were so
full, and every one so excited that Sally, now a tall, blooming maiden,
could not race about as when she was younger, nor did she wish to.

More than one British soldier stationed in the town had looked sharply
into the depths of her sun-bonnet when Mistress Brace sent her on an
errand to the store.

[Illustration: "MORE THAN ONE BRITISH SOLDIER STATIONED IN THE TOWN HAD
LOOKED SHARPLY INTO THE DEPTHS OF HER SUN-BONNET."]

One great joy remained to her. She studied French and Latin with Parson
Kendall for a teacher. But as he thought it better that her other
studies should be kept up, she recited but twice a week.

And so a month had gone by, and she had not caught so much as a glimpse
of her Fairy Prince.

One afternoon, early in November, she was on her way home from the
parson's, and had left the road leading to Ingleside, when Mammy
Leezer's round figure appeared in the road.

"Laws, honey!" exclaimed the old Mammy, "how you does grow! Why, bress
yo' heart, I haven't catched a sight o' you in an age, and here yous
most a woman grown. Makes me tink ob how dat young Mars' Lion have com'd
up to be a man all to onct.

"Oh, but honey!" Mammy's voice sank to a whisper, and she looked around
as if in fear of being overheard, "dat Mars' Lion, he bound to fight de
Britishers toof and nail, but his pappy, Mars' Perc'val, he's for totin'
him right back to Inglan, but Mars' Lion, he won't be toted. He say dis
yere's his own country whar he wor born'd and here he shell stay.

"Mistis Gab'rell, she cry and try to make him promise to keep quiet, and
dat Mis' Ros'mand she act like she own him soul and body. Mars'
Perc'val, he say he's sorry he let him come home, but lordy massy! dat
chile would 'a' comed lett'n' or no lett'n'.

"But you see, de fac' is, dat boy chuck full o' fight. I tell ole Uncle
Gambo dar must be somesin in dis yere soil dat make de chillern love it
and stan' up fo' it and fight fo' it."

"I'd fight for it, too, if I was a young man," said Maid Sally.

"_Would_ you, now!" exclaimed Mammy. "Well, I reckon de day is near when
all who wants to fight will have de chance. Now I must go travellin'
home. I'm goin' to make a plum jam betty fo' my young mars' supper, and
no knowin' how long his ole Mammy can cook fo' him, he so done set on
fightin'."

As Mammy rolled away, Sally said to herself:

"I wonder why she tells me these things? I never ask her questions."

Her Fairy answered: "It is beca