ech!
Everybody was looking at Freddy as he stood there, the colors in his
hand, and the bright flush on his cheek, with the greatest admiration.
Of course, his parents weren't proud of him; certainly not!

But the wonders were not at an end yet; for suddenly the band began
playing a new air, and to this accompaniment, the sweet voice of some
lady unseen, but which sounded to those who knew, wonderfully like Miss
Lucy Carlton's, sang the following patriotic ballad:

"We will stand by our Flag--let it lead where it will--
Our hearts and our hopes fondly cling to it still;
Through battle and danger our Cause must be won--
Yet forward! undaunted we'll follow it on!
'Tis the Flag! the old Flag! still unsullied and bright,
As when first its fair stars lit oppression's dark night
And the standard that guides us forever shall be
The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free!

"A handful of living--an army of dead,
The last charge been made and the last prayer been said;
What is it--as sad we retreat from the plain
That cheers us, and nerves us to rally again?
'Tis the Flag! the old Flag! to our country God-given,
That gleams through our ranks like a glory from heaven!
And the foe, as they fly, in our vanguard shall see
The Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free!

"We will fight for the Flag, by the love that we bear
In the Union and Freedom, we'll baffle despair;
Trust on in our country, strike home for the right,
And Treason shall vanish like mists of the night.
Then cheer the old Flag! every star in it glows,
The terror of traitors! the curse of our foes!
And the victory that crowns us shall glorified be,
'Neath the Star-spangled Banner, the Flag of the Free!"

As the song ended, there was another tumult of applause; and then the
band struck up a lively quickstep, and the company, with the Zouaves
marching ahead, poured out on the lawn toward the camp, where a
bountiful collation was awaiting them, spread on the regimental table.
Two splendid pyramids of flowers ornamented the centre, and all manner
of "goodies," as the children call them, occupied every inch of space on
the sides. At the head of the table Jerry had contrived a canopy from a
large flag, and underneath this, Miss