
 Chester is neither sailor nor soldier," he 
 added, with a smile, and softly patting the 
 hand resting upon his arm. 
 
 " Yes, father dear, that is no small comfort,**
 
 64 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 she said; " especially as I know he is patriotic 
 enough to do all in his power for his country." 
 
 "Ah, no douht of that! I think Chester 
 would be as ready as any one else to take up 
 arms in her defence if he saw that his services 
 were needed. And I don't believe this daugh 
 ter of mine would say a word to prevent him/' 
 
 " I think not, papa; but I hope I may never 
 be tried in that way." 
 
 " A hope in which I heartily join you, daugh 
 ter. I should be glad indeed to know that we 
 were done with wars. But that is so uncer 
 tain that we, as a nation, must be ever pre 
 pared to repel attack on land or sea. ' Eter 
 nal vigilance is the price of liberty.' >: 
 
 "And liberty is worth that price, isn't it, 
 father? " she said, with a bright smile up into 
 his face. 
 
 " Yes; so we think; we could never be con 
 tent without it." 
 
 They paced silently back and forth for a 
 few moments, then Lucilla asked, " How long 
 are we going to lie quietly here in Portland 
 harbor, papa?"
 
 ELSIE' 8 JOUNG FOLKS. 55 
 
 " That will depend upon the wishes of the 
 majority of our company," he answered; 
 " which I think we will learn at the breakfast 
 table to-morrow morning/'
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 IT was a bright and cheerful party that 
 gathered about the Dolphin's breakfast table 
 the next morning. Greetings were exchanged, 
 a blessing asked upon the food, and Captain 
 Raymond began helping his guests. 
 
 " I notice we are still lying quietly in Port 
 land harbor," remarked Dr. Percival. "Do 
 we remain here another day, captain? " 
 
 " That must be as the majority decide," 
 was the pleasant-toned rejoinder. "Please, 
 friends, express your wishes freely." 
 
 No one spoke for a moment each waiting 
 for the others. Then Violet said, in her lively 
 pleasant way, " Cousin Ronald, you are the 
 eldest, and should feel entitled to speak first." 
 
 " Thanks, cousin," he returned, " but I 
 really have no choice; am perfectly willing to 
 go or stay, as may best please the majority of 
 my friends here." 
 
 66
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 57 
 
 " Do you think of returning directly to Bar 
 Harbor, captain?" asked Mrs. Tra villa. 
 
 "If that is what you would all prefer, 
 mother. But how would you all like to take 
 a short sea voyage sailing eastwardly from 
 here, at some distance from the coast, and 
 perhaps going on up the coast of New Bruns 
 wick?" 
 
 Every one, from Mr. Lilburn down to little 
 Ned, seemed charmed with the idea, and as 
 the weather was all that could be desired, it 
 was decided that they would start as soon as 
 the anchor could be lifted and sufficient steam 
 gotten up. They carried out their plan, and 
 had a delightful voyage lasting several 
 days. 
 
 It was on Saturday that they left Portland; 
 the Sabbath found them far from land, and, as 
 at former times, services were conducted on 
 board the yacht with the singing of hymns, the 
 offering up of prayers, the reading of the 
 Scriptures, and of a sermon by Captain Ray 
 mond. 
 
 After that they formed themselves into a
 
 58 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 Bible class, and Mr. Lilburn was persuaded to 
 take the lead, choosing the subject while the 
 others sat about him, Bibles in hand. Open 
 ing his, the dear old gentleman began: 
 
 "Let us take for our theme Jesus Christ 
 our Lord, and what it is so to know him that 
 we shall have eternal life. Here in the seven 
 teenth chapter of John's gospel in his the 
 Master's wonderful prayer we read, ' And this 
 is life eternal, that they might know thee the 
 only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou 
 hast sent.' Paul tells us in his letter to the 
 Philippians, 'I count all things but loss for 
 the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus 
 my Lord.' His acquaintance was not with the 
 Christ of Galilee, whom he had not known, 
 but with the ascended Christ; he who said to 
 the Apostle John on Patmos, *I am he that 
 liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive 
 again forever more.' In the tenth verse of 
 the first chapter of his gospel John tells us, 
 ' He was in the world and the world was made 
 by him and the world knew him not.' In first 
 John third chapter and last clause of the first
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 59 
 
 verse, * Therefore the world knoweth us not, 
 because it knew him not.' A self-seeking, 
 worldly-minded man does not know Christ, and 
 cannot understand him who is aiming day by 
 day to live above the world and get the Christ 
 view of life. Captain, can you tell us why it 
 is that the worldly-minded do not know 
 Jesus?" 
 
 " Because/' replied the captain, " the cares 
 and pleasures of this world are crowding Him 
 out of their hearts, as he himself tells us in the 
 parable of the sower. But some of those who 
 loved him failed for a time to recognize him 
 when he was close to them. In the last chap 
 ter of his gospel John tells us, ' But when the 
 morning was now come, Jesus stood on the 
 shore; but the disciples knew not that it was 
 Jesus.' Mary also had failed at first to recog 
 nize him when he spoke to her as she stood 
 weeping beside his sepulchre. And how long 
 he talked with those two on the way to Em- 
 maus, and they did not recognize him until he 
 sat down to eat with them, took bread, and 
 blessed and brake it, and then vanished out of
 
 60 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 their sight! Ah, Jesus is often near us and we 
 know him not." 
 
 " And he is our Master," said Mrs. Travilla, 
 in her low, sweet tones. " In John thirteen, 
 thirteenth, talking with his disciples Jesus 
 says, * Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say 
 well, for so I am.' And Paul tells the Ephe- 
 sians that their Master is in heaven. 'And 
 ye masters do the same things unto them, for 
 bearing, threatening, knowing that your Mas 
 ter also is in heaven.' " 
 
 " There are five Greek words translated Mas 
 ter," continued the captain; " one meaning 
 overseer, another teacher, still another sig 
 nifying absolute ownership; another, leader 
 one who goes before us; still another, one exer 
 cising supreme authority or power. Oh, that 
 to-day each one of us may know Christ as our 
 supreme Lord and Master who alone has abso 
 lute ownership of our lives and all our powers." 
 
 "Let us look for other texts bearing upon 
 this subject," said Mr. Lilburn. "Have not 
 you one for us, Harold?" 
 
 "Yes," replied Harold, "here in first John,
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNG FOLKS. 61 
 
 second chapter, is given a test of our knowl 
 edge of Christ. ' Hereby do we know that we 
 know him if we keep his commandments. He 
 that saith I know him and keepeth not his 
 commandments is a liar and the truth is not in 
 him.' " 
 
 " And here in John's gospel," said Mrs. Lil- 
 burn, "where Jesus is talking with his dis 
 ciples, that same night in which he was be 
 trayed, he says: * A new commandment I give 
 unto you, That ye love one another; as I have 
 loved you, that ye also love one another. By 
 this shall all men know that ye are my dis 
 ciples, if ye have love one to another/ " 
 
 " And again," said Evelyn, " in the fifteenth 
 chapter and twelfth verse, 'This is my com 
 mandment, That ye love one another, as I 
 have loved you. Greater love hath no man 
 than this, that a man lay down his life for bis 
 friends/ " 
 
 " What wonderful love oh, what wonderful 
 love was His! " exclaimed Mrs. Tra villa, in low 
 moved tones. "And how sweet are those 
 words: *I have loved thee with an everlasting
 
 2 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 love/ * For a small moment have I forsaken 
 thee; but with great mercies will I gather 
 thee.' " 
 
 " Let us sing to His praise/' suggested Mr. 
 Lilburn, and Violet, seating herself at the 
 instrument,, struck a few chords, then started 
 the hymn: 
 
 " Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing, 
 My dear Redeemer's praise," 
 
 the others joining in with a will evidently 
 singing with spirit and understanding, for the 
 sweet words were familiar to all. 
 
 The short service over, they scattered in 
 groups here and there, chatting quietly with 
 each other. 
 
 For a few moments Mrs. Travilla and her 
 cousin and old-time intimate friend, Annis 
 now Mrs. Lilburn were together a little apart 
 from the others, talking low and confidentially. 
 They talked of the past, the present, and the 
 future, as regarded life in both this world and 
 the next. 
 
 "How sweet is that Bible lesson which we
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. $3 
 
 have just had," said Annis, at length. " How 
 I love those words of Jesus ' Ye call me Mas 
 ter and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am/ " 
 
 " Yes/' returned Elsie; " they are very dear 
 to me. Oh, how sweet to know that he is ever 
 with us always close at hand, full of love, in 
 finite in power and willingness to bless; to help 
 in every trouble, to give ' the oil of joy for 
 mourning and the garment of praise for the 
 spirit of heaviness.' Oh, how true are the 
 words: ( The joy of the Lord is your strength.' 
 If we only have that we can bear all troubles 
 and trials. It makes one happy in the present, 
 and takes away all dread of the future; so 
 sweet and sustaining is it to know that He who 
 has all power in heaven and on earth is your 
 friend, loving you with an everlasting, infinite 
 love; caring for you at all times and in all 
 places." 
 
 "Yes, yes," said Annis softly, "'Sing, 
 daughter of Zion; shout, Israel; be glad and 
 rejoice with all thy heart, daughter of Jeru 
 salem ' . . . ' The Lord thy God in the midst 
 of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice
 
 64 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he 
 will joy over thee with singing/ Are they not 
 sweet words, Elsie? " 
 
 " Indeed they are! These others too ' God 
 commendeth his love toward us, in that while 
 we were yet sinners, Christ died for us/ " 
 
 There was a moment of silence; then Annis 
 said, "You seem to me a very happy Chris 
 tian, Elsie. Is it not because the joy of the 
 Lord is indeed your strength?" 
 
 " Oh, Annis, who could be otherwise than 
 happy in the consciousness of that love; and in 
 the thought of how soon one will be with the 
 Master, and like Him; and with all the dear 
 ones gone before, never, never to be separated 
 from them again? " 
 
 " Yes, dear cousin, and how blest are we in 
 the knowledge that our dear ones gone before 
 were His, and are with Him now, and will be 
 ready to greet us with great joy when we too 
 shall reach that blessed shore." 
 
 " * The joy of the Lord is your strength/ M 
 again quoted Mrs. Travilla, in her low, sweet 
 tones. "Don't you think, Annis, that the
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 6'5 
 
 Covenanters and Puritans, good, devoted 
 Christians as most of them were, in opposing 
 the lightness, worldly-mindedness, and frivolity 
 of their foes, went too far to the other extreme, 
 leaving out from their teachings the joy of 
 the Lord? Do you not remember that the 
 Jews were told by Nehemiah, Ezra, and the 
 others, ' This day is holy unto the Lord your 
 God; mourn not nor weep. Go your way, eat 
 the fat and drink the sweet; and send portions 
 unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for 
 this day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye 
 sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 
 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, 
 Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither 
 be ye grieved. And all the people went their 
 way, to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, 
 and to make great mirth, because they had 
 understood the words that were declared unto 
 them/ " 
 
 " Yes," said Annis, " it seems to be human 
 nature to go to extremes, and I think much 
 harm is often done in that way. For instance, 
 the Covenanters and Puritans of old times
 
 66 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 were so disgusted with the errors and selfish 
 indulgences of the Papists their turning the 
 Sabbath into a holiday, which might rightly 
 be spent in merrymaking and sport that they 
 themselves robbed it of all enjoyment, and 
 made it a dull, gloomy time to their young 
 people, with little or no hint in it of the 
 strengthening joy of the Lord." 
 
 " I think you are right," returned Mrs. Tra- 
 villa, in a musing tone. " The Sabbath is not 
 a day for frivolity, but it is one for joy and 
 gladness the joy of the Lord strengthening 
 us for duty, trial, and temptation. What but 
 that sustained the martyrs when called upon to 
 lay down their lives for the sake of Him who 
 died to redeem them? And oh, how that gra 
 cious, precious promise, ' As thy days, so shall 
 thy strength be,' relieves one of the dread of 
 what the future may have in store for us; what 
 bereavements, losses, sufferings, mental or 
 physical! How often and sweetly He bids us 
 fear not. ' Israel, Fear not: for I have re 
 deemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; 
 tfaon art mine. When thou passest through
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. Q>J 
 
 the waters, I will be with thee; and through the 
 rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou 
 walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be 
 burned; neither shall the flames kindle upon 
 thee. For I am the Lord, thy God, the Holy 
 One of Israel, thy Saviour/ r ' 
 
 " Yes," said Annis, " oh, how often, how 
 tenderly he bids us fear not. It is like a 
 mother hushing her frightened child. * Say 
 to them that are of a fearful heart, fear not 
 . . . Fear thou not, for I am with thee. . . 
 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right 
 hand, saying to thee, fear not, I will help 
 thee. Fear not, I have redeemed thee, thou 
 art mine. . . Fear not, Jacob my servant, 
 and Jeshurun whom I have chosen/ ' : 
 
 " ' Whom I have chosen/ " repeated Elsie. 
 How those words bring to mind what Jesus our 
 dear Master said to his disciples in that last 
 talk with them in the room where they had 
 eaten the passover ' Ye have not chosen me, 
 but I have chosen you/ Oh, what love and 
 condescension to choose us sinful creatures for 
 his own! "
 
 68 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " ' And ordained you that ye should go and 
 bring forth fruit/ " said Annis, going on with 
 the quotation, " ' and that your fruit should 
 remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask the 
 Father in my name, he will give it you.' I 
 remember," she went on musingly, " that when 
 I was a little girl I used to think I should like 
 to be a Christian, and would be if only I knew 
 how. The way seems very easy now just to 
 listen to the dear Saviour's gracious invita 
 tion, ' Come unto me all ye that labor and are 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest/ accept 
 it, and give myself to him." 
 
 "Yes," said Elsie, "his promise joined to 
 that ' and ye shall find rest unto your souls ' 
 is sure; it never failg."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 BEFORE the next Sabbath our friends had 
 returned to Bar Harbor. For some weeks 
 longer they remained in that vicinity; then, 
 cooler weather making a more southerly cli 
 mate desirable, they sailed for home. Dr. 
 Percival was so far recovered that he felt in 
 haste to get back to Torriswood and at work 
 among his patients again. He and his Maude 
 paid a flying visit to old friends and relatives 
 at the Oaks and Ion, then hastened to 
 Louisiana by rail. 
 
 Max Raymond, to the great satisfaction of 
 himself, his 'fiancee, and his friends, was fav 
 ored with a lengthening of his furlough, which 
 enabled him to spend some weeks at home in 
 his father's house. Lucilla persuaded Evelyn 
 to be her guest at the same time, Chester was 
 there every evening, and so the courting went 
 merrily on. There was much talk about the
 
 70 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 new house the captain proposed building, 
 much discussion of the question whether the 
 one building should be made suitable and suffi 
 ciently large for two families, half of it for 
 Max and Eva, or whether a separate house 
 should be put up for them in another part of 
 the grounds. The decision was finally left to 
 the brides-elect, and as they were very strongly 
 attached, and Max was likely to be often away 
 on the sea for months and years together, they 
 thought it best the two dwellings should be 
 under the' same roof, and their decision was 
 highly approved by the captain and all their 
 relatives and friends. 
 
 Then followed consultations in regard to 
 the exact spot upon which it should stand, and 
 the studying and comparing of plans to make 
 it as commodious, convenient, and beautiful 
 as possible. The captain was evidently ready 
 to go to any reasonable amount of expense in 
 order to give them an ideal home, his means 
 being ample and his love for his children very 
 great. 
 
 But all the time was not spent in that way,
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 71 
 
 for other relatives claimed a share in Max's 
 prized companionship; invitations were given 
 and visits paid to the Oaks, Ion, Fairview, the 
 Laurels, Eoselands, Pinegrove, Ashlands, and 
 Riverside. Sometimes the invitation was for 
 dinner or tea, sometimes for the whole day 
 or longer for the young folks, if not for the 
 older ones and the children. It was on the 
 last day of October they dined at Riverside, 
 nearly all the connection meeting them there, 
 and at Rosie's earnest solicitation Evelyn and 
 Lucilla, Max and Chester accepted an invita 
 tion to stay until the next morning, Captain 
 Raymond giving a rather unwilling consent to 
 let Lucilla do so. 
 
 "It is Hallowe'en, you know, and I'm just 
 pining for a bit of fun," Bosie said privately 
 to the girls, after seeing the older guests de 
 part. " You two are engaged, to be sure, but 
 ' there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the 
 lip,' " she added, with a laugh and a twinkle of 
 fun in her eye. 
 
 "But we are not wanting slips," laughed 
 Lucilla.
 
 72 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " Nor much afraid we will get them," added 
 Evelyn merrily. " Still we might have a little 
 fun." 
 
 " Provided we take it early enough to get to 
 bed in good season," added Lueilla, in a mirth 
 ful tone. " My father, you know, is very par 
 ticular about that so kindly anxious is he ta 
 keep me in good health." 
 
 " Which is altogether right, wise, and kind, 
 I am sure," returned Eosie; " and I don't in 
 tend to tempt you to go contrary to his wishes. 
 I'm obliged to him for granting my request for 
 permission to keep you here all night, and I 
 shall not urge you to stay up later than he 
 would allow you to if you were at home. If 
 we try some old-fashioned games we can suit 
 ourselves as to the hour for the experiments." 
 
 " Yes," laughed Evelyn, " I shall be quite as 
 sure of the fulfilment of the augury if we get 
 it some hours earlier than people of old times 
 used to look for it." 
 
 " Then we will just wait till our old folks get 
 to bed which they always do in good season/* 
 said Rosie.
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 73 
 
 "Your husband approves, I suppose?" re 
 marked Lucilla inquiringly. 
 
 " Oh, yes! " laughed Rosie; " he sees no harm 
 in it, and approves of his wife having all the 
 pleasure she can. I wish we could have had 
 Grace stay and share the fun, but her father 
 vetoed that almost before I had fairly given 
 the invitation." 
 
 "Yes," said Lucilla, "poor Gracie is so 
 feeble that father has to be very careful of 
 her." 
 
 " Yes; I know," said Rosie, " but I thought 
 he might have left her for once, considering 
 that my two doctor brothers are here for the 
 night unless called out by some inconven 
 iently sick person." 
 
 " Which we will hope they won't be, for even 
 doctors should have a little amusement once 
 in a while," said Evelyn. 
 
 "Yes," said Rosie, "and they enjoyed the 
 golf this afternoon, and appear to be having a 
 pleasant time with Max, Chester, and the 
 others out on the river bank there now." 
 
 The girls were on the veranda overlooking
 
 74 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 the river, and just at that moment were joined 
 by Eosie's mother-in-law, the older Mrs. Croly. 
 She sat down and chatted with them for a few 
 moments, then bade them good-night, and 
 went to her own apartments. It was growing 
 dusk then, the young men came in, and pres 
 ently they all repaired to the drawing-room, 
 where for the next hour or two they enter 
 tained each other with music and conversation. 
 Max had some interesting adventures to nar 
 rate, to which both young men and maidens 
 were eager listeners. 
 
 In the pause that followed the conclusion of 
 the second tale the clock in the hall was heard 
 to strike. 
 
 " Eleven! " exclaimed Lucilla, in a tone of 
 surprise and dismay. "Father would say I 
 ought to have gone to my room and my bed 
 more than an hour ago." 
 
 " Oh, no! not on Hallowe'en," laughed Eosie; 
 and just then a servant brought in a basket 
 filled with ears of corn, and set it down in their 
 midst. 
 
 "What's that for, Bosie?" asked Harold.
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 75 
 
 "You can hardly ask your guests to eat raw 
 corn, especially at this late hour? As a physi 
 cian I must most emphatically enter my pro 
 test." 
 
 "Perhaps Eosie is benevolently trying to 
 bring practice into her brothers' hands," re 
 marked Herbert facetiously. "But we are 
 not looking for that at present, but for fun 
 pure fun, that will bring damage to nobody." 
 
 "Yes, my dear brothers, that's what I am 
 endeavoring to do," she returned in sprightly 
 tones. "Perhaps you have not heard of the 
 new game with ears of corn? You folks are 
 all invited to be blindfolded, each in turn, and 
 in that condition to draw out an ear of corn by 
 which to foretell your future fate. A tasselled 
 ear will promise you great joy, a big, full one 
 good luck for a year. A short one will mean a 
 gift is coming, a red or yellow one no luck at 
 all." 
 
 " Quite a new idea," said Herbert, " and as 
 there is nothing said about love or marriage, I 
 suppose even engaged folks may try it; mar 
 ried ones also."
 
 76 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " Oh, yes! " replied Eosie, producing a dainty 
 lace-trimmed handkerchief. "Eva, will you 
 kindly consent to take the first turn? " 
 
 " If you wish it," returned Evelyn, and the 
 handkerchief was bound about her head and 
 she was led to the basket. 
 
 "I suppose I am not to choose by feeling, 
 either, but just to take the first one I happen 
 to touch? " she said inquiringly. 
 
 The others assented, and she drew out an 
 ear. 
 
 " Oh, good luck for you! " exclaimed Rosie. 
 "It is as big and full a one as the basket 
 holds." 
 
 Lucilla was told it was her turn, the hand 
 kerchief was bound about her eyes, and she 
 stooped over the basket and drew out quite a 
 short ear. 
 
 " Ah, you see I am not so lucky as you were, 
 Eva," she exclaimed, passing her fingers from 
 end to end. 
 
 "But it isn't bad," said Eosie. "That 
 means a gift is coming to you soon." 
 
 "A good or a bad one?" laughed Lucilla.
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 77 
 
 " Perhaps papa would say I deserved a bad 
 one for staying up so late." 
 
 " Oh, no! I think he expected something of 
 the kind he declined to let Grace stay, you 
 know," said Kosie, " and I did want her badly. 
 Well, gentlemen, which of you will take his 
 turn now?" 
 
 At that they all insisted that she should take 
 hers first, which she did, bringing out a tas- 
 selled ear. 
 
 " Oh, I am fortunate! " she cried, with a 
 merry peal of laughter, " for a tasselled ear is 
 said to mean great joy." 
 
 After that the young men took their turns. 
 Chester got a big, full ear, Max a short one, 
 Herbert a tasselled one, Harold a yellow one, 
 which Kosie told him with sighs and groans 
 meant no luck at all. 
 
 "But don't be discouraged, brother dear," 
 she said, patting him affectionately on the 
 shoulder, " though older than myself, you are 
 young enough to have lots of good luck after 
 this year is out." 
 
 "Many thanks for the assurance, sister
 
 78 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 mine/' he laughed, "and though older than 
 yourself, I believe I am young enough to wait 
 a year for any special good luck." 
 
 "And I hope you will have enough after 
 ward to reward you for the patient waiting, 
 Uncle Harold," said Lucilla. 
 
 " If he gets all he deserves it will be a great 
 deal," added Evelyn. 
 
 "You are good, kind comforters both; 
 accept my warmest thanks," laughed Har 
 old. 
 
 There was a little more lively chat, then 
 the young girls said good-night and went to 
 their rooms two on the second floor with a 
 communicating door between. Rosie accom 
 panied them, leaving her husband to attend 
 to the gentlemen guests. 
 
 " See here, girls," she said, pointing to a 
 basket of rosy-cheeked apples on a stand; 
 " these were put here to induce you to try an 
 other Hallowe'en experiment. If you want to 
 see what your future husbands will look like, 
 eat one of these standing before the mirror, 
 brushing your hair all the time, and now and
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLK8. 79 
 
 then when you can get up courage enough 
 look over your left shoulder." 
 
 " Oh, that won't require any courage, 
 Eosie," laughed Evelyn. "I am not in the 
 least afraid of Max brave officer though 
 he is." 
 
 " And I stand in quite as little fear of Ches 
 ter," said Lucilla. " So that really it seems 
 that your good apples will be almost thrown 
 away." 
 
 " Ah, you two forget the ' many a slip 'twist 
 the cup and the lip/ " laughed Eosie. " And 
 it cannot possibly do your lovers any harm, or 
 alienate their affections from you." 
 
 " No, we are not at all afraid of that," said 
 Lucilla, " and as your apples look very tempt 
 ing, I believe I shall run the risk of eating one 
 presently. I suppose I must first don a dress 
 ing gown and take down my hair." 
 
 " Yes," said Eosie; " you are to stand before 
 the mirror brushing it diligently while eating 
 the apple. And you will try it too, won't you, 
 Eva?" 
 
 " Well, yes," returned Evelyn, " just for fun;
 
 80 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 and if anybody but Max comes to me I shall be 
 sure it is not a truthful augury." 
 
 " Max is a fine fellow and has always been' 
 one of my favorites," said Rosie, " but there 
 are others in the world that might do just as 
 well, in case you and Max should have a falling 
 out. Or you may live long enough to marry 
 several times." 
 
 Evelyn laughed at that, saying she was 
 quite sure once would be enough for her. 
 
 "I know you girls did not come prepared 
 to stay all night," said Rosie, " so I have laid 
 out a night-dress and dressing-gown for each 
 of you. Get into them, and you will look nice 
 and pretty enough for an interview with your 
 future husbands." 
 
 They thanked her, and, examining the gar 
 ments which she took from a wardrobe in Eva's 
 room, pronounced them really pretty enough 
 to wear to the breakfast table. 
 
 They made haste with their toilets, and in a 
 few minutes each was standing before a mirror, 
 eating an apple and brushing out her hair. 
 Then Rosie left them with a promise to be back
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNQ FOLKS. 81 
 
 again before very long to learn of their success. 
 She artfully left ajar both doors leading into 
 the hall. 'They opened noiselessly, and pres 
 ently each had admitted a young man, who, 
 wearing slippers, moved with noiseless tread, 
 and as the girls looked over their left shoulders 
 Eva caught sight of Harold standing a few 
 feet in her rear, gazing steadily at her, a kindly 
 smile upon his features; while at the same mo 
 ment Lucilla perceived Herbert at a similar 
 distance from her, gazing intently and admir 
 ingly upon her. 
 
 "Oh, Uncle Herbert," she laughed, "this 
 cannot be a true sign, for I know well enough 
 that neither of us has any loverlike feeling 
 toward the other." 
 
 Almost before she finished her sentence 
 he had vanished, and she heard Evelyn saying 
 in mirthful tones, " Ah, Uncle Harold, this is 
 the no luck at all prophesied by that yellow 
 ear of corn; for, as you know, I am already 
 pledged to another." 
 
 At that Harold sighed deeply and withdrew. 
 
 But scarcely had he and his brother disap-
 
 82 ELSIE'S TOmfa FOLKS. 
 
 peared when Max silently took his place, Chea 
 ter at the same time coming up behind Lucilla! 
 so that she saw him in the mirror, to which she 
 had again turned, brush in hand. 
 
 " Oh, is it you, Chester? You are the right 
 man in the right place," she laughed. 
 
 " I hope so, darling," he returned. " What 
 lovely hair! " passing his hand caressingly 
 over it; " so long and thick too. I never be 
 fore saw it to such advantage." 
 
 Max was standing silently behind Evelyn, 
 and just at that moment she caught sight of 
 him in the glass. She turned quickly, and 
 he caught her in his arms, giving her a raptur 
 ous kiss. 
 
 ^ Don't be disappointed that I am your 
 future mate/' he said. 
 
 " Certainly not, since you were already my 
 own free choice," she returned, looking up 
 into his face with one of her sweetest smiles. 
 Just then Lucilla's voice was heard coming 
 from the next room, " Is that you, Max? " and 
 in a moment the four were together, gayly 
 laughing and chatting, both young men insist-
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 83 
 
 ing that that style of wearing the hair 
 streaming over the shoulders was extremely 
 becoming. Then Eosie and her Will joined 
 them for a moment, after which they all bade 
 good-night, and the girls were left alone to 
 seek repose.
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 THE young people had a merry time over 
 their breakfast the next morning, rehearsing 
 all they had gone through in their celebration 
 of Hallowe'en, each one seeming to have en 
 joyed his or her part in it. They lingered over 
 the meal, but soon after leaving the table scat 
 tered to their homes, excepting Eva, who re 
 turned to Woodburn with Max and Lucilla. 
 
 On arriving there Lucilla hastened to the 
 library, where she found her father examining 
 some business letters. 
 
 " Good-morning, papa! " she said. " Here 
 is your amanuensis, and haven't you something 
 for her to do?" 
 
 " Yes," he replied, looking up at her with a 
 smile, as she stood close at his side, " and the 
 first thing is to give her father a kiss; that is, 
 if she will not find it a disagreeable task." 
 
 84
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 85 
 
 " Anything else than that, father dear/' she 
 returned, bending down to give and receive a 
 caress. " And won't you let me help, as usual, 
 with your correspondence?" 
 
 " I shall he very glad to do so," he returned, 
 rising to take the cover from her typewriter, 
 and put the paper in place. Then she seated 
 herself and he began dictating. When they 
 had finished, " Did you miss me last night and 
 this morning, father? " she asked. 
 
 " I did indeed," he said; " but that is some 
 thing I will have to get used to, when Chester 
 takes you from me." 
 
 He ended with a sigh. 
 
 " Oh, papa, don't sigh so over it! " she ex 
 claimed. " You know it isn't as if I had to 
 go away to a distance from you. I shall be 
 close at hand, and you can call me to your side 
 whenever you will." 
 
 "Which will be pretty often, I think," he 
 said, with a smile, drawing her closer to him, 
 and caressing her hair and cheek with his hand. 
 " Had you a pleasant time last evening? And 
 did you go to bed in season, as your father
 
 86 ELSIE'S YOUN& FOLKS. 
 
 would have seen that you did had you been at 
 home?" 
 
 " No, I did not get to bed early, papa," she 
 , replied. " I thought you would excuse me for 
 staying up, for once, to try my fortune. For 
 you see, we all wanted to know who were to be 
 our future life partners, Rosie telling us that 
 there was * many a slip 'twixt the cup and the 
 lip/ so that our engagements didn't make us 
 safe." 
 
 She concluded with a light laugh and 
 look that seemed to say she felt no 
 fear that he would be seriously displeased 
 with her. 
 
 "You stayed up to try your fortune, did 
 you?" he returned, with a look of amuse 
 ment. "Why, my child, I thought you con 
 sidered it already made." 
 
 " So I do, papa, and last night's experience 
 only confirmed my belief." 
 
 Then she went on to tell him the whole 
 story, he seeming to enjoy the tale as she told 
 it. 
 
 " You are not vexed with me, papa, for stay-
 
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 87 
 
 ing up so late, just for once? " she asked, when 
 her tale was told. 
 
 " No," he replied, " though I should be far 
 from willing to have you make a practice of it. 
 
 " ' Early to bed and early to rise, 
 
 Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,* 
 
 the old saying is, and I want you to be all 
 three." 
 
 " As you are, father; and I am the first, at 
 all events," she returned, with a happy little 
 laugh. "You have never had to pay a big 
 doctor's bill for me." 
 
 "No; but to escape that is the least of my 
 reasons for wanting to keep you healthy." 
 
 Just then Max came in with Eva, bringing 
 a book on architecture. 
 
 "Here are some plans for houses, father," 
 he said, laying the book open before the cap 
 tain. " Please look at this, and tell me what 
 you think of it, as in some respects it is what 
 would suit us. You too, Lu. Eva and I like 
 the most of it very much." 
 
 The captain and Lucilla examined it with
 
 88 ELSIE' 8 TOUNO FOLKS. 
 
 interest, and were as well pleased as were Max 
 and Evelyn. It was a matter in which they 
 and Chester also were deeply interested, and 
 they were taking time and trouble to make sure 
 of having their future home all that could be 
 desired. It was not to be built in haste. 
 They had agreed to take plenty of time and 
 thought in regard to all the interior arrange 
 ments, making everything as convenient as 
 possible, as well as to the exterior, which they 
 were resolved should be such as to cause the 
 building to be recognized as an ornament to 
 its neighborhood. 
 
 Chester was the one most anxious to get the 
 house built and to secure his bride; the other 
 three seemed well content to defer their mar 
 riage until the captain should give full and 
 hearty consent. 
 
 The exact spot on which the building should 
 stand had been selected, and the plans for it 
 almost matured, when there came an order for 
 Max to join a naval vessel about to sail for a 
 distant foreign port. 
 
 There was a tender and sorrowful leave-tak-
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNa FOLKS. 89 
 
 ing, and Max was absent from the home 
 circle for many months. 
 
 For a time those left behind seemed to have 
 lost much of their interest in the building of 
 the new home. Then came the fall rains, after 
 that the winter storms, and it was decided that 
 the actual work should not be begun until 
 spring. Then Grace had a serious illness, 
 which kept her in bed for several weeks, and 
 she had hardly recovered when the little ones 
 at Fairview were taken down with measles. 
 They all passed through that trouble safely, 
 but the weather had now grown warm enough 
 to make a more northern climate desirable, 
 and they the whole Fairview family, accom 
 panied by their grandma and the Kaymonds 
 went aboard the captain's yacht and sailed up 
 the coast and the Hudson Eiver to Evelyn's 
 pretty home, Crag Cottage. 
 
 That became their headquarters for the sum 
 mer, though occasional short trips were taken. 
 to one or another of the points of interest in 
 New York and the adjoining States. They all 
 enjoyed themselves, though Chester and Max
 
 00 ELSIE'8 YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 were missed especially by Lucilla and Evelyn. 
 Chester, however, joined the party late in the 
 season, and was with them on the journey 
 home. 
 
 Soon after their return, work was begun 
 upon the proposed site of the new double dwell 
 ing, the cellars were dug, and the foundation 
 was laid. But the work proceeded slowly. 
 Maz was not likely to be at home again soon, 
 and it was well to take time to have everything 
 done in the best possible manner. 
 
 Evelyn and Lucilla had fully decided upon 
 a double wedding, which of course could not 
 take place until Max obtained a furlough, and 
 came home for a visit of some weeks or 
 months. Chester felt the delay hard upon 
 him, but had to content himself with being 
 allowed to spend all his spare time with his 
 betrothed. 
 
 Fall and winter passed quietly. There were 
 the usual holiday festivities and exchange of 
 gifts, then quiet home duties and pleasures 
 filled up the days, and the weeks glided swiftly 
 
 by.
 
 ELSIE'S 70VNG FOLKS. g\ 
 
 One morning in February the captain, look 
 ing over his daily paper, uttered an exclama 
 tion of mingled regret and indignation. 
 
 "What is it, my dear?" asked Violet. 
 " Something that troubles you, I perceive." 
 
 " Yes," he replied; " here is a piece of very 
 bad news. The Maine, one of our favorite 
 battleships, lying at anchor in Havana harbor, 
 has been suddenly destroyed by a terrible ex 
 plosion wrecked and sent to the bottom with 
 266 American seamen; only the captain and a 
 few of his officers who were on shore escaping 
 the awful fate of the others." 
 
 " Oh, that is dreadful, dreadful! " cried Vio 
 let. " But how did it happen? What was the 
 cause?" 
 
 " That has yet to be discovered, my dear," 
 replied Captain Raymond; "but I have little 
 doubt that it was the work of some enemy 
 among the Spaniards. They have been angry 
 at the presence of the vessel in their harbor 
 their newspapers calling it a taunt and a ban 
 ter, for they know our people sympathize with 
 the Cubans. Somebody has done this evil
 
 92 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 deed; it remains to be discovered who it 
 was." 
 
 " This is Sigsbee's despatch to the govern 
 ment," he added, and read aloud: 
 
 " Maine blown up in Havana Harbor at nine-forty to. 
 night. Many wounded and doubtless more killed or 
 drowned. Wounded and others on board Spanish 
 man-of-war and Ward Line steamers. Send light-house 
 tenders from Key West for crew and the few pieces 
 of equipment above water. None has clothing other 
 than that upon him. Public opinion should be sus 
 pended until further report. All officers believed to be 
 saved. Jenkins and Merritt not yet accounted for. 
 Many Spanish officers, including representatives of 
 General Blanco, now with me to express sympathy. 
 
 "SlGSBEE." 
 
 It was directly after breakfast and the 
 family were all present. Lucilla and Grace 
 seemed much excited, and little Ned asked 
 anxiously if " Brother Max " was on that ship. 
 
 " No, my son," replied his father; " I am 
 very glad to know certainly that he was not. 
 Have you forgotten that he is with Commodore 
 Dewey on the coast of China? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, papa! I forgot where Havana was. 
 I remember now that it is not in China, but 
 in Cuba."
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 93 
 
 " Oh, that is a dreadful piece of news, 
 papa! " said Lucilla, in tones of excitement. 
 "Won't it be likely to bring on a war with 
 Spain especially as we have been feeling so 
 sorry for the poor Cubans whom she has been 
 abusing so terribly? " 
 
 "I am really afraid it can hardly fail to 
 cause war/' replied the captain. "But that 
 will depend very much upon the result of the 
 investigation which will no doubt be made by 
 our government." 
 
 " Oh, I hope we won't have war! " cried 
 Grace, shuddering at the thought. 
 
 " War is a very dreadful thing," sighed her 
 father, " but sometimes the right thing on one 
 side that of those who undertake it for the 
 downtrodden and oppressed." 
 
 " But we are not such folks, are we, papa? " 
 asked Ned. 
 
 " No, son; but the poor Cubans are, and the 
 question is whether we should not undertake 
 to win their freedom for them." 
 
 " By fighting the Spaniards who abuse them 
 so, papa? " asked little Elsie.
 
 TOOW9 fQEOL. 
 
 *Yes. 
 
 What hare they been doing to 
 papa?" asked Ked. 
 Oppressing, robbing, murdering 
 
 down ihgiy houses, fiiMiig them into 
 
 the cities and towns and tearing them to 
 starve to death there." 
 
 Why, papa, how dreadful! I should think 
 our folks ought to go and fight for them. I 
 wish I was big enough to help." 
 
 My dear little son, I am glad you are not," 
 said his mother, drawing bim to her side and 
 giving him a fond caress. 
 
 Why, mamma? 9 
 
 Became yon might be badly hurt or eren. 
 kffled, and that would break your mother's 
 heart" 
 
 Then, mamma, I'm glad I don't hare to 
 go, for I wouldn't like to hurt yon so," said *he 
 little fellow, stroking and patting his mother's 
 check, and gazing fondly into her eyes. 
 
 Oh, I hope ft wont come to war for ns! * 
 mmrimimvA Grace; "though I should like to 
 hare the poor Cubans helped. Just think how
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNG FOLKS. 95 
 
 dreadful, if Max should be engaged in a naval 
 battle." 
 
 " Well, my child, we won't borrow trouble 
 about that," said her father soothingly. 
 
 *' And I hope there is not much danger, as he 
 is away off in the China seas/' said Lucilla, try 
 ing to cheer Grace, though she herself had 
 little idea that he would escape taking part if 
 there should be war. 
 
 " In case of war, that will hardly excuse him 
 from doing his duty," said their father; " nor 
 would our dear brave boy wish to be excused. 
 But we will all pray that he may be spared in 
 jury, if such be the Lord's will." 
 
 " Indeed we will, in that case, pour out con 
 stant petitions for him the dear fellow!" 
 said Violet, with emotion. "But, Levis, do 
 you think this will bring on war? " 
 
 "It looks very likely to me," replied her 
 husband, sadness perceptible in both his coun 
 tenance and tones. " And, really, I think it is 
 our duty to interfere for those poor, savagely 
 treated Cubans. I think it is high time that 
 this powerful people undertook their cause."
 
 06 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "And I suppose the Spaniards are already 
 angry with the Americans for sympathizing 
 with those poor, oppressed Cubans," said Lu- 
 cilla. 
 
 "Yes," said her father, "and this awful 
 deed the blowing up of our grand battleship 
 with its hundreds of sailors is doubtless an 
 expression of their ill- will." 
 
 And that was not the thought of Captain 
 Raymond alone, but of many others as well. 
 The wrongs and sufferings of the Cubans had 
 so touched the hearts of thousands of the 
 Americans that they felt strongly impelled to 
 make some effort to help them to win their 
 freedom; and now this wanton destruction 
 of one of our favorite battleships and, 
 what was far worse, the lives of nearly 
 three hundred innocent men so increased 
 their anger and distrust that it could scarcely 
 be restrained. Through all the land of the 
 Americans there was a strong feeling of in 
 dignation over the treachery and cruelty of 
 the blow that had destroyed that gallant ship 
 and sacrificed so many innocent lives; but the
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. gf 
 
 people were sternly quiet while the Court of 
 Inquiry was making its investigations. They 
 were ready to punish the doers of that das 
 tardly deed, but not without proof of their 
 guilt. For forty days they and their Congress 
 silently awaited the report of the hoard of 
 naval officers engaged in examining into the 
 evidences of the cause of the destruction of 
 the Maine. Their verdict came at length, 
 but in rather vague form that, according to 
 the evidence obtainable, the vessel had been de 
 stroyed by an explosion against her side from 
 without. So much was clearly proven, but 
 they did not say by whom the evil deed was 
 done. More than a week before that report 
 came in, both Congress and the people had 
 been greatly moved by the speech of Senator 
 Proctor, describing what he had witnessed in 
 Cuba, the scenes of starvation and horror; 
 men, women, and children robbed of their 
 homes, their cattle all their earthly posses 
 sions driven into the towns and left to starve 
 to death in the streets. 
 
 ,The senator's speech made a great impres-
 
 98 ELSIE'S JOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 sion, and there were others on the same sub 
 ject and in a like strain, delivered by members 
 of the commission sent to Cuba by the New 
 York Journal. 
 
 Some days later on the 28th came the re 
 port of the Court of Inquiry into the Maine 
 catastrophe, and put an end to the patience of 
 Congress, which had long been ready to under 
 take the cause of the oppressed and suffering 
 Cubans. ' 
 
 It was not until noon of the llth of April 
 that the President's message reached Congress. 
 In that he turned over to it the whole policy of 
 the government toward Spain. Congress did 
 not make a formal declaration of war with 
 Spain until the 25th of April, but actual hos 
 tilities began on the 19th. Indeed, four days 
 before the declaration of war the United 
 States navy began the blockade of Cuba, and 
 captured a vessel on the high seas.
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 MAX KAYMOND, buried in thought, was pac 
 ing the deck of the Olympia. 
 
 "Hello, Baymond, have you heard the 
 news? " asked a fellow officer, hurrying toward 
 him in evident excitement. 
 
 " No; what is it? News from home? " asked 
 Max, pausing in his walk with a look of eager 
 interest. 
 
 "Just that. The commodore has had a 
 warning to leave Hong-Kong. War has been 
 declared by our government, and Great Britain 
 has issued a proclamation of neutrality. The 
 official warning comes from the authorities 
 here." . 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed Max, "I knew we all 
 knew that it would come soon. It is well 
 the commodore has had all our vessels put in 
 war paint, and every preparation made for 
 departure upon short notice."
 
 100 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLK8. 
 
 " Yes; Commodore Dewey is a wise man .and 
 officer. I'm glad he's at the head of affairs in 
 this fleet. It looks as if we would have some 
 fighting soon, Kaymond." 
 
 "Yes, Dale, and it behooves us to be pre 
 pared for wounds or death. "We are about to 
 fight in a good cause, I think for the freedom 
 of the poor, oppressed, downtrodden Cubans. 
 But where are we to go now, do you know? " 
 
 " Only that it must be out of this harbor 
 quite promptly. It can hardly be to travel 
 the seven thousand miles back to San Fran 
 cisco." 
 
 They were not kept long in suspense. Pres 
 ently, anchors were taken up, and with bands 
 playing and flags flying the fleet of vessels 
 steamed out of the harbor, while the British 
 residents of the city crowded the quay and 
 shipping, cheering and saluting the Ameri 
 cans as the warships passed. That first voyage 
 of the squadron was but a short one, a few 
 miles up the coast to Mirs Bay, a Chinese har 
 bor, where they anchored and awaited orders 
 from home, the McCulloch having been left be-
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. \Q\ 
 
 hind to bring them when they should arrive. 
 The next day she came, bringing this message, 
 dated Washington, April 24: 
 
 "DEWEY, Asiatic Squadron: War has commenced 
 between the United States and Spain. Proceed at once 
 to Philippine Islands. Commence operations at once, 
 particularly against the Spanish fleet. You must cap 
 ture the vessels or destroy. Use utmost endeavors." 
 
 " LONG." 
 
 This message was what Commodore Dewey 
 had been waiting for since his arrival at Hong- 
 Kong in January. He had formed his plans, 
 and was ready to carry them out without delay. 
 His captains were called to a short conference, 
 and about midnight the fleet sailed on its 
 errand of battle. They turned south toward 
 the Philippine Islands, 620 miles away. The 
 nearest United States port was San Francisco, 
 7000 miles distant. No neutral power would 
 permit him to take more than enough of coal 
 to carry his vessels home by the most direct 
 route, so that there was but one course open to 
 Dewey and his fleet the capturing of a Span 
 ish harbor somewhere in Asiatic waters, which 
 he could make a naval base. One of Dewey's
 
 102 ELSIE* S JOUXG FOLKS. 
 
 ships the Petrel was slow, and as the fleet 
 of vessels must keep together, that delayed 
 them. It was three days before they reached 
 the line of coast of the Island of Luzon. It 
 was reported that the enemy might be found in 
 Subig Bay, so that was carefully reconnoitred, 
 but the Spanish were not there; the fishermen 
 about the harbor said they had seen no Spanish 
 fleet, and though every nook and corner of 
 the bay was examined, not so much as a gun 
 boat could be found. So the American fleet 
 passed on to Manila, 30 miles away. 
 
 It seemed evident that the Spaniards had 
 chosen that station because there they would 
 have the aid of shore batteries. It is said that 
 their ships were comparatively antiquated, but 
 not so much so as to make their defeat at all 
 certain. Their guns were as good as those of 
 the American ships, and they had more of 
 them: to Dewey's six fighting ships Admiral 
 Montojo had ten, and two torpedo boats be 
 sides. The Spaniards had no vessel to rank 
 with the Olympia, but the numbers of their 
 yeseels, it might have been expected, would
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNQ FOLKS. 103 
 
 probably, in skilled hands, have more than 
 made up for that. The Americans had the ad 
 vantage in batteries, but not overwhelmingly. 
 The McCulloch did not go into action at all, 
 and the Spanish torpedo boats were sunk be 
 fore their guns would bear. The Americans 
 were greatly superior in everything that goes 
 to win victory; but that they did not know 
 until the fight had been going on for some 
 time; and as Commodore Dewey led his fleet 
 along the coast of Luzon, toward the harbor 
 where he knew the enemy lay in wait for them, 
 he had nothing less than a desperate battle 
 to expect. The Americans were brave; we 
 know of no cowardice among them, but to the 
 thoughtful ones Max Eaymond among them 
 it was a solemn reflection that they might 
 be nearing mutilation and sudden, painful 
 death. The Spanish ships were anchored in 
 a harbor protected by shore batteries. To 
 reach them the Americans must pass down a 
 channel sixteen miles long, guarded on each 
 side by powerful forte armed with modern 
 guns; and it was to be expected that it held
 
 104 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 many mines prepared to blow up our 
 
 ressels. 
 
 Knowing all these things, Commodore 
 Dewey, his officers, and his men must have been 
 expecting a hard fight, with no certainty of 
 winning the victory. There was probably but 
 little sleep on board the vessel that night. 
 About ten o'clock Saturday night the men 
 were sent to their stations for battle. 
 
 Max had spent some leisure time in writing 
 to the dear ones in his home, and the still 
 dearer one pledged to become his wife, tell 
 ing just where he was and the prospect im 
 mediately before him, expressing his hope 
 that all would go well with the Americans 
 now championing the cause of the poor, op 
 pressed Cubans and of these downtrodden 
 Filipinos and that he would be able to 
 write further after the conflict ended, should 
 he pass safely through it; but if he should be 
 killed or seriously wounded, doubtless the news 
 would reach them in due season, and they must 
 think of him as having fallen in a good cause, 
 hoping to meet them all in a better land.
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 105 
 
 A little before that, the commodore was 
 walking back and forth on the starboard side 
 of the iipper deck, when he noticed an old 
 sailor who seemed to be trying to find some 
 thing to do on the port side. He was a man 
 who had been forty years in the service of 
 the navy and army of the United States, and 
 was a privileged character on the Olympia. 
 He seemed to be keeping a careful lookout on 
 the commodore, who noticed it and perceived 
 that he had something on his mind. 
 
 " Well, Purdy, what is it? " he asked. 
 
 Purdy straightened up and saluted. "I 
 hope, sir," he said, " ye don't intend to fight on 
 the 3d of May." 
 
 " And why not? " asked the commodore. 
 
 "Well, ye see, sir," Purdy replied, in the 
 most serious manner, " the last time I fought 
 on the 3d of May I got licked at the 
 battle of Chancellorsville, under Fighting 
 Joe Hooker." 
 
 " All right, Purdy, we won't fight on the 3d 
 of May this time," said the commodore; " but 
 when we do fight, Purdy, you'll have a differ-
 
 106 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 ent kind of a May anniversary to think about. 
 Remember that, Purely." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," replied Purdy, saluting, then 
 hurrying away to rejoin his blue jacket com 
 rades, whom he told, " We'll lick those Span 
 iards if they was ten times as many as they 
 are." 
 
 The moon was in its first quarter, and 
 though often veiled by clouds its light might 
 enable the Spaniards on the fortified points 
 here and there to perceive the stealthy ap 
 proach of their foe. Max, on the watch with 
 others, overheard the commodore say, as they 
 neared the opening between Mariveles and 
 the Island of Corregidor, "We ought to hear 
 from this battery about now." 
 
 But its guns were silent. They went on two 
 miles further without perceiving any evidence 
 that the Spaniards were awake and aware of 
 their approach. 
 
 " They seem far from alert and watchful," 
 Max presently remarked. But at that mo 
 ment a bright light was thrown on the Point, 
 an answering one was seen on the island, as if
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 1Q7 
 
 they were signalling each other, then a rocket 
 soared up from the centre of Corregidor, and 
 the commodore said, " It has taken them a 
 long time to wake up, but probably they will 
 make it all the hotter for us when they 
 begin. 
 
 Day had not yet dawned when they reached 
 the mouth of Manila Bay. They did not stop 
 to reconnoitre, but pressed on at once, running 
 the gantlet of batteries and concealed mines 
 without waiting for daylight to make it easier. 
 
 They waited a little for the setting of the 
 moon, then went on in single file, the Otympia 
 leading and the McCulloch bringing up the 
 rear, and with no lights except one lantern at 
 the stern of each ship for the next to steer by. 
 
 A great light marked the entrance to the 
 harbor, gleaming in the darkness as though to 
 welcome the gray ships stealing so quietly in, 
 as if to come suddenly and unexpectedly upon 
 their prey. The forts were as silent as 
 though all their defenders were asleep or 
 dead. That was a wonder to the Americans, 
 for the rush of their vessels through the water
 
 108 ELSIE'S JOVN& FOLKS. 
 
 seemed to make a sound that might be heard 
 by the enemy, and every moment they ex 
 pected it to attract their attention; and so 
 anxious were they to pass unnoticed, that they 
 spoke to each other in whispers, and moved 
 about with muffled tread. They were in mo 
 mentary expectation of a cannon shot or the 
 explosion of a mine that might rend the plates 
 of some one of their ships; but nothing of 
 either kind occurred, until the last ship in the 
 procession the McCulloch gave the first 
 alarm. Coal was flung on her furnace, and a 
 red flame flared up, lighting up the waters and 
 the rigging of the ship itself and of those 
 ahead. All the men on the fleet turned ex 
 pectantly toward the batteries on the land, 
 thinking that shots would certainly come now. 
 But all was silence there. Again and again 
 the unlucky beacon flared, and after the 
 third time it was noticed by the flash of a gun 
 on a rock called El Fraile. But the aim was 
 not good, and the shot did not strike any of 
 our vessels. The Concord fired in return, and 
 cannon roared from the Boston, the McCulkch,
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 109 
 
 and again from the Concord, but the Otympia 
 and other big ships passed on in silent 
 dignity. 
 
 The commodore was standing on the bridge 
 of the Olympia, piloting his fleet, and the shot 
 from El Fraile had given him a clear idea of 
 how the shore lay. And now, having passed 
 that battery, all the defences of the harbor's 
 mouth were left behind, and excepting mines 
 that might lie concealed under the water there 
 was no further danger to meet until they 
 should reach the city with its forts at Cavite. 
 
 As the ship steamed on up the bay, Max and 
 Dale standing together on deck fell into con 
 versation. 
 
 "What ails these Spaniards?" queried 
 Dale. " I, for one, expected nothing less than 
 a severe fight at the very mouth of this bay, 
 but they have let us come in and on up to 
 ward their city almost unnoticed. The strait 
 where we came in is only about five miles wide, 
 and broken by three islands, all fortified, and 
 armed with Krupp guns. And on the main 
 land there are two forts one on each side
 
 HO ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 which, as I have been told, are armed with steel 
 rifled cannon/' 
 
 " Yes/' said Max, " and we passed them all 
 within easy range, and received only ineffective 
 fire from one battery. But this is only the be 
 ginning; at any minute we may come in con 
 tact with a mine in the channel which will ex 
 plode, or an electric mine may be discharged in 
 a way to work us serious mischief." 
 
 " True enough," said Dale; " and it behooves 
 us to be ready for the worst. There will prob 
 ably be men killed and wounded on both sides." 
 
 " Yes," sighed Max; " war is an awful thing; 
 but in this instance right is on our side, because 
 we have undertaken the cause of the oppressed. 
 And," he added with an effort, "if we have 
 made our peace with God are believing in 
 the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting in his per 
 fect righteousness death will be no calamity 
 to us; and if we are wounded, no matter how 
 painfully, he will give us strength to bear it." 
 
 "I do not doubt it," said Dale; "nor that 
 you are in that state of preparation, Eaymond. 
 I hope I am also; and that being the case, we
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNQ FOLKS. m 
 
 surely can go bravely on to meet whatever 
 awaits us." 
 
 " I hope so/' said Max, " and believing, as I 
 do, that we are in the right, I have a strong 
 hope that God will giv* us the victory." 
 
 "Ah, see!" cried a voice near them, "yon 
 der are the Spanish ships, lying at anchor 
 under the batteries at Cavite." 
 
 " Yes," said another, " and there is the old 
 town of Manila, with its low clustering roofs 
 and towering cathedral." 
 
 Men crowded to the best points from which 
 to obtain a good view, and stood in silence 
 gazing upon it. Max had a glass, and look 
 ing through it could see the roofs and quays 
 of the city crowded with spectators. Evi 
 dently the engagement with the battery at El 
 Fraile had been heard and had alarmed the 
 city. 
 
 Dewey had planned for a prompt fight, but 
 did not intend to have his men go into it hun 
 gry; and now some of his sailors were passing 
 up and down distributing cups of hot coffee 
 and biscuits.
 
 112 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 
 
 That duly attended to, signals fluttered 
 from the gaff, black balls were run up to every 
 peak on all the vessels, and, breaking out, dis 
 played the great battle flags. At that, some 
 nine-inch guns on Fort Lunette were fired, 
 without doing any damage and the American 
 vessels suddenly moved on to closer quarters. 
 
 " Hold your fire! " was the order from the 
 flagship, and two shots from the Concord was 
 the only answer given to the forts. Onward 
 the fleet sped toward that of the Spaniards, 
 which was silent also. Suddenly there was a 
 muffled roar, and a great volume of mud and 
 water was thrown into the air right before the 
 flagship, showing that the dreaded mines were 
 near. In an instant there was another explo 
 sion, but neither did any harm; and they were 
 all our men saw of the Spanish explosives of 
 that sort. 
 
 Now the fleet was nearing the enemy. On 
 the Otympia's bridge stood Commodore Dewey, 
 with Captain Gridley and Flag-captain Lam- 
 berton at his side. The Spanish ships now 
 joined the forts in pouring their fire on the
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 113 
 
 advancing foe, but still there was no response. 
 Presently the sun rose red and glaring with' 
 midsummer heat, and at that the commodore, 
 turning to the officer at his side, said quietly, 
 "You may fire now, Gridley, when ready." 
 
 Gridley was ready, and the next instant an' 
 eight-inch shell was on its way toward the 
 enemy, who was only about 4500 yards dis 
 tant. Presently a signal from the flagship 
 gave the same permission to the other vessels, 
 and the whole fleet was engaged. 
 
 Shortly before that, Dewey had assembled 
 the men of the Olympia and given them this 
 final direction for their conduct during the 
 fight: " Keep perfectly cool, and pay attention 
 to nothing but orders." Such was the watch 
 word through his whole fleet that morning, 
 and the result was a deliberate and deadly fire. 
 The ships steamed along in regular order the 
 Olympia, the Baltimore, the Raleigh, Petrel, 
 Concord, and Boston parallel to the Spanish 
 ships, working every gun that could be brought 
 to bear, and receiving the fire of ships and 
 forts in return. The fire of the Spanish guns
 
 114 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 was a succession of brilliant misses shots that 
 came very near hitting, but did not quite do 
 so. It was, as Dewey put it in his report, 
 " vigorous, but generally ineffective/' 
 
 But the aim was not always bad. One shell 
 struck the gratings of the bridge of the 
 Otympia; one narrowly missed the commodore 
 himself, and so hot did the fire become that 
 he bade Captain Gridley go into the conning 
 tower lest both of them might be killed or dis 
 abled at once. On the Boston a six-inch gun 
 was disabled, and a box of ammunition ex 
 ploded. Also a shell burst in a stateroom, and 
 set it on fire. Our six vessels steamed along 
 down past the Spanish line, the port side of 
 every ship a mass of flame and smoke, then 
 circling around in a grand sweep that made 
 the Spaniards think for a moment they were 
 pulling out of action the column returned 
 again on its course, and the men of the star 
 board batteries had a chance to try their skill 
 while their fellows rested. They had made this 
 circuit but three times when three cd! the 
 Spanish ships were on fire. Looking through
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 115 
 
 glasses the shots could be seen striking the 
 Spanish hulls, which were thinly plated. 
 
 Admiral Montojo, stung into fury by his 
 losses, slipped the cables of his flagship, just as 
 the Americans were beginning their third 
 round, and under full steam darted out as if 
 intending to attack the Olympia. But as his 
 vessel the Reina Christina swung away 
 from her fellows the fire of the whole Ameri 
 can fleet was concentrated upon her. The 
 storm of shot and shell came pouring down 
 upon her, pierced her hull like paper, swept her 
 decks and spread death and destruction on 
 every side. Her engines were pierced, her 
 bridge shot away. She could hardly be con 
 trolled by her helm, and as she turned her 
 stern to the American fire an eight-inch gun 
 on the Olympia sent a projectile that struck 
 her there, tore its way forward, exploding am 
 munition, shattering guns, killing men, pierc 
 ing partitions, tearing up decks, and finally 
 exploding in her after-boiler. 
 
 Agonized screams of wounded men were 
 heard rising above the thunder of the battle,
 
 116 ELSIE' 8 JOHNS FOLKS. 
 
 and the Reina Christina staggered back with 
 flames leaping from her hatches. 
 
 While this was going on the two Spanish 
 torpedo boats slipped out and ran for the 
 American fleet. One hastened toward the 
 supply ships, but was caught by the Petrel, 
 driven ashore, and fired upon until she blew 
 up. The other, running for the Olympia, was 
 struck by a shell, broke in two, and sank out of 
 sight. 
 
 Five times the circuit was made by the 
 American ships; then a signal fluttered from 
 the yard of the Olympia, and the fleet turned 
 away to the other side of the harbor, where 
 the McCulloch and the colliers had been 
 lying. 
 
 At that the Spaniards, supposing the Ameri 
 cans were retreating, raised a resounding cheer. 
 The men on the American ships were not so 
 well pleased. They were asking what this 
 move was for, and when told that it was in 
 order to give them their breakfast, there was 
 much grumbling. 
 
 " Breakfast! " exclaimed one of the gunners,
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. H7 
 
 "who wants any breakfast? Why can't we 
 finish off the Dons, now we've got them 
 going? " 
 
 But breakfast was not what the delay was 
 for. >A misunderstood signal had made the 
 commodore fear that the supply of ammuni 
 tion for the five-inch guns on board of some of 
 the vessels was running low, and he wished to 
 replenish their stock. It was found, however, 
 not to be necessary. But officers and sailors 
 had their breakfast and a three hours' rest, 
 during which guns and machinery that had 
 been used in that morning's fight were exam 
 ined and a supply of fresh ammunition was 
 prepared. Then the signals for a renewal 
 of the battle were given, and the ships again 
 bore down upon the enemy, revolving as before 
 in a great circle of smoke and fire, but at 
 closer range than at first. 
 
 The Spaniards seemed desperate, fired 
 wildly, and in a half-hearted way. The JReina 
 Christina was blown up by the shells of the 
 Baltimore; quickly after the Don Juan de 
 Austria was destroyed by the Raleigh, and so
 
 118 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 on till all of the ten Spanish ships had been 
 destroyed or had surrendered. 
 
 Admiral Montojo had transferred his flag to 
 the Isla de Cuba, and fought till her guns 
 were silenced and she was in flames; then leav 
 ing her to her fate, he escaped to the city. It 
 is said that a great crowd of people had come 
 out from that city that morning to see "the 
 pigs of Yankees'" annihilated. 
 
 The last ship left fighting was the Don 
 Antonio de Ulloa, and at length she sank, with 
 her flag still nailed to her mast. One of the 
 American shots entered the magazine at Ca- 
 vite, and that ended the resistance of the shore 
 batteries. Then from the Otympia was flung 
 out the signal, " The enemy has surrendered," 
 the hot, weary, smoke-begrimed men swarmed 
 cheering out of turrets and up from the bowels 
 of the ships, and the flagship's band broke out 
 with the " Star Spangled Banner," for the vic 
 tory of Manila was won, the first victory of the 
 war with Spain for the help of the sorely op 
 pressed Cubans.
 
 CHAPTER Vin. 
 
 MAX had done bravely and well, and no one 
 rejoiced more keenly in the victory than he, 
 though his heart bled for the wounded and 
 slain. He as well as others listened eagerly 
 for the accounts of the captains of the other 
 vessels of the fleet as they came on board to 
 report to the commodore. 
 
 " How many killed? " was demanded of eacK 
 one, as he stepped on the deck, and great was 
 the surprise and satisfaction on learning that 
 none had been killed. 
 
 " Only eight wounded, none seriously," was 
 the reply of Captain Dyer of the Baltimore. 
 "But six shells struck us, and two burst in 
 board without hurting any one." 
 
 " Not a dashed one," was the next captain's 
 answer. "None killed and none wounded," 
 said the third, "but I don't yet know how it 
 
 119
 
 120 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 happened. I suppose you fellows were all cut 
 up." 
 
 " My ship wasn't hit at all/' was the next re 
 port. 
 
 It was known that the Boston had been on 
 fire, therefore it was expected that her captain 
 would have to report a serious list of casual 
 ties, and when he announced that no one had 
 been killed or wounded on his vessel the news 
 spread quickly through the flagship, and the 
 men cheered vociferously. The Baltimore 
 had been struck by a sixty-pound projectile, 
 fired from a land battery. It struck the ship 
 about two feet above the upper deck, between 
 two guns which were being served; pierced two 
 plates of steel each one-quarter of an inch 
 thick; then ploughed through the wooden deck, 
 striking and breaking a heavy beam, by which 
 it was turned upward; then it passed through a 
 steel hatch-combing; disabled a six-inch gun; 
 hurtled around the semicircular shield which 
 surrounded the gun, missing the men at it; re 
 versed its course and travelled back to a point 
 almost opposite that at which it had entered
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 121 
 
 the ship, and thus passed out. It had passed 
 between men crowded at their quarters and 
 had touched none, but it exploded some loose 
 ammunition, by which eight were wounded. 
 
 Max listened to the accounts of the almost 
 bloodless victory with a heart swelling with 
 gratitude to God, and full of hope for the 
 success of America's effort to free the victims 
 of Spanish cruelty and oppression. What glad 
 tidings his next letter would carry to the dear 
 ones at home. They would rejoice over the 
 victory, and his safety too, though that might 
 be again imperilled at any time. 
 
 This naval battle had been fought on Sun 
 day. On Monday morning Captain Lamberton 
 went on shore to receive the formal surrender 
 of the fort at Cavite. They had hauled down 
 their flag the day before, but now tried to 
 prove that they had never done so. Perceiving 
 that, the captain drew out his watch. Before 
 leaving his ship he had directed that unless he 
 returned in an hour those works should be 
 bombarded. Forty-five minutes of that hour 
 were now gone, and he said to the Spaniards:
 
 122 ELSIE'S YOUNQ FOLKS. 
 
 "Unless you surrender unconditionally so 
 soon that I can get back to my ship in fifteen 
 minutes, the Petrel will open fire on your 
 works." 
 
 That had the desired effect; they sur 
 rendered at once, and priests and nuns came 
 humbly to beg him to restrain his men from 
 murdering all the wounded in the hospitals. 
 They had been told that that was the invaria 
 ble practice of the barbarous " Yanquis." 
 
 The next day the Raleigh and Baltimore 
 went down to the mouth of the bay and, after a 
 brief attack, captured the forts on Corregidor 
 and Sangley Point. The guns in these works 
 were destroyed by wrapping them with gun 
 cotton and exploding it with electricity. The 
 oflicer in command at Corregidor went aboard 
 the Raleigh to surrender himself, and while 
 there seemed greatly alarmed to find the ship 
 drifting in the main channel, or Boca Grand, 
 and demanded that he be at once put ashore. 
 Asked the reason of his alarm and haste to get 
 away, he said the channel was full of contact 
 mines, and though the Americans might be
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 123 
 
 satisfied to brave death by them he was not, 
 and it was not fair to expose a prisoner to al 
 most certain destruction. And that was the 
 channel through which the American fleet had 
 entered the harbor. 
 
 Four days after his victory Dewey, having 
 all the harbor defences at his command, sent 
 off the McCulloch to Hong-Kong with his first 
 despatches to Washington. So a week had 
 passed after the rumors from Madrid before 
 the American people received definite informa 
 tion in regard to Dewey's successes in the 
 Philippines. These are the despatches: 
 
 MANILA, May 1. Squadron arrived at Manila at 
 daybreak this morning. Immediately engaged the 
 enemy and destroyed following Spanish vessels : Beina 
 Cristina, Castillo,, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Isla de Luzon, 
 Isla de Cuba, General Lezo, Marques del Duoro, El Correo, 
 Velasco, Itla de Mindanao, a transport, and water bat 
 tery at Cavite. The squadron is uninjured, and only a 
 few men are slightly wounded. Only means of tele 
 graphing is to American consul at Hong-Kong. I shall 
 communicate with him. DEWEY. 
 
 MANILA, May 4. I have taken possession of the 
 naval station at Cavite, Philippine Islands, and destroyed 
 the fortifications. Have destroyed fortifications at bay
 
 124 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 entrance, Corregidor Island, parolling the garrison. I 
 control the bay completely, and can take the city at 
 any time. The squadron is in excellent health and 
 spirits. The Spanish loss not fully known, but is very 
 heavy. One hundred and fifty killed, including captain, 
 on Eeina Cristina alone. I am assisting in protecting 
 Spanish sick and wounded. Two hundred and fifty 
 sick and wounded in hospital within our lines. Much, 
 excitement in Manila. Will protect foreign residents. 
 
 DEWEY. 
 
 A message of congratulation from the 
 President and people of the United States was 
 the immediate response to Dewey's despatches, 
 and with it the information that the President 
 had appointed the victorious commander a 
 rear-admiral. Doubtless a rumor concerning 
 the nature of that despatch quickly reached all 
 the vessels of the fleet, for the next morning 
 watchful eyes on many of them turned to the 
 flagship to see what flag would be run up to 
 the mainmast, and when they saw that it was 
 a blue flag as of yore, but had two stars instead 
 of one, the guns of the squadron roared out a 
 salute to the new admiral. No one there was 
 more rejoiced than Max, who both respected 
 and loved his gallant commander; and no one
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 125 
 
 in America felt happier over the good news in 
 Dewey's despatches than those to whom Max 
 was so dear. It was a blessed relief to their 
 anxiety to learn that no one in the squadron 
 had been killed, and none more than slightly 
 wounded. 
 
 J
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 THE news of the destruction of the Maine 
 was quite as exciting to our friends at Ion as 
 to those of Woodburn. All saw that war be 
 tween the United States and Spain could not 
 be long delayed, and when it was declared, both 
 Harold and Herbert Travilla volunteered their 
 services as physicians and surgeons to the 
 troops to be sent to Cuba or Puerto Eico. 
 Their mother gave consent, though her heart 
 bled at thought of the toils and dangers they 
 would be called upon to endure, but she felt 
 that they were right in their desire to help the 
 poor Cubans to such freedom as we enjoy. 
 No one had felt a deeper sympathy for the de 
 spoiled and starving reconcentradoes than she. 
 Her sons were not going as soldiers, to be sure, 
 but as greatly needed help to those who were 
 to do the fighting. 
 
 Captain Eaymond was strongly inclined to
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 12? 
 
 offer his services to the government, but was 
 deterred by the earnest, tearful entreaties of 
 his wife and daughters. They urged him to 
 refrain, for their sakes, as there seemed to be 
 no lack of men who could be better spared 
 at least so it seemed to them. 
 
 " Oh, father," said Grace, " don't think of 
 such a thing! There are plenty of other men 
 who are not so much loved and needed in their 
 own homes; so that the poor Cubans will bQ 
 sure to get free without our risking the loss of 
 the dearest father that anybody ever had." 
 
 It was shortly after breakfast on a beautiful 
 May morning, and the whole family were to 
 gether on the front veranda, the captain occu 
 pying an easy chair, while looking over the 
 morning paper. Grace had come close to his 
 side, and was standing there as she spoke. 
 
 " Is that your opinion of him ? " he asked, 
 smiling up into her eyes. 
 
 "Yes, sir; and always has been," she an 
 swered, accepting a silent invitation to a seat 
 upon his knee, and putting an arm around his 
 neck. " Oh, father, I don't know how I could
 
 128 ELSIE'S JOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 live without you! " she exclaimed, her eyes 
 filling with tears at the very thought. 
 
 " Nor I," said Lucilla. " No greater calam 
 ity than the loss of our father could possibly 
 befall us. And there are plenty of other 
 people to look after the Cubans." 
 
 " So I think," said Violet. " If our coun 
 try was in peril it would be a different matter. 
 And, my dear, as your eldest son is in the fight 
 such a dear fellow as he is too! I am sure 
 that ought to be considered your full share of 
 giving and doing for the Cuban cause." 
 
 "I should think so indeed!" chimed in 
 Lucilla and Grace in a breath. 
 
 "And, oh, I can't bear to think that my 
 dear brother Max may get wounded! " ex 
 claimed Elsie; and Ned added, "And if he 
 does, I'd just like to shoot the fellow that 
 shoots him." 
 
 " We must try not to feel revengeful, my 
 little son," said his father. 
 
 " Well, papa, please promise not to offer to 
 go into the fight," pleaded Grace, and the 
 others all added their earnest solicitations to
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 139 
 
 ters, till at length they won the desired pledge. 
 They were too dear to the captain's heart to be 
 denied what they pleaded for so earnestly and 
 importunately. 
 
 Grace was feehler and oftener ailing that 
 spring than she had been for several years be 
 fore, and Dr. Arthur Conly, or one or the 
 other of his partners, Harold and Herbert 
 Travilla, was often there to give advice and 
 see that it was followed. It had been Harold 
 oftener, of late, than any one else, and he had 
 grown very fond of the sweet girl who always 
 listened with such deference to his advice, and 
 called him " uncle " in her sweet voice. The 
 thought of leaving her gave him a keener pang 
 than anything else, as he contemplated leav 
 ing his home for the labors and dangers of the 
 seat of war. He was glad indeed when he 
 learned that the captain would remain at home 
 to take care of her and the rest of his 
 family. 
 
 Grace noticed with pleasure that as the time 
 of his leaving drew near his manner toward her 
 grew more affectionate, till it seemed almost
 
 130 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 as tender as that of her father, and she thought 
 it very nice that Uncle Harold should be so 
 fond of her. She looked up to him as one 
 who was very wise and good, and wondered 
 that he should care particularly for her, as she 
 was not really related to him at all. He was 
 fond of Lucilla also, but Grace seemed to him 
 the lovelier of the two. He had always been 
 fond of her, but did not know until about to 
 leave her for that dangerous field of usefulness 
 that his affection was of the sort to make him 
 long for her as the partner of his life. But so 
 it was. Yet could it be? Would the captain 
 ever consent to such a mixture of relation 
 ships? He feared not; and at all events it was 
 quite certain that he would not be allowed to 
 try to win his coveted prize for years to come 
 she being so young, and far from strong and 
 well. Then as he was about to risk his life on 
 battlefields, it would be cruelty to her to try, 
 to win her love before he went. 
 
 He resolved to go without revealing his 
 secret to any one. But he had never had an 
 important secret from his mother; all his life
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 131 
 
 (he had been used to talking freely with her, 
 telling of his hopes, aims, and wishes, his 
 doubts and perplexities, and almost before he 
 knew it he had said enough of his feelings for 
 Grace to show to that mother's keen-sighted 
 affection how the land lay. 
 
 " Grace is very lovely, and a dear child," she 
 said low and gently; " but, as you know, she is 
 not well or strong. Also she is so young that 
 her father would not hear of her marrying for 
 years to come." 
 
 " No, mother, nor would I advise it; unless," 
 he added with a low, embarrassed laugh, " to a 
 physician who would take special care of her 
 health." 
 
 " You refer to one physician in particular, I 
 perceive," returned his mother, with a low, 
 musical laugh, and laying her hand in his, for 
 they were sitting side by side on the veranda. 
 " Well, my dear boy, I advise you to wait till 
 your return home before you say anything to 
 either her or her father. But have you thought 
 what a mixture of relationships such a mar 
 riage would make? Your brother-in-law would
 
 132 ELSIE'S JOUNO FOLKS. 
 
 be also your father-in-law, and Grace aunt to 
 
 her half-brother and sister." 
 
 " Yes, mother, it would cause some awkward 
 relationships; but as there is no tie of blood 
 between us, perhaps that need not matter. But 
 I shall say nothing till I come home, and not 
 then without the captain's permission." 
 
 " That is right. But do you think Grace 
 suspects ? " 
 
 "Hardly, mother; I am only her * uncle/ 
 you know/' Harold answered, with a laugh is. 
 which there was little or no mirth. 
 
 "Although I am certainly very fond of 
 Grace," said his mother, "I cannot help re 
 gretting that your affections have not gone out 
 to some one else rather than to her because of 
 her feeble health and the connection through 
 your sister and her father." 
 
 "Yes, they are objections," he returned, 
 with a sigh; "but mother dear, you will not 
 consider them insuperable if I can persuade 
 the captain not to do so?" 
 
 " Oh, no! not if you win, or have won, her 
 'heart. I should not think of raising the least
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 133 
 
 'objection, and surely the captain, who is a de 
 voted father, would not, should he see that her 
 affections are engaged." 
 
 " That is my hope," said Harold; " and, as I 
 have said, I do not intend to offer myself with 
 out his knowledge and consent, though I had 
 hard work to refrain to-day when Grace and I 
 were left alone together for a few minutes, and 
 she expressed, with tears in her sweet blue 
 eyes, such anxiety at the thought of my being 
 in danger of wounds or death in the coming 
 struggle in Cuba. Mother dear, Herbert and 
 I will not, of course, be in as great danger as 
 will the fighting men of our army and navy, 
 but there is a possibility that we may not re 
 turn unharmed, and in case I should not I 
 would not have Grace know of my love and in 
 tention to ask her to become my wife." 
 
 " I think you are right, my son," his mother 
 said, with emotion. " But, ah, I hope and shall 
 pray constantly that my dear boys may come 
 back to me unharmed." 
 
 " And it will be a great help and comfort to 
 them to know that their dear mother's prayers
 
 134 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 are following them," rejoined Harold, tenderly 
 pressing the hand she had laid in his. 
 
 The next moment Herbert joined them, and 
 he too had a farewell talk with his mother, for 
 the brothers were to leave for Tampa the next 
 morning to join the troops about to sail for 
 Cuba.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 BY the last of May there were sixteen thou 
 sand men at Tampa under the command of 
 General Shafter, but it was not until the 14th 
 of June that they set sail for Cuba. On a 
 clear, scorchingly hot morning, June 22d, they 
 landed at Daiquiri, twelve miles east of the 
 entrance to Santiago Bay. From all accounts 
 things seem to have been wofully mis 
 managed, so that our poor soldiers had no 
 facilities for landing. Those who loaded the 
 ship, it would appear, must have been great 
 bunglers either exceedingly ignorant in re 
 gard to such work or most reprehensibly care 
 less. In consequence, scarcely anything could 
 be found when wanted. Medical stores were 
 scattered among twenty vessels; so that when 
 fever broke out in the trenches before San 
 tiago it was almost impossible to get the needed 
 remedies; probably though there were never 
 
 135
 
 136 ELSIE'S JOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 enough on the field some medicines were left 
 on the ships and carried back to the United 
 States. All this made the work of the physi 
 cians doubly trying. Besides, they were too 
 few in number, the wounded many more than it 
 had been expected they would be, and brought 
 in faster than they could be attended to; the 
 surgeons worked all night by the light of splut 
 tering lamps, and there was not enough of even, 
 surgical instruments. But the poor wounded 
 men were wonderfully brave and patient. 
 Harold and Herbert Travilla felt that they had 
 not engaged in a cause which did not need 
 them. After the fighting began their labors 
 were exhausting; all the more so because of the 
 drain upon their sympathies. 
 
 On the morning of July 2d our troops were 
 found safely intrenched on the ridge of the 
 hill above Santiago. The day before had been 
 one of heavy losses to our army many officers 
 and men killed and wounded. And now, just 
 as light began to show in the east, the Span 
 iards opened a heavy fire on our works. Our 
 men made few replies, for ammunition was
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 137 
 
 getting scarce; and so anxious for it were the 
 soldiers that they hailed an ammunition train 
 with great joy, though they were half starved 
 and knew that no provisions could come while 
 the road was crowded with such trains. 
 
 The war artist, Frederic Eemington, tells 
 of the delight with which the poor hungry fel 
 lows hailed a pack-train loaded with ammuni 
 tion, though they knew that no food would be 
 brought them that night. " The wounded 
 going to the rear cheered the ammunition, 
 and when it was unpacked at the front the 
 soldiers seized it like gold. They lifted a box 
 in the air and dropped it on one corner, which 
 smashed it open. 
 
 " ' Now we can hold San Juan hill against 
 them garlics; hey, son? ' yelled a happy cavalry 
 man to a doughboy. 
 
 " ' You bet! until we starve to death/ 
 
 " ' Starve nothin' we'll eat them gun- 
 teams/ " 
 
 The soldiers refilled their cartridge belts, 
 then crouched all day in trenches, watching for 
 an assault, and firing just often enough to keep
 
 138 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 
 
 the enemy from advancing upon them. WTiile 
 doing so they could hear the thunder of the 
 navy's guns far away in the southwest, where 
 it was engaging a battery. At the same time, 
 down in the harbor of Santiago, Cervera was 
 getting ready to make his rush out of the har 
 bor the next day. 
 
 The Spaniards made a dash at our men about 
 half-past nine that night, and drove them 
 back for a few minutes from several points on 
 their line, but they soon returned and drove 
 the Spaniards back with heavy loss. 
 
 The next day, July 3d, was Sunday, and on 
 the great ships of the American squadron, 
 floating heavily in a half-circle about the 
 mouth of Santiago harbor, the men were 
 swarming on deck in fresh clean white clothes, 
 ready for muster. About nine o'clock the 
 flagship New York showed the signal: "Dis 
 regard flagship's movements," and steamed 
 away toward the east. Admiral Sampson had 
 gone in it for a conference with General 
 Shafter, whose troops were then resting after
 
 ELSIE'S JOVNG FOLKS. 139 
 
 their dreadful fight on San Juan hill and El 
 Caney. 
 
 Of our ships on watch outside of the harbor, 
 the Brooklyn was to the southwest, the Texas 
 directly south, while the three big battleships, 
 Indiana, Iowa, and Oregon, made a curve in 
 shore east of the Morro. The little picket 
 boat Vixen was there also, and the Gloucester 
 farthest east and nearest inshore. The New 
 York, now absent, was the one ship supposed 
 to be able to compete with the Spaniards in 
 speed, and her departure left a broad gap in 
 the blockading line. 
 
 The lookouts on the fleet had reported fires 
 burning on the hills all the night before, and 
 Commodore Schley, who was in command in 
 Admiral Sampson's absence, signalled to the 
 Texas the query: " What is your theory about 
 the burning of the block-houses on the hill last 
 night?" 
 
 He sat on the deck waiting for an answer, 
 and at the same time watching a cloud of 
 smoke rising from the interior of the harbor 
 behind the hills. It did not necessarily mean
 
 140 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 anything serious, for about that time in the 
 morning a tug was apt to make a visit to the 
 Estrella battery. Still, they watched it, and 
 presently the quartermaster on the forward 
 bridge said quietly to the navigating officer, 
 "That smoke's moving, sir." That officer 
 took a peep himself, and what he saw nearly 
 made him drop the glass. "Afterbridge 
 there," he called loudly through a megaphone; 
 "tell the commodore the enemy is coming 
 out." 
 
 His words were heard all over the ship, and 
 commodore, officers, sailors, powder-boys were 
 all rushing for their station. 
 
 The cry rang out, " Clear ship for action/' 
 and gongs and bugles which call to general 
 quarters clanged and pealed on the quiet air. 
 There were echoes of the same sounds from 
 the other ships, and the signals, " The enemy is 
 escaping," ran to the masthead of the Brook 
 lyn, the Texas, and the Iowa at the same mo 
 ment; for that suspicious smoke had been 
 watched from all the ships. 
 
 It seemed that all the vessels of the blockade
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. Hi 
 
 had caught the alarm at the same time, and the 
 flagship's signal was quickly changed for an 
 other " Clear ship for action! " 
 
 But it was quite unnecessary. On every 
 ship men were dropping off the white clothes 
 which they had donned for general muster, 
 and hurrying to their quarters without wait 
 ing for a command. Every wooden thing was 
 tumbled overboard, water-tight compartments 
 were hastily shut, hose was coupled up and 
 strung along the decks ready to fight fire, 
 battle-hatches were lowered, and in less time 
 than it takes to tell of it all this was accom 
 plished. Then at the sudden blast of a bugle 
 the five hundred and more men to a ship stood 
 at their posts, each one where he would 
 be most needed in battle, and all perfectly 
 silent. Doubtless every eye was turned toward 
 Estrella Point, where the Spanish vessels, if 
 indeed coming out, must first show themselves, 
 and there presently a huge black hull appeared. 
 It came out far enough to show a turret, and 
 from that came a flash, and then the boom of 
 a heavy shot, instantly answered by a six-
 
 142 ELSIES YOUNG FOLKS 
 
 pounder from the Iowa. The battle had be 
 gun, and " Fighting Bob " Evans had fired the 
 first shot. 
 
 That ship just coming out was the Maria 
 Teresa, and she was followed by the Vizcaya, 
 the Cristobal Colon, and the Almirante 
 Oquendo. All the American ships were stand 
 ing in toward the harbor to meet them, firing 
 rapidly from every gun that could be brought 
 to bear. It was uncertain at first which way the 
 Spaniards would turn when they had passed 
 the shoals that extend half a mile beyond the 
 mouth of the harbor. If they turned eastward 
 they would have to run into the midst of the 
 most formidable ships of our squadron. If 
 they went directly west they might outrun the 
 battleships and escape. The Brooklyn was the 
 fastest ship on the blockade, and was also in 
 the best position to head off the Spaniards 
 should they take that course. But it was pos 
 sible she might be lost, as she was no match 
 for the number of the enemy that would be in 
 a position to engage her when she came up to 
 them. Commodore Schley says that the po&-
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 143 
 
 sibility of losing his ship in that way entered 
 very clearly into his calculations, but also that 
 in sinking the Brooklyn the Spaniards would 
 be delayed long enough for the battleships to 
 come up to them and that then there would be 
 no reason to fear their escape. The difficulty 
 was that because the Brooklyn was on a parallel 
 course with the Spaniards, and going in a 
 directly opposite direction, she would have to 
 make a complete circle in order to chase them; 
 and had they had the speed with which they 
 were credited, that would have put the Brook 
 lyn out of the fight, one of her engines being 
 uncoupled, and in consequence her speed 
 greatly reduced. 
 
 But the Spanish vessels fell far behind their 
 estimated speed, so that the Brooklyn was able 
 to circle about and still overhaul the fleetest 
 of them, and the Texas, the slowest of our 
 battleships, held its own in the race. 
 
 The Maria Teresa passed the shoals and 
 turned west. The little Vixen, lying near the 
 Brooklyn, when she saw the Maria Teresa turn 
 toward her. fired off her six-pounders, then
 
 144 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 slipped away, while the rest of the American 
 ships came rushing down toward the enemy 
 with their funnels belching black smoke, and 
 turrets, hulls, and tops spurting out red flames 
 and yellow smoke. They steamed toward the 
 foe as fast as possible, at the same time firing 
 fiercely from every gun that could be brought 
 to bear, and paying no attention to the shore 
 batteries which were firing upon them. The 
 Indiana was nearest the shore and nearest the 
 Maria Teresa, the leading ship of the enemy, 
 when the fight began. It is said that the water 
 fairly boiled with the flood of projectiles from 
 Morro and the broadside with which the Maria 
 Teresa opened battle. As she turned toward 
 the west the shot from the Indiana struck her 
 more than once; but after that the Indiana 
 gave her attention to the Vizcaya. 
 
 By this time all the American ships were 
 engaged, but in the dense smoke it was almost 
 impossible to make out how great was the suc 
 cess of any single one. 
 
 But Commodore Eaton, who was watching 
 the fight from the tug Resolute, says: "As the
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 145 
 
 Vizcaya came out I distinctly saw one of the 
 Indiana's heavy shells strike her abaft the 
 funnels, and the explosion of this shell was 
 followed by a burst of flame, which for a time 
 obscured the after part of the stricken ship." 
 The Iowa and Oregon, belching forth great 
 clouds of smoke until they looked like huge 
 yellow clouds on the water, steamed straight 
 toward the fleeing enemy. Says Mr. Abbott: 
 "As the battleships closed in on their prey, 
 they overlapped each other, and careless use 
 of the guns or failure to make out accurately 
 the target might have resulted in one of our 
 ships firing into another. But so skilfully 
 were they handled that at no time were they 
 put in jeopardy from either the guns or the 
 rams of each other, though at one time the 
 Oregon was firing right across the deck of the 
 Texas." 
 
 The end of the Maria Teresa, the first ship 
 to leave the harbor, came upon her very swiftly, 
 and was frightful. The shells and small pro 
 jectiles searched out every part of her, spread 
 ing death and ruin, and soon setting
 
 146 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 
 
 her woodwork ablaze. The scarlet flames 
 like snakes' tongues darted viciously from her 
 sides; but her gunners stood manfully to their 
 guns. Little smoke hung about her, and her 
 bold black hulk seen against the green back 
 ground of the hills made her a perfect target. 
 A shot from the Brooklyn cut her main water- 
 pipe, and a shell probably from the Oregon 
 entered her hull and exploded in the engine 
 room; a six-inch shell from the Iowa exploded 
 in her forward turret, killing or wounding 
 every man at the guns; while the storm of 
 smaller projectiles swept her decks, and with 
 the noise of their bursting made it impossible 
 for the men to hear their officers' commands. 
 
 Admiral Cervera was on that vessel. One of 
 his officers, telling of it afterward, said: " He 
 expected to lose most of his ships, but thought 
 the Cristobal Colon might escape; that is why 
 he transferred his flag to the Maria Teresa, 
 that he might perish with the less fortunate. 
 And this is the story told an American jour 
 nalist by another officer who stood by the ad 
 miral's side while that dreadful fight went on.
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 147 
 
 Of a shell from the Brooklyn he said: "It 
 struck us in the bow, ploughing down amid 
 ships; then it exploded. It tore down the 
 bulkheads, destroyed stanchions, crippled two 
 rapid-fire guns, and killed fifteen or twenty 
 men." Of a shell from the Iowa he said: " It 
 struck the eleven-inch gun in the forward 
 turret of the cruiser, cutting a furrow as clean 
 as a knife out of the gun. The shell exploded 
 halfway in the turret, making the whole vessel 
 stagger and shake in every plate. "When the 
 fumes and smoke had cleared away so that it 
 was possible to enter the turret, the other gun 
 ners were sent there. The survivors tumbled 
 the bodies which filled the wrecked turret 
 through the ammunition hoist to the lower 
 deck. Even the machinery was clogged with 
 corpses. All our rapid-fire guns aloft soon 
 became silent, because every gunner had been 
 either killed or crippled at his post and lay on 
 the deck where he fell. There were so many 
 wounded that the surgeons ceased trying to 
 dress the wounds. Shells had exploded inside 
 the ship, and even the hospital was turned into
 
 148 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 a furnace. The first wounded who were sent 
 there had to be abandoned by the surgeons, 
 who fled for their lives from the intolerable 
 heat." 
 
 The Teresa came under the fire of our guns 
 about 9.35 that morning. Fifteen minutes 
 later smoke was rising from her ports and 
 hatches, showing that she had been set afire by 
 the American shells. The shot from the 
 Brooklyn that cut her water-main made it im 
 possible to extinguish the flames, and the fire 
 from the American ships grew more accurate 
 and deadly every minute; so she was beached 
 and her flag hauled down in token of sur 
 render. 
 
 The men on the Texas raised a shout of joy. 
 But Captain Philip spoke from the bridge: 
 "Don't cheer, men; those poor fellows are 
 dying." 
 
 For less than forty minutes Admiral Cervera 
 had been running a race for life, and now, clad 
 in underclothes, he tried to escape to the shore 
 On a raft, directed by his son, but was captured 
 and taken to the Gloucester, where he was re-
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS, 149 
 
 eeived with the honors due his rank. His 
 voyage from Santiago had been just six miles 
 and a half, but had cost the lives of nearly half 
 his officers and crew. 
 
 The Vizcaya had followed the Teresa at a 
 distance of about eight hundred yards in com 
 ing out of Santiago harbor. Upon her decks, 
 in Havana harbor, Cuba, Spanish officers had 
 looked down with careless indifference upon 
 the sunken wreck of our gallant battleship, the 
 Maine., and it may be supposed that when she 
 came ploughing out of the bay, Wainwright, 
 late of the Maine, now on the little Gloucester, 
 aimed some shots at her with a special ill-will. 
 But the Vizcaya, under gathered headway, 
 rushed on to the west, passing the heavier 
 battleships Iowa and Indiana, but receiving 
 terrible punishment from their guns. A lieu 
 tenant of the Vizcaya, taken prisoner to the 
 United States, in an interview by a newspaper 
 reporter, told of the murderous effect of the 
 shells from the Indiana. 
 
 " They appeared to slide along the surface 
 of the water and hunt for a seam in our
 
 150 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 armor/' he said. "Three of those monster 
 projectiles penetrated the hull of the Vizcaya, 
 and exploded there before we started for the 
 shore. The carnage inside the ship was some 
 thing horrible and beyond description. Fires 
 were started up constantly. It seemed to me 
 that the iron bulkheads were ablaze. Our 
 organization was perfect. We acted promptly 
 and mastered all small outbreaks of flame, 
 until the small ammunition magazine was ex 
 ploded by a shell. From that moment the ves 
 sel became a furnace of fire. While we were 
 walking the deck, headed shoreward, we could 
 hear the roar of the flames under our feet 
 above the voice of artillery. The Vizcaya's 
 hull bellowed like a blast furnace. Why, men 
 sprang from the red-hot decks straight into the 
 mouths of sharks." 
 
 But the Vizcaya lasted longer than the 
 Almirante Oquendo, which followed her out of 
 the harbor. The Vizcaya turned at the mouth 
 of the harbor and went west, the Brooklyn, 
 Oregon, and Texas in hot pursuit, while the 
 Indiana and Iowa attacked the Oquendo. She
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. i$\ 
 
 had been credited with as great speed as that of 
 her sister ships, but this day moved so slowly 
 that she fared worse than any of her comrades. 
 She stood the fire of her foes five minutes 
 longer than had the Teresa, then with flames 
 pouring out of every opening in her hull, she 
 ran for the beach, hauling down her flag as she 
 went, in token of surrender, while at the same 
 time men were dropping from her red-hot 
 decks into the water. 
 
 Thus, in the first three-quarters of an hour 
 two great Spanish war vessels were destroyed, 
 and the American fleet was concentrating its 
 fire on the other two. 
 
 The fighting men on the vessels were not the 
 only ones who did noble work for their coun 
 try that day. In the engine rooms and stoke 
 holes of the men-of-war, on that scorching hot 
 July day, men worked naked in fiery heat. 
 They could hear the thunder of the guns above 
 them, and feel the ship tremble with the shock 
 of the broadsides. How the battle was going 
 they could not see. Deep in their fiery prison, 
 far below the lapping waves that rushed along
 
 152 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 the armored hull, they only knew that if dis 
 aster came they would suffer first and most 
 cruelly. A successful torpedo stroke would 
 mean death to them, every one. The clean 
 blow of an enemy's ram would in all proba 
 bility drown them like rats in a cage, even if it 
 did not cause them to be parboiled by the 
 explosion of their own boilers. A shot in the 
 magazine would be their death warrant. All 
 the perils which menaced the men who were 
 fighting so bravely at the guns on deck 
 threatened the sooty, sweating fellows who 
 shovelled coal and fixed fires down in the hold, 
 with the added certainty that for them escape 
 was impossible, and the inspiration which 
 comes from the very sight of battle was denied 
 them. They did their duty nobly. If we had 
 not the testimony of their commanders to that 
 effect, we still should know it, for they got out 
 of every ship not only the fullest speed with 
 which she was credited under the most favor 
 able circumstances, but even more notably in 
 the cases of the Texas and Oregon, which, de 
 spite bottoms fouled from long service in
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 153 
 
 tropical waters, actually exceeded their highest 
 recorded speed in the chase. On the Oregon, 
 when she was silently pursuing the Colon at the 
 end of the battle, Lieutenant Milligan, who had 
 gone down into the furnace room to work by 
 the side of the men on whom so much de 
 pended, came up to the captain to ask that a 
 gun might be fired now and then. " My men 
 were almost exhausted," said Milligan, " when 
 the last thirteen-inch gun was fired, and the 
 sound of it restored their energy, and they fell 
 to work with renewed vigor. If you will fire 
 a gun occasionally it will keep their enthusiasm 
 up." On most of the ships the great value of 
 the work the men in engine rooms were doing 
 was recognized by the captain's sending down 
 every few minutes to them an account of how 
 the fight progressed. Each report was re 
 ceived with cheers and redoubled activity. 
 
 On the Brooklyn, when the Colon was mak 
 ing her final race for life, Commodore Schley 
 sent orderlies down to the -stoke-holes and 
 engine room with this message: " Now, boys, it 
 all depends on you. Everything is sunk ex-
 
 154 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 cept the Colon, and she is trying to get away. 
 We don't want her to, and everything de 
 pends on. you. The Colon did not get 
 away. 
 
 The Vizcaya was still making a gallant run 
 ning fight, and in some degree protecting the 
 magnificent Cristobal Colon. While these 
 fled, disaster fell upon the two torpedo-boat 
 destroyers, Pluton and Furor. Instead of 
 dashing at the nearest American ship which 
 would have been their wisest course both 
 followed the example of the cruisers, and 
 turned along the shore to the westward. 
 Either of them would have been more than a 
 match for the little Gloucester, but her com 
 mander, Eichard Wainwright, sped forward in 
 a cloud of smoke from her own guns, receiving 
 unnoticed shots from the batteries and the 
 nearer Spanish cruisers, though one six-inch 
 shell would have destroyed her. The batteries 
 of the Pluton and Furor were of twice the 
 power of the Gloucester's, and they had, be 
 sides, the engine of destruction which they 
 could send out from their torpedo tubes. But
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 155 
 
 in a few minutes Wainwright was engaged with 
 them both at short range and under the fire of 
 the Socapa battery. The other American bat 
 tleships had been firing at them, but desisted 
 when they perceived that the Gloucester alone 
 was capable of managing them. In a very few 
 minutes they both began to smoke ominously, 
 and their fire became much less rapid. Then 
 the Furor moved as if her steering gear had 
 been cut. Wainwright and his men redoubled 
 their efforts at the guns. Suddenly, on the 
 Furor, amidships, there shot up a great cloud 
 of smoke and flame, with a deafening roar and 
 shock that could be felt across the water, even 
 amid the thunders of the guns. A shell from 
 one of the battleships had struck her fairly, 
 and broken her in two, exploding either the 
 magazine or the boilers, or both, and she sank 
 like a stone. 
 
 Wainwright pursued the other torpedo boat, 
 the Pluton, more vigorously. She was al 
 ready badly crippled, and tried hard to escape; 
 but at last, fairly shot to pieces, she hauled 
 down her flag, and ran for the line of breaking
 
 156 HtLSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 surf, where her men leaped overboard to escape 
 the fierce flames that were sweeping relent 
 lessly below from bow to stern. 
 
 The sight of their danger and distress 
 changed Wainwright from a pitiless foe to a 
 helping friend. He manned his boats and 
 went to the rescue of those still alive on the 
 burning ship. Many were saved, and the 
 Americans had hardly left the smoking ship 
 when it blew up with a resounding roar, and 
 vanished as had its companion. Just forty 
 minutes they had lasted under the American 
 fire, and without being at any time a serious 
 menace to our ships. 
 
 The battle had now lasted for about three- 
 quarters of an hour. The Infanta Maria 
 Teresa and the Oquendo were blazing on the 
 beach with their colors struck. The battle 
 ship Indiana had been signalled to turn in to 
 ward the shore and give aid to the survivors on 
 the burning ships. Only two Spanish ves 
 sels were left the Vizcaya, running and 
 fighting bravely in a hopeless struggle for life, 
 and the Cristobal Colon,, which was rushing at
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 157 
 
 great speed down the coast to the westward. 
 In the chase of these two vessels the Brooklyn 
 held the place of honor. Her position on the 
 blockade at the time that the enemy came out 
 was a commanding one, and her speed kept her 
 well to the front. At the beginning of the 
 fight the Texas was next her. In this battle 
 she developed marvellous speed, and fought 
 with reckless gallantry. The Oregon was 
 third at the start, but by a wonderful dash 
 passed the Texas and actually caught up with 
 the Brooklyn, whose tars turned out on deck 
 to cheer her the wonderful fighter from 
 the Pacific coast dockyard. The Iowa 
 was only a short distance in their rear, and the 
 fire of the four was now concentrated upon the 
 unhappy Vizcaya, which had escaped serious 
 injury while the attention of the entire Ameri 
 can fleet was given to the Oquendo and the 
 Teresa, but now with four of the best fighting 
 machines in the world devoting their entire at 
 tention to her, she began to go to pieces. The 
 heavy shells and smaller projectiles that struck 
 her made a great clangor, and caused her great
 
 158 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 frame to quiver. When an hour had passed 
 the Brooklyn, Oregon, and Texas were the only 
 ones still pursuing her. The Indiana had been 
 left behind, and the Iowa had stopped to aid 
 the burning and drowning men on the blazing 
 warships. The fire of the three warships was 
 concentrated on the Vizcaya. Word was passed 
 to the turrets and tops of the Brooklyn to aim 
 at the Vizcaya only. They were scarcely more 
 than half a mile from her, and the effect of the 
 shots began to tell. One of the Brooklyn gun- 
 aers reported to the lieutenant who had charge 
 of that turret that he didn't see any of the shots 
 dropping into the water. "Well, that's all 
 right," replied the officer; " if they don't drop 
 '.nto the water they are hitting." And so they 
 were. The beautiful woodwork inside of the 
 /essel was all in a blaze. The hull was pierced 
 oelow the water line, the turrets were full of 
 dead and wounded men, and the machinery was 
 shattered. Captain Eulate, her commander, 
 was a brave officer and a gentleman, but he 
 found himself compelled to abandon the fight, 
 6O turned his ship's prow toward that rocky
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 159 
 
 shore on which lay the wrecks of the Oquendo, 
 the Teresa, and the Furor. 
 
 As the Viz cay a swung about, a shell from the 
 Oregon struck her fairly in the stern. An 
 enormous mass of steel, charged with ex 
 plosives of frightful power, it rushed through 
 the steel framework of the ship, shattering 
 everything in its course, crashed into the 
 boiler, and exploded. Words are powerless to 
 describe the ruin that resulted. Men, guns, 
 projectiles, ragged bits of steel and iron, 
 splinters, and indescribable debris were hurled 
 in every direction, while flames shot up 
 from every part of the ship. A fierce fire 
 raged between her decks, and those who were 
 gazing at her from the decks of the American 
 men-of-war could see what looked like a white 
 line reaching from her bow to the water, which 
 was in fact the naked men dropping one after 
 another over the side to seek the cool relief of 
 the ocean from the fiery torment they were 
 enduring. 
 
 The Colon was now left alone, and was doing 
 her utmost to escape. The men on our fore-
 
 160 ELSIE'S JOUN& FOLKS. 
 
 most pursuing ships soon perceived that there 
 could be no hope of escape for her. Commo 
 dore Schley saw it, and began to lighten the 
 strain on his men. They were called out on 
 the superstructure to see what had been done 
 by the guns of the fleet and to watch the chase. 
 They came pouring out from the turrets, up 
 from the engine rooms and magazines stal 
 wart fellows, smoke-begrimed and sweaty. 
 Almost abeam they saw the Vizcaya with men 
 dropping from every port. Far astern were 
 the smoking wrecks of the Teresa and Oquendo, 
 ahead on the right was the Colon, fleeing for 
 her life, while the Brooklyn rushed after her re 
 lentlessly. 
 
 As the men crowded on along the decks and 
 on the turret top, they suddenly and spon 
 taneously sent up a cheer for Admiral Schley. 
 The admiral, on the bridge above them, looked 
 down upon them with moistened eyes. " They 
 are the boys who did it," he said to one who 
 stood beside him, and he spoke truly. 
 
 Then the men cheered the Oregon, which was 
 coming up gallantly, and her men returned the
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. IQ\ 
 
 cheer. Now all felt that even the last of 
 Cervera's vessels was sure to be soon taken, and 
 signals of a social and jocular character were 
 exchanged. One from the Brooklyn suggested 
 to the Oregon that she try one of her thirteen- 
 inch guns on the chase. The great cannon 
 flashed and roared from the forward turret, 
 and the shell, which rushed past the Brooklyn, 
 with a noise like a railway train, fell short. 
 On they rushed, the Oregon visibly gaming on 
 the fastest ship of the Spanish navy; a battle 
 ship built for weight and solidity overhauling 
 a cruiser built for speed! Another shell was 
 Bent, and fell so near the Colon that the captain 
 seemed to read in it the death-warrant of his 
 ship. He turned her toward the shore and 
 beached her, hauling down his flag as she 
 struck. aptain Cook went in a boat to take 
 possession of the prize, his crew being ordered 
 not to cheer or exult ovei the vanquished. 
 The Colon surrendered at 1.10 P. M., ending a 
 naval battle that lasted less than four hours, 
 and possessed many extraordinary and unique 
 qualities. It completed the wreck of Spanish
 
 162 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 naval power and dealt the decisive stroke that 
 deprived Spain of her last remnant of Ameri 
 can colonies. It was of absorbing interest to 
 naval experts in all parts of the world, and it 
 was unique in that while the defeated fleet lost 
 six ships, more than six hundred men killed 
 and drowned, and eighteen hundred prisoners, 
 many of them wounded, the victors had but 
 one man killed and one wounded. 
 
 No wonder that when the fight was over, the 
 victory won such a victory too a Christian 
 man, such as Captain Philip of the Texas, 
 whose crew were cheering in a very delirium 
 of joy, should call them about him, and, un 
 covering his head, say in a reverential tone: 
 " I want to make public acknowledgment here 
 that I believe in God the Father. I want you 
 all to lift your hats and from your hearts offer 
 silent thanks to the Almighty/' 
 
 And truly they had abundant reason for 
 great thankfulness, having escaped with so 
 few casualties, while the foe suffered so ter 
 ribly, scores of them being literally roasted 
 alive, for the whole interior of the ships, Viz-
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 163 
 
 caya, Oquendo, and Teresa became like iron 
 furnaces at white heat. Even the decks 
 were red hot, and the wounded burned where 
 they lay. So crazed by the sight of the agony 
 of men wounded and held fast by the jam 
 ming of gratings, were some of those otherwise 
 unhurt, that they could hardly be induced to 
 respond to efforts for their own rescue. They 
 would cling to a ladder or the side of a scorch 
 ing hot ship and have to be literally dragged 
 away before they would loose their hold and 
 drop into a boat below. Our sailors worked 
 hard on blistering decks, amid piles of ammu 
 nition that were continually being exploded by 
 the heat, and under guns that might at any 
 minute send out a withering blast, risking life 
 and limbs in succoring their defeated foes; for 
 it is not too much to say that in that work of 
 mercy the bluejackets encountered dangers 
 quite as deadly as those they had met in the 
 fury of battle. 
 
 The poor marksmanship of the Spaniards 
 saved our ships from being much damaged. A 
 good many shots struck: the Brooklyn bore in
 
 164 ELSIE'S 70UNO FOLKS. 
 
 all some forty scars of the fight, twenty-five of 
 them having been shells; but she was so slightly 
 injured that she could have begun all over 
 again when the Colon turned over on the shore. 
 The Iowa was hit twice, the Texas three times, 
 one shell smashing her chart-house and an 
 other making a hole in her smokestack. The 
 injuries to the other ships were of even less 
 importance.
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 THAT morning that Cervera attempted his 
 flight from Santiago General Shafter sent into 
 the Spanish lines by a flag of truce a demand 
 for the surrender of the city. " I have the 
 honor to inform you/' he said, " that unless 
 you surrender I shall be compelled to shell 
 Santiago de Cuba. Please instruct the citi 
 zens of all foreign countries, and all women 
 and children, that they should leave the city 
 before 10 A.M. to-morrow." 
 
 That flag of truce had been gone only two or 
 three hours when there came a sudden rumor 
 that the Spanish fleet had gone to destruction, 
 depriving Santiago of her chief defence. Our 
 soldiers were so sure of the prowess of our 
 sailors that they hailed the rumor as fact, as 
 news of a victory, and when later in the even 
 ing the actual intelligence of Schleps glorious 
 triumph reached them they went wild with joy; 
 
 165
 
 166 ELSIE'S JOVNG FOLKS. 
 
 danced on the crest of the defences, in full 
 view of the Spaniards, venturing to do so be 
 cause as there was a truce no jealous 
 sharpshooter would dare fire on them. And 
 the band played patriotic and popular airs, par- 
 ticulary " There'll be a Hot Time in the Old 
 Town To-night." Bonfires were made and sa 
 lutes fired. 
 
 Drs. Harold and Herbert Travilla, wearied 
 with their labors for the sick and wounded, re 
 joiced as heartily as any one else over the good 
 news, yet at the same time felt pity for the 
 suffering of those of the foe who had perished 
 so miserably by shot, shell, and fire. They 
 would have been glad to aid the wounded pris 
 oners, but their hands were already full, in giv 
 ing needed attention to our own men so sorely 
 injured by Spanish shot and shell. So inces 
 sant and arduous had been, their labors in that 
 line, and so fierce and exhausting was the heat, 
 that they were themselves well-nigh worn out. 
 There had been hope that the city would sur 
 render, but on the night of the 3d the day 
 of the naval battle four thousand fresh
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 167 
 
 Spanish troops entered it, and the hoped-for 
 surrender was not made. 
 
 The Americans in the trenches were hot, 
 hungry, and water-soaked, and some of them 
 grew very impatient. Said one of the Eough 
 Eiders: "Now that we've got those Dagoes 
 corralled, why don't we brand them? " 
 
 On the 6th something happened that broke 
 the monotony and gave great joy to the sol 
 diers in the trenches. A cavalcade of men was 
 seen coming from the beleaguered city, the first 
 of whom was quickly recognized as Lieutenant 
 Hobson, who with his seven comrades had 
 gone out one night, weeks before, on a vessel, 
 the Merrimac, to sink her across the narrow 
 entrance to the channel leading into Santiago 
 harbor, and so bottle up the Spanish fleet. 
 
 They failed, and were taken prisoners by the 
 Spaniards, and had been spending weeks shut 
 up in Morro castle, but now were exchanged for 
 seven prisoners taken at San Juan. At sight 
 of them the American soldiers seemed to go 
 mad with joy. They yelled, danced, laughed, 
 and even wept for joy. Then the band on the
 
 168 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 foremost line struck up "The Star Spangled 
 Banner," and all stood silent at a salute. But 
 the moment the music ceased it seemed as if 
 Bedlam had broken loose. The regulars 
 crowded about the heroes, cheering them, 
 shaking them by the hand, while they from 
 their ambulance yelled compliments and con 
 gratulations to the tattered and dirty soldiers. 
 
 And when those returned sailors reached the 
 fleet after dark, they found the ships' com 
 panies turned out as if to greet an admiral at 
 least, coming to visit them, and as their launch 
 was seen approaching from the shore the 
 cheers of their brother tars made the hills of 
 Cuba ring almost as had the thundering fire 
 of Morro and Estrella when levelled against 
 them nearly six weeks before. 
 
 The surrender of Santiago took place on the 
 18th of July. By that time there was a great 
 deal of sickness among our troops, and our 
 friends Harold and Herbert Travilla were kept 
 very busy attending to the sick and wounded. 
 So overworked were they, and so injuriously 
 affected by the malarious climate, that both be-
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 159 
 
 came ill; Herbert so much so that he could 
 scarcely keep about, and his brother began to 
 question whether it were not his duty to take or 
 send him home, or farther north, to join their 
 mother and a number of the relatives and con 
 nections who were spending the summer on 
 the Hudson, or at some Northern seaside re 
 sort, which he was at liberty to do, as they were 
 serving as volunteer surgeons, and without pay. 
 
 On the morning after the surrender Herbert 
 found himself entirely unfit for duty, and on 
 his account Harold felt much depressed as he 
 went through the hospital examining and pre 
 scribing for his patients. Presently he heard 
 a quick, manly step, then a familiar voice say 
 ing in cheery tones: 
 
 "Good-morning, Harold! How are you?" 
 
 The young doctor turned quickly with the 
 joyous exclamation: 
 
 " Why, Brother Levis! can it be possible that 
 this is you? " holding out his hand in cordial 
 greeting as he spoke. 
 
 " Not only possible, but an undeniable fact," 
 returned Captain Eaymond, with his pleasant
 
 170 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 smile, and giving the offered hand a warm, 
 brotherly pressure. 
 
 " And you came in your yacht? Have some 
 of the family come with you my mother " 
 
 " Oh, no! " returned the captain quickly; 
 " at present it is much too warm for her or 
 any of our lady friends in this locality. She 
 and my family are at Crag Cottage, and by her 
 request I have come to take you and Herbert 
 aboard the Dolphin and carry you to her. And 
 I didn't come alone; your brothers Edward and 
 Walter are with me, and your cousin Chester 
 also." 
 
 " Oh, what delightful news! " exclaimed 
 Harold, his eyes shining with joy. " And your 
 yacht is here?" 
 
 "Lying down yonder in the harbor, just 
 waiting for two additions to her list of passen 
 gers. But where is Herbert ? " looking about 
 as if in search of him. 
 
 "Lying in our tent; on the sick list, poor 
 dear fellow! " sighed Harold. " Can you wait 
 five minutes for me to get through here for 
 the present ? Then I will take you to him."
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 171 
 
 " Certainly; longer than that, if necessary. 
 Ah, I see it was time high time for me to 
 come for you boys." 
 
 Harold smiled in a rather melancholy way 
 at that. 
 
 "I have grown to feel quite old since we 
 have been here in the midst of so much suffer 
 ing, and obliged to take so heavy a load of care 
 and responsibility performing serious opera 
 tions and the like," he said with a sigh. "I 
 must find you a seat," he added, glancing about 
 in search of one. 
 
 "No, no," the captain hastened to say; "I 
 should prefer walking around here and making 
 acquaintance with some of these poor brave 
 fellows if you think it would not be un 
 pleasant to them." 
 
 " I think they would be pleased to have you 
 do so," was Harold's reply. 
 
 A few minutes later he and the captain went 
 into the tent where Herbert lay in a burning 
 fever. The very sight of the captain and the 
 news that he had come to carry him and 
 Harold north to cooler climate, mother, and
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 other dear ones seemed so greatly to revive 
 him that he insisted upon being considered 
 quite able to be taken immediately on board 
 the yacht, and his brother and brother-in-law 
 promptly set about preparations to carry out 
 his wish. 
 
 " You will go too, Harold? " he said inquir 
 ingly to his brother. 
 
 "To the Dolphin? Yes, certainly, old fel 
 low; you are my patient now, and I must see to 
 it that you are well accommodated and cared 
 for," returned Harold in a sprightly tone. 
 
 " And you are going with me to see to that 
 throughout the voyage?" 
 
 " I don't know," Harold returned in a tone 
 of hesitation; " these poor, wounded, and sick 
 feUows " 
 
 " You'll be down on your back as sick as any 
 of them if you stay here another week," 
 growled Herbert. " And with nobody to take 
 care of you youll die, and that '11 break 
 mother's heart. And as you are working with 
 out pay, you've a right to go as soon as you 
 will."
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 173 
 
 "Yes," said the captain, "and if you fall 
 sick you'll be no service, but only in the -way. 
 Better let me attend to the necessary arrange 
 ments for you, and carry you off along with 
 your brother." 
 
 After a little hesitation Harold consented 
 to that, saying that after seeing Herbert on 
 board the yacht he would return, make all 
 necessary arrangements, bid good-bye to his 
 patients, then board the Dolphin for the home 
 ward voyage. 
 
 " That's right, brother mine," Herbert said, 
 with a pleased smile; " I'd be very unwilling to 
 go, leaving you here alone; and wha+ would 
 mother say?" 
 
 It took but a few minutes to pick up their 
 few belongings, and they were soon on the deck 
 of the yacht receiving the warm greetings of 
 their brothers and cousins, who, however, 
 seemed greatly concerned over their weary and 
 haggard looks. 
 
 "You are worn out, lads," said Edward, 
 " and the best and kindest thing we can do will 
 be to carry you up north to a cooler climate;
 
 174 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 and to mother and the others, who will, I hope, 
 be able soon to nurse you back to health and 
 strength." 
 
 " So say I," said Chester. 
 
 "And I," added "Walter. "I have always 
 found mother's nursing the best to be had any 
 where or from anybody." 
 
 " Yes/' said the captain, " and there are sis 
 ters and others to help with it at Crag Cot 
 tage, where I hope to land you a few days 
 hence." 
 
 In a brief time Herbert was comfortably 
 established in one of the neat staterooms, and 
 left in Edward's charge, while Harold went 
 ashore to make his farewell visit to his hospital 
 patients, while Chester and Walter accom 
 panied the captain in paying a visit to some 
 of the men-of-war officered by old acquaint 
 ances and chums of the last-named when he 
 belonged to the navy. 
 
 It was most interesting to them all to see 
 both the men and the vessels that had taken 
 part in that remarkable battle, and to hear 
 accounts of its scenes from the actors in them.
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNO FOLKS. 175 
 
 In fact, so much interested were they that 
 Captain Eaymond said he could not have Ed 
 ward and Harold miss it; they must visit the 
 vessels later, leaving Chester and Walter in 
 charge of Herbert, since he was too ill to ac 
 company them. 
 
 That afternoon the plan was carried out, 
 and that night the Dolphin started on her re 
 turn voyage to the north. The change from 
 the rough camps on Cuban soil to the luxurious 
 cabin of the Dolphin was very agreeable and 
 refreshing to the young volunteer physicians, 
 but they were too thoroughly worn out with 
 their toils, anxieties, and privations for even 
 so great and beneficial a change work an im 
 mediate cure. They were still on the sick list 
 when they reached Crag Cottage.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 CRAG COTTAGE had been at Evelyn's desire 
 so added to in the past years that it could now 
 accommodate a large number of guests. There 
 were so many who were near and dear to her, 
 and whom she loved to gather about her, that 
 she could not be content till this was done. 
 Now the families of Fairview, Ion, and Wood- 
 burn were all spending the summer there; also 
 Eonald Lilburn and Annis, his wife though 
 just now several of the gentlemen had gone to 
 Cuba to learn of the welfare of Harold and 
 Herbert Travilla, about whom their mother 
 had grown very solicitous. They had been 
 gone long enough for hopes to be entertained 
 of their speedy return, but there was no cer 
 tainty in regard to the time of their arrival at 
 the cottage. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon. The elder 
 people were gathered on the front porch over- 
 
 176
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 177 
 
 looking the river, most of the younger ones 
 amusing themselves about the grounds. 
 Grandma Elsie was gazing out upon the river, 
 with a slightly anxious expression of counte 
 nance. 
 
 " Looking for the Dolphin, mamma? " asked 
 her daughter Violet. 
 
 " Yes; though it is hardly time to expect her 
 yet, I fear." 
 
 " Oh, yes, mamma, for there she is now! " 
 exclaimed Violet, springing to her feet in her 
 delight, and pointing to a vessel passing up 
 the river, which had just come into sight. 
 
 Many of those on the porch and the young 
 folks in the grounds had also caught sight of 
 her, and a joyous shout was raised: " The 
 Dolphin! the Dolphin! there she is! the folks 
 have come! " 
 
 " Oh, can we run down and get aboard of 
 her, mamma?" asked Elsie Kaymond. "I'm 
 in such a hurry to see papa and get a kiss from 
 him." 
 
 " You won't have long to wait for that, I am 
 sure," returned her mother, with a smile.
 
 178 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "But it will be better to wait a few minutes 
 and get it here. There are so many of us that 
 if we should all go down to the landing we 
 would be very much in the way." 
 
 Others thought the same, and the ladies and 
 children waited where they were while Mr. 
 Leland and Edward, his eldest son, went down 
 the winding path that led to the little landing- 
 place at the foot of the hill, to greet the friends 
 on board the yacht and give any assistance that 
 might be needed. 
 
 They found all well but the two doctors, 
 Harold able to walk up to the house with the 
 help of a sustaining arm, Herbert having to 
 be borne on a litter. The mother's heart 
 ached at sight of his wan cheeks and sunken 
 eyes, but he told her the joy of her presence 
 and loving care would soon work a change for 
 the better. He was speedily carried to a com- 
 fortable bed, and everything done to cheer, 
 strengthen, and relieve him. 
 
 Nor was Harold's reception any less tenderly 
 affectionate and sympathizing. His mother was 
 very glad that he was not so ill as his brother,
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 179 
 
 and hoped the pure air and cooler climate 
 would soon restore him to his wonted health 
 and strength. 
 
 " I hope so, mother dear," he said, forcing a 
 playful tone and a smile, " and that they will 
 soon do as much for Herbert also. He, poor 
 fellow, is not fit to be up at all, and I think it 
 will be well for me to retire early." 
 
 " You must do just what you deem best for 
 your health, my dear boy," said his mother. 
 "But shall I not send for a physician, as I 
 fear neither of you is well enough to manage 
 the case of the other? " 
 
 " No, no, mother, please don't! " exclaimed 
 Herbert; " Harold is well enough to prescribe 
 for me, and I prefer him to any other doctor." 
 
 "As I should, if he were quite well," she 
 said, regarding Harold with a proud, fond 
 smile, which he returned, saying in cheerful 
 tones, " My trouble is more weariness than ill 
 ness, mother, and I hope a few days of rest 
 here in the pleasant society of relatives and 
 friends will quite restore me to wonted health 
 and vigor."
 
 180 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "I hope so, indeed/ 7 she said, "and thai 
 Herbert may not be far behind you in recover 
 ing his." 
 
 In the meantime joyful greetings were being 
 exchanged among the relatives and friends 
 upon the porch, and the returned travellers 
 were telling of what they had seen and heard 
 in their absence, especially on the coast of 
 Cuba. It was all very interesting to the audi 
 tors, but the tale was not half told when the 
 tea-bell summoned them to their evening 
 meal. 
 
 Chester had a good deal more to tell Lucilla 
 as they wandered about the grounds together 
 after leaving the table. And she was greatly 
 interested. 
 
 "I should like to get aboard a battleship," 
 she said; "particularly the Oregon. What a 
 grand vessel it must be! " 
 
 " It is," said Chester, " and did grand work 
 in that battle; a battle which will go down in 
 history as a most remarkable one. I am proud 
 of the brave tars who fought it, and not less 
 BO of the fine fellows who kept up the fires
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 181 
 
 under the engines, which were as necessary to 
 the gaining of the victory as was the firing of 
 the guns." 
 
 "But, oh, the terrible carnage!" exclaimed 
 Lucilla, with a shudder. 
 
 " Yes, that was awful; and what a wonder 
 what a cause for gratitude to God that but 
 one was killed and so few badly wounded on 
 our ships." 
 
 " Yes, indeed! and truly I believe that was 
 because we were fighting for the deliverance of 
 the downtrodden and oppressed. Don't you, 
 Chester?" 
 
 " Most assuredly I do," was his emphatic re 
 joinder. "Has there been any news from 
 Manila?" he asked presently. 
 
 "No," she said, "but we are looking every 
 day for a letter from Max. Oh, I do hope he 
 is still unharmed! That victory of Dewey's 
 seems to me to have been as great and wonder 
 ful as this later one at Santiago." 
 
 " So I think. Ah, Lu, darling, I wish Max 
 might be ordered home soon, both for his own 
 sake and ours."
 
 182 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " Yes; but try to be patient," she returned, 
 in a light and cheery tone. "I am sure we 
 are having pleasant times as things are, and we 
 are young enough to wait, as my father says. 
 I am still almost three years younger than he 
 thinks a girl ought to be to undertake the cares 
 of married life." 
 
 " I don't mean you shall have much care, and 
 I am sure you are fully capable of all you would 
 be called upon to do. My darling, if you don't 
 have an easy life it shall be from no fault of 
 mine." 
 
 " I am sure of that, Chester, and not in the 
 least afraid to trust my happiness to your 
 keeping. But I am willing to wait somewhat 
 longer to please father and to have Max 
 present especially as Eva's bridegroom. Oh, 
 I think a double wedding will be just lovely! " 
 
 "If one didn't have to wait for it," sighed 
 Chester. " Yet it is a great consolation that 
 we can be together pretty nearly every day in 
 the year." 
 
 " Yes, you are a very attentive lover, and I 
 appreciate it."
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 188 
 
 Later in the evening, when most of the 
 guests had retired to their apartments for the 
 night, the captain and his eldest daughter had 
 a bit of private chat upon the porch, for she 
 still retained her love for that, and it was 
 hardly less enjoyable to him. 
 
 "You don't know how I missed this bit of 
 private talk with you, father, while you were 
 away on your little trip," she said, with a lov 
 ing look up into his eyes as she stood by his 
 side with his arm about her waist. 
 
 " Probably not more than I did, daughter 
 mine/' he returned, stroking her hair 
 caressingly, then pressing his lips to her 
 forehead and cheek. " Pacing the deck alone 
 I missed my little girl more than I can tell 
 her." 
 
 "Ah, didn't you almost wish you had 
 granted my request to be allowed to go along 
 with you? " she asked, with a pleased little 
 laugh. 
 
 " No, my child; you are too great a treasure 
 for me willingly to expose you to the risks of 
 such a voyage at such a time."
 
 184 ELSIE'S YOUNQ FOLKS. 
 
 " You dear father! you are so kindly careful 
 of me, and of all your children." 
 
 "It behooves a man to be careful of his 
 treasures," he said. "I should have greatly 
 enjoyed your companionship, daughter, if I 
 could have had it without risk to you." 
 
 *' I should have liked to see the warships and 
 the scene of the battle," she said. "What a 
 terrible battle it was, father for the Span 
 iards, at least." 
 
 "Yes," he sighed. "May the time soon 
 come when men shall learn war no more, but 
 shall beat their swords into ploughshares and 
 their spears into pruning hooks." 
 
 " It doesn't seem as though that time can be 
 very near," she said. "Papa, do you think 
 Max is in much danger there in Manila? " 
 
 "I hardly know, daughter; I hope we shall 
 hear from him soon. I hardly think there will 
 be much, if any more, fighting for him to do 
 there at present. But his next letter will 
 probably enable us to judge better about that." 
 
 " Oh, I hope it will come soon! " she ex 
 claimed in a tone of ardent desire.
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 185 
 
 " As I do," he sighed. " I cannot hut feel 
 anxious ahout my dear boy; though the worst 
 seems to he over, there." 
 
 The next morning's mail brought the desired 
 letters to father, sisters, and ladylove. The 
 captain's gave news of the doings of the army 
 and navy, and after a private perusal he read 
 the greater part of it aloud to the family and 
 friends. It told of the irksomeness of their 
 situation, the weariness of the watching and 
 waiting for troops that did not come, the ad 
 miral's patience and forbearance in taking the 
 delay so quietly, the troubles with the insur 
 gents under Aguinaldo, and the commanders of 
 the warships of several European nations. 
 " We know," he said, " that those fellows are 
 looking out for the first sign of weakness on 
 our part, or the first disaster that might befall 
 us, intending to take advantage of it to inter 
 vene. I can tell you, father, that Admiral 
 Dewey is a credit to his country and that 
 country's navy. He is very kind-hearted, and 
 takes excellent care of his men; he is gentle, 
 kind to all, but thorough, determined, and
 
 186 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 energetic; everything under his control must 
 be as perfect as possible. When it comes to 
 the necessity for fighting he believes in being 
 most thoroughly prepared, and striking quick, 
 hard blows, soon putting the enemy in a condi 
 tion where it cannot fight. He says little or 
 nothing about what he expects, but seems to be 
 always ready for whatever happens. The be 
 havior of the foreign ships must be a constant 
 worry to him, though he says little or nothing 
 about it. The Germans here seem to study 
 methods of annoying us. Their ships are con 
 stantly coming in or going out of Manila Bay 
 at all hours, and on the most frivolous pretexts 
 sometimes at night, in a way that makes our 
 lookouts think them Spanish torpedo boats; 
 and should we send a shot at one of them it 
 might cause the gravest international compli 
 cations. And the German navy officers make 
 the Spanish officers their chosen com 
 panions. 
 
 "The other day our admiral learned that one 
 of the German vessels had violated neutrality 
 by landing provisions in Manila. He sum-
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNO FOLKS. 187 
 
 moned the flag lieutenant to his cabin and 
 when the officer came ' Oh, Brumby/ he said, 
 ' I wish you to take the barge and go over to 
 the German flagship. Give Admiral von 
 Diederich my compliments, and say that I wish 
 to call his attention to the fact that the vessels 
 of his squadron have shown an extraordinary 
 disregard of the usual courtesies of naval inter 
 course, and that finally one of them has com 
 mitted a gross breach of neutrality in landing 
 provisions in Manila, a port which I am block 
 ading/ The admiral spoke in a quiet, gently 
 modulated voice, but as the lieutenant turned 
 to go he called him back and added in a wrath 
 ful tone, 'And, Brumby, tell Admiral von 
 Diederich that if he wants a fight, he can have 
 it right now.' 
 
 " The message had the desired effect, and we 
 have had much less annoyance from the Ger 
 mans since. 
 
 " The English squadron here is equal to the 
 German, and I am glad to be able to say that 
 the British officers lose no opportunity to show 
 their friendship for us. I am told that the
 
 188 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 German admiral asked Captain Chichester, the 
 British commander, what the English would do 
 in case the Germans should protest against an 
 American bombardment of Manila, and thai 
 the messenger received the answer: * Say t<J 
 Admiral von Diederich that he will have to call 
 on Admiral Dewey to find out what the British 
 ships will do in such an event. Admiral 
 Dewey is the only man authorized to answer 
 that question/ I cannot vouch for the exact 
 truthfulness of this report," Max went on, 
 "but I can for the hostility of the Germans 
 and the friendliness of the English. And we 
 hear reliable reports of sailors' fights in Hong- 
 Kong, in which British and Yankee blue 
 jackets fight shoulder to shoulder against Ger 
 man seamen subjects of the Kaiser." 
 
 " Oh, that is good! " exclaimed Lucilla, as 
 her father paused in his reading, " and I hope 
 we and the British will always be friends after 
 this. Don't you think, father, that joining 
 together we could rule the world?" 
 
 "Yes; and I hope, with you, that we may 
 always be friends; though it is not necessary
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 189 
 
 that we should always take part in each 
 other's quarrels." 
 
 "I hope Max is well?" said Violet inquir 
 ingly- 
 
 "Yes," said his father, "he tells me he is, 
 and that he came through the battle without 
 the slightest wound." 
 
 " I hope the President will let Dewey come 
 home soon, and Brother Max with him," said 
 little Elsie. "Doesn't he say anything ahout 
 it, papa?" 
 
 "No, my child, except that he fears it will 
 foe months, if not years, before we see each 
 other again. But we won't despair; it may be 
 that the war will be short, and peace return 
 our dear boy to us sooner than now seems 
 likely." 
 
 The captain seemed to have finished reading 
 the part of Max's letter which he thought best 
 for all to hear, and was folding it up. 
 "Mother," he said, turning to Mrs. Travilla, 
 "the air out here is delightful this morning; 
 don't you think it might do Harold good 
 to lie yonder in the hammock? and that
 
 190 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 he could come out with the assistance of 
 my arm?" 
 
 " I certainly do," she said, " and thank you 
 for your kind offer. Both he and Herbert 
 will be deeply interested in the contents of 
 Max's letter if you are willing to let them see 
 or hear it." 
 
 " Certainly, mother," the captain hastened 
 to say. " I will carry it in and read it to them 
 before we bring Harold out." 
 
 And so he did. They were both greatly 
 interested, and upon the conclusion of the 
 reading Harold was glad to accept the offer of 
 the captain to help him out to the porch and 
 into a hammock, where he could lie at ease 
 and enjoy the companionship of other members 
 of the party, older and younger. They were 
 all ready to wait upon him and to do whatever 
 they could for his comfort and entertainment. 
 None more so than Grace, whose ministrations 
 he seemed to prefer to any other. As the days 
 went on they were often left alone together, 
 while husbands and wives and lovers devoted 
 themselves to each other; Mrs. Travilla her-
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNG FOLKS. IQ\ 
 
 self to her sicker son, and Evelyn to her house 
 keeping and correspondence, especially the 
 letters to Max, her affianced. 
 
 Grace was fond of Harold, as she thought 
 any one might be of so kind an uncle, whose 
 medical skill had many times relieved suffering 
 for her, and who had always shown kindly sym 
 pathy in her ailments. She wanted to make a 
 suitable return for it all, so endeavored to 
 amuse him with cheerful chat, music, and read 
 ing aloud anything that he seemed to care to 
 hear. 
 
 He fell more deeply in love with her day by 
 day, and often found it difficult to refrain from 
 telling the tale to her, and pleading for a re 
 turn. His mother saw it all, and at length ad 
 vised him to speak to Grace's father, tell him 
 the whole story, and crave permission to do and 
 say what he could to win her heart. 
 
 "I have thought it might be best to wait 
 some years, mother," he said. " I fear he will 
 be astonished, indignant, and deprive me of 
 her sweet society." 
 
 " Astonished he probably will be," she said,
 
 192 ELSIE'S JOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 "but surely not indignant; and when he has 
 fully considered the matter, remembering that 
 there is no tie of blood between you, I think he 
 will not withhold his consent, provided you are 
 willing to defer marriage till she is of suitable 
 age." 
 
 "I hope you are right, mother, but such a 
 mixture of relationships as it would make I 
 fear he will think that an insurmountable 
 difficulty/' 
 
 " But to rob his dearly loved daughter of a 
 life of wedded happiness he will think still 
 worse, if I am not greatly mistaken in him. 
 And as for the mixture of relationships, you 
 can still be brother to him and your sister 
 Violet, and Grace remain his daughter." 
 
 "You are the best of comforters and ad 
 visers, mother," he said, " and I will take your 
 advice, and make a clean breast of it to the 
 captain at the earliest opportunity." 
 
 He did so before the day was over. Seeing 
 the captain in the grounds, he joined him with 
 a request for a bit of private chat. 
 
 " Certainly," said the captain, leading the
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 193 
 
 way to the summerhouse on the edge of the 
 cliff. " If you want assistance in any way that 
 I can give it, I need hardly tell you that it will 
 be a pleasure to me to do so; especially as you 
 are the brother of my dear wife." 
 
 " Thank you, Brother Levis, I do not doubt 
 
 that in the least; and yet " He stammered 
 
 and paused, coloring deeply. 
 
 " I think you need not hesitate to tell me," 
 the captain said, with a look of surprise. " I 
 feel very sure you would not ask anything 
 wrong or unreasonable." 
 
 "No; my request is neither, I think. It is 
 that I may, if I can, win the heart and hand of 
 your daughter Grace." 
 
 " Surely, surely you must acknowledge that 
 that is unreasonable! " exclaimed the captain, 
 in a tone of astonishment not unmixed with 
 indignation. " Such a mixture of relation 
 ships making you your sister's son-in-law, and 
 my daughter my sister-in-law! " 
 
 "My mother's idea is that we might keep 
 to our own relationships as they are now; and 
 she thinks as there is absolutely no tie of blood
 
 194 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 between us there could be nothing wrong in 
 euch a marriage." 
 
 " No, perhaps not absolutely wrong, but very 
 distasteful to me. Besides, as you yourself 
 must acknowledge, Grace is entirely too young 
 to marry." 
 
 " But all the time growing older, as well as 
 more and more beautiful, and I can wait. 
 She is worth waiting for as long as Jacob 
 served for Eachel. And would it not be wise 
 to give her to a physician, who will make her 
 health his constant care? " 
 
 " Perhaps so," returned the captain, with a 
 rather perplexed and sad sort of smile; "and 
 if you have won her heart and are willing to 
 wait till she is of suitable age, I don't forbid 
 you to tell her how dearly you love her if 
 you can." 
 
 "A thousand thanks, Brother Levis!" ex 
 claimed Harold, seizing the captain's hand 
 in a vise-like grasp, and giving it a hearty 
 shake. 
 
 "I don't know how to put my love into 
 words it seems to me they would be power-
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 195 
 
 less to express it but I shall try and hope to 
 win a return by untiring devotion." 
 
 " She has a loving heart, and her father finds 
 it hard to be called upon to resign the first 
 place in it," the captain said, with an involun 
 tary sigh. 
 
 " But let us hope that it will be for her hap 
 piness, captain; and I think we both love her 
 well enough to resign a good deal for that." 
 
 "Her father certainly does," said the 
 captain. "Dear child! she has been a great 
 comfort and blessing to me since my eyes first 
 rested upon her dear little face. She has 
 never caused me a pang, except by her ill- 
 health and feebleness." 
 
 "I have known her long enough and well 
 enough to be sure of that," said Harold. " She 
 certainly has a lovely disposition, as well as a 
 beautiful face and form. I feel that to win 
 her for my own will be the greatest good for 
 tune that could possibly come to me." 
 
 " I am glad you appreciate the worth of my 
 dear child," the captain said, with emotion, 
 "and if you have won her heart I am not
 
 196 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 afraid to trust her happiness to your keeping. 
 But, understand, I cannot let you take her at 
 once." 
 
 " Yes, I understand, and shall not take any 
 unfair advantage of your reluctantly granted 
 permission, Brother Levis; but if I can win her 
 consent, her heart, I shall be a very happy 
 man, and wait contentedly or at least un- 
 grumblingly until you grant us leave to be 
 come husband and wife." 
 
 Harold was not long in availing himself 
 of the consent given. He was on the watch 
 for an opportunity to tell his tale of love 
 to the one most deeply concerned. He 
 coaxed her out to that very spot where he and 
 her father had had their private talk, there 
 told her what she was to him, and asked if she 
 could return his affection and willingly give 
 herself to him. She was evidently much sur 
 prised, listened with an agitated air and face 
 suffused with blushes, then said low and hesi 
 tatingly: 
 
 " Oh, Uncle Harold! how can you? You are 
 eo good and wise so much older than I am >
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 197 
 
 and and father has often told me that I am 
 only a little girl not nearly old enough to 
 think about about such things and so I am 
 sure he wouldn't want you to talk to me as you 
 did just now." 
 
 "But I spoke to him first, and gained his 
 permission to tell you of my love. He prob 
 ably will not let us marry for some years to 
 come, even if you care for me in that way; 
 but he is willing that we should become en 
 gaged if we choose, and be lovers till he thinks 
 you are old enough to marry. And oh, dar 
 ling! if you care for me, and will promise to be 
 mine at some future day, it will make me the 
 happiest of men. Oh, dearest! can't you love 
 me in that way, even just a little?" he con 
 cluded imploringly, taking her hand in his and 
 holding it in a tenderly affectionate pressure. 
 
 " I can't help loving you, Uncle Harold, you 
 are so, so very good and kind to me. But I 
 never thought of of your being my lover; for 
 I'm not wise and good enough for you." 
 
 " I should put it just the other way, that I 
 am not half wise and good enough for you, my
 
 198 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 darling, my fairy queen," lie said, venturing to 
 put an arm about her, draw her into a close 
 embrace, and press an ardent kiss upon her 
 lips. 
 
 She made no resistance, and a few more 
 words of love and whispered tenderness 
 caused the sweet, blushing face to grow radiant 
 with happiness. She did not deny that she 
 returned his affection, but at length owned in a 
 few low-breathed, hesitating words that she did. 
 
 Her face was beaming when they returned to 
 the house, and when she came to her father 
 for the usual good-night caress, he folded her 
 close to his heart and gazing searchingly into 
 the sweet, blushing face, said tenderly: 
 
 "My darling little daughter looks very 
 happy to-night. Won't you let your father 
 into the secret of it? " 
 
 "Yes, indeed, papa; I never meant to keep 
 anything from you," she murmured, half under 
 her breath, and hiding her blushing face on his 
 breast. "I always mean to tell you every 
 thing worth while, because we love each other 
 so very, very dearly. I am happy because of
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 199 
 
 what Uncle Harold has been telling me; and 
 he says he told you first, so you know. And 
 you are willing, papa? " 
 
 " Yes, daughter, when the right time comes, 
 since it seems it will make you happy. But," 
 he sighed, " it is a little hard for your father 
 to find other men getting the love of his dear 
 daughters away from him." 
 
 " Oh, papa, dear, dearest papa, don't think 
 that! " she said, with tears in her voice. " I've 
 always loved you dearly, and it seems to me 
 that I love you better just now than I ever did 
 before." 
 
 "Ah, is that so, daughter mine?" he said, 
 giving her another tender caress; " it makes me 
 happy to hear it, and to believe that my dear 
 Grace will never cease to love me, and will al 
 ways feel sure of her father's loving sympathy 
 in all her joys and sorrows." 
 
 " It is very sweet to know that, papa dear," 
 she said. " Oh, I am just the happiest girl, 
 with so many and such dear loved ones. But 
 even with all the others, father, I couldn't do 
 without your love."
 
 200 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " I hope not, dear child. It would be hard 
 indeed for me to doubt that, or to be deprived 
 of yours. But now bid me good-night and go 
 to your rest, for late hours have always been 
 bad for you." 
 
 " Yes, sir, I know; and my dear, kind father 
 is always so tenderly careful of me," she said, 
 giving and receiving a close, loving embrace. 
 
 It had been a sultry day, followed by a de 
 lightful evening, a cool, refreshing breeze 
 coming from the river, and a full moon in a 
 clear sky making it almost as light as day in 
 the grounds, about which the elder members of 
 the party were scattered. The captain left the 
 porch where he and his daughter Grace had 
 had their little chat, and joined a group under 
 the trees on the lawn. It consisted of Mrs. 
 Travilla or Grandma Elsie, as his first set of 
 children had been accustomed to call her her 
 daughters, Mrs. Leland and Mrs. Eaymond, 
 and her sons Harold, Herbert, and "Walter. 
 There was a slight nutter of excitement 
 among them as he joined them and took pos 
 session of a vacant seat.
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 201 
 
 " I am glad you have come, captain/' said 
 Mrs. Travilla. " Harold has just been telling 
 us of your great kindness to him, and I want 
 to thank you for it." 
 
 "Ah! what was that?" he asked in a tone 
 that seemed to express surprise. " There are 
 few things I would not do for you or yours, 
 mother." 
 
 " I believe that, and you have given him the 
 right to win, if he can, a precious treasure; and 
 to give to me the dearest of little daughters." 
 
 " Ah, yes! " he said, as if just comprehending 
 her meaning, " and to her father she is such a 
 treasure as any man might covet and be re 
 joiced to win." 
 
 " An opinion in which I am sure we will all 
 agree," said Violet. "I, who certainly know 
 her well, think she is an inestimable treasure." 
 
 "An opinion in which we can all join you, 
 I am sure," added Herbert, " and I think my 
 brother a most fortunate man." 
 
 " That is exactly what he thinks of him 
 self," said Harold, with a happy laugh. 
 " Though there has to be a long, long waiting
 
 202 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 
 
 spell before the full extent of that happiness 
 can be realized." 
 
 " How our young folks are pairing off! " re 
 marked Mrs. Leland, with a slight sigh. 
 
 "Ah, yes," said Violet, "but fortunately 
 they don't pair off with strangers and leave us. 
 That makes it much easier to bear, doesn't it, 
 my dear?" 
 
 "Yes; except for the mixture of relation 
 ships," returned the captain a trifle ruefully. 
 
 "Is the thing to be kept a secret? " queried 
 Mrs. Leland. 
 
 " I am entirely willing it should be known int 
 the connection," said Captain Kaymond.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IT was growing late, and Evelyn's guests, 
 accustomed to keeping early hours while at 
 Crag Cottage, had nearly all retired to their 
 rooms for the night. But Chester Dinsmore 
 and Lucilla Raymond were just returning from 
 a stroll down the river bank, and as they neared 
 the house they could see the captain pacing 
 the front porch. 
 
 " There is papa now," said Lucilla. " I am 
 afraid he will think I have been out rather 
 late." 
 
 "Are you afraid of a scolding?" asked 
 Chester. 
 
 " No; I may get a gentle reproof, but noth 
 ing worse. Papa never really scolds; but I 
 can't bear to have him displeased with me. 
 My dear, dear father ! I believe I give him all 
 the love that would have been divided between 
 him and my mother had she lived." 
 
 " I am not surprised at that," returned Ches- 
 
 203
 
 204 ELSIE' 8 YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 ter, " for he is certainly worthy of it. I have 
 learned to love and honor him myself as if I 
 were his own son/' 
 
 " Oh, Chester, how glad I am to hear you 
 Bay that! " exclaimed Lucilla. 
 
 But that ended the talk, for they were at the 
 foot of the porch steps, and the captain spoke, 
 addressing them. "Ah, so here you are at 
 last, my dears. I was beginning to feel a trifle 
 anxious lest something had befallen you." 
 
 " Oh, no, father! we are all right/' exclaimed 
 Lucilla, in lively tones, "but the bewitching 
 moonlight and pleasant breeze tempted us to 
 linger lor *er than usual. I hope you are not 
 vexed wit a us?" 
 
 "Not very seriously, daughter," he said, 
 with a smile, " but it is high time now that you 
 were getting ready for your night's rest. I 
 want you to have plenty of that, and I know 
 you like to be up early." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, father; for my early walks and 
 talks with you are among my greatest 
 pleasures." 
 
 " Your father in the morning, your lover at
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 205 
 
 night," Chester said, with a pleasant laugh. 
 " I'm glad and thankful, captain, that you let 
 me have her for something like half the time. 
 Good-night, now! and pleasant dreams to you 
 both," he added, turning away and passing 
 into the house, hardly waiting for their return 
 of his parting good wishes. 
 
 " Now I suppose I must say good-night and 
 go too," Lucilla said, putting her arms about 
 her father's neck and looking up lovingly into 
 his face. 
 
 "I shall take about five minutes of your 
 society first," he returned, smiling and patting 
 her cheek. "I have something to tell you; 
 something that will, perhaps, be a little sur 
 prise to you." 
 
 " Nothing bad, I hope, father? " 
 
 " No, not exactly bad though I must own it 
 is something of a trial to me. Your sister 
 Grace has followed your bad example, and 
 given the first place in her heart to another; 
 my consent has been asked, given, and they 
 are engaged, though not to marry for the next 
 five years."
 
 206 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "Father!" exclaimed Lucilla, in a tone of 
 utter astonishment, "to whom? Chester's 
 brother Frank?" 
 
 "What a guess!" laughed her father. 
 " No; try again." 
 
 She reflected a moment, then " It can't be 
 Uncle Harold? " she ventured, in a tone that 
 seemed to say that that was hardly possible. 
 " He is surely much too old for her." 
 
 "Unfortunately I cannot make that objec 
 tion, since there is some years' less difference 
 in their ages than in your Mamma Vi's and 
 mine." 
 
 " Oh, papa! and are they really lovers, and 
 engaged? " 
 
 " Yes; though such a match is very distaste 
 ful to me simply on account of the mixed-up 
 relationship that their marriage would bring 
 about; but when I found the fancy and affec 
 tion were mutual, I could not withhold my 
 consent." 
 
 " You dear father! you are always so kindly 
 considerate of other people's welfare and hap 
 piness," she said in tones tremulous with emo-
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 07 
 
 tion. "I am sure nobody ever had a kinder, 
 better father than ours." 
 
 "It is most pleasant to have my daughter 
 think so, whether I deserve it or not," he said 
 low and tenderly, holding her close to his heart 
 and pressing kisses on her forehead, cheek, 
 and lips. " Now go and make yourself ready 
 for bed," he added, " and don't let this bit of 
 surprising news keep you from sleeping. I 
 want my dear eldest daughter fresh and bright 
 for my entertainment in the morning." 
 
 The house being so full, Lucilla, Grace, and 
 Evelyn shared the same room. Grace was in 
 bed, but not asleep as usual, Eva preparing for 
 rest, when Lucilla came in from her talk with 
 her father. She glanced at her sister, and 
 seeing her eyes closed thought her sleeping. 
 
 " Oh, Eva! " she whispered to her friend, 
 "do you know have you heard the news?" 
 
 "News? No. I have been busy about 
 household matters, and no one has told any 
 thing. What is it war news? " 
 
 "No, oh, no!" glancing smilingly toward 
 Grace; "something even more interesting, I
 
 208 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 think, unless Max were concerned in it. It is 
 that we have another pair of lovers in the 
 house Gracie there and Uncle Harold. I'll 
 have to quit calling him l uncle/ though, since 
 he is to be my brother one of these days." 
 
 "Is it possible! Well, he has won a prize, 
 I think." 
 
 Grace was not asleep now; her wide open 
 eyes were fixed upon the two girls and her 
 cheeks rosy with blushes. "No, it's I that 
 have, Eva," she said. " I don't know how any 
 body so good and wise and kind could take a 
 fancy to poor silly little me! " 
 
 At that Lucilla ran to the bed, threw her 
 arms about her sister, and showered kisses 
 upon her lips and cheeks. "You dear, dear 
 thing! you are neither poor nor silly," she said. 
 " I think the only wonder is that all the men 
 don't fall head over ears in love with you. 
 They certainly would if they had good sense, 
 taste, and discernment." 
 
 At that Grace indulged in a peal of low, soft 
 laughter. " You funny girl ! " she said. " I 
 am glad indeed that they are not so silly, for
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 209 
 
 what in the world could I do with so many 
 lovers? One is quite a plentiful supply for 
 me." 
 
 " That's right, Grade," exclaimed Evelyn. 
 "I'm sure one such as mine should be quite 
 enough for anybody." 
 
 " Well, I'm not going to say ' Uncle Harold ' 
 any more," laughed Lucilla. 
 
 " No, he doesn't want either of us to," said 
 Grace. " But now I suppose both he and papa 
 would say I must try to go at once to sleep." 
 
 " Yes; so I'll stop hugging and kissing you, 
 and be quiet as a mouse, getting ready for bed, 
 so as not to keep you awake," said Lucilla, giv 
 ing her a final loving embrace, then gliding 
 away from the bed to the toilet table. 
 
 "Do you think Max will like it?" asked 
 Evelyn, in an undertone. 
 
 "Yes, I do. He and Harold have always 
 been good friends. But as papa says, it will 
 make an unpleasant mixture of relationships. 
 He will be brother-in-law to Grace besides 
 being her own father," she added, with a slight 
 laugh; "yet I know very well she will always
 
 210 ELSIE'S JOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 remember that he is her father her dearly 
 loved and honored father." 
 
 "I am certain of it/' said Evelyn; "and 
 that she would never make the match without 
 her father's knowledge and consent." 
 
 "No, indeed!" responded Lucilla, turning 
 a loving look upon the now sleeping Grace. 
 
 Lucilla had scarcely left her father on the 
 porch when Violet joined him there. 
 
 " I thought it possible, Levis, that you might 
 not object to your wife's company in your walk 
 here," she said in a lively tone, and slipping 
 her hand into his arm. 
 
 " Object, my darling, light of my eyes and 
 joy of my heart! " he said in a loving, mirthful 
 tone, bending down to kiss the sweet lips. 
 " Yours is the sweetest companionship I know 
 of. I should be glad to think mine was as 
 delightful to you." 
 
 " As I don't know how to measure either 
 one, I can only say that it is the most 
 delightful of all in the world to me," 
 she returned with a happy la*ugh. Then in a 
 somewhat graver tone, " Oh, my dear husband,
 
 ELSIE'S 70UN& FOLKS. 211 
 
 you don't know how dearly I and all your chil 
 dren love you! Neither Elsie nor Ned is ever 
 willing to go to bed without your fatherly 
 good-night caresses, and they always bewail 
 the necessity for doing that when you are 
 away from home." 
 
 " Probably not regretting it more than their 
 father does," he said. "Yes, the love of my 
 children is a highly esteemed blessing to me, 
 and, unfortunately, I cannot help feeling it 
 something of a grief and disappointment when 
 I learn that their tenderest affection has been, 
 transferred to another." 
 
 " Ah, you are thinking of Grace and Harold. 
 But be comforted, my dear; I am certain 
 that Grace does not love her father less be 
 cause Harold has won a place in her heart. I 
 do not love my dear mother any the less for 
 loving you, my dear husband, or you any the 
 less for loving her." 
 
 " I am glad to hear it, my darling," he said, 
 tenderly pressing the hand she had laid in his. 
 
 "And surely we cannot blame my brother 
 and your daughter for loving each other when
 
 212 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 they are both so worthy of affection that no 
 one who knows them can help giving it to 
 them." 
 
 " You are a special pleader, my dear/' he said 
 with a smile; " and they hardly need one with 
 me, for I am fond of them both particularly 
 of my frail young daughter/' 
 
 " Ah, and does not that cause you to rejoice 
 that she loves, and is beloved by, a good and 
 successful physician ?" 
 
 " That is a cause for thankfulness, my 
 dear," he returned pleasantly. " But shall we 
 not go in now and retire to rest? It is grow 
 ing late." 
 
 "Yes, if you have finished your evening 
 promenade; I don't want to rob you of 
 that." 
 
 "I think I have taken sufficient exercise, 
 and now prefer rest and sleep," he answered 
 laughingly, as he drew her on toward the door 
 way. 
 
 As Lucilla came tripping down the stairway 
 the next morning, Harold was passing through 
 the lower hall.
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 213 
 
 " Good-morning, Lu," he said, looking up at 
 ber. 
 
 " Good-morning, Dr. Travilla," she returned 
 demurely. 
 
 "What!" he exclaimed, "what's that you 
 are calling me?" 
 
 " Dr. Travilla. That's your name, isn't it? " 
 
 "Yes to strangers and people not related 
 to me; but you called me ' uncle ' yester 
 day." 
 
 " But you're not my uncle, and it seems you 
 intend to become my brother-in-law, so " 
 
 "So Harold without the ' uncle ' would be 
 the most appropriate name, wouldn't it?" 
 
 " Perhaps so, if if you won't think it dis 
 respectful." 
 
 "Not a bit of it. Call me Harold, or I'll 
 be very apt to call you Mrs. Dinsmore one of 
 these days." 
 
 They ended with a laugh and cordial hand 
 shaking, just as the captain appeared in the 
 outer doorway. Then they joined him in a 
 stroll about the grounds. 
 
 "There is a dark cloud in the east," re*
 
 214 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 marked Lucilla, in a regretful tone; "we are 
 likely to have a rainy day, are we not, papa? " 
 
 " Yes," he said, " but it need not necessarily 
 be an unpleasant one. We may find plenty of 
 indoor employment and recreations/' 
 
 " Yes," said Harold, " there have been many 
 pleasant rainy days in my past experiences. 
 And they are not so bad for a strong, healthy 
 man, even if he must go out in the rain/' 
 
 "And when gardens and fields are needing 
 rain, we long and pray for it," added Lucilla. 
 
 " How is Grace this morning? " asked 
 Harold. 
 
 " She was still sleeping when I left the 
 room," replied Lucilla; "but probably she is 
 up and ready for the call to breakfast by this 
 time." 
 
 "And there it is," said the captain, as the 
 sound of the ringing of a hand-bell came from 
 the house; " so let us go in and not keep the 
 others waiting." 
 
 They met Violet and Grace in the hall as 
 they entered, and it was pretty to see the 
 latter's blush and smile as Harold greeted her.
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 215 
 
 The clouds were increasing and growing 
 darker, and before they left the table the rain 
 had begun to fall. So they talked of indoor 
 occupations and amusements. 
 
 " We might have a little fun, if everybody's 
 willing," remarked Ned Raymond, giving Mr. 
 Lilburn a significant look and smile. 
 
 " Yes; little boys big ones too can gener 
 ally get up some fun among themselves when 
 they try/' was Cousin Eonald's answering re 
 mark, without the slightest indication that he 
 took Ned's hint. 
 
 "And I know Cousin Eonald is very kind 
 about helping in that," returned Ned insinuat 
 ingly. 
 
 "Yes, he is fond of giving pleasure to his 
 young friends," remarked Mrs. Lilburn, with 
 a loving smile up into her husband's face. " I 
 think, Ned, he will help you to some before the 
 day is over." 
 
 They were on the porch, for there was no 
 wind at the moment to drive the rain in upon 
 them, and it was cooler there than within 
 doors. As Annis finished speaking there was
 
 216 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 a sudden cry of distress, seemingly coming 
 from the river just below. " Help! help! I 
 shall drown! nobody will help me! " 
 
 It was a man's voice and there was a foreign 
 accent in the tones. It made quite a stir in 
 the little assembly on the porch, the lads ex 
 claiming: " Oh, the poor fellow! Can't we 
 help him, Grandma Elsie? Surely the men 
 on the Dolphin will do what they can! " But 
 hardly were the words spoken when another 
 voice called out in reply to the first: 
 
 " Hould on there, me jewel, an' I'll give ye 
 a lift. I'm the b'ye that kin do it." 
 
 " Oh, I hope he will get him out! " cried 
 Ned, in great excitement. " Papa, you'll let 
 them take him on board the yacht, won't 
 you? " 
 
 " Certainly, if he wishes to be taken there," 
 replied the captain, with a smiling glance at 
 Cousin Eonald. 
 
 Just then the second voice called out, 
 "Here he is the half drownded Frenchman; 
 an' now will the likes of yees aboord that craft 
 take 'im in an' dry 'im off? "
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 217 
 
 " Of course; that's exactly what the captain 
 would do if here were here," answered a third 
 voice, which sounded exactly like that of the 
 man at present in charge of the yacht. 
 
 " Oh, I'm glad he didn't drown! " exclaimed 
 Elsie Kaymond, with a sigh of relief. 
 
 " I presume such people don't often drown, 
 Elsie dear," laughed her mother. 
 
 " Oh, mamma, I often hear of people drown 
 ing," said the little girl. "And, Uncle Har 
 old, don't they need a doctor when they are 
 nearly drowned?" 
 
 " They are very apt to," he replied with a 
 slight laugh. " Do you want me to go down 
 now and see about that man? '" 
 
 " If you could, without getting wet," she an 
 swered hesitatingly. 
 
 " Suppose I go," said her Uncle Herbert; 
 "I'm pretty well now, and am perhaps 
 almost as skilful a physician as my older 
 brother." 
 
 But now the captain interposed. 
 
 " I can't have either of my young brothers 
 expose himself to this rain, for the men on the
 
 218 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 yacht are quite competent to deal with thai 
 Frenchman's case." 
 
 "I should say so indeed/' said Mr. Lilburn 
 gravely, " for it is not likely that he was in the 
 water many minutes. So, my wee bonny 
 bairnie Elsie, dinna fash yersel' ony mair aboot 
 him," he concluded, with an affectionate 
 look and smile into the face of the little 
 girl. 
 
 " Oh, Cousin Eonald, did you do it all? " ex 
 claimed Ned. "Dear me, how stupid I am! 
 I might have known it was you." 
 
 " I doubt if you really know it yet, laddie," 
 laughed the old gentleman. 
 
 Ned turned to his father. "Papa, may I 
 take an umbrella and just run down to the 
 Dolphin for a few minutes to ask about it? " 
 
 " It is not worth while," replied the captain; 
 "I am very sure you would make no dis 
 coveries." 
 
 "Then it was you, Cousin Ronald, wasn't 
 it, now? Please own up," exclaimed Ned, 
 with a laughing look into the old gentleman's 
 face.
 
 ELSIE'S 70DNG FOLKS. 219 
 
 " Folk shouldna find fault with what they've 
 asked for," was the old gentleman's non 
 committal rejoinder. 
 
 " Oh, no, sir! no indeed! but I was not mean 
 ing to find fault," laughed N"ed; "I think it 
 was good fun, and hope you will give us more 
 of it." 
 
 Just as he pronounced the last word a fierce 
 bark, seemingly that of a very large dog, fol 
 lowed instantly by a scream as if a woman 
 were in pain and terror, startled them all, 
 and there were outcries of affright from the 
 children, while several of the grown people 
 started to their feet and looked anxiously in 
 the direction of the sounds, which had seemed 
 to come from the vicinity of the porch, 
 but a little farther toward the rear of the 
 house. 
 
 Another bark from the dog, then a woman's 
 voice in tones of wild affright, " Oh, some 
 body help, help! this dog will tear me to 
 pieces." 
 
 Mr. Leland and Walter Travilla stepped 
 quickly to the end of the porch nearest the
 
 220 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 sounds and looked around the corner of the 
 house, but instantly reported that neither 
 woman nor dog was to be seen. 
 
 " Oh, another sell from Cousin Eonald! " 
 laughed Ned. " Oh, there it is again! " for 
 just then there was a sound as of a loud knock 
 at a side door, and a man's coarse voice thun 
 dering, " Let me in oot o' this rain, ye slow- 
 going, good-for-naught biddies. Let me in, I 
 say, and be quick about it." 
 
 A woman's scream followed instantly, " Oh, 
 captain, or some o' you gentlemen, come 
 here quick and save us from this drunken 
 rascal." 
 
 Some of those on the porch were a little 
 startled for an instant, but a laugh quickly 
 followed, and the fun went on for some 
 minutes bees, mice, chickens, and puppies 
 being heard, but not seen or felt. 
 
 But the rainfall was growing heavier, and at 
 length Harold suggested that it might be well 
 for Grace, if not for all, to go within doors to 
 escape the dampness. 
 
 Nearly all at once complied with the sugges-
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 221 
 
 tion, and Mrs. Travilla, inviting Grace to a seat 
 by her side, said low and tenderly: 
 
 " Harold gave me a piece of news last night 
 that has made me very happy. I hope one of 
 these days to number you among my dear 
 daughters, and shall feel most happy in doing 
 so." 
 
 " Oh, Grandma Elsie, it is so kind in you to 
 say that! " returned Grace tremulously, but 
 blushing with pleasure as she spoke; "it will 
 be very sweet to have you for my mother, for 
 I have loved you dearly ever since I first saw 
 you." 
 
 At that moment Walter came and took a 
 seat on the other side of her. 
 
 " Oh, Gracie," he said in an undertone, " I 
 am so glad of Harold's news that I am to 
 have you for a sister at some future day. I'll 
 try to be a good brother to you." 
 
 " And I certainly intend to do my best to be 
 a good sister to you, Walter," she answered 'in 
 the same low tone, and with a vivid blush and 
 one of her sweetest smiles. 
 
 " Thanks," he said. " I wish the wedding
 
 222 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 was to take place directly; some time this fall, 
 at least. Couldn't we coax your father to al 
 low it?" 
 
 She laughed and shook her head. " Papa 
 would never allow it, and I don't believe I 
 could consent myself. Keally, the very thought 
 of doing anything so important so suddenly 
 more than half frightens me." 
 
 " Harold is a mild, good-natured kind of fel 
 low; you needn't be afraid of him," laughed 
 Walter. 
 
 "No, not of him exactly," returned Grace, 
 laughing a little also and blushing quite a good 
 deal, "but of of the sudden change in my 
 way of life leaving my father and all the rest 
 of my family." 
 
 But there the talk between them ended for 
 the time, for Harold's near relatives came up, 
 one after another, to tell Grace how welcome a 
 new member of their near connection she 
 would be. Chester Dinsmore was the only 
 one who expressed any regret, and that not to 
 Grace, but to Lucilla. 
 
 " I am sorry for my brother Frank," he said.
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 223 
 
 " He has been desperately in love with her, but 
 your father would not let him speak. And I 
 thought it would be pleasant to be so closely 
 and doubly connected two sisters marrying 
 brothers." 
 
 " I am sorry, since it disappoints you/' said 
 Lucilla. " But I hope Frank will soon get 
 over his disappointment and find some one who 
 will suit him still better. Besides, Grace being 
 so delicate, it is well for her to get into the 
 hands of a good physician." 
 
 " True enough/' returned Chester, " and we 
 may as well look at it in that way, for there is 
 no use in fretting over what can't be helped.'* 
 
 September had come; the summer heat was 
 over and business called the gentlemen 
 of our party to their more southern homes. 
 Preparations began, and one little company 
 after another departed, leaving the rest feeling 
 somewhat lonely and dull without them. The 
 captain and his family, Grandma Elsie, Eve 
 lyn, and Mr. and Mrs. Lilburn were to go in the 
 yacht, which carried them away a few days 
 later down the Hudson Eiver and down the
 
 224 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 Atlantic coast to the seaport near their South 
 ern homes. 
 
 A joyous welcome from lovers, relatives, and 
 friends awaited them there. Then followed 
 the fall, winter, and early spring months, filled 
 up and made delightful by the accustomed 
 round of study, needlework, social calls, and 
 visits, interspersed with religious duties and 
 charitable work, etc. 
 
 Evelyn was often at Woodburn, and she and 
 Lucilla made many pretty things for the 
 adornment of their future homes. The wed 
 dings were to be postponed till Max came home, 
 and to their disappointment that home-com 
 ing was deferred month after month till Ches 
 ter grew exceedingly weary of waiting. 
 Letters were received occasionally from Max, 
 but he knew no more than they when he would 
 be able to rejoin them and claim his bonny 
 bride. The waiting was doubtless harder for 
 him than for Chester or either of the girls. 
 They indeed seemed to take it quietly and con 
 tentedly. 
 
 Grace was very happy with her lover close at
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 25 
 
 hand and often visiting her professionally or 
 otherwise. And with her this state of things 
 seemed to be conducive to health; she grew 
 rosier, stronger, gayer, and more lively in her 
 speech and manner than she had ever been be 
 fore. So great a joy was it to her father to 
 perceive the change that he soon fully forgave 
 Harold for seeking her affection while she was 
 still so young and feeble. Harold seemed to 
 be waiting very patiently, and when Chester 
 grumbled at his long enforced wait, Lucilla 
 sometimes playfully called his attention to the 
 good example set him by Harold. 
 
 " But there isn't the same need of waiting in 
 our case," he would reply, "for, I am thank 
 ful to say, you are as healthy a girl as any that 
 I know of." 
 
 "Yes; but think of the disappointment to 
 Max and Eva if we shouldn't wait for them, 
 when we can be together almost as much as if 
 we were married, and all the time doing things 
 to make our new home as lovely as possible." 
 
 The continuance of war in the Philippines, a 
 cause of more or less regret to everybody, was
 
 226 ELSIE' 8 YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 doubly so to Max's friends and relatives, because 
 it delayed his return month after month. 
 They missed him particularly when Christ 
 mas time came and he was not there to share 
 in the pleasant exchange of gifts and greet 
 ings. They had sent gifts to him., hoping they 
 would reach him in good season, and as usual 
 they bestowed them upon each other. For 
 weeks beforehand Violet had spent a good deal 
 of time in her studio, and the result was a 
 handsome portrait of the captain for each of 
 his older daughters. They were highly pleased 
 with them, saying that nothing else could have 
 given them so much pleasure. The captain's 
 gifts to them and Violet were valuable books 
 and some fine paintings for their walls. 
 
 "You see, Chester," Lucilla said, when ex 
 hibiting hers to him, "that we are getting 
 more and more for the adornment of our home 
 while we wait for it." 
 
 " Adornment which could go on just as well 
 if we were already in it," he returned, with a 
 rather rueful laugh. 
 
 "Well, for your consolation please remem-
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 227 
 
 ber that it is near enough to be looked at every 
 flay/' replied Lucilla, in a sprightly tone. 
 " And see here what your fiancee has prepared 
 for you," drawing a small package from her 
 pocket as she spoke. 
 
 " Thanks! Some of her own work, I hope," 
 he said, with a gratified look and smile. 
 
 "Yes, I would have you enjoy as much of 
 my work as possible." 
 
 He had it opened now, and found it a beaded 
 purse. 
 
 "Oh, how handsome!" he cried. "Many, 
 many thanks, dearest! I have no need of a 
 reminder of you, but if I had, this would be one 
 every time I looked at it. Now here is my gift 
 to you," taking in his turn a little package 
 from his pocket and putting it in her hand. 
 It was a miniature of himself a fine likeness 
 attached to a beautiful gold chain. 
 
 " Oh, it is excellent, and nothing could have 
 pleased me better! " she exclaimed, as she 
 examined it. 
 
 Harold had the same sort of gift for Grace, 
 and she had embroidered for him a set of fine
 
 228 ELSIE'S TOUNO FOLKS. 
 
 Knen cambric handkerchiefs, with which he 
 seemed greatly pleased. 
 
 Every member of that family, and each of 
 the others in the connection, had prepared 
 some gift of more or less value for each of the 
 others, for their servants and dependents, and 
 for the neighbors poor enough to need assist 
 ance from those able to give it. 
 
 As usual there was a grand dinner at Ion, to 
 which all the connection were invited; and 
 pretty much the same thing was repeated at 
 Woodburn on New Year's day. Max was 
 missed and talked of at both gatherings, always 
 being mentioned as one of whom they were 
 proud and fond, while to Evelyn and the 
 Woodburn family his absence detracted much 
 from the enjoyment of the festivities. Yet 
 they comforted themselves with the hope that 
 the trouble in the Philippines would soon be 
 over, and he allowed to return to his home and 
 dear ones, now so anxiouo to see him, and to 
 claim his promised wife.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE winter passed away without any un 
 toward event to our friends at Woodburn, Ion, 
 Fairview, and the vicinity; March and April 
 succeeded, then early in May came the news 
 that Admiral Watson was ordered to proceed 
 to Manila and relieve Admiral Dewey. He 
 sailed from San Francisco on the 16th. It 
 was not until late in June that he reached his 
 destination, but Admiral Dewey had left there 
 for Hong-Kong on the 23d of May, and placed 
 the Otympia in dry-dock for the ten days 
 he thought best to stay at that point in order 
 to recruit his own health and that of his men. 
 He left Hong-Kong on June 6, and reached 
 Singapore June 11. On the 23d he was at 
 Colombo, on the island of Ceylon. He 
 touched at various points on his homeward 
 route Port Said, Trieste, Naples, Leghorn 
 at every place being received with highest 
 
 229
 
 230 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 honors. On August 28 he was in the neigh 
 borhood of Nice and Villefranche, enjoying 
 the delightful climate and beautiful scenery 
 of that part of the world. On the 4th of Sep 
 tember he reached Gibraltar. His vessel gave 
 the usual salute, heartily acknowledged by the 
 garrison, and the admiral was warmly wel 
 comed by its commander-in-chief, General 
 Biddulph. He seems to have stayed there six 
 days, as it was on the 10th he sailed for New 
 York by way of the Azores. On Tuesday 
 morning, September 26, he anchored inside 
 Sandy Hook three days earlier than he was 
 expected. 
 
 A reception committee in New York City 
 had been busily making ready to give him a 
 grand " Welcome Home," which they intended 
 should eclipse in gorgeous pageantry every 
 thing that had preceded it in the way of pub 
 lic demonstration. They had written to Ad 
 miral Dewey to know when he would arrive in 
 order that they might fix a date for the grand 
 display, and he had written them from Leg 
 horn, more than a month before: "I shall,
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 231 
 
 without fail, reach the Lower Bay on Friday, 
 September 29." 
 
 The glad news of his arrival quickly spread 
 by telegraph, and cannon were fired and bells 
 rung in many cities throughout the country. 
 The New York Eeception Committee hastened 
 to welcome him as soon as they knew of the 
 arrival of the Olympia. Rear- Admirals 
 Philip and Sampson came also; but first of all 
 came Sir Thomas Lipton, the British chal 
 lenger for the cup which has been so long in 
 our possession, his vessel lying near where the 
 Olympia anchored. 
 
 But presently another yacht came steaming 
 rapidly down the river, and Max recognized it 
 with an exclamation of delight, for it was the 
 Dolphin, and in a few minutes more Captain 
 Eaymond was on the deck of the Olympia, 
 grasping his son's hand, while his eyes shone 
 with fatherly pride and affection. 
 
 " My boy, my dear boy! " he said, in tones 
 tremulous with emotion; " thank God that we 
 are permitted to meet again." 
 
 " Father, my dear, dear father, how I have
 
 232 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 longed for this meeting with you! " was Max's 
 answering exclamation. " Oh, tell me, are all 
 our dear ones alive and well? " 
 
 "Yes, my son, and waiting yonder in the 
 yacht for you. Surely the admiral will allow 
 you to go aboard her with me for a little visit." 
 
 The admiral and the captain were not stran 
 gers to each other. A cordial greeting passed 
 between them, they chatted as old friends for 
 a few minutes, then Captain Eaymond carried 
 his son off to the Dolphin, where he was re 
 ceived most joyfully, and exchanged loving 
 embraces with his affianced, his sisters, 
 "Mamma Vi," "Grandma Elsie," and little 
 brother. 
 
 They told him they had spent the greater 
 part of the summer at Crag Cottage which 
 they still considered their temporary home 
 but for the present were on board the yacht, 
 as the best place from which to view the naval 
 welcome to Admiral Dewey. 
 
 Time flew fast in the glad mutual intercourse 
 they had lacked for so many months. Max 
 had many questions to ask in regard to friends
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 233 
 
 and relatives and all that had been going on in 
 the neighborhood of his home and theirs. But 
 his short leave had soon expired, and his 
 father conveyed him back to the Olympia and 
 left him there with the warmly expressed hope 
 that they would soon be able to be together 
 constantly for a time. 
 
 At the naval anchorage at Tompkinsville a 
 fleet was gathered to welcome Dewey's return, 
 and his vessel steamed thither on Wednesday 
 the day after her arrival at Sandy Hook. 
 As she swept up the bay the salute due to an 
 Admiral of the United States Navy rang out 
 over the harbor from the forts and the as 
 sembled fleet for the first time in many years. 
 There were also the music of marine bands, 
 the pealing of naval bugles, the shrill whistles 
 of numerous small craft, the cheering of ex 
 cursion parties, and the rapid dash of the 
 steam launches, all combining to make the 
 scene a very lively one. 
 
 During that day and the next the admiral 
 and his officers had little rest, for their time 
 was devoted to receiving the hurried visits of
 
 234 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 State and city officials, of naval and military 
 officers, and of thousands of private citizens. 
 One of the calls was that of a committee from 
 Washington, to tell Dewey of the arrangements 
 for his reception and the sword presentation 
 there, and of an invitation to dine with Presi 
 dent McKinley on October 3d. 
 
 On Thursday, Captain Lamberton of the 
 Olympia had a pleasant task that of pinning 
 upon the breast of each man of Dewey's fleet 
 who had taken part in the fight at Manila the 
 bronze medal of honor voted him by Congress. 
 That was followed by the presentation to Ad 
 miral Dewey of the first American admiral's 
 flag ever flung to the breeze, the flag first 
 hoisted to the mast-head of Farragut's flag 
 ship, the Hartford, before New Orleans. 
 
 Another thing very pleasing to the admiral 
 was the receipt of an order from Washington 
 granting special permission to the thirty-four 
 Chinamen on board of the Olympia who had 
 taken part in the battle at Manila to land and 
 have a share in the great parade. The city 
 was a blaze of flags and bunting by day, and of
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 35 
 
 electric lights by night. On the Brooklyn 
 Bridge over eight thousand electric bulbs were 
 arranged to form the words "Welcome 
 Dewey "; powerful searchlights flashed from 
 the towers over city and bay, and red fire 
 burned along shores on the vessels at night. 
 
 The naval parade on Friday was the 
 most magnificent display of the kind ever seen 
 in this country. The Olympia led the way, 
 followed by battleships, cruisers, revenue 
 cutters, torpedo boats, and innumerable craft 
 of all descriptions. Over three million people 
 lined the river banks to see the magnificent 
 pageant. At Eiverside where Grant is 
 buried a salute was fired in his honor. Two 
 beautiful allegorical floats were anchored there, 
 representing " Victory " and " Peace." Here 
 the Olympia and her consorts dropped anchor, 
 while the long fleet passed in review. In the 
 evening there was a fine electric and pyro 
 technic display throughout the city and along 
 the river. 
 
 The next day, Saturday, September 30, came 
 the land parade, which was as interesting as
 
 236 ELSIWS 70UNG FOLKS. 
 
 had been the naval one. At five o'clock the 
 admiral was up, and personally inspected his 
 men. A committee of gentlemen escorted him 
 to the City Hall, where he was met by Admiral 
 Schley, Captain Walker, Captain Coghlan, 
 Captain Dyer, Governor Koosevelt, and others 
 who had won distinction in the ar. It was 
 observed that he greeted Schley with marked 
 cordiality. From there the party went to a 
 stand in front of the Hall, and Dewey was pre 
 sented by Mayor Van Wyck, on behalf of the 
 City of New York, with a handsome and costly 
 loving cup of fine gold. 
 
 The admiral and his party then hastened to 
 the pier to take the boat to Grant's tomb, 
 where the procession formed. It was a great 
 one, and every step of the way was an ovation. 
 First came Sousa's immense band of musicians, 
 then the sailor boys of Manila, the bluejackets 
 of Santiago, and the boys from fifteen States, 
 who had taken part in the Spanish-American 
 war. The immense crowds along the sidewalks 
 cheered them lustily; none more so than the 
 " Fighting Tenth " of Pennsylvania.
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 2 37 
 
 But the part of the procession which at 
 tracted the most attention was the carriage 
 drawn by four beautiful bay horses in which 
 rode Admiral Dewey and Mayor Van Wyck. 
 Dewey rode with uncovered head bowing right 
 and left until he reached the reviewing stand. 
 The triumphal arch with its marble-like colon 
 nade made a beautiful picture. On its top was 
 a heroic figure of Farragut who gave Dewey 
 his first lesson in sailing over hidden mines 
 and destructive torpedoes seeming to look 
 down upon his brave and successful pupil with 
 admiration and approval. The celebration 
 was a great success, showing how heartily the 
 American people appreciated their gallant 
 hero. The next day, being the Sabbath, was 
 spent in rest and comparative quiet. On Mon 
 day, October 2, Dewey went by rail from New 
 York to Washington, his journey thither prov 
 ing a continual ovation. It was in the early 
 evening he reached that city, and as the train 
 neared the station a battery boomed out the 
 admiral's salute, announcing his arrival to the 
 waiting multitudes. The Third Cavalry was
 
 238 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 there to receive him, and he was driven to the 
 White House to pay his respects to the Chief 
 of the Nation. He was warmly welcomed hy 
 the President and his Cabinet and many naval 
 officers. 
 
 After that the entire party went to review 
 the civic parade which had been planned in 
 honor of the admiral. 
 
 The next day Admiral Dewey was presented 
 with the sword voted him by Congress. A 
 vast concourse of people assembled to witness 
 the imposing and impressive ceremony, which 
 took place in front of the Capitol, in the pres 
 ence of the President and his Cabinet and the 
 principal officers of the several departments of 
 the government. General Miles was grand 
 marshal of the escort, attended by a large staff 
 of officers of the army and navy, all in full 
 dress uniform and superbly mounted. 
 
 Just as the meridian gun sounded high noon, 
 Admiral Dewey, leaning upon the President's 
 arm, walked upon the platform. Following 
 them were judges of the Supreme Court, gov 
 ernors of States, senators, and members of
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 239 
 
 Congress, and the general officers of the army 
 and navy. 
 
 Congress had directed that the sword should 
 be presented by the Secretary of the Navy, and 
 he did so in most appropriate and eloquent 
 language. 
 
 " No captain/' he said, " ever faced a more 
 crucial test than when, that morning, bearing 
 the fate and the honor of your country in your 
 hand, thousands of miles from home, with 
 every foreign port in the world shut to you, 
 nothing between you and annihilation but the 
 thin sheathing of your ships, your cannon, and 
 your devoted officers and men, you moved upon 
 the enemy's batteries on shore and on sea with 
 unflinching faith and nerve, and before the 
 sun was halfway up in the heavens had silenced 
 the guns of the foe, sunk the hostile fleet, 
 demonstrated the supremacy of the American 
 sea power, and transferred to the United States 
 an empire of the islands of the Pacific." 
 
 In closing his speech the Secretary handed 
 the sword to the President as Commander-in 
 Chief of the Army and Navy, and the Presi-
 
 240 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 dent, speaking a few appropriate words as he 
 did so, handed it to the admiral, who took it, 
 saying: 
 
 " I thank you, Mr. President, for this great 
 honor you have conferred upon me. I thank 
 the Congress for what it has done. I thank 
 the Secretary of the Navy for his gracious 
 words. I thank my country for this beautiful 
 gift, which shall be an heirloom in my family 
 forever, as an evidence that republics are not 
 ungrateful. And I thank you, Mr. Chairman 
 and gentlemen of the committee, for the gra 
 cious, kindly, and cordial welcome which you 
 have given me to my home."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 IT was a lovely evening, and a pleasant com 
 pany had gathered upon the deck of the Dol 
 phin, Captain Raymond's yacht, lying in New 
 York harbor; there were Mrs. Travilla, or 
 Grandma Elsie, as some of her loved ones called 
 her, Captain Raymond himself, his wife and 
 children, older and younger, Evelyn Leland, 
 Dr. Harold Travilla, and Chester Dinsmore. 
 They were scattered in groups the three pairs 
 of lovers in one, and conversing in low, earnest 
 tones, now and then varied by a ripple of 
 laughter. 
 
 " I should like it very, very much," said Eva, 
 " but doubt if the captain proves willing." 
 
 " Doubtless if he consulted only his own in 
 clination he would not consent," said Max; 
 " but father is anything else but selfish, and 
 loves you so dearly, Eva, that I by no means 
 despair of persuading him to give you your 
 wish in regard to this." 
 
 241
 
 242 ELSIE'S TOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " I have hardly a doubt of that," said Lu- 
 cilla, " and I am highly in favor of the plan, 
 though I was not at first." 
 
 " It suits me exactly/' remarked Chester, in 
 a gleeful tone. " I greatly like the idea of tak 
 ing my wife home with me." 
 
 " Something that more than one of us 
 would be glad to do," sighed Harold, squeezing 
 affectionately a little hand of which he had 
 taken possession a moment before. 
 
 "Never mind, old fellow, your turn will 
 come one of these days, I hope," said Chester. 
 " Perhaps when you two have waited as long as 
 Lu and I have now." 
 
 " Ah, I'm afraid we have even a longer wait 
 than that before us," returned Harold. 
 
 " But we can see each other every day be 
 together a good deal of the time," remarked 
 Grace, in low, soothing tones. 
 
 " Well, let us have the thing settled, by hear 
 ing what father has to say about it," said Max, 
 for at that moment the captain might be seen 
 approaching their group. 
 
 "About what, my son?" he asked, as he
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 243 
 
 took a vacant seat close at hand, for he had 
 overheard the last few words. 
 
 " As to the place where our nuptials should 
 be celebrated, sir," returned Max, with a little, 
 happy laugh. 
 
 " Where else but in your homes? " asked his. 
 father. " I should like to have both my chil 
 dren married in my house, but Eva and you, I 
 suppose, would prefer to have yours and hers 
 in her home Fairview." 
 
 " No, sir," said Evelyn, " my very strong 
 wish is to have mine celebrated in my own old 
 home the house my father built and owned 
 Crag Cottage/' 
 
 "Ah, my dear child, that is natural!" re 
 turned the captain in a tone of mingled sur 
 prise and acquiescence, " and I should be loath 
 to stand in the way of such a wish. But I 
 thought you and Lucilla were planning to have 
 but one ceremony for the two couples of you? " 
 
 " Yes, sir; and since talking it over we have 
 concluded that Crag Cottage would be a suita 
 ble place for it, if you do not object." 
 
 " It seems to me that there are reasons both
 
 244 ELSIE'S 70UNQ FOLKS. 
 
 for and against it," he said thoughtfully, " but 
 since you four are the ones most nearly con 
 cerned, I think it will be only right and kind 
 to let you decide the question among your 
 selves. But it is growing late in the season, 
 and if the ceremony is to be performed here at 
 the North, it should take place quite soon. 
 Can you make needed preparations in a few 
 days?" 
 
 " I think we can," both girls answered to 
 that question. 
 
 " Very well, then, so far as I am concerned 
 you shall do just as you please. For that 
 matter, you are all of legal age to do so 
 whether you have my permission or not." 
 
 At that all four instantly disclaimed any in 
 tention or desire to go contrary to his wishes, 
 and Eva added: 
 
 " I shall of course write at once to my uncle 
 and aunt asking their consent and approval; 
 for, though of legal age, I owe to them more 
 than that for the great kindness they have 
 shown me ever since the death of my dear 
 father."
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 246 
 
 "That is a right feeling you have toward 
 them," remarked Captain Kaymond, in a tone 
 of commendation, "but I have no idea that 
 they will oppose your wishes in the least in this 
 matter." 
 
 "No, I am almost sure they will not," she 
 said; "but I shall write them to-night, and 
 hope for a prompt reply. There will be some 
 necessary shopping to do, and New York City 
 will be the best place for that." 
 
 " Decidedly," assented the captain, " and you 
 could have no better helpers in that t^xan my 
 wife and her mother." 
 
 "And yourself, papa," laughed Lucilla. 
 
 "As purse-bearer?" he asked, with a smile. 
 " I shall certainly be that, and ready to exer 
 cise my taste as regards the choice of the 
 goods." 
 
 " And I may be the housekeeper here on the 
 Dolphin while you are away on your pleasant 
 errands, I suppose," said Grace. 
 
 "Yes, if you like, daughter," returned the 
 captain; and Harold added, "And I as your 
 assistant, if you are wiling to make use of me."
 
 246 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " To see to it that she does not overwork 
 herself," said the captain. 
 
 " And what may Chester and I be allowed to 
 do?" queried Max. 
 
 "To keep them company, if they desire 
 it, manage the vessel, and keep the children 
 out of mischief, especially from falling over 
 board, and entertained in harmless ways." 
 
 " I think we can do all that," said Max; " but 
 how long do you expect to be absent, father? 
 Are we to lie still in the harbor here till you 
 return? " 
 
 " Just as you please," said his father. " If 
 you choose to steam along the shores, out into 
 the ocean or up the river, you have full liberty 
 to do so. All I ask is that you take good care 
 of the children and the vessel." 
 
 " Well, sir, I think that with Chester's and 
 Harold's help I can engage to do all that," 
 laughed Max. "Don't you think so, lads?" 
 turning first to one, then to the other of the 
 young men. 
 
 Both returned an affirmative reply, then 
 they all joined the group of older ladies, told
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 247 
 
 tof their plans and purposes, and asked for ad 
 vice, and whether the assistance they wanted 
 in their shopping might be confidently ex 
 pected. 
 
 At first both ladies were surprised that the 
 young people should think of having their wed 
 dings before returning home, but, after a little 
 discussion, highly approved of the plan, and 
 expressed themselves as willing as possible to 
 assist in the shopping and all needful prepara 
 tions. Then they discussed the question what 
 it would be needful or advisable to purchase, 
 what dresses should be made and where the 
 work could be done in the speediest and most 
 approved manner, as it was wisest and best to 
 consider and decide upon these matters before 
 setting out to do their errands. 
 
 Evelyn wrote her letter to her uncle and aunt 
 before retiring for the night, and had it posted 
 early the next morning. Shortly after break 
 fast the shopping party went into the city on 
 their pleasant errand, and a little later the 
 Dolphin weighed anchor and steamed out of 
 harbor, going seaward.
 
 248 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 
 
 The party on its deck was a cheerful, even 
 merry one, Max and Chester rejoicing in the 
 near approach of their long looked-for nup 
 tials; Harold happy in having full possession 
 for the time of his affianced, and Elsie and Ned 
 Eaymond in gay, youthful spirits, for they 
 loved to be on the yacht and with Brother Max, 
 Uncle Harold, and also Chester, with whom 
 they had become almost as free and affectionate 
 as if he were an own brother. 
 
 "Where are we going now, Brother Max?" 
 asked Ned. 
 
 "I think we will put it to vote," replied 
 Max. " My idea is that it might be very pleas 
 ant to steam along near the shore of the Sound 
 on one side going out, and on the other return 
 ing; so getting a view of the country on both. 
 Grace, as you are the only lady present, I 
 think you should have the first vote. Shall we 
 do as I have proposed, or something different?" 
 
 "It sounds very pleasant, Max," replied 
 Grace, "but I don't wish to decide the ques 
 tion, for I shall enjoy going anywhere in the 
 Dolphin, and with such pleasant company."
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 24J> 
 
 "Rather non-committal," laughed Max. 
 "Well, Chester and Harold, what do you 
 say?" 
 
 Both answered that they approved his plan, 
 and would like nothing better, and Elsie and 
 Ned exclaimed with enthusiasm that they 
 would like nothing better. 
 
 " A unanimous vote in favor," commented 
 Max, " so the thing is settled." 
 
 " And we can settle to something," re 
 marked Elsie, in a tone of satisfaction; 
 " Uncle Harold, don't you want to tell us about 
 some of the poor wounded or sick fellows you 
 attended in Cuba? " 
 
 " I fear I have not much to tell of them 
 seeing I have already told so much except 
 that they were wonderfully brave and patient, 
 full of love for their country and compassion 
 for the downtrodden, inhumanly treated 
 Cubans," replied Dr. Travilla. 
 
 "I think our soldiers were very brave, pa 
 tient, and uncomplaining," said Elsie. " I am 
 very proud of them, especially because they 
 didn't do cruel deeds such as I have read of
 
 250 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 soldiers of other nations doing in time of 
 war." 
 
 " Yes, I think they deserved that commenda 
 tion," said Harold. "And the attempt of 
 Hobson and his men to block the entrance to 
 Santiago harbor by sinking the Merrimac there 
 was brave as brave could be. We have indeed 
 cause to be proud of our soldiers." 
 
 " And so we are ! " cried Ned enthusiasti 
 cally, " and," turning toward his brother, " just 
 as proud of the brave fellows that were at 
 Manila as of those in Cuba." 
 
 " Thank you, young man," returned Max, 
 with a bow and a smile. " We certainly have 
 every reason to believe that our doings there 
 have been appreciated by our kind country 
 men." 
 
 " Brother Max, could you help feeling a little 
 bit afraid when your ship went into that long 
 channel with its many forts and torpedoes? " 
 
 "I certainly cannot say that I was entirely 
 free from fear," acknowledged Max; "but I had 
 no desire to escape the danger by giving up my 
 part in the coming fight, for I felt that we
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 251 
 
 were on the right side of it undertaken for 
 the oppressed and that my Heavenly Father 
 was able to protect me, and all of us." 
 
 "And he did/' exclaimed Elsie, in joyful 
 tones; " it was just wonderful how you all es 
 caped being killed, and only a few were slightly 
 wounded." 
 
 " It was indeed," assented Max, " and a great 
 cause for thankfulness." 
 
 "Do you like Admiral Dewey, Brother 
 Max? " asked !N"ed. 
 
 " Yes, yes indeed! " was the earnest, smiling 
 reply. " He is determined with his men, but 
 very kind-hearted. The man who has been 
 guilty of a fault may be pretty sure of pardon 
 if he confesses it, but not if he tells a false 
 hood to escape his deserts. Lying is a thing 
 which Dewey utterly detests." 
 
 " I wish I could get acquainted with him," 
 said Elsie; " though I suppose he wouldn't like 
 to be bothered with talking to a little girl of 
 my age." 
 
 "I don't know about that," laughed Max; 
 "he is said to be very fond of children."
 
 252 ELSIE'S TOUNa FOLKS. 
 
 " Has he any of his own? " she asked, with a 
 look of interest. 
 
 " One son; but he is grown up and is in busi 
 ness." 
 
 " Oh, do tell me what sort of folks the Fili 
 pinos are?" 
 
 "I will do my best," replied Max. "The 
 men are not tall, but have good forms and well- 
 shaped heads. Their looks are boyish, and 
 they seem never to grow old. They have 
 black, glossy hair that seldom grows gray. 
 The women are graceful and rather good-look 
 ing. They usually wear their hair loose, and 
 no hat or bonnet on their heads. Their dress 
 is a satin skirt handsomely embroidered, and 
 a waist of pina cloth, having flowing 
 sleeves. They wear a scarf of the finest 
 quality, and beautifully embroidered, about 
 their neck and shoulders. An American lady 
 there told me that they often spend years on 
 the embroidery of a single garment, and that 
 she and others of our ladies had gone into 
 raptures over that work, but could seldom 
 secure a specimen. They are very cleanly
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 253 
 
 people bathe a great deal, and keep their 
 clothing very clean; their houses also are kept 
 clean, neat, and tidy. The women sew, spin, 
 weave, and gather thatch to keep the hut in 
 repair. They also catch fish for the family to 
 eat, and are skilful at that business. They 
 carry burdens on their heads, and that makes 
 them erect and graceful. A good many of 
 both Spaniards and Chinamen have married 
 Filipino women, and the children, called Mes 
 tizoes, make good citizens, seeming to inherit 
 the patient industry of the Chinese father and 
 the gentle disposition and dignified self-posses 
 sion of the Filipino mother. But now I think 
 I have done my share of talking for the 
 present, and must leave the rest of you to do 
 yours while I see if all is going right with our 
 vessel," added Max, rising and leaving the 
 group as he spoke. 
 
 "Uncle Harold, do you know the captain 
 they call ' Fighting Bob '? " asked Ned. 
 
 "Slightly," returned his uncle, "and a 
 brave, noble man he is a naval officer to be 
 proud of; perfectly fearless and cool in battle,
 
 254 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 kind and helpful to conquered foes. He was 
 commander of the Iowa, to which the Spanish 
 ship Vizcaya surrendered. Her captain, in a 
 speech in Spain, had said that he would tow 
 back the Iowa to his king; but he was not able 
 to do so. The Iowa drove shell after shell into 
 his vessel, till she was a mass of flames, and 
 struck her flag. 
 
 " Then ( Fighting Bob ' sent out his boats to 
 rescue the prisoners on the ship and in the 
 water, and took back to the Iowa several offi 
 cers and two hundred and forty men, her cap 
 tain, Eulate, among them. It is said to have 
 been a horrible scene so many dead and 
 wounded men, and Captain Eulate, limping, 
 and with his head bound up. He saluted as he 
 stepped upon the deck of the Iowa] and so did 
 Captain Evans. 
 
 "'You are Captain Evans? This is the 
 Iowa?' asked Captain Eulate. 'Yes/ said 
 Captain Evans, and took Eulate's hand in both 
 of his, shaking it warmly. Eulate stepped 
 back, unbuckled his sword, kissed it, and with 
 the most elegant grace, handed it, hilt forward,
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 255 
 
 to Captain Evans. But he refused to take it, 
 turning the palm of his hand outward and wav 
 ing it back, at the same time shaking his head 
 a very emphatic refusal. 
 
 " The Spaniards, officers and men, looked on 
 in astonishment. Captain Eulate pressed 
 Captain Evans* hand, and the crew gave Eu 
 late three cheers, for he had fought well, and 
 only gave up when his ship was in flames and 
 sinking. 
 
 "Just then a terrific explosion was 
 heard on the Vizcaya, which was only a short 
 distance off, and a solid column of smoke went 
 up nearly four thousand feet, it is said, taking 
 the form of a gigantic mushroom. At that 
 Captain Eulate turned around, pointing with 
 one hand to his ruined ship, with the other 
 toward his officers and men, * Veeslci! Veeski!* 
 he cried at the top of his voice, while tears 
 rolled down his cheeks. His men sprang to 
 ward him, and many of them kissed his hand. 
 He said in Spanish, 'My brave marines! ' and 
 looked away/' 
 
 " That was a very interesting story, uncle,"
 
 256 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 
 
 said Elsie, as Dr. Travilla paused. "I hope 
 there's more of it." 
 
 " Oh, yes, please go on, Uncle Harold/' said 
 Ned. " Our ships took all the Spanish ones, 
 didn't they?" 
 
 "Yes; the Maria Teresa was now a wreck 
 also, and the Iowa went to the relief of her 
 drowning and burning men. Admiral Cervera 
 was taken prisoner and brought on board the 
 Iowa. When he stepped aboard, with his staff, 
 Captain Evans stood with uncovered head, and 
 the marine guard presented arms. Captain 
 Eulate stepped toward him, touched his sword 
 with his hand and pressed it to his breast, cry 
 ing out in Spanish, pointing toward Captain 
 Evans, evidently extolling his bravery and 
 generosity. The admiral made a courtly bow 
 to Captain Evans, and shook hands with him. 
 The rest of the Spanish officers kissed the hand 
 of the Spanish admiral four times, and em 
 braced and kissed Captain Eulate. The men 
 of the crew, too, would now and then see a 
 comrade whom they had supposed dead, and 
 they would fall to embracing and kissing."
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 257 
 
 " Did Captain Evans thank God for his vic 
 tory, as Captain Philip did, uncle? " asked 
 Elsie. 
 
 " No; but when some one blamed him for not 
 having done so, he said that while preparations 
 were being made for it he found that he was 
 surrounded by boats carrying dying and 
 wounded prisoners, and others of the crew of 
 the Vizcaya, to the number of two hundred and 
 fifty. ' To leave these men to suffer for want 
 of food and clothing, while I called my men aft 
 to offer prayers, was not my idea of either 
 Christianity or religion,' he wrote in reply. ' I 
 preferred to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, 
 and succor the sick, and I am strongly of the 
 opinion that Almighty God has not put a black 
 mark against me on account of it. I do not 
 know whether I shall stand with Captain 
 Philip among the first chosen in the hereafter, 
 but I have this to say in conclusion, that every 
 drop of blood in my body on the afternoon of 
 July 3d, was singing thanks and praise 
 to Almighty God for the victory we had 
 won.' "
 
 268 ELSIE'S JOVNG FOLKS. 
 
 " They call Captain Evans ' Fighting Bob/ 
 don't they, uncle? " asked Ned. 
 
 " Yes; but it is said that he does not like it, 
 and insists that he is no more of a fighter than 
 very many of his brother officers. But it is 
 really used as an honor to one whom his coun 
 trymen admire. But probably he will do no 
 more fighting, as, by his own request, he has 
 been detached from the command of the Iowa, 
 and made a member of the Board of Inspection 
 and Survey a change he was entitled to, hav 
 ing already served more than his term of sea 
 duty." 
 
 " Oh, uncle! " said Elsie, in a tone of en 
 treaty, " can't you tell us something more 
 about Captain Philip? I do like him so, be 
 cause of his being such a good Christian man." 
 
 " He is that," said Dr. Travilla emphati 
 cally, " and one of the bravest and most modest 
 of men. When asked for his photograph he 
 replied that he had never had one taken; and 
 on being urgently invited to be present at a 
 reception to Lieutenant Hobson, given in New 
 York, he shook his head, saying the trial would
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 259 
 
 be too much for him. But I dare say his real 
 reason was a fear that his presence might de 
 prive the young officer of some of the attention 
 and honor due to him." 
 
 "Have you ever seen him, uncle?" asked 
 Elsie. 
 
 "Yes, once, for a few minutes, and I have 
 heard him described as mild-mannered, full of 
 fun, with gray mustache, a kindly face, and 
 mild blue eyes, and it is said that he is fond of 
 his men as they are of him. He said to some 
 one, ' I have a stout ship and a crew of Ameri 
 cans. So had the other captains. That was 
 why we won.' He fairly earned his promo 
 tion, first to the rank of commodore, then to 
 that of admiral. 
 
 " Now you two have taken in a good deal of 
 information; don't you think it might be well 
 for you to take some exercise in running about 
 the deck?" concluded Uncle Harold, in a 
 kindly tone, to which Elsie and Ned responded 
 with a cheerful, "Yes, sir! Thank you for 
 the stories," then ran away to carry out his 
 suggestions, Grace calling after them to be
 
 260 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 very careful not to go into any dangerous 
 place. 
 
 " We won't/' Ned called back. " We want 
 to live to go to that double wedding." 
 
 "Yes, Ned," said Elsie, in a much lower 
 tone, " and we want to buy some handsome 
 presents for the brides. I spoke to mamma 
 about that, and she said she and papa and 
 grandma would give us our turn at the busi 
 ness of shopping; maybe day after to-morrow, 
 for they expect to come back to the Dolphin 
 to-morrow evening, and if the weather is suita 
 ble we can go into the city directly after 
 breakfast the next morning." 
 
 " Oh, good! " cried Ned. " Won't it be fun? 
 I hope papa has plenty of money for us to 
 spend, so that we can get something very hand 
 some jewelry, perhaps. That will be the 
 most suitable and acceptable, I suppose." 
 
 " Probably," returned Elsie. " Grandma, 
 papa, and mamma will be the ones to decide." 
 
 " Of course," said her brother; " but they'll 
 let us have some say about it too." 
 
 Max and Chester were at the same moment
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 2 61 
 
 standing together at some little distance 
 in a friendly discussion of a similar topic 
 .what gifts they should procure for their 
 brides. 
 
 " Jewelry of some sort would, I suppose, be 
 considered the most appropriate," remarked 
 Chester half inquiringly. 
 
 " That is my idea/' returned Max. " I be 
 lieve the majority of ladies can hardly have 
 too much of it though I have never noticed 
 Eva cared very much about it. I think, how 
 ever, that Lu does; I know that some years ago 
 she had a strong desire for more than father 
 deemed best for her." 
 
 " Tastes differ," sagely remarked Chester, 
 " and I wish to give her whatever she would 
 prefer." 
 
 "Certainly," said Max; "that is right and 
 kind, and just my feeling in regard to the gift 
 to Eva." 
 
 "Well," said Chester, "fortunately we do 
 not need to decide the question until we see 
 what the jewellers and other merchants have 
 to offer."
 
 362 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 " Shall we go together to make our selec 
 tions ? " asked Max. 
 
 " I should like to do so, if it suits you; and 
 to have your father along Cousins Elsie and 
 Violet also, if they feel inclined to go." 
 
 " Yes, indeed! " said Max; " for they both 
 have excellent taste and judgment. I don't 
 know any one whose opinion on the subject I 
 should consider more valuable." 
 
 "Nor do I," responded Chester. "We are 
 yery fortunate in our lady friends, and I may 
 well add in gentlemen also, Max your father 
 in especial." 
 
 " Thank you," returned Max, with a smile 
 of gratification; " I think there is not a more 
 perfect man and gentleman anywhere to be 
 found; but that may be because I am his 
 son." 
 
 " Oh, no! not altogether, at any rate," said 
 Chester; " for you are by no means alone in 
 your favorable opinion." 
 
 " No, I natter myself that I am not. Ah! 
 do you see how earnestly Harold and Grace are 
 talking together? I shouldn't wonder if they
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 263 
 
 are upon the very same subject we have just 
 been discussing." 
 
 " Quite likely. It seems to be the most im 
 portant subject for older and younger of our 
 party at present." 
 
 " Yes. By the way, Chester, we are hurry 
 ing matters so that we can hardly hope or ex 
 pect to have very many of our Southern rela 
 tives and friends to witness the ceremony." 
 
 " No, I suppose we can't. But we might in 
 vite them to visit us in our own house as soon 
 after we get there as they please," laughed 
 Chester. 
 
 " True enough! " exclaimed Max, looking 
 highly pleased at the thought, " and how de 
 lightful it would be to entertain them there." 
 
 " So I think, and you don't know how I have 
 wanted a home for that, as well as for my own 
 private enjoyment." 
 
 "I have had some very severe attacks of 
 homesickness since I left my father's house for 
 the Naval Academy, so that I think I can 
 understand your feelings," Max said, with a 
 smile. "And I expect to be somewhat envi-
 
 264 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 ous of you and Lu some months hence, when I 
 have to leave wife and home to go perhaps 
 to the other side of the world." 
 
 " Yes, Max, when I think of that I am sorry 
 for you, and for ourselves that we must be so 
 often deprived of your pleasant society." 
 
 They were steaming along within sight of 
 the shore, and just at that moment the chil 
 dren came running to ask Max some question, 
 about what could be seen there. He listened 
 and replied very kindly, Chester now and then 
 taking part in the talk. 
 
 The day and evening passed pleasantly to 
 all on board; the children retired at their ac 
 customed early hour, Grace helping Elsie in 
 preparing for her couch, lest the dear little sis 
 ter should miss Mamma too sorely, and wet 
 her pillow with tears. Ned considered himself 
 almost a man now, and quite fit to do without 
 any attention in that line. "I do miss 
 Mamma," Elsie said, as she laid herself down in 
 the berth, "but it is very nice to share this 
 stateroom with you for once, Gracie dear." 
 
 "And I am very glad to have you do so,"
 
 ELSIE'S 70UNG FOLKS. 265 
 
 replied Grace; "for I shall not miss Lu half 
 so much with you in her place." 
 
 " It's nice and kind in you to say that/' re 
 turned Elsie, with a loving look and smile. 
 " But don't feel as if you must come to bed as 
 early as I do, but go back and enjoy Brother 
 Max, Uncle Harold, and Chester a little longer, 
 for I am sure they want you." 
 
 "Well, then I'll kiss you good-night, you 
 darling little sister, and go back to them for 
 perhaps another hour," Grace said, accompany 
 ing her words with a tender caress. 
 
 She found the gentlemen still on deck, where 
 she had left them, and they gave her no rea 
 son to doubt that her society was welcome to 
 them. 
 
 An hour was spent in cheerful chat, and 
 some singing of appropriate songs and hymns, 
 then they bade good-night, and all retired to 
 their staterooms, Max having first attended to 
 all his duties as captain of the vessel. 
 
 The night passed quietly, and the next morn 
 ing all woke rested and refreshed, ready to en 
 joy their breakfast, and after that the walks
 
 266 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 and talks upon deck, varied by resting in 
 steamer chairs while chatting and gazing out 
 upon the water and the land, out of sight of 
 which they seldom were. The weather was all 
 thafoeould be desired, and they rejoiced in that 
 fact for both themselves and their friends, the 
 shoppers. 
 
 The latter came on board soon after the 
 yacht had come to anchor again in New York 
 harbor. Their bright, cheerful faces told at 
 once of success with what had been under 
 taken and of satisfaction with their purchases, 
 and their tongues speedily repeated the pleas 
 ant story of beautiful silks, satins, laces and 
 other trimmings, for in the family circle they 
 did not care to make a secret of their needful, 
 or desirable, preparations for the approaching 
 ceremony. 
 
 All passed the night on the vessel, Violet 
 remarking that one night at the best of 
 hotels was quite enough for her; she felt so 
 much more at home on their own delightful 
 yacht. But shortly after breakfast the chil 
 dren were taken into the city to select their
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 267 
 
 bridal gifts, their father and mother going 
 along with them. Grace, in compliance with 
 a suggestion from her father, was quite willing 
 to entrust the selection of her gifts to him and 
 Mamma, shopping being always wearisome 
 work for her. 
 
 Grandma Elsie, Evelyn, and Lucilla re 
 mained on the vessel, with Grace, to take 
 a good rest, while the young men went in 
 search of their gifts for the brides that were 
 to be. 
 
 "How many dresses did you have fitted?" 
 asked Grace. 
 
 " Two apiece," replied her sister; " our wed 
 ding gowns and one other for each of us. The 
 others were expressed home at once, to be 
 made up by our own dressmakers, who, as you 
 know, have our measures, so that they may be 
 ready to wear by the time we return, or very 
 Boon after." 
 
 "A very good plan, I think," said Grace. 
 "Eva, have you heard from your uncle and 
 aunt in reply to your note the other day? " 
 
 " Yes," Evelyn replied, with a smile, " and
 
 268 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 I am happy to say that they highly approve of 
 our plans and purposes not bidding me be 
 ware of the truth of the old saying, ' Marry in 
 haste and repent at leisure/ but promising to 
 have everything in readiness for us and our 
 ceremony. Isn't it good of them? " 
 
 "Very nice and kind, I think/' said Grace. 
 "How favorably everything seems to go with 
 you! I am very glad for you both." 
 
 " Thank you," said Eva. " We might make 
 a triple wedding of it if your father would 
 only consent." 
 
 " Oh, no! I don't wish it. Father is right, 
 I know; he always is; and I don't want to 
 leave him yet for anybody." 
 
 "And you are entirely right in that, my 
 dear," said Grandma Elsie. "I can see that, 
 although I should dearly love to gain posses 
 sion of my new little daughter at once." 
 
 " It is very nice and kind in you, Grandma 
 Elsie, to be so ready to claim me for your own," 
 Grace returned, happy tears shining in her 
 eyes. 
 
 " Ah, I fear your father might see that in a
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 269 
 
 different light," returned Grandma Elsie, with 
 one of her sweet smiles. "I think he would 
 prefer to keep you all his own, and I cannot 
 blame him. Now, girls," turning to the 
 others, " suppose we make out a list of the 
 relatives and friends who should be invited to 
 your wedding, so that that matter can be 
 promptly attended to." 
 
 The girls gave a ready assent and the list was 
 presently prepared. 
 
 "Now I have been thinking," Eva said, as 
 they finished, " that as October is so delightful 
 a month, even up here on the Hudson, we 
 might as well take a little more time for our 
 preparations, spending it at Crag Cottage; and 
 that would make it possible for our friends to 
 attend the ceremony, should they choose to 
 come. You could spare that much more time 
 from your home, couldn't you, Grandma 
 Elsie?" 
 
 " Easily; and I think it a very good idea. If 
 anything like the entire number of our friends 
 should come, you would not have sleeping ac 
 commodations for nearly all of them, and the
 
 270 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 hotels in the neighborhood are, I think, closed, 
 or will be by that time; but a noon wedding 
 would enable guests to come in the morning 
 and leave before night." 
 
 " Oh, that's a capital idea, Grandma Elsie! " 
 exclaimed Lucilla. " Don't you think so, 
 Eva?" 
 
 "I do, and think every one else will," re 
 turned Evelyn joyously. " Then our wedding 
 gifts can be shown at the cottage, packed, and 
 sent home afterward in time to get there be 
 fore we do as we are to take a trip to Niagara 
 Falls before going home." 
 
 When the shoppers returned and were told 
 of this plan, they one and all highly approved; 
 so it was decided upon, and the necessary 
 preparations were promptly made. 
 
 The children were in high spirits, delighted 
 with the purchases they had made; the older 
 people seemed equally satisfied with theirs, 
 though their report was given in quieter 
 fashion. Some of the smaller gifts the pur 
 chasers brought with them, but the others 
 were to be sent first to Crag Cottage, and after
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 271 
 
 the wedding from there to the brides' homes. 
 After some little discussion of the plan, an im 
 mediate return to Crag Cottage was decided 
 upon, and presently the yacht was steaming 
 up the river.
 
 CHAPTEE XVI. 
 
 IT was a pleasant, happy party that gath 
 ered round the breakfast table at Crag Cottage 
 the next morning, and a bountiful and excel 
 lent meal which they found spread before 
 them. 
 
 Mrs. Elsie Leland acting mistress of the 
 house for the present was highly pleased with 
 the new arrangements planned for the double 
 wedding. 
 
 " The extension of the time allotted for the 
 preparations would make it much easier to 
 carry them out," she said, "while invited 
 guests would have more time for the carrying 
 out of theirs; though I doubt if many of 
 them would think it paid to take so long and 
 expensive a journey even to see that interest 
 ing sight a double wedding." 
 
 " I dare say not," said her husband. " Ches- 
 
 272
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNa FOLKS. 273 
 
 ter, do you expect your brother and sisters to 
 be here?" 
 
 "Hardly; the time being so short and the 
 journey so long. And Frank, I hear, has 
 found a ladylove down there which will be 
 likely to keep him away. Each of my sisters, 
 as you probably know, has a young child, 
 Maud, indeed, has two, Sidney one, and they 
 would probably want neither to bring them 
 along nor leave them behind." 
 
 "No, I suppose they will hardly want to 
 journey so far for a short visit, and will think 
 it too late in the season for a long one," re 
 marked Grandma Elsie. 
 
 "Yes; I fear that will keep Uncle Horace 
 and Aunt Eose from joining us, though they 
 are no farther away than Philadelphia," said 
 Chester. 
 
 "And, as Grandpa sometimes says, they 
 are now not so young as they once were," said 
 Mrs. Leland. " We would be delighted to have 
 them with us, but can scarcely hope for it." 
 
 " No," said Violet, " and most of our rela 
 tives and friends, having had their summer
 
 274 ELSIE'S JOVNG FOLKS. 
 
 outings, returned home, and settled down 
 again, can hardly be expected to start out 
 on so long a journey for so short a bit of enter 
 tainment." 
 
 " Especially as there are a number of some 
 bodies getting married every day," laughed 
 Lucilla. 
 
 "Yes," said Harold, with a smile, "it is a 
 very common occurrence." 
 
 The two weeks passed quickly and happily 
 away, the older ones attending to necessary 
 preparations, the younger filling up much of 
 the time with pleasant little excursions up and 
 down the river in the yacht, or walks, rides, 
 and drives on land. 
 
 The wedding presents began to come in. 
 The captain's principal gift they knew was 
 their joint home on his estate, Woodburn, but 
 there were a number of minor ones in the 
 way of silver for their tables, Sevres china, 
 and napery, cut-glass and bric-a-brac. The 
 gifts of Elsie and Ned consisted of similar 
 articles. Grade's gift, chosen by her father 
 and "Mamma Vi," was a gold bracelet for each,
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 275 
 
 ornamented with precious stones. Each 
 lover had visited Tiffany's and bought for his 
 bride a very handsome prnament called a sun 
 burst a star of diamonds to be worn as locket 
 or brooch. They were presented on the morn 
 ing of the wedding, and the girls were delighted 
 with them, as they were with Harold's gift a 
 very beautiful opal ring to each. 
 
 It was nearing ten o'clock the night before 
 the wedding, and Captain Eaymond was tak 
 ing his usual stroll back and forth upon the 
 porch before retiring, when Lucilla came to 
 him for the usual bit of good-night chat so 
 pleasant to them both. He put his arm about 
 her and held her close to his heart, as he had 
 so often done before. For a moment neither 
 spoke, then she said sobbingly: " Oh, father, 
 my dear father, this is the last time! How can 
 I bear it! oh, how can I bear it! how can I 
 leave you, even for Chester, whom I do love 
 dearly." 
 
 "No, dear child," he said in tones tremu 
 lous with emotion, "it need not be the last 
 time. We shall be near enough to see and em-
 
 276 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 brace each other very often while God spares 
 our lives; and we will not love each other less 
 because we are not living all the time under 
 the same roof." 
 
 " No, papa, no, indeed! Oh, I could never 
 bear it if it wasn't for knowing that! You 
 have been such a good, kind, wise, and loving 
 father to me. Oh, I wish I had always been 
 the good, obedient biddable child I ought to 
 have been." 
 
 " Yes, daughter dear, I know it; I know you 
 do; while I often wish I had been more patient 
 and gentle less stern with you. But let us 
 forgive and forget, and each try in the future 
 to be all to the other that could be desired. 
 My own dear, dear child! ' The Lord bless 
 thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, 
 and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his 
 countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.' " 
 
 "Thank you, my dear, dear father," she 
 said. " That is such a sweet blessing, and I 
 do so love to hear it from your lips. Oh, I 
 can never be thankful enough that I have a 
 Christian father! "
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 "Nor I for the good hope that my dear 
 eldest daughter is a true servant, with me, of 
 the same blessed Master. Now let us say good 
 night, for it is time you were preparing for 
 your rest." 
 
 Most of the invited guests except a few who 
 would arrive in the morning had come, hut, by 
 sending the young gentlemen and lads to sleep 
 in the yacht, room had been made for all. 
 
 The ceremony took place the next day at 
 high noon the brides, the gifts, the house 
 bedecked with flowers, all looking very lovely. 
 A grand wedding breakfast followed, then 
 bridal dresses were exchanged for travelling 
 suits, handsome and becoming, and the newly 
 married couples, accompanied by Grace and 
 Harold, went aboard the Dolphin, which car 
 ried them to the city, where they would take 
 the cars for Niagara. Harold and Grace saw 
 them on the train, waved them good-bye as it 
 started, then returned on the yacht to Crag 
 Cottage. 
 
 A few days later the Dolphin was again 
 speeding southward, carrying her owner and
 
 278 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 his family including Mrs. Travilla and Her 
 eon Harold, also the Lelands, to their homes. 
 They had a delightful voyage, and arrived at 
 their destination in fine health and spirits. 
 But that was not the last trip made by the 
 yacht for that season; within a fortnight she 
 was again steaming up the Hudson., and in the 
 harbor of the city where the bridal party had 
 left her they found her lying at anchor one 
 day, when the train bearing them on their re 
 turn from the west came rushing into the 
 station. 
 
 " Oh, it really seems something like getting 
 home ! " Lucilla exclaimed as she stepped upon 
 the deck. "But father did not come!" she 
 added, with a slight sigh of disappointment, 
 glancing about in the vain hope of catching 
 sight of the manly form and face she loved so 
 well. 
 
 "No, Mrs. Dinsmore, but you'll be sure to 
 get sight of the captain when you reach the 
 other end of the voyage," said Mr. Bailey, 
 temporary skipper, coming forward with a 
 bow and smile.
 
 ELSIE'S JODNG FOLKS. 79 
 
 " And the voyage will be but a short one if 
 the weather continues good," remarked Max, 
 offering a hand to Bailey in cordial greeting, 
 then introducing his bride. 
 
 " Yes," said Bailey, taking in his the hand 
 she offered, and looking at her with admiring 
 eyes, " I used to know her pretty well as Miss 
 Leland. I wish you both a great deal of hap 
 piness and prosperity. And you and your 
 bride the same, Mr. Dinsmore," shaking hands 
 with Chester in his turn. " I think, ladies and 
 gentlemen, you will find everything shipshape 
 in the saloon and staterooms; the captain was 
 very particular about all that," 
 
 " Yes," said Evelyn, " and now that we are 
 here on the dear old yacht I feel that the dis 
 comforts of travel by rail are happily gotten 
 rid of; everything is so clean, quiet, and home 
 like here." 
 
 "I think it is delightful," said Lucilla; 
 " only I am disappointed that father did not 
 come." 
 
 "No doubt it was having too many other 
 things to attend to that prevented him," said
 
 280 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 Max. " And doubtless he will meet us at the 
 wharf when we land." 
 
 The weather was all that could be desired, 
 the yacht in fine condition, and in due time 
 they anchored in the harbor of their own city, 
 and presently landed, to find a number of the 
 dear ones waiting for them. Captain Kay- 
 mond was there with his entire family, and 
 Lucilla had scarcely stepped ashore ere she 
 found herself in his arms, his kiss of fatherly 
 love upon her lips. 
 
 " How glad I am to have you here again, my 
 darling," he said in tender tones. "I hope 
 you have enjoyed your trip, and come back to 
 me feeling well and strong?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, father dear, yes indeed! and so, so 
 glad to be with you again! I could never, 
 never live without my father." 
 
 "That is pretty much as I feel about my 
 eldest daughter," he returned with a smile, 
 and repeating his caresses. 
 
 Then Eva must take her turn, and the son 
 and son-in-law each received a cordial grasp 
 and shake of the hand. Then joyous greet-
 
 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS. 281 
 
 ings were exchanged with the Lelands, Violet, 
 Elsie, and Ned. The Woodburn and Fairview 
 carriages were there, and nearby stood another 
 a two-seated, very handsome vehicle, with a 
 pair of fine, spirited-looking grays attached. 
 Greetings over, the captain led the way to the 
 equipage, and turning with a kind, fatherly 
 smile toward the bridal party, " Here, my chil 
 dren," he said, " is a gift from your father to 
 be held and used enjoyed, too, I trust by the 
 four of you in common." 
 
 " Father, I'm afraid you are doing too much 
 for us! " exclaimed Max, with emotion. 
 
 " A grand good gift, sir, for which I heartily 
 thank you," said Chester warmly. 
 
 " Dear father, don't ruin yourself by heap 
 ing so many, many gifts upon us," cried Lu- 
 cilla, turning, and putting her hand in his, 
 while Evelyn said, with starting tears " that it 
 was really too much." 
 
 "No, I am perfectly able to afford it, my 
 dears, and shall be very glad if it adds to your 
 enjoyment of your new home," said the gener 
 ous giver. " Get in now, drive over to your
 
 282 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 
 new home, and see if everything about house 
 and grounds has been arranged to suit your 
 taste." 
 
 They obeyed, and found the carriage, as they 
 afterward said, the easiest, most comfortable 
 one they had ever ridden in, and the horses 
 the finest of thoroughbreds. 
 
 " These are grand fellows, Max; I'll warrant 
 your father has spent no trifle on their pur 
 chase," remarked Chester as they sped onward 
 with easy, graceful motion. 
 
 " Just what I think," said Max. " No more 
 generous man than he ever lived." 
 
 " I only hope he won't ruin himself by heap 
 ing expensive gifts and favors upon us," said 
 Evelyn. 
 
 "I hope not, indeed!" sighed Lucilla, with 
 a slight tremble in her tones. 
 
 "Don't be anxious and troubled about it, 
 sister mine," said Max very kindly. "I hap 
 pen to know that father has abundant means. 
 And being so generous of nature it is a de 
 light to him to give especially t his wife and 
 children."
 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 283 
 
 " What a dear, good father he is! It is just 
 a delight to me that I may call him that now," 
 said Evelyn. 
 
 Their carriage reached its destination some 
 minutes ahead of the captain's, and they im 
 mediately alighted and gazed about them with 
 wondering and delighted eyes so many im 
 provements had been made since last they saw 
 the place, trees and flowers, lovely and fra 
 grant, having been transplanted from other 
 places to adorn this. They wandered here 
 and there, expressing in looks and joyous 
 exclamations admiration, gratitude, and de 
 light. 
 
 They had hardly made acquaintance with all 
 the beauties of the place when the other car 
 riage drove up and the rest of the family joined 
 them. Then, as the captain afterward said, 
 they well-nigh overwhelmed him with the ex 
 travagant outpouring of their admiration, 
 gratitude, and delight. 
 
 "I am very glad that you are all so well 
 pleased," he said, in return. "My wife and I 
 liave greatly enjoyed this labor of love, the
 
 284 ELSIE'S JOUNG FOLKS 
 
 overseeing and directing of these improve 
 ments, and that they find such favor with' 
 you all more than repays us. But, come, let us 
 go inside and see how well you are satisfied with 
 things there." 
 
 He led the way as he spoke, and they found 
 themselves in a wide hall with a broad and 
 easy stairway leading to the rooms above, and 
 on either side, on that floor, large, elegantly 
 furnished rooms, parlors, libraries, dining 
 rooms, a set for each little family, beautiful 
 lace curtains at the windows, handsome paint 
 ings handsomely framed, on the walls, many of 
 them presents from Grandma Elsie and others 
 of the Ion family and Violet's relatives on the 
 neighboring estates, and other gifts and adorn 
 ments too numerous to mention. 
 
 The young folks had decided to call their 
 place Sunnyside, and so lovely was it that the 
 name seemed very appropriate. The upper 
 rooms were found scarcely less attractive in 
 themselves or their furnishings than the lower 
 ones. A grand dinner was in course of prepara 
 tion in Lucilla's kitchen, and presently all sat
 
 ELSIE'S TOUNG FOLKS. 285 
 
 down to it, served in her dining-room. After 
 that the whole party went over to Woodburn, 
 no one of them feeling satisfied without a peep 
 at it the dear old home all loved so well. 
 
 THE END.
 
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