thought of her
garments, but a sudden passion of love and regret sending the quick
blood to her dark brows and wavy hair in a scarlet glow.

Master Loomis looked on with tender eyes. He felt the usual masculine
conviction that nobody loved Sylvy anywhere near as much as he did;
but it pleased him to see that she was dear to her family. The parson,
however, abruptly put an end to the scene.

"H-m! my dear friends, let us recollect ourselves. There is a time for
all things. Yea, earth yieldeth her increase--h-m! The Lord ariseth to
shake visibly the earth--ahem! Sylvia, will you stand before the
sophy? Master Lummis on the right side. Let us pray."

But even as he spoke the words a great knocking pealed through the
house: the brass lion's head on the front door beat a reveille loud
and long. The parson paused, and Sylvia grew whiter than before;
while Decius, the parson's factotum, a highly respectable old negro
(who, with his wife and daughter, sole servants of the house, had
stolen in to see the ceremony), ambled out to the vestibule in most
undignified haste. There came sounds of dispute, much tramping of
boots, rough voices, and quick words; then a chuckle from Decius, the
parlour door burst open, and three bearded, ragged, eager men rushed
in upon the little ceremony.

There was a moment's pause of wonder and doubt, then a low cry from
Hannah, as she flew into her husband's arms; and in another second the
whole family had closed around the father and brothers, and for once
the hardy, stern, reticent New England nature, broken up from its
foundations, disclosed its depths of tenderness and fidelity. There
were tears, choking sobs, cries of joy. The madam held her lace
handkerchief to her eyes with real need of it; Master Loomis choked
for sympathy; and the parson blew his nose on the ceremonial bandanna
like the trumpet of a cavalry charge.

"Let us pray!" said he, in a loud but broken voice; and holding fast
to the back of the chair, he poured out his soul and theirs before the
Lord with all the fervour and the fluency of real feeling. There was
no stumbling over misapplied texts now, no awkward objections in his
throat, but only glowing Bible words of thankfulness and praise and
joy. And every heart was uplifted and calm as they joined in the
"Amen."

John's story was quickly told. Their decimated regiment was
disbanded, to be reformed of fresh recruits, and a long furlough given
to the faithful but exhaust