ase by bidding the children show
Louie their toys. And what a store of them there were to be sure. There
were several miniature sets of dishes of various patterns, and whole
families of dolls, from the aged grandmother in a white frilled cap, to the
tiny china specimen that was too small to be dressed. There were Noah's
arks that held animals that would have astonished old Noah himself, and
rocking-horses in various stages of dilapidation, from the bright new one
with only a scratch on his leg, to the headless and tailless steed that
rocked in a melancholy way in the corner. Then there was a swing that hung
from the ceiling, and a springy teeter-board that could bounce the little
ones quite into the air. These and other treasures were duly inspected by
the shy Louie, who soon entered heartily into the games started for her
amusement.

The twin girls were delighted with their walk. They had viewed the city
from Citadel Hill, and had extended their walk to other spots of interest,
but it seemed to them that they had moved nearer the seat of war, instead
of away from it, for the sword and gun-bearing officers and soldiers whom
they met in different parts of the city seemed more warlike than those who
had passed through the streets of their old home, as they journeyed toward
headquarters.

In a short time the family settled down to the routine of home-life that
comes natural in all households, and having secured competent help, Mrs.
Sherwood was able to order her household without much exertion on her part;
in fact, she began to feel that she might now take life comparatively easy,
and, little by little, the duties of housekeeper were laid upon Aunt
Jennie.

Dinah found the burden and exactions of her small charges quite bearable,
so the not-over-anxious mother was relieved from trouble in that quarter
also. But Dinah seemed well satisfied. Her love for the little ones placed
under her care had been strong enough to silence the superstitious dread
that had filled her heart when she first learned the destination of the
family; but in spite of her efforts to please everyone, Dinah could not
overcome the strong dislike which Biddy openly and emphatically expressed
for all "nagers." Consequently, a wordy warfare spiced the day's doings
occasionally, but, thanks to Aunt Jennie's tact and kindness, even this
grew less and less, as occasion for them vanished.

A few weeks later, Mr. Sherwood accompanied Mr. Nelson to Prince Edw