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 ELSIE'S 
 MOTHERHOOD 
 
 A SEQJJEL TO 
 
 'ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD' 
 
 BY 
 
 MARTHA FINLEY 
 
 'Sweet is the image of the brooding dove! 
 Holy as Heaven a mother's tender love ! 
 The love of many prayers and many tears. 
 Which changes not with dim declining years 
 The only love which, on this teeming earth, 
 Asks no return for passion's wayward birth.' 1 
 
 MRS. 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS
 
 C0PYR1GHT, 1876 
 BY 
 
 DODD, MEAD & COMPANY. 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1904, 
 By DODD, MEAD & COMPANY 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1918, 
 By CHARLES B. FINLEY
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IN compliance with the expressed desire of many 
 of Elsie's friends and admirers, the story of her 
 life is continued in this, the fifth volume of the 
 series. 
 
 When ahout to undertake its preparation the 
 suggestion was made to the author that to bring in 
 the doings of the Ku Klux would add interest to ths 
 story and at the same time give a truer picture of 
 life in the South during the years 1867-GS, in which 
 its events take place. 
 
 The published reports of the Congressional Com 
 mittee of Investigation were resorted to as the most 
 reliable source of information, diligently examined, 
 and care taken not to go beyond the facts there 
 given as regards the proceedings of the Klan, the 
 clemency and paternal acts of the Government, or 
 the kindly, fraternal feelings and deeds of the people 
 of the North toward their impoverished and suffer 
 ing brethren of the South. 
 
 These things have become matters of history: 
 vice and crime should be condemned wherever 
 found; and naught has been set down in malice; for 
 
 ill 

 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 the author has a warm love for the South as part 
 and parcel of the dear land of her birth. 
 
 May this child of her brain give pain to none, 
 but prove pleasant and profitable to all who peruse 
 its pages, and especially helpful to young parents.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD* 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Meantime a smiling offspring rises round. 
 And mingles both their graces. By degrees 
 The human blossom blows, and every day, 
 Soft as it rolls along, shows some new charm, 
 The father's lustre, and the mother's bloom. 
 
 Thomson's Season*. 
 
 " MAMMA! Papa too! " It was a glad shout of a 
 chorus of young voices as four pairs of little feet 
 came pattering up the avenue and into the veranda; 
 then as many ruby lips were held up for the morning 
 kiss from the children's dearly loved father. 
 
 They had already had their half hour with 
 mamma, which made so sweet a beginning of each 
 day, yet she too must have a liberal share of the 1 
 eagerly bestowed caresses; while Bruno, a great* 
 Newfoundland, the pet, playfellow, and guardian of 
 the little flock, testified his delight in the scene by 
 leaping about among them, fawning upon one and 
 another, wagging his tail, and uttering again and 
 again a short, joyous bark. 
 
 Then followed a merry romp, cut short by the ring 
 ing of the breakfast bell, when all trooped into the
 
 2 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 house, Harold riding on papa's shoulder, mamma 
 following with Elsie, Eddie, and Vi, while Dinah, 
 with Baby Herbert in her arms, brought up the 
 rear. 
 
 The children had been very gay, full of laughter 
 ,and sweet innocent prattle, but a sudden hush fell 
 upon them when seated about the table in the 
 bright, cheerful breakfast parlor; little hands were 
 meekly folded and each young head bent reverently 
 over the plate, while, in a few simple words which 
 all could understand, their father gave God thanks 
 for their food and asked his blessing upon it. 
 
 The Ion children were never rude even in their 
 play, and their table manners were almost perfect; 
 made the constant companions of cultivated, refined 
 parents whose politeness, springing from genuine 
 unselfishness, was never laid aside, but shown on all 
 occasions and to rich and poor, old and young alike 
 and governed with a wise mixture of indulgence 
 and restraint, mildness and firmness, they imitated 
 the copies set before them and were seldom other 
 ithan gentle and amiable in their deportment, not 
 'only toward their superiors, but to equals and in- 
 \feriors also. 
 
 They were never told that " children should be 
 seen and not heard," but when no guests were pres 
 ent were allowed to talk in moderation; a gentle 
 word or look of reproof from papa or mamma being 
 sufficient to check any tendency to boisterousness 
 Or undue loquacity.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 3 
 
 "I think we should celebrate this anniversary,, 
 Elsie," remarked Mr. Travilla, stirring his coffee 
 and gazing with fond admiration into the sweet 
 face at the opposite end of the table. 
 
 " Yes, sir, though we are rather late in thinking 
 of it," she answered smilingly, the rose deepening 
 slightly on her cheek, as delicately rounded and 
 tinted as it had been ten years ago. 
 
 Little Elsie looked up inquiringly. " What is it, 
 papa? I do not remember." 
 
 " Do you not? Ten years ago to-day there was a 
 grand wedding at the Oaks, and your mamma and I 
 were there." 
 
 "I too? "asked Eddie. 
 
 " Yes, course, Eddie," spoke up five-year-old 
 Violet, " grandpa would 'vite you and all of us; and 
 I b'lieve I 'member a little about it." 
 
 "Me too," piped the, baby voice of Harold, "me 
 sat on papa's knee." 
 
 There was a general laugh, the two little prattlers 
 joining in right merrily. 
 
 "I really don't remember that part of it, 
 Harold," said papa, while wee Elsie as she was 
 often called by way of distinguishing her from 
 mamma, for whom she was named shook her curly 
 head at him with a merry " Oh, you dear little 
 rogue, you don't know what you are talking about; " 
 and mamma remarked, "Vi has perhaps a slight 
 recollection of May Allison's wedding." 
 
 "But this one at the Oaks must have been be-
 
 4 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 fore I was born/' said Elsie, "because yon said it 
 was ten years ago, and I'm only nine. Oh, mamma, 
 was it your wedding? " 
 
 " Yes, daughter. Shall we invite our friends for 
 this evening, Edward? " 
 
 "Yes, wife; suppose we make it a family party, 
 inviting only relatives, connections, and very inti 
 mate friends." 
 
 After a little more discussion it was decided they 
 would do so; also that the children should have a 
 full holiday, and while their mother was giving 
 orders and overseeing the necessary preparations 
 for the entertainment, papa should take them all 
 in the roomy family carriage and drive over to the 
 Oaks, Eoselands, Ashlands, and Pinegrove to give 
 the invitations. Beside these near friends only the 
 minister and his wife were to be asked; but as Ade 
 laide and her family were at this time paying a visit 
 to Eoselands, and Lucy Boss was doing the same at 
 her old home, and all the younger generation except 
 the mere babies were to be included in the invita 
 tion, should all accept it would be by no means a 
 small assemblage. 
 
 Early hours were named for the sake of the little 
 ones; guests to come at six, refreshments to be 
 served at eight, and the Ion children, if each would 
 take a nap in the afternoon, to be allowed to stay up 
 till nine. 
 
 How delighted they were! how the little eyes 
 idanced and sparkled, and how eagerly they engaged
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 5 
 
 to fulfil the conditions, and not to fret or look 
 cross when summoned at nine, to leave the drawing- 
 room and be put to bed. 
 
 " Oh, mamma, won't you wear your wedding 
 dress?" cried little Elsie; "do, dear mamma, BO 
 that we may all see just how you looked when you 
 were married." 
 
 Elsie smiled. " You forget, daughter, that I am 
 ten years older now, and the face cannot be quite 
 the same." 
 
 " The years have robbed it of none of its beauty," 
 said Mr. Travilla. 
 
 "Ah, love is blind," she returned with a blush 
 and smile as charming as were those of her girl 
 hood's days. " And the dress is quite out of 
 date." 
 
 " No matter for that. It would gratify me as 
 well as the children to see you in it." 
 
 " Then it shall be worn, if it fits or can be altered 
 in season." 
 
 " Veil and all, mamma," pleaded Elsie, " it is so 
 beautiful Mammy showed it to me only the other 
 day and told me you looked so, so lovely; and she 
 will put the orange blossoms in your hair and on 
 your dress just as they were that night; for she re 
 members all about it." 
 
 The children, ready dressed for their drive, were 
 gathered in a merry group on the veranda, Eddie 
 astride of Bruno, waiting for papa and the carriage, 
 when a, horse came cantering up the avenue, and
 
 6 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Mr. Horace Dinsmore alighted and stepped into 
 their midst. 
 
 " Oh, grandpa, what you turn for? " cried Harold 
 in a tone of disappointment. " We was dus doin' to 
 'vite you! " 
 
 " Indeed! " 
 
 "Yes, grandpa, it's a 'versary to-day," explained 
 Vi. 
 
 " And mamma's going to be married over again," 
 said Eddie. 
 
 " No, no; only to have a party and wear her wed 
 ding dress," corrected Elsie. 
 
 " Papa, good-morning," cried their mother, com 
 ing swiftly through the hall, " I'm so glad, always 
 so glad to see you." . 
 
 " I know it," he said, pressing a fatherly kiss on 
 the sweet lips, then holding her off for an instant 
 to gaze fondly into the fair face. " And it is ten 
 years to-day since I gave Travilla a share in my 
 treasure. I was thinking of it as I rode over, and 
 that you should celebrate this anniversary at your 
 father's house." 
 
 " No, no, Dinsmore, you must be our guest," said 
 Travilla, coming out and shaking hands cordially 
 with his old friend. "We have it all arranged, 
 a family gathering, and Elsie to gratify us by wear 
 ing her bridal robes. Do you not agree with me 
 that she would make as lovely a bride to-day as she 
 did ten years ago ? " 
 
 " Quite. I relinquish my plans for yours; and
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD, 7 
 
 do not let me detain you and these eager chil 
 dren." 
 
 "I thank you: I will go then, as the invitations 
 will be late enough with all the haste we can make." 
 
 The carriage was at the door, and in a trice 
 grandpa and papa had helped the little ones in: not 
 even Baby Herbert was left behind, but seated on 
 his mammy's lap crowed and laughed as merrily as 
 the rest. 
 
 "Ah, mamma, you come too! " pleaded the little 
 voices, as their father took his place beside them. 
 " Can't mammy and Aunt Dicey and the rest know 
 what to do without you to tell them?" 
 
 " Not this time, dears; and you know I must 
 make haste to try on the dress, to see if it fits." 
 
 " Oh, yes, mamma! " and throwing a shower of 
 kisses, they drove off. 
 
 "A carriage load of precious jewels," Elsie said, 
 looking after it as it rolled away: "how the ten 
 years have added to my wealth, papa." 
 
 She stood by his side, her hand on his arm, and 
 the soft sweet eyes lifted to his were full of a con 
 tent and gladness beyond the power of words to 
 express. 
 
 " I thank God every day for my darling's happi 
 ness," he said low and tenderly, and softly smooth 
 ing her shining hair. 
 
 " Ah, it is very great, and my father's dear love 
 forms no small part of it. But come in, papa, I 
 want to consult you about one or two little matters;
 
 B ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Edward and I rely very much, upon your taste and 
 judgment." 
 
 "To Roselands first," was Mr. Travilla's order 
 to the coachman. 
 
 The old home of the Dinsmores, though shorn 
 of the glory of its grand old trees, was again a 
 beautiful place: the new house was in every respect 
 a finer one than its predecessor, of a higher style 
 of architecture, more conveniently arranged, more 
 tastefully and handsomely furnished; lawns, gar 
 dens, and fields had become neat and trim as in the 
 days before the war, and a double row of young, 
 thrifty trees bordered the avenue. 
 
 Old Mr. Dinsmore now resided there and gave a 
 home to his two widowed and impoverished daugh 
 ters Mrs. Louise Conly, and Mrs. Enna Johnson 
 and their families. 
 
 These two aunts loved Elsie no better than in 
 earlier years: it was gall and wormwood to them to 
 know that they owed all these comforts to her 
 generosity; nor could they forgive her that she was 
 more wealthy, beautiful, lovely, and beloved than 
 themselves. Enna was the more bitter and out 
 spoken of the two, but even Louise seldom treated 
 her niece to anything better than the most distant 
 and frigid politeness. 
 
 In a truly Christian spirit Elsie returned them 
 pity and compassion, because of their widowhood 
 and straitened circumstances, invited them to her
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 9 
 
 ifouse, and when they came received them with kind 
 ness and cordiality. 
 
 Her grandfather had grown very fond of her and 
 her children, was often at Ion, and for his sake she 
 occasionally visited Koselands. Adelaide's presence 
 had drawn her there more frequently of late. The 
 invitation Mr. Travilla carried was to the grand 
 father, three aunts, and all their children. 
 
 Adelaide and Enna were in the drawing-room 
 when the Ion carriage drew up at the door. 
 
 " There's Travilla, the old scalawag: how I hate 
 him! Elsie too, I presume/' exclaimed the latter, 
 glancing from the window; " I'll leave you to enter 
 tain them," and she hastily left the room. 
 
 Adelaide flashed an indignant look after her, and 
 hurried out to meet and welcome the callers. Mr. 
 Travilla had alighted and was coming up the steps 
 of the veranda. 
 
 " How d'ye do. I'm very glad to see you," cried 
 Adelaide, extending her hand, "but where is 
 Elsie?" 
 
 " Left at home for once," he answered gayly, 
 "but I come this morning merely as her ladyship's 
 messenger." 
 
 " But won't you come in; you and the children? " 
 
 "Thanks, no, if you will permit me just to de 
 liver my message and go; for I am in haste." 
 
 Mrs. Allison accepted the invitation for herself 
 and children with evident pleasure, engaged that 
 iher sisters would do the same; then went to the car-
 
 10 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 riage window for a moment's chaf with the little 
 ones, each of whom held a large place in her warm 
 heart. " Aunt Addie," said Elsie in an undertone, 
 "mamma's going to wear her wedding dress to 
 night, veil and all." { 
 
 "Is she? why that's an excellent idea. But don't' 
 tell it anywhere else that you go; it will be such 
 a nice surprise to the rest if we can keep it a 
 secret." 
 
 " That was a good suggestion of Aunt Addie's," 
 Mr. Travilla remarked as they drove down the 
 avenue. " Suppose we carry it out. How many of 
 you can refrain from telling what mamma is to wear 
 to-night? how many can I trust to keep a secret?" 
 
 " All of us, papa! " " Me, papa, me, I won't tell/' 
 cried the little voices in chorus. 
 
 " Yes, I believe I can trust you all," he answered 
 in his bright cheery way. " Now on to the Oaks, 
 Solon, then to Pinegrove, Springbrook, and j*sh- 
 lands. That will be the last place, children, and 
 as our hurry will then be over, you shall get out of 
 the carriage and have a little time to rest before we 
 start for home." 
 
 Re-entering the house Mrs. Allison went to the 
 family sitting-room, where she found both her 
 sisters and several of the young members of the 
 household. " So they have asked for us ? " ex 
 claimed Louise in a tone of vexation, " at such an 
 unreasonable hour too. Well," with a sigh of 
 resignation, " I suppose we must show ourselves or
 
 ELSIE' 8 MOTHERHOOD. \\ 
 
 papa will be displeased: so wonderfully fond of Elsie 
 as he has grown of late." 
 
 "As well he may," returned Adelaide pointedly; 
 " but Elsie is not here nor has any one inquired for 
 you." 
 
 "No, I presume not," interrupted Enna with a 
 sneer; "we are not worth inquiring for." 
 
 Indignation kept Adelaide silent for a moment, 
 she was sorely tempted to administer a severe and 
 cutting rebuke. But Enna was no longer a child, 
 and controlling herself she calmly delivered Mr. 
 Travilla's message. 
 
 "Oh, delightful! Cousin Elsie always does give 
 such splendid parties, such elegant refreshments!" 
 cried Virginia and Isadore Conly, girls of ten and 
 twelve. "Mamma, you'll never think of declin 
 ing? " 
 
 "No, your grandfather wouldn't like it," said 
 Louise, as anxious as her daughters to enjoy the 
 entertainment, yet glad to save her pride, by put 
 ting her acceptance on the score of pleasing her 
 father. 
 
 " And you'll go too, and take us, mamma, won't 
 you?" anxiously queried Molly Percival, who was 
 between her cousins in age. 
 
 " Of course I'll go; we all want our share of the 
 good things, and the pleasure of seeing and being 
 seen," answered Enna, scorning Louise's subter 
 fuge; " and if you and Dick will promise to make 
 me no trouble, I'll take you along. But Bob and
 
 12 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Betty may stay at home, I'm not going to "be both 
 ered with them, babies of five and three. But 
 what shall we wear, Lu? I do say it's real mean in 
 them to give us so short a notice. But of course 
 Elsie enjoys making me feel my changed circum 
 stances. I've no such stock of jewels, silks, and 
 laces as she, nor the full purse that makes it an 
 easy matter for her to order a fresh supply at a 
 moment's warning." 
 
 " You have all, and more than the occasion calls 
 for," remarked Adelaide quietly; "it is to be only 
 a family gathering." %
 
 CHAPTEK II. 
 
 Though fools spurn Hymen's gentle powen 
 
 We, who improve his golden hours. 
 
 By sweet experience know 
 
 That marriage, rightly understood, 
 
 Gives to the tender and the good 
 
 A paradise below. 
 
 Cotton. 
 
 MB. ALLISON had fully kept his promise to So 
 phie, and Ashlands was again the fine old place it 
 had been prior to the war. The family, consisting 
 of the elder Mrs. Carrington, a young man named 
 George Boyd, a nephew of hers who had taken 
 charge of the plantation, Sophie and her four chil 
 dren, had now been in possession for over a year. 
 
 Sophie, still an almost inconsolable mourner for 
 the husband of her youth, lived a very retired life, 
 devoting herself to his mother and his orphaned 
 little ones. 
 
 Mrs. Eoss, expecting to spend the fall and winter 
 with them, had brought all her children and a 
 governess, Miss Fisk, who undertook the tuition 
 of the little Carringtons also during her stay at 
 Ashlands, thus leaving the mothers more at liberty 
 for the enjoyment of each other's society. 
 
 13
 
 14 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 It was in the midst of school-hours that the los 
 carriage came driving up the avenue, and Philip 
 Boss, lifting his head from the slate over which 
 he had been bending for the last half hour, rose 
 hastily, threw down his pencil and hurried from 
 the room, paying no attention to Miss Fisk's query, 
 " Where are you going, Philip? " or her command, 
 u Come back instantly: it is quite contrary to rules 
 for pupils to leave the school-room during the 
 hours of recitation, without permission." Indeed 
 he had reached the foot of the staircase before the 
 last word had left her lips; she being very slow and 
 precise in speech and action, while his movements 
 were of the quickest. 
 
 "What now is to be done in this emergency?" 
 soliloquized the governess, unconsciously thinking 
 aloud. " Miss Gertrude Koss," turning to a girl of 
 nine whose merry blue eyes were twinkling with, 
 fun, " follow your brother at once and inform him 
 that I cannot permit any such act of insubordina 
 tion; and he must return instantly to the perform 
 ance of his duties." 
 
 "Yes, ma'am," and Gertrude vanished; glad 
 enough of the opportunity to see for herself who 
 were the new arrivals. " Phil," she said, entering 
 the drawing-room where the guests were already 
 seated, " Miss Fisk says vou're an insubordination 
 and must come back instantly." 
 
 " Gertrude," said her mother, laughing, " come 
 and speak to Mr. Travilla and your little friends.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 1$ 
 
 Why, yes, Phil, to be sure; how came you here when 
 you ought to be at your lessons ? " 
 
 ** Because I wanted to see Elsie Travilla," he 
 answered nonchalantly. 
 
 " Yes, but you should have asked for permission, 
 I ought to send you back." 
 
 *But you won't, ma, you know that as well as 
 I do. I'll not go back a step while Elsie stays." 
 
 ** Well, well, it seems you are bound to have your 
 own way, as usual," Lucy answered, half laughing, 
 half sighing, then resumed her talk with Mr. Tra 
 villa. 
 
 Seeing that the little Travillas had listened to 
 this colloquy in blank amazement, she felt much 
 mortified at Phil's behavior, and on receiving the 
 invitation threatened to leave him at home as a 
 punishment. But this only made matters worse: 
 he insisted that go he would, and if she refused per 
 mission he should never, never love her again as 
 long as he lived. And she weakly yielded. 
 
 " Lucy," said her mother, when the guests were 
 gone, and the children had left the room, " you are 
 ruining that boy." 
 
 " Well, I don't see how I can help it, mamma; 
 how could I bear to lose his affection? " 
 
 "You are taking the very course to bring that 
 about; it is the weakly indulged, not the wisely 
 controlled, children who lose, first, respect, and then 
 affection for their parents. Look at Elsie's little 
 family, for instance: where you can find children
 
 18 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 ruled with a firmer hand, or more devotedly attached 
 to their parents? " 
 
 Eddie was at that moment saying to his father, 
 "Papa, isn't Phil Ross a very, wry naughty boy, 
 to be so saucy and disobedient to his mamma? " 
 
 "My son," answered Mr. Travilla with gentle 
 gravity, " when you have corrected all Eddie Tra- 
 villa's faults it will be time enough to attend to 
 those of others." And the child hung his head and 
 blushed for shame. 
 
 It was Mr. and Mrs. Horace Dinsmore who did 
 the honors at Ion early in the evening, receiving 
 and welcoming each bevy of guests, and replying 
 to the oft-repeated inquiry for the master and mis 
 tress of the establishment, that they would make 
 their appearance shortly. 
 
 Elsie's children, most sweetly and becomingly 
 dressed, had gathered about "Aunt Rosie," in * 
 corner of the drawing-room, and seemed to be wait 
 ing with a sort of intense but quite eagerness fo* 
 the coming of some expected event. 
 
 At length every invited guest had arrived. All 
 being so thoroughly acquainted, nearly all related, 
 there was an entire absence of stiffness and con 
 straint, and much lively chat had been carried on; 
 but a sudden hush fell upon them, and every eye 
 turned towards the doors opening into the hall, ex 
 pecting they knew not what. 
 
 There were soft foot-falls, a slight rustle of silk, 
 and Adelaide entered, followed by Mr. Travilla
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. If 
 
 Elsie on his arm, in bridal attire. The shimmering 
 satin, rich, soft lace, and orange blossoms became 
 her well; and never, even on that memorable night 
 ten years ago, had she looked lovelier or more bride- 
 like; never had her husband bent a prouder, fonder 
 look upon her fair face than now, as he led her to 
 the centre of the room, where they paused in front 
 of their pastor. 
 
 A low murmur of surprise and delight ran round 
 the room, but was suddenly stilled, as the venerable 
 man rose and began to speak. 
 
 " Ten years ago to-night, dear friends, I united 
 you in marriage. Edward Travilla, you then vowed 
 to love, honor, and cherish till life's end the woman 
 whom you now hold by the hand. Have you 
 repented of that vow? and would you be re 
 leased? " 
 
 "Not for worlds: there has been no repentance, 
 but my love has grown deeper and stronger day by 
 day." 
 
 " And you, Elsie Dinsmore Travilla, also vowed 
 to love, honor, and obey the man you hold by the 
 hand. Have you repented?" 
 
 "Never, sir; never for one moment." The ac* 
 cents were low, sweet, clear, and full of pleasure. 
 
 "I pronounce you a faithful man and wife: and 
 may God, in his good providence, grant you many 
 returns of this happy anniversary." 
 
 Old Mr. Dinsmore stepped up, kissed the bride 
 and shook hands with the groom. "Blessings OB
 
 18 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD, 
 
 you for making her so happy," he said in quivering 
 tones. 
 
 His son followed, then the others in their turn, 
 and a merry scene ensued. 
 
 " Mamma, it was so pretty, so pretty," little Elsie 
 said, clasping her arms about her mother's neck, 
 "and now I just feel as if I'd been to your wed 
 ding. Thank you, dear mamma and papa." 
 
 "Mamma, you are so beautiful, I'll just marry 
 you myself, when I'm a man," remarked Eddie, 
 giving her a hearty kiss, then gazing into her face 
 with his great dark eyes full of love and admiration. 
 
 "I too," chimed in Violet. "No, no, I forget, 
 I shall be a lady myself: so I'll have to marry papa." 
 
 " No, Vi, oo tan't have my papa; he's dus' my 
 papa always," objected Harold, climbing his father's 
 knee. 
 
 "What a splendid idea, Elsie," Lucy Ross was 
 saying to her friend, "you have made me regret, 
 for the first time, not having kept my wedding 
 dress; for I believe my Phil and I could go through 
 that catechism quite as well as you and Mr. Tra- 
 villa. The whole thing, I suppose, was quite 
 original?" 
 
 "Among us: my namesake daughter proposed the 
 wearing of the dress: and the ceremony," turning 
 to the minister, " was your idea, Mr. Wood, was it 
 not?" 
 
 "Partly, Mrs. Travilla; your father, Mrs. 
 more, and I planned it together."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. Ifi 
 
 ft Your dress is as perfect a fit as when made, but 
 I presume you had it altered," observed Lucy, mak 
 ing a critical examination of her friend's toilet. 
 
 " No, not in the least," answered Elsie, smiling. 
 
 The banquet to which the guests were presently 
 summoned, though gotten up so hastily, more than 
 fulfilled the expectation of the Misses Conly, who 1 
 as well as their mother and Aunt Enna did it ample 
 justice; there was a good deal of gormandizing done 
 by the spoiled children present, spite of feeble pro 
 tests from their parents; but Elsie's well trained 
 little ones ate contentedly what was given them, nor 
 even asked for the rich dainties on which others 
 were feasting; knowing that papa and mamma loved 
 them too dearly to deny them any real good. 
 
 ^Holloa, Neddie and Vi, why you've been over- 
 looted! " said Philip Ross, coming toward the two 
 little ones with a plate heaped up with rich viands, 
 " you've nothing but ice cream and plain sugar bis 
 cuit; here, take some of this pound cake and these 
 bonbons. They're delicious, I tell you! " 
 
 " No, no, thank you: mamma says pound cake is 
 much too rich for us, and would make us sick," said 
 Eddie. 
 
 "'Specially at night," added Vi, "and we're to 
 aave some bonbons to-morrow." 
 
 " Goodest little tots ever I saw," returned Philip, 
 laughing. "Ma wanted me to let 'em alone, but 
 I told her I'd risk the getting sick," he added with 
 a pompous grown-up air.
 
 20 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "Phil, you certainly are an insubordination, as 
 Miss Fisk said," remarked his sister Gertrude, 
 standing near; " I believe you think you're '"most a 
 man, but it's a great mistake." 
 
 " Pooh, Ger! people that live in glass houses 
 shouldn't throw stones. I heard you telling ma you 
 wouldn't wear the dress she'd laid out for you. Elsie 
 Travilla, allow me the pleasure of refilling your 
 saucer." 
 
 " No, thank you, Phil, I've had all mamma thinks 
 good for me." 
 
 " Time to go to bed, chillens," said mammy, ap 
 proaching the little group; " de clock jes gwine 
 strike nine. Here, Uncle Joe, take dese empty 
 saucers." 
 
 Promptly and without a murmur the four little 
 folks prepared to obey the summons, but cast wist 
 ful longing glances toward mamma, who was gayiy 
 chatting with her guests on the other side of the 
 room. Just then the clock on the mantel struck, 
 and excusing herself she came quickly toward them. 
 *' That is right, dears; come and say good-night to 
 papa and our friends; then go with mammy and 
 mamma will follow in a few moments." 
 
 "What dear sweet creatures they are! perfect 
 little ladies and gentlemen," remarked Mrs. Wood, 
 as, after a courteous good-night to all, they went 
 cheerfully away with their mammy. 
 
 " I wish mine were half as good," said Mrs. Ross. 
 
 " Now ma, don't expose us," cried Phil. " I've
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 21 
 
 often heard you say Mrs. Travilla was a far better 
 little girl than you; so of course her children ought 
 to be better than yours." 
 
 " Some children keep their good behavior for 
 company," sneered Enna, " and I've no doubt these 
 little paragons have their naughty fits as well as 
 ours." 
 
 "It is quite true that they are not always 
 good," Elsie said with patient sweetness. " And 
 now I beg you will all excuse me for a few moments, 
 as they never feel quite comfortable going to bed 
 without a last word or two with mamma." 
 
 " Before I'd make myself such a slave to my chil 
 dren! " muttered Enna, looking after her as she 
 glided from the room. "If they couldn't be con 
 tent to be put to bed by their mammies, they might 
 stay up all night." 
 
 "I think Mrs. Travilla is right," observed the 
 pastor; " the responsibilities of parents are very 
 great. God says to each one, ' Take this child and 
 nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages.' "
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, 
 To teach the young idea how to shoot, 
 To pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind, 
 To breathe the enlivening spirit and to fix 
 The generous purpose in the glowing breast! 
 
 Thomson's Seasons. 
 
 THE Ion little folks were allowed an extra nap 
 the next morning, their parents wisely considering 
 plenty of sleep necessary to the healthful develop 
 ment of their mental and physical powers. They 
 themselves, however, felt no necessity for a like in 
 dulgence, their guests having departed in season to 
 admit of their retiring at the usual hour, and were 
 early in the saddle, keenly enjoying a brisk canter 
 of several miles before breakfast. 
 
 On their return Elsie went to the nursery, Mr. 
 Travilla to the field where his men were at work. 
 Half an hour later they and their children met at 
 the breakfast table. 
 
 Solon came in for orders. 
 
 " You may leave Beppo saddled, Solon," said Mr 
 Travilla, " and have Prince and Princess at the 
 door also, immediately after prayers." 
 
 The last named were a pair of pretty little grejr 
 ssi
 
 ELSIE' 8 MOTHERHOOD. 23 
 
 ponies belonging respectively to Eddie and his sister 
 Elsie. They were gentle and well trained for both 
 saddle and harness. 
 
 Nearly every day the children rode them, one on 
 each side of their father, mounted on Beppo, his 
 beautiful bay; and occasionally they drove behind 
 them in the phaeton with their mother or some 
 older person; and one or the other of the children 
 would often be allowed to hold the reins when on 
 a straight and level road; for their father wished 
 them to learn to both ride and drive with ease 
 and skill. 
 
 Little Elsie's great ambition was "to be like 
 mamma " in the ease and grace with which she sat 
 her horse, as well as in every thing else; while Eddie 
 was equally anxious to copy his father. 
 
 Violet and Harold ran out to the veranda to 
 watch them mount and ride away. 
 
 " Papa," said Vi, " shall we, too, have ponies and 
 ride with you, when we're as big as Elsie and 
 Eddie?" 
 
 "I intend you shall, little daughter, and if you 
 and Harold will be here with your hats on, all ready 
 to start at once when we come back, I will give you 
 each a short ride before the ponies are put away/* 
 
 " Oh, thank you, papa! we'll be sure to be ready," 
 they answered, and ran in to their mother to tell 
 her of papa's kind promise, and to have their hats 
 put on. 
 
 Elsie, who was in the sitting-room with Herbert
 
 24 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 on her lap, rejoiced in their joy, and bade DinaK 
 prepare them at once for their ride. 
 
 " Bress dere little hearts! dey grows hansomer 
 ebery day," exclaimed an elderly negress, who had 
 just come in with a basket on her arm. 
 
 " Don't say such things before them, Aunt Sally/' 
 said her mistress in a tone of gentle reproof, " their 
 young hearts are only too ready to be puffed up 
 with vanity and pride. Now what is your report 
 from the quarter." 
 
 *' Well, missus, dere's lots ob miseries down dere 
 dis mornin'; ole Lize she's took wid a misery in her 
 side; an' Uncle Jack, he got um in his head; ole 
 Aunt Delie's got de misery in de joints wid de rheu- 
 matiz. an' ole Uncle Hose he's 'plainin ob de misery 
 in his back can't stan' up straight nohow; an' 
 Hannah's baby got a mighty bad cold, can't hardly 
 draw its breff; 'twas took dat way in de night; an' 
 Silvy's boy tore his foot on a nail." 
 
 " Quite a list," said Elsie. And giving her babe 
 to Aunt Chloe, she selected a key from a bright 
 bunch lying in a little basket, held by a small dusky 
 maid at her side, unlocked a closet door and looked 
 over her medical store. " Here's a plaster for Uncle 
 Mose to put on his back, and one for Lize's side," 
 she said, handing each article in turn to Aunt Sally, 
 who bestowed it in her basket. " This small bottle 
 has some drops that will do Uncle Jack's head good; 
 and this larger one is for Aunt Delia. Tell her to 
 rub her joints with it. There is medicine for
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 25 
 
 the baby, and Hannah must give it a warm bath. 
 If it is not better directly we must send for the 
 doctor. Now, here is a box of salve, excellent for 
 cuts, burns, and bruises; spread some on a bit of 
 1 rag, and tie it on Silvy's boy's foot. There, I think 
 that is all. I'll be down after a while, to see how 
 ' they are all doing," and with some added directions 
 'concerning the use of each remedy, Aunt Sally 
 was dismissed. 
 
 Then Aunt Dicey, the housekeeper, came for her 
 orders for the day, and such supplies from pantry 
 and storehouse as were needed in carrying them out. 
 
 In the meantime the riding party had returned, 
 Harold and Violet had been treated to a ride about 
 the grounds, the one in his father's arms, Beppo 
 stepping carefully as if he knew he carried a tendel 
 babe, the other on one of the ponies close at papa's 
 side and under his watchful eye. 
 
 It was a rosy merry group mamma found upon 
 the veranda, chatting to each other and laughing 
 gayly as they watched their father cantwing down 
 the avenue on his way to the fields to oversee the 
 work going on there. 
 
 They did not hear their mother's step till she was 
 close at hand asking in her own sweet, gentle tones, 
 "My darlings, had you a pleasant time?" 1 
 
 "Oh, yes, mamma, so nice!" and they gathered 
 about her, eager to claim her ever ready sympathy, 
 interested in their joys no less than their sorrows. 
 
 They had been taught to notice the beauties of
 
 26 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 nature the changing clouds, the bright autumfl 
 foliage, plants and flowers, insects, birds, stones; all 
 the handiwork of God; and the elder ones now never 
 returned from walk or ride without something to 
 tell of what they had seen and enjoyed. 
 
 It was surprising how much they learned in this 
 easy pleasant way, how much they gained almost 
 imperceptibly in manners, correctness of speech, 
 and general information by this habit of their 
 parents of keeping them always with themselves 
 and patiently answering every proper question. 
 They were encouraged not only to observe, but to 
 think, to reason, and to repeat what they had 
 learned; thus fixing it more firmly in their minds. 
 They were not burdened with long tasks or many 
 studies, but required to learn thoroughly such as 
 were set them, and trained to a love for wholesome 
 mental food; the books put into their hands being 
 carefully chosen by their parents. 
 
 Though abundantly able to employ a governess, 
 Elsie preferred teaching her darlings herself. There 
 was a large, airy room set apart for the purpose, 
 and furnished with every suitable appliance, books, 
 maps, globes, pictures, an orrery, a piano, etc., etc. 
 There were pretty rosewood desks and chairs, the 
 Moor was a mosaic of beautifully grained and pol 
 ished woods, the walls, adorned with a few rare en 
 gravings, were of a delicate neutral tint, and taste 
 ful curtains draped each window. 
 
 Thither mother and children now repaired, and
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 27 
 
 spent two happy hours in giving and receiving in 
 struction. 
 
 Harold had not yet quite mastered the alphabet. 
 His task was, of course, soon done, and he was per 
 mitted to betake himself to the nursery or else 
 where, with his mammy to take care of him; or if 
 , he chose to submit to the restraint of the school- 
 iroom rather than leave mamma and the others, he 
 might do so. 
 
 Violet could alread* read fluently in any book 
 suited to her years, and was learning to spell, write, 
 and sew. 
 
 Eddie was somewhat further advanced, and Elsie 
 had begun arithmetic, history, and geography; 
 music, also, and drawing; for both of which she 
 had already shown decided talent. 
 
 School over, she had a half hour of rest, then 
 went to the piano for an hour's practice, her 
 mamma sitting by to aid and encourage her. 
 
 Mr. Travilla came in, asking, " Where is Eddie? " 
 
 " Here, papa," and the boy came running in with 
 face all aglow with delight. " Oh, are you going to 
 teach me how to shoot? I saw you coming with that 
 pistol in your hand, and I'm so glad." 
 
 " Yes," his father answered, smiling at the eager 
 face. " You will not be anxious, little wife? " turn 
 ing to her with a tender loving look. 
 
 "No, my husband; surely I can trust him with 
 you, his own wise, careful, loving father," she an 
 swered with a confiding smile.
 
 28 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " Oh, papa, mayn't I go along with yon? and 
 won't you teach me too?" cried Violet, who was 
 always ready for any excitement. 
 
 " Not to-day, daughter; only Eddie and I are 
 going now; but sometime I will teach you all. It 
 is well enough for even ladies to handle a pistol 
 on occasion, and your mamma is quite a good shot." 1 
 
 Vi looked disappointed, but did not fret, pout, 
 or ask a second time; for such things were not 
 allowed in the family by e^her parent. 
 
 "Mamma's good little girl," the mother said r 
 drawing her caressingly to her side, as Mr. Tra- 
 villa and Eddie left the room. " I am going to 
 walk down to the quarter this afternoon, and will 
 take you and your brother and sister with me, if you 
 care to go." 
 
 " Oh, mamma, thank you! yes, indeed, I do want 
 to go," cried the little one, her face growing bright 
 as its wont. " May we be there when the bell 
 rings? 'cause I do like to see the dogs." And she 
 clapped her tiny hands with a laugh like the chim 
 ing of silver bells. 
 
 Her sister laughed too, saying, " Oh, yes, 
 mamma, do let us." 
 
 The Ion negroes were paid liberal wages, and yet 
 as kind and generously cared for as in the old days 
 of slavery; even more so, for now Elsie might law 
 fully carry out her desire to educate and elevate 
 them to a higher standard of intelligence and 
 morality.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 29 
 
 To this end Mr. Travilla had added to the quarter 
 a neat school-house, where the children received in 
 struction in the rudiments during the day, the 
 adults in the evening, from one of their own race 
 whose advantages had been such as to qualify him 
 for the work. There, too, the master and mistress 
 themselves held a Sunday school on Sabbath after 
 noons. 
 
 Aunt Sally, the nurse, also instructed the women 
 in housewifely ways, and Dinah taught them sew 
 ing; Elsie encouraging and stimulating them to 
 effort by bestowing prizes on the most diligent and 
 proficient. 
 
 Eddie came in from his first lesson in the use of 
 firearms, flushed and excited. 
 
 " Mamma, I did shoot/' he cried exultingly, " I 
 shooted many times, and papa says I'll make a good 
 shot some day if I keep on trying." 
 
 "Ah! did you hit the mark?" 
 
 "Not quite this time, mamma," and the bright 
 face clouded slightly. 
 
 "Not quite," laughed Mr. Travilla, drawing his 
 boy caressingly toward him. " If you please, 
 mamma, do not question us too closely; we expect 
 to do better another time. He really did fairly 
 well considering his age and that it was his first 
 lesson." 
 
 " Papa," asked Vi, climbing his knee, " were you 
 'fraid Eddie would shoot us if we went along? " 
 
 " I thought it safer to leave you at home." 

 
 30 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " Papa, mamma's going to take us /talking down 
 to the quarter this afternoon; we're to be there 
 when the bell rings, so we can see those funny 
 dogs/ 3 
 
 "Ah, then I think I shall meet you there and 
 walk home with you." 
 
 ? This announcement was received with a chorus 
 of exclamations of delight; his loved compan 
 ionship would double their enjoyment; it always 
 did. 
 
 Twas a pleasant, shady walk, not too long for 
 the older children, and Harold's mammy would 
 carry him when he grew weary. They called at 
 the school-room, witnessed the closing exercises, 
 then visited all the aged and ailing ones, Elsie in 
 quiringly tenderly concerning their " miseries," 
 speaking words of sympathy and consolation and 
 giving additional advice; remedies too, and some 
 little delicacies to whet the sickly appetites (these 
 last being contained in a basket, carried by a ser 
 vant). 
 
 As they left the last cabin, in the near vicinity 
 >of the post where hung the bell which summoned 
 the men to their meals and gave notice of the hour 
 for quitting work, they saw the ringer hurrying 
 toward it. 
 
 " Oh, mamma, we're just in time! " cried Vi, 
 *' how nice! " 
 
 " Yes," said her sister, ** mamma always knows 
 how to make things come out right."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 31 
 
 Every negro family owned a cur, and at the first 
 lap of the bell they always, with a united yelp, 
 lushed for the spot, where they formed a ring round 
 Hie post, each seated on his haunches and brushing 
 the ground with his tail, with a rapid motion from 
 t ide to side, nose in the air, eyes fixed upon the bell, 
 ;.nd throat sending out a prolonged howl so long 
 j.s the ringing continued. The din was deafening, 
 j,nd far from musical, but it was a comical sight, 
 vastly enjoyed by the young Travillas, who saw 
 it only occasionally. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Travilla were walking slowly home 
 ward, the children and Bruno frolicking, jumping, 
 dancing, running on before. After awhile the two 
 little girls grew somewhat wearj^ and subsided into 
 a soberer pace. 
 
 "Vi," said Elsie, "don't you believe Aunt Delia 
 might get better of those ' miseries ' in her bones, 
 if she had some nice new red flannel things to 
 wear? " 
 
 " Yes; let's buy her some," and a pretty dimpled 
 hand went into her pocket, and out came a dainty, 
 silken purse, mamma's gift on her last birthday, 
 when she began to have a weekly allowance, like 
 Elsie and Eddie. 
 
 " Yes, if mamma approves." 
 
 " 'Course we'll 'suit mamma 'bout it first, and 
 she'll say yes; she always likes to be kind and char 
 
 " Charitable? yes, 'specially to Jesus' people, and
 
 32 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 I know Aunt Delia's one of his. How much money 
 have you, Vi?" 
 
 " I don't know; mamma or papa will count when 
 we get home." 
 
 " I have two dollars and fifty cents; maybe Eddie 
 will give some if we haven't enough." 
 
 " Enough of what? " queried Eddie, overhearing 
 the last words as he and Bruno neared the others in 
 their gambols. 
 
 Elsie explained, asking, "Would you like to 
 help?" 
 
 " Yes; and I'm going to buy some ' baccy/ as he 
 calls it, for old Uncle Jack." 
 
 Mamma was duly consulted, approved of their 
 plans, took them the next day to the nearest village, 
 let them select the goods themselves, then helped 
 them to cut out and make the garments. Eddie 
 assisted by threading needles and sewing on but 
 tons, saying " that would do for a boy, because he 
 'had heard papa say he had sometimes sewed on a 
 button for himself when he was away at college." 
 
 To be sure the work might have been given to 
 the seamstress, but it was the desire of these parents 
 to train their little ones to give time and effort as 
 well as money.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 O, what a state is guilt! how wild! how wretched, 
 
 Havard. 
 
 THE war had wrought many changes in the 
 neighborhood where our friends resided; some who 
 had been reared in the lap of luxury were now in 
 absolute want, having sacrificed almost their last 
 dollar in the cause of secession; to which also in 
 numerous instances the husbands, sons, and broth 
 ers had fallen victims. 
 
 Though through the clemency of the Government 
 there had been no executions for treason, no confis 
 cation of property, many plantations had changed 
 hands because of the inability of the original owners 
 to work them, for lack of means to pay the laborers. 
 
 Elsie's tender sympathies were strongly enlisted 
 for these old friends and acquaintances, and their 
 necessities often relieved by her bounty when they 
 little guessed whence help had come. Her favors 
 were doubled by the delicate kindness of the manner 
 of their bestowal. 
 
 The ability to give largely was the greatest pleas 
 ure her wealth afforded her, and one in which she 
 indulged to the extent of disposing yearly in that 
 way of the whole surplus of her ample income; not 
 
 33
 
 34 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 waiting to be importuned, but constantly seeking 
 out worthy objects upon whom to bestow that of 
 which she truly considered herself but a steward 
 who must one day render a strict account unto her 
 Lord. 
 
 It was she who had repaired the ravages of war 
 in Springbrook, the residence of Mr. Wood, her 
 pastor; she who, when the Fosters of Fairview, a 
 plantation adjoining Ion, had been compelled to sell 
 it, had bought a neat cottage in the vicinity and 
 given them the use of it at a merely nominal rent. 
 And many another like deed had she done; always 
 with the entire approval of her husband, who was 
 scarcely less generous than herself. 
 
 The purchaser of Fairview was a Mr. Leland, a 
 Northern man who had been an officer in the Union 
 army. Pleased with the Southern climate and the 
 appearance of that section of country, he felt in 
 clined to settle there and assist in the development 
 of its resources; he therefore returned some time 
 after the conclusion of peace, bought this place, 
 and removed his family thither. 
 , They were people of refinement and culture, quiet 
 and peaceable, steady attendants upon Mr. Wood's 
 ministry, and in every way conducted themselves 
 as good citizens. 
 
 Yet they were not popular: the Fosters, particu 
 larly Wilkins, the only son, hated them as their 
 snpplanters, and saw with bitter envy the rapid im 
 provement of Fairview under Mr. Leland's careful
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 35 
 
 cultivation. It was no fault of his that they had 
 been compelled to part with it, and he had paid a 
 fair price: but envy and jealousy are ever unreason- 
 ible, and their mildest term of reproach in speaking 
 'A him was " carpet-bagger/' 
 
 Others found fault with Mr. Leland as paying 
 too liberal wages to the negroes (including Mr. 
 Horace Dinsmore and Mr. Travilla in the same 
 charge), and hated him for his outspoken loyalty 
 to the Government; for though he showed no dispo 
 sition to seek for office or meddle in any way with 
 the politics of others, he made no secret of his views 
 when occasion seemed to call for their expression. 
 Ifc was not a prudent course under existing circum 
 stances, but accorded well with the frank and fear 
 less nature of the man. 
 
 Messrs. Dinsmore and Travilla, themselves strong 
 Unionists, though the latter was more discreet in 
 the utterance of his sentiments, found in him a 
 kindred spirit. Eose and Elsie were equally pleased 
 with Mrs. Leland, and pitying her loneliness, called 
 frequently, inviting a return of their visits, until 
 now the three families had become tolerably inti 
 mate. 
 
 Thi. state of things was extremely displeasing to 
 Louise and Enna; scarcely less so to their father; 
 but the others, convinced that they were in the path 
 of duty in thus extending kindness and sympathy to 
 deserving strangers, who were also " of the house 
 hold of faith," were not to be deterred by remon-
 
 36 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 strances or vituperation. " Scalawags " a term of 
 reproach applied by the Democrats of the South to 
 the Republicans who were natives of that section 
 was what Enna called her brother, his son-in-law, 
 and daughter, when out of hearing of her father, 
 who, though vexed at their notice of the Lelands, 
 was too strongly attached to his only remaining 
 son, and too sensible of the kindness he had received 
 at the hands of Mr. Travilla and Elsie, to permit 
 anything of that sort. 
 
 The Lelands had several young children, well- 
 bred and of good principles, and it angered Louise 
 and Enna that Elsie evidently preferred them to 
 their own rude, deceitful, spoiled offspring as com 
 panions and playmates for her little ones. 
 
 Elsie and her husband were very desirous to live 
 on good terms with these near relatives, but not 
 to the extent of sacrificing their children's morals; 
 therefore did not encourage a close intimacy with 
 their Eoselands cousins; yet ever treated them 
 politely and kindly, and made a valuable present to 
 each on every return of his or her birthday, and on 
 Christmas; always managing to select something 
 specially desired by the recipient of the favor. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore pursued a similar course; 
 Rosie was allowed to be as intimate as she chose at 
 Ion, and with her Aunt Sophie's children, but never 
 visited Roselands except with her parents or sister; 
 nor were the Roseland cousins ever invited to make 
 a lengthened stay at the Oaks.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 37 
 
 One afternoon, several weeks subsequent to the 
 events related in the last chapter, Mary and Archie 
 Leland came over to Ion to spend an hour with 
 their young friends. 
 
 The weather was delightful, and the children pre 
 ferred playing out of doors; the girls took their 
 dolls to a summer-house in the garden, while with 
 kite, ball, and marbles the boys repaired to the 
 avenue. 
 
 " Who are those? " asked Archie, as looking up 
 at the sound of approaching footsteps he saw two 
 boys, a good deal older than themselves, coming 
 leisurely toward them. 
 
 " My cousins, Wai Conly and Dick Percival," an 
 swered Eddie. "I wish they hadn't come, they 
 always tease me so." 
 
 "Hilloa!" cried Dick; " what! Ed Travilla, you 
 play with carpet-baggers, eh? Fie on you! I 
 wouldn't be seen with one." 
 
 " That's not polite, Dick. Archie's a good boy; 
 mamma and papa say so; and I like him for a play 
 fellow." 
 
 " You do ? Ah, that's because you're a scalawag." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 " What your father is and your grandfather too." 
 
 " Then I don't care; I want to be just like my 
 papa." 
 
 " But it isn't nice," put in Walter, laughing, 
 " a scalawag's the meanest thing alive." 
 
 " Then you shall not call papa that, nor
 
 38 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 grandpa 1" and the child's great dark eyes flashed 
 with anger. 
 
 " Whew! Fd like to see you hinder me. Look 
 here, Ed," and Dick pulled out a pistol, " what d'ye 
 think o' that? don't you wish you had one? don't 
 you wish you could shoot ? " 
 
 " I can/' returned Eddie proudly; " papa's been 
 teaching me, and he's given me a hetter pistol than 
 that." 
 
 " Hey! a likely story! " cried the two tormentors, 
 with an incredulous laugh. " Let's see it now? " 
 
 " It's in the house; but papa said I should never 
 touch it 'cept when he gives it to me; not till I grow 
 a big boy." 
 
 "Nonsense!" cried Dick, "if 'twas there, you'd 
 bring it out fast enough. I shan't believe a word 
 of the story until I see the pistol." 
 
 ' I'll show you if I'm not telling the truth! " ex 
 claimed Eddie, flushing hotly, and turning about as 
 if to go into the house. 
 
 But Archie laid a hand on his arm, and speaking 
 for the first time since the others had joined them, 
 "Don't, Eddie," he said persuasively, "don't dis 
 obey your father; I know you'll be sorry for it 
 afterwards." 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you young earpet-bagger," 
 said Dick. " Eun and get it, Ed." 
 
 "No, never mind about his pistol, he can't 
 shoot," said Walter mockingly. "If he can, let 
 him tadte yours and prove it."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 39 
 
 Eddie remembered well that his father had also 
 forbidden him to touch firearms at all, except when 
 with him; but the boy was naturally proud and wil 
 ful, and, spite of all the careful training of his 
 parents, these faults would occasionally show them 
 selves. 
 
 He did not like to have his word doubted, he was 
 eager to prove his skill, which he conceived to be 
 far greater than it was, and as his cousins continued 
 to twit and tease him, daring him to show what he 
 could do, he was sorely tempted to disobey. 
 
 They were slowly walking on farther from the 
 house as they talked, and finally when Dick said, 
 " Why, Ed, you couldn't hit that big tree yonder, 
 I dare you to try it," at the same time offering 
 him the pistol, the little fellow's sense of duty sud 
 denly gave way, and snatching the weapon from 
 Dick's hand he fired, not allowing himself time, in 
 his haste and passion, to take proper aim. 
 
 In their excitement and pre-occupation none of 
 the boys had noticed Mr. Tra villa riding into the 
 avenue a moment before, closely followed by his 
 body servant Ben. Almost simultaneously "with the 
 report of the pistol the former tumbled from the 
 saddle and fell heavily to the ground. 
 
 With a cry, " Oh, Mass Edard's killed! Ben 
 sprang from his horse and bent over the prostrate 
 form, wringing his hands in fright and grief. He 
 was his master's foster-brother and devotedly at 
 tached to him. 

 
 40 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 The fall, the cry, the snorting and running of the 
 frightened horses instantly told the boys what had 
 happened, and Eddie threw himself on the ground 
 screaming in an agony of grief and remorse, " Oh, 
 I've killed my father, my dear, dear father! Oh, 
 papa, papa! what shall I do? what shall I do? " 
 
 Mr. Leland coming in search of his children, the 
 men passing the gate returning from their work, 
 all heard and rushed to the spot. The blacks 
 crowded about the scene of the accident, sobbing 
 like children at the sight of their loved master and 
 friend lying there apparently lifeless. 
 
 Mr. Leland, his features working with emotion, 
 at once assumed the direction of affairs. " Catch 
 the horses," he said, " and you, Ben, mount the 
 fleetest and fly for the; doctor. And you," turning 
 to another, " take the other and hurry to the Oaks 
 for Mr. Dinsmore. Now the rest of you help me 
 to carry your master to the house. I -will lift his 
 head, there gently, gently, my good fellows, I think 
 he still breathes. But Mrs. Travilla! " he added, 
 looking toward the dwelling, " all seems quiet there; 
 they have not heard, I think, and she should be 
 warned. I wish " 
 
 "I will go, I will tell mamma," interrupted a 
 quivering child voice at his side. 
 
 Little Elsie had pushed her way through the 
 crowd and dropping on her knees on the grass was 
 raining kisses and tears upon the pale, unconscious 
 face.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 41 
 
 "You? poor child! " Mr. Leland began in piteous 
 tones; but she had already sprung to her feet and 
 was flying toward the house with the fleetness of the 
 vind. 
 
 One moment she paused in the spacious entrance 
 iall, to recover her breath, calm her features, and 
 remove the traces of her tears. " Mamma, mamma," 
 she was saying to herself. " Lord Jesus, give me 
 the right words to speak to her." 
 
 She hardly knew to which apartment to direct 
 her steps, but "Hark! there was the sound of the 
 piano and mamma's sweet voice singing a song papa 
 had brought home only the other day, and that he 
 liked. Ah, would she ever sing again now that 
 -he " 
 
 But no, not even in thought could she say that 
 Sreadful word; but she knew now that mamma was 
 Sn the music-room; and earnestly repeating her 
 silent petition for help, she hurried thither. 
 
 The door was open; with swift, noiseless steps she 
 gained her mother's side; passing an arm about her 
 neck, and half averting her own pale, agitated face, 
 " Mamma," she said in low, tremulous tones, 
 " ' God is our refuge and strength, a very present 
 help in trouble!' Mamma, Jesus loves you, Jesus 
 loves you! He will help you to bear " 
 
 " My daughter, what is it? " asked the mother in 
 a tone of forced calmness, a terrible pang shooting 
 through her heart, "your father? Eddie? Vi?" 
 Then starting up at a sound as of the feet of those
 
 42 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 who bore some heavy burden, she ran into tHe 
 hall. 
 
 For a moment she stood as one transfixed with 
 grief and horror. 
 
 " He breathes, he lives," Mr. Leland hastened to 
 say, 
 
 Her lips moved, but no words came from them. 
 Silently motioning them to follow her, she led the 
 way to his room and pointed to the bed. They laid 
 him on it and at that instant consciousness re 
 turned. 
 
 " Dear wife, it is nothing," he faintly murmured, 
 lifting his eyes to her face as she bent over him 
 in speechless anguish. 
 
 She softly pressed her lips to his brow, her heart 
 too full for utterance. 
 
 The words sent a thrill of gladness to the heart 
 of little Elsie, who had crept in behind the men, and 
 stood near the bed silently weeping; her father 
 lived; and now Eddie's frantic screams seemed to 
 ring in her ears (in her fear for her father she had 
 scarcely noticed them before), and she must go and 
 tell him the glad news. She was not needed here; 
 mamma was not conscious of her presence, and she 
 could do nothing for the dear injured father. She 
 stole quietly from the room. 
 
 On the veranda she founded Violet crying bit 
 terly, while Mary Leland vainly tried to comfort 
 her. 
 
 " Don't cry so, little sister," Elsie said, going to
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 43 
 
 tier and taking her in her arms in tender motherly 
 fashion, " our dear papa is not killed; I saw him 
 open his eyes, and heard him say to mamma, f Dear 
 wife, it is nothing.' " 
 
 Vi clung to her sister with a fresh burst of tears, 
 but this time they were tears of joy. " Oh, I'm 
 so glad! I thought I had no papa any more." 
 
 A few more soothing words and caresses and 
 Elsie said, " Now I must go and tell poor Eddie. 
 Do you know where he is?" 
 
 " Hark! don't you hear him crying way off in the 
 grounds?" said Mary, "I think he's just where he 
 was." 
 
 " Oh, yes, yes ! " and Elsie hastened in the direc 
 tion of the sounds. 
 
 She found him lying on the grass still crying in 
 heart-broken accents, " Oh, I've killed my father, 
 my dear, dear father! what shall I do! what shall I 
 do!" 
 
 Dick and Walter were gone; like the guilty 
 wretches they were, they had fled as soon as they 
 saw what mischief they had caused. But Archie, 
 too kind-hearted and noble to forsake a friend in 
 distress, was still there. 
 
 " You didn't mean to do it, Eddie," he was say 
 ing, as Elsie came within hearing. 
 
 "No, no," burst out the half distracted child, 
 " I wouldn't hurt my dear papa one bit for all the 
 world! but it was 'cause I disobeyed him. He told 
 me never to touch firearms when he wasn't by to
 
 44 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 help me do it right. Oh, oh, oh, I didn't think I'd 
 ever be such a wicked boy! I've killed my father, 
 oh! oh! " 
 
 " No, Eddie, no, you haven't; papa opened his 
 eyes and spoke to mamma," said his sister hurrying 
 to his side. 
 
 "Did he? Oh, Elsie, is he alive? Isn't he hurt 
 much? " asked the child, ceasing his cries for the 
 moment, and lifting his tear-swollen face to hers. 
 
 " I don't know, Eddie dear, but I hope not," she 
 said, low and tremulously, the tears rolling fast 
 down her own cheeks, while she took out her hand 
 kerchief and gently wiped them away from his. 
 
 He dropped his head again, with a bitter, wailing 
 cry. " Oh, I'm afraid he is, and I shooted him! I 
 shooted him! " 
 
 Fortunately Dr. Burton's residence was not far 
 distant, and Ben urging Beppo to his utmost speed 
 and finding the doctor at home, had him at Mr. 
 Travilla's bedside in a wonderfully short space of 
 time. 
 
 The doctor found the injury not nearly so great 
 as he had feared: the ball had struck the side of the 
 head and glanced off, making a mere scalp-wound, 
 which, though causing insensibility for a time, 
 would have no very serious or lasting consequences; 
 the blood had been already sponged away, and the 
 wound closed with sticking plaster. 
 
 But the fall had jarred the whole system and 
 caused some bruises; so that altogether the patient
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 45 
 
 was likely to have to keep his bed for some days, 
 and the doctor said must be kept quiet and as free 
 from excitement as possible. 
 
 Elsie, leaving Aunt Chloe at the bedside, followed 
 the physician from the room. 
 
 " You need give yourself no anxiety, my dear 
 Mrs. Travilla," he said cheerily, taking her hand in 
 his for a moment, in his kind fatherly way for he' 
 was an old man now, and had known her from her 
 early childhood "the injuries are not at all seri 
 ous, and there is no reason why your husband 
 should not be about again in a week or so. But 
 how did it happen? What hand fired the shot?" 
 
 " Indeed I do not know, have not asked," she 
 answered, with an emotion of surprise at herself 
 for the omission. " It seems strange I should not, 
 but I was so taken up with grief and fear for him, 
 and anxiety to relieve his suffering, that I had room 
 for no other thought. Can you tell us, sir? " turn 
 ing to Mr. Leland, who was standing near. 
 
 " I did not see the shot," he replied with some 
 hesitation. 
 
 " But you know; tell me, I beg of you." 
 
 "It was an accident, madam, entirely an acci 
 dent: there can be no question about that." 
 
 " But tell me all you know," she entreated, grow 
 ing very pale. " I see you fear to wound me, but 
 it were far better I should know the whole 
 truth." 
 
 "I suppose your little son must have been play-
 
 46 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 ing with a pistol/' he answered, with evident reluc 
 tance. " I heard him screaming, ' Oh, I've killed 
 my father, my dear, dear father! ' : 
 
 " Eddie ! " she groaned, staggering back against 
 the wall, and putting her hand over her eyes. 
 
 " My dear madam! " " My dear Mrs. Tra villa! " 
 the gentlemen exclaimed simultaneously, " do not 
 Jet it distress you so, since it must have been the 
 merest accident, and the consequences are not so 
 serious as they might have been." 
 
 " But he was disobeying his father, and has nearly 
 taken his life," she moaned low and tremulously, 
 the big tears coursing down her cheeks. " Oh, my 
 son, my son! " 
 
 The gentlemen looked uneasily at each other, 
 scarcely knowing what consolation to offer; but 
 a well known step approached hastily, yet with 
 caution, and the next instant Elsie was clasped in 
 her father's arms. 
 
 " My darling, my poor darling! " he said with 
 emotion, as she laid her head on his breast, with a 
 burst of almost hysterical weeping. 
 . He caressed her silently. How could he ask the 
 .question trembling on his lips? what meant this 
 bitter weeping? His eye sought that of the physi 
 cian, who promptly answered the unspoken query 
 with the same cheering report he had just given 
 her. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore was intensely relieved. " Thank 
 God that it is no worse! " he said in low, reverent
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 47 
 
 tones. "Elsie, daughter, cheer up, he will soon be 
 well again." 
 
 Mr. Leland, taking leave, offered to return and 
 watch hy the sick bed that night; but Mr. Dins- 
 more, while joining Elsie in cordial thanks, claimed 
 it as his privilege. 
 
 " Ah, well, don't hesitate to call upon me when 
 ever I can be of use," said Mr. Leland, and with a 
 kindly " Good evening," he and the doctor retired, 
 Mr. Dinsmore seeing them to the door. 
 
 Eeturning, he found Elsie still in the parla 
 where he had left her. 
 
 She was speaking to a servant, " Go, Prilla, look 
 for the children, and bring them in. It is getting- 
 late for them to be out." 
 
 The girl went, and Elsie saying to her father 
 that Prilla had brought word that Mr. Trarilla was 
 now sleeping, begged him to sit down and talk with 
 her for a moment. The tears fell fast as she spoke. 
 It was long since he had seen her so moved. 
 
 "Dear daughter, why distress yourself thus?" 
 he said, folding her fh his arms, and drawing her 
 head to a resting place upon his breast; " your hus 
 band's injuries are not very serious. Dr. Burton 
 is not one to deceive us with false hopes." 
 
 " No, papa, oh, how thankful I am to know he 
 is not in danger! but oh, papa, papa! to think 
 that Eddie did it! that my own son should have so 
 nearly taken his father's life! I grow sick with! 
 horror at the very thought! "
 
 48 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " Yet it must have been the merest accident tEe 
 child almost idolizes his father." 
 
 "I had thought so, but he must have been dis 
 obeying that father's positive command, else this 
 could not have happened. I could never have be 
 lieved my son could be so disobedient, and it breaks 
 my heart to think of it all." 
 
 " The best of us do not always resist temptation 
 successfully, and doubtless in this case it has been 
 very strong. And he is bitterly repenting; I heard 
 him crying somewhere in the grounds as I rode 
 up the avenue, but could not then take time to go 
 to him, not knowing how much you and Travilla 
 might be needing my assistance." 
 
 " My poor boy; he does love his father/' she said, 
 wiping her eyes. 
 
 " There can be no question about that, and this 
 will be a life-long lesson to him." 
 
 "Papa, you always bring me comfort," she said 
 gratefully. " And you will stay with us to-night? " 
 
 "Yes; I could not leave you at such a time. I 
 shall send a note to Kose, to* relieve her anxiety in 
 regard to Edward's accident, and let her know that 
 she need not expect me home till morning. Well, 
 Prilla," as the girl reappeared, "what is it? why 
 have you not brought the children as your mistress 
 directed?" 
 
 " Please, sah, Massa Binsmore, Mars Eddie won't 
 come; he jes' lie on de ground an' scream an' cry, 
 ' Oh. I've killed my fader, my dear, dear fader,'
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 49 
 
 an' Miss Elsie she comfortin' an' coaxin' an' plead- 
 in', but he won't pay no pretention to nobody." 
 
 Elsie wept anew. " My poor child! my poor little 
 son! what am I to do with him? " 
 
 " I will go to him; trust him to me," Mr. Bins- 
 more said, leaving the room with a quick firm step.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 If hearty sorrow 
 
 Be a sufficient ransom for offence, 
 I tender it here; I do as truly suffer, 
 As e'er I did commit. 
 
 Shafapere. 
 
 " OH, Eddie, dear! do get up and come into the 
 house! " entreated his sister. " I must leave you if 
 you don't, for Prilla said mamma had sent for us; 
 and you know we must obey." 
 
 " Oh, I can't, I can't go in! I can't see mamma! 
 she will never, never love me any more! " 
 
 " Yes, she will, Eddie; nothing will ever make her 
 stop loving us; and if you're really sorry for having 
 disobeyed poor, dear papa, you'll not go on and 
 disobey her now." 
 
 "But, oh, I've been such a wicked, wicked boy. 
 'Oh, Elsie! what shall I do? Jesus won't love me 
 now, nor mamma, nor anybody." 
 
 " Oh, Eddie! " sobbed his sister, don't talk so. 
 Jesus does love you and will forgive you, if you 
 ask him; and so will mamma and papa; for they both 
 love you and I love you dearly, dearly." 
 
 The two were alone, Archie having gone home 
 with his father. 
 
 so
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 51 
 
 A step drew near, and Mr. Dinsmore's voice spoke 
 close at hand in tones sterner and more peremptory 
 than he really meant them to be. 
 
 " Edward,, get up from that damp grass and 
 come into the house immediately. Do you intend to 
 add to your poor mother's troubles by your dis 
 obedience, and by making yourself sick? " 
 
 The child arose instantly. He was accustomed. 
 to yield to his grandfather's authority quite as 
 readily as to that of his parents. 
 
 " Oh, grandpa! please don't be hard to him! His 
 heart's almost broken, and he wouldn't have hurt 
 papa on purpose for all the world," pleaded little 
 Elsie, hastening to Mr. Dinsmore's side, taking his 
 hand in both hers, and lifting her tear-dimmed eyes 
 beseechingly to his face. 
 
 " Yes, grandpa ought," sobbed Eddie, " I've been 
 such a wicked, wicked boy, I deserve the dreadfulest 
 whipping that ever was. And papa can't do it 
 now!" he cried with a fresh burst of grief and 
 remorse, fi and mamma won't like to. Grandpa, 
 it '11 have to be you. Please do it quick, 'cause I 
 want it over." 
 
 "And has all this distress been for fear of 
 punishment? " asked Mr. Dinsmore, taking the 
 child's hand, and bending down to look searchingly 
 into his face. 
 
 " Oh, no, no, no, grandpa! I'd rather be whipped 
 any day than to know I've hurt my dear papa so. 
 Grandpa, won't you do it quick?"
 
 52 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " No, my son, I am not fond of such business, and 
 shall not punish you unless requested to do so by 
 your father or mother. The doctor hopes your 
 father will be about again in a week or two, and 
 he can then attend to your case himself." 
 
 "Oh, then he won't die! he won't die, our dear, 
 dear papa! " cried both children in a breath. 
 
 " No; God has been very good to us all in causing 
 the ball to strike where it could do but little injury. 
 And, Edward, I hope this will be such a lesson to you 
 all your life as will keep you from disobeying again." 
 
 They were passing up the avenue, Eddie moving 
 submissively along by his grandfather's side, but 
 with tottering steps; for the dreadful excitement of 
 the last hour had exhausted him greatly. Per 
 ceiving this Mr. Dinsmore presently took him in 
 his arms and carried him to the house. 
 
 Low pitiful sobs and sighs were the only sounds 
 the little fellow made till set down in the veranda; 
 but then clinging to his grandfather's hand, he 
 burst out afresh, " Oh, grandpa, I can't go in! I 
 can't see mamma, for she can't love me any more." 
 
 The mother heard and came quickly out. The 
 'tears were coursing down her cheeks, her mother 
 heart yearned over her guilty, miserable child: 
 stooping down and stretching out her arms, 
 "Eddie, my little son," she said in tender tremu 
 lous accents, " come to mother. If my boy is truly 
 sorry for his sin, mamma has no reproaches for 
 him: nothing but forgiveness and love."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 53 
 
 He threw himself upon her "bosom, " Mamma, 
 mamma, I am sorry, oh, so sorry! I will never, 
 never disobey papa or you again." 
 
 " God helping you, my son; if you trust in your 
 own strength you will be sure to fall." 
 
 " Yes, mamma; oh, mamma, I've been the wicked 
 est boy! I disobeyed my father and shooted him; 
 and oughtn't I to have a dreadful whipping? Shall 
 grandpa do it?" 
 
 Mrs. Travilla lifted her full eyes inquiringly to 
 her father's face. 
 
 " It is all his own idea," said Mr. Dinsmore with 
 eBftbtion; " I think he has already had a worse 
 punishment by far in his grief and remorse.'* 
 
 Elsie heaved a sigh of relief. "I think his 
 father would say so too; it shall be decided by him 
 when he is able. Eddie, my son, papa is too ill now 
 to say what shall be done with you. I think he does 
 not even know of your disobedience. You will have 
 to wait some days. The suspense will be hard to 
 bear, I know, but my little boy must try to be 
 patient, remembering that he has brought all this 
 suffering on himself. And in the meantime he has 
 mamma's forgiveness and love," she added, folding 
 him to her heart with a tender caress. 
 
 Sorely the children missed their precious half 
 hour with mamma that night, and every night and 
 morning of their papa's illness; she could leave Sum. 
 only long enough each time to give them a few lov- 
 iag words and a kiss all round, and they scarcely
 
 54 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 saw her through, the day were not admitted Itf 
 their father's room at all. 
 
 But they were very good; lessons went on nearly 
 as usual, little Elsie keeping order in the school 
 room, even wilful Eddie quietly submitting to her 
 gentle sway, and grandpa kindly attending to the 
 recitations. He rode out with them too, and he, 
 Aunt Rosie, or their mammies took them for a 
 pleasant walk every fine day. 
 
 Friends and neighbors were very kind and atten 
 tive, none more so than the Lelands. Archie told 
 his father how, and by whom, poor Eddie had been 
 teased, provoked, and dared into firing the pistol; 
 Mr. Leland told Mr. Dinsmore the story, and he 
 repeated it to his father and sisters. 
 
 The old gentleman was sufficiently incensed 
 against the two culprits to administer a severe casti- 
 gation to each, while Elsie was thankful to leara 
 that her son had not yielded readily to the tempta 
 tion to disobedience. She pitied him deeply, as she 
 noted how weary to him were these days of waiting, 
 how his gay spirits had forsaken him, how anxious 
 he was for his father's recovery; how he longed for 
 the time when he should be permitted to go to him 
 with his confession and petition for pardon. 
 
 At length that time came. Mr. Travilla was so 
 much better that Dr. Burton said it would do him 
 no harm to see his children, and to hear all the 
 details of his accident. 
 
 The others were brought in first and allowed to
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 55 
 
 cpend a few minutes in giving and receiving ca 
 resses, their little tongues running very fast in their 
 exuberant joy over their restored father. 
 
 " Elsie, Vi, Harold, baby but where is Eddie? " 
 he asked, looking a little anxiously at his wife; 
 "not sick, I hope?" 
 
 " No, my dear, he will be in presently,'" she an 
 swered, the tears starting to her eyes; " no one of 
 them all has found it harder to be kept away from 
 you than he. But there is something he has begged 
 me to tell you before he comes." 
 
 " Ah! " he said, with a troubled look in his eyes, 
 a suspicion of the truth dawning upon him. " Well, 
 darlings, you may go noAv, and mamma will let you 
 come in again before your bedtime." 
 
 They withdrew, and Elsie told her story, dwelling 
 more particularly upon the strength of the tempta 
 tion and the child's agony of grief and remorse. 
 
 " Bring him here, wife," Mr. Travilla said, his 
 eyes full, his voice husky with emotion. 
 
 There was a sound of sobs in the hall without as 
 she opened the door. " Come, son," she said, taking 
 his hand in hers, " papa knows it all now." 
 
 Half eagerly, half tremblingly, he suffered her to 
 lead him in. 
 
 " Papa," he burst out sobbingly, scarcely daring 
 to lift his eyes from the floor, " I've been a very 
 wicked, bad boy; I disobeyed you and and " 
 
 " Come here to me, my little son." How gentle 
 tod tender were the tones.
 
 56 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Eddie lifted his head and with one joyous bound 
 was in his father's arms, clinging about his neck 
 and sobbing out upon his breast his grief, his joy, 
 his penitence. " Papa, papa, can yon forgive such a 
 naughty, disobedient boy? I'm so sorry I did it! 
 I'm so glad you didn't die, dear, dear papa! so glad 
 you love me yet." 
 
 " Love you, son? I think if you knew how muck, 
 you would never want to disobey again." 
 
 " I don't, papa, oh, I don't! I ask God eaijaestly 
 every day to give me a new heart, and help me 
 always to be good. But mustn't I be punished? 
 Mamma said it was for you to say, and grandpa 
 didn't whip me and he won't 'less you ask him." 
 
 " And I shall not ask him, my son. I fully and 
 freely forgive you, because I am sure you are very 
 sorry and do not mean to disobey again." 
 
 How happy the child was that at last his father 
 knew and had forgiven all. 
 
 Mr. Travilla improved the occasion for a short 
 but very serious talk with him on the sin and danger 
 of disobedience, and his words, so tenderly spoken, 
 made a deep and lasting impression. 
 
 But Eddie was not yet done with the pain and 
 mortification consequent upon his wrongdoing. 
 That afternoon the Ashland ladies called, bringing 
 with them the elder children of both families. 
 While their mammas conversed in the drawing-room 
 the little people gathered in the veranda. 
 
 All was harmony and good-will among them till
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 57 
 
 Philip Ross, fixing his eyes on Eddie, said with a 
 sneer, " So, Master Ed, though you told me one 
 day you'd never talk to your mamma as I did to 
 mine, you've done a good deal worse. I don't set 
 up for a pattern good boy, but I'd die before I'd 
 shoot my father." 
 
 Eddie's eyes sought the floor, while his lip$,trem- 
 bled and two great tears rolled down his burning 
 cheeks. 
 
 "Phil Ross," cried Gertrude, "I'm ashamed of 
 you! of course he didn't do it a-purpose." 
 
 "Maybe not; he didn't disobey on purpose! 
 hadn't his father " 
 
 But catching a reproachful, entreating look from 
 Eteie's soft, brown eyes, he stopped short, and turn 
 ing away, began to whistle carelessly, while Vi, put 
 ting her small arms about Eddie's neck, said: " Phil 
 Ross, you shouldn't 'suit my brother so, 'cause he 
 wouldn't 'tend to hurt papa; no, not for all 
 the world! " Harold chiming in, " 'Course he 
 wouldn't! " and Bruno, whom he was petting and 
 stroking with his chubby hands, giving a short, 
 sharp bark, as if he too had a word to say in 
 defence of his young master. 
 
 " Is that your welcome to visitors, Bruno? " quer 
 ied a young man of eighteen or twenty, alighting 
 from his horse and coming up the steps into the 
 veranda. 
 
 u You must please excuse him for being so ill- 
 mannered, Cousin Cal," little Elsie said, coming
 
 58 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 forward and offering her hand with a graceful cour 
 tesy very like her mamma's. "Will you walk into 
 tihe drawing-room? our mammas are all there." 
 
 " Presently, thank you/' he said, bending down to 
 snatch a kiss from the sweet lips. 
 
 She shrank from the caress almost with aversion. 
 
 " What's the use of being so shy with a cousin? " 
 he asked, laughing. " Why Molly Percival likes to 
 kiss me." 
 
 " I think Molly would not be pleased if she knew 
 you said that," remarked the little girl, in a quiet 
 tone, and moving farther from him as she spoke. 
 
 "Holding a levee, eh?" he said, glancing about 
 upon the group. "How d'ye, young ladies and 
 gentlemen? Helloa, Ed! so you're the brave fellow 
 that shot his father? Hope your grandfather dealt 
 out justice to you in the same fashion that Wai and 
 Dick's did to them." 
 
 Eddie could bear no more, but burst into an agony 
 of tears and sobs. 
 
 " Calhoun Conly, do you think it very manly for 
 a big fellow like you to torment such a little one as 
 our Eddie?" queried Elsie, with rising indignation., 
 
 " No, I don't," he said frankly. " Never mind 
 Eddie, I take it all back, and own that the other 
 two deserve the lion's share of the blame, and pun 
 ishment too. Come, shake hands and let's make up." 
 
 Eddie gave his hand, saying in broken tones, " I 
 was a naughty boy, but papa has forgiven me, and 
 I don't mean ever to disobey him any more/'
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 So false is faction, and so smooth a liar, 
 As that it never had a side entire." 
 
 Daniel. 
 
 BY the first of December Mr. Travilla had entirely 
 recovered from the ill effects of his accident which 
 had occurred early in November and life at Ion 
 resumed its usual quiet, regular, but pleasant rou 
 tine, varied only by frequent exchange of visits with, 
 the other families of the connection, and near 
 neighbors, especially the Lelands. 
 
 Because of the presence among them of their 
 Northern relatives, this winter was made a gayer 
 one than either of the last two, which had seen little 
 mirth or jovialty among the older ones, subdued as 
 they were by recent, repeated bereavements. Time 
 had now somewhat assuaged their grief, and only 
 the widowed ones still wore the garb of mourning. 
 
 A round of family parties for old and young filled 
 up the holidays; and again just before the departure 
 of the Rosses and Allisons in the early spring they 
 were all gathered at Ion for a farewell day together. 
 
 Some of the blacks in Mr. Leland's employ had 
 been beaten and otherwise maltreated only the pre 
 vious night by a band of armed and disguised men, 
 
 59
 
 60 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 and the conversation naturally turned upon that 
 occurrence. 
 
 " So the Ku Klux outrages have begun in our 
 neighborhood," remarked Mr. Horace Dinsmore, 
 and went on to denounce their proceedings in un 
 measured terms. 
 
 The faces of several of his auditors flushed 
 angrily. Enna shot a fierce glance at him, mutter 
 ing "scalawag," half under her breath, while his 
 old father said testily, "Horace, you speak too 
 strongly. I haven't a doubt the rascals deserved all 
 they got. Fm told one of them, at least, had in 
 sulted some lady, Mrs. Foster, I believe, and that 
 the others had been robbing hen-roosts and smoke 
 houses." 
 
 " That may perhaps be so, but at all events every 
 man has a right to a fair trial," replied his son, 
 "and so long as there is no difficulty in bringing 
 such matters before the civil courts, there is no 
 excuse for lynch law, which is apt to visit its 
 penalties upon the innocent as well as upon the 
 guilty." 
 
 At this George Boyd, who, as the nephew of the 
 elder Mrs. Carrington and a member of the Ash- 
 lands household, had been invited with the others, 
 spoke warmly in defence of the organization, assert 
 ing that its main object was to defend the helpless, 
 particularly in guarding against the danger of an 
 insurrection of the blacks. 
 
 "There is not the slightest fear of that," re-
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 61 
 
 marked Mr. Travilla; "there may be some few 
 turbulent spirits among them, but as a class they 
 are quiet and inoffensive/' \ 
 
 " Begging your pardon, sir," said Boyd, " I find 
 them quite the reverse; demanding their wages 
 directly they are due, and not satisfied with what 
 one chooses to give. And that reminds me that 
 you, sir, and Mr. Horace Dinsmore, and that carpet* 
 bagger of Fairview are entirely too liberal in the 
 wages yon pay." 
 
 " That is altogether our own affair, sir/' returned 
 Mr. Dinsmore haughtily. " No man or set of men 
 shall dictate to me as to how I spend my money. 
 What do you say, Travilla? " 
 
 " I take the same position; shall submit to no 
 such infringement of my liberty to do as I will with 
 my own." 
 
 Elsie's eyes sparkled: she was proud of her hus 
 band and father. Eose, too, smiled approval. 
 
 " Sounds very fine," growled Boyd, " but I say 
 you've no right to put up the price of labor." 
 
 B" Papa," cried young Horace, straightening him- 
 If and casting a withering look upon Boyd, "I 
 nope neither you nor Brother Edward will ever give 
 in to them a single inch. Such insolence! " 
 
 " Let us change the subject," said old Mr. Dins- 
 more, "it is not an agreeable one." 
 
 It so happened that a few days after this Messrs. 
 Dinsmore, Travilla, and Leland were talking to 
 gether just within the entrance to the avenue at
 
 62 'ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Ion when "Wilkins Foster, George Boyd, and Cal- 
 houn Conly came riding by. 
 
 They brought their horses to a walk as they 
 neared the gate, and Foster called out sneeringly, 
 " Two scalawags and a carpet-bagger! fit company 
 for each other." 
 
 "So we think, sir," returned Travilla coolly, 
 t( though we do not accept the epithets you so 
 generously bestow upon us." 
 
 "It is an easy thing to call names; any fool is 
 equal to that," said Mr. Leland, in a tone of un 
 ruffled good-nature. 
 
 " True; and the weapon of vituperation is gener 
 ally used by those who lack brains for argument or 
 are upon the wrong side," observed Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 "Is that remark intended to apply to me, sir?" 
 asked Foster, drawing himself up with an air of 
 hauteur and defiance. 
 
 " Not particularly: but if you wish to prove your 
 self skilled in the other and more manly weapon, 
 we are ready to give you the opportunity." 
 
 " Yes; come in, gentlemen, and let us have a free 
 , and friendly discussion," said Mr. Travilla. 
 
 Boyd and Conly at once accepted the invitation, 
 jfout Foster, reining in his horse in the shade of a 
 tree at the gate, said: " No, thank you; I don't 
 care to alight, can talk from the saddle as well as 
 any way. I call you scalawags, Messrs. Dinsmore 
 and Travilla, because, thoiigh natives of the South, 
 you have turned against her."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 63 
 
 ** Altogether a mistake/' observed Travilla. 
 
 " I deny the charge and call upon you to prove 
 it" said Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 " Easy task; you kept away and took no part in 
 our struggle for independence." 
 
 " That is we (I speak for Travilla as well as my 
 self) had no share in the effort to overthrow the 
 best government in the world, the hope of the down 
 trodden and oppressed of all the earth; a struggle 
 which we foresaw would prove, as it has, the almost 
 utter destruction of our beloved South. They who 
 inaugurated secession were no true friends to 
 her." 
 
 " Sir! " cried Boyd, with angry excitement, " ours 
 was as righteous a cause as that of our Kevolution- 
 ary fathers." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore shook his head. " They fought 
 against unbearable tyranny; and that after having 
 exhausted every other means of obtaining a redress 
 of their grievances; and we had suffered no oppres 
 sion at the hands of the general government." 
 
 "Hadn't we?" interrupted Foster fiercely. 
 "Were the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law 
 carried out by the North? didn't some of the 
 Northern States pass laws in direct opposition to 
 it? and didn't Yankee abolitionists come down here 
 interfeiiug with our institutions and enticing our 
 negroes to run away, or something worse? " 
 
 :( Those were the acts of private individuals, and 
 individual States, entirely unsanctioned by the
 
 64 ELSIE'8 MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 general government, which really had always rather 
 favored us than otherwise." 
 
 " But uncle/' said Conly, " there would have been 
 no secession but for the election of Lincoln, an 
 abolition candidate." 
 
 "And who elected him? who but the Democrats 
 of the South? They made a division in the Demo 
 cratic party, purposely to enable the Kepublicans to 
 elect their man, that they might use his election as 
 a pretext for secession." 
 
 A long and hot discussion followed, each one 
 present taking more or less part in it. It was first; 
 the causes of the war, then the war itself; after 
 that the reconstruction policy of Congress, which 
 was bitterly denounced by Foster and Boyd. 
 
 " Never was a conquered people treated so shame 
 fully! " cried the former, " it is a thing hitherto 
 unheard of in the history of the world, that gentle 
 men should be put under the rule of their former 
 slaves." 
 
 " Softly, softly, sir," said Leland; " surely you 
 forget that the terms proposed by the fourteenth 
 amendment substantially left the power of the 
 State governments in your hands and enabled you 
 to limit suffrage and office to the white race. But 
 you rejected it, and refused to take part in the pre 
 liminary steps for reorganizing your State govern 
 ments. So the blacks acquired the right to vote and 
 hold office: they were, as a class, well meaning, but 
 ignorant, and their old masters refusing to accept
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 65 
 
 'office at their hands, or advise them in regard to 
 their new duties, they fell an easy prey to unscru 
 pulous white men, whose only care was to enrich 
 themselves by robbing the already impoverished 
 States, through corrupt legislation.* Now, sir, who 
 was it that really put you under the rule of your 
 former slaves, if you are there? " 
 
 Foster attempted no reply, but merely reiterated; 
 his assertion that no conquered people had ever 
 been so cruelly used; to which Messrs. Travilla, 
 Dinsmore, and Leland replied with a statement of 
 facts, i. e., that before the war was fairly over the 
 Government began to feed, clothe, shelter, and care 
 for the destitute of both colors, and millions were 
 distributed in supplies; that in 1865 a bureau was 
 organized for this purpose, and expended in relief, 
 education, and aid to people of both colors, and all 
 conditions, $13,230,327.40; while millions more 
 were given by charitable associations and citi 
 zens of the North: that the Government sold 
 thousands of farm animals in the South, at 
 low rates, and large quantities of clothing 
 and supplies at merely nominal prices, that 
 there had been no executions for treason, ne 
 confiscation of lands, but that some estates aban 
 doned by the owners during the war, and taken 
 possession of and cultivated by the Government, 
 had been returned in better condition than they 
 would have been in if permitted to lie idle; that 
 
 *8ee report of Congressional Committee of Investigation.
 
 <J6 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 the railroads of the South were worn out by the 
 war, woodwork rotted, rails and machinery worn 
 out; that the Government forces as they advanced, 
 captured the lines, repaired the tracks, rebuilt 
 bridges, and restored and renewed the rolling stock, 
 that at the close of the war the Government might 
 have held all these lines, but instead turned them 
 over to the stockholders, sold them the rolling stock 
 at low rates, and on long time, and advanced 
 millions of dollars to the Southern railroads; that 
 there were debts estimated, when the war began, at 
 three hundred millions of dollars due the merchants 
 of the North; that they compounded with their 
 Southern debtors, abating more than half their dues 
 and extending time for the payment of the remain 
 der; that a bankrupt act was passed enabling those 
 hopelessly involved to begin business anew. Sound 
 institutions took the places of the old broken banks, 
 and United States currency that of Confederate 
 notes, etc., etc.* 
 
 Foster attempted no denial of these facts, but 
 spoke bitterly of corruption among the State 
 government officials, resulting in ruinous taxation, 
 etc. 
 
 His antagonists freely admitted that there had 
 been frauds and great extravagance, yet claimed 
 that neither party was responsible for these, but 
 members of both and persons belonging to neither 
 who cared only for their own gains.* " And who," 
 
 *See Reports of Congressional Committee of Investigation.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 67 
 
 they asked, "are responsible for their success in 
 obtaining the positions which enable them thus to 
 rob the community? " 
 
 " They had no vote from me," said Foster. " But, 
 I say it again, we. have been shamefully treated; 
 if they'd confiscated my property and cut off my 
 head, I'd have suffered less than I have as things 
 have gone." 
 
 "Why not petition Congress for those little fa 
 vors? Possibly it may not yet be too late," re 
 turned Leland, laughing. 
 
 This ended the talk; Foster put spurs to his horse 
 and rode off in a rage. 
 
 " Come, Conly, we've surely had enough of this 
 Republican discourse: let us go also," said Boyd, 
 and with a haughty wave of his hand to the others, 
 he hurried into the road and remounted. 
 
 But Conly did not follow. Elsie joined the group 
 at that moment and, laying her hand on his arm, 
 said with one of her sweetest smiles: "Don't go, 
 Cal, you must stay and take tea with us; it is already 
 on the table." 
 
 " Thank you, I will," he said with a pleased look. 
 
 He was one of his cousin's ardent admirers, think 
 ing her the most beautiful, intelligent, fascinating 
 woman he had ever seen. 
 
 She extended her invitation to Leland and Boyd, 
 Mr. Travilla seconding it warmly, but it was cour 
 teously declined by both, and each went his way. 
 
 "Papa, you will not forsake us?" Elsie said gayly,
 
 68 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 putting both hands into his and smiling up into his 
 face, her sweet soft eyes, brimful of fond, filial 
 affection; " but you know you are at home and need 
 no invitation." 
 
 et Yes," he said, returning the smile, and holding 
 the hands fast for a moment, " I am at home and 
 shall stay for an hour or so."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness, 
 Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. 
 
 Shakipere's Twelfth Night. 
 
 "WiLL you walk into the library, gentlemen? I 
 have just received a package of new books, which, 
 perhaps, you would like to examine/' said Mr. Tra- 
 villa to his guests as they left the tea-table. 
 
 " Presently, thank you," Mr. Dinsmore answered, 
 catching Elsie's eye, and perceiving that she had 
 something for his private ear. 
 
 She took his arm and drew him out to her flower 
 garden, while her husband and Calhoun sought the 
 library. 
 
 " Papa, I want a word with you about Cal. I 
 do not like Foster and Boyd; that is, they seem to 
 me to be unprincipled men, of violent temper and 
 altogether very bad associates for him; and you 
 must have noticed how intimate he is with them of 
 late." 
 
 "Yes, I regret it, but have no authority to for 
 bid the intimacy/' 
 
 "I know; but, papa, you have great influence; 
 he is proud to be known as your nephew; and don't 
 
 69 

 
 10 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 you think you might be able to induce him to give 
 them up for some better friend my brother, for 
 instance? Papa, he is twenty-one now, and are not 
 his principles sufficiently fixed to enable him to 
 lead Cal and Arthur, doing them good instead of 
 being injured by association with them?" 
 
 " Yes, you are right; Horace is not one to be 
 easily led, and Calhoun is. I am glad you have 
 spoken and reminded me of my duty." 
 
 " My dear father, please do not think I was mean 
 ing to do that," she cried, blushing; " it would be 
 stepping out of my place. But Edward and I have 
 had several talks about Cal of late, and decided that 
 we will make him very welcome here, and try to do 
 him good. Edward suggested, too, what a good and 
 helpful friend Horace might be to him, if you 
 approved, and I said I would speak to you first, 
 and perhaps to my brother afterward." 
 
 " Quite right. I think Horace will be very will 
 ing. I should be loath to have him drawn into inti 
 macy with Boyd or Foster, but as he likes neither 
 their conduct nor their principles, I have little fear 
 of that." 
 
 They sauntered about the garden a few moments 
 longer, then rejoined the others, who were still in 
 the library. 
 
 The children were romping with each other and 
 Bruno on the veranda without; the merry shouts, 
 the silvery laughter coming pleasantly in through 
 the open windows.
 
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 71 
 
 " How happy they seem, Cousin Elsie/' remarked 
 Calhoun, turning to her. 
 
 " Yes, they are," she answered, smiling. "'You 
 are fond of children, Cal?" 
 
 " Yes; suppose you let me join them." 
 
 " Suppose we all do," suggested Mr. Dinsmore, 
 seeing Travilla lay aside his book, and listen with 
 a pleased smile to the glad young voices. 
 
 " With all my heart," said the latter as he rose 
 and led the way; " I find nothing more refreshing 
 after the day's duties are done than a romp with 
 my children." 
 
 For the next half hour they were all children 
 together; then Aunt Chloe and Dinah came to take 
 the little ones to bed, and Elsie, after seeing her 
 guests depart, followed to the nursery. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore rode over to Roselands with his 
 nephew, conversing all the way in a most entertain 
 ing manner, making no allusion to politics or to 
 Boyd or Foster. 
 
 Calhoun was charmed, and when his uncle urged 
 him to visit the Oaks more frequently, observing 
 that he had been there but one since Horace's 
 return from college, and proposing that he should 
 begin by coming to dinner the next day and staying 
 as long as suited his convenience, the invitation 
 was accepted with alacrity and delight. 
 
 On returning home Mr. Dinsmore explained his 
 views and wishes, witb. regard to Calhoun, to his 
 wife and son, who at once cordially fell in with
 
 72 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 them in doing all they could to make his visit enjoy 
 able. In fact, so agreeable did he find it that his 
 stay was prolonged to several days. 
 
 The morning papers one day brought news of 
 several fresh Ku Klux outrages, beatings, shoot 
 ings, hanging. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore read the account aloud at the 
 breakfast table, and again made some remarks 
 against the organization. 
 
 Calhoun listened in silence, then as Mr. Dinsmore 
 laid the paper down, "Uncle," said he doubtfully, 
 and with downcast troubled look, " don't you think 
 the reconstruction acts form some excuse for the 
 starting of such an organization ? " 
 
 " Let the facts answer," returned Mr. Dinsmore: 
 "the organization existed as early as 1866; the 
 reconstruction acts were passed in March, 1867." * 
 
 "Ah, yes, sir, I had forgotten the dates; I've 
 heard that reason given; and another excuse is the 
 fear of a conspiracy among the negroes to rob and 
 murder the whites: and I think you can't deny that 
 they are thievish." 
 
 " I don't deny, Cal, that some individuals among 
 them have been guilty of lawless acts, particularly 
 stealing articles of food; but they are poor and 
 ignorant; have been kept in ignorance so long that 
 we cannot reasonably expect in them a very strong 
 sense of the rights of property and the duty of 
 obedience to law; yet I have never been able to dis- 
 *8ee Reports of Congressional Committee of Investigation
 
 'ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 73 
 
 cover any indications of combined lawlessness 
 among them. On the contrary they are themselves 
 fearful of attack." 
 
 "Well, sir, then there were those organizations 
 in the other the Eepuhlican party; the Union 
 Leagues and Redstrings. I've been told the Ku 
 Klux Klan was gotten up in opposition to them." 
 
 "I presume so, but Union Leaguers and Red- 
 strings do not go about in disguise, robbing, beat 
 ing, murdering." 
 
 "But then the carpet-baggers," said Calhoun, 
 waxing warm, " putting mischief into the negroes' 
 heads, getting into office and robbing the State 
 in the most shameless wholesale manner; they're 
 excuse enough for the doings of the Ku Klux." 
 
 " Ah! " said his uncle, " but you forget that their 
 organization was in existence before the robberies 
 of the State began: also that they do not trouble 
 corruptionists: and why? because they are men of 
 both parties; some of them men who direct and 
 control, and might easily suppress, the Klan. Xo, 
 no, Cal, judged out of their own mouths, by their 
 words to their victims, with some of whom I have 
 conversed, their ruling motives are hostility to the 
 Government, to the enjoyment of the negro of the 
 rights given him by the amendments to the Consti 
 tution, and by the laws which they are organized to 
 oppose.* Their real object is the overthrow of the 
 State governments and the return of the negro to 
 
 * See Reports of Congressional Committee of Investigation,
 
 fr4 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 bondage. And tell me, Cal, do you look upon these 
 midnight attacks of overpowering numbers of dis 
 guised men upon the weak and helpless, some of 
 them women, as manly deeds? Is it a noble act for 
 white men to steal from the poor ignorant black 
 his mule, his arms } his crops, the fruit of his hard 
 labor? " 
 
 " No, sir," returned Calhoun half -reluctantly, his 
 face flushing hotly. 
 
 "No, emphatically no, say I! " cried Horace, Jr.; 
 "what could be more base, mean, or cowardly?" 
 
 "You don't belong, do you, Cal?" asked Eosie 
 suddenly. 
 
 He dropped his knife and fork, his face fairly 
 ablaze. " What what could you make you think 
 that, Eosie? No, no, I don't belong to any organi 
 zation that acknowledges that name." 
 
 A suspicion for the first time flashed upon Mr. 
 Dinsmore, a suspicion of the truth. Calhoun Conly 
 was already a member of the White Brotherhood, 
 the name by which the Klan was known among 
 themselves, Ku Klux being the one given to the 
 world at large; that thus they might avail them 
 selves of the miserable, Jesuitical subterfuge Cal 
 houn had just used. 
 
 He had been wheedled into joining it by Foster 
 and Boyd, who utterly deceived him in regard to 
 its objects. He had never taken part in the out 
 rages, and was now fully determined that he never 
 would; resolving that while keeping its secrets, tho
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 5-5 
 
 penalty of the exposure of which was death, he 
 would quietly withdraw and attend no more of its 
 meetings. He understood the language of the 
 searching look Mr. Dinsmore gave him, and seized 
 the first opportunity for a word in private, to vindi 
 cate himself. 
 
 " Uncle," he said with frank sincerity, " I am 
 not free to tell you everything, as I could wish, but 
 I hope you will believe ne when I assure you that 
 I never had any share in the violent doings of the 
 Ku Klux, and never will." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore bent upon him a second look of 
 keen scrutiny. Conly bore it without flinching; and 
 extending his hand, his uncle replied, " I think I 
 understand the situation: but I will trust you, Cal, 
 and not fear that in entertaining you here I am 
 harboring a hypocrite and spy who may betray my 
 family and myself into the hands of midnight 
 assassins." 
 
 " Thanks, uncle, you shall never have cause to 
 repent of your confidence," the lad answered withi 
 a flush of honest pride. 
 
 He returned to Eoselands the next day, and went 
 directly to an uppe* room, at some distance from 
 those usually occupied by the family, from whence 
 came the busy hum of a sewing machine. 
 
 The door was securely fastened on the inner side, 
 but opened immediately in response to three quick, 
 sharp taps of a pencil which Calhoun took from his 
 pocket.
 
 76 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 It was his mother's face that looked cautiously 
 out upon him. " Oh, you have returned," she said 
 in an undertone; " well, come in. I'm glad to see 
 you." 
 
 He stepped in, and she locked the door again, and 
 sitting down, resumed the work, which it seemed 
 had been laid aside to admit him. She was making 
 odd looking rolls of cotton cloth, stuffing them 
 with cotton wool. 
 
 Mrs. Johnson, the only other person present, was 
 seated before the sewing machine stitching a seam 
 in a long garment of coarse, white linen. 
 
 "How d'ye do, Cal? " she said, looking up for an 
 instant to give him a nod. 
 
 He returned the greeting, and taking a chair by 
 Mrs. Conly's side, "All well, mother?" he asked. 
 
 " Quite. You're just in time to tell me whether 
 these are going to look right. You know we've 
 never seen any, and have only your description to 
 go by." 
 
 She held up a completed roll. It looked like a 
 horn, tapering nearly to a point. 
 
 " I think so," he said; " but, mother, you needn't 
 finish mine: I shall never use it." 
 
 " Calhoun Conly, what do you mean? " she cried, 
 dropping the roll into her lap and gazing at him 
 with kindling eyes. 
 
 " You're not going to back out of it now? " ex 
 claimed Enna, leaving her machine and approach 
 ing him in sudden and violent anger. "You'd
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 77 
 
 better take care, coward! they'll kill you if you 
 turn traitor; and right they should too." 
 
 " I shall not turn traitor/' he said quietly; " but 
 neither shall I go any farther than I have gone. 
 I should never have joined, if Boyd and Foster 
 hadn't deceived me as to the objects of the organiza 
 tion." 
 
 " But you have joined, Cal, and I'll not consent 
 to your giving it up," said his mother. 
 
 " I don't like to vex you, mother," he answered, 
 reddening, " but " 
 
 u But you'll have your own way, whether it dis 
 pleases me or not? A dutiful son, truly." 
 
 " This is Horace's work, and he's a scalawag, if 
 he is my brother," cried Enna, with growing pas 
 sion; " but if I were you, Cal Conly, I'd be man 
 enough to have an opinion of my own, and stick 
 to it." 
 
 "Exactly what I'm doing, Aunt Enna. I went 
 into the thing blindfold; I have found out what it 
 really is a cruel, cowardly, lawless concern and 
 I wash my hands of it and its doings." 
 
 Bowing ceremoniously, he unlocked the door and 
 left the room. 
 
 Enna sprang to it and fastened it after him. 
 " If he was my son, I'd turn him out of the house." 
 
 "Father would hardly consent," replied her 
 sister; "and if he did, what good would it do? 
 Horace or Travilla would take him in of course." 
 " Well, thank Heaven, Boyd and Foster are made
 
 ?8 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 of sterner stuff, and our labor's not all lost/' said 
 Enna, returning to her machine. 
 
 The two ladies had been spending many hours 
 every day in that room for a week past, no one but 
 Calhoun being admitted to their secrets, for 
 'whether in the room or out of it they kept the door 
 Always carefully locked. 
 
 The curiosity of servants and children was 
 strongly excited, but vain had been all their ques 
 tions and coaxing, futile every attempt to solve 
 the mystery up to the present time. 
 
 But three or four days after Calhoun's return 
 from the Oaks the thought suggested itself to mis 
 chievous, prying Dick and his coadjutor Walter, 
 that the key of some other lock in the house might 
 fit that of the door they so ardently desired to open. 
 They only waited for a favorable opportunity to test 
 the question in the temporary absence of their 
 mothers from that part of the building, and to 
 their great joy discovered that the key of the bed 
 room they shared together was the duplicate of the 
 one which had so long kept their masculine curi 
 osity at bay. 
 
 It turned readily in the lock, and with a smoth 
 ered exclamation of delight they rushed in and 
 glanced eagerly about. 
 
 At first they saw nothing in any way remarkable 
 the familiar furniture, the sewing machine, the 
 work-table and baskets of their mothers, a few 
 shreds of white cotton and linen, a scrap here and
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 79 
 
 there of red braid littering the carpet near the 
 machine, and the low rocking-chair used by Mrs. 
 Conly. 
 
 " Pooh! nothing here to be so secret about," 
 cried Walter, but Dick, nodding his head wisely 
 said: " Let's look a little further. What's in that 
 closet?" 
 
 They ran to it, opened the door, and started back 
 in sudden momentary affright. 
 
 " 'Taint alive," said Dick, the bolder of the two, 
 quickly recovering himself; " horrid thing! I 
 reckon I know what 'tis," and he whispered a few 
 words in his companion's ear. 
 
 Walter gave a nod of acquiescence in the opinion. 
 
 " Here's another 'most finished," pursued Dick, 
 dragging out and examining a bundle he found 
 lying on the closet floor. (The one which had so 
 startled them hung on the wall.) "We'll have 
 some fun out of 'em one of these times when it's 
 ready, eh, Wai?" 
 
 " Yes, but let's put 'em back, and hurry off now, 
 for fear somebody should come and catch us. I'm 
 afraid those folks in the drawing-room may go, and 
 our mothers come up to their work again." 
 
 " So they might, to be sure," said Dick, rolling 
 up the bundle and bestowing it in its former rest 
 ing place. "We must be on the watch, Wai, or 
 we'll miss our chance; they'll be sending them out 
 o' this about as soon as they're finished." 
 
 "Yes. Who do you think they're for?"
 
 80 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 (The boys scorned the rules of English grammar, 
 and refused to be fettered by them. Was not theirs 
 a land of free speech for the aristocratic class to 
 which they undoubtedly belonged?) 
 
 " Cal and Art, of course." 
 
 u Don't you believe it, Art cares for nothing but 
 his books and Silverheels. Wasn't that a jolly 
 birthday present, Dick? I wish Travilla and Cousin 
 Elsie would remember ours the same way." 
 
 "Eeckon I do. There, everything's just a* we 
 found it. Now let's skedaddle."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A horrid spectre rises to my sight, 
 Close by my side, and plain, and palpable 
 In all good seeming and close circumstance 
 As man meets man. 
 
 Joanna Baillie, 
 
 IT was a sultry summer night, silent and still, 
 not a leaf stirring, hardly so much as the chirp of 
 an insect to be heard. The moon looked down 
 from a cloudless sky upon green lawns and mead 
 ows, fields, and forests clothed in richest verdure; 
 gardens, where bloomed lovely flowers in the great 
 est variety and profusion, filling the air in their 
 immediate vicinity with an almost overpowering 
 sweetness; a river flowing silently to the sea; cabins 
 where the laborer rested from his toil, and lordlier 
 dwellings, where perchance the rich man tossed 
 restlessly on his more luxurious couch. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Travilla had spent the earlier part 1 
 of the evening at the Oaks, and after their return,; 
 tempted by the beauty of the night, had sat con 
 versing together in the veranda long after their 
 usual hour f er retiring. Now they were both sleep 
 ing soundly. 
 
 Perhaps the only creature awake about the housif 
 or on the plantation was Bungy the great watch 
 
 81
 
 82 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 dog, who, released from the chain that bound him 
 during the day, was going his rounds keeping guard 
 over his master's property. 
 
 A tiny figure clothed in white stole noiselessly 
 from the house, flitted down the avenue, out into 
 the road beyond, and on and on till lost to view in 
 the distance. So light was the tread of the little 
 bare feet that Bungy did not hear it, nor was 
 Bruno, sleeping on the veranda, aroused. 
 
 On and on it glided, the little figure, now in the 
 shadow of the trees that skirted the roadside, now 
 out in the broad moonbeams where they fell un 
 impeded upon dew-laden grass and dusty highway 
 alike. 
 
 Ion had been left more than a mile behind, yet 
 farther and farther the bit feetie were straying, 
 farther from home and love and safety, when a 
 grotesque, hideous form suddenly emerged from a 
 wood on the opposite side of the road. 
 
 Seemingly of gigantic stature, it wore a long, 
 white garment, that, enveloping it from head to 
 foot, trailed upon the ground, rattling as it moved, 
 and glistening in the moonlight; the head was 
 adorned with three immense horns, white, striped 
 with red, a nose of proportional size, red eyes and 
 eyebrows, and a wide, grinning red mouth, filled 
 with horrible tusks, out of which lolled a long red 
 tongue. 
 
 Catching sight of the small white form gliding 
 along on the other side of the road, it uttered a
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 83 
 
 low exclamation of mingled wonder, awe, and super 
 stitious dread. 
 
 But at that instant a distant sound was heard 
 like the rumble of approaching wheels, and it 
 stepped quickly behind a tree. 
 
 Another minute or so and a stage came rattling 
 down the road, the hideous monster stepped boldly 
 out from the shadow of the tree, there was the 
 sharp crack of a rifle, and the driver of the stage 
 tumbled from his high seat into the road. The 
 horses started madly forward, but some one caught 
 the reins and presently brought them to a stand 
 still. 
 
 " Ku Klux! " exclaimed several voices, as the 
 trailing, rattling white gown disappeared in the 
 recesses of the wood. 
 
 The stage door was thrown open, three of four 
 men alighted, and going to the body stooped over 
 it, touched it, spoke to it, asking, " Are you badly 
 hurt, Jones?" 
 
 But there was no answer. 
 
 " Dead, quite dead," said one. 
 
 "Yes, what shall we do with him?" 
 
 " Lift him into the stage and take him to the next 
 town." 
 
 The last speaker took hold of the head of the 
 corpse, the others assisted, and in a few moments 
 the vehicle was on its way again with its load of 
 living and dead. 
 
 No one had noticed the tiny white figure which
 
 84 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 BOW crouched behind a clump of bushes weeping 
 bitterly and talking to itself, but in a subdued way, 
 AS if fearful of being overhead. 
 
 " Where am I? Oh, mamma, papa, come and help 
 your little Vi! I don't know how I got here. Oh, 
 where are you, my own mamma? " A burst of sobs; 
 then "Oh, I'm so 'fraid! and mamma can't hear 
 me, nor papa; but Jesus can; I'll ask him to take 
 care of me; and he will." 
 
 The small white hands folded themselves together 
 and the low sobbing cry went up, " Dear Jesus, take 
 care of your little Vi and don't let anysing hurt 
 her; and please bring papa to take her home." 
 
 At Ion little Elsie woke and missed her sister. 
 They slept together in a room opening into the 
 nursery on one side and the bedroom of their 
 parents on the other. Doors and windows stood 
 wide open, and the moon gave sufficient light for the 
 child to see at a glance that Vi was no longer by her 
 side. 
 
 Slipping out of bed, she went softly about search 
 ing for her, thinking to herself the while, " She's 
 walking in her sleep again, dear little pet, and I'm 
 afraid she may get hurt; perhaps fall downstairs." 
 
 She had heard such fears expressed by her papa 
 and mamma since of late Violet had several times 
 risen and strayed about the house in a state of 
 somnambulism. 
 
 Elsie passed from room to room, growing more 
 and more anxious and alarmed every moment at
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 85 
 
 her continued failure to find any trace of the miss 
 ing one. She must have help. 
 
 Dinah, who had care of the little ones, slept in 
 the nursery. Going up to her bed, Elsie shook her 
 gently. 
 
 "What's de matter, honey?" asked the girl, 
 opening her eyes and raising herself to a sitting 
 posture. 
 
 " Where's Violet? I can't find her." 
 
 "Miss Wi'let? aint she fas' asleep side o' you, 
 Miss Elsie?" 
 
 " No, no, she isn't there, nor in any of mamma's 
 rooms. I've looked through them all. Oh, Dinah, 
 where is she? We must find her: come with me, 
 quick! " 
 
 Dinah was already out of bed and turning up the 
 night lamp. 
 
 " I'll go all ober de house, honey," she said, " but 
 'spect you better wake yo' pa. He'll want to look 
 for Miss Wi'let hisself ." 
 
 Elsie nodded assent, and hastening to his side 
 softly stroked his face with her hand, kissed him, 
 and putting her lips close to his ear, whispered half 
 sobbingly. "Papa, papa, Vi's gone! we can't find 
 her." 
 
 He was wide awake instantly. " Run back to 
 your bed, darling," he said; " and don't cry; papa 
 will soon find her." 
 
 He succeeded in throwing on his clothes and 
 leaving the room without rousing his wife. He
 
 86 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 felt some anxiety, but the idea that the child had 
 left the house never entered his mind until a thor 
 ough search seemed to give convincing proof that 
 she was not in it. 
 
 He went out upon the veranda. Bruno rose, 
 stretched himself, and uttered a low whine. 
 
 "Bruno, where is our little Violet?" asked Mr. 
 Travilla, stooping to pat the dog's head and showing 
 him the child's slipper, " lead the way, sir; we must 
 find her." There was a slight tremble in his tones. 
 
 " Dinah," he said, turning to the girl, who stood 
 sobbing in the doorway, "if your mistress wakes 
 while I am gone, tell her not to be alarmed; no 
 doubt with Bruno's help I shall very soon find the 
 child and bring her safely back. See, he has the 
 scent already," as the dog, who had been snuffing 
 about, suddenly started off at a brisk trot down the 
 avenue. 
 
 Mr. Travilla hurried after, his fatherly heart 
 beating with mingled hope and fear. 
 
 On and on they went, closely following in the 
 footsteps of the little runaway. The dog presently 
 left the road that passed directly in front of Ion and 
 turned into another, crossing it at right angles, 
 which was the stage route between the next town 
 and the neighboring city. 
 
 It was now some ten or fifteen minutes since the 
 stage had passed this spot bearing the dead body of 
 the driver who had met h;s tragical end some quar 
 ter of a mile beyond.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 87 
 
 The loud rumble of the wheels had waked little 
 Vi, and as in a flash she had seen the whole the 
 horrible apparition in its glistening, rattling robes 
 step out from behind a tree and fire, and the tumble 
 of its victim to the dusty road. Then she had sunk 
 down upon the ground overpowered with terror. 
 
 But the thought of the almighty Friend who, she 
 had been taught, was ever near and able to help, 
 calmed her fears somewhat. 
 
 She was still on her knees sobbing out her little 
 prayer over and over again, when a dark object 
 bounded to her side, and Bruno's nose was thrust 
 rather unceremoniously into her face. 
 
 " Bruno, you good Bruno ! " she cried, clasping 
 her arms about his neck, " take me home! take me 
 home! " 
 
 "Ah, papa will do that, now he has found his 
 lost darling," said a loved voice, as a strong arm 
 put aside the brushes and grasped her slight form 
 with a firm, but tender hold. " How came my little 
 pet here so far away from home? " he asked, draw 
 ing her to his breast. 
 
 " I don't know, papa," she sobbed, nestling in his 
 arms and clinging about his neck, her wet cheek 
 laid close to his; " that carriage waked me, and I 
 was 'way out here, and that dreadful thing was over 
 there by a tree, and it shooted the man, and he 
 tumbled off on the ground. Oh, papa, hurry, hurry- 
 fast, and let's go home; it might come back and 
 shoot us too."
 
 88 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " What thing, daughter? " he asked, soothing Her 
 with tender caresses, as still holding her to his 
 breast he walked rapidly toward home. 
 
 " Great big white thing, with horns, papa." 
 
 " I think my pet has been dreaming? " 
 
 " No, no, papa, I did see it, and it fired, and the 
 man tumbled off, and the horses snorted and ran so 
 fast; then they stopped, and the other mans came 
 back, and I heard them say, ' He's killed; he's quite 
 dead.' Oh, papa, I'm so frightened! " and she clung 
 to him with convulsive grasp, sobbing almost 
 hysterically. 
 
 " There, there, darling; papa has you safe in his 
 arms. Thank God for taking care of my little pet," 
 he said, clasping her closer, and quickening his pace, 
 while Bruno, wagging his tail and barking joyously, 
 gambolled about them, now leaping up to touch his 
 tongue to the little dusty toes, now bounding on 
 ahead, and anon returning to repeat his loving 
 caress; and so at last they arrived at home. 
 
 Mr. Travilla had scarcely left the house ere the 
 babe waked his mother. She missed her husband 
 at once, and hearing a half smothered sob coming 
 from the room occupied by her daughters, she rose, 
 and with the babe in her arms hastened to ascer 
 tain the cause. 
 
 She found Elsie alone, crying on the bed with her 
 face half hidden in the pillows. 
 
 " My darling, what is it ? " asked the mother's 
 sweet voice. "But where is Vi?"
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 89 
 
 **0h, mamma,, I don't know; that is the reason 
 t can't help crying," said the child, raising herself 
 and putting her arms about her mother's neck, as 
 the latter sat down on the side of the bed. " But 
 don't be alarmed, mamma, for papa has gone to 
 find her." 
 
 "Where, daughter? she cannot have gone out of 
 the house, surely? " 
 
 At this instant Dinah appeared and delivered her 
 master's message. 
 
 To obey his injunction not to be alarmed was 
 quite impossible to the loving mother heart, but 
 she endeavored to conceal her anxiety and to over 
 come it by casting her care on the Lord. The babe 
 had fallen asleep again, and laying him gently down, 
 she took Elsie in her arms and comforted her with 
 caresses and words of hope and cheer. 
 
 " Mamma," said the little girl, " I cannot go to 
 sleep again till papa comes back." 
 
 " No, I see you can't, nor can I, so we will put 
 on our dressing-gowns and slippers, and sit together 
 ut the window, to watch for him, and when we see 
 him coming up the avenue with Vi in his arms we 
 will run to meet them." 
 
 So they did, and the little lost one, found again, 
 was welcomed by mother and sister, and afterward 
 by nurse and mammy, with tender, loving words, 
 caresses, and tears of joy. 
 
 Then Dinah carried her to the nursery, washed 
 the soiled, tired little feet, changed the draggled
 
 90 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 night-gown for a fresh and clean one, and witK 
 many a hug and honeyed word, carried her back to 
 bed, saying, as she laid her down in it, " Now, 
 darlin', don't you git out ob heyah no mo' till 
 mornin'." 
 
 " No, I'll hold her fast; and papa has locked the 
 doors so she can't get out of these rooms," said 
 Elsie, throwing an arm over Vi. 
 
 " Yes, hold me tight, tight," murmured Vi, cud 
 dling down close to her sister, and almost immedi 
 ately falling asleep, for she was worn out with 
 fatigue and excitement. 
 
 Elsie lay awake some time longer, her young heart 
 singing for joy over her recovered treasure, but at 
 length fell asleep also, with the murmur of her 
 parents' voices in her ears. 
 
 They were talking of Violet, expressing their 
 gratitude to God that no worse consequences had 
 resulted from her escapade, and consulting together 
 how to prevent a repetition of it. 
 
 Mr. Travilla repeated to his wife the child's 
 story of her awaking, and what she had seen and 
 heard. 
 
 " Oh, my poor darling, what a terrible fright for 
 her! " Elsie exclaimed; " but do you not think it 
 must have been all a dream?" 
 
 " That was my first thought; but on further con 
 sideration I fear it may have been another Ku Klux 
 outrage. I dare say the disguise worn by them 
 may answer to her description of t the horrible thing
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 91 
 
 that shooted the man '; I judge so from what I have 
 heard of it." 
 
 "But who could have been the victim?" she 
 asked with a shudder. 
 
 "I do not know. But her carriage was probably 
 the stage: it was about the hour for it to pass." 
 
 Day was already dawning, and they did not sleep 
 again. 
 
 Mr. Travilla had gone on his regular morning 
 round over the plantation, and Elsie stole softly 
 into the room of her little daughters. 
 
 Though past their usual hour for rising they still 
 slept, and she meant to let them do so as long as 
 they would. They made a lovely picture lying there 
 clasped in each other's arms. Her heart swelled 
 with tender emotions, love, joy, and gratitude to 
 Him who had given these treasures and preserved 
 them thus far from all danger and evil. She bent 
 over them, pressing a gentle kiss upon each round 
 rosy cheek. 
 
 Little Elsie's brown eyes opened wide, and put 
 ting her arm about her mother's neck, " Mamma," 
 she whispered, with a sweet, glad smile, "was not 
 God very good to give us back our Vi? " 
 
 "Yes, dearest, oh, so much better than we de 
 serve! " 
 
 Violet started up to a sitting posture. " Mamma, 
 oh, mamma, I did have a dreadful, dreadful dream! 
 that I was 'way off from you and papa, out in the 
 night in the woods, and I saw "
 
 92 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 She ended with a burst of frightened sobs and 
 tears, hiding her face on the bosom of her mother, 
 who already held her closely clasped to her beating 
 heart. 
 
 " Don't think of it, darling, you are safe now in 
 your own dear home with papa and mamma and 
 sister and brothers." Tender, soothing caresses 
 accompanied the loving words. 
 
 "Mamma, did I dream it?" asked the child, lift 
 ing her tearful face, and shuddering as she spoke. 
 
 The mother was too truthful to say yes, though 
 she would have been glad her child should think 
 it but a dream. 
 
 " Perhaps some of it was, daughter," she said, 
 " though my pet did walk out in her sleep; but papa 
 is going to manage things so that she can never do 
 it again. And God. will take care of us, my darling." 
 
 The sobs grew fainter and softly sighing, " Yes, 
 mamma," she said, " I asked him to send papa to 
 bring me home, and he did." 
 
 " And papa came in here this morning and kissed 
 both his girls before he went downstairs. Did you 
 know that? " 
 
 "Did he? Oh, I wish I'd waked to give him a 
 good hug! " 
 
 " I too," said Elsie. " Papa loves us very much, 
 doesn't he, mamma?" 
 
 " Dearly, dearly, my child; you and all his little 
 ones." 
 
 Vi's tears were dried, and when her father came
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 93 
 
 in she met him with a cheerful face, quite ready 
 for the customary romp, but days passed ere she 
 was again her own bright, merry self, or seemed 
 content unless clinging close to one or the other 
 of her parents. 
 
 While the family were at the breakfast table 
 Uncle Joe came in with the mail, his face full of 
 excitement and terror. 
 
 " Dem Ku Kluxes dey's gettin' awful dangerous, 
 massa," he said, laying down the bag with a trem 
 bling hand; " dey's gone an' shot the stage drivah 
 an' killed 'um dead on the spot. Las' night, sah, 
 jes ober yondah in de road todder side o' Mars Le- 
 land's place, and " 
 
 Mr. Travilla stopped him in the midst of his 
 story with a warning gesture and an anxious glance 
 from one to another of the wondering, half fright 
 ened little faces about the table. 
 
 "Another time and place, Uncle Joe." 
 
 " Yes, sah, beg pardon, sah, Massa Edard," and 
 the old man, now growing quite infirm from age, 
 hobbled away talking to himself. " Sure miff, you 
 ole fool, Joe, might 'a knowed you shouldn't tole 
 no such tings fo' de chillum." 
 
 " Was it 'bout my dream, papa? " Vi asked with 
 quivering lip and fast filling eyes. 
 
 " Never mind, little daughter; we needn't trouble 
 about our dreams," he said cheerily, and began talk 
 ing of something else, in a lively strain that soon 
 set them all to laughing.
 
 94 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 It was not until family worship was over and the 
 children had left the room that he said to his wife, 
 "The Ku Klux were abroad last night, and I have 
 no doubt Uncle Joe's story is quite true, and that 
 our poor little Vi really saw the murder." 
 
 Elsie gave him a startled, inquiring look. " You 
 have another proof? " 
 
 " Yes; Lei and and I met in going our rounds 
 this morning, and he told me he had found a 
 threatening note, signed ' K. K. K.,' tacked to his 
 gate, and had torn it down immediately, hoping to 
 conceal the matter from his wife, who, he says, is 
 growing nervously fearful for his safety." 
 
 " Oh, what a dreadful state of things ! Do these 
 madmen realize that they are ruining their coun 
 try?" 
 
 " Little they care for that, if they can but gain 
 their ends the subversion of the Government, and 
 the return of the negro to his former state of 
 bondage." 
 
 She was standing by his side, her hand on his 
 {arm. " My husband," she said in trembling tones, 
 [looking up into his face with brimming eyes, " what 
 (may they not do next? I begin to fear for you and 
 my father and brother." 
 
 i " I think you need not, little wife," he said, 
 drawing her head to a resting place on his shoul 
 der, and passing his hand caressingly over her hair; 
 "I think they will hardly meddle with us, natives 
 of the place, and men of wealth and influence.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 85 
 
 And/' he added low and reverently, "are we not 
 all in the keeping of Him without whom not one 
 hair of our heads can fall to the ground? " 
 
 "Yes, yes, I will trust and not be afraid," she 
 answered, smiling sweetly through her tears. Then 
 catching sight, through the open window, of a 
 couple of horsemen coming up the avenue, "Ah, 
 there are papa and Horace now! " she cried, run~ 
 ning joyfully out to meet them. 
 
 " Have you heard of last night's doings of thfl 
 Ku Klux?" were the first words of Horace, Jr., 
 when the greetings had been exchanged. 
 
 " Run away, dears, run away to your play," Elsie 
 said to her children, and at once they obeyed. 
 
 " Uncle Joe came in this morning with a story 
 that Jones the stage driver had been shot by them 
 last night in this vicinity," Mr. Travilla answered, 
 "but I stopped him in the midst of it, as the chijk 
 dren were present. Is it a fact ? " 
 
 " Only too true," replied Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 " Yes," said Horace, " I rode into the town be 
 fore breakfast, found it full of excitement, the story 
 on everybody's tongue, and quite a large crowd 
 about the door of the house where the body of the 
 murdered man lay." 
 
 " And is the murderer still at large? " asked Elsie. 
 
 r< Yes; and the worst of it is that no one seems 
 to have the least idea who he is." 
 
 " The disguise preventing recognition, of course," 
 said Mr. Travilla.
 
 96 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Then the grandfather and uncle were surprised 
 with an account of little Vi's escapade. 
 
 "If Violet were my child/' said Mr. Dinsmore, 
 "I should consult Dr. Burton about her at once. 
 There must be undue excitement of the brain that 
 might be remedied by proper treatment." 
 
 Elsie cast an anxious look at her husband. 
 
 "I shall send for the doctor immediately," he 
 said, and summoning a servant, despatched him at 
 once upon the errand. 
 
 "Don't be alarmed, daughter," Mr. Dinsmore 
 said; " doubtless a little care will soon set matters 
 right with the child." 
 
 " Yes; I do not apprehend any thing serious, if 
 the thing is attended to in time," Mr. Travilla 
 added cheerfully; then went on to tell of the notice 
 affixed to Fairview gate. 
 
 They were all of the opinion that these evil 
 doers should, if possible, be brought to justice; but 
 the nature and extent of the organization rendered 
 it no easy matter for the civil courts to deal with 
 them. The order being secret, the members were 
 .known as such only among themselves; when 
 strangers, recognizing each other by secret signs. 
 They were sworn to aid and defend a brother mem 
 ber under all circumstances; were one justly accused 
 of crime, others would come forward and prove an 
 alibi by false swearing; were they on the jury, they 
 would acquit him though perfectly cognizant of his 
 guilt. In some places the sheriff and his deputies
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 97 
 
 were members, perhaps the judge also.* Thus it 
 happened that though one or two persons who had 
 been heard to talk threateningly about Jones, as 
 " a carpet-bagger and Kepublican, who should be 
 gotten rid of, by fair means or foul," were arrested 
 on suspicion, they were soon set at liberty again, 
 and his death remained unavenged. 
 
 *See Reports of Congressional Committee of Investigation.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 I feel my sinews slackened with the fright, 
 And a cold sweat thrills down o'er all my limbs 
 As if I were dissolving into water. 
 
 Dryden. 
 
 EAELT one evening, a few days subsequent to the 
 tragical death of Jones, the Ion family carriage, 
 well freighted, was bowling along the road leading 
 toward the Oaks. 
 
 A heavy shower had laid the dust and cooled the 
 air, and the ride past blooming hedgerows and fer 
 tile fields was very delightful. The parents were in 
 cheerful mood, the children gay and full of life and 
 fun. 
 
 " Oh, yonder is grandpa's carriage coming this 
 way! " cried Eddie, as they neared the cross-road 
 which must be taken to reach Roselands in the one 
 direction and Ashlands in the other. 
 
 " Yes, turn out here, Solon, and wait for them to 
 come up," said Mr. Travilla. 
 
 " On your way to the Oaks ? " Mr. Dinsmore 
 queried as his carriage halted alongside of the other. 
 " Well, we will turn about and go with you." 
 
 "No, we were going to Roselands; but will put
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 99 
 
 off the call to another day, if you were coming iti 
 Ion," Mr. Travilla answered. 
 
 No, the Dinsmores had not set out for Ion, but 
 to visit Sophie at Ashlands; Daisy, her youngest 
 child, was very ill. 
 
 " I wish you would go with us, Elsie," Kose said 
 to Mrs. Travilla. " I know it would be a comfort 
 to Sophie to see you." 
 
 " Yes, we have plenty of room here," added Mr. 
 Dinsmore; "and your husband and children can 
 certainly spare you for an hour or so." 
 
 Elsie looked inquiringly at her husband. 
 
 "Yes, go, wife, if you feel inclined," he said 
 pleasantly. " The children shall not lose their ride. 
 I will go on to Koselands with them, make a short 
 call, as I have a little business with your grand 
 father, then take them home." 
 
 " And we will have their mother there probably 
 shortly after," said Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 So the exchange was made and the carriages drove 
 on, taking opposite directions when they came to 
 the cross-road. 
 
 Arrived at Eoselands, Mr. Travilla found only 
 the younger members of the family at home, the 
 old gentleman having driven out with his daugh 
 ters. Calhoun thought, however, that they would 
 return shortly, and was hospitably urgent that the 
 visitors should all come in and rest and refresh 
 ihemselves. 
 
 The younger cousins joined in the entreaty, and
 
 100 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 his own children seeming desirous to accept the 
 invitation, Mr. Travilla permitted them to do so. 
 
 They, with Aunt Chloe and Dinah, were pres 
 ently carried off to the nursery by Molly Percival 
 and the Conly girls, while their father walked into 
 the grounds with Calhoun and Arthur. 
 
 "Wai," whispered Dick to his cousin, drawing 
 him aside unnoticed by the rest, who were wholly 
 taken up with each other, "now's our time for 
 some fun with those Ku Klux things. They must 
 be about done, and I reckon will be packed off out 
 o* the house before long." 
 
 Walter nodded assent; they stole unobserved from 
 the room, flew up to their own for the key, hurried 
 to the sewing-room of their mothers, and finding 
 there two disguises nearly completed, sufficiently 
 so for their purpose, arrayed themselves in them, 
 slipped unseen down a back staircase, and dashing 
 open the nursery door, bounded with a loud whoop 
 into the midst of its occupants. 
 
 Children and nurses joined in one wild shriek of 
 terror, and made a simultaneous rush for the doors, 
 tumbling over each other in their haste and affright. 
 
 But fortunately for them, Mr. Travilla and Cal 
 houn had come in from the grounds, were on their 
 way to the nursery, and entered it from the hall but 
 a moment later than the boys did by the opposite 
 door. 
 
 Mr. Travilla instantly seized Dick (Calhoun doing 
 the same by Walter), tore off his disguise, and pick-
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 101 
 
 ing up a riding-whip, lying conveniently at hand, 
 ; .dministered a castigation that made the offender 
 yell and roar for mercy. 
 
 , "You scoundrel!" replied the gentleman, still 
 laying on his blows, " I have scant mercy for a great 
 '.strong boy who amuses himself by frightening 
 jyomen and helpless little children." 
 
 "But you're not my father, and have no right, 
 oh, oh, oh! " blubbered Dick, trying to dodge the 
 blows and wrench himself free. " I'll I'll sue you 
 for assault and battery." 
 
 " Very well, I'll give you plenty while I'm about 
 it, and if you don't want a second dose you will 
 refrain from frightening my children in future." 
 
 It was an exciting scene, Walter getting almost 
 as severe handling from Calhoun, nurses and chil 
 dren huddling together in the farthest corner of the 
 room, Baby Herbert screaming at the top of his 
 voice, and the others crying and sobbing while 
 shrinking in nervous terror from the hideous dis 
 guises lying in a heap upon the floor. 
 , " Oh, take them away! take them away, the horrid 
 things! " screamed Virginia Conly, shuddering and 
 hiding her face. "Wai and Dick, you wicked 
 wretches, I don't care if they half kill you." 
 
 "Papa, papa, please stop. Oh, Cal, don't whip 
 him. any more. I'm sure they'll never do it again/' 
 pleaded little Elsie amid her sobs and tears, holding 
 yi fast and trying to soothe and comfort her. 
 
 " There, go," said Calhoun, pushing Walter from
 
 102 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 the room, " and if ever I catch you at such a tricE 
 again I'll give you twice as much." 
 
 Dick, released by his captor with a like threat, 
 hastened after his fellow delinquent, blubbering and 
 muttering angrily as he went. 
 
 Calhoun gathered up the disguises, threw them 
 into a closet, locked the door, and put the key into 
 his pocket. 
 
 "There!" t>aid he, "they're out of sight and 
 couldn't come after us if they were alive; and there's 
 no life in them; and little else but linen and 
 cotton." 
 
 Baby Herbert ceased his cries and cuddled down 
 on Aunt Chloe's shoulder; the other four ran to 
 their father. 
 
 He encircled them all in his arms, soothing them 
 with caresses and words of fatherly endearment. 
 " There, there, my darlings, dry your tears; papa 
 will take care of you; nothing shall hurt you." 
 
 " Papa, they's like that horrid thing that shooted 
 the man," sobbed Vi, clinging to him in almost 
 frantic terror. " Oh, don't let's ever come here any 
 more! " 
 
 "I so frightened, papa, I so frightened; p'ease 
 tate Harold home," sobbed the little fellow, the 
 others joining in the entreaty. 
 
 " Yes, we will go at once," said Mr. Travilla, 
 rising, Vi in one arm, Harold in the other; and, 
 motioning to the servants to follow, he was about 
 to leave the room when Calhoun spoke.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 103 
 
 " Do not go yet, Mr. Travilla; I think grandpa 
 md the ladies will be here directly." 
 
 " Thanks, but I will see Mr. Dinsmore at another 
 time. Now my first duty is to these terrified little 
 ones." 
 
 " I am exceedingly sorry for what has occurred; 
 more mortified than I can express 
 
 " No need for apology, Conly; but you must see 
 the necessity for our abrupt departure. Good-even 
 ing to you all." 
 
 Calhoun followed to the carriage door, helped to 
 put the children in, then addressing Mr. Travilla, 
 " I see you doubt me, sir," he said, " and not with 
 out reason, I own; yet I assure you I have no prop 
 erty in those disguises, never have worn, and never 
 will wear, such a thing much less take part in the 
 violence they are meant to protect from punish 
 ment." 
 
 " I am glad to hear you say so, Cal. Good-even 
 ing." And the carriage whirled away down the 
 avenue. 
 
 The rapid motion and the feeling that the objects 
 of their affright were being left far behind, seemed 
 to soothe and reassure the children, yet each sought 
 to be as near as possible to their loved protector. 
 
 Harold and the babe soon fell asleep, and on 
 reaching home were carried directly to bed; but the 
 older ones begged so hard to be allowed to " stay 
 with papa till mamma came home," that he could 
 not find it in his heart to refuse them.
 
 104 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 The Dinsmore party found Sophie devoting her 
 self to her sick child; the attack had been sudden 
 and severe, and all the previous night the mother 
 had watched by the couch of the little sufferer with 
 an aching heart, fearing she was to be taken from 
 her; but now the danger seemed nearly over, a 
 favorable change having taken place during the 
 
 Daisy had fallen into a quiet slumber, and leaving 
 the nurse to watch at the bedside the mother re 
 ceived and conversed with her frierids in an adjoin 
 ing room. 
 
 Though evidently very glad to see them, she 
 seemed, after the first few moments, so depressed 
 and anxious, that at length her sister remarked it, 
 and asked if there were any other cause than Daisy's 
 illness. 
 
 "Yes, Kose," she said, "I must own that I am 
 growing very timid in regard to these Ku Klux 
 outrages. Since they have taken to beating and 
 shooting whites as well as blacks, women as well as 
 men, who shall say that we are safe? I, a Northern 
 woman too, and without a protector." 
 
 " I do not think they will molest a lady of your 
 standing," said Mr. Dinsmore; " the widow, too, of 
 a Confederate officer. But where is Boyd, that you 
 say you are without a protector?" 
 
 A slight shudder ran over Sophie's frame. 
 "Boyd?" she said, drawing her chair nearer and 
 speaking in an undertone, " he is my great dread,
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 105 
 
 md for fear of wounding mother's feelings I have 
 aad to keep my terrors to myself. I know that he 
 is often out, away from the plantation, all night. 
 [ have for weeks past suspected that he was a Ku 
 Klux, and last night, or rather early this morning, 
 my suspicions were so fully confirmed that they now 
 amount almost to certainty. I had been up all night 
 with Daisy, and a little before sunrise, happening to 
 be at the window, I saw him stealing into the house 
 with a bundle under his arm something white 
 rolled up in the careless sort of way a man would 
 do it." 
 
 " I am not surprised," said Mr. Dinsmore; " he 
 is just the sort of man one would expect to be at 
 such work headstrong, violent-tempered, and 
 utterly selfish and unscupulous. Yet I think you 
 may dismiss your fears of him, and feel it rather a 
 safeguard than otherwise to have a member of the 
 Klan in your family/' 
 
 "It may be so/' she said musingly, the cloud 
 of care partially lifting from her brow. 
 
 "And at all events you are not without a prc- 
 .tector, dear sister," whispered Rose, as she bade 
 adieu. " ' A father of the fatherless, and a judge 
 of the widows is God in his holy habitation.' " 
 
 Elsie too had a word of sympathy and hope for 
 her childhood's friend, and with warm invitations 
 to both the Oaks and Ion as soon as Daisy could be 
 moved with safety, they left her. greatly cheered 
 and refreshed by their visit.
 
 106 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "My heart aches for her," Elsie said as they 
 drove away; " what a sad, sad thing to be a widow! " 
 
 " Yes; " responded Kose, " and to have lost your 
 husband so fighting against the land of your birth 
 and love." 
 
 There was a long pause, broken by a sudden, half 
 frightened exclamation from Rosie. " Papa! what 
 if we should meet the Ku Klux! " 
 
 " Not much danger, I think; they are not apt to 
 be abroad so early. And we are nearing Ion." 
 
 " I presume Edward has reached home before us/* 
 remarked Elsie. " I wonder how my little ones en 
 joyed their first visit to Koselands without their 
 mother." 
 
 She soon learned; for she had scarcely set foot in 
 the veranda ere they were clinging about her and 
 pouring out the story of their terrible fright. 
 
 She pitied, soothed, and comforted them, trying 
 to dispel their fears and lead them to forgive those 
 who had ill-used them, though it cost no small effort 
 to do so herself.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. 
 
 Luke vi. 37. 
 
 CALHOUN CONLT was much, perturbed by the 
 occurrences of the evening. He was fond of his 
 cousin Elsie and her children, and very sorry, for 
 both her sake and theirs, that they had suffered 
 tliis fright; he greatly respected and liked Mr. Tra- 
 villa too, and would fain have stood well in his 
 esteem; he had hoped that he did; and also with his 
 Uncle Horace he had been so kindly treated, 
 especially of late, at both Ton and the Oaks; but now 
 this unfortunate episode had placed him in a false 
 position, and he could hardly expect to be again 
 trusted or believed in. 
 
 Such were his cogitations as he sat alone in the 
 veranda after the Ion carriage had driven away. 
 " What shall I do?" he asked himself, "what shall 
 I do to recover their good opinion?" 
 
 Just then Walter appeared before him, looking 
 crestfallen and angry. 
 
 " I say, Cal, it's bad enough for you to have 
 thrashed me as you did, without bringing mother 
 and Aunt Enna, and maybe grandfather too, down 
 on me about those wretched masks and things; so 
 
 107 

 
 208 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 give 'em up, and let Dick and me put em back before 
 they get home." 
 
 " Of course put them back as fast as you can; 
 pity you hadn't let them alone," said Calhoun, rising 
 and with a quick step leading the way toward the 
 nursery. " And," he added, " we must see what we 
 can do to keep the young ones from blabbing; else 
 putting them back will help your case very little." 
 
 " Oh, we'll never be able to do that! " exclaimed 
 "Walter despairingly; " one or another of 'em is sure 
 to let it out directly. And there come the folks 
 now," as the rolling of wheels was heard in the 
 avenue. " Ifs of no use; they'll know all about it 
 in five minutes." 
 
 " Yes, sir, you and Dick have got yourselves into 
 a fine box, beside all the trouble you've made for 
 other people," said Calhoun angrily. Then laying 
 his hand on Walter's arm as he perceived that he 
 was meditating flight, " No, sir, stay and face the 
 music like a man; don't add cowardice to all the rest 
 of it." 
 
 They heard the clatter of little feet running 
 through the house and out upon the veranda, the 
 carriage draw up before the door, then the voices 
 of the children pouring out the story of their fright, 
 and the punishment of its authors, and the answer 
 ing tones of their grandfather and the ladies; Mr. 
 Dinsmore's expressing surprise and indignation, 
 Enna's full of passion, and Mrs. Conly's of cold 
 displeasure.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 109 
 
 "Let go o' me! they're coming this way/' cried 
 Walter, trying to wrench himself free. 
 
 But the inexorable Calhoun only tightened his 
 grasp and dragged him on to the nursery. 
 
 Dick was there trying to pick the lock of the 
 closet door with his pocket knife. 
 
 " What are you about, sir? No more mischief 
 to-day, if you please," exclaimed Calhoun, seizing 
 him with the free hand, the other having enough to 
 do to hold Walter. 
 
 " Give me that key then," cried Dick, vainly 
 struggling to shake off his cousin's strong grip. 
 
 The words were hardly on the boy's tongue when 
 the door was thrown open and Mr. Dinsmore and 
 his daughters entered hastily, followed by the whole 
 crowd of younger children. 
 
 " Give you the key indeed! I'd like to know how 
 you got hold of mine, and how you dared to make 
 use of it as you have, you young villain! There, ; 
 take that, and that, and that! Hold him fast, Cal, 
 till give him a little of what he deserves," cried( 
 Mrs. Johnson, rushing upon her son in a towering'j 
 passion, and cuffing him right and left with all her 
 strength. 
 
 "Let me alone!" he roared; "'taint fair; old 
 Travilla's half killed me already." 
 
 " I'm glad of it! You ought to be half killed, and 
 you won't get any sympathy from me, I can tell 
 you." 
 
 "And you had a share in it too, Walter?" Mrs.
 
 lit) ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Conly was saying in freezing tones. " If you think' 
 lie deserves any more than you gave him, Cal, you 
 have my full permission to repeat the dose." 
 
 "Where is the cause of all this unseemly dis 
 turbance?" demanded Mr. Dinsmore severely. 
 " Calhoun, if you have the key of that closet and 
 those wretched disguises are there, produce them at 
 once." 
 
 The young man obeyed, while Enna, holding Dick 
 fast, turned a half frightened look upon her sister; 
 to which the latter, standing with her arms folded 
 and her back braced against the wall, replied with 
 one of cold, haughty indifference. 
 
 Calhoun drew out the obnoxious articles and held 
 them up to a view, a flush of mortification upon his 
 face. 
 
 The children screamed and ran. 
 
 " Be quiet ! they can't hurt you/' said the grand 
 father, stamping his foot; then turning to Calhoun, 
 " Ku Klux your property and Arthur's, I presume, 
 You are members, doubtless? " and he glanced from 
 one to the other of his older grandsons in mingled 
 'anger and scorn, Arthur having just entered the 
 room to ascertain the cause of the unusual com 
 motion. 
 
 He flushed hotly at his grandsire's words and 
 look. "I, sir! I a Ku Klux?" he exclaimed in a 
 hurt, indignant tone; "la midnight assassin steal 
 ing upon my helpless victims under cover of dark 
 ness and a hideous disguise? No, sir. How could
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. HI 
 
 you fhink so ill of me? What have I done to deserve 
 it?" 
 
 " Nothing, my boy; I take it all back," said the 
 old gentleman, with a grim smile; " it is not like 
 you a quiet, bookish lad, with nothing of the 
 coward or the bully about you. But you, Calhoun?" 
 
 " I have no property in these, sir; and I should 
 scorn to wear one, or to take part in the deeds you 
 have spoken of." 
 
 " Eight. I am no Republican, and was as strong 
 for secession as any man in the South, but I am 
 for open, fair fight with my own enemies or those of 
 my country; no underhand dealings for me; no 
 cowardly attacks in overwhelming numbers upon 
 the weak and defenceless. But if these disguises 
 are not yours, whose are they, and how camp, they 
 here?" 
 
 " I must beg leave to decline answering that ques 
 tion, sir," replied Calhoun respectfully. 
 
 His mother and aunt exchanged glances. 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed their father, turning to Enna, 
 as with a sudden recollection, " I think I heard you 
 claiming some property in these scarecrows. Speak 
 out! are they yours?" 
 
 " No, sir; but I'm not ashamed to own that I 
 helped to make them, and that if I were a man I 
 would wear one." 
 
 "You! you helped make them? And who, pray, 
 helped you? Louise " 
 
 *Yes, sir, Louise it was," replied Mrs. Conly,
 
 112 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 drawing herself up to her full height, " and she is 
 no more ashamed to own it than is her sister. And 
 if Calhoun was a dutiful son he would be more than 
 willing to wear one." 
 
 " If you were a dutiful daughter you would never 
 have engaged in such a business in my house with 
 out my knowledge and consent/' retorted her 
 ' father; " and I'll have no more of it, let me tell 
 you, Madams Conly and Johnson; no aiding or abet 
 ting of these midnight raiders." 
 
 Then turning to a servant he ordered her to " take 
 the hideous things into the yard and make a bonfire 
 f them." 
 
 "No, no!" cried Enna. "Papa, do you under 
 stand that you are ordering the destruction of other 
 men's property?" 
 
 "It makes no difference," he answered coolly; 
 "they are forfeit by having been brought surrep 
 titiously into my house. Carry them out, Fanny, 
 do you hear? carry them out and burn them." 
 
 " And pray, sir, what am I to say to the owners 
 when they claim their property? " asked Enna, with 
 flashing eyes. 
 
 " Refer them to me," replied her father, leaving 
 the room to see that his orders were duly executed. 
 
 Calhoun and Arthur had already slipped away. 
 Dick was about to follow, but his mother again 
 seized him by the arm, this time shaking him vio 
 lently; she must have some one on whom to vent 
 the rage that was consuming her.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 113 
 
 "You you bad, troublesome, wicked boy! I 
 could shake the very life out of you! " she hissed 
 through her shut teeth, suiting the action to the 
 word. " A pretty mess you have made of it, you and 
 Walter. Your birthday coming next week too; 
 there'll be no presents from Ion for you, you may 
 rest assured. I hoped Mr. Travilla would send you 
 each a handsome suit, as he did last year; but of 
 course you'll get nothing now." 
 
 " Well, I don't care," muttered Dick, " it's your 
 fault for making the ugly things." And freeing 
 himself by a sudden jerk, he darted from, the room. 
 
 Children and servants had trooped after Mr. 
 Dinsmore to witness the conflagration, and Dick's 
 sudden exit left the ladies sole occupants of the 
 apartment. 
 
 "I declare it's too bad! too provoking for endur 
 ance! " exclaimed Enna, bursting into a flood of 
 angry tears. 
 
 " What's the use of taking it so hard? " returned 
 her sister. 
 
 " You're a perfect iceberg," retorted Enna. 
 
 " That accounts for my not crying over our mis 
 fortune, I presume; my tears being all frozen up," 
 returned Mrs. Conly, with an exasperating smile. 
 "Well, there is comfort in all things: we may now 
 congratulate ourselves that Foster and Boyd did not 
 wait for these, but supplied themselves elsewhere." 
 /There was a difference of two years in the ages 
 of Dick Percival and Walter Conly, but they were
 
 114 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 born on the same day of the same month, an& their 
 birthday would occur in less than a week. 
 
 " I say, Wai, what precious fools we've been," re 
 marked Dick as the two were preparing to retire 
 that night; " why didn't we remember how near it 
 was to our birthday? Of course, as mother says, 
 there'll be no presents from Ion this time." 
 
 " No, and I wish I'd never seen the hateful 
 things," grumbled Walter; " but there's no use cry 
 ing over spilt milk." 
 
 "No; and we'll pretend we don't care a cent. 
 Mother shan't have the satisfaction of knowing that 
 I do, anyhow." And Dick whistled a lively tune as 
 he pulled off his boots and tossed them into a corner. 
 
 At about the same time Elsie and her husband, 
 seated alone together in their veranda, were con 
 versing on the same subject. Mr. Travilla intro 
 duced it. They had been regretting the effect of 
 the fright of the evening upon their children Vi 
 especially, as the one predisposed to undue excite 
 ment of the brain yet hoping it might not prove 
 lasting. 
 
 Elsie had just returned from seeing them to bed. 
 "I left them much calmed and comforted," she 
 said, " by our little talk together of God's constant 
 watch over us, his all-power, and his protecting 
 care and love; and by our prayer that he would have 
 them in his keeping." 
 
 He pressed her hand in silence; then presently 
 remarked, " The birthday of those boys is near at
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 115 
 
 Kand. They certainly deserve no remembrance from 
 us; but how do you feel about it? " 
 
 " Just as my noble, generous husband does," she 
 said, looking up into his face with a proud, fond 
 smile. 
 
 "Ah! and how is that?" 
 
 " Like giving them a costlier and more acceptable 
 present than ever before; thus ' heaping coals of fire 
 upon their heads.' ' ; 
 
 " And what shall it be? " 
 
 "Whatever you think they would prefer and 
 would not that be a pony apiece?" 
 
 " No doubt of it; and I will try to procure two 
 worth having, before .the day comes round." 
 
 Talking with her little ones the next morning, 
 Elsie told them of the near approach of the birthday 
 of Dick and Walter, spoke of the duty of forgiveness 
 and the return of good for evil, and asked who of 
 them would like to make their cousins some nice 
 present, 
 
 " I should, mamma," said little Elsie. 
 
 Eddie looked up into his mother's face, dropped 
 his head, and blushing deeply muttered, " I'd rather 
 flog them like papa and Cal did." 
 
 "So would I; they're naughty boys!" cried Vi, 
 the tears starting to her eyes at the remembrance 
 of the panic of fear their conduct had cost herself, 
 brothers, and sisters. 
 
 Their mother explained that it was papa's duty 
 to protect his children from injury, and that that
 
 J16 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 was why he had flogged naughty Dick; but now he 
 had forgiven him., and was going to return good for 
 evil, as the Bible bids us. " And you must forgive 
 them too, dears, if you want God to forgive you/' 
 she concluded; " for Jesus says, ' If you forgive not 
 men their trespasses, neither will your Father for- 
 igive your trespasses/ ' ; 
 
 " I can't, mamma; I don't love them," said Eddie 
 stoutly. 
 
 "Ask God to help you, then, my son." 
 
 "But, mamma, I can't ask him with my heart, 
 'cause I don't really want to love them or forgive 
 them." 
 
 "Can my boy do without God's forgiveness? 
 without Jesus' love? " she asked, drawing him to 
 her side. " You feel very unhappy when papa or 
 mamma is offended with you, and can you bear your 
 heavenly Father's frown?" 
 
 " Don't look so sorry, dear mamma: I love you 
 ever so much," he said, putting his arms about her 
 neck and kissing her again and again. 
 
 " I cannot be happy while my dear little son in 
 dulges such sinful feelings," she said, softly smooth 
 ing his hair, while a tear rolled down her cheek. 
 
 " Mamma, how can I help it? " 
 
 " Try to think kind thoughts of your cousins, do 
 them all the kindness you can, and ask God to bless 
 them, and to help you to love them. I want my 
 little Vi to do so too," she added, turning to her. 
 
 " Mamma, I will; I don't 'tend to say cross things
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 117 
 
 'bout 'em any more," Violet answered impulsively; 
 "'"' and I'll give 'em the nicest present I can get with 
 ill my pocket-money." 
 
 " Mamma, must I give them presents? " asked 
 Kddie. 
 
 " No, son, I do not say must; you shall decide 
 for yourself whether you ought, and whether you 
 will." 
 
 "Mamma, they made me hurt my dear father." 
 
 " No, Eddie, no one can make us do wrong; we 
 <;hoose for ourselves whether we will resist tempta 
 tion or yield to it." 
 
 "Mamma, what shall we give?" asked the little 
 girls. 
 
 " Talk it over between yourselves, daughters, de 
 cide how much you are willing to spend on them, 
 and what your cousins would probably like best. 
 1 want my children to think and choose for them 
 selves, where it is proper that they should." 
 
 "But, mamma, you will 'vise us." 
 
 " Yes, Vi, you may consult me, and shall have 
 the benefit of my opinion." 
 
 The little girls held several private consultations 
 during the day, and in the evening came with a 
 1 ieport to their mother. Elsie was willing to appro 
 priate five dollars to the purpose, Vi three, and the 
 gifts were to be books, if mamma approved, and 
 would help them select suitable ones. 
 
 " I think you have decided wisely," she said; "and 
 las it is too warm for us to drive to the city, we will
 
 118 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 ask papa to order a variety sent out here, and he 
 and I will help you in making a choice." 
 
 Eddie was sta-nding by. Nothing had been said 
 to him on the subject since his morning talk with 
 his mother, but all day he had been unusually 
 quiet and thoughtful. 
 
 " Mamma," he said now, coming close to her side, 
 " I've been trying to forgive them, and I'm going 
 to buy two riding whips, one for Dick and one for 
 Wai if you and papa like me to." 
 
 Her smile was very sweet and tender as she com 
 mended his choice, and told him his resolve had 
 made her very happy. 
 
 The birthday found Dick and Walter in sullen, 
 discontented mood, spite of their resolve not to care 
 for the loss of all prospect of gifts in honor of the 
 anniversary. 
 
 "What's the use of getting up?" growled Dick; 
 "it's an awful bore, the way we've been sent to 
 Coventry ever since we got into that scrape with the 
 young ones. I've a great mind to lie abed and pre 
 tend sick; just to scare mother and pay her off for 
 her crossness." 
 
 " Maybe you might get sick in earnest," suggested 
 Walter. "I'm going to get up, anyhow," and he 
 tumbled out upon the floor, " for it's too hot to 
 lie in bed. Hark! there's Pomp coming up the stairs 
 to call us now. Why, what's all that, Pomp?" as 
 the servant rapped, then pushing open the door f 
 handed in a number of brown parcels.
 
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 119 
 
 
 "Dimno, Mars Wai," replied the man, grinning 
 from ear to ear; " somethin' from Ion, an de rest's 
 downstairs; one for each ob you." 
 
 " One what?" queried Dick, starting up and with 
 OBC bound placing himself at Walter's side. 
 
 " Birthday presents, sahs. Wish you many happy 
 returns, Mars Wai and Mars Dick, an' hope you'll 
 neber wear no mo' Ku Klux doins." 
 
 But the lads were too busily engaged in opening 
 the parcels and examining their contents to hear 
 or heed his words. 
 
 " Two riding whips, splendid ones, and four 
 books! " exclaimed Walter; " and here's a note." 
 
 "Here let me read it," said Dick. "I declare, 
 "Wai, I'm positively ashamed to have them send me 
 anything after the way I've behaved." 
 
 " I too. But what do they say? " 
 
 " It's from Travilla and Cousin Elsie," said Dick, 
 tnrning to the signature. " I'll read it out." 
 
 He did so. It was very kind and pleasant, made 
 so allusion to their wrongdoing, but congratulated 
 them on the return of the day, begged their accept 
 ance of the accompanying gifts, stating from whom 
 rach came, the largest a joint present from them- 
 salves; and closed with an invitation to spend the 
 day at Ion. 
 
 " I'm more ashamed than ever, aren't you, Wai? " 
 Dick said, his face flushing hotly as he laid the note 
 down. 
 
 "Yes, never felt so mean in my life. To think
 
 120 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 of that little Ed sending us these splendid whips, 
 and the little girls these pretty books. I 'most wish 
 they hadn't." 
 
 " But where's ' the larger gift ' they say is ' a joint 
 present from themselves'?" 
 
 " Oh, that must be what Pomp called the rest left 
 downstairs. Come, let's hurry and get down there 
 to see what it is." 
 
 Toilet duties were attended to in hot haste, and 
 in a wonderfully short time the two were on the 
 front veranda in eager quest of the mysterious 
 present. 
 
 Each boyish heart gave a wild bound of delight as 
 their eyes fell upon a group in the avenue, just 
 before the entrance; two beautiful ponies, ready 
 saddled and bridled, in charge of an Ion servant; 
 old Mr. Dinsmore, Calhoun, and Arthur standing- 
 near examining and commenting upon them with, 
 evident admiration. 
 
 "Oh, what beauties!" cried Dick, bounding in 
 among the group. " Whose are they, Uncle Joe? " 
 
 " Well, sah," answered the old negro, pulling off 
 his hat and bowing first to one, then to the other, 
 "dey's sent heyah, by Massa Travilla and Miss 
 Elsie, for two boys 'bout de size o' you, dat don' 
 neber mean to frighten young chillen no mo'." 
 
 The lads hung their heads in silence, the blush of 
 shame on their cheeks. 
 
 "Do you answer the description?" asked Ca2- 
 toun, a touch of scorn in his tones.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 121 
 
 "Yes; for we'll never do it again," said Walter. 
 *But it's too much: they're too kind!" and he 
 fairly broke down, and turned away his head to 
 ride the tears that would come into his eyes. 
 
 " That's a fact! " assented Dick, nearly as much 
 aioved. 
 
 "You don't deserve it," said their grandfather 
 severely, "and I'm much inclined to send them back, 
 kvith a request that if they're offered you again it 
 shall not be till a year of good conduct on your part 
 'has atoned for the past." 
 
 " Oh, grandpa, you couldn't be so hard, so very 
 hard! " cried Dick imploringly, stroking and patting 
 the pony nearest to him, " they're such beauties." 
 
 " I should think you'd be ashamed to accept such 
 gifts after the way you've behaved," said Arthur. 
 
 " So we are; but wouldn't it be worse to send 'em 
 "back? Awful rude, I should say." And Dick turned 
 a half saucy, half beseeching look upon his grand 
 father. 
 
 The old gentleman smiled in spite of himself, and 
 consented, in consideration of the boys' penitence 
 for the past and fair promises for the future, to 
 a] low them to accept the generous gifts. 
 
 Uncle Joe explained which was for Dick, and 
 which for Walter, and springing into their saddles, 
 they were off like a shot, their grandfather calling 
 after them to be back in ten minutes, if they wanted 
 any breakfast.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him 
 drink; for in so doing tnou shalt heap coals of fire on his 
 head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." 
 ROMANS xii. 20, 21. 
 
 " SPLENDID! " cried Dick, wheeling about toward 
 home, now half a mile away; "but we must hurry 
 back or grandpa will be mad. I say, Wai, what d* 
 you s'pose makes Travilla and Cousin Elsie so dif 
 ferent from us? I mean all of us at Roselands." 
 
 "I don't know/' returned Walter reflectively; 
 "maybe because they're Christians. You know it 
 gays in the Bible we're to return good for evil." 
 
 "Yes, and so heap coals of fire on our enemies' 
 heads. And, Wai, I feel 'em burn now. I'd gire 
 anything not to have coaxed and teased Ed into 
 shooting that time, and not to have scared him 
 and the others with those frightful disguises." 
 
 " So would I; and we'll never do the like agaim, 
 Dick, never; will we?" 
 
 " I reckon not; and we must ride over to Ion after 
 breakfast and tell 'em so, and thank 'em for these 
 beauties and the othor things." 
 
 " Yes; didn't the note invite us to spend the day 
 there?"
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 123 
 
 " Why, so it did! But I'd forgot; the sight of the 
 ponies knocked it all out of my head." 
 
 So great was the delight of the lads in their new 
 acquisitions, that not even the repeated assertions 
 o! their mothers and other members of the family, 
 seconded by the reproaches of their own con 
 sciences, that they did not deserve it, could 
 materially damp their joy. 
 
 An ungracious permission to accept the invitation 
 to Ion was granted to them, with the remark that 
 Calhoun and Arthur, who were included in it, would 
 bo there to keep them in order, and also to report 
 noon their conduct. 
 
 Calhoun, troubled and mortified by the suspicions 
 which he imagined must have been entertained 
 against him at both the Oaks and Ion since the 
 escapade of Dick and Walter, had kept himself 
 closely at home during the past week, and studiously 
 avoided meeting either his uncle or Travilla; but 
 this invitation, as the holding out of the olive 
 brunch of peace, was joyfully accepted. 
 
 The four rode over to Ion together directly after 
 breakfast, and found themselves greeted with the 
 greatest kindness and cordiality by Mr. Travilla, 
 Elsie, and the children, all gathered in the veranda 
 awaiting their coming. 
 
 The two culprits, shame-faced in view of their 
 ill-deserts, yet overflowing with delight in their 
 ponies, poured out mingled thanks and apologies 
 and promises for the future.
 
 124 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "Never mind, my lads, we'll say nothing more 
 about it," Mr. Travilla said in his kind, cheery way, 
 Elsie adding, " You are very welcome, and we are 
 sure you do not intend ever again to try to alarm 
 our darlings, or tempt them to do wrong." 
 
 She led the way to her beautiful summer parlor, 
 a large, lofty apartment with frescoed walls and 
 ceiling; the floor a mosaic of various colored mar 
 bles; a bubbling fountain in the centre, gold and 
 silver fish swimming in its basin, windows draped 
 with vines, and at the farther end a lovely grotto, 
 where a second fountain threw showers of spray 
 over moss-grown rocks and pieces of exquisite 
 statuary. 
 
 Here they were presently joined by their Cousin 
 Horace. Ices and fruits were served, and the morn 
 ing passed in a most agreeable manner, enlivened by 
 music, conversation, and a variety of quiet games: 
 Mr. and Mrs. Travilla laying themselves out for 
 the entertainment of their guests. 
 
 Their children had been excused from lessons in 
 honor of the day, and with their sweet prattle and 
 merry pretty ways contributed not a little to the 
 enjoyment of their elders. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore came to dinner. Calhoun fancied 
 his manner rather cool toward him, while Dick and 
 Walter were left in no doubt of his stern disapproval 
 of them, until their Cousin Elsie said a few words 
 to him in a quiet aside, after which there was a 
 decided change for the better.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 125- 
 
 Calhoun watched his cousin furtively, as he had. 
 of: late formed a habit of doing; and as he studied 
 her character his respect, admiration, and affection 
 grew apace; he found her so utterly unselfish and 
 s ncere, so patient and forbearing, yet firm for the 
 right, so unaffectedly gay and happy. 
 
 Something of this he remarked to her when for a 
 f 3W moments they chanced to be alone together. 
 
 " Ah," she said, smiling and blushing, " it is not 
 lover love alone that is blind; you have been look 
 ing at me through rose-colored spectacles, as so 
 many of my relatives and friends do.'* 
 
 " But are you not really happy, cousin? " 
 
 "Happy? Ah, yes, indeed! Have I not every 
 thing to make me so? the best of husbands and 
 fathers, five darling children; comparative youth; 
 health; wealth that enables me to prove in my own 
 sweet experience the truth of those words of the 
 Lord Jesus, ' It is more blessed to give than to 
 receive'; and the best of all," she added low and 
 reverently, the soft eyes shining through glad tears, 
 " his love and tender care surrounding me. His 
 strong arm to lean upon; his blood to wash away 
 my sins. His perfect righteousness put upon me. 
 These, cousin, are more than all the rest, and you 
 and every one may have them if you will; for his 
 own words are, ' Ask, and ye shall receive; seek and 
 ye shall find.' 'Him that cometh unto me, I will 
 in no wise cast out/ >: 
 
 "You give me a new view of religion," he said
 
 126 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 after a moment's surprised, thoughtful silence; "1 
 have been accustomed to look upon it as some 
 thing suitable, perhaps desirable, for old age, and 
 certainly very necessary for a death-bed; but too 
 great a restraint upon youthful pleasures/' 
 
 " Sinful pleasures must indeed be given up by 
 those who would follow Christ; but they are like 
 apples of Sodom beautiful in appearance, but 
 bitter and nauseous to the taste; while the joys that 
 he gives are pure, sweet, abundant, and satisfying. 
 * Godliness is profitable unto all things, having 
 promise of the life that now is, and of that which 
 is to come/ 'They shall be abundantly satisfied 
 with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make 
 them drink of the river of thy pleasures/ Ah, Cal, 
 if one might safely die without the Christian's 
 faith and hope, I should still want them to sweeten 
 life's journey." 
 
 Another thoughtful pause; then the young man 
 said frankly, " Cousin Elsie, I'm afraid I'm very 
 stnpid, but it's a fact that I never have been quite 
 able to understand exactly what it is to be a Chris 
 tian, or how to become one/' 
 
 She considered a moment, her heart going up in 
 silent prayer for help to make the matter plain to 
 him, and for a blessing on her words; for well she 
 knew that without the influence of the Holy Spirit 
 they would avail nothing. 
 
 " To be a Christian," she said, " is to believe in 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving and resting upon
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 127 
 
 him alone for salvation. 'He hath made him t$ 
 be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be 
 made the righteousness of God in him.' * God so 
 lored the world, that he gave his only begotten 
 Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life.' Do not these 
 texts answer both your queries? We have broken 
 God's holy law, but Jesus, the God man, has borne 
 the penalty in our stead; 'all our righteousnesses are 
 as filthy rags '; we dare not appear before the King 
 clothed in them; but Jesus offers to each of us the 
 pure and spotless robe of his righteousness, and we 
 have only to accept it as a free gift; we can have it 
 on no other terms. It is believe and be saved; look 
 and live." 
 
 " But there is something besides for us to do, 
 surely? we must live right." 
 
 "Yes, true faith will bring forth the fruits of 
 holy living; but good works are the proofs and 
 effects of our faith, not the ground of the true 
 Christian's hope having nothing whatever to do 
 with our justification." 
 
 The entrance of Arthur and young Horace put 
 an end to the conversation. 
 
 Horace was not less devoted to his elder sister 
 HQW than in childhood's days; Arthur, distant and 
 reserved with most people, had of late learned to be 
 very frank and open with her, sure of an attentive 
 hearing, of sympathy, and that his confidence would 
 never be betrayed.
 
 128 ELSIE' 8 MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 She never sneered, never laughed in contempt, 
 nor ever seemed to think herself better or wiser 
 than others. Her advice, when asked, was given 
 with sweet simplicity and humility, as of one not 
 qualified, in her own estimation, to teach, or desir 
 ous to usurp authority over others: yet she had a 
 clear intellect and sound judgment; she opened her 
 mouth with wisdom and in her tongue was the law 
 of kindness. There seemed a sort of magnetism 
 about her, the attraction of a loving, sympathetic 
 nature, that always drew to her the young of both 
 sexes, and the large majority of older people also. 
 
 The three young men gathered round her, hang 
 ing upon her sweet looks, her words, her smiles, as 
 ardent lovers do upon those of their mistress. 
 
 Somehow the conversation presently turned upon 
 love and marriage, and she lectured them, half- 
 playfully, half seriously, upon the duties of hus 
 bands. 
 
 She bade them to be careful in their choice, re 
 membering that it was for life, and looking for 
 worth rather than beauty or wealth; then after 
 marriage not to be afraid of spoiling the wife with 
 too much care and thoughtfulness for her comfort 
 and happiness, or the keeping up of the little 
 attentions so pleasant to give and receive, and so 
 lavishly bestowed, in the days of courtship. 
 
 "Ah, Elsie, you are thinking of your own hus 
 band, and holding him up as a model to us," said 
 Horace laughingly.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 129 
 
 "Yes/' she answered, with a blush and smile, 
 a tender light shining in the soft brown eyes, " that 
 is true. Ah, the world would be full of happy wives 
 if all the husbands would copy his example! He is 
 as much a lover now as the day he asked me to be 
 his wife; more, indeed, for we grow dearer and 
 dearer to each other as the years roll on. Never a 
 day passes that he does not tell me of his love by 
 word and deed, and the story is as sweet to me now 
 as when first I heard it." 
 
 " Ah, good wives make good husbands," said Mr. 
 Travilla, who had entered unobserved, just in time 
 to hear the eulogy upon him. " Boys, let each of 
 you get a wife like mine, and you cannot fail to 
 be good husbands." 
 
 " Good husbands make good wives," she retorted, 
 looking up into his face with a fond smile as he 
 came to her side. 
 
 " The trouble is to find such," remarked Horace, 
 regarding his sister with tender admiration. 
 
 " True enough," said Travilla, " I know not of her 
 like in all the length and breadth of the land." 
 
 Catching sight of Mr. Dinsmore pacing the ver 
 anda alone, Calhoun slipped quietly away from the 
 rest and joined him. 
 
 " Uncle," he said, coloring and dropping his eyes, 
 " I think you doubt me." 
 
 " Have I not reason, Calhoun? " Mr. Dinsmore 
 asked, looking searchingly into the lad's face. 
 
 "Yes, sir, I own that appearances are strongly
 
 130 ELSIE'S MOTBERBOOD. 
 
 against me, and I cannot disprove the tale tfcey 
 tell; but oh, if you could trust me still, uncle I" 
 
 He lifted his head, and gazed fearlessly into the 
 keen dark eyes still bent searchingly upon him. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore held out his hand, and cordially 
 grasped the one Calhoun placed in it. 
 
 " Well, my boy, I will try: it is far pleasanter 
 than to doubt you. But there is some one at Rose- 
 lands who is disposed to aid and abet the Ku Klux 
 in their lawless proceedings." 
 
 " I cannot deny that," said the nephew, " yet it 
 would ill become me to say who it is; and I think, 
 sir, since grandpa has set down his foot so decidedly 
 in opposition, there will be no more of it. Travilla 
 and Cousin Elsie have given me their confidence 
 again, and I assure you, sir, I am deeply grateful 
 to you all/*
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 If them neglect's! or dost unwillingly 
 What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps, 
 Fill all thy bones with aches; make thee roar, 
 That beasts shall tremble at thy din. 
 
 . Sftakspere's Tempest. 
 
 THE Ion family were spending the day at the 
 Oaks. It was now early in the fall of 1868, and 
 political excitement ran high over the coming presi 
 dential election. There had been as yet no effectual 
 check given to the lawless proceedings of the Ku 
 Klux, and their frequent raids and numerous deeds 
 of violence had inaugurated a reign of terror that 
 was a shame and reproach to our boasted civiliza 
 tion and free institutions. 
 
 Many of the poorer classes, both blacks and 
 whites, dared not pass the night in their houses, 
 but when darkness fell, fled for safety to the shelter 
 of the nearest woods, carrying their beds with them, 
 and sleeping in the open air. . 
 
 That the Ku Klux Klan was a political organiza 
 tion working in the interests of the Democratic 
 party their words to their victims left no doubt. 
 The latter were told that they were punished for 
 belonging to the Union League, or for favoring the 
 Republican party, or using their influence in its 
 
 131
 
 132 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 behalf, and threatened with severer treatment if 
 they dared vote its ticket or urge others to do so. 
 
 The outrages were highly disapproved by all Ee- 
 publicans and by most of the better class in the 
 opposite party; but many were afraid to express 
 their opinions of the doings of the Klan, lest they 
 should be visited with its terrors; while for the 
 same reason many of its victims preferred to suffer 
 in silence rather than institute proceedings or tes 
 tify against their foes. 
 
 It was a state of things greatly deplored by our 
 friends of the Oaks and Ion, and Messrs. Dinsmore 
 and Travilla, who were not of the timid sort, had 
 been making efforts to bring some of the guilty 
 ones to justice, though thus far with very little 
 success. 
 
 Such an errand had taken them to the town on 
 this particular day. 
 
 They were returning late in the afternoon and 
 were still several miles from home, when, passing 
 through a bit of woods, a sudden turn of the road 
 brought them face to face with a band of mounted 
 men, some thirty or forty in number, not disguised, 
 but rough and ruffianly in appearance, and armed 
 with clubs, pistols, and bowie knives. 
 
 The encounter was evidently a surprise to both 
 parties, and reining in their steeds they regarded 
 each other for a moment in grim silence. 
 
 Then the leader of the band, a profane, drunken 
 wretch who had been a surgeon in the Confederate
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 133 
 
 army, scowling fiercely upon our friends and laying 
 his hand on a pistol in his belt, growled out, " A 
 couple of scalawags! Mean dirty rascals, what mis 
 chief have you been at now, eh?" 
 
 Disdaining a reply to his insolence, the gentle 
 men drew their revolvers, cocked them ready for 
 instant use, and whirling their horses halfway 
 round and backing them out of the road so that 
 they faced it, while leaving room for the others to 
 pass, politely requested them to do so. 
 
 " Not so fast! " returned the leader, pouring out 
 a torrent of oaths and curses; "we've a little 
 account to settle with you two, and no time's like 
 the present." 
 
 " Yes, shoot 'em down! " cried a voice from the 
 crowd. 
 
 "Hang 'em! " yelled another, "the rascals!" 
 
 " Yes," roared a third, " pull 'em from their 
 horses and string 'em up to the limb o' that big oak 
 yonder." 
 
 Our friends faced them with dauntless air. 
 
 " You will do neither," said Mr. Dinsmore, in a 
 firm, quiet tone; " we are well armed, and shall 
 defend ourselves to the last extremity." 
 
 Travilla threw his riding whip into the road a 
 foot or two in front of his horse's head, saying, as 
 he looked steadily into the leader's eyes: " The 
 first one who passes that to come nearer to us is 
 that instant a dead man." 
 
 The two were well known in the community as
 
 134 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 men of undoubted courage and determination; a-lstf 
 as excellent marksmen. 
 
 A whisper ran along the lines of their opponents. 
 "He's a dead shot; and so's Dinsmore; and they're 
 not afraid o' the devil himself. Better let 'em go 
 for this time." 
 
 The leader gave the word, "Forward! " and with 
 hisses, groans, and a variety of hideous noises they 
 swept along the road and passed out of sight, leav 
 ing our friends masters of the field. 
 
 " Cruelty and cowardice go hand in hand," ob 
 served Mr. Travilla, as they resumed their home 
 ward way. 
 
 " Yes, those brave fellows prefer waging war upon, 
 sleeping unarmed men and helpless women and 
 children, to risking life and limb in fair and open 
 fight with such as you and I," returned his com 
 panion. 
 
 "They are Ku Klux, you think?" 
 
 " I am morally certain of it, though I could not 
 bring proof to convict even that rascally Dr. 
 Savage." 
 
 They agreed not to mention the occurrence in 
 presence of their wives: also that it would be best 
 for Travilla to take his family home early, Mr. 
 Dinsmore and Horace, Jr., accompanying them as 
 an escort. 
 
 This they could readily do without arousing the 
 fears of the ladies, as both were constantly coming 
 and going between the two places.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 136 
 
 The sun was Hearing the horizon when they 
 reached the Oaks. 
 
 Rose and Elsie were in the veranda awaiting their 
 coining in some anxiety. 
 
 " Oh/ 7 they cried, " we are so rejoiced to see you! 
 so thankful that you are safe. We feared you had 
 met some of those dreadful Ku Klux." 
 
 " Yes, little wife, we are safe, thanks to the pro 
 tecting care which is over us all in every place/' 
 Mr. Travilla said, embracing her as though they had 
 been long parted. 
 
 "Ah, yes/' she sighed, "how I have been for 
 getting to-day the lessons of faith and trust I have 
 tried to impress upon Mrs. Leland. It is far easier 
 to preach than to practice." 
 
 Little feet came running in from the grounds, 
 little voices shouted, " Papa has come! and grandpa 
 too," and a merry scene ensued, hugging, kissing, 
 romping, presently interrupted by the call to tea- 
 There was nothing unusual in the manner of 
 either gentleman, and the wives had no suspicion 
 that they had been in peril of their lives. 
 
 " I think it would be well to return home early 
 to-night/' Mr. Travilla remarked to Elsie. 
 
 " Yes," she said, " on account of the children." 
 
 So the carriage was ordered at once, and shortly 
 after leaving the table they were on their way 
 Elsie, children, and nurses in the carriage, with Mr. 
 Travilla, Mr. Dinsmore and son, all well armed, as 
 their mounted escort.
 
 136 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Horace had been taken aside by his father and 
 told of the afternoon's adventure, and in his in 
 dignation was almost eager for " a brush with the 
 insolent ruffians/' 
 
 None appeared, however; Ion was reached in 
 safety. They tarried there an hour or more, then 
 returned without perceiving any traces of the foe. 
 
 The hush of midnight has fallen upon the Oaks, 
 Ion, Fairview, and all the surrounding region; the 
 blinking stars and young moon, hanging a golden 
 crescent just above the horizon, look down upon a 
 sleeping world; yet not all asleep, for far down the 
 road skirting yonder wood a strange procession ap 
 proaches; goblin-like figures, hideous with enormous 
 horns, glaring eyeballs, and lolling red tongues, and 
 mounted upon weird-looking steeds, are moving 
 silently onward. 
 
 They reach a small house hard by the roadside, 
 pause before it, and with a heavy riding whip the 
 leader thunders at the door. 
 
 The frightened inmates, startled from their sleep, 
 cry out in alarm, and a man's voice asks, "Who's 
 there?" 
 
 " Open the door," commands the leader in a 
 strange sepulchral voice. 
 
 " I must know first who is there and what's 
 wanted," returns the other, hurrying on his clothes. 
 
 A shot is fired and, penetrating the door, strikes 
 the opposite wall. 
 
 " Open instantly, or we'll break in, and it 11 be
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 137 
 
 the worse for you," thunders the leader; and with 
 trembling hands, amid the cries of wife and chil 
 dren, the man removes the bars, draws back the 
 bolts, and looks out, repeating his question, 
 " What's wanted?" 
 
 " Nothing, this time, Jim White, but to warn 
 you that if you vote the Bepublican ticket we'll 
 call again, take you to the woods, and flog you 
 within an inch of your life Beware! Forward, 
 men! " and the troop sweeps onward, while White 
 closes and bars the door again, and goes back to bed. 
 
 "Ku Klux! " says the wife, shuddering. "Jim, 
 we'll have to hide o' nights now, like the rest. 
 Hush, hush, children, they're gone now; so go to 
 sleep; nothing '11 hurt ye. Jim, ye'll mind? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, Betsy, though it galls me to be ordered 
 round like a nigger; me with as white a skin as any 
 o' them." 
 
 Onward, still onward sweeps the goblin train, and 
 again and again the same scene is enacted, the 
 victim now a poor white, and now a freedman. 
 
 At length they have reached Fairview; they pause 
 before the gate, two dismount, make off into the 
 woods, and presently reappear, bearing on their 
 shoulders a long dark object, a little square of white 
 visible on the top. 
 
 They pass through the gate, up the avenue, and 
 silently deposit their burden at the door, return 
 to their companions, and with them repair to th 
 negro quarter.
 
 138 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Dismounting, they tie their horses to the fence, 
 and leaving them in charge of one of their number, 
 betake themselves to the nearest cabin, surround 
 it, break open the door, drag out the man, carry 
 him to a little distance, and with clubs and leathern 
 straps give him a terrible beating. 
 
 Leaving him half dead with pain and fright, they 
 return to his cabin, threaten his wife and children, 
 rob him of his gun, and pass on to repeat their 
 lawless deeds, menacing some, beating and shooting 
 thers, not always sparing women or children; the 
 latter perhaps being hurt accidentally in the melee. 
 
 From the quarter at Fairview they passed on to 
 that of Ion, continuing there the same threats and 
 acts of violence, winding up by setting fire to the 
 school-house and burning it to the ground. 
 
 The bright light shining in at the open windows 
 to her room awoke the little Elsie. She sprang 
 from her bed and ran to the window. She could 
 se the flames bursting from every aperture in the 
 walls of the small building, and here and there 
 through the roof, curling about the rafters, sending 
 up volumes of smoke and showers of sparks; and in 
 their light the demon-like forms of the mischief- 
 doers, some seated upon their horses and looking 
 quietly on, others flitting to and fro in the lurid 
 glare; while the roar and crackling of the flames 
 and the souud of falling timbers came distinctly to 
 her ear. 
 
 At the sight a panic terror seized the child. She
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 139 
 
 flew into the room where her parents lay sleeping, 
 but with habitual thoughtfulness for others, re 
 frained from screaming out in her fright- lest she 
 should rouse the little ones. 
 
 She went to her father's side, put her lips to his 
 ear, and said in low tremulous tones, " Papa, papa, 
 please wake up, I'm so frightened; there's a fire and 
 ithe Ku Klux are there. Oh, papa, I'm afraid they'll 
 come here and kill you! " and she ended with a 
 burst of almost hysterical weeping, rousing both 
 father and mother. 
 
 " What is it, darling? " asked Mr. Travilla, start 
 ing up to a sitting posture, and throwing an arm 
 about the child, " what has alarmed my pet? " while 
 the mother, exclaiming "Vi! is she gone again?" 
 sprang out upon the floor and hastily threw on a 
 dressing-gown. 
 
 " No, no, no, mamma; Vi's safe in bed, but look 
 at that red light on the wall yonder! it's fire, and 
 the Ku Klux! " 
 
 In another moment all three were at the window 
 overlooking the scene. 
 
 " The school-house! " exclaimed Mr. Travilla. " I 
 am not surprised; for the Klan is greatly opposed 
 to the education of the negro, and has burned down 
 /buildings used for that purpose in other places. Do 
 you see them, wife those frightful looking horned 
 animals?" 
 
 " Yep," she said with a shudder, followed by a 
 fleep sigh; " and, oh, Edward, what may they not be
 
 140 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 doing to our poor people? Can we do anything t 
 save them?" 
 
 He shook his head sadly. 
 
 " No; they are out in considerable force, and I 
 could do nothing, single-handed, against twenty or 
 thirty armed men." 
 
 " Oh, papa, mamma, I am so frightened! " cried 
 little Elsie, clinging to them both. "Will they come 
 here and hurt us?" 
 
 " I think not, daughter," her father said sooth 
 ingly; " their raids have hitherto been almost 
 entirely confined to the blacks and poor whites, 
 with now and then one of those from the North 
 whom they style carpet-baggers." 
 
 "Be calm, dearest, and put your trust in the 
 Lord," the mother said, folding the trembling, 
 sobbing child to her breast. "'The beloved of the 
 Lord shall dwell in safety by him, and the Lord shall 
 cover him all the day long.' ' Not an hair of your 
 head shall fall to the ground without your Father.' " 
 
 " Yes, sweet words," said Mr. Travilla; " and re 
 member what the Lord Jesus said to Pilate, * Thou, 
 couldst have no power at all against me, except it 
 were given thee from above.' " 
 
 A short pause, in which all three gazed intently 
 at the scene of conflagration, then, " Do you see- 
 how the walls are tottering? " said Mr. Travilla, and 
 even as he spoke they tumbled together into one 
 burning mass, the flames shot up higher than be 
 fore, burning with a fierce heat and roar, while by
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 141 
 
 their lurid light the Ku Klux could be seen taking 
 up their line of march again. 
 
 The two Elsies watched in almost breathless sus 
 pense till they saw them turn in a direction to take 
 them farther from Ion. 
 
 " Thank God they are not coming here! " ejacu 
 lated Mrs. Travilla, in low, reverent, grateful tones. 
 
 " Hark, mamma, papa, I hear cries and screams ! " 
 exclaimed little Elsie. " Oh, it must be some of the 
 poor women and children coming up from the 
 quarter! " 
 
 As the child spoke there came a quick sharp tap, 
 that seemed to tell of fright and excitement, at the 
 outer door of the suite of apartments, and an old 
 servant, hardly waiting for the permission to enter, 
 thrust in his head, saying in tremulous tones, "Mars 
 Ed'ard, de people's all comin' up from de quarter, 
 an' knockin* an' cryin' to get in. Dere's been awful 
 times down dere; de Ku Klu " 
 
 " Yes, yes, Jack, I know; but be quiet, or you'll 
 wake the children. Open the hall door and let the 
 poor things in, of course," said Mr. Travilla, " and 
 I'll be down in a moment." 
 
 " Plenty room on de back veranda, Mars Ed'ard, 
 an* 'tween dat an' de kitchen." 
 
 " Very well, they'll be safe there; but if they don't 
 feel so, let them into the hall." 
 
 "Yes, sah." 
 
 The head was withdrawn, the door closed, and 
 Jack's feet could be heard shuffling downstairs.
 
 142 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Travilla, having each completed a 
 hasty toilet, were about to go down; but little Elsie 
 clung to her mother. 
 
 " Mamma, mamma, don't go and leave me! please 
 let me go too." 
 
 "My darling, you would be quite safe here; and 
 it is much earlier than your usual hour for rising." 
 
 " But day is breaking, mamma, and I could not 
 sleep any more; besides, maybe I could help to com 
 fort them." 
 
 " I think she could," said her father, and mamma 
 gave consent at once. 
 
 They found the back veranda, the kitchen, and 
 the space between filled with an excited crowd of 
 blacks, old and young, talking, gesticulating, cry 
 ing, moaning, and groaning. 
 
 "De Ku Klux, de Ku Klux!" was on every tongue. 
 
 " Tell ye what, darkies," one was saying, " dey's 
 debbils! why, two ob dem stop befo' my doah an' say, 
 You black rascal, give us some watah! quick now, 
 fo' we shoot you tru the head'; den I hand up a 
 gourd full 'bout a quart, min' yo' and de fust 
 snatch it an' pour it right down his troat, an' hand 
 de gourd back quick's a flash; den he turn roun' an* 
 ride off, while I fill de gourd for de udder, an' he 
 do jes' de same. Tell ye what, dey's debbils! didn't 
 you see de horns, an' de big red tongues waggin' ? " 
 
 There was a murmur of assent, and a shudder ran 
 through the throng. But Mr. Travilla's voice was 
 heard in cheerful reassuring tones.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 143 
 
 "No, boys, they are men, though they do the 
 Work of devils. I have seen their disguise, and 
 under that long red tongue, which is made of flan 
 nel, and moved by the wearer's real tongue, there 
 is a leather bag inside of the disguise; and into 
 it they pour the water; not down their throats." 
 
 "Dat so, Mars Ed'ard?" cried several, drawing 
 a long breath of relief. 
 
 " Yes, that is so, boys. And they've been threat 
 ening and abusing you to-night?" 
 
 " Yes, sah, dat dey hab! " cried a score of voices, 
 and one after another showed his wounds, and told 
 a piteous tale. 
 
 Elsie and her namesake daughter wept over their 
 losses and sufferings; the medicine closet was un 
 locked, and its stores liberally drawn upon for mate 
 rials to dress their wounds, both master and mistress 
 attending to them with their own hands; and at 
 the same time speaking soothing, comforting words, 
 and promising help to repair the damage to their 
 property, and make good their losses: also to bring 
 their enemies to justice if that might be possible. 
 
 It was broad daylight ere the work was finished. 
 
 The veranda was nearly empty now, the people 
 slowly returning to their homes, Mr. Travilla hav 
 ing assured them the danger was past for the pres 
 ent, when Elsie caught sight of a woman whom she 
 had not observed till that moment. 
 
 The poor creature had dropped down upon a 
 bench at the kitchen door. Her right arm hung
 
 144 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 useless at her side; with the left she held the bloody 
 corpse of a puny infant to her breast, and the eyes 
 she lifted to the face of her mistress were full of a 
 mute, tearless agony. 
 
 Elsie's overflowed at the piteous sight. " Oh, my 
 poor Minerva," she said, "what is this they have 
 done to you and poor little Ben?" 
 
 " Oh, oh, oh, Miss Elsie! de Ku Kluxes dey shot 
 tm de doah, an' de balls flyin' all roun', an' an' 
 one hit me on de arm, an' killed my baby! " she 
 sobbed. " Oh! oh! oh! de doctah mend de arm, but 
 de baby, he he done gone f oreber." And the sobs 
 burst forth with renewed violence, while she hugged 
 the still form closer, and rocked herself to and fro 
 in her grief. 
 
 " Gone to heaven, my poor Minerva, to be forever 
 safe and happy with the dear Lord Jesus," her mis 
 tress said in quivering tones, the tears rolling fast 
 down her own cheeks. 
 
 "An' he neber hab mo' miseries, honey," said 
 Aunt Dicey, drawing near; " no Ku Klux come into 
 de garden ob de Lord to scare him or hurt him, 
 bress his little heart! " 
 
 "Wish we all dere, safe an* happy like he! Let 
 me wash off de blood an' dress him clean for de 
 grave," said Aunt Sally, the nurse of the quarter, 
 gently taking the child, while Mr. Travilla and Elsie 
 bound up the wounded arm, speaking soothingly to 
 the sufferer, and promising the doctor's aid as soon 
 as it could be procured.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 145 
 
 Aunt Sally sat near attending to the last offices 
 for the tiny corpse, little Elsie looking on, tears 
 coursing down her cheeks. Presently going to her 
 mother's side, she whispered a few words in her ear. 
 
 " Yes, dear, you may go to the bureau drawer and 
 choose it yourself," was the prompt reply, and the 
 child ran into the house, returning with a baby's 
 slip of fine white muslin, delicately embroidered. 
 
 "Put this on him, Aunt Sally," she said; 
 "mamma gave me leave to get it." 
 
 Then going to the bereaved mother, and clasping 
 the dusky, toil-worn hand with her soft, white 
 fingers, " Don't cry, Minerva," she said, " you know 
 poor little Ben was always sick, and now he is well 
 and happy. And if you love Jesus, you will go to 
 be with him again some day." 
 
 Evidently much gratified by the honor done her 
 dead babe, Minerva sobbed out her thanks for that, 
 and the dressing of her wounded arm, and dropping 
 a courtesy, followed Aunt Sally as she bore the 
 corpse into Aunt Dicey's cabin close by. 
 
 The scanty furniture of Minerva's own had been 
 completely demolished by the desperadoes, and her 
 husband terribly beaten. 
 
 He and one or two others had not come up with 
 the crowd, presumably from inability to do so, and 
 Mr. Travilla now mounted his horse and went in 
 search of them. 
 
 They had been left by their assailants in the 
 woods, where one " Uncle Mose " dreadfully
 
 146 ELSIE' 8 MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 crippled by rheumatism, still lay on the ground half 
 dead with bruises, cuts, and pistol shot wounds. 
 
 Another had crawled to his cabin and fainted 
 upon its threshold; while a third lay weltering in 
 his gore some yards distant from his. 
 
 Mr. Travilla had them all carried into their 
 houses and made as comfortable as circumstances 
 would permit, and a messenger was despatched in 
 all haste for Dr. Barton. 
 
 The family at Fairview had slept through the 
 night undisturbed by the vicinity or acts of the 
 raiders. Mr. Leland's first intimation of their visit 
 Vas received as he opened the front door at his 
 usual early hour for beginning his morning round 
 of the plantation. 
 
 He almost started back at the sight of a rude pine 
 coffin directly before him; but recovering himself 
 instantly, stooped to read a label affixed to the lid. 
 
 " Beware, odious carpet-bagger! this is your third 
 and last warning. Leave the country within ten 
 days, or your carcass fills this." 
 
 He read it deliberately through, carefully weigh 
 ing each word, not a muscle of his face moving, not 
 a tremor agitating his nerves. 
 
 Turning to his overseer, who at that moment ap 
 peared before him, " Bring me a hatchet," he said 
 in stern, calm tones, " and be quick, Park; I would 
 not have your mistress see this on any account." 
 
 Stepping upon the lid an he spoke, he broke ii ia
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 147 
 
 with a crash, finishing his work when the hatchet 
 came, by splitting the coffin up into kindling-wood. 
 
 "There!" he said, bidding the man gather up 
 the fragments and carry them to the kitchen, 
 " they'll not put me into that, at all events. What 
 mischief have they been at in the quarter, I won 
 der? " he added, springing into the saddle. 
 
 "Dreffle bad work, sah; mos' killed two ob de 
 boys; scared de rest to deff," said Park, hastily obey 
 ing the order to gather up the bits of wood, "jes' 
 gwine tell ye, sah, when you tole me go for de 
 hatchet." 
 
 "Indeed! hellish work! Follow me, Park, as 
 quickly as you can. And mind, not a word of this," 
 pointing to the demolished coffin, " to anyone," and 
 putting spurs to his horse, he galloped off in the 
 direction of the quarter. 
 
 But presently catching sight of the still smoking 
 embers of the Ion school-house, he drew rein for an 
 instant with a sudden exclamation of surprise and 
 regret. " The wretches, what will they do next ? 
 burn our houses about our ears?" and sighing, he 
 pursued his way. 
 
 Indignant anger and tender pity and compassion 
 filled his breast by turns, on reaching the quarter 
 and discovering the state of things there; worse even 
 than Park's report had made it. 
 
 He rode from cabin to cabin, inquiring into the 
 condition of the inmates and speaking words of pity 
 and of hope.
 
 148 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Finding several badly bruised and cut, and others 
 suffering from gunshot wounds, he sent to the house 
 for lint, salve, and bandages, and directed a lad to 
 run to the stables, saddle a horse, and go immedi 
 ately for Dr. Barton. 
 
 " De doctah ober to Ion now, sah," returned the 
 boy; " debbils dere las' night, too, sah." 
 
 "Bun over to Ion, then, and ask the doctor to 
 come here when he is through there," said Mr. 
 Leland. 
 
 Mr. Travilla came with the doctor, and the two 
 planters compared notes, in regard to damages, Mr. 
 Leland also telling the story of the coffin laid at his 
 door. 
 
 " What do you intend doing? " asked Travilla. 
 
 " Inclination says, ' Stay and brave it out '; but 
 I have not yet fully decided. I have invested all 
 my means in this enterprise, and have a wife and 
 family of helpless little ones to support." 
 
 " That makes it hard indeed; yet I fear your life 
 is in great danger. But come what may, Leland, 
 I stand your friend. If you should be attacked, 
 fly to Ion; you will find an open door, a hearty 
 welcome, and such protection as I am able to give. 
 I think we could conceal you so that it would be a 
 matter of difficulty for your foes to find you." 
 
 "A thousand thanks! God bless you for your 
 kindness, sir! " exclaimed Leland, with emotion, 
 warmly grasping the hand held out to him; and 
 the two parted, each wending his homeward way.
 
 CHAPTER XHI. 
 
 Humble love, 
 
 And not proud reason, keeps the door of heaven 
 Love finds admission, where proud science fails. 
 
 Young. 
 
 ELSIE was on the veranda looking for her hus 
 band's return to breakfast; for it was already past 
 the usual hour. 
 
 "All alone, little wife?" he asked, as he dis 
 mounted and came up the steps. 
 
 " Not now," she answered, putting her arms about 
 his neck and looking up at him with her own fond, 
 beautiful smile. "But your face is sad, my hus 
 band! What news?" 
 
 " Sad enough, my little friend; poor old Uncle 
 Mose has been so barbarously handled that he can 
 not live through the day, Dr. Barton says; and two 
 of the others are suffering very much." 
 
 Elsie's eyes were full. " Does Uncle Mose know 
 it?" she asked. 
 
 "Yes, I told him, as tenderly as I could, and 
 asked if he was ready to go. 'Yes, Mars Edard/ 
 he said, with a triumphant smile, ' I is for Pse got 
 fast hold ob Jesus/ " 
 
 149
 
 150 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Elsie's head was laid on her husband's shoulder, 
 the bright drops were coming fast down her cheeks. 
 
 " I have sent word to Mr. Wood," he went on; 
 " the poor old fellow is anxious to see him; and you 
 also." 
 
 " Yes, yes; I will go down directly after prayers," 
 she said. 
 
 Then he told her of the coffin laid at the door of 
 Fairview, and the threatening words on its lid. 
 
 She heard it with a shudder and a sigh. " Oh, 
 poor Mr. Leland! Edward, don't you think it would 
 be wise in him to leave for the present?" 
 
 " Perhaps so. I fear they will really attempt his 
 life if he stays; but all his means being invested in 
 Fairview makes it very hard. Where are our 
 children? " 
 
 " They went to deck the corpse of Baby Ben with 
 flowers. Ah, here they come, the darlings! " as little 
 feet came pattering through the hall. 
 
 They hastened to their father for their usual 
 morning kiss, and hung about him with tender lov 
 ing caresses; but their manner was subdued, and 
 Vi and Harold told with a sort of wondering awe 
 of the poor little dead baby so still and cold. 
 
 "Are you going out, mamma? " asked little Elsie 
 an hour later, as Mrs. Travilla appeared, dressed in 
 walking costume, in the midst of the group of chil 
 dren and nurses gathered under a tree on the shady 
 side of the house. 
 
 " Yes, daughter, I am going down to the quarter
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 151 
 
 to see poor old Uncle Mose, who is very ill; and I 
 want you to be mother to the little ones while I am 
 away." 
 
 " Oh, mamma, mayn't we go with you? " cried 
 Eddie and Vi in a breath; Harold chiming in, " And 
 me too, mamma, me too! " 
 
 " No, dears, not to-day, but some other time you 
 shall," the mother answered, giving each a good-bye 
 kiss. 
 
 " Mamma, stay wis us; I'se 'f aid de Kluxes get 
 'oo! " said Harold coaxingly, clinging about her 
 neck with his chubby arms, while the big tears 
 gathered in his great dark eyes. 
 
 " No, dear, they don't come in the day-time. And 
 God will take care of me. Papa is down at the 
 quarter, too; and Uncle Joe and mammy will go 
 with me." And with a tender caress she gently 
 released herself from his hold and turned away. 
 
 The children gazed wistfully after her graceful 
 figure as it disappeared among the trees, Uncle 
 Joe holding a great umbrella over her to shield her 
 from the sun, while mammy and Aunt Sally fol 
 lowed, each with a basket on her arm. 
 
 Uncle Mose was rapidly nearing that bourne 
 whence no traveller returns. As his mistress laid 
 her soft white hand on his, she felt that the chill of 
 death was there. 
 
 "You are almost home, Uncle Mose," she said, 
 bending over him, her sweet face full of tender 
 sympathy.
 
 152 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "Yes, my dear young missus, I'se in de valley," 
 he answered, speaking slowly and with, difficulty, 
 "but bress de Lord, it's not dark!" 
 
 " Jesus is with you? " 
 
 "Yes, missus, he is my strength and my song: 
 de riber's deep, but he'll neber let me sink. De 
 pain in dis ole body's dreffle, but I'll neber hab no 
 mo', bress de Lord ! " 
 
 " Do your good works give you this comfortable 
 assurance that you are going to heaven, Uncle 
 Mose?" 
 
 " Bress yo' heart, honey, I aint neber done none; 
 but de bressed Lord Jesus covers me all ober wid his 
 goodness, and God de Fader 'cepts me for his sake." 
 
 " Yes, that is it; ' He hath made him to be sin. 
 for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the 
 righteousness of God in him.' ' There is none other 
 name under heaven given among men whereby we 
 must be saved; ' and * he that believeth on him shall 
 not be confounded.' ' : 
 
 "Yes, honey, dose de words ob de Good Book. 
 Now will you please sing de twenty-third Psalm, an* 
 den ask de Lord Jesus keep fas' hold dis ole niggah, 
 till Jordan am past, an' de gate into de city? " 
 
 The request was granted; the sweet voice that 
 had thrilled the hearts of many of the rich and 
 noble of earth freely poured forth its richest 
 strains to soothe the dying throes of agony of a 
 poor old negro. 
 
 Then kneeling by the humble couch, in a fen
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 153 
 
 Simple, touching words she commended the depart 
 ing spirit to the almighty love and care of Him who 
 had shed his blood to redeem it, earnestly pleading 
 that the dying one might be enabled to cast him 
 self wholly on Jesus, and in doing so be granted a 
 "speedy and abundant entrance into his kingdom 
 ,and glory. 
 
 The fervent "Amen!" of Uncle Mose joined in 
 with hers; then low and feebly he added, " De good 
 Lord bress you my dear young missus." 
 
 A shadow had fallen on Elsie, and as she rose from 
 her knees she turned her head to find her father 
 standing at her side. 
 
 'He drew her to him and pressed his lips tenderly 
 to her forehead. "You must go now; the heat 
 of the sun is already too great for you to be out 
 with safety." 
 
 The low quiet tone was one of authority as of old. 
 
 He only waited for her good-bye to Uncle Mose, 
 and to speak a few kindly words of farewell him 
 self, then led her out and placed her in his carriage 
 which stood at the door. 
 
 'Mr. Travilla rode up at that instant. " That is 
 right," he said. "Little wife, I am loath to have 
 you exposed to the heat of this sultry day." 
 
 "And you, Edward? can you not come home 
 now?" she asked. 
 
 " Not yet, wife; there are several matters I must 
 attend to first, and I want to speak to Mr. Wood, 
 mho, 1 see, is just coming."
 
 154 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 He kissed his hand to her with the gallantry of 
 the days of their courtship, and cantered off, while 
 the carriage rolled on its way toward the mansion. 
 
 " Daughter, if you must visit the quarter during 
 this sultry weather, can you not choose an earlier 
 hour? " asked Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 "I think I can after this, papa;" and she went 
 on to explain how her time had been taken up be 
 fore breakfast that morning. " Do you know about 
 Mr. Leland? " she asked in conclusion. 
 
 "Yes; their next outrage will, I fear, be an 
 attack upon him/' 
 
 "Then upon you and Edward!" she said, her 
 cheek growing very pale and her eyes filling. 
 " Papa, I am becoming very anxious." 
 
 " ' I would have you without carefulness/ " he 
 answered, taking her hand in his. " They can have 
 no power at all against us, except it be given them 
 from above. My child, God reigns, and if God be 
 for us, who can be against us? " 
 
 " Yes, dear papa, and with David let us say, ' In 
 the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, 
 until these calamities be overpast.' * 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore was still with his daughter when 
 Mr. Travilla returned with the news that Uncle 
 Mose's sufferings were over, and it had been 
 arranged that he and baby Ben should be buried 
 that evening at dusk. 
 
 The children begged to be permitted to attend the 
 double funeral; but their parents judged it best to
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 155 
 
 3eny them, fearing an onslaught by the Ku Klux, 
 of which there was certainly a possibility. 
 
 " I have been talking with Leland," Mr. Tra* 
 villa remarked aside to his friend, " and he proposes 
 that we accompany the procession as a mounted 
 guard." 
 
 " Good! " said Mr. Dinsmore; " Horace and I will 
 join you; and let us all go armed to the teeth/' 
 
 " Certainly; and I accept your offer with thanks. 
 Some of the boys themselves are pretty fair marks* 
 men, but they were all robbed of their arms 
 last night." 
 
 " Let us supply them again, Edward," exclaimed 
 Elsie, with energy, " and have them practise shoot 
 ing at a mark." 
 
 Her husband assented with a smile. "You are 
 growing warlike in your feelings," he said. 
 
 " Yes, I believe in the privilege and duty of self- 
 defence." 
 
 Toward evening Mr. Dinsmore rode back to the 
 Oaks, returning to Ion with his son, shortly before 
 the appointed hour for the obsequies. 
 
 Elsie saw them and her husband ride away in the 
 direction of the quarter, not without some fluttering 
 of the heart, and with a silent prayer for their 
 safety, retired with her children to the observatory 
 at the top of the house, from whence a full view 
 might be obtained of the whole route from the cabin 
 of Uncle Mose to the somewhat distant place of 
 sepulture; the spot chosen for that purpose in
 
 156 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 'accommodation to the superstitious feelings of the 
 blacks, which led them to prefer to lay their dead 
 at a distance from their own habitations. 
 
 The children watched with deep interest as the 
 procession formed, each man carrying a blazing 
 pine-knot, passed down the one street of the quar 
 ter, and wound its slow way along the road that 
 skirted two sides of the plantation, then halfway 
 up a little hill, where it gathered in a circle about 
 the open grave. 
 
 Twilight was past, thick clouds hid the moon, 
 and the torches shone out like stars in the 
 darkness. 
 
 " Mamma, what dey doin' now? " asked Harold. 
 
 " Listen! perhaps you may hear something," she 
 answered, and as they almost held their breath to 
 hear, a wild, sweet negro melody came floating upon 
 the still night air. 
 
 " They're singing," whispered Vi, " singing Ca 
 naan, 'cause Uncle Mose and little Baby Ben have 
 got safe there." 
 
 No one spoke again till the strains had ceased 
 with the ending of the hymn. 
 
 "Now Mr. Wood is talking, I suppose," re 
 marked Eddie, in a subdued tone, " telling them 
 we must all die, and which is the way to get to 
 heaven." 
 
 "Else praying," said Vi. 
 
 " Mamma, what is die? " asked Harold, leaning on 
 her lap.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 157 
 
 "If we love Jesus, darling, it is going home to 
 be with, him, and, oh, so happy." 
 
 "But Baby Ben die, and me saw him in Aunt 
 Dicey's house." 
 
 " That was only his body, son; the soul, the 
 part that thinks and feels and loves, has gone away 
 to heaven, and after awhile God will take the body 
 there too." 
 
 For obvious reasons the services at the grave were 
 made very short, and in another moment they could 
 see the line of torches drawing rapidly nearer, 
 till it reached the quarter and broke into 
 fragments. 
 
 "We will go down now," Elsie said, rising and 
 taking Harold's hand, "papa, grandpa, and Uncle 
 Horace will be here in a moment." 
 
 " Mamma," whispered her namesake daughter, 
 " how good God was to keep them safe from the Ku 
 Klux! " 
 
 "Yes, dearest, let us tbank him with all our 
 hearts."
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 The more the bold, the bustling, and the bad, 
 Press to usurp the reins of power, the more 
 Behooves it virtue, with indignant zeal, 
 To check their combination. 
 
 TJwmton* 
 
 THE spirit of resistance was now fully aroused 
 within the breasts of our friends of Ion and the 
 Oaks. Mr. Travilla's was a type of the American 
 character; he would bear long with his injuries, 
 vexations, encroachments upon his rights, but when 
 once the end of his forbearance was reached, wo 
 to the aggressor; for he would find himself opposed 
 by a man of great resources, unconquerable deter 
 mination, and undaunted courage. 
 
 His measures were taken quietly, but with 
 promptness and energy. He had been seeking 
 proofs of the identity of the raiders, and found 
 them in the case of one of the party, whose gait 
 had been recognized by several, his voice by one 
 or two, while the mark of his bloody hand laid 
 upon the clothing of one of the women as he 
 roughly pushed her out of his way seemed to fur 
 nish the strongest circumstantial evidence against 
 him. 
 
 158
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 159 
 
 George Bead's right hand had been maimed in 
 a peculiar manner during the war, and this 
 bloody mark upon the woman's night-dress was its 
 exact imprint. 
 
 Already Mr. Travilla had procured his arrest, 
 and had him imprisoned for trial, in the county 
 jail. 
 
 Yet this was but a small part of the day's work: 
 lumber had been ordered and men engaged for ^he 
 rebuilding of the school-house; merchandise also 
 to 'replace the furniture and clothing destroyed; 
 and arms for every man at the quarter capable of 
 using them. 
 
 All this Elsie knew and approved, as did her 
 father and brother. For Mrs. Carrington's sake 
 they deeply regretted that Boyd was implicated 
 in the outrage; but all agreed that justice must 
 have its course. 
 
 The question had been mooted in both families 
 whether any or all of them should leave the South 
 until the restoration of law and order should render 
 it a safe abiding place for honest, peaceable folk, 
 but unanimously decided in the negative. 
 
 The gentlemen scorned to fly from the despera 
 does and resign to their despotic rule their poor 
 dependents and the land of their love; nay, they 
 would stay and defend both to the utmost of their 
 power; and the wives upheld their husbands in their 
 determination, and refused to leave them to meet 
 the peiil alone.
 
 260 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Returning from the burial of Uncle Mose Mr. 
 Dinsmore and Horace spent an hour at Ion before 
 riding back to the Oaks. 
 
 The three gentlemen were in the library earnestly 
 discussing the state of affairs, when Elsie, coming 
 down from seeing her little ones settled for the 
 night, heard the sound of wheels in the avenue, and 
 stepping to the door saw the Ashlands carriage just 
 drawing up in front of it. 
 
 The vehicle had scarcely come to a standstill ere 
 its door was thrown hastily open and the elder Mrs. 
 Carrington alighted. 
 
 Elsie sprang to meet her with outstretched arms 
 and the exclamation, " My dear old friend ! " 
 though her heart beat quickly, her cheek crimsoned, 
 and tears filled her eyes. 
 
 The old lady, speechless with grief, fell upon her 
 neck and wept there silently for a moment; then 
 low and gaspingly, in a voice broken with sobs, " I 
 have come to ask about George," she said. 
 " Can it, oh, can it be that he has done this dreadful 
 thing? " and shuddering she hid her face on Elsie's 
 shoulder, her slight frame shaken with the sobs she 
 vainly strove to suppress. 
 
 "Dear Mrs. Carrington, I am so sorry, so very 
 sorry to think it," Elsie said, in a voice full of tears, 
 " my heart aches for you who love him so; you who 
 have been so sorely afflicted-: may the Lord give you 
 strength to bear up under this new trial." 
 
 "He will! he does! My sister's son! oh, 'tis sad,
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 161 
 
 'tis heart-breaking! But the proofs: what are 
 they? " 
 
 Elsie named them; first drawing her friend to a 
 seat where she supported her with her arm. 
 
 " Yes, yes, his voice, his gait are both peculiar, 
 and his hand. Let me see that that garment." 
 
 Leading her into a private room and seating her 
 comfortably there, Elsie had it brought and laid 
 before her. 
 
 Mrs. Carrington gave it one glance, and motion 
 ing it away with a look and gesture of horror, 
 dropped her face into her hands and groaned 
 aloud. 
 
 Elsie kneeling by her side, clasped her arms about 
 her and wept with her. 
 
 " A slayer of the weak and helpless a murderer 
 a midnight assassin! " groaned the half distracted 
 aunt. 
 
 " May there not possibly be some mistake. Let 
 us give him the benefit of the doubt/' whispered 
 Elsie. 
 
 " Alas, there seems scarcely room for doubt! " 
 sighed Mrs. Carrington; then, with a determined 
 effort to recover her composure, " But don't think, 
 dear Elsie, that I blame you or your husband. Can 
 I see him? and your father, if he is here?" 
 
 " Yes, they are both here and will rejoice if they 
 can be of any comfort or service to you. Ah, I 
 hear papa's voice in the hall, asking for me! " and" 
 stepping to the door, she called to him and her hus-
 
 162 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 band, " Please come in here," she said, " Mrs. Car- 
 rington wishes to see you both." 
 
 " You here, alone, at this late hour, my dear 
 madam! " Mr. Dinsmore exclaimed, taking the old 
 lady's hand in a cordial grasp; "your courage sur 
 prises me." 
 
 "Ah, my good friend, they who have little to 
 lose, need not have much to do with fear," she an 
 swered. " That was what I told Sophie, who would 
 have had me defer my call till to-morrow." 
 
 "My dear madam, you are surely right in think 
 ing that no one would molest you a lady whom all 
 classes unite in loving and honoring," Mr. Travilla 
 said, greeting her with almost filial respect and 
 affection. 
 
 She bowed in acknowledgment. "Do not think 
 for a moment that I have come to upbraid you, 
 gentlemen. Justice demands that those who break 
 the laws suffer the penalty, and I have nothing to 
 eay against it; though the criminal be my own flesh 
 and blood. But I want to hear all about this sad 
 affair." 
 
 They told her briefly all they knew, she listening 
 with calm though sad demeanor. 
 
 " Thank you," she said, when they had finished. 
 " That George is guilty, I dare hardly doubt, and 
 I am far from upholding him in his wickedness. 
 As you all know, I was strong for secession, and 
 and no Eepublican now, but I say, perish the cause 
 that can be upheld only by such measures as these.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 163 
 
 I would have every member of this wicked, dread 
 ful conspiracy brought to punishment; they are 
 ruining their country; but their deeds are not 
 chargeable upon the secessionists of the war time, 
 as a class." 
 
 " That is certainly true, madam." 
 
 " We are fully convinced of that, Mrs. Carring-, 
 ton," the gentlemen replied. 
 
 f!he rose to take leave. Mr. Travilla requested) 
 her to delay a little till his horse could be brought 
 to the door and he would see her home. 
 
 " No, no, Travilla," said Mr. Dinsmore, " Horace 
 and I will do that, if Mrs. Carrington will accept our 
 escort." 
 
 " Many thanks to you both, gentlemen," she said, 
 " but I assure you I am not in the least afraid; and 
 it would be putting you to unnecessary trouble." 
 
 " On the contrary, my dear madam, it would be 
 a pleasure; and as our horses are already at the door, 
 we need not delay you a moment," said Mr. Dins- 
 more. "It will not take us so very far out of our 
 way, either; and I should like to have a word with' 
 Sophie." 
 
 Upon that Mrs. Carrington gratefully accepted 
 his offer, and the three went away together. 
 
 Convinced of his guilt, Mrs. Carrington made no 
 effort to obtain the release of her nephew, but 
 several of his confederates having perjured them 
 selves to prove an alibi in his favor, he was soon 
 at large again.
 
 364 'ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 He showed his face no more at the Oaks or Ion, 
 and upon occasion of an accidental meeting with 
 Travilla or either of the Dinsmores, regarded him 
 with dark, scowling looks, sometimes adding a mut 
 tered word or two of anger and defiance. 
 
 In the meantime damages had been repaired in 
 the quarters at Fairview and Ion, and the men at the 
 latter secretly supplied with arms; also the rebuild 
 ing of the school-house was going rapidly ior- 
 ward. 
 
 A threatening notice was presently served upon 
 Mr. Travilla, ordering him to desist from the at 
 tempt, as the teaching of the blacks would not be 
 allowed by the Ku Klux. 
 
 He, however, paid no attention to the insolent 
 demand, and the work went on as before. 
 
 Mr. Leland had succeeded in keeping the affair 
 of the coffin from his wife, thus saving her much 
 anxiety and distress. 
 
 To leave just at this time would be a great 
 pecuniary loss, and he had decided to remain; but 
 had laid his plans carefully for either resistance or 
 escape in case of an attack. 
 
 A couple of large, powerful, and very fine watch 
 dogs were added to his establishment, and a brace 
 of loaded pistols and a bowie knife were always 
 within reach of his hand. 
 
 One night the family were aroused by the furious 
 barking of the dogs. Instantly Mr. Leland was 
 Out upon the floor hastily throwing on his clothes,
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 165 
 
 while his wife, with the frightened cry, "The Ku 
 Klux ! " ran to the window. 
 
 " Yes it is! they are surrounding the house! Oh, 
 Robert, fly for your life!" she cried in the wildest 
 terror. " God, save my poor husband from these 
 cruel foes!" she added, dropping upon her knees 
 and lifting hands and eyes to heaven. 
 
 "He will, Mary, never fear, wife," Mr. Leland 
 said almost cheerfully, snatching up his weapons as 
 he spoke. " Pray on, it's the best thing you can do 
 to help me." 
 
 " You must fly! " she said; " you can't fight 
 twenty men, and I think they are at least that 
 many." 
 
 " I'll slip out at the back door then, and make 
 for the woods," he answered, rushing from the 
 room. 
 
 Children and servants were screaming with af 
 fright, the ruffians thundering at the front door, 
 calling loudly upon Mr. Leland to come out, and 
 threatening to break it down if he did not immedi 
 ately appear. 
 
 I Summoning all her courage, the wife went again 
 ( to the window and called to them, asking what was 
 wanted. 
 
 " Leland. Tell him to come out here at once, or 
 it will be the worse for him," returned the leader, 
 in a feigned, unnatural voice. 
 
 "He is not here," she said. 
 
 " He'd better show himself at once," returned the
 
 166 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 ruffian; " he'll not escape by refusing to do so; we'll 
 search every corner till we find him." 
 
 " That will be as God pleases/' she said in a 
 calm, firm tone, her courage rising with the emer 
 gency. 
 
 She was answered with a yell of rage and a 
 repeated order to come down and open the door. 
 
 " I shall do no such thing," she said; " and what 
 is more, I shall shoot down the first man that sets 
 foot on the stairs." 
 
 It was a sudden resolution that had come to her. 
 Encouraged by Mrs. Travilla's precept and example, 
 she had been, for months past, industriously train 
 ing herself in the use of firearms, and kept her 
 loaded revolver at hand; and now she would create 
 a diversion in her husband's favor, keeping the 
 raiders at bay at the front of the building while 
 he escaped at the back; they believed him to be in 
 the upper story: if she could prevent it, they should 
 not learn their mistake till he had had time to gain 
 the woods and distance pursuit. 
 
 The door could not much longer withstand the 
 heavy blows dealt it; already there were sounds as 
 if it were about to give away. 
 
 " Archie," she said, turning to her son and speak 
 ing very rapidly, "those men are here to kill your 
 father; you must help me to prevent them from 
 coming up to hunt him. The rest of you children 
 stop that loud crying, which won't do any good. 
 Kneel down and pray, pray, pray to God to help
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 167 
 
 your father to get away from them. Archie, throw 
 this black cloak round you. Here are two loaded 
 pistols. I will take one, you the other; we will sta 
 tion ourselves on the landing at the head of the 
 first flight of stairs. It is darker in the house than 
 out of doors, and they will not be able to see us, but 
 as the door falls and they rush in we can see them 
 in their white gowns, and against the light. Come!" 
 
 They hurried to the landing. 
 
 "Now we must not be in too great haste," she 
 whispered in his ear; " keep cool, take sure aim, and 
 fire low." 
 
 The words had scarcely left her lips when the 
 door fell with a crash, and with a yell like an Indian 
 warwhoop several disguised men rushed into the 
 hall and hastily advanced toward the stairway; but 
 the instant the foremost set foot upon it two shots 
 were fired from above, evidently not without effect; 
 for with an oath he staggered back and fell into the 
 arms of his comrades. 
 
 He was borne away by two of them, while the 
 others returned the fire at random, for they could 
 not see their adversaries. 
 
 The balls whistled past Mrs. Leland and her son, 
 but they stood their ground bravely, and as two of 
 their assailants attempted to ascend the stairs, fired 
 again and again, driving them back for a moment. 
 
 At the same time sounds of conflict came from the 
 rear of the dwelling an exchange of shots, whoops, 
 and yells, the hurried tramp of many feet, and the
 
 168 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 yelping, barking, and howling of the dogs and in 
 stantly the hall was cleared, every man there 
 hastening to join in this new struggle, apparently 
 satisfied that their intended victim was endeavor 
 ing to make his escape in that direction. 
 
 Seeing this, Mrs. Leland and her son ran to a 
 window overlooking the new scene of contest, their 
 hearts beating between hope and fear. 
 
 Mr. Leland had slipped cautiously out of the back 
 door, and, revolver in hand, stepped into the yard, 
 but only to find himself surrounded by his foes. 
 
 They attempted to seize him, but eluding their 
 grasp, he fired right and left, several shots in suc 
 cession, the others returning his fire, and following 
 in hot pursuit. 
 
 There was no moon that night, and the darkness 
 and a simple suit of black were favorable to Leland, 
 for while the long white gowns of the Ku Klux not 
 only trammeled their movements, but rendered each 
 an easy target for his shot, they could take but un 
 certain aim at him, and on gaining the woods he 
 was soon lost to their view in the deepened gloom 
 of its recesses. 
 
 But the balls had been falling about him like 
 hailstones, and as the sounds of pursuit grew 
 fainter he found himself bleeding profusely from 
 a wound in the leg. He dropped behind a fallen 
 tree, and partially staunched the wound with some 
 leaves which he bound on with a handkerchief, 
 fortunately left in his coat pocket that night.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 169 
 
 This was scarcely accomplished when sounds of 
 approaching footsteps and voices told him the 
 danger was not yet over. 
 
 He crouched close in his hiding place, and hardly 
 'dared breathe as they passed and repassed, some 
 almost stepping on him. But he remained undis 
 covered, and at length they abandoned the search, 
 and returning to the vicinity of the house, gathered 
 up their wounded and went away. 
 
 Yet Leland felt that it was not safe for him to 
 venture back to his home, as they might return at 
 any moment; but to remain where he was with his 
 wound undressed was almost certain death. 
 
 He resolved to accept Mr. Travilla's offered hos 
 pitality, if his strength would carry him so far, and 
 was rising to make the attempt when the cracking 
 of a dead branch told him that some living thing 
 was near, and he fell back again, listening intently 
 for the coming footsteps. 
 
 " Robert! Robert! " called a low tremulous voice. 
 
 " Oh, Mary, is it you? " he responded, in low but 
 joyous accents, and the next moment his wife's arms 
 were about his neck, her tears warm upon his cheek, 
 while Archie stood sobbing beside them. 
 
 "Thank God, thank God, that you are alive!" 
 she said. " But are you unhurt? " 
 
 "No, I am bleeding fast from a wound in my 
 leg," Leland answered faintly. 
 
 " I've brought lint and bandages," she said; " let 
 me bind it up as well as I can in the dark."
 
 lYo ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " Daren't we strike a light? " asked Archie. 
 
 "No, my son, it might bring them on us again, 
 and we must speak low too." 
 
 " Yes, father; but oh, what will you do? you can't 
 come back home again?" 
 
 " No; I must go to Ion at once, while I can do so 
 under cover of the darkness. Travilla has offered 
 to hide me there. Archie, my brave boy, I can trust 
 you with this secret." 
 
 " Father, 'they shall kill me before I'll tell it." 
 
 " I trust you will not be tried so far," Leland said 
 with emotion. " I would not save my life at the 
 sacrifice of yours. I leave your mother in your care, 
 my boy; be dutiful and affectionate to her, and kind 
 to your little brother and sisters. Mary, dear, you 
 and Archie will have to manage the plantation in 
 in my absence," and he went on to give some 
 directions. 
 
 " I will do my best," she said tearfully, " and as 
 we have been for months past frequent visitors at 
 Ion, I can surely go to see you there occasionally 
 without exciting suspicion." 
 
 " Yes, I think so." 
 
 " Father," said Archie, " you can never walk to ' 
 Ion; let me bring my pony and help you to mount ' 
 him; then I will lead him to Ion and bring him back 
 again." 
 
 " That is a bright thought; we will do so, if you 
 can saddle him in the dark and bring him here very 
 quietly."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 171 
 
 " I'll try, father," and the boy hastened away in 
 the direction of the stables. 
 
 He returned sooner than they dared hope, with 
 the pony saddled and bridled. Husband and wife 
 bade a mournful adieu. Mr. Leland mounted with 
 his son's assistance, and silently they threaded their 
 way through the woods to Ion. 
 
 " Hoo! hoo! hoo! " the cry came in loud and clear 
 through the open windows of the bedroom of the 
 master and mistress of Ion, and startled them both 
 from their slumbers. 
 
 " Hoo! hoo! hoo! " it came again, and with a light 
 laugh, Elsie said, " Ah, it is only an owl; but to my 
 sleeping ear it seemed like a human cry of distress. 
 But Edward- 
 He had sprung from the bed and was hurrying on 
 his clothes. " I doubt if it is not, little wife," he 
 said. " It is the signal of distress Leland and I 
 had agreed upon, and he may be in sore need of 
 aid." 
 
 " Let me go with you! " she cried tremulously, 
 hastening to don dressing-gown and slippers. 
 " Shall I strike a light? " 
 
 " No, not till we go down below where the shut 
 ters are closed. There is no knowing what foe may 
 be lurking near." 
 
 Seizing his revolvers, he left the room as he 
 spoke, she following close behind, a pistol in one 
 hand, a lamp and match-box in the other. 
 
 Silently they groped their way over the stairs,
 
 172 ELStE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 through the halls and corridors, till they reached 
 a side door, which Mr. Travilla cautiously unbarred. 
 
 "Who is there?" he asked, scarcely above his 
 breath. 
 
 " I, sir," and Mr. Leland stepped in and fell faint 
 ing to the floor. 
 
 Elsie had set her lamp upon a table, and laid her 
 pistol beside it, and while her husband carefully 
 secured the door again she struck a light and 
 brought it near. 
 
 Together they stooped over the prostrate form. 
 
 " He is not dead? " she asked, with a shudder. 
 
 "No, no! only a faint; but, see, he is wounded! 
 Your keys, wife! " 
 
 "Here," she said, taking them from her pocket, 
 where, with rare presence of mind, she had thrust 
 them ere leaving her room. 
 
 They hastened to apply restoratives, and bind up 
 the wound more thoroughly than Mrs. Leland had 
 been able to do it. 
 
 Eestored to consciousness, Leland gave a brief 
 account of the affair, refreshed himself with food 
 and drink set before him by Elsie's fair hands, and 
 then was conducted by Mr. Travilla to an upper 
 room in a wing of the building dating back to the 
 old days of Indian warfare. It was distant from the 
 apartments in use by the family, and had a large 
 closet entered by a concealed door in the wains 
 coting. 
 
 "Here I think you will be safe," remarked his
 
 ELSIE' 8 MOTHERHOOD. 173 
 
 Host. u No one but my wife and myself yet knows 
 of your coming, and it shall be kept secret from all 
 but Aunt Chloe and Uncle Joe, two tried and faith 
 ful servants. Except Dr. Barton; he is safe and will 
 be needed to extract the ball." 
 
 " Yes; and my wife and boy and the Dinsmores," 
 added Leland, with a faint smile. " Travilla, my 
 good friend, I can never thank you enough for this 
 kindness." 
 
 "Tut, man! 'tis nothing! are we not told to lay 
 down our lives for the brethren? Let my help you 
 to bed; I fear that leg will keep you there for some 
 days/' 
 
 " I fear so, indeed, but am sincerely thankful to 
 have gotten off so well," replied Leland, accepting 
 the offered assistance. 
 
 " A most comfortable, nay luxurious prison cell," 
 he remarked cheerily, glancing about upon the 
 elegant and tasteful furniture; " truly the lines have 
 fallen to me in pleasant places." 
 
 Mr. Travilla smiled. " We will do what we can. 
 to make amends for the loss of liberty. It cannot 
 be far from daybreak now: I will remove the light, 
 throw open the shutters and leave you to rest. Yotf, 
 must, of course, be anxious about your family. I 
 will ride over to Fairview and bring you news of 
 them within the hour."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 It gives me wonder, great is my content, 
 To see you here before me. 
 
 Shakspere's Othello. 
 
 Sir, you are very welcome to our house. 
 
 Sftakspere. 
 
 DAY had fully dawned when Mr. Travilla re- 
 entered his sleeping apartment, to find Elsie in bed 
 again, but lying there with wide open eyes. 
 
 " How very quietly you came in; careful not to 
 disturb me, I suppose, my good, kind husband," she 
 said, greeting him with a loving look and smile, as 
 he drew near her couch. 
 
 " Yes," he answered, bending over her and fondly 
 stroking her hair. "I hoped you were taking an 
 other nap." 
 
 " No, I feel as if I should never be sleepy again. 
 I'm thinking of poor Mrs. Leland. How troubled, 
 anxious, and distressed she must feel! " 
 
 " Yes; I shall ride over there directly." 
 
 " And take me with you? " 
 
 " Gladly, if you like to go. You will do her more 
 good than I." 
 
 "I doubt it; but perhaps both together may be 
 
 174
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 175 
 
 better than either one alone. Didn't she act 
 bravely? " 
 
 " Yes; she's a noble woman." 
 
 They spent some moments in consulting together 
 how to make their guest comfortable, and at the 
 same time effectually conceal his presence in the 
 house. 
 
 They rejoiced in the fact that no one but them 
 selves his own son excepted had been cognizant 
 of his arrival, and Elsie agreed with her husband 
 that it should be kept secret from the children; 
 servants also, save Aunt Chloe and Uncle Joe, whose 
 services would be needed, and who could be trusted 
 not to divulge the matter. 
 
 " Mammy will manage about his meals, I know/' 
 said Elsie, "and Dr. Barton's visits may be sup 
 posed to be paid to Violet. The darling! how glad 
 and thankful I am that she seems to be losing her 
 inclination to sleep-walking." 
 
 "And I," said her husband; "thankful to God 
 for his blessing on the means used, and to Barton, 
 who is certainly an excellent physician." 
 
 Their talk ended, husband and wife separated to 
 their different dressing-rooms. 
 
 Elsie rang for her maid, and Aunt Chloe appeared 
 in answer to the summons. 
 
 Aunt Chloe was no longer young, or even elderly, 
 but had attained to a healthy and vigorous old age, 
 ;md still so delighted in her old pleasant task of 
 busying herself about the person of her young mis-
 
 176 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 tress, that she would only occasionally resign it 
 to other hands. She was a household dignitary, 
 head tire-woman, and head nurse, and much looked 
 up to by the younger servants. 
 
 She came in quietly, and dropping a courtesy said, 
 " Good-mornin', Miss Elsie, I hope you's well, 
 honey, but you's up so mighty early." 
 
 " Ah, mammy, I'm glad it is you, for I have some 
 thing to tell you. Yes, I'm quite well, thank you/' 
 Elsie answered, then while making a rapid toilet, 
 went on to relate the occurrences of the last few 
 hours, winding up by putting the wounded guest 
 in charge of Aunt Chloe and her husband. 
 
 The faithful old creature accepted the trust with 
 evident pride in the confidence reposed in her. 
 
 " Dis chile an 7 Uncle Joe '11 take care ob him, 
 honey, neber fear," she said, carefully adjusting the 
 folds of her mistress' riding habit. " I'll nuss him 
 to de best ob my disability, an' de good Lord '11 soon 
 make um well, I hope." 
 
 " And you and Uncle Joe will be careful not to 
 let any of the other servants know that he's 
 here?" 
 
 "Dat we will, darlin', for shuah." 
 
 The sun was just peeping above the horizon as 
 Mr. and Mrs. Travilla drew rein before the main 
 entrance to the Fairview mansion. 
 
 Mrs. Leland came out to welcome them. She 
 was looking pale and worn, yet met them with a 
 smile, and words of grateful appreciation of all
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 177 
 
 their kindness, then, with the quick tears springing 
 to her eyes, asked anxiously after her husband's 
 welfare. 
 
 "I think he is safe and will do well," Mr. Tra- 
 villa said. " It seems to be only a flesh wound, and 
 will soon heal with proper treatment and good nurs 
 ing. I shall go from here to Dr. Barton's, calling 
 for my wife on my return. But first what can I 
 do for you? Ah, I see your door is quite demol 
 ished. We must have it replaced with a new and 
 stronger one before night." 
 
 " Yes, that is the most pressing need just now," 
 said Mrs. Leland. " Come in and look; there is 
 really no other damage except a few bullet holes in 
 the walls, and these blood-stains on the matting,'* 
 she said with a slight shudder; " and I am truly 
 thankful to have escaped so well." 
 
 They stepped into the hall (their talk so far had 
 been on the veranda), and gazed with interest upon 
 the marks of the night's conflict, Mrs. Leland mean 
 while giving a graphic account of it. 
 
 A servant was diligently at work cleaning the 
 matting, and had nearly obliterated the stains left 
 by the wounded Ku Klux. 
 
 "And you shot him, Mrs. Leland?" Elsie said 
 inquiringly. 
 
 "Archie or I, or perhaps both of us," Mrs. Le 
 land answered, leading the way to the parlor. 
 
 They sat there a few moments, conversing still 
 upon the same theme.
 
 178 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "You will hardly dare stay here at night now?" 
 Elsie remarked. 
 
 "Yes; where else? I should feel very little safer 
 from the Ku Klux in the woods, and the malaria 
 might rob us all of health, and even life." 
 
 " Come to Ion/' said both her visitors in a 
 breath, "you will be most welcome." 
 
 "A thousand thanks," she answered with 
 emotion. " I do not doubt my welcome; yet fear 
 to give a clue to my husband's hiding-place." 
 
 "There might be danger of that," Mr. Travilla 
 said thoughtfully; "but what better, my dear 
 madam, can you do ? " 
 
 " Stay here and put my trust in the Lord. 
 He will take care of me and my helpless little ones. 
 
 " I have been thinking of one of our noble pioneer 
 women of the West, whose husband was killed by 
 the Indians, leaving her alone in the wilderness with 
 six small children, no white persons within several 
 miles. 
 
 "Her friends urged her to leave the dangerous 
 spot, but she said, * No, this farm is all I have for 
 my own and my children's support, and I must stay 
 here. God will protect and help us.' And he did; 
 the Indians, though they knew she was alone, never 
 attacked her. She lay sometimes all night with a 
 broadax in her hands, ready to defend her babes; 
 but though she could see the savages come into her 
 yard and light their pipes at her brushwood fire, 
 they never approached the hxmse."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 179 
 
 Elsie's eyes kindled with enthusiastic admiration, 
 then filled with tears. " Dear, brave Christian 
 woman! and you will emulate her courage and 
 faith?" 
 
 " I shall try; the hearts of the Ku Klux of to-day 
 are no less in His hands than those of the Indians 
 of that day or this." 
 
 " That is certainly true, and he never fails those 
 who put their trust in him," Mr. Travilla said, 
 rising. "Now, wife, I will leave you here while I 
 go for Barton." 
 
 " Oh, stay a moment, Edward! " she exclaimed; 
 " a thought has struck me : it is not usual for you to 
 go for the doctor yourself: might it not excite sus 
 picion? And can you not trust Uncle Joe as your 
 messenger? " 
 
 " Your plan is best," he said with a pleased smile. 
 "Let us then hasten home and despatch him on 
 the errand at once." 
 
 Dr. Barton found the wound not dangerous, ex 
 tracted the ball with little difficulty, and left the 
 patient doing well. 
 
 The attack on Fairview and the disappearance of 
 its owner caused considerable excitement in the 
 neighborhood; there was a good deal of speculation 
 as to what had become of him: some thought it 
 probable that he had hidden in the woods and died 
 there of his wounds; others that he had gone North 
 to stay until the reign of terror should be over. 
 
 No one, perhaps, suspected the truth, yet the
 
 280 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 wratH of the Ku Klux was excited against the Tra 
 villas, and the Dinsmores of the Oaks, by the kind 
 ness they showed to Leland's wife and children; 
 and threatening notices were sent ordering them 
 to desist from giving aid and comfort to " the car 
 pet-bagger's family/' 
 
 They, however, paid no heed to the insolent de 
 mand, but exerted themselves to discover who were 
 the men wounded in the raid; for that more than 
 one had been hurt was evidenced by the bloody 
 tracks in and around the house at Pairview. 
 
 In this they were not successful; doubtless be 
 cause the men were from a distance, it being the 
 custom for the organization so to arrange matters 
 that thus they might the more readily escape recog 
 nition. 
 
 The Ion children were at play in the front ver 
 anda one morning shortly after breakfast when a 
 strange gentleman came riding leisurely up the 
 avenue. 
 
 Harold was the first to notice his approach. 
 "Mammy, mammy! see who's tumin! dat one de 
 Kluxes?" he asked, running in affright to Aunt 
 Chloe, who sat in their midst with the babe on her 
 lap. 
 
 " Spect not, honey; don't be 'fraid/' she said 
 soothingly, putting her arm about the little trem 
 bler. 
 
 The little girls were dressing their dolls, Eddie 
 and Bruno racing back and forth, in and out, having
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 181 
 
 a grand romp; but at Harold's question Eddie sud 
 denly stood still, with an imperative, " Down, 
 Bruno! down, sir! be quiet now! " and turned to look 
 at the stranger. 
 
 The gentleman, now close at hand, reined in his 
 horse, lifted his hat, and with a winning smile said: 
 " Good-morning, my little lads and lasses. Is your 
 mother in?" 
 
 "No, sir, she and papa have gone out riding," 
 replied Eddie, returning the bow and smile. 
 
 Elsie laid aside her doll and, stepping forward, 
 said with a graceful little courtesy, " Good-morning, 
 sir! will you dismount and come in? Papa and 
 mamma will probably be here in a few minutes." 
 
 "Ah ha! um h'm; ah ha! Yes, my little lady, 
 I will do so, thank you," returned the gentleman, 
 giving his horse into the care of a servant sum 
 moned by Eddie. 
 
 " Will you walk into the drawing-room, sir? " 
 Elsie asked. 
 
 "No, thank you," he replied, seating himself 
 among them and sending a glance of keen interest 
 from one to another. 
 
 One look into the pleasant, genial face banished 
 Harold's fears, and when the stranger held out his 
 hand, saying, " I am your mamma's cousin, won't 
 you come and sit on my knee?" the child went to 
 him at once, and the others gathered eagerly about. 
 
 "Mamma's cousin! then she will be very glad to 
 see you," said Elsie.
 
 182 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "But she never told us about you/' observed 
 Eddie. 
 
 " Ah ha, ah ha! um h'm! ah ha! But did she ever 
 tell you about any of her mother's kin? " 
 
 " No, sir/' said Elsie; " I asked her once, and she 
 said she didn't know anything about them; she 
 wished she did." 
 
 "Ah ha! ah ha, um h'm! ah ha! Well, she soon 
 will. Child, you look very like a picture of your 
 great-grandmother that hangs in my house in Edin 
 burgh. A bonny lassie she must have been when it 
 was taken." 
 
 " Yes, sir; and she's the picture of mamma, " re 
 marked Eddie; " everybody says so." 
 
 "Ah ha, ah ha! um h'm, ah ha!" 
 
 "Has you dot any 'ittle boys and dirls at your 
 house? " asked Harold. 
 
 "Yes, my man, a quiver full of them." 
 
 " Are they good ? do they love Jesus ? " asked Vi. 
 " Please tell us about them." 
 
 " If you like to, sir," said Elsie, with a sweet and 
 gentle gravity. "Vi, dear, you know we mustn't 
 tease." 
 
 " No, I didn't mean to tease," Vi answered, blush- 
 Ing. " Please excuse me, sir, and don't tell it 'less 
 you want to." 
 
 " No, no; it will give me pleasure, my de.ar. I 
 enjoy talking of my darlings; especially now when 
 they are so far away." 
 
 He seemed about to begin, when Elsie, blushing
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 183 
 
 deeply, said, "Excuse me, sir, I have been very 
 remiss in my hospitalities. It is early, and perhaps 
 you have not breakfasted." 
 
 " Yes, thank you, my dear; I took breakfast at 
 the village hotel, where I arrived last night." 
 
 " But you will take a cup of coffee and some 
 fruit 
 
 Her sentence was broken off; for at that instant 
 a lady and gentleman came galloping up the avenue, 
 and the little ones hailed them with a joyous shout, 
 w Papa and mamma! " 
 
 Another moment and Mr. Travilla had dis 
 mounted, gallantly assisted his wife to do the same, 
 and together they stepped into the veranda. Both 
 bowed politely to the stranger, and the children 
 running to them cried, " Mamma, mamma, it is 
 your cousin from Scotland." 
 
 She turned inquiringly to him, a flush of pleas 
 ure on her face. i 
 
 He had risen from his seat, and was coming to 
 ward her with outstretched hand and earnest, ad 
 miring gaze. " My name is Eonald Lilburn; your 
 maternal grandmother and mine were sisters," he 
 said; "your grandmother's marriage was displeasing 
 to her father, and all intercourse between her and 
 the rest of the family was broken off in obedience 
 to his stern command; and thus they lost sight of 
 each other. I have brought proofs of " 
 
 But Elsie's hand was already laid in his, while 
 glad tears sprang to her eyes.
 
 184 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " You shall show us them at another time if you 
 will; but I could never doubt such a face as yours, 
 and cannot tell you how glad I am to have at last 
 found a relative on my mother's side of the house. 
 Cousin, you are welcome, welcome to Ion! " And 
 she turned to her husband. 
 
 " Yes," he said, offering his hand with the great 
 est cordiality, "welcome, indeed, and not more so 
 to my little wife than to myself." 
 
 " Thanks to you both," he said, with a bow and 
 smile. " Cousin," with an earnest look at his host 
 ess, "you are very like a picture I have of your 
 grandmother. But," with a glance at the wide-eyed 
 little ones, looking on and listening in wonder and 
 surprise, " can it be that you are the mother of all 
 these? yourself scarce more than a bairn in appear 
 ance." 
 
 Elsie laughed lightly. " Ah, cousin, you have not 
 examined me closely yet. I have not been a bairn 
 for many years. How glad papa will be, Edward, to 
 see a relative of my mother's! " 
 
 " No doubt of it, wife, and we must send him word 
 immediately." 
 
 Mr. Lilburn had no reason to complain of his 
 reception; he was treated with the utmost hos 
 pitality, and his coming made the occasion of gen 
 eral rejoicing in the household. Eefreshments were 
 promptly set before him, a handsome suite of 
 apartments appropriated to his use, and a man 
 servant directed to attend upon his person.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 185 
 
 A note was sent to the Oaks inviting the whole 
 family to Ion; the children were given a holiday, 
 and Elsie, her husband, and father, spent the morn 
 ing in conversation with their guest, and in exam 
 ining family records, miniatures, and photographs 
 which he had brought with him. 
 
 The day passed most agreeably to all; the new 
 found relatives were mutually pleased and inter 
 ested in each other. 
 
 Mr. Lilburn was evidently a gentleman of in 
 telligence, polish, and refinement; seemed to be an 
 earnest Christian, too, and in easy circumstances. 
 
 The little folks made friends with him at once, 
 and as children are apt to be quick at reading 
 character, the older ones felt this to be a confirma 
 tion of the good opinion he had already won from 
 them.
 
 CHAPTEE XVI. 
 
 I know that there are angry spirits 
 And turbulent mutterers of stifled treason. 
 Who lurk in narrow places, and walk out 
 Muffled to whisper curses to the night. 
 Disbanded soldiers, discontented ruffians 
 And desperate libertines who lurk in taverns. 
 
 Byron. 
 
 A BRIGHT, warm day, some hours after sunrise. 
 A man of rather gentlemanly appearance, well, 
 though not handsomely, dressed, is riding leisurely 
 along the public highway. He wears a broad- 
 brimmed straw hat as a protection from the sun, 
 and a linen duster somewhat soiled by the dust of 
 travel. He has a shrewd, though not unkindly face, 
 and a keen grey eye, whose quick glances seem to 
 take in everything within its range of vision. 
 
 It is a lonely bit of road he is travelling, and he 
 moves with caution, evidently on the alert for any 
 appearance of danger. 
 
 Presently he perceives another solitary horseman 
 approaching from the opposite direction, and at the 
 Bight lays his hand on the pistols in his belt con 
 cealed by the duster, to make sure that they are 
 ready for instant use; but at the same time keeping 
 steadily on his way. 
 
 185
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 187 
 
 The newcomer is a slender boy of eighteen or 
 twenty, not at all dangerous-looking. 
 
 As the two near each other each lifts his hat 
 with a courteous, " Good-morning, sir! " the lad at 
 the same time carelessly sliding his right hand down 
 the left lapel of his coat. 
 
 The movement, slight as it was, had not escaped 
 the watchful grey eyes, and instantly their owner 
 replied by sliding his left hand in the same manner 
 down the right lapel of his coat. 
 
 The lad then ran his fingers lightly through his 
 hair; the other imitated his action; the lad opened 
 his coat and seemed to be searching for a pin; the 
 man opened his, took out a pin, and handed it to 
 him with a polite bow. 
 
 "Thanks! all right, sir; I perceive you are one 
 of us," said the boy, drawing a paper from his 
 pocket and presenting it to the man. " Miller's 
 Woods! " and touching his hat he galloped away. 
 
 There was a twinkle in the grey eyes as they shot 
 one swift glance after him; then the paper was 
 opened and examined with minute care. 
 
 On it was a half moon, with several dates written 
 in different places about it, and that was all; yet its 
 new possessor regarded it with great satisfaction, 
 and after a careful scrutiny, bestowed it safely in 
 his breast pocket. 
 
 " I'll be on hand without fail," he said, in a low, 
 confidential tone, perhaps addressing his horse, as 
 there was no one else within hearing. " To-night! 

 
 188 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Ihey're late serving my notice; but better late STatf 
 never; for me, though perhaps not for themselves," 
 he added, with a grim smile. " Well, my prepara 
 tions won't take long: dress-suit's all ready." 
 
 He kept on his way at the old leisurely pace, 
 presently came in sight of Fairview, passed it, then 
 Ion, diligently using his eyes as he went, made a 
 circuit of several miles, and returned to the town 
 which he had left some hours previously. 
 
 Dismounting at the village tavern he gave his 
 horse into the care of the hostler, and joined a 
 group of idlers about the barroom door. They were 
 talking politics, and one appealed to him for his 
 opinion. 
 
 " Don't ask me," he said, with a deprecatory ges 
 ture! "I'm no party man, and never meddle with 
 politics." 
 
 " On the fence, hey? Just the place for a coward 
 and a sneak," returned his interlocutor contemptu 
 ously. 
 
 The other half drew his bowie knife, then thrust 
 ing it back again said good-humoredly, "I'll let 
 that pass, Green; you've taken a drop too much and 
 are not quite compos mentis just now." 
 
 "Be quiet, will you, Green?" spoke up one of 
 his companions; " you know well enough Snell's no 
 coward. Why, didn't he risk his life the other day 
 to aave your boy from drowning? " 
 
 Yes; I'd forgot. I take that back, Snell. Will 
 you have a glass? "
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " Thank you, no, it's too hot, and your wife and 
 babies need the money, Green." 
 
 The words were half drowned in the clang of the 
 dinner bell, and the group scattered; Snell and 
 most of the others hurrying into the dining-room 
 in answer to the welcome call. 
 
 After dinner Snell sauntered out in the direction 
 of the stable, passed with a seemingly careless 
 glance in at the door, and strolled onward; but in 
 that momentary glimpse had noted the exact posi 
 tion of his horse. 
 
 About ten o'clock that night he stole quietly out 
 again, made his way unobserved to the stable, sad 
 dled and bridled his steed, all in the dark, mounted 
 and rode away, passing through the village streets 
 at a very moderate pace, but breaking into a round 
 trot as soon as he had fairly reached the open 
 country. 
 
 He pressed on for several miles, but slackened his 
 speed as he neared the forest known as Miller's 
 Woods. 
 
 For the last mile or more he had heard, both in 
 front and rear, the thumping of horses' hoofs, and 
 occasionally a word or two spoken in an undertone, 
 by gruff voices. 
 
 He was anxious TO avoid an encounter with their 
 owners, and on reaching the outskirts of the wood 
 suddenly left the road, and springing to the ground,, 
 took his horse by the bridle and led him along for 
 some rods under the trees; then fastening him
 
 190 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 securely, opened a bundle he had brought with him, 
 and speedily arrayed himself in the hideous Ku 
 Klux disguise. 
 
 He stood a moment intently listening. The same 
 Bounds still came from the road; evidently many men 
 were travelling it that night; and Snell reflected 
 with grave concern, though without a shadow of 
 fear, that if seen and recognized by any one of them 
 his life would speedily pay the forfeit of his temer 
 ity; for spite of his acquaintance with their secret 
 signs, he was not a member of the order. 
 
 He was, in fact, a detective in pursuit of evidence 
 to convict the perpetrators of the outrages which 
 had been so frequent of late in that vicinity. 
 
 Making sure that his arms were in readiness for 
 instant use, he hastened on his way, threading the 
 mazes of the wood with firm, quick, but light step. 
 
 He had proceeded but a short distance when he 
 came upon a sentinel who halted him. 
 
 Snell slapped his hands together twice, quick and 
 loud. 
 
 The sentinel answered in the same manner, and 
 permitted him to pass; the same thing was repeated 
 i twice, and then a few steps brought him into the 
 midst of the assembled Klan; for it was a general 
 meeting of all the camps in the county, which to 
 gether composed a Klan. 
 
 Snell glided, silently and unquestioned, to a place 
 among the others, the disguise and the fact of his 
 having passed the sentinels lulling all suspicion.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 191 
 
 Most of those present were in disguise, but some 
 were not, and several of these the officer recognized 
 as men whom he knew by name and by sight, among 
 them Green and George Boyd. 
 
 A good deal of business was transacted; several 
 raids were decided upon, the victims named, the 
 punishment to be meted out to each prescribed, 
 and the men to execute each order appointed. 
 
 One member after another would mention the 
 name of some individual who had become obnoxious 
 to him personally, or to the Klan, saying that he 
 ought to be punished; and the matter would be at 
 once taken up, and arrangements made to carry out 
 his suggestion. 
 
 Boyd mentioned the name of " Edward Travilla, 
 owner of Ion," cursing him bitterly as a scalawag, a 
 friend of carpet-baggers, and of the education of the 
 negroes. 
 
 " Eight! his case shall receive prompt attention! " 
 said the chief. 
 
 " Let it be a severe whipping administered to 
 morrow night, between the hours of twelve and 
 two," proposed Green, and the motion was put to 
 v^c and carried without a dissenting voice. 
 
 "And let me have a hand in it!" cried Boyd 
 fiercely. 
 
 " Yon belong to the neighborhood, and might be 
 recognized," objected the chief. 
 
 "I'll risk it. I owe him a sound flogging, or 
 something worse," returned Boyd.
 
 192 ELSIE'S 
 
 " We all do, for he'd have every mother's son of 
 as sent to jail or hanged, if he could," growled an 
 other voice on Snell's right, while from a mask on 
 the left there came in sepulchral tones the words, 
 **It had better be hands off with you then, man/"' 
 the speaker pointing significantly to Boyd's maimed 
 member. 
 
 "It shall!" cried he; "but I flatter myself this 
 right hand, mutilated though it be, can lay on the 
 lash as vigorously as yours, sir." 
 
 After a little more discussion Boyd's wish was 
 granted, his fellow raiders were named, and pres 
 ently the meeting was closed, and the members 
 began to disperse. 
 
 Snell thought he had escaped suspicion thus far, 
 but his heart leaped into his mouth as a man whom 
 he had heard addressed as Jim Blake suddenly 
 clapped his hand on his shoulder, exclaiming, " Ah, 
 ha, I know you, old chap! " 
 
 " You do? who am I then? " queried the spy in a 
 feigned, unnatural voice, steady and cool, spite of 
 the terrible danger that menaced him. 
 
 " Who? Hal Williams, no disguise could hide you 
 from me." 
 
 Snell drew a breath of relief. " Ha! ha! Jim, I 
 didn't think you were so cute," he returned in his 
 feigned voice, and glided away, presently disappear 
 ing, as others were doing, in the deeper shadows of 
 the wood. 
 
 He thought it not prudent to go directly to the
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 193 
 
 spot where he had left his horse, but reached it by 
 a circuitous route, doffing his disguise and rolling 
 it into a bundle again as he went. 
 
 He paused a moment to recover breath and listen. 
 All was darkness and silence; the conspirators had 
 left the vicinity. 
 
 Satisfied of this, he led his horse into the road, 
 mounted and rode back to the town. 
 
 There every one seemed to be asleep, except in a 
 drinking saloon, whence came sounds of drunken 
 revelry, and the barroom of the tavern where he 
 put up. A light was burning there; but he avoided 
 it, attended to his horse himself, returning it to the 
 precise spot where he had found it, then slipped 
 stealthily up to his room, and without undressing 
 threw himself upon the bed and almost immediately 
 fell into a profound slumber.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. f . 
 
 Abate the edge of traitors, gracious lord, 
 
 That would reduce these bloody days again. 
 
 And make poor England weep in streams of blood. 
 
 THE sun had just risen above the tree-tops as 
 Solon led Beppo, ready saddled and bridled for his 
 master's use, from the stables to the front of the 
 mansion. 
 
 A moment later Mr. Travilla came out, gave some 
 orders to the servant, and was about to mount, when 
 his attention was attracted by the approach of a 
 man on horseback, who came cantering briskly up 
 the avenue. 
 
 " Good-morning," he said, as the stranger drew 
 near. " Solon, you may hitch Beppo and go to 
 your work." 
 
 " Good-morning, Mr. Travilla, sir," returned the 
 ^horseman, lifting his hat and bowing respectfully, 
 as SoUm obeyed the order in regard to Beppo, and 
 with a backward glance of curiosity disappeared 
 around the corner of the building. 
 
 "You bring news, Martin?" said Mr. Travilla, 
 stepping nearer to the stranger and looking ear 
 nestly into his face. 
 
 ^ " Yes, sir, and very bad, I'm sorry to say, unless/* 
 M
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 195 
 
 and he bent low over Ms saddle-bow and spoke in an 
 undertone, " unless you can defend yourself against 
 a band of thirty-five or forty ruffians." 
 
 " Fasten your horse to that post yonder and come 
 with me to my private room/' said Travilla, in calm, 
 quiet tones. 
 
 Martin, alias Snell, immediately complied with 
 the request, and as soon as he found himself 
 closeted with Mr. Travilla, proceeded to give a full 
 account of his last night's adventure. 
 
 " I assure you, sir," he concluded, " I look upon, 
 it as a piece of rare good fortune that I came upon 
 that lad yesterday, and that he mistook me for one 
 of the Klan; as otherwise you'd have had no 
 warning." 
 
 " It was a kind providence, Martin," returned Mr. 
 Travilla, with grave earnestness. " ' If God be for 
 us who can be against us ? ' ; 
 
 " Nobody, sir; and that's the most Christian way 
 of looking at the thing, no doubt. But, if I may 
 ask, what will you do fight or fly? " 
 
 " How do you know that I shall do either? " Mr. 
 Travilla asked, with a slight twinkle in his eye. ^ 
 
 " Because you're not the man to tamely submit 
 to such an outrage." 
 
 " No, as my wife says, ' I believe in the duty and 
 privilege of self-defence '; and for her sake and my 
 children's, even more than my own, I shall attempt 
 At. I am extremely obliged to you, Martin." 
 
 " Not at all, sir; it was all in the way of business, 

 
 196 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD, 
 
 and in the interests of humanity, law, and order. 
 No, no, sir, thank you; I'm not to be paid for doing 
 my duty! " he added, hastily putting back a check 
 which his host had filled out and now handed him. 
 
 "I think you may take it without scruple," said 
 Mr. Tra villa; " it is not a bribe, but simply a slight 
 expression of my appreciation of an invaluable ser 
 vice you have already rendered me." 
 
 " Still I'd rather not, sir, thank you," returned 
 the detective, rising to go. " Good-morning! I shall 
 hope to hear to-morrow that the raiders have got 
 the worst of it." 
 
 Left alone, Mr. Travilla sat for a moment in deep 
 thought; then hearing Mr. Lilburn's voice in the 
 hall, stepped out and exchanged with him the usual 
 morning salutations. 
 
 " So you are not off yet? " remarked the guest. 
 
 " No, but am about to ride over to the Oaks. 
 Will you give me the pleasure of your company? " 
 
 " With all my heart." 
 
 Elsie was descending the stairs. 
 
 ** Wife," Mr. Travilla said, turning to her, 
 **yoTir cousin and I are going to ride over to the 
 Oaks immediately; you wi]l go with us?" 
 
 " Yes, thank you," she answered brightly, as she 
 stepped to the floor; then catching sight of her hus 
 band's face, and seeing something unusual there, 
 "What is it, Edward?" she asked, gliding swiftly 
 to his side and laying her hand upon his arm, while 
 the soft eyes met his with a loving, saxious look.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 197 
 
 He could scarce refrain from touching the sweet 
 lips with his own. 
 
 " My little friend, my brave, true wife/' he said, 
 with a tender sadness in his tone, "I will conceal 
 nothing from you; I have just learned, through a 
 detective, that the Ku Klux will make a raid upon 
 Ion to-night, between twelve and two; and my 
 errand to the Oaks is to consult with your father 
 about the best means of defence unless your voice 
 is for instant flight for ourselves, our children, and 
 guests." 
 
 Her cheek paled, but her eye did not quail, and 
 her tones were calm and firm as she answered, " It 
 is a question for you and papa to decide; I am ready 
 for whatever you think best." 
 
 " Bravo! " cried her cousin, who had listened in 
 surprise to Mr. Travilla's communication; " there's 
 no coward blood in my kinswoman's veins. She is 
 worthy of her descent from the old Whigs of Scot 
 land, eh, Travilla?" 
 
 " Worthy of anything and everything good and 
 great," returned her husband, with a proud, fond 
 glance at the sweet face and graceful form by his 
 side. 
 
 " Ah ha! urn h'm! so I think. And they are really 
 about to attack you those cowardly ruffians ? Well, 
 sir, my voice is for war; I'd like to help you give 
 them their deserts." 
 
 " It would seem cowardly to run away and leave 
 our wounded friend and helpless dependents at their
 
 198 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 mercy," Elsie exclaimed, her eye kindling and Her 
 cheek flushing, while she drew up her slender figure 
 to its full height; " our beautiful land, too, given up 
 to anarchy and ruin; this dear sunny South that I 
 love so well." 
 
 Her voice trembled with the last words, and tears 
 gathered in her eyes. 
 
 " Yes, that is it," said her husband; " we must 
 stay and battle for her liberties, and the rights 
 guaranteed by her laws to all her citizens." 
 
 Horses were ordered, Elsie returned to her apart 
 ments to don a riding habit, and in a few minutes 
 the three were on their way to the Oaks. 
 
 The vote there also was unanimous in favor of the 
 policy of resistance. Mr. Dinsmore and Horace, Jr., 
 at once offered their services, and Arthur Conly, 
 who happened to be spending a few days at his 
 uncle's just at that time, did the same. 
 
 " I was brought up a secessionist, and my sympa 
 thies are still with the Democratic party," he said, 
 "but these Ku Klux outrages I cannot tolerate; 
 especially," he added, looking at Elsie with an 
 affectionate smile, " when they are directed against 
 the home and husband, if not the person, of my 
 sweet cousin," 
 
 " You are to me ' a kinsman born, a clansman 
 true/ Art," she said, thanking him with one of her 
 sweetest smiles. 
 
 " That's right, old fellow! " cried Horace, clap 
 ping his cousin on the shoulder. " We shall muster
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 199 
 
 pretty strong; papa, Brother Edward, Mr. Lilburn, 
 you and I six able-bodied men within the fortress, 
 with plenty of the best small arms and ammunition; 
 all of us fair shots, too, some excellent marksmen 
 we ought to do considerable execution among our 
 assailants." 
 
 " And God being on our side," said Mr. Lilburn 
 reverently, "we may have strong hope of being 
 able to beat them back." 
 
 "Yes, 'the race is not always to the swift, nor 
 the battle to the strong,' " remarked Mr. Dinsmore. 
 " ' Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: 
 but we will remember the name of the Lord our 
 God.' " 
 
 " And if we do so truly, fully, he will take hold 
 of shield and buckler and stand up for our help," 
 added Mr. Travilla. 
 
 The plan of defence was next discussed, but not 
 fully decided upon; it was agreed that that could be 
 done most readily upon the spot, and that accord 
 ingly Mr. Dinsmore and the two young men should 
 ride over to Ion shortly after breakfast, to view the 
 ground and consult again with the other two. 
 
 " Why not return with us and breakfast at Ion? " 
 asked Elsie. 
 
 "Why not stay and breakfast with us?" said 
 Hose. 
 
 " Certainly," said her husband. " Take off your 
 hat, daughter, and sit down to your father's table 
 is of old."
 
 200 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "Ah, my little ones! I know they are watching 
 now for mamma and wondering at her long 
 delay." 
 
 "Then I shall not detain, but rather speed you 
 on your way/' he said, leading her out and assisting 
 'her to mount her horse. 
 
 The children had thought mamma's ride a long 
 one that morning, and much they wondered at 
 papa's unusual silence and abstraction. He quite 
 forgot to romp with them, but indeed there was 
 scarcely time, as he did not come in from the fields 
 till the breakfast bell had begun to ring. 
 
 Grace had just been said, every one was sitting 
 silent, quietly waiting to be helped (the children 
 were all the table, for " Cousin Eonald " who had 
 been with them for a week, was now considered 
 quite one of the family). Mr. Travilla took up the 
 carving knife and fork with the intent to use them 
 upon a chicken that lay in a dish before them; but 
 the instant he touched it with the fork a loud 
 squawk made everybody start, and Harold nearly 
 tumbled from his chair. 
 
 " Why dey fordot to kill it! " he cried breath 
 lessly. 
 
 " But its head's off! " said Eddie, gazing into the 
 dish in wide-eyed astonishment. 
 
 " Ah ha, um h'm! is that the way your American 
 fowls behave at table?" asked Cousin Eonald 
 gravely, but with a slight twinkle in his eye, push 
 ing back his chair a little, while keeping his eyes
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 201 
 
 steadily fixed upon the ill-mannered bird, as if fear 
 ful that its next escapade might be to fly in his face; 
 "a singular breed they must be." 
 
 Elsie and her husband began to recover from 
 their momentary surprise and bewilderment, and 
 exchanged laughing glances, while the latter, turn 
 ing to his guest, said, " Capitally done, cousin! 
 wouldn't have disgraced Signor Blitz himself, or 
 any of his guild. But I had no suspicion that ven 
 triloquism was one of your many accomplishments., 
 What part shall I help you to?" 
 
 " The leg, if you please; who knows but I may 
 have use for more than two to-night?" 
 
 A gleam of intelligence lighted up little Elsie's 
 face. "Oh! I understand it now/' she said, with a 
 low silvery laugh; "cousin is a ventriloquist." 
 
 "What's that?" asked Vi. 
 
 "Oh, I know!" cried Eddie. "Cousin Ronald, 
 don't you have a great deal of fun doing it ? " 
 
 "Well, my boy, perhaps rather more than I 
 ought, seeing it's very apt to be at other folks' 
 expense." 
 
 The guest, mamma, and Elsie having been helped, 
 it was now Vi's turn to claim papa's attention. 
 
 "What shall I send you, daughter?" he asked. 
 
 " Oh, nothing, papa, please! no, no! I can't eat 
 live things," she said half shuddering. 
 
 "It is not alive, my child." 
 
 Violet looked utterly bewildered: she had never 
 known her father to say anything that was not
 
 202 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 perfectly true, yet how could she disbelieve the evi 
 dence of her own senses? 
 
 "Papa, could it hollow so loud when it was 
 dead? " she asked deprecatingly. 
 
 "It did not, my little darling; 'twas I," said 
 Cousin Eonald, preventing papa's reply, " the 
 chick seemed to make the noise, but it was really 
 I who did it." 
 
 Papa and mamma both confirmed this statement, 
 and the puzzled child consented to partake of the 
 mysterious fowl. 
 
 Minna, standing with her basket of keys at the 
 back of her mistress' chair, Tom and Prilla, waiting 
 on the- table, had been as much startled and mysti 
 fied by the chicken's sudden outcry as Vi herself, 
 and seized with superstitious fears, turned almost 
 pale with terror. 
 
 Mr. Lilburn's assertion and the concurrent assur 
 ance of their master and mistress relieved their 
 fright; but they were still full of astonishment, and 
 gazed at the guest with wonder and awe. 
 
 Of course the story was told in the kitchen, and 
 created much curiosity and excitement there. 
 
 This excitement was, however, soon lost in a 
 greater, when the news of the expected attack from 
 the Ku Klux circulated among them an hour or two 
 later. 
 
 It could not be kept from the children, but they 
 were calmed and soothed by mamma's assurance, 
 "God will take care of us, my darlings, and help
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 203 
 
 papa, grandpa, and the rest to drive the "bad men 1 
 away." 
 
 "Mamma," said Vi, "we little ones can't fight, 
 but if we pray a good deal to God, will that help? " 
 
 " Yes, daughter, for the Bible tells us God is the 
 thearer and answerer of prayer." 
 Elsie herself seemed entirely free from agitation 
 and alarm; full of hope and courage, she inspired 
 those about her with the same feelings; the domestic 
 machinery moved on in its usual quiet, regular 
 fashion. 
 
 The kitchen department, it is true, was the scene 
 of much earnest talk, but the words were spoken 
 with bated breath and many an anxious glance from 
 door and window, as if the speakers feared the 
 vicinity of some lurking foe. 
 
 Aunt Dicey was overseeing the making of a huge 
 kettle of soft soap. 
 
 " 'Pears like dis yer's a long time a-comin'," she 
 said, giving the liquid a vigorous stir, then lifting 
 her paddle and holding it over the kettle to see if 
 it dripped off in the desired ropy condition; " but 
 dere, dis ole sinnah no business growlin' 'bout dat; 
 yah! yah! " and dropping the paddle she put her 
 hands on her hips, rolled up her eyes, "and fairly 
 shook with half suppressed laughter. 
 
 " What you larfin' at, Aunt Dicey? 'pears you's 
 mighty tickled 'bout suffin'," remarked the cook, 
 looking up in wonder and curiosity from the eggs 
 she was beating.
 
 204 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " What's de fun, Aunt Dicey? " asked Uncle Joe, 
 who sat in the doorway busily engaged in cleaning 
 a gun. 
 
 " Why, don't you see, darkies ? de soap aint gwine 
 to come till 'bout de time de Kluxes round hey ah; 
 den dis chile gib 'em a berry warm deception, yah! 
 yah! yah! " 
 
 " A powerful hot one," observed the cook, joining 
 in the laugh; " but dey won't min' it; dey's cohered 
 up, you know." 
 
 " 'Taint no diffence/' remarked Uncle Joe, " de 
 gowns an' masks, dey's nuffin but cotton cloth, an* 
 de hot soap '11 permeate right tru, an' scald de 
 rascals' skins! " 
 
 "Dat's so; an' take de skin off too." 
 
 Uncle Joe stopped work and mused a moment, 
 scratching his head and gazing into vacanc3 r . 
 
 "'Clar to goodness, dat's a splendid idea, Aunt 
 Dicey!" he burst out at length. "An' let's hab a 
 kettle ob boilin' lye to tote upstairs in de house, 
 'bout de time we see de Kluxes comin' up de road; 
 den Aunt Chloe an' Prilla can expense it out ob de 
 windows; a dippah full at a time. Kin you git um. 
 ready fo' den?" 
 
 " Dat I kin," she replied with energy; " dis con 
 secrated lye don't take no time to fix. I'll hab it 
 ready, sho' as you lib." 
 
 Meanwhile the party from the Oaks had arrived 
 according to appointment, and with Mr. Travilla 
 and his guest were busy with their arrangements
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 205 
 
 for the coming conflict, when quite unexpectedly 
 old Mr. Dinsmore and Calhoun Conly appeared upon 
 the scene. 
 
 " We have broken in upon a conference, I think," 
 remarked the old gentleman, glancing from one to 
 another, and noticing that the entrance of himself 
 and grandson seemed to have thrown a slight con 
 straint over them. 
 
 " Rest assured, sir, that you are most welcome," 
 replied Mr. Travilla. " We were conferring to 
 gether on a matter of importance, but one which 
 I am satisfied need not be concealed from you or 
 Cal. I have had certain information that the Ku 
 Klux- 
 
 "Stay!" cried Calhoun, springing to his feet, a 
 burning flush rising to his very hair, " don't, I beg 
 of you, cousin, say another word in my presence. 
 I I know I'm liable to be misunderstood a wrong 
 construction put upon my conduct," he continued, 
 glancing in an agony of shame and entreaty from 
 one astonished face to another, " but I beg you will 
 judge me leniently and never, never, doubt my 
 loyalty to you all," and, bowing courteously to the 
 company, he hastily left the room and, hurrying out 
 of the house, mounted his horse and galloped swiftly 
 down the avenue. 
 
 For a moment those left behind looked at each 
 other in dumb surprise; then old Mr. Dinsmore 
 broke the silence by a muttered exclamation, " Haa 
 the boy gone daft?"
 
 206 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " I think I understand it, sir," said his son. "Poor 
 Cal has been deceived and cajoled into joining that 
 organization, under a misapprehension of its deeds 
 and aims, but having learned how base, cruel, and 
 insurrectionary they are, has ceased to act with 
 them or rather never has acted with them yet 
 is bound by oath to keep their secrets and do noth 
 ing against them." 
 
 "Would be perilling his life by taking part 
 against them/' added Mr. Tra villa. "I think he 
 has done the very best he could, under the circum 
 stances." 
 
 He then went on with his communication to the 
 old gentleman, who received it with a storm of 
 wrath and indignation. 
 
 "It is time, indeed, to put them down when it 
 has come to this! " he exclaimed. " The idea of 
 their daring to attack a man of your standing, an 
 old family like this of the best blood in the conn 1 - 
 try! I say it's downright insolence, and I'll come 
 over myself and help chastise them for their 
 temerity." 
 
 "Then you counsel resistance, sir?" asked his sou. 
 
 " Counsel it? of course I do! nobody but a coward 
 and poltroon would think of anything else. But 
 what are your plans, Travilla?" 
 
 " To barricade the verandas with bags of sand and 
 bales of cotton, leaving loopholes here and there, 
 post ourselves behind these defences, and do what 
 execution we can upon the assailants."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 207 
 
 <f Good! Who's your captain? " 
 
 " Your son, sir." 
 
 " Very good; he has had little or no experience itt 
 actual warfare, but I think his maiden effort will 
 prove a success." 
 
 " If on seeing our preparations they depart peace 
 ably, well and good," remarked Travilla. " But if 
 they insist on forcing an entrance, we shall feel no 
 scruples about firing upon them." 
 
 "Humph! I should think not, indeed!" grunted 
 the old gentleman. * Self-defence is the first law of 
 nature.' ' ; 
 
 " And we are told by our Lord, ( all they that 
 take the sword, shall perish with the sword,' " ob 
 served his son. 
 
 The arrangements completed, the Dinsmores re 
 turned to their homes for the rest of the day. 
 
 About dusk the work of barricading was begun, 
 all the able-bodied men on the plantation, both 
 house-servants and field-hands, being set to work at 
 it. The materials had been brought up to the near 
 vicinity of the house during the day. The men's 
 hearts were in the undertaking (not one of them but] 
 would have risked his own life freely in defence ofy 
 their loved master and mistress), and many hands 
 made light and speedy work. 
 
 While this was in progress old Mr. Dinsmore and 
 the whole family from the Oaks arrived, Eose and 
 her daughter preferring to be there rather thaa 
 left at home without their natural protectors.
 
 208 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Elsie "welcomed them joyfully, and at once en 
 gaged their assistance in loading for the gentlemen. 
 
 The little ones were already in bed and sleeping 
 sweetly, secure in the love and protecting care of 
 their earthly and their heavenly Father. Little 
 Elsie, now ten years old, was no longer required to 
 retire quite so early, but when her regular hour 
 came she went without a murmur. 
 
 She was quite ready for bed, had just risen from 
 her knees, when her mother came softly in and 
 clasped her in a tender embrace. 
 
 " Mamma, dear, dear mamma, how I love you! 
 and papa too! " whispered the child, twining her 
 arms about her mother's neck. " Don't let us be 
 afraid of those wicked men, mamma. I am sure 
 God will not let them get papa, because we have 
 all prayed so much for his help; all of us together in 
 worship this morning and this evening, and we chil 
 dren up here; and Jesus said, ' If two of you shall 
 agree on earth, as touching anything that they shall 
 ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which 
 is in heaven.' " 
 
 " Yes, darling, and he will fulfil his word; he will 
 not suffer anything to befall but what shall be for 
 his glory and our good. Now, dear daughter, lie 
 down and take that promise for a pillow to sleep 
 upon; and if waked by sounds of conflict, lift up 
 your heart to God for your dear father, and mine, 
 and all of us." 
 
 " I will, mamma, I will."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 209 
 
 Leaving a loving kiss on the sweet young lips, 
 and another on the brow of her sleeping Violet, the 
 mother glided noiselessly from the room. 
 
 " What is it, mammy? " she asked on finding her 
 faithful old nurse waiting to speak with her in the 
 outer room. 
 
 " Miss Elsie, honey, is you willin' to let us 
 scald dem Kluxes wid boilin' soap an' lye? " 
 
 "Scald them, mammy?" she exclaimed with a 
 slight shudder. " I can hardly bear the thought of 
 treating a dog so cruelly! " 
 
 " But dey's worse dan dogs, Miss Elsie; dogs neber 
 come and detack folks dat's sleepin' quietly in dere 
 beds; does dey now? " 
 
 " No; and these men would take my husband's 
 life. You may all fight them with any weapon you 
 can lay hands on." 
 
 Aunt Chloe returned her thanks, and proceeded 
 to give an account of the plan concocted by Aunt 
 Dicey and Uncle Joe. 
 
 Elsie, returning to the dining-room, repeated it 
 there. 
 
 " Excellent!" exclaimed her brother. "Come, 
 Art, let's hang a bell in the kitchen and attach a 
 string to it, taking the other end up to the observa 
 tory." 
 
 The suggestion was immediately carried out. It 
 had been previously arranged that the two young 
 men should repair to the observatory and there 
 watch for the coming of the foe, and on their first 

 
 210 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 appearance, probably a mile or more distant, give 
 the alarm to those below by pulling a wire attached 
 to that from which the front door bell was sus 
 pended, thus setting it to ringing loudly. Now they 
 were prepared to sound the tocsin in the kitchen, 
 also, thus giving time for the removal of the boiling 
 lye from the fire there to the second story of the 
 mansion, where it was to be used according to Uncle 
 Joe's plans. 
 
 The detective had reported the assailing party as 
 numbering from thirty-five to forty; but the Ion 
 force, though much inferior in point of numbers, 
 even with the addition of eight or ten negro men 
 belonging to the Oaks and Ion, who were tolerably 
 proficient in the use of firearms, certainly had the 
 advantage of position and of being on the side of 
 right and justice. 
 
 The gentlemen seemed full of a cheerful courage, 
 the ladies calm and hopeful. Yet they refused to 
 retire, though strongly urged to do so, insisting that 
 to sleep would be simply impossible. 
 
 It was but ten o'clock when all was ready, yet the 
 young men deemed it most prudent to betake them 
 selves at once to their outlook, since there might 
 possibly have been some change in the plans of the 
 enemy. 
 
 The others gathered in one of the lower rooms to 
 while way the tedious time of waiting as best they 
 could. Conversation flagged; they tried music, but 
 it had lost its charm for the time being; they turned
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 211 
 
 away from the piano and harp and sank into silence; 
 the house seemed strangely silent, and the pattering 
 of Bruno's feet, as he passed slowly down the whole 
 length of the corridor without, came to their ears 
 with almost startling distinctness. 
 
 Then he appeared in the doorway, where he stood 
 turning his eyes from one to another with a wistful, 
 questioning gaze: then words seemed to come from 
 his lips in tones of wonder and inquiry. 
 
 " What are you all doing here at this time o' 
 night, when honest folk should be a-bed? " 
 
 " Just what I've been asking myself for the last 
 hour," gravely remarked a statue in a niche in the 
 opposite wall. 
 
 The effect was startling, even to those who under 
 stood the thing; more so to the others. Kosie 
 screamed and ran to her father for protection. 
 
 6 Why, why, why! " cried old Mr. Dinsmore, in 
 momentary perplexity and astonishment. 
 
 " Don't be afraid, Miss Kosie; I'm a faithful 
 friend, and the woman over there couldn't hurt you, 
 if she would," said Bruno, going up to the young 
 girl, wagging his tail and touching his cold nose to 
 her hand. 
 
 She drew it away with another scream. 
 
 " Dear child," said her sister, " it is only a trick 
 of ventriloquism." 
 
 " Meant to amuse, not alarm/' added Mr. Lil- 
 burn. 
 
 Eosie, nestling in her father's arms, drew a longj
 
 212 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 breath of relief, and half laughing, half crying, 
 looked up saucily into Mr. Lilburn's face. 
 
 "And it was you, sir? oh, how you scared 
 me!" 
 
 " I beg your pardon, my bonnie lassie," he said, 
 " I thought to relieve, somewhat, the tediousness of 
 the hour." 
 
 "For which accept our thanks," said Mr. Dins- 
 more. " But I perceive it is not the first time that 
 Travilla and Elsie have been witnesses of your 
 skill." 
 
 "No," said Elsie, laughing. "My dear, you are 
 good at a story, tell them what happened at break 
 fast this morning." 
 
 Mr. Travilla complied with the request. He was 
 an excellent story-teller, and made his narrative 
 very entertaining. 
 
 But in the midst of their mirth a sudden awe 
 struck silence fell upon them. There was a sound 
 as of the rattling of stiffly starched robes; then a 
 gruff voice from the hall exclaimed, " Here he is, 
 the old scalawag! Dinsmore too. Now take good 
 aim, Bill, and let's make sure work." 
 
 Kosie was near screaming again, but catching 
 eight of Mr. Lilburn's face, laughed instead; a little 
 hysterical nervous laugh. 
 
 " Oh, it's you again, sir! " she cried. " Please 
 don't frighten me any more." 
 
 " Ah, no, I will not," he said, and at that moment 
 a toy man and woman on the table began a vastly
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 213 
 
 amusing conversation about their own private 
 affairs. 
 
 In the kitchen and the domiciles of the house- 
 servants there was the same waiting and watching; 
 old and young, all up and wide awake, gathered in 
 groups and talked in undertones of the doings of 
 the Ku Klux, and of the reception they hoped to 
 give them that night. Aunt Dicey, glorying in the 
 prospect of doing good service in the defence of 
 "her family," as she proudly termed her master, 
 mistress, and the children, kept her kettles of soap 
 and lye at boiling heat, and two stalwart fellows 
 close at hand to obey her orders. 
 
 Aunt Chloe and Dinah were not with the others, 
 but in the nursery watching over the slumbers of 
 " de chillens." Uncle Joe was with Mr. Leland, 
 who was not yet able to use the wounded limb, and 
 was to be assisted to his hiding-place upon the first 
 note of alarm. 
 
 In the observatory the two young men kept a 
 vigilant eye upon every avenue of approach to the 
 plantation. There was no moon that night, but the 
 clear, bright starlight made it possible to discern 
 moving white objects at a considerable distance. 
 (Horace was full of excitement, and almost eager 
 for the affray, Arthur calm and quiet. 
 
 " This waiting is intolerable ! " exclaimed the 
 former, when they had been nearly an hour at their 
 post. " How do you stand it, Art? " 
 
 "I find it tedious, and there is in all probability
 
 214 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 at least an hour of it yet before us. But my im 
 patience is quelled by the thought that it may be 
 to me the last hour of life." 
 
 " True; and to me also. A solemn thought, Art, 
 and yet might not the same be said of any day or 
 hour of our lives? " 
 
 From that they fell into a very serious conversa 
 tion, in which each learned more of the other's 
 inner life than he had ever known before; both were 
 trusting in Christ, and seeking to know and do his 
 will, and from that hour their hearts were knit to 
 gether as the hearts of David and Jonathan. 
 
 Gradually their talk ceased, till but a word or two 
 was dropped now and then, while the vigilance of 
 their watch was redoubled; for the hour of mid 
 night had struck the silver chimes of a clock in 
 the hall below coming distinctly to their ears and 
 any moment might bring the raiders into view. 
 
 Below stairs, too, a solemn hush had fallen upon 
 each with the first stroke of the clock, and hearts 
 were going up in silent prayer to God. 
 
 Horace was gazing intently in the direction of 
 Fairview, but at a point somewhat beyond. 
 
 "Look, Art!" he cried, in an excited whisper, 
 "do my eyes deceive me, or are there really some 
 white objects creeping slowly along yonder road? " 
 
 " I I think yes, yes, it is they! " returned Ar 
 thur, giving a vigorous pull to the string attached 
 to the bell in the kitchen, while Horace did the 
 same by the wire connected with the other; then
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 215 
 
 springing to the stairway they descended with all 
 haste. 
 
 Loudly the alarm pealed out in both) places, 
 bringing all to their feet, and paling the cneeks of 
 the ladies. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore's orders were given promptly, in 
 calm, firm tones, and each one repaired to his 
 post. 
 
 Aunt Dicey, assuming command in the kitchen, 
 delivered her orders with equal promptness and 
 decision. 
 
 " Yo', Ben an' Jack, tote dis yer pot ob lye up 
 stairs quick as lightnin', an' set it whar Aunt Chloe 
 tells yo'. An' yo', Venus, stan' by de pot ob soap 
 wid a dippah in yo' hand, an' fire away at de fust 
 KIux dat shows his debbil horns an' tongue at de 
 do'. Min' now, yo' take um in de eye, an' he neber 
 come roun' heyah no mo' tryin' to kill Marse 
 Ed'ard." 
 
 Mr. Leland had fallen asleep in the earty part of 
 the evening, but woke with the ringing of the alarm 
 bells. 
 
 " Ah, they must be in sight, Uncle Joe," he said; 
 " help me to my hiding-place and leave me there. 
 You will be needed below." 
 
 "Yes, Massa Leland, dey's comin'," said the old 
 man, instantly complying with his request, " an' dis 
 niggah's to demand de boilin' lye compartment ob 
 dis army ob defence." 
 
 A narrow couch had been spread in the little con-
 
 216 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 cealed apartment, and in a trice Mr. Leland found 
 himself stretched upon it. 
 
 " There, I'm quite comfortable, Uncle Joe," he 
 said; " lay my pistols here, close to my hand; then 
 close the panel with all care, and when you leave 
 the room lock the door behind you and hide the 
 key in the usual place." 
 
 " Yes, sah; an' please, sah, as yo's got nuffin' else 
 for to do, keep askin' de Lord ob armies to help de 
 right." 
 
 " That I will," answered Leland heartily. 
 
 Uncle Joe, moving with an almost youthful 
 alacrity, obeyed the orders given, and hastened to 
 join his wife and Dinah, whom he found on the 
 upper veranda in front of the nursery windows, 
 standing ladle in hand, one by the kettle of lye, the 
 other leaning over the railing watching for the 
 coming of the foe. 
 
 The old man, arming himself also with a ladle of 
 large capacity, took his station beside the latter. 
 
 "Aunt Chloe," said he, "yo' bettah go back to 
 de chill ens, fear dey might wake up an' be powerful 
 scared." 
 
 "Yes, spect I bettah; deir ole mammy de best to 
 be wid de darlins," she replied, resigning her ladle 
 to Prilla, who joined them at that moment, and 
 hurrying back to her charge. 
 
 She found her mistress bending over the crib of 
 the sleeping babe. " I am so thankful they were not 
 roused by the noise, mammy," she said softly,
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD, 21*T 
 
 glancing at the bed where the older two lay in pro 
 found slumber; " but don't leave them alone, even 
 for a moment." 
 
 "Deed I won't, darlin'; de bressed little lambs! 
 dere ole mammy'd fight de Kluxes to her last breff, 
 fo' dey should hurt a hair ob deir heads. But don't 
 ye fret, Miss Elsie, honey; dey '11 not come yere; de 
 good Lord '11 not let dem get into de house/' she 
 added, big tears filling her old eyes, while she 
 clasped her idolized mistress in her arms as if she 
 were still the little girl she had so loved to caress 
 and fondle years ago. 
 
 Elsie returned the embrace, gave a few whispered 
 directions, and glided into the next room, there to 
 linger a moment by the couch of her little girls, who 
 were also sleeping sweetly, then hastened to rejoin 
 Mrs. Dinsmore and Rosie in one of the rooms open 
 ing upon the lower front veranda. 
 
 They sat at a table covered with arms and ammu 
 nition. Rose was a little pale, but calm and com 
 posed, as was Elsie also; Rosie, making a great effort 
 to be brave, could not still the loud beating of her 
 heart, as she sat listening intently for sounds from, 
 without. 
 
 Elsie, placing herself beside her young sister, and 
 taking her hand pressed it tenderly, whispering 
 with a glad smile, " ' They that trust in the Lord 
 shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, 
 but abideth forever.' ' ; 
 
 Rosie nodded a half-tearful assent.
 
 218 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Horace looked in. " They are just entering tKe 
 avenue. Mother and sisters, be brave and help us 
 with your prayers," he said, low and earnestly, and 
 was gone. 
 
 The ladies exchanged one swift glance, then bent 
 forward in a listening attitude, and for the next few 
 moments every other sense seemed lost in that of 
 hearing. 
 
 The raiders, as was their usual custom, had dis 
 mounted at the gate, and leaving their horses in the 
 care of two of their number, approached the house 
 on foot. They came on three abreast, but as they 
 neared the dwelling one line branched off and 
 passed around it in the direction of the kitchen. 
 
 In an instant more the double column, headed by 
 the leader of the troop, had reached the steps of the 
 veranda, where it came to a sudden halt, a sort of 
 half -smothered grunt of astonishment coming from 
 the captain as he hastily ran his eye along the 
 barricade, which, till that moment, had been con 
 cealed from himself and comrades by the semi- 
 darkness and a profusion of flowering vines. 
 
 The darkness and silence of death seemed to reign 
 within: yet each one of the little garrison was at 
 hifi post, looking out through a loophole, and cover 
 ing one or another of the foe with his revolver, while 
 with his finger upon the trigger, he only awaited the 
 word of command to send the bullet to its mark. 
 
 Young Horace found it hard to restrain his im 
 patience. " What a splendid opportunity his father
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 219 
 
 was letting slip! why did he hesitate to give the 
 signal ? " For perhaps the first time in his life, 
 the young man thought his father unwise. 
 
 But Mr. Dinsmore knew what he was about; blood 
 should not be shed till the absolute necessity was 
 placed beyond question. 
 
 A moment of suspense, of apparent hesitation on 
 the part of the raiders, then in stentorian tones 
 the leader, stepping back a little, called, " Edward 
 Travilla! " 
 
 No answer. 
 
 An instant of dead silence; then the call was 
 repeated. 
 
 Elsie shuddered and hid her face, faltering out 
 a prayer for her husband's safety. 
 
 Still no reply, and the third time the man called, 
 adding, with a volley of oaths and curses, " We 
 want you, sir: come out at once or it '11 be the worse 
 for yon." 
 
 Then Mr. Dinsmore answered in calm, firm tones : 
 " Your purpose is known; your demand is unreason 
 able and lawless, and will not be complied with; 
 withdraw your men at once or it will be the worse 
 for you." 
 
 "Boys!" cried the leader, turning to his men, 
 "up with your axes and clubs, we've got to batter 
 down this breastwork, and it must be done! " 
 
 With a yell of fury the hideous forms rushed for 
 ward to the attack. 
 
 "Fire! " rang out Mr. Dinsmore's voice in clarion.
 
 220 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 tones, and instantly the crack of half a dozen re 
 volvers was heard, a light blaze ran along the line 
 of loopholes, and at the same instant a sudden, 
 scalding shower fell upon the assailants from above. 
 
 Several of them dropped upon the ground, and 
 as many more threw away their clubs and ran 
 screaming and swearing down the avenue. 
 
 But the others rallied, and came on again, 
 yelling with redoubled fury, while simultaneously 
 similar sounds came from the sides and rear of the 
 dwelling. 
 
 The scalding shower was descending there, also; 
 Uncle Joe and his command were busy, and bullets 
 were flying and doing some execution, though sent 
 with less certain aim than from the front. 
 
 Aunt Dicey, too, and her satellites were winning 
 the laurels they coveted. 
 
 As she had expected, several of the assailants 
 came thundering at her door, loudly demanding 
 admittance, at the same time that the attack was 
 made in front. 
 
 "Who dar? What you want?" she called. 
 
 " We want in; open the door instantly! " 
 
 "No, sah! dis chile don' do no sich ting! Dis 
 Marse Ed'ard's kitchen, an' Miss Elsie's." 
 
 Then in an undertone, " Now Venus an' Lize, fill 
 yo* dippahs quick! an' when dis niggah says fire, 
 slam de contentions dat's de bilin' soap, min' 
 right into dar ugly faces. 
 
 "An' Sally Ann, yo' creep up dem stairs, quick
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 221 
 
 as lightnin' an' hide under the bed. It's yo' dey's 
 after; somebody mus' a tole 'em yo' sleeps yere sense 
 de night dat bloody hand ben laid on yo' shouldah." 
 
 These orders were scarcely issued and obeyed 
 when the door fell in with a loud crash, and a 
 hideous horned head appeared in the opening; but 
 only to receive three ladles full of the boiling soap 
 full in its face, and fall back with a terrible, un 
 earthly yell of agony and rage into the arms of its 
 companions, who quickly bore it shrieking away. 
 
 " Tank de Lord, dat shot tole! " ejaculated Aunt 
 Dicey. " Now stan' ready for de nex'." 
 
 The party in front were received with the same 
 galling fire as before, and at the same moment a 
 sound, coming apparently from the road beyond the 
 avenue, a sound as of the steady tramp, tramp of 
 infantry, and the heavy rumbling and rolling of 
 artillery, smote upon their ears. 
 
 There had been a report that Federal troops were 
 on the march to suppress the outrages and protect 
 the helpless victims, and, seized with panic terror, 
 the raiders gathered up their dead and wounded and
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII. 
 
 *' Thus far our fortune keeps an onward course, 
 And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory." 
 
 "VICTOKY!" shouted Horace, Jr., waving his 
 handkerchief ahout his head, " victory, and an end 
 to the reign of terror! Hurrah for the brave troops 
 of Uncle Sam that came so opportunely to the res 
 cue! Come, let us sally forth to meet them. Elsie, 
 unlock your stores and furnish the refreshments 
 they have so well earned." 
 
 " They draw nearer! " cried Arthur, who had been 
 listening intently. "Haste! they must be about 
 entering the avenue. They will meet the raiders. 
 Travilla, uncle, shall we make an opening here in 
 our breastworks? " 
 
 "Yes," answered both in a breath; then, as if 
 struck by a sudden thought, " No, no, let us recon 
 noitre first! " cried Mr. Dinsmore. " Horace, run 
 up to the observatory, take a careful survey, and 
 report as promptly as possible." 
 
 Horace bounded away, hardly waiting to hear the 
 conclusion of the sentence. 
 
 "I counsel delay," said old Mr. Dinsmore, who 
 was peering through a loophole, " the troops have 
 not entered the avenue, the Ku Klux may return; 
 
 222
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 223 
 
 though I do not expect it after the severe repulse 
 we have twice given them; but ' discretion is the 
 better part of valor.' ' : 
 
 " Eight, sir/' said Mr. Lilburn; " let us give them 
 no chance for a more successful onslaught/' 
 
 " Oh, yes, do be careful! " cried the ladies, join 
 ing them; " don't tear down the least part of our 
 defences yet." 
 
 "Have they really fled? Are you all unhurt?" 
 asked Rose in trembling tones. 
 
 " Edward! papa! " faltered Elsie. 
 
 " Safe and sound," they both answered. 
 
 '' Thank God! thank God! " she cried as her hus 
 band folded her in his arms, and her father took he* 
 hamd in his, while with the other arm he embraced 
 Hose. 
 
 " We have, indeed, cause for thankfulness," said 
 Arthur, returning from a hurried circuit of the 
 verandas; "not one on our side has received a 
 scratch. But I have ordered the men to remain at 
 their posts for the present." 
 
 Horace came rushing back. "I cannot under 
 stand it! I see no sign of troops, though " 
 
 " The darkness," suggested his mother. 
 
 "Hark! hark! the bugle call; they are charging 
 on the Ku Klux! " exclaimed Arthur, as a silvery 
 sound came floating on the night breeze. 
 
 " Oh, they have come! they have come! " cried 
 Eosie, clapping her hands and dancing up and down 
 with delight. "Now our troubles are over, and
 
 224 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 there will be no more of these dreadful raids." 
 And in the exuberance of her joy she embraced 
 first her mother, then her sister, and lastly threw 
 herself into her father's arms. 
 
 "Ah, I wish it were so," he said, caressing her; 
 " but I begin to fear that the sounds we have heard 
 with so much relief and pleasure were as unreal as 
 Bruno's talking awhile ago." 
 
 "Oh, was it you, Mr. Lilburn?" she cried, in a 
 tone of sore disappointment. 
 
 " Ah, well, my bonnie lassie, the Ku Klux are 
 gone at all events: let us be thankful for that," he 
 answered. 
 
 "What, what does it all mean?" asked the two 
 young men in a breath, " what strange deception haa 
 been practised upon us? " 
 
 " My cousin is a ventriloquist," replied Elsie, 
 "and has done us good service in using his talent 
 to help in driving away the Ku Klux." 
 
 He instantly received a unanimous vote of 
 thanks, and the young people began pouring out 
 eager questions and remarks: 
 
 "Another time; my work is but half done! I 
 must pursue! " he cried, hastily leaving them to 
 Beek an exit from the house. 
 
 Elsie hurried away to see if her little ones still 
 slept. All did, but little Elsie, and she was full of 
 joy and thankfulness that her dear papa's cruel foes 
 had been driven away. 
 
 "Ah, mamma, God has heard our prayers and
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 325 
 
 helped us out of this great trouble! " she said, re 
 ceiving and returning a tender embrace. 
 
 "Indeed he has, daughter! let us thank him for 
 his goodness, and ever put our trust in him. Have 
 you been long awake? " 
 
 " It was their dreadful screams that waked me, 
 mamma. I couldn't help crying for one man: it 
 seemed as if he must be in such an agony of pain. 
 Uncle Joe says Aunt Dicey and the others threw 
 boiling soap into his eyes and all over his face and 
 head. Mamma, aren't you sorry for him?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed! " and the child felt a great tear 
 fall on her head resting on her mother's bosom. 
 " Poor, poor fellow! he finds the way of transgress 
 ors hard, as the Bible says it is. Now, darling, lie 
 down again and try to sleep. I think the danger is 
 all over for to-night." 
 
 Returning, she met her husband in the hall, "I 
 have been to tell Leland the good news!" he said; 
 " he is very happy over it. And now, dear wife, go 
 to bed and sleep, if you can; you are looking very 
 weary, and I think we need fear no further dis 
 turbance. Your grandfather, Mrs. Dinsmore and 
 Eosie have yielded to our persuasions and have 
 retired." 
 
 "And you and papa?" 
 
 " Can easily stand the loss of one night's sleep, 
 but may, perhaps, get an hour or so of repose upon 
 the sofas. But we will keep a constant watch till 
 sunrise. Arthur and Horace are going up to the
 
 226 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 observatory again, while the rest of us will pace the 
 veranda by turns." 
 
 Morning found the Ion mansion wearing much 
 the appearance of a recently besieged fortress. How 
 many of the Klan had lost their lives it was im 
 possible to tell, but probably only a small number, 
 as the aim of the party of defence had been, by 
 mutual agreement, to disable and not to slay; but 
 'it was thought the assailants had suffered a suffi 
 ciently severe punishment to deter them from a 
 renewal of the attack. Also Mr. Lilburn's pursuit, 
 keeping up the delusion that troops were at hand, 
 had greatly frightened and demoralized them. So 
 the barricades were presently taken down, and 
 gradually the dwelling and its surroundings re 
 sumed their usual aspect of neatness, order, and 
 elegance. 
 
 All the friends remained to breakfast, but their 
 presence did not exclude the children from the 
 table. 
 
 While the guests were being helped, there was a 
 momentary silence, broken by a faint squeal that 
 Beemed to come from under Elsie's plate. 
 
 " Mousie at de table! " cried Harold; then " Oh, 
 me dot a bird! " as the notes of a canary came from 
 underneath his plate. 
 
 "Pick up your plates and let us see the mouse 
 and the bird," said their papa, smiling. 
 
 They obeyed. 
 
 "Ah, I knew there was nothing there," said Ed-
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 227 
 
 die, laughing and looking at Cousin Eonald, while 
 Harold, gazing at the table-cloth in disappointed 
 surprise, cried, "Ah, it's gone! it must have flewed 
 away." 
 
 Calhoun Conly, knowing nothing, but suspecting 
 a great deal, and full of anxiety, repaired to Ion 
 directly after breakfast. Blood-stains on the ground 
 without and within the gate, and here and there 
 along the avenue as he rode up to the house, con 
 firmed his surmise that his friends had been at 
 tacked by the Ku Klux the previous night. He 
 found them all in the library talking the matter 
 over. 
 
 " Ah, sir! like a brave man and a true friend, you 
 come when the fight is over," was his grandfather's 
 sarcastic greeting. 
 
 " It was my misfortune, sir, to be unable in this 
 instance to follow my inclination," returned the 
 young man, coloring to the very roots of his hair 
 with mortification. " But " glancing around the 
 circle " Heaven be thanked that I find you all un 
 hurt," he added, with a sigh that told that a great 
 load had been taken from his heart. " May I hear 
 the story? I see the men are tearing down a breast 
 work, and I suppose the attacking party must have 
 been a large one." 
 
 " Not too large, however, for us to beat back and 
 defeat without your assistance," growled his grand 
 father. 
 
 " Ah, grandpa, he would have helped if he could,"
 
 228 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 said Mrs. Travilla. " Sit down, Cal, we are very 
 glad to see you." 
 
 His uncle and Travilla joined in the assurance, 
 but Horace and Arthur regarded him rather coldly, 
 and "Cousin Ronald" thought he deserved some 
 slight punishment. 
 
 As he attempted to take the offered seat 
 " Squeal! squeal! squeal!" came from his coat- 
 pocket, causing him to start and redden again, with 
 renewed embarrassment. 
 
 "Oh, Cousin Cal! has you dot a wee little piggie 
 in your pocket? Let me see him," cried Harold, 
 running up and trying to get a peep at it; then 
 starting back with a cry of alarm at a sudden loud 
 barking, as of an infuriated dog, at Calhoun's heels. 
 
 Bruno came bounding in with an answering bark; 
 Calhoun, thrusting his hand into his pocket with 
 purpose to summarily eject the pig, and at the same 
 time wheeling about to confront his canine antag 
 onist, looked utterly confounded at finding none 
 there, while to add to his confusion and perplexity 
 a bee seemed to be circling round his head, now 
 buzzing at one ear, now at the other. 
 
 He tried to dodge it, he put up his hand to drive 
 it away, then wheeled about a second time, as the 
 furious bark was renewed in his rear, but turned 
 pale and looked absolutely frightened at the dis 
 covery that the dog was still invisible; then red 
 dened again at perceiving that everybody waa 
 laughing.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 229 
 
 His cousin Elsie was trying to explain, but could 
 not make herself heard above the furious barking. 
 She looked imploringly at Mr. Lilburn, and it ceased 
 on the instant. 
 
 Calhoun dropped into a chair, and glanced in 
 quiringly from one to another. 
 
 His uncle answered him in a single word, 
 " Ventriloquism." 
 
 " Sold ! " exclaimed the youth, joining faintly in 
 the mirth. " Strange I did not think of that, 
 though how could I suppose there was a ventrilo 
 quist here? " 
 
 "An excellent one, is he not? You must hear 
 what good service he did last night," said Mr. Tra- 
 villa, and went on to tell the story of the attack and 
 defence. 
 
 Elsie and Eddie listened to the account with keen 
 interest. Vi, who had been devoting herself in 
 motherly fashion to a favorite doll, laid it aside to 
 hear what was said; but Harold was playing with 
 Bruno, who seemed hardly yet to have recovered 
 from his wonder at not finding the strange canine 
 intruder who had so roused his ire. 
 
 Harold had climbed upon his back, and with his 
 arms around his neck was talking to him in an 
 undertone. " Now, you's my horse, Bruno; let's 
 go ridin' like papa and Beppo." 
 
 The dog started toward the door. " With all 
 Bay heart, little master; which way shall we go? " 
 
 "Why, Bruno, you s'prise me! can you talk?"
 
 230 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 cried the little fellow in great delight. "Why 
 didn't you begin sooner? Mamma, oh, mamma! did 
 you hear Bruno talk? " 
 
 Mamma smiled, and said gently, " Be quiet, son, 
 while papa and the rest are talking: or else take 
 Bruno out to the veranda." 
 
 Cousin Ronald was amusing himself with the 
 children. Vi's doll presently began to cry and call 
 upon her to be taken up, and she ran to it in sur 
 prised delight, till she remembered that it was 
 " only Cousin Eonald and not dolly at all." 
 
 But Cousin Eonald had a higher object than his 
 own or the children's amusement: he was trying to 
 divert their thoughts from the doings of the Ku 
 Klux, lest they should grow timid and fearful.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Revenge at first though sweet, 
 Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils. 
 
 Milton. 
 
 GEOEGE BOYD, who was of most vindictive 
 temper, had laid his plans for the night of the raid 
 upon Ion, to wreak his vengeance, not upon Tra- 
 villa only, but also upon the woman on whose 
 clothing he had left the impress of his bloody hand. 
 
 With this in view, he went first to the kitchen 
 department, where, as he had learned through the 
 gossip of the servants, she now passed the night, 
 intending afterward to have a hand in the brutal 
 flogging to be meted out to Mr. Tra villa. He headed 
 the attacking party there, and it was he who re 
 ceived upon his person the full broadside from 
 Aunt Dicey's battery of soap ladles. 
 
 The pain was horrible, the scorching mass cling 
 ing to the flesh and burning deeper and deeper as 
 he was borne shrieking away in the arms of his 
 comrades. 
 
 " Oh, take it off! take it off! Fm burning up, I 
 tell you! " he yelled, as they carried him swiftly 
 down the avenue; but they hurried on, seemingly 
 unmindful of his cries, mingled though they were 
 with oaths and imprecations, nor paused till they 
 
 231
 
 232 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 had reached the shelter of the woods at some littles 
 distance on the opposite side of the road. 
 
 " Curse yon! " he said between his clenched 
 teeth, as they laid him down at a foot of a tree, 
 "curse you! for keeping me in this agony. Help 
 
 me off with these duds. Unbutton it, quick! 
 
 quick! I'm burning up, I tell you; and my hands 
 are nearly as bad as my face. Oh! oh! you fiends! 
 do you want to murder me outright? you're bring 
 ing all the skin with it! " he roared, writhing in 
 unendurable torture, as they dragged off the dis 
 guise. " Oh, kill me! Bill, shoot me through the 
 head, and put me out of this torment, will you? " 
 
 "No, no, I daren't. Come, come, pluck up 
 courage, and bear it like a man." 
 
 " Bear it, indeed! I only wish you had it to bear. 
 I tell you it can't be borne! Water, water, for the 
 love of Heaven! Carry me to the river and throw 
 me in. My eyes are put out; they burn like balls of 
 fire." 
 
 " Stop that yelling, will you! " cried a voice 
 from a little distance, "you'll betray us. We're 
 whipped, and there's troops coming up too." 
 
 "Sure, Smith?" 
 
 " Yes; heard their tramp, tramp, distinctly; rum 
 ble of artillery too. Can't be more'n a mile off, if 
 that. Hurry, boys, no time to lose! Who's this 
 groaning at such an awful rate? What's the 
 matter? " 
 
 " Scalded; horribly scalded."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 233 
 
 "He aint the only one, though maybe he's the 
 worst. And Blake's killed outright; two or three 
 more, I believe; some with pretty bad pistol-shot 
 wounds. Tell you they made warm work for us. 
 There's been a traitor among us; betrayed our plans 
 and put 'em on their guard." 
 
 He concluded with a torrent of oaths and fearful 
 imprecations upon the traitor, whoever he might 
 be. 
 
 " Hist! " cried the one Boyd had addressed as 
 Bill; "hist, boys! the bugle call! they're on us. 
 Stop your noise, Boyd, can't you! " as the latter, 
 seized and borne onward again, not too gently, 
 yelled and roared with redoubled vigor. " Be quiet, 
 or you'll have 'em after us in no time." 
 
 " Shoot me through the head then: it's the only 
 thing that '11 help me to stop it." 
 
 Mr. Lilburn, keeping well in the shadow of the 
 trees, had hurried after the retreating foe, and con 
 cealing himself behind a clump of bushes close to 
 the gate, caused his bugle note to sound in their 
 ears, as if coming from a point some half a mile 
 distant. 
 
 Convinced that a detachment of United States 
 troops were almost upon them, those carrying the 
 dead and wounded dashed into the wood with their 
 burdens, while in hot haste the others mounted and 
 away, never drawing rein until they had put several 
 miles between them and the scene of their at 
 tempted outrage.
 
 234 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Meantime those in the wood, moving as rapidly 
 as possible under the circumstances, were plunging 
 deeper and deeper into its recesses. 
 
 There was an occasional groan or half suppressed 
 shriek from others of the wounded, but Boyd's cries 
 were incessant and heart-rending, till a handker 
 chief was suddenly thrust into his mouth with a 
 muttered exclamation, " Necessity knows no law! 
 it's to save your own life and liberty, as well as 
 ours." 
 
 At length, well-nigh spent with their exertions, 
 the bearers paused, resting their burdens for a 
 moment upon the ground, while they listened in 
 tently for the sounds of pursuit. 
 
 "We've baffled 'em, I think," panted Bill. "I 
 
 don't hear no more of that tramp, tramp; and 
 
 the bugle's stopped too." 
 
 " That's so, and I reckon we're pretty safe now," 
 returned another voice. " But what's to be done 
 with these fellows? where'll we take 'em?" 
 
 " To Rood's still-house," was the answer. " It's 
 about half a mile further on, and deep in the woods. 
 And I say you, Tom Arnold, pull off your disguise 
 and go after Dr. Savage as fast as you can. Tell 
 him to come to the still-house on the fleetest horse 
 he can get hold of; and bring along everything 
 necessary to dress scalds and pistol-shot wounds. 
 Say there's no time to lose, or Boyd '11 die on our 
 hands. Now up with your load, boys, and on 
 again."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 235 
 
 The voice had a tone of command., and the orders 
 were instantly obeyed. 
 
 The still-house was an old, dilapidated frame 
 building, whose rude accommodations differed 
 widely from those to which, save during his army 
 life, Boyd had been accustomed from infancy. 
 ; They carried him in, and laid him down upon a 
 rough pallet of straw, furnished with coarse cotton 
 sheets and an army blanket or two, not over-clean. 
 
 But in his dire extremity of pain he heeded 
 naught of this, and his blinded eyes could not see 
 the bare rafters overhead, the filthy uncarpeted 
 floor, the few broken chairs and rude board seats, 
 or the little unpainted pine table, with its bit of 
 flickering, flaming tallow-candle stuck in an old 
 bottle. 
 
 His comrades did what they could for his relief; 
 but it was not much, and their clumsy handling 
 was exquisite torture to the raw, quivering flesh, 
 and his entreaties that they would put him out of 
 his misery at once, by sending a bullet through his 
 brain, were piteous to hear. They had taken his 
 arms from him, or he would have destroyed himself. 
 
 The room was filled with doleful sounds the 
 groans and sighs of men in sore pain, but his rose 
 above all others. 
 
 Dr. Savage arrived at length, but half drunk, and, 
 an unskilful surgeon at his best, made but clumsy 
 work with his patients on this occasion. 
 
 Yet the applications brought, in time, some slight
 
 236 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 alleviation of even Boyd's unendurable agony; his 
 cries grew fainter and less frequent, till they ceased 
 altogether, and like the other wounded, he relieved 
 himself only with an occasional moan or groan. 
 
 The doctor had finished his task, and lay in a 
 drunken sleep on the floor. The uninjured raiders 
 had followed his example, the candle had burned 
 itself out, and all was darkness and silence, save the 
 low, fitful sounds of suffering. 
 
 To Boyd sleep was impossible, the pain of his 
 burns being still very great; especially in his eyes, 
 the injury to which he feared must result in total 
 blindness. How could he bear it? he asked himself, 
 to go groping his way through life in utter dark 
 ness? Horrible! horrible! he would not endure it; 
 they had put the means of self-destruction out of 
 his way now, but on the first opportunity to get 
 hold of a pistol he would blow his own brains out, 
 and be done with this agony. The Bible was a 
 fable; death an eternal sleep; he had been saying 
 it for years, till he thought his belief or more cor 
 rectly unbelief firmly fixed: but now the early 
 teachings of a pious mother came back to him, and 
 he trembled with the fear that they might be true. 
 
 " It is appointed unto men once to die, but after 
 that the judgment." "Every one of us shall give 
 an account of himself to God." " These shall go 
 away into everlasting punishment." "Where the 
 worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Fire, 
 fire! oh, how unendurable he had found it! dare he
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 237 
 
 risk its torment throughout the endless ages of 
 eternity? Self-destruction might be but a plunge 
 into deeper depths of anguish: from which there 
 could be no return. 
 
 For days and weeks he lay in his miserable hid 
 ing-place almost untended save for the doctor's 
 visits and the bringing of his meals by one or 
 another of his confederates, who would feed him, 
 with a rough sort of kindness, then go away again, 
 leaving him to the solitary companionship of his 
 own bitter thoughts. 
 
 He longed for the pleasant society and gentle 
 ministrations of his aunt, and he knew that if sent 
 for she would come to him, and that his secret 
 Would be safe with her; but, alas, how could he bear 
 that she should know of his crime and its punish 
 ment? She who had so earnestly besought him 
 to forsake his evil ways, and live in peace and love 
 with all men: she who had warned him again and 
 again that " the way of transgressors is hard," and 
 that " though hand join in hand, the wicked shall 
 not be unpunished." She who had loved, cared for, 
 and watched over him with almost a mother's un 
 dying, unalterable tenderness and devotion. 
 
 How ungrateful she would deem his repeated 
 attempt against the home and husband of one whom 
 she loved as her own child. She would not reprove 
 him, she would not betray him, but he would know 
 that in her secret heart she condemned him as a 
 guilty wretch, a disgrace to her and all his relatives;
 
 238 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 and that would be worse, far worse, to his prond 
 spirit than the dreary loneliness of his present con 
 dition and the lack of the bodily comforts she 
 would provide. 
 
 No, he would bear his bitter fate as best ho 
 might, and though he had proved the truth of her 
 warning words, she should never know it, if he could 
 keep it from her. 
 
 Troops had arrived in the neighborhood the day 
 after the raid on Ion; so to Boyd's other causes of 
 distress was added the constant fear of detection 
 and apprehension. This was one reason why the 
 visits of his confreres were few and short. 
 
 The Klan was said to have disbanded and out 
 rages had ceased, but an investigation was going 
 on and search being made for the guilty parties; 
 also United States revenue officers were known to 
 be in quest of illicit distilleries, to which class this 
 one of Hood's belonged. 
 
 "What's the news?" asked Boyd one morning, 
 while Savage was engaged in dressing his hurts. 
 ^ " Very bad; you'll have to get out of this at once, 
 if you don't want to be nabbed. A jail might be 
 .more comfortable in some respects, eh, old boy? but 
 I fi'pose you prefer liberty. 
 
 " ' Better to sit in Freedom's hall, 
 
 With a cold damp floor, and a moulding wall, 
 Then to bend the neck or to bow the knee 
 In the proudest palace of Slavery.' 
 
 Fine eentiment, eh, Boyd?"
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 239 
 
 The doctor was just drunk enough to spout 
 poetry without knowing or caring whether it was 
 exactly apropos or not. 
 
 "Very fine, though not quite to the point, it 
 strikes me," answered Boyd, wincing under the not 
 too gentle touch of the inebriate's shaking hand. 
 " But how am I to get out of this blind and nearly 
 helpless as I am? " 
 
 " Well, sir, we've planned it all for you never 
 forsake a brother in distress, you know. There's 
 a warrant out for Bill Dobbs, and he has to ske 
 daddle too. He starts for Texas to-night, and will 
 take charge of you." 
 
 Savage went on to give the details of the plan, 
 then left with a promise to return at nightfall. He 
 did so, bringing Dobbs and Smith with him. Boyd's 
 wounds were attended to again, Dobbs looking on 
 to learn the modus operandi; then the invalid, aided 
 by Smith on one side and Dobbs on the other, was 
 conducted to an opening in the woods, where a horse 
 and wagon stood in readiness, placed in it, Dobbs 
 taking a seat by his side and supporting him with his 
 arm, and driven a few miles along an unfrequented 
 road to a little country station, where they took the 
 night train going south. 
 
 The conductor asked no questions; merely ex 
 changed glances with Dobbs, and seeing him appar 
 ently in search of a pin in the inside of his coat, 
 opened his own and handed him one, then pasaed 
 on through the car.
 
 240 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Boyd was missed from the breakfast-table at Ash- 
 lands on the morning after the raid upon Ion. His 
 aunt sent a servant to his room to see if he had 
 overslept himself. 
 
 The man returned with the report that "Marse 
 George " was not there, and that his bed had cer 
 tainly not been occupied during the night. 
 
 Still, as his movements were at all times rather 
 uncertain, and the ladies, having had no communi 
 cation with the Oaks or Ion on the previous day, 
 were in ignorance of all that had transpired there, 
 his absence occasioned them no particular anxiety 
 or alarm. The meal went on, enlivened by cheerful 
 chat. 
 
 " Mamma," said Herbert, " it's a lovely morning: 
 do give us a holiday and let's drive over to the Oaks; 
 we haven't seen Aunt Rose and the rest for ever so 
 long." 
 
 The other children joined in the petition: 
 grandma put in a word of approval, and mamma 
 finally consented, if the truth were told nothing 
 loath to give, or to share the treat. 
 
 The carriage was ordered at once, and they set 
 out shortly after leaving the table. 
 
 Arrived at their destination, they found Mre. 
 Murray on the veranda, looking out with an eager, 
 anxious face. 
 
 "Ah! "she said, coming forward as the ladies 
 alighted, "I didna expect my sight is no so keen 
 as in my younger days, and I thocht till this moment
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 241 
 
 'twas Mr. Dinsmore's carriage, bringing them hame 
 again after their dreadfu' nicht at Ion." 
 
 Both ladies turned pale, and old Mrs. Carrington 
 leaned heavily upon her daughter-in-law for sup 
 port. Her lips moved, but no sound came from 
 them, and she gasped for breath. 
 
 "Oh, tell us!" cried Sophie, "what, what has 
 happened? " 
 
 The children, too, were putting the same question. 
 in varying tones and words. 
 
 " The Ku Klux," faltered the housekeeper. " An' 
 ye hadna heard aboot it, my leddies ? " 
 
 "No, no, not a word," exclaimed Sophie; "but 
 see, my mother is fainting. Help me to carry her 
 into the house." 
 
 "No, 110, I can walk: I am better now, thank 
 you," said Mrs. Carrington, in low, faltering tones. 
 "Just give me the support of your arm, Mrs. 
 Murray." 
 
 They led her in between them, and laid her on a 
 sofa. 
 
 " And that's where George was ! " she sighed, 
 closing her eyes wearily. Then half starting up, 
 "Tell me, oh, tell me, was was Mr. Travilla 
 injured? " 
 
 "No, my leddy, he had been warned, and was 
 ready for them." 
 
 "Thank God! thank God!" came faintly from 
 the white quivering lips, as she sank back upon her 
 pillow again, and two great tears, stealing from be-
 
 242 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 neath the closed eyelids, rolled slowly down the 
 furrowed cheeks. 
 
 "You have heard the particulars then?" said 
 Sophie, addressing the housekeeper. " And my 
 brother and sister were there?" 
 
 " Yes, ma'am, and Master Horace, and Miss Rosie 
 too. Yes; and some of the men-servants. Mr. Dins- 
 more's man, John, was one o' them, and he's come 
 back, and frae him I learned a' was richt with our 
 friends." 
 
 " Oh, call him in and let me hear all he can tell! " 
 entreated the old lady. 
 
 The request was immediately complied with, and 
 John gave a graphic and, in the main, correct ac 
 count of the whole affair. 
 
 His tale was to all his auditors one of intense, 
 thrilling, painful interest. They lost not a word, 
 and when he had finished his story the old lady 
 cross-questioned him closely. " Did he know who 
 had warned Mr. Travilla? were any of the raiders 
 recognized? " 
 
 Both of these questions John answered in the 
 rnegative. " At least," he corrected himself, " he 
 had not heard that any one was recognized: they 
 were all completely disguised, and they had carried 
 away their dead and wounded; both the shot and 
 the scalded." 
 
 At that moment Mr. Dinsmore's family carriage 
 diove up, and John bowed and retired. 
 
 There were tearful embraces between the sisters
 
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 243 
 
 and other relatives, and between Eose and the elder 
 Mrs. Carrington. 
 
 "I feel as if you had been in terrible danger," 
 said Sophie, wiping her eyes. " John has just been 
 telling us all about it. What a, mercy that Mr. 
 Tra villa was warned in time! " 
 
 "By whom, Horace if it be not an improper 
 question?" asked the old lady, turning to Mr. 
 Dinsmore. 
 
 " By a detective, Mrs. Carrington, who was se 
 cretly present at their meeting, and heard all the 
 arrangements." 
 
 " He then knew who were the members appointed 
 to be of the attacking party? " 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore bowed assent. 
 
 " Was George one? " 
 
 " My dear madam, I did not see the detective; but 
 their raids are usually made by men coming from 
 a distance." 
 
 "You are evading my question. I implore you 
 to tell me all you know. George did not come 
 down to breakfast; had evidently not occupied his 
 bed last night, and this seems to explain his absence. 
 I know, too, that he has bitterly hated Travilla 
 since since his arrest and imprisonment. Will you 
 not tell me? Any certainty is to be preferred to 
 this this horrible suspense. I would know the 
 worst." 
 
 Thus adjured Mr. Binsmore told her George had 
 been appointed one of the party, but that he could
 
 244 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 not say that he was actually there. Also he sup 
 pressed the fact that the appointment had been by 
 George's own request. 
 
 She received the communication in silence, but 
 the anguish in her face told that she felt little doubt 
 of her nephew's guilt. And as days and weeks 
 rolled on, bringing no news of him, her suspicions 
 settled into a sad certainty; with the added sorrow 
 ful doubt whether he were living or dead.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Before 
 
 We end our pilgrimage, 'tis fie that we 
 Hhould leave corruption and foul sin behind us. 
 But with washed feet and hands, the heathen dared not 
 Enter their profane temples; and for me 
 To hope my passage to eternity 
 Can be made easy, till I have shook off 
 The burthen of my sins in free confession, 
 Aided with sorrow and repentance for them, 
 Is against reason. 
 
 IT began to be noticed that Wilkins Foster also 
 had disappeared. It was said that he had not been 
 seen since the raid upon Fairview, and the general 
 supposition was that he had taken part in the out 
 rage, received a wound in the affray and, on the 
 advent of the troops, had fled the country. 
 
 His mother and sisters led a very retired life, 
 seldom going from home except to attend church, 
 and even there they had been frequently missing of 
 late. 
 
 Elsie had been much engaged in efforts to com 
 fort her old friend, Mrs. Carrington, and to enter 
 tain Mr. Lil<burn, who was still at Ion; little excur 
 sions to points of interest in the vicinity and visits 
 to the plantations of the different families of the 
 connection, who vied with each other in doing him 
 
 245
 
 246 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 honor, filled up the time to the exclusion of almost 
 everything else, except the home duties which she 
 would never allow herself to neglect. 
 
 Baskets of fruit and game, accompanied by kind' 
 messages, had found their way now and again from 
 Ion to the cottage home of the Fosters, but weeks 
 had passed since the sweet face of Ion's mistress 
 had been seen within its walls. 
 
 Elsie's tender conscience reproached her for this, 
 when after an absence of several Sabbaths Mrs. 
 Foster again occupied her pew in the church, of 
 which both were members. 
 
 The poor lady was clad in rusty black, seemed to 
 be aging fast; and the pale, thin face had a weary, 
 heart-broken expression that brought the tears to 
 Elsie's eyes. 
 
 When the service closed she took pains to inter 
 cept Mrs. Foster, who was trying to slip away un 
 noticed, and taking her hand in a warm clasp, kindly 
 inquired concerning the health of herself and 
 family. 
 
 " About as usual, Mrs. Travilla," was the reply. 
 
 "I am glad to hear it. I feared you were ill. 
 You are looking weary; and no wonder after your 
 long walk. You must let us take you home. There 
 is plenty of room in the carriage, as the gentlemen 
 came on horseback; and it will be a real pleasure 
 to me to have your company." 
 
 The sincere, earnest, kindly tone and manner 
 quite disarmed the pride of the fallen gentlewoman,
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 247 
 
 and a momentary glow of grateful pleasure lighted 
 up her sad face. 
 
 " But it will take you fully a mile out of your 
 way/' she said, hesitating to accept the proffered 
 kindness. 
 
 " Ah, that is no objection; it is so lovely a day for 
 a drive," said Elsie, leading the way to the carriage. 
 
 " This seems like a return of the good old times 
 before the war! " sighed Mrs. Foster, leaning back 
 upon the softly cushioned seat, as they bowled 
 rapidly along. " Ah. Mrs. Travilla, if we could but 
 have been content to let well enough alone! I have 
 grown weary, inexpressibly weary, of all this hate, 
 
 bitterness, and contention; and the poverty 
 
 Ah, well, I will not complain! " and she closed her 
 lips resolutely. 
 
 "It was a sad mistake," Elsie answered, echoing 
 the sigh, " and it will take many years to recover 
 from it." 
 
 " Yes, I shall not live to see it." 
 
 " Nor I, perhaps; not here, but yonder in the 
 better land," Elsie answered, with a smile of hope 
 and gladness. 
 
 Mrs. Foster nodded assent; her heart too full for 
 utterance, nor did she speak again till the carriage 
 drew up before her own door. 
 
 Then repeating her thanks, " You have not been 
 here for a long time, Mrs. Travilla," she said; "I 
 
 know I have not returned your calls, but " She 
 
 paused, seemingly again overcome with emotion.
 
 248 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "Ah, that shall not keep me away, if you wish 
 me to come/' returned Elsie. 
 
 " We would be very glad; hardly any one else so 
 welcome/' 
 
 "I fear I have neglected you, but shall try to 
 come soon. And shall be pleased at any time to see 
 you at Ion," Elsie answered as the carriage drove 
 on. 
 
 A day or two afterward she fulfilled her promise, 
 and was admitted by Annie, the eldest daughter. 
 
 She, too, looked pale and careworn, and had evi 
 dently been weeping. 
 
 " Oh, Mrs. Travilla ! " she exclaimed, and burst 
 into a fresh flood of tears. 
 
 Elsie, her own eyes filling with sympathetic 
 drops, put her arm about her, whispering, " My poor 
 dear child! what can I do to comfort you? " 
 
 " Nothing! nothing! " sobbed the girl, resting her 
 head for a moment on Elsie's shoulder; "but come 
 into the parlor, dear Mrs. Travilla, and let me call 
 mamma." 
 
 "Ah, stay a moment," Elsie said, detaining her, 
 " are you sure, quite sure, that I can do nothing to 
 help you?" 
 
 Annie shook her head. " This trouble is beyond 
 human help. Yes, yes, you can pray for us, and 
 for him." 
 
 The last words were almost inaudible from emo 
 tion, and she hurried away, leaving the guest sole 
 Occupant of the room.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 249 
 
 Involuntarily Elsie glanced about her,, and a pang 
 went to her heart as she noticed that every article 
 of luxury, almost of comfort, had disappeared; the 
 pictures were gone from the walls, the pretty orna 
 ments from mantel and centre-table; coarse cheap 
 matting covered the floor in lieu of the costly carpet 
 of other days, and rose-wood and damask had given 
 place to cottage furniture of the simplest and most 
 inexpensive kind. 
 
 " How they must feel the change! " she thought 
 within herself; "and yet, perhaps, not just now; 
 these minor trials are probably swallowed up in a 
 greater one." 
 
 Mrs. Foster came in looking shabbier and more 
 keart-broken than at their last interview. 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Travilla, this is kind! " she said, 
 making a strong effort to speak with composure, 
 but failing utterly as she met the tender sympa 
 thizing look in the sweet soft eyes of her visitor. 
 
 Elsie put her arm about her and wept with her. 
 "Some one is ill, I fear?" she said at length. 
 
 " Yes my son. Oh, Mrs. Travilla, I am going to 
 5ose him!" and she was well-nigh convulsed with 
 bitter, choking sobs. 
 
 " While there is life there is hope," whispered 
 Elsie; "who can say what God may do for us in 
 answer to our prayers?" 
 
 The mother shook her head in sad hopelessness. 
 
 " The doctor has given him up; says nothing 
 more can be done."
 
 250 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Dr. Barton?" 
 
 " No, no, Savage. Oh, if we could but have had 
 Barton at first, the result might have been different. 
 I have no confidence in Savage, even when sober, 
 and he's drunk nearly all the time now." 
 
 " Oh, then things may not be so bad as he repre 
 sents them. Let me send over for Dr. Barton at 
 once." 
 
 " Thank you, but I must ask Wilkins first. He 
 was wounded some weeks ago; injured internally, 
 and has been suffering agonies of pain ever since. 
 I wanted Dr. Barton sent for at once, but he would 
 not hear of it, said the risk was too great, and he 
 
 must trust to Savage. But now " She paused, 
 
 overcome with grief. 
 
 "But now the greater risk is in doing without 
 him," suggested Elsie. "May I not send immedi 
 ately? " 
 
 "Excuse me one moment, and I will ask," the 
 mother eaid, leaving the room. 
 
 She returned shortly to say that Wilkins had con 
 sented that Dr. Barton should be summoned, and ac 
 cepted Mrs. Travilla's kind offer with thanks. 
 
 Elsie at once sent her servant and carriage upon 
 the errand, and meanwhile engaged in conversa 
 tion with her hostess. It was principally an ac 
 count by the latter of her son's illness. 
 
 His sufferings, she said, had been intense: at first 
 borne with fierce impatience and muttered impre 
 cations upon the hand that had inflicted the wound.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 251 
 
 He had likened himself to a caged tiger, so unbear 
 able was the confinement to him almost more so 
 than the torturing pain but of late a great change 
 had come over him; he had grown quiet and sub 
 missive, and the bitter hate seemed to have died 
 out of his heart. 
 
 " As it has out of mine, I hope," continued the 
 mother, the big tears rolling down her cheeks. " I 
 am now sensible that the feelings I have indulged 
 against some persons the Lelands principally 
 were most unchristian, and I hope the Lord has 
 helped me to put them away. It has been hard for 
 us to see strangers occupying our dear old home; 
 and yet it was certainly no fault of theirs that we 
 were compelled to give it up." 
 
 " That is all true," Elsie said; " I think I can 
 understand both your feelings and theirs, but they 
 are dear good Christian people, and I assure you 
 bear you no ill-will." 
 
 "Ah, is that so? I am told Leland has not 
 really gone North, as was supposed, but has re 
 turned to the plantation since since the coming 
 of the troops." 
 
 " He has, and is nearly recovered from his 
 wound." 
 
 "He was wounded, then?" 
 
 " Yes, pretty badly." 
 
 " And was in hiding somewhere; and his wife 
 staying on alone with her children and servants? 
 I wonder she had the courage." 

 
 452 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 '" She put her trust in the Lord, as I believe botft 
 you and I do, my dear Mrs. Foster; and he has not 
 failed her." 
 
 Mrs. Foster mused sadly for a moment. " I have 
 felt hard to her," she murmured at length, in low, 
 trembling tones; " and she a Christian, whom I 
 should love for the Master's sake, and it was quite 
 natural for her to defend her husband and chil 
 dren. I should have done the same for mine." 
 
 She had not mentioned when or where Wilkins 
 had received his wound, but Elsie knew now that it 
 was at Fairview, and that Mrs. Leland's or Archie's 
 hand had sped the bullet that had done such fearful 
 work. 
 
 Dr. Barton came; Mrs. Foster went with him to 
 the sick-room, and Elsie lingered, anxious to hear 
 his opinion of the case. 
 
 But Annie came hurrying in with her tear-swollen, 
 face. "Dear Mrs. Travilla, won't you come too?" 
 she sobbed. "Mamma will be so glad; and and 
 Wilkins begs you will come." 
 
 Elsie rose and put her arm about the waist of the 
 weeping girl. " I will gladly do all I can for him, 
 your mamma, or any of you," she whispered. 
 
 There was no want of comfort or luxury in the 
 sick-room. Mother and sisters had sacrificed every 
 such thing to this idol of their hearts, this only son. 
 and brother. He lay propped up with pillows, his 
 face pale as that of a corpse, and breathing witb, 
 great difficulty.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 253 
 
 Dr. Barton sat at the bedside, with his finger on. 
 the patient's pulse, while he asked a few brief ques 
 tions, then relapsed into a thoughtful silence. 
 
 All eyes were turned upon him with intense 
 anxiety, waiting in almost breathless suspense for 
 his verdict; but his countenance betrayed nothing. 
 
 " Oh, doctor! " sighed the mother at length, 
 "have you no word of hope to speak?" 
 
 " Let us have none of false hope, doctor," gasped 
 the sufferer, " I would know the worst." 
 
 " My poor lad," said the kind-hearted old physi 
 cian, in tender, fatherly tones, " I will not deceive 
 you. Whatever preparation you have to make for 
 your last long journey, let it be made at once." 
 
 With a burst of uncontrollable anguish the 
 mother and sisters fell upon their knees at the 
 bedside. 
 
 "How long doctor?" faltered the sick man. 
 
 " You will hardly see the rising of another sun." 
 
 The low, gently-spoken words pierced more than 
 one heart as with a dagger's point. 
 
 " Was this wound mortal in the first 
 place?" asked Wilkins. 
 
 " I think not, if it had had prompt and proper 
 attention. But that is a question of little impor 
 tance now you are beyond human skill. Is there 
 anything in which I can assist you? " 
 
 ; " Yes yes yes pray for my guilty soul." 
 
 It was no new thing for Dr. Barton to do: an 
 earnest Christian, he ministered to the souls as welj
 
 254 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 as the bodies of his patients. He knelt and offeree? 
 up a fervent prayer for the dying one, that repent 
 ance and remission of sins might be given him, that 
 he might have a saving faith in the Lord Jesus, 
 and, trusting only in his imputed righteousness, be 
 granted an abundant entrance into his kingdom and 
 glory. 
 
 " Thanks doctor," gasped Wilkins. "I I've 
 been a bad man; a very bad, wicked man; can 
 there be any hope for me?" 
 
 " ' Whosoever will, let him take the water of life 
 Jreely.' ' Him that eometh imto me I will in no 
 wise cast out.'* 
 
 "Isn't it too late?" The hollow eyes gazed 
 despairingly into the doctor's face. 
 
 "'Whosoever will': you may come if you will; 
 so long as death has not fixed your eternal state." 
 
 "I will! Lord, help save me? me a poor lost 
 vile helpless sinner! " he cried, lifting his eyes 
 and clasped hands to* heaven, while great tears 
 coursed down his sunken cheeks. " I cast myself 
 at thy feet; oh, pardon, save me or I am lost 
 lost forever." 
 
 The eyes closed, the hands dropped, and for a 
 moment they thought he had passed away with that 
 agonized cry for mercy and forgiveness; but a deep 
 sigh heaved his breast, his Mps moved, and his 
 mother bent over him to catch the words: 
 
 "LeJand; send for him." 
 
 With streaming eyes she turned to Elsie and re-
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 255 
 
 peated the words, adding, " Do you think he would 
 come?" 
 
 " I am quite sure of it. I will go for him at once." 
 
 The white lips were moving again. 
 
 The mother explained, amid her choking sobs: 
 " He says the wife too, and and your husband and 
 father. Oh, will they come? Tell them my boy is 
 dying, and would go at peace with all the world." 
 
 " I will; and they will come," Elsie answered, 
 weeping, and hurried away. 
 
 She drove directly to Fairview, and was so fortu 
 nate as to find her husband and father there con 
 versing with Mr. and Mrs. Leland. 
 
 Her sad story was quickly told, and listened to by 
 all with deep commiseration for the impoverished 
 and afflicted family. 
 
 " You will not refuse the poor dying man's re 
 quest, papa? Edward?" she said in conclusion. 
 
 " Certainly not ! " they answered, speaking both 
 together, " we will set out immediately. And you, 
 Leland?" 
 
 " Will gladly accompany you. I bear the poor 
 man no malice, and would rejoice to do him any 
 good in my power. What do you say, Mary?" 
 
 She looked at him a little anxiously. " Is it quite 
 safe for you? " 
 
 " Quite, I think," he replied, appealing to the 
 other gentlemen for their opinion. 
 
 They agreed with him, Mr. Dinsmore adding, " I 
 have no doubt the man is sincere; and I have still
 
 256 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 more confidence in his mother, whom I have long 
 looked upon as a truly Christian woman." 
 
 "Besides," remarked Mr. Travilla, "the Ku 
 Klux would hardly dare venture an outrage now. 
 The most desperate have fled the country, and the 
 rest stand in wholesome awe of the troops." 
 
 " I am quite, quite sure there is no risk in going," 
 said Elsie earnestly; "but whatever is done must 
 be done quickly, for Wilkins is evidently very near 
 his end; may, perhaps, expire before we arrive, even, 
 though we make all haste." 
 
 At that there was a general, hurried movement, 
 and in less time than it takes to tell it, they were 
 on their way; Mrs. Leland in the carriage with Elsie, 
 and the gentlemen on horseback. 
 
 Under the influence of restoratives administered 
 by Dr. Barton, great apparent improvement had 
 taken place in Wilkins' condition; he was in lees 
 pain, breathed more freely, and spoke with less 
 difficulty. 
 
 At sight of his visitors his pale face flushed 
 slightly, and an expression of regret and morti 
 fication swept over his features. 
 
 " Thank you all for coming, " he said feebly. 
 " Please be seated. I am at the very brink of the 
 grave, and and I would go at peace with all men. 
 I I've hated you every one. And you Leland, I 
 would have killed if I could. It was in the attempt 
 to do so that I received my own death wound at 
 the hands of your wife."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Mrs. Leland started, trembled., and" burst into 
 tears. That part of the story Elsie had omitted, 
 and she now heard it for the first time. 
 
 "Don't be disturbed/' he said; "you were 
 doing right in defending yourself,, husband, and 
 children." 
 
 " Yes, yes," she sobbed, " but, oh, I would save 
 you now if I could! Can nothing be done? " 
 
 He shook his head sadly. " Will you, can you, 
 all forgive me? " he asked in tones so faint and low 
 that only the death-like silence of the room made 
 the words audible. 
 
 " With all my heart, my poor fellow, as I hope to 
 be forgiven my infinitely greater debt to my Lord,'* 
 Mr. Leland answered with emotion, taking the 
 wasted hand, and clasping it warmly in his. 
 
 Foster was deeply touched. " God bless you for 
 the words," he whispered. "How I've been mis 
 taken in you, sir! " 
 
 His eyes sought the faces of Dinsmore and Tra- 
 villa, and drawing near the bed, each took his hand 
 in turn, and gave him the same assurance he had 
 already received from Leland. 
 
 Then the last named said, "I ask your forgiveness, 
 Foster, for any exasperating word I may have 
 spoken, or anything else I have done to rouse un 
 kind feelings toward me." 
 
 In reply, the dying man pressed Leland's hand in 
 moved silence. 
 
 Mrs. Leland rose impetuously, and dropped on
 
 258 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 her knees at the bedside. " And me! " she cried, 
 with a gush of tears, " will you forgive me your 
 death? I cannot bear to think it was my work, even 
 though done in lawful self-defence, and to save my 
 dear ones." 
 
 "It is all right between us," he murmured, 
 and relapsed into unconsciousness. 
 
 " We are too many here," said the physician, dis 
 missing all but the mother. 
 
 Elsie remained in an adjoining room, trying to 
 comfort the sisters, while Mrs. Leland and the 
 gentlemen repaired to the veranda, where they 
 found Mr. Wood, who had just arrived, having been 
 sent for to converse and pray with the dying man. 
 
 " How does he seem? " he asked. " Can I go at 
 once to the room? " 
 
 "Not now; he is unconscious," said Mr. Dins- 
 more, and went on describe Foster's condition, 
 mental, moral, and physical, as evidenced in his in 
 terview with them and the earlier one with Dr. 
 Barton; of which Elsie had given them an account. 
 
 "Ah, God grant he may indeed find mercy, and 
 be enabled to lay hold upon Christ to the saving 
 of his soul, even at this eleventh hour! " ejaculated 
 the pastor. " A death-bed repentance is poor 
 ground for hope. I have seen many of them in my 
 fifty years' ministry, but of all those who recovered 
 from what had seemed mortal illness but one held 
 fast to his profession. 
 
 "The others all went back to their former evil
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 259 
 
 ways, showing conclusively that they had been self- 
 deceived, and theirs but the hope of the hypocrite, 
 which ' shall perish: whose hope shall be cut off, 
 and whose trust shall be a spider's web.' 
 
 " Yet with our God all things are possible, and 
 the invitation is to all who are yet on praying 
 ground; ' Whosoever will/ ' : 
 
 At this moment Elsie glided into their midst, and 
 putting her hand into that of her pastor, said in 
 low, tearful tones, " I am so glad you have come! 
 He is conscious again, and asking for you." 
 
 He went with her to the bedside. 
 
 The glazing eyes grew bright for an instant. 
 "You have come: oh, tell me what I must do 
 to be saved! " 
 
 " I can only point you to ' the Lamb of God that 
 taketh way the sin of the world,' " returned the 
 pastor, deeply moved: " only repeat his invitation, 
 ' Look unto me, and be ye saved all ye ends of the 
 earth.' " 
 
 " I am trying trying," came faintly from the 
 pale lips, while the hands moved slowly, feebly, 
 from side to side, as if groping in the dark, " Lord 
 save " 
 
 A deep hush filled the room, broken presently by 
 the mother's wail as she fell on her knees at the bed 
 side, and taking the cold hand in hers, covered it 
 with kisses and tears. 
 
 With the last word the spirit had taken its flight; 
 to him time should be no longer, eternity had begun.
 
 260 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Few and evil had been his days; he was not yel 
 thirty, and, possessed of a fine constitution and 
 vigorous health, had every prospect of long life had 
 he been content to live at peace with his fellow- 
 men; but by violent dealing, he had passed away in 
 the midst of his years. 
 
 " Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half 
 their days/' " The wages of sin is death."
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Kindness has resistless charms. 
 
 Rochester. 
 
 THBOUGH all the trying scenes that followed, 
 Elsie was with the Fosters, giving aid and comfort, 
 such as the tenderest sympathy and most delicate 
 kindness could give. She and her husband and 
 father took upon themselves all the care and trouble 
 of the arrangements for the funeral, quietly settled 
 the bills, and afterward sent them, receipted, to 
 Mrs. Foster. 
 
 Wilkins had been the chief support of the 
 family, the ladies earning a mere pittance by the 
 use of the needle and sewing-machine. Nothing had 
 been laid by for a rainy day, and the expenses of his 
 illness had to be met by the sale of the few articles 
 of value left from the wreck of their fortunes. And 
 now, but for the timely aid of these kind friends, 
 absolute want had stared them in the face. 
 
 They made neither complaint nor parade of their 
 poverty, but it was unavoidable that Elsie should 
 learn much of it at this time, and her heart ached 
 for them in this accumulation of trials. 
 
 The girls were educated and accomplished, but 
 shrank with timidity and sensitive pride from exert 
 ing themselves to push their way in the world. 
 
 861
 
 262 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "I think they could teach," Mrs. Foster said to 
 Elsie, who, calling the day after the funeral, had 
 with delicate tact made known her desire to assist 
 them in obtaining some employment more lucrative 
 and better adapted to their tastes and social posi 
 tion; "I think they have the necessary education 
 and ability, and I know the will to earn an honest 
 livelihood is not lacking; but where are pupils to 
 be found?" 
 
 "Are you willing to leave that to Mr. Travilla 
 and me? " asked Elsie, with gentle kindliness. 
 
 " Ah, you are too good, too kind," said Mrs. Fos 
 ter, weeping. 
 
 " No, no, my dear friend," returned Elsie; " does 
 not the Master say, 'This is my commandment, 
 That ye love one another, as I have loved you?' 
 Now tell me what sort of situations they would like, 
 and what branches they feel competent to teach." 
 
 " Annie is a good musician and draws well. She 
 would be glad, indeed, to get a class of pupils in, 
 the neighborhood to whom she might give lessons, 
 here or at their homes, in drawing, and on the piano 
 and harp. Lucinda thinks she could teach the Eng 
 lish branches, the higher mathematics, and French. 
 
 "But, indeed, my dear Mrs. Travilla, they will 
 be thankful for anything especially if it does not 
 take them away from me." 
 
 "We will see what can be done my husband, 
 papa, and I," Elsie said, rising to take leave. " And 
 do not be anxious; remember those precious words,
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 263 
 
 * Casting all your care on him, for he careth foi 
 yon.' " 
 
 "Do not go yet!" entreated Mrs. Foster., taking 
 and holding fast the hand held out to her, " if you 
 only knew what a comfort your presence is. Ah, 
 dear, kind friend, God has made you a daughter of 
 consolation to his bereaved, afflicted ones ! " 
 
 Elsie's eyes filled. " It is what I have prayed 
 that he would do for me," she whispered. " But I 
 think I must go now: my husband was to call for me, 
 and I see him at the gate." 
 
 Elsie repeated the conversation to her husband 
 as they rode homeward, and consulted him in regard 
 to a plan which had occurred to her. 
 
 He approved, and instead of stopping at Ion they 
 rode on to Eoselands. 
 
 Arrived there, Mr. Travilla joined the gentlemen 
 in the library, while Elsie sought her aunts in the 
 pretty parlor usually occupied by them when not 
 entertaining company. 
 
 After a little desultory chat on ordinary topics, 
 t Bhe spoke of the Fosters, their indigent circum 
 stances, and her desire to find employment for the 
 girls in teaching. 
 
 " Always concerning yourself in other people's 
 business," remarked Enna. "Why don't you do 
 like the rest of us, and leave them to mind their 
 own affairs?" 
 
 "Because I see that they need help, and we are 
 told, ' Look not every man on his own things, but
 
 264 ELSIE'S HOTH&RHOOD. 
 
 every man also on the things of others.' And again, 
 'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good 
 unto all men, especially unto them who are of the 
 household of faith/ 
 
 " I heard you, not long since, Aunt Louise, wish 
 ing you could afford a day governess, and knew of a 
 suitable person. Would you would you be willing 
 to employ one at my expense, and give the situation 
 to Lucinda Foster? " 
 
 " And let her give it out among our acquaintance 
 that you were paying for the education of my chil 
 dren!" exclaimed Louise, coloring angrily. "No, 
 I thank you." 
 
 "Not at all; she need know nothing of the 
 arrangement except that you employ her to instruct 
 your children, and pay her for it. You and Enna, 
 if she will accept the same from me, for herself." 
 
 " Dear me," exclaimed Enna, " how you're always 
 spending money on strangers, when your own rela 
 tions could find plenty of use for it! " 
 
 Elsie smiled slightly at this peculiar view taken 
 of her generous offer, but only added, " I would, if 
 you would accept " 
 
 " I'm no object of charity," interrupted Louise. 
 
 " Certainly not," Elsie said, coloring, " yet why 
 should you object to giving so near a relative the 
 
 pleasure of But in this instance, 'tis I who 
 
 am asking a favor of you. I want to help the Fos 
 ters, and cannot do so directly, without wounding 
 their honest pride of indepedence."
 
 
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 265 
 
 "You will, of course, employ Lucinda to teacli 
 your own ? " 
 
 " No, I am not in want of a governess. Would 
 you like to have Anna give lessons to your girls 
 in music and drawing? " 
 
 "Is she to teach yours?" asked Enna. 
 
 " No; M. Reboul has them under his instruction, 
 and as he gives entire satisfaction, I could not feel 
 right to turn him away." 
 
 "H'm! teachers that are not good enough for 
 your children, are not good enough for ours." 
 
 " If I were in want of teachers, I should employ 
 the Misses Foster," was Elsie's quiet reply. 
 
 Nothing more was said for a moment; then, rising 
 to go, " I am then to consider my proposition de 
 clined ? " she remarked inquiringly. 
 
 " Well, no, since you put it on the ground of a 
 favor to yourself, I should he sorry to refuse to 
 gratify you," said Louise. 
 
 " Thank you. And you, Enna? " 
 
 " She can teach mine if she wants to, and if I 
 could afford it, Annie should give music lessons to 
 Molly drawing too; but if I can't, I can't." 
 
 " It need he no expense to you," said Elsie. 
 
 " Very well then, you can engage her and fix the 
 terms to suit yourself." 
 
 " Thank you; I shall enjoy their pleasure in hear 
 ing that they have PL many pupils already secured." 
 
 Elsie's benevolent kindness did not stop here; she 
 called on a number of families in the vicinity, and
 
 266 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 succeeded m obtaining almost as many pupils for 
 the girls as they could well attend to. 
 
 Then another difficulty arose: the distances were 
 too great for the young ladies to traverse on foot, 
 and they had no means of conveyance. 
 
 But this was obviated for the present by giving 
 them the use of Prince and Princess, either with or 
 without the phaeton, during the hours of the day 
 that such help was needed. 
 
 The ponies were sent over to the cottage every 
 morning, after the children had had their ride, by 
 an Ion servant, who returned for them later. 
 
 Ik'rs. Leland heard of her friend's efforts, and 
 going over to Ion, asked, " Why did you not call on 
 me? my children need instruction." 
 
 "I hardly liked to ask it of you." 
 
 " And I feel a delicacy about proposing the thing 
 to the Fosters, but I would be very glad to help 
 them; and if you can learn that they would not 
 mind coming to Fairview for the sake of several 
 more scholars, I authorize you to make the engage 
 ment for me." 
 
 Elsie undertook the errand, and did it so well that 
 the Fosters were deeply touched by this kindness on 
 the part of one they had once hated and reviled, 
 and whose husband their brother had tried to kill. 
 
 The offer was gratefully accepted, the young Le- 
 lands became the pupils of thesu former foes, little 
 courtesies and kind offices were exchanged, and in 
 the end warm friendship took the place of enmity.
 
 CHAPTEE XXII. 
 
 The mother in her office holds the key 
 
 Of the soul; and she it is who stamps the coin 
 
 Of character, aud makes the being who would be a savage, 
 
 But for her gentle cares, a Christian man. 
 
 Then crown her queen of the world. 
 
 Old Play. 
 
 THE families from the Oaks and Ashlands had 
 been spending the day at Ion. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon, and while awaiting 
 the call to tea they had all gathered in the drawing- 
 room, whose windows overlooked the avenne and 
 lawn on one side, on the other a very beautiful part 
 of the grounds, and a range of richly wooded hills 
 beyond. 
 
 A pause in the conversation was broken by Mr. 
 Travilla. "Wife," he said, turning to Elsie. 
 " Cousin Eonald should see Viamede: our old friend 
 jiere, Mrs. Carrington, needs change of scene and 
 climate; two good things that would not hurt any 
 , one present. Shall we not invite them all to go and 
 , spend the winter with us there? " 
 
 "Oh, yes, yes indeed! what a delightful plan!" 
 she cried, with youthful enthusiasm. " Ah, I hope 
 you will accept; the place is almost a paradise upon 
 ?arth, and we would do all in our power to make 
 
 267
 
 268 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 the time pass agreeably. Cousin Ronald, don't re 
 fuse. Papa, dear, don't try to hunt up objections." 
 
 " Ah ha! um h'm! I've not the least idea of it, 
 cousin," said the one. 
 
 " I am not," said the other, smiling fondly upon 
 her, " but must be allowed a little time to consider." 
 
 " Oh, papa, don't say so! " cried Rosie. "Mamma, 
 coax him quick before he has time to say it.'' 
 
 " I think there's no need," laughed Rose. " Can't 
 you see that he is nearly as eager as the rest of us? 
 and how could he do a whole winter without your 
 sister? How could any of us, for that matter? " 
 
 " You have advanced an unanswerable argument, 
 my dear," said Mr. Dinsmore, " and I may as well 
 give consent at once." 
 
 " Thank you, mamma," said Elsie, " thank you 
 both. Now, if the rest of you will only be as good! * 
 and she glanced persuasively from one to another. 
 
 " As good! " said Sophie, smiling, " if to be ready 
 to accept the kindest and most delightful of invita 
 tions be goodness, then I am not at all inclined 
 to be bad. Mother, shall we not go? " 
 
 " Oh, grandma, you will not say no ? " cried the 
 young Carringtons, who had listened to the propo 
 sition with eager delight. 
 
 " No, please don't," added little Elsie, putting 
 her arms coaxingly about the old lady's neck. 
 " Mamma, papa, grandpa, and mammy all say it ia 
 BO lovely there, and we want you along." 
 
 " Thanks, dear, thanks to your papa and mamma
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 269 
 
 ioo," said the old lady, clasping the little girl close, 
 while tears filled her aged eyes; "yes, yes, I'll go; 
 we will all go; how could I reject such kind 
 ness! " 
 
 The children, from Eosie Dinsmore who would 
 hardly have consented to be put into that list 
 down to Harold Travilla, were wild with delight, 
 and for the rest of the evening could scarce speak 
 or think of anything else than Viamede and the 
 pleasures they hoped to enjoy there. 
 
 "Now all have spoken but you, brother mine," 
 Elsie said, turning to Horace, Jr. " You surely 
 do not intend to reject our invitation? " 
 
 " Not entirely, sister, but papa seems to have left 
 the considering for me, and I've been at it. There 
 should be someone to look after the plantations 
 here, and upon whom but myself should that duty 
 devolve? " 
 
 " We all have good overseers." 
 
 "Yes, but there should be someone to take a 
 general supervision over them. I think I will go 
 with you, make a short visit and return if you all 
 like to trust me with the care of your property." 
 
 " You're welcome to take care of Ashlands, 
 Cousin Horace, and I'll be obliged to you too," 
 spoke up young Herbert Carrington, " and so will 
 mother and grandma, I know." 
 
 " Indeed we will," said the old lady. 
 
 "And it will leave us quite free from care, you 
 good boy," added the younger.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Mr. Travilla expressed similar sentiments in' 
 regard to Horace's offer as it concerned Ion, and 
 Mr. Dinsmore was quite as willing to leave the Oaks 
 in his son's care. 
 
 As it was now late in the fall and no very ex 
 tensive preparations were needed, it was agreed that 
 they would start in a few days. 
 
 " We shall make a large party/' remarked Sophie, 
 " Are you sure, Elsie, that you will have room for 
 so many? " 
 
 "Abundance; the house is very large; and the 
 more the merrier. I wish I could persuade Aunt 
 Wealthy, May, and Harry to come, with their babies 
 too, of course. I shall write to Lansdale to-night." 
 
 " That would be a delightful addition to the 
 party," remarked Mr. Dinsmore; " but aunt is now 
 in her eightieth year, and I fear will think herself 
 much too old for so long a journey." 
 
 " Ah, yes, papa, but she is more active than most 
 women of seventy, and can go nearly all the way 
 by water; down the Ohio, and the Mississippi, and 
 along the Gulf. At all events, I shall do my best 
 to persuade her." 
 
 " And you are so great a favorite that your 
 eloquence will not be wasted, I think," said Mr. 
 Travilla. 
 
 He was right; the old lady could not resist the 
 urgent entreaties of her dearly loved grandniece, 
 joined to the pleasant prospect of spending some 
 months with her and the other relatives and friends,
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 271 
 
 each of whom held a place in her warm, loving 
 heart. 
 
 An answering letter was sent from Lansdale by 
 return of mail, promising that their party would 
 follow the other to Viamede at an early day. , 
 
 May too was enchanted with the thought of a' 
 winter in that lovely spot, and the society of her two' 
 sisters, and Elsie, who was almost as dear. 
 
 But to return. As soon as the children learned 
 that the winter was really to be spent at Viamede, 
 and that they would set off in a few days, the whole 
 flock leaving their elders to settle the dry details 
 hastened in quest of " mammy." 
 
 They found her in the nursery, seated before a 
 crackling wood fire, with little Herbert in her arms. 
 
 Quickly their news was told, and gathering round 
 her, they plied her with questions about her old 
 Louisiana home. 
 
 " Well, chillins," she said, her old eyes growing 
 bright with joy at the thought of seeing it again 
 for, of course, she would be included in the 
 party " it's jes lubly as lubly kin be! de grand ole 
 house, an' de lawn, an' de shrubbery, an' de gardens, ; 
 an' fields, an' orchards, an' eberyting yes, it am del 
 lubliest place dis chile eber see." 
 
 " Horses to ride," said Eddie. 
 
 "Yes, Marse Eddie, bosses to ride, an' kerridges 
 to drive out in; 'sides a beautiful boat on de bayou, 
 an' fish dere dat you kin ketch wid a hook an' line. 
 Ole Uncle Joe he kotch dem mos' ebery day for de
 
 272 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 table, an Massa Ed'ard an' Miss Elsie say dey's bery 
 fine." 
 
 " And what else? " asked the eager voice of little 
 Daisy Carrington. 
 
 " Oranges! ripe oranges growing out of doors on 
 the trees! " cried her brother Harry, clapping his 
 hands and capering about the room, smacking his 
 lips in anticipation of the coming feast. 
 
 "Yes, chillins, orange trees on de lawn, an' a 
 ? mense orchard wid hundreds an' millions ob dem on 
 de branches an' on de ground. An' den de gardens 
 full ob roses an' all lubly flowers, an' vines climbin' 
 ober de verandas an' roun' de pillahs an' de win 
 dows, an' clar up to de roof." 
 
 " Oh, how sweet! " cried the children, their eyes 
 dancing with delight. " But Aunt Chloe, will there 
 be room for us all?" asked Meta Carrington, who 
 was next to Herbert in age. 
 
 " Yes, chile: dere's rooms, an' rooms, an' rooms, 
 in dat house." 
 
 "A playroom, mammy?" asked Eddie. 
 
 " Yes, chillins, a big room whar yo' grandma used 
 to play when she was a little chile." 
 
 Mammy's voice grew low and husky for a mo 
 ment, and great tears stood in her eyes. But she 
 struggled with her emotion and went on, " Her dolls 
 are dere yet, an' de baby house ole marster hab made 
 for her; an' de beautiful sets ob little dishes, an' 
 a great many tings mo'; for she hab lots ob toys 
 an' neber destroyed nuffin. An' nobody eber goes dar
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 273 
 
 but Aunt Phillis when she hab a clarin' up time 
 in dat part ob de house." 
 
 " Yes/' said little Elsie, who had been as silent 
 and intent a listener as though the tale were quite 
 new to her, " mamma has told us about those tfhings, 
 and that they are always to be kept very carefully, 
 because they belonged to her dear mamma." 
 
 "And we can't ever play with them! " exclaimed 
 Vi, " but mamma will show them all to us; she said 
 she would when she takes us to Viamede." 
 
 " Oh, I'd like to play with them! " exclaimed 
 Meta. "Doesn't anybody ever?" 
 
 "No, chile," said mammy, shaking her head 
 gravely, " dere aint nobody eber 'lowed to go in dat 
 room but Aunt Phillis, when Miss Elsie not dar. 
 But run awa} r now, chillins, dere's de tea-bell 
 a-ringin'." 
 
 Mamma, too, on coming up at the usual hour to 
 see her darlings safe in bed, had many questions put 
 to her on the same subject. 
 
 They were all patiently answered, some further 
 details given, and sweet sympathy shown in their 
 gladness over the pleasant prospect before them; 
 then with the accustomed tender good-night kiss, 
 and with a parting injunction not to lie awake talk 
 ing, she left them. 
 
 " Did anybody ever have such a dear mamma as 
 ours! " exclaimed Vi, nestling close to her sister. 
 
 "No, I think not," replied Elsie in a tone of 
 grave consideration. "But now we mus'n't talk
 
 274 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 any more; because she bade us not: and I've come 
 to bed early to-night to please you " 
 
 " Yes, you dear, good sister, you very dearest girl 
 in all the world! " interrupted Vi, rising on her 
 elbow for a moment to rain a perfect shower of 
 kisses upon the sweet face by her side. 
 
 Elsie laughed low and musically, and hugging 
 her tight, returned the caresses, then went on, " But 
 I mus'n't keep you awake. So now let's lie down 
 and not say one word more." 
 
 "No; not a single one," returned Vi, cuddling 
 down again. 
 
 "Mamma," said Eddie, coming into the school 
 room next morning with a slight frown on his 
 usually pleasant face, " why do you call us to les 
 sons? Can't we have holidays now that we are going 
 away so soon ? " 
 
 " No, my son; I think it best to attend now to 
 our regular duties. You will have a rest from 
 study while taking the journey, and for a few days 
 after we reach Viamede. Will not that be better? " 
 she asked, with a motherly smile, as she softly 
 smoothed back the dark clustering curls from his 
 broad open brow. 
 
 " But I don't want to say lessons to-day," he an 
 swered with a pout, and resolutely refusing to meet 
 her glance. 
 
 "My little son," she said, with tender gravity, 
 "were we sent into this world to please ourselves? " 
 
 "No, mamma."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 275 
 
 *No; 'even Christ pleased not himself,' and we 
 are to try to be like him. Whose will did he do? " 
 
 "His Father's, mamma." 
 
 "Yes, and whose will are you to do?" 
 
 " God's will, you've taught me, mamma, but '* 
 
 "Well, son?" 
 
 " Mamma, will you be angry if I say my 
 thought?" 
 
 "I think not: let me hear it." 
 
 "Mamma, isn't isn't it your will this time? 
 About the lessons, I mean. Please, mamma, don't 
 think I want to be naughty, asking it ? " 
 
 She drew him closer, and bending down pressed 
 her lips to his forehead. " No, my son, you want 
 it explained, and I am glad you told me your 
 thought. Yes, it is my will this time, but as God 
 bids children honor and obey their parents, is it 
 not his will also?" 
 
 "I s'pose so, mamma. But I wish it didn't be 
 your will to have me learn lessons to-day." 
 
 Elsie was forced to smile in spite of herself. With 
 another slight caress, she asked, " Do you think I 
 lore you, Eddie? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, yes, mamma ! I know you do, and I love 
 you too: indeed I do dearly, dearly!" he burst out, 
 throwing his arms about her neck. " And I know 
 you just want to make me good and happy, and that 
 your way's always best. So I won't be naughty any 
 more." 
 
 At that there was a general exclamation of delight
 
 276 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 from the other three, who had been silent, Iral 
 deeply interested listeners, and all crowded round 
 mamma, vying with each other in bestowing upon 
 her tender caresses and words of love. 
 
 Each had felt more or less disinclination for the 
 regular routine of work, but that vanished now, and 
 they went through their allotted tasks with more 
 than usual spirit and determination. 
 
 Ah, what a sweetener of toil is love! love to a 
 dear earthly parent, and still more love to Christ: 
 there is no drudgery in the most menial employment 
 where that is the motive power.
 
 CHAPTEE XXIII. 
 
 i 
 
 Put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appe 
 tite. PROVERBS xxiii. 2. 
 
 THE happy days came, full soon to the fathers 
 and mothers, at long last to the eager, expectant 
 children. 
 
 Old Mr. Dinsmore had accepted a pressing invi 
 tation from his granddaughter and her husband to 
 join the party, and with the addition of servants it 
 was a large one. 
 
 As they were in no haste, and the confinement 
 of a railroad car would be very irksome to the 
 younger children, it had been decided to make the 
 journey by water. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon of an unusually 
 Warm, bright November day that they found them 
 selves comfortably established on board a fine 
 steamer bound for New Orleans. 
 
 There were no sad leave-takings to mar their 
 pleasure, the children were in wild spirits, and all 
 seemed cheerful and happy as they sat or stood upon 
 the deck watching the receding shore as the vessel 
 steamed out of the harbor. 
 
 At length the land had quite disappeared; 
 nothing could be seen but the sky overhead and a 
 
 277
 
 278 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 vast expanse of water all around, and the passengers 
 found leisure to turn their attention upon each 
 other. 
 
 " There are some nice-looking people on board," 
 remarked Mr. Travilla, in an undertone, to his wife. 
 
 " Beside ourselves," added Cousin Ronald, 
 laughing. 
 
 " Yes," she answered; " that little group yonder: 
 a young minister, and his wife, and child, I sup 
 pose. And what a dear little fellow he is; just about 
 the age of our Harold, I should judge." 
 
 " Yes, mamma," chimed in the last-named young 
 gentleman, " he's a nice little boy. May I go speak 
 to him? May I, papa? " 
 
 Permission was given, and the next moment the 
 two stood close together, each gazing admiringly 
 into the other's face. 
 
 " Papa," remarked the little stranger, looking up 
 at his father, " I very much wish I had a face like 
 this little boy's." 
 
 " Do you, son? " was the smiling rejoinder. " He 
 certainly looks like a very nice little boy. Suppose 
 you and he shake hands, Frank." 
 
 "Yes, sir," said the child, holding out a small, 
 plump hand. " What's your name, little boy? " 
 
 "Harold Travilla, and yours is Fank?" 
 
 " Yes, Frank Daly. Don't you like this nice big 
 boat?" 
 
 " Yes, I do. Won't you come wis me, and speak 
 to my mamma and papa? "
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 279 
 
 Frank looked inquiringly at his father. 
 
 "Yes, you may go if you wish," returned the 
 latter, and the two started off hand in hand. 
 
 "Mamma, see! isn't he a dear little boy?" asked 
 Harold, leading his new friend up before her with 
 an air of proud ownership. 
 
 " Yes, indeed," she said, bending down to kiss 
 Frank and stroke his hair. 
 
 " I think he's a good boy, 'cause he didn't come 
 till his papa told him to," continued Harold. 
 
 " A very good way to judge of a boy," said Cousin 
 Eonald. 
 
 " His name is Fank," said Harold. " Fank, that's 
 Cousin Ronald, and this is papa, and this is 
 grandpa," and so on, leading him from one to 
 another till he had introduced him to the whole 
 party, not even omitting Baby Herbert and mammy. 
 
 Then Frank's papa came for him, saying the air 
 was growing very cool, and it was time to go in. 
 
 Our friends were of the same opinion, and all 
 repaired to the ladies' saloon, where, through the 
 children, they and the Dalys soon made ac 
 quaintance. 
 
 Mr. Daly was a minister going South for the 
 winter for the sake of his own and his wife's 
 health. 
 
 Cousin Ronald took Frank on his knee and 
 asked, " What are you going to do, my little fellow, 
 when you get to be a man?" 
 
 "Preach the gospel, sir."
 
 280 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "Ah ha, ah ha! um h'm, um h'm! and what will 
 you say? " 
 
 "I'll tell the people we'll sing the twenty-third 
 piece of ham. How will that sound? " 
 
 "Kather comical, I think, my man. Are ye no 
 afraid the folk might laugh ? " 
 
 " No, sir; they don't laugh when papa says it." 
 
 "Ah ha, ah ha! um h'm! " 
 
 Mr. Daly smiled. "I never knew before," said 
 he, " that my boy intended to follow my profession." 
 
 The ladies were weary, and retired to their state 
 rooms shortly after tea, but the gentlemen sought 
 the open air again, and paced the deck for some 
 time. 
 
 "Have a cigar, sir?" asked Mr. Lilburn, address 
 ing Mr. Daly. 
 
 " Thank you, no; I don't smoke." 
 
 "Ah ha! um h'm! In that you seem to be of 
 one mind with my friends here, the Dinsmores and 
 Travilla," remarked Lilburn, lighting one for him 
 self, and placing it between his lips. "I wonder 
 now if you know what you miss by your absti 
 nence?" 
 
 " Well, sir, as to that, I know what some of my 
 friends and acquaintance would have missed if they 
 had abstained from the use of the weed. One would 
 have missed a terrible dyspepsia that laid him in his 
 grave in the prime of life; another cancer of the 
 lip, which did the same by him after years of hor 
 rible suffering."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 281 
 
 "Ah ha! urn h'm! ah ha! But surely those were 
 rare cases ? " 
 
 " I think not very." 
 
 " You don't think the majority of those who use 
 it feel any ill effects ? " 
 
 "I do, indeed; though probably comparatively 
 few are aware that tobacco is the cause of their 
 ailments." 
 
 " Doubtless that is the case," remarked Mr. Dins- 
 more. " I was a moderate smoker for years before 
 I discovered that I was undermining my constitu 
 tion by the indulgence; at length, however, I be 
 came convinced of that fact, and gave it up at once: 
 for that reason, and for the sake of the example to 
 my boy here, who has been willing to profit by his 
 father's experience, and abstain altogether." 
 
 " I have never used the weed in any way," said 
 Horace, Jr. 
 
 "And I," remarked Travilla, "abandoned its 
 use about the same time that Dinsmore did, and for 
 the same reasons. By the way, I met with a very 
 strong article on the subject, lately, which I cut out 
 and placed in my pocket-book." 
 
 " Ah ha! um h'm! suppose you give us the benefit 
 of it," suggested Lilburn good naturedly; "I'm 
 open to conviction." 
 
 " With all my heart, if you will step into the 
 gentlemen's cabin, where there's a light." 
 
 He led the way, the others all following, and 
 taking out a slip of paper, read from it in a distinct
 
 282 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 tone, loud enough to be heard by those about him, 
 without disturbing the other passengers. 
 
 " ' One drop of nicotine extract of tobacco 
 placed on the tongue of a dog will kill him in a 
 minute; the hundredth part of a grain picked under 
 the skin of a man's arm will produce nausea and 
 fainting. That which blackens old tobacco pipes is 
 empyreumatic oil, a grain of which would kill a man 
 in a few seconds. 
 
 " ' The half dozen cigars which most smokers use 
 a day contain six or seven grains enough, if con 
 centrated and absorbed, to kill three men, and a 
 pound of tobacco, according to its quality, con 
 tains from one-quarter to one and a quarter ounces. 
 
 " ' Is it strange, then, that smokers and chewers 
 have a thousand ailments? that German physicians 
 attribute one-half of the deaths among the young 
 men of that country to tobacco? that the French 
 Polytechnic Institute had to prohibit its use on ac 
 count of its effects on the mind? that men grow 
 dyspeptic, hypochondriac, insane, delirious, from its 
 use? 
 
 " * One of the direct effects of tobacco is to weaken 
 the heart. Notice the multitude of sudden deaths. 
 and see how many are smokers and chewers. In a 
 small country town seven of these ' mysterious 
 providences ' occurred within the circuit of a mile, 
 all directly traceable to tobacco; and any physician, 
 on a few moments' reflection, can match this fact 
 by his own observation.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 283 
 
 " ' And then such powerful acids produce intense 
 irritation and thirst thirst which water does not 
 quench. Hence a resort to cider and beer. The 
 more this thirst is fed, the more insatiate it be 
 comes, and more fiery drink is needed. 
 
 " ' Out of seven hundred convicts examined at 
 the New York State prison, six hundred were con 
 fined for crimes committed under the influence of 
 liquor, and five hundred said they had been led to 
 drink by the use of /tobacco/ " * 
 
 "Ah ha, ah ha! um h'm! ah ha! that's strongly 
 put," remarked Mr. Lilburn reflectively. " I'm 
 afraid I'll have to give it up. What say you, sir?" 
 turning to Mr. Daly, " has a man a right to a choice 
 in such- a matter as this? a right to injure his body 
 to say nothing of the mind by a self-indulgence, 
 the pleasure of which seems to him to overbalance 
 the possible or probable suffering it may cause? " 
 
 "No, sir; 'What! know ye not that your body is 
 the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 
 which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 
 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify 
 God in your body, and in your spirit, which are 
 God's.' " 
 
 " Eight, sir, I was thinking of those words of the 
 apostle, and also of these other, ' If any man defile 
 the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the 
 temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.' 
 
 " We certainly have no right to injure our bodies 
 
 * J. E. Vose in the " Family Christian Almanac," for 1876,
 
 284 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 either by neglect or self-indulgence. ' Know ye not 
 that your bodies are the memebrs of Christ? ' and 
 again, 'I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the 
 mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living 
 sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your 
 reasonable service.' ' ; 
 
 " It must require a good deal of resolution for 
 one who has become fond of the indulgence to give 
 it up," remarked Mr. Daly. 
 
 "No doubt, no doubt," returned Mr. Lilburn. 
 " but, ' If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, 
 and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee 
 that one of thy members should perish, and not that 
 thy whole body should be cast into hell.' '' 
 
 There was a pause broken by young Horace, who 
 had been watching a group of men gathered about 
 a table at the further end of the room. 
 
 " They are gambling yonder, and I'm afraid that 
 young fellow is being badly fleeced by that middle- 
 aged man opposite." 
 
 The eyes of the whole party were at once turned 
 in that direction. 
 
 " I'm afraid you're right, Horace," said Mr. Tra- 
 villa, recalling with an inward shudder the scene 
 he had witnessed in a gambling hell many years 
 ago, in which the son of his friend Beresford so 
 nearly lost his life. "What can be done to save 
 him? Some effort must be made! " And he started 
 up as if with the intention of approaching the 
 players.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 285 
 
 "Stay a moment/' exclaimed Lilburn in an 
 undertone, and laying a detaining hand upon Tra- 
 villa's arm, but with his gaze intently fixed upon the 
 older gamester. "Ah ha! um h'm! that fellow is 
 certainly cheating. I saw him slip a card from his 
 coat sleeve." 
 
 The words had scarcely passed his lips when a 
 voice spoke apparently close at the villain's side. 
 
 "Ah ha, I zees you veil, how you runs de goat- 
 shleeve down mit de gards, and sheats dat boor poy 
 vat ish blay mit you. Yoh, sir, you ish von pig 
 sheat! " 
 
 "How dare you, sir? who are you?" cried the 
 rascal, starting up white with rage, and turning to 
 face his accuser. 
 
 "Who was it? where is that Dutch scoundrel that 
 dared accused me of cheating? " he cried, sending 
 a fierce glance about the room. 
 
 " Vat ish dat you galls me von Dutch scoundrel? 
 you man mit de proken nose; I say it again; you 
 ish von pig sheat." 
 
 This time the voice seemed to come from a state 
 room behind the gambler. Towering with rage, he 
 rushed to the door and tried to open it. Failing in 
 that, he demanded admittance in loud, angry tones, 
 at the same time shaking the door violently, and 
 kicking against it with a force that seemed likely 
 to break in the panels. 
 
 There was an answering yell, a sound as of some 
 one bouncing out of his berth upon the floor, the
 
 286 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 key turned hastily in the lock, the door was thrown 
 wide open, and a little Frenchman appeared on its 
 threshold in night attire, bowie knife and pistol 
 in hand, and black eyes flashing with indignant 
 anger. 
 
 " Sir, monsieur, I vil know vat for is dis disturb 
 ance of mine slumbers ? " 
 
 " Sir! " said the other, stepping back, instantly 
 cooled down at the sight of the weapons, " I beg 
 pardon: was looking for a scoundrel of a Dutchman 
 who has been abusing me, but I see he's not here." 
 
 "No, sir, he is not here!" and the door was 
 slammed violently to. 
 
 "Ha, ha! man mit de proken nose, you vake up 
 de wrong bassenger. Ha, ha! I dells you again you 
 ish von pig sheat! " 
 
 Now the voice came from the skylight overhead, 
 apparently, and with a fierce imprecation the irate 
 gamester rushed upon deck, and ran hither and 
 thither in search of his tormentor. 
 
 His victim, who had been looking on during the 
 little scene, and listening to the mysterious voice 
 in silent wide-eyed wonder and fear, now rose has 
 tily, his face deathly pale, with trembling hands 
 gathered up the money he had staked, and hurry 
 ing into his stateroom locked himself in. 
 
 The remaining passengers looked at each other. 
 
 " What does it mean ? " cried one. 
 
 "A ventriloquist aboard, of course/' returned 
 another. " Lef s follow and see the fun."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 287 
 
 **I wonder which of us it is! " remarked the first, 
 looking hard at our party. 
 
 " I don't know, but come on. That fellow Nick 
 Ward is a noted blackleg and ruffian: had his nose 
 broken in a fight, and is sensitive on the subject; 
 was cheating of course." 
 
 They passed out, our party close in their rear 
 
 " Where's that Dutch villain? " Ward was scream 
 ing, following up his question with a volley of oaths. 
 
 "Who?" asked the mate. "I've seen none up 
 here; though there are some in the steerage." 
 
 Down to the steerage flew the gambler, without 
 waiting to reply, and bounding into the midst of a 
 group of German emigrants seated there quietly 
 smoking their pipes, angrily demanded which of 
 them it was who had been on the upper deck just 
 now abusing him, and calling him a cheat, and a 
 man with a broken nose. 
 
 They heard him in silence, with a cool, phleg 
 matic indifference most exasperating to one in his 
 present mood. 
 
 Drawing his revolver, " Speak! " he shouted, " tell 
 me which one it was, or I'll I'll shoot every 
 mother's son of you! " 
 
 His arms were suddenly pinioned from behind, 
 while a deep voice grunted, "You vill, vill you? 
 I dinks not; you ish mine brisoner. Dere ish nopody 
 here as did gall you names, and you vill put up dat 
 leetle gun." 
 
 A man of giant size and herculean strength had
 
 288 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 laid aside his pipe, and slowly rising to his feet, 
 seized the scoundrel in his powerful grasp. 
 
 "Let me go! " yelled Ward, making a desperate 
 effort to free his arms. 
 
 " Ha, ha! man mit de proken nose, you ish vake 
 up de wrong bassenger again," came mockingly 
 from above. " It ish me as galls you von pig sheat; 
 and I dells it you again." 
 
 " There, the villain's up on the deck now! " cried 
 "Ward, grinding his teeth in impotent rage. Let 
 go my arms! let go, I say, and I'll teach him a 
 lesson." 
 
 "I dinks no; I dinks I deach you von lesson," 
 returned his captor, not relaxing his grasp in the 
 least. 
 
 But the captain's voice was heard asking in stern 
 tones, " What's the cause of all this disturbance? 
 what are you doing down there, Ward? I'll have 
 no fighting aboard." 
 
 The German released his prisoner, and the latter 
 slunk away, with muttered threats and imprecations 
 upon the head of his tormentor. 
 
 Both that night and the next day there was much 
 speculation among the passengers in regard to the 
 occurrence; but our friends kept their own counsel, 
 and the children, cautioned not to divulge Couvsin 
 Ronald's secret, guarded it carefully, for all ha 
 been trained to obedience, and besides were anxious 
 not to lose the fun he made for them. 
 
 Mr. Lilburn and Mr. Daly, each at a different
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 289 
 
 time, sought out the young man, Ward's intended 
 victim, and tried to influence him for good. 
 
 He thought he had been rescued by the inter 
 position of some supernatural agency^ and solemnly 
 declared his fixed determination never again to ap 
 proach a gaming table, and throughout the voyage 
 adhered to his resolution, spite of every influence 
 Ward could bring to bear upon him to break it. 
 
 Yet there was gambling again the second night, 
 between Ward and several others of his profession. 
 
 They kept it up till after midnight. Then Mr. 
 Lilburn, waking from his first sleep, in a stateroom, 
 near by, thought he would break it up once more. 
 
 A deep stillness reigned in the cabin: it would 
 seem that every one on board the vessel except 
 themselves and the watch on deck was wrapped in 
 profound slumber. 
 
 An intense voiceless excitement possessed the 
 players, for the game was a close one, and the stakes 
 were very heavy. They bent eagerly over the board, 
 each watching with feverish anxiety his companion's 
 movements, each casting, now and again, a gloating 
 eye upon the heap of gold and greenbacks that lay 
 between them, and at times half stretching out his 
 hand to clutch it. 
 
 A deep groan startled them, and they sprang to 
 their feet, pale and trembling with sudden terror, 
 each holding his breath and straining his ear to 
 catch a repetition of the dread sound. 
 
 But all was silent, and after a moment of anxious
 
 290 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 waiting they sat down to their game again; trying 
 to conceal and shake off their fears with a forced, 
 unnatural laugh. 
 
 But scarcely had they taken the cards into their 
 hands when a second groan, deeper, loiider, and 
 more prolonged than the first, again started them 
 to their feet. 
 
 " I tell you this is growing serious," whispered 
 one, in a shaking voice, his very lips white with fear. 
 
 "It came from under the table," gasped Ward; 
 " look what's there." 
 
 " Look yourself." 
 
 "Both together then," and simultaneously they 
 bent down and peered into the space underneath 
 the board. 
 
 There was nothing there. 
 
 " What can it have been? " they asked each other. 
 
 "Oh, nonsense! what fools we are! of course, 
 somebody's ill in one of the staterooms." And they 
 resumed their game for the second time. 
 
 But a voice full of unutterable anguish came 
 from beneath their feet, " Father Abraham, have 
 mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip 
 the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue: 
 for I am tormented in this flame/ " and in mortal 
 terror they sprang up, dashed down their cards and 
 fled, not even waiting to gather up the "filthy 
 lucre " for which they were selling their souls. 
 
 It was the last game of cards for that trip. 
 
 The captain, coming in shortly after the sudden
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 291 
 
 flight of the gamblers, took charge of the money, 
 and the next day restored it to the owners. 
 
 To Elsie's observant eyes it presently became evi 
 dent that the Dalys were in very straitened circum 
 stances. They made no complaint, but with her 
 warm sympathy and delicate tact she soon drew 
 from the wife all the information she needed to 
 convince her that here was a case that called for 
 the pecuniary assistance Providence had put it in 
 her power to give. 
 
 She consulted with her husband, and the result 
 was a warm invitation to the Dalys to spend the 
 winter at Viamede, where they would have all the 
 benefit of the mild climate, congenial society, use 
 of the library, horses, etc., and be at no expense. 
 
 " Oh, how kind, how very kind! " Mrs. Daly said 
 with tears of joy and gratitude; "we have hardly 
 known how we should meet the most necessary ex 
 penses of this trip, but have been trying to cast our 
 care upon the Lord, asking him to provide. And 
 how wonderfully he has answered our petitions. 
 But it seems too much, too much for you to do 
 for strangers." 
 
 "Strangers, my dear friend!" Elsie answered, 
 pressing her hand affectionately; " are we not sisters 
 in Christ? * Ye are all the children of God by faith 
 in Christ Jesus.' ' Ye are all one in Christ Jesus.' 
 
 "We feel, my husband and I, that we are only 
 the stewards of his bounty; and that because he has 
 gaid * Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
 
 292 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto 
 me/ it is the greatest privilege and delight to do 
 anything for his people." 
 
 Mr. Travilla had already expressed the same 
 sentiments to Mr. Daly, and so the poor minister 
 and his wife accepted the invitation with glad and 
 thankful hearts, and Harold and Frank learned with 
 delight that they were to live together for what, to 
 their infant minds, seemed an almost interminable 
 length of time. 
 
 The passage to New Orleans was made without 
 accident or detention. 
 
 As our party left the vessel a voice was heard 
 from the hold, crying in dolorous accents, and a 
 rich Irish brogue, " Och, captin dear, help me out, 
 help me out! I've got fast betwane these boxes 
 here, bad cess to 'em! an' can't hilp mesilf at all, 
 at all! " 
 
 "Help you out, you passage thief!" roared the 
 captain in return; "yes, I'll help you out with a 
 vengeance, and put you into the hands of the 
 police." 
 
 "Ah ha! um h'm, ah ha, you'll haye to catch him 
 first," remarked Mr. Lilburn with a quiet smile, 
 stepping from the plank to the wharf as he spoke. 
 
 "Ah, cousin, you are incorrigible!" said Elsie 
 laughingly.
 
 CHAPTEE XXIV. 
 
 The fields did laugh, the flowers did freely spring, 
 The trees did bud and early blossom bear, 
 And all the quire of birds did sweetly sing, 
 And told that garden's pleasures in their caroling. 
 
 Spenser's Faery Queen. 
 
 NOTHING could be lovelier than was Viamede 
 as they found it on their arrival. 
 
 The children, one and all, were in an ecstasy ot 
 delight over the orange orchard, with its wealth of 
 golden fruit, glossy leaves, and delicate blossoms, 
 the velvety lawn with its magnificent shade trees, 
 the variety and profusion of beautiful flowers, and 
 the spacious lordly mansion. 
 
 They ran hither and thither; jumping, dancing, 
 clapping their hands, and calling to each other with 
 shouts of glee. 
 
 The pleasure and admiration of the older people 
 were scarcely less, though shown after a soberer 
 fashion. But no check was put upon the demon 
 strations of joy of the younger ones: they were 
 allowed to gambol, frolic, and play, and to feast 
 themselves upon the luscious fruit to their hearts' 
 content. 
 
 Nor was the gladness all on the side of the new 
 
 293
 
 294 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 arrivals: to the old house servants, many of whom 
 still remained, the coming of their beloved young 
 mistress and her children had been an event looked 
 forward to with longing for years. 
 
 They wept for joy as they gathered about her, 
 kissed her hand, and clasped her little ones in their 
 arms, fondling them, and calling them by every 
 endearing name known to the negro vocabulary. 
 
 And the children, having heard a great deal, from 
 both mamma and mammy, about these old people, 
 and their love and loyalty to the family, were nei 
 ther surprised nor displeased, but quite ready to 
 receive and return the affection lavished upon them. 
 
 The party from Lansdale arrived only a few days 
 after the others, and were welcomed with great 
 rejoicings, in which even Bruno must have a share: 
 he jumped and gamboled about Harry and May, 
 tried to kiss the babies, and finally put his nose 
 into Aunt Wealthy's lap, saying, " Ye're a dear auld 
 leddy, ma'am, and I'm glad ye've come! " 
 
 " Ah," she answered, patting his head, and laugh 
 ing her low, sweet silvery laugh, " you betray your 
 Scotch accent, my fine fellow; and I'm too old a 
 chaff to be caught with a bird." 
 
 Mr. Mason was still chaplain at Viamede, and 
 with his wife and children occupied a pretty and 
 commodious cottage which had been built on the 
 estate expressly for their use. 
 
 When he and Mr. Daly met they instantly and 
 delightedly recognized each other as former class-
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 295 
 
 mates and intimate friends, and the Dalys, by ur 
 gent invitation, took up their abode for the winter 
 in the cottage; but Mr. and Mrs. Travilla were care 
 ful that it should still be entirely at their expense. 
 
 A suite of apartments in the mansion was appro 
 priated to each of the other families, and it was 
 unanimously agreed that each should feel at perfect 
 liberty to withdraw into the privacy of these, having 
 their meals served to them there, if they so desired; 
 or at their pleasure to mingle with the others in 
 the breakfast-parlor, dining-room, drawing-rooms, 
 library, etc. 
 
 The first fortnight was made a complete holiday 
 to all, the days being filled up with games, walks, 
 rides, drives, and excursions by land and water. 
 
 In consequence of the changes occasioned by the 
 war, they found but little society in the neighbor 
 hood now, yet scarcely missed it, having so much 
 within themselves. 
 
 But at length even the children began to grow 
 somewhat weary of constant play. Harry Duncan 
 and Horace, Jr., announced their speedy departure 
 to attend to business, and the other adults of the 
 party felt that it was time to take up again the 
 ordinary duties of life. 
 
 Mr. Daly, anxious to make some return for the 
 kindness shown him, offered to act as tutor to all 
 the children who were old enough for school 
 duties; but Rosie put her arms about her father's 
 neck and, looking beseechingly into his eyes, said
 
 296 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 she preferred her old tutor; at which he smiled, 
 and stroking her hair, said she should keep him 
 then, for he would be quite as loath to give up his 
 pupil; and Elsie's children, clinging about her, 
 entreated that their lessons might still be said to 
 mamma. 
 
 " So they shall, my darlings," she answered, " for 
 mamma loves to teach you." 
 
 The young Garringtons, too, and their mother, 
 preferred the old way. 
 
 So Mr. Daly's kind offer was declined with 
 thanks; and perhaps he was not sorry, being 
 weak and languid, and in no danger of suffering 
 from ennui with horses to ride and plenty of books 
 at hand. 
 
 A school-room was prepared, but only the Tra- 
 villas occupied it, Sophie preferring to use her 
 dressing-room, and Kosie studying in her own room, 
 and reciting to her papa in his, or the library. 
 
 Elsie expected her children to find it a little hard 
 to go back to the old routine; but it was not so. 
 They came to her with bright, happy faces, were 
 quiet and diligent, and when the recitations were 
 over gathered about her for a little chat before 
 returning to their play. 
 
 " Mamma," said Eddie, " we've had a nice long 
 holiday, and it's really pleasant to get back to 
 lessons again." 
 
 "So it is!" said Vi. "Don't you think so, 
 Elsie?"
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 297 
 
 "Yes, indeed! nice to get back to our books; but 
 we've had lessons every day, grandpa, and papa, and 
 mamma teaching us so much about the birds, in 
 sects, and all sorts of living things; and the flowers 
 and plants, trees, stones, and oh, I don't know how 
 many things, that are different here from what we 
 have at home." 
 
 "At home! Why, this is home; isn't it, mamma?" 
 exclaimed Eddie. 
 
 " Yes, my son, one of our homes." 
 
 " Yes, and so beautiful," said Vi; " but Ion 'pears 
 the homest to me." 
 
 " Does it, darling? " asked mamma, giving her 
 a smile and a kiss. 
 
 " Yes, mamma; and I love Ion dearly: Viamede 
 'most as well, though, because you were born here, 
 and your dear mamma." 
 
 " And because that dear grandma is buried 
 here, " remarked her sister, " and because of all 
 those dear graves. Mamma, I do like those lessons 
 I was speaking of, and so do Eddie and Vi; but 
 Herbert and Meta and Harry don't; they say they 
 think them very stupid and dull." 
 
 " I am glad, my children, that you love knowl 
 edge," their mother said, "because it is useful; the 
 more knowledge we have the more good we can do, 
 if we will. 
 
 " And then it is a lasting pleasure. God's works 
 are so wonderful that we can never learn all about 
 them while we live in this world, and I suppose
 
 298 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 throughout the endless ages of eternity we shall 
 be ever learning, yet always finding still more to 
 learn." 
 
 " Mamma, how pleasant that will be," said Elsie 
 thoughtfully. 
 
 " And oh, mamma! " cried Vi, " that reminds me 
 that we've been out of doors 'most all the day 
 times, and haven't seen grandma's playroom and 
 things yet. Won't you show them to us? " 
 
 " Yes, we will go now." 
 
 "Me too, mamma?" asked Harold. 
 
 " Yes, all of you come. I want you all to see 
 everything that I have that once belonged to my 
 dear mother." 
 
 " Aunt Rosie wants to see them too," said Vi. 
 
 "And Herbert and Meta and the others," added 
 Elsie. 
 
 " They shall see them afterwards. I want no one 
 with me but my own little children now," replied 
 mamma, taking Harold's hand, and leading the 
 way. 
 
 She led them to the room, a large and very pleas 
 ant one, light and airy, where flowers were blooming 
 and birds singing, vines trailing over and about the ' 
 windows, lovely pictures on the walls, cosy chairs 
 and couches, work-tables, well supplied with all the 
 implements for sewing, others suited for drawing, 
 writing, or cutting out upon, standing here and 
 there, quantities of books, games, and toys; notliing 
 seemed to have been forgotten that could give plras-
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 299 
 
 ant employment for their leisure hours or minister 
 to their amusement. 
 
 There was a burst of united exclamations of 
 wondering delight from the children, as the door 
 was thrown open and they entered. Now they 
 understood why mamma had put them off when 
 several times they had asked to be brought to this 
 room: she was having it fitted up in a way to give 
 them a joyful surprise. 
 
 "Do you like it, my darlings?" she asked with 
 a pleased smile. 
 
 "Oh, yes, yes! yes indeed!" they cried, jumping, 
 dancing, and clapping their nands. " Dear, dear 
 mamma, how good, how good you are to us!" and 
 they nearly smothered her with caresses. 
 
 Eeleasing herself, she opened another door lead 
 ing into an adjoining room, which, to Eddied in 
 creased delight, was fitted up as a workroom for 
 boys, with every sort of tool used by carpenters and 
 cabinetmakers. He had such at Ion, and was some 
 what acquainted with their use. 
 
 " Oh, what nice times Herbert and Harry and I 
 shall have!" he exclaimed. " What pretty things 
 we'll make! Mamma, I don't know how to thank 
 you and my dear father ! " he added, catching her 
 hand and pressing it to his lips with passionate 
 affection. 
 
 " Be good and obedient to us, kind and affection 
 ate to your brothers, sisters, and playmates," she 
 said, stroking his hair: "that is the kind of thanks
 
 300 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 we want, my boy; we have no greater joy than to 
 see our children good and happy." 
 
 "If we don't be, it's just our own fault, and 
 we're ever so wicked and bad! " cried Vi vehe 
 mently. 
 
 Mamma smiled at her little girl's impetuosity, 
 then in grave, tender tones said, " And is there not 
 Some One else more deserving of love and thanks 
 than even papa and mamma?" 
 
 " God, our kind heavenly Father," murmured 
 little Elsie, happy, grateful tears shining in her 
 soft eyes. 
 
 " Yes, it is from his kind hand all our blessings 
 come." 
 
 " I love God," said Harold, " and so does Fank. 
 Mamma, can Fank come up here to play wis me?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed; Frank is a dear, good little boy, 
 and I like to have you together." 
 
 Mamma unlocked the door of a large light closet, 
 as she spoke, and the children, looking eagerly in, 
 saw that its shelves were filled with beautiful toys. 
 
 "Grandma's things!" they said softly. 
 
 " Yes, these are what my dear mother played with 
 when she was a little girl like Elsie and Vi," said 
 mamma. "You may look at them." 
 
 There was a large babyhouse, beautifully fur 
 nished; there were many dolls of various sizes, and 
 little chests and trunks full of nicely made clothes 
 for them to wear night-clothes, morning- wrappers, 
 gay silks, and lovely white dresses, bonnets and
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 301 
 
 'hats, shoes and stockings too, and ribbons and 
 laces, for the lady dolls; and for the gentlemen, 
 coats, hats, vests, cravats, and everything that real 
 grown-up men wear; and for the baby dolls there 
 were many suits of beautiful baby clothes; and all 
 made so that they could be easily taken off and put 
 on again. 
 
 There were cradles to rock the babies in, and 
 coaches for them to ride in; there were dinner and 
 tea-sets of the finest china and of solid silver; in 
 deed, almost everything in the shape of toys that the 
 childish heart could desire. 
 
 The lonely little girl had not lacked for any 
 pleasure that money could procure: but she had 
 hungered for that best earthly gift the love of 
 father, mother, brothers, and sisters which can be 
 neither bought nor sold. 
 
 The children examined all these things with in 
 tense interest and a sort of wondering awe, then 
 begged their mother to tell them again about " dear 
 grandma." 
 
 They had heard the story all that mamma and 
 mammy could tell many times, but it never lost 
 its charm. 
 
 "Yes, dears, I will: I love to think and speak of; 
 her/' Elsie said, sitting down in a low chair, while 
 they all gathered closely round her, the older two, 
 one on each side, the younger ones leaning upon her 
 lap 
 
 "Mamma, it is a sad story; but I love it," little
 
 302 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Elsie said, drawing a deep sigh, as the tale came fo 
 an end. 
 
 " Yes, poor little girl, playing up here all alone/' 
 said Eddie. 
 
 " 'Cept mammy," corrected Vi. 
 
 " Yes, mammy to love her and take care of her, 
 but no brother or sister to play with, and no dear 
 mamma or papa like ours." 
 
 , " Yes, poor dear grandma! " sighed little Elsie. 
 " And it was almost as hard for you, mamma, when 
 you were a little girl. Didn't you feel very sad? M 
 
 " Ah, daughter, I had Jesus to love me, and help 
 me in all my childish griefs and troubles," the 
 mother answered, with a glad smile; " and mammy 
 to hug, and kiss, and love me, just as she does you." 
 
 "But, oh, didn't you want your mamma and 
 papa?" 
 
 " Yes, sorely, sorely at times; but I think no little 
 child could be happier than I was when at last my 
 dear father came home, and I found that he loved 
 me dearly. Ah, I am so glad, so thankful, that my 
 darlings have never suffered for lack of love." 
 
 "I too, mamma." 
 
 " And I." 
 
 " And I," they exclaimed, clinging about her and 
 loading her with caresses. 
 
 " Hark! " she said, " I hear you dear grandpa's 
 tep, and there, he is knocking at the door." 
 
 Eddie ran to open it. 
 
 "Ah, I thought I should find you here, daughter/'
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 303 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore said, coming in. "I, too, want to 
 see these things; it is long since I looked at them." 
 
 She gave him a pleased look and smile, and step 
 ping to the closet he stood for some moments 
 silently gazing upon its treasures. 
 
 "You do well to preserve them with care as 
 mementoes of your mother," he remarked, coming 
 hack and seating himself by her side. 
 
 " Oh, grandpa, you could tell us more about her, 
 and dear mamma too, when she was a little girl! " 
 said little Elsie, seating herself upon his knee, twin 
 ing her arms about his neck, and looking coaxingly 
 into his face. 
 
 " Ah, what a dear little girl your mamma was at 
 your age!" he said, stroking her hair, and gazing 
 fondly first at her and then at her mother, "the 
 very joy of my heart and delight of my eyes! though 
 not dearer than she is now." 
 
 Elsie returned the loving glance and smile, while 
 her namesake daughter remarked, "Mamma couldn't 
 be nicer or sweeter than she is now nobody could." 
 
 "No, no! no indeed! " chimed in the rest of the 
 little flock. "But, grandpa, please tell the story. 
 You never did tell it to us." 
 
 " No," he said, half sighing, " but you shall have 
 it now." Then went on to relate how he had first 
 met their mother's mother, then a very beautiful 
 girl of fifteen. 
 
 An acquaintance took him to call upon a young 
 lady friend of his, to whom Elsie Grayson was pay-
 
 304 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 ing a visit, and the two were in the drawing-room to 
 gether when the young men entered. 
 
 " What did you think the first minute you saw 
 her, grandpa?" asked Eddie. 
 
 " That she had the sweetest, most beautiful face 
 and perfect form I had ever laid eyes on, and that I 
 would give all I was worth to have her for my own." 
 
 " Love at first sight," his daughter remarked, 
 with a smile, " and it was mutual." 
 
 " Yes, she told me afterward that she had loved 
 me from the first; though the longer I live the 
 more I wonder it should have been so, for I was a 
 wild, wayward youth. But she, poor thing, had 
 none to love or cherish her but her mammy." 
 
 " Grandpa, I think you're very nice," put in little 
 Vi, leaning on his knee, and gazing affectionately 
 into his face. 
 
 " Fm glad you do," he said, patting her soft round 
 cheek. 
 
 " But to go on with my story. I could not keep 
 away from my charmer, and for the next few weeks 
 we saw each other daily. 
 
 " I asked her to be my own little wife, and she 
 consented. Then early one morning we went to a 
 church and were married; no one being present ex 
 cept the minister, the sexton, and her friend and 
 mine, who were engaged to each other, and her 
 faithful mammy. 
 
 "Her guardian was away in a distant city, and 
 knew nothing about the matter. He was taken sick
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 305 
 
 there, and did not return for three months, and 
 during that time Elsie and I lived together in a 
 house she owned in New Orleans. 
 
 " We thought that, now that we were safely 
 married, no one could ever separate us, and we were 
 very, very happy. 
 
 " But one evening her guardian came suddenly 
 upon us, as we sat together in her boudoir, and in 
 a great passion ordered me out of the house. 
 
 "Elsie was terribly frightened, and I said, 'I 
 will go to-night for peace sake; but Elsie is my wife, 
 and to-morrow I shall come and claim her as such, 
 and I think you'll find I have the law on my side.' 
 Elsie clung to me and wept bitterly; but I comforted 
 her with the assurance that the parting was only 
 for a few hours." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore's voice faltered. He paused a mo 
 ment, then went on in tones husky with emotion. 
 
 " We never saw each other again. When I went 
 back in the morning the house was closed and quite 
 deserted; not even a servant in it, and I knew not 
 where to look for my lost wife. 
 
 " I went back to my hotel, and there found my 
 father waiting for me in my room. He was very 
 angry about my marriage, the news of which had 
 brought him from home. He made me go back 
 with him at once, and sent me North to college. I 
 heard nothing ot my wife for months, and then only 
 that she was dead, and had left me a little 
 daughter/'
 
 306 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "And that was our mamma! " cried the children, 
 once more crowding about her to lavish careeses 
 upon her. 
 
 They thanked their grandfather for his story, and 
 Vi, looking in at the closet door again, said in her 
 most coaxing tones, " Mamma, I should so, so like to 
 play a little with some of those lovely things; and I 
 would be very careful not to spoil them." 
 
 " Not now, daughter, though perhaps I may allow 
 it some day when you are older. But see here! will 
 not these do quite as well?" 
 
 And rising, Mrs. Travilla opened the door of 
 another closet, displaying to the children's delighted 
 eyes other toys as fine and in as great profusion and 
 variety as those she considered sacred to her 
 mother's memory. 
 
 " Oh, yes, yes, mamma! how lovely! how kind you 
 are! are they for us? " they exclaimed in joyous 
 tones. 
 
 " Yes," she said, " I bought them for you while 
 we were in New Orleans, and you shall play with 
 them whenever you like. And now we will lock 
 the doors and go down to dress for dinner. The 
 first bell is ringing." 
 
 After dinner the playroom and the contents of 
 the two closets were shown to Mrs. Dinsmore, Kosie, 
 and the Carringtons: then Mrs. Travilla locked the 
 door of the one that held the treasured relics of 
 her departed mother, and carried away the key.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 " She'd lift the teapot lid 
 To peep at what was in it, 
 Or tilt the kettle if you did 
 But turn your back a minute." 
 
 META CAERINGTON had many excellent traits 
 of character; was frank, generous, unselfish, and 
 sincere; but these good qualities were offset by some 
 very serious faults; she was prying and full of desire 
 for whatever was forbidden. 
 
 The other children played contentedly with the 
 toys provided for them; but Meta secretly nursed a 
 great longing for those Mrs. Travilla had chosen to 
 withhold; and was constantly endeavoring to devise 
 some plan by which to get possession of them. 
 
 She attempted to pick the lock with a nail, then, 
 with a knife, but failing in that, seized every oppor 
 tunity of doing so unobserved, to try the keys from 
 other doors in different parts of the house, till at 
 length she found one that would answer her pur 
 pose; then she watched her chance to use it in the 
 absence of her mates. 
 
 At length such a time came. The ladies had all 
 gone out for an airing, the little ones, too, in charge 
 of their nurses, Vi and the boys were sporting on the 
 
 307
 
 308 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 lawn, and Elsie was at the piano practicing; cer 
 tain, faithfnl little worker that she was, not to leave 
 it till the allotted hour had expired. 
 
 Having satisfied herself of all this, Meta flew to 
 the playroom, and half trembling at her own temer 
 ity, admitted herself to the forbidden treasures. 
 
 There was no hesitancy in regard to her further 
 proceedings; for weeks past she had had them all 
 carefully arranged in her mind; she would have a 
 tea party, though unfortunately there could be no 
 guests presents but the dolls; yet at all events, she 
 could have the great pleasure of handling that 
 beautiful china and silver, and seeing how a table 
 would look set out with them. A pleasure doubled 
 by the fact that she was enjoying it in opposition to 
 the known wishes and commands of her mother and 
 the owner; for in Meta's esteem ' stolen waters were 
 sweet ' indeed. 
 
 She selected a damask table cloth from a pile that 
 lay on one of the lower shelves, several napkins to 
 match, slipping each of these last into a silver ring 
 taken from a little basket that stood alongside, and 
 proceeded with quiet glee to deck a table with them 
 and the sets of china and silver she most admired. 
 
 "Beautiful! beautiful! I never saw anything so 
 pretty! " she exclaimed half aloud, as, her task 
 finished, she stood gazing in rapt delight at the re 
 sult of her labors. " Oh, I think it's real mean in 
 Aunt Elsie, to say we shan't play with these, and 
 to lock them up away from us. But now for the
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 309 
 
 company!" and running into the closet again, she 
 brought out several of the largest dolls. 
 
 " I'll dress them for dinner/' she said, still talk 
 ing to herself in an undertone; "that '11 be fun. 
 What lots of lovely things I shall find in these 
 trunks; I'll look them over and select what I like 
 best to have them wear. I'll have time enough: 
 it isn't at all likely anybody will come to disturb 
 me for an hour." And as she opened the first trunk 
 she glanced hastily at the clock on the mantel. 
 
 She was mistaken. Time flew away much faster 
 than she was aware of, and scarce half an hour had 
 passed when a pair of little feet came dancing along 
 the hall, the door which in her haste and pre 
 occupation Meta had forgotten to lock flew open, 
 and Vi stood before her. 
 
 The great blue eyes, turning toward the table, 
 opened wide with astonishment. " Why, Meta! " 
 
 Meta's face flushed deeply for a moment, but 
 thinking the best plan would be to brave it out, 
 " Isn't it pretty? " she asked unconcernedly. 
 
 "Yes, oh, lovely! but where did you aren't 
 they my grandma's things? Oh, Meta, how could 
 you ever dare " 
 
 " Pooh! I'm not going to hurt 'em. And why 
 should you think they were hers? Can't other 
 people have pretty things?" 
 
 "Yes, but I know they're grandma's, I rec recog 
 nize them. Oh, what shall we do? I wouldn't 
 venture to touch 'em, even to put them back."
 
 310 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " What a big word that was you used just now," 
 said Meta, laughing; "it 'most choked you." 
 
 "Well, when I'm bigger it won't," returned Vi, 
 still gazing at the table. " Oh, how lovely they are! 
 I do wish mamma would let us play with them." 
 
 " So do I: and these dolls too. It's just delightful 
 to dress and undress them. Here, Vi, help me put 
 this one's shoes on." 
 
 The temptation to handle the tin) 1 , dainty shoes, 
 and see how well they fitted the feet of the pretty 
 doll, was great, and not giving herself time to think, 
 Violet dropped down on the carpet by Meta's side 
 and complied with the request. " Just to slip on 
 those lovely shoes, now that they were there right 
 before her, was not much/' so said the tempter: 
 then, " Now having done a little, what difference 
 if she did a little more?" 
 
 Thoughtless and excitable, she presently forgot 
 mamma and her commands, and became as eagerly 
 engaged as Meta herself in the fascinating employ 
 ment of looking over the contents of the trunks, 
 trying now one, now another, suit upon the dollies. 
 
 " Now this one's dressed, and I'll set her up to the 
 table," said Meta, jumping up. " Oh, my! " 
 
 Something fell with a little crash on the lid of 
 the trunk by Vi's side, and there at her feet lay one 
 of the beautiful old plates, broken in a dozen pieces. 
 
 The child started up perfectly aghast, the whole 
 extent of her delinquency flashing upon her in that 
 instant. " Oh, oh! what have I done! what a wicked,
 
 'ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 311 
 
 wicked girl I am! what will mamma say! n And 
 she burst into an agony of grief ancl remorse. 
 
 "You didn't do it, nor I either," said Meta; 
 stooping to gather up the fragments, "the doll 
 kicked it off. There, Vi, don't cry so; I'll pnt the 
 things all back just as they were, and never, never 
 touch one of them again." 
 
 " But you can't; because this one's broken. Oh, 
 dear! oh, dear! I wish you had left them alone, Meta. 
 I wish I'd been a good girl and obeyed mamma! " 
 
 "Never mind; if she goes to whip you, I'll tell 
 her it was 'most all my fault. But she needn't 
 know: it won't be a story to put them back and say 
 nothing about it. And most likely it won't be found 
 out for years and years maybe never. You see, Pll 
 just put this plate between the others in the pile, 
 and it won't be noticed at all that it's broken un 
 less somebody takes them all down to look." 
 
 " But I must tell mamma," sobbed Violet. " I 
 couldn't hide it; I always tell her everything; and 
 I'd feel so wicked." 
 
 "Violet Travilla, I'd never have believed you'd 
 be so mean as to tell tales," remarked Meta 
 severely. " I'd never have played with you if I'd 
 known it." 
 
 " I'll not; I didn't mean that. I'll only tell on 
 myself." 
 
 " But you can't do that without telling on me 
 too, and I say ifs real mean. Ill never tell a story 
 about it, but I don't see any harm in just setting
 
 312 'ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 the things away and saying nothing. Taint as if 
 you were throwing the blame on somebody else," 
 pursued Meta, gathering up the articles abstracted 
 from the closet and replacing them as nearly as 
 possible as she had found them. 
 
 " Come, dry your eyes, Vi," she went on, " or 
 somebody '11 see you've been crying, and ask what it 
 was about." 
 
 "But I must tell mamma," reiterated the little 
 girl, sobbing anew. 
 
 " And make her feel worried and sorry because 
 the plate's broken, when it can't do any good, and 
 she needn't ever know about it. I call that real 
 selfishness." 
 
 This, to Vi, was a new view of the situation. She 
 stopped crying to consider it. 
 
 It certainly would grieve mamma to know that 
 the plate was broken, and perhaps even more to 
 hear of her child's disobedience, and if not told she 
 would be spared all that pain. 
 
 But on the other hand, mamma had always taught 
 her children that wrongdoing should never be con 
 cealed. The longer Vi pondered the question the 
 more puzzled she grew. 
 
 Meta perceived that she wavered, and immedi 
 ately seized her advantage. 
 
 " Come now, Vi, I'm sure you don't want to give 
 pain to your mamma, or to get me into trouble. 
 Do you?" 
 
 "No, Meta, indeed I don't, but "
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 313 
 
 "Hush! somebody's coming," exclaimed Meta, 
 lacking the closet door, having just finished her 
 work, and hastily dropping the key into her pocket. 
 
 " Come, girls, come quick! we're sending up a 
 balloon, from the lawn! " cried Eddie, throwing open 
 the door to make his announcement, then rushing 
 away again. 
 
 The girls ran after him, in much excitement, and 
 forgetting for the time the trouble they were in; 
 for spite of Meta's sophistry her conscience was by 
 no means easy. 
 
 The ladies had returned, and in dinner dress were 
 gathered on the veranda. Mr. Travilla seemed to 
 be managing the affair, with Mr. Dinsmore's assist 
 ance, while the other gentlemen, children, and ser 
 vants were grouped about them on the lawn. 
 
 Meta and Violet quickly took their places with 
 the rest, and just at that moment the balloon, re 
 leased from its fastenings, shot up into the air. 
 
 There was a general shout and clapping of hands, 
 but instantly hushed by a shrill, sharp cry of dis 
 tress from overhead. 
 
 "Oh! oh! pull it down again! pull it down! pull 
 it down! I only got in for fun, and I'm so fright 
 ened! I shall fall out! I shall be killed! oh! oh! " 
 
 The voice grew fainter and fainter, till it quickly 
 died away in the distance, as the balloon rose rapidly 
 higher and higher into the deep blue of the sky. 
 
 A wild excitement seized upon the little crowd. 
 
 "Oh, oh, oh! which ob de chillins am up dar?"
 
 314 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 the mammies were asking, each, sending a hasty 
 glance around the throng to assure herself of the 
 safety of her own particular charge. 
 
 "Who is it? who is it?" asked the children, the 
 little girls beginning to sob and cry. 
 
 "Oh, it's Fank! it's Tank!" screamed Harold. 
 " Papa, papa, please stop it quick. Tank, don't cry 
 any more: papa will get you down. Won't you, 
 papa? " And he clung to his father's arm, sobbing. 
 
 " Son, Frank is not there," said Mr. Travilla, 
 taking the little weeper in his arms. " There is no 
 one in the balloon; it is not big enough to hold even 
 a little boy like you or Frank." 
 
 " Isn't it, papa? " returned the child, dropping his 
 head on his father's shoulder with a sigh of relief. 
 
 " Oh, it's Cousin Bonald, it's just Cousin Eon- 
 aid! " exclaimed the children, their tears changing 
 at once to laughter. 
 
 " Ah ha, ah ha! um h'm, um h'm! so it is, bairnies, 
 just Cousin Eonald at his old tricks again," laughed 
 Mr. Lilburn. 
 
 " Oh, there's nobody in it; so we needn't care 
 how high it goes," cried Eddie, jumping, and clap 
 ping his hands. "See! see! it's up in the clouds 
 now, and doesn't look as big as my cap." 
 
 "Not half so big, I should say," remarked Her 
 bert. "And there, it's quite gone." 
 
 The dinner bell rang, and all repaired to the 
 dining-room.
 
 CHAPTEE XXVI. 
 
 "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he if; 
 old he will not depart from it." Proverbs, xxii. 6. 
 
 As naturally as the helianthus to the sun, did the 
 faces of Elsie's little ones turn to her when in her 
 loved presence. At the table, at their sports, their 
 lessons, everywhere and however employed, it was 
 always the same, the young eyes turning ever and 
 anon to catch the tender, sympathetic glance of 
 mamma's. 
 
 But at dinner to-day Vi's great blue orbs met 
 hers but once, and instantly dropped upon her plate 
 again, while a vivid blush suffused the fair face 
 and neck. 
 
 And when the meal was ended and all gathered in 
 the drawing-room, Vi still seemed to be unlike her 
 usual gay, sunny self, the merriest prattler of all 
 the little crowd of children, the one whose sweet 
 silvery laugh rang out the of tenest. She stood alone 
 at a side table turning over some engravings, but 
 evidently with very little interest. The mother, 
 engaged in conversation with the other ladies, 
 watched her furtively, a little troubled and anxious, 
 yet deeming it best to wait for a voluntary confi 
 dence on the nart of her child. 
 
 810
 
 316 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 Longing, yet dreading to make it, Vi was again 
 puzzling her young brain with, the question whether 
 Meta was right in saying it would be selfish to d 
 so. Ah, if she could only ask mamma which was 
 the right way to do! This was the first perplexity 
 she had not been able to carry to her for disen 
 tanglement. 
 
 Kemembering the words of the Lord Jesus, 
 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is 
 truth/' Elsie had been careful to store her chil 
 dren's minds with the blessed teachings and pre 
 cious promises of God's Holy Book. She had also 
 taught them to go to God, their heavenly Father, 
 with every care, sorrow, doubt, and difficulty. 
 
 " 111 ask Jesus," thought Vi; " he'll help me to 
 know, because the Bible says, 'If any of you lack 
 wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men 
 liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given 
 him.' " 
 
 She slipped into an adjoining room, where she 
 was quite alone, and kneeling down, whispered 
 softly, with low sobs and many tears, " Dear Father 
 in heaven, I've been a very, very naughty girl; I 
 disobeyed my dear mamma; please forgive me for 
 Jesus' sake, and make me good. Please, Lord Jesus, 
 help me to know if I ought to tell mamma." 
 
 A text one of the many she had learned to recite 
 to her mother in that precious morning half hour 
 came to her mind as she rose from her knees. 
 *He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. $17 
 
 whoso confe&seth and forsaketh them shall have 
 mercy." 
 
 " I didn't cover them, " she said to herself, " I 
 told God: but then God knew all about it before; 
 he sees and knows everything; but mamma doesn't 
 know. Perhaps it means I mustn't cover them fronl 
 her. I think Jesus did tell me." 
 
 Wiping away her tears she went back into the 
 drawing-room. The gentlemen were just leaving 
 it, her father among the rest. A sudden resolution 
 seized her, and she ran after them. 
 
 " Papa! " 
 
 He turned at the sound of her voice. "Weil, 
 daughter? " 
 
 " I I just want to ask you something." 
 
 " Another time then, pet, papa's in a hurry now." 
 
 But seeing the distress in the dear little face he 
 came to her, and laying his hand on her head in 
 tender fatherly fashion, said: " Tell papa what it 
 is that troubles you. I will wait to hear it now." 
 
 u Papa," she said, choking down a sob, " I I 
 don't know what to do." 
 
 "About what, daughter?" 
 
 " Papa, s'pose s'pose I'd done something'' 
 naughty, and and it would grieve dear mamma to 
 hear it; ought I to tell her and and make her 
 sorry? " 
 
 '* My dear little daughter," he said, bending down 
 to look with grave, tender eyes into the troubled 
 face, "never, never conceal anything from your
 
 318 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 mother; it is not safe for you, pet; and she would! 
 far rather bear the pain of knowing. If our chil 
 dren knew how much, how very much, we both love 
 them, they would never hide anything from us." 
 
 " Papa, I don't; but somebody says it would be 
 selfish to hurt mamma so." 
 
 ' " The selfishness was in doing the naughty 
 thing, not in confessing it. Go, my child, and tell 
 mamma all about it." 
 
 He hastened away, and Violet crept back to the 
 drawing-room. 
 
 The other children were leaving it. " Come, Vi," 
 they said, "we're going for a walk." 
 
 " Thank you, I don't wish to go this time," she 
 answered gravely. "I've something to attend to." 
 
 " What a grown up way of talking you have, you 
 little midget," laughed Meta. Then putting her 
 lips close to Vi's ear, "Violet Travilla," she whis 
 pered, " don't you tell tales, or I'll never, never play 
 with you again as long as I live." 
 
 "My mamma says it's wicked to say that," re 
 turned Vi, " and I don't tell tales." 
 
 Then as Meta ran away, Violet drew near her 
 mother's chair. 
 
 Mamma was talking, and she must not interrupt, 
 'so she waited, longing to have the confession over, 
 yet feeling her courage almost fail with the delay. , 
 
 Elsie saw it all, and at length seized an oppor 
 tunity while the rest were conversing among them-! 
 selves, to take Vi's hand, and draw her to her side. .!
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 319 
 
 "I think my little girl has something to say to 
 mother/* she whispered softly, smoothing back the 
 clustering curls, and looking tenderly into the tear- 
 stained face. 
 
 Violet nodded assent; her heart was so full she 
 could not have spoken a word without bursting into 
 tears and sobs. 
 
 Mamma understood, rose and led her from the 
 room; led her to her own dressing-room, where they 
 could be quite secure from intrusion. Then seating 
 herself, and taking the child on her lap, " What is 
 wrong with my dear little daughter?" she asked, 
 
 " Oh, mamma, mamma, I'm so sorry, so sorry! " 
 cried the child, bursting into a passion of tears and 
 sobs, putting her arms about her mother's neck and 
 hiding her face on her breast. 
 
 "Mamma is sorry, too, dear, sorry for anything 
 that makes her Vi unhappy. What is it? what can 
 mother do to comfort you." 
 
 " Mamma, I don't deserve for you to be so kind, 
 and you'll have to punish, 'stead of comforting. 
 But I just want to tell about my own self; you know 
 I can't tell tales, mamma." 
 
 " No, daughter, I do not ask, or wish it; but tell 
 me about yourself." 
 
 " Mamma, it will make you sorry, ever so sorry.** 
 
 " Yes, dear, but I must bear it for your sake." 
 
 " Oh, mamma, I don't like to make you sorry! I 
 wish I wish I hadn't, hadn't been naughty, oh, so 
 naughty, mamma! for I played with some of your
 
 320 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 mamma's things that you forbade us to touch, and 
 and one lovely plate got broken all up." 
 
 " I am very sorry to hear that," returned the 
 mother; "yet far more grieved by my child's 
 sin. But how did you get the door open and the 
 plates off the shelf? " 
 
 " I didn't, mamma; they were out." 
 
 " Some one else did it? " 
 
 "Yes, mamma; but you know I can't tell tales. 
 It wasn't any of our children, though; none of them 
 were naughty but just me." 
 
 " Were you playing with the plate ? did you break 
 it?" 
 
 "No, mamma, I didn't touch the plates, but I 
 was dressing one of the dollies. They are all locked 
 up again now, mamma, and I don't think anybody 
 will touch them any more." 
 
 A little tender, serious talk on the sin and danger 
 
 of disobedience to parents, and the mother knelt 
 
 with her child, and in a few simple words asked 
 
 God's forgiveness for her. Then telling Vi she 
 
 )must remain alone till bedtime, she left her. 
 
 Not one harsh or angry word had been spoken, 
 (and the young heart was full of a passionate love to 
 her mother that made the thought of having grieved 
 her a far bitterer punishment than the enforced 
 solitude, though that was at any time irksome 
 enough to one of Vi's fun-loving temperament. 
 
 It cost the mother a pang to inflict the punish* 
 ment, and leave the darling alone in her trouble;
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 321 
 
 but Elsie was not one to weakly yield to inclination: 
 when it came in conflict with duty. Hers was not 
 a selfish love; she would bear any present pain to 
 secure the future welfare of her children. 
 
 She rejoined her friends in the drawing-room, 
 apparently as serenely happy as her wont, but 
 through all the afternoon and evening her heart 
 was with her little one in her banishment and grief, 
 yearning over her with tenderest mother-love. 
 
 Little Elsie, too, missed her sister, and returning 
 from her walk, went in search of her. She found 
 her at last in their mamma's dressing-room seated 
 at the window, her cheek resting on her hand, the 
 tears coursing slowly down, while her eyes gazed 
 longingly out over the beautiful fields and lovely 
 orange groves. 
 
 " Oh, my own Vi, my darling little sister! what's 
 the matter? " asked Elsie, clasping her in her arms, 
 and kissing the wet cheek. 
 
 A burst of bitter sobs, while the small arms clung 
 about the sister's neck, and the golden head rested 
 for an instant on her shoulder, then the words, "Ah, 
 I'd tell you, but I can't now, for you must run right 
 away, because mamma said I must stay here all 
 alone till bedtime." 
 
 " Then I must go, pet; but don't cry so: if you've 
 been naughty and are sorry, Jesus, and mamma 
 too, will forgive you and love you just the same," 
 Rlsie said, kissing her again, then releasing her, 
 hurried from the room, crying heartily in sympathy.
 
 822 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 On the upper veranda, whither she went to re 
 cover her composure, before rejoining her mates, she 
 found her mother pacing slowly to and fro. 
 
 "Is my Elsie in trouble, too?" Mrs. Travilla 
 asked, pausing, and holding out her hand. 
 
 "For my Vi, mamma," sobbed Elsie, taking the 
 hand and pressing it to her lips. 
 
 "Yes, poor little pet! mother's heart aches for 
 her too," Mrs. Travilla answered, her own eyes 
 filling. "I am glad my little daughters love and 
 eympathize with each other." 
 
 "Mamma, I would rather stay with Vi than be 
 with the others. May I? " 
 
 " No, daughter, I have told her she must spend 
 the rest of the day alone." 
 
 " Yes, mamma, she told me so, and wouldn't let 
 me stay even one minute to hear about her trouble." 
 
 " That was right." 
 
 Time crept by very slowly to Violet. She thought 
 that afternoon the longest she had ever known. 
 After a while she heard a familiar step, and almost 
 before she knew it papa had her in his arms. 
 
 With a little cry of joy she put hers around his 
 neck and returned the kiss he had just given her. 
 
 " Oh, I'm so glad! " she said, " but, papa, you'll 
 have to go away, because nobody must stay with 
 me; I'm " 
 
 "Papa may," he said, sitting down with her on 
 his knee. " So you told mamma about the naughti 
 ness?"
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 823 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " I am glad you did. Always tell mamma every 
 thing. If you have disobeyed her, never delay a 
 moment to go and confess it." 
 
 "Yes, papa: but if it's you?" 
 
 " Then come to me in the same way. If you want 
 to be a happy child, have no concealment from 
 father or mother." 
 
 " Shall I tell you about it now, papa? " 
 
 " You may do as you like about that, since your 
 mother knows it all." 
 
 " Papa, I'm afraid you wouldn't love such a 
 naughty girl any more." 
 
 "Mamma loves you quite as well, and so shall 
 I; because you are our own, own little daughter. 
 There were tears in mamma's eyes when she told 
 me that she had had to punish our little Vi." 
 
 " Oh, I'm so sorry to have made mamma cry/' 
 sobbed the child. 
 
 " Sin always brings sorrow and suffering sooner 
 or later, remember that; and that it is because Jesus 
 loves us that he would save us from our sins." 
 
 After a little more talk, in which Violet repeated 
 to him the same story of her wrongdoing that she 
 had already told her mother, her papa left her, and 
 she was again alone till mammy came with her* 
 supper a bowl of rich sweet milk and bread from' 
 the unbolted flour, that might have tempted the 
 appetite of an epicure. 
 
 "Come, honey, dry dose wet eyes an' eat yo*
 
 324 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 wrapper," said mammy, setting it out daintily on 
 little table which she placed before the child, and 
 covered with a fine damask cloth fresh from the 
 iron. " De milk's mos' all cream, an' de bread good 
 as kin be: an' you kin hab much as eber you want 
 Ot both ob dem." 
 
 "Did mamma say so, mammy?" 
 
 "Yes, chile; an' don't shed no mo' dose tears 
 r <toow; ole mammy lubs you like her life." 
 
 " But I've been very naughty, mammy," sobbed 
 the little girl. 
 
 "Yes, Miss Wi'let, honey: an' we's all been 
 naughty, but de good Lord f orgib us for Jesus' sake 
 if we'e sorry an' don't 'tend neber to do so no mo'." 
 
 " Yes, mammy. Oh, I wish you could stay with 
 me! but you mus'n't, for mamma said I must be 
 all alone." 
 
 "Yes, darlin'; an' if you wants mo' supper, jes 
 ring dis, an' mammy '11 come." 
 
 She placed a small silver bell on the table be 
 dside Vi, and with a tender, compassionate look at 
 the tear-swollen face went away. 
 
 The young Travillas were sometimes denied 
 dainties because of misconduct, but always allowed 
 to satisfy their youthful appetites with an abun 
 dance of wholesome, nourishing food. 
 
 Vi ate her supper with a keen relish, and found 
 herself greatly comforted by it. How much one's 
 iviews of life are brightened by a good comfortable 
 meal that does not overtax the digestive organs.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 32fi 
 
 Vi suddenly remembered with a feeling of relief that 
 the worst of her trouble the confession was over, 
 and the punishment nearly so. 
 
 It was only a little while till mamma came, took 
 her on her lap, kissed and forgave her. 
 
 " Mamma, I'm so, so sorry for having disobeyed 
 and grieved you! " whispered the child, weeping 
 afresh: " for I do love you very, very much, my own 
 mamma." 
 
 "I know it, dearest; but I want you to be far 
 more sorry for having disobeyed God, who loves 
 you more, a great deal, than your parents do, and 
 has given you every good thing you have." 
 
 " Yes, mamma, I've asked God many times to 
 forgive me for Jesus' sake, and I think he has." 
 
 "Yes, if you asked with your heart, I am sure 
 he has; for Jesus said, ' Verily, verily, I say unto 
 you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my 
 name, he will give it you.' ' ; 
 
 There was a little pause, Vi nestling close in her 
 mother's arms; then with a quiver in her voice, 
 ' " Mamma," she sighed, " will you ever trust me 
 again? " 
 
 "Just the same as before, my child; because I 
 believe you are truly sorry for your sin against 
 God and against me." 
 
 "Thank you, dear, dear mamma! oh, I hope God 
 will help me to keep from ever being naughty any 
 more."
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 " Conscience makes cowards of us all." 
 
 META was not in a cheerful or companionable 
 mood during the walk that afternoon; the stings 
 of conscience goaded her, and she was haunted by 
 the fear that Violet, so young and innocent, so 
 utterly unused to concealments, would betray her 
 share in the mischief done, even without intending 
 to do so. 
 
 "Meta, what's the matter with you?" Herbert 
 asked at length; "you haven't spoken a pleasant 
 word since we came out." 
 
 "I'm not ill," was the laconic reply. 
 
 "Then you must be in the sulks, and ought to 
 have stayed at home/' returned the plain-spoken 
 brother. 
 
 " Oh, don't tease her," said little Elsie. " Per 
 haps she has a headache, and I know by myself that 
 that makes one feel dull, and sometimes even cross." 
 
 "You cross! I don't believe you ever were in 
 your life," said Herbert. " I've never seen you any 
 thing but pleasant as a May morning." 
 
 "Don't quarrel, children, but help me to gather 
 some of these lovely flowers to scatter over the 
 graves up there on the hill," said Eosie Dinsmore. 
 
 336
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. S27 
 
 " Our graves," said Eddie softly. " Yes, I'd like 
 to; but, Aunt Rosie, I don't believe we can get in." 
 
 "Yes, we can," she answered. "Uncle Joe's up 
 there at work, weeding, and trimming the rose 
 bushes." 
 
 " Then I'll gather plenty of these beauties," said 
 Eddie, stooping to pluck the lovely, many-hued 
 blossoms that spangled the velvety grass at their 
 feet in every direction. 
 
 "How beautiful! how beautiful they are! and 
 some of them so fragrant ! " exclaimed Elsie, rapidly 
 filling a pretty basket she carried in her hand. 
 "How good God is to give us so many lovely 
 things!" 
 
 " Yes," returned Rosie, " it seems a pity to pluck 
 them from their stems and make them wither and 
 die; but there is such a profusion that what we take 
 can hardly be missed." 
 
 " And it's honoring our graves to scatter flowers 
 over them, isn't it, Aunt Rosie? " Eddie asked. 
 
 " Why do you say our graves just as if you were 
 already buried there?" laughed Herbert. 
 
 " Come," said Rosie, " I think we have enough 
 now." 
 
 " Oh, Aunt Rosie, down in that little dell yonder 
 they are still thicker than here, and more beautiful, 
 I think," exclaimed Elsie. 
 
 " But we have enough now; your basket is full. 
 Well go to that dell as we come back, and gather 
 some to take home to our mammas."
 
 328 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "Oh, yes, that will be best," Elsie said, with 
 cheerful acquiescence. 
 
 "I shall go now and get some worthy to honor 
 the dead," said Meta, starting off in the direction. 
 of the dell. 
 
 " Meta likes to show her independence," said 
 Eosie, smiling; "we won't wait for her." 
 
 They climbed the hill, pushed open the gate of 
 the little enclosure and passed in; very quietly, for 
 their youthful spirits were subdued by the solemn 
 stillness of the place, and a feeling of awe crept 
 over them at thought of the dead whose dust lay 
 sleeping there. 
 
 Silently they scattered the flowers over each 
 lowly resting place, reserving the most beautiful for 
 that of her who was best known to them all the 
 first who had borne the name of Elsie Dinsmore. 
 
 " ur dear grandma! " whispered Elsie and 
 Eddie softly. 
 
 " I can't help feeling as if she was some relation 
 to me too," said Eosie, " because she was my sister's 
 mother, and papa's wife." 
 
 The breeze carried the words to the ear of 
 Uncle Joe, who was at work on the farther side of 
 the enclosure, and had not till that moment been 
 aware of the vicinity of the young people. 
 
 He rose and came hobbling toward them, pulling 
 off his hat, and bowing respectfully. 
 
 "Cat's so, Miss Eosie, ef you lubs de Lord, like 
 she did, de dear young missus dat lays heyah; for
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 329 
 
 8on't de 'postle saj ob de Lord's chillen dat dey's 
 all one in Christ Jesus? all one, Miss Rosie: heirs 
 ob God and joint heirs wid Christ." 
 
 "Yes, Uncle Joe, that is true." 
 
 " Ah, she was lubly, an' lubbed de Master well," 
 be went on, leaning upon his staff and gazing fixedly 
 at the name engraved on the stone. " She's not 
 dead, chillen: her soul's wid de Lord in dat land ob 
 light an' glory, an' de body planted heyah till de 
 mornin' ob de resurrection." 
 
 " And then she will rise more beautiful than 
 ever," said little Elsie. " Mamma has told me about 
 it. ' The dead in Christ shall rise first/ " 
 
 " ' Then we who are alive and remain, shall be 
 caught up together with them in the clouds to meet 
 the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the 
 Lord/" repeated Eosie. 
 
 "Yes, Miss Rosie. Bressed hope." And Uncle 
 Joe hobbled back to his work. 
 
 "Here, look at these!" said Meta hurrying up, 
 heated and out of breath with running. "Aren't 
 they beauties ? " 
 
 She emptied her apron upon the grave as she 
 spoke, then pulled out her handkerchief with a jerk, 
 to wipe the perspiration from her face. Something 
 fell against the tombstone with a ringing, metallic 
 sound. 
 
 "A key! a door-key!" cried Herbert, stooping 
 to pick it up. "Why, Meta, what key is it? end 
 are you doing with it?"
 
 330 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 " I never heard that it had any particular name," 
 she answered tartly, snatching it from him and re 
 storing it to her pocket, while her cheeks flushed 
 crimson. 
 
 The others exchanged surprised glances, but said 
 nothing. 
 
 " But what door does it belong to? and what are 
 you doing with it ? " persisted Herbert. 
 
 "Talk of the curiosity of women and girls!" 
 sneered Meta: "men and boys have quite as 
 much; but it's against my principles to gratify it." 
 
 "Your principles!" laughed Herbert. "You, 
 prying, meddling Meta, talking about other people's 
 curiosity! Well, that's a good one! " 
 
 "You insulting boy! I'll tell mamma of you," 
 retorted Meta, beginning to cry. 
 
 "Ha! ha! I wish you would! tell her my re 
 marks about the key, and she'll soon make you ex 
 plain where it belongs, and how it came into your 
 possession." 
 
 At that Meta, deigning no reply, put her hand 
 kerchief to her eyes and hurried away toward the 
 house. 
 
 " There, she's gone to tell mamma," said Harry. 
 
 "Not she," said Herbert, "she knows better: 
 she'd only get reproved for telling tales, and be 
 forced to tell all about that key. She's been at 
 some mischief, I haven't a doubt: she's always pry 
 ing, and meddling with what she's been told not to 
 touch. Mamma says that's her besetting sin."
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 331 
 
 "And what does she say is yours?" asked Eosie, 
 looking him steadily in the eye. 
 
 Herbert colored and turned away. 
 
 His mother had told him more than once or twice, 
 that he was quite too much disposed to domineer 
 over and reprove his younger brother and sisters. 
 
 " Well, I don't care! " he muttered to himself, 
 "'tisn't half so mean a fault as Meta's. I'm the 
 oldest, and Harry and the girls ought to be willing 
 to let me tell them of it when they go wrong." 
 
 The key, which belonged to a closet in Mr. Lil- 
 burn's dressing-room, seemed to burn in Meta's 
 pocket. She was frightened that Herbert and the 
 others had seen it. 
 
 " They all looked as if they knew something was 
 wrong," she said to herself. " And to be sure, what 
 business could I have with a door-key! Dear me! 
 why wasn't I more careful. But it's like ' murder 
 will out; ' or what the Bible says, ' Be sure your sin 
 will find you out." ; 
 
 She was afraid to meet her mother with the key 
 in her possession, so took so circuitous a route to 
 reach the house, and walked so slowly, that the 
 others were there some time before her. 
 
 Her mother was on the veranda looking out for 
 her. "Why, how late you are, Meta," she said. 
 "Make haste to your room, and have your hair 
 and dress made neat; for the tea-bell will soon 
 ring." 
 
 " Yes, ma'am," and Meta flew into the house and
 
 332 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 up to her room, only too glad of an excuse for not 
 stopping to be questioned. 
 
 She was down again barely in time to take her 
 seat at the table with the others. She glanced fur 
 tively at the faces of her mother, grandmother, 
 and Aunt Elsie, and drew a sigh of relief as she 
 perceived that they had evidently learned nothing 
 yet of her misconduct. 
 
 After tea she watched Mr. Lilburn's movements, 
 and was glad to see him step into the library, seat 
 himself before the fire, and take up a book. 
 
 " He's safe to stay there for awhile," she thought, 
 "so fond of reading as he is," and ran up to her 
 room for the key, which she had left there hidden 
 under her pillow. 
 
 She secured it unobserved, and stole cautiously 
 to the door of his dressing-room. She found it 
 slightly ajar, pushed it a little wider open, crept in, 
 gained the closet door, and was in the act of putting 
 the key into the lock when a deep groan, coming 
 from within the closet apparently, so startled her 5 
 that she uttered a faint cry and dropped the key 
 on the floor; then a hollow voice said, " If you ever 
 touch that again, I'll " 
 
 But Meta waited to hear no more; fear seemed 
 to lend her wings, and she flew from the room in 
 a panic of terror. 
 
 "Ah ha! ah ha! um h'm! ah ha! you were at some 
 mischief, no doubt, my lassie. ' The wicked flee 
 *rhen no man pursueth/ the good Book tells TIB/'
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 333 
 
 said the occupant of the room, stepping out from 
 the shadow of the window-curtain. 
 
 He had laid down his book almost immediately, 
 remembering that he had some letters to write, and 
 had come up to his apartments in search of one he 
 wished to answer. 
 
 It was already dark, except for the light of a 
 young moon, but by some oversight of the servants 
 the lamps had not yet been lighted here. 
 
 He was feeling about for matches, when hearing 
 approaching footsteps he stepped behind the cur 
 tain, and waited to see who the intruder was. 
 
 He recognized Meta's form and movements, and 
 sure that no legitimate errand had brought her 
 there at that time, resolved to give her a fright. 
 
 Tearing down the hall, Meta suddenly encoun 
 tered her mother, who, coming up to her own apart 
 ments, had reached the head of the stairs just in 
 time to witness Meta's exit from those of Mr. 
 Lilburn. 
 
 " Oh, Fm so frightened! so frightened, mamma! 9> 
 cried the child, throwing herself into her mother's 
 arms. 
 
 "As your richly deserve to be," said Mrs. Car- 
 rington, taking her by the hand and leading her 
 into her dressing-room. " What were you doing in 
 Mr. Lilburn's apartments?" 
 
 Meta hung her head in silence. 
 
 " Speak, Meta; I will have an answer," her mother 
 said, with determination.
 
 334 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 "I wasn't doing any harm; only putting away 
 something that belonged there." 
 
 "What was it?" 
 
 " A key." 
 
 "Meddling again!' prying even into the affairs 
 of a strange gentleman! " groaned her mother. 
 "Meta, what am I to do with you? this dreadful 
 fault of yours mortifies me heyond everything. I 
 feel like taking you back to Ashlands at once, and 
 never allowing you to go from home at all, lest 
 you should bring a life-long disgrace upon yourself 
 and me." 
 
 " Mother, I wasn't prying or meddling with Mr. 
 Lilburn's affairs," said Meta, bursting into sobs and 
 tears. 
 
 "What were you doing there? tell me all about 
 it, without any more ado." 
 
 Knowing that her mother was a determined 
 woman, and seeing that there was now no escape 
 from a full confession, Meta made it. 
 
 Mrs. Harrington was much distressed. 
 
 " Meta, you have robbed your Aunt Elsie, your 
 Aunt Elsie who has always been so good, so kind 
 to me and to you: and I can never make good her 
 loss; never replace that plate." 
 
 "Just that one tiny plate couldn't be worth so 
 very much," muttered the offender. 
 
 "It's intrinsic value was, perhaps, not very 
 great," replied Mrs. Carrington, "but to my dear 
 friend it was worth much as a memento of her dead
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 335 
 
 mother. Meta, you shall not go with us to-morrow, 
 but shall spend the day locked up in your own room 
 at home/' 
 
 An excursion had been planned for the next day, 
 in which the whole,, party, adults and children, 
 were to have a share. They were to leave at an 
 early hour in the morning, travel several miles by 
 boat, and spend the day picnicking on a deserted 
 plantation one Meta had not yet seen, but had 
 heard spoken of as a very lovely place. 
 
 She had set her heart on going, and this decree 
 of her mother came upon her as a great blow. She 
 was very fond of being on the water, and of seeing 
 new places, and had pictured to herself the delights 
 of roaming over the large old house, which she had 
 heard was still standing, peeping into the closets, 
 pulling open drawers, perhaps discovering secret 
 stairways and oh, delightful thought! possibly 
 coming upon some hidden treasure forgotten by the 
 owners in their hasty flight. 
 
 She wept bitterly, coaxed, pleaded, and made fair 
 promises for the future, but all in vain. Her mother 
 was firm. 
 
 " You must stay at home, Meta," she said. " It 
 grieves me to deprive you of so great a pleasure, 
 but I must do what I can to help you to overcome 
 this dreadful fault. You have chosen stolen pleas 
 ures at the expense of disobedience to me, and most 
 ungrateful, wicked behavior toward my kind friend; 
 and as a just and necessary punishment you nms$
 
 336 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 be deprived of the share you were to have had in 
 the innocent enjoyments planned for to-morrow. 
 You shall also make a full confession to your Aunt 
 Elsie, and ask her forgiveness." 
 
 " I won't! " exclaimed Meta angrily; then catch 
 ing the look of pained surprise in her mother's 
 face, she ran to her, and throwing her arms about 
 her neck, " )h, mamma! mamma! forgive me! " she 
 cried. "I can't bear to see you look so grieved: I 
 will never say that again; I will do whatever you bid 
 me." 
 
 Mrs. Carrington kissed her child in silence, then 
 taking her by the hand, " Come and let us have this 
 painful business over/' she said, and led the way to 
 Mrs. Travilla's boudoir. 
 
 Elsie had no reproaches for Meta, but kindly for 
 gave her, and even requested that she might be per 
 mitted to share in the morrow's enjoyment, but 
 Mrs. Carrington would not hear of it.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIIL 
 
 Nature I'll court in her sequester'd haunts, 
 
 By mountain, meadow, streamlet, grove, or cell. 
 
 Smottet. 
 
 ME. DINSMOEE was pacing the front veranda, en 
 joying the cool, fresh morning air, when little feet 
 came pattering through the hall, and a sweet child 
 voice hailed him with, " Good-morning, my dear 
 grandpa/' 
 
 "Ah, grandpa's little cricket, where were you 
 last evening? " he asked, sitting down and taking 
 her on his knee. 
 
 It was his pet name for Vi, because she was so 
 merry. 
 
 The fair face flushed, but putting her arms about 
 his neck, her lips to his ear, " I was in mamma's 
 dressing-room, grandpa," she whispered. " I was 
 'bHged to stay there, 'cause I'd been naughty and 
 disobeyed mamma." ) 
 
 " Ah, I am sorry to hear that! but I hope you 
 don't intend to disobey any more." 
 
 " No, indeed, grandpa." 
 
 " Are you considered good enough to go with as 
 to-day?" 
 
 " Yes, grandpa, mamma says I was punished 
 
 337
 
 338 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 yesterday, and I don't be punished twice for tHe 
 same thing." 
 
 " Mamma is quite right," he said, " and grandpa 
 is very glad she allows you to go." 
 
 "I don't think I deserve it, grandpa, but she's 
 1 such a dear, kind mamma." 
 
 " So she is, pet, and I hope you will always be a 
 dear good daughter to her," said grandpa, holding 
 the little face close to his. 
 
 Meta was not allowed to come down to breakfast. 
 Vi missed her from the table, and at prayers, and 
 going up to Mrs. Carrington, asked, " Is Meta sick, 
 Aunt Sophie? " 
 
 " No, dear, but she has been too naughty to be 
 with us. I have said she must stay in her own room 
 all day." 
 
 "And not go to the picnic? Oh, please let her 
 go, auntie! " 
 
 The other children joined their entreaties to Vi's, 
 but without avail; and with streaming eyes, Meta, 
 at her window, saw the embarkation, and watched 
 the boats glide away till lost to view in the distance. 
 
 " Too bad! " she sobbed, " it's too, too bad that 
 I must stay here and learn long hard lessons while 
 all the rest are having such a good time! " 
 
 Then she thought remorsefully of her mother's 
 sad look, as she bade her good-bye, and said how 
 sorry she was to be obliged to leave her behind, and 
 as some atonement set to work diligently at her 
 tasks.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 The weather was very fine, the sun shone, the 
 birds filled the air with melody, and a delicious 
 breeze danced in the tree-tops, rippled the water, 
 and played with the brown and golden ringlets of 
 little Elsie and Vi, and the flaxen curls of Daisy 
 Carrington. 
 
 The combined influences of the clear, pure air, 
 the pleasant motion, as the rowers bent to their 
 oars, and the lovely scenery meeting the eye at 
 every turn, were not to be resisted; and all, old and 
 young, were soon in great spirits. They sang 
 songs, cracked jokes, told anecdotes, and were alto 
 gether a very merry company. 
 
 After a delightful row of two hours or more the 
 rounding of a point brought suddenly into view the 
 place of their destination. 
 
 The boats were made fast and the party stepped 
 ashore, followed by the men servants bearing rugs 
 and wraps, and several large well-filled hampers 
 of provisions. 
 
 With joyous shouts the children ran hither and 
 thither; the boys tumbled on the grass, the girls 
 gathered great bouquets of the beautiful flowers, 
 twisted them in their curls, and wove garlands for 
 their hats. 
 
 "Walk up to de house, ladies an' gentlemen; 
 massa and missus not at home now, but be berry 
 glad to see you when dey gets back," said a pleasant 
 voice close at hand. 
 
 All but Mr. Lilburn looked about for the
 
 340 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 speaker, wondered at seeing no one, then laughed 
 at themselves for being so often and so easily 
 deceived. 
 
 " Suppose we accept the invitation," said Mr. 
 Travilla, leading the way. 
 
 The two old ladies preferred a seat under a wide- 
 spreading tree on the lawn; but the others accom 
 panied him in a tour of the deserted mansion, al- 
 , ready falling rapidly to decay. 
 
 They climbed the creaking stairs, passed along 
 the silent corridors, looked into the empty rooms, 
 and out of the broken windows upon the flower 
 gardens, once trim and gay, now choked with rub 
 bish, and overgrown with weeds, and sighed over the 
 desolations of war. 
 
 Some of the lower rooms were still in a pretty 
 good state of preservation, and in one of these the 
 servants were directed to build a fire and prepare 
 tea and coffee. 
 
 Plenty of dry branches strewed the ground in a 
 bit of woods but a few rods distant. Some of these 
 were quickly gathered, and a brightly blazing fire 
 presently crackled upon the hearth, and roared up 
 the wide chimney. 
 
 Leaving the house, which in its loneliness and 
 dilapidation inspired only feelings of sadness and 
 gloom, our party wandered over the grounds, which 
 were still beautiful even in their forlornly neglect^ 
 state. 
 
 The domain was extensive, and the older boys
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 341 
 
 fiaving taking an opposite direction from their 
 parents, were presently out of their sight and hear 
 ing, the house being directly between. Uncle Joe, 
 however, was with the lads, so no anxiety was felt 
 for their safety. 
 
 Wandering on, they came to a stream of limpid 
 water flowing between high grassy banks, and 
 spanned by a little rustic bridge. 
 5 "Let's cross over," said Herbert, "that's such 
 a pretty bridge, and it looks lovely on the other 
 side." 
 
 "No, no, 'tain't safe, boys, don't you go for to 
 try it," exclaimed Uncle Joe. 
 
 "Pooh! what do you know about it?" returned 
 Herbert, who always had great confidence in his 
 own opinion. "If it won't bear us all at once, it 
 certainly will one at a time. What do you say, 
 Ed?" 
 
 " I think Uncle Joe can judge better whether it's 
 safe than little boys like us." 
 
 "Don't you believe it: his eyes are getting old, 
 and he can't see half so well as you or I." 
 
 " I kin see dat some ob de planks is gone, Marse 
 Herbert; an' de ole timbahs looks shaky." 
 
 "Shaky! nonsense! they'll not shake under my 
 weight, and I'm going to cross." 
 
 " Now, Herbie, don't you do it," said his brother. 
 "You know mamma wouldn't allow it if she waa 
 here." 
 
 "'Twon't be disobedience, though, as she isn't
 
 342 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 here, and never has forbidden me to go on that 
 bridge," persisted Herbert. 
 
 "Mamma and papa say that truly obedient 
 children don't do what they know their parents 
 would forbid if they were present/* said Eddie. 
 
 "I say nobody but a coward would be afraid to 
 venture on that bridge." said Herbert, ignoring 
 Eddie's last remark. " Suppose it should break and 
 let you fall! the worst would be a ducking." 
 
 " De watah's deep, Marse Herbert, and you 
 might git drownded! " said Uncle Joe. " Or maybe 
 some ob de timbahs fall on you an' break yo' leg 
 or yo' back." 
 
 They were now close to the bridge. 
 
 " It's very high up above the water," said Harry, 
 " and a good many boards are off: I'd be afraid to 
 go on it." 
 
 " Coward! " sneered his brother. " Are you 
 afraid too, Ed?" 
 
 "Yes, I'm afraid to disobey my father; because 
 that's disobeying God." 
 
 " Did your father ever say a word about not going 
 on this bridge? " 
 
 " No; but he's told me never to run into danger 
 needlessly; that is, when there's nothing to be gained 
 by it for myself or anybody else." 
 
 " Before I'd be such a coward ! " muttered 
 Herbert, deliberately walking on to the bridge. 
 
 The other two beys watched his movements in 
 trembling, breathless silence, while Uncle Joe began
 
 tiLSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 348 
 
 looking about for some means of rescue in case of 
 accident. 
 
 Herbert picked his way carefully over the half- 
 rotten timbers till he had gained the middle of the 
 bridge, then stopped, looked back at his companions 
 and pulling off his cap, waved it round his head, 
 "Hurrah! here I am: who's afraid? who was right 
 'this time?" 
 
 Then leaning over the low railing, "Oh!" he 
 cried, "you ought just to see the fish! splendid big 
 fellows. Come on, boys, and look at 'em! " 
 
 But at that instant the treacherous railing gave 
 way with a loud crack, and with a wild scream for 
 help, over he went, headforemost, falling with a 
 sudden plunge into the water, and disappearing at 
 once beneath the surface. 
 
 " Oh, he'll drown! he'll drown! " shrieked Harry, 
 wringing his hands, while Eddie echoed the cry for 
 help. 
 
 " Run to de house, Marse Ed, an* fotch some ob 
 de boys to git him out," said Uncle Joe, hurrying to 
 the edge of the stream with an old fishing-rod he 
 had found lying among the weeds on its bank. 
 
 But a dark object sprang past him, plunged into 
 the stream, and as Herbert rose to the surface, 
 seized him by the coat-collar, and so holding his 
 head above the water, swam with him quickly to the 
 shore. 
 
 " Good Bruno! brave fellow! good dog! " said a 
 voice near at hand, and turning to look for the
 
 ?44 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 epeakei; TJnck Joe found Mr. Daly standing By fifo 
 *ide. 
 
 Leaving his gayer companions, the minister had 
 wandered away, book in hand, to this sequestered 
 spot. Together he and Uncle Joe assisted the dog 
 to drag Herbert up the bank, and laid him on the 
 grass. 
 
 The fall had stunned the boy, but now conscious 
 ness returned. "I'm not hurt," he said, opening 
 his eyes. " But don't tell mother: she'd be fright 
 ened half to death." 
 
 "We'll save her as much as we can; and I hope 
 you've learned a lesson, young sir, and will not be 
 so foolhardy another time/' said Mr. Daly. 
 
 "P'raps he'll tink ole folks not such fools, nex* 
 time," remarked Uncle Joe. "Bress de Lord dat 
 he didn't get drownded! " 
 
 The men and boys came running from the house, 
 bringing cloaks and shawls to wrap about the drip 
 ping boy. They would have carried him back with 
 them, but he stoutly resisted, declaring himself 
 quite as able to walk as anybody. 
 
 " Let him do so, the exercise will help to prevent 
 his taking cold, provided he is well wrapped up, " 
 said Mr. Daly, throwing a^ cloak over the lad's 
 shoulders, and folding it carefully about him. 
 
 "Ill news flies fast," says the proverb. Mrs. 
 Carrington met them upon the threshold, pale and 
 trembling with affright. -She clasped her boy in 
 her arms with a heart too full for utterance.
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. $45 
 
 "Never mind, mother," he said; "I've only had 
 & ducking, that's all." 
 
 " But it may not be all: you may get your death 
 of cold," she said; "I've no dry clothes for you 
 there." 
 
 By this time the whole party had hurried to the 
 spot. 
 
 " Here's a good fire; suppose we hang him up to 
 dry before it," said old Mr. Dinsmore with a grim 
 smile. 
 
 "His clothes, rather; rolling him up in cloaks 
 and shawls in the meantime," suggested Herbert's 
 grandmother. " Let us ladies go back to the lawn, 
 and leave his uncle to oversee the business." 
 
 Herbert had spoiled his holiday so far as the 
 remainder of the visit to this old estate was con 
 cerned: he could not join the others at the feast, 
 presently spread under the trees on the lawn, or 
 in the sports that followed; but had to pass the 
 time lying idly on a pallet beside the fire, with 
 nothing to entertain him but his own thoughts, and 
 watching the servants until, their work done, they 
 too wandered away in search of amusement. 
 
 Most of the afternoon was spent by the gentlemen 
 in fishing in that same stream into which Herbert's 
 folly and self-conceit had plunged him. 
 
 Eddie had his own little fishing-rod, and with it 
 in his hand sat on a log beside his father, a little 
 apart from the rest, patiently awaiting for the fish 
 to bite. Mr. Travilla had thrown several out upon
 
 346 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 the grass, but Eddie's bait did not seem to attract 
 a single one. 
 
 He began to grow weary of sitting still and silent, 
 and creeping closer to his father whispered, " Papa, 
 I'm tired, and I want to ask you something. Do 
 you think the fish will hear and be scared if I speak 
 low?" 
 
 "Perhaps not; you may try it if you like," re 
 turned Mr. Travilla, looking somewhat amused. 
 
 " Thank you, papa. Well, Herbert said nobody 
 but a coward would be afraid to go on that bridge. 
 Do you think he was right, papa? " 
 
 "No, my boy; but if you had gone upon it to 
 avoid being laughed at or called a coward, I should 
 say you showed a great lack of true courage. He 
 is a brave man or boy who dares to do right without 
 regard to consequences." 
 
 " But, papa, if you'd been there, and said I might 
 if I wanted to?" 
 
 " Hardly -a supposable case, my son." 
 
 "Well, if I'd been a man and could do as I 
 chose?" . 
 
 "Men have no more right to do as they please 
 than boys; they must obey God. If his will is theirs, 
 they may do as they please, just as you may, if it 
 is your pleasure to be good and obedient." 
 
 "Papa, I don't understand. Does God say we 
 must not go into dangerous places?" 
 
 " He says, ' Thou shalt not kill '; we have no right 
 to kill ourselves, or to run the risk of doing so
 
 I 
 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 347 
 
 for amusement, or to be considered brave, 
 or dexterous." 
 
 " Bvt if somebody needs us to do it to save them 
 from bing hurt or killed, papa? " 
 
 " Thn it becomes quite a different matter; it is 
 brave, generous, and right to risk our own life or 
 limbs t^save those of others." 
 
 " Thei I may do it, papa? " 
 
 "Yes,>my son; Jesus laid down his life to save 
 others, a\d in all things he is to be our example." 
 
 A hand was laid lightly on the shoulder of each, 
 and a swfct voice said, "May my boy heed his 
 father's instructions in this and in everything else." 
 
 "Wife!'* Mr. Travilla said, turning to look up 
 into the far face bent over them. 
 
 ' ( Mamma, dear mamma, I do mean to," said 
 Eddie. 
 
 " Is it not time to go home? " she asked. " The 
 little ones are growing weary." 
 
 "Yes, the sun is getting low/'' 
 
 In a few moments the whole party had re-em 
 barked; in less exuberant spirits than in the morn 
 ing, yet perhaps not less happy; little disposed to 
 talk, but with hearts filled with a quiet, peaceful 
 content. 
 
 Viamede was reached without accident, a bounti 
 ful supper awaiting them there partaken of with 
 keen appetites, and the little ones went gladly to 
 bed. 
 
 Eeturning from the nursery to the drawing-
 
 S48 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 room, Elsie found her namesake daughter sitting 
 apart in a bay window, silently gazing out over the 
 beautiful landscape sleeping in the moonlight. 
 
 She looked up with a smile, as her mother took 
 a seat by her side and passed an arm about her 
 iraist. 
 
 " Isn't it lovely, mamma? see how the waters of 
 our lakelet shine in the moonbeams like molten 
 silver! and the fields, the groves, the hills! how 
 charming they look in the soft light." 
 
 " Yes, darling: and that was what you were think- 
 ing of, sitting here alone?*' 
 
 " Yes, mamma; and of how good God is to us to 
 give us this lovely home and dear, kind father and 
 mother to take care of us. It is always so sweet 
 to come back to my home when I've been away. 
 I was enjoying it all the way coming in the boat 
 to-night; that, and thinking of the glad time when 
 we shall all be gathered intt the lovelier home Jesus 
 is preparing for us." 
 
 " God grant we may! " said the mother, with 
 emotion, "it is my heart's desire and prayer to 
 God for all my dear ones, especially my children. 
 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither havei 
 entered into the heart of man, the things which 
 God hath prepared ior them that love him/ "
 
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