"Yes, papa; I left my darlings sleeping sweetly. I am trying to train them
to regular habits and early hours, as you did me."
"That is right."
"Papa, it is so sweet to be a mother! to have my little Elsie in my lap,
as I had but a few moments since, and feel the clasp of her arms about my
neck, or the tiny hands patting and stroking my face, the sweet baby lips
showering kisses all over it, while she coos and rejoices over me; Mamma!
mamma, my mamma! Elsie's dear mamma! Elsie's own sweet pretty mamma.' Ah,
though our hearts ache for the dear land of our birth, we still have many
many blessings left."
"We have indeed."
Mr. Travilla, Rose, and Horace now joined them, and the last-named
besieged his father with questions about the war and its causes; all of
which were patiently answered to the best of Mr. Dinsmore's ability, Mr.
Travilla now and then being appealed to for further information, or his
opinion, while the ladies listened and occasionally put in a remark or a
query.
From that day the mails from America were looked for with redoubled
anxiety and eagerness: though the war news was always painful, whichever
side had gained a victory or suffered defeat.
At first, papers and letters had been received from both North and South,
giving them the advantage of hearing the report from each side; but soon
the blockade shut off nearly all intercourse with the South, a mail from
thence reaching them only occasionally, by means of some Confederate or
foreign craft eluding the vigilance of the besieging squadron.
Early in June there came a letter from Miss Stanhope, addressed to Elsie.
Like all received from America now, it dwelt almost exclusively upon
matters connected with the fearful struggle just fairly begun between the
sections. The old lady's heart seemed full of love for the South, yet she
was strongly for the Union, and said she should be so if any other section
or State rebelled.
Lansdale was full of excitement, flags flying everywhere; they had one
streaming across from the top of the house, and another from a tree in the
garden.
Harry had enlisted in response to the first call of troops, and was now
away, fighting in Virginia; while she, praying night and day for his
safety, was, with most of the ladies of the town, busy as a bee knitting
stockings and making shirts for the men in the field, and preparing lint,
bandages, and little dainties for the sick and wounded.