A DAUGHTER OF THE UNION
by
LUCY FOSTER MADISON
Author of "A Colonial Maid," Etc.
Grosset & DunlapPublishers . . New YorkBy arrangement with The Penn Publishing Co.
Copyright 1903 by The Penn Publishing Company
Manufactured in the U. S. A.
Contents
Chapter Page I WHAT GIRLS CAN DO 5 II A GREAT AWAKENING 20 III STARTING FOR DIXIE 31 IV A TIMELY RENEWAL OF ACQUAINTANCE 41 V CASTING BREAD UPON THE WATERS 53 VI IN DIXIE LAND 70 VII THE EXAMPLE OF A GIRL 83 VIII THROUGH SHOT AND SHELL 95 IX JEANNE MEETS THE HERO OF NEW ORLEANS 104 X AN UNFORESEEN RESULT 117 XI CLEARED OF SUSPICION 128 XII AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 137 XIII UNDER EVERY FLOWER THERE LURKS A SERPENT 147 XIV A VICTIM OF DECEIT 158 XV BEFORE GENERAL BUTLER AGAIN 168 XVI THE VELVET GLOVE CONCEALS THE IRON HAND 178 XVII AGAIN DECEIVED 189 XVIII IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP 200 XIX "BOB" 212 XX THE ARREST OF A SPY 225 XXI A SURPRISE AND AN ESCAPE 237 XXII DICK TO THE FORE 250 XXIII RECAPTURE 259 XXIV VICKSBURG 272 XXV MADAME AGAIN 280 XXVI JEANNE MEETS FRIENDS 290 XXVII A PRISONER OF WAR 302 XXVIII THE SIEGE BEGINS 314 XXIX MADAME FOR THE LAST TIME 324 XXX THE END OF THE SIEGE 334
A DAUGHTER OF THE UNION
CHAPTER I
WHAT GIRLS CAN DO
"That finishes everything," exclaimed Jeanne Vance, placing a neatlyfolded handkerchief in a basket. "And oh, girls, what a little bit of apile it makes!"
The five girls drew their chairs closer to the basket and gazed ruefullyat its contents.
"How many handkerchiefs are there, Jeanne?" asked one.
"There are fifty handkerchiefs and five pairs of socks. It seemed like agreat many when we took them to make, but what do they amount to afterall?"
"There isn't much that girls can do anyway," spoke another. "If we wereboys we could go to the war, or, if we were women we could be nurses. Idon't like being just a girl!"
"Well, I wouldn't mind it so much if there was anything I could do,"remarked Jeanne who seemed to be the leader. "But when Dick is in thearmy, father in government service, and mother at work all day in theRelief Association, it is pretty hard not to be able to do anything buthem handkerchiefs and make socks."
"A great many persons don't even do that," said Nellie Drew, the youngestgirl of the party. "And they are grown-up people, too."
"Then the more shame to them," cried Jeanne indignantly. "In such awar as ours every man, woman and child in the United States ought to beinterested. I don't see how any one can help being so. For my part, Iam going to do all that I can for the soldiers if it is only to hemhandkerchiefs."
"What else could we do? We can't help being girls, and Miss Thornton waspleased when we asked for more work. She said that our last socks weredone as well as women could do them. I am sure that that is something."
"That is true," admitted Jeanne soberly. "I have heard mother say thatsome of the things were so poorly made that the ladies were ashamedto send them to the front, but that often the need was so urgent thatthey were compelled to do it. I am willing to knit socks and to hemhandkerchiefs, but I would like to do something else too. There is somuch to be done that I don't feel as if I were doing all that I might do."
"We don't either, Jeanne, and if you know of anything we will gladly helpto do it," cried the girls together.
"I don't know of anything else, girls, but maybe I can think ofsomething," said Jeanne, looking at the earnest faces before her.
It was a bright May afternoon in the year of 1862, and the great conflictbetween the North and the South was waging fiercely. The terrible battleof Shiloh of the month before had dispelled some of the illusions ofthe North and the people were awakening to the fact that a few victorieswere not sufficient to overthrow the Confederacy.
Aid societies under the United States Sanitary Commission for the reliefof the soldiers were springing up all over the Union, and patriotismglowed brightly inflaming the hearts of rich and poor alike. This zealwas not confined to the old but animated the minds of the young as well.Numerous instances are recorded of little girls who had not yet attainedtheir tenth year denying themselves the luxuries and toys they had longdesired and toiling with a patience and perseverance wholly foreign tochildish nature, to procure or to make something of value for theircountry's defenders.
Our group of girls was only one among many banded together for the purposeof doing whatever they could for the relief of the boys in blue, andtheir young hearts were overwhelmed with a sense of their impotence.Jeanne Vance, a tall, slender, fair-haired girl of sixteen, serious andthoughtful beyond her years, was the leader in every patriotic enterpriseof her associates.
Her father since the beginning of the war had devoted himself exclusivelyto furthering the interests of the government; her mother was a prominentworker in The Woman's Central Relief Association, giving her whole timeto collecting supplies and money to be forwarded to the front andproviding work for the wives, mothers and daughters of the soldiers.Her brother, Richard Vance, had responded to the first call of PresidentLincoln to arms: thus the girl was surrounded by influences that filledher being to the utmost with intense loyalty to the Union.
As she looked at the eagerly waiting girls around her a sudden inspirationcame to her.
"Let's give a fair, girls. We could make pretty things to sell and I amwilling that all my toys and games shall be sold too. Perhaps we couldget a great deal of money that way, and I am sure that even a little wouldbe welcome."
"But how about the socks and handkerchiefs? Shall we give up making them?"
"No, indeed! We must keep right on with those, but this fair will be allour own effort. I believe that we will feel as if we were really doingsomething worth while if we can manage it. What do you say?"
"It is the very thing," cried they. "When shall we begin?"
"This afternoon," said Jeanne energetically. "There is no time like thepresent. This is May. We ought to be ready by the last of June. We cando a great deal in that time if we work hard."
"And we can get our mothers to help us too," suggested Nellie Drew.
"We ought not to do that, Nellie," replied Jeanne seriously. "They areso busy themselves, and it would not be truly ours if we have the olderones to help. Don't you think we ought to do just the very best we canwithout them?"
"Oh, yes, yes!" chorused the girls.
"I can make pretty pin cushions," said a girl about Jeanne's age. "I willmake as many of them as I can."
"I can do pen wipers very nicely, mamma says," spoke Nellie modestly.
"Mother always lets me help dress the dolls for Christmas," cried another.
"Where will we have it, Jeanne?"
Jeanne looked puzzled for a moment. "I'll tell
you, girls. Let's have iton our steps. We'll have a big card telling all about it printed and putup. Then people will stop and buy things when they know it is for thesoldiers."
"On your steps," cried Nellie. "Oh, Jeanne, will your mother let you? Itis right on Fifth Avenue."
"Why, mother won't care!" answered Jeanne, surprised at the question."Fifth Avenue is the best place in New York for anything of the sort,because so many well-to-do people pass, and they will be sure to begenerous for the soldiers' sake."
"Mercy, Jeanne, where did you learn so much about things?" gasped Nelliein admiration. "I wouldn't have thought of that."
"Well," said Jeanne, flushing at the praise, "I hear mother and the ladiestalking, you know. They say that such things must always be taken intoconsideration. If you have anything to sell, or you want money, you mustgo where there is money to be had. I know the ladies do that in theirfairs."
"Then of course that is the way to do," remarked a tall girl decidedly."Let's take our handkerchiefs and socks to the Relief rooms and beginright away."
The girls set to work joyfully, and labored zealously for their fair.Their parents were amused at their earnestness, but seeing them happy andcontented encouraged them in their efforts. The days were busy ones,but the knowledge that every boat and train was bringing hundreds ofwounded soldiers into the hospitals from the disastrous Yorktown campaignspurred them to greater exertion, until at last they declared themselvesready to open the sale.
Handkerchiefs, aprons, homemade candies, dolls, with all the paraphernaliabelonging to them, pin cushions, pen wipers, and books, presented agoodly appearance as they were spread enticingly upon the steps of themansion in lower Fifth Avenue. A large card, which Mr. Vance had hadprinted for them with the inscription, "For the relief of our woundedand sick soldiers. Please buy," reared its head imposingly over thearticles, and five little maids, neatly dressed, stood in expectantattitude eagerly watching each passer-by in the hope of a customer.
The placard caught the eyes of an elderly man, and the little girls couldscarcely conceal their delight as he paused before them.
"Well, my little ladies, what have we here?" he asked kindly. "For thesoldiers, eh? Who put you up to this?"
"No one, sir," answered Jeanne as the other girls shrank back abashed."We are doing it ourselves to help buy things for the boys."
"But who made the articles?" queried the old gentleman. "I am a poor judgeof such things, but these handkerchiefs seem to be very neatly done. Theyare not of your making, I presume."
"Indeed they are," answered the girl earnestly. "We have done all thesewing, and made the candies. The toys were our own, given to us by ourparents, but we would rather have the money to give to the soldiers, sothey are for sale too. We girls have made everything but the toys andthe books."
"But why," persisted he good-naturedly. "The government provides for itssoldiers, and there are women and men to do what the government doesn'tdo. Why should you interest yourselves in such things? The war doesn'tconcern you!"
"Whatever concerns our country concerns us," answered Jeanne with dignity."We are only girls, sir, and cannot do much, but what we can do to helpthose who are fighting for us we will do."
"Nobly said, my little maid. I was anxious to see if this was a mere whimof the moment, or if you really were actuated by patriotic motives. Youhave taught me that girls can feel for their country as well as grownpeople. How much are those handkerchiefs?"
"A dollar a dozen, sir."
"H'm'm!" mused the old gentleman drawing forth a well filled pocketbook."Too cheap by far. Give me a couple of dozen."
Jeanne obeyed with alacrity and carefully wrapped the handkerchiefsin tissue paper. "I can't change this bill, sir," she said as the oldgentleman gave her a twenty dollar note.
"I don't want you to, my little girl," returned he kindly. "Take it forthe cause."
"Oh," cried Jeanne her eyes filling with glad tears. "How good you are!How good you are!"
"Nonsense! It's a pity if I cannot give a little money when you girls havegiven so much time and work. Good-day, my little patriots. Success to youin your undertaking. You may see me again."
"Good-day, sir," cried the girls together. "And thank you ever so much."
"Oh, girls," gasped Jeanne delightedly. "Isn't it fine? Twenty dollars! Ididn't think we'd make more than that altogether."
"Here come more customers, Jeanne," cried Nellie excitedly. "Oh, but Ibelieve that we are going to have luck!"
It was but the beginning. There was little leisure for the girls afterthat. Their evident zeal and earnestness impressed the passers-by whosehearts were already aglow with sympathy for the soldiers, and bills andshinplasters poured in upon the little merchants until at dusk not anarticle remained upon the steps. Then, tired but happy, they assembledin Mrs. Vance's parlor to count the proceeds.
"Two hundred dollars!" exclaimed Mr. Vance as the girls announced theresult in excited tones. "Why, girls, this is wonderful! The governmentwould better turn over its finances into your hands."
"You blessed dears," cried Mrs. Vance, "it will do so much good! Youdon't know how much that will buy, but you shall go with the committeeand see for yourselves."
"We have done well," said Jeanne in congratulatory tones.
"I don't believe that grown people could do any better," and Nellie Drewgave her head a proud toss.
"There's a little lame boy asking to see Miss Jeanne, ma'am," announceda servant entering at this moment. "Shall I show him up?"
"Yes, Susan. Who is it, Jeanne?"
"It must be Eddie Farrell. He lives down on Fourth Avenue. His motherwashes for Nellie's mother, and they are awfully poor. He came by whilewe were fixing our things and we told him all about what we were doingand why we were doing it. How do you do, Eddie?" as the door opened toadmit the visitor.
A little fellow not over ten years old, with great blue eyes that werejust now alight with eagerness, paused abruptly as he caught sight ofMr. and Mrs. Vance. He made a pathetic looking figure as he stood in thedoorway. He was deplorably lame and leaned on a pair of rude crutchesfor support, balancing in some way known only to himself, a long bundleunder his arm.
"Have a chair, my boy," said Mr. Vance, kindly noticing his embarrassment."Did you wish to see Jeanne?"
"Yes, sir." The boy sat down and then opened his bundle disclosing a pairof well made crutches. "The girls told me what they wuz doing fer thesogers and I've been thinking ever since what I could do. I didn't haveno money ner nuffin' ter give 'cepting these crutches. I thought mebbethey'd do some pore feller some good what 'ud have his leg cut off."
"But where did you get them?" queried Mr. Vance.
"They wuz mine, sir. Bill, a sailor man I knows, he spliced on some piecesto make 'em longer, and there they are, sir."
"My lad," and Mr. Vance laid his hand softly on the boy's head, "it is agreat deal for you to give. You need them yourself."
"I'll get along all right," said the boy eagerly. "'Deed I will, Mr.Vance. See, Bill he rigged me up a pair that'll do me all right, an'I'd like ter help some pore feller."
Mr. Vance gazed pityingly at the rude substitutes which the boy held up,and then looked at the crutches so deftly lengthened. His voice was huskyas he spoke:
"It is a great gift. More than you should give."
"It ain't nuthin'," answered the lad. "I feel fer the feller that is bornwith two good legs an' then loses one of them."
Mr. Vance nodded understandingly. Mrs. Vance's eyes were full tooverflowing as she stroked the boy's hair gently.
"We'll write a little note and tie on the crutches," she said. "Thenwhoever gets them will know who gave them."
"That will be fine," cried the lad gleefully. "I'm so glad you'll takethem. I wuz afraid mebbe it wouldn't be enough ter give."
"It is more than we have done," said Jeanne as soon as she was able tospeak.
"Then good-bye," and Eddie arose. "I'll run back and tell mother." Henodded to them and left the
room, his face aglow with satisfaction.
"We haven't done anything," said Jeanne emphatically. "We didn't give athing we could not do without. Oh, I feel so mean!"
She looked at the girls tearfully, then drew a slender chain from herthroat, and detached the gold piece which was suspended from it. "There!"she said, putting it with the bills on the table. "Uncle Joe gave me thatbefore he went to the army. After he was killed at Shiloh I thought Iwould never part with it, but I am going to let it go for the soldierstoo."
"It is good for us," said Nellie wiping her eyes. "We were awfully puffedup over this fair. I was beginning to think that we had done somethinggreat."
Mr. Vance laughed.
"You need not feel so bad, girls," he said. "If it had not been for youthat poor little fellow wouldn't have thought of giving his crutches."
"I wish he had some though," remarked Jeanne wistfully.
"Make your mind easy on that score, my dear, I'm going to look after thatboy."
"And meantime you girls can go with me to the Association to carry themoney and the crutches, and we'll tell the ladies all about it," said Mrs.Vance.