Peggy Owen at Yorktown by Lucy Foster Madison
CHAPTER X--FAREWELL TO HOME
"Such was the season when equipt we stood On the green banks of Schuylkill's winding flood, A road immense, yet promised joys so dear, That toils and doubts and dangers disappear."
--"The Foresters," _Alexander Wilson_.
"There are lint and bandages in the large bundle, Peggy. Dr. Cochransays they can scarce get enough of them. The hospitals as well as thedepartments of the army are in sore need of supplies. Ah me! the long,grim, weary years of fighting have made the people slow to respond tothe necessities of our soldiers, and the Congress hath not the power tomake levies. I would send sheets and pillow cases if there was room. Weshall see when thy companion comes. The hamper is filled with jelliesand delicacies. Thou wilt divide them with the other poor wounded ones.They will be glad of them, I make no doubt. And thy portmanteau is allpacked, child. I think we have forgot nothing. There is but little timeleft to dress for the journey."
Mrs. Owen cast an anxious glance at the array of bundles as sheenumerated them, locked the portmanteau, and gave the key to herdaughter.
"I know, mother, but it will not take me long. I will run down to thestables to say good-bye to Star now, and then dress. How I wish the dearthing could go too!"
"I fear thee will have to be content without her for this time, Peggy.It will not be for long."
"True, mother," assented the girl cheerfully. "And the very first thingI shall do when I come back will be to take a long, long gallop. I willbe gone just a moment."
She ran out of the room as she finished speaking, and without pausingfor even a passing glance at the trees or the terrace, went swiftlythrough the orchard to the stables.
"Thou dear thing!" she exclaimed laying her head on the mare's silkymane. "I do wish thee was going with me. Thee has been my companionthrough so many jaunts that I don't feel quite right at leaving thee.Oh, I do wish thee was going!"
The little mare whinnied and rubbed her nose gently against her youngmistress as though she too would like to go. Peggy stroked her softly.
"I do wish thee was going," she said again. "Then no matter whathappened I would always have a way to get back to mother. Why, PeggyOwen!" she exclaimed as the full import of the words she had just spokencame to her. "What whimsies have beset thy brain that thou shouldst saythat? What could happen? Thee must not get the megrims, Peggy, beforethee has started. There, Star! I must not linger with thee. Now I havekissed thee just on the spot that gave thee thy name. Thou wilt rememberthou art to give me a good ride when I come back."
Peggy gave a last lingering caress to her pet, and turned reluctantly toleave her. As she did so she found herself face to face with Sally Evansand Betty Williams.
"We thought we should find thee here," cried Sally. "When the doctortold me that thee was to go down to see Harriet's brother, I went forBetty at once. We came to see thee off."
"Oh, Peggy, I think thee has the most luck," grumbled Betty. "The Southhath all the fighting, and thee is going right there."
"Why, no, Betty," corrected Peggy with a laugh. "The fighting is in theCarolinas, and I go only to Virginia. There is no warfare there. Ishould not go if there were."
"Well, I should, and I had the chance. I suppose Virginia is notCarolina," went on Betty, who was hazy about her geography, "but 'tismuch nearer than Philadelphia. I do think, Peggy Owen, that thee has themost delightsome adventures in the world," she ended with a sigh.
"I am afraid that it will not be very pleasant to go to a cousin who isdying," returned Peggy soberly. "Come, girls! 'tis time for me to dress.Let us go to my room. I am to go with a nurse and her escort. She hathbeen up here on a visit, and 'tis fortunate that she returns just atthis time."
"I knew thee would go just as soon as I knew that Harriet was not here,"said Sally, winding her arm about her waist. "There was naught else todo."
"That was what mother and I thought, Sally. Would that I had thy skilland experience in nursing. Then perchance I could bring my cousin backto health."
"Well, thee shouldn't want to, Peggy," cried Betty. "Look how theBritish treat our poor fellows when they are wounded. Yet we treat ourprisoners as though they were friends, and not enemies. I get out ofpatience with Sally here when I see her so good to them when any arebrought into the hospital wounded. And why does thee do it, Sally?"
"To make them ashamed of themselves," answered Sally promptly. "Theylook upon us as provincials and almost barbarians. When they find usactuated by feelings of humanity it begins in time to dawn upon themthat they are dealing with kinsmen and brothers. Sometimes they arebrought to such a keen realization of this that they refuse longer tofight us, and so leave the army. I have reasoned with some of them," sheended demurely.
"I'll warrant thee has," laughed Peggy.
Thus chatting the girls walked slowly to the house, and then up toPeggy's own little room where they began to help the latter to dress forthe journey. She was ready presently, and then Sally cleared her throatin an oratorical manner.
"Mistress Peggy Owen," she began, untying with a flourish a smallpackage which had escaped Peggy's notice, "on behalf of The SocialSelect Circle, of which thee is an honored member, I present thee withthis diary with the injunction that thou art to record within its pageseverything that befalls thee from the time of thy leaving until the dayof thy homecoming."
"All and everything," supplemented Betty eagerly.
"Why, girls, 'tis beautiful," cried Peggy pleased and surprised by thegift. "It is sweet to be so remembered, and if The Circle wishes me toset down all the happenings of my journey, I will do so with pleasure.But there will be no adventures. 'Tis not to be expected on such ajaunt."
"Every jaunt holds possibilities," observed Sally sententiously. "Whenthee was away before, look at all that befell; yet we have not heard thehalf of what happened because thee forgot. Now if thou wilt write everyday in this little book for the benefit of thy friends The Circle canenjoy thy journey as well as thou."
"I'll do it," promised Peggy. "But you must not expect much. I shall begone such a short time that you girls will scarcely have begun to missme ere I shall be home again. 'Twill be a sad journey, I fear."
"But thy cousin may get well," interposed Betty. "Just think of theromance contained in an unknown cousin. The relationship is just nearenough to be interesting," she ended with such a languishing air thatboth Peggy and Sally shook her.
"Such an utterance from a member of The Social Select Circle," rebukedPeggy. "I'm surprised at thee, Betty."
"Oh, the edict against the other sex is revoked now," declared Betty."And didn't we always have better times when Robert was with us thanwhen we were alone?"
"We wouldn't now, though," answered Sally. "He doesn't speak French,Betty."
"Sally, thee is dreadful! Don't listen to her, Peggy. She is alwaystrying to tease."
"I shall not, Betty," consoled Peggy, casting a mischievous glance atSally. "Never mind. Thee is patriotic, anyway."
"How?" asked Sally as Betty, foreseeing some further jest, would notspeak.
"By helping to cement the French Alliance, of course," laughed Peggy.
"Thee is worse than Sally," pouted Betty turning to look out of thewindow. "Peggy, is thee to go in a one-horse cabriolet? Because there isone coming up Chestnut Street now. Let me see! A woman is within and itis driven by a young man. Heigh-ho! 'Tis a promising outlook. There is abaggage wagon following with two men on the seat. Thee will be wellescorted, Miss Peggy Owen."
"It must be the nurse," exclaimed Peggy. "And mother is calling, too.Come, girls."
They ran lightly down-stairs, and soon Mrs. Johnson, the nurse, wasshown in. She was a large, motherly-looking woman of middle age, with apleasant smile and kind eyes. Peggy felt drawn to her at once.
"And so this is to be my young companion," she said, drawing the girltoward her as Mrs. Owen presented her daughter. "I predict that we shallbe great friends, my dear. Of a truth 'twas
"The cabriolet is somewhat light to carry three persons," observed Mrs.Owen reflectively as she returned from carrying out some bundles to thebaggage wagon.
"We considered that, madam, but Fairfax will ride part of the time inthe baggage wagon when the roads become so rough that the load seemsheavy for the horse. 'Tis too bad that he has not his horse with him,but we knew not when we came that we were to have the pleasure of MissPeggy's company on our return. We shall manage nicely, I dare say. Thetwo men in the baggage wagon are an addition also that we did notexpect. They have charge of some supplies for the hospital which Dr.Cochran is sending with us. I was glad to have them. 'Tis more agreeablein a long journey to have a party."
"Mother!" breathed Peggy, her eyes glowing with the idea. "Could not theyoung man ride Star?"
"I was just thinking of that, my child," said Mrs. Owen with anindulgent smile. "'Tis in truth a way opened for thee to take thy pony."
"Do you indeed mean that Fairfax may ride a horse of yours, my dear?"questioned Nurse Johnson, rising. "Why, that is most welcome news. Youare generous."
"Nay," protested Peggy. "I thought mostly of myself, I fear; I wish verymuch to have my little mare with me, and I do not deserve thy praise,friend nurse----" She paused in some confusion. "I should say Mrs.Johnson."
"Nay; let it be friend nurse," replied the good woman laughing. "I thinkI like it. And I shall call you Peggy. And your own saddle can be put inthe baggage wagon, and you can take a little gallop occasionally torelieve the monotony of riding."
"Thee relieves me of all fear that Peggy will not be well taken careof," declared Mrs. Owen as the two left the room. "And sheets, friend?Has thee plenty of them? If there is room I could give thee a number."
The nurse's eyes filled with tears.
"We have need of everything, madam," she said. "'Twill gladden ourhearts to receive anything in the nature of supplies."
They were ready at last, and Peggy approached her girl friends for alast good-bye.
"Thee has a silent knight for thy escort, Peggy," whispered Bettythrough her tears, with a glance in the direction of Nurse Johnson'sson, who had not spoken to them. "Be sure to write in the diary if hespeaks to thee at all through the journey. And mind! thee must put downthe very words he says."
"Betty, Betty, thee is grown frivolous," expostulated Peggy. "Sally,thee must deal with her severely."
"She shall help me to care for the next doughty Englishman that comes tothe hospital," declared Sally. "Still, Peggy, if the young man shouldbreak his silence 'twould be naught amiss to record the happening, forthe delectation of The Circle."
"Thee is as bad as Betty, Sally. I shall keep the diary right with me,girls, and put down whatever of interest occurs."
"And thou wilt send word of thy safe arrival as soon as thou canst, mychild," said Mrs. Owen, holding her close. "If such a thing should bethat thy cousin recovers we will see what can be done anent his cominghere. And now farewell!"
Peggy clung to her without replying, and then quietly took her place inthe cabriolet beside the nurse. She smiled bravely at them, and as thecabriolet started she leaned out and waved farewell as long as she couldsee her mother.