ther man was injured
twenty rebel lives should answer for it.

"'We must bury my father, you and I together, Cassy,' I said; 'there is
no one to help us. Come!'

"The old woman followed me without a word. Had I bidden her go alone,
even as far as the door-step, she would have cowered at my feet in
abject terror; but, following me, she would have gone unquestioning to
the world's end. The family burial-place was on our own grounds,
according to the common custom of the South; thither we turned our
steps, and in silence hollowed out a grave as best we could. The guard
near by watched us with curiosity for some time; at last he approached:

"'What are you two women doing there?'

"'Digging a grave.'

"'For whom?'

"'For my father, who lies dead in the house.'

"He withdrew a short distance, but still watched us closely, and when
all was ready, and we returned to the house for our burden, I saw him
signal the next guard. 'They will not interrupt us,' I said; 'we are
only two women and a dead man.'

"I wrapped my dear father in his cloak, and covered his face; then we
bore the lounge on which he lay out into the sunshine down toward the
open grave. The weight of this poor frame of ours when dead is
marvelous, and we moved slowly; but at length we reached the spot. I had
lined the grave with coverlids and a fine linen sheet, and now, with the
aid of blankets, we lowered the clay to its last resting-place. Then,
opening my prayer-book, I read aloud the service for the burial of the
dead, slowly, and without tears, for I was thinking of the meeting above
of the old father and his two boys: 'Lord, thou hast been our refuge
from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever the earth and the world were made, thou art God from
everlasting.' I took a clod and cast it upon the shrouded breast below.
'Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,' I said, and old Cassy,
kneeling opposite, broke forth into low wailing, and rocked her body to
and fro. Then we filled the grave. I remember that I worked with
feverish strength; if it was not done quickly, I knew I could never do
it at all. Can you realize what it would be to stand and shovel the
earth with your own hands upon your dead?--to hear the gravel fall and
strike?--to see the last shrouded outline disappear under the stifling,
heavy clods? All this it was mine to do. When it was over I turned to
go, and for the first time lifted my eyes. Th