_? Oh, Daddy, I love him so much, it--it
makes me want to cry."

She hid her face on the coat of gray, and sobbed; while her father
stroked her hair and answered soothingly, but in a tone of mourning
reverie:

"So do we all, darling; big grown men, who have suffered, and are losing
all they love. They are ragged--and wounded--hungry--and, oh, so tired!
But, when they think of _him_, they draw up their belts another hole,
and say, '_For General Lee!_' And then they can fight and fight and
fight--till their hearts stop beating--and the god of battles writes
them a bloody pass!"

Again he had risen to his feet. He was speaking proudly, in the reckless
passion of the yet unconquered Southerner, only half-conscious of the
tot who watched him, wondering. So she came to him quickly, taking his
hand in both her own, and striving to bring him comfort from the
fountain of her little mother-heart.

"Don't you worry, Daddy-man. We'll--we'll whip 'em yet."

"No, dear--no," he sighed, as he dropped into his seat. "We won't. It's
hard enough on men; but harder still on children such as you." He
turned to her gravely, earnestly: "Virgie, I had hoped to get you
through to Richmond--to-day. But I can't. The Yankees have cut us off.
They are up the river and down the river--and all around us, I've been
nearly the whole night getting here; creeping through the woods--like an
old Molly-cotton-tail--with the blue boys everywhere, waiting to get me
if I showed my head."

"But they didn't, did they?" said Virgie, laughing at his reference to
the wise old rabbit and feeling for the pockets of his shabby coat, "Did
you--did you bring me anything?"

At her question the man cried out as if in pain, then reached for her in
a wave of yearning tenderness.

"Listen, dear; I--I had a little bundle for you--of--of things to eat."
He took her by the arms, and looked into her quaint, wise face, "And I
was so glad I had it, darling, for you are thinner than you were." He
paused to bite his lip, and continued haltingly, "There was bread in
that bundle--and meat--real meat--and sugar--and tea."

Virgie released herself and clapped her hands.

"Oh, Daddy, where is it?" she asked him happily, once more reaching for
the pocket. "'Cause I'm _so_ hungry for somethin' good."

"Don't! Don't!" he cried, as he drew his coat away, roughly, fiercely,
in the pain of unselfish suffering. "For Daddy's sake, don't!"

"Why, what is it, Daddy," she asked, in h