the bed. I reckon the feathers has got shuck down. Don't
say nothin', an' I'll turn your bed over, and then you won't feel 'em.
An', honey, do pray be kereful how you talks before Jim. I ain't got
no 'pinion o' Jim, an' it'll never do in de world to let him speck
where the things is hid."

No one knew how soon the Yankees might come, and all were busily
engaged in concealing whatever they had of value. People may smile now
at some of the recollections of that day, but they were earnest enough
then, and as much importance was attached to the concealment of a ham
or a pound of black sugar as to that of a casket of diamonds.
Clothing and provisions were hidden in various strange and
out-of-the-way places, and, when night came, Mammy and her mistress
were glad to rest their tired bodies, although too much excited to
sleep. At last, however, a deep sleep fell upon them, from which they
were awakened by the distant roar of cannon. The village, though no
longer a depot for Confederate stores, was not to be given up without
a struggle. It now became a sort of debatable ground, and cannonading,
more or less distant, told the anxious listeners of almost daily
skirmishes.

Awakened by the cannon's roar, Sibyl opened the window and listened. A
pale glory to the eastward, a low rustle of leaves, a drowsy chirp
from tiny nests, all merging into one inarticulate murmur of awakening
nature, told that night was over. Sibyl and her mother hastily dressed
themselves, called Rita from her fearless young sleep, roused up the
baby, as they still called little Joe; then asked themselves why they
did it. There was nothing to do but to sit on the porch or to wander
aimlessly, listening with beating hearts to the faint and more faint
boom of the artillery. And the roses glowed in the May sunshine, and
the honeysuckle wafted its perfume in at the open windows, and the
bees droned among the flowers, and all was so peaceful, but for the
incessant dull roar of the battle.

The Confederates were finally driven back, the Federals entered the
town, and then the bummers came streaming through the country, leaving
desolation behind them. Cattle, poultry, everything eatable was driven
off or carried away in the great army wagons that came crashing along,
regardless of all obstacles in their cruel course. Cut off from all
news from the army, Sibyl and her mother dragged wearily through the
long, sad summer, and the two children grew gaunt for want of