n all was ready and my mother said I
might, that I could come with him. I'd be one of the scouts, the color
bearer; that's the place I want--(he grows more and more excited)--to
hold the flag; to feel it was my own, my very own; to feel and touch and
carry. Do you know, Charlotte, I believe I'd think George most as great
a man as Morgan if he'd take me with him in his company and let me have
the flag.

Char. Perhaps he will. I'll speak for you; he loves to do the
things I want; and, yes, I'm sure he'll take you for his color-bearer.

Bev. Where's father, Fair? I must go tell him now before he goes
away. He'll say that I can go; I know he will. And mother: I'll tell
her, too. Where are they?

Fair (quietly). I think they're in the garden by Phil's grave.
They always go there near this time.

[Exit Bev through gate.

Char. Oh, Fair, it's hard, hard for us all, and most of all for
you. I sometimes wonder how you can be so brave. We've given Phil, and
now your father and George and Carter and Gordon--all of them in the
army. Now that Bev wants to go, I don't see how we can bear that.

Fair (quietly). I sometimes think of it, and then a great wave of
terror seems to pass over me and leave me frantic at the thought. I feel
as though I must tear things with my hands and scream, and go out too
with them and fight--just to be near them. And then I feel ashamed to
seem so weak. And then I think about the day they brought Phil's body
home, and how mother didn't shed a tear. She looked so strange and
white, as we walked down through the garden to the grave, I took her
hand; it was like marble! Then she looked down at Bev on one side and at
me close by her on the other, and softly smiled--smiled as she does when
she is very proud and pleased. She spoke just as we came close by the
grave. We three stood very near to Phil, and as they lifted him, she
spoke: "He was the first, and I have loved him best," and then she
smiled again, and softly drew away her hand and laid it for one moment
on the coffin, as though caressing it. Then bending close down by his
side, she spoke, as though to him: "Well done, my own soldier man! The
heavenly hosts are proud of your enlistment!" (A pause). You wonder then
that I'm ashamed to show my fear of losing Bev?

Char. Heroes like that are born--not made.

[Enter from the garden Mrs. S. and Col. S., and Bev who walks
betwee