THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARY THE WILMER COLLECTION OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS PRESENTED BY RICHARD H. WILMER, JR. / - .. SniMEHQOLLts^i iVh if* «* THE SOCK STOEIES, Br " ArXT FANNY'S " DAUGUTEE. RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SOCKS. |art $mniL .« • BEINO THE SECOND BOOK OF THE SEEIES. BY ''AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER, IHE AI7TH0B OF "THE LXTTLE WHITE AlfGEL." NEW YORK : LEAVITT ^ ALLEX, 21 & 23 MERCER ST 1863. % Entered, according to Act of Conirress, in the year 1852, br S. L. BAKROW, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for tbe Southern District of Xew York. kn JO:iX F. TRO\r, T&tKXMR, StBREOTVPEE, A.vn ELBC7TROrrP«», 50 Greene Street, Xew York. 4 CO]S^TEXTS OF YOL. 11. PAOB COLONEL FPvEDDY ; or, the March and Enoamp- MEXT OF THE DaSHAHED ZoUATES, Chap. L — Belligerent Powers, . . , ^ . 5 IL— Bull Eux, 80 in. — Before Monterey, 50 IV. — A Grand Eeyiew, .... 87 v.— "Home! Sweet Home!" . . .111 CoNCLrsiON, 125 602703 COLOXEL FREDDY; OR, THE MAECH AND EyClMrMENT OF THE DASHAHED ZOUAVES. PART II. CHAPTER I. BELLIGERENT POWERS. Tuesday morning dawned ^^ as clear as a bell/' as an old lady once said, and the Daslialied Zouaves, if not exactly up with the sun, were awake and stirring at a much earlier hour than usual ; and after a rather more careful washing and brushing than soldiers usually indulge in, assembled 6 COLONEL FREDDY. on the lawn, lookins; as brio-ht as their own buttons. ^' What fun it is to be soldiers ! '' cried a little lisping fellow, one of the privates. ^' I only wish thome South- erners would come alons: now, and you'd thee how I'd tlimasli 'em.'^ '^ Bravo, Louie ! "' said Harry, laughing ; '^ I dare say, if we were to go to the wars, you'd keep on fighting the battles of your country till you were chopped into inch bits ! " ^^And pickled! I expect to be made Lieutenant-general, Command- er-in-chief, Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant Hamilton at the very least ! " '' Pooh ! that's nothing to the feats of bravery I intend to perform ! " cried n^fi COLONEL FREDDY. 7 Peter. ''In my first battle I shall capture a 2,000-pound columbiad with one hand tied behind me, and carry it home for a paper weight ! ^^ '' While I'm charging a regiment of mounted infantry single handed, and making them throw away their swords, and pistols, and things, and run for that 'last ditch' of theirs double quick ! '' said Will Costar, laughing ; " but here comes breakfast, I'm happy to say. It strikes me camping out makes a fellow awful huno-ry, as well as no end of brave.'' A servant who had been sent from the house with breakfast materials, now approached, and the table being laid, the soldiers drew their camp stools around it ; Colonel Freddy sit-^ 8 COLONEL FREDDY. ting at the head and pouring out cof- fee Avith ffreat ffravitv. Everythino' was going on smoothly enough^ when Hany tilted the tray on one side, and Charley knocked his elbow on the other, and away went the coffee to the very end of the table ! ^' Chariey/^ exclaimed the Colonel, severely, ^^what do you mean, sir? Til have you put in arrest if you don't look out!^' '' Who'll put me there ? '' " Me ! '' shouted Peter. '' Fm the boy to manao'e refractories. You'll see how I will come after you with a sharp stick — bayonet, I mean — and put you in arrest like that ! " snapping his fingers. ^^ By the way, when weVe caught COLONEL FKEDDY. 9 our rebels, wliere is the prison to be ? " asked Jimmy. ''"Why, ill the smoke house. There's a patent spring bolt on the door — fa- ther had it fixed the last time we had hams made ; and if anybody was once in there, they'd never get out in the world, unless they could draw themselves fine like a wire and squeeze throuo-h the chimnev.'^ '' \Ye'll take care to keep out of it^ then ! '' said Charley ; '-' so. Colonel, I beg pardon for tilting the biggin — I didn't mean to do it so much — really ! '' "J, too!'' cried Harry; ''shake hands, old chap ! " Good-tempered Freddy, always ready to " make up,'' caught a hand 10 COLOXEL FREDDY. of each of his comrades, and breakfast went on amicably. Now, there lived in the house an old English man servant named Jerry Pike. He had formerly been a groom and attendant on Peter's uncle, Major Schermerhorn, and volunteered in the army at the time of the war with Mexico, that he might follow his dear master, whom he had served and loved ever since the Major was a mere boy. He had fought bravely beside him in many a hard battle, and, for his gal- lant conduct, been promoted to the rank of sergeant. When the hand of death removed that kind master, Mr. Schermerhorn had gladly taken Jerry to his own house, and promised him that should be his home as long as he COLONEL FREDDY. 11 lived. So now, like a gallant old war horse, who has a fresh green paddock, and lives in clover in his infirm age, Jerrv not only stood at ease, bnt lived at ease ; and worked or not as he felt disposed. When breakfast was over, Peter suddenly cried out, " I say, fellows, sup- pose we employ ourselves by having a drill! You know old Jerry that I told you about ? I'll ask him to give us a lesson ! " ^'Yes! that will be grand fun!'' said Freddy. " Do go and find him, Peter; I should really like to learn how to drill as the soldiers do; so when General McClellan comes along, he'll admire us as much as the English General, old Sir Goutby Slogo, did the 12 COLONEL FREDDY. Seventh Regiment when they paraded before the Prmce. ^ Really, most ex- traordmary style of marching these American troops have/ said he, ^ most hequal to the ^Orse Guards and the Hoxford Blues coming down Regent street \''' Meanwhile^ Peter had scampered off to the house, and in a short time returned with a comical-looking little old man, dressed in faded regimentals. He touched his cap to the boys as he apin^oached^ in military style, and ^then drew himself up so very stiff and straight, awaiting their orders, that, as Freddy whispered to Tom, it was a perfect wonder he didn't snap short off at the waist. '^ NoW; Jerry/' began the Colonel, COLONEL FKEDDY. 13 ^^ Tve want you to give us a real drill, you know, just as you used to learn." '' Yes, a regular one ! " cliimed in the rest; ^' we'll run for our guns/' '' Not fur your fust drill, I reckon, genl'men. You'll do bad enough with- out 'em, hech, hech ! " cackled Jerry. ^^Very well — come begin then, Jerry ! " cried impatient Will. " Are ye all ready ? '^ Yes, and waiting.' ^^Then, genl'men, Fall in!" ex- claimed the sergeant, the first two words being uttered in his natural voice, but the last m an awful sepul- chral tone, like two raps on the base kettle drum. Off duty, Jerry rather resembled a toy soldier, but when in o'ivino- his orders he stiffened his body, 14 COLONEL FREDDY. threw up his head, and stuck out his hands, he looked so like the wooden figures out of Noah's ark, that the boys burst into a shout of laughter. ^' Now^ genrmen," exclaimed Jerry in a severe tone, ^^this won't do. Si- lence in the ranks. Squad! 'Shun. The fust manoover I shel teach you, genl'men, is the manoover of ' parade rest.' Now look at me, and do as I do." Anybody would have supposed, naturally enough, that to stand at rest meant to put your hands in your pock- ets and lean against a tree ; but what Jerry did, was to slap his right hand against his left, like a torpedo going off, and fold them together ; stick out his left foot, lean heavily upon his COLONEL FREDDY. 15 rio'ht, and look more like a Dutch doll than ever. The boys accordingly endeavored to imitate this performance ; but when they came to try it, a difficulty arose. Whatever mioht be their usual ideas o on the subject, there "was a diversity of opinion now as to the proper foot to be advanced, and a wild uncertainty which was the left foot. The new sol- diers shuffled backward and forward as if they were dancing hornpipes ; while Jerry shouted, ^^Xow, then, genrmen, I can't hear them hands come together smartly as Td wished, not like a row of Jarsey cider bottles a poppin'^ one arter the other, but all at once. Xow, then, SQUAD ! 'SHUN!^' in a voice of thunder, 16 COLOXEL FREDDY. ^^ Stan^ at parade rest ! Xo — no — them lef futs adwancecl ! Well if ever ! " And Jerry in his indignation gave himself such a thump on his chest that he knocked all the breath out of his body, and had to t^ ait some moments before he could go on ; while the bovs, bubblino' over with fun, took his scoldino's in hio-h p'ood humor, and shrieked with lauaiiter at their own ridiculous blunders, to the high wrath of their ancient instructor; who was so deeply interested and in earnest about his pursuit^ that he didn^t fail to lecture them well for their ^^nsub- ornation ; '^ which^ indeed, nobody minded^ except Tom Pringle, who^ by the by, was from Maryland, and many of whose relations were down COLONEL FREDDY. I7 South. He had been lookmg rather sulky from the beginning of the drill, and now suddenly stepped from his place in the ranks, exclaiming, ^' I won't play ! now I vow I won't ! " ^^ Why, Tom, what is the matter ? Are you mad at us?'' cried half a dozen voices at once. ^' Humm — " grumbled sulkv Tom. '^ What say ? I can't hear you," said Freddy. ^^ Nonsense, Tom, don't be poky, come back and drill." ^'I won't! Let us alone, will vou ? " ^' All we want is, let us alone ! ^' chanted Peter. ^^ There, Fred, let him be cross if he wants to, we can play without him ; " and the boys ran back to their places in the ranks, Freddy n.— 2 18 COLONEL FREDDY. calling out, '^ Come fellows, let's try that old parade rest once more ; '' and on Jerry's giving the command, they really did do it this time, and were pronounced capable of passing to grander evolutions. The first of these was the turn about so as to fall in ranks; some- thing the Dashahed Zouaves hadn't dreamt of before. Get into ranks? Nothing could be easier than to stand four in a row, as they had done be- fore ; but when it came to ^* right face/' most of the soldiers were found to have opposite views on the subject, and faced each other, to their mutual astonishment. The natural conse- quence was, that in three seconds the regiment was in such a snarl and COLONEL FREDDY. 19 huddle, that no one could tell T^hich rank he belonged to or anything else ; so Jerry, perfectly purple in the face Avith shouting, by way of helping them out of the scrape, gave them the fol- lowing remarkable advice : ^^ Squad, ^shun ! At th' wud ^ Foz ^ the rer-rank will stepsmartly off wi' th' leflfut, tekkinapesstoth' rare — Fo-o-o-res ! ^^ ^' W-h-a-t ! ^' was the unanimous exclamation. Jerry repeated his mandate^ which, after infinite puzzling (the honest ser- geant being no assistance whatever), was discovered to mean, ^^At the word ' Fours,^ the rear rank will step smartly off with the left foot, taking a pace to the rear. Fours ! ^' This difficulty solved, the next 20 COLOXEL FREDDY. ^^ article on tlie programme/' as Peter said, was the command March ! or ^^harch ! ^^ according to Jerry. Out stepped Freddy, confident that he knew this much at any rate, fol- lowed by the others ; but here again that celebrated left foot got them into trouble. The right foot tcould pop out here and there, and as sure as it did, at the third step the unlucky Zouave found his leg firmly stuck between the ankles of the boy in front; and the ^^man^^ behind him treading on his heels in a way calculated to aggravate a saint ; while meantime, the fellows in the rear rank, who were forever fallino; behind while thev were starino; at their feet to make sure which was the left one, icould endeavor to make COLONEL FREDDY. 21 lip for it by taking a T\'ide straddling step all of a sudden, and encircled the legs of people in front ; a proceeding which^ not being in accordance with '' Hardee's Tactics/' was not received with approbation by Jerry; who, looking at them with a sort of depre- cating pity, hoarsely said, ^^Now, Company D ! wot — wrong agin ? fowod squad ! wun, too, three, foore ; hup ! hup ! hup ! hold your head up, Mr. Fred ; turn out your toes. Master William, and keep steady ! " ^' Goody ! '' exclaimed Freddy at last, stopping short in the middle of his marching, '^ I can't stand this any longer ! There, Jerry, we've had drill enough, thank you; I am knocked into a cocked hat, for my part ! '^ 22 COLONEL FREDDY. a Very well; sir ; it is powerful hot ; an' I must say you young geuF- men have kep' at it steadier nor I ex- pected, a gred deal/' ^^ Thank you, Jerry/' said George, lauo'liins;, ^^we shall not foro-et our first drill in a hurry. I can't tell, for my part, which has been most both- ered, you or we." ^^Allers glad to give you a little practice/^ grinned Jerry, ^^ though you'd rive the gizzard out of an army drill sergeant, I'd wenture to say, if he hed the teachin' of vou. Hech ! hech ! hech ! Mornin', geul'men, your sarvent," and Jerry touched his cap to Colonel Freddy and marched off chuckling. As soon as he had made his exit, COLONEL FREDDY. 23 tlie boys clustered around Tom, as he sat turning his back on as many of the company as possible, and all began in a breath, '* Now, Tom, do tell us what you're mad at ; what have we done ? please speak ! " '^ Well, then,^^ shouted Tom, spring- ing up, ^^ ril tell you what, Frederic Jourdain ! I won't be ordered around by any old monkey like that,^' — ^point- ing toward Jerry — ^' and as for you and your ordering about, I won't stand that either ! fine as you think your- self; the Colonel, indeed ! '' "Why, Tom, how can you talk so ? can't you play like the rest of us r I'm sure I haven't taken advantage of being Colonel to be domineering; have I, boys ? " 24: C0L0:N^EL FREDDY. '^ Xo, no ! not a bit^ Fred — never mind what he says ! ^^ ^^ Oh do — clont appeal to them ! Toil do that because you daren't say outright you mean to have everything your own way. That may be very well for them — you're all a parcel of Yankee shopkeepers together — but, I can tell you, no Southern gentleman will stand it ! '' ^^ North or South, Tom;" began Will Gostar, pretty sharply, ^^ every regiment must have a head — and obey the head. We've chosen Fred our Colonel, and you must mind him. When he tells you to drill you've got to do it r' Tom wheeled round perfectly furi- ous. ^' You say that again," he shout- COLONEL FREDDY. 25 cd, ^^incl ril leave the regiment! I Avill. I won't be told by any North- erner that I'm his subordinate, and if my State hadn't thought so too, she'd never have left the Union/' ^' What ! you dare to say anything against the Union ! " cried George, turning white with rage ; ^^ do you mean to say that you admire the South for secedino' ? '^ ^^ Yes ! I've a o'reat mind to secede myself, what's more ! ^' Freddy, as I said, w^as as sweet- tempered a little fellow as ever lived ; but he was fairly aroused now. His blue eves flashed fire ; he crimsoned to the temples ; his fists were clenched — and shouting, ^^you traitor !'' like a flash, he sent Tom flying over on his 26 COLONEL FREDDY. back^ with the camp stool about his ears. Up jumped Tom^ kicked away the stool, and rushed toward Fred. But the others were too quick for him; they seized his arms and dragged him back; Peter calling out ^^No, don't fight him^ Colonel ; he's not worth it ; let's have a court martial — that's the way to serve traitors ! " Amid a perfect uproar of rage and contempt for this shameful attack on their Colonel, the Zouaves hastily ar- ranged some camp stools forjudge and jury; and George being chosen judge, the oldest members of the regiment took their places around him, and Tom was hauled up before the Court. " Oh stop, pray stop ! " cried Fred- COLONEL FREDDY. 27 dy at this stage of affairs. "• Indeed, I forgive him for what he said to me, if he will take back his language about the Union. I can't stand that'' '' You hear what the Colonel says," said George, sternly; ''will you re- tract ? '' "No, never! if you think Fm go- ino; to be frightened into submission to a Northerner you're very much mistaken! No Southerner will ever be that! and as for your precious Union, I don't care if I say I hope there never will be a Union any more.'' ''Then, by George ! " shouted the judge, fairly springing from his seat, " You're a traitor, sir ! FelloAvs, who- ever is in favor of having this seces- sionist put under arrest, say Aye ! " -28 COLOXEL FREDDY. • ^'Aye! aye! AYE!'' in a perfect roar. " Does any one object ? '^ Nobody spoke. " Then I sentence him to be con- fined in the guard house till he begs pardon ; Livingston, Costar^ and Boor- man to take him there.'' His captors pounced upon their prisoner with very little ceremony when this sentence was pronounced; when Tom, without attempting to escape^ suddenly commenced striking- out at every one he could reach. A grand hurley-burley ensued; but be- fore long Tom was overpowered and dragged to the smoke, alias guard house ; heaping insults and taunts on the Union and the regiment all the COLONEL FREDDY. 29 way. Harry flung open the door of the prison, a picturesque little luit built of rough gray stone, and covered with Virginia creepers and wild honey- suckles. The others pushed Tom in, and Peter, dashing forward, slammed the door on him with a bang. Snap ! went the bolt, and now nothing earth- ly could open it again but a Bramah key or a gunpowder explosion. Youno- Secession was fast, and the North triumphant. Hurrah ! CHAPTER II. BULL RUN. Their first excitement over, the gaUaut Zouaves couldn't help looking at each other in rather a comical way. To be sure, it was very aggravating to have their country run clown, and themselves assailed without leave or license ; but they were by no means certain, now thev came to think of it, that they had acted rightly in doing- justice to the little rebel in such a summary manner. Peter especially, who had proposed the court martial, COLONEL FREDDY 31 had an instinctive feeling that if his father were to learn the action they had taken, he would scarcely consider it to tally with the exercise of strict politeness to company. In short, with- out a word said, there was a tacit understanding in the corps that this was an affair to be kept profoundly secret. While they were still silently re- volving this delicate question, little Louie Hamilton suddenly started vio- lently, exclaiming, ^^ Only listen a mo- ment, felloth ! what a strange noithe ! It sounds like thome wild beast ! " '^ Noise ? I don't hear anv,'' said Freddy ; '' yes I do, though — like something trampling the bushes ! ^^ '' There's nothing worse than four 32 COLONEL FREDDY. coTvs and a house dog about our place/' said Peter ; ^^ but what that is I don't know — ^liush ! '^ The boys hstened with all their ears and elbows^ and nearly stared themselves blind looking around to see what was the matter. They had not long to wait^ however^ for the tramp- ling increased in the wood^ a curious, low growling was heard^ which pres- ently swelled to a roar, and in a mo- ment more^ an immense brindled bull w^as seen dashing through the locusts, his head down and heels in the air^ looking not unlike a great wheel- barrow, bellowing at a prodigious rate, and making straight toAvard the place where they stood ! ^^ Murder, what shall we do V^ cried COLONEL FREDDY. 33 Louie, turning deadly pale with ter- ror, while the Zouaves, for an instant, appeared perfectly paralyzed. ''Why run! run for your lives!'' shouted George, who was the first to recover himself ^' Peter, you lead the way ; take us the shortest cut to the house, and — oh ! " Not another word did George ut- ter. He was saving his breath for the race. And now, indeed, began a most prodigious '' skedaddle ; '' the boys al- most flying on ahead, running nearly abreast, and their terrible enemy close behind, tearing up the ground with his horns, and galloping like an ex- press ! On sped the gallant Zouaves, mak- ing off as rapidly from the scene of ac- II.— 3 34 COLOXEL FREDDY. tion as tlicir namesakes from ^lanas- sas^ T\"ithoiit pausing to remark ^vliicli way the wind blew, imtil, at last, tliey had skirted the grove, and were on the straight road for the house. Here Peter stoj^ped a moment, '' Because some of the men will be near here, 23erhaps,^' he pantingly said, ^^and Master Bull will be caught if he ven- tures after us."^ Scarcely had he spoken, when the furious animal was once more seen, dashing on faster than ever, and flaming with rage, till he might have exploded a powder mill ! Now for a last eflfort ! One deter- mined burst over the smooth road, and they are safe in the house ! Little Louie, who was only nine years old, and the youngest of the COLONEL FREDDY. 85 party, had grasped hold of Freddy's hand when they first started; and been half pulled along by him so far ; but now that safety was close at hand, he suddenly sank to the ground, moaning out, '' Oh Fred, you must go on and leave me; I can't run any more. Oh mamma ! " ' No, no, Louie ! don't do so ! " cried Freddy. ''Get up, little man! why, vou can't think I would leave you, surely?" and, stooping down, the brave little fellow caught Louie up in his arms, and, thus burdened, tried to run on toward the house. The rest of the bovs were now far beyond them; and had just placed their feet upon the doorstone, wdien a loud shout of ''help!" made them 36 COLOXEL FREDDY. turn round ; and there was Freddy, with Louie in his arms, staggering up the road, the horns of the ball within a yard of his side ! Like a flash of lio'litnins;, Will snatched up a large rake which one of the men had left lying on the grass, and dashed down the road. There is one minute to spare, just one ! but in that minute Will has reached the spot, and launching his weapon, the iron points descend heavily on the animal's head. The bull, rather aghast at this re- ception, which did not appear to be at all to his taste, seemed to hesitate a moment whether to charge his adver- sary or not ; then, with a low growl COLONEL FKEDDY 3T of baffled fuiy, he slowly turned away, and trotted off toward the Avood. The help had not come a mmute too soon; for Freddy, his sensitive or- ganization completely overwrought by the events of the morning and his narrow escape from death, had fallen fainting to the ground ; his hands still clenched in the folds of little Louie's jacket. Will instantly raised him, Avhen he saw^ that all danger was over, and he and some of the others, who had come crowding down the road, very gently and quickly carried the insensible boy to the house, and laid him on the lounge in the library; while Peter ran for the housekeeper to aid in bringing him to life. Good Mrs. Lockitt hurried up stairs 38 COLONEL FREDDY. as fast as she could with camphor, ice water^ and everything else she could think of good for fainting. '' Mrs. Lockitt, where is papa ? '' asked Peter^ as he ran on beside her. ^^ Gone to New York, Master Pe- ter/^ she replied ; '' I don't think he will be home before dinner timc.'^ Our little scapegrace breathed more freely ; at least there were a few hours' safety from detection, and he reentered the library feeling consider- ably relieved. There lay Colonel Freddy, his face white as death ; one little hand han^:- ing lax and pulseless over the side of the lounge, and the ruffled shirt thrust aside from the broad, snowy chest. Harry stood over him, fanning his COLO^TEL FREDDY. 39 forehead ; while poor Louie was crouched in a corner, sobbing as though his heart would break, and the others stood looking on as if they did not know what to do with themselves. Mrs. Lockitt hastened to apply her remedies ; and soon a faint color came back to the cheeky and with a long sigh, the great blue eyes opened once more, and the little patient murmured, ^'Whereaml?" ^^Oh, then he's not killed, after all ! '' cried Louie, running to his side. '^Dcar, dear Freddy! how glad I am you have come to life again ! " This funny little speech made even Freddy laugh, and then Mrs. Lockitt said, '• But, Master Peter, you have not told me yet how it happened 40 COLONEL FPwEDDY. that Master Frederic got in such a way." The eyes of the whole party be- came round and saucer-y at once ; as, all talking together, they began the history of their fearful adventure. Mrs. Lockitt's wiry false curls would certainly have dropped off with as- tonishment if they hadn't been sewed fast to her cap, and she fairly wiped her eyes on her spectacle case, which she had taken out of her pocket in- stead of her handkerchief^ as they described Freddy's noble effort to save his helpless companion without think- ing of himself. When the narrative was brought to a close, she could only exclaim, ^^Well, Master Freddy, you are a little angel, sure enough! and COLONEL FREDDY. 41 Master Willicim is as brave as a lion. To tliiuk of his stopping that great creetur, to be sure ! Wherever in the world it came from is the mystery/'' So savins:, Mrs. Lockitt bustled out of the room, and after she had gone, there was a very serious and grateful talk among the elder boys about the escape they had had, and a sincere thankfulness to God for having pre- served their lives. The puzzle now was, how they were to return to the camp, where poor Tom had been in captivity all this time. It was certainly necessary to get back — but then the bull ! While they were yet deliberating on the horns of this dilemna, the library door 42 COLONEL FREDDY. suddenly opened, and in walked — Mr. Scliermerliorn ! ^^ Why, boys ! " lie exclaimed, ^^ how do you come to be here ? Fred, w^hat's the matter ? you look as pale as a ghost ! " There was general silence for a moment ; but these bovs had been taught by pious parents to speak the truth alwavs, whatever came of it. Ah ! that is the right prmciple to go on, dear children; Tell the Truth when you have done anything wrong, even if you are sure of being punished when that truth is known. So George, as the eldest, with one brave look at his comrades, frankly related everything that had hap- pened : beginning at the quarrel with COLONEL FREDDY. 43 Toni; down to the escape from the bull. To describe the varied expres- sion of his auditor's face between de- light and vexation, would require a painter; and v>'hen George at last said, ^^ Do you think we deserve to be punished, sir? or have we paid well enough already for our court mar- tial ? '' Mr. Schermerhorn exclaimed, trying to appear highly incensed, yet scarcely able to help smiling : *^ I declare I hardly know ! I cer- tainly am terribly angry with you. How dare you treat a young gentle- man so on my place ? answ^er me that, you scapegraces ! It is pretty plain who is at the bottom of all this — Pe- ter dares not look at me, I perceive. At the same time, I am rather glad 44 COLOXEL FREDDY. that Master Tom has been taught what to expect if he runs down the Union — it will probably save him from turning traitor any more^ though you were not the proper persons to pass sentence on him. As for our plucky little Colonel here — shake hands^ Freddy ! you have acted like a hero ! and for your sake I excuse the court martial. Now, let us see Avhat has become of the bull, and then go to the release of our friend Tom. He must be thoroughly repentant for his mis- deeds by this time.'' Mr. Schermerhorn accordingly gave orders that the bull should be hunted up and secured, until his mas- ter should be discovered ; so that the Zouaves might be safe from his at- COLONEL FREDDY. 45 tacks hereafter. If any of our read- ers feel an interest in the fate of this charming animal, they are informed that he was, with great difficulty, hunted into the stables; and before evening taken away by his master, the farmer from whom he had strayed. Leaving the others to await his capture, let us return to Tom. He had not been ten minutes in the smoke house before his wrath beo-an to cool , and he would have given sixpence for any way of getting out but by begging pardon. That was a httle too much just yet, and Tom stamped with rage and shook the door ; which re- sisted his utmost efforts to burst. Then came the sounds without, the rushing, 46 COLONEL FREDDY. trampling steps^ the furious bellow, and tlie shout, '^ Run ! run for your lives ! '^ Run ! why on earth must they ? What had happened ? and es- pecially Avhat would become of him left alone there, with this unseen ene- my perhaps coming at him next. He hunted in vain in every direction for some cranny to peep through ; and if it had been possible, would have squeezed his head up the chimney. He shouted for help, but nobody heard him ; they were all too fright- ened for that. He could hear them crunching along the road, presently; another crv, and then all was still. '' What shall I do ? '' thought poor Tom. ^^Oh, where have they gone to ? Please let me out, Freddv ! do COLONEL FREDDY. 47 forgive me, boys ! Til f-figlit for the Union as m-mucli as you like ! oil ! oil ! " and at last — must it be con- fessed? — the gallant Secesli finished by bursting out crying! Time passed on — of course seeming doubly long to the prisoner — and still Vr } boYS did not return. Tom cried till he could cry no more ; snifBino; desperately, and rubbing his nose vio- lently up in the air — a proceeding which did not ameliorate its natural bent in that direction. He really felt thoroughly sorry, and quite ready to beg pardon as soon as the boys should return; particularly as they had forgot- ten to provide the captive with even the traditional bread and water, and din- ner-time was close at hand. While he 48 coLO^^:L freddy. was jet struggling between repentance and stomachache, the welcome sound of their voices was heard. They came nearer, and then a key was hastily applied to the fastenings of the door, and it flew open, disclosing the Zou- aves^ with Freddy at the head, and Mr. Schermerhorn bringing up the rear. Tom hung back a moment yet; then with a sudden impulse he walked toward Freddy, saying, ^^I beg your pardon, Colonel; please forgive me for insulting you ; and as for the flag ^' — and without another word, Tom ran toward the flag stafi^, and catching the long folds of the banner in both hands, pressed them to his lips. " The chivalry forever ! " said Mr. COLONEL FREDDY. 49 Scliermerliorn, smiling. '' That's right, Tom ! bless the old bamier ! it is your safeguard, and your countrymen's too, if they would only believe it Go and shake hands with him, boys ; he is in his right place now, and if ever you are tempted to quarrel again, I am sure North and South will both re- member '' Bull Rux\ ! '' II. CHAPTER III. BEFORE MONTEREY. It is not necessary to describe the particular proceedings of the Dash- ahed Zouaves during every day of their camp hfe. They chattered, played, drilled, quarrelled a little once in a T\diile, and made it up again^ eat and slept considerably, and grew sun- burnt to an astonishino- deo-ree. It was Thui^day morning, the fourth of their delightful davs in camp. Jerry had been teaching them COLONEL FREDDY. 61 how to handle a musket and charge bayonets, until they were quite excit- ed, and rather put out that there was no enemy to practise on but the grasshoppers. At length, when they had tried everything that was to be done, Harry exclaimed, " I wish, Jer- ry, you would tell us a story about the wars! Something real splendid, now ; perfectly crammed with Indians and scalps and awful battles and ele- gant Mexican palaces full of dia- monds and gold saucepans and lovely Spanish girls carried off by the hair of their heads ! ^^ This flourishing rigmarole, which Harry delivered regardless of stops, made the boys shout with laughter. '' You'd better tell the story your- 52 coLO^^:L freddy. self, since you know so mucli about it ! ■' said Tom. ^' I allow you've never been in Mexico, sir/' said Jerry, grinning. " I doubt but tliar's palisses somewhar in Mexico, but I and mv mates liev been thar, an' ^ve never seed none o' 'em. No, Master Harry, I can't tell ye sich stories as that, but I do mind a thing what happened on the field afore Monterey.^^ The boys, delightedly exclaiming, ^^ A story ! a story ! hurrah ! '^ drew their camp stools around him; and Jerry, after slowly rubbing his hand round and round over his bristling chin, while he considered what to say first, began his story as follows : COLONEL FREDDY. 63 jerry's story. ^^It wor a Sunday night;, young genrmen, the 21st of September, and powerful hot. We had been fightin^ hke mad, wi' not a moment's rest, all day, an^ now at last wor imder the canwas, they of us as wor left alive, a tryin' to sleep. The skeeters buzzed aroun' wonderful thick, and the groun^ aneath our feet wor like red- hot tin plateS; wi' the sun burnin' an blisterin^ down. At last my mate Bill says, says he, ^ Jerry, my mate, hang me ef I can stan^ this any longer. Let you an^ me get up an' see ef it be cooler out-o'-doors.' ^^ I wor tired enou2:h wi' the dav's fight, an' worrited, too, wi' a wound 54 COLONEL FliEDDY. in my shoulder ; but the tent wor no better nor the open field, an' we got up an' went out. Thar wor no moon, but the sky was wonderful full o' stars, so we could see how we wor stannin' wd' our feet among the bodies o' the poor fellows as had fired their last shot that day. It wor a sight, young genFmen, what would make sich as you sick an' faint to look on; but sogers must larn not to min' it; an' we stood thar, not thinkin' how awful it wor, and yet still an' quiet, too. ^^ ^ Ah, Jerry,' says Bill — he wor a young lad, an' brought up by a pious mother, I allow — ^ I dunnot like this fio-htin' on the Sabba' day. The Lord will not bless our arms, I'm afeard, if we go agin His will so.' COLONEL FREDDY. 55 i' I laughed — more shame to me — an' said, ^ I'm a sight older nor you, mate, an' I've seed a sight o' wictories got on a Sunday. The better the day, the better the deed, I reckon.^ '^ ' Well, I don't know,' he says ; ^ mebbe thino's is allers mixed in time o' war, an' right an' wrong change sides a' purpose to suit them as wants battle an' tumult to be ragin' ; but it don't go wi' my grain, noways.^ " I hadn't experienced a change o' heart then, as I did arterward, bless the Lord ! an' I hardly unnerstood what he said. While we wor a stan- nin' there, all to onct too dark figgers kim a creepin' over the field to'ard the Major's tent. ' Look thar, Jerry,' Avhispered Bill, kind o' startin' like, 56 COLONEL FREDDY. ^thar's some of tliem rascally Mexi- cans/ I looked at ^em wi'out sayin' a wured^ an' then I went back to the tent fur my six-shooter — Bill arter me ; — ^fur ef it ain't the dooty o' every Christian to extarminate them war- mints o' Mexicans, I'll be drummed out of the army to-morrer. ^^Wall, y<^^^iig genl'men — we tuck our pistols, and slow and quiet we moved to whar we seed the two Greasers, as they call 'em. On they kim, creepin' to'ard my Major's tent, an' at las' one o' 'em raised the can- was a bit. Bill levelled his rewolver in a wink, an' fired. You shud ha' seed how they tuck to their heels ! yelling all the way, till wun o' em' dropped. The other didn't stop, but COLONEL FREDDY. 67 just pulled ahead. I fired arter him wi'out touching him; but the noise woke the Major, an' when he hearn wot the matter wor, he ordered the alarm to be sounded an' the men turned out. ' It's a 'buscade to catch us/ he says, ' an' I'm fur being fust on the field.' ^^Bill an' I buckled on our car- tridge boxes, caught up our muskets, an' were soon in the ranks. On we marched, stiddy an' swift, to the ene- my's fortifications ; an' wen we were six hundred yards distant, kim the command, ^Double quick.' The sky hed clouded up all of a suddent, an' we couldn't see well where we wor, but thar Avas suthin' afore us like a low, black w^all. As we kim nearer, it 68 COLOXEL FREDDY. moved kind o' cautious like^ an' when we wor within musket rauo-e, wi' a roar hke ten thousand divils^ they charged forred ! Thar wor the flash and crack o' powder^ and the ring! 23ing ! o' the bullets, as we power'd our shot on them an' they on us ; but not another soun' ; cr-r-r-ack went the muskets on every side agin, an' the ^ rascals wor driven back a minnit. ^ Charge bayonets ! ' shouted the Ma- jor, wen he seed that. Thar wos a pause ; a rush forred ; we wor met by the innimy half way ; an' then I hearn the awfullest o' created soun's — a man's scream. I looked roun', an' there wos Bill, lying on his face, struck through an' through. Thar wos no time to see to him then, fur the men wor fur COLONEL FREDDY. 59 ahead o' me, an' I heel to run an' jine the rest. '^ We hed a sharp, quick skirmish o' it — for ef thar is a cowardly critter on tlie created airth it's a Greaser — an^ in less nor half an' hour wor beat- in' back to quarters. When all wor quiet agin, I left my tent, an' away to look fur Bill. I sarched an' sarched till my heart were almost broke, an' at last I cried out, 'Oh Bill, my mate, wliar be you ? ' an' I hearn a fibble v'ice say, ' Here I be, Jerry ! ' '^ I swon ! I wor gladder nor any- thin o; wen I hearn that. I huo-o-ed him to my heart, I wor moved so power- ful, an' then I tuck him on my back, an off to camp ; werry slow an' pa- 60 COLONEL FREDDY. tient, fur he were sore Tvownded, an' the life in him wery low. ""Wall, young genrmen, I'll not weary you wi' the long hours as dragged by afore mornin'. I med him as snug as I could, and at daybreak we hed him took to the sugeon^s tent. " I wor on guard all that morning an' could not o-et to my lad ; but at last the relief kim romi\ an' the man as was to take my place says, says he, ' Jerry, my mate, ef I was you I'd go right to the hosp'tl an' stay by poor Bill ' (fur they all knew as I sot gret store by him) ; ' He is werry wild in his head, I hearn, an' the sugeon says as how he can't last lon^-.' ^^Ye may b'lieye how my hairt COLONEL FREDDY. (Jl jumped wen I hearn that. I laid down my gun, an' ran fur the wooden shed, which were all the place they hed fur them as was wownded. An' thar wor Bill — my mate Bill — laying on a blanket spred on the floore, wi' his clothes all on (fur it's a hard bed, an' his own bloody uniform, that a sojer must die in), wi' the corpse o' another poor fellow as had died all alone in the night a most touching- him, an' slopped wi' blood. I moved it fur away all in a trimble o' sorrer, an' kivered it decent like, so as Bill mightn't see it an' get downhearted fur hisself. Then I went an' sot down aside my mate. He didn't know me, no more nor if I wor a stranger ; but kept throwin' his arms about, an' 62 COLONEL FREDDY. moaniii' out continual^ ^ Oh mother ! mother ! Why dou't you come to your boy?^ '^ I bust right out crymg, I do own, wen I hearn that, an' takin' his han' in mine, I tried to quiet him down a bit; tehing him it wor bad fur his wownd to be so res'less (fur every time he tossed, thar kim a httle leap o' blood from his breast) ; an' at last, about foore o'clock in the day, he opened his eyes quite sensible like, an' says to me, he says, ' Dear matey, is that you ? Thank you fur comino- to see me afore I die.' '' ' No, Bill, don't talk so/ I says, a strivin' to be cheerful like, tho' I seed death in his face, ' You'll be well afore long.' COLONEL FREDDY. 63 '^^Aye, ta'gII in heaven/ lie says; and tlicn, arter a minnit, ^ Jerry/ he says, ^ thar's a httle bounty money as belongs to me in my knapsack, an' my month's wao-es. I want you, wen I am gone, to take it to my mother, an' tell her — ' (he wor gaspin' fearful) — ^as I died — fightin' fur my country — an' the flag. God bless you, Jerry — you hev been a good frien' to me, an' I knows as you'll do this — an' bid the boys good-by — fur me.' '' I promised, wi' the tears stream- in' down my cheeks ; an' then we w^or quiet a bit, fur it hurt Bill's breast to talk, an' I could not say a wured fur the choke in my throat. Arter a while he says, ^ Jerry, won't you sing me the hymn as I taught you aboard 64 COLONEL FREDDY. the transport? about the Lord our Captiu ? ' ''' I could hardly find v'ice to begin, but it wor Bill's dying wish, an' I made shift to sing as well as I could — " ' TVe air marcliin' on together To our etarnal rest ; Niver askin' "why we're ordered — For the Lord He knoweth best. Christ is our Captain ! ' Forred ! ' is His word ; Ranks all steady, muskets ready, In the army o' the Lord 1 ** * Satan's hosts are all aroun* us, An' strive to enter in ; But our outworks they are stronger Nor the dark brigades o' sin ! Christ is our Fortress ! Righteousness our sword ; Truth the standard — in the vanguard-— C the armv o' the Lord ! COLONEL FREDDY. QS " * Comrad.^, we air ever fightin' A battle fur the right ; Ever on the on'ard movement Fur our home o' peace an' hght. Christ is our Leader ! Heaven our reward, Comin' nearer, shinin' clearer — In the army o' the Lord ! ' '' Arter I lied sung the hymn — an' it wor all I could do to get through — Bill seemed to be a sight easier. He lay still, smilin' like a child on the mother's breast. Pretty soon arter, the Major kim in; an' wen he seed Bill lookin' so peaceful, he says, says he, ^Why, cheer up, my lad! the sugeon sayd as how you wor in a bad way ; but you look finely now ; ' — fur he didn't know it wor the death look coming over him. ^You'll be about II. — 5 66 COLOXEL FREDDY. soon/ says the Major^ '^an' figlitin' fur the flag as brave as ever/ '^Bill didn't say nothino- — he seemed to be gettmg wild agin ; — an^ looked stupid like at our Major till he hearn the wureds about the flag. Then he caught his breath suddint like^ an', afore we could stop him, he had sprang to his feet — shakin' to an' fro like a reed — but as straio:ht as he ever vrov on parade ; an', his v'ice all hoarse an' full o' death, an' his arm in the air, he shouted, ^ Aye ! God — bless — the— flag ! we'll fight fur it till—' an' then we hearn a sort o' snap, an' he fell forred — dead ! '' We buried him that nioht, I an' my mates. I cut off a lock o' his hair fur his poor mother, afore vre put COLONEL FREDDY. 67 the airtli over him ; an^ giv it to hei'j ■wi' poor Bill's money, faithful an' true^ wen we kim home. I've lived to be an old man since then, an' see the Major go afore me, as I hoped to sarve till my dyin^ day; but Lord willin', I shel go next, to win the Sal- wation as I've fitten for^ by Bill's side, a sojer in Christ's army^ in the Etar- nal Jerusalem ! '^ The boys took a long breath when Jerry had finished his story, and more than one bright eye was filled with tears. The rough words, and plain, impolished manner of the old soldier, only heightened the impression made by his story ; and as he rose to go away, evidently much moved by the 68 COLOXEL FREDDY. painful recollections it excited^ there Tv^as a hearty^ ^^ Thank you, sergeant, for your story — it was real good ! " Jerry only touched his cap to the young soldiers, and marched off has- tily, while the boys looked after him in respectful silence. But young spir- its soon recover from gloomy influ- ences, and in a few moments they were all chattering merrily again. ^^What a pity we must go home Monday ! " cried Louie ; ^^ I wish we could camp out forever ! Oh, Freddy, do write a letter to General McClellan, and ask him to let us join the army right away ! Tell him we^ll buy some new india-rubber back-bones and stretch ourselves out big directly, if he^ll only send right on for us ! ^^ COLONEL FREDDY. C9 ^^ Perhaps he would, if he knew how jolly we can drill already ! " said Peter, laughing. ''I tell you what, boys, the very thing ! let's have a re- view before we go home. I'll ask all the boys and girls I know to come and look on, and we might have quite a grand entertainment. Won't that be splendid? We can march about all over, and fire off the cannons and everything ! I'm sure father will let us.'' '' Yes, but how's General McClellan to hear anything about it ? '' inquired practical Louie. '' Why — I don't know," said Peter, rather taken aback by this view of the subject. ''Well, somehow — never 70 COLOXEL FREDDY. mind, it will be grand fun, and I mean to ask my father right away/' ^^ Take me with you ? " called a dozen fellows directly. Finally it was concluded that it mia'ht make more < - impression on Mr. Schermerhorn's mind, if the application came from the regiment in a body; so, running for their swords and guns, officers and men found their places in the battal- ion, and the grand procession started on its way — chattering all the time, in utter defiance of that ^^ article of war '' which forbids ^' talkins; in the ranks.'' Just as they were passing the lake, they heard carriage wheels crunching on the gravel, and drew up in a long line on the other side of the road to let the vehicle pass them; much to COLONEL FREDDY. 71 the astonishment of two pretty young hidics and a sweet Uttle girl; about Freddy's age, who were leaning com- fortably back in the handsome ba- rouche. ^' Why, Peter ! ^' exclaimed one of the ladies, ^^ what in the world is all this ? '' '^ This ! ^^ cried Peter, running up to the carriage, ^^why, these are the Dashahed Zouaves, Miss Carlton. We have been in camp ever since Monday. Good morning, Miss Jessie,^^ to the little girl on the front seat, w^ho Avas looking on wdth deep interest. ^^ Oh, to be sure, I remember,'^ said Miss Carlton, laughing; ^^come, in- troduce the Zouaves, Peter; we are wild to know" them ! " 72 COLO:^^EL FFwEDDY. The boys clustered eagerly about the carriage and a lively chat took place. The Zouaves, some blushing and bashful, others frank and confident, and all desperately in love already with pretty httle Jessie, related in high glee their adventures — except the cele- brated court martial — and enlarged gloTvingly upon the all-ilnportant sub- ject of the grand review. Colonel Freddy, of course, played a prominent part in all this, and with his handsome face, bright eyes, and frank, gentlemanly ways, needed only those poor lost curls to be a perfect picture of a soldier. He chattered away with ]\Iiss Lucy, the second sis- ter, and obtained her special promise that she would plead their cause with COLONEL FREDDY. 73 Mr. Sclicrmerliorn in case the united petitions of the corps should fail. The young ladies did not know of Mrs. Schermerhorn's departure, but Freddy and Peter together coaxed them to come up to the house '^ anyhow.'^ The carriage was accordingly taken into the procession, and followed it meekly to the house ; the Zouaves insisting on being escort, much to the terror of the young ladies; who were in con- stant apprehension that the rear rank and the horses might come to kicks — not to say blows — and the embarrass- ment of the coachman ; who, as they were constantly stopping unexpectedly to turn round and talk, didn't know '^ where to have them,'' as the saying- is. However, they reached their des- 74 COLONEL FREDDY. tination in safety before long, and found Mr. Schermerliorn seated on the piazza. He hastened forward to meet them, with the cordial greeting of an old friend. ^^Well, old bachelor/' said Miss Carlton, gayly, as the young ladies as- cended the steps, ^'you see we have come to visit you in state, with the military escort befitting patriotic vouno; ladies who have four brothers on the Potomac. What has become of Madame, please ? ^' ^' Gone to Niagara and left me a ' lone lorn creetur ; ' ^' said Mr. Scher- merliorn, laughing. ^^ Basely deserted me when my farming couldn't be left. But how am I to account for the pres- ence of the military, mademoiselle ? '^ COLONEL FREDDY. 75 ^' Really, I beg their pardons/^ ex- claimed Miss Carlton. ''They have come on a special deputation to you, Mr. Schermerhorn, so pray don't let us interrupt business." Thus apostrophised, the boys scampered eagerly up the steps ; and Freddy, a little bashful, but looking as bright as a button, delivered the followino' brief oration : '' Mr. Scher- merhorn: I want — that is, the boys want — I mean we all want — to have a grand review on Saturday, and ask our friends to look on. Will you let us do it, please ? ^^ ''Certainly, with the greatest pleasure ! '^ rephed Mr. Schermerhorn, smilino' ; '' but what will become of you good people when I tell you that 76 COLONEL FREDDY. I have just received a letter from Mrs. Scliermerliorn, asking me to join her this week instead of next^ and bring Peter with me.^^ ^^ Oh ! father, please let me stay ! '' interrupted Peter ; ^^ can't you tell ma IVe joined the army for the war? We all want to stay like everything ! '^ ^^ And forage for yourselves ? '^ said his father, laughing. ^^ Xo, the army must give you up, and lose a valuable member, Master Peter; but just have the goodness to listen a moment. The review shall take place, but as the camp will have to break up on Satur- day instead of Monday, as I had in- tended, the performances must come off to-morrow. Does that suit your ideas ? '' COLONEL FREDDY. 77 The boys gave a delighted consent to this arrangement, and now the only thing which dampened their enjoy- ment was the prospect of such a speedy end being put to their camp hfe. '' Confound it ! what was the fun for a fellow to be poked into a stupid watering place, where he must bother to keep his hair parted down the mid- dle, and a clean collar stiff enough to choke him on from mornino- till night ? '' as Tom indignantly remarked to George and Will the same evening. ''The fact is, this sort of thing is the thing for a man after all ! '^ an opinion in which the other men fully con- curred. But let us return to the piazza, where we have left the party. After 78^ COLONEL FPwEDDY. a few moments more spent in chatting with Mr. Schermerhorn, it was decid- ed to accept Colonel Freddy's jDolite invitation, which he gave with such a bright little bow, to inspect the camp. You may be sure it was in apple-pie order, for Jerry, who had taken the Zouaves under his special charge, in- sisted on their keeping it in such a state of neatness as only a soldier ever achieved. The party made an ex- tremely picturesque group — the gay uniforms of the Zouaves, and light summer dresses of the ladies, charm- ingly relieved against the background of trees; while Mr. Schermerhorn's stately six feet, and somewhat portly proportions, quite reminded one of General Scott ; especially among such COLONEL FREDDY. • 79 a small army ; in which George alone quite came up to the regulation '^ G3 inches/' Little Jessie ran hither and thith- er, surrounded by a crowd of ador- ers, who w^ould have given their brightest buttons, every ^'man" of them, to be the most entertaining fel- low of the corps. They showed her the battery and the stacks of shining guns — made to stand up by Jerry in a wonderful fashion that the boys never could hope to attain — the inside of all the tents, and the smoke guard house (Tom couldn't help a blush as he looked in) ; and finally, as a parting compliment (which, let me tell you, is the greatest, in a boy's estimation, that can possibly be paid), Freddy 809 OOLOisTIL FREDDY. made her a present of his very largest and most gorgeous ^' glass agates ; ^' one of which was all the colors of the rainbovv", and the other patriotically adorned with the Stars and Stripes in enamel. Peter climbed to the top of the tallest cherry tree^ and brought her down a bough at least a yard and a half lono; crammed with ^^ox hearts ; ^^ Harry eagerly offered to make any number of ^^ stunning bas- kets " out of the stones, and in short there never was such a belle seen be- fore. ^^ Oh, alnt she jolly ! " was the rul- ing opinion among the Zouaves. A private remark was also circulated to the effect that ^^IS^Iiss Jessie was stun- ningly pretty." COLONEL FREDDY. ,^ 81 • The young ladies at last said good- by to the camp ; promising faithfully to send all the visitors they could to the grand review, and drove off highly entertained with their visit. Mr. Schermerhorn decided to take the af- ternoon boat for the city and return early Friday morning, and the boys, left to themselves, began to think of dinner, as it was two o'clock. A brisk discussion was kept up all dinner time you may be sure, concerning the event to come off on the morrow. ^^I should like to know, for my part, what we do in a review," said Jimmy, balancing his fork arttisically on the end of his finger, and looking solemnly round the table. '^Why, shovr off everything we II.— 6 82 COLONEL FREDDY. know ! ^' said Charley Spicer. ^' March about, and form mto ranks and col- umns, and all that first, then do charmmg '' parade rest/^ ^^ ^der humps ! '^ and the rest of it ; and fin- ish off by firing off our guns, and showing how we can't hit anything by any possibility ! '^ ^^But these guns won't fireofi*!'^ objected Jimmy. ^^ Well, the cannon then ! '^ ^' But I'm sure father won't let us have any powder," said Peter discon- solately. '^You can't think how I burnt the end of my nose last Fourth with powder! It was so sore I couldn't blow it for a week ! *' The boys all burst out laughing at this dreadful disaster, and George COLONEL Fi^EDDY. 83 said, "You weren't lighting it with the end of your nose, were you ? ^' " No ; but I was stooping over, cliarging one of my cannon, and I dropped the ^ punk ' right in the muz- zle somehow, and, would you believe it, the nasty thing went off and burnt my nose ! and father said I shouldn^t play with powder any more, because I might have put out my eyes/' " "Well, we must take it out in marching, then,^' said Freddy, with a tremendous sigh. "No, hold on; I'll tell you what we can do ! ^' cried Tom, eagerly. " I have some ' double headers ' left from the Fourth ; we mi^'ht fire them out of the cannon; they make noise 84: COLONEL FREDDY. enough, I'm sure. I'll Tvrite to my mother this afternoon and get them.'' The boys couldn't help being struck Tvith the generosity of this offer, com- ing from Tom after their late rather unkind treatment of him ; and the older ones especially were very par- ticular to thank him for his present. As soon as dinner was over, he started for the house to ask Mr. Schermer- horn to carry his message. As he hurried along the road, his bright black eyes sparkling with the happi- ness of doing a good action, he heard trotting steps behind him, felt an arm stealing round his neck, schoolboy fashion, and there was Freddy. ^^ I ran after you all the way," he pantingly said. ^^ I want to tell you, COLONEL FREDDY. 85 dear Tom, how much we are obliged to you for giving us your crackers, and how sorry we are that we acted so rudely to you the other day. Please forgive us ; we all like you so much, and we would feel as mean as anything to take your present without begging pardon. George, Peter, and I feel truly ashamed of ourselves every time we think of that abominable court martial." ^' There, old fellow, don't say a word more about it ! " was the hearty response; and Tom threw his arm affectionately about his companion. ^^ It was my fault, Freddy, and all be- cause I was mad at poor old Jerry ;j how silly ! I was sorry for what I said right afterward." 86 COLONEL FPwEDDY. '^Tlien we are friends again ?^^ cried Freddy^ joyfully. ^^Yes; I'll like you as long as I live ! and ever so mucli longer. " And so we will leave the two on their walk to the house^ and close this abomi- nably long chapter. CHAPTER IV. A GRAND REVIEW. There are really scarcely words enough in the dictionary properly to describe the immense amount of drill got through with by the Dashahed Zouaves between three o^clock that afternoon and twelve, noon, of the fol- lowing day. This Friday afternoon was going to be memorable in history for one of the most splendid reviews on record. They almost ran poor old Jerry off his legs in their eagerness to go over every possible variety of exer- 88 COLONEL FKEDDY. cise known to ^' Hardee's Tactics," and nearly dislocated their shoulder blades tiying to waggle their elbows back- ward and forward all at once when they went at '' double quick ; " at the same time keeping the other arm im- movably pinioned to their sides. Then that wonderful operation of stacking the rebellious guns, which obstinately clattered down nine times and a half out of ten, had to be gone through with, and a special understanding pro- mulgated in the corps as to when Jer- ry's '' 'cler arms ! '' meant '' shoulder arms/*' and when '' order arms " (or brino'ino; all the muskets down to- gether with a bang) ; and, in short, there never was such a busy time seen in camp before. COLONEL FREDDY. 89 Friday morning dawned^ if pos- sible, still more splendidly than any of the preceding days, with a cool, re- freshing breeze, just enough snowy clouds in the sky to keep off the fiery summer heat in a measure, and not a headache nor a heartache among the Zouaves to mar the pleasure of the day. The review was to come off at four o'clock, when the July sun would be somewhat diminished in warmth, and from some hints that Jerry let fall, Mrs. Lockitt, and the fat cook, Mrs. Mincemeat, were holding high council up at the house, over a certain collation to be partaken of at the end of the entertainments. As the day wore on the excitement of our friends the Zouaves increased. 90 COLONEL FREDDY. Tliey could hardly either eat then' dinners^ or sit down for more than a moment at a time; and when, about three o'clock, Mr. Schermerhorn en- tered the busy little camp, he was sur- rounded directly with a crowd of eager questioners, all talking at once, and making as much noise as a colony of rooks. ^^ Patience, patience, my good friends ! ^^ laughed Mr. Schermerhorn, holding up a finger for silence. ^^ Every one in turn. Tom, here are your ^ double headers,' with love from your mother. Fred, I saw your father to-day, and they are all coming down to the review. George, here is a note left for YOU in mv box at the Post Ofl&ce, and Dashahed Zouaves in gen- COLONEL FREDDY. 1)1 eral — I have one piece of advice to give you. Get dressed quietly, and then sit down and rest yourselves. You will be tired out by the end of the afternoon, at all events ; so don't frisk about more than you can help at pres- ent ; " and Mr. Schermerhorn left the camp ; while the boys, under strong pressure of Jerry, and the distant notes of a band which suddenly began to make itself heard, dressed themselves as nicely as they could, and sat down with heroic determination to wait for four o'clock. Presently, carriages began to crunch over the gravel road one after another, filled with merry children, and not a few grown people besides. Mr. and Mrs. Jourdain, with Bella, 92 COLONEL FREDDY. were among the first to arrive; and soon after tlie Carltons' barouche drove up. Jessie, for some unknown reason, was full of half nervous glee, and broke into innumerable little tril- ling laughs when any one spoke to her. A sheet of lilac note paper, fold- ed up tight, which she held in her hand, seemed to have something to do with it, and her soft brown curls and spreading muslin skirts were in equal danger of irremediable ^^ mussing,^' as she fido'etted about on the carriao'e seat, fully as restless as any of the Zouaves. Mr. Schermerhorn received his guests on the piazza, where all the chairs in the house, one would think, were placed for the company, as the COLOXEL FREDDY. 93 best view of the lawn was from this point. To the extreme riglit were the Avhite tents of the camp, half hidden by the immense trunk of a mas-nifi- cent elm, the only tree that broke the smooth expanse of the lawn. On the left a thick hawthorne hedge separat- ed the ornamental grounds from the cultiyated fields of the place, while in front the yiew was bounded by the blue and sparkling waters of the Sound. Soon four o'clock struck ; and, punctual to the moment, the Zouayes could be seen in the distance, forming their ranks. Jerry, in his newest suit of regimentals, bustled about here and there, and presently his yoice was heard shouting, ^^Are ye all ready 94 COLOKEL FREDDY. now ? Squad, ^Shux ! H ARCH ! " and to the melodious notes of " Dixie," per- formed by the band, which was sta- tioned nearer the house, the reaiment started up the lawn ! Jerry marching up beside them, and occasionally ut- terino' such mysterious mandates as, ^^ Easy in the centre ! keep your fours in the wheel ! Steady now ! " Oh, what a burst of delighted ap- plause greeted them as they neared the house ! The boys hurrahed, the girls clapped their hands, ladies and gentlemen waved their hats and hand- kerchiefs ; while the Dashahed Zou- aves, too soldierly now to grin, drew up in a long line, and stood Hke stat- ues, without so much as winkin£>;. And now the music died away, and COLONEL FREDDY. 95 everybody was as still as a mousey while Jerry advanced to tlie front^ and is- sued the preliminary order : To the rear — open order ! '^ and the rear rank straightway fell back ; exe- ciitino', in fact, that wonderful ^'tek- kinapesstoth'rare '' which had puzzled them so much on the first day of their drillino-. Then came those other won- derf ul orders : ^'7' sent humps! ^' Der humps ! ^^ GiY'nd humps ! ^ And so on, at which the muskets flew backward and forward, up and down, with such wonderful precision. The spectators were delighted beyond measure ; an enthusiastic young gen- tleman, with about three hairs on 96 COLONEL FREDDY, eacli side of his mustache, who be- lon2:ed to the Twentv-second Re^'i- ment^ declared ^' It was the best drill he had seen out of his company room ! " a celebrated artist, whose name I dare not tell for the world, sharpened his pencil, and broke the point off three times in his hurry, and at last produced the beautiful sketch which appears at the front of this vol- ume : while all the little boys who were looking on, felt as if they would give eyery one of their new boots and glass agates to belong to the gallant Dashahed Zouayes. After the guns had been put in eyery possible variety of position, the regiment went through their march- ing. They broke into companies, COLONEL FKEDDY. 97 formed the line again, divided in two equal parts, called ^^ breaking into pla- toons/' showed how to '' wheel on the rio'ht flank/' and all manner of other mysteries. Finally, they returned to their companies, and on Jerry's giving the order, they started at '^ double quick " (which is the most comical tritty-trot movement you can think of), dashed down the slope of the lawn, round the great elm, up hill again full speed, and in a moment more were drawn up in unbroken lines before the house, and standing once again like so many statues. ■* It was really splendid ! Round af- ter round of applause greeted the Zouaves, who kept their positions for n-7 98 COLOKEL FREDDY. a moment, then snatching off their saucy httle fez caps, they gave the company three cheers in return, of the most tremendous description ; T\'hich quite took away the httle remaining breath they had after the ^^ double quick /^ Thus ended the first part of the re- view ; and now, with the assistance of their rather Lilliputian battery, and Tom's double headers^ they went through some firing quite loud enough to make the little girls start and jump uncomfortably ; so this part of the en- tertainment was brought to rather a sudden conclusion. Jerry had just is- sued the order, ^^ Close up in ranks to dismiss,'^ when Mr. Schermerhorn, whO; with Miss Carlton and Jessie^ COLONEL FREDDY. 99 had left the piazza a few minutes be- fore^ came forward, saying, ^^ Have the goodness to wait a moment, Colonel; there is one more ceremony to go through with/^ The boys looked at each other in silent curiosity, wondering what could be coming; when, all at once, the chairs on the piazza huddled back in a great hurry, to make a lane for a beautiful little figure, which came tripping from the open door. It was Jessie ; but a great change had been made in her appearance. Over her snowy muslin skirts she had a short classic tunic of red, white, and blue silk ; a wreath of red and white roses and bright blue jonquils encircled her curls, and in her hand she carried 100 COLONEL FREDDY. a superb banner. It was made of dark blue silk, trimmed T\'itli gold fringe ; on one side was painted an American eagle, and on the other the words ^^ Dashahed Zouaves," surrounded with a blaze of glory and gold stars. She advanced to the edge of the pi- azza, and in a clear, sweet voice, a lit- tle tremulous, but very distinct, she said: '^ COLOXEL AND BrAVE SoLDlERS : ^^ I congratulate you, in the name of our friends, on the success you have achieved. You have shown us to-day what Young America can do ; and as a testimonial of our high admiration, I present you the colors of your regi- ment ! " Take them, as the assurance that COLONEL FREDDY. 101 our hearts are with you; bear them as the symbol of the Cause you liave enhsted under; and should you fall beneath them on the field of battle^ I bid you lay down your lives cheerfully for the flag of your country, and breathe with your last sigh the name of the Union! Colonel, take your colors ! '^ Freddy's cheeks grew crimson, and the great tears swelled to his eyes as he advanced to take the flag which Jessie held toward him. And now our little Colonel came out bright, sure enough. Perhaps not another member of the regiment, called upon to make a speech in this way, could have thought of a word to reply ; but Freddy's quick wit supplied him with 102 COLOXEL FPwEDDY. the rio'ht ideas; and it was with a proud, happy face, and clear voice that he responded : » '^ Ladies and Gentlemen : "' I thank you, in the name of my regiment, for the honor you have done us. Inspired by your praises, proud to belong to the army of the Republic, we hope to go on as we have begun. To your kindness we owe the distin- guishing colors under which we march hereafter ; and by the Union for which we fight, they shall never float over a retreating battalion ! ^^ Oh ! the cheers and clapping of hands which followed this little speech! Everybody was looking at Freddy as he stood there, the colors in COLOKEL FREDDY. 103 his hand, and the bright flush on his cheek, with the greatest admiration. Of course, his parents weren^t proud of him ; certainly not ! But the wonders were not at an end yet ; for suddenly the band began playing a new air, and to this accom- paniment, the sweet voice of some lady unseen, but which sounded to those who knew, wonderfully like Miss Lucy Carlton's, sang the following pa- triotic ballad : " We •will stand by our Flag — let it lead where it will — Our hearts and our hopes fondly chng to it still ; Through battle and danger our Cause must be won — Yet forward ! undaunted we'll follow it on I 'Tis the Flag ! the old Flag ! still unsullied and bright, As when first its fair stars lit oppression's dark night And the standard that guides us forever shall be The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free I 104 COLONEL FREDDY. " A handful of living — an army of dead, The last charge been made and the last prayer been said ; What is it — as sad we retreat from the plain That cheers us, and nerves us to rally again ? 'Tis the Flag ! the old Flag ! to our country God-given, That gleams through our ranks like a glory from heav- en ! And the foe, as they fly, in our vanguard shall see The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free ! '' We will fight for the Flag, by the love that we bear In the Union and Freedom, we'll baffle despair ; Trust on in our country, strike home for the right, And Treason shall vanish like mists of the night. Then cheer the old Flag ! every star in it glows, The terror of traitors 1 the curse of our foes ! And the victory that crowns us shall glorified be, *Neath the Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free ! " As the song ended, there was an- other tumult of applause; and then the band struck up a lively quickstep, and the company, with the Zouaves COLONEL FREDDY. 105 marching aliead^ poured out on the lawn toward the camp^ where a boun- tiful collation was awaiting them, spread on the regimental table. Two splendid pyramids of flowers orna- mented the centre^ and all manner of ^^ goodies/' as the children call them, occupied every inch of space on the sides. At the head of the table Jerry had contrived a canopy from a large flao' and underneath this, Miss Jes- sie, Colonel Freddy, with the other officers, and some favored young la- dies of their own age, took their seats. The other children found places around the table, and a merrier fete champe- tre never was seen. The band con- tinued to play lively airs from time to time, and I really can give you my 106 COLONEL FREDDY. word as an author^ that nobody looked cross for a sinoie minute ! Between you and me^ little reader, there had been a secret arrangement among the grown folks interested in the regiment, to get all this up in such fine style. Every one had contributed something to give the Zouaves their fiao; and music, while to Mr. Scher- merhorn it fell to supply the supper ; and arrangements had been made and invitations issued since the beginning of the week. The regiment, certaiuly, had the credit, however, of getting up the review, it only having been the idea of their good friends to have the en- tertainment and flag presentation. So there was a pleasant surprise on both sides ; and each party in the transac- COLONEL FREDDY. 107 tion, was quite as much astonished and deholited as the other coukl wish. The long sunset shadows were rap- idly stealing over the velvet sward as the company rose from table, adding a new charm to the beauty of the scene. Everywhere the grass was dotted with groups of elegant ladies and gentlemen, and merry children, in light summer dresses and quaintly pretty uniforms. The little camp, with the stacks of guns down its centre, the bayonets flashing in the last rays of the sun, was all crowded and brilliant with happy people; looking into the tents and admiring their exquisite or- der, inspecting the bright muskets, and hstening eagerly or good-humor- edly, as they happened to be children 108 COLONEL FREDDY. or grown people^ to the explanations and comments of the Zouaves. And on the Uttle grassy knoll, where the flag staff was planted, cen- tral figure of the scene, stood Colonel Freddy, silent and thoughtful for the first time to-day, with Jerry beside him. The old man had scarcely left his side since the boy took the •flag ; he would permit no one else to wait upon him at table, and his eyes fol- lowed him as he moved among the gay crowd, with a glance of the utmost pride and affection. The old volun- teer seemed to feel that the heart of a soldier beat beneath the little dandy ruffled shirt and gold-laced jacket of the young Colonel. Suddenly, the boy snatches up again the regimental col- COLONEL FREDDY. 109 ors ; the Stars and Stripes, and little Jessie's flag, and shakes them out to the evening breeze ; and as they flash into view and once more the cheers of the Zouaves greet their colors, he says, with quivering lip and flashing eye, '' Jerry, if God spares me to be a man, I'll live and die a soldier ! '^ The soft evening hght was deepen- ing into night, and the beautiful planet Venus rising in the west, when the visitors bade adieu to the camp ; the Zouaves were shaken hands with until their wrists fairly ached; and then they all shook hands with '' dear '' Jessie, as Charley was heard to call her before the end of the dav, and heard her say iu her soft little voice how sorry she was they must go to- 110 COLOXEL FREDDY. morrow (though she certamly couldn't have been sorrier than they were), and then the good people all got into their carriages again, and drove off; wav- ing their handkerchiefs for good-by as long as the camp could be seen; and so, with the sound of the last wheels dying away in the distance, ended the very end of The Grand Review. CHAPTER v.— AXD LAST. '^ HOME^ SWEET HOME/^ And now, at last, had come that ^^ day of disaster/' when Camp McClel- lan must be deserted. The very sun didn't shine so brilliantly as usual, thought the Zouaves ; and it was posi- tively certain that the past five days, although they had occurred in the middle of summer, were the very shortest ever known ! Eleven o'clock was the hour appointed for the break- ing up of the camp, in order that they 112 COLOXEL FREDDY. might return to the city by the early afternoon boat. ^' Is it possible ^ve have been here a week ? " exclaimed Jimmy, as he sat down to breakfast. '^ It seems as if we had only come yesterday.^^ ^' What a jolly time it has been ! '' chimed in Charley Spicer. ^^I don't want to go to Newport a bit. Where are you going, Tom ? " ^^ To Baltimore — but I don't mean to Secesh ! ^^ added Tom, with a little blush. ^^I have a cousin in the Pal- metto Guards at Charleston, and that's one too many rebels in the family." ^^ Xever mind ! '^ cried George Chadwick ; '^ the Pringles are a first rate family ; the rest of you are loyal enough, I'm sure ! '^ and George gave CX)L0^T:L FREDDY. 113 Tom such a slap on the back, in token of his good ^vill, that it quite brought the tears into his eyes. AVhen breakfast was over, the Zouaves repaired to their tents, and proceeded to pack their clothes away out of the lockers. They were not very scientific packers, and, in fact, the usual mode of doing the business was to ram everything hig- gledy-piggledy into their valises, and then jump on them until they con- sented to come together and be locked. Presently Jerry came trot- ting down with a donkey cart used on the farm, and under his directions the boys folded their blankets neatly up, and placed them in the vehicle, which then drove off with its load, leaving ji.— 8 114: COLONEL FREDDY. them to get out and pile together the other furnishings of the tents ; for^ of course, as soldiers, they were expected to wind up their own affairs, and we all know that boys will do consider- able hard icork when it comes in the form of play. Just as the cart, with its vicious little wrong-headed steed, had tugged, and jerked, and worried itself out of sioiit, a lio'ht basket car- riage, drawn by two dashing black Canadian ponies, drew up opposite the camp, and the reins were let fall by a young lady in a saucy " pork pie '' straw hat, who was driving — no other than Miss Carlton, with Jessie beside her. The bovs eao'erlv surrounded the little carriage, and Miss Carlton said, laughing, ^^ Jessie begged so hard for COLONEL FREDDY. 115 a last look at the camp, that I had to bring her. So you are really gomg away ? ^^ ''Really/' repeated Freddy; ''but I am so olad you came, Miss Jessie, just in time to see us off/' " You know soldiers take them- selyes away houses and all/' said George ; " you will see the tents come down with a run presently." "And here comes Jerry to help us ! '' added Harry. As he spoke, the donkey cart rattled up, and Jerry, touching his cap to the ladies, got out, and prepared to superintend the down- fall of the tents. By his directions, two of the Zouayes went to each tent, and pulled the stakes first from one corner, then the other; then they 116 COLOXEL FREDDY. grasped firmly the pole wliicli sup- ported the centre^ and when the ser- geant ejaculated " Now ! '^ like a flash ! the tents slid smoothly to the 2:round all at the same moment, just as you may have made a row of blocks fall down by upsetting the first one. And now came the last ceremony, the haulino' down of the flao\ '' Stand by to fire a salute ! ^' shout- ed Jerry^ and instantly a company was detached, who brought the six little cannon under the flagstafi*, and charo'ed them with the last of the double headers, sayed for this pur- pose ; Freddy stood close to the flag- staff*, with the halyards ready in his hands. Crack ! fizz ! went six matches COLONEL FPwEDDY. 117 for the cannon. "Make ready! ap- ply light, FIRE ! " Bang! and the folds of the flag stream out proudly in the breeze, as it rapidly descends the halyards, and flutters softly to the greensward. There was perfectly dead silence for a moment ; then the voice of Mr. Schermerhorn was heard calhng, " Come, boys, are you ready ? Jump in, then, it is time to start for the boat.'' The boys turned and saw the carriages which had brought them so merrily to the camp waiting to con- vey them once more to the wharf; while a man belonging to the farm was rapidly piling the regimental lug- gage into a wagon. With sorrowful faces the Zouaves lis COLONEL FREDDY. clustered around the pretty pony chaise ; shakhig hands once more T^'ith Jessie, and internally vowing to adore her as long as they lived. Then they got into the carriages, and old Jerry grasped Freddy's hand with an affec- tionate ''Good-by, my little Colonel, God bless ye ! Old Jerry won't never forget your noble face as long as he lives.'^ It would have seemed like in- sulting the old man to offer him money in return for his loving admiration, but the handsome gilt-edged Bible that found its way to him soon after the departure of the regiment, was in- scribed with the irregular schoolboy signature of ''Freddy Jourdain, with love to his old friend Jeremiah Pike.'' As for the regimental standards^ COLONEL FREDDY. 119 they were found to be rather beyond the capacity of a rockaway crammed full of Zouaves, so Tom insisted on riding on top of the baggage, that he might have the pleasure of carrying them all the way. Up he mounted, as brisk as a lamplighter, w4th that monkey, Pe- ter, after him, the flags were handed up, and with three ringing cheers, the vehicles started at a rapid trot, and the regiment was fairly off. They al- most broke their necks leanino- back to see the last of ^^ dear Jessie,'' until the locusts hid them from sight, when they relapsed into somewhat dismal silence for full five minutes. As Peter was going on to Niagara w^ith his father, Mr. Schermerhorn ac- companied the regiment to the city, 120 COLONEL FREDDY. wWch looked dustier and red brickier (what a word !) than ever^ now that they were fresh from the lovely green of the country. By Mr. Schermer- horn^s adyice, the party took posses- sion of two empty Fifth avenue stages which happened to be waiting at the Fulton ferry^ and rode slowly up Broadway to Chambers street^ where Peter and his father bid them good- by, and went off to the depot. As Pe- ter had declined changing his clothes before he left, they had to travel all 9.' the way to Buffalo with our young friend in this unusual guise; but, as people had become used to seeing sol- diers parading about in uniform, they didn't seem particularly surprised, COLONEL FKEDDY. 121 whereat Master Peter was rather dis- appointed. To go back to the Zouaves, how- ever. When the stages turned into Fifth avenue, they decided to get out ; and after forming their ranks in fine style, they marched up the avenue, on the sidewalk this time, stopping at the various houses or street corners where they must bid adieu to one and an- other of their number, promising to see each other again as soon as possible. At last only Tom and Freddy were left to go home by themselves. As they marched along, keeping fault- less step, Freddy exclaimed, ^'T tell you what, Tom ! I mean to ask my father, the minute he comes home, to let me go to West Point as soon as I 122 COLONEL FREDDY. leave scliool ! I must be a soldier — I can't think of anything else ! " '^ That's just what I mean to do ! '^ cried Tom, with sparkling eyes ; '^ and, Fred, if you get promoted before me, promise you will have me in your regiment, won't you ? '' ^^ Yes I will, certainly ! " answered Freddy; ^^but you're the oldest, Tom, and, you know, the oldest gets pro- moted first; so mind you don't for- get me when you come to your com- mand ! " As he spoke, they reached his own home ; and our hero, glad after all to come back to father, mother, and sis- ter, bounded up the steps, and rang the bell good and hard, just to let Jo- seph know that a personage of emi- COLONEL FKEDDY. 123 nonce had arrived. As the door opened, he turned gavly round, cap in hand, sa}dng, ^' Good-by, Maryland ; you've left the regiment, but you'll never leave the Union ! ^' and the last words he heard Tom say were, ^^ No, by George, never ! '^ And now, dear little readers, my boy friends in particular, the history of Freddy Jourdain must close. He still lives in Xew York, and attends Dr. Larned's school, where he is at the head of all his classes. The Dashahed Zouaves have met very often since the encampment, and had many a good drill in their room — the large attic floor which Mr. Jourdain allowed them for their 124 COLONEL FREDDY. special accommodation, and T\'here the beautiful regimental colors are carefully kept, to be proudly displayed in every parade of the Zouaves. When he is sixteen, the bov Colo- nel is to enter West Point Academy, and learn to be a real soldier ; while Tom — poor Tom, who went down to Baltimore that pleasant July month, promising so faithfully to join Freddy in the cadet corps, may never see the North a2:ain. And in conclusion let me say, that should our country aa'ain be in danixer in after years, which God forbid, we may be sure that first in the field, and foremost in the van of the grand army, will be our gallant young friend, Colonel Freddy. COLONEL FREDDY 125 COXCLUSION. It took a great man}" Saturday af- ternoons to finish, tlie story of '^Colo- nel Freddy/^ and the cliildren return- ed to it at each reading with renewed and breathless interest. George and Helen couldn't help jumping up off their seats once or twice and clapping their hands with delio-ht when any- thing specially exciting took place in the pages of the yronderful story that Ayas seen ^^ before it w^as printed/^ and a great many '^ oil's " and '^ all's ^' tes- tified to their appreciation of the gal- lant ''Dashahed Zouayes.'^ They laughed oyer the captiye Tom, and cried oyer the true story of the old sergeant ; and when at length the 126 COLONEL TREDDY. very last word had been read^ and their mother had hiid down the manu- script^ George sprang np once more, exclaiming ; ^^ Oh, I wish I could be a boy soldier ! Mamma, mayn't I re- cruit a regiment and camp out too ? '' '^ And oh ! if I could only present a flag ! ^^ cried his sister ; ^^ I wish I had been Jessie ; what a pity it wasn't all true ! '' '' And what if I should tell you/' said their mother, laughing, ^^that a little bird has whispered in my ear that ' Colonel Freddy ' was wonder- fully like your little Long Island friend Hilton R^^ ? '' '^Oh, mamma! why, what makes you think so ? ^' ^^ Oh, something funny I heard COLOXEL FREDDY. 127 about liim last summer; never mind what ! " The children wisely concluded that it was no use to ask any more questions; at the same moment solemnly resolv- ing that the very next time they paid a visit to their aunt^ who lived at As- toria^ they would beg her to let them drive over to Mr. K 's place^ and find out all about it. After this, there were no more readings for several Saturdays ; but at last one mornino- when the children had almost given up all hopes of more stories^ George opened his eyes on the sock hano'ino; ao-ainst the door, which looked more bulgy than ever. ^^ Hur- rah ! '' he shouted ; ^' Aunt Fanny's daughter hasn't forgotten us^ after 128 COLONEL FREDDY. all ! ^' and dressing himself in a double quick, helter-skelter fashion, George dashed out into the entry, forgot his good resolution, and slid down the banisters like a streak of lightning and began pummelling on his sister's door with both fists ; shouting, " Come, get up ! get up, Nelly ! here's another Sock story for us ! '' This delio-htful announcement was quite sufficient to make Helen's stock- ings, which she was just drawing on in a lazy fashion, fly up to their places in a hurry ; then she popped her button- over boots on the wrong feet, and had to take them off and try again ; and, in short, the whole of her dressing was an excellent illustration of that time- honored maxim, '' The more haste, the COLOKEL FREDDY. 129 worse speed; ^^ George, meanwhile, per- forming' a distracted Indian war dance in the entry outside^ nntil his father opened his door and wanted to know what the racket was all about. ^^ Socks ! socks ! father ! ^' cried George, joyfully. At this moment Helen came out, and the two children scampered down stairs, and sitting down side by side on the sofa, they proceeded to examine this second instalment of the Sock stories. They found it was again a whole book ; and the title, on a little page by itself, read '^ German Socks.^' ^^ Oh, I am so glad ! ^^ said Helen. ^^ These must be more stories like that dear ^^ Little "White Angel.'' And so they proved to be ; for, on II.— 9 130 C0L0^T:L FREDDY. their mother's commencino; to read the first story, it was found to be called, ^^ God's Pensioners ; ^^ and com- menced, ^' It was a cold — '' but stop ! halt ! This book was to be devoted to ^^ Colonel Freddy ; ^^ but if you will only go to Mr. Leavitt's, the pub- lishers, you will there discover what was the rest of the second Sock Sto- ries. THE END. i^ % ^u.^ >A RARK BOOK COLLECTION THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL Wilmer 87