led so nicely?"

"Oh! the fellows take to it naturally. Besides, Darcy did as much as I
did."

"No, Jack is our chief drillmaster," put in Darcy. "He takes to
soldiering as a duck takes to a pond."

"It's wonderful. Still, I hope you never have to go to war," concluded
Marion.

"If we do, we'll try to give a good account of ourselves," said Darcy,
as Marion walked away.

"Indeed we will!" cried our hero.

Now she was in town Marion concluded to do some shopping, and
accordingly made her way to one of the general stores, a place kept by
Lemuel Blackwood, one of the oldest merchants in that part of the State.

Blackwood's store was usually crowded with goods of every description,
but the war had all but wrecked his trade, and his stock was scanty and
shop-worn.

"How do you do, Marion?" said he, when the girl entered. He had known
her from childhood.

"How do you do, Mr. Blackwood?" she returned.

"Pretty fairly, for an old man, Marion. That is, so far as my health
goes. Business is very poor, though."

"The war has taken the people's money."

"Yes, yes! It is awful! Sometimes I think it will never end."

"Do you think we will win, Mr. Blackwood?"

At this the old man shook his head slowly.

"I used to hope so, Marion. But now--the most of our best soldiers have
been shot down. The North can get new recruits, but we don't seem to
have many more men to go to the front."

"Have you any more calico like that which I got a few weeks ago?"

"No, I can't get a single piece, no matter how hard I try."

"What have you in plain dress goods?"

"Nothing but what I showed you before. I tried to get something new last
week, but the wholesale houses had nothing, and couldn't say when
anything new would come in. Their business has been wrecked, just as
mine has been. Two of the best houses I used to do business with are
bankrupt."

"Then show me what you have again, please. Mamma and I must have
something, even if it is out of date. We'll wear it for the honor of the
South."

At this old Mr. Blackwood smiled. "You are a loyal girl, Marion. I like
to see it in a person, especially in one who is young. It shows the
right training."

"But supposing I was a Northerner," said Marion, with a sly twinkle in
her eye.

"It would make no difference in my opinion."

"You believe people should be true to their convictions?"

"Yes, no matter what side they stand upon. We think we are right, and
are willing to fight