. Beneath them glistened a tear, but her slight, girlish bosom rose
and fell regularly. Christianna crooned on,

"Shady Grove! Shady Grove--
Children love my Shady Grove--"

_Boom! Boom!--Boom, Boom! Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!_

Miriam started up with a cry. Outside the window a hoarse and loud voice
called to some one across the street. "That's beyond Meadow Bridge! D'
ye know what I believe? I believe it's Stonewall Jackson!" The name came
back like an echo from the opposite pavement. "Stonewall Jackson!
Stonewall Jackson! He thinks maybe it's Stonewall Jackson!"

_Boom--Boom--Boom--Boom, Boom!_

Miriam rose, threw off the muslin sacque and began to dress. Her eyes
were narrowed, her fingers rapid and steady. Christianna opened the
window-blinds. The sound of the hurrying feet came strongly in, and with
it voices. "The top of the Capitol!--see best from there--I think the
hills toward the almshouse--Can you get out on the Brook turnpike?--No;
it is picketed--The hill by the President's House--try it!" Christianna,
turning, found Miriam taking a hat from the closet shelf. "Oh, Miss
Miriam, you mustn't go--"

Miriam, a changed creature, steady and sure as a fine rapier, turned
upon her. "Yes, I am going, Christianna. If you like, you may come with
me. Yes, I am well enough.--No, mother wouldn't keep me back. She would
understand. If I lay there and listened, I should go mad. Get your
bonnet and come."

The cannon shook the air. Christianna got her sunbonnet and tied the
strings with trembling fingers. All the wild rose had fled from her
cheeks, her lips looked pinched, her eyes large and startled. Miriam
glanced her way, then came and kissed her. "I forgot it was your first
battle. I got used to them in Winchester. Don't be afraid."

They went out into the hot sunshine. By now the greater part of the
stream had hurried by. They saw that it flowed eastward, and they
followed. The sun blazed down, the pavement burned their feet. The
mountain girl walked like a piece of thistledown; Miriam, light and
quick in all her actions, moved beside her almost as easily. It was as
though the hot wind, rushing down the street behind them, carried them
on with the dust and loosened leaves. There were other women, with
children clinging to their hands. One or two had babes in their arms.
There were old men, too, and several cripples. The lighter-limbed and
unencumbered were blown ahead. The dull