rest which they could not explain. It
seemed to be such a remarkable honor to be singled out in this way;
particularly as their mother told them, before she began to read, that
Aunt Fanny had requested them to be sure to let her know if they thought
any part stupid or too long, and her daughter would improve and shorten
it immediately.

How extremely complimentary! to be asked to sit and listen as critics
and judges, and they only children! Really, it was almost too much to
believe!

But it added tremendously to the charm, and George and Helen took their
seats after breakfast, invested with this new and important dignity,
with such an expression of solemn delight on their faces, that their
mother had to run out of the room and have a good laugh by herself in
the hall, after which she returned, and, with as serious a face as she
could call up with those two little figures so stiff and stark before
her, smoothed out the manuscript, and began as follows:

COLONEL FREDDY;

OR,

THE MARCH AND ENCAMPMENT OF THE DASHAHED ZOUAVES.

CHAPTER I.

RAISING A REGIMENT.

ONE bright afternoon last summer, about two weeks after the dreadful
battle of Bull Run, Freddy Jourdain burst open the door of his mother's
room and rushed in, exclaiming: "Jolly, mother! such fun! What _do_ you
think the boys in our school are going to do?"

"Why what?" asked his mother.

"Yes, I should really like to know why you come tearing up stairs
yelling like forty steam engines!" added his sister Bella, who was
rather a particular young lady.

"Well," began Freddy, looking very important, "I'll _try_ to explain,
but I don't believe _you women_ can understand about _us boys_!"

"After that speech I think you had better explain," said Bella, "if
you're not in want of a thimble pie on your knuckles."

"Well, then," cried Freddy, with sparkling eyes, "the boys at our school
are all _square_ against that old Jeff. Davis, and in recess yesterday,
we concluded that we ought to go and help shoot the Southerners. So
we've organized a regiment, and I'm chosen Colonel; and I'm going to
take my regiment to camp on Monday, that is, if you'll let me. Mayn't I,
mother? It's such fun, and Tom Pringle's given me such a jolly popgun!
Hurrah for Jackson and the Stars and Stripes!" So saying, Freddy cut a
caper in the air, that made about forty "chaney alleys," "stony alleys,"
"glass agates," and "middles," pop out of his satchel, which was slung