Page 44 (1/2)

"Then the poetas well as other people,

Major Fairbairn?"

"I hope so! or I should wish to be a poet And that would be a

vain wish for me"

"But in these war matters," I resumed, as we cantered on, "I

aht to be -

must be"

"Getting to be serious earnest -" said the nedly

I was silenced for a while The words, "serious earnest," rang

into be such serious earnest?" I asked as lightly

as I could

"We shall know more about it soon," the major answered His

carelessness was real

"How soon?"

"May be any day Beauregard isready for us at Manassas

Junction"

"How many men do you suppose he has?"

"Can't tell," said the , I think

enerally

are very much in earnest"

"And the North are," I said

"It is just a question of ill hold out best"

I thought I kneho those would be; and a shiver for a h my heart Christian had said, that the success of

his suit with ht depend on how the war

went And certainly, if the struggle should be at all

prolonged and issue in the triumph of the rebels, they would

have little favour for the enemies they would despise How if

the ent for the North?

I believe I lost several sentences of ; rehts and talked gayly, until we ca on I wondered if it were

the right place; thenand waiting, with ons were rushing about; I recognised them;