"Something will happen: such perfect happiness is not possible inthis world.""Then let us make the most of it," David would reply, wisely bent ongetting his honey while he could, and not borrowing trouble for themorrow.

 

　　So Christie turned a deaf ear to her "prophetic soul," and gaveherself up to the blissful holiday that had come at last. Even whileMarch winds were howling outside, she blissfully "poked in the dirt"with David in the green-house, put up the curly lock as often as sheliked, and told him she loved him a dozen times a day, not in words,but in silent ways, that touched him to the heart, and made hisfuture look so bright he hardly dared believe in it.

 

　　A happier man it would have been difficult to find just then; allhis burdens seemed to have fallen off, and his spirits rose againwith an elasticity which surprised even those who knew him best.

 

　　Christie often stopped to watch and wonder if the blithe young manwho went whistling and singing about the house, often stopping tokiss somebody, to joke, or to exclaim with a beaming face like achild at a party: "Isn't every thing beautiful?" could be the sober,steady David, who used to plod to and fro with his shoulders alittle bent, and the absent look in his eyes that told of thoughtsabove or beyond the daily task.

 

　　It was good to see his mother rejoice over him with an exceedinggreat joy; it was better still to see Letty's eyes follow him withunspeakable love and gratitude in their soft depths; but it was bestof all to see Christie marvel and exult over the discoveries shemade: for, though she had known David for a year, she had never seenthe real man till now.

 

　　"Davy, you are a humbug," she said one day when they were making upa bridal order in the greenhouse.

 

　　"I told you so, but you wouldn't believe it," he answered, usinglong stemmed rose-buds with as prodigal a hand as if the wedding wasto be his own.

 

　　"I thought I was going to marry a quiet, studious, steady-going man;and here I find myself engaged to a romantic youth who flies aboutin the most undignified manner, embraces people behind doors, singsopera airs,--very much out of tune by the way,--and conducts himselfmore like an infatuated Claude Melnotte, than a respectablegentleman on the awful verge of matrimony. Nothing can surprise menow: I'm prepared for any thing, even the sight of my Quakerishlover dancing a jig.""Just what I've been longing to do! Come and take a turn: it will doyou good;" and, to Christie's utter amazement, David caught herround the waist and waltzed her down the boarded walk with a speedand skill that caused less havoc among the flower-pots than onewould imagine, and seemed to delight the plants, who rustled andnodded as if applauding the dance of the finest double flower thathad ever blossomed in their midst.

 

　　"I can't help it, Christie," he said, when he had landed herbreathless and laughing at the other end. "I feel like a boy out ofschool, or rather a man out of prison, and must enjoy my liberty insome way. I'm not a talker, you know; and, as the laws ofgravitation forbid my soaring aloft anywhere, I can only express myjoyfully uplifted state of mind by 'prancing,' as you call it. Nevermind dignity: let's be happy, and by and by I'll sober down.""I don't want you to; I love to see you so young and happy, only youare not the old David, and I've got to get acquainted with the newone.""I hope you'll like him better than the frost-bitten 'old David' youfirst knew and were kind enough to love. Mother says I've gone backto the time before we lost Letty, and I sometimes feel as if I had.

 

　　In that case you will find me a proud, impetuous, ambitious fellow,Christie, and how will that suit?""Excellently; I like pride of your sort; impetuosity becomes you,for you have learned to control it if need be; and the ambition isbest of all. I always wondered at your want of it, and longed tostir you up; for you did not seem the sort of man to be contentedwith mere creature comforts when there are so many fine things menmay do. What shall you choose, Davy?""I shall wait for time to show. The sap is all astir in me, and I'mready for my chance. I don't know what it is, but I feel very surethat some work will be given me into which I can put my whole heartand soul and strength. I spoilt my first chance; but I know I shallhave another, and, whatever it is, I am ready to do my best, andlive or die for it as God wills.""So am I," answered Christie, with a voice as earnest and a face asfull of hopeful resolution as his own.

 

　　Then they went back to their work, little dreaming as they tiedroses and twined smilax wreaths, how near that other chance was; howsoon they were to be called upon to keep their promise, and how welleach was to perform the part given them in life and death.

 

　　The gun fired one April morning at Fort Sumter told many men likeDavid what their work was to be, and showed many women like Christiea new right to claim and bravely prove their fitness to possess.

 

　　No need to repeat the story of the war begun that day; it has beenso often told that it will only be touched upon here as one of theexperiences of Christie's life, an experience which did for her whatit did for all who took a share in it, and loyally acted their part.

 

　　The North woke up from its prosperous lethargy, and began to stirwith the ominous hum of bees when rude hands shake the hive. Richand poor were proud to prove that they loved their liberty betterthan their money or their lives, and the descendants of the braveold Puritans were worthy of their race. Many said: "It will soon beover;" but the wise men, who had warned in vain, shook their heads,as that first disastrous summer showed that the time for compromisewas past, and the stern reckoning day of eternal justice was athand.

 

　　To no home in the land did the great trouble bring a more suddenchange than the little cottage in the lane. All its happy peace wasbroken; excitement and anxiety, grief and indignation, banished thesweet home joys and darkened the future that had seemed so clear.

 

　　David was sober enough now, and went about his work with a grim setto his lips, and a spark in his eyes that made the three women lookat one another pale with unspoken apprehension. As they sattogether, picking lint or rolling bandages while David read aloudsome dismal tale of a lost battle that chilled their blood and madetheir hearts ache with pity, each woman, listening to the voice thatstirred her like martial music, said within herself: "Sooner orlater he will go, and I have no right to keep him." Each tried to beready to make her sacrifice bravely when the time came, and eachprayed that it might not be required of her.

 

　　David said little, but they knew by the way he neglected his gardenand worked for the soldiers, that his heart was in the war. Dayafter day he left Christie and his sister to fill the orders thatcame so often now for flowers to lay on the grave of some dear, deadboy brought home to his mother in a shroud. Day after day he hurriedaway to help Mr. Power in the sanitary work that soon claimed allhearts and hands; and, day after day, he came home with whatChristie called the "heroic look" more plainly written on his face.

 

　　All that first summer, so short and strange; all that first winter,so long and hard to those who went and those who stayed, Davidworked and waited, and the women waxed strong in the new atmosphereof self-sacrifice which pervaded the air, bringing out the sturdyvirtues of the North.

 

　　"How terrible! Oh, when will it be over!" sighed Letty one day,after hearing a long list of the dead and wounded in one of thegreat battles of that second summer.

 

　　"Never till we have beaten!" cried David, throwing down the paperand walking about the room with his head up like a war-horse whosmells powder. "It is terrible and yet glorious. I thank heaven Ilive to see this great wrong righted, and only wish I could do myshare like a man.""That is natural; but there are plenty of men who have fewer tiesthan you, who can fight better, and whose places are easier to fillthan yours if they die," said Christie, hastily.

 

　　"But the men who have most to lose fight best they say; and to mythinking a soldier needs a principle as well as a weapon, if he isto do real service.""As the only son of a widow, you can't be drafted: that's onecomfort," said Letty, who could not bear to give up the brother lostto her for so many years.

 

　　"I should not wait for that, and I know mother would give herwidow's mite if she saw that it was needed.""Yes, Davy." The soft, old voice answered steadily; but the feeblehand closed instinctively on the arm of this only son, who was sodear to her. David held it close in both of his, saying gratefully:

 

　　"Thank you, mother;" then, fixing his eyes on the younger yet notdearer women, he added with a ring in his voice that made theirhearts answer with a prompt "Ay, ay!" in spite of love or fear:

 

　　"Now listen, you dear souls, and understand that, if I do thisthing, I shall not do it hastily, nor without counting well thecost. My first and most natural impulse was to go in the beginning;but I stayed for your sakes. I saw I was not really needed: Ithought the war would soon be over, and those who went then could dothe work. You see how mistaken we were, and God only knows when theend will come. The boys--bless their brave hearts!--have done nobly,but older men are needed now. We cannot sacrifice all the gallantlads; and we who have more to lose than they must take our turn andtry to do as well. You own this; I see it in your faces: then don'thold me back when the time comes for me to go. I must do my part,however small it is, or I shall never feel as if I deserved the loveyou give me. You will let me go, I am sure, and not regret that Idid what seemed to me a solemn duty, leaving the consequences to theLord!""Yes, David," sister and sweetheart answered, bravely forgetting inthe fervor of the moment what heavy consequences God might see fitto send.

 

　　"Good! I knew my Spartans would be ready, and I won't disgrace them.

 

　　I've waited more than a year, and done what I could. But all thewhile I felt that I was going to get a chance at the hard work, andI've been preparing for it. Bennet will take the garden andgreen-house off my hands this autumn for a year or longer, if Ilike. He's a kind, neighborly man, and his boy will take my placeabout the house and protect you faithfully. Mr. Power cannot bespared to go as chaplain, though he longs to desperately; so he isnear in case of need, and with your two devoted daughters by you,mother, I surely can be spared for a little while.""Only one daughter near her, David: I shall enlist when you do,"said Christie, resolutely.

 

　　"You mean it?""I mean it as honestly as you do. I knew you would go: I saw yougetting ready, and I made up my mind to follow. I, too, haveprepared for it, and even spoken to Mrs. Amory. She has gone asmatron of a hospital, and promised to find a place for me when I wasready. The day you enlist I shall write and tell her I am ready."There was fire in Christie's eyes and a flush on her cheek now, asshe stood up with the look of a woman bent on doing well her part.

 

　　David caught her hands in his, regardless of the ominous bandagesthey held, and said, with tender admiration and reproach in hisvoice:

 

　　"You wouldn't marry me when I asked you this summer, fearing youwould be a burden to me; but now you want to share hardship anddanger with me, and support me by the knowledge of your nearness.

 

　　Dear, ought I to let you do it?""You will let me do it, and in return I will marry you whenever youask me," answered Christie, sealing the promise with a kiss thatsilenced him.

 

　　He had been anxious to be married long ago, but when he asked Mr.

 

　　Power to make him happy, a month after his engagement, that wisefriend said to them:

 

　　"I don't advise it yet. You have tried and proved one another asfriends, now try and prove one another as lovers; then, if you feelthat all is safe and happy, you will be ready for the greatest ofthe three experiments, and then in God's name marry.""We will," they said, and for a year had been content, studying oneanother, finding much to love, and something to learn in the art ofbearing and forbearing.

 

　　David had begun to think they had waited long enough, but Christiestill delayed, fearing she was not worthy, and secretly afflicted bythe thought of her poverty. She had so little to give in return forall she received that it troubled her, and she was sometimes temptedto ask Uncle Enos for a modest marriage portion. She never had yet,and now resolved to ask nothing, but to earn her blessing by doingher share in the great work.

 

　　"I shall remember that," was all David answered to that last promiseof hers, and three months later he took her at her word.

 

　　For a week or two they went on in the old way; Christie did herhousework with her head full of new plans, read books on nursing,made gruel, plasters, and poultices, till Mrs. Sterling pronouncedher perfect; and dreamed dreams of a happy time to come when peacehad returned, and David was safe at home with all the stars and barsa man could win without dying for them.

 

　　David set things in order, conferred with Bennet, petted hiswomankind, and then hurried away to pack boxes of stores, visitcamps, and watch departing regiments with a daily increasingcertainty that his time had come.

 

　　One September day he went slowly home, and, seeing Christie in thegarden, joined her, helped her finish matting up some delicateshrubs, put by the tools, and when all was done said with unusualgentleness:

 

　　"Come and walk a little in the lane."She put her arm in his, and answered quickly:

 

　　"You've something to tell me: I see it in your face.""Dear, I must go.""Yes, David.""And you?""I go too.""Yes, Christie."That was all: she did not offer to detain him now; he did not denyher right to follow. They looked each other bravely in the face amoment, seeing, acknowledging the duty and the danger, yet ready todo the one and dare the other, since they went together. Thenshoulder to shoulder, as if already mustered in, these faithfulcomrades marched to and fro, planning their campaign.

 

　　Next evening, as Mrs. Sterling sat alone in the twilight, a tall manin army blue entered quietly, stood watching the tranquil figure fora moment, then went and knelt down beside it, saying, with a mostunsoldierly choke in the voice:

 

　　"I've done it, mother: tell me you're not sorry."But the little Quaker cap went down on the broad shoulder, and theonly answer he heard was a sob that stirred the soft folds over thetender old heart that clung so closely to the son who had lived forher so long. What happened in the twilight no one ever knew; butDavid received promotion for bravery in a harder battle than any hewas going to, and from his mother's breast a decoration moreprecious to him than the cross of the Legion of Honor from a royalhand.

 

　　When Mr. Power presently came in, followed by the others, they foundtheir soldier standing very erect in his old place on the rug, withthe firelight gleaming on his bright buttons, and Bran staring athim with a perplexed aspect; for the uniform, shorn hair, trimmedbeard, and a certain lofty carriage of the head so changed hismaster that the sagacious beast was disturbed.

 

　　Letty smiled at him approvingly, then went to comfort her mother whocould not recover her tranquillity so soon. But Christie stoodaloof, looking at her lover with something more than admiration inthe face that kindled beautifully as she exclaimed:

 

　　"O David, you are splendid! Once I was so blind I thought you plain;but now my 'boy in blue' is the noblest looking man I ever saw. Yes,Mr. Power, I've found my hero at last! Here he is, my knight withoutreproach or fear, going out to take his part in the grandest battleever fought. I wouldn't keep him if I could; I'm glad and proud tohave him go; and if he never should come back to me I can bear itbetter for knowing that he dutifully did his best, and left theconsequences to the Lord."Then, having poured out the love and pride and confidence thatenriched her sacrifice, she broke down and clung to him, weeping asso many clung and wept in those hard days when men and women gavetheir dearest, and those who prayed and waited suffered almost asmuch as those who fought and died.

 

　　When the deed was once done, it was astonishing what satisfactionthey all took in it, how soon they got accustomed to the change, andwhat pride they felt in "our soldier." The loyal frenzy fell uponthe three quiet women, and they could not do too much for theircountry. Mrs. Sterling cut up her treasured old linen without amurmur; Letty made "comfort bags" by the dozen, put up jelly, andsewed on blue jackets with tireless industry; while Christieproclaimed that if she had twenty lovers she would send them all;and then made preparations enough to nurse the entire party.

 

　　David meantime was in camp, getting his first taste of martial life,and not liking it any better than he thought he should; but no oneheard a complaint, and he never regretted his "love among theroses," for he was one of the men who had a "principle as well as aweapon," and meant to do good service with both.

 

　　It would have taken many knapsacks to hold all the gifts showeredupon him by his friends and neighbors. He accepted all that came,and furnished forth those of his company who were less favored.

 

　　Among these was Elisha Wilkins, and how he got there should be told.

 

　　Elisha had not the slightest intention of enlisting, but Mrs.

 

　　Wilkins was a loyal soul, and could not rest till she had sent asubstitute, since she could not go herself. Finding that Lishashowed little enthusiasm on the subject, she tried to rouse him bypatriotic appeals of various sorts. She read stirring accounts ofbattles, carefully omitting the dead and wounded; she turned out,baby and all if possible, to cheer every regiment that left; and wasnever tired of telling Wash how she wished she could add ten yearsto his age and send him off to fight for his country like a man.

 

　　But nothing seemed to rouse the supine Elisha, who chewed his quidlike a placid beast of the field, and showed no sign of a properspirit.

 

　　"Very well," said Mrs. Wilkins resolutely to herself, "ef I can'tmake no impression on his soul I will on his stommick, and see howthat'll work."Which threat she carried out with such skill and force that Lishawas effectually waked up, for he was "partial to good vittles," andCynthy was a capital cook. Poor rations did not suit him, and hedemanded why his favorite dishes were not forthcoming.

 

　　"We can't afford no nice vittles now when our men are sufferin' so.

 

　　I should be ashamed to cook 'em, and expect to choke tryin' to eat'em. Every one is sacrificin' somethin', and we mustn't be slack indoin' our part,--the Lord knows it's precious little,--and therewon't be no stuffin' in this house for a consid'able spell. Ef Icould save up enough to send a man to do my share of the fightin', Ishould be proud to do it. Anyway I shall stint the family and sendthem dear brave fellers every cent I can git without starvin' thechildren.""Now, Cynthy, don't be ferce. Things will come out all right, and itain't no use upsettin' every thing and bein' so darneduncomfortable," answered Mr. Wilkins with unusual energy.

 

　　"Yes it is, Lisha. No one has a right to be comfortable in suchtimes as these, and this family ain't goin' to be ef I can help it,"and Mrs. Wilkins set down her flat-iron with a slam which plainlytold her Lisha war was declared.

 

　　He said no more but fell a thinking. He was not as unmoved as heseemed by the general excitement, and had felt sundry manly impulsesto "up and at 'em," when his comrades in the shop discussed thecrisis with ireful brandishing of awls, and vengeful pounding ofsole leather, as if the rebels were under the hammer. But theselfish, slothful little man could not make up his mind to bravehardship and danger, and fell back on his duty to his family as areason for keeping safe at home.

 

　　But now that home was no longer comfortable, now that Cynthy hadsharpened her tongue, and turned "ferce," and now--hardest blow ofall--that he was kept on short commons, he began to think he mightas well be on the tented field, and get a little glory along withthe discomfort if that was inevitable. Nature abhors a vacuum, andwhen food fell short patriotism had a chance to fill the achingvoid. Lisha had about made up his mind, for he knew the ............